The Television and Movie Recommendation/Discussion Thread!

[vix84]

Hey Annie,

I wanted to e-mail you about your stay-or-leave-Norway issue, but your address is private...

[Willowlicious]

Well, my gf and I have been in a big 'ole movie mood the last couple of weeks and have been watching tons of DVDs. I have to say that Netflix is the most wonderful invention since, well, DVDs. I am simply incapable of returning movie rentals on time and I hate the paltry selection available at your standard Blockbuster, so Netflix has been a godsend for me.



So, we've watched...



The Royal Tenenbaums--I found it pretentious. I thought Rushmore (by the same filmmakers), though also pretentious, was much better, but then I have a thing for Olivia Williams, so...



Imaginary Crimes--Per Autumn's recommendation a while back. It was nice to see a film with Amber in it that didn't suck. Amber was young and adorable. The story was sweet.



A Beautiful Mind--Thought I'd hate it since I don't like Russell Crowe, but I was pleasantly surprised. Jennifer Connelly was wonderful and I was moved by the devotion of her character.



The Shipping News--I enjoyed it. Kevin Spacey and Juliane Moore were very good. Some people may think it's slow. Shrug.



Ghost World--My gf and I cracked the hell up. Off beat and funny.



The Others--Very scary and involving. Nicole Kidman is very sympathetic as the mother. Once you come to the end of the film, you'll realize what an accomplishment that is.



Brideshead Revisited--Yes, it's very long and very, VERY British, but I've always loved this mini-series. It's gorgeous and, if you pay attention, wickedly funny. Plus, when I first saw it at age 17, I was absolutely fascinated by Charles and Sabastian's relationship. It was one of the first steps in accepting my own sexuality. Anyway, I'm thrilled that it finally was released on DVD.



And my three highest recommendations are:



Aimee & Jaguar--I've seen this before, but I just bought the DVD and so watched it again. Sigh. Very sad and even harder to watch in context of W/T, but an excellent film. It's beautifully shot and Maria Schrader gives an intense, sexy, poignant performance as Felice/Jaguar.



Quills--For some reason, I never got around to this one before now and I'm sorry. My gf and I both loved it. The entire cast was excellent. It is disturbing, funny, very smart and moving. It also got me thinking about "art" and responsibility in new ways, which I appreciated, since that topic has been much on my mind the last few months due to BtVS.



In the Bedroom--This film blew me away. It is dark and depressing, but very intelligent and powerful. Without giving away the entire plot, let me just say that this film says things about grief and the vengeance it can bring about that BtVS can only dream of. I think Tom Wilkinson is an awesome actor and he just takes the cake here. Marisa Tomei is better than I've ever seen her. She really broke my heart. Anyway, I thought it was one of the best films I've seen in a while and I've seen several good ones lately. But what do I know?





Amy

[xita]

Thanks Amy, you know kittens keep these coming. I really trust you guys and reading what you thought of movies really helps me in my choices.



Things I have seen recently



The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and her Lover- An old film one of the first NC-17 films, I hadn't seen it in a long time but god I love it. It's gross and disturbing but it's beautiful looking, the art , the cinematography is amazing.



Signs - Hmm, it was creepy enough. An alien invation movie without hardly any aliens and no ships. I wanted more of that but it worked, I liked the subplot about faith. Not that I agree but it worked. I just wanted more aliens

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Childie -"Not all girls are raving bloody lesbians, you know!"

George - "That's a misfortune of which I am perfectly well aware."

The Killing of Sister George

[maudmac]

I just have to say that The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover is the only film I've ever seen that made me feel sick. I felt horrible and disoriented and... dirty after seeing it. I suppose that's a testament to its power, though.



So, xita, if I gush about The Joy Luck Club (even more than I already do), will you watch it? What's it gonna take? It might even be better than The Sound of Music.

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I am only one; but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; I will not refuse to do something I can do.---Helen Keller

[tommo]

The Cook, The Thief... God I loved that movie. Mainly for Helen Mirren, who is just outstanding in everything she's in. Amazing actress. And Michael Gambon is really quite disgusting. And I kind of like that.



That's a Peter Greenaway film, right? I saw another of his (I had a thing about his movies some time ago) called Drowning By Numbers which I thoroughly enjoyed. It's a bit weird, but I still enjoyed it.



