Movie Rambles

[Film_Fatale]

*And a message to all other out there who may not like the fact that I am listing so many....*

 

I like the fact that you listed so many, fxreyman, thank you for sharing. I'm a really huge fan of Albert Brooks' *Defending Your Life* and must have seen it at least 3 times when it played in theaters back in '91. B-)

[lzcutter]

fxreyman,

 

Excellent list! Many of my favorites are on it as well. The only one I would add would be for Warren Beatty, *Reds* .

 

Jack Nicholson, after years in the mid and late 1970s of hardly playing a character when he could play Jack, just blew me away with his portrayal of Eugene O'Neill. He doesn't have a lot of screen time but he is heartbreaking in the scene with Diane Keaton where he tells her goodbye.

[JackFavell]

I liked your list, too.

 

I was especially interested in the breakdown of directors - I didn't realize that some of my favorites were directed by the same person....like Jim Sheridan with In the Name of the Father and My Left Foot. Or the Alan J. Pakula movies.

 

And was it really only 7 years between The Man Who Would Be King and Star Trek: Wrath of Khan? That's just weird to me.

 

Thank you for listing The Musketeers movies, and Dog Day Afternoon, Lone Star (John Sayles is one of my favorite directors and he never gets remembered.)

[JackFavell]

Oh, my gosh! I was going to say the same thing, Izcutter.

 

Reds is a fantastic movie, and I recommend it highly. And it's true - if you don't think Jack can act.... go rent this movie. To me, it's as good as he gets....

[lzcutter]

Jackie,

 

Another heartbreaker is on fx's list, *The Four Musketeers*. Oliver Reed is just wonderful in the scene where tells Michael York's D'Artagnan about his love for Milady.

 

*The Three Musketeers* is a wonderful comic romp with some very good performances. The sequel is a much darker story and Oliver Reed's Athos is at the heart of it.

[Bronxgirl48]

> {quote:title=MissGoddess wrote:}{quote}

> Watching Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) last night I got to thinking about

> post-60s movies I like, and there are so few that I can list them. I'm so hopelessly

> old-fashioned. Here they are:

>

> The Tamarind Seed

> Out of Africa

> Emma

> Picnic at Hanging Rock

> Somewhere in Time

> Love Story (I know, I know!)

> Breezy

> L.A. Confidential

> Gladiator

> The Insider

> A Beautiful Mind

> Dirty Dancing

> Dead Poets Society

> Walkabout

> Il Postino

> Enchanted April

> Un Couer en Hiver

> Nelly et M. Arnaud

> Indochine

> The Lover

> The Shootist

> Rooster Cogburn

> The Yakuza

> True Grit

>

> These films I saw as a child and loved them. I don't love them

> anymore but I'll list them anyway:

>

> Star Wars (only the first one)

> Superman (only the first one)

> Raiders of the Lost Ark (none of the sequels)

> E.T.

>

> I used to love horror movies as a kid but no more. *The Fog* (original) was my favorite.

> That is about it.

 

Goddess -- someone recommended WALKABOUT to me; watching it was a singular experience, let me tell you. I can't get it out of my mind. I saw parts of PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK years ago, but all I can remember is how spooky Ayres Rock looked, but I do seem to recall some eerie scenes at the beginning with the young girls. I need a refresher course for this film. (and my brain)

 

So with a scene like "Nobody puts Baby in a corner", should the movie be called DIRTY DUNCING? (bada-boom!) Patrick Swayze, oooh...he's got those Roy Rogers/Duke cheekbones and slit-like eyes, hunkalove.

 

Ah, so you like LOVE STORY, eh? What do you think of my acting, lol? (don't answer)

 

I've seen BREEZY and intially I was resistant to it and even thought it was a bit, well, embarrassing maybe, for William Holden, but upon repeated viewings I'm more impressed with Kay Lenz's performance and how her "free-living" character changes a supremely jaded older man.

 

SOMEWHERE IN TIME -- "Are you the one?" After I first saw this I laid down on my bed dressed in 18th century finery and tried to wish myself back to the Revolutionary War era, but nothing happened.

 

I have bad memories of EMMA. Not the movie, but I met a guy and this was the film we went to on our first date. He turned out to be a creep, but worse than that, after the film started, the projector shut down and everyone had to leave the theatre, so I never got to see it. But I have an aversion to Gwyneth Paltrow. Probably because she's gorgeous and blonde and talented.

 

I haven't seen any of the other movies on your list.

 

I like LETTER TO BREZHNEV; ever see it? Peter Firth is so believable as a Russian sailor; the story is urban-poetic, and the score is nifty. It's very 80's. (not my favorite decade, however)

 

I'm ashamed to say (in earshot of Frank) that I love MURPHY'S ROMANCE even though one of the things Sally Field does when she's in the middle of a crisis is order a double chocolate ice cream soda.

I mean, would a guy do that?? But I can't resist James Garner here.

