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| A weekly series hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves |
Hasn't it ever happened to you that you're thinking about a film but just can't come up with its title? Maybe it's even a word, an easy-to-remember one and yet you just don't remember it. Well, it sure doesn't happen with film with very long titles as that's probably the thing that sticks with you them more, regardless of how good or bad the film is. That's the theme for this week's Thursday Movie Picks and since there's plenty of bad in the world already, I'm going with some awesome films.
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007) - Review
Plot: It follows the events that led up to the assassination of Jesse James (Brad Pitt) by the coward Robert Ford (Casey Affleck). Duh.
It's a very disjointed plot with a snail-like pace but it's interesting and engaging from start to finish as it has well-written characters and fantastic performances.
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) - Review
Plot: A US Air Force general (Sterling Hayden) loses his shit and sends his bomber wing to destroy the USSR and it's up to a room full of politicians to stop the upcoming nuclear war.
My favourite Stanley Kubrick film, this is a superb satire of man and his fears, as well as a sarcastic commentary on politicians and military structure. The camera work is terrific and the acting is top-notch.
My favourite Stanley Kubrick film, this is a superb satire of man and his fears, as well as a sarcastic commentary on politicians and military structure. The camera work is terrific and the acting is top-notch.
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex * But Were Afraid to Ask (1972) - Review
Although it's not Allen's finest and the sketches aren't all treated equally, it's a quite funny film and Gene Wilder is hilarious in the role of a doctor who has an affair with a (beautiful) sheep.
So this was a wild read for me. I've never seen The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford but I've never seen the coward part of the title and thought Robert Ford was just the director! Doh.
ReplyDeleteLOL
DeleteYay! I've seen all three this week!
ReplyDeleteAssassination of Jesse James is a bit of a challenge watch. The stately pace borders on deadly if the story doesn't capture your attention right off but the acting is superior.
I knew Dr. Strangelove would pop up today. It's a fine parody. I don't revisit it often and now with the orange buffoon in charge it's much more of an uncomfortable watch than it was before but it is sharply directed and wonderfully acted. My favorite is Keenan Wynn's performance of "Bat" Guano.
Everything You Wanted to Know....is Woody in his early experimental period and while it's humor is scattershot when it lands it can be a hoot.
When I saw the theme I immediately thought back to these three, I've used before which I try not to do but I doubt I'd be able to come with longer titles (or weirder films) if I looked for days.
“Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma’s Hung You in the Closet and I’m Feelin’ So Sad” (1967)-Madame Rosepettle (Rosalind Russell) arrives at a Caribbean resort for a vacation with quite a menagerie, her 24 year old son (Robert Morse) who acts like a 5 year old, his stamp collection and telescope, a pair of Venus Flytraps, her tank of pet piranhas and her dead husband (Jonathan Winters-who serves as narrator) who she’s had stuffed and travels with them in his coffin that she keeps in the closet. While they are there the hotel’s babysitter Rosalie (Barbara Harris) falls for the infantile young man while Madame is pursued by a crazy ship captain, Commodore Roseabove. Got that? Its theatre of the absurd and the kind of whack-a-doodle thing that could only be produced in the 60’s.
“Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness?” (1969)-Superstar Heironymus Merkin (Anthony Newley) is filming a movie of his life surrounded by piles of junk and a bed on a ribbon of beach as his mother and children bear witness. While the Greek chorus of devil’s advocate Goodtime Eddie Filth (Milton Berle) and The Presence (Georgie Jessel) battle for his soul Merkin works his way to the top of show biz becoming a drug loving sex addict along the way. Yet he longs for his lost true love, Mercy Humppe (Connie Kreski) despite his marriage to Polyester Poontang (Joan Collins-Newley’s wife at the time, their real life children play their kids in the film-Thaxted and Thumbelina!). Watching the uncompleted footage in a parallel time the producers of this opus scream for him to come up with an ending. Merkin shuffles through his memories to find some value in his life while singing a couple songs and screwing like a rabbit.
Confused? What with a title like that you were expecting coherence? Watching the film won’t clear anything up for you! Newley directed, produced, wrote & composed the music (all badly) for this exercise in vanity which was originally rated X.
“The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies!!?” (1964)-I really can’t better this IMDB description: "Jerry falls in love with a stripper he meets at a carnival. Little does he know that she is the sister of a gypsy fortune teller whose predictions he had scoffed at earlier. The gypsy turns him into a zombie and he goes on a killing spree."
Or the tagline:
SEE: the dancing girls of the carnival murdered by the incredible night creatures of the midway! SEE: the hunchback of the midway fight a duel of death with the mixed up zombies! SEE: the world's first monster musical!
It’s not good but it’s unique!
Oh my god! Your picks have even longer titles! How is that even possible?! That third pick though, I'll definitely check that one!
DeleteJesse James is so good, I really hope they release Director's Cut one day, I'd watch even more of this movie :)
ReplyDeleteI hope they don't because I don't have a lot of free time and I would have to watch it in parts 😅
DeleteI've seen the first two, those are both popular today. I liked them both. I've never cared for Woody Allen films so I never bothered with the last one.
ReplyDeleteYou're lucky! You don't have to skip his new films because of how shitty he is.
DeleteI always wanted to watch Dr. Strangelove, but I never had the time to. Great list!
ReplyDeleteHere’s my Thursday Movie Picks!
Ronyell @ The Surreal Movies and TV Blog
Oh, you should really watch it.
DeleteWe share a pick with Jesse James as I've seen all of them as I enjoyed them all. I still want to see the new Woody Allen film. Besides, I think Mia Farrow is a lying bitch.
ReplyDeleteI didn't even know he made a new one. I learnt about it yesterday while talking with a friend of my mother. I can't stand Chalamet and Allen has done terrible things so I think I'll pass it.
DeleteHave seen all of your picks. And agree with your takes on all of them. Strangelove is especially a good pick here. I considered it.
ReplyDeleteIt's my favourite of the three.
DeleteI like Dr Strangelove and what a title right! The only reason I've not picked it this time is because I picked it tons before.
ReplyDeleteSo have I but I just couldn't resist the temptation lol
DeleteOh we match with two! But like this is a very specific theme so I'm not surprised. :D
ReplyDeleteI remember thinking the title Assassination of Jesse James was waaaay too long. But it was a good movie, so I forgave it. :D
ReplyDelete