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Reviews
The Graduate (1967)
I don't get it...
The Graduate is about a recent college graduate, Dustin Hoffman, who is unsure about his future and I am left unsure about the movie. The movie is produced and set in the late 60's, probably one of Dustin Hoffman's first movies. Hoffman starts an affair with his dad's business partner's wife, however he falls in love with her daughter and things turn pretty complicated. Because I wasn't very sure how I felt about this movie, I read few reviews on IMDb and to my surprise people are pretty split about this movie as well.
Lets start with what I liked, first I thought tackling the idea of being lost, unsure or worried after college is very impressive for that time. the first half of the movie was intriguing and if you are a recent graduate you will probably connect to Hoffman's situation.
Although I whole heartedly believe that Dustin Hoffman is a brilliant actor, I thought he was okay in the movie, good acting but not really inspiring. Here I must give it to Anne Bancroft, she was the only one who showed extreme professionally in that movie, she was cold and bold and just a pretty good actress. One of my fav scenes was showing how suffocated Hoffman was.
I thought there were good camera angles, lighting, but what I really liked was the editing! for the 60's that movie was really really well edited.
I liked the ending how although Hoffman got what he wanted (or maybe thought he wanted) he had this expression on his face of now what? and the music plays my fav track in the movie (though the rest are as good) The Sound of Silence
OK...lets see what I didn't like. Well, I thought the movie had really shallow parts and thought Katharine Ross was a bit dumb. I literally laughed out loud at the ending scenes were she started running towards him in the church and the close ups of angry faces that were more of cartoon like expressions with no real emotions. I also thought that Hoffman falling in love with Ross was freaking fast, they had one date! And the second day she knows he was sleeping with her mother, and somehow by the end of the movie she forgives him! how will that even be possible?
To wrap it up, I wasn't very interested nor entertained to tell the truth. Yea maybe it was a different movie in the 60's but its not really a classic and I wont recommend it nor do I think it deserves all these Oscar nominations nor being on that top 250 list.
Stand by Me (1986)
Nice ride
I only realized it was based on a novel written by Stephen King with the credits roll. No wonder the script is brilliant! the story goes like this, 4 teenage boys go on a walking trip to see a dead body of another teenage boy who have been missing for days. On their way you start knowing about each of them and their backgrounds. The movie was produced in 1986 and is told as a flash back from the main character's memories of 1960's.
I must admit the directing was spot on! it kept me interested the whole time, I didn't want to pause the movie for a minute. I think because the movie is set mostly outdoors, the lighting was really good, even scenes set indoors had the same quality of lighting.Again the script was beautiful, you can relate to each and every word these 4 teenage boys talk about. It draws you back to the times where the biggest questions we faced were about Micky Mouse and Goofy.
Another thumps up to the 4 kids, I didn't feel for a second they were acting a role, they were incredibly professional. My favorite character was Teddy Duchamp by Corey Feldman, he was the little crazy teenage boy. There were few scenes when you could tell they are trying hard to show a certain emotion like crying, but it works.
Oh, almost forgot, soundtracks were fabulous! I loved them all, but here to share my two favorites. Lollipop by The Chordettes (it might be a little cheesy, but its lovely)also the main soundtrack of the movie Stand By Me by Ben E.King (its very touching)
The few things that I didn't like about the movie, was it felt a little bit teenagy, like teenagers would like it more, however I absolutely loved the movie, it kept me interested, it made feel nostalgic and I simply enjoyed it. I would defiantly say its worth watching (and worth being on the top250 list) and would see it again and again, no doubt.
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Smultronstället (1957)
Good, but boring
Let me tell you a little bit about the movie before my opinions, Wild Strawberries is a Swedish movie directed and written by Ingmar Bergman in 1957. Bergmann himself is a very interesting character, most of his movies relate to a personal experience. Interestingly enough although Wild Strawberries was nominated for best screenplay written, its not one of his top movies.
I started watching Wild Strawberries late at night and after 30 mins, I wanted to sleep, things were moving too slow. I stopped watching and went to sleep, woke up this morning and finished the movie. My thoughts at the end were that must have been such a great movie int he 50's. You know when they say, it was a walk down memory lane, the movie is literally that. The idea was that this old man, Dr.Isaak Borg (main character) was going on a trip from the city he lives in to another city to be honored for being a medical doctor for 50 years. He decides to go by car and along the road he stops at places where he had memories as a young man. He also meets few interesting characters along the road and have dreams that shows his fears of being a lonely old man.
The idea is really brilliant for the 50's and the directing was really good, it had beautiful scenes and really nice camera angles. Some scenes were so beautiful that it feels more like its a painted picture. Its really impressive how Bergman was able to execute his story that well. What I also loved is how the dreams reflected the character's fears and managed to show that in some well done graphic tricks. The music played through the movie served the scenes well, but the sound editing wasn't good at all, I felt every cut. Beautiful costumes and I loved how the young women were wearing pants and smoking cigarettes and driving! it felt so modern and open minded.
