House of Strangers (1949)

I added this to my Netflix instant line up because it had Edward G. Robinson in it. What I didn't know is I would finish the movie a new fan of Susan Hayward, and actress I was not familiar with. She stole the show and made the movie worth watching. It is a 3 star noir film at best. The trailer gives you an idea about the show- the script was okay and it was entertaining.

The Front Page (1974)

Funny that you just posted that thing about Wilder. This is a Wilder directed movie and it stars Jack Lemmon and Walter Mathhua. A young Susan Sarandon and Carol Burnett also co star. There is a lot of swearing in this one. I give it 1.5 stars, it made me laugh a couple of times but it really wasn't worth watching.

Jack Lemon on Billy Wilder

Double Indemnity

Thanks Ryan!!! This was a great movie. I will agree that Barbara Stanwyck was the weakest link to this movie. Personally I have fallen in love with most of Billy Wilder's movies. He is a great and imaginative writer and director.

The Thief of Bagdad (1924)

I love silent films!!! The actors are able to project imagery and story with their eyes and jesters sometimes better than regular "talkie" actors can. During the late 20's and early 30's you can see that actors had a difficult time transitioning between silent and sound films because they countinued to act with their bodies and not their mouths.
I was watching a documentary on one of the public channels the other night and the spoke about this Douglas Fairbanks classic, and they showed clips of the flying carpet scene; I knew then that I had to see this show. Now picture with me the Disney classic Aladdin, and you now have the storyline.
Another thing I like about silent films is that they depended on LARGE sets to paint a picture, and this set was enourmous. The imagery was amazing, and the effects were ten years before their time. I would recommend seeing this film (watch it in segments if you have to), the one draw back is that it is 2 1/2 hours long.

Double Indemnity (1944)

This is just what the doctor ordered. I have been very busy lately and tired at night which means I haven't watched a movie for a few nights. Then I sunk my teeth into this gem last night and loved every second of it. This movie was nominated for 5 Oscars, and is on TIME Magazine and AFI's top 100 movie list.

Talk about an amazing script. I loved how the writer and director (Billy Wilder) of this movie had the characters talking about other things but really they are meaning something else. It is one of my favorite things in a movie. For example if a character says "what time is the mailman coming" really they are saying "what time are we going to dinner". I know it sounds cheesy but it makes a big difference when the script is this good.

5 stars. Loved the entire movie. Edward G. Robinson has always been in my top 10 list of favorite actors. Fred McMurray plays a role that I am not used to seeing him in, and he nailed it. Barbara Stanwyck did a good job, but not great. If it doens't make my top 100 it will be because of her role. I am still thinking about it.

Malcolm X (1992)

This is a lengthy bio-epic of the famed civil rights leader Malcolm X, played by Denzel Washington. It follows the life of Malcolm X from his youth as a jazz era pimp-style care-free criminal, all the way up through his assassination. A ton of material is covered and explained in flashback thoughts and ideas, which at times become confusing and disorienting.
For me, this is the first Spike Lee film I have seen, and I did not really appreciate how he tried to shove his message down my throat. I understand many aspects of the 1960’s civil rights movements, and can garner my own opinions without a film-maker forcing them upon me. I felt that the editing and direction were choppy; case-in-point would be the opening credits showing the Rodney King beating.
I am not sure how true to history this movie was, it had some good theatrical elements, but I only enjoyed it as a history lesson, nothing more. Normally, I fall all over Denzel Washington’s performances, but I could not see past him in this movie. Sadly, and realistically, this film had a ton of anxiety, sadness, and hatred. For three and a half hours, that is a long haul. Only two stars for me on this one.

The Caine Mutiny (1954)

This movie is in color which really suprised me. I had to see this one because I really have gotten into Humphrey Bogart movies this past year. He did not dissapoint me. What I liked about this one is how it is different than other mutiny movies. Most are about a corrupt and power hungry skipper that the crew takes over- this one is about a man who served his country well, became the captain, and then started to suffer from paranoia. There are some recognizable faces, but a lot of new ones for me in this one.

The movie is great for showing the audience that some decisoins are difficult to make, even if they are right. And you have to follow your gut even if it means getting in trouble. The last 5 min of the movie just makes for a fantastic ending. I thought it was over, but they added some really cool stuff that left you thinking. 3.5 stars for me.

The Invisible Man (1933)

Halloween season is upon us, so I have brought all of my Universal Monster Movies out of the closet for seasonal viewing. I love these movies because they depend on story instead of gore and visual gross-outs. In fact the psychological aspects terrify me to death.

Last night the boys and I watched this little gem from 1933. The visual effects were very well done for such an early period of movie making. Claude Rains(!!!!!) plays the mad scientist who dedicates most of his professional career looking for a formula that makes a person invisible. He succeeds, and must now find an antidote. During this time he goes mad and begins to scheme of ways to find total control of the world. Of all of the Universal Monster Movies I have this one is probably one of my favorites due to the special effects that can be seen from such an early age of film making.

Few of these films have and or will make it onto my list, but it does satisfy a guilty pleasure of mine to get spooked during the month of October.

Airport '77 (1977)

I can just see the writer and director sitting down in a smoke filled room saying "okay we've got the crappy script and we need some Hollywood stars in the film otherwise this movie is going to flop- um how about an aging Jimmy Stewart... perfect- and how about Jack Lemmon. Great. Lets also through in a couple of Oscar winners in Lee Grant and George Kennedy. Perfect- now it should work".

The movie doesn't work. The first 60 min results in the worst disaster movie I have ever seen. They try and develop the characters but it is so SLOW! It feels like a 1970's Posiden movie but worse. I held on knowing that eventually the movie would turn into what the trailer said it would- a plane that crashes in the Bermuda triangle and is sitting on the ocean floor waiting for the US Navy to rescue the passengers. I just couldn't take it anymore so I turned it off.

My wife begged me to watch the rest so we could see what happened, so I turned it back on. The last 30 min was actually pretty cool- but this is still a bad movie.

17 Miracles (2011)

One of those movies that everyone said at work "you have to see this". Yes it is a good reminder to be grateful for what the Mormon pioneers went through, absolutley, but did I learn anything new by this movie? No. Was it a great movie? Yes- only if you have never heard of the Willie handcart company and are learning this for the first time. 2.5 stars for me.

Buck (2011)

You were right about this one- incredible. Both my wife and I loved it. It is not very often that I turn off a movie or a documentary and say to myself- that movie makes me want to be a better person. It was inspiring. Thanks for telling me about it.

We are back...

...from Disneyland, so my "good" movie viewing will presume.

Morituri (1965)

Any movie staring Marlon Brando and Yul Brynner is destined for greatness. Well maybe. A good script and excellent scene shooting would help matters even more. The first 10 min of this movie had me completley hooked. It is just that feeling that film buffs get when they think they are going to love a show.

I loved the dead pan humor from Brando as he is being blackmailed by a British Officer. I loved the set up. Two ego's on one ship, we all know there is only room enough for one. Everything was going perfectly...

Somewhere in the middle of the movie I felt this 5 star movie slip to a 2.5 star movie. I can't exactly put my finger on it, but it happened. A few pschzophrenic turns by the director and the writer had me confused on what the main story of the movie was.

I loved the acting done by the beutuful Janet Margolin who I had seen in a couple of other movies (she died young at age 50 of cancer). Some of the support charcters were weak. The ending was just weird. If you are a Brando or Brynner fan it is worth watching- otherwise I would skip it.