PeruvianSkies
01-04-2007, 11:48 PM
Every now and again I get into this phase where I revisit films...Holidays are usually a great time to do so, but anytime is good. In doing so, I typically come across a few gems in my collection that I re-realize are truly terrific films for some reason or another. Let's call this ....REDISCOVERY.
Here are just a few of the films that I have always loved, but feel are worth more recognition....
REAL GENIUS (1985) Directed by Martha Coolidge this film unfortunately has been hacked to pieces on TV by taking the scope image and doing Pan&Scan to ...VILMOS ZSIGMOND's photography. Not only is this film shot by one of the greatest cinematographers of all time, but is also one of the few comedies from the 1980's to be shot in scope. The DVD finally restores that! This film is far more brilliant than most people realize with some great moments and montages such as the shots of the lecture room with the tape recordings taping the lecture. Also, the opening title sequence with the song "You Took Advantage of Me" being played whilst the evolution of weaponry is being shown. This movie is a classic example of the Reagan Era and the fact that "when you're smart people need you" or ...take advantage of you to make nuclear weapons and are used on other countries. Just a great film!!!
WOLFEN (1981) a movie that seems to be about killer wolves and most people mistake this for some lame version of AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF or THE HOWLING. However, this film takes the horror genre for an interesting twist and brings in some environmental issues as well. Not too often do we get a horror film that integrates some sensibilities like this, plus the special effects are quite impressive for it's generation. Worthy of rediscovery and the DVD is pretty good, although a 5.1 mix would have been nice.
STATE OF GRACE (1990) Directed by Phil Joanou and is by far his greatest film, now he is doing rubbish like GRIDIRON GANG. This film was completely overshadowed during it's initial 1990 release because of all the other gangster-related films of that year including THE GODFATHER III, GOODFELLAS, MILLERS CROSSING, HOFFA, THE KRAYS, THE GRIFTERS, to name a few. Talk about a great year!!! This film is brilliant though in just about all aspects with great acting (Ed Harris, Sean Penn, Gary Oldman, Robin Wright, and John Turturro are the real highlights!!!). Also, great camerawork and music especially during the gunfight climax. The DVD from MGM is light on extras, but can be picked up cheap!
YEAR OF THE DRAGON (1985) is just a great film that has been hard to find until the more recent DVD issue of this Michael Cimino thriller/drama starring Mickey Rourke is one of his greatest roles before Bruce Willis took over his spotlight. This film hits all the great marks and is worth seeing more than once to fully appreciate the way it works.
TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. (1985) It would seem that 1985 was a great year for cinema and with this William Friedkin thriller staring William Peterson it's easy to see why. Willem Dafoe puts in a classic performance and this film will shock the crap out of anyone who is not expecting a few moments in the film. The DVD from MGM has a few extras as well including a commentary track that is worth the price of the disc and then some!!!
THE NAKED KISS (1964) This Samuel Fuller film is just incredible!!! I remember the first time I saw the film I had no idea what a Pulp Film really was and then after seeing this I wanted to see more and more. This is just a great film with twists and turns that come from nowhere. Part drama, part thriller, with lots of pulp moments and with Sam Fuller at the reigns...anything is possible.
LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN (1945) Dang!!! If you have not see this film...SEE IT NOW! Just an incredible film that puts the drama in meloDRAMA. These films are so complex and alot of that goes over peoples heads. This is certainly a film worth seeing a few times just to catch all the nuances and the layered storylines and brilliant performances! The DVD from Fox has plenty of extras and is INCREDIBLY restored!!!!! A must!
THE MISSION (1986) Roland Joffe's brilliant film starring three of the greatest actors to grace the silver screen....Liam Neeson, Jeremy Irons, and Robert DeNiro. All are great and the score by Ennio Morricone is a character in it's own right. Sweeping music coexists with brilliant cinematography in an enriching tale with power and magnitude. A film that never rests or gives up.
THE LONG GOODBYE (1973) Robert Altman's finest moment in this masterpiece that has long been forgotten by many. This film is brilliant in all aspects and takes awhile to adjust to it's pace and direction, but it's been hard to find in widescreen form, the MGM DVD finally puts the film back together in a decenly restored version with the scope image looking good using the 'flash' effect that Vilmos Zsigmond invented for this film to give the picture quality a unique hazy appearance.
ACROSS 110TH STREET (1972) Yaphet Kotto and Anthony Quinn star in this superb Blaxploitation film that is superby directed and introduces us to the underworld of crooked cops and crazed bad guys. The energy and execution of this film is the true highlight and the memorable soundtrack, which was given some new life with the use of the title song at the beginning of Tarantino's JACKIE BROWN.
