View Full Version : Personal Recommendation Hall of Fame VI
Hey Fredrick
08-21-22, 12:36 PM
I wouldn't recommend Santa Sangre to a lot of people but seeing some of what you own/have seen I knew I could nominate something with a little edge to it, a little out of the ordinary.
edarsenal
08-21-22, 01:05 PM
I have not heard of Tsotsi, so it was very cool to get some feedback on it
Citizen Rules
08-21-22, 01:10 PM
https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.themusichall.org%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F11%2F2006_FilmClub_BodyHeat.jpg&f=1&nofb=1
Body Heat (1981)
Wahoo, this was a good one! I thought I might like it but I didn't think it would be so well crafted and it really was well written. I went into this blind except of course I'd heard of this ever since it first came out. I imaged that this was a crime drama and indeed IMDB tags it as Crime-Drama-Romance...but hot damn this was a neo-noir and one of the best neo-noirs I've seen.
Right at the start when this shady lawyer tries to pick up this hot woman on a hot night in Florida, I was hooked. I noticed the dialog between William Hurt and Kathleen Turner sounded like the famous lines between Boggie and Bacall in To Have and Have Not. Other movies have emulated To Have and Have Not, only they come off as a faux copy of the original. Here in Body Heat the 'pick up' dialogue sounds natural. I believed these people would talk and act like this. So that was the first act which blew me away!
The second act was the planning and execution of the murder of Turner's husband. This is where I though 'how cool' that it was inspired by one of my favorite movies Double Indemnity. And yet like the first act it wasn't some hackney copy, it was it's own movie and that's not always easy to do in neo-noir. The second act was short but effective.
Now the third act is usually where films lose me as they go way over the top, but not here, everything was still balanced nicely. The third act has the non-too-bright lawyer (William Hurt) slowly becoming a suspect in the murder of Kathleen Turner's husband. I loved that the film never rushes that suspicion and despite the rather hap-hazard behavior of the lawyer he manages to be smart enough to explain or avoid most of the situations that would land him in hot water.
Such an intelligently written film, I enjoyed it.
Thanks to whoever chose it!
I just finished watching Wendy and Lucy (2008). Directed by Kelly Reichardt, this drama stars Michelle Williams and the beautiful Lucy (the dog). It's about a drifter and her dog and the challenges they face. I had been meaning to see this one for a while now, but had never gotten around to it. I'm glad I got to see it now. This is an excellent film. Michelle Williams is great here and Lucy the doggy is fantastic. The story is told in an interesting and effective way. I cared about the cares and was invested in their journey and what would happen to them. The film is only an hour and 20 minutes and I appreciated that they didn't feel the need to stretch things out and told the story so well in such an economical manner. I've now seen four films directed by Kelly Reichardt and this is my favourite of the ones I have seen. My guess is that Citizen Rules picked this one for me. Whoever it was, good job! 4.5
Citizen Rules
08-21-22, 01:24 PM
I just finished watching Wendy and Lucy (2008). Directed by Kelly Reichardt... My guess is that Citizen Rules picked this one for me. Whoever it was, good job! rating_4_5 I love Wendy and Lucy and did consider it for some people, but nope not my choice. BTW Kelly Reichardt is my favorite director who's still making movies.
I love Wendy and Lucy and did consider it for some people, but nope not my choice. BTW Kelly Reichardt is my favorite director who's still making movies.
Until you see Magnolia
Wyldesyde19
08-21-22, 02:42 PM
I love Wendy and Lucy. That ending crushed me.
Wyldesyde19
08-21-22, 02:46 PM
The Ballad of Narayama (1983)
I saw an older movie by the same title and didn't like it, but I think this is the same director as Vengeance is Mine and Black Rain, 2 movies I loved. I think Ebert list?
Cannes list. The original 1957 version is on Eberts list.
cricket
08-21-22, 03:21 PM
I hate doing blind noms so Tsotsi it was. I was going to try The Terrorist again but didn't. So there's that. I get what you mean about it being a clean looking film and I also like my gritty films gritty but it's not something that I even thought about while watching this. There were a couple things I may have had a little quibble with, very LITTLE, but by the time the final scene was finished it had won me over. I enjoyed the transformation of Tsotsi. I usually am not a fan of flashbacks but the couple they used here to show how Tsotsi became Tsotsi were pretty heartbreaking/powerful. I had it at rating_4_5
The flashbacks worked well because they were so minimal yet it showed the root of his issues.
Cannes list. The original 1957 version is on Eberts list.
That makes sense because I thought I saw the title there.
cricket
08-21-22, 03:24 PM
I always thought it was weird that I loved Body Heat at a young age. It's a mature movie and at that point I didn't like mature movies. Love Turner and Hurt in it. It was on my list of contenders for CR.
Wendy and Lucy was not on my list of contenders for Allaby. I'm a sucker for films with dogs but I thought it was just ok. It's been a while but I never got the love for it or the director.
CosmicRunaway
08-21-22, 03:26 PM
I watched A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, but won't be writing anything about it until tomorrow. This has been a great start so far, so I hope the trend continues throughout the HoF. :up:
Citizen Rules
08-21-22, 04:24 PM
Until you see MagnoliaCould be, I've liked other PTA movies.
I love Wendy and Lucy. That ending crushed me.For me what I liked about Wendy and Lucy and other of Reichardt movies was the moments in between. I don't need big endings in movies but the ending in W&L was perfect.
I always thought it was weird that I loved Body Heat at a young age. It's a mature movie and at that point I didn't like mature movies. Love Turner and Hurt in it. It was on my list of contenders for CR. I was never a big fan of Kathleen Turner though she was perfect for the role. I guess I don't find her attractive or sexy though she is, does that makes sense?
cricket
08-21-22, 05:04 PM
I was never a big fan of Kathleen Turner though she was perfect for the role. I guess I don't find her attractive or sexy though she is, does that makes sense?
As a young teen I was totally into her. Then I got into classier and more sophisticated women, like Pam Anderson and Carmen Electra.
Citizen Rules
08-21-22, 05:50 PM
As a young teen I was totally into her. Then I got into classier and more sophisticated women, like Pam Anderson and Carmen Electra.Carmen Electra was hot back in the day.
Hey Fredrick
08-21-22, 09:23 PM
Roxanne
I think this was a good choice for me, even if it doesn’t end up being terribly successful. I love Steve Martin, and since I just got done gushing over him a few times in the comedy countdown, I assume that’s why this was chosen for me. I did enjoy this quite a but when it was Martin being Martin. I also like how sweet this movie is. They could have easily just made Chris into a creep, but they don’t, and his character had a nice little arc.
Where the movie loses me is in the contrived identity situational comedy. I can absolutely love silly comedy, but I grow frustrated when characters are put in situations where it would be obvious what is happening. I’m talking about the letter writing and the date scene of course. This frustrates me with sitcoms and it definitely makes the middle third of this movie pretty rough for me.
Glad I saw this, and enjoyed it somewhat so it was not a bad choice. Just one that likely won’t rank at the top when all is said and done.
Pretty much agree with everything you said. The date scene is silly, so I get ya on that and the movie overall is pretty standard 80's fluff but it's a rom-com that actually works for me. I do think it's one of Martin's best performances even if it isn't one of his best movies.
cricket
08-21-22, 09:37 PM
Life is Sweet (1990)
https://s3.amazonaws.com/criterion-production/images/5121-d25319ae653432057812b589891f3e25/LIS_Essay_Current_medium.jpg
#95 on the British films list from the same director of Naked and Secrets & Lies, 2 movies I'm a big fan of. No plot, just a look at the lives of mom and dad, their 2 teen daughters, and a couple of people in their lives.
I needed this movie to grow on me and it did. A couple of characters were sometimes silly and annoying to me, but not to the point of being unrealistic. It's one of those movies in which nothing particularly bad happens, yet it's sort of depressing. It's also sort of funny on occasion. I didn't have a firm grip on it to be honest, but it felt very real. The acting was very good and it needed to be because that's what carries the movie. Not completely without drama but I was hoping for something a little heavier at some point. It was a good slice of London area life.
3.5
cricket
08-21-22, 09:45 PM
Not sure if it's next but I'll be watching Tank Girl within the next few days while it's on Prime.
Citizen Rules
08-21-22, 10:00 PM
Life is Sweet (1990)
It's one of those movies in which nothing particularly bad happens, yet it's sort of depressing. It's also sort of funny on occasion. I didn't have a firm grip on it to be honest, but it felt very real.
I hated Naked but Life is Sweet sounds like it might be my cup of tea. I do like movies that aren't about much and just sorta shows us people's lives.
cricket
08-21-22, 10:10 PM
I hated Naked but Life is Sweet sounds like it might be my cup of tea. I do like movies that aren't about much and just sorta shows us people's lives.
Yes and I also think you'd enjoy Secrets & Lies.
Hey Fredrick
08-21-22, 10:22 PM
https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fi1.wp.com%2F49.media.tumblr.com%2Fd04ddc1810a4e9a61d82cc7e01911388%2Ftumblr_ng96lp8l fr1sdn7heo1_500.gif%3Fresize%3D620%252C456%26quality%3D80%26strip%3Dall%26ssl%3D1&f=1&nofb=1
As I hinted at yesterday I watched The Red Shoes and I have to admit it may be the best movie about ballet I have ever seen. I don't know if this is cheating or not but before the movie was over I looked up the fairy tale on which the ballet was based and that may have been a bit spoilerish for the movie but then again the movie wasn't a retelling of that tale directly so eh. It was about Victoria, her composer lover Julian, their disapproving boss, Boris and red shoes.
Basic plot is Victoria is a relatively unknown dancer, with boatloads of talent and, if given the opportunity, will be one of best ever. With a little help from her friends she finds herself in a very well respected ballet company run by Boris. Boris is all about the company. He has a little of Fletcher from Whiplash in him (a little), he's a demanding SOB and he's worried that any kind of romance/distraction will ruin Vicky's chance at being the best, in turn costing him some money. I don't think it's a jealousy thing with Boris, it's a money thing. That's my take anyway. While at the company Victoria hooks up with the new composer, Julian, falls in love much to the Boss' chagrin, he boots them, more stuff happens, she comes back for one more performance of the Red Shoes, which had been retired from production since she and Julian left and finis. That's the condensed, Cliff Notes version if you want to fail your high scool report on The Red Shoes.
Okay, so the highlights:
1. the 15 minute ballet of The Red Shoes, in the middle of the movie.That was soo good. The cinematography and fx were very impressive for a 1940's film.
2. The music all the way through was good.
3. The movie doesn't follow the fairy tale but the fairy tale inspires much of what happens. It's neat how it ties together
4. The ending.
I thought it started a little slow but by the time the Red Shoes was performed I was in. Of the actors, never heard of any of them so I gotta look them up, the guy who portrayed Boris - Anton Walbrook- was great. I didn't like him at all, so well done. Moira Shearer plays Vicky and she was solid. Her dancing is pretty outstanding and finally Marius Goring played Julian. I thought he did well but for me Vicky and Boris kind of overshadowed him a little.
I would never have picked this for me but good job to whoever did. You know me better than I know me. I'd watch this again. Not saying this is going to win, only Pandora's Box went wire to wire for me in one of these HoF's, but it's a helluva start.
cricket
08-21-22, 10:24 PM
I'd like to see The Red Shoes again. I've only seen it once and I think I can get more out of it.
Definitely need to see Life Is Sweet again. Think it was just my second Leigh, and I have become a big fan since going through quite a bit of his filmography.
PHOENIX74
08-21-22, 11:59 PM
I got myself In the Heat of the Night on Criterion and watched it recently - I already loved it though. I haven't seen a Mike Leigh film I haven't liked, and that includes, of course, Life is Sweet. When I saw The Red Shoes for the first time, around a year ago, it completely blew my mind and automatically qualified as one of the best films I'd ever seen. None of my nominations have come up yet, I don't think.
I'll probably get started with Dances With Wolves sometime soon.
gbgoodies
08-22-22, 12:48 AM
88499
Roxanne
I think this was a good choice for me, even if it doesn’t end up being terribly successful. I love Steve Martin, and since I just got done gushing over him a few times in the comedy countdown, I assume that’s why this was chosen for me. I did enjoy this quite a but when it was Martin being Martin. I also like how sweet this movie is. They could have easily just made Chris into a creep, but they don’t, and his character had a nice little arc.
Where the movie loses me is in the contrived identity situational comedy. I can absolutely love silly comedy, but I grow frustrated when characters are put in situations where it would be obvious what is happening. I’m talking about the letter writing and the date scene of course. This frustrates me with sitcoms and it definitely makes the middle third of this movie pretty rough for me.
Glad I saw this, and enjoyed it somewhat so it was not a bad choice. Just one that likely won’t rank at the top when all is said and done.
I don’t care if people tell me who nominated after I watch. Certainly won’t effect my rankings. I’m not bothered if people want to wait till the end either. I’m guessing Allaby for this rec. I may have some inside info for that guess, we will see if I’m correct.
I'm usually hit or miss with Steve Martin movies because sometimes he's just too "over the top" for my taste, but I think Roxanne is one of his better movies. I haven't seen it in a while, but I remember liking it a lot.
gbgoodies
08-22-22, 12:52 AM
I don't think I've seen this, at least I've not crossed it off my list yet though it seems familiar to me. I wonder how many movies I've seen and forgotten? Not hard to do when you've been watching movies for a long time! I've not see that many of Steve Martin's films most of the ones I've seen I'd rate as OK.
For Steve Martin movies, in addition to Roxanne, I'd also recommend All of Me (1984). It's one of his funniest movies.
gbgoodies
08-22-22, 01:16 AM
https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=88501
Predestination (2014)
Directed by: Michael Spierig, Peter Spierig
Starring: Ethan Hawke, Sarah Snook, Noah Taylor
Predestination captured my attention right from its opening shots. They were so purposefully framed that I knew paying attention to small details throughout the film would reveal information that a casual viewer might initially miss. I pieced together almost every aspect of the story's “twists” quite early on, but that didn't negatively affect my enjoyment of the film in any way. Instead, I appreciated how well the film makers laid out the groundwork for those major reveals.
The visual style, atmosphere, and tone of the film all worked really well for me. Even without the aforementioned clues for attentive audiences, I would've praised the film's cinematography. The Unmarried Mother's story was rather compelling, and the performances by Ethan Hawke and Sarah Snook were quite captivating. I'm not sure why, but I keep forgetting how much I like Ethan Hawke as an actor until I see him on screen again.
Based on the posters I saw before hand, and the brief “action thriller” description I had read, I expected a much different film than the thought-provoking drama Predestination delivered. So ultimately, the biggest twist for me was that it wasn't an action film at all, and I'm perfectly happy with that. If I could change anything, I wish I didn't know the film's title before I saw it, as it does remove some of the initial mystery, but that's practically impossible to do these days.
I loved Predestination the first time I saw it, and it was even better when I rewatched it a few months ago.
On a different note, did anyone else think that in the bar scenes, Sarah Snook looked like a young Leonardo DiCaprio?
88524
88525
gbgoodies
08-22-22, 01:26 AM
I just finished watching Wendy and Lucy (2008). Directed by Kelly Reichardt, this drama stars Michelle Williams and the beautiful Lucy (the dog). It's about a drifter and her dog and the challenges they face. I had been meaning to see this one for a while now, but had never gotten around to it. I'm glad I got to see it now. This is an excellent film. Michelle Williams is great here and Lucy the doggy is fantastic. The story is told in an interesting and effective way. I cared about the cares and was invested in their journey and what would happen to them. The film is only an hour and 20 minutes and I appreciated that they didn't feel the need to stretch things out and told the story so well in such an economical manner. I've now seen four films directed by Kelly Reichardt and this is my favourite of the ones I have seen. My guess is that Citizen Rules picked this one for me. Whoever it was, good job! 4.5
It's been a while since I watched Wendy and Lucy, but I remember it being a great movie that was so heartbreaking to watch that I haven't had a desire to rewatch it.
CosmicRunaway
08-22-22, 03:15 AM
On a different note, did anyone else think that in the bar scenes, Sarah Snook looked like a young Leonardo DiCaprio?
I was trying to figure out who Snook reminded me of in those scenes, and you're spot on. A young Leonardo DiCaprio wearing make-up to make himself look older is exactly what I was thinking.
CosmicRunaway
08-22-22, 11:14 AM
https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=88527
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014)
Directed by: Ana Lily Amirpour
Starring: Sheila Vand, Arash Marandi, Mozhan Marnò
With its minimal use of dialogue, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night relies heavily on its visuals and atmosphere to tell most of its story. It has the confidence to present itself without any real explanation, while mixing Iranian and American culture together in a rather interesting manner. The soundtrack features a similar blending of styles, adding yet another distinct layer to an already unique film experience.
The cinematography is absolutely fantastic. The lighting, framing, and mise-en-scène in general work well together to create truly captivating images. There's a great use of contrast, not only with its visual style, but within the titular girl herself. While the chador can make her appear meek and unassuming, it's also used menacingly when she stalks the townspeople at night, where it frequently resembles a classic vampire's cloak.
Despite not having much spoken dialogue to work with, the performances in A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night are amazing. There's tension and emotion in the actors' movements and expressions that don't require the use of words. When the silence is broken, it's also handled incredibly well, like in the scene where the girl warns the street kid to be a good boy. It's a slow film with an underlying current of terror, but it also surprisingly manages to balance that with its romance in a very satisfying manner.
88529
Blow Out:
I don't have much of a history with DePalma at this point. I have seen a few of his movies, but none of them have left a big impression with me one way or the other. That may seem kind of surprising considering one of the movies I have watched is Scarface. That movie really seems to divide people. I just found it to be a decent crime flick, elevated a bit by Pacino. Probably knocked down a notch or two in mind because it feels a little try hard in its bigger moments. Certainly a mixed bag.
Anyhow, not here to talk about Scarface. I had heard that Hitch influenced DePalma greatly and Blow Out brings that diagnosis firmly into the light. As Hitch moved into the 70's late in his life, and directed things like Frenzy, you could tell that he had a smutty side that had been just waiting to come out. DePalma takes that baton and runs with it, although Blow Out always feels just trashy enough. I like that about it. It's a seedy movie and isn't afraid to lean into that. Exhibit one is the opening, which I found to be an absolutely brilliant entrance into this world, even if I would never actually want to sit down and watch that movie.
DePalma is an expert with the camera. When he decides for it to be very active, when he goes for close-ups, when he keeps us at a distance. This is really an art and, often, what separates the great directors form the decent ones in my opinion. I love everything about the way this movies looks. The studio where Travolta works is perfect. Another brilliant decision is the length of time DePalma chooses to spend with the processes Travolta is using for editing his sounds and visuals. A lesser film would certainly spend less time with this since it doesn't propel the plot quickly enough. These are some of the cooler moments in the film for me.
Two things keep this from being a perfect film for me. I would have cast someone other than Allen. It may be mean to say, but I just flat out didn't find her very good or compelling. Especially when most of her scenes are matched up with Travolta, who I always find compelling even when he chooses bad roles. She also has a couple great scenes with Dennis Franz, who frankly, just out acts her big time.
