DIShGo

53 minutes ago, DonRocks said:

Well that was a lot more generous than your email response!

"I am SO glad you said that. I hated this movie. It was boring and tedious and the attempt at a "twist" ending was completely manipulative. Total b.s. One of my least favorite movies ever and a total waste of time."

Here's an interesting question. I've read two reviews that compared the "twist ending" (notice we keep putting that in quotes) to "It was all just a dream!" - In other words, a completely lazy way out, and a movie that was essentially written backwards, with nothing at all having any importance. 

My response: "So was The Wizard of Oz." So, what's wrong with "It was all just a dream?" There's something about it that seems very wrong to me, but for whatever reason, it *worked* in "The Wizard of Oz," and it worked *well* - maybe because the fact that it *was* a dream was an integral part of the movie and the moral of the whole story?

You said it all in your summary. I was just putting an exclamation point on it. 

I read a post that compared the ending of this film to "Inception." That's not a fair comparison.

I like films with endings that are open to interpretation."Life of Pi" is a good example.

Sometimes I feel cheated by the "it was just a dream" explanation, but occasionally it works, as it does in "The Wizard of Oz." Flying monkeys and witches and houses, a talking lion and a talking tin man - of course it was a dream. And all of the things that influenced Dorothy's dream are shown in the beginning of the film. This wasn't the case with "The Usual Suspects."

Don't waste your time on this film! 

Ended up making BLT stacks again. Who doesn't like bacon?

Heading to the store soon to get supplies to make an appetizer to take to a Super Bowl party. I was going to make Rachel Ray's BLT Stacks. I brought them to a party once and they were inhaled. But I feel like making something new and different. it will be a small group. Any suggestions? What are you making today?

I saw a lot of films in 2014, including all of the movies nominated for Best Picture, with the exception of  "The Imitation Game." I am not sure why I didn't go see this movie in the theater. A recent conversation with a friend about the Enigma Machine led us to this interesting video, which, in turn, brought us to "The Imitation Game." This film made an excellent companion piece to "Das Boot," a  German movie about at World War II submarine crew that I loved and had just watched days earlier.

"The Imitation Game" tells the story of Alan Turing, a real-life British cryptographer who decrypted German intelligence codes for the British government during World War II. The screenplay, written by Graham Moore and loosely based on the biography "Alan Turing: the Enigma," by Andrew Hodges, won the Oscar that year for Best Adapted Screenplay.

I enjoyed this film. Benedict Cumberbatch (who was nominated for Best Actor for this role) gives an outstanding performance as Turing. There are two intertwined stories: a thriller about a secret group trying to break German code in order to save lives, and Turing's secret life as a homosexual. Both tales are engaging and well told.

If you are thinking about watching this film, take a moment beforehand to view the video about the Enigma Machine (above). To appeal to the masses, the movie offers a Hollywood explanation of how the machine works. Watching the video first to gain a better understanding of The Enigma Machine enhanced my enjoyment of this fine film.

I am with Aziz Ansari on this one.  I didn't love "La La Land." I tried to lower my expectations because of all of the pre-Oscar buzz about this film, but I still left the theatre disappointed.

I enjoyed the nods to old films in this movie: the little boy in Paris holding the red balloon, Emma Stone walking in front of the mural of Hollywood legends, and the trip to the Griffith Observatory after viewing "Rebel Without a Cause" are a few moments that stand out in my mind. 

The acting is good, and the cinematography is lovely--bright and colorful like a gorgeous Los Angeles afternoon. But the singing and dancing are ho-hum. The last musical I saw was "Singin' in the Rain." Now that is singing and dancing.

The movie dragged in parts, and the ending was unsatisfying. If this film is the deemed the best of the year, then indeed, the options must be light.

My son, now 20, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of two, so I was counting carbs long before low-carb diets became popular. I like to make lasagna, substituting sliced zuchinni (althernating green and yellow) for the noodles. For low carb, I keep one layer of noodles on the bottom, for no carb, I eliminate the noodles entirely. I also add a layers of fresh spinach, and add diced fresh mushrooms to my meat sauce. My daughter and I actually prefer this version to the one with noodles.

My 22-year-old daugther lives in the Mission area of San Francisco and adores macaroni and cheese. So, when the SF Chronicle did an article last week about The City's best spots for mac and cheese, I immediately thought of her. I asked her if she wanted to try one of the restaurants listed (she enthusiastically said yes) so we ventured last night to Mac Daddy in the Potrero Hill neighborhood of San Francisco. 

