Last Movie you Watched?

Angel Face

Pretty decent, on first inspection.

Submarine Command (1951; dir. John Farrow)

Uneven, but decent. Holden's presense makes it watchable.

My 100th movie of the year.

Attack The Block - Joe Cornish makes a decent directorial debut, the aliens (eyeless, covered in black fur, and with glowing teeth) look nicely different, and there's some amusing moments ... but, ultimately, I'm never going to warm COMPLETELY to a film that has half-a-dozen 'hoodie' t w a t s as central characters.

Barton Fink
I quite enjoyed the journey, populated with typically quirky Cohen characters, but in the end I was lost
I mean, I understand the surface story, but what was the underlying message?
what was the point they were trying to get across?
too deep for me I'm afraid
can anyone spell it out for me?

I won't spell it out, but I'll say it's about the Hollywood studio system - and a sort of Faustian pact.

Sharky wrote:

I won't spell it out, but I'll say it's about the Hollywood studio system - and a sort of Faustian pact.

so when he's on the beach at the end, with the girl posed like in the picture, does that mean he's made it? sold his soul? left the false world and returned to the real world? lost in pergatory? lost his perspective? lost his mind? lost his purpose? lost faith in his gift?

and what was John Goodmans character symbolic of?

please, spell it out

Seve wrote:

Sharky wrote:

I won't spell it out, but I'll say it's about the Hollywood studio system - and a sort of Faustian pact.

so when he's on the beach at the end, with the girl posed like in the picture, does that mean he's made it? sold his soul? left the false world and returned to the real world? lost in pergatory? lost his perspective? lost his mind? lost his purpose? lost faith in his gift?

Some say it's an ironic commentary on art attempting to imitate reality, which mocks Fink's socialist artistic, social and politics ideals. At the same time, he could have made it, or it could be another dream. Many of those suggestions you gave above could be simultaneously valid.

Seve wrote:

[and what was John Goodmans character symbolic of?

The common man. Blue collar, salt of the earth America. The strange happenings are all paranoid projections of Fink, based on his own anxieties.

I would say the Coen's SERIOUS MAN elaborates on many of these ideas, in a less surreal and cynical way.

That's your next stop.

Watching SUBURBAN COMMANDO. Eating pizza. In my underwear.

How has it come to this?

http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/thatguywiththeglasses/nostalgia-critic/12184-suburban

Summer continues:

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Eh. It makes better sense than it's two predecessors (not like that's a hard feat), but OST still feels a bit empty. Oh, there is fun to be had, but it all has a "been there, done that" feel. In addition, I don't think Jack Sparrow is good as a main character. In the previous three, he was essentially a prominent side character to Will and Elizabeth. Now that he takes up most of the screen time, he is revealed to be a flat character. I found myself wishing for Orlando Bloom, oddly enough. The film itself is still amusing and marks everything off the swashbuckling film checklist.

Thor

Better than I thought. Aside from the constant use of Dutch angles, Thor hit the spot. Then again, you can't go wrong with Anthony Hopkins as a Viking God.

Summer-athon
1. Thor
2. Fast Five
3. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Anyone gonna get the OST OST?

Not a chance in hell.

Finally watched Hammer's Let Me In.

Not a bad film by any means, but probably the most pointless remake I've seen.

The White Tuxedo wrote:

Anyone gonna get the OST OST?

I will. It has to be better that At World's End.

I only saw the first PIRATES movie. Bored me outta my skull and bones. Won't see any more.

revisited The Poseidon Adventure with that 'follow the survivors' thing. Wasn't fully paying attention but one joy of the rewatch was the intereaction between Borgnine and that kid. As always the visual of the ship going over is impressive and once again a tip of the cap to Leslie Nielsen.

Inception (2010)
Dir. Christopher Nolan

*spoilers*

Suffice it to say, I really enjoyed it. It's a blockbuster with brains, and in that regard it works. I liked the cast, particularly Tom Hardy and Ken Watanabe. Didn't really notice the score, which probably means it's no good. I think the film as a whole is being needlessly dissected. I'm taking the simplistic outlook on the ending in saying that the spinning top, or 'totem', fell - the cut on it spinning of course leaves uncertainty but I think it's alluding back to something Marion Cotillard says earlier in the film about "creeping doubts". It's pulling the audiences' legs I suppose. That's really all I have to say until I watch it again. It's solid entertainment.

4/5

Some Like It Hot (1959; dir. Billy Wilder)

My first time seeing this all the way through. To be honest it's a bit light for my tastes. Lemmon, Curtis, and Monroe are all extraordinary, but there aren't too many moments where I thought, "That's funny." Rather I enjoyed the overall feel of the thing, even if the film becomes a bit limp as it goes along. I think this could have been a half hour shorter.

I do really admire the film. I think it's partly just my sense of humor. Humor is so subjective. I think I just prefer something darker with touches of humor. Wilder excells at that sorta thing. He's still one of my all time cinema heroes.

Gone With The Wind

Finally got around to seeing it. Bloody hell, what a brilliant, brilliant film! It's so vibrant - the cinematography is absolutely gorgeous. Vivien Leigh was just outstanding, though I think her performance in A Streetcar Named Desire is better. Costumes and sets were stunning, acting was superb - it just excels in every area.

10/10

Yep I think I obsessed over Vivian Leigh for about a week after seeing that film and I only saw it for the first time, a couple of years ago. I think I might be due for a second film.
It's a truly epic experience.

Watched the opening of NOW, VOYAGER on the telly. Rains was kicking ass, but I couldnt stop laughing at the make-under they gave to Bette Davis.

Double Indemnity (1944; dir. Billy Wilder)

To watch it is to be reminded of why I love cinema. Each viewing is as fun as the first to me. And that ending.

Billy Wilder
1. THE APARTMENT
2. DOUBLE INDEMNITY
3. SOME LIKE IT HOT
4. THE LOST WEEKEND

Not sure if SUNSET BOULEVARD will be #1 in that list. Probably. I'm due for a rewatch. And I'm gonna finally see STALAG 17. I've only seen bits some years ago. Wilder+Holden? Sounds good to me.

Not the best comic book superhero film ever. For me, that would be Richard Donner's Superman and Superman II: The Donner Cut but fine as a popcorn, summer action flick.

The Great Gatsby

I don't know what's worse. This or the fact the incoming Baz Lurhmann trainwreck will make it seem good by comparison.

You know you have a problem when the best thing your film has going for it is Lois Chiles.

The White Tuxedo wrote:

Billy Wilder
1. THE APARTMENT
2. DOUBLE INDEMNITY
3. SOME LIKE IT HOT
4. THE LOST WEEKEND

Watch THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH. It's absolutely hilarious.



Bye Bye Birdie (1963) Dir. George Sidney

The anti-WEST SIDE STORY, sure its a complete celebration of small time America in the vein of Doris Day pics et al, but its a fabulous ball of fun thats filled with famous songs I instantly recognized (even though Id never seen the film before), its full of hilarious performances (Paul Lynde is especially great), Janet Leigh is an unexpectedly good dancer, and best of all - its got Ann Margret.

Its all about Ann Margret. 8)