One Word Review: The Pawnbroker
82: Intense
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Friday, May 15, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Top Hidden Gem Movies - Part II
As begun the other day, we are counting down the top 20 IMDb hidden gems that not enough people have seen. Remember that these films were chosen based on a mathematical formula, not picked out of my brain or anything. Criteria and methodology can be found in Part I.
#10: Modern Times
IMDb Rating, Rank: 8.4, 75
Number of Voters: 28,935
Why more haven't seen it: It's a silent film. And to be honest, all Chaplin movies I've not seen tend to blur together for me. He plays the tramp, like he usually does. While it is surely a comedy, I can only imagine that there is an allegorical statement about industry and how we make our doodads and what it does to the average worker. Who wants any of that in their comedy??? Well now that I think about it, I do. I suppose I should rent this guy tonight.
Gushing IMDb user comment: "On a personal level, the aspect of the film that resonates strongest with me is its appeal to the idealistic misfit in all of us. In our hearts, many of us long for the simplicity and exuberance with which The Tramp and The Gamin live life (with attention to the bare essentials and an absence of need for materialism and modern trappings). As Chaplin so skillfully shows, however, our modern times make this lifestyle a faded dream, lost among the sheep-like herds of men and women scurrying through a modern metropolis that only Fritz Lang could make seem darker and more devoid of true humanity. Still, the final image of Modern Times refuses to let the film end on an exclusively tragic note and demonstrates that the individual is still alive and may yet find his way in an ever-changing world." - razwee
#9: Wages of Fear
IMDb Rating, Rank: 8.3, 140
Number of Voters: 11,177
Why more haven't seen it: I think this is the only movie in the list I'd never heard of. Two dudes have nitroglycerin in a South American jungle and they might blow each other the hell up. Does that sound exciting or what? The only thing I can think is that if this film wasn't in French, it would be really popular.
Gushing IMDb user comment: "This movie is well made in every detail. It puts a lot of detail-work in the creation of the characters, and once you think that is over and the "regular action-part" starts, it becomes even better and the story takes a 90 degree turn! After I had finished watching the entire movie, I needed at least 5 minutes just to "digest" it and rethink this fantastic film. If you got a chance to watch it, don't miss it! It is entertaining from the first to the last minute!" - Robert Grill
#8: Kind Hearts and Coronets
IMDb Rating, Rank: 8.4, 131
Number of Voters: 10,601
Why more haven't seen it: This film has the lowest number of votes in our list which means it's the hiddenest gem of them all. It's black and white, but it is in English. Apparently it's a comedy about a guy who's murdering people so he can become some kind of Duke. A bit like Getting In with Andrew McCarthy and Dave Chappelle (a film decidedly not in the IMDb Top 250). It also features Sir Alec Guinness in about 11 roles. Nobody ever talks about this movie, but I'm curious, aren't you?
Gushing IMDb user comment: "So ultra-smooth and urbane, polished to a sheen, this film is best enjoyed by persons of refinement and education, but anyone with even half a brain and an ounce of creativity will appreciate it for the work of genius it is." - TexMan
#7: Once Upon a Time in the West
IMDb Rating, Rank: 8.8, 19
Number of Voters: 59,045
Why more haven't seen it: It's a bit shocking. Sergio Leone's film from just two years earlier, The Good The Bad and The Ugly, has more than double the votes. Are the combined acting forces of Henry Fonda and Charles Bronson that far behind Clint Eastwood in renown? Despite one alarmingly misplayed love scene, this is the better film. Do see it.
Gushing IMDb user comment: "It is films like these that redefine genres and that honorable of all words, a 'classic'. Prove me wrong. For those who experienced it, I hope it has impacted you in much the same way it has me. Upon its release, this film was unsuccessful, because the world wanted another Clint Eastwood picture. But they couldn't see for a mile what was coming. Sergio Leone is platinum. May the force be with him...........always!" - Freddy Levit
#6: Paths of Glory
IMDb Rating, Rank: 8.6, 43
Number of Voters: 37,022
Why more haven't seen it: I have no idea. Starring Kirk Douglas, this isn't the film that put Stanley Kubrick on the map, but it's the one that had people calling him a young genius. The film is funny, interesting, and tragic, bringing to mind the folly of war and the men who call the shots. Of all the films in the list that I have seen, this one has stuck with me the most.
Gushing IMDb user comment: "It is FAR AND AWAY the most realistic, most emotionally draining, and most beautifully photographed movie ever made about trench warfare in WW I, which has to be considered to be one of the significant episodes in all of human history. The story is fiction, but the events are patterned after some actual mutinies in the French army that took place in 1917. You could probably change a few things in most of Kubrick's other masterpieces to slightly improve them, but I DEFY anyone to single out anything in "Paths of Glory" that could be improved upon. I could go on and on raving about the beauty and pathos of this film, but I think I will stop here." - hptaylor
#5: M
IMDb Rating, Rank: 8.6, 45
Number of Voters: 33,005
Why more haven't seen it: In german, black and white, and really freaking old (1931), it's understandable. Also, the main character is a murderous child molester. But the point of the movie is the hysteria involved when a society feels threatened. Though the topic is different, it could be considered an allegory to the current debate on torture. Plus, a chunky Peter Lorre, in one of his first films, gives a riveting performance.
Gushing IMDb user comment: "This film proves that not every monster needs long fangs or a glove with blades. Monsters can and do look human until their deeds are revealed. It also shows that you don't need buckets of blood and gore for a murder to be grisly, and you don't really have to see it on screen. I sat motionless during most of the film, hardly breathing, and my heart pounding; I was practically in tears at the end. This is one of the most terrifying films I have ever seen." - TedEBear
#4: Double Indemnity
IMDb Rating, Rank: 8.6, 46
Number of Voters: 30,436
Why more haven't seen it: What most can agree on about Double Indemnity is that it is the quintessential film noir movie. It has all the key elements: grave crimes, romance, manipulation, guilt, and the walls closing in. It features an impressive cast that carries what is essentially a basic story. I can only think that people are turned off by the black and white cinematography or perhaps the cumbersome name. I highly recommend this movie.
