JayDee's Movie Musings

I'll happily go my entire life without seeing that. Play Misty For Me was definitely one of them, The Grifters too.

I saw it on the recommendation of the MoFo Top 100, of course, so there's a good chance you'll like it. Considering how highly regarded it is, I guess I'd say it's overrated, but I did enjoy it, just not as much as most. There's a lot to like in specific places, visually in particular. I'd give it a , probably. It's definitely worth the watch, and like I say I'd be curious to hear your thoughts if you do.

Here's the latest update to the rankings of my 70s thrillers, along with the first ranking of Clint Eastwood films I've seen. Links to the reviews where available.


The Warriors - +




Tightrope -

+
Coogan's Bluff -

+
Escape from Alcatraz -

The Gauntlet -

Magnum Force -

Originally Posted by Skepsis93

I'll happily go my entire life without seeing that. Play Misty For Me was definitely one of them, The Grifters too.

Shame as Magic was actually a really good little film. And obviously I'd certainly recommend Misty and The Grifters, along with Unforgiven.

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Plot – Corporal John McBurney (Eastwood) is a Union soldier in the American Civil War. Severely wounded in battle he is found dying in the forest by a young 12 year old girl called Amy (Ferdin) who takes him back to the school for girls where she lives. Run by the headmistress (Page) with one teacher (Hartman) and a small group of pupils it is a little ocean of peace amongst the war, at least until McBurney arrives. Soon all of the school's women, from the incestuous headmistress to 12 year old Amy, are projecting their fantasies upon him and throwing themselves at him. He responds in a callous, manipulative manner resulting in jealousy and resentment to run rife and put him in great danger.







Conclusion – A deliciously devilish and gothic treat. Overflowing with sexual tension this is a sultry and fascinating film, directed with great flair by Siegel and featuring a series of standout performances. It really is compelling viewing. Highly recommended stuff.

Nice review used to own this on VHS

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Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.
Buddha

Thanks nebbit. Nice to see you back after what seems like your longest break in ages!


Oh and I just had to give this poster for The Beguiled a post all of its own. God bless the Polish and their magnificent movie posters!

Had a friend over last night and we watched the Good the Bad and the Ugly, He had never seen it

Eh...ok? Did you mean to post that here?

Oh and I've never seen The Good, The Bad and The Ugly either!!

Only did because you have done a few Clint movies lately time to watch it

I see. It seemed fairly random and I thought it was meant for the 'movies you're watching tonight' or 'last dvd you watched' threads. Will give his Man With No Name films a go at some point.

A lot of these Clint Eastwood films are intriguing me, especially The Gauntlet and Thunderbolt and Lightfoot. Will definitely check out a few of those.

And, just out of curiosity, have you seen White Hunter, Black Heart? I've heard seem pretty good things about that one. Some say it's one of Eastwood's best.

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"George, this is a little too much for me. Escaped convicts, fugitive sex... I've got a cockfight to focus on."

Oh, and it's nice to see The Warriors at the top of the '70's thrillers list.

Well if you do manage to check them out hope you enjoy them.

No not seen White Hunter, Black Heart. That list of Eastwood films is every one of his I've seen. Except for Space Cowboys which I've seen (and actually own) but only once and that was like 10 years ago so don't remember anything about it. I do however have my eye on a Clint boxset which features White Hunter, Black Heart so may get to it at some point.

Well here it is, where it all started. Steven Spielberg is arguably the most successful director of all time, with a career encompassing aliens (both good and bad), dinosaurs, killer sharks, adventurous archaeologists and nazis amongst numerous other subjects. And while he made a little film by the name of Firelight which had a buget of $500 and made a $1 profit! this is universally considered to be his feature length debut.

And it really is a masterclass in simplicty and economical film-making. For the very large majority of this film all Spielberg has at his disposable is one character (Weaver's David), two vehicles (David's car and the satanic truck) and one setting (a lonely, never-ending dusty highway). And yet he is able to craft a film full of thrills and terror. The fact that such a simple premise is able to deliver such excitement and terror is down to the great confidence with which the camera is handled. Constantly darting around and combined with frantic editing it is a great exercise in paranoia and terror.

Film trivia – Spielberg shot Duel in a mere 12 days! Unsurprisingly it remains Spielberg's shortest film shoot to date. And one I'd say he's never likely to beat.

There is obviously a man v machine allegory going on here, right down to the fact that Weaver's character has the none too subtle surname 'Mann,' However that really is only the briefest of elements here. For the large majority the film is purely concerned with just being a thrilling kick-ass flick. And by never showing us the driver of the truck, or even letting us in on his motives, Speilberg gives the truck a somewhat supernatural element to its threat, added to by the seemingly unnatural level of speed it is able to reach

As a result of the story's nature the film does have a tendency to get a touch repetitive but that's a fairly minor complaint. Dennis Weaver makes for a likeable and sympathetic character to get behind, and sympathise with as he is terrorised and tortured by physically and psychologically. And considering he is pretty much required to carry the film all on his own he does a very nice, commendable job of it.

Film trivia – Early on in the process Gregory Peck was briefly considered for the role of David, but that idea was abandoned when it was decided it would be a TV movie. And while Dennis Weaver was always Spielberg's first choice he didn't actually sign up until the night before shooting began.

As you can see from the bit of trivia above this was actually a TV movie on its initial release in America. However it so impressed the head honchos at Universal that when it reached Europe it was shown in cinemas and in 1983 was eventually re-released in American cinemas to capitalise on Spielberg's growing fame. However without having the knowledge beforehand I can't see myself ever guessing that this was a TV movie. Just at no point does it ever look like it.

Upon its release Jaws famously kept people out of the water, and I wouldn't have been surprised had this minimalist cracker kept people out of their cars and off the roads!

Conclusion – A highly impressive film which must certainly be up there amongst the best TV movies ever made. It's just a small taster of the type of talents Spielberg possessed and would show us over the next few decades. Even if it is worlds away from the massive-budgeted spectacles we've become accustomed to. Though on this evidence I wouldn't mind seeing him return to a more simple, sparse film where he has to rely purely on his talents, and not on special effects.

Glad you've finally seen and enjoyed this, JD. Good review.

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5-time MoFo Award winner.

Thanks HK. Struggled to actually write much just as a result of the film's nature. There's not the usual amount of characters, actors, writing etc to discuss.

Duel another one I own

Watched Duel a couple of weeks ago, good film.
Pretty standard plot but the overall finished product works really well with the tension and mystery that builds up over the running time.

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Just remembered one thing that I did forgot to mention - the truck itself. I don't know if they stumbled upon it or created it but it's fantastic. The rust and weathering just gives it so much character. I can just picture it terrorising people since the dawn of time.

Clearly you have good taste.

I know this is one of those "everyone knows that" facts, but on the off-chance that someone reading this doesn't, the Spielberg uses a sound from the end of Duel at the end of Jaws. Whether this is an homage to his earlier work, or simply a mirroring, I don't know, but I've always thought it interesting.


*You can hear it at the minute mark*

Well I didn't so thanks for sharing!

Oh and along the same lines as Capricorn One here are a further bunch of posters for Duel.