Duck, You Sucker aka A Fistful of Dynamite aka Once Upon a Time...The Revolution...this was my first time watching this Sergio Leone film and was lucky enough (courtesy of the anthology) to watch the original Italian version...I wasn't sure what I thought about because I was feeling it dragged a little in the middle, but as with all Leone films, there are no wasted scenes or images...great performances by James Coburn and Rod Steiger...it's hard to follow up on the immortal Once Upon a Time in the West, but Leone succeded in moving beyond the western and doesn't lose any of the grand scale his pictures gained each time a new one was released.     

"Every day holds a new beginning and every hour holds the promise of an Invitation to Love." 

8 1/2

So I rented this on Monday, which was a bad choice because I was so swamped with school work this week. It was due back today, so I had to settle in at 9:00 last night to hurry up and watch it and get my money's worth. Bad mindset to watch a film in.

It's obvious to see the influence this film has had on recent writers and directors like Charlie Kaufman and Terry Gilliam (ooh, post synchronicity), and movies like The Player. There are some interesting sequences, like the opening dream and the rotating circus at the end. But I was not exactly captivated. Part of it may have been my inexperience with following subtitles (by the by, if the "original audio" is in Italian, why do none of the actor's lips match the words?). Plus, the later it got, the more I awaited the ending. So I was a little disappointed, over all.

Logic Hat Online- logichat.org

Went to see Harry Potter and the Vastly Improved Filmmaking today.  I'm glad it was good, since I lost my first ticket within 90 seconds of getting it, and had to go back for another one.

Not perfect, but a good, solid, entertaining, smart movie.  The series, for me, started to get watchable with Goblet of Fire, but this one is well-done not just in comparison to the others, but in general.

That god damn trailer's more popular than Uncle's Day in a whorehouse!

Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! I happened onto this on Turner Movie Classic channel with Todd Haynes having selected a few of his faves. The other two were Last Picture Show and Quiz Show. Haynes described Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! as Russ Meyer's Citizen Kane. It was beautifully shot, and the story does move along, move along. The costumes and makeup were fantastic. The acting = hilarious!!! All in all a very enjoyable romp! Highly recommended.

Susan

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

The Lost Weekend, for the first time.  I liked it a lot, and it just strengthens my interest in Billy Wilder (my Plan B for tonight was Sunset Boulevard).

As soon as I finished it, I went and had a shot.  Which I'll need, since I'm going to watch V For Vendetta now. 

Cool, Susan...I really like Quiz Show a lot and it's my favorite Redford directed film...I guess you liked it?

yeah, JVS, ever since I bought that three pack of Stalag 17, Sunset Blvd. and Sabrina, I have been to wanting re-visit some Billy Wilder and Lost Weekend is near the top of the list, a remarkabke film and I'm glad you finally got to see it.. V For Vendetta, well, it simply f-ing rocks!!

I'll probably watch a movie after The Closer tonight...tried to watch Once Upon a Time in the West, but I have to replace the DVD which I've already done via E-bay...gonna go see Inland Empire with a friend on Wed. because she's heading back to school in a couple weeks...     

"Every day holds a new beginning and every hour holds the promise of an Invitation to Love." 

Matador - I hadn't seen this one forever and I forgot hwo great it is. Can we call Almoldovar a perverse Hitchcock? His films always have interesting twists and turns but they always have a "kinky" edge to them...the reveal of the matador and his rationale almost makes me laugh but still it's intriguing and I love the way Assumpta what's-her-name plays Maria...good stuff all around...

Law of Desire- the only film in the Pedro box set I haven't seen. The gentleman who plays the lead detective in Matador, Eusebio something-or-other is the lead in this film as a gay swinging screenwriter whose only family is his sister, played by Carmen Maura in a wonderful performance and her "adopted" daughter who has suddenly become Catholic. Antonio Banderas plays a real nut case...again the usual crazy plot twists and a slam bang ending. Recommended.

"Every day holds a new beginning and every hour holds the promise of an Invitation to Love." 

"Every day holds a new beginning and every hour holds the promise of an Invitation to Love." 

Cinema "Paradiso" - as much as I totally love Amarcord, I don't know if I don't like this one even more.

On one hand there is my great sentiment for small Italian towns where the priest censors films and there's always a teacher who hits pupils with a rubber... I don't know why I've got a thing for it, I've never really seen one ;-) ... but of course it's the way it's being shown - here or in Amarcord for instance - filled with something dreamy and even though nothing seems perfect there, at the same time it appears to be ideal, unspoiled.

On the other hand there is a man coming back to his past, from a looong distance and discovering how much importance the memories still have... I felt very moved by this character as a grown-up man... I haven't cried in a film for many years...

On the third hand (hmm.. ;-)) it's the great love for cinema, showing what a wonderful place a cinema is, and how strong the affection can be. As mine is... I guess.

Bobi 1 Kenobi

B. Beware
O. Of
B. BOB 

Charlotte's Web

It's amazing what they can do with pigs these days.

Emotions got down a little and of course I need to call these words off. Cinema Paradiso is a more emotional film and since it works exceptionally well on my personal emotions, my initial reaction was that strong.

Amarcord, however, leaves it behind with its unequalled skill of showing human characters, its unique dreamy mood and nostalgia and Fellini's genius in using simple images as medium to show things deep and universal.

Cinema Paradiso is wonderful and deserves a ***** for five, but Amarcord is one of the few movies where for five stars I would have to give... ****** ;-)

Bobi 1 Kenobi

B. Beware
O. Of
B. BOB 

"Every day holds a new beginning and every hour holds the promise of an Invitation to Love."