LISTS

[JackFavell]

I feel the same way about Andrew's moustache I hate it when he shaves.

[movieman1957]

The Bride has never seen me without one, nor my children. I have toyed with the idea of getting rid of it but I just can't come to grips with shaving it. I guess I'm more afraid of what I'd be without it.

[thestick]

I think I saw Tom Selleck without that bushy moustache on cameo appearance of Friends. Men listen up, not everyone can carry off facial hair. It takes some grooming. In 8 years I had never seen my first ex-husband without a trimmed beard and moustache.

[CineMaven]

Seeing Miss G.'s list of favorite foreign language films made me think of the foreign movies I've seen. Two of the movies on my list are in English, but I consider them foreign b'cuz they weren't made here. I'm half Puerto Rican, so all my life I've heard a different language in the house (even if I can't speak it). So I'm comfortable hearing a different language. It's nothing for me to go to the movies and read the sub-titles and get the story. Or get away from the reading and hope that the story is done well enough for me to follow it and just wash myself in the language and the culture and the Difference. (I admit I do have to hold myself hostage with Silent movies at home, I'm afraid. I still have to see this Silent German film recommended to me called "ASPHALT." And I will).

 

There are some films I wish I could include, but I can'' remember their Danish or Brazilian titles. But I think I have enough listed below to pique your curiosity. You can always go to IMDB to read more formal critiques from some very bright people on these great movies. I'm only speaking from the heart. So here are (some) of the foreign movies I've enjoyed.:

 

THE SECRET IN THEIR EYES - Dir. Juan Jose Campanella - ( Argentina )

 

 

An investigator tries to solve an unsolved case and deal with unrequited feelings for the beautiful attorney that he works with. Stunning. SEE THIS. If you don't like this movie, I promise I'll give you your money back. (Save your receipts!) The best movie I saw in the last ten years.

 

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WHEN NIGHT IS FALLING - Dir. PatriciaRozem - ( Canadian )

 

 

A seminary teacher falls in love with a circus performer. A sweet engaging love story by a director ("I've Heard the Mermaids Singing") with a gentle touch.

 

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THE BRIDE WORE BLACK - Dir. Francois Truffaut - ( France )

 

 

Jeanne Moreau plays a woman whose husband is killed on their wedding day and she goes after each man responsible. Whew! Heck, I could have just stopped at just saying: Jeanne Moreau. That should be enough for anyone. N'est-ce pas?

 

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MOTHER - Dir. Joon-ho Bong - ( South Korea )

 

 

A mother sets out to prove her son did not commit murder. We travel with her and are invested in her outcome. Hye-ja Kim gives a powerful, understated performance as the Mother. Ev'ry mother believes her child is innocent. Or do they. What would your Mother do for you?

 

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UMBERTO D. Dir. Vittorio DeSica - ( Italy )

 

 

An old man can't pay his rent, gets sick and wants to die. That's the bones of it, if you're a callous meanie. Of course it's more than that. It will break your heart even if you don't have a heart. (Get a heart !) Another fantastic film that I blockheadedly resisted for years and years. Not to be missed. Don't be a dolt like me.

 

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BLACK ORPHEUS - Dir. Marcel Camus ( Brazil )

 

 

Exotic and sensuous, this old Greek myth is transported to Brazil where you will be beautifully transported. In fact, you will not find a more beautiful couple than these two in any movie (...and I know that's a tall order what with Gable and Garbo and Leigh and Greer etc. etc.). I got more than breakfast the other day, when the waiter at my local diner and I talked about this film. He showed me his arm full of goosebumps as he spoke and said: "This movie saved my life."

 

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AMORES PERROS - Dir. Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu - ( Mexico )

 

 

Three stories converge in a way that is not contrived and not to be believed. Oh my, is everyone ELSE in the world better story tellers than us Americans? Yes. I'm really starting to believe that. This is a great movie.

 

Inarritu and his two buddies: directors Del Toro and ______ (I forgot the other gentleman's name) are single-handedly holding up Mexican cinema like Atlas. They've come to Hollywood to make some films. I only hope Hollywood doesn't ruin their control over their films and their knack for storytelling. Hollywood definitely has a way of ruining people.

 

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MATADOR - Dir. Pedro Almodovar ( Spain )

 

 

What turns you on? Well...when Almodovar is doing the asking, anything is possible in this daring movie. Now you might not think sex and murder would be a winning combination. But the Spanish...they are a different peoples. (At least Almodovar is). I love lethal ladies in any language.

 

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PERSONA - Dir. Ingmar Bergman - ( Sweden )

 

 

Who are you? What makes you...you? An identity crisis to the nth degree. I love Bibi Andersson and Liv Ullman. Why aren't they making movies now? I've got to catch the next flight to Sweden.

