Re: Unseen films (5% Bawb)
Dylanetics
> On May 26 2009, poisoned rose wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > Today, I brainstorm that these are the 20 films which I'd most like to
> > see.
> > Alex in Wonderland (1970)
> > L'Atalante (1934)
> > Berlin Alexanderplatz (1980)
> > The Boy Friend (1971)
> > Danger: Diabolik (1968)
> > Deep End (1971)
> > Die Nibelungen (1924-25)
> > Donkey Skin (1970)
> > Forgotten Silver (1996)
> > The Holy Mountain (1973)
> > Inland Empire (2006)
> > Moog (2004)
> > 1900 (1976)
> > Red Desert (1965)
> > Renaldo & Clara (1978)
> > Savage Messiah (1972)
> > Secretary (2002)
> > The Shooting (1967)
> > Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
> > Synecdoche, New York (2008)
>
> OK, I've now seen L'Atalante (great), Deep End (near great), Donkey Skin
> (near great), Forgotten Silver (OK), The Holy Mountain (near great),
> Inland Empire (OK), Moog (crummy), Savage Messiah (near great),
> Secretary (OK) and Synecdoche, New York (good). Also saw some other top
> contenders including The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser, Fear & Desire, Faust,
> October, Django, Forbidden Games, Woyzeck and Scott Walker: 30 Century
> Man. All this means I'm terribly due to post an updated top 20 of unseen
> films, lest I disappoint my devoted readers.
>
> Alex in Wonderland (1970)
> The Boy Friend (1971)
> Danger: Diabolik (1968)
> Die Nibelungen (1924-25)
> 1900 (1976)
> Red Desert (1965)
> Renaldo & Clara (1978)
> Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
> The Shooting (1967)
> +
> Anvil! The True Story of Anvil (2008)
> Burn After Reading (2008)
> Caligula (1979)
> Cobra Verde (1988)
> Fando y Lis (1967)
> Hammett (1982)
> Hollywood Ending (2002)
> Jandek on Corwood (2003)
> Spies (1928)
> The Chelsea Girls (1966)
> The Draughtsman's Contract (1982)
The Draughtsman's Contract. And maybe watch half an hour of The Falls
(also Greenaway) some time.
Dylanetics
p.s. - I couldn't get the soundtrack ("Michael Nyman does Purcell!")
out of my head for months.
Jumbo
Renaldo & Clara is awful, very embarrassing for almost all concerned,
but, also, worth seeing in a twisted, pornographic car crash kind of
way.
Slumdog Millionaire is trash. Imo, don't waste your time.
I don't watch many films, to be honest, but your responses to certain
films you've seen (e.g. L'Atalante and Secretary) are exactly the same
as my own.
Janice
> Extending my "unseen film" list to 40:
>
> 1900 (1976)
> A Safe Place (1971)
> A Serious Man (2009)
> Alex in Wonderland (1970)
> Anvil! The True Story of Anvil (2008)
> Burn After Reading (2008)
> Caligula (1979)
> Cobra Verde (1988)
> Die Nibelungen (1924-25)
> Hammett (1982)
> Hollywood Ending (2002)
> I'll Never Forget What's 'Is Name (1967)
> Jandek on Corwood (2003)
> La Notte (1961)
> Le Million (1931)
> Le Samouraï (1967)
> Muriel (1963)
> Red Desert (1965)
> Renaldo & Clara (1978)
> Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
> Telstar: The Joe Meek Story (2008)
> The Boy Friend (1971)
> The Chelsea Girls (1966)
> The Damned (1969)
> The Draughtsman's Contract (1982)
> The Limits of Control (2009)
> The Passion of Anna (1969)
> The Rain People (1969)
> The Servant (1963)
> The Shooting (1967)
> The White Bus (1967) [short]
> Trinity Is Still My Name (1971)
> Two-Way Stretch (1960)
> Warning Shadows: A Nocturnal Hallucination (1923)
> Whatever Works (2009)
>
> Some former rankers which I saw during the past couple of weeks: Through
> a Glass Darkly, Hour of the Wolf, Look Back in Anger, The Conformist,
> The Jokers, Bob le Flambeur, Le Doulos, Anything Else. Tonight: Le
> Samourai.
Have you see Big Man Japan? Japanese spoofing themselves.
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Janice
> Janice <jan...@dixoncreekstudio.com> wrote:
> > Have you see Big Man Japan? Japanese spoofing themselves.
>
> Have not heard of this film, but I just looked up the plot on
> AllMovie.com. Wow, sounds strange. ;)
Well, it's not like anything I've ever seen before. It's right at the
top of my Most Ridiculous Film Ever list (which is not necessarily a
bad thing) -- and I keep recommending it to friends and
acquaintances. It is not a stupid film... just really really odd.
