Last Movie You Watched

[Bogey]

Last saw this about 40 years ago.

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Still great. Unless you are Alberich; then it sucks.

Farewell My Lovely renamed, because the studio thought the title might sound like a romantic comedy, considering Powell's previous career.

One of the all time best noirs out there.  Took me a little bit to warm to Powell due to Bogart in the Big Sleep (even though Powell was prior).  However, after a few viewings, I really enjoyed him.  I also thought that the film was a heck of a story and without any hitches in it and the opening was one of the best in film (though THE best belongs to Sunset Blvd., IMO).

[SonicMan46]

Race (2016) - synopsis quoted below w/ the actors; concentrates on the mid-1930s w/ Jesse Owens at Ohio State University and then at the Berlin Olympics where he won 4 Gold Medals (100m, 200m, 4x100m relay, & long jump) and set 3 world records - my father in-law was an undergraduate at the University of Michigan in the mid-30s and saw Owens perform.

Reviews have been somewhat mixed: 7/10, IMDB; 61% Rotten Tomatoes; and 4.5/5*, Amazon - most of the negative comments from critics center on emphasizing the 'politics' of the times and potential USA boycott, rather than concentrating more on Owens - for those interest, one of the 'rotten' reviews HERE.

This film was released in February and is already available for 'streaming' which we did last night from Amazon - there, I would do a 4/5* rating - if you're interested in Jesse Owens & the Olympics, then highly recommended - if in doubts, read several of the positive & negative comments from the critics on Rotten Tomatoes.  Dave

Young Jesse Owens (Stephan James) becomes a track and field sensation while attending the Ohio State University in the early 1930s. With guidance from coach Larry Snyder (Jason Sudeikis), Owens gains national recognition for breaking numerous records. After heated debates, the United States decides not to boycott the Olympics in Nazi Germany. Overcoming racism at home and abroad, Owens seizes the opportunity to show Berlin and the the world that he's the fastest man alive.

[Ken B]

Sigh. Just bought this.

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It was $67 with Prime shipping under a different asin: B00CQTI9HY

TD. The Third Man
Again a rewatch. I am doing a mini noir binge.

[Brian]

Sigh. Just bought this.

It was $67 with Prime shipping under a different asin: B00CQTI9HY

TD. The Third Man
Again a rewatch. I am doing a mini noir binge.

OMG that is such a discount. Must...order...ok I'll wait for you to receive it and verify that everything looks right, please? And then I'll jump in with ya.

[Ken B]

OMG that is such a discount. Must...order...ok I'll wait for you to receive it and verify that everything looks right, please? And then I'll jump in with ya.

Will do. It's a 98% rated seller, with 16 copies left. Might want to keep an eye on it. (I see it as 0 risk except disappointment. I have always got a refund on a bad listing.)
Plus it says Fulfilled by Amazon, which means it's sitting in an Amazon warehouse.

AHA! There are TWO different versions of this box. One includes NBNW and is $144. This set does not, it has the other 14. Apparently this was intended for sale in the UK, where there are differing rights. But it is region 0, so will play here.

[Karl Henning]

Sigh. Just bought this.

[asin]B008DCAG9M[/asin]

It was $67 with Prime shipping under a different asin: B00CQTI9HY

Well done!

[SonicMan46]

Will do. It's a 98% rated seller, with 16 copies left. Might want to keep an eye on it. (I see it as 0 risk except disappointment. I have always got a refund on a bad listing.)
Plus it says Fulfilled by Amazon, which means it's sitting in an Amazon warehouse.

AHA! There are TWO different versions of this box. One includes NBNW and is $144. This set does not, it has the other 14. Apparently this was intended for sale in the UK, where there are differing rights. But it is region 0, so will play here.

Hi Ken - my first Amazon hit was the 15-BD box @ $144, then entering your ASIN # brought up the 14-BD much less expensive box - looks like an 'All Region' offering from the image below - a great deal!

Prompted me to review my Hitchcock collection - from the box above, I own 7 of the films, either as BDs or DVD-Rs - now I've seen all of the 7 other films, but was not as interested in the past in ownership - probably should try to re-watch a number of those movies.  Now, I also have a bunch of others in the second column of the second image, again either as BDs or DVD-Rs - SO, need to think about adding a few others and looking for some more BDs to replace those 'inferior' DVD-Rs.    Dave

[Brian]

Will do. It's a 98% rated seller, with 16 copies left. Might want to keep an eye on it. (I see it as 0 risk except disappointment. I have always got a refund on a bad listing.)
Plus it says Fulfilled by Amazon, which means it's sitting in an Amazon warehouse.

AHA! There are TWO different versions of this box. One includes NBNW and is $144. This set does not, it has the other 14. Apparently this was intended for sale in the UK, where there are differing rights. But it is region 0, so will play here.

Ah, ok! I don't think NBNW is worth $80, so I'll acquire that one separately. 