My other issues is a subplot involving Lithgow that I won't spoil, because anyone who has seen the movie knows exactly what I'm talking about. It just felt totally unnecessary. Lithgow is great though, and super creepy.
Even though I could tell where the final scene was going to end up. I still enjoyed that immensely. Everything tied in very nicely, and it felt very appropriate for Travolta's character. Glad I finally got to see Blow Out. Probably going to be hard to beat for my top spot.
I have no clue who nominated it. I would guess Cricket because it seems like his kind of movie, but I can also see him not thinking it' not quite right for me. I will guess Siddon.
https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=88529
Blow Out:
I don't have much of a history with DePalma at this point. I have seen a few of his movies, but none of them have left a big impression with me one way or the other. That may seem kind of surprising considering one of the movies I have watched is Scarface. That movie really seems to divide people. I just found it to be a decent crime flick, elevated a bit by Pacino. Probably knocked down a notch or two in mind because it feels a little try hard in its bigger moments. Certainly a mixed bag.
Anyhow, not here to talk about Scarface. I had heard that Hitch influenced DePalma greatly and Blow Out brings that diagnosis firmly into the light. As Hitch moved into the 70's late in his life, and directed things like Frenzy, you could tell that he had a smutty side that had been just waiting to come out. DePalma takes that baton and runs with it, although Blow Out always feels just trashy enough. I like that about it. It's a seedy movie and isn't afraid to lean into that. Exhibit one is the opening, which I found to be an absolutely brilliant entrance into this world, even if I would never actually want to sit down and watch that movie.
DePalma is an expert with the camera. When he decides for it to be very active, when he goes for close-ups, when he keeps us at a distance. This is really an art and, often, what separates the great directors form the decent ones in my opinion. I love everything about the way this movies looks. The studio where Travolta works is perfect. Another brilliant decision is the length of time DePalma chooses to spend with the processes Travolta is using for editing his sounds and visuals. A lesser film would certainly spend less time with this since it doesn't propel the plot quickly enough. These are some of the cooler moments in the film for me.
Two things keep this from being a perfect film for me. I would have cast someone other than Allen. It may be mean to say, but I just flat out didn't find her very good or compelling. Especially when most of her scenes are matched up with Travolta, who I always find compelling even when he chooses bad roles. She also has a couple great scenes with Dennis Franz, who frankly, just out acts her big time.
My other issues is a subplot involving Lithgow that I won't spoil, because anyone who has seen the movie knows exactly what I'm talking about. It just felt totally unnecessary. Lithgow is great though, and super creepy.
Even though I could tell where the final scene was going to end up. I still enjoyed that immensely. Everything tied in very nicely, and it felt very appropriate for Travolta's character. Glad I finally got to see Blow Out. Probably going to be hard to beat for my top spot.
I have no clue who nominated it. I would guess Cricket because it seems like his kind of movie, but I can also see him not thinking it' not quite right for me. I will guess Siddon.
Nope, Blowout is a good movie but not a top movie for me...it's actually not hard to find my pick for you
Citizen Rules
08-22-22, 12:14 PM
Blow Out
I will guess Siddon.I guess Siddon too, which then makes me think he chose Body Heat for me.
So after reading your review of Blow Out, I wouldn't mind if someone picked that for me in PR7. I like Travolta and I think John Lithgow is one of the most effective actors to grace the screen. I'd agree that Nancy Allen is not the greatest actress, but I always thought she was cute in the 1980s. I never seen Blow Out but like Body Heat I've heard of it ever since it first came out.
EDIT: Sean and I were wrong Siddon didn't pick Blow Out.
88529
Blow Out:
I don't have much of a history with DePalma at this point. I have seen a few of his movies, but none of them have left a big impression with me one way or the other. That may seem kind of surprising considering one of the movies I have watched is Scarface. That movie really seems to divide people. I just found it to be a decent crime flick, elevated a bit by Pacino. Probably knocked down a notch or two in mind because it feels a little try hard in its bigger moments. Certainly a mixed bag.
Anyhow, not here to talk about Scarface. I had heard that Hitch influenced DePalma greatly and Blow Out brings that diagnosis firmly into the light. As Hitch moved into the 70's late in his life, and directed things like Frenzy, you could tell that he had a smutty side that had been just waiting to come out. DePalma takes that baton and runs with it, although Blow Out always feels just trashy enough. I like that about it. It's a seedy movie and isn't afraid to lean into that. Exhibit one is the opening, which I found to be an absolutely brilliant entrance into this world, even if I would never actually want to sit down and watch that movie.
DePalma is an expert with the camera. When he decides for it to be very active, when he goes for close-ups, when he keeps us at a distance. This is really an art and, often, what separates the great directors form the decent ones in my opinion. I love everything about the way this movies looks. The studio where Travolta works is perfect. Another brilliant decision is the length of time DePalma chooses to spend with the processes Travolta is using for editing his sounds and visuals. A lesser film would certainly spend less time with this since it doesn't propel the plot quickly enough. These are some of the cooler moments in the film for me.
Two things keep this from being a perfect film for me. I would have cast someone other than Allen. It may be mean to say, but I just flat out didn't find her very good or compelling. Especially when most of her scenes are matched up with Travolta, who I always find compelling even when he chooses bad roles. She also has a couple great scenes with Dennis Franz, who frankly, just out acts her big time.
My other issues is a subplot involving Lithgow that I won't spoil, because anyone who has seen the movie knows exactly what I'm talking about. It just felt totally unnecessary. Lithgow is great though, and super creepy.
Even though I could tell where the final scene was going to end up. I still enjoyed that immensely. Everything tied in very nicely, and it felt very appropriate for Travolta's character. Glad I finally got to see Blow Out. Probably going to be hard to beat for my top spot.
I have no clue who nominated it. I would guess Cricket because it seems like his kind of movie, but I can also see him not thinking it' not quite right for me. I will guess Siddon.
It was probably that bearded Canadian guy who nominated it. I think his name is Steve. I heard he has Blow Out on Criterion blu ray and thinks it is a great film. 😉
Citizen Rules
08-22-22, 12:25 PM
It was probably that bearded Canadian guy who nominated it. I think his name is Steve. I heard he has Blow Out on Criterion blu ray and thinks it is a great film. 😉So does that mean you picked Body Heat for me? It's OK you can tell;)
So does that mean you picked Body Heat for me? It's OK you can tell;)
Nope! I picked Showgirls for you (even though it is not on any of the lists).
Citizen Rules
08-22-22, 12:35 PM
Nope! I picked Showgirls for you (even though it is not on any of the lists).:pSeriously I'd like to see Showgirls again. I seen that at the theater when it came out and liked it...I keep hoping someone will nom it in an HoF.
:pSeriously I'd like to see Showgirls again. I seen that at the theater when it came out and liked it...I keep hoping someone will nom it in an HoF.
I thought Showgirls was terrible. Maybe I will nominate it for a future hall of infamy.
Citizen Rules
08-22-22, 12:39 PM
Always guess the CanuckOh, that was a typo in my reply to you about Blow Out. I was trying to say: Nancy Allen was not the greatest, but I left out not...good grief, I need to proof read.
BTW you said you seen most of Mike Leigh's filmography. Did you see Happy Go Lucky? I thought that looked interesting and I also like Sally Hawkins so I tried to watch it twice and shut it off after 15 minutes both times as I wasn't believing the dialogue between the girl friends (it seemed so contrived). I'm just wondering if the film gets better?
Citizen Rules
08-22-22, 12:40 PM
I thought Showgirls was terrible. Maybe I will nominate it for a future hall of infamy.Oh rats, I'll probably won't be joining any of those...though I think they are a great idea!
Oh, that was a typo in my reply to you about Blow Out. I was trying to say: Nancy Allen was not the greatest, but I left out not...good grief, I need to proof read.
BTW you said you seen most of Mike Leigh's filmography. Did you see Happy Go Lucky? I thought that looked interesting and I also like Sally Hawkins so I tried to watch it twice and shut it off after 15 minutes both times as I wasn't believing the dialogue between the girl friends (it seemed so contrived). I'm just wondering if the film gets better?
I really enjoyed it. I think Sally Hawkins is fantastic. I don’t think it would get better for you though. The movie is definitely coming from her point of view, so everything is pretty heightened. It’s been a while but my guess is that’s what was bothering you.
Citizen Rules
08-22-22, 01:05 PM
I really enjoyed it. I think Sally Hawkins is fantastic. I don’t think it would get better for you though. The movie is definitely coming from her point of view, so everything is pretty heightened. It’s been a while but my guess is that’s what was bothering you.Thanks. I mean I could watch it of course, I just didn't get into it, so didn't stay with it.
88529
Blow Out:
I don't have much of a history with DePalma at this point. I have seen a few of his movies, but none of them have left a big impression with me one way or the other. That may seem kind of surprising considering one of the movies I have watched is Scarface. That movie really seems to divide people. I just found it to be a decent crime flick, elevated a bit by Pacino. Probably knocked down a notch or two in mind because it feels a little try hard in its bigger moments. Certainly a mixed bag.
Anyhow, not here to talk about Scarface. I had heard that Hitch influenced DePalma greatly and Blow Out brings that diagnosis firmly into the light. As Hitch moved into the 70's late in his life, and directed things like Frenzy, you could tell that he had a smutty side that had been just waiting to come out. DePalma takes that baton and runs with it, although Blow Out always feels just trashy enough. I like that about it. It's a seedy movie and isn't afraid to lean into that. Exhibit one is the opening, which I found to be an absolutely brilliant entrance into this world, even if I would never actually want to sit down and watch that movie.
DePalma is an expert with the camera. When he decides for it to be very active, when he goes for close-ups, when he keeps us at a distance. This is really an art and, often, what separates the great directors form the decent ones in my opinion. I love everything about the way this movies looks. The studio where Travolta works is perfect. Another brilliant decision is the length of time DePalma chooses to spend with the processes Travolta is using for editing his sounds and visuals. A lesser film would certainly spend less time with this since it doesn't propel the plot quickly enough. These are some of the cooler moments in the film for me.
Two things keep this from being a perfect film for me. I would have cast someone other than Allen. It may be mean to say, but I just flat out didn't find her very good or compelling. Especially when most of her scenes are matched up with Travolta, who I always find compelling even when he chooses bad roles. She also has a couple great scenes with Dennis Franz, who frankly, just out acts her big time.
My other issues is a subplot involving Lithgow that I won't spoil, because anyone who has seen the movie knows exactly what I'm talking about. It just felt totally unnecessary. Lithgow is great though, and super creepy.
Even though I could tell where the final scene was going to end up. I still enjoyed that immensely. Everything tied in very nicely, and it felt very appropriate for Travolta's character. Glad I finally got to see Blow Out. Probably going to be hard to beat for my top spot.
I have no clue who nominated it. I would guess Cricket because it seems like his kind of movie, but I can also see him not thinking it' not quite right for me. I will guess Siddon.
Nice. Blow Out is my favorite De Palma.
Blow Out would be my 3rd favourite De Palma, after Scarface and Dressed to Kill. All 3, I rated a 9/10.
SpelingError
08-22-22, 01:25 PM
I'm a huge fan of Blow Out. Definitely a top 3 De Palma for me.
cricket
08-22-22, 01:36 PM
De Palma is one of my favorite directors, with my favorite of his being Carlito's Way. I've been a big Blow Out fan since I saw it at the cinema when I was 10. That may sound crazy but then I saw Carrie when I was 5. I picked about 10 nominations for each member, and Blow Out was not 1 of them for Sean. I am not surprised he loved it, but I wouldn't have predicted it either. I was able to go with my first choice for Sean fortunately. 3 of my possibilities for Sean were picked by other members for Allaby, Siddon, and Wyldesyde, so Sean if you look at what they have to watch, you'll be watching at least 1 of those eventually.
I believe I watched A Girl Walks Home Alone One Night for a horror HoF. Not really my type of horror, but it was gooood.
Wyldesyde19
08-22-22, 01:51 PM
Shelia Vand is beautiful in AGWHAAN
rauldc14
08-22-22, 02:31 PM
Au Revoir Les Enfants
https://film-grab.com/wp-content/uploads/photo-gallery/09%20(102).jpg?bwg=1547147237
Given the subject matter, I feel bad for the fact that I truly couldn't connect all too much with this film, but unfortunately that's the reality of it. Like other Malle films that I've seen, I have a hard time connecting with the characters that he gives us. I couldn't feel too strong of a bond between any of the characters. The film just seems somewhat empty to me. Perhaps it's because I really knew nothing about it going in as well.
The film looks good and that's it's strength for me. There's a lot of pretty cool shots as well. Quite a rather short review but there really isn't a whole lot to talk about on my end.
2.5
Open Your Eyes (1997) I had been meaning to watch this for a while now. I had already seen the English language remake Vanilla Sky and really enjoyed that one. I heard a lot of positive things about Open Your Eyes and most people prefer it over the remake. Now that I have seen both, I personally like the remake a little more, but I did really enjoy Open Your Eyes. This is a smart and well written film, ambitious and interesting, it explores some cool ideas. Performances were good, especially from Eduardo Noriega and Penélope Cruz. The film was well directed by Alejandro Amenábar and out of the four films I have seen by him, this is my favourite. Open Your Eyes is an entertaining and satisfying film. Glad I finally got around to seeing it. My guess is that Thursday nominated it for me. Good nomination! 4
cricket
08-22-22, 04:18 PM
Au Revoir Les Enfants was picked for me in one of these things and I thought it was pretty great. I figured it was a great pick for Raul even though it didn't initially occur to me. I'm surprised by that one.
I really didn't care for Open Your Eyes or Vanilla Sky.
Thursday Next
08-22-22, 04:26 PM
My guess is that Thursday nominated it for me.
You would be correct sir! :)
Citizen Rules
08-22-22, 04:37 PM
I watched Au Revoir Les Enfants (Goodbye, Children) in the WWII HoF, I just read my review and apparently I loved it....
I was knocked out by this, what a great film! I had never heard of it but as soon as the film started I could tell it was going to be special. The director Louis Malle does everything right.
I kept expecting the same old gimmicks or tired archetypes that most movies rely on, but thank goodness not here. This is an intelligent, well crafted, controlled film. It never goes over the top, and never insults the audiences intelligence. It doesn't rely on sensationalism or spectacle to tell it's story...Haven't seen Open Your Eyes but it sounds good I did watch Vanilla Sky and liked it, and I'm due for a rewatch. Oh and glad to see The Red Shoes get a positive reaction, I read that The Red Shoes was one of Martin Scorsese's favorite films.
Thursday Next
08-22-22, 05:05 PM
The American President
As I mentioned before, I've been watching a lot of The West Wing lately (I'm just that far behind the times when it comes to TV...) and The American President, also written by Aaron Sorkin, is often described as a kind of test run for the series, so I was really pleased to see this show up in my nominations as I was really curious about it. It's really quite similar in a lot of ways (some of the cast, some of the issues, even some of the names reappear in TWW ) and yet kind of West Wing-lite overall.
The American President focuses on a romantic relationship between Michael Douglas's widowed President and Annette Bening's lobbyist. (As a couple, they look slightly like the Clintons - or maybe that's just what everyone in politics in the mid 90s looked like). I really liked the premise; in a way it's like an American version of the girl-meets-prince fantasy concept... their first date at a state dinner, another date interrupted by an international crisis, all carried out through the disapproving lens of press scrutiny. The romance didn't quite work for me... I guess what you find romantic can be subjective, but it was all a bit too straightforward. I thought there needed to be more chemistry and more obstacles. It didn't quite seem plausible that everyone would be so disapproving over their relationship.
There was some smart dialogue and it was well acted but it wasn't a good looking film by any means, I thought it could have been better, visually. I would have liked it to have made more of the supporting characters - one of the strengths of The West Wing is its ensemble cast - but maybe that would have made the film too long for what it is.
Altogether, I didn't find it entirely satisfying but I did enjoy watching it and thought it was a good nom for me. I am absolutely no good at guessing who nominated what... especially this early... I'm thinking either Allaby or Wyldesyde?
Thursday Next
08-22-22, 05:10 PM
Au Revoir Les Enfants, A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night and Body Heat are all fantastic but I didn't nominate any of them this time around. A Girl Walks Home... was one I considered for a few people though.
CosmicRunaway
08-22-22, 05:17 PM
It's too late to write anything about it today, but I just finished watching Heathers. I thought Winona Ryder still looked quite youthful in Stranger Things, but man, seeing her so much younger was kind of startling haha.
The American President
As I mentioned before, I've been watching a lot of The West Wing lately (I'm just that far behind the times when it comes to TV...) and The American President, also written by Aaron Sorkin, is often described as a kind of test run for the series, so I was really pleased to see this show up in my nominations as I was really curious about it. It's really quite similar in a lot of ways (some of the cast, some of the issues, even some of the names reappear in TWW ) and yet kind of West Wing-lite overall.
The American President focuses on a romantic relationship between Michael Douglas's widowed President and Annette Bening's lobbyist. (As a couple, they look slightly like the Clintons - or maybe that's just what everyone in politics in the mid 90s looked like). I really liked the premise; in a way it's like an American version of the girl-meets-prince fantasy concept... their first date at a state dinner, another date interrupted by an international crisis, all carried out through the disapproving lens of press scrutiny. The romance didn't quite work for me... I guess what you find romantic can be subjective, but it was all a bit too straightforward. I thought there needed to be more chemistry and more obstacles. It didn't quite seem plausible that everyone would be so disapproving over their relationship.
There was some smart dialogue and it was well acted but it wasn't a good looking film by any means, I thought it could have been better, visually. I would have liked it to have made more of the supporting characters - one of the strengths of The West Wing is its ensemble cast - but maybe that would have made the film too long for what it is.
Altogether, I didn't find it entirely satisfying but I did enjoy watching it and thought it was a good nom for me. I am absolutely no good at guessing who nominated what... especially this early... I'm thinking either Allaby or Wyldesyde?
I’ve seen The American President once years ago but it didn’t leave much of an impression. I wasn’t the one who nominated it.
I went to the theater to see American President with my grandmother. I remember being surprised that I liked it a good bit. Obviously a little overdue for a rewatch though.
edarsenal
08-22-22, 05:46 PM
I was never a big fan of Kathleen Turner though she was perfect for the role. I guess I don't find her attractive or sexy though she is, does that makes sense?
You do know she voiced Jessica Rabbit, right?
Been quite a while since I saw Body Heat, and like you, CR, I rather enjoyed that it was inspired by instead of a flat-out remake.
A solid sizzler of a film and Turner's debut, if I remember correctly.
edarsenal
08-22-22, 05:51 PM
I loved Predestination the first time I saw it, and it was even better when I rewatched it a few months ago.
On a different note, did anyone else think that in the bar scenes, Sarah Snook looked like a young Leonardo DiCaprio?