 

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CAREFUL, HE MIGHT HEAR YOU -Dir. ( Australia )

 

 

This film about a custody battle over a little boy is really a winner, guys. Poor little laddie...you'll want to adopt the young boy yourself as you watch him weave and wend his way through the world of grown-ups. You think children being resilient happens by magic?? There's a lot of hard work in that. Wendy Hughes, who plays one of his aunts in this custody battle, gives a great tightly wound performance as a repressed woman who wants the little boy all for herself. She reminds me very much of Vivien Leigh.

 

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SWEPT AWAY...BY AN UNUSUAL DESTINY IN THE BLUE SEA OF AUGUST - Dir. Lina Wertmuller ( Italy )

 

 

More commonly known as "SWEPT AWAY" this is your desert island fantasy sensuously well done, in the able hands of director Lina Wertmuller. I would never want to leave there. You've got a swarthily handsome Giancarlo Giannini to take care of hmmmm... everything. Why leave? Civilization... schmivilization! Who saw Madonna's re-make? A show of hands. Seeeee? Let the Italians do what they do best. I say, who wants to be an Americano...when you can be Italiano!

 

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THE BICYCLE THIEF - Dir. Vittorio DeSica - ( Italy )

 

 

Again DeSica scores a hit with a simple tale that has a lot of heart and soul. You won't look at your old Schwinn bike the very same way after you see the journey this father goes on to get his bicycle back. Look at the expressive face of the lead. That'll do it. This bicycle means life or death to him.

 

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DAY FOR NIGHT - Dir. Francois Truffaut - ( France )

 

 

I like the French. I like their movies. I like Truffaut ( :x ) and I like movies that show the "behind- the-scenes" of making a movie. I enjoyed this film very much and got involved with the lives of the folks who make movies.

 

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A MAN AND A WOMAN - Dir. Claude Lelouch - ( France )

 

 

C'est une filme qu'est tres chic...tres sophisticated et tres romantique. Now, my French may be a bit off even after junior high, high school and college French. But don't hold that against this movie. Anouk Aimee is gorgeous and makes half of an attractive couple that includes Jean-Paul Trintignant. The music is still memorable and the cinematography is good. It's a simple story. It's the story of a man and a woman and...ohhhh, just see it will ya.

 

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DIABOLIQUE - Dir. Henri-Georges Clouzot - ( France )

 

 

Only in the European culture would The Wife and The Mistress conspire against The Husband. Ahhhh. Vive La France! If you want to see Hitchcock with a French twist, just watch this chilling French pastry. And may I say Simone Signoret is to die for!

 

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QUAI DES ORFEVRES - Dir. Henri-Georges Clouzot - ( France )

 

 

I saw this movie once. I only remember bits and pieces. So why does it still haunt me so? I dunno...maybe it's the story and the characters and the atmosphere and...

 

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METROPOLIS - Dir. Fritz Lang - ( Germany )

 

 

Compelling, jaw dropping, awe-inspiring. It... blew...my...mind. But wait, how can a movie made in 1927, a Silent Movie at that, be all that? After all, we're here in the 21st century. We're closer to Star Trek than to Chaplin. How can such an old movie (my parents were born in '27, '28) be relevant now?

 

Because it is a masterpiece and Lang's masterwork.

 

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IRREVERSIBLE - Dir. Gaspare Noe - ( France )

 

 

When I saw this movie, the silence in the theatre was eerie. Women walked out of the movie theatre. "Irreversible" is disturbing. It is violent. But that doesn't stop it from being a really good movie. I loved the unique way this movie unfolded the tale of a man who gets revenge on the man who assaulted his girlfriend. We cannot make this movie here. Only a European could do this. After seeing this you might say "who'd want to.' I'm glad I saw it. If you want to see a riveting film, this is it. If you want to see Disney...there's that too. Monica Bellucci and Vincent Cassel are everything!

 

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RED - Dir. Krzystof Kieslowski - ( France )

 

 

You don't necessarily have to see this in its trilogy form "RED" "WHITE" "BLUE" but that might be fun. I liked "RED" the best. Kieslowski is a master story teller (I cannot believe he's passed away) and a master of The Coincidences, but doesn't make them feel trite or like he's trying to make the pieces of a puzzle fit. You don't see 'em coming. Irene Jacob makes the movie for me.

 

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These are just some of my favorite foreign films. Funny, violent, romantic, heartbreaking, disturbing, sensuous, beautiful and thought-provoking.

 

All that and a bag of chips. Or Twizzlers.

