The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981, dir. Bob Rafelson) 5/10
A con man drifter worms his way into the marriage of a Greek immigrant cafe owner and his sultry, sexually voracious wife in Depression-era California. A remake that is worth it alone for Nicholson and Lange's first sex scene -- all wet panties, sprinkled flour and baked dough. Watch out for Anjelica Huston's utterly random cameo as a lion tamer.
The Night Porter (1974, dir. Liliana Cavani) 7/10
Charlotte Rampling plays a Holocaust survivor who encounters the Nazi prison guard (Dirk Bogarde) who'd made her his sexual slave during her confinement, working as a night porter in an upscale hotel in Vienna years later. The two resume their relationship, precipitating a doomed fate foretold from the beginning. Perhaps one of the most thorough examinations of a dom/sub relationship captured on film.
I Never Promised You a Rose Garden (1976, dir. Anthony Page) 4/10
Based on Joanne Greenberg's autobiographical novel of the same name, this is a film you watch from the beginning thinking you've already seen it (and you have). A low-rent version of 'Sybil' meets 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' (whose success coincidentally allowed for the greenlighting of the funding for this piece of trash). If this was the first film I'd seen with Kathleen Quinlan, I might never have seen another one of her works. What a highly annoying, self-indulgent, over-the-top performance. And poor Bibi Andersson looks like she'd rather be anywhere else.
It's an essentially negligible experience except for some, at times, fascinating supporting performances, particularly those of Diane Varsi, Signe Hasso, Sylvia Sydney (an actress I never thought I'd see punched ruthlessly in the stomach) and Susan Tyrell, whose mid-film show-stopper should most definitely be added to the musical version, if there ever is one.
Edited By flipp525 on 1246555622
Last Seen Movie - The Latest Movie You Have Seen; ratings
This man meaning Desplechin or Magilla?
The 'Burbs (Dante) - 6/10
Well meaning. I like the idea of it more than the actual production. It's goofy, goofy, goofy. The scene of Hanks physically throwing his hospital bed into the back of the ambulance is some of the funniest comedy I've ever seen him do.
Joe vs. The Volcano (Shanley) - 8/10
This film is a mess. But it has a romantic madness to it that I love. It peaks before his quest begins but I really like this film's groove.
The 'Burbs (Dante) - 6/10
Well meaning. I like the idea of it more than the actual production. It's goofy, goofy, goofy. The scene of Hanks physically throwing his hospital bed into the back of the ambulance is some of the funniest comedy I've ever seen him do.
Joe vs. The Volcano (Shanley) - 8/10
This film is a mess. But it has a romantic madness to it that I love. It peaks before his quest begins but I really like this film's groove.
"How's the despair?"
Love this man.Big Magilla wrote:A Christmas Tale (Arnaud Despelchen) 2008 6/10
Acting and production values are good but this is ultimately just another dreary tale of a dysfunctional family, somehow erroneously classified as a comedy. It evolves around the need of a woman for a bone marrow transplant. The woman, played by Catherine Deneuve, is not particularly pleasant or nice. She claims to hate her black sheep middle son (Mathieu Almalric) and not know her emotionally disturbed grandson (Emile Berling), the only two family members who are compatible, as she smokes and smokes and smokes while trying to choose between the two or even undergo the transplant at all.
Last year's other two high profile French imports, Tell No One and Ive Loved You So Long were far more satisfying IMO.
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Big Magilla
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Last Year at Marienbad (Alain Resnais) 1961, 9/10
You were expecting I would hate this movie? Who do you think I am, Pauline Kael or one the Medved Brothers? Nah, I loved this movie I've heard so many bad things about I've been dreading watching it for decades.
For starters, the art direction and cinematography are intoxicating. It's like taking repeated leisurely strolls through an elegantly appointed museum.
The story is what you make of it. Was it a dream? Was the narrator making it all up to seduce the woman or did she really have trouble remembering him and where they had met just a year before? Maybe I've seen too many episodes of The Twilight Zone or The Seventh Seal one too many times, but for some reason, I chose to believe he was Death coming to take her. Having chosen this interpretation for myself at the outset, I just relaxed, enjoyed the view and smiled through the whole thing.
You were expecting I would hate this movie? Who do you think I am, Pauline Kael or one the Medved Brothers? Nah, I loved this movie I've heard so many bad things about I've been dreading watching it for decades.
For starters, the art direction and cinematography are intoxicating. It's like taking repeated leisurely strolls through an elegantly appointed museum.
