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Saturday Evening Movie Thread 08-08-2020 [TheJamesMadison]

Hitchcock, The Early Years

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I've gone through all of Alfred Hitchcock's filmography, and I can easily say that the man made a lot of movies over a long period of time. From the mid 20s to the late 70s, he has directing credits on fifty-three feature films that still exist. That's a lot of ground to cover, and it's far too much ground to cover in a single Saturday Evening Movie Thread. I may or may not follow this up with other Hitchcock threads, but for tonight I'm going to focus on a single period in the man's illustrious career.

Hitchcock started his career in the movies as a title designer before being promoted to director with The Pleasure Garden in 1925 (which I actually wrote about a while ago here). He was a contract director in the British film industry at Elstree Studios, and he took whatever assignment the studio handed him. He was well on his way to developing a cohesive cinematic signature by 1929 as he was directing the feature film Blackmail when sound suddenly became a big thing and threw every film industry in the world into upheaval. Eager to capture the zeitgeist, the studio mandated that the already completed Blackmail should become a silent/talkie hybrid, and it took several years and several feature films for Hitchcock to regain his assured cinematic hand.

This period fascinates me mostly because it's a wonderful microcosm of the tumult in the film industry as a whole. It's a wonderful vehicle to talk about the overall transition into sound pictures.

Cinematic Language

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When cinema became a medium in the final years 19th century, almost no one looked at the silent black and white moving images and felt like that was as far as the medium would go. They wanted both sound and color back then, but the technologies for either simply did not exist at the time. So, as inventors fiddled with how to match sound and image, the movies were born and they flourished for thirty years.

In those thirty years, the movies went from cameras on tripods capturing action on a set the size of a theater stage like in The Great Train Robbery:


To wildly inventive forms of visual language as evidenced by people such as Carl Theodore Dreyer and his film The Passion of Joan of Arc:


And Sergei Eisenstein in the new Soviet Union and his movie Battleship Potemkin:


At the same time, people like Lee de Forest were taking the sound to film problem seriously. The first and most obvious solution was trying to use phonographs to record and playback sound, but synching became impossible on playback. In addition, films often lost frames over time as projectionists clipped films for a variety of reasons, making the phonograph a complete impossibility to use for the long term. Sound needed to be captured on the film itself, and de Forest, along with men like Freeman Owens, used light to capture sound information directly onto the film in a system called variable density, which became Phonofilm and the default sound system for early film. There were problems, though.

The Jazz Singer Changes Hollywood
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Al Jolson's The Jazz Singer was not the first sound film ever made, but it was the feature film that convinced Hollywood that sound on film was a viable commercial product. It was wildly successful financially and the film industry did what it does best: it copied.

In the middle of this was a workmanlike director in the United Kingdom named Alfred Hitchcock. He was on the tail end of filming his newest feature titled Blackmail for British International Pictures, and orders came that they needed to change the movie to sound. The film was completed (and was, in fact released silently to the vast majority of theaters that did not have the ability to play back sound), but new material needed to be shot in order to become a talkie.

And that's why Blackmail becomes so interesting from a historical perspective. Not only was it the first British talkie, but it demonstrates both the near cluelessness that early talkie filmmakers approached the use of sound as well as showing how Alfred Hitchcock quickly adapting to a new technology. In the silent sequences, the camera moves freely with interesting uses of shadows and motion to tell the story visually, but for all but one of the sound sequences, everything becomes nailed down and rather dull.

The central problem was that early cameras were rather loud machines and would easily pollute the soundtrack with extra noise. Editing sound was an incredibly difficult process in those early years, so everything needed to be caught along with the image with no dubbing later. The solution ended up being putting the camera in a literal box with a glass pane separating the camera lens from the action. As one early sound man described it, the glass made great lenses mediocre. The camera couldn't move, and, on top of it, the dialogue written wasn't necessary for the story since the story was designed to work without it. The extended dialogue sequences feel meandering and pointless, all while the actual quality of the sound ended up being rather poor because of the primitive technology at play.

The people loved the gimmick though, and Blackmail was a success, convincing British International Pictures to make more talkies. But what should they do now? It's not like they had screenwriters experienced in writing dialogue. So, they did just about the worst thing they could decide to do: The went to the theater.

Theater on Film
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Theater and film share a lot of superficial characteristics. They both involve actors, dialogue, sets, costumes, and drama. However, the innate natures of both mediums are vastly different. The key is in how cinema uses the camera to focus the audience on individual things instead of letting the audience discover the entire stage of a theatrical production, and the use of editing. Plays need to be adapted to the cinematic medium in order to work, to account for the changes in how the two convey human emotions to the audience, but early talkie filmmakers either didn't understand that just yet or they simply were moving too fast to really think about it. Hitchcock got caught up in this move just like the rest, and his next picture was a filmed production of the Irish play Juno and the Paycock.

I imagine the play works better on the stage, but in film, Hitchcock's "adaptation" is flat and rather dull. There's almost nothing remotely cinematic about the experience and it represents the ultimate cash grab by a studio. They knew they needed to get sound pictures out, so they grabbed a play and filmed it. The technical limitations still applied, so the camera is static throughout most of it, only going into the occasional zoom to differentiate itself.

It wasn't until his next movies that Hitchcock began to feel more comfortable in the medium with the new rules.

Advancements
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When looking back at the transition from silent to sound, it's easy to sit here ninety years later and scoff at the dullards who imagined that sound would never take hold. But, learning more about how film worked and the technical limitations of capturing sound at the time, it becomes clear why filmmakers would be dismissive of the new technology. Everything that made film film to those who actually made films was in the camera. The ability to move, to tell things visually, to tell them well with great lenses all with a style of acting that had taken hold and allowed for actual subtly in performance was all being tossed aside so that audiences could hear characters say inane things that didn't advance the story. Films came to screeching halts with sound and the unique visual feel of the cinema got completely lost when sound equipment came on stage. The early naysayers of sound missed two things, though. The first was the simple mass appeal of hearing people talk. The other was that sound equipment was going to get better.

An interesting thing about this point in Hitchcock's career as sound technology crept forward is that he made the same movie twice at the same time. The first was for English audiences and the movie was titled Murder! while the second was for German audiences and was titled Mary. They are literally the same movie shot for shot (save some minor changes here and there) but with English versus German actors. What's important in terms of this discussion is that Hitchcock was finally able to move his camera again.

There's a scene early where a woman, who was an acquaintance of a murdered actress, tries to get some information from the owner of the small hotel where they were staying about the murder. The scene moves from a small dining nook to the kitchen and back, and it's all done in a single take. It tracks them from one room to the next and back again several times all while the characters were talking back and forth about the murdered woman and the woman accused of doing the murdering. It shows how far the technology had already come in just a couple of years. Hitchcock could move his camera again.

It's also a window into a studio technique of how to appeal to foreign markets. In the silent era, they could take film from any country and change the intertitles to match the language of the local market. It was pretty easy, but suddenly with people talking, you couldn't just send an English movie to Germany. What do you do? Well, the modern solution is subtitles or dubbing, but some studios at the time decided that it was best to send completely localized versions to those markets. The most famous example is the Spanish version of Universal's Dracula that used a different cast and crew but the same sets and filmed at night after the American cast and crew had left. Mary was just Hitchcock's contribution to that funny little practice.

However, there was still a lot of unknowns about effective dialogue. The film, in both versions, has an extended jury deliberation where the characters talk for an unnaturally long period of time about different theories of fugue states that ends up having nothing to do with the story at hand. It feels more like a way to have a dialogue scene rather than anything to advance the story. There was still work to be done. It wasn't until The Skin Game when Hitchcock even began to feel overall comfortable with the new tools at his disposal.

From Hindrance to Asset
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From 1931 through 1934, Hitchcock made five movies. The Skin Game was another adaptation of a play, though it feels far more cinematic with better performances than Juno and the Paycock. East of Shanghai is a drama about a married couple on an extended vacation who grow apart and come back together again, and it feels rather natural as a sound picture, though as drama there's not a whole lot of interesting things to the sound design. Number 17 would be a classic Hitchcock thriller if it were about thirty minutes longer, and it suffers because of the struggle to film a more action-oriented story with early sound tools. Strauss' Great Waltz is a comedy of limited amusements centered around music and allows for some interesting little jokes based on sound, but the sound design is very limited, allowing only some use of some basic tools to make them work.

It's The Man Who Knew Too Much, the movie that Hitchcock would later remake in the 50s with Doris Day and Jimmy Stewart, where Hitchcock finally feels at home in this new sound world. There's still some roughness to the sound design, especially around the opening skiing sequence, but it finally feels like Hitchcock isn't being held back by sound anymore. This was the first time since the silent version of Blackmail where it feels like Alfred Hitchcock was in full control of the technical aspects of filmmaking. It just took five years of pounding out other movies for him to regain his feet. He finally regained the cinematic language he had lost with the advent of sound. He could do chases, shootouts, even a big climax at Albert Hall centered around a specific piece of music and it all felt like a natural part of the story.

Singin' in the Rain
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Of course, you can get a similar, concentrated, and fictionalized telling of the troubles of the early sound era by simply watching the Gene Kelly movie Singin' in the Rain. It's the musical, American version of some of what Hitchcock went through in converting Blackmail into sound.

From the placement of microphones:


To the fact that the main star did not sound the way audiences expected in much the same way as Blackmail's female lead, Anny Ondra, was Czech and spoke English with a heavy accent so she was dubbed over by Joan Barry on set as Ondra lip synched her lines:




The film captures a lot of what studios had to go through to latch onto the new sound frontier.

Movies of Today

Opening in Theaters:

Nothin'. There's a virus, dontcha know.

Next in my Netflix Queue:

A Man Escaped

Movies I Saw This Fortnight:

Vertigo (Rating 4/4) Full Review "The movie actually gets better on rewatches because the characters are so well built that while Scottie is going through his end of the mystery that we already know, he's not just following breadcrumbs. He's building an ideal that carries him through the film to the end." [Personal Collection]

Topaz (Rating 1.5/4) Full Review "It's an overlong, uninvolving mess of a film. It's several stories that happen to involve some of the same characters squished together. It's a drag, but at least it looks pretty good." [Personal Collection]

North by Northwest (Rating 4/4) Full Review "It's bright and colorful and the most purely fun movie Hitchcock had made since The 39 Steps." [Personal Collection]

The Wrong Man (Rating 4/4) Full Review "The Wrong Man is a different film for Hitchcock, embracing certain aesthetics and narrative conventions that he hadn't touched before while embracing a burgeoning set of cinematic techniques originating from France and Italy (as opposed to the early German influences on his visual style). It's a great film." [Personal Collection]

Rear Window (Rating 4/4) Full Review "However, more importantly, it's a crackling great thriller with great characters, an intriguing central mystery, and some of the best sequences of pure tension that Hitchcock ever produced in one of his best movies." [Personal Collection]

Dial M for Murder (Rating 3.5/4) Full Review " It's a highly entertaining mystery that moves through its twists deftly and with charm. It's not Hitchcock's best, but, if he was as disengaged as the stories say, then it's probably his best work when he didn't care." [DailyMotion]

The Trouble with Harry (Rating 3.5/4) Full Review "While I can understand why many modern audiences wouldn't share my enthusiasm for The Trouble with Harry considering its slow pace and gentle sense of humor, I find the combination rather infectious. It's a delightful movie that straddles a combination of tones rather deftly. [Personal Collection]

Psycho (Rating 4/4) Full Review "It's Hitchcock playing with the audience, twisting the knife into them about expectations, emotional investment, and denouements. He's playing the audience like a fiddle, and it works so incredibly well. It's experimental, cruel, and wildly effective." [Personal Collection]

Contact

Email any suggestions or questions to thejamesmadison.aos at symbol gmail dot com.
Follow me on Twitter.
I've also archived all the old posts here, by request. I'll add new posts a week after they originally post at the HQ.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 07:49 PM




Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Gosh, he looks younger than I thought he would.

Posted by: Goshalot at August 08, 2020 07:51 PM (m+yM6)

2 The Trouble with Harry is an odd movie to watch in context. It's 'gentle' humor is pretty edgy if you watch a bunch of westerns and swords and sandals flicks.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at August 08, 2020 07:52 PM (A5zUN)

3 1 Gosh, he looks younger than I thought he would.

Posted by: Goshalot at August 08, 2020 07:51 PM (m+yM6)

Happens to all of us.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at August 08, 2020 07:52 PM (A5zUN)

4 Just watched I think for the first time The Great Dictator with Charlie Chaplin.

Posted by: Skip at August 08, 2020 07:53 PM (OjZpE)

5 4 Just watched I think for the first time The Great Dictator with Charlie Chaplin.
Posted by: Skip at August 08, 2020 07:53 PM (OjZpE)

=======

No, it's been watched before.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 07:53 PM (LvTSG)

6 Hey everybody! Yay movie thread! I finally made it for one!! Thanks TJM!!

Agreed Hitch was incredible. He apparently liked to work as, almost every single year from 1927 (or maybe before) to 1960, he came out with another feature.

I don't believe he ever actually took a break until after Psycho. It is a huge shame however, how he treated Tippi Hedren. Talk about obsessed, infatuated and entitled. I can't help but wonder if he was so psychologically exhausted by that time (early 1960s,) he wasn't really thinking of what he was doing.

Also, and I've shared before, but I love the story that in the 1970s when someone told Hitch his earliest feature films were lost, he responded, "good! They were lousy anyway."

Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 07:54 PM (L2ZTs)

7 *yawns*

*farts*

*quaffs cheap beer*

Posted by: sock_rat_eez, we are being gaslighted 24/365 at August 08, 2020 07:54 PM (OWgiM)

8 No, it's been watched before.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 07:53 PM (LvTSG)

Surely you can't be serious?!

Posted by: Aetius451AD at August 08, 2020 07:54 PM (A5zUN)

9 Woohoo !

Lucky #7 !


*tosses back.ice cold shot of rather excellent vodka*

Posted by: sock_rat_eez, we are being gaslighted 24/365 at August 08, 2020 07:55 PM (OWgiM)

10 Hi folks, I've completed another animation. Four minutes and change. No plot or story, just visuals.

https://tinyurl.com/y5hpelhd

Thanks in advance if you watch it, and...well, thanks in advance if you don't.

All comments and ratings are truly appreciated.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at August 08, 2020 07:57 PM (l9m7l)

11 Good vodka and cheap beer.

Guys, it just don't get any better than this.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at August 08, 2020 07:57 PM (A5zUN)

12 moviegique, if you're out there: sorry I keep missing your movie threads.

I'm still looking forward to your thoughts on Teenagers, Lies & Videotape. You can share 'em here if you want. :-)

Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 07:57 PM (L2ZTs)

13 I just saw "Birds" again. It still holds up. Hitch went for the slow buildup -- you forget it's a scary movie as it focuses on the characters. And then all the weird hits, and then hits hard.

Sidebar: One of the best costumes I saw was a guy dressed as Tippi Hedren, with a bunch of wind-up birds sewn to his suit. He tore through the party shrieking with dozens of pigeons flapping.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at August 08, 2020 07:57 PM (Dc2NZ)

14 Also TJM, agreed that Vertigo is just too good for words.

It especially works if you've been screwed over by women, and made the mistake of idealizing them, both of which I have. :-P

Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 07:58 PM (L2ZTs)

15 Earliest Hitchcock I've seen was The Lodger, and then The Man Who Knew Too Much.

A friend and I tried to watch The Secret Agent (I think that's the film with Gielgud and Lorre) but it was just too static to stay with. I don't think I've seen it all the way through.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at August 08, 2020 07:59 PM (l9m7l)

16 Sidebar: One of the best costumes I saw was a guy dressed as Tippi Hedren, with a bunch of wind-up birds sewn to his suit. He tore through the party shrieking with dozens of pigeons flapping.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes

What ?? No pigeon shit ?

There goes the authenticity out the window !

Posted by: JT at August 08, 2020 07:59 PM (arJlL)

17 Nine when I first saw TTWH, couldn't stop the belly laughs.

Posted by: Braenyard at August 08, 2020 07:59 PM (m+yM6)

18 Okay back to "The King", with Timothee Chalamet as King Hal and Joel Edgerton as Falstaff. It's on Netflix. Very good.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at August 08, 2020 07:59 PM (Dc2NZ)

19 I wonder if it's worth wondering what someone like Christopher Nolan could do, with the story of Vertigo.

It could be great, so long as it isn't SJW-ed to death.

Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 07:59 PM (L2ZTs)

20 Beckoning, I believe The Lodger is/was Hitch's first real hit. I still want/need to watch it.

Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 08:00 PM (L2ZTs)

21 I love The Wrong Man.

Posted by: Alana at August 08, 2020 08:00 PM (7iVzU)

22 Rear Window is out-effing-standing !

Deserves to be ranked with his best work.

Let us NEVER FORGET "Memory of the Camps" !



*Fieldnotes Vodka, if anyone wondered; Wisconsin micro - distillery, or something ... on sale at the local, unexpectedly excellent ! *

Posted by: sock_rat_eez, we are being gaslighted 24/365 at August 08, 2020 08:00 PM (OWgiM)

23 15 A friend and I tried to watch The Secret Agent (I think that's the film with Gielgud and Lorre) but it was just too static to stay with. I don't think I've seen it all the way through.
Posted by: BeckoningChasm at August 08, 2020 07:59 PM (l9m7l)

========

Yeah, it's a weird little movie that doesn't work very well. I think the central problem is the female lead. She serves little to no purpose in the film, and there's a big problem with tone on top of it where it can't decide if it's a fun spy adventure or a contemplative one about the morals of espionage.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 08:00 PM (LvTSG)

24 I really enjoy North by Northwest, it's about my favorite Hitchcock. Even the opening credits are fun to listen to and fun to watch, and it keeps a fast pace that never lets up throughout. An overlooked character is Cary Grant's mother, who is quite hilarious in every scene she's in, I always wish she would have had an even bigger part.

Posted by: Tom Servo at August 08, 2020 08:00 PM (V2Yro)

25 Also love Strangers on a Train.

Posted by: Alana at August 08, 2020 08:01 PM (7iVzU)

26 Another fascinating Hitch flick: Frenzy.

It's Hitch with ALL his inhibitions gone. His only R-rated film.

Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 08:01 PM (L2ZTs)

27 All Hail Eris, Have you watched 'The Hollow Crown"?

Posted by: Ben Had at August 08, 2020 08:02 PM (UWekm)

28 26 Another fascinating Hitch flick: Frenzy.

It's Hitch with ALL his inhibitions gone. His only R-rated film.
Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 08:01 PM (L2ZTs)

========

It almost feels like an early Brian de Palma movie.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 08:02 PM (LvTSG)

29 *Fieldnotes Vodka, if anyone wondered; Wisconsin micro - distillery, or something ... on sale at the local, unexpectedly excellent ! *
Posted by: sock_rat_eez, we are being gaslighted 24/365 at August 08, 2020 08:00 PM (OWgiM)

I switched to rum after buying a bottle of good rum when I got a raise and sent to a hell site.