[Bronxgirl48]

AMACORD

THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI

LES VACANCES DE M. HULOT

L'AVVENTURA

I VITELLONI

JULIET OF THE SPIRITS

BELLE EPOQUE (also on my favorite comedies list)

DIVORCE ITALIAN STYLE (ditto)

MON ONCLE (aussi)

JULES ET JIM

SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE

L'ECLISSE

JOUR DE FETE

CLOSELY WATCHED TRAINS

IL POSTO (not to be confused with IL POSTINO, which I've never seen)

NIGHTS OF CABIRIA

LO SCEICCO BLANCO

BLACK MOON

BURNT BY THE SUN

MAM'ZELLE PIGALLE

 

Edited by: Bronxgirl48 on Aug 30, 2011 3:52 AM

[Bronxgirl48]

I haven't seen your French films except for BELLE DE JOUR (Catherine Deneuve is great; I like Bunuel), also AND GOD CREATED WOMAN. (BB is unforgettable!) and just recently CONTEMPT, where Bardot gives an excellent performance I understand MISSISSIPPI MERMAID is Truffaut's "Hitchcock" film; true? Unfortunately I've never heard of MONSIEUR VINCENT..

 

Edited by: Bronxgirl48 on Aug 30, 2011 4:21 AM

[JackFavell]

Have a great trip, rey! You deserve a nice holiday. :x

[JackFavell]

*Heavenly Creatures* was a brilliant movie I thought, with such a dark theme, I loved the use of color.

 

I almost didn't put *The Umbrellas of Cherbourg* (love the word parapluie!) on my list because it has such a disillusioned ending.

 

I thought it was about the ephemeral nature of what we think of as true love, how it passes so quickly away. It broke my heart.

[CineMaven]

The actress who played Kate's Mommy Murdering B.F.F. in "Heavenly Creatures" recently appeared on "The L Word" and CBS' "Two And A Half Men." She's lost a lot of weight...and doesn't have the career that Winslet has, poor girl. Show biz. It's a tough gig!!

 

These are a few of my fav-o-rite (French) words to say and spell:

* Vendredi

* Parapluie

* Bibliotheque

* N'est-ce pas

 

Pourquoi? Parce que je suis crazy.

[JackFavell]

Oooh those are great words! I like Bibliotheque a lot!

 

fenetre is good too.

 

I had no idea that Kate's partner in crime was still acting. She really had the chops to continue, but I guess the roles didn't.

 

Hey! I was thinking of you last night... guess who subbed for RO? I swear it was Illeana Douglas.

 

When is RO due back? I miss him, much as i like Illeana.

 

Edited by: JackFavell on Sep 4, 2011 12:54 PM

[CineMaven]

Ileanna Douglas? Awww sorry I missed her comments. I'm staying at my log cabin, microwave-less, high rise out here in the forests of Brooklyn where I have yet to call a cable company to come over and hook me up to the rest of the world. Did Illeanna talk about her grandfather at all?

 

Fenetre....window, n'est-ce pas? I like the words that end in "tre." I've often been told I have a good accent. So the little I know in French and Spanish come out sounding good and not like Eugene Pallette...or worse, Mayor Bloomberg. *

 

*(He gave out Hurricane evacuation instructions in Spanish in his flat, pisspoor Brooklyn accent that some girl on Twitter now has ten billion followers b'cuz she poked fun of it. < ( Sigh! ) > and all I have is a love of old movies! Where's the money and fifteen minutes of fame in that?!!)

[JackFavell]

I only saw one intro, and she didn't say anything about him that I heard.... she was introducing the later William Holden movies. Maybe someone else saw more?

 

Ha! your fifteen minutes will come, and maybe because you actually know something, it will be more.

 

Dang it!Get your cable hooked up!

 

Edited by: JackFavell on Sep 4, 2011 1:27 PM

[CineMaven]

Hah!! I'll make the cable call this week.

[MissGoddess]

You ladies know your foreign movies. I liked that you had a Kurasawa movie listed. I am ashamed I forgot to include any. I should have put a couple of them on there, like *The Bad Sleep Well* (excellent! and so appropriate to today's scene) and *Dersu Uzala* (haunting).

[MissGoddess]

> Did anyone see YOUNG AND WILLING? That actress with the Betty Boop voice, I wanted to strangle her. I was hoping the young (but already feisty) Susan Hayward would have.

 

 

I didn't watch it but had it on in the background for a short while and I kept wondering who in the world was talking like that. I enjoyed *Force of Arms* (lamely retitled A Girl for Joe), I thought it was romantic and touching, the kind of movie Holden does best.

