What Movies Have You Seen Lately?

cw gortner · Postby **cw gortner** » Mon March 16th, 2009, 6:05 pm

It was grey and drizzly in SF this weekend so I hunkered down with my dog and partner and re-watched a favorite: "Julia" with Jane Fonda and Vanessa Redgrave. This is the one film for me that truly captures the passion and frustration of being a writer (the scene where Jane as Lillian Helman throws her typewriter out the window is priceless) and the world's terrible initial apathy toward the creeping horror of the Nazis.

We also saw "The Orphanage", a Spanish film about a haunted orphanage. Very creepy, with a riveting performance by the lead actress, Belen Rueda. The director was financed by Guillermo del Toro, who directed one of my favorire films, "Pan's Labyrinth". Highly recommend this one!

Lastly, we watched "The Duchess" with Keira Knightly, and despite all the criticisms, etc. I actually enjoyed. I found it quite beautiful to look at and Keira gave a good performance - though the girl needs a hamburger, desperately. When she undresses for Fiennes, she has these little stork-legs.
I know she's naturally slender and all that, but to think the camera adds 5 pounds was quite scary, in her case.

Volgadon · Postby **Volgadon** » Mon March 16th, 2009, 6:08 pm

"Leo62" wrote:Isn't that based on Conrad's Secret Agent? (A prophetic book if ever there was one )

Maybe I'm mistaken, but isn't Sabotage based on the Sidney St. anarchists?

EC2 · Postby **EC2** » Mon March 16th, 2009, 6:23 pm

"cw gortner" wrote:I

Lastly, we watched "The Duchess" with Keira Knightly, and despite all the criticisms, etc. I actually enjoyed. I found it quite beautiful to look at and Keira gave a good performance - though the girl needs a hamburger, desperately. When she undresses for Fiennes, she has these little stork-legs.
I know she's naturally slender and all that, but to think the camera adds 5 pounds was quite scary, in her case.

I wonder how much thinner she's got. I've got Bend it Like Beckham among my DVD collection (great film!) I'll have to have a look at the state of her legs in that!

Divia · Postby **Divia** » Mon March 16th, 2009, 9:54 pm

"cw gortner" wrote:Lastly, we watched "The Duchess" with Keira Knightly, and despite all the criticisms, etc. I actually enjoyed. I found it quite beautiful to look at and Keira gave a good performance - though the girl needs a hamburger, desperately. When she undresses for Fiennes, she has these little stork-legs.
I know she's naturally slender and all that, but to think the camera adds 5 pounds was quite scary, in her case.

Hmm! Now there's a thought. Personally I dislike her acting. All she does is period pieces and frankly I dont think she's good at it.

EC2 · Postby **EC2** » Mon March 16th, 2009, 10:24 pm

"Divia" wrote:Hmm! Now there's a thought. Personally I dislike her acting. All she does is period pieces and frankly I dont think she's good at it.

I can take or leave her Divia, but I really enjoyed her performance in Bend it Like Beckham - and that's modern.
Edited to say it also stars Johnathan Rees Myers, now of the The Tudors fame!

chuck · Postby **chuck** » Thu March 19th, 2009, 3:02 am

Just finished watching a Coen Brother's film " Burn After Reading"...I usually like the Coen brothers...But I was so disappointed...actors, acting, and story.....bad....bad....Or maybe I was not in the mood......

annis · Postby **annis** » Thu March 19th, 2009, 4:08 am

Just finished watching "The Merchant of Venice", starring Al Pacino and Jeremy Irons. Very good. You can't please everyone, of course. One reviewer (rather grouchily himself, I thought ) had this to say about Pacino's performance:
<A Shylock who is more like a somewhat grouchy version of Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof. Indeed, you might as well call this forthcoming film The Usurer on the Roof.> Ouch!

LoveHistory · Postby **LoveHistory** » Thu March 19th, 2009, 10:57 pm

"annis" wrote:Just finished watching "The Merchant of Venice", starring Al Pacino and Jeremy Irons. Very good. You can't please everyone, of course. One reviewer (rather grouchily himself, I thought ) had this to say about Pacino's performance:
<A Shylock who is more like a somewhat grouchy version of Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof. Indeed, you might as well call this forthcoming film The Usurer on the Roof.> Ouch!

I loved that one. It might very well be Pacino's finest performance. And Kris Marshall was delightful.

Divia · Postby **Divia** » Thu March 19th, 2009, 11:13 pm

Just saw Kung Fu Panda. It was OK. I felt it lacked something.

nona · Postby **nona** » Sat March 21st, 2009, 1:26 am

so did we Divia, my girls loved some of it but could pass on the rest.