Last Movie You Watched

[Karl Henning]

Cotton Club (Encore) (1984/2019) w/ Richard Gere, Gregory Hines, Diane Lane, Lonette McKee, and so many others; FF Coppola, director - saw this film on release so many years ago; Coppola re-edited the film (taking out 13 mins and adding 24 mins) a few years ago; Susan wanted to see the movie, so bought on Amazon Prime in 4K/UHD for $10 (rental was $5) - kind of a 1920/30s gangster musical focusing on the historic Cotton Club in Harlem, NYC.  On release in the 80s, the film had mixed reviews and not well received - Coppola's restoration has changed the whole mood for me w/ much more emphasis on the black characters and the musical scenes, especially the fabulous tap dancing of the late Gregory Hines. Diane Lane and Lonette McKee (from Round Midnight) are also excellent; and Richard Gere played his own cornet scenes in the film.  Some reviews: Vanity Fair, Hi-Def Digest, Roger Ebert

The reviews above are all good to excellent for the 'new version' of Cotton Club - could have been even better but for myself, an improved production that I'll be watching again - if rating on Amazon, I would have given 3* for the 1984 release and now would up to 4* - recommended.  Dave

 

Thanks for the "alert," Dave!

[SonicMan46]

Thanks for the "alert," Dave!

Thanks Karl - still some Coppola gangster mystique ala the Godfather films, but much more musical - so if the changed restoration is of interest, then try to view - Dave

[Karl Henning]

Thanks Karl - still some Coppola gangster mystique ala the Godfather films, but much more musical - so if the changed restoration is of interest, then try to view - Dave

Will do, thanks!

[drogulus]

I got the feeling that Brooks thought the pathologically narcissist character he played here was cute.

     I've always thought Brooks knew exactly how his characters would be perceived. Did you ever see his "Marcel Marceau", the mime who doesn't shut up? It's the comedy of maximum annoyance. I think you're supposed to hate him a little.

[listener]

Robert Morley and Margaret Rutherford with Kay Kendall in a backstage comedy about a repertory theatre company with the usual director - author  and cast problems.  CURTAIN UP  (1952)    I had a little bit of experience with a local amateur group so it had some interest for me.  THe music score is by Malcolm Arnold, that may make this of interest to someone.

[George]

Bob Odenkirk as John Wick. Loads of fun.

[bhodges]

Klute (1971, dir. Alan J. Pakula, with Donald Sutherland, Roy Scheider, Charles Cioffi, and Jane Fonda) - Still powerful after all these years, thanks to Pakula's calm yet unnerving direction.

Film-grab.com has great stills, below:
https://film-grab.com/2014/06/19/klute/

--Bruce

[aligreto]

Who You Think I am





This is a quintessential French Film for me. The theme, the mood, the acting and the presentation are all very appealing, I find.

[vandermolen]

Ammonite - VG - recommended:

[SonicMan46]

The Matrix (1999) w/ Keanu Reeves, Carrie Ann Moss, Laurence Fishburne, et al - a film that I've owned first on VHS tape > DVD > BD and now as a 4K Dolby Vision digital streamer - just bought from my Apple TV w/ a recent gift card (still have a few more to decide upon) - after watching this 4K enhanced version (outstanding review HERE), I likely will just donate my BD is my usual local charity.  Dave

P.S. click the image to enlarge and read the synopsis if not familiar w/ the story.

[71 dB]

Body Double (Brian De Palma, 1984) British INDICATOR Blu-ray (Region free)

As part of my journey to explore the movies of Brian De Palma I bought this for a pretty good price. I like Brian De Palma's directing. Good usage of camera movements/angles and lenses. Good visual storytelling. This movie has got a relatively good erotic murder mystery plot and is a bit Hitchcockian. Pino Donaggio's music is great, althou maybe too "classical/symphonic" rather than "cinematic" at times. "Relax" by Franky Goes to Hollywood is used nicely in this movies. Also, Tangerine Dream's "Love on a Real Train" from the 1983 movie "Risky Business" has clearly been an inspiration for Pino Donaggio or/and Brian De Palma. There are some moments (the beginning and the end) when this movie feels a bit silly/cartoonish, but otherwise I quite like it. This movie seemed strangely familiar, so I might have seen it in the past at least partly, probably while channel surffing, because only some scenes looked familiar.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Ammonite - VG - recommended:

I've heard a number of good things about this movie.  Would like to see it when it comes out on DVD...or is it already?

