Movies, Mom & Me

• 
  Commentary:  Under construction.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Kichiemon Nakamura	Gintoki	Nobuko Otowa	The Mother	Kiwako Taichictor	Shige	Kei Satō	Raiko
  Hideo Kanze	The Mikado	Taiji Tonoyama	The Farmer	Yoshinobu Ogawa	Raiko Follower	Rokko Toura	A Warlord

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1968
    Directed by Kaneto Shindo.

Labels: Criterion8, folk-horror

# posted by gail @ 15:10    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  Under construction.
  
  Story 1: Kurokami
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Michiyo Aratama	First Wife	Misako Watanabe	Second Wife	Rentarō Mikuni	Husband	Actor Name	Kenjiro Ishiyama

  
  Story 2: Yuki-Onna
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Tatsuya Nakadai	Minokichi	Keiko Kishi	Yuki-Onna	Yūko Mochizuki	Mother	Kin Sugai	Village Woman

  
  Story 3: Miminashi Hōichi no Hanashi
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Katsuo Nakamura	Hoichi	Tetsurō Tamba	Warrior	Takashi Shimura	Head Priest	Yoichi Hayashi	Minamoto no Yoshitsune

  
  Story 4: Chawan no naka
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Haruko Sugimura	Madame	Osamu Takizawa	Author/Narrator	Nakamura Ganjirō II	Publisher	Noboru Nakaya	Shikibu Heinai

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1965
    Directed by Masaki Kobayashi.

Labels: Criterion8, folk-horror, masaki-kobayashi

# posted by gail @ 14:29    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  Under construction.
    This version purports, on its cover, to be the "Final Cut". Whether that's true or not (I suspect it is not) remains to be seen, since I'm sure this will not be the last cut. There is something about this film that continues to attract attention. It has had relatively robust distribution for 51 years, as of this year. It has been cut and recut six ways to Sunday. It continues to attract much interest, and I don't notice that interest slumping. When I receive this disc and view the movie, it will be my first time watching it all the way through. I'm so curious about it.
    This version of this film boasts a 94 minute run time. The cut that was initially released to theaters was 88 minutes. As well, there continues to be argument about which cut contains all that exists of this movie, as well as all that was intended to exist of this movie.
    Ver-r-r-y interesting!
    More later.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Edward Woodward	Sgt. Neil Howie	Christopher Lee	Lord Summerisle	Britt Ekland	Willow MacGregor	Lesley Mackie	Daisy
  Diane Cilento	Miss Rose	Ingrid Pitt	Librarian	Lindsay Kemp	Landlord	Ian Campbell	Oak
  Russell Waters	Harbour Master	Aubrey Morris	Gardener/Gravedigger	Irene Sunter	May Morrison	Jennifer Martin	Myrtle Morrison

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1973
    Directed by Robin Hardy.

Labels: folk-horror

# posted by gail @ 08:13    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  Under construction.
    So, why do I have two copies of this film? Well, this is the definitive Director's Cut distributed by A24, which runs for 171 minutes. I've been fascinated with this film since I first saw it (and bought its initial shorter version). When I realized this version existed, I knew I had watch and study it, much like I have my first copy.
    Just a note of description: All the reviews attached to this post are from different sources than those on my original post about this movie, simply titled Midsommar.
    The covers of the separate editions are different, as well. There are also different special features.
    No, I haven't received it, yet, I just ordered it today (5/12/24), so it'll be awhile before I report back. But, I will be back.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Florence Pugh	Dani Ardor	Jack Reynor	Christian Hughes	Vilhelm Blomgren	Pelle	William Jackson Harper	Josh
  Will Poulter	Mark	Ellora Torchia	Connie	Archie Madekwe	Simon	Henrik Norlén	Ulf
  Gunnel Fred	Siv	Isabelle Grill	Maja	Agnes Rase	Dagny	Levente Puczkó-Smith	Oracle Ruben
  Julia Ragnarsson	Inga	Mats Blomgren	Odd	Lars Väringer	Sten	Anna Åström	Karin

  
    Here's a link to the Variety write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 2019
    Directed by Ari Aster.

