Thursday, April 09, 2009
Iron Man
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: My initial interest in this movie was that Robert Downey, Jr., plays the title character. I've never been disappointed with his work, even loved and admired some of it, and I couldn't imagine him playing a super hero. "Must really need the money," I thought, but I went for it, anyway. Perfect casting, I decided, just perfect, and good super hero story, too, good enough for me to want to own it after having rented it (and, I don't have a yen to own many super hero movies, although I try to watch as many as possible). Even though I purchased this movie some weeks before Mom's death and we both watched it (she wasn't thrilled with it), after Mom's death I found myself watching this movie several times...introducing it to relatives then watching it more on my own. I can't explain why, but it has provided me with inexplicable comfort since my mother's death. And, LOVE the suit...
Labels: action, adventure, drama, fantasy, me-favorite, science-fiction, suspense, violence
Gladiator
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1* *2* *3*
- Commentary: As covered in one of the above Mentions, this movie was suggested by MFS. I was surprised at how much Mom loved it. I enjoy it, too. It's yet another spectacle movie for me (I should create a "spectacle" category, shouldn't I...I think I will, then add to it later) and I love a variety of the acting performances in this movie, particularly (but not solely) Richard Harris as Marcus Aurelius. Before he ever says anything in the movie his acting makes many aspects of Marcus Aurelius' character clear. We watched this movie on TV several times, in "to-fit-your-screen" format, before I finally purchased it. Much better in widescreen. On a whim, I watched the movie last night. I continue to find it supremely entertaining; and, as well, now that Mom's dead, surprisingly emotional, specifically at the end when Juba says, as he buries Maximus' personal idols, "I will see you again, but not yet." If you have any interest in this movie, I urge you to click into the link to the title of the movie, above, which will send you to a thorough and compelling critique of the historicity of the movie. Believe me, despite the astonishing number of historical inaccuracies in the movie, the critique renders watching the movie even more enjoyable.
Labels: action, adventure, drama, historical, period, political, shared-favorite, spectacle, suspense, violence, war
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Unfaithful
- Who's watched: Me, only
- Mentions: *1* *2*
- Commentary: It took me a long time, and a great price, to decide to own this movie. I have to say, although, overall, for me, it's an enjoyable watch, especially considering the major change in Gere's "leading man" persona, I don't know, the story doesn't take it far enough for me. But, I was reminded of the aforementioned (in a "Mention") sex scene in some television compendium show of the 10 sexiest movie scenes in the last 100 years, I don't know, and this scene was one of them. I was reminded just previous to haunting our local DVD trade-in store. I had forgotten how riveting that scene is, and, a few others, as well.
Labels: drama, erotic, mystery, suspense
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
The Sixth Sense
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: I've assiduously avoided owning this movie for a long time, thus, although I was mesmerized by it when I saw it in the theater (not so much by the story, but the technique, the acting, and the interplay between the characters) and my intrigue about M. Night Shyamalan began with this movie, I just never thought I'd own it. Then, Mom expressed interest in it once when it was on cable and she was fascinated with it. Soon after, someone had it on deep sale, so I picked it up. Shyamalan has made enough movies now, so that my initial intrigue with his career has cooled considerably, starting with Signs. Although I am devoted to Unbreakable, I don't know, I was expecting something, hmmm...more, I guess, from him, and he hasn't delivered for me for a long time. I tried The Village, too, and it did nothing for me.
So, here I am, supposedly writing about The Sixth Sense, but saying absolutely nothing about it. I love Bruce Willis' performance. I love Toni Collette's performance. I love the way it's framed. I love what it promised about Shyamalan. I like the solution to the young medium's problem. Mom and I have watched it twice since I bought it and both watchings have been satisfying. When I watch it, though, I mourn my expectations of Shyamalan that this movie provoked and Unbreakable seemed to underline. Maybe he has more in him. I hope so.
Labels: drama, fantasy, suspense
The Letter
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: It took us two tries to get through this one, even though it was the shortest of the Bette Davis movies we bought in the collection with which this one came. Neither of us found it disturbing, but we just couldn't get into the story. When we finally watched it, at the end Mom and I looked at one another.
"Well," she said, "we don't have to do that again."
"Yeah, I know what you mean."
I'm not sure what our problem with it was. It could simply be that we're both hard sells for this type of movie. I have to say, though, since watching it, I've found that several of the scenes have continued to haunt me, probably because of both the staging and framing. As well, I have to admit, Bette Davis was, as usual, a dazzling intepreter of this character. I may, indeed, watch it again. Not soon, though.
This movie is a part of the Bette Davis Collection.
Labels: collection, drama, suspense
Friday, February 10, 2006
Ghost
- Who's watched: M & G, several times
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This is one of those movies that's guaranteed to please, in one way or another, both of us. Since we watch parts of it every time it appears on television, when I noticed a cheap, widescreen copy of it for sale I snatched it. We watched it that night. Much better to have constant favorites on DVD, since it's easy enough to pause them or watch only the parts we happen to be thinking about at any time.
The truth is, I'm not a fan of the after-death philosophy behind the movie, although it's pretty enough and certainly makes for a unique thriller. The famous love scene is nice but give me Diane Lane's first fuck with her extra-marital lover in Unfaithful over wet pottery clay and "Unchained Melody" any day. I especially love, though, Whoopi Goldberg's performance as Oda Mae (this character deserves mention in some tome of memorable, perfectly played movie characters) and Tony Goldwyn's as Carl Bruner. I read someplace that Tony Goldwyn's preference is not for acting, which is too bad. I've seen him in lots of bit parts and his performances are always memorable and enlightening.