PD

[Karl Henning]

Cotton Club (Encore) (1984/2019) w/ Richard Gere, Gregory Hines, Diane Lane, Lonette McKee, and so many others; FF Coppola, director - saw this film on release so many years ago; Coppola re-edited the film (taking out 13 mins and adding 24 mins) a few years ago; Susan wanted to see the movie, so bought on Amazon Prime in 4K/UHD for $10 (rental was $5) - kind of a 1920/30s gangster musical focusing on the historic Cotton Club in Harlem, NYC.  On release in the 80s, the film had mixed reviews and not well received - Coppola's restoration has changed the whole mood for me w/ much more emphasis on the black characters and the musical scenes, especially the fabulous tap dancing of the late Gregory Hines. Diane Lane and Lonette McKee (from Round Midnight) are also excellent; and Richard Gere played his own cornet scenes in the film.  Some reviews: Vanity Fair, Hi-Def Digest, Roger Ebert

The reviews above are all good to excellent for the 'new version' of Cotton Club - could have been even better but for myself, an improved production that I'll be watching again - if rating on Amazon, I would have given 3* for the 1984 release and now would up to 4* - recommended.  Dave

 

Just watched this; I readily remembered how greatly I enjoyed so much of the original release, so I was naturally keen to see Coppola's "do-over." Fabulous.  I guess that had been my first glance at both Nicolas Cage and Tom Waits, but I knew nothing of them then. Thanks for the prompt, Dave!

[SonicMan46]

Just watched this; I readily remembered how greatly I enjoyed so much of the original release, so I was naturally keen to see Coppola's "do-over." Fabulous.  I guess that had been my first glance at both Nicolas Cage and Tom Waits, but I knew nothing of them then. Thanks for the prompt, Dave!

Welcome Karl - glad that you enjoyed the re-do!  Yes, all were quite young back 36+ years ago!  Where has the time gone?  Dave

[Karl Henning]

I might never have heard of Incubus, if not for its occasional mention in commentary on a couple of Outer Limits episodes.  Well worth a watch. Heck, worth owning, I think.

https://www.youtube.com/v/5iGhLN8qDiY

[aligreto]

The Matrix (1999) w/ Keanu Reeves, Carrie Ann Moss, Laurence Fishburne, et al - a film that I've owned first on VHS tape > DVD > BD and now as a 4K Dolby Vision digital streamer - just bought from my Apple TV w/ a recent gift card (still have a few more to decide upon) - after watching this 4K enhanced version (outstanding review HERE), I likely will just donate my BD is my usual local charity.  Dave

P.S. click the image to enlarge and read the synopsis if not familiar w/ the story.

I have not watched that one in a long time. When I do so again, I wonder will I think that it held up well over the years?

[Daverz]

I might never have heard of Incubus, if not for its occasional mention in commentary on a couple of Outer Limits episodes.  Well worth a watch. Heck, worth owning, I think.

https://www.youtube.com/v/5iGhLN8qDiY

This is the film with dialogue all in Esperanto.

[SonicMan46]

I have not watched that one in a long time. When I do so again, I wonder will I think that it held up well over the years? Re: The Matrix

Hi Aligreto - well, as you may remember, when the characters 'escape' the matrix to return to Morpheus' ship, they need to find a phone, often a phone booth; well, those don't seem to exist anymore, so dated but now cute (as in one of the Superman movies) - I think the film was spectacular when released and I owned it on VHS tape years ago, and the new 4K version is just phenomenal - for an assessment of the 'aging of Matrix', check out THIS REVIEW - Dave

[Karl Henning]

This is the film with dialogue all in Esperanto.

That's right. I am grateful for the English subtitles. Might have been Shatner's greatest acting challenge.

[aligreto]

Hi Aligreto - well, as you may remember, when the characters 'escape' the matrix to return to Morpheus' ship, they need to find a phone, often a phone booth; well, those don't seem to exist anymore, so dated but now cute (as in one of the Superman movies) - I think the film was spectacular when released and I owned it on VHS tape years ago, and the new 4K version is just phenomenal - for an assessment of the 'aging of Matrix', check out THIS REVIEW - Dave

Cheers Dave. I had not thought of the phone situation BTW. It was a film that I really liked. I always felt that the trilogy was one of the great Romance/Love stories on film, actually.