by Sam Juliano
We are plowing through October like a hay ride on a whistle stop tour through a pumpkin field. Mother Nature has finally realized that the calendar is what it is and we’ve been wearing jackets and coats the last week or so. Yet for those in the Big Apple metropolitan area we do have a few low 70’s days predicted for this coming week. Baseball fans in Chicago and New York are tied up with Cubs-Mets, and all fans of the sport are hoping for a great series. And our wonderful friends Valerie and Jim Clark are still pulling for a Toronto Blu Jays comeback against those resilient Kansas City Royals. Otherwise it’s NFL football, opera on the HD simulcasts and of course the very best time of the year for film fans.
The 2015 Caldecott Contender series will launch this coming week. Reviews will post at various intervals all the way up until the day of the American Library Association’s awards on January 30th of 2016. I’m not sure how many book reviews I’ll actually publish, but I am sure it won’t come anywhere close to the 51 of last year. Still, some great books are in contention once again, and I’ll be doing my best to afford representative coverage. Stay tuned.
The Wonders in the Dark hierarchy have decided on science fiction for the coming 2016 countdown. The specifications/guidelines will be sent on in the coming months. Though there is no complaint whatsoever with the great success of the last countdowns, we want to offer up a change of pace. There also is a series tentatively planned for Saturdays, but I’ll keep that under wraps at the moment. As always our resilient and brilliant Jim Clark is publishing his incomparable film reviews every other Wednesday and we remain eternally grateful for his stellar input.
Lucille, Jeremy, and I attended a wonderful book reading by Rowboat Watkins on Saturday morning at the Curious Reader Bookstore in Glen Rock, New Jersey. His wildly popular picture book Rude Cakes will be one of the first subjects in the Caldecott Contender series.
We saw two films in theaters this past week and both were excellent:
Sicario **** 1/2 (Sunday morning) Ridgefield Park Starplex
Bridge of Spies **** 1/2 (Saturday afternoon) Ridgefield Park Starplex
SICARIO by Denis Villeneuvre features unbearable tension, visceral thrills and a barrage of violence in this compelling drug cartel movie primarily navigated by an idealistic woman played by Emily Blunt. BRIDGE OF SPIES by Steven Spielberg relates a fascinating narrative about a Cold War spy swap and boasts great performances by Tom Hanks and Mark Rylance and a solid screenplay co-wrote by the Coens.
At Noirish, the renowned writer (and voracious reader) John Grant has penned an excellent review of the 2014 short “Peekaboo”: https://noirencyclopedia.wordpress.com/2015/10/15/peekaboo-2014/
At FilmsNoir.net Tony d’Ambra has posted a full list of films noir in US Library of Congress National Film Registry: http://filmsnoir.net/film_noir/list-of-films-noir-in-us-library-of-congress-national-film-registry.html/
Stephen Mullen offers up a splendid baseball playoff analysis and his usual superb music presentation at The Listening Ear: http://listeningear.blogspot.com/2015/10/friday-music-and-sports-rapture.html
Joel Bocko has published an excellent review on Steven Spielberg’s venerated “Schindler’s List” at I Lost it at the Movies: http://thedancingimage.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-favorites-schindlers-list-85.html
At Mondo 70 Samuel Wilson has written a commanding review of Bridge of Spies: http://mondo70.blogspot.com/2015/10/on-big-screen-bridge-of-spies-2015.html
At Tuesdays with Laurie, our great friend Laurie Buchanan offers up a terrific post titled “Abracadabra”: http://tuesdayswithlaurie.com/2015/10/13/abracadabra/
