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Post by Rob Allen on Aug 31, 2015 13:11:33 GMT -5
Arthur Treacher is in the movie and hadn't opened any restaurants yet. Do they still exist? They do - there are 15 left, down from ~800 in the '70s. Six of them are in New York, four in Ohio and one in Pennsylvania. Most of them are co-branded with either Nathan's Famous or Salvatore's Old-Fashioned Pizzeria. The company that owns Arthur Treacher's also owns Pudgie's Famous Chicken, Ritter's Frozen Custard and Wall St. Deli.
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Aug 31, 2015 13:51:01 GMT -5
Trafic (1971) D-Jacques Tati
4th and final Mr. Hulot film from Tati (Mr. Hulots' Vacation, Mon Oncle, Playtime). This time, Mr Hulot designs cars and along with other members of his auto firm, are driving from France to Amsterdam with their latest recreational vehicle for an auto show. Disaster, as expected, results.
Mr Hulot, the pipe smoking, trenchcoat clad, oblivious and naïve gentleman usually is lost amongst modern day technology. His being a car designer is a bit against character but he still bumbles along and walks with a lurch as usual. The film takes about 30 minutes to really get going but once the recreational vehicle gets inspected by customs and Mr. Hulot demonstrates what he built into the car things get hilarious.
Of the Hulot films I rate Playtime at #1 , then Mon Oncle, Vacation and this. Its still decent with spots of brilliance, plenty of dogs (What's Tati's story with all the dogs he uses?) and the usually wistful theme song in each film. Check them out from Criterion
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Aug 31, 2015 13:59:07 GMT -5
Z (1969) D-Costa-Gavros Yves Montand
Costa-Gavros is known for his political thrillers and this gave him international acclaim. A prominent left wing leader is killed in the middle of a mob in France. At first the conservative government declares it an auto accident but an investigation by a prosecutor opens a can of worms. Namely the possibility of the government using a radical right-wing hate group to do its dirty work for them.
Full of tension and conspiracy. This was made when France was in the throes of social unrest amongst its students just like in America. This film, along with my recently reviewed Missing are must-see political thrillers
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Aug 31, 2015 14:08:14 GMT -5
The Private Life Of Don Juan (1934) Douglas Fairbanks
Fairbanks' final film. An aging Don Juan returns to Seville after many years. His wife, who he hasn't seen for 5 years is trying to get him arrested. Imposters are scaling balconies to consort with woman under false pretenses. When one of the imposters are killed, Don Juan sees it as an opportunity to avoid arrest and start a new life. Then someone writes a book about his private life that Don Juan takes exception of.
It is said here that Don Juan has had 903 affairs in the past 3 years. And yet, when Douglas Fairbanks speaks, he reminds me of Mel Brooks. Sounds like he's from da Bronx.
Some funny dialogue in a decent film. Don Juan at a restaurant with a companion: Don Juan-She looks like a lovely girl Companion-She's look awful by daylight Don Juan-Well, who wants to see her during daylight?
Marriage is like a beleaguered city. Those that are out want to get in; those that are in want to get out.
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Aug 31, 2015 14:18:18 GMT -5
Inside Moves (1980) John Savage, David Morse
Savage leaps off a 10th floor building ledge in a suicide attempt but survives although permanently hobbled. He now hangs out at a bar next to the halfway house for recuperating outpatients. His friends at the bar include a blind man, a man with no hands and a man in a wheelchair. The bartender is a former high school basketball star who now has a gimpy leg after an accident. He can still shot basketball with amazing accuracy-he almost defeats a NBA player in a game of horse.
Nice uplifting film of people conquering their disabilities. Directed by Richard Donner after his Superman films. There's a Superman pinball machine in the bar which the camera always seems to find. John Savage excels in this role
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2015 14:31:26 GMT -5
I caught the final 40 or so minutes of the original The Mechanic with Charles Bronson and some cute blonde guy (it was remade a couple years ago and the remake is one of Jason Statham's better films). I'm going to borrow it on dvd to soak it in a bit better and gawk at some eye candy too.
