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Although he was great in the first Meet the Parents.
Yep, the remake serves well. The cast is superb across the spectrum. It hurries though half way thru because they loitered early on. The opening sequence is especially effective---Polley crashes her car and Cash's "Man Comes Around." lays it out. Great file footage to fit the bill.
The birth of the zombie baby is wasteful, but, I imagine you couldn't have stopped them from it with a gun.
The evolution of CJ is fine, but, it's not sensible considering what has come before.
The deevolution of Steve is fine, but, it's not supported by what has come before.
I like the Jake Weber character. He's pretty well finished before the outbreak starts. He's tired, cowtowed and spiritually wounded.
Although he was great in the first Meet the Parents.
I also thought the dynamic between Travis and Betsy worked really well, which only made me more disappointed and confused to see it end in such a stupid way. I can't say the same for Travis and Iris' relationship though. It just never felt natural to me. The only scene that saved that story arc was the interaction between Travis and "Sport". Keitel was absolutely fantastic there.
And yeah, it hasn't aged well at all. I was literally loling thru that whole shooting scene at the end.
The best part(s) for me is the interaction of Tony's family. It's fabulous. Painted in all manner of bright colors and gray to black moments. The father is out of work, yet is y and assured throughout, until the very moment his wife hits him. Then he breaks and is human, his composure gone with the wind. It's incredible to behold, but, it's also such fine production and acting execution. The daughter's interaction with her father and her brother is touching. Then as quick as it's shown she and Tony are at each other's throats as in real life. The mother's pride & joy is their eldest son, the Priest. It's everything to this woman. It's her source of pride in the neighborhood and in the moments of her life. That he is leaving the Priesthood is so difficult to imagine that I cringe whenever I watch this film. She cannot get her mind wrapped around it. Tony acts amused, but, verbally assaults his mother when he is provokes over his mother's loss of her son the Priest. This is a real family. This is not situation comedy. And we're better for it.
And it's the Priest's interaction with Tony's young friend at the dance hall where the movie augers in. The dance floor is on our right on the screen. The two hoods (they're no good) sit across from Father at the table and Tony's friend slides in next to Father calling to him and his attention away from his brother (Tony) on the dance floor. Father has heard all of this at his own Parish. It's one reason why he is running. The demand is too much. Too much calamity, too much heart break, too much sadness. He tries to ignore the boy, to stall the boy as the youngster tells the tale of his gf's pregnancy. It's a great part. Finally, he surrenders, turns his body away from his brother's vocation of dance and assumes the Priesthood once again, his eyes are bright with tears. "No, Bobby, God cannot grant an abortion."
The early part in the hardware store where Tony works is another terrific part. Tony is a fine employee and is rewarded with a raise, but, his boss cannot teach this youngster, he can only berate him because even with the raise he is shortchanging Tony. Then Tony's father shortchanges him again when finds the raise is more or less minuscule. Tony is no angel, not by a long shot. He uses Annette then throws her away.
Yep, everything after Travis shoots Sport is over cooked minutiae. Everybody knows exactly what's going on, because of one ing reason,,,they read the script. But, we bought it hook, line and sinker 40 years ago.
Yeah 2004 was good too. The only Zach Snyder film I've enjoyed.
unrelated, but are you a fan of Seconds?
Jaws, Star Wars, The Sting, Apocalypse Now, The Godfather, Rocky, Alien, ...
The 70's is probably my least favorite movie decade. Off the top of my head I can only think of comedies I like: Animal House and Monty Python and the Holy Grail. There was Blazing Saddles too, but I have never seen it. And I almost forgot my favorite 70's sci-fi---Soylent Green!
It shocks me to watch because I don't remember everyone back then being so unattractive
A couple more great US-movies from the 70s that haven't been mentioned so far (I think):
The Parallax View, All the President's Men, Welcome to L.A., The Conversation, Carrie, Deliverance, Halloween, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The French Connection, Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Annie Hall, Love and Death, Manhattan, The Deer Hunter, Harold and Maude, Nashville, Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia
The Last Picture Show, American Graffitti, A Clockwork Orange, MASH, Godfather/Godfather II, Eraserhead, Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie to name a few. Have a soft spot for Logan's Run.
I thought Fran Drescher was kind of hot, tbh.It shocks me to watch because I don't remember everyone back then being so unattractive
I did the The Conversation on Page 1.
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"Carrie" has moments, but, it doesn't sustain itself. The broad comedy as the boy's try on their tux materiel is misplaced, even abhorrent there. GD them.
