Electrode
Electrode
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Los Angeles
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Old movies you've only seen recently...
"The Life And Death Of Colonel Blimp": While I've seen plenty of WW2-era morale booster films and Powell/Pressburger's "Black Narcissus", "Red Shoes" and "A Matter Of Life And Death", this one has escaped me. The opening scene makes it seem like a farce comedy, but it's a touching story of a British soldier's (Roger Livesley) forty year career which involves his friendship with a German officer (Anton Walbrook) and both of their relationships with three women, all played by Deborah Kerr.
"Manhunter": I read "Red Dragon" years ago so I know how it played out although the film differs quite a bit near the end. I haven't seen the 2002 remake to compare. Tom Noonan is ice cold in this and Brian Cox was an excellent choice for Hannibal Lecktor.
"Coup De Torchon": i was going to see director Bertrand Tavernier's debut, "The Clockmaker Of St. Paul", but the only subtitled copy I have of it was eaten up in my tape player. So instead, I opted to see this. I haven't read the book it is based on ("Population 1280") nor have I heard of the author Jim Thompson prior, admittedly. Philippe Noiret plays a slovenly but cunning police officer who resides with his wife in a Senegalese village during the late 30s, right before the outbreak of WW2. It's a very interesting mix of revenge thriller and comedy.
"The Player": Movies about the making of movies is a well-worn shoe but this one was fun, especially with all the cameos by actors playing themselves, none of which think highly of Tim Robbins' smug studio exec character.
"Confessions of a Police Captain" and "I Am Afraid": Both are a part of Damiano Damiani's series of movies which examine the socio-political climate during Italy's Years Of Lead. Very well made but maybe not for someone expecting a thrilling "cop movie" of the type the country excelled at during the same period.
"The Beguiled": Clint Eastwood plays a wounded soldier hiding in a girls' school during the US Civil War. One of his lesser films, but at least he doesn't sing.
While I helped my mother clean out her garage this past weekend, I found my VHS collection. Many which have been released on DVD by now were donated to the thrift store, but here is the majority of the ones I kept. Sharing with you who may enjoy box cover art:
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Recent Finds
Some things from yesterday:
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Yo! Just wanted to briefly introduce myself to the community.
"Off The Wall" or "Thriller"? War or Mandrill? Imagine you're on an island somewhere and your survival depends on one or the other. Think fast.
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Recent Finds
More cheap finds, from yesterday.
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Old movies you've only seen recently...
"Lost In America": Road trip / 80s corporate America satire has some hilarious dialogues. My favorite scene is when Garry Marshall, as the casino manager, refuses to give a refund on stupid gambling losses. "I like Wayne Newton. Are you saying I'm a schmuck?"
"The Gambler": Speaking of casinos, James Caan plays a college professor who gets a rush from the risk of losing his money, girlfriend and life.
"Fitzcarraldo": I heard about the infamous "Apocalypse Now"-style turmoil behind the camera. Klaus Kinski, loosely portraying Carlos Fitzcarrald, with the financial assistance of his brothel-owning wife and challenged by a filthy rich businessman, also involved with the lucrative and environmentally exploitative rubber trade, assembles a ship crew to bring opera concerts to the native tribesmen of a then uncharted territory of the Amazon jungle during early last century. I stuck with it and really enjoyed it.
"Antoni Gaudi": my mother and her husband visited Spain several years ago and raved about the architect's work. That led me to see this Japanese-produced feature from the early 80s. Other than a couple of parts where a historian chimes in to give context, this "documentary" has no spoken words. With the accompanying droning soundtrack and candid footage of people on the street, it reminds me of Godfrey Reggio.
