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Post by hitchcockthelegend on Mar 28, 2020 19:53:16 GMT
Hi all, stepping in as it's getting late and no Delon or Tele on site.
Please share with us your viewings this past week, any comments, pics, reviews and etc are most welcome and modern films are welcome in the spirit of good conversation.
Go!
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Post by hitchcockthelegend on Mar 28, 2020 20:44:09 GMT
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Post by wmcclain on Mar 28, 2020 20:58:29 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2020 21:16:10 GMT
Crime in the Streets-1956-John Cassavetes, Sal Mineo, James Whitmore Trying to save the leader of a street gang Other than 27 yr. old Cassavetes playing an 18 year old gang leader, not horrible with a good cast  Querelle-1982-Brad Davis, Franco Nero, Jeanne Moreau Fassbinder's last film based on a novel by Jean Genet Stepping stone for The New Queer Cinema  Jeff Beck-Still on the Run-Documentary 2018 If you're a fan it's a must see.  Alexander Nevsky-1938-Russia director- Sergei M. Eisenstein ("inventor" of the montage) Nice epic battle movie with a great soundtrack. The music was done before the movie and the movie was edited to the music.  Being Human-1994-Robin Williams, John Turturro Williams plays 5 different men thorough out history searching for answers. I've always liked this movie but would love to see a directors cut. Bill Forsyth was forced by the studios to cut out 40 minutes and to add narration throughout.  Tunes of Glory-1960-Alec Guinness, John Mills Character study and military tradition of a Scottish regiment post WWII. Get to see Alec Guinness with red hair!  Claudine-1974-Diahann Carroll, James Earl Jones Garbage man tries to get together with a single mother of 6. Watching Diahann Carroll for an hour and a half is never a bad thing.  Dogtooth-2009-director Yorgos Lanthimos Unusual story of a mother and father who have isolated their 3 kids from the world. Often funny but more often extremely disturbing satire  Marebito-2004-Japan-Shin'ya Tsukamoto directer-Takashi Shimizu why you shouldn't fall for a woman who lives in a Subterranean tunnel  Four Lions-2010-Will Adamsdale, Riz Ahmed Very dark comedy about 4 bumbling Brits who want to do their part for the jihad 
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Post by politicidal on Mar 28, 2020 21:24:32 GMT
Tropic Zone (1953) 6/10
Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985) 7/10
The White Orchid (1954) 4/10
With Honors (1994) 7/10
Mary, Queen of Scots (1971) 6/10
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Post by MrFurious on Mar 28, 2020 21:41:04 GMT
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom(18)(3D)  Venom(18)(3D) ZZ Top: That Little Ol' Band from Texas(19)(doc) Maradona(19)(doc) American Woman(18)  ^^^^^ |
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Post by OldAussie on Mar 28, 2020 21:45:54 GMT
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Post by Chalice_Of_Evil on Mar 28, 2020 22:41:45 GMT
The Purge (2013). Last Christmas (2019). The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Them (2014).
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Post by teleadm on Mar 29, 2020 0:36:17 GMT
You are doing a mighty fine job hitchcockthelegend Here are the movies that Tele watched last week:  Inspired by a thread by @opus I watched this James Stewart movie that I had never seen before. It's a rather odd movie with Jimmy as a former convict who does his best going straight after 30 years in jail and has a check worth 25.000 USD, and that was during the depression. He just want a new life starting anew with two mates (Strother Martin and Kurt Russell), to open a General Store. No matter how much Jimmy tries to go straight and move forward in life, no matter how much he tries, he keeps coming back to were he wanted to get away from. It's not one of the great movies, yet it has a kind of spirit that keeps one watching, since it seems like it want's to be slightly over the top. Worth watching, at least once (Anne Baxter's crazy clownish make-up is at least worth a glance). ![]()  Old fashioned murder mystery on the British countryside with huge mansions an fox hunts (it was 1963!), or did John Huston just created one big joke on my? The movie has a great style, but is too talky, and maybe don't make any sense considering the end. Jerry Goldsmith's music is wonderful, and old Clive Brook is a delight as an old Marquise.  I just wanted to watch a nice movie! Once started as a Gary Cooper project called "Big Daddy", but because of his later day health problems it was transformed into a Bing Crosby vehicle, and icon Bing is game sending up his image, even dancing in drag, plus he do show his age with wrinkles and all. Bing is a selfmade millionaire of smokehouses across the country, who suddenly want's a college degree, and to be treated as one of the youngsters. While Bing is a delight acting nearly his own age, fans of Tuesday Welsh and Fabian might be very disappointed since they appear very sparsely during the running time. Far from a great movie, but there is a few nice touches here and there,and Bing's final speech is very well written, in that never accept your age when trying something new Funny observation, all college student's are caucasians, no blacks in sight, but an exchange student from India is treated as an equal.  Clocking in beneath an hour, and not a bad little British murder mystery with a pre-Pussy Galore Honor Blackman. Merry upper class pair has dark secrets. New Zealand-born Ewen Solon makes a good Scotland Yard police interrogater. Low-budget but interesting.  aka The Devil's General. By the mid 1950's German (or West-Germany as it was called back then) had begun with a few steps making movies about their horrible Nazi past, and this is one of them, and making Curd Jurgens and international actor. Curd plays an elitist, thinking that because of his position thinks he can speak freely, he is much more a military general than agreeing with the Nazi's. His frivolous lifestyle ends when he said a few words too much. While it certainly is an interesting movie, based on a play, that is too obvious at some points. Watching a German movie were they talk a lot with subtitles, one ends up reading more subtitles than actually watching the movie.  Another movie I remember from my old Science Fiction movie books as a teen in the 1970s. While it is a Science Fiction movie it is also a detective story, since someone is sabotaging Americas first unmanned space rocket. Who is the murderer? call in special investigator Richard Egan. Everything is super-clean, and so was the restoration of this movie, very crisp and clear colours. The Gog and Mygog's computer robots, well they look very fragile to be very dangerous, and they wave their arms around hysterically for no reason what so ever. When a professor want to show them off as how intelligent they are, they just swing the arms around and finally at last manage to pull a button. I enjoyed it, taking it for what it is.  