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I've been a little nuts and haven't updated for either of these films. I thought the dialogue in The Big Sleep was great and I loved both Bogart and Bacall. Unfortunately, I'm not really one for caper movies and I did drift off a few times.
Last week I watched the Jean Cocteau version of Beauty and the Beast . I really enjoyed this film, except for the ending. The story is classic and the makeup definitely inspired the Disney version. I loved the fantastical elements of the film and saw how they have inspired a variety of different movies. I loved the darkness of this film.
Last week I watched the Jean Cocteau version of Beauty and the Beast . I really enjoyed this film, except for the ending. The story is classic and the makeup definitely inspired the Disney version. I loved the fantastical elements of the film and saw how they have inspired a variety of different movies. I loved the darkness of this film.
Great movies- Gates of Heaven
Jan. 7th, 2010 11:16 amI keep forgetting to write about Gates of Heaven , which I watched before Christmas. This is Errol Morris' first documentary. It's a strange little documentary about pet cemeteries. Morris starts by telling the story of a pet cemetery located outside (L.A?), which then had to be relocated. Another entrepeneur decides to take over the cemetery and opens a cemetery called "Bubbling Wells Pet memorial park." The documentary consists of stationary camera interviews of the family that owns the pet cemetery, people that have used the cemetery to bury their pets. This is a moving reflection on life, death, grieving and our love of animal companions. It's not necessarily easy to find out what Morris is trying to tell you, but this is definitely a film that will make you think.
I should also note that the movie posts are going to be changing around here. I'm tracking the numbers of movies I watch this year and have been compiling it in a word document. Each month, I'll write one post detailing the movies I've watched the previous month. Nerds ahoy!
I should also note that the movie posts are going to be changing around here. I'm tracking the numbers of movies I watch this year and have been compiling it in a word document. Each month, I'll write one post detailing the movies I've watched the previous month. Nerds ahoy!
Movie lists
Jan. 2nd, 2010 10:36 amI decided to make 2 movie lists. One list consists of my top movies released in 2009 and the other includes my favourite films that were created in other years.
Released in 2009 (not in any particular order)
1. Up in the Air
2. State of Play (someone described this as a wet dream for journalists. I loved watching Helen Mirren yell at Russell Crowe)
3. District 9
4. Fantastic Mr. Fox
5. The Hurt Locker
6. An Education
7. 500 Days of Summer
8. Precious
9. Food Inc
10. Adventureland/Zombieland/I love you man
11. Cherry Blossoms (a German film by director Doris Dorrie released in January 2009. Watched on video at my parents' house. It's about life, death, grieving, family and identity. Brilliant and beautiful and sad.)
Mostly from the Great movies list-
I'm doing a project that involves watching all the movies mentioned on Roger Ebert's Great movies list. I have the book and refer to it (and other film criticism) after I watch the movies.
1. Ali, fear eat the soul- My first Fassbinder. A German film mainly about racism and love. Brilliant and disturbing.
2. Persona- Ingmar Bergman (Second Bergman) A short film about insanity and identity. Done in black and white, and like a stage play.
3. Woman under the Influence- Cassavetes' wife Gena Rowlands is perfect as a woman suffering from mental illness. This is hard to watch and so life like that I had to look away and take breaks while I was watching. You can also see how her illness affects her family.
4. Kiss of the Spiderwoman- (not on the Great movies list)- Two men, Raul Julia and William Hurt, are cell mates in a South American prison. Great dialogue and tension, mainly created by the 2 actors.
5. Who does she think she is?- An American documentary that Mari and I saw in the theatre. It's about women creating art, and the challenges of balancing art with motherhood.
6. Giant- An epic film about an oil, and rich families. I never really understood all the fuss about James Dean, but now I get it. Liz Taylor is also brilliant. This was the first film that featured young actors who were shown aging through the effects of makeup.
7. Pandora's Box- a German film starring Louise Brooks as a loose woman. She's so fun to watch that this one made my list.
8. Strangers on a Train (not on great movies list)- Another brilliant Hitchcock film.
9. The Last Picture show (not on great movies list)- Set in a small Texas town which is dying out. Starring a young Cybill Shepherd and Jeff Bridges in his first film role. Good dialogue, interesting story, etc.
(I am going to track all the movies I watch in 2010, as I did a piss poor job.)
