Last Movie You Watched

[aligreto]

Kieslowski: Dekalog, Part 3





This is a very absorbing film with a very simple and direct story line. The plot unfolds at a steady pace and the characters are very believable. There are some very fine and picturesque portraits of the main female protagonist included.

[aligreto]

Thanks Karl - at our age, we had a relaxing time (no long strenuous mountain trails anymore), good eats (especially in the Village of Hot Springs), and even signed up for a Falconry introduction (couple pics of Linda, the falconer and a combo of us holding a Harris Falcon) - when we return will likely do an intermediary session w/ the birds (plenty of YouTube videos on the topic w/ some from the Homestead Resort).  Dave

 

Nice idea Dave. I would like to give that a try sometime.

[Ken B]

Falcons make wonderful instruments of revenge. Just sayin'.

TD The Apartment

A very good Blu ray restoration. It holds up very well, even if the premise is (to pick an odd word that fits) obsolete. Wilder's last really outstanding movie, but I do have a real soft spot for The Private Life Of Sherlock Holmes.

[Karl Henning]

Falcons make wonderful instruments of revenge. Just sayin'.

TD The Apartment

A very good Blu ray restoration. It holds up very well, even if the premise is (to pick an odd word that fits) obsolete. Wilder's last really outstanding movie, but I do have a real soft spot for The Private Life Of Sherlock Holmes.

I need to watch that one; in high school, I played in the pit for Promises, Promises, which I understand was an adaptation.

[George]

Did the falcons have large talons?


(little movie humor)

[aligreto]

Locke





One man driving alone through the night in his car and he is speaking on his car phone with regard to two rolling situations that are simultaneously unfolding and are having a significant impact on his life. It may not read like it is worth your time but it is definitely a wonderfully engrossing and engaging film and it is most certainly worth a watch.  It does, however, require your full attention.

[ritter]

A visit last Saturday to a very well presented exhibition on author and playwright Ödön von Horváth (1901 - 1938) at the Deutsches Theatermuseum in Munich led me to order Maximilian Schell's 1979 film adaptation of arguably Horváth's greatest play, Geschichten aus dem Wiener Wald (Tales from the Vienna Woods).

[asin]3902568992[/asin]

I had read the play (and other works by Horváth) with enthusiasm in my late teens, and has also seen the film in the cinema soon after its initial release. Watching it again now, some 30+ years later, was a great pleasure. Horváth's text, combining the kitsch and sentimental with a very acid social critique, is excellent (no wonder the author is now considered a "classic", and is a regular presence on German stages). In a certain way, he's a sort of Austro-German counterpart to his near contemporary Federico Garcïa Lorca). Schell's adaptation is very engaging, transferring the piece successfully to the screen without betraying its theatrical roots. Some of the acting is also superb, with the curiosity that this was the last appearance of actress Lil Dagover, who had been in movies since the 1910s and had appeared in classics such as The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari).

Unfortunately, this (AFAIK only) transfer to DVD seems destined solely to the German-speaking market. The lack of subtitles in any language (not even in the original) meant that the Viennese accent and idioms required some getting used to for a fluent but non-native German speaker like myself.

[Ken B]

A Civil Action

1998, with John Travolta. A court case about contamination in Woburn Massachusetts. Not bad, could use some tightening. A slightly generous 7/10

[Karl Henning]

A Civil Action

1998, with John Travolta. A court case about contamination in Woburn Massachusetts. Not bad, could use some tightening. A slightly generous 7/10

I still haven't seen it, it was before our time, we've lived in Woburn some 20-odd years.

Thread Duty:

You Will Meet a Tall, Dark Stranger.

[SimonNZ]

A Civil Action

1998, with John Travolta. A court case about contamination in Woburn Massachusetts. Not bad, could use some tightening. A slightly generous 7/10

Sydney Pollack was wonderfully nasty in that, as I recall.

[Ken B]

Sydney Pollack was wonderfully nasty in that, as I recall.

He was. Behind the scenes too. "You call that directing?"

[aligreto]

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen





This is an action packed period thriller. I like the fantasy of it.

[SonicMan46]

Well, we've been exploring the PBS channel on our Roku device lately, but I watched the two films below last few nights:

Drums Along the Mohawk (1939) w/ Henry Fonda, Claudette Colbert, et al; John Ford, director - short synopsis below - own on DVD and wish a good BD was available, but apparently the original technicolor elements no longer exist (story HERE) - I've watched this movie for years and still enjoy - recommended.

Music of the Heart (1999) w/ Meryl Streep, Aidan Quinn, Cloris Leachman, Gloria Estefan, & Angela Bassett - short synopsis second quote - based on a true story; somewhat mixed reviews - 6.8/10, IMDB; 63%, Rotten Tomatoes; 3/4, Roger Ebert (his comments HERE) - I still enjoy this 'documentary'; the scenes at the end w/ many famous violinists and the Carnegie Hall concert are especially enjoyable for me.  Dave

The year is 1776, and newlyweds Gilbert (Henry Fonda) and Lana Martin (Claudette Colbert) have decided to take up a rural lifestyle. However, following the onset of the American Revolutionary War, the couple's quiet life in the Mohawk Valley is interrupted by violent attacks from Native Americans and Tories. The Martins refuse to succumb to the difficulties of their new life, though, as Lana takes on the responsibility of raising a child while Gilbert joins the colonists' militia.

After being abandoned by her husband, depressed music teacher Roberta (Meryl Streep) lands a job teaching violin to underprivileged children in Harlem, New York. Despite initial friction from school principal Janet Williams (Angela Bassett) and the students, the program succeeds and attracts public recognition. After 10 years, however, the program is suddenly shut down following budget cuts -- and Roberta, together with Williams and her former pupils, works to hold a fund-raising concert.

