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Post by wmcclain on Jun 12, 2021 15:07:39 GMT
Your comments/ratings/recommendations/film posters are welcome and much appreciated! The title says "classics" but we are always interested to know what classic film lovers have been watching, whatever the material.
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Post by wmcclain on Jun 12, 2021 15:35:31 GMT
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Post by politicidal on Jun 12, 2021 15:50:14 GMT
Repeat viewings:
Tony Rome (1967) 7/10
Harlan County, U.S.A. (1976) 8/10
First viewings:
The Velvet Touch (1948) 8/10
40 Guns to Apache Pass (1967) 5/10
Many Rivers to Cross (1955) 7/10
The Little Things (2021) 4/10
Agatha and the Truth of Murder (2018) 6/10
Agatha and the Curse of Isis (2019) 5/10
Agatha and the Midnight Murders (2020) 4/10
High School Confidential (1958) 7/10
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Post by teleadm on Jun 12, 2021 19:16:16 GMT
These are the movies Tele have seen... That two movies had Walter Matthau in the cast and two were coming-of age movies was purely accidental, sometimes things just happens that way. The Way Way Back 2013 directed by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash A coming-of-age story about Duncan, an awkward kid who has been told by his latest stepfather that on a scale from 1 to 10 is a 3, not the nicest thing for a youngster to hear, but on the other side his stepfather is an idiot who fools around with younger women. It's a summer resort were nearly everybody knows everybody and rumors fly high. Through an accidental meeting Duncan befriends a half-stoned janitor at a water park (Water Wizz in Massachusetts was filming locations), and sort of grows without his mother and stepfathers knowledge. It's a bit awkward in the beginning, but as the movie goes along it grows, and as life is, there are both sad and funny moments, but most is in between. Not bad at all, with a great cast. Think it takes place in the 1990's since they have Sony Walkmans The Grass Harp 1995 directed by Charles Matthau and based on a novella by Truman Capote. Another awkward coming-of-age story maybe based on parts of Truman Capote's childhood. Young Collin is forced to live with two relatives after his mother and father died, and those sisters are world apart, and the people he meets in a deep south small town in somewhere America. I had some trouble understanding what is said, some of those dialects and it's double meanings... I wished on a few subtitles in some scenes, but it didn't destroy the experience as a whole. A wonderful cast that includes Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon, though they only share one scene, maybe not to miss that opportunity as they were around. Roddy McDowall also has a nice role as the local barber in one of his last roles. Joe Don Baker who usually played very tough guys here plays a weakling of a Sheriff who is under the thumb of one of the sisters. A very pleasant movie to watch, even if the Capote story might not be too truthful. Le clan des Siciliens aka The Sicilian Clan 1969 directed by Henri Verneuil and based on a novel by Auguste Le Breton. I've seen this movie before, but never the 2 hours+ version. They speak French, Italian and English, since the final coup takes place on an un-finished highway near New York. Roger Sartet (Delon) might have a great idea stealing valuable diamonds at an exhibition at Villa Borghese in Rome, the idea sounded good enough for the Sicilian mob patriarch (Gabin) who is about to retire, enough to get Sartet out of jail, he like the plan but distrust womanizing Sartet, since he is not part of "the family". With the help of the Americans the Patriarch changes his mind about the robbery, instead hi-jack that plane that takes the precious stones to America... A parallel story is about Commissaire Le Goff (Lino Ventura) while hunting the whereabouts about Sartet, stumbles into the depth of the Sicilian Mob and it's head, who runs a mechanic games repairment shop that looks innocent... Liked it. This Could Be the Night 1957 directed by Robert Wise and based in short stories by Cornelia Baird Gross. Reading a quick synopsis it sounded like a Damon Runyon story, it's not but still a few shadows of him is there. Prim school teacher (Jean Simmons) needs another