I just finished watching “Killdozer” on Twitch with commentary by Mary Jo Pehl. Totally serious TV shlock, written by Theodore Sturgeon. I think I met Sturgeon at a convention back in the early 80’s.
A Special Day (1977)
In short: 5/5 Myna Birds.
I first caught ~25 minutes of this film a couple years ago, just in channel-flipping, and was sucked-in; I simply could not stop watching, and I became self-aware of that, and tried to figure out what was so captivating about watching decidedly down-glamored Loren clean the kitchen. Unfortunately, at that time there were no future showings scheduled.
It came back on TCM a couple nights ago, so I recorded it and watched it today.
Again, the cinematography is simply amazing to me; how they did those long shots, through the courtyard, into the window, then following her around the home amazes me. The director is quite famous, of course, but I don’t make a special effort to watch Italian films (though I probably should). Beyond the camera movements, the shot-framing, juxtaposition of various elements such as he and her separated by a door frame, so many things.
But what I still haven’t figured out is why, in scenes that in any other film I would call “dull”, I am captivated and watch intensely. Loren doing housework, shot by Scola, is apparently my heroin.
Question: what the hell is the story of John Vernon (“Dean Wormer”) being in this film as the husband? I’ve read that his lines were dubbed as there is nothing in his biography that indicates he speaks Italian, and the film was shot in Italy…WTF?
In the 60s and 70s a lot of 2nd tier American actors made movies in Italy. Sometimes hurting their career, sometimes helping. Clint Eastwood was one of the lucky ones.
Tina Louise, Victor Mature, Jack Palance and on and on.
And it wasn’t restricted to just American actors. A lot of people from all over Europe went to Italy and had sustained careers there.
Language was an issue. Some learned their lines word by word but many more were dubbed. Of course there was a lot of dual-language movies. The English speakers would speak English, the Italians their language and in post the respective lines for each would be dubbed to create two versions for two markets.
While some folks went to France and what not to makes movies, Italy was just far more opened minded about foreign actors.
Did not love. IMHO, kind of a thin veneer of Miyazaki over a solid plastic base of Disney-Bambi. Perfectly okay, but more standard-kiddie-movie than I was expecting.
On the other hand, I appear to be about the only person on the internet who thinks so, so I’m open to the possibility that I’m just completely wrong about it.
The Flight of the Phoenix (Free on some Roku accessed streaming service,1965) My son and I like to watch films together and there is nothing like knocking the dust off some previously viewed classics. This one holds up, even for Gen Alpha he gave it 9/10!
I had never read the book, but on the rewatch noticed a few things the film doesn’t address well:
What is going on with Trucker Cobb, the rig man who loses his mind but is also a simpleton? What is that about?
Why does Sergent Watson not want to go with the Captain? He says he is not afraid, but since The Captain almost dies in the desert once then gets himself killed I guess he is meant to be the impulsive side of a survival situation. Watson’s motives as well as many others are supposed to be telegraphed with expressions and that is not enough. Captain Franklin, the pilot keeps looking at him with contempt and shame, which he feels but apparently not in a ‘cowardly’ way. ???
Watson never volunteered or life in the Army. As he says, he was one of those “boy soldiers” who basically got railroaded into the service without having a say in it.
Now his commander wants him to risk his life and assumes as a matter of course that he’ll follow him. But, for once in his life, he’s saying “no”, of his own volition. He literally didn’t sign up for this, and he’s finally putting is own foot down.
A veteran stunt pilot was killed making Filight of the Phoenix.
Paul Mantz’s story is incredible. He was a experienced Air Race and stunt pilot.
He came out of semi-retirement to fill-in for the film’s injured stunt pilot. (Hurt at home)
I see that. Also I would imagine he is the only enlisted man on the plane, this isn’t a military expedition it’s a survival situation, man vs environment, and as such he feels he’ll make his own way or die with his own choices.
