An American Werewolf in London 0 – Hotel du Nord 1
John Landis (An American Werewolf in London) 1 – Marcel Carné (Hôtel du Nord) 0
House, I’m glad I’m able to vote for your films in both of your matches this year so far. It makes me not feel as bad for helping to oust Benning and Hou last year.
I’ve already made some comments (more nitpicks really) about Werewolf in it’s discussion thread, but overall I did enjoy it.
I’d say I enjoyed Hotel du Nord as well, but just barely. The characters all seem so dramatic yet capricious, but not in a way that I find charming.
Thanks for the comments House of Leaves, and for putting the match up. Looking forward to seeing everyone’s votes and appreciate the great turnout so far.
John Landis (An American Werewolf in London) 1 – Marcel Carné (Hôtel du Nord) 0
I really liked both. But I think American Werewolf is one of the best horror movie ever.
John Landis (An American Werewolf in London) 1 – Marcel Carné (Hôtel du Nord) 0
An American Werewolf in London (Landis) – 0 // Hôtel du Nord (Carné) – 1
I really like Carné, both in general and in terms of this specific film – which is wonderfully elliptical in structure and has his typically sparkling dialogue. I’m fortunate enough to speak French, which is a particularly good language for this sort of thing and Hotel du Nord does create a specifically French ambience, dominated by professions of love, a sense of poetic realism and doomed romantic Bohemians. This is not an atmosphère of which I’m tired.
Until I saw it, I was quite convinced my vote would go to Landis’s wonderful film. There are such amazing artful moments in An American Werewolf in London… my favourite occurs in the movie theatre, where he sits with his demons, entirely aware that he needs to die, entirely unable to do it. But there are also moments that didn’t sit so well with me, and as such I have to give my vote to Carné’s atmosphère.
John Landis (An American Werewolf in London) 1 vs. Marcel Carné (Hôtel du Nord) 0
Hôtel du Nord is generally good, but I’m not a fan of the characters and performances. A bit too caricatural for my taste.
I loved An American Werewolf in London as much as the first time I saw it. It is one of the best entertainment films I know, a perfect mix of comedy and horror.
This was one of the hardest matches for me. Hotel du Nord is full of life, warmth, and artistry, but in the end, it seemed a bit slight to me—like an artist in search of their masterpiece, but not quite there yet. In fact, I would say that American Werewolf comes closer to fully actualizing on its potential. This is a Hollywood genre film done right: with a sense of humor, a love for its characters, a creative application of effects, and an earnest interest in seeing what the camera can do.
An American Werewolf in London 1 – Hôtel du Nord 0
i haven’t counted them up, but this is looking like a landslide for Landis.
19-12
An advantage, but not fully a landslide…still time for a comeback.
Lang’s early lead over Malle caught me by surprise, but I’m still confident that Malle will have a strong finish.
It caught me by surprise too…judging by early buzz, I was expecting a landslide for Malle.
John Landis (An American Werewolf in London) 1 vs. Marcel Carné (Hôtel du Nord) 0
John Landis (An American Werewolf in London) —1 vs. Marcel Carné (Hôtel du Nord) —0
John Landis (An American Werewolf in London) 1 vs. Marcel Carné (Hôtel du Nord) 0
John Landis (An American Werewolf in London) —0 vs. Marcel Carné (Hôtel du Nord) — 1
I’m surprised this match isn’t closer, and also that Carné isn’t better known or appreciated. Any decent film course should at least include the great Children of Paradise. Although that film is still widely loved, and others like Le Jour se Leve and Quai des Brumes have a high reputation, it looks like the Cahiers du Cinéma influence has persisted. Baby out with bathwater. Hotel du Nord is a fine film, excellent sets, acting of course, and yes atmosphere. American Werewolf in London is great fun, and has Jenny Agutter. Then again, Hotel du Nord has Arletty, and she was a major figure. I don’t really want to vote against either. It’s more important for Carné’s reputation to be given a decent chance and his catalogue explored than Landis’ more familiar films to continue here, but it’s a matter of judging the films. Archer v Shakespeare? 100-0? Hardly, Arcanus. Though Children of Paradise does belong in the cinema pantheon and has a great love of theatre. I think the immortal bard would have approved and of this one too.
um,
An American Werewolf in London 0 Hotel du Nord 1
An American Werewolf in London 0 – Hotel du Nord 1
22-15 American
VOTING IS CLOSED
Landis wins this match 22—15.
And they call us film snobs.
I am very gratified by this outcome, and incredibly grateful to everyone who took this selection seriously and ‘got it’. Look—I recognize that this is a director that has a) had plenty of exposure and b) doesn’t make art house films, so a part of me thought I would be roasted in the competition. The reason I chose Landis as my second director was to bring these kinds of films into our discussion and help recognize that some genre films can succeed on their own terms well enough to be worthy of discussion even in this forum, where we spend countless hours debating much more serious issues.
This is a film I’m very close to, so I’d long since lost all objectivity—which made the suspense of the voting process all the more intense. I can’t say I’m surprised by the outcome since I sincerely believe this film is worthy, but I’m just so damn happy that enough people went into the match with an open mind.
I hope that continues into Round 2, where I’ll showcase another of Landis’ very best films—something completely differnet but no less idiosyncratic.
Thanks to everyone who voted and thanks to Ally for introducing me to yet another director I need to see more from. Thankfully in this Cup there is no ‘one and done’ and I will see two more greats from Carné.
To everyone else… Keep clear of the moors…
Congrats House!
interesting match.
Group 7 has shaped up to be the one to watch.
Cinesthesia (aka Duncan)
14-10 Landis, counting Arcanus’s vote