Last Movie You Watched? 7.0

The "Spock Walk" sequence is a beauty with the images and music. The one time where the film really succeeds in being in the vein of 2001, which is what I've always seen Wise as trying to go for.

I think the cloud passage in mid-film, the Trumbull multiplane stuff, is practically 2001-worthy. NOT the vger flyover that immediately follows it, that is modelwork masturbation, and painful at that, like Edward Scissorhands trying to pleasure himself.

trevanian wrote:

I think the cloud passage in mid-film, the Trumbull multiplane stuff, is practically 2001-worthy. NOT the vger flyover that immediately follows it, that is modelwork masturbation, and painful at that, like Edward Scissorhands trying to pleasure himself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz05DBe4Q-8

Sea Wolves

one of those films that you don't really seem to care about the plot. This down to the cast involved in the film and for someone who likes the British actors of old it's a gem- Allan Cuthbertson (always a delight), Patrick Allen (he of the God Voice), Niv, Kenneth Griffith, Donald Huston, Macnee, Michael Medwin, Terence Longdon, Trevor Howard and Roger Moore (the MR-FYEO variant). Moore gets to do the faintly Bondesque stuff, wooing the German spy woman even if that whole bit just seemed off. Indeed, the moment where he turns the knife into her feels Bondesque with him in his tux, kissing her as he turns the knife to her and Roy Budd's music going from romantic to dramatic in a heartbeat.
Credit finally to Peck who like in Guns of Navarone masquerades as a Brit (even if in Navarone, Mallory was a New Zealander).
Cast look like they had some fun and laughs. Last of the great adventurers.

Man of the West (1958; dir. Anthony Mann)

My second viewing. The first viewing didn't make an impression on me, and I was wishing Stewart had been in it. But the second viewing really hit me and I thought Gary Cooper was perfect for the film. I found the film very powerful actually. It might be my favorite Mann Western now.

Most of Mann's Westerns featured a man who has a past with capital "p". Seeing Cooper reintroduced to evil and cruelty, like when they make Julie London strip, I just found really gripping. Great cast, too. Lee J. Cobb is sadly forgotten these days.

Rosemary's Baby (1968)

Shit, that was unsettling.

Python wrote:

Rosemary's Baby (1968)

Shit, that was unsettling.

Hail Satan! Love that main theme.

Seen CARRIE yet? Love that main theme, too.

The White Tuxedo wrote:

Python wrote:

Rosemary's Baby (1968)

Shit, that was unsettling.

Hail Satan! Love that main theme.

I was actually singing that little tune to my friend as she got in her car, immediately telling me "STOP THAT!"

Quote :

Seen CARRIE yet? Love that main theme, too.

I actually held onto that for a month from Netflix because I wanted to save it for scary movie night and thought it would be great to do a double feature with RB, but after that film we felt too tired to move onto a second flick (happens when we cook stuffy food, gotta remind myself that). So I'll likely give it a watch tomorrow.

Best Buy's got it for like 4.99 on Blu-ray. I actually spotted it when I was there.

But I hope you liked ROSEMARY. I think it's a thriller worthy of Hitchcock, but with a devastating emotional quality. At least to me. Undecided if I would prefer Robert Redford for the husband.

Yeah, saw that as their horror promotion. Actually bought YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN on blu as my dad's birthday present. I mean, shit, 4.99 for a blu-ray copy? i remember the cheapest blu-ray copy four years ago was like 30 bucks. :shock:

Quote :

But I hope you liked ROSEMARY. I think it's a thriller worthy of Hitchcock, but with a devastating emotional quality. At least to me. Undecided if I would prefer Robert Redford for the husband.

I liked it a lot, a worthy blind purchase. As for Redford, I dunno. Not enough of a believable prick.

Considered picking up YOUNG FRONKINSTEEN and SPACEBALLS.

I think Redford's betrayal could be more devastating than Cassavetes'. Cassavetes looks like a MF who'd betray you.

