25th Hall of Fame

[Citizen Rules]

I'll need a link for American Movie, please and Thank YouI just seen your post and the link is on it's way:)

[rbrayer]

Whiplash (2014)

Good, not great. Crackerjack performances and impressive, technical work on the drumming (which is a lot harder to fake in a movie than piano!) but thematically messy. The film never seems to decide where it stands on whether Terence Fletcher’s (the Oscar-winning-for-this-role-deservedly J.K. Simmons) teaching approach is admirable or criminal. Since this is one of the core issues raised by the film, this muddiness is not ideal.

Whiplash is the story of Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller) an ambitious young jazz drummer in a New York City Music Conservatory who is fiercely driven to become an all-time great drummer. Fletcher finds Andrew practicing one day and invites him to a possible role in the school’s top jazz ensemble. Fletcher is abusive, cruel, and violent. He taunts his students, randomly explodes in bursts of anger, and terrifies seemingly everyone he encounters. At first the film seems to recognize the myriad issues here, by including a subplot in which Fletcher finds out that one of his best former students committed suicide. Fletcher is hit hard by this event, but, it seems, not enough to connect the dots.

Andrew wants to be an all-time great, so he is on board for whatever harsh treatment is required to put him on that path. Indeed, he becomes so dedicated to his craft that he cuts everyone out of his life, including his new, charming young girlfriend Nicole (Melissa Benoit), who rightly recoils when Andrew arrogantly tells her that he is great, she will never be, and she is in his way. Not a fantastic dating (or life) strategy. Despite his dedication, Andrew’s journey ultimately ends in disaster, as a mad rush to recover his sheet music to make a concert leads to a car accident that, despite obvious visible injuries, Andrew shrugs off to make the concert. Fletcher – seemingly mad mainly because Andrew is late and unkempt – and the rest of the ensemble is horrified when Andrew shows up a complete mess and nevertheless, attempts to perform.

Andrew is booted from the ensemble. Some time later, his father and an investigator persuade him to give anonymous testimony against Fletcher, in an inquiry that it appears the former student’s suicide prompted. Fletcher is fired, Andrew gives up the drums and tries to pursue a normal life. That continues until one day, Andrew comes across Fletcher in a club. Fletcher appears not to know that Andrew betrayed him and asks him to join him in a new ensemble that could launch Andrew’s career. Andrew is ecstatic. He immediately flips back into his former ways. But when the concert occurs, the first number is a surprise - a piece Andrew does not know and is therefore not prepared for. Fletcher reveals that he knows of Andrew’s betrayal and that this ruse is his revenge. Humiliated, Andrew walks out, pleasing Fletcher. He suddenly changes his mind, however, and returns, delivering an insane, very long solo that shows Fletcher he really does have what it takes. Fletcher smiles. He finally got through to the kid.

So is the film saying Fletcher was right all along? His hard love technique is, at least per the film (and as he claims late in the film, the only way to get the absolute best from his pupils, and particularly to produce an all-time great, which the film implies Andrew will become. This is hard to square with both the suicide (a subplot which seems inserted specifically to criticize Fletcher) and Andrew’s insane behavior (the accident, dumping his lovely girlfriend, and related acts). Is the film’s message then that this is complicated and there are no right answers? If so, it sure seems to let Fletcher (and Andrew, for that matter) off the hook for an awful lot of problematic (to put it mildly) behavior. Perhaps the idea is for the audience to decide, but the way the film glamorizes Fletcher and Andrew at the end strongly suggests it is on Fletcher’s side.

On the plus side, the main performances are fabulous. Simmons was born to play this part (see also his work in Oz and Party Down [really, see this episode if you haven’t, it’s comedy Fletcher!]). And Teller, who I was not previously familiar with, is utterly convincing as Andrew, almost to a fault. Their performances (and the technical work with the drumming) are so impressive they are good enough reasons to watch this film despite the film’s thematic quagmire.

Worth watching. 7/10.

[rauldc14]

I'll need a link for American Movie, please and Thank You

Idk if you have it but it's on criterion now too

[edarsenal]

Idk if you have it but it's on criterion now too

thanks raul, I don't but at some point, i really should get it.
CR helped me out and I watched it this afternoon before I came into work

[rbrayer]

The Long Goodbye (1973)

This is a fine, fascinating, difficult film. It is suffused with social commentary, atmosphere, mood, and genre conventions at the expense of story. In this case, the trade-off works well – it suits Altman’s neo-noir film equally as well as the overlapping dialogue and faded cinematography do.

At the heart of the film is the oft-portrayed-in-film private investigator Phillip Marlowe (Elliott Gould), perhaps Raymond Chandler’s most famous creation. But this Marlowe is not precisely like any before him. Part of this is due to Gould’s manner and easy charm. Gould is friendly, unassuming, and a wise ass. He does not seem to pick up much on subtext or innuendo. Indeed, the film is primarily about the juxtaposition of Marlowe, a hero straight out of the 1950s, with the less innocent world of the 1970s.

Marlowe is a man out of time. Altman himself referred to his version of the character as Rip Van Marlowe. Marlowe is always in a suit (unlike other characters), chain smoking (the only character in the film’s health conscious 70s’ LA to even smoke, much less compulsively), and wisecracking, oddly naïve of the true nature of the world around him and the loss of innocence in the 20 intervening years between Marlowe’s time and the then-present. Marlowe barely notices salacious elements of his surroundings. A practical colony of half-naked hippie women live next door and Marlowe seems oblivious to them as anything but helpful neighbors. He also seems to utterly miss come-ons from the film’s femme fatale. Finally, he is singularly unimpressed by a $5,000 bill(!) These contrasts do a lot to drive home Altman’s implicit commentaries on both film noir and the time and place the film was made.

The story, such as it is, is set in motion by long-time Marlowe friend Terry Lennox, who shows up in the middle of the night and asks Marlowe for a ride to Tijuana. After returning home, two detectives show up and report that Lennox’s wife has been murdered. They believe Marlowe already knows this and that he aided and abetted Lennox’s escape to…somewhere. Marlowe refuses to cooperate and spends 3 days in jail as a result. He is only released when police learn Lennox committed suicide in Mexico. Marlowe refuses to believe either that Lennox murdered his wife or committed suicide. Something else, Marlowe is sure, is going on here.

Marlowe is then hired by Eileen Wade (Nina van Pallandt), a beautiful, wealthy woman, to find her missing husband Roger (the rightfully legendary Sterling freakin’ Hayden), a Hemingwayesque alcoholic novelist with writer’s block. Marlowe ultimately finds Roger in a private detox clinic and returns him home. He later learns that the Wades knew Terry and Mrs. Lennox and begins to suspect a connection. Separately, Jewish gangster Marty Augustine visits and threatens Marlowe, claiming that Lennox owes him $350,000, that he believes Marlowe knows where the money is, and that there will be serious consequences if it is not returned. Augustine’s threat is strongly bolstered by an absolutely shocking act of violence committed against his mistress (“If I would do this to someone I loved…”). I won’t spoil the ending other than to state that it changes both Marlowe and, fittingly, the way Altman shoots Marlowe.

The performances here are quite good, with Gould most prominent. Still, my favorite performance is the giant (in both stature and energy) Sterling Hayden. He is somehow just as or more effective than he was in the 50s. Hayden dominates virtually every scene he is in. Also, the interplay between Hayden and Gould (largely improvised because Hayden was always drunk and high and never learned his lines!) is fabulous.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the film’s extremely cringeworthy moments during the interrogation early on. Marlowe gets ink on his fingertips being fingerprinted and, to be goofy, decides to give himself blackface and act like he is in a minstrel show. Wow, that was hard to watch! That plus casual homophobia (with repeated slurs), neither of which seemed necessary, hurt the film in my estimation. Fortunately, there is nothing else even remotely like this thereafter, and the scene is early enough in the film that it fades a bit by the end. Still, this isn’t a great look.

