Last Movie You Watched

[LKB]

I'd opine that while a given work of art may have multiple vectors ( by virtue of the aspects of expression which are present ) to enrich anyone who experiences it, the only obligation is an honest intent. Which merely means this:

The creator has a specific vision or point of view which he intends to express via his facility with his chosen medium. He practices his craft with this in mind, and the resulting art, if his efforts are successful, expresses this intent.

[Karl Henning]

I'd opine that while a given work of art may have multiple vectors ( by virtue of the aspects of expression which are present ) to enrich anyone who experiences it, the only obligation is an honest intent. Which merely means this:

The creator has a specific vision or point of view which he intends to express via his facility with his chosen medium. He practices his craft with this in mind, and the resulting art, if his efforts are successful, expresses this intent.

I think it was Geo. Burns who was quoted as saying: the key to acting is sincerity. If you can fake that, you've got it made.

[Madiel]

The Scandinavian Film Festival is in town. So far I've seen two Danish films and they've both been good. About very different historical situations.

Margrete, Queen of the North (original Danish title is just "Margrete the First", but then most non-Scandinavians wouldn't know who that was) is about the woman responsible for bringing Denmark, Sweden and Norway under united rule. Only it's not about that process, it's about a particular incident in 1402 that nearly brought everything undone. There is a little bit of dramatic license with history, but not too much from what I've read, and there's plenty of grandeur, drama and great acting.



The Pact is about Karen Blixen (the author of Out of Africa) and her very, very strange relationship in her later years with a young poet that she took under her wing. Sort of. While simultaneously giving him his greatest inspiration and ruining his life. Directed by Bille August who well and truly knows his stuff, and Birthe Neumann is superb as Blixen.

[VonStupp]

Nanny McPhee (2005)
Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Angela Lansbury
Imelda Staunton, Derek Jacobi

Nanny McPhee Returns (2010)
Emma Thompson, Maggie Smith, Rhys Ifans
Ralph Fiennes, Ewan McGregor

Another few movies for my girls. The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins meets Problem Child.

A pet project of Emma Thompson who wrote the screenplays to both. Based on the Christianna Brand Nurse Matilda novels from the 60's.

Silly and arch, but what a joy it was to see Angela Lansbury in character-actor mode.

VS

 

[drogulus]

     Last night I rewatched Creepshow. It's as much fun as ever. Stephen King mugs outrageously in his appearance, which fits the tone of  the whole thing.

[Karl Henning]

     Last night I rewatched Creepshow. It's as much fun as ever. Stephen King mugs outrageously in his appearance, which fits the tone of  the whole thing.

Great fun.

[aligreto]

The Face of Love:





This is something of an odd film. A woman in a very good marriage loses her husband in a drowning accident. She misses him very much. Years later she meets a man who uncannily resembles her late husband. She pursues him and that leads to its own complications. The film teases out the issue. I found it to be an engaging watch.

[71 dB]

OUTLAND (Peter Hyams, 1981) - Blu-ray

Nice sci-fi movie about corporate greed. Sean Connery's charisma is almost too much for this role as a "moon sheriff." 


MAMA (Andy Muschietti, 2013) TV

This horror movie has potential and at times is creepy, but doesn't make its mind about whether to tell a horrifying or beautiful story. 

[Karl Henning]

OUTLAND (Peter Hyams, 1981) - Blu-ray

Nice sci-fi movie about corporate greed. Sean Connery's charisma is almost too much for this role as a "moon sheriff." 

Sean Connery and Peter Boyle at odds with one another is a treat!

[LKB]

Sean Connery and Peter Boyle at odds with one another is a treat!

I've got the blu-ray in storage, watched it a couple of years ago. High Noon on a moon, and the best thing Hyams ever did imho.

[SimonNZ]

High Noon

Learned for the first time just recently that High Noon is about scriptwriter Carl Forman's experience of the black list, and his friends not standing by him due to fear of McCarthyism.

[71 dB]

Sean Connery and Peter Boyle at odds with one another is a treat!

Sure! Peter Boyle is great in that role! 

[Fëanor]

Marie Antoinette, (2006), Dir.& Writer: Sofia Coppola

Slow paced, boring, no particularly historical but pretty in a wedding cake sort of way.

[aligreto]

London Boulevard:





This is a hard hitting depiction of the crime scene in London. The main character [Colin Farrell] is just out of jail and he does not want to get himself sucked into the underworld. However, circumstances dictate that he is dragged in, even if it is against his wishes. There is a lot of violence in it but it is not gratuitous in the sense that it is relevant to the storyline. I enjoyed watching it.

[Irons]

The Courier.

Based on a true story of the spy Greville Wynne. Gripping, which grows quite dark, darker then I expected after the opening half hour. I now understand all the fuss over Benedict Cumberbatch, a fine actor who fills the screen. How he managed to appear portly at the opening and so emaciated at the end is astonishing. 

[aligreto]

Kieślowski: Dekalog No. 10





Two brothers investigate their estranged father's possessions after the father's death. They discover that essentially all that the father had owned was an extensive stamp collection. They decide to have it valued and very quickly discover that it is extremely valuable. They also soon discover that they become aware that others know of its existence and value and the brothers soon enter into the world of some very unsavoury and unscrupulous characters. The film tells the story and also examines the progression of the relationship of the brothers during the journey.

[aligreto]

The Courier.

Based on a true story of the spy Greville Wynne. Gripping, which grows quite dark, darker then I expected after the opening half hour. I now understand all the fuss over Benedict Cumberbatch, a fine actor who fills the screen. How he managed to appear portly at the opening and so emaciated at the end is astonishing.

I watched that one recently and thought that it was very well done altogether.

[Madiel]

Kieślowski: Dekalog No. 10





Two brothers investigate their estranged father's possessions after the father's death. They discover that essentially all that the father had owned was an extensive stamp collection. They decide to have it valued and very quickly discover that it is extremely valuable. They also soon discover that they become aware that others know of its existence and value and the brothers soon enter into the world of some very unsavoury and unscrupulous characters. The film tells the story and also examines the progression of the relationship of the brothers during the journey.

This will mean the end of you reminding me that I wanted to revisit Dekalog.

[aligreto]

This will mean the end of you reminding me that I wanted to revisit Dekalog.

I will revisit it again myself in a couple of years so, if you have not done so by then, there will be another reminder coming down the road at some stage.

[SonicMan46]

Recently, I've not posted many movies - we've been watching TV shows and also the Ken Burns film on the Civil War - next week we're planning a 3 night trip up the road a few hours to Lynchburg VA (see map) to visit Appomattox, where Lee surrendered to Grant in April, 1865 to end the conflict - has been a good 30+ years since our last visit and expect some changes.  We will also be visiting Jefferson's Popular Forest his 'get-away' from Monticello - this will be our third visit but has been awhile - the house is in a long stage of restoration.  We have gone few places in the last 2 1/2 years so looking forward to this one.  Dave