88524
88525
lol I did
Citizen Rules
08-22-22, 05:54 PM
I loved Predestination the first time I saw it, and it was even better when I rewatched it a few months ago.
On a different note, did anyone else think that in the bar scenes, Sarah Snook looked like a young Leonardo DiCaprio?
https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=88524
I can see the resemblance to DiCaprio. When I watched Predestination I thought Sara Snook looked like Tilda Swinton.
88558
cricket
08-22-22, 06:20 PM
It's been awhile but I thought The American President was pretty good, but I picked something else for Thursday that she won't be crazy about. Nobody has watched one of my nominations yet as per usual lol
edarsenal
08-22-22, 06:25 PM
Have not seen Open Your Eyes, Wendy and Lucy, or Life is Sweet.
LOVED A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night when Thursday Next nominated it in, I believe, the Women Directors HoF. Glad to hear you enjoyed it, CosmicRunaway.
It's been a while since I saw The Red Shoes, and I was very much blown away by it. Like the amazing theater sets for the dances. Just astounding. And a fun lil bit of trivia that caught my eye was that Ivan, played by Robert Helpmann,
https://www.cinema.ucla.edu/sites/default/files/styles/Large/public/images/pages/redshoes2.png?itok=SEvxQh-v
also played the Child Catcher from one of my favorite childhood films, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/VeQmgxQn1GurkF1POh_p7zY3Q8M/160x160/filters:format_auto-!!-:strip_icc-!!-:sharpen-!1,0,true!-/2019/10/09/668/n/43611095/c7615ea12ce9df0a_13/i/Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang-Child-Catcher.gif
Sorry to hear that Au Revoir Les Enfants didn't work for you, rauldc14; I truly thought it would. Didn't nominate it for you, though, should you be wondering. It was nominated for me in the 4th Personal Rec HoF, and I quite enjoyed it. Wasn't head over heels, but I imagine I could very well be with another watch.
Haven't seen Blow Out since the nineties when I was an utter DePalma fanboy. Should try to rectify that. I do remember it wasn't in my upper favorites of DePalma.
It's also been some time since seeing The American President, which I remember finding rather adorable. And I DO love Annette Bening in just about anything I've seen her in.
edarsenal
08-22-22, 06:50 PM
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/a8/d6/62/a8d66218c83f66a6b28b4ce9dfacda46.jpg
http://www.scene-stealers.com/wp-content/uploads//2016/04/brief-encounter-criterion-blu-ray.jpg
https://screengoblin.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/celia-johnson-met-trevor-howard-in-brief-encounter-549272.jpg
Brief Encounter (1945)
Laura Jesson: It's awfully easy to lie when you know that you're trusted implicitly. So very easy, and so very degrading.
This was my original first film and, at the last minute, switched, so I watched it the day after.
And Oh My Lord, what a heartwarming, beautifully woven tale with exquisite cinematography. I had to look several times on IMDb, shocked and appalled there was not one award for it. Or even a nomination! What-what-WHAT!?
I believe this is my second film written by playwright Noel Coward. The first is Blythe Spirit. The clever witticisms and barbs of that delightful film are given a poetic elegance as we listen in on the personal thoughts of a simple, common, and very happily married woman (Celia Johnson) that meets a similarly happily married man (Trevor Howard) and find themselves thoroughly in love with one another.
What sets this apart from the usual film of betrayal and passion is the nobility of the characters. As well as their regular appearance of them and yet, with Coward's words, the actors' sublime performances, and the exquisite camerawork, it is impossible NOT to be drawn in and blissfully engaged.
While it is forever stated to the point of annoyance, I must say the ending IS the most romantic thing of true, real love I have ever witnessed on celluloid. Laura's narration was her confessing to her husband and, without a pause, without a change in his demeanor or expression of adoration, tells her, "You've been away for some time. Thank you for coming back to me." and they embrace.
I. Was. Weepy.
YAYYYY
cricket
08-22-22, 07:04 PM
I loved Brief Encounter
Wyldesyde19
08-22-22, 07:14 PM
The American President
As I mentioned before, I've been watching a lot of The West Wing lately (I'm just that far behind the times when it comes to TV...) and The American President, also written by Aaron Sorkin, is often described as a kind of test run for the series, so I was really pleased to see this show up in my nominations as I was really curious about it. It's really quite similar in a lot of ways (some of the cast, some of the issues, even some of the names reappear in TWW ) and yet kind of West Wing-lite overall.
The American President focuses on a romantic relationship between Michael Douglas's widowed President and Annette Bening's lobbyist. (As a couple, they look slightly like the Clintons - or maybe that's just what everyone in politics in the mid 90s looked like). I really liked the premise; in a way it's like an American version of the girl-meets-prince fantasy concept... their first date at a state dinner, another date interrupted by an international crisis, all carried out through the disapproving lens of press scrutiny. The romance didn't quite work for me... I guess what you find romantic can be subjective, but it was all a bit too straightforward. I thought there needed to be more chemistry and more obstacles. It didn't quite seem plausible that everyone would be so disapproving over their relationship.
There was some smart dialogue and it was well acted but it wasn't a good looking film by any means, I thought it could have been better, visually. I would have liked it to have made more of the supporting characters - one of the strengths of The West Wing is its ensemble cast - but maybe that would have made the film too long for what it is.
Altogether, I didn't find it entirely satisfying but I did enjoy watching it and thought it was a good nom for me. I am absolutely no good at guessing who nominated what... especially this early... I'm thinking either Allaby or Wyldesyde?
It was me. I wasn’t sure what to pick for you, so I went with my usual “I really like this movie so I’m hoping she does as well. At least a middle of the pack nomination. Please?”
Citizen Rules
08-22-22, 07:16 PM
I'm going to sound like a broken record by the end of this PR, but I haven't seen American President but have always been interested in it.
I have watched Brief Encounter twice now. First time was for a HOF I believe. Don’t think I gave it high marks that first watch but it stuck in my head and I really liked it a lot second round. David Lean pretty much rocks.
rauldc14
08-22-22, 10:28 PM
Seen Brief Encounter twice. It's ok
PHOENIX74
08-22-22, 11:49 PM
I saw Brief Encounter for the first time only a couple of weeks ago and I thought it was marvelous.
cricket
08-23-22, 09:01 AM
Tank Girl (1995)
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTeblnZUY2HRhnw2Q998wVPCla6hT6tpQsX1Q&usqp=CAU
I was surprised this was picked for me, but not disappointed since I'm interested in every single movie on the lists. It was different than I had expected. I knew it was comedic, but for some reason I thought it was about a girl who stole a tank in modern America. Instead it's a post apocalyptic Sci-Fi set in Australia. It's 5.3 IMDb rating has got to be close to the lowest of any movie in the list section, but I can understand why it has some popularity.
I've never liked Lori Petty but she was perfect for this movie. She really dove into the role and seemed to be having a blast, as did everyone else in the cast. Naomi Watts was adorable as usual, and I always like Ice-T and Malcolm McDowell. The Rippers, which were formed from the DNA of both men and kangaroos were very cool, but I thought they went a little overboard at times with the animation. The soundtrack was great. It's a funky, sassy, and fun movie, even if I can't say it's very good. It really should be like The Rocky Horror Picture Show with midnight showings and audience participation. It's that kind of movie.
3
Hey Fredrick
08-23-22, 09:16 AM
It feels like I watched a different Brief Encounter than everybody else. It finished last on my list in a previous PRHoF.
Thursday Next
08-23-22, 09:46 AM
what a heartwarming, beautifully woven tale with exquisite cinematography.
Oh I am sooo pleased you liked Brief Encounter. I had a feeling you would. I nominated it once on a general hall of fame years ago and it wasn't very popular. It is an absolute classic though, and one of my favourites. And yes, the cinematography is indeed exquisite.
Thursday Next
08-23-22, 09:50 AM
It's a funky, sassy, and fun movie, even if I can't say it's very good. It really should be like The Rocky Horror Picture Show with midnight showings and audience participation. It's that kind of movie.
I think you've nailed it calling it 'funky, sassy and fun'. That is what I love about it, it's just fun. And Malcolm McDowell is brilliant. And Naomi Watts. I nominated this for you as there's not much you haven't seen, you seem pretty open minded when it comes to films and I thought you might have fun with it.
cricket
08-23-22, 10:05 AM
I think you've nailed it calling it 'funky, sassy and fun'. That is what I love about it, it's just fun. And Malcolm McDowell is brilliant. And Naomi Watts. I nominated this for you as there's not much you haven't seen, you seem pretty open minded when it comes to films and I thought you might have fun with it.
Yea I did have fun with it. Thank goodness they totally went for it instead of trying to play it remotely straight.
CosmicRunaway
08-23-22, 10:16 AM
I don't think Tank Girl is a particularly good movie, but it's a ton of fun and I was always happy to watch it whenever it was on one of the movie networks. The film actually came up at work today, since we were joking about water, and I kind of want to watch it again now haha.
cricket
08-23-22, 10:20 AM
I don't think Tank Girl is a particularly good movie, but it's a ton of fun and I was always happy to watch it whenever it was on one of the movie networks. The film actually came up at work today, since we were joking about water, and I kind of want to watch it again now haha.
And I believe you had it as your second choice for me.
CosmicRunaway
08-23-22, 10:33 AM
And I believe you had it as your second choice for me.
I did. Partly because there was a chance you might like some of it, but mainly because you've seen pretty much everything else. :lol:
CosmicRunaway
08-23-22, 11:52 AM
https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=88572
Heathers (1989)
Directed by: Michael Lehmann
Starring: Winona Ryder, Christian Slater, Kim Walker
If I had known how morbid the plot of Heathers actually was, I probably would've watched it a long time ago. I was aware that it had an atypically dark tone for a teen comedy, but I wasn't quite expecting it to have a body count as well. Most of the dialogue is very cleverly written, but given how disinterested I am in standard high school drama, I was ready to turn the film off 20 minutes in. Luckily that's when events take a turn, and the story becomes far more intriguing.
I laughed out loud on a number of occasions, and I'm not quite sure why the mineral water bit landed as hard as it did, but I definitely cackled the longest at that. My engagement with the film did waver again in much of the second half, but I still appreciated how odd and unconventional the whole ordeal was. The dream sequence near the end came at just the right time, and it was so successful at recapturing my attention, that it even straightened my posture for the remaining duration of the film.
Many of the characters are just exaggerated stereotypes, but it works incredibly well for the tone and themes of the film. All the performances were exactly what they needed to be, especially for the more ridiculous minor roles. Winona Ryder is a great actress, but the perfect casting of Christian Slater had him stealing the show more often than not. Overall Heathers was a bit of a mixed bag for me, but it was still genuinely far more entertaining than I expected it to be, and will probably warrant a revisit at some point.
cricket
08-23-22, 12:14 PM
I've seen Heathers a few times. It's a solid flick.
Miss Vicky
08-23-22, 12:24 PM
Glad you had a mostly positive experience with it. The darkness of it is a big reason why I've always loved it.
rauldc14
08-23-22, 12:35 PM
Seen it twice and really dig it myself. I didn't nominate it for you however.
Citizen Rules
08-23-22, 12:53 PM
I use to love Tank Girl when I was younger, haven't seen it in awhile. I did write a review of it here and see it was some years since I last watched it.
So for Millennium Actress, there is the option for the Japanese or the US/English version. Does the nominator have a preference or recommendation as to which I watch?
Citizen Rules
08-23-22, 01:09 PM
So for Millennium Actress, there is the option for the Japanese or the US/English version. Does the nominator have a preference or recommendation as to which I watch? I have an anime to watch 'Grave of the Fireflies' and found both English and Japanese language copies, but once I heard the Japanese characters speak in American English I went with Japanese language. I wish they would get native Japanese speaking voice actors to do the English version, then I might watch that....Oh, I didn't chose Millennium Actress for you.
PumaMan
08-23-22, 01:12 PM
I have an anime to watch 'Grave of the Fireflies' . . .
Excellent, but extremely sad. Similar sad Japanese anime is 1983's Barefoot Gen.
CosmicRunaway
08-23-22, 01:18 PM
So for Millennium Actress, there is the option for the Japanese or the US/English version. Does the nominator have a preference or recommendation as to which I watch?
I highly recommend the original Japanese, but it's the only one I've seen so I cannot speak to the quality of the English version. To make matters worse, I think there might even be two English dubs now.
CosmicRunaway
08-23-22, 01:25 PM
Even my room mate, who happily watches a lot of poorly dubbed anime, only owns a copy of Millennium Actress that is in Japanese with English subtitles, so that might be worth noting.
cricket
08-23-22, 01:44 PM
Excellent, but extremely sad. Similar sad Japanese anime is 1983's Barefoot Gen.
Saw that recently. It's a hard hitter.
Citizen Rules
08-23-22, 01:48 PM
Excellent, but extremely sad. Similar sad Japanese anime is 1983's Barefoot Gen.
I'm OK with sad, thanks for mentioning Barefoot Gen. I'd never heard of it before, but I see Cricket has watched it. He's watched a lot.
Citizen Rules
08-23-22, 01:51 PM
It's about the bombing of Hiroshima.I've seen a couple movies about that, most recently Black Rain (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097694/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_4) (1989)...not to be confused with this: Black Rain (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096933/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_1) (1989).
PumaMan
08-23-22, 01:54 PM
I've seen a couple movies about that, most recently Black Rain (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097694/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_4) (1989)...not to be confused with this: Black Rain (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096933/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_1) (1989).
This is what you're in for . . . (WARNING: Graphic violence)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XI--ISLhYkk&ab_channel=OrielMalik
Citizen Rules
08-23-22, 02:03 PM
Thanks Puma for posting that. I watched the first half of the video clip. Loved the way they showed the B-29 from a high camera angle and the side face shots of the pilots and the bombsite view of the forked river. Maybe I'll see that movie someday.
I watched Millennium Actress (2001) today. I bought a digital copy on itunes. It had the option to watch with the original Japanese audio or the US English audio. After much soul searching and quiet reflection, I opted for the Japanese version. The animation is very well done and has some cool looking scenes. I thought the voice acting was fine, although unremarkable. Performances were good, but no one really blew me away. I appreciated that they told the story in a different way, although it wasn't always as engaging or as interesting as it should have been. The only other film I have seen by this director is Paprika, which left me a little underwhelmed. I liked this one a bit more than that film, but not as much as some other animated Japanese films I have seen. This is a fine film, a worthwhile watch, but it is unlikely I will revisit in the future. 3.5
cricket
08-23-22, 05:11 PM
I've seen the 4 movies from director Kon and they're all good. Tokyo Godfathers was easily my favorite.
cricket
08-23-22, 05:16 PM
Thanks Puma for posting that. I watched the first half of the video clip. Loved the way they showed the B-29 from a high camera angle and the side face shots of the pilots and the bombsite view of the forked river. Maybe I'll see that movie someday.
I'd put money on it;)
CosmicRunaway
08-23-22, 05:21 PM
I've seen the 4 movies from director Kon and they're all good. Tokyo Godfathers was easily my favorite.
I've only seen Tokyo Godfathers once, but it was the only one of Kon's films I loved the first go around. His other features required a second viewing years later for them to really click with me.
Tokyo Godfathers and Millennium Actress are definitely my favourites, followed by Paprika, his contribution to Memories, and while that leaves Perfect Blue to sit at the bottom, it's still a solid film.
Thursday Next
08-23-22, 05:40 PM
I'm not a big fan of Satoshi Kon but Millennium Actress was probably the one I liked best.
On another note, I've just watched Titane. WTAF did I just watch?
CosmicRunaway
08-23-22, 05:45 PM
I've just watched Titane. WTAF did I just watch?
I saw that just a few weeks ago. It's certainly a unique experience haha. I didn't even realize it was on a list here until I saw someone nominated it for you.
Miss Vicky
08-23-22, 05:53 PM
Tokyo Godfathers is easily my favorite Satoshi Kon film and Millennium Actress is easily my least favorite, though I still like it. I go back and forth on whether I prefer Paprika or Perfect Blue and I think both are excellent.
Miss Vicky
08-23-22, 06:01 PM
BTW, if anyone in the continental U.S. would like a DVD copy of Millennium Actress, hit me up. I've got the Bluray/DVD combo pack now so I have no use for the DVD and don't know what to do with it.
cricket
08-23-22, 06:02 PM
BTW, if anyone in the continental U.S. would like a DVD copy of Millennium Actress, hit me up. I've got the Bluray/DVD combo pack now so I have no use for the DVD and don't know what to do with it.
Send it to me, I can sell it and pocket the money. Thanks!
Thursday Next
08-23-22, 06:34 PM
Titane (2021)
Well, this was certainly... something.
In a way, it was like two movies welded together in some bizarre Frankenstein-like way. One was a frenetic horror about a troubled dancer with a thing for cars who violently murders people for no apparent reason, the other a muted, slower-paced drama about a grieving father of a missing son and the strange bond that grows between the two characters.
It's strange, unpleasant, overlong and unpredictable and I had to watch some of it through my fingers, I'll be honest.
The thing about horror movies, for me, is that when they get too horrible or uncomfortable, I disconnect. So whatever tension the movie is creating doesn't quite work as well. Another problem for me was that I hated the main character so didn't really care what happened and that also robbed the film of a bit of tension as well.
I did think the two lead actors gave good, intense, fearless performances. Some parts of the film were well shot with really good lighting. I did like the lighting. And the weird dancing scenes I quite liked too.
I tried hard to see what people (the Cannes jury, for example) see in this film, but I didn't see it.
I'm going to guess Cricket nominated this for me.
CosmicRunaway
08-23-22, 07:48 PM
I don't have to work tomorrow so I was able to stay up and watch Children of Men. Since starting on Saturday, I've been able to watch one film a day, but I think that streak will be coming to an end pretty soon. It's nice to have a selection of titles I'm looking forward to watching, so I might need people to send me more recs once I've gotten through these haha.
Titane (2021)
Well, this was certainly... something.
In a way, it was like two movies welded together in some bizarre Frankenstein-like way. One was a frenetic horror about a troubled dancer with a thing for cars who violently murders people for no apparent reason, the other a muted, slower-paced drama about a grieving father of a missing son and the strange bond that grows between the two characters.
It's strange, unpleasant, overlong and unpredictable and I had to watch some of it through my fingers, I'll be honest.
The thing about horror movies, for me, is that when they get too horrible or uncomfortable, I disconnect. So whatever tension the movie is creating doesn't quite work as well. Another problem for me was that I hated the main character so didn't really care what happened and that also robbed the film of a bit of tension as well.
I did think the two lead actors gave good, intense, fearless performances. Some parts of the film were well shot with really good lighting. I did like the lighting. And the weird dancing scenes I quite liked too.
I tried hard to see what people (the Cannes jury, for example) see in this film, but I didn't see it.
I'm going to guess Cricket nominated this for me.
I really enjoyed Titane, but I can definitely understand why it wouldn’t be some people’s cup of tea.
cricket
08-23-22, 09:21 PM
Titane (2021)
Well, this was certainly... something.
