Last Movie You Watched

[VonStupp]

Can get it via inter-library loan, I need to wait out a hold.

Nice!

[Karl Henning]

Roger Ebert's review is fun:

I remember standing in the rain once outside a theater that was playing "Last Year at Marienbad." Now there was a movie so complex and personal no one claimed to be able to understand it, not even Time magazine. The people coming out from the previous show were shaking their heads and admitting that they, too, didn't have a clue. And then it was our turn to go in and be mystified.

Every once in a while, a movie like that comes along; a movie you've got to see so that you, too, can be in the dark about it.

[André]

Not all films by Ray are masterpieces - a mere half-dozen. Some are merely beautiful and compelling. Home and the World is one such movie. It was during the filming (in 1984) that the director suffered not one, but two heart attacks. Adapting a classic novel by Rabindranath Tagore, it depicts domestic, social and political conflicts during the rise of the Swadeshi movement(*) following the 1905 partition of Bengal. Sumptuously filmed and superbly acted, it's like a domestic version of Attenborough's Gandhi - without Gandhi (Swadeshi was picked up a decade later by Gandhi to foster his indian independance movement).

Noted film critics Pauline Kael and Roger Ebert wrote « When it comes to truthfulness about women's lives, this great Indian moviemaker Satyajit Ray shames the American and European directors of both sexes« (P.K.), and « It is a contemplative movie -- quiet, slow, a series of conversations punctuated by sudden bursts of activity." (R.E.)

(*) Swadeshi:
https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/swadeshi-movement-286966-2015-08-07

[Karl Henning]

Not all films by Ray are masterpieces - a mere half-dozen. Some are merely beautiful and compelling. Home and the World is one such movie. It was during the filming (in 1984) that the director suffered not one, but two heart attacks. Adapting a classic novel by Rabindranath Tagore, it depicts domestic, social and political conflicts during the rise of the Swadeshi movement(*)  in Bengal following the 1905 partition of Bengal in 1905. Sumptuously filmed and superbly acted, it's like a domestic version of Attenborough's Gandhi - without Gandhi (Swadeshi was picked up later by Gandhi to foster his indian independance movement).

Noted film critics Pauline Kael and Roger Ebert wrote « When it comes to truthfulness about women's lives, this great Indian moviemaker Satyajit Ray shames the American and European directors of both sexes« (P.K.), and « It is a contemplative movie -- quiet, slow, a series of conversations punctuated by sudden bursts of activity." (R.E.)

(*) Swadeshi:
https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/swadeshi-movement-286966-2015-08-07

Très intéressant!

[LKB]

I'm old enough now to bristle at that.  Give the old gal has time to clean up first...

I should mention that I was 17 when this was first in the theaters.

I was in college, and selected Excalibur for the first date with a lady l was sweet on...

( pauses to allow a goodly number of face-palms )

... yeah.

I was saved by the fact that 1) she was as fanatical about music as l am, and 2) thought the film was hilarious.

And so the relationship actually developed, despite my poor cinematic judgement.

[SonicMan46]

Winchester '73 (1950) w/ James Stewart, Dan Duryea, Shelley Winters, Stephen McNally, and others, including "supporting actors, Rock Hudson portrays an American Indian and Tony Curtis plays a besieged cavalry trooper, both in small roles at the beginnings of their careers. (Source)"; now, Hudson as an Indian and a rather elderly rotund Will Geer as Wyatt Earp may have been mis-cast?

This was the first collaboration between James Stewart and director Anthony Mann - from 1950-55, they made 8 films together with 5 being Westerns (see second pic below - Source) - this is their only film done in B&W (4:3 aspect ratio); after remainder in color and then to widescreen w/ Thunder Bay (not a western, but quite good).  Dave

   

[Karl Henning]

I was in college, and selected Excalibur for the first date with a lady l was sweet on...

( pauses to allow a goodly number of face-palms )

... yeah.

I was saved by the fact that 1) she was as fanatical about music as l am, and 2) thought the film was hilarious.

And so the relationship actually developed, despite my poor cinematic judgement.

Sometimes the Universe is our friend

[aligreto]

The Contract:





A man and his son out for a camping trip get embroiled with a contract killer and his gang. The story is interesting and it keeps one's attention. It is not too bad a film.

[SonicMan46]

Tous les Matins du Monde (English: All the Mornings of the World) (1991) - French film w/ English subtitles about Marin Marais and Sainte-Colombe; brief summary below - the old Marais portrayed by Gérard Depardieu, and his younger self by his son Guillaume (1971-2008); Jean-Pierre Marielle as S-Colombe (other actors in link below); Nominations and Awards in second pic (from same link). 

