What is the last movie you saw? and rate it.

Another old classic movie

Big Country ~ by Billy Wilder, starring Gregory Peck, Charleton Heston, Burl Ives (won the Oscar for his supporting performance), Chuck Connors, Jean Simmons, etc.

This movie was much better than I expected. I figured it was a cowboy movie but really now I would not call it such. It was much more than that. One person writing a good review on Amazon said it dealt with the theme of 'East meets West'.
Basically, the plot is this; young man (Peck), a former sea captain comes to the West to marry his sweetheart, he is very smart/diplomatic and does not believe in solving disputes by violence. When he arrives her family (more weathly and established) are warring with a neighbor rancher, who is not so well off. He has sons and they are somewhat bully's but the rich rangers hands are directed by him and they also are as bad if not worse. Now what issues is a little teasing and hazing when he arrives and the girls father takes action to teach the other clan a lesson. Needless to say this animosity mounts and what it boils down to is a feud between the two top men over a piece of land which has an large area of water to sustain their cattle. The land is owned by a school teacher (Simmons) and she will not sell to either party. I won't give anymore of the plot away.
This was a very well thought out script, and although the plot is not terribly intricate, it is the amazing actors who make this film a fine one. Peck is wonderful as the displaced man trying to stick to his principals, Heston is moody and actually carrying a torch for the financee, so he is hates Peck right off. Burl Ives will surprise you. Chuck Connors plays his role impecably. Performances are quiet and nuanced - facial expressions are subtle and tell all. The film is shot beautifully - wonderful scenery and cinamatography. It also has some humor, which is so well paced. I love the Mexican man who tends the horses; he's wonderful and sometimes steals the show! The wide open spaces and the beautiful western sceney make the film live up to it's name. The interactions between the women and the men is also a good part of this film and this is fully fleshed out.
I think this is a little known gem, since mostly the other Wilder films were such aclaimed ones, but this film has great merit and stands by itself and the test of time. The theme of violence verses non-violence is universal making this a classic. The end is incredible. Scenes in the canyon are like nothing I have ever seen in a western films before; the canyon is so white and there are some very interesting cave, cliff and rock formations. Just the scenery alone made this film worth it - to be emersed in rugged and natural world, so unlike my very own.
I would probably give this film a 9/10 because of it's pace and length (3 hours or longer), but it interested me all the way up to the climax and the ending, and I am not a big fan of cowboy movies. But as I said this is much more than that!
Classic - they don't make them like this anymore.

Jesus Camp 10/10

Hands down the best documentary of the year. It's so eery to see all these kids absolutely ruled by fear. SEE THIS.

Les Miserables with Liam Neeson, Geoffery Rush and Claire Danes.

Probably 9/10. I watched this today and I thought it was beautiful. Liam Neeson's acting was incredible as usual. I haven't read the book yet so I cannot say anything about accuracy. I recommend it, great movie.

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Originally Posted by eleniel

Les Miserables with Liam Neeson, Geoffery Rush and Claire Danes.

Probably 9/10. I watched this today and I thought it was beautiful. Liam Neeson's acting was incredible as usual. I haven't read the book yet so I cannot say anything about accuracy. I recommend it, great movie.

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YUCK! I hate when they cinematize beautiful classics!!! Look at the mess the filming industry did with Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment! It's a disgrace.. Some books are just far better off not being adapted into films no matter how good they are. I know that's not how a lot of you feel but I think it really is pathetic because it takes the immaculate originality of the novel as you know it and irrationally condenses it into a skimpy motion picture which slices half the facts present in the book and adds contemporanous nonsense to have more a mass appeal with today's audience. It compromises all the proverbial glory. :(

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Originally Posted by Janine

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Originally Posted by manolia
'The mission' with Jeremy Irons, Robert De Niro, Liam Neeson (in fact some of the actors i like so much). 9/10. A very interesting movie and deeply disturbing since these things have happened in the not so distant past. The music score by Morricone is excellent and adds perfectly to the movie. The photography is great and the acting too. Jeremy Irons in a very touching and sensitive performance.

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I have never seen this movie but I love the score...Gabriel's Oboe and The Falls!! Great movie score!

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Originally Posted by Adolescent09

Just saw The Prestige

10/10. This film easily transcended my highest expectations in both the delivery of performance (especially Hugh Jackman) and the joyride of twists in the plot.