Released in 2009 (not in any particular order)
1. Up in the Air
2. State of Play (someone described this as a wet dream for journalists. I loved watching Helen Mirren yell at Russell Crowe)
3. District 9
4. Fantastic Mr. Fox
5. The Hurt Locker
6. An Education
7. 500 Days of Summer
8. Precious
9. Food Inc
10. Adventureland/Zombieland/I love you man
11. Cherry Blossoms (a German film by director Doris Dorrie released in January 2009. Watched on video at my parents' house. It's about life, death, grieving, family and identity. Brilliant and beautiful and sad.)
Mostly from the Great movies list-
I'm doing a project that involves watching all the movies mentioned on Roger Ebert's Great movies list. I have the book and refer to it (and other film criticism) after I watch the movies.
1. Ali, fear eat the soul- My first Fassbinder. A German film mainly about racism and love. Brilliant and disturbing.
2. Persona- Ingmar Bergman (Second Bergman) A short film about insanity and identity. Done in black and white, and like a stage play.
3. Woman under the Influence- Cassavetes' wife Gena Rowlands is perfect as a woman suffering from mental illness. This is hard to watch and so life like that I had to look away and take breaks while I was watching. You can also see how her illness affects her family.
4. Kiss of the Spiderwoman- (not on the Great movies list)- Two men, Raul Julia and William Hurt, are cell mates in a South American prison. Great dialogue and tension, mainly created by the 2 actors.
5. Who does she think she is?- An American documentary that Mari and I saw in the theatre. It's about women creating art, and the challenges of balancing art with motherhood.
6. Giant- An epic film about an oil, and rich families. I never really understood all the fuss about James Dean, but now I get it. Liz Taylor is also brilliant. This was the first film that featured young actors who were shown aging through the effects of makeup.
7. Pandora's Box- a German film starring Louise Brooks as a loose woman. She's so fun to watch that this one made my list.
8. Strangers on a Train (not on great movies list)- Another brilliant Hitchcock film.
9. The Last Picture show (not on great movies list)- Set in a small Texas town which is dying out. Starring a young Cybill Shepherd and Jeff Bridges in his first film role. Good dialogue, interesting story, etc.
(I am going to track all the movies I watch in 2010, as I did a piss poor job.)
Ali- Fear eats the soul
Dec. 10th, 2009 04:44 pmSometimes I really love the Great movies project because I see something really great that I might have missed watching. This week, that movie is Ali: Fear eats the soul , a 1974 film directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder. I had absolutely no idea what to expect from this film. It's the story of a German woman in her 50s who falls in love with a Moroccan man in his 30s. The bored and cold Emmi heads into a bar to have a drink one night and meets Ali, an auto worker who has been in the country for a while. He walks her home, and one things ends up leading to another.
( spoilers )
This movie is realistic, and looks beautiful. I loved the shots and the framing and the acting was simply superb. While watching the film, I had an overarching sense of both dread and fear for the characters. I was convinced that something terrible was going to happen. I think this film is accurate and sadly, the issues raised in it are still current. I also liked how it wasn't a black and white issue or film, but one that was incredibly nuanced.
( spoilers )
This movie is realistic, and looks beautiful. I loved the shots and the framing and the acting was simply superb. While watching the film, I had an overarching sense of both dread and fear for the characters. I was convinced that something terrible was going to happen. I think this film is accurate and sadly, the issues raised in it are still current. I also liked how it wasn't a black and white issue or film, but one that was incredibly nuanced.
Great movies- Persona
Nov. 15th, 2009 11:11 amThis 1966 Ingmar Bergman film is my second Bergman. I thought it was brilliant. It tells the story of a mute woman who is a former actress, and her nurse. It's shot in black and white and is incredibly arty. The lines between the nurse and the actress blur until the audience is not sure who is crazy and who is sane. Are they the same person? Who is mad? Who is in control.
There are some wonderfully creepy images here
Beautifully shot and wonderfully acted with a lot of involvement from the two main actresses. The film is short, which actually adds to its power.
There are some wonderfully creepy images here
Beautifully shot and wonderfully acted with a lot of involvement from the two main actresses. The film is short, which actually adds to its power.
Great movies- My Darling Clementine
Oct. 20th, 2009 06:03 pmMy Darling Clementine is a 1946 Western by John Ford. It's an extremely iconic and archetypal Western and I was surprised by how many things I'd heard of that appear in this film. Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, the OK Corral, the town of Tombstone...- they're all from this movie. The story of the fight at the OK Corral between the Earp brothers and the Clanton brothers is apparently a true story.
