movies

[JL21]

Wait, where was Birth of A Nation? Maybe that movie transcends this list.

That's a movie for Democrats. Old school democrats, like Strom Thurmond.

[ghostrunner]

How in the wide, wide world of sports is 'Brazil' within even sniffing distance of that list?

Because conservatives have convinced themselves that welfare programs = totalitarianism.

I think it's fair to say Gilliam has a pretty clear pro-individual, anti-bureaucracy bent in his work. As far as Brazil goes, there's a definite 1984 feeling about it. It's a totalitarian government and conformity is encouraged. Conservatives are at least supposed to object to those things.

This and Juno might not seem conservative to others, and the people involved may not be conservative, but that doesn't mean conservatives don't identify with the themes. Also, this is National Review's list, which has a pretty diverse group of conservatives. I imagine James Dobson wouldn't agree on several choices.

[Jocephus]

also, about that movie...i love that guy "red"

You should rent this some time then:

i watched it a week or so ago and really liked it...i love mcbride's delivery...he's quickly becoming a favorite of mine...hes got a new hbo ( i think) show coming soon and it has some baseball tie-in's iirc

[Jocephus]

I think I mentioned this awhile back, but now's a good time to share again:

Two of my best childhood friends, who i grew up with in West County, spent their entire 20s writing, directing, casting, fundraising, and generally fighting the world to get their movie made. It's called Humboldt County, and it had a limited release last fall from Magnolia Pictures, with some success. It just came out on video this month, and it'd mean a lot to me (and my buddies) if you checked it out, and if you liked it, left a decent review.

http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Humboldt_C ... 689976_0_0

I'd say it's a comedic coming of age drama, not unlike Garden State. But instead of the Shins, it's pot that saves the protagonist.

As for my buddies, I hope to have a really exciting announcement about their next project soon, once that's official. But since I love the spoiler tag and hints...

[SHOW]

Think: The movie adaptation of a certain Bissinger book about a certain NL Central manager

fwiw, it got added to my instant movies on netflix instead of having to get it in the mail

[heyzeus]

cool, let me know what you think, Joce!

[Freed Roger]

got around to a couple of Kazan classics recently

East of Eden (I'll spoiler it for [expletive] and grins.)

[SHOW]

I enjoyed this movie a lot, but found it flawed and not up to Kazan's "On the Waterfront". excellent acting as expected. Julie Harris who played the female lead was strong. James Dean was a little overdramatic at times IMO (they wanted to show Kal was an uncontainable free spirit - but the impetuous mood swings were overdone and seemed to overshadow the storyline itself.)
beautifully shot and good story, except I didn't quite feel the redemption of Dean's character at the end, they drag it out then rush the very end. I had a hard time believing he'd have the patience to sit there

StreetCar Named Desire

[SHOW]

I liked this least of the Kazan movies so far. but liked it nonetheless and can see why its considered a classic.
Blanche - the woman with the troubled past trying to portray a phony plantation lady image- her southern belle accent was overdone and annoying (maybe thats what they wanted) . I was hoping for Stanley -Brando to toss her ass out the window. Brando was great and the New Orleans life in a crammed dumpy apartment was cool. The storyline and conclusion (this was directors cut) was pretty hard core for any era (violent abusive husband, rapes wife's sister while wife is in hospital with their firstborn -jeesh.) eccentric characters great. but ultimately, this is had too much of the feel of a play - which is what it was written for.

[JL21]

I've wanted to watch East of Eden for some time. I swear I'll get to it eventually.

I re-watched Boogie Nights over the weekend. I hadn't seen it since I was 22. That movie rules. But now I can't get "Sister Christian" out of my head.

[Jocephus]

this is the best part

[omaha_red]

got around to a couple of Kazan classics recently

East of Eden (I'll spoiler it for [expletive] and grins.)

[SHOW]

I enjoyed this movie a lot, but found it flawed and not up to Kazan's "On the Waterfront". excellent acting as expected. Julie Harris who played the female lead was strong. James Dean was a little overdramatic at times IMO (they wanted to show Kal was an uncontainable free spirit - but the impetuous mood swings were overdone and seemed to overshadow the storyline itself.)
beautifully shot and good story, except I didn't quite feel the redemption of Dean's character at the end, they drag it out then rush the very end. I had a hard time believing he'd have the patience to sit there

StreetCar Named Desire

[SHOW]

I liked this least of the Kazan movies so far. but liked it nonetheless and can see why its considered a classic.
Blanche - the woman with the troubled past trying to portray a phony plantation lady image- her southern belle accent was overdone and annoying (maybe thats what they wanted) . I was hoping for Stanley -Brando to toss her ass out the window. Brando was great and the New Orleans life in a crammed dumpy apartment was cool. The storyline and conclusion (this was directors cut) was pretty hard core for any era (violent abusive husband, rapes wife's sister while wife is in hospital with their firstborn -jeesh.) eccentric characters great. but ultimately, this is had too much of the feel of a play - which is what it was written for.

i just did "a tree grows in brooklyn"... it was okay.. maybe too sweet even for me..

[Freed Roger]

Until earlier in this thread I wasn't aware of the stink over Kazan - which I believe is for ratting out some constituents in Hollywood as commies during the McCarthy hearings.

Generally, for artists actors musicians how they hang politically or religously has little bearing on whether I care for their work.

But I have a hard time trying to reconcile Kazan's work to his betrayal. It doesn't seem to add up - On the Waterfront was a gangster movie largely about social justice and not giving into thugs. East of Eden - makes statement on blind patriotism of WWI. Brando's Stanley Koralski(sp?) goes thru hysterics about being a proud American and not a dumb ape pollock - but its the latter that seems to win out in the end. All 3 movies have rich bohemiam characters - not the generic whitewashed characters you see in many movies of that era.

it just doesn't seem to reason that Kazan would have sold out. Maybe there were some commies sympathizers in Hollywood, but its hard to imagine they were harmful. Possibly Kazan felt the pressure to disprove from his avant garde work that he was one of that crowd. Maybe as an immigrant himself he felt he had to prove himself American.

Whatever, thought I'd toss that out there. I still like his work. haven't seen tree grows in Brooklyn. Up next Sunset Blvd.