"Apart from Savall, the musicians are Monserrat Figueras and Mari-Cristina Kiehr (sopranos), Christophe Coin and Jérôme Hantaï (viola da gamba), Rolf Lislevand (theorbo) and Pierre Hantaï (harpsichord and organ)." Prompted to stream this film from Amazon ($4 rental, and seen before) last night because I spent the day listening to my Marais collection, including the 5-disc set w/ Savall, Koopman,  and Hopkinson Smith.  Roger Ebert's review from 1992 HERE for those interested - probably a MUST see for those into this music.  Dave

The film revolves around the late-17th/early-18th-century composer Marin Marais's life as a musician, his mentor Monsieur de Sainte-Colombe and Sainte-Colombe's daughters. The ageing Marais, played by Gérard Depardieu, narrates the story, while Depardieu's son Guillaume Depardieu plays the young Marais. The haunting sound of his instrument, the viol (viola da gamba), here played by Jordi Savall, is heard throughout the film and plays a major role in setting the mood. Though fictional, the story is based on historical characters, and what little is known about their lives is generally accurately portrayed. (Source)

 

[aligreto]

Tous les Matins du Monde (English: All the Mornings of the World) (1991) - French film w/ English subtitles about Marin Marais and Sainte-Colombe; brief summary below - the old Marais portrayed by Gérard Depardieu, and his younger self by his son Guillaume (1971-2008); Jean-Pierre Marielle as S-Colombe (other actors in link below); Nominations and Awards in second pic (from same link). 

"Apart from Savall, the musicians are Monserrat Figueras and Mari-Cristina Kiehr (sopranos), Christophe Coin and Jérôme Hantaï (viola da gamba), Rolf Lislevand (theorbo) and Pierre Hantaï (harpsichord and organ)." Prompted to stream this film from Amazon ($4 rental, and seen before) last night because I spent the day listening to my Marais collection, including the 5-disc set w/ Savall, Koopman,  and Hopkinson Smith.  Roger Ebert's review from 1992 HERE for those interested - probably a MUST see for those into this music.  Dave


 

I have seen that film a number of times, Dave, and I have always enjoyed it.

[SonicMan46]

I have seen that film a number of times, Dave, and I have always enjoyed it.

Hi Fergus - just my second time, but enjoyed; watched w/ wife who's not a big fan of viol music (although we did see Jordi Savall live decades ago) and thought that it was a little slow - debated whether to buy the HD film on Amazon ($4 vs. $13), but probably don't have a desire to see again.   Dave

[VonStupp]

Nobody's Fool (1994)
Paul Newman, Jessica Tandy, Melanie Griffith
Bruce Willis, Philip Seymor Hoffman

A gentle, slice-of-life dramedy set between US Thanksgiving and New Years. Not too saccharine or schmaltzy and Newman plays the eye-twinkling, rough-around-the-edges, lovable small-town rascal to perfection.

Maybe my favorite later-era role from Newman, with terrific smaller-role ensemble work from some big names of its era too. VS

[SonicMan46]

Nobody's Fool (1994)
Paul Newman, Jessica Tandy, Melanie Griffith
Bruce Willis, Philip Seymor Hoffman

A gentle, slice-of-life dramedy set between US Thanksgiving and New Years. Not too saccharine or schmaltzy and Newman plays the eye-twinkling, rough-around-the-edges, lovable small-town rascal to perfection.

Maybe my favorite later-era role from Newman, with terrific smaller-role ensemble work from some big names of its era too. VS

Out of hundreds of films in my collection from DVDs & BDs to 4Ks (and now buying HD streamed movies to replace old DVDs), my wife and I have just a dozen or so that we like to watch together, and Nobody's Fool is in that small bunch; believe that we watched it in the middle of the year.  Dave

[Todd]

Re-watched Barry Lyndon after feasting.  As magnificent as ever.

[Iota]

The true tale of Srinivasa Ramanujan, told in fairly straightforward manner, but beautifully done, strumming not a few heartstrings en route.
I hadn't heard his story before, one of someone coming out of poverty in Madras at the beginning of the 20th century, with extraordinarily original insights into maths, and becoming one of the world's great mathematicians. His life, along with a few ruffled Cambridge Dons' feathers, seeming rather to conspire against him, made his achievements all the more remarkable.
The many scenes shot in Trinity College, Cambridge add not insignificantly to the film's watch-ability.

