Last Movie You Watched

[drogulus]

    I'm preparing myself for the inevitable viewing of the Seth Rogen Chrimbus Special The Night Before.

   

    Three Wise Guys

[Karl Henning]

I'm currently alternating between two filmic versions of A Christmas Carol, 1984's with George C. Scott and 1999's with Sir Patrick Stewart.

( This in conjunction with reading a digital facsimile of the first edition of Dickens' novel, an attempt to better  understand and evaluate the actors' respective renderings of Scrooge. )

Great idea, BTW, I'm long overdue to re-read the Ur-text myself. 

[Karl Henning]

TD: A Christmas Carol (1951)

[71 dB]

Movies I watched (Blu-ray, TV or Youtube) in the last two months or so:

The Fog (John Carpenter, 1980)
Lifeforce (Tobe Hooper, 1985)
My Stepmother Is An Alien (Richard Benjamin, 1988)
Shikoku ● 死国 (Shunichi Nagasaki, 1999)
Isola: Multiple Personality Girl ● Isola 多重人格少女 (Toshiyuki Mizutani, 2000)
Inugami ● 狗神 (Masato Harada, 2001)
St. John's Wort ● 弟切草 (Ten Shimoyama, 2001)
Carved: The Slit-Mouthed Woman ● 口裂け女 (Kōji Shiraishi, 2007)
Persona ● 仮面学園 (Takashi Komatsu, 2000)
Noroi: The Curse ● ノロイ (Kōji Shiraishi, 2005)
Beyond The Door (Chi sei?) (Ovidio G. Assonitis & Roberto Piazzoli, 1974)
Kokkuri-san: Gekijō-ban (こっくりさん 劇場版) (Jirō Nagae, 2011)
Scream (絶叫) (Jirō Nagae, 2012)
Scream 2 (絶叫 2) (Jirō Nagae, 2012)
Innerspace (Joe Dante, 1987)
Les Quatre Cents Coups (Francois Truffaut, 1959)
The Exterminator (James Glickenhaus, 1980)
Giants And Toys (巨人と玩具, Kyojin to gangu) (Yasuzo Masumura, 1958)
The Hitcher (Robert Harmon, 1986)
Death Has Blue Eyes (Nico Mastorakis, 1976)

Of these, The Exterminator was the most positive surprise for me. I didn't expect to like it much, but the movie really works for me because of the way it handles the subject matter (vigilante violence). The Fog (lame), Beyond The Door (artistically weird The Exorcist rip-off) and The Hitcher (one-dimensional and unmotivated) were the biggest disappointments.

[Madiel]

Over the last few days

In Search of Mozart (2006)
In Search of Beethoven (2009)
In Search of Haydn (2012)

Very much of a piece, though each has slight strengths and weaknesses. The Haydn one does have a little bit too much talk about Mozart at certain points. The peculiarity of the Beethoven one is that they decide not to label any of the pieces when they're being played, as if you should know what they are, and sometimes the interviews and narration completely fail to tell you (though at least it's pretty consistently a piece from the correct period of time for that part of the story).

But they're all quite solid. There's a 4th one on Chopin, but for some unknown reason the service I was using to watch these 3 is missing the Chopin one. I might have to seek it out.

The director Phil Grabsky has actually made a lot more documentaries on visual arts than he has on music, especially in more recent years. I don't know whether I'll check out those too.

[ando]

Over the last few days

In Search of Mozart (2006)
In Search of Beethoven (2009)
In Search of Haydn (2012)

Very much of a piece, though each has slight strengths and weaknesses. The Haydn one does have a little bit too much talk about Mozart at certain points. The peculiarity of the Beethoven one is that they decide not to label any of the pieces when they're being played, as if you should know what they are, and sometimes the interviews and narration completely fail to tell you (though at least it's pretty consistently a piece from the correct period of time for that part of the story).

But they're all quite solid. There's a 4th one on Chopin, but for some unknown reason the service I was using to watch these 3 is missing the Chopin one. I might have to seek it out.

The director Phil Grabsky has actually made a lot more documentaries on visual arts than he has on music, especially in more recent years. I don't know whether I'll check out those too.

Sounds like you were watching Tubi, which has been streaming these free for a while. I've seen the Chopin edition. It wasn't nearly as fascinating as the other three. I can't immediately pinpoint why but the subject of Chopin isn't served best by a straightforward narrative. The power of his music is best featured in context, like in  Andrzej Żuławski's film, Blue Note, which dramatizes Chopin's relationship with the writer, George Sand. Cheers.

[Karl Henning]

In Search of Haydn (2012)

Phil Grabsky came to Boston's MFA to present this. I learnt of the event because I was working in the Gift Shop at the time. Getting to attend was perhaps the best perq of all in the job. I got him to autograph DVDs for both GMG's resident Primo Haydnista and yours truly. I haven't yet chased down the Chopin instalment. To the Library cataloque I go.