 

[SimonNZ]

[aligreto]

Kieslowski: Dekalog, Part 4





This is a very intense film about a relationship between two people which changes upon the discovery of a letter. However, things may not be exactly as they seem and the unfolding of the drama is quite absorbing, very well acted out and well filmed.

[Madiel]

Next offering at the Scandinavian Film Festival was considerably better.

Out Stealing Horses (Ut og stjæle hester) is apparently a rather popular novel, translated from Norwegian. I haven't read the book, but a couple of people sitting near me were overheard at the end saying they thought the film captured the novel very well.

And I certainly enjoyed the film on its own merits. It's an older man remembering events from the summer he was 15 years old, partially triggered by an encounter with someone from his part.

The way that information is gradually revealed (sometimes slightly out of order, but easy enough to follow) made for a pretty engaging experience. And there's some fine cinematography.

[aligreto]

Last night I watched The Revenant for the first time.






I was not over awed by it but there was some wonderful scenery and some very fine cinematography on show.

[SonicMan46]

Last night I watched The Revenant for the first time.



I was not over awed by it but there was some wonderful scenery and some very fine cinematography on show.

Wife & I saw the film on the BIG screen (maybe even IMAX?) on release and were bowled over by the scenery (we've been to Alberta & British Columbia - scenes were shot in many beautiful locations - quote below from Wiki) - the bear attack and subsequent survival events were also quite 'realistic' but not the strongest part of the movie for us - do not own the DVD or BD - just would not be the same on my 42" HDTV and did not care to really see again; however, nominated for 12 Oscars and winner of 3, including 'Best Cinematography', well deserved in my mind.  Dave

The film was shot in twelve locations in three countries: Canada, the United States, and Argentina. In Canada, filming took place in Calgary and Fortress Mountain in Alberta, in Kananaskis Country west of Calgary, the Badlands near Drumheller, and at Squamish and Mammoth Studios, Burnaby, in British Columbia. The scenes in the waterfall were filmed at the Kootenai Falls near Libby, Montana. While the initial plan was to film entirely in Canada, the weather was ultimately too warm, leading the filmmakers to locations near the Rio Olivia at the tip of Argentina with snow on the ground, to shoot the film's ending.

[SonicMan46]

Last few nights, Susan and I watched the first film below, while I viewed the other two over a few nights:

Finding Neverland (2004) w/ Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet, Julie Christie, Dustin Hoffman, et al - about the Scottish playwright, James Barrie and the story behind the creation of his most memorable work, Peter Pan - short synopsis below - own the BD (excellent AV production) - highly recommended, especially as a film to watch w/ family.

Patton (1970) w/ George C. Scott, Karl Malden, and many others - I was in the mood for a 'tank movie' - for those who have seen the film the Scott performance is remarkable IMO (winner of 7 of 10 Oscars, including 'Best Actor & Picture').  My BD is a second release copy w/ just spectacular audiovisuals - see second quote below and checkout the details, if interested; now, a long film (nearly 3 hrs), so might want to watch over two nights - again highly recommended!

Thunder Bay (1953) w/ James Stewart, Dan Duryea, Joanne Dru, Gilbert Roland et al - short synopsis below and a new BD acquisition to my collection (had a burned DVD-R) - another Stewart-Anthony Mann collaboration (although I feel the 'westerns' are better) - enjoy the change of venue from the western genre - ratings not as good some of the others, but if you like oil well wildcatting in the early days in the Louisiana Gulf, then a recommendation.  Dave

This charming account of a period in the life of author J.M. Barrie reveals the real relationships and events that served as the basis for the author's most iconic work, "Peter Pan." After Barrie develops a platonic relationship with the widowed Sylvia and her four sons, he is inspired to write a play about a group of children who don't want to grow up. The work proves a hit and winds up bringing Barrie and the children together in a way he had never expected.

This new release is how Patton should've looked on Blu-ray all along. The clarity from the 65mm image is simply extraordinary from start to finish. The weft of cloth, the intricacies of the sets, the dirt on helmets, the detail in the actors' facial features—with the grain structure intact, everything is tighter, more palpable, better resolved. The tonal qualities of the picture are noticeably improved as well, with punchier contrast, denser colors, and more accurate skin tones. There are some almost imperceptible color/brightness fluctuations in certain longer shots—this is not uncommon when using such a large negative, which is more prone to uneven development—but otherwise, I can't drum up a single complaint about this revamped edition. The print is pristine.

In 1946, ex-Navy engineer Steve Martin comes to a Louisiana town with a dream: to build a safe platform for offshore oil drilling. Having finessed financing from a big oil company, formerly penniless Steve and his partner Johnny are in business...and getting interested in shrimp-boat captain Rigaud's two lovely daughters. But opposition from the fishing community grows fast, led by Stella Rigaud. Other hazards include sabotage, a hurricane...and a treacherous board of directors.

   

[aligreto]

Wife & I saw the film on the BIG screen (maybe even IMAX?) on release and were bowled over by the scenery (we've been to Alberta & British Columbia - scenes were shot in many beautiful locations - quote below from Wiki) - the bear attack and subsequent survival events were also quite 'realistic' but not the strongest part of the movie for us - do not own the DVD or BD - just would not be the same on my 42" HDTV and did not care to really see again; however, nominated for 12 Oscars and winner of 3, including 'Best Cinematography', well deserved in my mind.  Dave

Cheers Dave. I can readily understand why it received an Oscar for Best Cinematography. Truly deserved.