There's another film which fans of the "British" mode might like. It's called Enchanted April and it's about four women who stay in a castle in Italy (I think, or it could be Spain. Anyhoo, it's somewhere "furrin". ). It's just a lovely film, nothing majorly alarming happens in it, but it focuses on their relationships and how they change as they get to know one another over the course of the time they spend there. Lovely. And Josie Lawrence is in it, and I like her.

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Darlin' theres no way out, nothing can help me now. Love's got a hold on my heart...

[mollyig]

Ruth I saw "Enchanted April". You're right 'twas a lovely film. Josie Lawrence, I used to love when she was on "whose line is it anyway". Anyone know what she's up to lately?

Adding up the total of a love that's true, multiply life by the power of two
Indigo Girls

[tommo]

Well she did a spell at the RSC for a while, turning in a sterling performance of Katherine in The Taming of the Shrew and she has done other stage stuff since.



Odd thing though; she was a guest on the American version of 'Whose Line' and she really wasn't that funny.



Anyway, I think she's gone into "serious" acting, which is a shame, because she was like, big comedy woman when I was younger and I used to really look up to her. Ah well...

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Darlin' theres no way out, nothing can help me now. Love's got a hold on my heart...

[xita]

Quote:

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So, xita, if I gush about The Joy Luck Club (even more than I already do), will you watch it? What's it gonna take? It might even be better than The Sound of Music.

---

Holley, I wasn't kidding my dear. That day when I told you, I did purchase it on Amazon.. so there Just waiting for it to arrive.





Oooooooh, and British movie recommendations by Ruth .. *shiver...

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Childie -"Not all girls are raving bloody lesbians, you know!"

George - "That's a misfortune of which I am perfectly well aware."

The Killing of Sister George

[tommo]

Xita, you're a whore. Not all British movies are great, especially those with Sean Bean in. *snigger*



But if you're looking for decent British viewing, then you couldn't go far wrong by taking a look at some of the BBC dramas that we've had. Portrait of A Marriage I know will please a lot of people on the board, and there's also an adaptation of a novel called Precious Bane with the delightfully marvellous Janet McTeer in it. She's quality viewing. Any day of the week.

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Darlin' theres no way out, nothing can help me now. Love's got a hold on my heart...

[famer]

I'm in total agreement with Portrait of a Marriage but I seem to remember that there was orginally an issue of access in North America.



Unfortunately, I didn't tape it when it was first shown on PBS and I wasn't able to rent it in Canada (it apparently wasn't avail in US). A licensing problem at that time, I think.



For Cdn kittens -- does it show on BBC Canada?

[VampNo12]

Yeah Portrait of a Marriage was wonderful, but what I hated is that the US version (the one seen on PBS) was edited (ie the loves scenes especially, as well as other parts were either edited down, or not shown at all). I really enjoyed the book the film was based on, and I so want to one day to actually see this film unedited.

Edited by: VampNo12  at: 8/22/02 1:30:52 pm

[Bookcat]

Ah... movies.

My top four favorite movies are (in no particular order):

But I'm A Cheerleader-Do I have to explain why _here_?

Memento-Its so complicated... its a thinking movie, and I loved the fractured time-frame--See, its told backwards. You literally have to read an article to fully understand it.

Fight Club-I liked the whole anti-consumerism thing (though I am a shameless consumer), and the surprise ending was so cool... there's also a lot of homo-erotic subtext between Edward Norton and Brad Pitt, and I felt like writing an essay about it as I was watching.

Clue-Its just really funny. And has Tim Curry (among other famous people).

"Living for thirty minutes at a time with a break in the middle for adverts" - Elvis Costello



"No! I'm, oh, I'm friendless."
"Yeah, yeah. No friends -- I mean, I have friends...."
"Many dear friends, yeah" - Willow, Tara, Willow Entropy.

[tommo]

Oh Clue has to be one of my all-time favourite movies. It's just hilarious.

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Darlin' theres no way out, nothing can help me now. Love's got a hold on my heart...

[Zahir al Daoud]

Okay, not everyone's cup of tea, I know. Myself, when in the right mood, I quite enjoyed the first two. They were a nice spoof of a specific genre, and in general well done.



The latest one was a real disappointment on many levels. To get technical, the script and story need to make just enough sense so the audience can relax and enjoy the gags. And that's what didn't happen this time. More, in the first two films, virtually every character (well, except Basis Exposition) had a tiny bit of an arc. We're not talking Shakespeare here, but the little bits like Frau Farbissene's relationship with Scott Evil, and Number's Two's continued attempts to get Dr. Evil to listen to him were nice touches. Gone in this flick.



