Streaming Roulette, Nov: Paranorman, Thunderball, Time and "Psychiatry On-Screen"

After the jump you'll find a listing of everything that's new to streaming this month (November 2020). But first we pick two handfuls of titles and randomly freeze them with the scroll bar. Whatever comes up is what we share. Do these images make you want to see (or rewatch) the movie? 

[on the radio]  It's christmas time in the city. Ring a ling. Hear them ring ♫ ♬

Carol (2015) on Netflix
Always forget this is a Christmas movie! But, really, 'tis always the season for the best movie of the decade. 

-Don't leave me, man.

Platoon (1986) on Prime and Hulu
How did I end up on a shot of baby Johnny Depp who was a nobody in a small role when this film was made? He hadn't even done 21 Jump Street yet! That's the randomness of streaming roulette. Okay, so our year of the month is 1987 and this film doesn't qualify except that it didn't go into wide release until February 1987 and then dominated the Oscars in March so perhaps we should rewatch it and discuss. Yes? No? 

[Offscreen shouting] There's nothing in that purse for you, junkie!

Breathless (1983) on Prime
Was all excited to recommend Breathless now that it's streaming only it turns out it's the Richard Gere American remake so... never mind. If you've never seen Godard's French New Wave original, you must!

[Sighs]

Time (2020) on Prime
Murtada just interviewed the filmmakers. This doc has been getting stellar reviews. Oscar nomination in its future? Time will tell. 

-What did you do to them -- are they?
-Dead? No, they're just sleepy.

Helstrom (Season 1) on Hulu
Confession: Supernatural dramas are my junk food TV weakness. But I can't decide about this one. The premise is good and the mythology is pleasantly complicated but the tone is so monotonous. It could really use some humor or sex appeal since virtually every character suffers from major depression on account of, you know, being half demon or being possessed by demons or being emotionally scarred from dealing with demons and possession. Perhaps Buffy and True Blood permanently spoiled us by having more on their minds than just apocalypses and mayhem. And it's a minor annoyance but it really bugs that they've modelled the female lead's (Sydney Lemmon) look so exactly on Pulp Fiction's Mia Wallace complete with the same hairdo and makeup and towering height around her co-stars. Even the fashion sense is arguably similar.

How do you know my friends call me Domino?

Thunderball (1965) on Hulu
They have 14 of the Bond movies at the moment, many of them just added including three of the Sean Connery Bonds (RIP). I guess those streaming contracts were booked before No Time To Die moved to April? 

- What do you think you're doing firing at civilians! That is for the police to do!!!
- Nonono. It's okay sheriff. We've only been shooting at the dead ones.

ParaNorman (2012) on Netflix
Whoops, that joke didn't age well. You guys when will the Academy stop denying Laika their Oscar? Coraline is just as good as Up. ParaNorman is better than Brave. The Boxtrolls is better than Big Hero 6. Missing Link is better than Toy Story 4. sigh. Weirdly their best chance to win appeared to be Kubo and the Two Strings and that's my least favourite of their films. 

She can't help it. She's a very sick girl.

David and Lisa (1962) on Criterion Channel
I've always wanted to see this. Thanks, Criterion. It's part of a new collection they have called "Frame of Mind: Psychiatry On-Screen" which looks pretty strong. Lots of unseen films (for me at least) plus classics like Ordinary People (1980) as well as Oscar nominated lead performances like Stuart Whitman in The Mark (1961) and Joan Crawford in Possessed (1947).

You know what? I don't -- I don't really wanna believe that. But do we really act like that? You know what the guys were sayin' about us. 

School Daze (1988) on Netflix
A Spike Lee Joint I haven't seen! Should rectify that. (Look at how young Laurence Fishburne looks!) 

When I open my mouth the strangest things come out.

