Last Movie You Watched

[North Star]

I need to watch more of that . . . .

Oh, you've watched some of it, Karl?

[kishnevi]

A 1931 nominee for Best Picture:



Most of you probably know the story from His Girl Friday from 1940, which took the story to what has to be one of the greatest screwball comedies, imo. 



In the '31 film, the acting is definitely dated and the film also refers to the "Red Scare" a number of times.  Worth one viewing.  This one does have Pat O'Brien, Dave!

And there's this one--
[asin] B0007QJ1Y8[/asin]

Meanwhile, thread duty from last night courtesy of HBO at my father's:

[asin]B005LAIGQ4[/asin]

The oil business, politics, Inuit customs, and animal preservation normally don't mix, especially when the press gets involved. But a funny thing happens when Alaska television reporter Adam Carlson (John Krasinski) discovers a trio of gray whales trapped in the ice near the small town of Point Barrow. Adam's report gets national exposure, and his ex-girlfriend and Greenpeace worker Rachel (Drew Barrymore) hears the story, begins lobbying politicians to save the whales, and hops a plane for Alaska. The story reaches the local Inupiat people and millions of Americans, including oil tycoon J.W. McGraw (Ted Danson), presidential aide Kelly Meyers (Vinessa Shaw), Marine colonel Scott Boyer (Dermot Mulroney), and Los Angeles reporter Jill Jerard (Kristen Bell). Each gets involved in the fight for their own distinct reason. The Inupiat whalers decide to help the whales rather than hunt them, in a round-about effort to preserve their way of life, while McGraw sees the project as an opportunity to make his environmentally unfriendly oil-drilling business look like it cares about the earth. Meyers sees an opportunity to curry political popularity for President Reagan, while Boyer is simply following orders and Jerard is looking to advance her career. The group forms an unlikely alliance and pools their resources in an effort to save the three gray whales, but the experience leaves each of them unexpectedly changed. Based on a true story from 1988, the film is a masterful blend of pure entertainment and a sometimes almost documentary style that manages to be quite appealing to both children and adults. The references to '80s culture and politics are spot-on and will inspire more than a few smirks and snickers from adult audience members, and the environmental message of the film is heartening to all ages. But perhaps the most powerful thing about the film is its honest look at what motivates people and how, in America, even the most diametrically opposed factions can occasionally join forces to achieve a common good. (Ages 7 and older) --Tami Horiuchi

Accurate enough, except it doesn't explain exactly how often Barrymore's Greenpeace activist character lapsed into being a whiny environazi--well, actually, she spent most of the movie being that,  with some lapses into normality at the end--and leaves out the mandatory cute kid, in this case the grandson of the Inupiat chief, actively learning the ways of 1980s rock and roll and how to be an entrepreneur.
 
In the end a nice kid's movie.

[Karl Henning]

Oh, you've watched some of it, Karl?

A while ago, but one or two episodes on my boss' rec, actually.

[bhodges]

When the Wind Blows (1986, dir. Jimmy Murakami) - A gentle (on the surface) animated film with an ultimately agonizing look at nuclear war. An elderly couple outside of London (voices of Peggy Ashcroft and John Mills) use old-fashioned WWII-era government pamphlets to prepare for a bomb dropping. After it does (and the animated sequence depicting it is terrifying) they emerge from their homemade bomb shelter to find themselves alone, not realizing they are dying of radiation sickness.

[asin]B00439GWRO[/asin]

Kiss Me Deadly (1955, dir. Robert Aldrich) - Fascinating film noir, with a violent edge not typical of films of the time. And the ending...

[asin]B004S801ZE[/asin]

--Bruce

[Brahmsian]

Watched Blue Jasmine last night - Woody's best film in many years.  It wasn't an "original" because Woody has no gas left in that tank.

I've been meaning to watch Blue Jasmine.  May do so tonight.

[Wakefield]

Kiss Me Deadly (1955, dir. Robert Aldrich) - Fascinating film noir, with a violent edge not typical of films of the time. And the ending...

[asin]B004S801ZE[/asin]

--Bruce

I did some slight research and it looks great. I will be watching it soon.

Kiss Me Deadly is a 1955 film noir drama produced and directed by Robert Aldrich starring Ralph Meeker. The screenplay was written by A.I. Bezzerides, based on the Mickey Spillane Mike Hammer mystery novel Kiss Me, Deadly. Kiss Me Deadly is often considered a classic of the noir genre. The film grossed $726,000 in the United States and a total of $226,000 overseas. It also withstood scrutiny from the Kefauver Commission which said it was a film designed to ruin young viewers -- leading director Aldrich to write against the Commission's conclusions.

Poor young viewers! Fortunately, the "indecent" cover you posted wasn't the original poster of the movie...   

[Bogey]

And there's this one--
[asin] B0007QJ1Y8[/asin]

Excellent.  Never saw it, but will look into it.

[Bogey]

Nominated in'75 for Best Picture, The Conversation:



The first hour and a half is dedicated to development.  Almost reminded me of a Martin Beck novel.  Worth a second viewing, but not sure if I need it on the shelf.

[George]

Excellent.  Never saw it, but will look into it.

Ditto. I LOVE Matthau.

[The new erato]

I've been meaning to watch Blue Jasmine.  May do so tonight.

Excellent movie, and Kate Blanchett is outstanding.

[Brahmsian]

Excellent movie, and Kate Blanchett is outstanding.

I did end up watching it last night and agree.  Terrific movie, and outstanding performance by Blanchett.

[George]

I did end up watching it last night and agree.  Terrific movie, and outstanding performance by Blanchett.

I'll need to see it again, the first time I fell asleep.

[Karl Henning]

Nominated in'75 for Best Picture, The Conversation:



The first hour and a half is dedicated to development.  Almost reminded me of a Martin Beck novel.  Worth a second viewing, but not sure if I need it on the shelf.

Another one for me to check out from the BPL. perhaps . . . .

[SonicMan46]

A 1931 nominee for Best Picture:

 


Most of you probably know the story from His Girl Friday from 1940, which took the story to what has to be one of the greatest screwball comedies, imo. 

In the '31 film, the acting is definitely dated and the film also refers to the "Red Scare" a number of times.  Worth one viewing.  This one does have Pat O'Brien, Dave!

Hi Bill - not too many movies for me lately (been doing the Olympics @ night) - BUT, His Girl Friday is a favorite of mine!  Also believe that I've seen the other film above - don't have it 'burned' so not sure - will definitely record to my DVR when it appears on TCM - Dave

[SonicMan46]

Well, received a handful of BD exchanges from DVDtoBLU, a Warner Brothers program where one can exchange a DVD for a BD - cost about $5 each - just received a small package and have watched two BDs below:

Cool Hand Luke and What's Up Doc? - Dave

 

[Brian]

What's Up Doc?

As I recall, Madeline Kahn's first movie, and she steals every scene.

[SonicMan46]

As I recall, Madeline Kahn's first movie, and she steals every scene.

Hi Brian - yes, Madeline Kahn's introduction and she was great!  BUT, the chemistry between O'Neal & Streisand was still pretty special, especially Ryan is such a comedic role - enjoyed!  Of course, Kahn goes on to so many great future performances,  particularly in the Mel Brooks films!  Dave

[Ken B]

[The Conversation] Another one for me to check out from the BPL. perhaps . . . .

A masterpiece. Prescient too.

[snyprrr]

TOP 10 MOST DISTURBING FILMS?

[Karl Henning]

They can't all be by David Lynch and John Waters . . . .