Movie Recommendations

Julie, you lucky girl. I didn't realize your husband looked like Brad Pitt. He really does have classic features.

Does anybody remember seeing the Borzoi in Legends of the Fall? They were very popular at the turn of the century in the west. The visiting Russia dignitaries brought them over when they came to escape revolutionary unrest and they were very popular here because of the cattlemen trying to keep the wolves from their livestock.

Another actor I find attractive is Jude Law - I haven't seen him in much, but I thought that in The Holiday with Cameron Diaz he was soo incredibly charming.

I loved City of Angels... Made me cry, but very touching and great soundtrack... French Kiss was also good, I love Kevin Kline (how about Dave :)) and another great Meg Ryan romantic comedy is Kate & Leopold (Hugh Jackman AND Liev Schreiber) - Sting wrote and sang one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard for the film: "Until"... here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wmaUw_I33g

I loved Kate and Leopold. Hugh Jackman was fabulous. I also love the set design on so many of these romantic comedies.

Julia Roberts and Clive Owen were great in Duplicity.

You don't have to like Brad Pitt, it's just a great movie and he is easy to look at. Much younger and more appealing than he is now.

Unfortunately for me, pretty is as pretty does all too often.

This message was edited Jun 3, 2010 9:06 AM

Saw a great movie last night - City Island. I highly recommend it.

City of Angles is beautiful.

AND thank you for mentioning Saving Grace - this is one of the funniest movies of all time, great gardening film, but it just makes me laugh. Brillant. She's so dignified.

what is the name of the film where the man drives his ride on mower to the Pacific Coast? Really touching.

does any one like the Spanish director Almodovar? I love his films. Ahhhh, and the Coen Brothers.

I watched It's Confidential the other night. I was laughing out loud at the weed smoking scenes. Funny stuff. Meryl Streep was also in another movie that is one of my all-time favorites. Falling in Love. Anyone remember that one?

Never heard of that one. Nice to hear that you enjoyed It's Complicated! Lots of funny scenes.

I enjoyed "A Man of No Importance" which is warm and fuzzy. Any Albert Finny flicks are special.
"My fathers Glory" is very funny and revivedmy childhood experiences with my father.
"Shall We Dance" was a good justification for my escapest lifestyle.
All three Keislowski: "Red", "White", "Bleu" are favorites of mine.

Soferdig, did you see My Mother's Castle? That's the sequel to My Father's Glory and is also good. But I especially loved My Father's Glory because I read it first and was curious to see how some of the events were depicted. The movie was very faithful to the book and brought the scenery and the people to life beautifully.

Haven't see Red, White, or Bleu yet.

Yes I did. It was the perspective of a child seeing his parents from a youthfull perspective that gave value to each movie.

I know; I loved that aspect of them! And the whole world looked so magical to him!

Just saw the movie 'Babies' tonight. I highly recommend it! It's very entertaining and dear, and the cinematography is excellent. There's no sex, no violence (unless you count the older brother in Mongolia who hits his baby brother with his scarf over and over until he cries and the mother yells. That is priceless! ) and the babies are hilarious! You can really see the emotions on their faces, and the expressions just say it all. Seeing the differences and similarities in how babies in Namibia, Mongolia, San Fransisco, and Tokyo are brought up is fascinating. We'll have to buy this one on DVD because it was so entertaining.

Pixy, I've been looking forward to this one, but we'll probably wait 'til it's out in video. That doesn't seem to take too long these days, I've noticed! I heard that there was quite a fuss about the filmmaker's failure to cleave to US regs about filming children, but I don't know whether that ever went anywhere. The producer's point was that the babies weren't performing; they were simply filming them in their natural setting.

It's coming here in a few weeks, so I'm looking forward to seeing it then.

GG, interesting. I had not heard any background on the movie at all as to what prompted them to film it, etc. Seemed like a very interesting concept.

I think I read about that in the Sunday NY Times a few weeks ago. I thought it was interesting as well. I also just saw in today's paper that there's concern about the children in Kate & 8, or whatever it's called, and several other reality-type shows which feature kids.

I'm pretty sure that the parents of all of these babies were in on all of the filming. These kids were not acting, or being used in any way. I thought the film was a brilliant commentary on how people are the same everywhere. I would definitely not have wanted them to script the filming just to satisfy America's regulations. It would have ruined the whole thing. This film showed parents and babies in their 'natural habitats' and in their natural states of everyday life. This film cannot be compared to 'reality' shows on TV.

Pixy, that was the point that the filmmakers made. They were not intervening or changing the children's behavior at all except insofar at the babies might have been aware of their presence, but apparently they adjusted to that rapidly. The filmmakers were just recording, as clinical psychologists have done for generations!

GG - I think one major difference is that the clinical filmings were not for public consumption/financial gain/entertainment, they were made for research purposes, to further the extant knowledge - I think this has been the controversial point.

That's true, but this movie seems more like a documentary than a commercial exploitation. I do see your point, though.

I saw a great movie last week about a rock along a highway in Iran and everyone stopped and tried to push it over. Many hours of personal interaction, just like Americans. Very good movie to put on before we nuke Iran.

Hello, Steve - you forgot to bring your diplomacy . . .

No I have no desire to do such a thing. It was a moving movie about normal people living lives just like us in Iran.

Ah, I misunderstood. We think alike!

I honestly think the creative arts could stop violent action. They are sometimes so moving. Anselm Keifer's work has that effect on me - they are so beautiful, and address power/misuse of power in such a subtle beautiful way that they come back to my mind often, and for years. I could really believe that a movie showing the personal interactions of people facing frustration, effort, community could actually stop someone from.......well almost anything, but empathy. After all, look what a dog on a surfboard generated.

do you remember the cellist in Sarajavo? Here is a link: sofer's right, wiki says the page doesn't exist, and yet that is how I got the address. I'll try again.

This message was edited Jun 18, 2010 9:45 AM

This message was edited Jun 19, 2010 6:47 PM

I couldn't get any info on that page Laurie.
I agree that movies can change the world. Just look at Hollywood's impression of Christianity. All christians are fools now. Quite different from the days of Spencer Tracy and many others that taught us the difference between good and evil. And many other movies of other religions that had the same message.
Today's movies now seem to focus on the darkness of life. Terratino's "Pulp fiction", "Resivoir Dogs", and "Kalifornia" are just some examples.
I think that is why I love art films, there are so many that leave me full of peace and joy at the hope of humankind. "August Rush" left me in awe.

Oh, I liked August Rush, too. But I wanted it to go on a little longer, to include the reunion! Billy Elliot is another wonderful film that's similar.

I haven't seen August Rush yet, gonna netflix it immediately... Has anyone seen Lovely Bones? I loved the acting, cinematography, and surrealism... a serious but beautiful film...

I figured Lovely Bones would be too sad. I try to stick with more cheerful flix!

Believe me, I don't like sad films either... I avoid them like a plague actually... But this film was good. It ended well... Not for kids, of course, but it was light enough for me...

I will have to Netflix that one. I have the music to August Rush and WOW!

I read the book "Lovely Bones". It isn't actually sad or gruesome. The author didn't let you dwell on that part.