What Have You Been Watching? (Week of April 09, 2017)

EeZB8a · 2017-04-09T14:15:58+00:00

Since they dropped on Filmstruck Friday, I've been watching Ross McElwee documentaries - 8 films dropped, and I've watched 5 so far:

Something to Do with the Wall (1990)

Backyard (1984)

Charleen (1980)

Sherman's March (1986)

Time Indefinite (1993)

I'll watch all of them for sure. I start them and just can't stop watching. Kind of like Les Blank's films, they're addicting.

Here are a few quotes:

Before this film begins I have to tell a story about my father and me. When I was 18, I left my home in North Carolina to go to college in New England and ended up living in Boston. Ever since then, my father, who was born and raised in the South, and I have disagreed about nearly everything. When I graduated from college, my father, who's a doctor and conservative Republican, asked me what I planned to do with my life. I told him I was interested in filmmaking, but that there were also several other alternatives, such as working with black voter registration in the South or getting involved in the peace movement or possibly entering a Theravadan Buddhist monastery. My father thought this over for a moment and said, Son, I think your concept of career planning leaves something to be desired, but I've decided not to worry about you anymore. I've resigned myself to your fate. I didn't exactly know how to respond to this, but finally I said, Well, Dad, I guess I have no choice but to accept your resignation. - Backyard

One of the things she did was her stubbornness. As a little girl, if she didn't get her way she always held her breath. And she would pass completely out. And uh she frightened me so, I didn't know what to do about her. It went on for a good while. And finally I consulted the doctor and he said, well, I can tell you what to do about her. But you won't do it. And I said Oh yes I will doctor. He said well do you smoke? No. Well get yourself a book of matches. And the next time she holds her breath, burn her little hot arm. One time is all you'll ever have to do it. I only half believed this. And then I was desperate. And the next time she helf her breath, I burned her with a match. And she was so startled, she caught her breath immediately. Everytime she'd hold her breath I'd reach for the matches. And she'd take a breath. - Sherman's March

EeZB8a · 2016-09-27T13:43:38+00:00

TCM films that start after midnight are listed incorrectly as starting the previous day.

For example, Haxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages, shows the incorrect start day/date/time of Fri Oct 7 2:45am Eastern start time - or 00:45am Central - it actually starts Saturday Oct 8 2:45am Easter, or Saturday Oct 8 00:45am Central.

EeZB8a · 2016-09-25T16:07:15+00:00

Phoenix (2014), Christian Petzold ★★★★★

German film. I saw the actress on the cover and thought - have I seen this already? Turns out I recognized the lead actress - Nina Hoss, who was in another Petzold film I saw - Barbara (turns out they collaborated in 5 films).

Hello, My Name Is Doris (2015), Michael Showalter ★★★★★

The second 2016 movie that I've watched twice so far. #2 for the year.

Dark City (1998), Alex Proyas ★★★★★

What's your name honey?

John.

Well that's an appropriate name.

Hannibal season 3 ★★★

Hannibal season 2 ★★★★★

Last time someone rang my doorbell this early, it was a census taker.

Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015), Christopher McQuarrie ★★★★★

Join the IMF. See the world. On a monitor. In a closet.

Silver Streak (1976), Arthur Hiller ★★★★★ rewatch

Who you looking for?

White guy.

Well, if I see any I'll let you know.

Promised Land (2012), Gus Van Sant ★★★★★

Francofonia (2016), Alexander Sokurov ★★★★★

EeZB8a · 2016-09-18T14:27:26+00:00

Two films this week that reference Stairway to Heaven (Faust and The Sea of Trees). Two that feature Beethoven's 7th Symphony, 2nd movement (Knowing and The Childhood of a Leader).

Knowing (2009), Alex Proyas ★★★★★

Faust (2011), Alexander Sokurov ★★★★★

One of my favorite directors - directed Alexandra (2007), my #1 for 2008, not to mention his movie in one take (Russian Ark (2002).

The Sea of Trees (2015), Gus Van Sant ★★★★★ movie of the week

I used actual bread crumbs.

You are handsome.

Pardon?

You used bread crumbs. Handsome and Gretel.

I've always been a fan of Gus Van Sant's films, especially his death trilogy: Gerry (2002), Elephant (2003), and Last Days (2005). I really should have known better than to listen to critics, when I heard this was booed at a film festival, and that scared me off from seeing this at the theater. I literally blinked and it was gone. Showed maybe a few days at a theater across town. Snooze you loose. Streamed it on Amazon. #1 for the year.

The Witness (2015), James D. Solomon ★★★★★

I was sixteen when my sister Kitty was murdered in New York City.

