Siff 50 yrs pt 2

 The cover is from a different year.

 SIFF celebrates 50 years, here are some of the films I saw in 1995, 1.Cold Comfort Farm  2.Half Spirit - Voice of the Spider 3.Dallas Doll and 4. Confession of a pretty lady both starring Sandra Bernhard, the first time I met this comedic actress. 5.Afrique, Mon Afrique 6.Heaven't a Drag 6.Chungking Express 7.The Postman 8.1-900 9.Bleeding Hearts the directorial debut of Gregory Hines 10.The Brothers McMullen 11.Crumb 12.Denise Calls Up 13.The Doom Generation the second time I would meet Greg Araki. 14.Headless Body In A Topless Bar 15. Joe's Rotten World 16.Live Nude Girls 17.Living in Oblivion starring Steve Buscemi 18. Picture Bride 19.Party Girl 20.Swimming With Sharks 21.To Die For 22.The Usual Suspects

I love Films and Movies regardless of whether they are great or not. It takes a lot to get a project off the ground so just getting it completed is worth my time. Of course there are things I don't like, but I feel one should see it from start to finish. There could be that one scene or actor that makes it all worth while. Sometimes its the ending that brings it all together and then it all makes sense. Art in any fashion is all about interpretation.

SIFF celebrates 50 years

 The cover from 2007.

 The Seattle Internation Film Festival is celebrating fifty years. The festival has been bringing great film making from around the world to audiences. For several years in a row I attended the festival which shows more films, movies and documentaries than any other festival.

I had no expectation when I attended the festival for the first time. I was just going to spend time with a friend and catch a few movies. Having never been to Seattle I didn't know much about the city. I checked into a hotel near Pioneer Square which I found out was the heart of downtown. It put me in walking distance of the theaters. It rained, but not your typical rain. It was like a mist, and I found it to be cold. I ended up seeing about 35 films and movies that first year. I would have seen more, but I had to take time to eat. I don't know how some of the people did it. I am not a coffee drinker, so Starbucks wasn't going to cut it for me. That was also my first time of hearing of Starbucks and there seemed to be one on every corner. Once I got used to the rain, I wasn't going to let anything stop me from getting out and walking around. After that first day, the sun came out and it was very pleasant.

Here are 50 films I had seen during my time attending the festival. This is not a complete list, and it includes movies and documentaries. They are in no particular order. There are a few that I have never been able to find on DVD and as far as I know they never got a theatrical release. Some of the films I list one of the actors. Some of the titles are foreign films. They are all worth watching if you love films and movies as much as I do.

Besieged- Thandi Newton * SEX IS...* Defying Gravity * Love and Human Remains - Thomas Gibson &Mia Kirshner * Romper Stomper Russell Crowe * Hammers on the Anvil- Charlotte Rampling * UnZipped- documentary on fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi * House of Angels * Acting on Impulse C. Thomas Howell * Twenty Bucks * Les Visiteurs - Jean Reno* Saturn - Scott Caan * Burn * The Secret Life of Girls- Linda Hamilton * Freak Talks About Sex * Golden Balls * Jamon Jamon * The Low Life- Rory Cochran * Kika * Menace II Society * Man Bites Doug * Al Lupo Al Lupo * White Marriage * Crush * The Doom Generation * The Confessional * The Wedding Banquet * Bound by Honor (Blood in , Blood out) * The Music of Chance * Quick * The Abyss (special edition) * Crush * Orlando * Dazed and Confused * Train Spotting- Robert Carlisle * The Pillow Book- Ewan McGregor * Get Real * Lotto Land * Chain of Desire * Twin Falls Idaho * Priscilla Queen of the Desert * Gods and Monsters- Brendan Fraser * The Velocity of Gary- Selma Hayek * Desert Blue- Christina Ricci * Get Bruce (documentary on comic writer Bruce Vilanch * Creature (documentary) * Sick -The Life and Death of Bob Flanagan (documentary) * Scratch the Surface (documentary on the modeling industry) * East Side Story (documentary)

The horror fest continues

 I have been watching movies I have never seen before. Yesterday I watched a movie called Becky with Kevin James, Joel McHale, Lulu Wilson and Amanda Brugel. It just seemed interesting. It's one of those revenge type movies with a twists. The opening sequence is interesting as we get to see the two stories that will soon intertwine, intertwine. What's different about this movie is that it is a child that is getting revenge for seeing her father killed as they were just beginning to reconnect. The character is only 8 or 9 years old so there is no way this child will ever recover from this, but things do happen. Not sure if there would be a sequel, but it could be interesting. How many times can a person go through tragedy? Several times, I know, I've been there. If you are looking for something different and you want to see Kevin James in a more serious role, I recommend checking Becky out.