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I liked this film...though the novel is so much better...very eerie!! Try reading it if you haven't already!

"Come and See" -- Elim Klimov, 1985

This is the bleakest film I have ever seen. It is basically a depiction of a young (as in, fifteen perhaps) man deciding to join a group of Partisans in battling the Nazis in Russia. He goes deaf pretty early on due to some dropped bombs, and he loses his fellows soon after, so he's wandering about the place with this peasant girl trying to stay alive, while watching very nearly everyone he encounters fail at doing this. I could not believe some of the scenes in this film. Horror after horror after horror...and then, near the end, will we have some sort of edifying contrivance to keep us from leaving the movie in tears of sadness and disgust? Will the brutality be balanced by some hopeful glimmer of pleasantry? Nope. Instead we get possibly the most monolithic man- (and woman- and child-) slaughter ever filmed, and it takes so long! Such unbearable tension! And then after this? More bleakness, my friend... Nothing contrived here.
I will never watch this again; but I consider it one of the best films I've seen - certainly the best war film. There is no romanticizing or glorifying here. It's a war movie. People go to war. It's not a happy scene. For anyone. And the last scene is such a tensely, violently sad thing...
Additionally, one does not seem to hear much about the things happening in Belurussia during WWII. One hears a good deal about Jews and Slavs in concentration camps, but little of the village-razing in Russia, so it was rather interesting to see a different perspective.

10/10

"The Portrait of a Lady" -- Jane Campion, 1996

Altogether I did not think this was an awful film, even as an adaptation. However, it is a large book, and makes for a great deal of fascinating, delightful (in the darker sense) reading that a two-hour representation is doomed to miss. Even still, it could have been worse. I found the beginning of it (as in, Campion's own bizarre insertion - totally unrelated to James's novel or to the rest of the film) positively goofy, totally irrelevant, and almost enough to make one give up before the thing starts. There is another of these - though certainly less irrelevant - toward the middle. *potential readers of novel stop reading; slight spoiler ahead*
When Isabel is about to marry Osmond in the book, of course, the narrative ceases to follow her - between the end of one chapter and the beginning of the next we go from her potential and universally-dreaded engagement to a year later being on the brink of marriage - the effect being to close off the reader from this creature with whose more independent inclinations he has (hopefully) sympathized. In the film this is done through a very strange black-and-white sequence depicting images of Isabel in foreign settings (one recalls the pyramids) and some other strange things (like a plate full of little mouths squirming aroung reciting Osmond's words: "I am absolutely in love with you"; plus that malevolent hand of Osmond's reaching around her waist - which shows up on the cover). WEIRD! But...
For the rest, it more or less followed the novel, best I can remember (it's been a little over a year since I've read it), with naturally several omissions. Strangely, I actually remembered having a lot more sympathy for Madame Merle and for Caspar Goodwood in the film than in the novel. Plus, of course, the film uses, in several places, a Schubert impromptu which I learned a year or so ago, which was cool... While I liked Ralph Touchett in the movie, it was nothing like the very deep connection I felt with the guy in the novel (he remains my favorite literary character).
The real tragedy of this movie, though, I think, is that it omits one crucial scene in the story which disappointed me terribly: the scene in which Isabel figures it all out, in the space of a moment and totally unnoticed by the parties involved, is missing completely! I can somewhat understand the omission, as her realization depends, to a degree, on social proprieties which do not really exist for the modern film audience, though I still think it could have been accomplished...
Great music.
7/10

"My Bodyguard" from early 80's. This film holds up, still very touching.

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Originally Posted by Idril

I absolutely love this movie! It's a devastating movie, absolutely devastating. One of the things I like about the movie is that even though Fathers Gabriel and Rodrigo choose very different paths in dealing with something they have no control over, neither are presented as the 'right' way, both are equally as powerful and ultimately, equally as futile. And as you said, the cinematography and musical score are flawless. This movie always makes my top-ten list. :thumbs_up

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I am glad you like it too! It made my top list already :). I liked the De Niro - Irons combination.