[VonStupp]

Out of hundreds of films in my collection from DVDs & BDs to 4Ks (and now buying HD streamed movies to replace old DVDs), my wife and I have just a dozen or so that we like to watch together, and Nobody's Fool is in that small bunch; believe that we watched it in the middle of the year.  Dave

It is easy to see why; there is a simple pleasure in watching this film.

VS

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Out of hundreds of films in my collection from DVDs & BDs to 4Ks (and now buying HD streamed movies to replace old DVDs), my wife and I have just a dozen or so that we like to watch together, and Nobody's Fool is in that small bunch; believe that we watched it in the middle of the year.  Dave

That few?  That's a shame.     Do you like a lot of the same t.v. shows (not certain how much t.v. either of you like to watch)?

PD

[SonicMan46]

That few?  That's a shame.     Do you like a lot of the same t.v. shows (not certain how much t.v. either of you like to watch)?

PD

LOL!    Well, I just redid my movie database and have about 750+ films (counting physical media of all types and those streamers purchased on Amazon Prime Video); and not including 400+ DVD-Rs burned from the TCM channel a while back (of course, all public domain oldies, most in B&W), SO about 1200 videos in the house and just a handful to share - but we do find a LOT of TV series that we enjoy together, so plenty to watch - just finished Kingdom and about done w/ a second watch of Rizzoli & Isles - plus, I talk her into watching some of my old favorites!    Dave

 

[Pohjolas Daughter]

LOL!    Well, I just redid my movie database and have about 750+ films (counting physical media of all types and those streamers purchased on Amazon Prime Video); and not including 400+ DVD-Rs burned from the TCM channel a while back (of course, all public domain oldies, most in B&W), SO about 1200 videos in the house and just a handful to share - but we do find a LOT of TV series that we enjoy together, so plenty to watch - just finished Kingdom and about done w/ a second watch of Rizzoli & Isles - plus, I talk her into watching some of my old favorites!    Dave

 

Not certain of your wife's tastes...does she like modern romcoms?  Or???  Just curious (if I might ask) how is it that the two of you differ re tastes?

Here:  I spent Thanksgiving with a friend (male) and brought up the idea of possibly watching a/some DVDs and he looked at one (or more of them?) and said that it looked like some kind of "artsy movie" [It was the t.v. series that I have just written about in another thread].  We wanted to take a break between dinner and desssert, and I suggested watching one of the episodes; surprisingly, he really enjoyed it...subtitles and all.    Or perhaps he just likes giving me grief? 

PD

[SonicMan46]

Last few days, still replacing my old DVDs w/ HD Amazon Prime streamers - have been quite happy w/ the HD quality, both video and sound (just a couple of exceptions) - most recently the two below:

Boys Town (1938) w/ Spencer Tracy, Mickey Rooney, and others - short synopsis below - Tracy was nominated for 9 Oscars for 'Best Actor' and won 2 consecutive awards, for Captains Courageous in 1937 and for Boys Town the next year.

Buddy Holly Story, The (1978) w/ Gary Busey as Buddy in a remarkable singing performance and others listed in the second quote below. For fans of early R&R music, this is a MUST see - highly recommended fro Busey's remarkable portrayal of Holly.  Dave

Boys Town is a biographical drama film based on Father Flanagan's work with a group of underprivileged boys in a home/educational complex that he founded and named "Boys Town" in Nebraska. Tracy won an Oscar as Best Actor for his performance. Legendary MGM Studio head Louis B. Mayer, who was a Belorussian-Canadian-American Jew known for his respect for the Catholic Church, later called this his favorite film of his long tenure. Although the story is largely fictional, it is based upon a real man and place. Boys Town is a community outside Omaha, Nebraska. In 1943 Boys Town adopted as its image and logo a sculpture of a boy carrying a younger boy on his back, captioned "He ain't heavy, Father ...he's my brother." This is taken from the film. (Source)

The Buddy Holly Story is a 1978 American biographical film which tells the life story of rock musician Buddy Holly. It features an Academy Award-winning musical score, adapted by Joe Renzetti and Oscar-nominated lead performance by Gary Busey. The film also stars Don Stroud, Charles Martin Smith, Conrad Janis, William Jordan, and Maria Richwine, who played Maria Elena Holly. The actors did their own singing and played their own instruments, with guitarist Jerry Zaremba overdubbing the guitar parts. Busey, in particular, was noted for recording the soundtrack music live and for losing 32 pounds to portray the skinny Holly. Roger Ebert gave the film three and a half stars out of four and praised Busey's "remarkable performance as Buddy Holly. If you're a fan of Holly and his music, you'll be quietly amazed at how completely Busey gets into the character." (Source)