The other movie I watched which was very interesting was called 65, starring Adam Driver. I am not sure where Adam Driver came from, but I saw him in a Gucci opposite Lady Gaga and Black Klansman and he was really good and has given great performances in everything I have seen him in. In 65 he plays a spaceship pilot whose craft crashes and it turns out to be earth, 65 millions years earlier. His character is believed to be the only survivor until he discovers a young girl. The two battle prehistoric creatures while trying to get to the pod to get help or leave. It's has a lot of moments to make you jump and sit on the edge of your seat. I love movies when there aren't a lot of characters if it is done right.

I watched the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I had not seen it in years. It has been remastered in 4k. I am not sure if the music changed, but it was bad. The remake that was made several years ago with Jessica Biel is really good.

I wonder why no one has tried to change the soundtrack to some of the 70 movies when they are remastering them. It would certainly change the feel of a lot of the movies, especially the Last House on the Left. Without the music it would be terrifying.

Speaking of 70's movies, another movie I watched was called X. The movie is set in the 70's. It is about a film crew that is making adult movies at the beginning of the VHS craze. Most filmmakers went this route to hon their craft because it was cheaper and easier to distribute right to someone's door step. They rent a place from an older couple who we suspect is unaware of what the young adults are up to. I don't want to give away too much, but this movie has a lot of messages going on. The movie stars Mia Goth in a dual role, Jenna Ortega, Kid Cudi, Martin Henderson, Brittany Snow and Owen Campbell. It's another movie with a small cast. Directed by Ti West, it is done very well and tasteful. There is a blood and gore and some nudity.

The Pope's Exorcist was something I stumbled upon, starring Russell Crowe. This one is based on an actual story as was the original Exorcist written by William Peter Blatty. The story was about a young boy and the character became the young girl Reagan. In the Pope's Exorcist a young boy is believed to be possessed by demons.

Time to get back to the movie watching. Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind and do come back again.

Fear the walking dead

 The month of October is usually reserved for scary movies. Because I like scary movies I sometimes watch them through out the year. When that happens I don't feel like watching them again within a short period of time. The scary factor isn't there. I have found some very interesting movies thanks to Amazon prime. The collector is one of my favorites. Storm Warning is interesting. It's what is called a revenge movie. Eden Lake is another interesting movie starring Michael Fassbender and Kelly Reilly from the Yellowstone series. I watched Nature's Grave because it started Jim Caviezel. His career had a shift where he appeared to be doing religious films and was not using any profanity or showing any of his body. I was surprised as the movie has him cursing a lot. The premise of the movie is quite interesting, but it takes some time to see what is going on. His upcoming film is based on a true story, Sound of Freedom about child trafficking.

I continue to try and find movies I have never seen or even heard of, but I will watch a few of the classics. The Birds, Psycho and Halloween. 

Thanks for stopping by. If you have any recommendations for horror films, let me know. Do come back again and keep an open mind.

Riverdale

 Graffitti at the Hope Gallery also known as Graffitti park, but the location is no longer in downtown Austin.

 When the series first aired, I think I watched one of two episodes because Luke Perry was associated with it. Because it was on the CW it's not a channel that I watch frequently and since it comes on opposite the NBC line up I forget that it's on. I recently checked out a few episodes and sort of gotten hooked. I decided to see if the library had the series so I could start from the beginning. I have no idea what season is on televison, but eventually I will catch up. It's very interesting. It reminds me of Beverly Hills 90210 and Gossip Girl. It pays tribute to various films, books and tv shows. I wasn't sure of the time frame as the fashions looked like something from the 50's and 60's as an homage to the comic strip. The characters do have cell phones and computers. The story lines are condicative of what is going on today. 

There were a few surprises in the cast including Robin Givens as the mayor of Riverdale, Skeet Ulrich as leader of the Serpents and Jughead's dad. Molly Ringwald plays Archie's mom. Mark Consuelo is in the second season as Veronica's dad. I'm curious to see how they handle Luke Perry's absence.

