MOVIES: What are you watching?

Blue iguana.  A somewhat goofy caper film with the usual bunch of misfits.  I liked it.

A Hidden Life

Ice on Fire. An HBO documentary

IW

Wild in the Streets was on TCM today. One of the more ridiculous of the films that were almost made specially for hippies. (I was one but I already was a film connoisseur.) Famous for its Planet of the Apes type ending it's pretty much unwatchable and it includes one of those embarrassing over top Shelley Winters roles. Another almost totally unknown hippie film was Elliot Gould's Getting Straight. His career survived it!

@The Old Man posted:

On Sunday there's a chance to see the movie where the word "gaslighting " comes from, Gaslight also Sunday is Tarkovsky's challenging, Solaris.

Actually the term came from the 1938 play Gaslight. The George Cukor film with Boyer/Bergman/Cotten wasn’t even the first filmed version of Gaslight. But I’m sure you know that.

@sunnylea57 posted:

Actually the term came from the 1938 play Gaslight. The George Cukor film with Boyer/Bergman/Cotten wasn’t even the first filmed version of Gaslight. But I’m sure you know that.

I did not, I stand corrected. I will say that the first film is of course mostly unknown. The play, which was popular in England, had its title changed to Angel Street when it played on Broadway. So I'm going to have to go with this:

The term "gaslight" was popularized in the general public's' mind by the release of a major Hollywood movie in 1944. It was released during the war when Americans were starved for entertainment. There was an earlier English version made in 1940 by Thorold Dickinson. His one major film was his last, Hill 55 Doesn't Answer (which I have seen) had its prints pulled out of circulation in an arraignment to make way for the Hollywood remake. Both were based on a play which was popular in England, but had its title changed to Angel Street when it played Broadway.

Amazing trivia, there is only one actor still living from the original Hollywood movie, and it was her first. It's...you'll have to look that up yourself. One of my mother's biggest thrills was running into her at Vicente Foods in Brentwood, telling her she loved her since Gaslight, and the actress telling my mom she couldn't be old enough to seen it at the time.

@The Old Man posted:

Amazing trivia, there is only one actor still living from the original Hollywood movie, and it was her first. It's...you'll have to look that up yourself. One of my mother's biggest thrills was running into her at Vicente Foods in Brentwood, telling her she loved her since Gaslight, and the actress telling my mom she couldn't be old enough to seen it at the time.

Angela Lansbury.

But another actress from the film is still alive: Terry Moore. Apparently she played Paula Alquist and was uncredited. She went on to act in Mighty Joe Young and was nominated for an Oscar for Come Back, Little Sheba.

@sunnylea57 posted:

Angela Lansbury.

But another actress from the film is still alive: Terry Moore. Apparently she played Paula Alquist and was uncredited. She went on to act in Mighty Joe Young and was nominated for an Oscar for Come Back, Little Sheba.

Wow, great call. And she's even still working:

The Old Guard.  I enjoyed it.

Lots of spy/espionage flicks over the last six weeks:

From Russia With Love – kitschy fun.
Die Another Day – I recall enjoying it in 2002. Not so much this time.
Mission Impossible: Fallout – better than Die Another Day.
The Imitation Game – I recall enjoying it in 2014 and also enjoyed it this time.
Michael Clayton – still excellent.
Bridge of Spies – Hanks is good; Rylance is excellent; Spielberg is Spielberg.
Charlie Wilson's War – Hanks is very good; Hoffman is excellent; Mike Nichols' hand is invisible, which is good.

Courtesy of YouTube, the other 5 of the 9 remaining Hitchcock-directed silent films.

• Downhill (1927)
• The Farmer's Wife (1928)
• Easy Virtue (1928)
• Champagne (1928)
• The Manxman (1929)

As TOM has mentioned, The Lodger, The Ring and The Pleasure Garden (his first directorial credit) are among the most interesting, along with The Manxman and Blackmail  (the first British "talkie" but also released as a silent version).

The journey continues.

@Bytown Rick posted:

Courtesy of YouTube, the other 5 of the 9 remaining Hitchcock-directed silent films.

