Last Movie You Watched

[Wendell_E]

The Favourite and Rififi.

[aligreto]

Morgan





A highly stylised film about those who play God and the resulting consequences.

[SonicMan46]

Destry Rides Again (1939) W James Stewart, Marlene Dietrich, Brian Donlevy, and other great character actors - short synopsis below - well, if your a fan of Jimmy and like old westerns w/ a comic twist, then this one should please.

Dances w/ Wolves (1990) w/ Kevin Costner, Mary, McDonnell, Grahm Greene, et al - nearly 4 hrs long so watched over 2 nights - see the Wiki Article, if not familiar w/ the film; reviews were somewhat mixed but 82% on Rotten Tomatoes (HERE) - I own the BD (actually 2 discs, a second /w specials) shown which is beautifully done w/ 4*/5* for visual and audio restoration (HERE) - 12 Oscar nominations and winner of 7, including Best Picture & Best Director for Costner.  Dave

Tom Destry (James Stewart), son of a legendary frontier peacekeeper, doesn't believe in gunplay. Thus he becomes the object of widespread ridicule when he rides into the wide-open town of Bottleneck, the personal fiefdom of the crooked Kent (Brian Donlevy). His detractors laugh even louder when Destry signs on as deputy to drunken sheriff Wash Dimsdale (Charles Winninger). But the laughter subsides when Destry casually proves himself a crack shot, despite his abhorrence of firearms. Later, when saloon chanteuse Frenchy (Marlene Dietrich), Kent's gal, takes umbrage at Destry's indifferent reaction to her charms, she vows to make a fool of the new deputy. A huge moneymaker, Destry Rides Again served as a spectacular comeback for Marlene Dietrich, who two years earlier had been written off as "box office poison." (Rotten Tomatoes - 95% critics)

 

 

[aligreto]

 

That is a very fine one Dave; a real modern epic and classic.

[SonicMan46]

That is a very fine one Dave; a real modern epic and classic.

Agree completely!  A couple of months ago, I re-watched the 4-CD (about 6 hrs) production shown below - produced by Costner after 'Dances w/ Wolves' - seems to be OOP on Amazon but 'used' bargains may exist for those interested - still brief but well done IMO - Dave

 

[Karl Henning]

That is a very fine one Dave; a real modern epic and classic.

+ 1

[aligreto]

The Lazarus Effect





Bringing someone back from the dead can have unforeseen consequences!

[SonicMan46]

The Crossing (2000) w/ Jeff Daniels as George Washington and others - on Independence Day, we usually watch a 'patriotic' movie (often the musical 1776), but had just watched that film - so chose the dramatization of Washington's victory at Trenton in late December 1776 - short synopsis below for those not familiar with the battle.  Well, the night was young, so we picked another classic to watch.

Double Indemnity (1944) w/ Fred McMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, & Edward G. Robinson; Billy Wilder, director - one of the best of the film noir genre w/ great performances by all, especially Robinson IMO - blu-ray restoration excellent - highly recommended to those into these types of stories and films.  Dave

In 1776, less than six months after the Declaraton of Independence, the Continental Army, under the command of General George Washington, was on the brink of utter defeat. Low on men, cannons and supplies, Washington decides to risk everything on one last desperately daring attack on the town of Trenton where over 1000 of the feared Hessian mercenaries are garrisoned. However to do that, the army must cross the Delaware to a seemingly hopeless battle that would turn out to be more successful than Washington ever dreamed of.

   

[Karl Henning]

Well, now I have at last seen Blood Simple. I guess I still do not understand the title.

[North Star]

Well, now I have at last seen Blood Simple. I guess I still do not understand the title.

Quoth Wikipedia^{Falsani, Cathleen. (2009). The Dude Abides: The Gospel According to the Coen Brothers. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. p. 31.}: The film's title derives from the Dashiell Hammett novel Red Harvest (1929), in which the term "blood simple" describes the addled, fearful mindset of people after prolonged immersion in violent situations.

Title aside, what did you think?

[aligreto]

I am minded to watch Kieslowski's Dekalog serise. I have started at the beginning with Dekalog, Part 1....





This is an emotionally powerful film that has some haunting moments, both visually and musically. "Thou shalt not worship graven images", in this case logic, reason and computers. The results can be tragic; this film explores that process very well.

[SonicMan46]

A couple of new Criterion BDs just added to my collection from a half-off Barnes & Noble sale:

Swing Time (1936) w/ Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers who made 10 movies together from 1933 to 1949; this is one of their best IMO, especially w/ the music and lyrics by Jerome Kern & Dorothy Fields - the blu-ray restoration is not as pristine as most Criterion efforts but is still stunning for its age (80+ years!) - a review HERE - a 'must see' if a fan of the dancing film genre.

