What Classics Did You See Last Week (October 6–October 12)
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spiderwort — 1 year ago(October 20, 2024 03:36 PM)
I'm not familiar with the Amazon Fire Stick, dinosaur that I am. Will definitely check that out. There are lots and lots of good films on Kanopy and Plex, but I don't view many because I don't like watching them on the computer. Thanks so much for the suggestion.
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EdwardVP — 1 year ago(October 13, 2024 12:36 PM)
1952 THE FOUR POSTER - This movies tells the history of a marriage beginning in 1897. It takes little snapshot moments at roughly a decade apart from each other. Rex Harrison plays a poor poet husband as the pair struggle to bring up a son. We just see Rex and his real-life wife Lilli Palmer along with their four poster bed. Despite their problems of infidelity and finances, the marriage survives right through to the end. (IMDb 6.5)
1956 THE WRONG MAN - Here is another married couple struggling. Henry Fonda gets accused of committing a series of hold-ups. He has difficulties in supplying alibis in order to prove his innocence. His wife, Vera Miles, has to be taken into care because of the stress. She feels guilt because it is due to her needs that her husband goes out to borrow money which begins the accusations. Alfred Hitchcock supplies his usual suspense on one of his favorite themes. (IMDb 7.4) -
spiderwort — 1 year ago(October 13, 2024 03:25 PM)
First viewings:
Wildflower / Diane Keaton
(1991). A TV-movie set in the rural south in the 1930s, in which a young Reese Witherspoon and her brother (William McNamara) befriend a young, partially deaf epileptic girl (Patricia Arquette), who’s abused by her stepfather. All the acting is outstanding under Keaton’s excellent direction, especially by Arquette. Other cast members include Bea Bridges, Susan Blakely, and Collin Wilcox Paxton. Keaton's first feature length directorial effort, it's a moving story, very well done and strongly recommended. (Available on prime video, tubi, and freevee)
The Gathering / Randal Kleiser
(1977). A dying father pulls his torn family back together for a last Christmas. A beautiful TV movie with a wonderful cast, including Ed Asner, Maureen Stapleton, Bruce Davison, Gregory Harrison, Lawrence Pressman, and Stephanie Zimbalist, a lovely script by Oscar winning writer James Poe, and sensitive direction by Randal Kleiser. Emmy nominated in all major categories, winning for Outstanding Special - Drama or Comedy. Highly recommended. (Available on Tubi)
Re-watches:
A Face in the Crowd / Elia Kazan
(1957). A small-time radio reporter (Patricia Neal) turns an Arkansas folk-singing bum (Andy Griffith) into a homespun media hero rotten with power. A remarkably prescient film about how the public can be affected by the media – pre-dating
Network
by two decades – and it's sadly even more relevant today. Great script by Budd Schulberg, direction by Kazan, and performances by all the cast, especially Andy Griffith in his film debut. It was Lee Remick’s film debut, too. Highly recommended. (Available on TCM and Tubi)
Mona Lisa Smile / Mike Newell
(2003). An art history professor (Julia Roberts) has a lot to teach about art and life to her less than progressive students at Wellesley College in the early 50s. It’s a funny, uplifting film, which I very much appreciated the first time I saw it and still appreciate today. I’m a big fan of director Mike Newell, and I’ve never understood this film’s low ratings. I strongly recommend it, especially for those interested in the cast and the subject. (Available on MAX and Roku) -
unex — 1 year ago(October 14, 2024 11:15 AM)
A Face in the Crowd
This is one of my favorites. The rise of cable news personalities made it look prophetic. I first saw it at the height of all that and it really resonated. It's such an outlier in Andy Griffith's career that it's a little odd to see him in a role like that. -
spiderwort — 1 year ago(October 16, 2024 01:49 AM)
Prophetic, to say the least. So glad you like it. And it is a bit of an outlier in Griffith's career, but it was his very first film of any kind, and under Kazan's superb direction, his performance was simply great. Kazan is my all-time favorite director, but as remarkable as this film is, I have to confess that I find it a bit hard to watch. For me, it's a deeply disturbing story of how the media affects the public – something that's even more relevant today.
And I don't know if you know, but Schulberg's Lonesome Rhodes character was based upon Arthur Godfrey, as well as on Billy Graham and Huey Long (although I've heard more often that is was primarily based upon Arthur Godfrey – though why that is, I do not know).
Anyway, thanks for your response. -
unex — 1 year ago(October 18, 2024 12:00 PM)
I don't think I'd ever even heard of Arthur Godfrey. His popularity seems to have suffered a rapid fall after an on-air incident like that of Lonesome Rhodes and is now barely remembered but he was so big at the time he inspired two movies. When people watch it today it's plucked out of time so it's nice to know the context and microhistory behind it.
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FreeHugs — 1 year ago(October 13, 2024 04:43 PM)
I watched:
The Curse of the Necklace 2024 6/10 This is a fairly average horror movie with a generic screenplay, but is redeemed by the actors. Two of the most promising and talented young horror stars, sisters Madeleine and Violet McGraw, elevate this mediocre film with engaging and interesting performances. It's worth watching for them.
