Rebels with a Cause

In my Oct. 14 post, I listed my tips for a memorable blog. The blogs I admire are

• intelligent
• authentic
• unique
• well linked
• frequently updated

I used these criteria in evaluating Rebels with a Cause -- "a little blog dedicated to the big ideas of Nicholas Ray and Samuel Fuller" -- authored by Caitlin (Caity) Barillas. (Like Professor Schiff, I'm still waiting to see how Sam Fuller figures into the equation. BTW -- Sony just released the Samuel Fuller Collection, containing seven of the director's "lesser known" films.)

Intelligent

Throughout the blog, I was impressed by the writing. Caity's approach is thorough, her points well reasoned. As important, Caity has a way with words. In every post, you'll find an inspired turn of phrase (for example, in the Oct. 22 post on The Lusty Men, Caity states that "there are moments of genius nestled into places where I least expect it").

Authentic

Caity is clearly passionate about/emotionally invested in the subject. In her discussion of In a Lonely Place (Oct. 1 post), Caity remarks

There is one moment that is and will forever be one of my favorite moments in film. When Dixon is sitting at the table in the restaurant after he proposed to Laurel and she walks over to the table, he knows something is wrong. His vulnerability in this moment, that one look, stopped me. It actually hurt to watch and I felt something I’ve never felt in the movies before. It’s unexplainable after that, but I would say it’s one of the most breathtaking scenes I’ve ever seen.

Unique

For me, this is where Rebels stumbles. Each post comes across as an essay for a class -- as something obligatory or required rather than organic. I asked myself if these posts would be better suited for assignments, intended for a course instead of the (much) broader blogosphere.

Also, although I value Caity's experience with and reaction to some important (and not so important) films, there's already a treasure trove of material written about these directors and their works. If I was a casual surfer, I'd have a host of questions:

• Why would I go to Caity's site when I can spend countless hours seeing what film scholars have to say?
• What fresh edge or insights does she have to offer?
• Is she providing a perspective or school of thought unavailable anywhere else?
  

It's the perennial challenge of tackling a well-trod topic -- what new/remarkable info can I bring to the table?

Well Linked

To her credit, Caity includes visuals and videos that complement her content (though I agree with Professor Schiff that uninterrupted blocks of text can get intimidating). I see little evidence, however, that the blog is more than a personal exploration of a director's oeuvre.

Without links, Rebels is in danger of seeming insulated (and uninformed). How is Caity's "take" on the subject reflective of a wider universe, part of a larger critical discussion?

• Did she survey the literature on Ray and Fuller?
• Is she familiar with varied interpretations of their work (how have other critics weighed in, what areas have been traditionally -- or are currently being -- debated, etc.)?
• Are there other themes or issues to consider?
  

In short, did Caity do her homework? This is key to the relevance and credibility of the blog.

Frequently Updated

It seems that, like many of us, Caity came out of the gate strong (with several posts on one day), then settled into a once-a-week schedule (I noticed that there's a two-week gap between the most recent -- Oct. 23 and Nov. 5 -- posts). Speaking frankly, the frequency makes me wonder how committed Caity is to the topic and if she has the diligence/material to sustain her blog.

*****

In closing, Rebels with a Cause shows that Caity definitely has the chops for writing but, after she exhausts the Ray/Fuller axis, may want to pursue a different, less scrutinized subject.