Using the John Owen System:
* Hated it/Never want to see it again
** Didn't like it/Maybe I'll watch it again someday, though
*** Liked it/Enjoyable, but it'll be awhile before I see it again
**** Really liked it/A favorite to be revisited often
***** Loved it/A masterpiece that I can't live without
16 Features
Battleship Potemkin ***
Brief Encounter ****
The Cabin in the Woods ***
Cleo From 5 to 7 ****
Destry Rides Again ****
Every Thing You Always Wanted to Know About Sex****
Good Morning ****
Jules et Jim ****
The Kid (1921...not 2000, Jeff)*****
Ladies in Retirement ***
Le Plaisir ****
Meet Me In St. Louis *****
My Favorite Wife ****
Quai Des Orfevres ****
Seven Samurai *****
Young Mr. Lincoln ****
Notes: The Cabin in the Woods gets three stars from me, but only because I'm not a horror fan. I completely respect the film and have even recommended it to a couple of friends. I knew one of my friends would absolutely love it...turns out, he did.
Every Thing You Wanted To Know About Sex isn't one of Woody's best, but I have to say, very few movies cheer me up in the way that a 70s/80s Woody Allen comedy can.
Sorry I didn't get that Cleo From 5 to 7 paragraph to you, Brandon; I did watch the film after you asked me to, but things got busy and I completely forgot about sending a paragraph. I guess technically I could still send you one...since you haven't posted your 1962 list yet. But you've probably already written something up on it. Anyway, my favorite moment from the film is when Cleo meets the soldier towards the end. I love the bond they share through uncertainty and potential doom.
My Favorite Wife isn't necessarily a masterpiece, but it was incredibly enjoyable from beginning to end. It's one of the funniest classic comedies that I've ever seen and I can't wait to watch it again.
The Battleship Potemkin discussion will commence soon. I do agree that it'll be a little more difficult to discuss than the other film's we've watched together. I will say that as far as propaganda films are concerned, give me Commie propaganda.
Also, John, you had asked if there were any references to Eisenstein's film on The Simpsons...unless I'm forgetting something, there aren't any in seasons 1-10. Beyond that, I couldn't tell you because I haven't seen a lot of those episodes. BUT...on The Critic (created by Simpsons writers Al Jean and Mike Reiss), there is a nod to the famous "Odessa stairs" sequence (it's at the 22 second mark in the video below, which is of critic Jay Sherman's student film). How's that for nerdy?
TV
30 Rock season 6
The Colbert Report
The Daily Show
Game of Thrones season 2
Girls 1 episode
Mad Men season 5
Parks and Recreation season 4
Real Time with Bill Maher
The Ricky Gervais Show season 3
Seinfeld seasons 1, 2, 3
Monday, April 30, 2012
Friday, April 20, 2012
A Real Man Makes His Own Luck
- Billy Zane, Titanic
First of all, I really enjoyed reading your Titanic stories, Adrienne and Brandon. Unlike the both of you, I did not see Titanic when it hit theaters back in '97; I was 10/11 years old at the time, so I only went to the movies when my parents took me. I guess they were unfazed by the craze (those hipsters), or they went without taking me, Jeff, and our older brother, Brent along. Perhaps the smart thing to do, given all of Titanic's hardcore nudity.
I think my first viewing of the film came at the hands of that double VHS box set, when DVDs were still young. I wanna say that I've never watched all 194 minutes in one sitting, instead opting to watch it in bits and pieces. And again, because I wasn't quite a teenager yet, the part of the film I was most interested in was Kate Winslet's nude modeling scene. I don't feel embarrassed in admitting that, because I know it's true of most of the males my age. This was also a time when Leonard DiCaprio was cool to hate. It's funny to think back on that now, considering he's the best actor of his generation.
America's fascination with the actual Titanic is interesting, to say the least. I remember first hearing the story in third grade, and for a short time, I was even fascinated by this story of an "unsinkable ship" that sank. So I'm sure the hubris of man has a lot to do with the story's appeal. Not to mention all of the mistakes and coincidences that needed to happen for that ship to rest at the bottom of the ocean.
Like Brandon I wasn't a fan of the film when I was younger because it wasn't cool to like it; it was The Notebook before there was The Notebook. Now that's it back in the theaters, in 3D of all things, I haven't felt the need to revisit it. I'm sure it's a solid film, but if I do re-watch it to find out what I really think, it'll probably be years down the road; I've got other movies that I want to watch and re-watch first. Also, while I do think it's cool to bring back movies to the theater, bringing Titanic back (in 3D) absolutely screams, "we love your money."
Anyway, I can't imagine being on the Titanic while it was sinking. I can't imagine being in the lifeboat knowing that everyone on the ship would drown or freeze to death. This is my segue back to our horror discussion, by the way. I guess I'm also not a huge fan of disaster films. Watching people die under shitty circumstances really gets to me. Jason says that he likes to put himself in the shoes of these characters; I do too, but I don't seem to approach those situations with any sort of optimism. The only foolproof way to survive the various situations in these films is to be in the leading role.
I don't think you need to walk away from every movie "changed," or with a new mindset. Sometimes we just need/want to be entertained. I realize most people seek entertainment from horror films, first and foremost...but I never seem to get entertainment from them. Again, I feel Jason's roller coaster comparison is extremely accurate. I can count the number of roller coasters I've been on in my lifetime with one hand; I've never enjoyed them, and I've never enjoyed horror films. If I want a rush, I'll play hide and seek in the dark. No downhill bike rides for me.
In other topics of recent conversation, I do think the usage of the word "hipster" has become too liberal nowadays. Great points from everyone. Similarly to what Brandon wrote about, seems like I hear someone being called a hipster almost every other day. While the word has been around as long as jazz, it has probably never been this widely used. A lot of that has to do with the age we live in, where we love to label things and people. Of course, young people will always conform to trends. Also, social media shines a light on everything.
Having said all that, I would not say John uses the word too liberally. Okay, no one is saying that, but the point is that I agree with the idea that many people (who aren't named John Owen) use the word as a pejorative to denigrate that which they find unusual or different or bearded. On a similar note (if you're still following me), I think people will often call something "pretentious" as a way to lazily criticize it.
Haha, Brandon, if I were to twist my nipples while watching Garden State, wouldn't that make me emo? Time to break out my old Dashboard Confessional CDs. Also, I always use "haha" when I think something is actually funny. I never use LOL (shit!), and if I'm ever bitter about something, odds are, I won't grant you a "haha."
John, I love your points about "nerd" culture being on the rise. As usual, style seems to be one of the driving factors. Nowadays NBA players wear Woody Allen/Jeff Howard glasses and dress in bow-ties and dress shirts. It's become fashionable to look nerdy, so of course there's going to be plenty of posers out there. Jeff brought to my attention a while back that many non-poser nerds are happy with the accurate nerd portrayal of Ben Wyatt (played by Adam Scott) on NBC's Parks and Recreation. I know for me, he's the kind of character that I can appreciate. Fuck The Big Bang Theory.
Lastly, it's time for some Girls talk. I told Ben that I wouldn't be watching HBO's Girls because I hated Tiny Furniture so much. I meant to hold on to that hate, but yesterday I gave in and watched the pilot. My reason: I began to read all of the criticisms that were being leveled at it. One of the main criticisms is the lack of diversity on the show. Fair enough; Girls does feature an all white cast. In fact, the only black character on the show is a homeless person (yeesh). Honestly though, I can understand where both sides are coming from here. The show is called Girls (not White Girls) and it takes place in racially diverse New York City. (I was thinking earlier today that a show like Girls with an all-black cast would be probably be a much better show.) Anyway, having said all that, I absolutely believe Lena Dunham when she says that it is an innocent mistake.
I don't dislike Lena Dunham; I wish the best for her...especially now, given the number of people who want to see her fail. I mean, I can understand where the film snobs are coming from with the Tiny Furniture Criterion Collection controversy. But that's mainly due to the fact that I didn't find Dunham's film to be all that interesting.