Labels: dramedy, fantasy, mystery, suspense
Monday, November 14, 2005
Twilight Zone: 1st Season
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1* *2* *3*
- Commentary: Mom and I were both excited about finding this at Costco. Alas, the series, for us, anyway, is much better in memory than in reality. We have no quarrel with its reputation, its place as a cultural icon, its historical significance as literature and television and we concede intellectually that it was a groundbreaking series. But we couldn't help but laugh through several of the episodes. We're keeping this season but I don't think we'll be purchasing anymore. We both, by the way, continue to love Rod Serling's voice during his introductions.
Labels: drama, fantasy, mystery, suspense, TV
Unbreakable
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1* *2*
- Commentary: This movie has an hypnotic effect on me. Aside from enjoying the super hero theory postulated in the movie and loving the way the father/son relationship is portrayed, I have a strong response to its technique, including the choice of shots, film editing, the way the story unfolds, the direction of the understated performances...every time I watch it I discover something new. It is, so far, my favorite Shyamalan movie. Mom likes its atmosphere but finds the story disturbing although she sticks with it when I watch it.
Labels: drama, fantasy, haunting, me-favorite, mystery, suspense, violence
Monday, February 07, 2005
Rear Window
- Who's watched: M
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: I know, I said there isn't a movie in our collection I haven't watched, and this is it! I got this movie because Mom's mentioned it off and on throughout the years and it appeared one day on sale at Costco. The day I bought it, some weeks ago, she was excited when I told her, settled in with it zestily, then, about ⅔ of the way through decided, without warning, to take a nap. She has watched it again, since then.
Labels: drama, mystery, suspense
The Mosquito Coast
Mulan
- Who's watched: M & G, more than once
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: Something about the scene in which the invading army comes over a snow ridge. Something else about that "song and dance" number about what it takes to be a man. Something else about it being a Chinese fairy tale. I don't know if Mom likes it for the same reasons I do, but I know she likes it. I've even replayed the "Be a Man" song for her when we are watching it.
Labels: action, adventure, animated, kids, period, shared-favorite, suspense
Thelma & Louise
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: Blew me away when I was watching this movie on cable, one evening, late, Mom awoke within the first 15 minutes of the movie, I decided to keep it on because I really wanted to see it again and she was riveted. She even likes the end of it, which leads me to believe that she understands the real power of this movie: That it isn't a dirge for the female spirit, but a celebration of it. She has even been heard to mutter, during the semi scene, "Good for them!"
I actually didn't consider owning this movie until, a couple of times after the above mentioned viewing, when I exclaimed that it was "on", again, Mom always has wanted to watch it.
Labels: action, adventure, dream, me-favorite, suspense
Monsters, Inc.
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This movie is a treat for both of us. My mother is an animation fan, anyway, so she was an easy sell. She often requests this movie when I'm drying her hair, then watches it through to the end. We play the credits at least a couple of times per viewing because she and I both like the theme song (including the fact that it's written and sung by Randy Newman).
I'm a very hard animation sell, but everything about this movie charmed me, including the concept and its development. I am a devotee of children's literature, anyway (all ages), but animation has never done much for me, even as a kid. Pixar, though, seems to know exactly how to seduce my eye, and I'm a big fan of most of their stuff. I consider this movie one of their most brazen and imaginative.
Labels: animated, dramedy, kids, mom-favorite, suspense
Jacob's Ladder
- Who's watched: G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This is a recent purchase, and I haven't watched it, yet, since it arrived. Mom has not seen it and probably would find it boring, distracting, and distract me.
This movie is one of my Haunting Movies. I was bound to own it at some point. I continue to focus on the scene in which the character played by Danny Aeillo quotes, damn, someone, about the nature of angels.
Labels: drama, fantasy, haunting, me-favorite, suspense
High Noon
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: This is one of those movies neither Mom nor I had seen but it was one of my father's/her husband's favorites. So, one day I found a classic video rental store in Prescott (What a find!) and we spent the weekend watching 'old' movies, including our first viewing of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and this movie, with which we were both taken. I didn't realize it was such a dark story. As well, I found myself enjoying Gary Cooper, who's performance in Mr. Deeds Goes to Town was a little too over the top for me. Plus, one of the disturbing things about Capra movies is that the same actors keep showing up, playing essentially the same roles...Beulah Bondi, for instance; and the guy who plays drunken Dix also plays addled Uncle Billy. It's eerie...like, you're not watching a movie, you're spying on another dimension.
I think we've watched it a couple of times since I bought it.
Labels: dad-favorite, drama, suspense, western
Hero
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: I rented this movie a couple of weeks ago just to undergird my decision to purchase it. Mom was thoroughly bored, so bored that she wandered around looking for things to do, at one point, while doing crosswords, asked, "Is that thing still on?!?", so my viewing was highly distracted.
No matter. Martial Arts movies of all stripes are another of my guilty movie pleasures. I am particularly fascinated with the use of color in this movie. I am approaching it rather more as though it were a Little Buddha movie, rather than a "guilty pleasure" movie. I like the idea of the telling of stories being the subject as well as the discipline of the movie. I find the depiction of the 'heroine', as well, thoughtfully complex.
Labels: action, drama, dream, period, political, spectacle, suspense
