Citizen Rules...Cinemaesque Chat-n-Review

[Captain Steel]

A lot of sports movies aren't really about the actual sport. They're more about the people and whatever is happening to them outside of the game. Sometimes the sport is just a background.

As Mr. Miyagi said, "Karate here (points to head), Karate here (points to heart), Karate never here. (points to belt)"

"Win, lose, no matter."

[Citizen Rules]

Gotta say I liked the first Karate Kid. Though the hopping on one foot Karate maneuver was laudable.

[gbgoodies]

Gotta say I liked the first Karate Kid. Though the hopping on one foot Karate maneuver was laudable.


I liked the first two Karate Kid movies, but the third one was horrible.

[Citizen Rules]

I think I seen them all? Was the last one with the girl? If so I didn't like that one either.

[gbgoodies]

I think I seen them all? Was the last one with the girl? If so I didn't like that one either.


No, that was The Next Karate Kid. The third movie was the one where Daniel and Mr. Miyagi open a bonsai shop, and a bully destroys it to try to force Daniel to defend his karate title.

[Citizen Rules]

Boy, you have a much better memory than me. I did see that one with the bonsai, it wasn't as good as the first two.

[NextScorsese]

No, that was The Next Karate Kid. The third movie was the one where Daniel and Mr. Miyagi open a bonsai shop, and a bully destroys it to try to force Daniel to defend his karate title.

Either way, they both sucked.

[mark f]

The girl was two-time Oscar-winner Hilary Swank. :)

[NextScorsese]

The girl was two-time Oscar-winner Hilary Swank. :)

Yeah, it was her first movie, and good lord does it show.

[Citizen Rules]

I did not know that. ( I can hear a comic voice saying that line but I can't remember who said it? Somebody from SNL?)

[gbgoodies]

Boy, you have a much better memory than me. I did see that one with the bonsai, it wasn't as good as the first two.

It usually airs on TV right after the first two movies.


Either way, they both sucked.

I agree.


The girl was two-time Oscar-winner Hilary Swank. :)

I knew that, but the movie still sucked.

[NextScorsese]

The Next Karate Kid was so bad that it never got it's own DVD release, they just released on the back of the Karate Kid 3 DVDs. That's right, direct to DVD without it's own DVD, that bad.

[Citizen Rules]

I did not know that. ( I can hear a comic voice saying that line but I can't remember who said it? Somebody from SNL?)As soon as I posted this, I shut off the computer...and of course!...then the answer pops into my head:

Johnny Carson would often say, I did not know that.

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=25145&stc=1&d=1462050691
Parkland (2013)

Director: Peter Landesman
Writers: Peter Landesman, Vincent Bugliosi(book)
Stars: Zac Efron, Tom Welling, Billy Bob Thornton, Paul Giamatti
Genre: Drama, History
Length: 1h 33min

Synopsis: The seldom told backstory of the chaotic events that took place in Dallas, Texas during and immediately after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Review: If you like history and who doesn't? Parkland is the film for you. It's shot in a semi-documentary style. It focuses on the side stories, that were interconnected with the assassination, but are often overlooked. Most movies and documentaries will focus on: the actual assassination of JFK, or the hunt for Lee Oswald or even focus on conspiracy theories. But not Parkland, it focuses on the effects of that day: The man who shot the home movie footage of the assassination, (Paul Giamatti)....And the doctor who performed the autopsy on JFK...And the head CIA man on the scene (Billy Bob Thornton)...And if focuses on the effects of the shooting on Lee Harvey Oswald's brother.

Caveat: this is not an action-thriller and not your typical Hollywood movie. If you're looking for gun play and chase scenes and action, forget it, this is not that type of movie.

What I thought of it: I thought it was very well done, very believable and fascinating. From what I read it's pretty factual in the events that it shows. Paul Giamatti is really good in this one, maybe one of my favorite performances by him. I totally bough him in his role. Parkland is a film for those interested in the events that surrounded that tragic day in Dallas back in 1963.

rating_4+

.

[cricket]

I remember seeing the trailer for Parkland and thinking it looked good. It came and then disappeared so quick that I forgot it existed.

[Citizen Rules]

It would pair well with Oliver Stone's idea of who killed JFK in his movie JFK. Watch that one for laughs, then watch this one for facts.

[Citizen Rules]

http://mmbiz.qpic.cn/mmbiz/SY3KaiaicVHw4txYnFJnrDqmEnukTdkcBVu8xyiaib4p0RDibiczyIoKDpEQNz8zHUaD9mTjkss7H5bicuia3ltAgwPS6Q/0

Set Fire to the Stars (2014)

Director: Andy Goddard
Writers: Andy Goddard, Celyn Jones
Stars: Elijah Wood, Celyn Jones, Kelly Reilly
Genre: Biography, Drama
Length: 1h 37min

1950s New York City...A quiet poetry professor takes on an arduous task when he brings his personal hero, the irrepressible Welsh poet, Dylan Thomas to America for a series of poetry readings.

I have to admit I didn't know much about Dylan Thomas when I first watched this film. Truth be told, you don't have to be a fan of poetry to enjoy this rather unique indie film. Or is this an odd film? I'm not sure...in some ways it seems like the equivalent of a 'garage rock band'. That's not a bad thing, what I mean is: it has some film making ideas going on and at the same time it's not real polished.

Production of this film is different too from the norm. It was shot in only 18 days and on location in Swansea, Wales. The director, wrote the screen play and the lead actor also wrote the script....Shot in glorious black and white the film looks amazing. According to the press release on the back of the DVD the film is "shot in cut-glass black-and-white." I have no idea of what that means? Nor do I know what they mean by "part love-letter to the American B-movies of the Forties and Fifties." It didn't seem like a B movie to me, I think the marketing guys just made that up.

Set Fire to the Stars is atrue story of what happened when the drunkard Welsh poet comes to America. It's a rather sad fate that comes to the talented Dylan Thomas.

rating_3+

[cricket]

Before reading the review, I had already decided I wasn't interested from the poster.

[cricket]

It would pair well with Oliver Stone's idea of who killed JFK in his movie JFK. Watch that one for laughs, then watch this one for facts.

I haven't seen JFK yet either. I know HK likes it so I want to, but it's so damn long.

[Citizen Rules]

You're better off watching Parkland:p, it's much shorter, it's factual and not fake-believe like JFK (1991) and it's got Paul Giamatti to boot!

[cricket]

Well I'm a huge Giamatti fan, and Billy Bob too.

[Captain Steel]

Parkland - Hey, finally one I've seen!

I watched both JFK for the first time & Parkland around the same time (some time last year).
Since there'd been decades of hype surrounding JFK, I had high expectations (loved the fact that John Candy had a serious cameo), but it ended up that I think I liked Parkland better even though JFK had a star-power cast & seemed to have higher production values. The only thing I didn't really like about Parkland was the casting of Zac Efron. ;)

But I agree with Rules review, Parkland was a good film about the assassination aftermath and the Zapruder film.

(JFK almost seemed misnamed because it was more about one man's investigation of the assassination than about the President... kind of like Lincoln (2012), it should've been called "The 13th Amendment" because it was far more about that event than about the man.)

[Citizen Rules]

Hey, I'm glad I finally reviewed one you seen! I know, I watch a lot of bio-pics and period pieces, some are not that well watched.

You know I forget John Candy was in JFK. I'm still trying to watch all of Candy's movies. I have Splash at home right now. I'll have to get JFK and give that a watch too. I know it will PO me with the bogus conspiracy stuff, but I remember it was a well made film.

The 13th Amendment, Ha, more apt...but less catchy. I liked Lincoln OK but I liked the other movie better about the accused woman conspirator in the Lincoln Assassination, (I swear I can never remember what it's called?)

[Captain Steel]

Hey, I'm glad I finally reviewed one you seen! I know, I watch a lot of bio-pics and period pieces, some are not that well watched.

You know I forget John Candy was in JFK. I'm still trying to watch all of Candy's movies. I have Splash at home right now. I'll have to get JFK and give that a watch too. I know it will PO me with the bogus conspiracy stuff, but I remember it was a well made film.

The 13th Amendment, Ha, more apt...but less catchy. I liked Lincoln OK but I liked the other movie better about the accused woman conspirator in the Lincoln Assassination, (I swear I can never remember what it's called?)

I actually saw that also... but, believe it or not, I can't remember what it was called either (and I don't want to cheat by looking it up - that would make me a psychopath... or is it a narcissist?)

[Citizen Rules]

Ha! or just a loyal subject of Google;) Gotta go, dinner time and a movie....which I will probably get around to reviewing. Have a good one! Capt.

[Captain Steel]

Let me guess (it's Saturday),.. Pizza?

[Nope1172]

Forbidden Planet is awesome! I nominated it for Movie of the Month back in November. I hope it makes it high of the 50s list.

[Citizen Rules]

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ML4B4bKvw4k/Vsrsw75JeyI/AAAAAAAAFmY/Q9gOjueajz4/s640/screen_shot_2015-10-30_at_2.25.19_pm.png
Trumbo (2015)
Director: Jay Roach
Writers: John McNamara, Bruce Cook (book)
Stars: Bryan Cranston, Diane Lane, Helen Mirren
Genre: Biography, Drama

During the Un-American House Committees investigation during the late 1940s-1950s into Communism in America, a number of prominent Hollywood people were accused of being Communist and were summoned to testify. Many of these people were Hollywood writers being accused of writing subversive Communist themed movie scripts. One of the accused was the very talented writer, Dalton Trumbo.

I first learned of Dalton Trumbo's unique story when I watched the documentary, Trumbo (2007) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0889671/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2) based on the many letters he wrote about his personal beliefs and experience with blacklisting. It was clear that Trumbo was a highly principled man who was willing to go to jail rather than testify before Congress in what he deemed to be a unconstitutional witch hunt.

About the movie, after watching the documentary, I then watched the movie about Trumbo. The movie paints a different character than the documentary did. I was disappointed that they left out the part of his life when he and his family fled to Mexico, as the cost of living there was less and Trumbo after being blacklisted had to sell his home and was broke. The movie portrayed Trumbo as a workaholic who had a 'production line' of movie scripts that he wrote and sold under various front names. Thus making him a lot of money but estranging himself from his family.

Review, I like the movie, I wish it could have included more of the events in Trumbo's life. I did like Helen Mirren portrayal of Hollywood gossip columnist Hedda Hopper. A women who wielded great power and did not hesitate to threaten and abuse people with it. The charater J.J. Hunsecker played by Burt Lancaster in The Sweet Smell of Success (1957), was reputedly based on Hedda Hopper....The roles that John Wayne, Kirk Douglas and Otto Preminger, played in history is shown as they interact with Trumbo.

rating_4+

[Gideon58]

I think I seen them all? Was the last one with the girl? If so I didn't like that one either.
You know that girl was future two time Oscar winner Hillary Swank?

[Citizen Rules]

I didn't remember that but Mark mentioned that the other day. Have you seen Trumbo?

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=24530&stc=1&d=1457575886
The Great Escape (1963)
Director: John Sturges
Writers: Paul Brickhill(book), James Clavell(screenplay)
Cast: Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, Charles Bronson, Donald Plesence, James Coburn, David McCallum, James Garner
Genre:Adventure, Drama, War

During World War II several hundred Allied service men being held in a German prisoner camp, come up with a daring plan for escape.



A WWII film based on actual events and on the book written by one of the prisoners of war. This is a light movie, with a fun feel to it (most of the time) and that's OK. The first part of the film is drama with light comedy (at times), the second part of the film is action-suspense. I like it that we see how the prisoners coordinated and manage to build a very elaborate escape tunnel, actually three of them. I don't want to give away too much. So I'll just say:

This is a very enjoyable film. I liked the star filled cast: Steve McQueen, Donald Pleasence, Charles Bronson, James Garner all were great personalities in this film and added to the huge ensemble cast. I learned in the DVD extras that the exterior shots were filmed in Germany, so no wonder Germany looks like Germany! and not California! That alone makes the film worth watching...The Stalag prisoner camp was built almost to duplication of the original, which was located in Poland. The sets look great and so does the movie itself as it was shot in wide screen Cinemascope.

I'm guessing that the The Great Escape was the inspiration for the TV show Hogan's Heroes. Though that's just my guess, but there's a lot of similarities going on.

rating_4

[Gideon58]

I didn't remember that but Mark mentioned that the other day. Have you seen Trumbo?
Just read and repped your review...I will try to watch it before the week is out.

[Citizen Rules]

A bit more about Hedda Hopper who's featured in Trumbo. She was a power broker and used her position as a famous Hollywood gossip columnist to extort and hurt people.

From Wiki

After she published a "blind item" on Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy's relationship, Tracy confronted her at Ciro's and kicked her in the rear.
Similarly, after she had printed a story about an extramarital affair between Joseph Cotten and Deanna Durbin, Cotten ran into Hopper at a social event and pulled out her chair, only to continue pulling it out from under her when she sat down

[Gideon58]

A bit more about Hedda Hopper who's featured in Trumbo. She was a power broker and used her position as a famous Hollywood gossip columnist to extort and hurt people.

From Wiki

After she published a "blind item" on Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy's relationship, Tracy confronted her at Ciro's and kicked her in the rear.
Similarly, after she had printed a story about an extramarital affair between Joseph Cotten and Deanna Durbin, Cotten ran into Hopper at a social event and pulled out her chair, only to continue pulling it out from under her when she sat down

I don't know if you ever saw it, but there was wonderful TV movie done on CBS about the "feud" between Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons, it was called Malice in Wonderland...Jane Alexander played Hedda and Elizabeth Taylor played Louella...if you've never seen it, I highly recommend it.

[Citizen Rules]

I haven't seen it, but it's on my watch list, which is a long watch list. If you highly recommend it I will bump it up towards the top. Thanks

[Citizen Rules]

https://twscritic.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/au-revoir-les-enfants-kids.jpg
Au Revoir Les Enfants (1987)

Goodbye Children (English title)
Director: Louis Malle
Writer: Louis Malle(scenario)
Cast: Gaspard Manesse, Raphael Fejtö, Francine Racette
Genre: Autobiography, Drama, War

During World War II, a French boarding school run by Catholic priest becomes the last refuge for children in occupied France. This is based on the true life experience of the director & writer Louis Malle. The character Julien is modeled after Malle's own childhood experience during the time of Nazi occupation of France.

I was knocked out by this, what a great film! I had never heard of it but as soon as the film started I could tell it was going to be special. The director Louis Malle does everything right.

I kept expecting the same old gimmicks or tired archetypes that most movies rely on, but thank goodness not here! This is an intelligent, well crafted, controlled film. It never goes over the top, and never insults the audiences intelligence. It doesn't rely on sensationalism or spectacle to tell it's story.

Instead this is a quiet film, even low key. The SS is of course the antagonist, but they don't 'twirl their mustaches' or 'laugh methodically' as they go about doing their dirty work. Instead we see the German soldiers and SS as quiet, orderly and even polite at times, but of course still dangerous...In one exceptional scene we see a German solder has to read something so he puts on reading glasses, this simple act makes him seem human and so makes the story all the more believable.

I also loved the look of the film. A light greenish tinge is used and adds a feel of nostalgia, as does the sets and clothing that's done in dark or earth tone colors. That's the art of cinema. The film is as beautiful to look at as it is to watch.

rating_4_5+

[Thursday Next]

Au Revoir Les Enfants is a really great film, good review.

[cricket]

I've been meaning to get to that for a while.

[Citizen Rules]

I was going to call Au Revoir Les Enfants buy it's English title Goodbye Children, but IMDB refers to it by the original French title, so I went with that.

I know of an American Indie film that reminds me of the film style of Au Revoir Les Enfants. I might nominate it someday for an Hof.

[gbgoodies]

I didn't know much about Dalton Trumbo before I watched the movie Trumbo, but I liked the movie a lot.

I usually prefer to watch movies based on real people or events before I watch the documentaries because it's easier to enjoy the movie when you don't know what's been changed for dramatic effect. Then, if I like the movie, I sometimes watch the documentary to find out the real story.

[gbgoodies]

I don't remember if I watched The Great Escape for the 1960's list or for a HoF, but I remember thinking that it was a good movie, but too long. And I agree that it might have been the inspiration for the TV show "Hogan's Heroes".

[Captain Steel]

I don't remember if I watched The Great Escape for the 1960's list or for a HoF, but I remember thinking that it was a good movie, but too long. And I agree that it might have been the inspiration for the TV show "Hogan's Heroes".

Hi GBG. The Great Escape is one of my favorites.
But there is another movie that was the direct inspiration for Hogan's Heroes called Stalag 17 (1953). It even had a humorous Sergeant Shultz.

[gbgoodies]

Hi GBG. The Great Escape is one of my favorites.
But there is another movie that was the direct inspiration for Hogan's Heroes called Stalag 17 (1953). It even had a humorous Sergeant Shultz.


Thanks for the info.

I rarely watch war movies because they're not really my type of movies, but I've seen some of the higher rated ones for various reasons. Unless they're more of a romance, comedy, or something else, and they only have the war as background, I usually don't like them.

[Captain Steel]

Thanks for the info.

I rarely watch war movies because they're not really my type of movies, but I've seen some of the higher rated ones for various reasons. Unless they're more of a romance, comedy, or something else, and they only have the war as background, I usually don't like them.

Just to let you know Stalag 17 is a mix of comedy and drama. Despite some of its comedy (which Hogan's Heroes would adopt), it does have some very real & serious themes as well. It's about the internal goings on of one barracks inside a German-run POW camp during WWII. Saying more than that would get into spoiler territory. Stars William Holden and Peter Graves (of Mission Impossible fame) among others. I always get a kick out of the fact that Harvey Lembeck is in the cast - he played "Eric Von Zipper" in the Frankie & Annette beach movies!

[gbgoodies]

Just to let you know Stalag 17 is a mix of comedy and drama. Despite some of its comedy (which Hogan's Heroes would adopt), it does have some very real & serious themes as well. It's about the internal goings on of one barracks inside a German-run POW camp during WWII. Saying more than that would get into spoiler territory. Stars William Holden and Peter Graves (of Mission Impossible fame) among others. I always get a kick out of the fact that Harvey Lembeck is in the cast - he played "Eric Von Zipper" in the Frankie & Annette beach movies!


