Movies you've seen recently (Part 1)

[CalMeacham]

I was at Arisia* last weekend and saw several interesting films**.

High Treason – British film from 1929-30 that I’d never heard of. It was released both as a silent and a sound film. It was thought that the sound portion was lost, but was rediscovered in a collection in Alaska and restored. Not entirely satisfying, but interesting. A lot of Art Deco architecture. It depicts the far-future world of 1940. London has a lot of skyscrapers (more than today), am FDR Drive-style highway over the Thames, and a lot of airplanes and dirigibles flying over and through the city. There’s a railroad tunnel under the Channel. The model work isn’t always convincing. Sort of the British answer to Metropolis, which is what I thought Things to Come was supposed to be.

Sherlock Holmes – William Gillette wrote the first popular play about Sherlock Holmes (Doyle gets co-credit, but didn’t write anything except the stories the play was based on). (I saw the play in revival on Broadway in 1975 with John Wood in the title role). Gillette also took the lead, promoting the use of the deerstalker cap and being the source of Holmes’ use of a calabash pipe, both of which are now inextricably linked with the character. I never realized that Gillette had made his play into a film, starring himself. This is another long thought to be lost. It was found, complete and mislabeled in a French archive. I saw it restored and with English intertitles. Definitely worth watching, although a lot of the play’s wit and subtlety is completely lost in the silent production.

Predestination – Australian film version of Robert Heinlein’s All You Zombies, starring Ethan Hawke and a talented Sarah Snook. I hadn’t seenm this yet. Possibly the best adaptation of a Heinlein story yet. Directors seem hell-bent on ruining every Heinlein adaptation, but this one’s worth watching.

Nosferatu – they were supposed to be showing Wings, the silent winner of the first Oscar, but couldn’t get it, so they showed Nosferatu with live orgabn accompaniment.

The Little Prince – I caught the trailer and the end of the film, which had its American premiere at Arisia. A French film in English, it thankfully does not try to expand Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s book into a full-length feature (a la The Lorax, and too many other Seuss books), but builds a new narrative around the book. It uses noth stop-motion and CGI.

THX-1138 – Not at Arisia, but I picked up the DVD with “The Director’s Cut”. It should really be called “The Special Edition”. Not only did Lucas restore those elements he’d had to cut (or which had been cut by others in its original release), he also prettied up scenes, CGI-added crowds, and added a couple of new CGI scenes. I saw the film more than once way back when, and tried to remember what was new and what added.

Even though I’d seen it before, I was amazed at how much Lucas took from it for Star Wars – the distorted radio voices, the two guards hunting our hero who stop for a conversation (as with Obi Wan at the Trac tor Beam), the artificial sounds of pursuing vehicles eerily presage the whine of Lucas’ starships. The use of an indicator that has a bar that widens to indicate “Danger” instead of having a “red zone” (again, as with that Tractor Beam).

I also finally saw Electronic Labyrinth THX-12138 4E, the student film that Lucas’ feature was based on. It doesn’t appear that Lucas twiddled with this, thankfully. It’s basically a chase movie through a high-tech indoor city, much like the last portioin of his feature film, only without vehicles. THX 1138 has the numbers “1138” written on his forehead.
*THe first, at least by the calendar, of the Boston-area science fiction conventions

** Sad note – this was the last year for 35mm films at the Con. It’s getting harder to find and rent them, and setting up is a lot of work. It’s much easier to run digital, as the Con has also been doing for years.

[Elendil_s_Heir]

@CalMeacham

…Predestination – Australian film version of Robert Heinlein’s All You Zombies, starring Ethan Hawke and a talented Sarah Snook. I hadn’t seenm this yet. Possibly the best adaptation of a Heinlein story yet. Directors seem hell-bent on ruining every Heinlein adaptation, but this one’s worth watching…

Agreed. Have you seen The Puppet Masters with Donald Sutherland? Its plot is quite a bit different from Heinlein’s original, but I liked it. Still waiting on good movie adaptations of Starship Troopers, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Space Cadet, Friday and Time for the Stars.

Recently seen:

Spotlight
Pretty good drama about the Boston Globe reporters who broke the story of the decades-long coverup by the Roman Catholic Church of priestly sex abuse. Reminded me a lot of another good scrappy-journalists-taking-on-the-powerful movie, All the President’s Men.

The Assassin
A Chinese historical drama, about a conflicted female assassin assigned to kill a childhood friend. Beautiful cinematography but a very puzzling plot.

Galaxy Quest
Saw this again in honor of the late Alan Rickman, who of course is great in it. One of my favorite sf comedies, with a very funny ensemble cast and lots of Star Trek in-jokes.

