Double Feature Friday- Shakespeare

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I saw a production of Romeo and Juliet a couple nights ago, and it made me think of the vast number of movies that have been adapted from the Bard himself. I haven't done a double feature in a while, and what better way to start again than by highlighting the marriage between film and classic theatre? It's impossible to have seen them all, or even the liberal adaptations (O, 10 Things I Hate About You, She's the Man, The Lion King....) but I'll highlight two of my favorites that I have seen.

Titus (1999)

Creepy, twisted, and strangely beautiful, this is my absolute favorite movie made from a Shakespeare. It has a neo-totalitarian feel to it, and while you're watching it, you get the feel that there is no specific time or place, especially judging by the modern bondage-esque costuming juxtaposed with ancient Roman columns and sets. There are definitely moments where you can see the theatrical performance-art type visions that were brought about by the original play (Lavinia singing blood out of her mouth, anyone? Fucking brilliant.) The first time I saw this movie, I totally didn't get it, from watching the kid walk his way through this strange story, but upon watching it again, I have total respect for the amount of loss of childhood and innocence that Julie Taymor (famous for her crazy-ass fantastical sets and costumes) was trying to convey. Genius.

Much Ado About Nothing (1993)


Aside from the jarringly horrendous performance by Keanu Reeves, this movie was really enjoyable, and I thought that the chemistry between the lovers was sharp, energetic and convincing (well, given the fact that Branaugh and Thompson were married at the time, it isn't surprising). I think that is the key to this play- if it's put on and the actors can't match one another in energy, the entire endeavor fails. Yes, this movie has its ups and downs (although I personally never understood everyone's harsh criticism of Robert Sean Leonard), such as the fact that Denzel Washington and Keanu Reeves are supposed to be brothers. It also made me wonder what has happened to Michael Keaton in recent years. I think this is one of his greatest performances in a film. If you haven't seen this, it's highly entertaining and a gentle escape into great Shakespeare.

Peace!

The Movie Mistress

Double Feature Friday- So Offbeat You're Not Sure What to Do...

Everyone loves a good movie that makes you think... and nothing else. I've seen some pretty bizarre movies recently, so I decided to make today's Double Feature dedicated to all the films out there that are neither comedies, nor dramas, nor suspense movies, but kind of just... exist. I'm a huge fan of the whole Harold and Maude- esque genre that leaves you with a feeling in your stomach that you're not sure what to do with except think about the state of the world today. Here we go:

Cold Souls (2009)


Paul Giamatti plays an actor named.... Paul Giamatti. I know this film was not rated very well, but I really liked it. I thought a lot of really interesting choices were made, especially regarding the fact that half the movie took place in Russia. There were no subtitles during any of the scenes shot in Russian, making you not only identify with the isolation of the main character and helpless confusion about who the fuck actually has his soul, but also cements my own personal belief that you don't always need spoken dialogue to understand a story. The movie was about an actor who has his soul extracted in order to get through playing Uncle Vanya, and surprisingly, it's a totally believable premise. You'd think that something like "soul trafficking" seems stupid and ridiculous, but I found myself watching the film without hesitation. It raises a lot of interesting questions about the body and its capabilities, and also what makes someone who they are. Can you really be yourself with someone else's soul in you? An offbeat, quirky, and entertaining non-genre-specific film, I'd say go watch it in an instant. 

Happiness (1998) 


Am I supposed to laugh in this movie? Feel sad? How about I'll just be an outsider, looking in at the goings-on of a dysfunctional family that's not mine. There are so many fucked up things that happen in this movie- rape, murder, incestuous thoughts, creepy phone calls, that it's hard to be shocked by the time you're twenty minutes in. At the same time, however, you want to applaud the crimes committed while feeling immensely sad and sorry for the characters that society and real life would tell you to ordinarily detest. It's that reason alone that makes this movie fascinating. It doesn't exactly fit into any categories other than the multiple connection and storyline aspect of it, but it still keeps you watching the entire time. I detested Lara Flynn Boyle's character, who was meant to be the only functional and successful character, and yet sympathized with Dylan Baker, the alleged rapist. It's funny how movies can shift how you look at other people (remember how you wanted to give the sex offender from Little Children a hug?). This is a fantastic movie, however offbeat and strange it may seem at times and no matter how much you want to hate yourself for liking the wrong people. 


