Last Movie You Watched

[SonicMan46]

Paths of Glory (1957) w/ Kirk Douglas, Ralph Meeker, Adolphe Menjou, George Macready, Wayne Morris, et al; Stanley Kubrick, director - 4.5/5 ratings for video and audio restoration HERE - short synopsis below - one of Douglas' favorite films and one of the best 'anti-war' movies made - highly recommended.  Dave

Stanley Kubrick's Paths of Glory is among the most powerful antiwar films ever made. A fiery Kirk Douglas stars as a World War I French colonel who goes head-to-head with the army's ruthless top brass when his men are accused of cowardice after being unable to carry out an impossible mission. This haunting, exquisitely photographed dissection of the military machine in all its absurdity and capacity for dehumanization (a theme Kubrick would continue to explore throughout his career) is assembled with its legendary director's customary precision, from its tense trench warfare sequences to its gripping courtroom climax to its ravaging final scene. (Source)

 

[aligreto]

RockNRolla





This is a crime film set in London. It has serious crime undertones and yet there is a large element of humour involved. I like this genre and this film did not disappoint in any way. It is definitely worth a watch.

[Florestan]

A Royal Affair

Have you noticed that the Guardian blurb on the cover doesn't make much sense? A mad king in this movie, a mad king in The Madness of King George, all right, but where is the mad king in Amadeus?

[Florestan]

Riddick. Frenzied and violent sci fi action .

Far-fetched beyond redemption too.  .

[Madiel]

Have you noticed that the Guardian blurb on the cover doesn't make much sense? A mad king in this movie, a mad king in The Madness of King George, all right, but where is the mad king in Amadeus?

Ha. No, I had completely ignored that part of the poster. I think they were trying to connect the period setting plus intrigue and plotting.

[Florestan]

Ha. No, I had completely ignored that part of the poster. I think they were trying to connect the period setting plus intrigue and plotting.

Yes, I think that too but frankly they could have found a better match than Amadeus, for instance Marie Antoinette --- at least the latter is much more about royalty and their life than the former.

(Now it's me who nitpicks.  )

I think I've seen the Danish movie a few years ago. And now that I think of it, I know where I have seen Mads Mikkelsen recently: in a Carlsberg advertising. 

[Madiel]

Mads Mikkelsen is everywhere. Even my former Danish teacher jokes about how you see the same Danish actors all the time in their films and television, and when it comes to Danish actors with an international profile, the answer is pretty well Mads.

His brother is a damn fine actor, actually, but has never made the international transition.

[SonicMan46]

The Fountainhead (1949) w/ Gary Cooper, Patricia Neal, and Raymond Massey - based on book by Ayn Rand, who also wrote the screenplay - own as a DVD-R from the TCM channel; amazed that I convinced by wife to watch the film - she enjoyed.  Short synopsis below - Cooper & Neal attractive together - recommended.  Dave

Unconventional and arrogant architect Howard Roark (Gary Cooper) sees himself as misunderstood, having been openly criticized by writer Ellsworth Toohey (Robert Douglas). Taking a job at a quarry in lieu of compromising his vision, Roark becomes involved with rich, married socialite Dominique Francon (Patricia Neal). As he struggles to preserve his ideals and projects while competing for the heart of a married woman, Roark's reactions become increasingly complex and dramatic.

 

[drogulus]

Mads Mikkelsen is everywhere. Even my former Danish teacher jokes about how you see the same Danish actors all the time in their films and television, and when it comes to Danish actors with an international profile, the answer is pretty well Mads.

His brother is a damn fine actor, actually, but has never made the international transition.

     Lars played a villain in one of the Sherlock series, and he got quite a bit of international exposure from a big role in Forbrydelsen.

[Madiel]

     Lars played a villain in one of the Sherlock series, and he got quite a bit of international exposure from a big role in Forbrydelsen.

I primarily know him from Herrens Veje (Ride Upon the Storm, another case of an English title not matching though a little more understandable why it changed).

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Mads Mikkelsen is everywhere. Even my former Danish teacher jokes about how you see the same Danish actors all the time in their films and television, and when it comes to Danish actors with an international profile, the answer is pretty well Mads.