• Downhill (1927)
• The Farmer's Wife (1928)
• Easy Virtue (1928)
• Champagne (1928)
• The Manxman (1929)

As TOM has mentioned, The Lodger, The Ring and The Pleasure Garden (his first directorial credit) are among the most interesting, along with The Manxman and Blackmail  (the first British "talkie" but also released as a silent version).

The journey continues.

I highly recommend this book. Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light

I know of no better book about a director in general and about Hitchcock in particular (of whom dozens of books have been written about and his films.) And, because it's chronological it's a great companion for those doing the Hitchcock film "ride."

About a Boy - almost forgot how much I enjoy this movie

Caddy Shack

@The Old Man posted:

I highly recommend this book. Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light

I know of no better book about a director in general and about Hitchcock in particular (of whom dozens of books have been written about and his films.) And, because it's chronological it's a great companion for those doing the Hitchcock film "ride."

Thanks TOM.  I'll get a copy.

Ford vs. Ferrari.  Enjoyed it. Good performances. 

The Imitation Game.

The Saboteur

Joining in on the Hitchcock club. Liked this one quite a lot.

What We Do in the Shadows

Pretty silly but definitely some good laughs.

@steve8 posted:

The Saboteur

Joining in on the Hitchcock club. Liked this one quite a lot.

What We Do in the Shadows

Pretty silly but definitely some good laughs.

I hope you've seen the TV show on FX.

FWIW it's Saboteur. "The sleeve! Tell them to hurry!" For those reading the book I recommended the importance of Norman Lloyd (Fry in this movie) in the world of all things Hitchcock can't be understated.

This Friday a gift is being delivered to my TV set, David Fincher's Mank. I am a solid Citizen Kane fanboy and this is supposed to be a definitive look at the creation of the movie with a focus on its co-writer Herman Mankiewicz. Incredibly the screenplay was written by Fincher's late father who died in 2003.

However, I am not a fan of David Fincher. I still believe his first breakout movie, SE7EN, is his only really good movie. I mean what was the point of remaking The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo? I did like very much his series, Mindhunters which was unfortunately cancelled after two very successful seasons. The reason? So Fincher could work on Mank.

So last night I notice that Zodiac was on. I've avoided this film because I couldn't see the point of a mystery/thriller with no solution. I was OK with the first murders at the lovers' lane, but the scene at the lake--it was finally, why am I watching this? I don't want to see another scene of terrorized victims as we see in movie after movie. Maybe I'm getting old, well yeah I am old, but I just don't find this entertaining. Keeping my fingers crossed for Mank.

@The Old Man posted:

I hope you've seen the TV show on FX.

FWIW it's Saboteur. "The sleeve! Tell them to hurry!" For those reading the book I recommended the importance of Norman Lloyd (Fry in this movie) in the world of all things Hitchcock can't be understated.

Did you know he's still with us? He's 106 years old. Seriously.

@The Old Man posted:

This Friday a gift is being delivered to my TV set, David Fincher's Mank. I am a solid Citizen Kane fanboy and this is supposed to be a definitive look at the creation of the movie with a focus on its co-writer Herman Mankiewicz. Incredibly the screenplay was written by Fincher's late father who died in 2003.

However, I am not a fan of David Fincher. I still believe his first breakout movie, SE7EN, is his only really good movie. I mean what was the point of remaking The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo? I did like very much his series, Mindhunters which was unfortunately cancelled after two very successful seasons. The reason? So Fincher could work on Mank.

So last night I notice that Zodiac was on. I've avoided this film because I couldn't see the point of a mystery/thriller with no solution. I was OK with the first murders at the lovers' lane, but the scene at the lake--it was finally, why am I watching this? I don't want to see another scene of terrorized victims as we see in movie after movie. Maybe I'm getting old, well yeah I am old, but I just don't find this entertaining. Keeping my fingers crossed for Mank.

My wife and I just watched Zodiac for the first time this weekend.  I heard a podcast that went on and on about what a masterpiece it was.  Not so much, in our opinion.  Decent enough movie, but that's it.  SE7EN remains one of our favorite movies, definitely favorite of Fincher.  We also were disappointed to hear Mindhunter has come to an end. 

@sunnylea57 posted:

Did you know he's still with us? He's 106 years old. Seriously.

@The Old Man posted:

Search on Youtube for his 105th birthday speech. It's amazing.