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Originally Posted by Janine

manolia, Are you being serious or are you poking fun at my lovely review?:lol:

manolia, My review was to prepare anyone who is going to view this film and his latest endeavor. His character is a far cry from Jack Sparrow in "Pirates"! He makes it quite clear in the beginning that you won't like him at all. Just that is a challenge - trying not to like someone who looks like Johhny Depp:lol:

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Janine i was teasing you :lol:. But i believe that you were right. Most people i know agree with you about this film and besides you are an excellent film critic (or at least our tastes are similar). That's why i havent yet seen it, although i am a big fan of JD (besides being one of the most handsome men i have seen, he is an excellent actor as well and that -of course- is the most important.) I like his performance in all his movies even the most 'obscure' ones (like 'The Brave'. A very interesting film starring JD and Marlon Brando which in fact JD has directed).

Last movies i watched:

"Through a glass darkly" by Bergman 10/10.An excellent film. You must watch it!!
"Y ta mama tabien" by Cuaron 8/10
"The devil's advocate" 8/10

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Originally Posted by Jamesian

"Come and See" -- Elim Klimov, 1985

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:thumbs_up I want to see this one soooo much. A few months back i watched "Matyorov" by Klimov and i was amazed..Have you seen it?? It's a wonderful film. Absolutely beautiful. The one you saw ('Come and see') is considered his best film (this of course is subjective). Nice review by the way.

300

Since I watched it with my 14 year old son it was a great experience. That probably sounds corny, but we don't do as much together as we used to. It was fun, staying up late, hooting and hollering.

The Sparta were completely outnumbered all the time. But their intense warrior nature made each one of them worth 10 of their opponents. It wasn't actually as gory as it could've been.

Poseidon

Just another Titanic, without Leonardo di Caprio (which is a plus in my opinion:).

4/10

Vacancy...
5/10
good for a cheap thrill.....

I just saw 300 about two weeks ago.....and I'm still blown away!!! I went to the 300 official web site (awesome!) and read the production notes, and was totally impressed on how the movie was made, the dedication of the actors & production crew in the face of negative criticism....read the graphic novel...read some historical accounts....and I still can't imagine the uproar over this incredibly unique movie! Most of those lines that seemed to some to be over-the-top overacting where actually said & recorded by the historian Herodotus....."Our arrows will blot out the sun!" the Spartan reply..."Then we will fight in the shade!" I love it!! The actors were perfectly cast, especially Gerard Butler as King Leonidas.......Rodrigo Santoro was excellent as Xerxes.
The movie is based on Frank Miller's graphic novel..an adaptation of the Battle of Thermopylae where King Leonidas & 300 Spartans defended their country from the vastly superior Persian army lead by King Xerxes. This historic battle united all Greece against the mighty invading force.....opening the doorway for democracy & freedom......."The world will know that few stood against many..." Yeah......Leonidas really said that! The visual nature of this film & the music are also stunning......Is this movie Over-the -top? Yep! There is action, humor, gore, tragedy,heroism, and yes...a little romance.......over all a genuinely fun movie!
I also saw The Prestige, and The Illusionist....both very good movies.

Debrasue

Babel ~Alejandro Gonzolas Inarritu

Interesting film, not told in sequencual order, but easy to piece together unlike, some films employing this technique of story telling. Set in 3 countries simultaneously it is a film of diversity, and culturally very interesting, as well. I think the main theme is the sheer breakdown in our modern world of communication and also how weapons of violence can get into the wrong hands; sadly enough too often those of children or innocents. The way the film and the separate stories all tie together at the end is worth waiting for, but I felt that the story in Japan was a bit aniclimatic; however perhaps that was the director's exact intention, and in a way now that I think of it, that may be brilliant. Keep this one quiet and also leave something for our imagination. I think there were a few things I felt that were a little far-fetched (unlikely to have a tie in) but I would rather not mention this - it would maybe spoil the show for someone else. Basically I felt the story totally realistic and believable.
I felt the film was very well done and that Brad Pitt actually did a fine job in his performance. I knew the guy could act from his fine young portrayal in "A River Run's Through it", and "12 Monkees". In this film his portrayal, at times, is finely tuned and quietly nuanced. I like those type performances very much. The filming and music added to the overall quality of the film. I would give it a 9/10. I liked this director's other film "21 Grams". This film has a similiar quality and I could feel his signature on the treatment of story/stories.

Also saw:

Mean Creek ~ Jacob Aaron Estes

I will comment on this indy film later. I don't have time now. It was quite good.

