Carol Reed’s The Third Man. 9/10. I saw a midnight showing in a small theater in Vienna, which I feel like is probably the ideal way to see it for the first time. So many things from this film that are still rolling around in my head: Joseph Cotton’s sad, boozy, befuddled performance; those strange and grotesque faces of the supporting characters; and, of course, that sweet-ass zither music.
Carol Reed’s The Third Man. 9/10. I saw a midnight showing in a small theater in Vienna, which I feel like is probably the ideal way to see it for the first time. So many things from this film that are still rolling around in my head: Joseph Cotton’s sad, boozy, befuddled performance; those strange and grotesque faces of the supporting characters; and, of course, that sweet-ass zither music.
Raising Arizona. I really wish the rest of the movie was as incredible as the pre-credit sequence, although it comes close a few times. Oh, and The Lion King. That shit is majestic.
The River Oaks in Houston, TX (at least, if it still exists; I heard much heated talk a few years ago about selling and developing it into shopping or some shit, but I feel like it didn’t happen) and the Burg Kino (I think that’s the name) in Vienna.
‘Last of the Mohicans’ is some epic shit. Daniel Day-Lewis often appears in my dreams, running through a forest, his silken locks flying off him like spume, while that sweet-ass theme music plays in the background.
Also, I think ‘Manhunter’ deserves commendation because of its crazy final showdown scene, which constitutes the only time I have ever heard “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” and been able to stand it.
I think AMC’s “Mad Men” is cinematic as all get-out. Yes, they can occasionally lay it on a tad too thick with “Remember, this is the ’60s” type cliches, but overall, there’s an attention to detail in the set design, costuming, etc., that’s quite impressive. I read an interview with the creator, Matthew Wiener, and (I’m paraphrasing) he said that one of his favorite things about doing this show was just getting the privilege of being able to step back into that time and into that world. The show does an exceptional job of rendering this setting in a damn-near palpable way, and that’s a feat in film, literature, television, whatever.
Additionally, the cinematography is consistently elegant, graceful, effective but unobtrusive. I feel like the way they shoot the office scenes just below eye level, so that the ceiling is always perceptible, has perhaps some kind of significance deeper than ‘it just looks good.’ I’ve also heard complaints about the measured pace of many of the episodes, but I really like the way the show doesn’t constantly feel the need to push the plot forward, instead letting us soak in some of these characters’ daily lives in slow, small ways. (This goes back to Weiner’s idea of just spending time and luxuriating in this particular milieu.) Season One’s “Marriage of Figaro” and Season Two’s “Three Sundays” are two of my absolute favorite episodes, and for much of their running time, nothing monumental occurs in the way of story arcs or dramatic advancement; we simply see the characters fumbling through what often ends up as the drudgery of their home lives.
And, one last little thing: the use of non-original music. I’m admittedly a sucker for a well-used pop song in film/TV (and I think that the reason why I love many of my favorite filmmakers can be traced back to this in some part, but that’s a different discussion) and “Mad Men” is great at topping off many of its episodes with perfectly-chosen period songs. These songs are often a kind of Greek chorus, providing commentary that can be quite wry, or subtly sardonic; it would take too long for me to try and paraphrase the respective episodes, but both Peter, Paul and Mary’s “Early in the Morning” and The Tornadoes “Telstar” serve as such in the second season. And I still get chills when I watch the Season One finale, which ends with Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right.” Although it’s use is a bit anachronistic in the episode (which takes place in 1960, while the song wasn’t released until ‘63, I believe), it speaks both to everything that has happened (at least to the main character) in the preceding episodes, and to the massive sea change that awaits in the coming years of the decade. That’s damn good, television, I say.
I thought that the original score for ‘Drugstore Cowboy’ was pretty obnoxious; too many farty-sounding synth horns, totally ruined the mood of certain scenes. The non-original stuff was great, like Desmond Dekker’s ‘Israelites’ and John Fred & The Playboy Band’s ‘Judy in Disguise,’ but that score sucked.
I really enjoyed the French documentary ‘To Be and To Have’ that came out maybe five years ago or so. A very genuine, unassuming, and sweet little film that stands as a great defense of teaching.
Rate The Last Film You Watched over 4 years ago
Carol Reed’s The Third Man. 9/10. I saw a midnight showing in a small theater in Vienna, which I feel like is probably the ideal way to see it for the first time. So many things from this film that are still rolling around in my head: Joseph Cotton’s sad, boozy, befuddled performance; those strange and grotesque faces of the supporting characters; and, of course, that sweet-ass zither music.
