Musical Artist Movie Hall of Fame

[edarsenal]

SWEET DREAMSWhat results here is one of the most realistic depictions of a show business marriage that I have ever seen...according to Robert Getchell's screenplay, Charlie and Patsy loved hard and fought hard and despite everything they went through, the love between these two is never in question no matter what happens between them here.

Before I watched this I had seen a review stating that theirs was an "abusive" relationship which ended up being a misinterpretation.
It was just as you stated, a passionate love and passion includes yelling and brawling along with intense pleasure. There is even a remark made by Patsy describing why she cared so little for her first husband when her mother asked what she expected and Patsy states, exasperated: "oh, I don't know. . . a fight, maybe." a little hopeful.

[Clazor]

Walk the Line

http://m.aceshowbiz.com/webimages/still/walk_the_line03.jpg

Right...Cash was a dipsh!t. No two ways about it, the man was an utter shmuck. Throughout this movie, he made me annoyed and frustrated at almost every turn. He's an @ss to June, don't seem to get what boundries are and continuesly seem to choose to do things in a way as to draw maximum annoyance from me. He was a very talented guy, no question, but the man in this movie was a shmuck.

That said, Phoenix worked his butt off making me feel the level of annoyance I did. Massive props to the man, as well as to most of the cast members in this. Witherspoon was a fabulous mix of witty, funny, angry, distressed and (I think) the only one more annoyed with Cash than me in this. Goodwin, while pushed to the side alot and left out for big chunks of the movie, was well cast as the homebound wife of our main character. I'm surprised she managed to stay so long. Though I think they portrayed her very one-sided. As Gideon mentiones (hope I remembered that right, if not I'm sorry), she was portrayed as a very unlikable character, though it might be more fair to say that they only showed us the couple when they were on a bad footing. Phoenix comments in one of the few scenes they share that he loves waking up to the sight of her, but we are never shown any scene of them actually being happy and enjoying each others company (to my recollection at least). One scene where they don't argue, one time where Jonny plays with their kids. Something to back up the claim that he likes to be around her/them.

Favourite characters/scene by far though, goes to June's parents and their routing of Cash's drugdealer. Finally starting him on the road to sobriety, in comes this guy and is met by a double-barrel to the face. I'm kinda impressed he managed to keep control of his sphincter long enough to get away.

And then there's the vocal performance. I think I remember hearing somewhere that Phoenix himself has had a musical carrer, and I totally believe that. He has a nack for getting the sound of the late Cash down (not perfect, but good enough) and I can't really hear any autotuning. Same with Witherspoon; she has some pipes on her, and with a better than usual southern accent she also captures (at least to my limited ear) the basic sound of June. Both also had chemistry between them. They seemed belivable as friends and then as a couple (sort of). Their voices harmoniesed on stage and their dialouge (both friendly and hostile) seemed legit. As for the music itself, I'm not the biggest Cash fan (the first song I actully recognized was the titular "Walk the Line") but I enjoyed what I heard throughout.

Overall, it's not a favourite, but as far as biopics it's good. I admire it more for the cast and the hard work they put into it rather than by the story/characters, but in the end I think it made it through with more positives than negatives on my part.

A good first pick, Vamp! :up:

[Nestorio_Miklos]

School of Rock
Would you tell Picasso to sell his guitars?
I love this film and I’ve seen it numerous times, also one of a few films I laugh out aloud. Linklater made an excellent decision to cast Jack Black. I think he was born to play Dewey Finn plus I’ve heard Black himself sings in a rock band. The movie is about a rock&roller trying to make it big eventually finding himself in a fancy private school as a fake sub teacher. Bored at first then taking on starting his own rock band with the kids he “teaches” so he can play his 20 minutes solos and do his stage dives :).
http://i.imgur.com/waygtKd.jpg
The movie is not very deep however I like the way how he manages to encourage children and how he makes them feel comfortable around him. In the end he creates a nice relationship with those kids. I think when you are really passionate about something children will follow your example and can learn a lot. It was also amazing how he could exactly identify the talents from children and was sensitive enough to give everybody a chance to be part of the band. Everybody could participate and contribute and Dewey doesn’t underestimate anybody, respect them and can be strict when needed, that’s why those kids love him and stay with him even after the fraud was revealed. It was also a nice touch to see children themselves encouraging Dewey so the help was mutual and Dewey finally finds a purpose in his life. It is very important a teacher hearing from children to say "It was a cool lesson today" or coming up to his apartment to pick him up for Battle of Rock Bands.

Black is unforgettable in this picture, children were adorable, supporting cast was great, School of Rock songs were hit. I will gladly rewatch it some time soon.:):up:

[edarsenal]

great write ups, both, clazor and nestorio.

[Nestorio_Miklos]

Walk the Line
It is a biopic about ups and mostly downs of great Johnny Cash starting from his childhood in Arkansas in the Great Depression era up until he proposes onstage in London, Ontario to, also great, June Carter Cash back in 1968.

Before I write something about the movie I must say I’ve never really cared about Johnny Cash’s music apart from a couple of songs I’ve heard from somebody else’s record player. That’s why I didn’t even recognize the difference between Joaquin Phoenix and Johnny Cash voice. I must say Phoenix did a pretty impressive job singing those songs himself.

The story didn’t hit me much. It was almost cliché for me: harsh childhood on farm, father alcoholic, death of brother, struggling and success, lots of drug abuse, first wife, adultery, divorce, and second wife. It was too dramatic, story just dragging on and on from one spiritless scene to another. God, wasn’t there any joy in that guy? I couldn’t feel any pity for Cash even when he was in the total bottom. Directing was overly concentrated on negative part of Cash and made it quite depressing movie. As a human being Cash was depicted as a personality with no self-respect and not able to be happy always dwelling on the past never ready to forgive himself.
http://i.imgur.com/IzmyEkd.png
I don’t want to be only negative so I must say I was speechless after seeing Phoenix’ performance. I mean that very change from emptiness and despair to fulfilment and happiness was amazing and nicely manifested by Cash going to church and then playing songs for inmates in Folsom Prison. Here, perhaps, I would add an extra half an hour to make it up for all that depression in the first 3/4 of the movie.

Otherwise, the movie kept me interested and involved. Do I want to watch it again? I’m not sure about that.

[Citizen Rules]

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57d04f9a197aea669788c560/t/58bb79646b8f5b88ec3d3cee/1488681525298/ray-charles-012.jpg?format=500w

Ray (2004)

I believed Jamie Foxx was Ray Charles. If the actor in a bio-pic can make me believe I'm seeing the actually life of a famous person, and not watching an actor...then the movie works for me. Ray works for me.

Jamie Foxx captured the mannerisms and vocal inflections of Ray Charles to a tee. Foxx sounded a lot like Ray too, both in speaking and on the songs that Foxx actually sang.

What I liked best about this movie was it completely captured the feeling of the time era that was being depicted. It immersed itself in the past. I especially liked the archival film footage. So many 'period piece' films only go so far in recreating the sights & sounds of the era being presented. The inclusion of archival color film stock from the 50s of New York and Seattle was very neat to see. I freeze framed the actual scene of Seattle in the 1950s and studied the buildings and signs.

In period piece movies, I listen to the dialogue that the scriptwriter wrote for the actors...I can tell a good scriptwriter has an ear for the lingo of the past, and will not use modern day phrases. This movie captured the way people talked in the 50's beautiful and I felt like I had a time machine back to the early days of Ray Charles' life. That's high praise, because so many other film makers don't pay attention to the small details.

BTW, very cool, that both Ray Charles and Loretta Lynn got their start in my state of Washington! That's because we're super hip out here;)

[Nestorio_Miklos]

In period piece movies, I listen to the dialogue that the scriptwriter wrote for the actors...I can tell a good scriptwriter has an ear for the lingo of the past, and will not use modern day phrases. This movie captured the way people talked in the 50's beautiful and I felt like I had a time machine back to the early days of Ray Charles' life. That's high praise, because so many other film makers don't pay attention to the small details.

Very interesting linguistic fact Citizen. Thanks a lot for your sharp ear. I gotta rewatch to verify it :)

[edarsenal]

some more great write ups.
NICELY done, guys!!
Nestorio_Miklos I get what you're saying about Cash and the heavy focus on the negatives, and since I never knew any actual history on "The Man in Black" I wish I could say. You would hope there was and this was merely using drama to sell a movie and there WAS more to his earlier life. And I agree on Phoenix's performance.

Citizen Rules glad to hear how they went the extra mile to make, not only the scenery, but the dialogue fit the time period. I've heard nothing BUT great things on Foxx's spot-on Ray Charles, so, like a number of others, I'm looking forward to this one.

[edarsenal]

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/e7/07/3d/e7073d8d00849c4407157747daa67f76.jpg

Coal Miner's Daughter

Spacek was truly amazing in this!

I was won over by her from the get go. She truly nailed this role and brought such warmth you could NOT help but fall in love with this lil hillbilly girl from Kentucky.
A really great lil bio-pic that really brought you into her life, from the first time meeting her husband to the end song of her singing the title song. And what a wonderful voice she has for singing as well!!

So many parts that I enjoyed. From all the hollering she did with her kids and the love she and Doo had for the, to the way her and Doo fought and loved all in the space of a few minutes. A real slice of life, that.
I also want to mention the actor/country singer who played Spacek's father. Truly felt for the man and thought very highly of him.

My ONLY complaint is that this review IS SO SHORT.
Fantastic nom, Destiny!!!

[Citizen Rules]

Coal Miner's Daughter
Spacek was truly amazing in this! I was won over by her from the get go. She truly nailed this role and brought such warmth you could NOT help but fall in love with this lil hillbilly girl from Kentucky.I think Ed is smitten;)...Totally agree with that, Sissy was the movie to me. No wonder she won an Oscar for Best Actress. Have you seen her in much else? I haven't.


A really great lil bio-pic that really brought you into her life, from the first time meeting her husband to the end song of her singing the title song. And what a wonderful voice she has for singing as well!!

From all the hollering she did with her kids and the love she and Doo had for the, to the way her and Doo fought and loved all in the space of a few minutes. A real slice of life, that.I want to ask you what you thought of Doo (the character) did you like him? And what did you think of the actor who played him Tommy Lee Jones?


I also want to mention the actor/country singer who played Spacek's father. Truly felt for the man and thought very highly of him.I read on IMDB that the actor who played her father looked so much like Sissy's real dad that when she first seen him made up for the movie, she fainted.

My ONLY complaint is that this review IS SO SHORT.
Fantastic nom, Destiny!!!Ha, that's my complaint too:p Nicely written Ed. Glad you loved the movie.

[Gideon58]

[QUOTE=Citizen Rules;1684456]I think Ed is smitten;)...Totally agree with that, Sissy was the movie to me. No wonder she won an Oscar for Best Actress. Have you seen her in much else? I haven't.


May I recommend some Sissy Spacek performances?

Badlands
Carrie*
Raggedy Man
Crimes of the Heart*
Heart Beat
Missing*
The River*
'Night Mother
JFK
Affliction
Four Christmases
In the Bedroom*
North Country

The films with astericks next to them earned her Oscar nominations.

[Citizen Rules]

Thanks Gideon, have you seen all of those? If so you are very well watched?

I've seen JFK and Affliction. You left out one of her best movies, The Straight Story (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0166896/?ref_=nm_knf_t2) (1999)

[Gideon58]

Thanks Gideon, have you seen all of those? If so you are very well watched?

I've seen JFK and Affliction. You left out one of her best movies, The Straight Story (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0166896/?ref_=nm_knf_t2) (1999)

I left out The Straight Story because I've never seen it, I only mentioned the films I have seen.

[SilentVamp]

Need someone's help again. :)

Gideon is still having some trouble watching The Idolmaker. The version he was watching didn't play right - it kept stopping and starting again. If someone could help him out with that, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!!

[Camo]

I sent him a link. I don't know what one wasn't working for him though so it could have been the same one.

[edarsenal]

I think Ed is smitten;)...Totally agree with that, Sissy was the movie to me. No wonder she won an Oscar for Best Actress. Have you seen her in much else? I haven't.

I want to ask you what you thought of Doo (the character) did you like him? And what did you think of the actor who played him Tommy Lee Jones?
An incredible performance WILL do that to me! LOL and yes, the Oscar COMPLETELY belonged to her. She didn't act - she LIVED the part. It was quite wonderful to see. And I gotta say the secondary performers also did a splendid job which really added to the "natural" feel of the film. Even the kids BEHAVED like kids. Made me wonder if the director simply let them go and told the actors to simply react to what they did while staying with dialogue.

And when it cames to Doo, I'm rather a big fan of Jones so it's kinda hard NOT to be bias. ;) Always enjoy him and I do get what you wrote about him, he does seem to bulldoze his way through everyone else in any given movie. Even when he plays someone with a quieter disposition. His presence is a bit like a thunderstorm. lol
Didn't care too much for the blonde hair either, but he did a good job. And it was a very rounded out character. Usually such a person is only shown in a bad light - but you saw him caring for his kids AND for his wife as well as being an angry drunk. Like the one scene where he's taking her photo and hollers at one of the kids to get out of the way, he tells them "thanks" or something like it in a softer tone when they do scoot.
This was one of many things I liked. An argument wasn't set up for drama and most of them were resolved by its end. Something you see in any couple that's had a lot of living life and a number of years together. It's these nuances that really make the difference
I read on IMDB that the actor who played her father looked so much like Sissy's real dad that when she first seen him made up for the movie, she fainted.
Did NOT know that, WOW
Ha, that's my complaint too:p Nicely written Ed. Glad you loved the movie.
Oh, I know!! I looked at it and just shook my head and teased myself: really? That's ALL you're gonna write?! Lame
May I recommend some Sissy Spacek performances?

Badlands
Carrie*
Raggedy Man
Crimes of the Heart*
Heart Beat
Missing*
The River*
'Night Mother
JFK
Affliction
Four Christmases
In the Bedroom*
North Country

The films with astericks next to them earned her Oscar nominations.
Badlands is one I am DYING to see but never seem to get around to. And I've heard of Raggedy Man, Affliction and 'night Mother; all of which I am curious to see as well.
Saw The River AGES ago and of course, seen Carrie when I was young. I saw Four Christmases and forgot she was in that.
THANKS Gideon!!

[SilentVamp]

I will just say it now. 'Night Mother is a good movie, but it is one that I would never watch again. I will admit to that. It is just too difficult for me to watch and too damn depressing, but I suppose if you really want to become knowledgeable in Sissy Spacek's career, that is one to definitely include on the list. And I don't know if it would affect everyone like it did me, but it is hard to watch.

[edarsenal]

Night Mother does look like a VERY hard watch and the bonus to that one is that Anne Bancroft is the mother and like you, it would most likely be a one time deal due to the depressing nature of it

[Citizen Rules]

....Did NOT know that, WOW... Here's another VERY interesting tidbid....
Coal Miner's Daughter places strong emphasis on the story that Loretta Lynn (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0528750) was married at the age of thirteen, which is actually false. In May 2012, the Associate Press unearthed Lynn's Kentucky birth certificate, which revealed the singer had been lying about her age for decades. She was actually sixteen at the time of her marriage. You know the scenes were Doo is really good at prompting Loretta to the radio stations they visit? I guess in real life some of the promotional qualities rubbed off on the real Loretta.

[edarsenal]

interesting. . .

[gbgoodies]

Need someone's help again. :)

Gideon is still having some trouble watching The Idolmaker. The version he was watching didn't play right - it kept stopping and starting again. If someone could help him out with that, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!!


I'm sorry that my nom seems to be a problem for some people to find, but my offer is still open for me to pick a different movie if The Idolmaker is a problem for people to find.

I know there's only one review linked on the first page, (by Citizen Rules), but I don't know how many people have watched it already, so it's only fair to ask the people who have already watched it if it's okay with them too.

[Citizen Rules]

I'm sorry that my nom seems to be a problem for some people to find, but my offer is still open for me to pick a different movie if The Idolmaker is a problem for people to find.

I know there's only one review linked on the first page, (by Citizen Rules), but I don't know how many people have watched it already, so it's only fair to ask the people who have already watched it if it's okay with them too.GBG, why don't you just find a link for Gideon and PM him with it, problem solved. I don't really want to watch anymore movies, I just joined the 13th and I have too many on my movie plate as it is.

[edarsenal]

gbgoodies no worries! Idolmaker is at my library, it was actually out or it would have been one I picked up.

Also there a number of really great/helpful people here who can supply links; like Camo just did.

[Citizen Rules]

I had sent Gideon a number of links for Idolmaker some time ago.

[Gideon58]

I will just say it now. 'Night Mother is a good movie, but it is one that I would never watch again. I will admit to that. It is just too difficult for me to watch and too damn depressing, but I suppose if you really want to become knowledgeable in Sissy Spacek's career, that is one to definitely include on the list. And I don't know if it would affect everyone like it did me, but it is hard to watch.

I did consider it for my most disturbing movie experiences list, but opted not to include it. It's a real downer, no doubt.

[Camo]

Did that link work Gideon, didn't hear back from you? There's three versions to it so if the first doesn't work try the other two, Version 2 is the player i'd usually pick out of the 3 of them.

[Gideon58]

Did that link work Gideon, didn't hear back from you? There's three versions to it so if the first doesn't work try the other two, Version 2 is the player i'd usually pick out of the 3 of them.

No it didn't...thanks for trying to help.

[Gideon58]

Just finished re-watching Walk the Line...this was my 3rd re-watch and first watch in at least four years. The movie seems slower than it did the last time I watched it...it seems to take some time to really get going. Joaquin Phoenix is astonishing as Johnny Cash, but I still don't get all the fuss over Reese Witherspoon's performance and I can't believe she won an Oscar for this.

[Camo]

No it didn't...thanks for trying to help.

Did you try all three versions and not just the first one? The second works for me.

[SilentVamp]

I'm sorry that my nom seems to be a problem for some people to find, but my offer is still open for me to pick a different movie if The Idolmaker is a problem for people to find.
I don't really know what to say to that. I have watched it, but have not obviously written anything yet. So that is definitely two people who have seen it. I do understand CR's feelings towards having to watch another film, but I also see the trouble that Gideon is having because I had a very similar situation with the film Joe in the 12th HoF.
I just don't know what to say to it. I know it is on Youtube, but there is a problem there. Forget the fact that it is a small picture, they either sped up the sound or just altered it slightly. So that affects the film to a certain extent. But if someone really just wants to watch the movie, and they really can't find any other way to do so, that is the best bet. Otherwise, a different nomination may be an option, but then again, it doesn't look like that would be a favorable idea either.

I can say that I am seriously at a loss with this.

[gbgoodies]

I don't really know what to say to that. I have watched it, but have not obviously written anything yet. So that is definitely two people who have seen it. I do understand CR's feelings towards having to watch another film, but I also see the trouble that Gideon is having because I had a very similar situation with the film Joe in the 12th HoF.
I just don't know what to say to it. I know it is on Youtube, but there is a problem there. Forget the fact that it is a small picture, they either sped up the sound or just altered it slightly. So that affects the film to a certain extent. But if someone really just wants to watch the movie, and they really can't find any other way to do so, that is the best bet. Otherwise, a different nomination may be an option, but then again, it doesn't look like that would be a favorable idea either.

I can say that I am seriously at a loss with this.


I sent Gideon a few links, so hopefully one of them will work. If not, I don't think it's fair to ask people who have already watched it to watch another movie, so Gideon can just put my nom at the bottom of his list. I don't join these HoFs to win anyway, so it's not a big deal to me if it affects my nom in the final rankings, and this way it won't affect anyone else's noms.

[Citizen Rules]

I sent Gideon a few links, so hopefully one of them will work. If not, I don't think it's fair to ask people who have already watched it to watch another movie, so Gideon can just put my nom at the bottom of his list. I don't join these HoFs to win anyway, so it's not a big deal to me if it affects my nom in the final rankings, and this way it won't affect anyone else's noms. That's nice of you GBG:)...but there's a better way to adjust the scoring for a movie that one person can't watch. Assuming Gideon can't find The Idolmaker...

When all the list are sent in, Vamp will add up the points, she will then divide the total points for The Idolmaker by the number of people who seen it, that gives her an average score...then she will times that number by the total number of list sent in, which will give an adjusted score based on the other list that included the movie.

It will probably take Vamp all of 30 seconds to do the math. BTW we call this the CR method:p (I thought of it for the 10th Hof but never needed to use it.)

[Gideon58]

Did you try all three versions and not just the first one? The second works for me.


Yes I did.

[Camo]

Yes I did.

That's really weird both the version 1 and version 2 links work for me. Can't tell you what it is, i'd send you more links but i doubt they'd work if that one doesn't and gbg and Citizen said they sent you others already.