Gushing IMDb user comment: "Double Indemnity is nearly flawless. From the shocking and unexpected beginning to the already known but still surprising end, the audience is held rapt by the excellent performances, the brilliant and imaginative direction, and the flawlessly created atmosphere. This is excellent, excellent filmmaking, and is a classic film that should not be missed." - Michael DeZubiria
#3: Sunset Blvd.
IMDb Rating, Rank: 8.7, 25
Number of Voters: 44,556
Why more haven't seen it: I'm surprised that this movie made the list, let alone at #3. Clearly, this is in part due to the high rating, but I would have imagined it was more popular than this. It is on TV often, frequently shown at art-house theaters and was even featured briefly in the TV version of Trading Places. Also, the female protagonist recently notched #2 on my Top Ten Movie Cougars list. It's a classic that should not be missed. Also, they are currently remaking it as a musical which will sure as hell suck. So see the old version before you are corrupted by whatever they release next year. Also of note, this is the third Billy Wilder movie to make this list.
Gushing IMDb user comment: "One of the rare few films that kept me glued to the screen from beginning to end. Gloria Swanson's performance as Norma Desmond made me see her as sexy yet insane. That's not strange now, is it? Who cares? The movie is still a wonder and pure enjoyment. I particularly love the cinematography and the shot selections. I admired that most about the film... I give the film an "A+" and a 10 out of 10..." - TheQuietStorm
#2: The Treasure of Sierra Madre
IMDb Rating, Rank: 8.5, 50
Number of Voters: 27,461
Why more haven't seen it: Perhaps fitting that near the top of our hidden gem list, we have a movie about treasure. It has been years since I've seen this film, and I must admit that I found it to be overrated, yet enjoyable. Bogart's not at the top of his game on this one, but Walter Huston turns in a great performance, and it may be the cinema's best examination of greed and mistrust. It is one of the two most often incorrectly quoted movies in history, the other being Bogart's Casablanca. Perhaps I should give it another go.
Gushing IMDb user comment: "This film is a masterpiece in every sense of the word. It is the finest work of John Huston's career. It is the story of greed in its ugliest form. Walter Huston is the whole show giving a stunning performance as an old prospector who has seen it all. Bogart's character Fred C. Dobbs is the best performance he ever did." - alan bryant
#1: City Lights
IMDb Rating, Rank: 8.5, 62
Number of Voters: 21,748
Why more haven't seen it: It makes sense that the list is topped by a silent comedy. Also, that it is a film I've yet to see. Charlie Chaplin plays the same character from #10 above, and tries to woo a blind girl who sells flowers.
Gushing IMDb user comment: "When the final scene is shown, you'll understand why many people (including myself) have called this one of the greatest films ever made. Pure magic. A true masterpiece." - Captain_Couth
We'll leave you with a scene (that doesn't give away the ending) from the least watched/best gem in our list, City Lights. Be patient here, folks. Remember, it's a movie, not a viral video.
If anyone has any comments about these - which ones to see first, for instance - let us know!
Monday, May 11, 2009
Unyielding Commissioning has little to say
Bow Down - Go here for the best Onion Article regarding the movies in recent memory. It's freaking hilarious. Just go.
Mothership Connection - The AV Club turns their flashlight onto P-Funk. Check it out.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Top Hidden Gem Movies - Part I
Surely at this point you've seen the IMDb Top 250. There are definitely some films in the list that are overrated (The Usual Suspects at #22!), or just don't belong at all (Planet of the Apes, Big Fish). And as evidenced by the internet fanboys who parlayed their budding crushes on a recently deceased Heath Ledger to mess with the numbers, it's an imperfect system. But it is also an extremely useful tool for any movie fan looking to (A) find something new and interesting to watch or (2)see how many of the "classics" they've taken in. I'd love to see that I've seen all 250, but as yet, there are more to go.
But today, using an extremely complex mathematical algorithm (uhhh... the average between the rank of the movie and the # of votes it has received), we're going to look at the top 20 movies that have been overlooked - or at least don't have as many votes as they should. If you have any thoughts on these, let us know!
Note - movies released in the last year are not counted because (A) newer movies always have inflated ratings and (B) obviously many people may not have had the opportunity to watch them yet. But we still recommend getting out there to see The Wrestler (actually the clear #1 in our formula), Slumdog Millionaire, and Gran Torino.
#20: Witness for the Prosecution
IMDb Rating, Rank: 8.2, 128
Number of Voters: 14,416
Why more haven't seen it:It's a bit old, from 1957, but considering that it is a Billy Wilder directed adaptation originally penned by Agatha Christie, it's surprising that this classic mystery/thriller doesn't get more attention. In all honesty, I haven't seen it, and even though the name rings a bell, until I did some research I didn't know much about it. But I'm adding it to my list today.
Gushing IMDb user comment:"At the end of the day the films you give top marks are those films that become constant companions. You can see them again at the drop of a hat, you show them to people who have never see them and it's always a triumph. 'Witness For The Prosecution' is one of those wonders. Suspend your disbelief for a couple of hours and enjoy this banquet of a romp." - M.J.Arocena
#19: 12 Angry Men
IMDb Rating, Rank: 8.8, 9
Number of Voters: 89,961
Why more haven't seen it: I was honestly surprised that this made the cut, but is largely here due to its distinction as the 9th highest rated film of all time. We covered it a bit in the Top Ten Underdog Movies feature from last year. Completely taking place in one room, it signaled the arrival of Sidney Lumet as a master filmmaker. It is alternately melodramatic and realistic. Anyone who hasn't seen this movie needs to set aside a couple hours to do so.
