Last Movie You Watched

[pjme]

I've seen several films by Ozon. I liked most of them (Huit femmes, Ricky, Potiche, Frantz...) and this (gay) free adaptation of Fassbinder's Petra von Kant is no exception. It is a claustrophobic melodrama of impossible love, full of histrionics, brutal humor and bitter tears.....it is all very theatrical and the set (basically one large room) feels like a prison...Excellent!

[relm1]

Jaws was on TV yesterday which I started watching.  It really is a great, great film so expertly crafted with memorable characters and excellent directing/editing/screenplay.  And of course, a masterful score by John Williams in his golden age.  I wonder if this was the first film with jump scares, but they are still incredibly effective like when Chief Brody sees Jaws eye to eye for the first time while chumming the water and delivers the "You're going to need a bigger boat" line.

[SonicMan46]

Grand Hotel (1932) w/ Greta Garbo, John & Lionel Barrymore, Joan Crawford, Wallace Berry, and others - excellent restoration for a 90 year-old film!  Garbo states her famous line 'I want to be alone' - made in the pre-code days but not too racy (from others that I've seen or own); ratings good, i.e. 7.3/10, IMDB & 86%, Rotten Tomatoes - recommended especially to see Garbo and the profiles of her and John B. (3rd pic below - 2nd pic the two brothers together w/ the young Joan Crawford).  Dave

Grand Hotel is an American pre-Code drama film directed by Edmund Goulding. The screenplay by William A. Drake is based on the 1930 play of the same title by Drake, who had adapted it from the 1929 novel Menschen im Hotel by Vicki Baum. To date, it is the only film to have won the Academy Award for Best Picture without being nominated in any other category. Grand Hotel has proven influential in the years since its original release. The line "I want to be alone", famously delivered by Greta Garbo, placed number 30 in AFI's 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes. In 2007, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". (Source)

   

[vandermolen]

Ah, there's a new Terence Davies film I was unaware of. And it's about Sigfried Sassoon? what did you think of It?

His The Long Day Closes is, I think, one of the best films ever.

We really liked it. Rather sad and moving with fine performances, especially from Jack Lowden as the young Sassoon.

[LKB]

Jaws was on TV yesterday which I started watching.  It really is a great, great film so expertly crafted with memorable characters and excellent directing/editing/screenplay.  And of course, a masterful score by John Williams in his golden age.  I wonder if this was the first film with jump scares, but they are still incredibly effective like when Chief Brody sees Jaws eye to eye for the first time while chumming the water and delivers the "You're going to need a bigger boat" line.

It's a near-perfect film. Every scene serves the story in some way, whether by defining the characters, raising the dramatic stakes or providing visceral motivation for investing in the story.

[Karl Henning]

It's a near-perfect film. Every scene serves the story in some way, whether by defining the characters, raising the dramatic stakes or providing visceral motivation for investing in the story.

Spielberg endured a watery hell making the movie, and to his credit, the result transcends its problematic birthing utterly.

[aligreto]

The Changeling:





A man loses his wife and daughter in a road accident. He decides to relocate to another part of the country. He rents an old house and soon discovers that it has a particular past. Supernatural events begin to occur. This all leads him to unearth a tragic history that had taken place in the house in the past. It was quite good for a film of this type for its time [1979] and it was very watchable.

[relm1]

What do you all think of Spielberg's next film, Close Encounters?  To me, it's a unique film with arguably the best score by John Williams (what single score from any other film has greater range from a-tonal fear to mystical to adventure to otherworldly, childlike awe and wonder regardless of composer?).  The film is masterful in its directing, cinematography, acting, innovative casting (French New Wave director, François Truffaut, in his only pure acting role), editing, but is quite confused in its story telling.  There is a strong undercurrent about Pinocchio that doesn't quite fit in to the story.  Even the music incorporates Jiminy Cricket's song, "When You Wish Upon a Star" into the score.  The government conspiracy subplot is right out of watergate.  I just get confused what exactly is the message the film wants to give?  I get its not to be afraid of the scary aliens but they did kidnap alot of people over decades in very scary ways.  Was it right for Roy to abandon his family for his vision?  Why was he the only one chosen to join them?  Do the aliens seek someone who abandons their family?  Regardless, it is incredibly moving by the final moments and one of the must awe and wondering films I've ever seen regardless of its flaws.

[Roasted Swan]

Jaws was on TV yesterday which I started watching.  It really is a great, great film so expertly crafted with memorable characters and excellent directing/editing/screenplay.  And of course, a masterful score by John Williams in his golden age.  I wonder if this was the first film with jump scares, but they are still incredibly effective like when Chief Brody sees Jaws eye to eye for the first time while chumming the water and delivers the "You're going to need a bigger boat" line.

Didn't Tarantino state that "jaws" was the greatest movie every made - specifically movie NOT film in the sense that it most perfectly fulfils the requirements of an audience in this type of film?  Also, didn't Robert Shaw improvise the "bigger boat" line?

