Thursday Thirteen #39

And here we are again, for the first TT of 2008!  This is another random sampling from my DVD collection.  There is a noticeable lack of chick-flicks in what I watch, but apart from that it’s a fairly wide variety.  And this is only a sampling after all.

13 More DVDs From My Collection

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“All Of Me”  I think this is Steve Martin’s funniest film.  He plays a lawyer whose body is half taken over by the soul of a dead millionairess (Lily Tomlin) which interferes with his attempt to do his job and to seduce the millionairess’s stable girl (Victoria Tennant, whom Steve Martin later married). Lots of opportunities for Martin to show how good he is at physical comedy, some excellent lines, a few poignant moments and not a few belly laughs.  Well worth seeing.  IMDB link

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“The Others”   My favourite film in this TT is the one with the cover that scans the least well.  This in my opinion is Nicole Kidman’s best film ever.   The tension builds slowly in this scary story, and each minute poses more questions than it answers. Beautifully acted, very atmospheric and an extraordinary surprise ending.   British comic actor Eric Sykes playing straight is a nice bonus.    IMDB link

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“About A Boy”  Hugh Grant plays a nice but a bit scatty, self centred young man. Now there’s a surprise!  Into his life comes a suicidal single mother and her twelve year old son.  This could get mawkish and sickly sentimental, but the original novel was by Nick Hornby, who doesn’t write stories like that, and the movie makers avoid falling into that trap.  This is a nice, feel-good movie.  IMDB movie

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“Cast Away”   At one point it almost seemed as though it was a legal requirement that every film to come out of Hollywood had to have Tom Hanks in the starring role.  You couldn’t get away from him.  I wasn’t sure if this was an adventure movie or a commercial for FedEx.  Anyway, our Tom plays the sole survivor of a plane crash in the Pacific who is washed up on an uninhabited island.  Robinson Crusoe for our times.  It wasn’t bad.   IMDB link

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“Enemy At The Gates”   An uncompromising look story about events during the Battle of Stalingrad, where the course of WW2 turned and the Soviet Union began to tip the scales against Germany.   Jude Law and Joseph Fiennes play snipers in the Russian and German armies respectively in this gripping, uncompromising story.   IMDB link

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“2001:  A Space Odyssey”  One of my top ten favourite films of all time – and I’m not especially fond of science fiction.  This is a long, intelligent story about a trip to Jupiter and the reason, originating millions of years beforehand, that it took place.  Not for those who want their space movies filled with monsters, ray guns, explosions and other video game bilge.  This is the only film I can think of where they correctly show that in the vacuum of space there is no sound – just silence. All other films tend to dumb things down and add sound effects.  It’s rather sad to observe the difference between what they imagined in 1965 that we would be capable of in 2001, and how little of that has actually been achieved.   Do see this film if you haven’t already.   IMDB link

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“K-Pax”  A very good film about Kevin Spacey as an alien visiting Earth.  Or… is he just an ordinary person off his head and suffering from delusions?  Good performances all round as the movie keeps you guessing right to the end. IMDB link

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“Trading Places”  I expect we have all seen this.  One of the top comedies of the 1980s.  Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy play a financier and a beggar who, for reasons that I need not go into, find they have changed places.   A very funny film with an excellent supporting cast.  Trivia: Don Ameche  never swore, and was very reluctant to do so on screen.  He told the director that for the scene where he had to yell “Fuck him!” he would do it once and once only, so they had better get it in one take.  They did.   IMDB link

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“The Charge Of The Light Brigade”   Tony Richardson’s seminal look at a notorious military blunder during the Crimean War.  Beautiful to look at, breathtakingly done, but the anti-establishment tilt does get a bit tiresome at times. Wonderful performances from John Gielgud, Trevor Howard and David Hemmings.   IMDB link

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“Rat Race”  This silly film, although never publicised as such, was apparently a remake of “It’s A Mad Mad Mad Mad World” which was a huge success in the early sixties.   I’m not sure if, for example, Cuba Gooding Jr and Seth Green are today stars of the same magnitude that Spencer Tracy and Milton Berle were then, but they do a good enough job.  There are some very funny moments, but the ending conjures up visions of scriptwriters faced with a deadline and saying: “That will just have to do!”   IMDB link

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“A Bridge Too Far”  One of Richard Attenborough’s all-star features, painted on a very wide canvas.  With such actors as Laurence Olivier, Michael Caine, Dirk Bogarde, Gene Hackman and many others, you know you’re in for a treat.  This is the story of Operation Market garden, in 1944, which was supposed to force a way across the Rive Rhine for the Allies end the war in 100 days, but it didn’t.  It was only two-thirds successful, as the title suggests, and the war went on for another eight months.  Lots of entertainment in spite of the downbeat ending.  IMDB link

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“Bend It Like Beckham”   A delightful film of two girls who want to play football (it’s not soccer, it’s football!).  One has to overcome resistance from her traditional Sikh family, and they both have to find a team to take them. Not a bad performance from anyone.  The two principal actresses, who have both gone on to bigger things,  in fact have a ten-year age difference.  IMDB link

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“Deathtrap”   It is easy to tell that this story by Neil Simon was originally a play, because the action is all set in one location  -- the interior of a house.  Michael Caine shouts his dialogue for the first few minutes but don’t let that put you off.  This is a very good film of deception and murder with a surprising twist or two.   IMDB link

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“Die Hard”   The first of, I think, four movies (so far) in this series.  Bruce Willis is the flawed cop, off duty, caught up in hostage situation in a high rise building.  Scene stealer Alan Rickman is superb as the leader of the bad guys.  Lots of shooting, explosions, broken glass and the local cops and the FBI are portrayed as ham fisted morons.  And no one has a cellphone!  Undemanding fun.   IMDB link

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Did anyone notice that that was fourteen?

