Citizen Rules...Cinemaesque Chat-n-Review [Archive] - Page 2

Citizen Rules

12-31-14, 02:49 PM

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The Magnificent Seven (1960)

Director: John Sturges
Screen Writer: William Roberts, Walter Bernstein (uncredited)
Cast: Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, RobertVaughn, Brad Dexter,
James Coburn, Horst Buchholz, Eli Wallach
Length: 128 minutes
Filming Location: Morelos state, Mexico

A poor Mexican farming village is terrorized by bandidos, so the poor villagers decide to fight back with the help of seven American gunslingers, that are 'hired guns'.

Based on the Japanese masterpiece, Seven Samurai. The Magnificent Seven is Hollywood's version of that classic film. Both Yul Brynner and Charles Coburn were big fans of Seven Samurai. Yul Brynner acquired the rights to the story and set out to remake it as a western.

Numerous problems plagued the production. Filming was done on location in Morelos, Mexico. The problem was the Mexican censors demanded script changes so that Mexican farmers would only be seen in a positive way. They even demanded the farmer's clothes couldn't show dirt.

A young upstart actor, Steve McQueen, took every opportunity to upstage his fellow actors. If you watch McQueen carefully he's always fidgeting or adjusting his hat, etc. Yul Brynner was upset that many of his lines were given to the director's favorites in the movie: Steve McQueen and the German actor Horst Buchholz.

The first script writer was so upset about charges to his work that he demanded his name be removed from the movie. Yul Brynner went so far as to make mounds of dirt to stand on so he would appear taller than McQueen and he hired an assistant to count how many times McQueen touched his hat.

When it was finally finished it was a good western with big star names, but lacking in character development. Many of the big name stars have limited screen time. The Magnificent Seven marks the arrival of a new style of western movie, where the bad guys are the heroes and despite being cold blooded gunslingers they do have their own set of morals.

rating_3_5

gbgoodies

01-01-15, 12:24 AM

Another great thing about The Magnificent Seven is that it has an amazing soundtrack.

honeykid

01-01-15, 12:23 PM

Another great thing? What was the first? :p

cricket

01-01-15, 01:56 PM

I like Rollerball and The Magnificent Seven quite a bit, but it's been a while for both.

Citizen Rules

01-01-15, 04:18 PM

Another great thing about The Magnificent Seven is that it has an amazing soundtrack.Absolutely! I should have mentioned that. It was Nominated
for an Academy Award for 'Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture, Elmer Bernstein'.

Citizen Rules

01-01-15, 04:50 PM

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Earth Girls Are Easy (1988)

Director: Julien Temple
Writers: Julie Brown, Charlie Coffey
Cast: Geena Davis, Jeff Goldblum, Jim Carrey,
Damon Wayans,Julie Brown,Michael McKean

Need a good reason to watch Earth Girls Are Easy...Geena Davis! She's looking very hot in this film. Especially in her big musical number, as she trashes a house while parading around in her lingerie. Later we see more of her too!

Earth Girls are Easy is a fluffy, silly, wacky film with lots of pretty girls and colorful, fanciful sets that ooze with 1980s California Valley style.

Geena plays Valerie Gail (get it?), her doctor boyfriend has cheated on her and that's why she trashes his house. She's sad, so she goes and suns herself by the pool... and then by chance, an alien space ship crash lands in the pool. It's either a small ship or a very large pool!

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Valerie's bored so she then invites the furry aliens into her house for lunch. Then just for fun she takes them to Julie Brown's Beauty Salon where they get defurred and a fun make over too.

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Then we're treated to another big splashy musical number in the beauty salon. Earth Girls Are Easy has some kitchy, fun 80s songs in it. Don't miss Julie Brown's big 80s hit Cause I'm a Blonde...well she's not blonde, go figure!

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Earth Girls Are Easy, is good stupid fun! And a great nostalgic trip back to the glitzy 80s.

Fun Ratingrating_4

honeykid

01-01-15, 06:47 PM

I only saw this because my sister really wanted to see it. One of the rare occasions where she as right. I really enjoyed it and I still like it quite a lot. SC and I did a commentary for it last year.

gbgoodies

01-01-15, 07:01 PM

I saw Earth Girls Are Easy many years ago, and all I really remember about it was that it was kind of stupid. But I was much younger then, so maybe I should re-watch it and give it another chance.

honeykid

01-01-15, 07:21 PM

Oh, it is stupid. No doubt about that. That's part of its charm, IMO.

Citizen Rules

01-01-15, 07:37 PM

Earth Girls Are Easy, is good stupid fun!
I bet the commentary you and SC did was a lot of fun! I liked the look back at the 80s...among other things;)

JayDee

01-01-15, 09:17 PM

There's no doubt that Earth Girls Are Easy is tremendously stupid, but what is also not in doubt for me is that it's good fun. It is just so 80s that it's unbelievable.

As you mention Citizen, Geena Davis is insanely hot in this film. :eek: And the casting of Jim Carrey and Jeff Goldlbum as aliens is inspired. I mean if you need two guys to portray weird beings from another planet you're not going to find many better candidates than those two. Goldblum's natural state in particular always seems pretty alien. :D In fact Christopher Walken would be another one, has he ever played an alien in anything?

Citizen Rules

01-01-15, 11:04 PM

JayDee good observations and too funny and too true about Goldblum and Carrey seeming alien-esque. Walken would make a fine alien too, I don't know if he ever did play one. There was a pretty funny scene that was cut from the film, it had all of them driving down Sunset Blvd with Julie Brown signing.

Captain Spaulding

01-02-15, 03:38 AM

I was shocked by how much I enjoyed Earth Girls Are Easy. I had very low expectations going into it, expecting it be cringe-worthy, but it's a very fun movie, despite the overwhelming stupidity. I even enjoyed the songs, which is rare for me. Like JayDee said, the movie is about as 80's as it gets, but that's part of its charm. They just don't make movies like this anymore.

And you're right, CR --- Geena Davis is sexy as all hell in the movie. I've never found her particularly attractive, but Earth Girls Are Easy is the one of the few exceptions.

cricket

01-02-15, 10:11 AM

And you're right, CR --- Geena Davis is sexy as all hell in the movie. I've never found her particularly attractive, but Earth Girls Are Easy is the one of the few exceptions.

I agree completely, and I also enjoyed this movie. One of the great movie titles as well.

JayDee

01-02-15, 12:21 PM

And you're right, CR --- Geena Davis is sexy as all hell in the movie. I've never found her particularly attractive, but Earth Girls Are Easy is the one of the few exceptions.

I also found her rather sexy in Long Kiss Goodnight. Not so much when she was the housewife but certainly when she was the ruthless, dangerous killer. Not sure what exactly that says about me! :p

Citizen Rules

01-02-15, 02:28 PM

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Ruby Sparks (2012)

Directors: Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris
Writer: Zoe Kazan
Cast: Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan,
Indie Production: Fantasy-Drama, Comedy-Romance

Synopsis: A brilliant young novelist who suffers from anxiety and writer's block, seeks the help of a psychologist who suggest that he writes a story about his dream girl....who then appears out of thin air.

Ruby Sparks is from the directors of Little Miss Sunshine, but don't expect to see that movie. For the most part it's an intelligent and unique indie film that's worth watching. Even though it's listed as a comedy romance drama, it's mainly a drama based on what happens when a 'dream partner' magical appears. There are some light comic moments but it's not a rom-com, it's more of a serious study of relationships and needs. The film also effectively works as a mystery...as the viewer tries to figure out just where did the mysterious Ruby Sparks come from.

Both the leads, Paul Dano and Zoe Kazan... who are a real life couple, shine in their roles. The ability of these two actors to portray realistic people in a movie with an very unusual event, makes Ruby Sparks work so well. There's indeed chemistry between the two actors and some very poignant and touching scenes. But don't think this is a strictly romance movie, as it has a more somber thread running through it too.

While the very last few minutes seemed tacked on, I did really enjoy the film overall. Ruby Sparks has a true indie spirit and enough polish on it to make it shine.

rating_4

JayDee

01-02-15, 09:24 PM

I liked Ruby Sparks but not nearly as much as I was hoping to. I thought there was a real chance I'd love it but just didn't work out that way. Will definitely rewatch it someday in the hope that I like it better on that occasion

Citizen Rules

01-02-15, 09:53 PM

I liked Ruby Sparks but not nearly as much as I was hoping to. I thought there was a real chance I'd love it but just didn't work out that way.JayDee, I think I know what you mean.

During the first part of the movie my mind came up with different scenarios for how the movie was going to explain the magic appearance of Ruby Sparks.

I thought the movie would eventually show that the writer was going insane and the last scenes would reveal that he was under mental care. We would find out he had hallucinated being a famous writer, hallucinated Ruby and all of his life. We would see that Ruby was his real girlfriend and that he had no ability to change her by writing....I really hated the tact on happy ending with the walk in the park where he meets her.

cricket

01-03-15, 02:26 AM

Never heard of Ruby Parks before now; it sounds like something I might like, and it's got a nice cast. I really like Paul Dano as an up and comer.

Citizen Rules

01-03-15, 10:43 PM

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=48277&stc=1&d=1537651653Magic in the Moonlight (2014)

Director: Woody Allen
Writer: Woody Allen
Cast: Colin Firth, Emma Stone, Marcia Gay Harden
Length: 97 minutes
Genre: Romance Comedy Period Piece

Premise (spoiler free): A cynical man (Colin Firth), falls in love with a psychic medium (Emma Stone) as he attempts to prove she's a fake.

Review: The shocked look on Emma Stone's face pretty much sums up how I feel about this movie. Once again Woody Allen writes a movie that bases the lead character on Woody's own angst ridden neurosis. 30-40 years ago a Woody Allen caricature might have been funny in one of his movies, today it's just pathetic. The script is tedious, with long 'talky' scenes. There's little emotional impact, unless you count boredom. If Woody can say something in 300 words that could have been said in 10, he'll do it. I've never seen a movie with so much inane chatter.

The characters are cardboard. They seem to exist just to talk and yet we don't really ever learn or care about them. It's too bad as Colin Firth is one of the current greats working but you'd never know it from this movie.

Magic in the Moonlight has nice enough art direction with some impressive looking scenery shot in the south of France. The colors of the movie print were grossly over-saturated with fluorescent lime green grass and bright cyan water. It took me awhile to figure out why the director had done this....it was a nice try, but didn't work.

The premise of the story is a strong one and would seem to have much potential. For a so called romance-comedy there's scarce comedy and even less romance. I'm not sure how anyone could ruin a movie this badly, but Woody did.

rating_1

seanc

01-03-15, 10:50 PM

Ouch, disappointing review. I was looking forward to this one, but maybe not anymore.

Citizen Rules

01-03-15, 10:55 PM

Sean, I would be the first to say, read other reviews too. Some people on MoFo really liked it. If you like lots of stage play dialogue in your movies, maybe you might like it too. I have to review it based on how I felt and I hated it.:mad:

This is a link to a google search of the MoFo site for Magic in the Moonlight

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&as_q=&as_epq=magic+in+the+moonlight&as_oq=&as_eq=&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&lr=&cr=&as_qdr=all&as_sitesearch=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.movieforums.com&as_occt=any&safe=images&tbs=&as_filetype=&as_rights=

gbgoodies

01-03-15, 11:42 PM

I read your review of Ruby Sparks, and it sounds familiar. I think I may have seen it, but I don't remember a lot about it. I'll have to re-watch it and see if it's the movie that I'm thinking it might be.

Citizen Rules

01-03-15, 11:45 PM

I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on it. I think you would at least mostly like it.

gbgoodies

01-03-15, 11:45 PM

I haven't heard of Magic in the Moonlight, but I might give it a try, (eventually), even though your review doesn't make it sound very good. I'm not a big fan of Woody Allen, but I recently saw a couple of his movies that I liked, so I'm trying to watch a few more of his movies and give him another chance. Also, I like Colin Firth in the few movies that I've seen him.

cricket

01-04-15, 01:21 AM

Granted, I haven't seen The King's Speech yet, but so far I'm not a fan of Colin Firth and therefore have no interest in Magic in the Moonlight.

Arcanis

01-04-15, 03:20 AM

I loved Ruby Sparks, although it definitely dove into far darker territory than it needed to. This is not actually a criticism, as the bombastic scene(s) in question is / are the most memorable part(s) of the film. It found just the right balance between the fantastical and the horrific in its unconventional premise.

Citizen Rules

01-04-15, 03:57 AM

... I'm not a big fan of Woody Allen, but I recently saw a couple of his movies that I liked, so I'm trying to watch a few more of his movies and give him another chance. Also, I like Colin Firth in the few movies that I've seen him. I really liked some of Woody Allen's old movies like Sleeper and Bananas. I think Woody can be funny playing more or less himself. But this movie didn't work for me.

Granted, I haven't seen The King's Speech yet, but so far I'm not a fan of Colin Firth and therefore have no interest in Magic in the Moonlight. Cricket, I could easily put The King's Speech on my top 10 list, I would rate very high. I've told several non movie fans about it and they ended up loving it.

I loved Ruby Sparks, although it definitely dove into far darker territory than it needed to. This is not actually a criticism, as the bombastic scene(s) in question is / are the most memorable part(s) of the film. It found just the right balance between the fantastical and the horrific in its unconventional premise. That's well said, you describe it to a tee. For me I was hoping for a far darker ending, but then that's just me.:eek:

Captain Spaulding

01-04-15, 08:27 AM

I loved the premise of Ruby Sparks, but I don't think it ever came close to capitalizing on its potential. The film could have gone in so many interesting directions, but instead I found it rather middling with the exception of a few late scenes.

Not seen Magic in the Moonlight. Woody Allen is very hit-or-miss for me anyway. He rarely strings together two great films anymore, so since I loved 2013's Blue Jasmine, I figured Magic in the Moonlight would probably be a letdown.

I do love me some Emma Stone, though. :love:

gbgoodies

01-04-15, 12:35 PM

Not seen Magic in the Moonlight. Woody Allen is very hit-or-miss for me anyway. He rarely strings together two great films anymore, so since I loved 2013's Blue Jasmine, I figured Magic in the Moonlight would probably be a letdown.

I usually say the same thing about Michael Caine. His movies seem to run one good, one bad, one good, one bad, etc.

Citizen Rules

01-04-15, 01:02 PM

I'm willing to try another Woody Allen film.

Any recommendations for a good one that he made in the last 20 years? I'll watch 1 or 2 of your guys choices and post my review here.

mark f

01-04-15, 02:08 PM

Manhattan Murder Mystery and Midnight in Paris

seanc

01-04-15, 02:11 PM

Have you seen Blue Jasmine?

christine

01-04-15, 02:12 PM

I usually say the same thing about Michael Caine. His movies seem to run one good, one bad, one good, one bad, etc.

I reckon Michael Caine has been coasting for donkeys years. He's been Michael Caine in most films he's been in since the turn of the 2000s if not before. I still love him mind.

Citizen Rules

01-04-15, 05:21 PM

Thanks for the recommendations. I requested:

Manhattan Murder Mystery
Midnight in Paris
Blue Jasmine

I'll do a review here on those when I see them.

Citizen Rules

01-04-15, 10:34 PM

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=48278&stc=1&d=1537652060Another Earth (2011)

Director: Mike Cahill
Writers: Mike Cahill, Brit Marling
Cast: Brit Marling, William Mapother, Matthew-Lee Erlbach

Synopsis: A teenage girl driving home drunk from a party slams into a car killing a mother and her child...only the husband survives. The story begins four years later when the girl is released from prison. Guilt ridden, she seeks to apologize to the man who's family she's killed, instead she looses her nerve and lies to him about who she is and then takes a job as his house cleaner.

Another Earth is a fine indie film that won a slew of awards, including two prestigious Sundance Awards. It might look like a sci-fi, but it's not. Besides the news broadcast of the discovery of another Earth like planet, there's no sci fi elements. The film revolves around the relationship between the two survivors of the car crash. That relationship is based on a lie.

