My name is John LaRue, and I am a graphic designer/production editor at a top 20 university in U.S. News and World Report’s Best College rankings. In my spare time, I like to watch a boatload of movies and write about them here. I live in St. Louis, Missouri, which is the provel cheese capital of the world. That’s primarily because nobody else in their right mind throughout the world would eat the stuff.
I grew up all over the U.S., though I claim Madison, Wisconsin as “where I grew up”. I have previously worked for five years in professional baseball–two of those as an intern–as a Media Relations Director. It goes without saying that I’m also a huge baseball geek. I’m devoted to the St. Louis Cardinals.
At TDYLF, I try to cover as much as I can. I like to aim for humor. Few things in this world make me feel better than to know that I’ve made someone laugh. I am an avid fan of foreign film, with a special emphasis on Ingmar Bergman and French films. Horror films get their fair share of play here. Classic TV and premium cable programming both get attention at TDYLF. I have a blast photoshopping things together. I enjoy making obscure lists, quizzes, infographics, and flowcharts. I also have several series of articles that you can find here, such as:
Don’t Watch It, John!
I try to find the worst movies around, watch them, and review them in order to protect the universe from having to see them.
Iron Director
This series pits two directors against one another, each with some sort of common thread between the two. Two directors enter, one director leaves.
Re-watchterpiece Theater
Re-watchterpiece Theater examines the way that my attitudes and opinions change about various films upon watching them a second, third, or fourth time.
The Movies We Love
I choose various films that I love deeply, open them up, and examine the contents to see precisely what makes them so lovable.
100 Things
While this is not a series that runs often, I’ve been known to compile lists of 100 Things I Love About Movies, occasionally with an emphasis on certain genres.
Great Moments in Movie History (Using Stick Figures)
This is exactly what it sounds like–memorable movie scenes, memorialized using stick figures.
If you’re looking for a few places to start, I suggest you begin with these:
The Six Stages of Movie Geek Evolution
12 Great Moments in Movie History, Using Stick Figures
100 Things I Love About the Movies
The Movies That Have Influenced Edgar Wright Films
The Black Sheep of Director Filmographies
Flowchart: Which Horror Movie Should You Be Watching?
Movies That Would Be Better With Bacon
The list of directors that I enjoy is immense, probably too immense to mention here. And yet, I’m going to try anyway. Some of my favorite directors: Bergman, Buster Keaton, John Huston, Luis Buñuel, Billy Wilder, Martin Scorsese, Louis Malle, Akira Kurosawa, Preston Sturges, Alfred Hitchcock, Joel and Ethan Coen, Mel Brooks, François Truffaut, Jean-Luc Godard, Fritz Lang, Michael Powell/Emeric Pressburger, Sam Peckinpah, Jacques Tati, Quentin Tarantino… this could go on forever but I think you get the idea of my favorites. The Cliff’s Notes version is that Bergman and Buster Keaton are my yin and yang.
Contact me at theblogyourelookingfor@gmail.com.
I have enjoyed your insane website so much, I decided to feature it on a blog I do called Spanning the Whirled. The idea of my site is to feature cool websites that I find either impressive or frightening. In your case, it fit both categories.
Check it:
http://spanningthewhirled.wordpress.com/2010/12/30/the-droid-you-are-looking-for/
That’s awesome! Thank you so much!
Maybe I need to change my masthead to reflect the “Impressive, but frightening” moniker.
You’re from the US right?
That’s correct. I live in St. Louis, Missouri- the midwest United States.
Hey John,
I am going to add The Droid You’re Looking For to the Blogroll at Anti-Film School. I have become a huge fan of your site and I am consistently blown away by the creativity on display here. Here’s to more posts that have me doubled over in laughter and marveling at your wit!
-Steve
Thank you so much, Steve! And likewise, I’ve been meaning to add you to mine. Consider it done.
hello, tdylf,
would you mind if i tag you in my post? i know, this isn’t very cool and it’s my first time to be tagged and do some tagging as well, hehe, but i thought i should ask. please, say yes…^^ the tag will come with a short description of the site and why i visit it often.
sorry for the bother. hope to hear from you soon. many thanks and regards,
cynicismonhold
Hello. It’s not a bother at all! Please feel free to tag me. I’m honored.
Thanks!
thanks!
Holy Christ! Keith Spillet what a photo! I came for the stick figures and stayed for the photos. Anybody notice how close the words photos and potatoes are?
Just stopping by to let you know i’ve bestowed upon you the honour of the One Lovely Blog Award. Good work, really enjoying reading your posts!
http://terrymalloyspigeoncoop.com/2012/06/18/one-lovely-blog-award/
Thank you very much! I’m flattered. I’ve done something very similar here:
http://tdylf.com/2012/03/31/the-7×7-link-awards/
It’s a little different, but definitely the same vein. Thank you again!
I actually think someone nominated me for the 7×7 thing at some point, yeah it is essentially a variation on a theme.
And no problem at all, i think your blogs are excellent!
i am interested in your Santa Movies and where I might be able to purchase some
You can find many of the silent Santa Claus films on this collection:
Christmas Past – Vintage Holiday Films
The Director’s rollcall and the titbit about obscure lists/quizzes, had me hooked.
Jumping aboard (for the blog, not being filthy or anything.)
Excellent! Welcome aboard!
You have such taste! Glad to have found you this afternoon.
Thank you!
Hi John,
Saw your comment on Curnblog (where you mentioned even smaller films).
I’m an aspiring filmmaker, if you’re curious to watch yet another short one, feel free to pop by: http://archaicsugar.wordpress.com/about/
Other than that, curious to check out your blog. Take good care..
I’ll check it out. Thanks for coming by!
Yeah. You got it!