I have to be in a certain mood to watch certain movies. There are films that I watch at least once a year and then there are those that I watch every three, four or longer before I see them again. I had been wanting to watch Cast Away, but its such a long film and all I remembered was Tom Hanks being on a deserted island talking to a soccer ball. The only reason I went to see the film was because it was Tom Hanks. I don’t think I would have seen this film if it had been any other actor.
Tom Hanks was on a role and he commands the screen when he does the right film. There were a few comedic roles that I didn’t care to see, but it really didn’t have to do with him. It had more to do with his co star. I was never a big fan of Shelly Long or Meg Ryan. I did however like Bachelor Party, Big, and Forest Gump, but that was mostly Tom Hanks.
There are certain comedies I like and some I don’t. I was also never a big fan of war films.
Watching Cast Away made me think of what I would do. It also reminded me how life sends us a curve ball and some people are forced to make decisions they wouldn’t normally make on their own. It’s important to go with ones heart. If you believe in something make it your cause no matter what anyone else says. I enjoy films that make me think. Of course there are times we want to watch a film to escape our own mundane lives.
The second feature was The Green Mile. Normally, I would stay away from a film based on a Stephen King novel or short story. I was not impressed with Cujo or Pet Cemetery. When the Langoliers made it to television I was disappointed, but the Stand changed my mind on adaptations of his work. I had listen to parts of The Green Mile on cassette when my sister-in-law was listening to it. I wanted to see how it would play out on the big screen and I must say it was done quite well. The cast was excellent. Tom Hanks, David Morse, James Cromwell, Sam Rockwell, Michael Duncan, Bonnie Hunt and Patricia Clarkson to name a few. For me when you wait a long time to watch a film it adds to the excitement of trying to remember what’s going to happen. Remembering the first time you saw the film and whether you shared the experience with someone or if you went alone.
For many years I preferred to go to the movies alone because I liked watching movies and sometimes no one wanted to see what I was interested in viewing. Back then films weren’t coming out on VHS after one week at the movie theater. I made a wise investment in my movie collection. I love movies so its not important that I have Blu- Ray or DVD. Of course if I could afford it I’d probably get it, but I can’t. I still watch VHS tapes from time to time because the film may not be available on DVD or the price is just too high for a film that I can still watch on VHS.
Tom Hanks has given a plethora of films and incredible performances. Cast Away and The Green Mile are excellent, but his body of work shows a broader range and that he isn’t afraid to take on a role that he knows he can breathe life into.
Thanks for stopping by, do come back and become a follower while you’re here.
www.artbydlonzo.blogspot.com
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Monday, April 25, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Sounder
I had this film in my collection for many years. I bought it by accident because I saw the title and just assumed it was the original. This is a remake which is directed by Kevin Hooks who played the young boy in the original. I had no idea they had remade this film and why? I’m not crazy about remakes unless they are going to do a better job. Cicely Tyson was great in the original. I remember we went to see this film as part of a school field trip. It was something they felt it was important for us to know. On the surface the film didn’t stick with me because I really didn’t remember much about the film except that the Dog was named Sounder and even that had escaped me. The film was about determination and not giving up. Paul Winfield who played the father in the original, also makes an appearance as the school teacher.
Thanks for stopping by, do come back and become a follower while you’re here.
Thanks for stopping by, do come back and become a follower while you’re here.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Tickets
A friend that I met ten years ago at a film festival party sends me some of his movies from time to time when he is finished looking at them. Since I love film, I never pass up any movies regardless of what they are about. Watching film is very inspirational and I admire anyone that can do something I haven’t done yet.
Tickets is an interesting film that is set on a train in Italy. It brought back memories of my train ride from Milan to Pordenone. The film follows several characters and their slight interaction as the story captures them from different points of the train ride and their connection.
Each segment had a different director. I was not familiar with any of the stars that appeared in the film, but it was quite entertaining. Riding a train in Europe is quite the experience. You get to see people from all over going to their next destination or returning home. There are many languages being spoken from time to time. The scenery can be breath taking depending on how long of a ride you’re taking.
Thanks for stopping by, do come back and become a follower while you’re here.
www.artbydlonzo.blogspot.com
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=54325957
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=54365247
Tickets is an interesting film that is set on a train in Italy. It brought back memories of my train ride from Milan to Pordenone. The film follows several characters and their slight interaction as the story captures them from different points of the train ride and their connection.