And ridiculous.
The trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTAoxSspBJE
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Janice
> Janice <jan...@dixoncreekstudio.com> wrote:
> > The trailer:
> >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTAoxSspBJE
>
> Eeeeek. :)
>
> I saw Le Samourai last night, and I'm so much digging the Jean-Pierre
> Melville films I've recently seen that I probably should promote Le
> Deuxieme Souffle, Army of Shadows and Le Cercle Rouge to top-priority
> viewing.
Little French noire films aren't really my cup of tea, but I did love
City of Lost Children. Also really enjoyed Le Triplettes de
Belleville, and there have been some interesting sci fi & crime flicks
coming out of France... can't remember titles off-hand.
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Janice
> treadleson <treadl...@aol.com> wrote:
> > > Have you see Big Man Japan? Japanese spoofing themselves.
>
> > I hadn't heard of this at all. So I thought I'd check it out. Just
> > wonderful. Funny, artful, light, great satire. Thanks.
>
> Wow, you already went out and rented it? I appreciate your spirit of
> adventure. ;)
Don't be scared, PR. It's fun, and it is a breakthrough in the art.
There is also something very interesting happening with American
movies filmed in China. An example would be Push directed by Paul
McGuigan, and some recent films with Chinese-American directors. The
comic book and sci-fi genres seem to be creating new filmic
canvasses... There's a new feel to the cinematography.
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Janice
> I've really been on a movie binge lately. I've already seen seven of the
> films on my last "top 40" list:
> > > > Burn After Reading (2008)
What did you think of this movie? I really enjoyed it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53ot4lFVgcg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2AnwC9dL6Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VQNhWxXejc
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Brad has embraced his inner knucklehead
Janice
> > canvasses... There's a new feel to the cinematography.
> I know this isn't what you mean, but I'll raise it anyway since I
> always notice it. And that is that I notice a stillness now in some
> static shots, particularly wide exteriors, that seems new. The camera
> is unnaturally still. I've concluded (on my own) that this is because
> it's a digital camera and that the movement of film through the gate
> actually made the camera move the tiniest bit.
If I'm interpreting your description correctly, I think I've seen
something similar recently in the AMC series The Prisoner. There were
fractions of moments of pause, as if the camera was holding its
breath.
> When you say comic book, sci-fi, are you referring to special effects,
> models and mattes in "Big Man?" What else? The depiction of death?
I think what I am seeing is very similar to what I find in William
Gibson's novels... the future is now.
In Push by using the scenery & street scenes of China (ie Hong Kong)
drenched in color & design & ethnicity of language with the ideograms,
with American actors playing alongside Asian & black actors,, there is
a truly heightened sense of a global fusion of reality -- we are no
longer trapped in our borders, we have become citizens of the planet
Earth.
Hi-tech gadgets blend seamlessly against a backdrop of ancient Chinese
art & culture and current Asian pop culture, and the "blocked" camera
angles are similar to what you find in comic strip framing in the very
popular graphic novels, blurring the perceived line between actual
place & time and fictional space.
I think Japan has always dabbled in this space-time trickery with its
scifi & monster movies, which culminates so wonderfully in Big Man
Japan. For the first time we are invited to take the story seriously
(the journalistic approach), so that we can relate to the protagonist
(sort of :).
> I thought that one of the fantastic aspects of "Big Man" was the
> monsters themselves. If you've seen "Pan's Labyrinth," these kind of
> blow those away for their simplicity, wit and total surprise. The
> monster with the comb-over was hilarious.
I think this must be in part a tribute to the early special effects
guys like Harryhausen & the Japanese Godzilla creators who had to use
Halloween costumes and whatever scraps were laying around on the
garage floor for bits & parts. You're right, each one was a complete
surprise... & charming and ridiculous.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKfOwwmpw80
> Story-wise, I liked the
> multi-generational story, which is so deeply Japanese, and so nicely
> played here.
Yes, and the ending was a surprise perfectly in keeping with the
story.
Oxide Pang Chun and Danny Pang Fat are twin movie making brothers from
China who are worth paying attention to. They direct as a team and
were the force behind the Bangkok Dangerous remake, as well as The
Eye.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMMXYyhkKmQ
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Janice
> Holy cannoli. I saw A Serious Man. I don't really want to get into
> it now except to say that to me the world can be divided into two
> groups of people--those who loved American Beauty and those who
> loathed it. Those who loved it will love A Serious Man, I'm pretty
> sure.
