I've always been a huge fan of "film noir," the gritty crime dramas so popular during the 40's and 50's. And the modern updates on the genre always interest me also, though many of them are worse than pulp, instead they are bad remakes of pulp.
The problem for me in the class, however, has always been that students do not share my love of these early noirs. The Asphalt Jungle is one of my all time favorites, but students dislike it for some as yet undivined reason. So, this year I am going to solve the problem beforehand.
It's very simple: You either love "The Asphalt Jungle" or else. I am not threatening anyone, of course, but the last film should suffice as a "word to the wise." So, should you trash this film, either in class or on your blog, and should you subsequently find yourself standing across a saloon from me begging for mercy because you are unarmed, because you "ain't drunk," because you're "building a house," because you brought me a pony, because you "ain't given to wickedness in a regular way," because you "ain't like that anymore" because you "don't deserve this" then I will respond with two actions. First, I will say, "deserve ain't got nothing to do with it." And then I will... er, hmm ...
We'll leave the second action unmentioned, because, after all, "The Asphalt Jungle" will prove absolutely riveting and immensely entertaining to all.
Uh oh, I remember this threat but ours was for Top Hat, not The Asphalt Jungle. But I agree heartily with your second comment, they will all love it so your threat should not have to come to fruition.
ReplyDeleteAlso, this is unrelated but I know how much you love Runaway Train, directed by Andrei Konchalovsky. In my current Russian film class, we have watched parts of two of Konchalovsky's more Russian themed films, House of Fools and Inner Circle. I was wondering if you were familiar with this work of his or if you only liked his one film.
We have also watched his brother, Mikhailov's film, Burnt by the Sun. Are you aware of this one? They seem like a very talented filmmaking family based on what I have seen from both of them. Just wondering if you had any personal insight about it.