Bahama Mama
Sunny days
Saw this recently based on a true events, very touching and disturbing but enjoyed it as sad as it was.
Movies: Last Movie You Watched and Rate it | {Insert Appropriate Seasonal Greeting Here}
- Thread starter ProstheticConscience
- Start date
NyQuil
Big F$&*in Q
Bahama Mama
Sunny days
I read '' Know one here gets out alive'' when it came out, don't remember much though. Whence read, how about a critique? Was not aware Jim and Vinny were buds, way before Vin go into golf I suspect.
Here's a doc on Jim seen some time ago. Never realized that I had stayed in the same Hotel a few times over the decades. Never noticed any plaque or anything, nice place though.
If you're familiar with ''Airplane '' you kind of know what to expect, silly but good enough and funny enough to merit watching it. IIRC, it's first run on release lasted over a year in the cinemas, very popular back then.
The Doors suck? is that why they have tens of millions of fans? Music is a personal palate and so easy to crap on music not in ones own area of preference. So much music sucks but que sera sera. Guess you some how managed to see an extended version of the movie that I certainly was not aware of.
Chili
Time passes when you're not looking
- Jun 10, 2004
- 8,766
- 4,886
Saw this recently based on a true events, very touching and disturbing but enjoyed it as sad as it was.
Memorable film, liked Adrien Brody in Detachment too.
Movies: - Last Movie You Watched and Rate it | {Insert Appropriate Seasonal Greeting Here}
Police Story 2 Well I loved the first, so I had to give the sequel a shot. I don't get why they went this angle with it. There's less action, less slapstick, it's longer, and the plot is overly serious. Just really missed the mark here. The action that's there is still fantastic (playground...
Traveling Light (2021)
Anyone else see this?
Candyman (Tony Todd) is a new Uber driver, who searches the streets of Hollyweird for his homeless son while he drives..
It's set in the midst of COVID hysteria, and at the (exact) start of the George Floyd riots.. Todd encounters a strange cult as he taxis members to their meeting spot (looked like up on Mulholland).
This felt like it had a lot of potential.. but was very slow at times, and depressingly pointless. I shouldn't have been surprised, because it has Stephen Dorff, who I feel hasn't been in a good movie since The Gate.
It was an intriguing setting, just not a good Tubi watch in my opinion. Because of how unique it was, I am curious to hear other takes tho?
Anyone else see this?
Candyman (Tony Todd) is a new Uber driver, who searches the streets of Hollyweird for his homeless son while he drives..
It's set in the midst of COVID hysteria, and at the (exact) start of the George Floyd riots.. Todd encounters a strange cult as he taxis members to their meeting spot (looked like up on Mulholland).
This felt like it had a lot of potential.. but was very slow at times, and depressingly pointless. I shouldn't have been surprised, because it has Stephen Dorff, who I feel hasn't been in a good movie since The Gate.
It was an intriguing setting, just not a good Tubi watch in my opinion. Because of how unique it was, I am curious to hear other takes tho?
Sleemans
Sleep Well Beast
Comrades, Almost a Love Story (1996)
Late last year I subscribed to The Criterion Channel for the first time, and so far have not taken advantage of my subscription as much as I should. At the start of each month they let you know which films are leaving at the end of that month. So late each month I'm trying to catch them before they're gone, and this was the case yesterday with "Comrades, Almost a Love Story."
What a great film with two wonderful lead characters/actors!
If you have The Criterion Channel, try and watch this film before it's gone July 1st.
letterboxd.com
4.5/5
Late last year I subscribed to The Criterion Channel for the first time, and so far have not taken advantage of my subscription as much as I should. At the start of each month they let you know which films are leaving at the end of that month. So late each month I'm trying to catch them before they're gone, and this was the case yesterday with "Comrades, Almost a Love Story."
What a great film with two wonderful lead characters/actors!
If you have The Criterion Channel, try and watch this film before it's gone July 1st.