In a way, it was like two movies welded together in some bizarre Frankenstein-like way. One was a frenetic horror about a troubled dancer with a thing for cars who violently murders people for no apparent reason, the other a muted, slower-paced drama about a grieving father of a missing son and the strange bond that grows between the two characters.
It's strange, unpleasant, overlong and unpredictable and I had to watch some of it through my fingers, I'll be honest.
The thing about horror movies, for me, is that when they get too horrible or uncomfortable, I disconnect. So whatever tension the movie is creating doesn't quite work as well. Another problem for me was that I hated the main character so didn't really care what happened and that also robbed the film of a bit of tension as well.
I did think the two lead actors gave good, intense, fearless performances. Some parts of the film were well shot with really good lighting. I did like the lighting. And the weird dancing scenes I quite liked too.
I tried hard to see what people (the Cannes jury, for example) see in this film, but I didn't see it.
I'm going to guess Cricket nominated this for me.
Guilty.
I put it on a couple of days before nominations were due not even realizing it was on one of the lists. Needless to say I loved it, and my first thought was that it was going to be my next HoF nomination. After a minute, I realized I didn't want to turn Citizen Rules into Citizen Drools, so I figured I'd pick it for someone in this. I picked you because we love some of the same movies that I think of as very lively and vibrant, like Strange Days, Shape of Water, Underground, etc. it was definitely a gamble, sorry you didn't like it more.
Au Revoir Les Enfants
https://film-grab.com/wp-content/uploads/photo-gallery/09%20(102).jpg?bwg=1547147237
Given the subject matter, I feel bad for the fact that I truly couldn't connect all too much with this film, but unfortunately that's the reality of it. Like other Malle films that I've seen, I have a hard time connecting with the characters that he gives us. I couldn't feel too strong of a bond between any of the characters. The film just seems somewhat empty to me. Perhaps it's because I really knew nothing about it going in as well.
The film looks good and that's it's strength for me. There's a lot of pretty cool shots as well. Quite a rather short review but there really isn't a whole lot to talk about on my end.
rating_2_5
Yeah I keep trying to find films for you that don't leave you cold....
Rauldc - Scott Pilgrim vs The World (7th)
Rauldc - Whispers of the Heart (5th)
I'll take a different approach next time. I wanted to pick something for you based upon your Hall selections (emotional films about young people (Antwoine Fisher, Tower, About Elly) and try and do the same thing but in a different tone.
PHOENIX74
08-24-22, 01:23 AM
https://i.postimg.cc/W3P28wYF/dances-with-wolves.jpg
Dances With Wolves - 1990
Directed by Kevin Costner
Written by Michael Blake
Starring Kevin Costner, Mary McDonnell & Graham Greene
There are some films that have taken me half a lifetime to get to - and as far as Dances With Wolves is concerned, the reasons for holding off are varied - but not overwhelming or pronounced really. Of course, it's 180-minute length compounds any amount of wavering, so even after deciding I might like it, I've needed to be gently forced into finally taking the plunge. It's a similar story with me and epic Oscar-winning films like Braveheart and Gladiator - but with those films I was never quite sure if I'd like them or not, while with Dances With Wolves I figured I probably would. I'm not averse to Kevin Costner as a leading man - I mean, if anyone had the looks it was probably him, although he never tests himself too much as far as acting is concerned. With this film came his only Best Actor Oscar nomination. I don't mind the Western genre, and I admire any film that puts what happened to the Native Americans during the colonization period of North America into perspective.
In this film Kostner plays Lt. John J. Dunbar, and we meet him on an operating table near a battlefield during the American Civil War. He's about to have a leg amputated, but saves himself by painfully putting his boots back on, and staggering off - preferring to commit suicide by riding by the front lines. His suicide attempt fails for lack of a Confederate marksman with a good aim, but his antics distract the enemy long enough for a successful Union attack - and for this he's awarded adequate medical care to save his leg, and a designation to a posting of his choosing. Dunbar chooses the frontier (to see it before it disappears, he explains) and is ordered off to a deserted outpost by a mad Major. At this outpost Indians take delight in attempting to steal his horse, so Dunbar rides out to meet these Indigenous peoples - who he eventually gains the trust of when hunting buffalo with them. He ends up marrying a white women who has been raised by these Sioux Indians, learning their language, and respectfully adopting their traditions and ideas. The more time he spends with them, the less enamored he is with the way white people comport themselves - and as such, a future confrontation with soldiers and settlers involving him, and all Native Americans, seems inevitable.
So you see, Dances With Wolves eventually becomes a really sad meditation on what happened in North America over the centuries after the ships from Europe started coming. The party that considered themselves "civilised" were often the one guilty of massacres, theft, and the disregarding of their own treaties with Native Americans. John Dunbar, though, is a thoughtful man keeping a journal (very helpful for us - for we hear much narration through this film) with a great sense of honor and duty. One of the most horrible moments in the film involves both John and the Indians coming across Bison who have been killed merely for their pelts - hundreds of skinned animals slaughtered and left to rot, which will contribute to their gradual disappearance from areas like this. The ugly aftermath of unadulterated greed - and a shocking sight. Dunbar explains to us his sense of shame, which is transferred to most of us watching - and, if like me, anger will be felt also. This was not hunting for food, to survive. The way the Bison are treated gives some indication of the lack of respect Native Americans will be given - and this man, who they now call "Dances With Wolves", will feel the brunt of how Indians are treated himself.
Dances With Wolves has the benefit of having John Barry provide a sweeping score that makes the wide open spaces auditory - a musical translation of the beauty and majesty of the frontier plains. Barry won an Oscar for composing it, his fifth and last one - and once again, as I had with Midnight Cowboy, I could hear traces of what he'd done in the James Bond franchise. Barry's music has a signature quality to it which makes it recognizable. I believe it's one of the most enjoying facets of Dances With Wolves, and I'd enjoy listening to it any time. You can say it a million times, but it still holds true that without these scores none of these films would be what they are - so this crucial component was key to the film's runaway success. Whenever we see the opening shot to a particular scene, which is usually breathtaking in it's beauty, there's some heavy bass brass and powerful musical accompaniment which underlines what we're seeing. It never gets tiring, whether it's matched with wide open spaces or a massive herd of buffalo walking steadfastly onward - what it adds is impossible to weigh up, for it adds everything. The film also won the Best Sound Oscar for everything else that was added for us to appreciate.
Australian cinematographer Dean Semler was the director of photography, and his work matched that of John Barry and won him an Oscar as well. His earlier claim to fame would have been the great work he did on George Miller's The Road Warrior, and after continuing the Mad Max franchise he rose to international prominence filming the likes of Young Guns until his career took yet another step forward with this. He had his work cut out for him on the difficult shoot, but acquitted himself perfectly, providing Dances With Wolves with it's visual heft - not only with all those sweeping shots of South Dakota, but also the wonderful night shots, and battlefield scenes. Semler's achievement was almost his own curse, for with that prominence he ended up as director on photography on the likes of Last Action Hero and Super Mario Bros. He's also done some other great work though, for example the cinematography in Apocalypto is brilliant and his. In Dances With Wolves, when you get the score just right on shots at dusk with shadowed Indians riding horses on the crest of a hill, their outlines crisp with the sky a shade of purple and magenta, there's nothing better. There's another shot I loved, where the sky takes up much more than the even sky/earth ratio you'd see normally, and the wolf Dunbar befriends is the lone creature in it - which makes everything feel all the more enormous and desolate - there are many shots in this film I'll remember.
The story comes from Michael Blake, who originally wrote Dances With Wolves in screenplay form, before Costner himself encouraged him to write it as a novel and have it published - for that would increase it's chances of actually getting made. He did just that, and it worked - Costner bought the rights, and championed the story. There actually was a real John Dunbar, but that man had little in common with the screen version, being a missionary who attempted converting Native Americans to Christianity. There was a real Fort Hays as well, although this too was different than Dunbar's desolate outpost in the film. Blake would also win an Oscar, for adapting his own novel - which almost feels like "chicken or the egg" considering it was a screenplay to start with. I clicked with the message at the heart of his story, of a man willing to leave behind the life he would have once had, once he found a better, and more spiritual, path. The Native Americans were much more in tune with the land they'd lived on for countless generations, and closer to mother nature. They were more spiritual than practical - and although tribes often went to war with each other, they seemed peaceful. Dunbar knows the tragic destiny of these people right away, and it eats away at his soul.
Kevin Costner, Graham Greene (as Kicking Bird) and Mary McDonnell (as Stands with a Fist) were all nominated for Oscars. They were beaten by Jeremy Irons (for his role in Reversal of Fortune), Joe Pesci (for his role in Goodfellas) and Whoopi Goldberg (for her role in Ghost) respectively. The film was also nominated for Best Art/Set Decoration and Best Costume Design. The film's main competition for Best Picture was Goodfellas, and I'd be willing to bet that there's a few that would think that's the film that should have won - but Dances With Wolves was deserving nonetheless, and I'm not of a mind to declare otherwise. Costner's stock went down significantly after he directed The Postman, but to retrospectively look at this film is to see it as one that's held up over the years and maintains it's standing amongst great epic films. Some people have noted that the problematic "white saviour" trope shows up yet again here, but looked at dispassionately, the Native Americans teach as much to Dunbar as he teaches to them - they both bring the best aspects of each other's background to combine into something good. That's something I find noble and worth teaching, although it's a shame the historic moment has passed.
I enjoyed Dances With Wolves, primarily because it's so pleasing to the eyes and ears, and for it's acknowledgement of how destructive colonialism was to Native Americans. My initial worry was that the film might just be aggrandizement for it's character and then by association it's director/actor Costner - but the film has it's eyes squarely on the story and beauty of the frontier in the days before it disappeared. I would have liked it a little more if Dunbar hadn't of had a convenient white woman amongst the Sioux to marry - and had married one of them, but having Stands with a Fist in the story did give the film a translator, and a way for Dunbar to learn their language - a lot of which is actually spoken in the film and subtitled. They didn't get the language perfectly right, but that's unnoticeable for most people - and I respect the fact they tried. It was interesting to see just how much Dunbar had become one of them - to the point he ends up cursing white interlopers in the Sioux language when they appear. As Dunbar gets closer to them, so do we, and that makes the realisations we have at the end all the more heavy and tinged with sadness and sorrow.
I'm happy though - happy that modern Westerns began to acknowledge the tragedy of what happened to Native Americans instead of demonizing them, as they still did in the early-to-mid 20th Century. Tarantino added slavery, and the plight of African Americans to Django Unchained, taking the Western further in that direction. I'm not saying these were the first films to attempt to do this - but they were a couple of films which reached mass audiences, and were direct and no-nonsense with their messages. Along with that, these films don't lecture us. If Dances With Wolves had of felt like it was lecturing us, or was condescending in any way, I wouldn't have liked it. But it really wasn't. It told a story, and never stopped or took itself away from it's narrative - everything else is implicit, and under the surface. Having to choose either this or Goodfellas as the better film would have been hard for me. They both paint on canvases which are much larger than other films, in a variety of different ways. We've come a long way if, as a movie audience, we're cheering the Indians and booing the cowboys - as I'm sure audiences in 1990 were. A great debt of gratitude is due Michael Blake and Costner, for bringing back the Western, and making the genre truly great, full of soul and epic.
4
Good review on Dances With Wolves Phoenix. Glad you liked it, one of my all time favorites. I was a bug Costner fan and felt like I kind of grew out of it. I have revisited a couple thing lately and it’s renewing my admiration. He’s one of the greats.
I have Titane down to watch in Sept. Thursday has me rethinking that choice. I knew it was an uncomfortable movie, but Thursday’s review makes it sound pretty dreadful.
cricket
08-24-22, 09:23 AM
Nice to see some love for Dances with Wolves, another great movie that I finally got around to thanks to a HoF.
cricket
08-24-22, 09:24 AM
I have Titane down to watch in Sept. Thursday has me rethinking that choice. I knew it was an uncomfortable movie, but Thursday’s review makes it sound pretty dreadful.
I think it's probably a divisive movie. I would describe it as Cronenberg to the extreme. Worth a shot IMO.
Hey Fredrick
08-24-22, 09:51 AM
Nice write up Phoenix. I love Dances With Wolves even if it took awhile for me to see it. I was a little upset that it beat Goodfellas at the Oscars so it was shelved for awhile but it's a worthy winner of one of them silly statues. I never thought of it as a "white savior" film though because John doesn't save the Native Americans from anything. He knows he can't save them so he does what he can - warn them about the incoming storm. And how about that Spivey? What a great character. He's on my list of worst, most easily hateable characters of all time. Guys like him, you want Quentin Tarantino to write an appropriate ending for 'em or have them take a trip to the Amazon with Deodato.
Titane, heard about it a while back and stuck it on the old watch list right away. Just waiting for it to stream on something I have.
CosmicRunaway
08-24-22, 10:34 AM
https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=88588
Children of Men (2006)
Directed by: Alfonso Cuarón
Starring: Clive Owen, Clare-Hope Ashitey, Michael Caine
More than 15 years after its release, the grim future presented to us in Children of Men seems even more horrifyingly plausible than I probably would've guessed, had I seen the film a decade earlier. Anti-immigrant sentiment is on the rise world-wide, and the concentration camp imagery featured in the film is uncomfortably similar to the stories of border camps set up in the United States under its former president. We're even suffering through a global pandemic, albeit a few years later than the deadly flu that swept the globe in the film's universe. If infertility is next on the docket for us, I wouldn't even be surprised at this point.
Current day similarities aside, the world in Children of Men is one without hope. With an expiration date for humanity on the horizon, very few care to fight for the immediate future, let alone any lasting damage to society or the planet. Multiple scenes early on, where the main character casually goes about his day while violence and oppression happens all around him are incredibly fitting. Visually, the film is appropriately dreary, with dull colours and bland, worn-down urban landscapes. It's not aesthetically pleasing, but it does perfectly mirror that hopelessness, and lack of compassion felt by the general public.
Christian symbolism obviously runs throughout the entire film, but I appreciated that it was never overbearing or patronizing. There were a number of sequences that appeared to be long single shots, and they were so impressive, it made me wonder if I had missed a cut somewhere. I did a little digging and it turns out that they were digitally manipulated, but they were done so seamlessly that the editors really deserve more commendation for their work. I liked that there wasn't much back-story or explanation for events in the film, though admittedly I did expect a 28 Days Later-style twist at the end. Luckily we were given a somewhat ambiguous conclusion instead, which I definitely prefer.
Citizen Rules
08-24-22, 02:16 PM
Loved Dances with Wolves which won the 13th HoF and was my #1 on my voting ballot. I've seen it a couple of times now and it constantly impresses me on all levels. Costner is usually good in his movies and they're usually long too...and that's OK as I never felt the length with Dances With Wolves. There's an extended version that I have, but haven't watched, yet.
Frightened Inmate No. 2
08-24-22, 02:19 PM
ikiru
http://thecinemaarchives.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/ikiru-lakjdflkdajf-.jpg
i believe i watched seven samurai for the last one of these tournaments i participated in, at which point the only kurosawa's i had seen previously were yojimbo and rashomon. that makes this my fourth one, meaning he's one of the classic arthouse directors i have the least familiarity with, so i'm very glad to finally have had the push to see this one. i was already aware of the overall story and the structural gambit of it all, which is perhaps why i hadn't seen it yet, hoping that one day i would forget any details so i could go in fresh, but it turned out not to have mattered. it was very good!
the only criticism i could make (which barely counts as a criticism) is simply how direct it all is, lacking in any real poetry or abstraction save for a couple truly wonderful moments, but that seems to be kurosawa's style and he's quite good at it. in the same vein, shimura's performance is a bit one-note for much of the film, but he hits that note as clean and true as anyone ever has so it certainly isn't detrimental, although turning ikiru into a more well-rounded character may be the thing that could get me to properly love the film. i found myself wishing the film were longer so it might find the space for an extraneous subplot or two that could provide us a deeper glimpse at how ikiru behaves in the world when he isn't directly facing down his own mortality. the opening narration attempts to rectify this a bit, but it seems to betray an inability or perhaps unwillingness on kurosawa's part to pencil in minute character detail using the language of cinema, certainly in comparison to someone like ozu (on whom i'm also far from an expert). kurosawa's particular cinematic language seems to me most comfortable in bold strokes and sweeping gestures, which is obviously why he's such a purveyor of grand epics, in which it is readily accepted that characters stand in for certain ideals rather than characters in themselves. but i could easily be off-base as an admitted kurosawa neophyte, so please correct me if i'm wrong. certainly there is some lovely character detail among the town in yojimbo, although even that could lean rather broad.
the shot of ikiru on the swing is indeed iconic for a reason, the type of shot that is so laden with the accumulated meaning of the entire film, the purest expression of everything kurosawa wishes to say about this man's redeemed life. this thing is obviously filled with existential ideas, perfectly calibrated to get one reflecting on one's own life and impending death. kurosawa suggests that only one faced directly with his own mortality can truly live a good life, as the rest of us are left bickering over the credit for the good work that man did. in this sense, kurosawa's directness finds a clear purpose, forcing us to see everything through ikiru's point of view so that the audience itself can face it's own mortality and hopefully come to the same epiphany as ikiru and the funeral-goers at the end of the film. but of course kurosawa knows that much of the audience will go right back to their old indifferent vanity as soon as they leave the theater just as the characters in the film, so his only hope is that he can get through to that one person who returns to the park at the end of the film. unfortunately, that guy probably isn't me, but it's a nice thought.
4
Citizen Rules
08-24-22, 02:40 PM
Children of Men (2006)
Directed by: Alfonso Cuarón
Starring: Clive Owen, Clare-Hope Ashitey, Michael Caine
More than 15 years after its release, the grim future presented to us in Children of Men seems even more horrifyingly plausible than I probably would've guessed, had I seen the film a decade earlier. Anti-immigrant sentiment is on the rise world-wide, and the concentration camp imagery featured in the film is uncomfortably similar to the stories of border camps set up in the United States under its former president. We're even suffering through a global pandemic, albeit a few years later than the deadly flu that swept the globe in the film's universe. If infertility is next on the docket for us, I wouldn't even be surprised at this point...
Christian symbolism obviously runs throughout the entire film, but I appreciated that it was never overbearing or patronizing...
I seen this in the 1st Sci-Fi HoF...all I remember is everyone liked Children of Men but me. I seem to remember it was a lot of action and chase scenes, I don't remember much else about it. Somehow to me a world with human infertility sounds like a blessing, so maybe I should see it again:p
Children of Men is one of those films that everyone else seems to love, but I found it underwhelming and disappointing. Ikiru is an absolute masterpiece and on my list of all time favourite films.
Thursday Next
08-24-22, 03:50 PM
I picked you because we love some of the same movies that I think of as very lively and vibrant, like Strange Days, Shape of Water, Underground, etc. it was definitely a gamble, sorry you didn't like it more.
Yeah, that makes sense, I see the connection with those movies. Titane was just a bit more extreme though.