Peace!


The Movie Mistress

Double Feature Friday- Bring in 2010!!

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It sort of goes without saying that today's Double Feature should be movies about New Year's Eve (or Jan. 1st) or ones that have big, dramatic moments around this time period. So I searched the massive collection of films swimming around in my head for my favorites, and for some reason both of them are chick flicks. "That's odd," I said (yes, I talk to myself sometimes- I mean, I do have a blog), and thought about why this would happen. I decided it's because of the whole sharing-New-Years'-with-someone-special bullshit. That's fine, though- if Hollywood accepts it, then I will too. So without further ado...

When Harry Met Sally (1989)

Oh, look, she's all alone on Dec. 31st. Oh wait... she realizes... aww, he does too! And now they're running towards one another.... Best New Years' scene ever. As far as rom-coms go, this one is pretty tolerable. It's unique in that the story is formulaic, but not cliched. When making movies about the differences between men and women, it's hard to get the comedy across without being offensive, and this movie does it perfectly. Meg Ryan proving that a woman can successfully fake an orgasm is hilarious and yet still gets portrays her as a strong, smart woman without making him look like a complete ass. Take that, The Ugly Truth! I don't want any of your chauvinistic bullshit. Aaanyway, I'll just put this here instead so I don't end up belittling more movies through my praise of this one.

The Holiday (2006)

There is no other way to describe this movie except "nice." It has two storylines that both keep you equally entertained, and tries its best to come up with an original plot for once. The two women are strong without being “manish,” as Hollywood likes to portray women having trouble finding men, and the men are neither perfect nor terribly wrong. One of the biggest surprises of this movie is that Jack Black convincingly played a romantic character while still keeping his ridiculous comedy in (because, honestly, if he didn’t, it wouldn’t be Jack Black). The Holiday is special because it doesn’t try. None of the characters are forced on you or overdone, and in that way you get to love them all. The story coasts along so smoothly, and even though you know what will happen in the end, you can’t help but be wrapped up in the conflicts in the middle because you’re already hooked in the current. I would put this as one of the top 5 feel-good movies EVER, because by the time all of them are celebrating the New Year together, you just sigh and smile. It can’t be helped. 

Happy New Year! 

The Movie Mistress

Double Feature Friday- The Shittiest Holiday Movies

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So... it's that time of year. We are right in the middle of the holiday season. I read several movie blogs, and it seems to be the time to highlight all your favorite movies that you loved watching in December as a child. I think everyone seems to forget, however, that there are a lot of terrible movies about the holidays. I'm talking absolutely horrendous, "why-the-fuck-were-these-ever-made" movies. I'm sure that I'll jump on the bandwagon one of these days and celebrate movies like Love Actually and It's A Wonderful Life, but for now, I say, let's get fucked up on egg nog and enjoy...

Santa Who? (2000)


I don't know if anyone remembers this movie, but I'm pretty sure ABC aired it once and never made that mistake ever again. It's about Santa... with amnesia.... Yes, I'm being serious. The tagline? 


All he wants for Christmas is his memory back. 


The plot? Santa falls out of his sleigh driven by terribly animated, CGI reindeer and hits his head so he can't remember who he is and a special little boy has to save him. Now, I fucking love Leslie Nielsen. Airplane is the shit. But in this movie he just seems so washed up that you begin to pity him. It's as if he's no longer capable of being in a legit movie so he's forced to do shit like this to keep his name around. It's really sad. But back to the movie. Anyway, only a little boy can save him, blah, blah, until the elves come to actually help. HIP HOP ELVES. Oh, yes. I'm not going to give away the ending of this movie since I'm sure you're all just DYING to know what happens, but I can tell you that it would make a fantastic drinking game, and that's all that matters. 

