Two good ones for this particular time of year:

(1) Halloween III: Season of the Witch: possible the best BAD movie I've ever seen. It sucks, but it's so damned much fun. "Eight more days 'till Halloween! Silver Shamrock.."

(2) VideoDrome (a la my signature): Another seemingly "Bad" movie, but I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since I saw it at a midnight show last weekend. James Woods, Debbie Harry - a David Cronenberg film. Messes with your head a little, but worth it.

I recommend Time Code. I was fascinated when it came out, and it still fascinates me each time I watch it.

Somebody a few pages ago mentioned Zero Effect which I have to second. It was the first film by Jake Kasdan, son of the great Lawrence. It stars Bill Pullman as a bumbling eccentric detective (think Inspector Clouseau) named Darryl Zero. Supposedly it's loosely based on the Shelock Homes story, "A Scandal in Bohemia), but it's hip and funny too.

Maria Full of Grace will never strike box office gold, but will always be a powerful statement as to what we are capable of doing when overcome by monotony and meaninglessness; especially when forced to live in social and economic structures that offer no upward mobility. It ranks among my favorite films over the last few years.

A real sleeper is a Korean film I caught in '04 called OASIS. In fact, it was the best film I saw in '04. It came and went in a minute and didn't get the attention it deserves. You start out in one place in the film and end up in another. Just an amazing movie.

Another film I liked a lot is DE-LOVELY, a film that was castigated by critics in '04 when it came out. It is the musical bio pic of Cole Porter. The film stars Kevin Kline and was directed by the undistinguished Irwin Winkler.

Well, a friend told me the film was better than what the critics said. He was right. I loved this film and I can't for the life of me understand why its critical reputation is so low. I can't think of a film I liked better that got across the board crappy reviews. And everyone I know who has seen the film or DVD has loved it.

quote:

ChrisFromAstoria posted:

A real sleeper is a Korean film I caught in '04 called OASIS. In fact, it was the best film I saw in '04. It came and went in a minute and didn't get the attention it deserves. You start out in one place in the film and end up in another. Just an amazing movie.

Your brief and not too descriptive comment on OASIS doesn't promote much excitement about seeing it. Is there anything else you want to add?

quote:

Originally posted by tabuno:
Your brief and not too descriptive comment on OASIS doesn't promote much excitement about seeing it. Is there anything else you want to add?

I didn't want to spoil the movie. It is best to go into the film cold. You start out assuming one thing and then end up 180 degrees opposite of where you started.

A couple of other selections:

PLEDGE. Sean Penn really hit this one out of the park and it is one of Jack Nicholson's better late career performances. This was a film the studios didn't know how to market. It wasn't really and "art" film so it didn't play in the art houses and it wasn't really a big commercial film that would play in the suburban multiplexes, so it kind of got lost between the cracks. The studio clearly didn't have a clue how to market the film so it kind of was released and it died.

Nicholson plays a cop about to retire who becomes obsessed with catching a killer who commits his crime right before Nicholson was set to retire. A real interesting, if unconventional, film. It is not your run-of-the-mill police procederal.

LOOK AT ME is a terrific French film that kind of came and went in '05 without getting the props it deserved. I can't figure out why the studio that released the film didn't take better advantage of the buzz surrounding the fact that it was the opening night film at the '04 New York Film Festival. Instead of opening right after the Fest, they waited until '05 was well underway. By that time the buzz has dissapated. It was directed by the actress Agnes Jaoui and it focuses on the life of some French intellectuals and their trials and tribulations. Some great characterizations and Jean Pierre Bacri is terrific as a sententious author.

quote:

ChrisFromAstoria posted regarding Oasis

I didn't want to spoil the movie. It is best to go into the film cold. You start out assuming one thing and then end up 180 degrees opposite of where you started.

Very limited time and money. I can't just see a movie based on one recommendation and title. You are talking about drama, Western, science fiction, comedy, action thriller, historical piece, melodrama, cops and robbers? One sentence summary of the set up would be nice. I'm not even going to be able to see half of the good movies already out for 2005, must less go back before this year.

quote:

Originally posted by tabuno:

Very limited time and money. I can't just see a movie based on one recommendation and title. You are talking about drama, Western, science fiction, comedy, action thriller, historical piece, melodrama, cops and robbers? One sentence summary of the set up would be nice. I'm not even going to be able to see half of the good movies already out for 2005, must less go back before this year.

I guess you would characterize OASIS as a whacked melodrama. Basically it starts as a love story between a learning disabled person and a person with a disability. And then you see how their "loved" ones have treated them.