What I found fascinating was the way the movie explored the guilt that these people had and how they dealt with it. I believed I was watching real people, especially Brit Marling who's amazing.

As this is a small budget indie film don't expect to see fancy sets and beautiful scenery. Instead the film rewards the viewer with top notch acting and a unique story line.

rating_4

Gatsby

01-04-15, 10:52 PM

As requested by Citizen Rules via PM... a review of a review. :D

The best aspect of your review is that it was non-bloated and clear on what it was. You could have confused us for expecting something else due to the typical sci-fi title. Presenting it as an Indie film and commenting on the strong acting also let us know that it wouldn't have any Twilight teen romance. Overall you made me want to watch the film. :)

If there is something that you can change for the better, it's that to be more descriptive, especially with the technical aspect of the film. I really liked that it was short, simple and to-the-point but it would have been better if you dug in a bit more. Just my opinion.

Citizen Rules

01-04-15, 10:58 PM

Gatsby, I really appreciate you giving me your thoughts:)

I thought you might say my spelling blows and my grammar is non existent...;)

I really do struggle with proof reading. Sometimes I just about give up as I can't proof read my own stuff...as I can't read one word at a time. I read words in blocks, so I often miss simply grammar mistakes, that my mind knows but my eyes don't see it.

cricket

01-04-15, 11:03 PM

Another Earth sounds great-added to watchlist.

Simseboy

01-07-15, 04:55 AM

Citizen Rules, definitely check out Midnight in Paris that film is amazing.

Citizen Rules

01-07-15, 12:38 PM

I will, I have it ordered and will review it here.

Citizen Rules

01-10-15, 12:33 AM

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The Naked Kiss (1964)

Director: Samuel Fuller
Writer: Samuel Fuller
Cast: Constance Towers, Anthony Eisley, Michael Dante

Wow! this movie was not what I expected. The DVD cover made it look sappy....But this is one gutsy flick, especially for the time. Sam Fuller directed, wrote and produced The Naked Kiss and his potent tabloid style of realism is stamped all over this hidden gem.

Kelly, played to steely perfection by Constance Towers, is a prostitute come to the small town of Grantville. She's told in no uncertain terms by Police Capt. Griff (Anthony Eisley), that her kind doesn't belong in the town. Instead he sends her to a gentleman's club across the state line. It seems the Police Capt. likes working girls, just not in his tidy town.

Sickened with her life, Kelly decides to stay put in Grantville and finds she has a real talent helping disabled children in the local hospital. That's the set up, the movie starts from there.

Cinematography: Sam Fuller uses a mixed bag of cinema styles to great effect. In a long shot, he uses a classic Film Noir technique with low key lighting and the characters silhouetted in shadow. In a dream sequences, the filming style is reminiscent of Italian films of the time, very artsy and different than the rest of the film. For the opening sequences, he was one of the first to use a hand held camera for an 'in your face look'.

I was totally impressed with The Naked Kiss. It's not like anything I've seen. For one it's rare to see a movie from the early 1960's that's so frank in it's exploration of the seedy side of humanity. It's equally rare to see an actresses play a powerhouse lead in the film. And make no mistake about it, Constance Towers is a powerhouse. You might not know her name as she was mainly a stage actress but once you've seen her performance, you won't forget it.

rating_4_5

hello101

01-10-15, 12:51 AM

Zotis

01-10-15, 12:53 AM

Citizen Rules

01-10-15, 02:00 PM

I've been wanting to watch The Naked Kiss for the longest time. Samuel Fuller is a very underrated director, I've only seen Shock Corridor, The Big Red One and Pickup on South Street but I like them all.Did you watch the restored 'directors cut' of The Big Red One?...I plan on watching that and Shock Corridor. In some ways Sam Fuller's subject matter and tabloid style reminds me of the earlier work of Ed Wood. Before Ed got into mindless zombie movies, he tackled some outlandish subjects with gusto. So it's no surprise to me that I like Sam Fuller as I like the earlier stuff of Ed Wood.:)

Citizen Rules

01-10-15, 02:11 PM

I didn't read your whole review of The Naked Kiss because your first paragraph sold me and I like going into movies blind if possible. I added it to my to watch list, but I'm not sure when I'll get to it.Ahh, the first paragraph was my homage to Sam Fuller.

I also like to go into movies blind. FYI for anyone who reads my reviews, I will never spoil the ending or major plot elements. For The Naked Kiss I wrote a very short synopsis that only covers the set up of the story in the first 15 minutes. Mainly I talked about the acting.

I'm am going to update that review with a paragraph about the cinematography, it won't spoil the story. I think fans of cinema style might find this movie interesting.

Citizen Rules

01-10-15, 08:32 PM

My next review is SAFE to read if you've never seen the film. I never wreck a movie by spoiling the story by saying too much.

So don't worry I won't blow a movie for you in any of my reviews.:)

Citizen Rules

01-10-15, 08:33 PM

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Laura (1944)

Director: Otto Preminger
Writers: Vera Caspary - novel, Jay Dratler - screen play
Cast: Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews, Clifton Webb, Vincent Price, Judith Anderson

Laura is a woman of refined poise, an alluring beauty. Laura has everything, a wonderful career, a posh apartment and two suitors. Problem is, Laura is dead.

Police Detective Mark McPherson (Dana Andrews) has his hands full as he investigates the murder of Laura (Gene Tierney). Her friends are the prime suspects (Clifton Webb and Judith Anderson). So is Laura's gold digging finance (Vincent Price)...And that's all you're getting out of me, my lips are sealed.

Laura is a Film Noir that feels more like an early Hitchcock murder mystery. The director Otto Preminger has a lighter hand in telling the story than Hitchcock would of.

Both the story and characters are allowed to develop like a fine wine. Nothing is rushed, yet the story never drags as it's rich in detailed nuances. In some ways Laura has a stage play feel about it. The would-be suspects tag along with the detective as he goes about investigating the murder. That way they can all interact. Almost all the shots are interiors, no car chases, no dark shadows down an alley.

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Damn, Gene Tierney is a stunner in that dress! Kudos to the wardrobe department! That photo says it all...Laura is a study of beautiful people and the obsession and self absorbed-ness that comes with that.

Laura isn't the only picture perfect person, so is Shelby (Vincent Price)...a handsome southern dandy who's as shallow is he's handsome. Juxtaposed is Waldo Lydecker (Clifton Webb) who laminates over his puny body and is angry that his intelligent and wit can't win Laura's love.

That's what I found interesting about Laura, much more so than the criminal investigation into a murder. Otto Preminger uses the investigation as a means to study the people involved. And what a cast.

Gene Tierney is one of a kind, sure she's beautiful but more than that she has this aloof, million miles a way look in her eyes, that makes her seem as if she's looking into another world. And that really works for her in this movie. She played a similar character in a similar movie, Leave Her to Heaven (1945). Vincent Price was in that movie too and like in Laura, he played a very similar character.

Clifton Webb is one of the greats and is the catalysis as the obsessed friend/patron of Laura. He's the pain that comes from not having the beauty.

Dana Andrews, I swear he gets better every movie I see him in. Here he's the everyday guy, that also falls for Laura. He's our avenue into the movie, we see the story mainly from his viewpoint and as he's both an outsider and an average person, we can relate to him. Brilliant casting in the entire movie. And for me it's more about watching the actors/characters interact than the actual story.

Actors....that's what make Laura such a strong movie. It was Preminger who insisted on using Gene Tierney, Clifton Webb, and Dana Andrews and they make the film so enjoyable to watch.

rating_4_5

seanc

01-10-15, 09:27 PM

When you mention Hitchcock I perk up. Looking forward to that one. I really need to get started next week. I have only watch one so far.

honeykid

01-11-15, 03:40 AM

Laura is fantastic. I love that film, though I've only seen it two or three times.

dadgumblah

01-11-15, 04:04 AM

Great topic for a thread, Citizen! Many of the movies you've reviewed, I've seen, others you've touched on I've wanted to see for a long time. So keep up the good work. :cool:

Citizen Rules

01-11-15, 01:34 PM

HoneyKid, I had only seen Laura once a couple years ago and yet I still forgot the 'who done it' part....Good thing I watched it again.

Hey Dadgumblah, thanks. As sort of a new years resolution, I'm 'trying' to review every film I watch...So far so good. I have a Woody Allen film to review shortly.

Citizen Rules

01-11-15, 09:31 PM

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=48283&stc=1&d=1537653970Blue Jasmine (2013)

Director: Woody Allen
Writer: Woody Allen
Cast: Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin, Sally Hawkins, Peter Sarsgaard
Genre: Drama
Length: 98 minutes

Woody Allen manages to do it again...he writes himself into the movie. This time as a nervous-neurotic, pill popping woman, Jasmine. Her character like many characters written by Woody, is a bundle of live nerves, rambling million words a minute while lamenting everything in life.

Premise: Jasmine (Cate Blancett) is an ultra rich snobby woman who's married to a weaselly financial investor/swindler, aptly played by Alex Balwin. They loose their fortune, so Jasmine leaves the glamorous life behind to live with her working class sister, Ginger (Sally Hawkins) in San Francisco.

Actors: Cate Blancett is a well respected actress and she was admirable in the film. However her reserved nature is not so suited to playing a rambling neurotic woman.

Sally Hawkins is always great in her roles, she really adds much needed life to what feels like a very shallow film with people we don't really care about. Her scenes were the best part of the film. Andrew Dice Clay, yah that one, is pretty darn good as an opinionated working class stiff.

Cinematography: The camera work is fine but the film has this horrendous yellow tint. This is the same over-saturated yellow cast that Woody used in Magic In The Moonlight. It's very distracting, as is the flash back scene edits. They're abrupt and seem to happen at the wrong time in the film.

Conclusion: I didn't buy into the film or care about the characters, especially the relationship scenes. I wonder if Woody Allen knows much about women as the males who hit on the ladies in the film seem totally artificially....If you like Woody Allen type films, you should like Blue Jasmine at least the actors were good.

rating_2_5

seanc

01-11-15, 10:51 PM

Bummer you didn't care for it Citizen. Cool your checking out some more Allen though.

Citizen Rules

01-11-15, 11:00 PM

Simseboy

01-12-15, 09:27 AM

Citizen I'm still waiting for your review for Midnight In Paris. I really think you will like that one, probably my favourite Allen film, I have seen it maybe 5-6 times at this point, and just thinking about it makes me want to watch it again. Its probably his most imaginative and fun work, none of that depressing stuff here.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/c48177ff9f82016d1af38cfbc0139a6b/tumblr_mrakcvkfhL1ss8o5oo1_500.gif

Citizen Rules

01-12-15, 02:44 PM

Simseboy, I do have Midnight In Paris and I should be watching & reviewing it very soon.So far I haven't liked the last 2 Woody Allen films I've seen....So sell me on Midnight In Paris! if you tell me what makes the film special to you, then I might see something I otherwise would miss.

Simseboy

01-12-15, 03:24 PM

The IMDB description should sell you enough:
"While on a trip to Paris with his fiancée's family, a nostalgic screenwriter finds himself mysteriously going back to the 1920s every day at midnight.".

I'm a big fan of the film, because it shows such an artistic and beautiful time period. Also its just so much fun to watch these characters, and I personally identify a lot with the main character, since I myself wish I could go back in time and meet my artistic idols. I mean COME ON, watching Hemingway talk about life and making love, or watching Salvador Dali talk about rhinoceroses, or Picasso painting his lovers. How can you be human and not love that?

Well, just watch the film. If you hate it, then in my opinion I think its fair if you dont wanna watch more Woody Allen.

Citizen Rules

01-12-15, 03:28 PM

Thanks, I will watch it with an open mind. Though I couldn't help notice the over-saturated yellow cast in the pic you posted (but that alone is not a deal breaker). The premise sounds like something I would like, plus I like period pieces, so who knows?

Simseboy

01-12-15, 03:30 PM

Yeah well, I think the gif might have done that with the colours.

cricket

01-12-15, 10:03 PM

Not a huge Woody Allen fan, but Blue Jasmine is my favorite so far. I've seen 8.

seanc

01-12-15, 10:10 PM

I kinda felt bad panning it, seeing how you recommended it. But as a would-be reviewer I have to call em, like I see em.:)

I'm going to watch the other two Allen films, that were recommended. Blue Jasmine was better than the last Woody Allen film I seen.

How long ago did you watch it? Did you notice the yellow cast? It looks like a post processing technique to give the film a warm sun lite look, but it was really over done. In some scenes Cate's hair was canary yellow.

My personal feeling is, writing is not Woody Allens strong point. Maybe he's good at comedy, but these characters where not brought to life. He might understand himself but the characters in the last two movies had no depth to them.

Maybe it's just not my type of movie?

I saw it when it was released. I never noticed the yellow watching it. You posting that pic made me think I need to see it again because it feels like something I would notice. Maybe he is just not for you. I think writing is Allen's strongest point. I love his characters. I Have only seen a couple of his slapstick oriented movies and I don't like those at all. I think he is very funny when writing characters, not jokes, if that makes sense. I don't know what else to add. When I read your reviews it is like we are watching two different film makers. So maybe this will just be one of those areas where our paths never diverge. I will be interested to see how you feel about Midnight. I loved it but it is not my favorite. If you like it I have one other reco for you. I will hold it back until I see how you feel though.

Citizen Rules

01-12-15, 10:55 PM

It's funny, because now I'm watching more Woody Allen films just to find out if I like him or not. I feel I should see a smattering of his work before he joins my least favorite directors club. Another review coming up very shortly....

gbgoodies

01-12-15, 11:05 PM

I'm not a big Woody Allen fan, but I recently saw a couple of his movies that I liked.

I saw Bullets Over Broadway for one of the movie tournaments here, and I liked it a lot. I thought maybe the reason I liked it more than some of his other movies was because he wasn't in it, so I tested that theory by watching Annie Hall.

I didn't love Annie Hall as much as most people do, but I thought it was a good movie, and I actually regretted waiting so long to see it.

I think I saw Midnight In Paris when it came out on DVD, and as I recall, it was a pretty good movie. I don't remember a lot about the movie, but I vaguely recall thinking that it was the first Woody Allen movie that I really enjoyed since Sleeper.

Citizen Rules

01-12-15, 11:28 PM

23947
Out of the Past (1947)

Director: Jacques Tourneur
Writer: Daniel Mainwaring (screen play)
Cast: Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer, Kirk Douglas,Rhonda Fleming Genre/Style: Film Noir

Premise (spoiler free): Jeff Bailey (Robert Mitchum) has a mysterious past that he would like to keep secret from his girlfriend and from the folks of the small town where he runs his gas station. Then 'out of the past' comes a former associate of Mitchums.

Review: Out of the Past is the quintessential film noir. It oozes noir style with it's voice over first person narrative and it's catchy fast paced lingo. Robert Mitchum is cool as ice and so is the femme fatale on the lam (Jane Greer). Jane has a face of an angel but behind those doe eyes lurks a steely mind.

Kirk Douglas is on the money, as a man wronged and looking for revenge. His part is a small one but his time on screen is memorable. Out of the Past is full of twist and turns, frame ups and shakedowns. The fun of the movie is trying to following along as Mitchum, Greer and Kirk Douglas through curve balls at each other trying to gain the upper hand.

The film is intelligently written by Daniel Mainwaring and is based on his novel Build My Gallows High. The story is convoluted with more twist than a one lane country road. Be sharp, if you blink you might miss something.

rating_4_5

Citizen Rules

01-12-15, 11:41 PM

seanc

01-12-15, 11:43 PM

Oooh, you haven't seen Annie Hall, why did I think that was the one that started all this. Which movie got you going on your Allen journey?

Citizen Rules

01-12-15, 11:47 PM

It was a couple of pages ago that I reviewed it, Magic in the Moonlight (2014). Really didn't like that one. The last one was much better. Maybe I'm on an upward tread.

seanc

01-12-15, 11:53 PM

It was a couple of pages ago that I reviewed it, Magic in the Moonlight (2014). Really didn't like that one. The last one was much better. Maybe I'm on an upward tread.

