movie: Life Stinks
starring: Mel Brooks, Jeffrey Tambor
genre: Comedy
year:1991
format: TV Edit
plot: A millionaire makes a bet that he can't survive for 30 on the street with nothing. When the 30 days is up, he tries to return home only to find he's been double crossed.
I heard "Mel Brooks" and was expecting the usual slapstick goofy stuff, but was pleasantly surprised to find it was just a comedy. The story is solid enough, and is played straight. I could have done without the cheesy dance scene in the middle of it. Totally pointless.
Jeffrey Tambor has only a few scenes, but from the second he comes on screen you know he's got bad intentions, which he plays brilliantly. The scene where he's at the party just standing there on the stairs looking down at Brooks' character is one of the best villain moves. And all he does is deliver his lines softly.
what did i learn? Never make bets that involve leaving your stuff to others.
Showing posts with label 1991. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1991. Show all posts
Sunday, January 3, 2016
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Theme Week 2 -Love
L.A. Story
plot: A weatherman down on his luck, finds out his girlfriend has been cheating on him for the last three years. While processing the emotions, he meets two other women, a divorced woman his own age and a store clerk half his age. Unsure what to do next, he finds himself at the mercy of a street sign that begins to give him advice.
This is a 1991 romantic comedy starring Steve Martin and Sarah Jessica Parker.
I'm surprised I've never seen this movie before. It was cute, witty even.
I loved the idea of the theme - when we hit a crossroads in life we need a sign- and literally making that the plot of the story. Not just in a metaphoric way, but literally having an electric street sign at an intersection telling the lead character what to do.
I also loved the fact it points out that growing up and falling in love, does not equal knowing how to handle it, and still being blown away by the whole thing. That just because you're an adult, doesn't mean you're immune to feeling like a nervous teenager.
plot: A weatherman down on his luck, finds out his girlfriend has been cheating on him for the last three years. While processing the emotions, he meets two other women, a divorced woman his own age and a store clerk half his age. Unsure what to do next, he finds himself at the mercy of a street sign that begins to give him advice.
This is a 1991 romantic comedy starring Steve Martin and Sarah Jessica Parker.
I'm surprised I've never seen this movie before. It was cute, witty even.
I loved the idea of the theme - when we hit a crossroads in life we need a sign- and literally making that the plot of the story. Not just in a metaphoric way, but literally having an electric street sign at an intersection telling the lead character what to do.
I also loved the fact it points out that growing up and falling in love, does not equal knowing how to handle it, and still being blown away by the whole thing. That just because you're an adult, doesn't mean you're immune to feeling like a nervous teenager.
Sunday, May 25, 2014
year 3 Day 87
movie: Silence of the Lambs
starring: Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins
genre: Thriller
year: 1991
format: Shaw Video On Demand
plot: The FBI need help catching a serial killer named Buffalo Bill who has been skinning his victims. They enlist the help of Dr. Lector, by having him work with a young profiler, and soon learn that Buffalo Bill is connected to a former patient of Lector's.
This is based on the novel of the same name.
I seem to remember there being more to this film. It's one of those things where it's set the standard for it's genre, and when you look at how movies/television are now, you see so many elements of the 1991 movie everywhere.
I saw this film when it first came out 23 years ago, and for some reason, today when I had the chance to watch it again, I kept thinking there was suppose to be more. For some reason, my memory had another character, another sub-plot.
Hannibal has become such an iconic character, I had forgotten that he's barely in the film, that it's not his story as much as it is everybody else.
starring: Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins
genre: Thriller
year: 1991
format: Shaw Video On Demand
plot: The FBI need help catching a serial killer named Buffalo Bill who has been skinning his victims. They enlist the help of Dr. Lector, by having him work with a young profiler, and soon learn that Buffalo Bill is connected to a former patient of Lector's.
This is based on the novel of the same name.
I seem to remember there being more to this film. It's one of those things where it's set the standard for it's genre, and when you look at how movies/television are now, you see so many elements of the 1991 movie everywhere.
I saw this film when it first came out 23 years ago, and for some reason, today when I had the chance to watch it again, I kept thinking there was suppose to be more. For some reason, my memory had another character, another sub-plot.
