Monday, June 8, 2009

100 of the BEST MOVIE LINES in 200 seconds!
I bet you didn't think it was possible to fit the 100 greatest movie lines into 200 hundred seconds. We've got the video to prove you wrong. How many of them can you identify as they screen?

Sunday, June 7, 2009

TOP 10 - FILM NOIR

Top 10 Rated Film-Noir
What is FILM NOIR?
Film noir began in the 1930's and remained as a strong cinematic medium until the early 1960's. Film noir literally means "black film" in French and features themes which are more negative than positive, with an overall dark and shadowy outlook--being filmed in black and white. This film genre takes in detective and crime noir as well as many gangster films of the 1930's. Noir also moves into more modern films combining with other genres. These would include western noir--"High Noon", romance noir--"Laura", crime noir--"The Big Heat" and even modern detective noir--"L.A. Confidential" and "Chinatown". The first recognized noir movie was "Stranger on the Third Floor" from 1940, although films made use of many noir facets well before. "Stranger on the Third Floor" featured what was at the time a new cinematic technique that made use of dark or dim lighting effects, dreary settings, filtered lights and generally dark themes and characterizations. Noir scenes are made from interesting camera angles and with dramatic close-ups and shadowed lighting. Frequently the stories use of smoke-filled rooms, views of light filtered through venetian blinds, seedy downtown areas with neon lights, dark wet streets to heighten the noir effect. Brightly-lit scenes are not used in noir films since the desired effect is that of dreary hopelessness.
1.Sunset Blvd. (1950)
Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond, an aging silent film queen, and William Holden as the struggling writer who is held in thrall by her madness, created two of the screen's most memorable characters in Sunset Boulevard. Winner of three Academy Awards., director Billy Wilder's orchestration of the bizarre tale is a true cinematic classic. From the unforgettable opening sequence through the inevitable unfolding of tragic destiny, the film is the definitive statement on the dark and desperate side of Hollywood. Erich von Stroheim as Desmond's discoverer, ex-husband and butler, and Nancy Olson as the bright spot in unrelenting ominousness, are equally celebrated for their masterful performances.
2. M (1931)
M is a 1931 German film noir directed by Fritz Lang in which a serial killer, played by Peter Lorre, preys on children; the police and criminal underground of Berlin both work to stop him. M was the first starring role for Peter Lorre, and it boosted his career, even though he was typecast as a villain for years after. The tune Peter Lorre was whistling was "In the Hall of the Mountain King" from Peer Gynt by Edvard Grieg. The film was based in part on the stories of Jack the Ripper and the Vampire of Düsseldorf and is consistently in the top 50 of the Internet Movie Database's top 250 films.
3. Double Indemnity (1944)
Double Indemnity is a 1944 film noir film that tells the story of an insurance investigator who finds himself entwined in a plot to kill a woman's husband. It stars Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck and Edward G. Robinson. The movie was adapted by Billy Wilder and Raymond Chandler from the novel Double Indemnity in Three of a Kind by James M. Cain. It was directed by Wilder. It was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Barbara Stanwyck), Best Cinematography, Black-and-White, Best Director (Billy Wilder), Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture, Best Picture and Best Writing, Screenplay. The film has been selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.
4. The Third Man (1949)
An out of work pulp fiction novelist, Holly Martins, arrives in a post war Vienna divided into sectors by the victorious allies, and where a shortage of supplies has lead to a flourishing black market. He arrives at the invitation of an ex-school friend, Harry Lime, who has offered him a job, only to discover that Lime has recently died in a peculiar traffic accident. From talking to Lime's friends and associates Martins soon notices that some of the stories are inconsistent, and determines to discover what really happened to Harry Lime.
5. The Maltese Falcon (1941)
This 1941 film was directed by John Huston in his first directorial role - he also wrote the screenplay - and stars Humphrey Bogart as the detective, Mary Astor as Brigid O'Shaughnessy, the femme fatale who hires him, Sydney Greenstreet in his exceptional film debut as the extraordinary Kasper Gutman, and Peter Lorre as Joel Cairo. Also in the film are Barton MacLane and Ward Bond as policemen, Lee Patrick as Spade's long-suffering secretary and Gladys George confusing things as the wife of Spade's partner.
6. Touch of Evil (1958)
Touch of Evil (1958), was one of the last and one of the greatest examples of film noir ever made. It was directed by Orson Welles, who also appeared as a strangely corrupt policeman, Captain Hank Quinlan. The black-and-white film also features Charlton Heston as Mike Vargas, a Mexican narcotics agent on his honeymoon, Janet Leigh ("at her most perversely innocent" as one critic put it) as his bride, and Marlene Dietrich as Tanya, a cigar-smoking Mexican gypsy brothel owner with huge beautiful eyes. The movie was written in two weeks by Welles based on Whit Masterson's novel Badge of Evil. It is not to be confused with another movie of the same title which aired on Mystery Science Theater 3000 during its later years.
7. Strangers on a Train (1951)
Strangers on a Train was a film released in 1951 by Warner Bros. The film was directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The film starred Farley Granger, Ruth Roman, Robert Walker and Leo G. Carroll. The movie was based on Patricia Highsmith's novel. Granger plays tennis star Guy Haines, who wants to divorce his wife (who has cheated on him) in order to marry the woman he loves, Anne Morton (played by Roman). Haines meets Bruno Anthony ( Walker) on a train and Bruno tells Guy all of his ideas (Bruno is somewhat crazy). One of his ideas is to switch murders Crisscross. Bruno would kill Guy's wife if Guy kills Bruno's father. Guy doesn't take Bruno seriously, but Bruno kills Guy's wife and then expects Guy to kill his father.
8. Notorious (1946)
Notorious is a film noir released in 1946. It was directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The film starred Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman and Claude Rains. Bergman plays Alicia Huberman the American daughter of a Nazi spy. She is hired by the US government to spy on a group of Germans who have relocated to Brazil after World War II. Grant plays T. R. Devlin the American agent she works for. Rains plays Alex Sebastian the leader of the Germans. The screen play was written by Ben Hecht.
9. The Big Sleep (1946)
The Big Sleep is a 1939 novel by Raymond Chandler, thrice filmed. The Big Sleep (1946) starring Humphrey Bogart as the hard-boiled private-eye Philip Marlowe. Marlowe gets sucked up into a case involving a missing man, two rich girls, a complex blackmail scheme and murder galore. The eldest girl, a femme fatale, is played by Lauren Bacall. The film was directed by Howard Hawks. William Faulkner cowrote the screenplay with Leigh Brackett and Jules Furthman, based on Chandler's novel; the plot is so convoluted that Faulkner insisted that he didn't understand all of it.
10. Les diaboliques (1955)
The wife and mistress of a sadistic boarding school headmaster plot to kill him. They drown him in the bathtub and dump the body in the school's filthy swimming pool... but when the pool is drained, the body has disappeared - and subsequent reported sightings of the headmaster slowly drive his 'killers' (and the audience) up the wall with almost unbearable suspense. Post based on the Top Ten Film Noir from IMDB.