[LKB]

TD: A Christmas Carol (1951)

( Having my Sunday eggs and need to get home soon, so this is Part One. )

I took my first ever look at this a couple of evenings ago. As l was short of time before work, l skipped most of the three temporal Spirits and concentrated on the " bookends ". So, l still need to see at least half of the film, probably more.

From what I've viewed thus far, it's easy to understand why Mr. Sim's Scrooge is considered definitive, as he wholly inhabits the character.

There are ( imho ) both strengths and weaknesses to be found in the balance of the production that I've seen. I quite liked seeing Tim gazing wistfully through store windows at the wonderful creations within. It elevates the character from a mere object of pity to a relatable child doing what all children do, given the chance.

On the other hand, l found Marley's ghost mostly risible, a performance far inferior to those from the 1984 and 1999 TV adaptations. ( I wonder if this was a case of some questionable direction, as it's hard to imagine a professional actor willingly making the choices to do what this man was doing. ) l got through the scene wincing, feeling sorry for the " ghost " for reasons having nothing to do with the story.

( End of Part One. )

[Karl Henning]

Hey Karl - Happy Holidays - the '51 version was her first watch (she loves George C. and still her favorite) - she commented and I agree that Alistair Sim had a darker and more sinister character, especially at the beginning (of course becoming joyous at the end) - the next time we decide to watch the story, we'll see which one she picks (BUT we've been 'stuck on ' the 'Man Who Invented Christmas' the last few years - recommended if you haven't seen it!).  Dave

The Man Who Invented Christmas has arrived in time for me to enjoy it on Christmas Day, Dave!

[hopefullytrusting]

My Law & Order: Criminal Intent binge has paid off, as it led me to Spring, a magical, hauntingly beautiful film:



It was Lou Taylor Pucci's electric performance as Joey Frost on LO:CI that compelled me to look up what else he has done, and Spring rose to the top for me because it has touchstones which I find almost automatic resonance with: the search for purpose, the focus on everydayness, the cost of truth, etc.

It has my favorite kind of ending, and I would say if you like the films of Lars von Trier or Yorgos Lanthimos to definitely check this one out.

Well with the time. :-)

[hopefullytrusting]

Proof that all you need is an ensemble that's comfortable and solid dialogue to make a great movie: Moneyball



I don't think I've come across many films that highlight, better than this one, the importance of the casting director. Quite literally, there wasn't a single character miscast, and many actors who were cast "off-brand." Pitt and Hoffman had my favorite scenes when they were on screen together, and I know it isn't surprising to anyone, but Hoffman easily steals the show (his thousand-yard stare never fails to make me chuckle).

[Brian]

It's not that hard. Tell 'em, Wash.

[Cato]

Of these, The Exterminator was the most positive surprise for me. I didn't expect to like it much, but the movie really works for me because of the way it handles the subject matter (vigilante violence). The Fog (lame), Beyond The Door (artistically weird The Exorcist rip-off) and The Hitcher (one-dimensional and unmotivated) were the biggest disappointments.

Let me recommend an oldie but a goodie with a similar title:

The Hitch-Hiker directed by Ida Lupino and with great, under-rated character actors Edmond O'Brien, Frank Lovejoy, and William Talman.

Available here in a restored version:

[SimonNZ]

A masterpiece by Kore-Eda, Best Screenplay award and Queer Palm at Cannes (2023).

Watched this with a friend a couple of days ago. We're considering a rewatch of the ten films of his we've seen previously.

We both agreed on what we thought the final scene/shot meant, but after a little reading I see that the director has pushed back on this widesread interpretation, saying that wasn't his intention at all.

[Cato]

Mrs. Cato had never seen It's a Wonderful Life, only excerpts now and then.

So, tonight has been the night!    😇

[Karl Henning]

Mrs. Cato had never seen It's a Wonderful Life, only excerpts now and then.

So, tonight has been the night!  😇

A great favorite! Jimmy Stewart going very dark, unto the abyss' edge!

[Cato]

A great favorite! Jimmy Stewart going very dark, unto the abyss' edge!

The offer from the banker to George Bailey of a $20,000 a year position would be a job paying nearly $300,000 today!

[drogulus]

    Last night I and others watched Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind. TV impresario Chuck Barris, a man of unimpeachable lack of integrity, claims to be a CIA assassin in his spare time. Sam Rockwell is superb at portraying the sleaze and self loathing of the hero. George Clooney directed with impressive skill. Charlie Kaufman wrote the film. There's a scene in the film that's so.....I don't even know what so it is, but when you see it, you'll want to get to a nunnery or something because this world is not for you. It could be just me, though.

[Karl Henning]

H/t to @SonicMan46

[SonicMan46]

H/t to @SonicMan46

Well, did you like the film?  Dave