His brother is a damn fine actor, actually, but has never made the international transition.

I saw something (one of those 'bonus' things) in Game of Thrones in which Nikolaj Coster-Waldau joked about (re one scene in the last season, final episode) about the two best-known Danish actors killing off each other [Trying to find the quote...sorry!].  Pilou Asbaek was the other actor.

PD

[Madiel]

I saw something (one of those 'bonus' things) in Game of Thrones in which Nikolaj Coster-Waldau joked about (re one scene in the last season, final episode) about the two best-known Danish actors killing off each other [Trying to find the quote...sorry!].  Pilou Asbaek was the other actor.

PD

I forgot that Nikolaj was Danish. But then, I'm not a Game of Thrones fan.

I suppose I equate Mads Mikkelsen with Danish actor who I see in both English-language material and Danish-language material. But then it turns out when I look at Nikolaj Coster-Waldau's filmography... I've actually seen one of his Danish performances quite recently. 

[aligreto]

Atonement





The story of how a lie can be so devastating in its impact.

[Todd]

From back when Mel Gibson was still a box office star, The Patriot.  I'd never watched any of it.  I was kind of hoping for an Apocalypto type flick, but my hopes were dashed when I saw that Roland Emmerich directed the movie.  Emmerich and his arch-foe Michael Bay constantly battle for the title of worst big budget movie director, and this is Emmerich's Pearl Harbor.  The green screen work is terrible, even for the late 90s, and the setup, speechifying, music, and everything else is so dreadful that I couldn't make it past the very powerful scene where one of Gibson's seven movie children die at the hands of the wicked British.  Even the wonderful presence of Joely Richardson couldn't make me watch any more.  Oof. 

[Florestan]

From back when Mel Gibson was still a box office star, The Patriot.  I'd never watched any of it.  I was kind of hoping for an Apocalypto type flick, but my hopes were dashed when I saw that Roland Emmerich directed the movie.  Emmerich and his arch-foe Michael Bay constantly battle for the title of worst big budget movie director, and this is Emmerich's Pearl Harbor.  The green screen work is terrible, even for the late 90s, and the setup, speechifying, music, and everything else is so dreadful that I couldn't make it past the very powerful scene where one of Gibson's seven movie children die at the hands of the wicked British.  Even the wonderful presence of Joely Richardson couldn't make me watch any more.  Oof.

Hah!

https://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,33.msg1303470.html#msg1303470

https://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,33.msg1303491.html#msg1303491

[SonicMan46]

Hah!

https://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,33.msg1303470.html#msg1303470

https://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,33.msg1303491.html#msg1303491

Hey Andrei - links to our posts from early July - shortly after that interchange, I purchased the book below for my iPad - excellent and not a long read - the Southern Campaign is covered well - recommended to those who savor for the REAL story!    Dave
.

[SonicMan46]

Over the last week or so, the films below - 2 commercial BDs and 2 DVD-Rs from the TCM channel:

Dodsworth (1936) w/ Walter Huston, Ruth Chatterton, Mary Astor, & Paul Lucas; Billy Wyler, director - based on the Sinclair Lewis novel (one of my favorite American authors as a teenager).  Short synopsis below w/ numerous Oscar nominations but just a single win.  Recommended.

Quartet (2012) w/ the actors on the cover art below; Dustin Hoffman, director - short synopsis below - Susan's choice and an oft sad but then funny story - reviews, 6.8/10, IMDB & 80% Rotten Tomatoes - we would give higher ratings and recommended.

Pursued (1947) w/ Robert Mitchum, Teresa Wright, Judith Anderson, Dean Jagger, & Alan Hale; Raoul Walsh, director; Max Steiner, music - short synopsis below; ratings, 7.2/10, IMDB; 100% Rotten Tomatoes - a western film noir w/ excellent acting - very good video restoration w/ great details and use of black & white shadowing - if the story is of interest and also Mitchum a fan, then recommended!

