Are you sick to death of all the cop shows on TV? The movies at the local Bijou are no better. There's never any real mystery, but always plenty of cars blowing up.
How about a real mystery in which you can solve the case yourself?
Check out Diabolique, a terrific murder mystery by director H.G. Clouzot. Filmed in stunning black and white, this movie is both mysterious and beautiful.The plot involves a school's brutal headmaster who mistreats both his wife and his mistress. Then the two woman develop an involved scheme to murder their common enemy.
From that point on, everything that happens is a surprise.
Look it up. You'll like it.
Showing posts with label DVDs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DVDs. Show all posts
Monday, July 09, 2007
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont
For people who like the British actress Joan Plowright, the movie Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont may be just the thing. Ruth Sacks wrote the screenplay, and Dan Ireland directed this story of a widow who moves to London to take in the local cultural attractions and be near her grandson.
The grandson fails to appear, and so do the cultural attractions. Instead, Mrs. Palfrey makes new friends, including a young writer. The story that follows portrays a genteel old age and a peaceful demise.
All this is just fine if you want death and old age shown in an ideal fashion. I like escapism as much as the next movie goer, but this escape tested my willingness to suspend disbelief.
Nonetheless, the film was well made and presents a series of colorful characters who inhabit the
Claremont Hotel. If you're looking for light entertainment with a serious edge, this may be just your film.
The grandson fails to appear, and so do the cultural attractions. Instead, Mrs. Palfrey makes new friends, including a young writer. The story that follows portrays a genteel old age and a peaceful demise.
All this is just fine if you want death and old age shown in an ideal fashion. I like escapism as much as the next movie goer, but this escape tested my willingness to suspend disbelief.
Nonetheless, the film was well made and presents a series of colorful characters who inhabit the
Claremont Hotel. If you're looking for light entertainment with a serious edge, this may be just your film.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Download a DVD
Sick to death about what you'll do the next time the Cubs are off for the day. Why not download a DVD and try to forget your troubles. New Moon now provides an easy way for you to obtain the movie you need. Simply go to the right sidebar and find the box labeled “DVD-Quality Downloads.” Click on the button and see what’s there. DVD-quality downloads for hundreds of movies await you. You can shop by category, by genre, or by movie studio. If you prefer a TV show instead of a movie, look at anything from A&E to VH1. Shop by channel or by genre. The prices vary, depending on what you choose. Why wait? See what you want, and see it now.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Download a DVD
To obtain the movie you just can’t wait for, go to the right sidebar and find the box labeled “DVD-Quality Downloads.” Click on the button and see what’s there. DVD-quality downloads for hundreds of movies await you. You can shop by category, by genre, or by movie studio. If you prefer a TV show instead of a movie, look at anything from A&E to VH1. Shop by channel or by genre. The prices vary. Why wait? See what you want, and see it now.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Harvest of Shame, Part 2
CBS reporters followed the path of migrant farm workers as they harvested the crops from Florida to New Jersey. Interviewers and the cameras that filmed them revealed desperate workers trapped in a system that provided the only work they knew how to do.
After letting workers describe their long hours, low pay, filthy living quarters, poor food, and transportation that was worse than that provided for animals, the interviewers repeatedly asked the workers if they thought they would ever escape from the work they had chosen. The answer repeatedly given was “I don’t see how.”
Harvest of Shame was broadcast right before Thanksgiving, a holiday on which Americans have traditionally enjoyed the blessings of a bountiful harvest. The CBS documentary forced Americans to change their conceptions of how that bountiful harvest reached their dining tables.
Harvest of Shame changed the way Americans saw themselves as it also changed the nature of American documentary films.
After letting workers describe their long hours, low pay, filthy living quarters, poor food, and transportation that was worse than that provided for animals, the interviewers repeatedly asked the workers if they thought they would ever escape from the work they had chosen. The answer repeatedly given was “I don’t see how.”
Harvest of Shame was broadcast right before Thanksgiving, a holiday on which Americans have traditionally enjoyed the blessings of a bountiful harvest. The CBS documentary forced Americans to change their conceptions of how that bountiful harvest reached their dining tables.
Harvest of Shame changed the way Americans saw themselves as it also changed the nature of American documentary films.
Harvest of Shame, Part 1
A real documentary provides a counterbalance to the feature films that purport to reflect contemporary society. “Art imitates life” is the conventional wisdom that supports the claims of the feature filmmaker.
But in real life, an endless repetition of cops and robbers, exploding autos, and attractive actors fails to depict the reality of American society, or any society. The documentary, if it’s well made, offers a contrast to the familiar feature film.
In 1960, Edward R. Murrow and his CBS Reports television staff made a classic documentary, one that is still taught in film classes throughout the United States. This documentary was called Harvest of Shame, and it effectively challenged the popular beliefs of how food was harvested for the best-fed nation on earth. That documentary is now available on DVD.