[Gideon58]

That's really weird both the version 1 and version 2 links work for me. Can't tell you what it is, i'd send you more links but i doubt they'd work if that one doesn't and gbg and Citizen said they sent you others already.

Don't worry about it, Camo...Citizen worked out a way to do the voting without me seeing it.

[SilentVamp]

When all the list are sent in, Vamp will add up the points, she will then divide the total points for The Idolmaker by the number of people who seen it, that gives her an average score...then she will times that number by the total number of list sent in, which will give an adjusted score based on the other list that included the movie.
What?! That was like a word problem in math class. :D And I am terrible at word problems. :p

It will probably take Vamp all of 30 seconds to do the math.
Really? 30 seconds? It took me at least a whole minute to comprehend what I just read! :D


But I understand it, though. So don't worry. :)

[Camo]

You'll probably just have to add on the average score to the actual score you get because i think Gideon is the only one who can't see it.

For example if you had six lists but only five with The Idolmaker on it and it got ten points you'd give it two extra.

[gbgoodies]

That's nice of you GBG:)...but there's a better way to adjust the scoring for a movie that one person can't watch. Assuming Gideon can't find The Idolmaker...

When all the list are sent in, Vamp will add up the points, she will then divide the total points for The Idolmaker by the number of people who seen it, that gives her an average score...then she will times that number by the total number of list sent in, which will give an adjusted score based on the other list that included the movie.

It will probably take Vamp all of 30 seconds to do the math. BTW we call this the CR method:p (I thought of it for the 10th Hof but never needed to use it.)

What?! That was like a word problem in math class. :D And I am terrible at word problems. :p


Really? 30 seconds? It took me at least a whole minute to comprehend what I just read! :D


But I understand it, though. So don't worry. :)

You'll probably just have to add on the average score to the actual score you get because i think Gideon is the only one who can't see it.

For example if you had six lists but only five with The Idolmaker on it and it got ten points you'd give it two extra.


SilentVamp, whatever works for you is okay with me. If CR's method works for you, that's great, but if it's easier to just put my nom at the bottom of Gideon's list, that's okay too. I don't want you to go crazy trying to figure it out. It won't bother me either way. :)

[Citizen Rules]

What?! That was like a word problem in math class. :D And I am terrible at word problems. :p


Really? 30 seconds? It took me at least a whole minute to comprehend what I just read! :D


But I understand it, though. So don't worry. :) Math word problems aren't my thing either! I never was good at them:sick:

Let's say for example:
The Idolmaker scores 60 points

divide 60 by 15(number of voting members) = 4
times 4 x 16 (the total number of members) = 64 which would be the corrected score.

[neiba]

Amadeus

I think the big problem for me was that I didn't like any of the characters, so I had no emotional attachment to what was going on in their lives. I expected Mozart to be likable, but instead he was just a musical genius who was crude and obnoxious. And I hated his laugh.

And Salieri wasn't a good person either, so I didn't like him, but at least he was a more interesting character.

The story seems so far-fetched, about how Salieri's jealousy caused the downfall of both himself and Mozart, that I can't imagine that much of this movie is historically accurate, but I guess if you like Mozart's music maybe this movie has enough to hold your interest.

Well, Mozart's personality was like that. He was like a child, maybe due to the fact he didn't have a normal childhood.

Salieri and Mozart were actually friends on real life, so that part of the film was fiction. What is true is the ability Mozart had to just write music from memory, even if just heard it once or compose whole ouvertures in one sitting without making a single mistake. And that is absolutely unique in the history of music. The Requiem composition was also half-true, Salieri didn't have anything to do with it, it was one of Mozart's students, Sussmayer who finished it, and the strange figure who ordered it anonimously was a noble who wanted to tell his friends that he was one who wrote it (that's at least the main theory)

[Gideon58]

So not looking forward to re-watching Amadeus...it's well made, but it goes on forever.

[edarsenal]

didn't know that final tidbit about the noble, thanks neiba!!

[Citizen Rules]

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=29845&stc=1&d=1492102720
Amadeus (1984)

It was 30 years ago, that I last watched Amadeus. I remember liking it, and that's all I remember. Over the years I've heard the film being discussed, and wondered if I would still feel the same way about it.

Three hours! That's how long this movie is...I watched the extended Director's Cut and it had an extra 20 minutes included, making for a 180 minute movie...And I loved all 180 minutes! What a well crafted story Amadeus is.

The juxtaposition of Salieri, a man who makes a vow to his God, so that he can become a musical virtuoso...and Mozart, a musical genius who's vulgar to the nth degree, but seems to make music that is otherworldly and inspired by God himself.

F. Murray Abraham was amazing in this. He made the film great. I loved the framing of the movie with an elderly Salieri who's utterly defeated with his battle with God, definitely telling the priest his life's story. We see how circumstance and self servitude destroys Salieri.

At times I thought the actor who played Mozart, Tom Hulce was quite good, at other times I thought he seemed to much an imbecile to be a genius. But that's the point of the movie...that a man who acted like an idiot was given an amazing gift of music that was beyond the makings of a mere man....while the self righteous and pious Salari wallowed in meritocracy...as he was slowly drive mad by the his Mozart, a man who he both admired and hated. What a beautifully written story.

I quite like the Emperor played by Jeffrey Jones. I like the way he said "well, there it is", when he made a decision. On the other hand I did not like the actress who played Mozart's wife. She was way too modern in the way she talked. She took me right out of Vienna 1823 and made me think I was watching someone from a 1980's TV show.

But luckily she's not the biggest part of the movie and I still was wowed by it. Part of that wow came from the sets, wow and double wow. I mean just look at those rooms with the gold gilt trim and the decadently beautiful furniture What a stunning looking film and a Greek tragedy to boot. That's my kind of movie!



.

[SilentVamp]

On the other hand I did not like the actress who played Mozart's wife. She was way too modern in the way she talked. She took me right out of Vienna 1823 and made me think I was watching someone from a 1980's TV show
I wish you would've seen the one that I saw in the stage production. :rolleyes: She would've made the one in the movie seem like a Shakespearean actress to you! :yup: I couldn't stand her. And it just so happened that my ex happened to see it, too. And I will always remember him saying to me - FIRST THING AFTER I SAID THAT I HAD ALSO SEEN THAT PRODUCTION - "She was the perfect 'Stanze". :sick: First of all, SHE is the thing that made the biggest impression on him that that was the first thing he said about the play?!? Second, he called her 'Stanze to me! :sick: :sick: What was that about?! I don't care what Mozart says in the story, this idiot that I knew didn't know her personally to call her that! :rolleyes: Third, I said to him "How can you even talk about her performance? She was the worst one in the cast. I have NO idea why they would've EVER cast her in that role. And she played her like a moronic twit". :rolleyes: Believe me, this one in the film is Academy Award worthy compared to the one I saw :yup:

[Clazor]

The Buddy Holly Story

http://cdn.highdefdigest.com/uploads/2014/09/08/buddy_holly_story_2.jpg

As was the case with the Johnny Cash story, I can't claim to be very knowledgeable when it comes to Buddy Holly's music. I recognized one song, and I didn't even know it was one of his.

Seeing Gary Busey take on a lead role, and a serious one at that, made me question the movie at first (I think this is the first role I've ever seen him in the lead/not being an antagonist), but to my surprise I have to give it to him: He did a great job. He portrayed Buddy with a calm and understated performance that I'd never seen him do before. Nowhere is seen the wierd, hyperactive version from Under Siege or the stoic and violent Mr. Joshua from Lethal Weapon. In short, it's the best performance I've seen from the man.

His two friends weren't bad either, with the best scene of their's by far was the basist's valet stuff. Liked how he just went with the gag when they were checking into the hotel and even embelished it a bit himself.

The story itself was fine, but it did drag at places. As biopics go, I think it better than Walk the Line's story, but that I think has to do with the fact that I actually liked this guy, as opposed to Cash.

As to what happend to Holly, I'd forgotten. It was just as the tour buss drove off as it hit me and I suddenly felt so sorry for his wife. He didn't really want to leave her, but she convinced him to go. She of course was blameless, but I could see how she'd blame herself. The last scenes did feel a bit like a farewell as we stay with him through a prolonged scene of him performing. It lingered, as if having a hard time moving on because they knew what would happen after the show was over.

I also wondered if they added the bit where his friends showed up at their apartment and surprised his wife with the news that they wanted to get the band back together. It felt a bit too well timed for it to be real, but if it was, I guess life just has a dark sense of humour.

In the end, I'm glad to have seen it, both for Busey's performance and to get to know a little more about one of the major contributers in Rock n' Roll history.

A great nom, Citizen! :up:

[Gideon58]

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=29845&stc=1&d=1492102720
Amadeus [SIZE=4](1984)



Really enjoyed reading your review of this, Citizen...so glad you mentioned Jeffrey Jones, who I thought was BRILLIANT in this, easily the best performance of his career. As I mentioned earlier, was not looking forward to re-watching this movie because it's so long, but your review has made it a little easier to face the music (so to speak).

[Gideon58]

I wish you would've seen the one that I saw in the stage production. :rolleyes: She would've made the one in the movie seem like a Shakespearean actress to you! :yup: I couldn't stand her. And it just so happened that my ex happened to see it, too. And I will always remember him saying to me - FIRST THING AFTER I SAID THAT I HAD ALSO SEEN THAT PRODUCTION - "She was the perfect 'Stanze". :sick: First of all, SHE is the thing that made the biggest impression on him that that was the first thing he said about the play?!? Second, he called her 'Stanze to me! :sick: :sick: What was that about?! I don't care what Mozart says in the story, this idiot that I knew didn't know her personally to call her that! :rolleyes: Third, I said to him "How can you even talk about her performance? She was the worst one in the cast. I have NO idea why they would've EVER cast her in that role. And she played her like a moronic twit". :rolleyes: Believe me, this one in the film is Academy Award worthy compared to the one I saw :yup:

Yeah, I think you're talking about Elizabeth Berridge...she was terrible...nothing period appropriate about that performance.

[Citizen Rules]

Really enjoyed reading your review of this, Citizen...so glad you mentioned Jeffrey Jones, who I thought was BRILLIANT in this, easily the best performance of his career. As I mentioned earlier, was not looking forward to re-watching this movie because it's so long, but your review has made it a little easier to face the music (so to speak). When I first spotted Jeffrey Jones, I thought Ferris Bueller's Day Off. But he quickly became the Emperor, well there it is.

I thought it was a great movie.

[edarsenal]

Glad to hear your enjoyment, Citizen Rules and, like Gideon58 very happy to hear you mention Jeffrey Jones, which I forgot to mention. Like you, "There it is," always stuck with me and I'd use it whenever a decision was made. He really did a commendable job as the Emperor.

Also, glad to hear ya got a lil history lesson in old time rock n roll, Clazor. And yes, this movie role was BEFORE Busey's motorcycle/head injuries, so he so much more lucid.
When I was young I had the opposite effect, knowing him from Buddy Holly and then seeing him such movies as Lethal Weapon and thinking: Holy *****, who slipped acid into that man's sno-cone?" lol

[mark f]

Lethal Weapon was before Busey's motorcycle accident too.

[edarsenal]

thank you for the correction, mark f!! ALWAYS appreciate getting the RIGHT facts. :)

[Citizen Rules]

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=29877&stc=1&d=1492270206

The Commitments (1991)

Loved the music, it's right up my alley. I was even thinking about getting a CD of the soundtrack. I loved seeing the streets of Dublin, with the very realistic urban decay. I loved the way this was film, especially the stage shows which looked authentic. I still don't know if The Commitments are real or actors or what? I seen the bands name credited on some of the songs in the closing credits, but were they in the movie? Or were those actors?

It's a good thing this movie has a great soundtrack and is visually unique as I couldn't connect the characters, which meant I didn't care about them. That's mostly due to the strong accents, I must have only understood about half of what was said. I thought about putting on subtitles, but do I really need to read F*** 169 times, I don't think so. It's like there's a great idea here, but not much story or character development so in lieu of that the film makers have the band members fighting, and fighting...and bickering and screaming. All this conflict for entertainment's sake, reminded me of Withnail & I (1987).

Luckily the music makes the movie and who ever performed the songs were amazing! I really liked the music.

[edarsenal]

Commitments is definitely goes on the list for rewatch improves enjoyment. I had watched one link over a third of the way and kinda fumbled through and when I found a better link and started anew, my enjoyment grew with the familiarity of things. Great lil movie, really great soundtrack.

[SilentVamp]

The Idolmaker

I don’t know if I have ever heard of this film. I think I have. The title is familiar. But nothing else about it is.

I heard that it was based on the experiences of Bob Marcucci. So I decided to look more into it after I watched the film, and I think it made the story a bit more interesting when I realized what was what in this film.

You have the first singer, Tommy Dee. More my sort of singer/performer from that era, but what a jerk! I just didn’t like him at all. Now, from what I have read, he was supposed to be based on Frankie Avalon. I guess it is OK if Frankie was like that, but there is a tiny bit of disappointment because I always liked him, and he never came across as a “bad” guy.

Then there is the second singer, Caesare. From what I understand with that is that it is based on Fabian. OK. So Fabian is a “good” boy (to a certain extent). Alright. That is fine. But, in all honesty, I have never really cared for him. But if there is any truth to this film, I guess that is OK on my part. :)

And I suppose the film is loosely based on these two guys. But what I found interesting was how Fabian took Marcucci to court over it. Frankie Avalon didn’t bother, but Fabian did. If all of that was true, why did it bother Fabian so much more than Frankie Avalon to be portrayed the way that they were in the film?

Then I read that the original script actually had the two singers come across as better people in the film compared to the manager – the opposite of what this film was. So, I am a little confused and I don’t know what it true, but the film worked out alright.

The acting was fine. The songs were OK. But like I know Citizen Rules and I have both discussed earlier in this HoF, they almost sounded too 1980’s to pass as the 1950’s.

It was an interesting film to show just how show business does work. The dirty deals and the not-so-good guys that these people can be while putting on an angelic face for the fans and so on.

It is too bad that people may have trouble watching the movie because it is a good enough to watch what happens behind the scenes from the point of view of a man who made the singers rather than the singers themselves.

3

[SilentVamp]

Sweet Dreams

Sometimes I think you have to be interested in a particular subject to truly enjoy what you are experiencing. And I think that was the case here for me with this film.

I am not a fan of Patsy Cline. Never have been. I know something about her life (i.e. stories I heard about her husband, the car accident, etc.), but not much. I suppose I know more about her death than anything else. But I do know her music, which isn’t music that I have ever really gotten into.

I thought the movie was OK. Other than Jessica Lange and Ed Harris (and he is always good no matter what he is in), I didn’t think the actors were anything special. And I thought the film dragged a bit at times.

If I took anything away from this film, it was the impression of the plane crash.
If the crash was that bad – all I really know is that she died that way – how would there have even been a body to bury? I can’t imagine what that was like. It is pretty horrible to think about

I don’t really have too much else to say about this one. Like I said, it was OK, but I really do think this is a case where the film might be much more appreciated if it the person watching it was a little more interested in the subject matter.

2.5

[SilentVamp]

Pink Floyd - The Wall

Oh my God! The film I anticipated the most to be nominated was also the film that I lived in fear of being nominated. :)

I do have to be honest here. :)

I don’t know why I would’ve seen this as a kid. It isn’t like my brothers were ever even into Pink Floyd to make that a possibility. But I had seen this. And I didn’t like it. Not at all. I can still remember this friend of my brother’s having the poster hanging on his wall (I thought the poster was kind of creepy), but I didn’t understand why he did because he didn’t seem to like that kind of music. Nobody I knew did. Pink Floyd was never a part of my world.

The reason I am saying that is that I kind of wonder if you have to like Pink Floyd in order to truly appreciate the film. Although, I can’t say that I really knew what was happening in there all the time. There were moments when I was just plain confused. I just don’t know. This just came across as a dark, depressing, somewhat dull film. And that is exactly what I thought it would be – from what I could remember.

This movie just isn’t for me. Like I said, maybe you have to be a fan of Pink Floyd to appreciate it more.

But Bob Hoskins is in this movie. :up: I don’t really need to say anything else. :)

1.5

I am so sorry, edarsenal. I am. But let me let you in on something. You HAD to keep your nomination of Amadeus to redeem yourself with me. You had to. :) And the rest of what I have to say can what until the Amadeus review. :)

[SilentVamp]

Eddie and the Cruisers

Well, this was one that I, and probably many others, have heard about for years. It was going to be the one that I was the most interested in seeing because I’d heard about for so many years now. I have to see what the big deal was.

First things first, and this has nothing to do with the film, but I know I have complained about such a thing before, and I will do it again now. At times this movie was really hard for me to understand because it was SO quiet. I really am not a fan of these companies not providing subtitles to their films. :mad:

Anyway, I can’t say I really liked this movie because I didn’t. I don’t know if it was all they hype surrounding it for all these years, or if it was just that I didn’t think it was too good of a movie. Either way, I didn’t care for it at all. I thought it was kind of boring. I didn’t really understand the big deal in getting those tapes. I guess I get it, but still, I didn’t get it. I didn’t really understand what made him so miserable either. I really don’t know what happened in life to make him that way. Unless that was to add to Eddie’s mystique.

And
The ending really wasn’t that big of a surprise to me at all. I figured he wasn't dead.
It is too bad that this movie didn’t end up being one that I liked because I thought I would. The story sounded interesting enough. And it just seemed like it would be a good movie. But I just didn’t like it at all. I am sorry to have to be that honest, but I do have to be honest.

1.5

[SilentVamp]

Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny

I know OF Tenacious D, but I didn’t know much ABOUT them.

Unfortunately I had to watch this twice. Well, at least the first 15 minutes or so. The copy from the library was SO bad that I had to return it and wait for another one to start all over again. :rolleyes:

But I can’t lie. I actually enjoyed this movie. Did I think it was going to be a critically acclaimed film, or one that was a hidden gem? Of course not. I got exactly what I thought I would. A somewhat crude film that I didn’t necessarily laugh out loud to, but it is one that I actually did enjoy. This was one of the films that surprised me in this HoF. I ended up liking it much better than expected. :)

I didn’t mind the music. I got a kick out of Meatloaf as his father. And that kid was fantastic as a young Jack Black! Where did they ever find him?! :D

It is funny because why should I actually get so into this movie that I was upset over the break-up and worried if they would ever obtain the Pick of Destiny? :p

So, yes, I can say that I enjoyed the Tenacious D movie. :)

3

[SilentVamp]

School of Rock

This was a movie that I wasn’t looking too forward to. The reason why is because I really did NOT like it at all the first time that I saw it. I didn’t even remotely enjoy it. In fact, I thought it was kind of boring. I didn’t find anything that spectacular for people to like it the way that they did. I never really had any intention of ever watching it again.

It was different this time. Quite different, in fact. I was drawn into the story from the very beginning this time around. And I stayed into the story until the very end. The fact that I didn’t remember too much about it probably helped me, in a way, to be able to stay engaged with the film.

I like Jack Black alright. I don’t really have a problem with him at all. I guess I can see why some might not be too amused by him, but I think he is alright. And, if I am to be honest, he really isn’t a bad actor. Strip away the comedy (and he is perfectly fine at doing that), he is a decent dramatic actor, too.

The kids were all good. My favorite was the drummer. I just liked his attitude. :) I could take or leave everyone else in the cast. While each character was needed for one reason or another, I was just very indifferent to them.

When I watched it this time, I really don’t know what made me dislike it so much last time. It is a good, light story. Nothing that you have to really think about, but one that you can just sit back and enjoy. I’ve said it before that I do like movies like that. And, honestly, I liked this one. And I liked it a lot.

Good nomination, Clazor! If you hadn’t nominated it, I wouldn’t have watched it again, but thanks for doing so because I could now see what a mistake I made with it the first time that I watched it.

4

[SilentVamp]

The Jazz Singer

I was never sure if I ever saw this, but I knew bits and pieces of it from years ago. So I had to have seen this at some point in time.

This was another one of those movies that I could barely hear while I was watching it. That is too bad because it kind of takes away from the enjoyment of watching a film. Especially if I don’t have any subtitles to take advantage of.

It was an OK movie. I guess if you know anything about the 1927 film, you kind of know what is going on here. There are many aspects of the film that is different from the ’27 version, but the gist of it is still there (they even managed to work in a blackface scene). Basically, a cantor who wants to sing modern music and is, essentially, disowned by his father for wanting it.

I like Neil Diamond in it well enough. I really didn’t think he was bad at all. And I liked Laurence Olivier’s performance. But I would’ve loved to have smacked him in the face a couple of times. His character got a bit tiresome.

The music is fantastic. But, then again, I am a very big Neil Diamond fan. It goes without saying that I would really enjoy the music. My favorite being “Hello Again”. That song is brilliant.

