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PopGap #14: Movie Slot Machine, Spin One Completed

PopGap #14: Movie Slot Machine, Spin One Completed

Written by dorrk
01 March 2016

I watch what the slot machine tells me to watch. I do not argue with machines.

The first Movie Slot Machine experiment has been completed, and my initial thought is that the movies were not up to the usual standard. However, this should have been expected with the switch of criteria from Best of lists to a more random and varied method of selection of both themes and films. Only one movie from February's list of 12, Meek's Cutoff, ended up in the top 20% of my Flickchart, and it just barely squeezed in. However, the purpose of using the Movie Slot Machine this year is to discover more obscure movies, so it's a gamble I'm willing to endure.

Here's how February's movies ranked for me:

  1. Meek's Cutoff (2010)
    Dir.: Kelly Reichardt
    My Rank: #644 (Top 19%)
  2. Red River (1948)
    Dir.: Howard Hawks, Arthur Rosson
    My Rank: #769 (Top 23%)
  3. Cries and Whispers (1972)
    Dir.: Ingmar Bergman
    My Rank: #987 (Top 29%)
  4. The Slap (1974)
    Dir.: Claude Pinoteau
    My Rank: #995 (Top 29%)
  5. Tobacco Road (1941)
    Dir.: John Ford
    My Rank: #1280 (Top 38%)
  6. Dr. No (1962)
    Dir.: Terence Young
    My Rank: #1431 (Top 42%)
  7. Night Moves (2013)
    Dir.: Kelly Reichardt
    My Rank: #1485 (Top 44%)
  8. Gunfight at the OK Corral (1957)
    Dir.: John Sturges
    My Rank: #1718 (Top 50%)
  9. The Lion in Winter (1968)
    Dir.: Anthony Harvey
    My Rank: #1743 (Top 51%)
  10. All the King's Men (1949)
    Dir.: Robert Rossen
    My Rank: #2121 (Top 62%)
  11. River of Grass (1994)
    Dir.: Kelly Reichardt
    My Rank: #2476 (Top 73%)
  12. In the Heat of the Night (1967)
    Dir.: Norman Jewison
    My Rank: #2614 (Top 77%)

* As usual in 2016, April and October will be special theme months during which I attempt to burn through specific types of content. November and December are reserved for a special theme. I plan to continue using the Movie Slot Machine intermittently beyond 2016, with new actor, director and filter additions as they compel me.

February's mini-themes were:


Trailers for February's Watchlist


PopGap #14: Movie Slot Machine, Spin One Completed

THE BEST MOVIES I HAVEN'T SEEN... YET!

More info

Full list of all Filters, Directors & Actors loaded into the Movie Slot Machine:
View List

I post reviews for all the movies on this blog, and live-tweet most viewings here:
https://twitter.com/popgap

This list is posted to Letterboxd, here:
http://letterboxd.com/dorrk/list/popgap-2016-02-movie-slot-machine/

You can keep track of my Flickchart here:
http://www.flickchart.com/Charts.aspx?user=dorrk

Movie Slot Machine Lists/Filters

Movie Slot Machine Directors

Movie Slot Machine Actors


TL/DR

  • Movie:
    THE BEST MOVIES I HAVEN'T SEEN... YET!

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