[CineMaven]

I couldn't believe my ears -- Illeana Douglas said (introducing BEACH BLANKET BINGO) that having dinner with Don Rickles was either one of the greatest experiences of her life, or THE greatest. Huh? I realize he's a nice guy off-stage, but, gee...."

 

Easy...easy now, hockey puck. Who are we to judge. What happens in Vegas stays with Illeana and Rickles in Vegas. We don't know...maybe still Rickles run deep.

 

Oh mon Dieu. I forgot to add this film to my list of favorite foreign films and I say, it's a must-see, gang:

 

 

"THE HAIRDRESSER'S HUSBAND" (1990 ) Directed by Patrice Leconte. Starring Jean Rochefort & Anna Galiena.

 

A sweet, charming French film about a man who falls in love with and marries a hairdresser. Come on...you know the French by now. The premise is simple, but their stories go so very deep. I loved it.

[Bronxgirl48]

I missed FORCE OF ARMS. Not sure, but I think Barbara Britton is the one with that voice. It says on Wiki that she played Laura Petrie on the pilot episode of what would eventually become The Dick Van Dyke Show. Did she sound the same? Eeek!

 

Edited by: Bronxgirl48 on Sep 4, 2011 11:33 PM

[MissGoddess]

That would have been hilarious! No, I don't remember Britton's voice from the pilot specifically, but I know it didn't sound like that.

[Bronxgirl48]

I've heard of THE HAIRDRESSER'S HUSBAND but haven't seen it. I do like Jean Rochefort, though. Ever see FRENCH POSTCARDS? American movie about students living abroad. Jean plays the sourpuss husband of the always delightful Marie-France Pisier.

 

Don Rickles, what can one say about him? I've never understood insult comedy but he always broke Johnny Carson up, so I guess that counts for a lot, lol.

 

I've seen SUNSET BOULEVARD a million times but for some reason really wanted to watch it again the other night (because they mention Rudy -- twice!) but instead (because of my crazy computer) spent time in another exotic location other than Norma Desmond's own mind....

 

Edited by: Bronxgirl48 on Sep 4, 2011 11:34 PM

[Bronxgirl48]

"Oh, Rob!"

 

Thankfully they substituted Mary, and the rest was history.

 

I guess I'll go watch Gittel now in TWO FOR THE SEESAW.

[CineMaven]

{font:arial, helvetica, sans-serif}*Don Rickles, what can one say about him? I've never understood insult comedy but he always broke Johnny Carson up, so I guess that counts for a lot, lol.*

 

Huh? Wha'?! {font}

[CineMaven]

] < Spit take! >

[CineMaven]

OMG!!! It's after midnight...and your Cady comment has me cackling alone in my apartment as though I was sharing a beer with a pack of hyenas. That crack brought me to tears. Geeez Louise!!!

 

That's going in my hall of fame of quotes!

[MissGoddess]

You are too funny. I actually am attracted to *Two For the Sea Saw* in a probably not too good way. I identify a little too much with Shirley's kooky dancer with an ulcer living in New York and having dated too many of the wrong men. Nothing there I should relate to, hahahaaa!! If ONLY some man would say to me: "Use me, please!"

[JackFavell]

I saw the beginning of *Young and Willing*, but Bill's hair was driving me crazy and I had to stop watching.

 

I really liked *Force of Arms*, after I settled into it - I thought it was going to be a WAR film, in capital letters, but the love story was sweet and touching, and I really liked his chemistry with Nancy Olsen, I always find them so sweet together. I wonder what year Bill became a good actor? Somewhere in the forties he changes into a terribly romantic disillusioned man, and I find his persona after that time to be like catnip to me.

 

Does anyone know if he went to war? He has a gap in his credits from 1943 to 1947. I think *Rachel and the Stranger* is the first role where he really catches my attention besides being a pretty face. Or maybe it's Billy Wilder's influence? Even in Sabrina, when he's playing the dissolute younger brother (a part he could play in his sleep) I get more from him than in anything he did before 1947.

 

As for *Two for the Seesaw*, I am attracted and repelled by it. I like Shirley, but agree with Bronxgal that the role starts to feel uncomfortably familiar for me. Mitchum is fantastic in it - I wish he had played more like this one.

 

The trick is to come in on *Kisses for my President* in the middle - I tried to watch it once before, and hated it. But I came in this time on a very sexy scene with Fred and Polly in bed and who knew? Fred is kissing her, in her scanty nightgown, and his lips linger open mouthed (in a good way) on hers several times! There is a little Valentino in all men I guess given the right circumstances.

 

The rest was idiotic.

 

Edited by: JackFavell on Sep 5, 2011 9:24 AM

 

Edited by: JackFavell on Sep 5, 2011 9:26 AM