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Fantasia (1940)
undervalued disney film
I think nearly everyone is guilty of forgetting to include this under the umbrella of a Disney film when we think of that universe. Aside from the fact that it is animated it doesn't have many similarities to the rest of the Disney cinematic universe. I love this film. It is so artistic and beautiful. I think my least favorite segment is the segment that is the most Disney - the sorcerer's apprentice, with Micky. I could leave it out of the film and still be fine with it. As a kid we would always stop the movie before the quite scary and eerie Night on Bald Mountain segment. It was too much for us as kids, but now I can fully appreciate it. This movie is beautiful to look at and equally beautiful to listen to. Such a sad, dying art of hand drawing an animated feature... to think that hands drew and colored every instant of that movie is just amazing. And the artistry shows.
Pulp Fiction (1994)
Always entertaining
I remember as a kid my Mom watched this movie when it came out (I was 10) and my brother and I were playing video games downstairs and we could hear my mom laughing upstairs and wanted to know what was so funny. But we knew it was a rate R movie and we couldn't go watch. Well I was so relieved and triumphant feeling when I was finally old enough to see it. It held up really well!! Tarantino may be a creep, and may have issues with acknowledging his whiteness and all but he does know hot to put together a decent movie. Perhaps one of the biggest accomplishments of this film in particular was reviving some Hollywood has-beens. John Travolta's career was 5 and a half feet under and Pulp Fiction basically revived him. He also threw in Eric Stoltz and Rosanna Arquette who were not really super relevant anymore. I think at least when I saw this movie for the first time I also saw Bruce Willis in a darker role than I had previously seen him. I appreciate that Tarantino uses actors in ways we are not always used to seeing them. This movie has great action, good cutting between storylines, entertaining dialogue and per usual a killer soundtrack and of course plenty of the shock value we know to expect from his movies at the time. This is probably his best film for sure.
The Exorcist (1973)
Glad I Finally Watched It
Ok, I didn't love it. I think it's one of those movies that I waited so long to see it that it's become such an ingrained piece of our culture that even though I had not seen it, it felt like I had seen it. But at least I can say I did it!
It's a well made movie for sure and I can totally respect that at the time it did something that no other movie had really done before. There's certainly some shock value to several of the scenes. I can also acknowledge that it changed the genre of horror films by becoming so pivotal. It was a huge success and everyone wanted to emulate that success. The acting is good and the special effects hold up reasonably well.
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Forever and Always a Favorite
I hadn't sat down and watched this movie from beginning to end for several years. After watching it so many times as a kid I think I could replay it in my head with my eyes closed. I call this movie my favorite movie of all time, and I very strongly dislike musicals. But anyway I had the option of watching this film for a cinema history class I am taking and I realized I couldn't remember the last time I sat down and watched it, so I did.
This movie still has everything. A beautiful soundtrack and score, great acting and singing. It's so well done and nearly everything this movie does still holds up pretty well today. Sure you can tell leaves are plastic, or where the backdrops begin, but the backdrops are beautiful! And the plants are laid out with great detail so as to seem like Dorothy and her friends are really in a poppy field, or a cornfield. This movie is so well rounded with its attention to detail. Every stage of their journey has a unique and identifiable look to it. The costumes are so fabulous and ornate. The Cowardly Lion has always been my favorite character and I love his outfit and his physicality in the role, leaping about on the rocks in the jungle and his wagging tail. It's no wonder this movie has stood the test of time.
Laura (1944)
Entertaining and perhaps a classic, but dry
I appreciate the premise of this movie and what it tries to do but I don't think it is pulled off very well. Perhaps one of the biggest flaws is that the only characters who seem to have anything going on with them are the supporting characters. Detective McPherson is so unbelievably stiff, even when he takes a drink his arm moves as if he's the tin man in need of more oil. He has no affect to his voice and barely ever has anything going on in his face. I have personally never seen Dana Andrews in another movie so I cannot say if this is just him or if it was something they were striving for for the role, but either way it was distractingly bad. Laura Hunt herself is also fairly unlikable. These characters just were not developed well. She could have stayed dead for all I care. I do think they revealed she was alive a bit too early. I think it would have been more interesting to play up the weird and unsettling fact that Det. McPherson developed an unhealthy attachment to a woman just based on him looking at a portrait and surrounding himself by her personal belongings. But perhaps that would have been a slightly different movie.
The supporting characters are more complex and compelling. Of course you want to suspect Waldo from the get-go, he seems to have a very unhealthy attachment to Laura and has already displayed possessive behaviors by driving off other suitors. Vincent Price does a good job at playing the weaseling if slightly charming in his patheticness, Shelby Carpenter. It's a bit hard to take him serious in such a dramatically different role than those he would become known for more.
The plot does keep you guessing a bit by throwing in some red herrings and it is well made overall. Since most of the movie takes place in Laura's apartment I think they did a good job at setting a believable and lived in apartment for her.