The first bottle was sublime. Nursed it for two or three months. Then bought a second bottle. Second, not so good.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at August 08, 2020 08:02 PM (A5zUN)

30 TJM, that would make sense given DePalma supposedly has always been obsessed with Hitch and his style of filmmaking.

Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 08:02 PM (L2ZTs)

31 Just sat down to watch The Big Hit, with Mark Walberg and Lou Diamond Phillips.

Hilarious movie. Walberg is hit man with the the heart of gold, and LDP is such an asshole I can't wait for the final fight.

And of course Elliot Gould makes a funny appearance and Christina Applegate is stunning.

Great, underappreciated gem.

Posted by: Sharkman at August 08, 2020 08:03 PM (1YlHz)

32 , if you're out there: sorry I keep missing your movie threads.

I'm still looking forward to your thoughts on Teenagers, Lies & Videotape. You can share 'em here if you want. :-)
Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 07:57 PM (L2ZTs)


Hey Steve, I know it's none of my bidness, but moviegique in one of his threads mentioned finishing reading something of yours ? you may want to check with him...this is TJM's joint, so maybe a week or so ago ??

Posted by: runner at August 08, 2020 08:03 PM (zr5Kq)

33 runner, thanks for the heads up! I'll take a look.

Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 08:04 PM (L2ZTs)

34 27 All Hail Eris, Have you watched 'The Hollow Crown"?
Posted by: Ben Had at August 08, 2020 08:02 PM (UWekm)

Someone should produce the life story of Joe Biden and call it "The Hollow Head".

Posted by: Tom Servo at August 08, 2020 08:04 PM (V2Yro)

35 Tonight's beer is Jolly Pumpkin's Calabaza Blanca farmhouse witbier. Very sour and refreshing.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at August 08, 2020 08:04 PM (Dc2NZ)

36 Rifftrax just did "Lycan Colony;" a real challenge riffing a film so bad it warranted a spotlight episode of "Best of the Worst."

Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at August 08, 2020 08:05 PM (OeBYn)

37 "Birds" put me to sleep.

Almost as bad as "Frogs"....a real stinker which put me to sleep and made me sweat, as it was supposed to take place in hot, steamy Floriduh, while I nodded off.

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at August 08, 2020 08:05 PM (Z+IKu)

38 Tonight's beer is Jolly Pumpkin's Calabaza Blanca farmhouse witbier. Very sour and refreshing.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes

!

Posted by: JT at August 08, 2020 08:06 PM (arJlL)

39 I really enjoy North by Northwest, it's about my favorite Hitchcock. Even the opening credits are fun to listen to and fun to watch, and it keeps a fast pace that never lets up throughout. An overlooked character is Cary Grant's mother, who is quite hilarious in every scene she's in, I always wish she would have had an even bigger part.
Posted by: Tom Servo at August 08, 2020 08:00 PM (V2Yro)


Years ago we saw North By Northwest on the big screen at a restored Art Deco theater. It was fantastic. There's nothing like watching a much larger than life movie.

Posted by: DR.WTF at August 08, 2020 08:06 PM (AiZBA)

40 Well shoot, last week's movie thread is already gone. I'll email moviegique. Thanks again runner.

Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 08:06 PM (L2ZTs)

41 @27... "The Hollow Crown"'s Falstaff is great. Orson Welles is the standard, but whoever played Falstaff pulled it off nicely.

Posted by: occam's brassiere at August 08, 2020 08:06 PM (ja/kn)

42 Polanski was also obsessed with Hitchcock. His early films are excellent,

Posted by: Cosmic Charlie at August 08, 2020 08:06 PM (uhGSf)

43 sure thing, qdpsteve.

Posted by: runner at August 08, 2020 08:06 PM (zr5Kq)

44 27 All Hail Eris, Have you watched 'The Hollow Crown"?
Posted by: Ben Had at August 08, 2020 08:02 PM (UWekm)
---

No, but if it's this one, EVERYBODY is in it:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2262456/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at August 08, 2020 08:07 PM (Dc2NZ)

45 "11 Good vodka and cheap beer.

Guys, it just don't get any better than this.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at August 08, 2020 07:57 PM (A5zUN) "



I can personally testify to this.

Posted by: sock_rat_eez, we are being gaslighted 24/365 at August 08, 2020 08:08 PM (OWgiM)

46 36 Rifftrax just did "Lycan Colony;" a real challenge riffing a film so bad it warranted a spotlight episode of "Best of the Worst."
Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at August 08, 2020 08:05 PM (OeBYn)

someone here told me to watch Buffalo Rider on Rifftrax. Oy vey, was that awful! It's about a man who Rides a Buffalo and dispenses Justice throughout the Old West, well except for the 15 minutes in the middle when it turns into a story about a raccoon on a river for no reason at all.

Posted by: Tom Servo at August 08, 2020 08:09 PM (V2Yro)

47 No, but if it's this one, EVERYBODY is in it:

I'm not in it.

Posted by: JT at August 08, 2020 08:09 PM (arJlL)

48 All Hail Eris, Have you watched 'The Hollow Crown"?
Posted by: Ben Had at August 08, 2020 08:02 PM (UWekm)
---

No, but if it's this one, EVERYBODY is in it:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2262456/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at August 08, 2020 08:07 PM (Dc2NZ)


That's the series with Tom Hiddleston. It is very good.

Posted by: DR.WTF at August 08, 2020 08:09 PM (AiZBA)

49 "Notorious" is my favorite Hitchcock. Cary Grant tracking Nazis hiding in Rio, rescuing Ingrid Bergman. Great stuff.

Posted by: occam's brassiere at August 08, 2020 08:09 PM (ja/kn)

50 B. Chasm, nice work !

Smooth, no obvious glitches, liked the asteroid belt around 3:20, the landing & port closing was nice too.

Good stuff, keep going, looking forward to moar !

Posted by: sock_rat_eez, we are being gaslighted 24/365 at August 08, 2020 08:10 PM (OWgiM)

51 Robert Pattinson is great as the creepy Dauphin. "Please! Please, speak English. I enjoy to speak English. It is simple and ugly."

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at August 08, 2020 08:11 PM (Dc2NZ)

52 45 "11 Good vodka and cheap beer.

Guys, it just don't get any better than this.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at August 08, 2020 07:57 PM (A5zUN) "

Personally I prefer "Good vodka and good but cheap beer!"

Posted by: Commissar Hrothgar -Your Rulers Have, and Deserve, Different Rules! - at August 08, 2020 08:11 PM (eTZoJ)

53 The Birds as a kid scared the crap out of me, I thought for sure every bird was out to kill me for a long time.

Posted by: Skip at August 08, 2020 08:11 PM (OjZpE)

54 I guess I'm not first.

Posted by: Guilded Age II at August 08, 2020 08:11 PM (BRkq2)

55 53 The Birds as a kid scared the crap out of me, I thought for sure every bird was out to kill me for a long time.
Posted by: Skip at August 08, 2020 08:11 PM (OjZpE)

=========

And then you watched Psycho and refused to shower, which attracted the birds to you even more.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 08:11 PM (LvTSG)

56 not a movie,but I wanna give a thumbs up to the tv series Versailles on Netflix
too much nekkidness but otherwise engrossing

Posted by: vmom 2020 grammar nazi and write supremacist at August 08, 2020 08:11 PM (J8nVw)

57 40 Well shoot, last week's movie thread is already gone. I'll email moviegique. Thanks again runner.
Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 08:06 PM (L2ZTs)

qpdsteve, there are archives you know.

Look towards the bottom of this list for the link:

http://ace.mu.nu/archives/2020_08.php

Posted by: Tom Servo at August 08, 2020 08:12 PM (V2Yro)

58 I'm not in it.
Posted by: JT at August 08, 2020 08:09 PM (arJlL)
---

Starring JT as the bawdy inkeeper.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at August 08, 2020 08:12 PM (Dc2NZ)

59 Tom, thanks!!

Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 08:13 PM (L2ZTs)

60 I got to see The Trouble With Harry on the big screen once in a repertoire theater. Really enjoyed it.

I almost asked you about it the other day.

Posted by: Guilded Age II at August 08, 2020 08:14 PM (BRkq2)

61 I'm not in it.
Posted by: JT at August 08, 2020 08:09 PM (arJlL)
---

Starring JT as the bawdy inkeeper.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes

Lol

Well, okay then.

Posted by: JT at August 08, 2020 08:15 PM (arJlL)

62 o - tay, bad decision i know, but a nother shot & cheap beer ...

Posted by: sock_rat_eez, we are being gaslighted 24/365 at August 08, 2020 08:15 PM (OWgiM)

63 not a movie,but I wanna give a thumbs up to the tv series Versailles on Netflix
too much nekkidness but otherwise engrossing
Posted by: vmom 2020 grammar nazi and write supremacist

Starring the fat guy on the ottaman ?

Posted by: JT at August 08, 2020 08:16 PM (arJlL)

64 53 The Birds as a kid scared the crap out of me, I thought for sure every bird was out to kill me for a long time.
Posted by: Skip at August 08, 2020 08:11 PM (OjZpE)

They are skip. They are.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at August 08, 2020 08:16 PM (A5zUN)

65 @51...which one had the Welsh bits? One of the "Henrys"...didn't check the original, but I assume the sly put downs of Welsh and Welshman are all Shakespeare. The punters in London must have loved it.

Posted by: occam's brassiere at August 08, 2020 08:17 PM (ja/kn)

66 not a movie,but I wanna give a thumbs up to the tv series Versailles on Netflix
too much nekkidness but otherwise engrossing
Posted by: vmom 2020 grammar nazi and write supremacist at August 08, 2020 08:11 PM (J8nVw)

I watched it a few years back and liked it. Somewhat historically accurate, acting is good, filmed on location and in cooperation with France.

Posted by: runner at August 08, 2020 08:18 PM (zr5Kq)

67 Has anyone been watching the new Charlie Manson series on Epic, titled Helter Skelter: An American Myth?

I'd like to see it once it's available for streaming. Not sure if there's still new episodes to be released or not.

I know another Hordie (forgot whom) said it was pretty good.

Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 08:19 PM (L2ZTs)

68 I really enjoy North by Northwest, it's about my favorite Hitchcock.
Even the opening credits are fun to listen to and fun to watch, and it
keeps a fast pace that never lets up throughout. An overlooked character
is Cary Grant's mother, who is quite hilarious in every scene she's in,
I always wish she would have had an even bigger part.

Posted by: Tom Servo at August 08, 2020 08:00 PM (V2Yro)




Jessie Royce Landis. She played Grace Kelly's mother in To Catch a Thief. North by Northwest was the inspiration for The Man From UNCLE. An innocent person getting caught up in the world of espionage all around us

Posted by: TheQuietMan at August 08, 2020 08:20 PM (iBpOd)

69 "52 45 "11 Good vodka and cheap beer.

Guys, it just don't get any better than this.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at August 08, 2020 07:57 PM (A5zUN) "

Personally I prefer "Good vodka and good but cheap beer!"

Posted by: Commissar Hrothgar -Your Rulers Have, and Deserve, Different Rules! - at August 08, 2020 08:11 PM (eTZoJ) "


Hamms, The Beer Refreshing !

well I like it, anyway, consider it good, but cheap beer, particularly right out of the freezer at less-than-32-degrees-F.

in jeezley hot weather the fancier, hoppier stuff is too thick to go down easy, imho.

,y 0.02, ymmv, ianal, don't throw it !

Posted by: sock_rat_eez, we are being gaslighted 24/365 at August 08, 2020 08:20 PM (OWgiM)

70 Starring the fat guy on the ottaman ?
Posted by: JT at August 08, 2020 08:16 PM (arJlL)

LOL
The guy who was the monk in Vikings is the Sun King
Mordred from Merlin is his brother
buncha pretty ladies
intense performance from the (fictional) spy master
I thought there was a good mix of fictionalized actual history in it, good performances

Posted by: vmom 2020 grammar nazi and write supremacist at August 08, 2020 08:21 PM (J8nVw)

71 I was hoping they would continue with the series but I don' think they did. Another good one is Last Kingdom.

Posted by: runner at August 08, 2020 08:21 PM (zr5Kq)

72 Psycho is an out and out classic. And...while I appreciate this background on Mr. Hitchcock...I'm still not a fan overall. (He has his moments.)

I hated North by Northwest. Vertigo was...okay. Obviously there are more I need to see (those are the ones that stick out to me that I can rattle off from the top of my head, I'm sure there are more), but so far, he's not my favorite director. (Though reading this I can appreciate more of what he went through.)

Thanks for the Battleship Potemkin clip! I do need to get off my ass and see Eisenstein's early stuff.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at August 08, 2020 08:22 PM (ejsiI)

73 Another good one is Last Kingdom.
Posted by: runner at August 08, 2020 08:21 PM (zr5Kq)

I really liked season 1, then my mind wandered off in s2

Posted by: vmom 2020 grammar nazi and write supremacist at August 08, 2020 08:23 PM (J8nVw)

74 Ben Whishaw is an incredible actor. Can you even begin to imagine how good he would have been in a Hitchcock film?

Posted by: Ben Had at August 08, 2020 08:23 PM (UWekm)

75 I don't think The Last Kingdom went anywhere after season 4.

Posted by: runner at August 08, 2020 08:23 PM (zr5Kq)

76 All comments and ratings are truly appreciated.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm




I liked it.

Reminded me of my wish that when I am on my deathbed I want to be transported to near earth orbit and to have my last sight be the Milky Way in all its glory.

A wish, as I say.

Posted by: Sharkman at August 08, 2020 08:23 PM (1YlHz)

77 7 *yawns*

*farts*

*quaffs cheap beer*
Posted by: sock_rat_eez, we are being gaslighted 24/365 at August 08, 2020 07:54 PM (OWgiM)

If you have to fart, fart! You will feel much better for it.

Posted by: Mao at August 08, 2020 08:24 PM (ejsiI)

78 @67...does the Manson series credit the "Charlie was a (pick your three letter agency) asset who was operationalized to discredit hippies and/or slipped off the g'vt leash and went bananas" conspiracy theories?

Posted by: occam's brassiere at August 08, 2020 08:24 PM (ja/kn)

79 North by Northwest was the inspiration for The Man From UNCLE. An innocent person getting caught up in the world of espionage all around us
Posted by: TheQuietMan

"What's the frequency, Kenneth ?"

Posted by: JT at August 08, 2020 08:24 PM (arJlL)

80 Might have asked this before, thoughts on Boardwalk Empire ? good ??

Posted by: runner at August 08, 2020 08:25 PM (zr5Kq)

81 The Marx Brothers really benefited from sound in movies becoming a thing.

They actually started out touring as a musical trio, but things changed for them when they found themselves playing for a small town in Texas.

A donkey went berserk right outside the theater while they were performing, and the audience went outside to watch that instead. Once the donkey was calmed down, the audience came back in to watch the rest of the show.

Julian (a.k.a. Groucho) was really pissed off about the situation, and he launched into a long-winded diatribe about how dumb Texans are.

The audience loved it! You know how Texans are; they have a great sense of humor about themselves.

The show ended up being such a success, the Marx Brothers started mixing humor into their musical shows, and before long, they ended up being a comedy troupe with some music mixed in, rather than a musical trio with a few jokes thrown into their act.

And then they got into movies, and you know how that turned out. Awesomely!

Posted by: Prothonotary Warbler at August 08, 2020 08:26 PM (H3MF8)

82 72 I hated North by Northwest. Vertigo was...okay. Obviously there are more I need to see (those are the ones that stick out to me that I can rattle off from the top of my head, I'm sure there are more), but so far, he's not my favorite director. (Though reading this I can appreciate more of what he went through.)

Thanks for the Battleship Potemkin clip! I do need to get off my ass and see Eisenstein's early stuff.
Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at August 08, 2020 08:22 PM (ejsiI)

=========

I really wouldn't go through all 53, for sure. I did it because I'm crazy.

But yeah, he lived through real changes in the movie industry and the advent of sound era was probably the most disruptive thing he had to go through himself.

Watching his first five sound films in a row was really fascinating from that perspective as the sound got steadily better one movie after another. It actually helped me understand why filmmakers of the era were so unsold on sound in those early days.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 08:26 PM (LvTSG)

83
"What's the frequency, Kenneth ?"

Posted by: JT at August 08, 2020 08:24 PM (arJlL)

Open Channel D and find out

Posted by: TheQuietMan at August 08, 2020 08:26 PM (iBpOd)

84 74 Ben Whishaw is an incredible actor. Can you even begin to imagine how good he would have been in a Hitchcock film?
Posted by: Ben Had at August 08, 2020 08:23 PM (UWekm)

He was incredible in Perfume. Such a disturbing movie.

Posted by: vmom 2020 grammar nazi and write supremacist at August 08, 2020 08:27 PM (J8nVw)

85 occam, not sure :-)

Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 08:28 PM (L2ZTs)

86 84 74 Ben Whishaw is an incredible actor. Can you even begin to imagine how good he would have been in a Hitchcock film?
Posted by: Ben Had at August 08, 2020 08:23 PM (UWekm)

He was incredible in Perfume. Such a disturbing movie.
Posted by: vmom 2020 grammar nazi and write supremacist at August 08, 2020 08:27 PM (J8nVw)

=======

I love that movie.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 08:28 PM (LvTSG)

87 Oh, wait... I called Groucho Juilan? I'm sorry; I meant Julius. That was his real name.

Posted by: Prothonotary Warbler at August 08, 2020 08:28 PM (H3MF8)

88 Dialogue only came a live in the Nick and Nora series.

Posted by: Ben Had at August 08, 2020 08:29 PM (UWekm)

89 #82: No, not crazy, just more into film than the rest of us are. (Though I can appreciate a good movie.)

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at August 08, 2020 08:29 PM (ejsiI)

90 TJM, I'd like to do the same, collect everything of Hitch that I can and watch them all, one a week. :-)

Agreed about sound. I remember how surprised I was to learn in my first film class that a lot of directors were disgusted by the idea and fought it tooth and nail.

Then there was Chaplin, who originally refused to even consider it, then took his time adopting audio. First he decided, fine, I'll add my own music soundtrack, but that's all. Then he gradually warmed up to it, until finally by The Great Dictator, he went full hog.

Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 08:31 PM (L2ZTs)

91 Thank you, sock_rat_eez and Sharkman!

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at August 08, 2020 08:31 PM (l9m7l)

92 Perfume is very great.

Posted by: Cosmic Charlie at August 08, 2020 08:31 PM (uhGSf)

93 Try as I might I just can't get into Hitchcock, that's a me problem.

I will say the funniest thing I ever saw was a ribald comedy send up of the The 39 Steps in an off Broadway Production.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at August 08, 2020 08:31 PM (7cvyf)

94 Both my sailboats were named Notorious.

Posted by: JackStraw at August 08, 2020 08:31 PM (ZLI7S)

95 94 Both my sailboats were named Notorious.
Posted by: JackStraw at August 08, 2020 08:31 PM (ZLI7S)

=========

Sweet.

Because of the Hitchcock movie or because of the Notorious B.I.G.?