Couldn't stand American Beauty, but the guy at IMDB who swoons for it
is also left breathless by Eyes Wide Shut, which I also didn't care
for. In fact, those two movies, plus Kevin Spacey, are going on my
list of Things I Don't Get (elsewhere here).
I'm assuming y'all have seen Donnie Darko (a favorite of mine). The
sequel, S. Darko, was a sad and frustrating disappointment... it was
as if the beauty & magic of Donnie Darko had been laid bare with a
lightbulb hanging from the ceiling in a motel room off the highway.
Donnie Darko:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N49ISZ4LpkU
The only reason to watch S. Darko:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8gCUkwJYN0
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Janice
> Janice <jan...@dixoncreekstudio.com> wrote:
> > S. Darko
>
> I loved Donnie Darko, but I've been almost "afraid" to see this film.
> I'm sure it's terrible.
Don't take my word for it, I'm sure my criticism stems from being
unable to let go of the orginal film. I was ready to call it a night
halfway through S. Darko (I have finally found the steel inside to
just say No and abandon a movie before the bitter end), but my husband
had more hope for the possibility that something wonderful would
happen & save it... so we watched it all the way to the predictable
end. Nothing wonderful happened, but I don't think my husband
considers it as much a waste of time as I did.
If you see it, we can discuss -- tho' I can't guarantee I remember
much, since most of the time my head was buried in my hands while I
moaned "nonononono" :)
I thought the problem might have been that it suffered from what I
think of as the Quentin Tarantino Syndrome -- where fame takes a
potentially amazing talent and seizes it by the throat and chokes it
to death on crap. But it turns out Donnie Darko's creator had nothing
to do with S. Dark, and that explains everything. A quote from Wiki
by Richard Kelly:
Donnie Darko's writer and director, Richard Kelly, has stated that he
has no involvement with S. Darko. He stated "To set the record
straight, here's a few facts I'd like to share with you all -- I
haven't read this script. I have absolutely no involvement with this
production, nor will I ever be involved." Chris Fisher, director of S.
Darko, noted that he was an admirer of Kelly's film, and that he hoped
"to create a similar world of blurred fantasy and reality."
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Janice
> I don't know anything about Netflix.
Netflix is wonderful. What they may lack in complete stock (tho
really, they are nearly complete), they make up for in service. This
is the first company in recent to semi-distant memory (maybe not since
the 70's) that reduced my monthly fee because they had been doing so
well in business profits (eMusic on the other hand, just kept
increasing my monthly charge).
For $16.99 I have a constant flow of 3 CD's moving back and forth
between distributor & my house. We probably see an average of 5-6
movies a week (not including when we go to the local CarMike), plus
the unlimited Netflix streaming instant videos.
A couple years ago we also purchased the little $100 Roku box that
allows us to connect to Netflix via cable TV and we are able to watch
our unlimited number of streaming videos on our TV. We decided to
cancel all our premium movie channels from Comcast because between
Netflix & Roku life has become All-Movies-All-The-Time without them.
On top of that, Roku is now adding free channels, including Pandora,
blip.tv & Revision3.
Best bang for my buck in decades.
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Janice
>
> Part 1:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBwryYkEdPM
>
> > I enjoyed Wrestler a lot. It's
> > funny--the part that sticks with me, apart from the child, are the
> > scenes working behind the counter.
>
> I liked the first half best...then it started turning into "The Champ."
It was okay. Not great. I was more interested in Rourke at the
Critics Choice Awards (?), when he got all choked up and thanked his
dogs. Now that's great film.
I'm looking forward to seeing The Road, but I won't be able to for a
couple weeks. I read the book, and am hopeful that they have done a
decent job of it. If anyone sees it, please share.
~`~
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gemjack
<jan...@dixoncreekstudio.com> wrote:
>I'm looking forward to seeing The Road, but I won't be able to for a
>couple weeks. I read the book, and am hopeful that they have done a
>decent job of it. If anyone sees it, please share.
Saw the previews today, it does look look.
-gj
gemjack
wrote:
>Three more films down:
>
>"Slumdog Millionaire" (feel kinda glad not to be a naysayer on this
>one), and in keeping with the festive Thanksgiving mood, both "Caligula"
>AND "Sal�." Oh my. Actually, despite all the warnings I've read about
>"Sal�" being the most disgusting film ever made, I felt more depraved
>watching "Caligula." I guess the crucial difference was that "Caligula"
>reveled in its filth, while "Sal�" was using it to make a critical
>point. I don't think I can rate either of them better than "two stars,"
>though.
From Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sal%C3%B2,_or_the_120_Days_of_Sodom
"A most infamous scene shows a young woman forced to eat the feces of
the Duke; later, the other victims are presented a giant meal of human
feces. At story's end, the victims who chose to not collaborate with
their fascist tormentors are gruesomely murdered: scalping, branding,
tongue and eyes cut out."