Labels: A24, drama1, folk-horror, haunting1, suspense1, violence1

# posted by gail @ 09:58    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  This is one of those movies that I've seen many times since it came out, but never in the theater, always on some TV channel that's running it, often Amazon, although not exclusively. It beguiles me. I never get tired of the story, of its characters, of its look, of the way it was produced. I guess you could say it's one of my all time favorites.
    My mother was still alive when it came out, a few months before she died. Since it was released at that time on TV, she saw it, and what I remember of her reaction was that she was intrigued by it and didn't connect it with being about vampires. She thought it was about two children in a compromising situation who were trying to figure their way out of it. Frankly, that's a pretty good description of it.
    More later.
    Under construction.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Kåre Hedebrant	Oskar	Lina Leandersson	Eli	Per Ragnar	Håkan	Henrik Dahl	Erik
  Karin Bergquist	Yvonne	Peter Carlberg	Lacke	Ika Nord	Virginia	Mikael Rahm	Jocke
  Karl Robert Lindgren	Gösta	Anders T. Peedu	Morgan	Pale Olofsson	Larry	Cayetano Ruiz	Magister Ávila

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 2008
    Directed by Tomas Alfredson.

Labels: folk-horror

# posted by gail @ 16:48    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  Under construction.
    Yes, I've seen this movie, more than once. It's been awhile, though, so before I write more I want to see it again.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Jeff Goldblum	Dr. Seth Brundle	Geena Davis	Veronica Quaife	John Getz	Stathis Borans	Joy Boushel	Tawny
  Leslie Carlson	Dr. Cheevers	George Chuvalo	Marky	Michael Copeman	2nd Man in Bar	David Cronenberg	Gynecologist

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1986
    Directed by David Cronenberg.

Labels: folk-horror, geena-davis, science-fiction2

# posted by gail @ 23:10    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  Under construction.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Samuel L. Jackson	Louis Batiste	Jurnee Smollett	Eve Batiste	Meagan Good	Cisely Batiste	Lynn Whitfield	Roz Batiste
  Debbi Morgan	Mozelle Batiste Delacroix	Jake Smollett	Poe Batiste	Ethel Ayler	Gran Mere	Diahann Carroll	Elzora
  Vondie Curtis-Hall	Julian Grayraven	Roger Guenveur Smith	Lenny Mereaux	Lisa Nicole Carson	Matty Mereaux	Branford Marsalis	Harry
  Afonda Colbert	Henrietta	Lola Dalferes	Lynette	Marcus Lyle Brown	Hosea	Alverta Perkins Dunigan	Paige

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1997
    Directed by Kasi Lemmons.

Labels: Criterion5, father-daughter-dynamics, female-director3, folk-horror, samuel-l-jackson, southern-gothic

# posted by gail @ 01:23    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  Under construction.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Jessie Buckley	Harper Marlowe	Rory Kinnear	Geoffrey & Other Men	Paapa Essiedu	James Marlowe	Gayle Rankin	Riley

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 2022
    Directed by Alex Garland.