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 08:32 PM (LvTSG)

96 I love that movie.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 08:28 PM (LvTSG)

I watched that around the same time I was watching Hannibal, the series.
Really suited the dark dog eater years

Posted by: vmom 2020 grammar nazi and write supremacist at August 08, 2020 08:32 PM (J8nVw)

97 94 Both my sailboats were named Notorious.
Posted by: JackStraw at August 08, 2020 08:31 PM (ZLI7S)

Duran Duran fan, huh? They were pretty damned great!

Posted by: Prothonotary Warbler at August 08, 2020 08:33 PM (H3MF8)

98 TJM, have you ever considered doing a weekly Kubrick series?

I admit for some years now, I've wanted to watch something of his every Sunday night, like a personal miniseries. I'd start with The Seafarers and work my way up to Eyes Wide Shut, then continue for a few weeks with Color Me Kubrick and some of the movies *about* Stanley, including A Life In Pictures, Boxes and Filmworker.

Thinking it would take about 20 weeks, and you could invite us all to follow along.

Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 08:33 PM (L2ZTs)

99 Rear Window is out-effing-standing !

-
One of the things I like about Rear Window is he opening shot/eposition. The camera pans the scene and we learn that our hero is a photographer whose leg was broken in an accident at a race track he was shooting, all without a word.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at August 08, 2020 08:34 PM (+y/Ru)

100 @85...steve, a guy wrote a book a few years back about "Manson the g'vt experiment gone wrong". Lots and lots of speculation, but he got under Bugliosi's skin. Said Bugliosi's theory of the case didn't track with facts. Bugliosi should have just shrugged the guy off as a wild eyed conspiracist, but he didn't and acted very, very strangely. Hmmmm....

Posted by: occam's brassiere at August 08, 2020 08:34 PM (ja/kn)

101 O what a pleasure, BC !

I know just how much it can help to get feedback.

Posted by: sock_rat_eez, we are being gaslighted 24/365 at August 08, 2020 08:34 PM (OWgiM)

102 North by Northwest was my favorite film for many years, but I think I like Rear Window better now.

Posted by: Guilded Age II at August 08, 2020 08:35 PM (BRkq2)

103 @99...one of the things I like about "Rear Window" is Grace Kelly.

Posted by: occam's brassiere at August 08, 2020 08:35 PM (ja/kn)

104 >>Sweet.

>>Because of the Hitchcock movie or because of the Notorious B.I.G.?

Deal I made with my ex. I got the boats, she got to name them. She's a Hitchcock fan.

Art of the deal, baby.

Posted by: JackStraw at August 08, 2020 08:35 PM (ZLI7S)

105

How come we never discuss naked men movies about gladiators set in Turkish prisons?

Posted by: Peter Buttplug at August 08, 2020 08:36 PM (qul7b)

106 -
-
.does the Manson series credit the "Charlie was a
(pick your three letter agency) asset who was operationalized to
discredit hippies and/or slipped off the g'vt leash and went bananas"
conspiracy theories?

Posted by: occam's brassiere at August 08, 2020 08:24
--
----

Real question is: what do we do about the gubmint assets that are fully functional and are daily broadcast nationwide? (unless you have a better explanation for Brian Stelter/Jake Tapper/Anderson Cooper)

Posted by: irright at August 08, 2020 08:36 PM (RVcmP)

107 98 TJM, have you ever considered doing a weekly Kubrick series?

I admit for some years now, I've wanted to watch something of his every Sunday night, like a personal miniseries. I'd start with The Seafarers and work my way up to Eyes Wide Shut, then continue for a few weeks with Color Me Kubrick and some of the movies *about* Stanley, including A Life In Pictures, Boxes and Filmworker.

Thinking it would take about 20 weeks, and you could invite us all to follow along.
Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 08:33 PM (L2ZTs)

===========

I'm trying to get my Youtube series started. I've mostly filmed one episode, but Dolley wants to be involved and she's having trouble getting up to actually be involved.

I've done the Kubrick movies in print, so I may end up revisiting his work in the future. I've never gone so far back as The Seafarers, though. His documentary stuff is easily found on Youtube, but I just never really bothered. In terms of the directors I've gone through, I've only watched one short documentary and that was Billy Wilder's documentary about the Holocaust.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 08:36 PM (LvTSG)

108 The Trouble With Harry is pure fun. Plus it has a dewy Shirley MacLaine at her ditzy best.

Posted by: Steve in Greensboro at August 08, 2020 08:36 PM (Su9Le)

109 Also, a good example of a filmmaker who IMHO did *not* do a good job keeping up with the times, is Chaplin.

All the critics (today at least) love his 1910s through 1940 stuff, but then there appears to be a sharp drop-off in quality.

As I understand it, Limelight is a pretty tough slog and extremely sentimental, as if Chaplin wants to force the audience to feel bad for his fall from grace.

And his *final* movie, A Countess From Hong Kong, was completely savaged by critics, who couldn't believe a then-living legend could produce something so out-of-touch, behind the times and un-entertaining.

Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 08:37 PM (L2ZTs)

110 "Notorious" is my favorite Hitchcock. Cary Grant tracking Nazis hiding in Rio, rescuing Ingrid Bergman. Great stuff.
Posted by: occam's brassiere at August 08, 2020 08:09 PM (ja/kn)


Agreed. I recall hearing someone talk about how the steps at the end... they had to descend many more than were actually there, just because.

It's one of the most terrifying scenes I've ever seen in a movie.

Top three Hitchcock for me: Notorious, Rebecca, and The 39 Steps.

Posted by: BurtTC at August 08, 2020 08:37 PM (hku12)

111 The Birds seems like the ur-text of the modern zombie movie.

Posted by: ogmrobvious at August 08, 2020 08:37 PM (odqVH)

112 99 Rear Window is out-effing-standing !

-
One of the things I like about Rear Window is he opening shot/eposition. The camera pans the scene and we learn that our hero is a photographer whose leg was broken in an accident at a race track he was shooting, all without a word.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at August 08, 2020 08:34 PM (+y/Ru)

========

And the complicated relationship with Grace Kelly. We see her inverted negative and then the picture on the magazine cover, implying that Stewart isn't as enamored with the beautiful woman as you may suspect.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 08:37 PM (LvTSG)

113 "The Birds" was originally going to be called "The Snakes".

Posted by: klaftern at August 08, 2020 08:38 PM (RuIsu)

114 Deal I made with my ex. I got the boats, she got to name them. She's a Hitchcock fan.

Art of the deal, baby.
Posted by: JackStraw at August 08, 2020 08:35 PM (ZLI7S)


You could have done a lot worse with the boat name. Notorious is not bad at all.

Posted by: DR.WTF at August 08, 2020 08:38 PM (AiZBA)

115 98 TJM, have you ever considered doing a weekly Kubrick series?

I admit for some years now, I've wanted to watch something of his every Sunday night, like a personal miniseries. I'd start with The Seafarers and work my way up to Eyes Wide Shut, then continue for a few weeks with Color Me Kubrick and some of the movies *about* Stanley, including A Life In Pictures, Boxes and Filmworker.

Thinking it would take about 20 weeks, and you could invite us all to follow along.
Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 08:33 PM (L2ZTs)

There's a guy whose work I need to check out more of.

Full Metal Jacket is one of my favorite movies, ever. (Look, I went through basic, and saw it the first time right afterward; the basic training portion to me is one of those times when I watch a movie and say "It CAN'T get better!!!" and it DOES!!! Sure, the rest of it is an ordinary war flick, but damn, it does it for me.) A film buff I ran into years later tossed me his copy of A Clockwork Orange. Ehhh...it's okay. I liked some aspects and could do without others (and I read the Burgess novel). FINALLY, I saw Dr. Strangelove some time after that, and rather enjoyed that one (the dark humor is my thing; this also reflects in my obsession with movies like, say, Pulp Fiction). So I've been needing to explore more of what Mr. Kubrick has done over the years.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at August 08, 2020 08:38 PM (ejsiI)

116 113 "The Birds" was originally going to be called "The Snakes".
Posted by: klaftern at August 08, 2020 08:38 PM (RuIsu)

==========

It's a twist!

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 08:38 PM (LvTSG)

117 For a virus that doesn't exist and is a nothingburger according to the consensus of the commenters here, each of my cousins best friend's dads died this week, my Bible Study for men teacher and a former priest... his oldest grand child has it bad affecting the brain and nervous system, and I just talked to my best friend for our bi monthly conversation that his wife had it and is recovering and his parents have it with his dad being on put on Oxygen. His parents are like parents to me.

I'm sick and fucking tired along with others who aren't shut ins with actual social circles and family that the virus is a nothing burger and not real.

Sort yourselves out normie cons. The damage y'all have done is just as bad as Marxists. Stop acting like ghouls and have empathy and compassion for your fellow countrymen. People who have been in hot zones since late February/early March along with people paying attention since early January are sick of the gaslighting too.

Posted by: Maskhole at August 08, 2020 08:39 PM (2ab8V)

118 TJM, sounds good thanks.

If you can, take a look at The Seafarers. Granted it's not super-entertaining but it is a fascinating early 1950s time capsule at least (1953 cheesecake calendars on the wall!), and there are actually a few shots that foreshadow things Stanley would attempt again in the future on his features. Plus it's interesting to see how well he could work "on-hire," even though he hated making flicks that way.

Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 08:39 PM (L2ZTs)

119 Dial M For Murder is quite enjoyable in the original 3D. I'm glad my 3D plasma is still working.

Posted by: Rusty Nail at August 08, 2020 08:39 PM (UuEZR)

120 115 Full Metal Jacket is one of my favorite movies, ever. (Look, I went through basic, and saw it the first time right afterward; the basic training portion to me is one of those times when I watch a movie and say "It CAN'T get better!!!" and it DOES!!! Sure, the rest of it is an ordinary war flick, but damn, it does it for me.) A film buff I ran into years later tossed me his copy of A Clockwork Orange. Ehhh...it's okay. I liked some aspects and could do without others (and I read the Burgess novel). FINALLY, I saw Dr. Strangelove some time after that, and rather enjoyed that one (the dark humor is my thing; this also reflects in my obsession with movies like, say, Pulp Fiction). So I've been needing to explore more of what Mr. Kubrick has done over the years.
Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at August 08, 2020 08:38 PM (ejsiI)

=========

Kubrick's filmography is a grand 13 movies. One a day takes less than two weeks.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 08:39 PM (LvTSG)

121 >>You could have done a lot worse with the boat name. Notorious is not bad at all.

I was actually pretty happy. She could have named them Nancy and I still would have made the deal but I scored.

Posted by: JackStraw at August 08, 2020 08:41 PM (ZLI7S)

122 Beckoning Chasm, Wonderful animation! Beautiful colors and movement.

Posted by: Mrs. JTB at August 08, 2020 08:41 PM (7EjX1)

123 Also, a good example of a filmmaker who IMHO did *not* do a good job keeping up with the times, is Chaplin.

All the critics (today at least) love his 1910s through 1940 stuff, but then there appears to be a sharp drop-off in quality.

As I understand it, Limelight is a pretty tough slog and extremely sentimental, as if Chaplin wants to force the audience to feel bad for his fall from grace.

And his *final* movie, A Countess From Hong Kong, was completely savaged by critics, who couldn't believe a then-living legend could produce something so out-of-touch, behind the times and un-entertaining.
Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 08:37 PM (L2ZTs)


You can sorta say the same thing for Preston Sturges. He made, I believe, 7 films that are considered some of the greatest comedies of all time. At the time he was making them, he was among the highest paid creators in Hollywood.

Then for some reason, he just basically lost it. There are later films he wrote, but didn't direct. They're just ok, and films he directed but didn't write, and they kinda stink.

I've heard the story. Apparently there's an explanation, but I think the best explanation is yeah, it's tough staying on top.

Posted by: BurtTC at August 08, 2020 08:41 PM (hku12)

124 115, Lolita is great.

Posted by: Cosmic Charlie at August 08, 2020 08:42 PM (uhGSf)

125 Top three Hitchcock for me: Notorious, Rebecca, and The 39 Steps.
Posted by: BurtTC at August 08, 2020 08:37 PM (hku12)

He made Rebecca?

That was coma-inducing.

Maybe the point of my summer school sentence thirty-odd years ago was to convince me Hitchcock sucked. SOMEONE was picking the films. (This was also where I saw North by Northwest.) At least my English teacher was hot. That's one concession.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at August 08, 2020 08:42 PM (ejsiI)

126 I dunno, but to try to historify Charlie as an MK-ULTRA experiment gone wrong seems to strain even my credulity ... and I knew neuroscientists who worked on that project, fwiw.

Posted by: sock_rat_eez, we are being gaslighted 24/365 at August 08, 2020 08:42 PM (OWgiM)

127 Catch33, sounds good, do so! I just can't get enough of Stanley these days.

I do admit after all these years, that even though I love it, A Clockwork Orange is Stanley with all his brakes, inhibitions and even most of his common sense, not just turned off but smashed into oblivion.

When I FINALLY got my sister and bro-in-law to watch it, they couldn't believe a filmmaker could go so over-the-top, which in fairness SK does the whole way through that thing. I think if he could have, even Tarantino would have been telling Stanley, "geez, dial it back a little dude!" ;-)

Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 08:42 PM (L2ZTs)

128 123 I've heard the story. Apparently there's an explanation, but I think the best explanation is yeah, it's tough staying on top.
Posted by: BurtTC at August 08, 2020 08:41 PM (hku12)

===========

Hitchcock is a great example of being able to stay on top for so long. From The 39 Steps to Psycho was about 25 years, and his great movies, even just good movies, have a shocking amount of variety.

He was constantly experimenting. People think his experimentation was about Rope (single shot) and maybe Psycho (cheap production), but he was constantly trying new things which kept him from ever getting stale.

I think the only time he begins to feel stale is after Psycho when he got insanely rich.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 08:44 PM (LvTSG)

129 Anybody have a US playable DVD of "Murder By Numbers" with Joan Plowright?

Posted by: Ben Had at August 08, 2020 08:44 PM (UWekm)

130 @112...That's right. One of "Rear Window"'s real strengths is Stewart's character's obvious ambivalence toward Kelly's. "He's banging her, and he gives a shit what's going on across the way? What's with this weirdo? What the hell is really going in here?"

Posted by: occam's brassiere at August 08, 2020 08:44 PM (ja/kn)

131 All comments and ratings are truly appreciated.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at August 08, 2020 07:57 PM (l9m7l)
-----------------------


Very nice. Liked it much.
except
the bezel
Without the bezel it's A+

Posted by: Braenyard at August 08, 2020 08:44 PM (m+yM6)

132 117 For a virus that doesn't exist and is a nothingburger according to the consensus of the commenters here, each of my cousins best friend's dads died this week, my Bible Study for men teacher and a former priest... his oldest grand child has it bad affecting the brain and nervous system, and I just talked to my best friend for our bi monthly conversation that his wife had it and is recovering and his parents have it with his dad being on put on Oxygen. His parents are like parents to me.

I'm sick and fucking tired along with others who aren't shut ins with actual social circles and family that the virus is a nothing burger and not real.

Sort yourselves out normie cons. The damage y'all have done is just as bad as Marxists. Stop acting like ghouls and have empathy and compassion for your fellow countrymen. People who have been in hot zones since late February/early March along with people paying attention since early January are sick of the gaslighting too.

Posted by: Maskhole at August 08, 2020 08:39 PM (2ab8V)

Go knock yourself out.

When I walk outside and it looks like a scene from Stephen King's The Stand, call me.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at August 08, 2020 08:45 PM (ejsiI)

133 116 113 "The Birds" was originally going to be called "The Snakes".
Posted by: klaftern at August 08, 2020 08:38 PM (RuIsu)

==========

It's a twist!
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 08:38 PM (LvTSG)

===
I don't think audiences could bear a film full of snake attacks.

Posted by: Guilded Age II at August 08, 2020 08:45 PM (BRkq2)

134 I was just going to say I liked Rear Window, NbyNW might be a bit better.

Posted by: Skip at August 08, 2020 08:45 PM (OjZpE)

135 Full Metal Jacket is one of my favorite movies, ever. (Look, I went through basic, and saw it the first time right afterward; the basic training portion to me is one of those times when I watch a movie and say "It CAN'T get better!!!" and it DOES!!! Sure, the rest of it is an ordinary war flick, but damn, it does it for me.) ...
Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at August 08, 2020 08:38 PM (ejsiI)


The reason I hate that film is what he did at the end of training. With Private Pyle and F. Lee Ermy.

It was unrealistic and feels tacked on, for some sort of dramatic effect that doesn't belong. And then yeah, the rest of the film is just there as filler.

Posted by: BurtTC at August 08, 2020 08:45 PM (hku12)

136 Rebecca coma-inducing? I still find it riveting, from the very first line.

Now Topaz... I fell asleep three times before I finally made it to the end of that one.

Posted by: Rusty Nail at August 08, 2020 08:46 PM (UuEZR)

137 Real question is: what do we do about the gubmint assets that are fully functional and are daily broadcast nationwide? (unless you have a better explanation for Brian Stelter/Jake Tapper/Anderson Cooper)
Posted by: irright at August 08, 2020 08:36 PM (RVcmP)

--------

Give 'em the needle?

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at August 08, 2020 08:46 PM (JZkes)

138 134 I was just going to say I liked Rear Window, NbyNW might be a bit better.
Posted by: Skip at August 08, 2020 08:45 PM (OjZpE)

=========

When you get to the top of Hitchcock's filmography, you're talking about very small differences in quality that amount to more about subjective feeling than anything else.

That's one of the joys of a filmmaker like him who worked for so long and was so consistently (not always, but consistently) successful.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 08:46 PM (LvTSG)

139 sock_rat_eez, in fairness, if Manson was a CIA prototype gone horribly wrong, later people like Stephen Paddock start to make a lot more sense.

Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 08:47 PM (L2ZTs)

140 For those wading into Kubrick, watch everything except "Barry Lyndon". You'll be satisfied Kubrick is easily the best, most interesting film maker in history. Then watch "Barry Lyndon". Twice. You'll then wonder if he might not have been the most talented artist in human history.

Posted by: occam's brassiere at August 08, 2020 08:47 PM (ja/kn)

141 -
-
Maskhole at August 08, 2020 08:39 PM (2ab8V)
- -

I learned people die when I was 8. Welcome to adulthood.

Posted by: irright at August 08, 2020 08:48 PM (RVcmP)

142 It could be great, so long as it isn't SJW-ed to death.
Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 07:59 PM (L2ZTs)
===

So, that's a No.

Posted by: Guilded Age II at August 08, 2020 08:48 PM (BRkq2)

143 When I FINALLY got my sister and bro-in-law to watch it, they couldn't believe a filmmaker could go so over-the-top, which in fairness SK does the whole way through that thing. I think if he could have, even Tarantino would have been telling Stanley, "geez, dial it back a little dude!" ;-)
Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 08:42 PM (L2ZTs)

Maybe that's what got me. I had the novel to fall back to for comparison and I thought that in some places it was WAY over the top. But I still like what Kubrick does in his movies. The fact that I found out (here) that he started in still photography made me reconsider his movies from that perspective.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at August 08, 2020 08:48 PM (ejsiI)

144 Posted by: Maskhole at August 08, 2020 08:39 PM (2ab8V)

That's devastating. Prayers for your family and you.