Catching up with movies with Gene Tierney who I realised have seen too few movies with. A British movie about how rumours can cost jobs. Gene is a wife of a Latin teacher who has a pupil that has a crush on him, has he noticed, has he taken advances, did he kill her? While there certainly is a mystery to be solved in this movie, it's more about revieling emotions and coming to terms with one's own identity. Gene plays and do it well the wife on the very edge of being hysterical, while Leo Genn once again impresses as the teacher who with very little gestures outacts most of the cast, with doing less is more. The normally lovely Glynis Johns was too old to play a 17y/o pupil.  Much better story than I thought it would have. Star actor gets a bump on his head during the London Blitz, loses memory, thinks he is the character of the play he has been a success with, trouble is he played a strangler who goes to Brighton to revenge who did him wrong... A capable cast keeps this moving on for it's 65 minutes or so, and as morbid as it may sound the strangles a very well staged.  Many years ago I on our old site asked a question, why is this movie forgotten while The Wizard of Oz 1939 continues to be a loved and beloved movie? (not exactly those words but that is how I remember it). Now I've seen the Blue Bird, and what a strange hybrid it is, with a Shirley Temple playing against type is repulsivly selfish and unpleasant for far too long in the story. Just like Oz it starts in black and white, changes during a dream, a fairy comes telling kids to search for the blue bird of happiness with the help of a light, who isn't very helpfull since she only suggests were to look, the past, in luxory, in woods, the future (nearly erotic with young people in togas), that doesn't make any sense since the movie doesen't create a feeling of magic like Oz did. Since I'm unfamilair with Maurice Maeterlinck's original story, I might have been too harsh. Sets, effects and Gale Sondergaard as a cat was good though. Well that was my week, and I hope in this trying times, that all is doing well as much as you can possibly do! Take care, be responsible and use common sense! |
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Post by mikef6 on Mar 29, 2020 0:38:28 GMT
Framed / Richard Wallace (1947). Columbia Pictures. Cinematography by Burnett Guffey. I have become interested recently with a 1940s character actress named Janis Carter. You probably don’t recognize the name. She appeared mostly in support of “B” films that are largely forgotten today and couldn’t distinguish herself from the many other pretty blonde starlets that over ran the studios. Except, that is, for a handful of noir and noir-ish crime films, of which “Framed” is one. I first noticed here several months ago in “Night Editor” as William Gargan’s ice pick wielding rich bitch extra-marital affair, maybe in the top 5 most blatantly evil film fatales. She is just as calculating and deadly in “Framed” but her character here is more capable of putting on a soft, caring front. When out-of-work mining engineer Mike Lambert (Glenn Ford) arrives in town in a runaway truck, getting himself in trouble with the law, waitress Paula Craig (Carter) quickly defends him and loans him money. Late that night, however, she meets her real love, married bank vice-president Steve Price (Barry Sullivan). They are planning a theft of a quarter of a mil from Price’s bank but need a fall guy so they get away with it. Paula thinks Mike may be that guy. The script takes us down a road as twisty as the one where a fatal accident is planned. Around the one hour mark, three enjoyable shocks hit us within a few minutes of each other. All three principles acquit themselves well but Janis Carter comes out looking the best. Edgar Buchanan also has an important role.   Glenn Ford’s White WA-Series truck hits Edgar Buchanan’s 1930 Ford Model A pickup.  The Midnight Story / Joseph Pevney (1957). Universal International Pictures. Cinematography by Russell Metty. In the pre-credit sequence, we see a priest walking through a dark alley. A voice calls his name, then, in shadow, he is stabbed to death. This was Father Tomasino, a hero to rookie cop Joe Martini (Tony Curtis) who had grown up in an orphanage. He wants to help with the investigation but the seasoned homicide cops won’t consider using a greenhorn. At Father Tomasino’s funeral, Martini notices a man, Sylvio Malatesta (Gilbert Roland), in a very disturbed state. Resigning from his job, Martini tries to get close to Malatesta to find out whether or not Sylvio is racked with guilt. He does too good a job of it. Malatesta makes Martini part of his family. Martini even falls in love with Slyvio’s niece Anna (Marisa Pavan). In this cat-and-mouse game between the two men, it is Gilbert Roland who really drives the movie in an excellent performance. Although not Italian (but at least from a Latin language speaking heritage – Tony Curtis’ immigrant background is Eastern Europe), Roland gives a vivid albeit somewhat stereotypical, performance as an outgoing, life-affirming Italian-American. Your feelings about Malatesta’s guilt or innocence will fluctuate by the minute. A recommended film.   Macbeth: Folger Shakespeare Library Edition / Teller and Aaron Posner (2009). To help with self distancing, the Folger Library offers this performance from its theater either on the Folger website or YouTube. The stage action is co-directed by Teller (of Penn and Teller) with great psychological insight, a deep knowledge of the text, some dark violent humor, and, of course, magic – in the early scene where the Weird Sisters make their first predictions, Macbeth and Banquo try to restrain one of them from leaving. After a struggle, Macbeth thrusts a sword into the witch, its blade coming out her back, but suddenly the two men are holding an empty robe, an illusion no doubt elementary for Teller. This production emphasizes how reluctant Macbeth is to carry out the assassination but is goaded on by Lady Macbeth, but later, it is he who becomes mentally and emotionally unbalanced and violent. There are no “names” in the cast, just some excellent American actors who know how to speak the speech in clear, understandable North American accented English and with modern acting…uh…methods. For the record, Macbeth is played by Ian Merrill Peakes and Lady Macbeth by Kate Eastwood Norris. Both wonderful. This video will be available until June 1 and is highly recommended.  