It screams 'Thanksgiving' doesn't it?
-gj
Janice
> > The great Japanese movie, "In the Realm of the Senses" is
> > more in that vein. Well worth a look.
>
> I saw that but, like, 20 years ago. Can't remember much about it, beyond
> the severed pee-pee.
That was the first porn movie I'd ever seen, and the only one I've
ever seen in a theater. It ruined all other erotic/porn for me -- set
the bar too high. Beautiful, strange, sad, surreal.... very Japanese.
~`~
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Janice
A little bit on the dark side (not exactly in the "holiday" scheme) as
well as odd & redeeming (or oddly redeeming):
- Brooklyn Heist
- World's Greatest Dad (directed by Bobcat Goldthwaite, produced by
Darko Entertainment, starring Robin Williams)
- Wristcutters: A Love Story
- Bug (Ashley Judd) Sad, bad, & creepy... but I couldn't stop
watching.
As for old British television.. just discovered Neverwhere on Netflix,
and we are enjoying it. The bad guys are very creepy, and funny.
~`~
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Janice
5% Bawb:
Observe and Report, starring Seth Rogen, Ray Liotta, and Anna Faris,
opens and closes with When I Paint My Masterpiece... and I wished it
didn't. Seth plays an unredeeming asshole from start to finish.
Stupid movie. Dylan's Masterpiece in it feels like the worst sort of
heresy.
On Dec 19, 5:29 pm, poisoned rose <prose1...@aol.com> wrote:
> Not so long ago, I started a thread asking about the film "Pirate Radio"
> (aka "The Boat That Rocked" in its longer UK edit). I now have seen this
> -- it was TERRIBLE. Wow, what a stinker. And especially offensive, since
> it was such an appealing, interesting subject for a film.
Thanks for the heads-up, tho' we will probably put it in the queue
anyway, because the premise still intrigues.
> Yesterday, I was researching Nagisa Oshima and realizing that I really
> should see more of his work. I don't think I've seen more than three of
> his films (Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, Cruel Story of Youth, In the
> Realm of the Senses). And I scarcely even remember the latter.
I don't think I've seen any of his other films, and I am interested in
Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence since it stars David Bowie. What did you
think of it?
I also didn't realize that he did a sequel to Realm of the Senses --
Empire of Passion -- which won the 1978 Cannes Film Festival Award for
best director. Apparently the sexuality was simulated this time, and
more political in its focus (altho' Realm was also a political
statement).
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Janice
> I finally saw "An Inconvenient Truth," earlier today. That was long
> overdue.
Sometimes I tend to cut off my nose to spite my face... there are
several movies I haven't seen just because everyone else has, and
thinks I should. This is one of them.
But I have nothing against global warming or paradigm shifts in
lifestyle & world view... Does Al Gore narrate? That might be why I
continue to hesitate -- his voice is not my choice.
~`~
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frinjdwelr
"poisoned rose" <pros...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:prose1235-5AEAD...@nothing.attdns.com...
> Janice <jan...@dixoncreekstudio.com> wrote:
>
>> Does Al Gore narrate?
>
> Yes.
>
> It's sort of a review-proof film. It's basically like watching a
> PowerPoint presentation. All information, and no cinematic style. Your
> reaction will depend on how convincing you find the argument.
>
> It was powerful, but I'd like to hear the other side now, just to see
> whether anyone can dispute Gore's data in a credible way.
Well if someone could, don't you think they'd have come forward by now? The
film's been out for a couple years and it's not like he doesn't have any
detractors. So where's their data?
gemjack
wrote:
>"frinjdwelr" <frinj...@charter.net> wrote:
>
>> > It was powerful, but I'd like to hear the other side now, just to see
>> > whether anyone can dispute Gore's data in a credible way.
>>
>> The
>> film's been out for a couple years and it's not like he doesn't have any
>> detractors.
>
>Remind me which planet you live on, again? ;)
No kidding.
>
>> So where's their data?
Tune in to any right-wing am radio talk show. Sadly, they really
believe that it's all a conspiracy against capitalism. Crazy,
insecure, sexually repressed, paranoid nutjobs that they are (present
company excluded). But damned entertaining!
>Well, I'm always seeing hysterical Usenet threads titled "the
>global-warming hoax" or words to that effect...but I just haven't
>bothered to read them.
>
>And there's this, which I have not seen:
>
>http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1020027/
Probably shows a snowstorm up north in Winter and says 'See! No
global warming!'