Posted by: vmom 2020 grammar nazi and write supremacist at August 08, 2020 08:49 PM (J8nVw)

145 I love these cinema analysis/movie reviews. They definitely are in the top 5 things on AoS. Thank you.

Posted by: LASue at August 08, 2020 08:49 PM (Ed8Zd)

146 132 117 For a virus that doesn't exist and is a nothingburger according to the consensus of the commenters here, each of my cousins best friend's dads died this week, my Bible Study for men teacher and a former priest... his oldest grand child has it bad affecting the brain and nervous system, and I just talked to my best friend for our bi monthly conversation that his wife had it and is recovering and his parents have it with his dad being on put on Oxygen. His parents are like parents to me.

I'm sick and fucking tired along with others who aren't shut ins with actual social circles and family that the virus is a nothing burger and not real.

Sort yourselves out normie cons. The damage y'all have done is just as bad as Marxists. Stop acting like ghouls and have empathy and compassion for your fellow countrymen. People who have been in hot zones since late February/early March along with people paying attention since early January are sick of the gaslighting too.

Posted by: Maskhole at August 08, 2020 08:39 PM (2ab8V)

Go knock yourself out.

When I walk outside and it looks like a scene from Stephen King's The Stand, call me.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at August 08, 2020 08:45 PM (ejsiI)

Thanks for proving my point. Don't you have a Golden Calf to make offerings to ot is that tomorrow?
Also neck yourself traitor. You don't give a shit about your fellow countrymen. Maybe people like you should move back your host country.

Posted by: Maskhole at August 08, 2020 08:49 PM (2ab8V)

147 TJM, exactly.

Unfortunately the stuff Hitch did in the 1960s between The Birds and Frenzy seem, and by all accounts are, underwhelming. In particular, Marnie is said to be very off-putting and strange, even by the standards of "stalker" flicks of the time. It probably didn't help that by that time, Hitch and Tippi Hedren were completely refusing to speak to each other.

Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 08:49 PM (L2ZTs)

148 TJM, can you name the movie that has the best dialogue?

Posted by: Ben Had at August 08, 2020 08:49 PM (UWekm)

149 140 For those wading into Kubrick, watch everything except "Barry Lyndon". You'll be satisfied Kubrick is easily the best, most interesting film maker in history. Then watch "Barry Lyndon". Twice. You'll then wonder if he might not have been the most talented artist in human history.
Posted by: occam's brassiere at August 08, 2020 08:47 PM (ja/kn)

That's the one I am most curious about. So, save Barry Lyndon for last?

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at August 08, 2020 08:50 PM (ejsiI)

150 Shockingly, HBO is showing "Richard Jewell". I'll try to catch it tonight or tomorrow.

Posted by: Hands at August 08, 2020 08:50 PM (786Ro)

151 I don't think audiences could bear a film full of snake attacks.
Posted by: Guilded Age II at August 08, 2020 08:45 PM (BRkq2)


Hey, motherf**ker!

Posted by: Samuel L. Jackson at August 08, 2020 08:51 PM (AiZBA)

152 My problem with Barry Lyndon is that the central character is just so unlikable. Yes, that CAN be entertaining (There Will Be Blood), but investing 3 hours on an unlikable opportunist who is never that interesting himself is a tough slog.

Posted by: Rusty Nail at August 08, 2020 08:51 PM (UuEZR)

153 Posted by: Maskhole at August 08, 2020 08:49 PM (2ab8V)

=====

Take it elsewhere.

Only warning.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 08:51 PM (LvTSG)

154 "132 117 For a virus that doesn't exist and is a nothingburger according to the consensus of the commenters here, each of my cousins best friend's dads died this week, my Bible Study for men teacher and a former priest... his oldest grand child has it bad affecting the brain and nervous system, and I just talked to my best friend for our bi monthly conversation that his wife had it and is recovering and his parents have it with his dad being on put on Oxygen. His parents are like parents to me.

I'm sick and fucking tired along with others who aren't shut ins with actual social circles and family that the virus is a nothing burger and not real.

Sort yourselves out normie cons. The damage y'all have done is just as bad as Marxists. Stop acting like ghouls and have empathy and compassion for your fellow countrymen. People who have been in hot zones since late February/early March along with people paying attention since early January are sick of the gaslighting too.

Posted by: Maskhole at August 08, 2020 08:39 PM (2ab8V)

Go knock yourself out.

When I walk outside and it looks like a scene from Stephen King's The Stand, call me.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at August 08, 2020 08:45 PM (ejsiI) "




well, out among the cows & corn, zip.

went to a neighbor's kid's graduation party today ... zero masks, zero "social distance", zero bullshit.

which, let it be said, was the common topic of discussion ... "fuck this bullshit" was a phrase I heard more than once, never greeted with other than "damn right !" ...

fwiw

Posted by: sock_rat_eez, we are being gaslighted 24/365 at August 08, 2020 08:51 PM (OWgiM)

155 I'm typically an asshole, but even I won't derail the movie thread.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at August 08, 2020 08:51 PM (7cvyf)

156 148 TJM, can you name the movie that has the best dialogue?
Posted by: Ben Had at August 08, 2020 08:49 PM (UWekm)

========

Nope.

His Girl Friday is good stuff, though.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 08:52 PM (LvTSG)

157 ... the man made a lot of movies over a long period of time


Piker

Posted by: Zombie Jess Franco at August 08, 2020 08:52 PM (786Ro)

158 130 @112...That's right. One of "Rear Window"'s real strengths is Stewart's character's obvious ambivalence toward Kelly's. "He's banging her, and he gives a shit what's going on across the way? What's with this weirdo? What the hell is really going in here?"
Posted by: occam's brassiere at August 08, 2020 08:44 PM (ja/kn)
===
There are Grace Kelly eye and lid movements in the film that put all over films to shame.

Posted by: Guilded Age II at August 08, 2020 08:52 PM (BRkq2)

159 ... the man made a lot of movies over a long period of time

Piker

Posted by: Zombie Jess Franco



Pikers

Posted by: Roger Corman at August 08, 2020 08:53 PM (786Ro)

160 Top three Hitchcock for me: Notorious, Rebecca, and The 39 Steps.
Posted by: BurtTC at August 08, 2020 08:37 PM (hku12)

He made Rebecca?

That was coma-inducing.

Maybe the point of my summer school sentence thirty-odd years ago was to convince me Hitchcock sucked. SOMEONE was picking the films. (This was also where I saw North by Northwest.) At least my English teacher was hot. That's one concession.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at August 08, 2020 08:42 PM (ejsiI)


Hmmm, come-inducing...

Are you sure you're thinking of the right film? Such a slow burn, with the main question around the film, solved at about the two-thirds mark, and the audience is jolted from questioning one major matter to the other, almost like we're tipped over.

I can imagine Hitchcock sitting there while he's making it, saying to himself "watch what I do here," and then he turns everything upside down.

Posted by: BurtTC at August 08, 2020 08:53 PM (hku12)

161 - -
-
can you name the movie that has the best dialogue?

Posted by: Ben Had at August 08, 2020 08:49 PM
-
-
---


Easily. Blazing Saddles.

Posted by: irright at August 08, 2020 08:54 PM (RVcmP)

162 By all accounts, Hitch was completely infatuated with Grace Kelly, and was really upset when she gave up Hollywood to become the Princess of Monaco.

From there, he went looking for another GK, but it never quite panned out. Kim Novak? Considered way too earthy at the time. Tippi Hedren came close, but then Hitch ruined everything by DEMANDING he service her sexually, which she absolutely refused to do. Didn't help that he spied on her either.

Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 08:54 PM (L2ZTs)

163 Topaz (Rating 1.5/4) Full Review
"It's an overlong, uninvolving mess of a film. It's several stories
that happen to involve some of the same characters squished together.
It's a drag, but at least it looks pretty good."




That was a very confusing and disappointing movie. Torn Curtain (his previous movie from this one) with Paul Newman and Julie Andrews was a bit of muddle from what I remember

Posted by: TheQuietMan at August 08, 2020 08:54 PM (j8xH/)

164 Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at August 08, 2020 08:45 PM (ejsiI)

Thanks for proving my point. Don't you have a Golden Calf to make offerings to ot is that tomorrow?
Also neck yourself traitor. You don't give a shit about your fellow countrymen. Maybe people like you should move back your host country.
Posted by: Maskhole at August 08, 2020 08:49 PM (2ab8V)

One, asshole, you know jack and shit about my medical condition and present. I don't wear masks under direct orders from MDs and RNs. If you don't like that, go run off and cry someplace.

Two, you're worse than a tyrant. You're a sniveling coward hiding behind a keyboard. I'll stay here and exercise my freewill. Go to Cuba or North Korea. You seem to enjoy the life at the gunpoints of others as they scream orders at you all day.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at August 08, 2020 08:54 PM (ejsiI)

165 Best dialogue? It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.

Posted by: Weasel at August 08, 2020 08:55 PM (MVjcR)

166 an you name the movie that has the best dialogue?

Posted by: Ben Had at August 08, 2020 08:49 PM
-
-
---
Easily. Blazing Saddles.
Posted by: irright at August 08, 2020 08:54 PM (RVcmP)


LOL. Well done.

Posted by: DR.WTF at August 08, 2020 08:55 PM (AiZBA)

167 For those wading into Kubrick, watch everything except "Barry Lyndon". You'll be satisfied Kubrick is easily the best, most interesting film maker in history. Then watch "Barry Lyndon". Twice. You'll then wonder if he might not have been the most talented artist in human history.
Posted by: occam's brassiere at August 08, 2020 08:47 PM (ja/kn)

That's the one I am most curious about. So, save Barry Lyndon for last?
Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at August 08, 2020 08:50 PM (ejsiI)

Wasn't Barry Lyndon roundly criticized when it came out? I didn't see it, but I seem to remember it was panned as much as Heaven's Gate.

Posted by: LASue at August 08, 2020 08:55 PM (Ed8Zd)

168 I did like Hitchcock's TV show back in the day.

I can't remember the show's name but it was always a good watch.

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at August 08, 2020 08:55 PM (Z+IKu)

169 164 Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at August 08, 2020 08:54 PM (ejsiI)

=========

Take it elsewhere.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 08:55 PM (LvTSG)

170 Oops... Hitch demanded Tippi service HIM sexually, not the other way around. :-)

Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 08:55 PM (L2ZTs)

171 Maskhole, you might benefit from listening to Dennis Prager. He's pretty old, himself, and he thinks the lockdowns are dumb, even thought he's in that category of people who will die if they contract the coronavirus.

He thinks keeping the economy roaring is more important.

I have to agree with him. Really old people can die from pretty much anything, including slipping and falling on the sidewalk when there's snow on the ground.

Posted by: Prothonotary Warbler at August 08, 2020 08:55 PM (H3MF8)

172 @152...there is a wonderful, slow pleasure in seeing Barry undone though, don't you think? And the whole thing is funny as hell. God, it's a great movie.

Posted by: occam's brassiere at August 08, 2020 08:55 PM (ja/kn)

173 167
Wasn't Barry Lyndon roundly criticized when it came out? I didn't see it, but I seem to remember it was panned as much as Heaven's Gate.
Posted by: LASue at August 08, 2020 08:55 PM (Ed8Zd)

===========

Most of Kubrick's stuff was poorly received contemporaneously.

The Shining was nominated for several Razzies.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 08:56 PM (LvTSG)

174 Posted by: Zombie Jess Franco at August 08, 2020 08:52 PM

Yeah... We're going to need a judges ruling on what qualifies as a "movie". That said, my collection is not exactly devoid of Jess Franco.

Posted by: Rusty Nail at August 08, 2020 08:56 PM (UuEZR)

175 REAR Window:

first of all, the woman on the magazine cover in the opening montage isn't Grace Kelly- just a fashion model.

Second- "LB Jefferies" is a photographer, obviously, which means he is trained to be observant, and perhaps he's even a bit of a voyeur. Confined to his wheel chair with nothing to look at but the neighbors, he looks at them. Hard. Notices all the little details.

As for his love interest "Lisa Carole Fremont", I think he wants to love her, probably does love her, but he loves the freedom and adventure of his job too. I think he tries to talk himself out of being in love with her. But in the course of the story she goes from skeptic to ally, and saves the relationship.

Anyway it's one of my favorites.

Posted by: DB- just DB. at August 08, 2020 08:57 PM (iTXRQ)

176 LASue, Barry Lyndon got mixed reviews when it came out, but then so did almost everything of Stanley's. It's only in hindsight that most of his films are now considered classics.

I remember Full Metal Jacket being constantly unfavorably compared to Platoon, for example, and I think there were at least a few critics who didn't think The Shining was in any way scary. Plus, Andrew Sarris was quite disturbed by A Clockwork Orange, and said words to the effect of "I don't find the sight of people being horribly violated to be especially entertaining."

Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 08:57 PM (L2ZTs)

177 175 REAR Window:

first of all, the woman on the magazine cover in the opening montage isn't Grace Kelly- just a fashion model.

Posted by: DB- just DB. at August 08, 2020 08:57 PM (iTXRQ)

=========

That's definitely Grace Kelly.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 08:57 PM (LvTSG)

178 @167..."Barry Lyndon" is the very best art...out of its time, and timeless.

Posted by: occam's brassiere at August 08, 2020 08:58 PM (ja/kn)

179 "139 sock_rat_eez, in fairness, if Manson was a CIA prototype gone horribly wrong, later people like Stephen Paddock start to make a lot more sense.

Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 08:47 PM (L2ZTs) "



Well, in fairness, i'm'a have to chew on that for a while ...

huh.

hmmmmm ...

well ...



Posted by: sock_rat_eez, we are being gaslighted 24/365 at August 08, 2020 08:58 PM (OWgiM)

180 The thing I loved the most about old shows like Topper and the Thin Man was the wonderful dialogue.

Posted by: Ben Had at August 08, 2020 08:59 PM (UWekm)

181 Does anyone else think Don't Look Now is amazing? So many weird moments.

Posted by: Cosmic Charlie at August 08, 2020 08:59 PM (uhGSf)

182
Hmmm, come-inducing...

Are you sure you're thinking of the right film? Such a slow burn, with the main question around the film, solved at about the two-thirds mark, and the audience is jolted from questioning one major matter to the other, almost like we're tipped over.

I can imagine Hitchcock sitting there while he's making it, saying to himself "watch what I do here," and then he turns everything upside down.
Posted by: BurtTC at August 08, 2020 08:53 PM (hku12)

I will concede: I saw Rebecca when I was considerably younger. Would I appreciate it more now? Perhaps.

But back then it was painful to watch.

(But there are others like this. People assure me that 12'O Clock High is a great movie. Perhaps. But the dialogue is so flat, everyone so monotone, I find that it lulls me to sleep. It is not a fun movie for me to watch at all.)

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at August 08, 2020 08:59 PM (ejsiI)

183 For those wading into Kubrick, watch everything except "Barry Lyndon". You'll be satisfied Kubrick is easily the best, most interesting film maker in history. Then watch "Barry Lyndon". Twice. You'll then wonder if he might not have been the most talented artist in human history.
Posted by: occam's brassiere at August 08, 2020 08:47 PM (ja/kn)

I have a net negative view of Kubrick. Hard to explain, it just looks to me like lots of trickery and stuff that he does so the movie can happen, not because it makes sense in the story.

Posted by: BurtTC at August 08, 2020 08:59 PM (hku12)

184 10 ... "All comments and ratings are truly appreciated."

BC,

Nice and unusual for me. Pure observation. No distractions, no analysis. It's very relaxing.

Posted by: JTB at August 08, 2020 09:00 PM (7EjX1)

185 Vertigo- never seen it. Worth watching?

Posted by: LASue at August 08, 2020 09:00 PM (Ed8Zd)

186 180 The thing I loved the most about old shows like Topper and the Thin Man was the wonderful dialogue.
Posted by: Ben Had at August 08, 2020 08:59 PM (UWekm)

I never watched the Thin Man movies, but I loved the novel they were based on.

Posted by: Prothonotary Warbler at August 08, 2020 09:00 PM (H3MF8)

187 Question: Why does Scotty bring his nephew to the bridge in the aftermath of Khan's attack instead of straight to the med level?

Obviously the answer is, because story, but that always bothered me.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at August 08, 2020 09:00 PM (7cvyf)

188 Fuck off, asshole, maskhole, whatever it is. Your overwrought bullshit is a tell.

Posted by: eastofsuez at August 08, 2020 09:01 PM (U2zca)

189 @4 --

Did you enjoy it?

For me, Jack Oakie's scenes were the highlight of the movie.

Posted by: Weak Geek at August 08, 2020 09:01 PM (u/nim)

190 Does anyone else think Don't Look Now is amazing? So many weird moments.
Posted by: Cosmic Charlie at August 08, 2020 08:59 PM (uhGSf)


I have it here, haven't gotten around to watching it. I don't remember why I bought it, but... I guess I better put it on one of these days.

Posted by: BurtTC at August 08, 2020 09:01 PM (hku12)

191 162 By all accounts, Hitch was completely infatuated with Grace Kelly, and was really upset when she gave up Hollywood to become the Princess of Monaco.

From there, he went looking for another GK, but it never quite panned out. ....
Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 08:54 PM (L2ZTs)

Dude, didn't the same thing happen to you just watching her on film?

Posted by: Guilded Age II at August 08, 2020 09:01 PM (BRkq2)

192 169 164 Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at August 08, 2020 08:54 PM (ejsiI)

=========

Take it elsewhere.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 08:55 PM (LvTSG)

Not to worry. Said my piece, I'm done.

Apologies.

Moving on to better discussion.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at August 08, 2020 09:01 PM (ejsiI)

193 LASue, Vertigo is one of my all-time favorites. Definitely worth a watch!!! :-)

But I should warn you... it's very much from a male POV.

Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 09:01 PM (L2ZTs)

194 192 Not to worry. Said my piece, I'm done.

Apologies.

Moving on to better discussion.
Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at August 08, 2020 09:01 PM (ejsiI)

========

*thumbs up*

How bout them talkies, huh?

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 09:02 PM (LvTSG)

195 The thing I loved the most about old shows like Topper and the Thin Man was the wonderful dialogue.
Posted by: Ben Had at August 08, 2020 08:59 PM (UWekm)

Yes. Witty and fast-paced and usually laced with a cold martini or two, even at breakfast.

Posted by: LASue at August 08, 2020 09:02 PM (Ed8Zd)

196 Gilded, yes it did. I had a crush on Kim Novak for a bit. :-)

Helped when I saw what she looks like today. Unfortunately she's... not what she used to be.

Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 09:02 PM (L2ZTs)

197 LASue, Vertigo is one of my all-time favorites. Definitely worth a watch!!! :-)

But I should warn you... it's very much from a male POV.
Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 09:01 PM (L2ZTs)

Excellent! Thanks. I'll try to find it.

Posted by: LASue at August 08, 2020 09:03 PM (Ed8Zd)

198 Fun exercise in cinema:

Compare/contrast Vertigo with... Gone Girl.

Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 09:03 PM (L2ZTs)

199 The utterly factual revelations of the past few years have left me with relatively few defenses for things ...

so the guys I knew were just discarded for poor results ...

well ...

huh.

Posted by: sock_rat_eez, we are being gaslighted 24/365 at August 08, 2020 09:03 PM (OWgiM)

200 Vertigo- never seen it. Worth watching?

Posted by: LASue at August 08, 2020 09:00 PM

One of the few films that never fails to give me goosebumps in one scene, despite knowing what's coming every time.

Posted by: Rusty Nail at August 08, 2020 09:03 PM (UuEZR)

201 The thing I loved the most about old shows like Topper and the Thin Man was the wonderful dialogue.
Posted by: Ben Had at August 08, 2020 08:59 PM (UWekm)


It was quite a shame that we gave up on using language effectively and expecting intelligent people to appreciate interesting language as an art form.

Posted by: Commissar Hrothgar -Your Rulers Have, and Deserve, Different Rules! - at August 08, 2020 09:03 PM (eTZoJ)

202 Don't Look Now is one of those movies I decided to watch because reviewers I liked said it was really good, but then when I actually watched it myself I was like "meh".

(Insert No accounting for tasted disclaimer here)

Posted by: Hands at August 08, 2020 09:04 PM (786Ro)

203 Best dialogue? It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.
Posted by: Weasel at August 08, 2020 08:55 PM (MVjcR)


Silly, obvious answer: Mel Brooks' "Silent Movie."

Modern era serious contender: "Miller's Crossing."

Posted by: BurtTC at August 08, 2020 09:04 PM (hku12)

204 Nobody talks about "Family Plot".

Well, I mean I don't either. I can't remember much about it.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at August 08, 2020 09:05 PM (Dc2NZ)

205 190 Does anyone else think Don't Look Now is amazing? So many weird moments.
Posted by: Cosmic Charlie at August 08, 2020 08:59 PM (uhGSf)

No. Thought it was idiotic and tedious. The reveal was utterly fucking retarded. Plus Donald Sutherland's naked ass.

Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at August 08, 2020 09:05 PM (NWiLs)

206 uestion: Why does Scotty bring his nephew to the bridge in the aftermath of Khan's attack instead of straight to the med level?

Obviously the answer is, because story, but that always bothered me.
Posted by: Thomas Bender at August 08, 2020 09:00 PM (7cvyf)


They cut the Scotty/nephew relationship scenes from the movie and left that as kind of a turd in the punchbowl.

Posted by: DR.WTF at August 08, 2020 09:05 PM (AiZBA)

207 Hands, Don't Look Now is supposedly great, but from what I've heard, it's *very* dated to the early 1970s. You kind of have to approach it from that angle.

In fact I've found numerous films work better if you try to imagine yourself an audience member from the time the feature originally came out.

Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 09:05 PM (L2ZTs)

208 - -
-
-
Hmmm, come-inducing...
-
-
-------

FINALLY! The movie threads have been all uppity and non-"porn" for far too long.

Posted by: irright at August 08, 2020 09:05 PM (RVcmP)

209 *thumbs up*

How bout them talkies, huh?
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 09:02 PM (LvTSG)

Indeed!

As I said before, I need to start looking at Eisenstein more. I guess I'm something of an Eisenstein poser; I have Alexander Nevsky and Ivan the Terrible Part I on DVD, but I never have seen the silent films (AN was his first talkie, IIRC). That clip up above is quite intriguing.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at August 08, 2020 09:06 PM (ejsiI)

210 >That's definitely Grace Kelly.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison


look again

https://tinyurl.com/y4ztnm5b

Posted by: DB- just DB. at August 08, 2020 09:06 PM (iTXRQ)

211 148 TJM, can you name the movie that has the best dialogue?
Posted by: Ben Had at August 08, 2020 08:49 PM (UWekm)


Lion in Winter...Man for all Seasons

LiW is a lot of scenery chewing, but fun interaction between O'Toole and Hepburn,

Posted by: browndog at August 08, 2020 09:06 PM (BgMrQ)

212 204 Nobody talks about "Family Plot".

Well, I mean I don't either. I can't remember much about it.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at August 08, 2020 09:05 PM (Dc2NZ)

=========

It's fun and witty. It's not his greatest stuff, or anything. There have been worse ways to go out like Billy Wilder's Buddy Buddy.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 09:06 PM (LvTSG)

213 Best dialogue? It's a dead heat, IMO, between Raising Arizona and Super Troopers.

Both just straight-up awesome in the dialogue department!

Posted by: Prothonotary Warbler at August 08, 2020 09:06 PM (H3MF8)

214 FMJ is in my top 10 war movies

Posted by: Skip at August 08, 2020 09:06 PM (OjZpE)

215 All Hail Eris, I believe I've read that Family Plot is considered disappointing... but only from the perspective that it was Hitch's last film, given how many thrills he had always provided in previous works.

I'd bet if Family Plot was the work of another director, or a young/new one, it would have been more acclaimed.

Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 09:07 PM (L2ZTs)

216 201 The thing I loved the most about old shows like Topper and the Thin Man was the wonderful dialogue.
Posted by: Ben Had at August 08, 2020 08:59 PM (UWekm)

It was quite a shame that we gave up on using language effectively and expecting intelligent people to appreciate interesting language as an art form.

Posted by: Commissar Hrothgar -Your Rulers Have, and Deserve, Different Rules! - at August 08, 2020 09:03 PM (eTZoJ)"



funny how that works, innit ?

Posted by: sock_rat_eez, we are being gaslighted 24/365 at August 08, 2020 09:07 PM (OWgiM)

217 Modern era serious contender: "Miller's Crossing."

"What's the rumpus ?"

Posted by: JT at August 08, 2020 09:07 PM (arJlL)

218 The thing I loved the most about old shows like Topper and the Thin Man was the wonderful dialogue.
Posted by: Ben Had at August 08, 2020 08:59 PM (UWekm)

Yes. Witty and fast-paced and usually laced with a cold martini or two, even at breakfast.
Posted by: LASue at August 08, 2020 09:02 PM (Ed8Zd)


"Bringing Up Baby." Same era. You'd swear Kate Hepburn was on speed the whole time, and Grant was on acid.

Posted by: BurtTC at August 08, 2020 09:07 PM (hku12)

219 212 204 Nobody talks about "Family Plot".

Well, I mean I don't either. I can't remember much about it.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at August 08, 2020 09:05 PM (Dc2NZ)

=========

It's fun and witty. It's not his greatest stuff, or anything. There have been worse ways to go out like Billy Wilder's Buddy Buddy.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 09:06 PM (LvTSG)

Wasn't that his last one? (I didn't get Family Plot, but I last saw that YEARS ago.)

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at August 08, 2020 09:08 PM (ejsiI)

220 209 Indeed!

As I said before, I need to start looking at Eisenstein more. I guess I'm something of an Eisenstein poser; I have Alexander Nevsky and Ivan the Terrible Part I on DVD, but I never have seen the silent films (AN was his first talkie, IIRC). That clip up above is quite intriguing.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at August 08, 2020 09:06 PM (ejsiI)

==========

Strike and Battleship Potemkin are both fascinating. I've been actually thinking about writing them next (I own them both, not like I need to because they're both for free on Youtube).

Potemkin is one of the most famous movies ever, and Strike is its predecessor and helped define what early Soviet cinema was. The reasons for the quick cutting was all related to saving money, and it formed what many people would still consider modern editing techniques.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 09:08 PM (LvTSG)

221 & g'night, good people, seeya inna mornin'.

Posted by: sock_rat_eez, we are being gaslighted 24/365 at August 08, 2020 09:08 PM (OWgiM)

222 The Best dialogue is most David Mamet films.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at August 08, 2020 09:09 PM (7cvyf)

223 Family Plot's humor is so dry, it's practically dusty.

Posted by: Rusty Nail at August 08, 2020 09:09 PM (UuEZR)

224 TJM- thanks for all your work on this. Great post!

Posted by: Moonbeam at August 08, 2020 09:09 PM (qe5CM)

225 Two movies I saw recently

"Ford vs Ferrari"
Enjoyable but nothing breathtaking. Pretty much what I expected it to be. Glad they used real cars (stunt cars not formula?) instead of relying on CGI. Maybe seeing it in a theater would've been cooler.

"Gemini Man"
By-the-numbers action thriller. Meaning it's mostly stupid but not unwatchable. But the young version of Will Smith has an uncanny valley look that was creeping me out by the end.

Posted by: Hands at August 08, 2020 09:09 PM (786Ro)

226 214 FMJ is in my top 10 war movies
Posted by: Skip at August 08, 2020 09:06 PM (OjZpE)

Military Crimes, published by Gannett, from time to time does a poll of its readership on the greatest war movie. Every time I caught it, it's consistent:

1) Saving Private Ryan
2) Full Metal Jacket

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at August 08, 2020 09:09 PM (ejsiI)

227 *thumbs up*

How bout them talkies, huh?
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 09:02 PM (LvTSG)

-----------------------------

A passing fad. No one wants to actually hear the actors speak!

Posted by: No One of Consequence at August 08, 2020 09:09 PM (CAJOC)

228 In fact I've found numerous films work better if you
try to imagine yourself an audience member from the time the feature
originally came out.

Posted by: qdpsteve



I couldn't believe it when I saw it. All four of the horse's hooves were off the ground simultaneously!

Posted by: pep at August 08, 2020 09:10 PM (v16oJ)

229 219 It's fun and witty. It's not his greatest stuff, or anything. There have been worse ways to go out like Billy Wilder's Buddy Buddy.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 09:06 PM (LvTSG)

Wasn't that his last one? (I didn't get Family Plot, but I last saw that YEARS ago.)
Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at August 08, 2020 09:08 PM (ejsiI)

========

Yeah, it was his last. Apparently he realized while he was filming that it would be his last. He died about four years afterwards.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 09:10 PM (LvTSG)

230 I would recommend seeing "Saboteur" for a war propaganda film by Hitchcock..
It foreshadows a lot of what he does in future movies..
It is corny.. almost cringingly so at some points.. But it is a fun look into wartime America.
............
In the same vein.. seek out "All Through The Night".. not a Hitchcock film, but another wartime propaganda film with all of the very best character actors of the 40's Hollywood had to offer.. with Bogart heading the cast.

Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at August 08, 2020 09:10 PM (CjFDo)

231

Hmmm. Laptop only tonight. YouTube or Amazon Prime. Watching something sounds very appealing along with a little adult beverage and pulutan...

Comedy movie? Monty Python? Start some series my wife would never watch...?

Posted by: Bobby Sox at August 08, 2020 09:10 PM (qul7b)

232 Best dialogue? It's a dead heat, IMO, between Raising Arizona and Super Troopers.

Both just straight-up awesome in the dialogue department!
Posted by: Prothonotary Warbler at August 08, 2020 09:06 PM (H3MF


Coen Bro movies all have great dialogue.

Posted by: BurtTC at August 08, 2020 09:10 PM (hku12)

233 "Bringing Up Baby." Same era. You'd swear Kate Hepburn was on speed the whole time, and Grant was on acid.
Posted by: BurtTC

that's a fave of mine.....

Posted by: JT at August 08, 2020 09:10 PM (arJlL)

234 Great dialogue?

Dog Soldiers

Posted by: Hands at August 08, 2020 09:10 PM (786Ro)

235 227 *thumbs up*

How bout them talkies, huh?
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 09:02 PM (LvTSG)

-----------------------------

A passing fad. No one wants to actually hear the actors speak!
Posted by: No One of Consequence at August 08, 2020 09:09 PM (CAJOC)

=========

"This man knows what he's talking about."
-Charlie Chaplin

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 09:11 PM (LvTSG)

236

Never liked Vertigo but heck, I liked Saboteur and Foreign Correspondent.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at August 08, 2020 09:11 PM (aKsyK)

237 @183...I tend toward Kubrick fanboy-ism, but I get your drift. Often though the story/plot/narrative , as presented, is not the main point. Often...I'm thinking here especially of "Barry Lyndon" and "Eyes Wide Shut"...the visual tricks and stunts you mentioned, some very subtle, some not so, serve to undermine the narrative. And that's the main point.

Posted by: occam's brassiere at August 08, 2020 09:11 PM (ja/kn)

238 Dial M For Murder- love it. It was a staple on local Seattle tvs"Saturday Afternoon at the Movies with Sandy Hill.". A movie that goes perfectly with a big bowl of buttered popcorn and Shasta root beer.

Posted by: LASue at August 08, 2020 09:11 PM (Ed8Zd)

239 222 The Best dialogue is most David Mamet films.
Posted by: Thomas Bender at August 08, 2020 09:09 PM (7cvyf)

That is a solid point! Mamet does write some damned good dialogue.

"First prize is this Cadillac. Second prize is a set of steak knives. Third prize is, you're fired."

Posted by: Prothonotary Warbler at August 08, 2020 09:11 PM (H3MF8)

240 pep, yup! And at the end, that guy shot his gun right at the audience!! What nerve!! ;-)

Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 09:11 PM (L2ZTs)

241 Kahhhhnnnnn!!!!!!!
Kahhhnnnnn........

Posted by: Thomas Bender at August 08, 2020 09:11 PM (7cvyf)

242 232 Best dialogue? It's a dead heat, IMO, between Raising Arizona and Super Troopers.

Both just straight-up awesome in the dialogue department!
Posted by: Prothonotary Warbler at August 08, 2020 09:06 PM (H3MF


Coen Bro movies all have great dialogue.
Posted by: BurtTC at August 08, 2020 09:10 PM (hku12)

Nihilists, huh? Fuck me.

Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at August 08, 2020 09:12 PM (NWiLs)

243 Hiya Moonbeam !

Posted by: JT at August 08, 2020 09:12 PM (arJlL)

244 Isn't Body Heat considered a movie with some snappy dialogue?

Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 09:12 PM (L2ZTs)

245 Dog Soldiers dialogue

Soldier to werewolf about to eat him: "I hope I give you the shits!"

- - -

Sgt Wells: "We are now up against live, hostile targets. So, if Little Red Riding Hood should show up with a bazooka and a bad attitude, I expect you to chin the bitch."

Posted by: Hands at August 08, 2020 09:12 PM (786Ro)

246 Some of the best dialogue to be found is in Firefly and Serenity.

Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at August 08, 2020 09:12 PM (NWiLs)

247 >Isn't Body Heat considered a movie with some snappy dialogue?
Posted by: qdpsteve



No, Body Heat is considered a movie about how hot Kathleen Turner was

Posted by: DB- just DB. at August 08, 2020 09:13 PM (iTXRQ)

248 Speaking of David Mamet, has anyone here seen Oleanna?

You've heard of first-date movies? I've read Oleanna is a great final-date movie. As in, men and women go to see it and leave talking as if they saw two completely different films.

Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 09:13 PM (L2ZTs)

249 It was quite a shame that we gave up on using language effectively and expecting intelligent people to appreciate interesting language as an art form.

Posted by: Commissar Hrothgar -Your Rulers Have, and Deserve, Different Rules! - at August 08, 2020 09:03 PM (eTZoJ)"

Sad.

Posted by: Guilded Age II at August 08, 2020 09:13 PM (BRkq2)

250 DB, well duh of course :-)

Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 09:13 PM (L2ZTs)

251 Best dialog? Any film version of Shakespeare that doesn't "modernize" the dialog.

Posted by: DR.WTF at August 08, 2020 09:14 PM (AiZBA)

252 Is the movie Vertigo when Hitchcock introduced his Hitchcock Zoom?

Posted by: davidt at August 08, 2020 09:14 PM (l3+k2)

253 @230... "North By Northwest" is more or less a remake of "Sabotuer", you're right.

Posted by: occam's brassiere at August 08, 2020 09:15 PM (ja/kn)

254 There are some flicks were it seems ALL the buzz is about the dialogue.

Such as, When Harry Met Sally, The Princess Bride, or Shakespeare In Love.

Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 09:15 PM (L2ZTs)

255 That's definitely Grace Kelly.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison


look again

https://tinyurl.com/y4ztnm5b
Posted by: DB- just DB. at August 08, 2020 09:06 PM (iTXRQ)


Definitely not.

Posted by: LASue at August 08, 2020 09:15 PM (Ed8Zd)

256 242 232 Best dialogue? It's a dead heat, IMO, between Raising Arizona and Super Troopers.

Both just straight-up awesome in the dialogue department!
Posted by: Prothonotary Warbler at August 08, 2020 09:06 PM (H3MF


Coen Bro movies all have great dialogue.
Posted by: BurtTC at August 08, 2020 09:10 PM (hku12)

Nihilists, huh? Fuck me.
Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at August 08, 2020 09:12 PM (NWiLs)

I'm not a nihilist; I just love witty dialogue in movies that just get funnier every time you watch them.

Posted by: Prothonotary Warbler at August 08, 2020 09:15 PM (H3MF8)

257 Good dialogue

Clueless
Team America: World Police
Rooster Cogburn


I guess I'm lowbrow

Posted by: Hands at August 08, 2020 09:15 PM (786Ro)

258 248 Speaking of David Mamet, has anyone here seen Oleanna?

You've heard of first-date movies? I've read Oleanna is a great final-date movie. As in, men and women go to see it and leave talking as if they saw two completely different films.
Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 09:13 PM (L2ZTs)

I saw the play on Broadway when it came out. Great experience. But have seen the movie. I bought a few of his plays to read the other day.

Posted by: Guilded Age II at August 08, 2020 09:15 PM (BRkq2)

259 I couldn't believe it when I saw it. All four of the horse's hooves were off the ground simultaneously!
Posted by: pep at August 08, 2020 09:10 PM (v16oJ)


They've gone way too far with that CGI I tells ya'!

Posted by: Commissar Hrothgar -Your Rulers Have, and Deserve, Different Rules! - at August 08, 2020 09:16 PM (eTZoJ)

260 237 @183...I tend toward Kubrick fanboy-ism, but I get your drift. Often though the story/plot/narrative , as presented, is not the main point. Often...I'm thinking here especially of "Barry Lyndon" and "Eyes Wide Shut"...the visual tricks and stunts you mentioned, some very subtle, some not so, serve to undermine the narrative. And that's the main point.
Posted by: occam's brassiere at August 08, 2020 09:11 PM (ja/kn)


I have a Kubrick collection here, contains both of those films. I've never seen BL, and what I remember from EWS is Kidman being smoking hot, and Cruise looking silly. For whatever reason I wasn't willing to give the visuals any deeper consideration than that.