A few more thoughts/ discussion points for people who have seen it:
First, It comes to something where a scene in which someone basically has sex with a car isn't even in the top 5 of weird and disturbing scenes in the movie! At first I thought this was a dream sequence, but then it seems to result in a weird mechanical pregnancy and there doesn't seem to be any separation between 'real' and 'unreal' in this movie anyway. It sort of made me think of Rosemary's Baby... with all the flames on the car, it seemed like it was maybe from hell...although flames and fire are obviously a motif throughout the film.
Was it the accident that made Alexia how she is, or did you think there was anything else going on? There are hints that she has a weird relationship with her dad, but is that just because he knows she's a serial killer?
Was any of it a metaphor for anything? I couldn't really fix on any of it meaning anything.
Thursday Next
08-24-22, 03:51 PM
Children of Men (2006)
This would have been my back-up pick for you.
Citizen Rules
08-24-22, 05:30 PM
https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=88594
https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=88595
A New Leaf (Elaine May, 1971)
I never even heard of this before...So I went and looked at the MoFo list and seen it was #67 in the Directed by Women countdown. Then I read the comments about the movie and they all said about the same thing...'I've never heard of it'. So whoever chose this for me took a bit of a gamble as it's apparently not a well known film....but...I loved it!
I didn't know who Elaine May was until just now. I looked her up on IMDB and seen she wrote, directed and co-starred in A New Leaf. But that's not all, she directed a film that gets a lot of love here at MoFo Mickey and Nicky (1975)...and directed a film that was widely panned by critics when it first came out, but I liked it, Ishtar (1987). She only has four feature films to her credit but wrote a number of scripts for some well received films. So yeah, I loved this and I'm now interested in seeing more of Elaine May's work.
Why did I love it? Because the comedy was low key, coming out of the character's personalities and it didn't rely on gags or low brow humor. To me this is a perfect comedy. I'm not usually a fan of Walter Matthau as I find him a bit abrasive and course and that's the character he plays here but it works beautifully as he's this rich millionaire who's literally anti social and has no patients or need for anyone, but he ends up broke and has to marry a rich woman within 6 weeks. Elaine May is filthy rich and also social inept but still a sweet & kind person who's interest is in botany and discovering new species of plants. She's a clutz! and that was so funny as the way her clumsiness is handled for comedy effect was naturalistic and not bombastic. Loved the ending too.
See those two screenshots up there? I watched that scene several times over, freeze framing it and that was actually Elaine May hanging over a cliff to retrieve a fern sample. There's no edits and you can see it's her tied with a long rope and dangling over what looks to be about a 50 foot drop! I couldn't tell if the drop would be into the water or onto the rocks below, ouch. See that boat in the background, no doubt those were rescuers if needed.
Great choice for me that will most likely finish towards the top of my voting list. I have no guesses who chose it, but you can tell me if you want.
Frightened Inmate No. 2
08-24-22, 05:44 PM
a new leaf was my nomination for you. i almost nominated the heartbreak kid and mikey and nicky for two other people in the tournament, two movies i think are masterpieces and i actually prefer a bit to a new leaf, but they both ended up as backup picks. a new leaf seemed right up your alley so glad to see you loved it, elaine may rules. i highly recommend checking out mikey and nicky and the heartbreak kid, which i believe is available on youtube.
Citizen Rules
08-24-22, 05:55 PM
a new leaf was my nomination for you. i almost nominated the heartbreak kid and mikey and nicky for two other people in the tournament, two movies i think are masterpieces and i actually prefer a bit to a new leaf, but they both ended up as backup picks. a new leaf seemed right up your alley so glad to see you loved it, elaine may rules. i highly recommend checking out mikey and nicky and the heartbreak kid, which i believe is available on youtube.Thanks for the movie. I want to see Heartbreak Kid one of these day. I did see Mikey and Nicky in an HoF and wasn't really a fan, though everyone else seems to love it.
cricket
08-24-22, 06:07 PM
I didn't care for Children of Men the 1st time is saw it but I loved it the 2nd time. I had it as one of my contenders for Cosmic.
Ikiru is not a favorite of mine but I consider it a great movie. It becoming a favorite is not out of the question.
I am unfamiliar with A New Leaf but I am a fan of Mikey and Nicky and The Heartbreak Kid. Maybe I should check it out.
cricket
08-24-22, 06:17 PM
Was it the accident that made Alexia how she is, or did you think there was anything else going on? There are hints that she has a weird relationship with her dad, but is that just because he knows she's a serial killer?
It seemed like there was strong tension between them before the accident but I didn't notice anything being explained. I believe the metal in her head made her attracted to the metal in cars.
Was any of it a metaphor for anything? I couldn't really fix on any of it meaning anything.
I didn't notice anything but I also wouldn't be the person to ask. I think the movie ended up being about acceptance.
88597
Howard's End:
I was pretty excited this showed up on my nom list as it has been on the edge of my radar, for a very long time, simply because I love Hopkins so much. Some might disagree, but what I like the most about this is how subtle the film is. The class politics are definitely always there but I feel like they are handled with a much lighter touch than other films like this. I feel like in most movies Hopkins character would be a big baddie, much more outspoken and obtuse than he is here. You can see why Thompson 's character would marry him. The film is extremely well acted, and the script is really good. I was expecting it to be more dynamic visually, but it did look fine. Enjoyed this one a good bit.
88598
The Long Good Friday:
This movie is right up my alley. By that I mean that I am going to say how much I love it and forget the plot within a week. :) That's okay though. Crime thrillers like this are just my jam and I will be happy to rewatch it in the future. Slow roll plot, which is very cool. A great lead in Hoskins, an actor I always find interesting. A nice seedy feeling setting. Plenty of squirmy moments to remind us we are dealing with real animals here.
cricket
08-24-22, 06:56 PM
Don't know much about Howard's End except that it's highly acclaimed.
The Long Good Friday is awesome. Before I saw it I didn't know Hoskins could roll like that. Great ending.
rauldc14
08-24-22, 07:33 PM
The Gunfighter
https://i0.wp.com/midwestfilmjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/gf2.jpg?fit=800%2C511&ssl=1
This had all the perfect essentials to a really great Western: a solid script from beginning to end, great supporting performances, and an excellent lead performances from Gregory Peck. Oh and the film looked great on the criterion version too! The dialogue between all the characters was right up my alley, felt as if I was right there with them. The film looked crisp and magnificent especially for a film from 1950. I really dug it.
4
rauldc14
08-24-22, 07:38 PM
I did not like Howard's End of The Long Good Friday, but I'm glad you got something out of both Sean.
cricket
08-24-22, 07:46 PM
I think I also gave The Gunfighter 4
Gunfighter has been one of my favorite first watches this year. Great Western
Citizen Rules
08-24-22, 08:53 PM
I have a number of favorite movies that star Gregory Peck including The Gunfighter. I thought The Gunfighter was one of the best westerns I've seen. It was my #5 on the Western Countdown ballot.
I've not seen Howard's End but it looks like something we'd watch.
edarsenal
08-24-22, 09:16 PM
Oh I am sooo pleased you liked Brief Encounter. I had a feeling you would. I nominated it once on a general hall of fame years ago and it wasn't very popular. It is an absolute classic though, and one of my favourites. And yes, the cinematography is indeed exquisite.
Very much so!
In the scene on the train as we listen to her thoughts and there is a kind of connection between the reflection and Laura I just loved.
Was it you? It feels like one of her delightful choices.
Open Your Eyes (1997) I had been meaning to watch this for a while now. I had already seen the English language remake Vanilla Sky and really enjoyed that one. I heard a lot of positive things about Open Your Eyes and most people prefer it over the remake. Now that I have seen both, I personally like the remake a little more, but I did really enjoy Open Your Eyes. This is a smart and well written film, ambitious and interesting, it explores some cool ideas. Performances were good, especially from Eduardo Noriega and Penélope Cruz. The film was well directed by Alejandro Amenábar and out of the four films I have seen by him, this is my favourite. Open Your Eyes is an entertaining and satisfying film. Glad I finally got around to seeing it. My guess is that Thursday nominated it for me. Good nomination! 4
Glad you liked this. Even though I think Vanilla Sky is competent and I liked Crowe's vision of the story, I think this one's way better.
https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=88588
Children of Men (2006)
Directed by: Alfonso Cuarón
Starring: Clive Owen, Clare-Hope Ashitey, Michael Caine
More than 15 years after its release, the grim future presented to us in Children of Men seems even more horrifyingly plausible than I probably would've guessed, had I seen the film a decade earlier. Anti-immigrant sentiment is on the rise world-wide, and the concentration camp imagery featured in the film is uncomfortably similar to the stories of border camps set up in the United States under its former president. We're even suffering through a global pandemic, albeit a few years later than the deadly flu that swept the globe in the film's universe. If infertility is next on the docket for us, I wouldn't even be surprised at this point.
Current day similarities aside, the world in Children of Men is one without hope. With an expiration date for humanity on the horizon, very few care to fight for the immediate future, let alone any lasting damage to society or the planet. Multiple scenes early on, where the main character casually goes about his day while violence and oppression happens all around him are incredibly fitting. Visually, the film is appropriately dreary, with dull colours and bland, worn-down urban landscapes. It's not aesthetically pleasing, but it does perfectly mirror that hopelessness, and lack of compassion felt by the general public.
Christian symbolism obviously runs throughout the entire film, but I appreciated that it was never overbearing or patronizing. There were a number of sequences that appeared to be long single shots, and they were so impressive, it made me wonder if I had missed a cut somewhere. I did a little digging and it turns out that they were digitally manipulated, but they were done so seamlessly that the editors really deserve more commendation for their work. I liked that there wasn't much back-story or explanation for events in the film, though admittedly I did expect a 28 Days Later-style twist at the end. Luckily we were given a somewhat ambiguous conclusion instead, which I definitely prefer.
This one's a favorite. The weird thing is that the first time I saw it, it didn't really hit me. I didn't care much for it. But after a second viewing, it improved immensely! The two long continuous takes alone are awe-inspiring from a technical standpoint.
Au Revoir Les Enfants
https://film-grab.com/wp-content/uploads/photo-gallery/09%20(102).jpg?bwg=1547147237
Given the subject matter, I feel bad for the fact that I truly couldn't connect all too much with this film, but unfortunately that's the reality of it. Like other Malle films that I've seen, I have a hard time connecting with the characters that he gives us. I couldn't feel too strong of a bond between any of the characters. The film just seems somewhat empty to me. Perhaps it's because I really knew nothing about it going in as well.
The film looks good and that's it's strength for me. There's a lot of pretty cool shots as well. Quite a rather short review but there really isn't a whole lot to talk about on my end.
2.5
https://i.gifer.com/origin/43/43d931d786969edc91ada90050b3321d.gif
edarsenal
08-24-22, 10:05 PM
WOW. Bit of a list to comment on. AWESOME write-ups, LOVED reading them. Only have time to read it all. I'll be back to comment.
Oh, that rep on Thief just above? C'est moi
PHOENIX74
08-24-22, 10:39 PM
I have a feeling I'd appreciate Children of Men more if I watched it again, especially after learning so much more about it over the years. I didn't like it the first time I saw it, but it looks like there's a lot of virtuoso filmmaking in it.
I caught up with Ikiru after the Foreign Language Countdown, and remember liking it - probably at the same level Frightened Inmate did. Most memorable to me was the "life is brief" song that is sung quite a bit.
I'd really like to see A New Leaf - I saw a little bit of it while watching a featurette on Elaine May not too long ago.
Howard's End was the first of my nominations to be reviewed - I was kind of surprised by it the first time I saw it. I'm not big on period films but found it to be a weighty piece of cinema and had me wanting to see more Merchant Ivory Productions.
I love The Long Good Friday - and have the Criterion edition of that. Superb film.
Haven't seen The Gunfighter.
Wyldesyde19
08-25-22, 01:35 AM
If you’re interested in more James Ivory films, he has quite a few on Tubi, including some early works. I’ve seen a few so far, and plan to finish what’s there, but his films have been underwhelming to me.
That includes Howard’s End, Quartet, and The Remains of The Day.
SpelingError
08-25-22, 01:35 AM
Children of Men is excellent. I've seen it a few times and my opinion of it has pretty much remained the same.
Thursday Next
08-25-22, 10:37 AM
If you’re interested in more James Ivory films, he has quite a few on Tubi, including some early works. I’ve seen a few so far, and plan to finish what’s there, but his films have been underwhelming to me.
That includes Howard’s End, Quartet, and The Remains of The Day.
I know The Remains of the Day is one some people think highly of, but I never thought it quite captured the brilliance of the book.
Howard's End, on the other hand, captures the book almost exactly - it's just that I find the story, in either book or movie form - somewhat frustrating and never feel like I quite 'get' it. I watched the film again quite recently, and while I like looking at it and I admire the performances it's never going to be a favourite.
My Merchant-Ivory movie of choice is Maurice. Like Howard's End, it is also based on an EM Forster novel and concerned with love, repression and Edwardian class differences. It's not on any of the lists, but I highly recommend it.
Thursday Next
08-25-22, 10:42 AM
Very much so!
In the scene on the train as we listen to her thoughts and there is a kind of connection between the reflection and Laura I just loved.
Was it you? It feels like one of her delightful choices.
That is a good part, with the reflection. The part that always gets me is when she's so overwhelmed and doesn't know what to do and just sits on a bench and then gets moved on by a policeman...no emotional breakdowns allowed in public!
Yep, Brief Encounter was my pick for you.
edarsenal
08-25-22, 12:03 PM
That is a good part, with the reflection. The part that always gets me is when she's so overwhelmed and doesn't know what to do and just sits on a bench and then gets moved on by a policeman...no emotional breakdowns allowed in public!
Yep, Brief Encounter was my pick for you.
That one touched me as well. I remember in my youth, distraught and feeling guilty when a squad car pulled up on me, asking questions and moving me along. It got my instant sympathy when I saw it.
And THANK YOU! Quite the lovely movie experience.
Hey Fredrick
08-25-22, 03:51 PM
Watched Akira but I think I'm going to hold off on writing anything about it for now and try to watch it again before this HoF ends. Had to split it up into a few different viewings.
As for some of the reviews:
I thought the Gunfighter was great and a nice change of pace from the usual westerns of that era. Would have made my Top 25 Westerns had I seen it before the countdown. Can't say I've watched a lot of Gregory Peck movies but he's been very good in what I've seen.
Heathers is one of my favorites of the 80's and I love everything about it.
Au Revoir les Enfants was given to me in the PRHoF Foreign Language edition and I thought it was really good.
CosmicRunaway
08-25-22, 05:34 PM
Watched Akira but I think I'm going to hold off on writing anything about it for now and try to watch it again before this HoF ends. Had to split it up into a few different viewings.
I feel you on Akira. I had been hearing for over a decade how great it was, both from real life friends and people online, but when I finally got around to watching it, I was incredibly underwhelmed. I don't think I was able to sit through the whole thing in one go, and it still felt really long.
Citizen Rules
08-25-22, 06:01 PM
I didn't care for Akira when I seen it in the 1980s Teen Movie HoF... or maybe it's more like I didn't connect to it. But I loved the motorcycle, especially the stickers;)
https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=49530&stc=1&d=1541647734
88609
Wings of Desire (1987). Directed by Wim Wenders and starring Bruno Ganz, Otto Sander, Solveig Dommartin, and Peter Falk. I had been meaning to watch this film for a while now, so I'm glad it was nominated for me. This is a beautifully shot film with wonderful cinematography. I really liked the look of the film and the use of black and white and then colour for some scenes. Wings of Desire is really well written and feels very poetic for much of the dialogue. The performances are quite good as well. The standouts for me were Bruno Ganz and Peter Falk, but there were no weak performances in the film. Wenders is a director I respect, who is capable of achieving greatness. Although I really liked Wings of Desire, I would rank it 4th out of the 5 films I have seen by him. His masterpiece, in my personal opinion, is Paris, Texas, which is on my list of all time favourite films. My second favourite of his films is the wonderful Alice in the Cities, followed by Wrong Move. The only film I didn't like by Wenders was The American Friend. Wings of Desire was a good pick for me. My wild guess is that Cricket picked it for me. Good job, whoever it was. 4
cricket
08-25-22, 08:33 PM
88609
Wings of Desire (1987). Directed by Wim Wenders and starring Bruno Ganz, Otto Sander, Solveig Dommartin, and Peter Falk. I had been meaning to watch this film for a while now, so I'm glad it was nominated for me. This is a beautifully shot film with wonderful cinematography. I really liked the look of the film and the use of black and white and then colour for some scenes. Wings of Desire is really well written and feels very poetic for much of the dialogue. The performances are quite good as well. The standouts for me were Bruno Ganz and Peter Falk, but there were no weak performances in the film. Wenders is a director I respect, who is capable of achieving greatness. Although I really liked Wings of Desire, I would rank it 4th out of the 5 films I have seen by him. His masterpiece, in my personal opinion, is Paris, Texas, which is on my list of all time favourite films. My second favourite of his films is the wonderful Alice in the Cities, followed by Wrong Move. The only film I didn't like by Wenders was The American Friend. Wings of Desire was a good pick for me. My wild guess is that Cricket picked it for me. Good job, whoever it was. 4
Not me Buddy but I did enjoy it the 1 time I watched it.
edarsenal
08-25-22, 09:41 PM
88609
Wings of Desire (1987). Directed by Wim Wenders and starring Bruno Ganz, Otto Sander, Solveig Dommartin, and Peter Falk. I had been meaning to watch this film for a while now, so I'm glad it was nominated for me. This is a beautifully shot film with wonderful cinematography. I really liked the look of the film and the use of black and white and then colour for some scenes. Wings of Desire is really well written and feels very poetic for much of the dialogue. The performances are quite good as well. The standouts for me were Bruno Ganz and Peter Falk, but there were no weak performances in the film. Wenders is a director I respect, who is capable of achieving greatness. Although I really liked Wings of Desire, I would rank it 4th out of the 5 films I have seen by him. His masterpiece, in my personal opinion, is Paris, Texas, which is on my list of all time favourite films. My second favourite of his films is the wonderful Alice in the Cities, followed by Wrong Move. The only film I didn't like by Wenders was The American Friend. Wings of Desire was a good pick for me. My wild guess is that Cricket picked it for me. Good job, whoever it was. 4
I'll be watching Paris, Texas, in this HoF and was unaware that he did Wings of Desire.
I saw WoD in the 13th General HoF when Cosmic nominated it. There were some wonderful nuances to the film regarding how Angels listened in and congregated in libraries where most folks were truly alone with their thoughts. Loved Peter Falk in this, but then I always do. When he "feels' Damiel nearby and reminisces about sensations when you're human, like rubbing your hands together when your cold.
A slow film, but to quote me from back then "a contemplative and serene feel to this fantastical forage."
Citizen Rules
08-25-22, 10:40 PM
I'll be watching Paris, Texas, in this HoF...I watched Paris, Texas for the first time in PR IV, I was impressed. I think you might feel the same. I'll be interested in reading your review of it.