job to make ends meet, get's a job at a night club as a secretary, owned by a former bootlegger (Paul Douglas) that has served his time and now runs a legit night club with a young hothead (Tony Franciosa), and she somehow affects them both and all the employed too, including house band led by the at the time popular Ray Anthony as himself. Robert Wise was a great director, and the scenes in the night clubs, though looking at times chaotic, is in fact very well rehearsed, and you get a feeling that you are there (widescreen) with tons of things going on while the band plays, drinking smoking and waiters running around. I see it as a fairy tale in "modern" surroundings or settings since the story is unbelievable. Far from a great movie, but seduced by the charming Simmons and Douglas, I enjoyed watching it. The Story of Mankind 1957 directed by Irwin Allen and based on a novel by Henrik van Loon. I didn't just walk into this movie without knowing it's reputation, I just wanted to see it for myself. It's nearly as awful as I've heard, like when you pass an accident, you know you shouldn't look, and yet you do. The main scenes with Ronald Colman and Vincent Price is actually not bad in a campy ham way. Since this was a Warner's Movie, most examples are from Warner's Movies (from The Adventures of Robin Hood to Land of the Pharaohs), the studio that seldom did historical epics. With the exception of Dennis Hopper, the stars would have been actual stars if the move was made in the 1940's (the book was published in 1944). reportedly each "star" got 25.000 USD to lend their names and act a bit for a day, and to my knowledge only Greer Garson said thanks but no thanks, but Agnes Morehead said thanks and played Queen Elizabeth instead. Sadly the screen farewell of Ronald Colman, The Marx Brothers (as a unit), Hedy Lamarr and a few others. Can't recommend it, unless... The Indian Fighter 1955 directed by André de Toth When I run out of ideas, I look back at my old notations of recommendations by others and this one turned up. The other Walter Matthau movie of the week. Natives on the rampage, fort, wagons, gold, broken treatments, action, pistols, fistfights and a happy ending, standards of old western movies, but here done with panache with a solid action star (Kirk Douglas), beautiful locations (Bend in Oregon), and a great cast (Matthau, Walter Abel, Lon Chaney...) and solid direction, it entertains for it's nearly 85 minutes, no pretentions just entertains, and I'm Ok with that. After all it's not a History lesson. Elsa Martinelli ( Hatari), story goes that Kirk Douglas found her, looking through an Italian "fashion" magazine, and gave her the part of a Native American. He could do what he liked since this was the first of his own Bryna productions. The Seven Year Itch 1955 directed by Billy Wilder and based on a play by George Axelrod. On Broadway you could do what you liked (almost) in Hollywood there was still the "code" so some parts had to be toned downed, actually having an affair with that girl upstairs was a no-no in Hollywood. A great directer like Billy Wilder makes it work anyway, creating what is now considered a classic, even if he had tons of troubles with the female star. A joy to watch again after many years (10 to 12 years). Well that was what I have been up to... The famous scene isn't actually in the movie, it just suggested it, just like some famous quotes were never in the actual movies that partly made them famous.
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Post by teleadm on Jun 12, 2021 19:49:05 GMT
wmcclainJust wondering, The Stud and The Bitch, are they worth the time to sit through, since they don't have the best reputation?
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Post by teleadm on Jun 12, 2021 19:55:46 GMT
politicidalAgree with 7/10 of Tony Rome and Many Rivers to CrossThe Velvet Touch high points was a surprise though, don't get me wrong I liked it too
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Post by politicidal on Jun 12, 2021 20:03:16 GMT
politicidal Agree with 7/10 of Tony Rome and Many Rivers to CrossThe Velvet Touch high points was a surprise though, don't get me wrong I liked it too I really enjoyed the morality angle with the story and I really did think the movie would end with Rosalind Russell committing suicide but then she didn't.