Hannibal has become such an iconic character, I had forgotten that he's barely in the film, that it's not his story as much as it is everybody else.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Coffee Talk Feb 23rd 2013
I wanted to bring up the topic of American Psycho. (which I covered the movie version here )
And basically, everything I said in that post about the movie, times that by 50 and you have what I think about the book.
You might remember back in early January, that I mentioned it was the selection for this month for book-movie club. One of the reasons it was chosen was because the movie has become a cult classic, even though the original book was said to be controversial.
I wanted to know what could have been in the book to make it so controversial? Well, I've read the book, and now I know.
If you've seen the movie then you know it's packed with dark humour, the script is witty and the notes it hits are perfect to describe the metaphor of trying to keep up with the greed and shallowness that society hit back in the 1980s. In the movie, the horror is there but it's not as in your face as it is in the book.
Not too mention, the movie can feel disjointed at times, but still flows in a way that makes sense. Although the movie is laid out in a slightly different order then the original book.
The book, is ten times more graphic in everything, from the sex scenes, to the murders, to the way the lead character describes everything his buddies and he are wearing. The grotesque and the mundane are equally important to the lead character. (like when he can not find a particular movie at the rental store then freaks out when he can not see what kind of shoes the sales person is wearing from where he is standing)
I'm actually left wondering if the character of Patrick Bateman is really a psycho killer or just a plan old junkie having drug induced nightmares? You're witness to more then a few moments of pure madness, which seem to happen when his routine is disrupted (work out for two hours, watch his favourite show, pull money out of the bank machine, then go for dinner and drinks every day) or when he simply can not find something to keep him distracted. (Bateman and his buddies are constantly trying to score drugs) The sex and the drugs seem to keep him normal, and when they are removed he has a meltdown and goes on a killing spree.
There is a weird balance to this book as well. Half this book is a strange nightmare induced horror story and half this book is like a memoir of a socialite. Roughly the first 100 pages is filled with three (I think was what I counted) men who do nothing but talk about the women they are sleeping with, the food they are eating and the clothes they are wearing. It literally plays like a male version of Sex and the City for the first 100 pages, then the hard core stuff begins.
There is one chapter that I found particularly jarring. And not because of any of the violence either, but from the simple fact the author goes from the first person to the third person for a few paragraphs. (I'm still not sure if that was a mistake no one's ever caught or if it was on purpose to really make you understand what the character is doing is "real" compared to the rest of the novel which is "all in his head" ?)
Like the movie version, you are left at the end wondering what the end really means. Did he do it all? Was it in his head? Is he even really Patrick Bateman or one of the many guys people mistake him for through the book?
All in all, this is a good book. There were moments when I wondered how certain things got into print, but mostly it was brilliantly written.
For me, what I got out of it was the feeling of complete isolation, loneliness, insecurity, and boredom of the lead character. A sort of backwards shot at feminism, and an unclouded fear of "they're not like us" that more then bordered on racism (which you could point out at times Dracula and Frankenstein both had)
If you are not easily offended, this is a book you should give a chance.
*Note- Yes the post date is 24th Feb, and the post title is the 23rd. It took me nearly 45minutes to write the post*
And basically, everything I said in that post about the movie, times that by 50 and you have what I think about the book.
You might remember back in early January, that I mentioned it was the selection for this month for book-movie club. One of the reasons it was chosen was because the movie has become a cult classic, even though the original book was said to be controversial.
I wanted to know what could have been in the book to make it so controversial? Well, I've read the book, and now I know.
If you've seen the movie then you know it's packed with dark humour, the script is witty and the notes it hits are perfect to describe the metaphor of trying to keep up with the greed and shallowness that society hit back in the 1980s. In the movie, the horror is there but it's not as in your face as it is in the book.
Not too mention, the movie can feel disjointed at times, but still flows in a way that makes sense. Although the movie is laid out in a slightly different order then the original book.
The book, is ten times more graphic in everything, from the sex scenes, to the murders, to the way the lead character describes everything his buddies and he are wearing. The grotesque and the mundane are equally important to the lead character. (like when he can not find a particular movie at the rental store then freaks out when he can not see what kind of shoes the sales person is wearing from where he is standing)
I'm actually left wondering if the character of Patrick Bateman is really a psycho killer or just a plan old junkie having drug induced nightmares? You're witness to more then a few moments of pure madness, which seem to happen when his routine is disrupted (work out for two hours, watch his favourite show, pull money out of the bank machine, then go for dinner and drinks every day) or when he simply can not find something to keep him distracted. (Bateman and his buddies are constantly trying to score drugs) The sex and the drugs seem to keep him normal, and when they are removed he has a meltdown and goes on a killing spree.