Another criticism of Girls is that the self-entitled characters aren't very interesting to watch. I actually don't agree with this point as much as I thought I would. This was my main criticism of Tiny Furniture. There was nothing redeemable about the characters; Dunham's character made a string of dumb decisions and I came away from the film with nothing. The knowledge that girls want to hook up with douchebags is something I learned back in middle school. Anyway, surprisingly, I feel that the show Girls does actually offer something and the relationships between the characters are more interesting and are more fully developed. This is positive because it tells me that Dunham is growing as a writer, director. Again, I'm rooting for her.
BUT...I still maintain that it's tough to get behind everything she writes. She's a pretty good comedy writer; I like her tone. But again, there's still too much self-entitlement here. New York City is one of the best cities in the world and it's difficult to garner any sort of sympathy for someone who gets to live in Manhattan for free. Another point is that Dunham's character, Hannah, is writing a memoir. If a 24-year-old gave me his/her memoir, I would probably throw it in the trash. And sure, this could be a commentary on the fact that everyone among the Facebook generation seems to think he or she leads an interesting life. But even if that's the case, Dunham will only end up preaching to the choir. That type of moron only watches Jersey Shore, and won't ever tune into Girls on a weekly basis.
The third criticism of the show is nepotism...it's also the stupidest criticism. I guess if you're a lazy critic, you'll focus on that. Although, I will say that I think much of the hate for Lena Dunham probably comes from the fact that she's Laurie Simmons daughter. I imagine certain people believe Dunham's success has always been handed to her. And yes, there's definitely some sexism behind all the hate, and it's unfortunate. But since I won't be able to solve the problem of sexism in this post, I'm gonna move on. I didn't hate the show. I'm not sure if I'll keep watching, but I am glad to see that Dunham has improved as a writer/director.
How's that, Ben?
First of all, I really enjoyed reading your Titanic stories, Adrienne and Brandon. Unlike the both of you, I did not see Titanic when it hit theaters back in '97; I was 10/11 years old at the time, so I only went to the movies when my parents took me. I guess they were unfazed by the craze (those hipsters), or they went without taking me, Jeff, and our older brother, Brent along. Perhaps the smart thing to do, given all of Titanic's hardcore nudity.
I think my first viewing of the film came at the hands of that double VHS box set, when DVDs were still young. I wanna say that I've never watched all 194 minutes in one sitting, instead opting to watch it in bits and pieces. And again, because I wasn't quite a teenager yet, the part of the film I was most interested in was Kate Winslet's nude modeling scene. I don't feel embarrassed in admitting that, because I know it's true of most of the males my age. This was also a time when Leonard DiCaprio was cool to hate. It's funny to think back on that now, considering he's the best actor of his generation.
America's fascination with the actual Titanic is interesting, to say the least. I remember first hearing the story in third grade, and for a short time, I was even fascinated by this story of an "unsinkable ship" that sank. So I'm sure the hubris of man has a lot to do with the story's appeal. Not to mention all of the mistakes and coincidences that needed to happen for that ship to rest at the bottom of the ocean.
Like Brandon I wasn't a fan of the film when I was younger because it wasn't cool to like it; it was The Notebook before there was The Notebook. Now that's it back in the theaters, in 3D of all things, I haven't felt the need to revisit it. I'm sure it's a solid film, but if I do re-watch it to find out what I really think, it'll probably be years down the road; I've got other movies that I want to watch and re-watch first. Also, while I do think it's cool to bring back movies to the theater, bringing Titanic back (in 3D) absolutely screams, "we love your money."
Anyway, I can't imagine being on the Titanic while it was sinking. I can't imagine being in the lifeboat knowing that everyone on the ship would drown or freeze to death. This is my segue back to our horror discussion, by the way. I guess I'm also not a huge fan of disaster films. Watching people die under shitty circumstances really gets to me. Jason says that he likes to put himself in the shoes of these characters; I do too, but I don't seem to approach those situations with any sort of optimism. The only foolproof way to survive the various situations in these films is to be in the leading role.
I don't think you need to walk away from every movie "changed," or with a new mindset. Sometimes we just need/want to be entertained. I realize most people seek entertainment from horror films, first and foremost...but I never seem to get entertainment from them. Again, I feel Jason's roller coaster comparison is extremely accurate. I can count the number of roller coasters I've been on in my lifetime with one hand; I've never enjoyed them, and I've never enjoyed horror films. If I want a rush, I'll play hide and seek in the dark. No downhill bike rides for me.
In other topics of recent conversation, I do think the usage of the word "hipster" has become too liberal nowadays. Great points from everyone. Similarly to what Brandon wrote about, seems like I hear someone being called a hipster almost every other day. While the word has been around as long as jazz, it has probably never been this widely used. A lot of that has to do with the age we live in, where we love to label things and people. Of course, young people will always conform to trends. Also, social media shines a light on everything.
Having said all that, I would not say John uses the word too liberally. Okay, no one is saying that, but the point is that I agree with the idea that many people (who aren't named John Owen) use the word as a pejorative to denigrate that which they find unusual or different or bearded. On a similar note (if you're still following me), I think people will often call something "pretentious" as a way to lazily criticize it.
Haha, Brandon, if I were to twist my nipples while watching Garden State, wouldn't that make me emo? Time to break out my old Dashboard Confessional CDs. Also, I always use "haha" when I think something is actually funny. I never use LOL (shit!), and if I'm ever bitter about something, odds are, I won't grant you a "haha."
John, I love your points about "nerd" culture being on the rise. As usual, style seems to be one of the driving factors. Nowadays NBA players wear Woody Allen/Jeff Howard glasses and dress in bow-ties and dress shirts. It's become fashionable to look nerdy, so of course there's going to be plenty of posers out there. Jeff brought to my attention a while back that many non-poser nerds are happy with the accurate nerd portrayal of Ben Wyatt (played by Adam Scott) on NBC's Parks and Recreation. I know for me, he's the kind of character that I can appreciate. Fuck The Big Bang Theory.
Lastly, it's time for some Girls talk. I told Ben that I wouldn't be watching HBO's Girls because I hated Tiny Furniture so much. I meant to hold on to that hate, but yesterday I gave in and watched the pilot. My reason: I began to read all of the criticisms that were being leveled at it. One of the main criticisms is the lack of diversity on the show. Fair enough; Girls does feature an all white cast. In fact, the only black character on the show is a homeless person (yeesh). Honestly though, I can understand where both sides are coming from here. The show is called Girls (not White Girls) and it takes place in racially diverse New York City. (I was thinking earlier today that a show like Girls with an all-black cast would be probably be a much better show.) Anyway, having said all that, I absolutely believe Lena Dunham when she says that it is an innocent mistake.
I don't dislike Lena Dunham; I wish the best for her...especially now, given the number of people who want to see her fail. I mean, I can understand where the film snobs are coming from with the Tiny Furniture Criterion Collection controversy. But that's mainly due to the fact that I didn't find Dunham's film to be all that interesting.
Another criticism of Girls is that the self-entitled characters aren't very interesting to watch. I actually don't agree with this point as much as I thought I would. This was my main criticism of Tiny Furniture. There was nothing redeemable about the characters; Dunham's character made a string of dumb decisions and I came away from the film with nothing. The knowledge that girls want to hook up with douchebags is something I learned back in middle school. Anyway, surprisingly, I feel that the show Girls does actually offer something and the relationships between the characters are more interesting and are more fully developed. This is positive because it tells me that Dunham is growing as a writer, director. Again, I'm rooting for her.
BUT...I still maintain that it's tough to get behind everything she writes. She's a pretty good comedy writer; I like her tone. But again, there's still too much self-entitlement here. New York City is one of the best cities in the world and it's difficult to garner any sort of sympathy for someone who gets to live in Manhattan for free. Another point is that Dunham's character, Hannah, is writing a memoir. If a 24-year-old gave me his/her memoir, I would probably throw it in the trash. And sure, this could be a commentary on the fact that everyone among the Facebook generation seems to think he or she leads an interesting life. But even if that's the case, Dunham will only end up preaching to the choir. That type of moron only watches Jersey Shore, and won't ever tune into Girls on a weekly basis.
