Movie Tab II

[undercoverlover]

The Addams family!!!!! Woop woop!

[Swedish Chef]

http://www.channel4.com/film/media/images/Channel4/film/T/tropic_thunder_xl_01--film-A.jpg

Tropic Thunder (Ben Stiller, 2008)

The first five minutes are pretty hilarious. Not just the four faux-trailers, the faux-battle scene that follows them is damn near perfect. But after that, the movie kinda loses its way and it is definitely fifteen minutes too long. I didn't find Tom Cruise all that funny and Nick Nolte's character was completely worthless. If the movie gravitated closer to the tone of what happens to Steve Coogan's character, I think it could've been very special. As it is, it's just alright

3


http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/13760000/13767329.JPG

Black Book (Paul Verhoeven, 2007)

Lame

2.5


http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articles/miscgfx/covers5/semiprodvd.jpg

Semi-Pro (Kent Alterman, 2008)

Very, very lame.

1

[Monkeypunch]

Hamlet 2 - I LOVED this movie. So screamingly funny throughout. Steve Coogan is hilarious as a failed actor turned high school drama teacher who won't let his obvious (even to himself) lack of talent get in the way of his dreams. He's such a great character, and his performance recalls Gene Wilder, or at least it did to me. The movie mines some really dark places for it's humour, but in a weird, upbeat sort of way. It has lots of quoteable lines, it ridicules all the cliche's of the "inspirational teacher" genre, and it's smarter and more deep than it actually needs to be, so thats why it's easily my favourite film this year so far.

[Justin]

My Blueberry Nights (Wong Kar-wai, 2007) - 4

I don't understand the hate towards this film, it was only hurt mainly due to the performances of the actors and actresses. Although, I loved seeing Chan Marshall (Cat Power).

[bleacheddecay]

The kids and I enjoyed it too. It's sometimes difficult to find a movie the three of us can all really get into. This was one of them!

We laughed a great deal. It lived up to my hopes for it and to it's trailer.

Hamlet 2 - I LOVED this movie. So screamingly funny throughout. Steve Coogan is hilarious as a failed actor turned high school drama teacher who won't let his obvious (even to himself) lack of talent get in the way of his dreams. He's such a great character, and his performance recalls Gene Wilder, or at least it did to me. The movie mines some really dark places for it's humour, but in a weird, upbeat sort of way. It has lots of quoteable lines, it ridicules all the cliche's of the "inspirational teacher" genre, and it's smarter and more deep than it actually needs to be, so thats why it's easily my favourite film this year so far.

[mark f]

Somebody reassure me that this makes total sense, even for an old fart. Let's say that you watched a world-renowned classic film. Let's say it's a foreign film from the era where most such foreign films were considered the Second Coming. (For all I care, "foreign" means "American" or "English-language" right now.) Let's say that you watched it and you just didn't "get it". It made you feel something along the lines of the Emperor's New Clothes. You tell people you didn't get it and you don't actually like it. What do you do? Do you move on to other films from a similar era and even by the same director, or do you just watch films you "believe" you have a stronger afinity for? For me, I try to watch as many films ASAP, but I agree that if I have a negative memory about a film, I tend to need a reason to rewatch it. Well today, I had Sarah as a reason to rewatch Antonioni's L'Avventura for the third time.

L'Avventura (Michelangelo Antonioni, 1960) 2.5

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00005BHW6.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

Rewatching L'Avventura takes me back in many ways. When I first watched this film, I loathed it. Maybe I was under the influence of a plot-driven Devil, but nevertheless, I had a difficult time even enjoying the photography and sound effects, one of my fave actresses (Monica Vitti), the maturity of the mystery, or the way the film actually fit into Italian cinema in 1960 (the year which also produced La Dolce Vita, Rocco and His Brothers, Two Women, etc.) Nowadays, I can see that the film isn't really experimental, and even though many still find it boring, it's certainly not that either. However, I still find it unsatisfactory. So, although 30 years ago I would have advised you to stay away from this film, now I recommend it as part of a well-rounded film education, especially one involving B&W photography and unique sound effects.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2503/3805914778_809cfa9c90.jpg

Something else which I've noticed recently concerning Antonioni is that he is David Lynch long before there was a film personality identified as David Lynch. All of Antonioni's films are mysteries open to interpretation. None of them are easy to understand, even with multiple viewings. They all contain visual, aural and acting motifs which enable some people to believe that they actually do make more sense to them than mere mortals, especially when put into a thematic context amongst ALL of Antonioni's films. To give you an example, in L'Avventura, one of the lead characters disappears at exactly the same time that the characters and the audience hear an outboard motorboat go by the island all the characters are vacationing at. However, after one or two characters mention the sound of the engine, everybody goes off looking for the missing woman and no one ever again mentions the "boat" motor again. Later on, what sounds like a helicopter to me, but sounds like another boat to a character, is heard, but once again no craft is ever seen and the comment about an engine never makes another appearance. However, the woman's lover and best friend become lovers, and it becomes clear immediately that it's a major mistake and maybe somebody is being possessed by a missing somebody. Then again, maybe a horned-dog man is just trying to score at every opportunity possible.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1365/1083303184_f9fa31da4e.jpg

Ultimately, I find this film better than the third part of the "Loneliness" Trilogy. I have La Notte in my queue, but it's supposed to be a "Very Long Wait'. I earlier wrote a review of L'Eclisse which I gave 2, and that was also an improvement over the first time I saw that film. Antonioni is definitely a filmmaker who doesn't make simple films and most of his films improve (if only slightly) with repeated viewings. However, I won't swear that that's the case with Zabriskie Point!!

The Small Back Room (Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger, 1949) 3

http://www.lovefilm.com/lovefilm/images/products/3/21983-large.jpg

This lesser Powell/Pressburger film still contains many set-pieces of world-class filmmaking. The actual plot involves a bomb expert, working in the back room of a bureaucratic government organization in 1943, but, needless to say, England is constantly being attacked by "silent" bombs. These aren't the buzzbombs so wonderfully depicted in Green For Danger, but small thermos-sized bombs dropped which kill one or two soldiers or children at a time when they find them and move them without thinking. What makes this film more complex than usual is that the lead character (David Farrar) has already lost a foot from a bomb during WWII and he has a strong affinity to drink whiskey to help him forget about his infirmity and situation. However, he has a loving fiancee (Kathleen Bryon) who works in his office and provides him with enough support to get him through his "average" weaknesses.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sC7kvp8w2Bg/T6nQIO_obJI/AAAAAAAAC8M/LzZi8zsGjMA/s400/Intro+SBR+Pro.jpg

This film DOES seem very low-key and almost disappointing as a piece of "just" storytelling, but as a piece of CINEMATIC storytelling, it has almost as many awesome set pieces as the duo's usual films. For example, there's an almost throwaway scene at Stonehenge involving the testing of an important gun for the Army. It's truly inspiring. Then, there's a visit by the "Minister" (Robert Morley) to the shop of the "Boys in the Back Room" which is definitely on the hilarious side. Another scene which is very funny is the bureaucratic discussion of the advantages/disadvatages of the gun tested at Stonehenge. Jack Hawkins especially gets to shine in that scene, along with Farrar. Ultimately, the best scenes are probably the scene where Farrar freaks out, not due to his drinking, but due to his lack of drinking. The way Powell is able to include the clock, the booze bottle, the curtains and David Farrar, all alone in his living room, is spectacular. Probably the other most-spectacular scene is the bomb-defusing conclusion on the rocky beach at the end. Nail-biting suspense right there.

http://images.popmatters.com/reviews_art/s/smallbackroom-splsh.jpg

This is another film where things might seem slow or boring, but if you actually pay attention to all the craft (the photography, sound, editing, sets, costumes and ACTING), you will notice many things which you may have missed the first time through. My God, CRAFT, I'm glad that rufnek never comes in this thread. (Oops!)

[Iroquois]

Transformers (Michael Bay - 2007) 4

I just don't know why its so hard for people to enjoy a flick like this. For a geeky 36 year old such as myself this movie is total eye candy and very fun to watch. I spend probably way to much time defending movies like this so I'm thinking maybe I shouldn't bother to as much anymore. We'll see. I change my mind a lot. Anyway, I can't wait for the second one.

i find Transformers was fun, but in a real MST3K manner and not in any way approaching genuine fun. Oh, well.

Also, Predator 2 equal to Predator?! I'm not saying it's a bad film ('cos there are waaay worse) but there's no way I could consider the second one to equal the first.

But eh, opinions and all that.

[mack]

Ok, so I watched Hitman (finally grew bored enough), and hated it - the guy they have playing him is too young. In the game, you get the impression that Agent 47 (?) is firmly in his mid to late 30s, with more of a cultured Man Voice, and you never get that he's afraid of women.

This guy's young - he cant be past 25 years old, and he's having problems with girls? No way man.

Final point (I think): It just occured to me. How is having a clearly visible BAR CODE on the back of your clean shaven head "keeping a low profile?" Give me a break. I have a hard time believing that no one no where ever found a strange, somber, silent, brooding man was with a BAR CODE on his head interesting enough to report to the authorities.

Identifying mark, anyone?

And think - I like the game!

Wanted
10/10 Great movie, fresh new storyline/aspect (at least for me). Oh and James McAvoy is hot, which always helps. ;) OMG this movie was so feel-good just for the simple fact of watching McAvoy's character cycle through his indifference to "grow a pair" as he put it. That angst. We've all had it one time or another! :yup: Wonder if Angelina actually has that many tattoos, or if it was for the movie? :confused:

The Mutant Chronicles
Lame!!! Super-lame. Unless youre the kinda girl that doesnt mind watching a hammy kill-em-up flick that is kind of Sky Captain and the World of Tommorrow-esque. I'm sorry. Thomas Jane just isnt Jude Law, and he came off monotonous in this one. Best actor was our guy Ron Perlman, and the most intriguing was the Severian chick. Basic storyline. REAL basic, but worth a once-over for originality.

Penelope
10/10. My faith in Christina Ricci's movie choices is henceforth restored! Plus, its James McAvoy again. :D Awesome cute and cuddly little flick. Any girl who has a scary, well-meaning, kind of overbearing mom will totally understand this movie! :D

[TheUsualSuspect]

Tropic Thunder
I think Ben Stiller should stick with directing. While the film does have some problems, I found it to be funnier and more enjoyable then Pineapple Express. Jr. carries the film (much like Franco did with Express). I felt that at times the jokes might have gone a little too far. I never found the simple Jack bit to be that funny, but the cameos more then make up for what the film lacked in the middle.

Yes the first 10 minutes is where the most fun is at, but the climax is entertaining and funny. Even if you can see the joke coming, you still laugh because of the delivery, good job for the actors on that one.

I loved the look of this film, it is almost the total opposite of what and how war films are shot. It's too pretty to be a war film and it works with how these characters live in this world. They are oblivious to most things...even when there is a dead body.

Sure Ben Stiller is paying the same character again, but it works in this film. He manages to make it a little more fresh then stale. I wasn't too impressed with Jack Black, but he does get one of the best jokes in the entire film. (The bit when he is tied to the tree).

Tropic Thunder is decent, I enjoyed it, was expecting a bit more on the parody of war films, we get Platoon, but where's Deer Hunter? I probably enjoyed it more because it pokes fun at Hollywood and the go around of it all. I tend to gravitate towards that style.

3.5

[Iroquois]

This guy's young - he cant be past 25 years old, and he's having problems with girls? No way man.

He's spent half his life being taught to kill people and the other half actually killing people. I guess anything beyond the most basic social interaction would've been considered superfluous by his educators (who are in essence the only family he has)

I didn't hate Hitman, it was just fun to kill time with a few friends watching it. The movie couldn't get anything above 2.5

[B-card]

Van Wilder(Walt Becker 2002)-4

Van Wilder2:Rise of Taj(Morth Nathan 2006)-3

Baby Mama(Michael McCullers 2008)-I don't know why I watched this but it had its funny moments and it was enjoyable 4

[TheUsualSuspect]

Wanted

Not bad, it was something different. The type of film that you could never take seriously and just sit back and watch the crazy happen.

Jolie is hot and badass in her role and Morgan Freeman takes a turn from his normal acting credits. McAvoy has the lead and manages to hold the film. You can expect to see more films with his face plastered on the posters.

This film is all about the action sequences and it has the lot of them. They are enjoyable and all of them follow the realm of "curving the bullet".

I've seen bits and pieces of Timur's NightWatch. You can sense he has a style and it sticks out and this film follows it. It plays out like a teenage boy's wet dream.

Bits of the story were predictable and the film doesn't really dve into the history of the organization. Much like Jumper, I wanted to know more about these people and their abilities.

Give it a go if you're into the action thing and don't want mind the "it would nbever happen in real life" aspect to it.

3

[Pyro Tramp]

Somebody reassure me that this makes total sense, even for an old fart. Let's say that you watched a world-renowned classic film. Let's say it's a foreign film from the era where most such foreign films were considered the Second Coming. (For all I care, "foreign" means "American" or "English-language" right now.) Let's say that you watched it and you just didn't "get it". It made you feel something along the lines of the Emperor's New Clothes. You tell people you didn't get it and you don't actually like it. What do you do? Do you move on to other films from a similar era and even by the same director, or do you just watch films you "believe" you have a stronger afinity for? For me, I try to watch as many films ASAP, but I agree that if I have a negative memory about a film, I tend to need a reason to rewatch it. Well today, I had Sarah as a reason to rewatch Antonioni's L'Avventura for the third time.

L'Avventura (Michelangelo Antonioni, 1960) 2.5

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00005BHW6.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

Rewatching L'Avventura takes me back in many ways. When I first watched this film, I loathed it. Maybe I was under the influence of a plot-driven Devil, but nevertheless, I had a difficult time even enjoying the photography and sound effects, one of my fave actresses (Monica Vitti), the maturity of the mystery, or the way the film actually fit into Italian cinema in 1960 (the year which also produced La Dolce Vita, Rocco and His Brothers, Two Women, etc.) Nowadays, I can see that the film isn't really experimental, and even though many still find it boring, it's certainly not that either. However, I still find it unsatisfactory. So, although 30 years ago I would have advised you to stay away from this film, now I recommend it as part of a well-rounded film education, especially one involving B&W photography and unique sound effects.

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/dvdcompare/lavventura/1.42.19-cri.jpg

Something else which I've noticed recently concerning Antonioni is that he is David Lynch long before there was a film personality identified as David Lynch. All of Antonioni's films are mysteries open to interpretation. None of them are easy to understand, even with multiple viewings. They all contain visual, aural and acting motifs which enable some people to believe that they actually do make more sense to them than mere mortals, especially when put into a thematic context amongst ALL of Antonioni's films. To give you an example, in L'Avventura, one of the lead characters disappears at exactly the same time that the characters and the audience hear an outboard motorboat go by the island all the characters are vacationing at. However, after one or two characters mention the sound of the engine, everybody goes off looking for the missing woman and no one ever again mentions the "boat" motor again. Later on, what sounds like a helicopter to me, but sounds like another boat to a character, is heard, but once again no craft is ever seen and the comment about an engine never makes another appearance. However, the woman's lover and best friend become lovers, and it becomes clear immediately that it's a major mistake and maybe somebody is being possessed by a missing somebody. Then again, maybe a horned-dog man is just trying to score at every opportunity possible.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1365/1083303184_f9fa31da4e.jpg

Ultimately, I find this film better than the third part of the "Loneliness" Trilogy. I have La Notte in my queue, but it's supposed to be a "Very Long Wait'. I earlier wrote a review of L'Eclisse which I gave 2, and that was also an improvement over the first time I saw that film. Antonioni is definitely a filmmaker who doesn't make simple films and most of his films improve (if only slightly) with repeated viewings. However, I won't swear that that's the case with Zabriskie Point!!



Ah man, this is at like the top of my to-see list, despite the not so positive review- your Lynch comparison has put me back onto it :)

Might watch La Notte and Zabriskie Point, both of which i got backed up.



As for Tropic Thunder, which everyone seems to be watching- ii'm thinking it'll have to wait until after seeing My Name is Bruce :D

[Justin]

I highly recommend Antonioni. His films may not be "easy", but they are more rewarding than most films. I have always been a fan of Antonioni's long, continuous takes. He allows the camera to linger around settings, rather than cutting away rapidly. There is no real "plot" in any of his films, for the most part, but this is the brilliance behind it. The meandering, lack of any real narrative is a style in itself -- this is what I find to be more "pure", than your conventional story. There is a point to the story and its illustrated through the images and shot choices -- you just have to discover for yourself what it is. Antonioni is an uncompromising director who is not going to shovel empty symbolism and incessant dialogues down your throat.

You should consider checking out L'eclisse (The Eclipse) and L'avventura (The Adventure).

[Pyro Tramp]

Yeah, i got L'eclisse on the list as well, though after L'avventura. Of his films, think i've only seen The Passenger and loved that.

[Justin]

Antonioni has another film called Il deserto rosso (The Red Desert) which is difficult to find (although, I do believe it is on Amazon for a hefty price). But if you can find it, watch it -- immediately.

[undercoverlover]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/undercoverlover/meandwalle.jpg

WALL-E
Incredible. I was expecting excellence with an eventual downside but it never came. I did actually prefer the sections of the film that were 'silent' over the ones with humans but it all comes together in a logical and entertaining way. Once again Pixar outdoes itself. Finding Nemo was incredible and the graphics were realistic but fantasical at the same time however Wall-e has more detailed effects.

The love story is one that rivals the greats. It Annie Hall meets Romeo and Juliet in that it's epic and pure with a Chaplinesque sweetness that made it feel really alive - which is no mean feet considering the main characters are robots.

The message of the film didnt really overwhelm me until the film is halfway through the human section and the idea that the humans aboard the ship had totally forgotten about earth and basically their entire history - that didnt ring especially true to me.

I was utterly charmed, though other may heavily disagree, by all the Hello Dolly! parts but it was more like a nod at disney musicals without actually having a full song and dance number.

It was amazing to say the least.

[Thursday Next]

I have been staying at my mum's and consequently the only films I have watched recently come from her collection of rom coms and costume dramas...

Becoming Jane 4/5 Surprised that I really liked this. I have yet to see James McAvoy in something where he is less than good, and Anne Hathaway just about managed to keep up a passable accent. The romance was actually quite touching and for an Austen fan it was fun to spot bits in the film which matched up with bits from her books, although I was left wondering how true any of it was (although I don't think it really matters if it wasn't).

The Jane Austen Book Club 3/5 (You're spotting a theme here, right? This is my mum's dvd collection...) I read the book ages ago, which I found to be diverting enough but forgettable and the film pretty much matched the book in that sense. Whether they changed a lot from the book or whether it really was that forgettable I don't know, but I didn't remember much about the characters or events. I thought Emily Blunt was very good.

Music and Lyrics 3.5/5 I thought this would be awful, something in the vein of 2 Weeks Notice, perhaps, but I was pleasantly surprised. Perhaps it was that the subject matter appealed to me more, music/comedy, but I really enjoyed this. No, it's not a classic film, it doesn't have anything original to say or anything special in the way it is filmed but for a fun, feel good comedy it is very effective. I laughed quite a bit and so did my dad. Hugh Grant is perfectly cast as the has-been member of an eighties pop group, his lines are funny, sarcastic and well delivered. Drew Barrymore was sweet but slightly less interesting as the ditzy plant girl with a talent for lyric writing and the romance was more obligatory than genuine. The pop pastiches, though, were spot on. And I still have some of them stuck in my head now!

[Monkeypunch]

Total Recall - I really enjoy Paul Verhoven's films, they're always so over the top, with graphic violence or nudity, or sometimes both. This one is really fun, with Arnold Shwarzenegger killing a bunch of people on mars. Really, that's the main point of it, and some trippy special effects. Sharon Stone is hot as Arnold's wife, too. It's trashy and really awesome.

[Justin]

Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance - 3.5

A great ending to a pretty good film. The major flaw is that as the film progresses, it becomes less concerned with the characters and more focused on the excessive violence (although I don't have a problem with the violence). The first half, though, is quite good -- a beautifully shot film, Park Chan-wook is wonderful at aesthetics. Oldboy will always be my favorite of his, although I have yet to see Sympathy for Lady Vengeance -- which I look forward to watching.

[bleacheddecay]

I've always loved this movie too!

IMO, Sharon stone has never and will never look hotter.

There is great action and decent storytelling in the film too!

Total Recall - I really enjoy Paul Verhoven's films, they're always so over the top, with graphic violence or nudity, or sometimes both. This one is really fun, with Arnold Shwarzenegger killing a bunch of people on mars. Really, that's the main point of it, and some trippy special effects. Sharon Stone is hot as Arnold's wife, too. It's trashy and really awesome.

[Mrs. Darcy]

The Long Good Friday 3

Bob Hoskins is Harold Shand, a crime boss trying to go legit, and as he's trying to engage support from the American mafia, things start going very bad. We follow Harold as he uses all his contacts to find out who's messing with him and why.

Hoskins was a brilliant choice for this role. Harold enjoys the fine things his money provides him with, his wife is classy, and he is adept at maneuvering in the upper class circles, but you can always feel the roughness of his character, and when he unravels, it's not surprising that it gets gritty.

[Justin]

Shotgun Stories (Nichols,2007) - 4

A very well done film. The dialogue and acting are both superb. Michael Shannon was easily one of the stand-outs -- needless to say, I was extremely impressed. If you like Malick, then you'll probably enjoy this.

