Last Movie You Watched

[relm1]

Them! (June, 1954)


Interestingly, this was an early monster movie and actually preceded the similarly themed Godzilla (premiered in Japan a few months later in October 1954 but not till 1956 in the US).  It was surprisingly good.  Yes, expect rubber monsters but the story unfolded well.  I've never seen this but obviously knew it was about giant insects that were mutated from the atomic bomb tests nearby. 

Barefoot Gen (1983)


This was a very powerful movie if you don't mind the 1980's anime style and makes a very good counterpoint to Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer.  I suggest watching the film in its entirety, not just the intense bomb sequence.  Though clearly a kid's movie, but by the end, it is very dark and honest experience from those who lived it.  The film is based on a 1970's manga series written by a six your old survivor of the atomic bombs and is clearly from a child's point of view who doesn't care about the war other than how it impacts him and his immediate world.  In an instant his world is forever changed.  Very much worth a watch.

Full film:

[San Antone]

Of Mice and Men



Of Mice and Men is a 1939 American drama film based on the 1937 play of the same name, which itself was based on the novella of the same name by author John Steinbeck. The film stars Burgess Meredith, Betty Field, and Lon Chaney Jr., and features Charles Bickford, Roman Bohnen, Bob Steele, and Noah Beery Jr.

The film tells the story of two men, George and his intellectually disabled partner Lennie, trying to survive during the dustbowl of the 1930s and pursuing a dream of owning their own ranch instead of always working for others. Starring in the lead roles were relative Hollywood newcomer Burgess Meredith as George and veteran actor Lon Chaney Jr. (the son of famed silent film actor Lon Chaney) as Lennie. Chaney had appeared in more than 50 films by that point in his career, but Of Mice and Men was his first major role. Betty Field's role as Mae was her breakthrough role in film.

The film, produced by the Hal Roach Studios, was adapted by Eugene Solow and directed by Lewis Milestone. It was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The musical score was by American composer Aaron Copland.

Released in 1939, it appeared in the 1980s and 1990s in revival theater houses, video and cable, and it earned a following of fans (both audience members and film critics) who praised the movie for its interpretation of the Steinbeck novella.

[Karl Henning]

Disney's Pinocchio. One sees how some tropes were carried over from Snow White (my own immediate reference.) Pretty good on its own merits, I think.

[SimonNZ]

Drive My Car (Ryusuke Hamaguch, 2021) Futurefilm Blu-ray

 I hoped for more Japanese style. Even the car is a Saab rather than a Mazda!

I saw the film with a friend who used to be a car dealer and used to live in Japan. He thought the choice of car was spot on for the characters class and status. He especially picked up on and commented on the fashion for wrong-side drive (as the Saab was) imports, which I wouldn't have noticed.

[AnotherSpin]

Drive My Car (Ryusuke Hamaguch, 2021) Futurefilm Blu-ray

Not many Japanese movies get released on Blu-ray with Finnish subtitles. I got interested of this nordic release of this movie, because it has been decorated with tons of award from Oscar to Cannes to Bafta and much more... ...the movie is 3 hours long and felt 4 hours long because of slow storytelling without spectacle. I was disappointed about how little music the movie contains. The movie also has a European feel to it. I hoped for more Japanese style. Even the car is a Saab rather than a Mazda!

On the good side the movie contains very strong acting. Some scenes look extraordinarily natural and just perfect. Camerawork is nice calm. The script extends quite limited subject matter into a long movie in a coherent manner.

I can see why movie critics love this movie, but for me it isn't an optimal movie.

Very good movie.

[AnotherSpin]

I like almost all of Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki's films that I've seen. Probably I saw this one first:

[Iota]

Drive My Car (Ryusuke Hamaguch, 2021) Futurefilm Blu-ray

Not many Japanese movies get released on Blu-ray with Finnish subtitles. I got interested of this nordic release of this movie, because it has been decorated with tons of award from Oscar to Cannes to Bafta and much more... ...the movie is 3 hours long and felt 4 hours long because of slow storytelling without spectacle. I was disappointed about how little music the movie contains. The movie also has a European feel to it. I hoped for more Japanese style. Even the car is a Saab rather than a Mazda!