It was a lot better than I thought it would be. It was a little slow at times, but it was still better than I expected. Those expectations really stem from the fact that I have always heard some pretty negative things about the movie. I don’t really pay attention to a lot of what people say, but there was enough negativity that I didn’t know if this would be one where I would definitely agree with everyone else. But it surprised me and it turned out to be an OK film.

3

[SilentVamp]

Coal Miner’s Daughter

After all these years I have now finally seen this one. I was very curious to see what the big deal was going to be with it.

I know people like it, and they can, but it wasn’t as good to me as I expected it to be. It was OK. Just not as good as I thought it would be.

I know what I know of Loretta Lynn. And what I know varies from some of her music to her supposed haunted house that she lives in to the fact that Crystal Gayle is her sister. But that is it. I don’t know much else. I didn’t even know much about her life before her career other than she didn’t come from money.

I guess it is a basic rags-to-riches story, but some of it was just unreal to me. I can’t believe her father allowed his 13 year-old daughter to marry him. It wasn’t even like it was the 19th century anymore (and even that is unreal!). That was beyond comprehension to me. And, truth be told, I didn’t like her husband at all. I really did not like him. :nope: Yes, he helped push her into the music business, but at the same time, that would’ve been awfully hard to tolerate had someone done that to me. Also, he said some line to her like “you should have more time to love your man the way you’re supposed to”. :rolleyes: Something like that doesn’t fly with me either. :nope: I really didn’t like the man and I don’t completely understand how they lasted. If they really loved each other, fine. But I didn’t see it there – unless I somehow missed it completely.

Sissy Spacek was good. Oscar-worthy? I don’t know. But she was good. I didn’t really like Tommy Lee Jones at all. But that may have something to do with the fact that I didn’t really like the man he was portraying. I guess the others were fine in the film, though.

And it said that was really Sissy Spacek singing? Was she?? Or was it a case of the studio giving her credit when it should belong to someone else? If that was her, that was kind of amazing because I thought she really sounded enough like Loretta Lynn that if someone didn’t know better, they might think it was her.

Like I said it was a good movie. A little slow for my taste, at times, but it was good.

3

[SilentVamp]

The Buddy Holly Story

Now I knew this was going to be a hard one to sell to me. I love my Buddy Holly. And I was a little afraid of how it would turn out because I am exceptionally biased when it comes to that man. I think that is why I have avoided watching this film all these years. I had heard good things about it. But when it came to the devoted fans, the opinions weren’t as good. Needless to say, I was wary going into this film. I did consider nominating it myself, but that was because I hadn’t seen it before. Still, I would’ve been hesitant had I nominated it.

If I can erase the fact from my mind that Gary Busey is playing him (at least Buddy Holly was kind of cute!), and if I can erase some of the inaccuracies, it is a good film. I am not a big Busey fan, but he is good in here. The others were fine, also.

He was OK doing his own singing. I appreciate it. But he could NEVER come close to the voice that Buddy had. :nope: It just would never happen. :)

The thing that always bothers me about the real story is how he didn’t want to go. And I am a big believer in going after your feelings. If you just don’t want to do something, there is a reason for it, and just don’t do it. It is just a shame that he didn’t listen to whatever it was that was going on inside him to not go.

I know my mother said that when he died it was all that was talked about on the radio. And she said that the newspaper actually didn’t know how to tell the story. It was almost as if it was hard trying to give the details of the crash. I happen to know exactly what happened to them – what happened to their bodies. And it is very bad. So I can’t imagine how it would’ve been written in the papers back then.

I know I mentioned it in the Getting To Know You Song Tournament – I believe it was the second one – that I’d been to the crash site. I believe I even posted pictures. Again, it is an eerie place to have seen. When I watched this film, and knowing what I know now about the surroundings, how far it was from the town, etc., it just makes watching what happens even sadder.

A major issue I had with this film was that they said they were performing at the Clear Lake Auditorium. Why did they do that? They performed at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake. I don’t understand why the name was changed. I didn’t care for them bringing the other two on stage that would die in the crash with him. I also thought it was funny that they said this was going to be a tour of major “cities” in the Midwest. Clear Lake, Iowa is hardly a city. :) They were in Milwaukee, though. The tour started here. It was at the a place that was once known as the Million Dollar Ballroom (it is in a building now known as The Rave). This is a list of their tour dates until they died:
January 23: George Divine’s Million Dollar Ballroom, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
January 24: Eagles Ballroom, Kenosha, Wisconsin
January 25: Kato Ballroom, Mankato, Minnesota
January 26: Fournier’s Ballroom, Eau Claire, Wisconsin
January 27: Fiesta Ballroom, Montevideo, Minnesota
January 28: Prom Ballroom, St. Paul, Minnesota
January 29: Capitol Theater, Davenport, Iowa
January 30: Laramar Ballroom, Fort Dodge, Iowa
January31: National Guard Armory, Duluth, Minnesota
February 1: Riverside Ballroom, Green Bay, Wisconsin
February 2: Surf Ballroom, Clear Lake, Iowa

You see how crazy it really was. And if you are from around here, you just don’t know why they would’ve come up with something like that for these guys. And to think in less than 2 weeks they’d be dead. Sad.

Anyway, I can now say that I have finally watched this film, and I thank Citizen Rules for nominating it.

3

[SilentVamp]

The Commitments

I was kind of very, very hooked on this movie when it came out. No! I take that back. Not when it came out but when it was first released on video. :) I never saw it in the theater.

This was my first time watching it in 20 years, or so. It was a movie that always put me in a good mood after I’d seen it. Was it still going to have that power over me? Yes and No.

Am I still entertained by the ups and downs of this music group? Yes. Did I still end up in a good mood after seeing it? Yes. Did I love it as much as I did back then? No. I don’t know if it is my age – compared to when I was obsessing over the film – or if it was just the film itself, but I didn’t feel the same way about it as I did before. And I can’t really figure out why not.

I still enjoyed the performances of everyone in the film (I always did think – and still do – that the guy who plays Jimmy is the best). The music is great, but I think that goes without saying! Still amazed that the lead singer was only like 16-17 years old when this was filmed! I particularly like their rendition of “The Dark End of the Street”.

I will admit that I nominated this movie more for my sake than for anyone else’s. :D But if other people get some enjoyment out of it, that is a very good thing, too. :yup: But I hadn’t seen it in so many years and I really wanted to watch it again. I am a little disappointed that I didn’t love it as much as I did. But I think that really does have something to do with the age I was when it was out. It was just a different time in my life. I think if I give it another 10 years or so, I will watch it again. I think my feelings will be different once more, and I think, for probably more sentimental reasons, I will end up liking this film just as much as I used to.

3.5

[SilentVamp]

Ray

This was not only a re-watch for me, but it was also one that I considered nominating in this HoF.

I think this is a very good film. I did the very first time that I saw it, too. I like biopics that do really delve into someone’s life. I like it when they are honest. But I never like it when they seem gossipy. And there is definitely a difference between the two. This film comes across as if they are talking about his life in an honest way. It doesn’t even shy away from his mistresses! But never once did it come across as a tabloid story.

Having said that, while I know relationships can play a vital part in the way someone’s life turns out, I had less interest in his affairs than I did the music. I wish the women would’ve been more of a side story and more focus was put on his career. A lot of time was spent on the career, but think about how much more of it could’ve been spent on it had they not paid so much attention to the women!

Anyway, I think Jamie Foxx is very good in here. He even got Ray Charles’ mannerisms down perfectly. Ray Charles changed when he got older and his body moved differently. What I like is that Jamie Foxx even went through that transformation with the character. That was good acting. Maybe other people wouldn’t realize that he was doing that, but if you know Ray Charles well enough, you should be able to pick up on that. I thought everyone else was pretty good in here, but this picture really is all Jamie Foxx. And I think he definitelly deserved that Oscar.

I always forget how he went blind. How terrible that was for him. How terrible it was for his mother that she not only had her one son who lost his sight, but also what she had to experience with the other son.

It does infuriate me when people have to be mean. Just because he is blind doesn’t mean he has to be treated the way some of those people treated him. I just really, really, really HATE that kind of behavior.

Anyway, very good film. Because I decided to not nominate it, and then I didn't, I was happy to see that someone else had.

5

[SilentVamp]

I thought about putting on subtitles, but do I really need to read F*** 169 times, I don't think so.
Did you read that info somewhere or did you actually sit and count it out? :D I know there was talk about how often it was used in the film, but after awhile I just become immune to it. :p I will link your review later. I probably won't be back on until later and I won't be around tomorrow. So, I will link yours and mine that day.

[Citizen Rules]

Did you read that info somewhere or did you actually sit and count it out? :D I know there was talk about how often it was used in the film, but after awhile I just become immune to it. :p I will link your review later. I probably won't be back on until later and I won't be around tomorrow. So, I will link yours and mine that day.Ha, no:p I didn't count all the F words. I wouldn't have commented on it...but...I went to IMDB to read about who the real Commitments were and that F number fact was on top of the trivia page.

[edarsenal]

excellent reviews, SV!! Don't have the time to comment, but will, monday, since sunday is Easter with family
TAKE SWEET CARE til then!!

[Citizen Rules]

The Idolmaker
You have the first singer, Tommy Dee. More my sort of singer/performer from that era, but what a jerk! I just didn’t like him at all. Now, from what I have read, he was supposed to be based on Frankie Avalon. I guess it is OK if Frankie was like that, but there is a tiny bit of disappointment because I always liked him, and he never came across as a “bad” guy.I can see the real Frankie being a pita like he was in The Idolmaker, he just seems that way in his movies to, like a primadonna.



Then there is the second singer, Caesare. From what I understand with that is that it is based on Fabian. OK. So Fabian is a “good” boy (to a certain extent). Alright. That is fine. But, in all honesty, I have never really cared for him. But if there is any truth to this film, I guess that is OK on my part. :)Laverne & Shirley were totally into Fabian:p He even gust appeared on their show and sang Turn Me Loose. I've seen him in at least one movie, and to me, he seemed way cooler and much more down to earth than Frankie Avalon.

Then I read that the original script actually had the two singers come across as better people in the film compared to the manager – the opposite of what this film was. So, I am a little confused and I don’t know what it true, but the film worked out alright.I didn't take much stock in the films accuracy as they changed all the names, a sure sign that they dramatically altered the facts and don't want to be sued. But I guess that plan didn't work:p

[SilentVamp]

Laverne & Shirley were totally into Fabian:p He even gust appeared on their show and sang Turn Me Loose. I've seen him in at least one movie, and to me, he seemed way cooler and much more down to earth than Frankie Avalon.
Yeah, well, I don't care how much Laverne and Shirley loved him because Frankie was still cuter! :D

Although, I can't deny that I do own Fabian's music, though. :D

I actually own the original 45 of this song. :p I used to love this song. :) Well, actually, I still do. :D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HJkttYpfno


There is nothing wrong with the 1950's. :nope: :D Great time for music. :yup:

[Citizen Rules]

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

School of Rock (2003)

That's a 3 minute video of Jack Black begging Led Zeppelin to use their Immigrant Song in the movie. It was an extra on the DVD of School of Rock. So watch it already:) I'll wait for you, then when you're done, come on back and read the rest of my lil' review.


***************************:pIntermission:p***************************




Jack Black is the man! I mean that in a good way, not like stick it to the man, ha...but like THEY MAN. The guy is funny, and to be really funny you have to be really talented. He's got the same natural talent as Jim Carrey.

About the only thing I've seen him in that was serious was Dead Man Walking (1995) and King Kong (2005). In King Kong I thought he knocked it out of the ball park and made the movie. I wish Jack could get some more serious roles too, because like Jim Carrey I think he can pull off drama well.


I really, liked School of Rock, what a fun movie! The fact that it was PG and relied on actual humor and not crudeness, proves that humor can be done without shock value.

Jack as a goofy, going-nowhere rocker dude posing as a substitute teacher was great fun...and it worked! The whole idea of breaking the rules and doing what's really important in life resonated with me (why couldn't my teachers have been so cool?)

Loved Joan Cusack as the wound-up, up-tight principal. I'm sooooo glad they didn't do the cliche thing and have her be a super nemesis to Jack Black. Same thing with the little girl Summer. I though for sure she was going to be the ultimate heavy and snitching on Jack Black, but the film didn't go there...it didn't go all atypical with pot boiler characters. I liked everything about this film, it made me happy.

[SilentVamp]

I wish Jack could get some more serious roles too, because like Jim Carrey I think he can pull off drama well.
I said that, too, in my review that I think he is a good dramatic actor. I would really like to see him in more films with less comedy to see how good his performances could be.


I really, liked School of Rock, what a fun movie!
I was hoping you would like it. I thought maybe you would. I still don't know why I hated it so much when I first saw it. It almost felt like the film was just a waste of my time. That was how much I hated it. :p But when I watched it this time around, I loved it.

[edarsenal]

Black did a very good, serious role in Bernie. I was very pleasantly surprised by that one.

[SilentVamp]

I thought Jack Black was in a dramatic film, but I couldn't think of the name of it. I have never seen it, of course, but isn't Bernie based on a true story?

[edarsenal]

actually saw it and was pleasantly surprised by it. It is based on a true story, and if I remember correctly, they do little tv interviews with people during the movie and supposedly they are not actors, but people FROM the area. Which I thought was kinda cool.

The character Jack plays isn't someone out of his realm and there were quite a number of spots where I saw Jack Black while at the same time he DID do a very good job in the movie and it IS worthwhile.

[SilentVamp]

Alright then. I will put that one on my to-watch list now. :) I will let you know what I think of it as soon as I get a chance to watch it.

[edarsenal]

VERY cool! I actually researched the actual incident but they really do a great job if you go in blind and discover it all, which you may enjoy more.

[Citizen Rules]

We've seen Jack Black in an Hof before, anyone what to take a guess as to which one and what movie?

[edarsenal]

finally got a chance to compliment/comment on your reviews Silent Vamp;

Idolmaker didn't know too much about this one either except that it was about the man BEHIND the music, so, very cool to learn who the two singers were representing and enjoyed the lil tidbits about them and the script. Very nice.

Sweet Dreams It can be hard to get invested in a movie when you have little interest in the subject of said movie. I knew little except from my room mate who loves her and she didn't know too much of her personal history except that she was a "tough ole girl" so, for me, it was intriguing to see. Especially with two people I'm a fan of: Lange and Harris.

The Wall You. Are dead to me.

LOL just kidding. ;) No worries and looking forward to your reivew of Amadeus. :)

Eddie and the Cruisers I also haven't seen this though I won't be letting the hype influence me since you weren't the first person to remark on such. I actually tried watching this online and the link wasn't all that great and got about 20 min. I am curious to see this but, again, won't let the hype sway me on it.

Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny I AM very glad to hear you enjoyed this. YAY

School of Rock Out of curiosity, did you see this before or after Tenacious D? I'm a bit intrigued to see how this fares for me. Been ages since I last saw it.

Jazz Singer Haven't seen this since the eighties and remember loving the songs. It was watching this that I first heard "Love on the Rocks" and it became a favorite from him. I do remember a few slow spots as well. Still, should be a fun watch all the same.

Coal Miner’s Daughter Sorry to hear it was just OK for you. I had forgotten that Crystal Gale was Loretta Lynn's lil sister! I remember her singing "Don't it Make My Brown Eyes Blue" with hair that went on and on like a wedding train! lol

The Buddy Holly Story really enjoyed seeing the schedule you posted and I know what you mean about that having a feeling you shouldn't do something and what happens when you do. . . :tsk::(

The Commitments Count me as one who enjoyed this. The music hit this Detroit/Motown boy where he lives YAY

Ray Glad to hear you enjoyed this. Haven't seen it and have a copy from my library and trying to find the time to watch it.

BRAVO, SV on ALL OF THEM!!

[edarsenal]

We've seen Jack Black in an Hof before, anyone what to take a guess as to which one and what movie?

I'm actually going to try to do this WITHOUT cheating . . . was there an HoF with monsters? IF so, I'd go with King Kong

[Citizen Rules]

I'm actually going to try to do this WITHOUT cheating . . . was there an HoF with monsters? IF so, I'd go with King KongNope you're wrong:p It was a main Hof and the movie was a serious drama. Jack Black had a smaller role.

[SilentVamp]

Nope you're wrong:p It was a main Hof and the movie was a serious drama. Jack Black had a smaller role.
I think it was Dead Man Walking, right?


edarsenal, I will comment on your comments tomorrow.:) Well, it is midnight right now. So I suppose I should really say that I will get to them later today. ;) By the way, what did you want to say about The Commitments? I know you wanted to bring something up about the characters - or I think some of the situations that they were in - but you wanted to wait until others have seen it.

[Citizen Rules]

Yup it was Dead Man Walking.

[Dannii]

I can't keep up with this forum😢. I'm new here so could do with some assistance!

[Citizen Rules]

Following Ed's suit, a few comments on Vamp's reviews, at least on the ones I've seen.


Eddie and the Cruisers

Anyway, I can’t say I really liked this movie because I didn’t. I don’t know if it was all they hype surrounding it for all these years, or if it was just that I didn’t think it was too good of a movie... It reminded me of an old ABC After School Special movie.

Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny
I got a kick out of Meatloaf as his father...Am I the only person in this Hof who didn't know the father was Meatloaf? It never even dawned on me until I read you guys comments.


Coal Miner’s Daughter
I know what I know of Loretta Lynn. And what I know varies from some of her music to her supposed haunted house that she lives in to the fact that Crystal Gayle is her sister. I had known, but then forgot that Crystal Gayle was her sister. It wasn't tell I read it here that I remembered. I wonder how long Crystal's hair is by now?

The Buddy Holly Story
He was OK doing his own singing. I appreciate it. But he could NEVER come close to the voice that Buddy had. :nope: It just would never happen. :)
Totally agree with that. I'm glad Gary Busey didn't lip sync Buddy's music, in some ways that would have seemed disrespectful.

[SilentVamp]

Sweet Dreams It can be hard to get invested in a movie when you have little interest in the subject of said movie. I knew little except from my room mate who loves her and she didn't know too much of her personal history except that she was a "tough ole girl" so, for me, it was intriguing to see. Especially with two people I'm a fan of: Lange and Harris.
Did your roommate watch this with you then? How did she like it? I think Jessica Lange is pretty good, but I really love Ed Harris. I think he is one of those actors that doesn't get enough credit for his performances.

The Wall You. Are dead to me.
:bawling:
looking forward to your reivew of Amadeus. :)
You'll like that one when I finally get around to writing it. :D

Eddie and the Cruisers I also haven't seen this though I won't be letting the hype influence me since you weren't the first person to remark on such.
The problem is that I try to ignore hype, but I have heard about this film for so many years now that I figured there had to be something to make it have such a lasting impression on people. Too bad it didn't do anything for me.

School of Rock Out of curiosity, did you see this before or after Tenacious D? I'm a bit intrigued to see how this fares for me. Been ages since I last saw it.
Technically speaking, I saw this before Tenacious D. I saw it years ago. I just disliked it so very, very much. When I watched it for this HoF, I saw it AFTER Tenacious D. I ended loving it. Like I said, who knows where my mind was all those years ago for me to dislike it so much back then? :)

The Commitments Count me as one who enjoyed this. The music hit this Detroit/Motown boy where he lives YAY
In case you do happen to miss what I posted last night to you :), I will post it again:
what did you want to say about The Commitments? I know you wanted to bring something up about the characters - or I think some of the situations that they were in - but you wanted to wait until others have seen it.


Am I the only person in this Hof who didn't know the father was Meatloaf?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvvjiE4AdUI
:D

I had known, but then forgot that Crystal Gayle was her sister. It wasn't tell I read it here that I remembered. I wonder how long Crystal's hair is by now?
When I was a kid, I was just in love with her hair. :) I, too, had long, brown hair (still do, actually :)), but I always wanted it to be as long as hers. My mom never let me do it. :( I have actually been letting it grow just to see when it finally stops growing. :) My hair isn't too straight, but when I pull it straight, it goes to my waist (otherwise it looks like it only goes to mid-back). So I still have quite awhile to go before I can get to the Crystal Gayle length. :yup:

[edarsenal]

yes, CR, you ARE the only one who didn't recognize Meatloaf. :)

hey, SV, didn't watch Sweet Dreams with my room mate, didn't have a chance to. Perhaps at another time. She's a fan of Lange and Harris as well.

When I wrote the review for the Commitments I wanted to let others see it before talking opening about the way everyone were constantly fighting back stage and then coming together so well on stage. I just got a kick out of that aspect and didn't want to ruin anything for those going in blind.

[gbgoodies]

I can't keep up with this forum😢. I'm new here so could do with some assistance!


dannii, The thread that you stumbled into is a "Hall of Fame" thread.

