Comments for Living in Cinema

Comment on Moonrise Kingdom (2012) by Sam Juliano

Sam Juliano — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:57:39 +0000

Very nice work here. Certainly this is the kind of subject matter that always has a good chance with me. I see the reviews are very strong, and the cast is quite interesting. I’ve gone hot and cold with Anderson over the years though.

Comment on Maiwenn on her Cesar-winning drama “Polisse” by Sam Juliano

Sam Juliano — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:54:31 +0000

Terrific, revealing interview! I did see this film a few weeks back at the Tribeca Film Festival, and it did rate among the most solid pictures of the fest. It’s uncompromising for sure, but the honesty is what makes it all so compelling.

Comment on House of Bamboo (1955) by Bob Clark

Bob Clark — Thu, 17 May 2012 17:31:58 +0000

Yeah, I’ve noticed that. I can’t say I’ve cared terribly when it’s dumb stuff like “Serenity” or “Krull”, but butchering Fuller is something else. Shame on them.

Comment on House of Bamboo (1955) by Craig Kennedy

Craig Kennedy — Thu, 17 May 2012 16:37:52 +0000

It’s streaming on Netflix, but as you can see they cropped the widescreen to fit 16×9. Netflix streaming does that a lot.

Comment on Gaslight (1944) by Craig Kennedy

Craig Kennedy — Thu, 17 May 2012 16:36:50 +0000

Six seems a lot, but May is hoping for more!

Comment on Gaslight (1944) by Jeanine

Jeanine — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:49:05 +0000

The more I watch Gaslight the more I think it should have been called Dim Bulb. Bergman’s Paula is annoying in it. It’s funny that she says six wives buried in the cellar “seems a lot”, as if three or four might somehow be reasonable. On the other hand, Angela Lansbury and Dame May Witty were awfully fun in this movie!

Comment on House of Bamboo (1955) by Chuck

Chuck — Thu, 17 May 2012 10:48:30 +0000

Shamefully, as a huge Fuller/Ryan fan I’ve never seen this. Will try to correct that in the non-too-distant future.

Comment on House of Bamboo (1955) by Bob Clark

Bob Clark — Thu, 17 May 2012 01:37:48 +0000

Craig– yeah, that’s what I figured. I don’t imagine “House of Bamboo” is terribly hot as far as online screencaps go, and capturing a non pan and scan version would be a little crazy. Shame there aren’t better options because Fuller’s visual direction is probably the best part of the film. I saw it with Sam when it played at Film Forum and it’s definitely a movie that benefits immeasurably from seeing it on the big screen.

Joel– Huh? Whatever.

Comment on House of Bamboo (1955) by joel

joel — Thu, 17 May 2012 01:17:49 +0000

Wow, one director can do whatever he wants to a film, but get the framing wrong on someone else’s work and that’s worth being a dick over. Interesting.

Comment on Arthur (1981) by Craig Kennedy

Craig Kennedy — Wed, 16 May 2012 22:09:06 +0000

It’s the one that sticks out in my head whenever I think of the movie so I kind of had to go with it, even if it’s overly familiar.

What can I say?

Comment on Arthur (1981) by Alison Flynn

Alison Flynn — Wed, 16 May 2012 22:05:25 +0000

lol, I loved this movie when it came out. Watched in many times over. This is definitely one of the best exchanges.

Comment on House of Bamboo (1955) by Craig Kennedy

Craig Kennedy — Wed, 16 May 2012 21:28:14 +0000

It’s what was available to me. This feature isn’t called “Movie Framing of the Day” so I didn’t sweat it.

Comment on House of Bamboo (1955) by Bob Clark

Bob Clark — Wed, 16 May 2012 20:55:02 +0000

Any reason why you went with a cropped image here, instead of the full 2.55:1? Obviously if it was the only image from the scene readily available that’s understandable, but the movie’s such a classic CinemaScope production. The framings are the best thing about it, really.

Comment on True Stories (1986) – Happy 60th Birthday, David Byrne by Smiley Face Now

Smiley Face Now — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:50:29 +0000

Perhaps it is a matter of perspective. As a child I thought the house I grew up in was large. I went back much later in life and it looked kind of small and a bit shabby.

Comment on Arthur (1981) by Craig Kennedy

Craig Kennedy — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:29:35 +0000

I had to watch the original again last year to wash the taste of the remake out of my mouth. It worked.

Comment on Arthur (1981) by Sam Juliano

Sam Juliano — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:22:53 +0000

Love this exchange, much as I do many others in this irrefutable comedy classic, that never fails to leave you in stitches. It’s one of those films where you repeat the lines to friends for laughs even while the film isn’t being pondered. it’s automatic.

Comment on The Watercooler with the Golden Arm by joel

joel — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:02:48 +0000

“His acting strikes me as broad and often too much in the exaggerated man-child American style…” I’ve never really thought about it before, but by Jove I think you’re right. We own the “man-child” comedy genre. That is sort of sad actually.