The surprises keep popping up. The focus isn't just on the kids. The parents are harboring just as many secrets.

Like most series by the third season new writers come on board and they don't always check to see remember what certain characters did. Riverdale is no exception. It's still quite interesting and entertaining. You can see how television has evolved and what they can get away with these days. LOL.

The Waiting List

 Bullet Train - I didn't really have any expectations with the film, in fact I had forgotten about it. That's what I like about going to the library because as I am going through the drawers looking for movies to watch, I see something of interest or that was on my list. The film started off rather slow and then it escalated sort of like a train. The film stars Brad Pitt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Bad Bunny, Hiroyuki Sanada, Michael Shannon, Zazie Beetz, Joey King, Channing Tatum, Andrew Koji and Sandra Bullock. There is a cameo by Ryan Reynolds. The story revolves around several criminals, a brief case and revenge. There are funny moments, lots of blood and incredible visual effects. There are several flashback moments to tie in the characters and once you get used to that you will enjoy the film.

I was trying to see all of the Oscar nominated films before the Oscars, but I wasn't able to do that. I was on the waiting list with the library for several films and movies. When I signed up for The Black Panther Wakanda Forever I was number 48. I don't remember exactly how many copies were in the library's inventory, but I finally picked it up Saturday 4-22-23.

Later in the week I will watch, Everything, Everywhere all at Once.

There are still other films I am waiting to be ready for pick up, but I have a lot of movie watching to keep me busy.

The Black Panther Wakanda Forever - I was hoping the film would be as good as the first one and I was impressed. The tribute to Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther was very interesting and appropriate. It is very sad and it makes one reflect on what really happened outside of the movie. Everyone was wondering how the movie would go on and they did quite well so that it makes sense. I had forgotten that it was called Black Panther Wakanda Forever because there is no Black Panther. The special effects are really great. We are introduced to some new characters in an underwater world. The film does keep you guessing as you are not sure where the story is going. I will add it to my collection, but for me the one thing that I had an issue with is the sister becoming The Black Panther. I knew it was going to happen, but I was expecting when she put on the suit she would be larger. Other than that things were good. I especially liked the introduction of T'Challa's son. This film does leave the door open for anyone putting on the suit. So maybe in a few years T'Challa's son will dawn the suit and there will be a war.  There are a few surprises in the film with Julia Louise Dryefus and Michael B Jordan reprising his role from the first film. I thought perhaps he would have tried to dawn the suit. When Winston Duke's character M'Baku said he had a challenge I thought he might even try for the title, but that wasn't the case. Anyone of the warrior women could have probably worn the suit, but it added to the story to have Letitia Wright's character Shuri wear it. Wakanda Forever stars, Letitia Wright, Lupito Nyong'o, Danai Guirira, Angela Basset, Martin Freeman, Tenoch Huerta, Dominique and Michaela Coel, Florence Kashuma and Mabel Cadena. It definetly was a great watch and it is different that most of the other marvel movies. The characters are not cartoonish. The story and writing is very strong. I thought Letitia Wright could have been nominated for an Oscar for her performance.

Thanks for stopping by; do come back again and keep an open mind.

Oscar Sunday

 

My favorite Oscar poster.

I will watch some of the awards, but there will be another program on that I watch.

Friday I watched Top Gun Maverick which was pretty much the same story. Introducing a new group of characters. The scene with the Iceman and Maverick was sad. Then his character dies.

Saturday I watched The Fabelmans. I didn't have any expectations, I was just trying to see all of the nominated movies, but there were a lot of people waiting to see them as well through the library.

The Fabelmans is better than Elvis, Elvis is better than Top Gun Maverick . Just have to wait and see how things turn out.

Unless you see every film and movie you can't say if one deserved the Oscar over another. They all have moments. The Fabelmans was a movie I could really relate to. It was very entertaining, but I would have liked a different ending. 

Today I am watching Alfred Hitchcock's Lifeboat. I have seen it a few times. It's really an interesting film. Having gone through a disaster it resonates some realistic moments.

The stories surrounding the film are fascinating. I enjoy watching the special features on the DVDs.

I am also going to watch Misery.

Thanks for stopping by. Do come back again as I continue my quest to watch the nominated movies.