Loved Peter Falk in this, but then I always do.I must be the only MoFo who doesn't like Peter Falk:cool: I can't help but think of him as Columbo.
edarsenal
08-25-22, 10:41 PM
And for the deluge of films in the two days I missed,
Not much love for Akira before Frederick posts his review so far. I loved it as a young pup when it came out. The animation was ground-breaking at the time, and the opening of the gang fight via motorcycles and the "youths" in the cop precinct being lil sh#ts (much like I was then) are my favorite scenes.
It has been ages since I saw Tank Girl, and I saw it numerous times when I did; Petty did pretty much rock in this though I've bounced back and forth when it came to the Rippers. Should do a rewatch to see where I stand now.
The Gunfighter was #13 on my Voting List for the Western Countdown. Gregory Peck does an exceptional job as a legendary quick-draw gunslinger, just trying to see his wife and the son he has never seen yet. All the while being harassed by vengeful cowboys and upstart wannabes. Specifically, a young punk by the name of Bromley looking to get a name for himself by gunning down a legend.
Peck brings a lot of heart to the gunslinger looking to find peace at the end of his travels with a truly great ending.
Dances With Wolves has been a favorite since its debut for me and was #4 on my Western List. On my last revisit for the 13th General HoF, I finally got to see the extended Director's Cut, which filled in a few minor holes that the Theatrical had cut out.
I've always enjoyed Costner's films. My all-time favorite is Open Range (#2 on my Western Countdown List). Everything that works, and everything DOES work in DWW, was eloquently expressed in Pheonix's review.
I finally saw Kurosawa's Ikiru last year. The sadness, regret, and longing within Takashi Shimura's eyes and demeanor are heartbreaking and endearing. A sad, lost, and lonely man having stumbled aimlessly through life. Is now hit with the realization that it all is about to end. Beautifully sad, deeply inspiring, sans any fluff of any kind.
Heathers. Well, f@ck me softly with a chainsaw. Been a bit since seeing this dark comedy of a rash of murders posed as suicides and, you know, the usual awkward moments that all teenagers go through.
Been even longer since I saw Children of Men, and I've only seen it once. Due to lack of opportunity only. Quite enjoyed it when I saw it.
Body Heat was Kathleen Turner's debut, and it was a doozy and one that has been a while since seeing this inspired by Double Indemnity with William Hurt.
Millenium Actress is a lovely walk down an elderly actress' memories. A more serene film from Satoshi Kon, whose movies I very much enjoy. The one I'm missing is Tokyo Godfathers, and hopefully, that'll be rectified.
Have not seen A New Leaf, Open Your Eyes, Titane, or Life is Sweet. I really need to see Howard's End and The Long Good Friday.
PHOENIX74
08-25-22, 10:42 PM
I nominated Wings of Desire for Allaby - I specifically thought he'd like it. I saw it for the first time not too long ago, along with Alice in the Cities, Wrong Move and Kings of the Road - and I finally caught up with Paris, Texas again only a week or two ago. There's not much else of Wim Wenders I've seen, including The American Friend, which I was curious about - but now apprehensive of. I watched The Million Dollar Hotel quite a while back, and thought it wonderfully weird - but at the same time I wasn't quite sure where I stood with it. It's one I really want to see again.
edarsenal
08-25-22, 10:44 PM
[quote=edarsenal;2328220]I'll be watching Paris, Texas, in this HoF...I watched Paris, Texas for the first time in PR IV, I was impressed. I think you might feel the same. I'll be interested in reading your review of it.
I must be the only MoFo who doesn't like Peter Falk:cool: I can't help but think of him as Columbo.
Kinda looking forward to that experience myself and most likely WILL BE impressed.
And I ALWAYS see Falk as Columbo, still love him, though. lol
I nominated Wings of Desire for Allaby - I specifically thought he'd like it. I saw it for the first time not too long ago, along with Alice in the Cities, Wrong Move and Kings of the Road - and I finally caught up with Paris, Texas again only a week or two ago. There's not much else of Wim Wenders I've seen, including The American Friend, which I was curious about - but now apprehensive of. I watched The Million Dollar Hotel quite a while back, and thought it wonderfully weird - but at the same time I wasn't quite sure where I stood with it. It's one I really want to see again.
You were right, I did like it! Good pick.
Citizen Rules
08-25-22, 10:48 PM
Kinda looking forward to that experience myself and most likely WILL BE impressed.
And I ALWAYS see Falk as Columbo, still love him, though. lolI was more of a Starsky and Hutch fan. Don't think I watched Columbo much, though I'm pretty sure I seen it.
SpelingError
08-25-22, 11:33 PM
Wings of Desire is one of my favorites as well. I watched it earlier this year and it's still my favorite first-time watch of this year.
SpelingError
08-25-22, 11:34 PM
88609
Wings of Desire (1987). Directed by Wim Wenders and starring Bruno Ganz, Otto Sander, Solveig Dommartin, and Peter Falk. I had been meaning to watch this film for a while now, so I'm glad it was nominated for me. This is a beautifully shot film with wonderful cinematography. I really liked the look of the film and the use of black and white and then colour for some scenes. Wings of Desire is really well written and feels very poetic for much of the dialogue. The performances are quite good as well. The standouts for me were Bruno Ganz and Peter Falk, but there were no weak performances in the film. Wenders is a director I respect, who is capable of achieving greatness. Although I really liked Wings of Desire, I would rank it 4th out of the 5 films I have seen by him. His masterpiece, in my personal opinion, is Paris, Texas, which is on my list of all time favourite films. My second favourite of his films is the wonderful Alice in the Cities, followed by Wrong Move. The only film I didn't like by Wenders was The American Friend. Wings of Desire was a good pick for me. My wild guess is that Cricket picked it for me. Good job, whoever it was. 4
You should check out Kings of the Road as well. It's also great.
Not a big fan of Wenders...but I keep thinking of nominating Pina(2011)...sadly it's not on any lists so I couldn't do that.
Body Heat is a personal favorite (they actually shot it in the freezing cold). Kasdan never did another noir which is a shame because he was really good at them. I love the little details in the film...that Hurt character is clearly taking advantage of poor girls (they all wear uniforms) so what happens to him in the film is somewhat justified.
Ikiru is a film I nominate all the time...it's one of my favorite Kurosawa films and in my top twenty of all-time but I decided not to nominate it this year.
I've nominated Akira before it came in last place which is a shame because it really is both an incredible science fiction film but also a great coming of age story.
Titane was okay but I think it got an awards push because of identity politics less for being a great film. Making a queer Cronenberg film is an okay idea but the pacing was all off and the second act really let me down from the first part.
I tracked down most of the films but I could use a link to Prairie Home Companion
SpelingError
08-25-22, 11:43 PM
I tracked down most of the films but I could use a link to Prairie Home Companion
Sent!
You should check out Kings of the Road as well. It's also great.
I've been meaning to get around to it. I have it on blu ray as part of Criterion's Wim Wenders Road Trilogy box set.
I must be the only MoFo who doesn't like Peter Falk:cool: I can't help but think of him as Columbo.
That's a reason to like him. Columbo rocks
Thursday Next
08-26-22, 03:49 PM
There's not much else of Wim Wenders I've seen, including The American Friend, which I was curious about - but now apprehensive of.
I really like The American Friend, for what its worth.
I always think I should watch more from Wim Wenders; the three films of his I have seen were all brilliant. Wings of Desire is great, but it took me a few tries to get into it.
I have seen 7 Wenders, and liked them all to varying degrees. Also a director for me that when I hear the name I always think I should have watched more by now. Until The End Of The World might be my favorite but Paris, Texas was great and it has been the longest time since seeing that one. American Friend is not a distant third, very good film.
cricket
08-26-22, 05:07 PM
The Draughtsman's Contract (1982)
https://andrewsidea.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/dc3.jpg
British films list, and for whatever reason I was guessing it was a thriller. Not even a minute in I was saying oh no, no no no. British historical costume stuff, the most difficult type of movie for me to get into. The get ups, the hair, and the classical way of speaking; it's all a big turn off to me. Less than 10 minutes in I was sound asleep and it wasn't even dinner time. I woke up and my only thought was how the hell am I going to get through this movie. I did notice one thing, that it was directed by Peter Greenaway. I recognized the name but didn't know where I knew it from so I looked it up. He made Baby of Macon and The Cook the Thief His Wife and Her Lover, not favorites at all but there's a certain style there that interests me. I put on a different link because my first was slow to buffer, and I started over from the beginning. Subtitles came on and I left them on. Suddenly everything was more clear and I was engaged.
The classical way of talking that I usually hate was now entertaining because it was sassy and humorous. I was curious where the story was going and from there it seemed as though it was a darkly funny and mildly erotic film. A body is found and it went into a different direction until it reached it's surprising and somewhat shocking climax. It probably shouldn't have been a surprise given that I've seen those other two films but it was. This is a very detailed and purposeful film that looks good, has fine performances, and a great score. I loved the story! It's still a historical costume film, but given that, I think I got a good amount out of it thanks to it's differences from most other films like it.
3.5
CosmicRunaway
08-26-22, 06:10 PM
Just finished watching Night of the Hunter. Not entirely sure what to make of it, honestly. It wasn't at all the kind of film I was expecting.
The Draughtsman's Contract (1982)
https://andrewsidea.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/dc3.jpg
British films list, and for whatever reason I was guessing it was a thriller. Not even a minute in I was saying oh no, no no no. British historical costume stuff, the most difficult type of movie for me to get into. The get ups, the hair, and the classical way of speaking; it's all a big turn off to me. Less than 10 minutes in I was sound asleep and it wasn't even dinner time. I woke up and my only thought was how the hell am I going to get through this movie. I did notice one thing, that it was directed by Peter Greenaway. I recognized the name but didn't know where I knew it from so I looked it up. He made Baby of Macon and The Cook the Thief His Wife and Her Lover, not favorites at all but there's a certain style there that interests me. I put on a different link because my first was slow to buffer, and I started over from the beginning. Subtitles came on and I left them on. Suddenly everything was more clear and I was engaged.
The classical way of talking that I usually hate was now entertaining because it was sassy and humorous. I was curious where the story was going and from there it seemed as though it was a darkly funny and mildly erotic film. A body is found and it went into a different direction until it reached it's surprising and somewhat shocking climax. It probably shouldn't have been a surprise given that I've seen those other two films but it was. This is a very detailed and purposeful film that looks good, has fine performances, and a great score. I loved the story! It's still a historical costume film, but given that, I think I got a good amount out of it thanks to it's differences from most other films like it.
rating_3_5
This was my nomination and frankly I wasn't a huge fan of the film..but I felt like this will be a surprise because it's just a dark comedy about terrible people. And it definitely improves on second and third viewings. But I'm glad you liked it...it was a risk.
Just finished watching Night of the Hunter. Not entirely sure what to make of it, honestly. It wasn't at all the kind of film I was expecting.
Same first time I saw it. For me maybe the most egregious “that’s not a noir” noir I have seen.
I haven’t even heard of the movie Cricket watched. I like costume dramas so it sounds like I need to get on some Greenway.
edarsenal
08-27-22, 10:21 AM
I was more of a Starsky and Hutch fan. Don't think I watched Columbo much, though I'm pretty sure I seen it.
HUGE fan of both. Watched just about all of the really. I remember NBC had a line up of detective shows as a staple like the Movie of the Night with McCloud and others.
edarsenal
08-27-22, 10:29 AM
Just finished watching Night of the Hunter. Not entirely sure what to make of it, honestly. It wasn't at all the kind of film I was expecting.
I had that reaction too. Very happy to have finally seen it but it did kind if catch me unawares as it were.
CosmicRunaway
08-27-22, 12:00 PM
https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=88622
The Night of the Hunter (1955)
Directed by: Charles Laughton
Starring: Robert Mitchum, Billy Chapin, Lillian Gish
From a visual standpoint, Night of the Hunter is an incredibly intriguing film. It frequently presents its viewers with striking imagery, imaginative camera angles, and fascinating compositions. Partial sets engulfed in shadow, and contrast-heavy lightning techniques are clearly inspired by German Expressionism, a style I always find beautiful. So it really is a shame that the film is plagued by strange editing choices, and awkward pacing.
If I hadn't been watching a Criterion release, I honestly would've thought that parts of the film were missing. Had all existing reels of the film been damaged beyond restoration or repair, I trust that they would've at least put a disclaimer in at the start. Since that wasn't the case, I have to assume the choppy editing, and huge leaps in time and characterization I witnessed were all intentional. The tone is also all over the place, to the point that my room mate asked if I was watching two different films.
Religion is featured throughout, and I was never certain what impression it was supposed to leave. Early on I was worried it was supposed to be sincere, because it seemed so antiquated, even considering the time the film was made, but I was relieved when its presentation shifted to being a justification for horrific behaviour. However later in the film Ms Cooper was also preaching bible verses, but there's no distinction made between how her faith is meant to be perceived in comparison to the cult-like townspeople from the beginning. Because of that, the film's messaging felt incredibly confused.
Along that same vein, I could never quite get a grip on Robert Mitchum's character, or even his performance for that matter. There are some scenes where he is impressively menacing, but they're retroactively ruined by other parts of the film where he's a hilariously incompetent villain. In between those two extremes, he's occasionally charismatic, but never to the point where I'd believe everyone falls for his charade. I still can't decide if he did a good job or not, but given my issues with the rest of the film, the problem might just be the material he had to work with.
I laughed on a number of occasions, but never for a reason that anyone involved with making The Night of the Hunter would consider a compliment. I did enjoy the cinematography, and the film's unusual style did manage to keep me interested the entire time, but sections that felt like a skipping DVD, scene changes that gave tonal whiplash, and Powell cartoonishly running away scared, shouting that he'll be back at nightfall weigh the film down so much it's hard to have a positive overall opinion of it. I really want to like this more than I ultimately did, but I think the scales are just too unbalanced for me.
Citizen Rules
08-27-22, 12:39 PM
The Night of the Hunter (1955)
Directed by: Charles Laughton
Starring: Robert Mitchum, Billy Chapin, Lillian Gish
From a visual standpoint, Night of the Hunter is an incredibly intriguing film. It frequently presents its viewers with striking imagery, imaginative camera angles, and fascinating compositions. Partial sets engulfed in shadow, and contrast-heavy lightning techniques are clearly inspired by German Expressionism, a style I always find beautiful...
I've seen Night of the Hunter twice, the last time it was nominated in the Noir 2 HoF (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?t=46081) and came in middle of the pack. That HoF has links to the member's reviews and so I just read my old review and apparently I was impressed. I think most found the imagery striking, though some didn't like that style in a noir.
Night of the Hunter was the only movie Charles Laughton ever directed.
I largely agree Cosmic. I had heard such amazing things about Night Of The Hunter and had super high expectations that were underwhelmed twice. I will probably give it a third shot someday. The imagery is good and I do enjoy Mitchum in it.
Thursday Next
08-27-22, 06:04 PM
The Draughtsman's Contract is anything but a straightforward costume drama. I still don't know if I really liked it, probably I would get more out of it were I to watch it again. I'm a big fan of The Favourite though, and I'm convinced The Draughtsman's Contract must have been an influence on it.
cricket
08-27-22, 06:06 PM
The Draughtsman's Contract is anything but a straightforward costume drama. I still don't know if I really liked it, probably I would get more out of it were I to watch it again. I'm a big fan of The Favourite though, and I'm convinced The Draughtsman's Contract must have been an influence on it.
I was thinking the same thing, and that it's a movie I wouldn't necessarily recommend for fans of historical pieces. I'd probably recommend it to MovieGal.
cricket
08-27-22, 06:08 PM
The Night of the Hunter is one of the few movies I've already seen that is on my watchlist. I feel like when I watched it, I must've totally missed it.
Thursday Next
08-27-22, 06:33 PM
The Bridges of Madison County
I wasn't sure about this when it started - it looked cheap and messy and I wasn't sure I would warm to either Meryl Streep or Clint Eastwood. But although it was slow to start, it gradually sucked me in and was quite touching. I haven't always seen what people see in Meryl Streep, she always seemed to me like one of those actors who gets award nominations just for showing up, but she was great in this; she made the character of Francesca utterly believable and sympathetic so maybe I do see it now.
One thing about this film that chimed with me was not just the romance but the feeling of missed dreams and opportunities, of Francesca feeling torn between her family and the possibility of love. I also liked that she knew that if she went away with Robert her love wouldn't be able to be sustained. This speech particularly struck a chord with me:
"Robert, please. You don't understand, no-one does. When a woman makes the choice to marry, to have children; in one way her life begins but in another way it stops. You build a life of details. You become a mother, a wife and you stop and stay steady so that your children can move. And when they leave they take your life of details with them. And then you're expected move again only you don't remember what moves you because no-one has asked in so long. Not even yourself. You never in your life think that love like this can happen to you."
In some ways it reminded me of Brief Encounter - not just because it was about an unfulfilled housewife falling into a doomed love affair with a stranger, but because of the way she has to conceal her emotions. The scene near the end where she is in the truck, her hand curled around the door handle and she doesn't have the space to cry and can't possibly explain why she's upset anyway - that scene got to me as well.
I wasn't as convinced by the framing scenes with Francesca's adult children - they weren't as interesting or well acted.
I'm not sure who nominated this for me, but I will guess Sean.
cricket
08-27-22, 06:54 PM
I had zero interest in The Bridges of Madison County when it came out. Now I'd like to see it.
Not me. I haven’t seen Bridges yet. Despite liking both Eastwood and Streep, this one always felt like it would be dry to me. I will see it, but not yet.
Citizen Rules
08-27-22, 07:40 PM
I haven't seen Bridges of Madison County yet either. It might score well with me, but then again I'm not the biggest fan of Meryl Streep.
I love Bridges of Madison County, but I didn’t nominate it for anyone…or did I? No, I didn’t….or maybe I did? 😉
rauldc14
08-27-22, 08:30 PM
I will be watching Bridges Monday I'm guessing.
edarsenal
08-27-22, 10:28 PM
From what I've heard of Peter Greenaway's The Cook the Thief His Wife and Her Lover, it feels like my thick brain would stumble in tiny circles comprehending him. But I think I may need to after cricket's review of The Draughtsman's Contract, and oh, how I love historical costume films.
I am guilty of a fanboy bias regarding Charles Laughton's only directing stint, regarding my only viewing of The Night of the Hunter in the first Personal Rec HoF. Especially on the cinematography! I was constantly pausing to admire.
I LOVED this scene,
https://media.giphy.com/media/dVv2EDhI6T7NiEYlUO/giphy.gif
Lillian Gish's character stays up with the shotgun, and Mitchum's evil preacher begins singing. At one point, she joins in. A calm, subtle challenge was going on that was very well done.
--And this must be the only time I've seen Shelly Winters play such a reserved, docile character. I had to take a moment, in wonder, to see her outside of what I was used to for her.
