Last Movie You Watched

[VonStupp]

I had the opportunity to see both the film and stage (via a touring company) versions of Biloxi Blues, the next installment of the trilogy which started with BBM.  I found the stage version better, for reasons inherent in the different mediums: no distractions in the background, lighting cues that focused one's attention, no camera close-ups, etc.  The movie softened the dramatic elements and highlighted the comedic elements in contrast to the stage version.  I have to wonder how that applies to all of Simon's works.

I would imagine Brighton Beach is probably better on stage as well; the claustrophobia of the apartment this extended family is living in seems like it would be more effective on stage. Neil Simon's way with conversation remains stagey in the film, but New York as a set piece opens up that dialog a little bit. Can't say I laughed a whole lot, but it was amusing enough.

Haven't seen Biloxi Blues (1988) in a while, but Christopher Walken was mighty memorable and quite scary as the unpredictable and unstable drill sergeant. It would be great to have seen these on stage, I hope it was a good time.

VS

[Pohjolas Daughter]

All Is Lost





This was posted recently and it was a re-watch for me. It is one of those films where there is not much action but there certainly is a lot going on at the same time. The dialogue is minimal but the ambient sound of the film is wonderful. The soundtrack is pretty good too.

I remember reading that Robert Redford lost a goodly chunk of hearing in one of his ears during the coarse of making that film. 

From a website called helpingmehear.com (an article about notable actors that wear hearing aids)

"4. Robert Redford
Robert Redford was fortunate to have great hearing at an age when over 50% of people have disabling hearing loss. But sadly, during the 2013 filming of All Is Lost, he chose to do his own stunts. These included repeated submersion in water and being sprayed by a water cannon. He developed an ear infection that caused 60% loss of hearing.

Redford recounted in an interview, "I went to a hearing guy in Utah, and he said, "You've lost a substantial part of your hearing." I asked, "Am I going to get it back?" He said, "No.'"

Faced with this prognosis, Redford chose to get hearing aids."

PD

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Empire of the Sun



Had never seen this movie before, but due to comments by relm1 in the film music thread, I decided to get ahold of a copy to watch.

Excellent film!  Really enjoyed learning about the topic (Japan's invasion of Shanghai in 1937 including eventually an apparently safe enclave, known as "the International Settlement". Within it, British, American and European businessmen lived a privileged life--along with their families--and were waited on by their Chinese servants.  It focuses on their struggle for survival after the invasion.).

It's seen from one young boy's eyes--J. G. Ballard (who apparently lived through this himself as a lad and wrote a book about his experiences).  The young James (Jim) is played by a young Christian Bale.  The movie is from 1987.

The DVD that I watched also has a flip side with commentary and shots of the filming (watching a bit of that now).

PD

[Karl Henning]

I remember reading that Robert Redford lost a goodly chunk of hearing in one of his ears during the coarse of making that film. 

From a website called helpingmehear.com (an article about notable actors that wear hearing aids)

"4. Robert Redford
Robert Redford was fortunate to have great hearing at an age when over 50% of people have disabling hearing loss. But sadly, during the 2013 filming of All Is Lost, he chose to do his own stunts. These included repeated submersion in water and being sprayed by a water cannon. He developed an ear infection that caused 60% loss of hearing.

Redford recounted in an interview, "I went to a hearing guy in Utah, and he said, "You've lost a substantial part of your hearing." I asked, "Am I going to get it back?" He said, "No.'"

Faced with this prognosis, Redford chose to get hearing aids."

PD

That's a damned shame! Not long ago I re-watched "Nothing in the Dark" from Season 3 of The Twilight Zone, in which he plays across from the great Gladys Cooper. He's very young in there, but by no means bad.

[SonicMan46]

Empire of the Sun

 

Had never seen this movie before, but due to comments by relm1 in the film music thread, I decided to get ahold of a copy to watch.

