So I had this idea that I'd use my original gargantuan movielist, combined with the power of random.org, to randomly generate a list of ten films from the list. Then I'll list the ten films for the week. The idea is that you talk about as many of them as you can/choose to and we in the process manage to both get some good discussion, dig up some films we wouldn't otherwise, and also have a regular event of sorts in ILF. Hope this sounds good.
Here are this week's:
1164. Dead Presidents, 1995 (dir. Allen and Albert Hughes)
1677. Gandhi, 1982 (dir. Richard Attenborough)
244. Anatomy, 2000 (dir. Stefan Ruzowitzky)
1456. Fail-Safe, 1964 (dir. Sidney Lumet)
4207. Titicut Follies, 1967 (dir. Frederick Wiseman)
2833. Mondays in the Sun, 2002 (dir. Fernando Leon de Aranoa)
2561. A Love in Germany, 1983 (dir. Andrzej Wajda)
3686. The Seven Samurai, 1954 (dir. Akira Kurosawa)
865. A Chairy Tale, 1957 (dir. Norman McLaren and Claude Jutra)
14. 3 Women, 1977 (dir. Robert Altman)
Seems like a good enough start to me.
― Girolamo Savonarola, Tuesday, 25 May 2004 21:57 (twenty-two years ago)
Dead Presidents - Haven't really seen anything of this except the end. I forget the song played over the credits, but I just remember it b/c it's the one that Hooverphonic sampled for 2Wicky.
Gandhi - Decent epic from Attenborough; it's a little odd the way that it sets up the Pakistan situation as if it all just came about because of some prissy Anglofied class obsessed Muslim with glasses. I tend to doubt that as being the true story. Things I love about it, though, include the slow but totally believable transition from young Anglophile lawyer to frail old man wearing next-to-nothing, Candice Bergen not playing a bitch, the slightly non-linear timeline, the sprinkling of his ashes at the end, and the red background for the end credits. Something that I'm proud to own on DVD, though not nearly as much as my old flame Lawrence of Arabia.
Anatomy - don't know much about it
Fail-Safe - I remember the novel was awesome when I read it in sixth grade. And I tend to like Lumet and Fonda, so why haven't I gotten around to this one yet?
Titicut Follies - I want to see more Wiseman things.
Mondays in the Sun - don't know much about it
A Love in Germany - need to start to watch some Wajda
The Seven Samurai - not my most favorite Kurosawa (that honor going to High and Low), but definitely ranks up there. My only complaint, I have to say, is that I'm not 100% convinced that it justifies its length. Really, it could've been just as good at 2 1/2 hours long. The movie is quintessential Mifune, though, and this was my introduction both to him and Kurosawa, so props to them both for immediately propping my attention to their careers up. Actually, I haven't watched this one for a while, so it probably deserves a rewatch. The rain and the graves deservedly go down in the annals of film history.
A Chairy Tale - I want to see more McLaren things
3 Women - will be watched by me as soon as I get around to seeing the Criterion edition...
― Girolamo Savonarola, Tuesday, 25 May 2004 22:08 (twenty-two years ago)
this is a great idea.
however, i can think of nothing to say about any of these films. i've only seen two, and neither of those are very fresh on the brain. i'll stay tuned for next week.
― a spectator bird (a spectator bird), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:40 (twenty-two years ago)
anyone remember the live tv
Fail-Safe done by steven frears starring clooney? that was pretty boring. not sure how similar it is.
Only one of these I have seen is Seven Samurai, and you're right, it is too long. When I watch it these days it's usually just last hour--which is certainly some of the best cinema ever made. (I think my favorite kurosawa might be Throne of Blood, but it changes.)
― ryan (ryan), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 20:18 (twenty-two years ago)
where is the best place to start (preferably on dvd) for wiseman?The best place to start is the Museum Of Radio & Television in either LA or NYC because that's basically the only place where you can see his films. None of them are available on DVD and are unlikely to be in the forseeable future. His web site has the details.
― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Thursday, 27 May 2004 22:15 (twenty-two years ago)