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Post by wmcclain on Jun 12, 2021 20:17:32 GMT
wmcclainJust wondering, The Stud and The Bitch, are they worth the time to sit through, since they don't have the best reputation? I've been going through Joan Collins' filmography, so if you are a fan they are worth seeing. The first one (THE STUD) at least. The second is dialed back and can be skipped, although we do get to see all of Joan, as in the first one. Written by her sister, intended to revive her fading acting career, which worked! Soft-core porn, hated by critics but sold a lot of tickets. Pretty good disco scores but way too much bad disco dancing. I mean: they are trash, but that doesn't mean fans can't enjoy them. The title character (THE STUD) is a working class hustler who will never be allowed to climb above his station no matter how much the rich women enjoy his services. Joan has undeniable star power and old-Hollywood glamour. I marveled over her in SEVEN THIEVES with Edward G. Robinson and Rod Steiger. A minor heist film but they are all great in it. THE STUD and THE BITCH are on Blu-ray from Kino with commentaries by Nick Redman and David Del Valle.
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Post by Chalice_Of_Evil on Jun 12, 2021 21:51:02 GMT
Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999). Speed Racer (2008). The Waterboy (1998). A Street Cat Named Bob (2016). American Pie: Reunion (2012).
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Post by OldAussie on Jun 12, 2021 23:07:08 GMT
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Post by mikef6 on Jun 13, 2021 4:14:51 GMT
Roxie Hart / William A. Wellman (1942). Twentieth Century Fox. Cinematography by Leon Shamroy. The ancestors and descendants of this movie are a 1936 Broadway play called “Chicago.” The next year, 1927, Cecil B. DeMille directed a silent film of the play, also called “Chicago.” The sound era film was named after the main character, viz. this title under review. Thirty-two years later, 1975, a musical version opened on Broadway which returned to the title “Chicago.” In 2002, we saw the movie of the musical which won the Best Picture Oscar. “Roxie Hart” is told in flashback by ace newspaper man George Montgomery to customers in a bar room. Roxie Hart (Ginger Rogers) is an aspiring performer who, at the urging of a reporter and her agent (Nigel Bruce sporting a cockney accent), allows herself to be arrested for murder for the publicity. Dames never get convicted in Chicago, she is told, especially when defended by flamboyant criminal lawyer Billy Flynn (Adolphe Menjou). Events get more and more surreal until the climactic trial scene which approaches Marxian levels of chaotic and absurdist comedy. There is a great supporting cast including Helene Reynolds as Velma, George Chandler as Roxie’s milquetoast husband, Sara Allgood as the jail’s matron, Phil Silvers as a bossy photographer, and Iris Adrian making a big impression with only a minute or so on-screen time as ‘Two-Gun’ Gertie. A very good, maybe even great, film. Storm Over Lisbon / George Sherman (1944). Republic Pictures. Cinematography by John Alton. See if this sounds familiar: the main setting in a casino/nightclub in a neutral country during WWII; immigrants for every country in Europe have flocked to Lisbon seeking transport to America or a country outside the war zone. If you raised your hand and said “Casablanca” the big B.O. hit for Warner the previous year, go to the head of the class. Other details are quite different, however. Deresco (Erich von Stroheim) is the casino owner but in addition to his legit business, he provides spy services to any country who pays for them. His latest job is to find a war correspondent (silent movie star Richard Arlen) who has some important intelligence he wants to get back to the states. Also, Deresco is to eliminate the agent who brought the instructions (an excellent as usual Otto Kruger). At the same time, he hires a famous dancer, Marita (Vera Hurba Ralston), who wants to earn her way on board the clipper to the U.S. Some fun spy stuff – betrayals, kidnappings, hair-breathe escapes – ensue. This is all ephemeral, of course, but would have been a diverting evening out at the movies for weary wartime audiences. Martin Scorsese assisted in the restoration of this movie in 2018. Vera Hurba Ralston has become something of a punchline in classic movie history as a Bad Actor. In the Medved Brothers’ notorious book “The Golden Turkey Awards” Ralston is nominated for Worst Actress (losing to Raquel Welch). She does OK in “Storm Over Lisbon” meaning that she is not noticeably bad – she hits her marks and says her lines credibly enough. Richard Arlen is no great shakes himself as an actor but is tall and square-jawed and doesn’t bump into the furniture. Von Stroheim and henchman Eduardo Ciannelli carry the movie and provide most of the pleasure. Another plus is cinematography legend John Alton behind the camera. The Bourne Legacy / Tony Gilroy (2012). Although this movie made money, it only got mixed reviews and, from what I gather, has settled in as not all that liked by Big Fans of the Bourne franchise. I liked it a lot though; it’s a crackling good tale. If you have never seen another Bourne film or forgotten all the complex linkages of the plots, it will take you some time to get up to speed on exactly what is happening and who is doing what to whom – but you will eventually get there. One knock on the film is that Matt Daman does not appear. The star is Jeremy Renner, another product of the Top Secret government program to create spies and assassins who have been artificially augmented both physically and mentally. When a Congressional investigation threatens, the project’s leadership, played by Edward Norton and Stacy Keach, decide to eliminate all their augmented soldiers and the scientists who worked with them. Renner survives the purge as does the biochemical genius Dr. Marta Shearing (Rachel Weisz). They team up to bring down the conspiracy. Weisz is especially good here, carrying her weight, not just the girlfriend or someone to be rescued all the time. Los Angeles: Cité du Film Noir (City Of Film Noir) / Julia & Clara Kuperberg (2015). Interesting documentary that discusses the city of Los Angeles and how its history, ethos, attitudes influenced the film noir era. Featured are three commentators: the Czar Of Noir Eddie Muller, novelist James Ellroy, and film maker Alain Silver. Lots of film clips and Ellroy reminiscing about meeting women and wanting to find a real femme fatale. He jokes that his dream has been, like Walter Neff (Fred MacMurray in “Double Indemnity”). to meet a woman that completely consumed him and six months later end up in the gas chamber. YouTube. Agatha Christie And The Truth Of Murder / Terry Loane (2018). This was a TV movie in the U.K. but played on PBS in the U.S. of A. The starter plot is that cottage industry: the story of What Really Happened to Agatha Christie during her 11-day disappearance in 1926. According to this story (not a spoiler) she had gone undercover to solve a 6-year-old murder at a remote country house and didn’t even realize that a nationwide search was being conducted for her. The murder mystery she solves and how it helps her cope with her upcoming divorce is the major part of the story. As with all such “Mystery Masterpiece” shows, visual sweep is not to be expected but fine acting is. Ruth Bradley is British Reserved but conveys well Christie’s grief and determination. She even resembles the young Christie a bit (see pictures below). Other players including Tim McInnerny and Pippa Hayward are very good indeed. A pleasant enough way to pass the time. Ruth Bradley as Christie disguised as private detective Mary Westmacott (anyone recognize that reference?) Agatha Christie Promising Young Woman / Emerald Fennell (2020). From among my (admittedly) very few 2020 movies seen, I now have a new Best Of The Year. This devastating movie from first-time feature director Emerald Fennell (showrunner and writer for seasons of “The Crown” and “Killing Eve”) has vaulted to the head of my list. Filmed on the cheap (Fennell’s own words) over just 23 days, the result was a box office and critical hit with numerous nominations from award granting organizations, especially for star Carey Mulligan who Fennell describes as “the best person in the world.” Mulligan plays Cassie Thomas who we first see in a club, drunk almost to coma level. A helpful young man offers to assist her in getting home, but, hey, why don’t we stop at my place first for one drink. After plying her even deeper with liquor, he takes her to the bed and starts undressing her as she tries to say “What are you doing” until he starts to remove her panties. She sits up, cold stone sober and says, “I asked: What. Are. You. Doing.” Now, I have seen quite a few female revenge/assassin movies but this up upturned all expectations. She works in a coffee shop by day but by night she shames men for trying to molest drunk women who are essentially helpless. We learn that she dropped out of medical school in order to pursue this night time mission. Toward the end of the movie is the greatest moment of audience confusion and disorientation since “Psycho.” Highly recommended.