That's right, now I remember. You need to see Annie Hall and Manhattan.:D

Citizen Rules

01-13-15, 11:21 PM

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=48284&stc=1&d=1537654416
Midnight in Paris (2011)

Director: Woody Allen
Writer: Woody Allen
Cast: Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Katy Bates,Nina Arianda
Genre: Fantasy, Drama, Romance

Premise (spoiler free): A disillusioned Hollywood writer dreams of living in Paris in the 1920s, writing a great novel and meeting his literary heroes. At midnight he goes back in time and does just that.

Review: The film starts off with a black screen and a voice, it's Owen Wilson's voice and I think to myself, 'ugh...not the guy from Zoolander.'...I prepare to endure the film....But within 10 minutes I'm liking it! Midnight in Paris is a nice little fun film with a neat premise... what if you could go back to the past to visit your 'golden age', would you?

The golden age is a dream of nostalgia for some distant time in the past. For Gil (Owen Wilson), it's Paris 1920's among the 'lost generation' of American expatriates, writers and other artist. At midnight each night, a 1920's touring car rolls up and whisk Gil away to the Paris of 1920's. There he meets: F. Scott & Zelda Fitzgerald, Cole Porter, Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, Picasso, Dalí and more. But most notably Gil meets Picasso's girlfriend and falls head over heels for her.

Woody Allen does fantasy well in the film. He focuses on the people and the moments. He doesn't waste film on trying to explain the 'what ifs' of time travel, as it's unimportant to the story.

It's a great premise too. I liked seeing all the famous artist and 1920's Paris. Owen Wilson makes a great Woody Allen and shines in the role. Yes once again Woody inserts himself into the movie via the character of Gil, but this time I don't object, as Owen makes a good young Woody facsimile.

Production Stuff: The 1920's Paris sets and costumes are nicely done, very believable and great to look at it. The scene lengths, the composition, the direction, everything is very nice...except the damn yellow tint. At times Gil's blonde fiancee (Rachel McAdams) actually had yellow hair. Still this film made me smile and I do recommend it.

rating_3_5+

Simseboy

01-14-15, 03:29 AM

I'm glad you enjoyed the film, it also has a great message. The fact that everyone seems to want to live in a golden age, no matter what time you live in. You have to accept that the present is the only golden age you can live in.

But I'm happy you liked it! It isn't a masterpiece by any means, but its a film that puts a smile on your face like you said.

Arcanis

01-14-15, 03:45 AM

Midnight in Paris is my first (and still favorite) Woody Allen film. It's just the right combination of intelligent and quirky to be more than a mere romantic novelty (something that I think that Annie Hall tried, but ultimately failed, to pull off).

seanc

01-14-15, 09:25 AM

Glad you finally liked one Citizen. I think if you liked this you should also give Purple Rose Of Cairo a try. Its great and definitely playing in the same sandbox as Midnight.

rauldc14

01-14-15, 10:41 AM

Glad you enjoyed it, but Owen Wilson is NOT in Blades of Glory.

Citizen Rules

01-14-15, 01:16 PM

Ahhh....you're right he's not in that one....thanks:)

Citizen Rules

01-14-15, 01:21 PM

Arcanis, I'll probably check out Annie Hall one of these days. I have 2 more of his movies to watch in the next couple weeks.

Sean, I will add Purple Rose Of Cairo to my watch list. I'm not sure when I'll get to it. I want to explore a different film maker for awhile. Maybe Jim Jarmusch, I seen one of his films last night. I'll review it latter.

Arcanis

01-14-15, 03:39 PM

Arcanis, I'll probably check out Annie Hall one of these days. I have 2 more of his movies to watch in the next couple weeks.

It's good, but not as good as its reputation suggests, and generally more awkward than insightful. Allen the director strikes me as being better than Allen the writer.

Citizen Rules

01-14-15, 03:41 PM

So far in the Woody Allen films I've seen...I'd say he's an excellent director but not such a great writer. I never feel like I'm part of the story. I never feel like his characters are fully fleshed out. So far the best characters were in Midnight in Paris, (though I haven't seen all of his films)

mark f

01-14-15, 04:21 PM

Woody Allen has 16 Oscar nominations for best screenplay and has won three of those. He has seven Oscar nominations and one win as director too.

Citizen Rules

01-14-15, 04:27 PM

That's a pretty impressive win record. Do you know which films he was nominated for? and won? So far I have not liked his writing much in the few films I've seen.

mark f

01-14-15, 04:39 PM

Woody Allen Awards (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000095/awards?ref_=nm_awd)

Citizen Rules

01-14-15, 04:41 PM

Thanks:)

Citizen Rules

01-14-15, 11:04 PM

I'd liked to thank dadgumblah for suggesting the next movie that I'll review.

I'm going to make it a real short review. I'm not sure how many people are reading my reviews.
If anyone has any questions about any of the movies in my reviews, ask me...I will be happy to elaborate:)

gbgoodies

01-14-15, 11:13 PM

Citizen Rules

01-14-15, 11:33 PM

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=30069&stc=1&d=1493497798
Night on Earth (1991)

Director: Jim Jarmusch
Writer: Jim Jarmusch
Cast: Winona Ryder, Gena Rowlands, Lisanne Falk, Rosy Perez
Length: 129 min
Production: Indie
Genre: Drama-Comedy

Premise: (spoiler free) An anthology film telling the story of five different cab drivers in five different cities, all on the same night.

Review: An interesting little indie film by Jim Jarmusch. Night On Earth tells five different stories, mini-movies, of five different cab drivers and the unique passengers they pick up. This was shot semi-documentary style and on location in the five cities:
Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Rome, Helsinki.

As with other Jarmusch films, the director takes care to shows us real life slices of urban decay as the cabbies travel down the actual streets of the towns that are being portrayed in the film. Even if you don't care about the movie you will see interesting sights from places you might never visit.

But the five different anthology stories are worth watching! Each is very different, but all take place in a cab. Most of the actors used for the Paris, Heliski and Rome sequences are natives to those cities, which adds to the authenticity of the movie. Those sequences are in French, Italian and Finish, with English sub titles. Indeed it feels more like an exotic cab ride, than a movie. That's a good thing.

rating_3_5+

Citizen Rules

01-15-15, 11:23 PM

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=48285&stc=1&d=1537655421The Lady from Shanghai (1947)

Director: Orson Welles (uncredited)
Writers: Sherwood King (novel), Orson Welles (screenplay)
Cast: Rita Hayworth, Orson Welles, Everett Sloane, Glenn Anders
Length: 87 minutes
Production Co: Columbia Pictures
Genre: Film Noir

Premise (spoiler free): Michael O'Hara (Orson Welles) is an Irish seaman who has a chance encounter with Elsa Bannister (Rita Hayworth). Elsa is the beautiful wife of a powerful and dangerous lawyer, Arthur Bannister (Everett Sloane). O'Hara is hired as a crewman aboard the lawyer's yacht. They sail from New York through the Caribbean to Mexico. But Michael O'Hara has a duel job as a would be assistant to Mrs. Bannister, or so he thinks.

Review: When Lady From Shanghai first came out in 1947 it was a flop. The audiences didn't like it, neither did the critics and it didn't make money either. The film was then mostly forgotten. Some years later Truman Capote wrote that he admired the film....At that point Lady From Shanghai began to move from flop to classic.

What might have been?...if only Orson Welles' vision for the movie had been released. Orson's rough cut of the film was 155 minutes. At 2 1/2 hours, Columbia Picture executives considered the film too long and ordered it cut to 90 minutes. Welles' then sent detailed instructions to the film editor on how and where to edit the film. Sadly his wishes were ignored.

What we get today is a choppy film with an hour missing from it. If one watches the film closely you can see where some of the scenes were shortened. At two different times there's a sloppy splice. One is a close up of George Grisby (Glenn Anders) towards the beginning of the film, he's in a car with Orson, if you watch closely the film jumps where the splice is. Latter in the film it happens again. Orson was too much of an artist and perfectionist to have allowed this to happen, so the blame isn't his.

In several places, most notably on the yacht, the scenes are choppy with quick edits, the scenes feel unfinished. Once again the editing was out of Orson's hands. The most famous cut to the film is the fun house mirror scene. We can only guess at the symbolic, cinematic achievements Orson made here, what we can see of the fun house scene is potent.

Much of Orson's trademark cinematography is apparent in the film. The spy glass triple diffuse to Rita Hayworth via a closeup of Glenn Anders is amazing!

I'd give Orson a 5/5 for the material he shot, BUT I have to review the film I seen, the cut and chopped version.

Orson deserved better than the treatment he received in Hollywood. After The Lady from Shanghai he retreated to Europe. He would make only one more major Hollywood film, Touch of Evil.

rating_3_5

gbgoodies

01-15-15, 11:30 PM

I wish we could have seen Welles' version of The Lady from Shanghai. The movie has a great story with so much potential. I just wish he hadn't used that annoying Irish accent.

Citizen Rules

01-15-15, 11:50 PM

gbgoodies

01-15-15, 11:55 PM

This was the second time I seen it. The first time his accent really bugged me. This time after about 15 minutes I forgot about it.

I've never read the reason why Orson choose an Irish accent but I think I know why he did...His character is a somewhat naive, 'take life as it comes' guy. Orson has one of the most distinct voices. By using a higher pitched Irish accent he hoped to de-Orson the character so that the audience would see Michale O'Hara and not Orson Welles.

"When I start out to make a fool of myself there's very little can stop me." That quote is the heart of Michale O'Hara but the antitheses of Orson Welles.

Yeah, it makes his character sound like he's not the brightest crayon in the box. He can't be the smartest person anyway to sign a false confession, but the accent just makes him sound worse.

I'm sure there were other ways to not sound like Orson Welles that would have been less annoying than that Irish accent.

Citizen Rules

01-16-15, 12:01 AM

Yeah, it makes his character sound like he's not the brightest crayon in the box. He can't be the smartest person anyway to sign a false confession, but the accent just makes him sound worse...

That's the idea. Look at this quote from the beginning of the film. It clues us in on his characters personality.

[First lines] When I start out to make a fool of myself, there's very little can stop me. If I'd known where it would end, I'd never let anything start... if I'd been in my right mind, that is. But once I'd seen her, I was not in my right mind for some time.

gbgoodies

01-16-15, 12:06 AM

That's the idea. Look at this quote from the beginning of the film. It clues us in on his characters personality.

[First lines] When I start out to make a fool of myself, there's very little can stop me. If I'd known where it would end, I'd never let anything start... if I'd been in my right mind, that is. But once I'd seen her, I was not in my right mind for some time.

Yeah, but even based on that line, it was supposed to be that he was blinded by her, not that he's just so stupid that he could be convinced by someone else to do something that dumb.

Citizen Rules

01-16-15, 12:18 AM

Yes he was very blinded by her beauty. "That's how I found her and from that moment I did not use my head, except to think about her."

gbgoodies

01-16-15, 12:34 AM

Yes he was very blinded by her beauty. "That's how I found her and from that moment I did not use my head, except to think about her."

Yeah, but his accent makes him sound stupid, not just blinded by love.

dadgumblah

01-16-15, 02:02 AM

Citizen, I'm glad you liked Night on Earth. Awesome movie. And I didn't know that Lady From Shanghai was chopped up. I've only seen it once so I'll have to watch more closely next time for the jump-cuts. I believe that I heard that before this film that Orson's film The Magnificent Ambersons (1942) was chopped up by the studio. I liked the movie very much and would be very interested in what was cut from that film.

Citizen Rules

01-16-15, 01:57 PM

The Magnificent Ambersons is one of my favorite Orson films. It was edited without his control. Still a great film.

If you really liked Night On Earth I think you'd like Mystery Train. It has a similar vibe with 3 different stories of travelers interwoven.....Thanks! for recommending Night On Earth.

Citizen Rules

01-16-15, 09:51 PM

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=48286&stc=1&d=1537655499
Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993)

Director: Woody Allen
Writers: Woody Allen, Marshall Brickman
Cast: Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Jerry Adler, Alan Alada, Anjelica Huston
Genre: Comedy Murder Mystery

Premise(spoiler free): A bored, middle aged couple makes friends with their elderly neighbors in the next door apartment. When the elderly woman suddenly dies, Carol (Diane Keaton) suspects foul play. But her husband Larry (Woody Allen) thinks Carol is just imaging things. Carol then decides to prove a murder actually happened.

Review: I've seen four Woody Allen films in the last few weeks. One thing that I learned is Woody has a distinct style of movie making. Either you like his movies or not.

If you like Woody Allen films....Manhattan Murder Mystery won't disappoint you. The movie is leisurely paced. Woody never rushes the story or cuts a scene too short. He allows time for the story elements and characters to develop.

Woody seldom receives accolades for his cinematography, but he should. In this film most of the scenes are shot in a small apartment, small restaurants and the streets of Manhattan. Nothing fancy or overly stylish is done...and that's a good thing as the movie is balanced with the primary focus being on the dialogue and characters. But don't think the cinematography isn't special. Woody the director, takes care to balance his compositions and never lets any one person or object really dominate the shot, not even himself.

Woody Allen, like in most of his movies, plays himself. He's funny in an self deprecating way with his intellectual knocks on himself and the situations around him. I laughed out loud at his witticisms. Manhattan Murder Mystery is never over the top and very watchable.

If you don't like Woody Allen films....you probably won't like this. It's slow paced and full of talky dialogue. Not much action, just a lot of Woody's style of humor. No car chases or explosions. But he did include a neat Shanghai Surprise.

rating_3

seanc

01-16-15, 09:53 PM

You hit one I haven't seen Citizen. Your review makes me want to, and I will eventually. I want to see everything Allen has done but I am pacing myself.

mark f

01-16-15, 10:03 PM

It may well be my fave Woody. Funny and surprisingly suspenseful.

gbgoodies

01-16-15, 10:03 PM

I'm still on the fence with Woody Allen's movies, but this one sounds interesting, so I may give it a try when I have time.

Citizen Rules

01-16-15, 10:09 PM

I'm not a big fan of Woody's style of films, they're just not the type of films I usually watch...BUT at least I'm starting to understand them, so I'm glad I'm watching them.

Besides his Shanghai Surprise, he has a hilarious camera angle/composition for the opening scene with him and Diana Keaton in bed.

Thanks to Mark, I believe he recommended? Manhattan Murder Mystery.

cricket

01-17-15, 11:40 AM

I think Manhattan Murder Mystery could potentially end up as my favorite Woody once I watch it. Right now my favorites are Love and Death and Blue Jasmine, closely followed by Annie Hall and Manhattan, followed by Crimes and Misdemeanors, with Sleeper, Bananas, and Bullets Over Broadway bringing up the rear. I'm also interested in Hannah and Her Sisters.

honeykid

01-17-15, 12:18 PM

I like MMM, too. One of my favourite Allen's. I know I'm a lone voice in the wilderness on this, but I really like Husband's & Wives, too.

Citizen Rules

01-18-15, 12:25 AM

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=48287&stc=1&d=1537655905In Time (2011)

Director: Andrew Niccol
Writer: Andrew Niccol
Cast: Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried, Cillian Murphy
Genre: Sci Fi Action

Premise (spoiler free): In the near future humans have been genetically modified to stop aging at 25. The catch is they live only one more year after 25, unless they can buy more time for their built in life-clocks.

Review: I really enjoyed In Time. I found the movies premise interesting: The rich can afford to live for 100's of years because they have the money to buy time allotments to keep their life-clock's ticking....But the poor must barter, haggle or steal more time to keep themselves alive after their 25th birthday. The world's economy is based on the trade and payment of time allotments. It's an unfair balance with the poor getting the short end of the stick.

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=48288&stc=1&d=1537655912
Left to right: Grandmother, mother and daughter.

Justin Timberlake's character comes from the poor slums. He's evading the police for a murder he didn't comment. He meets up with the ultra rich, Amanda Seyfried when he crosses over into the wealthy restricted zone in attempt to evade the police.

