Last Movie You Watched

[kishnevi]

Last night, I watched Annie Hall again; probably have not watched it since seeing it in the cinema, back at about the time it was released.  Many consider it one of Allen's greatest films;  maybe they're right.  I don't think it a bad film at all.  My contrarian case consists of little more than:

1. All his "usual elements" are in use here (in good use, certainly) . . . Allen playing a character who is some version of autobiography;  his typical (and, in my experience, reliably enjoyable) comedy act / comic screenwriting;  a relatively serious narrative exploring relationships;  a cast whose core includes members of his regular ensemble.  My point:  I don't necessarily see this particular film as outstanding in this regard.

2. The script is excellent (and maybe this, plus everything else, is enough).  My recent viewing of Crimes and Misdemeanors, Shadows and Fog, and re-watching Stardust Memories, has opened my eyes to how very often he writes an excellent script, and how varied his tone can be.  My point:  Again, I'm not sure I see Annie Hall as quite a stand-out.

3. Personal response #1:  While the script is reasonably true to life in the arc of a non-fairytale relationship which tails off (and a good script, we all agree), myself, I feel a kind of "and so?" at the film's end.  There is (we may say) "too much of Woody" in the film for it to play as an impartial quasi-documentary of a failed relationship;  and enough Woody that, I think an ending montage of "all the moments" feels rather faute de mieux.

4. Personal response #2:  Whether it is because the scene echoes others in his œuvre, or because it may actually overdo the tone of hectoring, the "So, what, you mean you're not coming back to New York with me?" at the alfalfa sprouts café jars my ear too much.

5. Personal response #3:  The "nested playwright" scene, where Singer/Allen directs two actors in a literal recap of the alfalfa sprouts café confrontation, just annoys me a little, but critically.  I'm not saying it's a bad idea, as an idea; nor saying that it isn't shot/staged well.  It is perhaps just my personal dissatisfaction, related to my overall nagging dissatisfaction with the whole story arc, above.

So, glad I watched it again, but . . . not a personal favorite in his canon.  And obviously YMMV.

I can not say I ever quite liked Annie Hall either of the two times I have seen it.  Of those "welcome to my neuroses" films the only one I thought first rate was Hannah and Her Sisters...and even there it was the portions where neurotic Woody was least on display which made the film for me.

[Karl Henning]

I've also checked Hannah and Her Sisters out from the BPL, and will at last watch that for the first time . . . soon 

[SonicMan46]

I've also checked Hannah and Her Sisters out from the BPL, and will at last watch that for the first time . . . soon 

Hi Karl - Susan & I are on a short trip to Wrightsville Beach on the Carolina Shore, but I brought my smaller laptop along, so doing a little forum browsing - enjoyed your comments on Annie Hall - we own a lot of Woody's movies (most on BD now), but Annie Hall & Hannah and Her Sisters are probably are favorites - so a 'thumbs up' from us, a couple w/ a mixed Jewish (Susan) & Catholic marriage - for a compromise we brought up our son in the Winston-Salem Unitarian Fellowship, which has always been a very liberty congregation.  Dave

[Karl Henning]

Cheers, Dave & Susan!

[Drasko]

This one flew under most radars and it's a solid adaptation of Chekov's short story with quite decent Irish/British cast of Andrew Scott (of Sherlock Holmes fame), Tobias Menzies and Michelle Fairley (of GoT fame) beautifully shot in some small Dalmatian coastal town standing in for a Black Sea. Though I must admit I was mostly taken by rubensian beauty of Fiona Glascott, who I don't think was familiar to me before.





trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdGlMnLxyxE

[Karl Henning]

Thanks for the link to the Kubrick box - but as some Amazon reviewers note, please be aware that this is the version of "The Shining" with 25 minutes cut out. Might wanna buy another copy of that movie as a supplement to the set.

Hoy, Brian!  Do you have thoughts on the two cuts?  I have just fetched in the 144-minute cut, have not yet watched.

[Brian]

Hoy, Brian!  Do you have thoughts on the two cuts?  I have just fetched in the 144-minute cut, have not yet watched.

I've, erm, never seen the movie at all 

[Mister Sharpe]

Watched this again, if watching it can be called, more like enthusiastic participation. That's a total of nine hours (well) spent on this film over the course of a week or so. Special shout out to Aljoscha Zimmermann who wrote the very effective accompanying score in 2001. Eureka has a more complete version that Mabuse has hypnotized me into pursuing.

[asin]B01DGN4W9W[/asin]

[Karl Henning]

I've, erm, never seen the movie at all 

Any plans? (I'll be sure not to strew spoilers.)

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

[Ken B]

I've, erm, never seen the movie at all 

Don't gloat. You may yet sit through many shitburgers. You'll resent the gloaters.

[Todd]

Hacksaw Ridge.  Mel Gibson's return to directing is possibly the most graphically violent war movie I've seen, possibly surpassing Saving Private Ryan in intensity, if not scale or quality.  Once the combat starts in the second half, it is more or less relentless.  The movie is formulaic, but earnest.  The limited CGI (eg, naval armada) is not top of the line, but is good enough.  The main battlefield on top of a ridge is obviously a set and rather small, but it's fine.  Sound is incredible, with the big gun blasts powerful enough to pressurize a big theater.  Acting is basically in line with what one would expect.  Andrew Garfield does a good job, and the lovely Teresa Palmer is a pleasure to watch.  The interview footage with some of the actual people, including Desmond Doss himself, is both interesting and detracts a bit from the film itself.  It would have made for a great BD extra.  A good film, but not a great one.

[listener]

IT HAPPENED TO JANE 1959 American "feel good" movie with Doris Day, Jack Lemmon and Ernie Kovacs.
Nice outdoor settings and a working steam locomotive.   Lobster farming and a church with box pews might be of more interest to others.

[Karl Henning]

Hacksaw Ridge.  Mel Gibson's return to directing is possibly the most graphically violent war movie I've seen, possibly surpassing Saving Private Ryan in intensity, if not scale or quality.  Once the combat starts in the second half, it is more or less relentless.  The movie is formulaic, but earnest.  The limited CGI (eg, naval armada) is not top of the line, but is good enough.  The main battlefield on top of a ridge is obviously a set and rather small, but it's fine.  Sound is incredible, with the big gun blasts powerful enough to pressurize a big theater.  Acting is basically in line with what one would expect.  Andrew Garfield does a good job, and the lovely Teresa Palmer is a pleasure to watch.  The interview footage with some of the actual people, including Desmond Doss himself, is both interesting and detracts a bit from the film itself.  It would have made for a great BD extra.  A good film, but not a great one.

Thanks for this.

[Karl Henning]

Don't gloat. You may yet sit through many shitburgers. You'll resent the gloaters.

Well, and there are some who don't like La mer, either 


We've had occasion earlier to observe that he doesn't always get it right . . . but, curious as to what Ebert's opinion was, I found:

[Drasko]

Very good, few minor preachy and talky moments aside.

[listener]

animated, from Hong Kong, the first in a series
McDULL, PRINCE DE LA BUN
set against the modernization of HK with a lot of local references I would not get, but still enjoyed..
I think 'sweet' is an appropriate description in spite of the pejorative connotations of the word.

[Jaakko Keskinen]

Last weekend, North by Northwest for the first time. Also, the newest Mad Max.

[Ken B]

Last weekend, North by Northwest for the first time.

The right attitude!

[aligreto]

Last night....

[Karl Henning]

Last weekend, North by Northwest for the first time.

The right attitude!

Forsooth!