MOVIE REVIEW SUNSHINE CLEANING
Sunshine Cleaning makes good use of its metaphorically enhanced title. Focussing on two sisters entering the crime-scene cleaning business, their unsettled familial issues show how their various messy tensions need to be tidied. If the popular CSI TV franchise has made crime investigations sexy, then Sunshine Cleaning would surely do the opposite with a realism giving them an edge over those immaculately coifed detectives. Single mother Rose (Amy Adams) does her best to raise her son Oscar (Jason Spevack). Working as a maid and attempting to handle her wayward sister Norah (Emily Blunt), her life seems to have drifted into monotony. This is further underscored with her relationships with married high-school sweetheart Mac (Steve Zahn) and lonely father Joe (Alan Arkin). After Oscar is expelled from his school, she decides to change careers to that of a crime-scene cleaner. Enlisting Norah's help, Rose's entry into a new world forces both to reflect on the past and eradicate the vestiges of previous turmoils. Examining the notions of regret and reconciliation, Sunshine Cleaning explores how both are resolved. This is smartly presented by director Christine Jeffs who uses the slightest premise to naturally connect with its characters. As the sisters slowly learn the basics of their job, their eagerness in helping loved ones left behind by tragedy allows them to heal old wounds both have chosen to bury. Expressing these emotions effectively whilst enjoying the odd moments of black humour, the small cast add authenticity to the material only occasionally hamstrung by artificial sentiment. Fascinating is how the deathly venture gives them strength to further their lives. This comes across clearly in their sadness at their mother's passing whilst as children which affected their sense of self-worth. Rose especially finds it difficult to accept that she is better than she believes and has to unburden herself of the weight of responsibility. These issues may sound like a downbeat route to comedy but the performances are so strong that the balance between light and shade is well maintained. Usually used as a counter-programming measure against massive blockbusters, smaller films like Sunshine Cleaning bring relief to hyped monoliths. Maybe not quite as emotionally engaging as it could have been, it has some depth other comedies sorely lack.

 Movie Review Rating out of 10: 6  
Movie Review by Patrick Moore
 Sunshine Cleaning Homepage click here.
Sunshine Cleaning released in Australia on Thursday 05 June 2009.
If you have any comments to make about this Movie Review, then please use the comment box, titling your comments with Movie Review Sunshine Cleaning Patrick Moore's  
Movie Review is an alternative look at current movie releases in Australia.