Posted by: BurtTC at August 08, 2020 09:16 PM (hku12)

261 Another Grace Kelly? Hitch was dumber than me.

Posted by: klaftern at August 08, 2020 09:16 PM (RuIsu)

262 258
have NOT seen the movie

Posted by: Guilded Age II at August 08, 2020 09:16 PM (BRkq2)

263 Gilded, I'd like to read more of Mamet too, thanks for the idea. :-)

Fun fact: Alec Baldwin's speech isn't in Glen Garry Glen Ross, the original play. Alec invented it just for the movie, and David loved it.

Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 09:16 PM (L2ZTs)

264 Great dialogue (keep spitting out the movie titles, guy and gals!):

I love me some dialogue. (I love words and language; perhaps that's why I read more than watch movies) I remember when I saw Pulp Fiction in the theater for the first time (for the best reason of all: a girl). I knew next to nothing about the movie that was to become one of my all time favorites. And one of the biggest reasons? The dialogue. When Vincent and Jules are driving to the hit, and they are talking about fast food, and it sounds like the coolest thing in the world...hooked. I was blown completely away just by the dialogue.

Believe it or not, I still feel the same way about "Clerks". It was great. The dialogue makes that movie for me.

FMJ has great dialogue, not just the basic training scene but also parts like one of my faves: the scene at the mass grave.

Those are ones I can think of off the top of my head.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at August 08, 2020 09:17 PM (ejsiI)

265 That is a solid point! Mamet does write some damned good dialogue.
"First prize is this Cadillac. Second prize is a set of steak knives. Third prize is, you're fired."
Posted by: Prothonotary Warbler at August 08, 2020 09:11 PM (H3MF

Yup......my favorite lines from the movie:

Ricky Roma: How was her crumbcake?
Shelley Levene: Hmm? Oh... from the store.
Ricky Roma: Fuck her.

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at August 08, 2020 09:17 PM (Z+IKu)

266 This is Spinal Tap has some quotable dialog. Which is ironic, since the "shooting script" contained no dialog at all.

Posted by: Rusty Nail at August 08, 2020 09:17 PM (UuEZR)

267 260
I have a Kubrick collection here, contains both of those films. I've never seen BL, and what I remember from EWS is Kidman being smoking hot, and Cruise looking silly. For whatever reason I wasn't willing to give the visuals any deeper consideration than that.
Posted by: BurtTC at August 08, 2020 09:16 PM (hku12)

========

It's a movie set in a dream.

Come and See and Suspiria are movies with similar effects.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 09:17 PM (LvTSG)

268 @251...Kenneth Branagh's "Hamlet" is scrupulously faithful to the play. To a fault. It's a real slog. Looks good, though. Credit to him for that.

Posted by: occam's brassiere at August 08, 2020 09:17 PM (ja/kn)

269 > 246 Some of the best dialogue to be found is in Firefly and Serenity.
Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at August 08, 2020 09:12 PM (NWiLs)



This.

Posted by: Muad'dib at August 08, 2020 09:18 PM (cKm0l)

270 258 248 Speaking of David Mamet, has anyone here seen Oleanna?

You've heard of first-date movies? I've read Oleanna is a great final-date movie. As in, men and women go to see it and leave talking as if they saw two completely different films.
Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 09:13 PM (L2ZTs)

I saw the play on Broadway when it came out. Great experience. But have seen the movie. I bought a few of his plays to read the other day.
Posted by: Guilded Age II at August 08, 2020 09:15 PM (BRkq2)

I have seen it, and I agree that it's a great movie over which to break up with a feminist.

Posted by: Prothonotary Warbler at August 08, 2020 09:18 PM (H3MF8)

271 Ah, Hitchcock.

I have not seen a lot of his films, but I've liked most of what I've seen.

"North by Northwest" is No. 1. Then "Foreign Correspondent." The assassination ,jumps right out at you.

"Saboteur" and "Sabotage." "Lifeboat" for such a different setting. (Also the first one where I caught the cameo.)

I frequently cite his explanation between shock and suspense. In short:

Shock -- Bomb explodes in room of people.
Suspense -- Bomb is planted in room of people. Audience urges them to get out of room.

"Saboteur" has that in spades.

Posted by: Weak Geek at August 08, 2020 09:19 PM (u/nim)

272 Thanks again for the wonderful comments. Comments help keep an animator animating.

And, my biggest peeve about Star Trek II (which is otherwise pretty close to perfect) is "Ceti Alpha V."

If Ceti Alpha VI exploded, then that shouldn't change how the Federation counts planets. The Reliant should have gone to (what was once) Ceti Alpha VII. And would have bypassed Khan entirely.

Unless the Federation counts planets from the outside in, which...is kind of stupid.

Yes, I understand there wouldn't have been a movie otherwise, but still--

Also, "They say their chamber coil is overriding their comm transmission." And how did they say this? Semaphore signals?

Anyway, thank you, Horde, again for the wonderful comments on my own humble work. And good night to you all, pleasant dreams, and see you tomorrow.


Posted by: BeckoningChasm at August 08, 2020 09:20 PM (l9m7l)

273 Argento made some good movies

Posted by: Cosmic Charlie at August 08, 2020 09:20 PM (uhGSf)

274 best dialogue : Witness for the Prosecution (1957)

Posted by: vmom 2020 grammar nazi and write supremacist at August 08, 2020 09:20 PM (J8nVw)

275 Fergawdsake -- I forgot "Rope."

Posted by: Weak Geek at August 08, 2020 09:21 PM (u/nim)

276 TJM, give us your Hitchcock top 5.

Posted by: Guilded Age II at August 08, 2020 09:22 PM (BRkq2)

277
Go knock yourself out.

When I walk outside and it looks like a scene from Stephen King's The Stand, call me.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33
------
I learned people die when I was 8. Welcome to adulthood.

Posted by: irright


I love this place.

Posted by: deplorable unperson - refuse to accept the Mask of the Beast at August 08, 2020 09:22 PM (luzVb)

278 @260/267...generally accepted that "Eyes Wide Shut" is, if not all a dream, very much a dream(s). But watch it with the idea that Kidman's character knows every goddamn thing that's going on in the movie; and that she not only knows, but set it all up because she had reached the stage in her life where her own double life could no longer be sustained. It works.

Posted by: occam's brassiere at August 08, 2020 09:22 PM (ja/kn)

279 Saving Private Ryan is the best 30 minute War movie I would give them that.

Posted by: Skip at August 08, 2020 09:23 PM (OjZpE)

280 275 Fergawdsake -- I forgot "Rope."
Posted by: Weak Geek at August 08, 2020 09:21 PM (u/nim)
===

O, so did I! I have been meaning see that forever. And had forgotten.

Posted by: Guilded Age II at August 08, 2020 09:23 PM (BRkq2)

281 276 TJM, give us your Hitchcock top 5.
Posted by: Guilded Age II at August 08, 2020 09:22 PM (BRkq2)

==========

The entire 53 movie filmography is ranked on my blog, but:

5. The 39 Steps
4. Psycho
3. Shadow of a Doubt
2. Vertigo
1. Notorious

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 09:23 PM (LvTSG)

282 -
-
It was quite a shame that we gave up on using language effectively and
expecting intelligent people to appreciate interesting language as an
art form.



Posted by: Commissar Hrothgar -Your Rulers Have, and Deserve, Different Rules! - at August 08, 2020 09:03 PM (eTZoJ)


-
----
World, world, O world! But that thy strange mutations make us hate thee, life would not yield to age.

Posted by: Billy S. at August 08, 2020 09:24 PM (RVcmP)

283 257 Good dialogue:

The Commitments

Posted by: Moonbeam at August 08, 2020 09:25 PM (qe5CM)

284 Argento made some good movies

Posted by: Cosmic Charlie at August 08, 2020 09:20 PM

Argento is a bizarre walking contradiction. He's a visually BRILLIANT filmmaker. Whose taste in scripts runs between shit and hot, wet shit. So he makes awful movies that are so heartbreakingly beautiful, you can't believe they were wasted on the script.

Posted by: Rusty Nail at August 08, 2020 09:25 PM (UuEZR)

285 Network had some great dialogue.Acting too.

Posted by: Regular joe at August 08, 2020 09:26 PM (L9P9s)

286
I'd bet if Family Plot was the work of another director, or a young/new one, it would have been more acclaimed.
Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 09:07 PM (L2ZTs)

I always liked Family Plot, I think it's a great little movie, and I enjoyed seeing Hitchcock go back to making a light comic murder story. The people who didn't like it when it came out wanted another Psycho of Frenzy, but it's just an enjoyable movie with fun characters. Bad guys lose in the end, our heroes win.

Posted by: Tom Servo at August 08, 2020 09:26 PM (V2Yro)

287 Great whiplash double feature: "Battleship Potemkin" and "Battleship".

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at August 08, 2020 09:26 PM (Dc2NZ)

288 Knife in the Water, Cul de Sac and The Tenant are Hitchcockian.

Posted by: Cosmic Charlie at August 08, 2020 09:26 PM (uhGSf)

289 The Flyers goalie has a pic of Dan Bongino on the side of his mask?

Posted by: klaftern at August 08, 2020 09:26 PM (RuIsu)

290 Tom Servo, I'll check it out thanks!

Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 09:27 PM (L2ZTs)

291 Dialogue is fine and all, for you sissies who drink mocha frappe cappa-rapa-ding-dong thingees, but real Morons appreciate one liners. And the finest collection of such bon mots and witticisms is Commando, starring a pre-lefty Arnauld.

Enjoy!

Posted by: eastofsuez at August 08, 2020 09:27 PM (U2zca)

292 243 Hiya Moonbeam !
Posted by: JT at August 08, 2020 09:12 PM

Hi JT!

Posted by: Moonbeam at August 08, 2020 09:27 PM (qe5CM)

293 278 @260/267...generally accepted that "Eyes Wide Shut" is, if not all a dream, very much a dream(s). But watch it with the idea that Kidman's character knows every goddamn thing that's going on in the movie; and that she not only knows, but set it all up because she had reached the stage in her life where her own double life could no longer be sustained. It works.
Posted by: occam's brassiere at August 08, 2020 09:22 PM (ja/kn)

Lately I've been thinking that "Eyes Wide Shut" was a documentary, and Kubrick knew it.

Posted by: Tom Servo at August 08, 2020 09:27 PM (V2Yro)

294 268 - Kenneth B's Hamlet is a log slog but it's faithful to the original script, is creatively staged and has a constellation of celebrity turns in minor roles: Jack Lemmon, Gerard Depardieu Charlton Heston, David Attenborough, Rufus Sewell, even John Gielgud...and Robin Williams and Billy Crystal should be arrested for the scene stealing they pull off.
Another really good Hamlet is Mel Gibson's. As for Julius Caesar, the only one worth watching is the one with James Mason and John Gielgud...and Marlon Brando as Antony is terrific.

Posted by: vivi at August 08, 2020 09:28 PM (11H2y)

295 278 @260/267...generally accepted that "Eyes Wide Shut" is, if not all a dream, very much a dream(s). But watch it with the idea that Kidman's character knows every goddamn thing that's going on in the movie; and that she not only knows, but set it all up because she had reached the stage in her life where her own double life could no longer be sustained. It works.
Posted by: occam's brassiere at August 08, 2020 09:22 PM (ja/kn)

I gotta admit the only Kubrick flick I am not crazy about seeing is Eyes Wide Shut. It seems a little too...odd. I couldn't make heads or tails of the premise or pretty much anything else in previews or trailers. So it's just...what the hell would I be getting into?

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at August 08, 2020 09:28 PM (ejsiI)

296 Nihilists, huh? Fuck me.
Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at August 08, 2020 09:12 PM (NWiLs)

I'm not a nihilist; I just love witty dialogue in movies that just get funnier every time you watch them.
Posted by: Prothonotary Warbler at August 08, 2020 09:15 PM (H3MF


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_29yvYpf4w

Posted by: BurtTC at August 08, 2020 09:29 PM (hku12)

297 "I can't make love to a bush!"


*leers*

Posted by: deplorable unperson - refuse to accept the Mask of the Beast at August 08, 2020 09:29 PM (luzVb)

298 The entire 53 movie filmography is ranked on my blog, but:

5. The 39 Steps
4. Psycho
3. Shadow of a Doubt
2. Vertigo
1. Notorious
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 09:23 PM (LvTSG)

Thanks. And thanks. I just clicked on the link.

Posted by: Guilded Age II at August 08, 2020 09:29 PM (BRkq2)

299 246 Some of the best dialogue to be found is in Firefly and Serenity.
Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at August 08, 2020 09:12 PM (NWiLs)

-------------------------------

Joss Whedon can write some good dialog (whatever else folk might think of him).

From what I read, he actually wrote the Buffy episode "Hush" (which, for the most part, has no dialog) because everybody always commented on the dialog of his shows. It was like a "Hey, I can do other stuff" episode (and an excellent one, at that).

Posted by: No One of Consequence at August 08, 2020 09:29 PM (CAJOC)

300 >>>Real question is: what do we do about the gubmint assets that are fully functional and are daily broadcast nationwide? (unless you have a better explanation for Brian Stelter/Jake Tapper/Anderson Cooper)

Posted by: irright at August 08, 2020 08:36 PM (RVcmP)


It was revealed here (AoS) that they have at least one operative at every facility; whether the operative knows it or not.
(pillow talk?)

Posted by: Braenyard at August 08, 2020 09:31 PM (m+yM6)

301 Hey, maskhole, in case you missed it the first time: FUCK OFF. This is the movie thread, not the "I'm a bitch, hear me whine" thread.

Posted by: eastofsuez at August 08, 2020 09:31 PM (U2zca)

302 ...Another really good Hamlet is Mel Gibson's...
Posted by: vivi at August 08, 2020 09:28 PM (11H2y)


I really like that version.

Posted by: DR.WTF at August 08, 2020 09:31 PM (AiZBA)

303 Eyes Wide Shut, in retrospect, seems to be about the whole Epstein, Abramovich, pizzagate stuff

Posted by: vmom 2020 grammar nazi and write supremacist at August 08, 2020 09:31 PM (J8nVw)

304
Another fascinating Hitch flick: Frenzy.



It's Hitch with ALL his inhibitions gone. His only R-rated film.

Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 08:01 PM (L2ZTs)


It was a real change for him after Torn Curtain and Topaz which were plodding. It's a far more gritty film than he had made before and it keeps you engaged throughout the movie

Posted by: TheQuietMan at August 08, 2020 09:32 PM (9Ettb)

305 The James Madison,
Excellent content, sir.

Have you considered trolling the fook out of with a thread completely and 100% devoted to the movie that shall not be named?

I'll be honest, i did like it.

B3

Posted by: BifBewalski at August 08, 2020 09:33 PM (VcFUs)

306 ...Another really good Hamlet is Mel Gibson's...
Posted by: vivi at August 08, 2020 09:28 PM (11H2y)

I really like that version.
Posted by: DR.WTF at August 08, 2020 09:31 PM (AiZBA)


... and Branagh's Henry V.

Posted by: DR.WTF at August 08, 2020 09:34 PM (AiZBA)

307 243 Hiya Moonbeam !
Posted by: JT at August 08, 2020 09:12 PM

Hi JT!
Posted by: Moonbeam

I gotta tell ya, I was astounded to learn your age; I thought you were a twunny something chickadee !

Posted by: JT at August 08, 2020 09:34 PM (arJlL)

308 Lately I've been thinking that "Eyes Wide Shut" was a documentary, and Kubrick knew it.
Posted by: Tom Servo at August 08, 2020 09:27 PM (V2Yro)


Yeah, with all due respect to the man's memory, and his many many fans, he looks like a guy who would hang out on Epstein's island.

Posted by: BurtTC at August 08, 2020 09:34 PM (hku12)

309 Welp, Spocks about to sacrifice his life...

Also, the most awkward hug in all of film has to be David and Kirks hug at the end.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at August 08, 2020 09:34 PM (7cvyf)

310 297 Nihilists, huh? Fuck me.
Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at August 08, 2020 09:12 PM (NWiLs)

I'm not a nihilist; I just love witty dialogue in movies that just get funnier every time you watch them.
Posted by: Prothonotary Warbler at August 08, 2020 09:15 PM (H3MF


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_29yvYpf4w
Posted by: BurtTC at August 08, 2020 09:29 PM (hku12)

Nice reference! That was a fun movie, too, but I didn't like it as much as the Coen Brothers' previous movie Raising Arizona. That was true cinematic classic!

Posted by: Prothonotary Warbler at August 08, 2020 09:34 PM (H3MF8)

311 5. The 39 Steps
4. Psycho
3. Shadow of a Doubt
2. Vertigo
1. Notorious
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 09:23 PM (LvTSG)

Damn! Psycho at #4? Never would have guessed that.

(Just sayin. Though clearly you've seen a lot more of his work than I have and have an eye for these things. I just though it would rate higher, especially given its impact and influence.)

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at August 08, 2020 09:34 PM (ejsiI)

312 305 The James Madison,
Excellent content, sir.

Have you considered trolling the fook out of with a thread completely and 100% devoted to the movie that shall not be named?

I'll be honest, i did like it.

B3
Posted by: BifBewalski at August 08, 2020 09:33 PM (VcFUs)

========

Thank you, and yeah, I've considered it.

But, I don't think I'll ever do it. I've made my case before.

The only way I'll do it is if I ever finish my email conversation with Mark Andrew Edwards about it. I owe him an email, and then I think it would just be closing arguments. So, presenting that conversation in full as a thread.

I just need to get around to doing it.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 09:35 PM (LvTSG)

313 The James Madison,
Excellent content, sir.

Have you considered trolling the fook out of with a thread completely and 100% devoted to the movie that shall not be named?

I'll be honest, i did like it.

B3
Posted by: BifBewalski at August 08, 2020 09:33 PM (VcFUs)


True story... the night I watched that movie I had a terrible toothache, and I'm not sure which was worse, the tooth or the movie.

Posted by: BurtTC at August 08, 2020 09:35 PM (hku12)

314 The best part of Eyes Wide Shut was Nicole Kidman's tits.

Posted by: Prothonotary Warbler at August 08, 2020 09:36 PM (H3MF8)

315 311 5. The 39 Steps
4. Psycho
3. Shadow of a Doubt
2. Vertigo
1. Notorious
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 09:23 PM (LvTSG)

Damn! Psycho at #4? Never would have guessed that.

(Just sayin. Though clearly you've seen a lot more of his work than I have and have an eye for these things. I just though it would rate higher, especially given its impact and influence.)
Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at August 08, 2020 09:34 PM (ejsiI)

=========

Impact and influence (I'm assuming from a cultural perspective) don't really factor into my thinking.

Movies that are "important" end up feeling out of place if that's all they have going for them. They gotta work on their own, and that's what I care about, how well they work on their own.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 09:36 PM (LvTSG)

316 I've been wondering if anyone else has watched any of those "DUST" shorts, sci-fi movies. They've shown some interesting writing, I'm glad to see some new work that actually has a spark of creativity in it.

Posted by: Tom Servo at August 08, 2020 09:37 PM (V2Yro)

317 Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead is top notch.