In short, brief racism and homophobia aside, this is a truly great film, a masterpiece of mood and tempo by Altman. 9/10.

[ueno_station54]

The Truth (Henri-Georges Clouzot, 1960)
https://criterion-production.s3.amazonaws.com/carousel-files/e5b5a5245d243a2c70d22894b8bd9951.jpeg
The film mostly floats by on being casually entertaining and likeable (both the courtroom and the events being told) and I particularly enjoy that even though so much of the film is a story being told directly to the viewer there's a surprising amount of breathing room in the narrative, though perhaps that shouldn't be such a surprise given that was always been the biggest boon of 60's French films for me. On top of that its really wonderfully paced, there's a couple real lovely shots here and there and there's not really any dumb plot twists or reveals for me to roll my eyes at which I was worried about given the genre. Though the film is extremely solid throughout there's really only a couple borderline standout moments and its just not quite enough for me to consider it a "great" film.

[ueno_station54]

About Elly (Asghar Farhadi, 2009)
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BYWJiNDdjNmItOGUwYi00YzliLTg1YzItNTdhMzI3MmJiMmRjXkEyXkFqcGdeQXRoaXJkLXBhcnR5LXZpZGVvLXVwZGF0ZXI@ ._V1_QL75_UX500_CR0,47,500,281_.jpg
So I saw this listed as a mystery/thriller and I was dreading it immensely but fortunately its barely a mystery and not at all a thriller. For the first half I thought it was pretty great. Really dug the vibe and atmosphere of these families hanging out, very comfy and if it had stuck with being just that I probably would have been able to say that I loved it but I knew the shoe would drop at some point and it happened 40 minutes in, the textbook amount of time before the first "thing" should happen in a film (this is a well paced film). To my surprise though, the thing happens and the film didn't get any worse per se (not yet at least). Though the vibe is certainly not comfy anymore it hasn't taken a radical shift or anything, it still has a strong feel that isn't disconnected from the rest of the film and the narrative aspects don't suddenly take over the film either (which I was deeply concerned about). The downside here is that despite not derailing the film entirely, the mystery aspects do arise and lead to my least favourite parts of the film. Essentially, the characters are in a situation in which they need to lie to others and each other a bit for the purpose of creating tension and while I understand why this element of the film is intriguing its just not the kind of thing I could ever really get invested in. For the most part I can gloss over this though as I could still connect with the emotions but there is scenes where its just the characters coming up with what they're gonna tell someone the film just kinda loses the magic a bit. That seems like I'm making a big deal about something rather small but really the film just dropped from being like, just barely great to just barely not great. Certainly one of the highlights of this HoF.

[Citizen Rules]

Just under 2 Weeks until the Deadline August 1st

@edarsenal (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=50536) has 3 films
@rauldc14 (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=60169) has 2 films
@rbrayer (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=102321) has 2 films
@ueno_station54 (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=111569) has 1 film

[rauldc14]

Well I actually only got 1, and 2 write ups :)

[edarsenal]

2 films, one write up lol

[rauldc14]

Just under 2 Weeks until the Deadline August 1st

@edarsenal (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=50536) has 3 films
@rauldc14 (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=60169) has 2 films
@rbrayer (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=102321) has 2 films
@ueno_station54 (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=111569) has 1 film

By the by, how about HOF 26 maybe Labor Day weekend? Looking for a cool host!

[edarsenal]

The Truth (Henri-Georges Clouzot, 1960)
https://criterion-production.s3.amazonaws.com/carousel-files/e5b5a5245d243a2c70d22894b8bd9951.jpeg
The film mostly floats by on being casually entertaining and likeable (both the courtroom and the events being told) and I particularly enjoy that even though so much of the film is a story being told directly to the viewer there's a surprising amount of breathing room in the narrative, though perhaps that shouldn't be such a surprise given that was always been the biggest boon of 60's French films for me. On top of that its really wonderfully paced, there's a couple real lovely shots here and there and there's not really any dumb plot twists or reveals for me to roll my eyes at which I was worried about given the genre. Though the film is extremely solid throughout there's really only a couple borderline standout moments and its just not quite enough for me to consider it a "great" film.
I expected a far worse review from you. Quite the pleasant surprise to hear that it was solid.
NIIICE

[Citizen Rules]

By the by, how about HOF 26 maybe Labor Day weekend? Looking for a cool host!A whole month after the 25th ends? Let's ask SpelingError he said he wanted to host the 26th.

[Siddon]

Didn't 20-30% of the hall finish this in May? You can likely take nominations the next day

[Citizen Rules]

Didn't 20-30% of the hall finish this in May? You can likely take nominations the next dayYeah a lot of us finished way early this time.

I think Raul was hoping for a break before the 26th HoF starts...and that could work fine and give people a chance to catch their breath before the next big event.

[SpelingError]

A whole month after the 25th ends? Let's ask SpelingError he said he wanted to host the 26th.

Yep, I'll be happy to host. I'm fine with putting it up whenever you guys want to.

[Citizen Rules]

Yep, I'll be happy to host. I'm fine with putting it up whenever you guys want to. Glad to have you host! I'm fine starting on Labor Day.

[SpelingError]

Glad to have you host! I'm fine starting on Labor Day.

Yep, same :up:

[rauldc14]

Yeah a lot of us finished way early this time.

I think Raul was hoping for a break before the 26th HoF starts...and that could work fine and give people a chance to catch their breath before the next big event.

We don't have to, just seemed a decent idea

[Citizen Rules]

We don't have to, just seemed a decent ideaCool. I could go for either starting the 26th right after the 25th or waiting awhile. Doesn't matter to me much, but I'm in of course and have a GREAT nom:)

[cricket]

I'm selling my house so I'm going to have to skip joining anything else until the very end of October. If I miss the next one, I'll catch the one after that.

[SpelingError]

I'm fine with whatever you guys choose to do. Either works for me.

[Allaby]

I’m fine with whatever everyone else wants. I’m easy that way.

[edarsenal]

before or around Labor Day works great with me. Looking forward to SpelingError hosting -- should be pretty d@mn cool!!

[rauldc14]

Themroc

Basically one of the most ridiculous stories ever about a modern caveman who loves to annoy the hell out of his audience and neighbors. The man also likes boobies, wheelbarrows, and screaming as loud as humanly possible. Why are things like this nominated here? Will we ever get a HOF that doesn't have a film that most of us deem as unwatchable? It just seems like a thing nowadays.

Now I will say parts in the first half really had me chuckling but that second half was nearly unwatchable. In fact I had to stop it a few times just to take a breather from all the gibberish. Worst dialogue in film history. A waste of time basically. I wanted a more humorous review but it's not worth doing so. Won't waste time linking a picture either.

0.5-

[cricket]

Themroc

Basically one of the most ridiculous stories ever about a modern caveman who loves to annoy the hell out of his audience and neighbors. The man also likes boobies, wheelbarrows, and screaming as loud as humanly possible. Why are things like this nominated here? Will we ever get a HOF that doesn't have a film that most of us deem as unwatchable? It just seems like a thing nowadays.

Now I will say parts in the first half really had me chuckling but that second half was nearly unwatchable. In fact I had to stop it a few times just to take a breather from all the gibberish. Worst dialogue in film history. A waste of time basically. I wanted a more humorous review but it's not worth doing so. Won't waste time linking a picture either.

0.5-

That's me, but sadly since I'm selling my house, I just put my wheel barrel for sale on Craigslist last night.:(

79528

[rauldc14]

That's me, but sadly since I'm selling my house, I just put my wheel barrel for sale on Craigslist last night.:(

79528

Every man likes the boobies but he likes them more than anyone seen on screen. At least for so called real films.

