Film Directors

An Interesting BFI Talk with Alex Cox

by John Charet

Before I do an annual Noirvember post this month (it is November), I want to write a post dedicated to Steve, a regular visitor to this site (click here to view his Youtube channel). He has been a regular visitor to my site since 2020 and it has been a long time since I wrote a blog entry dedicated to him and myself considering that I have been watching various Moviedrome videos on Youtube since 2010 🙂 UK viewers mostly remember that each film would be introduced by British cult director Alex Cox (Repo Man and Sid and Nancy among others) 🙂 Anyway, this hour-long BFI video took place in five months ago in June and it is very insightful talk that I would like to share with all of you dear readers below 🙂

Click here to watch the video

R.I.P. David Lynch (1946-2025)

by John Charet

A polite reminder before reading this blog entry of mine ðŸ™‚ I will not tolerate any insults or negativity towards David Lynch or any of his films I mention in this post. Any negative comments will be deleted. As a matter of fact, I will not tolerate any negativity of anybody mentioned in this blog entry. So once again, I am politely asking you all to please be kind ðŸ™‚

David Lynch (1946-2025)

Earlier today, the world lost one of our greatest visionary filmmakers. He was 78-years old and the cause of death was emphysema. That director was David Lynch. My introduction to Lynch was in early 2002, when I watched the then entire series of the cult television series Twin Peaks, which lasted from 1990 to 1991. Co-created with Mark Frost, Lynch also directed episodes of the show. When Lynch and Frost brought the series back in 2017 for Showtime, Lynch would direct every episode of the third season. By 2005, I had seen and loved almost every single Lynch film. Dune was good, but after watching it, I can totally understand why Lynch refused to talk about it during his life. Not since the death of British filmmaker Terence Davies back in 2023 has the death of a well-respected director hit me so hard. When I first heard the news, I just could not believe it. Ever since then, I have been in a very sad mood 😦 Lynch’s family made the following statement on his Facebook page – There’s a big hole in the world now that he’s no longer with us, But, as he would say, ‘Keep your eye on the donut and not on the hole.’ … It’s a beautiful day with golden sunshine and blue skies all the way. Read here and here for more information. I know the news is probably not as shocking once one takes into account that Lynch was battling lung disease for a long time (read here), but it is still heartbreaking either way.

Click here to visit the David Lynch Foundation website

Click here to visit a youtube video channel entitled DAVID LYNCH THEATER

Click here to watch a youtube video link to a wonderful remembrance of David Lynch courtesy of Chicago-based cinephile Kursten Ranquist (Click here to see his youtube channel)

Limited to this website only, I would love to remember Lynch through quite a few posts of mine. One of his films is on the first link, three on the second, one on the third and two on the fourth.

Click here to read a 2022 blog entry regarding my Top 10 Favorite Films of All Time

Click here to read a 2023 blog entry regarding my 100 Favorite Films of All Time

Click here to read a 2024 blog entry regarding my Top 10 Favorite Horror Films of All Time

Click here to read a 2024 blog entry regarding my Top 100 Favorite Horror Films of All Time

Click here to read a 2024 blog entry I did where I mention Twin Peaks during my visit to the Music Box Theatre that year

Click here to read a 2024 blog entry wishing actress Sheryl Lee (Laura Palmer in Twin Peaks) a very Happy 57th Birthday

Since I do not have time to do a ranking of every single one of Lynch’s films, I want to let all of my dear readers know that with the exception of Dune (the 1984 version), I love every single film that David Lynch has directed and If you need me to direct you all to every single thing he ever directed, just click here.

Also, below are a few examples of me indulging (but in a healthy way) in Lynch fandom 🙂


–Two More Things–

For David Lynch’s Family

I want to express my condolences to David Lynch’s entire family with this beautiful Catholic (my religious affiliation) prayer for the departed below:

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

For Californians

As all of you are probably aware right now, the recent California Wildfires has affected many Californians through loss of property and loved ones. Once again, I want to offer this beautiful Catholic prayer for the departed below:

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

My Favorite Bernardo Bertolucci Films (2024 Edition)

by John Charet

I have not seen 2012’s Me and You yet because it is not available on Blu-Ray/DVD here in the United States nor can I watch it online.

