What Classics Did You See Last Week (June 29–July 5)
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unex — 9 months ago(July 06, 2025 12:16 PM)
Nosferatu (2024) - The Robert Eggers remake of the F. W. Murnau original. Compared to the original the sets, the story, everything really is more fleshed out, but I don't think that makes for a better movie. The original is iconic but this one comes off as yet another horror film. One improvement is that Orlok and the events are more motivated. In the original things seem to happen on a whim.
Nosferatu (1922) - Rewatch. Compared to the remake it is distilled and subtle and I think Murnau had a better instinct for visuals than Robert Eggers. Orlok silently stalking around is more effective than his guttural droning in the remake.
Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979) - Rewatch. I think this is the best one. Werner Herzog puts his own spin on the story. The way I see it he tells a sort of inverted grail quest in which Dracula is both the Fisher King and grail and the grail drinks from you. Dracula seems less of a villain. He's too philosophical. -
spiderwort — 9 months ago(July 06, 2025 01:01 PM)
I've only seen the Murnau version, unex, but I really appreciate your comments about it. I think Murnau was a great director. And I appreciate your comments about the Herzog version, too, though I doubt that I will ever see it. I prefer to keep the memory of the silent version in my memory.
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spiderwort — 9 months ago(July 06, 2025 01:15 PM)
First viewing:
Backyard Wilderness / Susan Todd & Andrew Young
(2018). An exquisitely beautiful documentary short about a young girl who observes the seasons changing around her home and how it impacts the flora and fauna, revealing the hidden lives of the plants and animals that live in her country home back yard. The film’s visuals are stunning, focusing on the wonders of the natural world while the family is heard off-stage, with only some occasional voice over commentaries from the girl as a young adult commenting on what she witnessed growing up. One of the most unique and beautiful nature films I’ve ever seen. Highly recommended. (On Netflix)
Re-watches:
Man With a Movie Camera / Dziga Vertov
(1929). Filmmaker Vertov (born Denis Kaufman) provides a surrealistic view of Russia in this abstract, inventive and influential documentary that’s a brilliant experiment into the possibilities of the camera. One of this brothers, Mikhail Kaufman, is in the film, and his other brother, Boris Kaufman immigrated to American and became the Oscar winning cinematographer of many prominent films (
On the Waterfront, Twelve Angry Men
, et al). A must-see for those interested in film history. (On TCM through July 22nd. Also available on YouTube)
The Search / Fred Zinneman
(1948). An American soldier (Montgomery Clift) saves a war orphan (Ivan Jandl) from a desperate life on the streets of post-WWII Europe. It’s a deeply moving and very well-done film that’s a powerful examination of war’s impact on children. It received five Oscar nominations, including for both Clift and Zinneman, and the young Jandl received a well-deserved Juvenile Award. He had never acted before, didn’t speak English and had to learn his dialogue phonetically. I hadn’t seen it in decades, so it was almost like seeing it for the first time, and it moved me as much now as it did then. (On MAX)
Girl Crazy / Norman Taurog
(1943). A publisher’s playboy son (Mickey Rooney) falls for the dean’s granddaughter (Judy Garland) in an all male mining school. Together they organize a show to save the college from closure due to falling enrollments. My favorite of all the Rooney/Garland films, I think it’s their best musical that’s full of wonderful Gershwin songs, some performed by Harry James. Wonderful cinematography, too.
The Bride Came C.O.D. / William Keighley
(1941). A financially-strapped charter pilot (James Cagney) hires himself to an oil tycoon to kidnap his madcap daughter (Bette Davis) and prevent her from marrying a man he considers a worthless band leader. A film that both Cagney and Davis considered to be one of their worst, but it’s one that I’ve always enjoyed watching. For me it’s a real delight. -
JohnnyBoy — 9 months ago(July 06, 2025 07:03 PM)
https://thecineviewer.com/theapartment.html
https://thecineviewer.com/johnandmary.html
https://thecineviewer.com/murderiseasy.html
https://thecineviewer.com/holocaust.html
https://thecineviewer.com/capricornone.html
https://thecineviewer.com/thegreenemurdercase.html
https://thecineviewer.com/thebensonmurdercase.html
For tons of movie reviews, 60+ genre lists, best of the year lists, and other content, check out:
www.thecineviewer.com -
PygmyLion — 9 months ago(July 06, 2025 08:50 PM)
Drums Along the Mohawk
1939 Henry Fonda, Claudet Colbet, Edna Mae Oliver, John Caradine, Ward Bond. Director: John Ford. Frontier. Story of the strife of Americans living along the Mohawk river in NY during the Revolutionary War, and dealing with British led Indians. ***1/2
Madame X
1937 Gladys George, Warren William, John Beal. Jacqueline (George) is thrown out by her rich husband Bernard Fleuriot (William), and slowly drops into a life of degradation. Might have been better if it had been pre-code. ***
Other Men's Women
1930 Mary Astor, Grant Withers, Regis Tommey, James Cagney, Joan Blondell. ***
Lilly Turner
1933 Ruth Chatterton, George Brent, Frank McHugh, Guy Kibbee. ***
The Rich Are Always with Us
1932 Ruth Chatterton, George Brent, Bette Davis, John Miljan. ***
Detour
1946 Tom Neal, Ann Savage. Film noir. This film is considered a classic film noir, but I didn't find it that interesting. **1/2 -
Rufus-T — 8 months ago(July 07, 2025 08:24 PM)
The Fall Guy (2024)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1684562/
Ryan Gosling played a stunt man who was trying to recover his career, looking for the missing leading actor, dealing with a conspiracy, while trying hard to rekindle his romance with his film making girl friend played by Emily Blunt. This is based on a TV series for the early 80s starring Lee Major. It's a series I never watched and totally forgotten, but now remember it on TV spots. The series is now available on Prime. The movie is a action romantic comedy which felt messy at time. It was confusing in the beginning but do come together midway in the movie. What made it works for me is the wonderfully charming combo between Gosling and Blunt. There weren't much action until the second half. Not great, but enjoyable. Nice homage to the stunts.
