What film did you watch last night?

[Donger]

You didn't rate him as the great Mongol emperor? I find that very hard to believe. (

I know I might be out of step with some people, but I've just never rated his acting ability. Like a sort of Steven Seagal before his time.
Now look what you've done .... you've made me go and upset a whole different group of fans. I'd better go dark for a while.

 

[Profpointy]

True Grit. The Shootist. Genghis Kahn.

He almost reaches the height of adequate in True Grit - by far his best film
Geoff Bridges in the re-make is how it's meant to be done

 

[Saluki]

Jason Becker - Not Dead Yet

Seen it before. Not sure if its a film, a documentary or a biopic or a bit of all 3.

 

[Gravity Aided]

A Fistful of Dollars- (1964)- First in the Man with no Name series. Great entertainment.

 

[Profpointy]

A Fistful of Dollars- (1964)- First in the Man with no Name series. Great entertainment.

Do look out for Youjimbo. Dollars, good though it is, is a remake. Bruce Willis did his own remake "last man standing" which moves it to prohibition times - also rather good.

 

[swee'pea99]

He almost reaches the height of adequate in True Grit - by far his best film
Geoff Bridges in the re-make is how it's meant to be done

I loved the remake - as I loved the original - but even tho' I saw it more recently, I find it harder to bring Jeff Bridges' character to mind than The Duke's. Which highlights what he brought to the screen - presence, charisma, true star quality.

He can act - The Shootist is his masterpiece, and I think he does a pretty fine damn job in True Grit - but it's that star quality that makes him a legend. Some have it, some don't. Some in either camp can act, others less so. But if you have it, the acting is actually a bit of a bonus. The movies is about more than just acting. Laurence Olivier was 'the finest actor of the century', but every time I've seen him on the screen he looks like a ham. (Actually, I exaggerate, wrongly: he's not bad in Marathon Man, and in The Entertainer he's a tour de force. But still...)

Oh 'Genghis Kahn'...I was joking. I mean, Wayne as Genghis Kahn? Puh-leese.

 

[Gravity Aided]

I thought Olivier gave a great performance in Marathon Man . Compare Gregory Peck playing the same character in Boys from Brazil, and you can see the mastery of the craft. Laurence Olivier was a theater man, and was in the habit of playing to the back of the house. Never seen quite such an energetic Henry V. And, as for John Wayne-

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mdk0xdamuE

 

[MontyVeda]

Undoubtedly, Larry's finest performance was in The Jazz Singer... "Jesse... my son!"

 

[AndyRM]

Last night's viewing was 'For No Good Reason', a documentary about Ralph Steadman (who along with Quentin Blake is one of my favourite artists).

Johnny Depp's constant fawning disrupts an otherwise informative and engaging film which is frustrating but doesn't totally knacker the film. The parts about his artistic process were inspiring, there was a particular part about layering that blew me away. There was also great insight into his difficult relationship with another hero of mine, Hunter S. Thompson.

Definitely worth watching as a celebration of one of Britain's most under-rated and under-appreciated artists.

7/10.

 

[Profpointy]

I thought Olivier gave a great performance in Marathon Man . Compare Gregory Peck playing the same character in Boys from Brazil, and you can see the mastery of the craft. Laurence Olivier was a theater man, and was in the habit of playing to the back of the house. Never seen quite such an energetic Henry V. And, as for John Wayne-

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mdk0xdamuE

I do like the story about Dustin Hoffman turning up on set of Marathon man . "Dustin, you look terrible" says Olivier. Hoffman, the committed method-actor says he's not eaten for 2 days and slepped in the garden in order to get the character just right - he's being pursued by Nazis at this point. Olivier responds, "why don't you try acting dear boy, it's so much easier"

 

[fossyant]

Elysium - OKish !

 

[Dayvo]

I do like the story about Dustin Hoffman turning up on set of a Marathon man . "Dustin, you look terrible" says Olivier. Hoffman, the committed method-actor says he's not eaten for 2 days and slepped in the garden in order to get the character just right - he's being pursued by Nazis at this point. Olivier responds, "why don't you try acting dear boy, it's so much easier"

Reminds me of a quote by George Burns: 'Acting is all about honesty. If you can fake that, you've got it made.'

 

[swee'pea99]

Last night's viewing was 'For No Good Reason', a documentary about Ralph Steadman (who along with Quentin Blake is one of my favourite artists).

Johnny Depp's constant fawning disrupts an otherwise informative and engaging film which is frustrating but doesn't totally knacker the film. The parts about his artistic process were inspiring, there was a particular part about layering that blew me away. There was also great insight into his difficult relationship with another hero of mine, Hunter S. Thompson.

Definitely worth watching as a celebration of one of Britain's most under-rated and under-appreciated artists.

7/10.

From the tailend of The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved:

 

[Brightski]

Captain Philips

 

[Alex H]

The World's End - what were they thinking? Another one for the charity shop.