* * * * (Out of * * * *)

  1. The Conformist (1970)
  2. Besieged (1998)
  3. Tragedy of a Ridiculous Man (1981)
  4. The Dreamers (2003)
  5. The Spider’s Stratagem (1970)
    (Italian Television)
  6. Before the Revolution (1964)
  7. Last Tango in Paris (1972)
  8. La Luna (1979)
  9. 1900 (1976)
  10. Stealing Beauty (1996)
  11. The Last Emperor (1987)
  12. The Sheltering Sky (1990)
  13. Partner (1968)
  14. Little Buddha (1993)
  15. The Grim Reaper (1962)
  16. Ten Minutes Older: The Cello (2002)
    Segment: Histoire d’eaux
  17. Il canale (1966)
    (Documentary)
    (Short)
  18. Love and Anger (1969)
    Segment: Agonia

My Favorite Busby Berkeley Films (2024 Edition)

by John Charet

* * * * (Out of * * * *)

  1. Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933)
    (co-directed with Mervyn LeRoy)
    (Musical numbers only)
  2. The Gang’s All Here (1943)
  3. Footlight Parade (1933)
    (co-directed with Lloyd Bacon)
    (Musical numbers only)
  4. 42nd Street (1933)
    (co-directed with Lloyd Bacon)
    (Musical numbers only)
  5. For Me and My Gal (1942)
  6. Hollywood Hotel (1937)
  7. Dames (1934)
    (co-directed with Ray Enright)
    (Musical numbers only)
  8. Gold Diggers of 1935 (1935)
  9. Romance on the High Seas (1948)
    (co-directed with Michael Curtiz)
    (Choreographer only)
  10. Gold Diggers of 1937 (1937)
    (co-directed with Lloyd Bacon)
    (Musical numbers only)
  11. She Had to Say Yes (1933)
    (co-directed with George Amy)
  12. Ziegfeld Girl (1941)
    (co-directed with Robert Z. Leonard)
    (Musical numbers only)
  13. They Made Me a Criminal (1939)
  14. Lady Be Good (1941)
    (co-directed with Norman Z. McLeod)
    (Musical numbers only)
  15. Bright Lights (1935)

* * * 1/2 (Out of * * * *)

  1. Strike Up The Band (1940)
  2. Babes in Arms (1939)
  3. Babes on Broadway (1941)

My Favorite Ingmar Bergman Films (2024 Edition)

by John Charet

Some of these I watched online. I saw just about all of Bergman’s films, but not every single one of them.

* * * * (Out of * * * *)

