DIShGo
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How am I just now seeing this thread? I love *so* many films, but these I have watched multiple times and never grow tired of seeing: Roman Holiday Silver Linings Playbook The Shawshank Redemption Inception Strictly Ballroom The Nightmare Before Christmas Saving Private Ryan How the Grinch Stole Christmas--original cartoon version These two come to mind as movies i have only seen once, but I would love to see again: Cinema Paradiso Babette's Feast
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I will confess--I have always been infatuated with Audrey Hepburn. The pixie cut, the cigarette pants, those eyes! I grew up wanting to be her, and now, in my 50s, I still emulate her gamine fashion style. I first became smitten with her when I saw her Oscar-winning performance in the 1953 romantic comedy, "Roman Holiday." She was just 24 when she landed the role of Ann, a princess who sneaks away from her royal duties for a day of fun in Rome with Gregory Peck. She went on to receive five Oscar nominations throughout her career, but this was her only win. She won a Tony award that same year for Best Lead Actress in a Play for her performance in Ondine. She remains one of the few people who have won Academy, Tony, Emmy and Grammy Awards. Since I was a young girl, "Roman Holiday" has been one of my favorite films. It won three Academy Awards: best actress, costume design and screenwriting. I watched it again this week, and I still love it. It isn't the most complicated story. There aren't any special effects. But the chemistry between Peck and Hepburn is compelling, and the shots of Rome are delightful. The thing that makes this film a classic--the standard by which romantic comedies are judged, and often found lacking--is Audrey Hepburn. She isn't the most beautiful film actress of her era, nor is she the most talented. But she is graceful, charming and beguiling. She has that "it" factor that makes it impossible to take your eyes off of her when she is on the screen. She radiates loveliness, kindness and approachability. I have never been one to follow celebrities. When she died in 1993, I bought a copy of the commemorative People Magazine about her. I felt like the world lost a true icon, a woman with a spirit and style that inspires people to this day. I enjoyed her performances in "Sabrina," "Charade," and "Wait Until Dark." I am not a "Breakfast at Tiffany's" fan, although that role is one that established her as one of the world's top fashion icons. Born in Brussels, she lived in German-occupied territory during the second World War. She later became a ballet dancer, a model and an actress. Perhaps because of the adversity she faced as a child, Hepburn became an advocate for children in her later years, devoting much of her time to UNICEF. -
I was hesitant to watch this film. A silent movie from 1927 influenced by Jack the Rippper did not appeal to me. But I trust your judgement, so I decided to watch it. I am glad I did. I enjoyed the film, and appreciated seeing an early work by Alfred Hitchcock. Having recently watched "Psycho" and "Vertigo" I saw stylistic similarities in all three. The hand going down the railing (which Hitchcock mentions in the television interview) is strikingly similar to the "Vertigo" shot looking down the stairs from the top of the bell tower. There is a man obsessed with beautiful blondes in both films (as Hitchcock was reported to have been), and "The Lodger" bathtub scene (with its close ups of Daisy's toes) reminds me of Janet Leigh in the shower in "Psycho." The movie felt modern and was easy to watch. The score was extremely annoying, however. I didn't mind the music at first, but the repetition started to irritate me after the first twenty minutes. The shift at the 23-minute mark is extremely off putting, and really takes away from the film. A new orchestral soundtrack was composed in 1999 for the 100th anniversary of Hitchcock's birth. Clearly this version is not that soundtrack. But, like you said, it was free! Did you spot the Hitchcock cameos? Apparently there are two. I didn't notice either of them. I also found it odd that the opening credits call Daisy a manequin, and the actress playing her is billed only as June.
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To me, its all right there. Life, death, love, loyalty, jealousy, cruelty, redemption. I don't think anything is hidden. It is sweet and simple and pure. That's the beauty of it. Much like an Alice Munroe short story. The beauty lies in the telling of it.
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I am not so sure it is meant to have multiple layers of meaning. It might. For me, there is something so pure and joyful about this film--like childhood itself--that makes watching it a pleasure.
