Brad Posted August 26, 2003 Report Posted August 26, 2003 The Kubrick films Paths of Glory and Dr. Strangelove are two of my favorites, esp. Paths of Glory, one of the greatest and not just one of the greatest anti-war films ever made. Growing up in the '60s, you can imagine what our reaction to what a film like that would be. Until I bought the DVD, I didn't know it had been banned in France for 30 or so years. Merde. How about Easy Rider, another great growing up film. Five Easy Pieces, for the one scene. I don't have to mention what that is. Godfather One and Two are timeless. Three is dreck. Lawrence of Arabia. What majesty and what a score. Oops, one of my favorites. Can't 'Round Midnight. Sorry. Quote
Jazzmoose Posted August 26, 2003 Report Posted August 26, 2003 Five Easy Pieces, for the one scene. I don't have to mention what that is. I think it's been close to thirty years since I saw this, and I only remember one scene. I'll bet it's the one! Quote
BERIGAN Posted August 26, 2003 Report Posted August 26, 2003 Lots o' good choices!!! Rooster Ties, interesting your take on the Godfather movies! I was born in 1967, don't think I saw them in the theatre, but saw them on TV all the time growing up, which I think helps greatly, since they were "Just movies" not icons like they are today. I usually can't care less about Mob stories, but Coppola and Martin Scorsese (Goodfellas anyone??) make great movies about people I don't care about as characters, yet always watch anyway. I think seeing films that are considered great works of art, best of all time kinds of films is an uphill battle. I forced my best friend to sit thru 2 films he had never seen somehow(And he is a few years older than me) Casablanca, then Maltese Falcon. His reaction after seeing each was, "That's it?" Seeing movies like those with someone seeing them for the first time is interesting....Mary Astor seems quite hammy, almost as if the role was too demanding of her talents.(I think she is much better in light roles in films such as The Palm Beach Story, or Across the Pacific) Nothing is wrong with Casablanca of course! And As I pointed out to my friend, he guessed wrong as to what the outcome of each film was going to be, and he usually guesses newer films dead to rights early on. I hope some day he will give the films another chance, expecting less. I remember seeing Harvey the first time, and having the same sort of feeling, what is the big deal about this film? Caught it in the middle years later, and laughed a few times, then caught it from the beginning later on, and thoroughly enjoyed it, having no expectations! Kind of like what happens in jazz sometimes, eh???? Quote
BERIGAN Posted August 26, 2003 Report Posted August 26, 2003 (edited) No joke, my top 3 films are.... 1It's a Wonderful Life (Hey, I watched it in the late 70's on PBS-if you catch it in the middle, it almost seems like an early Twilight zone show-I liked it before it was cool to like it, or dislike it) 2) Casablanca. The perfect film, simple as that. 3) Airplane. Best comedy ever, IMHO. Julie Hagerty as Elaine Dickinson: Cream? Michelle Stacy as Young Girl with Coffee: No Thanks. I take it black, like my men. >listen< Edited August 26, 2003 by BERIGAN Quote
Jazzmoose Posted August 27, 2003 Report Posted August 27, 2003 Seeing movies like those with someone seeing them for the first time is interesting....Mary Astor seems quite hammy, almost as if the role was too demanding of her talents.(I think she is much better in light roles in films such as The Palm Beach Story, or Across the Pacific) You know, I think Mary Astor ruins this movie myself. For the reason you mention, and also, she just isn't attractive enough to fit the part in my opinion. Quote
Jazzmoose Posted August 27, 2003 Report Posted August 27, 2003 3) Airplane. Best comedy ever, IMHO. Julie Hagerty as Elaine Dickinson: Cream? Michelle Stacy as Young Girl with Coffee: No Thanks. I take it black, like my men. So, do you like gladiator movies, beri? Quote
Jad Posted August 27, 2003 Report Posted August 27, 2003 Saw Apocalypse Now Redux when it came through the local theater a few years back. I'd seen it before but on video and had the same reaction that some of you are having with The Godfather. This time the movie floored me for some reason. Didn't even mind sitting through the extra 30+ minutes of extra footage. But I've seen The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly more than any other single movie. Quote
ralphie_boy Posted August 27, 2003 Report Posted August 27, 2003 A few more: Altman's The Player Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket and Paths of Glory Wilder's ONE,TWO,THREE Siegal's Invasion of the Body Snatchers Scorcese's Goodfellas Quote
jazzbo Posted August 27, 2003 Author Report Posted August 27, 2003 Well here is another favorite, one of the most recent movies that I have seen that I was really moved by and that I feel is excellent in every way. . . Monsoon Wedding. Quote
Man with the Golden Arm Posted August 27, 2003 Report Posted August 27, 2003 for sheer visual beauty (every frame is a wonderful composition), beatrice dalle and a killer soundtrack: Quote