North by Northwest
Finally saw this Hitchcock classic all the way through. It drags a little at times but more often than not is an engaging Fifties thriller.

Hitchcock/Truffaut
A recent documentary about the famous 1962 interviews of the older British by the worshipful younger French director. Of Hitchcock’s masterpieces, Psycho and Vertigo get the most attention. A highlight of the film is the commentary by other current directors, including Martin Scorsese, Paul Schrader, Wes Anderson and David Fincher, about the lifelong impact Hitchcock’s films have had on them.

[Soylent_Juicy]

I watched a movie on an airplane recently and really enjoyed it. It was called “Age of Adaline” and it was absolutely adorable. It’s about a woman who doesn’t grow old.

[Charlie_Wayne]

@Soylent_Juicy

I watched a movie on an airplane recently and really enjoyed it. It was called “Age of Adaline” and it was absolutely adorable. It’s about a woman who doesn’t grow old.

Yes. I saw it too and you are certainly correct.

“Adorable” is a very accurate adjective for this one.

[Drunky_Smurf]

@Evil_Captor

Watched “Zack and Miri Make A Porno” recently. I realized it was a modern update of the old Shirley Temple movie plotllines: “We need more money for popsicles. Where will we get some?” “I know! Let’s put on a show in the old barn!”

For much of the film I was having the problem in most films in which Seth Rogen’s stoner character has a girlfriend, namely, “What the fuck does she see in him?” He’s a completely irresponsible idiot who forgets to pay the rent, the water and the electricity. His sweet platonic girlfriend he lives with (played by a miscast Elizabeth Banks) puts up with all this shit. Obviously she’s crazy about him, but there’s nothing in his character as presented in the screenplay to give you a reason why. I kinda wanted to punch his face on Miri’s behalf a lot.

Elizabeth Banks was simply never believable as Miri. She’s just too gorgeous and too mentally mature to be a believable counterpart to Zack’s stoner idiot. She kinda TRIES to play the idiot, but to be a believable mate for Rogen, she needed to go full retard, and she never even came close.

Katie Morgan, who is also in the movie, is more the type to be a match for Rogen’s character. Her, I would have believed in the role. Banks, not so much.

Still a fun and interesting movie, I had one more insight: it’s a movie that shows how far people have come. Normally any movie about a small town bunch would have, as a major plot point local prudes trying to shut them down. But no such group appears. It’s like they don’t exist any more, like they don’t matter. And it feels kinda right. I’m sure there are towns full of prudes still around, but I’m also sure there are towns without any significant prudish presence.

You missed an important plot point. They are not boyfriend and girlfriend until the end of the movie. They are just friends for most of the movie and it isn’t until they make the porno that they realize they have feelings for each other and is why they get jealous of each other when making the porno.

[Evil_Captor]

@Drunky_Smurf

You missed an important plot point. They are not boyfriend and girlfriend until the end of the movie. They are just friends for most of the movie and it isn’t until they make the porno that they realize they have feelings for each other and is why they get jealous of each other when making the porno.

That’s why I described them as a “Platonic” couple.

[RivkahChaya]

Saw Pride and Prejudice and Zombies! Woo-hoo!

I laughed my ass off. The other people in the theater weren’t laughing, so maybe I was the only person who had read Pride and Prejudice. Actually, to be clear, I’ve read Pride and Prejudice itself three or four times, and seen pretty much every movie and mini-series version of it. I’ve also read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. This is one time where the movie really was almost as good as the book. I mean, it was a book just begging to be a movie. It’s only really funny if you know how much dialogue is lifted directly from the original, though. Like when people are having a serious conversation (STRAIGHT OUT OF THE BOOK), then suddenly break out in a swordfight, but continue the conversation.

[Little_Nemo]

@Evil_Captor

Watched “Zack and Miri Make A Porno” recently. I realized it was a modern update of the old Shirley Temple movie plotllines: “We need more money for popsicles. Where will we get some?” “I know! Let’s put on a show in the old barn!”

For much of the film I was having the problem in most films in which Seth Rogen’s stoner character has a girlfriend, namely, “What the fuck does she see in him?” He’s a completely irresponsible idiot who forgets to pay the rent, the water and the electricity. His sweet platonic girlfriend he lives with (played by a miscast Elizabeth Banks) puts up with all this shit. Obviously she’s crazy about him, but there’s nothing in his character as presented in the screenplay to give you a reason why. I kinda wanted to punch his face on Miri’s behalf a lot.