Killer Joe (2011)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1726669/
I loved it the first and only time watched, and now it is available on Prime. A low intelligent guy in a dysfunctional family planned with his father and step mother to kill his mother whose beneficiary is his little sister, so he hired a corrupted local sheriff. This is a very dark movie with some perverted scenes. Yet, the story was so intriguing with outstanding performances that it was wo irresistible. Matthew McConaughey had a great run during the early 2010s, when he won his Oscar. This was one of his best playing the title character. Emile Hirsch played the guy with the plan. Juno Temple, probably her best role, played the little sister. Based on Tracy Letts' play, this was one of the last William Friedkin directorial works.
Vertigo (1958)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052357/
This is about my fourth or fifth watch of this Hitchcock great, yet rank in a lower tier than Psycho, Rebecca, Strangers on a Train, and Rear Window. The first time, it was creepy story. This time, I realized the Scottie trailing of Madeleine copied at least a couple times in de Palma movies, like in Dressed to Kill and Body Double. The scene is extended with hardly any dialogues, with mostly the perspective of the pursuer and some mysterious musical score. I don't know if other movies used this technique before this. For those who doesn't know, it is story about an investigator realized he has a fear of height, and his friend asked him to keep an eye on his wife who might be possessed by some person from the long past. If you haven't seen this movie, what are you waiting for?
MaXXXine (2024)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22048412/
A porn actress decided to switch to Hollywood film, but there is a serial killer on the loose killing young women. I later learn this is a 3rd part of a Ti West trilogy starring Mia Goth. This one supposed to be a direct sequel from the first one called "X". The second movie called "Pearl" is unrelated. This movie is quite self-contained. Unfortunately, I did not think Mia Goth was good, and I don not care much about the characters. A messy bloody horror show. Since I did not see the earlier film, I assume it is the same style. I guess enough people like it to make it a trilogy.
Trainwreck: Poop Cruise (2025)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt36856455/
One hour documentary about a 2013 cruise ship in that went awry, losing its power and the toileting capability. I believe Trainwreck is a Netflick series that about accident. I see the people being interviewed got a chuckle out of it and even poke fun at it, so I guess it is okay to find it very funny. I have never been to a cruise, though my sister kept insist on me going on one with her family. After watching this, I have to think about it.
The Lie: The Murder of Grace Millane (2023)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16732726/
A British young woman went to Australia for vacation after her college graduation. She disappeared and we follow the Australia investigator break the case. It is shown in 3 parts on Netflix. This crime documentary has a straight forward story. The twist of the story is that there weren't that many twist. I don't think it needed 3 parts.
Into the Fire: The Lost Daughter (2024)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33163756/
A woman got contacted because the investigator wanted her DNA to check a body of a dead young woman who could be her biology daughter who she gave up to adoption while she was still a teenager. This is another Netflix crime documentary, shown in two parts. However, it is one of excellent one. The story is wild and emotional. I love how the woman's persistence in finding out what happened to her daughter after she gave her up. She has a cool character too, with a sharp opinion. There is something touching about the idea brought up on the mother and daughter connection though they never met after the separation. It was emotionally impactful.
Waco: American Apocalypse (2023)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26687196/
A 3-parts documentary made about the Waco tragedy on its 30th anniversary. There was already an excellent documentary about the event called "Waco: The Rules of Engageme -
Rufus-T — 8 months ago(July 09, 2025 03:42 PM)
Shadow of a Doubt
should be in my top tier too. It has been awhile since I watched it, but still remember much of it. Several notable Hitchcock I haven't watched a long time and don't remember much including
Notorious
,
North by Northwest
, and both
The Man who Knew Too Much
. I just rewatched the later
The Man Who Knew Too Much
last night. Will post review next week. -
CoriSCapnSkip — 6 months ago(September 09, 2025 08:10 PM)
I watched:
The World of the Seekers
, 1968 Australian TV movie, on July 1 and
Wagon Train
, "The Sam Pulaski Story," on July 3. Normally I don't review TV series episodes, but Season 7, the only color season, had episodes an hour and a half long which practically qualify as movies. There was plenty of time for character development and this one really came through.