Here are a couple more:

Steven Soderbergh has always been a mixed bag with me. I've loved some of his films (SEX LIES, OUT OF SIGHT) and movies I've loathed (the SOLARIS remake, OCEAN'S 11 & 12) but I would throw a coin in the air to decide betwen OUT OF SIGHT and THE LIMEY as my favorite Soderbergh film. I was completely blown away by THE LIMEY. Soderbergh perfectly captures the milieu of Los Angeles and the music scene and there are riveting performances by Terence Stamp & Peter Fonda as antagonists. The always interesting Luis Guzman is good in a supporting role. This film is real underrated and a real sleeper.

Another film that I loved was CHAOS, a French Film that featured Rachida Brakni as a prostitute out to get vengeance. Directed with real style by Coline Serreau this one blew me away. Again, another movie that kind of came and went from theatres without receiving the kind of accolades it deserves.

PLEDGE. Sean Penn really hit this one out of the park and it is one of Jack Nicholson's better late career performances. This was a film the studios didn't know how to market. It wasn't really and "art" film so it didn't play in the art houses and it wasn't really a big commercial film that would play in the suburban multiplexes, so it kind of got lost between the cracks. The studio clearly didn't have a clue how to market the film so it kind of was released and it died.

I couldn't agree more. I just introduced The Pledge to my brother in law in Argentina. He loved it and will pass it on.

A personal favorite of mine is Beautiful Girls. It has Natalie Portman before she forgot how to act and it's a good story. It's a terribly named movie though and whoever wrote the summary on the back or the movie case should be subjected to a head smack. Not only does it do the movie no justice, it actually makes it sound awful.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: P-Bo,

This isn't as underappreciated as it used to be, but Equilibrium. I love Christian Bale and the premise keeps you interested. So does the action, there are some wonderfully cheoriagraphed fight scenes in this movie.

quote:

keitht7 posted:

This isn't as underappreciated as it used to be, but Equilibrium. I love Christian Bale and the premise keeps you interested. So does the action, there are some wonderfully cheoriagraphed fight scenes in this movie.

I thought that this movie was a quality sci fi effort with above average cinematic technique with a rich look and a serious plotline that that had good acting. I enjoyed it.

Lonestar with Matthew McConaughey

Laurel Canyon with Frances McDonald

Shallow Grave with Ewan McGregor

Stir of Echoes with Kevin Bacon

Carried Away with Dennis Hopper

Solaris with George Clooney

Red Rock West with Nic Cage

Requiem for a dream, awesome movie!

1. 'Living in Oblivion'
2. 'After Hours'
3. 'Return of the Living Dead'
4. 'Slaughterhouse 5'
5. 'Smile'
6. 'Best in Show

quote:

Originally posted by Johnny Webb:
1. 'Living in Oblivion'
2. 'After Hours'
3. 'Return of the Living Dead'
4. 'Slaughterhouse 5'
5. 'Smile'
6. 'Best in Show

It would be easier if you gave a brief description of each movie so others will have something to go off of. Thanx.

quote:

Originally posted by P-Bo:

quote:

Originally posted by Johnny Webb:
1. 'Living in Oblivion'
2. 'After Hours'
3. 'Return of the Living Dead'
4. 'Slaughterhouse 5'
5. 'Smile'
6. 'Best in Show

It would be easier if you gave a brief description of each movie so others will have something to go off of. Thanx.

Whether wanted or not I'll add my two cents to these films -- all of which are good.

LIVING IN OBLIVION -- This is easily director Tom DiCillo's high water mark. It was his sophomore outing after the ill-fated JOHNNY SUEDE, a film that starred a then-unknown Brad Pitt. I guess DiCillo wasn't all that crazy about working with the Brad-ster, because he modeled one of the LIO characters after Brad. The film is basically about the making of the movie and all the characterizations are on the money, including Catherine Keener, Steve Buscemi, Dylan McDermott. I can't remember the name of the actor who played "Pitt;" James something. He was also in DRUGSTORE COWBOY and he was a guy who I thought would have a better career than he's ended up having.

AFTER HOURS -- This was the first Scorsese movie I caught on first run and it is a low-budget film that catches NYC at an interesting time. Basically Griffin Dunne is trapped downtown and has all these weird encounters with actresses like Linda Fiorentino and Roseanne Arquette.

RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD. Is this the first sequel? This was the one where the characters are holed up in a shopping mall. Not a bad film, but I'm not a huge fan of the zombie genre.

SLAUGHTERHOUSE 5. I can't remember much about this one, though I did catch it on video years ago. In college a guy who lived across the hall from me freshman year was a huge Vonnegut fan and I went out that summer and read all of Vonnegut's novels, though I've since lost interest in him.