It has a good cast so I might watch it if it airs on TCM, but it's not the type of movie that I would go out of my way to find. :shrug:

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.sonymoviechannel.com/sites/default/files/movies/images/hellcatsofmm.jpg
Hellcats of the Navy (1957)

Director: Nathan Juran
Cast: Ronald Reagan, Nancy Reagan, Arthur Franz
Genre: Action Drama War

It's World War II and Ronald Reagan is the commander of the USS Starfish, a Hellcat class of Navy submarines. His mission is to retrieve a new Japanese mine that is blowing up American ships. During his testing of a new prototype U.S. radar...the Commander takes it upon himself to enter into Japan's coastal waters in an attempt to chart the dangerous, mine laden waters off the shore of Japan. His first officer doesn't trust the Commander's judgement after Reagan decides to submerge the submarine leaving a man in the water to die.

This is the only movie that Ronald Reagan and Nancy Davis appear together in, though both made plenty of films. Later they would be married and be President and First Lady of the USA.

I thought this was a pretty fun movie. Sub movies are my thing and this one has some great footage of a real sub underwater with frogmen leaving the sub while it's underwater.

The action was good and the inside of the sub looked really cramped. The b story - romance between a crew member and Nancy Davis who's the commanders old girl didn't work for me.

The script was written by a blacklisted writer under a different name. Ronald Reagan as a politician denied that a Hollywood blacklist ever existed.
This is the only movie I've seen Nancy Davis in, and I can't figure out why they let her be a romantic lead? It must have been at Ronald's request as they were married at the time.

rating_3

[Gatsby]

The title for Reservoir Dogs came from Quentin Tarantino during his video store days. Tarantino was trying to recommend Au Revoir Les Infants to a guy, but he misheard it as 'reservoir dogs'. In case you didn't know.

[Citizen Rules]

The title for Reservoir Dogs came from Quentin Tarantino during his video store days. Tarantino was trying to recommend Au Revoir Les Infants to a guy, but he misheard it as 'reservoir dogs'. In case you didn't know.Hey Gats, I never heard that before, that's interesting, so that's how Reservoir Dogs came to be called...I always thought that was a strange name for a crime movie.

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=25190&stc=1&d=1462323163
Splash (1984)

Director: Ron Howard
Cast: Tom Hanks, Daryl Hannah, Eugene Levy, John Candy
Genre: Romantic Comedy

Synopsis: A young boy thinks he sees a mermaid girl and jumps into the ocean. Years later as an adult, and unlucky in love, the man (Tom Hanks) is reunited with the mermaid (Daryl Hannah) who had saved him from drowning all those years ago. He falls in love with the woman not knowing she's a mermaid.

Prologue: Wow, has it really been 32 years since this first came out? It seems like only yesterday Splash was the movie to see. What young man wouldn't want to see Daryl Hannah's tush? I didn't even know who she was at the time, and Tom Hanks was that guy who dressed like a woman on TV...But Splash had John Candy and he was a star. Somehow as the years went by, this movie slipped through the cracks, until last night.

Review: It's a love story, what's not to like about that? Boy meets mermaid girl, they fall in love, boy looses mermaid girl and tries real hard to get her back. OK, so it's a simply movie, good, It works! I felt the love on the screen. I rooted for Tom Hanks to end up with Daryl Hanna. The movie made me happy, made me smile...and I was never bored, and that's a winner.

Production History: The director Ron Howard couldn't get any studios to back his film as there was already a big budget mermaid movie in the works. Nobody wanted to take Ron's smaller film, except Disney Studios who was eager to get a project...only they didn't want to put the Disney name on a movie with Daryl Hanna's naked backside. So this is when Disney decided to launch Touchstone Pictures and Splash was their first release. All thanks to Daryl and her assets.

rating_3+

[Captain Steel]

Hey Rules - I may be overly sentimental, but the part of Splash that always got me was the scene where John Candy turns serious for a moment and goes off on his brother (Tom Hanks) about finding something most guys never will... that he (John Candy) never will.

I just felt the characters longing, pain & regret as he admitted he was resigned to the fact that he'd never find a love like his brother had due to the person he'd become.

It's such a short scene, that most people probably wouldn't blink at it, but it made me admire Candy for being able to momentarily expose to the audience the true loneliness & vulnerability hidden beneath the seemingly shallow surface of the character he'd created & load so much emotion into just a couple lines. What did you think of that scene?

[gbgoodies]

I haven't seen Splash in many years, so I don't remember much about it. The only characters that I remember are Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah's characters. I don't even remember John Candy in the movie at all.

The only scene that I remember is a scene when Daryl Hannah makes a loud shrieking noise that hurt my ears. (That's probably why I've never had any desire to rewatch the movie. :shrug: )

[Captain Steel]

For Rules (and GBG if interested), I know we've discussed Valerie Harper a few times and the other night a strange coincidence occurred...

I put on Rock, Rock, Rock (1956). It was on TCM On-Demand (of course). I later came to find out it was Val Harper's movie debut, but she is uncredited and is one of many girls at a dance. She's most noticeable applauding after the performance by Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers.

The movie itself is a showcase for singers & groups of the day, loosely built around a plot about a girl trying to get up enough money for a prom dress. That girl is Tuesday Weld - looking young and lovely, but then Ben Mankiewicz explains she was only 13 when this movie was made! We have to assume she's playing an older teen since she's got an onscreen boyfriend & is going to prom. This is pretty unheard of (it's usually actors in their 20's playing teenagers, not the other way around.)

Seems Tuesday Weld had a very troubled childhood - she had a nervous breakdown at the age of 9, started drinking at age 10 and was "dating" grown men when she was a young teen.

[Citizen Rules]

Hey Rules - I may be overly sentimental, but the part of Splash that always got me was the scene where John Candy turns serious for a moment and goes off on his brother (Tom Hanks) about finding something most guys never will... that he (John Candy) never will.

I just felt the characters longing, pain & regret as he admitted he was resigned to the fact that he'd never find a love like his brother had due to the person he'd become.

It's such a short scene, that most people probably wouldn't blink at it, but it made me admire Candy for being able to momentarily expose to the audience the true loneliness & vulnerability hidden beneath the seemingly shallow surface of the character he'd created & load so much emotion into just a couple lines. What did you think of that scene? Captain I remember the scene, but I don't remember thinking anything special about it. Perhaps I wasn't paying attention. I trust your instincts on these unique moments...you were right about the dwarf!...I will go right now and rewatch that part of the movie and post back.

[cricket]

I like Splash but it's been many years, one of the first times I went to the movies without parental guidance.

[Citizen Rules]

It's a fun flix Crick. :)

Captain, I just now watched the scene where John Candy turns serious and tells his brother (Tom Hanks) about finding something most guys, including himself, never well...love.

Candy was good in that scene, I watched it 3 times and Candy was very good as a serious actor. The scene didn't really impact me but if I had watched it 20 years ago, it would have resonated with me.

I'm still working on John Candy's filmography. I just requested Volunteers (1985)

[Captain Steel]

It's a fun flix Crick. :)

Captain, I just now watched the scene where John Candy turns serious and tells his brother (Tom Hanks) about finding something most guys, including himself, never well...love.

Candy was good in that scene, I watched it 3 times and Candy was very good as a serious actor. The scene didn't really impact me but if I had watched it 20 years ago, it would have resonated with me.

I'm still working on John Candy's filmography. I just requested Volunteers (1985)

I think it stood out for me because Candy's character is pure comic relief through the movie - he's obnoxious & bombastic (very much playing his "Johnny LaRue" character from SCTV), but in that one moment he shows that this character is really a human being inside.

[Citizen Rules]

Yup on both accounts. Believe it or not I also thought of his Johnny LaRue character during the movie.

Very interesting about Tuesday Weld, and sad too. I've seen here a lot as a regular guest star on Dobie Gillis circa 1960. I thought she was much older as other actors were in their mid or late 20s. She's quiet good too. I have to catch one of her films.

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=25202&stc=1&d=1462413984

Billy Wilder's

The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970)

Director: Billy Wilder
Writers: Arthur Conan Doyle (original stories), Billy Wilder (screnplay)
Cast: Robert Stephens, Christopher Lee, Colin Blakely
Genre: Adventure, Crime, Light Comed

It's strange how a simply event can change events in the future. A few days ago my wife told me she had read an internet story about the finding of a 'Loch Ness' monster by a submersible camera drone in the deep waters of Lock Ness. The monster turned out to be a movie prop used by Billy Wilder in a making of a movie, The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes. His prop sank to the bottom of Loch Ness where it remained undiscovered until now....So out of curiosity I watched a movie that otherwise I might not have ever seen.

And it was good! I was really surprised at how much I liked it. But I guess I shouldn't have been surprised, as it's directed by one of the greatest directors, Billy Wilder. So great in fact he gets his name above the movie titles! If you've seen other Billy Wilder films you know he mixes clever humor with his stories. Same here. What impressed me was the sets. Billy must have had deep pockets because the movie looks fantastic. Most everything was shot in England at Pine Studios and in Scotland, what a rich looking film.

If you're not a fan of Sherlock Holmes...then you'll still like this film. It's not done in the typical Holmes solves a riddle like other SH films. This is about Sherlock Holmes private life...and apparently he was cocaine addict, who knew. I was really surprised to see that in the film, btw.

Oh, and the movie prop that sank...well you'll just have to see the film.

rating_3_5+

[gbgoodies]

I read the article about the Lock Ness movie prop, but I haven't seen the movie that it came from. It sounds interesting. I'll have to add it to my watchlist.

[Citizen Rules]

You read that too? I wonder how many people watched the film after that news article? Probably just me. Have you seen any other Sherlock Holmes stuff? Besides on Star Trek:p

[mark f]

Check the finale (about 1:15:15) of The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939) to hear a reference to Holmes' addiction. :cool:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMJBpvdT44I

[gbgoodies]

You read that too? I wonder how many people watched the film after that news article? Probably just me. Have you seen any other Sherlock Holmes stuff? Besides on Star Trek:p


I watch some of the old Sherlock Holmes movies with Basil Rathbone on cable every once in a while, but offhand, I don't know which ones I've seen. I also watch the TV show "Elementary" every week.

[gbgoodies]

And I also saw the first Sherlock Holmes movie with Robert Downey Jr.

[Citizen Rules]

@ Mark...wholly smokes, indeed he does make a cocaine reference. Wow... I wonder how that got past the production code board?

@GBG...I've been meaning to watch the old Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes movies. I've never seen one. The clip Mark posted was the first I've seen of it. Though I know of them.

[gbgoodies]

On the TV show "Elementary", they talk about his drug addiction a lot. Dr. Watson was hired by his father to help keep him off drugs.

[Citizen Rules]

My parents had this old reprint of a Sears mail order catalog from the 1890s and it had for sale hypodermic needles for cocaine, which was legal at the time.

[gbgoodies]

My parents had this old reprint of a Sears mail order catalog from the 1890s and it had for sale hypodermic needles for cocaine, which was legal at the time.


I didn't know that cocaine was ever legal.

[Captain Steel]

I didn't know that cocaine was ever legal.

All drugs were legal before the 20th century.
In the U.S., laws regarding certain drugs did not exist until 1914 with the Harrison Narcotic Act.

[Gideon58]

I never cared for Bull Durham (not that I really gave it a chance.)
I'll take Major League any day - probably my favorite baseball movie.
Why didn't you like Bull Durham Captain?

[honeykid]

People used to send drug packages to their men in the trenches during WW1.

“In London in 1916, Harrods were selling a kit described as "A Welcome Present for Friends at the Front" containing cocaine, morphine, syringes and needles.”

http://old.qi.com/talk/viewtopic.php?p=62480

There's also another 70's film which pushes Holmes drug use to the forefront.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/89/Sevenpct.jpg/220px-Sevenpct.jpg
The Seven Percent Solution

[Captain Steel]

Why didn't you like Bull Durham Captain?

I shouldn't say I didn't like it because I don't really remember it.

Not to tell a long story, but in the 80's I worked in a restaurant that was unique in that in it's bar they would show movies. Rumor has it that they showed vintage movies before I worked there, but by the time I was there they were showing more recent features. It was kind of quaint as there was always an intermission as the staff would have to change the reels for each movie (they always came on at least two reels).

Anyway, I saw bits & pieces of hundreds of movies during my 10 years there. So I'd get a sense of movies, but seeing out-of-sequence bits is obviously not the same as watching them from start to finish.

So, I remember seeing bits of Bull Durham and for some reason decided it wasn't one worth finding and watching from start to finish. Maybe now that my tastes are evolving, I'll seek it out.

[Citizen Rules]

I've never seen Bull Durham either. Baseball movies don't interest me. It might be great. I guess I'll never know.

[Captain Steel]

People used to send drug packages to their men in the trenches during WW1.



http://old.qi.com/talk/viewtopic.php?p=62480

There's also another 70's film which pushes Holmes drug use to the forefront.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/89/Sevenpct.jpg/220px-Sevenpct.jpg
The Seven Percent Solution

This is a very unique film in that it mixes fictional characters (Holmes & Watson) with real historical characters (Sigmund Freud). And the odd thing is the plot begins with Watson bringing Holmes to see Dr. Freud as a patient in hopes that Freud can cure Holmes of his drug addiction (it then leads into a mystery adventure team-up!)

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=24629&stc=1&d=1458497601

Giovanni's Island (2014 Nishikubo)

Jobanni no shima (original title)
Director: Mizuho Nishikubo
Cast: Tatsuya Nakadai, Yukie Nakama, Yûsuke Santamaria
Genre: Anime War History Drama
Country: Japan

In the days following World War II, the small Japanese island of Shikotan becomes occupied by Russian Soviet forces. A Japanese boy and the daughter of a Russian commander becomes friends against all odds.


Giovanni's Island is very beautifully done and almost looks like an artistic water color painting. I was very impressed with the fluid movements of the camera and the beauty of the scenes. This is more cinematic than many movies.

The opening scene: Seagulls flying over sparkling water with their shadows silhouetted on the ocean...then the bow of a ship flows by and the Seagulls respond by flying away, was totally impressive in both the details and the look. The entire movie is well done like that.

The story was intricately weaved around history from the viewpoint of two Japanese boys. I also liked how the older adult versions were linked to the story by flashbacks. It's a really in-depth, multi layered story about the occupation of the island...and the story line of the shady uncle and the pretty Russian girl and what happens to the father. This is very well written.

I watched the English dubbed version which I enjoyed. There's also the original Japanese language version.

rating_4+

[Citizen Rules]

https://lospatoslocos.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/so-proudly-we-hail.jpg?w=479

So Proudly We Hail! (1943)

Director: Mark Sandrich
Cast: Claudette Colbert, Paulette Goddard, Veronica Lake
Genre: Drama War RomanceA group of WWII army nurses returning from the war, recall their experiences in combatin thePhilippines.What makes So Proudly We Hail! unique is it was actually made during the world war II. This was released in 1943 at a time when the war in the Pacific Theater with Japan was an uphill battle for the USA who had lost many of their Pacific fleet Naval ships during the attack at Pearl Harbor.

So Proudly We Hail! is based upon true events as experienced by a nurse who served in the Philippines during one of America's darkest hours when General Mac Arthur was forced to flee and U.S. troops surrendered to the Japanese Imperial Army.

I'm impressed with the honesty of this film. It could have easily sugar coated the harsh truth of Bataan and Corregidor, but it doesn't do that. There's no supermen here who single handily defeat the Japanese Army, nor are the Americans triumph in the battle. Instead we see the story told from the viewpoint of the women nurses who staid behind at great risk to themselves. For most Americans who were state side, this was as close to being there as it got.

Claudette Colbert is one of my favorite actresses. She's always good and here she does a terrific job at being real...and that helps make the movie. I like Paullete Goodard too, but it's Veronica Lake's performance that stands out. She's furious at the enemy and wants to kill a wounded Japanese which makes for one of the best scenes in the film. To the film's credit it shows restraint in not demonizing the enemy, which for war time is rare. Instead we see there's a job to do and when it's done the nurse just want to go home.

Some will say there should be more battle scenes....nah, there's plenty of films like that around. For me it's the very personal stories of the nurses that make this special.

rating_5

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=23989&stc=1&d=1454292490

The Big Red One: The Reconstruction
Director: Samuel Fuller
Writer: Samuel Fuller
Cast: Lee Marvin, Mark Hamill, Robert Carradine

Based on director/writer Samuel Fuller's personal experiences during the European campaign in WWII.



I watched the 'Reconstruction' version which was remastered in 2004 and has some deleted scenes restored. It's a 'directors cut' but only the director, Samuel Fuller passed on in 1997 so it can't be called that. The original 1980 theatrical release was 113 minutes and this 2004 version is 162 minutes.

What makes The Big Red One interesting is that the director/writer Samuel Fuller actually lived this movie. This is a fictionalized, semi auto biographical movie based on his time in the Army's 1st Infantry Division. His story starts off in North Africa battling Rommel's Afrika Korps, then he goes on to invade Sicily and Italy....fighting his way through France, Belgium and into Germany, then finally into Czechoslovakia where he helps liberate a concentration camp. Now that's one helluva adventure! and it's true, he lived it.

What I liked about this film is Sam Fuller gives us insight into the everyday lives of WWII infantry men. We learn all sorts of little things that other movies leave out.

Lee Marvin like always is a force on the screen. He's the savy and tough Sergeant. In fact his characters name is just 'The Sergeant'. Robert Carradine is also good in this film.

"By now we'd come to look at all replacements as dead men who temporarily had the use of the arms and legs. The came and went so fast and so regularly that sometimes we didn't even learn their names." Pvt. Zab

rating_3_5

[Zotis]

I never really understood the praise that The Big Red One gets. To me it was decent, but nothing mind blowing. :shrug:

[Citizen Rules]

I suppose, because it was based on Sam Fuller's own war experiences...and he wrote/directed it. Is probably the most special thing about it.

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=24214&stc=1&d=1455474475

The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
Director: David Lean
Writers: Pierre Boulle (novel), Carl Foreman (screenplay)
Cast: William Holden, Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins
Genre: Adventure, Drama, War
Length: 2h 41min


A group of British soldiers in WWII are taken prisoner by the Japanese and sent to a POW work camp. After first resisting the idea of officers doing labor, the British Colonel does a face about and decides to build the best bridge he can for the Japanese. The American forces have a plan to destroy the bridge.


This is a long movie but time flies while watching it. What's totally cool is this was filmed in the tropics, Sri Lanka...which to me looks like Thailand. The women porters sure looked Thai to me, I wonder why they had attractive women hauling the gear and not men?

