ValentineXavier
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Posts posted by ValentineXavier
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To me, a "clunker" is something that works poorly, if at all. With a film, I would take that to mean in an artistic sense, as a film is an artistic 'vehicle.' Whether a film is a clunker, or not, doesn't always match up with its box office take.
A "flop" could be artistically, or financially. Of course the financial success, or lack of success, of a film is easily determined objectively. Whether something is an artistic flop, or not, is what we like to argue about here...
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Back in the 80s, every Friday night I played volleyball. After the games, we would often go out to a bar/restaurant, to have some food, and some beer. One time, a team member suggested that we go to his cabin in the woods. When I got there, I knocked at the door, and someone asked "What's the password?" Of course I said "swordfish." That actually was the password!
The Marx Bros. hold up well because their humor was avant-garde for its time, chaotic, surreal, Dadaist. They were much admired by the then-modern European artists of those genres.
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Skimpole's thread already covers movies from 2000 - 2009.
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> {quote:title=MyFavoriteFilms wrote:}{quote}
> To anyone's knowledge, have there ever been scenes that showed a real dead animal on screen or a dead human being?
Both happen in documentary films. I doubt that there was ever a real dead human body in a US narrative film. There were probably real dead animals in some 30's films, especially things like *Trader Horn*, which are sort of pseudo docs, with some real footage shot of animals.
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I was unaware that *Letters From Iwo Jima* was generally highly rated. It took it quite a while to show up on cable, and then it was on Sundance. I think it was a fine film, one of Clint's best, and somewhat better than its companion film, *Flags of Our Fathers*.
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> {quote:title=MyFavoriteFilms wrote:}{quote}
> - think about how many are dead or still alive?
Sometimes, but not that often
> - think about the actors' private lives and who was having a behind-the-scenes romance during the making of this film?
Almost never.
> - think about other film performances or TV performances that a featured actor has done?
> - think about the way clothing and hairstyles looked then?
Well, I wouldn't say I really think of those things, but they often pop into my head, unbidden.
> - think about whether or not you want a copy of this movie for your personal collection?
Most always think about that, based in part on "Is it available on DVD, or not?"
> Or maybe you don't think, you just concentrate the story itself and let it move you...
I do concentrate on the plot, and what I think might happen next. If it is a 'who dun it?' I am of course, trying to figure out who. I try to let the film have its way with me, appreciate it for what it is, accept the world it posits, approach it without preconceptions. Of course, if it seems like a load of crap, I can't keep an open mind forever.
I also look at animals in the film, and think that they are long gone. I see a cat sleeping in the sun, I think that cat is long dead, that day is long over, but as long as the film lasts, that cat will always be sleeping in the sun...
As I was a designer and builder of all sorts of fancy woodwork, cabinetry and furniture, for over 30 years, I always look at the woodwork. I also look at the every-day objects in old films, and think about how they have changed.
Back in the 80s, I did theater evaluations for the Lucas Film Theater Alignment Program, and had to train myself to notice every tiny black or white speck, scratch, audio dropout, splice, reel change mark, etc. in a film, and basically ignore the content of the film. It took months after I quit that to enjoy a film normally again.
Yeah, once in a while, I will call out "rear projection," or "backdrop."
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Brick closets are always the hardest to break out of.
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Well, just off the top of my head, *Gunga Din*, and *The Wizard of Oz* are way better films...
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I felt like I saw elements of Bergman, and Rosselini in *Scandal*, and the sets looked sort of European, too. I could see it all happening in the Alps... The sexual sensiblities seemed more European than Japanese to me as well.
I like *Nora Inu* (Stray Dog) quite a bit, it is a classic noir, IMO, but I don't see much similarity with *Scandal*. I have seen *Drunken Angel* a few times. I like it, but not nearly as much as *Stray Dog*. I can see elements of *Ikiru* and *Red Beard* in *Drunken Angel*, but they are later, and much better, films.
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I'll take a pink Cadillac over a gauntlet, any day...
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There is quite a long thread discussing this topic, somewhere around here...
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> {quote:title=bklynrose wrote:}{quote}
> Love this man, I know he must have a bad movie out there but I can't think of one.
*The Gauntlet*, and *The Eiger Sanction*, two of the worst films ever made.
To be fair, I'll admit that the first film of Clint's I liked was *Bronco Billy*. He has made quite a few very good films, IMO, but they all came later in his career.
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> {quote:title=traceyk65 wrote:}{quote}
> Marx Brothers Duck Soup 1933
>
>
> Katharine Hepburn Cary Grant Bringing Up Baby 1938
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> Just to name a few more classic flops.
Flops? Many consider those to be their best films.
*Mickey One* a clunker? I think it is clearly the best film Beatty ever made. Others may not rate it that highly, but it certainly isn't a clunker.
I actually like *The Number 23*. Not totally successful, but an interesting idea.
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I saw *Scandal* when TCM showed it as part of its 100th Birthday Tribute to Kurosawa. I agree completely. Astonishingly ahead of its time, on subject matter. Also, it looks more European than most Kurosawa films, as if he was trying out different influences.