The restaurant's website refers to their "petite digs," and they aren't kidding. There is one counter, a couple of small outdoor tables and one table for four indoors. They do not take reservations. My daugther brought a friend, and we were told there would be a 20-minute wait for a party of three. We wrote our name and phone number on a dry-erase board hanging outside the front door. Fortunately, there is a quaint wine shop next door, where we enjoyed a glass of wine while we waited for our table. And by table, I mean THE table! We were seated at the table for four, where the girls had a great view of the goings-on in the kitchen (we felt like we were sitting in the kitchen) and I got to watch the endless parade of people pass by the window. Score!

The menu arrived, and we were overwhelmed with macaroni and cheese choices: smoked bacon and smoked cheese; south of the border mac with avocados, cilantro, chorizo and fritos; a pesto mac; braised short ribs mac with mushrooms, crispy onions and mt. tam blue cheese; and truffle brie mac with shitake mushrooms were just some of our options. Of course, there was plain old mac 'n' cheese, but the waiter said if we ordered that, we should add an extra on top, like an egg or fried chicken.

As good as fried chicken atop macaroni and cheese sounded to me, I just couldn't do it (primarily because I was feeling guilty about eating donuts for lunch the day before) so, I ordered the goat mac, with scallions, olive oil, fresh goat cheese and jack cheese. It was creamy and delicious, with a delightful crumble on top. The girls both had the truffle mac, which they enjoyed, but I preferred mine. The portions are generous, and can be shared by two, but then there are no leftovers, and what's the fun in that?

"Broken Blossoms" is the story of a kind Chinese man who falls in love with a young English girl. Lillian Gish, 23-years-old at the time and with 63 films already under her belt, stars as Lucy, the misfortunate 15-year-old daughter of Battling Burrows, a drunken and abusive London prizefighter.

It is an interracial love story ahead of its time. As Roger Ebert notes in this excellent review, the affair is chaste (interracial marriage was illegal in 1919), but the subject matter made the film controversial and groundbreaking when it was released.

It is a short film, only an hour and a half long. It is simple, sad, and gritty at times. After watching it, I realize why Gish is sometimes referred to as the First Lady of American Cinema. She gives a brilliant performance as the poor, battered girl who masks the fear of her father's fists with a weak, forced smile.

Gish's Lucy is angelic and pitiful. She is beautiful and broken. You can't help but root for this pathetic, abused child to find a better life than the hell she is living. Without uttering a sound, Gish's expressive eyes reveal the terror she feels every time her father enters the room. There is an unforgettable, claustraphobic scene where she hides in a closet that is one of the most powerful moments I have seen from any film of any era.

As in Griffith's "The Birth of a Nation," there are moments of racism in this film, and some parts of the movie will seem quite dated to today's audience. The longer title of the film refers to the leading male role as "The Yellow Man," and in one scene, Lucy calls her saviour "Chinky." Asian characters are played by white actors, including the leading man Richard Barthelmess. Barthelmess, by the way, gives a very strong performance as a kind soul whose heart is overflowing with love for Lucy. He treats poor Lucy with such tenderness, it brought me to tears.

His kindness is in stark contrast to the pent-up anger of Battling Burrows, played by Donald Crisp. Crisp's Burrows is like a cartoon character of an old-timey strongman come to life. When he takes out his rage on poor Lucy, he is terrifying. There are some very disturbing images of child abuse in this film.

I watced this movie on a whim, after reading about it in Roger Ebert's review of "The Birth of a Nation." This is a lovely film with incredible acting. I never imagined I would enjoy a silent film from nearly 100 years ago as much as I did "Broken Blossoms."

I have such mixed feelings about this film. I am glad I watched it. "The Birth of a Nation" is a well made, sweeping tale of the Civil War and the Reconstruction era that followed. It is beautfully shot and well acted. The battle scenes are compelling and well constructed. It is also the most racist thing I have ever seen. No book, film, television show or any other form of entertainment I have witnessed comes close to this level of racism.

The film is three hours long, and it is divided into two sections. The first part ends with the assasination of President Lincoln. There is racism in the first half, including white actors in blackface portraying black characters, but it is the second half that takes the film's racism to unbelievable levels. 

I think it is important to see this film to realize how far America has come in race relations, and to contemplate how far we still need to go. Simply refusing to see a film such as this because of the blatant racism is denying this part of our history. Yes, it is an ugly part of American history, but racism existed, and still exists, and this movie brings home that message in a way that will make comtemporary viewers squirm. 

Roger Ebert wrote an excellent review of the film. In it, he compares "The Birth of a Nation," to another D.W. Griffith film, also starring Lillian Gish, called "Broken Blossoms." Ebert prefers the latter, which prompted me to watch two silent films from the early 1900s on the same night. I also preferred "Broken Blossoms," and highly recommend seeing it.

