If anyone hasn't seen Gothika yet, DON'T! What started out as an interesting story got sidelined with the supernatural stuff. While I normally like some supernatural storyline, it didn't seem to fit in with this particular movie. I guess I was expecting it to be something on par with Identity, which I think by the way, was a great and underrated movie. I haven't seen Master and Commander yet but I'm planning to. The Cat in the Hat doesn't even come close to a movie I'd consider seeing.

The bf and I just saw "Whalerider" yesterday. I have to say it is one of the best films I have seen in a long time. We highly recommend seeing it. I could actually hear people crying during a couple of scenes. And the acting was first rate all around. I hope the Oscar folks give this movie the credit it deserves.

A friend of ours brought over the DVD "Sordid Lives" Saturday night. I haven't laughed that hard in months. It was very funny. Of course any movie with Leslie Jordan in it is going to be a hoot!!! If you haven't seen this movie please rent it. It will cheer you up.

A friend and I went to see Gus Van Sant's Elephant last night. WOW! What an amazing movie. If you overdosed on the Columbine incident like I did, you'll catch on to some of the subtle actions and realize that this is a decent result of inspired events. It has the typical Gus direction tools (long seemless scenes, scenes shot over again from differing points of view) and just when it makes no sense and you feel as if you are lost, eveything falls right into place -- amazing. This is the kind of movie the Academy should give serious consideration (even a nomination or two), but it's way too controversial to ever get the Oscar. While the film will disturb you and isn't for everyone, if you have the patience and tolerance for violence, I call this THE must-see movie of the year.

[ November 26, 2003, 05:49 AM: Message edited by: bobby78751 ]

For anyone who goes to see Elephant, you might also be interested in seeing Zero Day. From the way the website reads, Zero Day is a fictionailzed documentary sort of like The Blair Witch Project. It'll be interesting to see what kind of film it turns out to be.

Very much enjoyed Shattered Glass. Not that it's such a great film, but the subject matter was very fascinating and apropos. Given the recent anti-Semitism controversy at The New Republic and the Jayson Blair/New York Times case, it's fun to watch Stephen Glass go down for the stories he fabricated for The New Republic. Well-cast film; even Haydn Christianson's Keanu-style non-acting was tolerable. It's amazing watching con-artists like Glass operate... As I was watching I kept thinking to myself: Could I be taken in by a con-man like that; or would I be like the guys who discovered his lies?

Shake it all about. Danish, gay, romantic comedy starts with a happy gay couple, only to have their relationship torn asunder when one of the guys starts having an affair with the other's sister-in-law. Ew. Wish the movie was better than it was. Still, interesting to see film about gays in Denmark.

------------

How ironic: The New Republic is duped and publicly humiliated by the Stephen Glass scandel, yet they're advertising the movie about that very same embarrassment (and the movie website advertises TNR).

[ November 28, 2003, 05:14 PM: Message edited by: canmark ]

I know this is an old classic, but I never tire of recommending it to friends as REQUIRED gay viewing. (That is if you like high camp entertainment.)

http://www.joancrawfordonline.com/films/w/.../mp_women01.jpg

It is cold and raining on an off in the Bay Area tonight. I have a lemon pie in the oven and I am putting "The Women" on. It is fun to see a Norma Shearer get her revenge on a young Joan Crawford after her huzzzband is stolen. It is all about MEN but there is not a single man in the cast. Looks like you can get yours here. .

[ November 29, 2003, 06:39 PM: Message edited by: m1 ]

saw The Missing last night--very good flick

I think that Tommy Lee Jones and Cate Blanchert might both get Oscar nominations for the movie

Definately it will get one for best cinematography--beautiful movie

JUst saw a film that has been out for a while. I didn't think I would like it. But KILL BILL IS AMAZING!!!!

The film had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. All the other bullshit references that american critics can be thrown aside. It constantly reminded me of "Kozure Okame" or "Lone Wolf and Cub" The fight scenes were just amazing. and I don't even like action films!

on a downer note... saw "Shattered Glass". it wasn't that great. sort of a Newsroom thriller on prozac.

I saw Timeline on Friday night. I thought the main star was kind of cute, but other than that, it definitely wasn't my kind of movie.