SMILE. I remember seeing this one for the first time in a repertory house on a double-bill with CARRIE. I went to see the double-bill to catch up with CARRIE and was completely blown away by how good SMILE was. Long before Christopher Guest's satires, SMILE skewers beauty pagents. I caught it again on video a second time and it didn't hold up quite as well, but well worth seeing.

BEST IN SHOW -- Speaking of Christopher Guest. I caught this on original release and merely liked it. It wasn't as good as Guest's first film, the one where he skewers a small time amateur theatre company. The highpoint of BIS was Fred Willard's bumptious tv analyst of the dog show. His performance alone makes this one a must see.

[/QUOTE]Originally posted by ChrisFromAstoria:

quote:

Originally posted by wong828:
Out of Sight is one smart movie, from an Elmore Leonard novel. Soderberg has a habit of making fairly smart movies.

Good call here. I caught this one on original release and will have to dust off my laser disc and take another look at it. This is easily J Lo's best performance, which could be considered faint praise because J Lo hasn't exactly had the Midas Touch when selecting her roles (GIGLI anyone?).

I may pair OUT OF SIGHT with another film based on an Elmore Leonard tome, GET SHORTY, which I haven't seen since its original release. What I would be curious about is that James Gandolfini was in this (and he was very good) in a supporting role before he found fame and fortune as Tony Soprano.

Not too many Elmore Leonard books have been turned into good movies. I remember back in the 1980s when Burt Reynolds' career was in free fall he starred in a couple of films based on Elmore Leonard books. They all had one-word titles like STICK, MALONE and HEAT. All were stinkers.[/QUOTE]

quote:

Originally posted by ChrisFromAstoria:
Not too many Elmore Leonard books have been turned into good movies.

Also, Quentin Tarentino's "Jackie Brown" was based on Elmore Leonard's book, "Rum Punch". In an inspired bit of cross casting, both "Jackie Brown" and "Out of Sight" featured Michael Keaton as Ray Nicolette.

quote:

Originally posted by maveric74:
Lonestar with Matthew McConaughey

Laurel Canyon with Frances McDonald

Shallow Grave with Ewan McGregor

Stir of Echoes with Kevin Bacon

Carried Away with Dennis Hopper

Solaris with George Clooney

Red Rock West with Nic Cage

I'll be bumptious enough to put my two cents in on these movies.

LONESTAR -- Along with CITY OF HOPE, this is my favorite John Sayles film. Just a masterful weaving of multiple characters and storylines. Epic in scope, it has so many story lines I don't know how to begin to describe it. It is a mystery, it comments on social issues, it is a love story. And it all works!

Laurel Canyon. Another good film, though I don't think it is as strong as the director's previous film, HIGH ART, which, coincidentally, I re-watched the other night. Lisa Cholodenko is a director to watch. This film is set in Hollywood and Frances McCormand plays a promiscuous record producer. Her straight laced son, Christian Bale, comes to live with her along with his new wife, the lovely Kate Beckinsale. Kate gets capitivated by McCormand's lifestyle. An interesting film.

Shallow Grave. The film that the team that made TRAINSPOTTING made before TRAINSPOTTING. Sort of a murder mystery and a thriller, I liked this one on original release, but I didn't think it held up on a subsequent viewing. Something about three roommates finding some money that belonged to drug dealers and then all sorts of things start to go wrong.

Stir of Echoes. An intelligent horror film/thriller starring Kevin Bacon. I can't remember all the details, but I remember liking this one quite a bit.

Carried Away. I didn't see this one on its original theatrical release, but someone recommended it and it was pretty good. It's been a while since I've seen this one, but its basically a May/December romance between Amy Irving, the ex-Mrs. Steven Spielberg, and Dennis Hopper.

Solaris -- Soderbergh's ill-fated remake of Tarkovksy's "classic' or so-called classic. I didn't like the original and liked the remake even less. I had no idea what was going on in this one. I remember that there were only a few people in the theatre when I saw it and most were as baffled as I was because a good many of them walked out.

Red Rock West -- This is a goodie. A modern day film noir starring Cage and co-starring a great character actor who died way too young, J.T. Walsh. This had an interesting history in that it appeared on cable tv and then received a theatrical release. I can't remember all the details. John Dahl was an interesting director who specializes in film noirs. If you liked RRW, be sure to check out his THE LAST SEDUCTION, a terrific noir with Linda Fiorentino in the role of her life as the femme fatale and Peter Berg, in the role of his life, as the nebbish guy who gets caught up in her web. And Bill Pullman, who specializes in playing the "other guy" is good as Fiorentino's "husband."