Over at Attractive Variance Jamie Uhler offers up his fabulous latest installment of “Recent Cultural Happenings…..”: https://attractivevariance.wordpress.com/2015/09/21/recent-cultural-happenings-noise-doesnt-annoys-end-of-september-2015/
At Movie Classics, Judy Geater has posted a fantastic piece on Frank Capra’s 1933 “Lady For a Day” and his 1961 re-make “Pocketful of Miracles”: https://movieclassics.wordpress.com/2015/10/10/lady-for-a-day-1933-and-pocketful-of-miracles-1961-frank-capra/
David Schleicher has penned a superlative review of Ramin Bahrani’s “99 Homes” at The Schleicher Spin: http://theschleicherspin.com/2015/10/12/the-death-of-the-american-dream-in-99-homes/
Our longtime friend the film maker and movie lover extraordinaire Jeffrey Goodman has resumed his Ozu series n-99-hwith a terrific review of the director’s 1930 “The Night’s Wife”: http://cahierspositif.blogspot.com/2015/10/that-nights-wife-1930.html
Jeff Stroud brings a higher level of thought to his wonderful new post at The Reluctant Blogger titled “Blank Page”: https://jeffstroud.wordpress.com/2015/08/30/blank-page/
Over at Patricia’s Wisdom, the terrific book reviewer and friend Patricia Hamilton has penned an excellent review on Stephanie Kallos’ “Language Arts: A Novel”: http://patriciaswisdom.com/2015/10/language-arts-a-novel-stephanie-kallos/
At It Rains….You Get Wet Robert Tower has penned a magisterial feature on the author Thomas “Silence of the Lambs” Harris: http://le0pard13.com/2015/10/16/audiobook-behaviorial-science-thomas-trilogy-lees-one/
Over at Ferdy-on-Films, Roderick Heath leads up with his splendid essay of “The Martian”: http://www.ferdyonfilms.com/2015/the-martian-2015/26165/
J. D. Lafrance’s offers up a splendid review of “Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter” at Radiator Heaven: http://rheaven.blogspot.com/2015/10/captain-kronos-vampire-hunter.html
Shubhajit Lahiri has penned an excellent review of Wim Wenders’ 1975 “Wrong Move” at Cinemascope: http://cliched-monologues.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-wrong-move-1975.htm
Terrill Welch’s incomparably beautiful Creative Potager blogsite offers up all kinds of nature-inspired s ublimity, and the latest post “A Narrow Artistic Perspective on a Mayne Island Morning” is a stream-of-consciousness beauty: http://creativepotager.com/2015/08/25/a-narrow-artistic-perspective-on-a-mayne-island-morning/
At Filmicability Dean Treadway’s latest post is a superlative examination of the film year 1956: http://filmicability.blogspot.com/2015/10/1956-year-in-review.html
Sachin Gandhi has penned a terrific review on the Brazilian “She Comes Back on Thursday” at Scribbles and Ramblings: http://likhna.blogspot.com/2015/10/she-comes-back-on-thursday.html
At The Seventh Art the exceedingly gifted writer Srikanth offers up reviews on two Hindi films under the banner grouping titled “Love in the Time of Gonorrhea”: http://theseventhart.info/2015/08/02/love-in-the-time-of-gonorrhea/
Occasionally, some of your visitors may see an advertisement here.
Thanks for the link. I could have listed many of the other blogs you posted as I read many of them. So many good ones out there.
Looking forward to both Sicario and Bridge of Spies, and especially the upcoming Science Fiction project. I expect that will be an interesting and not exactly mainstream list.
Aye Aaron, that is the beauty of the MMD links – it alerts readers to some great stuff that’s being done by many of our friends. I agree there are more good blogs than many realize.
It appears the science-fiction countdown will get underway earlier than originally figured, which is great. Mid-March is being targeted as the launch date at the site with the 6 to 8 weeks before that a prep time for the writers. Many thanks my friend!
