I re-watched the Kings Speech recently and liked it better the second time. Caught a great doc the other day Catching Madoff, very in depth. Extensive interviews with Markopulos (sic) and the fund manager he worked for that were the first two to catch the scent of impropriety. Worth watching.
The Big Sleep
Raymond Chandler was not a great detective story writer, he was a great writer who wrote detective stories. Before him Dashiell Hammett had almost single handedly created the image of the California hard boiled detective. His short stories of the 20's were about a frequently nameless Continental Op(erative) who solved mysteries. His greatest achievement in this genre was the 1930 novel, The Maltese Falcon featuring the detective with a great name--Sam Spade. The story was adapted twice for the movies before John Huston directed Humphrey Bogart in the definitive version in 1941. The film is a fairly strict adaptation of the book with Bogart simply becoming Spade and defining the film detective for all future films up to and beyond Blade Runner.
Chandler was an oil executive who at the age of 44 wrote his first detective short story. These were sold to pulp fiction magazines like Hammett's were. Reading Chandler's collected short stories you can see pages that were then pretty much carried word for word into his novels. Starting late in life, he only wrote 8 novels. Hammett wrote even less--5. Chandler's first was The Big Sleep in 1939. He carries on the hard-boiled tradition with the detective Phillip Marlowe working amongst the seedy side of Los Angeles. Nasty things occur among the richest and the poorest of its inhabitants and Marlowe is the incorruptible knight who charges into their midst righting wrongs.
While Chandler continues the writing style of Hammett he is the master of spare, evocative language. Here is the opening of his first novel, The Big Sleep :
Now compare the two movies, both with Bogart, both feature a California detective. The movie of The Maltese Falcon is a miracle of perfect casting (Bogart [finally broken out of the gangster mold], Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, (the slightly too melodramatic) Mary Astor and Elijah Cook Jr. as the "cheap gunsel") and the great direction of Huston. And somehow it happened again in the more modern California detective story-- The Big Sleep . Bogart again personifies the lead character. Cook Jr. is back as a sad, but braver soul, and many great, but pretty much unknown today actors are featured such as slimy John Ridgley as Eddie Mars and dangerous looking Bob Steele as Lash Canino. Another great director is at the helm, Howard Hawks, but what makes the movie sing is a 20 year old actress, Lauren Bacall.
Bacall had appeared opposite Bogart in To Have and To Have Not when she was 19 and Bogart was already 45. Their chemistry could not be denied and was on full display a year later in The Big Sleep. And here is a tale of how chance and vision can lead to greatness. The movie was ready in 1945, but due to the need to release the American WWII movies during the war years, it was not released until 1946. The original version was shown to some overseas serviceman in 1945, but that version was pretty much unseen until 1997. Both versions are on the DVD and they are a revelation.
In the 1945 original version the relation between Bogart and Bacall is fairly tame (actually keeping more in line with book.) During a major scene Bacall's face is pretty much hidden by a fishnet veil that was popular at the time. It was Bacall's agent who wrote to Warner Bros. to get scenes reshot and to bring out Bacall's sex appeal. And obvious example is that instead of the veil Bacall is full on sexy and she delivers the delicious double entendre loaded scene about controlling a man the way she would ride a horse.
The film contains at least 20 memorable great scenes and dozens of quotable lines. A major part is due to the fantastic adaptation (that does not feel the need to be faithful to the novel) by the too short-lived, dependable Leigh Brackett, Jules Furthman, who co-wrote this and To Have and To Have Not with William Faulkner (!)
Examples of non-stop wonderful scenes: Bogart's scene with Bacall's naughty younger sister play by Martha Vickers. From the book the original lines, "Tall aren't you?" "I didn't mean to be." Since Bogart wasn't tall becomes, "You're not very tall." "Well, I, uh, I try to be." Supposedly the actress Martha Vicker's scenes were cut because she was too hot and they didn't want to take anything away from Bacall.