On the good side the movie contains very strong acting. Some scenes look extraordinarily natural and just perfect. Camerawork is nice calm. The script extends quite limited subject matter into a long movie in a coherent manner.

I can see why movie critics love this movie, but for me it isn't an optimal movie.

Blew me away that film. Three hours of mesmerising cinema.

[71 dB]

I saw the film with a friend who used to be a car dealer and used to live in Japan. He thought the choice of car was spot on for the characters class and status. He especially picked up on and commented on the fashion for wrong-side drive (as the Saab was) imports, which I wouldn't have noticed.

I noticed the "wrong side" thing and it made the car feel even more out of place for me.

I'm not a car dealer who knows that certain class of Japanese people favour Swedish cars. I'm just someone who what's to experience Japanese culture like a tourist. So, I rather take a Mazda even if it "wrong" for the class and status.

[SimonNZ]

I noticed the "wrong side" thing and it made the car feel even more out of place for me.

I'm not a car dealer who knows that certain class of Japanese people favour Swedish cars. I'm just someone who what's to experience Japanese culture like a tourist. So, I rather take a Mazda even if it "wrong" for the class and status.

At a sort of high school essay level you could say something about their car representing their apart-ness from the rest of society, and that driving on the "right" (in both senses) side of the road in the end bit in South Korea represents her larger story being put right. At the level of a high school essay.

(My friend had to point out to me the end bit was in South Korea and that she was driving on the other side of the road - I hadn't picked up on that, either. In my defense I was thinking about Chekhov.)

[71 dB]

At a sort of high school essay level you could say something about their car representing their apart-ness from the rest of society,

What apart-ness from the rest of society?

[SonicMan46]

Them! (June, 1954)
 

Interestingly, this was an early monster movie and actually preceded the similarly themed Godzilla (premiered in Japan a few months later in October 1954 but not till 1956 in the US).  It was surprisingly good.  Yes, expect rubber monsters but the story unfolded well.  I've never seen this but obviously knew it was about giant insects that were mutated from the atomic bomb tests nearby. 

A favorite 50s sci-fi since I was a kid - own as a BD.  In fact, have many of those '50s films in my collection - the 'primitive' special effects back then make many of the movies just more enjoyable!     Dave

[SonicMan46]

Last few nights:

Witness for the Prosecution (1957) - great ensemble acting in this court drama w/ a surprise ending (don't read the entire link if first time seeing the film -  )

The Grapes of Wrath (1940) - read the book as a teenager and have seen the film many times over the decades - still packs a punch - nominated for 8 Academy Awards, winning 2 Oscars, i.e. Best Director (Ford) & Best Supporting Actress (Darwell). a MUST see, IMO - Dave

Witness for the Prosecution is a 1957 American legal mystery thriller film directed by Billy Wilder and starring Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich, Charles Laughton and Elsa Lanchester. The film, which has elements of bleak black comedy and film noir, is a courtroom drama set in the Old Bailey in London and is based on the 1953 play of the same name by Agatha Christie. The first film adaptation of Christie's story, Witness for the Prosecution was adapted for the screen by Larry Marcus, Harry Kurnitz and Wilder. The film received positive reviews and six Academy Award nominations, but winner of none. (Source)

The Grapes of Wrath is a 1940 American drama film directed by John Ford. It was based on John Steinbeck's 1939 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. The film tells the story of the Joads, an Oklahoma family of sharecroppers, who, after losing their farm to increased mechanization during the Great Depression in the 1930s, become migrant workers, and end up in California. The motion picture details their arduous journey across the United States as they travel to California in search of work and opportunities. The film is widely considered to be one of the greatest films of all time. In 1989, it was one of the first 25 films selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Film Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". (Source)

 

[Pohjolas Daughter]

The Great Escape starring the "kings of cool" (McQueen, Garner, Coburn, Bronson) and directed by Sturges, a "man's man," and based on a "true story."

