Shadows on the Cinema Wall
Some random film/TV notes:
I finally started making use of the Friends feature on Netflix. Fellow Netflix users: Be my friend.
After running into a very tall Matthew Modine at RiteAid recently (and, staying true to my modus op, failing to come up with some witty compliment for him – I could have at least uttered something like “I loved you in Wind), I was inspired to Netflix (yes, Netflix is now a verb) Vision Quest, the 1985 rise-to-the-top-against-all-odds-feel-good-dramedy based on the 1979 bildungsroman of the same name. What an exceptionally bizarre and fantastic film. Has anyone out there seen it? Let’s talk. Perhaps a review is in order; TBD.
The “Lost” finale was mildly exciting.
Movies I’ve seen recently I loved: 12 and Holding, Casablanca; Laura; Charade; Picnic at Hanging Rock.
Movies I’ve seen recently I didn’t love: The DaVinci Code.
Last week I decided to watch all 20 (canon) James Bond films, in chronological order, before the release of Casino Royale, starring my blonde Briton boyfriend, Daniel Craig. Prior to last week, I had never seen a Bond film before. My mission is one-tenth complete.
Lastly, am I the only person in the world who really disliked Amélie?
May 26th, 2006 at 9:20 am
How’d you manage to go this long without seeing a Bond film – especially “A View to a Kill” (if for no other reason than to see the opening credits)?
I’m really anxious to see “Casino Royale,” although partly out of excitement and partly out of fear. That novel is one of my all-time favorites. It’s the book I credit with sparking my interest in reading for fun. I hope a new-millennium film adaptation doesn’t omit all the best aspects of such a ’50s classic novel – or add too much modern-day fluff (e.g., the “invisible” car from “Die Another Day”).
May 26th, 2006 at 10:39 am
I wonder if Daniel Craig will turn out to be a Moore or a Lazenby. There’s no way anyone can be a Connery.
May 26th, 2006 at 1:31 pm
I haaaaated amelie, but if you say that in public people act like you just punched a kitten. I love delicatessen and city of lost children, though. maybe it’s marc caro I like, not j-p jeunet.
May 29th, 2006 at 11:28 am
Mary, I’ve never spoken to anyone else who disliked the beloved flick even a little. I find it unbelievably cheesy and contrived. From now on we must call ourselves: Anti-Amelie Alliance…there’s a new triple A in town.
J, I’m fairly certain that Craig will become a Lazenby; after all, he apparently can’t 1) drive the Bond car, 2) withstand sunshine while shooting. Of course he could end up surprising everyone, but if he’s getting this much flak already, it’s not a good sign. Perhaps he can devote his time to other projects:
“Munich 2: With a … Bigger Vengeance!”
“Enduring Love 2: Are You Mad at Me?!”
“Layer Cake 2: The Man Who Was Allergic to Sugar!”
“Sylvia 2: Whatever Happened to Gwyneth Paltrow?!”
“Road to Perdition 2: Where’s Dad?!”
That’s all I got.
Nathan, it is terrible that I haven’t even seen A View to a Kill, let alone any Bond film! Everytime I’d see a bit on TV, it just seemed so campy to me. But plowing through the films now, I realize that a lot of the humor is conscious on the filmmakers’ part. How about that humor in the DD video — “Bon. SIMON LeBon” – hi-lar-i-ous. Casino Royale the novel – I will add that to my list.
May 29th, 2006 at 5:27 pm
Mary, you make kittens cry!
May 30th, 2006 at 5:34 pm
Hated Amelie. Probably another case of too much pre-viewing hype (which may be the reason I didn’t like Rushmore, either).