Since I'm on the topic of things I've done in 2009, I might as well cover the books I've read that year. It's a mix of books I had to read for school and books I read for myself. Anyway, here's the list:
Color of the Sea by John Hamamura
The Witches of Eastwick by John Updike
Misery by Stephen King
Born on a Blue Day by Daniel Tammet
The Rustler by Linda Lael Miller
A Time to Kill by John Grisham
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Homecoming by Bernhard Schlink
The Last Picture Show by Larry McMurtry
The Film Club by David Gilmour
A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Ordinary People by Judith Guest
The Last Don by Mario Puzo
The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammet
A Drinking Life by Pete Hamill
A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
Born on the Fourth of July by Ron Kovic
Montana 1948 by Larry Watson
The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams
Glengarry Glen Ross by David Mamet
The Crucible by Arthur Miller
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Not as impressive as the movie list, but still that's a lot of reading in one year. What do you think?
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Movies Seen in 2009
It's been a helluva year for me. My interest in film has skyrocketed, hence the list. Anyway, here are all the movies I have seen in the year 2009 (yes, I keep track; I'm a nerd, deal with it):
A Beautiful Mind
On the Waterfront
A Few Good Men
Life is Beautiful
Rain Man
The Graduate
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
The Maltese Falcon
The Soloist
The Godfather
The Godfather Part II
The Godfather Part III
Casino Royale
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
The Seventh Seal
The 400 Blows
To Have and Have Not
Citizen Kane
Ordinary People
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
12 Angry Men
The Verdict
Field of Dreams
The Caine Mutiny
Rebel Without a Cause
Up
Road to Perdition
The Untouchables
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Apollo 13
Love and Death
Sleeper
Manhattan
A Streetcar Named Desire
Network
High Noon
The Lost Weekend
Casablanca
From Here to Eternity
The Grapes of Wrath
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
The Manchurian Candidate
Animal House
9
Dog Day Afternoon
Rear Window
The Apartment
The Third Man
A Place in the Sun
The Hustler
Days of Wine and Roses
Psycho
Rosemary's Baby
The Shining
The Best Years of Our Lives
The Philadelphia Story
Quiz Show
It Happened One Night
Some Like It Hot
Sunset Boulevard
Philadelphia
Gentleman's Agreement
The Aviator
Mystic River
Walk the Line
Invictus
It's a Wonderful Life
Million Dollar Baby
8 1/2
Cool Hand Luke
Catch Me If You Can
Sherlock Holmes
Heat
Vertigo
Once Upon a Time in the West
Cast Away
ABOUT THE LIST
~ Number of movies: 76
~ There are two films from the 1930's, twelve from the 1940's, fourteen from the 1950's, twelve from the 1960's, nine from the 1970's, six from the 1980's, seven from the 1990's and fourteen from the 2000's.
~ Humphrey Bogart, Paul Newman, Tom Hanks, Jimmy Stewart and Al Pacino are the most represented actors with five films.
~ Diane Keaton is the most represented actress with six films.
~ Henry Fonda, Marlon Brando, Woody Allen, John Cazale, Talia Shire, Robert De Niro and Jack Lemmon each have three films on the list.
~ Sidney Lumet and Billy Wilder each have directed four films, making them the most represented directors. Alfred Hitchcock, Frank Capra, Elia Kazan, Clint Eastwood, Woody Allen and Francis Ford Coppola each have three.
~ There are a total of fourteen Best Picture winners on the list.
Oh yes, I should add something before I forget. THIS IS POST #100! WHOO-HOO! *ahem* Sorry, I get like that when I'm excited.
A Beautiful Mind
On the Waterfront
A Few Good Men
Life is Beautiful
Rain Man
The Graduate
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
The Maltese Falcon
The Soloist
The Godfather
The Godfather Part II
The Godfather Part III
Casino Royale
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
The Seventh Seal
The 400 Blows
To Have and Have Not
Citizen Kane
Ordinary People
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
12 Angry Men
The Verdict
Field of Dreams
The Caine Mutiny
Rebel Without a Cause
Up
Road to Perdition
The Untouchables
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Apollo 13
Love and Death
Sleeper
Manhattan
A Streetcar Named Desire
Network
High Noon
The Lost Weekend
Casablanca
From Here to Eternity
The Grapes of Wrath
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
The Manchurian Candidate
Animal House
9
Dog Day Afternoon
Rear Window
The Apartment
The Third Man
A Place in the Sun
The Hustler
Days of Wine and Roses
Psycho
Rosemary's Baby
The Shining
The Best Years of Our Lives
The Philadelphia Story
Quiz Show
It Happened One Night
Some Like It Hot
Sunset Boulevard
Philadelphia
Gentleman's Agreement
The Aviator
Mystic River
Walk the Line
Invictus
It's a Wonderful Life
Million Dollar Baby
8 1/2
Cool Hand Luke
Catch Me If You Can
Sherlock Holmes
Heat
Vertigo
Once Upon a Time in the West
Cast Away
ABOUT THE LIST
~ Number of movies: 76
~ There are two films from the 1930's, twelve from the 1940's, fourteen from the 1950's, twelve from the 1960's, nine from the 1970's, six from the 1980's, seven from the 1990's and fourteen from the 2000's.
~ Humphrey Bogart, Paul Newman, Tom Hanks, Jimmy Stewart and Al Pacino are the most represented actors with five films.
~ Diane Keaton is the most represented actress with six films.
~ Henry Fonda, Marlon Brando, Woody Allen, John Cazale, Talia Shire, Robert De Niro and Jack Lemmon each have three films on the list.
~ Sidney Lumet and Billy Wilder each have directed four films, making them the most represented directors. Alfred Hitchcock, Frank Capra, Elia Kazan, Clint Eastwood, Woody Allen and Francis Ford Coppola each have three.
~ There are a total of fourteen Best Picture winners on the list.
Oh yes, I should add something before I forget. THIS IS POST #100! WHOO-HOO! *ahem* Sorry, I get like that when I'm excited.
Monday, December 28, 2009
The Producers
You know how some directorial debuts become thet best-known works of a director? Some notable examples are Sidney Lumet's 12 Angry Men, Orson Welles' Citizen Kane and John Huston's The Maltese Falcon. Another good example is Mel Brooks' The Producers.Theatrical producer Max Bialystock (Zero Mostel) is having difficulty producing successful plays. He's stooped down to romancing elderly women for money. Accountant Leo Bloom (Gene Wilder) points out that Max made more money from a flop than from a successful play. Because of this, Max and Leo try to find material bad enough for it to be a flop. Their answer? Springtime for Hitler.
It usually takes a lot for a movie to make me laugh a lot. And having seen Brooks' two other well-known movies (Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein), I was a little uncertain that it would deliver. But hey, Brooks did win an Oscar for its screenplay. Not bad for first movie.
My Rating: *****
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Dave
With Up in the Air getting Jason Reitman some of the best reviews of his directing career, I thought I might review a little-known movie his father Ivan did a few years back.Dave Kovic (Kevin Kline) gets an offer from the Secret service: to impersonate President Bill Mitchell (also Kline) since they both resemble the other. Dave's doing it because Mitchell is having an affair with one of the staff from the White House. Mitchell gets a stroke in an awkward position and goes into a coma. Chief of Staff Bob Alexander (Frank Langella) tells Dave the news and to keep Mitchell's stroke a secret. Dave's now posing as the President of the United States until Mitchell recovers, which makes Mitchell's wife Ellen (Sigourney Weaver) skeptical of her husband's change in behavior.
The movie was enjoyable. It's definitely something that would kill the afternoon. Don't get me wrong, it's good but it felt like it needed something more.
My Rating: ****
Saturday, December 26, 2009
What movies...
changed your movie-watching experience? There are a few for me:
Jaws & Star Wars Thanks to Steven Spielberg and George Lucas' landmark films, they opened a new door for my rising interest in movies.
The Godfather If it wasn't for this movie, I wouldn't be interested in the classics.
The Seventh Seal I find this choice interesting because this one left a bigger impact on me than the ones previously mentioned. Mind you, I haven't seen that many foreign movies prior to this. The Seventh Seal, along with 8 1/2, is the type of movie that make you think when it's done.
So what about you?
Jaws & Star Wars Thanks to Steven Spielberg and George Lucas' landmark films, they opened a new door for my rising interest in movies.
The Godfather If it wasn't for this movie, I wouldn't be interested in the classics.
The Seventh Seal I find this choice interesting because this one left a bigger impact on me than the ones previously mentioned. Mind you, I haven't seen that many foreign movies prior to this. The Seventh Seal, along with 8 1/2, is the type of movie that make you think when it's done.
So what about you?
How often...
do you re-watch a movie? Personally, I rarely do thanks to my good memory. Though that has a bit of a downside; do you have any idea how embarrassing it is to remember the final line of Some Like It Hot and try to contain your laughter without anyone noticing? It's not easy!
Anyway, what about you?
Anyway, what about you?
Friday, December 25, 2009
It's a Wonderful Life
You were almost expecting this today, weren't you? Anyway, onto the review.George Bailey (James Stewart) has spent his entire life giving to the citizens of Bedford Falls. He longed to travel but can't because he has to prevent Mr. Potter (Lionel Barrymore) from taking over the town. But after a mishap involving money from his loan company which could land him in jail, he has thoughts of suicide. His guardian angel Clarence (Henry Travers) shows him what would've happened had George not been born.
You know how they are some movies that leave an effect on you after you watch them? That happened to me after I saw It's a Wonderful Life. I was in a good mood for some time after the credits had rolled.