Posted by: Cosmic Charlie at August 08, 2020 09:37 PM (uhGSf)

318 268 @251...Kenneth Branagh's "Hamlet" is scrupulously faithful to the play. To a fault. It's a real slog. Looks good, though. Credit to him for that.
Posted by: occam's brassiere at August 08, 2020 09:17 PM (ja/kn)

Branagh speaks Shakespere like a native language. He's so comfortable with it.

Posted by: Russkilitlover at August 08, 2020 09:37 PM (99Nt9)

319 I do admit after all these years, that even though I love it, A Clockwork Orange is Stanley with all his brakes, inhibitions and even most of his common sense, not just turned off but smashed into oblivion.

When I FINALLY got my sister and bro-in-law to watch it, they couldn't believe a filmmaker could go so over-the-top, which in fairness SK does the whole way through that thing. I think if he could have, even Tarantino would have been telling Stanley, "geez, dial it back a little dude!" ;-)
Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 08:42 PM


You didn't read the book, did you, Steve?

Posted by: Eleanor, What the Cat Dragged In at August 08, 2020 09:38 PM (QU+qf)

320 316 I've been wondering if anyone else has watched any of those "DUST" shorts, sci-fi movies. They've shown some interesting writing, I'm glad to see some new work that actually has a spark of creativity in it.

Posted by: Tom Servo at August 08, 2020 09:37 PM (V2Yro)

saw the one with Gigi Edgley - really good
Hashtag, I think is the title

Posted by: vmom 2020 grammar nazi and write supremacist at August 08, 2020 09:39 PM (J8nVw)

321 Binge watching Chaplin films today. I just finished "City Lights" and the slapstick made me laugh out loud and the final scene left me weeping.It was so touching..when the formerly blind flower seller recognizes him.
The Kid was another one, slapstick and pathos, highs and lows. His talkies sucked but his silents remain amazing.

Posted by: vivi at August 08, 2020 09:39 PM (11H2y)

322 316 I've been wondering if anyone else has watched any of those "DUST" shorts, sci-fi movies. They've shown some interesting writing, I'm glad to see some new work that actually has a spark of creativity in it.
Posted by: Tom Servo at August 08, 2020 09:37 PM (V2Yro)
--

What are these, and what platform are they on?

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at August 08, 2020 09:39 PM (Dc2NZ)

323 314 The best part of Eyes Wide Shut was Nicole Kidman's tits.
Posted by: Prothonotary Warbler at August 08, 2020 09:36 PM (H3MF


Brb.


Whoo.


Have you seen video of the duet she sang with Ewan McGregor?

https://youtu.be/2lGP78ckF_Q

Posted by: BifBewalski at August 08, 2020 09:39 PM (VcFUs)

324 Some of the best dialogue to be found is in Firefly and Serenity.
Mal: "Now, this is all the money Niska gave us in advance. You bring it back to him. Tell him the job didn't work out. We're not thieves. But we are thieves. Point is, we're not takin' what's his. Now we'll stay out of his way as best we can from here on in. You explain that's best for everyone, okay?"

Crow: "Keep the money. Use it to buy a funeral. It doesn't matter where you go or how far you fly. I will hunt you down, and the last thing you see will be my blade."


Mal: "Darn...[Kicks Crow through running spaceship engine intake. Next bad guy is brought forward]..



"Now, this is all the money Niska gave us in advance..."


Next Bad Guy : "Oh, I get it! I'm good. Best thing for everyone. I'm right there with ya."

Posted by: deplorable unperson - refuse to accept the Mask of the Beast at August 08, 2020 09:39 PM (luzVb)

325 I remember "The Birds" most of all because it was being filmed at Bodega Bay., during one of our family outings there.

Posted by: Ben Had at August 08, 2020 09:39 PM (UWekm)

326 317 Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead is top notch.
Posted by: Cosmic Charlie at August 08, 2020 09:37 PM (uhGSf)

I liked that a lot, now that is a VERY clever script, which assumes not just a good knowledge of Hamlet, but of Shakespearian productions in general.

and they play with the meta aspects of actors and characters constantly.

Posted by: Tom Servo at August 08, 2020 09:40 PM (V2Yro)

327 Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut, I keep seeing people say it's a must watch after all the crap that is happening in Hollywood/Epstein What do others here think I have never watched it

Posted by: Patrick from Ohio at August 08, 2020 09:40 PM (dKiJG)

328 Posted by: BurtTC at August 08, 2020 09:29 PM (hku12)

Nice reference! That was a fun movie, too, but I didn't like it as much as the Coen Brothers' previous movie Raising Arizona. That was true cinematic classic!
Posted by: Prothonotary Warbler at August 08, 2020 09:34 PM (H3MF


Yeah, I just looked at their filmography, looking for the stinkers.

Which are, in order of worst:

1. The Ladykillers
2. The Man Who Wasn't There
3. Barton Fink

And Barton Fink isn't terrible, it's just not that good. Ladykillers however, which I believe is a remake, just stinks to high heaven.

Posted by: BurtTC at August 08, 2020 09:40 PM (hku12)

329 Branagh

The only thing I've ever sen him in was Conspiracy.

He was chillingly evil.

Posted by: JT at August 08, 2020 09:40 PM (arJlL)

330 316 I've been wondering if anyone else has watched any of those "DUST" shorts, sci-fi movies. They've shown some interesting writing, I'm glad to see some new work that actually has a spark of creativity in it.
Posted by: Tom Servo at August 08, 2020 09:37 PM (V2Yro)

I've watched a few of them. Some are pretty good.

Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at August 08, 2020 09:40 PM (NWiLs)

331 After he killed Janet Leigh the show was dead to me. Jill St.John on the other hand.

Posted by: Braenyard at August 08, 2020 09:41 PM (m+yM6)

332 Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut, I keep seeing people say it's a must watch after all the crap that is happening in Hollywood/Epstein What do others here think I have never watched it
Posted by: Patrick from Ohio at August 08, 2020 09:40 PM (dKiJG)


Ok, that settles it. I'm watching it tonight.

Posted by: BurtTC at August 08, 2020 09:42 PM (hku12)

333 323 314 The best part of Eyes Wide Shut was Nicole Kidman's tits.
Posted by: Prothonotary Warbler at August 08, 2020 09:36 PM (H3MF


Brb.


Whoo.


Have you seen video of the duet she sang with Ewan McGregor?

https://youtu.be/2lGP78ckF_Q
Posted by: BifBewalski at August 08, 2020 09:39 PM (VcFUs)

It's not a terrible video, but I hate Mulan Rouge because it had nothing to do with the original Mulan.

Posted by: Prothonotary Warbler at August 08, 2020 09:42 PM (H3MF8)

334 @327
Ehh, it's not essential, it's probably the least re-watchable Kubrick film.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at August 08, 2020 09:43 PM (7cvyf)

335 The Hollow Crown is terrific. It is a must-see if you like Shakespeare at all.


Posted by: BourbonChicken at August 08, 2020 09:43 PM (LxTcq)

336 334 @327
Ehh, it's not essential, it's probably the least re-watchable Kubrick film.
Posted by: Thomas Bender at August 08, 2020 09:43 PM (7cvyf)

=====

Someone hasn't seen Fear and Desire..

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 09:43 PM (LvTSG)

337 Michelle Pfeiffer plucking out the jewel in
Into the Night.

Posted by: Braenyard at August 08, 2020 09:44 PM (m+yM6)

338 @295...a personal theory to be sure, none of it is in the movie but...Kidman's character got sucked into an Epsteinian super rich sex cult as a just out of college young woman trying to make a go of it in NYC art world. Meets and marries a fabulous youngish doctor who knows nothing about this, has his kid, and tries to use it successful upper middle class domesticity as leverage to get out of the cult, stop having to do that shit. The cult gives her some rope, but she knows too much and the cult can't really let her go and starts subtly threatening her. She knows the only real way to protect her family is to get her husband into the cult too. So she sets the whole thing up for Cruise's character to get reeled in. All of it is supposed to be a set up and playacting, including her "confessions" and dreams. She knows her man's psyche. Her whole life for the years had been as a high class courtesan. She knows men. But he doesn't do exactly as he's told, continues his "inquiries" and the cult kills the hooker as a warning, primarily to
Kidman. That's why she's been crying so much after Cruise's late night/early morning confession at the end. Her scheme wasn't supposed to end with the hooker dead. So, at the end they're both implicated. They know they are stuck, and their lives are in danger potentially, but as long as they keep their mouths shut they'll be OK, even thrive, and he can get as freaky as he wants. She's more or less over it all, but needs to mark Cruise before he starts orgy-ing it up. Hence her concluding "Fuck".

Posted by: occam's brassiere at August 08, 2020 09:44 PM (ja/kn)

339 Eyes Wide Shut is a damn masterpiece that got Kubrick killed. The most chilling scene is at the end when Bill and Alice's little girl gets abducted by the butler and 2 members from Ziegler's "Christmas" Party. Shocked that didn't get cut with the other 20 plus minutes by the studio. Kubrick knew what was up and died revealing secrets he was trusted to keep.

Posted by: Maskhole at August 08, 2020 09:44 PM (2ab8V)

340 > Then watch "Barry Lyndon". Twice. You'll then wonder if he might not have been the most talented artist in human history.

Virtually every frame of that film could be an oil painting.

Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia (kneels to no one on this Earth) at August 08, 2020 09:44 PM (unn44)

341 320 316 I've been wondering if anyone else has watched any of those "DUST" shorts, sci-fi movies. They've shown some interesting writing, I'm glad to see some new work that actually has a spark of creativity in it.

Posted by: Tom Servo at August 08, 2020 09:37 PM (V2Yro)

saw the one with Gigi Edgley - really good
Hashtag, I think is the title
Posted by: vmom 2020 grammar nazi and write supremacist at August 08, 2020 09:39 PM (J8nVw)

She's still cute and kept a nice tight body into her 40s. Definitely a 1. Rowr.

Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at August 08, 2020 09:44 PM (NWiLs)

342 -
-
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead is top notch.

Posted by: Cosmic Charlie at August 08, 2020 09:37 PM

---------------
Listen, I'm no longer top dog, but a body count of two ain't gonna cut it.

Posted by: Commando at August 08, 2020 09:44 PM (RVcmP)

343 Psycho is interesting because it was kind of Hitchcock showing off. He took a lame story that everyone thought was crap and turned it into a classic completely through the strength of his skill as a director and his ability to get great performances out of actors. Its not even a very good story in the film, but its presented so well you don't care.

Scorsese is the only modern director I can think of who can do the same thing.

And I loved Barton Fink but its... not for everyone, I agree.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 08, 2020 09:44 PM (KZzsI)

344 Michelle Pfeiffer plucking out the jewel in
Into the Night.
Posted by: Braenyard

Where did she pluck it from ?

Posted by: JT at August 08, 2020 09:45 PM (arJlL)

345 What are these, and what platform are they on?
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at August 08, 2020 09:39 PM (Dc2NZ)

You know, I used to see them advertised on FB frequently but they kind of fell off there. Almost like DUST came and went.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at August 08, 2020 09:45 PM (ejsiI)

346 What are these, and what platform are they on?
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at August 08, 2020 09:39 PM (Dc2NZ)

Youtube, just search for DUST sci fi. A lot of them, clearly made by different teams as the writing and quality varies a lot. longest is about 15 minutes, the best are like modern Twilight Zone episodes. (at least I think so)

and I'm still very impressed with that Astartes Warhammer video that someone posted a link to this morning. That's higher quality work than any of the Major Studios have done in years and years.

Posted by: Tom Servo at August 08, 2020 09:46 PM (V2Yro)

347 It's not a terrible video, but I hate Mulan Rouge because it had nothing to do with the original Mulan.
Posted by: Prothonotary Warbler at August 08, 2020 09:42 PM (H3MF



Yeah, agree. The two of them also did another duet video filmed in 50's kitsch. Cute, but i cannot find it now.

Posted by: BifBewalski at August 08, 2020 09:46 PM (VcFUs)

348 343 And I loved Barton Fink but its... not for everyone, I agree.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 08, 2020 09:44 PM (KZzsI)

==========

"You think I made your life hell? Take a look around this dump. You're just a tourist with a typewriter, Barton. I live here."

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 09:47 PM (LvTSG)

349 Hamlet's father ... Brian Blessed is loud even when he whispers.

Posted by: BourbonChicken at August 08, 2020 09:47 PM (LxTcq)

350 Just finished watching "Red Planet Mars 1952" on YT. Very powerful movie, not what I expected in a 1950's sifi movie. One of those movies that when its over, you think back to leaving a movie theater in the 50's out into the cold night air thinking about what you just saw....They just don't make movies anymore with a message like that...

Posted by: Colin at August 08, 2020 09:47 PM (e62qt)

351 Kenneth Branagh's "Hamlet" is scrupulously faithful to the play. To a
fault. It's a real slog. Looks good, though. Credit to him for that.

Posted by: occam's brassiere at August 08, 2020 09:17 PM (ja/kn)





I really enjoyed it. He also used Brian Blessed and Derek Jacobi (might have been one or two more) from 'I, Claudius' in it which I think he must be a fan of. In 'Dead Again' he has Derek Jacobi use his C-C-Claudius stutter

Posted by: TheQuietMan at August 08, 2020 09:48 PM (9Ettb)

352 In my opinion the high point for the Coen brothers was O Brother Where Art Thou. They just haven't had it since then. For a while it was home run after home run but Burn after Reading, The Man Who Wasn't There, Ladykillers, none of it is nearly as good as their previous work. The only exception is True Grit, but I can hardly give them credit. The story is amazingly good and they had the John Wayne film as a template to work from.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 08, 2020 09:48 PM (KZzsI)

353 And I loved Barton Fink but its... not for everyone, I agree.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 08, 2020 09:44 PM (KZzsI)

Yup....I liked "Barton Fink". A question: was the John Goodman character the devil living in that hotel?

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at August 08, 2020 09:49 PM (Z+IKu)

354 Not the sky.


I liked Barton Fink to.

Posted by: Braenyard at August 08, 2020 09:49 PM (m+yM6)

355 I really enjoyed it. He also used Brian Blessed and
Derek Jacobi (might have been one or two more) from 'I, Claudius' in it
which I think he must be a fan of. In 'Dead Again' he has Derek Jacobi
use his C-C-Claudius stutter


Posted by: TheQuietMan at August 08, 2020 09:48 PM (9Ettb)


Comment should have been about Henry V not Hamlet

Posted by: TheQuietMan at August 08, 2020 09:49 PM (9Ettb)

356 I've been wondering if anyone else has watched any of those "DUST"
shorts, sci-fi movies. They've shown some interesting writing, I'm glad
to see some new work that actually has a spark of creativity in it.

Posted by: Tom Servo



YES!! On Youtube search "Dust short movie " and prepare to go down the rabbit hole. Some are awful some are spectacular!


"The Leap" was great. " "Hashtag" stars Gigi Edgley while "CC" stars Jewel Staite.


Cool stuff. Lot of great ideas packed in there.

Posted by: deplorable unperson - refuse to accept the Mask of the Beast at August 08, 2020 09:49 PM (luzVb)

357 >Michelle Pfeiffer plucking out the jewel in
Into the Night.
Posted by: Braenyard

Where did she pluck it from ?





(and here's where the thread goes off the rails)

Posted by: DB- just DB. at August 08, 2020 09:49 PM (iTXRQ)

358 Hamlet didn't work as well for me as Henry V, but I think its partly because he used some popular stars for parts (studio insistence?) and modernized it which I think hurt the story and flow. It has its great points though.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 08, 2020 09:50 PM (KZzsI)

359 352: O Brother Where Art Thou left me pleasantly surprised.

Upside: John Goodman, a grossly underrated actor.
Downside: George Clooney, who can't act whatsoever.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at August 08, 2020 09:50 PM (ejsiI)

360 @336

No, have not seen that one, but then again I'm not a completest, I've seen all of the works in his main curriculum vitae.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at August 08, 2020 09:50 PM (7cvyf)

361 358 Hamlet didn't work as well for me as Henry V, but I think its partly because he used some popular stars for parts (studio insistence?) and modernized it which I think hurt the story and flow. It has its great points though.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 08, 2020 09:50 PM (KZzsI)

=========

Billy Crystal makes a great gravedigger, though.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 09:50 PM (LvTSG)

362 The Quiet Man, exactly!

Eleanor, I tried to read the book years ago and am gonna try again soon. :-)
I know there's really nasty stuff in Burgess' book that Stanley had to leave out or change, for instance, that the opening scene in the movie of the droogs killing a bum? In the book, it's actually a very young child. :-P

Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 09:50 PM (L2ZTs)

363 -
-
Hamlet's father ... Brian Blessed is loud even when he whispers.

Posted by: BourbonChicken at August 08, 2020 09:47 PM
-
-
-----


You ever seen the mouth on that dude? He had no need of chewing the scenery. He swallowed it whole.

Posted by: irright at August 08, 2020 09:51 PM (RVcmP)

364 > Nihilists, huh? Fuck me.

"I mean, say what you like about the tenets of National Socialism, Dude, at least it's an ethos."

Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia (kneels to no one on this Earth) at August 08, 2020 09:51 PM (unn44)

365 link to "The Leap"

https://tinyurl.com/ycmw6ab4

Posted by: deplorable unperson - refuse to accept the Mask of the Beast at August 08, 2020 09:51 PM (luzVb)

366 349 Hamlet's father ... Brian Blessed is loud even when he whispers.
Posted by: BourbonChicken at August 08, 2020 09:47 PM (LxTcq)

I recently rewatched the first season of Black Adder - the King as played by Brian Blessed is the purest form of the same character he played every time he's on screen in anything. He shouts constantly, gnashes his teeth, and constantly terrifies everyone in the room with him!

a typical line for him: Well, come on - let's go and kill some more prisoners. As the good Lord said: "Love thy neighbor as thyself, unless he's Turkish, in which case, kill the bastard!"

Posted by: Tom Servo at August 08, 2020 09:51 PM (V2Yro)

367 Did anyone here like Men of Respect?

Posted by: Cosmic Charlie at August 08, 2020 09:51 PM (uhGSf)

368 A question: was the John Goodman character the devil living in that hotel?

Sure seems like he is, or at least he's meant to make us think he is. Great character, the Coens seem to get the best out of Goodman as an actor.

Detective Deutsch: What else?

Barton: Trying to think. Nothing, really. He... he said he liked Jack Oakie pictures.

Detective Mastrionotti: You know, ordinarily we say anything you might remember could be helpful. But I'll be frank with you, Fink. That is not helpful.

Detective Deutsch: Notice how he's not writing it down?

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 08, 2020 09:51 PM (KZzsI)

369 @338...The last scene with the guys from the party following the daughter is chilling. Even worse when you think it's not really a kidnapping. It's the cult's surveillance, minding the daughter while Kidman more or less lays down the law with Cruise. She knows the kid is fine, they're watching her.

Posted by: occam's brassiere at August 08, 2020 09:52 PM (ja/kn)

370 Throw a rock in here and you will hit a writer.

And do me a favor, Fink, and throw it hard.