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I don't think I've seen him in anything I didn't like. *The Ruling Class* and *Lawrence of Arabia* have to be my favorites. It strikes me that he often plays obsessive characters, sometimes borderline, sometimes WAY past it. I just saw *The Stunt Man* for the first time. I liked it, and it bears watching again, soon.
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> {quote:title=skimpole wrote:}{quote}
> It's the foriteth anniversary of 1940. Here are my top ten films of that year. What are yours?
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> 1. The Confession
> 2. Tora! Tora! Tora!
> 3. The Conformist
> 4. Five Easy Pieces
> 5. The Red Circle
> 6. Deep End
> 7. Little Big Man
> 8. The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes
> 9. The Ballad of Cable Hogue
> 10. Woodstock
Good list, almost identical to what I would come up with.
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> {quote:title=movieman1957 wrote:}{quote}
> Having sat through both "Wyatt Earp" strikes me, at minimum, tolerable. "Heaven's Gate," which I sat through for curiosity's sake, it just a flat out bore. Even that might be too kind.
I seem to be the self-appointed of *Heaven's Gate* on the board... I wasn't bored in the least, I think it is a fine film, and actually needed to be a bit longer, for the sake of continuity/clarity, in the last 30% or so of the film. I'll take it over the formulaic *Once Upon a Time In The West* any day.
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O'Toole is one of my favorite actors. Watching several of his films on SUTS, it struck me how often he played characters that were obsessive. Lawrence, Jack Gurney, General Tanz, Eli Cross, all obsessive, some good, some bad, some both.
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I had never seen this odd existentialist film, until I watched on my DVR last night. I do like it, and will watch it again, soon. There is a lot to see, and work out, in it.
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> {quote:title=MyFavoriteFilms wrote:}{quote}
> I did not know that Fred turned down the role of Perry Mason. That's interesting. I guess he could've made it work, but Raymond Burr became so strongly associated with that part, it's hard to imagine anyone else doing it.
My mom was an avid reader of Erle Stanley Gardener's Perry Mason books. She said that Barbara Hale, they had right, she was perfect as Della. But, she always said that Raymond Burr was wrong for the part, and wouldn't watch the series. I wonder what she would have thought of Fred? Well, I liked Raymond Burr quite a bit, and am a big fan of the series.
At one point, near the end of its run, Burr was sick, and couldn't play the role. They had IIRC, 5 eps where well known actors played the lawyer. I know Bette Davis was one, and maybe Walter Pidgeon, but I can't remember. Throughout the series, they had zillions of almost forgotten stars, and up-and-coming stars, Mala Powers, Phyllis Coates, Jon Hall, Ellen Corby, Mike Mazurki, James Colburn, Lee Merriweather, lots and lots.
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> {quote:title=kaleman wrote:}{quote}
> I know. I know "Night of the Generals" was roasted by critics. Leonard Maltin gave it a *1/2 and proclaimed it a "Dud". And poor old O'Toole was razzed by critics for a robotic performance.I watched the movie and found it really entertaining
If I had seen it, it was so long ago I'd forgotten it. But, I watched the whole thing, and I agree with you. it's no *LoA* to be sure, but a very entertaining and well made film. Great cast, great plot.
I was struck by how much Peter's performance resembled his Jack the Ripper persona in *The Ruling Class*. He seemed so obsessive that he was the obvious suspect from the get-go, yet because it was so obvious, it also seemed it might be a red herring. The flashing back and forth through time, in a 23 year pursuit of justice was an interesting plot device.
Yes, Coral Browne was in full bee-itch mode. She was good, but I prefer her part in *TRC*.
I still have a couple to watch, including *The Stunt Man*, which I have never seen, but Peter's SUTS is definitely my favorite.
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I've tried to watch Wheeler and Woolsey films, but I just couldn't bear it.
*Laurel and Hardy RULE!*
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Well, I kinda liked Bob Dorian, but I wish they would try out Russ Tamblyn as a host!
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> {quote:title=MyFavoriteFilms wrote:}{quote}
> I completely forgot about VICTOR/VICTORIA. Thanks for mentioning that one. I would love to see it on TCM.
You might also want to check out *La Cage Aux Folles*, and *Priscilla, Queen of the Desert*, just to name a couple. To me, most films where straight guys dress up like women, for comedy, are just unbelievable and stupid. That includes *Some Like It Hot*, but not *Tootsie*, which I think works very well. But, films with roles that are meant to be genuine transvestites are often believable, and sometimes quite good.
Wheeler and Woolsey Rule! Laurel and Hardy Drool!
in General Discussions
Posted
> {quote:title=Scottman wrote:}{quote} While the two L&H features that TCM ran are fun, the operetta setting is not the really best for them,
I agree. I am a big fan of L&H, but can't stand the operettas. My favorite L&H feature is *A Chump at Oxford*, and the 37m *Beau Hunks* is my other top L&H favorite. But, generally, their earlier stuff is best.