Sammy I am planning on seeing Spy Bridges this week and based on what you’re saying about it I hope it’s better than Abraham because I fell asleep three times in that movie and even though it was a good movie and David Daniel Louis played the part good it was also long and they didn’t think about the audience because it was mostly set in a courtroom and people don’t like going to a court so why would people be entertained by a movie in a courtroom? And what about the debates do you mean to tell me you ignored the debates after all of these years telling me how much you love Hilary Clinton you’re not gonna support her now when she needs it because her popularity isn’t as high as it was back when her husband was the president it’s a different time and people hold it against her that she went online without a password. The best movie I saw this week was Mars because it was science fiction but it was realistic because now that they have found ice and water on that planet it wasn’t hard to believe that someone could be stuck up there and Mark Damon played a good part because he always seems smart and I think after they saw him in Interstar they knew he would look right in an astronaut helmet.
Jack you are a card! Hahaha!!! I know you were not the biggest fan of “Abraham” even though David Daniel Louis did such a great job! You make a good point about the courtroom for sure! Alas Jack, I did not ignore the debates. I watched Hillary and Bernie go at it last week, and I also watched the GOP debate last month. Great to hear you saw “Mars!” Mark Damon was quite good indeed!! As far as “Interstar” that was my favorite from last year! So true what you say about that astronaut helmut!! Thanks for the wonderful comment my friend! 🙂
The trailers for Bridge of Spies must not be doing it justice…it looks like a chore/snore (despite the pedigree) in the previews…but there have been nothing but raves, including from you Sam!
Glad you found much to admire in Sicario, it really was riveting, cracker-jack stuff and dark as all get out. I loved it.
David, you are definitely right on the money about the unimpressive trailers on it, but yes the actual film is far more effective to say the least. I can’t be 100% sure how you will assess it, but I am leaning towards the positive. Your own review of SICARIO was masterful. here it is again for the readers:
Many thanks my friend!
I’m excited about Bridge of Spies, Sam.
How about those Mets? Their pitching is simply unreal!
Frank, I think they are going all the way.
Frank, looking forward to your view of BRIDGE. Yes the Mets are looking unbeatable to be honest. But let’s see how the Cubs respond now at Wrigley. You know what Yogi said. Many thanks my friend!
Many thanks for the shoutout, Sam!
I have Sicario on my list of movies to be watched, less so Bridge of Spies, although I imagine the latter will get watched at some point or another.
I’m looking forward to the SF Countdown — at last a topic where I can make informed comments! 🙂
Always my pleasure John! Hopefully some screeners of SICARIO and BRIDGE OF SPIES will surface soon. I’d be quite interested in learning your much valued opinions on both.
Yes, the way it looks the sci-fi countdown will actually start up in March, but two months before will be the time for the voting and seemingly some of the writing. Everything is still being sorted out. I look forward to your involvement if your time will permit. As always many thanks my friend!
Recent viewings.
Portrait of Jason (dir. Shirley Clarke. Disturbingly exploitative doc, all monologue by a black male hustler who is occasionally taunted by someone off-camera); A Clockwork Orange (just the first hour and McDowell so reminiscent of a young Cagney); Wanda (Loden), Girlfriends (Weill), Harlan County USA (Kopple) (all three directed by women and a trio of treasures); Mad Love (Peter Lorre looking like a proto Charles Foster Kane in his dotage); The Petrified Forest (the great Leslie Howard insisted the makers cast Bogart, who had done the play); The Bad Seed (a sad, steep slide from LeRoy’s essential Little Caesar, but it IS deliciously hammy); Midnight Cowboy (“That cowboy stuff is fag shit”); Crossing Delancey ( a sort of Lower East Side Annie Hall — no Elaine’s or Rizzoli here); Elysium (will this be Jodie Foster’s valedictory?); The Walk (I got as queasy as Jimmy Stewart in Vertigo — plus the horror of 9/11 is still too fresh); Gold Diggers of 1933 (co-directed by Mervyn LeRoy, mentioned above, with Ginger Rogers at her most acid); The House on Haunted Hill (Vincent Price, Vincent Price and Vincent Price); Mildred Pierce (Joan Crawford. Joan Crawford and Joan Crawford); Way Down East (Griffith’s beautiful pastoral (Beethoven’s Sixth, the fourth Allegro (?), plays over the raging climax in the snow and ice– cf. the battle on ice in Alexander Nevsky). You may be reminded of Tess or Hester Prynne as you watch the exquisite sufferings of Miss Lillian Gish).
