Aug 2, 2015

Having beat Arkham City again today, I'm going on a Batman binge.. about to watch this

 

Aug 3, 2015

I watched Airplane about a week ago () and that movie is hilarious!

 

Aug 4, 2015

Double Indemnity (1944)

The only classic noirs that I'd seen previously were In a Lonely Place and Touch of Evil. Both left me feeling like I needed to watch the more conventional noirs to really appreciate what they were doing with the genre. For instance, I could tell that In a Lonely Place was focusing more on the realistic romantic side of things and was less about "cracking the case" and "unraveling the mystery" as I presumed most noirs were. Similarly, Touch of Evil was playing on the handsome protagonist in his prime quality and appeared to serve as an analogy of sorts for where Orwell was at in his life when he made it. I could be wrong, but both films left me feeling like they weren't the best starters for the genre. Double Indeminity did everything to justify these suspcions as I hoped it would.

From the jump, I loved how Walter Neff was a savvy insurance salesman instead of a hardened detective. He doesn't stand for absolute good and actually plans and carries out the murder at the heart of the film's conflict. We kind of forgive him for doing it out of love, increasingly so as Phyllis' true nature comes to light. The murder isn't a mystery but drives the character archs forward, Neff towards redemption and Phyllis towards destruction.

Nola as the definition of innocence. Keyes as the definition of justice, yet somehow the antagonist for a good part of the film. All great characters with purpose. I did, however, find the supporting cast to be a little too shallow to support any kind of doubt as to how it would all play out. Zachetti becomes an obvious tool even when the film is still trying to shroud its conclusion.

I'd heard so much praise for Billy Wilder and I can finally see why. It's so easy to love a director who takes part in his own screenwriting. The classic noir lighting, the classic noir dialogue, the opening elevator shot, the apartment door scene pictured above, the tension in both murders, the tension in the phone call with Keyes in the room, the anklet shot of Phyllis coming down the steps. setting up the car not starting with an offscreen engine misfire earlier on, one of the best uses of narration that I've seen, etc. Not to mention using two top billing actors to their fullest extent in roles out of their comfort zones.

Loved it. I can't decide if I want to watch more noir or more Billy Wilder next. Sunset Boulevard it is.

 

Aug 4, 2015

I watched Home in 3D last Friday and it was cute. I thought I wouldn't lIke to hear Rihanna's voice for over an hour but it was cool.

 

Aug 5, 2015

Shane (1953) ★★★

 

Aug 5, 2015

"This Is The End"

 

Aug 5, 2015

Rocky - Still a classic.

 

Aug 5, 2015

Good review. I'd say go through them separately. Wilder is a great director but certainly not limited to noirs. He has a LOT of films, but I'd stick with the majors: The Apartment, Sunset Boulevard, Sabrina, The Seven Year Itch, Ace in the Hole, Some Like it Hot, etc.. Can go through that right quick.

Noir is a big, major step. It will take you years. You will remain after years still barely literate. Move towards The Big Sleep, The Maltese Falcon, eventually get to Kiss Me Deadly and Gun Crazy, then discover the hidden noirs, the neo noirs, everything else that @Bleed can tell you more of. Let it be a lifelong process. Though Noir is now considered a category of genre, it was never supposed to be.

 

Aug 5, 2015

Well, said.

@Charlie Strangelove if you want I'll send you a list of of recommendations in your inbox

 

Aug 5, 2015

Once I finish Wilder's trilogy I'm aiming for Out of the Past followed by other major pictures like ones you mentioned. The Canon podcast I listen to just did a fantastic episode on Double Indemnity. One of the hosts touched on noir being a retrospective genre influenced by WWI and such. Also how the Hayes code kind of crippled it. I had no clue it influenced French New Wave, of which I've only seen 400 Blows and 8 1/2. Makes me want to finally introduce myself to Godard by watching Breathless. Not to mention other old timey genre defying US directors like Howard Hawkes to work through after Wilder. So much to see before I'm dead.

That'd be great. I'll make a list on LetterBoxd or something. @Bleed

 

Aug 6, 2015

Sunset Boulevard (1950) ★★★★★

 

Aug 6, 2015

"Pulp Fiction"

 

Aug 7, 2015

Ace in the Hole (1951) ★★★½

Douglas' acting was ahead of its time. An outstanding performance.

 

Aug 7, 2015

• 
  Eden 2012
  ★★½ Watched 06 Aug, 2015
  
  An interesting look into the horrors of the sex trade is compromised by banal drama and an awkward/cliche camera.
  
  56/100 - Mediocre
  
  No likes
  
  
• 
  The African Queen 1951
  ★★★ Watched 03 Aug, 2015
  
  Review at Next Projection: nextprojection.com/2015/08/05/dreaming-technicolor-african-queen/
  
  70/100 - Though a uniquely spectacular film at the time, The African Queen has unfortunately aged very poorly. The setting and adventure appears rather inauthentic by today’s standards, turning the film’s original eau de vivre into a perfunctory gimmick for the purposes of conveying a generic romance story.
  
  No likes
  
  
• 
  The Kindergarten Teacher 2014
  ★★★★ Watched 04 Aug, 2015
  
  Review at Next Projection: nextprojection.com/2015/08/06/kindergarten-teacher-noteworthy-point-view-modern-world/
  
  82/100 - The Kindergarten Teacher (Lapid, 2014) explores how poetry, amongst other historic arts, is being lost to a world of increasing modernity and materiality. It illustrates how a young genius akin to a young Mozart would go unnoticed today, stifled by a society that simply doesn’t care about his talent, a talent which would be encouraged and admired by a former era.
  
  No likes
  
  
• 
  True Story 2015
  ★★½ Watched 29 Jul, 2015
  
  An interesting plot about story fabrication (criminal & journalist in similar roles) is slighted by poor script and execution
  
  58/100 - Mediocre.
  
  No likes
  

 

Aug 8, 2015

Some Like It Hot (1959)

 

Aug 8, 2015

your mom's s**tape

 

Aug 8, 2015

My wife is in this

 

Aug 8, 2015

Kiss Me Deadly is absolute fire.

 

Aug 8, 2015

Will you look at that! Look how she moves! It's like Jell-O on springs. Must have some sort of built-in motor or something.

 

Aug 8, 2015

one of the last great Noir's tbh