However, I wasn't impressed by the main character's acting, it was shallow and I couldn't sympathize with him much. I liked more the secondary characters who joined him in his trip, they were more believable. I also didn't like how blunt some parts were in showing that he is a cold old man, it was more like Bergman was giving us facts with not much reasons behind it, of course through the movie you understand why is he that ruthless, but it was mentioned too much from different characters and too bluntly. And I must admit, unfortunately I didn't enjoy the language much (sorry!).
Was it a good movie? yes indeed! but I wouldn't watch it again, it didn't leave me wondering and I was bored at the beginning.
its-lalas-land.blogspot.com
Le notti di Cabiria (1957)
Loved it!
This is the very first time I see an Italian movie, and I loved it! This was very adorable movie. It was a nice journey, that I am glad I took. The movie was produced in 1957, set in the beautiful city of Rome and directed and co-written by Frederico Fellini.
The story of the movie is about a pretty crazy prostitute who we join in her journey of life, she looks for love and salvation. It's funny and true. She is an optimist who sings, dances and swears a lot.
The idea is really nice, I don't know how often was a prostitute's story shown in a movie in the 1950's, but it's defiantly an interesting idea. Let's see what I loved, I loved how open minded and independent was Cabiria (main character) in the movie, she owned her own house and was so proud of it. She wasn't looking for marriage as much as love.She wanted to change her life and didn't accept just how things were.I also enjoyed how although she went to church and asked for grace from virgin Mary, nothing changed in her life, because she kept it as it.
I thought the directing was very good, it kept me interested and enjoying the movie. I loved the scenery and acting of all actors. It was fun, lots of fun, even the soundtrack is fun, please listen to it
My favorite scene involved Cabiria hypnotized and revealing here true innocence in front of many people on stage.
I still had few comments that I didn't like, when she met a father in the church, he told her you must get married, it's women's duty to have children and be wives, that was a little lame. And it made me feel as if its sending a message that those who want to be independent, must be bad and that they should go back to their "natural" duties. Also it kinda made me sad that although she such an optimist, things never turned out right for her. I absolutely loved the ending scene, brought a smile back to my face.
At the end, I would recommend the movie and would say it's very enjoyable. Oh, almost forgot that the Italian language is awesome, extremely lovely to hear. Definitely worth of being on the top 250 list.
its-lalas-land.blogspot.com
Anatomy of a Murder (1959)
Interesting...really.
The movie's happens in a small city during the late 1950's, where a lieutenant kills a man for raping his wife and asks James Stewart in the role of Paul Beigler, a lawyer, to defend him.
At first I didn't understand what was going on and that was for 10-15 mins maybe and then it became really interesting. I thought the story wasn't the greatest suspense ever, but the acting and the sequence of event kept it exciting.
The acting was really really good, thumbs up for James Stewart and Lee Remick (the raped wife). And I think I am falling in love with black and white movies, I am crazy about the lighting and use of shades. Although the movie is mostly set in the courtroom, the script of the trial is quite interesting, it keeps you wanting to know how will the prosecutor deal with the witnesses and what will happen next. It's simply a classic investigative movie, with a subtle sense of humor.
I also absolutely loved Lee Remick's fashion, this outgoing over the top (back then) clothes with high heels and the wavy hair, she is spectacular and is really pretty too.
You know what else was really interesting, it's the soundtracks, it old funky jazz, very cool, my favorite was actually the beginning with all the old cartoonish graphics, really enjoyable (a little pink panther kind of music).
Let's move to what I didn't like, I thought the movie is way too long 2:40! some scenes were kinda useless. I also wanted to leave the courtroom a little more and that's why I don't have a favorite scene. Also the ending is waaaaay too expected, it killed my buzz.
All in all it's a nice interesting movie, not sure how memorable it is, but it's exciting and funny. Would definitely recommend it.
its-lalas-land.blogspot.com
Batman Begins (2005)
Enjoyable, but not memorable
I would say I did like the movie in general, enjoyed it. What really impressed me thought, was actually the script. I though the script was really well written. Nolan keeps me interested and focused on the movie. Christian Bale was good, but he was too angry and cold, I believe he is a better actor than that. I absolutely loved Morgan Freeman, I think that man never fails.
The idea of how justice is subjective, was very intriguing. For some reason I was drawn to the idea of destroying a place that was so overwhelmed with corruption to rebuild it. Even though its too dramatic it felt too real to me as well. It reminded me with Emperor Nero's burning of Rome to rebuild the city.
I loved how the movie wasn't just about some action moves, but had many life teaching lessons, especially the first part, before he heads back to Gotham City. The first part of the movie was probably my favorite part. There were lots of good scenes and even more good quotes.I loved that little hint of the joker at the end, though I miss him through out the movie.
I was chatting with a friend who said, for some reason he doesn't remember the movie that much, maybe the editing wasn't that good. I think it was OK not very impressive. Visual effects were really good though part of why the movie was quite interesting.
Unfortunately Nolan always bore me right before the end of the movie, at some point the action is just taking way too much time and I wan to get to the end of things. Also the soundtracks were good, served the movie well, but didn't feel memorable to me. For me the best one was the movie beginning one, Vespertilio by Hans Zimmer (all soundtracks were of his composition)
Overall it is an enjoyable movie, not one of the best I have seen though. Not very sure if it should be on the top250 list.
its-lalas-land.blogspot.com