[MissGoddess]

> {quote:title=Bronxgirl48 wrote:}{quote}

>

> Goddess -- someone recommended WALKABOUT to me; watching it was a singular experience, let me tell you. I can't get it out of my mind. I saw parts of PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK years ago, but all I can remember is how spooky Ayres Rock looked, but I do seem to recall some eerie scenes at the beginning with the young girls. I need a refresher course for this film. (and my brain)

>

 

"Singular experience" is a good description for *Walkabout*. I really don't have a clear

memory of it except that the feeling it gave me never left me. I've always had a fascination

for the land Down Under since I first saw "The Thorn Birds" (was I ever crushed when I

learned it was filmed in California).

 

I think you'd like Picnic at Hanging Rock. I think it's simulatenously beautiful and horrifying and poetic.

 

This reminds me of another favorite I left off that was filmed in Oz: THE MAN FROM SNOWY

RIVER.

 

 

> So with a scene like "Nobody puts Baby in a corner", should the movie be called DIRTY DUNCING? (bada-boom!) Patrick Swayze, oooh...he's got those Roy Rogers/Duke cheekbones and slit-like eyes, hunkalove.

>

 

I love the music, too! It reminds me of just about the only happy times I had as a kid.

 

> Ah, so you like LOVE STORY, eh? What do you think of my acting, lol? (don't answer)

>

 

I'm so embarrassed to have this movie listed (but if you could see some of the movies

on my favorites of the 1960s list it would look like a masterpiece). I really think it's the

music that gets me. And Ray Milland---now he's the one I feel has to be told

"I'm sorry" for having to be in that movie.

 

> I've seen BREEZY and intially I was resistant to it and even thought it was a bit, well, embarrassing maybe, for William Holden, but upon repeated viewings I'm more impressed with Kay Lenz's performance and how her "free-living" character changes a supremely jaded older man.

>

 

It's another one of my trashy film favorites. I have a MAJOR weakness for bad movies of a

certain kind. I even have a bizarre fascination for what may be one of the worst movies

ever made by a good director: THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN. I can't take my eyes off

of Elizabeth Taylor dressed and made up as if she were 40 years younger. Warren Beatty

I just blank out entirely.

 

 

> SOMEWHERE IN TIME -- "Are you the one?" After I first saw this I laid down on my bed dressed in 18th century finery and tried to wish myself back to the Revolutionary War era, but nothing happened.

>

 

Lol!!! YOU, TOO? It would have been funny if we'd made it and bumped into eachother

in the era.

 

> I have bad memories of EMMA. Not the movie, but I met a guy and this was the film we went to on our first date. He turned out to be a creep, but worse than that, after the film started, the projector shut down and everyone had to leave the theatre, so I never got to see it. But I have an aversion to Gwyneth Paltrow. Probably because she's gorgeous and blonde and talented.

>

 

I can't stand Gwynnie in anything else but this.

 

> I haven't seen any of the other movies on your list.

>

> I like LETTER TO BREZHNEV; ever see it? Peter Firth is so believable as a Russian sailor; the story is urban-poetic, and the score is nifty. It's very 80's. (not my favorite decade, however)

>

 

I never even heard of that one. I'll look into it.

 

 

> I'm ashamed to say (in earshot of Frank) that I love MURPHY'S ROMANCE even though one of the things Sally Field does when she's in the middle of a crisis is order a double chocolate ice cream soda.

> I mean, would a guy do that?? But I can't resist James Garner here.

 

For some reason I've never seen that movie but I have the feeling I might like it.

[JackFavell]

Iz - I just adore the Three and Four Musketeers. They are super fun movies, full of bawdy adventure and silly comic characters - including Michael York, the leading man but also the most ridiculous and endearing D'Artagnan ever. I also have a huge soft spot for Roy Kinnear.

 

But, I have a secret love..... Oliver Reed (although I don't know why, since the first movie I saw him in was Oliver! in which he played the meanest, most awful !@#$% ever)..... Anyway, he is really, really good as Athos. So good, I can't watch anyone else play the part without thinking of Reed and wishing I were watching this version. I don't think Reed made many good movies, but he should have, because in this movie he shows how good an actor he was. It's a wonderful scene, revealing his love, showing all the torment and torture this brave musketeer (my favorite) has gone through. Sigh.

[rohanaka]

fxreyman....great list. I have seen most of the films you have listed. Just borrowing from you list...I have gathered a group here that I really like and many of these are films I have seen more than once...The one's that I have marked with a ** are films I would put on a list of my own favorites.

 

Shadowlands 93 **

Much Ado About Nothing 93

Batman 89

The Abyss 89

Fargo 96 **

Open Range 03 **

The Silence of the Lambs 91 **

Unforgiven 92

Mystic River 03

Apollo 13 95

A Beautiful Mind 01 ** (April, I think we talked about this one...it is VERY good)

The Remains of the Day 93 ** ( I think several of you folks on here would like this one, given things I have read that you also like)

The Right Stuff 83 **

The Empire Strikes Back 80 **

Sense and Sensibility 95 ** (this is one of my VERY big FAVES)

The Three Musketeers 73

The Four Musketeers 74

Robin and Marion 76

American Graffiti 73

Star Wars 77 **

The Last of the Mohicans 92 ** ( also a HUGE favorite)