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Post by jeffersoncody on Jun 13, 2021 5:38:34 GMT
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Post by claudius on Jun 13, 2021 11:47:36 GMT
And this week’s MASTERPIECE 50 is: LOVE FOR LYDIA (1977) Adaption of HB Bates’ novel with Mel Martin, Christopher Blake, Peter Davidson, and a young Jeremy Irons. It was Lydia’s “Love me forever." line that would inspire Donna Lewis’ 1996 hit song. “I Love You, Always Forever.” Acorn Media DVD.
Sunday 6 ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MARVEL (1941) “Chapter 11: Valley of Death” 80TH ANNIVERSARY The Penultimate Episode begins with Billy saving Betty without transforming into Captain Marvel. The much smaller Expedition return to the secret Tomb. The final cliffhanger is a cave-in. Republic Video VHS.
NARUTO SHIPPUDEN (2014) “Team 7, Assemble!” English Dubbed. Viz Media DVD.
THE LONGEST DAY (1962) Darry; F. Zanuck’s epic dramatization of D-Day June 6 1944, with an All-Star cast including John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, Robert Wagner, Red Buttons, Jeffrey Hunter, Curt Jurgens, Henry Fonda, Richard Beymer, Sal Mineo, Kenneth More, Richard Burton, Roddy MacDowall, and Richard Todd (plus Sean Connery). I always watch this every June 6. CBS Fox Video Laserdisc (which displays the widescreen by moving the image to the upper part of the screen, to give room for the subtitles and captions on the black bar).
Monday 7 DROIDS: THE GREAT HEEP (1986) 35TH ANNIVERSARY Series special of the 1985 Nelvana Animated STAR WARS series. The last of the series, it is not quite a finale, set before the Third Arc, portraying how C-3PO and R2D2 meet their third master Mongo (the series Arc skipped the introduction). First saw this on ABC Prime Time 35 years ago. YouTube.
THE ROCK (1996) 25TH ANNIVERSARY Michael Bay/Dan Simpson Action Thriller as Biological warfare expert Nicholas Cage and Maximum Security Prisoner Sean Connery break into Alcatraz to stop a disillusioned General (Ed Harris) from attacking LA with Germ Warfare. Probably my favorite Bay film. First saw this on its premiere month on TV sometime in Fall or Summer 1997 (I was watching ST. ELSEWHERE on TV Land at the time, so I was able to recognize David Morse- a Fro-less David Morse to be sure- in the film). At the time I thought that Connery’s character was actually James Bond (although the fact he conceived a daughter during a Led Zeppelin concert sounds a little unusual for the suave gentleman agent.) YouTube and Amazon Prime.
Tuesday 8 MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 (1991) “Gamera” 30TH ANNIVERSARY The Third Season can be termed a combination of several groups. One is the Sandy Frank group, seven Edited-and-dubbed Japanese films released in America by Frank. First of these is the Japanese Monster Turtle Gamera. I had seen several later films before, so I was expecting the “Gamera” Theme to come up. Instead I get a darker story where Gamera is just a rampaging monster. I first saw parts of this on Comedy Central at midnight Fall 1993, but fell asleep. I saw the remainder on the syndicated edit THE MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER HOUR. VHS.
Wednesday 9 THE TRAPP FAMILY STORY (1991) “All Creatures, Great and Small” 30TH ANNIVERSARY Japanese with English Subtitles. Bootleg DVD.
Thursday 10 THE ERNIE KOVACS SHOW (1960) Betamax Recording of Comedy Central Broadcast 1992.
Friday 11 M (1931) 90TH ANNIVERSARY. Fritz Lang’s Thriller about the Crime world working together to bring down a child murderer (Peter Lorre in his major film debut). First read about this in Everson’s CLASSICS OF THE HORROR FILM, then saw it as a subject on a film documentary (the comment about the “Peer Gynt” reference connected some dots to a scene from REN AND STIMPY, which also had a weird man whistling the tune). I finally saw the whole film in the early millennium on the Independent Film Channel. YouTube.
FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF (1986) 35TH ANNIVERSARY John Hughes comedy about a smooth-talking teenager (Matthew Broderick) playing hooky to spend a day in the city with his friends. First saw this on VHS at a slumber party back in 1987. Have seen it many times (including a CLASSIC SERIES theatrical showing). Amazon Prime.
THE RUTLES: ALL YOU NEED IS CASH (1978) Eric Idle’s Mockumentary on the Beatles-type-group, with guest appearances by George Harrison, Michael Palin, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray, Lorne Michaels, John Belushi, and Franken & Davis. First saw this on Comedy Central around Christmas in 1994, then- after a better understanding of the Beatles from YELLOW SUBMARINE- November of 1995. VHS Recording of a December 1978 NBC Broadcast.
Saturday 12 THE PARENT TRAP (1961) 60TH ANNIVERSARY Walt Disney family comedy about Hayley Mills playing separated twins getting their parents (Brian Keith and Maureen O’ Hara) together. First saw this around 1990 when my sisters rented the film. Amazon Prime.
HISTORY OF THE WORLD PART 1 (1981) 40TH ANNIVERSARY Mel Brooks takes on the Historical/Biblical Costume Epic, split into five stories (Prehistoric, Biblical, Roman, Spanish Inquisition, and the French Revolution), starring Brooks, Sid Caesar, Gregory Hines, Dom DeLuise, and (in their final Brooks films) Cloris Leachman, Harvey Korman, and Madeline Kahn. I think my first viewing of this film on Cable in the early 1980s (I do remember the scene where Brooks’ Roman attempts to fight with defective weapons). The VHS cover would catch my gaze at a supermarket rental display. I saw more of the film on the Encore channel in November 1993, and watch the full film on VHS in Spring 1994 (where I recognized the “Jews in Space” number having the same music from ROBIN HOOD MEN IN TIGHTS). FoxVideo DVD.
NARUTO SHIPPUDEN (2014) "Three Way Deadlock" English Dubbed. Viz Media DVD.
CLASH OF THE TITANS (1981) 40TH ANNIVERSARY Ray Harryhausen’s last film with his Dynamation effects focuses on the Perseus Myth, with Harry Hamlin, Judi Bowker, Sian Philips, Burgess Meredith, Laurence Olivier, Tim Piggott-Smith, Maggie Smith, Claire Bloom, Flora Robson, and Ursula Andress. A childhood classic, viewed on the Movie Channels and TBS (I remember being freaked by the decapitated Thetis statue scene and Medusa.). We had several of the action figures, especially the Kraken. Warner DVD.
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981) 40TH ANNIVERSARY Steven Spielberg/George Lucas’ ode to the Movie Serials. I do remember this in my childhood (we had the action figures, the comic adaptation, and the audio record book), although it was in pieces: the opening with the statue and the ball, the guide with darts on his back, the Snakes in the plane scene, Indy writing on the Chalkboard, the Marion basket, the Map Room, the climax (I had a better recollection on first-time viewings of TEMPLE OF DOOM and LAST CRUSADE, although that was more to my maturing memory processes). I finally saw the full film in December 1991; my parents had bought the Trilogy from a McDonald’s Video promotion. In December 1998 I got the soundtrack and would listen to it a lot, giving me a need to watch it again. Having lost the VHS, I tried to rent it to no avail (I would walk a mile to the rental store only to discover it had been taken), but my dad bought me a copy (I then got a widescreen copy that December). I had seen it in Theaters twice. The last viewing was CBS’ Sunday Movie Presentation last May 2020. Paramount VHS.
