Jillian Juliano after receiving Confirmation outside of Our Lady of Grace Roman Catholic Church Thursday evening.
Jillian again outside OLG
by Sam Juliano
Memorial Day 2014. Always the entrance point for the hot stuff and treks down to the beaches. Today promises to be ideal for barbecues and outdoor family get-togethers. I say “today promises” because I am posting on Sunday afternoon a day in advance to stay behind the scheduled Number 96 romantic countdown essay that will automatically appear sometime in the middle of the night as set by the author. Speaking of the romantic countdown, we completed the first week of its multiple month run, and are settling in to the routine we well remember from the prior genre countdown, most recently the one that considered westerns. We are very pleased at the number of comments and page views and are anticipating a steady spike. Thanks to all who have taken the time to participate in one way or another.
I want to again thank our very dear and constant friend and guardian angel Dee Dee for navigating the sidebar and adorning it with lovely reminders of Memorial Day, and for keeping ahead of some of the terrific noir venues nationwide.
Our friend Pat Perry is back from her trip to Germany, and is posting photos on her Facebook page. Both Tony d’Ambra and Terrill Welch are still in Europe with their spouses, engaged in priceless visits to many scenic locations in France, Germany and Italy. I’ve heard from both and am thrilled at the expected wrap up report when they return. Some of us can only dream of such a journey.
Our darling 13 year-old daughter Jillian achieved a wonderful milestone this past Thursday night when she received her confirmation at Our Lady of Grace Church in Fairview. We have some beautiful photos up on Facebook, that include Lucille and Melanie.
Lucille and I saw two movies in theaters over the weekend, though a third one, the new X MEN installment was watched by the entire family except myself on Saturday morning.
We saw:
Belle **** 1/2 (Saturday night) Edgewater multiplex
The Immigrant **** 1/2 (Sunday night) Montclair
Though the reviews for BELLE were reasonably solid, Lucille and I liked it even more than most. A splendid cast anchored by ravishing newbie Gugu Mbatia Raw and Tom Wilkinson, this magnificent British period drama was inspired by the 1779 painting commissioned by William Murray of two cousins, one of whom was Dido Belle (Raw), the illegitimate mixed-race daughter of a Royal Navy officer who is left in the care of a powerful uncle, the Lord Chief Justice. This British film was directed by Amma Asante, and it takes a close look at some vital themes, including slavery. The film features breathtaking cinematography, and the best score from Rachel Portman in quite some time.
Will revise this post late tonight when we get home from the screening of THE IMMIGRANT, later tonight.
Update: Lucille and I just got in—THE IMMIGRANT is powerful stuff, a stark and superbly acted period drama that well deserves the excellent reviews it has received. Will have more to say on thread. Both films seen this weekend were excellent!
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Sam,
Both The Immigrant and Belle opened up here this weekend but we did not have a chance to see either one. We are going on vacation (back to Yellowstone Park) later this week and won’t be back in early June, so hopefully they are both still playing here. Our feline family, which I mentioned last week, have made up and all is back to normal.
BTW – I sent you earlier today my post on THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE since I won’t have access to my word files while away.
On the movie front I did get to watch the following…
This Joker is Wild (***1/2) Rarely discussed film with Frank Sinatra as Joe E. Lewis. Sinatra shines with an underrated performance. His classic song ALL THE WAY was introduced in this film. I have a post set to come up at the end of the month.
The House on 56th Street (***1/2) I never heard of this pre-code film but it popped up on TCM and was a nice surprise. Kay Francis and Ricardo Cortez star.
Raw Deal (****1/2) Superb film noir from the excellent combination of Anthony Mann and John Alton. Dark, expressively lit photography and stunning camera work from Mann.
To Be or Not to Be (***1/2) This is the 1983 Mel Brooks/Anne Bancroft version, which I saw way back then. It’s not in the same class as the original Lubitsch version but is still entertaining enough in a Mel Brooks sort of way.
John—-
I bet you will have some incredible photos from Yellowstone!! I wish you both a great time there! I am sure that BELLE and THE IMMIGRANT (two of my favorite films this year) will still be around. I am happy to hear that feline row has been sorted out. That was crazy stuff. Ha! I did indeed receive your superb review of THE POSTMAN and am setting it up in WP. That is quite a quartet of capsules reviews you post here, and surely three of these films are quite popular–two in fact in my book are masterpieces (RAW DEAL and TO BE OR NOT TO BE) and another THE HOUSE ON 56TH STREET is good. I am thinking I haven’t seen THE JOKER IS WILD.
Thanks again my friend! Hope you come back a very happy camper!
And congrats to Jillian on this wonderful milestone!!!
Thanks so very much for that John!