Big 88

Awakenings 90

A League of Their Own 92

The Hunt For Red October 90 **

Time After Time 79

Star Trek II The Wrath of Khan 82

Clear and Present Danger 94 **

Mississippi Burning 88 **

Sabrina 95

A River Runs Through It 92

Jaws 75 **

Close Encounters of the Third Kind 77 **

Raiders of the Lost Ark 81 **

Schindler?s List 93 **

Amistad 97

Saving Private Ryan 98

Tremors 90 **

City Slickers 91

Witness 85 **

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World 03 **

Back to the Future 85 **

Who Framed Roger Rabbit 88 **

Glory 89 **

 

Films I would add to the list as also being among my favorites in this time period would also be:

 

Empire of the Sun, The Patriot (Mel Gibson--not Steven Segal), The Man From Snowy River, The Untouchables, Far and Away, Parenthood, Signs, Unbreakable, Independence Day, The Fugitive, Silverado, Steel Magnolias, The Edge, You've Got Mail,The Mask of Zorro, Regarding Henry, Conspiracy Theory (Oh...this is an edited addition...HOW could I have forgotten *ET* !!!! )

 

(I know if I sat here I could list about a dozen more...but these are ones we watch a lot around here..or at least we USED to before we went to a strictly "G" rating for most of our primetime fare these last few years. :-)

 

PS... ladies...I remember Murphy's Romance from way back when it came out at the theater...It is one of the few Sally Field movies I wish they WOULD play more often. But mostly because then I could see James Garner...as I recall he was really good in this one. :-)

 

Message was edited by: rohanaka

[fxreyman]

Thank you Miss Goddess,

 

It?s funny. While looking over my list of 500 I actually counted close to 700. And of course 200 are from 1970 onward.

 

Many years ago a friend of mine challenged me to provide a list of my top ten movies of all time. Being the perfectionist that I am, I found that limiting my favorites to just ten was impossible.

 

After about a year or so I presented him a list of 101 favorite films. It was a professional looking black and white compilation. I had written complete synopsis for each film and I had scanned in for almost every film a picture or two.

 

He was very impressed. But still told me that I wasn?t really a true film fan since I could not tell him what my top ten were. As all film fans can attest, we argued about a top ten list from me and soon afterward he suggested that I place in numeric order my top 101 list. To this day I am still working on that one.

 

So I set about putting together my second 101 list. And so on. Now I am up to my 500 list with complete synopsis.

 

I don?t know what it is about lists. I guess I just love ?em!

 

I really enjoy reading what others have to say about what they think of my after 1970 list.

 

Makes me wonder why the TCM Message Board just doesn?t have a forum devoted to lists?

 

I think that could be something very interesting. What do you think?

 

Fxreyman (Rey Nowlin)

[fxreyman]

Thanks for your kind words!

 

Great!!!

 

I knew I forgot some titles.....

 

Thanks for reminding me....

 

Brian De Palma

Carrie 76

Body Double 84

The Untouchables 87

When they were filming this movie I was attending The American Academy of Art in downtown Chicago. I remember for weeks on end I would pass the actor?s trailers, and sometimes on my lunch break would go out and watch the filmmakers set up shots. Unfortunately I was never around to see any of the big time actors. But I did see them set up shots involving vintage autos.

That was pretty darn cool.

 

Nora Ephron

Sleepless in Seattle 93

You?ve Got Mail 98

Hard to believe this film was released the same year as Saving Private Ryan also with Tom Hanks.

 

Andrew Davis

The Fugitive 93

 

George Miller

The Man From Snowy River 82

[fxreyman]

Thanks Film_Fatale.

 

I totally agree with you about Defending Your Life.....

 

Some funny quotes, especially the part where Daniel sits with Bob Diamond, his attorney and watches Bob it something that looks sort of like S _ _ t.

 

Here are some other memeorable quotes:

 

Daniel Miller: Is this Heaven?

Bob Diamond: No, it isn't Heaven.

Daniel Miller: Is it Hell?

Bob Diamond: Nope, it isn't Hell either. Actually, there is no Hell. Although I hear Los Angeles is getting pretty close.

 

Bob Diamond: For example, I use forty-eight percent of my brain. Do you know how much you use?

Daniel Miller: Forty... seven?

Bob Diamond: [laughs] Three.

 

Bob Diamond: Being from Earth, as you are, and using as little of your brain as you do, your life has pretty much been devoted to dealing with fear.

Daniel Miller: It has?

Bob Diamond: Well everybody on Earth deals with fear -- that's what little brains do.

Bob Diamond: ...Fear is like a giant fog. It sits on your brain and blocks everything -- real feelings, true happiness, real joy. They can't get through that fog. But you lift it, and buddy, you're in for the ride of your life.

Daniel Miller: God... my three percent is swimming.

 

Very funny stuff....

 

Mother was very, very funny too. Especially getting Debbie Reynolds to play his ?Mother?.

[fxreyman]

Hey there!

 

Yes I really do like John Sayles. His movies have a lot of depth to their storytelling.

 

I think one of the reasons he does not get mentioned too much is that he is into making these very unpretentious movies. It?s about the story and character development. Look at Passion Fish and Lone Star. It is not about special effects or really big time actors.