[SpelingError]

I'll put the 26th HoF up on Labor Day weekend since everybody seems fine with that. That way, some of us will have a bit of a break before the next big HoF starts.

[ueno_station54]

Low-effort meme
https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=79580
(is just a goof don't plz don't take it seriously 🙂)

[Torgo]

A low-effort meme rebuttal:

https://i.imgur.com/m92gw5G.jpg

[ueno_station54]

Hell yeah :cool:

[ueno_station54]

BlacKkKlansman (Spike Lee, 2018)
https://assets1.ignimgs.com/2018/08/09/blackkklansman-header-1533841536524.jpg?width=1200
This was the film I was initially dreading the most to watch. Not because I thought it was a bad movie the first time I saw it or anything (I thought it was perfectly fine) but just because it was so recent and it felt like a movie I didn't really need to ever see again and I was afraid that would negatively affect my viewing experience. Thankfully that wasn't the case. Nope, it was pretty much exactly how I remembered it. Just mired in that blandly likeable vibe that a lot of BP nominations. Take the serious thing and make it cute and upbeat, throw in some silly quips. Modern screenwriting 101 on display for sure. Generally speaking, that lands a film around a 5 or 6/10 for me (and I initially did have this at a 6) but there's a definitely a little more upside here than just that. I wouldn't say the film has an abundance of style per se but there's enough pizzazz sprinkled throughout to create a few really memorable shots and the editing has a lot of punch to it, probably the films strongest aspect imo. I guess the news footage at the end has been a point of contention but I think its pretty necessary. I don't think it would be morally sound to make this cute, fun romp focusing on white supremacy and not ground it in reality and show the real world effects of it some way shape or form. It is a bit cornball to end a film like that but if you make the rest of the film more serious it hurts its marketability, so I get it. The only other point I have is that its probably a bit too long? Yeah, above average normal movie.

All done :) Time to squeeze in a bunch of real actual good films before the next hall starts lmao.

[rbrayer]

Black KKKlansman (2018)

This is the second time I’ve seen this film and my impression hasn’t meaningfully changed. This is a fun, entertaining film that occasionally gets extremely serious, is overly didactic, and consequently, is a bit of a tonal mess.

The film, set in the early 1970s, involves an undercover investigation into the local chapter of the KKK by Ron Stallworth (John David Washington), Colorado Springs’ first African American detective. Ron poses as a racist white man via phone. When the time comes for physical meetings, his white, Jewish partner Flip Zimmerman (Adam Driver), pretends to be Ron while Ron continues to work behind the scenes and via phone, even, in one of the films true stand out subplots, forming a friendship with KKK Grand Wizard David Duke (Topher Grace in the film’s best performance) who is absolutely convinced Ron is a white man. Previously, Stallworth attended a local Black Price rally headlined by Kwame Ture (formerly Stokley Carmichael) to determine whether the rally could trigger racial violence. There, Ron meets and falls for Patrice Dumas (Laura Harrier), president of the Black Student Union at Colorado College. This budding romance, formed deceitfully since Ron pretends he is not a police officer, on Stallworth’s failure to admit he is a police officer, sets up several conflicts in the film. The most notable of these is the opposition between Stallworth’s desire to “change things from the inside” and strong identity as a member of law enforcement and Dumas’ passionate stand against systematic racism, which she insists is endemic to policing. Lee’s recognition of the complexity of policing and race is layered and thoughtful throughout.

All of this is very strong, especially the direction and most of the performances, and were this the entire meat of the film (and were it about 30 mins shorter), I would probably rate it higher. The problems come in two forms.

First, Lee gets heavy handed about the parallels between the film and today’s politics. Lee’s audience isn’t stupid – the connections, and the reason for telling this story in 2018 – are obvious. It’s difficult to imagine anyone choosing to see this film in 2018 with no awareness of its connection to the then-present. Yet Lee can’t resist an awkward reference to Trump tied to Duke’s political ambitions. Mentioning his ambitions makes the connection clear enough without the wink-wink discussion of whether someone like Duke could eventually become President. Further, Lee’s insistence on including graphic footage of the Charlottesville march and subsequent violence felt like Lee screaming DON’T YOU GET IT?? THIS IS HAPPENING TODAY!! As important as this message is, Lee more than adequately flags his themes for the audience to draw this conclusion on its own. Consequently, Lee succeeds only in undercutting the actual story. Additionally, the final wrap-up of a racist cop subplot is far too pat and easy – failing to even address how Ron overcomes Patrice’s utter refusals to cooperate with police. The implication is that Ron saving Patrice changed her mind, but Patrice’s subsequent dumping of Ron because he is a policeman belies this idea.

Second, despite the film’s length, Lee spends far too little time on character development. It’s not entirely clear why Ron is so insistent on being a policeman. His points are trite – he can help people, police do some good, etc. He never really answers Patrice’s reasonable interrogation of his position. Meanwhile, Flip’s character development occurs entirely through Ron’s observations of Flip and Flip’s responses, an unconvincing “tell not show” that doesn’t show on Driver’s essentially single expression and attitude throughout the film.

Regardless, this is an engaging, well-told film with a trenchant message about race. A compelling montage at the end starring Harry Belafonte and intercutting Klan character action is especially powerful, albeit drastically different in tone from much of the rest of the story.

Flawed but fun. 7.5/10.

[rauldc14]

Just as an FYI I'm done except I haven't written anything about Long Goodbye, which will probably be a super lame write up because it's literally been over 3 weeks since I've seen it.

[Citizen Rules]

Just as an FYI I'm done except I haven't written anything about Long Goodbye, which will probably be a super lame write up because it's literally been over 3 weeks since I've seen it.Yeah that's a long time bro, but I know how you feel I have 3 write ups for the PRIV and it's going to be hard for me to remember much.

[SpelingError]

Just as an FYI I'm done except I haven't written anything about Long Goodbye, which will probably be a super lame write up because it's literally been over 3 weeks since I've seen it.

Since you still have enough time left, maybe you could rewatch the film to refresh your memory of it if you're up for it.

[edarsenal]

That's the same with me and American Movie that I watched a week ago.

[edarsenal]

speaking of:


https://i.gifer.com/CVpS.gif


American Movie (1999)

It was strange seeing this again, just over twenty years later. Perhaps it was due to what a buddy of mine was attempting to do at the same exact time when we both watched this. These guys finished, we got locked out, and with dead end after dead end, things didn't come to fruition. It happens, but I did find some old anger brewing up and perhaps a little resentment - not necessarily at Mark and Mike, but they were getting the brunt of it as I watched.

It shouldn't, but it did and thereby hampered what should have been an enjoyable revisit to a couple of average partiers who, against all odds, finish what they set out to do when it comes to a creative project. Something I should have been cheering and congratulating them as I watched instead of scowling and only by the end and with a bit of reluctance, if I was honest. Feeling like a selfish sh#t for doing so.

This IS a good documentary that does keep one's attention and gives you what it claims: An American Movie. The Slacker and his Buddy follow through on a Dream that, while family and friends support, have every doubt any of it will come to pass. And, holy sh#t it actually DOES. Not some Hollywood extravaganza ending, but a simple and genuine success story. The film Coven is completed and shown at the local theater. Nicely done, guys! Nicely done.
So excuse the grumpy old fart who wallowed in the past instead of celebrating your achievement all over again.