Elizabeth Banks was simply never believable as Miri. She’s just too gorgeous and too mentally mature to be a believable counterpart to Zack’s stoner idiot. She kinda TRIES to play the idiot, but to be a believable mate for Rogen, she needed to go full retard, and she never even came close.

Katie Morgan, who is also in the movie, is more the type to be a match for Rogen’s character. Her, I would have believed in the role. Banks, not so much.

Still a fun and interesting movie, I had one more insight: it’s a movie that shows how far people have come. Normally any movie about a small town bunch would have, as a major plot point local prudes trying to shut them down. But no such group appears. It’s like they don’t exist any more, like they don’t matter. And it feels kinda right. I’m sure there are towns full of prudes still around, but I’m also sure there are towns without any significant prudish presence.

I’ll give this movie credit for another thing where it went against the grain. Unless it’s a plot point, movies routinely cast their leading men with younger actresses. But Zack and Miri cast 26-year-old Rogan with 34-year-old Banks and didn’t treat it like it was a big deal. (Their characters were supposed to be the same age in the movie.)

[JohnT]

You’re A Big Boy Now, directed by Coppola in 1966 (released in 1967), starring Peter Kastner, Rip Torn, Geraldine Page, Karen Black, and Elizabeth Hartman. Plot from IMDB:

Post-teen virgin moves to New York City, falls for a cold-hearted beauty, then finds true love with a loyal lass.

One of those 60’s comedies that has current audiences staring in horror at what they’re seeing:

… A girl gets raped, twice, and her psychologist can only leer at her while she’s describing the rapes. Then, of course, everybody calls her a bitch, ice maiden, cold-hearted, etc.

… Another girl gets called a “slut” because she has pouty lips and cheap shoes. WTF?

… A bizarre sequence where the main character sees some graffiti that says “[N-word], go home” and then somehow fantasizes about a bunch of African-Americans dressed up in kilts and playing the bagpipes.

… In another sequence, Dad and his son’s landlady get locked in a timed vault. So what do you do knowing the vault won’t open for 5 whole minutes? You, of course, make a pass at the woman, insisting on your right to stick your dick in her as she’s saying no. FUNNY! (not)

It’s really hard to watch some sequences when you know that the oppressed kid was played by an actor (Peter Kastner) who, in real life, was raped by his own mother… this little factoid makes all the scenes he plays with Geraldine Page (the mom) especially creepy.

Of course, if you read the reviews on IMDB, I’m completely on the opposite end of most of the reviewers who called the film “charming”, “sentimental”, “made me feel 18 again”… I wonder how in God’s name they think this?

[Chefguy]

We went to The Lady in the Van yesterday, starring Maggie Smith as a homeless woman. Good film.

[Charlie_Wayne]

I just saw A Walk Among the Tombstones (2014) starring Liam Neeson & Dan Stevens.

A Walk Among the Tombstones (2014) - IMDb

It is rated 6.5 on IMDB which is pretty low. But I think it is terribly underrated and deserves at least 7.5.

It wasn’t exactly great. But it was interesting and enjoyable. There was a little bit of serious violence. But that was in support of the story and I can recommend it to you as an enjoyable crime story movie.

Liam was near the top of his form. I thought he did a real fine job and I expect you will enjoy this one if you like crime stories and do not object to a little violence.

[jsc1953]

We saw the new Coen brothers, Hail Caesar, last night.

I liked it quite a bit; my wife, not at all. It’s probably not a coincidence that I also like old Hollywood more than she does. Much of the film is taken up with long sequences that are direct hommage to Hollywood musicals (who knew Channing Tatum could tap-dance?) and sword-and-sandal epics.

[Charlie_Wayne]

@jsc1953

We saw the new Coen brothers, Hail Caesar, last night.

I liked it quite a bit; my wife, not at all. It’s probably not a coincidence that I also like old Hollywood more than she does. Much of the film is taken up with long sequences that are direct hommage to Hollywood musicals (who knew Channing Tatum could tap-dance?) and sword-and-sandal epics.

I am **SOOOOOOOOO… **looking forward to seeing this movie. I saw the trailer and the movie promises to be just **Fantastico! **Oh, yes! Yummy. Yummy. Yummy.

I can’t wait to see this wunnerful film. Thank you for your review. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

[Evil_Captor]

@Little_Nemo

I’ll give this movie credit for another thing where it went against the grain. Unless it’s a plot point, movies routinely cast their leading men with younger actresses. But Zack and Miri cast 26-year-old Rogan with 34-year-old Banks and didn’t treat it like it was a big deal. (Their characters were supposed to be the same age in the movie.)

