# 92 IMDb/ #80 AFI - The Apartment

My mom gave me the number to pick for this one so I asked if she wanted to watch it as well. I will have to say I found it to be interesting on a couple of levels. First impression was that it was a bit dark. The overall theme was scandal, adultery, betrayal and even suicide. Not very many films that I have seen around that era would tackle these items. It did surprise me a bit that a film made in 1960 could absolutely be done (and probably has) now and not much would have to change. There were some humorous bits and sometimes ironic humor, but after watching the romp of Some Like It Hot, it was very interesting to see Jack Lemmon in that role. He pulled it off in a loveable yet, "want to just shake him" manner. You do empathize the situation he's in and root for him to put up a stand.

I was happy the way everything "worked out" in the end though. Nice resolution. I was totally expecting it though, because that's the element from the 60s that followed so many films. The happy-go-lucky, everything resolves and works out how it should in the end. I think it would be interesting to have a different ending if someone were to remake it now, but that's me wanting to break away from the standard plot lines we see so much of.

Shirley MacLaine was absolutely adorable in this film. She had a spunky, no holds barred attitude at the beginning and then we see her fall from grace. She played the shift quite believable in my eyes and I think many can related to her situation right along with her.

This movie is again all about the dialogue and the interactions. The game of gin rummy with Fran and their conversation about her always falling for the wrong man, Jack's character using the tennis racket to strain the pasta, trying to get Fran to awake after taking the pills, it's wonderful to see how these events help shape the story and the characters as they come to their realizations.

#82 IMDb / #22 AFI - Some Like It Hot

My first Marilyn film and my gosh was she utterly gorgeous. Well this is a great 'buddy' film starring the handsome and debonair Tony Curtis and his counterpart Jack Lemmon.

Escaping Chicago after witnessing the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, the boys find themselves stowing away with an all female band down to Florida. This where they meet Sugar and all of the craziness sets in. It is a great lighthearted film and showcases the beauty and attraction the world had with Marilyn. I love Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis together. Jack's goofiness to the suave Tony Curtis makes for a delightful pair. Tony's male character trying to woo Sugar and then Jack's female character taking in the affection of a millionaire just has some great lines and silly antic dotes.

#19 IMDb / #3 AFI - Casablanca

Last March I saw that a few local theaters were going to be playing a remastered version of Casablanca on the big screen! What a brilliant way to view this iconic film. A few friends and I met up and although we were the youngest by far, it was a wonderful experience.

I was surprised by the flow of the film. In watching some older films recently I have been seeing a lot of differences in the way films are made. Back then, there wasn't a lot of special effects or the technology to make those brilliant shots we see now a days, so the films really relied on the characters themselves and the interactions. I was surprised to see more 'action' and quicker conversations and one-liners throughout the film. I loved the mix of humor and the drama of the love story.

It truly is an iconic film. It's a timeless love story filled with the same fundamentals we see throughout time. I love Bogey and Bergman together. They have a natural flow and a natural adoration. I loved hearing the lines we all know and probably one of the most famous ending scenes ever. The absolute best moment for me is when Bogey said "We'll always have Paris" almost everyone in the theater whispered the line right along. It was amazing to think of people remembering the first time they heard that and I can't but wonder the memories that were swirling around the theater.

Absolutely an amazing opportunity and I'm glad I got to see it on the big screen! I loved everything about it.

Reboot!

So I am horrible about finishing things sometimes, call me a true Gemini. I have made some updates and additions to my blog as is and there will be updates soon based on what I have been doing. I might not have been blogging about it as often as I've wanted but I have been watching some films and will have updates soon!

Side Notes: Crazy Heart & The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

I've recently seen a few other movies not necessarily on my list, Crazy Heart and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

I'll stay with Crazy Heart because that one is easiest:  Jeff Bridges is amazing. He's supremely talented, makes his characters come alive and still manages to have a wonderful singing voice! I kind of want the soundtrack to the movie. I will say it was a bit weird with the love story between Jean and Bad Blake. I just don't see it? I can't really say I believed the love necessarily and I can't really see the moment that Jean fell for him, but it does show that Blake can hold emotions and there's something worth living for. But none the less it was a great movie and I really did enjoy the story.

Hmm. Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I read the book going into it but as always with this situation I wasn't really keen to have them be the same. I was more interested to see which direction the movie would take. Overall I think the major points were handled nicely. I've heard so many different reactions to this movie. The most pivital was regarding the really graphic scene with Lisbeth and her guardian. I have never been so rocked by a scene like that. It was harrowing. The image before me paired with the music just struck that chord that made me a bit off for the next day or two. I 100% believe that scene was needed. It's driving the passion and the reason for the character. It's eluding to her past and her future and why she is what she is. I won't reveal about the movie because I know a lot of people wanted to see it. I was quite shocked and a bit disappointed how they ended the movie though. I was like "wait a sec.."  and thrown off. Not sure I liked it. (COMPLETELY different than the book. They took a "twist" ending..) The other thing is this movie can never allow me to hear Orinoco Flow by Enya the same ever again.  Also.. ehhh on Daniel Craig as Mikael. I didn't hate him as the character but almost feel like another actor could have been a better choice. I didn't feel like he was too "action hero" or "James Bond" as other felt in their reviews. Just because an actor plays a major character doesn't mean that's all he can do. I just felt that he wasn't the character to me. I didn't picture anyone like him when reading the book. Just more my preference I guess.

Whoops..

Yeah so I've been rather lazy and/or busy so I haven't had a chance to really sit down and watch some of the movies on my list. I've had two discs from netflix sitting on my shelf so I decided it's about time to watch those and continue forward.

# 103 IMDb --Gran Torino

Good thing one of the discs I had was on my list! I finally sat down this afternoon - after the weather altered my other plans - and watched Gran Torino.

Biggest thing to take from this movie is that Clint Eastwood is still the man and of course still pretty bad ass. I love that he didn't sugarcoat his character at all. He was how he was. I do have to agree that I feel in the same boat sometimes: Get off my lawn..    Just seeing how kids nowadays act and don't have any respect just grinds me. It's a little bit of hope here that may there are some good kids still out there that have good souls, respect those around them and want to better themselves.

The movie wasn't anything fancy but a great story.  Plus..  one heck of a car :)