Last Movie You Watched

[Moonfish]

So, whom do you think is the most influential movie maker of the post studio era?
Lots of choices ... Spielberg? Bergmann? Allen? Milius? Bunuel? Kurosawa?

None of the above I say.  My cynical answer is below in white.

Ray Harryhausen[/color]

It is Bergman!

[Ken B]

It is Bergman!

I am sending your Thorazine by FedEx. 


Seriously, in a world of  flash cutting, CGI, comics, and slasher pics, Bergman has to count as one of the least influential.  Love him or hate him -- I'm a solid hater -- his style and aesthetic values are almost absent from modern cinema. 

[North Star]

I am sending your Thorazine by FedEx. 


Seriously, in a world of  flash cutting, CGI, comics, and slasher pics, Bergman has to count as one of the least influential.  Love him or hate him -- I'm a solid hater -- his style and aesthetic values are almost absent from modern cinema.

I suppose you would say that Louis Daguerre is the most influential artist of the 19th century. 

[SonicMan46]

Last few days, a couple of films streamed via Amazon and one seen on the 'big screen' yesterday - all from 2014 and on my 'to see' list:

Live Die Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow(2014) w/ Tom Cruise & Emily Blunt - futuristic alien 'Groundhog Day' - the usual overuse of CGI, loudness, and the fast moving blurry scenes that make no sense (kind of like watching a fireworks display) - could not get into this film w/ its endless 'time loop', BUT hey I might be alone?  Amazon, 4.4/5*; IMDB, 8/10; and Rotten Tomatoes, 90% - the latter has a nice synopsis HERE; SO, if you're into this modern sci-fi film making and a Cruise fan, might be just right for you?  If I had a choice, A Few Good Men would always win out if I need to watch Tom -

X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014) w/ Hugh Jackman & James McAvoy - believe that I've seen all of the films in this series (via streaming) and liked the first one, but have been neutral on most of the others, including this one - maybe I'm just old and yearning for those 1950s sci-fi movies -   BUT, again this film was well reviewed; Amazon, 4.3/5*; IMDB, 8.2/10; and Rotten Tomatoes, 92% - again great specials as w/ the one above - for both on Amazon, I'd probably do 3 to 3+ stars - recommended for fans of this series.

Dear White People (2014) w/ Tyler James Williams, Tessa Thompson, et al - short synopsis below (Source) - the one we saw in the theater (a bottle of water & one popcorn to share cost more than are senior discount tickets!) - this film has received some rave critical reviews (not enough comments on Amazon for a rating), but 91% on Rotten Tomatoes from the critics w/ a lower 72% (3.7/5) rating from the audience.  I enjoyed the film and probably would do a 4/5* rating on Amazon; Susan was less enthralled (likely 3.5/5*); SO, a recommendation but not a great movie - don't plan to watch again and certainly not a buy for me.  Dave

Winner of the 2014 Sundance Film Festival's Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Talent, Dear White People is a sly, provocative satire of race relations in the age of Obama. Writer/director Justin Simien follows a group of African American students as they navigate campus life and racial politics at a predominantly white college in a sharp and funny feature film debut that earned him a spot on Variety's annual "10 Directors to Watch."

   

[Moonfish]

Just picked this up in time for Halloween... 

[asin] B000A0GOEQ[/asin]

[Bogey]

Just picked this up in time for Halloween... 

[asin] B000A0GOEQ[/asin]

Some sweet films on there, Moon.

[Moonfish]

Some sweet films on there, Moon.

I am looking forward to it! 

[Todd]

Neighbors.  No, not the 1981 disaster with Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi, but rather the recent flick with Zac Efron and Seth Rogen.  I wanted a raunchy comedy, and while there certainly are some raunchy bits in the film, it just didn't generate enough yuks.  The best thing about the movie is the comparatively unrestrained Rose Byrne, here speaking with her native accent.  Yawn.

[SonicMan46]

Last night a mixture of a new BD acquisition and an old 'burned' to DVD film:

The Lady Vanishes (1938) w/ Margaret Lockwood, Michael Redgrave, & Dame May Whitty; Alfred Hitchcock, director - new Criterion BD (purchased w/ their half price sale recently) - the young Alfred surrounded by the three younger gals from the movie (Lockwood in the middle) - IMDB, 8/10; Rotten Tomatoes, 98% - recommended, especially to those who want to appreciate the director as a youngster -

Gentleman Jim (1942) w/ Errol Flynn, Alexis Smith, Alan Hale, Jack Carson, & Ward Bond as John L. Sullivan - Flynn plays the professional boxer James Corbett who defeated Sullivan for the world championship by a KO in 1892 - IMDB, 7.7/10; Rotten Tomatoes, 100%; enjoyable film w/ Errol excellent in this historic role and Alexis her young beautiful self - another recommendation.  Dave


 

 

[Moonfish]

The Lady Vanishes is such a great movie. A good reminder to watch it again! 