The mothers, Sue's & especially Carrie's are strong. Sue's mother is a drinker and it's shown as an important aside. The quick shot of Carrie's mother swooping up Sue's driveway is impressive. The shot is quick, but, has a [Wizard of Oz] tinge to it, a witch moving smartly, her black cape a swish in full blush.
Sue's bf/actor/Katt is a weak choice. Damn them again.
Travolta (Billy) lights the movie early and the Allen girl is with him step-for-step. She never gives up.
The slaughtering of the hog scene is gruesome upon gross examination. We find out in that pen about these children, who is up to the task before them, and who is not. And where evil dwells without a check.
The gym teacher's (Betty Buckley, mother on "Eight is Enough.") handling of Carrie's gym class is expansive and impressive. She's treading in choppy waters and almost goes too far, then not far enough. It's fascinating. Reminds one of the gym teacher in "Some Kind Of Wonderful."
The back story is pure + intractable.
Not a lot of story there. It's thin and easily dismissed as you look in there.
Robert Shaw tries, but, even he is handicapped by a stupid premise. He's/his character as smart as a whip, that's how he came out of the Five Points and stayed out. This wouldn't happen. No f'in' way. But, then we were deluged by Newman/Redford and the music from the movie. Christ, I was so sick of it.
A couple parts are neat:::Charles Durning is eating in the diner when the fake Fed guys come in to get him. Before he gets up he dips his fingers in his water glass to clean them.
Shaw's persistent use of the term: "Ya follow?" to get his point across to his stooges.
The Sting works way better than American Hustle.
"Walking Tall" from '73. The original with Joe Don Baker. This film had a hard start. Judith Crist in NYC made it her business to black ball this film...because of the vigilantism inherent. It finally got thru and became a sleeper type hit.
It's a great story that has been told and retold decade-by-decade. Two sequels in the '70's, both with Bo Svenson. Baker did not want to get type cast. The sequels have aged well, surprisingly. Especially the second sequel which includes a harrowing scene in a movie theatre there in McNary County of the original "Walking Tall." Buford attends the local premiere with his family (he was an adviser on this film.) They use the soundtrack of the original death scene (wife was shotgunned to death as the two drove to a false police call)(he was severely wounded and needed extensive plastic surgery to his face), but, not the visual. It's effective. Pusser was killed not long after the movie's release in an automobile crash (he was alone.)
Brian Dennehy starred in a television series in the '80's. "A Great American Hero" --- it didn't last long.
And of course the make over with Dwayne Johnson, in 2004.
The original remains a very intense film. The struggle between good & bad turns very, very personal for both sides. Neither will give an inch. Pusser suffers the death of a thousand cuts, but, does not die. He carves a stick/club and exacts his vengeance.
Elizabeth Hartman, very handy in the era plays his wife and she does a fine job of prefacing the fear and dread that cloaks the telling. It's Baker's movie though and he's at prime here, at the zenith and it's a blessing.
Superman (1978)
-Lefty
actually Superman is one of my favorites from that decade, probably my favorite John Williams soundtrack and that's saying a lot.
Star Wars was the most important film of the decade imho. Overall the 70s was a golden age of cinema.
lot of great ones already mentioned, but some I own and haven't seen on here.
-THX 1138
-Badlands
-Days of Heaven
-High Plains Drifter
-The Last Waltz
-The Duellists
-Barry Lyndon (very slow but underrated)
-French Connection (part 2 is much better than I expected)
-Sorcerer
-Bad News Bears
-Escape from Alcatraz
-Close Encounters of the Third Kind
-Airplane
-Mean Streets
never saw it but I think your boy Jamie Gillis is in it. same director did Barbara Broadcast iirc, and that film is so raunchy
Absolutely. The opening on a superior sound system is something else again. I've rattled the house here until I had to trade my Cox DVR in for another one and lost the recording. Putting in the DVD is like cheating.
The movie itself? Has a foreign feel to it. Though there are points along the way.
"The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down." That's it & that's all. But, it's more than enough. Raises the hair on your arms.
The Godfather, Rocky, The Sting and Serpico, the best of the 70's.
His character and the way he plays him is irritating to the max. That slouchy way that he had back early there just does not appeal. It's the same way he did
"Dog Day Afternoon" - "And Justice For All." Same character, different sides of the badge.
Apocalypse now was my favorite movie for decade...watched it a least 40 times.....when Redux came out it filled in a lot of gaps
^^^I found the Redux well excised materiel. It makes "Col. Kilgore" a fool.
The cut version is serviceable with the village attack, the strip scene and scenes on the boat filling in well.
Once they get there it turns into Brando BS.
I just can't do Apocalypse Now. And by god, I tried.
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