There are several HoFs that are going on right now, but the HoF threads are different from "normal" discussion threads because people join them by nominating a movie, and agreeing to watch all of the movies that are nominated by everyone who joins that HoF. Everyone who joins the HoF has to watch all of the movies that are nominated, and write their thoughts about the movies in the thread.

After they're done watching all the nominated movies, they send a private message with a ranked list of all the movies, (ranked from 1-? of their favorite movie to their least favorite movie), to the host, (the person who started the thread). After everyone has sent in their lists, the host calculates the lists to determine which movie came in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc., and the top movie is declared the winner.

This HoF already started, so it's too late to join, but you're always welcome to watch the movies and join in the discussions.

[gbgoodies]

Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny:

Sadly, (but probably not surprisingly), I don't have much good to say about this movie. I liked the concept about finding the "pick of destiny", and going up against the devil through music, (kind of like the song "The Devil Went Down To Georgia"), but I didn't like much else about the movie.

The movie is not my type of humor, and the songs are definitely not my kind of music. This could be one of the dumbest movies that I've ever seen. It glorifies the use of drugs, and it's just not funny.

But on the lighter side, the Sasquatch scene reminded me a little bit of the old Saturday morning Kroft Superstars TV shows.

Sorry. :shrug:

[gbgoodies]

School of Rock

After watching the other Jack Black movie, I wasn't looking forward to this movie, but I was very pleasantly surprised at how much I liked this movie. I didn't care much for the music, but the movie was pretty good.

At the beginning of the movie, I expected it to be just another dumb movie, but by the time he started as the teacher, I started to like the movie. I liked the way Jack Black interacted with the kids. He seemed to care about them almost as much as he cared about the music, and by the end of the movie, he seemed to care about them more than the music.

Jack Black and Joan Cusack were both very good in this movie, and even the kids were all likable, which was a nice surprise. There's usually at least 1 or 2 kids that I can't stand watching, but that didn't happen here.

Surprisingly, this was a very good nom. :up:

[Dannii]

Ahhhhh thank you for the lowdown! I'm stumbling into all kinds of mischief as it's my very first time that i've joined a forum. I'm having fun though getting to read about films and tv programmes.i started a game of hangman 2 nites ago and didn't get to finish it as was at work, received a private message telling me off! 😆

[SilentVamp]

When I wrote the review for the Commitments I wanted to let others see it before talking opening about the way everyone were constantly fighting back stage and then coming together so well on stage. I just got a kick out of that aspect and didn't want to ruin anything for those going in blind.
That is because the show must go on. :D
I think it is interesting, though, how FAST they broke up. I forgot it happened THAT fast. I figured then that this had to be something that they had all been tired of for awhile now, but they just kept going along with it for some reason.

Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny:

Sadly, (but probably not surprisingly), I don't have much good to say about this movie
Citizen Rules and I were right about how you were going to feel about this one then. :) I have to ask you this, though. Which one was better? Tenacious D or Get Him to the Greek? :D

School of Rock

There's usually at least 1 or 2 kids that I can't stand watching, but that didn't happen here.
I am not overly fond of all the kids in a movie either. There is usually a couple for me to dislike, too, but these were all pretty good. I know the one girl really reminded me of Emma from Bates Motel. It wasn't her, but I really thought she resembled her at times. She played bass, I think.

[Nestorio_Miklos]

Hi guys! I really like this HOF and I've seen so many movies that would fit to this kind of HOF. Please make sure you count me in once there will be number II. Thank you!

[SilentVamp]

Hi guys! I really like this HOF and I've seen so many movies that would fit to this kind of HOF. Please make sure you count me in once there will be number II. Thank you!
I will most definitely remember you! Glad to hear that you're interested! :)

[Gideon58]

but I really love Ed Harris. I think he is one of those actors that doesn't get enough credit for his performances.




Totally agree...planning a list of my favorite Ed Harris performances.

[gbgoodies]

Citizen Rules and I were right about how you were going to feel about this one then. :) I have to ask you this, though. Which one was better? Tenacious D or Get Him to the Greek? :D


Tenacious D was the better of the two movies, but I have no desire to ever watch either of those two movies again.

[edarsenal]

That is because the show must go on. :D
I think it is interesting, though, how FAST they broke up. I forgot it happened THAT fast. I figured then that this had to be something that they had all been tired of for awhile now, but they just kept going along with it for some reason.

I've spent a lot of times with musicians and can be THAT fast. Sometimes in the very middle of a song. But, yeah, that was a little bit of a surprise for me too. Considering all their brawling beforehand.

[edarsenal]

just finished Ray. Will be posting tomorrow on how much I enjoyed it

[Clazor]

Eddie and the Cruisers
http://cineplex.media.baselineresearch.com/images/307558/307558_full.jpg


The opening scene reminded me of Citizen Kane, the way the film reel gave way to a couple of news men discussing a story. And as with the story of Kane, the reporter gets the order to follow the story she propossed, in this case to interview the members of a band who's singer died 20 years previously...or did he?

I liked this one. It's allways fun seeing Joey Pants work, regardless of what he does. Same with Tom Berenger, here as young as I've ever seen him. He plays both parts of his character very well, the seemingly content yet restless teacher that goes to face his past as well as the unsure young man who meets and later becomes part of the band. The guy playing Eddie was great, if sometimes a bit overly moody and philosofical. He reminded me of Patrick Swayze's character from Point Break, spouting lines of "true art" and "real music". At the same time, you got the feeling that he was a talented musician. The way he took what Frank had come up with for The Dark Side and turned it into a Rock ballad more or less on the spot wa impressive, especially as it was the first time he'd heard it. The music overall was really nice in this, right up my alley. The scene with Eddie and Joann at the Palace of Depression was a heartfelt one, Eddie complaining about how everything is meaningless, only to then drive off and leave her there. That was something of a dick move, though. He was her ride and he just dumped her in the middle of nowhere.

As to the question stated in the beginning, wether or not Eddie is alive comes out to be almost a moot point in the end, as the movie isn't really centered on that as much as the impact of Eddie's dissapearance had on the rest of the band members. Frank never pursued his writing dream, as he'd been convinced by Eddie that writing and music is linked, so when Eddie died, there went the music. I don't really remember what happened with Joann, but both Doc and Sal seemed to be stuck in the same place as they were when Eddie was alive: Sal kept playing their songs, and Doc's hunt for the one big thing that would make him rich and famous just kept going, ending with the final scenes of the movie.

Overall, I enjoyed this. The music was great, and while the story was intreguine, it did drag for a bit at times. Despite that, I'm glad to have seen it and it was a good nom. Way to go, Des! :up:

[Gideon58]

Eddie and the Cruisers
http://cineplex.media.baselineresearch.com/images/307558/307558_full.jpg




Wow, you liked this one a lot more than I did...you're certainly entitled to your opinion.

[Gideon58]

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51XCZQ23ENL.jpg

Just finished re-watching Coal Miner's Daughter, a film that it's been a least a decade since my last view. This musical biopic about country music superstar Loretta Lynn is one of the few biopics ever made that was public endorsed by the film's subject. Lynn loved the movie and loved Sissy Spacek's performance and therein is the magic of this movie. Sissy Spacek's enchanting performance is the heart and blood pumping force behind this movie. I have talked frequently on this site about the fact that I wanted Mary Tyler Moore to win the Oscar that year for Ordinary People, but I completely understand and respect Spacek's win here. This was one of those performances, like Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl, where the actress appears in virtually every frame of the film and not for one second makes you regret it.
http://www.tampabay.com/resources/images/blogs-photo/rendered/2015/03/coal-miner-daughter_8col.jpg
With the aid of Michael Apted's solid direction, a screenplay that captures Loretta's humble sensibilities and her very special relationship with her father, and with the fabulous Tommy Lee Jones to play off of as Dolittle Lynn, Spacek is just magical here and makes you forgive the slow spots in the film and there are a few but Spacek makes the relatively few bumps in this cinematic journey bareable. Where biopics are concerned, this is one of the best. Don't even remember what I rated it in my review thread, but I'm re-rating it here. 4

[edarsenal]

http://ww3.hdnux.com/photos/10/17/14/2159374/5/920x920.jpg

Ray


To see what this man hears. . . wow

Even though I am a very big fan of Ray Charles and his music, I knew practically zero of his personal history and this film was a superb way of discovering a little bit about the man and where his music came from.

It was an impressive production that balanced itself between the music, those who were in his life and their impact on him, to delving within the man himself and the one true guiding light; his mother. I really found those parts of the film involving his childhood very touching and quite beautiful in their sadness.

And I think, that is the defining character of this film. The balance. All of which, in my eyes, were treated with an honesty that neither judged, glorified, or let you forget, in the end, this was about the man himself. Which isn't easy to do when talking about an icon. And they were able to approach it with, not only respect, but with an almost unbiased reflection. Which is quite commendable.

Along with this balance, was my enjoyment. I was both incredibly informed of this marvelous man and very entertained by the movie itself.

It is a given that Foxx WAS Charles. It was AMAZING.
Also, so was the rest of the cast in their roles. Another that shined was the actress playing his mother; Sharon Warren. She brought such inner strength and frailty into her role it was truly astounding. The scenes where she teaches Ray to stand on his own after going blind and watching, with pride, as he begins to listen to his surroundings was wonderfully emotional. Never mind the funeral! GOOD GOD! SUCH anguish!

Along with her are countless others that immersed you into Ray Charles' life story, and quite the life story it was.

Thank you, so much Gideon, I had been actually avoiding this movie because of all the hype and I am so glad that serendipity came into play for me to view this. Frickin YAY

[SilentVamp]

I've spent a lot of times with musicians and can be THAT fast. Sometimes in the very middle of a song. But, yeah, that was a little bit of a surprise for me too. Considering all their brawling beforehand.
You know, I bet this desire to leave was just brewing inside each of them. You could tell by that last show that all of them - at least the men - seemed to let their egos take over (just the refusal of wearing the suits told me how their attitudes had changed). And I think the breaking point was more the fact that the lead singer (I can never remember any names from this movie other than Jimmy and Imelda Quirk :D) was going off for his solo career.

I had been actually avoiding this movie because of all the hype and I am so glad that serendipity came into play for me to view this. Frickin YAY
I know I said that with Eddie and the Cruisers the hype made me think I was going to see something epic, but I, too, tend to avoid movies that have a lot of hype. Most of the time, I finally give into them like 10 years later when the hype has died down (that is why I really thought EATC was going to be really good because the hype lasted so much longer). And I have ended up pleasantly surprised more than once. I'm happy to hear that this was the case for you with Ray because I think it is a very good film.

[Gideon58]

http://ww3.hdnux.com/photos/10/17/14/2159374/5/920x920.jpg

Ray




Glad you enjoyed the film and was so pleased that you mentioned Sharon Warren as Ray's mother...I thought she was fantastic.

[SilentVamp]

Walk the Line

Alright. This is my second time writing this one out. Hopefully I won’t lose this review this time around.

This is the second nomination of mine (but it was actually the first one that I nominated :)).

The first thing that I want to say is one of the things that I really like about the film is that I feel like it is more just a story rather than a biography. One could almost think it was fictional storytelling rather than a telling of someone’s life story. I have to give big credit to the filmmakers for creating a film that gave me that impression because I think that is what helped me to like this film more than I ever expected to.

I may be wrong, but I believe Johnny Cash gave his blessing to have Joaquin Phoenix portray him in this film. So if anyone thinks it wasn’t good casting, then blame Johnny for that one. :)

As for me, I thought he was an excellent choice for the part. I think Joaquin was perfect in this film. I am an incredibly huge fan of his, anyway. So my opinion on the choice and his performance may be a tad bit biased, but I will still express my opinion no matter what. I think he is one of the most underrated actors around. He is one that reminds me of the old-timers. He has a natural quality about his acting. There are few around today, as far as I am concerned, that are able to take a role and make it seem real, as if the actor IS the person that they are portraying (and I am including fictional characters, too). But I think Joaquin does that 100% here. I always thought he was robbed of his Oscar, but what can be done about it now?

As for Reese Witherspoon. I don’t think she fit the role of June Carter as well as he fit the role of Johnny Cash. I really don’t like her in here at all. I still don’t get how she won for Best Actress. I really feel that this was one of those cases where the one actor (Joaquin) made the other actor (Reese) look better than they actually were, but it is the actor that only looked better that was acknowledged for the performance over the one that was actually better.

I liked that they were both able to do their own singing. Her voice was good, but June Carter is better. :) But I think Joaquin did a pretty good job. There were times where I thought he sounded enough like Johnny Cash that I think if someone was the casual listener, and didn’t realize what they were listening to, I think that person could easily think that it was Cash who was actually singing.

If there is one thing that this movie confirms in my mind it is the fact that classic country is so far superior to the modern stuff. :)

Also, I wasn’t too thrilled with the choice of the actor who played Elvis. I always have a hard time with the actors they cast as Elvis.

Speaking of Elvis, and this film, it just makes me even madder at myself that I didn’t go to Sun Records Studio when I was in Memphis. Memphis was actually, literally, a last minute plan. I knew I had the time and I decided to drive there before I went home. I wanted to see Graceland (one of my absolute favorite places that I have ever seen). When I was there I should’ve gone to Sun Studio. I didn’t, though. And I have always regretted it a bit. Who knows? Maybe I will swing by that city again someday. :) Maybe.

Anyway, I think this is an enjoyable film. My only complaint is that I wish we would’ve seen more of the man that everyone loved over the man who was, essentially, an alcoholic. I would’ve liked to have seen more of the guy that was the real Johnny Cash.

4.5

[SilentVamp]

La Bamba

I am just going to say it right off the bat. I love this movie. I always have. It is a horribly depressing film. It is the kind of movie that puts me in a tiny bit of a funk, but I still love it. I know I mentioned somewhere in this thread that this is the sort of movie that I will watch every time it is on TV. I am happy to see it in this HoF because it just gave me another excuse to watch it. :D

What I like about this film is that it really does give you the truth about Ritchie’s family life, and it allows you to see more about this kid who was never given the chance to really have a great career (and from what I have heard, he was really popular – more than we might realize).

I can’t say that I 100% agree with the choice of Lou Diamond Phillips as Ritchie Valens. I am speaking LOOKS wise. Otherwise, I think he was very, very good in this film. Just another one of those actors on my list that does deserve a lot more credit for his performances. He really should be working much more in bigger productions than he is. Anyway, all of the cast is very good in this film, though. But my favorite is Esai Morales as his brother, Bob. But that might just be because I have had a crush on Esai since I was a kid. :p I swear I spend my entire time watching that man in a movie and I will think “Nobody is good enough to deserve you”. :D

Anyway, I love the relationship that the brothers have with each other. I never cared for the way that the mother treated Bob. It is quite obvious that Ritchie was the one who mattered. I understand he was the good boy, but the mother’s attitude towards Bob didn’t help his behavior any. Still, despite that, I do like that the brothers had the relationship that they had. And I like it that they finally had their fight, too. It needed to happen. Just like that phone call that Ritchie made when Bob answered had to happen. They needed to have that one last talk.

This is just a sad movie. A good one but a sad one.

My one complaint that I have always had about it is the line in the plane that they have Buddy Holly speak. It is just silly to have that in there. I would’ve been perfectly fine with them getting in the plane, taking off and ending it with that. They didn’t need that extra line just because we don’t know what was said between them, if anything at all.

I know people are probably tired of me talking about it now, but since I have been to the crash site, when I see the plane take off in the film, I have a different opinion watching that now. Before I was always able to watch it and think it was sad. Now I watch it and think about how horrible it really is. The crash site is only like 5 miles from the town of Clear Lake. To walk, it wouldn’t be the fastest. But when you drive to it, it takes about 10 minutes, if that, and you realize how fast that plane crashed. They were hardly gone. And it almost seems worse than if they’d been in the air for even an hour. The length of time – and the distance that they were from town – was practically like it was nothing. It really is a tragic story.

Anyway, very good film, CR!! I am glad to see that you had the forethought to make this your second nomination as a companion to The Buddy Holly Story. :D

5

Yes, I do like this movie that much. :)

[edarsenal]

really great reviews, SilentVamp. Definitely agree about Phoenix BECOMING a role. A lot of folks just stay in that niche or get jobs for the same persona again and again, but Phoenix really does immerse himself. Ya gotta respect that.

Also agree with wanting to see the Johnny Cash as he was, not JUST the trouble he had with alcohol/drugs.

Been WAY TOO LONG since I've seen La Bamba so I can't comment directly, except a few tidbits about him being a really big thing at the time of his death. Him, Holly and the Big Bopper were on the top of their game. A very sad story.

[edarsenal]

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iH4NQ2XHd6w/T10-lQ8rHJI/AAAAAAAAaGI/0rpb4M566Jk/s1600/TheWall_117Pyxurz.jpg


Pink Floyd's The Wall


Daddy! What you leave behind for me?.....

First off, allow me to give both a gracious thank you and a sincere apology for those (so far) who suffered their way through this.
This is NOT an easy film for a LOT of people and, again, thank you for trudging your way through this.

Though it may not seem so on the surface, both of my noms, this and Amadeus play on a similar theme. The parasitic attributes of creativity and what they exact from those it is gifted to. It is a terrible, terrible price and The Wall really explores it with graphic minutia. From the claustrophobic opening scene that includes the horrific pounding at the doors signifying Pinks' inner fears bursting out to the extraordinary animation the delve into those fears with such vivid intensity.
https://robsmovievault.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/772902bfbe2d60e.jpg
We are trapped within the psychological chaos of Pink's brain from infancy to his adult life as a drugged out musician. Where, in his deranged mind, all his fears are put on trial and exposed for all to see.

When I first saw this as a teenager, I was already a fan of the album itself and it was countless times at the theater, midnight show and eventually on a copy of a VHF I relived this crazy movie full of hallucinogenic atrocities.
http://31.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lf8ukbtfg41qzb7rzo1_500.gif
you traverse in this movie and it never eases up until the closing credits as the children pick up the broken pieces of Pink's wall.
In my partying youth I was enthralled by this movie and watching it last year I was still caught up in the music, the imagery and the story of poor Pink.

Again, this is not an easy watch, thank you to those who have endured it and to those of you who will be.

[gbgoodies]

Eddie and the Cruisers
http://cineplex.media.baselineresearch.com/images/307558/307558_full.jpg


The opening scene reminded me of Citizen Kane, the way the film reel gave way to a couple of news men discussing a story. And as with the story of Kane, the reporter gets the order to follow the story she propossed, in this case to interview the members of a band who's singer died 20 years previously...or did he?

I liked this one. It's allways fun seeing Joey Pants work, regardless of what he does. Same with Tom Berenger, here as young as I've ever seen him. He plays both parts of his character very well, the seemingly content yet restless teacher that goes to face his past as well as the unsure young man who meets and later becomes part of the band. The guy playing Eddie was great, if sometimes a bit overly moody and philosofical. He reminded me of Patrick Swayze's character from Point Break, spouting lines of "true art" and "real music". At the same time, you got the feeling that he was a talented musician. The way he took what Frank had come up with for The Dark Side and turned it into a Rock ballad more or less on the spot wa impressive, especially as it was the first time he'd heard it. The music overall was really nice in this, right up my alley. The scene with Eddie and Joann at the Palace of Depression was a heartfelt one, Eddie complaining about how everything is meaningless, only to then drive off and leave her there. That was something of a dick move, though. He was her ride and he just dumped her in the middle of nowhere.

As to the question stated in the beginning, wether or not Eddie is alive comes out to be almost a moot point in the end, as the movie isn't really centered on that as much as the impact of Eddie's dissapearance had on the rest of the band members. Frank never pursued his writing dream, as he'd been convinced by Eddie that writing and music is linked, so when Eddie died, there went the music. I don't really remember what happened with Joann, but both Doc and Sal seemed to be stuck in the same place as they were when Eddie was alive: Sal kept playing their songs, and Doc's hunt for the one big thing that would make him rich and famous just kept going, ending with the final scenes of the movie.

Overall, I enjoyed this. The music was great, and while the story was intreguine, it did drag for a bit at times. Despite that, I'm glad to have seen it and it was a good nom. Way to go, Des! :up:


Great review Clazor. I'm glad to see someone else enjoyed Eddie and the Cruisers. :up:

[Gideon58]

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Just finished re-watching the 2004 biopic of Ray Charles titled Ray that won Jamie Foxx an Oscar for Outstanding Lead Actor and it is his performance that makes this elaborate and overlong film worth sitting through. Taylor Hackford, a director known for over indulgence, has provided a thoughtful if somewhat leisurely pacing that makes this journey a little rough but Foxx's incredible performance never allows you to take your eyes off the screen. The screenplay is a little simplistic and paints its subject in an overly pious light and I have to wonder how different this film would have been if the subject hadn't been around during production. Mention should also be made of a pair of terrific supporting performances from Emmy winner Regina King as Margie, a backup singer Ray has an affair with and Sharon Warren as Ray's mother. Have to admit that the film did not hold up as well as I thought it would, but Foxx still provides a pretty smooth ride. What's fantastic about the performance is that research reveals that some of the vocals are dubbed with original Charles recordings and Foxx does his own singing too and there are some scenes where I actually can't tell if Ray is singing or Jamie Foxx is.