Like cricket, The Bridges of Madison County wasn't something I didn't really care about when it came out. I have had those fleeting moments of pondering; I wonder. I do enjoy both of them. And being an old codger, I'll probably enjoy it more. Thursday Next's comparison with Brief Encounters is another nudge forward.
Gonna try to watch something this weekend, leaning toward Belle de Jour, which means it'll probably be something else. lol
Hey Fredrick
08-27-22, 11:08 PM
The Bridges of Madison County
I wasn't sure about this when it started - it looked cheap and messy and I wasn't sure I would warm to either Meryl Streep or Clint Eastwood. But although it was slow to start, it gradually sucked me in and was quite touching. I haven't always seen what people see in Meryl Streep, she always seemed to me like one of those actors who gets award nominations just for showing up, but she was great in this; she made the character of Francesca utterly believable and sympathetic so maybe I do see it now.
One thing about this film that chimed with me was not just the romance but the feeling of missed dreams and opportunities, of Francesca feeling torn between her family and the possibility of love. I also liked that she knew that if she went away with Robert her love wouldn't be able to be sustained. This speech particularly struck a chord with me:
"Robert, please. You don't understand, no-one does. When a woman makes the choice to marry, to have children; in one way her life begins but in another way it stops. You build a life of details. You become a mother, a wife and you stop and stay steady so that your children can move. And when they leave they take your life of details with them. And then you're expected move again only you don't remember what moves you because no-one has asked in so long. Not even yourself. You never in your life think that love like this can happen to you."
In some ways it reminded me of Brief Encounter - not just because it was about an unfulfilled housewife falling into a doomed love affair with a stranger, but because of the way she has to conceal her emotions. The scene near the end where she is in the truck, her hand curled around the door handle and she doesn't have the space to cry and can't possibly explain why she's upset anyway - that scene got to me as well.
I wasn't as convinced by the framing scenes with Francesca's adult children - they weren't as interesting or well acted.
I'm not sure who nominated this for me, but I will guess Sean.
Wasn't Sean. Sounds like you liked it. I don't have any idea what kinds of movies your into so I just winged it. Had I known your feelings about Meryl Streep there's no way I would have selected it.
PHOENIX74
08-28-22, 12:31 AM
I think The Night of the Hunter's visual style is one of the huge take-aways from that film - it's so distinctive, and goes hard for the noirish shadow-laden doom-infused cinematography. Robert Mitchum is also at his loony best, becoming a kind of fairy-tale monster instead of a real human being. In fact, that's what the film resembles the most - a kind of modern adaptation of an old fairy-tale. The wolf in sheep's clothing (that clothing being a preacher's.) Not quite knowing what to make of it was the initial reaction from everyone when it came out I think - and that very sadly curtailed what might have been more incredibly inventive films from Charles Laughton - showing he was as talented behind the camera as he was in front.
Haven't seen (or was aware about) The Draughtsman's Contract and haven't seen The Bridges of Madison County.
edarsenal
08-28-22, 01:17 PM
https://drinkwhen.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Another-Round-Drinking-Game.gif
https://64.media.tumblr.com/ae019eeb552743575c84ecfb24a75a95/0bccf3c53b8ea8bd-a6/s540x810/5c8278a20083e89ddb979447090adb8d1eedb9d5.gifv
https://64.media.tumblr.com/c753d6ea8abea89f3255ba2d2be93082/41badc16bdcce6e4-2c/s540x810/1518e08eb0954b90f4b881815754e59624290671.gifv
Druk aka Another Round (2020)
Another school year. Four miserable, uninspired high school teachers who not only their students but their families ignore out of boredom decide to test a sociological theory that everyone is actually 0.05% short of the necessary amount of alcohol. The argument for a better life when consistently drunk is regarding countless heavy drinkers who did extraordinary things in their life. From Churchill to Hemmingway, so on and so forth.
They set their parameters and find all kinds of positive results. They're happier, they find inspiration and, in turn, inspire their students, and so, they drink a little more. The percentage gets a little higher and a little higher.
I had heard that this was a bit of a difficult watch and had spent the majority of it tensed up, waiting. Never a good way to watch anything. Even more so when discovering I was mistaken and did not need to be tense. Perhaps, like the frustrated colleagues, I should have had a drink, relaxed, and just gone with it.
I did spend that time enjoying not only Mads always spot-on, in-depth delivery of a soul in anguish but the equal merit of the other three friends, his wife, Anika (Maria Bonnevie), and everyone involved in this social experiment that, like all experiments, is taken to its limit and the costs thereof.
In the end, this was a lesson in recharging oneself and life and finding a renewed perspective. And like any precarious journey, showcasing, without judgment, both the triumphs and the failures. And, as Mads' Martin tells his students: "So, when you run around totally wasted, throwing up in bushes and alleys, don't feel alone because you're in great company."
So, a very sincere THANK YOU to whoever nominated this since I wouldn't have seen it on my own and can very easily see myself seeing it again. Without the tension and all of the enjoyment that this film brings.
cricket
08-28-22, 01:20 PM
Another Round is a good one, thought it was a nice choice for you.
I quite enjoyed Another Round. Not surprisingly all but the premise has already vacated my pea brain.
CosmicRunaway
08-28-22, 02:19 PM
I really liked Another Round when I saw it, but I don't think it's the kind of film I'd ever revisit on my own accord. I didn't nominate it for you Ed, but I did have it as an alternate pick for someone else who I only had one film in mind for and didn't know what to go with if that film was already taken haha.
cricket
08-28-22, 02:49 PM
Chop Shop (2007)
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ey9adgIW8AAYSuM.jpg
This movie is on the Ebert list, and it was a smart choice for me since I'm drawn to these types of movies. It's set in a small slummy area in Queens near Shea Stadium that's full of junkyards and auto repair shops, many of them chop shops. Unfortunately it's a real place. The main character is a young boy called Ale. Ale sells presumably stolen candy bars, bootleg DVDs, and auto parts to get by. He also works at one of the chop shops and has a room there to live. There is no mention of his parents, but they are not in his life and he doesn't go to school. His teen sister is allowed to move in with him and she gets some work at the local food truck. These are very poor people.
This is a realistic and non-judgmental look at these people's lives. There isn't much of a narrative or much drama. Upsetting parts include seeing how the sister is making extra money, and when the boy goes a step further by stealing a purse. It's upsetting because, although criminals, a lot of these are not bad people, but rather they're just doing what's necessary to survive. It's very unusual to have an American movie like this. It's bleak but it's not hopeless. Characters smile, laugh, and get along as much or more than the more fortunate. The sadness is that we are watching reality. The cast is great, and I believe most or all are not professional actors, always a good choice for a movie like this. It doesn't quite achieve favorite status for me because there's no moment that devastates or disgusts me, but I appreciate it for that. I didn't need or want anything horrible to happen. It's too real and it's upsetting enough as it is. Our government should be helping people like this instead of people who willingly made a choice for their own benefit, just to ensure their vote.
3.5+
Glad you enjoyed it Cricket. As soon as I saw it hadn’t been marked off your list I knew it was my choice. Check out Man With A Cart by the same director, if you haven’t already.
cricket
08-28-22, 03:10 PM
Glad you enjoyed it Cricket. As soon as I saw it hadn’t been marked off your list I knew it was my choice. Check out Man With A Cart by the same director, if you haven’t already.
Oh damn, I didn't want to know who picked what for me.
I was looking at Man Push Cart in the past. Might have to take another look.
Oh damn, I didn't want to know who picked what for me.
I was looking at Man Push Cart in the past. Might have to take another look.
Sorry Cricket. I assumed you knew all your choices. My bad.
Citizen Rules
08-28-22, 03:32 PM
I was looking at Man Push Cart some time back as it came up in a list of 'slow cinema' but my library didn't have it at the time so I have yet to see it.
cricket
08-28-22, 03:33 PM
Sorry Cricket. I assumed you knew all your choices. My bad.
Haha I was kidding
cricket
08-28-22, 03:34 PM
I was looking at Man Push Cart some time back as it came up in a list of 'slow cinema' but my library didn't have it at the time so I have yet to see it.
Oh yea because you rely on the library lol No excuses!
Citizen Rules
08-28-22, 03:34 PM
Oh damn, I didn't want to know who picked what for me.Joking? If not how would you have worked that out so as not to know what was picked for you? I just assumed you already knew the choices we made for you.
Edit: Never mind:cool:
Citizen Rules
08-28-22, 03:35 PM
Oh yea because you rely on the library lol No excuses!That was sometime back right after watching and liking Wanda (1970).
CosmicRunaway
08-28-22, 03:54 PM
Obviously cricket knows who nominated which film for him, but a future Personal Recs HoF could be designed such that the host doesn't actually know, if they wanted in on the mystery as well. Everyone could send all their other nominations to the host, but a different person would be selected to take only the host's films. After receiving all the recommendations, this co-host would relay the titles to the main host.
edarsenal
08-28-22, 04:24 PM
solid write-up, cricket. Haven't seen or heard of Chop Shop, but it does sound like a General Hall nom possibility.
Obviously cricket knows who nominated which film for him, but a future Personal Recs HoF could be designed such that the host doesn't actually know, if they wanted in on the mystery as well. Everyone could send all their other nominations to the host, but a different person would be selected to take only the host's films. After receiving all the recommendations, this co-host would relay the titles to the main host.
Yeah, I thought maybe he reeled his wife into doing the compiling after his comment
88637
Two For The Road:
I was excited this one showed up because I had it in my Criterion watchlist as I have been trying to watch some more Hepburn as of late. It’s a good choice for me. I like marriage strife dramas. That time in our life when the things we used to adore about our spouses now drives us crazy. Bergman is the king of writing these scripts. This one isn’t quite as acidic as Bergman, but it scratches that itch. Hepburn and Finney are terrific together, this could be my favorite performance of hers. I really like the device of switching between different periods but the film could have used a couple more run throughs on editing, it’s a little wonky in spots. Overall, really enjoyed this one. Interested who picked it for me and why.
Citizen Rules
08-28-22, 06:42 PM
Two For The Road:
I was excited this one showed up because I had it in my Criterion watchlist as I have been trying to watch some more Hepburn as of late. It’s a good choice for me. I like marriage strife dramas. That time in our life when the things we used to adore about our spouses now drives us crazy. Bergman is the king of writing these scripts. This one isn’t quite as acidic as Bergman, but it scratches that itch. Hepburn and Finney are terrific together, this could be my favorite performance of hers. I really like the device of switching between different periods but the film could have used a couple more run throughs on editing, it’s a little wonky in spots. Overall, really enjoyed this one.
Interested who picked it for me and why. That would be me...I chose that for you as I remembered your nom in the Women Directors HoF...Take This Waltz (2011)...I remember you talked about your own personal experience & thoughts on marriage and relationships...so I thought this might be of interest to you...and of course Audrey is a cutey, which might also be of an interest:)
cricket
08-28-22, 07:17 PM
I remember liking Two for the Road but wishing it were more than it was.
Hey Fredrick
08-28-22, 11:36 PM
https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2F66.media.tumblr.com%2Fef0ee3e3dc41b6dc93a898cc1e303309%2Ftumblr_oopnhinQxe1u4mt3bo1 _500.gif&f=1&nofb=1
I was not aware that Wages of Fear was The Sorcerer story. I've seen The Sorcerer and wasn't impressed but this... I loved this. Even the beginning half hour, which was a bunch of character setting was good and just flew by but once they start moving product it went next level fun.
I'm not going to say a lot about the plot except that four guys are to transport two truckloads of nitro glycerin through mountainous dirt roads for two thousand dollars apiece. It's a suicide mission. Thee company doesn't expect them all to survive. Three of the guys, Bimba, Luigi and Mario are solid dudes, they are well aware of what they're up against and are very resourceful. Jo, the gun toting, BMOC, former gangster, is a little bitch and I wish Mario had left him on the side of the road a few times. However, if Mario had done that we wouldn't have had one of the best moments of the film when Mario, also sick of Jo's crap, beats Jo down pretty good, then, when it's all over, Mario just slaps him one more time for good measure. Just completely demoralizes Jo. It was great. Gave a little tee-hee at that. Bimba and especially Luigi are two guys you'd love to have a beer with. Just lighting cigars and transporting explosives.
So the beginning was really interesting but once they hit the road the pacing of this movie is perfect. This is really one of the fastest two hours I can remember thanks in part to three great, high tension, scenes. The switchback scene was fantastic. Loved the close up shots of the wheels working, watching the ass end of the truck start sliding out towards the edge of a bridge, then, later, meeting a gigantic rock blocking the road and figuring out how to get through that and finally, finding a way to navigate an oil pit. All three scenes were top notch.
The acting is fine, I really enjoyed the cinematography and the ending sucks. Hard! The movie is five minutes too long. But I could watch this again and just turn it off at the 2:05 so I'm not gonna knock it any points for that because for just over two hours I was thoroughly enjoying this movie. Thanks to whomever selected this one. Easily one of the more entertaining movies I've seen from the 50's.
PHOENIX74
08-28-22, 11:46 PM
The Wages of Fear is a brilliant movie - I haven't seen Sorcerer yet, but I've seen the great original and it's a tension-filled gritty edge-of-your-seat kind of film that's put together extremely well. Superb, excellent, incredible - I could just copy and paste from a thesaurus for this film. I've got the Criterion and love it. It's incredibly patient with itself, spending a good 40 minutes or so setting the scene, introducing it's characters and explaining their motivation.
SpelingError
08-29-22, 01:18 AM
Sorcerer is a solid remake which I've seen a few times. It packs more of the memorable suspense set pieces in Clouzot's film and the rope bridge scenes are terrific, in particular. However, the characters were definitely far less memorable than the ones in The Wages of Fear as, after their respective backstory sequences in the first act, they left me cold and I wasn't able to get invested in them again, especially in the second half where they become props in the face of all the suspense set pieces. The Wages of Fear shines in both the suspense and the characters, so I think it's the better film. Still though, I do enjoy Sorcerer quite a bit and would definitely recommend it.
Citizen Rules
08-29-22, 03:08 AM
I was impressed with Sorcerer, really a solid movie. I haven't seen The Wages of Fear and I guess I won't be this PR as no one chose it for me. One of the days I'll see it.
cricket
08-29-22, 08:31 AM
I like The Wages of Fear but I do prefer Sorcerer.
88640
The Innocents:
Horror is always a risky choice for me, but if you are going to go that route pick a mood poem with some spiritual elements. The Innocents delivers on that front. Certainly put me in mind of something like Rebecca. I enjoyed Kerr here, she portrays the innocent but world wise nanny very well. The child actors aren’t bad either. The movie looks stellar. I’m always hesitant when I have to watch things on you tube, but this looked good. I guess my issues probably stem from not enough character development, really of all the characters. I like ambiguity in movies but I also need something to latch on to. Otherwise my mind wanders a bit and I’m not super invested in outcomes. That was the case here. Pretty good flick, but isn’t going to compete with some really stellar ones I have seen so far.
cricket
08-29-22, 09:36 AM
You are probably more of a Devil's Rejects type of guy.
rauldc14
08-29-22, 09:52 AM
I remember liking The Innocents quite a bit.
Citizen Rules
08-29-22, 01:46 PM
Sean I'm surprised you hadn't seen The Innocents before but if I listed all the classics that I haven't seen, you'd be shocked. The Innocents is one film I had watched before coming to MoFo. Like you I'm not a big horror guy except if it's old stuff done with atmosphere, instead of meat cleavers:eek:
I loved The Innocents so much that afterwards I watched a couple more film versions of it, one being called by the original novels name The Turn of the Screw, it was neat in that the ending was different than The Innocents.
We had similar thoughts about it's resembles to Rebecca. From my review:The Innocents has more in common with films like Rebecca (1940) or Wuthering Heights (1939) than it does with other early 1960s horror films.
https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=88640
The Innocents:
Horror is always a risky choice for me, but if you are going to go that route pick a mood poem with some spiritual elements. The Innocents delivers on that front. Certainly put me in mind of something like Rebecca. I enjoyed Kerr here, she portrays the innocent but world wise nanny very well. The child actors aren’t bad either. The movie looks stellar. I’m always hesitant when I have to watch things on you tube, but this looked good. I guess my issues probably stem from not enough character development, really of all the characters. I like ambiguity in movies but I also need something to latch on to. Otherwise my mind wanders a bit and I’m not super invested in outcomes. That was the case here. Pretty good flick, but isn’t going to compete with some really stellar ones I have seen so far.
This was my nomination for you(and the one that won a Hall of Fame). I disagree about the character development thing though part of what I love about the film is that it's spooky atmospheric ghost story but it's also an indictment of sexual abuse and repression. You have all of these issues that are bubbling right underneath the surface so that you can interoperate it however you wish.
CosmicRunaway
08-29-22, 04:28 PM
The Innocents was actually my back-up pick for sean in case my first choice was already taken. When I saw someone else (Siddon I know now) nominated it for him, I thought sean would probably like it more than what I actually went with. Since he didn't exactly rave about The Innocents, I'm a little more concerned about my choice now.
CosmicRunaway
08-29-22, 04:29 PM
In other news I just finished watching another film. Review later, hopefully.
https://64.media.tumblr.com/c824955103cae81308bb3e9ee26488f2/2f9ac8d1fc838105-35/s540x810/9fb4c6482626f8600edf101fe620f49c6bdf9345.gifv
cricket
08-29-22, 06:10 PM
I've watched two movies in this HoF (Life is Sweet and Chop Shop) in which part of the story revolves around a main character making a very questionable decision by buying an old food truck.
CosmicRunaway
08-29-22, 07:56 PM
https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=88653
Ratatouille (2007)
Directed by: Brad Bird
Starring: Patton Oswalt, Lou Romano, Ian Holm
I vastly prefer the look of traditional animation methods over computer-generated images, but even I have to admit that Ratatouille is a fantastic looking film. While the characters, both human and rodent, are highly stylized, many of the buildings have a more classic aesthetic, and the food is typically far more realistic in appearance, sometimes even approaching photo-realism. This artistic blend might sound jarring on paper, but they actually come together quite nicely. Perhaps an appropriate analogy would be that it's an unusual recipe masterfully executed by a talented chef.
Despite being impressed with the opening shots, the first fifteen minutes or so of the film didn't fully interest me. However the introduction of the other main characters, and the shift in focus to Remy and Linguini learning to cook and work together had me fairly engaged. I don't particularly care for the culinary arts, but there's something about cooking shows I find compelling, so whenever people were working in the kitchen, I was extra attentive.
The film started to lose me a bit approaching the final act, but that all changed when the restaurant had to cook for the critic. I absolutely loved every second of that. All the rats, the health inspector, the roller-skating – it all greatly amused me. Peter O'Toole's performance as Ego was amazing, and I could listen to him read his lines all day. The ending was almost too sweet for my taste, but considering it's effectively the dessert course to Ratatouille's heart-warming meal, perhaps those lingering flavours are just the right ones after all.
cricket
08-29-22, 08:17 PM
I believe Ratatouille was #1 on my animation ballot.
