<p>I know! She gave some great performances (Sybil, Norma Rae, Places in the Heart) despite having a limiting physical type (tiny and cute). I don’t think we should hold actors responsible for embarrassing or silly Oscar acceptance speeches. And don’t we watch hoping we’ll see a speech as memorable as hers was?
I do like Douglas Sirk movies, but I always worry that he’s maybe poking fun at his audience a little bit? I get so completely swept up in those over-the-top melodramas - it’s hard to respect myself afterwards. ;)</p>
<p>Of his movies, I especially like “Written on the Wind,” “Magnificent Obsession,” and “Imitation of Life.” Sirk got some great performances from Rock Hudson, who was a much better actor than he generally gets credit for being - feel the same way about Lana Turner. I like the original “Imitation of Life,” too, from back in 1934. The way Hollywood portrayed race relations and particularly African Americans until about 1980 was ridiculous and, if nothing else, shows audiences today why things had to change. </p>
<p>Anyone else out there want to recommend some movies for a summer list?</p>
<p>The Apartment, with Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, and Fred MacMurray. “That’s the way it crumbles, cookie-wise”. Wonderful performances, and a great glimpse of mid-20th c. corporate life. It’s also very sweetly romantic. :)</p>
<p>Frazzled1—I developed a new respect for Douglas Sirk after watching Todd Haynes “Far from Heaven” (an homage to Sirk). Sirk’s one of those great American directors who turned a specific genre on its head. After hearing M Scorsese discuss his films,( which I at one time thought were just for cheap thrills), I realized how complex and how deeply imbued with meaning they are.(BUT STILL CAMPY!!!)
*****The commentary on Todd Haynes “Far from Heaven” DVD is a real eye opener. [The</a> Making of ‘Far from Heaven’ (2002) (TV)](<a href=“http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0340231/]The”>The Making of 'Far from Heaven' (TV Short 2002) - IMDb)</p>
<p>I just watched * Back to the Future* on DVD. Funny thing was, when I looked up what movies were playing in our area- it was showing on a local screen.
Must have been part of the Seattle Film Festival.
[SEATTLE</a> INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL | City Arts Magazine](<a href=“http://www.cityartsmagazine.com/siff]SEATTLE”>SIFF 2018: 'Afghan Cycles' - City Arts Magazine)</p>
<p>Musicamusica, have you seen Robin Hood yet?
I like Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott, but it hasn’t gotten good reviews here, although it is playing in my neighborhood.</p>
<p>Television shows- seems to be more satisfying- but my favorites- Bones & House- have already finished for the season ( so I am rewatching the West Wing)</p>
<p>Watched “August Rush” last night on the Hallmark channel. Sappy, unrealistic, “oliver” like plot with the expected ending. In other words I loved it.</p>
<p>The child actor, Freddy Highmore, was amazing to watch and his performance sent me to the internet to see what else he had done. He was charlie in Johnny Depps version of willie wonka. He was in Neverland and a few other movies. Obviously I don’t get out much. </p>
<p>The camera loves this young man. He was a pleasure to watch and I wish him continued success. He would have made a great Harry Potter as I have never been very impressed with Daniel Radcliff.</p>
<p>Watched “it’s complicated” with the GNO crew. Love, love , love Steve Martin. However Alec Baldwin’s character and the plot just didn’t sit well with me that night. The kid from “the office” was pretty cute in his role though.</p>
<p>I love “Bones” Watch the reruns all the time. I’d watch House i a heartbeat but it must not be on at a good time for me.</p>
<p>This film has really grown on me over the years. It doesn’t appear this forum has spoiler tags so I’ll just say that a film involving what this film does (and doesn’t) does not fits my definition of “sweetly romantic.” In fact, anything but. </p>
<p>“Shut up and deal.”</p>
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<p>Agreed. My wife and I both enjoyed this film - but then again I’m a sucker for period films.</p>
<p>I’d watch House i a heartbeat but it must not be on at a good time for me.</p>
<p>I never watch tv on an actual tv cause I can’t keep track of time ( or the day even).
I either watch them all at once on DVD, or on [HULU]( <a href=“http://www.hulu.com/”>http://www.hulu.com/</a>)
There are still commercials- but only about 10 seconds long.</p>
<p>EMERALD— I have not ignored the bad reviews…and I have stayed away from Robin Hood. Too bad. At this point it seems to me nothing in the theaters can get me out of the house. Besides, I have a dozen great older movies (TIVO’d off of TCM) that I have to catch up with. Last night I enjoyed watching “Smoke Signals” for third time. (Adam Beach is adorable)</p>
<p>… and I just finished watching The Ghost Writer, which I certainly recommend. I think it’s been out on DVD for a week or so - we missed it in the theater. Very good suspense film starring Ewan McGregor and Pierce Brosnan (both excellent), with a great supporting cast including Tom Wilkinson (one of my favorite actors) and Eli Wallach (95!), who has a great short scene. I don’t know Olivia Williams’ work very well, but I think she steals the movie when she’s on. The only weak performance, for me, was from Kim Cattrall. I think she’s very good in certain roles, but her British accent was not convincing and probably any of 200 British actresses would have been better in the part.</p>
<p>Not one of Polanski’s great films, like Chinatown or Rosemary’s Baby, but still well worth renting. It was almost like finding a new mid-level Hitchcock film to enjoy!</p>