The one that shocked me most about this certain movie is that it did poorly when it came out. Yes, you read that right. A Christmas classic bombed in its release. One contributor to that was the fact it came out a week after The Best Years of Our Lives (which ended up winning Best Picture for that year).
Sure it's schmaltzy in some parts but it did come out a year after World War Two ended, so what? You gotta admit it is a very good movie.
My Rating: *****
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Good Sites to Visit
It's interesting on how many bizarre, funny and unique websites you can find if you're careful enough. I shall list a few sites I have come across thanks in part to my boredom:
DIRECTORAMA: The site's comic strips is what got me hooked. The comics are about deceased filmmakers griping about the state modern cinema's in and talking about their styles of directing. Among the directors are Kubrick, Hitchcock, Kurosawa, Welles, among others. The first one's dated back to October of 2007, a few months after the deaths of Ingmar Bergman and Michelangelo Antonioni (who are also part of the comics). I liked the one dated January 28, 2008 (yes, it involves Heath Ledger). The humor is mostly film-based, so not a lot of people may get the jokes.
Listverse: I remember finding this site after it was mentioned on another blog (can't remember which one it was). A new list is posted every day and the topics are always different. Whether you're drawn to crime or art or politics, they have a list for what you're looking for.
How It Should Have Ended: This site takes humor to a new level. As you can guess by the title, the site posts animated videos on how some movies should've ended. Want to see how they wanted Twilight to end? They have it. And like DIRECTORAMA, they also have comics but these rely on pretty much being a big fan of all things geeky.
Homestar Runner: I found this site a few years back and I've recently revisited it. It's now a daily site of mine. The Strong Bad E-Mails are pretty much the highlight of the website, but the cartoons are pretty good too.
So what are some of your favorite websites? Please, PLEASE, don't mention your own. Thank you.
DIRECTORAMA: The site's comic strips is what got me hooked. The comics are about deceased filmmakers griping about the state modern cinema's in and talking about their styles of directing. Among the directors are Kubrick, Hitchcock, Kurosawa, Welles, among others. The first one's dated back to October of 2007, a few months after the deaths of Ingmar Bergman and Michelangelo Antonioni (who are also part of the comics). I liked the one dated January 28, 2008 (yes, it involves Heath Ledger). The humor is mostly film-based, so not a lot of people may get the jokes.
Listverse: I remember finding this site after it was mentioned on another blog (can't remember which one it was). A new list is posted every day and the topics are always different. Whether you're drawn to crime or art or politics, they have a list for what you're looking for.
How It Should Have Ended: This site takes humor to a new level. As you can guess by the title, the site posts animated videos on how some movies should've ended. Want to see how they wanted Twilight to end? They have it. And like DIRECTORAMA, they also have comics but these rely on pretty much being a big fan of all things geeky.
Homestar Runner: I found this site a few years back and I've recently revisited it. It's now a daily site of mine. The Strong Bad E-Mails are pretty much the highlight of the website, but the cartoons are pretty good too.
So what are some of your favorite websites? Please, PLEASE, don't mention your own. Thank you.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Celebrity Comparisons
You know how some actors are compared to other actors? Well, here's a list of some comparisons that I know (and a few I made up):
Tom Hanks/Jimmy Stewart
How are they similar? Both are well-known for playing the likeable lead in their movies.
George Clooney/Cary Grant
How are they similar? Both are charming and sophisticated men. And oh so sexy.
Robert De Niro/Marlon Brando
How are they similar? Both are well-known for taking their roles seriously. And collaborations with two famed directors (Brando with Kazan, De Niro with Scorsese) doesn't hurt either.
Jim Carrey/Peter Sellers
How are they similar? Both are very versatile in playing multiple roles. Also they can do comedy AND drama with much success.
Meryl Streep/Katharine Hepburn
How are they similar? Really? I gotta explain this? All right, all right. Both are very talented actresses (Hepburn holds the record for most wins by an actor, Streep holds the record for most nominations by an actor). Ironic that Hepburn claimed to have despised Streep (I think she's jealous).
Oliver Stone/Otto Preminger
How are they similar? Both directed critically acclaimed but highly controversial movies.
Heath Ledger/James Dean
How are they similar? Both were very skilled actors who checked out too soon.
Steven Spielberg/Orson Welles
How are they similar? Both rose to fame at a young age and have enjoyed success since.
Quentin Tarantino/Sam Peckinpah
How are they similar? Both have directed movies that glorify violence. Ironic since both of them are very much against it.
Christopher Nolan/Francis Ford Coppola
How are they similar? They had a string of successful films, both commercially and critically. Those films later went on to be their best-known works. For Nolan, they were Batman Begins, The Prestige and The Dark Knight; for Coppola, they were The Godfather, The Conversation, The Godfather Part II and Apocalypse Now.
Clint Eastwood/John Wayne
How are they similar? Mostly renowned for acting in Westerns, they frequently play characters that don't take shit from anyone.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie/Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor
How are they similar? They're the most famous couples in Hollywood.
So let me hear what you have to say about this list. Any you want to add? One you want to change? I'm all ears.
Tom Hanks/Jimmy Stewart
How are they similar? Both are well-known for playing the likeable lead in their movies.
George Clooney/Cary Grant
How are they similar? Both are charming and sophisticated men. And oh so sexy.
Robert De Niro/Marlon Brando
How are they similar? Both are well-known for taking their roles seriously. And collaborations with two famed directors (Brando with Kazan, De Niro with Scorsese) doesn't hurt either.
Jim Carrey/Peter Sellers
How are they similar? Both are very versatile in playing multiple roles. Also they can do comedy AND drama with much success.
Meryl Streep/Katharine Hepburn
How are they similar? Really? I gotta explain this? All right, all right. Both are very talented actresses (Hepburn holds the record for most wins by an actor, Streep holds the record for most nominations by an actor). Ironic that Hepburn claimed to have despised Streep (I think she's jealous).
Oliver Stone/Otto Preminger
How are they similar? Both directed critically acclaimed but highly controversial movies.
Heath Ledger/James Dean
How are they similar? Both were very skilled actors who checked out too soon.
Steven Spielberg/Orson Welles
How are they similar? Both rose to fame at a young age and have enjoyed success since.
Quentin Tarantino/Sam Peckinpah
How are they similar? Both have directed movies that glorify violence. Ironic since both of them are very much against it.
Christopher Nolan/Francis Ford Coppola
How are they similar? They had a string of successful films, both commercially and critically. Those films later went on to be their best-known works. For Nolan, they were Batman Begins, The Prestige and The Dark Knight; for Coppola, they were The Godfather, The Conversation, The Godfather Part II and Apocalypse Now.
Clint Eastwood/John Wayne
How are they similar? Mostly renowned for acting in Westerns, they frequently play characters that don't take shit from anyone.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie/Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor
How are they similar? They're the most famous couples in Hollywood.
So let me hear what you have to say about this list. Any you want to add? One you want to change? I'm all ears.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
MOVIE WATCHING UPDATE
If you're a regular reader of this blog, you may recall less than two weeks ago I compiled a list of movies I want to see before 2009 is over. Well, here's an update:
It's a Wonderful Life
Vertigo
Cast Away
Catch Me if You Can
Heat
Cool Hand Luke
Million Dollar Baby
8 1/2
Sherlock Holmes
Nine
The Imginarium of Doctor Parnassus
All right. Three down, eight to go. Man, this is going to be a busy next couple of days.
UPDATE: Found out that The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is going into wide release in January, so scratch that one off.
UPDATE #2: I don't really wan't to see Nine that badly, so that can be one movie for the start of 2010. Scratch that one off!
Vertigo
Cast Away
Catch Me if You Can
Heat
Cool Hand Luke
Sherlock Holmes
Nine
The Imginarium of Doctor Parnassus
All right. Three down, eight to go. Man, this is going to be a busy next couple of days.
UPDATE: Found out that The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is going into wide release in January, so scratch that one off.
UPDATE #2: I don't really wan't to see Nine that badly, so that can be one movie for the start of 2010. Scratch that one off!
Monday, December 21, 2009
My view on the Oscars
I know the nominations aren't announced until February 2, but everyone is talking about potential nominees and all that stuff. One thing that had a lot of people talking then but not so much now is the ten Best Picture nominees. As for myself had they done this last year, I'd be happy.
Anyway before I go on a rant, I'll cut to the chase. One suggestion I have is to double the acting categories. That way you won't have people going, "Oh, he should've been nominated instead of him" or "Why wasn't she nominated?" It's getting really freakin' old, people! They're not gonna change the nominations if you keep bitching about it!
*cough* Sorry, that happens now and then. I'm suggesting this because I noticed that a lot of people were upset that Angelina Jolie wasn't nominated for an Oscar for A Mighty Heart. Same goes for Robert Shaw for Jaws (just throwing that one out there).
My point is that AMPAS should listen to who the viewers want nominated, not who they want nominated.
Anyway before I go on a rant, I'll cut to the chase. One suggestion I have is to double the acting categories. That way you won't have people going, "Oh, he should've been nominated instead of him" or "Why wasn't she nominated?" It's getting really freakin' old, people! They're not gonna change the nominations if you keep bitching about it!
*cough* Sorry, that happens now and then. I'm suggesting this because I noticed that a lot of people were upset that Angelina Jolie wasn't nominated for an Oscar for A Mighty Heart. Same goes for Robert Shaw for Jaws (just throwing that one out there).