Plus I’ve just finished a small mesa of books. When does the sci-fi countdown begin, Sammy? Hoping Metropolis is anointed winner.
Oh, and by the way, the overly maligned Meryl Streep will head the jury at the upcoming Berlin Film Festival. Congrats.
I just had the pleasure of revisiting MAD LOVE over the weekend. It’s a Top 30 Horror film for me, and one I’ve now watched in 3 out of the last 4 (maybe 5) Octobers. Here’s what I offered friends;
a revisit of MAD LOVE the 1932 creeper starting Peter Lorre as a wonderfully demented surgeon erotically obsessed with the local Grand Guignol Theater, specifically their lead actress. He’s seen early in the film getting absolutely aroused by the sight of her being tied up and mock tortured. It’s cheeky creepy stuff, certainly for its time and Lorre is tremendous throughout. The film is an adaption—somewhat loose, somewhat not—of The Hands of Orlac but to me it’s mostly the Peter Lorre show coupled with Karl Freud’s American debut as director. It’s 25 on my Top 565 Horror films, so that more than speaks to my love of the film. I’ve now watched it 2 Octobers in a row.
My October Horror binge continues, I’ve already seen 18 films as we’re half-way through the months 19th day. Hooray.
_ _ _ _ _
With all the negative hoopla Streep has gotten around here lately—which I agree with BTW—I’m sort of wondering if Hanks isn’t her Male equivalent. He’s highly lauded, with the trophies to show for it, but damn, his career if full of vanilla duds and Oscar Bait populism. Has he ever lent himself to a challenging auteur?
My favorite Hanks performance is in one of his dumbest films, Bachelor Party.
With his back-to-back Oscars, Hanks joins Rainer, Tracy, K. Hepburn and Jason Robards in the Academy pantheon. Definitely a card-carrying Hollywood player, but he IS awfully likable–completely inoffensive unlike many Oscar winners (Shelley Winters, anyone?).
And I could watch Lorre read the Dusseldorf phone book in German w/o subtitles, my brother.
His performance in ‘M’ is one of the greatest on film.
Sorry I missed The Beast with Five Fingers, which aired on TCM right after Mad Love (a night of “rogue body parts”). Is it any good?
You know, maybe there is a link between Mad Love and Kane. The shaved head, the cockatoo; it can’t be just a coincidence. Or else I’m reading too much into it because I’m obsessed with Kane.
Later
The Beast with Five Fingers, which aired on TCM right after Mad Love (a night of “rogue body parts”). Is it any good?.
Yes.
Point on Tom Hanks well taken. In very large measure I agree.
Jamie as always am heartened to hear of your annual horror madness resolve and your ever-authoritative reports of new finds, revisits and careful assessments. Horror is a special genre all year long to be sure, but for some reason even moreso in October. 🙂
John THE BEAST WITH FIVE FINGERS is quite good!! Love that Brahms/Bach piano piece playing throughout, but this film is a keeper, big time!
Mark, all I can say is wow!! Talk about binges!! That was an incredible run there! As far as the science-fiction countdown, at this point I am not sure if it will happen. I mean I would like it to happen, but it may be out of my hands now. Still, I’d love to do a countdown on that genre at some point God willing. There WILL be a countdown in 2016, this is certain. We discussed Greatest War Films on the e mail thread as you know, so now that may be imminent. Stay tuned my friend! Yes I got queasy watching THE WALK too! I also have very high regard for those three films directed by women. GOLD DIGGERS is a masterpiece. I love the way you frame Joan Crawford there with a triple reverie in MILDRED PIERCE! Kubrick’s A CLOCKWORK ORANGE is a masterpiece; PORTRAIT OF JASON is indeed harrowing. HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL is certainly worthy of Vinny Price three times but let’s not forget Elisha Cook Jr., who was a hoot! My favorite Castle film by the way. Saw it twice with Emergo too. Love WAY DOWN East, you beautifully frame it musically. THE BAD SEED is a guilty pleasure, maybe a bit better than that. I like THE PETRIFIED FOREST and HARLAN COUNTY!! Just a fabulous comment and report here my friend!!