The third criticism of the show is nepotism...it's also the stupidest criticism. I guess if you're a lazy critic, you'll focus on that. Although, I will say that I think much of the hate for Lena Dunham probably comes from the fact that she's Laurie Simmons daughter. I imagine certain people believe Dunham's success has always been handed to her. And yes, there's definitely some sexism behind all the hate, and it's unfortunate. But since I won't be able to solve the problem of sexism in this post, I'm gonna move on. I didn't hate the show. I'm not sure if I'll keep watching, but I am glad to see that Dunham has improved as a writer/director.
How's that, Ben?
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Cabin in the Woods
SPOILERS THROUGHOUT
The best thing that Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard's film The Cabin in the Woods has going for it is its originality. And sure, as Jeff and John touched on, there's plenty of convention within the film. However, I do respect and give points to Whedon and Goddard for what they've done here. Their commentary on the genre wasn't so clever that it changed something in me, but it definitely held my attention and stimulated my intrigue. But more so than providing a commentary, I'm sure Whedon and Goddard's primary goal was to entertain. And unlike John, I do see a large audience for this film...from the "smug, hipster" Buffy fans to the morons who are so easily amused by the Ted trailer; they can all take enjoyment away from The Cabin in the Woods.
So yes, that's as far as I'm taking it...the movie is a fun way to kill an hour and a half (more puns!). You're right, John, there are no lessons learned; though we cringe (some more than others...referring to myself), we do walk away unchanged. But that doesn't mean we (or more accurately, I) can't give the film points for doing some interesting things along the way.
Like Jeff, I can appreciate the self-awareness about the character's conformity to the horror archetypes. These characters are definitely processed into their roles. The word "puppets" is used multiple times, so the film is fully aware that these characters aren't fit for John Carter's script. Yes, Whedon and Goddard have pulled on the strings, but they've also given life to surrogate puppet masters in the form of characters played by Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford; the two characters also serve as directors for a horror film that's been made hundreds of times and will continue to be made. In that sense, we have a meta-horror flick, and I like both the idea of that and the actual execution in film.
And with that last bit in mind, I like to think that the Company exists to create our horror movies. One thought I had while trying to figure out the mystery of the film was that this was some sort of near-futuristic story where society has become so obsessed with reality television that eventually we wanted to capture that "reality" in our films as well. That would also help to explain why the Company thrives to stick to the modern horror formula; they're looking to give the people what they want/expect. But I also understand that the script makes it clear that there's a need for specific sacrifices to be made (a whore, a fool, etc.).
The Twilight Zone also came to mind as I attempted to solve the mystery. I think Rod Serling would be a fan of some aspects. The mystery element drives the film and kept me interested. Having said that, the reveal at the end does come as something of a disappointment for me. While I do feel that it's a road that very few writers/filmmakers would have gone down, I admit that I don't care much for Elder God subplots. I would've preferred something a little more Rod Serling-esque. But that's me - a Twilight Zone fan who's never seen an episode of Buffy. But the larger point is that the mystery worked for me.
I like to think that Whedon and Goddard wrote back-stories for each of their monsters (the ones that could've shown up at the cabin, that is). I had the same thought as Jeff, too, that the DVD would be amazing if they had alternate scenes with those various monsters.
One thing that Jeff enjoyed that I did not was the "purge" sequence toward the end, where the monsters were unleashed on the Company. Granted, I, too, chuckled at the Merman sequence, but I didn't care for the rest of it. Call me old fashioned, but I don't like torture. Sure, most of us don't like torture, but I have an strongly adverse reaction to seeing it simulated in a film. I would never put this film on par with Saw or Human Centipede or any of the "torture porn" bullshit movies, but I hate that kind of chaotic bloodshed. So really, I wasn't able to enjoy that part as much as others, and even if those deaths were deserved, I still didn't like it.
Like John, I prefer swashbuckler adventure romances to horror, and I can't enjoy watching teens get butchered (even if they're a bit on the douchey side). I like my violence in movies when there's a fair playing field and when justice is served. In most modern horror films, premarital sex is usually the only thing the characters are guilty of. How is that worthy of death at the hands of a psychopath wielding a blade or a family of redneck zombies with farm tools? The moral and message doesn't resonate with me either, because I'm not exactly sure what the message is in all of that. With Cabin in the Woods, the commentary provides more of a message for me, but right, it doesn't mean as much to me as something like Seven Samurai or Young Mr. Lincoln (the two films I watched before seeing Cabin on Friday).
Lastly, I want to address John's line about the hero of Cabin in the Woods. He identifies the stoner, Marty, who throughout the film, questions appearances and digs deeper to find truth. I find it funny that the hero of the story is also a guy who selfishly wants the world to be destroyed along with him. I'm not challenging what you wrote, John, I just think it's interesting that our "hero" doesn't display a shred of heroism at the end of the film.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Rom Coms
1. Annie Hall
2. The Graduate
3. Ball of Fire
4. Roman Holiday
5. His Girl Friday
6. Knocked Up
7. The Apartment
8. It Happened One Night
9. Chasing Amy
10. The Palm Beach Story
HM (alphabetical): 10 Things I Hate About You, (500) Days of Summer, Adventureland, Bringing Up Baby, The Goodbye Girl, Harold and Maude, Moonstruck, The Philadelphia Story, Punch-Drunk Love, There's Something About Mary
Movies I love, but don't quite fit our critera: Amelie, Arsenic and Old Lace, Being There, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Groundhog Day, High Fidelity, Lars and the Real Girl, L'Atalante, Love and Death, Monsieur Beaucaire, Rushmore, Singin' In the Rain, Some Like It Hot, Unfaithfully Yours, WALL-E
Commentary: I used IMDb to help me sort through which films were strictly romantic comedies. If the website had a particular film listed as nothing but a "comedy," "romance," and "drama," then that film made the cut. More specifically, a film like Some Like It Hot, which seemed like an obvious rom com to me, was only tagged as a comedy, so that's why it's among the group of films below the honorable mentions. Additionally, one of Amelie's tags was fantasy, and High Fidelity didn't have a romance tag.
The reason why I have Annie Hall and The Graduate listed above great classics like Ball of Fire and Roman Holiday is because I've had a longer relationship with those two contemporary films. However, Ball of Fire and Roman Holiday are quickly becoming big favorites of mine.
I've discussed Annie Hall on my blog before and maintain that I don't care how popular it is or how much it's regarded as Woody's best film. Like Jeff, I'm a big fan of what Adrienne wrote about "what makes a good romantic comedy." With that in mind, Annie Hall is the quintessential choice; I'll always love it for its honesty and sincerity. It tackles love from many different angles and it's one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. Similarly, I find The Gradute to be a comical meditation on love and life; it's one of my all-time favorite films.
One of the reasons why I told Brandon we should make romantic comedy top tens is because I was watching Roman Holiday when he asked me. Many contemporary films have taken the plot structure from William Wyler's film, only now it is completely bastardized. I absolutely love Roman Holiday for it's ending. SPOILERS. Gregory Peck is never caught in his lie to Audrey Hepburn, he makes the choice not to write a story on Hepburn's character because he's in love with her. Additionally, Peck and Hepburn don't end up together in the end. It's a brutally realistic ending with a great shot of Peck walking out of the room and staring back, hoping for one last look of Hepburn. Brilliant stuff.
Knocked Up is Judd Apatow's finest work to date, and hopefully he can find that magic again. I grew up with Chasing Amy, and likewise, it's Kevin Smith's best work, though the odds of him writing something like that again are pretty much impossible.
10 Things I Hate About You was something we used to watch a lot when we were kids. I'm a big fan of Heath Ledger's character in the film, and I do like the moment when he sings, "You're Just Too Good To Be True" from the stadium stands.
I want to be able to put Punch-Drunk Love in my top ten, but I'd have to watch it again before doing so. I've only seen it once, though I've seen certain scenes multiple times. When I did watch it for the first time, I was young and didn't understand the genius that is Paul Thomas Anderson. I certainly didn't hate it, but I wasn't too impressed with it. I want to give it another shot soon.