Citizen Rules
08-29-22, 09:23 PM
Ratatouille was my nomination in the Pixar HoF and it won.
I recently rewatched Rattatouille and loved it. I had forgotten just how good it was.
rauldc14
08-29-22, 10:02 PM
Ratatouille is in my top 100
Citizen Rules
08-29-22, 10:10 PM
I don't actually love Ratatouille, I just liked it so I nominated it in the Pixar HoF...and it was the only Pixar I'd seen before.
Miss Vicky
08-29-22, 10:28 PM
Happy to see the mostly positive responses to Ratatouille and Dances With Wolves. I've loved both ever since I first saw them.
PHOENIX74
08-30-22, 05:50 AM
I watched The Innocents for the first time earlier this year, and thought it was good, but it's not yet a favourite of mine - I think it's the kind of film I need to see twice, the second time knowing what mood I should be in for it to have maximum impact.
I bought a used copy of Ratatouille on Blu-Ray today for $4 - mostly because it turned up on the 2000s Countdown and I want to be able to tick it off the list, which I've nearly finished.
88657
I’m A Fugitive Of The Chain Gang
Unfortunately this is the first hall rec that really didn’t work for me at all. When I feel the age of an older film it usually is about the pacing. That was certainly the case here. It’s just a jump from plot point to plot point. At numerous times those jumps are marked by simply watching the pages of a calendar fall to the floor. I really don’t like that device at all.
When I thought this film would work for me is when we are spending time with the chain gang. There is so little time spent there I really didn’t get to enjoy it.
It’s a bummer. I don’t like being this negative, but this one was a let down.
rauldc14
08-30-22, 08:53 AM
A little surprised. I gave it 3.5
cricket
08-30-22, 09:45 AM
I liked that. Think I watched it twice and it made my 30's ballot.
Citizen Rules
08-30-22, 12:17 PM
I’m A Fugitive Of The Chain Gang, that was in the 1930s HoF Part 2 and finished mid pack. A few of the members had the same reaction as you. I first seen this 20 years ago and was blown away but on the second watch I only liked it but not loved it.
Still a great film from a cinema historical viewpoint as it was written by a man who was still on the lam during the making of the film and it helped to bring about changes with corrupt prison systems especially in the south. Paul Muni was the man back in the early 30s, today we don't hear much about him. My favorite character was Glenda Farrell, oh she was so wicked!
I’m A Fugitive Of The Chain Gang, that was in the 1930s HoF Part 2 and finished mid pack. A few of the members had the same reaction as you. I first seen this 20 years ago and was blown away but on the second watch I only liked it but not loved it.
Still a great film from a cinema historical viewpoint as it was written by a man who was still on the lam during the making of the film and it helped to bring about changes with corrupt prison systems especially in the south. Paul Muni was the man back in the early 30s, today we don't hear much about him. My favorite character was Glenda Farrell, oh she was so wicked!
I read a lot of good things about him after watching this, I wasn’t particularly impressed. Don’t like Scarface either. Just noticed he’s in Emile Zola, which I did think was pretty good. Watched it earlier in the year but didn’t recognize it was the same character.
The stuff with Glenda Farrell was pretty good but, again, extremely underdeveloped and rushed.
Citizen Rules
08-30-22, 01:20 PM
I read a lot of good things about him after watching this, I wasn’t particularly impressed. Don’t like Scarface either. Just noticed he’s in Emile Zola, which I did think was pretty good. Watched it earlier in the year but didn’t recognize it was the same character.
The stuff with Glenda Farrell was pretty good but, again, extremely underdeveloped and rushed.Yeah the original Scarface wasn't my favorite either I think that's because it's such an early talkie that it's not quite as 'polished' as what we're use to. I haven't seen Emile Zola I was hoping it might be picked for me this time. My favorite Paul Muni was The Good Earth (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028944/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_19) (1937).
They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969) This is one I had heard a lot about it and had been meaning to watch for a while. I had heard it was an excellent film, but also very dark and depressing, so I was anticipating and dreading it at the same time. Now that I have seen it, I can confirm it is indeed a very well made film and an extremely bleak one. Directed by Sydney Pollack, the film stars Jane Fonda, Michael Sarrazin, Susannah York, and Gig Young, in an Oscar winning performance. It's set during the Great Depression and involves a group of desperate people competing in a gruelling and exhausting dance marathon in order to try and win money. Performances are excellent from the entire cast. Standouts for me are Fonda, York, and Young. The film is well directed and effective at conveying the emotions and experience of the characters to the viewer. They Shoot Horses, Don't They? is incendiary and packs a punch. It feels like an indictment of society and the way we treat each other, especially those most in need. My only quibble with the film is that it may actually be too bleak. There isn't any hope or light here. There doesn't seem to be any solutions offered to make things better. And that may have been intentional on the part of the filmmakers. All things considered, I'm still glad I finally saw this very bleak, very well made film. 4
cricket
08-30-22, 09:14 PM
I'm a fan of They Shoot Horses and have nominated it for a HoF before. It's a very unique film.
PHOENIX74
08-30-22, 11:35 PM
I saw They Shoot Horses, Don't They? years ago, and it's time I watched it again to refresh my memory as everything except for the ending (which includes the titular quote) has faded. It's one of those movies where what it's about is encapsulated in that last scene and quote, and that's what you take away from it. One of David Bowie's music videos is set during a dance marathon, 'Never Let Me Down' - it was one of Jean-Baptiste Mondino's early ones, and featured Joe Dallesandro. It was a so-so song, but most of Bowie's music videos are interesting in some way.
I've never seen I’m A Fugitive Of The Chain Gang.
Frightened Inmate No. 2
08-30-22, 11:50 PM
someone nominated they shoot horses, don't they? for me the last time i was in one of these and i thought it was a great pick, so this time i decided to return the favor and nominate it for allaby. glad you liked it!
PHOENIX74
08-31-22, 04:49 AM
https://i.postimg.cc/vTPKCYTv/double-indemnity.jpg
Double Indemnity - 1944
Directed by Billy Wilder
Written by Raymond Chandler & Billy Wilder
Based on a novel by James M. Cain
Starring Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward G. Robinson
Jean Heather & Byron Barr
Yes, I killed him. I killed him for money - and a woman - and I didn't get the money and I didn't get the woman. Pretty, isn't it?
It was that time of night. Free and easy time. Time to kick back. Time to watch a picture. But which picture? I needed a picture that had everything. Murder. A gorgeous girl. Betrayal. Money. A Billy Wilder picture. Double Indemnity. And baby, that picture purred like a kitten. It hit like a champ. It had all the bells and whistles and rang a blew them to Sunday and back. That's as good a time as any to segue into some kind of normality here (as opposed to Raymond Chandler-inspired dialogue) and say that Double Indemnity is a classic that still packs a punch today, and is every bit as enjoyable as another Wilder classic I love - Sunset Boulevard. These films did more than inspire countless other film noir classics, they helped to define the genre itself and stand as a testament to the man's filmmaking ability. They're my kind of film noir - never becoming needlessly convoluted or complex. Films that have a perfect balance between the visual, auditory and story aspects of what they have to offer.
Double Indemnity starts with Walter Neff (Fred MacMurray) staggering in to his insurance company offices and confessing into a dictaphone - admitting that a recent accident claim involved no accident, but murder, and addressing his close friend and coworker Barton Keyes (Edward G. Robinson). The confession takes us back to Neff visiting the Dietrichsons to try and renew an automobile policy for a Mr. Dietrichson (Tom Powers) but coming into contact with his wife, Phyllis Dietrichson (Barbara Stanwyck) instead. Phyllis is dressed only in a towel, and immediately there's sexual chemistry between them - on subsequent visits Neff learns how disaffected Phyllis is with her marriage, and he finds a real world outlet for something that's often on his mind - a way to cheat his own insurance company on a phony claim for life insurance. He thinks he knows it all, and also knows the mind of his friend Keyes well enough to pull it off. He decides taking out a double indemnity clause on Mrs. Dietrichson's husband would benefit them further, and that he can arrange an "accident" on a train that'll pay off double. Neff and Phyllis pull off the murder, but Nef later learns something from his lover's daughter, Lola (Jean Heather) that leaves him with the uncomfortable feeling that he's been played for a fool.
The twists and turns in Double Indemnity are hard to lay out neatly, but when measured up they do fit ever so neatly together. It's one of those very rare movies that I can only sum up as being perfect - inasmuch as there is not one small criticism I can level at it. Every aspect of the film distinguishes itself in a way that's perfect for the other parts, and defined the newly emerging genre of film noir. From the very start, the film confronts us visually with dark shadows and foreboding blackness seeping from every corner. As soon as we hear MacMurray's Neff talk into the dictaphone we notice that his dialogue is crisp, clever and has an edgy wit about it that became common to the genre and was a trademark of screenwriter Raymond Chandler. From the opening credits we get to hear the powerful main theme from Miklós Rózsa's score. The story, adapted from a James M. Cain novel, is hard-boiled and murderously sordid and dark. Director Billy Wilder, in the meantime, was as perceptive and ingenious as ever. Fred MacMurray (playing against type), Barbara Stanwyck and Edward G. Robinson give performances that are close to their very best. It all adds up to a film that has become one of the great classics.
To help produce the optic style of this early noir film, Wilder had the best cinematographer at Paramount to help him. John F. Seitz pushed the film's obsession with dark shadows to it's limits, and included interesting touches such as the shadows of venetian blinds often falling across our characters like prison bars, and simulating visible dust particles in beams of light by using small filings of aluminum that would show up clearly on film. They both wanted to push the film towards a kind of German Expressionistic style, with light and shadow playing a prominent part in many shots. Although Wilder was often a director who preferred simplicity in his shots, there is some nice work here - for example, the shot at the beginning of the film where we follow Stanwyck's Phyllis down the stairs, catch sight of her ankle bracelet which had been mentioned earlier, and follow her around the corner to Neff where we see both characters in a mirror. The shots are full of sharp camera angles. The blocking is interesting, and notable (Citizen Kane and The Rules of the Game coming just a few years previously) is the deep focus used at times - for example in a scene at Neff's apartment where both Phyllis and Keyes appear, Neff trying to hide the former. All of this cinematography is wonderful to watch, even nearly 80 years after the production.
Adding to that is a score from Miklós Rózsa which I absolutely loved - and when it comes to films from this era, I'm often a little overwhelmed and distracted by film scores. This is one that stays with us, in perfect rhythm, and feels like a real musical representation of what's happening. There are the usual cues, but all of them feel right (take the one where Neff opens a door to see Keyes standing when he's expecting Phyllis - there's a momentary, split-second instrumental reaction that feels like it originates in our own mind.) In the meantime, we keep returning to that great main theme which keeps at us relentlessly through the whole film, but always sounds different depending on what's happening. Parts have been adapted from Cesar Franck's 'Symphony in D' - composed in 1888 - a piece of music that sounds like a film score for a noir movie in itself. All of this makes for an edgy, moody score that has a great amount of power behind it when it needs to have it. It's one of the best scores I've heard from this period of cinema, and works with the other aspects of this film in perfect unison.
Fred MacMurray was used pretty much exclusively for lighthearted romantic comedies at the time this was made, and had to be persuaded over a period of time to accept the role - which he thought might be a big mistake for all involved. It is without doubt my favourite MacMurray performance, and has to go down as just about his greatest film. He has all the appearances and sound of being the cool, easy going, stylish insurance salesman who, as the film goes on, gets further and further out of his depth. Barbara Stanwyck, in the meantime, comes to us in an outrageously 'fake' wig, appearing every part the superficial and phoney person who just wants to use people for her own benefit. Often mentioned is the transformation she makes during the last few minutes of her life, when she realises she just might love Neff after all. Her role in this film solidified her as an actress of great ability, and she won an 'alternate' Oscar in Danny Peary's Alternate Oscars book. Jean Heather and Byron Barr are both solid as Lola Dietrichson and Nino Zachette respectively.
It's important to note though, that this film is a love story between two men - MacMurray's Neff and Edward G. Robinson's Keyes, who share a deep and abiding bond working together. At several times during the film Neff declares his love for Keyes, and Keyes admits how close they are during the film's closing moments. It's Neff's constant daydreaming about Keye's ability to sniff out insurance fraud that leads him to become obsessed about how he could possibly be fooled. The entire film is Neff's confession to Keyes, which in hindsight is a sad reflection of a betrayal - but that doesn't alter the fact that the bond between them is probably unbreakable. They share many scenes together, Robinson really getting to the heart of matters with his easy manner. Keyes never suspects Neff, simply because he's too close to him to suspect him. When Neff tells Keyes that he probably never would have suspected someone working just a few feet away from him, Keyes tells him that it was someone, "Closer than that."
Other than all of that, this film has a great many memorable moments, such as the one where, after dumping the body of Mr. Dietrichson on the train tracks, their getaway car fails to start. If that car doesn't start, then they'll be surely caught, so the anxiety builds and builds as they try to start it. This wasn't in the initial script, and only came into the film when, after shooting that very scene, Wilder's car failed to start leaving the studio, after which the idea hit him and they reshot it with that added event. Moments of suspense are commonplace as Neff or Phyllis are nearly caught, whether it be by an unfortunate witness to the action on the train, or by Keyes as he makes an unannounced visit to Neff. Even when Phyllis and Neff meet at a grocery store, we're on edge lest they be discovered talking and conspiring together. When Mr. Dietrichson unknowingly signs the life insurance form Neff could be caught. Or else there's watching Stanwyck's face as her husband is being killed in the car seat next to her. We're always engaged and in suspense.
The original novel has been adapted perfectly, and there has been much changed. In the novel Neff and Phyllis commit suicide together by jumping into shark-infested waters, and Phyllis turns out to be something of a homicidal maniac - having needlessly killed many patients when she was a nurse. In the film she only ever killed the original Mrs. Dietrichson so she could marry her husband. The dialogue has also been greatly reworked, which was key, because the dialogue we get in this adaptation is one of the great things about the film. It was a novel that was at first thought to be unfilmable due to the Hays Office objecting to many of the more sordid elements in it - and it took a number of years before Paramount decided to move ahead despite the Hays Office objecting. It was exactly the right move, with nobody objecting once the film was in production. There were initial worries about the infamous 'towel' scene, and the scene were Mr. Dietrichson's body is dumped on the tracks - but in the end we were thankfully allowed the wonderful film we got.
I was pleasantly surprised when I first watched Sunset Boulevard, for in spite of that film's solid reputation, I thought it's age and plot might conspire to make it fall short in my own estimation. Instead it turned out to be one of the best I've ever seen. Exactly the same goes for Double Indemnity, which I thought might have one of those labyrinthine film noir plots - but instead I thought the film was great, and perfect in around about every way. On top of that, I'm a fan of MacMurray, and respond well to Barbara Stanwyck. I find Double Indemnity to be one of those films that feels as fresh today as it would have back when it was made - and such must surely be a timeless piece of work. I was in a great deal of suspense while watching it, and Billy Wilder had me just where he wanted every audience member to be. I've responded so well to this film that it has me eyeing up film noir as a genre that might be more to my liking than I ever imagined. The film's focus on the love between two male friends and workmates also pleasantly surprised me for how unusual, interesting and satisfying it was. I've had a great time getting to know it, and I can feel that it's going to be a film I can watch time after time - especially to hear that dialogue delivered by all involved. "Pretty, isn't it?"
5
Double Indemnity is one of the greatest movies ever made. Cool you liked it so much.
rauldc14
08-31-22, 08:56 AM
Agree one of the GOATs.
Love Double Indemnity, one of my all time favourites. I have it on dvd and on Criterion blu ray.
88666
The Tenant
This was unknowingly, I’m guessing, a cool choice for me. I like Polanski quite a bit but, so far, the other two movies in the apartment trilogy have been my least favorite of his. I wasn’t in a rush to see this obviously, but I did want to. I was basically just waiting till it showed up on one of my way too many streaming services. I’m surprised this is the least lauded in the trilogy because it was my favorite by a long shot.
It’s just the right kind of weird for my taste. I love the slow decent into madness trope. I also like that you never quite know what’s happening but it feels in line with what the character is going through, as opposed to just feeling like things are being left out to trick you.
I think Polanski could have picked someone else to do thus role but I also didn’t think he was bad. The quiet unassuming character fits his demeanor pretty well. I really liked Adjani as Stella in this. I don’t believe it’s an actress I have ever seen before, but she was fun and mysterious. I would call it a Shelly Duvall role. I really do wish there was more of Shelley Winters in this. She is always fantastic, and was so here.
The aesthetic is great. It’s very 70’s, and that’s my favorite thing for a movie to be aesthetically. The building feels appropriately grand, while being appropriately grimy and spooky. I love the way his apartment feels. Great sense of place in this. I also really love the ending.
Good choice for me. I think I just wrote myself into an extra half star on the rating.
CosmicRunaway
08-31-22, 10:00 AM
Double Indemnity was actually my back-up choice for Phoenix, but someone else happened to nominate it for him anyway. It's weird that this happened three times, but it's also strangely comforting, since going into this HoF, I was not confident in my ability to recommend films haha.
In the novel Neff and Phyllis commit suicide together by jumping into shark-infested waters
Maybe the novel handles the wording better, but that just sounds so stupid. I'm glad the film decided to go another route.
Citizen Rules
08-31-22, 11:04 AM
...I think I just wrote myself into an extra half star on the rating.Ha, I've done that too. Back when I use to write reviews often the reviews wrote themselves and told me what to think of the movie, spooky:eek: I haven't seen The Tenant, not sure if I'd like it, but I do enjoy Shelley Winters' performances.
CosmicRunaway
08-31-22, 04:02 PM
I have no idea what I thought the plot of Being John Malkovich was going to be, but I know I never imagined anything even remotely close to this. :eek:
Miss Vicky
08-31-22, 04:19 PM
I have no idea what I thought the plot of Being John Malkovich was going to be, but I know I never imagined anything even remotely close to this. :eek:
Yeah I spent my entire first viewing just repeatedly saying “What the f***?!” and finished it having no idea what I thought of it. It took a few more tries before I could even confidently say I liked it, but obviously I love it now.
SpelingError
08-31-22, 06:32 PM
88666
The Tenant
I really liked Adjani as Stella in this. I don’t believe it’s an actress I have ever seen before, but she was fun and mysterious.
You should check out Possession. It showcases Adjani's acting talents really well.
cricket
08-31-22, 06:55 PM
Double Indemnity is great, but it's always been picked for whoever hasn't seen it by the time I make my choices lol
Seen The Tenant once. I can't really remember it but I know I didn't care for it.
cricket
08-31-22, 06:57 PM
You should check out Possession. It showcases Adjani's acting talents really well.
You could pick it for him next time!
Wyldesyde19
08-31-22, 07:10 PM
The Tenant might just be my favorite Polanski film. Adjani is, as always, great. And I still need to see Posession
SpelingError
08-31-22, 08:49 PM
You could pick it for him next time!
I might join one of these sometime in the future. They look fun.
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