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Post by mikef6 on Mar 29, 2020 1:21:42 GMT
hitchcockthelegend The Sniper. Violence comes suddenly and explicitly (an example of the Production Code slipping?). Adolph Menjou (clean shaven without his familiar mustache) is the police detective on the killer’s trail and Richard Kiley is a psychiatrist who helps with a psychological profile – something new in law enforcement and movies. As the pressure mounts on the authorities, there is a nice scene that shows the pettiness of local government influence. Commando. Swarzenegger: “A man I’ve known for 10 years wants me dead.” Rae Dawn Chong: “Understandable. I’ve known you 10 minutes and I want you dead.” (Or something like that.) One of Arnie’s most popular films full of his patented one-liners (sometimes as in the quote above he let’s someone else have a good one). The violence is, indeed, gruesome and I sometimes felt bad about being so entertained. But I got over it. Zodiac. I’ve never felt any love for a David Fincher film. Hey, I’m a rebel. He knows how to make people feel bad. He can put a “feel bad” sequence on the screen (e.g. the knifing by the lake) like no one else in the business. He slams the audience with three of these in the early going of “Zodiac” before switching to Mark Ruffalo doing a Columbo impression as a police detective. Later, the story again switches focus to Jake Gyllenhaal as an editorial cartoonist who becomes obsessed with the Zodiac killings. I figure I must for some reason be outside of the target audience that Fincher wants to reach because not a one of his movies has reached me yet.
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Post by mikef6 on Mar 29, 2020 1:36:22 GMT
@opus
Crime In The Streets. One of the better of the “juvenile delinquency” exploitation films that came out of the ‘50s. These low-budget, black&white exploitation films with bad actors and blaring trumpet music flooded the market for a time. MST3K riffed a couple of these movies but even Joel and the ‘Bots could not make this stuff watchable. There were very few of these titles that crossed over into mainstream popularity, e.g. “The Blackboard Jungle” (1955). So I was surprised at how good “Crime In The Streets” was, credit to some great actors (mainly Cassavetes, Virginia Gregg as Cassavetes’ mother, James Whitmore and director Don Siegel. The guy in the picture between Cassavetes and Sal Mineo is future film director Mark Rydell (On Golden Pond). Approaching the climax, Whitmore gives a speech outlining a simplistic view of the cause of juvenile delinquency but this is minor because the ending is so life-changing for everyone.
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Post by mikef6 on Mar 29, 2020 1:48:07 GMT
teleadm Account Rendered. I called this “efficient light entertainment.” It doesn’t waste a word or scene. Good mystery. I am very interested in adding Personal Affair and The Brighton Strangler to my film noir collection. High Time. Saw this quite a few years ago and don’t remember much about it except Bing’s final speech which was well written, indeed.
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Post by morrisondylanfan on Mar 29, 2020 3:40:10 GMT
Macbeth: Folger Shakespeare Library Edition / Teller and Aaron Posner (2009). To help with self distancing, the Folger Library offers this performance from its theater either on the Folger website or YouTube. The stage action is co-directed by Teller (of Penn and Teller) with great psychological insight, a deep knowledge of the text, some dark violent humor, and, of course, magic – in the early scene where the Weird Sisters make their first predictions, Macbeth and Banquo try to restrain one of them from leaving. After a struggle, Macbeth thrusts a sword into the witch, its blade coming out her back, but suddenly the two men are holding an empty robe, an illusion no doubt elementary for Teller. This production emphasizes how reluctant Macbeth is to carry out the assassination but is goaded on by Lady Macbeth, but later, it is he who becomes mentally and emotionally unbalanced and violent. There are no “names” in the cast, just some excellent American actors who know how to speak the speech in clear, understandable North American accented English and with modern acting…uh…methods. For the record, Macbeth is played by Ian Merrill Peakes and Lady Macbeth by Kate Eastwood Norris. Both wonderful. This video will be available until June 1 and is highly recommended. Thanks for the terrific Macbeth: Folger Shakespeare Library Edition review Mike. Did you know that NT will be steaming some of their shows for free soon? www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/nt-at-home
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Post by mikef6 on Mar 29, 2020 3:44:10 GMT
Thanks for the terrific Macbeth: Folger Shakespeare Library Edition review Mike. Did you know that NT will be steaming some of their shows for free soon? www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/nt-at-home Thanks for the tip on the National Theatre. I'll be checking it out.