Hopefully if you have not seen any of these films that you're interest level has grown a bit and for those that already are familiar with these gems maybe you're in agreement and can feel free to add some of your own personal thoughts, reactions, etc.
Peace everyone!
Here are just a few of the films that I have always loved, but feel are worth more recognition....
REAL GENIUS (1985) Directed by Martha Coolidge this film unfortunately has been hacked to pieces on TV by taking the scope image and doing Pan&Scan to ...VILMOS ZSIGMOND's photography. Not only is this film shot by one of the greatest cinematographers of all time, but is also one of the few comedies from the 1980's to be shot in scope. The DVD finally restores that! This film is far more brilliant than most people realize with some great moments and montages such as the shots of the lecture room with the tape recordings taping the lecture. Also, the opening title sequence with the song "You Took Advantage of Me" being played whilst the evolution of weaponry is being shown. This movie is a classic example of the Reagan Era and the fact that "when you're smart people need you" or ...take advantage of you to make nuclear weapons and are used on other countries. Just a great film!!!
WOLFEN (1981) a movie that seems to be about killer wolves and most people mistake this for some lame version of AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF or THE HOWLING. However, this film takes the horror genre for an interesting twist and brings in some environmental issues as well. Not too often do we get a horror film that integrates some sensibilities like this, plus the special effects are quite impressive for it's generation. Worthy of rediscovery and the DVD is pretty good, although a 5.1 mix would have been nice.
STATE OF GRACE (1990) Directed by Phil Joanou and is by far his greatest film, now he is doing rubbish like GRIDIRON GANG. This film was completely overshadowed during it's initial 1990 release because of all the other gangster-related films of that year including THE GODFATHER III, GOODFELLAS, MILLERS CROSSING, HOFFA, THE KRAYS, THE GRIFTERS, to name a few. Talk about a great year!!! This film is brilliant though in just about all aspects with great acting (Ed Harris, Sean Penn, Gary Oldman, Robin Wright, and John Turturro are the real highlights!!!). Also, great camerawork and music especially during the gunfight climax. The DVD from MGM is light on extras, but can be picked up cheap!
YEAR OF THE DRAGON (1985) is just a great film that has been hard to find until the more recent DVD issue of this Michael Cimino thriller/drama starring Mickey Rourke is one of his greatest roles before Bruce Willis took over his spotlight. This film hits all the great marks and is worth seeing more than once to fully appreciate the way it works.
TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. (1985) It would seem that 1985 was a great year for cinema and with this William Friedkin thriller staring William Peterson it's easy to see why. Willem Dafoe puts in a classic performance and this film will shock the crap out of anyone who is not expecting a few moments in the film. The DVD from MGM has a few extras as well including a commentary track that is worth the price of the disc and then some!!!
THE NAKED KISS (1964) This Samuel Fuller film is just incredible!!! I remember the first time I saw the film I had no idea what a Pulp Film really was and then after seeing this I wanted to see more and more. This is just a great film with twists and turns that come from nowhere. Part drama, part thriller, with lots of pulp moments and with Sam Fuller at the reigns...anything is possible.
LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN (1945) Dang!!! If you have not see this film...SEE IT NOW! Just an incredible film that puts the drama in meloDRAMA. These films are so complex and alot of that goes over peoples heads. This is certainly a film worth seeing a few times just to catch all the nuances and the layered storylines and brilliant performances! The DVD from Fox has plenty of extras and is INCREDIBLY restored!!!!! A must!
THE MISSION (1986) Roland Joffe's brilliant film starring three of the greatest actors to grace the silver screen....Liam Neeson, Jeremy Irons, and Robert DeNiro. All are great and the score by Ennio Morricone is a character in it's own right. Sweeping music coexists with brilliant cinematography in an enriching tale with power and magnitude. A film that never rests or gives up.
THE LONG GOODBYE (1973) Robert Altman's finest moment in this masterpiece that has long been forgotten by many. This film is brilliant in all aspects and takes awhile to adjust to it's pace and direction, but it's been hard to find in widescreen form, the MGM DVD finally puts the film back together in a decenly restored version with the scope image looking good using the 'flash' effect that Vilmos Zsigmond invented for this film to give the picture quality a unique hazy appearance.
ACROSS 110TH STREET (1972) Yaphet Kotto and Anthony Quinn star in this superb Blaxploitation film that is superby directed and introduces us to the underworld of crooked cops and crazed bad guys. The energy and execution of this film is the true highlight and the memorable soundtrack, which was given some new life with the use of the title song at the beginning of Tarantino's JACKIE BROWN.
Hopefully if you have not seen any of these films that you're interest level has grown a bit and for those that already are familiar with these gems maybe you're in agreement and can feel free to add some of your own personal thoughts, reactions, etc.
Peace everyone!