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I think it's safe to say that everything watched this month has a reasonable claim at being a classic or one sort or another. Some by any standard (Double Indemnity) and some by very . . . particular standards (Dick).
How would you rank them?
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| HOME Internet Archive |
This is the first film my son's watching for his film class during this his first year of college. And, may I say, interesting way to open the year? I'm interested to hear what the professor has to say tomorrow.
This is such a pre–Hays Code movie. Barbara Stanwyck is sleeping her way to the top, just as Nitzsche would want. I'm not quite sure how to interpret the ending, but I suppose it is a harbinger of Hays to come.
It had some cool shots and nice setpieces, but I'm not sure I liked it. But it certainly has something to say. If there's nuance in that something, I hope future mulling turns it up.
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| THEATER Cinemark Century Hilltop 16 |
With this viewing, Jaws joins the other seventeen movies I know I've seen in theaters twice. Absolutely worthy of the attention.
I went with my wife, brother, and 8yrold, all of whom were seeing it for the first time. Kind of wild the 8yrold wanted to come; kind of wild my wife managed to avoid it all the times we've watched it at our house.
Anyway. It blows my mind this was once the highest grossing film of all time, but no doubt it's a great film. Felt more like an adventure movie than a horror movie this time, but that's not to knock the scary moments, including one of the greatest jump scares in movie history.
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| HOME Prime Video  |
| HOME Tubi |
We were rewatching All the President's Men for film group and I felt that it was only fair that IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARD I share Dick with all who wanted to watch it.
All were delighted.
And I do believe I was right—it was even better following immediately upon the heels of its predecessor.
It's interesting to note how in some ways they are quite the same and other decisions could not be more different. Nobody famous appears in AtPM unless in archival footage on a tv. Dick is littered with them. And of course one is a drama peppered with elements of the 70s paranoid thriller and chockfull of exquisite and patient shots. The other is a fairly broad comedy that is bright and colorful and cheerful and funniest when most paranoid.
The final reveal of info via text has never been done better than in 1976. The final reveal of info via text for Dick had to've been workshopped and had tons of options for them to choose from and they went with the one that's most visually fun at the expense of options that I belive had to've been funnier and truer to the characters. But whatever.
My only real complaint is that the Sixpence cover of "Dancing Queen" over the final credits isn't more Sixpencey. It's pretty much just ABBA with Leigh Nash's voice. Which is great! Don't get me wrong! But I would love to know what a true Sixpence-sounding cover would have been like.
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| HOME Contra Costa Library dvd |
Don't date Barbara Stanwyck. That's the big lesson this month. She may work her way to loving you, but good luck that meaning you get a happy ending.
I last saw this c. 2002 and I've been saying it's great ever since. Not exactly a controversial opinion, but I'm glad to say I was right.
How happy when both the book and its movie can both be masterpieces.
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| HOME our dvd |
So good! Holy smokes I loved it. The thrilling parts were so thrilling and the sexy parts were so sexy. The cast? Amazing. Incredible shots. Terrific score. I do not know what I was thinking in 2023. Makes me wonder if I made a similar mistake last month.
Anyway, great films deserve multiple watches. Especially if you're not sure the first time. All those people can't be totally wrong.
Incidentally, was this the last major movie to have such a huge 48-star flag? And was that overhead shot of the UN building based on Diebenkorn?
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| HOME our bluray |
It took me over a decade, but thanks to Largesse's desire we've finally rewatched this movie—one that has since arrival become, I think, a plurality of cinephile's favorite Wes Anderson. I was a bit underwhelmed on first watch (in large part because some of the incidents of violence were staged such that it threw me entirely out of the movie. This time, perhaps prepared for such, I loved it. I don't know if it's my "favorite" but it's terrific and it really worked for me, aesthetically and emotionally and humorously.
The killer roles by Ralph Fiennes and Saoirse Ronan make me want to write a post arbitrarily ranking the best one-off performances in the Anderson canon. Maybe I'll do it. It'd be a fun distraction from the things I should be writing.