Labels: A24, folk-horror

# posted by gail @ 21:33    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  In 2000, after having reviewed Jaws in 1975 upon it's initial release and given it four stars, Ebert reviewed it, again, as one of his Great Movies (the title of this post is linked to that review). In both reviews, he praised the movie for its story, its acting and, most importantly, its overall craft. I have no idea why it took him 25 years to decide the movie was great.
    I initially saw this movie when it was released in 1975. I was spellbound, from beginning to end. Why, then, once DVDs became popular and I became owner and curator of what was, at one time, my mother's movie collection, did it take me this long to remember it and want to acquire a copy of it? At first I thought, well, it's a horror film and I don't own many of those, don't think in a "horror movie" track. So I checked, and discovered that, indeed, I own several horror movies. It's not a burgeoning slice of my collection, but it's not insignificant. Maybe, I thought, it's because I subconsciously avoid Spielberg movies. I owned, prior to my purchase of this one, only two. I even looked up his filmography to see if maybe I simply haven't seen many of his movies. In fact, I've seen, and enjoyed, well over half of the films with which he's been involved in a variety of roles. Why, then, aren't they in my collection? Suddenly, as I was scanning the list, it came to me: I noticed that for every movie I'd seen, I could recall it so clearly that I may as well consider my mind a part of my Spielberg collection. At this date, there are only three of his movies that I am now contemplating owning, one of which I just ordered. They are (with the reasons I want to own them in parentheses): The Terminal (one of the quirkiest, funniest depictions of muddled beaurocratic mindset I've ever seen); Empire of the Sun (this film so confuses me that I'm never sure if the problem is it or me); Duel, of which I have exquisite memories, having initially read the short story in my father's copy of Playboy in which it was originally published. The short story so adhered to my memory that I was thrilled when I discovered it as a television movie. I carry vivid memories of both the short story and the movie to this day, so much so that I decided to add it to my collection.
    I was reminded, very recently, of my memory and love of Jaws through Daisuke Beppu's several mentions of his admiration for it in several of his videos. I recalled my own reaction to watching it in the theater in 1975, whereupon I immediately checked out the book and read it.
    You see, I was raised on an island sitting just above the deepest trench in the Pacific Ocean (or, for that matter, any ocean). Sharks were a common interest and concern, so much so that one of the branches of the military was said to regularly dump chum into the ocean from an isolated northern cliff in order to keep the shark traffic around the island under control so people could enjoy the beaches. A friend of mine, as well, was killed by a shark in those very waters surrounding the island. Only part of his body was recovered when it washed ashore after the attack. So, the shock and horror of a shark attack and the desire to relive both in order to get an emotional handle on those reactions are not only understandable to me, they are a part of my lived experience. This movie so closely mirrors my own lived experiences that I can't help but own it. I'm looking forward to seeing how I react to the movie, now, being several years and hundreds of miles away from the possibility of ever being affected by a shark attack again.
    I will likely report back after I watch this movie.
  Update 9/20/22:  Yes, yes, I watched this movie last night. It was even more exciting and involving than I remembered! Good choice for me! I had remembered nothing about the ending, and absolutely loved the fact that it ended with Brody and Hooper paddling back to shore on a makeshift "raft", of sorts, of two of the kegs attached to a plank from the Orca. I also began watching some of the special features, which are unusually interesting, and lengthy, so I'll have to pick up where I left off later. Everyone interviewed spoke about the movie from a distance, which added a lot of information about the film.
    I've also added The Terminal and Duel to my collection, and watched them, although I haven't yet beefed up their write-ups.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Roy Scheider	Chief Martin Brody	Robert Shaw	Quint	Richard Dreyfuss	Matt Hooper	Lorraine Gary	Ellen Brody
  Murray Hamilton	Mayor Larry Vaughn	Lee Fierro	Mrs. Kintner	Susan Backlinie	Chrissie Watkins	Peter Benchley	Interviewer

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1975
    Directed by Steven Spielberg.

Labels: folk-horror, richard-dreyfuss, steven-spielberg, suspense3, thriller3, violence4

# posted by gail @ 20:29    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  Part of Warner Brothers 4 Film Favorites collection. This is the other one-of-two in this collection that I had seen and enjoyed, in the theater, in fact, in Seattle, with a friend. Michael Keaton's portrayal of the apartment scam psycho is delicious. The story was, and is, fun, novel and creepy. I wouldn't have bought it if I hadn't gotten it so cheaply and serendipitously, but I'm glad I own it. The four movies in the collection are this one, Diabolique, The Crush and Copycat.
  Update 6/2/2022:  This post was originally published on 8/14/16 but disappeared from public view. I am now reinstating it.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Melanie Griffith	Patricia Palmer	Matthew Modine	Drake Goodman	Michael Keaton	Carter Hayes/James Danforth	Mako	Toshio Watanabe
  Nobu McCarthy	Mira Watanabe	Laurie Metcalf	Stephanie MacDonald	Luca Bercovici	Greg	Tippi Hedren	Florence Peters

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1990
    Directed by John Schlesinger.