[Karl Henning]

Ah, ok! I don't think NBNW is worth $80

Put that way, I must agree 

[Spineur]

This week, there was nothing watchable on TV, so I decided to revisit some french musical movies of the past 10-15 years:

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While none of them are masterpieces, mostly because of the limited vocal abilities of today's actors, this is a genre which I particularly enjoys and I would be keen to find more movies like them.  Its a pity that this genre which wxas so popular up to the late fifties has been thouroughly abandonned.

[Bogey]

I enjoy most of the Austin films/programs out there.  This one was worth the trip to the theater.

[Abuelo Igor]

You mean that they are set in Austin, Texas? Wow, the place has sure changed over the years... 

[Drasko]

I enjoy most of the Austin films/programs out there.  This one was worth the trip to the theater.

I'm really looking forward to that one. Whit Stillman and Kate Beckinsale!! All the reviews I've seen are quite positive.



This film has many fans but I'm afraid I'm not one of them. Performance by both leads is at so high nearly hysterical pitch that it becomes wearisome. It is intentionally that feverish as they play these arch theatre personalities but the film just isn't funny enough to sustain the pitch.

[Ken B]

I'm really looking forward to that one. Whit Stillman and Kate Beckinsale!! All the reviews I've seen are quite positive.



This film has many fans but I'm afraid I'm not one of them. Performance by both leads is at so high nearly hysterical pitch that it becomes wearisome. It is intentionally that feverish as they play these arch theatre personalities but the film just isn't funny enough to sustain the pitch.

I agree. It has dated badly, because it is more about zaniness than character.

[Bogey]

I'm really looking forward to that one. Whit Stillman and Kate Beckinsale!! All the reviews I've seen are quite positive.

They do a few unique things in this film that set it apart.  Post when you see it.

TD



Serviceable viewing, but it "ain't" close to the others on the poster. 

[Todd]

99 Homes.  Bad guy realtor Michael Shannon evicts down on his luck good guy Andrew Garfield, and then employs him first for property pres work, then to help with evictions.  The film explores some low-level shenanigans that occur in the REO business, but excludes others (eg, no homes stripped bare of all metal by tweakers before property pres guys can get there, which was and is not uncommon in the Florida market), attempts to cover at least some higher level naughtiness (eg, forged documents), and displays an ultimately unfocussed anger at the whole darned housing crisis situation.  The film is well paced and well acted, with Shannon an at times imposing presence, but the ending is feeble, the soundtrack is hammy at times, and there's never a sense of anything significant being conveyed.

[Brian]

I enjoy most of the Austin films/programs out there.  This one was worth the trip to the theater.

Just saw this yesterday afternoon. Really enjoyed it - witty, very good directing, and Tom Bennett steals the movie as Sir James Martin. Probably the funniest portrayal of a complete idiot since Kevin Kline in A Fish Called Wanda.

I read the original novel right before seeing the film - the novel is epistolary, and you can sort of tell that fact from the film's awkward rhythm of conversation-musical interlude-conversation. When three or four characters gather in one place, director Stillman's own wit takes over and it's pretty great.

Xavier Samuel wasn't especially interesting, as a performer, but that's just splitting hairs with a movie this fun.

[SonicMan46]

Anatomy of a Murder (1959) w/ James Stewart, Lee Remick, et al (including George C. Scott) - the Criterion BD production w/ absolutely spectacular B&W restoration (rated 4.8/5 for both visual & audio; 4.2/5 for extras - Source) - always a joy for me to watch Lee Remick in a film; and great make up job on Arthur O'Connell - he & Jimmy were both born in 1908!  Dave

 

[Bogey]

Just saw this yesterday afternoon. Really enjoyed it - witty, very good directing, and Tom Bennett steals the movie as Sir James Martin. Probably the funniest portrayal of a complete idiot since Kevin Kline in A Fish Called Wanda.

I read the original novel right before seeing the film - the novel is epistolary, and you can sort of tell that fact from the film's awkward rhythm of conversation-musical interlude-conversation. When three or four characters gather in one place, director Stillman's own wit takes over and it's pretty great.

Xavier Samuel wasn't especially interesting, as a performer, but that's just splitting hairs with a movie this fun.

My favorite was Justin Edwards as Charles Vernon when he was on the screen.  However, the entire cast did a marvelous job.  Just read it was shot in 26 days. 

[Ken B]

Anatomy of a Murder (1959) w/ James Stewart, Lee Remick, et al (including George C. Scott) - the Criterion BD production w/ absolutely spectacular B&W restoration (rated 4.8/5 for both visual & audio; 4.2/5 for extras - Source) - always a joy for me to watch Lee Remick in a film; and great make up job on Arthur O'Connell - he & Jimmy were both born in 1908!  Dave

 

This is more like it Dave! Saul Bass and Lee Remick! What great visuals.