Into the hothouse with the orchids that General Sternwood says are, "Nasty things. Their flesh is too much like the flesh of men, and their perfume has the rotten sweetness of corruption." Changed, and improved, from "prostitutes" in the novel.)
Right after this Bogart has his first meeting with Bacall (one of the General's two "wild daughters.")
On the way out Bogart, who was told to see Bacall earlier by the butler, tells the butler he was mistake, she didn't want to see him, "Mrs. Ruttledge (Bacall) didn't want to see me." To which the butler responds that he is often wrong.
Scene after great scene roll on. The house where Carmen is photographed for blackmail purpose--so much atmosphere, it's a wonder of photography and lighting. Bogart playing a fey character to get information from Geiger's tough female assistant, her, "First it's 'ceramics'..." The woman cab drive who hits on Bogart and the one who gets him in Acme's books when she takes off the glasses, puts down her hair and turns into the hot Dorothy Malone who apparently has sex with in the aisles of the book shop. Bacall singing! and gambling. Elijah Cook Jr. going to the final degree to save the woman he loves, the one who has no interest in him.
And everyone's fav, "Such a lot of guns around town and so few brains!" Here I'm just going to link the IMDB quote page. For those who've seen the movie each one can be replayed in your head and re-visualized. Quote from The Big Sleep
Last I'd like to address the point about the plot not being totally logical. Who cares! Actually I don't think most people even notice it. The power, and fun, of the movie makes plot holes superfluous. Our fave Hitchcock never let plot problems stop him from making a great film-going experience. Just sit back, watch The Big Sleep for hopefully the fifth or sixth time and let its magic wash over you and carry you away to (cliché time) when movies were movies.
Raymond Chandler was not a great detective story writer, he was a great writer who wrote detective stories. Before him Dashiell Hammett had almost single handedly created the image of the California hard boiled detective. His short stories of the 20's were about a frequently nameless Continental Op(erative) who solved mysteries. His greatest achievement in this genre was the 1930 novel, The Maltese Falcon featuring the detective with a great name--Sam Spade. The story was adapted twice for the movies before John Huston directed Humphrey Bogart in the definitive version in 1941. The film is a fairly strict adaptation of the book with Bogart simply becoming Spade and defining the film detective for all future films up to and beyond Blade Runner.
Chandler was an oil executive who at the age of 44 wrote his first detective short story. These were sold to pulp fiction magazines like Hammett's were. Reading Chandler's collected short stories you can see pages that were then pretty much carried word for word into his novels. Starting late in life, he only wrote 8 novels. Hammett wrote even less--5. Chandler's first was The Big Sleep in 1939. He carries on the hard-boiled tradition with the detective Phillip Marlowe working amongst the seedy side of Los Angeles. Nasty things occur among the richest and the poorest of its inhabitants and Marlowe is the incorruptible knight who charges into their midst righting wrongs.
While Chandler continues the writing style of Hammett he is the master of spare, evocative language. Here is the opening of his first novel, The Big Sleep :
quote:IT WAS ABOUT ELEVEN O’CLOCK in the morning, mid October, with the sun not shining and a look of hard wet rain in the clearness of the foothills. I was wearing my powder-blue suit, with dark blue shirt, tie and display handkerchief, black brogues, black wool socks with dark blue clocks on them. I was neat, clean, shaved and sober, and I didn’t care who knew it. I was everything the well-dressed private detective ought to be. I was calling on four million dollars.
The main hallway of the Sternwood place was two stories high. Over the entrance doors, which would have let in a troop of Indian elephants, there was a broad stained-glass panel showing a knight in dark armor rescuing a lady who was tied to a tree and didn’t have any clothes on but some very long and convenient hair. The knight had pushed the vizor of his helmet back to be sociable, and he was fiddling with the knots on the ropes that tied the lady to the tree and not getting anywhere. I stood there and thought that if I lived in the house, I would sooner or later have to climb up there and help him. He didn’t seem to be really trying.