Labels: drama6, folk-horror, laurie-metcalf, matthew-modine, mystery1, neo-noirB, popcorn-and-soda2, thriller2

# posted by gail @ 20:47    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  Although I just received this movie today (1/18/2022) and haven't yet watched it, I already have something interesting to relate about it. You'll note that the link to the movie in the title of this post takes you to a review by Roger Ebert in which he consecrates the movie as one of his "Great Movies". That was in 2002 when he reconsidered his initial review of the same movie which he wrote in 1973.
    Roger Ebert was not the only film critic who reconsidered their initial opinions of this film. Wikipedia devotes an entire section of their write-up on this film to its Re-evaluation in years subsequent to its initial release by not only film critics but other professionals in the industry. In addition, if you pull a search for this movie on Roger Ebert's site, all the reviews but one on at least the first page mention this movie, whether or not they were written by Roger Ebert. This continues through the second page of search results, as well. I didn't go any further, I didn't need to. It seems this movie, slowly but surely, gained an authoritative reputation through the years within the industry. This almost makes me salivate at the prospect of watching it, for my first time, tonight.
    Another mention: In 2018 at Roger Ebert's site Matt Zoller Seitz wrote a ranging and provocative memorium article about Nicolas Roeg on the occasion of his death. It's both informative and enjoyable reading.
    Finally, Wikipedia's article on Nicolas Roeg is a delightful addition to all the information above. Aside from listing all his films done as a director and cinematographer (take a look, I'm sure you've seen and enjoyed a few; chances are, more than a few) the article is littered with acknowledgements from others in all corners of the film industry citing Roeg's influence on their work. I, myself, own two of his films (this one and Samson and Delilah), have seen several [one of which, Far From the Madding Crowd, ranks as one of my all time favorites; I know, I know, why don't I own it then? Why don't I own it?!?], would like to see several more and hanker to own some of those.
    At any rate, I'll definitely be back here within the next few days to write about my reaction to the film. Stay tuned, Dear Readers.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Julie Christie	Laura Baxter	Donald Sutherland	John Baxter	Hilary Mason	Heather	Clelia Matania	Wendy
  Massimo Serato	Bishop Barbarrigo	Renato Scarpa	Inspector Longhi	Leopoldo Trieste	Hotel Manager	David Tree	Anthony Babbage
  Ann Rye	Mandy Babbage	Nicholas Salter	Johnny Baxter	Sharon Williams	Christine Baxter	Bruno Cattaneo	Detective Sabbione

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1973
    Directed by Nicolas Roeg.

Labels: §, donald-sutherland, dramaE, folk-horror

# posted by gail @ 15:59    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  Within the last few weeks when I was doing basic research for this site this movie captured my attention. I'm not sure, but I think I may have encountered it during a discussion of the EMP (electro-magnetic pulse) phenomenon resulting from a nuclear blast on an episode of Super Critical Podcast [the hosts of the episode to which I listened, by the way, are wary of what has been attributed to this phenonmenon]. At any rate, whatever was said piqued my interest and I ordered the movie.
    I haven't watched it, yet, and will report back once I do. In the meantime, I discovered that it is listed on TimeOut - Movies's latest (December 10, 2021) compilation of The 100 best horror movies of all time. Since the last time the Wikipedia article on the film (linked immediately below) referenced the list in 2014 this movie has moved up one notch from 66 to 65.
    I couldn't help it, by the way. I perused the entire list to see which movies in my collection appear on the list. Here's a rundown. The names of the movies I own are linked to the articles TimeOut - Movies wrote about each movie, including their current ranking (the list is reranked periodically - by the way, TimeOut's The 100 best horror movies of all time list includes two write-ups, the initial for the film as it appears in the list and an additional, different write-up when you click on the title; unfortunately, the html is so convoluted for the list that I couldn't figure out how to link to the initial write-up, so, if you want to access the first write-up, you'll need to scroll through the list; it's usually worth it, until the list is recalibrated, I suppose), after which I linked each to its location on my site:
  • 82. Midsommar - Midsommar in this journal
  • 67. The Witch - The Witch in this journal
  • 65. Kairo/Pulse - Pulse (Kairo) in this journal
  • 57. The Vanishing - The Vanishing in this journal
  • 56. The Sixth Sense - The Sixth Sense in this journal
  • 54. Repulsion - Repulsion in this journal
  • 39. Jacob's Ladder - Jacob's Ladder in this journal
  • 29. The Birds - The Birds in this journal
  • 7. Rosemary's Baby - Rosemary's Baby in this journal
    So. I was surprised to notice in TimeOut's The 100 best horror movies of all time list how many I'd seen and not collected, on purpose. I don't find horror films unwatchable. It's just that it has to be really good for me to want to watch it more than once. Of course, all of TimeOut's The 100 best horror movies of all time are supposed to be that good. I think that depends on the customer, and I'm a tough customer for horror. But, I scribbled down one movie from the list of which I'd never heard but read so interesting that I think I'd like to find it in my library system, rent it, if they have it, and possibly own it: 13. Don't Look Now. It's by one of my favored directors and comes in a Criterion edition, but it's a bit pricey for me, right now, especially since I need to settle down on movie buying for awhile. Ah, well. Could the U.S. government please send its citizens another stimulus check, say, a $2,000 check? The oligarchic corporations, into whose pockets it would land lickety split via citizens spending this money immediately (including me), would be thrilled. So would I. Oh, U. S. Government in the guise of Joe Biden, how reckless you are with your citizens, and, ultimately, your country.
    You may notice that, in my own labeling, I did not assign the "horror" genre to all these films. I thought about it, as I was compiling this post, but decided to keep my original ranking. Horror is different for different people. Those that I didn't label as horror don't have quite the horrific impact for which I look in a horror film.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Kumiko Asō	Michi Kudo	Haruhiko Kato	Ryosuke Kawashima	Koyuki	Harue Karasawa	Kurume Arisaka	Junko Sasano
  Masatoshi Matsuo	Toshio Yabe	Shinji Takeda	Yoshizaki	Jun Fubuki	Michi's mother	Shun Sugata	Boss

