Tuesday, February 21, 2012

#91Melvin And Howard (1980)


Every blog I've ever read has at least one post that starts with "Sorry it's been so long since I've posted but..." This one is mine.
Anyway Melvin And Howard is a movie I saw when it came out on TV. I didn't remember much from it except the scene in which Melvin is sitting in the boat he got after his wife won on a game show. There is nothing significant about that scene and it has been taking up needed brain space for over 20 years now and I'm glad to have excised it. Cute movie, Jason Robards is always great and Ted Danson's wife flashes her boobies.

Awards: Won 2 Oscars
Would Jessica Like This Movie? She'd probably get bored.
Next Movie: Local Hero

Thursday, October 27, 2011

#92 Dangerous Liasons (1988)


I thought I had seen this movie back in the 80's but I think I would have remembered this. Glenn Close, John Malkovich, Michelle Pfeiffer and Uma Therman in the 1700s in France. Lots of psychological game playing, seduction and deceit. Brilliant acting and a very young Keanu Reeves.


Favorite Quote: When it comes to marriage, one man is as good as the next. And even the least accommodating is less trouble than a mother.
Trivia: Alan Rickman, who played Vicomte de Valmont in the Broadway version, was offered to reprise the role for the film, but turned it down to make Die Hard, which was released a year later.
Awards: 3 Oscars
Would Jessica Like This Movie? Period pieces kinda bug her.

Next Movie: Melvin And Howard

Friday, September 16, 2011

#93 Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)

I'd probably seen this movie a dozen or so times since high school but I never realized, until this viewing, that Ferris is kind of a jerk. He claimes he just wanted to Cameron an awesome day but I think the truth is he wanted to hang out with Sloan and he needed a driver. Still it's always fun watching this classic and Edie McClurg steals every scene she's in.

Favorite Quote: Oh, he's very popular Ed. The sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, wastoids, dweebies, dickheads - they all adore him. They think he's a righteous dude.
Favorite Scene: The parade
Trivia: John Hughes told Ben Stein, who had a degree in Economics, to present an actual Economics lecture in his scenes. Hence nothing Ben Stein says (aside from the roll call) is scripted.
Awards: Nominated for Golden Globe
Would Jessica Like This Movie? She loves it
Next Movie: Dangerous Liasons

Friday, September 9, 2011

#94 Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981)


Been awhile since my last post. Since then Jess and I got married and are currently in escrow for a beautiful house here in Salida, CA. I haven't had too much time to watch movies but, during one of her longer naps, I was able to watch Mad Max 2.
Biko and I had a lot of fun watching this one. I don't think I'd seen it since it came out so it was almost like seeing it for the first time. I did recall the car and the hairy, grunting kid however.

The move takes place in post-apocalyptic Australia where the desert is filled with nomads and gangs riding around looking for gas so they can drive around and look for more gas. All the girls have 80's hair styles and all the gang members have ass-less chaps. Don't be eating when you watch it.

Favorite Quote:  Greetings from The Humungus! The Lord Humungus! The Warrior of the Wasteland! The Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla!
Favorite Scene: Tanker truck battle
Trivia: The black Interceptor driven by Mel Gibson is a 1973 Ford Falcon XB GT Coupe, a car exclusive to Australia. A limited number of these cars were exported by Ford to New Zealand and the United Kingdom, but never to North America. Since only 949 of that particular model Falcon were ever produced, they have become highly sought after by car collectors on six continents; there are over 100 of them that have been brought over to the United States so far, primarily by importing/replica car companies like www.madmaxcars.com (The largest importer and builder of mad max replicas in the USA) along with several Interceptor replicas assembled from "non-GT" & "GT" Falcon coupes.
Awards: Saturn Award for Best International Film
Would Jessica Like This Movie? Too violent for Jessica. She was napping anyway.
Next Movie: Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

#95 The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)

At this point there doesn't really seem to be much left to say about this one. If you don't feel it's blasphemous you probably see it as brilliant. If you feel it is blasphemous you probably didn't finish it. I will say this; Martin Scorsese speaks very, very fast. His commentary was almost too fast to keep up with. Easy on the caffeine there Marty.


One other thing I would like to mention; Willem Dafoe's brother performed my father's kidney transplant. I always thought that was kinda cool.

Next Movie: Mad Max: Road Warrior

Monday, August 29, 2011

#96 Mona Lisa (1986)



This was the first movie on the list that I had never heard of or knew anything about. Bob Hoskins has such a sharp accent I actually had to turn on the subtitles.
Me "What's that fool sayin'?"
Biko "Hellifyno."
Anyway, Mona Lisa has to great performances, one by Hoskins and the other by Michael Caine. It also has lots of hookers. Lots and lots of hookers. In fact, I think every female, speaking role is a hooker except for Hoskin's daughter and ex-wife. His ex-wife comes close.

Favorite Quote: You can't find plastic spaghetti just anywhere.
Favorite Scene: Michale Caine discusses being "happy"
Trivia: Director, Neil Jordan, used real prostitutes in the film.
Awards: Bob Hoskins nominated for Best Actor
Would Jessica Like This Movie? The accents would annoy her.
Next Movie: The Last Temptation Of Christ

Thursday, August 18, 2011

#97 Fatal Attraction (1987)


This movie was responsible for more men staying faithful to their wives than any other movie, song or sermon ever could have. Oh sure she seems naughty and fun at first but then things get bad very, very fast. Holy crap I forgot how freaky this movie was. Glenn Close had never really been thought of as "sexy" before this role ( or since, really) but no one could have been so convincingly bat shite crazy as she was.
Another thing to watch for here is the performance of Ellen Hamilton Latzen as Michael Douglas's daughter. All she wanted was a bunny to call her own... we all know how that went.

Favorite Quote: I'm not gonna be ignored, Dan.
Favorite Scene: The ending will have you rooting for the cheater.
Trivia: Glenn Close still has the knife she used in the movie hanging in her kitchen. Do not request hasenpfeffer for dinner.
Awards: Nominated for 6 Oscars
Would Jessica Like This Movie? Jessica no likey scary movies. No no no.
Next Movie: Mona Lisa
One Final Thought... Ann Archer was WAY hotter than Glenn Close.