This looks interesting:
http://arctic.atmos.uiuc.edu/cryosphere/
And no one seemes alarmed that we're losing the moon. That's the
trump card of which we can not beat.
-gj
Janice
> gemjack <geminijackso...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > And no one seemes alarmed that we're losing the moon.
>
> Explain?
What? What?
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gemjack
wrote:
>gemjack <geminij...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> And no one seemes alarmed that we're losing the moon.
>
>Explain?
Sorry for the delay.
Nothing's static in space, or rather, in our orbit. It's either
moving in or moving away. And the moon is moving away a FULL INCH PER
YEAR. Granted, it may be a million years, but we're doomed
eventually. Primarily due to the moon being like an anchor on an
invisible chain that keeps the earth from rotating all over itself. I
think Venus does that. At least it rotates backwards anyway.
Or. We may just decide to bomb the moon repeatedly in case terrorists
are there in which case speeding things up a bit.
-gj
Janice
Just finished watching Rachel Getting Married, and was very pleasantly
surprised -- especially by the music & directing. I thought it would
be a bridezilla chick flick (which it sometimes borders on) with jokey
druggy references.
It's a film about a weekend at a typical dysfunctional upper-middle-
class family home during the stress of a wedding. Not an original
storyline, but it's not the story that caught my attention. The film
itself was oddly captivating, an atmosphere producer/director Jonathan
Demme created with an unusual approach to the filming.
First of all, Demme decided to film the movie as if it was the world's
best home video. No, it's not Blair Witch handheld nausea, but all
the camera angles seem to be composed as if by some interested member
of the family, or (more poignantly and appropos to the story) as Demme
says, perhaps by a ghost.
Added to this intimacy is a sensed spontaneity invoked by the fact
that other than the scripted main characters of the movie, Penne
invited people he knew -- actors & civilians, and most especially
musicians -- to come spend time at the house used as location and just
enjoy the wedding parties.
He invited musicians he knew that would likely play spontaneously and
mingle with the crowd, enlivening the whole event. The whole sense of
people getting to know each other and enjoying each other was
absolutely realtime & unscripted, caught on film behind and woven
through the scripted storyline. An unusual and very successful
strategy. I will look for more films by Penne.
Finally, the soundtrack of the movie will far outlive the movie. The
wedding & the wedding party are a rainbow of ethnic diversity, and the
music is wonderful. The violinist Zafir Tawil (a Palestinian who has
performed with Sting and composed for films including this one) is a
fine presence, also playing the Arabian oud.
It occurs to me that since Bob has embraced the celebration of
Christmas with his music (and because I love his use of violin in
previous arrangements) maybe it's time to embrace Palestinian music
tradition with musicians such as Zafir & his group Shusmo. Eventually
everyone will figure out that Bob is religiously inclusive rather than
exclusive.
Zafir Tawil on violin:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3fzZO1iYm4
Sound samples of the soundtrack at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Rachel-Getting-Married-Donald-Harrison/dp/B001EZ6OLO
and some YoTubes of soundtrack artists:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLERRYp8Oao
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuPISZOM1Ws
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WOkGiy-jB8
http://www.lala.com/#song/720857432578985910
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4K2VTLZ7qc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axNmY5nnmjA
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdKcZe4aMN4
Janice
> The best film I've recently seen was definitely Truffaut's "Stolen
> Kisses" (1968). It's posted on YouTube, under the French title.
There's a review of this movie in the NYTimes today -- the film just
opened at the Fine Arts Theater. Thanks for the YouTube pointer, I
will go find it.
> Another one was not necessarily "great" but lots of warped fun was
> "Daisies," a 1966 Czech film. It's rare-ish, but it's posted on
> veoh.com. Here's a bit of background:http://www.allmovie.com/work/daisies-88453
I wish I had seen this movie in 1966-67 to fully appreciate its
"outlandishness"... which I'm sure looks trite & cliche by now but
must have been breakthrough cinema at the time.
> The last film I saw was "Stereo," an early David Cronenberg film. Barely
> over an hour long. Very strange...it's essentially a silent film with
> narration added afterwards. Somewhat hard to sit through, but it was
> actually better than I thought it would be.
Cronenberg can be very disturbing, more than I can take sometimes,
tho' I think Scanners is one of the best psycho-scifi movies I've ever
seen.
My Netflix queue includes Withnail and I, and Ten Canoes, which I am
looking forward to tho' both have long waits.
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Janice
> > > Another one was not necessarily "great" but lots of warped fun was
> > > "Daisies," a 1966 Czech film.
>
> > I wish I had seen this movie in 1966-67 to fully appreciate its
> > "outlandishness"... which I'm sure looks trite & cliche by now but
> > must have been breakthrough cinema at the time.
