Films you've seen lately

[Belgrove]

The Shining is having a limited re-release in a spruced-up print of an extended version originally made for the US. The additions mainly augment existing scenes or add grace notes to those preceding. When it first came out, I did not like it particularly, but having unpeeled its layers over the years have come to regard it as one of the movie greats. I hadn't noticed the Indian chanting overlaying Wendy Carlos' Dies Irae that accompanies the opening credits and the spectacular journey through the mountains up to the remote Overlook hotel, which forms a significant leitmotif as the film progresses. The combining of image with music (Bartok, Ligeti, Penderecki ...), is masterful and was edited together by Gordon Stainforth in just six weeks prior to the film's release after Kubrick rejected most of Carlos' commissioned electronic score, wanting something altogether more unnerving. He certainly achieved that. The dull, quotidian dialogue somehow recalls Pinter (albeit in first gear) through being loaded with a portent or menace that may or may-not be there. The scene that always sends shivers down my spine is when the solicitous butler, after spilling advocaat over Jack, cleans him up in the unreal blood-red gents loo, and informs him ever so politely, that '... you are the caretaker sir. You have always been the caretaker'. Poor Shelly Duvall suffered greatly at the hand of the perfectionist Kubrick, but her exhaustion, anguish and sheer terror is up there on the screen to unnerving effect.

[Nick Armstrong]

The Shining ... one of the movie greats.

Agreed. Watching the BluRay release was already a revelation in terms of the absolute clarity of the image - it felt like looking straight down the viewfinder with Stanley, every detail, tiny facial movement by the actors visible as if it was being made in front of one. I imagine your post relates to a recent cinema release - if it is as good as the BluRay, then I'd like to see it on the really big screen: I've just found it's on at the BFI Southbank until at least 18 April...

Thanks for flagging this

[Belgrove]

?.. I've just found it's on at the BFI Southbank until at least 18 April...

That's correct, it is showing through until 28 April. Worth catching on a big screen. The audience at the BFI tend not to use attending a film as an excuse to have a meal...

[gurnemanz]

The Shining is having a limited re-release in a spruced-up print of an extended version originally made for the US. The additions mainly augment existing scenes or add grace notes to those preceding. When it first came out, I did not like it particularly, but having unpeeled its layers over the years have come to regard it as one of the movie greats. I hadn't noticed the Indian chanting overlaying Wendy Carlos' Dies Irae that accompanies the opening credits and the spectacular journey through the mountains up to the remote Overlook hotel, which forms a significant leitmotif as the film progresses. The combining of image with music (Bartok, Ligeti, Penderecki ...), is masterful and was edited together by Gordon Stainforth in just six weeks prior to the film's release after Kubrick rejected most of Carlos' commissioned electronic score, wanting something altogether more unnerving. He certainly achieved that. The dull, quotidian dialogue somehow recalls Pinter (albeit in first gear) through being loaded with a portent or menace that may or may-not be there. The scene that always sends shivers down my spine is when the solicitous butler, after spilling advocaat over Jack, cleans him up in the unreal blood-red gents loo, and informs him ever so politely, that '... you are the caretaker sir. You have always been the caretaker'. Poor Shelly Duvall suffered greatly at the hand of the perfectionist Kubrick, but her exhaustion, anguish and sheer terror is up there on the screen to unnerving effect.

Stainforth is interviewed about the Shining on the latest Film Programme. Very interesting recollections, including how on his own judgement he put music to a scene for which Kubrick had not initially wanted a music soundtrack.

[Tevot]

Hello there,

I think that The Shining along with Barry Lyndon are two Kubrick films that have grown in stature over the years. Certainly I can remember reviews at the time describing The Shining as minor Kubrick and decrying Jack Nicholson's performance as hammy. The criticisms may actually be true to an extent but what strikes me 40 years on (cor blimey - where does it go !?) is the sheer beauty of the film - the scenery at the beginning, the set itself, the cinematography - as well as the great production values and eye for detail.... Oh and yes it is eerie and haunting...

The one Kubrick film that I didn't get - and indeed it repulsed me on my first and only viewing so far - was A Clockwork Orange. It probably did so for the reasons that Kubrick intended. I reckon that Kubrick was a provocateur and if - amidst all the ultraviolence and nihilism - you murder The Ode To Joy with synthesizers and Miriam Karlin with a great big ornamental phallus - you are probably going to get a strong reaction. Whether or not it was the reaction Kubrick sought is I suppose moot.

I hated it - so I will have to see it again.

Never having seen Kubrick's "The Killing" I need to make amends. Back in the day I thought to myself that old black and white films could teach me very little.

