What Films Have You Seen Recently?

[Justin101]

Originally Posted by Nordicdusk

Going to attempt to watch Lawrence of Arabia for the first time it's a bank holiday weekend and I'm dying sick so this is the weekend to finally do it. I know I should be ashamed of myself not seeing such a classic film

I watched it last summer and it's great, I hope you like it.

[Justin101]

Originally Posted by Nordicdusk

Attachment 254940

British Lieutenant Lawrence Is sent to Arabia to aid Prince Faisal and be the middle man between the Arabs and the British army but Lawrence in conflicted and decides lead the Arabs into battle to take a Turkish settlement and port. But the harsh reality of war wears Lawrence down and he starts to question his own identity which he is rapidly losing to the desert.

As I mentioned last night this was my first time watching the film and I was blown away by the beauty of the whole thing the cinematography is out of this world every single shot is so beautiful everything thing was just done on a epic scale watching man horse and camel ride thought the desert filled me with wonder and joy just a fascinating land so hostile but so beautiful. Aside from visually the music sound and acting are all top tier and for a film that's almost 4 hours long I honestly didn't feel the time go by. My only criticism of the whole thing was Anthony Quinns fake nose .

With the length of the film I don't think it's one I'd return to often maybe next time I'm sick I'll throw it on and marvel at it's beauty once again and it may raise my spirits just like it has done this morning.

My last post seems a bit out of date now

[Justin101]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

@Nordy - Someone else has just recommended me Longlegs.

My anticipation levels are bloody soaring now. Easter here we come...only a month to go. Boo!!!

I really liked Longlegs up until a point when I really didn't like it any more, obviously everyone is different and some people love the film, but maybe don't hype yourself up too much, just in case

[Nordicdusk]

Originally Posted by Justin101

I really liked Longlegs up until a point when I really didn't like it any more, obviously everyone is different and some people love the film, but maybe don't hype yourself up too much, just in case

I went in expecting it to be the usual over hyped s**t so my expectations were low.

Forget about zero how about SUB ZERO

[Nosferatu@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

You are the only person i know of who moaned about the action in Sisu.

I saw it once quite awhile ago and thought the action was entirely in keeping with the film's plot, tone, and aesthetic, and it would be a lesser viewing experience without such an outrageously entertaining depiction of dispatching Nazis.

I've been wanting to watch it ever since my brother rented it for a weekend about a year ago and didn't manage to see it before his Netflix subscription ended, so will probably buy a copy from HMV to enjoy it again at home.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Nosferatu@Cult Labs

I saw it once quite awhile ago and thought the action was entirely in keeping with the film's plot, tone, and aesthetic, and it would be a lesser viewing experience without such an outrageously entertaining depiction of dispatching Nazis.

I've been wanting to watch it ever since my brother rented it for a weekend about a year ago and didn't manage to see it before his Netflix subscription ended, so will probably buy a copy from HMV to enjoy it again at home.

I'v been meaning to order a Blu for over 12 months now and never got round to it.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

The Last Picture Show (1971)

If George Lucas' American Graffiti (1973) was a night in the life of a group of college graduates then Peter Bogdanovich's The Last Picture Show is a year in the life of a small Texan town. Based on Larry McMurtry's novel this is a masterclass in how to create fully rounded characters and then give them real lives to live.

Bogdanovich is to be applauded for filming the piece in stark black and white. It really feels like an example of fifties cinema, ala Huston's The Misfits.

Where The Last Picture Show truly exceeds though is in it's creation of real people living actual lives. Jeff Bridges and Cybil Shepherd are both excellent but it's the roles of veteran western actor Ben Johnson, young Timothy Bottoms and Cloris Leachman that give the film it's true feel of authenticity and make it such a rewarding viewing experience.

Like American Graffiti the film is a nostalgic look back to the fifties and in a way partly a love letter to the films of Howard Hawks, John Ford and so forth. Hawks' Red River is the last movie to be shown in the town's dying picture house and in so doing creates a feeling of true melancholy and sadness as all good things come to an end and lost innocence is all but forgotten.

This is a masterpiece of cinema.

Footnote - I all too briefly met Peter Bogdanovich at a book signing for Who the Hell's In It? in which Bogdanovich essays and interviews Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, James Cagney, Bogart, Bacall, Brando, Chaplin, Audrey Hepburn, Sinatra, Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, John Wayne and more. I haven't read it. I'm waiting for the perfect time and place. It hasn't happened yet in twenty years of owning the book.

[nicholasrope]

Originally Posted by Nordicdusk

Sorry I missed this comment when you posted it I agree some films just don't grow with you.

No problems

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

The Informers (1963)

This hard boiled, pulp British crime thriller sees Nigel Patrick's CID inspector, well known throughout the criminal underworld for his use of informants, framed with the proceeds of a bank job he's on the verge of cracking. Patrick has to go it alone whilst being pursued by the law and Frank Finlay's crime syndicate.

As good as anything coming out of America, The Informers is a terrific film. Moody, violent and crackling with rage, especially from the slimy Derren Nesbitt, a thug moving up in the world who treats women like dogs, giving the film a sharp cutting edge, and that's before we get to the stabbings, gang warfare and shootings. The film originally had an X certificate and you can see why.

Fast moving with a clever script and a cast of seemingly hundreds of well known British stars, The Informers is highly recommended.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Calling Dr. Death (1943)

The first movie in The Inner Sanctum Mysteries film series which was based on the popular radio series of the same name.

Lon Chaney jr plays Mark Steele, a neurologist who has lost his memory of the last weekend when he learns his wife has been brutally murdered at their cabin retreat. Their relationship having been at breaking point for ages he believes he could be the killer, something the police inspector on the case (J. Carrol Naish) also believes. Wracked with guilt when another man is charged with the killing Steele asks his nurse / secretary Stella (Patricia Morison) for help in recovering his memories.

Reginald LeBorg's film is a tightly plotted affair which goes at a fair pace, needed for something running only 62 minutes and is actually quite exciting as it races towards it's finale. Chaney was extremely sympathetic as the neurologist with a conscience and hold the film together nicely whenever he's on screen whilst his voice over gave a sense of the noir and Naish was almost Columbo like in his pursuit of Chaney and his probable guilt, although it became apparent even to me who the actual killer was long before the denouement.

I actually really enjoyed this and i look forward to seeing the other five films in the box set from Eureka - The image and sound quality was immaculate.