the chutry experiment

ha--that's the exact reason i don't participate in netflix's 'friends' program. i like to rent junk sometimes and i don't want to be judged by that!

You'll appreciate this. Know what I rented a couple of days ago? The Best of Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog. I should be ashamed...but ultimately it might be best for people to know that kind of stuff up front.

"I'd suddenly feel self-conscious about renting a really bad movie..."

But i think that's something you get over with any kind of online dating thing - just like you reach a point where you, say, stop lying about your height or weight on a personals profile because really, if you're really looking for someone to have a real relationship with, there's no point - you'd reach a point with match/netflix where you'd leave The Best of Triumph on the queue next to Alphaville or whatever, because you really want to meet someone who LIKES the fact that you're into both Godard and a dirty joke-cracking talking dog. You know?

Clancy, you shouldn't feel the least bit guilty about watching Triumph....

But in terms of having my Netflix rental habits recorded for potential dates, I'll admit I'm a little uncomfortable with that. In fact, I usually avoid renting Hollywood crap like Paycheck or I, Robot from my favorite independent video store, which I know is kind of lame. But I wouldn't want to feel constrained about what I'm renting because of people checking out my profile. Plus, you can always disclose IRL that you appreciate both Godard and Triumph.

Ha! I wonder if Jonathan would have been interested in me had he known I rented Triumph. My guess is yes; he's a pretty open-minded guy. :-)

well chuck you probably are doing the right thing in not renting movies like i,robot from an independent video store--at one near me, the clerk literally would not allow my roommate to rent 'training day.' he told him that if he wanted to see denzel washington he could give him other suggestions. in places like that i think they really do judge you based on your rental habits!

The danger with something like this is that it would be too easy to manipulate your own tastes in order to find the right kind of person. Especially if you're a person who's seen thousands and thousands of obscure movies.

Also, rankings for connoisseurs (or "experts") don't make sense. How does one decide between something like The Discret Charm of the Bourgeoisie and The Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant?

It's hopeless, I tell you. Hopeless!

Clancy, I think you're probably safe, but maybe we'd better check with Jonathan?

Cynthia, I'd always suspected as much. When I move to DC, I'll be sure to rent some Godard or something from the local indie video store to establish my film cred.

Amardeep, you're right, of course about the ease of manipulation. And you raise an important question: what kind of film geek do you want perform? Too much Bunuel or Fassbinder might make you appear too Euro-centric. Better throw in some Ozu or Wong Kar Wei to establish cinematic diversity....

Just not Godard's King Lear. If you want to see it, give me your address and I'll send you mine to keep (on VHS). :-)

oh Clancy, are you serious?? I occasionally teach in a Shakespeare on Film course, which I don't mind telling you between ourselves is a right royal pain, as some of the people I work with have no idea about anything that happened after say 1550. I would love to have a copy of Godard's movie, just for departmental culture-jamming purposes if no other....but is it really so terrible? I was under the impression it was impossible to get hold of. If you want to give it away, it must be pretty bad I guess!

Laura, I've seen Godard's Lear at several independent video stores here in the US. It's difficult, but by no means impossible, to find. And it may still only be available on VHS (I've never seen a DVD version). And, I'll admit that it's also a difficult film to watch, although I haven't really tried to watch it in several years.

Still, I think it would be a useful addition to a department's video collection.

Either one of you would be welcome to it! If you email me (clancy @ culturecat . net) and give me your mailing address, I'll be happy to send it on to you.

I think I'll give Laura first dibs. There are a few copies of Godard's Lear floating around Atlanta, and I'd imagine the same is true of DC.