Witches of Eastwick (1987) on HBOMax
OMG. We were JUST talking about this performance and this is where we landed randomly pushing the scroll bar to an unknown destination. Sometimes streaming roulette reads our minds. Although it's hard to think about Witches of Eastwick without thinking about the joy it brings via the incredible trio of Pfeiffer, Cher, and Sarandon. So lets keep random scroll stop until we land on an image of all three of them...

...

...

...

There we go. Actressexual bliss. 

ALSO STREAMING  RIGHT NOW... SEVERAL 2020 FILMS. PLUS...

newly streaming

• "Starring Joan Crawford" -25 Films 
• "Race Sex and Cinema / Inspired by Marlon Riggs " - 10 Films and 4 Shorts
• Blind Alley (1939)
• Possessed (1947)
• The Dark Past (1948)
• The Cobweb (1955)
• Autumn Leaves (1956)
• The Mark (1961)
• David and Lisa (1962)
• Pressure Point (1962)
• The President's Analyst (1967)
• Solaris (1972)
• Old Boyfriends (1979)
• Bad Timing (1980)
• Dressed to Kill (1980)
• The Ninth Configuration (1980)
• Ordinary People (1980)

later this month (a selection) 

• The Elephant Man (1980) Nov 3
• Guest of Honour (2020) Nov 5
• King of the Hill (1993) Nov 19
• Lenny (1974) Nov 3
• Make Way for Tomorrow (1937) Nov 10
• "Written by Harold Pinter" (collection 9 films) Nov 8
• "Directed by Claire Denis" (collection 7 films) Nov 11
• "Queer Fear" (collection 12 films) Nov 22

newly streaming

• Boyz n the Hood (1991)
• Cadaver (2020)
• Casper (1995)
• Can You Hear Me (season 2)
• Christmas Break-In (2018)
• Dawson's Creek (seasons 1-6)
• Elf Pets (2018-2019)
• The Impossible (2012)
• Indian in the Cupboard (1995)
• Jumping the Broom (2011)
• Knock Knock (2015)
• Leah Remini's Scientology and the Afttermath (seasons 1-3)
• Little Monsters (1989)
• Mile 22 (2018)
• The Next Karate Kid (1994)
• Oceans 11 (2001)
• Over the Moon (2020)
• Paul Blart Mall Cop (2009)
• Piercing (2018)
• Platoon (1986)
• Rebecca (2020)
• School Daze (1988)
• Snowden (2016)
• Voice (season 2)
• Yes Man (2008)

Later in the month a selection

• The Crown (season 4) Nov 15th
• Dash & Lily (season 1) Nov 10th
• The Endless Trench (2019) Nov 6th -- which might be an Oscar submission this year
• Fruitvale Station (2013)
• Hard Kill (2020) Nov 23rd
• Hillbilly Elegy (2020) Nov 24th
• Love & Anarchy (season 1) Nov 4th
• Loving (2015) Nov 16th
• Mother (2020) Nov 3rd
• Virgin River (season 2) Nov 27th
• What We Wanted (2020) Nov 11th - Austria's Oscar submission this year

newly streaming

• The Painted Bird
• Cyrano My Love (2019)