Deck the Halls (2006)


My question is for this movie is, how the fuck could Danny DeVito produce such attractive children? And just because he and Kristen Chenoweth are both short does not mean that they would be married in real life. This entire movie is just a case of classy vs. tacky, and for some God-awful reason, tacky seems to win throughout most of it. Anyway, now that I've said that bit, let's move on to the plot of this movie, which is basically about neighbors outdoing each other with decorations until they discover the true meaning of Christmas. That's really all you need to know about this film. Really. It's sad when the plot of a movie can be summed up in half of a sentence. Mainly, it's about cheap laughs through crazy escapades. Except that they actually aren't that funny. I think that Matthew Broderick has done so much theatre that he's forgotten how to act in films. Seriously- the lines are so flat that when he talks about his concern for his children being weird, I actually can see why- I'd go crazy living with him too. And it only took five minutes for the creepy, misogynistic relationship between Danny DeVito and Kristen Chenoweth to get to me. Not to mention their twins that speak in unison. Other than that, the plot of this movie is pretty forgettable. I'm not going to bore you with any more details. Just watch it. Or don't. It's your call. 


Peace!


The Movie Mistress

Double Feature Friday- Fruit!

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Okay, so I did a little experiment with today's Double Feature. I asked my friend to pick a random word, any word, and she picked....


Mangoes. 


My first reaction was, where the fuck am I going to find a movie about fucking mangoes? So I took some liberties (it is my blog, after all), and expanded it to movies centered around fruit or that have fruit in the title. There are quite a few, surprisingly- Bananas, The Grapes of Wrath, Watermelon Man (I've never seen this one but it looks intriguiging)- but to highlight my favorites: 

Fresa y Chocolate (Strawberry and Chocolate) (1994)


Beautiful film about a friendship between a homosexual older man and a super-conservative college student (really, if Cuba had a Young Republicans Club, this guy would be president) in 1990s Havana. It's one of the most realistic dramas I've ever seen- every single issue could be happening right now and yet it still has this heartwarming quality that could only happen in a movie. It's as if you're watching a wonderful blend of reality and fiction (which is what all movies should inspire to). If you haven't seen this movie, I don't want to give anything away, but the end scene is so well done, tackling a realistic situation with heart and feeling to the point that if you don't cry, then there's something wrong with you. 

James and the Giant Peach (1996)


I feel like this movie always gets overlooked when thinking back to Tim Burton's finest films. There is no better pairing than offbeat, twisted Roald Dahl and creepy-as-fuck Burton, and this movie is the spawn of that wonderful pairing. I am always a fan of Burton/Selick collaborations as well (and a fan of Selick himself- I'm telling you right now if Coraline is not nominated for Best Animated I am going to flip a shit. Chairs will fly). Anyway, not only does this kids movie revolve around a wonderfully animated peach, but the voice acting is stellar. I have no idea what Richard Dreyfuss is doing now, but he was AWESOME as the centipede. And of course, there's the ever-so-versatile Susan Sarandon as Miss Spider. I know a lot of people think she's overrated, but honestly, I think she's a badass. Anyway, when I was younger I remember liking the book so much better, but now, watching it again, I can finally see the awesomeness and beauty of this movie that I didn't appreciate because I was too gung-ho for Disney (I know, I know, it's sad). The image of the peach rolling into the ocean is so incredibly rich and colorful that it makes you want to, well, eat a peach. 


Peace!


The Movie Mistress

Double Feature Friday- Happy Thanksgiving!!

