Good (or bad) Movies

[jimv]

Lenn, what do you think about "Hurt Locker" getting the top award?  UGH!!!  It's the only one of the contenders that I've seen.  But, if that's the best of them, I'd hate to try the others.

[LennG]

Jim

 I have seen the Hurt Locker and I liked it. Best picture, far from it, but it did get the 'buzz' and that carried it thru. It was thr lowest grossing Best Picture winner EVER. I guess trhe only ones who wanted to see it were the Academy voters.

I really though Avatar would win, and should have won. Just because it is an adventure movie doesn't mean it wasn't a great movie also. Some of these 'snobs' who vote for the Academy, just don't get what the public likes and what they feel is the real best picture.
 
 I have seen about 1/2 the nominated flix, and Avatar was, by far, the best of them. I also liked 'UP'. Don't know if you've seen it??. If not, run out and do so. Just because it is an animated movie, this one is for us old, grumpy  seniors, and it was great. I haven't seen Crazy Heart, the movie Jeff Bridges won for. I'm pretty sure I will like it, as I love movies of that genre, country music singer who is on the outs, sort of thing. I loved 'Tender Mercies' with Bob Duval. Have you seen that??

 Since my cable company is Cablevision, I missed about the first hour of the Oscars. What a company.

I did watch the 'red carpet' thing, and I enjoy watching those pretty young things in those dresses, all TRYING to look like movie stars.
 What I really don't understand about these broadcasts is why they don't bring in some of the 'old timers' who are still around and let THEM present some of the awards. it was great to see Lauren Bacall, but the best they could do is have her stand up and take a bow??> She should have been on stage and get some of the recognition she deserves. Not these two bit hams, people like Oprah, who have made all of 1 or 2 movies. UGH. If I never see her again, it will be the happiest day of my life.
 And the men, some who dress like it's an effort to tie a tie. Guys like tarrentino, who think all they have to do is show up. Dress the part you idiot. If you don't want to be there, stay home. If you win, send some Indian to accept your award. Good director, but a piece of crap as a person.

 I liked Steve Martin and Alex Baldwin,a s much as I was able to see of them.

[Sam56]

" Scorsese walks on water"

Yes, he does!

[jimv]

Lenn, I can't add anything to what you said.  I don't even watch the "Oscars" anymore.  Ever since Bob Hope left as host, IMO, it was all down hill.  I agree completely with you about the "old stars."  They, at least, have class.  I'd watch it if they used them.  I do like Sandra Bullock.  I've pre-ordered "Blind Side."

Sam, Scorcese is a complete dictionary on the history of movies.  I really like his commentaries on the old directors & actors.  But his pix leave me cold; I just don't like them.  Too pretentious.  Just one guy's opinion.

[Sam56]

Jimv  -  In this extremely busy career all of these leaves you "cold"? 

Feature narratives

Year     Film     Oscar Nominations    Oscar wins    Golden Globe nominations Golden Globe wins
 
1968 Who's That Knocking at My Door - - - -
1972 Boxcar Bertha - - - -
1973 Mean Streets - - - -
1974 Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore 3 1 2 -
1976 Taxi Driver 4 - 2 -
1977 New York, New York - - 4 -
1980 Raging Bull 8 2 7 1
1983 The King of Comedy - - - -
1985 After Hours - - 1 -
1986 The Color of Money 4 1 2 -
1988 The Last Temptation of Christ 1 - 2 -
1990 Goodfellas 6 1 5 -
1991 Cape Fear 2 - 2 -
1993 The Age of Innocence 5 1 4 1
1995 Casino 1 - 2 1
1997 Kundun 4 - 1 -
1999 Bringing Out the Dead - - - -
2002 Gangs of New York 10 - 5 2
2004 The Aviator 11 5 6 3
2006 The Departed 5 4 6 1
2010 Shutter Island
   
21 Total Features   Oscar nominations: 64, wins: 15    Golden Globe Nominations: 51,  9 wins

Documentaries

Year Film Award nominations Award wins
 
1970 Street Scenes   
1974 Italianamerican   
1978 The Last Waltz   
American Boy: A Profile of Steven Prince   
1995 A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies   
1999 My Voyage to Italy   
2003 Feel Like Going Home   
2005 No Direction Home: Bob Dylan 4 Emmy nomination, 2 Grammy nominations, Wins: 1 Emmy, 1 Grammy
2007 Martin Scorsese Presents: Val Lewton - The Man in the Shadows   
2008 Shine a Light   