Recommended.

[Swedish Chef]

http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/dynamic/imgs/080116/cassandras-dream-ewan-colin_l.jpg

Cassandra's Dream (Woody Allen, 2007)

I can't really pinpoint why Match Point clicked for me so well while this movie didn't. I just did not like this thing at all. It seems like being in a Woody Allen movie brings out the absolute worst in actors. Seriously, McGregor and Farrell can act, but they are both just so bad in this film. I wonder how many professional reviewers made the "My, Woody Allen has directed some awfully wooden performances lately." pun? But everyone in Match Point was just as wooden and unbelievable and I still liked that movie, so what the duck? Maybe it's because this movie is just as plodding as Match Point but, unlike Match Point, it delivers no payoff whatsoever. When the credits started rolling on this film, I actually got mad. I kind of understood what Woody was going for, with the suddenness of death and whatnot, but it did not work for me. Cassandra's Dream sapped the energy right out of my body and it wasted two hours of my life.

1


http://www.channel4.com/film/media/images/Channel4/film/B/before_the_devil_knows_your_dead_xl_03--film-B.jpg

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (Sidney Lumet, 2007)

If Cassandra's Dream's problem is that it lacks any sort of payoff, then the problem with this film is that it has too many payoffs. I didn't out and out hate Before The Devil Knows You're Dead, but I did feel it was incredibly hokey. And for such a remarkably hokey film, it definitely takes itself waaay too seriously. The acting, though, with the possible exception of Albert Finney, is top-notch. I hope Sid the Kid can come up with one last hurrah to cap an awesome career. It would be pretty disappointing if this one turned out to be his swan song.

2

[mark f]

Although I'm not referred to here directly, I'm 100% sure that you wouldn't have watched this or posted these two films together if I hadn't written my review of Cassandra's Dream in here a while back. I'm sorry that I somehow sucked two hours of your life away, so there is no way in Hell that I will even respectfully suggest you rewatch, but I still can't help but think it. :cool:

[Swedish Chef]

Although I'm not referred to here directly, I'm 100% sure that you wouldn't have watched this or posted these two films together if I hadn't written my review of Cassandra's Dream in here a while back. I'm sorry that I somehow sucked two hours of your life away, so there is no way in Hell that I will even respectfully suggest you rewatch, but I still can't help but think it. :cool:

It's a little more coincidental than you seem to think, but I have been watching a buttload of flicks lately that you've also recently rated in this thread. I don't really go out of my way to check out movies that you've given tepid recommendations for, but maybe your mini Movie Tab reviews have disrupted my regular movie watching patterns on a subconscious level?

Either way, I do enjoy reading your write-ups in this thread and I don't blame you in the slightest for those two wasted hours.

[tramp]

For the past month, I’ve been on a Sean Bean film-quest, and since his career is riddled with villains, supporting characters, and sometimes a co-lead part, I caught a few films I wouldn’t have otherwise sought out.

The Dark (Fawcett, 2002)
Germany/UK Independent

An independent “horror” flick, The Dark is based on a novel called “Sheep,” and while watching it, I kept thinking that the bizarre premise made for an enjoying read by a winter fire, but not a story that transferred well to film. Yet, even with the bizarre – and some might say stupid – premise of a girl coming back from the ocean (the dead) and exchanging places with a living girl (who then becomes dead), tied in with some old Wales legend of a bunch of people diving off some cliffs who are then actually sheep (don't ask), I enjoyed the movie! And it wasn’t just Sean’s appearance (although that always helps). There wasn’t a moment I was bored, and the setting of a house by the cliffs in Wales was rather beautiful to look out. What I liked most about the film was Maria Bello’s mother and her struggle with trying to return her lost daughter from the deep. I admit that I find any film about the relationship of parent to child rather interesting.

The story revolves around a mother (Bello) and her daughter as they visit Bello’s estranged husband and father to their daughter (Bean) who has decided to live in Wales. Soon after their arrival, tragedy strikes…

What annoyed me about this film is it turned into one of those occasions where you wonder why a director doesn’t know what he had and goes for a horror cliché when he didn’t need to go there. The ending of the film kills all the goodwill I had for the film up to that point. There is an alternate ending which I found much more satisfactory. While I accept the ending because it fed into a theme I had read into the film, I had to wonder if that theme was actually in the film or I placed it there, needing the film to say something worthwhile. The story worked when I realized that no matter how much we want something, it isn’t always possible. We cannot reach into the dark and bring back what was lost.

For me, the director created a rather interesting suspense film, layered around a mother’s love and a child’s desire for a loving parent (here is where Sean fits in), but as a “horror” film, with its need to make us jump out of our seats with the last image, the director gave the audience a last unnecssary cheap shot. I sat there wondering why.

On the Sean Bean front, he never looked sexier and it is always a treat to see him play a caring and loving character who doesn’t die. ;)


http://www.bean-land.de/rg_dark12005.jpg

*sigh*

2.5

Ronin (Frankenheimer, 1998)

Robert DeNiro leads a band of mercenaries going after a case, a case that both Irish terrorists and the Russian mob seek. Frankenheimer treats the case as a MacGuffin, its sole purpose to give us a bunch of numbing car chases and enough betrayals to get you confused. Why do I get upset when cars speed through Paris, causing great damage to other people? And why do I then wonder why they get away with it? Anyway….

The film is a rather enjoyable action yarn. DeNiro and Jean Reno are quite good together. Stallan Skarsgard is a standout. I must say the opening two minutes of the film was perfect. I have a feeling many people would like this type of film, although we have seen many like it.

As to Bean, well, this is the one film where I wished he hadn’t appeared. I want his villains to be smart (they usually are) and/or ruthless. Here, he serves as an idiot for the audience to realize just how smart DeNiro’s character is. I decided to fantasize that the only reason he took this small part was for the chance to go to Paris, hang with the great DeNiro, and eat lots of good food.

3

Snow Cake (Marc Evans, 2006)

http://www.momentumpictures.co.uk/assets/stills/Snow-Cake-03.jpg

No, Bean isn’t here, but another favorite British actor, Alan Rickman, is. The story revolves around Rickman, Sigourney Weaver (as an autistic woman), and Carrie Ann-Moss, three people that come together after a tragedy happens to Weaver’s daughter. Rickman had picked her up when she was hitchhiking, they are hit by a truck and the girl dies. Rickman feels rather guilty and sad about the whole thing and so he goes to find Weaver.

Of course, Weaver, being autistic, isn’t exactly what he expects. The film takes place over the next few days as he stays there until the funeral and until Tuesday when Weaver wants him to take out the trash (her daughter’s job as Weaver can’t touch the trash).

What follows is, of course, a three character study where characters learn from each other, a bit of redemption is played out, and the main protagonist goes off into the sunset better for having gone through whatever it was he/she went through. In other words, this is the typical small independent film. Films such as this can often go down that path of condescending, “oh, look at how human we are!” territory, trying too hard to say the profound or insightful, but it’s Rickman that keeps the film incredibly balanced and quite enjoyable. His droll manner works so well here. Weaver’s autistic mother is a fine performance and the director stays with her just enough to not let her get on our nerves. Moss’ character is the one flaw in the film and her purpose seems incredibly forced. She is a “selfish” woman to commits an unselfish act at the end so we are to conclude that Rickman had changed her. Yawn.

I didn’t let that small flaw stop me from enjoying this film tremendously. I didn’t want the film to end, and I wanted to follow Rickman to his next stop and see how his life came out. I even watched the deleted scenes afterward wanting to relive more of the film.

If you like Rickman, I recommend this film highly.

4

P.S. I don't know why, but I have the hardest time adding pictures here. I've tried three different ways and the pics don't come out. :(

[tramp]

I also watched Layer Cake with Daniel Craig. I can't remember who, but someone here recommended it to me in the Soapbox.

Craig was fascinating to watch (sigh) and the ending... ah... nicely ironic, but I wish I could have followed the story. I was confused the entire time. :rolleyes:

[Powdered Water]

Looks like you got it working there tramp, good job. :)


And now back to some Zorg oldies and goldies...

The Matrix (The Wachoski Brothers - 1999) 5

To put it simply I think this movie is the bees knees. I like it a lot.

The Matrix Reloaded (The Wachowski Brothers - 2003) 3.5

Now while I would agree with those that say these aren't nearly as good as the first one that is also due in large part to the fact that the first one is an absolute masterpiece. Yeah I said masterpiece. But I still rather enjoy the two follow ups for what they are.

The Matrix Revolutions (The Wachowski Brothers - 2003) 3

Monica Belluci in that red latex dress is all I'm gonna say.


Medusa (Gordon Hessler - 1973) 0.5

Oh dear, this was pretty bad. George Hamilton of all people was in this and he even helped produce it. It's supposed to be some kind of a horror/thriller type of flick and instead its mostly just a mess. Oh well, I'll watch damn near anything once. :eek:

[tramp]

PW, dear, you got a red "x." ;)

And any movie with George Hamilton is bound to be bad. :laugh:

[Powdered Water]

Fixed, and it was... Sheesh! Just awful.

[Monkeypunch]

I'm still on an action movie kick, so i watched:

Judge Dredd - Ok, I loved the comic books as a kid, my friend Brian and I had a ton of them and read them till they just about fell apart. This movie has so little to do with the comics, it's like they barely read them. But it does have the really cool ABC robot, Mean Machine, and the best use of Rob Schneider ever, so I'll give it a passing grade. It's not nearly as bad as I'd been lead to beleive, it's actually quite fun.

"Bitch!"
"Judge Bitch!"

[Justin]

Iraq in Fragments (Longley, 2006) - 5

Good god -- I honestly can not recommend this enough. I was shell shocked after viewing this film, it is absolutely stunning.

Just see it -- I promise you that you will not be disappointed.

[Mrs. Darcy]

Xanadu 2.5

http://aolsearch.aol.com/aol/redir?src=image&requestId=b6c436fe0f57c1cd&userQuery=xanadu+special+edition&clickedItemDest=97093636918017505727651847202475438590&clickedItemMark=1220313725006&clickedItemURN=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.videobusiness.com%2Farticles%2Fblog%2F1740000174%2F20080604%2FXanadu-Box-Art.jpg&moduleId=image_details.M.xml&clickedItemDescription=Image Details

I don't know how I missed this movie back in 1980 considering I was 15 and this looks like it would have been right up my alley, but I did. This was an entertaining film and I was pleasantly surprised since I've heard how horrible it is. Horrible is Big Trouble in Little China, this was fun. But I love musicals and Gene Kelly, so the two together? I'm in.

It was great to see Fee Waybill from The Tubes in there, and what looked like the solid gold dancers. Ah... good times, good times.

There is a Xanadu appreciation thread on this movie for the uninitiated, and SamsoniteDelilah and Holden give in-depth reviews of it there. Check it out if you haven't been there yet.

[Holden Pike]

Wait a second: Xanadu is OK and Big Trouble in Little China is somehow horrible?!? And what were you smoking as you composed this post?

[Tortuga]

A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (Montiel, 2006) - 4

I was channel surfing, and came across this film on the Sundance Channel. Based on the memoirs of Dito Montiel, and directed by the author, it's a gritty, fairly impressive first effort.

I'm not sure Montiel would be able to work with a script not his own, but he did a good job bringing his own life story of growing up in Astoria, Queens, in the 1980's to the screen. New York in the 80's - from Manhattan itself to the outer boroughs like Queens (and Brooklyn, where I lived) - was a battleground. Racial tensions were at an all-time high, and Montiel shows those tensions in all their profane, ugly reality.

The film boasts an impressive cast; Chazz Palmintieri is terrific as Montiel's father, who believes that ambition shouldn't stray beyond your own front door. He's appalling, and infuriating, and real; he's every guy you know who has no ambition, and resents the fact that his kids might have some.

Montiel himself is portrayed by two actors - Shia LaBoeuf and Robert Downey, Jr. I had to work pretty hard to believe that the pinch-faced, loose-limbed LaBeouf matured into doe-eyed, coiled Downey, Jr., but his performance helped me tremendously. I hope his success in films like TRANSFORMERS and INDY 4 (which I hated) doesn't deter him from acting in films like this; he has genuine chops.

Downey, Jr., as usual, doesn't set a foot wrong. This was another indie step in Downey's march to redemption, and it's easy to see why the industry was so willing to take a chance on him again. He drills straight down to the pain and confusion of someone who left his childhood in ruins, fleeing to the other side of the continent, only to have to come back and confront the father he loved and despised in equal measures. Downey's seamless transition from angrily calling Palmintieri, "Pop," in that scene to his pleading, "Daddy," is a master class in acting.

The film itself is choppy, and has some questionable directorial choices (actors breaking the fourth wall, only to say banal things like, "I like to ****"? No thanks.), but the performances are raw, genuine, and bring to life a slice of the mean streets of New York before "Giuliani Time."

[Mrs. Darcy]

Wait a second: Xanadu is OK and Big Trouble in Little China is somehow horrible?!? And what were you smoking as you composed this post?


Our mileage must vary...;)

[tramp]

Tortuga's new favorite actor: Robert Downey, Jr. :)

And I never heard of that movie!

[Tortuga]

For the past month, I’ve been on a Sean Bean film-quest, and since his career is riddled with villains, supporting characters, and sometimes a co-lead part, I caught a few films I wouldn’t have otherwise sought out.

The Dark (Fawcett, 2002)
Germany/UK Independent

An independent “horror” flick, The Dark is based on a novel called “Sheep,” and while watching it, I kept thinking that the bizarre premise made for an enjoying read by a winter fire, but not a story that transferred well to film. Yet, even with the bizarre – and some might say stupid – premise of a girl coming back from the ocean (the dead) and exchanging places with a living girl (who then becomes dead), tied in with some old Wales legend of a bunch of people diving off some cliffs who are then actually sheep (don't ask), I enjoyed the movie! And it wasn’t just Sean’s appearance (although that always helps). There wasn’t a moment I was bored, and the setting of a house by the cliffs in Wales was rather beautiful to look out. What I liked most about the film was Maria Bello’s mother and her struggle with trying to return her lost daughter from the deep. I admit that I find any film about the relationship of parent to child rather interesting.

The story revolves around a mother (Bello) and her daughter as they visit Bello’s estranged husband and father to their daughter (Bean) who has decided to live in Wales. Soon after their arrival, tragedy strikes…

What annoyed me about this film is it turned into one of those occasions where you wonder why a director doesn’t know what he had and goes for a horror cliché when he didn’t need to go there. The ending of the film kills all the goodwill I had for the film up to that point. There is an alternate ending which I found much more satisfactory. While I accept the ending because it fed into a theme I had read into the film, I had to wonder if that theme was actually in the film or I placed it there, needing the film to say something worthwhile. The story worked when I realized that no matter how much we want something, it isn’t always possible. We cannot reach into the dark and bring back what was lost.

For me, the director created a rather interesting suspense film, layered around a mother’s love and a child’s desire for a loving parent (here is where Sean fits in), but as a “horror” film, with its need to make us jump out of our seats with the last image, the director gave the audience a last unnecssary cheap shot. I sat there wondering why.

On the Sean Bean front, he never looked sexier and it is always a treat to see him play a caring and loving character who doesn’t die. ;)


http://www.bean-land.de/rg_dark12005.jpg

*sigh*

2.5

Ronin (Frankenheimer, 1998)

Robert DeNiro leads a band of mercenaries going after a case, a case that both Irish terrorists and the Russian mob seek. Frankenheimer treats the case as a MacGuffin, its sole purpose to give us a bunch of numbing car chases and enough betrayals to get you confused. Why do I get upset when cars speed through Paris, causing great damage to other people? And why do I then wonder why they get away with it? Anyway….

The film is a rather enjoyable action yarn. DeNiro and Jean Reno are quite good together. Stallan Skarsgard is a standout. I must say the opening two minutes of the film was perfect. I have a feeling many people would like this type of film, although we have seen many like it.

As to Bean, well, this is the one film where I wished he hadn’t appeared. I want his villains to be smart (they usually are) and/or ruthless. Here, he serves as an idiot for the audience to realize just how smart DeNiro’s character is. I decided to fantasize that the only reason he took this small part was for the chance to go to Paris, hang with the great DeNiro, and eat lots of good food.

3

Snow Cake (Marc Evans, 2006)

http://www.momentumpictures.co.uk/assets/stills/Snow-Cake-03.jpg

No, Bean isn’t here, but another favorite British actor, Alan Rickman, is. The story revolves around Rickman, Sigourney Weaver (as an autistic woman), and Carrie Ann-Moss, three people that come together after a tragedy happens to Weaver’s daughter. Rickman had picked her up when she was hitchhiking, they are hit by a truck and the girl dies. Rickman feels rather guilty and sad about the whole thing and so he goes to find Weaver.

Of course, Weaver, being autistic, isn’t exactly what he expects. The film takes place over the next few days as he stays there until the funeral and until Tuesday when Weaver wants him to take out the trash (her daughter’s job as Weaver can’t touch the trash).

What follows is, of course, a three character study where characters learn from each other, a bit of redemption is played out, and the main protagonist goes off into the sunset better for having gone through whatever it was he/she went through. In other words, this is the typical small independent film. Films such as this can often go down that path of condescending, “oh, look at how human we are!” territory, trying too hard to say the profound or insightful, but it’s Rickman that keeps the film incredibly balanced and quite enjoyable. His droll manner works so well here. Weaver’s autistic mother is a fine performance and the director stays with her just enough to not let her get on our nerves. Moss’ character is the one flaw in the film and her purpose seems incredibly forced. She is a “selfish” woman to commits an unselfish act at the end so we are to conclude that Rickman had changed her. Yawn.

I didn’t let that small flaw stop me from enjoying this film tremendously. I didn’t want the film to end, and I wanted to follow Rickman to his next stop and see how his life came out. I even watched the deleted scenes afterward wanting to relive more of the film.

If you like Rickman, I recommend this film highly.

4

P.S. I don't know why, but I have the hardest time adding pictures here. I've tried three different ways and the pics don't come out. :(

LOVE Rickman. I know you do, too, Tramp - have you seen BOTTLE SHOCK? Terrific little movie, and vintage Rickman!!!

I agree about The Dark. It kind of fell apart at the end, and took the easy way out. But Bean did look fabulous, so it wasn't a total loss (yup, I'm shallow!), and Bello's always solid.

[tramp]

Nope, missed Bottle Shock, here and gone before I could get there. :(

Have you seen Snow Cake? You will love him in this.

And yea, Bean looked incredibly HOT in The Dark. I wonder what those hot flashes were from.... ;)

[Tortuga]

Nope, missed Bottle Shock, here and gone before I could get there. :(

Have you seen Snow Cake? You will love him in this.

And yea, Bean looked incredibly HOT in The Dark. I wonder what those hot flashes were from.... ;)

No, I didn't see Snow Cake. It was on IFC On Demand, and I just never got around to it. I'll check for it on IFC soon, though!

As for the other "Cake," I saw that, and really enjoyed it. I love those British mob films, and thought Craig was quite good in it.

[Tortuga]

Tortuga's new favorite actor: Robert Downey, Jr. :)

And I never heard of that movie!

:laugh:

Always enjoyed his work, but never wanted to get too attached, because he always seemed to be circling the drain. I spent most of my time saying, "Oh, that poor thing..."

But now? He's back, baby! So I'm catching up on the stuff I didn't even know existed. It's a wondrous thing.

[mark f]

The Driver (Walter Hill, 1978) 3

http://www.motoramamovieimages.com/DRIVER%20USA%201sheet%2050.JPG

Hill's sleek L.A. cat-and-mouse neo-noir still holds up quite well and gives Ryan O'Neal his most badass role and Bruce Dern one of his more prominent. If you actually listen to the dialogue, it doesn't amount to much, but it clearly identifies all the characters. What the film is all about, besides the car chases, destruction and double crosses, is a sense of the hunter and the prey, lucky streaks and dumb breaks. Hill's next film was the cult flick The Warriors, another violent urban "fairy tale" set on the opposite coast. I think The Driver should be a cult item too, if it isn't already. I mean, just the scene with the Mercedes-Benz is enough to qualify it.


Magical Mystery Tour (The Beatles, 1967) 1.5

http://www.strawberrywalrus.com/graphics2/mmtbusphoto.jpg

I suppose it's possible for there to be a bigger fan of the Beatles than I am, especially now that I'm an "even-tempered elder statesman", but in general, I think I'm certainly way up in the top one percentile of Beatles fanatics. They truly influenced me more than any other individuals during my formative years. I'm giving you this info because I love the Magical Mystery Tour album and comic book, but the "film", made for British TV to be shown at Christmas, has never seemed anything but complete junk to me. However, this is by far the highest rating I've ever given it. Seeing it in the context of pre-Monty Python and the even-earlier radio program The Goon Show, it does have a few interesting skits and visual ideas, but it still seems that I laugh more at how idiotic the whole thing is rather than it actually being funny. The music remains untouchable though, including the seemingly-throwaway tunes ["Flying", "Blue Jay Way", "Your Mother Should Know" (that last one is actually a personal fave)].