[rauldc14]

The Long Goodbye

https://jojud265nia2bj9sy4ah9b61-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/thelonggoodbye-1-1600x900-c-default.jpg

I liked it the first time. This time, I liked it, probably just a tad less but still good. I really like Gould in the lead role. I love the beginning when he is trying to please the cat with the cat food, really well done. The supporting pieces in the movie may be looked upon as a weak point for me, there's really no other performances that stand out. I think it's a really well directed movie though, I'd say still my second favorite Altman film. The film just seems to ooze coolness I would say. Wish I had more to say but it's been about a month since I saw it so sorry.

3.5+

[Citizen Rules]

Deadline is approaching, August 1st...

@edarsenal (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=50536) 11/13
@rbrayer (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=102321) 12/13
@rauldc14 (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=60169) 13/13 (needs to send list)

Let me know if I missed any of your guys' write-ups.

[edarsenal]

you've got all of mine, thanks!

[rauldc14]

Sent my list a bit ago. Steep drop with those last 3.

[rbrayer]

Vertigo (1958)

I saved the best for last.

A few preliminary thoughts before getting into it.

I concede that I have a deep personal tie to this film. I first saw it in a library in college back around 1998. At that time, I had never seen a Hitchcock film. I had also never been to San Francisco, where the film is set, or even west of the Mississippi. My only real exposure to Jimmy Stewart was in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and It’s a Wonderful Life.

The film stunned me. From the very first strains of the iconic score, the best one ever put together for the film and the accompanying delirious dreamlike title sequence, I was mesmerized. This was a story of obsession, passion, and mystery, unlike anything I’d ever seen or imagined, and it had a profound effect.

Over the years, I’ve seen the film about 10 times, and I am still finding new details – including a large one this last viewing that I’ll discuss below. I also ended up living in the San Francisco Bay Area – twice – 5 years one time and 1 year a second time. I now live in the Monterey area, close to San Juan Batista, where the film’s two most critical sequences were filmed over 50 years ago. I’ve been there twice, including the annual “Vertigo Day,” which included a tour tied to film locations and a screening on the very lawn Kim Novak, as Madeline, runs across halfway through the film. It was surreal seeing her run across the same lawn we were on!

I’ve also seen about 2/3rds of Hitchcock’s output. I assumed, back in 1998, that this film was like other Hitchcock films, and was excited to devour them. Hitch’s films are indeed, terrific (my other faves include Rear Window, North By Northwest, Shadow of a Doubt, and Notorious, in some order) but they are not like Vertigo. They are fundamentally different. Hitch’s films are driven by narrative suspense and mystery. They are rarely psychological in any meaningful way, much less personal. Actors in these films, as Hitch would say, were cattle, acting out his storyboards with little differentiation and scarcely any portrayed subjectivity.

Vertigo is a different beast entirely. The film is fundamentally psychological. It deals with obsession, passion, delusion, fantasy, and objectification. Although it is famous for being a mystery, we know the main details of that mystery barely more than halfway into the film – while Stewart does not – a kind of narrative/character suspense quite distinct from Hitchcock’s normal plot suspense (e.g., the ticking bomb under the table we know about but the characters do not…) That suspense drives the fascinating final third of the film.

This is why I say that Vertigo is not a Hitchcock film, but rather, the best film Hitchcock ever made. Vertigo stands apart from the rest of the Hitchcock catalogue – which is excellent, but in my opinion, not up to this level.

Now onto the film. Vertigo, a word only spoken once on screen, is the condition that main character police detective John "Scottie" Ferguson (James Stewart) acquires during a rooftop chase in which he ends up clinging from said rooftop while a fellow officer tumbles to his doom. Unwilling to work desk duty, Scottie decides to retire, when he receives an unexpected call from Gavin Elster (Tom Helmore), an acquaintance from college. Elster is afraid his wife Madeline (Kim Novak) may be psychologically ill, believing herself to be the reincarnation of her great grandmother, Carlotta Valdes, the mistress of a wealthy married man. Carlotta is a bit of a local legend. She went mad and committed suicide after the married man turned her out and kept the child to raise as his own.

Elster asks Scottie to follow Madeline and see where she goes during the day. Scottie does so, following Madeline to a florist where she buys a bouquet that she later places on Valdes’ grave and to the Legion of Honor art museum where she gazes intently at a portrait of Carlotta Valdes. Scottie eventually loses the trail when Madeline enters a hotel but mysteriously vanishes without a trace before Scottie can get to her room. The next day, Scottie continues his pursuit to Fort Point on the San Francisco Bay. Madeline suddenly dives into the Bay and Scottie rescues her.

The next day Scottie runs into Madeline delivering a thank you note at his front door. The two spend the day together, driving all over the Bay Area, including Muir Woods and 17-Mile Drive (right here in sunny Monterey!) They end up in each other’s arms. The next day Madeline describes a nightmare set in an old Spanish Mission in the 19th Century. Scottie realizes Madeline is describing Mission San Juan Batista, Carlotta Valdes’ childhood home, which has been preserved as it was hundreds of years ago. Determined to exorcise Madeline’s demons and show her that her dream was not an indication of mental illness, the two drive down to the Mission. There, after expressing their love for each other, Madeline suddenly runs into the Church and up to the bell tower. Scottie tries to follow, but his vertigo stops him from getting high enough and he soon sees (through a window) Madeline plunge to her death.

The death is ruled a suicide. Scottie becomes clinically depressed and is sent to a sanatorium, practically catatonic, where he stays for about a year. On his return, Scottie imagines he sees Madeline everywhere, but is constantly disappointed, until he runs into a brunette on the street that reminds him of her, Judy Barton (Kim Novak, in a dual role). Scottie follows her to her apartment where he eventually persuades her to have dinner with him. When Scottie leaves to allow Judy time to prepare for their date, there is a huge shift in perspective. Judy plans to flee, writing Scottie a farewell letter explaining that she*was*in fact Madeline, and that she was impersonating Elster’s wife in a complex murder scheme.

Elster realized he could take advantage of Scottie’s vertigo to support a story that his murder was actually a suicide. Scottie is the perfect witness - he has seen much of Madeline’s behavior first hand. Also, Scottie’s vertigo means he will not be able to make it to the top of the bell tower! This allows Elster to substitute his wife’s freshly killed body for Barton’s, throwing the wife out instead of Judy. But Judy realizes she still loves Scottie and tears up the letter.

From here on in, the film, previously heavily told from Scottie’s perspective, is essentially told from Judy’s point-of-view. Judy is an average, albeit beautiful, girl from Kansas that got in over her head with Elster, and worse, fell in love with Scottie. All she wants is Scottie to love her back for herself, not because she reminds him of Madeline. Consequently, she puts up (albeit grudgingly) with his efforts to essentially transform her into Madeline. Judy’s patience eventually leads to Scottie saying that he loves her, though it seems clear he is still thinking of Madeline. Regardless, it seems to be working until Judy makes a critical mistake: unthinkingly wearing one of Madeline’s necklaces leading Scottie suddenly connects the dots.

Furious, Scottie cajoles Judy to come back with him to Mission San Juan Batista, ostensibly to purge the past. Once there, Scottie forces Judy to climb to the top of the bell tower – the scene of the crime – overcoming his vertigo. Scottie harangues Judy, who explains her role in the plot and convinces him he loves her. The two reconcile and happiness appears in prospect, until a shadowy figure (revealed as a nun) arrives. Scared, Judy stumbles back and falls out the window [or does she?], closing the loop. The film ends with Scotty, having lost everything – including his vertigo – staring out the open window at Judy’s lifeless body.

Now the new thing: for years I thought Judy had been afraid and fallen. Now I believe it was suicide. If you watch the film closely Judy takes several steps before she reaches the window. She jumped. It tracks. Judy realizes Scottie will always love Madeline, not her. Also, she is enormously guilty for her part in deceiving Scottie. It makes a ton of sense. I love that Hitchcock left this ambiguous, however.