Gushing IMDb user comment:"This film deserves to be on anyone's list of top films. My problem is that it is so perfect, so seamlessly polished, it is hard to appreciate the individual excellences." - tedg
#18: The Seven Samurai
IMDb Rating, Rank: 8.8, 13
Number of Voters: 82,241
Why more haven't seen it:Well, it's in Japanese and in black and white, but much like 12 Angry Men above, it's that the film has such a high rating. There have been a lot of voters, far more than its also beloved American, color counterpart, The Magnificent Seven. It's a very long movie that takes its time to develop, but even passive viewers find themselves drawn into the story, feeling pity and empathy for all the characters involved.
Gushing IMDb user comment: "Words cannot sum up the experience you have while watching Seven Samurai. It makes you laugh at the antics the samurai bring, cheer when the village accomplish a goal, bit your fingernails in suspense when bandits appear, and cry at the tragedies that occur in life. If you have yet to see this movie, find it and watch what is without a doubt in my mind, the greatest movie ever made." - Obvlivous93
#17: Rashômon
IMDb Rating, Rank: 8.4, 72
Number of Voters: 32,215
Why more haven't seen it: Akira Kurosawa, the same director as above, created a film that was groundbreaking and risky. The story is told three times by three different characters, one of whom is already dead. Kurosawa implemented various techniques which had never been performed previously. It's also black and white and in Japanese, and depicts a rape. So it's understandable that this isn't shown on TBS after "House of Payne". This is probably my favorite foreign film of all time, and I recommend it highly.
Gushing IMDb user comment: "Rashomon is one of the most powerful and emotional movies that I have ever seen. The way the story is told has become a arch type that has been incorporated into countless American films and just for that this movie deserves a 10." - ninerjayd
#16: The General
IMDb Rating, Rank: 8.3, 126
Number of Voters: 16,446
Why more haven't seen it: Let's start with the fact that it's a silent, black and white comedy. But it is also Buster Keaton's most renowned effort. Count me among the throng that have missed it. Can it really be funny if it's black and white and silent? I imagine it must be.
Gushing IMDb user comment: "There aren't too many words to describe this film other than 'amazing.' I am embarrassed to admit that I am 23 and this is the first time I've seen this film, however now that I have I will be certain to go out and purchase any Buster Keaton film I can get my hands on. I was lucky enough to find this film packaged along with Steamboat Bill Jr. and two Charlie Chaplin films (The Kid and Tillie's Punctured Romance) at my local Wal-Mart for a measly $5.50 and decided to give it a try. Heck, a dollar can't even buy a popsicle now-a-days, but can purchase one of the greatest comedies I've ever seen. Go figure." - hoserhound
#15: All About Eve
IMDb Rating, Rank: 8.4, 74
Number of Voters: 29,842
Why more haven't seen it: From 1950 and black and white, but beyond that I haven't the faintest idea. It features big stars, a famous director in Joseph L Mankiewicz, and the screen debut of Marylin Monroe. Not only that, it's a superb story about fame, jealousy and morality. What's lacking is a clear love story, but there's no reason why more people haven't seen this one.
Gushing IMDb user comment: "What a genius Joseph L Manckiewicz was. A literary script that is totally accessible. A melodrama for the thinking man. A film that is as engrossing and entertaining every time you see it. Bette Davis touches all the raw nerves of her mythological career. Anne Baxter never went this far. Thelma Ritter became a sort of icon. Marilyn Monroe gives us a preview of forthcoming attractions as a graduated from the "Copacabana" academy of dramatic arts. Celeste Holm represents us, all of us and George Sanders creates a prototype for a cultured monster that is immediately recognizable. I don't recall another film in which the nature of selfishness is so wittily dissected. A total triumph." - marcosaguado
#14: Rebecca
IMDb Rating, Rank: 8.4, 78
Number of Voters: 29,531
Why more haven't seen it: I honestly have no clue. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Laurence Olivier, it is Hitch's only film to have won Best Picture. You'd think this would be a renowned, smash hit movie. It's the kind of movie that should be on TCM and late-night cable all the damn time.
Gushing IMDb user comment: "I spent the majority of this film thinking about how lucky M. Olivier really was. To be able to wrap his arms around Joan Fontaine and kiss her. Oh my. She's one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen (almost, but not quite as beautiful as Veronica Lake). She's also absolutely perfect in the role of the second Mrs. DeWinter, taking a character that could have become a cloying bore in less capable hands and transforming her into a sympathetic and interesting figure." - Jason Forenstein
#13: The Third Man
IMDb Rating, Rank: 8.5, 54
Number of Voters: 43,113
Why more haven't seen it: There are a few goofy things about this suspense mystery, the most prominent being the soundtrack which features only a zither. At the time, the soundtrack was actually a huge hit, but it's very distracting as the movie plays along.
Gushing IMDb user comment: "Unrelenting fascination is what I have every time I watch this movie. It never seems old. It's in my mind, haunting me, with its unearthly music and its dark, oblique photography. And that great Orson Welles' speech, and also the best entrance in movie history to go along with the best exit in movie history. It couldn't be better. I can't even express how I feel in words. Watch it again and again, and you'll be dazed!" - Matt Hintze
#12: The Bicycle Thief
IMDb Rating, Rank: 8.4, 97
Number of Voters: 21,633
Why more haven't seen it: First, it's very old, black and white, and in Italian. Second, the movie is a major, major downer. It's basically all about life beating the piss out of you and not apologizing for it, leaving you with no way of fighting back. At the risk of pissing off the film snobs, I have to say that I liked this movie, but didn't understand what the big deal about it is. Yet, the IMDb has spoken. The people who watch and rate have scored it very highly. I'm just saying I can see why more haven't sat back to have their nuts kicked by this one.