[fxreyman]

I don?t know....Maybe you are right. Reds cold have been on my list as well.

 

Although I think Jack was really good in The Departed, Chinatown, Something?s Gotta Give, Prizzi?s Honor, One Flew Over the Cuckoo?s Nest and The Last Detail.

 

But I really think his best role to date was About Schmidt. Warren Schmidt is one of the few roles where we see a character played by Jack go through all of the human emotions. Much more so than many of his other pieces of work.

 

He retires and must go to one of those useless retirement parties.

 

He then leaves his off ice only to discover that many of his files he has worked on all those years means nothing to the company he spent his whole life at. All of his papers have been thrown in the garbage.

 

Only a few weeks after he retires he loses his wife to a blood clot in the brain. Soon after while rummaging through their closet he finds long lost love letters between his dead wife and a close family friend. He then decides to go and talk with this guy (played by Len Cariou) but instead loses it and gets into a heated exchange.

 

He decides to go to Denver in his new motorhome. On the way he has an interesting encounter with a couple who invite him to dinner in their motorhome.

 

Oh, I could go on, but my eyelids are starting to drop....

[rohanaka]

Ok... (deep breath and a sigh) ... Now...what can I say about *3 Bad Men* .... (this is definitely going to be one of those "this is what I saw...this is how I felt about it" sort of posts folks....so please bear with me as I get a fresh kleenex here...I have been reduced to tears several times today just thinking about all the emotional aspects of this story...and that's a GOOD thing...so don't feel sorry for me!!) :-)

 

Let me first start by saying if you hear a sort of a "rushing wind" noise going on from somewhere in the Midwest....that is me...being totally blown away by this film. Watta movie. April...I can honestly see why this one is so dear to you. It is truly breathtaking.

 

I have to tell you a funny story first though....Last night when I put the disc in the DVD player I had no idea that it was anything other than a regular old DVD. Well, when I pushed the button to get things started...the only thing I could bring up was the OTHER film that is on this disc The Hangman's House (which by the way...I have watched PART of this one so far...hope to see the rest tomorrow..so far a very good story) But anyway...I sat there pushing button after button trying to get the stupid thing to pull up the start menu for 3 Bad Men....and NUTTIN' honey. OH!! I was so mad I was about to throw the remote control at the TV.

 

I picked up the DVD cover thinking MAYBE there would be some sort of instruction or something to tell me WHY I was having such a problem....and again....NUTTIN honey!! And just as I was about to throw IT at the tv....a little tiny box at the bottom of the cover (on the back side of it) happened to catch my eye....WHO IN THE WORLD EVER HEARD OF A DOUBLE SIDED DVD???????????) OH!! The technophobe in me was SO frazzled by the time I figured this out....I was thinking I would have to write a letter to my congressman or something...WHAT a nightmare...but...then...I flipped the silly little silver disc over and all was right with the world...

 

NOW...on with the ramble...I just have to say that these 3 guys....these men in hats...they are something else. I love the way they arrive...all menacing at first...with the wanted posters as their resume. As I started adding up the reward money I was thinking "Gee--If they are worth all that, I might turn them in myself" It was a high dollar price tag hanging over them for sure and it spoke volumes about how they truly deserved to be called...BAD men.

 

And then...as if there was some sort of hint that MAYBE there was more to them than the wanted posters implied...they come riding OUT of the sun (instead of riding off into it the way most cowboy movies end) They rode OUT of it...all lit up from behind...as if maybe they were being SENT....though certainly even they themselves did not know it...Ok...maybe that's a stretch....but I watched this TWICE just because I wanted to see it again for myself...and that's my take on it. (Now feel free to tell me to go soak my head or something. ) :-)

 

SPOILERS will abound....so reader beware:

 

Perish the thought....but imagine if you will WHAT would have happened to Lee if they had not arrived on the scene when they did. Even though they were not riding to the rescue, but rather to steal for themselves and by any means necessary...they were in fact her saviors. By thwarting the plans laid for her by the other BAD men, they more or less had their "greatness" thrust upon them. They had no intention of being heroes...Bull was ready to do whatever was necessary to ride off w/ those horses as planned...until Lee's hat came off...and it was revealed to him that HE was a SHE. And that changed everything.

 

Of course Bull's desire to rescue his sister was so strong in him (though we don't know that yet) that he transferred his need to protect and shelter the sister over onto Lee. And as he got deeper and deeper into the situation at hand...he and his friends as well...they could not withstand the pure trust she put in them. And they had no choice but to fall prey to her need for protection. It was almost as if THEY fell victim to HER (instead of the other way around) Because...as eventually they began to realize...they were being transformed by the image she had of them, rather than by their own will. SHE made them better because she believed they were better. (is that making any sense?)

 

So...What about these three "accidental" heroes..Were they really BAD MEN? On the surface this may seem like one of those "gray" moments...they had a choice...they had to decide....it was a stuggle...it might have gone a different way....but then again...I don't think so. Sometimes I think bad men can do good things...and other times...I think good men will do bad things. And I think that the GOOD in these bad men was there all along. And they had just been living in contradiction to there own true selves until Lee came along and made them see their own potential.