Your daughter is a real beauty Sam. You have two beautiful daughters. You and Lucille must be so proud. And this is a milestone in her life.
I really want to see ‘Belle.’
I wish you all a great Memorial Day. What gorgeous weather!
Thanks so much as always Frank! This was indeed a milestone.
We attended a wonderful barbecue on the holiday.
I strongly do recommend BELLE.
Yes congratulations to Jillian Sam. I am using an internet connection that makes dial-up seem like a speed demon so I have had some difficulty getting on here to comment but both of these films are going on my future “to watch” list. All the best of the week to you and we are indeed having a great time in our travels – even with the rain today and more expected for tomorrow.
Thanks so much Terrill, especially as you are logging in overseas! You will definitely in my view come away with a very favorable response to both BELLE and THE IMMIGRANT. Look forward to hearing about the rest of your trip and will be heading over to your blog today my friend.
Huge congratulations to daughter Jillian on what must have been a very exciting day!
Both Belle and The Immigrant look to be must-watches. My TBW list seems to be extending indefinitely . . .
Just two movies seen here this week: The Scarlet Web (1954), which is very minor but is good fun and has Hazel Court in a completely charming turn, and On Dangerous Ground (1951), which sees Robert Ryan in topnotch form; I’d forgotten how very good a movie the latter is.
We’ve also watched the remaining episodes of the 1990s Maigret TV series with Michael Gambon in the title role; I really can’t understand why the series wasn’t extended, because it’s very fine. No Cosmos this week because of the Memorial Day weekend, so we’re fast in the grip of withdrawal symptoms at the moment. Heaven knows what we’re going to be like after the final two episodes: I wouldn’t think it’s going to be pretty . . .
Thanks so very much for that John! A great and memorable day indeed for Jillian and all of us.
I would wager even money you will love both BELLE and THE IMMIGRANT, which for me take their place among the very best films of the year.
ON DANGEROUS GROUND is one of my favorite movies ever! And Bernard Herrmann’s score in it is one of the 2 or 3 greatest ever written for my money. I am greatly looking forward to the review for this countdown!!
I still must initiate myself into MAIGRET (and COSMOS for that matter), and envy your own joyful immersion. Thanks as always my very good friend, and have a very fine week!
Hello Sam and everyone!
First of all, congrats to Jillian in taking a step further in her growth, may she have a great path waiting for her. So, without much further ado, here’s what I saw last week:
– Cheap Thrills (2013, E.L. Katz) ***1/2 “That’s grim. That’s really fucking grim.”
I guess the movie wants to be funny, but it doesn’t really manage to preserve that feeling of playfulness all the way through, as it suddenly turns away and becomes something intensely dark and frightful (from fucking someone to cutting your finger off is kind of sudden for a transition). It’s that tone shift that makes the movie darker and in a way more interesting, but at the same time it makes it uneven in the way that the movie wants to achieve the message of how there’s a sense of espectacle that is forbidden to certain people, how misery and party is restricted to more solvent people. This movie could’ve been great, but it’s good in the gruesome way that it exists.
– Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972, Jun Fukuda) *** This is a japanese spy movie for most of its run time and suddenly aliens and giant monsters appear to make it all the more stranger, weirdier and finally something worth watching. While the shenanigans with the spies, the manga artist, and all the other strange and alien characters has some silly humor in itself, the whole thing doesn’t add up too well logically when compared to the second monster filled half, that features Gigan as one of the silliest monsters of the Godzilla era. It’s certainly fun and sometimes worth watching, but only for the fans of the series, the rest can avoid this as they’d probably find it a dreck and a horrible picture.
– Why Don’t You Play in Hell (2013, Sion Sono) ****1/2 Totally wild. Fuck Bombers is anarchic cinema and at the same time the most irresponsible way of making movies and following your dreams. When your dream is making films, as mine is, you’d probably found a way to make stuff, it must not be as hard as this movie makes it to be, specially in a country like Japan. I must say that this movie can portray intensely what someone could feel if it came to the opportunity to make a movie out of the blue. The final half hour is madness and it’s probably the best use of digital blood that I’ve ever seen in cinema, and that’s maybe the first time that I’ve seen Goood digital blood. This is a new milestone for Sion Sono, he can make more movies and have the passion for them all he wants, he has made more great movies than many other filmmakers will ever make in their lives, and I’m grateful to be a witness to the blossoming of his craft.
– The Lego Movie (2014, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller) ****1/2 Everything is awesome! The film has an awe inspiring animation as well as an important subject matter when it comes to creativity, and while its filled with pop culture references, they don’t really distract as much as add to an already completely entertaining and fun world.
– The Quiet Ones (2014, John Pogue) **1/2 Lackluster exorcism movie of sorts, a review will be written.
