Topic: Last Movie You Watched

[hildegard]

They probably expected plot realised with more convential drama in dialogue, through actors, while Malick delivers it primarily in visuals and sound.
Just checked, film seems have been shot on 70mm, that has to look breathtaking on big screen. 

It is breathtaking indeed. I recall seeing it on its first release here (October 1981 IIRC). I also recall having been rather underwhelmed by the story - acres of glorious outdoor shots, much less material in terms of storytelling. But don't take my word for it, after all 'twas 28 years ago...

To me, part of the beauty of this film is the juxtaposition of the seemingly understated drama of people's souls set against such dramatic external cataclysmic events and visuals. I clearly remember having a very strong reaction to the unfolding triangle of deceipt, but I was a lot more impressionable.  Coincidentally, Days of Heaven was one of the films selected in 2007 to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress. I was also not aware of the Morricone score until reading this:

Days of Heaven (1978)
Often called one of the most beautiful films ever made (acknowledging the sublime cinematography of Nÿstor Almendros and Haskell Wexler), "Days of Heaven" is an impressionist painting for the screen. The wheat fields and prairies of the Texas Panhandle—filmed in Alberta—shine and undulate in wind currents and storms, framing the tale of a love triangle (Richard Gere, Brooke Adams and Sam Shepard) fated to end badly. The dialogue is spare, punctuating an elegiac score by Ennio Morricone and haunting narration by Linda Manz, who speaks from a child’s point of view. After this film (his second after "Badlands"), director Terrence Malick disappeared from public view for 20 years, returning in 1998 with "The Thin Red Line."


Other GMG cinéphiles may find interesting the lineup of other films selected: http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2007/07-254.html

[hildegard]

Master and Commander (2003) w/ Russell Crowe - felt like a 'wooden ship' movie last night!  

And that brings to mind these little treasures:

[Brian]

Try not to miss Orson Welles' Othello, Grigory Kozintsev's Hamlet and King Lear, Kurosawa's Ran (Lear) and Throne of Blood (Macbeth) and Peter Greenaway's Prospero's Books (Tempest).

and Welles' Chimes at Midnight (if you can find it) which is a mash of few plays.

I'd add the Branagh Henry V, at the very least for Derek Jacobi's work as the chorus (though it's a generally excellent movie all-around).

[Bogey]

And that brings to mind these little treasures:

Yes it does, Lis!  And loved the movie as well, Dave!

[hildegard]

And that brings to mind these little treasures:

Yes it does, Lis!  And loved the movie as well, Dave!

Glad to hear it, Bill. But it's Hildegard here, i.e., not Lis. 

[val]

ROBERT BRESSON:     "L'Argent"

Bresson's last movie is a very strange work. Cold, almost abstract, with actors playing like zombies ... but there is something almost hypnotic in the movie that captures our attention and keeps us focused on it until the end.
I don't know if I love or hate it. But it is a very impressive experience.

[Drasko]

[Bogey]

Glad to hear it, Bill. But it's Hildegard here, i.e., not Lis. 

   The avatar threw me!

[George]

[SonicMan]

Johnny Mercer - a TCM documentary by Clint Eastwood that appeared last night on the Turner Channel - just excellent and amazing 'how many' songs/writers that he contributed the lyrics!  Copied to my DVR, so may 'burn' a DVD later - unfortunately, just an hour - could have watched more - 

[Corey]

Probably the most despairing of Bresson's pre-color films. In this there is no transcendence as in Diary of a Country Priest or Au Hasard, Balthasar. Exceedingly bleak.

[George]

[Barak]

Probably the most despairing of Bresson's pre-color films. In this there is no transcendence as in Diary of a Country Priest or Au Hasard, Balthasar. Exceedingly bleak.

Very well put. Lancelot and L'Argent have that same painstakingly detailed downward spiral into nothingness.  It's been ages since I last saw Une Femme douce, Bresson's next opus after Mouchette. But IIRC it is also a totally despairing film. With Dominique Sanda's enigmatic performance, one is always left wondering what's going on behind the beautiful, perfectly poised mask

[Brian]

An excellent, beautiful film featuring a knockout performance from a young Audrey Hepburn Audrey Hepburn reincarnated Carey Mulligan.

[George]

I'll keep an eye out for that one, Brian! 

[k a rl h e nn i ng]

Vertigo

I had in fact never seen it before, apart from the clips in Twelve Monkeys, believe it or not.  Great story; very nicely scored, too.

[Drasko]

[Corey]

How was that?

[Drasko]

Utterly gorgeous. Kalatozov's camera (Urusevsky) is one of rare that can match Ophuls, shot for shot. Story is simple, love story interrupted by war, classic melodrama. Cinematography is beautiful beyond description but not for just for itself, Kalatozov manages to make it work for film, check first five minutes and tell me if I'm wrong:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrUu6InN5kw
Samoilova is wonderful as female lead, and very cute (looks like Bjork's prettier sister)

[Corey]

Needed only the first minute to know I need to watch it. Oddly, Netflix has him listed under both Kalatozov and Kalatozishvilli.