You need to be a fan of war violence and history and those subjects aren't my cup of tea.

Josh

The animated film "The Triplets of Belleville" is tremendous! Inredibly inventive, laugh-out-loud funny, wild, and completely charming. The filmaker was obviously influenced by the comedies of Jacques Tati and the illustrations of both Ronald Serle and Gahan Wilson. As the closing credits ran, the audience actually applauded the film (always a strange experience at a movie--applause aimed at a screen??!!)

~Adam

I liked Triplets -- glad I saw it, marvelous art, some nice twisted episodes ... but no outbreaks of applause at my screening; the story is amusing but carried by the style. "Belleville" (aka New York) represented as a fatburger-chomping mecca of lard-asses? Hmm, wonder if that gave the audience on Houston Street pause... ie, it's good, not great.

I agree that The Triplets of Belleville is quite inventive and amusing. Saw it at the Toronto Film Festival (ticket courtesy of Bill W), but will probably see it again when it comes out in the theatre here.

The non-linear structure of 21 Grams makes the story a bit of a mystery at first. Who are these people? And how do their paths cross? But halfway through the film you figure out the story--and the film promptly loses all tension. Like Ebert, I wonder if the film might have been better told chronologically.

I've seen a bunch of movies this past week or two with my friend who is on the SAG Awards nominating committee. Here's a brief take on them:

21 Grams-I thought Sean Penn had the Oscar sewn up for Mystic River, but his performance is even better in this flick. Unlike canmark, I liked the fragmented timeline. Naomi Watts is also terrific. 3 1/2 stars!

Big Fish-Got to go to an advanced screening of Tim Burton's latest starring Albert Finney, Ewan Macgregor, Billy Crudup, Jessica Lange. The cast is top notch and the whimsical stories of Finney's character are really well done. The movie disappoints a bit when it goes for the straight father-son reconciliation story, but still a fine film. 3 1/2 stars!

The Last Samurai-Tom Cruise's latest is just not very good at all. Cruise as Civil War vet turned
Samurai warrior is almost laughable. Great looking movie, but the story is a bore. 1 star.

In America-Jim Sheridan, who directed The Boxer, My Left Foot and In the Name of the Father scores another with his latest, a semiautobiographical story of an Irish immmigrant family dealing with their new surroundings as well as the death of a child. The two girs who play the daughters are wonderful. Very natural kid actors. The film is moving and touching withut being maudlin or manipulative. 4 stars!!

Sylvia-Gwyneth Paltrow as Sylvia Plath. What a downer. Paltrow is good, but its just too overwrought. 2 1/2 stars.

House of Sand and Fog-Oscar winners nd Jennifer Connelly will likely be nominated for their roles in this movie. This is a really good flick with an original story. One of the year's best. 3 1/2 stars!

And as I feared, whjen I went home for Thanksgiving I was forced to take my nieces and nephews to see The Cat in the Hat. What a piece of crap! Mike Myers is just creepy as the Cat and the two kid actors-I just wanted to smack them both! Even the kids didn't like it. 0 stars!!!

I recently saw:

"Lost in Translation"--a magical, beautiful film, in which nothing happens, but in which Bill Murray and Scarlett Johannsen (as well as the city of Tokyo), give their best performances ever. I could see it 10 more times. Excellent.

"21 Grams"--grim, but very moving, though not as good as the director's first movie, "Amores Perros." That was superb. This one is one of the best of I've seen this year, but lacking in the moments of lightness that made the earlier film such a success.

"The Human Stain"--I am tired of Nicole Kidman. Lenny Kravitz, please, take her on tour with you! The book is 100% better; the movie is stilted, too schematic, and utterly lacking in Rothian sensibility. And I'm sorry, but I didn't for one minute believe Anthony Hopkins as a black man passing as a Jewish person. Maybe there are a few people out there who'd buy this, but....

Sorry - I thought it was a dumb , boring film (so did my date)- Key word nothing happened! - Why its on everyone's best list I'll never know!

The last movie that I saw was "Bubba Ho-Tep."

It was very good.

It is essentially a horror + comedy movie.

