Franklin: in attempting to extend a compliment to you Mark -thought the Signs Of Intelligent Life acronym was appropriate (the fact that it happened to work out as SOIL was quite accidental BTY) yet IMO, totally hilarious. Just HAD to leave it up there, for that reason alone....lol
Franklin had stated> I'm unfamiliar with the "Search For Signs", but vaguely> recall hearing the name from somewhere?? If you learn more, kindlyshare. As to the rest - agreed.Mark>I had the pleasure of seeing 'The Search For Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe: A Cosmic Soup Opera' in Seattle when Lily was testing it out before taking it to New York. One of the funniest, most intelligent, well written pieces I have ever seen. Lily and Jane Wagner really created an extraordinary comment on modern life with this one. Populated with wonderfully drawn characters, all played by Lily the chameleon Tomlin (What does a chameleon see when it looks in a mirror? Another mirror!) and full of pointed and funny observations on the foibles of humanity. I have a hardcover copy of the script around somewhere. I think it was filmed so if you run across it, get it. It's well worth seeing.
Franklin> Thanks for the very informative tip, Mark..Franklin> You heard Mark, Colin - now go catch that last hour!!**## lol I do agree with you Mark, that it was "a tad toolong on exposition". I could see how someone in the wrong "mood" might find it a bit languid at times. But, then again - they obviously had nothing better than to burn time in those days (in those days???) Funny how "there is nothing new under the sun". It is a good movie to take in on a lazy, comfortable afternoon with a mellow friend - there, hows that? I agree with the rest of your comments... Alan Bates IS almost unrecognizable, and gives a brilliant performance!!
>
> Franklin had said,in total agreement with Joseph> Calling all "period" film >buffs: GO SEE/RENT "GOSFORD PARK", two or three times if necessary (you won't >be alone) - ah, nuance and it's subtle,baffling, alluring attractions!
Mark>To Colin I will say that if you left before the last hour of 'Gosford Park',you missed the best part of the movie, imo. I like Altman too and I liked'Gosford Park' but I thought it was a tad too long on exposition. It tookway too long to get to the murder for my taste. Helen Mirren doesn't really get a chance to shine until the very end. Emily Watson is great and Maggie Smith is as well. Alan Bates is almost unrecognizable and gives a brilliant performance.
Mark>M*A*S*H was the first R-rated movie I ever saw at the tender age of 16. It was at the United Artists theatre in Chicago. What a funny, biting film!Franklin>WOW, I must have been somewhere around that age too. What an impression it indelibly left on my young, impressionable mind. It's funny - but almost all of the "teen" movies/music today are SO STUPID - as if they are "catering" to a stupid audience... aren't you glad we (for the most part) weren't treated that way? I feel sorrow and pity for the way the "industry" treats teens today, as dim-witted, clueless, financial fodder for their "sludge production" machinery.
And I agree that the television series doesn't begin to compare. And I
don't 'get' Alan Alda either.
Franklin>I'll have to "re-visit" 'Nashville'. I actually avoided 'Short Cuts' as I thought, from the reviews that it was "plodding" and a disappointment. Dang those "reviewers" anyhoo! GRATUITOUS FEMALE NUDITY??!! excuse me while I run over to BlockBuster. OK, I'm back...LOLMark>I love 'Nashville' although I find the ending to be very upsetting. I'd like to hear anybody's thoughts on it. Why Barbara Jean? I loved Barbara Harris in this movie. And some of the songs that the actors wrote are a hoot! To me this one is the prime example of Altman's ability to weave a multitude of stories and characters together. 'Short Cuts' comes close to being as successful on that level although there are some things about that movie that I didn't like at all. I thought some of the female nudity was gratuitous. But I loved seeing Annie Ross! She must have done something to make her voice so raw in that one. When I saw her with Jon Hendricks a few years ago, she didn't sound anything like that!