Each segment had a different director. I was not familiar with any of the stars that appeared in the film, but it was quite entertaining. Riding a train in Europe is quite the experience. You get to see people from all over going to their next destination or returning home. There are many languages being spoken from time to time. The scenery can be breath taking depending on how long of a ride you’re taking.
Thanks for stopping by, do come back and become a follower while you’re here.
www.artbydlonzo.blogspot.com
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=54325957
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=54365247
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Movies as they relate to me
David Lynch - Whether or not I saw a film had nothing to do with the director in most cases, but I do realize there were certain names affiliated with a film that would make me want to see them.
Most films I saw was mainly because of a star or the premise, but Irwin Allen was a name that stood out for me and so I wanted to see the films where his name appeared in the credits. The same went for Dino De Laurentis.
I sat in front of my computer looking for CBS to see the turn around on television shows and I stumbled across Twin Peaks. I was not a fan of the series, but I liked some of the stars and I had seen most of David Lynch’s films. Blue Velvet and Wild at Heart. A lot of it had to do with the stars that he worked with. Since I saw Making Love I was a fan of Michael Ontkean. It had taken a long time for him to surface again after making such a controversial film.
I watched some of Twin Peaks and I realize I like the quirkiness of his characters. It reminds me of some of the characters I’ve created. David Lynch taps into the surreal or our dream state and brings it into reality.
I like David Lynch, David Cronenberg, and David Fincher to name a few.
Last night I decided to watch a film I hadn’t seen in years, Philadelphia which starred Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington. Tom Hanks won an Oscar for his portrayal of a gay lawyer with AIDS.
The film brought back a lot of memories of friends that were a part of my life and are now gone on to a new life.
The film holds up, but there are a few scenes that make the film dated.
I’ve seen some great films that haven’t gotten a large release or haven’t made it to DVD. The Users with Jacklyn Smith and Tony Curtis has never come to DVD. It took a very long time before Bad Boy Bubby made it to DVD. Chain of Desire hasn’t made it to DVD. I’ve never seen Last Exit to Brooklyn on DVD as well as Love and Human Remains.
I really enjoy movies, it’s a great escape and it can also be inspiring.
Here are a few film recommendations: The Experiment with Adrien Brody and Forest Whitaker, Primal Fear with Richard Gere and Edward Norton, Love Come Down with Larenz Tate and Deborah Cox, Far North, Antichrist with Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsburg, Gilda with Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford and Little Man Tate with Jodie Foster.
Thanks for stopping by, do come back and become a follower while you’re here.
Most films I saw was mainly because of a star or the premise, but Irwin Allen was a name that stood out for me and so I wanted to see the films where his name appeared in the credits. The same went for Dino De Laurentis.
I sat in front of my computer looking for CBS to see the turn around on television shows and I stumbled across Twin Peaks. I was not a fan of the series, but I liked some of the stars and I had seen most of David Lynch’s films. Blue Velvet and Wild at Heart. A lot of it had to do with the stars that he worked with. Since I saw Making Love I was a fan of Michael Ontkean. It had taken a long time for him to surface again after making such a controversial film.
I watched some of Twin Peaks and I realize I like the quirkiness of his characters. It reminds me of some of the characters I’ve created. David Lynch taps into the surreal or our dream state and brings it into reality.
I like David Lynch, David Cronenberg, and David Fincher to name a few.
Last night I decided to watch a film I hadn’t seen in years, Philadelphia which starred Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington. Tom Hanks won an Oscar for his portrayal of a gay lawyer with AIDS.
The film brought back a lot of memories of friends that were a part of my life and are now gone on to a new life.
The film holds up, but there are a few scenes that make the film dated.
I’ve seen some great films that haven’t gotten a large release or haven’t made it to DVD. The Users with Jacklyn Smith and Tony Curtis has never come to DVD. It took a very long time before Bad Boy Bubby made it to DVD. Chain of Desire hasn’t made it to DVD. I’ve never seen Last Exit to Brooklyn on DVD as well as Love and Human Remains.
I really enjoy movies, it’s a great escape and it can also be inspiring.
Here are a few film recommendations: The Experiment with Adrien Brody and Forest Whitaker, Primal Fear with Richard Gere and Edward Norton, Love Come Down with Larenz Tate and Deborah Cox, Far North, Antichrist with Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsburg, Gilda with Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford and Little Man Tate with Jodie Foster.
Thanks for stopping by, do come back and become a follower while you’re here.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Primal Fear
This film has a list of stars including Richard Gere, Edward Norton, Frances McDormond, Laura Linney, Maura Tierney, Andre Braugha and Jon Seda and others.