• Bad Hair original film
• 12 Rounds (2009)
• 3 Ninjas (1992)
• A Christmas Solo (2017)
• A Nanny For Christmas (2010)
• A View to a Kill (1985)
• Alien Nation (1988)
• Antwone Fisher (2002)
• Article 99 (1992)
• Beerfest (2006)
• Big Daddy (1999)
• The Blair Witch Project (1999)
• Bourne (2002-2007) All three Matt Damon films
• Breathless (1983)
• Bringing Down The House (2003)
• Broadcast News (1987) - WE'LL DISCUSS THIS ONE SOON
• Children Of The Corn (2009)
• Christmas In Compton (2012)
• Christmas In Vermont (2016)
• Christmas on Holly Lane (2018)
• The Christmas Tale (2005)
• Crimson Tide (1995)
• Dead Presidents (1995)
• Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
• The Dog Who Saved Christmas (2009)
• The Expendables (2010-2014) all three films
• Firewalker (1986)
• For Your Eyes Only (1981)
• Foxfire (1996)
• From Russia with Love (1964)
• Fun in Acapulco (1963)
• The Horse Whisperer (1998)
• Hud (1963)
• I Heart Huckabees (2003)
• I Spy (2002)
• Johnny Mnemonic (1995)
• Jumping The Broom (2011)
• The Kingdom Of Heaven (2005)
• Kiss The Girls (1997)
• Knocked Up (2007)
• The Last Waltz (1978)
• License to Kill (1989)
• Little Giants (1994)
• Live and Let Die (1973)
• The Living Daylights (1987) 
• Lord Of War (2005)
• Lost In Space (1998)
• Love Hurts (1990)
• The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
• Maverick (1994)
• Moonraker (1979)
• Mr. Majestyk (1974)
• Much Ado About Nothing (1993)
• The Net (1995)
• Next Day Air (2009)
• Octopussy (1983)
• On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
• Once Upon A Time At Christmas (2017)
• Pacific Heights (1990)
• Paws P.I. (2018)
• Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2009)
• The Prestige (2006)
• Ronin (1998)
• School Dance (2014)
• Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
• Spy Next Door (2010)
• Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street (2007)
• The Taking Of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009)
• Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
• Universal Soldier (1992)
• W. (2008)
• Wanted (2008)
• The Waterboy (1998)
• Wetlands (2019)
• Wild Hogs (2007)
• Wild Things (1998)
• Working Girl (1988)
• The World is Not Enough (1999)
• You Only Live Twice (1967)

later in the month (a selection)

• Killing Eve (season 3) Nov 6th
• The Nice Guys (2016) Nov 9th
• A Teacher (limited series) Nov 10th
• I Am Greta (2020) - which might be an Oscar submission Nov 13th
• Run (2020) Nov 20th
• Tesla (2020) Nov 20th
• Bombshell (2019) Nov 26th

newly streaming for September - a selection. They usually offer (most) of the same films as Hulu  plus a slew of older often B films

• Cyrano My Love (2019)
• Truth Seekers Season 1
• What the Constitution Means to Me (2020) - REVIEW

• America's Founding Fathers  season 1 
• America's Untold Story season 1 
• Arizona Whirlwind
• Article 99 
• As Good As It Gets 
• Before We Die season 1 
• Boyz N' The Hood 
• A Christmas Movie Christmas 
• A Christmas Switch 
• Christopher Kimball's Milk Street season 1 
• Country Strong 
• Crime 360 season 1
• Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
• Dead Poets Society
• Deja Vu 
• Delicious  season 1
• Did You Hear About The Morgans?
• The Expendables (3 films)
• Firewalker
• The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show season 1 
• Hawkeye and the Last of the Mohicans season 1
• I Know What You Did Last Summer 
• The Insider
• The Iron Lady 
• Jamestown  season 1
• The Last Waltz 
• Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde
• Lost Worlds  season 1 
• A Majestic Christmas 
• Marrying Father Christmas 
• Me, Myself & Irene 
• Mister Rogers' Neighborhood  season 1979 
• More Than A Game 
• The MotorTrend 500: NASCAR Heads West
• Mr. Majestyk
• Naked Hustle season 1 
• Next Day Air
• Platoon 
• A Pup Named Scooby-Doo season 1
• The Restaurant season 1
• Rock N' Roll Christmas
• Romancing The Stone AND Jewel of the Nile
• Ronin 
• The Sapphires 
• Silverado 
• Step Up
• Stockholm season 1
• The Taking Of Pelham 1 2 3 
• Thank You For Smoking 
• 28 Days Later 
• Twilight 
• Underworld (3 films)
• W. 
• Wall Street 
• Water For Elephants 
• The X Files: I Want To Believe
• You Got Served 
• Zookeeper 

later in the month (a selection)

