Last Movie You Watched

[SonicMan46]

A modern Western about a lost tribe of Cheyenne warriors:



One of our favorites: there are two versions, one without narration (by Wilfrid Brimley) is the preferred one in the Director's Cut.  We first saw it with the narration, so it does not bother us, although, yes, it really is unnecessary..................

Thanks Cato for the recommendation (not seen before) - last night, we viewed an Amazon streaming rental (did not have narration) and really enjoyed (I'm an American, and Native American, reading/documentary fan x decades); in addition to your comments, the scenery is magnificent (from Wiki, filming locations attached - we've traveled to Alberta & British Columbia and did some overnights in Banff & Jasper National Parks).  Dave

[Karl Henning]

Watching Edward Scissorhands again (as I posted earlier, I forget that Alan Arkin was in the cast.) I cannot help an aggravated sensation that Danny Elfman's music is facile and saccharine. The saccharine character is perforce in support of the narrative, I get and grant that.

I stopped roughly halfway through, I'll probably finish up this evening. Arkin plays Dad straight, which (a) is why I later forgot that he was in the cast as he (suitably) calls no attention to himself, and also thus (b) is a bit contrarian to the cartoonishness. On one hand, Wiest is commonsense helpful to Edward, but sometimes annoyingly oblivious (why doesn't anyone just help  Edward eat his peas?!) So I'm remembering all over that this flick is an uneasy balance between witty and nuisance. Maybe my annoyance at Elfman was a spate of grumpiness, or maybe it was just the inevitable clarity of perception after my spending some of the day with Webern.

[drogulus]

     A couple of nights ago I re-(rerere...)watched the NASCAR tragedy Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.

     1) The film is like stoopid, OK?

     2) John C. Reilly makes things work.

[Cato]

A modern Western about a lost tribe of Cheyenne warriors:



One of our favorites: there are two versions, one without narration (by Wilfrid Brimley) is the preferred one in the Director's Cut.  We first saw it with the narration, so it does not bother us, although, yes, it really is unnecessary.

The movie has a great score by David Arnold:

Thanks Cato for the recommendation (not seen before) - last night, we viewed an Amazon streaming rental (did not have narration) and really enjoyed (I'm an American, and Native American, reading/documentary fan x decades); in addition to your comments, the scenery is magnificent (from Wiki, filming locations attached - we've traveled to Alberta & British Columbia and did some overnights in Banff & Jasper National Parks).  Dave 

The scene where the Barbara Hershey character describes a massacre committed by the "Bloodless" Colorado Third is (unfortunately) quite accurate.

Yes, everything is done well.  Kurtwood Smith plays his usual angry, stiff-necked, and unreasonable character, yet at the end...well, one must watch the movie!    

[SonicMan46]

The scene where the Barbara Hershey character describes a massacre committed by the "Bloodless" Colorado Third is (unfortunately) quite accurate.

Yes, everything is done well.  Kurtwood Smith plays his usual angry, stiff-necked, and unreasonable character, yet at the end...well, one must watch the movie!   

Over the decades, I've read plenty of books addressing Native Americans, but for those interested some of my recent reads: Indigenous Continent, 2022 and American Holocaust, 1993 - the latter a re-read of an older book which still carries an impact!  Dave


 

[LKB]

Yes! Classic!

Just don't call him, " Shirley ". 

[Karl Henning]

Everyone Says I Love You, still great fun!

[Karl Henning]

Kurtwood Smith

I know him from Robocop and Total Recall ... to the Library catalogue I go ....

[SonicMan46]

Unforgiven (1992) - story and cast below; winner of 4 Oscars, including Best Picture (only 3rd western to do so!) - well received and rated - at the bottom, one website ranking with Unforgiven coming in third (other lists usually put the film in the top 10 or 15) - a 4*/4* review from Roger Ebert for those who want more detail before deciding to view the film.  Dave

Unforgiven is a 1992 American Western film starring, directed, and produced by Clint Eastwood, and written by David Peoples. The film tells the story of William Munny, an aging outlaw and killer who takes on one more job, years after he had turned to farming. The film co-stars Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman, and Richard Harris. Unforgiven received critical acclaim, with praise for the acting (particularly from Eastwood and Hackman), directing, editing, themes and cinematography. The film won four Academy Awards: Best Picture and Best Director for Eastwood, Best Supporting Actor for Hackman, and Best Film Editing for Joel Cox. Eastwood was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance, but he lost to Al Pacino for Scent of a Woman. The film was the third Western to win Best Picture, following Cimarron (1931) and Dances with Wolves (1990). Eastwood dedicated the film to directors and mentors Sergio Leone and Don Siegel. (Source)

 

Best Westerns Ranked (Collider)

