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Out of the Past (1947)
Film noir classic
"Out Of The Past" is a film that surpassed all my expectations. Few films have satisfied me as much as this. Believable characters with a great story makes this and other films like it good, but what separates this from all other 'Film-Noir', detective stories is it's dramatic mood. I was not expecting to be as moved by this film as I ultimately was. The story is told in flashback, a Film Noir tradition. It has the snappy banter that one would expect of a film from the 40s, but the dialogue transcends mere wit and left me more than a little emotional. There is a lot of dramatic lighting, long shadows, cigarettes, hats and trench-coats. The overall feeling of the film is one of intimacy and dark mystery. It draws you in, as though you were sitting in the room with the actors and a part of the conversation. If you want to see what really good screen writing is all about, see this film.
The Night of the Hunter (1955)
Great suspense
The Night of the Hunter is a powerful childhood fable that tackles issues of religious fanaticism, the innocence of youth, and loyalty to one's past and principles. I was enjoying this movie immensely right up until the closing few scenes, and then suddenly it seemed to fall apart with a rushed ending that seemed somehow disconnected to the rest of the movie. The movie is filled with some allegories and you can interpret things in different ways. I think it's one of those movies in which you'll discover new things, every time you see it. In essence it's a story about good versus evil, in which the evil gets masterfully personified by Robert Mitchum, as a preacher on a killer mission in life. A real noir picture with some complex psychology.
Marty (1955)
A story with heart
Despite having only the most basic of story-lines, this is a nicely-crafted movie with a worthwhile story. The story goes beyond the surface of gloss and superficial beauty to the heart beating underneath. The film stars an admittedly unattractive person, and deals with his feelings of loneliness and insecurity. The story also shows that it is just one person you need, to peek at the good heart you carry. That's when the world goes upside down for Marty. We see Marty as he appears on the surface, then Mr. Borgnine peels away layer after layer, like an onion, revealing the real Marty deep inside. He calls himself "a fat, ugly man" but he has the most beautiful heart in the world. The supporting cast is first rate, especially Betsy Blair as the plain-jane Clara Snyder. The film explores so many issues, how people can ruin another person's happiness, how ideas and perceptions can change everything in a person's life. I cannot imagine this film being made today. Whenever they try to make films about "plain people" they end up trying to make Michelle Pfeiffer and Al Pacino look plain. It just doesn't work. This is a film of beauty, heart and soul.
Rosemary's Baby (1968)
Horror film without all the special effects
Certainly one of the best horror/suspense films ever made. It is a chilling psycho-drama, a social commentary, and a good old-fashioned horror yarn all at once. It's difficult to break it all down, because there is so much that contributes to the sheer fear this movie gives off. The story takes a little while to get going, but once we're into Rosemary's pregnancy the stakes begin to rise and suspense is unrelenting. This movie is an example of the horror genre done right; there are spine-chilling moments, satanic images and horror themes that will stay with you forever. The editing in these parts is very impressive as well, creating visual illusions without special effects. The important thing to pay attention to is how Rosemary's freaked-out state of mind, combined with the creepy influence of the brownstone, plays an important part in the goings-on around her. Especially when people start dying, from the nice girl from across the hall she meets who "commits suicide", to the sudden illness and demise of family friend, Hutch. Oh, and to top it all off is one of the most chilling sequences in horror, when she does get pregnant...but there's a really good chance that Guy's not the father. The performances are excellent. Polanski did not go for cheap scares. In this case you could enjoy the movie much more than you could enjoy the cheap bloody scary movies.
Chinatown (1974)
Great noir film
This movie is a great noir. From muted colors to shaded performances to an uncompromised ending, the movie's a worthy successor to the 40's classics. And that's despite the 130-minute length, twice the average. Plus, director Polanski doesn't have to meet Code requirements that compromised many 40's films. We get an ending that benefits the general storyline, no matter how much of a downer it is for the audience. The movie's a first-rate noir that makes a lasting impression. The story line was brilliant, it kept you on the edge of your seat the whole entire time. The cinematography was so well done, the use of lighting and camera angles had this awesome effect that drew you in and set the tone for every scene. The acting was marvelous too, Dunaway and Nicholson were brilliant together and had an edgy feel that kept a mysterious and hidden evil to both of them that kept the viewer questioning at all times. They also had awesome chemistry that made them so convincing together! Over all I loved this film and would recommend it.