Which is not to say there wasn't anything worthwhile. Michael Caine gives a fine performance, as usual. There are a few wonderful gags here and there (although topping the opening sequence is a tall order--watch *that* when its broadcast I urge everyone) too. But overall, I was disappointed. Not even the pleasure of watching Beyonce Knowles almost wearing those costumes was worth the price of admission.



BTW...



I adore "Clue." I can watch it again and again. I often do.

"O Let my name be in the Book of Love!
If it be there I care not of that other Book above.
Strike it out! Or write it in anew, but
Let my name be in the Book of Love!"
--Omar Kayam

[AutumnT]

Quote:

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I have to say that Netflix is the most wonderful invention since, well, DVDs.

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Isn't it just? I'm on the 8 dvd plan so I can have a big selection of movies. Glad you liked Imaginary Crimes. And now for those of you talking about The Cook... that is actually the only movie I have ever walked out of in my life. I was younger then, but I was just so disturbed by it. Is it really worth giving another go? I know Helen is always fabulous, but it was might icky.

Autumn

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Buffy Season 6: It grated, like something forced in where it doesn't belong.

[June Leigh]

This is different, but I recommend "Revolutionary Girl Utena," the anime series from Japan. The T.V. series is engaging and there is obvious lesbian subtext and friendship between the two girl main characters, Utena and Anthy. The story may be a bit different, but the style is lovely. The Utena movie (which is out on DVD) brings the subtext into text.



I liked "Fire" very much, although I saw it long ago.



I don't know if I enjoyed "The Wedding Banquet," but I think it's worth watching. It's directed by Ang Lee and it's about a Taiwanese-American man in a relationship with his White American boyfriend who's trying to hide the fact that he's gay from his traditional parents. It's funny at times, not overly dramatic, but the ending was a bit too pat.

[mollyig]

bookcat I only saw Memento recently, and thought it was brilliant. I've now added the DVD to my (ever-expanding) wish list. I remember thinking at the end of it though - my its a big change for Guy Pearce, as I remember him in Neighbours shudder!

Adding up the total of a love that's true, multiply life by the power of two
Indigo Girls

[BoredNow99]

Oh Memento is a bloody marvellous film. Molly you've got to get the DVD. It's superb. You get to watch the film in it's proper sequence of events, which is bizarre but very cool

Willow...It's Glenda in a bubble power, not Margaret Hamilton on a bicycle power

[Cipher]

It could be interesting to watch Memento in chronological sequence, but you should watch it the way it's presented at least the first time you see it (otherwise you'd spoil the effect). It's about a guy who can't form new memories who is trying to find the person who killed his wife. By seeing the scenes unfolding in reverse order you can feel what it's like for him because you don't know what had happened before either. It's an unfolding mystery/puzzle and by seeing farther and farther back with each step things unfold superbly; it's really designed to unfold as it steps backward in time with each scene, and it's incredibly effective. It's not kitten-topical, but it's a very good movie--in a somewhat disturbing kind of way.



On a more kitten-topical movie... I finally ordered Bound at the video store last week (after seeing it for the first time in the broadcast a few weeks ago, I think on FX) and it just came in, so I should get to see the full unedited movie for the first time this weekend.



Edited to note that I realize Molly had already seen it, so this is more for any other Kittens who haven't yet seen Memento and might be interested.

Edited by: Cipher at: 8/23/02 4:32:54 pm

[Wiccagrrl313]

Oh, Momento is great, really well done, and expects the audience to participate and keep up. I just got the DVD. I'll be curious to watch it in chronological order. I think it'll play very differently.

Tracy

******************


VILLOV

I troost yuu. Hurty flurty schnipp schnipp!

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Tara. Accept No Substitutes.

[slayer747]

Aurelie and Sleepless and Seattle.



nice ones.

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"Sometimes things happen between people that you don't really expect. And sometimes the things that are important are the ones that seem the weirdest or the most wrong, and those are the ones that change your life." - Jessie "Once and Again"

[BTHillier]

I finally got this on DVD yesterday. I love this movie and so happy to have it on DVD. It's one of my fav. movies of all time.

[Loco2]

egh - and on disturbing films - alone has to score like a erm... 10.... out of 10. she chokes someone with custard....



and nothing gets resolved at the end, either, the only thing that comes to any sort of conclusion is that the psycho is, in fact, dyke... well, i was confused!



sorry. this didn't really have anything to do with anything - egh - just thought i'd share.