Are the two Hal Ashby films (Harold and Maude and Being There) overrated or underrated? I honestly don't care too much, and I do enjoy both.
Lastly, I could've added multiple Woody Allen movies to my top ten list; there are plenty that I love so much more than the last few films on my list. I chose to go with one of his films instead to allow more variety.
2. The Graduate
3. Ball of Fire
4. Roman Holiday
5. His Girl Friday
6. Knocked Up
7. The Apartment
8. It Happened One Night
9. Chasing Amy
10. The Palm Beach Story
HM (alphabetical): 10 Things I Hate About You, (500) Days of Summer, Adventureland, Bringing Up Baby, The Goodbye Girl, Harold and Maude, Moonstruck, The Philadelphia Story, Punch-Drunk Love, There's Something About Mary
Movies I love, but don't quite fit our critera: Amelie, Arsenic and Old Lace, Being There, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Groundhog Day, High Fidelity, Lars and the Real Girl, L'Atalante, Love and Death, Monsieur Beaucaire, Rushmore, Singin' In the Rain, Some Like It Hot, Unfaithfully Yours, WALL-E
Commentary: I used IMDb to help me sort through which films were strictly romantic comedies. If the website had a particular film listed as nothing but a "comedy," "romance," and "drama," then that film made the cut. More specifically, a film like Some Like It Hot, which seemed like an obvious rom com to me, was only tagged as a comedy, so that's why it's among the group of films below the honorable mentions. Additionally, one of Amelie's tags was fantasy, and High Fidelity didn't have a romance tag.
The reason why I have Annie Hall and The Graduate listed above great classics like Ball of Fire and Roman Holiday is because I've had a longer relationship with those two contemporary films. However, Ball of Fire and Roman Holiday are quickly becoming big favorites of mine.
I've discussed Annie Hall on my blog before and maintain that I don't care how popular it is or how much it's regarded as Woody's best film. Like Jeff, I'm a big fan of what Adrienne wrote about "what makes a good romantic comedy." With that in mind, Annie Hall is the quintessential choice; I'll always love it for its honesty and sincerity. It tackles love from many different angles and it's one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. Similarly, I find The Gradute to be a comical meditation on love and life; it's one of my all-time favorite films.
One of the reasons why I told Brandon we should make romantic comedy top tens is because I was watching Roman Holiday when he asked me. Many contemporary films have taken the plot structure from William Wyler's film, only now it is completely bastardized. I absolutely love Roman Holiday for it's ending. SPOILERS. Gregory Peck is never caught in his lie to Audrey Hepburn, he makes the choice not to write a story on Hepburn's character because he's in love with her. Additionally, Peck and Hepburn don't end up together in the end. It's a brutally realistic ending with a great shot of Peck walking out of the room and staring back, hoping for one last look of Hepburn. Brilliant stuff.
Knocked Up is Judd Apatow's finest work to date, and hopefully he can find that magic again. I grew up with Chasing Amy, and likewise, it's Kevin Smith's best work, though the odds of him writing something like that again are pretty much impossible.
10 Things I Hate About You was something we used to watch a lot when we were kids. I'm a big fan of Heath Ledger's character in the film, and I do like the moment when he sings, "You're Just Too Good To Be True" from the stadium stands.
I want to be able to put Punch-Drunk Love in my top ten, but I'd have to watch it again before doing so. I've only seen it once, though I've seen certain scenes multiple times. When I did watch it for the first time, I was young and didn't understand the genius that is Paul Thomas Anderson. I certainly didn't hate it, but I wasn't too impressed with it. I want to give it another shot soon.
Are the two Hal Ashby films (Harold and Maude and Being There) overrated or underrated? I honestly don't care too much, and I do enjoy both.
Lastly, I could've added multiple Woody Allen movies to my top ten list; there are plenty that I love so much more than the last few films on my list. I chose to go with one of his films instead to allow more variety.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Hitchcock Top Ten
I admit, I was having some trouble deciding which Hitchcock was my favorite. In the end, the film that sticks out the most for me is Rope. I love it for its structure, its dominance of dialogue, its performances, and its ambition. While the film isn't actually one long shot, the way Hitchcock staged, shot, and edited the film is incredibly impressive, to put it mildly. I love John Dall's performance as Brandon; his arrogance in committing the perfect murder is fascinating to watch. Again, I also love the "master scene" element and theater/play aspect.
2. Vertigo
Vertigo is obviously a popular pick, but if you love something enough, I see no reason to shy away from it. The film holds your attention from beginning to end with no flaws or blemishes. This is one of my favorite detective stories in all of film. It's sort of insane the way this movie plays out, but with each moment of mystery and intrigue, the film hijacks your attention span (in a good way, of course) and takes you on a fun ride. Other reasons: Jimmy Stewart rules; I love those iconic shots on the bell tower.
3. Dial M for Murder
I was really hoping to find what I had written back when I watched this film for the first time; couldn't find anything on it other than a brief mention that I liked it for the same reasons I liked Rope. Hitchcock handles stories about murder so well; they're his bread and butter and there's no exception here.
4. Rear Window
What I love most about Rear Window is the set-up - through suspicion and voyeurism, a man attempts to solve a murder. The tension in the film is enhanced by Hitchcock's adroit sensibilities. And there's a great parody of this film in The Simpsons season 6 episode "Bart of Darkness." More reasons to love.
5. North By Northwest
I'll always have a special place in my heart reserved for North By Northwest. It's one of the first Hitchcock movies that I ever saw and I loved it the first time I saw it. I almost want to set up a poll question in our facebook group asking which you prefer - Cary Grant & Hitchcock or Jimmy Stewart & Hitchcock? I have a feeling Jimmy would receive a majority of the votes, but this is the best showcase of the Grant/Hitch combo, in my opinion. Also give me the Mt. Rushmore finale of North By Northwest over the Statue of Liberty finale of Saboteur.
6. Strangers on a Train
Of all of these films, this is the one I'd like to re-watch first. Partly because I haven't seen in a long time. Also, I feel like it might rank higher on my list if I re-watched it. Robert Walker gives a great performance in this one. I love the story and the execution.
7. Notorious
Take that Nazis! The Alicia/Devlin is very complicated and effectively done. I love Ingrid Bergman so it pains me to see her poisoned and under the capture of Nazis. Clearly I have nothing interesting to say about this film, but I really enjoy it.
8. Psycho
A superlative showcase of Hitchcock's work, Psycho demonstrates how meticulous and influential he was as a director. We can talk about what it did for the horror genre, but we mustn't shortchange what it did for film in general. To talk about certain scenes in Psycho is to evoke legend. I wrote this for Brandon's 1960 list and while I do feel this way about the film, it isn't my favorite Hitchcock film.
9. Spellbound
Maybe the psychoanalysis/Fruedian themes are turn offs for some, but I really enjoyed it in this film. Love the Dali dream sequence, the disjointed feeling the film provides as Gregory Peck attempts to regain his memory and his identity.
10. The Wrong Man
I'm tempted to move this up my list, but that could be due to the fact that I watched this one most recently. But of course, it's also due to the fact of how effective it is as a film. This story is an absolute nightmare, not only because Henry Fonda is wrongfully accused, but also due to what happens to his loving wife Rose. The film also does a great job of setting the mood economically.
HM aka the only other Hitchcock films I've seen: Shadow of a Doubt, Saboteur, The Birds, Suspicion, Foreign Correspondent, To Catch a Thief, The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956).
Wanna see: The Trouble With Harry, The 39 Steps, The Lady Vanishes, Lifeboat
Additional thoughts: I just wanted to acknowledge that I left Shadow of a Doubt off of my top ten, which might come as a disappointment to Jeff. Sorry, dude, I know you love that film. For what it's worth, it is my number 11 and next in line to make the list. I love the Joseph Cotten/Teresa Wright relationship. I also really love subplot with Charlie's father and the next door neighbor, and their obsession with murder stories. Having said all that, I found myself wanting something more when the film ended. Maybe if I loved Joseph Cotten as much as you do, I'd rank it higher.