Annie Hall (1977)
Serious comedy
I enjoyed this movie. It was quirky, funny and an overall great story about a dysfunctional couple who can't seem to stay away from each other. I thought that both Annie and Alvy's awkwardness was hilarious and in all honesty I thought they made a perfect couple. The film opens with a mildly devastating thought about life, however it fits with the tone film wonderfully. Allen really captures the essence of life and love with every line that's written. The film stands on its own two feet so well because it's a mature and realistic. He uses animation, subtitles (which tells us what they are thinking, instead of saying (a very funny scene), cross overs, flash backs and he even talks to us. Asking us our opinion and making us feel like we are really there. This formula for a romantic comedy is one that works, and can actually relate to the audience, instead of being fake and giving the audience silly ideas of what a relationship is like. Overall it was an enjoyable film with laugh out loud comedy.
Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
One of my favorites
I absolutely love this film. Audrey Hepburn is superb as Holly Golightly, the character she is perhaps best remembered as. This fairy-tale-like film is full of powerful symbolism. The youthful socialite, Holly, owns a yellow-orange alley cat that is nameless. She refuses to name the cat for the reason being that she believes the playful feline does not belong to her. This unwillingness to name the cat represents her refusal to settle down. To reinforce the idea of her unwillingness to settle down, the audience learns that Holly (formally Lula Mae) once was married and had a family. She could not fully be happy living the average family life, so she dashed off to New York City, leaving her family behind. An obvious symbol in the movie given the title of the film is the jewelry store, Tiffany's. This extravagant building is the place Holly goes to break away from the pressures of her life; it is her safe haven. As Batman had his underground lair, Holly has her New York City jewelry store. Holly has to learn to let Tiffany's go, as she cannot hide there any longer. Another symbol is Holly's reoccurring use of her dark sunglasses to hide her eyes. The sunglasses represent the idea that Holly is afraid to get too close to others. On the technical front, 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' scores high. The cinematography is wonderful, especially in the hilarious party sequence. It's nice to see how New York City may have looked at that time. I like the classic style, the way all that makes me feel. I especially liked the ending, where they not only re-find the cat, but re-find each other in the rain.
Psycho (1960)
Classic Thriller!
I am a big fan of Alfred Hitchcock. Every movie that I've seen by him has been excellent. This one, however, is my favorite. Psycho is brilliant. Hitchcock gave this film excellent direction, and the acting was fantastic. Hitchcock builds the tension and constantly keeps you on your toes. His use of camera angles is superb. This, all while keeping the movie moving along at a brisk pace. At no stage does it drift, or get bogged down. It's the shower scene that is most talked about in this film, I believe there are couple or more scenes that are under rated yet very impactful. I was terrified by the climax shot where the mother is shown, more than anything else. I recommend this film to everyone. It's full of twists, turns and surprises that keep you guessing write till the end, and I mean the very end. You can't take your eyes of the screen. You're engrossed by these characters and the plot that you don't want to miss a second.
Singin' in the Rain (1952)
Not a fan of musicals, but this was great
'Singin' in the Rain' has been mentioned as an all-time favorite musical by many and I can totally see why. It is such a delightfully hilarious film. The excellent and superb camera and lighting effects, as well as the constant activity leave you absolutely no time to be bored. The story outline revolves around the switch from silent movies to talkies and how a film crew, namely the stars and the producers attempt to create a talking movie but there is one problem, the leading lady can't sing and she can't act. Jean Hagen provides us with the funniest, most hilarious moments in her way-over-the-top performance of the dumb film star with the appalling accent. There are not surprisingly a lot of musical numbers, which are generally well-made. Especially good is the title number as sung by Gene Kelly while meandering through a street. The only number that seemed out of place was the extended "Broadway Melody" number toward the end of the film, which looks nice, but is disruptive to the flow of the story. All and all this film was great and is a must for any fan of musicals, or movies period!
The House Across the Bay (1940)
Classic crime drama
The House Across the Bay had great performances. I particularly enjoyed Lloyd Nolan and Walter Pidgeon. The film shows how the women of Alcatraz combined forces while their guys were serving time in prison.