Comrades, Almost a Love Story (1996)
Jun arrives in Hong Kong from mainland China, hoping to be able to earn enough money to marry his girlfriend back home. He meets the streetwise Qiao and they become friends. As friendship turns into love, problems develop, and although they seem meant for each other they somehow keep missing out.
letterboxd.com
4.5/5
In the Land of Saints and Sinners (2024) Directed by Robert Lorenz 7A
Finbar (Liam Neeson) is an aging hitman who has got to the point in life where he is tired of the work. But when a bad guy mistreats a young girl, Finbar takes it upon himself to eliminate the scumbag and he buries him in a remote area where he then plants a tree on his grave. There are an awful lot of young trees in this general area which tells us all we need to know about how active Finbar has been down through the years. Unbeknownst to him, he has killed the brother of and IRA terrorist, and she (Kerry Condon) is none too happy about it. With the help of a young hotshot gunman (Jack Gleeson) still eager for the kills, he figures out a way to defend himself from her wrath.
In the Land of Saints and Sinners is a pleasant surprise, the best Liam Neeson film since 2011's The Grey. This doesn't mean it's a great movie...the bar has been pretty low for Neeson on that score for well over a decade. But it is an above average genre work with a more interesting setting, Donegal, Ireland during the "troubles," and more fleshed out characters than we normally get in this sort to thing. While the characters are all familiar types and have been since the 1940s, they are given shape and liveliness by fine performances from the supporting players. In fact, the whole cast, which includes Colm Meaney as a crime boss and Ciaran HInds as a policeman, is excellent. Likeable as always, Neeson brings his "A" game as well as a more pronounced Irish accent to the proceedings. The atmospheric setting, the fine cinematography and some good pacing all make In the Land of Saints and Sinners way more fun than expected. In short, the movie is something of a throwback to the days when "B" movies were works of craftsmanship and personality, not mindless action outings with explosions in place of plot, all cut from the same cloth. You could do a lot worse than to make this the next movie on your list.
Netflix
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The Macho King
Back* to Back** World Champion
- Jun 22, 2011
- 49,053
- 29,887
Haven't been on in awhile but watched Days of Being Wild and Happy Together from WKW.
This man doesn't miss. Both masterpieces.
This man doesn't miss. Both masterpieces.
Spring in Fialta
A malign star kept him
I'll never forget the scene when the girl starts sobbing to Andy Lau's cop character in Days of Being Wild.
The Macho King
Back* to Back** World Champion
- Jun 22, 2011
- 49,053
- 29,887
My wife developed a crush on Leslie Cheung. I don't get it - Tony Leung is right there.
Neil Racki
Registered User
Nakatomi
Registered User
- Dec 26, 2022
- 154
- 199
Between Benedetta, The First Omen, and Immaculate, I have unexpectedly watched a many movies about nuns in Europe recently.
Benedetta was more-or-less softcore pornography but apparently somewhat inspired by a true story involving a scandal in the Catholic church involving lesbians in a convent back in the day. There are also some religious visions and a reasonable attempt to explore how sexual freedom conflicts with faith.
Immaculate stars Sydney Sweeney, which obviously ensures seeing her topless as that appears to be a requirement for her to sign onto anything, and this one is a lot closer to The First Omen than to Benedetta. The First Omen is a prequel to The Omen, and comes up short in that regard. But taken on its own, it kept me relatively engaged. Also features nudity and naughty nuns, and the extremely expressive face of Nell Tiger Free (true name!).
All in all, my main takeaway is that I do not need to see any movies featuring nuns for some time.
I think both The First Omen and Immaculate work well enough, with the former being a little better on the tension and eeriness scale and the latter being better paced. Benedetta fell into a different genre as it is a sort of semi-biographical drama, but was fairly enjoyable despite a few eye rolling turns in the story.
Benedetta was more-or-less softcore pornography but apparently somewhat inspired by a true story involving a scandal in the Catholic church involving lesbians in a convent back in the day. There are also some religious visions and a reasonable attempt to explore how sexual freedom conflicts with faith.