But in real life, an endless repetition of cops and robbers, exploding autos, and attractive actors fails to depict the reality of American society, or any society. The documentary, if it’s well made, offers a contrast to the familiar feature film.
In 1960, Edward R. Murrow and his CBS Reports television staff made a classic documentary, one that is still taught in film classes throughout the United States. This documentary was called Harvest of Shame, and it effectively challenged the popular beliefs of how food was harvested for the best-fed nation on earth. That documentary is now available on DVD.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
The Big Sleep 2
In Michael Winner’s 1977 remake of The Big Sleep, the confusion in the plot of the original movie is corrected, but the new screenplay can’t compare with the earlier one. Not even Robert Mitchum can breathe live into the wooden dialog.
Another failure lies in the fact that Winner decided to place the film in England. It would be impossible for anyone to put an American hard-boiled detective into such a foreign setting and expect the whole thing to succeed. Instead, the whole thing looks silly.
The remake of The Big Sleep fails to past the test when compared with the original.
Another failure lies in the fact that Winner decided to place the film in England. It would be impossible for anyone to put an American hard-boiled detective into such a foreign setting and expect the whole thing to succeed. Instead, the whole thing looks silly.
The remake of The Big Sleep fails to past the test when compared with the original.
The Big Sleep 1
The trouble with doing a remake of a great movie is that viewers are bound to compare the new version with the original, and the remake has to be really good in order to survive the test. Consider the case of The Big Sleep, which can now be found on DVD.
The original production of The Big Sleep is one of the finest examples of film noir we’ll ever have. The script is based on Raymond Chandler’s hard-boiled detective novel of the same title. The plot is remarkably complex, but that doesn’t really matter when detective Philip Marlowe is entertaining us with one wisecrack after another. “You’re not very tall, are you?” a spoiled brat tells him. “I try to be,” Marlowe says.
Fans of the Bogart-Bacall duo have found much to please them in The Big Sleep. The dialog between these two is as steamy as Florida in July.
How can a remake compare well with all this?
The original production of The Big Sleep is one of the finest examples of film noir we’ll ever have. The script is based on Raymond Chandler’s hard-boiled detective novel of the same title. The plot is remarkably complex, but that doesn’t really matter when detective Philip Marlowe is entertaining us with one wisecrack after another. “You’re not very tall, are you?” a spoiled brat tells him. “I try to be,” Marlowe says.
Fans of the Bogart-Bacall duo have found much to please them in The Big Sleep. The dialog between these two is as steamy as Florida in July.
How can a remake compare well with all this?
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Surfer Girls
If you’re a woman or girl who likes surfing and other water sports, you can find helpful information and products online at Surfer Girls. Even if you don’t surf but like the image that surfing suggests, you can also find something you’ll like at Surfer Girls. Or if you aren’t interested in water sports for yourself, you can find a gift for that girl or woman who will really love it.
Surfer Girls provides information about surfing camps, surf and water sport news, and interesting surfing stories. If you need some surf-related products, you can find artwork, jewelry, music, DVDs, surf clothing, and much more at Surfer Girls.
All of us who care about the environment and the welfare of animal life will applaud Surfer Girls, which supports clubs, organizations, and individuals who work to protect those resources that make water sports so pleasurable for women and girls of all ages.
Surfer Girls provides information about surfing camps, surf and water sport news, and interesting surfing stories. If you need some surf-related products, you can find artwork, jewelry, music, DVDs, surf clothing, and much more at Surfer Girls.
All of us who care about the environment and the welfare of animal life will applaud Surfer Girls, which supports clubs, organizations, and individuals who work to protect those resources that make water sports so pleasurable for women and girls of all ages.
DVD Downloads
New Moon now provides an easy way for you to obtain the movie you just can’t wait for. Simply go to the right sidebar and find the box labeled “DVD-Quality Downloads.” Click on the button and see what’s there. DVD-quality downloads for hundreds of movies await you. You can shop by category, by genre, or by movie studio. If you prefer a TV show instead of a movie, look at anything from A&E to VH1. Shop by channel or by genre. The prices vary, depending on what you choose. Why wait? See what you want, and see it now.
Orchestra Seats
I've just seen a delightful movie called Orchestra Seats. The story is set in contemporary Paris. All the main characters started life with very little and managed to create a good existence for themselves without forgetting the rest of their fellow citizens. Some of the success stories are a little hard to believe, but the excellent camera work, music, and a very good screenplay make the viewer forget about minor faults.
Orchestra Seats isn't the kind of movie that will show up at the theater at every shopping mall. You may have to wait to buy, rent, or download the DVD. But the movie will be well worth the wait.
Orchestra Seats isn't the kind of movie that will show up at the theater at every shopping mall. You may have to wait to buy, rent, or download the DVD. But the movie will be well worth the wait.
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