Author Archives: Marya E. Gates
Site Update: The Oscar Vault Monday Shop is back!
California residents are allowed to operate Amazon aStores once again, which means your one-stop shop for all the films I’ve discussed for Oscar Vault Monday is back!
You can also access your Amazon wishlist through my aStore, so if you feel like buying something via Amazon and want to help me get some referral credit, that would be awesome as well.
Oscar Vault Monday – The Hustler, 1961 (dir. Robert Rossen)
This is one of those films that sucks you into its world and doesn’t let up for a moment until it’s over. Then afterwards you realize you’ve forgotten to breathe for two and a half hours. This is definitely one of Paul Newman’s best performances, though pretty much all of Paul Newman’s performances are his best because, like Jack Lemmon, Newman is always good. The Hustler was nominated for nine Academy Awards, winning two: Best B&W Art Direction (won), Best B&W Cinematography (won), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor Jackie Gleason, Best Supporting Actor George C. Scott, Best Actress Piper Laurie, Best Actor Paul Newman, Best Director and Best Picture. The other films nominated for Best Picture that year were Fanny, The Guns of Navarone, Judgement at Nuremberg and winner West Side Story.
Movie Quote of the Day – Wall Street, 1987 (dir. Oliver Stone)
Gordon Gekko: The point is, ladies and gentleman, that greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right, greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind.
Movie Quote of the Day – About A Boy, 2002 (dir. Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz)
Marcus: I was only trying to feed it.
Will: What’s that floating in the water next to it? Is that. . .is that your mum’s bread? Bloody hell, Marcus, you didn’t have to throw the whole loaf; that would have killed me.
September Films Do So Much And For So Long
I always wanted to work Big Star’s September Gurls into a post, thank you September for existing. This was a great month. I started my second semester back at grad school (I’ve switched my focus, too! From Screenwriting to Film Editing). I actually only saw two films at the Castro Theatre this month, but one of them made it into my five featured films, so more on that later. I also saw seven 2011 releases. Oh and I got the internet back! Even with classes four days a week, I still managed to watch on average a little over 2 new-to-me films a day. My total for the year so far is 905 (yes, really). As always, my monthly round-up is after the cut.
Movie Quote of the Day – Precious, 2009 (dir. Lee Daniels)
Clareece ‘Precious’ Jones: The other day, I cried. I felt stupid. But you know what? Fuck that day. That’s why God, or whoever, makes new days.
Movie Quote of the Day – My Favorite Wife, 1940 (dir. Garson Kanin)
Ellen Wagstaff Arden: You sure you don’t love her?
Nick Arden: The moment I saw you I knew. . .
Ellen Wagstaff Arden: I bet you say that to all your wives.
Nick Arden: I could strangle you. . .
Movie Quote of the Day – 300, 2006 (dir. Zack Snyder)
Messenger: This is blasphemy! This is madness!
King Leonidas: Madness…? [beat] This is Spartaaaaaaa!
Movie Quote of the Day – Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, 1953 (dir. Howard Hawks)
Lady Beekman: It’s a tiara.
Lorelei Lee: You do wear it on your head! I just love finding new places to wear diamonds!
Poster for Spielberg’s “War Horse”
I’ve been excited for this film since the first trailer was released in June. Oh, who am I kidding, I’ve been excited for this movie since I read about it over a year ago. Spielberg, check. Horses, check. (for the record, I like horses, they don’t like me). WWI, check. Awesome cinematography, check.
I simply cannot wait for the end of December. War Horse is due in US theaters on December 28, 2011 and The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn (also directed by Spielberg) is due out in US theaters on December 23, 2011.
the diary of a film history fanatic 