Anyway this film looks real! They built a real bridge! and that's a real train we see too! It's all very impressive, but without a story and characters that are interesting it won't work...

But this does work. Thanks to an interesting look inside prison camp life and the William Holden/Commandos story line.

Alec Guinness character, Colonel Nicholson has a wacky obsession of building a bridge to perfection and on schedule too, JUST as the Japanese army wants him to do, and this is where the satire and irony come from. I do think the director intended to have a bit of fun with the overly pompous Col. Nicholson.

All the brand name actors are amazing. The film is amazing.

rating_5

[Citizen Rules]

http://mmimageslarge.moviemail-online.co.uk/17258_3.JPG

Come and See (1985)
Idi i smotri (original title)
Director: Elem Klimov
Cast: Aleksey Kravchenko, Olga Mironova, Liubomiras Laucevicius
Genre: Drama, War
Country: Russia

During WWII, A young boy finds an old rifle buried in the sand he joins the Soviet resistances. He is forced to endure many horrors at the hands of the Nazi forces.


Come and See...is a heavy handed Soviet propaganda film about as subtle as a bottle of Smirnoff served in a dirty glass.

I tried watching this movie years ago but couldn't get past the opening scene of an old man yelling at a boy digging in the sand. The boy sounds like a half-crazed, possessed demon. Talk about grating on the nerves.

But this time I did watch the entire film...and after the opening scene the movie actually got much better. The scenes from where the boy is at his families cabin...then joins the partisan fighters where he's put onto guard duty and then left behind in camp...when all of a sudden the woods around him begin to explode...was some of the best film making I've seen! My gaze was fixed on the screen and I scantly breathed, that's how engrossed in the film I was. At that point I really though Come and See would be at favorite.

Then the film tries to get artsy. We get elements randomly included that's suppose to make the un-skeptical convinced that this is high art. Sorry folks, but tying a stork to a tree in the middle of the woods or placing a cute lemur on the shoulder of a soldier is not art. Neither is the often repeated shot of the plane in the sky. This is where the film started to lose me with it's forced creativity and scenes that were slow as molasses.

But what sank this film is the final act, when German soldiers surround a small country village, rounding up the people into a wooden barn, then with as much joy and demonic pleasure as the film makers can show, burn the people alive. All the German soldiers are character parodies, looking like they're fresh out of a Monty Python skit. It's a ridiculously staged scene for what should be a somber event.

That scene is where the iron arm of the Soviet Union runs rickshaw over the story line. German soldiers are shown tutoring the Russian peasants. The solders jump around with clown like joy as the building burns with the people inside. Then just to make sure we know the German soldiers are the bad guys, they also machine gun the building and also through hand grenades into it...and like that wasn't enough, then they use a flame thrower on a building that is already engulfed in flames.



A few scenes latter and the triumph Russians partisans have some how managed to conquer and capture the Germans. The film makers then have a SS man give his hate spew on how all Russians and all inferior nations must be exterminated like vermin...

The German soldiers in the film are full of race hatred...and that's when it occurred to me, that the very thing this film seeks to show, is itself guilty of!

Not one of the German soldiers are shown to be human, not one of them is shown to be reluctant to follow orders to burn alive men women and children.

I've never seen a film that was more one sided and propagandist.
rating_2

[cricket]

I've had Come and See on my watchlist for a while. I think that's the first time I've seen a negative opinion on it.

I'm wondering if Bridge on the River Kwai can crack the 50's top 10. I hope so.

[Citizen Rules]

Come and See was in the WWII Hof, Guap hated it too and for the same reasons. But don't take my word for it, you should watch it.

I'm wondering if Bridge on the River Kwai can crack the 50's top 10. I hope so. I hope so too, but war,westerns,sci-fi,musicals,comedies will be under represented.

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.bonde.com.br/img/bondenews/2016/01/img_1_31_4945.jpg

Witness for the Prosecution (1957)

Director: Billy Wilder
Writers: Agatha Christie, Billy Wilder(screen play)
Cast: Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich, Charles Laughton
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery

A aging British lawyer must come out of revetment to defend a client accused of murder. The case, has twist, after twist, after twist.


I love that photo...Charles Laughton is one of the most charismatic actors ever to grace the silver screen. If he wasn't cast in this movie, it wouldn't have worked so well....and Marlene Dietrich is spot on as a stony, cold woman. I always enjoy her performances, she's unique and adds a lot to the movie.

http://www.moviefanfare.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/WITNESS-FOR-THE-PROSECUTION.png

IMO this movie is about two things, riveting and rich performances and brilliant writing by Billy Wilder. I love how Billy Wider lightens an otherwise heavy story with some comic elements. The over zealous nurse, (played by Laughtons' real life wife, Elsa Lanchester...and the cigar bit, all add interesting dimensions to the story.



http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=24272&stc=1&d=1455903168


I know a lot of people don't care about film history, I do. This was Tyrone Power's last film, he died of a heart attack less than a year latter during a dueling scene for his next movie. Tyrone was not usually taken seriously by critics as they felt he was nothing more than a handsome, leading man. But this movie proves Tyrone was indeed an excellent actor. Tyrone said of all the pictures he made he was only proud of three of them, Witness for the Prosecution was the film that he was most proud of. It's rather sad to think how in only a very short time after this film he would be gone.

rating_4_5+

[Citizen Rules]

http://t1.someimage.com/XSgi92p.jpg
Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles (2014)

Director: Chuck Workman
Featured Cast: Orson Welles, Simon Callow, Christopher Welles
Genre: Documentary, Biography
Length: 1h 31min

A documentary, brief retrospective montage look at the life and work of the great theater, radio and film artist...Orson WellesWith an avatar like mine, you would guess that I loved this, you guessed wrong! The 91 minutes felt like 91 hours! This documentary tries to cover way too much in that hour and half. There's no way you can squeeze the life of the greatest genius the theater and film have ever known into only 91 minutes. Mere mortals life stories can be decomplied to 91 minutes, so how can an iconic legend have his story told in that brief span? It ain't possible.

So what we get in this documentary (and I use that work generously)...is short little snipets, that show some old photos of Orson and his pals, but without any explanation of what we're looking at.

An example, there's a quick series of photos of women shown in little heart shaped picture frames with no explanation as who they are? I guess they were all of Orson's girlfriends, the film never said, and it would have been to know their names.

This film has the MTV video feel to it, fast edits and fleeting scenes with little narrative and no soul! If you want to watch an excellent, award winning documentary on Orson Welles check out:
The Battle Over Citizen Kane (1996). This one isn't worth the time to watch.

rating_1

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=25243&stc=1&d=1462829312
The Good Lie (2014)

Director: Philippe Falardeau
Cast: Reese Witherspoon, Arnold Oceng, Ger Duany, Emmanuel Jal
Genre: Drama, Comedy

A group of young Sudanese refugees are given the chance to resettle in America and start a new life. There they encounter cultural shock but thanks to a government agency counselor (Reese Witherspoon) their lives change for the better.


I loved the first part of the film that told the true story of the 'The Lost Boys of Sudan'. The film starts with Sudanese children who have become orphaned after their village is massacred in a Sudanese Civil War. They're alone and make a long, hard and dangerous journey through the sub-Saharan Africa plains, walking as far as a thousand miles. Along the way they encounter danger from lions to guerrilla soldiers. When they reach a refugee camp in Ethiopia, they still have to travel to a camp in Kenya. Camp life if crowded with little chance of better their lives. This part of the story was emotional and exceptional well done. It was something I've never seen on film before. I'd give this part a 5/5

Then four of the Sudanese teens are finally selected to emigrate to America. This is where we get Reese Witherspoon as a social worker and the movie turns into a predictable comedy drama as the Sudanese have difficulty fitting in and understanding American cultural. My rating for this part is a 3/5

Overall this is still worth watching.

rating_3_5

[Citizen Rules]

https://nonamemovieblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/spartacus-fight.png
Spartacus (1960)

Director: Stanley Kubrick
Writers: Dalton Trumbo(screenplay), Howard Fast(novel)
Cast: Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Peter Ustinov
Genre: Adventure, Drama
Length: 3h 17min

A rebellious slave Spartacus is trained to be a gladiator. During a fight to the death match with his best friend he escapes and leads a slave army against the Roman Empire.

Standard Sword & Sandal movie with Kirk Douglas as Spartacus and Jean Simmons as the slave girl he loves. Directed by one of the greats: Stanley Kubrick you would expect this movie to be head and soldiers over the other big budget Sword & Sandal movies....but it fails miserably. Even Kubrick disowned the film, mainly because unlike his other movies he did not maintain complete filming control. Despite that it still won four Academy Awards.

The problems stem from too many chiefs for the soup. The film was produced by Kirk Douglas production company giving him and not Kubrick control. The writer, Dalton Trumbo who had been previously black listed wanted to make the film an allegory for the cold war. However Kirk Douglas wanted the film to parallel the plight of the Jewish people. Douglas had the first director fired but couldn't stand working with Kubrick either. At one point he got so mad he threw a chair at Kubrick. The cinematographer quit because he was use to call his own shots and Kubrick would have none of that.

The beginning of the film is exciting. However after that it becomes repetitive as we see an hour of marching and little us. The scenery is awesome and a humongus number of extras were used over 10,000! So the film looks great but the character of Spartacus is one dimensional.
"Kubrick complained that the character of Spartacus had no faults or quirks, and he later distanced himself from the film."

Peter Ustinov and Charles Laughton are colorful characters and worth their weight in gold whenever they're on the screen. And Sir Laurence Olivier gives the film an air of quality. But this isn't enough to save it.

rating_3-

[gbgoodies]

I watched Spartacus for the Top 1960s Movies list, but I don't remember much about it except that I thought it was overrated.

[the samoan lawyer]

I really like Spartacus, Ive only watched it once and was fairly recently but really enjoyed it.

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=25370&stc=1&d=1463189577
Who's Harry Crumb? (1989)

Director: Paul Flaherty
Writers: Robert Conte, Peter Wortmann (as Peter Martin Wortmann)
Stars: John Candy, Jeffrey Jones, Annie Potts
Genre: Comedy Mystery

Harry Crumb (John Candy) is the last in the long line of famous Crumb family detectives. All were super sleuths, except Harry who's a bumbling idiot. He is hired to solve the kidnapping of a young rich woman who's being held for 10 million dollars ransom. Everyone is a suspect and it's up to Harry to find the girl and save the day.

Who's Harry Crumb is part of my John Candy watch-a-thon. I'm working on watching all of his movies. I had never seen this one before...and sad to say, I wasn't missing much. John Candy is the star in this one. He's even the Executive Producer. So I'm not sure why he went with a script that had him doing inane, cliche humor gags. The gags just don't work and we never get the John Candy we love.

What makes Candy so special is his humanity always shines through. Sure he often plays the stumbling fool, but he always has a heart of gold. Here he's too much of a cartoon like character.

What is good about this movie is Annie Potts. She's the hot tart, who's married an older widowed rich man for his money. She jumps from bed to bed and uses men to get what she wants. She's funny every time she's on the screen.

Still a fun movie to watch.

rating_2_5

[Captain Steel]

Good review, Rules. I didn't want to influence you before you watched it, but yeah... I agree. Of all JC's work, this one was something of a disappointment. I remember going to see this is the theater with co-workers. It was supposed to be JC's big, break out solo hit (basically his answer to Chey Chase's Fletch (1985)). You are so right in your assessment that John shined when he put a bit of himself into his roles, but here he was going for too much slap stick and not enough heart.

[Citizen Rules]

Hey Captain! Have you seen it lately? If not it might be worth a look for Annie Potts, she's pretty hot in this one, funny too. See the third pic on the right, top row, on my review? I knew that girl looked familiar when I watched the movie. I looked her up and that's Shawnee Smith and the reason she seemed familiar was she was in Stephen King's The Stand (the TV mini series).

[Captain Steel]

I haven't seen it since 89! (Which means the last time I watched Harry Crumb was before many MoFo's were born!)
I don't remember much except that he wore disguises and that my co-workers were all cringing at the movie since we went in with high expectations. No one had anything good to say about it when we left.

[Citizen Rules]

So you're saying you're due for a rewatch;)...OK maybe not!

I'm watching Volunteers (1985) with Tom Hanks and John Candy, tonight. It's not highly rated and truth be told, I've never heard of it, but who knows?:p

Have you seen it?

P.S. if I disappear it's because my pizza is done! and it only has a few minutes left.

[Captain Steel]

So you're saying you're do for a rewatch;)...OK maybe not!

I'm watching Volunteers (1985) with Tom Hanks and John Candy, tonight. It's not highly rated and truth be told, I've never heard of it, but who knows?:p

Have you seen it?

P.S. if I disappear it's because my pizza is done! and it only has a few minutes left.

I don't think I've seen it... although some of those mid-80s comedies with Hanks or Candy start to run together in my memory. But if I did see it , I don't remember it (and I did spot it recently in one of the On-Demand lists I have access to!)

P.S. If you're having pizza tonight, then what's on the menu for tomorrow night?

P.P.S. Speaking of Candy, did you happen to see his last film Wagons East? And if we've discussed it already, please forgive.

[cricket]

Volunteers isn't bad, but it was a disappointment for me when I saw it.

I almost voted for Spartacus for the 60's list.

[mark f]

I almost voted for Spartacus for the 60's list.
I did.

[honeykid]

I didn't.

[Citizen Rules]

I don't think I've seen it... although some of those mid-80s comedies with Hanks or Candy start to run together in my memory. But if I did see it , I don't remember it (and I did spot it recently in one of the On-Demand lists I have access to!)

P.S. If you're having pizza tonight, then what's on the menu for tomorrow night?

P.P.S. Speaking of Candy, did you happen to see his last film Wagons East? And if we've discussed it already, please forgive. Whoops! The DVD of Volunteers was cracked, so you guessed it, I didn't watch it. I put on an old Douglas Sirk film instead.

What's on the menu for tomorrow night (which is today) left over pizza and perhaps the movie Skelton Twins. I'm not sure about that one?

[honeykid]

A friend of mine was telling me how much she enjoyed that last week. No idea if I'd like it or not.

[Citizen Rules]

https://iamcineaste.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/written-on-the.jpg
Written on the Wind (1956)

Director: Douglas Sirk
Writers: George Zuckerman(screenplay), Robert Wilder(based on the novel)
Cast: Rock Hudson, Lauren Bacall, Robert Stack, Dorthy Malone
Genre: Melodrama
Length: 1h 39min

Synopsis: An ultra rich playboy (Robert Stack) who's heir to the families oil business, spends his days drinking and womanizing...and...living in envy of his best friend (Rock Hudson). His best friend secretly loves the woman the playboy wants to marry (Lauren Bacall). Meanwhile the playboy's sister (Dorthy Malone) is a wild nymphomaniac who has eyes for the hard working and sincere best friend (Rock Hudson).

https://vinnieh.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/written-on-the-wind-still.jpg
Rock Hudson looks concerned when his best friend, Robert Stack purposes marriage
to the woman he secretly loves, Lauren Bacall.


Review: The 1950s were full of these melodramatic films and director Douglas Sirk was at the forefront of the genre. Sirk gave us such films as: Magnificent Obsession (1954), All That Heaven Allows (1955), Imitation of Life (1959). Written on the Wind features a love quadrangle between Robert Stack, Lauren Bacall, Rock Hudson and Dorothy Malone. It seems everybody loves somebody in this film but the love is one way. Originally the director had wanted Robert Stack's character to be secretly gay with a crush on Rock Hudson (who plays a straight male in the movie.) All of this might sound soap opera-ish but it's done in sensible way.

http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SKPSGZFjGUY/VTDsKT1SeKI/AAAAAAAAm8c/WKfEh3zaSeQ/vlcsnap-2015-04-11-01h49m10s170_thum.png?imgmax=800
Dorothy Malone is the rich spoiled girl who can never get enough.


Like most of Douglas Sirk's films, this looks beautiful. It's richly appointed with decadent 50s modern styles. From the sheik cars to the sheik woman, this film is eye candy.

Douglas Sirk is an under seen director, that made unique films.

rating_3_5

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=25398&stc=1&d=1463274869 Night Passage (1957)

Director: James Neilson
Cast: James Stewart, Audie Murphy, Dan Duryea
Genre: Western
Length: 1hour 30minutes

Synopsis: An ex-railroad man (James Stewart) who's been fired under suspicion of having ties to a train robbing gang...is rehired and given the task of delivering a $10,000 payroll. The task is a dangerous one as a gang of outlaws have been stealing the payrolls.

Review: This is a pretty darn good western and I don't know why it's not more popular. It's shot in glorious 3-strip technicolor and shot on location in Colorado, it looks great and looks authentic!

There's three big stars in this film, who turn in memorable performances. James Stewart is likeable of course, as always. He's the ex railroad man who was once wrongly accused of helping in a train robbery. I love the opening scene with all the settlers waiting for the train to deliver them their much needed payroll. James Stewart is one of them, and this first scene is a doozy.

Audie Murphy also stars, he started out as a real life WWII war hero and was then brought to Hollywood to make movies, he's surprisingly good as the Utica Kid. He did go on to make more movies too.

And perennially movie bad guy Dan Duryea, best known for his work in film noir and in the western Winchester '73 (1950) has to be seen to believe. He's crazier than ever and turns in one heck of a characterization, so much so that I almost rooted for him!

The scenes where James Stewart and a young boy ride on top of the train through the winding mountain pass were outright amazing, and looked very real...I believe they were actually on the moving train, perhaps they were?

The plot twist that becomes apparent in the last scene aids an emotional depth to the visual and action excitement. This is a well made, rounded western.

Night Passage is exciting and beautiful filmed, so why don't more people watch it.

rating_3_5

[cricket]

Glad to see you enjoyed Written on the Wind!

[gbgoodies]

I've tried to watch Written on the Wind three times recently, but I keep getting interrupted by life.

There's nothing wrong with the movie. Just other stuff keeps coming up within 10-15 minutes after I start the movie. It's like something or someone doesn't want me to see that movie. (Is there a scene with a big spider in it, or something like that? :lol: )

I loved Magnificent Obsession, so I have high hopes for Written on the Wind if I ever get a chance to watch it.

[Citizen Rules]

Glad to see you enjoyed Written on the Wind!