The first 46 minutes is really, deep-reflective Sci Fi, much like Soylent Green. The rest of the film has more action and adventure BUT it's not over the top and does fit into the story well.

Heart felt performances by Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried.

rating_3_5

gbgoodies

01-18-15, 01:04 AM

I watched In Time a few months before I joined this site because some nice person on a different chat board recommended it to me. ;)

It was a very good movie. I was surprised at how much I liked Justin Timberlake. I still think of him as just a boy-band singer, but he was very good in the movie.

Citizen Rules

01-18-15, 01:21 PM

Grandmother,Mother and Daughter from In Time
https://splatteronfilm.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/intimetrailer1.jpg

cricket

01-18-15, 09:47 PM

I seem to be in the minority, but I like Timberlake, and I'd like to see that movie.

Citizen Rules

01-18-15, 09:58 PM

Timberlake was damn good. Played it straight just like any serious actor. If you got the time you should watch it...
http://files.umwblogs.org/blogs.dir/8175/files/2013/09/it1.jpg

seanc

01-18-15, 10:03 PM

I seem to be in the minority, but I like Timberlake, and I'd like to see that movie.

I like him too. Haven't seen In Time but I liked him in Alpha Dog and Social Network. Feel like I am missing something else too.

Citizen Rules

01-19-15, 12:22 AM

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=48289&stc=1&d=1537656256
Lovely, Still (2008)

Director: Nicholas Fackler
Writers: Nicholas Fackler, Tim Kasher
Cast: Martin Landau, Ellen Burstyn, Elizabeth Banks
Genre: Drama Romance
Length: 92 minutes

Premise: A lonely man, all alone at Christmas discovers love thanks to the kindness of the next door neighbor woman. They live life like they never have before, sharing special moments as the man prepares to spend his first Christmas with his new love.

Review: I'm not sure how I feel about this movie. It starts out feeling like a gentle romance drama with an elderly lonely man, Martin Landau who falls in love with his next door neighbor, Ellen Burstyn. Both actors are excellent and the film has a small, realistic feel. I was really liking this at first.

But during the film I could not shake the feeling that something more was amiss. Martin Landau's character seemed out of sorts. I liked the gentle, love story and as it was set at Christmas time, I expected a happy touch movie.

By the time the third act started the movie switched to a mystery that dealt with aging, sickness and hospitals. Some might find deep meaning in this film. I really liked the film but was unprepared for the ending. So I'm not going to rate it.

Citizen Rules

01-19-15, 11:03 PM

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=48290&stc=1&d=1537656592
Four's a Crowd (1938)

Director: Michael Curtiz
Cast: Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Rosalind Russell, Patric Knowles
Production Studio: Warner Bros
Genre: Comedy Romance

Premise: A newspaper reporter (Rosalind Russell) secretly loves her boss (Patric Knowles) or does she? The boss is engaged to a millionaire's daughter (Olivia de Havilland), she might love someone else or does she? Meanwhile a likable public realtions man with questionable business tactics, (Errol Flynn) comes along and stirs things up.

Review: Four's a Crowd is a hilarious screwball comedy from 1938. It's not well known as it only recently became available on DVD. What makes this film a hidden treasure for classic film fans is the early performances of Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland. This is the fourth out of nine films that they made together. Here both are playing character types that we don't often see them do in their other films.

Olivia plays a foo-foo type millionaire's daughter. She's quite good at doing humor. Errol is funny in this too as he charms the ladies, while keeping his eyes on the money. His role is almost a Cary Grant type.

Just for fun....there's a HUGE model Lionel train set in the backyard of the millionaires estate, complete with cities and landscaping. There's a train racing scene with Errol Flynn betting he can win. Even if you don't like trains, the scene is good.

Also interesting....is a very brief appearance by actress Gloria Blondell, who's Joan Blondell's sister. And there's an even briefer appearance by future starlet, Carol Landis.

I laughed out loud and will watch this one again.

rating_3_5+

gbgoodies

01-19-15, 11:18 PM

I think I've seen Four's a Crowd listed on TCM a couple of times, but I never watched it. It sounds interesting. I'll have to watch for it next time it airs.

Citizen Rules

01-20-15, 02:01 PM

GBG, When I started watching Four's a Crowd I vaguely remembered seeing it before. Comedy's are even better the second time around:) I think you would like it too.

The huge Lionel train layout is cool I wish I could find a pic. So is the very posh art deco Jamaica Room club. Sorry no pic of that either.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/e1/26/8f/e1268f8f7becf2eee613f9e27e0153fa.jpg

Citizen Rules

01-20-15, 11:50 PM

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=48291&stc=1&d=1537656989

The Wrong Man (1956)

Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Writers: Maxwell Anderson, Angus MacPhail
Cast: Henry Fonda, Vera Miles
Studio: Warner Brothers

Premise (spoiler free): Based on the true story of a family man who's falsely accused of a string of robberies.

Review: What a powerful movie The Wrong Man is. Masterfully told in documentary style by Alfred Hitchcock. Hitch really puts the viewer in the mindset of the falsely accused Manny played by Henry Fonda. I could feel this movie in my gut. I could scarcely breath, the emotions of this film is best described as terse-anxiety.

Henry Fonda is such a naturalistic actor that he never seems to be acting in this. I believed he was Manny. Vera Miles was the perfect anchor to the film. Hitch shows us Manny's family in such a wholesome manner, that we can't help but be stunned by what befalls him.

Hitch is the master of technique. First thing I noticed is the documentary style of the movie. Then I noticed that the sets look very authentic, like we're actually there. The music score is low key and never gets in the way of the story, which fits the style of film making here. When Manny goes to get a loan, the loan office and the women employees look very real, not like Hollywood actresses on a Hollywood set.

Hitch seems to have 1 or 2 trick shots in each of his movies. IMO they usually distract and look gimmicky. The spinning camera effect of Manny didn't work for me, but no big deal.

However, I was impressed with the camera shot done through the jail door slot into Manny's cell, done in one take too, no edits. That took skill!

The Wrong Man is very different from other Hitchcock films. I highly recommend it.

rating_4_5

Citizen Rules

01-21-15, 10:50 PM

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The Philadelphia Experiment (1984)

Director: Stewart Raffill
Writers: Michael Janover, William Gray
Cast: Michael Paré, Nancy Allen, Eric Christmas
Genre: Action Drama Sci Fi

Premise (spoiler free): In 1943 the U.S. Navy experiments with radar invisibility technology. The experiment does more than is bargained for an a Navy ship disappears into thin air. Two sailors abroad the ship are transported through time to 1984.

Review: The Philadelphia Experiment is loosely based on an alleged top secret Naval experiment code named 'Philadelphia Experiment'. Supposedly the Navy ship, USS Eldridge was temporarily tele-transported out of the Philadelphia Harbor, vanishing momentarily from site.

John Carpenter who's listed as the executive producer, was slated to direct and write this movie but had other commitments. The director who took over, Stewart Raffill changed the movie drastically. Raffill decided to eliminate many of the sci-fi elements from the story that explained how time travel was achieved. Instead he focused on the romance between the two leads. And made a movie heavy on action with long chase sequences, car crashes, guns and explosions.

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Nancy Allan is likable as a small town girl who encounters the two time travelers and reluctantly at first helps them.

Michael Paré is the sailor from the past. His reactions to the 'strange' world of 1984 are a high light of the film, especially when he encounters a punk rocker girl and a Japaneses tattooed guy in a small cafe.

The special effects aren't that impressive even by 1984 standards. The tele-transportation of the naval ship is done well, but some of the 'glowing' effects just don't look so great. There's some nice scenery of California vineyards and orange groves during a chase scene. The cafe scene was my favorite as it added a light touch of humor.

The Philadelphia Experiment is a fun, action film with some sci fi elements from the 1980's.

rating_3_5

gbgoodies

01-21-15, 11:02 PM

I watched The Philadelphia Experiment a few weeks ago when it was on a local cable channel. I had seen it many years ago, so it was a re-watch, but I remembered it being better the first time than it was this time.

Citizen Rules

01-21-15, 11:26 PM

Who wants to hear a funny story??? OK, I'll tell it anyway;)

So I find this movie on the shelves of my library. I'm thinking, 'oh ya, this is good silly fun' and I tell my wife all about the movie, spoilers be damned:cool: I've seen it before, so I know the story well.
I especially remember the crewmen fused to the deck scene and I really hype that scene up, saying how cool it is.

So I watch the entire movie and realize I had never seen it!...It took me all night to figure out just what it was that I had seen....

Which was one of the conspiracy type shows on the History Chanel. The funny part? The History Chanel had much better special effects:eek:

honeykid

01-22-15, 10:46 AM

That's because modern tv CGI is a lot more advanced than 80's B movies. :yup: I remember watching this when I was a kid and quite liking it.

Citizen Rules

01-22-15, 04:55 PM

Has anyone seen, The Philadelphia Experiment (2012) it's a made for TV movie. I watched that last night. It made me appreciate the 1984 version!

Citizen Rules

01-23-15, 04:31 PM

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The Railway Man (2013)

Director: Jonathan Teplitzky
Writers: Frank Cottrell Boyce, Andy Paterson
Cast: Colin Firth, Nicole Kidman, Jeremy Irvine, Stellan Skarsgård,
Genre: Biography based Historical Drama

Premise (spoiler free): Set in 1980, Britain. Eric Lomax (Colin Firth) a reclusive man who's beleaguered life revolves around trains meets his future wife (Nicole Kidman). Despite their growing love for each other it's clear Eric is deeply troubled by his past imprisonment in a Japanese prisoner camp, where he was forced to help build the Thai-Burma Railway in WWII.

Review: I found this movie hard to watch. It's exceptionally well done, but the torture flashback scenes were graphic. I had to fast forward on those scenes. And yet the horrors that were inflicted on the British prisoners of war were indeed gruesome, so those scenes are accurate.

The movie is split between Eric's story in 1980 Britain and the younger Eric's ordeal as a prisoner of war. The movie is based on a autobiography by Eric Lomax.

Colin Firth's low key acting style is well suited to playing a deeply troubled man who can not and will not speak of his past experiences. Nicole Kidman, gives a realistic portrayal of a wife who's suffering as a result of her husbands tormented past. I especially liked the actor who played the young Eric, Jeremy Irvine and the actor who played the older Japanese integrator, Hiroyuki Sanada.

The Railway Man is more than just a war story...it's a human story of the exploration of what it means to suffer and the burden of carrying hatred.

rating_4

MovieGal

01-23-15, 04:36 PM

I have been wanting to watch "Railway Man".... I just <3 Colin Firth....

Citizen Rules

01-23-15, 04:41 PM

MovieGal

01-23-15, 04:59 PM

MovieGal, there was a lot more complexities to the story than I mentioned. But I didn't want to spoil the film for anyone. It's powerful emotionally. If you watch it please let me know what you thought of it.

Watching a recommendation of yours already... but will let you know what I think of both when I finish them.

christine

01-23-15, 05:32 PM

Citizen, Re The Railway Man, it brought home the suffering of many men who were captured by the Japanese during WWII. Those men would never want to speak about it. My friend at school had an uncle who was a very taciturn man, he was a former Japanese PoW who was very distant from his family. Who can blame them after suffering in that way, but their families were also affected badly. I remembered this article which you might be interested to read
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/dec/28/railway-mans-forgotten-family

Citizen Rules

01-24-15, 04:19 PM

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=48295&stc=1&d=1537658317The Dish (2000)

Director: Rob Sitch
Cast: Sam Neill, Billy Mitchell, Roz Hammond, Christopher-Robin Street
Genre: Comedy Drama

Premise (spoiler free): Based on the true but highly dramatized story of the radio dish in rural Australia that was used to broadcast TV images of the Apollo 11 moon landing. The film focuses on the people of the small rural town of Parkes, New South Wales, Australia and their rather quirky behaviors.

Review: OK...that's my one word review. The Dish isn't particular well done and plays like a made for TV movie. The characters in the small town are quirky, but the film never gives them any dimension. We never learn anything about the town's inhabitants or what makes them so quirky and that's a lost opportunity. I never felt like the people were real or did I care about them. Instead of giving the characters some soul, the film tries too hard to be quirky with cutesy little jokes said at regular intervals.

The story premise itself is interesting and I enjoyed the scenes inside the dish during the Apollo 11 moon landing. According to what I read the interior of the dish is very authentic to what it looked like in 1969. But other than those scenes the movie fails to evoke any emotions, other than mild amusement. I didn't find it funny, nor did I find it moving. I found it just OK.

Lesson: don't get your history from movies. Many of the dramatic events involving the dish at Parkes, never actually happened.

rating_3

honeykid

01-24-15, 04:49 PM

That last piece of your review is certainly correct.

seanc

01-24-15, 04:59 PM

Citizen, my favorite avatar on the site is gone.

Citizen Rules

01-24-15, 05:03 PM

Whoops! F for Fake Orson will be back.

When other people change their avatars I feel lost, like they have a new face. I thought I need a new face.

seanc

01-24-15, 05:05 PM

Whoops! F for Fake Orson will be back.

When other people change their avatars I feel lost, like they have a new face. I thought I need a new face.

Its all good. Hey, how do you feel about The Trial? It just showed up on Netflix.

Citizen Rules

01-24-15, 05:09 PM

I watched about a half hour of The Trial (1962) before shutting it off. Did you see it? If so your thoughts?

seanc

01-24-15, 05:11 PM

No, I might get to it tonight. Now you have me nervous though. I'll let you know when I watch it.

Citizen Rules

01-24-15, 06:07 PM

Sorry for the late reply Sean. Pay no attention to my movie dislikes, it does have it's own vibe, just wasn't my type of movie that's all. You might enjoy it.

seanc

01-25-15, 09:38 AM

Well Citizen I got about 45 minutes into The Trial. I probably would have finished but was interrupted by one of my boys. Now I don't know if I will finish because I really wasn't enjoying it. Extremely abstract plots like this can work on me for a short time but after a while I just get bored. Perkins is great in it though and Welles is doing some interesting stuff with perspective. That can't sustain me for two hours though.

I told Raul last night I was getting some strong Eraserhead vibes. He didn't like that because he likes Eraserhead. I hate it though. However just like The Trial it kept my interest for a few minutes. Eventually you have to move on from being so damn opaque though.

Citizen Rules

01-25-15, 02:48 PM

Sean, you summed up The Trial perfectly. I was interested at first but then I just got frustrated with it. Orson was really interested in experimental film making so not all of his efforts are great ones. I've never seen Eraserhead, maybe sometime I will.

If you want to see a great documentary on Orson that shows snippets of his many later film projects, check out:

Orson Welles: One-man band (1995), "an 88 minute documentary about Welles's unfinished projects."

"I have always been more interested in experiment, than in accomplishment." Orson Welles

Citizen Rules

01-26-15, 11:21 PM

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Sweet Smell of Success (1957)

Director: Alexander Mackendrick
Writers: Clifford Odets, Ernest Lehman
Cast: Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis, Susan Harrison
Genre: Drama, Film Noir

Premise (spoiler free): Sidney Falco (Tony Curtis) is an unscrupulous, two-faced press agent, he will lie, beg, cheat or promise anything to get ahead in the world. His business is promoting clients names by getting them into the newspaper column of the famous Broadway columnist, J.J. Hunsecker (Burt Lancaster). J.J. is an egoistically man who's even more unethical than Falco. J.J. wields great power and can make or break a person's life with his newspaper column. J.J. forces Sidney to do a dirty job for him...breaking up his younger sisters romance with a jazz musician...by any means possible.

Review: I love this film! The dialogue snaps and sparkles with clever-tudes. Every word spoken either drives the plot forward, or expands the characters and their story. The dialogue is fast paced, yet nothing is superfluous. Every word has it's place and every action, every scene is designed to fill in the details. The film is powered by two fine actors both at odds with each other and yet both similar in their utter lack of morals. As the story unfolds we're swept up in this amazing world of power and greed, ballyhoo and empty promises.