• Small Axe (limited series) Nov 20th
• Uncle Frank (2020) - Nov 25th

also newly streaming

• Clouds - original
• The Mandalorian - original Season 2

later this month - a selection

• Black Beauty (2020)
• Mr Magoo (1997)
• A Christmas Carol (2009) - the Jim Carrey version
• Marvel 616 (new documentary series on Marvel's legacy)

also newly streaming

• David Byrne's American Utopia (2020)
• Emma (2020)
• The Undoing (2020)
• 10,000 BC, 2008
• 13 Going On 30, 2004
• 2 Fast 2 Furious, 2003 (HBO)
• Above The Rim, 1994
• All Is Bright, 2013
• America, America, 1964
• Anchors Aweigh, 1945
• Another Cinderella Story, 2008
• The Arrangement, 1969
• Austin Powers In Goldmember, 2002
• Autumn In New York, 2000 (HBO)
• Baby Doll, 1956
• Battleship, 2012 (HBO)
• Beasts Of The Southern Wild, 2012 (HBO)
• Billy Madison, 1995 (HBO)
• Blast From The Past, 1999
• Blood Work, 2002
• The Bridge Of San Luis Rey, 2005 (HBO)
• Broadway Danny Rose, 1984 (HBO)
• The Bucket List, 2007
• The Children, 2009
• A Christmas Carol, 1938
• Chronicle, 2012 (Director’s Cut) (HBO)
• City Island, 2010 (HBO)
• City Slickers, 1991 (HBO)
• Clash Of The Titans, 2010
• Critical Care, 1997
• Cruel Intentions, 1999 (HBO)
• The Dancer Upstairs, 2003 (HBO)
• The Dark Knight, 2008
• David Copperfield, 1935
• Dead Man Walking, 1995 (HBO)
• Desperately Seeking Susan, 1985 (HBO)
• The Devil’s Advocate, 1997
• Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star, 2003 (HBO)
• Dolphin Tale, 2011
• Dumb And Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd, 2003
• The Eagle, 2011 (HBO)
• East Of Eden, 1955
• Eight Legged Freaks, 2002
• Elf Pets: Santa’s Saint Bernard’s Save Christmas, 2018
• The Enforcer, 1976
• A Face In The Crowd, 1957
• The Fast And The Furious, 2001 (HBO)
• Femme Fatale, 2002
• The Five-Year Engagement, 2012 (Extended Version) (HBO)
• A Flintstone Christmas, 1977
• A Flintstone Family Christmas, 1993
• Free Willy, 1993
• Friday The 13th, 2009
• G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra, 2009
• The Gauntlet, 1977
• Genius, 2016 (HBO)
• Get Santa, 2014
• Girl In Progress, 2012
• Grumpier Old Men, 1995
• Grumpy Old Men, 1993
• Guys And Dolls, 1955
• Hacksaw Ridge, 2016 (HBO)
• Happy Gilmore, 1996 (HBO)
• Heidi, 2006
• High Fidelity, 2000 (HBO)
• High Society, 1956
• The Hobbit (2012-2014) entire trilogy
  