[edarsenal]

What's fantastic about the performance is that research reveals that some of the vocals are dubbed with original Charles recordings and Foxx does his own singing too and there are some scenes where I actually can't tell if Ray is singing or Jamie Foxx is.
I'd be curious to do a blind taste sorta thing and see

[mark f]

I'd be interested to see someone compare and contrast Taylor Hackford's direction in The Idolmaker and Ray.

[Gideon58]

THE IDOLMAKER
Director Taylor Hackford put himself on the map with a sleeper from 1980 called The Idolmaker, a dazzling show business tale wrapped around a compelling character study that takes an up close look at the manufacturing of teen idols in the 1950's, which were more of a product than we realized that works primarily due to Hackford's service to a terrific story and the mesmerizing performance he pulled from his leading man.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/94/Idolmaker.jpg
This is a fictionalized look at the career of record promoter/producer Bob Marcucci who was responsible for the careers of Frankie Avalon and Fabian. Here, Marcucci becomes Vincent Vaccari, an ambitious Italian songwriter who, through reading teen idol magazines, has learned what it takes to be a star and has decided that a lot of it is based on a look, which he doesn't have, but he does see the look in a childhood friend and second rate sax player named Tommy D and grooms the reluctant wanna-be to a level of fame that goes to Tommy's head and just when he thinks he doesn't need Vincent's help anymore, Vincent tackles another project in the form of a 16 year old busboy named Guido, who has the look, but needs serious help with everything else involved in achieving teen idol status, but Guido, who Vincent renames Ceasare, begins to outgrow Vincent as well.

Hackford and screenwriter Edward Di Lorenzo have provided the classic cinematic look at show business stardom from another angle that really found its origins on the Broadway stage. Watch Vincent backstage during Tommy's first big show, duplicating every move Tommy is making onstage, it rings so true. Vincent Vacarri is a contemporary re-thinking of Rose Hovick, the stage mother from hell created on Broadway by Ethel Merman in Gypsy. Vincent has gotten it into his head that because he doesn't have the looks that stardom requires that he is going to live out his own show business aspirations vicariously through the grooming of Tommy and Ceasare and just like June and Louise in Gypsy, Tommy and Ceasare find Vincent's guidance turning into a strangle hold onto their lives from which they can't escape and find themselves torn between their gratitude to Vincent for what he has done for them and the desire to have their own lives back.
http://rarefilm.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/The-Idolmaker-1980-1.jpg
But it's not what's happening onstage with these two teen idols that makes this movie work, but watching Vincent's Svengali-like handling of these guys and how, even if they or the viewer don't want to admit it, it is clear that this guy knows exactly what he's doing, even if some of his methods aren't always kosher. I love the scene where after his initial approach of Guido which meets with reluctance from the young man, Vincent goes to the boy's grandmother with his plans for Guido and the entire conversation between the two is in Italian and even though the scene is done entirely in Italian, we know exactly what Vincent is telling Grandma and the melting of her initial icy exterior is obvious and a joy to watch.

In my reviews of other Taylor Hackford films, I have often spoke of his self-indulgence as a director and how sometimes his films are a little sluggish in his pacing of the story, but there is little of that here...everything Hackford does here serves the story, despite some cliched dialogue that sounds like discarded scripts from The Sopranos, there is very little wasted screentime here.
https://alchetron.com/cdn/The-Idolmaker-images-ff956291-4a36-4fd0-9c48-af931eb11fc.jpg
The late Ray Sharkey is simultaneously slick, explosive, and controlled in the title role, a performance that won him a Golden Globe and generated serious Oscar buzz and if the film had been released another year, might have garnered him a nomination. This was a gifted actor with mad onscreen charisma who was taken from us much too soon. I never really bought Peter Gallagher as a 16 year old, but he fully commits to the role of Guido/Ceasare giving a real movie star performance that lights up the screen, as does Paul Sand as Tommy D and an early turn from Joe Pantoliano as Vincent's BFF and music director. Tovah Feldshuh brings a substance to the role of the magazine editor who Vincent uses and abuses that really isn't in the screenplay and if you don't blink, you'll catch future Oscar winner Olympia Dukakis as Vincent's mom and Maureen McCormick from The Brady Bunch as a reporter who works for Feldshuh, but it is Hackford's direction and the sensational performance from Ray Sharkey that make this one sizzle through the closing credits.

[gbgoodies]

Gideon58

I'm glad you liked The Idolmaker so much. It's been a favorite movie of mine for many years, but nobody else seems to have even heard of it.

I agree that Ray Sharkey was great in the movie. I haven't read much about the movie, so I had no idea that he won a Golden Globe Award for his performance in it. He deserved it.

[Gideon58]

I'd be interested to see someone compare and contrast Taylor Hackford's direction in The Idolmaker and Ray.

Having just watched both films pretty much back-to-back, I much prefer his direction on The Idolmaker...his crafting of what happens onscreen in The Idolmaker serves the story and nothing more. I think Hackford probably had a lot more on his plate with Ray that blurred his focus on the story. I'm sure there were pressures on him during Ray that weren't on him with The Idolmaker, most notably the fact that the subject of Ray was still alive and spent time on the set. I think Hackford also had a lot of delicate actor egos to deal with Ray dealing with some A list stars, where he was dealing with a lot of virtual unknowns with The Idolmaker who probably kept ideas and opinions about the production to themselves. I've seen a lot of Hackford's work and even though it was his first film, I think The Idolmaker is his masterpiece.

[edarsenal]

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Walk The Line

This is a rewatch and this time around I found an even closer connection and fuller enjoyment of Johnny Cash and June Carter.
This is a great movie with the troubles and eventual better life that Cash had and would have with June.
There's already been discussions regarding Phoenix and Reese's performances so I'll skim over that and talk about some of the other parts of this film.
One of the things I enjoyed was seeing a line of other performers; Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis, Orbison, Carl Perkins and Jennings' son playing his dad Waylon. Really enjoyed that.
I also liked just how many times June told John no. Not sure why, it just seemed to express a real love as opposed to a fairy tale. Along with the final n placards (which I had forgotten) saying June had died in 2003 and John followed 4 months later. Something very very beautiful about that.

There is a solemn note to this film and, having finished it only moments ago, I am very much of the same and therefore the words seem to have little meaning and a bit flitting.
Which I think is a very good thing. I means that the impact of the film was very real.

Excellent movie and a d@mn excellent nomination, SilentVamp. Thank you.

[gbgoodies]

Having just watched both films pretty much back-to-back, I much prefer his direction on The Idolmaker...his crafting of what happens onscreen in The Idolmaker serves the story and nothing more. I think Hackford probably had a lot more on his plate with Ray that blurred his focus on the story. I'm sure there were pressures on him during Ray that weren't on him with The Idolmaker, most notably the fact that the subject of Ray was still alive and spent time on the set. I think Hackford also had a lot of delicate actor egos to deal with Ray dealing with some A list stars, where he was dealing with a lot of virtual unknowns with The Idolmaker who probably kept ideas and opinions about the production to themselves. I've seen a lot of Hackford's work and even though it was his first film, I think The Idolmaker is his masterpiece.


I haven't seen many of Taylor Hackford's movies, but my two favorites are The Idolmaker and White Nights (1985).

[Gideon58]

I haven't seen many of Taylor Hackford's movies, but my two favorites are The Idolmaker and White Nights (1985).

White Knights bored the hell out of me.

[Citizen Rules]

Walk The Line

...There is a solemn note to this film and, having finished it only moments ago, I am very much of the same and therefore the words seem to have little meaning and a bit flitting.
Which I think is a very good thing. I means that the impact of the film was very real...I like what you wrote, Ed. I felt the same way about the movie. Walk The Line showed me the troubled yet spiritual man, that was Johnny Cash. I could sense from the movie a real weight on his shoulders...and that brooding inner conflict is the center of the man in black and where his music comes from.

I have two more movies to watch Sweet Dreams and The Wall. I expect to like them both, but it's going to be hard to find another film in this Hof that will impact me more than Walk The Line. Glad to see there's another fan of that.

[SilentVamp]

Skipping the reviews for now, but I will read them :) and add them to the first post as soon as I get my computer back fro the shop. Just wanted to let you know so that you don't think I abandoned this HoF that I created. :D

[edarsenal]

I like what you wrote, Ed. I felt the same way about the movie. Walk The Line showed me the troubled yet spiritual man, that was Johnny Cash. I could sense from the movie a real weight on his shoulders...and that brooding inner conflict is the center of the man in black and where his music comes from.

I have two more movies to watch Sweet Dreams and The Wall. I expect to like them both, but it's going to be hard to find another film in this Hof that will impact me more than Walk The Line. Glad to see there's another fan of that.
Couldn't agree more.
Skipping the reviews for now, but I will read them :) and add them to the first post as soon as I get my computer back fro the shop. Just wanted to let you know so that you don't think I abandoned this HoF that I created. :D
and this answers my question from the live action thread. GOOD LUCK with your computer!!

[Citizen Rules]

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Sweet Dreams (1985)

I had high hopes for this bio pic about the legendary country singer Patsy Cline. Sadly any type of a moving story never materialized, thanks to a lack luster script. While the two leads, Jessica Lange and Ed Harris are up for the project, they are literally left high and dry by a script that doesn't know how to bring the characters to life and fails to take us along for the meteoric ride that was Patsy Cline's life.

Unlike the bio pic about Loretta Lynn - Coal Miner's Daugher, a movie that stirred the emotions while making us feel we were watching a special person's career unfold before our eyes....Sweet Dreams...on the other hand doesn't do that. Largely the scenes are filler material that don't move the story forward or build the character into a three dimensional person. The scenes never give us deep insight into Patsy Cline. What we get is a bunch of rehashed fightin', boozin', singin' scenes that begin to blur after awhile.

I never felt like I was part of Patsy Cline's life story, I never really cared about her or her music...and yet she obviously had a dramatic life story that needed to be told...Patsy Cline was one of the great country singers...but I would never know that from this movie.

[Gideon58]

AMADEUS - Director's Cut
The Oscar winning Best Picture of 1984, Amadeus is the sumptuous and expensive cinematic rendering of Peter Shaffer's Broadway smash that takes us to 18th century Vienna to provide insight into one of our greatest classical composers, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, with a slightly different cinematic path than most biopics. This film looks at Mozart through the people in his orbit and how they interpreted his extraordinary talent and its effect on Mozart the human being.
https://aelarsen.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/amadeus-affiche-1.jpg
Based on Shaffer's 1980 Broadway play that ran on Broadway for over 1100 performances, the story begins as we meet an aging composer named Antonio Salieri, who has been confined to an insane asylum, claiming that he is responsible for the death of Mozart, which prompts the visit of a priest who encourages Salieri to confess to anything that would free his conscience and it is through this offer of spiritual purging that the story unfolds.

We are introduced to Salieri, a man whose passion for music has been all-consuming and he has dedicated his entire life to. He has vowed chastity and given up everything else in life, including the love and respect of his father, in order to serve his passion for music, which in his mind, mirrors his passion for God. His passion is so sincere that the death of his father comes as a relief, allowing him to pursue his passion and he is able to work his way into the position of court composer for Austria's Emperor Joseph II. As dedicated as he is to his passion, he finds himself consistently outdone by a brash, vulgar, skirt-chasing, nut case named Mozart whose passion is outwardly not as all-consuming, but his music is superior to Salieri's which makes him crazy, despite the general consensus among the Emperor and most of Austria that Mozart's music has "too many notes".

This film is a feast for the eyes and ears, as we watch lavish recreations of Mozart's greatest work and the conflicted reactions it brings to Salieri, who is driven inwardly crazy about the effortless skill in Mozart's work and Mozart's disdain of Salieri's, yet Mozart cannot deny the beauty and artistry of this vulgar creature's work and it is that conflict, along with the attention and acclaim that Mozart's work brings him, something Salieri never achieved.
http://assets4.classicfm.com/2012/30/amadeus-film-still-1343135330-view-0.jpg
What makes this different from your standard biopic is that the subject is really looked at through Salieri's eyes. We don't ever really get inside Mozart and what drives him except for some daddy issues, which come to full fruition after his father's death and the opera it inspired, "Don Giovanni", and it is this work that triggers the gifted composer's eventual downfall. One thing the film makes clear about Mozart's process is that every note he wrote, he wrote in his head first and then committed to paper.

It is this conflict in Salieri's mind that really is the heart and soul of this cinematic spectacle. The fascination of watching Salieri struggle with his jealousy of Mozart's artistry yet being unable to deny its existence is what is at the core of this story and looking past all the pomp and elaborate visual trappings, this is what the story is about. Mozart's alleged kookiness as a human being is consistently offset by Salieri's elaborate verbal descriptions of his music while the music vividly fills the audio.

Milos Foreman won his second Best Director Oscar for his meticulous direction, which might include some pandering to Peter Shaffer's Oscar-winning adaptation of his own play, which might spend a little too much time recreating some of Mozart's work and could have spent a little more time looking at the man himself. However, there is no denying the artistry that went into this production.
http://www.frockflicks.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/amadeus02.jpg
In addition to the film, Foreman, and Shaffer, a virtually unknown actor named F. Murray Abraham won the Oscar for Outstanding Lead Actor for his deeply moving performance as the conflicted Salieri...I actually preferred his work as the elder Salieri at the end of his life and Tom Hulce brings a surprising goofiness to Mozart that we don't see coming in a film like this, but it makes the character so human and likable. And though we have to wait for it, it's these two actors' work together near the end of the film when they are working together to put Mozart's "Requiem" to paper, is worth the price of admission, just a joy to watch. Mention should also be made of a superb supporting performance from Jeffrey Jones as Emperor Joseph II. The film is a little long, but is never anything less than riveting. Bouquets all around.

[edarsenal]

always enjoy your in depth and technical reviews, Gideon58
VERY cool!!

[Ðèstîñy]

For a head's up . . . I've watched at least half of these films. I first want to read through the thread, and see where I feel like replying. A process I will get started on no longer than right after Mother's day, but possibly sooner. This next reply doesn't really count. ;) . . .

Just finished re-watching Coal Miner's Daughter, a film that it's been a least a decade since my last view. This musical biopic about country music superstar Loretta Lynn is one of the few biopics ever made that was public endorsed by the film's subject. Lynn loved the movie and loved Sissy Spacek's performance and therein is the magic of this movie. Sissy Spacek's enchanting performance is the heart and blood pumping force behind this movie. I have talked frequently on this site about the fact that I wanted Mary Tyler Moore to win the Oscar that year for Ordinary People, but I completely understand and respect Spacek's win here. This was one of those performances, like Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl, where the actress appears in virtually every frame of the film and not for one second makes you regret it.

With the aid of Michael Apted's solid direction, a screenplay that captures Loretta's humble sensibilities and her very special relationship with her father, and with the fabulous Tommy Lee Jones to play off of as Dolittle Lynn, Spacek is just magical here and makes you forgive the slow spots in the film and there are a few but Spacek makes the relatively few bumps in this cinematic journey bareable. Where biopics are concerned, this is one of the best. Don't even remember what I rated it in my review thread, but I'm re-rating it here. 4

Thanks for that review. I love this movie, and also agree with Sissy's acting abilities, as well as her amazing singing voice. She is simply amazing in this movie. Thanks again for the review, and I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)

[SilentVamp]

I have just linked the most recent reviews.

Please take a look at the list (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1655693#post1655693) and tell me if there are any of yours that are missing. I am pretty sure I have all of them.


Also, I am not sure if Once and Get Him To The Greek are still eligible. As of right now, if you have not seen them yet, please wait a little longer to do so. I am leaning towards them being disqualified, but I will give it a little more time before I make a definite decision about them.

[edarsenal]

I have just linked the most recent reviews.

Please take a look at the list (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1655693#post1655693) and tell me if there are any of yours that are missing. I am pretty sure I have all of them.


Also, I am not sure if Once and Get Him To The Greek are still eligible. As of right now, if you have not seen them yet, please wait a little longer to do so. I am leaning towards them being disqualified, but I will give it a little more time before I make a definite decision about them.
You've got all of mine linked, so we are good!!
Let me know about Get Him To The Greek, sorry to hear Once isn't gonna make it, but that is how it goes.

[edarsenal]

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School of Rock

An over zealous rocker gets kicked out of his band and pretends to be his room mate to get quick cash and finds a class room of musically gifted children.

Today's Lesson?

HOW TO ROCK OUT, MAN!!

And so begins the sojourn of Jack Black ideology of freedom through rock and roll, instilled upon structured kids, and like many similar scenarios; it is the children that teach Jack a thing or do.

For me, the real star is Joan Cusack. I always enjoy her. There is always some kind crazy turbulance beneath the calm waters and she gets to let the storms let loose; no matter how badly her character wishes not to. Loved it when she got drunk and sang along to Stevie Nicks.

[edarsenal]

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The Buddy Holly Story

Quite the endearing and very well made production.

It's easy to fill a movie with drama and the bad times and so much more fulfilling to see a more rounded story of Buddy, his two friends, their rise and a more in depth study of the musician instead of personal demons or character flaws. And with this movie we actually get that.

It's always a great joy to see the person behind the music AS WELL as what occurred as the music was created.
I loved the insane disc jockey in New York who continually played one song for some 14 hours and his boss and the police breaking down his door. That scene cracked me up.

I remember hearing how when he first started touring how a lot of folks thought he was black when they heard the music and after the initial shock of a white boy playing with such soul, it didn't matter, what so ever. And getting a peek into that bit was very cool.

This has also been a movie I had not seen since the late seventies on TV and so very happy to revisit and find a rejuvenated thrill at seeing it again.
Thank you so much, Citizen Rules for nominating this.


I'm gonna try to do a double bill in the next few days with your La Bamba since it's so wonderfully fitting.

[Citizen Rules]

The Buddy Holly Story
This has also been a movie I had not seen since the late seventies on TV and so very happy to revisit and find a rejuvenated thrill at seeing it again.
Thank you so much, @Citizen Rules (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=84637) for nominating this.


I'm gonna try to do a double bill in the next few days with your La Bamba since it's so wonderfully fitting. Glad you liked it:p I have a third movie that goes well with the other two. Well, I'll save it for the Musical Artist Movie Hall of Fame Part 2:)

I have one more movie Pink Floyd's The Wall, and then I'm done.

[SilentVamp]

Glad you liked it:p I have a third movie that goes well with the other two. Well, I'll save it for the Musical Artist Movie Hall of Fame Part 2:)
What?! Have you found a Big Bopper movie that nobody else knows about?! :D
Immediately I start to think about what this third movie could be.....
I honestly am coming up with nothing! I suppose I will just have to wait and see like everyone else. :)

[Gideon58]

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School of Rock



For me, the real star is Joan Cusack. I always enjoy her. There is always some kind crazy turbulance beneath the calm waters and she gets to let the storms let loose; no matter how badly her character wishes not to. Loved it when she got drunk and sang along to Stevie Nicks.

I agree that Joan Cusack is great in this movie and I always enjoy her as well, but this Jack Black's movie all the way.

[Gideon58]

I thought Jack Black was in a dramatic film, but I couldn't think of the name of it. I have never seen it, of course, but isn't Bernie based on a true story?

If you want to check out another unexpectedly restrained performance from Jack Black, you should see The Holiday.

[Citizen Rules]

Originally Posted by Citizen Rules (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=1702805#post1702805)
Glad you liked it:p I have a third movie that goes well with the other two. Well, I'll save it for the Musical Artist Movie Hall of Fame Part 2😊


What?! Have you found a Big Bopper movie that nobody else knows about?! :D
Immediately I start to think about what this third movie could be.....
I honestly am coming up with nothing! I suppose I will just have to wait and see like everyone else. :) I wish! and I did look for a Big Bopper film too. All I found was that 10 years ago they were suppose to make a movie about The Big Bopper.
http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Big-Bopper-to-get-his-first-movie-biography-2510929.php

But I doubt that will happen.

[Citizen Rules]

Pink Floyd - The Wall

This took me back...straight back to the early 1980s and the album release of Pink Floyd's opus, The Wall. It was odd how the movie immobilized me, I scarcely moved a muscle for the duration...But why? Was it the movie? Was it the images? No...it was the music. It was the songs that I've heard a hundred times before that made me remember what was...and what isn't, anymore.