"I'm not gay - I'm just Trevor's bitch." - some drunken guy about his sexuality
"Oh, bugger off, you BROLLY!" - Anya to Giles on his use of the english language
"We'll all be a lot happier without the constant whining....Mom, Buffy, Tara, Waah" - DMW to Dawn

[frenchrose888]

Ok, just dropping in to mention a french movie that I highly, very highly recommend, and that some of you must know of already : '8 Women' (8 Femmes in french). 8 Women, 8 facets of feminity...



Amazing movie, stellar acting - I really mean that, since each and every actress in this movie is a huge star in France, and well deserves it. They are all incredible. To give you an idea, the idea to make this movie was based on the concept of Cukor's 'Women' - i.e stars all around. So, the director - who happens to be a talented young gay man named François Ozon (a name that fits him well, since it means 'dare' in french*g*) - pretty much picked the eight best actresses we have here and voilà.



So that's the cast. Special mention of Virginie Le Doyen, who is not only very talented but also drop dead gorgeous.*sigh*



The story, well I can't say much more than this : it is based on a play, and it is a murder/mystery - type movie. Kind of. It's also a fine, smart, side-splitting comedy at times. At other times, it's dark, or sensual, or moving, but it's always, always, so very well done. The director is a young gay man named François Ozon, and each of his previous movies had many GLBT characters and/or subplots - and this one is no exception. This man, whose well-fitting name pretty much means 'dare' in french, is extremely talented, and obviously well-versed in the use of symbolism, suggestion. In one word, he's smart and it shows.



Hmm, anyway, just know that this movie is for me everything a french movie should be - witty, rich, deeply artistic yet highly entertaining - and most of all, unlike some Amelie who shall remain unnamed, it isn't pompous nor does it take itself seriously.



Oh, and did I mention the great *great* soundtrack ? Amazing, oh and yes, this movie is also, on top of everything I already mentioned, a musical.



Anyway, if you must see one french movie, this is the one.



Rose

'Magic, thy name is Tara.' - Mariacomet, The Stone Circle.

[BTHillier]

I just wanted to say I can't wait for Once and Again to come out on DVD. It's very cool that this is being done.

[KISMIC]

Quick question BTHillier, any idea what region the 'Once & Again' DVD's will be coming out in? Is it just a special US release?





*~Kristy~*

[BTHillier]

I'm sorry I don't know, just know it will be 6 DVD's and it will be November 5th but I guess you knew that. I'm sure some website should have more information.

[bowieinberlin]

I've got to add that I love Hedwig and Velvet Goldmine.



But then again I'm a sucker for glam rock.



I think I prefer Velvet Goldmine because it's such a nice portrayal of the threesome of David Bowie, Iggy Pop and Lou Reed. When reading Angie Bowie's "Backstage Passes," I found the relationships between her and the fellas to be accurately transferred to the film. Though Bowie himself refused to allow Velvet Goldmine to serve as a biography (apparently he was working on his own), the melding of Iggy Pop and Lou Reed (and Mick Ronson) into the character of Curt Wild was great. It's by no means a perfect movie, but I really love it. I think it really captures the esence of that era in their careers.



Now Hedwig, on the other hand, was brilliant in its own right. Original songs, and a very original concept. If only I could have seen the stage version. And I love that they use my favorite photo of Bowie, Iggy and Lou in it! John Cameron Mitchell appreciates that union as much as anyone should. Now I can't wait until the new Mitchell project gets in gear with Julian Koster (plays the singing saw for Neutral Milk Hotel and IS The Music Tapes).

* * * * * * * *


"There was a fish ... IN the percolator."

[Hyo Shin]

Just saw About a Boy. Cute and funny. And I'm sure that the little boy Marcus is a British cousin of Willow. Look at his ugly hats. He even has a rainbow jacket.

[Hemiola]

I think someone else mentioned it on this thread, but I just caught "Paragraph 175" on HBO and it is devastating. It is a film that should be seen by everyone. Why? It shows that hate really has no limits: if someone hates homosexuals, it's very likely that they also hate anyone who is of a different race, religion, or ethnic group. It all goes together--hate is never "exclusive".



Are you listening, Mr. Phelps?

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"No man is an island, entire of itself....never send to know for whom the bell tolls: it tolls for thee."

John Donne