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| carrobin |
 Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 9:23 am |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 7795
Location: NYC
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Speaking of Hitchcock, last night I checked TCM when I got home from work and found "The Verdict"--not Paul Newman's, but a 1946 British flick that seemed to strive for a Hitchcock vibe. It didn't reach that quality, but I kept watching because its stars were Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet. Wish I'd caught the beginning, where Robert Osborne probably explained why they had signed up for a minor Victorian murder melodrama.
And speaking of TCM, I missed most of the Today show this morning because of "Double Wedding," yet another Powell-Loy romcom that I'd never heard of. It was silly, but I can't resist watching how those two get together in spite of the most ridiculous obstacles. It is, of course, unimaginable that either one would marry another character in a film in which both starred--even "Libeled Lady," with Spencer Tracy and Jean Harlow to tempt them. |
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| yambu |
| Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2014 5:58 pm |
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Joined: 23 May 2004
Posts: 6441
Location: SF Bay Area
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I saw Glengarry Glenn Ross for the first time. My reaction was, damn, I'm gonna die without seeing a lot of great films.
Performances were way over the top, especially Pacino, but these are driven men who believe they are on this earth to make bucks by taking them from others. The story begins as they can no longer deny they are all at a dead end.
The sales room feels claustrophobic, where Spacey, Aykroyd, Pacino and Lemmon all have at each other all the time. The staged outdoors makes everything smaller as people run to the local bar and back. |
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| marantzo |
| Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2014 6:23 pm |
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Guest
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| I found it too cramped. Maybe I'm Claustrophobic? |
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| billyweeds |
| Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 5:17 am |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 20618
Location: New York City
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carrobin wrote: Speaking of Hitchcock, last night I checked TCM when I got home from work and found "The Verdict"--not Paul Newman's, but a 1946 British flick that seemed to strive for a Hitchcock vibe. It didn't reach that quality, but I kept watching because its stars were Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet. Wish I'd caught the beginning, where Robert Osborne probably explained why they had signed up for a minor Victorian murder melodrama.
Hitchcock's all-star The Paradine Case, which your description reminds me of, is one of the master's very worst outings. So maybe The Verdict was even better. |
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| carrobin |
| Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 9:29 am |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 7795
Location: NYC
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| I think I did see "The Paradine Case" and was disappointed by it. "The Verdict" had a certain charm, though--and I always enjoy locked-room mysteries. The ending surprised me. I'd give it at least three stars. |
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| whiskeypriest |
| Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 9:58 am |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 6916
Location: "It's a Dry Heat."
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Paradine Case was bad Hitchcock which is a little like a bad blow job.
It might seem better if it were merely Hitchcockian rather than Hitchcock. |
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I ask you, Velvel, as a rational man, which of us is possessed? |
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| billyweeds |
| Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 10:07 am |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 20618
Location: New York City
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whiskeypriest wrote: Paradine Case was bad Hitchcock which is a little like a bad blow job.
It might seem better if it were merely Hitchcockian rather than Hitchcock.
Lovelovelove your analogy. You're also on the right track with "Hitchcockian." If it weren't actually Hitchcock we might cut it some more slack. Also if it weren't laden with so many A-listers in the cast. Peck, Laughton, Barrymore, Coburn, Jourdan, etc., and the result is a turkey? Yuck. |
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| Befade |
| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2014 9:15 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 3784
Location: AZ
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Watching Empire Falls after reading the book. Boy.......it has a stellar cast.......and I'm into seeing Philip Seymour H. as often as I can.
Let's see: Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Ed Harris, Robin Wright, Helen Hunt, Aiden Quinn. |
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Lost in my own private I dunno. |
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| Joe Vitus |
| Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2014 3:09 am |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 14498
Location: Houston
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| I can only guess Whiskey has had one blowjob in his life and really, really needs another one. They aren't all so universally great that comparing Hitchcock to them is a meaningful compliment. |
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You've got a great brain. You should keep it in your head.
-Topher |
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| whiskeypriest |
| Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2014 7:18 am |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 6916
Location: "It's a Dry Heat."
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| I am of course talking about being on the receiving end. I imagime the experience of giving them might be different amd vary wildly. |
_________________
I ask you, Velvel, as a rational man, which of us is possessed? |
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| bartist |
| Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2014 1:43 pm |
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Joined: 27 Apr 2010
Posts: 6961
Location: Black Hills
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| I've heard the old saying, "two swallows don't make a summer," but maybe that's not relevant. |
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He was wise beyond his years, but only by a few days. |
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| whiskeypriest |
| Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2014 3:52 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 6916
Location: "It's a Dry Heat."
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Just saw Les Miserables, finally. Enjoyed it, though I wavered between thinking, I wish I saw that on the big screen and, Holy Jesus, I'm glad I didn't see THAT on a big screen! As in, I think the closeups would have been overwhelming.
Enjoyed especially:
Samantha Barks as Eponine. Kept wondering what the Hell was wrong with Marius, which I think is a problem, especially given the absence of any real spark between him and Colette. (Cosette!).
Daniel Huttlestone as Garvoche, and Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter helping keep things light. And of course Mrs. Shakespeare's ace Sinead O'Connor impression.
But I found the leads - Valjean, Javert, Marius and Colette (Cosette! Whatever) - all uninvolving. |
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I ask you, Velvel, as a rational man, which of us is possessed? |
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| Joe Vitus |
| Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2014 4:16 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
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Location: Houston
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whiskeypriest wrote: I am of course talking about being on the receiving end. I imagime the experience of giving them might be different amd vary wildly.
I am talking about receiving them, too. But thanks for the homophobia/sexism, whichever was intended. |
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You've got a great brain. You should keep it in your head.
-Topher |
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| whiskeypriest |
| Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2014 4:54 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 6916
Location: "It's a Dry Heat."
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Joe Vitus wrote: whiskeypriest wrote: I am of course talking about being on the receiving end. I imagime the experience of giving them might be different amd vary wildly.
I am talking about receiving them, too. But thanks for the homophobia/sexism, whichever was intended. |
_________________
I ask you, Velvel, as a rational man, which of us is possessed? |
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| whiskeypriest |
| Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2014 4:57 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 6916
Location: "It's a Dry Heat."
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| I mean, I thought I was intending to respond to a snarky personal insult from you. Go figure. |
_________________
I ask you, Velvel, as a rational man, which of us is possessed? |
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