The Wall, I know what this story is about, it's about all the hurt we feel from the day we first enter into this world, and it's about the injustices we suffer. Each one of those painful instances is a brick that we must carry. And when we have a cart load of bricks, we build a wall to layer ourselves away.

Most of us have our own personal walls, and I can see them too. I can see them in averted glances. I can see them in the defensiveness and deflections that people put up. I can even see walls through the blocks of text that appear on discussion boards where a pseudo world of connection without any real connection exist. We all have our walls.

Maybe that's why Pink Floyd's album The Wall has remained my favorite work of music. Hell it's not rock music, it's rock opera in the vein of Wanger the German composer...It's theatrical.

I remember the first time I heard the The Wall. I was in high school and I had a car, a cool one too, I had drove over to my friends house to pick him up for school. Just as we were about to leave, a neighborhood kid came over, who for all the world looked like a young Pete Townsend from The Who...He was like this rocker kid who was really into music. He pulls this cassette out of his pocket like it was a switch blade and says, 'man, you guys got to check this out.' ...We had like 20 minutes to get to school but the house was empty as the parents were gone. So we kicked back and said screw school and listened to The Wall twice through on the big stereo with the volume cranked on high. I don't know why but I can remember that morning like it was yesterday and yet it was decades ago.

So flash back to now, and I watched The Wall for the first time in like 35 years. I had went to the theater when the movie first came out and had seen it a couple more times in my youth during the 1980s. I always thought it was special.

So I watched it again after all these years. The music still resonated with me and I did enjoy watching it, but my youthful viewpoint had changed about the film. I set and watched all the credits role by on the screen at the end of the film, and I never usually do that...it was like years slipping through my hands.

[SilentVamp]

I see that Citizen Rules has watched and reviewed all the films.:up:

If we don't hear anything from Shopkeeper Triumph by the weekend (and I think we won't), then I think it will be safe to say that Get Him to the Greek and Once are no longer eligible, and they will then be disqualified. So, to anyone who has yet to watch those films, don't think you will have to anymore.

[edarsenal]

that was a VERY poignant and personal review Citizen Rules. And I must say, I am rather surprised. I truly did not think that The Wall was part of your youth. Very cool, my friend. VERY cool.

[Citizen Rules]

that was a VERY poignant and personal review @Citizen Rules (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=84637). And I must say, I am rather surprised. I truly did not think that The Wall was part of your youth. Very cool, my friend. VERY cool. Thanks Ed, that means a lot to me. One thing I wanted to say, but forgot...

I hadn't listened to my old cassette of The Wall in a couple of years. So when I seen you had nominated it, I put the old cassette into an old boom box, put on my old headphones and got on the treadmill. On the treadmill is about the only time I hear music any more. And I was really enjoying hearing that rush of old familiar songs too and was cranking it way too loud, but that's the fun...When the tape got to Comfortable Numb it started sounding garbled, then when I realized what was happening, it was too late. The old cassette tape had been sucked into the boom box. It was really quite ominous and I felt melancholy about the loss of the tape, more so than I should have.

[edarsenal]

I KNOW that experience ALL TOO WELL!! :(:(
the demise of a beloved cassette is a terrible, terrible thing!
Can't remember HOW MANY times I did that rewinding with a pen to get the tape back in or trying to unbend a chewed up section of tape.

[edarsenal]

Also, need a little assistance with links for:
La Bamba
Eddie and the Cruisers
Idolmaker
& The Jazz Singer
To finish up this HoF
So, please PM if anyone can help out and THANK YOU!!

[Citizen Rules]

Also, need a little assistance with links for:
La Bamba
Eddie and the Cruisers
Idolmaker
& The Jazz Singer
To finish up this HoF
So, please PM if anyone can help out and THANK YOU!! I think I got you covered, check your PMs.

[edarsenal]

thanks CR!!!

[Ðèstîñy]

If we don't hear anything from Shopkeeper Triumph by the weekend (and I think we won't), then I think it will be safe to say that Get Him to the Greek and Once are no longer eligible, and they will then be disqualified. So, to anyone who has yet to watch those films, don't think you will have to anymore.

Well, bummers on getting Once, but it's no biggie. I'll watch it at some point in my life. Thank God I didn't do the same for Get Him to the Greek. I've had zero interest in that film. Now watch . . . he'll reply. :p ;)

So anyways . . . for my first movie reply . . . .

It's about those who lip sync in the movies, in comparison to those who do their own singing. We all know that certain performances in these films were the actual actor singing on their own. Of course we all know that Neil Diamond is a singer first, and a wonderful singer at that. So, of course he did the singing in The Jazz Singer. However, I think certain actors and actresses like Sissy Spacek, Beverly D'Angelo, etc . . . have wonderful singing voices. I love Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, etc . . . but I get a kick out of it, when the actors and actresses do the actual singing. I'm not 100% sure if it's the right thing to do. I mean, a part of me thinks the actual singer should be respected, and their own music played. However, I also love when the movie stars can pull it off. With all this being said, I'm going to re-watch a certain group of these films, showing them to my family, to see what they think. I do know that they favor some of these actresses, as well as their singing voices. This should be very entertaining.

[gbgoodies]

The Commitments:

I watched this movie about two weeks ago, and I liked it, but when I sat down a few days later to write about it, I found that I didn't remember much about it other than the music. So I watched it again, and I realized why I couldn't remember it.

The music is very good, but the story is just okay. I like the way Jimmy forms the band, by finding out each person's musical influences before even giving them an audition. I like that he knew what he wanted, and he didn't stray from it. But after the band is formed, they're just a bunch of musically talented people who don't get along. They all have tempers and egos, and they cause their own problems. Maybe if they were a little bit more mature they might have had a successful band someday.

While the music in this movie isn't my favorite type of music, I liked listening to it. I thought the band did a nice job, and the leader singer had a great voice for that type of music. However I didn't like the girls in the band. I think the band would have been better without them.

I also learned something watching this movie. I always thought that Wilson Pickett was a band. I didn't know until I watched the movie that he was a specific person.

[gbgoodies]

Sweet Dreams:

Aside from a few minor facts that the movie got wrong, I liked this movie. Even though their relationship was turbulent, at times, you could still see how much Patsy Cline and Charlie Dick loved each other, even when Patsy tried to push ahead with her music career.

Having said that, I would have liked to see more about Patsy Cline and her music career, and less about her relationship with her husband. They seemed to focus a bit too much on Charlie at times, and not enough on Patsy herself.

I liked both Jessica Lange and Ed Harris in this movie, and I even liked Ann Wedgeworth, (who I hated on the TV show "Three's Company").

Obviously, I loved the music, especially because they used Patsy Cline's actual recordings, and Jessica Lange did a fantastic job of lip-synching to the songs.

[gbgoodies]

Ray:

While I know some of Ray Charles' music, I've never been a big fan of his, and I didn't know much about his life story before watching this movie. For the most part, I liked this movie, but I didn't like the flashbacks he had about water. These flashbacks in the movie started before they told us about his brother, so I had no idea what was happening and why, until later in the movie when they finally explained it.

Sadly, I lost a little respect for Ray Charles while watching this movie because he didn't come off as a very likable person, and at times, he even came across as a self-centered person. In the little bit that I knew about him in real life, he seemed like a much better person than he came across as in the movie.

Having said that, I think Jamie Foxx did a fantastic job as Ray Charles. He made me feel like I was watching the real Ray Charles, and his singing was terrific.

[gbgoodies]

If I counted correctly, I only have to do write-ups for 3 movies, (Eddie and the Cruisers, The Idolmaker, and The Jazz Singer), and two of them are my noms, and the third is a movie that I considered nominating, so I've already seen all three of these movies many times.

[edarsenal]

great lil write ups, gbgoodies!! VERY nicely done!

[SilentVamp]

If I counted correctly, I only have to do write-ups for 3 movies, (Eddie and the Cruisers, The Idolmaker, and The Jazz Singer), and two of them are my noms, and the third is a movie that I considered nominating, so I've already seen all three of these movies many times.
You still have time. It is still 5 weeks until the deadline. I need to get going with my Amadeus review. I don't know why it has taken me this long to write it, but it just has. :)


I want to go ahead and say that Get Him to the Greek and Once are definitely out. So, for anyone who hasn't watched it, I don't think it will be necessary for you to do so.

[edarsenal]

thanks for the updates, SilentVamp!

[Gideon58]

I should have checked in here because I just re-watched Get Him to the Greek and am a little relieved I don't have to post my thoughts. The only thing I have left to re-watch is La Bamba.

[edarsenal]

know what ya mean, wasn't looking forward to Get Him To the Greek. Really enjoyed Once though. Had wanted to see that one, previously.

[Camo]

Get Him To The Greek is a film for people that liked Aldo in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Not sure how they came to the conclusion that a spinoff would work considering Forgetting Sarah Marshall wasn't really a big hit.

I was really surprised when someone nominated it, i was surprised when Sean nominated Empire in the 10th assuming (or hoping that) everyone had seen Star Wars but this was something else since FSM isn't a big movie. It's not an actual sequel or prequel but it's a film all about a side character, a side character that maybe even fans of the movie didn't like that much.

[edarsenal]

yeah, I was a bit surprised as well when it came out. Well, considering how the marketing at Hollywood works, not THAT surprised, a bit sad. . .

[Citizen Rules]

Sent my list in. Thanks to everyone for choosing some neat films! I had a lot of fun watching these and liked so many of the noms, that it was hard choosing.:p

[gbgoodies]

Sadly, I already watched Get Him To The Greek, and I posted my thoughts about it already. :(

[SilentVamp]

Sadly, I already watched Get Him To The Greek, and I posted my thoughts about it already. :(
Well, I already watched it, too. I was just holding off on writing something about it. I thought it was OK. Much better than I expected it to be. Will I watch it again? Probably not. But I thought it was OK. Yet, considering the fact that I was maybe never going to watch it (unless it was on one day and there was absolutely nothing else to watch - that is the kind of movie that is to me), I am a little annoyed that I sat through it when I could've watched something else.

[edarsenal]

http://l7.alamy.com/zooms/12bb30646c4e4d70805e309564a9718f/the-jazz-singer-1980-emi-film-with-neil-diamond-brw2m6.jpg


The Jazz Singer

Hello. . . my friend, hello.

Listening to and watching Neil Diamond songs are pretty much worth the price of admission for this remake. On that alone, it is very worthwhile.
Have not seen this since the late 80's and it made me appreciate Diamond all the more for seeing it. And, on this revisit, it was like seeing an old friend. "Love on the Rocks" being my all time favorite. I was anticipating this one the most.

Had forgotten the "black face" bit as a tip of the hat to the original. Made me chuckle. Kept thinking of Gene Wilder in Silver Streak with Richard Pryor for some reason and it made me smile even more.

Neil does do a halfway decent job acting in this. Especially during the times in mass and being a cantor, he really shines. Though he doesn't dig very deep for the more emotional scenes. Like when his father rips his lapel signifying him being dead to him. He seems annoyed, instead of genuinely hurt. But for the music, I will happily let it slide.
Though I DID get choked up when he appears at the end for his father at the synagogue and the following scene in the hallway, definitely got to me. (Rather liked that)

All in all, a very enjoyable revisit to an old friend. YAY
Thank you, so much, gbgoodies for nominating this

[gbgoodies]

http://l7.alamy.com/zooms/12bb30646c4e4d70805e309564a9718f/the-jazz-singer-1980-emi-film-with-neil-diamond-brw2m6.jpg


The Jazz Singer

Hello. . . my friend, hello.

Listening to and watching Neil Diamond songs are pretty much worth the price of admission for this remake. On that alone, it is very worthwhile.
Have not seen this since the late 80's and it made me appreciate Diamond all the more for seeing it. And, on this revisit, it was like seeing an old friend. "Love on the Rocks" being my all time favorite. I was anticipating this one the most.

Had forgotten the "black face" bit as a tip of the hat to the original. Made me chuckle. Kept thinking of Gene Wilder in Silver Streak with Richard Pryor for some reason and it made me smile even more.

Neil does do a halfway decent job acting in this. Especially during the times in mass and being a cantor, he really shines. Though he doesn't dig very deep for the more emotional scenes. Like when his father rips his lapel signifying him being dead to him. He seems annoyed, instead of genuinely hurt. But for the music, I will happily let it slide.
Though I DID get choked up when he appears at the end for his father at the synagogue and the following scene in the hallway, definitely got to me. (Rather liked that)

All in all, a very enjoyable revisit to an old friend. YAY
Thank you, so much, gbgoodies for nominating this


I'm glad you enjoyed The Jazz Singer so much. Neil Diamond is one of my all-time favorite singers, but most people here don't appreciate the music I love, so I was a little concerned about how this movie would go over here. It's nice to see that some people here like him too. :)

Even though his acting isn't the best, that scene in the hallway always gets to me too.

[edarsenal]

LOVE Diamond! Even back then when I was mostly a metal head. lol

[gbgoodies]

LOVE Diamond! Even back then when I was mostly a metal head. lol


I didn't even know who Neil Diamond was the first time I saw The Jazz Singer. I was practically dragged to the theater by a friend who wanted to see it. I thought it was just a religious movie about a cantor.

By the time the movie was over, I was head over heels in love with his voice and his music. I ran to the music store to buy the soundtrack album, and that's when I found out that he was a singer, not an actor. I spent the next few years collecting all of his old records, and I've been buying his albums ever since then. I've also been to his concerts at Madison Square Garden several times.

[edarsenal]

never seen the man in concert, but I have heard he does quite the show.

[gbgoodies]

never seen the man in concert, but I have heard he does quite the show.


He's amazing in concert. He said in an old interview that he started wearing glitter shirts so his fans could see him even if they're sitting in the cheap seats, and they've just become a tradition for him over the years.

[edarsenal]

that is SO cool!

[gbgoodies]

edarsenal

Did you know that he considered changing his name to "Ice Cherry" when he recorded his first album? He thought it sounded like a cool rock 'n' roll name. :lol:

[edarsenal]

edarsenal

Did you know that he considered changing his name to "Ice Cherry" when he recorded his first album? He thought it sounded like a cool rock 'n' roll name. :lol:

OMG I am SO GLAD he didn't!! :laugh::laugh:

[gbgoodies]

OMG I am SO GLAD he didn't!! :laugh::laugh:


Me too. :lol:

[SilentVamp]

never seen the man in concert, but I have heard he does quite the show.

He's amazing in concert.
I second gbgoodies' opinion on his concert performances. The man is great. It is like he is just one of those artists that is a must to see live. I have seen him twice. And neither time was he even slightly a disappointment. Well worth the money to see him live!

[Nestorio_Miklos]

im pretty curious how this going to end up.. please Silent could you let me know once you will be revealing the list? Thank you :)

[SilentVamp]

im pretty curious how this going to end up.. please Silent could you let me know once you will be revealing the list? Thank you :)
Will do. :)


We have until July 2nd.


I am fully expecting Destiny to finish in the month that we have left. I am also assuming, as of right now, that Clazor is still in unless I hear otherwise.


Not including my own, I have two list so far, which are from Citizen Rules and Gideon.


I think we have done pretty well with this, and I am actually quite anxious to see how this turns out. :)

[edarsenal]

i have three more to watch: La Bamba, Eddie & the Cruisers and Idolmaker and then I'll be sending in my list.

I'm sure Destiny and Clazor will wrap things up near the end. :)

[Gideon58]

Get Him To The Greek is a film for people that liked Aldo in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Not sure how they came to the conclusion that a spinoff would work considering Forgetting Sarah Marshall wasn't really a big hit.

I was really surprised when someone nominated it, i was surprised when Sean nominated Empire in the 10th assuming (or hoping that) everyone had seen Star Wars but this was something else since FSM isn't a big movie. It's not an actual sequel or prequel but it's a film all about a side character, a side character that maybe even fans of the movie didn't like that much.

What I thought was weird was that they took Aldous out of Forgetting Sarah Marshall and put him in another movie with Jonah Hill, who was also in FSM, but playing a different character than the one he played in Get Him to the Greek, I just couldn't get past that.

[gbgoodies]

Will do. :)


We have until July 2nd.


I am fully expecting Destiny to finish in the month that we have left. I am also assuming, as of right now, that Clazor is still in unless I hear otherwise.


Not including my own, I have two list so far, which are from Citizen Rules and Gideon.


I think we have done pretty well with this, and I am actually quite anxious to see how this turns out. :)


I've finished watching all the movies, and I've been working on my ranked list. I have the top 3rd done, and the bottom 3rd done, but I'm having trouble ranking the middle section of my list. They're almost interchangeable depending on my mood when I make my list.

[Gideon58]

Just came to see if the results were up yet, but it looks like that's not happening anytime soon, Vamp?

[SilentVamp]

Just came to see if the results were up yet, but it looks like that's not happening anytime soon, Vamp?
No. This still has 3 weeks left. I will be contacting a couple of people in about a week to see how things are going for them. If there is the possibility that they are no longer participating, I will find out then. And if that is the case, then I will end the HoF at that time (and I'm waiting for the lists that I need from everyone in here right now, too :)). But as of right now, plan on it being another 3 weeks before this finishes.

[edarsenal]

I'm one of those people holding this up, Gideon. Got 3 to finish watching and do write ups for.

[SilentVamp]

I'm one of those people holding this up, Gideon. Got 3 to finish watching and do write ups for.
You weren't one of the two that I was talking about. :)

(You were one of the people whose list I need, though. :) - But I knew you still had those films to watch)

[Gideon58]

No. This still has 3 weeks left. I will be contacting a couple of people in about a week to see how things are going for them. If there is the possibility that they are no longer participating, I will find out then. And if that is the case, then I will end the HoF at that time (and I'm waiting for the lists that I need from everyone in here right now, too :)). But as of right now, plan on it being another 3 weeks before this finishes.

No problem, just checking in.

[Citizen Rules]

How many list have you received?

[SilentVamp]

How many list have you received?
It would be 3 lists, including mine.

[edarsenal]

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YRldwz6-arU/maxresdefault.jpg

La Bamba

Is me or is Ritchie Valens remembered by his family as almost an angel of light who's kind nature guided them the best he could?
And please understand this is not a cynical or sarcastic remark, not in the least.
This a very good movie and a wonderful insight into, not only Ritchie, but the family that knew and loved him.
I also understand how, after time, only the good memories remain and how the things you did wrong stand out even more, so I can easily see this being the case. And this is a simple, uneducated observation, nothing more.
There is a reason that the saying "The Good Die Young" is such a standard and we can easily measure, after watching this movie, that Ritchie Valens fits this effigy to a "T".
For me, watching this, I saw this angelic boy who was exactly where he needed to be, when it came to his family, and, should this be an accurate account, then all the more tragic and heart-breaking.

I have not seen this, much like Buddy Holly since it first came out, AND, very much like Buddy Holly, I am truly happy for this revisit.
Thank you Citizen Rules for nominating it.

[Gideon58]

I have to agree that La Bamba paints Richie Valens as this naive angel who the sun rose and set on.

[SilentVamp]

Yeah, I don't know if Ritchie was an angel either, but I think he was a "good boy". And I think the fact that he died like he did - when he did - maybe made their memories of him come across more "perfect" than he probably was. I think the film was probably pretty honest, though. They never denied the fact that the mother liked him best, and they showed how that affected the relationship between him and his brother. I think they maybe made Ritchie too good of a person, but I think it came across pretty realistic in how they were with him and each other.

[edarsenal]

that's pretty much how I saw it too. Being a memory, he was someone special, while at the same time they did open up about themselves. So, most likely, it was pretty close to how it was for them.

[Citizen Rules]

I seen a documentary about the making of La Bamba and Ritchie Valens. The director talked to his family in fact they were involved in the making of the movie and were often on the sets for the filming. They remembered Ritchie like he was shown in the movie. So I'd say the movie is accurate in the way they show his personality.

I mean not every rock n roller was a bad boy. Here's a real pic of Ritchie, he looks like a good kid to me.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/10/Ritchie_Valens_Promotional_Photo.jpg

[edarsenal]

I've heard they were on set a lot too. They were upset when the final scene came up and were worried for Lou Diamond Philip.
I think we talked about that before.

[Citizen Rules]

I've heard they were on set a lot too. They were upset when the final scene came up and were worried for Lou Diamond Philip.
I think we talked about that before. We did. I'm repeating myself:p

[edarsenal]

that's okay, so am I :p


that's okay, so am I :p


that's okay, so am I :p


A LOT :D

[Citizen Rules]

Ha,:D....

We're getting pretty close to the reveal of who won. I wonder which movie?