The story is what you make of it. Was it a dream? Was the narrator making it all up to seduce the woman or did she really have trouble remembering him and where they had met just a year before? Maybe I've seen too many episodes of The Twilight Zone or The Seventh Seal one too many times, but for some reason, I chose to believe he was Death coming to take her. Having chosen this interpretation for myself at the outset, I just relaxed, enjoyed the view and smiled through the whole thing.
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Big Magilla
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IMDB - genre - Comedy, Dramarain Bard wrote:I never thought it was supposed to be a comedy. Maybe I missed the same marketing materials that you saw, Magilla. I did laugh (more than just at the play) but overall this material is dramatic, and though it may be handled with a light touch, that does not make it a comedy in essence.Big Magilla wrote:I have nothing against films about dysfunctional families in general, just dreary ones that pass themselves off as comedies. The kids' Christmas play was the only thing I laughed at in the whole damn movie.
Satellite Awards - Catherine Deneuve, Best Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical.
Also there was some talk of the film being nominated for Golden Globes in the comedy categories.
I never thought it was supposed to be a comedy. Maybe I missed the same marketing materials that you saw, Magilla. I did laugh (more than just at the play) but overall this material is dramatic, and though it may be handled with a light touch, that does not make it a comedy in essence.Big Magilla wrote:I have nothing against films about dysfunctional families in general, just dreary ones that pass themselves off as comedies. The kids' Christmas play was the only thing I laughed at in the whole damn movie.
The Purple Rose of Cairo - 6/10
It's an interesting premise, entertaining enough, but the best scenes take place in the theater. The dialogue is surprisingly weak and repetitive for Woody Allen, too. Jeff Daniels was pretty good in his two roles.
Edited By Zahveed on 1246210247
It's an interesting premise, entertaining enough, but the best scenes take place in the theater. The dialogue is surprisingly weak and repetitive for Woody Allen, too. Jeff Daniels was pretty good in his two roles.
Edited By Zahveed on 1246210247
"It's the least most of us can do, but less of us will do more."
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Big Magilla
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Only the one on this board.Eric wrote:Magilla, were you in a dysfunctional family perhaps? I'm sensing a theme.
I have nothing against films about dysfunctional families in general, just dreary ones that pass themselves off as comedies. The kids' Christmas play was the only thing I laughed at in the whole damn movie.
Not excruciating to watch like Rachel Getting Married, but not something I'd care to sit through again any time soon.
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Big Magilla
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A Christmas Tale (Arnaud Despelchen) 2008 6/10
Acting and production values are good but this is ultimately just another dreary tale of a dysfunctional family, somehow erroneously classified as a comedy. It evolves around the need of a woman for a bone marrow transplant. The woman, played by Catherine Deneuve, is not particularly pleasant or nice. She claims to hate her black sheep middle son (Mathieu Almalric) and not know her emotionally disturbed grandson (Emile Berling), the only two family members who are compatible, as she smokes and smokes and smokes while trying to choose between the two or even undergo the transplant at all.
Last year's other two high profile French imports, Tell No One and Ive Loved You So Long were far more satisfying IMO.
Acting and production values are good but this is ultimately just another dreary tale of a dysfunctional family, somehow erroneously classified as a comedy. It evolves around the need of a woman for a bone marrow transplant. The woman, played by Catherine Deneuve, is not particularly pleasant or nice. She claims to hate her black sheep middle son (Mathieu Almalric) and not know her emotionally disturbed grandson (Emile Berling), the only two family members who are compatible, as she smokes and smokes and smokes while trying to choose between the two or even undergo the transplant at all.
Last year's other two high profile French imports, Tell No One and Ive Loved You So Long were far more satisfying IMO.
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Precious Doll
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Day of the Outlaw (1959) Andre de Toth 7/10
The Kiss of Death (1977) Mike Leigh 4/10
Disgrace (2009) Steve Jacobs 4/10
Terminator Salvation (2009) McG 4/10
Ludwig - Requiem for a Virgin King (1972) Hans-Jurgen Syberberg 6/10
Edited By Precious Doll on 1246186977
The Kiss of Death (1977) Mike Leigh 4/10
Disgrace (2009) Steve Jacobs 4/10
Terminator Salvation (2009) McG 4/10
Ludwig - Requiem for a Virgin King (1972) Hans-Jurgen Syberberg 6/10
Edited By Precious Doll on 1246186977
"I want cement covering every blade of grass in this nation! Don't we taxpayers have a voice anymore?" Peggy Gravel (Mink Stole) in John Waters' Desperate Living (1977)