My Movie Journal

That damn Charlie Kaufman.

Won the Oscar.

I've decided to stalk him.

Nobody tell him.

Saw Troy recently, was worse than I had expected and I was expecting rubbish.

I wouldn't exactly condemn the movie to anything more than average in the genre, not nearly as good looking, well acted or well written as "Gladiator." I just saw a hi def version last night of that film and it makes "Troy" look somehow cartoonish. However, that's not the worse of the more recent epics. Try to plow through "Alexander" when it comes out on DVD (which should be soon as it did poorly at the box office -- somehow, like "Troy," the foreign market was better).

I haven't been interested in seeing Troy.

Can't imagine that changing.

What's out on DVD recently? (Don't anyone do a nimh-job, ....just a few titles.)

recently? I dunno. I rented a box set of Peter Sellers movies and spinal tap.

Peter Sellers. Good idea. We're due for a Comedy Retrospective. Haven't had a Woody one since Soon Yi...

You can find what is new on DVD here:

http://www.able2know.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8190

or on the www.imdb.com front page in the left column if I've been remiss on updating that thread.

It took me fifty years to see Bergman's "Smiles of a Summer Night", and it was well worth the wait!

A sophisticated sex comedy, it really amazed me at how the Swedish were so much more worldly about "those things" in 1955. The film is quite unlike Bergman's usual output, being light and breezy. Take a look. I think that you will find it very enjoyable!

Now have you seen Woody Allen's spoof, "A Midsummer's Night Sex Comedy?"

I watched "The King of Masks" last night, and really liked it. Refreshingly different and simple.

We've rented the National Lampoon series with Chevy Chase:
Vacation
European Vacation
Christmas Vacation

and I did see again (3rd time is a charme) "Like water for chocolate"

I heart Huckabees!!!

(It cracked me up! Anybody else like it??)

LW--Yep, I've seen Midsummer's with Woody. Long time ago. I should see it again. I have to forgive Woody for Soon Yi....he's not suffering...

Haven't seen that film since it was released about ten years ago. Thanks for the reminder -- I'll add it to my NetFlix queue.

I watched "City of God" (Cidade de Deus), and it's one of the best films I have ever seen. Not just because the subject matter (subset of Brazilian culture) is familiar to me, but because it's a brilliant film in every way (acting, writing, directing, and especially editing).

A fantastic film. A lot is lost in translation but those I know who don't speak Portuguese still like it.

Here's my short to watch list, if anyone has seen them feel free to comment.

Garden State
Animal Farm
Hero
The Godfather
Psycho
Buster Keaton Rides Again/The Railrodder
Rabbit-Proof Fence
Boys Don't Cry
Monsoon Wedding
The Basketball Diaries

I saw Psycho when it first came out. The theatre was about eight blocks from my house, and I walked to the theatre, alone. The film scared the living sh!t out of me. As I walked home, I checked behind every bush.

Anyhow, I have seen that movie a number of times. I no longer watch it for the plot, 'cause obviously, I know what happens. I am a Hitchcock fan, and love to observe how he uses music and camera angles to create a mood.

I think that Psycho is a masterpiece, and is probably one of the best horror films ever made.

"City of God" is one of the most impactful films I have ever seen. I was truly bowled over and have yet to find my socks! It had a you-are-there presence that is rarely seen -- I was transported into that world and felt true fear but unabashed empathy towards the characters, curiously even the bad folks.

The list of your upcoming viewings is formidable and I agree with Phoenix that "Psycho" will always stand up there along with "Silence of the Lambs" as the epitome of the art of horror films. I'd put "28 Days Later" also high up on that list, an apocalypsical (not sure if that's a word) and believable future shock movie. In "Psycho", it starts from the first view of Janet Leigh in the car with the windshield wipers flashing back and forth, and the policeman stopping her car as the film builds up tension upon tension. Hitchcock pulled off the early climactic scene without it being anti-climactic and that's extraordinary.

I'm not a fan of either violent films or horror but I think you'll like The Godfather. Psycho will probably seem old -- but it will still scare you. If you like that, you might want to watch North by Northwest.

Monsoon Wedding -- loved it & think you might, too. If you do like it, you may enjoy Bend It Like Beckham, which also had a Hindi wedding. Good music in both.

I'm surprised you didn't like Lost in Translation and surprised you did like The Birdcage which I liked, along with The Big LebowskiAs Good As It Gets, Lost in Translation, Goodbye Lenin.,

I think Fog of War ought to be seen by everyone. I've seen & can recommend I <heart> Huckabees since you sort of liked Eternal Sunshine. I liked the music -- it's different. I have to wonder if Phoenix liked that film since the hilarious stream of bad words coming out of the main character (not Jude Law, the other guy) may be too much for her. I admit I liked 50 First Dates too, but I had to force myself to suspend total disbelief about the memory loss. Still, it's a happy flick & there aren't that many. Adam Sandler is a strange dude.

Collateral was very interesting and kept my attention -- looking forward to seeing Ray. Shipping News is worth seeing. It's different from the book but compelling. I liked Rabbit-Proof Fence. Was just thinking yesterday about how the little girl begged for food and how the people cared for the girls along the way. Heart-warming without being sickeningly sweet. Memorable. Haven't seen Dogville, but I can recommend the documentary Dogtown and the Z-Boys which is narrated by Sean Penn. Very cool.

You say you like romantic comedies? Love that genre too, but there are plenty of dogs. Buddy, is a little Norwegian flick, quirky, funny, romantic. Another couple of foreign films I liked were Monsieur Ibrahim et les fleurs du Coran, Inch'Allah Dimanche.

A romantic comedy I've seen a dozen times and still like -- Grosse Point Blank. John Cusack was also good (& funny) in High Fidelity & America's Sweethearts which I thought was too harshly panned. I just like him, I guess.

It is hard to find good comedies... Calamity Jane recommended Mean Girls for fun & I think you might enjoy it. My 21-22 yr.old kids said it was truer to life than you'd think -- they laughed their silly, wicked heads off. Since you didn't attend American HS, that film'll show you what you missed.

I watched The Good, The Bad & The Ugly this weekend. It had been at least five years. You've probably seen it, but if has been a while for you, it might be worth putting on your list. To me, watching a lot of not-so-great films makes me forget how compelling a film can be. Then it is time to watch something really, really good -- refreshing your film-appreciation palate.

Piffka, how did you like "Good bye Lenin"?

I liked it, CJ. I like quirky films and I enjoyed seeing the images of East Germany. There was such a thrill when the wall came down, y'know, and I think the film captured some of that. I'm a fan of happy, feel-good films vs. how deep in the muck can we go, so I liked that about it. All the action was done with good intent even though things didn't always work out as planned. Good humor in it, too.

SPOILER:
We all thought the mom caught on early but loved her son so much for what he was doing that she allowed him to keep up the fantasy.

There was a need to suspend disbelief in the medical science of the film which Craven may not like, and it went on a little long, so isn't a favorite film, but I'm glad I saw it and would recommend it to my friends.