It starts off with Steve Larwitt winning the lottery and becoming a successful gangster. He marries Brenda, but their happiness is short lived, as he is arrested and sent to Alcatraz. Steve insists he was framed and Brenda rents a house nearby so she can wait for him. Unfortunately a man named Tim has fallen in love with her. What's worse is that Steve really was framed by his friend, Slant, and he warns Brenda to keep quiet. The movie switches genres really fast. At first it seems like it's going to be the story of Steve's rise and fall as a gangster, but it turns out to be Brenda's story when he gets arrested. It's a little disorienting, but livens up an average Hollywood B-flick. The best part about the film is their love for each other, you get the feeling had Slant not screwed things up, Brenda would have waited the whole ten years. There seem to be a missing piece of film from the climax, we see a still picture of Steve as he thinks Brenda cheated on him and is about to kill her. It's not as noticeable. This is one of those unusual movies where it's a love square, rather than a triangle, but the film manages to pull it off. It's a solid, if not original movie
Rebecca (1940)
Great hitchcock film
Out of all of the movies of Hollywood's Golden Age, "Rebecca" is certainly one of the best. It's an excellent mystery movie! Everything about this movie shines, beginning with the story itself. I really liked the story, in which the title character is a dead woman whose "presence" still lingers in many ways. The plot takes quite an unexpected turn near the end of the movie, when a shocking revelation is made. Hitchcock is known for twists and turns that the story and its characters take. There is always at least one big secret hidden away in the story. Secrets that us as viewers seemingly believe our characters have no way out of, but somehow someway the story comes back around and changes our minds. Hitchcock, like several other great directors is always good at creating memorable characters, and this one has plenty. Particularly the housekeeper Mrs. Danvers. She holds the craziest grudge over Rebecca as she enters her newly married life into the mansion. Although I personally found Rebecca's character to be of weak nature, it somehow brings out the cruelty in Mrs. Danvers, giving her an even larger ability to hate the girl. Overall this is an impressive and engaging film that tells a good story with a great approach, producing a dark and interesting film that is driven by an unseen character whether the tone is melodrama, romance or mystery story.
Casablanca (1942)
One of the best!
Time seems to date some movies badly, while it has worked greatly in favor of some movies, like Casablanca. It was made in the day when color was rare, yet, used black and white so well that it seems to be a great example of a movie that should have been filmed in black and white, even if doing such were to have cost more than color. Casablanca is a real classic. It's the sort of movie that feels like an experience and makes you glad you've seen it. It was all so excellent that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone who loves movies. When you see some of these scenes for yourself you immediately understand how they've had such a lasting influence to this day. For the leading characters, their relationship meant hope, which was exactly what was needed throughout the bleak time that was World War II. Every character leaves an indelible mark even though all it did in the movie was hit a few guitar strings or pick pocket at a restaurant. Every scene in the movie is a study in itself. Casablanca without doubt makes its way in my all time top 5 list!
The Women (1939)
Great Chick Flick
The Women is a fast paced, witty and an amusing "Chick Flick". Very forward thinking for its time. The relations and gossip within The Women is timeless. I thoroughly enjoyed this film from its dialogue, character development, story, and cinematography. I thought that there was a variety of characters both flat and round AND there wasn't just one star carrying it through like other movies. I thought the acting was great and the dialogue is sharp. It was a lot like the Stagecoach in that a group of characters were all different but yet tied in together when Mary met the women on the train to Reno. The ending was a bit of a surprise and brought justice to the women who were all in unfortunate situations due to one girl. The story flows and moves along quite nicely. There's a lot going on, it's a dense and complex film with many facets. The things portrayed in this film are not ancient nor are they outdated, these values and behaviors are still found in our society and I think this film is a valuable portrait of that. Overall, it's a very interesting, funny, and intelligent movie.
Nothing Sacred (1937)
A Screwball Classic
I was surprised to see such a sharp funny movie from this era, I mean in the type of funny it is. For a movie that clocks in at just 75 minutes, the far-fetched story is fairly dense but clips by without a wasted moment. I thought the acting and camera-work were both good in this movie. Carole Lombard shines in the lead. The cinematography was quite pretty, and the color is lovely. There were loads of interesting camera shots where the focus wasn't quite where you expected it to be, especially when Stone and Wally were talking back and forth, where they have to lean forward a bit to talk to each other since the flowers were in the way of their line of sight. The plot itself has a lot of built-in tension because, after all, both Lombard and the audience know she isn't sick. Although I must say the only real bummer was that the Technicolor didn't really get to have an effect as the print quality was pretty poor from start to finish.