Harold and Maude (1971) w/ Ruth Gordon and Bud Cort - as stated in the short synopsis below, considered a 'cult classic' (whatever that is worth?) - a quirky funny movie depending on your 'comedy genes', I guess; but Susan & I enjoyed - from the year of our first wedding anniversary, so into the music of the times which is by Cat Stevens in the film.  If not familiar w/ this movie, worth streaming at least once.  Dave

Cult classic pairs Cort as a dead-pan disillusioned 20-year-old obsessed with suicide and a loveable Gordon as a fun-loving 80-year-old eccentric. They meet at a funeral, and develop a taboo romantic relationship, in which they explore the tired theme of the meaning of life with a fresh perspective.

   

[Karl Henning]

Quoth Wikipedia^{Falsani, Cathleen. (2009). The Dude Abides: The Gospel According to the Coen Brothers. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. p. 31.}: The film's title derives from the Dashiell Hammett novel Red Harvest (1929), in which the term "blood simple" describes the addled, fearful mindset of people after prolonged immersion in violent situations.

Title aside, what did you think?

Thanks, Karlo. I enjoyed it.

[aligreto]

The Discovery





This is a deep, thought provoking film about a search for the afterlife. It is definitely worth a watch if you want something different and meaningful.

[aligreto]

Kieslowski: Dekalog, Part 2





The second installment in the series is another wonderful film which investigates the interrelationships between various people and the various effects that circumstances and events have on those relationships. The performances of the two main protagonists are very fine.

[aligreto]

Cold Light of Day





This is a quite watchable and entertaining enough thriller.

[Florestan]

One of the biggest letdowns for me was that Scott raised more questions than he answered

Agreed completely. Pretty much all actions of Prometheus's characters, humans, androids or "engineers" alike, are quite illogical. There is no strong rationale behind any of them, save the lady's self-performed abortion. No, really, that movie is crap.

[SonicMan46]

Don Juan DeMarco (1994) w/ Marlon Brando, Johnny Depp, and Faye Dunaway - this film has mixed reviews, e.g. 69% on Rotten Tomatoes (check link below, if interested), but we like the movie and watch about once a year - one of my main attractions is to see Brando and Depp together - shortened synopsis below - recommended if a 'pyschiatric fantasy' piques your interest and you're fans of the main stars?

Dick Tracy (1990) w/ Warren Beatty, Glenne Headley, Madonna, Al Pacino, Dustin Hoffman, Mandy Patinkin and many others - based on the comic book character - another film w/ mixed reviews (e.g. 63%, Rotten Tomatoes HERE) - this is a 'love or hate' experience, I guess, so look at the link first if planning to watch - for me, the lush primary color scenes are fabulous on blu-ray and the make-up making a number of the actors unrecognized - again, recommended w/ the reservations discussed - Susan and I enjoy watching this movie together on occasion.  Dave

A psychiatrist treats a most unusual patient, only to find that the doctor is the one who gains the most from their sessions in this philosophical romantic comedy. A young man in a mask and cape (played by Johnny Depp) is standing atop a billboard, threatening to jump. When the potential suicide is finally talked down, he's brought to a psychiatric facility where after one doctor washes his hands of the case, he's placed under the supervision of Dr. Jack Mickler (Marlon Brando), an aging psychiatrist soon to retire. The patient informs Mickler that he is actually the great lover Don Juan.........LINK

 

[JBS]

Dick Tracy (1990) w/ Warren Beatty, Glenne Headley, Madonna, Al Pacino, Dustin Hoffman, Mandy Patinkin and many others - based on the comic book character - another film w/ mixed reviews (e.g. 63%, Rotten Tomatoes HERE) - this is a 'love or hate' experience, I guess, so look at the link first if planning to watch - for me, the lush primary color scenes are fabulous on blu-ray and the make-up making a number of the actors unrecognized - again, recommended w/ the reservations discussed - Susan and I enjoy watching this movie together on occasion.  Dave

 

I can't say I loved DT, but I certainly thought it was a good one. My main complaint was Mr. Mumbles, as played by Dustin Hoffman, whose mumbles were so mumbly that I can't see how any of the other characters, much less the movie audience, was supposed to know what he was saying.  There were enough plot twists, especially those involving Madonna's character, that the movie can't be classified as a straight out comic blockbuster. It owes as much to the film noir genre as it does to its actual source.

[Karl Henning]

I can't say I loved DT, but I certainly thought it was a good one. My main complaint was Mr. Mumbles, as played by Dustin Hoffman, whose mumbles were so mumbly that I can't see how any of the other characters, much less the movie audience, was supposed to know what he was saying.  There were enough plot twists, especially those involving Madonna's character, that the movie can't be classified as a straight out comic blockbuster. It owes as much to the film noir genre as it does to its actual source.

I need to watch that one again. Haven't seen it since it opened. So, at the time I had no bottom who Mandy Patinkin was. But maybeMandy Patinkin wasn't Mandy Patinkin, yet....