I read somewhere the actor improvised this scene after remembering that a neighbour of his used to do this to taunt people (including himself). Funny shit! I remember guys at school were always playacting this monologue from the film.
The Welles/H Mankiewicz/Houseman controversy over the authorship of Citizen Kane is just as interesting as the film itself, if not more so. Saw this clip on Youtube of an old 1960 interview with Welles and apparently Lord Chumley Whatsit of the Terribly Posh Accent. Doesn't touch on the controversy but good nonetheless;
i love the film Bukfan Brad, but I'm a soft touch for the story of a good man gone bad.The BFI at the SouthBank in London for the Centenery of his birth are doing a big celebration/retrospective thing.(Only know that because,my daughter and I are going down to London for a short holiday this month and I've been on the internet looking at places to visit apart from the usual, at 12yrs, this is her first visit and my longest).He did say that he considered his best achievement to be the all black theatre production of Macbeth in Harlem 1936 which was a huge success.Unlike his films which weren't such box office smashes.
Macbeth in Harlem? That's an interesting take. That interview was engaging.
I have a cousin who considers Orson to be one of the best film-makers ever and although I have watched loads of films in my life I'd probably have to go to a film appreciation class to get the right angle for appreciating his work.
Sometimes it takes me a few attempts before I can get into something. I do remember appreciating the cinematography in the film, the technical stuff I enjoyed, but I remember there was something about the script and storyline that wasn't getting me hooked enough.
Yes, the camera work and imagery of the film is beautiful - stylised and theatrical. At times (maybe all the time) it takes centre stage and holds your attention,despite feeling regret for Kane there isn't a huge emotional attachment to any of the characters, the message seems to be the important thing and the emptiness and waste comes across very strong, especially the mansion scenes.A gothic fairytale/morality tale.
Welles comes across as a fearless, non conformist showman whose priority didn't seem to be making a ton of cash, unless it was to fund his next project.
Outwith the Dunkirk beach scene in Atonement. (not Welles, but perhaps influenced by him) the opening scene for Touch of Evil is great ( for me, Charleton Heston miscast in it though).
Drive - Opening credits. I like the 80's style and the atmosphere. Great shots of the city from above.
Opening car chase scene. Forgoes all out action and roadside shots of cars skidding around corners with wailing sirens etc. and instead focuses on an in-car view and shows the driver, cool, calm and collected. The quiet moments of waiting, cat and mouse style, really builds the tension. Great film.
Just got the extended directors cut of Once Upon A Time in America, one of my favourite films, I know Leone was angry at the hacking his film received.This one runs to 2hrs 51mins (he shot over 4hrs worth).
Strange to call a ganster film elegant, but it is a sumptous masterpiece:
I think Danny Boyle is doing the sequel to Trainspotting, with possibly the original actors.I wish he would do the prequel story Skagboys instead, much better than Trainspotting or Porno.
So many great scenes from Snatch, just one of them:
Look at Ratched's face, she fucking loves it, and McMurphy's face "I see you"... then Ratched seeing that he sees her and what she's about, and her expression changes oh so subtly. Astonishing acting from everyone in this great film, I must watch it again, I must also read the book.
If a deadly poison can be attractive...
When I saw this movie for the first time back in the eighties I really really wanted to kill Nurse Ratched. She's a fucking monster. The patients, on the other hand, seemed to be pretty sane.
Do you remember the boat trip?