Gushing IMDb user comment: "Neither reductivist outlook adequately deals with the many subtleties and nuances this great film portrays, and the fact that The Bicycle Thief is shorn of Freudian psychobabble and preaching is one of its strengths. Yet, it is not pure cinema, either, as many European critics have labeled it. Although the visuals convey the milieu well, they do not get inside the characters. This is where the writing and acting ability of Maggiorani and Staiola works magic. Great art is simply not so easily reducible as political panderers want it to be, and one can be thankful for that, lest The Bicycle Thief would not be what it is, nor would we still be watching it with such easy appreciation for its simple virtues." - Cosmoeticadotcom
#11: Nights of Cabiria
IMDb Rating, Rank: 8.4, 143
Number of Voters: 8,655
Why more haven't seen it: Federico Fellini's fifth-most voted upon movie, it's the only one that makes our list. The story of course takes place in Rome and is about a prostitute that wanders the streets looking for love. To be honest, I don't know a damn thing about this film beyond the fact that Fellini directed it. But that's reason enough to go and see it.
Gushing IMDb user comment: "I've never seen the face so alive, changing its expression every moment. If the face is the soul's mirror, Cabiria's (Masina's) face reflects her every single emotion and how effortlessly she goes from bitter cynicism to wistful yearning, from despair to hope, from tears to smile. While there's life there's hope. As long as Cabiria smiles in the end of this tragicomic masterpiece, there is hope for all of us." - Galina
If you're not pumped up enough to head to your local Netflix and get your hands on some of these, come back for Part II next week!
But today, using an extremely complex mathematical algorithm (uhhh... the average between the rank of the movie and the # of votes it has received), we're going to look at the top 20 movies that have been overlooked - or at least don't have as many votes as they should. If you have any thoughts on these, let us know!
Note - movies released in the last year are not counted because (A) newer movies always have inflated ratings and (B) obviously many people may not have had the opportunity to watch them yet. But we still recommend getting out there to see The Wrestler (actually the clear #1 in our formula), Slumdog Millionaire, and Gran Torino.
#20: Witness for the Prosecution
IMDb Rating, Rank: 8.2, 128
Number of Voters: 14,416
Why more haven't seen it:It's a bit old, from 1957, but considering that it is a Billy Wilder directed adaptation originally penned by Agatha Christie, it's surprising that this classic mystery/thriller doesn't get more attention. In all honesty, I haven't seen it, and even though the name rings a bell, until I did some research I didn't know much about it. But I'm adding it to my list today.
Gushing IMDb user comment:"At the end of the day the films you give top marks are those films that become constant companions. You can see them again at the drop of a hat, you show them to people who have never see them and it's always a triumph. 'Witness For The Prosecution' is one of those wonders. Suspend your disbelief for a couple of hours and enjoy this banquet of a romp." - M.J.Arocena
#19: 12 Angry Men
IMDb Rating, Rank: 8.8, 9
Number of Voters: 89,961
Why more haven't seen it: I was honestly surprised that this made the cut, but is largely here due to its distinction as the 9th highest rated film of all time. We covered it a bit in the Top Ten Underdog Movies feature from last year. Completely taking place in one room, it signaled the arrival of Sidney Lumet as a master filmmaker. It is alternately melodramatic and realistic. Anyone who hasn't seen this movie needs to set aside a couple hours to do so.
Gushing IMDb user comment:"This film deserves to be on anyone's list of top films. My problem is that it is so perfect, so seamlessly polished, it is hard to appreciate the individual excellences." - tedg
#18: The Seven Samurai
IMDb Rating, Rank: 8.8, 13
Number of Voters: 82,241
Why more haven't seen it:Well, it's in Japanese and in black and white, but much like 12 Angry Men above, it's that the film has such a high rating. There have been a lot of voters, far more than its also beloved American, color counterpart, The Magnificent Seven. It's a very long movie that takes its time to develop, but even passive viewers find themselves drawn into the story, feeling pity and empathy for all the characters involved.
Gushing IMDb user comment: "Words cannot sum up the experience you have while watching Seven Samurai. It makes you laugh at the antics the samurai bring, cheer when the village accomplish a goal, bit your fingernails in suspense when bandits appear, and cry at the tragedies that occur in life. If you have yet to see this movie, find it and watch what is without a doubt in my mind, the greatest movie ever made." - Obvlivous93
#17: Rashômon
IMDb Rating, Rank: 8.4, 72
Number of Voters: 32,215
Why more haven't seen it: Akira Kurosawa, the same director as above, created a film that was groundbreaking and risky. The story is told three times by three different characters, one of whom is already dead. Kurosawa implemented various techniques which had never been performed previously. It's also black and white and in Japanese, and depicts a rape. So it's understandable that this isn't shown on TBS after "House of Payne". This is probably my favorite foreign film of all time, and I recommend it highly.
Gushing IMDb user comment: "Rashomon is one of the most powerful and emotional movies that I have ever seen. The way the story is told has become a arch type that has been incorporated into countless American films and just for that this movie deserves a 10." - ninerjayd
#16: The General
IMDb Rating, Rank: 8.3, 126
Number of Voters: 16,446
Why more haven't seen it: Let's start with the fact that it's a silent, black and white comedy. But it is also Buster Keaton's most renowned effort. Count me among the throng that have missed it. Can it really be funny if it's black and white and silent? I imagine it must be.
Gushing IMDb user comment: "There aren't too many words to describe this film other than 'amazing.' I am embarrassed to admit that I am 23 and this is the first time I've seen this film, however now that I have I will be certain to go out and purchase any Buster Keaton film I can get my hands on. I was lucky enough to find this film packaged along with Steamboat Bill Jr. and two Charlie Chaplin films (The Kid and Tillie's Punctured Romance) at my local Wal-Mart for a measly $5.50 and decided to give it a try. Heck, a dollar can't even buy a popsicle now-a-days, but can purchase one of the greatest comedies I've ever seen. Go figure." - hoserhound
#15: All About Eve
IMDb Rating, Rank: 8.4, 74
Number of Voters: 29,842
Why more haven't seen it: From 1950 and black and white, but beyond that I haven't the faintest idea. It features big stars, a famous director in Joseph L Mankiewicz, and the screen debut of Marylin Monroe. Not only that, it's a superb story about fame, jealousy and morality. What's lacking is a clear love story, but there's no reason why more people haven't seen this one.