Posted by: Regular joe at August 08, 2020 09:52 PM (L9P9s)

371 Billy Crystal makes a great gravedigger, though.

I never want to like him but when I see him on the screen, he's always great.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 08, 2020 09:53 PM (KZzsI)

372 I like Barton Fink as well. It's nice to see a movie where a lot of aspects are left for the audience to decide, including what's real and what's not.

I personally believe that John Goodman's character in that flick really is the devil. Too many other improbably things happen otherwise, if that makes any sense at all. ;-)

Another scene I admit left me scratching my head: when Turturro is finally checking out of the hotel, it's completely engulfed in flames, but he's walking out calmly and slowly, practically oblivious to it all.

Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 09:53 PM (L2ZTs)

373 I really like the movie Prospect low budget, I like the idea of that not every person wears the same spacesuit, everyone has a different one, with that person's personality.

Posted by: Patrick from Ohio at August 08, 2020 09:53 PM (dKiJG)

374 Upside: John Goodman, a grossly underrated actor.
Downside: George Clooney, who can't act whatsoever.
Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at August 08, 2020 09:50 PM (ejsiI)

for me, that's one of the only movies where I liked Clooney a lot. His character is a pompous, self possessed buffoon, and Clooney seems like a natural for the role.

Posted by: Tom Servo at August 08, 2020 09:53 PM (V2Yro)

375 It looks like cooking a brisket still takes a long time with an Instant Pot. After one hour it was really rubbery, and after the second hour it was still fairly rubbery. The third hour of cooking just finished, and I'll soon know whether it's tender now or needs more time.

Posted by: Prothonotary Warbler at August 08, 2020 09:54 PM (H3MF8)

376 327 Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut, I keep seeing people say it's a must watch after all the crap that is happening in Hollywood/Epstein What do others here think I have never watched it
Posted by: Patrick from Ohio at August 08, 2020 09:40 PM (dKiJG)

I've got a collection of stories by Austrian writer Arthur Schnitzler on my to-read list. I haven't seen the movie but it is said to be based on the story Dream Story (1926), available in a translated collection called Night Games.

Posted by: Guilded Age II at August 08, 2020 09:54 PM (BRkq2)

377 374 Upside: John Goodman, a grossly underrated actor.
Downside: George Clooney, who can't act whatsoever.
Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at August 08, 2020 09:50 PM (ejsiI)

for me, that's one of the only movies where I liked Clooney a lot. His character is a pompous, self possessed buffoon, and Clooney seems like a natural for the role.
Posted by: Tom Servo at August 08, 2020 09:53 PM (V2Yro)

========

The Coens call their movies with Clooney the Idiot Movies, because he always plays an idiot.

From O Brother to Burn after Reading to Hail Caesar, he's a moron in all of them.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 09:54 PM (LvTSG)

378 I didn't think I was going to like Brother Where are Thou but I did and seen it a few times now so that must be something.

Posted by: Skip at August 08, 2020 09:54 PM (OjZpE)

379 I can especially appreciate the scenes in BF where Turturro's trying to deal productively with the detectives who keep ridiculing him.

I've dealt with that now at so many jobs it's not even funny to me anymore.

Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 09:55 PM (L2ZTs)

380 -
-
Billy Crystal makes a great gravedigger, though.



I never want to like him but when I see him on the screen, he's always great.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 08, 2020 09:53 PM
-
-
----

A good talent can transcend themselves.

Posted by: irright at August 08, 2020 09:55 PM (RVcmP)

381 Bouillabaisse Cheddarcheese
Baseballmitt Curdlemilk
Bobafett Snickersbar

was good as Richard III.

Posted by: BourbonChicken at August 08, 2020 09:55 PM (LxTcq)

382 359 352: O Brother Where Art Thou left me pleasantly surprised.

Upside: John Goodman, a grossly underrated actor.
Downside: George Clooney, who can't act whatsoever.
Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at August 08, 2020 09:50 PM (ejsiI)
===

I find myself in a tiny minority by not liking the movie.

Posted by: Guilded Age II at August 08, 2020 09:56 PM (BRkq2)

383 374 Upside: John Goodman, a grossly underrated actor.
Downside: George Clooney, who can't act whatsoever.
Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at August 08, 2020 09:50 PM (ejsiI)

for me, that's one of the only movies where I liked Clooney a lot. His character is a pompous, self possessed buffoon, and Clooney seems like a natural for the role.
Posted by: Tom Servo at August 08, 2020 09:53 PM (V2Yro)

--------------------------------

It's hilarious when he snaps awake, and his first words are "ma hair!"

Posted by: No One of Consequence at August 08, 2020 09:56 PM (CAJOC)

384 Anthony Hopkins did an amazing job on King Lear; the interpretation and staging made you think Lear had Alzheimers (he even ends up pushing a shopping cart and raving in a parking lot). Whatever you do, DO NOT, REPEAT, DO NOT waste your time on any Shakespeare production that reverses genders. The RSC tried it with Hamlet and it sucked donkey balls.

Posted by: vivi at August 08, 2020 09:56 PM (11H2y)

385 The music takes O Brother Where Art Thou and makes it magnificent. Without that soundtrack its a good enough movie, fun and enjoyable but with that music its sublime. Really awakened a love of bluegrass in me.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 08, 2020 09:57 PM (KZzsI)

386 I recently rewatched the first season of Black Adder - the King as played by Brian Blessed is the purest form of the same character he played every time he's on screen in anything. He shouts constantly, gnashes his teeth, and constantly terrifies everyone in the room with him!

a typical line for him: Well, come on - let's go and kill some more prisoners. As the good Lord said: "Love thy neighbor as thyself, unless he's Turkish, in which case, kill the bastard!"
Posted by: Tom Servo at August 08, 2020 09:51 PM (V2Yro)

The third season of Black Adder in WW I, the ending was so well done, even shocking to me an so damn sad.

Posted by: Patrick from Ohio at August 08, 2020 09:57 PM (dKiJG)

387 How much does the brisket weigh?

Posted by: Braenyard at August 08, 2020 09:57 PM (m+yM6)

388 307- I gotta tell ya, I was astounded to learn your age; I thought you were a twunny something chickadee !
Posted by: JT at August 08, 2020 09:34 PM

I'm young at heart!

Posted by: Moonbeam at August 08, 2020 09:57 PM (qe5CM)

389 After three hours in the Instant Pot, my brisket is, like, half rubbery and half tender. I guess it needs another hour.

Posted by: Prothonotary Warbler at August 08, 2020 09:57 PM (H3MF8)

390 378 I didn't think I was going to like Brother Where are Thou but I did and seen it a few times now so that must be something.
Posted by: Skip at August 08, 2020 09:54 PM (OjZpE)

For me, watching O Brother is like putting one of my favorite albums on and listening all the way through. I enjoy the music so much, it's a nice plus for me that the story line as well, what with all the ways they play with Homer's Odyssey.

But the story is that T. Bone Burnett worked out the sound track first, and then the Coens wrote the scenes to correspond with that T. Bone had given them.

Posted by: Tom Servo at August 08, 2020 09:58 PM (V2Yro)

391 TJM, so Shadow of a Doubt is my next movie.

Posted by: Guilded Age II at August 08, 2020 09:58 PM (BRkq2)

392 O Brother has a possible devil as well in it. Is that sheriff chasing them actually Satan or is he just a very evil man?

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 08, 2020 09:58 PM (KZzsI)

393 385 The music takes O Brother Where Art Thou and makes it magnificent. Without that soundtrack its a good enough movie, fun and enjoyable but with that music its sublime. Really awakened a love of bluegrass in me.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 08, 2020 09:57 PM (KZzsI)

-------------------------

Fun fact - we had the soundtrack to "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" playing in the delivery room when my son was born.

Posted by: No One of Consequence at August 08, 2020 09:59 PM (CAJOC)

394 Whatever you do, DO NOT, REPEAT, DO NOT waste your time on any Shakespeare production that reverses genders. The RSC tried it with Hamlet and it sucked donkey balls.
Posted by: vivi at August 08, 2020 09:56 PM (11H2y)


Weird. Who played Ophelia?

Posted by: DR.WTF at August 08, 2020 09:59 PM (AiZBA)

395 And I loved Barton Fink but its... not for everyone, I agree.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 08, 2020 09:44 PM (KZzsI)

==========

"You think I made your life hell? Take a look around this dump. You're just a tourist with a typewriter, Barton. I live here."
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 09:47 PM (LvTSG)


Question, is there any movie about screen writers where the story ends well for the screen writer?

Posted by: BurtTC at August 08, 2020 09:59 PM (hku12)

396 391 TJM, so Shadow of a Doubt is my next movie.
Posted by: Guilded Age II at August 08, 2020 09:58 PM (BRkq2)

==========

I saw it once in college, liked it, but didn't quite get the hype from my professor.

I watched it for only the second time a few weeks back and was kind of blown away by the twisted nature of everything. It works just so well.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, running from a biplane in a cornfield at August 08, 2020 09:59 PM (LvTSG)

397 Weird. Who played Ophelia?
Posted by: DR.WTF at August 08, 2020 09:59 PM (AiZBA)
---

Emo Phillips!

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at August 08, 2020 10:00 PM (Dc2NZ)

398 I like Hitchcock movies enough when I watch them but I don't go out of my way to see any because they almost all feel overlong. The best ones (Psycho, Rear Window, etc) are all tight and don't feel like it, but much of his building suspense feels slow to me and I wish the movie would get along better.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 08, 2020 10:00 PM (KZzsI)

399 387 How much does the brisket weigh?
Posted by: Braenyard at August 08, 2020 09:57 PM (m+yM6)

It's somewhere between 2-1/2 and 3 pounds. I don't have an exact measure because it was delivered, and the company is not exactly big on precise measurements.

Posted by: Prothonotary Warbler at August 08, 2020 10:00 PM (H3MF8)

400 BurtTC, don't think so.

Also... am I crazy or is the very last thing you see in Barton Fink, a seagull drowning itself??

Posted by: qdpsteve at August 08, 2020 10:00 PM (L2ZTs)

401 Weird. Who played Ophelia?
Posted by: DR.WTF at August 08, 2020 09:59 PM (AiZBA)
---

Emo Phillips!
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at August 08, 2020 10:00 PM (Dc2NZ)


*slaps forehead*

Of course!

Posted by: DR.WTF at August 08, 2020 10:00 PM (AiZBA)

402 @390
If you have the DVD special edition of OBWAT, it has a documentary of how they shot and color corrected the film.

It's quite good and gives you great insight on the post-production process.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at August 08, 2020 10:01 PM (7cvyf)

403 392 O Brother has a possible devil as well in it. Is that sheriff chasing them actually Satan or is he just a very evil man?
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 08, 2020 09:58 PM (KZzsI)

Considering it was based on The Odyssey, I doubt that Satan would make an appearance. But that's just me. (Hades, perhaps?)

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at August 08, 2020 10:01 PM (ejsiI)

404 Fun fact - we had the soundtrack to "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" playing in the delivery room when my son was born.

O Death was probably a bit of a downer.

Those little Warby Gals had a great career (if too short) singing bluegrass and gospel together, the Peasall Sisters. Then they grew up and got tired of it, or something.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 08, 2020 10:01 PM (KZzsI)

405 @368

Detective Deutsch: Mundt decapitated a doctor up north.

Detective Mastrioanni: Ear, nose and throat man

Detective Deutsch: Doctor, heal thyself

Detective Mastrioanni: Good luck with no fucking head

Posted by: occam's brassiere at August 08, 2020 10:01 PM (ja/kn)

406 The talent of posters to AOS never ceases to amaze!

Posted by: Jerry at August 08, 2020 10:02 PM (2wrt5)

407
ONT is nood

Posted by: AltonJackson at August 08, 2020 10:03 PM (dxdqK)

408 o...n...t...

Posted by: davidt at August 08, 2020 10:03 PM (l3+k2)

409 O Brother, Where Art Thou?, that was a sublime movie.
I sometimes have it on in the background, just playing, over and over.

Posted by: navybrat, at large at August 08, 2020 10:03 PM (w7KSn)

410 N00d, guys.

Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain, Having Marie Kondo Shorten His Alias at August 08, 2020 10:03 PM (dwojT)

411 392 O Brother has a possible devil as well in it. Is that sheriff chasing them actually Satan or is he just a very evil man?
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 08, 2020 09:58 PM (KZzsI)

In the original Odyssey, Poseidon has a grudge against Odysseus and follows him through his travels, constantly causing him grief and shipwrecking him. In O Brother, I think the Coen's quite deliberately pulled a switch and had him pursued by Hades himself, along with his dog Cerberus. (who only has one head on this earth)

A fun little clue to what they're doing, pay close attention to the Sherrif's face whenever there's a close up. There are NEVER any eyes, nothing is ever there except blackness or Flames.

Posted by: Tom Servo at August 08, 2020 10:03 PM (V2Yro)

412 I really enjoyed Sea of Love, a caper thriller with Al Pacino and John Goodman as cops tracking down a lonelyhearts killer. It doesn't get enough love, in my opinion. There's real good cop procedural backstory, everyone really seems to be enjoying the gig. And I love Al Pacino.

Posted by: vivi at August 08, 2020 10:03 PM (11H2y)

413 Got my saints mixed up.

Not Jill St. John it's Eva Marie Saint.

But you knew that, TJM.

Posted by: Braenyard at August 08, 2020 10:03 PM (m+yM6)

414 They never tell you the name of the old blind man who tells them their future, but you know it's Tiresias.

Posted by: Tom Servo at August 08, 2020 10:05 PM (V2Yro)

415 Eleanor, I tried to read the book years ago and am gonna try again soon. :-)
I know there's really nasty stuff in Burgess' book that Stanley had to leave out or change, for instance, that the opening scene in the movie of the droogs killing a bum? In the book, it's actually a very young child. :-P
Posted by: qdpsteve

Yup. The book was almost unbelievably evil and, you'll pardon the expression, "ultra-violent." D)

Posted by: Eleanor, What the Cat Dragged In at August 08, 2020 10:05 PM (QU+qf)

416 it's a nice plus for me that the story line as well, what with all the ways they play with Homer's Odyssey.
===

Not to be rude, but definitely to be contrarian: I don't see that the alleged "references" to Homer have anything to say about the Odyssey. If you watched it and reread Homer, what new insight would you carry with you, having seen the movie?

I think this holds for the majority of "references" in late modern culture. It seems a cheap way to try to claim some unearned status.

Posted by: Guilded Age II at August 08, 2020 10:06 PM (BRkq2)

417 -
-
Whatever you do, DO NOT, REPEAT, DO NOT waste
your time on any Shakespeare production that reverses genders. The RSC
tried it with Hamlet and it sucked donkey balls.

Posted by: vivi at August 08, 2020 09:56 PM (11H2y)



Weird. Who played Ophelia?

Posted by: DR.WTF at August 08, 2020 09:59 PM
-
-
-----

Brian Williams. Saw his own body floating by the hotel during a hurricane.

Posted by: irright at August 08, 2020 10:06 PM (RVcmP)

418 Best dialogue?
Arsenic and Old Lace

Posted by: MarkY at August 08, 2020 10:09 PM (KeVib)

419 @386 --

Agreed on last episode of Blackadder series four. (Not three.)

I sometimes imagine their future lives. (Darling lives.)

Great writing in Blackadder, all series.

Re Brian Blessed: He was in the first episode of the British cop series "The Sweeney." As a crime boss, he was rather quiet.

Posted by: Weak Geek at August 08, 2020 10:09 PM (u/nim)

420 Not to be rude, but definitely to be contrarian: I don't see that the alleged "references" to Homer have anything to say about the Odyssey. If you watched it and reread Homer, what new insight would you carry with you, having seen the movie?
I think this holds for the majority of "references" in late modern culture. It seems a cheap way to try to claim some unearned status.
Posted by: Guilded Age II at August 08, 2020 10:06 PM (BRkq2)

What do you mean "say" about the Odyssey? This isn't a lecture, it's fun film about the depression, and all the scenes and events and characters are roughly lifted out of the Odyssey. It's meant to be fun, the fun is spotting all of it. Some is way easy, like John Goodman is the Cyclops, Ulysses is tempted by the Si-reens, there's a long long lis of things, some a bit more obscure.

Posted by: Tom Servo at August 08, 2020 10:09 PM (V2Yro)

421 in the RSC production with the female Hamlet, Hamlet and Ophelia had a lesbian relationship. Of Course.

I saw a production of Hamlet with Bandersnatch Cummerbund, but all I could think of was "OMG, Dr. Strange!"

Posted by: vivi at August 08, 2020 10:11 PM (11H2y)

422 But the story is that T. Bone Burnett worked out the sound track first, and then the Coens wrote the scenes to correspond with that T. Bone had given them.
Posted by: Tom Servo at August 08, 2020 09:58 PM (V2Yro)

That sounds not implausible.

Posted by: Guilded Age II at August 08, 2020 10:12 PM (BRkq2)

423 What do you mean "say" about the Odyssey? This isn't a lecture, it's fun film about the depression, and all the scenes and events and characters are roughly lifted out of the Odyssey. It's meant to be fun, the fun is spotting all of it. Some is way easy, like John Goodman is the Cyclops, Ulysses is tempted by the Si-reens, there's a long long lis of things, some a bit more obscure.
Posted by: Tom Servo at August 08, 2020 10:09 PM (V2Yro)
===

I'll grant it!

Posted by: Guilded Age II at August 08, 2020 10:14 PM (BRkq2)

424 423 What do you mean "say" about the Odyssey? This isn't a lecture, it's fun film about the depression, and all the scenes and events and characters are roughly lifted out of the Odyssey. It's meant to be fun, the fun is spotting all of it. Some is way easy, like John Goodman is the Cyclops, Ulysses is tempted by the Si-reens, there's a long long lis of things, some a bit more obscure.
Posted by: Tom Servo at August 08, 2020 10:09 PM (V2Yro) ===

There is a lot taken from the movie Sullivan's Travels (1941) too. When I watched them, I thought Sullivan's Travels was better. But I only saw each once, but almost back to back.

Posted by: Guilded Age II at August 08, 2020 10:17 PM (BRkq2)

425 Posted by: Tom Servo at August 08, 2020 10:09 PM (V2Yro)
===

I encounter a lot of young people who seem to believe that they already "know all about" Homer because they saw the movie. I was thinking more about that.

Posted by: Guilded Age II at August 08, 2020 10:20 PM (BRkq2)

426 TJM, thank you for your amazing work with Hitchcocks work. Really want to find those ones I have not seen. The man who knew too much does not sound familiar. While most of the later ones do. Anyway, just wanted to pop in and say thank you, I appreciate it. Now for the comments.

Posted by: MikeM at August 08, 2020 11:41 PM (pPSxd)

427 All comments and ratings are truly appreciated.
Posted by: BeckoningChasm
I liked it a lot. The opening and closing structures. The surfaces of some of the planets were really interesting and amazing. I liked the somewhat helix shaped bit of electricity that created a planet, that would then disappear, in a cycle.

Posted by: MikeM at August 08, 2020 11:57 PM (pPSxd)

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