Burt Lancaster is amazing as J.J. Hunsecker, the power driven columnist. He's cold, cruel, intelligent and full of self importance. Lancaster really brings this role to life.

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But it's Tony Curtis who gives new meaning to dimension in his portrayal of a sleazy operator who calls himself a publicity agent. He's a man who wears many faces and can work every angle. I can't image a better actor for this role than Tony Curtis. Despite how low his character goes and what he's willing to do to the people around him....he's still likable.

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The Sweet Smell of Success cinematographer is the celebrated James Wong Howe. Each camera shot is composed to enhance the story. The cinematography never gets in the way of the film. The music score is hot jazz, deep, moody and dangerous. It sets the feel of the movie from the very start of the title credits.

I've seen only a few films that I would deem flawless.
The Sweet Smell of Success is one of them.

rating_5

.

gbgoodies

01-26-15, 11:27 PM

I liked Sweet Smell of Success too. Maybe not as much as you did, but it's a very good movie.

I'm noticing that every time I watch a movie with Tony Curtis that I haven't seen before, I like him more and more.

Citizen Rules

01-26-15, 11:34 PM

gbgoodies

01-26-15, 11:54 PM

Tony Curtis is very dynamic. I haven't seen too many movies of his. I seen the one with Jack Lemmon, Some Like it Hot? I seen him in a Harry Houdini movie as a kid that left an impression! What have you seen him in?

This was the second time I watched The Sweet Smell of Success, I even liked it more this time.

I always remembered him from the Harry Houdini movie. I think it may have been the first movie with him that I saw, so it left an impression on me too.

I saw Some Like it Hot a long time ago, but I don't remember much about it. I'll probably re-watch it again soon.

I recently saw him in Who Was That Lady?, The Rat Race, Captain Newman, M.D., Goodbye Charlie, and Sex and the Single Girl.

Citizen Rules

01-27-15, 12:05 AM

gbgoodies

01-27-15, 12:14 AM

I looked those up, most look like comedies. I will have to watch some of them.

I've only seen him in a few :
Operation Petticoat, Some Like It Hot, The Defiant Ones ( I think?), Spartacus and Houdini.

I saw Spartacus, but it wasn't really my type of movie.

Boeing Boeing is on my 1965 watchlist, but I don't really like Jerry Lewis, so I don't have high hopes for the movie.

honeykid

01-27-15, 08:43 AM

Watch The Boston Strangler. :yup:

Citizen Rules

01-27-15, 12:48 PM

Thanks Honeykid, never heard of it. I see it has Henry Fonda too, he's always good.

gbgoodies

01-27-15, 03:43 PM

Watch The Boston Strangler. :yup:

I looked it up, and it stars Tony Curtis and Henry Fonda. I'll give it a try. :up:

Citizen Rules

01-27-15, 03:51 PM

Let me know if the movie is really dark. Because I don't think my wife will like the film, but if you're OK with it, she probably will be too.

gbgoodies

01-27-15, 04:00 PM

Let me know if the movie is really dark. Because I don't think my wife will like the film, but if you're OK with it, she probably will be too.

It may be a while before I have time to watch it, but I'll let you know.

Citizen Rules

01-27-15, 04:05 PM

That's OK, I have a back log of like a zillion movies to watch anyway.

BTW I watched The Worlds Fastest Indian, I liked it! My wife really liked it too. It's a neat movie and I'm glad you mentioned it.

Citizen Rules

01-27-15, 11:39 PM

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The World's Fastest Indian (2005)

Director: Roger Donaldson
Writer: Roger Donaldson
Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Diane Ladd, Iain Rea
Genre: Biography Drama

Premise (spoiler free): A heart warming biography of a New Zealand man, Burt Munru (Anthony Hopkins) and his life long dream of setting a land speed record on his 1920 Indian Scout. A motorcycle that he modified on a shoe string budget for high speed racing, over many years.

Review: Don't think this is a 'racing' movie it's not. It's based on a real and very colorful person Burt Munru, aptly played by Anthony Hopkins. Most of the film shows Burt trying to get his home made racing motorcycle from a small New Zealand town, to the dry salt lake beds of Bonneville Flats. The film takes place in 1962.

When I watched this movie I thought for sure the character was made more lively for the movies. After watching it, I seen a documentary on the real Burt Munru and was impressed with just how much of the real man ends up in the film. Many of the colorful sayings spoken by Anthony Hopkins were said word for word by the real Burt Munru. Burt really was this gun-ho.

The movie shows us a panacea of scenes from 1962. We go from a small quaint town in New Zealand, to the colorful Sunset strip of Hollywood, to tiny road side diners and finally ending up at Bonneville for Speed Week.

If you love true to life, colorful characters and road trips, you'll love this movie. If you want to see some vintage 1960s racing at Bonneville, it's here to. If you want to see a rewarding, well made film, The World's Fastest Indian, might just be the ticket.

rating_4+

Citizen Rules

01-28-15, 11:58 PM

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=48305&stc=1&d=1537725721The Set-Up (1949)

Director: Robert Wise
Writer: Art Cohn
Cast: Robert Ryan, Audrey Totter, George Tobias
Genre: Film Noir Sports Drama

Premise (spoiler free): A down and out aging boxer, Stoker (Robert Ryan) refuses to give up on his boxing career. His wife Julie (Audrey Totter) fears for his health and wants him to quit. A corrupt gambler bets heavily that Stoker will be knocked out in the next match and pays Stoker's boxing manager Tiny (George Tobias) to make sure the match is fixed. Tiny has such little faith in Stoker's boxing ability he doesn't even bother to tell the boxer to take a dive.

Review: Everything that I covered in the premise takes place in the first few minutes on the film. The Set-Up uniquely takes place in real time and covers 73 minutes from just before the boxing match to the minutes following the outcome. At the start of the movie a clock shows 9:05PM, at the end of the movie the same clock shows 10:16PM, (the other 2 minutes are for screen credits.)

The Set-Up is an early film noir directed by Robert Wise. What makes this film special is it's starkness. What you see is almost docudrama style and well done. The films focuses on just one event...the set-up in the boxing ring and it's final outcome.

Boxing fans should like this movie, but it offers much more than boxing. Robert Ryan takes what could be a two dimensional character and gives him soul. We see that Stoker is hopeful and we see that he knows he's one of the down and out boxers, with little hope. Audrey Totter also deserves credit for keeping her portrayal real. The scene with her standing at the freeway overpass, shows her skill as an actress. But that scene and others should also be credited to Robert Wise who understood the maxim 'less is more'.

The Set-Up is not a well known film noir but it should be.

rating_4

Citizen Rules

01-29-15, 10:28 PM

I doubt anyone has seen my next upcoming review. But as I'm trying to review everything I watch, it's coming up....

Citizen Rules

01-29-15, 11:10 PM

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Das blaue Licht 'The Blue Light' (1932)

Director: Leni Riefenstahl
Writers: Béla Balázs,Leni Riefenstahl
Cast: Leni Riefenstahl, Mathias Wieman
Language: German

At one time Leni Riefenstahl was considered the world's greatest woman director. That was before her association with members of the Nazi party lead to her being blacklisted. The Blue Light was her first film and it's easy to see why she was so well respected as a director/cinematographer. Her attention to artistic cinematography and details gives the film an ethereal quality.

Leni insisted on shooting on location, high in the Dolomite mountains. The climbing scenes in the movie were done on location and are real. The stunts are breath taking. Much of the appeal of this film is in it's naturalistic beauty of the scenery and how it's presented on film.

The Blue Light is shot essential like a silent film with very little dialogue. The soundtrack was not recorded on location but was synced back at the studio. The music score for the movie fits seamlessly with the romantic-tragic tale of Junta a mountain girl who knows the secret of the blue light which shines from the mountain top during the full moon. The superstitious villagers are afraid of Junta and the blue light, they consider her an outcast and drive her away.

There are two version of this, a silent film version with poor video quality and the original German language film which has better video quality.

The Blue Light certainly has a place in film history. The story is compelling. The music score and especially the cinematography is amazing. Leni pioneered many cinema techniques. Her use of special lighting, lens filters, diffusion mist and creative angles are legendary.

rating_4

Citizen Rules

01-30-15, 10:53 PM

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Diana (2013)
Director: Oliver HirschbiegelWriters: Stephen Jeffreys, Kate Snell
Cast: Naomi Watts, Naveen Andrews
Genre: Fictionalized Biography Drama-Romance

I went into watching this with no idea of what this movie was about. It was just a movie that I found on my library shelves. I'd never even heard of it before. All I knew about it was from the DVD cover...it had a big name star, Naomi Watts and she did look like Diana. At least until the movie started. Sure, no actress is going to look just like Diana. But only during a couple of the scenes did she resemble the Princess. Getting the right look is an important part for a film like this. Obviously they were able to get Naomi's makeup right for a couple scenes, so why couldn't they do that for the entire movie?

To make matters worse Naomi seemed to be sleep walking through her performance. There's one scene that worked. It's the famous TV interview in which Diana talked about her failed marriage and about hurting her arms and legs. In that scene Naomi nails the facial expressions of Diana. For that brief moment she was Diana.
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Otherwise what we get is Naomi Watts, looking like Naomi and acting like Naomi. I can only conclude that the director wanted to make some sort of mock-documentary, as Diana is portrayed in the most negative fashion possible.

I know very little about the real Diana and have no strong opinions about her. But in the film she literally stalks a Pakistan surgeon who she has had an affair with. He tries to break it off with her and yet she repeatedly call hims. She even goes so far as to do a fake Irish accent and lying about her identity when he refuses to talk to her. Then we see her desperately rushing to his apartment, sneaking in with a spare key and cleaning the place on her hands and knees. And the apartment was dirty!...with half eaten food everywhere and dirty dishes staked high!

We don't see Diana caring about her sons or caring about anything other than the surgeon. We see only one brief visit to Africa on her campaign to rid the world of land minds. This was a big part of the last years of her life and yet the film glazes over it like it was nothign. It was as if anything interesting or positive about her was left out of the story. Instead we see her rolling around the floor with a dumpy looking surgeon. Only at the very end of the film do we see her with Dodi Fayed. Then we learn that Diana is only with Dodi to make the first boyfriend (the surgeon) jealous.

I found myself not believing the portrayal of Diana or the story the movie told. I felt like I was watching a bad made for TV movie.

rating_1

christine

01-31-15, 05:57 AM

No wonder the film bombed Citizen. I don't know what Oliver Hirschbiegel was thinking when he took on that story, it was obviously going to be a hiding to nothing.

honeykid

01-31-15, 08:24 AM

This thing bombed so badly. It doesn't even have that gleeful so bad it's good/funny/cheesy/etc side going for it from everything I've heard.

cricket

01-31-15, 10:06 AM

My wife wants to see Diana but I will do my best to avoid.

Citizen Rules

01-31-15, 12:53 PM

rauldc14

01-31-15, 12:55 PM

I am a huge Naomi Watts fan. That being said, I can't bring myself to see this because I've heard awful things.

honeykid

01-31-15, 12:58 PM

Thanks guys for your comments:) I don't know if any of you followed the media coverage on Diana when she was alive. I'm about the same age Diana would have been, so I remember many of the news stories and I never heard of her affair with the surgeon.
Oh, there was plenty of stuff about her after she split with Charles. There's lots of rumours about her (and Fergie (the royal one)),

Citizen Rules

01-31-15, 01:17 PM

I can image the British tabloids were chalked full of tidbits at that time. I remember even American tabloids would have coverage on her.

christine

01-31-15, 02:33 PM

Yes, unfortunately the British public know far more than we really need to know or are even interested in about Diana. As far as I know the surgeon has never spoken about details of their affair so at least we have his discretion to be thankful for.

Citizen Rules

01-31-15, 02:35 PM

I guess the movie got that part right, it did show the surgeon as being very private and upset about the media coverage. Have you seen the film, Christine?

christine

01-31-15, 03:28 PM

No I've not seen it Citizen. I guess I'd watch it out of curiosity if I came across it on tv, but wouldn't go out of my way to see it.

Citizen Rules

01-31-15, 11:50 PM

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The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984)

Director: W.D. Richter
Writer: Earl Mac Rauch
Cast: Peter Weller, John Lithgow, Ellen Barkin, Jeff Goldblum, Christopher Lloyd
Genre: Action Comedy Drama Sci Fi

"No matter where you go, there you are."...Buckaroo Banzai

Historical background: In 1938 Orson Welles gave his infamous War of the Worlds radio broadcast. In that broadcast he warned the world that aliens had landed at Grover's Mill, New Jersey. He was being sincere. After the radio broadcast, aliens from the 8th dimension brain washed Orson into announcing that the radio show had been a hoax.

Flash forward: 1984, Dr. Buckaroo Banzai is a renascences man, who skills range from neurosurgery to physics to rock musician. He has gathered together a group of multi talented individuals, The Hong Kong Cavaliers. Together in their research lab at the Banzai Institute, they attempt to recreate the scientific experiment that killed his adopted Japaneses parents in 1954. If Buckaroo is successful in his jet powered Ford pickup equipped with the oscillation over-thruster, he will be able to travel through solid matter. No small feat...His crack team of researchers watches as he blast across the salt flats at the speed of sound. Dead ahead is a mountain range....Unknown to Buckaroo, the aliens from the 8th dimension have their eyes on him too.

Review: If you understand all of that then you have an idea of what the movie is about. But be prepared, the movie is packed full of nuances that makes grasping the meaning of it challenging. No doubt that's why it's considered a cult classic. The film packs so much 'stuff' in it, it becomes a mystery as to what the films is really about. That's the fun of it.

Cast: The film's cast reads like a who's who of upcoming actors in the early 1980s. Peter Weller owns the role of Buckaroo Banzai. This is the film that made him a star. Not to be overlooked is a wildly insane John Lithgow. Ellen Barkin is in her prime here and she's worth a look. Not to mention the talented performances by Jeff Goldblum and Christopher Lloyd.

Sets: The film looks great for a 1980s sci fi. Most impressive is the rocket powered Ford 350 pickup truck. It's real, they actually had a rocket engine in it and filmed it on the salt flats...a nicely done scene too. The aliens on the other hand sort of look like guys in rubber mask, but oh well, sci fi is not what this film is really about.

I really enjoyed this blast from the past and I'm looking forward to watching it again!

rating_3_5+

gbgoodies

01-31-15, 11:57 PM

I love Buckaroo Banzai. I'm glad you liked it too. I thought I was the only one who'd ever heard of it.

Citizen Rules

01-31-15, 11:59 PM

:D

I seen it way back in the day, but remembered nothing. It's one movie I have got to watch again.

Did you read my review? I know it's long but I'm proud of that one.;)

gbgoodies

02-01-15, 12:01 AM

:D

I seen it way back in the day, but remembered nothing. It's one movie I have got to watch again.

I've seen it a bunch of times, and it gets better every time I watch it. :)

Have you seen the deleted scene with Jamie Lee Curtis? I don't know if it's on YouTube or not, but it's on the DVD.

gbgoodies

02-01-15, 12:02 AM

:D

I seen it way back in the day, but remembered nothing. It's one movie I have got to watch again.

Did you read my review? I know it's long but I'm proud of that one.;)

Yes, I read your review. Great job. :up:

Citizen Rules

02-01-15, 12:04 AM

Thanks! That was a fun one to write.

Yes I seen it! The DVD had tons of extras on it including the extended 'home movie' with a young Buckaroo Banzai and Jamie Lee. The director said she was hanging around the studio and wanted to be in the film if possible.

gbgoodies

02-01-15, 12:10 AM

Citizen Rules

02-01-15, 12:13 AM

I have more DVD extras to watch. It's kind of fun as the director talks about the movie and Buckaroo 'in universe' so to say.

Catch ya latter, movie time for me.

