Louisville & Nashville & Arabia
1. Movies:
Inland Empire: Who but David Lynch could make a film that’s 1) more textured, rich and artistic than any of the textured, rich and artistic films he’s made in the past, and 2) often virtually unwatchable. I loved it. And Laura Dern gives the performance oh a lifetime. Wowie, Yowie! 5/5.
Dream Lover: Started out like it might have some potential, and I like James Spader a lot (and I have no problems seeing Madchen Amick naked), but this is quite a lame and dis-believable movie. 2/5.
Lawrence of Arabia: One of those classics I had never seen before. Very grand, very epic in every way. Peter O’Toole is Peter O’Toole. It fell just a little short for me though. It seemed just a little dated. 4/5.
The Painted Veil: I found this a little disappointing, in that I had heard such good things about it. It’s very beautiful, and it might have been more moving to have seen it on the big screen, but in spite of the fact that it made a good case that you’re supposed to feel what it tells you you’re supposed to feel, I never quite felt it. 3/5.
Under Milk Wood: I was in a theatrical version of this (I think I had several little parts, among them Sinbad Sailor, the proprietor of the local pub). I absolutely love the poetry of Dylan Thomas’ words, and think it’s a dandy little slice-of-life piece of literature, but this version feels way dated, and not in a good way (Costumes; Liz Taylor’s make up!). 3/5.
2. Happy birthday to me.
3. Picture.
i don’t think it’s fair to call LOA dated. it’s just a classic. and he should have won the oscar for that one. he was just too beautiful for words.
and Happy Birthday to you! hope you get out from under the weather soon!
-hector
Comment by hector diablo — Friday, 9 November, 2007 @ 2:14 pm
Happy Birthday! LOA is dated- a classic but dated nonetheless. I havent seen the other movies to have an opinion, I do appreciate the round-ups.
Comment by Jennifer — Friday, 9 November, 2007 @ 4:24 pm
i like your picture. that’s great. i am talking to kate right now and she says you are sick and didn’t go out. I hope you feel better soon and go have a happy birthday time even if it’s not on your birthday.
take care!
Comment by Brooke — Saturday, 10 November, 2007 @ 11:19 pm
no, LOA is NOT dated! that’s like saying a story about the Civil War is dated. Wack! I am ranting. Oh! I feel delirious. when did I eat that sugar? how much did i eat? OMG!
Comment by hector diablo — Tuesday, 13 November, 2007 @ 2:47 pm
I will not argue with Hector- if he thinks it isnt dated I will trust his judgment, mostly so I do not have to defend my own dated opinion.
Comment by Jennifer — Tuesday, 13 November, 2007 @ 8:54 pm
I hope at some point you decide to revisit LOA, and see it on a big screen (watching it on television, no matter how large the screen is, is akin to experiencing a jackson pollock painting via a postcard). i would also claim that the movie is more timely now than when it was originally released — many complexities and difficulties of empires and the middle east are grappled in LOA and resonate still. and besides all that claptrap, it’s still an exciting, engaging movie — better made than most movies of its time, and almost all movies today. and it is 45 years old.
other movies from 1962 — birdman of alcatraz, cape fear, dr. no, “girls, girls, girls”, knife in the water, lolita, ride the high country, the longest day, the man who shot liberty valance, the manchurian candidate, the miracle worker, the music man, to kill a mockingbird, whatever happend to baby jane?
Comment by gregory — Thursday, 15 November, 2007 @ 7:04 pm