[jimdgoulding]

Big fan of Lone Star and John Sayles here and for his The Brother From Another Planet which I saw on a whim in NY not long after it released.  The bar fight scene cracked me up.  The brothers got ready for that real quick.  Chandra Wilson was just a kid in Lone Star, huh, but what a job.  "Forget the Alamo" . . there is great stuff in Lone Star about what you say.

[ZLS]

1.   If it has not been mentioned already-All That Jazz
    A depiction of the life of Bob Fosse that besides the absolute dynamite choreography has the late, great Roy Scheider playing the Fosse character.  There is a recurring scene where each morning he gets out of the shower, pops some speed stands in front of the mirror smiles and says, "Showtime!"  Haven't we all done this some time or other? (minus the speed)

2. Stormy Weather
    This is an all colored, Negro, Black, African-American (The terms  changed over the years) cast that stars Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Cab Calloway, Dooley Wilson (The piano player in Casablanca) the Nicholas Brothers, and Lena Horne.There are so many highlights but a few are Dooley Wilson ( I never realized that he was a gifted comedy actor), the Nicholas Brothers doing a dance routine that may be the greatest ever filmed, and the finale of Lena Horne singing, wait now, yes, Stormy Weather.  I am not saying that Lena Horne was the most beautiful women that the good lord ever put on this earth, but I will go as far to say that if there is a team picture of such women Lena Horne has seat in the front row!

[martyo]

Off The Map 

[jimdgoulding]

So I'm lookin at Bill Pullman's filmography cause I can't remember the name of a brilliant little flick and came across a bunch of little gems he's been in.  Here's three:

Zero Effect-  Modern day Nero Wolfe.  This is the one I was looking for specifically.  With Ben Stiller and, get this, Ryan O'Neal.
The Last Seduction-  With Linda Fiorentino as a femme fatale and a super performance by her.
Ruthless People-  An hilarious movie if you remember.
 
Speaking of femme fatales . . how about Lena Olin in Romeo Is Bleeding with Gary Oldman?  Anybody see that?  I dare you to rent it.  Talk about your Black Widows. 

I could get on a tear with seedy character movies.

[jimdgoulding]

Here's an under appreciated more recent release . . Fun With Dick and Jane.  Man, there's some very funny scenes and dialogue in this and the chemistry between co-stars Jim Carey and Tea Leoni is excellent!  Nice use of some tunes, too.  Cheers 

[ZLS]

I recently rented the DVD Romance & Cigarettes.  This is one strange movie, but I really enjoyed it!  It is a musical written and directed by John Tuturo.  A very,very strange musical.  The cast is outstanding; James Gandolfini, Susan Sarandon, Kate Winsletti, Mary-Louise Parker, Aida Tuturo, Steve Bucesmi, Bobby Canavale, Mandy Moore and Christopher Walken at his psycho best!  The movie is a must rent just for the opening scene where Susan Sarandon confronts her husband James Gandolfini on his affair with Kate Winslett.  Imagine Carmella on steroids!!  Talk about busting balls!  I could go on and on, but if you like indie films, if you like films where actors take risks, if you like films where you are repeatedly shaking your head and saying, "No, they didn't just do that" then this is a film you must see.

[jazzcan]

Romance & Cigarettes is definitely worth watching.   My wife and I came upon it by accident on cable.   Very strange but very funny.

[jimdgoulding]

Good.  I hope to see those.  For those of you who haven't seen Volver, you need to get it and see it.  This ain't a bullshit movie.  And it's in Spanish.  Either of those facts may kill the interest for some of you.  But for those who take the plunge, you may find this a diamond, indeed.  And Penelope Cruz is to die for in this.  Not because she in Penelope Cruz but because of her performance.  There is what may be a tongue in cheek scene by her director and mentor in this where one of the characters is watching Anna Mangani on TV.  Yep, that kind of performance.   Damn good movie, this.  I just saw it myself this evening.

[launche]

I've got "Volver" sitting on my DVR, I'll bump it up to must see status.

Looks like the Coen Brothers had a hand in "Romance & Cigarettes" so that might help explain things.

For those who like "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" etc... "Curse Of the Black Scorpion" is an enjoyable film, it's based off of Hamlet.

[jimdgoulding]

Posted this one from the git.  Thick As Thieves.  It's from the rough, and it's a lil diamond.  Montana, too.

[jimdgoulding]

Oh, just had a broccoli flash . . anybody ever see The Friends Of Eddie Coyle?