Do the Right Thing (1989)
Not a fan of the storyline
Do the Right Thing was a good movie, although I didn't think it deserved more than 5 stars. I thought the overall movie was entertaining. Spike lee did a great job capturing the realities of black neighborhood's and the urban lifestyle that played out in the early 90s. But I do believe Spike Lee used this movie to show a white man acting nice to black people but resorting to attacking them in the end. I myself grew up in a black neighborhood in the early 90's and I was picked on all the time for being the little white girl, I was even jumped a few times just for being a little lighter in skin tone. This movie irritated me because some of the characters tried to play the victim for no reason at all, which is the reasoning for the major conflict at the end, and of course I don't agree with what the jerk cop did. I believe Spike Lee had a lot of power as a black director and many black people probably looked up to him. Although someone might have been ignorant enough to believe that what the black kids did at the end was justifiable and it's okay to act like a complete savage. It's not okay for the cop to kill the kid, but it's also not okay for some kids to go into a store acting like baboons just because there weren't certain pictures on the wall. I understand there were a few messages in this movie, but all and all I did not like it. From a technical perspective I thought the movie was good, which is why I gave it 5 stars.
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)
A must see classic
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner is an excellent film about society's growth and about dealing with change and facing up to our own fears and prejudices. This movie is timeless because the theme is timeless. People today still face the same troubles even almost 50 years after the film was made. I think the most impressive element of this movie is the dialogue, it is excellently written and beautifully spoken. Their languages clearly show each character's characteristics. I believe the angles and lighting were just right for this movie. There were close-ups throughout the movie made it very intimate which held true to the theme of the movie. The lighting made the movie feel a little more cheerful, as well. Although a little more action would have held my attention more, something to break up the monotony.
Mildred Pierce (1945)
Interesting film-noir
Mildred Pierce is a film-noir classic. It was fast paced and full of drama, there wasn't a single scene where I became uninterested in the film. I love how Joan Crawford's character was such an eccentric, strong and bold woman who could get through any obstacle that she was faced with. The beginning of the movie is very interesting because it begins with the murdering scene and the audience does not know exactly who the murderer is. In another way, we can say this movie begins with the conclusion and goes back to the exposition of the movie by telling the story of Mildred Pierce (first-person narration). I think the arrangement of this order is really creative because it creates curiosity and grabs your attention. During the whole film you think Mildred is the one who killed her husband in the first scene, but at the end when the truth behind that scene is revealed you almost can't believe you didn't see it coming.
The Graduate (1967)
One of my favorites
The Graduate was an interesting film to watch. I thought it was great in many aspects. Each scene is so perfectly crafted to evoke a variety of emotions, from anxiety to outrageous laughter to tenderness, etc. Dustin Hoffman did a great job acting, as well as Anne Bancroft. She had a way of being there even when she wasn't on screen. The main theme in The Graduate is that of a character who is confused about their life and future, while being pressured by an older generation. Ben feels like he is "drowning" because he is confused about his future and is constantly being pressured by his parents. This film speaks to the younger generation; informing them of the dangers of not turning into the person they want to be, but instead, turning into what others want them to be. Even today, The Graduate is very appropriate and its theme is applicable. The story easily attracts today's viewers since at one time or another we all have questioned where our lives were heading. The Simon and Garfunkel songs which provide the soundtrack are a terrific addition to the film as they fit in perfectly with what is happening on the screen. This film was clever and very well made.
Stagecoach (1939)
A classic western
I gave Stagecoach a 5 out of 10 stars because I am not a big fan of westerns, so it was hard for me to appreciate this film. Although John Ford is a great director, and John Wayne did an amazing job acting. The story is rather simple. The Ringo Kid (Wayne) joins an eclectic group of people traveling from Arizona to New Mexico by horse and buggy through Monument Valley in 1880. In a racist shot at Native Americans, Apaches are always on the warpath, even gunning for our stagecoach filled with these ordinary people. After the cavalry detachment pulls away its escort, the coach is ripe for Indian attack. It will have you on the edge of your seat at times. There is a solid dynamic between the characters that definitely draws the viewer in. John Ford makes excellent use of lighting throughout the film to set a tone with in particular scenes. Also, the stunt work in the Indian chase scene was fabulous. Knowing how dangerous the stunts were makes the scene even more memorable. Despite my general disinterest in the film, I will say that it did have some redeeming qualities. The actual production of the film was pretty neat. I liked Ford's style of directing - making sure to focus on the landscape and physical aspects of the film.
My Man Godfrey (1936)
Great screwball comedy
This is probably one of my favorite black and white movies of all time. I enjoyed every element of this movie. William Powell as Godfrey was simply amazing. Despite being such an early movie, the acting was incredible. The plot, as well, was very well done. It was very entertaining and always kept you on the edge of your seat in either laughter, excitement, or both. My Man Godfrey is well written, meaningful and hilarious. With many of the older films, I am usually skeptical of the quality of the humor. This movie fulfilled my expectations and then some. The humor is still sharp and relevant. Carole Lombard and her sister complemented Powell nicely. It's obvious that they wanted to hit on a number of social issues at the time, such as the Great Depression, and it did a good job of it. I had also never heard the term "the forgotten man" but it makes sense when talking about the homeless who were simply in that position because they couldn't get a job... not because of drug or alcohol reasons. It was also a fairly light-hearted way of shedding light on the ignorance of the rich as opposed to making them just look evil and uncaring. If anyone is trying to introduce their children to older films or maybe hasn't watched many themselves this is a good starter.