I've seen this movie a lot, like a lot a lot, and this will likely be my last viewing. The movie has just become, in my opinion, patently silly - mainly because they made the Americans the central characters, and they're all fake.

I'm finding that Robert Bly was right - that Hollywood's version of manhood, maleness, masculinity, etc. only really lasts until you're 35. There are exceptions of course like Lion in The Last Picture Show, but that's rare.

I doubt I'll make it the entire movie ...

That's been a favorite of mine over the years.  I read the book (by Paul Brickhill) many years ago and found it to be fascinating.  If you can get ahold of a copy, give it a try (It's also not that long.).

And yes, movies and how things are portrayed can be somewhat to much different in terms of accuracy.

That motorcycle chase scene always gets to me...the loss of vision by one of the characters, the baseball and mitt (and music), Danny's increasing struggles with the digging, the planting of the gardens, and general cleverness and bravery.  I could go on and on.  In any event, I hope that you still enjoy watching it.

Best wishes,

PD

p.s. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Escape_(book)

p.p.s.  Recently, enjoyed watching Mission Impossible 3 (on my computer).  Thoroughly enjoyed it (roof/building scene and sliding just about did me in!).  Some very clever decisions in terms of how to show sequences of what's going on and in what order (don't want to spoil it for others here).  Also, I thoroughly enjoyed watching the film with the commentary by Cruise and Abrams.

[Karl Henning]

Witness for the Prosecution (1957) - great ensemble acting in this court drama w/ a surprise ending (don't read the entire link if first time seeing the film

Love this.

[Karl Henning]

That motorcycle chase scene always gets to me...the loss of vision by one of the characters, the baseball and mitt (and music), Danny's increasing struggles with the digging, the planting of the gardens, and general cleverness and bravery.  I could go on and on.  In any event, I hope that you still enjoy watching it.

I enjoyed my first viewing, and will re-watch in a bit. The supplements on the blu-ray were highly illuming, too.

[relm1]

A favorite 50s sci-fi since I was a kid - own as a BD.  In fact, have many of those '50s films in my collection - the 'primitive' special effects back then make many of the movies just more enjoyable!     Dave

It is endearing for many reasons.  The little girl is so sweet you immediately feel horrible for her.  I love the lead men too for multiple reasons.  James Arness was The Thing in The Thing from Another World (1951) a fantastic film with a fantastic remake (1982).  I adore James Whitmore from Twilight Zones and Shawshank.  He's just such a fantastic character actor I immediately love him.  He's like the 1950's Tom Hanks.  Very average looking but immediately relatable.

[Cato]

We became fans of this movie when it appeared in the 1980's.

The Whales of August

Lilian Gish (at age 93!), Bette Davis (at c. 80), Vincent Price (age 77), Ann Sothern (age 78), and Cowboy star Harry Carey Jr. (the youngest at 67)

As good as Gish and Davis are, Vincent Price is marvelous as a Russian aristocrat ruined by the Communist Revolution, and also excellent is Harry Carey, Jr as a Maine-iac handyman-and-philosopher.

[Karl Henning]

We became fans of this movie when it appeared in the 1980's.

The Whales of August

Lilian Gish (at age 93!), Bette Davis (at c. 80), Vincent Price (age 77), Ann Sothern (age 78), and Cowboy star Harry Carey Jr. (the youngest at 67)

As good as Gish and Davis are, Vincent Price is marvelous as a Russian aristocrat ruined by the Communist Revolution, and also excellent is Harry Carey, Jr as a Maine-iac handyman-and-philosopher.

Thoroughly charming!

[Karl Henning]

This was off my radar until my sister mentioned it a couple of weeks ago: To Sir, With Love. I had no inkling what to expect. An interesting snapshot of the era. Really a pleasure. Poitier is of course superb.

[71 dB]

Vortex (Gaspar Noé, 2021) Blu-ray

Movies almost never make me cry, but this one did and I was deeply distraught/saddened after watching it. This split-screen movie is merciless in its depiction of the problems of old age. Dario Argento and Françoise Lebrun shine in the leading parts.