Tuesday
Apr162019
What's on your cinematic mind?
Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 9:36PM 
It's an open thread. Do tell!
If you need a prompt, here's one: what's the most recent time a movie popped into your head for no apparent reason that you could explain? For me it was Gosford Park (2001) early this morning. Maybe it's because Downton Abbey is coming to the big screen? Who knows. Regardless, I think it's a sign that I'm supposed to watch it again because this isn't the first time that Robert Altman movie has been all like 'Nathaniel, you barely remember this film you loved so much. Come visit.'
Reader Comments (24)
Two words: Gentleman Jack. CAN NOT WAIT until Monday. Sally Wainwright (writer/director/exec prod); Suranne Jones and other great acting talents of British TV; period drama with comedic elements; female sexual, business and social empowerment, lovely views of Yorkshire countryside; great soundtrack and closing song; already glowing reviews.
Love Gosford Park. So much to see in each scene! Every rewatch for me has revealed more to appreciate. One of Altman's best. Hubby gets a judgy "Store bought marmalade" from me whenever he pulls it out of the refrigerator. Kelly Macdonald, Emily Watson, Kristen Scott Thomas, Eileen Atkins, plus Smith and Mirren. There's a lot to love.
On my cinematic mind? Apocalypse Now. Random rewatch last week. I hadn't seen it in over 20 years. Its a complete punch to the gut. So powerful it has crept back into my mind for days now. Vittorio Storaro's Oscar is well deserved.
Soon watching Ikiru and Elmer Gantry (which recently showed up on streaming).
Well I just saw TEA WITH THE DAMES and when they played a clip from GOSFORD PARK I did think to myself that I needed to rewatch it STAT.
Two flashbacks over the weekend (both explained, so they don;t fall into your category, but sharing nonetheless):
1. (Medium spoiler for PET SEMATARY) Had totally forgotten/repressed one of the most distressing scenes I have ever witnessed in a cinema - the ankle meets pencil scene from PET SEMATARY (1989)... until I watched the new one over the weekend, and they started flashing some lower foot skin to scare you into what was coming. Triggered some trauma, that's for sure!
2. The one movie that came to mind whilst watching HELLBOY was ... HUDSON HAWK. Both movies are so bad, they turn the corner and become absolutely enjoyable. Here's predicting that HELLBOY will be a cult film in years to come.
Add to the love for GOSFORD PARK: KST & DMS are fantastic and the final scene between Mirren and Atkins has me in tears every single time.
What's the most recent time a movie popped into your head for no apparent reason that you could explain?
Yesterday when i was in the shower. I dont know why but came to my mind 'The Devil Wears Prada", exactly the part when Emily says "Remember you and i have totally diferent jobs, i mean, you get coffee..."
I am not a fan of the movie but i love Emily Blunt in this.
I also love your questions Nathaniel, are so unpredictable and fun.
I watch Gosford Park at least once a year, I find it's the perfect film for a rainy weekend afternoon.
It never fails to engage and amuse me. All of the acting talent on display, and Altman at his best with the overlapping dialogue and interwoven relationships.
Jeremy Northam does such a lovely job singing at the piano, and Maggie Smith is so poisonous towards him. .... "Such a lovely, LONG, repertoire."
Co-sign what Pam said. Sally Wainwright's work is reliably excellent. "Gentleman Jack" will be worth checking out.
As for me I re-watched 7 seasons of Game of Thrones for the last month and have been inspired to do a batch of wine with my own Game of Thrones label on the bottle.
"That's what I do, I drink and I know things". Its a limited edition, not that Dornish piss,
just the best Arbour Gold.
(Clearly I need to move on to other things)
A movie I randomly thought of today was INHERENT VICE. It remains the only PTA film I did not connect with at all, but I also consider it to be the perfect example of 21st century film noir. I think it will take another dozen rewatches until I can form a coherent thought about it, if I’m being honest.
But now that I’m talking about Paul Thomas Anderson, do I have any allies here in thinking that PHANTOM THREAD is his stealth best film?
I read the making-of article about EYES WIDE SHUT in Vulture today (from a forthcoming book about 1999 movies).
I'd rewatched EWS a couple of years ago and found it a lot more impressive than when I'd first seen it in 1999 (and I liked it then). Time for a 3rd viewing...
Sorry, after fulfilling my Almodovar and Peele curiosity, the Disney-Fox merger has taken control of my anxiety. Can't wait for Avengers: Endgame (though I will probably see it on the 2nd day, trying to avoid any spoiler) and when that's done, my expectations are for the official announcement of when Fantastic Four will join the MCU.
