This was a bit disappointing for me, probably because of all the hype and the talent involved. Yes, the final sequence is excellent, but the plot doesn't kick in until halfway through the film, and Welles' penchant for dubbing his own voice in place of other actors' is really obvious and distracting. It also seemed like a more predictable story than most, even for a noir. Welles took on this project out of last-minute financial desperation, and his heart doesn't really seem in it. All that being said, it's still worth watching, and Hayworth is ravishing, even with shorn, bleached locks.
A compact little noir with only 3 characters, one of whom - played to the hilt by Ann Savage - is the bad girl to end all bad girls. Tom Neal plays a man with the worst luck in the world. Refreshingly unconventional at times.
Funniest line reading:
Man: "Where'd you hide the butts?"
Woman: "On the table, sucka!"
Terrific entry in the genre, with lots of great shots and long takes. Love the opening sequence in the diner. And yeah, Gardner's not hard on the eyes, either.
Talk about a missed opportunity. On paper, it's a slam dunk idea - take 3 landmark American directors, known for their New York-set films, and let them each make a short film "about" the city. Sadly, only Scorsese's entry is successful. Allen's piece is mediocre at best, while Coppola's is downright awful. This film is only worth noting for what could have been.
If this film doesn't affect you in some way, you're probably dead. It also makes a perfect companion piece to Koyaanisqatsi (for which - not surprisingly - the director of Baraka did the cinematography). The combination of breathtaking visuals and ethereally beautiful music makes this less a "movie" and more an "experience." I cannot wait for the "sequel" to this - Samsara.
On a side note: if you're looking for a film that will show off your awesome new home entertainment system, look no further. The Blu-ray is stunning in every respect.
P.S. How is this only on 4 lists? If this isn't "spiritually significant" (in the best sense of the word), I don't know what is.
A perfect example of "so bad it's good," this was Stephen King's first and last attempt at directing. Hilarious elements include a killer vending machine, a killer lawnmower, and Emilio Estevez.
A typically "deep" story from Oshii. Some beautiful animation (especially the flying sequences) and music, but it's all so very slow and plodding that it fails where his earlier work succeeded. Be sure to watch to the end of the credits, where a key scene unfolds.
Virtually plotless, there is an indefinable charm about this movie and its characters that make it stand out. Great viewing for a rainy day or an antisocial mood.
This is essential viewing, especially for Americans. The state of education is probably the single most important facing us (and everyone else, really), and the subject is handled tactfully and looked at from all sides. At times infuriating, depressing, but also hopeful, we get to know a handful of kids who have a shot at getting out of their scholastic ruts (caused by myriad obstacles, from poverty to "too big to fail" teachers' unions) via "lotteries" at schools they hope to attend.
This was robbed of an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary, which is a damn shame. I'm also saddened to see that, as of the time of this post, only 15 people have checked it here. I hope to see it included on some lists with time. Highly recommended!
Charming but tragic, this is a good place to start for Fellini beginners. The lead actress (Giulietta Masina) reminds me of a female Stan Laurel, with her childlike innocence and expressive face.
Finally forced myself to sit through this. I guess it's one of those "you had to be there" (when it first came out) situations, because aside from the atrocious scenes with real animals, I was more bored than disturbed. The authentic locations and surprisingly good music do most of the work. The effects are decent, but the "plot," the "acting," and the extremely heavy-handed "message" undermine what could have been a legitimately effective film. I can't think of a film more deserving of the "exploitation" tag. Whether that's a good thing or a bad one is up to the viewer to decide.
I was afraid to watch this, too, and refrained from doing so for a long time. (Real animal cruelty is the hardest thing for me to watch.) However, it's very tastefully done, and makes its case without going overboard with the inherently disturbing footage. This is guerrilla filmmaking of the best kind. A must-watch: what's being exposed is wrong on so many levels, and has far-reaching repercussions.