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Post by morrisondylanfan on Mar 29, 2020 3:56:15 GMT
 8/10
I hope you are having a good weekend Bell,and how did you find JPM's feature film debut to be? From when I saw it in Aug 2016. 9. "It pains me to offend anyone,even if he is my enemy." Saying just a handful of words over 90 minutes,the alluring Nicole Stéphane gives an incredible performance as the niece, drawing in the most subtle change of facial and body language,from looking down at the floor like a statue,to longing close-ups letting Stéphane crack the ice from the niece's eyes. Bringing attention to detail in his smoke- hued performance, Jean-Marie Robain gives a haunting performance as the uncle,whose low shoulders and endless pipe smoking gives the uncle an unassuming appearance,which Robain cleverly uses to give the uncle's pragmatic mind-set a left-field mood. Holding his head high on the first night in the house, Howard Vernon gives a delicate performance as Ebrennac,whose Nazi uniform Vernon peels away to reveal the thoughtful,considerate man hidden under the beast. Made when feelings on the Occupation were still raw, Jean-Pierre Melville's adaptation of "Vercors" (real name Jean Bruller,who based the story on real events) underground short story delivers a message of understanding the individual,but finely not understanding/reasoning with the enemy. Sitting in silence, Melville takes advantage of the situation by giving the uncle a poetic narration expressing how deep his understanding of Ebrennac goes,and giving Ebrennac a blank canvas,which gets painted with the discovery that all of his optimistic beliefs are fatally wrong. Unafraid to open up feelings on the Occupation, Melville presents the uncle and nieces rebellion in a detached, passive manner,with neither of them looking outside the window for a Hollywood (in terms of heroics) resistance. Going French New Wave almost a decade before the movement existed, Melville went in an indie mode made visible by two non-union cinematographers quitting over his style,the production taking a year due to Melville's cash limits,and most of the movie being shot at Vercors own house. Largely keeping the screen limited to the three in the house, Melville breaks the theatrical trappings of the real location with deep,rich shadows and charcoal (natural) low- lighting casting a ghostly atmosphere over the title. Making his debut, Melville displays signs of the auteur vision that was to arrive with beautiful close-ups capturing the moment when the restrained emotion silently pours out.
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Post by morrisondylanfan on Mar 29, 2020 4:39:32 GMT
Hi all,I hope everyone is having a good weekend. March the 11th was the first anniversary of Guy's passing. One thing he always used to jokingly say was "You've watched every French New Wave film,but have not seen Rocky!" As a tribute on the 11th,I finally caught Rocky.  Rocky (1976) 10. Never having seen a boxing match or boxing film before entering a ring he would return to for the later underdog Sports title The Karate Kid (1984), director John G. Avildsen & his regular cinematographer James Crabe land killer combos, from the left hand long takes hitting a gritty indie atmosphere strike, by the wide-shots being held on Rocky building mutual respect between himself and trainer Mickey,and rolling to the cute awkward romance with Adrian. Backed by a hero pose score from Bill Conti, Avildsen pairs the indie left hits with killer knockout right hand thrills, rolling with the punches in early use of Stedicam breathing in the Philadelphia air, and handing out body blows in tightly held panning hits across the in-ring action. Famously writing the first draft in 3 days whilst penniless, the screenplay by Sylvester Stallone strongly leans towards the autobiographical, but refreshingly avoids tipping into indulgence, thanks to the working class sincerity Sly holds Rocky in, capturing a warm roughness in his clashes with trainer Mickey and the slow-burn romance of Adrian. Working up from his roots, Sly punches up with delightful wish fulfillment of local hero Rocky grabbing the chance to enter the spotlight against mega-star Creed. Having the flu whilst filming,Talia Shire wonderfully works this into her performance as Adrian,with Shire concerned she might give Sly her flu, leading to sweet nervous excitement over falling in love with Rocky. On one side having Burgess Meredith barking orders as Mickey,and on the other having Carl Weathers's slick cool Creed, Sly gives a excellent performance, pulling at the determined underdog heart of Rocky. Cinema duo:  The Hunt (2020) 6 Seeing the film finally come out,and a friend having a Odeon Unlimited card, we went on what I suspected would be the last visit to the cinema for ages. In the middle of the film,my friend got a news alert, of Boris Johnson announcing pubs and cinemas to be closed. Aiming for the first target with the opening of a Mystery Box, (which Lost any curiosity value over a decade ago) the screenplay by Nick Cuse & inept hack Damon Lindelof lay on the clunky political commentary with the same trowel Lindelof's co-writer fellow hack Roberto Orci slapped Truther conspires on