My point is that AMPAS should listen to who the viewers want nominated, not who they want nominated.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Books I Own
Having done a movie list a few months back, might as well tackle the books I own:
For One More Day by Mitch Albom
Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
False Impression by Jeffrey Archer
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahme-Smith
----------
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
----------
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
Rising Sun by Michael Crichton
Timeline by Michael Crichton
----------
Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres
----------
American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
----------
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Everything is Illuminated by Johnathan Safran Foer
----------
The Film Club by David Gilmour
The Appeal by John Grisham
Bleachers by John Grisham
The Broker by John Grisham
The Chamber by John Grisham
The Firm by John Grisham
The Innocent Man by John Grisham
The Pelican Brief by John Grisham
Marley & Me by John Grogan
Ordinary People by Judith Guest
----------
A Drinking Life by Pete Hamill
The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammet
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
----------
From Here to Eternity by James Jones
----------
The Prodigal Spy by Joseph Kanon
On the Road by Jack Kerouac
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
Sometimes a Great Notion by Ken Kesey
Algernon, Charlie, and I: A Writer's Journal by Daniel Keyes
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Misery by Stephen King
The Shining by Stephen King
Being There by Jerzy Kosinski
----------
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John Le Carre
Making Movies by Sidney Lumet
----------
Glengarry Glen Ross by David Mamet
All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
Books by Larry McMurtry
The Last Picture Show by Larry McMurtry
The Rustler by Linda Lael Miller
Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
----------
The Shipping News by E. Annie Proulx
Fools Die by Mario Puzo
The Fourth K by Mario Puzo
The Godfather by Mario Puzo
Omerta by Mario Puzo
----------
Empire Falls by Richard Russo
----------
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Homecoming by Bernhard Schlink
The Reader by Bernhard Schlink
Love Story by Erich Segal
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
----------
Robot Dreams by Sara Varon
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
----------
Night by Elie Wiesel
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams
Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
----------
American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates
For One More Day by Mitch Albom
Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
False Impression by Jeffrey Archer
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahme-Smith
----------
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
----------
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
Rising Sun by Michael Crichton
Timeline by Michael Crichton
----------
Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres
----------
American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
----------
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Everything is Illuminated by Johnathan Safran Foer
----------
The Film Club by David Gilmour
The Appeal by John Grisham
Bleachers by John Grisham
The Broker by John Grisham
The Chamber by John Grisham
The Firm by John Grisham
The Innocent Man by John Grisham
The Pelican Brief by John Grisham
Marley & Me by John Grogan
Ordinary People by Judith Guest
----------
A Drinking Life by Pete Hamill
The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammet
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
----------
From Here to Eternity by James Jones
----------
The Prodigal Spy by Joseph Kanon
On the Road by Jack Kerouac
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
Sometimes a Great Notion by Ken Kesey
Algernon, Charlie, and I: A Writer's Journal by Daniel Keyes
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Misery by Stephen King
The Shining by Stephen King
Being There by Jerzy Kosinski
----------
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John Le Carre
Making Movies by Sidney Lumet
----------
Glengarry Glen Ross by David Mamet
All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
Books by Larry McMurtry
The Last Picture Show by Larry McMurtry
The Rustler by Linda Lael Miller
Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
----------
The Shipping News by E. Annie Proulx
Fools Die by Mario Puzo
The Fourth K by Mario Puzo
The Godfather by Mario Puzo
Omerta by Mario Puzo
----------
Empire Falls by Richard Russo
----------
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Homecoming by Bernhard Schlink
The Reader by Bernhard Schlink
Love Story by Erich Segal
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
----------
Robot Dreams by Sara Varon
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
----------
Night by Elie Wiesel
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams
Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
----------
American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates
DVDs I Own
A rather large collection, I'll admit. A number of them I haven't seen yet. And yes, I'm embarrassed about some that I own:
12 Angry Men
50 First Dates
2001: A Space Odyssey
----------
Amadeus
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
Annie Hall
As Good As It Gets
The Aviator
Awakenings
----------
Back to the Future trilogy
Batman Begins
A Beautiful Mind
Beetle Juice
Big
Big Fish
Brokeback Mountain
Bruce Almighty
----------
Capote
Casablanca
Cast Away
Catch Me If You Can
Chaplin
Cheaper by the Dozen
Cheaper by the Dozen 2
Chinatown
Chocolat
A Chorus Line
The Cider House Rules
Cocoon
Cool Hand Luke
Corpse Bride
Crimes and Misdemeanors
----------
Daddy Day Care
Dances with Wolves
The Dark Knight
Dave
Days of Heaven
The Devil Wears Prada
Dirty Dancing
Dog Day Afternoon
----------
Edward Scissorhands
Ed Wood
Escape from Alcatraz
----------
Far and Away
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
A Few Good Men
Field of Dreams
Finding Neverland
Forrest Gump
The Fugitive
----------
Garfield: The Movie
Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties
Gentleman's Agreement
Ghostbusters
Ghostbusters II
The Godfather trilogy
Goodfellas
Good Will Hunting
The Graduate
The Great Escape
Groundhog Day
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
----------
Hannah and Her Sisters
Happy Feet
Heat
Heaven Can Wait (1978)
The Hours
----------
In Cold Blood
Iron Man
----------
Jaws
Jerry Maguire
Juno
----------
King Kong (2005)
A Knight's Tale
Kramer vs. Kramer
----------
The Lady from Shanghai
A League of Thier Own
Look Who's Talking
Looney Tunes: Back in Action
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Lost in Translation
The Lost Weekend
----------
Madagascar
The Magnificent Seven
Mars Attacks!
MASH
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
The Master of Disguise
Mr. Mom
Mrs. Doubtfire
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Murder on the Orient Express
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
----------
The Natural
Network
Night at the Museum
The Nightmare Before Christmas
----------
O Brother, Where Art Thou?
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Ordinary People
Out of Africa
Over the Hedge
----------
Philadelphia
The Philadelphia Story
The Pink Panther (2006)
Places in the Heart
A Prarie Home Companion
The Prestige
The Princess Bride
Prizzi's Honor
The Producers (1968)
The Purple Rose of Cairo
----------
Raging Bull
The Rainmaker
Rain Man
Raising Arizona
Ray
Rebel Without a Cause
Regarding Henry
A River Runs Through It
Road to Perdition
Rosemary's Baby
Rocky
Roxanne
----------
Say Anything
Scent of a Woman
Schindler's List
Seabiscuit
Shakespeare in Love
The Shawshank Redemption
The Shining
Sleepless in Seattle
Sleepy Hollow
Some Like It Hot
Splash
Spider-Man trilogy
Star Wars trilogy
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
----------
Tender Mercies
Terms of Endearment
The Truman Show
----------
The Untouchables
----------
The Verdict
----------
WALL-E
The Way We Were
What Women Want
When Harry Met Sally
----------
Young Frankenstein
----------
Zelig
Special Set(s):
Columbia Pictures' Best Picture Collection
12 Angry Men
50 First Dates
2001: A Space Odyssey
----------
Amadeus
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
Annie Hall
As Good As It Gets
The Aviator
Awakenings
----------
Back to the Future trilogy
Batman Begins
A Beautiful Mind
Beetle Juice
Big
Big Fish
Brokeback Mountain
Bruce Almighty
----------
Capote
Casablanca
Cast Away
Catch Me If You Can
Chaplin
Cheaper by the Dozen
Cheaper by the Dozen 2
Chinatown
Chocolat
A Chorus Line
The Cider House Rules
Cocoon
Cool Hand Luke
Corpse Bride
Crimes and Misdemeanors
----------
Daddy Day Care
Dances with Wolves
The Dark Knight
Dave
Days of Heaven
The Devil Wears Prada
Dirty Dancing
Dog Day Afternoon
----------
Edward Scissorhands
Ed Wood
Escape from Alcatraz
----------
Far and Away
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
A Few Good Men
Field of Dreams
Finding Neverland
Forrest Gump
The Fugitive
----------
Garfield: The Movie
Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties
Gentleman's Agreement
Ghostbusters
Ghostbusters II
The Godfather trilogy
Goodfellas
Good Will Hunting
The Graduate
The Great Escape
Groundhog Day
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
----------
Hannah and Her Sisters
Happy Feet
Heat
Heaven Can Wait (1978)
The Hours
----------
In Cold Blood
Iron Man
----------
Jaws
Jerry Maguire
Juno
----------
King Kong (2005)
A Knight's Tale
Kramer vs. Kramer
----------
The Lady from Shanghai
A League of Thier Own
Look Who's Talking
Looney Tunes: Back in Action
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Lost in Translation
The Lost Weekend
----------
Madagascar
The Magnificent Seven
Mars Attacks!
MASH
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
The Master of Disguise
Mr. Mom
Mrs. Doubtfire
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Murder on the Orient Express
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
----------
The Natural
Network
Night at the Museum
The Nightmare Before Christmas
----------
O Brother, Where Art Thou?
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Ordinary People
Out of Africa
Over the Hedge
----------
Philadelphia
The Philadelphia Story
The Pink Panther (2006)
Places in the Heart
A Prarie Home Companion
The Prestige
The Princess Bride
Prizzi's Honor
The Producers (1968)
The Purple Rose of Cairo
----------
Raging Bull
The Rainmaker
Rain Man
Raising Arizona
Ray
Rebel Without a Cause
Regarding Henry
A River Runs Through It
Road to Perdition
Rosemary's Baby
Rocky
Roxanne
----------
Say Anything
Scent of a Woman
Schindler's List
Seabiscuit
Shakespeare in Love
The Shawshank Redemption
The Shining
Sleepless in Seattle
Sleepy Hollow
Some Like It Hot
Splash
Spider-Man trilogy
Star Wars trilogy
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
----------
Tender Mercies
Terms of Endearment
The Truman Show
----------
The Untouchables
----------
The Verdict
----------
WALL-E
The Way We Were
What Women Want
When Harry Met Sally
----------
Young Frankenstein
----------
Zelig
Special Set(s):
Columbia Pictures' Best Picture Collection
Twitter Conversation #4
It's that time again. Had another movie-based conversation on Friday at Twitter. Conversationists are Ryan from A Life in Equinox, Josh from I Are Movies, Julian from Movies and Other Things... and Danny from The King Bulletin. Started with something I pointed out that I've been doing:
MovieNut14: Weird. For the past three Fridays, I've watched a Clint Eastwood movie (Mystic River, Invictus, Million Dollar Baby).
isavedlatin89 (Josh): @MovieNut14 And that is why you are awesome.