I got a promotional copy of Gigli at a party Saturday night. Hell! I'm not complaining. I didn't have to pay a damn thing to see it! That rocks!!

Allen, was it a "Razzies" nomination party? Not like Gigli needs any help getting the honor.

I was an after bar little get together. I drank WAY TOO much w/ the guy I'm seeing. We didn't home until 7:30am and I only slept for 4 hours. Ouch! I haven't done that since I was in college.

I went to see Shattered Glass over the weekend. I really liked it, especially being from a journalistic background, I can relate to the egos and relationships that are established in such a profession. However, a trailer for The Day After Tomorrow REALLY caught my attention. TDAT is another film heavy on the CGI, but, wow, it took my breath away watching a tornado rip apart the Capitol Records building in Los Angeles and NYC being covered in 50-story snow drifts...Dennis Quaid and Jake Gyllenhaal star.

[ December 09, 2003, 06:13 AM: Message edited by: bobby78751 ]

"The Missing," like many big-budget American films, is too long by about 20 minutes and has characters explain things bright audiences already figured out, but Cate Blanchett continues to amaze and the cinematography is excellent. Ron Howard cast a number of the smaller parts with recognizable-from-tv-series actors (notably Elizabeth Moss from "West Wing" & Simon Baker from "Guardian") and got good work from them.

~Adam

Finally got to see Pirates of the Carribean.

What a GREAT film. I might actually buy that one.

And while Errol Flynn was a Swashbuckler, Johnny Depp is definately a Swishbuckler in that movie.

He was excellent!!

I've always gotten sentimental around Christmas time. So I fill my movie schedule with new 'old' films. Right now I'm in a British 40's phase. 'Hope and Glory', 'The Dresser', 'Last of the Blonde Bombshells'. All set during the war. There great while decorating and watching the snowfall.

Okay mark my words. Come February you will hear the following statement. "And the Oscar for Best Actress goes to...Charlize Theron for Monster!"

I'm not kidding. Nothing she's done in the past led me to believe Theron is anything more than just another pretty face. But in this movie, she plays real-life serial killer Aileen Wournos, who was put to death after her conviction. You don't even recognize her; fortunately she doesn't just rely on makeup and weight gain for her performance. It is one of the best performances I have ever seen in a movie.

I have a feeling Monster will be to her what Boys Don't Cry was to Hillary Swank-the perfect role in an independent film that will win her all kinds of well deserved accolades including the Oscar. The movie is terrific as well. And Christina Ricci gives an excellent performance too. The timing of Monster is a little odd given the subject matter. It opens on Dec 24 in New York and LA. But see this movie.

[ December 10, 2003, 12:38 PM: Message edited by: George_vikingfan ]

The Best Actress Oscar is now generally reserved for beauty queens who "slum" (cf Halle Berry)...

For the REAL story of Aileen Wuornos's final months, see the amazing documentary by Nick Broomfield that's opening next month in NY & LA. I saw it in Toronto in September; no Hollywoodized histrionics here, but it's revelatory on the absurdities of Death Row "justice."

I saw BIG FISH last night since they previewed the movie again here, what a surprise!
The movie is truly a wonderful and special movie and the best production by director Tim Burton. The movie still has some of the darker tones that Burton is well known for but is more focussed on the relationships of it's characters which seems to be a new twist. Fish is whimsical and fun at times, and entertaining from start to finish. Even though this has nothing to do with Christmas, it will be a wonderful holiday movie to take your loved ones to. Go see it.

I just saw this movie this past weekend. I loved it. Boy that Richard Ruccolo is a cute butch thing!! Will someone explain to me the sex scene during the movie. Exactly which one is the pitcher and which is the catcher here? I know this is a crude question, but I was wondering. It seems that once the condom question comes up there isn't much time left to the finish. I was hoping for a little more. That's why I love DVD's. You can watch them over and over real easy.

I went to see DIE, MOMMIE, DIE this past weekend. It finally made it to Austin after a brief appearance at the Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival. I loved it! It's some mindless fun with lots of juicy stuff to see.