maren Posted August 27, 2003 Report Posted August 27, 2003 I think seeing films that are considered great works of art, best of all time kinds of films is an uphill battle... I remember seeing Harvey the first time, and having the same sort of feeling, what is the big deal about this film? Caught it in the middle years later, and laughed a few times, then caught it from the beginning later on, and thoroughly enjoyed it, having no expectations! Kind of like what happens in jazz sometimes, eh???? good point! I always "knew" Kurosawa was supposed to be great -- rented "Yojimbo" to educate myself on my rather-small TV -- didn't do much for me. Then last summer here in NYC, Film Forum showed ALL the Kurosawa/Mifune films -- beautiful prints, great new subtitles, witty, idiomatic, with great timing. Plus, visually, there were things I couldn't even SEE on my TV that told the story so wryly and subtly --something down in the grass on the lower right corner of the screen -- anyway, kind of the opposite of your "Godfather" experience Berigan -- they NEEDED to be on a movie screen. Also fun to watch with a big audience. So right now, these are among my favorite films, especially the ones I hadn't heard about before, set in post-WWII Japan: Stray Dog, Drunken Angel, I Live in Fear, High and Low... Besides all the great movies already named, I really liked the following (chix flix?) -- all TV-screen size-appropriate: What's Eating Gilbert Grape? (Johnny Depp was SO BEAUTIFUL -- before he was self-consciously a beautiful movie star -- and ditto Di Caprio) The Ice Storm Crooklyn Girl 6 Quote
Noj Posted August 27, 2003 Report Posted August 27, 2003 The Usual Suspects--I often rewind the ending mise-en-scene and watch it several times. I love the way it is pieced together. Smoke--The ending segment of this movie was the icing on the cake; a beautiful little story that Auggie (Harvey Keitel's character) has just told comes to life, paced to some moving, appropriate music. Airplane--I am serious, and stop calling me Shirley. Caddy Shack--Yo Smells! Thousand bucks you miss that putt! Blazing Saddles--Not only was it authentic frontier gibberish... Better Off Dead--Gee Ricky, I'm real sorry your Mom blew up. Friday--Boy, I smelled your shit for 22 years, you can smell mine for five minutes. High Plains Drifter--TGTB&TU was truly great, but this is my favorite Eastwood. I like the surreal aspects of the film, the notion that is never directly addressed but indirectly communicated that The Stranger is an avenging ghost. Reservoir Dogs--Entertaining dialogue, savvy editing, cool characters, gut-wrenching scenes...I like it slightly better than Pulp Fiction. Trainspotting--Has there ever been a scene comparable to the toilet scene? Or the diarrhea fling? Or the dead baby crawling on the ceiling? Disturbing yet entertaining. Snatch--A hilarious movie, lots of funny characters and dialogue, and another very satisfying ending. Do The Right Thing--my favorite Spike Lee joint, although hard to watch. Full Metal Jacket--hilarity gives way to horror; an indictment of war. Powerful in all aspects. Quote
BruceH Posted August 27, 2003 Report Posted August 27, 2003 ...Mary Astor seems quite hammy, almost as if the role was too demanding of her talents.(I think she is much better in light roles in films such as The Palm Beach Story Which happens to be another one of my favorite films. One Sturges' best in my book. Quote
kulu se mama Posted August 27, 2003 Report Posted August 27, 2003 a few that have been mentioned - "betty blue," "apocalypse now," "casablanca," and a couple that have not been mentioned, "the stunt man" with peter o'toole, and "big" with tom hanks is a seriously underrated film. Quote
Jazz Posted August 28, 2003 Report Posted August 28, 2003 Favorite movies off the top of my head in no particular order. The owner of this list is entitled to change said list without warning or notice. Void where prohibited. At participating locations only. May cause loose stool. 1. Punch Drunk Love - I loved the way Sandler played this character. In my mind, this movie is just a story about a guy who needs a little love to overcome his insecurities. 2. Animal Crackers - I'm a huge Marx brothers fan, and this is probably my favorite movie by them. The scene where Harpo enters in a cape and top hat has me rolling everytime. 3. Top Hat - speaking of top hats, I really like this movie. 4. Ran - not much to say about this one except that it kicked major butt. 5. Dreams (Kurosawa) - Some parts of this really creeped me out. 6. Hudsucker Proxy - One of my fav comedies ever. "You know, for kids!" 7. Pi - Oh my gosh. Love this movie! 8. Brazil - Okay, I love this movie just as much as when I first saw it. I can watch it over and over. One of my favorite parts is where DeNiro gets attacked by the newspapers and disappears. Quote