MovieNut14: @isavedlatin89 LOL, thanks. I think I'm trying not to become a pariah on the Internet. Unlike @thekingbulletin who hasn't seen Casablanca.
202chicago (Julian): I haven't seen the classic film either :(
isavedlatin89: @MovieNut14 WHAT?! Is that true?!
MovieNut14: @isavedlatin89 BTW, don't expect this to be a running trend. There are a number of other movies I want to see. Tomorrow it's 8 1/2.
isavedlatin89: @MovieNut14 Score! I love 8 1/2...One of the ten best favorite films ever made, imho
202chicago: @isavedlatin89 Need to see 8 1/2... Totally stoked for when Nine comes out!!!
MovieNut14: @isavedlatin89 Sadly, yes. Along with The Wizard of Oz, and I few others I can't recall.
MovieNut14: @202chicago I saw Casablanca this summer.
202chicago: @MovieNut14 You've never seen The Wizard of Oz? It's a classic...
MovieNut14: @202chicago I'm seeing 8 1/2 in prep for Nine since I heard it's based off the Fellini movie.
202chicago: @MovieNut14 I'm really excited for whatever time I end up seeing Casablanca...
202chicago: @MovieNut14 About Nine - that's what I hear. I can play it on computer LEGALLY thru Netflix. Probably gonna do that tomorrow after work
202chicago: @MovieNut14 BTW was talking about 8 1/2 with the Netflix. Obviously not Nine lol
MovieNut14: @202chicago I saw it a lot when I was younger. Probably need to revisit. As for Casablanca, try to watch it during Christmas.
202chicago: @MovieNut14 Might beforehand. Going on vacay for Christmas and New Year's
202chicago: @MovieNut14 Sadly, I might not be blogging during that time :;(
MovieNut14: @202chicago Reviews for Nine aren't looking so hot; 49% at @RottenTomatoes, an improvement from yesterday's 34%.
202chicago: @MovieNut14 I know it's getting panned, but for me the reviews don't really matter when it comes to Nine lol.
202chicago: @MovieNut14 I'm a huge fan of musicals, so I'll probably end up giving it a 9.5/10 or 10/10 rating lol
MovieNut14: @202chicago BTW what I was saying about Casablanca and The Wizard of Oz, those are 2 movies @thekingbulletin has yet to see.
202chicago: @MovieNut14 Oh. Okay. Gotcha.
MovieNut14: @202chicago Well, another theory for the semi-crappy reviews is that it's in limited release.
isavedlatin89: @202chicago @MovieNut14 You all need to hop on those classics ;) JK...I only saw 8 1/2 a few years ago...I've never seen The Searchers...
202chicago: @MovieNut14 I could see that. Many people thought that Hudson was bad. And many are saying DDL was miscast, something I thought was impossible
202chicago: @isavedlatin89 Saw before I developed my love for film... and I don't really remember much about it
MovieNut14: @isavedlatin89 Hey, watch it man. I've seen more classics this year than I have ever. BTW, haven't seen any of the Scorsese/ De Niro films.
isavedlatin89: @202chicago Yeah, and I'm a big Western guy...just never got around to it I guess
isavedlatin89: @MovieNut14 *jaw drops* Those you really need to get on. At least the staples Casino/Goodfellas/Cape Fear...
202chicago: @MovieNut14 I noticed that you directed that to @isavedlatin89 but you talkin to me? Are you talkin to ME? Sorry. Couldn't resist that one ;)
Univarn (Ryan): @isavedlatin89 you're forgetting Taxi Driver. That's the real staple, the rest are just modern essentials.
202chicago: @isavedlatin89 Oooh Casino... never saw all of it, but loved what i did see of it.
isavedlatin89: @202chicago @MovieNut14 YES! Forgot Taxi Driver (Scorsese's best IMHO)
202chicago: @isavedlatin89 Better than The Departed... no comments beyond that unless I'm asked for one ;)
isavedlatin89: @202chicago @MovieNut14 Oh shit, Raging Bull too...Damn...those two need to get back together NOW
202chicago: @isavedlatin89 Yes. Absolutely.
isavedlatin89: @Univarn I know! I agree 100%
MovieNut14: @isavedlatin89 @202chicago @Univarn I HAVE seen two Scorsese and two De Niro movies this year, just different movies.
isavedlatin89: @202chicago Yeah, Casino isn't Goodfellas, but it's a great film indeed
MovieNut14: Great, jump dropped a bombshell.
isavedlatin89: @202chicago Uh, yeah, Taxi Driver kills Departed...The Departed isn't even the best version of that story (Infernal Affairs trumps it)
202chicago: @MovieNut14 I was just kidding btw lol. But yeah. Scorsese + De Niro = Magic. I can just tell you that only from one film and clips from another
202chicago: @isavedlatin89 Infernal Affairs... so that's the film it's based off of! Hmm... will check out sometime soon
Univarn: @isavedaltin89 Joe Pesci's character makes Casino fun.
MovieNut14: @isavedltin89 @202chicago @Univarn One reason I haven't seen a Scorsese/De Niro film yet is because my folks would FLIP OUT if they knew.
isavedlatin89: @202chicago Yeah, it's much more compact and economic of a film. I found the Departed a little long in the tooth...did like it a lot though
isavedlatin89: @Univarn Couldn't agree more
Univarn: @isavedlatin89 @202chicago @MovieNut14 for the longest time I would always watch those sort of movies when they went to sleep
thekingbulletin (Danny): @MovieNut14 Please don't be mad at me!
isavedlatin89: @MovieNut14 It's not that we flip out, it's that we are passionate about it, in hopes of getting you to see it. At least that's my idea
Univarn: @202chicago just be careful you get the chinese one which it's actually based off, not the Richard Gere one with the same name.
MovieNut14: @thekingbulletin I'm not mad at you. @isavedlatin89, @202chicago & @Univarn are now mad at ME for not seeing a Scorsese/De Niro movie.
202chicago: @MovieNut14 @isavedlatin89 @Univarn I used to so the same thing. Now they just don't care
202chicago: @MovieNut14 I'm not mad LOL
202chicago: @Univarn UGH! WILL DEF. AVOID RICHARD GERE AT ALL COSTS LOL!!!
Univarn: @MovieNut14 I'd only be mad if you said you didn't want to see them :P. you not seeing them doesn't upset me........much :P jk
isavedlatin89: @MovieNut14 Yeah, I'm not mad at you. I just really want you to see them, that's all. I'm a passionate person with film...that's all
MovieNut14: @isavedlatin89 No no no. I mean my parents would KILL me if they found out I saw a movie "not age-appropriate".
202chicago: @Univarn @MovieNut14 @isavedlatin89 Since we're already having a Twittersation, does anyone love the songs form Nine as much as I do?
202chicago: @MovieNut14 Parents used to be the same way. Ask them to watch one with you that you know isn't filled with content...
Univarn: @202chicago I've only heard the one, cinema italiano (or whatever) and wasn't that all impressed. I'll mostly be seeing it for Lewis & Cruz
202chicago: @MovieNut14 ... then they might not care. Worked for me ;)
isavedlatin89: @MovieNut14 OHHHHHH, I see what you mean. I TOTALLY understand...that sucks!
isavedlatin89: @202chicago @MovieNut14 @Univarn No, because I love them more.
Univarn: @MovieNut14 start them off with a warmer. An R film that isn't so violent (like Speed) and work your way up until they just don't care :)
202chicago: @Univarn Cruz's song is INCREDIBLE. That girl has killer pipes! As is the new one written for Cotillard called "Take It All"
202chicago: @isavedlatin89 Oh wow. Guess you plan on seeing it soon? Or is it part of your glorious Christmas day marathon?
isavedlatin89: @202chicago @MovieNut14 I see you two are using the web to tweet, I would really recommend you guys getting TweetDeck to make life easier
Univarn: @isavedlatin89 I keep telling myself to download it, but I'm lazy :)
MovieNut14: @202chicago @isavedlatin89 Sheesh, they got two other to worry about. One's in college, the other starting high school. (eye roll)
202chicago: @isavedlatin89 Downloading now and seeing how it works
isavedlatin89: @Univarn It is SO convenient...wouldn't know what to do without it
202chicago: @MovieNut14 Oh... hmm. That makes things complicated
isavedlatin89: @202chicago It's the start of my marathon lol
Univarn: @MovieNut14 haha my sister started college this year so all the years of my parents worrying about me at school went away in a hurry
MovieNut14: @Univarn I've BEEN doing that. I've sunk down to seeking them movies past them.
202chicago: @isavedlatin89 Nice!
isavedlatin89: @MovieNut14 Hahaha, I totally understand where you are coming from on that one
isavedlatin89: @202chicago Awesome. Your life won
isavedlaitn89: @202chicago *Awesome, your life won't be the same
202chicago: @isavedlatin89 LOL yeah... checking it now...
Univarn: @isavedltin89 @202chicago @MovieNut14 well I have to jet, lots of shopping to do tomorrow. good night everyone. Happy movie hunting!
MovieNut14: @Univarn @isavedlatin89 @202chicago This makes me REALLY look foward to college.