Autumn at Apple Hill 2024 6/10 This was an average Hallmark film. Worth a watch once, but nothing memorable or distinctive.
The Town Without Halloween 2024 6/10 Some of the performances were stilted and the writing was mediocre, but there are some amusing moments. It has a certain charm to it that feels like a low budget, amateur remix of Gremlins, Goonies, and Goosebumps.
Autumn and the Black Jaguar 2024 6/10 I thought Lumi Pollack was quite charming and wonderful in the film. The story is just alright. This is a pleasant enough family film. Worth a watch.
Ellis in Freedomland 1952 6/10 This is like an all star, feature length commercial. It's kind of fun to hear big name stars of that time playing appliances. There is some amusing dialogue. A really unusual film unlike anything I have ever seen. Worth checking out for the unusualness of it all.
House of Spoils 2024 5/10 This isn't really a horror movie. As a slow burn, atmospheric drama about the pressures of being a chef, it almost works. A couple good moments, but it never really comes together in an effective way and doesn't quite stick the landing.
Anastasia: Once Upon a Time 2020 7/10 This is bad, but I like it. The story is questionable at best, but it is not intended to be historically accurate or taken seriously. This is an intentionally silly movie. It has an unusal and interesting cast and I really liked the two main girls. They were quite charming and lovely. I liked the costumes too. The score was pretty bad though. In spite of its flaws and potentally problematic plotline, I had fun with this.
Begin Again 2013 7/10 This was pretty good, but I actually think this is John Carney's weakest film. It's a reasonably effective and enjoyable drama, but I don't consider it a musical.
Tommy 1975 9/10 This is a fantastic, big, bombastic rock musical that tells its story in an energetic and engaging way.
The Smiling Lieutenant 1931 6/10 The acting is fine and the film looks good, but the story isn't very interesting.
Mr. Crocket 2024 8/10 This was fun. Elvis Nolasco is delightfully maniacal as the title character, a cross between Mr Rogers and Freddy Krueger. An enetertaining and satsifying horror film.
Saturday Night 2024 8/10 This is well edited, fast paced, with good performances from a wonderful ensemble. It doesn't make my top 10 of the year, but I think it has a shot at a few Oscar nominations.
Lonely Planet 2024 6/10 This is a fairly standard and generic Netflix romance. It's not bad, but it feels very made for tv/direct to streaming. Performances are fine. The story is predictable, but otherwise alright.
Canon City 1948 6/10 This was alright, but somewhat forgettable. I thought there was too much narration and not enough noir elements.
Fright Night 2011 7/10 This is an entertaining and fun remake that also works well on its own merits. Good performances from the cast.
The Stakelander 2016 5/10 This wasn't very interesting and I couldn't care about the characters or story.
Resident Evil 2002 6/10 I'm bumping my rating down from a 7/10 to a 6/10 on rewatch. This is fairly generic and just an average action/horror movie. Performances are fine for this type of film. There are a couple good moments, but I found it dragged at times.
Rabid 1977 7/10 Well acted and engaging, but still one of Cronenberg's weaker films. -
Rufus-T — 1 year ago(October 14, 2024 03:59 AM)
The Devil (1972)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095012/
I was seeking this movie out hearing this movie, which is supposed to be one of the most terrifying controversial horror movie. After watching it, I believe I found the wrong movie with the same name. This movie is Polish, and the one I look for was British movie from a year earlier. Anyway, the director Andrzej Zulawski is the same one who made Possession (1981). It is the one in which Isabelle Adjani went epileptic bizarre in the tunnel, for those who saw it. Most young female in the movie behaved the same, or they are in some kind of psychotic drugs. A period piece took place in ancient Poland during a chaotic period of war, a man in prison in a convent, or something like that, was claimed by a strange man to take him home. They brought along with a young nun with them, who had her share of epilepticbizarre episode too. Through out the movie, the strange man enticed this released prisoner to do immoral stuff. I do like the style of the direction, but the story makes no sense to me. I am sure there is some philosophical message. I was just not in the mood looking for it. Be my guest if you like to try. The movie is on YouTube, but I had to find the English subtitle elsewhere.
Freeway (1996)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116361/
My 2nd viewing I am sure, and remember liking it. This is a twisted modern take of the Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale. The family of a white trash girl got into trouble, so she took off and look for her grandma. Along the way, she came across an evil dude. This is a dark comedy, I would say. Reese Witherspoon killed it by playing the girl, and she was badass and funny too. Son of Donald Sutherland, Kiefer, excellent playing the evil dude. Brook Shield played his wife. Some of the dialogues were very graphic and explicit. There were quite a few bloody scenes. Director and writer Matthew Bright did a good job translating it onto the screen. Not great, but highly enjoyable. The black humor could have been much benefitted from the Coen Brothers. I like it even more this time around.