+2
Hey Thunderbolt,
I've been reading through your 2021 movie diary and really enjoying it. Especially when my favourites crop up. You've also provided me with a few titles of note that I need to see! (Out of the Furnace, In Fabric and The Old Dark House are examples.)
The Evil Dead - Coming from back in the days when video stores were novel, I remember this as a pretty hard-core horror film. As the years have gone by I've notice the amazing shots, sound effects and dark humour. This has been a film that I've respected more and more as time has gone by. A true classic - though at the time it was derided as trash. 10/10
American Beauty - "Look Closer" the advertising and poster invited us to do. No need in my case. I was rivetted from the very first viewing - and spent every second contemplating it's meaning. 10/10
3:10 to Yuma - Wrestles with High Noon as the best Western ever made in my opinion. Superb performances from a magnetic Glenn Ford and downtrodden Van Heflin. With the original this good, I'm never going to watch the remake. 10/10
No Country For Old Men - I don't really need to say much here. And in any event, who hasn't seen this masterpiece? 10/10
Groundhog Day - Saw this at the cinema back in 1993. Fantastic comedy. I love time travel/displacement themes. Without Bill Murray this would have been just an average Hollywood comedic offering. The power of the movie rests squarely on his shoulders. 9/10
Casablanca - I was going to say that this is my favourite Bogart film, but then I think of The Maltese Falcon and African Queen. I think maybe with Bogart films it's impossible to have a favourite. 10/10
Rosemary's Baby - If John Cassavetes had of directed this film I fear it would have gone for 220 minutes and starred Gena Rowlands. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Psychological horror at it's best. 9/10
The Gift - I recommend this film to all and sundry. Pretty darned good thriller that went pretty much unnoticed. Keep a look out for Joel Edgerton's films. 2018's Boy Erased is pretty good too. 8/10
Unforgiven - It's been too long since I sat down and watched this film uninterrupted. 9/10
The Big Lebowski - I agree wholeheartedly with what you said in your excellent review. A review which has made me want to rewatch this glorious picture and, as you say, notice something new yet again. 10/10