Gushing IMDb user comment: "What a genius Joseph L Manckiewicz was. A literary script that is totally accessible. A melodrama for the thinking man. A film that is as engrossing and entertaining every time you see it. Bette Davis touches all the raw nerves of her mythological career. Anne Baxter never went this far. Thelma Ritter became a sort of icon. Marilyn Monroe gives us a preview of forthcoming attractions as a graduated from the "Copacabana" academy of dramatic arts. Celeste Holm represents us, all of us and George Sanders creates a prototype for a cultured monster that is immediately recognizable. I don't recall another film in which the nature of selfishness is so wittily dissected. A total triumph." - marcosaguado
#14: Rebecca
IMDb Rating, Rank: 8.4, 78
Number of Voters: 29,531
Why more haven't seen it: I honestly have no clue. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Laurence Olivier, it is Hitch's only film to have won Best Picture. You'd think this would be a renowned, smash hit movie. It's the kind of movie that should be on TCM and late-night cable all the damn time.
Gushing IMDb user comment: "I spent the majority of this film thinking about how lucky M. Olivier really was. To be able to wrap his arms around Joan Fontaine and kiss her. Oh my. She's one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen (almost, but not quite as beautiful as Veronica Lake). She's also absolutely perfect in the role of the second Mrs. DeWinter, taking a character that could have become a cloying bore in less capable hands and transforming her into a sympathetic and interesting figure." - Jason Forenstein
#13: The Third Man
IMDb Rating, Rank: 8.5, 54
Number of Voters: 43,113
Why more haven't seen it: There are a few goofy things about this suspense mystery, the most prominent being the soundtrack which features only a zither. At the time, the soundtrack was actually a huge hit, but it's very distracting as the movie plays along.
Gushing IMDb user comment: "Unrelenting fascination is what I have every time I watch this movie. It never seems old. It's in my mind, haunting me, with its unearthly music and its dark, oblique photography. And that great Orson Welles' speech, and also the best entrance in movie history to go along with the best exit in movie history. It couldn't be better. I can't even express how I feel in words. Watch it again and again, and you'll be dazed!" - Matt Hintze
#12: The Bicycle Thief
IMDb Rating, Rank: 8.4, 97
Number of Voters: 21,633
Why more haven't seen it: First, it's very old, black and white, and in Italian. Second, the movie is a major, major downer. It's basically all about life beating the piss out of you and not apologizing for it, leaving you with no way of fighting back. At the risk of pissing off the film snobs, I have to say that I liked this movie, but didn't understand what the big deal about it is. Yet, the IMDb has spoken. The people who watch and rate have scored it very highly. I'm just saying I can see why more haven't sat back to have their nuts kicked by this one.
Gushing IMDb user comment: "Neither reductivist outlook adequately deals with the many subtleties and nuances this great film portrays, and the fact that The Bicycle Thief is shorn of Freudian psychobabble and preaching is one of its strengths. Yet, it is not pure cinema, either, as many European critics have labeled it. Although the visuals convey the milieu well, they do not get inside the characters. This is where the writing and acting ability of Maggiorani and Staiola works magic. Great art is simply not so easily reducible as political panderers want it to be, and one can be thankful for that, lest The Bicycle Thief would not be what it is, nor would we still be watching it with such easy appreciation for its simple virtues." - Cosmoeticadotcom
#11: Nights of Cabiria
IMDb Rating, Rank: 8.4, 143
Number of Voters: 8,655
Why more haven't seen it: Federico Fellini's fifth-most voted upon movie, it's the only one that makes our list. The story of course takes place in Rome and is about a prostitute that wanders the streets looking for love. To be honest, I don't know a damn thing about this film beyond the fact that Fellini directed it. But that's reason enough to go and see it.
Gushing IMDb user comment: "I've never seen the face so alive, changing its expression every moment. If the face is the soul's mirror, Cabiria's (Masina's) face reflects her every single emotion and how effortlessly she goes from bitter cynicism to wistful yearning, from despair to hope, from tears to smile. While there's life there's hope. As long as Cabiria smiles in the end of this tragicomic masterpiece, there is hope for all of us." - Galina
If you're not pumped up enough to head to your local Netflix and get your hands on some of these, come back for Part II next week!
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Top Ten Movie Cougars
In lieu of a Five for Tuesday, I'm giving you Ten! Also, this entry is double-posted over at Scene Stealers, so check out the message board over there if you want to comment.
Directors ranging from Martin Scorsese to the Coen Brothers have made countless movies depicting older men cozying up to younger women who may or may not be naïve to the ways of romance (see also: Allen, Woody). But what of the kinder, older women who awaken young men to adulthood in the most giving way possible? I’m referring of course to cougars, to use the parlance of our time. Urbandictionary defines cougar as “a 35+ year old female who is on the hunt for a much younger male.” Some would say that any definition requires use of the word “pounce.” But whatever your take on the word's official meaning, let’s take a moment to celebrate the women who teach more than they tease, the Top 10 Movie Cougars.
10. Mrs. Betty Carver, "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" (1993)
Johnny Depp's Gilbert has the weight of the world on his shoulders. Well, perhaps just the weight of his family, but given his mother's considerable girth it probably feels the same. Gilbert allows himself only one indulgence, an affair with a married woman (Mary Steenburgen) whom he visits when delivering groceries. There is certainly pouncing. Involving ice cream. Though Gilbert is emotionally uninvolved and relatively unaffected when Betty leaves town after her husband's death, it sets him up for better things when a more age appropriate romance passes through town.