[LKB]

The

Didn't Tarantino state that "jaws" was the greatest movie every made - specifically movie NOT film in the sense that it most perfectly fulfils the requirements of an audience in this type of film?  Also, didn't Robert Shaw improvise the "bigger boat" line?

I haven't encountered the Tarantino anecdote before, but it sound's like something he might say. And yes, Roy Scheider's " bigger boat " line was spontaneous.

Jaws is a textbook, near- perfect film, and still works today. When I'm in a mood to watch reaction videos, l'll frequently seek it out. Watching others levitate at the jump scares is satisfying...

[SonicMan46]

Jaws - back in June I bought the 4K version of the film which is fabulous (see review immediately below from HERE) - from my quoted post at the bottom, my wife even let out a few screams!    Dave

Last few nights, a couple of 4K UHD physical replacements (3 for 2 sale on Amazon - other film 2001: A Space Odyssey - later):

The Patriot (2000) w/ the main actors in the synopsis below; I've lived in North Carolina since 1971 and have travelled throughout both NC and SC (and the adjacent states) - have read numerous books on the history of the area including many on the Revolutionary War; so, this film is like the happenings in my 'back yard' - BUT, the historical inaccuracies are blatant - the book/movie are really a fictionalized historic drama and the movie can be enjoyed in that way - reviews are mixed; I'd do 4*/5* on Amazon; my wife actually enjoyed the film but would take off a half star which is more in line w/ the usual review websites; typically, the Amazonians voted 4.8*/5*!  Recommended if a Gibson fan and the story is of interest.

Jaws (1975) w/ the actors in the second summary - probably not needed since I assume many know this film; note that both 4K versions of these films received excellent AV reviews HERE for those interested. My wife had never seen this film and enjoyed; the final half hour or so on the ocean trying to 'capture' the huge shark can be 'hair raising' - she did yell a few times -    Highly recommended.

 

[Madiel]

a comedy about an Australian Tarzan

Excuse me, what?

[Papy Oli]

Excuse me, what?

More importantly, Jane 

(or Sheila... )

[Pohjolas Daughter]

The Changeling:





A man loses his wife and daughter in a road accident. He decides to relocate to another part of the country. He rents an old house and soon discovers that it has a particular past. Supernatural events begin to occur. This all leads him to unearth a tragic history that had taken place in the house in the past. It was quite good for a film of this type for its time [1979] and it was very watchable.

That was quite good; thanks for recommending it! 

PD

[SonicMan46]

More importantly, Jane 

(or Sheila... )

LOL!    Thanks Papy for the clarification!  Dave  

[SonicMan46]

Beverly Hills Cop (1984) w/ the actors in quote below - Eddie Murphy's breakthrough role in view of the other stars being considered (see link)?  Story likely familiar to many - wife wanted a cop film in color but not a Murphy fan so was neutral, but for me a funny and exciting film - 4K version excellent (review HERE, for those interested).  Dave

Beverly Hills Cop is a 1984 American buddy cop action comedy film directed by Martin Brest, written by Daniel Petrie Jr. and starring Eddie Murphy as Axel Foley, a street-smart Detroit cop who visits Beverly Hills, California to solve the murder of his best friend. Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Ronny Cox, Lisa Eilbacher, Steven Berkoff, Paul Reiser, and Jonathan Banks appear in supporting roles. (Source)

 

[71 dB]

Recently watched Blu-rays. All are movies I knew nothing about.

Blind Beast (Yasuzo Masumura, 1969)
Japanese exploitation film. Quite artsy and weird, but I liked this. The ending is a bit over the top. The crazy visuals and the music make this unique.

Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (Paul Mazuasky, 1969)
This was drama without much drama, but it works. Usually I don't watch much this type of movies. Apparently this is considered to be a very good movie which is why I was interested to see it. Not a bad movie, but not mindblowing either.

The Initiation (Larry Steward, 1984)
This is nicely directed, but massively clichéd 80's slasher movie, but I love the commitment of it being so 80's! I wanted to see this because of the 80's feel I like so much these days for nostalgy reasons and I got what I asked for and then some! Awesome!  0:)

Black Rainbow (Mike Hodges, 1989)
I expected more from this. This lacked something and felt a bit lame. As if the movie didn't know what to do with its message (I assume it was the message): If people cared more about life here and now rather than what happens after we die the World could be a better place.

[aligreto]

Rebecca:





It has been many years since I last saw this film. It was so long ago that I had forgotten many of its details. I enjoyed my re-acquaintance with it. It was very well done for its time and because it was in no way as over sentimental as many of its contemporaries it has stood the test of time well.

[aligreto]

That was quite good; thanks for recommending it! 

PD

I am pleased that you enjoyed it PD 

[SonicMan46]

Rebecca:

 

It has been many years since I last saw this film. It was so long ago that I had forgotten many of its details. I enjoyed my re-acquaintance with it. It was very well done for its time and because it was in no way as over sentimental as many of its contemporaries it has stood the test of time well.

Hi Fergus - if not already done, might want to consider Criterion's BD version inserted above - spectacular (all 5*/5* reviews HERE) - Dave