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Comments

[susiej]

About a Boy is my favorite on this list!! I just love it -- my boys still repeat lines from the movie. Happy New Year.

[SandyCarlson]

Death Trap is one of those "I'm sure I've seen it but I can't remember it" movies for me right now. Better go have a look later! Thanks for this nice selection to consider. That Steve Martin flick looks worth a try--especially because of your recommendation.

[Mama Pajama]

Oh yes. I've seen many of these. I really enjoyed Bend it Like Beckham, Castaway, and The Others. I'll have to check out Enemy at the Gates. It sounds like one my husband and I would both enjoy.

[pjazzypar]

You have a good list of films here. "Die Hard" was the best of the series in my opinion. Happy New Year and Happy TT.

[Robin]

Diehard is always good for an escapist evening.

[Lori]

Interesting list. I found "Castaway" fairly disappointing. My hubby is a big fan of the "Die Hard" movies, while I do everything possible to avoid them (smile). Actually, Brue Willis and Hugh Grant both get on my last nerve (LOL). Hmm, I don't guess you'll be inviting me over to watch flicks anytime soon (smile).

[ellen b]

I love All of Me and Trading Places and Die Hard. I own all of those and Bend it Like Beckham because I love watching soccer. The first 3 I'd watch over and over again, not so much Bend it Like Beckham. I'd rather watch live soccer! happy 2008 to you...

[SJ Reidhead]

That is wild! I don't have any of these, including 2001. I have 2010.

SJR
The Pink Flamingo

[The Gal Herself]

You know how you can go your whole life without hearing about something, and then it comes up again and again? For me, that's Rat Race. On New Year's Eve, we saw a one-man show starring Christopher Petersen, the actor who played Lucy in a scene with Cuba Gooding Jr. as the bus driver. And now here it is on your list. I may have to rent it.

I agree with you 100% on The Others. Nicole Kidman is not an actress I usually enjoy, but I thought she was perfectly cast in this.

(Thanks for visiting my TT)

[greatfullivin]

Trading Places is one of my favorite holiday movies,it is just too funny. Nicole was awesome in the Others. I think I would enjoy Enemy at the Gates, which I have not yet seen. Thanks for the info!

[Malcolm]

I received passes to a sneak preview of "About A Boy". I am glad I did because I probably wouldn't have watched it otherwise. I finally saw "Bend It Like Beckham in 2007. Although I could have done without the romantic relationship between the lead character and her coach, it was still a good movie.

[No Nonsense girl]

i loved cast away a lot!!!! :)

Happy New Year 2008!!!!

[Nicole Austin]

Great list! Tom Hanks was awesome in Castaway. Rat Race is such a fun movie. :D

Happy TT!

[Morgan]

Never seen Castaway, heard it was boring. :) But I love All of Me. Steve Martin is AWESOMENESS! :) Thanks for stopping by my TT.

[Joely]

We watched Live Free and Die Hard just a few weeks ago and loved it. Happy New Year and TT!

[Rae]

I enjoyed Trading Places but Rat Race was hilarious I have to say I am not a movie buff but I have watched that movie at least 3 times Happy New Year-

[Janet]

I love Castaway, Trading Places and Bend It Like Beckham! Great list :-)

[Lori]

You have alot of great movies in your collection. I loved the Others!! What an ending. Happy TT and thanks for stopping by:)

[Lazy Daisy]

My hubby carries his swiss army knife everywhere and when Tom Hanks gives up his knife my Mr. shouts out..you deserve to be cast away, no real man would ever give up his knife!

[Jenny McB]

Castaway just wasn't one of my favorite Tom Hank's movies, maybe I've read Lord of the Flies too many times...

I love that line you had about writing an ending for Rat Race, you're right about that. It is an amusing film.
Happy New Year!

[Linda R. Moore]

Interesting. I saw the Others in a theatre and it was awesome. I didn't guess the plot until the end.

I know someone who was on the ship that features at the end of Castaway. I thought it was a brilliant movie.

I really don't like 2001. I find it incredibly boring. I admire its intelligence, but it just doesn't work for me.

I was really disappointed in how K-Pax played out, though it was a great movie.

Loved Rat Race and Bend it Like Beckham. I like the special features with the aunties and the cooking and all the interruptions.

Haven't seen the others. I've seen bits of Trading Places, but not all.

Only one TT this week--at my new blog.

[Candy]

I've watched most of these but my favorites are The Others, About A Boy and Trading Places. Happy TT! :o)

[Melissa]

Once again I am perfect on your list. :)

KPAX is one of my favorite Spacey flicks. He is just wonderful.

And the Aunties in Beckham...priceless!

I could go on, but the batteries in the lap top are dying...

Happy TT

[Lara]

Great collection! I just recently saw Bend it Like Beckham with my daughter and we really enjoyed it!
Happy TT and happy 2008!

[Sarai]

I love Cast Away and Enemy At the Gates and Trading Places. Good movies makes me want to do a movie night again!
Happy New Year! keep up the intersting posts!