[edarsenal]

it really is hard to take a guess at. I do remember seeing a lot of positive reviews for Coal Miner's Daughter and Sweet Dreams, but it is hard to pick one that was a sure win.

[gbgoodies]

For me, the problem with movies like Coal Miner's Daughter, Sweet Dreams and the other biopics, it's hard separating my feelings for the movie from my feelings for the music.

[Citizen Rules]

For me, the problem with movies like Coal Miner's Daughter, Sweet Dreams and the other biopics, it's hard separating my feelings for the movie from my feelings for the music.IMO Patsy Kline had better songs than Loretta Lynn...but Coal Miner's Daughter was a better film than Sweet Dreams.

[edarsenal]

For me, the problem with movies like Coal Miner's Daughter, Sweet Dreams and the other biopics, it's hard separating my feelings for the movie from my feelings for the music.

I know what ya mean. If I compared, like, Buddy Holly and La Bamba, there would be a factor regarding how I like Holly's songs more. It would be one factor, but it would be there.

[SilentVamp]

I mean not every rock n roller was a bad boy. Here's a real pic of Ritchie, he looks like a good kid to me.
I actually talked to my mother about this last night (I figure that I might as well get a perspective from one who was alive while he was around). I said something to her about how I think Ritchie Valens looked like he was a "good boy", and she said that there was never the impression given otherwise that he wasn't. She said he just came across no other way than as a decent guy. So if that was just an image that was created, I think they did a pretty good job of it. I think it is pretty believable then that he was never going to be a "bad boy" type. Essentially, not even ever like his brother was either. I don't necessarily think his brother was a bad guy, though. I just think he was an unhappy person that led him to make the wrong choices in life, which, in turn, didn't help his reputation of being a "good" person like Ritchie was. I think the fact that Bob (his brother) was kind of the opposite to Ritchie helped to make Ritchie look so much more like a "good boy", too.

IMO Patsy Kline had better songs than Loretta Lynn...but Coal Miner's Daughter was a better film than Sweet Dreams.
I have to agree with this. I have seen a lot of movies where I don't particularly like the music, but I do like the film. My preference in music doesn't really matter when it comes to the how good the movie actually is.

We're getting pretty close to the reveal of who won. I wonder which movie?
I am still waiting on 4 lists. Destiny and Clazor have both told me that they should be sending theirs in very soon, too, and both will also be commenting on the films that they have watched. I know what is leading (of course! :D), but it isn't so much of a lead that it is guaranteed to win this HoF, to be honest. So I am very curious to see how (if) the other lists will affect it.

[edarsenal]

I didn't see Ritchie's bother as "bad boy" either, just someone who felt like they would never live up to his brother and their mother's love and acted out because of it.

[gbgoodies]

I am still waiting on 4 lists. Destiny and Clazor have both told me that they should be sending theirs in very soon, too, and both will also be commenting on the films that they have watched. I know what is leading (of course! :D), but it isn't so much of a lead that it is guaranteed to win this HoF, to be honest. So I am very curious to see how (if) the other lists will affect it.


I should have my list done early next week. I just want to rewatch a couple of the biopics before I finalize my list.

[edarsenal]

I should have my list done early next week. I just want to rewatch a couple of the biopics before I finalize my list.
I was wondering who number 4 was. I'm number 3. I seem to be straggling over the finish line with the recent HoFs it seems. :rolleyes:

[Gideon58]

I didn't see Ritchie's bother as "bad boy" either, just someone who felt like they would never live up to his brother and their mother's love and acted out because of it.

Fantastic performance by Esai Morales though...best thing about the movie IMO.

[SilentVamp]

Fantastic performance by Esai Morales though...best thing about the movie IMO.
He is pretty much the best thing about any movie he is in for me. :randy: :D

[Clazor]

La Bamba

Again? On the same damn plane?

I liked the cast in this movie. Bob was played well by Esai Morales, and though most of the dialouge was executed by shouting (and this goes for the entire cast), he manages to come off as a well-meaning douchbag. He's 99% douchbag, and he's a total ass, but you get the sense that he could've been an ok guy if he wasn't always drunk or high...and beating his girlfriend... and raping said girfriend...and smuggeling drugs...and stealing his brother's girl...

I might just be wrong, come to think of it.

But all faults aside, he does seem to love his family. What few quiet moments Bob and Richie share, they do act as brothers. The resolution they come to at the very end did strike me as a moment of honesty and heartfelt love for each other.

As for Richie Valenzuela, portrayed by Lou Diamond Phillips...eh, he's the straight man of the story. It's his job to calm down situations rather than to provoke them. As such, he does come off as more bland and stoic, especially when compared to his firecracker of a mother and brother. They are the ones who gets to emote, to shout and scream and explode into fits of yelling and arguments. Rosanna DeSoto does a fine job as Connie Valenzuela, part manager for her son, part provider for her four (or maybe five? Can't remember exactly) children. She's a tough one, not afraid to dig in and take charge when she deems that her son's not getting the room he deserves. But back to Richie. I thought the first solo number he did at the bar shows off how much of a born musician he is. He knows straight rock won't do for the audience, so he tunes it to suit the moment, ripping off a rock/western combo that gets the partons going and still expresses what he deems to be his style of music. He does the same with the mexican folk song La Bamba, he puts a spin on it and makes it his own.

Speaking of the music, I think I'll have to look into Los Lobos, cause I really liked what I heard. Granted, it's Richie's music, but if they're even close to the same sound, I'm interested.

Overall, a fine choice for the HoF. Great music, a main character that, while a bit stiff, still gets across how much his music/family means to him and that he won't stop for anything.

Nice pick, CR! :up:

[Clazor]

The Commitments

Can a movie about a band put too much focus on that band performing?

I felt like they did, even if the story is told in a way that uses what happens during their performances to fuel the ever-present arguing within the group. Normally I'd say that three or four apperances would be standard for a two hour movie, but then it's rarely more than one song, and deffinetly not several songs performed completely. For me at least, they should've paired the length of the performances down, getting the plot relevant stuff down and then moved on, rather than drag them out for as long a time as they did. That said, the music is very good (not surprising, as they mix classic soul and rock).

As far as the characters went, I actually liked most of them and would've wanted to see more of them rather than watching another set. "The Lips" was probably my favourite, and I liked how they almost jokingly went round and round with wether or not he was who he said he was. Not giving a straight answer was way more entertaining than coming right out and telling us would've been. I was also surprised to see Andrew Strong as the lead singer of the band. I wasn't sure it was him at first, but as he started singing I realized it was. Didn't know he was irish though.

A bit much with the sets, as I said, but overall a fun and well done film. I liked it and aplaude the nomination. Good choice, Vamp! :up:

[Clazor]

Coal Miner's Daughter

The story of Loretta Lynn and her rise to fame.

I had some trouble bying Sissy Spacek was playing a thirteen year old girl (at 30) and Tommy Lee Jones acting the part of a 20-25 year old (more likely at 33, but still not buying it). That pulled me right out of the movie (at the time) but still had me feeling uncomfortable as an thirteen year old girl got raped on her wedding night. That said, both Spacek and Jones played the parts well, jumping into something neither one of them had any clue how to do (their characters, rather). Jones's character knew what was expected of her as a wife, while not seeming to have any idea what to do as a husband to keep his wife happy. Spacek's character on her end seems to have gone through her life without picking up any of the skills of a woman living in the 40's/50's. Eventually though, they seem to work everything out (more or less) and we move forward to the establishing of Loretta's musical career... which leads to even more fighting between them in the end.

I must say, they make the quarreling between Loretta and Doo sound authentic. They sound like a couple who argue constantly, while making it so that they still seem to like one another. Compare their fights to the super loud and hateful verbal abuse seen in La Bamba between Bob and Rosie. There is nothing about these fights that tells you they actually care for another; at this point, they hate each other. With Loretta and Doo (while they do get loud), there's a foundation of airing out their issues rather than just yelling. They're talking, telling the other what's wrong as they see it, and in the end they can agree on something and close the matter while still being able to be around each other.

Doo, being supported by Loretta's career and income, feels like he's got nothing to do after he's been running around helping her spread her music, so he drinks and flirts with other women untill Loretta finds him. They argue and the result is Doo getting a job as a mechanic so he can feel productive.

Another example is the new house: Doo surprises Loretta with plans to build her a new house and shows her how he planed the layout. Loretta gets frustrated after year of being told how Doo plans to do things, never getting to be a part of the decission, and they argue again. There's no over-dramatic throwing of kitchen ware or insults, but a venting of concerns between partners. It's a real couple, arguing over everyday stuff, done convinsingly, which I find to be a refreshingly realistic take on a marriage not often found in cinema.

In the end, their acting in this movie is what I think will stick with me above anything else. The music was fine, but maybe not as memorable as the performances.

A very nice movie and a good pick from Destiny! :up:

[Clazor]

The Idolmaker

A bit hit and miss for me with this one. The main character is a bit bland at times, but for the moments where he gets frustrated with any of his two singers. The rightious verbal hiding he gives Tommy was a nice bit of acting, letting loose on the shmuck after he tries to molest a high schooler (while just minutes before complaining about performing in front of a bunch of babies; consistency, what's that?). Also, he gets better whenever he tries to mentor Cesare, showing him how to move or act. You can see he has fun in those segments, while he gets the best scene when he threatens to call poor Cesare's grandmother and tell her that Cesare got caught by the police for a DUI. Cesare goes from angry and cocky to completly submissive and frightend, mostly from fear that his grandmother, a strict italian catholic that seemingly raised him, would get angry and feel ashamed of him. Vincent uses this as a threat to get Cesare to uphold his image as a teen heart-throb to his fans.

It's a very pessimistic movie, stemming from our main character's outlook on life and the music buisness. Everything that matter, Vincent claimes, is the face. If you got a pretty face, the hard part is done. Talent comes second, as it can be taught well enough later. Vincent himself is quite talented, but as he lacks a pretty face, he sees himself as a lost cause before even trying. As such, he focuses on another aspect of show buisness: Managing. His dream now becomes to find and promote the next big star, but it must be done his way.

Besides Ray Sharkey, one of the few people who stood out to me was Tovah Feldshuh, playing the magazine CEO Brenda Roberts. They have some real chemistry between them that makes them very entertaining to watch on screen. Her seasoned nose for what sells causes both headaches and good fortune for Vincent and his talents, but in the end his dream of managing a star gets the best of him.

As for the rest, Joey Pants does another apperance, which is allways appriciated. He plays Vincent's partner and song writer, acting as somewhat of a moral center as the movie goes on. He does a good job with what he gets, but it's a more subdued role than what I'm used to see him in. I'd guessed he'd be the sleazy promoter guy, just as he was in Eddie and the cruisers. That said, I liked his character here alot more than in the previous film. He's a quiet guy, keeping himself in the background until he feel he has to step in to stop Vincent from destroying his chances with Cesare and possibly crush his own dream. In the end, he stays with Vincent and helps him find another dream to aim for.

A strong movie, if a little shakey now and then, with mostly good people in the roles. Not the best I've seen so far, but it ain't bad.

Good pick, GB! :up:

[SilentVamp]

I had some trouble bying Sissy Spacek was playing a thirteen year old girl (at 30) and Tommy Lee Jones acting the part of a 20-25 year old (more likely at 33, but still not buying it).
Sissy Spacek being 13 was a little too much. As for Tommy Lee Jones, a 33 year-old could easily pull off playing a 25 year-old, but TLJ looked so much older than his years to me. So that didn't help when I heard how young he was supposed to be (what was the exact age - I don't remember - I think they said it, though, but even if they didn't, you could guess it without having any info on Doo). And then I don't know if it was the knowledge that she was supposed to be only 13 that suddenly made TLJ come across even older. I just thought that all seemed so miscast - age wise (or, at least, the appearance of these actors for the ages that they are supposed to be).

Then again, I don't honestly know what Doo looked like (I don't think I have ever seen him). Maybe he was one of those kind of people that always looked so much older than his age (I swear the world is full of nothing but that nowadays!). If that was the case, then Tommy Lee Jones could slide. I still don't think they should've used Sissy Spacek when Loretta Lynn was supposed to be 13. There is a 30 year-old actress somewhere out there who could pass for being 10 years younger (not that that would've looked 13 either, but it would've helped). I don't know why they didn't just search for someone else to play the younger version.


If it were a play, we could let it go, but in a movie, it is just less believable.


Nevertheless, the performances were good, though. And I think, overall, Sissy Spacek was a good choice to play Loretta Lynn.

[Clazor]

Amadeus

It seems to me that F. Murray Abraham is part of the select group who have a nack for narration. First in The Grand Budapest and now here in Amadeus he's shown a talent for grabbing his audience and pulling them into a story. He has the technique and the voice to lure you in and to captivate you until you suddenly realize you haven't moved for two hours. Add to that an ability to act which is difficult to top (both in the younger version and the old) and he seems to possess the entire package.

As to the double roll as both older and younger Salieri, Abraham plays the younger with more restraint, while still getting the deeply felt emotions through. They are then expressed without holding anything back by the older Salieri; both fury and regret are pushed through the make-up and displayed in full after (as he says) 32 year of growing deeper and stronger. It's the two sides of a coin, the one deepning and strengthening the other. It's a very well done performance, the only other one coming close is that of Tom Hulce, portraying Mozart.

If the younger Salieri is stoic, then Mozart is the total opposite; loud, boastful, frivolous and with a very high oppinion of himself and his work. And that's the only thing he does take seriously, his composing. If I'm honest I preferred him in his later state; more composed, more tired and serious. The best scenes were those he shared with Abraham, as he tended to be more grave and discussing his problems with what he assumed was a friend/colleague. His work made him focus and removed the slightly (to me) irritating silliness and the annoying cackle.

I also thought that Elizabeth Berridge did a great job as Constanze; she was something of an ankerpoint for Mozart, keeping him from going too far as well as doing alot of things for him that he was too proud to do himself. I caught myself wondering about the scene where she returned from wherever she'd gone after leaving Mozart and finding Salieri in their bedroom. Had she never seen him once since the time she tried to convince him to push for Mozart teaching the Emperor's niece? Whatever the case, she was a strong woman in a movie bereft of such women, and her presence was welcome in a movie where all the other major roles were filled by male actors.

The music was a surprisingly varied combo of different classical pieces. I've never listened to much of the great composers, but for some reason I'd got it my head that Mozart delt with mostly somber works, and never these lighter melodies that mostly dominated the movie. Might be I've confused him with some of the later composers, maybe Beethoven or Bach, perhaps. Anyway, I found them very versatile, as I said, with the music set to Don Giovanni being the music that struck me as the most bombastic and the first piece we hear as Salieri first meets Mozart being the lightest and airiest.

As a final note, the costumes were very well done. I was surprise at the large veriaty of styles that stood to be found, from the dresses and masks at the party where Mozart took his father, to the more proper robements of the Vienna court, everything had such details and thought behind it. One could spent a viewing of the movie just inspecting the costume departments additions to the movie, such was the intricacy.

All in all, a very good and entertaining movie that I'm sure will finish among the top three if not at the top. A very good pick Ed! :up:

[Clazor]

Nevertheless, the performances were good, though. And I think, overall, Sissy Spacek was a good choice to play Loretta Lynn.

Oh yes, absolutely a good cast. But I agree, couldn't they found someone just to play the first part as 13 year old Loretta and then switch over when they did the time jump?

[edarsenal]

5 reviews. . . EXCELLENT job and very honestly written. Bravo

[Citizen Rules]

Oh yes, absolutely a good cast. But I agree, couldn't they found someone just to play the first part as 13 year old Loretta and then switch over when they did the time jump?I actually don't like it when a movie has a younger actor that we get to know, then it flashes forward and has a different actor as an adult. I always think the first one was the real one and the second one isn't:eek:

Of course it can't be helped a lot of times. But here I preferred Sissy Spacek playing her younger 13 year old self, I bought it. Besides unknown to Sissy she was actually playing a 16 year old, ha.

[Clazor]

Sweet Dreams

Another country/western singers rise to fame, unfortunatley not with such a happy ending this time around.

Not alot to say about this one, as I didn't find this to be more than ok, with one or two points rising high over the rest. The two main leads where the highlights for me, with both Jessica Lange and Ed Harris doing very well as Patsy and Charlie. The scene at the hospital right after the carcrash was harrowing, and Lange really got some distress in her voice as she asked how her children was. A really heartfelt moment there. She also got some humor in her, and it seems to come out in the darndest places. Upon seeing how she looked after removing the bandages, she comment that it's something she has to deal with and more or less laughs it off. Tough woman, that one.

I thought the story draged a bit at times, but on the whole it wasn't bad. It's probably unfair to judge one movie against the other, but I think I enjoyed Coal Miner's Daughter more. A bit wierd that they didn't have a corresponding meeting with Loretta in this, but seeing as they came out only five years apart, I guess they didn't want it to look like they were just pulling ideas from CMD.

A mostly ok movie with some really good performances thrown in. Not my favourite but still a good pick, Gideon! :up:

(Btw, was that a young John Goodman playing Otis?

*Checking IMDB*

Yes, it was! What do you know!)

[Clazor]

Ray

Another introduction to a famous singer/songwriter where I regonized a few song here and there but wasn't aware that the artist behind them was Ray Charles. And I'm very sad to say that for the most part, the songs I recognize come from commercials. It seems advertising agencies more often than not are responsible for introducing classics to the younger generations of today. I am happy to report that since wathing this I have taken a greater interest in his music and it's very good.

As for the film, I went through some clips while searching for it and it took me all of 24 seconds to be hooked. The interior of the club Charles reaches in Seattle had me interested the second I realized Warwick Davies was in this. He's always a contribution to whatever movie he's in and here he plays Oberon, the presenter of the talent on stage. Him and Ray seem to get on well, and in the end it's Oberon who let's Ray in on the fact that he's getting swindle out of his fair cut, which leads to Ray leaving his crooked partner and back-stabbing sugermama for a better living.

As for Ray himself, played very well by Jamie Fox, it's another case of a character that you grow to dislike as the movie goes on. It's not as bad as I thought Cash was, but you can deffinately go through this movie and start to resent him as much as his older friends does. It goes hand in hand with him accumelating more power and weath in the music industry, but it also showed earlier went he almost out of the gate started cheating on his wife while on the road.

As a performance, Fox does his usual high level of acting, but the voice he affects is something different. His usually smooth, deep voice gives way to a higher pitched, raspier sound that comes very close to the singer's if the songs are anything to judge by. Ray Charles himself recorded any new material that was needed, and all his songs were his own recordings, and as far as I heard, they sounded quite similar.

To be honest, I thought the entire cast did a very good job in this. All the major cast members put in at least a good performance, with special mentions going to both Kerry Washington and Regina King, as well as Aunjanue Ellis, Richard Schiff and Curtis Armstrong.

All in all a very good film with a cast full of very talented actors. A great pick, Gideon! :up:

[Clazor]

The Jazz Singer

A really powerful score and songs performed by the artist himself, this is a movie where the music is at the center of things, even for a music centric movie. It's no surprise that Diamond is at his best when he's in a recording studio or at the mic in front of an audience, since he's a singer first, actor...264th?

I'm not saying he's that bad; to be honest he's totally fine, but you can tell he seems more comfortable when he sings.

A tangent, but just after he finishes singing "Love on the rocks" in the studio, a redheaded guy I can't remember the name of says something on the lines of: "Ok, now take yourself and those four clowns and get out of here. Rick, let's do this my way." It just cracked me up for some reason.

And now back to our regularly scheduled review.

Besides the music, Diamond also stepped up his game whenever Olivier and he had a confrontation (with the exception being the scene where Olivier yells about not having a son, where Diamond could've emoted a bit more in my opinion). If that is because Olivier is so good he brings Diamond up a notch or if it's just my imagination, I don't know, but I thought he was better at those points.

Not too much more to say about this from me. Lucie Arnaz did an admirable job as the manager, taking a man she sees potential in and
trying to guide him.

Maybe not a favourite, but I respect it very much. Good going, GB! :up:

[edarsenal]

3 more! GO clazor!!

That scene in he studio after Diamond sings "Love on the Rocks" and the guy kicks him, somehow, causes me to chuckle too. No idea why.

[gbgoodies]

It wasn't easy, but after a few rewatches, I finally separated my feelings for the movies from the music, and I sent in my ranked list for this HoF, (WITHOUT the two movies listed as "Ineligible")

[SilentVamp]

gbgoodies' list made this hall of fame just a little more interesting now. :yup:

[edarsenal]

gbgoodies' list made this hall of fame just a little more interesting now. :yup:
VERY cool

[Clazor]

Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny

A rude and crude comedy of two men seeking the utter limit of rock legend, but ending up saving the world instead.