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Post by Arthur Gordon Scratch on Aug 31, 2015 17:40:07 GMT -5
Sherilyn Fenn has great eyebrows Does anything else needs to be said? But even if Z is a great movie, it's still by Costa-Gavr As
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Post by DE Sinclair on Sept 1, 2015 8:54:12 GMT -5
Sherilyn Fenn has great eyebrows Does anything else needs to be said? But even if Z is a great movie, it's still by Costa-Gavr As Apparently some folks are more turned on by eyebrows than I am. To each their own. I don't really notice them unless they are big, Cro-Magnon looking things.
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Sept 1, 2015 14:11:42 GMT -5
O Lucky Man (1973) Malcolm McDowell, Ralph Richardson, Rachel Roberts, Helen Mirren
My 2nd most favorite McDowell film after A Clockwork Orange. An epic 3 hour film about Mick Travis- a young bright eyed, cheerful and ambitious man who wants to get rich. He starts off as a coffee salesman in northwest England. His adventures include torture at a secret military base, medical experiments at a hospital, gullible protégé to a ruthless industrialist and hanging out with a rock band. Don't fret over the long length of this tale. Travis' rise and fall of his fortunes will keep you enthralled and wondering what's going to happen next.
Alan Price, formally with The Animals with Eric Burdon, provides a great original soundtrack. How I wish I had the CD. Helen Mirren was a hottie back in the day. But this is McDowell's film, made right after A Clockwork Orange, had he's just as magnetic here as well. IMHO, the two films stand far and away over the rest of his work
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Post by Rob Allen on Sept 1, 2015 15:25:27 GMT -5
O Lucky Man (1973) Malcolm McDowell, Ralph Richardson, Rachel Roberts, Helen Mirren My 2nd most favorite McDowell film after A Clockwork Orange. An epic 3 hour film about Mick Travis- a young bright eyed, cheerful and ambitious man who wants to get rich. He starts off as a coffee salesman in northwest England. His adventures include torture at a secret military base, medical experiments at a hospital, gullible protégé to a ruthless industrialist and hanging out with a rock band. Don't fret over the long length of this tale. Travis' rise and fall of his fortunes will keep you enthralled and wondering what's going to happen next. Alan Price, formally with The Animals with Eric Burdon, provides a great original soundtrack. How I wish I had the CD. Helen Mirren was a hottie back in the day. But this is McDowell's film, made right after A Clockwork Orange, had he's just as magnetic here as well. IMHO, the two films stand far and away over the rest of his work I had the first verse of the title song printed under my name in my college yearbook. If you have a friend on whom you think You can rely You are a lucky man! If you've found the reason to live on and Not to die You are a lucky man! Preachers and poets and scholars don't know it, Temples and statues and steeples won't show it, If you've got the secret just try not to blow it Stay a lucky man!