Now compare the two movies, both with Bogart, both feature a California detective. The movie of The Maltese Falcon is a miracle of perfect casting (Bogart [finally broken out of the gangster mold], Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, (the slightly too melodramatic) Mary Astor and Elijah Cook Jr. as the "cheap gunsel") and the great direction of Huston. And somehow it happened again in the more modern California detective story-- The Big Sleep . Bogart again personifies the lead character. Cook Jr. is back as a sad, but braver soul, and many great, but pretty much unknown today actors are featured such as slimy John Ridgley as Eddie Mars and dangerous looking Bob Steele as Lash Canino. Another great director is at the helm, Howard Hawks, but what makes the movie sing is a 20 year old actress, Lauren Bacall.
Bacall had appeared opposite Bogart in To Have and To Have Not when she was 19 and Bogart was already 45. Their chemistry could not be denied and was on full display a year later in The Big Sleep. And here is a tale of how chance and vision can lead to greatness. The movie was ready in 1945, but due to the need to release the American WWII movies during the war years, it was not released until 1946. The original version was shown to some overseas serviceman in 1945, but that version was pretty much unseen until 1997. Both versions are on the DVD and they are a revelation.
In the 1945 original version the relation between Bogart and Bacall is fairly tame (actually keeping more in line with book.) During a major scene Bacall's face is pretty much hidden by a fishnet veil that was popular at the time. It was Bacall's agent who wrote to Warner Bros. to get scenes reshot and to bring out Bacall's sex appeal. And obvious example is that instead of the veil Bacall is full on sexy and she delivers the delicious double entendre loaded scene about controlling a man the way she would ride a horse.
The film contains at least 20 memorable great scenes and dozens of quotable lines. A major part is due to the fantastic adaptation (that does not feel the need to be faithful to the novel) by the too short-lived, dependable Leigh Brackett, Jules Furthman, who co-wrote this and To Have and To Have Not with William Faulkner (!)
Examples of non-stop wonderful scenes: Bogart's scene with Bacall's naughty younger sister play by Martha Vickers. From the book the original lines, "Tall aren't you?" "I didn't mean to be." Since Bogart wasn't tall becomes, "You're not very tall." "Well, I, uh, I try to be." Supposedly the actress Martha Vicker's scenes were cut because she was too hot and they didn't want to take anything away from Bacall.
Into the hothouse with the orchids that General Sternwood says are, "Nasty things. Their flesh is too much like the flesh of men, and their perfume has the rotten sweetness of corruption." Changed, and improved, from "prostitutes" in the novel.)
Right after this Bogart has his first meeting with Bacall (one of the General's two "wild daughters.")
On the way out Bogart, who was told to see Bacall earlier by the butler, tells the butler he was mistake, she didn't want to see him, "Mrs. Ruttledge (Bacall) didn't want to see me." To which the butler responds that he is often wrong.
Scene after great scene roll on. The house where Carmen is photographed for blackmail purpose--so much atmosphere, it's a wonder of photography and lighting. Bogart playing a fey character to get information from Geiger's tough female assistant, her, "First it's 'ceramics'..." The woman cab drive who hits on Bogart and the one who gets him in Acme's books when she takes off the glasses, puts down her hair and turns into the hot Dorothy Malone who apparently has sex with in the aisles of the book shop. Bacall singing! and gambling. Elijah Cook Jr. going to the final degree to save the woman he loves, the one who has no interest in him.
And everyone's fav, "Such a lot of guns around town and so few brains!" Here I'm just going to link the IMDB quote page. For those who've seen the movie each one can be replayed in your head and re-visualized. Quote from The Big Sleep
Last I'd like to address the point about the plot not being totally logical. Who cares! Actually I don't think most people even notice it. The power, and fun, of the movie makes plot holes superfluous. Our fave Hitchcock never let plot problems stop him from making a great film-going experience. Just sit back, watch The Big Sleep for hopefully the fifth or sixth time and let its magic wash over you and carry you away to (cliché time) when movies were movies.
quote:Originally posted by sunnylea57:quote:Originally posted by wine+art:quote:Originally posted by The Old Man:quote:Originally posted by wine+art:
The Conversation
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, Coppola's only good movie.