White Zombie (1932)
Zombie Classic
A young couple has come to Haiti to get married. On their way to the place where they will be staying they encounter a strange man (Lugosi) and a horde of the undead. The strange man takes a scarf from the woman, but they escape. The plantation owner is the host to these people and ends up liking the woman. This should be a film in the high ranks of movies with Dracula and Frankenstein. But instead it has been cast down to the depths of old movies that never reach their full potential. The movie moves slowly for the one hour it lasts, but I still found it enjoyable. Although some of the acting was horrible, but it was low budget so it's understandable. It has a great atmosphere, and an interesting subtext with the zombies being used as soul-less worker drones.
Frankenstein (1931)
Oh, the horror!
Probably the first horror film from the sound era that stands the test of time as a great piece of cinema. Definitely a classic horror film. The movie has a certain dreamlike feel in which events occur because they seem appropriate in a psychological sense, whether or not the plot justifies them. The Gothic set design is very imaginative, helped by the beautiful cinematography with suitably bizarre camera angles, and the music score is haunting, melancholy and atmospheric. The locations, all made to order on Universal's sprawling back lot, are utterly believable and realistic, and basing most of the film in tucked-away parts of ancient European country sides benefits the graceful aging of the film, since there are many parts of the world that still look just like the settings we see here. This film paved the way for how horror films should be portrayed. Certain elements such as special effects are certainly mandatory when trying to create the feel and visuals of doom and gloom.
Hell's House (1932)
Decent story line
"Hell's House" is a film about a young man who was wrongfully convicted and is sent to an "industrial school". The film follows a pattern that many adult prison movies have, where the main character is wrongfully convicted. It leaves you feeling frustrated for the main character and ultimately gets you involved emotionally, which is the key for a good movie in my opinion. The film was a bit dull and lifeless to me, I found myself bored from time to time. I tried to get into the storyline, it seems captivating at moments, but not enough for me to give the film above 5 stars out of 10. It's a good story all and all, but too slow for my liking.
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)
Slow start, but eventually captivating
"I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang" was a very interesting film, and it kept me on my toes. Although in the beginning I did not know what to expect, and it started out a little slow for my liking. I wasn't very interested at first, but suddenly things became interesting 20-30 minutes in. The story line continued to become more interesting as the movie went on and I was entertained the entire time. For this film being such an older film, and one of the first films with sound, it was very captivating. I thought they did a great job implementing sound in the movie, and the story line was great. I love that it kept me guessing and that I couldn't wait to see what would happen next. I was saddened that the main character didn't have a happy ending, but it ended up seeming more realistic without the happy ending. The film definitely captures your emotions, I could feel myself growing angry when his wife called the detectives on him, among other scenes in the movie as well. 8 out of 10 stars from me!
The Gold Rush (1925)
90 years old but still hilarious!
The Goldrush is a true classic! I haven't seen many silent films until recently, and I must say that I adore Charlie Champlin's work. I never thought I could laugh so hard at a silent film, but I surprisingly couldn't stop smiling and giggling. The Goldrush was entertaining from beginning to end. When all three men were stuck in the cabin together, I honestly thought one of them was going to die in order for the other two to survive off of the one. They eventually draw cards to see who draws the lowest card, and that person had to go out and hunt for food. The tramp got lucky, he drew a low card but fortunately for him the other guy drew the lowest. I thought it was crazy when the Tramp boiled the leather shoe, it just shows you how starving they really were! Both men started going crazy from not eating, especially when one imagined the other as chicken, the chicken suit Charlie wore was great. My favorite part of the movie was when they were both sleeping and the Tramp wakes up to find the cabin moving all around, but he thinks it's in his head. Then both men move from side to side balancing it out perfectly each time before they catch on that half of the cabin was hanging off the edge of the cliff! There were many moments in the movie that I found myself hysterically laughing! I'm glad I watched the Goldrush, it just shows you how clever and funny movies were back in the 1920s. It gives you a chance to connect with the past. Even though it was 90 years ago, there were many scenes that you could relate to and identify with.