Saw Parts of: CLEOPATRA (1963) One of the most expensive films ever made (not to mention the most troubled productions and a film that almost bankrupted 20th Century-Fox). The concensus is that it’s a bad film, but I’ve always been fond of it. I first read about the film from books like BOX OFFICE HITS. My first viewing began from the Disney Channel in September 1991: they showed the film on two nights, and I remember seeing parts of it (they started at 9, and 10 was bedtime): Ptolemy’s entrance with the giant scarab bell, Caesar’s army forming the Turtle, Antony saluting his legions over the victory of Philippi, Cleopatra’s barge banquet, etc. I finally got to see the whole film (with some edits) on a 4-hour broadcast on WGN on Super Bowl Sunday 1992, and I got the film on VHS for Christmas of that year. I watched only Part 1, which I’ve probably seen more times than Part 2. FoxVideo DVD.
DIGIMON ADVENTURE (1999) English Dubbed. Bootleg DVD. DIGIMON ADVENTURE 02 (2000) English Dubbed. Bootleg DVD. DIGIMON ADVENTURE TRI: DETERMINATION (2016) English Dubbed. Amazon Prime. DIGIMON ADVENTURE TRI: FUTURE (2017) English Dubbed. Amazon Prime.
DAVE CLARK’S GOOD OLD DAYS (1978) Dave Clark reunites several music stars from the 50s and 60s, among them Annette Funicello, Frankie Avalon, Fabian, Paul Revere, etc. VHS Recording of NBC Broadcast 1978.
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE (1976) “Paul Simon/George Harrison” VHS Recording of NBC Broadcast 1978.
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Post by Archelaus on Jun 14, 2021 2:55:05 GMT
The French Connection - 8/10 This was my first time watching this Best Picture winner from 1971. Overall, it was a well-done gritty, realistic police crime thriller. It was a bit slow, but once we get into the heart of the film, things take off. The famous car chase, was well-edited and gripping. Apparently, it had been shot without city permits so the car accidents seen in the film were real. An underrated scene that I liked was Detective Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle being outsmarted by drug kingpin Alain Charnier inside the subway. The film's picture quality left a lot to be desired because there was too much film grain. The Tree of Life - 8/10 A stunningly beautiful philosophical film. This is one of Terrence Malick's best films.
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Post by london777 on Jun 17, 2021 3:21:56 GMT
Promising Young Woman / Emerald Fennell (2020). From among my (admittedly) very few 2020 movies seen, I now have a new Best Of The Year. This devastating movie from first-time feature director Emerald Fennell (showrunner and writer for seasons of “The Crown” and “Killing Eve”) has vaulted to the head of my list. Filmed on the cheap (Fennell’s own words) over just 23 days, the result was a box office and critical hit with numerous nominations from award granting organizations, especially for star Carey Mulligan who Fennell describes as “the best person in the world.” Mulligan plays Cassie Thomas who we first see in a club, drunk almost to coma level. A helpful young man offers to assist her in getting home, but, hey, why don’t we stop at my place first for one drink. After plying her even deeper with liquor, he takes her to the bed and starts undressing her as she tries to say “What are you doing” until he starts to remove her panties. She sits up, cold stone sober and says, “I asked: What. Are. You. Doing.” Now, I have seen quite a few female revenge/assassin movies but this up upturned all expectations. She works in a coffee shop by day but by night she shames men for trying to molest drunk women who are essentially helpless. We learn that she dropped out of medical school in order to pursue this night time mission. Toward the end of the movie is the greatest moment of audience confusion and disorientation since “Psycho.” Highly recommended. I have to agree with your high praise for Promising Young Woman. Something really original at last, though like any movie it carries echoes of previous films such as American Psycho (also by a female director) and Gone Girl. Writer/director Emerald Fennell seems to have real talent. Let us hope it is not just a one-off. A clip of Night of the Hunter appears early in the movie. Did you notice that the disconcerting 'Lullaby' from that movie woven into the new film's score later on?
