Last Movie You Watched

[SonicMan46]

 

This won't ever make to any top this or that list but I think it still is somewhat unfairly underrated, to ask for historical accuracy and some massively elaborate plotting from viking adventure extravaganza is plain silly. It's fun and I like the way the big adventure hero (Widmark) is actually a classic anti-hero - swindler, a cheat and a liar and not much of a sailor (wreck two ships till gets the gold).

Boy, that film brings back some memories - have not viewed it in a while and remember some of the mixed reviews that you allude to above, but the flick holds your interest; of course, an earlier film in the 'Viking vein' is inserted above w/ Douglas & Curtis (Kirk's dimple & Tony's New York accent somewhat misplaced -  ), but still a lot of fun!  Dave

[Kullervo]

Torment (1946)

[Solitary Wanderer]

1981 production from San Francisco Opera.

Pavarotti barely moves and only has one facial expression! Margaret Price as Aida was apparantly having 'problems' during this run and she looks like she's suffering the experience most of the time;especially during the curtain calls [poor thing!]. The hair do's and head bands look more 80s camp than ancient Eygpt.

Overall an enjoyable, if somewhat dated, historical document 

[Bu]

First three films from Kieslowski's 'The Decalogue':



Excellent cinema so far, but hard to fathom (at least for me) that something this deep and penetrating would first air on tv!      

[Kullervo]

Port of Call (1948)

[Lilas Pastia]

I spent the day at my best friend's and as is our wont we watched and discussed films: Mizogushi's Sansho the Bailiff (1954) and Bergman's Smiles of a Midsummer Night (1955).




We started with Sansho, which I hadn't seen in decades, but from which I firmly remembered Mizoguchi's greatness as a director. Sometimes memories don't fail. Based on a traditional japanese folk tale of children of high descent sent as slaves, this potentially melodramatic story was turned by its director into a film of universal appeal (one thinks of Joseph and his brothers, Hansel und Gretel, etc). Camera work is simply stunning, and as was Mizogushi's habit, long shots dominate and give the film its signature aesthetic mark. In the fifties Mizoguchi was viewed by Truffaut, Godard, Rivette and other French critics and filmmakers as THE non-european cinéaste. Sansho was Mizoguchi's third win of the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival (in 1955) - the others being The Life of O Haru (1953) and Ugetsu Monogatari (1954). For some reason his star has faded, but in this particular instance I think the French got it right. Over fifty years hence, Mizoguchi's films are artistically stronger and more relevant than Kurosawa's or Ozu's (as writer Le Fanu perceptively asserts in the Criterion booklet). Some of the film's scenes are anthology pieces (strategically placed shortly after the beginning, in the middle, and at the very end). Few films have more staying power than this one.

Bergman's Smiles also has a Filmlore history to its credit: showed at Cannes in 1956  it was so popular on La Croisette that Bergman was hastily summoned to receive the prize for Best Comedy. Penniless, he had to borrow the trip money from Bibi Andersson, one of his star actresses (Persona). This is a film about The Sexes (it was parodied by Woody Allen in A misummer Night's Sex Comedy). Women are patient, know what they want and how to get it, men are vain, fickle and ultimately defenseless - that is, until they find their match. An actors' show, this is one of Bergman's most brilliant confections and a continuous display of fantastic acting turns, witty repartees and voluptuous camera work. The sensuality of the title's Midsummer Night is wonderfully conveyed. As good great as he would later be in The Seventh Seal and Winter Lights, I don't think Gunnar Björnstrand has ever been so incredibly human as here. "Best of show" awards must also be given to the inimitable Harriett Andersson (no relation of Bibi's), Eva Dahlbeck's sumptuously played Desirée Armfeldt and the great Naima Wifstrand as her amoral mother ("I was given this estate not to tell my memoirs").

[Bogey]

The Ape (1940)

 


A great one for a Saturday matinee.  Karloff was my obvious draw for this B flick. 

[rockerreds]

Christmas Child(2003)-with Megan Follows

[Solitary Wanderer]

[SonicMan46]

Chris - LOL  - said to myself that I need to watch this film for a potential purchase, but before putting it on my Netflix list, I checked my collection - already own the flick!     Hey, must be good!  That's the problem w/ owning TOO DAMN many 'optical media'! Dave 

[SonicMan46]

Bound for Glory (1976) w/ David Carradine - bio of Woody Guthrie w/ Carradine in just a wonderful performance - recorded on my DVR off the TCM channel; would love to buy this on DVD but the current offering is just not adequate (aspect ratio not anamorphic plus other issues w/ sound, etc.) - oh well! 

[Daverz]

The final movie in my recent Christopher Guestfest and it's the only one I hadn't seen previously.

I had to download this when I saw your post.  Just great to spend time with this gang again.  Catherine O'Hara, Eugene Levy, Harry Shearer, Parker Posey, Fred Willard, Ed Begley Jr., Larry Miller, Michael McKean, Bob Balaban, Don Lake, the gangs all here.

[Bu]

I had to download this when I saw your post.  Just great to spend time with this gang again.  Catherine O'Hara, Eugene Levy, Harry Shearer, Parker Posey, Fred Willard, Ed Begley Jr., Larry Miller, Michael McKean, Bob Balaban, Don Lake, the gangs all here.

That movie has many side-splitting moments. Nearly all of the Christoper Guest movies are comedic winners, imo.

[ezodisy]

First three films from Kieslowski's 'The Decalogue':



Excellent cinema so far, but hard to fathom (at least for me) that something this deep and penetrating would first air on tv!      

well it was on Polish TV (of course), and the poles are survivors, a very clever bunch, so it's not particularly surprising. 5 and 6 are the truly famous ones of the set (turned into slightly longer versions). 6 is my favourite, and I prefer the shorter version in Dekalog

[Bu]

well it was on Polish TV (of course), and the poles are survivors, a very clever bunch, so it's not particularly surprising. 5 and 6 are the truly famous ones of the set (turned into slightly longer versions). 6 is my favourite, and I prefer the shorter version in Dekalog

Yeah, Polish and not American tv.    Plan to watch 4, 5 and 6 right now; looking foward to them with the rest, as well as pursuing other films by Kieslowski (perhaps "A Short Film About Killing', which you mentioned).

[SonicMan46]

Remember the Night (1940) w/ Barbara Stanwyck & Fred MacMurray; of course, they made a number of films together, including Double Indemnity four years later - but this is a film for the holidays w/ a twist - take a look at the Amazonian Reviews - 22/26 5* ratings!

Now, I've not seen this film in tha past - a shocker! Recorded (and tonight 'burned' to DVD) off the TCM channel and watched for a second time - this is really a warm story that captures the spirit of the season - worth a search & a watch - 

[Kullervo]

Thirst (1949)



Great direction, even this early on in Bergman's career; the story, not so much.

[Drasko]

[ezodisy]

that sounds good. Cherry picking on the cover? It's a shame that Criterion collection isn't distributed among rental companies here

[Harry]

Before and during the holidays I watched some Blu-Ray titles. All of them known by me, and never disappointing.