This Things I Believe
I only had four posts in March; I want April to be a more productive month, and I'd finally like to break the funk of not writing. It's nice to write those Jason Poole "dumps." but I feel like they also burn me out a bit, and they limit my desire to do anything else on this blog. I want to start writing longer paragraphs on each film more frequently; I have a feeling that will help.
If John's funk goes on for the next few months, we may need to hold an intervention. And by "intervention," I mean that we need to remove all of the Smallville DVDs from his home; that show is becoming his green kryptonite.
I've watched two John Owen essentials within the past two weeks and I hope to do write-ups on them soon. Obviously one is The Narrow Margin...the other will remain a mystery for now.
A couple of months back, I created two word documents. In one, I'm keeping track of every film I've seen from 1929 to 1979 (I have no record whatsoever of the 80s so far, but I've had a word doc. containing my top tens from 1990-the present for the longest time).
The other word document was created to keep track of all of the films I've seen by the notable directors. I used the "Director's best/worst" list that Brandon created back in the fall, but using the John system, I've alphabetized it and I'm putting the films down in order of their release. I've also added a few directors that we left off the list. Maybe at some point, I'll post it or update my "best/worst" list.
It was cool to see that Brandon was keeping similar records in word documents on his computer. It's a great way to get organized.
John, I hope to watch Love In the Afternoon soon.
The King Kong homage in Treehouse of Horror III is definitely the weakest part of that episode. Unlike you, though, I find no faults in the first act; there are so many quotable lines due in part to great delivery from Dan Castellaneta and the other actors. The "that's good/that's bad" exchange in the "House of Evil" shop is one of my favorite moments/jokes in the entire series.
Another great Homer quote is when the Krusty doll is wrestling Homer on the ground and Homer says, "Marge, the doll's trying to kill me and the toaster's been laughing at me." Cracks me up every time. Anyway, I won't take too much issue with your feelings, because mainly I'm just happy that you watched those episodes. And I'm glad that I was able to accurately predict that you'd be a big John Swartzwelder fan.
Since I've probably alienated most of my audience, I'll wrap this up. Hitchcock list later today. Rom coms sometime within the next few weeks. Broadway Danny Rose soon. I also want to post on Game of Thrones, Mad Men, Cukor's The Women, and some other films.
If John's funk goes on for the next few months, we may need to hold an intervention. And by "intervention," I mean that we need to remove all of the Smallville DVDs from his home; that show is becoming his green kryptonite.
I've watched two John Owen essentials within the past two weeks and I hope to do write-ups on them soon. Obviously one is The Narrow Margin...the other will remain a mystery for now.
A couple of months back, I created two word documents. In one, I'm keeping track of every film I've seen from 1929 to 1979 (I have no record whatsoever of the 80s so far, but I've had a word doc. containing my top tens from 1990-the present for the longest time).
The other word document was created to keep track of all of the films I've seen by the notable directors. I used the "Director's best/worst" list that Brandon created back in the fall, but using the John system, I've alphabetized it and I'm putting the films down in order of their release. I've also added a few directors that we left off the list. Maybe at some point, I'll post it or update my "best/worst" list.
It was cool to see that Brandon was keeping similar records in word documents on his computer. It's a great way to get organized.
John, I hope to watch Love In the Afternoon soon.
The King Kong homage in Treehouse of Horror III is definitely the weakest part of that episode. Unlike you, though, I find no faults in the first act; there are so many quotable lines due in part to great delivery from Dan Castellaneta and the other actors. The "that's good/that's bad" exchange in the "House of Evil" shop is one of my favorite moments/jokes in the entire series.
Another great Homer quote is when the Krusty doll is wrestling Homer on the ground and Homer says, "Marge, the doll's trying to kill me and the toaster's been laughing at me." Cracks me up every time. Anyway, I won't take too much issue with your feelings, because mainly I'm just happy that you watched those episodes. And I'm glad that I was able to accurately predict that you'd be a big John Swartzwelder fan.
Since I've probably alienated most of my audience, I'll wrap this up. Hitchcock list later today. Rom coms sometime within the next few weeks. Broadway Danny Rose soon. I also want to post on Game of Thrones, Mad Men, Cukor's The Women, and some other films.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Rapid Response
The Paleface - hilarious, and not John Wayne approved. Thumbs up!
The Trial of Joan of Arc - very well done. Thumbs up!
Narrow Margin - a lot of fun. Thumbs up!
The Simpsons "Homer the Heretic" - we'd be here forever if I started talking about how much I love this episode. Thumbs way up!
My Suzuki Verona - a piece of shit. I want to beat it with a baseball bat. Thumbs way down...
Sorry again, John. Thanks for the food, the hospitality, the films, and of course, the fuel. Your next five beers are on me.
I'll write more on these films a little later.
The Trial of Joan of Arc - very well done. Thumbs up!
Narrow Margin - a lot of fun. Thumbs up!
The Simpsons "Homer the Heretic" - we'd be here forever if I started talking about how much I love this episode. Thumbs way up!
My Suzuki Verona - a piece of shit. I want to beat it with a baseball bat. Thumbs way down...
Sorry again, John. Thanks for the food, the hospitality, the films, and of course, the fuel. Your next five beers are on me.
I'll write more on these films a little later.
Monday, March 19, 2012
The Simpsons Episode Rankings: Season 9
Season 9 of The Simpsons gave us the beginning of the Mike Scully era (although Bill Oakley & Josh Weinstein, Al Jean & Mike Reiss, and David Mirkin also produced episodes this season).
One of the more memorable episodes from season 9 is "Lisa the Skeptic." In it, Lisa uncovers a fossilized "angel" that serves as a warning to Springfield that the "end of times" is nigh. Fittingly, many Simpsons fans, including myself, view season 9 as the beginning of the end for the series (the snobbiest ones will tell you that it occurred much earlier).
Honestly, this is the last season that I consider to be part of the "Golden Years" of the show, although upon re-watching a lot of these episodes again, my overall opinion of the season has become less favorable. There isn't a single person I blame for the decline of the show. After nine years/100+ episodes, it becomes increasingly difficult to come up with fresh storylines and jokes (Seinfeld's great run only lasted eight seasons). No matter what has happened and what will happen, I'm still very thankful for all of the great episodes and moments that the show has given me, and I will include the first seven episodes from my list below in that statement.
Numbers 8-15 on my list features episodes that are mostly good; numbers 16-25 are episodes that I'd really have to force myself to sit down and watch again. Maybe it's too easy to make All Singing, All Dancing my worst episode, considering the fact that it's a clip show. I know most Simpsons fans would probably list The Principal and the Pauper, the series' most infamous episode, at the bottom. While I still don't necessarily accept the ideas that are presented in the episode, I do think people are too hard on it. I would rather watch it any day over Girly Edition or The Last Temptation of Krust.
1. Lisa the Skeptic
2. The Cartridge Family
3. The Joy of Sect
4. Bart Star
5. Treehouse of Horror VIII
6. Miracle on Evergreen Terrace
7. Simpson Tide
8. Lisa the Simpson
9. Realty Bites
10. Lisa's Sax
11. Trash of the Titans
12. Lost Our Lisa
13. Das Bus
14. Bart Carny
15. The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson
16. Dumbbell Indemnity
17. The Two Mrs. Nahasapemapetilons
18. The Trouble with Trillions
19. Natural Born Kissers
20. King of the Hill
21. The Principal and the Pauper
22. This Little Wiggy
23. Girly Edition
24. The Last Temptation of Krust
25. All Singing, All Dancing
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Lonely are the Brave Club Band
As evidenced by Jason's posts, regardless of how you feel about the ending, Lonely are the Brave is a film that the viewer can feel completely invested in. From the very beginning we're able to sympathize with and root for Jack Burns; this is a credit to Kirk Douglas, Dalton Trumbo, David Miller, and Edward Abbey. Luckily I get the benefit of writing this post after Brandon and John brought Trumbo and Abbey into the mix. Great points as always. But Jeff's right, too, this is a film that absolutely laments the Western.