Immaculate stars Sydney Sweeney, which obviously ensures seeing her topless as that appears to be a requirement for her to sign onto anything, and this one is a lot closer to The First Omen than to Benedetta. The First Omen is a prequel to The Omen, and comes up short in that regard. But taken on its own, it kept me relatively engaged. Also features nudity and naughty nuns, and the extremely expressive face of Nell Tiger Free (true name!).
All in all, my main takeaway is that I do not need to see any movies featuring nuns for some time.
I think both The First Omen and Immaculate work well enough, with the former being a little better on the tension and eeriness scale and the latter being better paced. Benedetta fell into a different genre as it is a sort of semi-biographical drama, but was fairly enjoyable despite a few eye rolling turns in the story.
I see that Paul Verhoeven directed Benedetta. If there's one filmmaker that I would trust to handle the topic of faith and life in a convent with thoughtfulness, tastefulness and restraint, it's Paul Verhoeven.
Pranzo Oltranzista
Registered User
- Oct 18, 2017
- 3,977
- 2,894
Unholy Diver
Registered User
The Bikeriders 7.5/10 - not the biggest Tom Hardy fan, but found this one enjoyable, interesting cast of characters amongst the biker gang, though I'd imagine the film painted them a little more favorably than reality
Inside Out 2 - 7.5/10 Riley, now 13 and entering puberty gains the new emotions of embarrassment, envy, ennui, and anxiety, which push the emotions from the first film to the back burner, another solid effort from Pixar, though I would rate it a tick behind the original
Hero and the Terror - 5.5/10 - Chuck Norris is Danny "Hero" O'Brien a San Francisco detective that has to hunt down Simon Moon aka "the Terror" a large mute serial killer he had put away three years prior after the killer escapes a mental institution and resumes snapping women's necks. Roundhouse kicks all around
Eye of the Tiger - 5/10 - Gary Busey an ex con Vietnam vet wages a mostly one man war (Yaphet Kotto helps a little bit) against a biker gang running drugs and raising hell in his small Texas hometown, while a crooked sheriff looks the other way
Inside Out 2 - 7.5/10 Riley, now 13 and entering puberty gains the new emotions of embarrassment, envy, ennui, and anxiety, which push the emotions from the first film to the back burner, another solid effort from Pixar, though I would rate it a tick behind the original
Hero and the Terror - 5.5/10 - Chuck Norris is Danny "Hero" O'Brien a San Francisco detective that has to hunt down Simon Moon aka "the Terror" a large mute serial killer he had put away three years prior after the killer escapes a mental institution and resumes snapping women's necks. Roundhouse kicks all around
Eye of the Tiger - 5/10 - Gary Busey an ex con Vietnam vet wages a mostly one man war (Yaphet Kotto helps a little bit) against a biker gang running drugs and raising hell in his small Texas hometown, while a crooked sheriff looks the other way
Rodgerwilco
Entertainment boards w/ some Hockey mixed in.
- Feb 6, 2014
- 7,953
- 7,376
Saw this recently based on a true events, very touching and disturbing but enjoyed it as sad as it was.
One of my favoite performances from one of my favorite actors. May have to give this one another watch, it's been quite a while.
shadow1
Registered User
- Nov 29, 2008
- 16,723
- 5,520
Machete (2010) - 6/10
A Mexican day laborer is hired to assassinate a politician, but is double crossed by his handler.
Danny Trejo stars as Machete, an ex-Federale who has fled to the United States after the death of his family. While working as a day laborer, Machete is forced into taking a hit job against Texas Senator McLaughlin (Robert DeNiro). When Machete his double crossed and badly wounded, he turns to an ICE agent (Jessica Alba), a Taco vendor (Michelle Rodriguez), and his priest brother (Cheech Marin) to help in getting revenge...