I never noticed much age difference, not knowing their respective ages. Banks looks younger than her years as a lot of actresses do, and looks his age or thereabouts. If someone had said he was in his early 30s I would not have had trouble believing it.

[Evil_Captor]

@jsc1953

We saw the new Coen brothers, Hail Caesar, last night.

I liked it quite a bit; my wife, not at all. It’s probably not a coincidence that I also like old Hollywood more than she does. Much of the film is taken up with long sequences that are direct hommage to Hollywood musicals (who knew Channing Tatum could tap-dance?) and sword-and-sandal epics.

I like sword and sandal epics but don’t have much interest in musicals, and I’m not really a film buff, so … prolly catch this one on cable.

[Charlie_Wayne]

@JohnT

You’re A Big Boy Now, directed by Coppola in 1966 (released in 1967), starring Peter Kastner, Rip Torn, Geraldine Page, Karen Black, and Elizabeth Hartman. Plot from IMDB:

One of those 60’s comedies that has current audiences staring in horror at what they’re seeing:

… A girl gets raped, twice, and her psychologist can only leer at her while she’s describing the rapes. Then, of course, everybody calls her a bitch, ice maiden, cold-hearted, etc.

… Another girl gets called a “slut” because she has pouty lips and cheap shoes. WTF?

… A bizarre sequence where the main character sees some graffiti that says “Nigger, go home” and then somehow fantasizes about a bunch of African-Americans dressed up in kilts and playing the bagpipes.

… In another sequence, Dad and his son’s landlady get locked in a timed vault. So what do you do knowing the vault won’t open for 5 whole minutes? You, of course, make a pass at the woman, insisting on your right to stick your dick in her as she’s saying no. FUNNY! (not)

It’s really hard to watch some sequences when you know that the oppressed kid was played by an actor (Peter Kastner) who, in real life, was raped by his own mother… this little factoid makes all the scenes he plays with Geraldine Page (the mom) especially creepy.

Of course, if you read the reviews on IMDB, I’m completely on the opposite end of most of the reviewers who called the film “charming”, “sentimental”, “made me feel 18 again”… I wonder how in God’s name they think this?

Very good post. I congratulate you for having the strength to stand up and speak your mind - even tho many people would likely condemn you for it. If I am correct about that, then … Screw Them!

I think that what you said was important and needed to be said. I can’t imagine what could have possessed the film makers to say and do much of what they did - even though this film was made a long time ago. Seems to me they were likely under the influence of something. IMO, this was very, very strange.

I enjoyed reading your post and I think it took a lot of courage for you to post that.

[jsc1953]

@JohnT

You’re A Big Boy Now, directed by Coppola in 1966 (released in 1967), starring Peter Kastner, Rip Torn, Geraldine Page, Karen Black, and Elizabeth Hartman. Plot from IMDB:
… A bizarre sequence where the main character sees some graffiti that says “Nigger, go home” and then somehow fantasizes about a bunch of African-Americans dressed up in kilts and playing the bagpipes.

I can’t believe I remember this movie, not having seen it since it’s first release. But I do recall this scene, and there was a step in the middle that makes it make a tad more sense. Our hero asks himself…“but where is home?” “Home is where the heart is.” And the graffiti changes. Where is that?" “My heart is in the highlands.” the graffiti changes again, and there you go. Hilarious, in the 60s
.

[Evil_Captor]

@Charlie_Wayne

Very good post. I congratulate you for having the strength to stand up and speak your mind - even tho many people would likely condemn you for it. If I am correct about that, then … Screw Them!

I think that what you said was important and needed to be said. I can’t imagine what could have possessed the film makers to say and do much of what they did - even though this film was made a long time ago. Seems to me they were likely under the influence of something. IMO, this was very, very strange.

I enjoyed reading your post and I think it took a lot of courage for you to post that.

I’d have to see the movie to judge for myself, but it do sound like a piece of crap, so not likely.

[JohnT]

It’s Francis Ford Coppola’s first studio film and it was his entry to get an M. FA at USC, so it’s worth seeing for that reason alone (if you like Coppola, that is.) It’s also worth seeing just to be relieved at how society has changed for the better.

[JohnT]

@jsc1953

I can’t believe I remember this movie, not having seen it since it’s first release. But I do recall this scene, and there was a step in the middle that makes it make a tad more sense. Our hero asks himself…“but where is home?” “Home is where the heart is.” And the graffiti changes. Where is that?" “My heart is in the highlands.” the graffiti changes again, and there you go. Hilarious, in the 60s
.

Yeah, I skipped the details, but you described it perfectly.