[Bogey]

From '45, Otto Preminger's (director of Laura)



A great example of noir.  Some fantastic camera work and an ending that I did not see coming.  Here is a famous shot from the movie that usually appears in noir books:

[SonicMan46]

From '45, Otto Preminger's (director of Laura)

 

Hey Bill - I've never seen that film - YIKES! Not available as a 'streamer' on Amazon or Netflix - will have to start recording some more oldies off the TCM channel; Alice Faye is a favorite actress of mine from yesteryear, but I remember (and own a number of her films) her as mainly a singer, so this would be of great interest; and of course Linda Darnell was such a beauty in her younger years (well, she did not have a long life - severely burned in a house fire in her early 40s and died from the burns).  Dave

[Bogey]

Correct on the streaming, Dave.  This is the only reason that I have kept our Netflix open for one hard copy dvd as there are many classics that I want to see that have not made into streaming yet.  Doubt if this sees bluray any time soon, so you may want to drop a ten spot on the dvd.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000CNE088/ref=sr_1_1_olp?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1414363348&sr=1-1

[Jaakko Keskinen]

Watched yesterday the first Captain America movie. I have very mixed feelings. On the other hand the movie is often corny and very predictable but it has it's finer moments. Cap has always been a blind spot to me, too noble, too flat etc. I prefer Tony Stark. And no offense to any americans but the movie felt at times a bit too nationalist. I know, the movie about guy called captain america is bound to have it but this was maybe a bit too much for me. The song about captain america is awesome though. And I like Weaving as Red Skull. Tommy lee jones shines in his role as well. But I think the bad parts weigh too much.

[SonicMan46]

Last night a couple of new BDs from my recent Criterion order:

Kiss Me Deadly (1955) w/ Ralph Meeker & a lot of ladies -

Charade (1963) w/ Cary Grant & Audrey Hepburn (lovely as always & often frightened in this thriller) -   Dave

 

 

[Karl Henning]

Charade (1963) w/ Cary Grant & Audrey Hepburn (lovely as always & often frightened in this thriller) -   Dave

 

It may or may not classify as a "guilty pleasure," but I do love Charade.

[Bogey]

Watched yesterday the first Captain America movie. I have very mixed feelings. On the other hand the movie is often corny and very predictable but it has it's finer moments. Cap has always been a blind spot to me, too noble, too flat etc. I prefer Tony Stark. And no offense to any americans but the movie felt at times a bit too nationalist. I know, the movie about guy called captain america is bound to have it but this was maybe a bit too much for me. The song about captain america is awesome though. And I like Weaving as Red Skull. Tommy lee jones shines in his role as well. But I think the bad parts weigh too much.

Cap and Superman are "boyscouts".  If you take them on their own, they can be less than interesting at times.  Either they need a great villain or supporting cast.  Cap had this for a bit with the Howlin' Commados, but that was about it.  In the Avengers his cast was solid throughout so it worked perfectly for his character.  Man of Steel blew it because they tried to change the fiber of an icon and give him Batman's edge.  Iron Man works fine on his own because Stark brings a cavalierness to the character.
Look at Costner as Ness. Cardboard character through and through, but with DeNiro's Capone and Connery, it is just what you need to make his Ness seem stellar.

[kishnevi]

It may or may not classify as a "guilty pleasure," but I do love Charade.

Nothing to feel guilty about.  It is perhaps the best Hitchcock film not by Hitchcock.

[SonicMan46]

Burt's Buzz (2013) - streamed tonight from Amazon - a documentary about Burt Shavitz, 79 y/o who is the co-founder of the Burt's Bees personal care products, an eccentric and interesting character - I enjoyed, but the reviews were mixed so read a few before watching.

Gold Diggers of 1933 w/ Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler, Joan Blondell, & Ginger Rogers - Busby Berkeley's usual presentations - now this is pre-code Hollywood and the girls are quite appealing (and revealing)!   Dave

 

[(poco) Sforzando]

It is the story of a young circus performer, the crime of passion that shatters his soul, and the macabre journey back to the world of his armless mother, deaf-mute lover, and murder. It is an odyssey of ecstasy and anguish, belief and blasphemy, beauty and madness. It is unlike any movie you have ever seen before...or ever will.

[asin]B004B32532[/asin]

It's probably somewhat like El Topo.