I’m looking forward to Bernie. Glad to hear you folks enjoyed it.

Comment on House of Bamboo (1955) by Sam Juliano

Sam Juliano — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:12:28 +0000

The amusement park finale is the big set piece in this memorable noir that recently appeared at the Film Forum during the Robert Ryan Festival in a stunning color print that took full advantage of the widescreen frame. Lines like the above were most memorable too.

Comment on The Grifters (1990) – Happy Mother’s Day! by Pierre de Plume

Pierre de Plume — Tue, 15 May 2012 04:31:17 +0000

I still say “Mon-sewer” like the brothel madam in Pretty Baby just for poops and chuckles.

Comment on The Watercooler with the Golden Arm by Pierre de Plume

Pierre de Plume — Tue, 15 May 2012 04:29:16 +0000

I’ll give you guys that Jack Black’s vehicles have been lacking. He needs good material.

Comment on The Watercooler with the Golden Arm by Craig Kennedy

Craig Kennedy — Tue, 15 May 2012 01:45:33 +0000

I wouldn’t prejudge him in Bernie based on what you know of his shtick. Like I said, he brings something else altogether. It’s not quite the sublime transformation of say Adam Sandler in Punch Drunk, but it was surprising.

Comment on The Grifters (1990) – Happy Mother’s Day! by Craig Kennedy

Craig Kennedy — Tue, 15 May 2012 01:43:52 +0000

I often find myself saying Los Anguhleez just for shits and giggles. What the hell? It makes me laugh for free!

Comment on The Watercooler with the Golden Arm by sartre

sartre — Tue, 15 May 2012 01:41:13 +0000

I’m no Jack Black fan. He irritates me to a lesser or greater degree. His acting strikes me as broad and often too much in the exaggerated man-child American style (particularly in his comedies) which I dislike. I know he works within his range for many people and that I’m on the outer in this respect.

Comment on The Watercooler with the Golden Arm by Craig Kennedy

Craig Kennedy — Tue, 15 May 2012 01:39:05 +0000

I’m not surprised by his acting ability, but in this case his sincerity. His shtick is predicated on a lot of irony and tongue in cheekiness, but if he’d done that with Bernie it would’ve blown up in his face.

I’m a fan of Kid With a Bike too. It was a bit frustrating at first, I found myself wanting to throttle the little kid, but the second time I more empathized with the situation he was in, he’s literally on the edge of disaster and he’s not old enough to have the emotional skills to deal with it.

Comment on True Stories (1986) – Happy 60th Birthday, David Byrne by Craig Kennedy

Craig Kennedy — Tue, 15 May 2012 01:36:10 +0000

I think I need to watch the whole thing again and maybe the sentiment will be more apparent, but I have to be honest when I say in high school/college the main reason I loved it was it was a poke in the eye to small town Texas :).

Still, there’s a sweetness and a sadness to some of the characters and I totally know what you mean.

Comment on The Grifters (1990) – Happy Mother’s Day! by sartre

sartre — Tue, 15 May 2012 00:49:56 +0000

Love this film. Lily was some survivor, the final scene is shocking and unforgettable.

Comment on The Grifters (1990) – Happy Mother’s Day! by Pierre de Plume

Pierre de Plume — Mon, 14 May 2012 20:18:05 +0000

Wonderful scene – wonderful film. And I loved the way Angelica’s character says “Los Angle-eez.”

Comment on The Watercooler with the Golden Arm by Pierre de Plume

Pierre de Plume — Mon, 14 May 2012 20:15:24 +0000

I don’t know why youse guys are surprised that Jack Black can act — I’ve been saying for years that he’s quite talented. I’d like to see him host the Oscars.

I finally crawled to an actual theater this weekend and saw The Kid With a Bike. This is a lovely, maturely made film. Using short musical interludes was a great way to structure the story, and I’m glad that the interludes were short because it added to the quality of the piece — not to mention distinguishing the film as a story about a kid that could NEVER be made in the USA. The ending was very touching

Comment on True Stories (1986) – Happy 60th Birthday, David Byrne by Kelly Lambrych

Kelly Lambrych — Mon, 14 May 2012 19:58:21 +0000

I still see it as a celebration of people and their special-ness. Even though it was presented toungue-in-cheek, I still find the sentiment authentic. My favorite quote is “I really love forgetting….Only by forgetting can I see a place again as it really is.”

Comment on The Watercooler with the Golden Arm by Craig Kennedy

Craig Kennedy — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:42:33 +0000

Too bad you didn’t go for Dark Shadows, Sam since I know you liked the original show.

I liked I Wish about the same as you, maybe a little bit more. It was nice, but never quite came alive for me.

Bernie on the other hand I thought was terrific. I wouldn’t have expected Jack Black to have it in him to play a character like that, but he pulled it off. It’s a character that demands a certain sincerity I didn’t think he was capable of, but there you go.