Star Trek: Truther Into Darkness (2013-also reviewed.) Instead of drawing even a basic thumbnail sketch for each of the strangers,the hacks give them Identity Kits, awkwardly forced dialogue of being guns and Trump-loving hicks (who don't talk about fear of what they are caught in,or mentioning family/friends they miss.) It is a testament to Richard Connell's creativity, that his 1924 creation of The Most Dangerous Game is now a archetype that can withstand a riff from any hacks, with the hunting thrills being able to overcome the dialogue,in deep-fried Crystal having to deduct who is a real fellow Deplorable,and who is a Liberal Elite hidden under the cap. Taking place in Manor House, the writers keep just on the right side of not leaning too hard into their links into Orwell's Animal Farm, until a final twist slickly uses it to twist a misconception of Crystal. The first movie he's made since 2015's Z for Zachariah,director Craig Zobel & cinematographer Darran Tiernan place down snappy, gory traps that crackle with a darkly comedic mood,from Zobel zapping along to the aftermath of Deplorable's being caught in a trap.Whilst the writers miss the target, Zobel hits the satire by going over the top on the beer-swilling, cap-wearing Deplorable's fighting to survive against the pristine Liberal Elite on the hunt.  Military Wives (2019) 6 Attempting to go back to the working class Comedy roots of The Full Monty in his first film for 11 years, director Peter Cattaneo plays a gentle Comedy atmosphere with cinematographer Hubert Taczanowski skipping over visual gag notes, in favour of swift group panning shots catching the funny looks of disagreement on each choir member as they try to choose a tune to perform. Playing clips of TV reports of the War on Terror in the background, the screenplay by Rosanne Flynn & Rachel Tunnard attempts to link their partners being away to the drama that the wives face in the choir, but leave it feeling like a bolt-on, due to how little is offered in establishing the kind of relationships they had, and a lacking in expressing any of the wives having a real longing for their partner to return. At odds in hitting the same note in joyful choir song performances, Kristin Scott Thomas (KST) and Sharon Horgan give delightful performances as Kate and Lisa. In a tug of war over what songs they sing, Horgan gives Lisa a feisty edge, who respects the loyal bond of the choir members, whilst determined to make her voice heard. Leading the choir, KST flourishes in funny facial frustrations in Kate's disengagements with Lisa, which gets folding into a passion to march with her fellow military wives. Other flicks:  Betty Blue (1986) 9 Thrusting towards Zorg and Betty's embrace in the opening shot, writer/directing auteur Jean-Jacques Beineix & cinematographer Jean-Francois Robin build upon the Cinéma Du Look stylisation Beineix had brushed with on Diva (1981),by drawing it towards a thoughtful, melancholy tone, dripping in mellow yellow swirling round Betty and Zorg's romance with dabs of blue, which increasingly becomes colder and the dominating colour, as Betty's outlook turns blue. Laying the foundation fellow Cinéma Du Look auteur Leos Carax would build on for his epic The Lovers on the Bridge, (1991-also reviewed) Beineix paints a sprawling romance atmosphere. Framing the rough-edged,troubled alienated youth (a major theme of the movement) of Betty and Zorg, Beineix closes in on the couple in long gliding panning shots, stopping on Betty and Zorg being naked, both physically and mentally. Making her screen debut entwined with Zorg (played with a wonderful brittleness by Jean-Hugues Anglade) Beatrice Dalle gives a hypnotic performance, thanks to the erotic sensuality she initial displays being chipped away gradually by Dalle across the 3 hours until her sanity is left strapped to the bed,and Betty feels kind of blue.  Project X (1968) 7 Whilst the print has the odd spot of dirt, 101 Films present a shiny transfer of a clean soundtrack and a bright image with visible film grain, backed by fantastic extras,including a commentary by The Dark Side/Infinity editor Allan Bryce,and journalist David Flint. The second to last flick he would direct, (the final would be years later with Shanks (1974) ) director William Castle & Harold E. Stine project a gloriously psychedelic atmosphere of Arnold's memories across the screen in brash overlapping distorted images. Despite it sadly not getting a mention in his autobiography, Castle brings out a refreshingly kitsch stylisation to this Euro Spy-style action and Sci-Fi quirks mash-up. Teaming up with Hanna-Barbera, Castle paints their animation over Arnold's (a wonderfully chewy Christopher George) splintered spying memories, melting into clunky laser guns and Sci-Fi babe short skirts. Following Castle in this also being his second to last script credit, (his final was a ep of Medical Center,which like Castle was also in 1974!) the screenplay by Edmund Morris nimbly criss-crosses adapting Leslie P. Davies's novels into one slick tale, thanks to Morris joining scientists attempts to unlock Arnold's hidden memory with a swift con trick convincing Arnold he's a gangster in 1968,as the scientists mark their project with a x.