Lonely are the Brave contains all the ingredients needed to make a good film. I agree with John and Jeff, the ending perfectly fits the tone/message of the film. A much bigger statement is made with the death of Whiskey/capture of Jack.
As Brandon writes, Jack Burns isn't a character we should sympathize with blindly; agreed, he earns our sympathy and respect, and does so relatively quickly. He's a man of honor and loyalty. He is the solitary man who doesn't do any harm to others. The bar fight with the one-armed man provided us a great moment in showcasing that, if confronted, Jack will always fight fairly (later he even shoots at a helicopter in a way that it can still land safely). Even the police officers note and sort of revere this about Jack as he's hauled into the police station. Not to mention the fact that Walter Matthau appears to be pleased when Jack escapes over the top of the ridge. Even the people who are trying to capture him at the end of the film are also secretly rooting for him to escape. There's something to be admired about the "independent man," even if he's met with an untimely end.
More on that ending...John writes that Jack Burns had died chasing freedom. So in the end, I think we'd all agree that Jack Burns wouldn't change a thing if he could do it all over again (except for maybe avoiding the highway). If your ultimate goal is freedom, nothing else matters. You attain it the way you want it, or you choose death. I can't see Jack ever changing who he is in the way that Paul did. They share a compelling moment just before Jack breaks out of the prison. The "cowboy spirit" has left Paul for good; he's traded in his spurs for a set of handcuffs, and chooses life (one dictated by society) over extinction.
Jack Burns is a man, who like all cowboys, has always lived his life on his own terms and isn't concerned with ridiculous laws and borders. John is spot-on...as the West undergoes this modernized transformation, the cowboy becomes extinct. "The cowboy has been killed by modernity," as John so accurately states.
I also felt that the ending was a downer, because like Jason, I wanted Burns to escape with Whiskey unharmed. I'm overcome with an awful feeling in stomach whenever an animal dies in a film, too, Jason. Hell, I didn't even like it when Whiskey was being forced to climb the ridge. But of course, I recognize, as Brandon, John and Jeff do, that the film needs to end that way to make its point.
In Jeff's posts, he makes a point similar to the idea that Burns is a man living in the wrong time period. I, of course, would have to agree with that.
Jason argues that the cowboy and modernity can coexist. I like and appreciate the fact that he tries to make that point. That's definitely something to be discussed, but I think John does an excellent job of arguing against that idea. Modernity doesn't want the cowboy to exist. The policemen want Jack to have a social security number and a steady address. They want him to fit into their system, otherwise, he'll be imprisoned. But there isn't a cell in the world that the independent man doesn't think he can break out of.
Lonely are the Brave contains all the ingredients needed to make a good film. I agree with John and Jeff, the ending perfectly fits the tone/message of the film. A much bigger statement is made with the death of Whiskey/capture of Jack.
As Brandon writes, Jack Burns isn't a character we should sympathize with blindly; agreed, he earns our sympathy and respect, and does so relatively quickly. He's a man of honor and loyalty. He is the solitary man who doesn't do any harm to others. The bar fight with the one-armed man provided us a great moment in showcasing that, if confronted, Jack will always fight fairly (later he even shoots at a helicopter in a way that it can still land safely). Even the police officers note and sort of revere this about Jack as he's hauled into the police station. Not to mention the fact that Walter Matthau appears to be pleased when Jack escapes over the top of the ridge. Even the people who are trying to capture him at the end of the film are also secretly rooting for him to escape. There's something to be admired about the "independent man," even if he's met with an untimely end.
More on that ending...John writes that Jack Burns had died chasing freedom. So in the end, I think we'd all agree that Jack Burns wouldn't change a thing if he could do it all over again (except for maybe avoiding the highway). If your ultimate goal is freedom, nothing else matters. You attain it the way you want it, or you choose death. I can't see Jack ever changing who he is in the way that Paul did. They share a compelling moment just before Jack breaks out of the prison. The "cowboy spirit" has left Paul for good; he's traded in his spurs for a set of handcuffs, and chooses life (one dictated by society) over extinction.
Jack Burns is a man, who like all cowboys, has always lived his life on his own terms and isn't concerned with ridiculous laws and borders. John is spot-on...as the West undergoes this modernized transformation, the cowboy becomes extinct. "The cowboy has been killed by modernity," as John so accurately states.
I also felt that the ending was a downer, because like Jason, I wanted Burns to escape with Whiskey unharmed. I'm overcome with an awful feeling in stomach whenever an animal dies in a film, too, Jason. Hell, I didn't even like it when Whiskey was being forced to climb the ridge. But of course, I recognize, as Brandon, John and Jeff do, that the film needs to end that way to make its point.
In Jeff's posts, he makes a point similar to the idea that Burns is a man living in the wrong time period. I, of course, would have to agree with that.
Jason argues that the cowboy and modernity can coexist. I like and appreciate the fact that he tries to make that point. That's definitely something to be discussed, but I think John does an excellent job of arguing against that idea. Modernity doesn't want the cowboy to exist. The policemen want Jack to have a social security number and a steady address. They want him to fit into their system, otherwise, he'll be imprisoned. But there isn't a cell in the world that the independent man doesn't think he can break out of.
Monday, March 5, 2012
In Like a Lamb
In an attempt to break the funk that I'm in with my lack of posting, I figured I would cover another movie dump/round-up. I know I should be posting on Lonely are the Brave (which, for the record, I really enjoyed), but I'll probably wait for John or Ben to write something first. I don't know that I have too much to add to what Brandon and Jeff have already said. Anyway, here's what I've been watching recently...
Torch Singer
This was part of the Pre-Code Hollywood Collection DVD that also featured Hot Saturday. Of the two films, I enjoyed Torch Singer a lot more. Claudette Colbert plays a woman who bears a child out of wedlock, and because she doesn't have the financial means, she is forced to put her daughter, Sally, up for adoption. Years later, we find Colbert struggling to make it as a torch singer; because I'm only twenty-five years old, I wasn't familiar with that term and had to look it up on Wikipedia (if you're like me, I advise you to do the same). Anyway, Colbert eventually gets a job playing a character on a weekly radio show for kids. As her fame grows, she begins to use this show as a tool to help track down her daughter.
Anyway, I won't say too much more about the plot because I don't want to spoil anything. There was one scene that truly surprised me, though, that I really want to share. As Colbert is trying to track down her daughter, she receives a letter from a little girl named Sally. Thinking that her search is now over, Colbert goes to the address; when she arrives at the home and knocks on the door, a little girl named Sally, who also happens to be black, answers. Colbert now knows that this isn't the little girl she's looking for, but she is still so happy to see her. And the little girl in the scene is incredibly adorable. Anyway, I bring that up because the scene was so beautifully endearing and heartfelt, and especially so, given the handful of racist depictions of black characters in the movies around that time and well-after that time.
Kiss Me Deadly
This was my first Aldrich film and it has set the bar pretty high. It also sets the bar pretty high as I continue to watch more film noir. Obviously most noir films need a tough leading actor, and I'm a big fan of those kinds of characters (as long as the actors don't overdo it). Maybe to some Ralph Meeker (playing Mike Hammer) overdoes it, but for me, I thought he was amazing. The tone of this film is perfect and Meeker fits in perfectly to the world created by Mickey Spillane and Robert Aldrich. I love the opening credits - that shot will stay with me for a long while. And then I especially love the ending. I can't wait to watch this film again!
Anatomy of a Murder
Jeff had a little write-up on this one and I completely agree with everything he wrote. The running time definitely seemed daunting when we put in the DVD, but Otto Preminger's film almost feels like a short when you're watching it. Of course, it feels that way because the film is so captivating. The title is incredibly accurate, what you get here is the meticulously complete anatomy of a murder; the trial covers every single detail and it's fascinating. And what else can you say about Jimmy Stewart that hasn't already been said? The man is a legend and he's remarkable in this role. It's also fun to hear Jimmy say that word "panties" three or four times. And without the deterioration of the Code, we wouldn't have a funny moment like that.
