This was made with Bogie's own production company Santana and performance wise it's Bogart's best film. He plays a down on his luck temperamental script writer who is a accused of murder. His neighbor gives him a false alibie and slowly falls in love with him, but as she sees more and more of his temper she begins to doubt his innocence. It's a great movie directed by Nicholas Ray (Rebel Without a Cause, The Lusty Men). It's terribly underknown and not considered among the classics like Maltese Falcon, Casablanca, or Treasure of the Sierra Madre. Yet I seriously think it's his most vulnerable, honesty and brilliant performance.
"I was born when she kissed me. I died when she left me. And I lived for a few weeks while she loved me."
I don't believe that anyone has ever mentioned "The Loved One". It's almost 40 years old now, but it still seems more outrageous and funny than things which are meant to offend nowadays.
I don't really want to spoil anything for anyone, but it's set at a "Forest Lawn"-type cemetary. The characters include Rod Steiger as Mr. Joyboy, who has to make the dead "look good" for their presentatations in their coffins. Oh, one other thing, his mom, Mrs. Joyboy, is just about the scariest thing you'll ever see.
There's also Liberace as a very-sincere coffin salesman and Paul Williams as a very young and dangerous "rocket scientist". The actual stars are Robert Morse and Anjanette Comer. He goes to work at the cemetary where she's a hostess/guide. He naturally falls in love with her, but she has a few too many problems of her own concerning intimacy.
The movie plays often on Turner Classic Movies and might be a revelation to those who think that old movies can't be crazy, offensive and hilarious all at the same time.
"Naked Woman, Naked Man Where did you get that nice sun tan?"
Posts: 12874 | Location: Behind the Orange Curtain | Registered: 14 May 2004
Blue, 1993, by Krzysztof Kieslowski. Brilliant. Juliette Binoche shows us why she is one the world's great actresses and why Kieslowski died way too soon.
ekw
Posts: 2 | Location: Northern California | Registered: 14 November 2004
One I watched earlier tonight was The Innocents with Deborah Kerr. It's a bizzare ghost/possession story about a pair of children who are unknowingly haunted by lovers who lived in this manner and died suddenly a year or so previous. Bizzare film indeed with a horrifying ending and a refreshing take on the ghost story type of film. Creepy.
I would like to put forward "After hours", directed by Martin Scorscese, and starring Griffin Dunne (what ever happened to.....). I totaly identified with this little movie, although I'm the only one I know who's seen it.
Posts: 406 | Location: The fifth level | Registered: 05 December 2004
Hey, RayRay, you're awake! I remember you orgasmically praising Angela Lindvall earlier, and I have to agree with you. Have you watched "Riding Giants" again? We need to pound that one into everybody, if only for their own good!
"Naked Woman, Naked Man Where did you get that nice sun tan?"
Posts: 12874 | Location: Behind the Orange Curtain | Registered: 14 May 2004
No, I've only seen it once in the theater, but I constantly confuse it with Step Into Liquid. Both great films. And don't knock orgasmic praise. It's the best kind!
Posts: 314 | Location: Cali | Registered: 14 May 2004
There isn't a lot I can think of, apart from maybe Edward Scissorhands. Hell, I certainly hadn't heard of it until I saw it on DVD a couple of years ago. Best Johnny Depp movie I've seen.
Posts: 687 | Location: Adelaide, South Australia | Registered: 01 January 2005
If you like science-fiction then you must see Cypher, it stars Jeremy Northam and it's directed by the guy who did Cube. I love that film, it's clever, entertaining amd it looks damn good!
I have no idea how many people have actually seen this movie, but it was put out straight to video because it had a scene featuring a breech in airport security right around the time of 9/11. The movie is called "Big Trouble" and it has Tim Allen and a couple of really good actors with a funny plot. I enjoyed it.
Posts: 3554 | Location: Strange Days | Registered: 18 October 2004
quote:Originally posted by Mike: I have no idea how many people have actually seen this movie, but it was put out straight to video because it had a scene featuring a breech in airport security right around the time of 9/11. The movie is called "Big Trouble" and it has Tim Allen and a couple of really good actors with a funny plot. I enjoyed it.
Yes! I loved "Big Trouble!" And it is the perfect movie for this thread. Very original and very funny.
Posts: 451 | Location: Northern California | Registered: 16 August 2004
Originally posted by Hattoori_Hanzo: Anyone seen "Series 7: the Contenders?" dark and hilarious. fake reality tv show about people selected at random to fight to the death.
Yeah, I saw Series 7 in a theater with one other person about 8 rows away. Weird. But what a great film. Didn't it come out at about the same time as the first season of Survivor?? Anyway, it was perfect timing...well before the downfall of reality TV. Immensely entertaining. The killer pregnant chick -- the reigning champ - was awesome.
Posts: 314 | Location: Cali | Registered: 14 May 2004
Originally posted by Hattoori_Hanzo: Anyone seen "Series 7: the Contenders?" dark and hilarious. fake reality tv show about people selected at random to fight to the death.
Yeah, I saw Series 7 in a theater with one other person about 8 rows away. Weird. But what a great film. Didn't it come out at about the same time as the first season of Survivor?? Anyway, it was perfect timing...well before the downfall of reality TV. Immensely entertaining. The killer pregnant chick -- the reigning champ - was awesome.
"Get out of the house....there's a bomb!" And then she starts firing at the people... Classic!
Death to Videodrome... long live the new flesh!
Posts: 392 | Location: Santa Monica | Registered: 12 May 2004
As this is mainly a North American audience (right?) I advise:
UK director's Brian Forbes' WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND (1961).
Go here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055618/usercomments [...] and read especially jackie-107's "Under-rated classic British movie of the sixties" review and hesketh27's "Beautiful, nostalgic film" comment.
Posts: 47 | Location: Tondela, Portugal | Registered: 19 February 2005
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