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Rate The Last Film You Watched over 4 years ago
Carol Reed’s The Third Man. 9/10. I saw a midnight showing in a small theater in Vienna, which I feel like is probably the ideal way to see it for the first time. So many things from this film that are still rolling around in my head: Joseph Cotton’s sad, boozy, befuddled performance; those strange and grotesque faces of the supporting characters; and, of course, that sweet-ass zither music.
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Films you love but most people hate. over 4 years ago
The Brown Bunny. Leslie Nielsen comedies (which someone mentioned above).
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Best or Favorite Opening Sequence over 4 years ago
Raising Arizona. I really wish the rest of the movie was as incredible as the pre-credit sequence, although it comes close a few times. Oh, and The Lion King. That shit is majestic.
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Favorite Theaters/Movie Houses over 4 years ago
The River Oaks in Houston, TX (at least, if it still exists; I heard much heated talk a few years ago about selling and developing it into shopping or some shit, but I feel like it didn’t happen) and the Burg Kino (I think that’s the name) in Vienna.
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Michael Mann over 4 years ago
‘Last of the Mohicans’ is some epic shit. Daniel Day-Lewis often appears in my dreams, running through a forest, his silken locks flying off him like spume, while that sweet-ass theme music plays in the background.
Also, I think ‘Manhunter’ deserves commendation because of its crazy final showdown scene, which constitutes the only time I have ever heard “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” and been able to stand it.
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Are T.V. serials cinematographic at all? over 4 years ago
I think AMC’s “Mad Men” is cinematic as all get-out. Yes, they can occasionally lay it on a tad too thick with “Remember, this is the ’60s” type cliches, but overall, there’s an attention to detail in the set design, costuming, etc., that’s quite impressive. I read an interview with the creator, Matthew Wiener, and (I’m paraphrasing) he said that one of his favorite things about doing this show was just getting the privilege of being able to step back into that time and into that world. The show does an exceptional job of rendering this setting in a damn-near palpable way, and that’s a feat in film, literature, television, whatever.
Additionally, the cinematography is consistently elegant, graceful, effective but unobtrusive. I feel like the way they shoot the office scenes just below eye level, so that the ceiling is always perceptible, has perhaps some kind of significance deeper than ‘it just looks good.’ I’ve also heard complaints about the measured pace of many of the episodes, but I really like the way the show doesn’t constantly feel the need to push the plot forward, instead letting us soak in some of these characters’ daily lives in slow, small ways. (This goes back to Weiner’s idea of just spending time and luxuriating in this particular milieu.) Season One’s “Marriage of Figaro” and Season Two’s “Three Sundays” are two of my absolute favorite episodes, and for much of their running time, nothing monumental occurs in the way of story arcs or dramatic advancement; we simply see the characters fumbling through what often ends up as the drudgery of their home lives.
And, one last little thing: the use of non-original music. I’m admittedly a sucker for a well-used pop song in film/TV (and I think that the reason why I love many of my favorite filmmakers can be traced back to this in some part, but that’s a different discussion) and “Mad Men” is great at topping off many of its episodes with perfectly-chosen period songs. These songs are often a kind of Greek chorus, providing commentary that can be quite wry, or subtly sardonic; it would take too long for me to try and paraphrase the respective episodes, but both Peter, Paul and Mary’s “Early in the Morning” and The Tornadoes “Telstar” serve as such in the second season. And I still get chills when I watch the Season One finale, which ends with Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right.” Although it’s use is a bit anachronistic in the episode (which takes place in 1960, while the song wasn’t released until ‘63, I believe), it speaks both to everything that has happened (at least to the main character) in the preceding episodes, and to the massive sea change that awaits in the coming years of the decade. That’s damn good, television, I say.
Go to Comment
What's the most annoying film music you've had to endure? over 4 years ago
I thought that the original score for ‘Drugstore Cowboy’ was pretty obnoxious; too many farty-sounding synth horns, totally ruined the mood of certain scenes. The non-original stuff was great, like Desmond Dekker’s ‘Israelites’ and John Fred & The Playboy Band’s ‘Judy in Disguise,’ but that score sucked.
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IF WE IGNORE 81/2 AND DOLCE VITA, WHAT'D BE THE BEST FELLINI MOVIE? over 4 years ago
I prefer Amarcord to both La Dolce Vita and 8 1/2. And The Ship Sails On is really underrated, too, I think.
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Clint Estwood Presents His Last " Dirty Harry".....Gran Torino. over 4 years ago
Best part of the movie: "A Mexican, a Jew, and a colored guy go into a bar. The bartender looks up and says, “Get the fuck out of here.”"
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Best Films about or related to (primary) school over 4 years ago
I really enjoyed the French documentary ‘To Be and To Have’ that came out maybe five years ago or so. A very genuine, unassuming, and sweet little film that stands as a great defense of teaching.
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