AFI Lists - the new challenges - Page 51

george kaplan · 05-04-2005, 02:25 PM

I wouldn't give it 4 stars, but did enjoy it quite a bit. Better than Woman of the Year (I think that's the title, the one where Hepburn's an athlete and Tracy is her manager), though that has its moments too.

Nope, that's Pat & Mike, probably the second best Tracy/Hepburn film. You're right it's not as good as Adam's Rib (though your ranking of Adam's Rib is too low.

). Woman of the Year is the first pairing of Tracy & Hepburn, and is a notch below those other two, about on par with Desk Set.

Adam_S · 05-05-2005, 02:00 AM

The Magnificent Ambersons -

1/2
TCM cablecast
05/04/2005
Stars List - Orson Welles

Ummmm... Welles narrates the flick, he doesn't star in it, but then another Welles film we have him for is only about five minutes of screentime (A Man for All Seasons, wonderful, underated film), so yeah, we need to revamp that stars list like Evan says.

Btw, sorry for my absense. Classes are over now and I have a chance to breathe, I plan on bumping that AFI vote thing with some information, unfortunately my HD has crashed so all my spreadsheets are gone, for now, which is annoying.

Anyway, the film was very good, not quite what I expected, but I'll have to get over my annoyance at George the ass and my desire to see more of Joseph Cotten who just quietly took control of every scene, brilliant man. I was expecting some big chipper ending that stuck out like a sore thumb from the rest of the film (like a sort of Lassie Come Home ending), but what they chose to do was quite nice, and worked quite effectively. The film was apallingly tight though, I imagine there was a lot of leisurely visual moments that described characters' internally that were cut because they are indulgent (such as Kane walking by the mirrors for instance?), but was there really all that much left to the plot? we didn't need to see more of George, and we got all the characters just fine. The film moved to quickly for its own good, but other than that it was very well done.

I'll look forward to watching it again, hopefully in a theatre where I'm not fixing sauteed chinese broccali and balsamicy roasted new red potatoes in rosemary and garlic with olive oil. good food though, love the farmers market.

Adam

Adam_S · 05-05-2005, 11:18 PM

Silver Streak -

Laughs list
OARLD
05/05/05

More of a Hitchcock thriller (sans script development) than a comedy, this is a pretty funny and very well made film.

Gotta love the hilarity of Gene Wilder thrown off the train again and again and again. There's a lot of seeming plot jumps, but hey, it's all in good fun. The final set piece is amazing to watch, definitelly a unique look when it's completely real (well on a hangerstage).

In a way this reminds me of the 39 steps, because the key foil for Wilder is never seen until halfway through the film, which is when it really takes off.

oh and the double entendres never seem to stop, funny at first, and a little forced they sometimes work and often don't.

Adam

Adam_S · 05-06-2005, 03:03 AM

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House -

Laughs list
OARVHS
05/05/0r

Movie that's almost painful to watch from the moment Cary Grant decides to be stupid because it's funny. I.e. when he decides to not jew the 5x too high price down because h'ed lose face. From there on the film is a disaster movie moving at glacial pace. Yes it was sort of funny, but the biggest laugh I got was when I saw the 8x2' shutters on the side of the door.

Adam

Adam_S · 05-07-2005, 03:50 AM

When Harry Met Sally -

Laughs list
Passions list
Songs List - It Had to be You
OARDVD
05/06/2005

I'll have what she's having (soon to be included on the 100 quotes list, I'm sure)

A delightful movie I was somewhat hesitant to watch cause I was afraid it'd be sappy, pathetic, and hopelessly charming (like Sweet Home Alabama or some of the other sad offenders in this genre). I was therefore delighted to see more in common with Forget Paris (personal favorite), Sleepless in Seattle (same writer, go figure) and Woody Allen. just a delightful and very funny film from start to finish. The dialogue doesn't bear a fraction of a resemblance to anything remotely real, but it's good movie dialogue, and fun postmodern "Let's-deconstruct-ourselves-even-though-we're-not-in-a-college-class" dialogue, so I had no quibbles.