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Post by Lebowskidoo 🦞 on Mar 29, 2020 12:59:36 GMT
White Fire (1953) a.k.a. Three Steps To the Gallows Fast-paced noir film (it's a mere 1 hour and 21 minutes long) set in London about a guy looking for his brother. The man is square-jawed and the dame is gorgeous. Nice time killer. Saw it with the title White Fire, not sure which one it is better known by. The Woman in the Window (1944)  Beautifully made noir, all the engines are just a-chuggin' along nicely the whole way through...and then that ending! Not what I expected or wanted, however, the movie is so good that it doesn't completely ruin it. Scarlet Street (1945)  Joan Bennett is the greedy floozy and Dan Duryea is her scam artist boyfriend, and together they take advantage of poor kind-hearted Edward G. Robinson. This is a great little noir, I had heard it was good and it is. Many twists and turns keep it interesting, plus the cast is really going for it too. A good example of film noir at its finest. Caged Heat (1974)  Famous grindhouse trash from the 70's, not nearly as sleazy as I would have assumed. Directed by Jonathan Demme, looks like it may have been a fun movie to work on though. Footloose (1984)  It was here that I dove into a Kevin Bacon rabbit hole for the rest of the week. Enjoyed rewatching this a lot. The music is still great and used to good affect. The actors are all well cast in their roles. The late great Chris Penn is so endearing as a farm boy who can't dance!  That stunt between the two cars and the domestic violence between a boy and his girlfriend are pretty shocking now still, just like they were then.  Ultimately, it's a great feelgood movie with good tunes. If you don't love that ending at the dance, then you may just be dead inside. Just don't wonder how they all learned how to dance in unison so quickly. Much less cringey than a lot of 80's movies with similar themes. National Lampoon's Animal House (1978)  "Seven years of college down the drain!"  The blueprint for every college sex comedy that followed in the 80's. Beyond clever, but seems like the other 10,000 copycats that came after, so it kinda dims the charm, but just a little. Belushi is hilarious, that's not just hype talking, he's never been funnier. His character is used sparingly, and pretty much all of his best stuff was improvised. It's a beautiful showcase for his talent. Glad I rewatched this, made me chuckle more than once. For some reason I always assumed it was directed by Ivan Reitman, but it was John Landis. Diner (1982)  "If you want to talk, you always have the guys at the diner." A nostalgic look back at six young guys who hang out at a local diner and discuss everything and more. Hilarious and fun. Everyone is so babyfaced and by now famous with lots of other roles under their belts. Ellen Barkin is perfect in her role as Shrevie's wife who is way down the list of priorities for him. Speaking of Shrevie, is it wrong that I related way too much to his record filing system?  Love Barry Levinson movies! He hasn't failed me yet! Forty Deuce (1982)  Rapid-fire foul language delivered by every character non-stop. The poor actors almost never got a chance to catch their breath. Every swear word you've ever heard of, and maybe a few you haven't, is represented here. A real earful! It's a tale of NYC street hustlers, and it's sleazy, but it's all in the language used and not anything else. It's based on a stage play, and it sure seems like it. I watched it for Kevin Bacon, but it's anything but dull, it just seems too stagey at certain points. Available on YouTube for free if anyone is interested. The Air Up There (1994)  Fine but forgettable formulaic film. Say that five times fast!  The Air I Breathe (2007)  Andy Garcia gets super angry several times and other stuff happens too. Not a lot of laughs, a bit grim. Perhaps I just wasn't in the mood for such a movie, on paper it sounded intriguing but I was not invested. Rails & Ties (2007)  Quiet and moving drama, quite depressing but worthwhile. The performances by Kevin Bacon, Marcia Gay Harden and a young Miles Heizer are all outstanding and elevate this to another level beyond most movies attempting such heights. Yes, I'm talking about you, The Air I Breathe (2007). Elephant White (2011)  A hired assassin get mixed up with white slave traders and Kevin Bacon's British accent in Thailand. It's an okay action movie, nothing really stands out other than Bacon's attempt at sounding British...mostly Michael Caine meets Guy Ritchie, not the worst I've heard. Enormous Changes At the Last Minute (1983)  Three stories centered on three different characters, all of them connected. Watched this as part of my Isolation Baconfest 2020, my own private Kevin Bacon filmfest designed to entertain me and to see all the movies on his filmography that I'd never seen. This was much better than I assumed it was going to be. It looks low budget, and it is, but I enjoyed following these characters around and seeing how they live. Very character driven. Reunites Bacon and Ellen Barkin who were in Diner together a year earlier. Digging To China (1997)  Kevin Bacon is very good as a mentally disabled man who befriends ten year old Harriet, played by Evan Rachel Wood, long before she became a killer robot.  Very sweet relationship between the two leads, and fine direction from Timothy Hutton. It's a little bland sometimes but still worth watching. Jayne Mansfield's Car (2012)  Two families, one from Alabama, the other from England, come together for a funeral and mix and clash in the most interesting ways. Written by, directed by and starring Billy Bob Thornton. Maybe a bit too long and with too many things going on all at once, but this cast and this story keep you invested throughout. Then there's this spiel from Ron White as Neal Baron, which had me roaring: "Boy, it's a shame about her movin' on. She's in a better place now. Better than England anyway, from what I know of it. I'm just f**king with you, son. But not really. God damn, it's miserable over there. I went over there once on business and, God damn, I don't see how y'all do it. You can't get so much as one good meal over there. They wouldn't know a grill if one bit 'em on the ass. And musty? God damn, cold sh*tty. Boil everything. They'd boil a goddamn Clark Bar!" I didn't think the food in England was all bad, but the beer is definitely better!  Cavedweller (2004)  Sort of like a non-comedy version of Ricki and the Flash (2015). You have physical abuse, cancer and family resentments galore. Hard to wring the laughs out of all that. Not bad as a drama though. Kyra Sedgwick (Mrs. Kevin Bacon) and Aidan Quinn fans will be happy. They have some great scenes together. Kevin Bacon fans may be let down though, he has only a small supporting role here. Beauty Shop (2005)  Very entertaining and fun Barbershop (2002) spinoff that is just as good, maybe even better. You will see all the plot points coming a mile off, but still good when they do arrive. The cast is overflowing with talent, some unknown then but huge stars now. Barbershop: The Next Cut (2016)  A sequel that tries to address a current problem in Chicago, violence. Interesting and admirable, but not a lot of laughs. Instead, it wants to inspire change. Honestly, my favorite part was the rap duet over the closing credits, Real People, performed by two titans of rap, Ice Cube and Common. Have a great movie week everyone!  