202chicago: @MovieNut14 It's the best lol
202chicago: @Univarn Aight. Tweet ya later!
isavedlatin89: @MovieNut14 Hahaha, as you should be! Great, great experience
202chicago: @MovieNut14 @isavedlatin89 Definitely better than high school. More work for sure, but it's all at the last minute lol
MovieNut14: @202chicago @isavedlatin89 @Univarn This conversation's getting good, but I'm beat. 'Night. Expect this convo on my blog.
isavedlatin89: @MovieNut14 Awesome. Have a great night!
202chicago: @MovieNut14 Aight tweet ya later!
thekingbulletin: @MovieNut14 Phew! I think we can call it even because I'm a big fan of the Scorsese / De Niro relationship.
As a footnote, I added something the next morning:
MovieNut14: Fine. In order to make @isavedlatin89, @202chicago, @Univarn @thekingbulletin to like me again, I'll make Raging Bull my 1st movie of 2010.
Univarn: @MovieNut14 we'll always like you :P. Just throw in Scorsese/DeNiro into your new years resolution :)
thekingbulletin: @MovieNut14 awesome. I love that movie, could be my favorite collaboration of theirs.
I still find it amazing that one comment leads to an entire conversation.
MovieNut14: Weird. For the past three Fridays, I've watched a Clint Eastwood movie (Mystic River, Invictus, Million Dollar Baby).
isavedlatin89 (Josh): @MovieNut14 And that is why you are awesome.
MovieNut14: @isavedlatin89 LOL, thanks. I think I'm trying not to become a pariah on the Internet. Unlike @thekingbulletin who hasn't seen Casablanca.
202chicago (Julian): I haven't seen the classic film either :(
isavedlatin89: @MovieNut14 WHAT?! Is that true?!
MovieNut14: @isavedlatin89 BTW, don't expect this to be a running trend. There are a number of other movies I want to see. Tomorrow it's 8 1/2.
isavedlatin89: @MovieNut14 Score! I love 8 1/2...One of the ten best favorite films ever made, imho
202chicago: @isavedlatin89 Need to see 8 1/2... Totally stoked for when Nine comes out!!!
MovieNut14: @isavedlatin89 Sadly, yes. Along with The Wizard of Oz, and I few others I can't recall.
MovieNut14: @202chicago I saw Casablanca this summer.
202chicago: @MovieNut14 You've never seen The Wizard of Oz? It's a classic...
MovieNut14: @202chicago I'm seeing 8 1/2 in prep for Nine since I heard it's based off the Fellini movie.
202chicago: @MovieNut14 I'm really excited for whatever time I end up seeing Casablanca...
202chicago: @MovieNut14 About Nine - that's what I hear. I can play it on computer LEGALLY thru Netflix. Probably gonna do that tomorrow after work
202chicago: @MovieNut14 BTW was talking about 8 1/2 with the Netflix. Obviously not Nine lol
MovieNut14: @202chicago I saw it a lot when I was younger. Probably need to revisit. As for Casablanca, try to watch it during Christmas.
202chicago: @MovieNut14 Might beforehand. Going on vacay for Christmas and New Year's
202chicago: @MovieNut14 Sadly, I might not be blogging during that time :;(
MovieNut14: @202chicago Reviews for Nine aren't looking so hot; 49% at @RottenTomatoes, an improvement from yesterday's 34%.
202chicago: @MovieNut14 I know it's getting panned, but for me the reviews don't really matter when it comes to Nine lol.
202chicago: @MovieNut14 I'm a huge fan of musicals, so I'll probably end up giving it a 9.5/10 or 10/10 rating lol
MovieNut14: @202chicago BTW what I was saying about Casablanca and The Wizard of Oz, those are 2 movies @thekingbulletin has yet to see.
202chicago: @MovieNut14 Oh. Okay. Gotcha.
MovieNut14: @202chicago Well, another theory for the semi-crappy reviews is that it's in limited release.
isavedlatin89: @202chicago @MovieNut14 You all need to hop on those classics ;) JK...I only saw 8 1/2 a few years ago...I've never seen The Searchers...
202chicago: @MovieNut14 I could see that. Many people thought that Hudson was bad. And many are saying DDL was miscast, something I thought was impossible
202chicago: @isavedlatin89 Saw before I developed my love for film... and I don't really remember much about it
MovieNut14: @isavedlatin89 Hey, watch it man. I've seen more classics this year than I have ever. BTW, haven't seen any of the Scorsese/ De Niro films.
isavedlatin89: @202chicago Yeah, and I'm a big Western guy...just never got around to it I guess
isavedlatin89: @MovieNut14 *jaw drops* Those you really need to get on. At least the staples Casino/Goodfellas/Cape Fear...
202chicago: @MovieNut14 I noticed that you directed that to @isavedlatin89 but you talkin to me? Are you talkin to ME? Sorry. Couldn't resist that one ;)
Univarn (Ryan): @isavedlatin89 you're forgetting Taxi Driver. That's the real staple, the rest are just modern essentials.
202chicago: @isavedlatin89 Oooh Casino... never saw all of it, but loved what i did see of it.
isavedlatin89: @202chicago @MovieNut14 YES! Forgot Taxi Driver (Scorsese's best IMHO)
202chicago: @isavedlatin89 Better than The Departed... no comments beyond that unless I'm asked for one ;)
isavedlatin89: @202chicago @MovieNut14 Oh shit, Raging Bull too...Damn...those two need to get back together NOW
202chicago: @isavedlatin89 Yes. Absolutely.
isavedlatin89: @Univarn I know! I agree 100%
MovieNut14: @isavedlatin89 @202chicago @Univarn I HAVE seen two Scorsese and two De Niro movies this year, just different movies.
isavedlatin89: @202chicago Yeah, Casino isn't Goodfellas, but it's a great film indeed
MovieNut14: Great, jump dropped a bombshell.
isavedlatin89: @202chicago Uh, yeah, Taxi Driver kills Departed...The Departed isn't even the best version of that story (Infernal Affairs trumps it)
202chicago: @MovieNut14 I was just kidding btw lol. But yeah. Scorsese + De Niro = Magic. I can just tell you that only from one film and clips from another
202chicago: @isavedlatin89 Infernal Affairs... so that's the film it's based off of! Hmm... will check out sometime soon
Univarn: @isavedaltin89 Joe Pesci's character makes Casino fun.
MovieNut14: @isavedltin89 @202chicago @Univarn One reason I haven't seen a Scorsese/De Niro film yet is because my folks would FLIP OUT if they knew.
isavedlatin89: @202chicago Yeah, it's much more compact and economic of a film. I found the Departed a little long in the tooth...did like it a lot though
isavedlatin89: @Univarn Couldn't agree more
Univarn: @isavedlatin89 @202chicago @MovieNut14 for the longest time I would always watch those sort of movies when they went to sleep
thekingbulletin (Danny): @MovieNut14 Please don't be mad at me!
isavedlatin89: @MovieNut14 It's not that we flip out, it's that we are passionate about it, in hopes of getting you to see it. At least that's my idea
Univarn: @202chicago just be careful you get the chinese one which it's actually based off, not the Richard Gere one with the same name.
MovieNut14: @thekingbulletin I'm not mad at you. @isavedlatin89, @202chicago & @Univarn are now mad at ME for not seeing a Scorsese/De Niro movie.
202chicago: @MovieNut14 @isavedlatin89 @Univarn I used to so the same thing. Now they just don't care
202chicago: @MovieNut14 I'm not mad LOL
202chicago: @Univarn UGH! WILL DEF. AVOID RICHARD GERE AT ALL COSTS LOL!!!
Univarn: @MovieNut14 I'd only be mad if you said you didn't want to see them :P. you not seeing them doesn't upset me........much :P jk
isavedlatin89: @MovieNut14 Yeah, I'm not mad at you. I just really want you to see them, that's all. I'm a passionate person with film...that's all
MovieNut14: @isavedlatin89 No no no. I mean my parents would KILL me if they found out I saw a movie "not age-appropriate".
202chicago: @Univarn @MovieNut14 @isavedlatin89 Since we're already having a Twittersation, does anyone love the songs form Nine as much as I do?
202chicago: @MovieNut14 Parents used to be the same way. Ask them to watch one with you that you know isn't filled with content...
Univarn: @202chicago I've only heard the one, cinema italiano (or whatever) and wasn't that all impressed. I'll mostly be seeing it for Lewis & Cruz
202chicago: @MovieNut14 ... then they might not care. Worked for me ;)
isavedlatin89: @MovieNut14 OHHHHHH, I see what you mean. I TOTALLY understand...that sucks!
isavedlatin89: @202chicago @MovieNut14 @Univarn No, because I love them more.
Univarn: @MovieNut14 start them off with a warmer. An R film that isn't so violent (like Speed) and work your way up until they just don't care :)
202chicago: @Univarn Cruz's song is INCREDIBLE. That girl has killer pipes! As is the new one written for Cotillard called "Take It All"
202chicago: @isavedlatin89 Oh wow. Guess you plan on seeing it soon? Or is it part of your glorious Christmas day marathon?
isavedlatin89: @202chicago @MovieNut14 I see you two are using the web to tweet, I would really recommend you guys getting TweetDeck to make life easier
Univarn: @isavedlatin89 I keep telling myself to download it, but I'm lazy :)
MovieNut14: @202chicago @isavedlatin89 Sheesh, they got two other to worry about. One's in college, the other starting high school. (eye roll)
202chicago: @isavedlatin89 Downloading now and seeing how it works
isavedlatin89: @Univarn It is SO convenient...wouldn't know what to do without it
202chicago: @MovieNut14 Oh... hmm. That makes things complicated
isavedlatin89: @202chicago It's the start of my marathon lol
Univarn: @MovieNut14 haha my sister started college this year so all the years of my parents worrying about me at school went away in a hurry
MovieNut14: @Univarn I've BEEN doing that. I've sunk down to seeking them movies past them.