Maybe if they wrote him differently then I could see Redford and the betrayal be more effective. It was no surprise to see Cassavetes hanging out with the geezers, although you still feel devastated for Rosemary.

Have you seen REPULSION or THE TENANT yet? I'm hoping for Criterion to do the latter as well.

Because I knew nothing about the flick as I watched it, my first assumption about the scheme was that because Roman is dying he wants to transfer himself to Rosemary's baby to live longer, GHOSTBUSTERS II style.

The White Tuxedo wrote:

Have you seen REPULSION or THE TENANT yet? I'm hoping for Criterion to do the latter as well.

Haven't seen either.

You're missing...



Catherine, and...



...Roman.

Good Night, and Good Luck (2005, dir. George Clooney)

Contains some good acting. Must be one of Armond's hate films, I'd wager (not that it meant a lot).

THE CONFORMIST. A trifle cold and mannered, Bernardo Bertolucci's 1970 drama has not aged especially well, although it's worth watching for one or two sequences of directorial virtuosity and for Vittorio Storaro's cinematography, which is exquisite throughout. Fine score by Georges Delerue.

The High and the Mighty

easy to see the influence on 'serious' disaster films like Airport but also Airplane particularly the passengers and Robert Stack's pilot. Heck of an actor but might as well be Hays there. Yes, yes Stack's in Airplane.
Aside, Wayne seems disinterested but said later he didn't think it a good performance. A joy to see Phil Harris in action likewise Trek alum' Paul Fix and the late William Campbell.
Rising just a little above all is Dimtri Tiomkin's music. It's no Guns of Navarone, but it does the job nicely.

Skyfall

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb2uSewAdIU#t=2m5s

The Private Life Of Don Juan
Doug's last movie and one of his few talkies
a comedy where he cheerfully pokes fun at his own image and life circumstances that parallell the aging lothario of the story
reflecting his own frustration with / resignation to / acceptance of ? the effects that time and chain smoking have had on his own body
a classy and amusing fairwell

I watched the first hour of SCARFACE in my continuing journey through De Palmaland. But I got bored and shut it off. I've seen this film enough times.

Ladri di biciclette (1948, dir. Vittorio De Sica)

Wonderful film. Great moralistic study of common people struggling to survive. Only sht is that I missed the ending of the film because of technical issues. Now I don't know how it all is resolved. :roll: I'll be compelled to buy the DVD, because they rarely show these films on TV (over here, at least).


The Others (2001, dir. Alejandro Amenábar)

I'd like to know how exactly this film should have been written and directed in order for it not to be pretentious and self-focused, which it is accused of. I'm always interested in seeing evidence for the prosecution.


Following (1998, dir. Christopher Nolan)

Pretty intricate plot, and quite puzzling. Long before Nolan went bloated (in terms of filmmaking). With its cheap b/w style and electronic music it unpleasantly reminded me of PI, but here a lot of the music was actually really good.


Adam Resurrected (2008, dir. Paul Schrader)

Very touchy material, and I got the impression that Schrader went overboard with his arty approach. Must admit that I've slept through a short portion near the end. First time I've seen Goldblum actually act; some elements felt ludicrous. Needs a careful re-examination.

SKYFAIL, an overgenerous 2 stars out of 4.

Argo - whilst I didn't find it quite as 'knockout' as many critics seem to, a solidly enjoyable 'true story' drama/thriller nonetheless. Good performances all around (John Goodman and Alan Arkin are great fun), and it's to Affleck's credit that some suspense is generated despite it being known how the story panned out. Also good to see him broadening his directorial palette beyond Boston-based crime stories.

Quatermass and the Pit (1967, dir. Roy Ward Baker)

Rarely well-thought-out horror film. Has a suspenseful horror story with questions about the evil that is lurking inside humanity, combined with stunning visuals. Julian Glover is in it, for the nerds who need Bond connections ;) .
Also, the end titles music is magnificent.