Citizen Rules

02-01-15, 04:07 PM

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=48314&stc=1&d=1537750822 The Book Thief (2013)

Director: Brian Percival
Writers: Michael Petroni(screenplay), Markus Zusak (novel)
Cast: Sophie Nélisse, Geoffrey Rush, Emily Watson

Premise (spoiler free): An illiterate girl is adopted by a poor German family in 1938. As Liesel (Sophie Nélisse) struggles with learning how to read...her adopted family gives shelter to a young Jewish man, whom she befriends. When the Nazis become increasingly militant, Liesel risk everything by stealing books to quench her desire for reading.

Review: There's a lot to admire about this movie and a few things that I wish had been done differently. The Book Thief is set in Germany during WW II but it's not an ultra-serious film like: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008) or The Pianist (2002). The Book Thief takes a serious subject and adds sentimentality to tug at our heart strings. At times it feels like one of Spielberg's idealistic uplifting films. If you like those type of films, you will love this one.

My biggest complaint was the decision to do a voice over, omnipotent narrator...aka the Grim Reaper. I suppose this was done as it's an important part of the novel. But every time the Grim Reaper narrator spoke, it took me out of the film, it was very distracting. The film would have had a nicely done ending, if they hadn't shamelessly done product endorsement by showing a close up of an Apple computer logo.

Acting: Newcomer Sophie Nélisse who plays Leisel, makes any of the films shortcomings seem unimportant. This girl can act! She does such a wonderful job of bringing her role to life, that I'm surprised she didn't receive an Academy Award nomination. Keep your eye on Sophie, she has a bright future on the silver screen.

The actor who played Leisel's adopted father, Geoffrey Rush was excellent and added the right mix of gently emotions to the film.

I really enjoyed this film. It looks great, the cinematography, the music score, the sets, all are perfect.

rating_4

Funny Face

02-01-15, 05:56 PM

My biggest complaint was the decision to do a voice over, omnipotent narrator...aka the Grim Reaper. I suppose this was done in the novel too. But every time the Grim Reaper narrator spoke, it took me out of the film, it was very distracting. The film would have had a nicely done ending if they hadn't shamelessly done product endorsement by showing a close up of an Apple computer logo.

rating_4

I purchased the book but I haven't had the time to get very far into it. Comparing the two, I agree with you that Death's narration did not translate as well in the movie as it has so far in the book.

Glad to hear you enjoyed it!

Citizen Rules

02-01-15, 06:48 PM

Thanks Funny Face, my wife really liked the film too. I was just now watching the deleted scenes, they were even good:)

I think in general people don't like narration done on a film. Especially if the narrator is an omnipotent third person. I could be wrong about that.

Funny Face

02-01-15, 07:37 PM

Thanks for the info! I'll have to get the movie again from the library. I don't watch deleted scenes very often but I liked The Book Thief enough to check them out.

honeykid

02-02-15, 04:54 AM

The film would have had a nicely done ending, if they hadn't shamelessly done product endorsement by showing a close up of an Apple computer logo.
Well, it's not like they could've gotten IBM's permission, is it? ;)

Citizen Rules

02-02-15, 05:06 PM

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=48315&stc=1&d=1537751756
Stranded (2013)

Director: Roger Christian
Cast: Christian Slater, Amy Matysio, Michael Therriault
Genre: Horror-Thriller-Sci Fi

Premise: Four members of a lunar mining base are stranded on the Moon when a meteorite shower damages their power supply, cutting off their oxygen. One of the meteors contains alien spores that escapes containment.

Review: Stranded is a typical sci-fi thriller horror film. Don't expect anything too different. In some ways it feels like a lunar version of Aliens. Many of the scenes are predictable, but so what? If you like this kind of movie, it delivers the goods. The story premise that the CO2 gas is building up in the lunar base causing paranoia and delusions, is a good plot twist device. We don't know if it's the gas or the spores, that's to blame for what's happening.

The set's are small as they are inside the lunar base buildings with dimly lit, twisting corridors and dark rooms. It's a good set to move the story along, it looks foreboding! Christian Slater is the commander who's hell bent to follow procedures. I thought he was fine in this role. The rest of the actors were good too.

I liked this movie for what it was, fun escapement thrills. It's not deep and it doesn't try to be anything other than a thriller sci-fi.

rating_2_5+

gbgoodies

02-02-15, 05:30 PM

I like Christian Slater, but he picks a lot of bad movies. Even the few TV shows he's done haven't lasted long, but at least the TV shows were pretty good.

Citizen Rules

02-03-15, 11:16 PM

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=48316&stc=1&d=1537751892
The Big Combo (1955)

Director: Joseph H. Lewis
Cast: Cornel Wilde, Richard Conte,Jean Wallace,Brian Donlevy, Jean Wallace, Lee Van Cleef, Earl Holliman
Genre: Film Noir

Premise: Police Lt. Leo Diamond (Cornel Wilde) is a righteous man who's frustrated that his efforts are failing to bring down a notorious crime boss, Mr Brown (Richard Conte). The police chief orders Diamond to stop his investigation as it's costing tax payers too much money. Diamond then decides to switch tactics and pressure the mob boss's girl, Susan (Jean Wallace) for information.

Review: The Big Combo is one of the best examples of film noir cinematography. It oozes ambiance, set by the dramatic dark shadows, the low key lighting and dramatic compositions. The film is unique in that we learn what drives not only the detective (Cornel Wilde) but also the inner thoughts of the bad guy, Mr Brown (Richard Conte).

There's an underlying exposition in the movie exploring what it means to be a man and to be on the top of the game. We see Mr Brown dehumanizing his former boss (Brian Donlevy) who has sunk to number two position in the crime organization. Donlevy is older and wears a hearing aid, which Brown screams into the transmitter to inflict suffering on him. Brown also taunts the cop through out the movie, calling him 'small change'.

Quote from movie:
(Mr Brown speaking): Diamond, the only trouble with you is, you'd like to be me. You'd like to have my organization, my influence, my fix. You can't, it's impossible. You think it's money. It's not. It's personality. You haven't got it. You're a cop. Slow. Steady. Intelligent. With a bad temper and a gun under your arm. With a big yen for a girl you can't have. First is first and second is nobody.

The casting for this movie is excellent. Richard Conte the untouchable crime boss who never gets his hands dirty is excellent as an intelligent antagonist. Cornel Wilde is very good at playing a respectable righteous cop who is frustrated by the system.

I found the movie to be very different than most film noirs.

rating_4

Citizen Rules

02-04-15, 10:57 PM

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=48317&stc=1&d=1537752083 The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

Director: Wes Anderson
Writer: Wes Anderson
Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Tony Revolori, F. Murray Abraham, Mathieu Amalric
Genre: Whimsical, Adventure, Comedy, Drama

Premise: The fanciful story of M. Gustave, who's the head concierge at the world renown Grand Budapest Hotel, and the story of his newest employee, a refugee named Zero. The Grand Budapest hotel is frequented by the rich and well-to-do and located in a fictional European country called Zubrowka.

Review: I have high praise for Ralph Fiennes portrayal of the well groomed, M.Gustave. A man with impeccable taste and civility who demands the best from those around him. This was a great character idea! I can't image another actor in this role, he's amazing.

His sidekick the new lobby boy is played by the young actor Tony Revolori. This was his first feature film and he nailed his performance. His quiet sincerity provides the perfect counterbalance to Fiennes flamboyant character. Tony Revolori is going to have a bright future in films I predict.

I also have very high praise for the sets, they are beautiful! I wish I could visit The Grand Budapest hotel in it's heyday. The rooms look so rich in their old world charm and class...very elegantly decorated and cool. And the colors of this film!...the pastel pinks, the lavenders, the powder blues....Vincent Minnelli would have loved this film. The art direction deserves high credit for such a beautiful looking film.

However for me, none of this was enough to hold my interest. After the first half hour, I became disinterested. I wasn't caught up in the story, nor did I care what happened to the characters. Perhaps it was the zaniest of both the story and the camera work that took me out of the movie. Ultimately I didn't care and the film lost me.

rating_3

gbgoodies

02-04-15, 11:09 PM

I felt pretty much the same way about The Grand Budapest Hotel. I just don't get what people see in this movie. :shrug:

Citizen Rules

02-04-15, 11:17 PM

Lots of stars maybe?

I was into the film in the first part of it. It should have been something I really liked too. I know one thing, I could have done with out seeing fingers chopped off.

gbgoodies

02-04-15, 11:25 PM

Lots of stars maybe?

I was into the film in the first part of it. It should have been something I really liked too. I know one thing, I could have done with out seeing fingers chopped off.

I could have done without seeing the whole movie.

Citizen Rules

02-04-15, 11:37 PM

Oh, Oh carefully:cool: Now I have to go and read your review.

Citizen Rules

02-05-15, 04:52 PM

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=30106&stc=1&d=1493658317 Apollo 18 (2011)

Director: Gonzalo López-Gallego
Writer: Brian Miller
Cast: Warren Christie, Lloyd Owen, Ryan Robbins
Genre: Found-Footage Faux Documentary, Sci-Fi Thriller

Tag line: 'There's a reason we've never gone back to the Moon.'

Premise: (spoiler free) In 2011 'lost film footage' was found of the secret Apollo 18 mission to the moon. The source of that footage was the three astronauts of Apollo 18, taken by them in 1974. History records that Apollo 13 was the last known moon mission. This movie then reveals the reason for the secret launch of Apollo 18.

Review: I liked it! I found the film to be refreshingly different, intelligent...and exciting. But be forewarned this film is NOT for everyone. It's not particularly graphic or violent. In fact if horror is what you crave, skip this film. Likewise if you desire CG, big budget effects and big sets with a 'wow' factor, skip this movie.

The film is composed of 'lost footage' shot in 1974 by the Apollo 18 astronauts. The quality of that footage is true to 1974 moon landing standards. It's grainy with extreme wide angle lens used for the lunar lander cabin shots. Some of the footage is shot in 1:33 ratio scale. This adds to the realistic feel of the movie.

I can't reveal much of the story without spoiling it. So I can only say this: The astronauts are sent on a secret mission by the Department of Defense to install listening devices that will detect Soviet launched missiles. While on the moon several strange occurrences happen that makes the crew realize there's a deeper darker secret.

Apollo 18 is a small budget indie film. The actors gave naturalistic performances, not overly dramatic ones. In other words they seemed like real astronauts, not actors. As I watched the film I bought into their story. I was intrigued by what the lunar mysteries were and found the film exciting and intelligent.

rating_4_5

gbgoodies

02-05-15, 05:27 PM

I saw Apollo 18 a while back, and I don't remember much about the movie itself, but I remember thinking that it was terrible. As I recall, there was nothing exciting or thrilling about it.

Citizen Rules

02-05-15, 05:30 PM

gbgoodies

02-05-15, 05:36 PM

Hi GBG, I thought about you when I wrote that review...I didn't think you would like Apollo 18 as it uses the same 'home movies- found footage-faux documentary style of Blair Witch Hunt. Which I know you hate.

I loved the style of BWH and that's part of why I loved Apollo 18. I'm going to look for more found footage films.

Yeah, I hated Blair Witch too, but it wasn't just the "found footage" that I didn't like about it. As I recall, it had the chance to be a good sci-fi suspense movie, but it crossed too far into horror, and it was pretty boring.

Also, I think I watched it around the same time I watched similar movies like Countdown, Destination Moon and Marooned, so it just paled in comparison.

Citizen Rules

02-05-15, 05:52 PM

I haven't seen Countdown but the other two were good.

Arcanis

02-05-15, 06:43 PM

I "saw" Apollo 18 a while back, although I don't really count it, since I had a portfolio to finish up. I've always meant to check it out again, though.

Citizen Rules

02-05-15, 07:18 PM

Hey Arcanis! I haven't seen you here before in my neck of the woods, welcome.:)
I have of course seen your reviews, nicely written too, I must say!

Myself, I often don't rewatch a film like this. I think once I have found out what the mystery is, I wouldn't be so keen on a second viewing. But that's just me.

I once wrote a sci fi novella (unpublished) that had some similarities to this film. Personally I think my story would have made a great movie! But I doubt anyone is interested in sci fi stories about 1970s space exploration. I mean that's just not what's getting published or made into films these days. While except Apollo 18 and that's part of why I liked it.

Arcanis

02-05-15, 09:48 PM

Thanks. I've been ghosting the thread, but haven't had much to actually share on the subject. I've been enjoying your reviews a lot.

What similarities did your novella have with the film? It seems like an odd film to share a subject wih.

On the subject of The Grand Budapest Hotel, I honestly think that it's Anderson's best film to date. I've historically not been a fan of his, and Moonrise Kingdom, his previous best, was only just okay. This is the first of his that I would actively recommend to others.

Citizen Rules

02-05-15, 10:22 PM

Thanks, I'm glad to hear someone enjoys my reviews:D

My ill fated novella was written because I had illusions of being a published writer. Or was that delusions? Anyway I finished a rough draft of a novel that I had worked on for years. I had this idea that if I got a few short stories published first, I stood a better chance of having my novel published. It didn't work out that way, nothing got published. My stories were returned unopened as the magazine editors had filled their quota for the year. So I gave up.

My novella was about a fictionalized event that could have happened during the Soviet space program of the 1970s. It was straight sci-fi, with no horror elements.

gbgoodies

02-05-15, 10:46 PM

Citizen Rules

02-05-15, 10:48 PM

Yes and no. I'm apprehensive about that for a couple reasons. But if I ever do I'll post a link.

Citizen Rules

02-05-15, 11:08 PM

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=48318&stc=1&d=1537752480
Marooned (1969)

Director: John Sturges
Writers: Mayo Simon (screenplay), Martin Caidin (novel)
Cast: Gregory Peck, Richard Crenna, David Janssen, James Franciscu, Gene Hackman
Genre: Adventure Drama Sci-Fi

Premise: The fictional story of three NASA astronauts stranded in Earth orbit after their retro rocket malfunctions, leaving them marooned with no way back and little oxygen.

Review: Marooned is unique in that it's about an Apollo type mission to an orbiting space station in present day (1969) Earth. What's fascinating about the film is that it was actually released on December 11, 1969, that's only months after the first astronauts had landed on the Moon, July 20, 1969.....And, Marooned was made before the ill fated Apollo 13 mission, which was launched on April 11, 1970. Apollo 13, would experience an eerily similar fate, foretold first in this movie.

If we can put ourselves in the mind frame of the 1969 movie going audience, giddy with the magnificent achievement of the Moon Landing...and then go to the theater to watch this movie, through their eyes....Then we might appreciate this film at least on a historical level.

The film is shot in documentary style with some stunning footage of real NASA rocket launches. The viewer learns little about the characters and their motives. Instead the film plays like a: big screen, behind the scenes look at a crisis brewing at NASA's control center. It does this well.

This is a John Sturges directed movie and his style is apparent. Look for the red 'color spot' in some of the scenes. There's an impressive list of actors from Gregory Peck to Gene Hackman to Richard Crenna and David Janssen.

I enjoyed this film for it's very unique place in the timeline of the Apollo missions.

rating_3_5+

Citizen Rules

02-06-15, 11:59 PM

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=48319&stc=1&d=1537752767 The Third Man (1949)

Director: Carol Reed
Writer: Graham Greene
Cast: Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Valli, Trevor Howard
Genre: Mystery Film Noir

Premise (spoiler free): American novelist, Holly Martins (Joseph Cotton) travels to post war Vienna to meet his life long friend, Harry Lime (Orson Welles). When he arrives he learns Harry Lime has just been killed in a traffic accident. He also learns from a British Major (Trevor Howard) that Lime has been involved in the black market.

Review: The Third Man is a well done movie with a tight, intelligent script. Joseph Cotton is pivotal as the overly curious American writer...A stranger in a strange land, trying to find out why his friend Harry was killed. Cotton's combination of nativity about the workings of the Vienna post war black market and his constant badgering of the British Major, give the film it's tension.

The film has three main focal points: Was Harry Lime murdered and if so by who. Was Harry involved in the seedy black market or not. And who is the mysterious third man that supposedly witnessed the traffic accident.