202chicago: @isavedlatin89 Nice!
isavedlatin89: @MovieNut14 Hahaha, I totally understand where you are coming from on that one
isavedlatin89: @202chicago Awesome. Your life won
isavedlaitn89: @202chicago *Awesome, your life won't be the same
202chicago: @isavedlatin89 LOL yeah... checking it now...
Univarn: @isavedltin89 @202chicago @MovieNut14 well I have to jet, lots of shopping to do tomorrow. good night everyone. Happy movie hunting!
MovieNut14: @Univarn @isavedlatin89 @202chicago This makes me REALLY look foward to college.
202chicago: @MovieNut14 It's the best lol
202chicago: @Univarn Aight. Tweet ya later!
isavedlatin89: @MovieNut14 Hahaha, as you should be! Great, great experience
202chicago: @MovieNut14 @isavedlatin89 Definitely better than high school. More work for sure, but it's all at the last minute lol
MovieNut14: @202chicago @isavedlatin89 @Univarn This conversation's getting good, but I'm beat. 'Night. Expect this convo on my blog.
isavedlatin89: @MovieNut14 Awesome. Have a great night!
202chicago: @MovieNut14 Aight tweet ya later!
thekingbulletin: @MovieNut14 Phew! I think we can call it even because I'm a big fan of the Scorsese / De Niro relationship.
As a footnote, I added something the next morning:
MovieNut14: Fine. In order to make @isavedlatin89, @202chicago, @Univarn @thekingbulletin to like me again, I'll make Raging Bull my 1st movie of 2010.
Univarn: @MovieNut14 we'll always like you :P. Just throw in Scorsese/DeNiro into your new years resolution :)
thekingbulletin: @MovieNut14 awesome. I love that movie, could be my favorite collaboration of theirs.
I still find it amazing that one comment leads to an entire conversation.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
SAG Nominations
Here are my guesses at the winners for the Screen Actors Guild Awards. What's in bold is my guess:
Best Actor
Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
George Clooney, Up in the Air
Colin Firth, A Single Man
Morgan Freeman, Invictus
Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker
Best Actress
Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side
Helen Mirren, The Last Station
Carey Mulligan, An Education
Gabourey Sidibe, Precious
Meryl Streep, Julie and Julia
Best Supporting Actor
Matt Damon, Invictus
Woody Harrelson, The Messenger
Christopher Plummer, The Last Station
Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds
Best Supporting Actress
Penelope Cruz, Nine
Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air
Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air
Diane Kruger, Inglourious Basterds
Mo'Nique, Precious
Ensemble Cast
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Nine
Precious
Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
Public Enemies
Star Trek
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Best Actor
Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
George Clooney, Up in the Air
Colin Firth, A Single Man
Morgan Freeman, Invictus
Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker
Best Actress
Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side
Helen Mirren, The Last Station
Carey Mulligan, An Education
Gabourey Sidibe, Precious
Meryl Streep, Julie and Julia
Best Supporting Actor
Matt Damon, Invictus
Woody Harrelson, The Messenger
Christopher Plummer, The Last Station
Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds
Best Supporting Actress
Penelope Cruz, Nine
Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air
Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air
Diane Kruger, Inglourious Basterds
Mo'Nique, Precious
Ensemble Cast
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Nine
Precious
Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
Public Enemies
Star Trek
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Blogathons Galore
It's interesting. I've only been a blogger for four months and I have taken part in a blogathon recently. For those who have no idea what the hell a blogathon is, it's a series of posts focusing on one topic. A Life in Equinox is considering doing a Kurosawa blogathon, Encore's World of Film & TV recently did a Katharine Hepburn blogthon (which I took part in), and The Large Association of Movie Blogs frequently focus on directors.
Why am I bringing this up? I'm thinking of doing one myself, but I'm not sure who or what the subject would be. Perhaps Woody Allen or Tim Burton, but again I'm unsure. I'll let you readers know when I think of a good topic.
PS, suggestions would be nice too.
Why am I bringing this up? I'm thinking of doing one myself, but I'm not sure who or what the subject would be. Perhaps Woody Allen or Tim Burton, but again I'm unsure. I'll let you readers know when I think of a good topic.
PS, suggestions would be nice too.
Golden Globes Nominations
Early apologies if this is the only thing you've been seeing today. Anyway, what's in bold is my choice for what's going to win for the movie categories:
BEST PICTURE (DRAMA)
Avatar
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Up In the Air
Precious
BEST PICTURE (COMEDY/MUSICAL)
Nine
It's Complicated
Julie and Julia
The Hangover
(500) Days of Summer
BEST ACTOR (DRAMA)
Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
George Clooney, Up in the Air
Colin Firth, A Single Man
Morgan Freeman, Invictus
Tobey Maguire, Brothers
BEST ACTRESS (DRAMA)
Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side
Gabourey Sidibe, Precious
Helen Mirren, The Last Station
Carey Mulligan, An Education
Emily Blunt, The Young Victoria
BEST ACTOR (COMEDY/MUSICAL)
Matt Damon, The Informant!
Daniel Day-Lewis, Nine
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, (500) Days of Summer
Michael Stuhlbarg, A Serious Man
Robert Downey Jr., Sherlock Holmes
BEST ACTRESS (COMEDY/MUSICAL)
Sandra Bullock, The Proposal
Marion Cotillard, Nine
Julia Roberts, Duplicity
Meryl Streep, It's Complicated
Meryl Streep, Julie and Julia
SUPPORTING ACTOR
Matt Damon, Invictus
Woody Harrelson, The Messenger
Christopher Plumber, The Last Station
Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Penelope Cruz, Nine
Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air
Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air
Mo'Nique, Precious
Julianne Moore, A Single Man
DIRECTOR
James Cameron, Avatar
Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds
Clint Eastwood, Invictus
Jason Reitman, Up in the Air
ANIMATED FILM
Coraline
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
The Princess and the Frog
Up
SCREENPLAY
Neill Blomkamp, Terri Tatchell, District 9
Nancy Meyers, It's Complicated
Mark Boal, The Hurt Locker
Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds
Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner, Up in the Air
FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM
Broken Embraces
A Prophet
The Maid
The White Ribbon
Baaria
ORIGINAL SCORE
Michael Giacchino, Up
James Horner, Avatar
Marvin Hamlisch, The Informant!
Abel Korzeniowski, A Single Man
Karen O. and Carter Burwell, Where The Wild Things Are
ORIGINAL SONG
"Cinema Italiano" from Nine
"I See You" from Avatar
"The Weary Kind" from Crazy Heart
"I Want to Come Home" from Everybody's Fine
"Winter" from Brothers
BEST PICTURE (DRAMA)
Avatar
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Up In the Air
Precious
BEST PICTURE (COMEDY/MUSICAL)
Nine
It's Complicated
Julie and Julia
The Hangover
(500) Days of Summer
BEST ACTOR (DRAMA)
Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
George Clooney, Up in the Air
Colin Firth, A Single Man
Morgan Freeman, Invictus
Tobey Maguire, Brothers
BEST ACTRESS (DRAMA)
Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side
Gabourey Sidibe, Precious
Helen Mirren, The Last Station
Carey Mulligan, An Education
Emily Blunt, The Young Victoria
BEST ACTOR (COMEDY/MUSICAL)
Matt Damon, The Informant!
Daniel Day-Lewis, Nine
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, (500) Days of Summer
Michael Stuhlbarg, A Serious Man
Robert Downey Jr., Sherlock Holmes
BEST ACTRESS (COMEDY/MUSICAL)
Sandra Bullock, The Proposal
Marion Cotillard, Nine
Julia Roberts, Duplicity
Meryl Streep, It's Complicated
Meryl Streep, Julie and Julia
SUPPORTING ACTOR
Matt Damon, Invictus
Woody Harrelson, The Messenger
Christopher Plumber, The Last Station
Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Penelope Cruz, Nine
Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air
Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air
Mo'Nique, Precious
Julianne Moore, A Single Man
DIRECTOR
James Cameron, Avatar
Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds
Clint Eastwood, Invictus
Jason Reitman, Up in the Air
ANIMATED FILM
Coraline
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
The Princess and the Frog
Up
SCREENPLAY
Neill Blomkamp, Terri Tatchell, District 9
Nancy Meyers, It's Complicated
Mark Boal, The Hurt Locker
Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds
Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner, Up in the Air
FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM
Broken Embraces
A Prophet
The Maid
The White Ribbon
Baaria
ORIGINAL SCORE
Michael Giacchino, Up
James Horner, Avatar
Marvin Hamlisch, The Informant!
Abel Korzeniowski, A Single Man
Karen O. and Carter Burwell, Where The Wild Things Are
ORIGINAL SONG
"Cinema Italiano" from Nine
"I See You" from Avatar
"The Weary Kind" from Crazy Heart
"I Want to Come Home" from Everybody's Fine
"Winter" from Brothers
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Man, oh man, oh man.
I'm planning to see a number of movies before this year comes to an end. Those movies are:
It's a Wonderful Life
Vertigo
Cast Away
Catch Me if You Can
Heat
Cool Hand Luke
Million Dollar Baby
8 1/2
This should be interesting since I only own three of those movies, and I only watch movies when I don't have school the next day (ie weekends, days off). Thank God for the library. And in theaters, I plan to see:
Sherlock Holmes
Nine
The Imginarium of Doctor Parnassus
This is going to be a hell of a month.
