"The New Classics" - in case you missed any
Tuesday, November 3, 2020 at 8:30PM We're already in withdrawal. Tuesday are when we normally get a new episode of Michael Cusamano's insightful and engaging series "The New Classics," which focuses on top-notch 21st century films by dissecting a single defining scene. But season 2 just ended last week so no new episode today. But if you missed any of his great great articles, please catch up. We're just assuming you might need cinematic healing / distraction tonight and tomorrow given all the anxiety and stress of waiting for election results.
Season 1 of The New Classics (22 episodes)
Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001) | Y Tu Mama Tambien (2001) | Sexy Beast (2001) | Master and Commander (2003) | Shattered Glass (2003) | Before Sunset (2004) | Collateral (2004) | Eastern Promises (2007) | Michael Clayton (2007) | No Country For Old Men (2007) | Happy-Go-Lucky (2008) | The Hurt Locker (2009) | Inglourious Basterds (2009) | In the Loop (2009) | I Am Love (2010) | Meek's Cutoff (2010) | A Separation (2011) | Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011) | It's Such a Beautiful Day (2012) | Blue Ruin (2014) | 20th Century Women (2016) | The Florida Project (2017)
Season 2 of The New Classics (22 episodes)
Wonder Boys (2000) | Amélie (2001) | Gosford Park (2001) | Capote (2005) | The Descent (2005) | Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) | The New World (2005) | Bridesmaids (2011) | Drive (2011) | Oslo August 31 (2011) | Lincoln (2012) | The Master (2012) | Frances Ha (2013) | Wolf of Wall Street (2013) | The Babadook (2014) | Nightcrawler (2014) | Two Days One Night (2014) | It Follows (2015) | The Handmaiden (2016) | Moonlight (2016) | The Witch (2016) | First Reformed (2018)
I will be begging Michael for a third season in 2021 since he hasnt yet written up the two towers of 2015, Carol and Mad Max Fury Road, nor has he graced us with any picks from the film years of 2002 or 2006, respectively.
Reader Comments (8)
List for 2002:
Far From Heaven
Talk to Her
28 Days Later
Russian Ark
The Bourne Identity
Ten
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind
Lilo and Stitch
Road to Perdition
Minority Report
Spider-Man (The Kiss. Note: I actually mostly dislike the Raimi Spider-Man movies outside of the action scenes, but even I can admit this scene is a classic at least.)
List for 2006:
Pan's Labyrinth
Casino Royale
United 93
The Prestige
The Lives of Others
Children of Men
Half Nelson
Inland Empire
The Fountain
Once
Over the Hedge
Oh, also, because he does do one episode on a 2 year old movie, list for 2019 for the 2021 season:
Parasite
Uncut Gems
Once Upon a Time...In Hollywood
Little Women
Ford v Ferrari
The Lighthouse
The Farewell
Avengers: Endgame
Rocketman
Pain & Glory
Her Smell
A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood
Shazam!
If you are including commercial films, what about The Devil Wears Prada, Julia and Julia, The Hours and even Blue Jasmine? These all seem like essential viewing for movie lovers and actress lovers.
Minerva: If you are reacting to my selections? Of the four films you mentioned? Julie & Julia (2009) and Blue Jasmine (2013) are from "years not at issue." The Hours and The Devil Wears Prada ARE from 2 of the 3 years at issue, but (personally) those aren't, cohesively, enduring classics, so I never would have suggested them. The latter has a classic character, so MAYBE it gets a column, but the Andie's friends subplot is BAD. But...That you had to mention two films from years not at issue implies that you thought I got pretty much everything of enduring note from those three years.
Nat - I doubt I'll make you beg TOO hard.
Vol - I've considered a lot of these and even started posts on a few of them. I try to cover a variety in the column, but ultimately I gotta go with whichever title about which I feel I have something interesting to say. That said, when I get around to a third season I'd be surprised if I didn't hit everything. And what will I do then, when I have no worlds left to conquer?
Minerva - I'd consider all those titles. I don't know if they all exactly qualify as bona fide "classics" in my book, but they all certainly have scenes that rise to the level. So why be a stickler?
Michael C: Eh, you do 22 episodes a season, I threw out 35 candidates (11 from 02 and 06, 13 from 2019) and you have more years than that at your disposal. I think it'll be AWHILE, if EVER, before you run out.
Sorry if I missed your hidden items. And I would only disagree because The Devil Wears Prada is an enduring and well-loved modern classic film, but I am glad you have included the others.
I will gladly assist Nathaniel in the begging for more - I absolutely love this series.