Finally saw For A Lost Soldier. Half good, half creepy. Apparently a lot of people really think of it as a love story, but it kind of weirded me out. The kid didn't even remotely look adult-ish, and it's plain the soldier is hunting him from the get-go. The pedophile angle is too strong to gloss over for me. I think it could have actually been a real romance had the kid been 17 or so. But 12? Ick. Maybe better yet, a relationship between the nice father and the soldier.

However, that soldier really was hot. Couldn't find any trace of news about him on Google. Ah well.

I enjoyed the movie For A Lost Soldier. I believe it was based on the autobiography of a Dutch dancer/choreographyer--who was the boy in the film.

In America, Something's Gotta Give, Big Fish and Cold Mountain. Really enjoyed all four of them.

JR, the actor's name is Andrew Kelly. He only has two credits; IMDB is *the* place to go for movie info.

A friend of mine is interested in Nazi-era stuff, so I borrowed some tapes from him. I watched Leni Riefenstahl's Olympia, both parts the other night. It's often scorned for being a fascistic view of human beauty, but that's just rubbish, in my view. She was filming the 1936 Olympics and, hey, you know what? Athletes tend to be good looking and in shape! Surprising, isn't it? One thing that's interesting about the film is that if those 1936 athletes were around today, they'd be considered out of shape almost; I like that lean, non-muscley look though. There's bits with Adolf and the gang, but not too much and she certainly gives Jesse Owens his due. The voice-overs are kind of cringe-inducing though. "The American Negro's are dangerous runners" had me wincing, for one. Overall, a great achievement--especially the way the high diving competition was filmed--and it's certainly the basis for all televised sporting events as we see them now.

I also watched a weird Nazi propoganda film called Hilterjunge Quex. It didn't have subtitles, but I picked up the main dialogue even though my German comprehension is poor. What was distracting was that some academic came along and wrote explanations of what we were seeing and they were inserted in to the film. So there'd be things like "The Communists are represented by the lower-class, the Nazis by the upper class", stuff that was obvious. The pure, blonde Hitler Youth Heinie (*hee* he said Heinie) is murdered by those nasty Commies and dies on the street. Tsk, tsk, those commies.

On a more artistic note, I also watched Murnau's incredible Faust. Silent, of course, but very compelling. I wish they'd do away with the diaglogue cards that pop up to give dialogue and plot points and just subtitle the film, while having someone write a score to the movie. The score they used, by Timothy Brock, is good. I'm going to watch Richard Burton's Doktor Faustus, with Liz Taylor as Helen of Troy, tonight.

[ December 29, 2003, 10:56 AM: Message edited by: Jim Allen ]

My thoughts exactly. eek!

But yeah, the soldier was hot (I rented the video a while ago).

More recently, I saw Love, Actually with my mom while visiting her and my sister for Christmas. We both enjoyed it but agreed some parts were more "explicit" than the rather lightweight story required (not that I minded, though I would've taken different characters' clothes off wink ) ... and the plot twists toward the end were way too silly for anything but a romantic comedy like this.

So I watched "The Ring" on HBO last night. Not a great flick, somewhat engaging. It should have ended about ten minutes before it did. At any rate, the Outsports logo is really freaking me out right now.

(Somewhat funny story: If you've seen the flick, you know how after the deadly video is done playing, the screen turns to static? So movies over, I'm slightly spooked, try to turn off the TV. We just got DirectTV in our house, and when I tried to turn it off, it went to static. Then I couldn't figure out how to make it stop. Sort of weird, sort of funny.)

In another thread, jeffrey3410 posted

I don't know if I made a discovery on a not so well known fact, but a year ago (before we traded our vcr to dvd), I picked up an old VHS copy of the movie Cruising. When I was watching it, in almost a nano second, I though I saw dick penetrating an ass. I rewinded it, played it again, it's almost like a blur. So I slowed it, and OMG--- there it was--- DINK in the BUN, in and out, in and out. TWICE. Like someone has cut a portion of a bareback video, inserted it in the rape scene and then at the video booth screen. Has anyone seen this? Or I'm just a poor slob in this planet who didn't know that.


puckman1 replied

I must have missed this, but then again, its been some time since I watched this movie.