It's a Wonderful Life
Vertigo
Cast Away
Catch Me if You Can
Heat
Cool Hand Luke
Million Dollar Baby
8 1/2
This should be interesting since I only own three of those movies, and I only watch movies when I don't have school the next day (ie weekends, days off). Thank God for the library. And in theaters, I plan to see:
Sherlock Holmes
Nine
The Imginarium of Doctor Parnassus
This is going to be a hell of a month.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
The Philadelphia Story
Philadelphia socialite Tracy Lord (Hepburn) is about to marry George Kittredge (John Howard), just a few years after her divorce with C.K. Dexter Haven (Cary Grant). Dexter, now a worker for Spy magazine, arrives at the Lord mansion the day before the wedding as well as tabloid reporter Macaulay "Mike" Connor (James Stewart) and photographer Liz Imbrie (Ruth Hussey). As the wedding draws closer, Tracy soon becomes torn between George, Dexter and Mike.
With this being the only Katharine Hepburn movie I've seen so far, I can't really say that this is her best role but she is good. Grant's work is also good (and charming), but like Hepburn, this is so far the only movie I've seen him in. Stewart definitely earned the Academy Award nomination, but I'm a little sketchy on the win. Personally, Henry Fonda for The Grapes of Wrath should've won, and Stewart should've won the previous year for Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. But overall, he is also good. The movie I liked very much. Having seen a few Billy Wilder and Woody Allen movies prior to this, I kinda expected what the chemistry throughout the movie would be like. But it still works.
My Rating: *****
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Mystic River
I read somewhere that the heir to Marlon Brando's acting throne was Robert De Niro. That made me wonder who would take his place when the time comes. The answer was clear after seeing Mystic River: Sean Penn.In 1975, three boys, Sean Devine, Jimmy Markum and Dave Boyle, are playing on a sidewalk in Boston when Dave is taken by two men and becomes a victim of sexual abuse. He manages to escape the abuse, but not the memories which continue to haunt him as an adult.
Years later, Sean (Kevin Bacon) is a police officer, Jimmy (Penn) is an ex-convict who runs a convenience store, and Dave (Tim Robbins) is a blue-collar worker trying to protect his son from what he endured. The three come together when Jimmy's daughter Katie (Emmy Rossum) is found murdered.
Years later, Sean (Kevin Bacon) is a police officer, Jimmy (Penn) is an ex-convict who runs a convenience store, and Dave (Tim Robbins) is a blue-collar worker trying to protect his son from what he endured. The three come together when Jimmy's daughter Katie (Emmy Rossum) is found murdered.
Boy, I can tell you one thing and one thing only about Mystic River: it was damn good. And I mean it. Eastwood's direction was dead on, Penn and Robbins' performances were stellar, and the movie probably would've won Best Picture had it not been for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
My Rating: ****1/2
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Anticipation: 2010 Releases I'm Eager About
Shutter Island
Why?: The trailer sucked me in to extreme curiosity, and after seeing another Scorsese/Dicaprio work (The Aviator) and another work based off a Dennis Lehane novel (Mystic River), I'm more interested.When?: February 19
Alice in Wonderland
Why?: Being a fan of Tim Burton, I've been anticipating this one for a while. And the trailer's awesome.
When?: March 5
Iron Man 2
Why?: Uh, let's see...THE FIRST ONE KICKED ASS.
When?: April 30
Inception
Why?: My theory is, "The more confusing the trailer is, the more you want to see it."
When?: July 16
For more highly anticipated moves coming out next year, check out this list at TotalFilm.
Sunset Boulevard
"All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up."That is the immortal final line of Billy Wilder's 1950 classic Sunset Boulevard.
A body is found floating in the pool of a decaying mansion. In flashbacks, we find out that the body was that of hack screenwriter Joe Gillis (William Holden) and the mansion belonged to faded movie star Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson). Gillis was hired by Desmond to write her comeback. But as the months roll by, Gillis starts losing interest in the project.
Is there one genre Billy Wilder can't do? I mean he's done comedy (Some Like It Hot), war (Stalag 17), romance (Sabrina, The Apartment) and of course film noir (Double Indemnity). Honestly I can't think of one, so that's a sign he's a very versatile director.
My Rating: *****
Twitter Conversation #3
Had yet another conversation on Twitter on Thursday night (boy, this is becoming a running theme). The other Tweeters people involved were Julian from Movies and Other Things..., Danny from The King Bulletin, John from John Likes Movies (though that was brief), Ryan from A Life in Equinox and Josh from I Are Movies. This time it started with me planning to watch a few of Clint Eastwood's movies in preparation for the release of Invictus next week:
MovieNut14 (me): Plan to see Mystic River and Million Dollar Baby in preparation for the release of Invictus next week.
202chicago (Julian): @MovieNut14 M$B is great. Haven't seen Mystic River
thekingbulletin (Danny): @MovieNut14 Both are masterpieces in my opinion.
202chicago: @thekingbulletin Is Mystic better than M$B???
thekingbulletin: @202chicago Such a tough call. I would go with Million Dollar Baby by a slim margin. Have you seen either of them?
202chicago: @thekingbulletin M$B. Loved it, but Eastwood is SOO traditional
johnlgilpatrick (John): Right next to each other on my best of 00's list with Mystic on top RT @202chicago: @thekingbulletin Is Mystic better than M$B???
thekingbulletin: @202chicago I have a feeling you'd feel differently about Mystic. But I get what your saying about 'Baby'. Old school feel to it.
202chicago: @thekingbulletin Well, I got the same vibe watching Changeling and Gran Torino...
thekingbulletin: @202chicago I thought the difference was the fact he acted Baby and Torino. Tough to compare Changeling b/c it's a period piece.
MovieNut14: @202chicago In regards to what you said to @tastekid. Sofia Coppola is actually Francis' daughter, not niece.
202chicago: @MovieNut14 really? wow. I'll def remember that this time. You watch either of the Clint films yet?
202chicago: @MovieNut14 *next time, not this time haha
MovieNut14: @202chicago @thekingbulletin Have you two seen movies where Eastwood's only the actor?
Univarn (Ryan): @MovieNut14 :o
thekingbulletin: @MovieNut14 Off the top of my head...Dirty Harry.
202chicago: @MovieNut14 Can't honestly say I have
Univarn: @202chicago go watch The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly right now. my #2 all time film, and it's in that spot by 10 miles could easily be #1
202chicago: @Univarn Will do. Also look forward to checking out your podcast when I can
MovieNut14: @202chicago Saving those for the weekend actually. School and stuff, y'know?
isavedlatin89 (Josh): @MovieNut14 Dirty Harry and All the Man With No Name films
Univarn: @202chicago thanks. I could probably spend a month talking about Eastwood acting only roles. Start with the Leone trilogy and go from there.
202chicago: @MovieNut14 @Univarn Oh wait. I saw that film he did with John Malkovich and Rene Russo in the 1990s, albeit on the television set
Univarn: @202chicago In the Line of Fire.
isavedlatin89: @202chicago All his Westerns, minus Unforgiven
thekingbulletin: @202chicago In the Line of Fire...That's a great film. Malkovich gives an unbelieveable performance.
MovieNut14: @202chicago @thekingbulletin @Univarn @isavedlatin89 I'll admit that I, uh, *cough* haven't seen any of his films yet. :P
202chicago: @isavedlatin89 Is that your recommendation? Or the films you've seen starring him that he didn't direct?
202chicago: Agreed. I barely recognized the guy! Rene was... what's your opinion of her? Is she any good? I don't remember haha
Univarn: @MovieNut14 for shame!!!!!
thekingbulletin: @MovieNut14 The ones he's acted in and not directed are older, so I don't blame you.
Univarn: @MovieNut14 I think I have about 8 in my own collection :x
isavedlatin89: @202chicago Well, both. He's a fantastic Western actor, and I believe outside of Unforgiven, he hasn't directed any
thekingbulletin: @202chicago Not a very tough role, but I thought she did a fine job.
202chicago: @MovieNut14 Don't let AMPAS members know. They'll show up at your door with pitchforks and torches demanding your life as a consequence lol
MovieNut14: @Univarn Hey, don't blame me! I barely have any time to watch a movie.
202chicago: @MovieNut14 Not that it's related, but how'd you get your profile background (the AIDS red thing)???
MovieNut14: @202chicago Well, either that or they'll throw copies of his movies at me.
MovieNut14: @202chicago Under Settings -> Design -> last choice on the list.
202chicago: @MovieNut14 The latter, once you get past the bruising of the hard plastic DVD cases, isn't a much better opinion lol
202chicago: @MovieNut14 Thank you :) #red
MovieNut14: @202chicago Hence why I'm planning to watch two of his movies this weekend.
202chicago: @MovieNut14 That should calm the AMPAS members anger some... M$B is fantastic btw. Hilary Swank was phenomenal
MovieNut14: It's amazing how 1 comment leads to an entire conversation ie the one I'm having w/ @202chicago @thekingbulletin @Univarn & @isavedlatin89
isavedlatin89: @MovieNut14 Hahaha, it's the joys of twitter lol
isavedlatin89: @MovieNut14 I came in late so I don't know where you guys are at...whats the topic?
202chicago: @isavedlatin89 The general topic is Clint Eastwood, but I think it's almost as lost as the convo we had earlier with @thekingbulletin haha
MovieNut14: @isavedlatin89 Yeah and it started with me stating I'm going to watch Mystic River and Million Dollar Baby in prep for Invictus.
isavedlatin89: @202chicago Haha, nice. Well, he's a brilliant actor, but not truly that amazing of a director...nothing great since Unforgiven...
isavedlatin89: @MovieNut14 Yeah, I should probably do that too. I actually have never seen Mystic River *GASPS*
thekingbulletin: @MovieNut14 And I love the fact that those two films are very different from Invictus.