  
• House On Haunted Hill, 1999
• Ice Age: Continental Drift, 2012 (HBO)
• Impractical Jokers: Inside Jokes
• The Iron Giant, 1999
• J. Edgar, 2011
• Jason Goes To Hell: The Final Friday, 1993
• Jason X, 2002
• King Kong, 1976 (HBO)
• The Last King Of Scotland, 2006 (HBO)
• The Lego Batman Movie, 2017
• The Lego Movie, 2014
• The Lego Ninjago Movie, 2014
• License To Wed, 2007
• Life Stinks, 1991
• Linda And The Mockingbirds, 2020 (HBO)
• Little Man Tate, 1991 (HBO)
• Looney Tunes: Back In Action, 2003
• The Losers, 2010
• Lowriders, 2017 (HBO)
• Made, 2001 (HBO)
• The Madness Of King George, 1994 (HBO)
• Magic Mike, 2012
• The Magical Wand Chase: A Sesame Street Special, 2017
• Magnum Force, 1973
• Malibu’s Most Wanted, 2003
• The Man With The Golden Arm, 1955
• The Mask, 1994
• Menace II Society, 1993
• Miss Julie, 2014 (HBO)
• Money Talks, 1997
• Mr. Nanny, 1993
• Music And Lyrics, 2007
• Must Love Dogs, 2005
• Mystic River, 2003
• National Lampoon’s Loaded Weapon 1, 1993
• Needful Things, 1993
• The Neverending Story, 1984
• The Neverending Story II: The Next Chapter, 1991
• New York Minute, 2004
• Nights In Rodanthe, 2008
• Nothing Like The Holidays, 2008
• Now And Then, 1995
• Ocean’s 11, 1960
• Old School, 2003
• On The Town, 1949
• Once Upon A Sesame Street Christmas, Special Premiere
• A Perfect World, 1993
• Pleasantville, 1998
• The Pledge, 2001
• Popstar, 2005
• Practical Magic, 1998
• The Prophecy (1995-2005) five movies
• Radio Days, 1987 - We'll discuss this one soon
• Red Tails, 2012 (HBO)
• Rick And Morty, Season Four Premiere
• The Right Stuff, 1983
• Rock Star, 2001
• Rosewood, 1997
• Rumor Has It, 2005
• Salvador, 1986 (HBO)
• Scoop, 2006 (HBO)
• The Sea Of Grass, 1947
• The Secret Garden, 1993
• Sesame Street, 1969
• Sesame Street: Elmo’s Playdate, Special Premiere
• Sesame Street’s 50th Anniversary Celebration, Special Premiere
• Sinbad Of The Seven Seas, 1989 (HBO)
• The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants, 2005
• The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants 2, 2008
• Smurfs Christmas Special, 1982
• Some Came Running, 1958
• Space Cowboys, 2000
• Splendor In The Grass, 1961
• Sudden Impact, 1983
• Summer Catch, 2001
• Swingers, 1996 (HBO)
• Swordfish, 2001
• A Tale Of Two Cities, 1935
• Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines, 2003
• Terminator Salvation, 2009
• Terms Of Endearment, 1983
• Thief, 1981 (HBO)
• Thirteen Ghosts, 2001
• Tightrope, 1984
• The Time Traveler’s Wife, 2009
• Tis The Season To Be Smurfy, 1987
• Titans, Seasons 1 & 2
• Torque, 2004
• Tower Heist, 2011 (HBO)
• The Town That Santa Forgot, 1993
• Troll, 1986 (HBO)
• Troll 2, 1990 (HBO)
• True Crime, 1999
• Tweety’s High-Flying Adventures, 2000
• Twilight Zone: The Movie, 1983 (HBO)
• Una Semana (HBO)
• Unaccompanied Minors, 2006
• Untamed Heart, 1993 (HBO)
• Veronica Mars, 2014
• A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas, 2011 (Extended Version) (HBO)
• We Bought A Zoo, 2011 (HBO)
• When You Wish Upon A Pickle: A Sesame Street Special, 2018
• Wild Wild West, 1999
• Win A Date With Tad Hamilton!, 2004 (HBO)
• A Woman Under the Influence, 1974
• The Wood, 1999
• Wyatt Earp, 1994
• Yogi Bear’s All-Star Comedy Christmas Caper, 1982
• Yogi’s First Christmas, 1980
• Young Justice, Seasons 1-3
• Zoo Animals (HBO)

later in the month, a selection 

• The Dead Dont' Die (2019) Nov 7th
• His Dark Material (season 2) Nov 16th
• Underwater (2020) Nov 21st
• The Call of the Wild (2020) Nov 28th

Comments

[Rizz]

I fear for Laika in this pandemic, Missing Link didnt do well at the box office, and they laid off a lot of employees in August and it seems that Travis Knight has divided his attention to solo projects as well. I really really hope it survives. One thing that boggles me is that even after producing great movies that are also available now on streaming, laika doesnt seem to be finding audience outside its corebase. The box office returns seem to be diminishing with each release

[BJT]

Laurence Fishburne looked damn fine in the late 80's.