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Post by hitchcockthelegend on Mar 29, 2020 14:31:31 GMT
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Post by claudius on Mar 29, 2020 14:38:14 GMT
Handling the quarantine anyone? I was ordered to stay home for four work days (I don’t got it BTW) from the 18th to the 23rd.
BRATS (1930) 90TH ANNIVERSARY Laurel and Hardy try to have a game of checkers, but are constantly distracted by the antics of their sons, played by Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy on oversized sets. This is the original print without 1937 rescoring.
GANKUTUSOU – THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO (2005) “Edmond Dantes” 15TH ANNIVERSARY & CoMC 175TH ANNIVERSARY The climax, as Albert, his father Mondego, the Count/Edmond, and Gankutusou have their final reckoning. Geneon DVD
DAVID COPPERFIELD (1974) “Episode Four” COPPERFIELD 170TH ANNIVERSARY Koch DVD
PORKY’S REVENGE (1985) 35TH ANNIVERSARY Second final sequel to the PORKY’S series, as the gang have one final reckoning with the title character before graduation. Of the three films, this is the one I recall the most in my childhood, especially Dave Edmunds “High School Nights” CBS Fox Video VHS
ELEANOR AND FRANKLIN (1976) “Part 1” TV-Film Biography of Eleanor Roosevelt (Jane Alexander); at the death of her husband (Edward Herrmann in his first performance as FDR) she reminisces from her troubled childhood to her courtship and wedding to FDR despite the meddling of her mother-in-law (Rosemary Murphy). First saw this as a Christmas present in 1994. HBO Video VHS.
ROBIN OF SHERWOOD (1985) “Lord of the Trees” 35TH ANNIVERSARY. Acorn Media DVD.
I LOVE THE 80’S STRIKES BACK (2003) “1982”, “1983” 2003 VHS Recording.
METROPOLITAN (1990) 30TH ANNIVERSARY. Walt Stilman’s comedy of a club of Upper Class kids discussing their thoughts about their declining existence during Christmas week. First saw this on one of the Movie Channels back in the late 1990s. Took enough interest in buying a used VHS in 2004 and later this Criterion BluRay.
MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 (1991) “Master Ninja 1” Joel and the Bots handle a ‘film’ compiled of the first two episodes of the short-lived TV series THE MASTER. First saw this on the day before Thanksgiving, as part of its Turkey Day Marathon. Bootleg DVD.
ROCKY AND HIS FRIENDS (1960) “Rocket Fuel Formula Part 37 & 38” 60TH ANNIVERSARY Sony Wonder DVD.
MOBILE FIGHTER G GUNDAM (1995) “SOS: The Gundam Federation’s Rescue” 25TH ANNIVERSARY Bandai DVD.
THE CARE BEARS MOVIE (1985) 35TH ANNIVERSARY The first feature of the Care Bears franchise set the tone for several things. The first version in their Nelvana animated form (although the following first series will be Japanese Animation). The first appearance of the Care Bear Cousins. The establishment of voice characterizations of Dan Hennessey’s Braveheart Lion, Bob Dermer’s Grumpy Bear, Jim Henshaw’s Bright-Heart Raccoon, and Billie Richards’ Tenderheart Bear (although the latter two will switch voices once Nelvana does the series). I first saw this in theaters, with a double bill with STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE AND THE BERRYKINS, Nelvana’s final cartoon on that franchise. The scene of the Evil Spirit revealing her true dark colors was major Nightmare Fuel for me. Subsequent airings on television had me deliberately missing the first half (it caused quite a situation when my first grade elementary class showed the movie). Nevertheless, I always had a fondness for this film and its Carole Bayer song “Care-A-Lot.” Vestron VHS
MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 (1991) “Gamera VS Guiron.” The fourth Gamera film, the first to introduce the theme song, with a soundtrack by DRAGON BALL Maestro Shunsuke Kikuchi. This is my favorite of the MST3K Gamera films (they did four) with Joel & the Bots casting quips on the mangled English translation (with its emphasis on Traffic Accidents being top place among the world’s evil) and one of the (caucasian) child leads’ resemblance to Richard Burton, leading to a memorable sketch as the gang do an impromptu tribute on the actor, re-eanacting (with pouring of alcohol) scenes from WHO’S AFRAID OF GAMERA TURTLE?, Lerner and Loewe’s GAMERA (“I Wonder If the King is Drinking Tonight?”) and THE FALL GUY. I first saw this as part of Comedy Central’s Turkey Day Marathon on Thanksgiving Day 1992. VHS of a Bootleg DVD.