MOVIE REVIEW TERMINATOR SALVATION
Twenty-five years after Arnold Schwarzenegger rose to stardom in James Cameron's The Terminator, the franchise returns. Unfortunately both men aren't around for this fourth installment replaced by a new wave of techno story-tellers. Examining the previously hinted futuristic war thread, their creativity in expanding the rich background is to be admired. Regrettably its entry into its next phase is weakened by some poor writing that should have been terminated at the editing stage.
In 2018 the ultimate battle between man and machine rages. Defending humanity against the tyranny of the cyborg run Skynet, the rebellion is led by John Connor (Christian Bale). Due to a time distortion he must save his future father, Kyle Reese (Anton Yelchin) from execution. Joining his quest is Marcus (Sam Worthington), a human/machine hybrid unwittingly holding the key to salvation for both races. Previously the bastion of epic grandiose adventure, Terminator Salvation sees the series slip into the realms of gritty action immediately apparent from the first hazy shots of a desolate vista filled with dead bodies. Director McG seems at home in this Mad Max inspired landscape, although carefully ensuring the franchise's links are still respected. These elements plus a lean but involving plot keep events moving at a rapid pace ensuring the words 'dull' and 'moment' never enter its vocabulary. The special effects add some further visual colour amidst a story determined not to stray too far into outlandish cartoon fantasy. Terminator Salvation falls apart with dreadful dialogue and shallow characters. Apart from Worthington and Yelchin's roles, the other actors have nothing to work with in parts requiring little to do except react to the mayhem without any genuine emotional verve. Even the normally dependable Bale is wasted in the crucial lead role as Worthington steals his thunder with a genuinely intriguing anti-hero. Whenever moments centre on him, the film comes alive but when they don't the lack of energy becomes palatable. The actors do their best in spite of the lazy writing which deflates what should have been an overall great experience. Terminator Salvation is a mixed bag with some great science fiction lumbered with weak characters. Some may view the series tonal change as a step too far, although others may appreciate the film-maker's resolve in trying something different. Merely 'OK' than 'brilliant', the lacklustre response greeting this entry perhaps proves that a Terminator film without Arnie is an option few are willing to accept.
Movie Review Rating out of 10: 6 Movie Review by Patrick Moore Terminator Salvation Official Homepage click here. Terminator Salvation released in Australia on Thursday 05 June 2009. If you have any comments to make about this Movie Review, then please use the comment box, titling your comments with Movie Review Terminator Salvation Patrick Moore's Movie Review is an alternative look at current movie releases in Australia.
Five Icons in Movie Fashion
What makes a movie iconic? The performances? The special effects? The music? sometimes it's as simple as the clothes that the characters wear. Driven mostly by the ladies some of those classic outfits on the big screen have gone on to drive fashion for generations. Top fashion moments:
1. Holly Golightly - Breakfast at Tiffany's
The role of Holly Golightly is, without the shadow of a doubt, Audrey Hepburn's most famous role and it was that little black dressed that has stood the test of time. The actress was dressed by Hubert de Givenchy in a basic black dress with long black gloves top that off with a mini-tiara and a set of pearls and an iconic image was born.
2. The Girl - The Seven Year Itch
Nobody can forget Marilyn Monroe's white halter neck dress from 1955 movie The Seven Year Itch. Tom Ewell gets quite an eyeful when her dress rises a little more than expected by a blast from a subway grate. Even fifty years after the movie was released that moment remains one of the most famous movie snapshots cementing Monroe as a icon.
3. Cecilia Tallis - Atonement
Ok, so Atonement is the most recent movie that has made the list but Keira Knightley's performance as Cecilia Tallis in the adaptation of Ian McEwan's novel saw her move from girl roles to a woman staking her claim as a serious actress. Her green satin halter gown, gathered and wrapped at the waist and ending in a long train was the costume highlight of this very classy movie. This movie might only be two years old but it's a dress that is one of the standout costumes in recent years.
4. Rose DeWitt Bukater - Titanic
It become the biggest grossing movie of all time back in 1997, yes it really was twelve years ago when baby faced Leo and Kate graced the big screen on a doomed love affair. But it was Kate Winslet that shone in her array of beautiful dresses, designed by Deborah L. Scott. Rose is shrugging off her uptight upper class upbringing to enjoy a night in the company of Jack in this beautiful crimson and burnt orange gown.
5. Sandy Olsson - Grease
'Tell me about it stud.' Are the words that turned the character of Sandy from little high school girl to full blown hottie. In a low-cut top and skin tight Lycra pants, that poor Olivia Newton-John had to be sewn into, she sent pulses racing at the end of Grease in 1978. The film went on to be one of the biggest musical of all time and remains as popular today as it was thirty years ago.