More highlights and odds and ends:

The best score and title sequence in film history. Immediately sets the mood like nothing else.

Hitch’s casting Jimmy Stewart against type (as he first did so memorably in Rear Window) makes Stewart’s descent into obsession and madness far more powerful than it would have been with virtually any other actor.

Relatedly, Hitch later said he regretted casting Kim Novak. I think he’s nuts. She is tremendous in the dual role, fully inhabiting both characters. She also has terrific chemistry with Stewart.

Poor Midge.

Alleged plot holes: some complain that the film does not resolve how Scottie gets off the rooftop and that this is somehow a problem. Nonsense. Who cares? It’s just not interesting. What matters is how the event affected Scottie – and given the highly subjective point of view of the film, it makes sense to not show it – possibly Scottie simply doesn’t remember it. Madeline disappearing from the hotel is a different story. I’m not sure how to rationalize that one.

The nightmare sequence is one of the great pieces of art in cinema history. I will never forget Stewart’s face with flashing colors, a swirling whirlpool behind him, and hair flapping in the wind. Iconic and indelible.

On the subject of artistry, the technicolor and general look of the film simply leap off the screen. They aren’t hurt by the film’s best supporting character, San Francisco. Even though Hitch changed the location from Paris, it’s still hard to imagine the story happening anywhere else in the world.

Top to bottom, this is the greatest achievement in cinema history. Nothing else comes close. Simply the best.

[rbrayer]

Deadline is approaching, August 1st...

@edarsenal (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=50536) 11/13
@rbrayer (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=102321) 12/13
@rauldc14 (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=60169) 13/13 (needs to send list)

Let me know if I missed any of your guys' write-ups.

I just posted the last one. It took awhile to write. Ballot incoming.

[rauldc14]

Hell of a review rbrayer!

Also, this has to be the smoothest going HOF in sometime. Only that slacker Ed has films left :)

[Citizen Rules]

Also, this has to be the smoothest going HOF in sometime. Only that slacker Ed has films left :)Ed's a slacker:p...but he's rock solid!

I just got rbrayer's list and we're looking good to finish ontime!

[rauldc14]

26th will be cool. I think we will have a nice crew for it again

[Citizen Rules]

26th will be cool. I think we will have a nice crew for it again
I got my nom picked for it, I'm going with a classic, heavy hitter. Some have seen it but it's not real well watched.

[rauldc14]

I got my nom picked for it, I'm going with a classic, heavy hitter. Some have seen it but it's not real well watched.

I got mine picked out too. Not super popular but some will have seen it for sure.

[SpelingError]

I haven't decided on my pick yet, but I have a few ideas.

[Allaby]

I haven't decided on what my pick will be, but it will likely be one of my all time favourites that I think most people haven't seen.

[ueno_station54]

Probably gonna be an on-the-day decision if I'm gonna jump into the 26th. If I do I'll pick something a bit more defensible lol. Something with at least a bit of cred to hide behind but y'all know my taste by now and if you should be concerned or not.

[jiraffejustin]

I'm joining the 26th and I'll probably nominate something Russian.

[edarsenal]

https://cilantrus.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/themroc-buena.jpg

Themroc


Here's a funny.
When I went a-streaming, I did my usual jump upwards of ten minutes into Themroc to check for subtitles.
Chuckling at my ninny be-hind for doing so.


Okay, so. . . now, I don't have it in PRECISE order, butttt it was something liiiike:
cough, mumble, interrupted night molestation, think about sex while coughing, grumbling. A lot of people, tunnel, oh, there he is again. Unhappy workers. Bicker, bicker, push-me-shove-you, work facing each other.Boss not happy with performance. The old lady not happy about the sex, the other two don't care. Then a wall goes up and the outside one goes down. Meandering police, sex; neighbors and onlookers getting mixed feelings. "No statement at this time, thank you." There's a BBQ, YAY, food good. Sex. Sex with workers. And then,
Oh, Spoiler Alert! and who'd have thunk it: The climax of the film WAS a Climax! John rape Fora, I did not forecast that weather condition, lumps and lampoons.

Ok, yeah. So, you know, it's like, that symbology stuff. You know. Meaning wrapped in an::insert aggressive adjective:: statement aimed at categorized emotions getting unfettered in a what-if, ride it even after the tires are only a mystical ethos, scenario with a tennis match of sex and violent-toned imagery; because that's the only way to keep a movie viewer's interest anymore, nowadays. Those d@mn::insert intellectually superior scathing disregard::.




. . .Huh,

[edarsenal]

Taking an intermission between moves. Somewheres around 8 pm, I'll watch About Elly and if it works, a review right after.
Enjoy your weekends, folks!

[seanc]

Ed’s review > Themroc

[neiba]

https://cilantrus.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/themroc-buena.jpg

Themroc


Here's a funny.
When I went a-streaming, I did my usual jump upwards of ten minutes into Themroc to check for subtitles.
Chuckling at my ninny be-hind for doing so.


Okay, so. . . now, I don't have it in PRECISE order, butttt it was something liiiike:
cough, mumble, interrupted night molestation, think about sex while coughing, grumbling. A lot of people, tunnel, oh, there he is again. Unhappy workers. Bicker, bicker, push-me-shove-you, work facing each other.Boss not happy with performance. The old lady not happy about the sex, the other two don't care. Then a wall goes up and the outside one goes down. Meandering police, sex; neighbors and onlookers getting mixed feelings. "No statement at this time, thank you." There's a BBQ, YAY, food good. Sex. Sex with workers. And then,
Oh, Spoiler Alert! and who'd have thunk it: The climax of the film WAS a Climax! John rape Fora, I did not forecast that weather condition, lumps and lampoons.

Ok, yeah. So, you know, it's like, that symbology stuff. You know. Meaning wrapped in an::insert aggressive adjective:: statement aimed at categorized emotions getting unfettered in a what-if, ride it even after the tires are only a mystical ethos, scenario with a tennis match of sex and violent-toned imagery; because that's the only way to keep a movie viewer's interest anymore, nowadays. Those d@mn::insert intellectually superior scathing disregard::.




. . .Uh,

So, that what was what you got from the jump upwards of ten minutes? Because that's exactly what I got from watching the movie uninterrupted xD

[edarsenal]

Ed’s review > Themroc
LOL
THANKS, man!
Being the final act continuously, I DO my best to entertain
https://thumbs.gfycat.com/LinearEqualAdder-size_restricted.gif

[edarsenal]

off to make a late dinner and sit down to About Elly. . .

[Citizen Rules]

Ed’s review > ThemrocI don't know why that makes sense, but it makes sense.

[edarsenal]

About Elly is finished but its too late to write a review but I will be sending a vote in momentarily.


::49 minutes later::
Vote officially sent.

[rauldc14]

When is the unveil again?

[Citizen Rules]

When is the unveil again?Good question...Answer: I don't know?:cool:

I hoped to do it today and I just now started working on calculating the points. I do have to work today so...maybe later in the evening? If not should be on Monday. I'll do the @mention thing before the reveal starts.

[edarsenal]

Sounds like a plan!

[edarsenal]

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNzQ0YTMwYTgtYjBhZS00NzQ3LWJhMWItYzU0ODg4ZjZmNzczXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNzkxODcyMTI@._V1_.jpg
https://64.media.tumblr.com/7f6ded40dd4014fd84676aebd5631b66/tumblr_obgbjpsYxo1txuk4eo4_500.gifv


About Elly aka Darbareye Elly (2009)

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EIkaH6rWkAAW_Wh.png

20 Awards, 13 Nominations?
Not too f@ckin shabby.

I need a revisit with this. I did not engage anywhere near what I truly should have, would have, and most likely could on another viewing.
Please don't ask why; I ran the gambit and found no reason, including the very scenario of last night's stepping over the Finish Line before the Racing Park closes.
I just don't know.