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Because I was stuffing myself with tofurkey yesterday, I found it necessary to devote today's Double Feature to the most All-American holiday- one in which people surround, and plan everything around, and practically worship, FOOD. It took some thinking to scour Hollywood for movies that I've seen that have Thanksgiving involved, since most filmmakers just bypass it in order to capitalize on Christmas since December is a bigger moviegoing season than November. Anyway, after much deliberation, I came up with the following:

Molly's Pilgrim


Do you remember having to read this book in 4th grade? I totally do, and I also remember watching the movie over and over again because of how wonderful the message of the story was. It's one of those stories that keeps on being relevant even as the years go on. It's a short film, yes, but it counts in my book (it did win an Oscar for Best Live Action Short- and yes, I already knew that; I didn't just read the front of the box). If we are celebrating a holiday about being American every year, what better film to watch than one that reminds us that we all chose to call ourselves American because somewhere along the way, our families came from somewhere else? It's one of the most touching and realistic stories out there, and a good reminder that America is a melting pot of cultures. If you haven't read the book or seen the movie, do so right fucking now. It will make you want to celebrate Thanksgiving even more than you already do.

Miracle on 34th St


I know that this film is largely considered a Christmas movie, but it does start with the Macy's Day Parade, which was yesterday. There's no competition between the original and the 1994 version, so I'm not going to even discuss which one I like better. What's great about this film is that it is about Thanksgiving, but it also takes the mentality that Thanksgiving is the start of the countdown to Christmas (which, for a lot of people, including my own family, is totally true). So it's a great movie to watch for Thanksgiving because you get to be reminded of what you're thankful for AND get excited for the holiday season. Plus, 6 year old Natalie Wood is fucking adorable (even if you're one of the people who happens to think the relationship between herself and Santa Claus is creepy... but let's not dwell on that for now). Overall, it's a wonderful movie that should become a tradition in someone's household, somewhere, sometime, at some point.


Peace!


The Movie Mistress

Double Feature Friday- Memory, All Alone in the Moonlight...

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Thanksgiving is about remembering the past and getting drunk to deal with your crazy family in the present. However, because I was going to use next week's DFF to talk about Turkey Day (or, for some of us, Tofurkey Day), this week we'll do films that showcase the next best thing to sharing old stories and yelling at Crazy Aunt Frieda for letting her dog shit in your house once again: memories. There are tons of films that use them. I'm pretty sure that once editing became a respected art with legit funding, the first idea that came to the ACEr's wonderful little heads was the idea of the flashback. Are you ready? Let's go back in time...

La Vie En Rose

This movie is the queen of jumping around from memory to memory so that you have no clue where the fuck Edith Piaf is in her life and yet still you're enraptured. It took me three times of watching to put together which fragments of her life go where, but I still enjoy it as much as I did the very first time I saw it. I even have the soundtrack. It's awesome. I consider this a flashback movie because of the way it's structured, beginning toward the end of her life and ending with a montage of scenes throughout the movie. It's great because rather than watching a biopic about Edith Piaf, it's like we're watching a biopic through the mind of Edith Piaf. We're in her memories. If you haven't ever seen it, stop reading my fucking blog and rent it NOW.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

How could I do a double feature about memories and not include this movie? It fucking blew my mind the first time I saw it, and I still love it to death. There is no other movie that depicts the idea of a soul mate better. Okay, it might not be better than What Dreams May Come, but it comes close. It brings a whole new meaning to "be careful what you wish for"- we may want to forget our bad memories, but in reality our memories make us who we are, the good and the bad, and you may think you want to have a clean slate and start anew but when you think about it, it's fucking terrifying. I love, love, love when the two main characters are running through memories trying to stay "alive" in his head. I also love that even after forgetting each other completely, Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet are still meant to be together. Now everybody sigh for happy endings. 1...2....3.....

Peace!

The Movie Mistress

Double Feature Friday- Born On this Day...