202chicago: @isavedlatin89 Agreed. I've seen three of his films (all 2000s films btw), and I thought he did good, but not THAT good...
202chicago: @isavedlatin89 Loved Million Dollar Baby, but it wasn't because he had such a handle on the material lol
MovieNut14: You guys (@202chicago @isavedlatin89 ) can continue the conversation. I gotta go to bed. 'Night.
isavedlatin89: @202chicago He has as much directorial subtlety as Paul Haggis does writing
isavedlatin89: @MovieNut14 Good night yo!
202chicago: @MovieNut14 Aite. Tweet ya later
As an update, I did watch Mystic River on Friday but not without a few road bumps along the way:
MovieNut14: Okay, change of plan. My library didn't have Million Dollar Baby in, so it's just Mystic River.
MovieNut14: My library also has Unforgiven, but that was out too.
A few hours later:
MovieNut14: Just saw Mystic River. Stunning Clint Eastwood movie with great performances from Sean Penn and Tim Robbins. No surprise they got Oscars.
thekingbulletin: @MovieNut14 Glad you liked it. Penn's best performance to date.
One thing to say about all of this typing: OWWWW.
MovieNut14 (me): Plan to see Mystic River and Million Dollar Baby in preparation for the release of Invictus next week.
202chicago (Julian): @MovieNut14 M$B is great. Haven't seen Mystic River
thekingbulletin (Danny): @MovieNut14 Both are masterpieces in my opinion.
202chicago: @thekingbulletin Is Mystic better than M$B???
thekingbulletin: @202chicago Such a tough call. I would go with Million Dollar Baby by a slim margin. Have you seen either of them?
202chicago: @thekingbulletin M$B. Loved it, but Eastwood is SOO traditional
johnlgilpatrick (John): Right next to each other on my best of 00's list with Mystic on top RT @202chicago: @thekingbulletin Is Mystic better than M$B???
thekingbulletin: @202chicago I have a feeling you'd feel differently about Mystic. But I get what your saying about 'Baby'. Old school feel to it.
202chicago: @thekingbulletin Well, I got the same vibe watching Changeling and Gran Torino...
thekingbulletin: @202chicago I thought the difference was the fact he acted Baby and Torino. Tough to compare Changeling b/c it's a period piece.
MovieNut14: @202chicago In regards to what you said to @tastekid. Sofia Coppola is actually Francis' daughter, not niece.
202chicago: @MovieNut14 really? wow. I'll def remember that this time. You watch either of the Clint films yet?
202chicago: @MovieNut14 *next time, not this time haha
MovieNut14: @202chicago @thekingbulletin Have you two seen movies where Eastwood's only the actor?
Univarn (Ryan): @MovieNut14 :o
thekingbulletin: @MovieNut14 Off the top of my head...Dirty Harry.
202chicago: @MovieNut14 Can't honestly say I have
Univarn: @202chicago go watch The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly right now. my #2 all time film, and it's in that spot by 10 miles could easily be #1
202chicago: @Univarn Will do. Also look forward to checking out your podcast when I can
MovieNut14: @202chicago Saving those for the weekend actually. School and stuff, y'know?
isavedlatin89 (Josh): @MovieNut14 Dirty Harry and All the Man With No Name films
Univarn: @202chicago thanks. I could probably spend a month talking about Eastwood acting only roles. Start with the Leone trilogy and go from there.
202chicago: @MovieNut14 @Univarn Oh wait. I saw that film he did with John Malkovich and Rene Russo in the 1990s, albeit on the television set
Univarn: @202chicago In the Line of Fire.
isavedlatin89: @202chicago All his Westerns, minus Unforgiven
thekingbulletin: @202chicago In the Line of Fire...That's a great film. Malkovich gives an unbelieveable performance.
MovieNut14: @202chicago @thekingbulletin @Univarn @isavedlatin89 I'll admit that I, uh, *cough* haven't seen any of his films yet. :P
202chicago: @isavedlatin89 Is that your recommendation? Or the films you've seen starring him that he didn't direct?
202chicago: Agreed. I barely recognized the guy! Rene was... what's your opinion of her? Is she any good? I don't remember haha
Univarn: @MovieNut14 for shame!!!!!
thekingbulletin: @MovieNut14 The ones he's acted in and not directed are older, so I don't blame you.
Univarn: @MovieNut14 I think I have about 8 in my own collection :x
isavedlatin89: @202chicago Well, both. He's a fantastic Western actor, and I believe outside of Unforgiven, he hasn't directed any
thekingbulletin: @202chicago Not a very tough role, but I thought she did a fine job.
202chicago: @MovieNut14 Don't let AMPAS members know. They'll show up at your door with pitchforks and torches demanding your life as a consequence lol
MovieNut14: @Univarn Hey, don't blame me! I barely have any time to watch a movie.
202chicago: @MovieNut14 Not that it's related, but how'd you get your profile background (the AIDS red thing)???
MovieNut14: @202chicago Well, either that or they'll throw copies of his movies at me.
MovieNut14: @202chicago Under Settings -> Design -> last choice on the list.
202chicago: @MovieNut14 The latter, once you get past the bruising of the hard plastic DVD cases, isn't a much better opinion lol
202chicago: @MovieNut14 Thank you :) #red
MovieNut14: @202chicago Hence why I'm planning to watch two of his movies this weekend.
202chicago: @MovieNut14 That should calm the AMPAS members anger some... M$B is fantastic btw. Hilary Swank was phenomenal
MovieNut14: It's amazing how 1 comment leads to an entire conversation ie the one I'm having w/ @202chicago @thekingbulletin @Univarn & @isavedlatin89
isavedlatin89: @MovieNut14 Hahaha, it's the joys of twitter lol
isavedlatin89: @MovieNut14 I came in late so I don't know where you guys are at...whats the topic?
202chicago: @isavedlatin89 The general topic is Clint Eastwood, but I think it's almost as lost as the convo we had earlier with @thekingbulletin haha
MovieNut14: @isavedlatin89 Yeah and it started with me stating I'm going to watch Mystic River and Million Dollar Baby in prep for Invictus.
isavedlatin89: @202chicago Haha, nice. Well, he's a brilliant actor, but not truly that amazing of a director...nothing great since Unforgiven...
isavedlatin89: @MovieNut14 Yeah, I should probably do that too. I actually have never seen Mystic River *GASPS*
thekingbulletin: @MovieNut14 And I love the fact that those two films are very different from Invictus.
202chicago: @isavedlatin89 Agreed. I've seen three of his films (all 2000s films btw), and I thought he did good, but not THAT good...
202chicago: @isavedlatin89 Loved Million Dollar Baby, but it wasn't because he had such a handle on the material lol
MovieNut14: You guys (@202chicago @isavedlatin89 ) can continue the conversation. I gotta go to bed. 'Night.
isavedlatin89: @202chicago He has as much directorial subtlety as Paul Haggis does writing
isavedlatin89: @MovieNut14 Good night yo!
202chicago: @MovieNut14 Aite. Tweet ya later
As an update, I did watch Mystic River on Friday but not without a few road bumps along the way:
MovieNut14: Okay, change of plan. My library didn't have Million Dollar Baby in, so it's just Mystic River.
MovieNut14: My library also has Unforgiven, but that was out too.
A few hours later:
MovieNut14: Just saw Mystic River. Stunning Clint Eastwood movie with great performances from Sean Penn and Tim Robbins. No surprise they got Oscars.
thekingbulletin: @MovieNut14 Glad you liked it. Penn's best performance to date.
One thing to say about all of this typing: OWWWW.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
Boy, this was an interesting year for me so far. I have seen five movies featuring movie icon Humphrey Bogart (I'll let you guess which ones). Definitely a versatile actor too. I mean, he goes from gangster (Angels with Dirty Faces) to film noir (The Maltese Falcon) to romance (Casablanca, Sabrina) like that. Anyway, onto the review.Fred C. Dobbs (Bogart) and Bob Curtin (Tim Holt) are two men down on their luck in Mexico. After getting scammed, they meet with grizzled prospector Howard (Walter Huston) and join him on his next expedition. It start off well but the expedition takes a negative turn when greed and jealousy seep into Dobbs' mind.
So far, this is one of my favorite movies I've seen this year. Bogart was great, though I'll admit he started to creep me out a bit after his character had only gold on the mind. John Huston's direction was good and his father Walter earned his Oscar fair and square.
My Rating: *****
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
It sucks.
Having turned 16 less than three months ago, I'm annoyed at the fact that my parents are still being picky on what R-rated movies I can and can't watch by myself. It's weird because I'm allowed to watch the entire Godfather trilogy (which I did watch earlier this year), but I can't watch Goodfellas? It's even more stupid because I know why the movie's rated R (i.e., Bonnie and Clyde, Schindler's List) and they're like, "No, wait 'till you're older." Sheesh, cry me a river.
BOOK VS MOVIE: The Shining
"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."That phrase stuck to the subconscious of anyone who dared to watch Stanley Kubrick's horror movie. Though as most people know Stephen King, the author of the book the movie's based on, was not too pleased with the result of Mr. Kubrick's film. No surprise once you think of it: Kubrick pretty much re-wrote the entire book and claimed it as his own.
Former teacher Jack Torrance has earned the job of caretaker at the Overlook Hotel. He, along with his wife Wendy and son Danny, are to stay at the hotel for the entire winter. Danny has a special power which the hotel chef Dick Hallorann calls "shining". As the days become weeks and the weeks become months, Jack's behavior starts to change...
The book and movie are SO different, it's like they're not anyway related. Both are equally scary, but I find the book better.
What's worth checking out?: Personally, I'd go with the book.