 

I LOVE the part where she firsts calls them her 3 Bad Men. It's so "tongue in cheek" almost as if she is mocking the Sheriff in disbelief. But then again...I think she really DID believe they were as disreputable a bunch as he was describing..but she chose to judge them only on HER experience not what others had said. And then later...when she hires them....and she says..."you are MY men." When they take their hats off and straighten their backs up....it is both out of respect for her and out of respect for her trust in them...but I also think it is likely the first time they have felt "righteous" in a very long time...and they like it. It is as if they just got a "clean slate" and they are now made honorable in their new role as "hers" .

 

And of course they also go beyond her ownership of them...and take on the role as HER keeper as well. SHE becomes THEIRS...to love, protect, respect..they need her as much as she needs them. It's a beautiful transition.

 

The "husband hunt" was hilarious. And it is very telling that they see themselves unworthy of her in any role other than as her protectors. (we had this sort of conversation way back at the Oxbow as I recall) I like how "fate" played a role in the selection process...since Lee had already met and been attracted to Dan...and vice versa.. but you'd never have guessed that had anything to do w/ it as far as Bull was concerned..HE was gonna see to it that she had everything she needed...including MR. Right.

 

And what about the REAL bad man...Sheriff Hunter...what a piece of work Much could be said about him and all his various attributes, but I think I will focus mainly on his appearance. Wasn't he just too well put together. TOO "good" to be good, so to speak. He was almost "spotless" on the outside... yet he was as black as night just below the surface...BAD doesn't even begin to cover it.

 

All the various side stories that go along w/ this film.....w/ sister Millie...with the land rush..with the whole "battle of Good vs Evil" as far as the attack on the church service was concerned... they all come together so nicely and just enhance all the other elements of the story.And the "last stand" sacrifices that these men make to protect Lee in the end...well...I could certainly go off the deep end just sitting here talking about that all night. I am sure I could sit here for some time to come and go on ans on w/ more and more "ramblings" as this film is just so full of possibilities for discussion.... but I will stop for now and catch my breath...and hope to see a few of you others step in and ramble on a bit. There is much more that can be said, but I am sure you don't need me to be the one saying it all...

 

I will add one more thing to my comments tonight though...and that is a HUGE thank you April for your strong recommendation for this film. And to all those of you who have also discussed this story on here in the past. It is now on my list of favorite westerns to be sure....not to mention it is also now among the lists of my all time favorite films in general....and SUNRISE better be looking over it's shoulder...as I may have a new favorite Silent film...I don't have a LOT of expertise in the area of Silents, but I am gaining a whole new appreciation for them. Please....let me hear from some of you. And....screen caps folks....lots of screencaps if you please...the images on this film are just gorgeous sometimes. Here is a website I found that has a nice commentary on the film....I haven't read through the whole site yet, but I thought it was interesting, and one of the pages has some nice pictures too.. so thought I would share....

 

http://www.silentsaregolden.com/featurefolder/3badmenpage.html

 

I look forward to reading your rambles folks. And (as usual) thanks again for letting me go on...and on...and on...

[lzcutter]

Fxreyman,

 

Don't get me wrong, in the early to mid-1970s Jack made some great films: *Cuckoo's Nest*, *Five Easy Pieces*, *Chinatown*, *The Last Detail*, *Carnal Knowledge* .

 

But in the mid to late 1970s, he made *The Last Tycoon*, *Goin' South*, *The Fortune* and *The Shining*.

 

That's why his performance in *Reds* was so wonderful to me. He was finally acting again as he had done only a decade earlier and he reminded us that when he is not playing Jack, he is a very good actor.

[Film_Fatale]

> {quote:title=fxreyman wrote:}{quote}

> Thanks Film_Fatale.

>

> I totally agree with you about Defending Your Life.....

>

 

Yes, I loved the character of Bob Diamond, and this was really the first movie where I really took notice of Rip Torn (and Lee Grant, for that matter). There is also the very funny cameo by a well-known female star, whom I won't name here just to avoid posting a potential spoiler for those who have not seen the movie.

 

I don't think I've seen *Mother* since it premiered in theaters, but I would love to watch it again. :x

[JackFavell]

Izcutter-

 

These are exactly my feelings about Jack Nicholson. When he gets lazy, I simply don't like him. He starts hamming it up all over the place and doesn't even try to act.

 

But Reds proved he had it in him to make a very deep, multi-MULTI-layered performance. The way he can say a line and make it mean five different things at the same time is just astounding. He is just awesome. And it made me realize why he became "Jack Nicholson" the star in the first place. I would love Reds anyway, even if he weren't in it. It's an astoundingly wonderful romantic historical epic with documentary overtones, and is about a period and place in history that we just don't get to see very often. It's a very emotional picture. But oh, what Nicholson adds to this movie is immense.....

 

I prefer him in movies like this, and yes, Chinatown, and Five Easy Pieces. The Last Detail is the one I really want to check out next. But, please, NO Terms of Endearment.....

[MissGoddess]

Hi Rey!

 

> {quote:title=fxreyman wrote:}{quote}

> Thank you Miss Goddess,

>

> Its funny. While looking over my list of 500 I actually counted close to 700. And of course 200 are from 1970 onward.