There is a weird balance to this book as well. Half this book is a strange nightmare induced horror story and half this book is like a memoir of a socialite. Roughly the first 100 pages is filled with three (I think was what I counted) men who do nothing but talk about the women they are sleeping with, the food they are eating and the clothes they are wearing. It literally plays like a male version of Sex and the City for the first 100 pages, then the hard core stuff begins.
There is one chapter that I found particularly jarring. And not because of any of the violence either, but from the simple fact the author goes from the first person to the third person for a few paragraphs. (I'm still not sure if that was a mistake no one's ever caught or if it was on purpose to really make you understand what the character is doing is "real" compared to the rest of the novel which is "all in his head" ?)
Like the movie version, you are left at the end wondering what the end really means. Did he do it all? Was it in his head? Is he even really Patrick Bateman or one of the many guys people mistake him for through the book?
All in all, this is a good book. There were moments when I wondered how certain things got into print, but mostly it was brilliantly written.
For me, what I got out of it was the feeling of complete isolation, loneliness, insecurity, and boredom of the lead character. A sort of backwards shot at feminism, and an unclouded fear of "they're not like us" that more then bordered on racism (which you could point out at times Dracula and Frankenstein both had)
If you are not easily offended, this is a book you should give a chance.
*Note- Yes the post date is 24th Feb, and the post title is the 23rd. It took me nearly 45minutes to write the post*
Friday, December 28, 2012
Day 362
movie: The Addams Family
starring: Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia
genre: Comedy,
year: 1991
format: DVD
plot: A con artist decides to steal the Addams's money by hiring an imposter to pretend to be Fester, Gomez's long lost brother, but nothing goes according to plan.
Classic. What can I say, other then it has become a cult classic in the last 21 years.
Christopher Lloyd I think really makes this one. He's officially played everything there is to play, and many of them strange characters. I know I don't think of any other actor when I think of the character.
This movie is almost hard to pin down as far as what it's all about. Seems like it's got a bit of everything, from being comfortable with yourself, to always trusting your gut, to never letting your family heritage down.
what do i think i learned from this film?
Most of the time, your family can forgive you anything...most of the time
starring: Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia
genre: Comedy,
year: 1991
format: DVD
plot: A con artist decides to steal the Addams's money by hiring an imposter to pretend to be Fester, Gomez's long lost brother, but nothing goes according to plan.
Classic. What can I say, other then it has become a cult classic in the last 21 years.
Christopher Lloyd I think really makes this one. He's officially played everything there is to play, and many of them strange characters. I know I don't think of any other actor when I think of the character.
This movie is almost hard to pin down as far as what it's all about. Seems like it's got a bit of everything, from being comfortable with yourself, to always trusting your gut, to never letting your family heritage down.
what do i think i learned from this film?
Most of the time, your family can forgive you anything...most of the time
Monday, May 7, 2012
day 153
Movie: Hook
Starring: Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman
Genre: Comedy, Family, Action
Year: 1991
Format: TV EDIT
Plot: Peter Pan is all grown up and Hook kidnaps his kids to get him to return to Neverland for one final battle.
This is actually not very creative. I was less then thrilled with the way this movie seemed to drag on without really telling any story.
You spend way too much of the bulk of the film waiting for Pan to remember who he really is.
What do I think I learned from this film?
You can never stop believing in make-believe and playing with your friends.
Starring: Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman
Genre: Comedy, Family, Action
Year: 1991
Format: TV EDIT
Plot: Peter Pan is all grown up and Hook kidnaps his kids to get him to return to Neverland for one final battle.
This is actually not very creative. I was less then thrilled with the way this movie seemed to drag on without really telling any story.
You spend way too much of the bulk of the film waiting for Pan to remember who he really is.
What do I think I learned from this film?