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"The Red Balloon" is a sweet, simple and visually appealing film. Just 35 minutes long, it tells the story of a young boy who finds a shiny red balloon in the streets of Paris. The boy takes the balloon everywhere he goes. It soon becomes apparent that the balloon has a mind of its own. It follows the boy everywhere, and hovers outside his window when his mother won't let him bring it inside. It is a lovely little tale of friendship, love and devotion. It captures the innocence of childhood, and highlights the fact that children can also be quite cruel to one another. There is virtually no dialogue and a lovely score. The little boy wears all gray, and the streets of Paris are shown in muted shades of bluish gray. The shots of the shiny red balloon against this backdrop are stunning. This film was made by someone with an artistic eye. I read some reviews that saw a deeper meaning in the film. Perhaps there were religious or political messages to be found. I enjoyed "The Red Balloon" on its most basic level. It made me feel like a child again. A balloon to a child is the world! Can you imagine having one that follows you around and waits for you outside your school?
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*** SPOILER ALERT *** Yes, there is an aura of implausibility to the story. And it bothered me that the rope used in the murder is shown hanging well out of the trunk--an impossibility when it clearly is wrapped tightly around the victim's neck when they stuff him in the trunk. What did you think about Stewart's character? His acting is fine, but the speech he gives at the end of the film rings false to me. It seems like it was added to appease those offended by the storyline. It doesn't seem like something the character would say. This is classic Hitchcock, however--adding a morality lesson at the end. He does this with most of his Alfred Hitchcock Presents television programs, adding a brief summary at the end to let us know that the murderer was sent to prison, or the wrongdoer (in one way or another) got what was coming to him or her.
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"Rope," Hitchcock's first Technicolor film, was an experiment of sorts for the director. The action takes place in real time, edited to appear as a single, continuous shot through the use of long takes. This movie is based on a play of the same name, and this filming technique makes the viewer feel as if they are watching a play rather than a film. *** SPOILER ALERT! *** "Rope" is the tale of two young roomnates who strangle a former classmate minutes before they host a dinner party. The corpse is stuffed into a large chest, on which they decide to serve their meal to their guests. The men had no issues with the deceased; they merely wanted to murder for murder's sake. Among the guests at the dinner party are the dead boy's father and fiancee. James Stewart plays the young men's prep school housemaster, who eventually unravels the mystery. John Dall is outstanding as the arrogant Brandon Shaw, who thinks commiting the perfect murder makes him superior to other men. Constance Collier gives a delightful performance as the dead man's aunt. James Stewart seems miscast in his role, and Farley Granger overacts on occasion as the nervous pianist. There is, however, a wonderful scene with Granger playing the piano while Stewart's character questions him. The metronome ticks faster and faster while the music becomes increasingly dissonant, creating a palpable sense of terror and suspense.
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This film is well made and extremely moving. It is incredibly sad and life affiirming at the same time. Thank you for the recommendation. I am glad I saw it. The spirit of gentle Joe will live on in my mind. This is a film I won't forget. I assume this tune is where the title of the book and film originate.
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I don't mind a light rom com every now and then, so I thought this film would not be that bad. I was wrong. It was dreadful. Jane Fonda's character was immature and irritating. I was rooting for Redford to leave her. Redford's acting was fine, and his perforrmance coupled with his good looks made the film tolerable for me. Natwick did as much as she could with her role, but the script was so weak, there was only so much she could do. The jokes were stale and stupid. I found myself wanting to shout at the screen, "enough with the stairs!" After viewing the film, I read a few reviews on "Rotten Tomatoes." It has an 87 percent rating, and a lot of people really seem to like it. I don't understand that, unless they are nostalgic for the '60s and enjoy seeing Fonda and Redford at the beginning of their careers.
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I viewed them from right to left. I think the collection makes a more powerful statement seen this way. From across the room, I noticed their eyes peering out from beneath their burkas. As I drew closer, I realized the eyes of the infant were those of a doll. It made me curious to see them revealed.
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I enjoyed this exhibit, and the museum. The photographs of two newlyweds performing mundane tasks in a war zone moved me. I also was drawn to another series showing a mother and child and her doll, in clothing ranging from Western attire to full burkas and then total obscurity. The "Listen" display contained powerful images, including a woman in traditional attire standing in the ocean. There also were head shots of several professional women singers in front of glittering backdrops, their mouths open in song, each forbidden by law to produce an album. I am glad I visited this museum, and enjoyed the paintings and sculptures by women artists from around the world displayed on the third and fourth floors.