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Sept 1, 2015 19:00:45 GMT -5
O Lucky Man (1973) Malcolm McDowell, Ralph Richardson, Rachel Roberts, Helen Mirren My 2nd most favorite McDowell film after A Clockwork Orange. An epic 3 hour film about Mick Travis- a young bright eyed, cheerful and ambitious man who wants to get rich. He starts off as a coffee salesman in northwest England. His adventures include torture at a secret military base, medical experiments at a hospital, gullible protégé to a ruthless industrialist and hanging out with a rock band. Don't fret over the long length of this tale. Travis' rise and fall of his fortunes will keep you enthralled and wondering what's going to happen next. Alan Price, formally with The Animals with Eric Burdon, provides a great original soundtrack. How I wish I had the CD. Helen Mirren was a hottie back in the day. But this is McDowell's film, made right after A Clockwork Orange, had he's just as magnetic here as well. IMHO, the two films stand far and away over the rest of his work I had the first verse of the title song printed under my name in my college yearbook. If you have a friend on whom you think You can rely You are a lucky man! If you've found the reason to live on and Not to die You are a lucky man! Preachers and poets and scholars don't know it, Temples and statues and steeples won't show it, If you've got the secret just try not to blow it Stay a lucky man!Further proof why Rob is the man. U da man,Rob
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Post by berkley on Sept 1, 2015 20:38:02 GMT -5
O Lucky Man (1973) Malcolm McDowell, Ralph Richardson, Rachel Roberts, Helen Mirren My 2nd most favorite McDowell film after A Clockwork Orange. An epic 3 hour film about Mick Travis- a young bright eyed, cheerful and ambitious man who wants to get rich. He starts off as a coffee salesman in northwest England. His adventures include torture at a secret military base, medical experiments at a hospital, gullible protégé to a ruthless industrialist and hanging out with a rock band. Don't fret over the long length of this tale. Travis' rise and fall of his fortunes will keep you enthralled and wondering what's going to happen next. Alan Price, formally with The Animals with Eric Burdon, provides a great original soundtrack. How I wish I had the CD. Helen Mirren was a hottie back in the day. But this is McDowell's film, made right after A Clockwork Orange, had he's just as magnetic here as well. IMHO, the two films stand far and away over the rest of his work Great movie and I'd put the other one McDowell did with Anderson, If... up there as one of the actor's best as well. Sometimes I think the rest of his career was a little disappointing when compared to the films he was doing when he started out but then I haven't seen a lot of them, so it could be I've missed the best ones.
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Sept 2, 2015 17:39:35 GMT -5
Moving (1988) Richard Pryor, Beverly Todd, Stacey Dash, Dana Carvey, Randy Quaid, King Kong Bundy, Rodney Dangerfield
Pryor, living in New Jersey, loses his job and the only new one available is in Boise, Idaho. With apologies to Slam Bradley and his sack of potatoes avatar, that just plain sucks. The movie deals with the headaches of relocation
Very pedestrian comedy, good cast kind of wasted. Its painful to me to see Pryor at this stage looking very frail. Oh, the opportunities for a fun film went by the boards. Absolutely not one mention of race relations in the film. You'd think a black family moving to Boise would have some sort of commentary. 2 of 5 stars. Dangerfield and Carvey needed more time in the film. Wrestler Bundy is one of several intimidating moving men
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Sept 2, 2015 17:52:19 GMT -5
The Scarlet Empress (1934) Marlene Dietrich, Sam Jaffe, Louise Dresser
Young and beautiful Princess Sophia of Prussia is sent to Russia for an arranged marriage with Peter The Great (Sam Jaffe). Peter turns out to be a goggled-eyed half wit. Resembles Harpo Marx and not as clever. Sophia is forced to change her name, her religion and bear a son from the idiot. Instead she has a quickie with a guard and gets knocked up. She is also determined to take control of Russia , away from Peter The Jerk. She is now known in history as Catherine The Great
Opulent, visually stunning, a cast of thousands. I've only seen Dietrich previously in later films but here she is a knockout. Director Joseph Von Sternberg spares no expense in this production. Sam Jaffe is tremendous as the idiot Peter. Louise Dresser plays Peter' dominating mother. Thanks again to Criterion for another stupendous DVD.
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Sept 3, 2015 13:43:51 GMT -5
Greased Lightning (1977) Richard Pryor, Pamela Grier, Cleavon Little, Vincent Gardenia, Richie Havens, Beau Bridges
Light hearted biopic of first black stock car racer to win a major NASCAR event, Wendall Scott. Upon his return from the army in the late 40s, he gets involved in moonshine running (they still had that in the south long after Prohibition was over?) . Soon an opportunity to race cars opens up for him in the 1950s despite Jim Crow restrictions. The movie follows his story up to the early 1970s.
Somewhat better than my previously watched Pryor film Moving since this has more bite to it. Pamela Grier as Wendall's wife is a pleasure to watch, Cleavon plays Scott's best friend, Gardenia is a typical racist southern sheriff and Richie Havens never picks up a guitar. But Beau Bridges does. WTF?
OK film, very predictable. I've seen too many race car films lately between this , Grand Prix and Rush. Its got me going in circles
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