Slate's knee-jerk contrarianism is notorious - but really, did you have to take the death of Bergman as a chance to knock him? Perhaps Antonioni is "very much in vogue" in Park Slope, but it's just rude, and silly, to maintain that Bergman's reputation is "dented by overexposure and caricature." In my opinion, Bergman was the greater of the two - although Antonioni was indeed great. (And if this writer feels Antonioni has never been caricatured, he should check out the finale of the first Austin Powers, which features the frocks from Blow-Up.)

As for Ted Burke - why are people with poor taste always so angry about it? You don't get it - we hear you; now please shut up. I saw my first Bergman film - The Seventh Seal - when I was thirteen, and loved it immediately (and no, I hadn't read "How to Read a Film," by James Monaco, whatever that is). It came through recently on my Netflix rotation and I loved it all over again. L'eclisse was another recent Netflix encounter - and another happy reunion. (P.S. People might be interested to know that very early Bergman - Torment, Thirst, etc. - has recently become available on Criterion.)

My real problem as to tastes in movies is that I'm hard to please. Famous directors who've been habitually praised for decades don't get a pass merely because they have notoriety.

In case you're curious, here's a little information on Monaco's book.

"My real problem as to [others'] tastes in movies is that I'm hard to please. Famous directors who've been habitually praised [by others] for decades don't get a pass [from me] merely because they have notoriety."

So the problem is that you don't get some films--because you're "hard to please"--and thus habitually interrogate the tastes of those who do enjoy those films?

It's awfully hard to make friends if you're accusing others of having poor (or substandard) taste, isn't it?

Monaco's is a nice textbook. Many Intro to Film courses use it.

Paula26:

Then by all means, tell us about your fave directors, screenwriters, movies, so that we can get off this non-argument.

The usual suspects for directors: John Ford, Howard Hawks, Michael Mann, Martin Scorsesee,Fellini, Preston Sturgess, Joel and Ethan Coen, Godard, Oshima, Werner Herzog, Clint Eastwood, Billy Wilder, Chris Nolan, John Houston, Wim Wenders, Coppola, Woody Allen, David Fincher,Fassbinder, Jacques Tati, Nicholas Roeg, Orson Wells,Walter Hill, Ridley Scott (if only for Blade Runner and The Duelist), and many others.

In no particular order, favorite films: Blade Runner, It Happpened One Night, Unforgiven, Crimes and Misdemeanors, Momento, Miller's Crossing, Barton Fink, Godfathers l and ll, Mystic River, Red River, Walkabout, Death by Hanging, Alphaville, Weekend, Fight Club, Playtime, Citizen Kane, Touch of Evil, Alice in the Cities, Feat Eats the Soul Ali, Raging Bull, The Searchers, for the time being. This list changes constantly.

jds2006:

So the problem is that you don't get some films--because you're "hard to please"--and thus habitually interrogate the tastes of those who do enjoy those films?

It's not that I don't get certain films, but that I don't like them. "Getting " something isn't synonymous for appreciation.

jds2006:

It's awfully hard to make friends if you're accusing others of having poor (or substandard) taste, isn't it?

Not at all. One, friendships worthy of the term are rarely based on coinciding tastes in movies. It's an additionally ingredient in among many small and large qualities that would attract one to become friends with another person. Friendships can sustain a disagreement about the relative merits of directors and their movies.I'm lucky enough to have friends who think discussing films critically is a worthy activity. One does, of course, exercise prudence and good sense as to what they discuss with whom, and to what degree and passion they pursue their point with another.I don't accuse anyone of having bad taste, I merely disagree with them in a civil way. Let's just say that I save my energy for those who can make a good case for their likes or dislikes.

I think that you are misunderstanding the wincingly slangy "get" and "make friends" in my post. Never mind. I am glad that my impression is wrong and that, contrary to the implication of your post, you do not bring up taste when you are arguing critical content with friends (or "friends").

Nice list of films, by the way.