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 2001
    Directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa.

Labels: §, apocalyptic, dramaE, folk-horror, psychological1, suspense3

# posted by gail @ 15:05    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  I finally watched this film last night, 6/30/21. I know. I've had it since April. My only excuse is that, although since that time I've added several movies (seen and unseen previous to purchase) I've wanted to own, at the same time I entered into a period, not the first I've experienced, when I just didn't want to spend much time staring at the screen, no matter how much any particular movie excited me.
    Anyway, interesting, interesting film! First of all, there's not a false performance in it. Second, the setting is exquisitely managed. Third, the story, itself, slips, expertly between "witches, yes" and "witches, no". Third, character development and relational portrayal between characters are never neglected. I ended the movie with no questions or holes in my understanding. In addition, my attention was riveted from beginning to end.
    Truthfully, having been born on Halloween, I have a special relationship with horror movies that focus on witchery. I have, by no means, seen all of them and tend to avoid the hundreds (if not thousands) of horror films, witched or not, that cluster-release around Halloween. This movie, though, is designed, I think, to be thought provoking and decidedly eerie any time of the year, especially since it unfolds slowly. Impressive job for a directoral first. It would, in fact, be an excellent job for a film made in the middle or end of a long film-making career.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Anya Taylor-Joy	Thomasin	Ralph Ineson	William	Kate Dickie	Katherine	Harvey Scrimshaw	Caleb
  Ellie Grainger	Mercy	Lucas Dawson	Jonas	Julian Richings	The Governor	Bathsheba Garnett	The Old Witch
  Sarah Stephens	The Young Witch	Charlie	Goat Black Phillip	Wahab Chaudhry	Human Black Phillip	Axtun & Athan Dube	Samuel

  
    Here's the Wikipeda write-up on this film.
    Release Date: 2015
    Directed by Robert Eggers.

Labels: A24, drama1, feminist, folk-horror, period1, popcorn-and-soda1, psychological1, spiritual1, women's-movie2