Short films

Year Film Award Nominations Award Wins
 
1959 Vesuvius VI   
1963 What's a Nice Girl Like You Doing in a Place Like This?   
1964 It's Not Just You, Murray!   
1967 The Big Shave   
1987 Bad (music video with Michael Jackson)   
1989 New York Stories (segment Life's Lessons)   
2007 The Key to Reserva (short)   

Selected filmography (as actor)

1967 Who's That Knocking at My Door (cameo) as Thug #2
1973 Mean Streets (cameo) as Jimmy Shorts and Charlie Cappa's narration
1974 Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (cameo) as man in cafeteria
1976 Taxi Driver (cameo) as Passenger in Travis' Cab, man watching Betsy
1978 The Last Waltz (as himself)
1980 Raging Bull (The Man who speaks with La Motta in the end)
1983 The King of Comedy (cameo) as TV Director
1986 Round Midnight as Goodley
1990 Dreams as Vincent van Gogh
1991 Guilty by Suspicion as Joe Lesser
1994 Quiz Show as Martin Rittenhome
1999 The Muse (as himself)
1999 Bringing Out the Dead (dispatcher)
2002 Gangs of New York as Wealthy Homeowner
2004 Shark Tale (voice) Sykes
2005 Curb Your Enthusiasm (as himself)
2008 Entourage (as himself)

[jimv]

Sam, I just said that his films leave me cold.  That's my personal opinion.  The ONE picture I enjoyed was "Aviator" and was because of Cate Blanchett's marvelous imitation of KH.  But, overall, I don't enjoy his movies regardless of "awards."

[Sam56]

jimv   -   "You talking to me?"

"You talkin' to me?" is a popular quote delivered by Travis Bickle, a character played by Robert De Niro in the 1976 movie Taxi Driver. The quote and the scene it was featured in have become a pop culture icon, and made De Niro a star. In 2005, it was chosen as #10 on the American Film Institute list, AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movie Quotes.

In the scene, Bickle is looking into a mirror at himself, imagining a confrontation which would give him a chance to draw his gun. He says the following line:

“ "You talkin' to me? You talkin' to me? You talkin' to me? Then who the hell else are you talkin' to? You talkin' to me? Well I'm the only one here. Who the f@#k do you think you're talking to?"   

[jimv]

Yeah, Sam, I saw it.  DeNiro was terrific in the picture.    But, like most of his pix, IMO, it was depressing.  It's all a matter of taste.  Scorcese doesn't suit my taste.

[weeze]

movie being made called 'lombardi". robert deniro to play the character believe it or not

[LennG]

Saw that in today's paper Weezie. Nothing about the movie is even done, but DiNiro is set to play Mr Vince.

[weeze]

'mike and mike" were talking about it this am and as usual, the weeze wasnt paying attention.
personally i dont see it. dont know who could play that role.
 if you saw the movie on earnie davis, with 'mr.meg ryan" playing the ole football coach, theres a example why.

[LennG]

 Back to our regular Friday nite movie. Yesterday we saw 'Up In The Air' with George Clooney. He was nominated for best actor and two of the female parts were up for best supporting actress.
 I heard from several people who either thought this movie was great and others who simply did not 'get it'. I, happy to say, side with the former, I thought this movie was pretty good.
 First of all, it is a sort of light comedy, with many scenes of NOT comedy thrown in. The subject matter is what may turn many people off, as Clooney is a man hired to fire people from companies when the company doesn't have the balls to do it themselves. In this day and climate, that might turn many people off, especially the reactions of those who have been fired. If you can get over that, and I did, I found this movie very amusing and right on the mark. I enjoyed it more because it was an adult type movie, not with the silly crude jokes, not with anything exploding, but a great script and just great acting. We are starting to take Clooney for granted,a s he just seems so natural doing these type of parts. He was great.
 Again, there will be some who will not like this movie at all, but if you can put the subject matter aside, I think you will like this movie a lot.

[NYSPORTS]

Greenzone - pretty good, better than I thought.  Has a little "Syriana" theme yet focusses on the search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

I would see it again.

[LennG]

 Glad to hear that. We were thinking of seeing this movie this Week. I wish they would make another Bourne movie, Matt Damen is just perfect in that role.
 I hear this movie has a lot of those similarities???

[LennG]

 Movie Alert.

Maybe Cagneys best role on TCM tonite--White Heat. As Cody Jarrett, he is just terrific, as he returned to the genre of movies that made him a star. he was born to be a gangster.

"Top of the World, Ma"