Quote:
Originally Posted by tabs
Eastwood's ....High Plains Drifter...hated it the first time I saw it, but now I always see something interesting in it.
MR Roberts....LEMON BABY...the quintessential 60's everyman
The Apartment...Lemon again..and Wilder at his best....
Sunset Blvd....Wilder at his best, but everything he touched was the best..Gloria Swanson perfect in the role..
Stalag 17...Wilder
Dr Stranlove....POE
A Fish Called Wanda...Jamie Lee WOW, Kevin Kline and John Cleese...the epitome of Brit comedy
The French Connection..Frankenheimer...
|
I'll agree and disagree on a few of these. High Plains Drifter has an odd history with me, as the first time I saw it was up at UC Santa Cruz during the "Bimfest" (12 hour film festival). All of the feminists boo'd at the rape scene, and I can't watch the film without being transported back to Santa Cruz in '80.
I recently watched Mr. Roberts, and I was actually a little disappointed. It didn't really have the same snap as when I'd seen it years ago. I think Cagney was just chewing too much scenery.
The Apartment otoh is freaking brilliant. Wilder is a genius. Irma La Douce is another great film that holds up. But both cover some rather seedy sides of life. Wilder wasn't afraid of going places that others wouldn't tread, and somehow he managed a happy ending (sort of).
Strangelove is a classic and is timeless.
Fish Called Wanda was a favorite of mine as I love everyone in that cast. But it felt a little forced wrt language and some of the writing. I think it'll be better in another 20 years maybe. Might be at that interim stage.
French Connection is interesting as it also is seminal but in some ways has become cliche in the approach (which of course was original when it came out).
Check out "Heaven and Hell" by Kurosawa. That is CSI before there was CSI...