>

 

700 favorites? Man, that's a lot of movies!

 

> Many years ago a friend of mine challenged me to provide a list of my top ten movies of all time. Being the perfectionist that I am, I found that limiting my favorites to just ten was impossible.

>

> After about a year or so I presented him a list of 101 favorite films. It was a professional looking black and white compilation. I had written complete synopsis for each film and I had scanned in for almost every film a picture or two.

>

> He was very impressed. But still told me that I wasnt really a true film fan since I could not tell him what my top ten were. As all film fans can attest, we argued about a top ten list from me and soon afterward he suggested that I place in numeric order my top 101 list. To this day I am still working on that one.

>

> So I set about putting together my second 101 list. And so on. Now I am up to my 500 list with complete synopsis.

>

 

I am working on a favorite 50 films list and it's agonizing. I'm still trying to figure out how

to squeeze 100 favorites into just 50.

 

 

> I dont know what it is about lists. I guess I just love em!

>

> I really enjoy reading what others have to say about what they think of my after 1970 list.

>

> Makes me wonder why the TCM Message Board just doesnt have a forum devoted to lists?

>

> I think that could be something very interesting. What do you think?

>

 

Not a bad idea at all! You might want to send them an email about it. I love making

and reading lists, as well.

[Film_Fatale]

> {quote:title=JackFavell wrote:}{quote}

> But Reds proved he had it in him to make a very deep, multi-MULTI-layered performance. The way he can say a line and make it mean five different things at the same time is just astounding. He is just awesome. And it made me realize why he became "Jack Nicholson" the star in the first place. I would love Reds anyway, even if he weren't in it. It's an astoundingly wonderful romantic historical epic with documentary overtones, and is about a period and place in history that we just don't get to see very often. It's a very emotional picture. But oh, what Nicholson adds to this movie is immense.....

>

> I prefer him in movies like this, and yes, Chinatown, and Five Easy Pieces. The Last Detail is the one I really want to check out next. But, please, NO Terms of Endearment.....

 

I guess I can take Jack in either of his "modes", if you will, but you and Lynn make a wonderful point. There really can come a point when highly-acclaimed actors can start "coasting" in a professional way and just doing slightly different versions of their basic persona and sometimes even resort to self-parody. It certainly happened to Jack, and to various degrees, to Pacino, DeNiro, maybe even Depardieu.

 

So I agree with you completely for singling out Jack's work in *Reds*, which I guess also benefited from the somewhat unorthodox approach of Warren Beatty to most of his projects. (I remained convinced that *Bulworth* was ahead of its time).

[fxreyman]

Hi April!

 

I might just do that! Send TCM an email about a LISTS FORUM.

 

Thanks for your kind words!

 

And I just made my annual dvd film purchase from Columbia House Video.

 

For $100.66 I ordered the following:

 

The Bishops Wife

Fail-Safe

From the Terrace

Going My Way

The Lion in Winter

Lost Weekend

A Man For All Seasons

The Man From Laramie

McLintock!

The Ox-Bow Incident

Patton

Red River

Seven Days in May

and

Sink the Bismarck!

 

Not a bad deal! Only Patton cost me the standard $19.95 rate, the others were from $5.98 to $7.98. And these are movie I already have on VHS. I am in the slow process of converting all of my older VHS tapes into DVDs.

 

I know many people tape using DVR, but I really like to get the DVD packages that contain all of the extra footage and commentaries. Not available on the old VHS format.

 

Well, got to go now and put food on the table (go to work). Talk with you soon.

 

Rey

[JackFavell]

Ro- this is by far my favorite of your rambles. You have put into words so much that I could not.

 

First of all- I don't like the two sided discs.....they bug me for some reason. They don't label them well. Anyway, your story had me laughing till .... no I didn't spit water out my nose... but just about.

 

Your description of *Three Bad Men* made me want to cry. The way that Ford just turns everything upside down in this movie is grand - like the "heroes" coming OUT of the sun..... I loved this movie so much and you just helped me relive it all over again.

 

In some ways, I think this film goes to the heart of Ford's themes better than any of his films. He brings forth the idea that "good" does not always mean "pure". That the heart of a man is more important than where he's been or even what he's done. That friendship can mean something deeper than just "talk". And that love between a man and a woman does not always have to be consummated, and it is borne of respect. Ford explores these subjects, but he entertains us "purty well" the whole time!

 

Where did this movie come from? I want to know! I have watched The Iron Horse and Hangman's House, and though they are interesting and historic movies, I cannot see Ford's soul in them, only little glimpses. But in Three Bad Men - It's suddenly all there, the twisting of the villain into hero by the redeeming power of love, the fact that there are three heroes (actually four) instead of just one, the multi-plotted story, the rough and tumble lifestyle of the old west, the feisty but sweet heroine, the slow picking off of favorite characters in noble sacrifice.......everything..... how did it happen? and in one fell swoop?

 

And when did he decide to make the hero three old men? He takes the focus off of the young lovers, and places where it belongs - in the most interesting place, looking at the most interesting characters, the Three "Bad" Men.