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So, there are quite a few birthdays on November 6 in the movie industry. Happy birthday to Mike Nichols, Sally Field, Ethan Hawke, Thandie Newton, and Rebecca Romijn! Because, however, this is a double feature, and not a quintuple feature, I can only highlight two (or choose to only highlight two for the sake of continuity). To mix things up, let's do a director and an actor. Ethan Hawke's a tool, so he's out. I love Sally Field, but she's better known for her TV work. That leaves Thandie and Rebecca. Because this isn't a democracy, I'm picking Thandie Newton because she's a badass. So happy birthday Mike and Thandie! Here we go:

Postcards from the Edge (1990) 
Directed by Mike Nichols 


The first time I saw this movie, I was way too young. Like, seriously. I watched it and was like "WHAT THE FUCK JUST HAPPENED." Dennis Quaid as a dick? Meryl Streep on drugs? Toss in Shirley MacLaine as an overwhelming mother, and you've got one confused twelve year old who never wants to see another Mike Nichols movie ever again. I got it as a gift a few years later, however, and after cringing, I gave it another try, and I have to say that I'm glad I did because this movie is fucking brilliant. There's nothing like a good satire on Hollywood, and while nothing can really top Sunset Boulevard, this movie comes pretty damn close. I'm a big fan of super dark humor, and while I am a little sketched out by resolved endings in movies such as this one, I let it go because it was just that good. Plus, I doubt Carrie Fisher would have made her own life story a happy ending if it hadn't actually been that way (by the way, if you ever get the chance to read any of her books, DO IT. She's awesome.), so I give her some credit. If you're ever in the mood to get an accurate depiction/ satire of life in Hollywood, go rent this movie. It has tons of memorable moments (such as Shirley MacLaine claiming to not have sung in years and then whipping out a full Broadway piece) and will make you laugh in an awkward way.

Run, Fat Boy, Run (2007)
Starring Simon Pegg, Thandie Newton, Hank Azaria


So I know this isn't the best creation of Simon Pegg, but I still found it immensely hilarious, and I really wish that Pegg and Michael Ian Black would come together and create more love children in the form of comedies. It doesn't help that I also fucking love Hank Azaria, and, because she's in the spotlight, Thandie Newton (hers was one of the only characters I actually liked in Crash, but I'll riff on that movie another day). She provided an accurate picture of a woman that you would want to win back (remember Role Models and wondering why the fuck Paul Rudd is wasting his time with that bitch? But I digress). Not only was she adorable, but it was so fucking believable that she could be strong and awesome and yet still fall for a douchebag at the same time. Plus you'd have to not have a heart to not love the relationship between herself and her son. If you didn't find her believable as a mom, get out of my house. Anyway, this movie may have been over the top, silly, and completely outrageous, but who doesn't laugh in the face of Erectile Dysfunction Disorder? 


So there you have it. If these people had not been born, these movies might have not existed or been completely different. That's right- the Movie Mistress just gave you a deep psychological thought. You can fill in your Smart Quota for today. 


Peace!


The Movie Mistress


For more birthdays, click here.

Double Feature Friday- Um, What Else?

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Okay, so I am trying to get back in the swing of things. What better way to kick off my reintroduction to the Blogosphere than a Double Feature Friday about Horror Movies (it’s only natural- Halloween is tomorrow). I haven’t gotten a chance to see Zombieland yet, but I’m super jazzed, so let’s start with some older flicks. So here we go:

The Others (2001)

I know, I know, a lot of people thought this movie was a bad female-based remake to the Sixth Sense, but I actually found it to be legitimately scary. And they set up the characters in a way that the ending is unpredictable yet still makes perfect sense when you’re done watching. There aren’t a lot of movies out there that explain how ghosts are born, and this one does so in a way that is still hauntingly entertaining. Now, I don’t know how I would have felt had I seen the sixth sense before watching this. I might have found it predictable. But I still like this movie for its creep factor and for the fact that it shows that bad shit can happen to good people, even to kids. It’s… real, in a way that movies like Ghost and The Eye aren’t. Kudos to Nicole Kidman for playing a fucked up crazy woman!

Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Cult classic + zombies + weird, “realistic” ending = favorite Halloween movie to watch in my book. What else can I say about this movie except that it doesn’t try to “say” anything? There’s a zombie attack and it’s every man for himself, simple as that. The first time I saw this movie, it made me so angry because of how anti-climactic it was. I later came to realize, though, that that’s what makes it genius. Zombies can look like humans, and humans can look like zombies, and a policeman with a gun doesn’t know the difference. Sometimes, life just hands a you a shitty card, and even the survivors can’t survive. Hmm. Maybe there is a message to this after all. Anyway, this movie is brilliant.

Okay, I’ve said my piece. Now go, eat shit tons of candy and watch scary movies until your voice runs out from screaming. Oh, and if you’re into laughing about Halloween, check out my earlier post about horror films that are fucking hilarious.

Peace!

The Movie Mistress

Double Feature Friday- Tudor England

I tried to think of a theme that would go with Columbus Day, but save for the makers of Animaniacs, no filmmakers really seem to give a shit about old Chris. So I jumped ahead a little in time am instead spotlighting two movies that capture the spirit of pre- through post- Elizabethan time. Starting with:

Lady Jane (1986)

People always seem to forget about the nine day queen, but Marie Antoinette's head has nothing on Jane's. This seemingly-tiny underground made-for-tv movie with Patrick Stewart and Helena Bonham Carter completely zeroes in on the brutality of Catholic vs. Protestant rule in England. With some of the best acting I've ever seen, it tells a compelling tale of young love and twisted politics. Seriously- I would never, ever want to be a woman in that period. You can't make your own decisions, and then once you can, you get executed for it. Pre-Tim-Burton-movies Carter is enchanting as Jane, and the love story between her and a really young Cary Elwes is adorable, which makes it all the more sad that the two of them are just pawns in a giant battle for an established English religion. 

Shakespeare In Love  (1998)

This movie should be titled "If Shakespeare was Hot," because I'm pretty sure that if a noblewoman had met the Bard in actuality, the result would not have been a tumultous love affair, but instead a vow to never ever visit the theatre again. But because this is Hollywood and today's actors all have teeth, a story is unfolded around a supposed secret relationship. I like this movie because it makes you think about history in the sense that we really don't know what went on behind closed doors. I mean, from what we know about Shakespeare, he did write a shit-load of wonderful sonnets. But to who? That's where Shakespeare in Love comes in! It reminds us that no matter how much history we study, we weren't actually there, so it's totally possible to construct a fictional tale that could have easily happened. It features a stellar cast and amazingly accurate portrayal of theatre life (think Geoffrey Rush having a perfectly normal conversation about an upcoming play while in the midst of fucking). The only gripe I have about this movie is Judi Dench's fucking Best Supporting Actress Oscar as Queen Elizabeth. BULLSHIT. She was on for five minutes, gave Shakes some words of Wisdom, and collected her salary. Courtney Love could have played the same role for coke and they wouldn't have even had to deal with SAG.

Peace!

The Movie Mistress

Double Feature Friday- Dance Movies!!

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Today is one of those days where it's so beautiful outside that you just wish everyone would burst into song and dance among the fucking leaves outside, Enchanted-style. Because I don't feel like discussing movie musicals, however, I decided to profile the next best thing: dance movies! Oh, yeah! 5,6,7,8...

Step Up


Okay, so this is the epitome of a shitty dance movie. It has a weak plot, so-so acting, and completely unrealistic beginning, middle and end. However, I think that the dancing makes up for everything that goes wrong in this movie just because it's awesome. The final composition is a combination of Modern, Jazz, and Hip hop that blows me away every time I watch it. Honestly, I think that if there were no dancing in this movie, it would have gone straight to video. I like that this movie is a perfect example of the symbiotic relationship between dance styles. It isn't Save the Last Dance, where the sole focus of the movie is Julia Stiles learning to be "cool" by integrating hip hop into her ballet routine- in this movie, both characters learn how to dance in their partners' respective styles. Channing Tatum learns ballet (in a really cute setting with an obnoxious six-year-old), Jenna Dewan learns street dancing, and what comes out of that is a really kick-ass final composition. 