I've tried to watch Written on the Wind three times recently, but I keep getting interrupted by life.

There's nothing wrong with the movie. Just other stuff keeps coming up within 10-15 minutes after I start the movie. It's like something or someone doesn't want me to see that movie. (Is there a scene with a big spider in it, or something like that? :lol: )

I loved Magnificent Obsession, so I have high hopes for Written on the Wind if I ever get a chance to watch it. What other Douglas Sirk films have you guys seen?

[cricket]

That's been it for me so far

[Citizen Rules]

Thanks Cricket, I was wondering if you would like Written on the Wind and I see that you did:p

[Citizen Rules]

http://citymagazine.si/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/kristen-wiig-welcome-to-me-660x371.jpg
Welcome to Me (2014)

Director: Shira Piven
Cast: Kristen Wiig, James Marsden, Linda Cardellini
Genre: Comedy, Drama

Alice Klieg (Kristen Wiig) is a likable but neurotic young woman who suffers from borderline personality disorder. She lives her life in a TV fantasy world and has tapes of every show Oprah Winfrey ever did. Alice hasn't shut off her TV in 11 years, it's her world. Nothing ever seems to go her way, until one day when she wins 86 million dollars in a lottery. She then quits taking her 'happy pills', which are actually prescription medicine for her personality disorder. Then she decides to spend her millions on buying her own TV talk show, starring herself. She names it 'Welcome to Me', and she proceeds to spill her guts on live TV to the utter horror of everyone watching.

I liked this one! It's different, it's fresh. We like poor Alice, but she does some very tasteful things on her TV show. And that's where the humor comes from. I don't know why it had to be an R rating, the story itself is suited to PG13. Do we really need all this potty mouth in what could have been a fresh and fun movie. With a little better decisions by the director, this could have been a exceptional film.

Directed by a fairly new director, Shira Piven. She's not a well known director but I like the way she put this film together.

rating_3_5+

Better check it out....
http://www.btchflcks.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/welcometomecake.jpg

[gbgoodies]

What other Douglas Sirk films have you guys seen?


I just looked up Douglas Sirk, and I saw a Has Anybody Seen My Gal years ago, but I didn't know that it was one of his movies. The only ones that I saw recently were Imitation of Life, Magnificent Obsession and All That Heaven Allows.

[Citizen Rules]

I never seen Has Anybody Seen My Gal, but oh my gosh, it has Piper Laurie and I thinks she's tops. I'm adding that to my watch list right this second:pWas the movie any good?

[gbgoodies]

I never seen Has Anybody Seen My Gal, but oh my gosh, it has Piper Laurie and I thinks she's tops. I'm adding that to my watch list right this second:pWas the movie any good?


It's been a while since I saw it, so I don't remember it very well, (plus I watched it mainly for Rock Hudson when I was watching a marathon of his movies), but as I recall, it was a good movie. It's on my watchlist to rewatch it for the 1950s movies, so I'm planning to rewatch it soon.

[Citizen Rules]

Rock Hudson made a LOT of films with Douglas Sirk. In fact if he's not staring in a Doris Day film, then he's probably in a Sirk film.

I'm glad you mentioned that film. Netflix had it in a 2 pack with another Rock Hudson film so I should be watching them soon.

Anybody Seen My Gal?
A Very Special Favor

In the 13 years between the two romantic comedies collected here, Rock Hudson matures from a sweet soda jerk (in the Douglas Sirk musical Has Anybody Seen My Gal?) to a notorious Romeo (in A Very Special Favor). And in both -- to no one's surprise -- he gets the girl. Piper Laurie and Charles Coburn co-star in the former film (and James Dean makes his first screen appearance); Leslie Caron and Charles Boyer co-star in the latter.

[gbgoodies]

Rock Hudson made a LOT of films with Douglas Sirk. In fact if he's not staring in a Doris Day film, then he's probably in a Sirk film.

I'm glad you mentioned that film. Netflix had it in a 2 pack with another Rock Hudson film so I should be watching them soon.

Anybody Seen My Gal?
A Very Special Favor

In the 13 years between the two romantic comedies collected here, Rock Hudson matures from a sweet soda jerk (in the Douglas Sirk musical Has Anybody Seen My Gal?) to a notorious Romeo (in A Very Special Favor). And in both -- to no one's surprise -- he gets the girl. Piper Laurie and Charles Coburn co-star in the former film (and James Dean makes his first screen appearance); Leslie Caron and Charles Boyer co-star in the latter.




I watched A Very Special Favor a while back. Here's a link to my review:

http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=1241484#post1241484

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=25411&stc=1&d=1463358609
Zero Hour! (1957)

Director: Hall Bartlett
Cast: Dana Andrews, Linda Darnell, Sterling Hayden
Genre: Thriller, Drama

An airline flight runs into heavy fog as the passengers become sick with food poisoning. Even the flight crew succumbs to the effects of a bad fish dinner. Is there a doctor on board? Why yes there is!

But if the plane doesn't land soon the passengers will die! Is there a pilot on board? Yes!...well, sort of...Dana Andrews was a WWII pilot who 10 years earlier made a mistake in thick fog which killed six of his men. He feels bad, really bad! Since then he has been afraid of responsibility, which threatens his marriage to Linda Darnell because he can't keep a job.

His wife is on board too, as well as his young son, who's eaten the tainted fish. Does this sound like the movie Airplane? It should, this was the movie that inspired Airplane, along with the Airport movies.

http://www.attackfromplanetb.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/zerohour1.gif


What strikes me like a plate of bad halibut, is the deadpan dialogue that the film puts forth. At the time, this was intended to be a serious nail biter...but after the release of the comedy Airplane, it's hard to take this movie seriously. Which actually make the film a hoot!

Dana Andrews is really good and serious in this, but it's Sterling Hayden that cracks me up. Hayden gives the same deadpan serious delivery that he did in Dr Strangelove. And Linda Darnell is so bad that she's actually funny as the wife who serves as a make shift co-pilot.

This is a must see for fans of Airplane!

rating_3+

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=25465&stc=1&d=1463881743
Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

Director: Frank Oz
Cast: Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene, Vincent Gardenia, Steve Martin
Genre: Musical Comedy Horror

What's it about: An uptight, nervous man (Rick Moranis) is working in a skid row florist shop and dreaming of romance with the pretty girl who also works there (Ellen Greene). Just as the shop is about to go out of business, he buys a bizarre plant that turns out to be a man eater.

A Little Background: Little Shop of Horrors is based on the popular off Broadway play that in turn was based on the original 1960 B-budget Sci Fi movie of the same name. Ellen Greene is the only member of the original off Broadway cast to appear in the film.

Cast: This 1986 movie has a lot of popular 80s actors. Rick Moranis who started on Canada's SCTV has the lead and is one of the high lights of the film. Steve Martin reprises his insane doctor role from Sergent Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band movie. It's too bad he has such little screen time as the sadistic bad boy, leather wearing, motorcycle riding boyfriend of Ellen Greene is riotously funny. He does have one song in the movie which I liked. Veteran SCTV actor John Candy has a small cameo role and is funny, but his time is all too short. SCTV alumni, Martin Short does not appear in the film.

The Music: This is a musical and there's a lot of musical numbers! 15 counting the end credit track. The sad thing is most of these songs are throw aways, that are hastily written with uninspired melodies. The real musical high light belongs to the Greek Chorus girls, who effectively narrate the movie with song.

http://unrealitymag.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/lsoh.jpg

For any musical to work it needs to have a story or characters we care about. The story is farcical and the character development null. The big payoff should have been the romance but like the rest of this movie, it doesn't work.

rating_2

[cricket]

I saw that at the movies when I was 15 and was somewhat amused.

[Captain Steel]

Wow, Rules! Such a low rating for Little Shop?
I have fond memories of it (as usual that may have more to do with my circumstances in 1986 and the fact that I saw this with my then girlfriend).
I also own the soundtrack and most of the musical numbers are based on a 1950's theme - in fact the whole movie is an homage to 1950's "B" sci-fi movies.
Have you seen the original movie? I believe even that is something of a spoof of sci-fi movies, so we're looking at a spoof of a spoof of a spoof. Anyway, the musical version is slick by comparison to the original.

[gbgoodies]

Wow, Rules! Such a low rating for Little Shop?



I thought his rating was too high.

[Citizen Rules]

I saw that at the movies when I was 15 and was somewhat amused. I bet I know what caught your eye...
http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=25471&stc=1&d=1463932970



Wow, Rules! Such a low rating for Little Shop?
I have fond memories of it (as usual that may have more to do with my circumstances in 1986 and the fact that I saw this with my then girlfriend).
I also own the soundtrack and most of the musical numbers are based on a 1950's theme - in fact the whole movie is an homage to 1950's "B" sci-fi movies.
Have you seen the original movie? I believe even that is something of a spoof of sci-fi movies, so we're looking at a spoof of a spoof of a spoof. Anyway, the musical version is slick by comparison to the original. I did see the original movie, loved that one. I remember when the 1986 version came out and I wanted to see it, but, it took 30 years to do so! And in all that time I thought a young Meg Tilly was the girl in the film, image my surprise when she's not in it. The 50s motif was pretty cool, I just didn't like the rest of the film.

I thought his rating was too high. I wonder what Gideon thinks of this movie?

[Citizen Rules]

https://quixotando.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/clint-eastwood-on-the-set-of-his-film-white-hunter-black-heart.jpg?w=950&h=632
Clint Eastwood lays an egg in
White Hunter Black Heart (1990)

Cluck, cluck, cluck...plop!...who wants an omelette?...With director & actor Clint Eastwood's box office flop, there's plenty of eggs to scramble.

White Hunter Black Heart is a thinly veiled, pseudo-biography of directors John Huston's time in Africa making The African Queen (1951), and is based off a 1953 novel by Peter Viertel. Peter Viertel also co-wrote the script to the movie and indeed much of the film is from his viewpoint...as played by the character Pete Verrill. Yes the names of the real people were changed slightly, though and egg is still an egg.

The number one problem: Clint Eastwood's portrayal of the larger than life John Huston. Eastwood comes off as a caricature of Huston. Eastwood is visibly uneasy playing such a verbose character. His lines come off flat and contrived. Like a rotten egg broken on the sidewalk, this is a sore sight to see...And I knew this was going to happen. Eastwood in real life is a quiet, reserved, even shy man and he just didn't have the kahunas for playing John Huston.

Second problem: It's a weak script that plays out like a retelling of Captain Ahab in Moby Dick. The entire idea that Huston, err I mean Wilson is fixated on killing a trophy elephant is a writers contrived idea. We don't get to see what we want to see, the trials and tribulations of making The African Queen in the wilds of Africa. Hell the fake Bogie only has a few lines and the actresses who plays his wife, Lauren Bacall, doesn't even speak. Nuts to that!

Do yourself a favor and just watch The African Queen, I guarantee there's no bad eggs in it.

rating_2

[Gideon58]

Do yourself a favor and just watch The African Queen, I guarantee there's no bad eggs in it.rating_2


Loved your review of this film...never really had a desire to see it even though it seems like something I would love, but your review has definitely shoved it down on my watchlist.

[Citizen Rules]

Thanks Gideon, have you seen Little Shop of Horrors (1986)? If so what did you think of it? I respect your opinion as you know your musicals!

[Citizen Rules]

http://idoodit.com/1947MERTON1.JPG
Merton of the Movies(1947)

Director: Robert Alton
Cast: Red Skelton, Virginia O'Brien, Gloria Grahame
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Length: 82 minutes

Based on the original Merton of the Movies (1924) a silent film which is now a lost film. It was remade as Make Me a Star (1932) which was a pre-code film featuring Joan Blondell. Finally in 1947 the film was made for the third time...

Synopsis: A klutzy, small town movie usher Merton Gill (Red Skelton) accidentally catches the eye of Mammoth Studio when he inadvertently lampoons a major silent film star. The studio brings him to Hollywood for a cheap publicity stunt, but poor gullible Merton thinks he's there to become a star...Heartbroken and poor he ends up near starved, when his fortunes change...he gets a staring role in a film but is made to lampoon his favorite actor.

I doubt many here have seen this one, it's not well known. It's light fare, with a sentimental comic touch, heart breaking at times. The best part is Virginia O'Brien, a forgotten star who after making this movie had her contract dropped by MGM...She's very good in this too.

Gloria Grahame best known for It's a Wonderful Life and In a Lonely Place gets a nice role as a silent film diva. She's looking good.

Red Skelton is well...Red Skelton, you either like him or not, I didn't like him here as he wasn't a good love interest for Miss O'Brien. Still a fun movie as it's set in 1926 and about Hollywood during the silent movies.

rating_3

[Citizen Rules]

http://36.media.tumblr.com/5d8e94520333b9dfd99824914963ca2e/tumblr_n2k852qNZB1s5naw0o1_1280.jpg
Make Me a Star (1932)

Director: William Beaudine
Cast: Joan Blondell, Stuart Erwin, Zasu Pitts, Ruth Donnelly, Ben Turpin
Genre: Drama Comedy Romance
Length: 86 minutes

A simple store clerk and big dreamer, Merton Gill, has big plans to become a cowboy movie actor. When he gets fired from his job for slacking, he heads to Hollywood to find fame and fortune. There he finds out he can't act and he can't get a job.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=25503&stc=1&d=1463967431


This is the first 'talkie' film based on the novel Merton of the Movies, which would latter become a play, then a silent film...and finally remade as Merton of the Movies (1947), which I just reviewed.

Make Me a Star is my type of movie! I found it much more engaging and emotional than the 1947 version with Red Skelton. At times Make Me a Star is heart breaking as we watch poor Merton digging through the garbage trying to find a meal. This was made during the Depression era with themes of a down and out guy struggling to survive, while trying to maintain his dream. This is something the average film goer could relate to in 1932.

Joan Blondell, who's a favorite of mine, really gets to shine and do what she does best...playing brassy but sweet roles. She has a heart of gold in this film and as always, comes off as genuine.

Many top Paramount stars of the day are seen in brief cameos as they walk around the fictional movie studio, such as: Maurice Chevalier, Gary Cooper, Tallulah Bankhead, Claudette Colbert, Fredric March, and Sylvia Sidney.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=25504&stc=1&d=1463967437


I loved this film, I doubt many here would but I sure did. It's sweet, it's heartbreaking, it's romantic and it provides an actually look at a Hollywood studio in the early 1930s.

rating_4+

[cricket]

That sounds very good to me, and that girl is a doll.

[Citizen Rules]

You know it bro!.....I've tried to watch everything she was in, well at least when she was younger:cool:

[Topsy]

Written on the wind looks like a movie i`d like!

[cricket]

Written on the wind looks like a movie i`d like!

I loved it; give it a shot for the 50's list:)

[Citizen Rules]

A pic of Joan Blondell from the 1930s, she was under contract to Warner Brothers studios and made a lot of Precode films (early 30s). She might have the record for appearing in the most films 160! if not she's close. One of her last films was in Grease (1978). She's a real talent and like I said one of my favorite actresses.
http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=25507&stc=1&d=1463968980

[Citizen Rules]

Written on the wind looks like a movie i`d like!

I loved it; give it a shot for the 50's list:) If you guys like Douglas Sirk's Written on the Wind, you should really give a look at two of his other 50s films:

All That Heaven Allows (1955)
Magnificent Obsession (1954)Personally, I liked Written on the Wind, but I liked those other two better.

[gbgoodies]

https://quixotando.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/clint-eastwood-on-the-set-of-his-film-white-hunter-black-heart.jpg?w=950&h=632
Clint Eastwood lays an egg in White Hunter Black Heart (1990)

Cluck, cluck, cluck...plop!...who wants an omelette?...With director, actor Clint Eastwood's box office flop, there's plenty of eggs to scramble.

White Hunter Black Heart is a thinly veiled, pseudo-biography of directors John Huston's time in Africa making The African Queen (1951) and is based off a 1953 novel by Peter Viertel. Peter Viertel also co-wrote the script to the movie and indeed much of the film is from his viewpoint...as played by the character Pete Verrill. Yes the names of the real people were changed slightly, though and egg is still an egg.

The number one problem: Clint Eastwood's portrayal of the larger than life John Huston. Eastwood comes off as a caricature of Huston. Eastwood is visibly uneasy playing such a verbose character. His lines come off flat and contrived. Like a rotten egg broken on the sidewalk, this is a sore sight to see...And I knew this was going to happen. Eastwood in real life is a quiet, reserved, even shy man and he just didn't have the kahunas for playing John Huston.

Second problem: It's a weak script that plays out like a retelling of Captain Ahab in Moby Dick. The entire idea that Huston, err I mean Wilson is fixated on killing a trophy elephant is a writers contrived idea. We don't get to see what we want to see, the trials and tribulations of making The African Queen in the wilds of Africa. Hell the fake Bogie only has a few lines and the actresses who plays his wife, Lauren Bacall, doesn't even speak. Nuts to that!

Do yourself a favor and just watch The African Queen, I guarantee there's no bad eggs in it.

rating_2




I've never heard of White Hunter Black Heart, but I love your review of it. And based on your review, I'll bet that your review is better than the movie. :lol:

[gbgoodies]

I don't remember much about it, but I'm pretty sure that I've seen Merton of the Movies. Your synopsis sounds vaguely familiar, and I'm sure that I have not seen Make Me a Star. I might have to watch it again when we get around to the Top 1940's Movies list.

[gbgoodies]

If you guys like Douglas Sirk's Written on the Wind, you should really give a look at two of his other 50s films:

All That Heaven Allows (1955)
Magnificent Obsession (1954)Personally, I liked Written on the Wind, but I liked those other two better.


I thought I watched Written on the Wind so I looked it up to see if it was the movie that I thought it was, and I think I finally figured out why I thought I saw it.

I watched the movie The Tarnished Angels (1957), which also starred Rock Hudson, Dorothy Malone, and Robert Stack, and it was also directed by Douglas Sirk. :facepalm:

[Topsy]

i should prob be ashamed being such a huge movie fan,but ive never heard of Rock Hudson before. so handsome,

[gbgoodies]

i should prob be ashamed being such a huge movie fan,but ive never heard of Rock Hudson before. so handsome,


I can't even remember a time when I didn't know who Rock Hudson was. My mom loved him, so I grew up watching his movies, and his TV show, "McMillan & Wife".