I've a;ways enjoyed this film and I usually watch some films once a year depending on the length and time that I have. Sometimes I'll watch a few movies over the weekend since I have become addcted to a few television shows. I don't do cable so I don't record anything to watch later.
From time to time I might make an acception and watch a show the nect day on the Internet if it is available.
Primal Fear is one of those investigative dramas that centers on a trial of a teenager who appears to have multiple personalities. There are lots of twists along the way.
The performances by all of the actors is great, but Edward Norton sets the bar high for himself. He's done a few films where he has given great performances, but sometimes its hard to top certain performances.
My favorite Edward Norton films are American History X, Fight Club and I like The Score.
Recently he made a film called Stone in which he acts opposite Robert DeNiro again. It'a another film with several twists and it has a surprise ending.
Thanks for stopping by, keep an open mind.
I've a;ways enjoyed this film and I usually watch some films once a year depending on the length and time that I have. Sometimes I'll watch a few movies over the weekend since I have become addcted to a few television shows. I don't do cable so I don't record anything to watch later.
From time to time I might make an acception and watch a show the nect day on the Internet if it is available.
Primal Fear is one of those investigative dramas that centers on a trial of a teenager who appears to have multiple personalities. There are lots of twists along the way.
The performances by all of the actors is great, but Edward Norton sets the bar high for himself. He's done a few films where he has given great performances, but sometimes its hard to top certain performances.
My favorite Edward Norton films are American History X, Fight Club and I like The Score.
Recently he made a film called Stone in which he acts opposite Robert DeNiro again. It'a another film with several twists and it has a surprise ending.
Thanks for stopping by, keep an open mind.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Gilda
The year was 1946 and I wasn’t even thought about. My parents hadn’t even met.
I’m sure I had read something on the film, but it was not something I was interested in seeing. Rita Hayworth wasn’t really someone I was attracted to. There was something about the actress with blonde hair. Perhaps since films were in black and white that blonde hair was much more enticing. Of course it didn’t hurt that the actresses with blonde hair seemed to have had large breasts. Jean Harlowe, and Marilyn Monroe were at the top of my list, but I remember the striking beauty of Sophia Loren in Two Women. Perhaps I hadn’t seen any of Rita Hayworth’s films.
Recently a friend had copied some movies for me to see and Gilda was on the DVD. What I didn’t know was that he didn’t have the entire movie, but what he did have peaked my interest. I new I wanted to see it. In my research the film was a bit controversial and I am intrigued by those types of films.
The film stars Glenn Ford , George MacCready and Rita Hayworth as Gilda.
The sexual overtones are there on all levels. Even more so than in Casablanca. It seems a little corny at times, but it made me think about a film in which I didn’t like a particular scene and I thought perhaps they got the idea from this film.
In the film, The Crying Game, there is a scene in the bar where the bartender acts as the liaison between the two customers. Some of the dialogue in Gilda comes across in that same manner.
As I’ve written many times before, artists get inspired from others and sometimes they think alike. I’ve done photographs, written poems and even done sketches and then I see something similar and I’ve never even heard of the artist or seen their work.
The cinematography is quite good and the costumes are great as well as set design which of course only takes place in a few places which makes it easy.
Not only does Rita Hayworth have great sex appeal, the film was also considered racy with the song put the blame on Mame where Gilda performs a sort of strip tease without taking off her clothes. Rita Hayworth never sang her own songs, but was very good at lip syncing because you really can’t tell she is not really singing the song.
Gilda is a very interesting film and I’m glad I finally got a chance to see it all the way through.
In Michael Jackson’s This Is It, he uses a sequence from Gilda as well as other black and white gangster films that is truly amazing. It made me think of the film Steve Martin did, Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid. It was visually enticing for me. Then Forest Gump took that effect to another level years later.
Thanks for stopping by, do come back and become a follower while you’re here.
www.artbydlonzo.blogspot.com
I’m sure I had read something on the film, but it was not something I was interested in seeing. Rita Hayworth wasn’t really someone I was attracted to. There was something about the actress with blonde hair. Perhaps since films were in black and white that blonde hair was much more enticing. Of course it didn’t hurt that the actresses with blonde hair seemed to have had large breasts. Jean Harlowe, and Marilyn Monroe were at the top of my list, but I remember the striking beauty of Sophia Loren in Two Women. Perhaps I hadn’t seen any of Rita Hayworth’s films.