>
> If you're basing this on the movie poster alone, I think the poster does
> the film a bit of a disservice. . . .
Actually, I was thinking about the theme of championing women who are
behaving thoughtlessly, irresponsibly, wildly, and irredeemably. In
1966 only bad women behaved badly, and it wasn't silly, it was evil.
Men could sow their wild oats with their boys-will-be-boys
shenanigans... but in 1966 girls were still either ladies or sluts.
It sounds like it was cutting edge feminism... and it was banned.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Md-LwM0s9fY
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Dr_dudley
>
> It sounds like it was cutting edge feminism
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDZh3nY9clY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hgSnoO1gRI
(wimmen's suffrage,ratified 18aug20)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lgJrqhZvHQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIpf2zqlJeU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0YR1eiG0us
Janice
Dear (dear) dudley,
You are one of my favorite human beings.
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Janice
> > It sounds like it was cutting edge feminism... and it was banned.
> >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Md-LwM0s9fY
>
> How could anyone watch that clip and not be curious to see more? ;)
I am. I will.
:)
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Janice
> > The best film I've recently seen was definitely Truffaut's "Stolen
> > Kisses" (1968). It's posted on YouTube, under the French title.
>
> PS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBE6t3PVy2s
Excellent. Thank you.
Just saw Sleep Dealers, a well-done Mexican scifi with some clever
alternatives for the immigration issue. You can tell it's not a
current American/Hollywood scifi flick because there are moments of
tenderness, regret, & reflection... and the violence is minimal tho'
the tension is ongoing.
~`~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Janice
.
> A freshly revised top 40 of my "films to see":
...
> 14. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009) [still in theaters]
This movie is playing in a local art movie house, which means cozy
venue and a screen about the size of my TV. It never made it to
either of the local multiplexes. Why? And for that matter, what
happened to The Road? Has anyone seen it? It was a short run in the
big city, then disappeared. Why oh why?
The whole reason I go to an actual movie theater any more is to see
those mind-blowing visuals wrapping around the room(special effects,
fantastic cinematography, some 3D), while drowning (and slowly going
deaf) in Dolby sound. I have yet to experience iMax...
And speaking of going to the movies (in the theater), I've seen more
of the likely-to-be-nominated Oscar hopefuls this year than usual.
(Btw, the nominees will be announced tomorrow, when Phil the groundhog
predicts the future. Or something like that.)
* Avatar - A very pretty film. When my husband asked what I thought
of it, I told him it felt like ET meets Titanic. It's interesting
that it has become controversial in ways that perhaps Cameron hadn't
intended. It's not surprising that the military has announced a
boycott of it -- it portrays the military & American beaurocrats as
one-dimensional action figures gone berserk.
But it has also stirred up the ire of the choir that Cameron was
supposedly preaching to by having the solution to the problem once
again provided by the superior experience & expertise of the foreign
white devil. Whose gonna save those p'or chillun massah if it
tweren't for us fine white gennelmun?
Personally, I was discouraged that the solution was -- once again --
to end violence with violence. When is somebody ever going to think
out of the box on this one? Every sci fi movie I see, the future
technology & mindset is still holstered, locked, & loaded. Phhht.
* Precious - Not a very pretty film, but a fascinating study in
relationships. Rolling Stone gave it all it's stars, and said don't
be afraid to see it, it's not as depressing as you might think. What
they are not saying in the previews & most reviews is that this movie
is made for women who have had to deal with incest in the home, and
how one 17 year old black girl took charge of her life. There were 3
other people in the theater when we saw it.
* Up in the Air - I thought I was hunkering down for a good ol'
tearjerkin' chick flick. Not so. I'm not sure why this is being
billed as a chick flick, unless it's because it's too harsh a reality
for men to take. I don't think my husband should see it. If dudley
or JW see it I'm afraid they might jump off a bridge. The Golden
Globes gave this Best Screenplay, which I think it may deserve. That
Clooney, he's a sly one. Always has a message.
> I haven't crossed off any biggies in recent weeks, except for "The
> Silence," "The Passion of Anna" and "The Shout."
I saw Silence, and I don't remember it. I have one vague memory of an
underground parkinglot noire-ish scene. Otherwise, nothing stuck.
I saw Withnail & I a few weeks ago. It was very well done, and very
odd... at least from my good ol' USofA ex(ish)-hippie perspective.
1969 was different in Britain than in the US, apparently. I wiki'd
the movie and learned that it is considered one of Britain's best
films of all time, and a huge cult film. Fans of the film have
purchased the estate used as Uncle Monty's country cottage, and
various landmarks in the film have become pilgrimage spots.