[Topsy]

Well,the good thing then is that i have alot to catch up on! Looks like my days are planned this week :lol: :lol:

[gbgoodies]

Well,the good thing then is that i have alot to catch up on! Looks like my days are planned this week :lol: :lol:


I'm looking forward to reading some good reviews of Rock Hudson movies. :)

[Topsy]

thanks! but I dont think i`d have any talent for writing reviews,i let y`all know if i liked them or not though :lol:

[gbgoodies]

thanks! but I dont think i`d have any talent for writing reviews,i let y`all know if i liked them or not though :lol:


I don't have the talent for writing reviews either. You don't have to write a whole novel like some people on this site. Just a short statement, (one or two lines), about what you liked or disliked about the movie is good enough.

[Citizen Rules]

A bit more about Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

I watched it the other night because it had John Candy in it and I'm watching his films. I didn't care for the movie, for two reasons... I didn't care about the story line (I was never emotional involved in it) and I didn't like Ellen Greene (her voice annoyed me) and her makeup and custom was way too hot for a believable romance between nerdy Rick Moranis and herself.

I wish they would have toned her look down and got rid of the Judy Holliday bit. (I do like Judy Holliday, but not imitations).

I liked Steve Martin and Rick Moranis too. But I hated the plants eating the city end scene. That was too silly. I read that the theatrical version had a different ending, IMO that would have helped.

I think overall it was just too silly of a concept and I didn't care about what was happening.

[Citizen Rules]

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse4.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.m7dU4JxYOayDCoLiSYguSAHaFj%26pid%3DApi&f=1&ipt=b685a77d00de08ca270e757f7551997515fec410213d44316b61759d75389057&ipo=images
L u r e d (Douglas Sirk,1947)

On the dark streets of London, young women are being abducted in the middle of the night and are never seen again. The police are helpless and only have two clues: the murder is meeting women through the newspaper personal columns...and he taunts the police by sending them cryptic poems describing the fate of his next victim.

After a taxi dancer disappears, the police enlist the help of the missing girls American friend, (Lucille Ball), who is used as bait to draw out the killer.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RZvYfmsyxbo/VZsSo6scLZI/AAAAAAAAV9A/KAvKm1bTnUs/s400/Lured%2Bgreat%2Bscene.jpg


What a surprise this film was. I was expecting to watch one of director Douglas Sirk's famous glossy technicolor melodramas...instead I was treated to one of his earlier black & white works, which is a mystery-thriller, that plays out like a Hitchcock film from his British film making days. And like a Hitch thriller, this film is set in the dark foreboding streets of London and filled with fine British actors: George Sanders, Cedric Hardwicke and Boris Karloff...Heck I expected Hitch to make an appearance in the film. Even the use of light comedy and misdirection was Hitch like.

The main highlight (besides the enjoyable story and it was enjoyable) was Lucille Ball. That's right, Lucy as in I Love Lucy TV show is in this! And of all the dramas I've seen her in she is at her most personable here, she's relaxed, she's real and good. She plays the brassy and smart American and she does it to the nines. And she needs to, as George Sanders is on his game here.

There's enough twist, turns and misdirection to keep any fan of thriller mysteries interested.

rating_3_5+

[Captain Steel]

A bit more about Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

I watched it the other night because it had John Candy in it and I'm watching his films. I didn't care for the movie, for two reasons... I didn't care about the story line (I was never emotional involved in it) and I didn't like Ellen Greene (her voice annoyed me) and her makeup and custom was way too hot for a believable romance between nerdy Rick Moranis and herself.

I wish they would have toned her look down and got rid of the Judy Holliday bit. (I do like Judy Holliday, but not imitations).

I liked Steve Martin and Rick Moranis too. But I hated the plants eating the city end scene. That was too silly. I read that the theatrical version had a different ending, IMO that would have helped.

I think overall it was just too silly of a concept and I didn't care about what was happening.

I can't say I remember the end scene - but then, I haven't really rewatched the movie since 1986, so perhaps my good impressions of it are based more on the soundtrack, which I still listen to from time to time.

I have to agree about Ellen Greene - her fluctuating voice was just bizarre.

I liked the cameos: John Candy and Christopher Guest!

One thing I do remember - wasn't it Bill Murray in the masochistic dental patient role (i.e. the Jack Nicholson part in the original?) I just seem to remember his chemistry with Steve Martin (as they played out their S&M scenario) was a highlight.

[Citizen Rules]

Hey Captain, Yup you're right Bill Murray was the masochistic dental patient..I didn't think Murray was funny. John Candy and Steve Martin stood out to me, they were really good. Is that they same Christopher Guest as in Django Unchained?

[Captain Steel]

Hey Captain, Yup you're right Bill Murray was the masochistic dental patient..I didn't think Murray was funny. John Candy and Steve Martin stood out to me, they were really good. Is that they same Christopher Guest as in Django Unchained?

I don't think so as I don't see that movie in his IMDB listing (I also haven't seen Django yet.)

This goes back quite a ways, but I started a thread about Chris Guest shortly after arriving at this board (it also gives an idea as to some of the movies he's known for...)
http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?t=42094

[Citizen Rules]

Thanks I'll check that thread out, I hadn't seen it before. Threads here don't stay long on the Now Playing section so I miss a lot of threads. Off to dinner!

[Captain Steel]

Pizza? ;)

[Topsy]

https://flatd.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/lured6.jpg


http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RZvYfmsyxbo/VZsSo6scLZI/AAAAAAAAV9A/KAvKm1bTnUs/s400/Lured%2Bgreat%2Bscene.jpg








this movie sounds very interesting. but i was struck by (atleast by the pictures) how much the actress resembles Debra Messing from Will & Grace

[gbgoodies]

https://flatd.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/lured6.jpg
L u r e d (Douglas Sirk,1947)

On the dark streets of London, young women are being abducted in the middle of the night and are never seen again. The police are helpless and only have two clues: the murder is meeting women through the newspaper personal columns...and he taunts the police by sending them cryptic poems describing the fate of his next victim.

After a taxi dancer disappears, the police enlist the help of the missing girls American friend, (Lucille Ball), who is used as bait to draw out the killer.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RZvYfmsyxbo/VZsSo6scLZI/AAAAAAAAV9A/KAvKm1bTnUs/s400/Lured%2Bgreat%2Bscene.jpg


What a surprise this film was. I was expecting to watch one of director Douglas Sirk's famous glossy technicolor melodramas...instead I was treated to one of his earlier black & white works, which is a mystery-thriller, that plays out like a Hitchcock film from his British film making days. And like a Hitch thriller, this film is set in the dark foreboding streets of London and filled with fine British actors: George Sanders, Cedric Hardwicke and Boris Karloff...Heck I expected Hitch to make an appearance in the film. Even the use of light comedy and misdirection was Hitch like.

The main highlight (besides the enjoyable story and it was enjoyable) was Lucille Ball. That's right, Lucy as in I Love Lucy TV show is in this! And of all the dramas I've seen her in she is at her most personable here, she's relaxed, she's real and good. She plays the brassy and smart American and she does it to the nines. And she needs to, as George Sanders is on his game here.

There's enough twist, turns and misdirection to keep any fan of thriller mysteries interested.

rating_3_5+








I've never heard of Lured, but it sounds great. I added to my 1940's watchlist for when we do that countdown.

[gbgoodies]

Thanks I'll check that thread out, I hadn't seen it before. Threads here don't stay long on the Now Playing section so I miss a lot of threads. Off to dinner!


If you use the "New Posts" link at the top of the page, (in the center below the word "Forums"), you won't miss all those threads anymore. In fact, if you check that link when you first sign in, it has all the threads that were updated in the last 24 hours.

[Citizen Rules]

this movie sounds very interesting. but i was struck by (atleast by the pictures) how much the actress resembles Debra Messing from Will & Grace I don't know who Debra Messing is...but I goggled her image and yes! she does look like Lucille Ball. Good call.

[Gideon58]

but i was struck by (atleast by the pictures) how much the actress resembles Debra Messing from Will & Grace

There have been two TV movies about Lucille Ball so far, but if another version of her story should come to fruition, hopefully for the big screen because I think Ball is definitely worth a big screen biopic, no one but Debra Messing should play the part.

[Gideon58]

I don't think so as I don't see that movie in his IMDB listing (I also haven't seen Django yet.)

This goes back quite a ways, but I started a thread about Chris Guest shortly after arriving at this board (it also gives an idea as to some of the movies he's known for...)
http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?t=42094

I LOVE Christopher Guest but I really didn't find anything special about his cameo in Little Shop.

[Citizen Rules]

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b0QdfZbWyTA/Tw3-_aVWETI/AAAAAAAAAtE/fkyqKVyddL0/s1600/seven+men....jpg
Seven Men from Now (1956)

Director: Budd Boetticher
Cast: Randolph Scott, Gail Russell, Lee Marvin
Genre: Western

What's it about: Ex sheriff Ben Stride (Randolph Scott) is filled with guilt and blames himself for his wife's death during a bank robbery. He feels his lack of ability to keep his job had forced his wife to take on work, which ultimately put her in the path of notorious bank robbers. He vows to track down and kill the seven men responsible.

Review: I watched this movie as I had seen Gail Russell in The Uninvited and sensed a real quality in her acting and sought out other films that she had made. There's something about her that's both fragile and real, it's a ethereal quality that's hard to describe. I've also seen her in two John Wayne films, Angel and The Badman and Wake of the Red Witch. In both films she was a stand out, especially in Angel and The Badman. Wayne must have sensed this fragile quality in her too, because he insisted that she play the part in this movie, even though everyone said she looked 20 years to old. Gail's personal story is a tragic one and she drank heavily and died at 36, only a few years after making this film.

The real draw here will be Lee Marvin, who as usual owns the screen and makes the movie work. Randolph Scott reminds me of Gary Cooper in this, though not as effective.

The films looks great thanks to a lot of the outside shots being done on location. All round, a well done and smart western from the 1950s.

rating_3_5

https://shaggyelephant.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/gail-russell.jpg

[Captain Steel]

If you use the "New Posts" link at the top of the page, (in the center below the word "Forums"), you won't miss all those threads anymore. In fact, if you check that link when you first sign in, it has all the threads that were updated in the last 24 hours.

Yep. That's how I've been doing it.
(But if you haven't been on the board for a couple days, sometimes there's three pages of new posts to look through. No biggie.)

[Citizen Rules]

Captain, do you do the Subscribe to thread?

[Captain Steel]

I LOVE Christopher Guest but I really didn't find anything special about his cameo in Little Shop.

I liked his cameo because it was just weird. Everything - his expressions, his mannerisms, the way he spoke. Just a weird character played by a weird actor that fit right in with the rest of the film. AND... he had the Christopher Guest chameleon thing going on - for years I didn't know that was him because A.) he's got such a nondescript, average face, and B.) he somehow uses that "nondescriptness" to look different in everything he appears in.

[Captain Steel]

Captain, do you do the Subscribe to thread?

Not yet, but have been meaning to. (You're on the list of people I want to subscribe to, of course). I know you went through the instructions recently, but I don't remember where they were posted. Could you run through them again (or send a PM) when you get a chance?

[Citizen Rules]

I'll type fast cause dinner is almost ready...Nope not pizza:p that's only Friday & Saturdays. I'm making home made Italian spaghetti;)...Did your parents ever call spaghetti, Eye-tal-yon spaghetti? Mine did!

You subscribe to a thread, not the person.
At the top of a thread, click Tools, from the drop down menu, click subscribe. That's it.

When you want to see if any of your subscribed threads have new post, click your User CP link at top of page and it will show you all the threads that have been updated since you last looked. I have 126 threads I'm subscribed to, most never get any activity.

[Captain Steel]

Thanks Rules - this thread is now in my subscriptions folder!

Enjoy your Eye-tal-yon spaghetti (I think pasta is my #1 favorite food.)

[Citizen Rules]

http://diabetesdad.org/files/2013/12/Steel-Magnolias.jpg
Steel Magnolias (Herbert Ross 1989)

In a small southern town, somewhere deep in Louisiana, the lives of six women unfold as a newcomer arrives at the local beauty shop. The shy girl has a secret, but what is it? Meanwhile a mother and daughter are at odds as they plan for the daughters wedding. After the joyous day, tragedy will strike...yet the bond of these women keep them strong. CR

http://imagecurl.com/images/93180145523784156220_thumb.png
Annelle (Daryl Hanna) mysteriously blows into town and is ready to do hair!


Have you seen this? I know you might think it's one of those Chick Flicks, OK yeah it is pretty much that, but it's a really well done Chick Flick. If you've seen seen Diner (1982) then this is the female equivalent of that.

http://logoonline.mtvnimages.com/uri/mgid:uma:image:logotv.com:10693593?quality=0.8&format=jpg&width=480
Julie Roberts gets the works from Dolly Parton for her wedding day.


First thing to know is this movie plays out like a who's who of the 80s. It's full of 1980s star power and these ladies were stars for a good reason...they were personable!....From top left to right:
Daryl Hannah, Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis, Julia Roberts, Dolly Parton and Sally Fields...not pictures is Tom Skerritt.

So if you like slice of life movies set in a small sleepy town, then this is perfect...but be forewarned that in the middle there's a very depressing hospital scene followed by another dreary funeral scene. I guess those scenes make it special, but to me they seem unnecessarily dismal.

Still, despite the tragedy scenes, I think you will like this...and if you haven't seen it, why not give it a watch?

rating_3

[gbgoodies]

I know I saw Steel Magnolias, but for some reason, I can't seem to remember anything about it except feeling that it should have been an emotional movie, but it never really got to me at all. :shrug:

[Gideon58]

but I goggled her image and yes! she does look like Lucille Ball. Good call.


It's not just the physical resemblance...Messing has a gift for slapstick/physical comedy that is very similar to Lucy.

[Citizen Rules]

Huh, I've never heard of her before. Gideon did you see my review of Steel Magnolias? Do you concur or disagree?

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=25714&stc=1&d=1464658602

Sophie's Choice (1982)

Director: Alan J Pakula
Writers: William Styron(novel), Alan J Pakula(screenplay)
Cast: Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, Peter MacNicol
Genre: Drama, Romance

Brief Synopsis: A young, naive writer who's inexperienced in life and love, moves to New York City to start his writing career. After taking a room in a boarding house that's been painted pink with war surplus paint, he encounters the unusual upstairs tenets...a man and woman who fight viciously on the stair well outside his room. After getting over the initial tumultuous meeting, the couple befriends the young writer. Thus begins an emotional odyssey wrought with conflict and self discovery.

My Thoughts: A very young Meryl Streep won both an Oscar and a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Leading Role. She deserved it! Her performance in this movie is nothing short of miraculous. She transforms herself through vocal accent, facial and body language into Sophie, a Polish concentration camp survivor with a dark secret. This is one of the great acting performances and Meryl Streep is the reason to watch this movie. The only reason actually.

https://topshelfmovies.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/sophies-choice.jpg


Kevin Kline...this was his first theatrical release movie. He's good and engaging, too much so! Every single time he's off on one of his angry rants, he bulldozes the other quieter performers which doesn't work for the flow of the film. This is about Sophie, much more than Kline's character. Kline needed to be instructed by the director not to steal the scenes, but he does over and over again, overshadowing the other two characters.

Peter MacNicol...character, 'Stingo', is the focal point of the story, he does the voice over narration too, which reminded me of John-Boy in The Waltons. He's the weak part of the movie and has got to be the worst casting mistake I've ever seen. He has zero screen presences and is not even worthy of being a bit character in the movie. Had the casting director choose a more suitable actor, Sophie's Choice might have been a better film.

However, nothing can save the story which takes two and half hours to unfold...with little happening on the screen. The film drags and that's too bad because the story concept is a powerful one...and Meryl's performance certainly deserved a top notch film to be showcased in.

rating_3

[TONGO]

Yeah, Sophies Choice is definitely a one time watch. They could have shaved a half hour off that and it wouldver been even more impactful, but what a horribly depressing movie nonetheless. Im not saying its bad, just not "condusive to happiness" :nope:

[gbgoodies]

Sophie's Choice is a very depressing movie, and as I recall it was too long. It's worth watching once just to see Meryl Streep, but other than that, I probably wouldn't recommend it.

[Citizen Rules]

Hey everyone agrees with me tonight:D I would have cast Robert Downey Jr. as the young writer. Oh and shave 30 minutes off that film.

[Citizen Rules]

https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/static.screenweek.it/2010/11/5/I-due-presidenti-Dennis-Quaid-Michael-Sheen-foto-dal-film-4_mid.jpg?1288945873
The Special Relationship (2010)


Director: Richard Loncraine
Cast: Michael Sheen, Dennis Quaid, Hope Davis
Genre: Historical inspired drama

A HBO produced movie that dramatizes the special relationship between the U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair and the U.S. President Bill Clinton

This was fun. I don't remember much about Tony Blair's personality but to me Michael Sheen made a good Tony Blair. I thought Dennis Quaid did a decent portrayal of Bill Clinton. But two things I noticed: his eyebrows weren't right, they needed to be thicker and lower...and Quaid's Clinton almost never smiles. Bill Clinton smiled a lot. But he does have Clinton's accent and mannerism down pat.

Hope Davis is Hillary Clinton. I thought she passed well for Hillary. She looks sort of like her and at times I could her Hillary's voice in her voice.

One should never get history from a movie...and if you do you are likely to think that Tony Blair was a goofy happy go lucky go that somehow got elected even though he was green as hell. You will also learn from this movie, that Bill Clinton was his muse and taught him everything he knows. Now I don't believe that I think Tony Blair was his own man and yes he was at times a political and personal ally of Bill Clinton, but...he was not a Clinton wanna be.

Oh yes, there is time in the movie for covering the Monica Lewinsky scandal. I mean of course they are going to cover that.

I thought this was a really enjoyable film and I'm not a political type person.

rating_3

[Gideon58]

Pretty in Pink is the reason I cant stand James Spader.. no matter what film or tv show he is on... I know many who love his acting.. but he will always be a d*ck!

I love Pretty in Pink, but there's no denying that James Spader's character is a total slimeball.

[Citizen Rules]

http://i0.wp.com/www.asset1.net/tv/pictures/movie/apollo-13-1995/DI-Apollo-13-13.jpg?resize=695%2C391

Apollo 13 (Ron Howard, 1995)

"Houston, we have a problem."

Fact is stranger than fiction! That's the one stunning truth I learned from Ron Howard's tale of the ill fated Apollo 13 mission to the moon.