I would very much like it if the SF Countdown went ahead, not only because in my humble way I’d like to contribute, having written quite a lot on f/sf movies for both David Pringle’s wildly misnomered Ultimate Encyclopedia of Science Fiction (I did the entirety of the cinema section) and my/John Clute’s The Encyclopedia of Fantasy (similarly), but because, in the event, I’d like to clue the folks at the gargantumassive online Encyclopedia of Science Fiction edition #3 into the countdown. (I devoted ~4 years of my life to the monumental 2nd edition, the last to appear in print.) I’m sure many of those associated with the SFE would be interested in the hypothetical WitD Countdown.
In case I’ve fucked up that link, as I so often do, here it is again, if I have: http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/
Well John, as you well know by now the science-fiction countdown is indeed moving forward, and I greatly look forward to your involvement which all things considered with this particular venture will be invaluable.
Sounds like the movie year is heating up. Am looking forward to Todd Haynes’ Carol most of all. I plan to see Bridge of Spies this week.
Yes it is indeed Peter! November and December will no doubt offer up some high quality stuff! I too am really looking forward to CAROL. Many thanks my friend!
Sam –
I love your opening line about a hay ride on a whistle stop tour!
I’m soooo looking forward to your annual Caldecott Contender series; ready and rarin’ to share your posts with my Facebook friends. I know that many of them look to your reviews as they contemplate holiday gift giving.
Enjoy a fantastic week!
Thanks for that Laurie! I hope to actually take the family on that hayride before this month is out at a farm not too far from us. Thanks so much for your great words about the coming Caldecott Contender series, which will begin very soon. Your annual sponsorship has been a true inspiration!! A fabulous week to you my friend!
Thanks for the mention Sam. Nice to see you getting back into the grove with key fall movies. I liked SICARIO quite a bit and can’t wait to see BRIDVE OF SPIES. And I am absolutely delighted that the next countdown is sci-fi 🙂 Excited!!!!!
BRIDGE…argh typo.
Great to hear you thought highly of SICARIO Sachin! I am thinking you will have a favorable response to the new Spielberg, but let’s see….. Thrilled to hear the upcoming science-fiction countdown really floats your boat. More specifics are upcoming! Have a great week my friend!
I’ve been mostly focused on the countdown for the last couple of months. Now that it’s done, it is time to seriously consider what will be the best of 2015. Good movies have been pretty scarce in the local theaters lately, but I have managed to see a few. Now that fall is here it looks like things will pick up a bit.
What I’ve seen so far:
Ex Machina (****), the first thing I saw this year that stands out.
True Story (**1/2), watchable but forgettable.
Far from the Madding Crowd (***1/2), lovely to look at.
Mad Max: Fury Road (****), this one continues to grow on me.
Love & Mercy (***1/2), partially of interest, it had it’s moments.
Jurassic World (**), ho hum.
Slow West (**!/2), this is a bit too cute for me.
Avengers: Age of Ultron (**1/2), by the numbers.
Eden (2014) (****), of interest, excellent filmmaking.
Irrational Man (****), I liked this better than most, will see it again.
Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (***), good action flick.
Maggie (***), interesting but not particularly memorable.
The End of the Tour (***1/2), I liked a lot of this.
San Andreas (**), popcorn flick.
Phoenix (2014) (****1/2), I need to see this again, could be a masterpiece.
Mistress America (*****), the best thing I’ve seen from 2015.
She’s Funny That Way (2014) (****), really enjoyed this one.
American Ultra (***), had some great scenes and some really bad ones.
Sicario (****), I want to see this again, it may be better than I thought.