Joseph Cotton is perfectly cast as the likable American writer. His counterbalance is the surly British Major, aptly played by Trevor Howard. The love interest is the actress, Valli. She does a good job though she never really stands out from the crowd. For that we need Orson Welles. Orson's role fits him like a glove. Only Orson could play a rogue character charged with crimes and still be likable in an impish way. There's also a cute dog and kitty in the film, both have a reason for their screen time.

With all this praise, I do have a complaint...The music score. Which was composed of a zither stringed instrument. The music score was both a distraction and annoying. The other complaint is the constant overuse of the Dutch Angle shot. Normally this is used sparingly and only to show great tension or chaos in a scene. Here it was over used.

The Third Man is a intelligently written film noir, with exceptional acting and fine directing.

rating_4

Citizen Rules

02-07-15, 11:46 PM

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=48342&stc=1&d=1537836589
Crash (2004)

Director: Paul Haggis
Writer: Paul Haggis (story & screenplay)
Cast: Ensemble
Genre: Drama multi storied

Premise: An intermixed, multi-storied tale of Los Angles residents who lead very separate lives from one another. On one faithful night the lives of these people collide through a chain of events. Changing them forever.

Review: Crash is highly stylized and beautifully filmed. It artistically weaves together the unrelated stories of these people's lives. It attempts to deal with the complicated and diverse subject matter of racism...as it explores the reasons and consequences. In this it succeeded.

To me, Crash was like eating cotton candy. It left me hungry for more. I never felt satisfied, I never got my fill. There were so many characters that I hardly got a chance to know them. The film would have needed another 30 minutes for that.

All of the many actors were exceptional, they make the events of Crash so believable.

I found the angry cop character played by Matt Dillon and his situation interesting. He does some bad things but the film shows us how he got to have so much anger inside and that was believable.

I also liked the two characters of the African American car-jackers. The film really does try to handle the misconceptions of race very well.

I would have like to learned more about the TV producer and his wife and also the Mexican American lock smith and his family.

Crash is a unique film that embraces the idea that we all walk around isolated in our own worlds, oblivious to the lives of others that we pass. And yet we can interact in ways that have profound effects on people we'll never know.

rating_3_5

cricket

02-08-15, 12:01 PM

I think Crash and especially The Third Man are terrific movies.

I'm not interested in Marooned as I just don't like outer space movies.

Citizen Rules

02-08-15, 02:05 PM

I've heard Mulholland Drive is sort of like Crash? I don't know if that's true.

The Third Man was Sean's choice for the Noir Hof...a fine choice too!

Citizen Rules

02-08-15, 09:41 PM

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=48344&stc=1&d=1537837792

Jodorowsky's Dune (2013)

Director: Frank Pavich
Cast: Alejandro Jodorowsky, Michel Seydoux, H.R. Giger
Genre: Documentary

Why would anyone want to spend 90 minutes watching a documentary film about an ecliptic director's failed attempt to make a colossal 15 hour movie out of Frank Herbert's sci-fi novel Dune?
Because it's darn entertaining!

Alejandro Jodorowsky director of El Topo (1970) and The Holy Mountain (1973) is the subject matter. He's quite the character too. Call him a dreamer, call him a visionary or call him an ex hippie kook. If he had his way, his film Dune, would have changed the world...or so he says.

Back in the early 1970s Jodorowsky acquired the rights to Frank Herbert's novel. The director then set out to change cinema and people's spiritual vision of the world with a meta-religious opus. The planned movie was close to being made too. The script was completed and a huge storyboard book with every single scene and camera shot sketched out, was done. Sets were designed by Giger, the artist who did the creature in Alien.

Jodorowsky went as far as hiring actors. And what a group he hired! Mick Jagger, David Carradine, Gloria Swanson, Salvador Dali and Orson Welles. With Pink Floyd doing the music.

So what happened? You need to watch the film to find out. But don't worry, you will be entertained as you learn a lot about the film making process.

rating_4

honeykid

02-09-15, 03:09 PM

I'm sure the documentary will be far better and more entertaining than any version of Dune that has ever existed.

Citizen Rules

02-09-15, 03:14 PM

Ha! You know Jodorowsky who's quite animated took great glee in David Lynch's failure.

I know everyone hates Dune (1984) but why? I seen that film at the theater and many times afterwards...and I just don't get what all the hate for it is?

I liked it, but then again I read the book a few weeks before seeing the film for the first time so the movie made sense to me.

Citizen Rules

02-09-15, 09:06 PM

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=48345&stc=1&d=1537837913

The One I Love (2014)

Director: Charlie McDowell
Cast: Mark Duplass, Elisabeth Moss
Genre: Drama Fantasy

Warning: The One I Love is not a Comedy-Romance-Drama. It's anti-romantic and there's nothing funny about it, nor does the film try to be humorous. It's thought provoking but aggravating. You'll wonder what the heck is going on. You'll think it's crazy and the characters will grate on your nerves. But one thing is for sure it will get your attention!

The One I Love, should have been titled The One I Use To Love. A whiny, disconnected, unhappy couple seeks a marriage counselor's help. They are sent to a weekend get away. All the troubled couples who stay in this resort house leave happy. That's all I'm telling you of the plot.

The One I Love, is a small budget indie film where most of the spoken dialogue is improvised on the spot by the actors. Which makes it interesting but uneven at times. It has only one main shooting location in a nice house that's set in a garden with a guest house out back. The guest house is important to the film.

The film does probe some deep questions regarding love, perception, forgiveness, loyalty and acceptance. If you watch this film I guarantee you will have an opinion.

rating_3

Citizen Rules

02-09-15, 09:10 PM

Thanks to Sean for recommending this film to me:)

seanc

02-09-15, 09:19 PM

I am glad you like it Citizen. It seemed right up your alley to me.

Citizen Rules

02-09-15, 09:25 PM

I'm not sure if I liked it, as it drove me crazy at times and the characters were annoying (and they're suppose to be that way) but I'm glad I watched it.

Citizen Rules

02-10-15, 11:50 PM

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=30107&stc=1&d=1493659752

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931)

Director: Rouben Mamoulian
Cast: Fredric March, Miriam Hopkins
Genera: Horror Sci-Fi
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Length: 98 minutes

One of the most psychologically violent movies I've ever seen. The film does not have any actual gore in it, but Frederich March is a 'monster' of a brute to Miriam Hopkins. This would be the first film about an obsessive, abusive male stalking a female. He stalks her, he controls her, he's the personification of an abuser. It's downright powerful.

The makeup for Mr Hyde might look hoaky but if you can look past that, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a terse movie about a male stalker/control freak and his helpless female victim.

Fredrick March is perfect as the well mannered, gentile Dr Jekyll. A well respected doctor who's experimenting with a secret potion to unlock man's potential. He contends that both good and evil dwell in mens souls. The guinea pig is himself, as he drinks his own potion. March's performance earned him an Academy Award.

Equally powerful is Miriam Hopkins. If you've never seen Miriam in a movie this is a great one to see her in. She plays a hapless victim who is both repulsed and attracted to the brutish Mr. Hyde. She makes us believe a woman could be under the spell of the evil Mr Hyde.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a pre-code film from 1931. Before the 'Hays code' went into effect in 1934, Hollywood movies could tackle more serious risque subject matter such as this.

Of all the early 1930s horror films, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is the most powerful. Highly recommended.

rating_4_5

gbgoodies

02-11-15, 12:05 AM

I have a few of the early Universal Monster classics on my watchlist. Swan challenged me to find a horror movie that I like, so I'm hoping one of them will be a winner for me.

Swan

02-11-15, 12:06 AM

Nice dude. That's been on my watchlist for a long time. Glad to see you liked it.

Citizen Rules

02-11-15, 12:08 AM

Citizen Rules

02-11-15, 12:10 AM

Thanks Swan...if you can overlook the 1931 makeup for My Hyde, the story itself is powerful. Psss....don't be surprised if you see this one in the future.

gbgoodies

02-11-15, 12:31 AM

I'm not sure if you would like this or not. I'm going to say not. It's heavy. It wouldn't count for your challenge as it's a Paramount picture. I'm not really up on Universal horror, what is there? The Wolfman? and Frankenstein films?

It doesn't have to be a Universal horror movie. Just a horror movie. I only know the Universal Monsters from the collectibles, not the movies, but the ones I know of are Frankenstein, The Wolfman, The Phantom of the Opera, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, but I'm sure there are a few others that I can't think of right now.

I know the basic story of "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde", but the only versions I've seen are the musical with David Hasselhoff, and the Tweety and Sylvester version.

I was thinking about watching The Picture of Dorian Gray. I read the book back in high school, so I know the basic story, and I thought about giving the movie a try.

Citizen Rules

02-11-15, 01:36 PM

I had never heard of The Picture of Dorian Gray until you mentioned it. I looked it up and it sounds pretty cool too. George Sanders is one of my favorite actors and as a bonus it has Donna Reed who I haven't seen in many movies. Though I did watch The Donna Reed Show...I'm glad you mentioned it. I added it to my watch list.:)

honeykid

02-11-15, 04:04 PM

Do you mean you didn't know there was a film version (of which there's a few) or that you'd not heard of The Picture Of Dorian Gray before?

Citizen Rules

02-11-15, 11:29 PM

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=48346&stc=1&d=1537838542
In a Lonely Place (1950)

Director:Nicholas Ray
Writers: Andrew Solt (screenplay)
Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Gloria Grahame
Genre: Film-Noir Drama

Premise: Dixon Steele, a down and out Hollywood screenwriter (Humphrey Bogart) is accused of murdering a young woman that he took back to his apartment one night. A woman who lives in another apartment (Gloria Grahame) vouches that she had seen him that night, which gives him an alibi. She then falls in love with Dixon, but soon realizes he's a violent man and begins to wonder if he might actually be the murder.

Review: In A Lonely Place is unlike any other film noir. Its subject matter was very dark and disturbing for the time, even for a noir. Humphrey Bogart plays a controlling, unsavory character and does so with gusto. This is one of Bogart's best performances. And that's saying a lot because Bogart was legendary. He's able to play this violently disturbed man, without going over the top.

Gloria Grahame who rose to fame in It's a Wonderful Life, is marvelous in this too. She shines in the second half of the film where she plays a woman torn by her fear of Dixon Steele and her love for him. She's very believable in the emotions she portrayed.

In A Lonely Place, sets a premise and then builds on the tension until the final climax. The story and acting is superb.

rating_4_5+

gbgoodies

02-12-15, 12:12 AM

After re-watching In a Lonely Place, I like it even more than I did before. It's likely to place high on my list in the Noir HoF, but it's hard to be sure because there were so many great movies nominated for that HoF.

Simseboy

02-12-15, 09:33 AM

Citizen are you familiar with Danish cinema and/or Nicolas Winding Refn? I would highly recommend his debut feature Pusher (1996). A sort of even darker version of Goodfellas/Mean Streets. Also has the debut performance of Mads Mikkelsen, and he is absolutely brilliant in the film.

Citizen Rules

02-12-15, 02:03 PM

Also has the debut performance of Mads Mikkelsen, and he is absolutely brilliant in the film. Did MovieGal send you;) Just kidding, she's a big fan of Mads.

To answer your question, no I'm not familiar with Danish cinema. I tend to stick to English language films. Occasionally I'll watch a German language film. I have one of those to watch in the next few days.

I'm not sure I would like a darker version of Goodfellas, if darker means more violent. Goodfellas was about as violent as I can take. Of course darker could mean the 'vision of the film', which then sounds interesting. Thanks for mentioning Pusher.:)

Citizen Rules

02-12-15, 10:23 PM

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=30115&stc=1&d=1493668963

North West Frontier (1959)
Released in U.S.A as Flame of India

Director: J Lee Thompson
Cast: Kenneth More, Lauren Bacall, Herbert Lom, Wilfrid Hyde-White, I.S. Johar
Country: UK Britain
Genre: British Western, Action Drama

Premise: In British held India during the early 1900's, religious rebels seek to kill the heir to the throne. The heir is a 6 year old Hindu prince. A British Army Captain is ordered to escort the young prince safely to Delhi. The British outpost is surrounded by rebels. The only escape is on an outdated, run down train called, The Flame of India. The journey by rail is perilous, as rebels attack. Making matters worse someone on the train is trying to kill the young price.

Review: What a fun movie!...and so well done too. I had never heard of this 'British Western'. Released in 1959 in wide screen anamorphic CinemaScope.

It won 3 British BAFTA awards but somehow never took off in America. Which is too bad as this is an intelligent and forthright look at the British occupation of India. The film examines that occupation through the various characters. Then the film wraps this expose in an exciting running chase with the rebels.

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=30116&stc=1&d=1493668974

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=30117&stc=1&d=1493668979

Much of the film is shot on real locations, though not all are in India. To someone like me who's never been to the Northwest Frontier (now Pakistan) the terrain looked very believable.

All of the main characters were well defined and well acted. Kenneth More as the British Capt. and I.S.Johor as the Indian train driver, Wilfred Hyde White as the gentlemen British Diplomat, and Herbert Lom as the reporter with a grudge. Lauren Bacall was good too as the outspoken American.

rating_4

Citizen Rules

02-14-15, 11:49 PM

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=30118&stc=1&d=1493674058 The Eagle (2011)

Director: Kevin Macdonald
Cast: Channing Tatum, Jamie Bell, Donald Sutherland
Genre: Action Drama

Premise: During the Roman occupation of the British Isles an entire Roman legion is lost during a campaign in northern Britain. The son of the lost legion leader comes to Britain to find the lost Eagle standard which is the symbol of Rome. He also seeks to restore his family honor.

Review: The Eagle is a fictionalized story of the Roman occupation of the British Isles. As one might expect there was action sword fighting in the film. Not a lot but enough for the action enthusiast. I thought the two main actors: (Channing Tatum, Jamie Bell) were pretty good and believable. They were also good in the action scenes as well.

What I liked about the film was the look and feel of the exterior shots of a rainy northern Britain, modern day Scotland. The film was shot on location in the glens and hills of Scotland. I didn't like the way the Scots were portrayed. I thought they were made to look like dirty unkempt savages. The scenes that showed their religious ceremony seemed way over the top and silly. I image the ancient Scots of AD 140 to be more noble.

The story itself was a pretty good action adventure tale. The film didn't really delve into the characters too deeply. Overall mediocre, but not a bad movie.

rating_3

honeykid

02-15-15, 11:26 AM

I didn't like the way the Scots were portrayed. I thought they were made to look like dirty unkempt savages.
I've not seen the film, but it sounds unerringly accurate. :D

The scenes that showed their religious ceremony seemed way over the top and silly. I image the ancient Scotts of AD 140 to be more noble.
Than today's Scots? Yeah, probably. :D

Sorry JD and Camo, I just can't help myself. Look how easy CR made it. Blame him. It's all his fault. :D

Citizen Rules

02-15-15, 09:23 PM

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=48356&stc=1&d=1537908870Double Indemnity (1944)

Director: Billy Wilder
Writers: Billy Wilder & Raymond Chandler (screenplay), James M. Cain (novel)
Cast: Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward G. Robinson
Genre: Film Noir

Premise: A cocky insurance salesman, Walter Niff (Fred MacMurray) encounters a notorious married woman, Phyllis Dietrichson (Barbara Stanwyck)....she seduces him into murdering her husband for the insurance claim which is a double indemnity clause. Walter's friend and boss Barton Keyes (Edward G Robinson) is an insurance investigator with the uncanny ability to spot a fake insurance claim.

Review: Double Indemnity is the quintessential Film Noir. It has all of the noir elements: the 'average Joe' being lead into a dangerous situation by a femme fatale, the sense of doomed characters rushing towards a fatalistic climax...all wrapped in a potent story. The story is driven by lust, greed, self motivation and a serious lack of morals.

Director Billy Wilder co-wrote this provocative script with famed novelist Raymond Chandler...basing their work on the novel Double Indemnity by James Cain. This isn't an artsy film or a movie with deep underlying themes. What you see is what you get.

Fred MacMurray who almost always played light comic roles really nails his performance. He's completely believable as the self assured, womanizing, fast talking salesman with an eye for the ladies and a good time. When he locks his eyes on Phyllis we know why he agrees to bump off her husband.

