MetaFilter posts tagged with movies and cinema

Classic Cinema Online

Turtles all the way down — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:28:11 -0800

Classic Cinema Online. A ton of old movies watchable in an embedded player.

Bavarian Film Studios in Munich

Brosef K — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 22:33:00 -0800

Hitchcock's first in 1925. Kubrick in 1957. Sturges in 1963. Bergman, Huston, Ophüls, and Wilder. Sound of Music in 1965. Willy Wonka in 1971. Also, Monty Python made their Fliegender Zirkus specials there in 1971 and 1972. Film history and all that. Sure. But to my mind, the best part of the Bavarian Film Studios is being able to go inside the actual submarine from Das Boot. Or you can ride on that flying dog thing from Neverending Story... if that's how you roll.

William Friedkin's "Sorcerer"

Joe Beese — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 08:01:31 -0800

How does a director follow up the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time*? (*adjusted for inflation) He remakes a French classic - taking an international cast to a Caribbean nation ruled by a military dictatorship, where hurricanes, irascibility, other difficulties take him far over a budget already large enough to be shared by two studios. The result is his personal favorite among his films. But deceptive marketing and cute robots contribute to its making back less than half of its costs. (previously)

Der ewige Jude

Joe Beese — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:33:04 -0800

The day after Kristallnacht, Hitler said: "It was necessary not to make propaganda for violence as such, but to explain certain matters of foreign policy to the German people in such a way, that the inner voice of the people all by itself gradually would call for violence." Towards that end, Goebbels commissioned and closely supervised the production of a propaganda documentary titled Der ewige Jude - "The Eternal Jew". Few if any of the inhabitants of the Łódź Ghetto who appear in its footage survived the war. Though it was exhibited throughout Germany and occupied Europe, popular audiences avoided the film's gruesome images of swarming rats and animal slaughter - preferring instead the anti-Semitic melodrama Jud Süß. In 1958, the film was still considered so dangerous that it required the intervention of the Customs Department to permit Amos Vogel to show it at his Cinema 16. Today, the film can be seen at the Internet Archive here. (previously)

Alien Resurrection?

Mintyblonde — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 00:31:35 -0800

Fox have offocially announced that Ridley Scott has officially signed on to direct the new 'Alien' prequel. He certainly did a great job on the original but can he match his previous truimph? Given the number of projects he has in gestation (heh) maybe any celebration is premature...

Michelangelo Antonioni's "Zabriskie Point"

Joe Beese — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:37:08 -0800

Pauline Kael called it "a huge, jerry-built, crumbling ruin of a movie". Roger Ebert called it "such a silly and stupid movie... our immediate reaction is pity". Few directors of Michelangelo Antonioni's stature have followed a film as acclaimed as Blowup (1966) with one as reviled as Zabriskie Point (1970). While what merit the film has is found chiefly, if not solely, in Antonioni's characteristically striking visuals - particularly its concluding explosion sequence set to Pink Floyd's "Come in Number 51, Your Time is Up" (previously) - the movie has been YouTubed in its entirety here. (related)

Left Field Cinema, the best-curated film podcast out there

colinmarshall — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 10:41:48 -0800

I've listened to dozens of film podcasts, but Left Field Cinema is the first that devotes its episodes only — or at least primarily — to movies worth discussing. I'm talking about Malick's Badlands. I'm talking about Tarkovsky's Solaris. I'm talking Kieslowski's Dekalog which gets a two-parter. I'm talking about Tarr's Werckmeister Harmonies. I'm talking Dominik's The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. At long last, I say.

On the Creepy/Alluring Art of the Follow Shot

maudlin — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:13:13 -0800

"Because the camera is so close to the character(s) being followed, we feel that we're physically attached to those characters, as if by an invisible guide wire, being towed through their world, sometimes keeping pace, other times losing them as they weave through hallways, down staircases or through smoke or fog." A video montage and essay by Matt Zoller Seitz. All shots are identified at the end; you may know more of them than you think. (via)

Witty Ad Infinitum

y2karl — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 09:25:40 -0800

...[Change of scene. We are looking out of a car window; it is raining, or has recently rained. Shops go by.] I treated myself to a taxi. I rode home through the city streets! There wasn't a street--there wasn't a building--that wasn't connected to some memory in my mind. There I was buying a suit with my father. There I was having an ice-cream soda after school. When I finally came in, Debby was home from work. And I told her everything about my dinner with André

And here is Sergio Leone and the Inside Fly Rule's meditation on the only possible other candidate for Best.Movie.Ever. See Also See Also

