Rob Thomas from Not That Rob Thomas and I have been going to Mystery Movies at Marcus Point and Screen Unseen screenings at AMC Fitchburg over the past few weeks. This past weekend we caught up on recording discussions about two films, including today’s video: our thoughts on The Wizard of the Kremlin, starring Paul Dano and Jude Law, and directed by Oliver Assayas.
What was the other film we discussed? Well, I suppose I shouldn’t really worry about “spoilers” now that the mystery screening has already happened. But they always say “Leave ‘em wanting more,” so I’ll hold off on telling you, except to say that we will post the next review closer to the film’s nationwide release date on May 29.
Our method of operations for future Mystery Movie / Screen Unseen films will be to record the reviews and hold on to them until closer to the film’s local release date. In the case of The Wizard of the Kremlin, the turnaround time was a bit too tight to record and release something before its opening weekend. But you didn’t go to see it this weekend, did you? Alright then, so we’re not too late posting this today.
If you want to read more of Rob’s thoughts about The Wizard of the Kremlin, take a look at his written review at Not That Rob Thomas, posted last week on May 13.
As I mention in the video, I’m finding the mystery screenings very interesting. There’s something to be said for just going to a movie in the theaters, regardless of what the movie is. One reason I tend not to put together a Top Ten list of films at the end of any given year is because normally it would be a narrow list taken from a narrow range of films that I was already predisposed to see. I don’t plan on seeing a sufficient number of mystery films to dramatically alter what will be my personal favorites at the end of this year. But I think I’ll be in a better position to talk about the range of films released this year if I see more films that I’m not predisposed to see.
I’m reminded of an anecdote shared at film scholar David Bordwell’s memorial service, when a few speakers discussed the experience of going to see films with him. “These films aren’t going to watch themselves,” Bordwell would remind his filmgoing colleagues to implore them to go out and see a film with him. Regardless of my final opinion of these mystery films, I feel like I’m more genuinely fulfilling my vocation by going to the theater and supporting them.