[MissGoddess]

Kathyyyyyyyyy!!!!

 

So you love my 3 Bad Men now?

 

Here's how much I love them---I had a shirt made up with this image

pasted on it (close to my heart!):

 

 

Shameless!

:x :x :x

 

 

Before I go any further I want to thank you for that link you provided---somehow

I never came across that webpage (even though I've visited that site before) and

I can't wait to explore it.

 

 

 

 

> {quote:title=rohanaka wrote:}{quote}

>

>

> I have to tell you a funny story first though....Last night when I put the disc in the DVD player I had no idea that it was anything other than a regular old DVD. Well, when I pushed the button to get things started...the only thing I could bring up was the OTHER film that is on this disc The Hangman's House (which by the way...I have watched PART of this one so far...hope to see the rest tomorrow..so far a very good story) But anyway...I sat there pushing button after button trying to get the stupid thing to pull up the start menu for 3 Bad Men....and NUTTIN' honey. OH!! I was so mad I was about to throw the remote control at the TV.

>

> I picked up the DVD cover thinking MAYBE there would be some sort of instruction or something to tell me WHY I was having such a problem....and again....NUTTIN honey!! And just as I was about to throw IT at the tv....a little tiny box at the bottom of the cover (on the back side of it) happened to catch my eye....WHO IN THE WORLD EVER HEARD OF A DOUBLE SIDED DVD???????????) OH!! The technophobe in me was SO frazzled by the time I figured this out....I was thinking I would have to write a letter to my congressman or something...WHAT a nightmare...but...then...I flipped the silly little silver disc over and all was right with the world...

>

 

Ha haaaaaa!!!!! That's one of the funniest stories you've told yet! And it sounds so much

like what happens with me EVERY day.

 

I do think Fox should have made the writing on the discs a LITTLE bigger because it

takes me forever to make out which disc is which, never mind sides "A" and "B"

 

 

 

>

> And then...as if there was some sort of hint that MAYBE there was more to them than the wanted posters implied...they come riding OUT of the sun (instead of riding off into it the way most cowboy movies end) They rode OUT of it...all lit up from behind...as if maybe they were being SENT....though certainly even they themselves did not know it...Ok...maybe that's a stretch....but I watched this TWICE just because I wanted to see it again for myself...and that's my take on it. (Now feel free to tell me to go soak my head or something. ) :-)

>

 

I haven't yet watched this film with a view to picking up details like that,

so you've given me something to look for when I view it again. I've seen

it about three or four times only so far, and each time I was just lost in

the characters. I also don't watch it too often because it's just so emotional

and I'm about played out afterward (just like with The Man Who Shot

Liberty Valance).

 

 

> SPOILERS will abound....so reader beware:

>

> Perish the thought....but imagine if you will WHAT would have happened to Lee if they had not arrived on the scene when they did. Even though they were not riding to the rescue, but rather to steal for themselves and by any means necessary...they were in fact her saviors. By thwarting the plans laid for her by the other BAD men, they more or less had their "greatness" thrust upon them. They had no intention of being heroes...Bull was ready to do whatever was necessary to ride off w/ those horses as planned...until Lee's hat came off...and it was revealed to him that HE was a SHE. And that changed everything.

>

 

I love that moment, Tom Santschi's expression is both funny and heartstopping.

 

> Of course Bull's desire to rescue his sister was so strong in him (though we don't know that yet) that he transferred his need to protect and shelter the sister over onto Lee. And as he got deeper and deeper into the situation at hand...he and his friends as well...they could not withstand the pure trust she put in them. And they had no choice but to fall prey to her need for protection. It was almost as if THEY fell victim to HER (instead of the other way around) Because...as eventually they began to realize...they were being transformed by the image she had of them, rather than by their own will. SHE made them better because she believed they were better. (is that making any sense?)

>

 

That's a terrific point! I never thought about it that way but you're right! Lee roped and

put her brand on their hearts before they ever knew what hit them.

 

> So...What about these three "accidental" heroes..Were they really BAD MEN? On the surface this may seem like one of those "gray" moments...they had a choice...they had to decide....it was a stuggle...it might have gone a different way....but then again...I don't think so. Sometimes I think bad men can do good things...and other times...I think good men will do bad things. And I think that the GOOD in these bad men was there all along. And they had just been living in contradiction to there own true selves until Lee came along and made them see their own potential.

>

 

I like to think so. Interestingly, the novel the movie is based on bears this out.

 

 

> I LOVE the part where she firsts calls them her 3 Bad Men. It's so "tongue in cheek" almost as if she is mocking the Sheriff in disbelief. But then again...I think she really DID believe they were as disreputable a bunch as he was describing..but she chose to judge them only on HER experience not what others had said. And then later...when she hires them....and she says..."you are MY men." When they take their hats off and straighten their backs up....it is both out of respect for her and out of respect for her trust in them...but I also think it is likely the first time they have felt "righteous" in a very long time...and they like it. It is as if they just got a "clean slate" and they are now made honorable in their new role as "hers" .

>

 

Little gestures like that are what great acting is all about---look how much we learn and

get from scenes without a word of dialogue. Things like this are what I look forward to

experiencing the most as I explore silent film more in depth.