It was an okay film, but I couldn't really get into it. I was most fascinated by Doc Holliday and his love affair with his lady and how his wife was pretty much abandoned.
I think I would have enjoyed this more if I hadn't been sick.
I also watched "O, Brother where art thou?", "Bottle Shock" and "Waltz with Bashir" during my convalescence.
It was an okay film, but I couldn't really get into it. I was most fascinated by Doc Holliday and his love affair with his lady and how his wife was pretty much abandoned.
I think I would have enjoyed this more if I hadn't been sick.
I also watched "O, Brother where art thou?", "Bottle Shock" and "Waltz with Bashir" during my convalescence.
Great movies- A woman under the Influence
Aug. 2nd, 2009 10:09 am A woman under the influence is the first Cassavetes film that I have ever seen. My ideas about Cassavetes are completely biased and built up by the Le Tigre song "What's your take on Cassavetes?"
Anyway, I have to say that I LOVED and recommend "A woman under the influence." Gena Rowlands, who was married to Cassavetes, stars as Mabel Longhetti, a woman who is suffering from mental illness. Her husband, played by Peter Falk, doesn't really know what to do with her. He loves her, but fears her strange and erratic behaviour. In some scenes, he slaps her and fights with her in a way that is hyper-realistic and disturbing. Finally, he has her committed to a mental institution.
I found this film completely realistic and hard to watch. At times, I felt like I was watching a documentary. This film is completely owned by Gena Rowlands, who delivers a fascinating and realistic portrayal of a woman with a tenuous grip on reality and social norms.
I actually had to take breaks from this film, as it sucked me in and was incredibly uncomfortable to watch.
Anyway, I have to say that I LOVED and recommend "A woman under the influence." Gena Rowlands, who was married to Cassavetes, stars as Mabel Longhetti, a woman who is suffering from mental illness. Her husband, played by Peter Falk, doesn't really know what to do with her. He loves her, but fears her strange and erratic behaviour. In some scenes, he slaps her and fights with her in a way that is hyper-realistic and disturbing. Finally, he has her committed to a mental institution.
I found this film completely realistic and hard to watch. At times, I felt like I was watching a documentary. This film is completely owned by Gena Rowlands, who delivers a fascinating and realistic portrayal of a woman with a tenuous grip on reality and social norms.
I actually had to take breaks from this film, as it sucked me in and was incredibly uncomfortable to watch.
Great movies- City lights
Jul. 22nd, 2009 08:47 pmCity Lights was my first Charlie Chaplin film. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. This little film follows the adventures of the little tramp as he falls in love with a blind flower vendor. She believes he is wealthy because he has a wealthy friend who gives him money. I don't want to give away any of the details, but I really found that I got invested in the story.
This is a silent film, and I really got sucked into it. I admired Chaplin's work and thought some of his slight of hand was quite brilliant. He really was a true pioneer and a genius.
This is a silent film, and I really got sucked into it. I admired Chaplin's work and thought some of his slight of hand was quite brilliant. He really was a true pioneer and a genius.
Great movies- Written on the Wind
Jul. 17th, 2009 09:37 amRoger Ebert claimed Written on the Wind was one of the Great movies; I just found it really annoying. The 1956 melodrama is an over the top soap drama about a rich oil baron brother and sister and their dalliances with a close family friend and a wife. Everything is over the top- there's an annoying soundtrack and the colours are somewhat lurid. There were some funny lines and it has a great cast, with Rock Hudson and Lauren Bacall. Apparently I'm not smart enough to make it past the glitz and glamour to find the satire and irony, because I actively disliked this.
Apparently so did Humphrey Bogart, who told his wife never to appear in another film like this one.
Apparently so did Humphrey Bogart, who told his wife never to appear in another film like this one.
Great movies- JFK
Jul. 15th, 2009 09:32 pmI've gotten behind on my posting for the Great Movies project. Upon my return from Vancouver, I watched Oliver Stone's "JFK". I thought the movie would be a bit of a thriller about JFK's death, but it turns out to follow the details of someone who investigated the assassination. Kevin Costner stars as the key investigator. I thought Kevin Costner did a pretty great job, particularly in one long court room scene. Gary Oldman is also quite good as Lee Harvey Oswald, but then Gary Oldman is a bit of a chameleon and is great in most things that he's in.
Donald Sutherland, Kevin Bacon and Sissy Spacek were also great in this film. In fact, I have no complaints about the performances, just about the sheer length of this film.