Where the Sidewalk Ends
I love the complexity of the script; the story is handled extremely well and I found it to be extremely compelling. Dana Andrews is one of those guys who pops up in movies every now and then, and you go, "hey, it's that guy." I enjoy seeing him in films because he has a great persona. I'm still warming up to Gene Tierney. I feel there's a lot to discuss about the film, and I could never do it justice in a little write-up like this. I'd love to talk about it with someone.
Monkey Business
I was really looking forward to this Howard Hawks comedy, and had I been picked by Jason or Ben for our movie selection project, I would've considered picking this. I think the description and the first thirty seconds of the film led me to believe that I was about to watch something as zany as a Marx Brothers film (well, maybe not that much, maybe something more like Arsenic and Old Lace). I love the gag at the beginning where the fourth wall is broken down and Cary Grant is told to wait for the opening credits to finish before he can open the door. Anyway, I figured the rest of the film would be more like that, but I was slightly disappointed to find that that wasn't the case. At times it felt like the script lacked focus. But that's as far as my criticisms go; otherwise it was a fairly enjoyable experience. I like the relationship between Cary Grant and Ginger Rogers, playing a mature but fun married couple.
His Girl Friday
I've just recently discovered that the plot to this Howard Hawks film is a slight variation on the 1931 play/film The Front Page (written by Ben Hecht). Anyway, that's not important right now, what is important is that this an excellent screwball comedy. Rosalind Russell was perfect for the part of Hildy, very strong and smart. She and Cary Grant have a nice chemistry. No criticisms here whatsoever; a great film from beginning to end.
Ball of Fire
Quite possibly, I might like Ball of Fire even more than His Girl Friday. Gary Cooper is the perfect sort of rigid nerd for the role and Barbara Stanwyck is very loveable as the vivacious Sugarpuss O'Shea. Again, great chemistry...and not only between her and Cooper, but especially between her and the seven other nerds/dwarves. I love this film; an early favorite!
The Complete Works of Jean Vigo
Unfortunately, Jean Vigo died so young that he was only able to make four films. It truly is a shame; really the only fortunate thing about it is that one is able to watch all of his films in a single day (as I did). I wished I had watched Zero de Conduite before watching The 400 Blows, seeing as how it inspired one of my favorite scenes from Trauffaut's film (the children running through the streets when they're supposed to be sticking by their teacher). One of my favorite shots from Vigo's film is the conclusion of the pillow fight, in which feathers slowly float through the air and the children slowly march around the room (the slow-mo shot). A fantastic visual. Then of course, I was blown away by L'Atalante. What an enjoyable experience that was. I love all four characters and all the dynamics that played out between them. Michel Simon is the shit. I also loved the moments when he's walking around the ship with a cat clinging to his back. A great story. A great film.
Day for Night
I'm trying to see as many Truffaut films as I can; definitely an early fan. Day for Night is a film about a film, with Truffaut himself playing the director. Here we have a great behind-the-scenes look at the film process. More than anything, I view this film as a rare treat. We're given insight into the mind of a brilliant filmmaker and it's very compelling. And as Jeff mentioned to John during the Summer People show, there's a nice moment when Truffaut lays out books that he had ordered on a table - books on Hawks, Hitchcock, Bresson, Bunuel, Bergman, and a few others. It's a nice tribute to his idols.
Claire's Knee
I'm really happy that there are a bunch of Eric Rohmer films on Hulu plus (no offense to John's VHS tapes). I watched this over the weekend, and I'll probably catch a few more within the next week or two. So while I won't be going to Cinefest with you, John, maybe I can make up for it by watching some Rohmer films during that time. I love films that are dominated by interesting dialogue and I never tire of them. Claire's Knee was right up my alley. Beautifully shot and written, well-acted. I wouldn't change a thing.
Port of Shadows
I watched this last night because I had planned to see it at some point, and I knew John watched it recently. I finally got to read his thoughts, and he summed up the film much more eloquently than I ever could. Agreed, the Romeo/Bluebeard line is fantastic. Again, Michel Simon is the shit. There's also a definite irony to Jean Gabin's character and his desertion of war. He seems to end up in a place that is as equally violent and ugly as war. Another great film. Not sure that I can recommend this one to Jason Poole, though. Michele Morgan has beautiful eyes. I'd never want to be slapped by Jean Gabin. It would be the last thing that ever happened to me.
TV CLUB....(it's back, baby!)
Party Down
I caught the entire series (2 seasons) before Netflix took it down with the whole "Starz" thing; this show was on Starz a couple years ago. Paul Rudd is credited as one of the creators, but I don't think he was too involved on the show. Anyway, that doesn't matter because the show is still hilarious and a lot of fun to watch. The cast includes Adam Scott, Ken Marino, Lizzy Caplan, Martin Starr, Ryan Hansen, and Jane Lynch. Jane Lynch had to leave the show after the first season because she landed the Glee gig, and then the show was forced to cancel when Adam Scott got the role of Ben on Parks and Recreation. Anyway, by the third episode I was completely hooked. It's about a catering company in L.A. composed of people who want to make it "big" one way or another. It's a hilarious show with an authentic look at Hollywood. I bought the first season on amazon for seven dollars while I was on trial of amazon prime. A steal, if you ask me.
Seinfeld
I'm currently undertaking a project where I'm going to watch every single Seinfeld episode in order...similarly to what I've done with seasons 1 through 10 of The Simpsons. I'm considering ranking each episode, but I'm not exactly sure what I'm doing with it yet. Mainly I decided to do it just to re-live all of the laughs. I'm in season 2 right now and I can't wait to re-watch some of my favorite episodes. As of right now, my favorite episode is The Couch, but we'll see if that changes upon these re-watches.
Life's Too Short
I've seen the first two episodes on HBO. In terms of Ricky Gervais/Stephen Merchant projects, I've never finished The Office UK, but I did watch both seasons of Extras and the film. Extras is one my favorite shows and I recommend it to all of you. Anyway that you can get your hands on it, do so. Then there's An Idiot Abroad, which I'm also a fan of. Life's Too Short has humorous moments (like that clip with Liam Neeson that I posted awhile back), but mostly...I'm not that crazy about it yet. I'll stick with it, but hopefully it offers something more here soon.
Game of Thrones
The second season starts on April 1st. I cannot wait, and I'm going to spend some time this month re-watching the first season. It was nice to talk to Graham Feltham a bit about the books/show at the Summer People show. He's more than just a great moustache to me, John.
Smallville
I'll never forget the time spent during my youth tuning into this show on the WB. That's right, I don't play this CW bullshit; I'm a WB purist through and through. Thanks for marathoning the show, John. Because of you I'm finally able to recall moments like when Lana is dating that weird, douchey guy who gave her an evil necklace.
Torch Singer
This was part of the Pre-Code Hollywood Collection DVD that also featured Hot Saturday. Of the two films, I enjoyed Torch Singer a lot more. Claudette Colbert plays a woman who bears a child out of wedlock, and because she doesn't have the financial means, she is forced to put her daughter, Sally, up for adoption. Years later, we find Colbert struggling to make it as a torch singer; because I'm only twenty-five years old, I wasn't familiar with that term and had to look it up on Wikipedia (if you're like me, I advise you to do the same). Anyway, Colbert eventually gets a job playing a character on a weekly radio show for kids. As her fame grows, she begins to use this show as a tool to help track down her daughter.
Anyway, I won't say too much more about the plot because I don't want to spoil anything. There was one scene that truly surprised me, though, that I really want to share. As Colbert is trying to track down her daughter, she receives a letter from a little girl named Sally. Thinking that her search is now over, Colbert goes to the address; when she arrives at the home and knocks on the door, a little girl named Sally, who also happens to be black, answers. Colbert now knows that this isn't the little girl she's looking for, but she is still so happy to see her. And the little girl in the scene is incredibly adorable. Anyway, I bring that up because the scene was so beautifully endearing and heartfelt, and especially so, given the handful of racist depictions of black characters in the movies around that time and well-after that time.