Excellent film!  Really enjoyed learning about the topic (Japan's invasion of Shanghai in 1937 including eventually an apparently safe enclave (the International Settlement) within it where British, American and European businessmen (perhaps others?) lived a nice life--along with their families--and were waited on by their Chinese servants.  It focuses on their struggle for survival after the invasion.

It's seen from one young boy's eyes--J. G. Ballard (who apparently lived through this himself as a lad and wrote a book about his experiences).  The young James (Jim) is played by a young Christian Bale.  The movie is from 1987.

The DVD that I watched also has a flip side with commentary and shots of the filming (watching a bit of that now).

PD

+1 - own the BD inserted above - a fan also, especially of the 'young' Christian Bale who I felt was fantastic in the film; not loved by all, 75% on Rotten Tomatoes & 7.7/10 on IMDB - my package has a second DVD disc which I've not even watched (believe a doc on Warner Brothers and the war narrated by Spielberg).  Dave

[Pohjolas Daughter]

That's a damned shame! Not long ago I re-watched "Nothing in the Dark" from Season 3 of The Twilight Zone, in which he plays across from the great Gladys Cooper. He's very young in there, but by no means bad.

Don't know that episode; perhaps I'll need to visit (re?) it. 

+1 - own the BD inserted above - a fan also, especially of the 'young' Christian Bale who I felt was fantastic in the film; not loved by all, 75% on Rotten Tomatoes & 7.7/10 on IMDB - my package has a second DVD disc which I've not even watched (believe a doc on Warner Brothers and the war narrated by Spielberg).  Dave

Yes, I thought that he was quite good too!  Also enjoyed in particular:  John Malkovitch and Joe Pantoliano.

I'm part-way through the "extras".  On the disc that I'm watching, it's one of those 2-sided DVDs.  By the way, some of the people (some of whom are extras) that they interview, were alive during the actual invasion and remember it!

PD

[mahler10th]

Recently watched "The Day After Tomorrow" made circa.2004.  Nice that they made and environmentally conscious movie in 2004.  Nice too that it had a setting in Scotland.  Shame it was the biggest load of tosh I've watched in years.      Truly awful.  However, I watched "The Killing Fields" made 20 years earlier, a harrowing movie about the Khmer Rouge, but a truly brilliant movie in every respect.  Had me in tears.  Movie making at it's best.

[LKB]

I remember being appalled by The Killing Fields in the theater decades ago. And if memory serves, the Cambodian actor who won an Academy award for his performance was murdered years later...

Yup. I don't often resort to Wikipedia, but this time it felt appropriate:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haing_S._Ngor

[mahler10th]

I remember being appalled by The Killing Fields in the theater decades ago. And if memory serves, the Cambodian actor who won an Academy award for his performance was murdered years later...

Yup. I don't often resort to Wikipedia, but this time it felt appropriate:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haing_S._Ngor

Yes, I read that some years ago.  A truly sad end to such a fine talent.  A real shame.

[Karl Henning]

Recently watched "The Day After Tomorrow" made circa.2004.  Nice that they made and environmentally conscious movie in 2004.  Nice too that it had a setting in Scotland.  Shame it was the biggest load of tosh I've watched in years.      Truly awful.  However, I watched "The Killing Fields" made 20 years earlier, a harrowing movie about the Khmer Rouge, but a truly brilliant movie in every respect.  Had me in tears.  Movie making at it's best.

If you've not yet seen Spaulding Gray's Swimming to Cambodia, you're in for a treat!

[Pohjolas Daughter]

...However, I watched "The Killing Fields" made 20 years earlier, a harrowing movie about the Khmer Rouge, but a truly brilliant movie in every respect.  Had me in tears.  Movie making at it's best.

That was a great movie!  Like you and LKB, I remember being horrified and upset by what I was watching.

I remember being appalled by The Killing Fields in the theater decades ago. And if memory serves, the Cambodian actor who won an Academy award for his performance was murdered years later...