 

 

> And of course they also go beyond her ownership of them...and take on the role as HER keeper as well. SHE becomes THEIRS...to love, protect, respect..they need her as much as she needs them. It's a beautiful transition.

>

 

I'd love to have them for my "guardian angels", too!

 

 

> The "husband hunt" was hilarious. And it is very telling that they see themselves unworthy of her in any role other than as her protectors. (we had this sort of conversation way back at the Oxbow as I recall) I like how "fate" played a role in the selection process...since Lee had already met and been attracted to Dan...and vice versa.. but you'd never have guessed that had anything to do w/ it as far as Bull was concerned..HE was gonna see to it that she had everything she needed...including MR. Right.

>

 

This section is too funny---I love how "Mike" and "Spade" size up the prospects.

 

 

> And what about the REAL bad man...Sheriff Hunter...what a piece of work Much could be said about him and all his various attributes, but I think I will focus mainly on his appearance. Wasn't he just too well put together. TOO "good" to be good, so to speak. He was almost "spotless" on the outside... yet he was as black as night just below the surface...BAD doesn't even begin to cover it.

>

 

Good point about the exteriors belying what the man is really like. Same with the "bad" men

and their rough and fierce looking facades.

 

> All the various side stories that go along w/ this film.....w/ sister Millie...with the land rush..with the whole "battle of Good vs Evil" as far as the attack on the church service was concerned... they all come together so nicely and just enhance all the other elements of the story.And the "last stand" sacrifices that these men make to protect Lee in the end...well...I could certainly go off the deep end just sitting here talking about that all night. I am sure I could sit here for some time to come and go on ans on w/ more and more "ramblings" as this film is just so full of possibilities for discussion.... but I will stop for now and catch my breath...and hope to see a few of you others step in and ramble on a bit. There is much more that can be said, but I am sure you don't need me to be the one saying it all...

>

 

The story of Bull's sister and the church scenes were all invented for the movie and are

not in the book. I think the film is far superior to the novel, by the way. It's much more

emotional, though it brilliantly brings to life what the novel presented, namely the relationship

between the three and Lee.

 

 

> I will add one more thing to my comments tonight though...and that is a HUGE thank you April for your strong recommendation for this film. And to all those of you who have also discussed this story on here in the past. It is now on my list of favorite westerns to be sure....not to mention it is also now among the lists of my all time favorite films in general....and SUNRISE better be looking over it's shoulder...as I may have a new favorite Silent film...I don't have a LOT of expertise in the area of Silents, but I am gaining a whole new appreciation for them. Please....let me hear from some of you. And....screen caps folks....lots of screencaps if you please...the images on this film are just gorgeous sometimes.

 

 

You are WELCOME. I know FrankGrimes has some good screencaps of *3 Bad Men*, if

he can be persuaded to share. I haven't taken any as yet, I'm still too "close" to the movie

to be able to sit and go through that...I'd short out my keyboard for sure with all my tears!

 

I'm so glad you were as moved by this movie as you say, and that "the Three" have a

new admirer.

[MissGoddess]

> {quote:title=JackFavell wrote:}{quote}

>

> In some ways, I think this film goes to the heart of Ford's themes better than any of his films. He brings forth the idea that "good" does not always mean "pure". That the heart of a man is more important than where he's been or even what he's done. That friendship can mean something deeper than just "talk". And that love between a man and a woman does not always have to be consummated, and it is borne of respect. Ford explores these subjects, but he entertains us "purty well" the whole time!

>

> Where did this movie come from? I want to know! I have watched The Iron Horse and Hangman's House, and though they are interesting and historic movies, I cannot see Ford's soul in them, only little glimpses. But in Three Bad Men - It's suddenly all there, the twisting of the villain into hero by the redeeming power of love, the fact that there are three heroes (actually four) instead of just one, the multi-plotted story, the rough and tumble lifestyle of the old west, the feisty but sweet heroine, the slow picking off of favorite characters in noble sacrifice.......everything..... how did it happen? and in one fell swoop?

>

 

Ha! It's true! It seems like all of a sudden EVERYTHING came together---theme, character,

pathos, imagery in such a seamless, perfect manner! This movie totally took me by surprise,

I had not been prepared to love it and admire it so much.

 

 

> And when did he decide to make the hero three old men? He takes the focus off of the young lovers, and places where it belongs - in the most interesting place, looking at the most interesting characters, the Three "Bad" Men.

 

This part has an interesting story: evidently Fox had originally contracted three big cowboy

stars for "the three" (I forget who, Buck Jones may have been one but they were definitely

younger men) and then the stars couldn't agree on the size of their roles, billing, you know

the usual ego stuff so it fell through and much to Ford's delight, he was able to contract

character actors which is what he wanted all along. It was the best thing that could

have happened. As I read the novel, their faces and aspects were described just as they

appear in the movie! It was perfect casting.

[MissGoddess]

Hi Rey!

 

Those are some great titles you picked up at Columbia! I am

very fond of Paul Newman's *From the Terrace* and it's one DVD

I need to get myself. But first I need to start watching the many

I already have, crikey! Am I behind!