Pleasant Family Shopping and General Cinemas

mattbucher — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 12:46:48 -0800

Vintage photos and a history of General Cinemas. Before the 1960s, concessions were rare at movie theaters, but GCC introduced them widely and even launched their own exclusive drink: Sunkist soda. Also part of the GCC experience was their feature presentation bumper. General Cinemas was sold to AMC in 2002, but here is their now abandoned site. This blog also has some awesome old photos of Kroger's (2, 3, 4) and malls.

festival-quality short films collection

taz — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 05:46:17 -0800

The Oscar-nominated "Mysterious Explorations of Jasper Morello" is an "adventurous tale of a navigator’s journey to save his ailing wife set in a beautiful world of Victorian science-fiction" and one the many fine film shorts and videos available to watch at shortof theweek.com - a site dedicated to "finding those few [video] gems amongst the enormous heap of garbage they're buried in..." You can browse the archives by genre, topic and style. Some of these you will have seen before, while some, I hope, will be new to you. A few personal favorites of both sorts: Solar, City Paradise, Comedy, Balance, Muto, Rabbit, The Pearce sisters.

SPOILER: everyone on Twitter is actually living in modern times, but they were dead all along.

goodnewsfortheinsane — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 11:44:03 -0800

It's Bad Movie Club night! You have until 9 GMT / 4 ET to procure #1: a Twitter account and #2: a copy of M. Night Shyamalan's critically misunderstood masterpiece, The Happening. Good luck!

Graham Linehan, of Father Ted and IT Crowd fame, will be your master of ceremonies, and there will be a second screening at midnight GMT / 7 ET, hosted by Phill Jupitus. But remember kids, piracy is stealing.

We're going to need a bigger Netflix plan

Horace Rumpole — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 10:31:31 -0800

In a time of top 10 lists, there are those who aim higher: They Shoot Pictures, Don't They? maintains an annually updated list of the 1,000 greatest films ever made, as well as the 250 greatest of the 21st century. Kevin B. Lee wants to see them all. How many have you seen? (via)

The Short Films of Nacho Vigalondo

Staggering Jack — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 15:46:30 -0800

The Best Youtube Videos of Spanish Filmmaker Nacho Vigalondo (previously). A few additional Nacho links: -his blog (in Spanish). -Io9 interview on his upcoming movie Timecrimes. -2005 Salon article about 7:35 in the Morning.

Two "new" sites for film lovers

Manhasset — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 08:58:36 -0800

The Auteurs is a new web site (in beta) for film lovers--and, for those film lovers, Criterion has relaunched their site. Now with the ability to watch (some of) their films online for $5 (good for a week's worth of watching one title). The viewing cost is also applicable to the cost of buying the same title on DVD.

Electric Shadows

Abiezer — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:25:14 -0800

China Film Journal "a bilingual website dedicated to Chinese-language cinema from around the world."

Grace Chang

carter — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 08:44:47 -0800

In the 1960s and 1970s Hong Kong had a thriving film industry, dominated by studios such as Cathay Stu dios. One of Cathay's most fabulous stars was Grace Chang (Ge Lan), referred to by some as the Marlene Dietrich of Hong Kong Chinese cinema. Her greatest hit was The Wild Wild Rose (Ye mei gui zhi lian), based on Bizet's Carmen. The showstopper is her version of Habanera (YT). Another popular film is Mambo Girl. Grace Change home page (in Chinese). More numbers on YouTube (descriptions sometimes uncertain due to my lack of Chinese): Wild Wild Rose (?) Mambo Girl Jajambo Jajambo (song and dance version) Flying Car Song ??? More YT clips of Hong Kong in the 50s and 60s I discovered this music after watching some Wong Kar Wai films a while back.

Now They Call It Grayscale

exogenous — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:42:23 -0800

Black & white films to be remembered.

The "dynamic octagenarian duo"

jbickers — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 03:35:06 -0800

Lorenzo Semple, 84, has been a screenwriter for more than 50 years; his credits include "Papillion," "The Parallax View" and "Three Days of the Condor." Marcia Nasatir, 81, is a longtime agent and production executive, was the first female VP of production at United Artists, and produced films like "The Big Chill" and "Hamburger Hill." Together, they are the "Reel Geezers," offering irresistible film reviews on YouTube. To wit: Superbad, Iron Man, Sex and the City, Lars and the Real Girl, No Country for Old Men, There Will Be Blood. More background on the team (they're not married, BTW, just friends brought together by a mutual friendship with Pauline Kael). More background on Lorenzo, and more on Marcia.

Hollywood Chinese

LinusMines — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:35:33 -0800

Hollywood Chinese: The Chinese in American Feature Films (official site w/Flash) Filmmaker Arthur Dong covers the good (YT), the bad and the players (link to Flash video clips) in his latest award-winning documentary. Related MeFi post.