Machete was written by Robert Rodriguez and co-directed by Rodriguez and Ethan Maniquis. The idea of Machete was developed in the mid-1990's by Rodriguez and star Danny Trejo, and received life in the form of a "mock" trailer that played in the movie Grindhouse (2007). After the trailer gained a cult following, Rodriguez expanded it into a full length movie. How does it fare?
Pretty solid. Machete is a modern day exploitation movie, and has a very tight story with little fat. It's a simple movie where the audience pleasure comes from its schlockier elements, like one liners and over-the-top violence. And, if you watch the trailer, you'll know exactly how things are going to play out.
...Except when the movie tricks you. Machete's Grindhouse trailer is extremely popular, and almost every clip from it was lifted and worked into the plot of the film. However, there are times where you expect something to happen because it was in the trailer, but the movie pulls the ol' rope-a-dope and something else happens. For example, maybe a different character is on the receiving end of Machete's blade, or a scene that you think is going one way suddenly goes another. The way this film's trailer interacts with the audience viewing experience is fascinating.
Interestingly, Machete is somewhat prophetic, with the Robert DeNiro character erecting an electrified fence along the Mexican border. But for the most part, Machete is more about cheesy fun than having a strong political message. One thing the film does to keep you on your toes is change bad guys frequently, allowing Robert Rodriguez to cram in lots of familiar faces, including Jeff Fahey, Don Johnson, Lindsay Lohan, Steven Seagal, Shea Wingham, and (my favorite) Tom Savini.
Overall, Machete don't text. If you're looking for popcorn fun, with true badass Danny Trejo carving up some wrongdoers, look no further. Machete was a hit, earning $45.5M against its $10.5M budget.
Machete Kills (2013) - 6/10
The President of the United States recruits ex-Federale Machete to stop the launch of a dangerous missile.
Danny Trejo returns as Machete, who receives a call from President Rathcock (Charlie Sheen, credited as Carlos Estevez) alerting him to the fact that a dangerous missile located in Mexico may soon target the United States. Rathcock offers Machete USA citizenship if he can completely his mission. However, it won't be easy - Machete is hunted by a mysterious assassin, and the person controlling the missile (Demian Bichir) is suffering from severe multiple personality disorder...
Machete Kills was directed by Robert Rodriguez, and written by Rodriguez and Kyle Ward. The film was planned, along with a third Machete film, at the time the 2010 movie was released, and went into production in 2012. How does it fare?
Also pretty solid. Machete Kills could've fallen into the trap of being a rehash of the first movie, but rehash it is not. If I had to describe Machete Kills, I would call it a blend of Escape from New York (1981) and Mission: Impossible (1996). It's an odyssey film, with an adventure so over-the-top that you never know what's coming next. No, the original Machete (2010) wasn't exactly a grounded movie, but Machete Kills is full on comic book. Danny Trejo is practically a terminator, barely flinching when inflicted by wounds that should be fatal.
And I love the movie for that. It's a wild, adrenaline fueled ride, with an even bigger cast than the first movie. In addition to Trejo, Bichir, and Sheen, Machete Kills sees the return of Jessica Alba, Michelle Rodriguez, and one person I won't spoil (it's hilarious). Additionally, Antonio Bandares, Lady Gaga, Mel Gibson, Cuba Gooding Jr., Walton Goggins, Amber Heard, and Sophia Vergara join the fray, assuring this film's cast is just as over-the-top as the movie is.
What's the catch? The story is somewhat of a hot mess. You can definitely follow what's going on, but it's all over the place; a stark comparison from the original Machete (2010). There are times in this movie where it feels like there are alternative, simpler solutions to the problems the protagonists are facing... but hey, it's a popcorn movie. If a wild plot leads to more Danny Trejo bad-assery, I'm all for it.
Overall, Machete don't tweet. Machete Kills, in my opinion, is on par with the original movie in terms of enjoyment, but for completely different reasons. Unfortunately, with 2007's Grindhouse far in the rearview mirror in 2013, audiences didn't come out to see Machete Kills, as it earned only $17.5M against its $20M budget.
