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yambu

Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2017 8:01 pm

Joined: 23 May 2004 Posts: 6441 Location: SF Bay Area

billyweeds wrote:

yambu wrote:

Monsoon Wedding is about a family whose wealth and education vault them past society's ironclad traditions. And yet these come to the fore when needed. I can't say just how, but the kindly patriarch knows just where to reach, only once, for the power to protect his family's well being.

But did you like it? I did--a whole lot.

You are not wrong. Start with an attractive extended family. A few older women have the headache of pulling together the wedding, while everyone else is goofing off. Sibling spats live and die within a minute.

I have only been to a few extended weddings, and I think of them all the time. Billy, or anyone, please give me some movie titles that deal with this. I can't remember.

billyweeds

Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2017 6:33 pm

Joined: 20 May 2004 Posts: 20618 Location: New York City

yambu wrote:

billyweeds wrote:

yambu wrote:

But did you like it? I did--a whole lot.

As I recall it, My Best Friend's Wedding was one. Underrated movie, too.

bartist

Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2017 3:34 pm

Joined: 27 Apr 2010 Posts: 6964 Location: Black Hills

A beautiful homage to Wm Carlos Wms, an eloquent slice of life in the week of a bus driver (played by Adam Driver, which is the sort of odd synchronicity that the whole film is laced with) and poet. Seasoned with humor (the Brussells sprouts pie scene, with the kind and diplomatic husband, got belly laughs here) (ditto the lovelorn actor in the bar) and the sort of realism that illuminates quotidian moments. And, like a flaw in nice leather, one or two spectacularly implausible events to provoke thought without causing any fatal ejection from the flow of the narrative. "Paterson" gets my vote. I didn't know both Ginsberg and Williams were from that town. The concept of twins, of dualities, seems deeply ingrained in the film - the twins that Laura dreams of birthing, two poets, two comedians (Abbot and Costello), and sets of grown identical twins everywhere you look. Will probably watch this film again, in a couple years, with great pleasure.

Cellphone holdouts will love it. "I don't want to be on a leash."

It's funny, speaking of the synchronicity. I had just recently seen Island of Lost Souls, the Dr. Moreau version with Sir Charles Laughton, which is the film that the couple see to celebrate the cupcake triumph. Her cupcakes are B/W, the film is B/W, yeah, okay.

_________________
He was wise beyond his years, but only by a few days.

carrobin

Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2017 1:13 am

Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 7795 Location: NYC

Tonight TCM was showing "The Invisible Man," and I happened on it just a few minutes after it started. Funny how I always think I've seen a classic, then run across it on TCM and realize I've always missed it. So I watched invisible Claude Rains and was intrigued throughout, as it was a jolly good plot but also had special effects that are still pretty impressive. I was surprised that he was a mad villain, having expected him to be one of those tragic hero types like Doctor Jekyll. Thumbs up.

gromit

Posted: Mon May 01, 2017 5:56 pm

Joined: 31 Aug 2004 Posts: 9016 Location: Shanghai

I've been watching DeMille's 1927 King of Kings. Unfortunately I keep putting it on really lte and dozing, so last night I decided to start again. It's really pretty lively with some nice ideas. It starts off with Mary Magdalene as a "courtesan" -- which seems to be a nice way of saying hooker/escort. In her private life, has a romance with Judas Iscariot, but is jealous that he's palling around with this Jesus fella too much. And then there's the high priest Caiaphas who has it in for Jesus and keeps setting traps for him.

I like how the first time we see Jesus is through the eyes of a blind boy Jesus heals, with the Nazarite slowly coming into view. There's some good lighting, especially as many scenes fade out, but leave some glowing light on Jesus as the background and other characters fade into darkness. And a nice scene where Jesus is planing a long board, gets interrupted by the tax collectors trying to harass him, and at the end of the scene rests against his long piece of wood in contemplation, which now resembles very much Jesus and the cross.

So it's a pretty lively retelling. Despite the storyline taking liberties at times, frequently the title cards are biblical quotes, which is a good idea and adds an air of authority to the proceedings. About my only complaint is that the Jesus makeup looks oddly fake and is distracting. I keep trying to tell what's wrong with it (beard and hair/wig it would seem).

_________________
Killing your enemies, if it's done badly, increases their number.

carrobin

Posted: Mon May 01, 2017 6:53 pm

Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 7795 Location: NYC

Poor Mary Magdalene--the concept of her being a "harlot" was invented by some religious types with no evidence (i.e., fake news). But it's certainly given her a high profile in the biblical references.

yambu

Posted: Mon May 01, 2017 7:39 pm

Joined: 23 May 2004 Posts: 6441 Location: SF Bay Area

carrobin wrote:

The overwhelming view in many strains of Christianity honors her with sainthood, for being at the crucifixion and the Resurrection.You didn't say so, but I don't think the Bible compromises her in any way.

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That was great for you. How was it for me?

Syd

Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 9:40 pm

Site Admin Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 12934 Location: Norman, Oklahoma

I was somewhat disappointed by the first hour or so of "The Hollow Crown: Henry IV part 2," in which not that much happens, but it takes off in the second half when we meet Shallow, and then have the scene with the duplicitous Prince John meeting the rebels, the decline and death of Henry IV and the devastating rejection of Falstaff that was foreshadowed in one of the best scenes in Part 1. Still, I can see why the two halves are sometimes combined.

I didn't notice or they skipped mention of the room where Henry IV lies dying. It's the Jerusalem Chamber at Westminster Abbey, reflecting Henry's promise to go crusading to Jerusalem. The room was dedicated to Richard II and had references to him, which is all the guilt-stricken Henry IV needed. (I interpret Richard II's behavior during his abdication scene partly as an attempt to make Henry IV's succession as poisoned as possible, and he succeeded.)