I have said it before and I will say it again, The Godfather & The Godfather II are wonderful.
Yes.
The Godfather is my favorite movie of all time. Both The Godfather, Part II and Apocalypse Now are top 50 for me (with II probably ahead of Apocalypse Now.)
Inside Llewyn Davis
A disappointment. Very well acted, photographed, produced and directed. And the music was fun and evocative, if not good. But the story was not engaging.
IMO, this is one of the less compelling of the Coen brothers' movies. Still, it is do well done that I have to respect it. B
A disappointment. Very well acted, photographed, produced and directed. And the music was fun and evocative, if not good. But the story was not engaging.
IMO, this is one of the less compelling of the Coen brothers' movies. Still, it is do well done that I have to respect it. B
Life of Pi.
Double Indemnity
quote:Originally posted by winetarelli:quote:Originally posted by sunnylea57:quote:Originally posted by wine+art:quote:Originally posted by The Old Man:quote:Originally posted by wine+art:
The Conversation
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, Coppola's only good movie.
I have said it before and I will say it again, The Godfather & The Godfather II are wonderful.
Yes.
The Godfather is my favorite movie of all time. Both The Godfather, Part II and Apocalypse Now are top 50 for me (with II probably ahead of Apocalypse Now.)
The problem with The Godfather is these people appear to have no fun. Everything goes from one serious moment to another without them getting even the slightest enjoyment out of their lives. Even the endless opening wedding scene seems to consist of people going through the expected motions. All too grim.
See the best movie of the genre Goodfellas and TV's best (though flawed) gangster show The Sopranos for a more balanced view of "the business."
quote:Originally posted by The Old Man:
The problem with The Godfather is these people appear to have no fun. Everything goes from one serious moment to another without them getting even the slightest enjoyment out of their lives. Even the endless opening wedding scene seems to consist of people going through the expected motions. All too grim.
I agree that The Godfather I and II are grim. But if you're talking about characters who don't get the slightest enjoyment out of their lives, Gene Hackman in The Conversation is the poster boy. Except for his jazz & sax.
quote:Originally posted by sunnylea57:quote:Originally posted by The Old Man:
The problem with The Godfather is these people appear to have no fun. Everything goes from one serious moment to another without them getting even the slightest enjoyment out of their lives. Even the endless opening wedding scene seems to consist of people going through the expected motions. All too grim.
I agree that The Godfather I and II are grim. But if you're talking about characters who don't get the slightest enjoyment out of their lives, Gene Hackman in The Conversation is the poster boy. Except for his jazz & sax.
But this is his character. I refuse to believe that no one in The Godfather's world never had a good time.
Monsters University with the kids 
quote:Originally posted by Uncle John:
Monsters University with the kids
I think Monster's Inc. is an excellent movie and easily Pixar's best. M.U. was a very good, if unnecessary, sequel (prequel.)
quote:Originally posted by The Old Man:quote:Originally posted by Uncle John:
Monsters University with the kids
I think Monster's Inc. is an excellent movie and easily Pixar's best. M.U. was a very good, if unnecessary, sequel (prequel.)
Okay, you have me on this one.
quote:Originally posted by wine+art:quote:Originally posted by The Old Man:quote:Originally posted by Uncle John:
Monsters University with the kids
I think Monster's Inc. is an excellent movie and easily Pixar's best. M.U. was a very good, if unnecessary, sequel (prequel.)
Okay, you have me on this one.
Finally one that I like that W+A hasn't seen! Put M.I right onto your must watch list--better than Bergman any day.
Took my son to Free Birds today.
quote:The problem with The Godfather is these people appear to have no fun. Everything goes from one serious moment to another without them getting even the slightest enjoyment out of their lives. Even the endless opening wedding scene seems to consist of people going through the expected motions. All too grim.
See the best movie of the genre Goodfellas and TV's best (though flawed) gangster show The Sopranos for a more balanced view of "the business."