Ask me what I think of it, and I will rave.
With the nuance of a stage play, tension and suspicion seep into tight, caring family relationships when a scarcely known guest (teacher to one of the young children) create a stream of questions ranging, not only her abrupt, mysterious disappearance during the near-drowning of another child, but who actually she is and who exactly, really, is the man that arrives soon after. What truth is acceptable? Which truth should be hidden?
Morality, what is Right, what is Respectable are debated as the secrets begin to unwind in and around themselves. Mistrust builds, then twists, as the argument to hide their own truths with the man who is not who he originally claims.

The scenario had a hint of Thriller to it that, being completely blind in my viewing, I was waiting for the "killer to reveal themselves" ending. The actual ending is a more sublimely sad, day-in-the-life gone tragic experience occurring during a well-anticipated weekend getaway.

Every individual in here was exceptional in their role. The dance and operatic movement of the camera as we remain in the eye of the emotional storm with elegant precision was truly extraordinary.

I SHOULD have been utterly and completely engaged. At times I did feel the waves wash over and then away.
Perhaps it was a critical eye, and an unsure perception of what this may erupt into caused me to distance myself. Then again, the Ending's resolve should have easily spun it all around. Which, I did truly love.

About Elly is very well deserving of each award, and to take a spin on the ole spindly record as it comes back around: I need a revisit with this.

[edarsenal]

Quite the diverse, excellent Hall of Fame, Everyone!!


MUCHO Me THANKaYOU!!
ALL YA ALL

[SpelingError]

Yeah, thanks for hosting this HoF, Citizen Rules. You really, er, rule!

[Citizen Rules]

Yeah, thanks for hosting this HoF, Citizen Rules. You really, er, rule!Ah shucks:D...Update: I just got home from a hard days work and I'm going to tabulate the points right now. I won't be able to do the reveal tonight, but really should be able to do it tomorrow morning (west coast time).

[Citizen Rules]

While we're waiting does anyone have predictions on 1st place? last place? The overall order...or what films will be in the top third, middle third, bottom third.

[cricket]

While we're waiting does anyone have predictions on 1st place? last place? The overall order...or what films will be in the top third, middle third, bottom third.

Maybe there could be an upset but Vertigo and Bicycle Thieves have to be the favorites. Themroc is last with probably The Green Years next to last. Beyond that I don't have a clue.

[SpelingError]

I think Themroc will win since everybody here seemed to agree on it being a masterpiece.

In all seriousness, probably Vertigo or Bicycle Thieves will win.

I'm guessing that my nom (American Movie) will make it around the middle.

[Siddon]

While we're waiting does anyone have predictions on 1st place? last place? The overall order...or what films will be in the top third, middle third, bottom third.

It's been so long so I would got

Top Four
Whiplash, Long Goodbye, Vertigo, Bicycle Thieves
Mid Five
American Movie, About Elly, Black Klansman, Les Mis, The Truth
Bottom Four
Temroc, Sundays and Cybele, The Green Years, Chimes at Midnight

[seanc]

Vertigo wins. Bicycle Thieves close second. Themroc takes last and Ueneo will be super proud.

[ueno_station54]

Hoping Chimes at Midnight does well :)

[Allaby]

I think Vertigo will win and Bicycle Thieves will be second. Themroc will finish last likely followed by The Green Years. I certainly hope Sundays and Cybele ends up in a decent position. If it finishes in the bottom four, words will be spoken.

[seanc]

I think Vertigo will win and Bicycle Thieves will be second. Themroc will finish last likely followed by The Green Years. I certainly hope Sundays and Cybele ends up in a decent position. If it finishes in the bottom four, words will be spoken.

I think Sundays will be 3

[edarsenal]

I have high hopes for Sundays and Bicycle Thieves may take it or at least make the top three

[Citizen Rules]

Heads up...The results are in!...and we have a movie winner!
The reveal for the 25th HoF will start soon...very soon!
Allaby @CosmicRunaway (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=90868) @cricket (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=68505) @edarsenal (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=50536) @neiba (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=85193)
@rauldc14 (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=60169) @rbrayer (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=102321) @seanc (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=75240) @Siddon (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=95448) @SpelingError (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=91134) @Torgo (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=109334) @ueno_station54 (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=111569)

[rauldc14]

Heads up...The results are in!...and we have a movie winner!
The reveal for the 25th HoF will start soon...very soon!

Like how soon? I'm going to bed but will stay up if it's literally in like 20 min

[Citizen Rules]

Like how soon? I'm going to bed but will stay up if it's literally in like 20 min
Like 3-5 minutes.

[rauldc14]

My prediction

Vertigo
Bicycle Thieves
Elly
The Truth
Sundays and Cybele
Long Goodbye
American Movie
Whiplash
Les Mis
Chimes
Black Klanssman
The Green Years
Themroc

[Citizen Rules]

*we have a tie, so we're starting at #12

Coming in at last place with what has got to be the lowest amount of points for any movie in an HoF of this size is....

https://fidmarseille.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/themroc-cap019.jpg
12th place
Themroc (Claude Faraldo, 1973)
ueno_station54

28 points

[rauldc14]

Well, let's be honest. It sucked.

[Torgo]

Oh well. I liked it and it wasn't my last pick, ueno, if it's of any consolation.

[rauldc14]

https://media.tenor.com/images/4545f84c01566cf593b8d05049a283b8/tenor.gif

[Citizen Rules]

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=78483
11th place
The Green Years (Paulo Rocha 1963)
Neiba

61 Points

[rauldc14]

I wonder if it got 13 from Ueno and 15 from the other 12.

[Citizen Rules]

I'm shocked by how low this next nom is...

[rauldc14]

https://media.tenor.com/images/cbb9e36e7c2effea093e3700774174c1/tenor.gif

[Citizen Rules]

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=77794
10th Place
American Movie (Chris Smith 1999)
SpelingError

80 Points

[Citizen Rules]

https://media.tenor.com/images/cbb9e36e7c2effea093e3700774174c1/tenor.gifGo to bed Raul:D I'm going as fast as I can:p

Wait time for breakfast for me!

[seanc]

I'm shocked by how low this next nom is...

Definitely was shocked by that as well. Shows it was a strong field

[rauldc14]

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=77794
10th Place
American Movie (Chris Smith 1999)
SpelingError

80 Points



https://media1.tenor.com/images/8f24eb40e04dfff163d5849f883ca544/tenor.gif?itemid=4535596

[Citizen Rules]

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=77120
9th Place
BlacKkKlansman (Spike Lee 2018)
CosmicRunaway



88 Points

[rauldc14]

American Movie was my 4. I actually really love the doc though but I had to put 3 films ahead of it.

Klansmann at 6.

[Citizen Rules]

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/96/0f/b1/960fb1a9ff956a250d2340ad054c0b91.gif
8th Place
La Vérité aka The Truth (Clouzot 1960)
Edarsenal

89 Points

[rauldc14]

Best gif posted in last 15 minutes

[Citizen Rules]

It's too damn early in the morning to be doing this! I started working on this again at 6am...ack!

[Citizen Rules]

Best gif posted in last 15 minutesI'm just copying them from the noms original write ups. Only problem is not everyone uses photos.

[rauldc14]

It's too damn early in the morning to be doing this! I started working on this again at 6am...ack!

https://media.tenor.com/images/c614aad8a99c0cb10c436797f259e0ba/tenor.gif

[SpelingError]

Holy hell, you guys are going fast. Sad my nom came in at 10th place, but oh well.

[SpelingError]

And yeah, expected Themroc to come in last place. I didn't hate it, but I put it at #13 on my ballot.

[rauldc14]

Holy hell, you guys are going fast. Sad my nom came in at 10th place, but oh well.