How could I have known that murder could sometimes smell like honeysuckle?

miss lynnster — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:56:10 -0800

"But, it's a post on film noir!" I told her. She jerked away from me like a startled fawn might, if I had a startled fawn and it jerked away from me. I knew that caving into my desires meant I might lose her. But I didn't care. I went out to the kitchen to make coffee -- yards of coffee. Rich, strong, bitter, boiling hot, ruthless, depraved. I knew she'd be back. They Made Me A Criminal (1939) I am a fugitive... I am hunted by ruthless men! I am shunned by decent women! I am doomed to hide forever! Directed by Busby Berkeley. Starring John Garfield, The Dead End Kids, Claude Rains and Ann Sheridan. Casa blanca (1942) As big and timely a picture as ever you've seen! You can tell by the cast it's important! gripping! big! Won 3 Oscars. Directed by Michael Ortiz. Starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. Double Indemnity (1944) Paramount's terrific story of an unholy love, and an almost perfect crime! Written and directed by Billy Wilder. Starring Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyk and Edward G. Robinson. The Thin Man Goes Home (1944) Nick and Nora go on holiday, and end up involved in a murder. Starring William Powell and Myrna Loy. Mildred Pierce (1945) In her heart of hearts she knew it would happen this way!Joan Crawford in her Oscar-winning. Eve Arden and Ann Blyth were both nominated for Best Supporting Actress. It was also up for Best B/W Cinematography, Best Picture and Best Screenplay. Scarlet Street (1945) The GREAT STARS and DIRECTOR of "Woman in the Window" Directed by Fritz Lang. Starring Edward G. Robinson and Joan Bennett. Detour (1945) He went searching for love... but Fate forced a DETOUR to Revelry... Violence... Mystery! The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946) Fate drew them together... and only murder could part them! Starring Barbara Stanwyck, Van Heflin and Kirk Douglas. Out of the Past (1947) A MAN - Trying to run away from his past... A WOMAN - Trying to escape her future! Starring Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer, Kirk Douglas and Rhonda Fleming The Big Sleep (1948) The type of man she hated . . . was the type she wanted! Directed by Howard Hawks. Written by Raymond Chandler. Starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. The Naked City (1948) The Most Exciting Story of the World's Most Exciting City! Starring Barry Fitzgerald and Howard Duff. The Third Man (1949) HUNTED...By a thousand men! Haunted...By a lovely girl! Directed by Carol Reed. Written by Graham Greene. Starring Joseph Cotten, Orson Welles, Trevor Howard and the city of Vienna. D.O.A. (1950) A picture as excitingly different as its title! Starring Edmond O'Brien and Beverly Garland. Beat The Devil (1953) Tongue-in-cheek spoof of The Maltese Falcon. Adventure at its boldest! Bogart at his best! Directed by John Huston. Screenplay by Truman Capote. Starring Humphrey Bogart, Jennifer Jones, Gina Lollobrigida, Robert Morley and Peter Lorre The Hitch-Hiker (1953) When was the last time you invited death into your car? Written and directed by Ida Lupino. Starring Edmond O'Brien. Dial M for Murder (1954) Kiss By Kiss...Supreme Suspense Unfurls! Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Starring Ray Milland, Grace Kelly and Robert Cummings. Mr. Arkadian (1955) Discovering the past can be murder... Written, directed by, and starring Orson Welles. Cape Fear (1962) The Original Masterpiece Of Revenge, Confrontation And Murder! Starring Gregory Peck, Robert Mitchum and Polly Bergen

The Unsung Joe: Where bit--part actors go when they die

jack_mo — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 17:51:03 -0800

The Unsung Joe: Where bit-part actors go when they die. Biographies of the most obscure micro-stars of 1940s and '50s cinema, all remarkably well-researched and richly illustrated.

RIP That Guy Who Was in Beyond the Valley of the Dolls

dhammond — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 00:50:51 -0800

Though best known for his role as hunky Lance Rocke in Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, the actor/author was also distinguished by a career as a beefcake pin-up boy. Sadly, he has passed away at the age of 67.

Hitchcock Triple Feature

dhammond — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 23:21:39 -0800

Put The Post In The Basket

KevinSkomsvold — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 07:56:25 -0800

Top 10 Most Disturbing Movies of All Time. Normally I shy away from Top 10 or Top 50 lists but the first movie in this list, "Freaks" I had completely forgotten about. I remember seeing this image or maybe even the movie when I was really young and it was jarring. Two I'd add to the list: Jacobs Ladder and Trilogy of Terror