Machete Kills Again ...In Space (202X) - 10/10
Ex-Federale Machete goes to outer space to stop a mad man from starting a nuclear war on earth.
Danny Trejo returns as Machete, who following the events of Machete Kills has followed clairvoyant madman Voz (Leonardo DiCaprio*) into outer space. Voz has kidnapped Luz (Michelle Rodriguez) and is trying to start a nuclear holocaust on earth, intending to rebuild society on his space station, with plans to use his new citizens as his slaves...
Machete Kills Again ...In Space was conceptualized by writer/director Robert Rodriguez. Originally loosely planned following the release of Machete (2010), Machete Kills Again ...In Space received a teaser trailer in 2013. The film has been stuck in development for over a decade, but in April 2024 Rodriguez told website IndieWire that he still plans to make the film, but has avoided sharing news about it until pre-production actually begins. How will it fare?
Please god come out.
I watched both Machete movies last year, myself. I didn't review them, but my thoughts were similar. I preferred the first because the second was a little too comic bookish and all over the place for my taste, but they were both dumb fun.
Trejo is a cool guy. He supposedly owns the record for on-screen deaths with around 70, largely because he tends to play henchmen, drug pushers and gang members and insists that those characters die to show young people that such choices have consequences.
Trejo is a cool guy. He supposedly owns the record for on-screen deaths with around 70, largely because he tends to play henchmen, drug pushers and gang members and insists that those characters die to show young people that such choices have consequences.
Nakatomi
Registered User
- Dec 26, 2022
- 154
- 199
I decided to give this a watch. I had never seen it before, so no chance of nostalgia for me. I really found it awful with few redeeming qualities. The initial protagonist seems like a failed proto-Ryan Reynolds but lacking the charm to pull it off.
I'd rate it around a 3/10, though I could be persuaded to bump it up a notch for the solid soundtrack and apparently it is Renee Zellweger actually singing at the end, which is neat.
It is also interesting how quickly teen movie vibes change. Compare this to 10 Things I Hate About You from just four years later, and they are really totally different worlds. Speaking of different worlds, now I am thinking to track down The Doom Generation to watch another 1995 teen movie I have never seen.
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024) - 7/10
Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) returns to Beverly Hills when his estranged daughter's life is threatened and reunites with his old pals on a corruption case. I had really low expectations for this straight-to-Netflix, 30-years-later sequel and am surprised by how much it exceeded them. It's a pure dose of nostalgia that takes the Top Gun: Maverick approach by not deviating much from the original formula. That includes familiar elements, like reckless car chases and a mansion shootout, and music from the original soundtracks. It's shameless recycling, but I couldn't help but smile while Axel was driving into other vehicles while "Neutron Dance" and "Shakedown" were playing. Moments like those really make it feel like a Beverly Hills Cop movie. Murphy's performance also helps. He gets back in character and gives a little of the fast talking Axel that we fell in love with. The only thing missing is his old laugh. John Ashton and Judge Reinhold return as Taggart and Rosewood and don't have a lot of screen time, but it was nice to see them back. Paul Reiser and Bronson Pinchot also return for a few scenes. Joining the cast are Kevin Bacon and Joseph Gordon-Levitt as other cops and Taylour Paige as the daughter that Axel tries to reconnect with. The pacing is good, with action every 20 minutes or so, and I liked how practical much of it looked, especially all of the real cars that were wrecked. I found the comedy hit or miss, with some funny scenes and a few cringey ones. Fortunately, it doesn't rely on comedy as much as on action and callbacks. The plot is unoriginal and predictable, but in an 80s way, such as how it's almost immediately obvious who the villain is going to be. In fact, despite a little modernity here and there, it felt a lot like an 80s action movie, which this child of the 80s appreciated. Is it an objectively good movie? No, probably not. Am I just rating it highly out of nostalgia? Absolutely. It was just fun to see these characters again and a surprise to get what actually felt like a Beverly Hills Cop movie after all of these years. As long as you keep your expectations low and don't mind that it's heavily reliant on nostalgia, it's worth checking out on Netflix, IMO.
