Santa Claus: the Movie (1985)
A strange film in some ways. On the one hand, it's an elaborately designed and expensive fantasy film. On the other it's a mismash of sweet-natured (but often distant) Santa, a somewhat dialed-down Dudley Moore as an elf and an over-played executive-wants-to-ruin Christmas played by John Lithgow. The wierd thing is that, for all of the visuals and activity, it never feels important. Not a terrible movie, really, but I rarely felt anything for any of the characters who get lost in all the costumes and effects. Also, the songs are lackluster at best. For a family Christmas film, it should have been more lively and charming. More like the much-less expensive Elf or The Santa Clause, which may not have been grandiose, and were somewhat sitcomish, but they had more consistent charm factors than this one does. Miracle on 34th Street it's not.
I'd give it a ** out of four stars.
Edited By criddic3 on 1226554456
Last Seen Movie - The Latest Movie You Have Seen; ratings
Yesterday I watched John Ford's They Were Expendable, partially in observance of Veteran's Day, but also because it had been sitting on my shelf for awhile and I wanted to see it again. (It had been over five years.) I still think it's one of Ford's three or four greatest films, even though he said in some interviews with Lindsay Anderson (who was a great admirer of the film) that he didn't like it, although he indicated that he hadn't watched it, and just resented that the film tore him away from his unit. A few years later, he told Anderson that he had watched it and that he (Anderson) was right about it, although several years after that, he claimed not to like it. Either way, it's a masterpiece, one of the most heartbreaking war movies ever made.
Rachel Getting Married (2008; Jonathan Demme) 6/10
Terrific performances by Anne Hathaway and Rosemarie Dewitt barely compensate for the amateurish script and an 8 year old cinematographer who found dad's stash.
Terrific performances by Anne Hathaway and Rosemarie Dewitt barely compensate for the amateurish script and an 8 year old cinematographer who found dad's stash.
"...it is the weak who are cruel, and...gentleness is only to be expected from the strong." - Leo Reston
"Cruelty might be very human, and it might be cultural, but it's not acceptable." - Jodie Foster
"Cruelty might be very human, and it might be cultural, but it's not acceptable." - Jodie Foster
Monika (Ingmar Bergman, 1953)
The earliest Bergman film I've seen so far, and one of the better of the dozen or so of his films I've seen. Since I'm currently immersing myself in Murnau, it's hard not to see echoes of Sunrise (and City Girl) in the pastoral scenes, but in throughline it really feels more like Vidor's the Crowd if updated to a pessimistic post-War Europe.
7/10
The earliest Bergman film I've seen so far, and one of the better of the dozen or so of his films I've seen. Since I'm currently immersing myself in Murnau, it's hard not to see echoes of Sunrise (and City Girl) in the pastoral scenes, but in throughline it really feels more like Vidor's the Crowd if updated to a pessimistic post-War Europe.
7/10
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barrybrooks8
- Temp
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Happy-Go-Lucky
6.5/10
I didn't love Sally Hawkins, and I don't think she'll make my year-end list. I felt kinda bad for the audience, as I think most of them were duped by the trailer which made it seem more laugh out loud and pop-song filled, rather than the Mike Leigh dramedy that could have used subtitles for those not used to watching EastEnders. A couple of great moments, including ones with Eddie Marsan.
6.5/10
I didn't love Sally Hawkins, and I don't think she'll make my year-end list. I felt kinda bad for the audience, as I think most of them were duped by the trailer which made it seem more laugh out loud and pop-song filled, rather than the Mike Leigh dramedy that could have used subtitles for those not used to watching EastEnders. A couple of great moments, including ones with Eddie Marsan.
"Jesus! Look at my hands! Now really, I am too young for liver spots. Maybe I can merge them together into a tan."
Rachel Getting Married (Jonathan Demme)
7/10
Dragged during some parts, especially the wedding rehearsal dinner and the wedding and reception scenes. It was the most fun and coolest wedding I have ever seen but they spent, IMO, too much time on it with scenes that showed various people having fun but not developing characters or moving the story. But what a great wedding!
Very good performances. A lot of needlessly melodramatic scenes but it worked for me because the actors do such a good job. The scene late in the film when Rachel comforts her sister when you were not sure how Rachel would react to what her sister had just done made me tear up a little. I think Rosemarie Dewitt deserves a supporting Oscar nom more than Anne Hathaway deserves a leading nom, though both are very good. She was good as Don Draper's beatnik girlfriend but I did not suspect she had such talent. When Anne and Rosemarie were on the screen together, I was looking at Rosemarie.
Edited By kaytodd on 1226199054
7/10
Dragged during some parts, especially the wedding rehearsal dinner and the wedding and reception scenes. It was the most fun and coolest wedding I have ever seen but they spent, IMO, too much time on it with scenes that showed various people having fun but not developing characters or moving the story. But what a great wedding!
Very good performances. A lot of needlessly melodramatic scenes but it worked for me because the actors do such a good job. The scene late in the film when Rachel comforts her sister when you were not sure how Rachel would react to what her sister had just done made me tear up a little. I think Rosemarie Dewitt deserves a supporting Oscar nom more than Anne Hathaway deserves a leading nom, though both are very good. She was good as Don Draper's beatnik girlfriend but I did not suspect she had such talent. When Anne and Rosemarie were on the screen together, I was looking at Rosemarie.
Edited By kaytodd on 1226199054
The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving. It's faith in something and enthusiasm for something that makes a life worth living. Oliver Wendell Holmes
City Girl - silent version (Murnau, 1930)
Thanks to Damien for inspiring me to make sure I watched this on my current F.W. Murnau kick. Wonderful film and, as he says in another thread, a fascinating comparison piece to Sunrise. The scene in which the couple run through the fields when they first arrive on Charles Farrel's father's farm is clearly one of those magical scenes in all cinema. I'm almost certain I'd rate this film even higher if I were to see a decent copy, not the highly-dupey VHS version I rented.
8/10
Thanks to Damien for inspiring me to make sure I watched this on my current F.W. Murnau kick. Wonderful film and, as he says in another thread, a fascinating comparison piece to Sunrise. The scene in which the couple run through the fields when they first arrive on Charles Farrel's father's farm is clearly one of those magical scenes in all cinema. I'm almost certain I'd rate this film even higher if I were to see a decent copy, not the highly-dupey VHS version I rented.
8/10
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Cinemanolis
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FilmFan720
- Emeritus
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Finally caught up with C.R.A.Z.Y. What a fantastic film! Everything that has been said about the soundtrack is true, but Vallee's attention to detail and some wonderful performances (especially Michel Cote as the father) carry the film to a greater level. I love how rounded and three-dimensional the entire film. Whereas lots of other filmmakers would turn the father into a villain, or condemn Zac for his heterosexual experiences, this film treats them as realities and thinks that every person and move in the film is acceptable and alright. It almost makes the ending even more powerful than it would be in a more conventional film.
"Go into the world and do well. But more importantly, go into the world and do good."
- Minor Myers, Jr.
- Minor Myers, Jr.