What Classics Did You See Last Week (November 10–November 16)
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ZolotoyRetriever — 1 year ago(November 17, 2024 09:07 PM)
I think you would get a kick out of
Movie Crazy
, what with its story all being centered on Hollywood movie-making. I really think Lloyd was a comic genius, but his strength, to me anyway, was more in his silent years. -
Rufus-T — 1 year ago(November 17, 2024 09:30 PM)
711 Ocean Drive (1950)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0042176/
An electrical company man likes to gamble. Using his technological skill, he moved his way up the gambling racket. The problem was he got too greedy, much like the arc of Tony Montana in the 80s Scarface, without the extreme violence and cursing. Starring Edmond O'Brien, the story built up very well to its climatic suspense. He doesn't have the tough appearance, but that sly cleverness and the overconfidence get him the money and the women. You even hear him talking the wiring technology of the time. The one who stood out was Otto Kruger who played the top honcho of the gambling crime organization. Very good noir
.
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (2009)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1183251/
A reporter noticed a pattern of a corrupt DA who is running to be a governor. He and his buddy colleague plan to set up the DA by putting themselves in a guilty watch of a murder to expose the corruption, meanwhile falling in love with the DA's protege. Could have been a good movie, but poorly executed like an action movie made for TV. Michael Douglas was very good playing the DA in the Gekko Gordon style. Other than that, the most other performances were lackluster, including Amber Tamblyn as the reporter's love interest. Jesse Metcalfe was flat as the reporter. This is a remade of a 1956 film which I will check out.
Basic Instinct (1992)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103772/
I remember liking this enough the first time seeing it. A highly sexy crime mystery. A woman author (Sharon Stone) is suspect of a gruesome murder. A detective (Michael Douglas) assigned to checked her case is falling for her. The Sharon Stone character is not only playing the mind of the Michael Douglas character, she and the whole movie is playing the mind of the viewers, sometime to the point of frustrating, and stupid at times. The performances, the Paul Verhoeven direction, and the excellent Jerry Goldsmith score made this a very watchable movie.
Obsession (1976)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074991/
One of the few Brian de Palma films that I have not watched yet until now. A business man visited Italy with his friend and fall for woman working in church. He pursued her and learnt of the dark secret regarding his own family. Like other many other de Palma, movie, you get Hitchcock reference. This time it is Vertigo. If you love Brian de Palma style, this is a very hypnotic movie. If not, the movie do seem silly at time. Like other de Palma movie, the musical score is often the highlight. No different this time. If fact, this time scored by the late Bernard Herrmann who got an Oscar nomination Posthumously.
Loan Shark (1952)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044847/
An undercover movie. A man who just came out of a just asked to enter into the loan racket that have been hurting the factory workers. Starring George Raft, at first I felt there were some miscasting. The story was intriguing and the performances were good that I have forgotten about it. The movie has a cheap look, with a romance angle that were not handled well and felt a bit distracting. It is no The Departed for sure, but there are enough goods here to be enjoyable.
Tension (1949)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041954/
A pharmacist loves his greedy and self-centered wife so much that he would do anything to please her. She however only humiliate him disrespect him in return by finding other men. Situation got out of hand and tragedy ensued. Audrey Totter, who played the wife, got to be one of the nastiest femme fatale on cinema. She stole the scenes whenever she appeared. Too bad she never took off in her career. You also get to see Cyd Charisse in a non-musical role. The one criticism I may have is the change of identity via contact lens, which first introduce around that time. If I can accept Clark Kent and Superman, I am letting this one go.
Moontide (1942)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035082/
A drifter (Jean Gabin) along with his buddy (Thomas Mitchell) visit a bar by the shore one night. He got drunk and next day realized a death occurred that night and that he might be responsible, but he had no memory, much like the The Hangover (2009) situation. Sounds like a mystery, but turned into a drama when he met and fell in love with a woman (Ida Lupino) who was caught about to commit suicide. With Fritz Lang as one of the director along with Archie Mayo, this turned out to be a very interesting drama with the Jean Gabin character facing his own demon along with the situation of the Thomas Mitchell character latching on and taking advantage of him. Beautifully shot. When you have two of the greatest supporting actors, Thomas Mitchel & Claude Rains, playing the supporting roles, you can't go wrong.
Still of the Night (1982)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084732/
A patient of a psychiatrist was murdered, and the psychiatrist gotten to know his patient's mistress who may or may not be involved in the murder. It is not a flashy movie, -
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PygmyLion — 1 year ago(November 18, 2024 03:09 AM)
I watched
Moontide
about a month ago, and thought it was pretty good. I, of course, enjoyed watching Ida Lupino. Jean Gabin was very good in his role also. A good film noir with an interesting plot twist in it. A little bit off the wall too, with Gabin and Lupino living on a bait barge along a breakwater in the harbor.