On a crisp April 11th day, back in 1970 the 7th manned mission in NASA's Apollo moon program was launched. Apollo 13 left the launch pad at exactly 13:13 center time zone from the Kennedy Space Center located in Florida. The news media only gave sparse coverage as it was deemed as just another 'moon shot'.

Almost immediately one of the five engines failed, but that wasn't what caused the crisis. It was a short in one of the oxygen tanks, and when the tanks were electrical stirred, the short ignited the oxygen resulting in a huge explosion that ripped part of the service module outer wall away. Even worse the oxygen tanks leaked all of the life giving oxygen into space.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=25742&stc=1&d=1464834703


Ron Howard, expertly makes us feel like every moment of this film is real and that we are there! And that's what makes Apollo 13 so special, it's utter realism. We see and learn of all the technical crisis that the three man crew faced...and we also see the team back at Houston control that worked feverishly to bring the astronauts back home.

Kudos to the three actors who played the astronauts: Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks), Fred Haise (Bill Paxton) and Jack Swigert (Kevin Bacon). And kudos to the Houston flight control including Ed Harris and Gary Sinise.

http://lens-views.com/Index/Apollo_13_files/11_apollo13_bluray.jpg


I equally liked the story of Jim's wife Marilyn Lovell played by Kathleen Quinlan. Her anxiety, her fear, her strength, her emotions...made the impact of what was happening in the cold of space, seem all the realer.

I can't say enough good things about Apollo 13 so I will let my rating speak for me....

rating_5

[banality]

http://i0.wp.com/www.asset1.net/tv/pictures/movie/apollo-13-1995/DI-Apollo-13-13.jpg?resize=695%2C391

Apollo 13 (Ron Howard, 1995)

"Houston, we have a problem."

Fact is stranger than fiction! That's the one shining truth I learned from Ron Howard's tale of the ill fated Apollo 13 mission to the moon.

On a crisp April 11th day, back in 1970 the 7th manned mission in the NASA's Apollo moon mission was launched. Apollo 13 launced at exactly 13:13 center time zone from the Kennedy Space Center located in Florida. The news media only gave sparse coverage as it was deemed as just another 'moon shot'.

Almost immediately one of the five engines failed, but that wasn't what caused the crisis. It was a short in the oxygen tanks, and when the tanks were electronica stirred the shot ignited the oxygen resulting in a huge explosion that ripped part of the service module outer wall away. Even worse the oxygen tanks leaked all of the life giving oxygen.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=25742&stc=1&d=1464834703


Ron Howard, expertly makes us feel like every moment of this film is real and that we are there! And that's what makes Apollo 13 work, it's realism. We see and learn of all the technical crisis that the three man crew faced...and we also see the team back at Houston control that worked feverishly to bring the astronauts back home.

Kudos to the three actors who played the astronauts: Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks), Fred Haise (Bill Paxton) and Jack Swigert (Kevin Bacon). And kudos to the Houston flight control including Ed Harris and Gary Sinise.

http://lens-views.com/Index/Apollo_13_files/11_apollo13_bluray.jpg


I equally liked the story of Jim's wife Marilyn Lovell played by Kathleen Quinlan. Her anxiety, her fear, her strength, her emotions...made the impact of what was happening in the cold of space, real.

I can't say enough good things about Apollo 13 so I will let my rating speak for me....

rating_5




Typical Hollywood ending, the guys would've died for sure in real life.

[Captain Steel]

Typical Hollywood ending, the guys would've died for sure in real life.

Cute. :)

[Gideon58]

However, nothing can save the story which takes 2 and half hours to unfold...with little happening on the screen. The film drags and that's too bad because the story concept is a good one and Meryl's performance certainly deserved a top notch film to be in.

rating_3


Really liked your review...I've kind of avoided this film for years partly because of the subject matter and partially because I really wanted Jessica Lange to win Best Actress for Frances that year. Oh, and I HATE Peter MacNichol, but your review has motivated me to check it out.

[Gideon58]

I can't say enough good things about Apollo 13 so I will let my rating speak for me....

rating_5


Loved this review too...great film...Ron Howard and Ed Harris were robbed of Oscars.

[Gideon58]

Still, despite the tragedy scenes, I think you will like this...and if you haven't seen it, why not give it a watch?

rating_3

Love this movie...one of Sally Field's best performances...it's good that you brought up its reputation as a "chick flick" because I think it's the reason a lot of people avoid it...it may be a "chick flick", but it's the best one ever made.

[Citizen Rules]

I'd say Sally Field's best movie and performance was Norma Rae (1979). She was really good too in Steel Magnolias. I thought all the actresses in the film were quite personable.

[Citizen Rules]

http://fgmxi4acxur9qbg31y9s3a15.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2015/08/still-of-ben-kingsley-and-patricia-clarkson-in-learning-to-drive-2014-large-picture.png
Learning to Drive (Isabel Coixet, 2014)

Indie film maker, director Isabel Coixet known for her 'intimate feel' movies such as: (Paris, je t'aime, My Life Without Me,The Secret Life of Words), delivers another fine, yet simple slice of life film that follows a brief, chance meeting between a woman who has just been dumped by her cheating husband and the Indian emigrant taxi driver who picks her fare up. Both people are literally alone in the world. Despite their work skills, they have much to learn about life skills. The two NYC people learn from each other as the woman also learns to drive a car for the first time. Her teacher is the taxi driver who also moonlights as a driving instructor.

http://cdn.indiewire.psdops.com/dims4/INDIEWIRE/acd862f/2147483647/thumbnail/680x478/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fdl9fvu4r30qs1.cloudfront.net%2Fd4%2Fda%2F9479837e456c9ab0545cbfd5f22c%2Flearning-to-drive-12.jpg


Like I said, this is a low key and simply film. It's not gussied up to be highly dramatic or cinematic. It's simple, thus it seems real.

The woman who finds herself without a husband to lean on, is played aptly by Patricia Clarkson. She's likeable, she's believable. The Indian taxi driver is played by Ben Kingsley who of course won a Best Acting Oscar for Gandhi (1982). He's as you expect, very good in his role as an emigrant who's trying to find the right Indian woman for an arranged marriage. The woman that he chooses to marry, knows little English and he knows even less about how to connect with her.

https://movie.yahoo-leisure.hk/assets/movie/photo/201510/LTD_09_12_13_446_448_R_COMP_CROP_1444890584.jpg


Also making an appearance as the woman's daughter Grace Gummer, who's the real life daughter of Meryl Streep.

If you like simple, yet effective small budget Indie films, give Learning to Drive a look.

rating_3

[Gideon58]

Also making an appearance as the woman's daughter Grace Gummer, who's the real life daughter of Meryl Streep.

If you like simple, yet effective small budget Indie films, give Learning to Drive a look.

rating_3


Patricia Clarkson is ALWAYS worth watching. She was on my "They Should be Household Names" list.

[Citizen Rules]

I remember your list, but I didn't remember her. I thought I had only seen her in two movies, but she's been in a lot of big movies I've seen. So yeah, she should be a household name.

[Citizen Rules]

https://monstergirl.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/stormcenterposter1.jpg
Storm Center (1956)

Director: Daniel Taradash
Writers: Daniel Taradash, Elick Moll
Cast: Bette Davis, Brian Keith, Kim Hunter
Genre: Drama, Social Commentary
Length: 1h 25min

What's it about: A small town librarian (Bette Davis) who loves helping children discover the joy of reading...is offered funding to build the children's wing in the library that she has longed for. There's only one catch, in return the city council wants her to remove from the library, one book that they find objectionable. She refuses on principal and is branded a communist. She's black listed by her friends and neighbors who can't understand why she won't give in to the council demands.

My thoughts: Wow, what a gutsy movie! During the height of black listing and McCarthyism this film dared to make a bold statement against über patriotism and commie hunting. The stars and producers of this film came under scrutiny for the films subject matter. And several well known actresses refused to take on the lead role of an elderly librarian who defends a book on communism that's on the library shelves....Only one actress would have the guts to play this role, Bette Davis! Who else!

http://media2.fdncms.com/bohemian/imager/where-was-it-filmed/u/original/2285744/1216.storm.jpg


Storm Center: Was the first film to directly criticize the McCarthy black listing and book banning. Which was a dangerous thing to do at the time.The movie is a small budget film, so don't expect big Hollywood gloss here. The movie is not cinematic perfect. The child actor has little screen presences and the scenes with him don't always work well. So what? This is a film about ideas and in that this film succeeds brilliantly. Brian Keith and Kim Hunter turn in fine performances as does Bette Davis.

A little known film that should be well known.

rating_3_5+

[Gideon58]

Donnie Darko is no horror film, it wasn't even particularly violent, at least in a gory way. This is more of a psychological Sci fi movie, akin to a 21st century Twilight Zone episode...punched up and brought to the big screen.

I've watched this movie three times and have never really understood it, but you seem to like it, I might give it another shot.

[Citizen Rules]

I like films like Donnie Darko, it leaves open ended questions so that the viewer is left pondering the film. I should watch again too. There's a longer Director's cut that I would recommend.

[Gideon58]

South Pacific (1958). Based on the wildly successful Rodgers & Hammerstein stage play of the same name. This set a record for a newly released movie, playing contentiously at the same theater in London for 4 1/2 years.


I think we've discussed this before, but you like this film a lot more than I do. Enjoyed reading your review though.

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=25790&stc=1&d=1465173822
The Electric Horseman(Sydney Pollack, 1979)

Synopsis: Sonny Steele (Robert Redford) was a one time rodeo champion, who sold out to corporate America and now spends his days promoting a breakfast cereal called, Ranch Breakfast. He's more drunk than sober and it takes his buddy (Willie Nelson) to get Sonny to the next big promotion...and the next big promotion is for Sonny to ride a thoroughbred horse onto a Las Vegas Stage, while wearing a purple rodeo suit, covered in light bulbs!


http://www.theshiznit.co.uk/media/2013/March/redford/the-electric-horseman2.jpg


My thoughts: This was Robert Redford's comeback movie. He had taken a three year leave of acting and spent most of his time hold-up at his Utah ranch. With the promise of shooting the film in Utah near his home and doing horse riding, Redford agreed to make the film.

This is the most relaxed and at ease that I've seen Redford. Probably because he was involved with horses, which is a passion of his and the role called for a character much like Redford, (a horseman who's an outsider and prefers the outdoors to the glitz of showbiz.)

Basically the film is: Redford, a horse and Jane Fonda...and in that order! What those three do, makes for a good film. Halley (Jane Fonda) is the pushy news reporter who manages to find Sonny after he's rode off with a million dollar horse. Sonny just wants to be alone but Halley won't let him be.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=25791&stc=1&d=1465181738


The first act plays out like a social commentary on celebrity endorsed advertising, sort of like Nashville. In the second act we get more of a personal story and lots of beautiful outdoor shoots in Utah. I could have done without the tacked on police car chase, ala Smokey and the Bandit. But if you overlook that one indulgence you'll see a movie that's well crafted to Robert Redford's style of acting....low keyed.

rating_3_5+

[Captain Steel]

I like films like Donnie Darko, it leaves open ended questions so that the viewer is left pondering the film. I should watch again too. There's a longer Director's cut that I would recommend.

I've mentioned this before in other places, but there's a weird piece of trivia in Donnie Darko that I've never really seen addressed anywhere.

The movie uses the exact same type of retro-time paradox (for lack of a better term) near the end as was used in the last act of The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) and, there's a scene in Donnie Darko where a movie marquee is visible and the movie on the marquee is "The Last Temptation of Christ."

That is just too bizarre to be coincidental - using the same plot device and then referencing the movie where the plot device was originally used HAD to be intentional.

Looks like I'll have to make another visit to IMDB's Donnie Darko trivia section!

[Citizen Rules]

Embarrassed to say this, but I missed that scene. Damn, now I really have to watch that movie again.

[Citizen Rules]

http://parsmedia.my/wp-content/uploads/DG17762_121615_LandingPage_Fox_JoyMovie_V2-e1457141668650.jpg
Joy(2016)

Director: David O.Russell
Writers: David O. Russell(screenplay), Annie Mumolo (story)
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper
Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama

What a hack job, writer-director David O. Russell did with this movie! He takes a decent cast of actors and puts them in a pseudo bio-pic that's more aptly described as bio-waste. Joy is a waste of time and talent.

Everything about this film screams formulated Hollywood money maker! Russell takes his hit cast from Silver Linings Playbook and plops them into a contrived and unimaginative movie. Then he populates his film with zany characters who neither contribute to the story or have a sub story of their own.

Almost half of the film is wasted on go-nowhere, adds-nothing scenes...like the mom who's stuck in bed watching daytime soaps, only to have Joy attempt to fix the leaky plumbing by bashing a hole in the floor. So why is this done? So another zany character, a Haitian plumber can appear and for some reason strike up a relation with the crazy mom, who then with the plumber tries to serve everyone soap...Why not just tell the story of Joy instead all the add-on crap.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/600x315/ea/7b/d5/ea7bd5ad6aa7f6139776eb92e054943e.jpg


The film only gets interesting when Joy makes it backstage to the QVC shopping network and has screen time with Bradley Cooper who runs the QVC show. That was interesting...But then we get some formulated character tropes, when Joy has her patent designs for a mop stolen and then confronts the bad guys alone. Movie type bad guys abound in this film!

http://www.regiohoogeveen.nl/content/images/moviepanel/maxresdefault.jpg


Don't even start me with the scene about the people who shoot guns behind her fathers shop. Why are they in the movie? I knew why and sure enough, David O. Russell included a scene of Joy looking bad ass shooting a gun, just so it can be used in the trailer. Oh and don't expect any Christmas type themes from this move either. No bad ass gun play, no cutesy Christmas stuff. That's all PR crap that was cooked up to sell tickets.

My advice for J Law...run, run as fast as you can away from David O Russell.
rating_2

[gbgoodies]

https://monstergirl.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/stormcenterposter1.jpg
Storm Center (1956)

Director: Daniel Taradash
Writers: Daniel Taradash, Elick Moll
Cast: Bette Davis, Brian Keith, Kim Hunter
Genre: Drama, Social Commentary
Length: 1h 25min

What's it about: A small town librarian (Bette Davis) who loves helping children discover the joy of reading...is offered funding to build the children's wing in the library that she has longed for. There's only one catch, in return the city council wants her to remove from the library, one book that they find objectionable. She refuses on principal and is branded a communist. She's black listed by her friends and neighbors who can't understand why she won't give in to the council demands.

My thoughts: Wow, what a gutsy movie! During the height of black listing and McCarthyism this film dared to make a bold statement against über patriotism and commie hunting. The stars and producers of this film came under scrutiny for the films subject matter. And several well known actresses refused to take on the lead role of an elderly librarian who defends a book on communism that's on the library shelves....Only one actress would have the guts to play this role, Bette Davis! Who else!

http://media2.fdncms.com/bohemian/imager/where-was-it-filmed/u/original/2285744/1216.storm.jpg


Storm Center: Was the first film to directly criticize the McCarthy black listing and book banning. Which was a dangerous thing to do at the time.The movie is a small budget film, so don't expect big Hollywood gloss here. The movie is not cinematic perfect. The child actor has little screen presences and the scenes with him don't always work well. So what? This is a film about ideas and in that this film succeeds brilliantly. Brian Keith and Kim Hunter turn in fine performances as does Bette Davis.

A little known film that should be well known.

rating_3_5+


I liked Storm Center, but not quite as much as you did. I watched it a while back so my memory of it isn't as good as it should be, but I remember thinking that it was a good movie, but just a one-time watch for me.

[gbgoodies]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=25790&stc=1&d=1465173822
The Electric Horseman(Sydney Pollack, 1979)

Synopsis: Sonny Steele (Robert Redford) was a one time rodeo champion, who sold out to corporate America and now spends his days promoting a breakfast cereal called, Ranch Breakfast. He's more drunk than sober and it takes his buddy (Willie Nelson) to get Sonny to the next big promotion...and the next big promotion is for Sonny to ride a thoroughbred horse onto a Las Vegas Stage, while wearing a purple rodeo suit, covered in light bulbs!


http://www.theshiznit.co.uk/media/2013/March/redford/the-electric-horseman2.jpg


My thoughts: This was Robert Redford's comeback movie. He had taken a three year leave of acting and spent most of his time hold-up at his Utah ranch. With the promise of shooting the film in Utah near his home and doing horse riding, Redford agreed to make the film.

This is the most relaxed and at ease that I've seen Redford. Probably because he was involved with horses, which is a passion of his and the role called for a character much like Redford, (a horseman who's an outsider and prefers the outdoors to the glitz of showbiz.)

Basically the film is: Redford, a horse and Jane Fonda...and in that order! What those three do, makes for a good film. Halley (Jane Fonda) is the pushy news reporter who manages to find Sonny after he's rode off with a million dollar horse. Sonny just wants to be alone but Halley won't let him be.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=25791&stc=1&d=1465181738


The first act plays out like a social commentary on celebrity endorsed advertising, sort of like Nashville. In the second act we get more of a personal story and lots of beautiful outdoor shoots in Utah. I could have done without the tacked on police car chase, ala Smokey and the Bandit. But if you overlook that one indulgence you'll see a movie that's well crafted to Robert Redford's style of acting....low keyed.

rating_3_5+


I'm glad you liked The Electric Horseman. It's one of my favorite movies, and IMO, one of Redford's best movies. I love the ending.

[gbgoodies]

http://parsmedia.my/wp-content/uploads/DG17762_121615_LandingPage_Fox_JoyMovie_V2-e1457141668650.jpg

JOY (2016)
Director: David O. Russell
Writers: David O. Russell(screenplay), Annie Mumolo (story)
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper
Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama


What a hack job writer-director David O. Russell did with this movie! He takes a decent cast of actors and puts them in a pseudo bio-pic that's more aptly described as bio-waste. Joy is a waste of time and talent.