Yup. I don't often resort to Wikipedia, but this time it felt appropriate:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haing_S._Ngor

So very sorry to hear that he was murdered--particularly after all that he went through!   

PD

[SonicMan46]

The Big Easy (1987) w/ Dennis Quaid, Ellen Barkin, John Goodman, and Ned Beatty - set and filmed in New Orleans and described as a 'neo-noir' romantic thriller (Source) - I've been watching this film since VHS days (no BD in the USA to my knowledge) - love NOLA and have been there at least a dozen times; the history, music, food, atmosphere, etc. is just unique - Barkin and Quaid have great chemistry together.  I thought Quiad's accent was good but from the link "the film is praised for the accuracy of Quaid's Cajun accent, which he meticulously researched in preparation for the role. However, residents of the New Orleans area were not so pleased, referring to it as "cringe-inducing." - don't agree but not a native - recommended!

Muhammad Ali (2021) - documentary film by Ken Burns on the legendary boxer - now streaming on our local PBS station; 4 episodes of about 2 hrs each - we've now seen three; as expected from Burns, well done w/ plenty of fight scenes - this is a MUST SEE if you're a boxing and Ali fan; Susan hates boxing but is enjoying the 'film', plenty of non-boxing discussion, especially regarding his religious beliefs.  Dave

 

[SonicMan46]

Band Wagon, The (1953) w/ Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, Jack Buchanan, Nanette Fabray, and Oscar Levant; Vincente Minnelli, director - from the BD box of the four musicals shown; on the AFI 'Best Musicals' LIST below as number 17 (amazing that I own 21 of those top 25 films) - actually, I would rank this film higher w/ the dance duo of Fred and Jack and the Triplets scene (Triplets) several of the many highlights for me; up for 3 Oscars (no wins) - highly recommended if a fan of old MGM musicals.  Dave

 

[aligreto]

Despite the Falling Snow





The basic premise of the story was a good one but I felt that the execution of it was poor given the quality of the actors that were on hand.

[VonStupp]

Lifeforce (1985)

Lifeforce is based on a novel called The Space Vampires and that pretty well sums up anything your mind could conjure up about this movie.

A fun turn from Patrick Stewart and a score from Henry Mancini are highlights, but this movie is better than it has any right to be. The puppetry of the desiccated humans are a sight to see!

Cannon Films (Golan/Globus) are infamous for their B-level knockoff action/adventures, and I have a soft spot for them - those such as Cobra, Masters of the Universe, River of Death, King Solomon's Mines, and lest I forget, Superman 4: The Quest for Peace. Death Wish, Missing in Action, and Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo are equally infamous.

Lifeforce is pretty big budget comparatively, and you can tell. Tobe Hooper from Chainsaw Massacre fame, directs.

[drogulus]

     

     If any film deserves to be called a trashterpiece it's this one.

     5 Things You Might Not Know About Tobe Hooper's Underseen 'Lifeforce'

[DavidW]

Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn.  Had not seen it in a million years.  I remembered the evil hand, but I also thought he had an Evil Ash doppleganger but that was not in the movie!  Anyway lots of fun.  I think I'll rewatch Army of Darkness soon.

[VonStupp]

Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn.  Had not seen it in a million years.  I remembered the evil hand, but I also thought he had an Evil Ash doppelgänger but that was not in the movie!  Anyway lots of fun.  I think I'll rewatch Army of Darkness soon.

The last two of that trilogy are scads of fun for sure! The first is a tad disturbing...

VS

[George]

Help

Jodie Comer plays a home care worker in a nursing home. Then Covid strikes. The film makes strong political points at the end, but to me, the real story was between Comer's character and one of her patients. Not the greatest film, by any means, but emotionally moving.

[Karl Henning]

The last two of that trilogy are scads of fun for sure! The first is a tad disturbing...

VS

I wonder if that's the one I once saw ....