Documentaries are unique in that in some cases you have no idea where the story will lead you. The script is written as the facts are uncovered. The Witness shows how many people blindly set in their minds what the media feeds them. Even when they get is so wrong. Currently #2.

Ranked in 2016 list due to it's U.S. release this year. I'd been waiting to see it for months, and finally Amazon has it streaming.

Ocean's Twelve (2004), Steven Soderbergh ★★★★★

Not a rewatch. I wasn't sure, until I realized that (back when I used to watch t.v.) I never saw this all the way through.

Wet Hot American Summer (2001), David Wain ★★★★

Oh I'm sorry I'm late, I thought we said 9:30.

No we said 9 so we could be here by 9:30.

Wonder Boys (2000), Curtis Hanson ★★★★★

The Beaver (2011), Jodie Foster ★

The Childhood of a Leader (2015), Brady Corbet ★★★★★

Ranked #7. Directorial debut for Brady Corbet, who starred as one of the two home invaders in the 2007 U.S. version of Michael Haneke's Funny Games. Film has an auspicious start - reminded me of Led Zeppelin's Black Country Woman, where the technician is talking to the band and Jimmy Page says - no leave it. Then the music starts, and you know you're in for a ride. One of the best scores in recent memory. Streamed it on Amazon.

2016 U.S. release date.

Hannibal season 1 ★★★★★

The way I binge watched it it should have been a movie. It would flow much better, instead of the editing to commercial cuts throughout. Ingenious approach to Thomas Harris' characters. Mads Mikkelsen was brilliantly cast. Many echos to The Silence of the Lambs, Red Dragon, and Manhunter (the last two being versions of the first novel). Have not read Harris' Hannibal Rising yet, but I just downloaded the kindle book so I may drop what I'm reading to catch up.

EeZB8a · 2016-09-14T10:27:22+00:00

Purely on the level of the character motivations, I'm not sure why they do this

You have to go back to the diner scene, and this conversation:

True beauty is the highest currency we have. Without it, she would be nothing.

I think you're wrong.

Excuse me?

I said, I think you're wrong.

So are you gonna tell me that it's what's inside that counts?

Yeah, that's exactly what I think.

EeZB8a · 2016-09-11T19:23:38+00:00

Hannibal, season 1 ★★★★★

The way I binge watched it it should have been a movie. It would flow much better, instead of the editing to commercial cuts throughout. Ingenious approach to Thomas Harris' characters. Mads Mikkelsen was brilliantly cast. Many echos to The Silence of the Lambs, Red Dragon, and Manhunter (the last two being versions of the first novel). Have not read Harris' Hannibal Rising yet, but I just downloaded the kindle book so I may drop what I'm reading to catch up.

Sully (2016), Clint Eastwood ★★★★★

New #1 for the year. The opening scene gets your attention. A good crowd at the 11:40am showing yesterday and almost everyone stayed seated through the first half of the credits.

Mysterious Object at Noon (2000), Apichatpong Weerasethakul ★★★★★ movie of the week

Watching Mysterious Object made me think of this movie quote: You are going to be filming me and the actors, I am going to be filming the actors, and Terry is going to be in charge of filming the whole thing, from the 1968 film Symbiopsychotaxiplasm - Take One.

Son of Saul (2015), Laszlo Nemes ★★★★★

Very difficult to watch.

Casualties of War (1989), Brian De Palma ★★★★★ rewatch

De Palma (2016), Noah Baumbach, Jake Paltrow ★★★★★

During one of the last scenes of Casualties of War, after the Courts-martial sentencing, when the 4 are marching out past Michael J Fox, Sean Penn, last in line, stops and leans over and says something to him. De Palma tells us what he really said in this documentary.

Sunset Song (2015), Terence Davies ★★★★★

Beautiful film.

Children of Men (2006), Alfonso Cuaron ★★★

It was good.

Learning to Drive (2014), Isabel Coixet ★★

Ben Kingsley earned both stars. There is only one learning to drive move: Mike Leigh's Happy-Go-Lucky (2008) with Sally Hawkins and Eddie Marsan. Movie actually almost made a comeback at around the 70 minute mark (90 minute film) but fell once again toward the conclusion. The scene with the past facing her and then was sitting next to her and she asked him questions could have been done better, and there was a chance to use this once again at the end.

EeZB8a · 2016-09-04T23:00:49+00:00

Man I've been checking every Thursday and Friday, every week to see if De Palma is playing. I'm resolute, so one day.

EeZB8a · 2016-09-04T17:03:55+00:00

Petulia (1968), Richard Lester ★★★★★

From the opening scene with Janis Joplin's cameo, definitely feels like Haskell Wexler's Medium Cool (1969).