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Post by mikef6 on Jun 17, 2021 3:42:42 GMT
Promising Young Woman / Emerald Fennell (2020). From among my (admittedly) very few 2020 movies seen, I now have a new Best Of The Year. This devastating movie from first-time feature director Emerald Fennell (showrunner and writer for seasons of “The Crown” and “Killing Eve”) has vaulted to the head of my list. Filmed on the cheap (Fennell’s own words) over just 23 days, the result was a box office and critical hit with numerous nominations from award granting organizations, especially for star Carey Mulligan who Fennell describes as “the best person in the world.” Mulligan plays Cassie Thomas who we first see in a club, drunk almost to coma level. A helpful young man offers to assist her in getting home, but, hey, why don’t we stop at my place first for one drink. After plying her even deeper with liquor, he takes her to the bed and starts undressing her as she tries to say “What are you doing” until he starts to remove her panties. She sits up, cold stone sober and says, “I asked: What. Are. You. Doing.” Now, I have seen quite a few female revenge/assassin movies but this up upturned all expectations. She works in a coffee shop by day but by night she shames men for trying to molest drunk women who are essentially helpless. We learn that she dropped out of medical school in order to pursue this night time mission. Toward the end of the movie is the greatest moment of audience confusion and disorientation since “Psycho.” Highly recommended. I have to agree with your high praise for Promising Young Woman. Something really original at last, though like any movie it carries echoes of previous films such as American Psycho (also by a female director) and Gone Girl. Writer/director Emerald Fennell seems to have real talent. Let us hope it is not just a one-off. A clip of Night of the Hunter appears early in the movie. Did you notice the disconcerting 'Lullaby' from that movie woven into the new films score later on? No! I didn't catch that music cue. Something to look forward to upon a second viewing. Thanks.
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Post by london777 on Jun 19, 2021 14:14:08 GMT
The last two movies I watched were:
The World of Apu (1959) dir: Satyajit Ray
My Blueberry Nights (2007) dir: Kar-Wai Wong
Afterwards I learned of a co-incidental link between the two. What is it?
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Post by timshelboy on Jun 19, 2021 14:34:47 GMT
Storm Over Lisbon / George Sherman (1944). Republic Pictures. Cinematography by John Alton. See if this sounds familiar: the main setting in a casino/nightclub in a neutral country during WWII; immigrants for every country in Europe have flocked to Lisbon seeking transport to America or a country outside the war zone. If you raised your hand and said “Casablanca” the big B.O. hit for Warner the previous year, go to the head of the class. Other details are quite different, however. Deresco (Erich von Stroheim) is the casino owner but in addition to his legit business, he provides spy services to any country who pays for them. His latest job is to find a war correspondent (silent movie star Richard Arlen) who has some important intelligence he wants to get back to the states. Also, Deresco is to eliminate the agent who brought the instructions (an excellent as usual Otto Kruger). At the same time, he hires a famous dancer, Marita (Vera Hurba Ralston), who wants to earn her way on board the clipper to the U.S. Some fun spy stuff – betrayals, kidnappings, hair-breathe escapes – ensue. This is all ephemeral, of course, but would have been a diverting evening out at the movies for weary wartime audiences. Martin Scorsese assisted in the restoration of this movie in 2018. Vera Hurba Ralston has become something of a punchline in classic movie history as a Bad Actor. In the Medved Brothers’ notorious book “The Golden Turkey Awards” Ralston is nominated for Worst Actress (losing to Raquel Welch). She does OK in “Storm Over Lisbon” meaning that she is not noticeably bad – she hits her marks and says her lines credibly enough. Richard Arlen is no great shakes himself as an actor but is tall and square-jawed and doesn’t bump into the furniture. Von Stroheim and henchman Eduardo Ciannelli carry the movie and provide most of the pleasure. Another plus is cinematography legend John Alton behind the camera. I liked this one too Mike - available on CAVE OF FORGOTTEN FILMS if anyone else interested (see link in separate thread). Did you spot Ruth Roman in an early bit as the coatcheck girl?.
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