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. 

[Ando]

Cool. I was wondering about the extra features on the Hendrix disc. Looks good.

[sevenstars]

Stephen Fry in America

Comic actor Fry takes a road trip through every state in the U.S. as part of a personal exploration (he was very nearly born here himself.)  In the first episode he covers most of the northeast and down to D.C.  At only an hour an episode, that doesn't leave much time for each.  For instance, he visits Vermont, creates a new flavor at Ben & Jerry's...and that's it for Vermont.  Fry seems a nice fellow, but I didn't find it particularly informative, entertaining or funny.  Don't know if I'm going to keep watching.  2.5 stars.

[Ando]

Yeah. I see that I streamed 10 minutes a year or so ago - and never returned. lol

[eviltimes]

If you like Stephen Fry you (as I) can never get enough of him.

[Nerves]

Wagon Master (1950)

4/5 Stars

Supposedly Ford's favorite of his own films. Spectacular location shooting near Moab, Utah, and every shot is beautifully composed. Could have done without the songs and that's why I don't give it 5/5 stars. Commentary track is by one of the stars, Harry Carey Jr., who reminisces about the making of the film and working with Ford along with Peter Bogdanovich who comments on Ford's techniques and personality in addition to playing some bits of recorded interviews with Ford.

[macroman]

Breaking Away (1979)=I've seen this film numerous times and it's still one of my favorites.

  Four working class kids from Bloomington, IN, go through a coming of age period after high school, which includes escalating frictions between them and the wealthy college kids from the nearby University of Indiana that culminates in a head-to-head long distance bicycle race.

  Breaking Away was the sleeper hit of l979 and was made on a shoestring budget with a cast of then-unknowns.  It became the springboard that launched the career of Dennis Quaid.

  But it is Dennis Christopher, in the one great role of his career, who steals the show as the blue collar kid who dreams of becoming a champion cyclist. 

  I think Breaking Away is best sports-related film ever made.  It is inspiring, high-spirited, funny and features a rousing, electrifying soundtrack

  If you liked The Blind Side, you will most probably like Breaking Away.

  5 stars all around.  A great movie to watch when you are down in the dumps and need inspiration.

Born to be Wild (2011.)=a surprising good nature documentary about two people who rescue baby elephants and orangutans and raise them before releasing them back in the wild.

  These animals are basically homeless due to their Mothers being killed by poachers (elephants) or deforestation destroying their natural habitat (orangutans).

  Narrated very well by Morgan Freeman.  41 minutes long.  Skip the lengthy previews, which seem to go on forever and go right to the film.

  4 stars.

 

[David]

I enjoyed Breaking Away too.  I seem to remember  another film from around that same time period called My Bodyguard.

[David]

Stranger In The City--about a Puerto Rican family, immigrants to NYC struggling to make it their new home, they deal with finding a job and just everyday life, rather bare bones production like an independent film, but was unusual to watch.

[Knaldskalle]

S.O.B. Blake Edwards takes a shot at his own industry: Hollywood. What starts out as a disjointed, somewhat confusing series of disparate events slowly congeals into a solidly told satire. It just happens to pull the punches (or at least it felt that way) enough to be typical Blake Edwards - i.e. only mildly funny.

I felt like this could've been a real exposure of Hollywood but ultimately, since this is Hollywood, it doesn't go full out in its criticism. I had the same feeling after watching The Bad and the Beautiful.

[eviltimes]

Liv Ullman, Knalds - you've gotta do it!

[Nerves]

Our Town (1940)

3/5 Stars

I've never seen anything quite like this film though its message is similar to "It's A Wonderful Life." Unfortunately the quality of the image and audio is very poor. It is difficult to make out the lines sometimes and to appreciate Aaron Copland's score.  Based on a play by Thorton Wilder, who also cowrote the screenplay, it is not as entertaining as a conventional film but it has some very touching moments and made me reflect on my relationships and on the question of immortality of the soul.

[Sevorin]

Fuck Our Town.