I also liked watching how the need to know and the desire for truth really encompassed Costner's character and pretty much destroyed his home life. Stone also did a good job of using archival footage in this film.
My major complaints about this film were the sheer length. The film felt bloated and WAY TOO LONG. I also realized that I'm pretty damn ignorant when it comes to American history.
Donald Sutherland, Kevin Bacon and Sissy Spacek were also great in this film. In fact, I have no complaints about the performances, just about the sheer length of this film.
I also liked watching how the need to know and the desire for truth really encompassed Costner's character and pretty much destroyed his home life. Stone also did a good job of using archival footage in this film.
My major complaints about this film were the sheer length. The film felt bloated and WAY TOO LONG. I also realized that I'm pretty damn ignorant when it comes to American history.
Great movies
Jun. 1st, 2009 04:08 pmI've been remiss on posting about two new additions to the Great movies proje
Broken Blossoms is a silent movie starring Lillian Gish. It was made in 1919 by DW Griffith and was basically his response to the allegations of racism that he endured as a result of creating "Birth of a nation."
Lillian Gish's character is the daughter of a seedy limehouse dude in London. She's abused by him, and ends up cared for by a Chinese immigrant (a man who used a rubber band to pull his features back). There were some parts that were quite touching but all in all, I've already forgotten it.
Apparently it was released during a period of extreme anti-Chinese sentiment in the US. Hmmm.
(Oh wow. It used to be called "The Chink and the Child." Yikes!)
McCabe and Mrs. Miller-
Robert Altman's 1971 pic McCabe and Mrs. Miller stars Julie Christie and Warren Beatty. Basically, Warren Beatty is a gambler who wants to open a brothel in a newly created Western town, and Julie Christie is the woman who helps him do it and teaches him important skills, like how to prevent the entire town from developing the clap. I like Altman films, loved watching two greats such as Beatty and Christie and liked the Western feel of this movie. It has beautiful scenery and a soundtrack created by Leonard Cohen, featuring "Sisters of Mercy."
It was shot near Vancouver and is meant to represent a fictional town in the Pacific Northwest. It's pretty gritty and does not have a happy ending.
Broken Blossoms is a silent movie starring Lillian Gish. It was made in 1919 by DW Griffith and was basically his response to the allegations of racism that he endured as a result of creating "Birth of a nation."
Lillian Gish's character is the daughter of a seedy limehouse dude in London. She's abused by him, and ends up cared for by a Chinese immigrant (a man who used a rubber band to pull his features back). There were some parts that were quite touching but all in all, I've already forgotten it.
Apparently it was released during a period of extreme anti-Chinese sentiment in the US. Hmmm.
(Oh wow. It used to be called "The Chink and the Child." Yikes!)
McCabe and Mrs. Miller-
Robert Altman's 1971 pic McCabe and Mrs. Miller stars Julie Christie and Warren Beatty. Basically, Warren Beatty is a gambler who wants to open a brothel in a newly created Western town, and Julie Christie is the woman who helps him do it and teaches him important skills, like how to prevent the entire town from developing the clap. I like Altman films, loved watching two greats such as Beatty and Christie and liked the Western feel of this movie. It has beautiful scenery and a soundtrack created by Leonard Cohen, featuring "Sisters of Mercy."
It was shot near Vancouver and is meant to represent a fictional town in the Pacific Northwest. It's pretty gritty and does not have a happy ending.
Great movies- Blow up
Apr. 30th, 2009 10:10 am1966's Blow up is my latest addition to the great movies list. This movie just LOOKS cool. The basic premise is that a photographer takes pictures of various scenes around him. At one point, he takes a picture of a couple having an argument. When he blows up the picture, he discovers some unsavoury details.
This movie is pretty slow, but it looks amazing. The colours are rich and there are numerous scenes with lots of kissing, sixties debauchery and crazy models. I didn't like the plot of the movie, but thought it looked amazingly cool and I loved the 60s vibe. I can understand why this movie is influential, it just wasn't my favourite.
This movie is pretty slow, but it looks amazing. The colours are rich and there are numerous scenes with lots of kissing, sixties debauchery and crazy models. I didn't like the plot of the movie, but thought it looked amazingly cool and I loved the 60s vibe. I can understand why this movie is influential, it just wasn't my favourite.
Great movies- Pandora's box
Apr. 19th, 2009 10:35 amThe icon I normally use is extra fitting, since Pandora's box is a 1929 movie starring Louise Brooks. The film is in German and is silent. You can pick a score from a selection listed on the DVD menu. I went with the surround sound orchestral score.