Franklin> The 'Player', IMO is as cool as movie-making gets... sheer class! Speaking of 'Touch of Evil', that was the exact "extended, uncut, shot" that Altman was totally skewering as pretentious (but wait, I LOVE pretentious - served up "well-done" of course..lol). What was funny was how the reviewers raved over that opening shot! It wasn't meant as homage, but as back-handed sarcasm. Oh, well - I actually LOVED both those long, uncut takes! lolMark> 'The Player' really does do a wonderful job of skewering the Hollywood star-maker machinery. I saw the re-constructed 'Touch of Evil' a year or so ago (re-edited using Orson Welles' written instructions) and the long beginning shot in that movie kinda dwarfs Altman's beginning of 'The Player', imo. Another one I love is 'Cookie's Fortune'. Kind of a different one for Altman. Tells a pretty straight-forward, albeit quirky, story. It was great to see Patricia Neal onscreen and Glenn Close and Julianne Moore were both fun to watch. I was in a production of 'Salome' in college (played Jokannon aka John the Baptist) so the church production that Glenn Close's character directs was especially funny for me.
Franklin> Once again, a well written reason to double-star that on the TTD list!
> Franklin had stated to Joseph> I'll have to check out "In the Bedroom" if only because of the personal status you assign it. Also, have yet to see "The Importance of Being Earnest", though several friends whose taste and talents I respect highly have also recommended it as a "must see". It's now on the list of TTD (things to do).
>
Mark> And speaking of Oscar Wilde, I played a butler in this one back in college! This is a delightful, perfectly cast version of the play. Dame Judy as Lady Bracknell, Colin Firth as Jack/Ernest, Rupert Everett as Algernon, Reese Witherspoon as Cecily - what better actors to play these parts? The same producers did 'An Ideal Husband' a few years ago and it was also wonderful. Rupert Everett seems to be the perfect modern-day mouthpiece for Oscar Wilde. And Julianne Moore and Cate Blanchett are two of the most talented actresses of this generation, imo.
Franklin> You contribute a lot of appreciable information to this post Mark. I wouldn't doubt she does (referring to last sentence.)> > Franklin> Judy Davis! What a gal!She was amazing playing Judy Garland in 'Life With Judy Garland', a tv movie that was adapted from Lorna Luft's book. She was also pretty convincing as Lillian Hellman in 'Hellman and Hammett'. Much as I hate to say it, she was probably a lot closer to what the real Hellman was like than Jane Fonda was in 'Julia', much as I love that particular movie. Judy was also good as George Sand in 'Impromptu'. I wonder if she likes playing parts based on real people's lives?
Franklin> I agree totally. When I made the above statement, I attempted to qualify it with the word "some". Other actors are totally independently talented, turning my thesis on its little head. They shine regardless of the talent, or lack there of, of the director and the material. Like great songwriters, these are the real treasures...
Franklin had stated> That is why some of the most popular actors, who are lauded as being "great" have spotty filmmatic experiences - the real creative force,standing between a horrible, mediocre (arguably worse than horrible)
and outstanding performance is the Director...
Mark>Although I think what you say is true with some actors, I do think there are truly brilliant people who can sometimes transcend the material they have to work with and even a mediocre or bad director. Meryl Streep comes to mind
as does Bette Davis. I watched the HBO film 'Wit' last weekend which is
practically a one-woman tour-de-force from Emma Thompson. I was amazed by
that performance. I haven't seen Russell Crowe in too many movies but he
seems to be another actor with true brilliance. Daniel Day-Lewis also comes
to mind. Sir Anthony Hopkins has played everything from Richard the
Lionheart to Hannibal the Cannibal to Richard 'Tricky Dicky' Nixon (not to
mention Titus Andronicus) and scored high marks in each of those roles.
Speaking of 'Titus', Jessica Lange is another truly fine actress, imo.
Mark>I love movies. Maybe I don't discuss them quite as in depth as Franklin & Joseph but I love to talk about them.Franklin> You underrate yourself Mark! Your knowledge and insights are a VERY welcome addition to this discussion. Please, keep talkin', recommending, etc.
Franklin
NP: L.A. Cowboy - "Flyover Land" a "tongue in cheek" ode (love letter?) toTinseltown: Tasteful, witty, charming, intelligent, poetic songs. (NF)
