Open Thread & Movie Naps
Thursday, July 17, 2014 at 1:36PM What's on your cinematic mind? Discuss as I finish a few more Oscar charts.
Anyone know which Manhattan movie theater this is? I thought Film Forum at first but the building next to it looks wrong.
I woke up thinking about Ingmar Bergman movies because in Summer Wishes Winter Dreams (1973) Joanne Woodward and her mother Sylvia Sidney take in Wild Strawberries. Joanne immediately falls asleep which you should never do at great movies. Bad Joanne, bad! But how funny is it that one of the Oscar nominated films of 1973 has a Bergman scene in it in the same year that the Academy went wild for Cries and Whispers? And then I thought about how evil it was for me to program two awesome but gruellingly enigmatic movies in a row for Best Shot (Under the Skin then Cries & Whispers) but they are going to make such amazing 'hit me with your best shot' episodes. Movies that leave a lot of room for the audience to wander around in deserve audiences that will do the wandering if you what I mean.
Reader Comments (23)
I watched Byzantium yesterday and oh my god Gemma Arterton. (also, related, your Hottest Hotties list)
It looks like the Paris Theater on W58th. Those could be the tiles in the façade back when the photo was taken (70's?). Wild Strawberries is one of those movies I need to see again because I was probably 17 when I saw it and didn't think much of it back then, even though I had seen Scenes from a Marriage, Persona and Cries & Whispers around that time and had been absolutely mesmerized by them. Recently saw Through a Glass Darkly and loved it, especially the performances - best showcase of Harriet Anderson's immense talents!
R.I.P. ELAINE STRITCH
You will be missed kiddo :(
Looking forward to the updated charts! And Wild Strawberries is so so amazing and heartbreaking. One of those pure films about life that you feel everyone should love.. but hey, haha definitely one that you HAVE to be in the right mood for. Which is always tricky!
Was just watching Emma Stone on letterman last night. She's so charming in TV interviews. Hoping Magic in the Moonlight is a real showcase for her and that along with her other 2 movies this year bring her to the heights of Easy A.
"Cries & Whispers" is to me the ULTIME work of ART of ANY discipline.
@David
That news has rained on my day. I wanted her around a bit longer because she was one of those cool people of a certain age. Unlike the human garbage with the Anime mask face Joan Rivers.
Saw SNOWPIERCER a couple of nights ago and was very disappointed. Although the visuals were outstanding, the plot, especially the ending, was ridiculous. I like meta, but what was up with all those cars devoted to things like mostly empty jacuzzis, a sushi bar/aquarium, a botanical garden with one chick knitting; also, the classroom scene--yeeesh, cringe-worthy. Lots of plot holes. I need to revisit discussions on this site since I think missed some days where folks here talked about it. Nice to see Captain America in another Captain America-dark role; and of course, adorable Jamie Bell. I think Bell and Eddie Redmayne are my favorite skinny-boy Brits.
A tip of the hat to the great Elaine Stritch. Saw "Boyhood" and quite enjoyed the experience. Such a special film. (Was thinking about if it could potentially qualify for certain nominations. It's almost so unique that even the Oscars don't seem to justify how it should be honored).
We are also coming into the season where thought provoking films are beginning to be released, which is exciting for me as a "prude" movie goer. To hear mindless praise and babble about Transformers, X-Men, and others of the sort is bothersome. Next up is "Get On Up" for me :-)
As I must do with all things cinematic, I make the connection of Ms. Stritch's passing to Jennifer Jones. Elaine memorably played Jennifer's sharp-tongued yet kind friend in A Farewell to Arms. Rest in peace.
Elaine Stritch, of course. Growing up in the 1980s, my first exposure to her was as Rudy's teacher on "The Cosby Show." Imagine my surprise a few years later when I found out that she had this long storied career.
"Carousel" is also on my mind because I have a callback for a production on Tuesday. Has anyone ever seen the movie? Is it any good?
I'm very happy The Immigrant is on Netflix and I can finally watch it!!
But only tomorrow as I'm still mesmerised by Boyhood. I read the reviews and the tweets and I think I still wasn't prepared by how incredible it was.
@Troy H.
Same here. But Cosby only dealt with legends from all walks of life.
Good luck, Troy. Haven't seen the movie, but I love that song If I Loved You. So lovely.
I'm obsessed with the use of bright colours in Utopia. I want to paint things bright yellow. Which somehow took me to thinking about a possible crossover of dystopian movies and movies about movies. A group of movie stars would live in a train where they'd be forced to make the train work by making franchises on a continous loop. The dollars won with the movies would be the fuel for the train (very subtle, I know). The least bankable would die.
iggy -- well, snowpiercer aint subtle so... ;)
iggy: That is, yes, not very subtle. It's also, pretty much, the plot of an issue of Scud: The Disposable Assassin.
I am SO behind on movies. I keep a post-it on my desk of all the movies that are out that I want to see, and it's almost so long that I need a second one! Looking forward to Life Itself and Enemy, though.
I just watched Pain & Gain. It took me about three nights to finish. It was almost good, but ultimately was just too much. I have to say The Rock is a great actor though. And Anthony Mackie was almost sweet, you know, for a murderer.
I think I will go home and listen to Goldilocks with Elaine Stritch on vinyl and mix up a vodka stinger!
@Pam- mmm, skinny boy Brits. I like Bell and Redmayne, and would add Ben Whishaw. Some of the other appealing Brits are not quite boys anymore.
I've gone out to see Wild Strawberries twice and fell asleep both times. Sounds like Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams might be a good movie for me. Ever since that Cannes photo of Woodward and Newman, I've been thinking that I haven't seen enough Joanne Woodward movies.
And Nathaniel is right that I too remember Sylvia Sidney mostly from Beetlejuice, but I have seen her in Dead End with Humphrey Bogart and in Fury. I find her so gorgeous when young. She looks beautiful, smart and piquant.
I finally got around to watching Monster for the first time last night. I thought Charlize's portrayol was very good, but I was even more taken with Christina Ricci's performance. I'm shocked that she didn't receive any recognition for that role. I wasn't as into the awards side of things back then as I am now (obsessed). Does anyone remember if there was any critics love or Oscar campaign for her?
@Jonn
Many were critical of her supporting turn. It was for some a bad performance from her.
I don't understand how one Scar-Jo sci-fi flick can get wide release, but another one might make it to me one day. I haven't seen Lucy and it might be good (Luc Besson sci-fi is always interesting), but is Under the Skin that much different in terms of marketability?