And I recommend watching "The Birth of a Nation" as well. It was the first film screened at the White House, by President Woodrow Wilson. It is historically significant. It is also downright difficult to watch at times, particularly because D.W. Griffith did not see himself as a racist, and sadly, neither did the American moviegoers who embraced this film and its message in 1915.

I have lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for nearly 25 years, and just this week tried my first "It's-It Ice Cream Sandwich. I am now kicking myself for waiting this long. These delectable desserts--ice cream sandwiched between two oatmeal cookies and dipped in dark chocolate--are readily available everywhere around here, and there is even an "It's-It" outlet in Suisun City, about a ten-minute drive from my house. If you are in the Bay Area, don't hesitate to pick up a box of "It's-It." If you love them, you can even have them shipped to you.

This is a wonderful film. Poignant, life-affirming, heartbreaking and exciting to watch. Within the first five minutes I was engrossed in the story of these two boys pursuing their dreams of becoming NBA stars, and my intense interest never waned.

This film is a documentary about basketball, but it is so much more. There is plenty for basketball fans to love: cameos by famous players and coaches (some before they were well-known), behind-the-scenes looks at coaching and recruiting, and exciting footage of down-to-the-buzzer games. But it is the ups and downs of the daily lives of these two boys, and their families, that make this film unforgettable.   

2 hours ago, The Hersch said:

I generally agree with your assessment of this film, but the original cut was already WAY too long; to add another hour to it is inhuman.

Perhaps it would seem long watching it in a theatre. Streaming it online with a break here and there makes it quite watchable, I believe. I haven't seen the original cut, so I can't compare the two, but I enjoyed the character development in the Director's Cut, which is supposed to have come from the miniseries. 

"Das Boot" is perhaps the finest war film I have ever seen. It is certainly in my top three films about war. I recently watched the Director's Cut of this German film, released in 1997 (the original was first shown in German theaters in 1981 and then as a TV miniseries). "Das Boot" is an adaptation of Lothar-Günther Buchheim's 1973 German novel of the same name, and it tells the fictional story of a German U-96 crew during World War II.

The director's cut is 3 hours and 29 minutes long, combining action sequences from the 2.5 hour original theatrical release (which garnered six Academy Award nominations) and character development from the miniseries. Improvements in the picture and sound were also made. Yes, 209 minutes is a substantial amount of time to devote to watching a film, but I can tell you, the Director's Cut is worth it. I have watched much shorter films that seem twice as long. I found this film riveting from the bawdy opening scene to the closing segment, one of the most poignant and moving moments I have witnessed on film.

The tension in this film is palpable. The tedium and the fear of fighting a battle deep beneath the surface of the sea is made incredibly real for the viewer. I felt great empathy for the characters, and forgot they were Germans, fighting for the other side. They were men, some really boys, struggling to do their best under the most difficult conditions.

This is one of the best films I have seen - an epic, classic, World War II tale - and I highly recommend it.

"In Cold Blood" , based on Truman Capote's book by the same name, is a fascinating look into the heart and mind of a killer. Robert Blake gives a riveting performance as Perry Smith, one of two men accused of the real-life, cold-blooded murders of the Clutter family in their Kansas farmhouse in 1959. Scott Wilson (yes, Walking Dead fans--that is Hershel!) is outstanding as Smith's partner in crime.

This film is beautifully shot in black-and-white. Although it deals with chilling, real-life events, the film has an artistic style that I find very appealing. It is a heart-wrenching look at "the making of a murderer," long before Steven Avery was born.

I highly recommend watching this film, and afterward, viewing "Capote," the 2005 biographical film about the author, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman in one of his most critically-acclaimed roles. This film deals largely with Capote's writing of "In Cold Blood," and makes an ideal companion piece to the 1967 film. 

I do not remember this series from my youth, but I recently watched Season 1, Episode 1 and I loved it! Season 1, Episode 2 was a flop, so I am looking forward to seeing a third episode to see if it comes close to the brilliance of Episode 1.

"Harold and Maude" is not at all what I expected it to be. The film's opening sequence is shocking--dark, twisted and surprisingly funny--and it sets the tone for the rest of the movie. Young Harold, brilliantly portrayed by Bud Cort, is an 18-year-old man obsessed with death, desperate for the affection of his self-absorbed mother. Vivian Pickles is wonderful as Harold's detached mom, and the scenes involving the two of them are laugh-out-loud funny.

