#ThrowbackThursday they call it nowadays. Nostalgia is the right word for it and that's exactly the theme for this week's
Thursday Movie Picks, the weekly series hosted by
Wandering Through the Shelves. And I picked some pretty good films today.
Amarcord (1973)
It's a semi-autobiographical film by Federico Fellini that follows an adolescent boy growing up among some eccentric characters in 1930s pre-war Italy under the control of the Church and Fascism. I saw this one in high school, my first Fellini and it was so magical. I definitely need to rewatch this.
Midnight in Paris (2011)
While in Paris with his fiancée, a romantic American screenwriter finds himself mysteriously going back to the 20s where he meets his favourite artists. Though this is not Radio Days (I already picked it), it's a beautiful and charming nostalgic film about those ages neither the protagonist nor Allen nor us have lived in.
Youth (2015)
Two old friends are on vacation in an elegant hotel in the Alps and, while working on a new screenplay one and thinking of resuming his musical career the other, they reflect on their past. An intense film on youth and old age. Probably Sorrentino's finest film.
Midnight in Paris is the only Woody Allen film I've ever liked. It was so weird, to hate everything he's done then just fall in love with that one. lol
ReplyDeleteIt makes sense though. I watched almost all of his movies and liked most but this is one of my favourites.
DeleteI just watched Amarcord within the last month after meaning to get to it for years. It was lovely and charming and did have quite the feeling of nostalgia.
ReplyDeleteMidnight in Paris was a nice surprise after a rather fallow period for Woody, it was Hannah and Her Sisters but a fine film nonetheless.
I had hoped to love Youth but it just didn't engage me, loved Jane Fonda's cameo though.
I thought I had used Radio Days before as well but was delighted to realize I had since it fits here so well.
Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)-A year in the life of the upper middle class Smith family (including second daughter Esther played by Judy Garland) as they and their hometown prepare for the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. For the most part charming, sweet and bandbox pretty full of great songs-The Trolley Song, The Boy Next Door, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (which was written expressly for Judy) etc.-this is interwoven with dark undertones most courtesy of borderline psychotic (though she’s meant to be seen as innocently eccentric) youngest daughter Tootie (Margaret O’Brien-who won a special Oscar). Wonderfully produced by the Freed unit and directed by Vincente Minnelli.
On Moonlight Bay (1951)-Based on stories by Booth Tarkington we are once again at the turn of the 20th century. In bucolic small town Indiana the upwardly mobile Winfield family has just moved into a bigger house that only the father likes until tomboyish daughter Marjorie (Doris Day) meets handsome neighbor, college student Bill Sherman (Gordon MacRae). Suddenly she gets in touch with her feminine side and she and Bill start a romance which goes along fine until her father finds out Bill is a nonconformist who doesn’t believe in marriage or other traditional values. But after many songs, several mishaps and lots of warm and fuzzies all ends happily. Followed by a sequel “By the Light of the Silvery Moon”
Radio Days (1987)-Told as a remembrance Joe (Woody Allen) recalls his youth (played by Seth Green) growing up in the 30’s and 40’s with his colorful and somewhat crazy family (including his parents who will argue about anything including which is the greater ocean-Atlantic or Pacific!) and people he encounters including the story of radio personality Sally White (a quite brilliant performance by Mia Farrow). Filled with beautiful period detail this captures both the period and a sense of youth.
I'm sorry Youth didn't work for you. I really need to see Meet Me in St. Louis, it sounds so good! And I love Radio Days but I guess that goes without saying.
DeleteI haven't seen any of these yet but Midnight in Paris seems to be a fav this week. I picked another Woody Allen film
ReplyDeleteYou should watch Midnight in Paris. Your pick, Play It Again, Sam, is good too!
DeleteWe share a pick in Amarcord. I fucking love that movie. I love all your picks. I would've gone with a bunch of films by Woody Allen but I thought that was too easy.
ReplyDeleteHaha going with three films by Allen was definitely too easy!
DeleteI have only seen Midnight in Paris which I liked, but didn't love. I have been meaning to see Youth since it came out. Need to do that.
ReplyDeleteI hope you like that one as much as I did.
Delete#ThrowBackThursday...how fitting. Just did not come to mind until you mentioned it.
ReplyDeleteI spend way too much time on Twitter lol
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