Smart and insightful, funny and sad, this is a gutsy, honest film that begins on the wacky side but gradually cuts deeper and deeper until the laughs stick in your throat. By the end, you're not sure if this is a comedy at all. Probably the best mockery of religion since Monty Python's Life of Brian. I hope this eventually gets a spot on more lists.
Surprisingly pensive. It alternates between long, slow and silent sequences and brief, brutal bursts of violence. Not much happens, not much is said, but it's quite beautiful to look at and very skillfully done. Always refreshing when a film lets its audience do some of the work, instead of spoon-feeding them every step of the way.
Surprisingly good, considering its predecessor is my favorite Disney film. The between-segment skits are annoying, and the tone in general is lighter, but there's still a good balance. The last sequence is just breathtakingly beautiful to look at.
The best film Disney ever made (not counting the Pixar collaborations). Challenging, ambitious, creative, risky. Too bad the risk didn't pay off for them. The "sequel" Fantasia 2000 is pretty good, too.
Comments 126 - 150 of 190
Movie comment on The Lady from Shanghai
MrE2Me
This was a bit disappointing for me, probably because of all the hype and the talent involved. Yes, the final sequence is excellent, but the plot doesn't kick in until halfway through the film, and Welles' penchant for dubbing his own voice in place of other actors' is really obvious and distracting. It also seemed like a more predictable story than most, even for a noir. Welles took on this project out of last-minute financial desperation, and his heart doesn't really seem in it. All that being said, it's still worth watching, and Hayworth is ravishing, even with shorn, bleached locks.Movie comment on Detour
MrE2Me
A compact little noir with only 3 characters, one of whom - played to the hilt by Ann Savage - is the bad girl to end all bad girls. Tom Neal plays a man with the worst luck in the world. Refreshingly unconventional at times.Funniest line reading:
Man: "Where'd you hide the butts?"
Woman: "On the table, sucka!"
Movie comment on The Killers
MrE2Me
Terrific entry in the genre, with lots of great shots and long takes. Love the opening sequence in the diner. And yeah, Gardner's not hard on the eyes, either.Movie comment on Annie
MrE2Me
This was my sister's favorite movie when we were kids. I don't recall it being so bad...heck, it's directed by John Huston!Blog comment on Some small fixes
MrE2Me
Awesome! You guys work fast. Thanks for all the hard work.Movie comment on New York Stories
MrE2Me
Talk about a missed opportunity. On paper, it's a slam dunk idea - take 3 landmark American directors, known for their New York-set films, and let them each make a short film "about" the city. Sadly, only Scorsese's entry is successful. Allen's piece is mediocre at best, while Coppola's is downright awful. This film is only worth noting for what could have been.Movie comment on Baraka
MrE2Me
If this film doesn't affect you in some way, you're probably dead. It also makes a perfect companion piece to Koyaanisqatsi (for which - not surprisingly - the director of Baraka did the cinematography). The combination of breathtaking visuals and ethereally beautiful music makes this less a "movie" and more an "experience." I cannot wait for the "sequel" to this - Samsara.On a side note: if you're looking for a film that will show off your awesome new home entertainment system, look no further. The Blu-ray is stunning in every respect.
P.S. How is this only on 4 lists? If this isn't "spiritually significant" (in the best sense of the word), I don't know what is.