brownie Posted August 28, 2003 Report Posted August 28, 2003 Being a gentleman (at least, I'm trying) I have to come to defend Mary Astor from repeated attacks in this thread. As far as I am concerned, she was a great Humphrey Bogart costar in 'The Maltese Falcon'. The more I watch this film, the more I like how intelligently she plays her part. She may not have been as attractive as Lauren Bacall but she manages to project charm. Quote
JohnJ Posted August 28, 2003 Report Posted August 28, 2003 brownie, I agree. Mary Astor is fine in 'The Maltese Falcon' even though I don't find her particularly attractive by my early 21st century standards (Lauren Bacall on the other hand was gorgeous). The movie itself is, for me, one of the all time greats and maybe the finest film noir ever made. Bogart, needless to say, is his usual magnificent self, surely he is the quintessential noir actor. Speaking of Bogie, choosing my favorite movie of all time is very easy, as others have said it has to be Casablanca. Apart for a cast made in heaven there are so many truly memorable scenes and it seems at times that almost every line of dialogue from the movie has entered into popular culture. Quote
king ubu Posted August 28, 2003 Report Posted August 28, 2003 Godard, Weekend Godard, A bout de souffle Hawks, The Big Sleep Hawks, To Have And Have Not Ford, The Searchers Ford, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance Hitchcock, Vertigo Antonioni, La Notte Antonioni, L'avvantura Antonioni, L'eclisse De Sica, Umberto D Fellini, 8 1/2 Bunuel, La voie lactée Bunuel, Cet obscur objet du désir Bunuel, Simon del desierto Bunuel, Le journal d'une femme de chambre Ozu, Tokyo monogatari Oshima, Diary of a shinjuku thief more following soon... ubu Quote
king ubu Posted August 28, 2003 Report Posted August 28, 2003 Chris Marker, Sans soleil Resnais, L'annéee dernière à Marienbad Resnais, Hiroshima mon amour Resnais, Muriel ou le temps d'un retour Resnais, Nuit et brouillard Truffaut, Jules et Jim Tarkowski, Andrej Rubliow Tarkowski anything by Stan Brakhage Quote
kinuta Posted August 28, 2003 Report Posted August 28, 2003 I'll also give a big thumbs up to ' Monsoon Wedding', a real delight. I've been to India three times spending over a year there, and can think of few other films that capture the essence , humour, pathos and feeling of the place so well as this one. The music is fine too, with great use of colour and totally natural acting, everything seems very natural. Quote
king ubu Posted August 28, 2003 Report Posted August 28, 2003 (edited) Coppola, Godfather Scorsese, Mean Streets Scorsese, Good Fellas Scorsese, Raging Bull Scorsese, Taxi Driver Forman, Cerný Petr Forman, Loves of a blonde Forman, The Firemen's ball Chytilowa, Sedmikrsky Welles, Citizen Kane Kubrick, Killing Cassavetes, Shadows Cassavetes, Woman under the influence Polanski, Knife in the Water Polanski, Repulsion Polanski, Cul de sac Bresson, Un condamné à mort s'est echappé Bresson, Journal d'un curé de campagne Bresson, Pickpocket Stroheim, The wedding march Wilder, Sunset Boulevard Wilder, Sabrina Mankiewicz, All About Eve Mankiewicz, The Barefoot Comtessa Renoir, La grande Illusion Vigo, L'atalante Renoir, La règle du jeu Carné, Le jour se lève Carné, Les enfants du paradis Carné, Quai des brumes Losey, The Accident Losey, The servant Losey, The Go-Between Visconti, Il Gattopardo Godard, Le mépris Lang, M Lang, Metropolis Walsh, White Heat Walsh, The roaring twenties Walsh, The man I love Scola, La famiglia Scola, La terrazza Greenaway, the cook... Huston, The Dead Huston, The misfits Huston, Asphalt Jungle Bresson, Au hazard balthazar some more... ubu Edited August 29, 2003 by king ubu Quote
brownie Posted August 29, 2003 Report Posted August 29, 2003 A mixed bag of (more) favorite films: - Murnau's Dawn, - Keaton's The Cameraman - Von Sternberg's The Scarlet Empress - Nicholas Ray's Johnny Guitar - Ford's My Darling Clementine - Wyler's The Best Years of Our Life - Donen's Singin' in the Rain - Huston's Asphalt Jungle - Mizoguchi's Ugetsu - Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train - Jerry Lewis's The Nutty Professor (you know how French love Jerry) - Fritz Lang's White Heat - Michael Powell's Peeping Tom - Bresson's Pickpocket - Godard's Pierrot le Fou - Scorcese's Taxi Driver - Scorcese's After Hours - Jean Eustache's La Maman et la Putain and so many more not mentioned... Quote
king ubu Posted August 29, 2003 Report Posted August 29, 2003 Gawd, I forgot "Pierrot Le Fou" in my list! Hell! That's a great movie for sure! Check out Samuel Fuller's statement on cinema! ubu Quote
king ubu Posted August 29, 2003 Report Posted August 29, 2003 Anyone knows Shohei Imamura? (The Insect Woman, Unagi, Intentions of Murder, Introduction to Anthropology - the Pornographer, etc) some real good stuff! William Wyler, Dead End -, The Collector -, Roman Holiday Raul Ruiz, Généalogies d'un Crime -, Fils De Deux Meres Ou Comedie De L'Innocence Louis Malle, Ascenseur pour l'échafaud -, Vanya on 42nd street De Sica, Ieri, oggi, domani -, Sciuscia -, Ladri di biciclette Scola, C'eravamo tanto amati Jacques Rivette, Secret défense (starring Sandrine Bonnaire, one of my favorite contemporary actresses) ubu Quote
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