Yearly Archives: 2013
Oscar Vault Monday – Dead Poets Society, 1989 (dir. Peter Weir)
I’m trying to remember the first time I saw this film and I have a vague recollection of seeing it on TBS when I was in middle school. I do know that when I was a freshman or sophomore in high school one of my teachers showed it and we had an in-depth discussion of the film’s themes (well, as in-depth as you can in a podunk small town high school class filled with asshole 14 years old – I include myself in that description). A lot of what I’ll write about here is based on that discussion of the film, actually. I guess it was sophomore year because I think it was the class where the teacher who normally taught geography/history had to take over our English class, so mostly instead of reading books we watched films and discussed them. It was kind of a wonderful class if memory serves. At least, for me it was, because, well, movies. Dead Poets Society was nominated for four Academy Awards, winning one: Best Original Screenplay (won), Best Actor Robin Williams, Best Director and Best Picture. The other films nominated for Best Picture that year were Born on the Fourth of July, Field of Dreams, My Left Foot and winner Driving Miss Daisy.
Movie Quote of the Day – Daddy Day Care, 2003 (dir. Steve Carr)
Kid: [speaks Klingon]
Marvin: [speaks Klingon]
Charlie: You can understand him?
Marvin: Yeah, he’s speaking Klingon. That’s Klingon.
Charlie: I thought the kid was an idiot.
Marvin: God, how much “Star Trek” does that kid watch?
Charlie: Too much.
Movie Quote of the Day – The Rocketeer, 1991 (dir. Joe Johnston)
Cliff Secord: Jenny, prepare yourself for a shock: I’m the Rocketeer.
Jenny: The Rocke-who?
Cliff Secord: Oh, for crying out loud, haven’t you read the papers?
Jenny: No, I’ve been working all day.
Movie Quote of the Day – Holiday Affair, 1949 (dir. Don Hartman)
Steve Mason: You were married to a man you were in love with once, you ought to know it’s impossible to be safe and secure when you’re in love. What are you trying to do, crawl into a gave and hide from everything that’s going to stir you up?
Connie Ennis: If I want to.
Steve Mason: That’s a neat trick if you can get away with it, but I don’t think you can. Life is going to crawl right down there with you and kick your teeth in.
Connie Ennis: I’ll manage all right.
Steve Mason: You gotta take everything that’s coming to you, Connie. All the surprises, good and bad.
Connie Ennis: I can’t afford surprises.
Steve Mason: Every surprise isn’t a telegram from the War Department, you know.
Movie Quote of the Day – The Rain People, 1969 (dir. Francis Ford Coppola)
Natalie Ravenna: You are the most obedient man I’ve ever met in my life. Look at me. Aren’t you?
Jimmy “Killer” Kilgannon: Yes.
Natalie Ravenna: Aren’t you?
Jimmy “Killer” Kilgannon: Yes.
Natalie Ravenna: Aren’t. . .you?
Jimmy “Killer” Kilgannon: Yes.
Natalie Ravenna: Aren’t you?
Jimmy “Killer” Kilgannon: Yes.
Natalie Ravenna: Alright.
Movie Quote of the Day – The Goodbye Girl, 1977 (dir. Herbert Ross)
Elliot Garfield: I think you’re dynamite, you know that? I love listening to you talk. I hate living with you but your conversation is first class.
Movie Quote of the Day – Rock of Ages, 2012 (dir. Adam Shankman)
Constance Sack: You know, some people have said that you’ve become quite difficult to work with. That you’re constantly late, you’re reclusive, sometimes even nonsensical.
Stacee Jaxx: I wanna ask you this: Have these people. . .even met themselves?
Constance Sack: Well, I’m talking about your band.
Stacee Jaxx: Let me tell you something. I know me better than anyone. . .because I live in here.
Movie Quote of the Day – Whatever Works, 2009 (dir. Woody Allen)
Boris Yellnikoff: I happen to hate New Year’s celebrations. Everybody desperate to have fun. Trying to celebrate in some pathetic little way. Celebrate what? A step closer to the grave? That’s why I can’t say enough times, whatever love you can get and give, whatever happiness you can filch or provide, every temporary measure of grace, whatever works. And don’t kid yourself, it’s by no means all up to your own human ingenuity. A bigger part of your existence is luck than you’d like to admit. Christ, you know the odds of your father’s one sperm from the billions, finding the single egg that made you? Don’t think about it, you’ll have a panic attack.
Oscar Vault Monday – Inglourious Basterds, 2009 (dir. Quentin Tarantino)
There is so much to write about with this film. Lots of production history and awards history, etc. But those are all things you can look up elsewhere, or watch on the DVD extras, so I am mostly going to stick with various impressions and favorite parts of this film. when taking screencaps for the post I somehow wound up with 177 images. I have whittled this down to 34. It was difficult. I’ll probably post the extras on Tumblr over the week. It’s just such a beautifully composed film. The first post I ever made on this site was about how Inglourious Basterds topped the SAG nominations, so this movie and this site are forever linked. I saw this movie when I managed to get a Friday off from a job that I hated. My mother and I drove 100 miles to Klamath Falls, Oregon and saw this and then got coffee for an hour and then saw (500) Days of Summer. I like to think of that trip as either Inglourious Summer, or: (500) Days of Basterds. It was a good trip, if not a little emotionally draining. Inglouious Basterds was nominated for eight Academy Awards, winning one: Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Supporting Actor Christoph Waltz (won), Best Original Screenplay, Best Director and Best Picture. The other films up for Best Picture that year were A Serious Man, An Education, Avatar, District 9, Precious, The Blind Side, Up and Up in the Air.
Moving, Jobs and Birthdays: June 2013 in Films
As I stated in last month’s end-of-the-month wrap-up, I moved to Los Angeles (North Hollywood to be specific) to start a job with the Warner Archive Collection at Warner Bros. in Burbank. I officially started on the 7th of June and it’s been a great few first weeks. We even got to go to the Saturn Awards last week (I met an Ewok and talked to Joss Whedon!!!). As far as cinema-going goes, I’ve gone to the ArcLight Sherman Oaks and the Laemmle NoHo 7 (several times). I also saw Some Like It Hot at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery as part of Cinespia, I saw Dial M For Murder at the Academy in 3D (amazing, Hitchock really used it as part of his storytelling tools) and finally got to see Boxing Day at the L.A. Film Fest, which co-starred my friend and teacher Matthew Jacobs. Yesterday was my 27th birthday and I am looking forward to a new year and another six months of unfettered cinematic love.
the diary of a film history fanatic 