Okay I just saw Underworld. It could have been better. I mean it wasn't bad, it just could have been better. But let me tell you. I thought Scott Speedman was kinda cute in Felicity....He is sexy in Underworld. When did he get so sexy?

I loved Underworld it was just alot of fun to me. I am also a huge Kate Beckinsale fan. She kicked major A** in that movie. I dragged my partner around in the snow we had at the begining of the month so I could get it on the day it came out on DVD.

They are currently working on the sequel for the movie.

Hopefully, with the same actors. I really enjoyed it, but like I said I think it could have been better. I would have liked seeing what they cut out of it.

The special effects were really good. I ended up buying it.

I know Kate Beckinsale is attached to the movie as her boyfriend/husband (engaged) is the writer/director/producer of the sequel. I am pretty sure I heard that The werewolf/vampire hybrid guy would be back as well.

I recently rented They Shoot Horses, Don't They?, a movie I'd been meaning to see for years (it's been around since 1969). Interesting subject matter, and disturbing at times...a gruelling dance marathon in California during the Depression, and the desperation of the contestants. The late Gig Young won an Oscar for his role as emcee, but it was sweet young Michael Sarrazin who held my attention. He played Jane Fonda's dance partner, and was particularly appealing in his sweaty sleeveless shirt.

That would be the sexy Scott Speedman.

http://www.hollywoodjesus.com/movie/underworld/17.jpeg

http://www.dearsally.org/felicity/images/a...ie_people02.jpg

http://image.pathfinder.com/people/images/...s/sspeedman.jpg

http://secretlife.sweet-denial.com/scottfa...ndexx_r1_c1.jpg

Enjoy!

Has anyone seen House of Sand and Fog ? I saw it the other night and found it to be powerful and riveting. It doesn't sound all that interesting on paper--a man and his family buy a house after a woman loses it when she doesn't pay her taxes --but it's so much more. Ben Kingsley will get an Oscar nomination; Jennifer Connelly and the woman who plays his wife deserve them as well.

I hate to see movies like this fall by the wayside when crap like Cheaper by the Dozen rakes in the millions.

[ January 24, 2004, 09:50 PM: Message edited by: Just4Kxx ]

I saw "Monster" yesterday and agree with George's comments from about 10 posts ago. Charlize Theron's performance certainly lives up to the buzz circulating about it and will likely earn her "A" list scripts in the future. An Oscar nomination is a lock, and a win would be well-earned.

Though the movie is difficult to "enjoy" given its subject matter, it is very well done. I recommend it for its technical merits.

[ January 24, 2004, 11:41 PM: Message edited by: AmongAcorns ]

I saw "Monster" yesterday as well. I agree that on a production level it was a great movie. And CT was amazing. However, I found it so disturbing I couldn't wait for it to be over. It has many redeeming qualities as a film but I found it very difficult to tolerate much less enjoy.

I have also seen "The House of Sand and Fog" and "Monster" and I thought that both movies were really good.

I downloaded the French rugby players DVD......DAMN! It's highly recommended =D

Oh yeah...... I agree totally.

From where?

Last night, I went to the premiere of a new gay themed film titled "Latter Days". Apparently it has won 5 Audience Awards at various gay film festivals. Here is a brief description of Latter Days from Internet Movie Database (imdb.com).


I've been so over these gay movies for a long time. Usually horrible acting, really bad dialogue and ultra contrived situations. This movie, written and directed by C Jay Cox (who wrote Sweet Home Alabama) avoids most of that stuff though. There are some really good laughs, some touching scenes and pretty fine acting. Steve Sandvoss (in his film debut-his very first audition!) is really quite good as the Mormon missionary and he's handsome as hell to boot! Wesley Ramsey, who plays the Los Angeles party boy, is not quite as good, but he holds his own throughout most of the film.

There are some other recognizable faces in the cast; Jaqueline Bisset, Mary Kay Place (The Big Chill), Erik Palladino (ER), Amber Benson (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Third Rock from the Sun) all offer solid support.

The movie opens Friday here in NYC and LA and will slowly roll out throughout the nation. So far, they are unable to find any theater in Salt Lake City to show the flick!

[ January 29, 2004, 10:53 AM: Message edited by: George_vikingfan ]