Everything about this film screams formulated Hollywood money maker! Russell takes his hit cast from Silver Linings Playbook and plops them down in a contrived and unimaginative movie. Then he populates his film with zany characters who neither contribute to the story or have a sub story of their own. Almost half of the film is wasted on go nowhere, adds nothing scenes...like the mom who's stuck in bed watching daytime soaps, only to have Joy attempt to fix the leaky plumbing by bashing a hole in the floor. So why is this done? So another zany character, a Haitian plumber can appear and for some reason strike up a relation with the crazy mom, who then with the plumber tries to serve everyone soap...Why not just tell the story of Joy instead all the add on crap.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/600x315/ea/7b/d5/ea7bd5ad6aa7f6139776eb92e054943e.jpg


The film only gets interesting when Joy makes it backstage to the QVC shopping network and has time with Bradley Cooper who runs the QVC show, that was interest...But then we get some formulated character tropes, when Joy has her patent designs for a mop stolen and then confronts the bad guys alone. Movie type bad guys!

http://www.regiohoogeveen.nl/content/images/moviepanel/maxresdefault.jpg


Don't even start me with the scene about the people who shoot guns behind her fathers shop. Why are they in the movie? so David O. Russell can include a scene of Joy looking bad ass shooting a gun. Oh and don't expect any Christmas type themes from this move either. No bad ass gun play, no cutesy Christmas stuff. That's all PR crap that was cooked up to sell tickets.

My advice for J Law, run, run as fast as you can away from David O Russell.
rating_2






I think your review of Joy sums it up just about right. It's a very disappointing movie. They took a subject that could have been interesting, and made it one of the most boring movies ever.

[Citizen Rules]

Hey GBG, thanks for the recommendation of The Electric Horseman. Both me and my wife enjoyed it and I had never seen it before. I suppose I will watch more Robert Redford films...one of these days. I like to see The Sting.

[gbgoodies]

Hey GBG, thanks for the recommendation of The Electric Horseman. Both me and my wife enjoyed it and I had never seen it before. I suppose I will watch more Robert Redford films...one of these days. I like to see The Sting.

You're welcome. I'm glad you both enjoyed it.

I think you'll like The Sting too. It's not my favorite Redford movie, but it's definitely up near the top of the list. It has a great cast, and it's a lot of fun.

[cricket]

Joy never looked good to me, but I was still interested in trying it just because I like the director. Maybe not though, you make it sound awful.

[Citizen Rules]

Joy never looked good to me, but I was still interested in trying it just because I like the director. Maybe not though, you make it sound awful. Hey Cricket...usually I'm the odd man out, hating on films people love...but if you search the reviews of Joy here at MoFo, all the reviewers had a similar reaction. I think Iros hated it more than I did.

Joy reviews on MoFo (http://www.movieforums.com/reviews/search/any/higher/274479/any)

[Gideon58]

one of these days. I like to see The Sting.

Excellent movie...not really sure it deserved the Oscar for Best Picture over The Exorcist but it's an excellent movie, I think you'd like it Citizen, Paul Newman is divine.

[Citizen Rules]

I've seen The Sting before, but it's been a very long time....Funny thing, every time I mention not liking an actor or director, I then end up watching a lot of their films. Go figure:shrug:

[Citizen Rules]

25856
The Four Feathers (Zoltan Korda,1939)

Director: Zoltan Korda
Writers: A.E.W. Mason(novel), R.C. Sherriff(screen play)
Cast: John Clements, June Duprez, Ralph Richardson, C. Aubrey Smith
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Romance

Synopsis spoiler free: In the late 19th century a young pacifist boy grows up in a wealthy, aristocratic family. All the men in the family have in the past joined the British Royal Army. Concerned that he will not be able to fight...the boy, now a grown man resigns his officer's commission on the very eve that his military unit is to be sent to Egypt to put down a rebellion.

Three of his former friends then send him white feathers, the mark of a coward. To redeem his honor the young man makes a bold move and disguises himself as an Arab and secretly travels to Egypt to assistant his friends. Thus earning his honor back.
http://www.cinekolossal.com/2/q_r/quattropiume/image36.jpg


Background: Based on the well known 1902 novel The Four Feathers, this is one of six movies that bear this name. Three earlier silent films, then three more in 1939, 1977, 2002.

This one, the 1939 version is ground breaking as it did much of it's filming on location in Northern Africa where the actual battles took place. The viewer is treated to scenes of authentic built ships being rope towed through the 5th cataract on the Nile. The amount of extras used as troops and weaponry was impressive. All this with stunning cinematography in full technicolor to boot...and this was done in 1939!

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse1.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.agwYutzv4FUvATQqftvYoAAAAA%26pid%3DApi&f=1&ipt=aa81d40a46d9110905d6cb7657f6b4bcfc7a05375b9a03ae07db61ca4227be20&ipo=images

Thoughts: Heavy on rich scenery and adventure scenes, the film wows the eyes. I enjoyed seeing in technicolor, the scenes from the actual historic battle fields. I particular like the casting of all the major roles, the actors chosen fit their characters like a glove. I liked the insight into the world of upper British crust aristocracy in the 1890s too. Mostly I enjoyed the broken romance between the dishonored solider and his fiancee... and the quest for personal redemption.

rating_4+

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=25869&stc=1&d=1465781596
A Farewell to Arms (Charles Vidor,1957)

Director: Charles Vidor
Writers: Ben Hecht(screenplay), Ernest Hemingway(novel)
Cast: Rock Hudson, Jennifer Jones
Genre: Literary Based: Drama,War-Action,Romance
Length: 2hours 32minutes
Studio: Selznick Studios
"A Farewell To Arms (1957), the movie that destroyed a producer."


Synopsis (spoiler free): During World War I in Italy, an English nurse meets and falls in love with an American who's enlisted in the Italian army as an ambulance driver. As the war unfolds the horrors of battle confronts the couples strength in their unwavering love for each other.

Review: A Farewell To Arms (1957) stars Rock Hudson as the American writer who joins the Italian army to get a first hand look at the war. His character is based of the real life experiences of writer Ernest Hemingway. Rock passed up a plum role in the huge hit Ben-Hur (1959) to make this movie, that turned out to be a critical and financial flop for the Selznick Studio and marks the last film that legendary producer David O. Selznick made.

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-JAAPielndU/mqdefault.jpg

Most all of the filming was done on location in Italy, and that includes massively expensive shots of 1000s of extra actors as Italian army troops marching up the Alps. It's a beautiful filmed. At over 4.5 million dollars this was a very expensive film. But what did it in was the lengthy run time of 2.5 hours and the dismally dark subject matter.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=25872&stc=1&d=1465781641


Jennifer Jones plays the English nurse. In reality she was the wife of the producer, David O. Selznick. Ernest Hemigway thought she was too old at 38 to play the part...but I though she was fantastic as a woman totally in love and desperate to be loved. I thought Rock Hudson turned in a good performance too. Especially the end scene which had to be emotionally hard for any actor to do.

Closing thoughts: A Farewell To Arms is well worth watching for any cinephile. I couldn't help but notice that this film was unlike any other American made film I've seen. It looked and felt like an Italian made film...in both the dialogue and the way it was filmed. Perhaps that was seen as a negative in 1957, but I seen it as a plus...as it makes for a unique film. I liked it.
rating_3_5

[gbgoodies]

I thought I saw A Farewell to Arms, but it doesn't sound familiar from your review. I'm not sure what movie I saw that I thought was this one, but I'm sure it was something with Rock Hudson. I'll have to watch it before I submit my 1950's list.

[Citizen Rules]

I thought I saw A Farewell to Arms, but it doesn't sound familiar from your review. I'm not sure what movie I saw that I thought was this one, but I'm sure it was something with Rock Hudson. I'll have to watch it before I submit my 1950's list. I would hope other MoFos would watch A Farewell to Arms, for the upcoming 1950s countdown list. It's a serious made film, not Hollywood entertainment.

[Gideon58]

Basically the film is: Redford, a horse and Jane Fonda...and in that order! What those three do, makes for a good film. Halley (Jane Fonda) is the pushy news reporter who manages to find Sonny after he's rode off with a million dollar horse. Sonny just wants to be alone but Halley won't let him be.


It was really interesting reading your review of this film...the film certainly has star power and the film is very "Redford", but, I don't know, it always struck me as a little substance-challenged, but I might give it a rewatch out of respect for you, Citizen.

[Gideon58]

The movie is not cinematic perfect. The child actor has little screen presences and the scenes with him don't always work well. So what? This is a film about ideas and in that this film succeeds brilliantly. Brian Keith and Kim Hunter turn in fine performances as does Bette Davis.


This is a movie on Davis' resume that I always just unintentionally skipped over in my head for some reason, but your review has piqued my curiosity.

[Citizen Rules]

I won't say that Storm Center is had A+ production value, because there are some problems with the production look of the film and with some scenes that don't quite work...BUT the films value is in it's gutsy subject matter, which it tackles with gusto. It's certainly worth the short time it takes to watch it.

Have you A Farewell to Arms? I never hear anyone talk of that movie.

[Gideon58]

It's certainly worth the short time it takes to watch it.

Have you A Farewell to Arms? I never hear anyone talk of that movie.

I promise to watch both films before the week is out.

[Citizen Rules]

Wow thanks! I'm interested in what you think of them.

[Gideon58]

Wow thanks! I'm interested in what you think of them.

Don't sound so amazed, you know I respect your opinion and if you recommend something I'm going to watch it.

[Citizen Rules]

I'm not amazed, I'm happy:) that someone is watching a film that I reviewed. It doesn't happen often, but I do appreciate it.

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/Creed_Movie_Poster.jpg
Creed ( Ryan Coogler, 2015)
Director: Ryan Coogler
Writers: Ryan Coogler, Aaron Covington
Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson
Genre: Drama Sports

What's about: A young troubled man (Michael B. Jordan) with a passion for boxing discovers he's the son of boxing great, Apollo Creed. Dispute his step mother wishes (Phylicia Rashad) he leaves for the city to seek out the former Heavyweight World Champion Boxer, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone). Rocky who's retired from boxing, runs a small restaurant and wants nothing to do with training a young boxer.

Review: I liked this more than I expected to. It has some strong points and some things that I wish were done differently. The main strength is the performance by Sylvester Stallone. He's so good in this that he was nominated for an Oscar. He should have won too. He's really quite likable as a much older Rocky. I enjoyed seeing him re-portray the great boxer. The film is respectful to the earlier Rocky films and that's a big plus. It's a good straight forward story and one that is very watchable.

https://cineffect.files.wordpress.com/2015/12/creed.jpg?w=500&h=250


What could have been better: All films have things about them that could be done better, so this is not a knock, as much as it's a wish list of what I would have liked seen done. I'll do this bullet style.


The movie was underexpose and it was to dark. Sure subdued lighting can add realism and I bet that's why the director did it, but this needed the exposure set up by 1/2 a stop, as it was hard to see what was going on at times. More light please.



Give the actors some head room. The framing was so tight that we hardly got a wide or mid angle view. Often the actors heads were partly cut off. Doesn't anyone remember Max Headroom?...I suppose the director choose that style of close framing to match the letter boxing format...closer up equals being able to see the actors better, but it was too claustrophobic.



Shaky cam, or in other words the handheld camera that moves during a still shot. I'm OK with the shaky cam but not when your backdrop has horizontal lines such as brickwork...as it makes the weaving of the handheld camera very apparent. A couple of shots made me feel woozy. A tripod would have worked better.



The use of on screen computer style graphics. When the boxers first appear in the movie we get their boxing stats superimposed over the shot. Tarantino does that and it's silly and looks gimmicky. It's even more silly for other directors to copy him.

Final Thoughts: I didn't sense much chemistry between the young boxer Adonis and Rocky. And I blame that on the actor Michael B. Jordan he didn't have much screen presences, he was OK and he was muscular enough to look like a boxer, but he wasn't a stand out actor.

Still, overall this movie is worth watching for it's respectful treatment of the original Rocky movies and for Sylvester Stallone's fine performance.

rating_3_5

[Topsy]

I love looking through your reviews. I have so many movies on my list now :eek::eek:

[Citizen Rules]

You'll have to forget sleep, and just watch movies all night long just to keep up on your list:):p

[Topsy]

haha funnily enough ive been having a case of "insomnia" lately so thats exactly what ive been doing :lol:

ive seen so few older movies,which you seem very fond of,basically only monroe movies and Gilda.
so im using your reviews as a guideline as to what to watch ;)

[Citizen Rules]

I like old movies because there like a time machine if you thing about it. When I watch an old movie I'm actually looking back to a real moment in time forever captured on film. I think that's really cool to see the way people use to dress and act. I think the oldest film I've seen was from the 1890s just a short home movie of people tobogganing.

[Topsy]

I agree with you-even though i havent seen alot of movie,ive seen quite a few interviews from back when and i think its a fascinating watch. just the difference in their mannerisms and the way they word themselfs-and of course the styles.

my only problem with older movies are the kissing scenes,they just seem to rub their faces together insted of a simple kiss :lol:

[Citizen Rules]

Ha! that's true, they don't usually really kiss. That's how the lipstick can stay on the actresses.

[Topsy]

haha,i would have thought that way would smear it all over,i cant imagine the men kissing their wifes like that :lol:

anyway,i thought i would start by looking up the Rock Hudson movies-im 99% sure im going to fangirl over him.

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=25890&stc=1&d=1465870980
Storm Over the Nile (1955)

Directors: Zoltan Korda, Terence Young
Writers: A.E.W. Mason(novel), R.C.Sherriff(screenplay)
Stars: Anthony Steel, Laurence Harvey, James Robertson Justice
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Romance

Plot: In the1890's a young boy grows up in a wealthy British family and is expected to follow in the family tradition of joining the British Royal Army. Concerned that he will not be able to fight when the time for battle comes...The boy, who's now an adult, resigns his officer's commission on the very eve that his military unit is to be deployed to Egypt on a dangerous mission.

In keeping with tradition, three of his former military friends send him white feathers, the mark of a coward. To redeem his lost honor that, he decides to pose as an Arab and travel to Egypt to assistant his friends.


Background: Based on the 1902 novel The Four Feathers which was the basis for seven movies. This movie, Storm Over The Nile is a remake of the 1939 film The Four Feathers. Remade with the same directors, by the same studio and using the same script! Both movies are literally word for word...scene for scene the same film! Even the original 1939 on-location action scenes in North Africa are reused! The only difference between the two films, are the cast.

This gives us a unique chance to see what a film looks like when only the actors have been changed. And the actors in this movie are movie stars, they look the part of glamour. With a handsome leading man and a beautiful leading lady....And compared to the 1939 actors they're boring, ill suited for their characters.

Thoughts: I recommend watching the original 1939 version as the actors are more compelling and fit their roles to a tee.

rating_2_5

[honeykid]

my only problem with older movies are the kissing scenes,they just seem to rub their faces together insted of a simple kiss :lol:

I think this is because of the code. They couldn't show passionate kissing, so it's implied without actually really being kissing.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motion_Picture_Production_Code

[mark f]

There are some horribly fake kisses, but there are more real ones than you might think.

[Citizen Rules]

After Topsy mentioned kissing in old films, I looked up how long they were allowed to kiss under the Hays Production Code. I knew it was a short time and thought it was 5 seconds. I read it was only 3 seconds aloud for a kiss. A guess a good 3 second kiss can seem like an eternity:)

Anyway, I think the kissing scenes in old movies, 30-50s, were more romantic than a lot of the face chewing kisses we see today.

[honeykid]

Wahol as part of his (probably) reliving of cinema made a film with nothing but 3 minute kisses.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0213035/

[Citizen Rules]

Ohhh!....3 minute kisses, there you go Topsy, watch that movie:D

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=25904&stc=1&d=1465948091
Wild in the Streets (1968)

Director: Barry Shear
Cast: Christopher Jones, Shelley Winters, Diane Varsi, Hal Holbrock, Ed Begley, Richard Pryor
Genre: Drama, Social Commentary Dark Comedy
Rating: R

Max Frost is America's most popular counterculture rock star! He has the ability to rally his fans to do his bidding. And what he wants is voting rights for teenagers of 14 years of age...he demands it! As his celebrity grows he runs for president with the campaign slogan, "All oldsters are required to live in "retirement homes" where they are forced to ingest LSD."

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=25901&stc=1&d=1465947760


This must have been a pretty wild film in it's time, note the R rating which is unusual for this type of film back in 1968. What's interesting is, this is about the baby boomers/ hippie movement of the 1960s, and the movie is made in 1968, making it a time capsule of a changing America. We get a real sense of what it was like to be part of the baby boomer 'counterculture movement' back in the late 60s.

I wonder how many adults, I.E. 'squares' were scared silly by this film? That's not as far fetched as it sounds, as this movie has the teenage baby boomers, who were the majority, taking over and putting the old people in their place.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=25902&stc=1&d=1465947767


This has some big name stars: Shelly Winters, Ed Begley, Hal Holbrook and a very young Richard Pryor. As silly as the premise might seem, this is a very unique movie, best of all you actually get to see people and places in groovy 1968.

rating_3_5+


.

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=25925&stc=1&d=1466044104

The Four Feathers (1978)

Director: Don Sharp
Writers: A.E.W. Mason(novel), Gerald Di Pego(screen play)
Cast: Beau Bridges, Jane Seymour, Robert Powell, Simon Ward
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Romance

Yes, I watched another one of those Four Feather movies again! This one was made in 1978 for British TV and features that British beauty Jane Seymour. Jane is paired up with American actor Beau Bridges, brother of Jeff Bridges. To my American ears, Beau did a passable English accent and fit the part well.

This version, unlike the 1939 & 1955 versions that I watched, followed closely the classic novel by A.E.W. Mason. It's funny how just a little difference in story telling makes the movie all the more compelling. In the earlier movie versions the soldier on the eve that his army unit is to be deployed to Egypt, resigns...thus earning him four white feathers, the mark of a coward. But that seemed a bit harsh to me, and unbelievable.

So in this version at his wedding announcement party he receives four messages from military command telling him and his three army friends that they have been called to duty in Sudan. Well, he burns those messages and lies to his friends, saying nothing of the orders to report for duty. This causes his friends to earn scorn from their commander officer as they are basically AWOL. They then give him their personal calling card with a white feather attached. The mark of a coward.

I thought Jane Seymour was stunning, regal and perfect in the role. I like Beau Bridges but not as much as I did the actor who did the role in the 1939 version. There was less of the action and fighting in this 1978 version than the earlier movies...but there was more time spent in England getting to know the characters.
Overall, I liked this story quite a bit.

rating_3+

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=25936&stc=1&d=1466131733

Across the Wide Missouri (Willam Wellman,1951)


Director: William A. Wellman
Casts: Clark Gable, Ricardo Montalban, John Hodiak
Genre: Adventure, Romance, Western
Length: 78 minutes

Synopsis (spoiler free): In the backwoods of unexplored Montana circa 1830's, a mountain man (Clark Gable) joins up with other mountain men to enter into the virgin woods of Montana on a trapping expedition. There he must deal with the Blackfoot chief Ricardo Montablan who's sworn to kill him.