I actually enjoy watching silent movies and find them a bit like watching ballet. The brain work needed is similar to the brain maneuvers needed to watch ballet or opera.
"Pandora's box" was a pretty big deal because it was considered quite provocative for its time. Louise Brooks stars as Lulu, a woman whose very presence causes men to behave in erotic and unpredictable ways. She is the mistress of a wealthy man, who leaves her to marry someone respectable. Then his son falls in love with her. Then the wealthy man comes back. A variety of men (and one lesbian)fall in love with the brazen Lulu. I won't tell you how the story ends.
The film is a bit over the top, but what saves it is Louise Brooks. She's a delight as a temptress and a complete pleasure to watch onscreen. I love her bob, I love her style and I love her brazen ways. Hail Lulu!
I actually enjoy watching silent movies and find them a bit like watching ballet. The brain work needed is similar to the brain maneuvers needed to watch ballet or opera.
"Pandora's box" was a pretty big deal because it was considered quite provocative for its time. Louise Brooks stars as Lulu, a woman whose very presence causes men to behave in erotic and unpredictable ways. She is the mistress of a wealthy man, who leaves her to marry someone respectable. Then his son falls in love with her. Then the wealthy man comes back. A variety of men (and one lesbian)fall in love with the brazen Lulu. I won't tell you how the story ends.
The film is a bit over the top, but what saves it is Louise Brooks. She's a delight as a temptress and a complete pleasure to watch onscreen. I love her bob, I love her style and I love her brazen ways. Hail Lulu!
Great movies- Days of Heaven
Apr. 5th, 2009 11:27 amTerence Malick's second film Days of Heaven is a slow moving film, but one that is profoundly interesting. It reminded me a lot of a short story. I've had it sitting near my television for a long time because I thought it would be really long. Last night I picked it up and found that it was only 93 minutes. I also noticed that it starred Richard Gere, who I love with an unapologetic passion. I immediately stuck the movie into my DVD player.
The movie is about a brother and sister and the woman the brother is in love with. The trio, who are poor, flee to the Midwest, where they get jobs working for a rich farmer. For some reason, the Brother and his Lover pretend to be brother and sister, just to stop people from wondering about their relationship. The Farmer is deeply attracted to the Lover and starts to flirt with her. When the Brother hears that the Farmer has only one year to live, he urges the Lover to marry him, with the intent that the trio will hit the jackpot once the Farmer kicks off.
I'm going to leave the plot there. As you can imagine, the scenario doesn't allow for anything delicate or pretty to happen.
The acting is great and the cinematography is amazing. There are lots of long, winding prairie shots. I was happy to find out that the film is actually shot in Alberta, in a place called Whiskey Gap. (I have no idea where this is, so I assume it must be in southern Alberta.) The film is beautifully scored by Ennio Morricone. This is a slow, but beautiful film.
The movie is about a brother and sister and the woman the brother is in love with. The trio, who are poor, flee to the Midwest, where they get jobs working for a rich farmer. For some reason, the Brother and his Lover pretend to be brother and sister, just to stop people from wondering about their relationship. The Farmer is deeply attracted to the Lover and starts to flirt with her. When the Brother hears that the Farmer has only one year to live, he urges the Lover to marry him, with the intent that the trio will hit the jackpot once the Farmer kicks off.
I'm going to leave the plot there. As you can imagine, the scenario doesn't allow for anything delicate or pretty to happen.
The acting is great and the cinematography is amazing. There are lots of long, winding prairie shots. I was happy to find out that the film is actually shot in Alberta, in a place called Whiskey Gap. (I have no idea where this is, so I assume it must be in southern Alberta.) The film is beautifully scored by Ennio Morricone. This is a slow, but beautiful film.
I keep on forgetting to mention that I watched Double Indemnity and found it absolutely brilliant. I loved both the dialogue and the plot. I may not like crime drama, but I definitely love film noir. There's something about it that does it for me. I think it might be the narrative voice.
Last night, I watched "Strangers on a train" which is not included on Ebert's Great Movies list. However, I feel the need to mention it anyway, because I was captivated for the entire film. I LOVED how creepy it was, and how it kept on getting more and more sinister. The ending, which I will not spoil for anyone, was extremely breath-taking and had me on the edge of my seat. I'm somewhat saddened by the notion that I will eventually run out of Hitchcock movies to watch. He is definitely one of my favourite directors.