Bear with me if this is old news to everyone.
It is autobiographical, and one of the protagonists is an alcoholic.
A drinking game has grown up around the film... trying to keep up with
the drinking of the character Withnail, tho' it is also widely
accepted that if you did, you'd be dead. And maybe that's the
difference between the 60's in the US and the 60's in England... drugs
vs. alcohol. Food for thought.
Lighter fluid scene:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5EmCKbWS6c
Spectres of the Spectrum is arriving this week.
~`~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Janice
> poisoned rose <prose1...@aol.com> wrote:
> > 36. Death by Hanging (1968)
>
> Saw this last night...EXCELLENT.
I found this streaming online, watched a few seconds of the opening
scenes & got scared. Is this as disturbing as I think it will be,
graphically? I already know where I stand, and don't need to be
convinced.
~`~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Janice
> > This movie is playing in a local art movie house, which means cozy
> > venue and a screen about the size of my TV. It never made it to
> > either of the local multiplexes. Why?
> Well, other than maybe The Fisher King, have ANY of Gilliam's films been
> a commercial hit?
Time Bandits -- still a favorite of mine, tho' I think some of my
children were traumatized by it.
12 Monkeys -- for which I will forgive Brad Pitt anything after his
role in this movie (only approached by his role in Burn After Reading)
> > * Precious - Not a very pretty film, but a fascinating study in
> > relationships. Rolling Stone gave it all it's stars, and said don't
> > be afraid to see it, it's not as depressing as you might think. What
> > they are not saying in the previews & most reviews is that this movie
> > is made for women who have had to deal with incest in the home, and
> > how one 17 year old black girl took charge of her life. There were 3
> > other people in the theater when we saw it.
.
> I think the stench of Oprah's characteristic do-goodiness is what keeps
> me away.
Not sure what you mean by that... Oprah had nothing to do with the
making of Precious so far as I know.
> > I saw Silence, and I don't remember it. I have one vague memory of an
> > underground parkinglot noire-ish scene. Otherwise, nothing stuck.
.
> I think you may be thinking of a different film called "Silence"? I'm
> talking about "The Silence," directed by Ingmar Bergman. Maybe I'm
> wrong, but I don't recall any "parking lot" in this film.
I think you're right. I have not invested in Bergman, so I probably
haven't seen this film. Some day I will have to decide whether or not
I am going to take the time to watch his films. Whatever of his I
have seen (decades ago) left me cold and unwilling to follow up on his
work. But, I was young... I should be wiser than that now.
I am hesitant because I suspect that his work feels dated and doesn't
hold up 50 years later. Plus, I've always wondered if his reputation
for the art form hasn't become more marketable than his talent for the
art form... in the same way Woody Allen's reputation seems to prevail
while his talent piggy-backs along (IMO, of course).
> > I saw Withnail & I a few weeks ago. It was very well done, and very
> > odd... at least from my good ol' USofA ex(ish)-hippie perspective.
> > 1969 was different in Britain than in the US, apparently. I wiki'd
> > the movie and learned that it is considered one of Britain's best
> > films of all time, and a huge cult film.
.
> I think this film was discussed in rec.music.beatles recently. I was
> saying that I always felt this film was overrated, due to its allure to
> a certain "cool" sector which favors anything decadent, druggy, seedy,
> etc. I generally have tastes which aim right at this sort of lo-fi
> British comedy, but I just don't think this film has earned its wild
> acclaim. It's "pretty good," but not much more.
I think "seedy" is the appropriate description for the flavor of this
movie. For me, it felt more associated with the 50's than the 60's...
the 50's was a decade in America when "seedy" films were often
considered avant garde and noire.
> I finally saw "A Serious Man" yesterday. Enjoyed it a lot, though I
> didn't really connect with all the Jewish-culture elements. Mainly just
> enjoyed the perversity of the Coens' storytelling -- they just love to
> frustrate their audience, and I love them for it. ;)
Sometimes I agree with the critic from the New Yorker about the Coens:
"A Serious Man, like Burn After Reading, is in their bleak, black,
belittling mode, and it's hell to sit through... As a piece of movie-
making craft, A Serious Man is fascinating; in every other way, it's
intolerable."
I enjoyed Burn After Reading because I thought Brad Pitt made his
idiotic character lovable, while the rest of the characters were
irredeemable.
Saw Legion... at one point in the film the Archangels Michael and
Gabriel have a fist fight... I love this sudden flurry of myth &
gods & monsters movies coming out this year, but so far it's starting
to look like the technology is fast out-pacing concept and context.