What I like most about this (aside from the awesome music, of course ;))is the two lead's simultaneous love and saterical mockery of all things rock. I defy you to watch/listen to Master Exploder without being aware of the high level of satire found within. Here is a man litterally proclaiming his own awesomeness while his best friend stands beside him and repeats the last word he said as they both get more and more draped in stereotypical rock ware. If played seriously, meeting these men
in real life would mean risking obliteration due to being pulled into the black hole created by thier combined delusions of grandeur. But they do know that they're no such men. They freely admit to being nobodies, losers. But they can still dream, which is why they set out on this quest of theirs; to chase that dream, something they continue to try for even after saving the world from damnation.

Now, might I be reading to deep into what basically is a story about two dudes trying to win a band battle to pay their rent? Most likely...but I'm still going to continue because I think it's fun. Onwards! :)


I'm kinda amazed that they managed to rope so many famous people into being a part of this movie. Meat Loaf and Dio aside, how did they convince Tim Robbins to play an ambiguosly russian wierdo with a missing leg, or John C. Riley to join for a five minute role as Sasquatch (not kidding, look it up). My favourite though must be getting David Grohl (of Foo Fighters and Nirvana), dressed up in make-up and prosthetics to play Satan. Only Tim Curry's Darkness can rival this man in red paint.

In the end, it's the smaller stuff I like about this movie. The story might not be the best, but the execution of it, the knowing, self-mocking tone and the love of the material makes it fun. The dialouge is basic, but the way they say the lines makes it work. When JB asks what it's going to be, **** or destiny, Kyle doesn't just say "****", he pulls up his shirt, thrusts his chest out and wispers "****", only to then turn on his heel and go back to the table of girls.

It's the small things.

P.S.
Two guys setting out on an epic quest of music to secure monetary funds? They stole that from Blues Brothers, didn't they?! ;)
D.S.

[Clazor]

Right, I got two movies left to review. I saw Pink Floyd's The Wall yesterday, so I'll write that review tomorrow. Then I'll watch and review School of rock on Thursday and send my list in.

[Citizen Rules]

Damn! that's a whole lot of reviewing, way to go Clazor:up:

[Clazor]

Pink Floyd's The Wall

So...I got his need for a father figure and his attempt to find a substitute. I also understood his views of the school system as an never ending asembly line turning humans into automatons/dolls/fodder for the meat grinder. This view's hardly surprising as he learned first hand how the teachers supressed any form of creative outlet.

Past the shaving scene though...they lost me. Guess it's one of those you have to see multible times. Anyway, while wierd, it was entertaining.

I also found the different animation segment interesting. The flowers in particular were beautifully animated, and while I'd seen the goose- stepping hammers before, the final grouping of the trial were...intense. Everything had a frantic pace that only accelerated until the very end where the wall comes crumbling down. Which...would be a good thing? As he's isolated himself from anything and everything, building a wall around himself...would the involuntary destruction of that wall set him free...or drive him insane?

Food for thought.

As for the music itself, I think I found the opening segment to be the most impactful. Seeing his father sitting underground, listening to the intro, ending with his death as the music falls silent...it was powerful, even more so than the trial or the factory line.

All in all a strange, powerful 90 minutes that I didn't grasp half of. Still, it was interesting to watch and I might just return to it sometime...with someone who can explain it to me.

Interesting pick, Ed. Rock on. :up:

[SilentVamp]

Amadeus

I know it took me much longer than it should have to say a few words about this film. But like I said to Citizen Rules, I think I just ran out of words after that 1776 review. I needed time to collect them again. :)

Amadeus. The film that I wanted to nominate. :D

Isn’t this a strange film for kids to watch? But I swear every kid I knew watched this when I was in school.

I think I have mentioned before – possibly in a song tournament thread – that I have always been into classical music. When I was a kid the radio station with the “fancy” music had to be put on before I went to sleep. I also had to go on every field trip to the symphony when they were happening. I guess that love that I had for that music helped me to have an interest in this film when I was a little kid. But I grew up and so did my love for Amadeus.

Could I be a little biased as Mozart is my favorite composer? Possibly. But the fact that I love him so much (I do enjoy what I know about the man, also) could also hurt my feelings towards this film. But I am very happy to say that that isn’t the case with this one.

Let’s just get the obvious out of the way. I love the beautiful costumes (although the wigs are hilarious sometimes :)). I love the absolutely gorgeous sets. The rooms are beyond words for how incredible they are to me (one piece of the set that I just want to mention is how much I love their bed! I would love to have one like that! :)). And, of course, the music. That is a given. I’ve always loved the choice of music to play throughout the film. It was a fantastic way to weave the man’s genius into the story. And I am a sucker for a good Requiem mass. :yup: For me, Mozart’s has always been the best.

While I like Salieri as a character – I think he is one of the best villains in fiction – I was never that impressed with F. Murray Abraham’s performance. I know I will be in the minority with all that I will say, but I don’t care! I don’t understand, and have never understood, how he won the Oscar that year. He is good, yes. But great? No. As I mentioned before, I saw a stage production of this. The man that I saw as Salieri put Abraham to shame.

I have always preferred Tom Hulce’s performance. I will tell you why I admire his. It is his ability to go from being a giggling, childish, almost simpleton-like being to a serious, intelligent man. It is almost as if he is portraying two different people at one time. He can switch from one personality to the other in an instant. And the laugh. People think it was annoying? That is the whole point of it! The idea that this crude, arrogant and somewhat obnoxious creature can create music that is perfection. And about the laugh, that couldn’t be an easy thing to do. I don’t care if he suddenly lets a big laugh out or a little burst. It is almost fascinating to watch him do it. Aside from any of that, as I have said countless times before, I am a HUGE fan of actors who can act by expression. Tom Hulce is so underrated when it comes to that part of his talent. Heck! Tom Hulce is underrated as an actor all the way around. Period. I’ve always said it, and I always will. Hulce was much more deserving of that Oscar. Disagree with me if you will, but I couldn’t care less.

I watched the Director’s Cut of this film (it is the one that I own). When you see it in its entirety, it just makes it more complete. And I will not even shy away from using the word “Masterpiece” to describe this film. I won’t do it. I think this film is a Masterpiece.

I honestly don’t have too much else to say about the film. I am simply in love with it. Even if it is quite a bit inaccurate, historically speaking. The story was told so well that its inaccuracies don’t even matter to me. One of the few times that it doesn’t matter that much to me.

I do want to add a little bit of music to this. If you have any interest in hearing one of Salieri’s pieces, this is a pretty good one, in my opinion:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4gNu_i15a8

But if you want to know what I think is perfection, it is this piece by Mozart. My absolute favorite of his. And it is the one that I nominated in the Instrumental Music Song Tournament:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fcly8-RGhgw
When I listen from about 8:08 to about 8:40, all I think is that the man is a god. It is that simple.

Oh! And one more thing about Mozart’s laugh in there. You want to know what I think is the best moment in the entire film? At the end when you hear it. Why? Because Mozart definitely has the last laugh at the end of the story. Love it.

5

Anyway, a little bit of nonsense that doesn’t have anything to do with the film, but indirectly does with the play. I don’t think I mentioned that I crashed the cast party when I saw the play of Amadeus. :D That was purely unintentional. All of a sudden these people came into where I was and, well, I wasn’t going anywhere now! :D I had met "Mozart", but I had a nice, long talk with "Salieri". It wasn't about music, though. It was about acting. :) It was a good night.

[edarsenal]

It is, very much, an enigmatic film and there's been all kinds of speculation of what happens to the character Pink at the end. Does he die? Go completely insane? Or, possibly, as you considered, there is a brand new beginning? Which is something I honestly never considered. Since this first came out when I was a teenager. Always thought the worst. Though that IS a nice thought. The children picking up the broken pieces. . .

And yes, the final moments of his dad's life ALWAYS hit me pretty hard. So did the scene of the ignored baby buggy and mom resting some distance away for some reason.

And past the shaving scene it does get a bit bizarre and it basically a really, really bad drug-filled daze/dream/nightmare.
Which, is kinda the entire move, really. lol

Rock on Clazor ;)

[edarsenal]

THAT was beautiful, SilentVamp!!
I am COMPLETELY with you when it comes to the laugh. Always have and always will LOVE IT. And to end with it, is truly perfect for me.

This watch was the very first time I got to see the extended version and that made the re-watch SO MUCH MORE.

I'll be listening to the pieces you posted this evening. Should be a wonderful time, indeed. The oldest in our huge family (9 of us, I'm #7) got me into Classical as a kid and both Mozart's music AND the person was quite a favorite and remains so.

Also, great unintentional crashing the cast party. ANNND to talk music and acting with BOTH actors??!! SERIOUSLY COOL.

[SilentVamp]

edarsenal
After you've listened to the music, you have to tell me what you think. Particularly the Mozart piece.

And you're number 7 of 9 kids? I'm #6 of 6. So, the baby and the only girl. :) Not that that has helped out in life like people would think it would've. :rolleyes: Everyone seemed to have their own musical preferences in my house (mine was classical), but what everyone liked seemed to still appeal to the others.

[edarsenal]

I definitely will be. I used to listen to a lot of Mozart when I was younger. There was something about his string arrangement that bordered on the angelic

The only girl? The ONLY one with their own bedroom, though, I'm sure.
There was a run of 4 boys from #5 to #8 So I didn't sleep alone until I was about 14. Never got a room of my own.

[Clazor]

School of Rock

While not being as restrained as I remembered, Black plays the man-child character of his with an fierce intensity, while still indulging in his somewhat manic periods of uncontrolable motions.

It's a basic plot; an immature guy gets a ridiculous scheme, succedes most of the way, but when he's set to finish, he realizes he cares more for the people he used than his scheme, so he comes clean/gets caught but still gets redeemed in the end. Not a very original plot, nor the best version of it, but as with my other nomination, I feel it's the execution of it that makes it worth watching.

Had they setteled for a more mediocre group of children, the entire movie would've been bereft of the comical give and take between Black and the class. Had Black himself not put in the effort he did, it would just have been boring. And had they gone for the stock strickt authoritarian/oblivious doofus for a headmaster instead of Joan Cusack, the movie would've suffered tremendously. Cusack in partiular was a great addition; filling out the character and giving us something to relate to beyond her duties as the headmistress resulted in a character we sympathies with and made the entire latter third of the movie possible. A lesser crew might've skipped that, leaving us with a far poorer movie for it. And she's a great physical actress as well, utilising small gestures and facial expessions to comedic effect. Her manerism as she walks into her office, filled with angry parents and declares that their children are gone were perfect, a mix of trepidation and (I thought) a bit of smugness as she tells them that they can't keep track of their own children. She is, in my mind, the best character in the movie.

All in all, a great cast doing a great job resulting in a fun movie, despite working with a very basic plot. It is, as I said, all about the execution for me, and here they did a great job with what they had.

[Nestorio_Miklos]

Wow, you guys still rolling? I'm very interested to see the ranking once this is concluded and I have high hopes for School of Rock to take a one of the first three places. :D Please let me know once you start to announce the winners if possible. :)

[Clazor]

And that's me done. Just sent my list to Vamp, so now I guess we're down to three if nothing else has happened.

And thanks for the vote of confidence, Miklos! :up:

[Citizen Rules]

Pink Floyd's The Wall
...As he's isolated himself from anything and everything, building a wall around himself...would the involuntary destruction of that wall set him free...or drive him insane? It wasn't an involuntary destruction of the wall...The trail, the judge and the plaintiffs are symbolic of Pink coming to grips with his own demons. In the end he ultimately decides to start letting people into his life...by tearing down the wall, thus setting himself free.

Past the shaving scene though...they lost me. Guess it's one of those you have to see multiple times. Anyway, while weird, it was entertaining.
Roger Waters of Pink Floyd said the band had grown disillusioned at performing their music in concert, as the fans didn't care what they sung about, as long as they put on a big show.

So in the movie that scene shows the hostility Pink feels towards a mindless audience who's only there for the spectacle, thus Pink gives them what they want.

The key is in the songs that are playing. During the Nazi like concert after Pink shaves his head, they play In the Flesh, which starts off like this:So ya Thought ya
Might like to Go to the show
To feel the warm thrill of confusion
That space cadet glow
I've got some bad news for you, sunshine
Pink isn't well, he stayed back at the hotel
And they sent us along as a surrogate band
We're going to find out where you fans really stand
From there the song antagonizes the audience, ending with the line:
If I had my way, I'd have all of you shot!

[SilentVamp]

The only girl? The ONLY one with their own bedroom, though, I'm sure.
There was a run of 4 boys from #5 to #8 So I didn't sleep alone until I was about 14. Never got a room of my own.
No. I didn't have my own room. :( Always wanted to but it didn't happen for years. There were 2 bedrooms for the kids. The two oldest shared a room and the rest of us were in a room with two sets of bunk beds. I got the top one, though, and I quite liked that up there. :D But I would say I was about 11, I think, when I was getting to finally have the room to myself. And then one would move back, and then I would get stuck with whichever one was back in the house because one set of the bunk beds was still up (and the purpose for that was so there would be a place for a friend to sleep when they'd stay overnight - my friends and I did a lot of that at each other's houses - looking back on it, I really don't know why this was happening at someone's house every weekend. :shrug: - but my friends didn't get to sleep there because I had a brother take over the bed, anyway :rolleyes:). So, I was maybe about 14 when I FINALLY got it all to myself. FREEDOM!!! :D


Please let me know once you start to announce the winners if possible. :)
I hadn't forgot about you. :)

[edarsenal]

A bed to call your own really is a wonderful thing LOL
For me, it was taking long showers with left over hot water; being in a huge family and one of the last in line. Weird thing is, I can't really take an actual hot shower since I didn't grow up taking them. Tried. Always gotta turn it down some.

And excellent "inside" commentary about Waters, Citizen Rules! :)

[edarsenal]

SilentVamp the Salieri actually sounds familiar. Do you know if it was used in a period piece film? Can't help but feel that I've heard it or perhaps renditions of it somewhere.
I continually had a mental image of horseback riding through a forest for most of it. The tempo and the cascading score was a very enjoyable "race" as it were. To where, as we drew to the conclusion the intensity with bursts of more gentle emotion that kept the earnest aspect as it moved back and forth was something I really enjoyed.
I still kept thinking of the movie and remarks about waiting for the Bang to let the audience know when to clap. lol


And now, Mozart. . . ahhh, Mozart. Hearing one, then the other it really is easy to see where the writer imagined the jealousy that would inspire him for the story for Amadeus. Where Salieri wanders, quite beautifully, through glens and meadows; Mozart soars. Over majestic landscapes and mountain tops. To express and describe his music, you MUST wax poetic. Words like fantastical and ethereal pour out. This is passion. Unhindered, unabashed, unfettered and without restraint.
This.
This is Mozart.

I used to have a few of his CD's. One was a collection of concertos. Been ages since I listened to them. Truly need to go searching and dig them back out if I still have them. And revisit. Bless you, SV for posting this particular piece of his. Thank you.
And of course, for Salieri's as well. A very delightful piece as well. Thank you.

[edarsenal]

Looks like I will need some assistance in finishing off this HoF.
I have Idolmaker left to watch. I have hit a wall on every possibility. Including a link that Citizen was kind enough to offer (THANK YOU), which caused more problems than a solution every time I attempted to use it. Which was the same on another place that had it. My usual, not so dangerous places didn't have it.

So, please, if anyone as a link they can pm me with so that I can make the July 2nd deadline. I am truly thankful and greatly appreciative.
Sorry for the last minute request, but it seems my usual luck of getting around the normal difficulties ran dry for this final movie.

Again, sorry. But I still wish, very much, to make the deadline and do need assistance to do so. Thanks.

[edarsenal]

THANKS to everyone that helped me out. Finished the last movie and sent in votes last night. Will try to post my last two reviews tonight

[SilentVamp]

edarsenal
I just added your list to the others.


This really changed things quite a bit. :yup:


Now I can't wait to get Destiny's to see how this will all end up.


Just when I think it is going one way, it goes another. :D

[Gideon58]

So what's up Vamp? Seeing an end in sight for this anytime soon?

[Gideon58]

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=29593&stc=1&d=1490799735

Walk The Line (2005)

My new favorite movie in this Hof! I would have rated this highly even in the general Hof. I'd seen it once before, like 5 years ago and had forgotten much of it. But I knew it was a really good movie, and on a second watch I'm more convinced of that than ever.

I though Joaquin Phoenix gave a fine performance as a young Johnny Cash. Did he look just like him, no...and that doesn't matter. What does matter is he nailed the body language and vocal inflictions of Johnny Cash. I believed he was the man in black! And Joaquin sang his own songs, impressive! He sounded good and a lot like Cash.

Reese Witherspoon I also really liked her in this. I have no idea what June Carter Cash looks like or even sounds like, and it doesn't matter to me if Reese doesn't look just like her. She captured this lively spirit and convinced me she was June. And she sang her own songs too! And could Reese be any more cutter than in the start of this movie! Especially in the 1954 scenes at the Grand Old Opry, she was perkily, adorable. I think every Hof should have a Reese Witherspoon movie.

What an amazing story, that was told so well that I held my breath for much of the movie...That means I was intently focused on the story, and that doesn't happen with many movies. The sets, and the way it was filmed told me this was a professionally made movie. I don't like country music, and yet I still liked hearing the songs performed live...and that says a lot about the quality of the movie too.

You need to google June Carter Cash...Witherspoon looks nothing like her...didn't like her performance at all and am still scratching my head that she actually won an Oscar for it. Phoenix was better. If the truth be told, when I re-watched this for the HoF, this film did not hold up as well as I thought it would.

[Citizen Rules]

It doesn't matter to me if Reese looked like June Carter or not, she captured her spirit and I thought she was excellent. Walk The Line was one of my favorites out of this Hof.

[SilentVamp]

So what's up Vamp? Seeing an end in sight for this anytime soon?
I am expecting to receive Destiny's list tonight. So, maybe the reveal will be as soon as tomorrow if I do get hers tonight.

[edarsenal]

edarsenal
I just added your list to the others.


This really changed things quite a bit. :yup:


Now I can't wait to get Destiny's to see how this will all end up.


Just when I think it is going one way, it goes another. :D

YAY I mixed things up!! :)
I'd been tempted to know in what ways, but not necessary
Was always curious to see such background trivia about votes changing things as they came in. . . But then, if I'm so damn curious, I should host one LOL
which won't be likely, can't do what you wonderful people do. :)

[Citizen Rules]

...But then, if I'm so damn curious, I should host one LOL
which won't be likely, can't do what you wonderful people do. :)Yes you could host one:) You have enthusiasm & participation and that's all you need:p You'd be a natural Ed! so host an Hof sometime and I'll join!

[SilentVamp]

Citizen Rules, Clazor, edarsenal, Ðèstîñy, gbgoodies, Gideon58 and Nestorio_Miklos

I will reveal everything today. I will do it somewhere around 5:00 - 5:30 Central Time.

Just letting you all know in case any of you are on at the time. :)

[Nestorio_Miklos]

Thanks for letting us know vamp. I'm looking forward to it if I won't fall asleep.it will be late night. If nothing I will check it out tomorrow

[Clazor]

Well, I'm not gonna be able to catch this countdown live, so I'll check back tomorrow. Congrats to the winner and all partisipants. Good luck everyone.

[Citizen Rules]

I'm here:)

[Gideon58]

Well unless it happens within the next 20 minutes, I'm not going to be here either and will have to check it out in the morning.

[SilentVamp]

Well, I'm not gonna be able to catch this countdown live, so I'll check back tomorrow. Congrats to the winner and all partisipants. Good luck everyone.
I just missed starting this for you! That is too bad. Sorry!

Thanks for letting us know vamp. I'm looking forward to it if I won't fall asleep.it will be late night. If nothing I will check it out tomorrow
Well, I actually spent my day watching something on Facebook that only a really nerdy person would admit to. I haven't decided if I should admit what the reason for the hold-up was for the reveal. :D But today is one of 3 significant days in American history, and I spent my day watching live feeds for it on Facebook. In case anyone is curious, it had something to do with the Battle of Gettysburg. :) I never know if I should admit being that much of nerd. :p


Anyway, who is online right now with me?

I am curious before I begin the reveal.

[SilentVamp]

I'm here:)

Well unless it happens within the next 20 minutes, I'm not going to be here either and will have to check it out in the morning.
Well, you two just answered my question before I could ask it. :D

[SilentVamp]

Before we begin, I will state that Destiny's list really changed the outcome. :yup: Much more than I expected it to. That was very interesting to see that occur.

Without further ado, we will begin!

[SilentVamp]

11.
(Tie)

Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny
33021

Eddie and the Cruisers
33022


33 points

[SilentVamp]

10.

Pink Floyd - The Wall
33023

36 points

[SilentVamp]

9.

Sweet Dreams
33024
46 points