Flight of the Red Balloon (Hsiao-hsien Hou, 2007) 1

http://www.yourmoviestuff.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/flight-of-the-red-balloon.jpg

This film is set in modern-day Paris and somehow is supposed to be inspired by and dedicated to Albert Lamorisse's classic The Red Balloon (1956), but it's cut from a completely-different cloth and contains absolutely no magic at all. However, it's a critically-lauded film, and I find it INCONCEIVABLE (think: Wallace Shawn in The Princess Bride here) that this isn't one of the strongest recent examples of the Emperor's New Clothes in "criticism". Watching this film, I felt I was watching a home movie where no one had the guts to cut out anything at all. It almost feels like a film which could have been filmed, edited and scored in a week. I'm also leaning toward the idea that this film didn't even have a written script. For people who applaud "modern film realism", be my guest and carry the torch for this praised film, but I have to call them as I see and feel them. That is why I'm warning people not to watch this film. If you want to get into "modern film realism", take a camera and make your own video. A minute of it will have more meaning to you and your loved ones than the entirety of this almost two hour exhibition of anti-cinematics. Oh yeah, Juliette Binoche is in it, but she spends over five minutes of the film doing one of the most-obnoxious voices ever for a puppet character. There; that's as close as I get to a positive comment. :cool:

[adidasss]

Mon oncle Antoine - Claude Jutra (1971)

A very warm and bittersweet french Canadian film (consistently listed as one of the best Canadian films of all time) about the life in a small rural town somewhere in the 1940's I believe. It revolves around a young boy who works in his uncle's all-in-one shop (grocery, hardware, clothing and coffins). Great naturalistic performances from the actors, documentary style filmmaking, and a fuzzy soundtrack make for very enjoyable viewing. The ending didn't really work for me so I give it - 4

Le feu follet - Louis Malle (1963)

I was convinced this was a Melville film for some reason and kept thinking how despite the morbid subject matter, it had so much more life to it than Le Samurai. Well, turns out it's not, but rather my 3rd Malle film and best I've seen from him yet (only seen Elevator to the gallows and Lancombe Lucien, the latter of which I didn't particularly enjoy even though, as I've found out from the spectacular Criterion bonus features, it's actually his favorite film). For those not in the know, it's based on a book of the same title by Pierre Drieu La Rochelle about his friend who committed suicide (he also ended up taking his own life some 25 years later). The film is set in (then) modern day Paris and follows the last 48 hours of Alain Leroy (played by Maurice Ronet from Elevator to the gallows in what is apparently the best performance of his career) who has decided to end his life on 23 of July. He is a recovering alcoholic and has battled depression for most of his adult life. During his last hours he travels to Paris and visits his old friends in what is perhaps the final attempt to "reconnect" with life. The film is naturally shot very well, and has some great editing (especially during the climactic scene in the apartment of his well off friends), as well as an incredibly well fitted and moving soundtrack by Erik Satie (obviously soundtracks are very important for my overall impression of a film). There was some lagging pacing and the ending was rather awkward cinematically so the rating is - 4

And finally, about 3/4 of
Be kind, rewind - Michel Gondry (2008)
I struggled to keep watching for the most part but just couldn't hold on to the end. I simply don't like the man's writing, it's like kids humor wrapped up in adult packaging. Not even Jack Black could have made this film entertaining. - 2

[Ðèstîñy]

October is right around the corner. Well, close enough for me. One of my favorite months, with one of my favorite holidays.
That, and a thread on another board, got me in the mood for some fabulous horror movies. I've watched these so far today . . .

Nosferatu (1922)
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Hda2b4r4L._SL500_AA240_.jpg

Night of the Living Dead (1968)
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Q5UTsEsrL._SL500_AA240_.jpg

These are next . . .

Rosemary's Baby (1968)
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/4120ARG0M6L._SL500_AA240_.jpg

The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/512FP95JV4L._SL500_AA240_.jpg

Halloween (1978)
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41l0xI-Az%2BL._SL500_AA240_.jpg

They are all a 5/5, in my book.

[Justin]

Flight of the Red Balloon (Hsiao-hsien Hou, 2007) 1

http://www.yourmoviestuff.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/flight-of-the-red-balloon.jpg

This film is set in modern-day Paris and somehow is supposed to be inspired by and dedicated to Albert Lamorisse's classic The Red Balloon (1956), but it's cut from a completely-different cloth and contains absolutely no magic at all. However, it's a critically-lauded film, and I find it INCONCEIVABLE (think: Wallace Shawn in The Princess Bride here) that this isn't one of the strongest recent examples of the Emperor's New Clothes in "criticism". Watching this film, I felt I was watching a home movie where no one had the guts to cut out anything at all. It almost feels like a film which could have been filmed, edited and scored in a week. I'm also leaning toward the idea that this film didn't even have a written script. For people who applaud "modern film realism", be my guest and carry the torch for this praised film, but I have to call them as I see and feel them. That is why I'm warning people not to watch this film. If you want to get into "modern film realism", take a camera and make your own video. A minute of it will have more meaning to you and your loved ones than the entirety of this almost two hour exhibition of anti-cinematics. Oh yeah, Juliette Binoche is in it, but she spends over five minutes of the film doing one of the most-obnoxious voices ever for a puppet character. There; that's as close as I get to a positive comment. :cool:

Well, I mean no offense, but you should probably see his other films before this one. You might have had a beter idea for what to expect, rather than jumping into it. This is very minimalist filmmaking, which I find to just be stunning. Minimalism is the style; if he had deviated from it, it simply would not have worked. He captures a very un-cinematic element of life; which is suffice to say, life itself -- not attempting to use any gimmicks or plot-points to help tell a "story".

Being a fan of Hsiao-hsien Hou, I believe he makes beautiful films -- I highly recommend you try Millennium Mambo. That might be a good starting point.

[Justin]

Mon oncle Antoine - Claude Jutra (1971)

A very warm and bittersweet french Canadian film (consistently listed as one of the best Canadian films of all time) about the life in a small rural town somewhere in the 1940's I believe. It revolves around a young boy who works in his uncle's all-in-one shop (grocery, hardware, clothing and coffins). Great naturalistic performances from the actors, documentary style filmmaking, and a fuzzy soundtrack make for very enjoyable viewing. The ending didn't really work for me so I give it - 4

Le feu follet - Louis Malle (1963)

I was convinced this was a Melville film for some reason and kept thinking how despite the morbid subject matter, it had so much more life to it than Le Samurai. Well, turns out it's not, but rather my 3rd Malle film and best I've seen from him yet (only seen Elevator to the gallows and Lancombe Lucien, the latter of which I didn't particularly enjoy even though, as I've found out from the spectacular Criterion bonus features, it's actually his favorite film). For those not in the know, it's based on a book of the same title by Pierre Drieu La Rochelle about his friend who committed suicide (he also ended up taking his own life some 25 years later). The film is set in (then) modern day Paris and follows the last 48 hours of Alain Leroy (played by Maurice Ronet from Elevator to the gallows in what is apparently the best performance of his career) who has decided to end his life on 23 of July. He is a recovering alcoholic and has battled depression for most of his adult life. During his last hours he travels to Paris and visits his old friends in what is perhaps the final attempt to "reconnect" with life. The film is naturally shot very well, and has some great editing (especially during the climactic scene in the apartment of his well off friends), as well as an incredibly well fitted and moving soundtrack by Erik Satie (obviously soundtracks are very important for my overall impression of a film). There was some lagging pacing and the ending was rather awkward cinematically so the rating is - 4

Very nice -- I like Malle a lot. My favorite is Elevator to the Gallows.

[Swedish Chef]

Well, I mean no offense, but you should probably see his other films before this one. You might have had a beter idea for what to expect, rather than jumping into it. This is very minimalist filmmaking, which I find to just be stunning.

Being a fan of Hsiao-hsien Hou, I believe he makes beautiful films -- I highly recommend you try Millennium Mambo. That might be a good starting point.

Word. And if you haven't already, Marko, be sure to check out A City of Sadness, too. It's one of the few Hsiao-hsein hou flicks I've seen, but it's a good 'un. :yup:

http://www.llc.ed.ac.uk/cinema-china/images/stills/CitySadness1.jpg

[mark f]

I will put those films in my queue, but I find it hard to believe, without the films' supporting evidence, that those films are any better. Flight of the Red Balloon got an 86 at Metacritic (http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/flightoftheredballoon?q=flight%20of%20the%20red%20balloon), and I'm a total Metacriticaholic (being their most prominent Moderator), but I call them as I see them. Did you guys ever read Holden's review of this "thing" here? (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showpost.php?p=410644&postcount=12)

[Swedish Chef]

http://blog.ugo.com/images/uploads/hitman_headshot.jpg

Hitman (Xavier Gens, 2007)

Well, I don't really know what I was expecting, but this was still a major disappointment. I am a huge fan of the games and this thing did them zero justice. Totally missed the mark on both tone and substance. I don't even blame Olyphant. He's horribly miscast, yes, but he gives it his all and he's not as bad as I thought he'd be. He's got a lot of the mannerisms and whatnot down pat, but he's just not right for the role. He still fares better than everyone else in the cast, especially the very bland Dougray Scott.

The film doesn't work as an ode to the video game series and it doesn't work as a straight popcorn flick, either. And it doesn't make much sense, because these games the movie was based on are so cinematic in nature. You'd think a film adaptation would practically direct itself, but apparently not. I can only guess it was laziness on the part of the filmmakers, because they had a product and a piece of source material here that really could have been something special.

1

[Powdered Water]

Yeah that and it a total f*cking ripoff of Dark Angel. Well, the first ten minutes anyway. And I'm not talking about how they stole part of the idea off Dark Angel, they actually stole footage from the show! I don't know how someone didn't get their ass sued for that. I've heard the game was good more than once but the movie was big poopy as Mr Blib likes to say.

Now on to something completely different. I'm a bit of a horror nut as some of you may have noticed and for some reason I don't even demand that my horror movies be good. I'm kooky. I've got a whole mess of these to get into and I'll once again be using my vaunted eek factor rating. First up:

Scream Bloody Murder (Marc B. Ray 1973) :eek::eek::eek:

Now make no mistake, this is not a good movie, however I rather enjoyed it. Once I got past how horribly it was shot and how poor the actual story was. To put it simply, a young man is released from a sanitarium or "Booby hatch" as I like to call it. And then he returns home to find his mother has gotten married to some guy. I think "Some guy" may have actually been his name. He sees them kissing and such and so since he's a little crazy and all, he promptly chops up Mr. Some Guy with an axe. Yes sir we have a winner folks! He kills his mother and then he kills a bunch of other folks because he thinks they're his mother and then he kills an old lady and starts living in her big house so he can pretend he's rich to impress this hooker girl that he thinks likes him. He later kidnaps her and holds her hostage to try and make her love him. Seriously, this is good stuff for the most part. It just was really badly shot and the sound was also just terrible. I still liked it though. Yes indeed.
Bell From Hell (Claudio Guerín - 1973) :eek::eek:This gets less eeks simply because this is the totally hacked up dubbed version and hopefully I'll be able to pick up the original someday because it was actually pretty interesting. I could barely hear the dubbed voice overs and even then I still didn't really know what was going on most of the time.

[PimpDaShizzle V2.0]

Step Brothers :up: :up:
http://www.tampabay.com/multimedia/archive/00031/WEK_STEPBROTHERS0724_31511c.jpg

It's friggin' hilarious, AND it made me LOL all over the place.

[Powdered Water]

Naked Massacre or Born for Hell (Denis Heroux - 1976) :eek::eek::eek:

Not bad I guess, pretty graphic and again, just a terrible dub job. This flick is set in Belfast and the protagonist and resident nut job is an American Vietnam vet who likes to play pinball and then for no apparent reason kills a whole mess of young women nurses with a gigantic switchblade knife. Some of these flicks are just so random.

Metamorphosis (George Eastman - 1990) :eek::eek::eek:

How this didn't get released during the 80's is beyond me. This an 80's movie. Lots of great 80's gadgets and computers, even the old gigantic floppy discs make an appearance. Good stuff.

So some professor at a college is trying to reverse the aging process and of course the tension must build when he finds out that his funding is in jeopardy of being cut and his research may get taken away before he's finished. So of course he doses himself with his miracle drug and so begins his "Metamorphosis", dig? Hilarity ensues and they all live happily ever after.

[Swedish Chef]

PW, are the eek ratings simply your grade for the overall quality of the flick, or are there other factors at work there? And what's the maximum amount of eeks a movie can get? Five? Can you give me an example of a five-eek movie?

Anyway...

http://reneeashleybaker.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/bjork-in-dancer-in-the-dark.jpg

Dancer in the Dark (Lars Von F*ck America Trier, 2000)

I guess I'm just burnt out on Lars Von Trier because I actually fell asleep right in the middle of this last night. And I wasn't even that tired. Dancer in the Dark used to hit me pretty hard; that last scene has made me cry more than once. The movie's undeniably powerful and the part where Selma (Bjork) confronts Bill (David Morse) still packs quite a wallop. But last night, I was just bored as all hell. I can still appreciate Bjork's dynamic performance, but otherwise, I think I'm done with both Lars and his Dancer in the Dark.

2.5


http://popwatch.ew.com/photos/uncategorized/15472__heathers_l.jpg

Heathers (Michael Lehmann, 1989)

This flick doesn't get nearly enough credit for the amount of influence it's had on pop culture as we know it. I mean, it more or less set the standard for all things Generation-X and was an inspiration for countless music, film and literary heroes of the early nineties. It also spawned a whole subculture of Diablo Cody-like bloggers that infest the world wide web to this very day.

And, on top of all that, it's also a kickass movie. Winona Ryder is at her smarmy best and the whole thing just clicks. Seriously, the script could've been mishandled in so many ways, but the tone on the finished product is just about perfect. Plus, it's hilarious.

4.5


http://www.movieactors.com/freezeframes22/AlienRes16.jpeg

Alien Resurrection (Jean Pierre Jeunet, 1997)

Okay, so scale of one to ten, how sacrilegious is it that I enjoy this movie more than any of the other Alien flicks? I can't even back that up and explain why I like this one so much, I just do. I guess I feel like, whatever people say Alien or Aliens do so well, Resurrection does it that much better. I could watch this movie 'til the cows come home.

3.5


http://www.variety.com/graphics/photos/rsummer.jpg

Wet Hot American Summer (David Wain, 2001)

This is just a really funny flick. I could watch this movie 'til the cows come home and then, when all the cows were home, I'd watch it again. If you can sit through this film without laughing at that talking can of mixed vegetables or the flipped-out montages or literally anything that Paul Rudd's character does, you must be a robot.

3.5

[MovieMan8877445]

The Descent 4

It Was A Good Movie, But It Did Have It's Moments Where It Got Pretty Boring.

[Mrs. Darcy]

The Night of the Hunter 4

Wow. This movie was awesome. Robert Mitchum plays crooked preacher, Harry, who hears talk in prison about a fortune that he sets out to get his hands on. He marries his cell mate's widow, Willa, (Shelley Winters) and grills her kids about the money to no avail. After being terrorized by Harry and escaping, the kids later find Rachel Cooper, the resident caregiver (Lillian Gish). She helps the kids find normalcy, but of course, Harry turns up to cause problems.

This movie was suspenseful and scary! The photography is great. I could pull out all kinds of adjectives for you, but you need to see this for yourselves.
http://aolsearch.aol.com/aol/redir?src=image&requestId=e10a79f5a81b3b3b&userQuery=night+of+the+hunter&clickedItemDest=37485157919614905065444561703616721645&clickedItemMark=1220752439867&clickedItemURN=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.altfg.com%2FStars%2Fn%2Fnight-of-the-hunter.jpg&moduleId=image_details.M.xml&clickedItemDescription=Image Details

[Powdered Water]

PW, are the eek ratings simply your grade for the overall quality of the flick, or are there other factors at work there? And what's the maximum amount of eeks a movie can get? Five? Can you give me an example of a five-eek movie?



Eeks for me are similar to Used Futures "trash ratings. I'm not a very good critic when it comes to horror flicks and I'll watch any of them once. I suppose you could equate them to about half of a normal "popcorn" rating. And yes I go from 0 to 5 eeks.

Frankenstein (1931) would be a good example of a 5 eek film, and I would even give this a rather high "popcorn" rating as well. However I don't think its 5 worthy.

Now then a few more if you please, yes?

Haunts (Herb Freed-1977) :eek::eek::eek:.5

A pretty damn solid flick. A masked man is killing in a small town or is he? A woman is being stalked and then raped or is she? Sure its very dated and again the editing is so poor that half the time the dialog just doesn't match up with their lips but it was a really good story. Good music too.

Werewolf in the Girls Dormitory or Lycanthropus
(Paolo Heusch-1961) :eek::eek::eek:

This one was Italian and it was also a humdinger, lycanthropus is the original title but the USA title certainly has a nice ring to it doesn't it? Seriously this was good stuff.

[mark f]

The Night of the Hunter 4

Wow. This movie was awesome. Robert Mitchum plays crooked preacher, Harry, who hears talk in prison about a fortune that he sets out to get his hands on. He marries his cell mate's widow, Willa, (Shelley Winters) and grills her kids about the money to no avail. After being terrorized by Harry and escaping, the kids later find Rachel Cooper, the resident caregiver (Lillian Gish). She helps the kids find normalcy, but of course, Harry turns up to cause problems.

This movie was suspenseful and scary! The photography is great. I could pull out all kinds of adjectives for you, but you need to see this for yourselves.
http://aolsearch.aol.com/aol/redir?src=image&requestId=e10a79f5a81b3b3b&userQuery=night+of+the+hunter&clickedItemDest=37485157919614905065444561703616721645&clickedItemMark=1220752439867&clickedItemURN=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.altfg.com%2FStars%2Fn%2Fnight-of-the-hunter.jpg&moduleId=image_details.M.xml&clickedItemDescription=Image Details

And I'm guessing, since I believe you watched it on TCM tonight, that you well know whose film this is the sole directorial accomplishment of? :cool: The Night of the Hunter seems like a film which all could respond to, but teachers might get more from it; at least maybe some inspiration.

[Mrs. Darcy]

Yes, a Mr. Charles Laughton, whom I just watched in The Old Dark House a couple of weeks ago. What I think is interesting is that there were some shots of animals in there that reminded me a little of Malick's views of nature and animals. I'm guessing he was influenced by Laughton's directorial style?

[mark f]

That's an interesting idea. I think that Malick should shoot a film in black and white. Maybe we can start a petition.

[tramp]

Frankenstein (1931) would be a good example of a 5 eek film, and I would even give this a rather high "popcorn" rating as well. However I don't think its 5 worthy.

IT'S ALIVE! IT'S ALIVE!!

I'm sorry, I can't even look at the name Frankenstein and not want to scream that.

Carry on.

[tramp]

That's an interesting idea. I think that Malick should shoot a film in black and white. Maybe we can start a petition.

Hell, just start a petition asking him to make a movie. Although, according to his schedule, it will be a while, right?

[Mrs. Darcy]

Isn't he filming Tree of Life right now? For 2009 release?

[Holden Pike]

Isn't he filming Tree of Life right now? For 2009 release?

Yup. Yup.

I think it's mostly done, with the principle photography anyway, and is in the editing and post-production phase now. Starring Sean Penn and Brad Pitt! Emmanuel Lubezki is on as his cinematographer again!

[mark f]

True dat. He's only got this one (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0478304/) so far. Sounds like a variation on The Fountain, but I'm probably wrong about that. Yeah, he steals from Alfonso Cuarón again. Then again, Janusz Kaminski made himself proud with The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.

[Powdered Water]

I still need to see Days of Heaven, somebody tell me where I can download it on here kay?

[Mrs. Darcy]

I've read that, too, Mark. I saw some Youtube of them flatbedding a huge tree in to plant as part of the set.


Hey, YupYup, does Lubezki do all of Malick's films?

[mark f]

I still need to see Days of Heaven, somebody tell me where I can download it on here kay?

Holden might arrange that for you if you ask nicely. :cool:

[mark f]

I've read that, too, Mark. I saw some Youtube of them flatbedding a huge tree in to plant as part of the set.


Hey, YupYup, does Lubezki do all of Malick's films?

No, The New World was the only one.

[Powdered Water]

I love The New World. I can't really explain it. Breathtaking at times.

[Mrs. Darcy]

Yes! And the music, as it builds to that crescendo, is so cool. I like that movie more and more every time I see it.

[MovieMan8877445]

Platoon 5


Man That Movies Was So Good, It's Easily Going In My Top 10 Favorite Movies.

[tramp]

I love The New World. I can't really explain it. Breathtaking at times.

You just did. Breathtaking. :)

The ending of that film blows me away. I choke everytime I've seen it. So brilliant. My favorite Malick film (The Thin Red Line close behind.)

What is the synopsis on The Tree of Life? I didn't know about it and imdb seems to have conflicting synopses...?

[Swan]

For today:

Halloween (2007) - 2
Easy Rider - 1
The Departed - 2.5

It was a pretty bad movie day for me. I plan to watch The Deer Hunter, Full Metal Jacket, or a few others I really want to see (there are a few). Hopefully whichever film I choose will save today from completely sucking.

[Swedish Chef]

So why'd you hate Easy Rider so much, Swan?

[Swan]

So why'd you hate Easy Rider so much, Swan?

There were 2 things in the film I thought were great: Jack Nicholson and the very last scene of the film.

Besides that, it was terrible, in my opinion. It had the worst editing and cinematography I have seen, and not much plot.

[MovieMan8877445]

For today:

Halloween (2007) - 2
Easy Rider - 1
The Departed - 2.5

It was a pretty bad movie day for me. I plan to watch The Deer Hunter, Full Metal Jacket, or a few others I really want to see (there are a few). Hopefully whichever film I choose will save today from completely sucking.