Dinner At Eight (1933) w/ Marie Dressler, John & Lionel Barrymore, Wallace Berry, Jean Harlow, Billy Burke - short summary below; ratings, 7.5/10,IMDB; 90%, Rotten Tomatoes - talk about an 'old' movie; Dressler was born in 1868 (the year US Grant became president of the USA!) and both Barrymore brothers, plus a delightful Jean Harlow at 22 years of age (she died only 4 years later!).  This is one of those 30s 'screwball comedies' which have become rather dated - held my interest but Susan was bored to tears!    Watch at your own risk -    Dave

Dodsworth is a 1936 American drama film directed by William Wyler, and starring Walter Huston, Ruth Chatterton, Paul Lukas, and Mary Astor. Sidney Howard based the screenplay on his 1934 stage adaptation of the 1929 novel of the same name by Sinclair Lewis. Huston reprised his stage role. The film is a study of a marriage in crisis. Recently retired auto magnate Samuel Dodsworth and his narcissistic wife Fran, while on a grand European tour, discover that they want very different things out of life, straining their marriage. The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Huston, and Best Director for Wyler (the first of his record twelve nominations in that category), and won for Best Art Direction. (Source)

Quartet - once-popular opera diva Jean Horton (Maggie Smith) creates a stir with her arrival at Beecham House, a home for retired performers. No one feels the uproar more than Reginald (Tom Courtenay), Jean's ex-husband, who still stings from her long-ago infidelity. Most of the other Beecham residents are delighted, and try to convince Jean to join them in a performance of "Rigoletto." Jean, however, knows that she is long past her prime and is reluctant to sully the memory of her once-lovely voice. (Wiki)

Pursued - raised by a foster family, Jeb (Robert Mitchum) is an orphan who remains tormented by the traumatic murder of his parents when he was a child. He is treated well by his foster mother, Mrs. Callum (Judith Anderson), and her daughter, Thor (Teresa Wright), but he and foster brother Adam (John Rodney) have a tense relationship. When Jeb is shot at while riding his horse, he blames Adam -- but Mrs. Callum knows that in fact it's another member of the Callum clan who is out to get him. (Wiki)

Dinner At Eight - in this comedic drama, an ambitious New York socialite plans an extravagant dinner party as her businessman husband, Oliver (Lionel Barrymore), contends with financial woes, causing a lot of tension between the couple. Meanwhile, their high-society friends and associates, including the gruff Dan Packard (Wallace Beery) and his sultry spouse, Kitty (Jean Harlow), contend with their own entanglements, leading to revelations at the much-anticipated dinner. (Wiki)

   

[aligreto]

Arctic





A solo pilot crashes in the arctic and establishes a system for survival and endeavouring to contact outside help via a transponder. One day a rescue helicopter arrives on the scene. This is only the beginning of his troubles. This is definitely a case where a cool head is called for. I enjoyed this one.

[steve ridgway]

Arctic





A solo pilot crashes in the arctic and establishes a system for survival and endeavouring to contact outside help via a transponder. One day a rescue helicopter arrives on the scene. This is only the beginning of his troubles. This is definitely a case where a cool head is called for. I enjoyed this one.

We once had a team building exercise at work about surviving after a plane crash in the arctic. Most of us thought it would go very smoothly seeing as we had a member of the Royal Marine Reserve who regularly went on military exercises in Norway. But no, there had to be someone who objected on the basis of his experience in taking Boy Scouts camping, so as with all team building exercises there it turned very nasty .

[SonicMan46]

Tender Mercies (1983) w/ Robert Duvall, Tess Harper, Allan Hubbard, Betty Buckley, and Wilford Brimley - short summary below (a 4* Roger Ebert review HERE) - a favorite movie and just replaced my old DVD w/ a newly released BD. Duvall does his own singing wonderfully w/ a mix of Meryl Haggard and Lefty Frizzell IMO (an example HERE) - nominated for 5 Oscars, winner of 2, including 'Best Actor' for Duvall - highly recommended.  Dave

Down-on-his-luck country singer Mac Sledge (Robert Duvall) has nowhere to turn when he wakes up in a motel, short on cash. So he takes a job from Rosa Lee (Tess Harper), the kindly widow who runs the place. Mac begins to fall for Rosa, who helps him confront his drinking, and also finds an unexpected bond with Rosa's young son (Allan Hubbard). When the opportunity for a career comeback surfaces, Mac must choose between his new life and the life he let slip through his hands.(Long Wiki article HERE)