Er, um, the classics
I had this great plan for this period in which all Judybat and I want to do each evening is crawl into bed and watch a movie on our tiny little portable DVD player: We'd rent all those movies we should have seen but didn't, thereby becoming better, more worldly people as we entertain ourselves.The problem: We haven't been all that entertained. Yes, a couple of the movies on the "Films I Should Have Seen But Haven't," list proved worth viewing -- "Reds" made me think, even though it took us two weeks to finish; "All About Eve" instantly made my list of all-time favorites, and not just because Bette Davis rocks the world. But for the most part, we've subjected ourselves to movies from the '60s and '70s that make me wonder how those decades ever became retro cool again. For example, what the heck is the point of the "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head," montage in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid?" What was with the weird pacing in "Bonnie and Clyde?" How can anyone stay awake for all three and half hours of "Seven Samurai?" Does "McCabe and Mrs. Miller" even have a plot? Was Warren Beatty actually in every movie made between 1968 and 1976, or does it just feel that way?
I'm sure part of the problem here is that me and the Mrs. are both too tired for anything that doesn't work overtime keeping us awake. Watching movies in 30-minute blocks -- until TheGirl wakes up or we crash -- isn't really a fair way to critique. But still ... I feel like I would have been better off substituting reruns of "Star Wars," and "Gone With the Wind," on a few of these cold winter nights.
posted by AnnaRay at 8:31 PM
12 Comments:
Now see "All About My Mother," since you liked "All About Eve." Oh, and get "Streetcar," too. The old movies figure heavily into "All About My Mother." If you have yet to se it, you are missing out big time!
All Rich has to do is turn on the TV and I am out within minutes. It drives him crazy. I would stay with the trashy classics. You know Revenge of the Nerds, Amercian Pie, Animal House. You always have the cable now, don't you?
Easy Riders, Raging Bulls by Peter Biskind. It reveals all about how the late-60s and 70s and Warren Beatty totally changed Hollywood. It's a great read in and of itself, not to mention it's practical value. It made me love the 70s era of moviemaking and get why Warren Beatty matters.
Your response is 100% on. They're not movies meant to curl up and chill. It's all about the earnest years of that time. It's about the death of the studio system and the emergence of the "auteur" in American film making inspired by the French New Wave and Truffaut.... ok. I better stop now....
I always get inspired watching "the Graduate." I am in love with Dustin Hoffman's character and Anne Bancroft is just amazing. You could also watch "Office Space," a great one. The main character lives in a cheesy apartment complex called "Morningwood." That kills me every time.
Actually, I've read that book. And I get how important these movies are, etc. etc. But I also think you might need to be stoned to completely appreciate them.
I'm pretty much with you on the 70's movies, though I am a Butch and Sundance fan. But have you tried "Paper Moon"? I like that one.
Of course you've read that book! Is there anything you haven't read... I can't speak to that "herbal" subject anymore but I would guess that if I were those movies would be mush. Way too indulgently about some kind of truth or something to watch while stoned... That stuff goes more with Pink Floyd's The Wall or Wizard of Oz or something distinctly dumb like reliable Cheech and/or Chong, for me.
I know just how you feel... I feel the same way about "classic" Disney movies. I appreciate all the talent and ideas that went into them, and how permanently they changed the landscape of film... but somehow that doesn't add up to getting genuine enjoyment from watching them!
(Except 101 Dalmatians, that's a pretty good one...)
Thanks to TheBoy, I've been able -- or maybe "forced" is the better term -- to rewatch a lot of the old Disney movies. I still love a few, like "Cinderella." Some, I love but would rather not see again for the 23rd time, like "Dalmations." And some just drive me crazy. See: "The Aristocats."
I could, however, watch "Cars," "The Incredibles," and "Finding Nemo," once a day for a year and not mind. Which is good, given how often TheBoy wants to see them.
I think you are right. Disney is the best way to go. "Cars" is now playing in our car and has been since New York.
Anyone a Looney Tunes fan? This was part of my primary exposure to classical music! I loved those cartoons, but some of the ones from my childhood actually showed up on the "Censored Eleven" list. Those eleven are interesting from a social studies point of view, though many of them are truly horrifying, and can not be obtained anywhere.
Have to put another two cents in on the animations - "Lilo and Stitch" - a fine, fine, tear-jerking film!
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