Betty: “Gilbert. I’ll need a delivery later.”
9. Alex Barnett, "Loverboy" (1989)
Needing extra cash to pay for college, Randy Bodek (Patrick Dempsey playing the same lovable asshole he always does) takes a summer job delivering pizzas. Finding the funds insufficient and frustration with the silly sombrero he has to wear, Randy stumbles into a more lucrative side job that involves the bedding of pretty much every married woman in town. Really, I could have chosen anyone from the female cast of this movie. But Alex (Barbara Carrera) is the one who sets the whole thing in motion. Thanks to her tutelage, before long Randy is toting roses, dressing in a tuxedo, and ballroom dancing with his clients. His business endeavor falls apart when his mother orders his services and he is nearly killed by a band of angry husbands led by Vic Tayback. Also, his girlfriend happens to be in town, forcing him to divulge how he had been earning funds to return to campus. She is initially furious, but his newfound dancing skills win her over and she forgives him.
Alex: “Dear Randy, of course I prefer you naked, but if you must wear something, it should be the best.”
8. Ellen Burroughs, "Class" (1983)
Jonathan is a nerdy, shy kid who gets a scholarship to a prestigious prep school. He is assigned to room with the rich and handsome Skip. After initially picking on Jonathan mercilessly, Skip makes it his business to get Jonathan laid. He sends him to a Chicago bar where Jonathan lucks into a mysterious older woman way out of his league and eagerly returns to tell Skip all about it. Ellen ends the tryst upon discovering that Jonathan is only 17, but it is not the last they see of each other. When he accompanies Skip home for Christmas, Jonathan is horrified to discover that Ellen is Skip’s mother. The affair continues in fits and starts. It’s probably not the best way for a shy kid to learn about love and sex. At least Skip can claim his mission was accomplished even if it wasn’t the way he envisioned it.
Jonathan: “You’re asking me, the turd?”
Ellen: “Well, you look like a pretty… sensitive turd to me.”
7. Nora Baker, "White Palace" (1990)
Released just seven months after Pretty Woman, White Palace was a more serious take on the situation. Also, it features Jason Alexander playing basically the same exact role. But instead of the ridiculous notion of a rich executive falling in love with a street hooker (perfectly spoofed by Dave Chappelle), James Spader is a successful but lonely widower who reluctantly falls for a diner waitress in St. Louis. She is a nurturing figure for him, able to help him overcome his grief with a steady diet of kitchen table sex. That he's 27 and she's 43 only makes their socio-economic differences that much more challenging. When he introduces her to his friends, the self-proclaimed “dumb hoosier” fails to fit in.
Nora: Honey, I got everything you need.
6. Marion Wormer, "Animal House" (1979)
When I was a kid, the Deltas seemed so mature and wise - even Pinto. Perhaps this is because Tim "Otter" Matheson and Peter "Boon" Riegert were already 30 years old. Regardless, when Otter picks up the dean's wife at a local grocery store by talking about his cucumber, it's immediately clear that she's the mature person in the conversation, showing up his banal banter with a more direct confidence. While Otter didn't need any education in the bedroom, Mrs. Wormer did present him with the ultimate conquest, and opportunity he clearly relishes from the moment she stumbles into the fraternity’s toga party. Despite his insipid efforts at making her a cocktail she clearly doesn’t need, Otter finds a way to stick it to the dean the best way he can.
Otter: “Mrs. Wormer, I’m so glad you could come.”
Marion Wormer: “Cut the crap. Get me a drink.”
5. Stifler's Mom, "American Pie" (1999)
The movie that popularized the term MILF delivered on the acronym's promise in a big way, and I'm not just talking about Jennifer Coolidge's hair. With the four male protagonists all having pledged to conquer virginity before the end of high school, Finch appears to be the farthest behind in the game after a disastrous bathroom incident. At the post-prom party, ever the mature teenager interested in the finer things, he goes looking for something unique and stumbles across a bored and lonely Stifler’s mother. The two click so well that Finch remains obsessed with her well into future movies.
Stifler’s Mom: “I’ve got some scotch.”
Finch: “Single malt?”
Stifler’s Mom: “Aged 18 years. The way I like it.”
4. Luisa Cortés, "Y Tu Mamá También" (2001)
Someone once described narrative storytelling as either “someone takes a journey or a stranger comes to town.” For teenagers Tenoch and Julio, both of these apply. Believing that they’re a lot more mature than they really are, the best friends decide to hit on Luisa at a wedding even though she is married. Perhaps they should have been more surprised when she agrees to go on a road trip with them to a secret beach whose location nobody knows, including them. Along the way, she teaches them about love and sex and generally how to act like an adult. She’s operating on an entirely different level than they knew existed. It's not that Luisa's so old, but more that her companions are so young and, um, impressionable. I won’t spoil the ending, but let’s just say that she opens their minds to things they never believed were possible.
Luisa: You have to make the clitoris your best friend.
Tenoch: What kind of friend is always hiding?
3. Maude, "Harold and Maude" (1971)
At 79 years old I don't know if Maude qualifies as a cougar because she's quite possibly too old to pounce without breaking a hip. But it doesn't stop her from garnering the carnal advances of the young and suicidal Harold. She doesn’t just give him a romp in the hay, but instills in him a real desire to live. Honestly, when someone first told me about this movie, I believed the premise was so far-fetched that there was no way the movie could work. But somehow the two characters really match, to the point where you’re not completely grossed out with the idea of Maude and Harold getting it on. Harold had younger women throwing themselves at him, well, at least his mother was throwing them at him, but he was only interested in pretending to kill himself in front of them. In the end, Maude changes his life, through the most surprising romance in movie history.
