What did you watch today? v 33.0

[The Professor]

Welcome to version 33, the Egg McMuffin of discussions. 

 

The first post in this thread will be # 14,394. 

 

The ghost of George Sanders reminds you to link your films, and that one should feel free to move on if bored. 

[eviltimes]

Inside Job   IMDb   2010   PG-13   108 min   BD

Oscar winning documentary that wastes no time and names everybody and all their connections in a truly exhilarating tale (tale? it actually happened!) of the second great depression we are only in the middle of right now.  Matt Damon narrates as the evidence ultimately blames long worshiped Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan's deeply held anti-regulation philosophy.  All the protections put into place after the first Depression were slowly removed from the early 1980's on, until the bankers could do anything they wanted - and it was all totally legal !!!

Here's another fascinating ride with no time wasted - a must watch by everyone - even if you think you know everything there's plenty of extra goodies connected to this (once criminal) behavior that has reduced our net worth by an average of 40%.

"Amazed at how much cocaine these Wall Streeters can take and still get to work in the morning."  No sh*t.  10/10

[eviltimes]

Harakiri   IMDb   1962   NR   133 min   BD   Criterion 2005

Considered the finest "anti-samurai" film ever made, this film turns the standard samurai slasher films of the time (and even today) on their head, providing a personal experience of the long standard Ronin character. Much like what Clint Eastwood did to the Western with "Unforgiven"; novelist Yasuhiko Takiguchi, screenwriter Shinobu Hashimoto and director Masaki Kobayashi tell a compelling story of the lives of the once proud (and employed) Samurai now down on their luck after the unification of the warring kingdoms of early 17th century Japan.

This Blu Ray disc contains a picture perfect 2.35 ratio B&W copy of the film. In Japanese with ENG subs. All the better to display the gorgeous cinematography, amazing locations and sets. Extras are a little sparse. 10/10

[don]

A must see of the genre. Excellent background story. well choreographed climax.

[Nerves]

The Chechahcos (1924)  (on Treasures from American Film Archives Disc 3)

3/5 Stars

OK melodrama has the distinction of being the first film made on location in Alaska. The solo piano musical accompaniment was composed especially for the film though the extensive use of diminished chords for the action and suspense scenes grew rather tiresome.

[Knaldskalle]

Seven Years Bad Luck. Ever hear of Max Linder? Yeah, me either. Apparently he was kinda sorta big in the late "teens"-early twenties, inspiring both Chaplin and the Marx Brothers with his slapstick comedy. In Seven Years Bad Luck he's a superstitious guy who thinks he's smashed a mirror. So he goes out of his way to try to avoid accidents and of course causes many more accidents that way. There's a mirror scene that the Marx Brothers would recycle in Duck Soup and some of the chase scenes look like it could've been Chaplin. So if you're into that, it's great fun. I found it hard to stay awake throughout the whole 60 minutes of this movie, but it should be said that I'm pretty sleep deprived right now (thanks, baby), so take my reaction with a grain or two of salt.

[David]

The Way We Were--Redford & Streisand play politically opposite lovers, but eventually get married. Also about the blacklisting of Hollywood.  Overall a well made film.

Kramer vs. Kramer--Hoffman & Streep play a couple that separate and try to deal with the split up as Hoffman tries to raise his child. 

I Never Sang For My Father--family drama taken from the play. Hackman wants to get married and move to California, and there's a death in the family so he tries to tie up loose ends.  Made pretty well, although some might find it somewhat depressing.

[Nerves]

The Sea Lion (1921)

3/5 Stars

Not too bad. The plot relies on coincidence a little too much. Whoever put together the musical accompaniment tried to use pre-existing recordings to match the action but more often than not it didn't work. Bessie Love is cute as a young girl shipwrecked on a deserted island.

[eviltimes]

She is cute!

[sevenstars]

Yeh I wouldn't mind being stranded with her.

[eviltimes]

Can't remember where I left the key to the DeLorean!  Or the TARDIS, for that matter.

[Nerves]

The Silver Horde (1930)

3/5 Stars

The title refers to salmon when they make their run in this early talkie about rival fisheries in Alaska. Louis Wolheim (he played the sergeant in "All Quiet on the Western Front") is fun to watch. Lou Lumenick, film critic for the New York Post, gives an introduction to the film and it is unintentionally hilarious. There's also the first chapter of the serial The Last Frontier starring Lon Chaney Jr. and a few other marginally interesting extras from The Roan Group.

Louis Wolheim

[macroman]

  I rented two films based on recommendations by other members on this website.  I gave both 4 stars.

The Man Nobody Knew (2011)=a good, solid political documentary about William Colby, who served as CIA Director during the Nixon and Ford administrations.

  This film has a family feel to it as it was made by his son Carl Colby and his Mother, William Colby's longtime wife, is extensively interviewed and gives valuable insights.

  Bonus Features:  1.  good extended interviews with retired and ex-CIA agents who Colby probably had easier access to because of who his Father was.  2.  The 21-min interview with Carl Colby himself is also good.

Jimi Hendrix (1973)=enjoyable doc on the rock and guitar legend that includes interviews with family, other rock musicians of that era, producers, sound engineers and ex-girlfriends.

  Lots of good concert footage.

  A good expanded bio of Hendrix in Bonus features (1 hr, 3 minutes long) and a longer version of Stone Free.