– River’s Edge (1986, Tim Hunter) ***1/2 Wow. Youth, apparently, sucks. This is a movie that might be quite uneven at times, but there is a core when it’s pertaining the reasoning of feeling and why people do (or mostly stay motionless) in this movie is really strong, and in a way relatable if you’ve ever been close to death. The performances range from sleepy to overacting heaven (Glover, thanks), and that might be the most reasonable reason to dismiss this movie, but in a way it’s the one thing that distinguishes this movie from anything remotely similar to this. As a youth movie thriller of sorts, this one does manage to take some risks and doesn’t shy away from certain topics and clichés that are necessary in a story like this.
– The Wolverine (2013, James McTeigue) ***1/2 More moving and action oriented, as well as exciting than other X-Men films. But in the end, the plot becomes too predictable, and even maybe too japanese for its own sake, like an anime fan making a japanese film with a japanese crew. There’s a great deal of new talent here, and it builds up to something interesting, but with the new film that came out, all of this is basically nothing, it never happened and it’s as if it was weightless. A shame.
– X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014, Bryan Singer) ****1/2 Some notes on this, maybe possible review coming soon, but in another language and another venue:
· Best X-Men movie so far.
· I love time travel.
· Fuck yeah everything in this movie is awesome.
· Storm’s utility in this film is astoundingly futile.
· This movie is saying: fuck everything that was ever filmed, this is the new shit.
That’s all Sam, have a great week!
Thanks so very much for that Jaimie. And thank you once again for reminding me why you have been the cornerstone of this thread for over three years. Your resilience is simply above and beyond. Wow, I am surprised but happy you got to see RIVER’S EDGE. That one is usually left behind by most when discussing independent gems from the 80’s. Yes Glover does overact, but most in this cast are quite good, including Dennis Hopper, playing yet another weirdo character. This movie for me is quite the opposite of potential dismissal, but actually a raw and powerful work that still resonates decades later. THE WOLVERINE was indeed predictable, and for me not a film that amounts to much. Haven’t seen X MEN, but family members are praising it! Your glowing appraisal is a nice thing to read!! Ha! I did like THE LEGO MOVIE, and gave it four stars. Your appraisal is eloquent. have not seen those two 2013 films, CHEAP THRILLS and the Sono, but much appreciate your excellent discussion of both. Yeah I would have to agree that GODZILLA VS. GIGAN is one to take a pass on. Ha! Thanks again for the spectacular wrap my friend. have a super weekend.
Jillian is a cutie-pie. I love these photos Sam!
Thanks very much Peter! She certainly is what you call here here.
Sam,
Confirmation is such a big event and how lovely to take pictures of these moments to remember. You must be proud of daughter and well let’s just say it – all of your fine children, of many talents
I watched the Emperor this weekend about the rebuilding of Japan – I thought it was good and a fine way to wait out the rain of the day! I have finished season 4 of the GOOD WIFE but now must wait for season 5 and 6 releases to finish the series. I like all the current events covered in the series very much and the slant towards women’s issues.
just saying – I think these Victorian Vampire stories are not my thing and now that all the book links are not paying me anything for reviews, well I think I will just say “no” to these books. I just finished THE UNFINISHED CHILD a look at giving birth in 1947 and 2004 to a Down’s Syndrome child and what all the options are then and now – it is a Canadian story very elegantly told, but readers will not get any of the cost figures involved in having a Down’s child in the USA today. My inquiries say about as much as purchasing a house. A big house…so we may need someone in the USA writing a book about Down’s , IQ, legal questions, and cost estimates. This book does not diminish or pull away from feelings and moral questions at all and it is an elegant, well written story.
Hunkering down on the last book for May then the 10 books for June and finally a wee slow down to a better pace for summer. Already books coming in for October, some great new books coming in and the writing standards for publishing is getting harder. Some of these books would make great movies..
Hope all are well in these last days of school….Happy summer season
Patricia—-
Yes it is a major milestone Patricia, and the pictures taken are priceless. I am absolutely proud of Jillian and the others, as you are of your own my friend. Thanks for the very kind words. The film about the re-building of Japan sounds fascinating–I always myself gravitate to such subjects. i haven’t yet dipped into THE GOOD WIFE, but your continued enthusiasm has been duly noted. Lucille is more familiar with the show, actually. She is a big fan of Julianna Margulies. Yes THE UNFINISHED CHILD surely has much to offer all readers, and your piece on it is excellent. As the the Victorian vampire novels, can’t say I blame you. Ha! Great to hear more books are coming your way and that you will be apply your incomparable coverage. Have a great week my friend. Many thanks as always!