Movie comment on Maximum Overdrive
MrE2Me
A perfect example of "so bad it's good," this was Stephen King's first and last attempt at directing. Hilarious elements include a killer vending machine, a killer lawnmower, and Emilio Estevez.Movie comment on Sukai kurora
MrE2Me
A typically "deep" story from Oshii. Some beautiful animation (especially the flying sequences) and music, but it's all so very slow and plodding that it fails where his earlier work succeeded. Be sure to watch to the end of the credits, where a key scene unfolds.Movie comment on The Station Agent
MrE2Me
Virtually plotless, there is an indefinable charm about this movie and its characters that make it stand out. Great viewing for a rainy day or an antisocial mood.Movie comment on Waiting for 'Superman'
MrE2Me
This is essential viewing, especially for Americans. The state of education is probably the single most important facing us (and everyone else, really), and the subject is handled tactfully and looked at from all sides. At times infuriating, depressing, but also hopeful, we get to know a handful of kids who have a shot at getting out of their scholastic ruts (caused by myriad obstacles, from poverty to "too big to fail" teachers' unions) via "lotteries" at schools they hope to attend.This was robbed of an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary, which is a damn shame. I'm also saddened to see that, as of the time of this post, only 15 people have checked it here. I hope to see it included on some lists with time. Highly recommended!
Movie comment on La strada
MrE2Me
Charming but tragic, this is a good place to start for Fellini beginners. The lead actress (Giulietta Masina) reminds me of a female Stan Laurel, with her childlike innocence and expressive face.Movie comment on Cannibal Holocaust
MrE2Me
Finally forced myself to sit through this. I guess it's one of those "you had to be there" (when it first came out) situations, because aside from the atrocious scenes with real animals, I was more bored than disturbed. The authentic locations and surprisingly good music do most of the work. The effects are decent, but the "plot," the "acting," and the extremely heavy-handed "message" undermine what could have been a legitimately effective film. I can't think of a film more deserving of the "exploitation" tag. Whether that's a good thing or a bad one is up to the viewer to decide.Movie comment on The Cove
MrE2Me
I was afraid to watch this, too, and refrained from doing so for a long time. (Real animal cruelty is the hardest thing for me to watch.) However, it's very tastefully done, and makes its case without going overboard with the inherently disturbing footage. This is guerrilla filmmaking of the best kind. A must-watch: what's being exposed is wrong on so many levels, and has far-reaching repercussions.Movie comment on Four Lions
MrE2Me
Smart and insightful, funny and sad, this is a gutsy, honest film that begins on the wacky side but gradually cuts deeper and deeper until the laughs stick in your throat. By the end, you're not sure if this is a comedy at all. Probably the best mockery of religion since Monty Python's Life of Brian. I hope this eventually gets a spot on more lists.Movie comment on Valhalla Rising
MrE2Me
Surprisingly pensive. It alternates between long, slow and silent sequences and brief, brutal bursts of violence. Not much happens, not much is said, but it's quite beautiful to look at and very skillfully done. Always refreshing when a film lets its audience do some of the work, instead of spoon-feeding them every step of the way.Movie comment on Days of Heaven
MrE2Me
Gorgeous in every respect.Movie comment on Chasing Amy
MrE2Me
The only Kevin Smith movie I could possibly sit through more than once.Movie comment on The Bonfire of the Vanities
MrE2Me
Shamefully bad adaptation of an excellent novel. Considering the talent involved, this is an embarrassment.Movie comment on Ghostbusters
MrE2Me
"Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!" Bill Murray rules.Movie comment on Freeway
MrE2Me
Reese Witherspoon as you've never seen her before (and will never see her again). This movie is so tasteless, but I just can't help loving it.Movie comment on Joshû sasori: Dai-41 zakkyo-bô
MrE2Me
Meiko Kaji is so bad-ass. I was overjoyed when I heard Tarantino use her songs in the Kill Bill films.Movie comment on Fantasia 2000
MrE2Me
Surprisingly good, considering its predecessor is my favorite Disney film. The between-segment skits are annoying, and the tone in general is lighter, but there's still a good balance. The last sequence is just breathtakingly beautiful to look at.Movie comment on Fantasia
MrE2Me
The best film Disney ever made (not counting the Pixar collaborations). Challenging, ambitious, creative, risky. Too bad the risk didn't pay off for them. The "sequel" Fantasia 2000 is pretty good, too.Movie comment on Duel
MrE2Me
Simple & effective story, done very well by a young and ambitious Spielberg. One of his best.Showing items 126 – 150 of 190