:) manolia, I will get back to you about your recent post. J

Janine, I liked your review on Babel. It did point out to a lot of modern problems on discrimination, amongst others, without stressing it out too much, but rather giving the viewer some interesting thoughts.
The story about the japanese girl was the one that really stood out for me and I do agree that the relation between all three simoultaneously is a bit far fetched. But it nevertheless has an intriguing way of putting things which are actually going on today in an interesting perspective.
I hadn't realised that the director has also done 21 Grams and it's very true that there is quite a lot of similarity between the two in the way the stories are told.

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Originally Posted by vheissu

Janine, I liked your review on Babel. It did point out to a lot of modern problems on discrimination, amongst others, without stressing it out too much, but rather giving the viewer some interesting thoughts.
The story about the japanese girl was the one that really stood out for me and I do agree that the relation between all three simoultaneously is a bit far fetched. But it nevertheless has an intriguing way of putting things which are actually going on today in an interesting perspective.
I hadn't realised that the director has also done 21 Grams and it's very true that there is quite a lot of similarity between the two in the way the stories are told.

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vheissu, thanks, I wanted to say more, but I could not think at the time; I was a little busy. I think it was a very good film, better than most that come out these days. You know, of all three stories, I had the hardest time connecting with the young girl. I suppose because I am of a older generation. But I did feel for her and thought she was quite disturbed.
Yes, I think a few things were a little contrived and unreal, but maybe it had to be that way to bring out the point of the film, sort of like a modern day fable. It certainly was an interesting film, all in all.
Yes, did you like "21 Grams"? I really did like that film and should re-watch it when I get a chance. It comes into my library often.

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Originally Posted by manolia

Janine i was teasing you :lol:. But i believe that you were right. Most people i know agree with you about this film and besides you are an excellent film critic (or at least our tastes are similar). That's why i havent yet seen it, although i am a big fan of JD (besides being one of the most handsome men i have seen, he is an excellent actor as well and that -of course- is the most important.) I like his performance in all his movies even the most 'obscure' ones (like 'The Brave'. A very interesting film starring JD and Marlon Brando which in fact JD has directed).

Last movies i watched:

"Through a glass darkly" by Bergman 10/10.An excellent film. You must watch it!!
"Y ta mama tabien" by Cuaron 8/10
"The devil's advocate" 8/10

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manolia, oh see I knew you were poking fun of me:bawling: ....:lol:

Since I wrote that a friend of mine (guy) convinced me it is a good film but even he said that Malcovitz is so into himself lately and really arrogant. I wished he was not in the film. I used to like the stuff he did but not so much anymore. I thought some stuff really did go over the top. This friend and I don't usually agree anyway, but some good points in the film we did agree on, such as JD's acting, which is hard to take considering how handsome and cute he is. What a sad degenerative person he plays in this film. He does have a shed of human decency, but only a shred and otherwise he is blazenly brazen and hard to figure out, but that may be the charm of the film.
Still one should always judge on your own and I would probably tell you to watch it for that reason. It is really not that distasteful, but some parts are. I have seen way worse. It is basically historical or at least 'based' on historic facts and so I found this part kept my interest.


I saw "Devil's Advocate" awhile ago; did you like it? I would like to hear you feedback and your take on the film. I thought it was pretty good with good performances, but real strange. I would say your 8/10 rating is fair.

"Through a glass darkly" by Bergman ~ I would love to see this film. I don't have assess to Bergman films, but I could try renting one at maybe Blockbuster. Not sure other than buying them, how to go about seeing them, or this one, for that matter.:(

Wow. I thought Pan's Labyrinth was a brilliant movie, but yeah... it was pretty damn graphic.

My boyfriend and I made the fatal mistake of taking his (conservative) parents along with us. If you've seen the movie then you'll understand why. They actually dealt with the violence and cruelty to children etc reasonably well.

It's amazing how seeing the reality and the fantasy of war and torture through the eyes of a child can ring so true. This movie really pulled out the child in me (well, I definately cried like a baby anyway!!).

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Originally Posted by manolia

:thumbs_up I want to see this one soooo much. A few months back i watched "Matyorov" by Klimov and i was amazed..Have you seen it?? It's a wonderful film. Absolutely beautiful. The one you saw ('Come and see') is considered his best film (this of course is subjective). Nice review by the way.

