Last Movie You Watched

[Karl Henning]

Not a big Tom Cruise fan (though he stars in one of my all-time favorite movies, Minority Report)

Big fan of Minority Report!

[brewski]

Big fan of Minority Report!

Yay, it really is a marvelous movie—one of Spielberg's best—and one of the great sci-fi films. I've seen it now 3-4 times, and it only gets better. The opening sequence, with the pre-crime unit invading a home to stop what they think is a murder in progress, is a textbook example of spectacular film editing.

-Bruce

[Karl Henning]

Couple of Kirk Douglas films now in my collection as Amazon HD streamers:

The Man from Snowy River (1982) w/ Douglas in a dual 'twin' role - synopsis below - the scenery, especially with the horses is one of the best parts of the movie for me, and I do like Kirk as the Spur character.  Ratings: 85%, Rotten Tomatoes; 7.2, IMDB - recommended if the plot and characters are of interest. 

Lust for Life (1956) - biopic on Vincent van Gogh the post-impressionistic artist - a favorite of ours - amazing that his paintings in his life time went for 'peanuts' but "The Starry Night painting, highly esteemed for decades has reached $100 million, following its $50 million sale in 1990. (Source)". Summary and awards below - a must see if a fan of this era of art.  Dave

   

While it's Kirk Douglas Day, Dave, are you a fan of Letter to Three Wives?

[Karl Henning]

DVD 1: Portrait of Alberto Ginastera

DVD 2: A Master Class with Barbara Nissman

Danzas argentinas
Three Piano Sonatas

[SonicMan46]

While it's Kirk Douglas Day, Dave, are you a fan of Letter to Three Wives?

Hey Karl - not sure if I ever saw the film but bought the Amazon HD after looking at reviews; Susan and I watched tonight and really enjoyed - thanks for the recommendation!  Dave

[SonicMan46]

Hey Karl - not sure if I ever saw the film but bought the Amazon HD after looking at reviews; Susan and I watched tonight and really enjoyed - thanks for the recommendation!  Dave

A Letter to Three Wives (1949) - as above a Karl recommendation - summary and cast below - we really enjoyed the film - ratings: 4*/4*, Leonard Maltin; 4 Bones/4, VideoHound; 95%, Rotten Tomatoes; 7.7/10, IMDB.  Two thumbs up!  Dave

A Letter to Three Wives is an American romantic comedy-drama which tells the story of a woman who mails a letter to three women, telling them she has left town with the husband of one of them, but not saying which one. It stars Jeanne Crain, Linda Darnell, Ann Sothern, Paul Douglas, Kirk Douglas, and Jeffrey Lynn. Thelma Ritter as "Sadie" and Celeste Holm (the voice of "Addie Ross", the unseen woman who wrote the letter) are both uncredited. The film was written for the screen by Joseph L. Mankiewicz from A Letter to Five Wives, a story by John Klempner that appeared in Cosmopolitan, based on a 1945 novel by Klempner. It was directed by Mankiewicz. The film won the Academy Awards for Best Director and the Best Adapted Screenplay and was nominated for Best Picture. (Source)

 

[Papy Oli]

At long last, I was in the right frame of mind for a first viewing of Schindler's List.

Dramatic and incredible story, even if I was somewhat perplexed at times by the portrayal of some characters' evolution or interactions.


Also attempted a viewing of Birdman with Michael Keaton and Edward Norton. Lasted 30 min before I gave up.

[SonicMan46]

At long last, I was in the right frame of mind for a first viewing of Schindler's List.

Dramatic and incredible story, even if I was somewhat perplexed at times by the portrayal of some characters' evolution or interactions.

Also attempted a viewing of Birdman with Michael Keaton and Edward Norton. Lasted 30 min before I gave up.

Love Schindler's List - own a 4K-UHD physical disc which has a 5*/5* video and audio rating HERE, for those who may be in the market?  However, my wife grew up Jewish and has a dislike for Nazis -    - so, I need to watch on my own - also, saw Birdman in the theater pre-COVID but cannot remember much although I never was interested in purchasing the film.  Dave

[LKB]

I can't let Kirk Douglas Day go by without recommending Seven Days in May:

https://a.co/d/3Zss8PP

Strong performances with a screenplay by Rod Serling. The plot used to come off as somewhat farfetched, but since 1/6/21... not so much.

[Karl Henning]

I can't let Kirk Douglas Day go by without recommending Seven Days in May:

https://a.co/d/3Zss8PP

Strong performances with a screenplay by Rod Serling. The plot used to come off as somewhat farfetched, but since 1/6/21... not so much.

Thanks for raising this. I keep forgetting about it.

[Karl Henning]

Hey Karl - not sure if I ever saw the film but bought the Amazon HD after looking at reviews; Susan and I watched tonight and really enjoyed - thanks for the recommendation!  Dave

Delighted (albeit not surprised that you enjoyed it so, Dave!

At long last, I was in the right frame of mind for a first viewing of Schindler's List.

Dramatic and incredible story, even if I was somewhat perplexed at times by the portrayal of some characters' evolution or interactions.


Also attempted a viewing of Birdman with Michael Keaton and Edward Norton. Lasted 30 min before I gave up.

Schindler's List is truly magnificent! I like Birdman very well, indeed.

