It’s the most wonderful/horrible time of year. Twitter and Film Twitter specifically is a shitshow, but hey, the holidays are right around the corner and it’s time for some gift giving. Looking for that something special for the cinephile in your life? We’ve got you covered, from books, to DVD box-sets to TV discs you need, we’ve created a little melange of present ideas you can gift a pal, a love one or someone you want to impress. Yes, David Lynch gets a lot of love, but 2017 was the year of Lynch, and his presence is a gift on all of us who love cinema and visual storytelling of any kind.
Without further ado, and to trying to stimulate our economy in these trying times, here’s our recommended gift guide for the holidays. You’ll surely make anyone happy with any of these cineaste-y surprises.
READ MORE: click here for our full coverage of the best of 2017.
David Kehr’s “When Movies Mattered”
Dave Kehr is a deeply knowledgeable film historian, if you have any questions about movies and their makers; he is the man for the job. Whether you agree with him or not, his book“When Movies Mattered” is a must-read for any cinephile. His criticism from The Reader is included in this insightful and fascinating read of forgotten film history, with his controversial Top Ten lists included. Kehr’s never strayed away from his ideals nor has he ever backed down when it comes to passionate movie conversation, which started for him during the auteur criticism of the ’70s American cinema. Although intellectual in content and more than filled with countless details, this is still an essential gift for anybody that has made cinema their life’s passion. Kehr’s witty observations might make you re-evaluate a film, especially when his acute descriptions of individual director’s stylistic qualities come into the fray of conversation. There’s no celebrity gossip, the Oscars, or any kind of superficial view of film, to Kehr the “auteur” theory is everything and anything that has to do with cinema.
The Stanley Kubrick archives
This mesmerizing book, filled with Stanley Kubrick’s masterful visuals is setup through a wisely sequenced, mesmerizing compilation of stills from his films. Not just that, the mysterious and secretive creative process that Kubrick has been known for is shown with fascinating archival material, which includes set designs, sketches, correspondence, documents, screenplays, drafts, notes, and shooting schedules. This collection of archives tries to enter the head of one of cinema’s great visionaries to better understand his way of making movies. Essays by noted Kubrick scholars and articles written by the man himself are added, as is a selection of Kubrick’s best interviews. It’s all rendered in a beautifully organized mashup of colors and never-before seen pictures which try to give a visual depiction of the man at work. Although he’s never done any DVD commentary in his career, this is as close to any kind of commentary Kubrick will ever give us. Relish its every page.
The Art And Soul Of “Blade Runner 2049”
1982’s “Blade Runner” had eye-popping visuals that saw a vision of the future that was so uniquely breathtaking that 35 years later it justly has its place in the cinematic time capsule as a landmark movie. Much of the original cast came back for its sequel, Denis Villeneuve’s “Blade Runner 2049.” The making of this film is chronicled in the official visual guide; The Art and Soul of Blade Runner 2049 . The book documents the film’s inception two years ago all the way to the finished product the blew our mind this past October. Access to the cast and crew is unprecedented, as a photographer seems to have been part of every single important creative moment which led to film’s creation. There’s concept art, storyboards, behind-the-scenes photography, and production stills. Although this is a visually-driven book, there are also fascinating insights from the makers themselves that act as commentary for the individual photos. Just like the film itself, “The Art and Soul of Blade Runner 2049” is a work of art.
Kino Lorber is another boutique DVD/Blue ray label.
If you’re into Horror/Cult/Exploitation films there’s Shout/Scream Factory, Synapse, Arrow, Vinegar Syndrome, Severin.