His fault completely - he should have never have taken that film in the first place. Lyne made sexy films, and the last thing you want from Lolita is for it to be sexy. Kubrick knew that, he should have too. One of the most misguided films ever made.
Match Point (Netflix). Ever watch a movie and wonder if, at some point during production, the people on the set realized that this film wasn’t working, and that they were making something that, at best, would be mediocre?
That was the thought going around in my head while watching this 2005 Woody Allen-helmed, Scarlett Johansson snore fest. Akin to how I call my dog a small big-dog, this was a bad good-movie. The elements were there, they just didn’t mix.
I think we may have a difference of opinion on this one. I try to watch this every year at Xmas. It’s probably my favourite Xmas film. Last night I watched it with my 73 year old mother, who hadn’t seen it since it was released and we both loved it. It was extra fun this year because I’ve just built the Lego set of the house with my partner so spotting all the little easter eggs in the set (well, they’re not as subtle as that, so I’ll call them features instead) was great.
A Christmas Story
Recommended.
Watched it on Christmas Eve with my family. I realized pretty quickly I had never seen the entire movie straight through in order. I’d only see many clips of it and large sections of it on TV.
It’s good. Not quite as good as I hoped or remembered, but good. The opening 20 minutes or so were a bit dull for my kids, but then a lot of classic scenes kick in and we loved it.
Biggest laugh? Chopping the head off the duck at the end.
My new discovery watching this was how great the Dad is, played by Darren McGavin. They could have made him the generic 1940s dad who doesn’t do anything, but he is a good father trying his best and as a Dad, I appreciate it.
Fun little movie. I’m still amazed Bob “Porkys and Black Christmas” Clark made this. It’s fun.
We watched it last night too, a family tradition since I introduced it to my (Jewish) wife about 15 years ago. She had never seen it before. She loves it so much that we bought Leg Lamp string lights to decorate our sukkah for Sukkot.
According to IMDb:
For the film’s final scene in the Chinese restaurant, director Bob Clark wanted to get a real reaction from actress Melinda Dillon. She was the only cast member who was purposely given the wrong script and had no idea that the roasted duck brought out by the waiters would still have its head attached. Dillon was surprised upon seeing it and was genuinely startled when the waiter chopped its head off.
Watching The Polar Express, 2004 with Tom Hanks voicing many of the characters. Michael Jeter plays Smokey, the stoker with the long red beard.
It’s become a tradition to watch on Christmas morning after opening the presents.
I enjoy the wild adventures traveling on the train the best.
The book is fun to read with your children or grandchildren. The illustrations are very good.
I watched the Christmas Story on Christmas Eve too. Its a favorite of mine.
I like the visiting Santa scene. The slide to quickly eject kids is clever.
I presume that was a real roasted duck with its head on and the whole scene was legit.
The Ref has been one of my favorite Christmas movies, but since the dowfall of Kevin Spacey it’s not as fun anymore.
Put me down for another down-vote on Home Alone. Hated it. Boring. Stupid. And McCauley Culkin is a terrible actor. The worst kind of kiddie “acting.”
I was ill about a week ago and binged a bunch of movies I’d missed over the years:
- A Complete Unknown
- Empire of Light
- The Player
- (another one that I’m completely blanking on now)
I liked them all. But Empire of Light was my favorite. Olivia Colman is a treasure.
I thought Chalamet did a decent job with the Dylan role, but Edward Norton was the standout with his Pete Seeger part – not an impersonation, but a real embodiment of the man. Blanking on the actress’s name who played Baez, but she looks so unlike her it bothered me a bit. The Sylvie character must have been a composite, because when they didn’t called her Suze, I was confused. That was definitely Suze Rotolo in the early part of the movie. Overall, I liked it, and I’d recommend it.
The Player was fun. I’m an Altman fan anyway, but this was a good watch for me. It’s definitely “of an era,” but it mostly plays it straight. Although what I suspect was supposed to be a twist/surprise ending was easy to guess. Loved all the actors, including the billion and one who had cameos. The Rialto! Been there a number of times. They used to do Rocky Horror midnight shows.
I wonder if that affects whether or not they qualify for a "no animals were harmed " credit at the end.
How did 1975 get to be half a century ago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M35kWPGmI1M &1
On Netflix ….not bad …lots of memories
Arthur Christmas (2011). We bought this on demand when it came out, and watched it a bunch; my 22yo daughter requested it tonight, so we all watched it again. A typical kids/adults feelgood comedy with the occasional naughty joke, and we enjoyed it.
Apparently, she was based on Suze, but for reasons of his own, Dylan asked the filmmakers not to use her real name.
I’d happily never watch Home Alone again but we did watch Uncle Buck and apart from John Candy, Macauley Culkin is a lot of fun to watch. Everyone else in it is “generic John Hughes character” (including the usually noteworthy Amy Madigan and Laurie Metcalfe) but Candy and Culkin do raise the quality of the film.
Ah, that explains it. Thanks.
I watched One Thing After Another yesterday, and while it might not seem like a Christmas movie, I found it ultimately a feel-good one, so it kinda sorta fit. Loved it though. For a long movie (nearly 3 hours), it just flew.
I particularly enjoyed the nods to The Thing of Algiers. 
I liked that, too, The pacing was similar. Loved that Leo was watching it.
(can we not say “battle” on this board?)
We watched this yesterday. Very entertaining, even if the crime is a bit unbelievable (as are almost all murder mysteries).
Indeed, the film and the watched film in the film were “One BATTLE After Another” and “The BATTLE of Algiers”.
(Though I am assuming Thing of Algiers was a joke).
Cover Up Mylai on Netflix
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CxEnECKs9U &1
4 stars on Ebert
Not for the faint of heart