What does it all meme?

Tag! You’re it... Or rather I’m it – at least for the rest of this post – because AiP has been tagged to take part in The 12 Movies Meme by Piper at Lazy Eye Theatre.

Inspired by Juno screenwriter Diablo Cody’s recently announced programme for the New Beverly Cinema, Piper is asking other bloggers to imagine their own ideal twelve-night movie stint, preferably with some sort of thread uniting the whole thing.

Now, I’m addicted to making music mixtapes (in fact, don’t even get me started on that or I’ll end up sending you one) but I’ve never tried to do a movie mix before. So let’s see what happens, shall we? (Please note: AiP cannot accept responsibility for any minds blown by its challenging selections.)

Monday-Tuesday



Things kick off with two people kicking off: Michael Douglas because he’s just not going to take it anymore in the rather brilliant and starting-to-be-forgotten Falling Down; and Margaux Hemingway in the already-forgotten but still genuinely startling 70s rape-revenge thriller Lipstick.

Wednesday-Thursday



We’re staying with the 70s influence for The Last of Sheila, an ensemble masterpiece combining mind-bending mystery with camp nastiness par excellence. Then Taboo brings the subgenre up-to-date by forcing a cast of Hollywood teens into the formula, despite the fact they’re barely old enough to drink, never mind have anything to be blackmailed about. Somehow it all still works, however.

Friday-Saturday



Change of pace! Two films from the Far East conjure up an atmosphere of melancholy and loneliness mid-programme: the must-see fantasies 3-Iron and Spirited Away will whisk the viewer into completely new worlds.

Sunday-Monday

The fantasy-vs.-reality theme continues with 1944’s The Curse of the Cat People, a mesmerizing non-sequel to Cat People, which also paves the way for Bridge to Terabithia, another, even more devastating film about the power of fantasy.

Tuesday-Wednesday

Let’s lighten the mood – but darken the tone – with the underrated and stylish nineties remake of A Kiss Before Dying, wherein Sean Young (in her best role) investigates the murder of her twin sister. And then there’s more snooping around in the only real horror film of the season, Lucio Fulci’s hypnotic Lizard in a Woman’s Skin.

Thursday-Friday

Finally, Orson Welles’ Touch of Evil – surely the best Hitchcock film Hitchcock never made – provides a stunning climax to a fortnight of films you really should see, while Woody Allen’s sly, Welles-informed Manhattan Murder Mystery lets you slink off into the night with a smile on your face.

Wait! What? I have to tag five more bloggers to complete the challenge? OK then:

Adolfo of Killed By Dreck

Chick of Trash Aesthetics

Pax Romano of Billy Loves Stu

Nayana of The Center Seat

Foywonder of B-Ware the Blog

Tag!