# posted by gail @ 12:24    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  I don't favor horror movies. I have a few, but I tend to avoid them. Generally, they strike me as fake, as containing elements that could never happen. In fact, the first full length movie effort by Ari Aster, who is reponsible for this movie, too, fell into the category, for me, of unbelievable, which is why I don't own it. [Yes, I entertain exceptions to my horror movie preferences. For instance, the premise of Rosemary's Baby is wholly ludicrous, but it was crafted so well that it remains one of my favorite movies.]
    Well, here's a horror movie that isn't fake. Everything in this movie could happen. The movie, to me, is so good, so well crafted in both story and production, that it made me wonder if this story had happened, or if it is in the process of happening.
    The first time I saw this movie was through it's placement on a video service. It was free for me to watch. So was Aster's other effort, Hereditary. I liked Midsommar so much that I immediately watched Hereditary, Aster's first major effort. And was disappointed. Curiously, critics were not. In some cases, Hereditary was rated more highly than this movie.
    I would love to purchase the extended director's cut (with an extra 33 minutes) of this movie. It's availability, here in the U.S., is confusing, though. On those copies I can find, either the price is so high it's waaaay out of my range or its region playback ability appears to be questionable. Hopefully, access to it will be smoothed out and cheapened in the coming months. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out. In the meantime, I am completely satisfied with the version I have. I've not only watched it more than a few times, I enthusiastically encouraged MFS to watch it (for free on the video service).
    I'm still waiting for a reasonably priced (the lowest price I can find is $45), Region 1 Director's Cut of this movie that will play on my standard blu-ray player. Come on, Retail Oligarchs, get your heads out of your asses and make one available! Do you think, after the last few years of bailouts for you and nothing to speak of for us plebes, that we plebes are made of money?!? You took it all! Do you have any idea how much money you'd make if you made available a reasonably priced, Region 1 Director's cut?!?
    I have to mention before closing, RogerEbert.com went absolutely crazy over this movie, posting no less than three articles about or featuring this film and the issues it addresses in addition to its straightforward review: first article, second article and third article. Am I surprised? Well, a little, but, I have to tell you, in my opnion it's a great movie and I can't remember how many times I've watched it, so many has it been.
    One more mention before closing: If you're as fascinated with this movie as I am, you might find this commentary interesting.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Florence Pugh	Dani Ardor	Jack Reynor	Christian Hughes	Vilhelm Blomgren	Pelle	William Jackson Harper	Josh
  Will Poulter	Mark	Ellora Torchia	Connie	Archie Madekwe	Simon	Henrik Norlén	Ulf
  Gunnel Fred	Siv	Isabelle Grill	Maja	Agnes Rase	Dagny	Levente Puczkó-Smith	Oracle Ruben
  Julia Ragnarsson	Inga	Mats Blomgren	Odd	Lars Väringer	Sten	Anna Åström	Karin

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 2019
    Directed by Ari Aster.

Labels: A24, drama1, folk-horror, haunting1, suspense1, violence1

# posted by gail @ 23:42    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  Ah! My second chance to use the "horror" label in my catalogue of films!
    I came by a circuitous route to owning this film. I did see this movie in the theater when it was initially released. I was 12. I watched the movie at an outdoor theater on Guam, which certainly added to the ambience of the film. I followed the movie with a reading of the short story, which was anti-climactic. Hitchcock used Daphne du Maurier's story as a springboard. However, the film had a huge impact on me. I think it may have been the first bleak film I'd seen. It left me so hungry for an upbeat ending that I spent days after my viewing rearranging my thinking about stories, films and life. Mind you, I was not unused to bleakness in literature. By the time I'd seen this movie I'd already read, and reveled in, Of Mice and Men, Two Years Before the Mast and Moby Dick, as well as a few other bleak classics. No, I never saw filmed versions of those. But, then, The Birds is in an entirely different class of film adaptation for me. It ushered me into an appreciation of the bleak film genre.
    One of the treats of this particular press of this movie is all the extras. I haven't gone through all the supplemental material but what I've seen has increased my enjoyment of the movie at least a few-fold. This, however, isn't the reason I purchased the movie. A few months ago I read Camille Paglia's latest book and began catching myself up on interviews with her posted on YouTube. I'd read (and often been provoked by) almost everything she's written and love listening to her; it's like listening to an intelligent machine gun. Anyway, I thought I knew her book literature inside out. In addition, I was an original subscriber to Salon magazine in the old days when it was a startlingly good site and included the forum "The Well". Camille Paglia was an original contributor and I enjoyed her column. It came as a surprise to me, though, that she'd written a book about the movie The Birds. I searched it out. Reading it was a bit of a disappointment, but it heightened my interest in the movie, scenes from which had lodged in my memory long ago, especially since the reviewer of Paglia's book about the movie, in the previous link, included derisive pronouncement on the movie, itself, in contrast to how much it's been lauded over the years since its initial release. So, I checked the movie out of the library.
    My memory of the movie had not failed me. There was good reason for it to have branded itself into my memory. I have very few Hitchcock movies in my collection. His movies are only occasionally of interest to me. Psycho, for instance, to me was, to quote out of context Myles Weber, the reviewer who wrote the above mentioned review of Paglia's book on The Birds [link to the Wikipedia write-up of this movie], a "dud"; I've never been interested enough in the film to figure out why it struck me that way. I knew, though, after checking out The Birds, I wanted to add it to my collection. I've watched it once since it arrived. I'll be watching it again.
    The review for this specific movie, by the way, can be found in the page linked to the title of this post about halfway down DVD Savant's page. He reviewed all the movies found in "Alfred Hitchcock The Masterpiece Collection", so you'll need to scroll through other material before reaching the review for this movie.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Rod Taylor	Mitch Brenner	Tippi Hedren	Melanie Daniels	Jessica Tandy	Lydia Brenner	Veronica Cartwright	Cathy Brenner
  Suzanne Pleshette	Annie Hayworth	Ethel Griffies	Ornithologist Mrs. Bundy	Charles McGraw	Sebastian Sholes	Lonny Chapman	Deke Carter
  Elizabeth Wilson	Helen Carter	Ruth McDevitt	Mrs. MacGruder	Malcolm Atterbury	Deputy Al Malone	Richard Deacon	Mitch's S.F. Neighbor