You can never stop believing in make-believe and playing with your friends.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Day 66
Movie: Beauty and the Beast (Disney)
Starring: Paige O'Hara, Robby Benson
Genre: Music, Family
Year: 1991
Format: DVD
Plot: A prince who's had a curse put on him by a witch needs to have someone fall in love with him in order to change back.
This is the classic Disney version of the even more classic story.
This is by far one of my favourite Disney films.
I find it ironic in the fact that Belle is one of the most- if not the most- brave and independent of all the Disney heroines, and she's also the only one who- that I am aware of- is not a princess. {I have not seen every single Disney film to come out but I've seen a good stack of them}
Personally, even though I'm a girl, I've always identified with the Beast in this story.
What do I think I learned from this film?
There truly is someone out there for everyone no matter what you look like.
Starring: Paige O'Hara, Robby Benson
Genre: Music, Family
Year: 1991
Format: DVD
This is the classic Disney version of the even more classic story.
This is by far one of my favourite Disney films.
I find it ironic in the fact that Belle is one of the most- if not the most- brave and independent of all the Disney heroines, and she's also the only one who- that I am aware of- is not a princess. {I have not seen every single Disney film to come out but I've seen a good stack of them}
Personally, even though I'm a girl, I've always identified with the Beast in this story.
There truly is someone out there for everyone no matter what you look like.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Day 4
Movie: Cast a Deadly Spell
Starring: Fred Ward, Julianna Moore
Genre: Film Noir, Cop-drama, Horror-Fantasy, Comedy
Year: 1991
Format: online
Plot: Lovecraft is a detective in LA in the 1940's, and living in a world where magic is as common as breathing. He's managed to hold out from using. One of the richest men in the city hires him to locate a lost book - the Necronomicon - and along the way, has to deal with his former lover and her mob boss boyfriend.
This was done at the height of the Lovecraft craze back in the early 1990's with magic being used in this movie as a metaphor for addiction.
I loved the little nod to Ray Bradbury in this as well, giving one of the other detectives his name.
This also stars David Warner, who besides being a regular star of horror films, has become a familiar face in the Lovecraft genre over the years.
What do I think I learned from this film?
Just because everyone else is doing it doesn't mean it's a good idea. Then again, addiction has more forms then we could ever think. Oh and of course, it's never wise to piss off the Cthulhu with a fake virgin.
Starring: Fred Ward, Julianna Moore
Genre: Film Noir, Cop-drama, Horror-Fantasy, Comedy
Year: 1991
Format: online
Plot: Lovecraft is a detective in LA in the 1940's, and living in a world where magic is as common as breathing. He's managed to hold out from using. One of the richest men in the city hires him to locate a lost book - the Necronomicon - and along the way, has to deal with his former lover and her mob boss boyfriend.
This was done at the height of the Lovecraft craze back in the early 1990's with magic being used in this movie as a metaphor for addiction.
I loved the little nod to Ray Bradbury in this as well, giving one of the other detectives his name.
This also stars David Warner, who besides being a regular star of horror films, has become a familiar face in the Lovecraft genre over the years.
What do I think I learned from this film?
Just because everyone else is doing it doesn't mean it's a good idea. Then again, addiction has more forms then we could ever think. Oh and of course, it's never wise to piss off the Cthulhu with a fake virgin.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Day 3
Starring: Lance Henriksen, Jeffrey Combs
Genre: Horror, Drama,
Year: 1991 {Rereleased in 2011}
Format: DVD
Plot: Set during the Spanish Inquisition, a priest uses his power of influence to strip a wealthy family of their money and desecrating the body of their ancestor.
A young couple in the village are caught up in the mob of people at the execution of one of the family members, with the wife Marie becoming the object of the priest's desire. He then imprisons her for being a witch.
Henriksen is one of the greatest actors around, and with just the tilt of his head can deliver a creepiness that stays with you for hours.
The film plays out in a bunch of ways exposing how desire and greed can over take anyone and that words of duress are sometimes more believable then actions.
This film is an exercise in both fear and karma.
I am not sure if it was just where I have the re-released edition, but the production seemed a lot glossier then what I remembered other Full Moon films to have been.
What do I think I learned from this film?
Fear is a great motivation for everyone as is lust, making us agree sometimes to the worst. And that no matter how you dress them up, a straight man will do anything to get a woman naked.
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