Last Movie You Watched

[George]

Speaking of screwball comedies . . . this was a nice, light, silly film. Larry David playing a nun was priceless.

[Bogey]

My son and I just took in American Sniper. Clint did an excellent job of telling this story.  Theater was absolutely silent as we filed out.

[George]

A dark comedy that wasn't as funny as it should have been.

[Moonfish]

Outstanding documentary series in three parts focusing on the natural history of the Galapagos Islands and basic evolutionary concepts. Fantastic camera work accompanied by a haunting score and vivid narration.

[asin] B000T28PWY[/asin]

[Cato]

My son and I just took in American Sniper. Clint did an excellent job of telling this story. Theater was absolutely silent as we filed out.

That reaction has been noticed nationwide: my son in North Carolina remarked upon the same thing, as have people I know here in Ohio.

[Ken B]

Hey Guys - some excellent films shown in the previous posts - as to Indiana Jones, just purchased the first & third films as BDs.  For me last night, yet another Alfred Hitchcock thriller on the verge of WWII.

Foreign Correspondent (1940) w/ Joel McCrea, Lorraine Day, George Sanders, & Herbert Marshall - spectacular restoration by Criterion, including a DVD & a disc full of specials - rated 5/5 video, 4.5/5 audio, & 4.8/5 specials at Blu-ray . com - Dave

 

Highlights Joel McCrea's skills. He never gave a weak performance. The final speech could easily fall flat, but it doesn't. McCrea makes it work. A very under rated actor.

[George]

My son and I just took in American Sniper. Clint did an excellent job of telling this story.  Theater was absolutely silent as we filed out.

They should have had Wesley Snipes star, then they could've called it Wesley Sniper.

[listener]

another of the Shaw Brothers films
FULL MOON SCIMITAR
Derek Yee, Lisa Wang, Wang Jung     directed by Chu Yuan
supernatural revenge story, with much flying about, ghosts, and bouncing coffins
The Ku Lung script Keeps the story more organized than usual.

[SonicMan46]

My son and I just took in American Sniper. Clint did an excellent job of telling this story.  Theater was absolutely silent as we filed out.

Bill - can I talk Susan into seeing this film w/ me?  How many women were in the audience?  Took her to Selma today in 'exchange' for her to attend the film above - then for the first time in my life (I believe), I will have seen all of the 'Best Picture' nominations for a single year!  Dave

[SonicMan46]

Selma (2015) w/ David Oyelowo as Martin Luther King, Jr. - concentrates on the mid-60s (synopsis below) - up for an Oscar as Best Picture (my vote is on Boyhood) - well rated: 7.7/10, IMDB; 98%, Rotten Tomatoes; 4.1/5*, Amazon - the film is long and drawn out and slow @ times, and not sure how accurate the interaction between King & LBJ may have been?  I would have to agree w/ the overall Amazon rating, i.e. 4/5* for me - Dave

P.S. second photo below comparing Oyelowo to the real King.

Although the Civil Rights Act of 1964 legally desegregated the South, discrimination was still rampant in certain areas, making it very difficult for blacks to register to vote. In 1965, an Alabama city became the battleground in the fight for suffrage. Despite violent opposition, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) and his followers pressed forward on an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, and their efforts culminated in President Lyndon Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

 

[Bogey]

Hard to say, Dave.  There were plenty of ladies in the audience.  Just a matter of where she is on war movies.  Linda at this end usually opts out.

With regard to Selma, I thought it was very well done and agree that it did have a slow pace.  However, this may have been something that added to the film and gave it a closer feel for the day to day and background work Dr. King and his supporters had to put in. 

[Brian]

not sure how accurate the interaction between King & LBJ may have been?

Far more accurate than anything in The Imitation Game or American Sniper. (In fact, the sniper's family lost a defamation lawsuit about a story he made up in his memoir.)

I think LBJ comes off OK in "Selma". He may not want to do the right thing immediately, but there's no doubt that he does want to do the right thing, and the scene where he tells off the governor of Alabama proves that his intentions are good.

Bill, I totally agree with you:

With regard to Selma, I thought it was very well done and agree that it did have a slow pace.  However, this may have been something that added to the film and gave it a closer feel for the day to day and background work Dr. King and his supporters had to put in. 