It was a great nom though. It got me to watch Coven as well.

[Citizen Rules]

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=78627
7th Place
Chimes at Midnight (Orson Welles 1965)
Torgo

90 Points

[SpelingError]

It was a great nom though. It got me to watch Coven as well.

Thanks! I'm glad I introduced it to someone else in here who loved it.

[Citizen Rules]

It was a great nom though. It got me to watch Coven as well.I looked for Coven on Youtube but couldn't find it. I loved American Movie myself, Mark seems like a pretty cool and yet strange guy!

[SpelingError]

Chimes at Midnight was #2 on my ballot. Masterpiece.

[rauldc14]

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=78627
7th Place
Chimes at Midnight (Orson Welles 1965)
Torgo

90 Points

https://media.tenor.com/images/bb4eaff4c5bdb33dbc74c21e24c0d339/tenor.gif

[Citizen Rules]

https://prod-images.tcm.com/v5cache/TCM/Images/Dynamic/i491/lesmiserables35_awonderfuleffort_fc_470x264_031120190313.jpg?w=400
6th Place
Les Misérables (Boleslawski 1935)
Cricket

97 Points

[SpelingError]

Les Miserables is pretty solid. I put it at #8.

[Citizen Rules]

The best Cricket HoF nom ever! I really liked that movie, Frederick March is a helluva an actor.

[rauldc14]

https://prod-images.tcm.com/v5cache/TCM/Images/Dynamic/i491/lesmiserables35_awonderfuleffort_fc_470x264_031120190313.jpg?w=400
6th Place
Les Misérables (Boleslawski 1935)
Cricket

97 Points

https://i.gifer.com/U8h.gif

[Torgo]

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=78627
7th Place
Chimes at Midnight (Orson Welles 1965)
Torgo

90 PointsThat's 3 slots better than my pick from the 24th. Not too shabby.

[Citizen Rules]

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/4c/6d/ca/4c6dca36a478a0fabf1c6b62052ee998.jpg
5th Place
The Long Goodby (Altman 1973)
Siddon


98 Points

[Citizen Rules]

I forgot who nominated The Long Goodby? Who was it?

[SpelingError]

I forgot who nominated The Long Goodby? Who was it?


Siddon, I think.

[seanc]

Not bad for my favorite of the noms. I know a couple people didn’t like it. Whiplash did much better than I though. I even put it third.

[rauldc14]

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=78063
5th Place
The Long Goodby (Altman 1973)


98 Points

https://i.gifer.com/6UEH.gif

[Torgo]

I forgot who nominated The Long Goodby? Who was it?
Siddon. That guy who loved Themroc.

[SpelingError]

I didn't love The Long Goodbye, but I did enjoy it quite a bit and I might revisit it down the road.

[rauldc14]

I think the top 2 is obvious. Battle of 3/4 will be interesting

[SpelingError]

My predictions:

4. About Elly
3. Whiplash
2. Bicycle Thieves
1. Vertigo

[rauldc14]

My predictions:

4. About Elly
3. Whiplash
2. Bicycle Thieves
1. Vertigo

Agree

[rauldc14]

Cybele too tying whiplash I say

[Citizen Rules]

Tie for 4th Place

https://64.media.tumblr.com/aacfec0daf12aa38dcff35da4cabe677/tumblr_o1k60n0nuQ1rbe3e3o3_r5_540.gifv
4th Place
Sundays and Cybèle (Bourguignon 1962)
Allaby

104 Points


https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=77757
4th Place
Whiplash (Damien Chazelle 2014)
Sean

104 Points

[SpelingError]

Aye, forgot about Sundays and Cybele.

New prediction:

3. About Elly
2. Bicycle Thieves
1. Vertigo

[Citizen Rules]

Siddon. That guy who loved Themroc.Thanks, I'll update the post in a bit.

[Citizen Rules]

Here we go...bringing it home!

[rauldc14]

Here we go...bringing it home!

https://thumbs.gfycat.com/AchingMediumHanumanmonkey-size_restricted.gif

[SpelingError]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzAfTmC3It0

[Citizen Rules]

https://static01.nyt.com/images/2015/04/08/arts/08ABOUTELLY1/08ABOUTELLY1-superJumbo.jpg
3rd Place
About Elly (Asghar Farhadi 2009)
Raul

105 Points

[SpelingError]

I've seen better Iranian films, but About Elly is really good and would make a for a fine introduction to the country's filmography.

[Citizen Rules]

A lot of love for About Elly, a film I never heard of so I was surprised at how well it did. Obviously a real good choice for a nom.

[rauldc14]

https://static01.nyt.com/images/2015/04/08/arts/08ABOUTELLY1/08ABOUTELLY1-superJumbo.jpg
3rd Place
About Elly (Asghar Farhadi 2009)
Raul

105 Points

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/f4/39/e7/f439e79f7796f78a9d9e6c9d9398d388.gif

[rauldc14]

One of my favorite noms because a lot of people seemed to love it who wouldn't have seen it otherwise for white some time

[Citizen Rules]

The 2nd place movie was only 1 point lower than the winner. A close call!

[Torgo]

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/f4/39/e7/f439e79f7796f78a9d9e6c9d9398d388.gifInteresting choice of GIF considering the subject :shifty:

[Citizen Rules]

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=75271
2nd Place
Bicycle Thieves (Vittorio De Sica 1948)
Citizen

119 Points



WINNER of the 25th HOF
https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=77650
1st Place

Vertigo (Hitchcock 1958)
Rbrayer

120 Points

[rauldc14]

https://media.tenor.com/images/3c78f48fc6b0e229502ef6bc1e08ff44/tenor.gif

[SpelingError]

Happy that Vertigo won. That film was #1 on my ballot.

[rauldc14]

Elly was my 1. Vertigo was my 2 though. Finally Hitch a repeat winner and ties Tarantino.

[SpelingError]

10/10:
1. Vertigo
2. Chimes at Midnight

9/10:
3. American Movie
4. Bicycle Thieves

8/10:
5. BlacKkKlansman
6. Sundays and Cybele
7. About Elly

7/10:
8. Les Miserables
9. Whiplash
10. The Long Goodbye

6/10:
11. The Truth
12. The Green Years

5/10:
13. Themroc

[Citizen Rules]

Congratulations! rbrayer...Vertigo is now the official winner of the 25th HoF and it's movie poster will soon hang in the Hall of Fame Museum:)

Thanks! Everyone! for joining! Super good noms this time...and I almost won too:p

[SpelingError]

Imagine if everyone decided to put Themroc at #1 on their ballots as a joke and it turned out to win by a landslide.

[Torgo]

Imagine if everyone decided to put Themroc at #1 on their ballots as a joke and it turned out to win by a landslide.https://i.imgur.com/QqxJHXu.jpeg

We'd all have a BBQ together to celebrate.

[seanc]

One point, pretty crazy. Congrats Vertigo

Thank you Citizen!

[Siddon]

Whiplash
The Long Goodbye
Bicycle Thieves
Vertigo
BlackKKlansman
American Movie
The Truth
Sundays and Cybele
Les Miserables
About Elly
The Green Years
Themroc

[Citizen Rules]

This is the final order of the noms:

1 Vertigo 120 Points
2 Bicycle Thieves 119 Points
3 About Elly 105 Points
4 Tie Sundays and Cybele 104 Points
4 Tie Whiplash 104 Points
5 The Long Goodbye 98 Points
6 Les Miserables 97 Points
7 Chimes at Midnight 90 Points
8 The Truth 89 Points
9 BlacKKKlansman 88 Points
10 American Movie 80 Points
11 The Green Room 61 Points
12 Themroc 28 Points

[SpelingError]

This is the final order of the noms:

1 Themroc 200 Points
2 Vertigo 120 Points
3 Bicycle Thieves 119 Points
4 About Elly 105 Points
5 Tie Sundays and Cybele 104 Points
6 Tie Whiplash 104 Points
7 The Long Goodbye 98 Points
8 Les Miserables 97 Points
9 Chimes at Midnight 90 Points
10 The Truth 89 Points
11 BlacKKKlansman 88 Points
12 American Movie 80 Points
13 The Green Room 61 Points


Fixed :)

[seanc]

I could have helped Whiplash to 3, and Bicycle Thieves win simply by putting my nom #1. Close hall.