Across the Wide Missouri is a cut above many old westerns as it's filmed in the outdoors in stunning Technicolor. For it's time it was a progressive movie as it shows the lead, Clark Gable as a white mountain man who marries a Blackfoot princess, they even have a child together. That was cutting edge for 1951..And it must have raised some eyebrows.

We think of Clark Gable as a tough he-man in the movies he made, but here he's able to show real love and tenderness with his native American wife and child.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=25935&stc=1&d=1466131619


Directed by 'two fist', William A. Wellman, the film looks fantastic and he balances action with drama. A number of talented actors made this film a treat to watch. Besides Gable we get a young Ricardo Montalban before he got stuck on Fantasy Island... as well as John Hodiak and veteran actor Adolphe Menjou.

rating_3_5


.

[gbgoodies]

Do you know if Across the Wide Missouri is the only movie where Ricardo Montalban played an Indian? If it is, I think I've seen parts of this movie.

I remember flipping channels a while back and finding a movie with Ricardo Montalban as an Indian, and thinking that it didn't work for me because I kept picturing him as Khan. I'm not sure if this is the movie or not, but that's pretty much all I remember about it anyway.

[Citizen Rules]

Do you know if Across the Wide Missouri is the only movie where Ricardo Montalban played an Indian? If it is, I think I've seen parts of this movie.
Beats me? I don't think I've seen Ricardo Montalban in anything other than this and Fantasy Island. But...in looking for pics for this movie I did find pics or Montalban as an Indian in other movies.

http://www.themoviescene.co.uk/reviews/_img/1858-3.jpg
Across the Wide Missouri

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oKg3_cGwSko/Tad61gIrWEI/AAAAAAAAKAs/xfbJqPTeJ_E/s400/-10.jpg
Not sure which movie this is?

http://i39.tinypic.com/2u963o0.jpg
Or this one? But you know who the actress played? hint she was in Star Trek the original series.

[gbgoodies]

Beats me? I don't think I've seen Ricardo Montalban in anything other than this and Fantasy Island.

And Star Trek. :)

And you must have seen his Chrysler Cordoba car commercials in the '70's.


But...in looking for pics for this movie I did find pics or Montalban as an Indian in other movies.

http://www.themoviescene.co.uk/reviews/_img/1858-3.jpg
Across the Wide Missouri

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oKg3_cGwSko/Tad61gIrWEI/AAAAAAAAKAs/xfbJqPTeJ_E/s400/-10.jpg
Not sure which movie this is?

http://i39.tinypic.com/2u963o0.jpg
Or this one? But you know who the actress played? hint she was in Star Trek the original series.


The top picture is the only one that looks familiar to me, so that must be the movie that I saw him in.

I'm not sure who the woman is in the bottom picture, but she was probably a Yeoman in a TOS episode. It's hard to tell from that picture because she's dressed as an Indian.

But she's with Khan, so she must be Lt. Marla McGivers. :lol:

[Citizen Rules]

.....I'm not sure who the woman is in the bottom picture, but she was probably a Yeoman in a TOS episode. It's hard to tell from that picture because she's dressed as an Indian.

But she's with Khan, so she must be Lt. Marla McGivers. :lol: Even funnier, she is the actresses who played Marla McGivers:p
https://walkinthedust.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/open-your-heart1.jpg

[Zotis]

How would you compare the three older Four Feathers with the 2002 version?

[gbgoodies]

Even funnier, she is the actresses who played Marla McGivers:p
https://walkinthedust.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/open-your-heart1.jpg


That IS funny! :lol:

She reminds me of Shani Wallis, who played Nancy in the movie Oliver! (1968).

http://www.cinema52.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Nancy.png

[Gideon58]

Beats me? I don't think I've seen Ricardo Montalban in anything other than this and Fantasy Island. But...in looking for pics for this movie I did find pics or Montalban as an Indian in other movies.


Ricardo Montalban looks AMAZING here.

[Citizen Rules]

How would you compare the three older Four Feathers with the 2002 version? Zotis, that's a good question. I have the Four Feathers 2002 to watch sometime next week and will review it soon. Right now, all I know is that it has Heath Ledger and Kate Hudson, two fine actors. I'm excited about watching it and comparing it to the three older versions. So stay tuned to this thread:)

[mark f]

I already have my opinion on all of them, but I'll wait until you see the newer one.

[Gideon58]

That IS funny! :lol:

She reminds me of Shani Wallis, who played Nancy in the movie Oliver! (1968).

http://www.cinema52.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Nancy.png

Isn't that Madelyn Rhue in the first photo?

[SilentVamp]

A bit more about Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

I watched it the other night because it had John Candy in it and I'm watching his films. I didn't care for the movie, for two reasons... I didn't care about the story line (I was never emotional involved in it) and I didn't like Ellen Greene (her voice annoyed me) and her makeup and custom was way too hot for a believable romance between nerdy Rick Moranis and herself.

I wish they would have toned her look down and got rid of the Judy Holliday bit. (I do like Judy Holliday, but not imitations).

I liked Steve Martin and Rick Moranis too. But I hated the plants eating the city end scene. That was too silly. I read that the theatrical version had a different ending, IMO that would have helped.

I think overall it was just too silly of a concept and I didn't care about what was happening.
I personally LOVE "Little Shop pf Horrors". I can remember seeing it after school. For some reason it seems like it was a Monday or some day that was not at the end of the week. Two of my brothers and mother went along. They picked me up from school, I did my math homework in the car and we went to see the movie. I just remember all of that for some funny reason that I can't explain. :)

Anyway, I love the movie. That is definitely deliberate to have a character like Ellen Greene's interested in Rick Moranis because they are so different. At least their lifestyles seemed that way. After all, she really didn't want to live the kind of life that she was living, and she really did like him. So, just because they don't "fit" doesn't mean that can't really like each other. :)

I own the original cast album. And that was all I could go by until I saw a live production of it. It does end differently than the film. I personally like how the movie ends better. Especially that last shot when they go to the house. The ending is the ending of everything (and everyone) on stage, but with the way that it ends with the film is that you think the world is a happier place, but there is that final tease at the end that says it isn't. I liked that better.

And I love the music. But, to each his own. :D

It is safe to assume that you have never seen the original 1960's film that it was based on then, right?


my only problem with older movies are the kissing scenes,they just seem to rub their faces together insted of a simple kiss :lol:
It looks a hell of a lot better than people who seem to be devouring each other. That is just ridiculous.

I knew it was a short time and thought it was 5 seconds. I read it was only 3 seconds aloud for a kiss. A guess a good 3 second kiss can seem like an eternity:)
Think about a kiss - any kind of kiss. 5 seconds would be the perfect length. Watching someone kiss more than that just begins to look silly, I think.

Anyway, I think the kissing scenes in old movies, 30-50s, were more romantic than a lot of the face chewing kisses we see today.
We may not agree on "Little Shop of Horrors", but we agree on this little bit right here. :D

[Citizen Rules]

It is safe to assume that you have never seen the original 1960's film that it was based on then, right? I did see that one, and I really liked it too, I liked the girl and guy main leads. It was a fun B sci fi film.

I don't know, but the 1986 musical of Little Shop of Horrors didn't click with me. I do tend to like the older musicals pre 1960. On the other hand I really enjoyed Chicago and liked Mommy Mia too.

[SilentVamp]

I did see that one, and I really liked it too, I liked the girl and guy main leads. It was a fun B sci fi film.
I suppose, in a way, the stage production's ending is closer to that film. It is a little different, too, but it is closer to that ending.

I do tend to like the older musicals pre 1960.
Ah, I will just have to try to think of something for you to try then. Say, "1776", perhaps??? :D

Well, didn't you say that you weren't crazy about Disney musicals? I am only saying that because the same people who wrote the music for "The Little Mermaid", "Beauty and the Beast" and "Aladdin" wrote the music for "Little Shop of Horrors". So, then, that wouldn't surprise me if you didn't care for the music in the film (which I know you weren't fond of it).

On the other hand I really enjoyed Chicago
And I hate "Chicago". I don't see the big deal in it. Never did. Out of all the Kander and Ebb musicals, this may be close to the bottom, if not THE bottom. I really like the songs of "Nowadays", "All That Jazz" and "Mr. Cellophane". Otherwise, I just think the story is boring. Of course I went to see the movie. But I wasn't as impressed as other people. And that is OK. I just don't want people to not let me have my opinion of NOT liking it when I allow them to have theirs of liking it. :) People that I have talked to have had a tendency to get defensive over that one for some reason. I just don't care for it.

and liked Mommy Mia too
Mommy Mia? I will have to check that one out. ;) :D

But as for "Mamma Mia", I didn't mind it. I am not a big Meryl Streep fan, though, which I know I have said before. I found her to be irritating in there. Everyone else was fine, I guess.

I saw the stage production of "Mamma Mia" years ago. The tickets were only $25 because it was on the 4th of July. :) It wasn't bad. It was kind of the perfect thing to sit through on a hot summer day. :)

[Citizen Rules]

Ah, I will just have to try to think of something for you to try then. Say, "1776", perhaps??? That's too old;) Actually I've never seen 1776, one of these days I'll catch it. For me, 30s,40s,50s is mostly what I like in musicals, but of course every decade has it's greats. Sweet Charity (1969) would be a favorite from the 60s...and believe it or not I just about typed Sweet Chariot:p by mistake!

Well, didn't you say that you weren't crazy about Disney musicals? I am only saying that because the same people who wrote the music for "The Little Mermaid", "Beauty and the Beast" and "Aladdin" wrote the music for "Little Shop of Horrors". So, then, that wouldn't surprise me if you didn't care for the music in the film (which I know you weren't fond of it). I didn't grow up with Disney animation, like most people. I had a deprived childhood:eek: I don't know if I've seen any classic Disney animation actually? Maybe 1 or 2 of them.

For me it's not the songs, that I like or dislike in a musical, it's more about the movie and the characters.

[cricket]

I watched Across the Wide Missouri last month, thought it was very average to be honest.

[Citizen Rules]

I know:p I seen you review. I can kind of agree with you in a way. Across the Wide Missouri isn't the same type of western as say The Big Country or High Noon, it's more of a romanticized western. But unlike a lot of romanticized westerns it's not shot on a sound stage. Did you like the romance part between Gable and his Indian wife?

[cricket]

I know:p I seen you review. I can kind of agree with you in a way. Across the Wide Missouri isn't the same type of western as say The Big Country or High Noon, it's more of a romanticized western. But unlike a lot of romanticized westerns it's not shot on a sound stage. Did you like the romance part between Gable and his Indian wife?

The romance part wasn't bad, and I've seen that in a few of the older westerns. I really enjoyed The Big Sky if you get a chance. I think you'd like that.

[Citizen Rules]

Boy! those westerns all sound the same, The Big Sky, Yellow Sky, Red River, I have a real hard time remember which is which.:p

But I just looked up The Big Sky (1952) and I know I haven't seen it, as I would remember Kirk Douglas. That sounds very interesting, thanks for mentioning it. I'll put it on my short list of films to get.

[cricket]

Boy! those westerns all sound the same, The Big Sky, Yellow Sky, Red River, I have a real hard time remember which is which.:p

But I just looked up The Big Sky (1952) and I know I haven't seen it, as I would remember Kirk Douglas. That sounds very interesting, thanks for mentioning it. I'll put it on my short list of films to get.

It has an adventure element to it. It's in the running for my 50's list, and it's on the top 100 westerns list.

[Citizen Rules]

http://focusfeaturesmedia.com/uploads/image/mediafile/1328136424-5a99fa2354ab84b9162ce3a2208ef8d7/900.jpg
Hyde Park on Hudson (2012)

Director: Roger Michell
Cast: Bill Murray, Laura Linney, Olivia Williams
Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama
Length: 94 minutes

What's it about: A story about a unique moment in time in 1939, when President Franklin Roosevelt met his distant cousin Daisy Suckley and started an affair with her...During a weekend retreat at his mother's house in upstate New York...the King and Queen of England visit with hopes of securing America's support in the conflict in Europe.

Review: You get out of life what you put into it. If you have a poor attitude, then that's often what life gives you...Same with movies, if you go into them with a closed mind or high expectations you'll find you don't often enjoy them much.

Hyde Park on Hudson, is one of those films that if you expect it to be funny, you'll walk away saying you didn't like it, because you didn't laugh. This isn't Rush Hour, or Train Wreck, it's not that type of movie. An just because Bill Murray is in it, doesn't mean it's a laugh riot, it's not meant to be. The comedy is very subtle and occasional, and comes out of circumstances. In fact they shouldn't even call this a comedy.

http://i.perezhilton.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/bill-murray-1__oPt.jpg
The King and Queen of England meet FDR.

http://iwiz-movies.c.yimg.jp/c/movies/pict/c/p/a1/ce/345812_001.jpg
FDR and Daisy take a ride in a 1936 Ford Phaeton.


Bill Murray plays FDR, the wheel bound President of the USA, who's lonely as his wife, well umm keeps to herself. So he has an arranged meeting with a distant cousin and it turns into a 'thing'. But now don't expect a romantic movie, it's not that. And Bill Murray, who's really cool in this, doesn't even sound like FDR. Hell, he doesn't have to, the film is not going for a historical period piece feel.

So what is this then? Hyde Park on the Hudson is a nice, well done small film, shot in Britain...it's an enjoyable 94 minutes. It's not big and I doubt kids will like it. But I did.

rating_3_5+

[Citizen Rules]

It has an adventure element to it. It's in the running for my 50's list, and it's on the top 100 westerns list.And it's hard to find! Library, Netflix DVD didn't have it. I did get a copy, but it was colorized:rolleyes: I hope to watch it soon and I'll post my thoughts here.

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=25981&stc=1&d=1466448708
Has Anybody Seen My Gal (Douglas Sirk 1952)
Director: Douglas Sirk


Cast: Piper Laurie, Rock Hudson, Charles Coburn
Genre: Comedy
Length: 98 minutes


Synopsis(spoiler free): In the roaring 1920's...an aging, bachelor millionaire decides to leave his fortune to the family of the woman he had loved many years ago. The millionaire, then decides to get out of his bed and travel to a small town in Vermont, where he poses as a boarder and rents a room from the daughter of the woman he once loved. The feisty, cantankerous old man quickly befriends the children in the family and even though the family is poor, they're happy. When the millionaire decides to advance them $100,000 to help, the happy family then becomes a nuances, as they try to live like the well-to-do.

Review: Why isn't this film more popular? It's wonderfully charming, well made comedy-romance film with snappy performances, and directed by one of the greats Douglas Sirk.

Veteran character actor Charles Coburn shines as the stubborn but lovable old millionaire. If you never seen this actor's work, you should! He always gives a memorable performance and here he's the strength of the film.

http://www.themoviescene.co.uk/reviews/_img/1707-3.jpg
Charles Coburn and child prodigy Gigi Perreau give Shirley Temple a run for the money. Their scenes together are precious.

A very young Rock Hudson is paired with an equally young Piper Laurie. Rock is the soda jerk, a poor boy who has to compete with the town's rich boy for the affections of Piper Laurie. I've never seen either actor look so young! They're both likable in this too.

http://www.themoviescene.co.uk/reviews/_img/1707-2.jpg
Piper Laurie rest her head on the shoulder of Rock Hudson, who's not in a good mood after being jilted.

http://fs169.www.ex.ua/show/157033113/157033113.png?1600
With money to burn, the heirs do just that as they go on a spending spree, throwing lavish parties and behaving quite foolishly.


At only 98 minutes, my only complaint is that I loved the movie so much I wish it was longer! I don't know why this isn't a beloved classic? It has the sentimental feeling and social commentary of a Frank Capra film. And maybe that's why it's not well known as director Douglas Sirk effectively delivers a Capra film.

Unlike latter Douglas Sirk films that were heavy on dramatization, Has Anybody Seen My Gal is a charming, fast paced, movie...that's populated with likable, interesting people...and set during the prohibition days of the 1920s.

rating_4

[gbgoodies]

I had Hyde Park on Hudson on my watchlist for a while because it sounded like my kind of movie, but I'm very hit or miss with Bill Murray's movies, so it's gotten pushed down quite a bit over the years. Maybe I'll bump it up again.


It's been a while since I've seen Has Anybody Seen My Gal, but I remember it being a great movie. I didn't know that Douglas Sirk directed it.

How many movies did he direct that starred Rock Hudson?

[Citizen Rules]

My wife doesn't like Bill Murray in most movies, she thinks he's creepy. But she did like Hyde Park on Hudson, so if that helps you to bump that movie back up on your watch list, then there you go:)
How many movies did he direct that starred Rock Hudson? Good question, Sirk did like working with Rock Hudson, but I don't know the answer. I did watch another Rock Hudson film last night, I'm slowly working on the review as I also work on the computer.

[gbgoodies]

My wife doesn't like Bill Murray in most movies, she thinks he's creepy. But she did like Hyde Park on Hudson, so if that helps you to bump that movie back up on your watch list, then there you go:)

I agree with her. There's something creepy about him. Sometimes it works in his movies because of the characters he plays, but sometimes it just makes the movie hard to watch.

For example, he was hit or miss on "Saturday Night Live" for me, but I loved him in Ghostbusters, (but I think the movie was better than his performance), and in Groundhog Day, where he kept his creepiness down to a minimum, and I hated him in Caddyshack.


Good question, Sirk did like working with Rock Hudson, but I don't know the answer. I did watch another Rock Hudson film last night, I'm slowly working on the review as I also work on the computer.

Hopefully it's a movie that I've seen. I haven't seen all of Rock Hudson's movie yet, but I'm working on it.

[Citizen Rules]

It only has 9 reviews on IMDB so it's not well known, but you've seen a lot of 60s films, so it wouldn't surprise me if you've seen it.

[gbgoodies]

It only has 9 reviews on IMDB so it's not well known, but you've seen a lot of 60s films, so it wouldn't surprise me if you've seen it.


I don't know if I've seen anything that obscure, but if it aired on TCM at some point, I may have watched it just because it's a Rock Hudson movie.

You certainly have piqued my curiosity. I'm looking forward to your review.