SCFZ

Polling the films of director Sydney Pollack

The rules:

- your list can include no more than half of the Pollack films you've seen, up to a maximum of 5. So if you've seen seven of his films, for example, you can list only a top 3. It's only if you've seen ten or more of his films than you can list the maximum of five.

- i'll assume ballots are ranked unless you tell me otherwise. unranked ballots are fine.

- deadline for ballots: next Tuesday, in seven days, whatever day that is

- if anyone is watching films for these polls, then i'll extend the deadline three days, if someone requests an extension

- next poll: whoever posts the first ballot in this thread is free to nominate the director we poll next, unless you've nominated in this round already (everyone should get a chance). Already nominated this round: no one

umbugbene created an index on letterboxd of all of our previous polls here: letterboxd.com/umbugbene/list/index-of-all-scfz-director-polls/

one rule for nominees: at least 3 scfzers need to have seen 10+ of a nominee's films, or at least 4 scfzers need to have seen at least 8 of the nom's films, so if it isn't clear if that will be the case, we'll confirm that's true before moving forward

if 24 hours pass after a poll opens, and no one eligible to nominate has posted a ballot, then i'll nominate someone, and then we'll start over, and everyone will be able to nominate again

i'm assuming pollack has enough views for a poll.

first person to post a ballot (besides me) please feel free to go ahead and nominate the director for our next poll (or if you don't want to, please mention that so the next voter can).

i'll tally the kobayashi poll tomorrow because i started it late.

They Shoot Horses, Don't They?
Castle Keep
Absence of Malice
The Yakuza
This Property is Condemned

seen 15

01. The Scalphunters (1968)

Pollack seen: 3

I nominate Francois Ozon

seen 4

jeremiah johnson
tootsie


only seen 7 ozons, but i like the choice and would probably watch another if it pushes us over.

TOOTSIE
THEY SHOOT HORSES, DON'T THEY?

Yeah, that's about it. I just don't have room for THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR, as interesting as it is. Or maybe I do. We'll see.

i have 7 ozon too, and if i have that many without even trying to watch ozon films, it seems very likely that quite a few people here will have 8+, so let's just go ahead with ozon as our next poll - i don't think we need to check views.

The Way We Were
Out of Africa
They Shoot Horses, Don't They?
Castle Keep
Jeremiah Johnson

I guess those will work, don't really have much for or against Pollack. He's a star actor's director, does well enough by that, and the movies he's made are at least mildly interesting in premise though usually not mined to the extent they could have been for being star vehicles first. Nonetheless, most aren't bad and are at least somewhat suggestive of something more compelling than the polished finished product by itself.

They Shoot Horses, Don't They?

three days of the condor - except that whole gauzy affair w/faye dunaway DUMB
jeremiah johnson - kid favorite, seen it soooo many times. you hunt grizz, pilgrim?
the yakuza - not as bad as i feared lol. mitchum in japan
tootsie - ok except i'm a little annoyed a man is showing women how to act. umm

seen 8 and enjoyed these. hard to beat vintage redford

i don't think i have any ozon. who is he

Seen 18. Agree -great producer, who was capable to make films of good quality. Giving chance to film stars, but a special friendship was with Robert Redford.
I vote for his most entertaining films:
1. Tootsie (1982)
2. They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969)
3. Jeremiah Johnson (1972)
4. Three Days of the Condor (1975)
5. The Yakuza (1974)
-------------
I have 19 Ozon+ his short movies. Like him

Seen 4

The swimmer
The yakuza

Seen 5:

The Swimmer
The Firm

Seen 4:

1. The Swimmer

I love The Swimmer but how much credit can Pollack be given for that one?

Pollack replaced Frank Perry after he was fired by Sam Spiegel. I'm not sure how much of the finished film is directed by Sydney Pollack.

But if we deem The Swimmer unsuitable for this poll, I'll change my vote to Three Days of the Condor.

i was wondering why you guys are listing it

Seen 6

1. they shoot horses, don't they?
2. tootsie
3. three days of the condor

didn't get too many ballots for this, so i'll accept late votes (though please don't look at the results before voting if you're voting late)

results

1. They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969) -- 17 pts
2. Tootsie (1982) -- 14 pts
3. The Way We Were (1973) -- 10 pts
4. Jeremiah Johnson (1972) -- 9 pts
5. Three Days of the Condor (1975) -- 8 pts
6. Absence of Malice (1981) -- 7 pts
7. Castle Keep (1969) -- 6 pts
7. The Yakuza (1974) -- 6 pts
9. The Swimmer (1968) -- 5 pts
10. Out of Africa (1985) -- 4 pts
11. The Firm (1993) -- 3 pts
12. This Property is Condemned (1966) -- 1 pt
12. The Scalphunters (1968) -- 1 pt

I missed the deadline on this one, but...

Seen 10

1. The Way We Were
2. Absence of Malice
3. Tootsie
4. The Firm
5. Three Days of the Condor

i counted your ballot - we had a bit less participation than normal for this poll, so extra ballots are good!

Thanks!

posted to letterboxd:

https://letterboxd.com/fliptrotsky/list ... -poll-143/