01 - The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) - Clint Eastwood
02 - Once About a Time in the West (1969) - Many
03 - Unforgiven (1992) - Eastwood & Hackman
04 - Django Unchained (2012) - Jamie Foxx
05 - The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) - Humphrey Bogart
06 - For a Few Dollars More (1965) - Clint Eastwood
07 - The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence (1962) - Wayne & Stewart
08 - Butch Cassidy & Sundance Kid (1969) - Newman & Redford
09 - Rio Bravo (1959) - John Wayne
10 - The Wild Bunch (1969) - William Holden
11 - High Noon (1952) - Gary Cooper
12 - The Searchers (1956) - John Wayne
13 - A Fistful of Dollars (1964) - Clint Eastwood
14 - The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) - Clint Eastwood
15 - Stagecoach (1939) - John WayneF
16 - The Magnificent Seven (1960) - Yul Brynner
17 - 3:10 to Yuma (2007 - Russell Crowe
18 - McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971) - Warren Beatty
19 - True Grit (2010) - Jeff Bridges
20 - Shane (1953) - Alan Ladd

[drogulus]

    Best Westerns should include Ride The High Country and The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford.

[SonicMan46]

Best Westerns should include Ride The High Country and The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford.

Well, here's another list which ranks 35 films - the results surprisingly different, The Assassination of JJ...... is at #20 but Ride the High Country not in either list - I'm sure with more searching, some ranking would include the film, which I own and agree that it's a great western w/ the aging stars, Randolph Scott and Joel McCrea - Dave

[Karl Henning]

Well, here's another list which ranks 35 films - the results surprisingly different ....

I don't know that I am so surprised, as popular as the genre was, Hollywood must have released hundreds. Also, different viewers/critics/connoisseurs will perforce have different supreme favorites (and then there's the Lure of the Obscure.) So the field is ripe for wide variation in sampling.

[DavidW]

Best Westerns should include Ride The High Country and The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford.

My Darling Clementine and High Noon for me.  But let us not forget the true gem...

[Karl Henning]

ut let us not forget the true gem

Mongo only pawn in game of Life.

[Karl Henning]

Dianne Wiest entering the castle with "Avon calling!" is a nice moment.

I had forgotten the very ending. Cute, though perhaps too sappy to be genuinely charming. So who brings Edward ice for him to sculpt, eh? Overall, long on the conceit of the title character, but maybe the lifting is too heavy for that conceit to raise the flaws of the writing plus the day-glo "normies." Vincent Price, Dianne Wiest, and even Winona Ryder (I'll say--on balance better work than she did in either Beetlejuice or Alien Resurrection) save this from expulsion. 

[Karl Henning]

Vincent Price, Dianne Wiest, and even Winona Ryder (I'll say--on balance better work than she did in either Beetlejuice or Alien Resurrection) save this from expulsion.

As a fan of Alan Arkin otherwise, should I feel "guilty" for omitting him here? He does well in the role ... and it's probably the character which is provoking the Forgetful Response. Frank Capra famously got numerous letters complaining that Mr Potter got away with framing the Baileys by holding onto the deposit money. I might complain about Joyce slandering Edward in her gossip, except one just isn't invested in the faux Burbank as we are in Bedford Falls. I'm only a little annoyed at myself for failing to recognize Anthony Michael Hall in the role of the bully Jim.

[LKB]

Mongo only pawn in game of Life.

My no. 2 comedy, which sometimes will drop to third in favor of Young Frankenstein.

Hey, where're all the white women at?

[SonicMan46]

Ray (2004) - story and cast below; Jamie Foxx is absolutely great in his portrayal of Ray Charles (Foxx plays the piano but does NOT sing - how can one imitate one of the greatest voices of the 20th century, IMO) - the actor received many awards, including the Oscar for best actor. Roger Ebert's 4*/4* review HERE for those interested. Streamed with our Netflix account (saw only on release 20 years ago). A MUST see for fans of this unique American entertainer.  Dave

Ray is a 2004 American biographical musical drama film focusing on 30 years in the life Ray Charles. The film was co-produced and directed by Taylor Hackford, and written by James L. White from a story by Hackford and White. It stars Jamie Foxx in the title role, along with Kerry Washington, Clifton Powell, and others in supporting roles. It received generally positive reviews from critics, with particular praise for Foxx's performance. Ray received many accolades and nominations and was nominated in six categories at the 77th Academy Awards. Foxx won the Academy Award for Best Actor as well as the Golden Globe, BAFTA, Screen Actors Guild, and Critics' Choice, becoming the second actor to win all five major lead actor awards for the same performance, and the only one to win the Golden Globe in the Musical or Comedy category, rather than in Drama. (Source)

 

[ando]

A Delicate Balance (1971, Tony Richardson)

The Edward Albee filmed play interpretation (he apparently didn't like the distortion of adaptation) that I've watched repeatedly over the years. An upper middle class Connecticut family has a crisis when their thrice divorced daughter comes home from another separation while their best friends suddenly decide to move in. One of Albee's best. Streaming free on the Tube.

[drogulus]

The Assassination of JJ...... is at #20

    I would rank it among the best 21st century films, based on my less than comprehensive viewings.

    The music represents the film well.