We are currently watching the 1931 version of Frankenstein... in bits
& pieces (pardon the pun), taking our own sweet time because it is
such a treat. I haven't seen the movie in decades, and I am thrilled
to see how well it survives and sustains artistically. The actors are
more thoughtful and genuine than normally found in early 30's pics,
giving the story the credence it deserves. The monster is beautiful
in his blank angst & confusion. The sets and cinematography are
fantastic.
I try to imagine what it must have been like to see this movie in the
theater when it was first released... on the heels of the Depression,
and right before the advent of the Third Reich with its dreams of a
superior race. A mesmerizing lesson in how we create our own
monsters.
Frankenstein - 1910 original 12 min. full movie filmed at Edison
Studios:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcLxsOJK9bs
The Man Who Made a Monster - Frankenstein, 1931:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mach-o6aoEo
Wolfman is probably the next foray to the big screen. I was terrified
by this movie when I was about 6 years old, and I am a little
apprehensive at the idea of seeing it now...
Spectres of the Spectrum is sitting in the DVD player waiting for
someone to push Play.
~`~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Janice
.
> Janice <jan...@dixoncreekstudio.com> wrote:
.
> > > I think the stench of Oprah's characteristic do-goodiness is what keeps
> > > me away.
.
> > Not sure what you mean by that... Oprah had nothing to do with the
> > making of Precious so far as I know.
> Executive producer.
No.
From IMDB:
The film was produced independently by Lee Daniels Entertainment, and
the completed film was caught in a battle between potential
distributors The Weinstein Company and Lionsgate after its initial
success at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. Oprah Winfrey's Harpo
Productions and 'Tyler Perry''s 34th Street Films signed on to lend
promotional assistance to the production, and Perry's existing
relationship with Lionsgate helped land the film a release through
that distributor.
> > I think "seedy" is the appropriate description for the flavor of this
> > movie. For me, it felt more associated with the 50's than the 60's...
.
> Err...with a soundtrack full of Hendrix and the Beatles?
That was the weirdest thing. Each time I heard Hendrix in the movie,
or the Beatles song, it seemed totally incongruous and out of context.
~`~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
gemjack
<jan...@dixoncreekstudio.com> wrote:
>Time Bandits -- still a favorite of mine, tho' I think some of my
>children were traumatized by it.
I was obsessed with this movie (even the George Harrison theme song)
when it came out. I never looked at things the same after this and it
really fueled my imagination and set a course for what I considered
entertaining.
Clash of the Titans had a big impact too around that time.
-gj
Janice
.
> Spectres of the Spectrum is sitting in the DVD player waiting for
> someone to push Play.
What a kick... TV Tesla & the Electromagnetic Revolution!
Science in Action! Korla Pandit!
And all worth the price of the ticket just for the Timetravel
Spaceship alone.
~`~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQHaglomIU0
frinjdwelr
"gemjack" <geminij...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:t2f1n5tevhqvmr3a0...@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 8 Feb 2010 15:24:52 -0800 (PST), Janice
> <jan...@dixoncreekstudio.com> wrote:
>
>>Time Bandits -- still a favorite of mine, tho' I think some of my
>>children were traumatized by it.
>
> I was obsessed with this movie (even the George Harrison theme song)
> when it came out.
So were my kids. We had it on tape somehow and they must have watched it
dozens of times.
tif
> Saw "Une Femme Est Une Femme" last night...wonderful.
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG2KcTCTyBw
Janice
.
> tif <pasterna...@gmail.com> wrote:
.
> >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaAxyHnfW1o
.
> I finally saw "Danger: Diabolik" last night! Wonderful fun. THE film I
> wanted to see. Thrilling to finally see it, after "coveting" it for
> several years.
.
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ws5V0sQ4eWA
What a fun collection of movies is sitting in my YouTube bookmark, I
am looking forward to diving into them all. I appreciate all these
pointers.
Just saw "Gamer" and I have to say it is the best cinematic attempt at
expressing the imaginative darkness of actual virtual reality I've
seen up to this point (excluding Matrix, which wandered into other
areas of scifi/fantasy).
There's an overwhelming amount of violence, and the story of the death
row prisoner as real human avatar doing battle to win his freedom is
hardly new, but the creation of the game "Society" with human alter-
egos is spot on... creepy and funny and very familiar. Anybody been
to Second Life?
Michael C. Hall is a great old-time movie-ish villain who is truly
slippery & evil. He has a wonderful scene ala The Mask & Nicholson's
Joker in Batman where he and his thugs trip the light fantastic as he
sings a Sinatra version of "I've Got You Under My Skin" -- a sleazy
pun on the theme of the movie.
It's a comment on online addictions. I was thoroughly entertained.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECoPbiGfjNw
~`~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~