Sorry You Couldn't Like The Departed As Much As I Hoped.

[mark f]

Wow! I think Laszlo Kovacs' cinematography is amongst the best ever and Hopper's adoption of European editing techniques does date the film for some, but I find it far less dated than most of the films it borrows from. (Maybe that's because I was a teenager when it first came out). The plot/concept of the film still resonates with me. I find it extremely powerful, even if the bad guys are "straw men". It's no different than today. Paint your adversary as inhuman and just make fun of him in the strongest way possible. However, Captain America and Billy reflect the same two sides of the American "Dream" today which they did almost 40 years ago.

If you're talking about that gritty 8 MM acid trip scene as having crummy cinematograpby, that might even be my fave scene in the whole movie.

No matter what, I hope you find more movies to enjoy, but I think it might be time for me to add Easy Rider to my Top "100". :cool:

[Swan]

Wow! I think Laszlo Kovacs' cinematography is amongst the best ever and Hopper's adoption of European editing techniques does date the film for some, but I find it far less dated than most of the films it borrows from. (Maybe that's because I was a teenager when it first came out). The plot/concept of the film still resonates with me. I find it extremely powerful, even if the bad guys are "straw men". It's no different than today. Paint your adversary as inhuman and just make fun of him in the strongest way possible. However, Captain America and Billy reflect the same two sides of the American "Dream" today which they did almost 40 years ago.

If you're talking about that gritty 8 MM acid trip scene as having crummy cinematograpby, that might even be my fave scene in the whole movie.

No matter what, I hope you find more movies to enjoy, but I think it might be time for me to add Easy Rider to my Top "100". :cool:

No, I didn't mind the acid trip scene in that sense.

I also do understand that it was very relevant to it's time and is very nostalgic for some people. But I wasn't around back then, so it doesn't for me. :p

[mark f]

OK. I just think that 1 is an extreme rating, but I admit that I used it last week, but that wasn't for a film which may well have Jack Nicholson's best performance, one of the best endings in film history, a deep philosophical undercurrent to the whole thing and plenty of "experimental" filmmaking which seems more personal than much of today's "experimental" filmmaking. Oh yeah, the soundtrack is also awesome. If you still have the film, maybe you can give it another shot. You might find it a "grower". The acid trip would make Fellini proud.

[Swan]

OK. I just think that 1 is an extreme rating, but I admit that I used it last week, but that wasn't for a film which may well have Jack Nicholson's best performance, one of the best endings in film history, a deep philosophical undercurrent to the whole thing and plenty of "experimental" filmmaking which seems more personal than much of today's "experimental" filmmaking. Oh yeah, the soundtrack is also awesome. If you still have the film, maybe you can give it another shot. You might find it a "grower". The acid trip would make Fellini proud.


Yeah, I still have it. The soundtrack is great, but I didn't think it was used well in the movie. I do agree on Nicholson's performance, though. He really was the best part of the film.

I don't know, I just didn't like it at all. I may give it another shot some other time. I'll consider it for your satisfaction. :)

[mark f]

Thank you, kind sir. Have you seen Five Easy Pieces with Jack?

[mark f]

Here are a couple of my other fave scenes from Easy Rider, which seem as relevant in 2008 as they did in 1969. This is worth a 1? (Sorry, you can feel whatever you want. Shut up, mark!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHd6m_cirrU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73PnAymHAHk&feature=related

[Swan]

Thank you, kind sir. Have you seen Five Easy Pieces with Jack?

No, I haven't. Is it good?

Here are a couple of my other fave scenes from Easy Rider, which seem as relevant in 2008 as they did in 1969. This is worth a 1?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHd6m_cirrU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73PnAymHAHk&feature=related

Yeah, I liked those scenes. Especially the second one.

[mark f]

:cool:

[mark f]

I certainly recommend Five Easy Pieces. It was made the year after Easy Rider. It also has things which apparently only European filmmakers can get away with nowadays. Needless to say, it's a great film, even if it too demonizes "yucky" people. Once again, Laszlo Kovacs (Easy Rider) did the incredible photography.

This is the archetypal scene:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wtfNE4z6a8

Worth a peek?

[Swan]

Haha, that looks great. Anything with Jack I'll check out. So consider it Netflix'd. :)

[Swan]

Full Metal Jacket - 5

[MovieMan8877445]

The Kingdom - 4

It Was Pretty Good, But It Got Pretty Boring There At Times During It.

[Swan]

Tombstone - 4

[adidasss]

Forbidden games - René Clément (1952)

An endearing (and heartbreaking) little film about two kids in the midst of WWII, little Paulette who has just witnessed her parents being killed by enemy airplanes, and Michel who finds her drifting through the woods near his farm and takes her home with him. Throughout the film, the kids resort to various mischief while trying to deal with the harsh realities of war and death. Incredible performances from the child actors and some wonderful and often comedic insight into the lives of ordinary peasants caught in the whirlwind of war. - 4.5

Purple noon - René Clément (1960)

Thanks to Holden's thread on french crime film, I've managed see another, radically different Clément film. The first adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's novel about Mr. Ripley with Alain Delon in the lead role. I don't think there's any need to recount the story. I'm not sure which film was better to tell the truth, but I liked Alain Delon's sexual and confident Ripley more than Damon's shy and pathetic interpretation. Maybe it was just Delon's stage presence...it's hard to keep your eyes off him. Great ending too (not that I recall the Minghella one...:D) - 4

Rififi - Jules Dassin (1955)

Another gem from the same thread, a very good, old fashioned heist film most known for the spectacular 20 minute silent robbery sequence. The ending is rather spectacular too...-4

Forgetting Sarah Marshall - Nicholas Stoller (2008)

Not as good as Knocked up, but it did provide some lols. Jason Segel is adorable and it's always nice to see Veronica Mars...:goof: http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc220/diezelpower/dreamy.gif 3.5

Rocky Horror Picture Show - Jim Sharman (1975)

I felt it was my duty as a flaming queen (no, not really) to finally see this cult film and so I have. Not much to say about it except that it was rather refreshing to see such unapologetic sexual debauchery (and to find out that it's the only LGBTQ film which was selected to be preserved for it's cultural significance yada yada). Tim Curry really is rather spectacular. Other than that, the music didn't really do much for me (and Susan Sarandon really can't sing). Good fun all the same...3.5

[MovieMan8877445]

LotR: The Return Of The King - 5

Wow, It's Been A While Since I've Seen This And Wow I'm Glad I Watched This Again. I Forgot How Great This Movie Is, This Is Probably Going Somewhere In My Top 15.

And I Finsished October Sky In Class Today - 4.5, Well 9.5.

[Swan]

12 Monkeys - 4.5

[mark f]

Xanadu (Robert Greenwald, 1980) 2

http://kjzz.org/news/arizona/archives/200708/xanadu/xanadu.jpg

Well, one thing's for sure; since this was only my second viewing of Xanadu, Holden's seen it at least 100 times more than I have. :cool: I'm well aware of all the movie connections and tie-ins to Xanadu, but I didn't actually recall why this film is so mind-bogglingly crazy. It obviously cannot be called "entertaining" or "artistic", except for some deep nostalgia or incredible camp value. But, this is already far too much for me to say because I cannot really add anything new to this discussion which hasn't already been said here (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?t=10759).

La Cérémonie (Claude Chabrol, 1995) 3

http://deepseven.com/images/y/Y0020.jpg

In some ways, this low-key French thriller seems almost as crazy as Xanadu, but it is artistic and draws to an almost inexorable conclusion, topped off by a double twist ending. It's not really fair to get too much into the plot. Basically what happens is that wealthy gallery owner Jacqueline Bisset hires quiet "maid" Sandrine Bonnaire to take care of her house and family which also includes hubby Jean-Pierre Cassell and their son and daughter. The maid seems a bit withdrawn and is definitely hiding more than one secret, but she almost immediately becomes friends with anarchistic postal worker Isabelle Huppert. It's all filmed in Chabrol's naturalistic style, but near the end I almost started thinking I was watching a Michael Haneke film. The major difference was that I knew what happened even if I was still made extremely uncomfortable. Chabrol, who is probably my second fave director of the French New Wave, is currently filming his 61st feature film at the age of 78.

Mississippi Mermaid (François Truffaut, 1969) 3

http://www.sensesofcinema.com/images/08/cteq/mississippi-mermaid.jpg

Truffaut is my fave French New Wave director and the one who seems to have availed himself to making as many different kinds of films as any of them. This, in spite of the fact that he died 24 years ago, at age 52, having made only 21 features. Mississippi Mermaid falls into his Hitchcock homages, although (or maybe even more accurately, because) it's actually more of a twisted love story than an actual suspense thriller. Jean-Paul Belmondo is a tobacco plantation owner/cigarette manufacturer living on the remote Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean who arranges for a bride to come by ocean liner. When she arrives in the person of Catherine Deneuve, someone who doesn't seem to be the same person as the woman he corresponded with, he's still very happy with his marriage, but things do change... This is another film where the characters and the director seem to make some "crazy" choices, but it's still highly watchable.

Good Neighbor Sam (David Swift, 1964) 2.5

http://i18.ebayimg.com/03/c/00/c1/41/a7_8.JPG http://forevergalaxy.com/stars50/images/romy_schneider_big.jpg

This is one of those mistaken identity/sex comedies made in the late '50s/early '60s, most notably with Doris Day and Rock Hudson. This one has Jack Lemmon as an advertising man who gets a promotion and raise because he's the only one who can relate to wealthy, but eccentric, client Edward G. Robinson. Lemmon is happily married to Dorothy Provine and has two young children. Things get crazy (again) when their neighbor Romy Schneider learns that she's just inherited $15 million, but the catch is that she's got to be married to husband Mike Connors to collect, and she's actually waiting for her divorce to become final. So, due to some "reasonable" circumstances, Lemmon ends up posing as her husband to insure that she collects on the will. The set up is OK, but the film just never generates any real laughs. It's all more sorta slightly-amusing than the laugh riots (Pillow Talk, Lover Come Back) which Day, Hudson and Tony Randall made together. It's also far too long at 130 minutes, but it does have the luscious Romy Schneider to compensate.

Bachelor in Paradise (Jack Arnold, 1961) 2

http://i3.iofferphoto.com/img/item/272/904/81/o_BachelorInParadiseDVD.jpg

Bob Hope made a lot of stinkers in the 1960s, and although this isn't really funny, it's better than most of his from that decade. Hope, who was 58 at the time, plays a Don Juan (!!) type author who writes about the fairer sex in various locales, so he's wildly popular. His problem is that his business manager never filed any income tax returns for him and he owes Uncle Sam more than a half million in back taxes. He cuts a deal, gets placed on a bargain-basement budget and moves to a modern housing tract where everyone who lives there is married. Well, everyone except for Lana Turner. Hope does his best to balance his bachelor inclinations with his desire for Lana, but things obviously snowball. There are numerous attractive females in the cast, and John McGiver is quite amusing as Hope's friend, but don't expect much of anything. The best thing I can say about it is that it was better than I recalled and Paula Prentiss's legs always look good. (This is one of the five films she co-starred in with Jim Hutton, even though she's now been married to Richard Benjamin for almost 47 years.)

[Pyro Tramp]

Dirty Dancing- not the iconic classic i thought it was, Swayze was cool though. 3

Repo Man- was the cult classic i've heard its meant to be. Glad to have finally finished it. Like all the little touches like no product labels- just the names of what each thing is. 5

Dressed to Kill- fairly predictable with some nice direction. Annoying dream ending let it down and slightly over long start. 3

Wild Strawberries- took a while but once the lead characters life started being examined and the resonances his past as had come out, it's pretty good. 4_5

Persona- wow, David Lynch owes a fair amount to Bergman. Was a very interesting film, initially seems like nothing much where it's twists aren't obvious, more left as questions; seemed to unwind itself for the last few days in my head. 5

Creepshow- another wow. Utterly worthless, nothing of merit in this weak portmanteau film. Best bit was Leslie Nielson in a straight role. 1_5

Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer- interesting, was a more low budget film than i expected and not too much happens. It's good enough but there's better examinations of killers but they'll probably be more sugar-coated, this having none. 4

Commando- easily the best of the Schwarzenegger cheesy action films, with some of the best bad one lines and over the top unapologetic action. 5

Judge Dredd- ok, so i don't know the comics but i still really enjoyed this. After having not seen it for a good few years i thought it may have dated worse but it still holds up. 4

Zabriskie Point- admittedly, i only half watched this. Wasn't that gripping but definitely my all time favourite ending. 3_5

Syriana- bit convoluted and only seemed to be like that to hide the lack of actual story. 3

Now guess which of these has snuck into my Top Movie List....

[Swan]

The Big Lebowski - 5

[mark f]

Now guess which of these has snuck into my Top Movie List....

Persona?

C'mon, Total Recall blows away Commando! :D

[Pyro Tramp]

Persona?

C'mon, Total Recall blows away Commando! :D

Yup.

I like Total Recall a whole lot, bit too intellectual though. Can't remember Arnie punching a plane to make it work.

[Swedish Chef]

I like Total Recall a whole lot, bit too intellectual though.

That's just about the funniest thing I've ever read

[MovieMan8877445]

The Matrix 5


I Forgot How Mind Blowing It Is.

[Swan]

The Deer Hunter - 4

I had such high expectations for this movie. A lot of scenes just seemed to drag on without anything happening. Rest assured, there are some amazing stuff in this film - such as the ending, which almost tempted me to bump the film to a full 5/5. Also, it is probably one of the deepest movies I have ever seen. A rewatch with the digitally enhanced version would probably do some good, and may even make it a full 5/5 for me. I did like the film, but it was just a bit slow and long.

[Iroquois]

That's just about the funniest thing I've ever read

And you say I have no sense of humour.

I can see where Pyro is coming from, though - who sees Schwarzenegger movies for their intellectualism?

[mark f]

Yup.

I like Total Recall a whole lot, bit too intellectual though. Can't remember Arnie punching a plane to make it work.

Aren't you a college graduate, or some such thing? :cool:

I mean, Commando is funnier than hell (at least, I hope it is), but Total Bleepin' Recall? :D

[Pyro Tramp]

Ok, intellectual was the wrong word to put to a Schwarzenegger flick. Meant in the context of his work, and compared to Commando- Total Recall was more cerebral where it actually has a plot instead of a film that strings together a nothing story that's just an excuse for mindless action.

[Used Future]

Death Sentence (James Wan 2007) 2 Predicatable, repellent revenge flick throws logic out of the window in favour of sadistic violence.

The Kingdom (Peter Berg 2007) 3.5 Noble attempt to shed light on Saudi - American political relations in the face of terrorist attacks. Well acted and compelling, film suffers from disorientating direction i.e. wobbly camera, that doesn't marry well with the convoluted plot.

[mark f]

The Andromeda Strain (Robert Wise, 1971) 3.5

http://celluloidheroreviews.com/images/andromeda-strain.jpg

A satellite crashes at a remote New Mexico town, apparently bringing something back from space which kills all the residents, except for an old man and a baby. Scientists in Nevada need to isolate whatever this killer "strain" is and try to keep it from growing so large that it could eventually destroy the Earth. This sci-fi thriller still delivers the goods although some will find its lack of F/X, dated technology and "slow pacing" a flaw. However, the story plays out with plenty of weirdness, mystery and suspense. Although some younger viewers will be unfamiliar with the cast, they all lend conviction (as well as some quirky dark humor) to the proceedings, and there's also a creepily-effective electronic score by Gil Melle.

Heavens Above! (John and Roy Boulting, 1963) 3

http://www.dvdtalk.com/dvdsavant/images/744above.jpg

Through a "clerical" error, a prison priest (Peter Sellers) is appointed to become vicar of a conservative English village, and upon his arrival, his belief in Jesus's principals of giving and sacrifice begins to get most of the citizens in an uproar. The "Reverend" tries to convince the rich people to donate more of their wealth to the poor so that the poor can learn from their example. What ensues is a lively, thought-provoking satire on the Church, capitalism, socialism, advertising and politics. Sellers is wonderfully-touching in a role which he plays straight for the most part, coloring in some humor in parts which call for it.

Thief (Michael Mann, 1981) 3

http://i1.iofferphoto.com/img/item/225/604/86/thief_copy.JPG

Michael Mann's first theatrical feature presents his style fully-formed, particularly in his use of shiny, neonish cinematography and a sleek musical score (provided by Tangerine Dream here). Mann provides two long heist set pieces, one involving a drill and the other a blow torch, with the TD score blasting in the background, which are almost surrealistic. The grittiness of the acting sometimes seems at odds with the visual flamboyance, but James Caan is very good as the title character, an ex-con-turned-used car salesman who makes a good living heisting diamonds and cash. He's almost matched by Robert Prosky as the Mephistopholean "Godfather" of the Chicago underworld.

Dial M For Murder (Alfred Hitchcock, 1954) 3.5

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/48/Dial_M_For_Murder.jpg/200px-Dial_M_For_Murder.jpg

Originally filmed and projected in theatres in 3-D, this Hitchcock classic, on DVD, still looks like it's almost presented in that format. Hitch expands on the one-set concept he used in Rope and perfected in Rear Window to ratchet up the tension in this thriller based on Frederick Knott's popular play. Part of Dimitri Tiomkin's musical score evokes what Bernard Herrmann used in 1958's Vertigo, and the plot device of taking advantage of an old college chum was used in that later film too. Ray Milland plays an retired tennis pro (remind anyone of Strangers on a Train?) who decides he'd rather inherit his wife's money than play the cuckold for her. The wife is the gorgeous Grace Kelly (Rear Window, To Catch a Thief) and her lover is mystery novelist Robert Cummings (Saboteur). The other two major characters are the "chum" (Anthony Dawson) who's "hired" to do the murder, and the dogged police detective (a witty John Williams) who tries to unravel the aftermath. Dial M For Murder is solid entertainment which intensifies as it progresses and is highly recommended to any who haven't seen it.

[Used Future]

The Andromeda Strain (Robert Wise, 1971) 3.5

http://celluloidheroreviews.com/images/andromeda-strain.jpg

A satellite crashes at a remote New Mexico town, apparently bringing something back from space which kills all the residents, except for an old man and a baby. Scientists in Nevada need to isolate whatever this killer "strain" is and try to keep it from growing so large that it could eventually destroy the Earth. This sci-fi thriller still delivers the goods although some will find its lack of F/X, dated technology and "slow pacing" a flaw. However, the story plays out with plenty of weirdness, mystery and suspense. Although some younger viewers will be unfamiliar with the cast, they all lend conviction (as well as some quirky dark humor) to the proceedings, and there's also a creepily-effective electronic score by Gil Melle.

Thief (Michael Mann, 1981) 3

http://i1.iofferphoto.com/img/item/225/604/86/thief_copy.JPG

Michael Mann's first theatrical feature presents his style fully-formed, particularly in his use of shiny, neonish cinematography and a sleek musical score (provided by Tangerine Dream here). Mann provides two long heist set pieces, one involving a drill and the other a blow torch, with the TD score blasting in the background, which are almost surrealistic. The grittiness of the acting sometimes seems at odds with the visual flamboyance, but James Caan is very good as the title character, an ex-con-turned-used car salesman who makes a good living heisting diamonds and cash. He's almost matched by Robert Prosky as the Mephistopholean "Godfather" of the Chicago underworld.

Love The Andromeda Strain, and own a copy on dvd. I think the slow pace adds to the tension and would give it a solid 4Have you seen Phase 4 (with the ants)?

Thief is pretty underrated in my opinion, then again I love Michael Mann.

[Caitlyn]

Thief (Michael Mann, 1981) 3

http://i1.iofferphoto.com/img/item/225/604/86/thief_copy.JPG

Michael Mann's first theatrical feature presents his style fully-formed, particularly in his use of shiny, neonish cinematography and a sleek musical score (provided by Tangerine Dream here). Mann provides two long heist set pieces, one involving a drill and the other a blow torch, with the TD score blasting in the background, which are almost surrealistic. The grittiness of the acting sometimes seems at odds with the visual flamboyance, but James Caan is very good as the title character, an ex-con-turned-used car salesman who makes a good living heisting diamonds and cash. He's almost matched by Robert Prosky as the Mephistopholean "Godfather" of the Chicago underworld.


I was thinking about this one the other day... it's been ages since I've seen it but I remember really liking it...



Last thing I watch was:


Braveheart (1995) - 5/5

[Swan]

The Quiet - 4

[MovieMan8877445]

Death Sentence (James Wan 2007) 2 Predicatable, repellent revenge flick throws logic out of the window in favour of sadistic violence.

I Love That Movie.

[mark f]

Love The Andromeda Strain, and own a copy on dvd. I think the slow pace adds to the tension and would give it a solid 4Have you seen Phase 4 (with the ants)?

Thief is pretty underrated in my opinion, then again I love Michael Mann.

I did see Phase IV in the theatre, but only once. I thought it was stupid at the time, but I've mellowed with age, so I wouldn't mind a rewatch. I have started to cut some films some slack lately because I find more things to enjoy about various aspects (cinematography, music, editing) nowadays than just the basic plot and dialogue.

[MovieMan8877445]

Smokin' Aces - 5

Most Underrated Movie Ever.