  
    Release Date: 1963
    Directed by Alfred Hitchcock.

Labels: alfred-hitchcock, animal, drama4, fantasy1, film-art1, folk-horror, science-fiction1, suspense1, violence2

# posted by gail @ 11:20    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  I originally saw this movie in the theater during its first release, on Guam, after having read the book by Ira Levin. It was the first time I'd seen a movie that so closely followed the book that, I swear, I'd imagined the movie exactly as it appeared before I saw it. Typically, every year, around Halloween, some film service to which I have access features this movie. I always watch it. At least once. However, I often yearn to watch it when it's not being featured on a film service, so I've checked it out innumerable times from the library. Now, I own it.
    I can't say much about this movie that hasn't already been said. It has loquacious fans all over the world. I can, however, say something about my interest in Roman Polanski movies. I'm surprised I don't own more than three. One, in particular, I wish I owned is Tess [P.S. 8/16/21: I own this movie, now]. I even wrote a published review of that film. I've seen several of the movies he's directed, including: Chinatown, such a "cool" (in the Marshall McLuhan sense) film; Knife in the Water, an interesting, eerie film, loads of promise; Carnage, a sardonic delight; Macbeth, which, unlike many critics, I thoroughly enjoyed, it is, in fact, my favorite film adaptation of this play; and The Ninth Gate, with which I was disappointed, to say the least. I wish he'd done something more, well, spectacular, with Johnny Depp. Oh well, when you've got a line-up like Roman Polanski's, they can't all be winners, I guess. There are several more I haven't seen but intend to. I would say it's possible that I will end up owning more of his films. There's something about the Polanksi directing touch, which, while unobtrusive, is unique and powerful.
    Turns out, much to my surprise, I don't have a "horror" label for my film collection. That will be corrected with this film.
    And, by the way, yes, Mom and I watched it together, more than a few times, and, yes, she loved it, too. She especially enjoyed Mia Farrow's characterization of a pregnant woman. Every time she watched the walking-around-in-the-street scene she'd say, "That's exactly how a pregnant woman walks!"
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Mia Farrow	Rosemary Woodhouse	John Cassavetes	Guy Woodhouse	Ruth Gordon	Minnie Castevet	Sidney Blackmer	Roman Castevet/Steven Marcato
  Maurice Evans	Hutch	Ralph Bellamy	Dr. Abraham Sapirstein	Charles Grodin	Dr. Hill	Patsy Kelly	Laura-Louise McBirney
  Angela Dorian	Terry Gionoffrio	Philip Leeds	Dr. Shand	Elisha Cook	Mr. Nicklas	Tony Curtis	Donald Baumgart

  
    Just in case, the Wikipedia write-up for this film is here.
    Release Date: 1968
    Directed by Roman Polanski.

Labels: drama4, erotic, fantasy1, folk-horror, haunting1, roman-polanski, shared-favorite, suspense1

# posted by gail @ 10:19    0 comments    email......this post