[SonicMan46]

Tonight back to my old burned DVD-Rs - a couple of films w/ Saratoga in the title:

Saratoga (1937) w/ Gable & Harlow, plus many others; about horse racing - Clark & Jean's last film together - she actually died suddenly (probably renal failure) after about 90% of the film was completed - a double was used along w/ a voice imitator for the final scenes; she was just 26 years old - can't imagine how many more good movies she would have made?

Saratoga Truck (1945) w/ Gary Cooper & Ingrid Bergman - Ingrid is just beautiful in this film and puts in a believable performance as someone possessed and ruthless for revenge - both films are worth a watch, especially for the chemistry between the main stars.  Dave

 

 

[Karl Henning]

Bill - can I talk Susan into seeing this film w/ me?  How many women were in the audience?  Took her to Selma today in 'exchange' for her to attend the film above - then for the first time in my life (I believe), I will have seen all of the 'Best Picture' nominations for a single year!  Dave

I've an old Wooster classmate, a woman, who went and found it a profoundly moving experience, Dave.

[SonicMan46]

I've an old Wooster classmate, a woman, who went and found it a profoundly moving experience, Dave.

Thanks Karl for the comment above - she's been reading reviews and actually has shown some interest - we usually attend a mid-afternoon matinee so an early dinner at a nice restaurant is always a further enticement!   Dave

[Ken B]

I've an old Wooster classmate

Not Cat's-Meat by any chance?

[listener]

The GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL
yes, this is a very good film, I'll order a copy for my sister.

[SonicMan46]

Some oldies last night - all quite different but still strong performances:

Search, The (1948) w/ Montgomery Clift, Wendell Cory, and Ivan Jandl (excellent performance as the lost child) - story of a nine-year-old Czech boy who had survived Auschwitz and was searching for his mother in post-war Germany. The movie was filmed on location and the destruction is heart rendering - 8.0/10, IMDB; 4.7/5* on Amazon - certainly a 4* (maybe more) for me - relationship between the boy & Cliff is worth a watch.

Set-Up, The (1947) w/ Robert Ryan & Audrey Totter - one of the forgotten boxing films; Ryan in a superb performance as an 'over the hill' boxer told to throw a bout - you can imagine what happened; short film noir effects and if a boxing film fan, a recommendation - 4.7/5* on Amazon - I would do a 4*.

Seven Days in May (1964) w/ Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Frederick March, Ava Gardner, and many others.  Synopsis below from IMDB, 7.9/10 rating - 4.6/5*, Amazon - I'd also do a 4* rating there - maybe a little dated, but Douglas' performance is worth seeing - Dave

An unpopular U.S. President manages to get a nuclear disarmament treaty through the Senate, but finds that the nation is turning against him. Jiggs Casey, a Marine Colonel, finds evidence that General Scott, the wildly popular head of the Joint Chiefs and certain Presidential Candidate in 2 years is not planning to wait. Casey goes to the president with the information and a web of intrigue begins with each side unsure of who can be trusted.

   

[Ken B]

Some oldies last night - all quite different but still strong performances:

Search, The (1948) w/ Montgomery Clift, Wendell Cory, and Ivan Jandl (excellent performance as the lost child) - story of a nine-year-old Czech boy who had survived Auschwitz and was searching for his mother in post-war Germany. The movie was filmed on location and the destruction is heart rendering - 8.0/10, IMDB; 4.7/5* on Amazon - certainly a 4* (maybe more) for me - relationship between the boy & Cliff is worth a watch.

Set-Up, The (1947) w/ Robert Ryan & Audrey Totter - one of the forgotten boxing films; Ryan in a superb performance as an 'over the hill' boxer told to throw a bout - you can imagine what happened; short film noir effects and if a boxing film fan, a recommendation - 4.7/5* on Amazon - I would do a 4*.

Seven Days in May (1964) w/ Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Frederick March, Ava Gardner, and many others.  Synopsis below from IMDB, 7.9/10 rating - 4.6/5*, Amazon - I'd also do a 4* rating there - maybe a little dated, but Douglas' performance is worth seeing - Dave

   

Ava Gardner but you say Kirk Douglas is worth watching. I worry about you Dave.

[Bogey]

Excellent film!