DADDY LONG LEGS (1990) 30TH ANNIVERSARY Bootleg DVD.
THE 57TH ACADEMY AWARDS (1985) 35TH ANNIVERSARY The ceremony for the films of 1984-85, with AMADEUS sweeping away most of the awards, with the exception of Sally Fields’ Oscar for PLACES FROM THE HEART (“You Like Me! You Like Me!”). James Stewart gets an honorary Oscar (presented by Cary Grant in one of his last appearances). The music numbers range from the good (Debbie Allen singing & dancing “Footloose”) to bad (Dom DeLuise rescuing Ray Parker Jr. for “Ghostbusters”; Ann Reinking’s “Against All Odds”). Commercials include Cliff Robertson AT& T promos, and promos for short-lived shows like OFF THE RACK, MAGCRUDER AND LOUD, and EYE TO EYE. This is a VHS recording copied from a VHS recording my Uncle possessed.
HOLLYWOOD (1980) "Star Treatment" 40TH ANNIVERSARY It is the end of the road for the Silent Era, as sound is coming. The episode focuses on the two stars most affected: Clara Bow and John Gilbert. Act One covers (with interviews by Louise Brooks) Bow’s rise from humble beginnings, and her success for being the “It” Girl (which ironically ostracized her from the Hollywood elite), and her problems with gambling and Sound. Act Two focuses on John Gilbert by his ex-wife Leatrice Joy (who just blushes over her affection for the man), and their daughter Leatrice Fountain. I believe this was the first attempt to vindicate Gilbert’s career, stressing other factors in his fall instead of the quality of his voice. HBO Video VHS
THE ROSE OF VERSAILLIES (1980) “Adieu, My Youth…” 40TH ANNIVERSARY The machinations of Jeanne come to an explosive end, while her adopted sister Rosalie makes a departure. The Right Stuf DVD
THE DAY CHRIST DIED (1980) 40TH ANNIVERSARY TV-film on the last 24-hours before Jesus (played by Chris Sarandon) gets nailed, focusing on the political and religious factions- Pontius Pilate (Keith Michell) trying to find a way to peacefully release rebel Barabbas while the High Priest Caiaphas (Colin Blakeley who played Jesus in Dennis Potter’s TV-play SON OF MAN) seek out to arrest Jesus. Screenplay by James Lee Barrett who helped write THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD (I believe the ‘Nicodemus decrying Caiaphas’ Kangaroo Court’ scene in both films is his idea). First saw this on the USA Network on the early hours of Christmas 1992. I remember being unable to sleep and then breaking tradition by going downstairs to see my presents early. I can recall reading my major gift, that year’s edition of LEONARD MALTIN’S FILM AND TV GUIDE, while watching this film. This is a VHS recording of a Fox Movie Channel Broadcast in 2003.
NARUTO SHIPPUDEN (2013-2017) I saw the following:
“Hidden Leaf Story: The Perfect Day for a Wedding Part 5- The Last Mission,” “Part 6 The Outcome of the Mission” & “Part 7: The Wedding.” The conclusion of NARUTO SHIPPUDEN with Naruto and Hinata getting married. The epilogue shows Naruto giving his headband to his son Boruto.
“The Mizukage, the Giant Clam, and the Mirage.”
“Power Part 1-6” This filler storyline, was originally a movie but was transplanted into a six-part Arc for the TV Series. Viz Media DVD.
MIDNIGHT MADNESS (1980) 40TH ANNIVERSARY. Disney’s attempt to do a teen sex comedy has five groups (Middle class, Rich, Jocks, Feminist, and Nerds) going through a series of sights, games, and puzzles to prove their superiority in the campus. Starring Stephen Furst, David Naughton, Eddie Deezen, and in his film debut Michael J. Fox. I remember this one in my childhood back in the early days of HBO. Buena Vista VHS.
DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE (1920) 100TH ANNIVERSARY Robert Louis Stevenson’s split-personality tale had been filmed several times between 1908 (beating Edison’s FRANKENSTEIN by two-years as the first horror film) and 1920 until the first major version by John Barrymore came out 100 years ago this day. This version, while taking some cues from Stevenson (stepping on the child, the murder of Carew, Jekyll’s desperate but futile attempts to find the materials to duplicate the formula, his suicide), also established the plotline of the ‘bad girl’ that sets Jekyll to his dark side and making Carew the father of his ‘good’ girl love interest, both elements will be used for the 1931 and 1941 versions. I remember reading of this version since 1989, and its old-wives tale about Barrymore not using make-up for the transformation (well, he does a convincing beginning until the made-up close-up). I would not see the film until the Nostalgia Network’s airing in Winter 1994. This is the Kino DVD version.
I also saw parts of:
COUNTDOWN (1968) TCM Broadcast.
THE GREAT BUSTER (2019) Cohen BluRay.
CAMELOT (1982) Acorn Media DVD.
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