Maude: “A lot of people enjoy being dead. But they are not dead, really. They're just backing away from life. Reach out. Take a chance. Get hurt even. But play as well as you can. Go team, go! Give me an L. Give me an I. Give me a V. Give me an E. L-I-V-E. LIVE! Otherwise, you got nothing to talk about in the locker room.”
2. Norma Desmond, "Sunset Blvd." (1950)
Sometimes cougars aren’t just in it for the sex. Sometimes they take it all very, very seriously. When down on his luck screenwriter Joe Gillis stumbles into the washed up silent film star’s life he obtains sanctuary from money problems and a life on easy street. But he’s not in love with her. The more time he spends with Desmond, the sooner he realizes that she is completely insane. He wants to leave, but feels too much sympathy for her and enjoys the continued sugar momma treatment. SPOILER ALERT! He remains in the relationship as long as he can, but eventually declares he is ending it. Desmond is furious and shoots him in the back, killing him. The consolation is that it finally gives her the attention she has been craving and feels she deserves. END OF SPOILERS
Norma Desmond: No one ever leaves a star. That’s what makes one a star!
1. Mrs. Robinson, "The Graduate" (1967)
This has to be the most obvious #1 in Scene Stealers history, right? I'm tempted to write nothing at all, but here goes. Poor Benjamin Braddock never stood a chance. A young college graduate with no plans and no ambition, he is easily seduced by the wife of his father’s business partner. Though Ben is reluctant to engage in the affair, he doesn’t put up much of a fight. Throughout the relationship, Mrs. Robinson calls all the shots, telling Benjamin when and where to meet, and generally controlling his every move. After several months of assignations, Ben reluctantly develops interest in Mrs. Robinson’s daughter, Elaine. Whether Mrs. Robinson can be credited with giving Ben a jump start that leads to his obsession is debatable, but there’s no question that she helped remove him from his funk. One could argue that Mrs. Robinson was taking advantage of the meek Ben, or that his betrayal of her makes her the real victim. Either way, there’s no debate that she’s the #1 movie cougar of all time.
Benjamin: Mrs. Robinson, you’re trying to seduce me. Aren’t you?
Mrs. Robinson: Benjamin, I am not trying to seduce you.
Benjamin: I know that, but please, Mrs. Robinson, this is difficult.
Mrs. Robinson: Would you like me to seduce you?
Benjamin: What?
Mrs. Robinson: Is that what you’re trying to tell me?
Directors ranging from Martin Scorsese to the Coen Brothers have made countless movies depicting older men cozying up to younger women who may or may not be naïve to the ways of romance (see also: Allen, Woody). But what of the kinder, older women who awaken young men to adulthood in the most giving way possible? I’m referring of course to cougars, to use the parlance of our time. Urbandictionary defines cougar as “a 35+ year old female who is on the hunt for a much younger male.” Some would say that any definition requires use of the word “pounce.” But whatever your take on the word's official meaning, let’s take a moment to celebrate the women who teach more than they tease, the Top 10 Movie Cougars.
10. Mrs. Betty Carver, "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" (1993)
Johnny Depp's Gilbert has the weight of the world on his shoulders. Well, perhaps just the weight of his family, but given his mother's considerable girth it probably feels the same. Gilbert allows himself only one indulgence, an affair with a married woman (Mary Steenburgen) whom he visits when delivering groceries. There is certainly pouncing. Involving ice cream. Though Gilbert is emotionally uninvolved and relatively unaffected when Betty leaves town after her husband's death, it sets him up for better things when a more age appropriate romance passes through town.
Betty: “Gilbert. I’ll need a delivery later.”
9. Alex Barnett, "Loverboy" (1989)
Needing extra cash to pay for college, Randy Bodek (Patrick Dempsey playing the same lovable asshole he always does) takes a summer job delivering pizzas. Finding the funds insufficient and frustration with the silly sombrero he has to wear, Randy stumbles into a more lucrative side job that involves the bedding of pretty much every married woman in town. Really, I could have chosen anyone from the female cast of this movie. But Alex (Barbara Carrera) is the one who sets the whole thing in motion. Thanks to her tutelage, before long Randy is toting roses, dressing in a tuxedo, and ballroom dancing with his clients. His business endeavor falls apart when his mother orders his services and he is nearly killed by a band of angry husbands led by Vic Tayback. Also, his girlfriend happens to be in town, forcing him to divulge how he had been earning funds to return to campus. She is initially furious, but his newfound dancing skills win her over and she forgives him.
Alex: “Dear Randy, of course I prefer you naked, but if you must wear something, it should be the best.”
8. Ellen Burroughs, "Class" (1983)
Jonathan is a nerdy, shy kid who gets a scholarship to a prestigious prep school. He is assigned to room with the rich and handsome Skip. After initially picking on Jonathan mercilessly, Skip makes it his business to get Jonathan laid. He sends him to a Chicago bar where Jonathan lucks into a mysterious older woman way out of his league and eagerly returns to tell Skip all about it. Ellen ends the tryst upon discovering that Jonathan is only 17, but it is not the last they see of each other. When he accompanies Skip home for Christmas, Jonathan is horrified to discover that Ellen is Skip’s mother. The affair continues in fits and starts. It’s probably not the best way for a shy kid to learn about love and sex. At least Skip can claim his mission was accomplished even if it wasn’t the way he envisioned it.
Jonathan: “You’re asking me, the turd?”
Ellen: “Well, you look like a pretty… sensitive turd to me.”
7. Nora Baker, "White Palace" (1990)
Released just seven months after Pretty Woman, White Palace was a more serious take on the situation. Also, it features Jason Alexander playing basically the same exact role. But instead of the ridiculous notion of a rich executive falling in love with a street hooker (perfectly spoofed by Dave Chappelle), James Spader is a successful but lonely widower who reluctantly falls for a diner waitress in St. Louis. She is a nurturing figure for him, able to help him overcome his grief with a steady diet of kitchen table sex. That he's 27 and she's 43 only makes their socio-economic differences that much more challenging. When he introduces her to his friends, the self-proclaimed “dumb hoosier” fails to fit in.