  1. Persona (1966)
  2. Wild Strawberries (1957)
  3. Cries and Whispers (1972)
  4. Saraband (2003)
    (Swedish/Italian/German/Finnish/Danish/Austrian Television)
  5. Fanny and Alexander (1982)
    (Miniseries)
    (Swedish/French/West German Television)
  6. The Silence (1963)
  7. Smiles of a Summer Night (1955)
  8. Winter Light (1963)
  9. Sawdust and Tinsel (1953)
  10. Through a Glass Darkly (1961)
  11. Summer with Monika (1953)
  12. Hour of the Wolf (1968)
  13. Summer Interlude (1951)
  14. Scenes from a Marriage (1973)
    (Miniseries)
    (Swedish Television)
  15. The Seventh Seal (1957)
  16. Shame (1968)
  17. The Magician (1958)
  18. The Virgin Spring (1960)
  19. After the Rehearsal (1984)
    (Swedish Television)
  20. Autumn Sonata (1978)
  21. Face to Face (1976)
  22. The Magic Flute (1975)
  23. From the Life of the Marionettes (1980)
    (Swedish/West German Television)
  24. The Rite (1969)
    (Swedish Television)
  25. The Passion of Anna (1969)
  26. Brink of Life (1958)
  27. Dreams (1955)
  28. A Lesson in Love (1954)
  29. Secrets of Women (1952)
  30. The Devil’s Eye (1960)
  31. A Dream Play (1963)
    (Swedish Television)
  32. To Joy (1950)
  33. In the Presence of a Clown (1997)
    (Swedish/Danish/Norwegian/Italian/German Television)
  34. Faro Document 1979 (1979)
    (Documentary)
    (Television)
  35. Faro Document (1970)
    (Documentary)
    (Television)
  36. The Making of Fanny and Alexander (1984)
    (Documentary)
  37. The Making of Autumn Sonata (1978)
    (Documentary)
  38. Madame de Sade (1992)
    (Swedish Television)
  39. Prison (1949)
  40. Port of Call (1948)
  41. It Rains on Our Love (1946)
  42. The Serpent’s Egg (1977)
  43. Karin’s Face (1986)
    (Documentary)
    (Short)
  44. Thirst (1949)
  45. The Image Makers (2000)
    (Swedish/Danish/Finnish Television)
  46. The Misanthrope (1974)
    (Danish Television)
  47. Music in Darkness (1948)
  48. A Ship Bound for India (1947)
  49. Crisis (1946)
  50. The Blessed Ones (1986)
    (Swedish Television)
  51. The Touch (1971)
  52. Mr. Sleeman Is Coming (1957)
    (Swedish Television)
  53. Ovader (1960)
    (Swedish Television)
  54. The Last Gasp (1995)
    (Swedish Television)
  55. Backanterna (1993)
    (Swedish Television)
  56. Hustruskolan (1983)
    (Swedish Television)
  57. Rabies (1958)
    (Swedish Television)
  58. Stimulantia (1967)
    Segment: Daniel
  59. All These Women (1964)
  60. The Venetian (1958)
    (Swedish Television)
  61. Harald & Harald (1996)
    (Short)
    (Television)
  62. On Set Home Movies (2008)
    (Documentary)
    (Short)
  63. Ingmar Bergman: Making Commercials (1951)
    (Commercials)
    (Short)
    (Swedish Television)
  64. This Can’t Happen Here (1950)

My Favorite Mario Bava Films (2024 Edition)

by John Charet

* * * * (Out of * * * *)

  1. Kill, Baby, Kill (1966)
  2. Blood and Black Lace (1964)
  3. Lisa and the Devil (1973)
  4. A Bay of Blood (1971)
  5. Hatchet for the Honeymoon (1970)
  6. Black Sabbath (1963)
  7. Black Sunday (1960)
  8. Planet of the Vampires (1965)
  9. Danger: DIabolik (1968)
  10. The Whip and the Body (1963)
  11. Erik the Conqueror (1961)
  12. Hercules in the Haunted World (1961)
  13. Rabid Dogs (1974/1998)

* * * 1/2 (Out of * * * *)

  1. Five Dolls for an August Moon (1970)
  2. The Girl Who Knew Too Much (1963)
  3. Baron Blood (1972)
  4. Shock (1977)
  5. Four Times That Night (1971)

My Favorite Noah Baumbach (2024 Edition)

by John Charet

* * * * (Out of * * * *)

  1. Marriage Story (2019)
  2. Margot at the Wedding (2007)
  3. White Noise (2022)
  4. The Meyerowitz Stories (2017)
  5. Frances Ha (2012)
  6. The Squid and the Whale (2005)
  7. MIstress America (2015)
  8. While We’re Young (2014)
  9. Greenberg (2010)
  10. De Palma (2015)
    (co-directed with Jake Paltrow)
    (Documentary)
  11. Mr. Jealousy (1997)
  12. Kicking and Screaming (1995)
    (no relation to the 2005 comedy)
  13. Conrad & Butler Take a Vacation (2000)
    (Short)