Barbara Stanwyck is the other part of this duo. She too is utterly believable as the cheap, sexy, amoral Phyllis. She looks easy in her cheap blonde wig. From her ankle bracelet to her huge gaudy finger ring and her loud clothes, she looks and acts the part.

Edward G Robinson is the perfect balance to the story idea of an insurance murder plot. He adds the voice of reason and respect. He too is extremely good in his role.

Double Indemnity has such a strong story with gutsy characters that it's easy to overlook the skill and beauty of the cinematography. The use of select lighting in otherwise dark scenes is sublime. The shadows seem to embrace the actors. The composition and layout of the shots makes this film beautiful as well as provocative.

rating_4_5+

honeykid

02-15-15, 09:29 PM

Well, you wanted to write a review about a film I liked and you've certainly done so with this one. :up: I love this film and have it on my 100.

Citizen Rules

02-15-15, 09:38 PM

Cool, I'm glad you liked it. I 'tried' to reflect the movie in my writing style. I don't know if it worked?

I just might add this film to my top 10, I like it that much.

Citizen Rules

02-16-15, 09:04 PM

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=48357&stc=1&d=1537909016

Winter's Tale (2014)

Director: Akiva Goldsman
Writers: Akiva Goldsman (screenplay), Mark Helprin (novel)
Cast: Colin Farrell, Jessica Brown Findlay, Russell Crowe
Genre: Fantasy Romance Thriller Action

What happens when a director combines a heart warming, romantic fantasy film with a thriller action film and then throws in some horror elements for good measure? You get Winter's Tale...a movie that doesn't know what it wants to be.

For the most part it's a magical fairy tale about a white horse who can fly and a boy who falls in love with a girl. He loves her so deeply that he lives a 100 years without aging, as he waits to fill his destiny. This part of the film works.

Then we get Russell Crowe as a bad ass demon who in one scene is unhappy that the restaurant doesn't serve 'pan fried owl'. So he grabs the waiter's head and squeezes until his head pops. Then uses the blood to draw a picture. As this is happening, he momentarily reverts to an ugly demon. A cliche scene that has been done in too many horror films.

Without the thriller horror elements, this film might have been a 21st classic like Fantasia. It's too bad as it does have a lot going for it, such as:

Colin Farrell & Jessica Brown Findlay...when they fall in love, so do we. Their scenes together are beautiful and well done. 5/5 for their acting and characters.

Russell Crowe, I must say he makes one fine demon. He looks the part and with a strange facial tick and menacing looks, he's a demon. 5/5 for his acting, way to go Russel.

The sets are beautiful, especially the winter scenes. For the CG sets and the live sets. 5/5

Winter's Tale is not the type of movie I normally watch. It could have been a modern classic without the graphic violence and a PG rating, instead of PG13. Then it could have been a charming family film. I feel it missed it's intended audience.

rating_3

Citizen Rules

02-17-15, 02:36 PM

I take it that no one has seen Winter's Tale? I bet GBG would like it.

gbgoodies

02-17-15, 03:01 PM

I take it that no one has seen Winter's Tale? I bet GBG would like it.

If I remember correctly, I read the synopsis of Winter's Tale when it was released on DVD, and it sounded good, but the reviews were pretty bad.

I tried watching it, but I found Colin Farrell's accent distracting, so I gave up on it about 20 minutes or so into the movie. It wasn't that there was anything wrong with his accent. It's just that I had never heard him speak with an accent before, so I wasn't expecting it.

I'll have to give it another try.

Citizen Rules

02-17-15, 03:29 PM

gbgoodies

02-17-15, 03:34 PM

I honestly don't remember Colin Farrell having an accent. At least I didn't notice it. Could you be thinking of Russell Crowe? He did a very distinct sounding Irish accent. He did it much better than Orson did BTW.

It's possible that I could be getting the two actors mixed up. I didn't know that either of them had an accent prior to that movie, so either one would have been distracting.

Like I said, the accent wasn't bad. It was just distracting because it was unexpected. It might not bother me if I try watching the movie again because now I know to expect it.

Citizen Rules

02-17-15, 04:31 PM

Be forewarned Will Smith is the devil:devil::eek:

honeykid

02-17-15, 04:37 PM

He was on Top Gear this week with Margot Robbie. No matter what she does, I think she'll always be Donna to me.

gbgoodies

02-17-15, 04:41 PM

Be forewarned Will Smith is the devil:devil::eek:

I realized that when he started pushing his untalented kids on us.

Toni

02-17-15, 08:34 PM

Yes, I like character-driven films a lot, maybe why I like a lot of the 50's black/white film Noir, which dealt with conflicts in human situations."Double Indemnity." Barbara Stanwyck. Fred MacMurry. Just saw "The Caine Mutiny" again yesterday. "The Virgin Suicides". Boy, that's a rough one.It's her, director's, best film.Supposed to come from a true story. The modern version of "The Postman Always Rings Twice," with Jessica Lang.(it was truer to the book.) and "Mildred Pierce," both versions.Donnie Darko was great, but not horror. More like satire. "Six Degrees of Separation" must have been even better on stage; but the movie still is haunting. Tennesee Williams like "The Fugitive Kind" and his other movie versions. Almodovar. Oh, HITCHCOCK, the tv shows! :D HAH HAH!! 20003

20004 :eek:

Citizen Rules

02-17-15, 09:40 PM

I like character-driven films a lot, maybe why I like a lot of the 50's black/white film Noir, which dealt with conflicts in human situations. Me too! On the Double Indemnity commentary track, screenwriter Lem Dobbs, said that he believed there was no bad film noirs. Come to think of it, even the cheesiest, lowest budget noir is still good fun to watch.

"The Virgin Suicides". Boy, that's a rough one.It's her, director's, best film.Supposed to come from a true story. I've only seen 2 Sophia Coppola directed films, Lost in Translation and Marie Antoinette, both were really good. So I'll have to see The Virgin Suicides. When you say it's a 'rough one', what do you mean?

I've never seen, Six Degrees of Separation, but I've been thinking I should watch it too.

I haven't seen the remakes of Postman Always Rings Twice and Mildred Pierce. I did see Donnie Darko and I agree it's not horror, I reviewed it here:
http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&highlight=donnie%20darko&p=1162305#post1162305

And geez! was that a short review or what! Have I got long winded these days:eek:

Citizen Rules

02-17-15, 11:50 PM

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=48372&stc=1&d=1537984766

Transcendence (2014)

Director: Wally Pfister
Cast: Johnny Depp, Rebecca Hall, Morgan Freeman, Cillian Murpy
Genre: Sci-Fi Drama

Transcendence is an intriguing sci fi film about a brilliant scientist and his attempt to upload a human consciousness into a supercomputer. There by creating an artificial intelligence so vast that its intellect is far greater than the combined IQ of all the humans who have ever lived. Lurking in the shadows is an anti-technology terrorist group who believes creating an all powerful A.I. computer will spell the end for mankind.

This film didn't get great reviews but bear in mind many people want to see action, explosions and fantastic scenes. There's some action in the film and some mystery too, but it also tries to be a little different than your average block buster movie.

For those who think Johnny Depp is always playing weird characters...give this film a look. He plays his role as: subtle, down to earth and reserve, showing he has a wide range of acting ability.

There are some plot holes but if you overlook those, the story and ending are unique. I bet you can't guess how this turns out?

rating_3_5

Citizen Rules

02-19-15, 12:31 AM

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=48373&stc=1&d=1537984892

Downfall (2004)

Director: Oliver Hirschbiegel
Cast: Bruno Ganz, Alexandra Maria Lara, Ulrich Matthes
Genre: Biography Drama
Language: German

Premise: The last days of the Third Reich as told by Hitler's 22 year old secretary, Traudl Junge. As Nazi Germany falls, Hitler and his staff are hold up in the Fuhrer Bunker in Berlin, waiting for the advancing Soviet army and the fate that befalls them.

This German made film accurately portrays Hitler's last days on Earth. Unlike Hollywood films that show the Nazi leaders as two dimensional monsters, Downfall shows them as real people who have done monstrous acts. That's an important distinction, as humans are capable of the most vile acts.

Nothing is sugar coated we can clearly see Hitler is insane and he will not listen to reason and doesn't care about human life. He doesn't even care about the lives of the German civilians trapped in Berlin with no food or medicine. We get a feeling of the frustration of those individuals around him who are trapped by his insanity. Those who disobey his orders are executed. We get the feeling that being in the bunker was a nightmare and with the Soviet Army encircling Berlin, escape was not much of an option.

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=48375&stc=1&d=1537985815

One of the most disturbing scenes are the last moments of Eva Braun and the Goebbels family. Eva is married to Hitler in the bunker. For a honeymoon so gets a vile of poison. I'm not sure the real Eva was so wild eyed as the one in the film, but her fate was the same as shown in Downfall.

The most disturbing scene is of the suicide-murder of the Goebbels family. In the movie, as in real life Mrs Goebbels places cyanide in the mouths of her children. A very sad scene...especially when you know this actually happened.

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=48374&stc=1&d=1537984907

Downfall was Oscar nominated for 'Best Foreign Language Film of the Year' and won several prestigious awards in Germany. I highly recommend this film.

rating_4_5

honeykid

02-19-15, 11:22 AM

I had Downfall on my millenium list. It's a great film and I recommend watching weeman's Sexy Hitler video.

Citizen Rules

02-19-15, 02:44 PM

I'm glad you mentioned that! I wasn't hear for the Millennial list so I forgot about it.

I see Downfall was number 43 on the Millennium list. I guess I have good taste:D

rauldc14

02-19-15, 02:56 PM

Darn, for a minute I thought this was a review for Weemans video.

Citizen Rules

02-19-15, 02:57 PM

Ha! Nope...I don't even know who Weeman is?

Citizen Rules

02-20-15, 10:05 PM

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Pickup on South Street (1953)

Director: Samuel Fuller
Writers: Samuel Fuller (screenplay), Dwight Taylor (story)
Cast: Richard Widmark, Jean Peters, Thelma Ritter
Genre: Film Noir, Crime Melodrama

Skip (Richard Widmark) is a three time convicted pick-pocket. When he unknowingly lifts stolen film from a woman's purse, his troubles then begin. The film contains a secret chemical formula that was being sold on the black-market to the Communist.

Candy (Jean Peters) is the young woman who was carrying the film. She's sent by her ex-boyfriend to recover the stolen film. When she can't find the film on her own, she seeks out Moe (Thelma Ritter). Moe's profession is selling information and Moe has heard about the film. Meanwhile the FBI and police are looking for Skip and the hot film too.

What's special to me about Pickup On South Street is, Samuel Fuller is an auteur film maker. He wrote it, cast it and directed it. It's full of human expressions and details that other directors don't always bother to show.

Here's an example of why I think Jean Peters is one of the best femme fatales I've seen. She's acting with 'method acting' like James Dean and Marlon Brando did. She's not just giving a dramatic reading of her lines....she's actually become her character.

Watch this 1 minute clip (it's not a trailer, no spoilers). You can see and feel her emotions at work. I love the way she instantly responds in character when she is impromptu bumped in the face with the chop sticks. The scene itself, the dialogue and the characters are rich. The actor who plays Lighting Louie is pretty great too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tUqEZ3r3tY

Pickup on South Street is a classic film noir, one that should not be missed. It contains what might be some of the best acting in a film noir. Jean Peters is so real in this film with her expressions that you would think she was the real Candy, a street wise B-girl. Jean's performance in this film is one of my all time favorites.

Richard Widmark is no slouch either. He's one heck of a colorful, smart and defiant pick pocket, who's living on the edge while thumbing his noise at the Police, FBI and the Reds. He's one cool dude.

Thelma Ritter's performance as Moe, the old lady informer with a heart of gold and a head for money, is amazing. Thelma was Oscar nominated for best supporting actress. She deserved to win.

The bulk of the credit for this fine film goes to director/writer Samuel Fuller. He populates his movie with rich scenes and well though out details that makes what we're watching so rewarding.

rating_5

honeykid

02-21-15, 10:16 AM

Noir rarely does it for me and this one was no different. The film you descrbe and the one I saw are different films. :D I don't think it's bad, btw, it's just another noir that I didn't really see what was special about it.

gbgoodies

02-21-15, 01:17 PM

Pickup on South Street was one of my favorite movies from the Noir HoF. It made me want to watch more movies with Richard Widmark.

Citizen Rules

02-21-15, 02:25 PM

Honeykid, I can respect your opinion on noir and won't try to change your mind.

For me, I love noir films. Everything about them, from their style, to their story and characters. Just like some love horror, I love noir. I've seen a ton of them.

What's special to me about Pickup On South Street is Samuel Fuller: it's an auteur film. He wrote it, cast it, directed it. It's full of human expressions and details that other directors don't always show.

Here's an example of why I think Jean Peters is one of the best femme fatales I've seen. She's acting with 'method acting' like James Dean did. Shes not just giving a dramatic reading of her lines....shes actually become her character.

Watch this 1 minute clip (it's not a trailer). You can see and feel her emotions. I love the way she instantly responds in character when she is bumped in the face with the chop sticks. The scene itself, the dialogue and the characters are rich.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tUqEZ3r3tY

Gatsby

02-21-15, 02:38 PM

I ignored Transcendence at first mostly because of Johnny Depp, whom I think of these days as Adam Sandler, knowing that his performance and films he's in will get worse and worser. And the fact that director had no experience in direction whatsoever before this movie. Maybe I'll check it out, but that would require me to have a lot of free time.

Downfall is a great film, it's kind of sad that people overlook it as something silly because of the countless parody videos (including Weeman's one, but since its hilarious that's an exception :D).

Pickup on South Street looks like an interesting noir. I think I'll add it to the watchlist.

hello101

02-21-15, 02:46 PM

I really like Pickup on South Street but Shock Corridor is my fav Samuel Fuller film. I watched The Naked Kiss (on your recommendation, citizen) and it was great as well.

Citizen Rules

02-21-15, 02:52 PM

You're right Gatsby, these days Depp seems to pick bad movies. I do think he's a good actor, he just needs to be more picky with his projects. If you like sci fi and are OK with Depp, then you might like Transcendence. But otherwise you might not care for it.

I had never heard of Downfall until coming to MoFo. I've never seen a parody video. I know several non-movie buffs who seen Downfall and were impressed.

Citizen Rules

02-21-15, 02:57 PM

I really like Pickup on South Street but Shock Corridor is my fav Samuel Fuller film. I watched The Naked Kiss (on your recommendation, citizen) and it was great as well. Howdy 101, I just requested Shock Corridor and will be reviewing it soon. I'm glad you liked The Naked Kiss. Myself I plan on watching more Samuel Fuller films.

I forgot to mention that in Pickup on South Street, there's this brutal scene where Jean Peters is beat up and pushed around the room by her ex boyfried played by Richard Kiley. I watched that scene several times. It's a long camera shot, which Fuller say he likes for fight scenes as it adds more believability....Anyway, it was Jean Peters doing the entire scene herself! She must have ended up with some nice bruises after that, geez!

hello101

02-21-15, 03:01 PM

Enjoy Shock Corridor, it's an exquisite character study. Yep, I agree with Fuller's theory. Long takes add more to fight/struggle scenes, cuts kinda disrupt the flow of things.

Citizen Rules

02-21-15, 03:04 PM

Pickup on South Street was one of my favorite movies from the Noir HoF. It made me want to watch more movies with Richard Widmark.

Before Orson, Richard Widmark was my avatar. I look nothing like Widmark so I changed it, but Widmark is just a great actor. He did a lot of film noirs. His first movie was Kiss of Death, he played the psycho-killer Tommy Udo. You've probably scene a clip of that. In Panic in the Streets a film noir, he plays a health inspector trying to stop a plaque.
He did a lot of westerns too, Warlock, The Alamo, How the West Was One, are 3 of his most popular. He made a LOT of films, I got to get busy watching them:)