[ben1283]

I love Laika, but Missing Link was such a disappointment. So unimaginatively written and sluggish even if the animation was up to their usual brilliant standards.

[StephenM]

A few years ago I watched every movie that won Best Picture (finishing the project the day Spotlight won). Platoon was one of the ones I was dreading, but actually ended up really enjoying.

[Rama]

HUZZAH HUZZAH KEIR DULLEA
so gorgeous!

[Shmeebs]

Platoon is amazing, so I'd be happy to read a piece on it.

I think Laika's best shot at the Oscar was with Missing Link (it won the Globe, after all).

[Cash]

StephenM -- Platoon surprised me, too. It's quite good. I've had a goal to watch all the best picture winners for over a decade, but somehow I can't seem to finish the project.

[jules]

I'm really excited for Chocolat to stream this month with the Claire Denis films on the Criterion Channel. I've been searching for that film for years, and it's very difficult to find.

[Jaragon]

Love "School Daze" !

[KC]

Platoon is a good movie but it is a 1986 movie so while I would find it interesting I would vote no while in 1987 mode.

[Sawyer]

I'm also in the middle of Helstrom and it's kind of an actress showcase. I find myself not caring at all about Daimen's background - just give me more Anna and Victoria.

[thevoid99]

I may not like Johnny Depp in his recent film choices as I think he's been getting lazy but... can we at least agree that what happened earlier today is a bunch of bullshit?

How can anyone defend a woman who has a history of being abusive, pressing a lit cigarette on his face, physically and mentally beat the shit out of him, and took a shit on his bed?

[StephenM]

Cash, I had so much fun with it. I started it right around the time 12 Years won so it took about 2 years. I'd buy them on DVD as I found them in stores (a lot of times for only $5-$7) and ordered the rest on Amazon. I was kind of sad when I was finished, ya know? But I love adding the new winner to my collection each year and love how they all look together on the shelf. (Nerdy, I know. Lol)

[Cash]

Stephen M -- Guess I'm nerdy, too. I once rearranged a friend's movie shelf, and I got a lot of satisfaction out of it (much to his amusement). I have a copy of all the remaining best pictures I have yet to watch (about a dozen), but it's hard to find time for them right now. Plus, I'm really dreading Patton.

[StephenM]

No, don't worry, Patton was another one! It was a totally different movie than I'd expected. Other pleasant surprises for me - Mutiny on the Bounty, The Great Ziegfeld and The Life of Emile Zola. And The Deer Hunter - I grew a beard after watching De Niro in that movie. Swoon.

[Cash]

Oh, I love Mutiny on the Bounty! That was one of the first ones I tackled, and it was so great. That movie just clicks.

Haven't seen The Great Ziegfeld or The Deer Hunter yet. Ziegfeld's run time makes me wary, so I'm glad for a little reassurance that it's worth it.

To me, Emile Zola was the 1930s equivalent of The King's Speech: solid picture, but kind of forgettable.

And how did the De Niro beard work for you?

[StephenM]

I still have the beard but I'm no 70s De Niro. Lol.

I had no idea that Mutiny was based on a true story until after I'd watched it. Lol. So interesting! It really is a great studio film.

I'm a Cavalcade fan too. I love the montages! I know that's not a commonly shared opinion. I was surprised how much I enjoyed the 30s films.

My favorite Best Picture ever is probably Moonlight. I hoped and hoped it would somehow pull out a win and then it didn't and then you know...

[Cash]

I always thought of Cavalcade as its generation's Forrest Gump. The 1930s Academy probably saw it and thought, "Yeah! I lived through that, too! Our generation saw some crazy stuff."