Last night, I watched "Strangers on a train" which is not included on Ebert's Great Movies list. However, I feel the need to mention it anyway, because I was captivated for the entire film. I LOVED how creepy it was, and how it kept on getting more and more sinister. The ending, which I will not spoil for anyone, was extremely breath-taking and had me on the edge of my seat. I'm somewhat saddened by the notion that I will eventually run out of Hitchcock movies to watch. He is definitely one of my favourite directors.
Great movies- Le Samourai
Mar. 18th, 2009 09:03 am Le Samourai is a French, minimalist crime drama. There's very little talking and the plot basically consists of a number of guys shooting other guys. I didn't really care for this film at all. The only thing I really liked about it was how it looked. It had pretty amazing aesthetics.
I'm not really a fan of crime drama. If you like murder/thrillers where someone spends a lot of time running around trying not to get shot, then you might like this one.
I'm not really a fan of crime drama. If you like murder/thrillers where someone spends a lot of time running around trying not to get shot, then you might like this one.
(no subject)
Mar. 5th, 2009 11:21 am Bride of Frankenstein is a 1935 movie that made Roger Ebert's Great movies list.
I must confess that I thoroughly loved this film. Boris Karloff's acting and the script really make you feel sorry for the monster, who just wants to be loved and have a friend. This was creepy, campy and sad, and the bride's appearance near the end of the film is just plain great. The script is smart, the costuming and scenery is brilliant and it's just a lot of creepy fun.
I think I have a thing for classic horror films, even though I do not enjoy modern horror at all.
I must confess that I thoroughly loved this film. Boris Karloff's acting and the script really make you feel sorry for the monster, who just wants to be loved and have a friend. This was creepy, campy and sad, and the bride's appearance near the end of the film is just plain great. The script is smart, the costuming and scenery is brilliant and it's just a lot of creepy fun.
I think I have a thing for classic horror films, even though I do not enjoy modern horror at all.
Great movies- The Third Man
Feb. 26th, 2009 06:15 pm The Third Man is a pretty great movie, written by the talented novelist Graham Greene. It's a bit of a thriller/mystery set in Vienna after the war. I don't want to give anything away, so I'll just say that the film has a twisty, turny plot, great dialogue and fabulous cinematography. There are some scenes that will stay in your head long after you've finished watching.
I'm pretty sure that you'd recognize the theme music as well.
I'm pretty sure that you'd recognize the theme music as well.
Great movies- The Sweet smell of success
Feb. 1st, 2009 10:37 amI probably wouldn't have watched 1957's The Sweet Smell of Success if I hadn't done this project, and that would have been a major shame. This movie was witty, biting, dark and creepy, which means I absolutely LOVED it.
Tony Curtis plays a press agent. I had never heard of the concept of press agents before, so I had to look up a definition in the dictionary. Press agents were basically very aggressive publicity hounds who tried their hardest to get their news items to the gossip columnists. At the start of the film, Curtis' character, Sidney Falco, is having trouble getting his gossip into JJ Hunsecker's (Burt Lancaster's) column because he backed out on a promise- to break up Hunsecker's sister and her current jazz playing beau. I won't go into the plot, but it's basically a story about power, backstabbing, blackmailing and weird set ups. It's quite brilliant and cutting, actually.
The film looks gritty and New York appears dingy and dark. At one point, Lancaster exclaims, "I love this dirty town."
The film's best known line is "I'd hate to take a bite out of you! You're a cookie filled with arsenic."
I loved this one, and it was made even better by the fact that it appeared on Turner Classic Movies Oscar university list.
Tony Curtis plays a press agent. I had never heard of the concept of press agents before, so I had to look up a definition in the dictionary. Press agents were basically very aggressive publicity hounds who tried their hardest to get their news items to the gossip columnists. At the start of the film, Curtis' character, Sidney Falco, is having trouble getting his gossip into JJ Hunsecker's (Burt Lancaster's) column because he backed out on a promise- to break up Hunsecker's sister and her current jazz playing beau. I won't go into the plot, but it's basically a story about power, backstabbing, blackmailing and weird set ups. It's quite brilliant and cutting, actually.
The film looks gritty and New York appears dingy and dark. At one point, Lancaster exclaims, "I love this dirty town."
The film's best known line is "I'd hate to take a bite out of you! You're a cookie filled with arsenic."
I loved this one, and it was made even better by the fact that it appeared on Turner Classic Movies Oscar university list.