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Hardball (2001)
This is basically the Bad News Bears meets Dangerous Minds..
Keanu Reeves plays a degenerate gambler who is underwater.. so begrudgingly agrees to take a paying job, coaching little league in the 'hood. And teams up along the way with a school teacher, who is invested in the kids.
The setting is the old, defunct Candyman/Good Times projects in Chicago.
Nice uplifting story. But because of the White Savior, and ghetto, memes I doubt it would be made in 2024. This was kind of the end times of that cinematic genre (if I remember correctly).
I give it a 7 (out of 10). I'm a sucker for underdog stories. On Prime.
This is basically the Bad News Bears meets Dangerous Minds..
Keanu Reeves plays a degenerate gambler who is underwater.. so begrudgingly agrees to take a paying job, coaching little league in the 'hood. And teams up along the way with a school teacher, who is invested in the kids.
The setting is the old, defunct Candyman/Good Times projects in Chicago.
Nice uplifting story. But because of the White Savior, and ghetto, memes I doubt it would be made in 2024. This was kind of the end times of that cinematic genre (if I remember correctly).
I give it a 7 (out of 10). I'm a sucker for underdog stories. On Prime.
KallioWeHardlyKnewYe
Hey! We won!
- May 30, 2003
- 15,766
- 3,804
Hamlet (1948), Hamlet (1990), Hamlet (1996) and Hamlet (2000). Actually viewing order ... 1996, 2000, 1990, 1948. I wanted to start with the Branagh one, which is a full adaptation of the play. I thought that would be good grounding before comparing and contrasting with some slimmer adaptations.
My preference order ... 1948, 1990, 1996, 2000 (though it's a bit of a coin flip between those last two. Biggest surprise to me was that I liked the 1990 (Franco Zeferelli/Mel Gibson) more than the Branagh.
The thoroughness of Branagh's is impressive and I think the chessboard/mirror palace set is striking. And, I admire the effort and am amused at its screenplay Oscar nomination (I hope Willie was honored). It's got several stunt-casty cameos though that were distracting every time. Branagh is definitely good, but he FEELS too old. The rest of the brits are pros pros and do the job well. The ending though true to the text -- how one of the characters is killed is laughably ridiculous. Genuine LOL from me. I don't think that's what he's going for.
The 2000 version stars Ethan Hawke. Though true to the dialogue, it's in a modern setting. I get that angle. You want to bring something new to a well-worn story. The downside is it really does play kinda corny (Denmark Corp?). It's an EXTREMELY 90s movie with Hawke's scruffy face and knit cap, his artsy filmmaker aspirations, the brand names, the tech that feels like it was immediately out-of-date which dates all the more. Bill Murray is a big miss as Polonius but the rest of the cast is pretty good. Hawke is in fully mopey 90s boy mode and you know what? I think it works. Plus he's the only Hamlet who actually feels age appropriate. It's also the leanest. (Alas poor Yorick, who does not seem to be known by anyone here).
I think why I favor the Gibson one over these two is simply a matter of tradition. As interesting as changing the setting and time is ... there was just something about seeing this shit go down in a dank castle, as the Bard intended, that really worked for me. I think Gibson is the worst of the four Hamlets I watched but ... he's pretty solid. Better than you might think. He ranks 4 only because I think the other three are just better. Not really faults for him. This one really steers toward incestuous vibes with his mom, more than the others. Good Ennio Morricone score. I don't know that this one is a standout at anything, but it just does everything pretty well.