The Martian (***), of interest but didn’t move me.
Looking forward to Jafar Panahi’s Taxi and Hou’s The Assassin.
Duane, I do know well you were focused on the countdown and I feel honored that a scholar and a gentleman like yourself was there for every salvo. Your superlative comments and great essay were deeply appreciated!! But yes this is the time to keep abreast of the year-end releases indeed. I also liked SICARIO quite a bit! I liked SLOW WEST more but I can see why you’d call it cute–it certainly was a show offy kind of film stylistically. EX MACHINA is quite good indeed. MADDING CROWS was nice to look at but flawed. I still haven’t found the magic in FURY ROAD but you and so many I respect have. I liked IRRATIONAL MAN quite a bit less, but heh I should watch it again. I liked LOVE AND MERCY, and to a degree END OF THE TOUR. PHOENIX is probably THE masterpiece of all you report on here. I liked THE MARTIAN, but agreed no masterpiece. Thanks so much my friend! Have a super weekend!
Hello Sam and everyone!
Well, thanks for featuring my Overlook Madness in such a wonderful blog roll. I saw one of the films you mention here, and I’ll have some things to say about it.
These are the movies I saw last week, and remember, I don’t count those I saw for the Overlook Madness thing, because there are reviews which you can all visit up there:
– Bridge of Spies (2015, Steven Spielberg) **** I will write a long review for its Chilean release this week, but a couple of notes anyway:
· This doesn’t feel like 140 minutes at all, that means that Spielberg has managed to perfect his style, and while you felt the length in something like Lincoln, that I still like, this breezes through, even if it’s not entirely interesting all the way through.
· Understated acting of the year: The Cast of Bridge of Spies.
– Knock Knock (2015, Eli Roth) **1/2 There’s a hidden story here. I will reveal it soon.
– Scary Movie 3 (2003, David Zucker) **** Imitation is the best form of flattery.
– Land and Shade (2015, Cesar Augusto Acevedo) ***1/2 There’s a much more interesting movie hidden in the long takes and the sluggish dialogues that the director wants to show us. There’s a tale of social justice and how health is a feeble thing, and it’s only through the act of a multitude and shouting that we are given what we should be given, but most of the time it’s too little too late. Visually, this movie has some really wonderful cinematography, but I think that no matter how hard or close the subject matter could end up being, the film constantly distances itself and tries to shy you away from any sort of identification, which hurts this particular project. It did give me an idea for a short film though.
That’s all, have a great week Sam!
Jaimie, it is a pleasure to point in the direction of your annual dedication to horror cinema, and typically you’ve left no stone upturned in your prolific examination. As you know from this post I have seen BRIDGE OF SPIES. I gave it a half star more than you, but it appears we’ve come to some of the same conclusions, especially the excellent acting by Hanks and Rylance. I will definitely look forward to seeing what you say in that planned longer review. Your review of the Chilean LAND AND SHADE is most intriguing, I must say, though in the end you are less than really impressed. SCARY MOVIE 3 does have its fans indeed, but yes I always saw it as imitation. I have not seen KNOCK KNOCK and would like to know what the hidden story is. Have a great upcoming week my friend. Thanks for the great report.
Great to hear that you and I think the same for SICARIO. Now I really do need to see ‘Bridge of Spies’. Very much looking forward to the sci-fi countdown you and others have in store for 2016, my friend. Awesome. Once again, that you very kindly for the linkage and putting me with great company. 🙂
Robert, I am very thrilled to hear that!! I’d really like to know what you think of BRIDGE OF SPIES. We will have a countdown for 2016, this much is absolutely certain. It could be science-fiction indeed or it may be War Films. Stay tuned. Always a pleasure my great friend!