Fine. But he clearly looks guilty whenever Captain Franklin (Jimmy Stewart) gives him the glare of disapproval for acting like he sprained his ankle to avoid marching off into the desert. Maybe it’s his sense of military duty, and seeing another shirk his cuts him to the core. Again, this may be in the book, it just isn’t addressed in the film.
But all that aside, if the Sargant feels indignant about his time in the military (and it wasn’t just color banter from an old warhorse that serves also as quick character development) and he wants to make his own stake in the world now none of that is explicitly mentioned in the film. Rather, he looks guilty and sullen.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
I was disappointed. It focused too much on Harry Potter and magic.
The first three films were very good. The friendship of the three kids and how they support each other makes the movies special.
Hogwarts and the teachers is another important element in the narrative.
That’s severly neglected in the 4th film.
I hope the 5th is better.
I know I’m not the target audience. Harry Potter is primarily for children. But, adults can watch too. 
Goblet of Fire is a weird one in the series. It really only had one job, which was to manifest Voldemort back into physical form, but it was a very convoluted and complicated way to achieve it. I think she just wanted it to be mysterious for the reader, but in retrospect it doesn’t hold up.
It was always my favourite book to read in the series because the dynamics between the main three are fun.
I find Harry very interesting. He’s a reluctant hero. Talks very little. That’s a hold over from being yelled at to be quiet at his foster home.
Harry isn’t a natural leader. He seems surprised when others offer his name for help at school.
But, Harry always jumps into action, when things go bad.
I’ll watch the 5th film in the next few days.
I’m curious 
how this series progresses as the characters become adults.
The 5th one is the shortest of the movies and is adapted from the longest book. It’s pretty good, especially the ending sequences.
The 6th one is my personal favorite of the series.
Glad to hear the next movies are better.
I keep hoping all the Wizards at Hogwarts would combine powers to stop Voldemort.
But, that’s Harry Potters destiny.
Rainy afternoon in the city, so we ducked into a theater. Next thing that was playing was My Old Ass. Sweet coming-of-age film where a high school girl and her friends do 'shrooms and the girl’s older self shows up with advice. And warnings.
Best thing about the film: the older self is Aubrey Plaza.
I watched Sudden Fear last night, a Joan Crawford movie from 1952. Jack Palance and Gloria Grahame star also. It’s about a woman who finds out that her husband and his mistress are plotting to kill her. She then plots to kill her husband. I enjoyed it. There was one part near the end that annoyed me though: The heroine shouts a warning when the bad folks are about to get their comeuppance. Sheesh, let ‘em have it, lady!
The Platform 2
Somewhat recommended.
First, watch The Platform, a really fun and good movie that streams on Netflix. The second one is decent, but a significant step down from the first one. I liked the sequel, but it was only really OK just does a bit more with the Pit/Platform stuff.
I’m not sure why a sequel was needed other than the first one did so well on Netflix. Turns out they had no real new ideas.
Not bad by any means.
The remake of Charles Bronson’s The Mechanic on NFLX. Starring Jason Statham and Ben Foster, the latter in another deranged psychopath role. Not bad, not great, just. . .there.
I watched Upgrade recently. Fairly low-budget sci-fi with some interesting camera work, and some great physicality by the lead actor, Logan Marshall-Greene.
He plays a man who’s paralyzed from the neck down in a car accident who gets a microchip implanted that restores his movement. It’s got AI-fear as a theme, with him being able to let the chip/AI run things for him if he lets it.
It has obvious AI and Elon Musk parallels, but it’s surprisingly entertaining.
Most of Asylum, from 1972. Everything a crap horror movie ought to be, starring Patrick Magee and other big names, written by Robert Bloch. I’m making my husband find it tonight so I can see the rest.
The Lost Boys. A fun visit to the “Murder Capital Of The World”. Great time capsule of Santa Cruz (oops, Santa Carla) in the 80s.
The Valley Of Gwangi. Cowboys and Ray Harryhausen dinosaurs…what’s not to like?