Hi Sam! Very nice to hear of Jillian’s confirmation. That is quite the event for her and you all I’m sure. We spent most of our Memorial weekend outside as the weather was simply breathtaking. Almost made up for that terrible winter we just had. Ha! We actually also did some packing and continue the process toward our moving date which is going to be June 16. It’ll be here before we know it even though it has seemed like the last few weeks have gone slowly. Last week we decided to have something of a “yard sale”, and by that, we took out many things from our basement that were no longer worthy of being maintained within our household. These were all snatched up rather quickly, despite their well-worn appearance. These will be many things we now will not have to move to our new house.
One of the great joys of the weekend was also sitting down to watch The Wizard of Oz with my kids for the first time. They had been asking about it recently so we decided it was high time to let them see it. They were thoroughly in love with it as can be expected and their eyes were wide with excitement the whole time. Surely, it’s just the first viewing of many to come. I will be writing about the experience of watching it with them for a blog post in the next week or so. So much fun
This week, work is super busy for me, and I may be traveling a bit next week to Chicago so things are fast and furious. Be rest assured that I’m on track for each of my essays and look forward to continued posts on the countdown. I’ll be watching Elmer Gantry, Tarkovsky’s The Sacrifice (again), and also the new Blu-ray of Intolerance.
Btw, Belle looks quite good. It was actually playing over the weekend here in town and really wanted to go see it, but it just didn’t work out. I will have to make it a point to seek it out. Have a great week Sam!
Jon—-
Thanks very much for the lovely words about Jillian’s confirmation. It is was indeed one of those events that will stay with you forever. I would have to agree that the Memorial Day weather was “breathtaking” over by us as well, though the numbers and partial humidity were a little too high for my liking. Today it is much cooler and breezier. So your moving date inches closer? This will also be a major event. Nice that you clear out a lot of stuff with that yard sale. That’s the way to go! There are plenty of those in our neighborhood, especially around this time of year. Wow, that was the very FIRST time you sat down with them to watch THE WIZARD OF OZ? Surely you were excited about this prospect for quite some time. I can’t wait to read of your experience with them in the report you are planning at FILMS WORTH WATCHING. Since this blog began, I don’t think there is a film we’ve talked about more than that one, and by and large the discuss has been glowingly positive. Ah, the memories…..
You have some great stuff lined up to watch! And I have indeed seen some of those essays up in WP. In fact one of those is due up in a matter of hours. Please do see BELLE. I am confident you will be enraptured. Have a great week my friend. many thanks as always.
Sam –
Jillian is a beautiful young woman! Having personally met her, I know she’s just as pretty on the inside as she is on the outside.
By the way, every film I’ve ever seen Tom Wilkinson in was excellent, so the 4.5 stars you gave it have caused me to add it to our must-see list. Thank you!
– Laurie
Aye, Laurie, you have interacted with her, and she is so much more enriched as a result of that. Beautiful girl both ways, no doubt. And as far as Tom Wilkinson, this was undoubtedly one of the best performances he has ever given. You will love BELLE. Have a great week my friend! Many thanks as always!
Hope to be back on the next Monday Morning Diary. Still mourning the recent death of my mother.
Reading James Wolcott’s wildly iconoclastic ‘Critical Mass.’ No sacred cow ungored.
Mark— I am so so sorry to hear of this very very sad news, and my deepest condolences go out to you. I had noticed you weren’t around as of late, but I figured you were busy. I never could have thought you were going through the worst time of your life. In view of a loss of this magnitude, everything else in life is diminished.
Sam, first off congratulations on Jillian’s confirmation. Such a milestone moment and a wonderful time for all of your family!
I was excited to hear your thoughts on BELLE and THE IMMIGRANT. I am actually headed to see the Gray film later today.
This week I took in Jarmusch’s ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE. I am one of those who is a long time fan of the very eccentric filmmaker and so I come in to his films wanting to love them. And for me this one did not disappoint. I found Swinton to be probably his most memorable and affecting female character ever and the atmosphere as masterful as anything he has made in a very long time. It was a heavy film lacking some of the filmmaker’s typical humor and levity and I can see how it is not a film for most. But for those who really like Jim’s unique approach to the medium, I could see them rating OLLA among his very best.
Hope you are having a great week. Thanks so much, Sam!
Thanks so much for that Jeffrey!!! 🙂 Absolutely a milestone for her and a great day for us all. I hope you liked THE IMMIGRANT!!!! I still have not gotten to Jarmusch’s new film, but plan to soon. I am not at all surprised you have issued glowing praise for it. That is quite a testament to Swinton’s performance. I hear what you are saying about the general lack of humor, but we’ll see. I am more inclined to embrace your own opinion.
Thanks very much my friend!! Always greatly appreciated. I see you have some other comments and am getting over there right now. Have a terrific week.