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I've not seen it, but it definitely sounds like it's worth checking out if I can find it someplace (for once I'm not finding something at Netflix...).
Yeah, I guess C&S was his last and is considered his best. It's definitely a great film, but it changes one a little... And it definitely has one of the best opening scenes I've encountered.

the last film I have loved is "The Lives of Others", the German film winner of the Oscar 2007 for the best foreigner film.
The movie’s plot is placed in Berlin, before Wall Fall, when East Germany's Secret Police (STASI), , used to spy everyone who had the misfortune to be drawn to the attention of the Police Direction.
One of those people is a writer, Sebastian Koch, who lives with his actress girlfriend in a flat which is bagged and monitored day and night.
Careful reports are filled up with every word said and every noise made, until the man responsible of the whole operation and in charge of find out proofs to accuse the writer of being an anti-regime menace, begin to fall under the spell of the couple's life, a sort of awakening from the nearly robotic attitude he had towards people and his life, and, instead of charging them with evidences founded out, he became their guardian angel in spite of all the pressure he receive from the above – a politician has reasons to get the writer out of his way.
The film is very moving and very beautiful and keep your attention to the end, and treats a subject for too many time forgotten by cinema.
I'd suggest it to everyone.

The last movie i saw was Pursuit of Happyness. It was sort of slow at the beginning but good by the ending. I would rate it a 7. I love Will Smith and this was a different kind of movie for him.

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Originally Posted by Aunty-lion

Wow. I thought Pan's Labyrinth was a brilliant movie, but yeah... it was pretty damn graphic.

My boyfriend and I made the fatal mistake of taking his (conservative) parents along with us. If you've seen the movie then you'll understand why. They actually dealt with the violence and cruelty to children etc reasonably well.

It's amazing how seeing the reality and the fantasy of war and torture through the eyes of a child can ring so true. This movie really pulled out the child in me (well, I definately cried like a baby anyway!!).

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I can't wait to see this movie. I''ve heard is great.

"16 Blocks". Watchable thriller with Bruce Willis. :yawnb:

"Machuca" -- Chilean, about "the" coup ala "Missing" but with kids instead. Has a little of everything, some kindness and some anger; the priest teacher was very good but the rich parents call him a "commie" because he's for the little guy too.

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow - I had to turn it off, I couldn't get passed Gwyneth Paltrows bad acting. And it seemed so promising.

0/5

Electric Shadows - Chinese. Very late in the film about the saddest moment seen in a long time, maybe ever. It is redeemed. This film is a lot deeper than it appears.

Spiderman 3....the worse of the 3 Spiderman movies....kinda cheesy and predictable......I hope they don't make a 4th one...

Mean Creek ~ indy film about kids that plan to play a joke on another kid who is an outcast and has turned into a real bully. So they plan to take him out for a boating excursion and picnic, to ultimately teach him a lesson. The kid is really nice while he thinks the other kids are sincere, but then the whole scene turns ugly when he finds out what they have been really planning. Right before this all, but one of the kids, pull out of the plan. Needless to say, things go horribly wrong; I don't want to give away any more details of this film, only to add that each kid is left to examine his own conscience. It is a good film, develops nicely and at a good pace and keeps ones interest. Photography is lovely on a creek or river in Oregon. The director takes the time to capture some very interesting images on the lake. The ending is very good and it is thought provoking. All the kids did a fine job in their repective roles. There are really no bad guys in this film just misunderstood kids some with problems. I felt this film was worth viewing. Probably would give it a 8/10.

Pursuit of Happyness ~ Will Smith

I really liked this film. It was very touching and I thought the performances wonderful. I had forgotten that the child is really Will Smith's son and he was so cute and natural in the role; they really they had wonderful chemisty. You could feel the real love between them and this greatly added to the film. It was a wise choice of the director to use his real son for the role. You could see the strong bond they have. I really liked the story, which took a little to progress and was thoughful, and I especially loved the idea of it being a true story. It was quite sad at times, but in the end it showed how persistence and perserverence can eventually pay off. Will Smith put out one of his very best performances I thought, especially in one of the final scenes which was very emotional. Both Will and his son were super! The extra features on the DVD showed the real man and he was an inspiration and very nice. I also liked the other extras - 'making of the film', etc - all were very entertaining. I would give this film an 8/10. I thought it was a very well done film.

Garden State

if you are the kind that like those movies that nothing intersting really happens but its still hipnotyze you (Natalie Portman) this one is a great one..