Recently a friend had copied some movies for me to see and Gilda was on the DVD. What I didn’t know was that he didn’t have the entire movie, but what he did have peaked my interest. I new I wanted to see it. In my research the film was a bit controversial and I am intrigued by those types of films.
The film stars Glenn Ford , George MacCready and Rita Hayworth as Gilda.
The sexual overtones are there on all levels. Even more so than in Casablanca. It seems a little corny at times, but it made me think about a film in which I didn’t like a particular scene and I thought perhaps they got the idea from this film.
In the film, The Crying Game, there is a scene in the bar where the bartender acts as the liaison between the two customers. Some of the dialogue in Gilda comes across in that same manner.
As I’ve written many times before, artists get inspired from others and sometimes they think alike. I’ve done photographs, written poems and even done sketches and then I see something similar and I’ve never even heard of the artist or seen their work.
The cinematography is quite good and the costumes are great as well as set design which of course only takes place in a few places which makes it easy.
Not only does Rita Hayworth have great sex appeal, the film was also considered racy with the song put the blame on Mame where Gilda performs a sort of strip tease without taking off her clothes. Rita Hayworth never sang her own songs, but was very good at lip syncing because you really can’t tell she is not really singing the song.
Gilda is a very interesting film and I’m glad I finally got a chance to see it all the way through.
In Michael Jackson’s This Is It, he uses a sequence from Gilda as well as other black and white gangster films that is truly amazing. It made me think of the film Steve Martin did, Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid. It was visually enticing for me. Then Forest Gump took that effect to another level years later.
Thanks for stopping by, do come back and become a follower while you’re here.
www.artbydlonzo.blogspot.com
Friday, December 31, 2010
Top 50 Films
In honor of turning 50 I am listing my top 50 films. These films are on the list for various reasons. Either I saw them with someone I cared about or the film was something I could really relate to or had a profound impact on my life. See if any of the films are on your list. I am a true film lover. These films are in no particular order.
1. Lawrence of Arabia
2. Spartacus
3. All About Eve
4. Making Love
5. Fame (The original)
6. The Ten Commandments
7. Class of 1984
8. Halloween
9. Island in the Sun
10. Less Than Zero
11. Beautiful Thing
12. Cruising
13. Introducing Dorothy Dandridge
14. Set It Off
15. Brown Sugar
16. The Misfits
17. Gone With The Wind
18. Blade Runner
19. Love and Human Remains
20. Coffy
21. The Long Hot Summer
22. The Poseidon Adventure
23. The Towering Inferno
24. The Color Purple
25. Crash (The film dealing with racial tension)
26. The Doom Generation
27. Day After Tomorrow
28. Inception
29. Salt
30. Wall Street
31. Far From Heaven
32. Boogie Nights
33. Headless Body in A Topless Bar
34. The Velocity of Gary
35. All About Eve
36. The Pianist
37. Summer of Sam
38. School Daze
39. The Lion King
40. The Prince of Eqypt
41. The Talented Mr. Ripley
42. Priest
43. Primal Fear
44. The Best Man
45. Kalifornia
46. The Breakfast Club
47. Giant
48. The Pillow Book
49. Menace II Society
50. Taps
Thanks for stopping by and come back in the new year. Have a safe new years eve.
1. Lawrence of Arabia
2. Spartacus
3. All About Eve
4. Making Love
5. Fame (The original)
6. The Ten Commandments
7. Class of 1984
8. Halloween
9. Island in the Sun
10. Less Than Zero
11. Beautiful Thing
12. Cruising
13. Introducing Dorothy Dandridge
14. Set It Off
15. Brown Sugar
16. The Misfits
17. Gone With The Wind
18. Blade Runner
19. Love and Human Remains
20. Coffy
21. The Long Hot Summer
22. The Poseidon Adventure
23. The Towering Inferno
24. The Color Purple
25. Crash (The film dealing with racial tension)
26. The Doom Generation
27. Day After Tomorrow
28. Inception
29. Salt
30. Wall Street
31. Far From Heaven
32. Boogie Nights
33. Headless Body in A Topless Bar
34. The Velocity of Gary
35. All About Eve
36. The Pianist
37. Summer of Sam
38. School Daze
39. The Lion King
40. The Prince of Eqypt
41. The Talented Mr. Ripley
42. Priest
43. Primal Fear
44. The Best Man
45. Kalifornia
46. The Breakfast Club
47. Giant
48. The Pillow Book
49. Menace II Society
50. Taps
Thanks for stopping by and come back in the new year. Have a safe new years eve.
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