I loved the elderly couple nonsequiters, and visually it was very nice (yay Barry Sonnenfield). My only regret is that Billy Crystal is relatively monotone, and when he's up with Meg Ryan (who needs a strong actor that will play to her strengths) she picks some of the monotone and it's not a good thing. Plus I don't think the chemistry between them was all that great, Crystal just did his Crystal thing charming you while he distracted your ears from the unrealistic dialogue and she reacted and tried (and sometimes succeeded) in bringing off her dialogue. I think their best stuff was when they are eating. In the diner at the beginning, and the famous orgasm scene. But some stuff, like the argument over Casablanca at the car just didn't work. Crystal did very well in his blow up scenes and Meg Ryan was okay, but she really needs someone who creates chemistry, like, say, Tom Hanks.

I loved the ending.

Adam

Adam_S · 05-07-2005, 03:06 PM

Father of the Bride -

Laughs list
OARVHS
05/07/2005

Damn good, and funny flick. I think I'd give a slight edge to Steve Martin's version because I find the slapstick to be funnier and love the kooky wedding planner. And it has one of the funniest scenes ever regarding hot dogs and hot dog buns, but this was a delight too. The surprise for me was how insanely fing good Elizabeth Taylor is. Spencer Tracy was a delight as well. Enjoyable, and quite funny film.

Adam

Joe Karlosi · 05-08-2005, 07:12 AM

Quote:

and the famous orgasm scene.

That scene made me cringe because it's so absurd. I don't care how free-spirited any woman is, she's just not going to do behave in public like that. It was so unbelievable that I couldn't enjoy the gag.

Adam_S · 05-09-2005, 04:54 AM

Quote:

That scene made me cringe because it's so absurd. I don't care how free-spirited any woman is, she's just not going to do behave in public like that. It was so unbelievable that I couldn't enjoy the gag.

Women aren't going to behave in public like that, or we're so controlled by perceptions of the 'public space' that noone would dare do such a thing. Actually I've met a few people who if properly provoked (and Sally was provoked, a lot, by Harry) probably would do such a thing to prove their point--of course they're also still college age...
The film opens in a college era when streaking wasn't unknown, I don't find that all that much more outrageous than running nude through the campus. It's still an outrageous scene, but that outrageous aspect is what makes it so delightful and legendary.

------------------------------------------------------

Born Yesterday (1950) -

1/2
Laughs list
05/08/2005
OARDVD

One hell of a saucy little script that packs as much romance, drama, and social critique as it does comedy. The script is so incredibly well done here. I loved watching it play out in the long takes and brilliant interchanges. Judy Holliday was a delight, William Holden just sort of had to stand there and look pretty and sound smarth, but Judy Holliday was devastatingly good at the subtle transistions and growth she develops throughout the film. Wonderful work, very deserving of an oscar and good to see a comedy role win it, though I doubt I could have voted for her that year since she was up against Davis' triumph as Margot Channing (or of course Gloria Swanson).

An incredibly good script, damn, it was so much fun on every level, an amazing bit of expert precision writing.

Adam

Adam_S · 05-21-2005, 02:58 PM

Moonstruck -

Laughs list
Passions list
05/21/2005
OARLD

Why do men chase women?

It took me about forty minutes to catch on that the melodramatics of this plot are opera, not film. Once I realized that, I was even more delighted by this funny (and just a little romantic) film. My one complaint is that it's a a little didactic in its attempts to discuss love. They aren't talking normally they're all talking the same way (this works for Cher and her Mom but not the other characters), and people don't think or talk the same way unless the writer is either weak or trying to hammer home his own thoughts and beliefs rather than allowing the characters to express their own individuality.

Wonderfully fun film but it doesn't match the grace and elegance of When harry Met Sally for example.

Adam_S · 05-21-2005, 07:19 PM

Shampoo -

Laughs list
05/21/2005
OARDVD

Grow up! Grow up!

Oh man this was painful, I couldn't wait for this film to be over. This is supposed to be a comedy? it's really well shot and even has some good moments (the dinner table when Julie Christie goes crazy) but its just so smarmy its absolutely repulsive to watch. Goldie Hawn was absolutely terrific and the only actor I could bear watching.

See Dick. See Jane. See Jane. See Jane. See Jane (Jane's daughter). See Dick (Jane's husband and Jane's father). See Dicks get mixed up in Janes. See everybody is a selfish child who whines too much.
Pathetic.