Move completed, Old house not sold, unpacking going slowly, and my computer gave up the ghost….Thank you for the shout out….have not read a page for a week now. Trying to get partner to THE MARTIAN and I think he would like the new Tom Hank’s film also…I could not even get him to sit and watch the last Sea Hawks game on TV. Our first 2 weeks of retirement has been way too busy. We now have TV with a DVR arrangement. I did watch Rachel Maddow the other night as the only show I could get to come up on the remote control !!!! Tom’s new computer for retirement is scheduled to arrive today – sometime so he is sitting over there waiting to sign for it. They were 2 weeks late in delivery and we could not change the address soon enough!
I am so looking forward to the Caldicott Series – just super loved it last year and purchased 11 books for gifts from your reviews Thank you Got to go electrician is here to give us some safe plugs and circuits and the heating tech is due as we have no heat in this old house which is new! thanks for all your good words found here
Well Patricia, congratulations on the success of the move. I know it is frustrating that the former abode remains unresolved, but I’d have to think that will not go on much longer. I hope you do get over to THE MARTIAN and BRIDGE OF SPIES, though I know you need to sort things out first. I know the Seahawks with their present 3-4 record are not playing up to the level of the past, but the season can certainly turn around fast enough, especially with the statistical logjam in that division. I am delighted to hear you acquired some of last year’s highlighted books as presents, and much appreciate the glowing words and support of the Caldecott series! Hope by all all the technical glitches have been ironed out my friend! Many thanks and wishes for a special week! 🙂
Sam –
I’m two days late and more than a dollar short, but wanted to be sure to weigh in here. I eagerly look forward to your Caldecott series this year. And based on your recommendations, I am also looking forward to BRIDGE OF SPIES and SICARIO.
The only new film I saw this past week was the documentary HE NAMED ME MALLALA, which is inspiring and very well-structured. Hoping to see CRIMSON PEAK this week and to continue catching up with the many fine films in new release.
Well Pat, my response to you here is well beyond two days late, but be rest assured your comment isn’t remotely a dollar short.. Thanks for the much appreciated words on the Caldecott series which has now launched. I ‘m very intrigued as to what you will make of BRIDGE OF SPIES and also to Hou Hsiao-hsien’s ravishing martial arts movie THE ASSASSIN, which I saw last night, and was extremely impressed with. My friend Broadway Bob thought the opposite, but I saw well what this movie was going for. Word is it almost won at Cannes this past year. I will be seeing CRIMSON PEAK later this afternoon in fact, and want very much to see HE NAMED ME MALLALA based on your glowing report. Thanks so very much my friend!
Sam,
Thanks again for the link, my friend. All is good here. been keeping busy with my photos, some writing and just everyday stuff. We did get to see two films on the big screen.
99 Homes – ***** depressing, downbeat film but one of the best of the year so far.
Bridge of Spies ****1/2 Very good film from Spielberg and the Coens. I vaguely remember the whole, Francis Gary Powers thing happening (I was young and probably) did not care too much at the time. Hanks provides a nice performance.
At home I watch just one film, Pasolini’s Mamma Rosa (****1/2) anchored by a great performance by Anna Magnani. Great film.
Have a great week my friend!
John, I want very badly to see 99 HOMES as now you and David Schleicher have come in with spectacular praise for it. I had a chance this afternoon, but couldn’t quite pull it off, today being Sunday. Tonight is possible, but not sure as I do have an afternoon screening of CRIMSON PEAK lined up. We are on the same wave length with BRIDGE OF SPIES with identical 4.5 ratings. Totally agreed with what you say there. And yes MAMMA ROSA and Magnani’s performance in it are great indeed!
Have a fabulous upcoming week my friend. And many thanks as always!
Mark and I are hoping to see Bridge of Spies on Saturday.
Celeste, please let me know what you think! Thank you my friend!
Looking forward to your Caldicott pieces, Sam. I’ve been getting back into pre-Codes lately and have just watched two which I bought on French DVDs (quite a lot of Forbidden Hollywood titles have now been released over there) – Blondie Johnson starring Joan Blondell, which was excellent, and The Office Wife with Dorothy Mackaill and Blondell again in a very early part – that one is rather slow, not surprisingly since it dates from 1930, but still enjoyable.
