Streaming Movie Suggestions

Holden · October 30, 2023, 07:39:26 PM

Quote from: Daverz on October 06, 2023, 08:43:00 AMOnce Upon a Time in the West is on Amazon Prime video

https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/once-upon-a-time-in-the-west

The opening scene is just amazing. It's about 14 minutes before anyone even speaks, the Tension is palpable and Leone's superb directing leaves you in no doubt as to what is happening. My favourite all time western!

Roasted Swan · October 31, 2023, 12:00:07 AM

Quote from: Holden on October 30, 2023, 07:39:26 PMThe opening scene is just amazing. It's about 14 minutes before anyone even speaks, the Tension is palpable and Leone's superb directing leaves you in no doubt as to what is happening. My favourite all time western!

According to the accompanying info on the DVD - inspired in part by Mozart's Don Giovanni. I kid you not. A genuinely remarkable film. Henry Fonda (a cinematic good-guy to this point) just chilling.

ando · November 03, 2023, 10:54:13 AM

YouTube just upped their free classics game. One of the best from the 70s:

Chinatown (1974, Roman Polanski) YouTube Edition

ando · November 04, 2023, 05:12:02 PM

Quote from: ando on November 03, 2023, 10:54:13 AMYouTube just upped their free classics game. One of the best from the 70s:

Chinatown (1974, Roman Polanski) YouTube Edition

Looks like someone else had the same idea. Haven't read the screenplays (hope there's a digital version) but I'll take another viewing of Hal Ashby's 1973 classic before I attempt them. They do make a good Jack double bill. Last Detail is streaming free on tubi.

ando · November 06, 2023, 07:48:05 AM

The Spy Who Came In From The Cold (1965, Martin Ritt)
Instead of coming in from the Cold War, British agent Alec Leamas chooses to face another mission.

Alternatively brilliant and doggedly mundane, this Ritt classic was the favorite film treatment of its source author, le Carré. Free on YouTube.

ando · November 08, 2023, 03:38:24 PM

Shakespeare's first legit collection of plays is officially (London 1623 Registry) 400 today. I'm really not sure if it means much more than "it must work, people are still doing it."

Among my two or three absolute faves is The Tempest. Prime Video is streaming the 1970 BBC version with Michael Hordern as Prospero. First viewing for me so I'm exited. And yes, I eat popcorn whilst watching Shakespeare. If they had it in 1600 I'm sure The Globe would have sold it in stalls by the bushel.

ando · November 09, 2023, 11:26:52 AM

Don't do cigarettes but I must have my coffee and in my favorite Dollar Store mug.

Jim Jarmusch's 2003 quirky ode to the drinking pastime is always amusing to watch. Free on the Tube:

There's also a great copy on The Criterion Channel.

ando · November 09, 2023, 07:39:52 PM

midnight special

The Vampire Bat (1933, Frank Strayer)

Good one. And in great condition.

ando · November 17, 2023, 07:44:47 PM

Back up on the Tube (streaming free) -

The Magnificent Seven (1960, John Sturges) YouTube Edition
American version of Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai but a classic in its own right. Looks great.

ando · November 18, 2023, 11:12:40 AM

Johnny Guitar (1954, Nicholas Ray)
Operatic and rather dumb but fun afternoon Western melodrama. The fantastic cast makes it work. The "Truecolor" treatment makes it even more incredible. One of Ray's best. Currently streaming on The Criterion Channel.

drogulus · November 18, 2023, 01:55:41 PM

Quote from: ando on November 18, 2023, 11:12:40 AM(......)The Criterion Channel.

Speaking of....

And also....

The pics are links.

ando · November 18, 2023, 08:03:51 PM

Quote from: drogulus on November 18, 2023, 01:55:41 PMSpeaking of....

And also....

The pics are links.

Are those favorites? I haven't seen either one.

Among the latest additions that are must watches for me is the inclusion of Bresson's Diary of a Country Priest, which the channel has never featured since it converted from the old Filmstruck channel (not sure if they had it then). But I can't see any serious Bresson collection without it. Country Priest is one of those films where you find the main character rather insufferable but have compassion for, nonetheless. It's one of the moral lessons, I suppose, that the Bernanos story attempts to impart.

drogulus · November 19, 2023, 07:05:33 AM

Quote from: ando on November 18, 2023, 08:03:51 PMAre those favorites? I haven't seen either one.

Both films are well regarded by regarders and I recommend them.

ando · November 19, 2023, 07:35:39 AM

Quote from: drogulus on November 19, 2023, 07:05:33 AMBoth films are well regarded by regarders and I recommend them.

thanks.

ando · November 23, 2023, 03:57:04 PM

HIGH ANXIETY (1977, Mel Brooks) on The Criterion Channel
Good laughs, particularly if you're a Hitchcock buff.

ando · November 24, 2023, 03:43:37 PM

Prince brought me here.

BATMAN (1989, Tim Burton)

Really need a synopsis? Just a week left to watch it on Prime Video. Still my favorite of the franchise.

SimonNZ · November 24, 2023, 04:05:54 PM

Quote from: ando on November 08, 2023, 03:38:24 PMstreaming the 1970 BBC version with Michael Hordern as Prospero. First viewing for me so I'm exited.

What did you think of it?

ando · November 24, 2023, 06:19:29 PM

Quote from: SimonNZ on November 24, 2023, 04:05:54 PMWhat did you think of it?

Well, this was one from the late 70s/early 80s BBC Shakespeare series that really suffered from low production values. With some of the others the acting and clever art directors manage to pull off and even illuminate the language, bringing it to the forefront, making you almost forget about the almost laughable set design. But with this production much of the magic in Shakespeare's poetry and prose language is lost to static direction and obviously cheap sets that nonetheless upstage the actors. The comic characters come off best in this atmosphere. But the majesty of Prospero, the mystic power of the sprite, Ariel, and much of the enchantment - and danger - of the isle is missing. The film does feature one of the best Calibans I've seen. But for me it was a mixed bag that ultimately sounded better than it looked.

ando · November 24, 2023, 06:29:38 PM

Quote from: ando on November 24, 2023, 03:43:37 PMPrince brought me here.

BATMAN (1989, Tim Burton)

Really need a synopsis? Just a week left to watch it on Prime Video. Still my favorite of the franchise.

Just thought I'd mention that the difference between the desktop edition and app edition (at least, on Chromecast) of the Prime versions of the movie is considerable. Since I was on the web I thought I'd cast to my tv, but the pixelation was obvious and disturbing. And with the essentially comic book script if the visuals aren't stellar, what's the point? So I switched to the app and found a vastly superior stream with no pixelation. It's not the case with some of the older tv shows, where the streams look virtually identical but feature films are definitely better viewed on the app.

SimonNZ · November 24, 2023, 11:57:12 PM

Quote from: ando on November 24, 2023, 06:19:29 PMWell, this was one from the late 70s/early 80s BBC Shakespeare series that really suffered from low production values. With some of the others the acting and clever art directors manage to pull off and even illuminate the language, bringing it to the forefront, making you almost forget about the almost laughable set design. But with this production much of the magic in Shakespeare's poetry and prose language is lost to static direction and obviously cheap sets that nonetheless upstage the actors. The comic characters come off best in this atmosphere. But the majesty of Prospero, the mystic power of the sprite, Ariel, and much of the enchantment - and danger - of the isle is missing. The film does feature one of the best Calibans I've seen. But for me it was a mixed bag that ultimately sounded better than it looked.

Thanks for that. I remember being largely disappointed by it.

There's a Globe dvd out there with the always superb Roger Allam as Prospero, which I'd like to find at some point.