[relm1]

I can't let Kirk Douglas Day go by without recommending Seven Days in May:

https://a.co/d/3Zss8PP

Strong performances with a screenplay by Rod Serling. The plot used to come off as somewhat farfetched, but since 1/6/21... not so much.

Never heard of it but it hits a lot of checkboxes.

* Rod Serling: Check
* Kirk Douglas: Check
* Burt Lancaster: Check
* Political turmoil and intrigue: Check

[LKB]

Never heard of it but it hits a lot of checkboxes.

* Rod Serling: Check
* Kirk Douglas: Check
* Burt Lancaster: Check
* Political turmoil and intrigue: Check

It's not a perfect film. Ava Gardner is under-utilized, and I've always felt that one of the military roles was somewhat miscast. But it remains relevant nearly sixty years on, and the actors clearly believed in it.

[Karl Henning]

It's not a perfect film. Ava Gardner is under-utilized, and I've always felt that one of the military roles was somewhat miscast. But it remains relevant nearly sixty years on, and the actors clearly believed in it.

I feel somewhat similarly about Carol for Another Christmas: not perfect, but many virtues.

[Karl Henning]

Peyton Place.
Gotta admit, I  came back for the feel-good ending.

[SonicMan46]

Replacing old physical discs with Amazon HD streamers (if 10 bucks or less) - last few nights:

Murder, My Sweet (1944) - description and cast below - one of the films that started the 'film noir' genre; now "Double Indemnity" is the better movie, but this one rated 94% on Rotten Tomatoes and 3 1/2*/4* by Leonard Maltin - worth a watch if you like these productions.

Mrs. Miniver (1942) - second quote for synopsis and cast; nominated for 12 Oscars, winning 6 including 'Best Picture' - highly recommended!

The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) - last quote for summary and cast - I've had this film since  VHS days - looks great on Amazon HD - own many Eastwood films but this one has remained a favorite (never tire of Sandra Locke's 'butt scene' -  ) Dave

Murder, My Sweet is a 1944 American film noir, directed by Edward Dmytryk and starring Dick Powell, Claire Trevor and Anne Shirley. The film is based on Raymond Chandler's 1940 novel Farewell, My Lovely. It was the first film to feature Chandler's primary character, the hard-boiled private detective Philip Marlowe. Murder, My Sweet is, along with Double Indemnity (released five months prior), one of the first films noirs, and a key influence in the development of the genre. (Source)

Mrs. Miniver is an American romantic war drama film directed by William Wyler, and starring Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon. Inspired by the 1940 novel Mrs. Miniver by Jan Struther, about the life of an unassuming British housewife in rural England is affected by World War II. Produced by MGM; supporting cast includes Teresa Wright, Dame May Whitty, Reginald Owen, Henry Travers, Richard Ney and Henry Wilcoxon. It was a critical and a commercial success, becoming the highest-grossing film of 1942 and winning six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress (Garson), and Best Supporting Actress (Teresa Wright). (Source)

The Outlaw Josey Wales is a 1976 American Revisionist Western film set during and after the American Civil War.[3] It was directed by and starred Clint Eastwood (as Josey Wales), with Chief Dan George, Sondra Locke, Sam Bottoms, and Geraldine Keams.[4][5] The film tells the story of Josey Wales, a Missouri farmer whose family is murdered by Union militants during the Civil War. Driven to revenge, Wales joins a Confederate guerrilla band and makes a name for himself as a feared gunfighter. After the war, all the fighters in Wales' group except for him surrender to Union officers, but they end up being massacred. Wales becomes an outlaw and is pursued by bounty hunters and Union soldiers as he tries to make a new life for himself. (Source)

 

[71 dB]

LE CASSE - THE BURGLARS (Henri Verneuil, 1971) German Blu-ray release, English version: 114 mins.

This looked like a nice movie from the early 70's. For nostalgic reasons, and because the "hectic" movies of today needs to be balanced with older "give things time" movies, I try to discover/collect nice movies from the past (especially 70's and 80's) I like. Well, I liked this a lot! Good relaxing directing and Ennio Morricone's music. Nice witty action and charismatic acting. I like movies that have about 10 scenes each lasting 10-15 minutes instead of 100 scenes each lasting only 1-2 minutes. Give more time and create meaning. Give less time and lose meaning.

[brewski]

Looking forward to these two next week, thanks to Martin Scorsese's Film Foundation, which has monthly screenings of films that the foundation has restored. Register free here, and watch any time within 72 hours, starting Monday, June 12.

Hellfire (1949, dir. R.G. Springsteen)
Wake of the Red Witch (1948, dir. Edward Ludwig)

I've not seen either one. Comments welcome!

Coming in July, two versions of The Killers (1946 and 1964, dir. Robert Siodmak and Don Siegel, respectively), available with registration here. Haven't seen these either.

-Bruce

[Karl Henning]

Coming in July, two versions of The Killers (1946 and 1964, dir. Robert Siodmak and Don Siegel, respectively), available with registration here. Haven't seen these either

the '64 remake was Reagan's last film role, and Siegel had to cajole him into it. Perhaps as he was eyeing a future in politics, Reagan didn't want to play a "heavy."

[Karl Henning]

Hat-tip to @LKB Seven Days in May.