Blog Archives
August 2017 in Films
This month was mostly filled with Summer Under The Stars, but I also caught up on a bunch of Sam Shepard films, and went to Noir City Chicago. As always, everything I watched is under the cut.
Movie Quote of the Day – Starman, 1984 (dir. John Carpenter)
Mark Shermin: Have people from your world been here before?
Starman: Before, yes. We are interested in your species.
Mark Shermin: You mean you’re some kind of an anthropologist? Is that what you’re doing here? Just checking us out?
Starman: You are a strange species. Not like any other. And you’d be surprised how many there are. Intelligent but savage. Shall I tell you what I find beautiful about you? [Shermin nods] You are at your very best when things are worst.
Oscar Vault Monday – The Last Picture Show, 1971 (dir. Peter Bogdanovich)
I first saw The Last Picture Show in 2011 right before I moved back to San Francisco for film school. I decided I had to finish all of the A.F.I. 100 Years. . .100 Films lists (the original combined with the 10th anniversary). I didn’t have many left and this was one of them. I watched it on a weekday morning with my mother and the two of us were so sucked into we hardly noticed two hours had gone by. What a film. I recently was lucky enough to watch it on the big screen at the Castro Theatre and I must say, as I often do, pretty much everything is better when you see it ont he big screen. I’m so glad I got to see Robert Surtees’s divine cinematography on the big screen. The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards, winning two: Best Cinematography, Best Supporting Actress Ellen Burstyn, Best Supporting Actress Cloris Leachman (won), Best Supporting Actor Jeff Bridges, Best Supporting Actor Ben Johnson (won), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director and Best Picture. The other films nominated that year were: A Clockwork Orange, Fiddler on the Roof, Nicholas and Alexandra and winner The French Connection.
Movie Quote of the Day – The Fisher King, 1991 (dir. Terry Gilliam)
Jack Lucas: You know, I mean, women are great. They make homes and they kill the livestock so the knights can go and get Grails. Slaughter villages with a clear head. Where would King Arthur be without Guinevere?
Parry: Happily married, probably.
Jack Lucas: Well, that’s a bad example. But trust me on this. A woman who loves you keeps you going, gives you strength. Makes you feel like you can do anything.
Trailer For The Coen Brothers’ Remake of “True Grit”
I recently saw the original film, for which John Wayne won his only acting Oscar, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m usually pretty wary of Hollywood remakes, but I almost universally love Coen brothers films, so I’m hopeful for this. Also, I have lots of love for Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Josh Brolin and Roger Deakins’ cinematography looks to be as lush as ever.
You can watch the trailer here on iTunes. The film is due in theaters on Decemeber 25th.