I read Harold Bloom's synopsis on the two parts of Henry IV, and, though I think he has far too high an opinion of Falstaff (who, after all, intentionally recruited 150 non-soldiers to die at Shrewsbury, and here accepts bribes from soldiers who might be halfway competent), I do agree with him in my dislike of Prince Hal, who is not only a hypocrite, but downright nasty, even when he's supposedly just teasing a friend. (This is not a criticism of Tom Hiddleston's performance, which is dead-on, and there's a fine scene when Henry IV and V are confronting the vampirous crown.) I hope this carries on into Henry V, in which Hal's striving for glory at Agincourt also ends in the murder of thousands of prisoners-of-war.

Last edited by Syd on Tue May 02, 2017 10:13 pm; edited 1 time in total
_________________
Rocky Laocoon foretold of Troy's doom, only to find snaky water. They pulled him in and Rocky can't swim. Now Rocky wishes he were an otter!

Syd

Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 9:59 pm

Site Admin Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 12934 Location: Norman, Oklahoma

I'm having a hard time finding any of the male characters in the Henry IV plays to be admirable. This is almost true in Richard II, too, although one of his sycophants redeems himself a bit by trying to recruit an army to defend his king, and John of Gaunt comes across much better in the play than he was in real life. Mortimer might if he weren't so willing to trisect his own kingdom to reward traitors. All of Hotspur's loud proclamations of honor, which apparently are accepted by Henry IV and Hal, are really pretty foolish, especially when he is consorting with enemies like Glendower.

Richard's queen and Hotspur's and Mortimer's wives come across much better.

_________________
Rocky Laocoon foretold of Troy's doom, only to find snaky water. They pulled him in and Rocky can't swim. Now Rocky wishes he were an otter!

yambu

Posted: Wed May 03, 2017 11:16 am

Joined: 23 May 2004 Posts: 6441 Location: SF Bay Area

"....within the hollow crown
That rounds the mortal temples of a king
Keeps Death his court, and there the antic sits,
Scoffing his state and grinning at his pomp,
Allowing him a breath, a little scene,
To monarchize, be fear’d, and kill with looks;
Infusing him with self and vain conceit
As if this flesh which walls about our life
Were brass impregnable; and, humour’d thus
Comes at the last, and with a little pin
Bores thorough his castle wall, and farewell king!..."

I love Derek Jacoby's Richard, behaving more like a preteen than an adult, issuing spontaneous orders of exile. He wears his crown too far on the back of his head, and it is maddening. Richard the Nerd.

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That was great for you. How was it for me?

bartist

Posted: Wed May 03, 2017 12:22 pm

Joined: 27 Apr 2010 Posts: 6964 Location: Black Hills

I want to see the first season of the Hollow Crown. Per Syd's posts, I can't imagine anyone having a high opinion of Falstaff, but I haven't read Bloom on this. I do remember, when reading Henry IV back in college, finding most of the male characters fairly despicable. I recently acquired a copy of Chimes at Midnight, to warm up with, and expect to be treated to Falstaff as a great reeking tub of human failings.

_________________
He was wise beyond his years, but only by a few days.

whiskeypriest

Posted: Wed May 03, 2017 8:11 pm

Joined: 20 May 2004 Posts: 6916 Location: "It's a Dry Heat."

bartist wrote:

Falstaff is my second favorite Shakespeare character, behind Nick Bottom - because if you ever do amateur theatrics, you discover either one of your fellows is Nick Bottom, or you are. But "admirable" is not a word I would attach to Falstaff. And yeah, Hal is a turd throughout.

Chimes at Midnight remains my favorite Shakespeare film.

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I ask you, Velvel, as a rational man, which of us is possessed?

bartist

Posted: Thu May 04, 2017 8:19 am

Joined: 27 Apr 2010 Posts: 6964 Location: Black Hills

Yep, I watched last night and now can envision Falstaff as no one else. Both droll and tragic...and oddly graceful. Beautiful and gritty B/W, too, with a touch of strange.

_________________
He was wise beyond his years, but only by a few days.

bartist

Posted: Fri May 05, 2017 2:13 pm

Joined: 27 Apr 2010 Posts: 6964 Location: Black Hills

So I watched the 5th Bourne flick. SPOILERS ABOUND, I MEAN THIS IS A SPY THRILLER SO I WOULD HAVE TO WHITEOUT EVERYTHING. A couple questions - how did JB manage to record the final car chat between Heather and Russell, and then leave the recording in Heather's car? Didn't quite follow. Also, must you kill off Nicky Parsons? Do we only get Julia Stiles flashbacks in future installments? And lastly, how many times do you have to crash into a car, or crash a car into a building or cement barrier, before your fan base develops impact jadedness? How does JB avoid concussions and TBI - are airbags just that good now? That, plus his Greco-Albanian bareknuckles career, should have turned his grey matter into linebacker pudding by now. There is something so profoundly sad about Damon's lonely operative...maybe that's why I keep watching, hoping there's a Ms. Assassin somewhere in his future, and maybe a couple little ones who can kill their fellow kindergarteners with their sticky bare hands.

_________________
He was wise beyond his years, but only by a few days.

carrobin

Posted: Fri May 05, 2017 2:50 pm

Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 7795 Location: NYC

I'd watch that sequel.

I've seen only a couple of the Bourne movies, but found them entertainingly unrealistic. They're good at individualizing car chases/crashes so they don't all seem alike.

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