[ueno_station54]

Thanks friends, this sure was something lol. Only three I'd consider duds so I guess it could have been worse :)

01. Chimes at Midnight rating_4
02. Themroc rating_4
03. About Elly rating_3_5
04. The Truth rating_3_5
05. BlacKkKlansman rating_3_5
06. Les Miz rating_3
07. Sundays and Cybele rating_3
08. Bicycle Thieves rating_3
09. The Long Goodbye rating_2_5
10. American Movie rating_2_5
11. The Green Years rating_2
12. Vertigo rating_1_5
13. Whiplash rating_0_5

[Allaby]

Great job everyone! Fun, fun, fun! Thanks to Citizen for hosting.

[edarsenal]

https://static01.nyt.com/images/2015/04/08/arts/08ABOUTELLY1/08ABOUTELLY1-superJumbo.jpg
3rd Place
About Elly (Asghar Farhadi 2009)
Raul

105 Points

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/f4/39/e7/f439e79f7796f78a9d9e6c9d9398d388.gif

I LOVE that gif!!

CONGRATS @Rbayer for the WIN!!! with Vertigo along with the usual THANKS and ACCOLADES to our Host, our Rocker, our Roller, CR!!!!!!!

Seeing my Vote will explain my review for About Elly since I placed it as low as I had and truly feel it didn't belong so low. With a second viewing, I'm sure it would have risen to around #7 and only because of my enjoyment of the films above it. Including my own that I unabashedly loved, hence the #1 spot for it.
Two and three was a bit of a battle and much like the final results for the HoF was a tight call.
7,8 and 9 were almost interchangeable - ALMOST
and with my placement of Vertigo at #10 says a lot for a Hitchcock film from me. Though I don't think a secondary or third would change it much. Especially against my top six for this Hall of Fame.


1) The Truth #8
2) Sundays and Cybele TIE #4
3) Bicycle Thieves #2
4) Les Miserables #6
5) Chimes at Midnight #7
6) The Green Years #11
7) Whiplash TIE #4
8) The Long Goodbye #5
9) BlacKKKlansman #9
10) Vertigo #1
11) About Elly #3
12) American Movie #10
13) Themroc #12

[neiba]

Whoa, I think I never disagreed more with the final ranking! Still, really happy Vertigo won this, Hitchcock's best film deserves to be in the HoF (as do #2, #3 ... #50)

My list:


About Elly
Whiplash
Vertigo
Bicycle Thieves
The Green Years
Chimes at Midnight
Sundays and Cybele
The Truth
The Long Goodbye
Les Miserables
BlacKKKlansman
American Movie
Themroc


Thanks CR and congratulations all for such a smooth HoF.

[cricket]

The best Cricket HoF nom ever! I really liked that movie, Frederick March is a helluva an actor.

You liked The Big Country more, I think

[CosmicRunaway]

I don't really have anything to say about the final placement of the films on the list, as nothing was too surprising, and I don't have anything new to saw about any of the nominations.

I did notice that a couple people put BlacKkKlansman at #5 on their lists, which was amusing since that's where I put it too haha. Here's what my ballot looked like:

01. About Elly (2009)
02. La Vérité (1960)
03. Vertigo (1958)
04. Whiplash (2014)
05. BlacKkKlansman (2018)
06. Les Misérables (1935)
07. The Long Goodbye (1973)
08. Sundays and Cybèle (1962)
09. Bicycle Thieves (1948)
10. Os Verdes Anos (1963)
11. Chimes at Midnight
12. American Movie
13. Themroc

Congrats Rbrayer, and thanks again CR for being an excellent host! :up:

[cricket]

No big surprises except how low American Movie was. I would have liked to have seen The Truth do better.

Thank you very much CR and congratulations to the winner! F**k the losers!

Sundays and Cybele
Les Miserables
The Truth
Bicycle Thieves
The Long Goodbye
About Elly
American Movie
The Green Years
Blackkklansman
Whiplash
Vertigo
Themroc
Chimes at Midnight

[rauldc14]

This was a solid HOF and I really look forward to Spelingerror hosting the next one!

Here's my ballot:
1. About Elly
2. Vertigo
3. Whiplash
4. American Movie
5. The Long Goodbye
6. Black Klanssman
7. Les Miserables
8. The Truth
9. Sundays and Cybele
10. Bicycle Thieves


11. Chimes at Midnight





12. The Green Years












13. Themroc

[Citizen Rules]

You liked The Big Country more, I thinkTrue dat!

[rbrayer]

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=78483
11th place
The Green Years (Paulo Rocha 1963)
Neiba

61 Points

Shocking. Far better than many films on this list.

[rbrayer]

Congratulations! rbrayer...Vertigo is now the official winner of the 25th HoF and it's movie poster will soon hang in the Hall of Fame Museum:)

Thanks! Everyone! for joining! Super good noms this time...and I almost won too:p

Amazing! I'm now 2/2 in HOFs. I am going to retire undefeated... :)

Kidding, but I may take a break from #26. We'll see! Thanks to everyone for participating and especially to Citizen Rules for his all his hard work in organizing and running this!

[rbrayer]

My ballot:

1. Vertigo
2. Bicycle Thieves
3. The Green Years
4. Chimes at Midnight
5. Les Miserables
6. American Movie
7. The Long Goodbye
8. About Elly
9. Whiplash
10. Black KKKlansman
11. Sundays and Cybele
12. Themroc
13. The Truth

So obviously after #2 I was in a different place than most voters. FWIW, #12 and #13 are the only ones I actively disliked. Sundays was OK, Black KKKlansman had its moments, and there are things to admire about Whiplash, certainly. #4-7 could have gone lots of ways for me, all great movies. I really liked About Elly but I don't think it was quite in the class of my #1-7.

edit: I forgot to say, I am so glad I did this. I saw two amazing films for the first time (The Green Years, which, who knows if I ever would have watched, and Les Mis) and one very very good film (About Elly). Also, the rewatches of Vertigo, Bicycle Thieves, American Movie, Chimes, and The Long Goodbye, all gave me new, interesting insights into the films - I'd be unlikely to have rewatched otherwise. And I got to check off Whiplash. Loved it. I hope I can do the 26th - my guess is without the need to finish another HOF (the Asian one) this could be less constraining an exercise. We will see. Whichever is my next main HOF, 26 or 27, I know my nominee, and it likely won't win :).

[MovieMeditation]

I see Vertigo won.

Everything ended as it should then:cool:

[Citizen Rules]

Amazing! I'm now 2/2 in HOFs. I am going to retire undefeated... :)

Kidding, but I may take a break from #26. We'll see!

Thanks to everyone for participating and especially to Citizen Rules for his all his hard work in organizing and running this!Go for 3/3:)

I'm so glad when someone new to HoFs, joins and loves them. Hope to see you in the 26th!

[rauldc14]

I see Vertigo won.

Everything ended as it should then:cool:

Join us next time sir!

[MovieMeditation]

Join us next time sir!
I do have some vacation coming up. So perhaps it'll be possible.

[seanc]

I do have some vacation coming up. So perhaps it'll be possible.

Don’t tease me MM