The Women (1939)
Delightful gem
Dear god this movie has a terrible moral to it (don't have pride! tell your husband it's ok he cheated just so long as he doesn't do it again...maybe!) but holy hell is it entertaining.
This movie has a fantastic cast! I had to watch this movie for a history of American cinema class and I had never had the pleasure of seeing Rosalind Russell in a film before but after this class I've seen her in The Women as well as His Girl Friday and I think she is now one of my favorite classic film actresses. I think she really steals this movie with her whacky portrayal of the gossip queen Sylvia Fowler. You're not supposed to like her much because she is such a meddler but I can't help it, she just plays her so well! This movie is very enjoyable both for its lightheartedness and if anything just for the outfits!! My favorite outfit is Sylvia's dress with the randomly placed eyes on the top...ok???
This movie has a fantastic ensemble cast, every character (minus the daughter, basically) adds another layer of personality to the movie. And just when you think it can't get more over the top - there's a 5 minute long fashion show IN COLOR!
But I really did find it so interesting that this movie is made without a single male actor in it. It's interesting that this whole story is told just through the women's side of things. And yet it's not really a missed presence at all. All of the actresses fill up the time and scenes just fine. It does occasionally seem odd that you never see the main character's husband not even in passing, or hearing his voice on the phone. But it's pretty easily and convincingly excused away.
His Girl Friday (1940)
Amusing
I watched this film and overall I enjoyed it. I love good, quick, sarcastic banter. This movie has a lot of it. Subtle barbs between characters and under the breath remarks. That's more amusing to me than physical comedy. Rosalind Russell is phenomenal in this film as Hildy. Cary Grant did a good playing the character Walter - Walter himself was pretty unappealing. He was manipulative, inconsiderate and narcissistic. I had a really hard time rooting for them to get back together. I am not even sure if you're supposed to be happy for them? Overall I enjoyed the other story arch happening in the film much more than their reconciliation. The supporting cast is full of enjoyable characters that definitely lend to coloring the settings of the film. For really only having a few different locales/room the movie doesn't seem boring or claustrophobic. It's a very well made movie.
Dracula (1931)
This movie defined a genre
The first time I saw this film I was probably 5 or 6 years old. By the end of the film I was hiding behind the couch, peaking out around the edge. I really can't remember a movie that has scared me so badly. I will always have so much respect for this film because of that.
Every Dracula or vampire film made since this movie was shaped by this film. Whether they emulated parts of it or consciously tried to set themselves apart from it. The imagery of Dracula or vampires immediately draw the image of Bela's Dracula to mind. Bela did an excellent job being Dracula, especially since he barely had an idea what he was saying. His face was very expressive and dramatic.
Dracula is a well made movie. It's always successful in painting an eerie mood. It has suspense and creeps, action and romance. I love the lighting in the film, how much everything contrasts. I always liked the effect of the tight shots of Dracula's face when he's using his powers of persuasion. And the ghostly flowing gowns of Dracula's wives striding across the room. This movie is great and I've seen it several times. My brother always preferred Frankenstein but I always liked Dracula.
Baby Face (1933)
As much feminism as the 1930s have to offer
This is an entertaining, albeit repetitive, script flip on behaviors clearly acceptable among men at the time. I appreciated that Lilly Powers was going after what she wanted in the world and was willing to use men as much as the men wanted to use her. Good for her. And I appreciate the progressiveness of Stanwyck's character looking out for and not leaving behind Chico. I think it's fare to say that Chico was probably paid more than the average "help" to afford such furs as she's seen wearing. Or at least I'd like to think so! Stanwyck's plays the part wonderfully. I liked the visible attempt of fitting in in higher class jobs and society - when she corrects herself on the phone when she slips and says "ain't" and turns it into "isn't." You can tell she sort of loses sight of herself in the facades she puts on for all of these men she uses and manipulates. And predictable finds the one who truly warms her heart. This movie shows/alludes to sex very boldly as it's pre Hayes code - it feels quite brazen at times. But I suppose that's the point. At times I felt sorry for Powers because her bold plans for upward advancement definitely alienated her from her female peers who clearly had disdain for her behind her back. Overall it's a well made movie with a stunning leading woman.
Sherlock Jr. (1924)
Familiar story but with added gags
The plot of bumbling, shy, less rich suitor competing against a richer (acting) and more confident suitor has been used forever. But we like it because we all root for the awkward everyday Joe. This movie is entertaining and cute. Keaton definitely has a way of endearing the audience to him even in perhaps a more relatable way than Chaplin because Keaton is a little more universally identifiable than chaplins 's tramp. One thing that I particularly enjoyed and stood out in the film was the very elaborate early era stunts. I'm sure for its time those stunts were quite a sight to see. And still by today's standards executed very well. Keaton has great body language and expressiveness on screen. An enjoyable classic.