Anyone that has read any good Fantastic Four comic book, knows we're aiming to cinematic gold, in the hands of Kevin Feige and Marvel, at last. I'd say that, along with Daredevil, and Thor, Fantastic Four is the most cinematic propierty of Marvel (Dr. Strange belongs to VR, just think about it).
Plus: it seems that Feige has confirmed that Deadpool will almost inmediately join the MCU and that hinted that Reynolds will continue in the role. He's the easier to introduce (thanks to the fact he's so meta), and I wouldn't rule out, a final cut of Endgame will end with a Reynolds cameo.
On my jog this morning out of the blue I started singing the song from the end credits of Wonder Park (I work at a cinema so have heard it a few times), the film looks awful but the song's about Pi being an irrational number so I think I can forgive it.
The movie that I've found has a strange staying power over the years, and which I still think about with regularity is Hilary & Jackie. What an inspired approach to the biopic it was, so riddled with unusual cruelty and empathy. The final scene, where it's revealed that Jackie met her adult self on the beach all those years ago, and the enigmatic words she said to her younger self pop back into my head a lot!
I think a lot in your betrayal.
I’m thinking that Lady Gaga and Regina King need to team up for a buddy comedy/musical.
Also, Jennifer Jones’ performance in The Towering Inferno.
Gentleman Jack is really promising! Love Sally Wainwright! There is so much good tv on or upcoming right now. It's too bad Game of Thrones is dominating the conversation.
Upcoming movies... Jennifer Lawrence teaming with A24/Scott Rudin and Eli Bush (producers behind Lady Bird and Ex Machina) for a movie directed by Lila Neugebauer, who directed The Waverly Gallery on Boadway.
Also, Sony indicated they would be willing to premiere Little Women at Cannes if Tarantino's film isn't ready. This probably won't happen, but it indicates a whole lot of confidence in the movie, which probably will be moved up from the Christmas release date.
I have Us stuck on the brain. It'll probably be there a long time. It's selfish to want Jordan Peele to only make horror films, especially with his gift for character and world building, but I kind of want that to happen. I'm trying to think of the last time we had a horror film director creating work that feels so relevant to modern society. Sion Sono feels like a pretty close parallel, though his work really swings for the absurd.
I’ve been thinking of screenwriters (of course) and in particular Julius Epstein (“Casablanca”). The Epstein twins, Julius and Phillip, were named by Jack Warner to the House of Unamerican Activities (The Hollywood Blacklist).
I just saw for the first time “The Light in the Piazza” with Olivia de Havilland and the exquisitely beautiful Yvette Mimieux. Julius wrote the screenplay from the novella by Elizabeth Spencer.
I’d read the novella, but a lot of the story is told by the mother (Olivia) and the mother thinking, and a filmed version has to show, not tell. I keep thinking about Epstein’s interpretation of the story and how surprising it is.
Whenever I see a film by one of the blacklisted writers, it stays with me for days. There’s a directness about how humanity works, and a compassion and insistence on justice.
In “The Light in the Piazza” Epstein goes further than my thoughts when reading the novella. He matter of factly lays out issues of misogyny, of a woman’s right to own her sexuality and the expression of it, of how rich men arrange the world to suit themselves, how a mother’s love actually enables her to see the world in a sensible way, and what it is that really makes a connection between people.
I just had double surgery and was in the hospital for almost a week. After I got out, all I could watch at home were old time Disney movies or the like. I guess I really needed extremely basic stuff. I watched Swiss Family Robinson, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Summer Romance (no wait, what was it called, with Hayley Mills? Oh yes), Summer Magic. I had never seen it before.I think there is a place for (not very good) movies that bring comfort.
"Gosford Park" is a great movie
Watched 'Broadcast News' and that movie is as pretty much as perfect as a movie can be.
@Dave in Hollywood
I wish you a speedy recovery.
I know what you mean about those Disney live action movies. There’s always something that your drifting mind can muse on. For me, it’s the “home” that’s expressed. The big yellow house in “Summer Magic”, the treehouse in “Swiss Family Robinson”, Pollyanna’s aunt’s house, and in “The Truth About Spring”, Hayley Mills and John Mills live on a boat. And there’s almost always a dog, a nice dog.
Dave & Adri -- awww. those movies! get well soon, Dave
Adri -- have you heard the stage musical version? The music is absolutely exquisite. One of my favourite shows of this young century.
Gosford Park is proof that white people invented the "snitches get stitches" code.
Also I have a question, is Homecoming: A Film By Beyoncé a film? Just kidding the answer is yes. And it's one of the best films ever made.