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Originally Posted by Weeping Willow

Garden State

if you are the kind that like those movies that nothing intersting really happens but its still hipnotyze you (Natalie Portman) this one is a great one..

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Weeping Willow, I loved "Garden State"! I really got a kick out of that film. My son told me to see it and I was not disappointed. The characters made the film, definitely not the plot, yet somehow to me it was interesting. I liked the creative touches in the direction/filming, such as the doctor's office, with all those certificates. It was quite well done and yes, it definitely "hynotises you" (good way of phrasing it, W) and the acting was superb! I would rate it highly and I would watch it again, no doubt. Funny, ironic and serious all roled into one. Good balance and a good film. I believe it is the actor/director/writer's first feature film and he received much attention for it - I think he won an Oscar that year -- best screenplay --for this fine endeavor.

Femme Fatale (2002)Director: Brian De Palma, Starring:Rebecca Romijn,
Antonio Banderas

Product Descriptionfrom Amazon
"Femme Fatale is a contemporary film noir about an alluring seductress (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos) suddenly exposed to the world -- and her enemies -- by a voyeuristic photographer (Antonio Banderas) who becomes ensnared in her surreal quest for revenge."


Following is an
Amazon.com reviewer:

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The sheer pleasure of watching movies is celebrated in Brian De Palma's dazzling Femme Fatale. Working from his own intricate screenplay, De Palma indulges all of his trademark obsessions, upping the ante on Hitchcock (again) with a Vertigo-like plot that begins with an audacious heist at the Cannes film festival (another sexy, violent tour de force for De Palma). From there, the stunning thief Laure (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos) assumes a new identity, marries a U.S. senator (Peter Coyote), and returns to Paris where a tenacious paparazzo (Antonio Banderas) becomes a patsy in her multilayered scheme. De Palma's weaving a web of nonsense, but his plotting is so exuberantly absurd--and his frame so full of visual clues and relevant detail--that Femme Fatale becomes a joyous thrill ride at first encounter, and a crazily logical (and grandly rewarding) movie on subsequent viewings. In her best role to date, Romijn-Stamos is everything you'd want a femme fatale to be, in a thriller that constantly challenges you to question what you're seeing. --Jeff Shannon

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My thoughts: I like Brian De Palma's films and this one did not disappoint me. I liked the way the film advanced and I liked the little details you really had to pay attention to - they were very Hitchock-like and I like films that are intricate such as this one was. The use of split screens worked well in this film - I don't think the director used more than two at a time. Usually my brain cannot process more than two. It did make the film interesting and the woman's wardrobe was very stylish (updated) and also recalled me to films such as "Vertigo". I thought Bandaros did a great job in his role of photographer and Romijn-Stamos, as I understood it from the feature film on the DVD has not done much acting before this. She was quite good I thought.
The film recalls me to "Body Heat" with Katherine Turner.
I liked the film and was not a bit disappointed. I would definitely watch it again, and think I probably would see a lot I had missed in the first viewing, little details of things and clues. Even the director stated this happened to him on a second viewing. Also De Palma picks such interesting locations - in one scene you see the Eiffel Tower lighted behind the actors standing on a bridge. You hardly notice it at first since you concentration is on the action and the actors but then you see it and it is amazing as the backdrop. Many of the sets and locations were great like that and added much to the film. They and the great score were characters in themselves.

Local Hero.....a 10!

Debrasue

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Originally Posted by Janine

Weeping Willow, I loved "Garden State"! I really got a kick out of that film. My son told me to see it and I was not disappointed. The characters made the film, definitely not the plot, yet somehow to me it was interesting. I liked the creative touches in the direction/filming, such as the doctor's office, with all those certificates. It was quite well done and yes, it definitely "hynotises you" (good way of phrasing it, W) and the acting was superb! I would rate it highly and I would watch it again, no doubt. Funny, ironic and serious all roled into one. Good balance and a good film. I believe it is the actor/director/writer's first feature film and he received much attention for it - I think he won an Oscar that year -- best screenplay --for this fine endeavor.

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I think what made that film, or at least what had a large part in making that film was the soundtrack. They picked the absolute perfect song to fit the mood of the scene it was featured in, it was almost a character in and of itself.

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Originally Posted by Idril

I think what made that film, or at least what had a large part in making that film was the soundtrack. They picked the absolute perfect song to fit the mood of the scene it was featured in, it was almost a character in and of itself.