Kiss Me Deadly
This was my first Aldrich film and it has set the bar pretty high. It also sets the bar pretty high as I continue to watch more film noir. Obviously most noir films need a tough leading actor, and I'm a big fan of those kinds of characters (as long as the actors don't overdo it). Maybe to some Ralph Meeker (playing Mike Hammer) overdoes it, but for me, I thought he was amazing. The tone of this film is perfect and Meeker fits in perfectly to the world created by Mickey Spillane and Robert Aldrich. I love the opening credits - that shot will stay with me for a long while. And then I especially love the ending. I can't wait to watch this film again!
Anatomy of a Murder
Jeff had a little write-up on this one and I completely agree with everything he wrote. The running time definitely seemed daunting when we put in the DVD, but Otto Preminger's film almost feels like a short when you're watching it. Of course, it feels that way because the film is so captivating. The title is incredibly accurate, what you get here is the meticulously complete anatomy of a murder; the trial covers every single detail and it's fascinating. And what else can you say about Jimmy Stewart that hasn't already been said? The man is a legend and he's remarkable in this role. It's also fun to hear Jimmy say that word "panties" three or four times. And without the deterioration of the Code, we wouldn't have a funny moment like that.
Where the Sidewalk Ends
I love the complexity of the script; the story is handled extremely well and I found it to be extremely compelling. Dana Andrews is one of those guys who pops up in movies every now and then, and you go, "hey, it's that guy." I enjoy seeing him in films because he has a great persona. I'm still warming up to Gene Tierney. I feel there's a lot to discuss about the film, and I could never do it justice in a little write-up like this. I'd love to talk about it with someone.
Monkey Business
I was really looking forward to this Howard Hawks comedy, and had I been picked by Jason or Ben for our movie selection project, I would've considered picking this. I think the description and the first thirty seconds of the film led me to believe that I was about to watch something as zany as a Marx Brothers film (well, maybe not that much, maybe something more like Arsenic and Old Lace). I love the gag at the beginning where the fourth wall is broken down and Cary Grant is told to wait for the opening credits to finish before he can open the door. Anyway, I figured the rest of the film would be more like that, but I was slightly disappointed to find that that wasn't the case. At times it felt like the script lacked focus. But that's as far as my criticisms go; otherwise it was a fairly enjoyable experience. I like the relationship between Cary Grant and Ginger Rogers, playing a mature but fun married couple.
His Girl Friday
I've just recently discovered that the plot to this Howard Hawks film is a slight variation on the 1931 play/film The Front Page (written by Ben Hecht). Anyway, that's not important right now, what is important is that this an excellent screwball comedy. Rosalind Russell was perfect for the part of Hildy, very strong and smart. She and Cary Grant have a nice chemistry. No criticisms here whatsoever; a great film from beginning to end.
Ball of Fire
Quite possibly, I might like Ball of Fire even more than His Girl Friday. Gary Cooper is the perfect sort of rigid nerd for the role and Barbara Stanwyck is very loveable as the vivacious Sugarpuss O'Shea. Again, great chemistry...and not only between her and Cooper, but especially between her and the seven other nerds/dwarves. I love this film; an early favorite!
The Complete Works of Jean Vigo
Unfortunately, Jean Vigo died so young that he was only able to make four films. It truly is a shame; really the only fortunate thing about it is that one is able to watch all of his films in a single day (as I did). I wished I had watched Zero de Conduite before watching The 400 Blows, seeing as how it inspired one of my favorite scenes from Trauffaut's film (the children running through the streets when they're supposed to be sticking by their teacher). One of my favorite shots from Vigo's film is the conclusion of the pillow fight, in which feathers slowly float through the air and the children slowly march around the room (the slow-mo shot). A fantastic visual. Then of course, I was blown away by L'Atalante. What an enjoyable experience that was. I love all four characters and all the dynamics that played out between them. Michel Simon is the shit. I also loved the moments when he's walking around the ship with a cat clinging to his back. A great story. A great film.
Day for Night
I'm trying to see as many Truffaut films as I can; definitely an early fan. Day for Night is a film about a film, with Truffaut himself playing the director. Here we have a great behind-the-scenes look at the film process. More than anything, I view this film as a rare treat. We're given insight into the mind of a brilliant filmmaker and it's very compelling. And as Jeff mentioned to John during the Summer People show, there's a nice moment when Truffaut lays out books that he had ordered on a table - books on Hawks, Hitchcock, Bresson, Bunuel, Bergman, and a few others. It's a nice tribute to his idols.
Claire's Knee
I'm really happy that there are a bunch of Eric Rohmer films on Hulu plus (no offense to John's VHS tapes). I watched this over the weekend, and I'll probably catch a few more within the next week or two. So while I won't be going to Cinefest with you, John, maybe I can make up for it by watching some Rohmer films during that time. I love films that are dominated by interesting dialogue and I never tire of them. Claire's Knee was right up my alley. Beautifully shot and written, well-acted. I wouldn't change a thing.
Port of Shadows
I watched this last night because I had planned to see it at some point, and I knew John watched it recently. I finally got to read his thoughts, and he summed up the film much more eloquently than I ever could. Agreed, the Romeo/Bluebeard line is fantastic. Again, Michel Simon is the shit. There's also a definite irony to Jean Gabin's character and his desertion of war. He seems to end up in a place that is as equally violent and ugly as war. Another great film. Not sure that I can recommend this one to Jason Poole, though. Michele Morgan has beautiful eyes. I'd never want to be slapped by Jean Gabin. It would be the last thing that ever happened to me.
TV CLUB....(it's back, baby!)
Party Down
I caught the entire series (2 seasons) before Netflix took it down with the whole "Starz" thing; this show was on Starz a couple years ago. Paul Rudd is credited as one of the creators, but I don't think he was too involved on the show. Anyway, that doesn't matter because the show is still hilarious and a lot of fun to watch. The cast includes Adam Scott, Ken Marino, Lizzy Caplan, Martin Starr, Ryan Hansen, and Jane Lynch. Jane Lynch had to leave the show after the first season because she landed the Glee gig, and then the show was forced to cancel when Adam Scott got the role of Ben on Parks and Recreation. Anyway, by the third episode I was completely hooked. It's about a catering company in L.A. composed of people who want to make it "big" one way or another. It's a hilarious show with an authentic look at Hollywood. I bought the first season on amazon for seven dollars while I was on trial of amazon prime. A steal, if you ask me.
Seinfeld
I'm currently undertaking a project where I'm going to watch every single Seinfeld episode in order...similarly to what I've done with seasons 1 through 10 of The Simpsons. I'm considering ranking each episode, but I'm not exactly sure what I'm doing with it yet. Mainly I decided to do it just to re-live all of the laughs. I'm in season 2 right now and I can't wait to re-watch some of my favorite episodes. As of right now, my favorite episode is The Couch, but we'll see if that changes upon these re-watches.
Life's Too Short
I've seen the first two episodes on HBO. In terms of Ricky Gervais/Stephen Merchant projects, I've never finished The Office UK, but I did watch both seasons of Extras and the film. Extras is one my favorite shows and I recommend it to all of you. Anyway that you can get your hands on it, do so. Then there's An Idiot Abroad, which I'm also a fan of. Life's Too Short has humorous moments (like that clip with Liam Neeson that I posted awhile back), but mostly...I'm not that crazy about it yet. I'll stick with it, but hopefully it offers something more here soon.
Game of Thrones
The second season starts on April 1st. I cannot wait, and I'm going to spend some time this month re-watching the first season. It was nice to talk to Graham Feltham a bit about the books/show at the Summer People show. He's more than just a great moustache to me, John.
Smallville
I'll never forget the time spent during my youth tuning into this show on the WB. That's right, I don't play this CW bullshit; I'm a WB purist through and through. Thanks for marathoning the show, John. Because of you I'm finally able to recall moments like when Lana is dating that weird, douchey guy who gave her an evil necklace.
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