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I love the chemistry between Nick and Nora. Their banter is amusing. There is SO much drinking in this film. I wonder if that has something to do with the repeal of Prohibition, which happened shortly before the release of this film. I am also a huge fan of Uggie, the terrier who played Jack in the Best Picture winner, The Artist." Asta clearly was his inspiration.
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Is "The Royal Game" the only story by Zweig in "Understanding the Arts?" Stiff translation aside, I think every Zweig story in "The Royal Game & Other Stories," is worth reading. I read the collection a year and a half ago, and I vividly remember each one.
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"One Hundred Years of Solitude" was a magnificent, magical tale that I will never forget.
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I, too, was moved by this ceremony when I visited Arlington National Cemetery the summer before last. My friend and I parked far from the monument, enjoying a leisurely stroll on the way in. At the end of the ceremony, a huge storm swept through.The rain was coming down so hard, all we (and the other people around us) could do was seek refuge under trees. Slowly we made our way toward the car, moving from tree to tree, being pelted by a storm so strong it was causing flash floods. Soaking wet and shivering, we found a bus shelter and tried to wait it out. We soon realized the storm was not ending anytime soon, so we continued on, chilled to the bone. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a vehicle appeared. A soldier from Tennessee, named Paul, pulled over and offered us a ride. I will never forget the kindness of that soldier.
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Yes, "The Shootist" definitely seems older. It has more of a late '60s feel to me. Of course, Ron Howard was playing little Opie Taylor in the late '60s, so that wouldn't make sense. Still, I was surprised to see it was released in 1976. There was a certain innocence to "The Shootist" that I enjoyed. It wasn't corny or overly sentimental, and it certainly wasn't graphically violent. There is more bloodshed and gore in the opening credits of today's crime-based television shows (CSI whatever) than in this entire film.
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I'm in.
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SPOILER ALERT I watched "The Shootist" last night and I loved it. John Wayne's performance is outstanding. The emotion he conveys with his blue eyes (without saying a word) whenever his cancer is mentioned, moved me. It brought me to tears. His comic timing is also spot on. There are a lot of very funny lines delivered by Wayne in this film. I loved the scene where he tolerates a long-winded speech and replies, "Well, that was a long way around the barn." I also liked his, "the hell I do," reply to being told he curses too much. One of the earliest scenes made me think of "Taxi Driver," another film from 1976. When a buggy in which Ron Howard's character is riding approaches Wayne and the driver asks him to move, Wayne replies, "You talking to me?" DeNiro is credited with improvising that scene, and I guess that still holds up, since "Taxi Driver" was released in February and "The Shootist" came out in August. The ending made me think of Gran Torino as well, particularly the part with the haircut and the suit preparation. One negative (which, incidentally, is an issue I had with "Taxi Driver") is how fake the blood spurting out of the shooting victims looks. It brought to mind packets of catsup, or perhaps Taco Bell hot sauce because on my television it looked orange/red. It was filmed in 1976, and special effects weren't what they are today, but it took my mind out of the story and reminded me that I was watching make believe. This film has something for everyone. There is a little romance, a good amount of action, a lot of humor and some extremely moving scenes about coping with illness and preparing for death. "The Shootist" is a beautifully acted, extremely entertaining movie that I highly recommend.
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Absolutely beautiful. Thank you for sharing this.
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Don, I loved both of the quotes you mentioned! I enjoyed this film. The acting was top notch, and I learned a lot about the mortgage market crisis. Like "Spotlight," this film took a big news story that most people are familiar with and delved more deeply into it. At first I didn't care for the actors talking to the camera, or the use of celebrities to explain things. I realize why they did it, however, and I got used to it as the film progressed. I'm not so sure about the X-Ray feature. It was enabled while I watched it, but I tended to ignore it because I found it distracting.
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That IS the perfect song for the ending! I am surprised I didn't remember that. That was my jam after my first teenage breakup. Great disco song.
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What did they play?
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Matt Damon's charm carried the film. I don't know that it would have worked as well with another actor. He was perfect for the role. Plus, I am a sucker for '80s pop music, so I liked that part of the film as well. I saw it several months ago, on a whim, and I honestly don't remember much about it except he ate A LOT of potatoes.