[Swan]

Apocalypse Now - 5

[mark f]

The Forbidden Kingdom (Rob Minkoff, 2008) EDITED3, ORIGINAL2.5

http://aslancross.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/405px-forbiddenkingdomposter.jpg

I have read many of the complaints about this film. First off, it's a kid's movie (seemed like one to me). Secondly, it's not taken seriously (see my last comment). There is way more action than plot (that is not even arguable; there are multiple mini-plots, but almost the entire film is repetitive action, and although the first few minutes of each fight scene are pretty good, they all go on for about 10 minutes.) Therefore, I just cannot find the fight scenes here to be remotely comparable to Enter the Dragon, Project A, The Big Brawl, Once Upon a Time in China, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon or Iron Monkey. However, if all you care about is martial arts action, this film may well have more than any film I've ever seen. It's just that there was so much vs. character development, that I got bored after awhile. Plus, sometimes, I wasn't even sure who was kicking who! Check this (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showpost.php?p=463009&postcount=7913) out.

City Lights (Charlie Chaplin, 1931) 4


http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/1996_jan-dec/1996_oct/1996-10-22_the_daily_collegian/1996-10-22d05-002.jpg

As I was growing up, this classic always rated comfortably as my fave Chaplin film. There never seemed to be any reason to deny how funny and romantic the whole thing was. I still believe that, but both Modern Times and The Kid hold personal reasons for me to consider them at least as good. Also, certain anarchists, among them, linespalsy, hate sentimentalism. Well, Chaplin is easily the greatest sentimental filmmaker ever, and since he's a direct competitor with lines' fave, Buster Keaton, things can get nasty here. For the record, I believe all film buffs should watch EVERY film made by Harold Lloyd, Buster Keaton and Charles Chaplin. When all the votes for fave "silent' film are counted, I'd be surprised if City Lights didn't win, but I'd still be happy if people just voted. Why do I love City Lights? It's probably one of the most romantic films ever made, the boxing scene is one of the funniest ever recorded, and the climax is one of the greatest in film history. Even so, check it out for yourself. If you haven't already, do yourself and your family a BIG favor. LOVE is worthwhile, all you pessimists!

Coming Up: Poll on whether this American Presidential campaign is exciting or boring.

Laters, Gators!

http://outerloop.files.wordpress.com/2007/03/gator.jpg

[linespalsy]

For what it's worth, I will concede that the boxing scene in City Lights mops the floor with the whole of 'Battling Butler' but that's lesser Keaton and Keaton at his best (Sherlock Jr., Steamboat Bill Jr., The Play House, The Goat, One Week etc.) is still novel, violent, selfaware-without-being-self-conscious, weird cinematic brilliance and > than Chaplin/Lloyd/Langdon/Arbuckle/Linder + Stan "The Man" Wilson combined.

Also might amuse you to know that I had to physically wrestle my little brother and pin him down in front of the tv to get him to watch City Lights. Gosh that was a long time ago. I might not be able to do that as easily now.

Movies seen lately (last month): Tell No One (goood), The Ceremony (old Oshima film - weird), The Eel (awesome but I've seen it before many times.)

That's it for me.

[linespalsy]

But yes, people should see all those guys.

Duh.

[linespalsy]

Just watch them before you watch anything by Buster Keaton, because if you watch afterward and are like me (and who isn't?), then you will be disappointed.

[linespalsy]

Multiple consecutive posts really are the way to go!

[mark f]

All I have to do is type your name here and you show up. I'm a magician! :cool:

[linespalsy]

:up:

[linespalsy]

Oh yeah, before I head out, will also point out that I think I gave Forbidden Kingdom the same grade you gave Indiana Jones 4 and Indiana Jones 4 the same grade you gave Forbidden Kingdom, but I'm not sure if that has much to do with anything. I think you're right that the fight scenes drag a little. Also I didn't know you were a fan of Once Upon a Time in China. But only the Fight Scenes? Elaborate. (only if you want. admittedly I'm not all that responsive online these days).

[Swan]

Vanilla Sky - 5

[MovieMan8877445]

The Shawshank Redemption - 5

[Pyro Tramp]

Vanilla Sky - 5

Ouch, please see Open Your Eyes then adjust this rating accordingly.

[bleacheddecay]

I didn't care for Vanilla Sky either. In fact, I'm pretty sure my husband and I gave up on it and didn't finish it.

[Pyro Tramp]

I didn't care for Vanilla Sky either. In fact, I'm pretty sure my husband and I gave up on it and didn't finish it.

Hopefully that means you didn't reach the twist and Open Your Eyes will be that much more enjoyable when you see it :)

[Swan]

The Fifth Element - 4.5

Ouch, please see Open Your Eyes then adjust this rating accordingly.

I may, but I don't really care to. There are some things about Vanilla Sky that stand out to me, such as the music and the atmosphere. Open Your Eyes doesn't have the same soundtrack, or (I'm guessing, obviously I haven't seen it) the same atmosphere, therefore I don't think it will change my rating. Vanilla Sky may not be anything revolutionary, but I really love the atmosphere and it's one of my favorite films.

[Pyro Tramp]

The Fifth Element - 4.5



I may, but I don't really care to. There are some things about Vanilla Sky that stand out to me, such as the music and the atmosphere. Open Your Eyes doesn't have the same soundtrack, or (I'm guessing, obviously I haven't seen it) the same atmosphere, therefore I don't think it will change my rating. Vanilla Sky may not be anything revolutionary, but I really love the atmosphere and it's one of my favorite films.

Well, being a pretty much direct remake it's got a pretty similar atmosphere except bigger (like the different empty cities). Pretty big shame not wanting to see the film that one of your favourites seriously aped and arguably ruined.

[tramp]

City Lights (Charlie Chaplin, 1931) 4


http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/1996_jan-dec/1996_oct/1996-10-22_the_daily_collegian/1996-10-22d05-002.jpg

As I was growing up, this classic always rated comfortably as my fave Chaplin film. There never seemed to be any reason to deny how funny and romantic the whole thing was. I still believe that, but both Modern Times and The Kid hold personal reasons for me to consider them at least as good. Also, certain anarchists, among them, linespalsy, hate sentimentalism. Well, Chaplin is easily the greatest sentimental filmmaker ever, and since he's a direct competitor with lines' fave, Buster Keaton, things can get nasty here. For the record, I believe all film buffs should watch EVERY film made by Harold Lloyd, Buster Keaton and Charles Chaplin. When all the votes for fave "silent' film are counted, I'd be surprised if City Lights didn't win, but I'd still be happy if people just voted. Why do I love City Lights? It's probably one of the most romantic films ever made, the boxing scene is one of the funniest ever recorded, and the climax is one of the greatest in film history. Even so, check it out for yourself. If you haven't already, do yourself and your family a BIG favor. LOVE is worthwhile, all you pessimists!


:up: :up: Nice comment! But why only 4 popcorns? ;)

That final moment (in the pic) is the most sublime moment in movie history, imo. :yup: :bawling:

I'm not really into Lloyd or Keaton, but I admit I've concentrated so much on Chaplin that I should probably revisit them. But since I'm a great sentimentalist, Chaplin is the man for me. I don't really consider The Kid to be in the same league, and I find The Gold Rush goes on a bit long. I think Modern Times and City Lights are his best Tramp films.

I'm still pissed at my son. He lost my copy of Modern Times. :(

[Swan]

Well, being a pretty much direct remake it's got a pretty similar atmosphere except bigger (like the different empty cities). Pretty big shame not wanting to see the film that one of your favourites seriously aped and arguably ruined.

The music contributed a lot to the atmosphere, which is why I said the remakes atmosphere probably differs from that of the original.

I'm probably going to see the original eventually, just not right away.

[MovieMan8877445]

Jarhead - 5

That's Easily One Of My New Favorite Movies.

[Sedai]

I haven't been listing stuff in the TAB for a while. Need to get back into it!

Vertigo (Hitchcock, 1958)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/24/64993200_4fa09fac89.jpg?v=0

[MovieMan8877445]

The Truman Show - 5

[Monkeypunch]

Lord of the Rings (the entire trilogy) - Excellent stuff, of course, beats the stuffing out of the Star Wars prequels in the realm of giant event sci-fi/fantasy films. Waiting impatiently for Guillermo DelToro's film of The Hobbit.

[Monkeypunch]

I haven't been listing stuff in the TAB for a while. Need to get back into it!

Vertigo (Hitchcock, 1958)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/24/64993200_4fa09fac89.jpg?v=0

Arrgh, double post, but i know you're from around the boston area, did you see that when they had it at the Brattle last weekend? Just curious.:cool:

[Swan]

The Shining - 4.5

[Mrs. Darcy]

Once 3
http://aolsearch.aol.com/aol/redir?src=image&s_req=f1a09ff88ed03271&s_cq=once&s_cid=34030868386258615446466068277654385542&s_cim=1221346849381&s_cu=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.moldova.org%2Fmovie%2Fmovies%2Fo%2Fonce%2Fthumbnails%2Ftn2_once_1.jpg&s_cd=ImgDet&s_cm=image_details.M.xml

This movie was sweet, the music was good, and I liked that the ending wasn't storybook.

Guy works with his dad in a vacuum repair shop during the day, but plays his songs on the street at night. He dreams of making a record and getting his songs into the mainstream. He meets a girl, a recent immigrant from an Eastern European country, who happens to like his songs. She strikes up a conversation and they become friends, and eventually they record his music.

[mark f]

Tess (Roman Polanski, 1979) 4

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/510JZVZPW6L._SL500_AA240_.jpg

Sharon Tate gave husband Roman Polanski a copy of Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles and told him that she thought it would be a good project for both of them. It was only after she was murdered that he got around to reading the novel and became excited about making a film of it. The results contain some of Polanski's most-beautiful imagery while reinforcing his theme of the darkness of human existence. Tess (played surprisingly effectively by teenager Nastassja Kinski) is an innocent Wessex girl who's used by both her poor (but truly loving) family and two men she meets who seemingly represent two different sides of Victorian masculinity.

http://minadream.com/romanpolanski/TessReview/Tess3.jpg

The plot to Tess is not confusing and presented rather straightforwardly. I'm not sure if I should go into it and too much detail. However, I will mention that the opening long shot should immediately draw any viewer into the movie. It shows a country road and we begin to hear music playing and see people approaching. It turns out that many people from the local village are going out to a field to have an evening May dance. As the people dance by the camera, we see young Tess among them, and as they pass by, we see the intersecting road where Tess's poor, drunken father (John Collin) is walking home and the local vicar passes by him on horseback, addressing him as "Sir John". It turns out that the vicar is an "antiquarian" who has studied the important high families in the area and determined that John Durbeyfield is actually descended from the House of d'Urberville. Unfortunately, the line is all dead, except for him and there is no money or property left. This sets the film in motion and begins Tess's tragic journey through misery and betrayal, and it's all the more unfortunate and powerful because she is a true innocent.

http://www.sikhspectrum.com/012003/images/tess2.jpg

It's at the dance at the beginning that Tess first lays eyes on Angel Clare (Peter Firth), a free-living, blonde young son of a parson, but he picks another girl to dance with. Angel disappears from the rest of the opening act of the film, but Tess encounters another man in the form of Alec d'Urberville (Leigh Lawson), the son of an old woman who the family hopes is a rich relation who will help them. It turns out that all Alec cares about is getting his hands on Tess's beauty and doing with it what he will. That's enough of the plot, I believe, but needless to say that things are never truly happy for Tess for very long from here on in. She does meet Angel again, and they have a true romance, but as I said above...

http://minadream.com/romanpolanski/TessReview/Tess4.jpg

Tess is a scrumptious experience for both the eyes and the ears. Geoffrey Unsworth (Cabaret, Murder on the Orient Express) was the cinematographer, but unfortunately, he died while working on the film. After that, the filmmakers enlisted Ghislain Cloquet (Love and Death, Au hasard Balthazar) to finish the shooting, and both men were awarded the Oscar for Cinematography. Philippe Sarde composed what may be his greatest score, full of both beautiful melodies and ominous overtones, and although it was nominated for an Oscar, he somehow lost out to Michael Gore's Fame score. Polanski's work is not only technically flawless but very empathic to the character of Tess. The acting of all the principal characters is very good and adds to Tess's power to transport a viewer to another time and place. One of the film's producers, Claude Berri, is also the director of Jean de Florette and Manon of the Spring, two other projects which were filmed in the French countryside. [That's correct, although set in Hardy's "Wessex" (southwestern England), the film was shot in France because England's farms were all too modernized to use for filming.] I mention this because I will be watching those two French films soon because I just got them in the mail. I'm anxious to see if they were filmed on any of the same locations. I can't recall since it's been awhile since I've seen the Pagnol films. :cool:

[MovieMan8877445]

Righteous Kill - 3.5, I'll Write A Review Tonight After I Watch Apocalypse Now, Or Tomorrow If I'm Too Tired.

[B-card]

Get Smart-very very funny.Steve Carrel really delivers plus Anne Hathaway is smokin' hot in this movie damn4.5
http://images.salon.com/ent/movies/review/2008/06/20/get_smart/story.jpg

Midnight Meat Train-Finally a decent horror movie from the true genius of horror Clive Barker 5

[MovieMan8877445]

Apocalypse Now - 5

[Swan]

Burn After Reading - 4.5

[MovieMan8877445]

Burn After Reading - 4.5

Deja Vu?

Burn After Reading - 4.5

[Ðèstîñy]

Dad (1989)
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Q5PCGXM4L._SL500_AA240_.jpg

Mortal Sins (1992)
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41BTQQNZWML._SL500_AA280_.jpg

[Swan]

Deja Vu?

What?

[MovieMan8877445]

What?

We Gave It The Same Rating, But I'm Thinking Of Raising Mine, I'll Decide By Tomorrow.

[Ðèstîñy]

You both saw it, and had the same rating for it.

You know, like he just said. hehe He beat me to it. ;)

[mark f]

You both gave the same film the same rating. :)

[mark f]

Trifecta. :cool:

[mark f]

Henry V (Kenneth Branagh, 1989) 3+

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51P0S2827PL.jpg

I sorta want to give this the 3.5 I've always given it. It has many powerful moments, and star/director Kenneth Branagh does accept the mantle of "greatest living Shakespearean actor" from co-star Paul Scofield rather gracefully. Yet, despite the fact that it gives Harry more than one terrific speech and presents a superb "battle of the sexes" comedy scene at the end, the play (and film) just doesn't rate as one of the Bard's greatest, at least to me. Now, I want to make it clear that I find this far more successful a film than Laurence Olivier's version. Sir Larry's version was made during WWII and was dedicated to be a rallying cry to England to defeat the Nazis since it seemed like a foregone conclusion at the time. Olivier did an interesting interpretation of displaying the play within the play by beginning the entire thing on the stage at the Globe Theatre. Branagh trumps him by having a modern-era Chorus [narrator] (Derek Jacobi) admit that what we're seeing is a 20th century film, and then we follow him throughout all the significant scenes of the play.

http://img.search.com/d/db/300px-Henry_V_Branagh.jpg

Henry V is still a very significant film, especially in the lives of Branagh and co-star Emma Thompson. They married at the end of filming and made a total of four other films together. It solidified both of them as serious actors and filmmakers. I know several people, including my wife and other females at this site, who have Henry's speech, pre-Agincourt, completely memorized. Even if I don't find it to be one of Shakespeare's best plays, there are several people's opinions who could "prove" me wrong. No matter what, this is a solid film which I recommend to all filmwatchers and Shakespeareans. I'm sorry if I make it sound less than that. I actually want to go into more detail here, but I don't want to spoil anything.

Mr. Jealousy (Noah Baumbach, 1997) 3

http://static.flickr.com/70/200444721_0c0f76fae2.jpg

While watching part of this movie this morning, Brenda offered one of her amazing asides... "I don't normally find redheads attractive, but HE is!", referring to Eric Stoltz. I noticed that she was paying attention all of a sudden, so I remarked, "Oh, that was what that look was about!" I never thought about it before myself, but I would have considered Eric Stoltz rather attractive to most all of the opposite sex, and I doubt any guy could call him ugly either. Now, I didn't quiz Bre on what she thought about Annabella Sciorra, but she is a fan of "Law & Order", so I probably already know. Plus, I also know that Bre likes one of the most obnoxious-type guys who's ever been to Barcelona, Chris Eigeman, so we're all well and even here.

I'm actually surprised that I can't even find another significant image from this film on the internet. I find it to be well-worth watching and discussing (and actually far superior to Kicking and Screaming). I'll admit that it lifts quite a bit from Woody Allen, especially the therapy and the classic film watching, but when somebody can borrow from Woody and still make the entire thing their own, I'll cut them some slack. In fact, the actual plot, involving characters posing as other real characters to somehow have therapy (presided over by Dr. Peter Bogdanovich!) is really rather witty and something resembling tightrope walking. I haven't done this film proud by explaining all the good things in it, but maybe you can watch it and fill those in for me.

[Holden Pike]

http://www.homevideos.com/freezeframes2/GroundhogDay31.jpeg

PHIL CONNORS
Do you ever have déjà vu, Mrs. Lancaster?

MRS. LANCASTER
I don't think so, but I could check with
the kitchen.

[Powdered Water]

This working for a living thing blows. I mean really. Anyway, it seriously cuts into my movie watching time and that my friends also blows. However it does keep the lights on and I'm probably being a respectable member of society by doing so. The latter is still up in the air though.

I've managed to get a few in all through last week and since I'm not able to MoFo as much as I was at my old slacker type job, consider this a catch up dig?

The Driller Killer (Abel Ferrara - 1979) :eek::eek::eek:

Wow, ummm well this was different. It certainly made me want to run right out and purchase a nice shiny drill. Actually this was pretty damn good and apparently it was banned in Germany so obviously that puts it into my cool book.

Horror Express (Eugenio Martín - 1973) :eek::eek::eek:

This was also quite good it starred both Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing and as a triple bonus Telly Savalas showed up towards the end of the film as some kind of smart ass Russian police officer. Really the whole thing was pretty bizarre. Check it out folks.

I was fighting a head cold all this weekend so as comfort food we watched all 3 Lord of the Rings movies. Its on my top 100 and I don't really need to rate them do I? They're good. Although I find I like the third one a good deal less than the first two for whatever reason.

[mark f]

I like the two you reviewed there. Those eeks should be turned to popcorn boxes, I'd say.

[Swedish Chef]

http://bp2.blogger.com/_bEvren9O8V0/Re-dAof_5jI/AAAAAAAAARg/pqLWN1V0yIk/s400/peoplewilltalk.jpg

People Will Talk (Joseph Manciewicz, 1951)

I sought this one out solely because Marko had it on his top 100 and I wasn't disappointed. The genius of this movie is the fact that, at least on the surface and in tone, it seems so dang normal. It really feels like any other flick fom the early fifties and yet it's got all sorts of crazy stuff going on. Talk about being ahead of your time, I really do wonder how audiences reacted to this thing. Because, yeah, despite all the strangeness, it still feels like a run-of-the-mill flick. I can't even describe this properly, you just have to see it.

And that smile on Cary Grant's face at the end has gotta be pretty high up on the list of all-time smiles. It might be number one, I'm having a hard time thinking of another. Cary Grant gained a new level of respect from me after I watched this thing. I'm not just talking about the smile, I really respect the fact that he took this role when a lot of his contemporaries probably wouldn't have.

Good movie.

4



I've been watching a lot of movies lately, and I don't feel like giving these their own little write-ups, but I'll list them here anyway.

The Bank Job (2008) 1.5
Reality Bites (1994) 2
The Man Who Would Be King (1975) 3.5
Short Cuts (1993) 4.5
Boeing Boeing (1965) 1.5
Rear Window (1954) 3.5
Witness for the Prosecution (1957) 2.5
The Hudsucker Proxy (1994) 4
X-Files: Fight the Future (1998) 3

[mark f]

I disagree with a few of your ratings but I hope you continue to watch People Will Talk in the years to come. That film is so subversive that I truly believe that there are no thoughtful viewers who will not laugh and cry at that film. Shunderson may well be my favorite character in film history, even more than Elmer Gantry or Chief Brody! Yet, he's surrounded by people who were alive over 50 years ago and still seem more alive than many people you see everyday.

[Swan]

12 Angry Men - 5 That movie is like crack.
The Girl Next Door - 3 (I'm a sucker for it. :p)

[undercoverlover]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/undercoverlover/equilibrium.jpg

Equilibrium - highly underrated dytopian film with Christian Bale. Though by no means perfect, it had a lot of potential, some good idea and an original take on martial arts that fitted well with the story. Did feel like it was missing something extra though, a lil something that wouldve ramped it up a bit.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/undercoverlover/1984ee-klldffdt5.jpg

1984 - really good adaptation but missed a lot of stuff out and lacked the raw emotion of the characters, maybe wouldve benefited from a narration. John Hurt was a good choice for Winston though, wasnt convinced about the O'Brien casting though.

[mark f]

Wild is the Wind (George Cukor, 1957) 2.5

http://www.granadamovieposters.com/photos/WildIsTheWind1sht.jpg

This is a weird cross between neorealism and Hollywood histrionics. After his wife dies, Italian rancher Anthony Quinn returns to the Old Country to marry his wife's sister (Anna Magnani) and brings her back to the Nevada ranch which he's made a financial success after years of struggle and hardship. His new wife doesn't feel comfortable in America and has a hard time accepting that she can relax and doesn't have to do the drudgery of everyday housework. She feels a desire to run her own house, even if it means washing the floor with towels. This "culture clash" causes problems with the marriage, and then the rancher's adopted son (Anthony Franciosa) gets a hankering for the woman, and she slowly returns his affections. Anna Magnani is good in the film, but sometimes the scenes between her and Quinn, where they both seem to be struggling for ways to communicate, go on for far too long and seem a bit affected. Even so, it's interesting to see some of the scenes of animals and nature used to tell the story of the evolution of the principal characters.