Dirty Dancing 


When speaking of dance movies, if this one, Flashdance, and Saturday Night Fever do not immediately come to mind, then, I'm sorry, but there's something seriously wrong with you. This movie is a classic, and I'm not just including it because of Patrick Swayze's recent (and tragic) death. It is a dance movie that actually has a riveting plot, and although the period is a little off (it supposedly takes place in the 1960s, but I know a song like "The Time of My Life" would not have been played then), the dancing is fantastic. The chemistry between Swayze and Jennifer Gray is hot, and I love that this movie wasn't designed or intended to be a blockbuster hit because it makes it much more raw and real. It's almost like the Juno of dance movies. It will forever be an amazing cult movie experience and when I watch this, I remember why I am ashamed to watch most of the dance movies that come out these days. They just don't live up.


Peace!


The Movie Mistress

Arrrrgh, Ye Double Feature Friday- Pirates

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Okay, so I know that International Talk Like A Pirate Day is actually tomorrow. Buuuut, I wanted to do my Double Feature on movies that have focused on these scurvy characters. Because, let's face it- who doesn't love a good pirate movie? It just seemed like a good theme. There are so many to choose from, but I had if I had to pick any two, I'd choose...

1. Captain Blood (1935)

Classic pirate movie featuring the dashing Errol Flynn and made in a time when Hollywood was all about spectacle in the sense that it was meant to look real (as opposed to Pirates of the Carribean, which was good until the stupid CGI skeletons. Really, Jerry Bruckheimer? Really?) even though everything was done with sets. The beginning is admittedly a bit slow, but it explains how he became a pirate (something that doesn't happen often- it almost always "runs in the family," except for the case of The Princess Bride). Plus, I always love seeing a historical piece with a female character that can hold her own, and Olivia de Havilland captures the character of Arabella Bishop brilliantly. A wholesome, entertaining movie that never gets old.

2. The Black Pirate (1926)

A pirate movie starring the first major star of these types of films, Douglas Fairbanks. If Flynn was the most famous pirate of the sound era, this is a delightful film that captures the spirit of swashbuckling without words. Featuring lots of stunts and excellent battle scenes (one in which Fairbanks captures an entire ship by himself- something that can only be accomplished in Hollywood), this is definitely one of my favorites. Plus, it's super short, making the action scenes that much more dramatic. When it comes to pirates, less talk and more action = a "gold" standard.


Arrrrrgh!

The Movie Mistress

For more pirate fun, check out http://www.thepirateking.com/movies/

Double Feature Friday- 1969

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With the Woodstock 40th Anniversary hype and upon viewing this summer's Taking Woodstock, I decided today's double feature would center around movies that came out that year. After all, Woodstock wasn't the only thing that happened. There were many defining movies in film history that year. I've chosen two of my favorites...

Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice


Here is a movie that I truly believe to be lost on my generation. It is a quiet satire that was perfect for when it debuted, but today would not go over well (but how do we know that our views and opinions on such matters aren't because of this movie?). Anyway, it makes me really sad that I've brought up this film dozens of times, and not once have I gotten the response of "Oh, I've seen that!" It's always "I've never heard of that." 


I think that this is a film that needs to be watched, period. Its awkward silences and un-glorification of sex are nice refresher from steamy love-filled sex scenes we encounter so much today. It creates an actual realistic picture of sex, something that NEVER EVER HAPPENS. From the hilarious group retreat in the beginning to Bob making Carol's tennis partner breakfast after walking in on them having sex, to the uncomfortable ending orgy, this film is a riot (in a strange, shift-in-your-seat way). It was meant to make people uncomfortable by mocking something that a majority of the world found ridiculous. I just think that somewhere along the way it lost its flavor, and deserves to be watched by later generations the same way that The Graduate (another film of its "flavor" made two years earlier) is. 