Nora: Honey, I got everything you need.
6. Marion Wormer, "Animal House" (1979)
When I was a kid, the Deltas seemed so mature and wise - even Pinto. Perhaps this is because Tim "Otter" Matheson and Peter "Boon" Riegert were already 30 years old. Regardless, when Otter picks up the dean's wife at a local grocery store by talking about his cucumber, it's immediately clear that she's the mature person in the conversation, showing up his banal banter with a more direct confidence. While Otter didn't need any education in the bedroom, Mrs. Wormer did present him with the ultimate conquest, and opportunity he clearly relishes from the moment she stumbles into the fraternity’s toga party. Despite his insipid efforts at making her a cocktail she clearly doesn’t need, Otter finds a way to stick it to the dean the best way he can.
Otter: “Mrs. Wormer, I’m so glad you could come.”
Marion Wormer: “Cut the crap. Get me a drink.”
5. Stifler's Mom, "American Pie" (1999)
The movie that popularized the term MILF delivered on the acronym's promise in a big way, and I'm not just talking about Jennifer Coolidge's hair. With the four male protagonists all having pledged to conquer virginity before the end of high school, Finch appears to be the farthest behind in the game after a disastrous bathroom incident. At the post-prom party, ever the mature teenager interested in the finer things, he goes looking for something unique and stumbles across a bored and lonely Stifler’s mother. The two click so well that Finch remains obsessed with her well into future movies.
Stifler’s Mom: “I’ve got some scotch.”
Finch: “Single malt?”
Stifler’s Mom: “Aged 18 years. The way I like it.”
4. Luisa Cortés, "Y Tu Mamá También" (2001)
Someone once described narrative storytelling as either “someone takes a journey or a stranger comes to town.” For teenagers Tenoch and Julio, both of these apply. Believing that they’re a lot more mature than they really are, the best friends decide to hit on Luisa at a wedding even though she is married. Perhaps they should have been more surprised when she agrees to go on a road trip with them to a secret beach whose location nobody knows, including them. Along the way, she teaches them about love and sex and generally how to act like an adult. She’s operating on an entirely different level than they knew existed. It's not that Luisa's so old, but more that her companions are so young and, um, impressionable. I won’t spoil the ending, but let’s just say that she opens their minds to things they never believed were possible.
Luisa: You have to make the clitoris your best friend.
Tenoch: What kind of friend is always hiding?
3. Maude, "Harold and Maude" (1971)
At 79 years old I don't know if Maude qualifies as a cougar because she's quite possibly too old to pounce without breaking a hip. But it doesn't stop her from garnering the carnal advances of the young and suicidal Harold. She doesn’t just give him a romp in the hay, but instills in him a real desire to live. Honestly, when someone first told me about this movie, I believed the premise was so far-fetched that there was no way the movie could work. But somehow the two characters really match, to the point where you’re not completely grossed out with the idea of Maude and Harold getting it on. Harold had younger women throwing themselves at him, well, at least his mother was throwing them at him, but he was only interested in pretending to kill himself in front of them. In the end, Maude changes his life, through the most surprising romance in movie history.
Maude: “A lot of people enjoy being dead. But they are not dead, really. They're just backing away from life. Reach out. Take a chance. Get hurt even. But play as well as you can. Go team, go! Give me an L. Give me an I. Give me a V. Give me an E. L-I-V-E. LIVE! Otherwise, you got nothing to talk about in the locker room.”
2. Norma Desmond, "Sunset Blvd." (1950)
Sometimes cougars aren’t just in it for the sex. Sometimes they take it all very, very seriously. When down on his luck screenwriter Joe Gillis stumbles into the washed up silent film star’s life he obtains sanctuary from money problems and a life on easy street. But he’s not in love with her. The more time he spends with Desmond, the sooner he realizes that she is completely insane. He wants to leave, but feels too much sympathy for her and enjoys the continued sugar momma treatment. SPOILER ALERT! He remains in the relationship as long as he can, but eventually declares he is ending it. Desmond is furious and shoots him in the back, killing him. The consolation is that it finally gives her the attention she has been craving and feels she deserves. END OF SPOILERS
Norma Desmond: No one ever leaves a star. That’s what makes one a star!
1. Mrs. Robinson, "The Graduate" (1967)
This has to be the most obvious #1 in Scene Stealers history, right? I'm tempted to write nothing at all, but here goes. Poor Benjamin Braddock never stood a chance. A young college graduate with no plans and no ambition, he is easily seduced by the wife of his father’s business partner. Though Ben is reluctant to engage in the affair, he doesn’t put up much of a fight. Throughout the relationship, Mrs. Robinson calls all the shots, telling Benjamin when and where to meet, and generally controlling his every move. After several months of assignations, Ben reluctantly develops interest in Mrs. Robinson’s daughter, Elaine. Whether Mrs. Robinson can be credited with giving Ben a jump start that leads to his obsession is debatable, but there’s no question that she helped remove him from his funk. One could argue that Mrs. Robinson was taking advantage of the meek Ben, or that his betrayal of her makes her the real victim. Either way, there’s no debate that she’s the #1 movie cougar of all time.
Benjamin: Mrs. Robinson, you’re trying to seduce me. Aren’t you?
Mrs. Robinson: Benjamin, I am not trying to seduce you.
Benjamin: I know that, but please, Mrs. Robinson, this is difficult.
Mrs. Robinson: Would you like me to seduce you?
Benjamin: What?
Mrs. Robinson: Is that what you’re trying to tell me?
Monday, May 4, 2009
Star Trek in the news
Apparently they're releasing a new Star Trek movie. Anyone seen the preview yet? Here's some information:
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