The More the Merrier (George Stevens, 1943) 3

http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/movie/coverv/94/232394.jpg

This is one of those cute, funny and romantic comedies that seemed to be released once or twice a month back in the '30s and '40s, but we're lucky today if Hollywood produces one or two a year which are this good. It's set in WWII Washington, D.C., where there just aren't enough rooms for all the people who need a place to stay. Through a series of crazy incidents, three people end up sharing one small apartment with two bedrooms: patriotic "working girl" Jean Arthur, a businessman (Oscar-winner Charles Coburn) and a mysterious young man (Joel McCrea) who's just "passing through". Since the businessman has a predilection for playing Cupid and loves to use the phrase "Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!", he does his best to get the other two roommates romantically together. This film was a big hit during the war, and although it's not quite as sparkling as it may once have been, it still provides plenty of laughs and a surprising amount of warm romance. The scenes with McCrea and Arthur on the apartment steps and later in their own individual beds talking to each other through the wall are very touching. Of course, Coburn steals the picture, playing a character who strongly resembles the grandfather character he played the same year in Ernst Lubitsch's Heaven Can Wait. I'm still not sure how the Production Code allowed so many damns in the film. :cool: (By the way, this was remade in 1966 as Walk, Don't Run, Cary Grant's final film, and it was transplanted to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics where there was a similar housing shortage.)

I want to write a longer post about the 2008 documentary At the Death House Door, but I've got to leave for a bit, so here goes this one.

[mark f]

At the Death House Door (Peter Gilbert & Steve James, 2008) 3.5

http://www.amnestyusa.org/artistsforamnesty/i/adhd.jpg

This is one of those films you start watching on cable TV, and you just cannot take you eyes off it. It follows a two-pronged story, both extremely important, one involving a minister who was present for almost 100 executions at Huntsville Prison in Texas in the 1980s and 1990s (Governor George Bush proudly announces that the death of these people is somehow making the state stronger and encouraging it as an improvement in the country as a whole--"the death penalty works...it's a deterrent to violent crime...") The minister in question is Carroll Pickett, a man who gradually, after he witnessed almost 100 deaths as part of his job, decided that God did not believe in killing those who were killed by Texas-state sanctioned actions. Pickett seemed to reach a spiritual impasse when he was "forced" to preside over the death penalty of young Carlos de Luna, a young criminal who was put to death seemingly for the crimes of another. The fact that this happened in 1989, long before DNA became a significant criteria to ensure that the proper people were "rightfully put to death" makes this film a major blubberfest. I was crying like a baby all over the place at not only the injustice of the original crime, but at the injustice of the way the state dealt with the trial, conviction and "murder" of the person they held responsible in what seemed little more than a railroad case. Pickett's story, the one about a gung-ho death penalty believer who changes his mind because he learns (far too late) that he's contributing to the problem, is the more-compelling story, but most everyone will disagree with George Bush when he decries people like Carlos de Luna as people who are the "worst of the worst". Carlos never confessed, and in fact, strongly maintained his innocence during the entire time he was on Huntsville's death row. The fact that Chicago reporters "basically" proved that a different Carlos, who died in the Texas prison system, committed the murder, is a chilling reminder of why the death penalty should be put on hold, especially in Texas, where people die, by order of the state, about once a week, due to the "justice" system in place. Its finality leaves absolutely no room for error, and human error is probably the one thing we can all agree about concerning trials.

Hopscotch (Ronald Neame, 1980) 3.5

http://www.criterion.com/content/images/full_boxshot/163_box_348x490.jpg

This flick is a barrel of laughs. True, it's not as serious as the last film I just mentioned, and Matthau isn't as kick-ass as he was in Charley Varrick, but overall, it's a damn fine example of why people love to root for the underdog who is obviously in the right. I'm going to rent both House Calls ("Something") and First Monday in October as companion pieces to this flick. Hopscotch will still tickle your funnybone, especially when you want to see this country's funnybone scratched. The problem, nowadays, seems to be that we no longer have a funny bone.

[mack]

Baby Mama 2/10
This movie was seriously underwhelming, though Tina Fey and Amy Poehler were both good in it (hence the 2 rating).

[Iroquois]

Shallow Grave - high 4
Punch-Drunk Love - 2
My Beautiful Laundrette - 3

[mark f]

OK, I'm going to amend my rating for The Forbidden Kingdom from 2.5 to 3. I'm not sure linespalsy will care or even reciprocate vis-a-vis Crystal Skull, but this kung fu epic actually is visually spectacular and seems to try to rival The Lord of the Rings in several of its scenes. Watching it on my big TV with the stereo was much more impressive than watching it in my bedroom. :cool:

[Ðèstîñy]

Shallow Grave - high 4
Punch-Drunk Love - 2
My Beautiful Laundrette - 3

Does that mean you were high when you watched it!?!


Just ignore me. I'm very tired, and I can't go to bed now.

[Iroquois]

Harhar. No, just that on a scale of 1 to 5 I'd give it 4.25.

[ash_is_the_gal]

28 Weeks Later 4 out of 5
Zodiac 3.5 out of 5
It Happened One Night 4 out of 5
Ladies in Lavender 3 out of 5
Brothers and Sisters: The Complete First Season 4 out of 5

[mark f]

A 4.25 is a borderline high 4/low 4.5, although I totally get the rating and tend to tell people initially that I give it the low rating. Have you seen these posts? I realize I may seem like I'm fishing, but YOU (and Ðèstîñy) are both here, and I wish somebody would see these posts... Yippee (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showpost.php?p=463007&postcount=68)

[Swedish Chef]

http://ricksflickspicks.animationblogspot.com/files/2006/12/Kalifornia.jpg

Kalifornia (Dominic Sena, 1993)

Way to go Juliette Lewis! How many actresses can say they've been in two moderately awful serial killer flicks in the same year? This one's a little better than NBK, but it's still tough to watch. The first thiry minutes of this thing are just really boring and even though Kalifornia steps it up a notch during its second act, I can't forgive it for its more grating stretches of nothingness. David Duchovny has a voice-over in this movie that's just about the worst I've ever heard. He was never too good with those on the X-Files and he's even worse here. And Brad Pitt's southern twang has gotta be up there in the pantheon of bad movie accents. Right next to Keanu in Dracula.

I dunno, this is just a mediocre flick. It's got its moments and it looks cool, but it's pretty forgettable.

2

[Iroquois]

Midnight Cowboy - 4.5

[Swan]

Blade Runner - 5 I think that's my favorite live-action science fiction film (I mention live-action because of Fantastic Planet).

[7thson]

I dunno, this is just a mediocre flick. It's got its moments and it looks cool, but it's pretty forgettable.



I agree with much you say, except the forgettable part. I give it a 3/5 and the only reason for that is the quirky nasal things Pitt does.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VLDLUaZYwE

[mark f]

OK, I appreciate both of the last two posts, but it should be obvious to others here that I believe that Midnight Cowboy is FAR more superior than BladeRunner.

First off, Midnight Cowboy actually has something to do with REAL LIFE! It also expresses real life in a far-more-cinematically way than BladeRunner. OK , OK, I don't want you to all believe that somehow BladeRunner is weakish because I say so. I want people to give everything the same weight in their opinions. I already know it's BS, but even so...

[Swan]

OK, I appreciate both of the last two posts, but it should be obvious to others here that I believe that Midnight Cowboy is FAR more superior than BladeRunner.

First off, Midnight Cowboyactually has something to do with REAL LIFE! It also expresses real life in a wayfar-more-cinematically that BladeRunner. OK ,OK, I don't wantyou to all believe that somehow BladeRunner is weakish because I say so. I want people to give everything the same weight in their opinions. I already know it's BS, but even so...

I haven't seen Midnight Cowboy, but I have been wanting to and I've been looking for to buy it. It looks really great.

[Iroquois]

OK, I appreciate both of the last two posts, but it should be obvious to others here that I believe that Midnight Cowboy is FAR more superior than BladeRunner.

First off, Midnight Cowboy actually has something to do with REAL LIFE! It also expresses real life in a far-more-cinematically way than BladeRunner. OK , OK, I don't want you to all believe that somehow BladeRunner is weakish because I say so. I want people to give everything the same weight in their opinions. I already know it's BS, but even so...

For the record, I think that both films are roughly equal (probably giving the edge to Blade Runner) but understand the situation. Last night marked the second time I'd seen Midnight Cowboy ever (the last was in 2004-05, I think). Last I checked, I'd seen Blade Runner about five times since 2005, with the last two times being in the last year or so.

Besides, just because a film doesn't deal with real-life doesn't necessarily make it weaker than one that doesn't. (or make the real-life film stronger)

[mark f]

Of course not, but look at it this way. Midnight Cowboy is realistic, yet it's presented so surrealistically that it seems to be BS. Sorry. I dare you to try to make anything that strong nowadays. I suppose it's possible, but who alive would even understand the concept?"

[Iroquois]

Of course not, but look at it this way. Midnight Cowboy is realistic, yet it's presented so surrealistically that it seems to be BS. Sorry. I dare you to try to make anything that strong nowadays. I suppose it's possible, but who alive would even understand the concept?"

You, probably.

Apart from that, touché.

[adidasss]

Cabaret - Bob Fosse (1972)

Not only one of the best musicals I've seen (although I only really liked Grease and Hair as far as the music goes), but one of the best films, period. 5

Even so, I didn't do it - Masayuki Suo (2006)

A solid courtroom drama about a young man who gets falsely accused of groping a girl on the train, and his long fight for justice. It's a little overdrawn and preachy, but also very informative of the negative sides of the Japanese legal system. 3.5

4.6 Billion Years of Love - Takashi Miike (2006)

A rather unusual, artsy film from the oddball, hyperproductive Japanese director about 2 prisoners and their increasingly involved relationship behind bars. I can't say I enjoyed it too much, but it's refreshing to see him try to make something a little more "challenging" - 3

Nightmare detective - Shinya Tsukamoto (2006)

From the director of the cult film Tetsuo, a rather terrible if well made horror film about a mysterious killer who can kill people in their dreams. The casting was rather terrible (the police detective is played by a talentless pop-star) and ruined what could have been a decent scare. The sequel is already in the making. - 2

Big man Japan - Hitoshi Matsumoto (2007)

Another quirky yet not very good Japanese film, about a regular hobo Joe who can become a superhero giant and fight other freaky giants. It's sort of a combination of The office style docu-comedy and rather bad computer animation. I found it boring. 2

Sparrow - Johnny To (2008)

The latest from Hong-Kong's best action film director. A decent pick-pocket film (if there isn't such a category, I just made it) with scarce dialog but rather goodlooking cinematography, it seems like a bit of a breather from his usual action films (there are no guns and very little fighting in it). His usual cast reapears and gives the film some charm. Enjoyable - 3.5

Exiled - Johnny To (2006)

Another one from To, this time a full blooded, action packed triad film. Some brilliantly filmed action sequences and a decent enough plot. If you're into well made Hong-Kong actioners with great cinematography and a minimum of cheese, Johnny To is your man (and this is probably his best). - 3.5

Gummo - Harmony Korine (1997)

A rather brilliant, Herzogian drama about the (non-)lives of a bunch of kids from a town struck by a tornado. My first time watching it and I expect not the last. I can't wait to see Julien Donkey-Boy (and re-watch Mister Lonely). 4.5

[Swan]

Jarhead - 2

[Mrs. Darcy]

Anatomy of a Murder

Jimmy Stewart plays a mostly retired district attorney that takes on the case of a young military man on trial for murdering his wife's attacker. Eve Arden adds her acerbic wit, and Ben Gazara plays the hot-tempered soldier. Jimmy has to face the big city prosecutor in George C. Scott, and plays up his small-town 'aw shucks' persona to his benefit.

Wry humor, fine acting, and some great dialogue make this one solid courtroom drama. 3

[Monkeypunch]

The Forbidden Kingdom - Sort of like a Chinese version of The Never-Ending Story, it has an awesome fight scene between Jackie Chan (in his signature "Drunken Boxing" style) and Jet Li (more traditional martial arts, but no less impressive), and some really clever fight choreography. Thumbs up from me.

Jet Li's Fearless - Obviously starring Jet Li, his name is part of the title, it's an excellent Kung Fu flick, and has a surprisingly absorbing storyline to it, which, even though I am a fan, I will admit doesn't always happen in these sorts of films. I think I liked this one better than The Forbidden Kingdom, so thumbs up, yet again.

(I've forgotten how to do the popcorn box thing.)

[Iroquois]

Perfect Blue - 3

[Daffodil]

Kill Bill Vol. 1. I saw it last night, but only got up to the fight scene between The Bride and O-Ren Ishii 'cause the DVD was a bad copy and had a ton of scratches on it so it kept on skipping major important parts of the movie. :(

I've already seen it before anyways, and I gave it a perfect 10. ^_^

[Lennon]

(I've forgotten how to do the popcorn box thing.)

Just put a / where I put a *

[rating]YOURRATINGHERE[*rating]

[mark f]

"YOURRATINGHERE" meaning 0, 2.5, 5, etc.

[Iroquois]

Stranger Than Paradise - 3

[Swedish Chef]

http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/dynamic/imgs/061020/132524__head_l.jpg

Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (Sam Peckinpah, 1974)

This is just the ultimate Sam Peckinpah movie. It's like his entire career built up to this thing and then crashed and burned as soon as it came out. He shot his directorial load with Alfredo Garcia and afterwards, he was totally creatively tapped.

I always get something new out of Alfredo Garcia. I've seen it like ten times and it never fails to surprise me and impress me even more. This time 'round, I think I've decided Warren Oates gives the best male performance in the history of cinema as the lovable mass murderer, Bennie. There's one scene where he takes off the trademark Peckinpah shades to look at his sobbing lover in the shower and it gets me every single time. I know he's really just a Woody Allen-esque Peckinpah surrogate, but I still think it's an amazing performance. Totally anchors the flick.

5


And here are the other flicks I've seen over the past three or four days...

Slums of Beverly Hills (1998) 3
Beat the Devil (1953) 2.5
In Name Only (1939) 3

[mark f]

Fog City Mavericks (Gary Leva, 2007) 3.5

http://images.starpulse.com/AMGPhotos/dvd/cov150/dru500/u564/u56430o4atp.jpg

Although it sometimes comes across as a self-promotion flick, this documentary, narrated by Peter Coyote, is also crammed with tons of historical info, wonderful movie clips and anecdotes from some of the most significant American filmmakers of the 1960s onward. It makes the case that there is an entire group of filmmakers, who have made some of the most wildly successful films ever, who are essentially independent from the Hollywood studio system. These include Francis Coppola, George Lucas, Clint Eastwood, Philip Kaufman, Carroll Ballard, John Milius, Steven Spielberg, Caleb Deschanel, Robert Dalva, Chris Columbus, Saul Zaentz, the entirety of Pixar Studio, Sofia Coppola, and several others.

http://a6.vox.com/6a00c2251c2893f21900d09e683a4ebe2b-320pi

The film basically describes how Coppola and Lucas took off one day in the late '60s to San Francisco where Coppola made his film The Rain People with a crew of about nine people, all who could somehow fit in a van. Lucas took home movies of the entire project. From this, Coppola was able to negotiate some projects for all the people he "represented", and those included Lucas' THX 1138 and a little something scripted by Milius called Apocalypse Now. Eventually, Coppola founds American Zoetrope Studios in San Francisco, and Lucas builds Skywalker Ranch in Marin County. Pixar is actually something which originally was part of Lucasfilm, but Steve Jobs was able to buy it for $5 million in the 1980s, although it was later bought by Disney for 7.4 billion (!!).

http://weblogs.variety.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/05/04/coppola24jul88.jpg

Although the film seems to occasionally strain credulity in suggesting that all these guys just wanted to make experimental films, the actual content of the movie is fascinating and includes many juicy tidbits which I had never heard of before. The story about the filming of The Rain People and how the studio butchered Lucas' truly experimental THX 1138 are very interesting, and then the way this group of filmmakers seems to expand, including a few personae non gratta (as if Lucas isn't at the top of the list) also makes it seem definitely unusual. I definitely recommend a viewing, even if you believe you know all about these filmmakers and their origins, I'm pretty sure it will open your eyes more than once.

[mark f]

Speed Racer (Wachowski Bros., 2008) 3.5

http://cfs8.tistory.com/image/26/tistory/2008/05/29/11/15/483e11c75e38c

First off, I want to say that I watched "Speed Racer" on TV in the '60s. I'll confess that I did it because my younger brother was a Superfan and he was only six years old! I had no problem watching it because it was fast-paced, most of the dubbed dialogue was screamed out rat-a-tat style, and it could sometimes make you laugh out loud*. It probably had less facial expression than almost anything I'd ever seen (except maybe "Clutch Cargo"), but heck, it was the first anime I was ever exposed to. Speed Racer always held the relationships of the family and team in high regard, but what I'm truly impressed about the Wachowskis' adaptation is that for all the visual spectacle on display, it's the relationships and the principles of the characters which make this Speed Racer worth watching.

I've read the reviews for Speed Racer at this site, and without referring to any names, I'll try to address some of the concerns expressed in them. However, one thing which isn't addressed in any of them I find to be interesting. When I first heard that Speed Racer was 135 minutes long, I asked myself why it would have to be any more than 95. Well, after watching the film, I know why. Speed Racer is presented as a "Super Hero" and thus, we're watching his origin tale. The Wachowskis must have believed that they were starting a franchise here, and although it tanked at the box office, I think the film is far better than its critical and popular reaction reflects. The Wachowskis' main influence, at least in all the non-racing scenes, seems to be Warren Beatty's Dick Tracy. The bright, primary color scheme is accented in all the interior shots. The racing scenes also use bright colors, but they seem to have many more hues and be more neon-like. In this way, the Wachowskis seem to emphasize something more closely related to comic books in the domestic scenes (as in something you'd see in a super hero comic), while promoting the kinetic surrealism of anime.

https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--Msd7JnoP--/18s40nnlajibgjpg.jpg

The Wachowskis do use a different editing technique for this film which has been commented upon in an earlier review. They pan across the screen, and whenever something comes across the foreground, you're in the next scene. The film which this seems to have been "inspired" by is Pan's Labyrinth; however, it's used much more often in this film. I'll admit that the editing of the opening scenes, while in no way that awkward or confusing, does get to be a bit repetitive. It does seem to improve as the film progresses and settles down into a calmer rhythm where the characters and their themes of personal responsibilty, abillity and morality seem to be much more-thoroughly explored. You see, although I was cheering for the good guys in this movie, it took the added length of the film for me to fully get behind them. The film seems to fly by its 135 minutes, and that's probably because even if it flowed smoothly during its first half (albeit coasting on spectacle and action), it went by twice as fast once you actually understood that you were watching a family who truly cared about each other and was going to go out of its way to correct any wrongs it had somehow enabled in the past.

https://philzine.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/speed-racer.jpg

OK, I'll admit that this may sound like I'm some kind of fan boy and/or fool, but Speed Racer is actually a really solid summer popcorn flick. It's not as deep or inspired as Iron Man, but it's not really that much less deep or inspired. It got shafted and deserves a reexamination or at least, a first chance. It certainly has flaws. It's actually a tad too serious, but the weakest parts are the silliest ones. It was almost as if the Wachowskis wanted to make Speed Racer more poignant, but they were worried that if they didn't include a few buffoonish scenes (the ninjas and some of the chimp scenes), that the kids wouldn't laugh and find the thing all too boring. The way the summer marketplace is stacked now, movies don't really have much of a chance to establish an audience before being unceremoniously booted away. I don't really believe that Speed Racer had much of a chance to find an audience, so it mostly failed on "pre-word of mouth" rather than the actual opinions of the paying public who saw it. It was just seen as a failure in advance.

[vondummpenstein]

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/516vwEmYxwL._SL500_AA240_.jpg (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1117385/)


As it seems to me, Val Kilmer has been on an acting binge over the past few years. I think he is slated for like ten films just this year. Not to mention his role in "Comanche Moon (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0783328/)" and the new "Knight Rider (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1213404/)". Either the guy has a brutal drug addiction or he just seriously loves his lob. No matter though, as he seems to have pretty good taste in scripts.

Felon isn't great, but it is most defintely worth a watch. Throughout Felon, parts of the plot development will seem clumsy, however the story ultimately works because of its successful endeavor to make the viewer challenge themselves and ask themselves the same questions that confront the characters.

It is an honest effort in directing and acting and was a refreshing drama for me, in that I felt at no time like I was being proselytized.

I recommend it: :up:

[Swedish Chef]

Speed Racer (Wachowski Bros., 2008) 3.5


Yowza, I disagree with pretty much everything you said. You really think the movie got better as it went along? I actually found the first twenty minutes or so a pleasant surprise and fun as all heck, but then the flick started to lose me. Major case of sensory overload. After a while, it all seemed to blend together into oblivion. And I don't think Speed Racer failed because of misplaced audience preconceptions. The movie itself is way too long and it never finds the right tone to tell its story. It's bad.

That said, though, mayhaps I would have gotten a little more out of it had I been a fan of the cartoon like you, Mark.

[mark f]

Well, I wasn't really a fan of the show; it was just that it came on after school, so I'd let my Bro watch something (usually "Dark Shadows" and "Speed Racer") before I took over the TV. I already read your review and a few others, so that's why I framed mine the way I did.

