The Wrestler (2008) 9/10 2nd viewing
Mindless (Meeletu) (2006) 7/10
I watched "They Live by Night" (1948) which was Nicholas Ray's directorial debut and starred Farley Granger and Cathy O'Donnell. It was based on the book "Thieves Like Us" which was refilmed under that title in 1974 by Robert Altman.
Leigh Harlin wrote the music.This is some of it:
The first part seems to have been pinched from the traditional song "I Know where I'm Going" which was used in the Michael Powell film of the same name which was made 3 years earlier.
Ahlaam (2006) 8/10
I resaw Farewell My Lvely (1944). Excellent private detective film noir with Dick Powell as Philip Marlowe. The film was retitled Murder My Sweet in the States as until then Dick Powell was best known for musicals and comedies. No dancing in this film apart from when Marlowe first enters the Grayle residence and does a couple of seconds of tap dancing as he crosses the checkered floor.
Cracking dialogue - IMDB page is full of quotes:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt00.../quotes?ref_=tt_ql_3
I saw The Andromeda Strain (1971). Top quality early 1970s science fiction relying more on story telling (book by Michael Crichton) and acting rather than CGI effects. Exciting tense ending even though the outcome is known. Directed by Robert Wise, whose best science fiction film was 20 years before, the original The Day the Earth Stood Still.
The special effects were from Douglas Trumbull. His entry under Visual Effects on IMDB for SF films are 2001, this film, Silent Running, Close Encounters, Star Trek The Motion Picture (another Robert Wise film) and Blade Runner.
Annychka (1968) 8/10
I resaw the classic western "High Noon" (1952). Carl Foreman, the scriptwriter, was subsequently blacklisted through John Wayne who hated the film.
Although Once Upon a Time in the West, years later, is seen as challenging the traditional western, there are references in it to High Noon. Both films start without spoken dialogue (though OUATITW is longer). Both films have key scenes for the waiting for a train to arrive, though of course HN is at the end and OUATITW at the beginning. Both films have characters who play a harmonica. Probably other references but those came to mind when I saw High Noon.
I resaw "To Sir With Love" (1967), the film where Sidney Poitier, a new teacher, joins a school in the East End of London. A film very much of the 60s. Appearances for Judy Geeson, Suzy Kendall, Adrienne Posta, and Lulu, in her film debut, who also provided the song of the title which became a nimber 1 hit in the UK.
I haven't see the sequel made in 1996, which besides Poitier also featured Judy Geeson and Lulu at the behinning of the film where Poitier leave the UK to return to Chicago.
Calvary (2014) 8/10
I watched An Inspector Calls (1954) based on the play by J B Priestley and starring Alastair Sim in one of his best non-comedy roles. The film has been expanded out of the play by adding the external scenes as the play was house bound. One of the external scenes was on a tram and the tram conductor was played by George Cole (not credited). In the film the Inspector was renamed Poole instead of Goole.
A perfect role for Sim, and it's hard to imagine any other actor of the time, other than Alec Guinness, who could have been as good.
Metro Manila (2013) 8/10
Ida (2013) 9/10
I saw Madron (1970). Indifferent western with Richard Boone (who I remember from the series Hec Ramsey) and Leslie Caron as a nun. Very different from Two Mules for Sister Sara which is also a 1970 film.
I also saw Robin Hood (1991), the Patrick Bergin one which was made at the same time as the Kevin Costner RH - prince of thieves. As a result it went straight to cable in the States. The version I saw was the shorter version which is the one generally seen. It's not a bad film and is enjoyable. The film was shot in England and Wales and my ex girlfriend told me years ago that her uncle was one of the extras in the film.
Noah (2014) 4/10
Starbuck (2011) 7/10
Pari (1995) 8/10
Locke (2013) 8.5/10
I saw The Falcon's Brother (1942), part of the Falcon series of films. The Falcon was originally played by George Samders (as a sort of replacement to his series of The Saint films). He wanted out of the series, so he was replaced by Tom Conway. This is the transitional film where Sanders is replaced by Conway where they play brothers and were brothers in real life. Sanders was Conway's real surname.
I saw Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) starring James Franco, Frieda Pinto and Andy Serkis. Good film and is a reboot rather than a sequel. Directed by Rupert Wyatt who is British and this was his first big budget film. He had previously directed The Escapist which starred Brian Cox who also appears in this film. Serkis returns in Dawn, the sequel now on release.