I dunno. My grandfather was at the wedding the opening scene is allegedly based upon. But there is certainly joy in The Godfather. Brando when playing with his grandson comes to mind (although that scene ends...). I recall other times, though I cannot think on what they are.
Believe me, I've seen Goodfellas several times, and 90% of The Sopranos episodes over its entire run. I strongly disagree that these are better, or at, or near the quality of The Godfather. I would also put The Godfather, Part II ahead of both. Hell, I'd put The Freshman way ahead of any Sopranos episode. (Except maybe the college visit with Meadow and "The Pine Barons" which were my two favorite episodes.)
John Dies in the End 
I don't understand the comparison of the mafia portrayal between The Godfather and Sopranos. One is about 5 hours and the other is 5+ seasons. There is plenty of time to show the daily mafia lifestyle over several years versus one or two movies. Goodfellas is not even in the same league.
Saw Red 2 last night. Pretty average Willis action flick, not as much fun as some of his others. Anthony Hopkins looked like he was enjoying himself a lot.
quote:Originally posted by DoubleD:
I don't understand the comparison of the mafia portrayal between The Godfather and Sopranos. One is about 5 hours and the other is 5+ seasons. There is plenty of time to show the daily mafia lifestyle over several years versus one or two movies. Goodfellas is not even in the same league.
Goodfellas is Scorsese's one masterpiece. The Sopranos is groundbreaking television that way overstayed its welcome. The Godfather's grim tone is a choice that Coppola made--it's not due to a restriction/limitation of time.
Gangster Squad. Very good. Some decent lines. Stone and Penn, best.
Seven Days in May
quote:Originally posted by wine+art:
Seven Days in May
Yes.
I just watched that great Lancaster allegorical film The Swimmer. He was such a life force, every moment he's on screen he commands your attention.
Some film with a very, very hot Naomi Watts...and a big ape.
America "X" 4 stars on HBO [I believe]
quote:Originally posted by steve8:
Some film with a very, very hot Naomi Watts...and a big ape.
She was hot you say? And there was an ape? So the film was set in the tropics, then?
I think wine+art watches more movies in a month than I do in a 5 year span. I enjoy movies, just have a hard time sitting down for 2 hours.
quote:Originally posted by GlennK:
I think wine+art watches more movies in a month than I do in a 5 year span. I enjoy movies, just have a hard time sitting down for 2 hours.
He has a lot of time on his hands--he just sits around the house all day.
And drinks really good wine.
In the Army they would label wine+art "ROAD".
Tale of Two Cities ( 1935)
quote:Originally posted by wine+art:
Tale of Two Cities ( 1935)
Dallas/Fort Worth?
North Dallas Forty.
quote:Originally posted by The Old Man:quote:Originally posted by wine+art:
Tale of Two Cities ( 1935)
Dallas/Fort Worth?
Have you watched this film?
Everything Must Go
Not a big fan of Will Ferrell, but I thought he did a pretty decent job and overall I enjoyed it.
Not a big fan of Will Ferrell, but I thought he did a pretty decent job and overall I enjoyed it.
quote:Originally posted by wine+art:quote:Originally posted by The Old Man:quote:Originally posted by wine+art:
Tale of Two Cities ( 1935)
Dallas/Fort Worth?
Have you watched this film?
I think I saw it in English class. Unfortunately being forced to read the book made me closed off to the movie. I have seen parts of it on TV since then. Who could better read the "Far, far better thing..." line than Ronald Coleman? And was there ever a Disney villainess who could touch Blanche Yurka as Madame De Farge?
quote:Originally posted by The Old Man:
Unfortunately being forced to read the book
You did not enjoy Dickens historical novel?
Tristana
Oh, and to GlennK and WIML, I was out all week and failed/forgot to reply.
BITE ME! 
BITE ME!
quote:Originally posted by wine+art:
Oh, and to GlennK and WIML, I was out all week and failed/forgot to reply.
BITE ME!