Rate The Last Movie You Saw

[PowerRR]

Greaser's Palace - 2/10
Didn't dig it. Felt like a crappier Jodorowsky movie. Some funny moments though, but too incoherent and surreal for me to really appreciate.

[moviesceleton]

Felt like a crappier Jodorowsky movie.

Speaking of which...

La danza de la realidad (2013) - 3/10
Jodorowski's latest film (and the only one I've seen). A piece of crap. Points for some music pieces and a couple of moderately interesting ideas. Other than that: one of the worst films I've ever sat through. Could be a 2/10 even.

[dave jenkins]

Heck, he was in The Debt which I recall you raving about.

He did not play a villain in The Debt. That's what I was talking about, he's a real find as a screen villain, the Man You Love to Hate kind. Maybe he's played heavies elsewhere, but his performance here was a revelation to me.

[stanton]

(Chloë Grace Moretz, who's about as Russian as my left nut)

Is the right one probably Ukrainian? Then there is hope for the future ...

[dave jenkins]

Inferno (1953) - 7/10. 1080p. This film has a great premise, indifferently executed. After an accident in the Mojave, a wealthy man (Robert Ryan) is left to die by his adulterous wife (Rhonda Fleming) and her lover (Some Guy). But Rich Boy won't go easy, and through cunning and persistence, he manages not only to survive but also to slowly make his way out of the desert. Meanwhile, back at the ranch/Palm Springs, it slowly dawns on Wifey and Trophy Boy that they may have to return to the Mojave to finish the job. This film was shot in 3-D, so to accommodate the technology of the day, the filmmakers made the running time as short as they could. That means matters begin in medias res--we see the murderous couple literally covering their tracks and preparing other feints during the opening credits. Thus the beginning of the love affair, the accident, and the couple's sudden decision to take advantage of the opportunity has already happened before the start. Usually I would praise this kind of efficiency--we get right to the crux of things without wasting time--but we paid, after all, to see Robert Ryan do his thing. We hear lots of stories about how nasty his character is, but we never get to see him in (that kind of) action. It would have been great to watch him goading the boyfriend, treating his wife like dirt, just before putting his foot wrong (or whatever). And then the scene where the wife and boyfriend get their murderous idea . . . well, something to use in the re-make, perhaps. One of the great things about the film is that it was also shot in Technicolor: Fleming's flaming tresses are much on display. The film has not been shown to advantage much, until now. The new Blu-ray from the UK (Region B) offers a nice transfer (at least in 2-D, I'm not set up to play the 3-D version), in spite of some noticeable print damage in the first 10 minutes. I just wish they'd found an extra 20 minutes to restore to the beginning.

Across 110th Street (1972) - 4/10. 1080p. Anthony Quinn's performance in this is risible, Yaphet Kotto's is merely bland, and the story is both trite and dull. The only thing worth salvaging is the title song by Bobby Womack, a service performed by QT did when he re-purposed it for the beginning of Jackie Brown, even finding a better rendition to use. OK, I guess the period location work is worth something.

[Groggy]

The Paper Chase - 8/10 - I'm sure Drink could better enlighten us on its realism but I thought it was a good drama. John Houseman is excellent as the intractable professor from hell. A minor demerit for the superfluous romance but hardly a fatal flaw.

The Browning Version (1994) - 8/10 - Albert Finney does an excellent job as Arthur Crocker-Harris, another terrible teacher ("the Hitler of the Lower Fifth") in this Terence Rattigan adaptation. Would have to rewatch the Michael Redgrave Version to see which is better. This one uses a modern day setting with resulting cultural impacts (one instructor is American, there's a Nigerian student), adds a few subplots (Taplow being bullied) and fleshes out supporting characters. The big difference is that "the Crock" is much more sympathetic, less oblivious asshole than frustrated burnout. Your mileage may vary which approach works better.

[drinkanddestroy]

Boogie Nights is perfection - I love every fucking frame of that movie. The 2.5 hours feel more like 30 minutes. If not for OUATIA, I'd easily consider it my favorite film by a long shot.

I thought you said The Deer Hunter is your favorite American movie aside from OUATIA

[drinkanddestroy]

while we were off the air for a week, I finally saw Army of Shadows (Criterion DVD) I give it an 8/10.

Also:

The Great Sinner (1949) First 2/3 is enjoyable, last 1/3 is not, I give it a 6.5/10. Walter Huston is always great. Agnes Moorhead wasted in a tiny role. Ava Gardner may be pretty but nothing special in the acting department.

I Never Sang for my Father (1970) 7.5/10 - Melvyn Douglas is incredible

The Glass Wall (1953) 6/10 - the location footage of this movie was filmed with hidden cameras, full of stolen shots of Manhattan, Times Square, etc. The location footage is about all that is interesting about this movie. The trailer is hilarious https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKcPOqfIM5U introducing Vittorio Gassman to American audiences, it says, "Shelley Winters loves him ... and so will you!" and "Never before as thrilling a chase," and  "The most explosive manhunt ever filmed!"   I got a bigger kick out of the trailer than the movie

[dave jenkins]

while we were off the air for a week

Yeah, what was up with that?

[stanton]

I assume the site was hacked. It happened before to other sites, and it will happen again now and then.

[dave jenkins]

Or someone was late with their hosting fee . . . ?

[drinkanddestroy]

I hope it wasn't a hacking issue ... I hope someone was just late with paying the hosting fee ... hope there are no viruses on the site ...

[Dust Devil]

Or someone was late with their hosting fee . . . ?

As I see bwana wasn't around for a month or so now this is more likely.

[PowerRR]

I thought you said The Deer Hunter is your favorite American movie aside from OUATIA

That's a hell of a memory, man. Tastes change I guess, Deer Hunter's up there though.

Putney Swope (1969) - 7/10
The 50 Year Argument (2014) - 6.5/10
Amores Perros - 9/10
Once Upon a Time in America - 10/10
Extended blu-ray. Fully convinced I'll never see a better movie (other than the theatrical cut)

[drinkanddestroy]

That's a hell of a memory, man. Tastes change I guess, Deer Hunter's up there though.

when it comes to movies, I don't forget nuthin