I also saw a pre-Code shown on TV (very unusual in the UK but it does occasionally happen!) Carnival Boat, a wildly misleading title for a film about lumberjacks starring William Boyd. Ginger Rogers is also in it (on the aforesaid boat) but doesn’t get enough screen time.
Sam, I don’t know if you’re likely to have time with all your other commitments, but as you know I’ve been taking part in a few blogathons lately and am now involved in co-hosting one about Sinatra to tie in with his Centennial, so if you did want to contribute that would be great. Quite a few titles are already gone, but there are still some good ones left if you want to pop over to my blog and take a look. But anyway, only if you have time – and another 51 pieces or so about books isn’t going to leave you much of it!
https://movieclassics.wordpress.com/2015/10/14/sinatra-centennial-blogathon/
Thanks so much about the enthusiastic anticipation for the Caldecott series which has now officially laughed, and for which you have placed a much appreciated comment under!
Judy I will go over and take a look at your blog now. I am remiss to have just now been alerted to this with my late attendance though. Let’s see what is up there. I’ve never seen CARNIVAL BOAT, but I am certainly intrigued to. Haven’t seen THE OFFICE WIFE, but I did see BLONDIE JOHNSON at the Film Forum’s pre-code festival a few years ago and loved it! Great to hear we are on the same page there.
Thanks a ton for all the comments you placed at this blog the last few days! I can’t tell you how much they are appreciated my friend! 🙂
Judy I just got back from your site. I was hot to trot for ON THE TOWN, PAL JOEY or YOUNG AT HEART but all are taken.
Still I found one I also would love to do: KINGS GO FORTH. 🙂
Sorry you couldn’t get any of your first 3 choices, Sam, but as you may remember I am a huge fan of Kings Go Forth, and will look forward to reading your take on it! Many thanks.
Yes I do remember well Judy, and we engaged in some nice discussion on it. 🙂
Sam, great to hear of your very positive experiences with SIARIO and BRIDGE OF SPIES. I am interested to see both when possible.
Quiet here still but did manage to finally see Spheeris’ first part of THE DECLINE OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION. I found it to be an extraordinarily intimate look at the LA punk scene of the early 80s and was so glad to finally run it down.
Hoping all is great, Sam. Thanks so much!
Jeffrey, I am fairly confident you will be impressed by both films in varying ways. Neither film is a supreme masterpieces (but then how many films really are?) but both are engrossing and visceral throughout. respectively. I completely concur with that glowing estimation of THE DECLINE OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION, which you frame beautifully. All is well my friend, many thanks as always! I wish you a special upcoming week my friend!
I have really liked Villaneuve’s last few films so am hoping Sicario lives up to my expectations. I didn’t even realize that Bridge of Spies was a Spielberg film. I must agree with Jamie above that Hanks is the male equivalent of Streep. Same type of career and type of films. Again they are safe “event” type films that average filmgoers like to pat themselves on the back for watching.
Lamenting the end of the Cubs season over here. They were soundly beaten.
Jon, if you liked Villaneuve’s previous films odds are high you’ll react favorably to SICARIO but let’s see. True about Hanks, but he’s many his share of fine performances regardless, and in BRIDGE OF SPIES he is superlative. All week I have been hearing from people I know in my school system and on line about how great a film it is, but having already seen it myself, I found the proof was in the pudding. Spielberg haters won’t like it and even if they did like it in secret they’d refrain from making a public admission. 🙂 In any case I look forward to your reaction. Your statement on Hanks of course can be applied to Hollywood as a whole.
I was heartened to see Roderick Heath’s massive favorable review at FERDY ON FILMS by the way.
Yes the Cubs were beaten most convincingly. The Mets have stupendous front line pitching, and they dominated every aspect of that series. Methinks they won’t have an easy times with the Kansas City Royals though. Many thanks as always my friend!