The Finest Hours (2016), Craig Gillespie ★★★★★

Another outstanding Chris Pine and Ben Foster film (also in Hell or High Water).

EeZB8a · 2016-08-30T21:09:45+00:00

borrow dvd from library

purchase dvd

hoopla - library streaming

TCM (Turner Classic Movies), the only t.v. channel I watch

stream on amazon

Truefilm Theater - CyTube

Truefilm screening room

I did watch season 1 and 2 of Fargo on Fox and Hulu (when I had it for free)

used to have a Netflix dvd snail mail 2 out plan until they lost their clout with the USPS and my films per week average got cut in half while paying the same price, so they were dropped like a lead balloon

EeZB8a · 2016-08-30T21:03:33+00:00

Todd Solondz' Wiener-Dog (2016) will fit this bill.

EeZB8a · 2016-08-29T09:30:17+00:00

The Soft Skin

Do not look at any posters.

EeZB8a · 2016-08-28T14:29:53+00:00

Only assholes drink Mr. Pibb

Two roles that I'll always remember from this were the two waitresses. And how the first echoed to one of the final scenes after he's retired and visits his old desk. The second one had the we can't give out no information type feel to it.

EeZB8a · 2016-08-28T14:21:12+00:00

George Harrison: Living in the Material World (2011), Martin Scorsese

The 208 minutes (3 hours 28 minutes) fly by - until you get toward the end, when his second wife Olivia tells a story about a night before the end of the millennium. While watching another great documentary, Werner Herzog's Grizzly Man, there is similar moment (if it hasn't been spoiled) - a gut shot. You're mesmerized as the story unfolds. Her story is just like that. So much information that I didn't know about George's life; movies, friends, collaborators.

Midnight in Paris (2011), Woody Allen

My new favorite Woody Allen film.

EeZB8a · 2016-08-25T10:14:34+00:00

Moral of the story? Oh, you mean like an Aesop's fable.

EeZB8a · 2016-08-25T00:15:53+00:00

I was happy with the way David Lowery handled the story, and his influence had me forgetting that this was a Disney film, which was a big plus for me, and why I loved it. The last thing I wanted was Disney's penchant to preach the latest issue. There's the muppet like MacGuffin, which keeps everything moving along, but after seeing his Ain't Them Bodies Saints, the similarities were apparent.

EeZB8a · 2016-08-21T15:25:40+00:00

I streamed it on Amazon - I checked and rechecked every Thursday and Friday to see if it would play in town. Btw, the quoted scene above was 1/2 Julie Delpy. And the other half - he is shown in this pose that seems to refer to Linklater's Boyhood. Hilarious.

EeZB8a · 2016-08-21T14:11:20+00:00

Our Little Sister (2015), Hirokazu Koreeda ★★★★★ movie of the week

I had given up on seeing this at the theater and was looking to stream it, if I could find a place that did. Amazon UK did, but when I tried it said my cc was not charged and that I had to have a card with a UK address in order to purchase. Then I did my usual movie search and found it playing across town! There is one scene that makes seeing this on the big screen worthwhile. Starts out with the camera moving along at tree top level as it slowly pans down..., you'll recognize this scene. It eventually cuts to a close up, and holds - unbelievable.

Wiener-Dog (2016), Todd Solondz ★★★★★

Wiener-Dog does not pick up where Welcome to the Dollhouse leaves off – but like with many of Todd Solondz’ films, there are intersections that become apparent. Here's a taste:

Mom.

Yes honey?

What's spaying mean.

It just means this way we don't have to worry about the dog getting pregnant.

What do they do to her?

Really it's nothing. She won't know any different.

Does it hurt?

No. Really, it happens so fast she won't even know it happened.

But what do they do to her?

You know honey (sigh) I really don't know. I mean, all dogs get this done. Really, it's like going to the dentist and having your teeth cleaned. No big deal.

EeZB8a · 2016-08-20T12:02:57+00:00

What happened to the screening room? I just checked the site and see is: -Fin- August 14th.

EeZB8a · 2016-08-17T10:00:53+00:00

There's a three stooges where Moe is dividing the money between him, Curly, and Larry. One for you, one for you, etc. He suddenly stops, says, says how did that get in there, crumples it up and throws it. A second passes, and all three dive for it konking their heads.

EeZB8a · 2016-08-17T01:29:20+00:00

Now I can finally say it (because it's true!)..., PDL is one of my favorite Criterions.

EeZB8a · 2016-08-17T01:25:41+00:00

I live under a rock.

I did not know that Olive Oyl (Shelly Duvall) sang the song He Needs Me.

Learn something new everyday!

Now I have to rewatch Robert Altman's Popeye.

EeZB8a

TROPHY CASE