EDIT: Here you go. He takes a minute to get going, but once he does, his voice is clear and strong, and he's as sharp as a tack.

https://youtu.be/3HYsylUniyo

Speaking of talented guys who died old, watching "Ace in the Hole" for the upteenth time. What a great director Billy Wilder was but of course he'd be more flattered if one said what a great writer he was. And he was both.

Said to the despicable Kirk Douglas character, "I've met a lot of hard boiled eggs in my time, but you're 20 minutes." Later she says about herself, "I don't go to church, kneeling bags my nylons."

Speaking of Hitchcock one day I'll give my lecture about the meaning of the purse in his movies.

Mississippi Burning

Tried to watch "Enemy of the State" on HBO. After about 10 minutes I noticed the shots just didn't seem framed right. Sure enough they are still showing movies in the wrong aspect ratio. Click.

They Shall Not Grow Old.  An excellent movie.

This is the Sea

It's what attracted me to the movie in the first place but it seemed the film was written around the music of The Waterboys. OTOH, the young and gorgeous Samantha Morton helped.

Antigone

It seems my knowledge of Greek mythology is piss poor as I had no idea it was the basis for this film until this morning from Wiki. Pretty good even not realizing that and perhaps even better now that I do.

Belushi

Can't say I learned a lot from this new doc but it's not bad.

@steve8 posted:

This is the Sea

It's what attracted me to the movie in the first place but it seemed the film was written around the music of The Waterboys. OTOH, the young and gorgeous Samantha Morton helped.

Antigone

It seems my knowledge of Greek mythology is piss poor as I had no idea it was the basis for this film until this morning from Wiki. Pretty good even not realizing that and perhaps even better now that I do.

Belushi

Can't say I learned a lot from this new doc but it's not bad.

Love that album.  Yes, I have it on vinyl.  Hey, I am old!

@brucehayes posted:

Love that album.  Yes, I have it on vinyl.  Hey, I am old!

I also have it on vinyl. A few years ago I deduced that you and I are about the same age.

That song is used in the film but most of the music comes from Room to Roam, which I also have, but on CD.

FWIW, I turned 62 this past July.

"AT&T-owned WarnerMedia shook up Hollywood when it announced on Thursday that it will release all of its 2021 Warner Bros. films to its HBO Max streaming platform at the same time the movies hit theaters.

The news sent shares of AMC (AMC) down 14%, Cinemark (CNK) down 17%, and IMAX (IMAX) down 7%.

After one month of streaming on HBO Max, the films will leave the platform and continue to play in theaters [emphasis mine], the company said, calling the plan a 'unique, consumer-focused distribution model' and a 'strategic response to the impact of the ongoing global pandemic.'"

So after a month of being available on your television they're going to send it to the theatres were no one is going for some time? I guess.

The invitation.  Creepy and suspenseful.

Mosul. Fighting ISIS from the Iraqi perspective.

Hillbilly Elegy

Thunderball

I suppose the underwater scenes were cool and ground breaking when it was made but really the movie is pretty poor.

John Wick

I don't know what possessed me to watch this even though my Keanu Reeves warning bells were ringing. Maybe Thunderball wasn't so bad after all.

Mank, epic failure. I have so much bad to say but I don't feel like typing that much yet. I have no idea who would find it interesting except for perhaps Ben Mankiewicz.

@steve8 posted:

Thunderball

I suppose the underwater scenes were cool and ground breaking when it was made but really the movie is pretty poor.

I think the underwater scenes took an incredible amount of work and are still pretty innovative. Many unique underwater vehicles were created almost from scratch and directing a scene with so many elements was quite a challenge. But yeah, it may be the weakest of the Connery' Bonds. However, for me I'd take any Connery over any other Bond. He was James Bond, if only because he existed in the timeframe of the books. You've got to wear those fedoras.

Little White Lie - intrresting documentary

@steve8 posted:

Thunderball

I suppose the underwater scenes were cool and ground breaking when it was made but really the movie is pretty poor.

John Wick

I don't know what possessed me to watch this even though my Keanu Reeves warning bells were ringing. Maybe Thunderball wasn't so bad after all.

We have different tastes.  I like both films.  Thunderball a lot.