Jan Freeman writes The Word column for Ideas.
Joshua Glenn is a Boston-based writer, editor, and multimedia
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Christopher Shea writes the Critical Faculties column for Ideas.
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« Boston bomb squad still at it... | Main | Idlers in print » Wednesday, February 28, 2007Idler flicksIn a Brainiac post this past weekend, I suggested that we distinguish between slacker movies (in which, usually, the protagonist winds up gainfully employed by the end) and idler movies (which may explore, but do not resolve the not always unhappy tension between work and leisure). We can all think of slacker movies, but what are the great idler movies? I asked readers to send me suggestions, and you did. Film critic and scholar Chris F., who sometimes writes for the Ideas section, nominated Aki Kaurismaki's "La vie de Boheme," Terence Fisher's "Night of the Big Heat" (an alien invasion movie that takes place on a small island off the coast of England whose residents don't seem to work), and Nicholas Ray's western "Johnny Guitar." About the latter, Chris writes: It's never very clear what the Dancing Kid and his gang (Bart, Corey, and Turkey) are doing in their isolated hilltop cabin.... At one point the Dancing Kid asks Johnny Guitar to work for him as a musician. Johnny asks, "Just what is your business?", and the Dancing Kid snaps, "Don't worry, I'll find one, just play that guitar for me."  I'll get to some of the other nominations later. Keep sending them to me!
Posted by Joshua Glenn at 03:35 PM
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