And I'm not going to get dragged into a debate about Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia right now and perhaps ever again. Nobody sees things the same way every time, and you rarely can get people to reconsider anything. (Yeah, even me!) :cool:

[Swedish Chef]

If I promise not to argue about it, will you at least tell me what you didn't like about Alfredo Garcia?

[mark f]

This is from two years ago at another site, so I probably can't discuss it as well now.

Things I like about Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia include: Warren Oates (I always like him); Isela Vega (who wouldn't?); the opening scene, which begins idyllically and also it seems like you're watching a 19th-century western, and then they edit to all the cars and planes (my vote for best editing in the film); Jerry Fielding's score (although not up there with Straw Dogs); the fact that Bennie and the Head get along so well, the fact that a "loser" goes out a "winner", the mention of Fred C. Dobbs, the title. There are more, but we can discuss those.

Things I dislike about it are: I think half of the film shouldn't even be in the film (scenes which go on and on which should have been blue-penciled); Peckinpah's trademark slo-mo balletic violence just doesn't work here; the two motorcyclists!!!; the ease with which our hero (and I consider him a hero) accomplishes things; technical flubs (now, I could be wrong, but it seemed clear to me that their tire blew out when the truck almost ran head-on into them, but no problem in the story concerning the tire; then a half-hour later, they have to fix a flat tire from out of nowhere); all the other hitmen/"entrepreneurs"/well, damn everybody but Bennie and Elita, were stick figures.

Anyhow, I'm not trying to rebut or fight anybody. I know I'm in the minority around here, but at least, that skims the tip of the iceberg. http://www.moviejustice.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/cool.gif

[tramp]

Outlaw, 2007, Nick Love

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00124ONT2.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg


Independent British film by a guy named Nick Love who seems to have a bit of a following among some Brits. The film is shot in a hand-held jerky style and I gather that is supposed to make the film feel rather gritty. It pissed me off. I just don't get this whole thing about having me know where and what the camera is doing.

The action in the film surrounds a rag tag group of vigilantes who are fed up with all sort of bullies and criminals, along with being a bit tired of police impotence and corruption.

Unfortunately, while there were really compelling moments here (read "moments") nothing jells. The characters are never truly defined except for a barrister who has good reason to feel anger. The rest of them seem like a bunch of whiners and wimps who need a good lesson in how to kick sand into the bully's face. I have no idea why I was supposed to take these guys seriously. The leader of the band, played by Sean Bean, seems to have no motivation whatsoever that I could see and he just seems rather mean. And ugly. (Did she just say that??? About Sean????)

Danny Dyer is the standout here. I looked him up -- a Brit actor who works in theatre and independent films. He deserves a great career. Charismatic guy. He was the only character I cared about.

And why won't Sean Bean shave? I'm getting sick of it. Buy the man a razor.

:( :mad: :sick:

[Swan]

House on Haunted Hill - 3.5

Classic spook film with great nostalgic value to me. And Vincent Price.

[Tacitus]

Joy Division (2007, Grant Gee)

4/5

If you're a fan of the band in question (and I am, no question) this is absolutely essential, it goes without saying - Sumner, Hook, Morris, Wilson etc all interviewed in something written by Jon 'England's Dreaming' Savage and presided over by a prominent music video director? Get in!

Joy Division attempts to go further, however, and paint a picture of urban decay in pre-Thatcher England. That it's not quite as successful at this as it was with telling the band's story is understandable - Joy Division weren't together for very long.

It was quite a wistful watch really. I've always found Joy Division, for all their greatness, difficult to listen to - Ian Curtis' lyrics are almost too personal, to the point where I feel I'm intruding on a very troubled soul.

It's left to Manchester's very own svengali/arch tw*t himself, Tony Wilson (who sadly died not long after this) to sum up Joy Division's legacy, and I'm paraphrasing here: Punk was great as a "F*ck you!", a kick up the arse that rock music needed but they only had those two words to say. New Wave took things further and Joy Division were the first band to marry the immediate attitude of Punk to a more introspective songwriting style.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/greenspagbol/Joy_Division.jpg

Listening to Wilson's pontificating, I realised that I hadn't seen Michael Winterbottom's 24 Hour Party People (2001) in ages. Once I found the DVD - my filing system exists only in the sense of a vague memory of which cupboard I stacked a particular disc in but finding a specific one is half the fun - the evening was lost to any other form of entertainment but I pegged out before I could rewatch Control.

For those of you who don't know, it's a biopic of the aforementioned Factory Records mainman told in a loose, unconventional way.

To be honest, I love it. Steve Coogan is spot on as Wilson - not immediately likeable and so far up his own arse that he's turned himself inside out - and the music choices are out of this world, but where 24HPP succeeds and Joy Division gets left behind is as a social document. Again, this is as much to do with the time frame involved (in this case the 20 years from the mid 70s to the mid 90s) as it is with any artistic deficiencies.

Wilson was, in many ways, The North's Renaissance Man. He was a prominent local TV presenter who's love of new music led him to forming a record label and opening probably the most famous nightclub England has had since The Cavern. I'm not old enough to remember The Hacienda's heyday but fortunate enough to have lived in the area during the club's later years - we used to alternate between there and a club in Liverpool.

Even then it was a fantastic place - fantastically good and bad in equal measure and sometimes fantastically frightening. It was alive, though.

24 Hour Party People captures that spirit.

4.5/5

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/greenspagbol/_44052393_cooganwilson_getty416.jpg

Coogan and Wilson. The man and the myth...and the man.

[Pyro Tramp]

Outlaw, 2007, Nick Love

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00124ONT2.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg


Independent British film by a guy named Nick Love who seems to have a bit of a following among some Brits. The film is shot in a hand-held jerky style and I gather that is supposed to make the film feel rather gritty. It pissed me off. I just don't get this whole thing about having me know where and what the camera is doing.

The action in the film surrounds a rag tag group of vigilantes who are fed up with all sort of bullies and criminals, along with being a bit tired of police impotence and corruption.

Unfortunately, while there were really compelling moments here (read "moments") nothing jells. The characters are never truly defined except for a barrister who has good reason to feel anger. The rest of them seem like a bunch of whiners and wimps who need a good lesson in how to kick sand into the bully's face. I have no idea why I was supposed to take these guys seriously. The leader of the band, played by Sean Bean, seems to have no motivation whatsoever that I could see and he just seems rather mean. And ugly. (Did she just say that??? About Sean????)

Danny Dyer is the standout here. I looked him up -- a Brit actor who works in theatre and independent films. He deserves a great career. Charismatic guy. He was the only character I cared about.

And why won't Sean Bean shave? I'm getting sick of it. Buy the man a razor.

:( :mad: :sick:

I'm a huge fan of Nick Love's previous works The Football Factory and The Business, both of which star Danny Dyer. The latter even made it quite high up in my list (see link in sig). But Outlaw was a massive disappointment and pretty shoddy film. Can't give it more than 2 unfortunately.

As for Danny Dyer, he's quite a loved Brit actor already- certainly made it big here but apparently not having as much luck in the states. Think Straightheads was meant to be his breakthrough film but sadly that was a bit poo. Check out Human Traffic where he's a 19 year old clubber, taking plenty of Class As for his performance ;)

[vondummpenstein]

Unfortunately, Outlaw really was a big let-down, despite starring the Beaninator. Also if you are a fan of Danny Dyer and crappy horror you got to check out Severance (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0464196/) . The film is pretty dumb, but Dyer is definitely the highlight.

[tramp]

Thanks, guys, I will definitely check out more of Dyer's work (and by extension, Nick Love). BTW, I did love the last moment of the film. :)

And I still can't believe that I was annoyed with Sean. This was one of the very few times that I didn't even care what happened to him. He's always a great actor and he was here, but the script was so incredibly poor that even he -- who I love dearly -- couldn't save it.

[Pyro Tramp]

I know! Sean Bean, Bob Hoskins and Danny Dyer- 3 of the best British actors around, it seemed like fried gold. From what i've seen of Dyer, Tramp, i'd check - (in this order) The Business, Human Traffic, Football Factory, Severance.

[Ðèstîñy]

The Changeling (1980)
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41ENA7DNKNL._SL500_AA240_.jpg

George C. Scott ~ John Russell
Trish Van Devere ~ Claire Norman
Melvyn Douglas ~ Sen. Joseph Carmichael
Jean Marsh ~ Joanna Russell . . .

5/5

I've easily seen this movie a hundred times. I'm sure I'll see it a hundred more, and then some. If you haven't seen it yet, I definitely recommend it.


I've maybe even said this in here before, but I'm senile, so . . .

[adidasss]

Time for another update:

Umbrellas of Cherboug - Jacques Demy (1964)

One of the many classics I've been trying to catch up on, a French musical with the stunning Catherine Deneuve and Nino Castelnuovo as young lovers who get separated after Guy (Nino) gets drafted and sent to Algiers for 2 years. I think this is the first film I've seen that doesn't feature any spoken dialog (it's all sung). To be honest, I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to finish it, but I persevered and don't regret doing so. Even though most of the music is just filler, the main theme is achingly beautiful...plus, there's enough eye candy here (and not just the almost kitschy cinematography) to keep you interested. Oh and the ending was surprisingly good. - 3.5

The machine girl - Noboru Iguchi (2008)

Standard but enjoyable cult (or soon to become one) film about a highschool girl whose brother gets killed by bullies which makes her flip and start killing a whole lotta people with a shotgun attached to her arm (hence the title). It's rather well made for a b-gorefest, plus it's got teenage girls, cartoonish villains and a whole lotta blood. If you haven't heard of it already, it's probably not your shtick...2.5

This charming girl - Yoon-ki Lee (2004)

I was expecting this to be a lighthearted, charming little flick (I wonder where I got that idea :rolleyes:), but got one of those quiet Asian dramas where not much happens. The plot is so painfully ordinary it makes you wonder why anyone would want to film a story so unremarkable (it's about an ordinary, somewhat reclusive young woman, who lives by herself, works in a post office, and doesn't do much for an hour and a half but walk around looking pensive, or vapid, could go either way). It was long and boring. 2

Red cliff - John Woo (2008)

I thought about writing a "proper" review for this since it's a recent Asian blockbuster, but it's just so ordinary I didn't feel like wasting much time on it. I'm sure anyone who's even remotely interested in Asian cinema has heard of this film already. Suffice to say that it's the most expensive Chinese film ever made and has an all star cast (Kaneshiro, Leung etc). All I ca say is the fight scenes were ok, the CGI was average, Kaneshiro is still very pretty and you should probably (re-)watch Troy instead. 2.5

Death in Venice - Luchino Visconti (1971)

Another classic film, based on the novel by Thomas Man, I found it rather longish and so artificial I couldn't really get into it at all. There are a couple of wonderful scenes (especially the last one), and the score is beautiful, but none of it could have made up for the pretentiousness (especially of the conversations between Aschenbach and his friend :rolleyes:). 2

Theorema - Pier Paolo Pasolini (1968)

Lord deliver us from pretentious euro-art.*barf*

Sword of the stranger - Masahiro Andô (2007)

A surprisingly good anime film, with solid if unoriginal animation and a pretty good story that probably went under everyone's radar last year. For fans of Japanese animation... 3.5

Samurai rebellion - Masaki Kobayashi (1967)

A surgically precise Asian classic which (perhaps unsurprisingly) left me completely cold. I don't think I've liked a single pre-1980's Asian film (I've still to delve deeper into Kurosawa's output though). 3

Delicatessen - Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet (1991)

Perfect example of style over substance. Great post-apocalyptic atmosphere, but not a very interesting story (about an apartment building with a butcher shop at the ground floor which relies on hired help as its primary meat source). I wasn't very impressed but I'm gonna be checking out some other Jeunet films, I'm sure there are other winners besides Amelie. 2.5

I don't kiss - André Téchiné (1991)

A solid, if uneven film from one of my favorite European directors about a young boy, who comes to Paris fresh from the mountains and full of great dreams and acting aspirations, only to have it all fall apart leaving him in the gutter of male prostitution (from which the title is derived). He's made much better films (see bellow). 3

My favorite season - André Téchiné (1993)

A fantastic melodrama about a dysfunctional family which is reconnected (or disassembled) though a parent's illness, it features the still spectacularly good looking Catherine Deneuve (a good enough reason to see it if nothing else). It had me glued to the screen, absolutely fantastic screenplay. See it. 5

Royal space force - Hiroyuki Yamaga (1987)

Saw it on Sedai's recommendation. Pretty good anime. 3

Devils on the doorstep - Wen Jiang (2000)

Ok, I haven't actually watched this in its entirety because my dvd was screwed up (it's missing the last 20 minutes or so) which means I'm gonna have to redownload it, but the first 3/4 of it is some of the best that Chinese cinema has to offer. A fantastically funny and tragic feature debut from Wen Jiang who also stars in the lead role. It's shot in beautiful black and white and has incredile pacing. It does lose some wind in the last quarter (I'm gonna have to watch it again just to make sure), mainly when the story moves away from Jiang. Soderbergh praises it as a masterpiece which is, I think, a good enough recommendation for anyone. 4

Jesus that took a while to write, I should update more often...*wipes sweat off brow*

[B-card]

Old School(Todd Phillips 2003)-5

[Powdered Water]

A few from last week, and so on goes this thing of ours...

The Forbidden Kingdom (Rob Minkoff-2008) 3.5

This was a pretty fun little flick. Most of us have seen the story before but it was still fun. Jackie Chan was fun to watch as usual and I guess overall I just really enjoyed it.

Speed Racer (The Wachoski Brothers-2008) 4

I enjoyed this as much the second time as I did the first time and I still think its a shame that more folks haven't seen it.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Garth Jennings-2005) 3.5

A pretty fun little flick as well. Maybe not a really good adaptation of the book but Douglas Adams himself did start the screenplay and sadly passed away before he could complete it in 2001. I'd say overall though Garth Jennings did a pretty fine job of capturing the quirkiness of the story and I laugh quite a bit when watching it.

Time Bandits (Terry Gilliam-1981) 4

I love DVD's! 5 bucks I paid for this gem to replace my old VHS copy and its worth every penny yes? Of course it is. Just a quick note about the midgets used in the film. Most had the fat sausage fingers and not the long skinny fingers. Thought you'd want to know...

Krull (Peter Yates-1983) 3.5

Remember back in the day when people just made movies like this and they didn't have to be immediately followed by a part 2 and part 3? Believe it or not it happened. This has always been a relatively underseen sci-fi/fantasy flick that obviously borrows heavily from some other flicks of this ilk but to me its still highly enjoyable because they tried to make it their own and to a large extent did just that. They created their own world and I love it when these movies really try to pull that off and in my ever so humble opinion succeed at it.

[Swan]

The Abyss - 4 Very underrated flick.

[ash_is_the_gal]

i hardly ever 'go advanced' in the Movie tab, because i find it too much effort to go on about a movie these days. i've got a lot of respect for those of you who do it on a regular basis, though!

heres a couple i've recently watched though, and i'll say a few things about one inparticular, mainly cause i'm in the mood, plus some of these were recommendations from people on here.

Son of Rambow (2007)

http://www.indiewire.com/movies/Son_Of_Rambow_filmstill1.JPG

a nostalgic dramedy set in 1980's Britain, about two boys who couldn't be more different--one coming from a deeply religious family and is not allowed simple pleasures such as television and music, and the other a common school bully--yet they find common ground and friendship based on their desire to make a short film inspired by Rambo: First Blood.

based on the synopsis alone i was immediately intrigued by this one, and its an absolute gem. a funny, cute, sweet coming-of-age, and albeit the reaaaally cheesy ending, you will come away from this one feeling it lacked absolutely nothing. which it didn't.

[ash_is_the_gal]

The Innocents
Definitely, Maybe

[Daffodil]

Day of the Dead (2008). And geez, was it terrible. Such a clichéd plot. The whole town-is-getting-shut-down-to-contain-infection thing is getting old.

[Iroquois]

Blazing Saddles - 3
Bill Hicks: Relentless - 3.5
Bill Hicks: Revelations - 4.5
Richard Pryor: Live In Concert - 4.5
28 Weeks Later... - 2.5
Blood Simple - 3
Layer Cake - 3

I think my ratings are starting to get a little harsher.

[Caitlyn]

Barry Lyndon (1975) 4/5

[ash_is_the_gal]

Whose Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

i was so exhausted after this one.

[Sedai]

Blue Velvet (Lynch, 1985)

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/3963/bluevelvet3dj1.jpg

[Lennon]

Comic Book: The Movie (Mark Hamill, 2004)

http://tf.org/images/covers/Comic-Book-The-Movie-free-tf.org.jpg

[Lennon]

Hard Candy (Slade, 2005)
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/TREAZURE/MOVIEZ/HARDCANDY1.jpg

[Tacitus]

Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden? (2008, Morgan Spurlock)

2/5

Sheesh. If WitWiOBL? was any more low brow its nose would be scraping along the tarmac...

I didn't mind Supersize Me - despite 90 minutes of STATING THE BLOODY OBVIOUS it was a likeable enough bit of fluff. The only thing about it, however, that wasn't lightweight was Spurlock's frame after his McBinge. ;)

His latest effort reeks of "What can we get Morgan to do now? Sales of Supersize Me are drying up and he's rapidly losing his hair!"

It's inconsequential in the extreme and the running "Hey, we're, like all the same underneath, yeah?" theme left me throwing peanuts (Nobby's BBQ, if anyone's interested ;D) at the screen so often that my carpet soon resembled a squirrel's wet dream.

I've added a point because, sh*te movie aside, Spurlock seems a decent fella. He's a decent fella badly in need of something...anything to say.

Louis Theroux has been doing this sort of thing far better for years now. He's also bright enough to realise that he's a TV man.

...Not 'TV' in the Lou Reed Transformer sense, well, probably not. Ermmmmm. :p

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/greenspagbol/morgan-spurlock-where-in-the-world-.jpg

Nice beard though. ;)

[Iroquois]

Point Blank - 3
subUrbia - 3.5

[adidasss]

The mourning forest - Naomi Kawase (2007)

It's a meditative journey to personal catharsis of two people who have lost someone. It won the Grand prize of the festival at Cannes in 2007. I thought it was boring and struggled to finish it. Beautiful scenery though. Sigh...2

Crash - David Cronenberg (1996)

Probably the most erotic thing I've seen, save for actual porn. My penis gives it a 4.5

Planet terror - Robert Rodriguez (2007)

Well I can't really compare it with Death proof seeing as how I actually watched this one sober, but it didn't really grab me. Sure, it's a good execution of the Grindhouse resurrection idea, but it's all just...by the numbers...plus, Rodriguez just isn't very cool. (Rose is though, I'll give it that, plus, she's steaming hot). 3

Everything will be ok - Don Hertzfeldt (2006)

A wonderful short, funny and depressing at the same time. It won a slew of awards including the Sundance short filmmaking award. 4

A fish called Wanda - Charles Crichton (1988)

Twas very entertaining. 4

[Iroquois]

Demolition Man - 3.5

[Lennon]

SUPERbad- 3.5/5

[Powdered Water]

Crash - David Cronenberg (1996)

Probably the most erotic thing I've seen, save for actual porn. My penis gives it a 4.5




:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

I know funny, and folks... that's funny stuff right there.

[Used Future]

'Bullitt' (Peter Yates 1968) 4
Well photographed seminal cop thriller, sporting a great understated performance from McQueen, one knockout car chase and a tense finale that no doubt influenced Michael Mann's Heat. 'Bullitt' also won an Oscar for best film editing, and sadly one of those films that has eluded me for years (I was always out when it was on TV) I'm glad I've finally seen it.

The Faculty (Robert Rodriguez 1998) 4
Hugely enjoyable tongue in cheek nod to Invasion of the Body Snatchers and 80's high school flicks with a knockout cast. Elijah Wood, Clea DuVall, Famke Jansen, Piper Laurie, Bebe Neuwirth, Salma Hayek, and Robert Patrick to name but a few. Fast paced, great in jokes, snappy dialogue (particularly Jansen's put down of Hartnett) and imaginative use of CGI/makeup effects make this a winner for me.

Soylent Green (Richard Fleischer 1973) 4
Underrated dystopian sci-fi effectively depicts an over populated future society where the new food 'Soylent Green' is a valuable commodity with a dark secret. Relentlessly grim, but very believable film, is thoughtful, well photographed, has solid performances all round and a satisfying (if slightly predictable) final twist.

[ash_is_the_gal]

Waking Life

http://www.filmsnobs.com/www/pics/ethanandjulie.jpg

i have to say, i found 95% of the conversations a frightful bore. obviously it was pretentious, but if it had at least been interesting it wouldn't have been a complete waste of time. it wasn't a complete waste though, because i enjoyed watching the dream like state and looking for the minor details in the background. actually i eventually just started tuning out what people were saying and looking at everything else going on around him. i was tempted to just put it on mute, actually! but i didn't. 2.5 out of 5

Life is Beautiful

http://l.yimg.com/img.movies.yahoo.com/ymv/us/img/hv/allposters/51/1800088651p.jpg

its taken me ten years or something like that to watch this movie, and i wish i hadn't put it off for so long, because i really enjoyed it. a lot. 4 out of 5

[Iroquois]

Crank - 2.5

It was fun while it lasted, but on reflection it was pretty unremarkable.

[Golgot]

I've tabulated my errant opinions on a few recent flicks here (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=466709#post466709).

