The Assassin (L'assassino) (1961) 8.5/10
Liam (2000) 7.5/10
Tracks (2013) 8/10
Piagol (1955) 8.5/10
I saw "The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle" (1939). Although it starred Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers and there is singing and dancing in the film, this is different to all their other films in being based on a real dance couple. The latter third of the film is set during WW1 with Vernon Castle who was British enlisting as a pilot and being killed in a plane accident so the film ends on a sombre note.
I also resaw "Sleepy Hollow" (1999), good Tim Burton gothic film with plenty of lopping off of heads courtesy of Christopher Walken minus head.
Dreamgirls [2006] 5/10
Bit like an extended music video. Quite superficial - fell in between being a musical and a dark cautionary tale of the perils of the music business.
I watched Solomon Kane (2009) which starred James Purefoy. Dark fantasy film set in early 17th century England. The name Solomon Kane means nothing to me but it came as no surprise when I saw in the closing credits that the film was based on the character created by Robert E Howard as there were similarities with Conan the Barbarian.
The standouts in the supporting cast were needless to say Pete Posthlewaite and Alice Krige in the early part of the film as a husband and wife. There was a glaring anachronism to me in that their daughter was named Meredith. That is derived from the Welsh Meredydd. Although a surname, it was and is also used as a Christian name, but at that time would have been only given to boys. It is only in more recent times that the Americans have chosen to give it to girls (that goof is on IMDB).
Originally Posted by jackassfan:
I had though for a moment you had seen the Orson Welles version:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt01...1/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_3
IMDB shows the film's date as 1992 but Welles started the film in 1955, worked on it over the years but never finished it. It was completed by others by 1992.
I watched Mad Money (2008) which starred Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah, Katie Holmes and Ted Danson. Remake of the British television Hot Money (2001) which starred Caroline Quentin.
Also rewatched Fantastic Voyage (1966) starring tiny versions of Stephen Boyd, Raquel Welch and Donald Pleasance. Quite good for its time.
I rewatched The American President (1995), which starred Michael Douglas and Annette Bening, and also featured Martin Sheen, Michael J Fox and Richard Dreyfuss. More of a romantic comedy than political. Directed by Rob Reiner and scripted by Aaron Sorkin who later created The West Wing television series.
First assistant director was Frank Capra III, grandson of Frank Capra, director of films such as Mr Smith goes to Washington which is a more powerful political romantic serious comedy.
I watched Accidental Hero AKA Hero (1992). The film didn't work for me. Odd coincidence that Geena Davis should be in two seriocomedy films with titles stating with Accidental though totally unrelated. I preferred The Accidental Tourist.
Chevy Chase was in quite a lot of the scenes but was uncredited, the reason being that at the time he was under contract with a different studio and was only permitted to work in the film as long as he was not credited.
Blue Ruin (2013) 7/10
I watched Half Past Dead (2002), a rubbish Steven Seagal film. The only reason for watching it was that I saw that Linda Thorson was in the cast. I hadn't seen her for many years. She was Tara King in The Avengers television series, after Diana Rigg left, and before Joanna Lumley in the New Avengers.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire [2013] 8.5/10
A rollicking good adventure. Jennifer Lawrence combines star charisma with girl next door likeability. Supporting cast are great too, not least the late Philip Seymour Hoffman.
The Double (2013) 6/10
Originally Posted by jackassfan:
That's one of the few Hitchock films made after the early 1930s that I've never seen.
Originally Posted by El Loro:
Originally Posted by jackassfan:
That's one of the few Hitchock films made after the early 1930s that I've never seen.
Family Plot and Topaz are the only ones i have not seen from the early 30s onwards
Sincere Heart (Magokoro) (1953) 9/10
El Loro what are your top 10 hitchcock films?
Mine are
Rear Window
Rebecca
North By Northwest
Lifeboat
Vertigo
Strangers On A Train
The Lady Vanishes
Shadow Of A Doubt
Foreign Correspondant
Rope
Very similar to yours though I would include The 39 Steps rather than Rope. I would probably include The Birds rather then Lifeboat.
Family Plot is worth seeing though not a classic. Topaz is stodgy and not very good.
Interesting that you don't include Psycho. I don't include it as it's not a likeable film and that, because of its unexpected success, it effectively created the slasher movie genre which is as unsubtle as any.
Originally Posted by El Loro:
Very similar to yours though I would include The 39 Steps rather than Rope. I would probably include The Birds rather then Lifeboat.
Family Plot is worth seeing though not a classic. Topaz is stodgy and not very good.
Interesting that you don't include Psycho. I don't include it as it's not a likeable film and that, because of its unexpected success, it effectively created the slasher movie genre which is as unsubtle as any.
The Birds and 39 Steps are both just outside my top 10
Psycho is a good film but it is highly overrated