Moonlight is a really good best picture winner. Believe it or not, I don't have a favorite. But I have been pleasantly surprised several times during my project. I liked Oliver and The Last Emperor and Wings a lot more than I expected to.

[StephenM]

Great comparison! I never thought of that but totally agree.

Yes, I thought The Last Emperor would be a bore but I really enjoyed it too. Same with The English Patient, I was totally wrapped up in its epic sweep. I like Dances With Wolves too, I was at a bar with a live band in South Dakota a few years ago, and one of the band members was an extra in the film. I had never seen Oliver and it was sad to me that it seems less remembered than many of that era's musicals.

Which brings me to the duds. I hated My Fair Lady. Henry Higgins - what an old jerk! I tried to appreciate it in its appropriate historical context of being an early talkie but Broadway Melody is such a slog. I also cannot disagree with the generally held opinion that Cimarron is a weird, boring mess of a film.

I was surprised that the famous Vangelis music from Chariots of Fire is only used in the opening sequence. Am I remembering that right?

You Can't Take it With You is a tough one for me, and so is Gigi.

[Cash]

I saw My Fair Lady when I was about 9 years old, and I absolutely loathed the ending. I remember feeling revolted when Eliza returned to Prof. Higgins to meekly live with a man who didn't treat her as a human being. I saw the movie again a few years ago, and I still hate the ending. It mars the whole movie.

Broadway Melody looks like it was filmed by someone who had no idea how to stage and shoot musical numbers for film. And that was probably the case. Compare it to 42nd Street, which was made just a few years later. The contrast in cinematography (and sound quality) is amazing.

Cimarron is, as you said, a mess.

Gigi is a beautiful film to look at, but problematic in so many ways.

I think the classic Vangelis song was used in both the opening and closing sequences of running on the beach in Chariots of Fire. I also enjoy how they show Eric Liddle's footrace in real time and then replay the whole thing in super slow-mo to the sounds of Vangelis' almost religious electronica.

I, too, enjoyed both Dances with Wolves and The English Patient. They're both more polarizing among film lovers than I expected. People seem to have strong feelings about Dances with Wolves in particular. I think it's because of what film it beat for best picture that year. The same thing happened to How Green Was My Valley. It has a lot to recommend it, but now people mostly just dismiss it outright because it beat Citizen Kane.

My least favorite best picture is actually Terms of Endearment. As I watched it, I could see the high level of craft involved in making the movie. I like a lot of the actors in it, but I really dislike the movie as a whole. I did not enjoy spending two hours with those characters, and if I hadn't been trying to complete my task, I wouldn't have finished the movie. I realize this is heresy to many film lovers (including Nathaniel, probably), but there it is! I recognize that it's objectively better than, say, Cimarron, but I still don't like it.

Hey, thanks for talking best pictures with me! Maybe now I'll make the time to knock off another one. Maybe I'll finally watch All Quiet on the Western Front!

[Vaus]

thevoid99, Yes. The mental twisting the judge had to do to find a way to ignore Depp's witnesses including 2x2 LAPD is beyond understanding.
I can only hope Depp appeals and wins. Until then, there is a precedent where a tabloid can say someone is guilty of a crime without naming a source or providing evidence - accuser, judge and executioner.

[StephenM]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts too! I really enjoyed it as well. It makes me want to revisit some of the winners I've only seen one time, like How Green Was My Valley.

It's funny you hated Terms of Endearment. I walked past a display of Oscar winning movies in a store one fateful day and Terms was on the shelf (along with The English Patient and Driving Miss Daisy) and it occurred to me I'd never seen any of them. I bought Terms that day and my project started!

Kramer vs. Kramer is the film I strongly disliked. I know it's well acted and a product of its time. I was just so annoyed by the fact that Dustin Hoffman's character didn't even know where the coffee mugs were in his own house and how he struggled to make an egg. I wanted to cry right along with Justin Henry. I know Meryl Streep helped write her courtroom speech but it's still difficult for me to make sense of her character. It's one of the film's I'd least like to revisit.