To be excruciatingly on topic, i'll extra-tabulate them here...

The Spy in Black
The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada
The Consequences of Love
Little Otik
Three Days of the Condor
Casino
Master & Commander

[undercoverlover]

The Women - 2/5

I was waiting to see this for a long time, great cast, good sounding premise etc. However, there were some big problems in the finished product. There seemed to be a lot of characters being sold short, form the look of the promo material and the theme of the movie you would have thought that the plot might include a GROUP of friends but in the end Debra Messing and Jada Pinkett Smith's characters were woefully underplayed. Sex and the city managed to flesh out believable relationships and storylines for four smart funny female characters even if you hadnt seen the show and this is where the women struggled. It wasnt able to make a smart funny believable relationship between 2 women let alone 4.

For an incredibly funny, talented cast this film was not even close to being considered a comedy. For the unwashed masses, there were some laughs but they were cheap, shallow and undeserving. I know the screenplay was written by a woman but it felt heavy handed as a man had written it along the lines of 'hahaha, this is what women do! They love shoes and buy lingerie!' Also there was a cheap shot at the original film which I personally didnt appreciate, Meg Ryan character says 'What is this some 1930's movies'. Again, 'hahaha, we made a joke about the original aren't we funny!' There was maybe one wholly funny scene and that was the birth scene, solely on the shoulders of Jada and Debra, finally they got a chance to be funny and they totally stole it.

The film had no real flow, the story could have been more interesting, not a lot actually seems to happen, emotional moments didnt always hit the mark and the pace was kinda sluggish.

[Justin]

Blindness (Meirelles, 2008) - 5 - I don't understand the hatred towards this film.

Iron Man (Favreau, 2008) - 3

In Bruges (McDonagh, 2008) - 4

Tell No One (Canet, 2008) - 2

[Mrs. Darcy]

Leatherheads 2

A mediocre romantic comedy trying to be snappy and tart like, It Happened One Night, but missing the mark. It wasn't unpleasant, just mostly forgettable.

[adidasss]

Hud - Martin Ritt (1963)

Most of the characters are too one dimensional to make this a particularly memorable film and Newman is a little over the top, but what stands out like a sore thumb here is the incredible performance by Patricia Neal who manages to steal every single scene she's in. I see on imdb that she won an Oscar for it (although for best actress in a leading role? Not sure if you could call that a leading role...:\). I'm gonna try and seek out some of her other films, she was absolutely mesmerizing (I'm not sure what it is with gay men and strong women but I find myself drawn to such characters much more than strong men...I hope it's not some Oedipal thingy http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc220/diezelpower/vruce-1.gif) - 3.5

A streetcar named Desire - Elia Kazan (1951)

I think I've already expressed my dislike of the theater some time or another, and seeing as how this is little more than a filmed play, naturally I didn't take to it that well. The only standout (and a big one naturally) was Brando. It was a treat to watch him absolutely destroy everyone else in it...Other than that...Vivien Leigh was kinda annoying. http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc220/diezelpower/shrug-1.gif - 3

Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind - Michel Gondry (2004)

I love this movie. This is only my second time seeing it but I suspect there'll be plenty more. It's one of the most beautiful stories ever written, heartbreaking and heartwarming, depressing and hopeful. It's like a Nabokov puzzle, each time you see it you notice something new. I know most film fanatics dream of maybe one day making a film of their own, but it's after seeing a film like this that I feel ashamed for even entertaining such a notion, and at the same time fee gratitude for having existed in the same time and on the same planet as such a genius as Kaufman. Incidentally, this is the only Gondry film I actually like, his dreamy visual style fitted the plot perfectly (plus, it doesn't have any of his damn childish humor). The casting was perfect, I can't say enough about Winslet and Carrey and Kirsten Dunst! Wasn't she great too? It all just... makes the gaping hole where my heart should be warm, very warm...http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc220/diezelpower/dreamy.gif - 5

[Pyro Tramp]

Gonna flick through the pile of discs piling up by the player and hope that's all them.

Atonement- was alright, first of all i thought the direction was really bland but picked up a bit later on. The shot of the beach seemed like an excuse to show off the budget and the ending was a bit swiz and bit too Titanic. Was sad by the end despite that, though. 3_5

The Thin Red Line- found the whole experience, which Malick films normally are, to be completely undermined by having a pop-up cast of every actor around. Ensembles are good but made the beautiful film seem like a who's who. 3_5

The Assassination of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford- title aside, mostly loved all this film, pure majestic cinema. When i watch it again, will undoubtedly make the top half of my list. 5

Harvey- very charming film with the ever watchable Jimmy Stewart, liked it a lot but have trouble connecting with older films unless they have a striking visual style. 4

Pee-Wee's Big Adventure- ha, what can i say, i loved it. I think. Not sure how far i can love it but did enjoy the heck out of it. Paul Reubens makes one of my all-time performances. A nice departure from the typical over-worked Burton style as well. Wasn't joking about including this in my list. 5

The Long Goodbye- nice reworking of noir genre, it's on my list, go there instead 5

Darjeeling Limited- ups and downs, i enjoyed it a lot until it seemed to slow down towards the end, which is always a killer in road movies. Ultimately not very memorable 3_5

Superbad- think loved it even more. 5

The Warriors- some badly dated or just bad editing but a fun ride if you're after a bit of kitsch 4

Mi:3- still the best in series but after Bourne isn't that great. 4

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas- probably wouldn't get a mention in my next list, one of Gilliam's weaker films but still fun t watch. 3_5

(bit of a Sean Bean binge last night)

Silent Hill- absolutely adore the set design and cinematography, would be one of my favourite films if it wasn't for the cutting away to 'outside' world as soon as it got intense. Noticed more ways it pays respect to the VG as well, this time. Definitely grown to love it a lot more since release. 4_5

The Hitcher- obviously a redundant film but has some good moments and Sean Bean does a fair job trying to live up to Hauer's superb job. Really like the chase scene as well. 3

Essex Boys- would be a good Brit crime film, Sean Bean is in one of his best roles as a vile gangster but sadly is cut out of screen time by an annoyingly wimpy lead. 3_5

Arrested Development- Season 1- prefer the following season more but still has the same perfect pitch of humour and character. 5

Bill Hicks: Revelations- the man's a genius. Would be the best comedian around today, considering his topic issues then and the world today. 5

L'Avventura- ok, not quite finished this one. Really wanted to like it and do to an extent, thus far. But just can't buy in to the new romance that blooms, at all. Maybe because it doesn't seem to bloom at all, just happen for sake of the story. rating n/a

[Used Future]

Zardoz (John Boorman 1974) 3.5
Incredibly weird futuristic sci-fi about exterminator Zed (Sean Connery) who infiltrates intellectual society of immortals living in self imposed exile. Visually stunning, metaphorically rich film is watchable, but ultimately pretentious and confusing. Still this was only my first viewing.

Midnight Run (Martin Brest 1988) 4
Entertaining buddy movie with De Niro's bounty hunter escorting Charles Grodin's embezzler to New York with the Mob and FBI hot on his heels. Great performances all round (particularly Grodin) witty dialogue, and a thoroughly satisfying ending make this a treat.

The Intruder (Roger Corman 1962) 4.5
Powerful film from Corman about right wing agitator (William Shatner) who stirs up hatred in southern town undergoing racial integration. Shockingly honest portrayal of bigotry and political manipulation, works as an informative history lesson as well as a tense thriller. Shatner is outstanding.

Le Samourai (Jean-Pierre Melville 1967) 4.5
Super stylish noir thriller has gangland assasin Jeff Costello (Alain Delon) fail to convince the police with an elaborate double alibi after he's spotted during a hit. Exciting film has sparse dialogue, and superb photography (the opening shot is fantastic) as Costello plays a desperate game of cat and mouse with his shadowy employers and the local police Superintendant. Influential stuff, I loved it.

[Powdered Water]

A couple from last week...

Salvage (Jeff & Josh Crook-2006) 2.5

Not bad for a really low budget horror flick, I've certainly seen worse.

Nim's Island (Jennifer Flackett-2008) 3

Nothing really remarkable or noteworthy here, other than it did have Jodie Foster in it and I just love me some Jodie Foster. Watching her running around with a suitcase full of Purel hand lotion and Progresso soup was pretty damn funny. I also have a soft spot for lighthearted family type movies and this one was pretty good for that.

Iron Man (Jon Favreau-2008) 4

I've already started seeing a whole mess of folks calling this movie over rated and stupid crap like that. This a good movie and its only slightly less of a flick than The Dark Knight. These are the kind of movies that me as a comic fan boy really want to see. Its also the kind of flick that someone who has never read or heard of Iron Man can most likely enjoy.

You want to see what a bad superhero movie looks like? Well, The Not so Incredible Hulk will be coming out on DVD this month... go watch that and then we'll talk.

[Lennon]

Hostage 3

Good enough action to keep me entertained. Character's do some really stupid things...

[Swedish Chef]

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll294/SwedishChef20/miamibluestz5.jpg

Miami Blues (George Armitage, 1990)

I hate myself for not having seen this movie a long, long time ago. Until I noticed HP mention it a few times on the site, I had never even heard of it. Fellow MoFo's, if you have not seen Miami Blues, I urge you to seek it out immediately. It will not disappoint.

The three lead performances are what really make the film. Alec Baldwin plays a character that does the craziest things with literally not a single shred of motivation and yet he pulls it off without missing a beat. Baldwin has been one of my favorite people for a while now and after his beyond-brilliant work on 30 Rock, I always get a kick out of seeing him pop up in stuff. But after this, I have, like a new level of respect for the dude. Fred Ward, who was on fire in the late 80's - early 90's, delivers the performance of his life in this movie. There's a scene where he eats dinner with Baldwin's character that is just about perfect. And Jennifer Jason Leigh reaffirms my belief that she is the finest American actress to work in at least the past 25 years. She never fails to bring something extra to a role and her dim hooker, Susie, in Miami Blues is no exception.

So, yeah, I loved the heck out of this movie. For such a whacked out, hilarious flick, it's got so much more going on. As an irreverent neo-noir, it's among the very best. And despite all the goofiness, there are real moments of emotion in this film and, even though they're important and gripping, they're an afterthought. If that makes sense? Anyway, Miami Blues had me from minute one. Pork chops, dentures, coin collections, hare krishnas and jars of tomato sauce? What's not to love?

"Don't worry, lady. I am going to call an ambulance now on the radio in my police car... Yeah."

5


http://www.tvguide.com/images/pgimg/louis-ck-shameless.jpg

Louis CK: Shameless (2007)

I don't watch a whole lot of comedy specials, but since I think of Louis CK as one of the funniest, most intelligent stand up comedians of our time, I decided to netflix this bad boy. Shameless isn't up to the man's greatest work, but it's still pee-your-pants, slap-your-knees funny. This guy seriously knows how to make people laugh for an hour. I wasn't a gigantic fan of CK's short lived HBO series, "Lucky Louie", becasue I think that is totally the wrong environment and format for him. CK was born to be on stage. He develops a unique rapport with his audience that never seems forced and he's just as comfortable talking about everything from bowel movements to the surprisingly relatable hatred he feels towards his own children. I don't know, comedy is so subjective, but this guy has always just clicked with me. I'd love to see him live one day but, until then, stuff like Shameless will have to do.

3.5


And here are all the other flicks I've watched of late...

Mona Lisa (1986) 5
Double Indemnity (1944) 3.5
Straw Dogs (1971) 4.5
Of Human Bondage (1946) 2.5
White Heat (1949) 2
Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1973) 3.5
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008) 3.5
Run, Fatboy, Run (2008) 2
Burn After Reading (2008) 3

[Swedish Chef]

Say, when this Movie Tab drops its 8,000th post, is it gonna be closed like the other one?

It's just 17 posts away.

[mark f]

So, Swedish, have you seen Last Exit to Brooklyn? I think that may well be Jennifer Jason Leigh's best performance. It's a truly disturbing film, but it's incredibly well-made, although none of it was filmed in the U.S.

http://www.sohoblues.com/solidgoldportraits/images/previews/preview14.jpg

[Ðèstîñy]

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll294/SwedishChef20/miamibluestz5.jpg

Miami Blues (George Armitage, 1990)

I hate myself for not having seen this movie a long, long time ago. Until I noticed HP mention it a few times on the site, I had never even heard of it.

Holden Pike! Holden Pike! Holden Pike! Blah, blah, blah . . . that's all I ever hear. I'm sure I've mentioned it just as many, if not more times than he has. I've even used it in my games. I've even posted it in the "What are you listening to?" thread. It's been a favorite of mine for forever. Man! Whatever! See if I care! :(

No one notices me.

[mark f]

Boom (Joseph Losey, 1968) 1

After Burton & Taylor made their two best flicks together (Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and The Taming of the Shrew), they team up with American expatriate Losey and Tennessee Williams to create a fiasco of the highest order. Why anyone could believe The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore would make a good film is beyond me, but this thing is totally ridiculous when it's not actually being totally boring, and that's just about all the time. I take it back; sorry I even mentioned it.

The Rookie (George O'Hanlon, 1959) 1

Does everybody know Peter Marshall from "Hollywood Squares"? If you didn't realize it, he's Joanne Dru's brother. Well, he teamed up with Tommy Noonan to make the fifth of the six movies they made together. Now, I will say that it has Julie Newmar, so that makes it worth watching, but otherwise, it's something which pretty much makes Plan 9 From Outer Space a good idea for a film.

RoboCop 2 (Irvin Kershner, 1990) 3.5

This one, although it's not quite up to the zinger heights of Verhoeven's original, has always been solid for me, which is why I resent IMDb's user's revisionist ratings. A 5.2? WTF? This flick crams plenty of satire, violence and oh yes, substance and emotion into the RoboCop world. This is no throwaway, cash-in sequel, but a full-blooded, ultra-violent and ultra-nasty followup to the original. It's definitely well into the spirit. Oh yeah, Frank Miller co-wrote the script, but so what, right?

Careful, He Might Hear You (Carl Schultz, 1983) 3.5

This is a beautifully-crafted and photographed (by John Seale) Australian flick which is crammed with emotionally-overpowering scenes. It's the story of a young boy who goes to live with his aunt after his mom dies. His other aunt believes that he should live with her, so there's a tug of war between the two sisters over caring for the son of their own dead sister. What makes the film above-average is the meticulous recreation of the boy's world and the complex emotional landscape which all the characters fall prey to. Let me say this: it's much better than you would ever expect, if you've never seen it.

Double Happiness (Mina Shum, 1994) 2.5

Sandra Oh gives a career-defining performance as a Chinese woman living in Canada, trying to follow her own star, but constantly thwarted by the old-school tendencies of her family. There are some sweet and effective scenes in the film, but too often, the film also seems afraid to rock the traditional boat and goes a bit nebulous in what it's trying to say. However, the last scene is a keeper.

Rain Man (Barry Levinson, 1988) 4

This flick still rates as one of the best films of its kind. It's obviously a precursor to Forrest Gump, but it makes no attempt to use any special effects. Dustin Hoffman is phenomenal, but for everyone who hates Tom Cruise (and you know who you are), this is the film you should watch to see what you hate about him literally transform into something you could like, or maybe even love. I realize that it's weird for me to discuss this film as some kind of lost movie, but if you haven't watched it (ever or lately), give it a shot. Entertainment, art and emotions will readily become available.

Small Faces (Gilles MacKinnon, 1996) 2.5

A gang warfare flick, set in Glasgow in the late '60s, is full of verisimiltude, but somehow never becomes as powerful as it should be. I pretty much cared about all the characters but something seemed a bit amiss for the power of the dramatics to totally kick in. Still, it's a well-made film which may click more with me next time.

Still of the Night (Robert Benton, 1982) 3

This is basically an Alfred Hitchcock "psychological flick" (say, Spellbound) crossed with a serious Woody Allen flick, but there are a few twists here. The Woody Allen film I feel to be the most suspenseful is Manhattan Murder Mystery and nobody goes to a shrink in that flick. Still of the Night has always been considered a failed thriller from Benton as a follow-up to his Oscar-winner Kramer vs. Kramer, but I have to tell you that this flick actually has at least four extended scenes of tremendous suspense. I mean the kind of scenes that Bava or Argento can direct on their best days. Of course, Hitch too, but this film has some truly weird and scary stuff in it, so I'd recommend it to people who enjoy those other directors I mentioned.

[Sleezy]

I Am Legend (Lawrence, 2007) 3

Honestly, I wasn't sure what to rate this. It's got a great ambience, and it's one of those rare genre types that can be pleasantly unpredictable. The plot wasn't particularly satisfying, but it wasn't rubbish either. What got me, though, was how taken I found myself with empty New York, and the droves of deer, lions, and other creatures roaming wild. There's a rewarding irony to it, I think. You can't tell me it's not refreshing - on some level, at least - to see a familiar world devoid of the dominance of cold architecture and self-imposed claustrophobia that accompanies any crowded, modern city. I mean, hunting deer in tall grass at the base of Times Square... besides rabid infected psychoids, that's a landscape I wouldn't mind being a part of. Or maybe I'm just a little too Tyler Durden these days.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v254/Sleezy/iAmLegend.jpg

[Ðèstîñy]

Still of the Night (Robert Benton, 1982) 3

This is basically an Alfred Hitchcock "psychological flick" (say, Spellbound) crossed with a serious Woody Allen flick, but there are a few twists here. The Woody Allen film I feel to be the most suspenseful is Manhattan Murder Mystery and nobody goes to a shrink in that flick. Still of the Night has always been considered a failed thriller from Benton as a follow-up to his Oscar-winner Kramer vs. Kramer, but I have to tell you that this flick actually has at least four extended scenes of tremendous suspense. I mean the kind of scenes that Bava or Argento can direct on their best days. Of course, Hitch too, but this film has some truly weird and scary stuff in it, so I'd recommend it to people who enjoy those other directors I mentioned.

I have always loved this film. It was one of my first bought, back in the day of VHS. I've watched it more times than I can count. I was honestly surprised that it isn't more popular than it is.

[Ðèstîñy]

I watched this a couple of nights ago . . .

The Last Man on Earth (1964)
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/516ODOm6QDL._SL500_AA240_.jpg

Starring Vincent Price, as Dr. Robert Morgan.

I have the DVD, but you can view it for free, here (http://www.archive.org/details/the-last-man-on-earth).

[Sedai]

I saw Iron Man a couple times over the weekend. Fun stuff!

Iron Man (Favreau, 2008) 4

Snatch (Ritchie, 2000) 3_5

[Sleezy]

Snatch (Ritchie, 2000) 3_5

I haven't seen Snatch in about four years.

Feel free to take that any way you like. :laugh:

[Iroquois]

Lethal Weapon - 3
Five Easy Pieces - 3
Human Traffic - 3.5

[Caitlyn]

Iron Man (2008) 4/5

[ash_is_the_gal]

Bully

i wasn't crazy about it.

[linespalsy]

i miss movies... just a little.

seen this recently and it was pretty awesome check it out if you have a high tolerance for cheesy acting/ridiculous plot:

The Naked Killer 4

[B-card]

The Lord of the Rings:The Fellowship of The Ring(Peter Jackson 2001)-4.5

[mark f]

Coffy (Jack Hill, 1973) 2

http://images.tribe.net/tribe/upload/photo/ea2/ac5/ea2ac515-564c-4659-9d37-994d17498b2e

Foxy Brown (Jack Hill, 1974) 2

http://bp2.blogger.com/_iPiucm0Qzo8/RZW8HW1euxI/AAAAAAAAAFs/ZYAPaJJA4sE/s400/foxy.jpg

I watched a blaxploitation double bill of Pam Grier movies last night while I was nursing a fever. Both films tell similar stories. Coffy and Foxy Brown are both basically vigilantes who go up against the drug dealers and pimps (both black and white) who take advantage of her Brothers and Sisters in Los Angeles. She turns the tables on them by pretending to get involved in their line of work, but eventually she's able to take down all of them, whether it's using a gun, a knife, her fists, her feet, her car, or most notably, her brains.

http://www.tobyspinks.com/images/movie_coffy.gif

These films came along just after Shaft and Superfly, but they're told from the female perspective. Even so, there's still plenty of female nudity and basic exploitation of both sexes in these flicks, which were written and directed by Jack Hill. Coffy is certainly the better film. It has sleeker photography and a more fluid sense of storytelling, plus the revenge seems to grow logically from the character and the plot. Foxy Brown comes across as more of a quick cash-in on Coffy with cheaper-looking photography and really jagged editing. Perhaps because of this, Foxy Brown comes across as more unpredictable and violent because with that crazy editing, nothing could be happening one second and the next one, somebody's head gets squished or a guy loses a private part...

http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/dynamic/imgs/040415/15578__05coffy_l.jpg

Trying to explain how I give them the same rating, I'll just say that although they're both cult films and worth watching for fans of the genre, in the grand scheme of things, neither of them is really all that good of a film. I'd rate Coffy on the high end of the rating and Foxy Brown on the low end.

[ash_is_the_gal]

http://www.sohoblues.com/solidgoldportraits/images/previews/preview14.jpg

christ, were they always that big?

[undercoverlover]

Waitress - never get tired of this

[mark f]

christ, were they always that big?

At first, before the image showed, I thought you were talking about Pam Grier. :cool: I think there's lifting involved in Tralala's outfit, but Jennifer Jason Leigh has been topless in plenty of movies, all the way from Fast Times at Ridgemont High to last year's Margot at the Wedding.