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I absolutely agree with that Idril; you know so often recently I have heard directors say that about the score and it is completely true. The score is often a character in itself. Also set design, or location. Every song is Garden State was just perfect for the scene - you are right.

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Originally Posted by Janine

manolia, oh see I knew you were poking fun of me:bawling: ....:lol:

Since I wrote that a friend of mine (guy) convinced me it is a good film but even he said that Malcovitz is so into himself lately and really arrogant. I wished he was not in the film. I used to like the stuff he did but not so much anymore. I thought some stuff really did go over the top. This friend and I don't usually agree anyway, but some good points in the film we did agree on, such as JD's acting, which is hard to take considering how handsome and cute he is. What a sad degenerative person he plays in this film. He does have a shed of human decency, but only a shred and otherwise he is blazenly brazen and hard to figure out, but that may be the charm of the film.
Still one should always judge on your own and I would probably tell you to watch it for that reason. It is really not that distasteful, but some parts are. I have seen way worse. It is basically historical or at least 'based' on historic facts and so I found this part kept my interest.

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Oh don't worry Janine. I'll see the film anyway (since JD is in it). But it's nice to know what to expect , so i won't be disappointed. I agree with what you say about Malcovitz. Some of his last films were bad.

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Originally Posted by Janine

I saw "Devil's Advocate" awhile ago; did you like it? I would like to hear you feedback and your take on the film. I thought it was pretty good with good performances, but real strange. I would say your 8/10 rating is fair.

"Through a glass darkly" by Bergman ~ I would love to see this film. I don't have assess to Bergman films, but I could try renting one at maybe Blockbuster. Not sure other than buying them, how to go about seeing them, or this one, for that matter.:(

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I have seen 'Devil's Advocate' more than 5 times. It's not that the film is THAT good. But Al Pacino is the leading man, playing the devil and he is so good in this role. Even Keanu Reeves (whom i consider as a bad actor) isn't capable of spoiling the film.

I believe that every Bergman movie is an experience in itself. In my opinion 'Through a glass darkly' is one of his best. Prior to watching it, in order to understand it better, you must know that Bergman grew up in an austere religious environment and that explains a lot about his films.

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Originally Posted by Jamesian

I've not seen it, but it definitely sounds like it's worth checking out if I can find it someplace (for once I'm not finding something at Netflix...).
Yeah, I guess C&S was his last and is considered his best. It's definitely a great film, but it changes one a little... And it definitely has one of the best opening scenes I've encountered.

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The english title is "Farewell" or " Farewell to Matyora" and the russian title is "Proshchanie y Matyorov" or "Proshchanie". It's seems that there is a confussion about the title. The broschure of the movie club of which i am a member says "Matyorov". Figures..

A Beautiful Mind ~ Ron Howard, starring Russell Crow and Jennifer Connelly

I saw this film bebore several years ago and I think it is such an excellent film. The performances are great, direction is masterful, and the story is very touching. I love stories that keep you guessing and this one did on first viewing. I had a lot of surprises. It still holds up with more viewings but never quite the impact of seeing it the first time and realising certain things for the first time. I liked the way the story and film were so well constructed and presented. Being a period piece and based on a biography I thought everything was done well - sets, music, costumes. A near perfect film!


Outrage! (1996) ~ Carlos Saura, starring a young Antonio Banderas, Francesca Neri.

Well, first off Antonio Bandaras is such good eye-candy in any film, but I found his youthful looks in this film of particular curiosity. Also the film is in Spanish, his native tongue, with subtitles. I suppose this was prior to his big Hollywood stardom days. He is really adorable with his hair short, a little curly and he wears glasses, he is a reporter - maybe a Clark Kent type to some extent. He is sweet and a little naive which makes him even more appealing. The woman, Francesca Neri, I have never seen before and she really was quite stunning. She played her role well; you really felt for her after the outrage that is done to her, which perpetrates the resulting plot and actions.
I thought the film was good, better than I thought. We always see films about the 'fall of man', but this is a sort of 'fall of woman', which I found to be an interesting reversal. The plot was pretty simplistic and shocking, but somehow I thought it was quite predictable. The end was not surprising to me at all. Not a particularly clever film in storyline, but worth seeing if you are a Bandaras fan. Filming was good and characters were convincing.