Family Plot (1976)

Alfred Hitchcock's last movie.

And... I like it!! I REALLY do!

After the two more European feel movies, Topaz (1969) & Frenzy (1972), Hitchcock's movies return to the States, namely San Francisco!!

It started with a little Agatha Christie and ended up, like Clue!! (Yes, the board game). I do not mean for it to sound like a put down. This movie is good!

No big stars attached and have to add, he got very good character actors for his roles, and they are good!! Barbara Harris's (Blanche Tyler) a RIOT!!

As dysfunction as the characters Blanche Tyler & George Lumley are, they really REALLY care for each other, and that is really sweet!! They really STEAL to show!!

A lot have been made off his more well know works, Rear Window (1954), North by North West (1959), Vertigo (1958) etc (the 50s was a golden age for Hitchcock), I have to say, the Master showed the world that in 1976, he is STILL the Master of Suspense!!

This movie is based on The Rainbird Pattern is a thriller novel by Victor Canning, and supposedly, the book is much much darker than the movie. Screenplay Ernest Lehman did an amazing job!!

Alma Hitchcock was fighting cancer during this period, and Hitchcock himself was also sick himself. They were both devoted to each other.

Through all that, he still made this GREAT movie! And underrated at THAT!!

The IRONY in this movie is palpable!!

He paid Paul Newman and Julie Andrew US 750,000 each on Torn Curtain (1966) (he never got over that), and when it was suggested that Al Pacino be cast as the lead in Family Plot, he put his foot down and cast Bruce Dern as the lead because he had been working with him for 12 years (in bit roles and also on Alfred Hitchcock Presents) and also he only needed to pay Bruce Dern USD 100,000!!

Another interesting bit of trivia about this movie is, John Williams (right after Jaws) did the score for this movie!! And it is CHEEKY (fits like a glove)!!

Nobody knew that this would be his last movie... He was working on another project when it occurred to him he physically cannot do it (The Short Night)

If you consider yourself a Hitchcock fan, watch this!!

My Two Sen.

Human Centipede is in a league of it's own...

I really cannot think of anything that comes close to it... wait.. I have..

Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975)

And have to add, Human Centipede is really REALLY unusual...

Now I have to look for that... I'm sick, I know...

This post has been edited by Mov_freak: May 6 2014, 07:42 PM

Do you double dare me?

Okay loh, look for them loh, haiyo...

They outta make an emoticon for THAT!!

Well, not surprising. They homeland is pretty harsh. I am not surprise that the people are harsh as well.

Well, chalk that up to a life experience??

(I know, I know, it is not funny when you are going through it)

Some people might find this review broaching a sensitive issue. Please be advise

Frantic (1988)

After 1983 and 1984 (3rd Star Wars and 2nd Indiana Jones) I believe Harrison Ford, tried alot of things to prove that he is a worthy thespian, and this I believe is a very good movie!

Director Roman Polanski having gotten into legal troubles in the States, made States movie in Europe.

It is MY firm believe that this is actually Roman Polanski's love letter to Alfred Hitchcock!!

So I dare say this is the most Hitchcock movie not made by Hitchcock!!

The script, the direction and subject matter, amazingly Hitchcockian!!

American doctor and his wife is in France to attend a conference.

They are making it into a working holiday.

There was a screw up at the airport, and the doctor's wife ended up with the wrong luggage...

The doctor calls the airport to report the screw up, and then takes a shower.

The wife receives a call and went down the lobby... The plot thickens!!

Hitchcock lovers, go watch this. You know you want to...

Oh! I do believe Liam Neeson's Unknown (2011) did copy the first one third of the movie!!

As always, My Two Sen.

This post has been edited by Mov_freak: May 9 2014, 01:31 PM

You could. Who knows, you might just end up loving his works!!

Enjoy!!

The Ninth Gate (1999)

There was alot of buzz around this movie.

Roman Polanski's second venture into the supernatural (the first being Rosemary's Baby (1968)).

Roman Polanski also wrote the script for this movie, based on Arturo Pérez-Reverte's 1993 novel The Club Dumas.

This movie had a budget of $38 million and made $58.4, although, from a box office point of view, it flopped in the States.

While writing the script Polanski envision Johnny Depp as the lead, and in later interview stated that Johnny gave him a very flat delivery, nothing like how he had imagined it...

Interesting movie. It is more like a detective movie rather then a supernatural movie, and have to add, it works!

Revolved around three 300 years old books that supposedly able to call on the Devil himself!!

Also interesting how Polanski depicts the rich in Europe, bored and jaded!!

One other point I like to make here, the transfer to High Def is not the best I have seen. Color looks washed and the movie on the whole was grainy...

Movie itself is very well made.

If you like Roman Polanski, you know what to do.

My Two Sen.

I, Frankenstein (2014)

With Vampires and Werewolves subject matter all tapped out, what other monster can Hollywood exploit?

As far as this movie is concern, the Frankenstein Monster...

Supposedly based on a Graphic Novel, and The Director and Script writer is the same person, Stuart Beattie...

There is an attempt to emulate what had been done on Underworld (2003), so much so that Bill Nigh and Kevin Grevioux are in it!!

I was expecting any minute now, Kate Beckinsale to appear in head to toe leather outfit!!

What we end up with instead is Miranda Otto (Eowyn anyone??) who plays the Queen of Gargoyle, Leonore.

There are many Australian actors in this as well... (Jai Courtney)

Style over substance.

I'll leave it at that...

My Two Sen

Rain Man (1988)

Probably one of my all time favorite movie.

Dustin Hoffman had won an Oscar for his performance here, and I seriously believe that Tom Cruise and Dustin should have won the award together.

Tom Cruise is very committed to all his roles, I do believe there is and intangible something he put into this character (Charlie Babbitt)!!

If you like action movie, this is NOT a movie for you.

If you like drama and human interest movie, this is definitely one for you.

This movie also lifted the fog on the mental condition known as artistic autism.

One more point of interest about this movie is, the first week box office for the movie was 7 million, nothing to shout about, the second 8 million, the week after that 11 etc, etc. The box office kept growing and grown and the movie stay at the theaters for a long long time. The final box office in 1988 is $172,825,435 which in today's term is $341,552,243.08. Not bad for a movie that had a budget of 25 Million.

I strongly recommend this to people who like drama.

My Two Sen

Pompeii (2014)

Director Paul W.S. Anderson (who gave us The Three Musketeers (2011)) lavish ancient Rome disaster movie.

The issue is

My Two Sen

This post has been edited by Mov_freak: May 13 2014, 09:39 PM

Very good movie, with very good sound.

The Monuments Men (2014)

I am not a fan of wars movies. I just am not.

With this movie, I'm glad I have made this exception.

George Clooney is the director and I think he made a good movie.

Very well scripted, very well acted with light comedy to boot

Very original story line and the subject matter of a group of international soldiers traveling Europe at the end of WWII protecting works of art in intriguing...

It wasn't a huge box office hit, and had to add it did not lose money.

It is always interesting to me how smart, well acted, and made movies do not get much attention.

I love this movie.

Give it a try why don't you

My Two Sen

You are talking about Tom Cruise. Agreed

Also, he takes every role he gets and give it his all. That is something all of us can learn from him.

The fact that it is based on really event, and also the fact that alot of Renaissance period works survived until today, actually made alot of impact for me... But that is just me...

Pomposity?

So you think James Bonds is snotty...

I suppose he is!!

This post has been edited by Mov_freak: May 18 2014, 12:20 PM