On reflection, they taught me to think again.

Kind Regards,

Tevot

[LMcD]

Not a 'big screen' recommendation, but we've just watched the DVD of 'Fences'. The decision to restrict virtually all the action to a single location, reflecting its origin as a stage play, helps the film to maintain the dramatically necessarily sense of the claustrophobia in which each character fights to determine his or her role in the family and the world in general. Excellent performances from every member of the cast. The film is a particular triumph for Denzel Washington, who also directed and co-produced. There's also a (for us, welcome) almost total lack of background/foreground music, which left these particular viewers free to concentrate on the dialogue! A pretty intense, sometimes moving but ultimately positive, film that is at once full of passion and compassion.

[Dave2002]

At Eternity's Gate about the last year or so of Van Gogh's life. Anyone expecting a detailed biography of the artist which is historically accurate will be disappointed, but subject to the restrictions on a short period just before the painter died, this is a worthwhile film. The priest who is obviously unimpressed with some of the paintings finds it hard to take the assertion that Van Gogh is a painter seriously, yet is unaware of his very detailed notebooks, and letters to his brother, and many of the earlier paintings in more traditional and "acceptable" styles. An interesting factlet is that the ledger which Van Gogh used as a sketchbook was only discovered in 2016. However it has been denounced as spurious by some experts - https://www.theguardian.com/artandde...tations-museum

[Tarantella]

A beautiful-looking potboiler, directed by John M. Stahl: magnificently photographed by Leon Shamroy. "Leave Her to Heaven".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR6p5HcfCpc

[vinteuil]

.

"Leave Her to Heaven"

.

... I love this film.

Totally bonkers. There has never been anyone as lovely as Gene Tierney, and she was never more lovely than here...

And there has never been a film with such magical use of colour

.

[Pabmusic]

Avengers: Endgame.

Not that I've actually seen it, nor do I mean to. Unless - well ...

Can anyone tell me how it ends, so I shan't need to?



[NB: https://www.asiaone.com/asia/man-hon...jtF2qFUG-LzwY]

[jayne lee wilson]

Avengers: Endgame.

Not that I've actually seen it, nor do I mean to. Unless - well ...

Can anyone tell me how it ends, so I shan't need to?



[NB: https://www.asiaone.com/asia/man-hon...jtF2qFUG-LzwY]

I ws actually watching the last hour of Infinity War for at least the 4th time last night... very spectacular, imaginative and - yes- moving too (partly because Thanos is allowed complexity of motive and feeling and regret at his own choices).... but although half of the life in the universe has just been extinguished, I can't help you with the Endgame, anymore than with the similar situation with Star Wars this year....

At least with Game of Thrones we'll be put out of our misery (but probably into therapy...) before the summer....0200 on Monday morning looks like something of a midseason nemesis already...

The Night's King is at the edge of the forest on his sinewy, bloodied horse, overlooking Winterfell, and now....I'll be there... ready with the brandy and hot chocolate...

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Avengers: Endgame.

Captain America, blind and in a wheelchair, berates the world around him whilst Iron Man looks after him, grumbling that he's going to leave every five minutes. Meanwhile Thor and the Black Widow live in two dustbins and pop up every so often to suck on some very dry dog biscuits.


Can't wait for Avengers: Cap's Last Tape

[jayne lee wilson]

Captain America, blind and in a wheelchair, berates the world around him whilst Iron Man looks after him, grumbling that he's going to leave every five minutes. Meanwhile Thor and the Black Widow live in two dustbins and pop up every so often to suck on some very dry dog biscuits.


Can't wait for Avengers: Cap's Last Tape

Tread softly for you tread on our dreams...
(But you love it really don't you? You JUST CAN'T BEAR THE WAIT....I can tell....)

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Ooh - I love the Marvel films; but I'd never go to see them in a cinema, though - too darn NOISY!!!. I'll put time aside whenever they're on telly, get myself a takeaway and a beer, and just enjoy the sheer, barefaced tosh of it all.

(They won't be the same now, without Stan the Man's cameo appearances )

[jayne lee wilson]

Ooh - I love the Marvel films; but I'd never go to see them in a cinema, though - too darn NOISY!!!. I'll put time aside whenever they're on telly, get myself a takeaway and a beer, and just enjoy the sheer, barefaced tosh of it all.

(They won't be the same now, without Stan the Man's cameo appearances )

Absolutely.... Sky Cinema here, finger poised near the volume control, subtitles usually on...

I thought the scene near the end of Infinity War in a strange, dreamlike, ochre-orange-hued alien location, with Thanos and the young Gamora was amazing....
"what did it cost?"....she says....
"Everything"... he replies...