In Memorium

A note that the FFC mutha-site is going unofficially “dark” until next Saturday. The first extended blackout in our eight-year history, I think. And while this blog will be active in the interim, we’re putting a card in the window (pushing our Top Tens as well as reviews of Match Point (**1/2/****), The New World (****/****), Caché (****/****), and The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (*1/2/*****) one week into the New Year): not “gone fishin’” but sort of licking our wounds.

We’ve lost a member of the family: Bill’s father passed away yesterday. It was sudden: a cancer undiagnosed for three years took mortal hold a week ago, and now before we had a chance to readjust to it all, he’s gone.

Bill’s the heart and soul of FFC – without him, the gears don’t turn. Our hearts are broken. And while movies can be a wonderful way to escape reality, sometimes reality catches us. It can be a sonuvabitch that way.

So we’re taking a week with the new updates – but tomorrow night, I’ll be here with a new Trenches – talking about the best performances of the year (take a look at Reeler’s fairly brilliant Top Ten Top-Tens – which had me until they offered up their suggestions of what should be on the year-enders instead. Stick to the snarky ombudsmanship, boys), and a little of what 2006 might have to offer the beleaguered Silver Screen.