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid


One of the greatest critiques on the fall of the classic "Western," this movie was popular at its release and remains popular today. There is no other word to describe it except "brilliant." The only criticism I have is that the industry, do to the film's mild nature in comparison to today's features, has pegged it a "family film." Sure, its fast-paced, upbeat dialogue is funny- in fact, it's hilarious- but sort of goes over the head of people under the age of twelve. The first time I saw it, I was bored out of my mind and the irony was completely lost on me. I didn't understand any of the jokes. The only explanation I can come up with is that I saw it too young, and that is no one's fault because it was made before there were ratings (the system was introduced in '68 but was entirely voluntary and not widely regulated- it was all very touchy). 


Still, once I watched it again I saw the connection between Paul Newman's famous line, "Well, we can't rob banks forever," and the decline of the classic Hollywood shoot-em-up Western, which is why at the end of the film the two most famous bank robbers are left with nowhere to go and nothing to do. They weren't just searching for another bank, they were searching for another story- and found themselves literally trapped. 


... Like I said, fucking brilliant. 

Double Feature Friday- Kevin Spacey

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One of my favorite actors, Kevin Spacey is known for playing quiet, down-trodden characters that seem sociopathic or creepy. I decided to choose two movies where he plays a team player, or where the main focus is not entirely on him, because of how he relates to others. The great thing about his performances is that he never makes it about him; it's always about the other person in the scene (which is what an actor is supposed to do). So, without further ado...

(image from loud.com)

The Usual Suspects (1995)

“Mr. Soze rarely works with the same people for very long, and they never know who they're working for. One cannot be betrayed if one has no people.”

This is, in my opinion, one of the greatest movies ever made. It’s smart, fast-paced, and humorous, while still keeping you on the edge of your seat. It doesn’t just keep you guessing- no, it explains everything down to the very last detail, and then when you think you understand the entire movie, you get hit in the gut with a wrecking ball that has a big “FUCK YOU.” Anyone who says that saw the ending coming from a mile away either

1) is a dirty liar or

2) has seen similar movies trying to emanate and channel this one

It set the precedence for the modern “Doppelganger” film, and when you finish watching, you’re just filled with absolute awe for the creators. This is the type of movie where you finish and say, “Wow. I am so fucking stupid.” And suddenly, you’re filled with this brilliant insight on the world, and everything you saw up until that moment makes perfect sense.

I am trying very hard to do a review where I don’t give anything away, which is hard with this movie because you just have to see it for yourself to understand any tiny bit of plot that I include. It’s been almost fourteen years since this movie came out (not that I saw when it came out- I was a bit young), and it still blows my mind every time I watch it.

If you haven’t seen it, rent it NOW. It’s probably in the $.50 section, although it deserves to be a new release. 

(Image from www.murphsplace.com)

L.A. Confidential (1997)

I miss nostalgia films with the style of this one. Now, it seems as if everything is about realism and portraying a period accurately. Take Married Life and Revolutionary Road, for example. While they’re very good movies that present accurate portrayals of the 1950s, they are clearly films made today, in the “i-heart-indie-films” age. They lack the quality of feeling as if they were made in the 1950s, which is where this film shines.

What I love about this movie is the film noir quality that keeps you wanting more. Each body in this film is not just a person, they’re a character. They each have something to gain, whether noble or not, and that is what makes this film interesting. The shootouts are fun, but the plot and characters are what drives this movie.

My one criticism is the length. There were parts where the movie just seemed to drag a bit. In my opinion, the “Bloody Christmas” bit could have been cut altogether, or, if they needed a way for Guy Pearce’s character to get his Detective badge, it could have started with him as detective and then been mentioned in passing. It wasn’t really necessary to the rest of the plot.

Other than that, however, this movie is excellent. 

Peace!

The Movie Mistress