I honestly did not expect to like the Olivier one the best. I certainly love old movies but my guess was that there would be a static staginess to it that would constrain it. After the much more open worlds of the previous three though, those shadowy sets and corridors suddenly felt like a positive to me. It was constrained, but suddenly that felt so thematically appropriate for the story at hand. It is the most stagey, but it is a stage play after all. And yet it's fully a film, not a filmed performance. It's spooky and foggy (and I feel like Joel Coen's recent The Tragedy of Macbeth owes more than a little debt to this one's style). While I liked and/or appreciated the other three adaptations, I genuinely loved this one. My only real reservation? Stop me if you heard this before but Olivier feels too old.
Superlatives!
Best Hamlet: Olivier (1948)
Best Claudius: Derek Jacobi (1996) in a coin flip over Alan Bates (1990)
Best Gertrude: Julie Christie (1996)
Best Ghost: Sam Shepherd (2000)
Best Polonius: Ian Holm (1990)
Best Ophelia: ehhhh ... not sure I loved any of them. Bit of a thankless role IMO.
Best 'To Be or Not to Be' speech: 1948, but 2000's decision to set it in a Blockbuster Video is silly and bold and dumb and I kinda love it.
Best play within a play: 1996. I bagged on the movies' stunt casting, but the one exception is Charlton Heston who is really an inspired choice here.
Time to watch Hamlet 2.
My preference order ... 1948, 1990, 1996, 2000 (though it's a bit of a coin flip between those last two. Biggest surprise to me was that I liked the 1990 (Franco Zeferelli/Mel Gibson) more than the Branagh.
The thoroughness of Branagh's is impressive and I think the chessboard/mirror palace set is striking. And, I admire the effort and am amused at its screenplay Oscar nomination (I hope Willie was honored). It's got several stunt-casty cameos though that were distracting every time. Branagh is definitely good, but he FEELS too old. The rest of the brits are pros pros and do the job well. The ending though true to the text -- how one of the characters is killed is laughably ridiculous. Genuine LOL from me. I don't think that's what he's going for.
The 2000 version stars Ethan Hawke. Though true to the dialogue, it's in a modern setting. I get that angle. You want to bring something new to a well-worn story. The downside is it really does play kinda corny (Denmark Corp?). It's an EXTREMELY 90s movie with Hawke's scruffy face and knit cap, his artsy filmmaker aspirations, the brand names, the tech that feels like it was immediately out-of-date which dates all the more. Bill Murray is a big miss as Polonius but the rest of the cast is pretty good. Hawke is in fully mopey 90s boy mode and you know what? I think it works. Plus he's the only Hamlet who actually feels age appropriate. It's also the leanest. (Alas poor Yorick, who does not seem to be known by anyone here).
I think why I favor the Gibson one over these two is simply a matter of tradition. As interesting as changing the setting and time is ... there was just something about seeing this shit go down in a dank castle, as the Bard intended, that really worked for me. I think Gibson is the worst of the four Hamlets I watched but ... he's pretty solid. Better than you might think. He ranks 4 only because I think the other three are just better. Not really faults for him. This one really steers toward incestuous vibes with his mom, more than the others. Good Ennio Morricone score. I don't know that this one is a standout at anything, but it just does everything pretty well.
I honestly did not expect to like the Olivier one the best. I certainly love old movies but my guess was that there would be a static staginess to it that would constrain it. After the much more open worlds of the previous three though, those shadowy sets and corridors suddenly felt like a positive to me. It was constrained, but suddenly that felt so thematically appropriate for the story at hand. It is the most stagey, but it is a stage play after all. And yet it's fully a film, not a filmed performance. It's spooky and foggy (and I feel like Joel Coen's recent The Tragedy of Macbeth owes more than a little debt to this one's style). While I liked and/or appreciated the other three adaptations, I genuinely loved this one. My only real reservation? Stop me if you heard this before but Olivier feels too old.
Superlatives!
Best Hamlet: Olivier (1948)
Best Claudius: Derek Jacobi (1996) in a coin flip over Alan Bates (1990)
Best Gertrude: Julie Christie (1996)
Best Ghost: Sam Shepherd (2000)
Best Polonius: Ian Holm (1990)
Best Ophelia: ehhhh ... not sure I loved any of them. Bit of a thankless role IMO.
