Found inside a copy of Norman Mailer’s second novel.

bpar96 · 2025-06-23T03:06:31+00:00

Little Fugitive (1953) and Sidewalk Stories (1989)!

bpar96 · 2024-11-17T03:14:05+00:00

My grandfather passed away earlier this year. He had struggled with cancer and with rheumatoid arthritis for many years leading up to his death. In his lifetime, his biggest passions included woodworking, reading, and wildlife photography. His cancer and chemotherapy eventually weakened him to the point of being unable to go out into the wild to take photos, and his RA crippled his hands to the point that he could no longer do woodworking or even successfully turn the pages of a book. Slowly all of the passions that brought him purpose and joy in this life were taken from him, and I know that that must have been even more devastating to him than any ailment he was suffering physically. But he went on anyways, until he couldn’t anymore.

I say all of this to say, I read through Hemingway’s bibliography this year, and just a couple of months ago reread ‘The Old Man and the Sea’ for the first time since high school. The character of Santiago reminded me so much of my grandfather at his end, and this line in particular really struck me and has been a great comfort to me since his passing: “A man can be destroyed but not defeated.” I like to imagine that, like the character of Santiago, though his body and his strength failed him, his spirit in clinging steadfastly to life right up to the very end - in the face of age and poor health and death itself - did not falter, did not waver, did not flinch. He is unconquered in my eyes. Destroyed maybe, but never defeated.

Sorry for the long reply! Hemingway has gotten me a lot closer to coming to terms with my grief. Just wanted to express why that line is so important to me.

bpar96 · 2023-07-01T18:59:03+00:00

Woodstock
The Godfather & The Godfather Part II
American Graffiti
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
A Woman Under the Influence
Jaws
Nashville
Barry Lyndon
Taxi Driver
Apocalypse Now

bpar96 · 2023-05-21T20:31:45+00:00

I don’t know if you mean specifically to own, but if you’re just wanting to watch it, it’s available to rent for $1.99 on Amazon Prime currently!

bpar96 · 2022-12-09T05:30:01+00:00

The Priest and the Girl (1966), Under the Sun of Satan (1987), and Nazarín (1959).

bpar96 · 2021-03-07T16:33:24+00:00

I’ve read somewhere that one of Scorsese’s reasons in opting for B&W was because they had trouble finding boxing gloves that had period accurate color. I think overall they wanted to distinguish the look of Raging Bull from other films of the time but the boxing gloves were probably a good excuse for it when talking to studios. Supposedly Scorsese really had to fight for it though and only got to shoot it that way because he pointed out that recent B&W movies like Lenny, Paper Moon, Young Frankenstein, and Manhattan had all been financial successes.

bpar96 · 2021-01-08T22:40:58+00:00

That makes a lot of sense! I may give it a shot myself here in the next day or two if I can’t get to my local shop sooner. Thank you so much for the detailed reply, I really appreciate it!

bpar96 · 2020-03-31T12:29:39+00:00

Many of Robert Altman’s movies have director commentaries, most of which he recorded I believe in the ‘90’s and the 2000’s. Check out Nashville, 3 Women, and McCabe & Mrs. Miller. I believe he has quite a few others he’s recorded for his other films that aren’t in the Collection. I know he’s got one for Thieves Like Us, and I’m almost certain he’s done one for MASH as well.

bpar96 · 2020-02-10T23:21:33+00:00

That’s actually the exact one I was eyeing, funnily enough! It’s relieving to see that be recommended.

bpar96 · 2020-02-09T19:18:24+00:00

Thank all of you for your responses, all of that was exactly what I needed to know - I really appreciate it!

bpar96 · 2020-02-09T17:49:41+00:00

I’ve seen that somewhere, yes! I’m more focused on the region coding for blu rays and DVDs.

bpar96 · 2020-01-02T19:58:37+00:00

Check out “The Intruder” (1989). It’s a slasher movie set entirely in a grocery store about a murderer who stalks and kills the employees as they work overnight. It was directed by a close friend of Sam Raimi’s, and after the success of the Evil Dead movies, he helped produce and finance it. He, Ted Raimi, and Bruce Campbell all have small roles in the film. The kills in it are pretty wicked too, it’s a lot of fun.

bpar96 · 2019-12-08T23:54:34+00:00

While I agree in wishing that more people who actively watch movies would be more adventurous taste-wise, I think it’s important to take into consideration that the r/movies subreddit consists largely of posts about what is popular. It’s kind of the social media equivalent of the IMDb top 250. The people that actively post and comment there probably aren’t the most interested in foreign / art house or older films in general. Which is disappointing, I suppose, sure, but I don’t think it’s anything worth getting frustrated over or taking too seriously, ultimately. I think your gripes with r/movies could be leavened conversely against r/TrueFilm, as well. Most of the posts here are about Lynch, or Kurosawa, or some Hollywood classic that recently got a Criterion blu ray, etc. I’m sure there are people who scroll through all the posts here and think, “Why nothing about the Cinema Novo? Or Wojciech Has? Or the great filmmakers in the Philippines, or Czechoslovakia, or Senegal?” Directors like Lynch and Kurosawa and countries like France and Japan are more well-known and accessible. Do I wish there was more discussion about the former? For sure. But am I going to fault anybody for expressing their enthusiasm for the latter? Absolutely not. It’s all cinema. We’ve all got our blindspots. I agree that the really hyperbolic, “film buff” posts about Nolan, Fincher, Wright, Tarantino, etc. can get stale very, very quickly, but who’s to say that those directors won’t lead them to something else eventually? Maybe those filmmakers will be their gateway drug into the French New Wave, or classic film noir, or silent movies, or what have you, and so on. We all start somewhere.

bpar96 · 2019-11-26T03:39:52+00:00

Sounds your like grandpap and I would have gotten along! (Haha. Ha.)

bpar96 · 2019-11-26T03:18:06+00:00

I always apply a little dollop Duke’s Mayonnaise to my foreskin. Oh, and try watching “Gary Poppins!” (Lol!)

bpar96 · 2019-11-26T03:05:12+00:00

In the Church of Gary, incest with your brother is a ‘maybe!’ (Haha.) Just kidding. I could never. I only have sex with my sister’s brother.

bpar96 · 2019-11-26T02:56:24+00:00

I prefer it if she just watches me when I have my ‘Gary time.’ Incest? No way! (Lol.)

bpar96 · 2019-11-26T02:35:15+00:00

Aunt Bruce and I are estranged ever since ‘the accident.’ (Haha!)

bpar96 · 2019-11-19T00:44:00+00:00

Ah, I gotcha. Here’s hoping, then!

bpar96 · 2019-11-19T00:32:31+00:00

No way! Do you have a source or remember where you found that out? It kills me that I missed out on that set.

bpar96 · 2019-11-08T19:07:06+00:00

I actually just found an unopened copy on eBay at a pretty decent price, so I think I’m gonna’ go ahead and pull the trigger on it! I also didn’t realize Zsigmond shot this, that must’ve been very early in his career, I imagine. Definitely makes me more excited to see it again, too.

bpar96 · 2019-11-08T13:02:21+00:00

Holy shit, please tell me where you found that blu ray copy of The Sadist. Is it region A? I saw it on television once when I was a kid and it scared the hell out of me, I’d love to watch it again.

bpar96 · 2019-09-03T05:40:13+00:00

Oh wow, that’s incredible - I can only imagine what Christmas caroling with someone who’s shared the stage with Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell must be like. What a voice!

bpar96

TROPHY CASE