The Discarded Image

New video out: https://youtu.be/LzSsGkmZC7o

It's about the chaotic directors who don't shoot with a proper script in place, starting with Jean-Luc Godard. One of my favourite films this year has been 'Nouvelle Vague'--where Richard Linklater dramatised the making of 'Breathless'--which I view as the big bang of modern cinema. I've always been obsessed with the french new wave (especially Godard), so that film was like candy to me.

Also talk about other filmmakers who followed in Godard's wake. Enjoy!

1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 29

The Discarded Image

Got a new video essay out about Sean Penn's performance in ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER: https://youtu.be/C8S8R8nDLG0

The film was quite easily my favourite of last year. And I think I agree with Steven Spielberg that it's Penn's finest work. Paul Thomas Anderson has a real gift for taking what's unique about an actor, and pushing them further. I know his Oscar win was controversial for some. But I think when we look back Lockjaw will be one of those iconic movie villains like Anton Chigurh or Hannibal Lector.

I originally planned to do a video on the entire cast, because I love all the entire cast (think it might be my favourite Leo performance) - but when I went to do the chapter on Penn I went on for way to long...

Hope you enjoy.

Cheers,
Julian

P.S. As a De Palma nut, my other favourite Penn performance is obviously CARLITO'S WAY.

3 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 20

The Discarded Image

How goes, my little droogies?
New Short: youtube.com/shorts/Dt2zlPufQQ0

It's about that pesky Kubrick developing "A.I. Artificial Intelligence" with Steven Spielberg, until Stanley's obsessive ways caused problems...

Having fun experimenting with this format, and I'm aiming to have a proper video essay up on the channel in about a week.

Cheers,
Julian

3 months ago | [YT] | 36

The Discarded Image

Hello folks, I just posted a short on the channel - youtube.com/shorts/SdXM9grzoog

I've been working on filmmaking projects in recent months, hence the absence, but I'm now producing more content for the channel again. I wanted to start experimenting with more casual shorts that feature my GODDAMN FACE! This one about Wes Anderson's stealth muse in "The Grand Budapest Hotel", unlike my video essays, was completely unscripted. Just off the top of the dome... I feel like I could do a gazillion of these because my mind is packed to the brim with cinematic factoids. I'll be posting these shorts on the other major platforms (IG, TT), so look me up there if that's where you're more likely to engage.

I'm also currently working on a video essay for the main channel about a recent film I have been obsessed with. Planning to get that up this month. So look out for that.

Hope everyone is fine and dandy!

Much love, Julian X

4 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 14

The Discarded Image

RIP the great Monica Vitti. The Queen and muse of Antonioni's monumental run from L'Avventura, to La Notte, L'Eclisse and Il Deserto Rosso. A whole new cinematic vocabulary was formed around and in collaboration with her. If you haven't seen those films I strongly recommend you do!

4 years ago (edited) | [YT] | 47

The Discarded Image

After a pretty calamitous 2020 it felt like film started to get its groove back this year. I think my top 3 express my preference for directors with bold styles, working with enough of a budget to ensure they are at the peak of their powers. And above all using their technical mastery in service of conveying emotion. I hope to cover some of the films on this list in the new year. Let me know if there's any you'd like to see videos of. Or if there are films you loved I missed out.

There's a bunch of films that are making some people's lists that I haven't been able to see yet that would have been strong contenders, namely--The Souvenir Part II, Memoria, Parallel Mothers, Red Rocket, A Hero, The Worst Person in the World, France, and Benedetta.

4 years ago | [YT] | 37

The Discarded Image

Just saw The French Dispatch again. It's definitely the film of the year for me thus far, though there's still a few on the near horizon I'm really excited about, like Licorice Pizza, The Souvenir Part II, A Hero, Petite Maman, and Titane, hell, West Side Story too (a Spielberg musical will be pure pleasure on a craft level). On Wes Anderson, check out my latest video if you haven't. Are there any films from this year that have really stuck out for you? Others I've liked to varying degrees are The Green Knight, Zola, Minari, Dune, The Velvet Underground, The Sparks Brothers, and The Card Counter. I should really cover some of them. My video essay output has been frustratingly sporadic this year I know. Feels like cinema is making a comeback though! And hopefully the channel can keep up.

4 years ago (edited) | [YT] | 39

The Discarded Image

I'm considering doing some long form content, so I can talk more in-depth about subjects - like having video conversations with my co-writer Manuela Lazic, and potentially others in the film/critical community. The nature of the way I do video essays is due to the video's length, and the time it takes to make, the analysis is invariably limited. Would you be interested in this type of content on the channel?

5 years ago | [YT] | 16

The Discarded Image

So me and frequent co-collaborator Manuela Lazic had a conversation recently about a film and director we're both sort of obsessed with. It's on her channel You Gotta Act - the name of which comes from the film we discuss, Lord Brian De Palma's BODY DOUBLE - https://youtu.be/5OM6fxo9cYI

5 years ago (edited) | [YT] | 9

The Discarded Image

Would you like to see more of the DECONSTRUCTING FUNNY series this year? We had to take a bit of a hiatus due to Covid, but we'd like to get it going again.

5 years ago | [YT] | 47