Best 'To Be or Not to Be' speech: 1948, but 2000's decision to set it in a Blockbuster Video is silly and bold and dumb and I kinda love it.
Best play within a play: 1996. I bagged on the movies' stunt casting, but the one exception is Charlton Heston who is really an inspired choice here.
Time to watch Hamlet 2.
Chili
Time passes when you're not looking
- Jun 10, 2004
- 8,766
- 4,886
Wings-1927
Named the Outstanding Picture for that year as part of the first Academy Awards ceremony. The story of two young men (Buddy Rogers & Richard Arlen) who love the same girl and join up to become flyers in WWI. And the other girl who loves one of the guys (Clara Bow). The type of story that has been told what seems like countless times, what sets this film apart is the spectacular air battle footage.
William Wellman had been a flyer in WWI, so he brought a great deal of knowledge to directing the film. Cameras were mounted on the planes that take you right into the action. The two male leads both flew their own planes, Richard Arlen had experience, but Buddy Rogers had to learn how to fly. So many impressive birds eye shots of the landscape and battlefields below. Imagine some ooos and awws when this was first shown in the theatre. Gary Cooper was only on screen for a minute or two, but this film helped to kickstart his career. The only comparable film that I've seen was Howard Hughes film Hell's Angels. Was considered a lost film for many years until a copy was found in archives in Paris in 1992. Impressive achievement, it's in public domain if it interests anyone.
The Story of GI Joe-1945
Another Wild Bill Wellman film. The film is based on Pulitzer Prize winning war correspondent Ernie Pyle's view of the day-to-day life of the foot soldiers in WWII Europe as he travels with them into battle zones. From the down time to the actual battles, the hardships and comradery, young men trying to survive dealing with what the day brings. Wild Bill didn't want big stars in the film. Burgess Meredith was a Captain in the military who got his release to play the role of Ernie Pyle. Robert Mitchum, who had been in the military as well, was the other lead. He was early in his career at the time (he got his only academy award nomination for The Story of GI Joe). The rest of the cast was mostly real soldiers. It was Ernie Pyle's story, and he was a consultant on the film, but he never got a chance to see it before he lost his life covering the war in the Pacific. Some nice touches like the little pooch who is the squad's mascot. There is a wedding en route, the bride played by Bill's wife Dottie. One of the most realistic war films I have seen, which includes Objective Burma, Men in War, Hell is for Heroes, The Big Red One...
William Wellman was an interesting dude. His path to Hollywood actually started when he was playing semi-pro hockey in Boston. He was a talented player with an aggressive style which won over one fan who attended games. Douglas Fairbanks introduced himself and told Bill if he needed a job to look him up which he did a few years later after WWI. Some of my favorite films of his: Wild Boys of the Road, Beau Geste, The Ox-Bow Incident & Yellow Sky. Great career.
Tsotsi-2005 (subtitles)
A young tough in Johannesburg shoots a woman and steals her car. To his surprise, he soon realizes she had her infant son in the backseat and crashes the vehicle. He's part of a gang from Shanty Town that violently preys on others to make their way. A story of a ruthless young man who begins to find his humanity. The film had Kurosawesque feel for me, impressed with the direction of Gavin Hood and the young lead Presley Chweneyagae. Good score, interesting and well played characters, excellent moving film.
The History of The World Part 1-1981
Thought I should end with a comedy here to lighten the mood a bit. I find it hard to describe comedies, they often have little plot or a silly one. They are either funny or hard to watch. Anyway, Mel Brooks has brought us some classics and The History of the World Part 1 has a few moments. And there is some history here. Probably mostly for fans of Mel, I got a few laughs from it. Love Madeline Kahn.
Chili
Time passes when you're not looking
- Jun 10, 2004
- 8,766
- 4,886
I like to post quotes from films. The one I remember from that one though probably wouldn't pass the censors ha ha (after the bumpy carriage ride).
