Films you've seen lately

[Belgrove]

We streamed Chinatown a few nights ago. I had last seen it probably 40 years ago. I had forgotten how much of the plot revolved around water usage in Los Angeles, and also forgotten just how good Jack Nicholson was in his early prime

One of my favourite films, without a flaw. It starts small and grubby with marital infidelity, but flows and grows bigger, with murder, ballooning into the corruption on which modern LA was established, before imploding into a family tragedy of Greek proportions. Nicholson is in practically every scene as the Private Eye, and we see the story unfold from his point of view, so we too have to piece together the labyrinthine connections. Faye Dunaway is perfect as the beautiful and enigmatic Mrs Mulwray, and John Huston is her wealthy and influential father. And director Roman Polanski gives a memorable cameo you are unlikely to forget - ‘…the thing about nosey people is they’re liable to lose their noses’. An exquisite and atmospherically sexy score by Jerry Goldsmith too.

[gurnemanz]

Nicholson is in practically every scene ...John Huston is her wealthy and influential father. And director Roman Polanski gives a memorable cameo

John H had also done a director's cameo in Treasure of the Sierra Madre.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=g2OtIZa2Mk4, starring Humphrey Bogart who elsewhere set the noir detective mould which Nicholson builds on in Chinatown.

[Bella Kemp]

The Lift Boy - to be found on Netflix. It's witty, beautifully acted and profoundly moving. If you're feeling blue and in need of something life-enhancing and yet not mawkish, do watch this film.

[richardfinegold]

One of my favourite films, without a flaw. It starts small and grubby with marital infidelity, but flows and grows bigger, with murder, ballooning into the corruption on which modern LA was established, before imploding into a family tragedy of Greek proportions. Nicholson is in practically every scene as the Private Eye, and we see the story unfold from his point of view, so we too have to piece together the labyrinthine connections. Faye Dunaway is perfect as the beautiful and enigmatic Mrs Mulwray, and John Huston is her wealthy and influential father. And director Roman Polanski gives a memorable cameo you are unlikely to forget - ‘…the thing about nosey people is they’re liable to lose their noses’. An exquisite and atmospherically sexy score by Jerry Goldsmith too.

I also notices that Nicholson is in every scene, and this time the score stood out for me as well.

[richardfinegold]

John H had also done a director's cameo in Treasure of the Sierra Madre.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=g2OtIZa2Mk4, starring Humphrey Bogart who elsewhere set the noir detective mould which Nicholson builds on in Chinatown.

Before we watched the film a few nights ago, I had misremembered, thinking that Huston had directed as well as acted, and that Polanski featured only as an actor. Yes, the film is a homage to the Raymond Chandler and Dashiel Hammet inspired movies that Bogart so memorably inscribed, and as Belgrove notes, may possible be a homage to Sophocles as well.
The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre was a fairly faithful rendition of a novel by the enigmatic American author B. Traven. My father was a huge fan of Traven and had many first editions of the rest of his novels, which are generally unknown today. Myu father was a frustrated author who after retiring as a Pharmacist attempted to write stories in the style of Traven

[pastoralguy]

Since it’s Good Friday, I’ll be watching the Bob Hoskin’s movie ‘The Long Good Friday’, something I’ve done every year for as long as I can remember. Hoskins’ is at his very best when he’s roaring defiance!

[Bryn]

Since it’s Good Friday, I’ll be watching the Bob Hoskin’s movie ‘The Long Good Friday’, something I’ve done every year for as long as I can remember. Hoskins’ is at his very best when he’s roaring defiance!

Barrie Keeffe at his best. A great cast, too. Also an excellent score by Curved Air/Sky man, Francis Monkman.

[Serial_Apologist]

Barrie Keeffe at his best. A great cast, too. Also an excellent score by Curved Air/Sky man, Francis Monkman.

Useful information, which I hadn't realised. so thanks.

[ardcarp]

Elizabeth R is being repeated on BBC 4 (and of course on i-player). David Munrow provided the music, and in last night's episode (can't remember which or where) there was a lovely piece with the late lamented James Bowman's voice...sounding as it did in his early days. Can anyone find it?

The young Glenda Jackson is fantastic...and what a difference from that production to how a modern day one might be presented. Not a trace of dumbing down! We're loving it, even though we saw it all first time around.

[smittims]

I'm told Elizabeth R cost less to make than Gerry Anderson's 'Supermarionation' Captain Scarlett. If you look carefully, Glenda's 'triumphant progress' is cheered by only a few waving hands, carefully photographed to look like a vast crowd.

The one regret I have about it is that (no fault of hers) she gave Thatcher her public voice, the grocer's daughter painstakingly modelling the accent off the telly, like Leslie Titmuss in 'Paradise Postponed'.

[Serial_Apologist]

I'm told Elizabeth R cost less to make than Gerry Anderson's 'Supermarionation' Captain Scarlett. If you look carefully, Glenda's 'triumphant progress' is cheered by only a few waving hands, carefully photographed to look like a vast crowd.

The one regret I have about it is that (no fault of hers) she gave Thatcher her public voice, the grocer's daughter painstakingly modelling the accent off the telly, like Leslie Titmuss in 'Paradise Postponed'.

You're probably right - I hadn't considered that likelihood. Glenda Jackson would, I imagine, be mortified.

[ardcarp]

Thatcher's speaking voice became lower in pitch as her 'reign' progressed. Rumour has it that she had coaching in how to sound 'more authoritative'.

[smittims]

Yes, and also 'more sympathetic' at times. Do you remember her hushed tones into a microphone when she said '..and I mean this most sincerely..' . We all knew what not to expect then...

[Pulcinella]

The eight mountains (Tuesday night at a members' preview night).

Here's an article in the Guardian about it:

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/may/11/nature-is-great-but-when-it-becomes-real-its-something-else-filming-the-eight-mountains

I'll refrain from comment until others see it (if they do) after general release tomorrow.

PS: Times review here:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-eight-mountains-review-a-poignant-literary-adaptation-xfs5ksfq7?shareToken=1d749ff65c6dd0353a5d755da148bbf4

I didn't swoon, though admittedly the scenery is pretty impressive!

[johncorrigan]

We went to see 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry' this week. A sad wee film with Jim Broadbent being Jim Broadbent and Penelope Wilton playing Penelope Wilton. Harold Fry sets out on an unlikely walk from his home in Devon to Berwick to visit an old work colleague in a hospice and on the way touches people's lives, including his own and his Wife's. Three-and-a half stars seemed an appropriate rating. I sort of enjoyed it. Mrs C thought it was a wee bit long