1

Off-Topic Discussion / Re: Le deuxième souffle (1966)

« on: September 13, 2018, 11:51:57 PM »

This is just another PERFECT film from Jean Pierre Melville.  Gustave "Gu" Minda ( Lino Ventura) escapes from prison with two others. He is highly respected in the criminal world for both his ability and loyalty.  He heads to Paris to visit his sister Manouche ( Christine Fabrega) who herself grew up as a criminal with Gu.  The plan is to for her to use her connections to get Gu out of Paris.  Gu needs money before he leaves and is tipped off about a big heist by a old friend named Orloff ( Pierre Zimmer).  From there the plot takes amazing twists and turns until the dramatic final scenes.

There is not a dull moment anywhere in this fantastic film.  The great cinematography was done by Marcel Combes.  The equally great musical score is by Bernard Gerard.  The direction by Jean Pierre Melville as he always does is just perfect.  I can't say enough about how great this director is. Just fantastic!  You already know... 10 out of 10...

yes, a terrific film.

Watch also "Classe Tous Risques" (1960) - it's not Melville, but it stars Lino Ventura and the story was written by the same author as "Le deuxième souffle." It's a really good movie.

2

Off-Topic Discussion / Re: Changes at The Oscars Ceremony

« on: September 07, 2018, 07:41:57 AM »

They might want to reconsider the Best Picture versus Best Director Oscar too. History has shown it has very often been difficult to disentangle the two.

Auteur alert!

3

Off-Topic Discussion / Re: Changes at The Oscars Ceremony

« on: September 07, 2018, 12:01:13 AM »

Academy retreats on controversial plan to award "most popular" Oscar

https://variety.com/2018/film/awards/academy-retreats-on-popular-oscar-category-for-now-1202930117/

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/academy-drops-popular-oscar-now-193730614.html

4

Off-Topic Discussion / Re: In Memoriam

« on: September 06, 2018, 12:11:43 PM »

Burt Reynolds died at 82

https://variety.com/2018/film/news/burt-reynolds-died-dead-smokey-and-the-bandit-1202930270/

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/burt-reynolds-dead-deliverance-boogie-nights-star-was-82-831093

5

Off-Topic Discussion / Re: Le Cercle Rouge (1970)

« on: September 03, 2018, 07:08:16 PM »

Yeah, one of Melville’s best. Maybe THE best.

6

Off-Topic Discussion / Re: Backfire (1950)

« on: September 02, 2018, 07:37:06 PM »

saw this on TCM. I give it a 7/10

This movie like a Citizen Kane or The Killers-style, with someone searching for something (or in this case, a person), going from person to person, and seeing their bit of the story told in flashbacks.

This movie is hindered by Gordon MacRae. He's like Van Johnson in a noir – a nice guy with no rough edges, who does nothing for the movie.

Dane Clark is great.

7

Off-Topic Discussion / Re: Bob le Flambeur (1956) Laissez les bons temps rouler

« on: September 02, 2018, 05:49:39 PM »

Yes, terrific film.

Glad you’re getting into Melville and French cinema. Some great films there 😀

8

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly / Re: I got the time line down...

« on: August 27, 2018, 10:36:07 AM »

New Mexico - state that hosted the EPIC battle of Glorietta Pass made famous by Leone - has removed Confederate commemorative markers

http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/all-confederate-markers-gone-from-interstate-new-mexico-says/article_495eab1f-46d8-5e85-9e41-f37dfd4fceea.html

9

Off-Topic Discussion / Re: Changes at The Oscars Ceremony

« on: August 26, 2018, 07:52:55 AM »

They only got Best Picture right once, anyways.

I assume you are referring to TITANIC.

10

Off-Topic Discussion / Re: Rate The Last Movie You Saw

« on: August 26, 2018, 07:50:20 AM »

Bhowani Junction (1956) 5.5/10

Ava Gardner is a teally crappy actress in this one. Or maybe it’s just the crappy dialogue she has to say. I also generally like Stewart Granger, but not here. And the narration is done terribly. This sort of story had some potential to be a good movie, but this film is a piece of shit.

11

Off-Topic Discussion / Re: Polanski in jail / shame on Switzerland

« on: August 19, 2018, 12:27:45 PM »

After #MeToo, Kevin Spacey movie ‘Billionaire Boys Club’ earns $126 on opening day

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2018/08/19/after-metoo-kevin-spacey-movie-billionaire-boys-club-earns-126-on-opening-day/?utm_term=.8b68fac69f22

12

Off-Topic Discussion / Re: Rate The Last Movie You Saw

« on: August 15, 2018, 07:22:05 AM »

Nobody here is gonna criticize your patriotism.
Next time try to catch a Miss North Korean, though.

It’s on my bucket list

13

Off-Topic Discussion / Re: Scene Of The Crime (1949) Shootout at the L.A. Corral

« on: August 14, 2018, 10:34:30 PM »

Good review, CJ.

Looks– and personality-wise Arlene DeHaven seems like more of a good girl, and Arlene Dahl seems like more of a femme fatale. I could never stand Van Johnson; he has perhaps the most annoying voice/cadence in Hollywood history. This could have been a better film with Charles McGraw, Sterling Hayden, or Humphrey Bogart in the role that went to Johnson.

14

Off-Topic Discussion / Re: Rate The Last Movie You Saw

« on: August 14, 2018, 06:26:02 PM »

Haven't posted much lately cuz I've been wasting way too much time with Miss Korea. Now that that shit is on the back burner (where it shoulda been all along), I can rate some of the movies I've seen recently (not too many).
Actually, since she didn't know jack about classic movies, I introduced a bunch of classics, and personal faves, to her: "The Godfather" (probably seen 8-10 times), "Casablanca" (ditto), "A River Runs Through It" (7 or , and "Legends of the Fall" (2nd viewing; first was 9 years ago). All these are 10/10.

Also, thanks to TCM's Summer Under the Stars programming, I recently saw "Charley Varrick" (1973), for the 4th time. Really good movie; I give it an 8.5/10. Walter Matthau and Joe Don Baker give IMO Oscar-worthy performances; some other very solid performances as well.

I also saw "Coogan's Bluff" (1968) for the first time in full. (About ten years ago, I saw parts of it on AMC). This one gets a 7.5/10. Eastwood is Eastwood, of course. Lee J. Cobb is very good here. The scenes with Susan Clark are the one big negative; I'm not sure if the problem is with the script or with Clark. Tisha Sterling is beautiful.

15

Off-Topic Discussion / Re: Scene Of The Crime (1949) Shootout at the L.A. Corral

« on: August 12, 2018, 07:10:42 PM »

Eddie Muller's intro https://youtu.be/OPZOqAOKi3k

Eddie Muller's afterword https://youtu.be/esslCLYxVB4