Harold's mother repeatedly tries to set him up on dates, with hilarious, disastrous results. While attending a stranger's funeral, Harold strikes up an unlikely friendship (and later, an even more unlikely romance) with Maude (portrayed by Ruth Gordon), a quirky, 79-year-old woman, who teaches Harold how to live life fully. The scenes portraying their blossoming relationship are well done, believable and touching. A good amount of madcap humor is thrown in, as well. 

"Harold and Maude" was written and produced by Colin Higgins and features the music of Cat Stevens. It was critically and commercially unsuccessful when it was released, but later developed a cult following, and in 1983 began making a profit. "Harold and Maude" is ranked number 45 on the American Film Institute's List of the 100 Funniest Movies of All Time.

I think this film was ahead of it's time when it was made. "Harold and Maude" is extremely amusing, but the funniest scenes are also the darkest. Perhaps film-goers and critics of the early '70s were not prepared to see campy humor arise from bleak sources, like attempted suicide.

The humor is "Harold and Maude" is dark, rich and delightful. This film made me laugh, and it made me cry. It made me think, and it touched me deeply.

16 hours ago, DaveO said:

Carrie Fisher:  She played an all time iconic role.  Her personality, writing skills, and human honesty were bigger

And to her mom...

On 12/27/2016 at 9:11 PM, DIShGo said:

The SFMOMA is an amazing museum - I loved my day there. The most interesting thing was a Bruce Conner exhibit: "Bruce Conner: It's All True." This artist was incredibly creative and had an amazing range. It was difficult to fathom that all of his works were created by the same man.

Bruce Conner's assessment of his own work, painted on the wall at the entrance of the "Bruce Connor: It's All True" exhibit.

I agree with Don--Oenotri is a must if you stay in Napa. And be sure to check out Oxbow Public Market. 

I saw this at San Francisco's beautiful Museum of Modern Art on Friday and immediately thought of you, Don!

On 12/25/2016 at 5:05 PM, kitkatpaddywak said:

art_psycho is the user on Instagram.

I looked up this Instagram account. Several people have asked the poster who it is or where the art is located, but he or she has not answered.

It reminded me of these two works by Claes Oldenburg (Sweden) and Coosje van Bruggen (The Netherlands) - pictured below - that I saw Friday at the SFMOMA. The one in the background is a necktie around an inverted collar. At first glance I thought it was a stick of chewing gum!

The SFMOMA is an amazing museum - I loved my day there. The most interesting thing was a Bruce Conner exhibit: "Bruce Conner: It's All True." This artist was incredibly creative and had an amazing range. It was difficult to fathom that all of his works were created by the same man.

---

Bruce Conner: It's All True (DIShGo)

I noticed right away when I read your post that you didn't comment on the actors. I got the impression you enjoyed the special effects so much the quality of the acting didn't matter all that much to you. This is a big, bright, science fiction film with wonderful special effects, so there is nothing wrong with that.

I am not a fan of special-effects-driven films (of today or yesterday) and when a movie doesn't have a lot of dialogue and character development, I tend to fall asleep. This film was no exception. I was dozing off half way though. Character-driven films, like "The End of the Tour," which some would find boring because there is nothing in it but two people talking, frequently captivate me.

Sylvia van Buren comes across as a caricature rather than a character. The women in "Peyton Place," for example, filmed four years later, are much more fleshed out. Yes, there are stereotypes there, too, but the acting and the dialogue are so much better, making these women far more interesting to me.

I wholeheartedly agree that this is a much better film than "Five." This was fun to watch, and I can see why it is considered a classic. It simply isn't my favorite type of movie.

This movie has such a '50s feel to it. The special effects are impressive, particularly given that it was filmed in 1953. I love the Technicolor, and the early scene where the three men discover that what they think is a meteor is not, is fantastic. After a strong start, I thought I might love this film, but I did not. I liked it, but the overacting by the leads, Gene Barry and Ann Robinson, drove me nuts.

Sylvia van Buren, the female lead, is a college professor with a master's degree. But the Martians reduce her to a hysterical, inconsolable, screaming woman with quivering lips and eyes the size of saucers. I realize this was released in 1953 and women in films were often portrayed this way, but Robinson takes it to the extreme. Watching her, I kept thinking of the scene from "Airplane" where passengers take turns slapping a female passenger who is having a panic attack. I wanted such a line to form for van Buren.

This stereotypical portrayal of a female lead adds to the overall '50s feel of the film. It is kind of campy and fun, but it still drove me batty.  

You mentioned some of my favorite lines from the film. And you are absolutely right about the parking lot scene. It was sad, and it felt like a pivotal moment in the film. Your comment about it being symbolic of Wallace being lost among the living dead is a brilliant observation and spot-on.