Now Screening - What Are You Watching Right Now?

[Macca]

'Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson' (2008)

I was always a big fan. Not a bad documentary but it jumps about a bit too much and doesn't really do him full credit.

Nit-picking really, it's well worth a watch, there's no way to make a documentary about this man and have it be dull.

[struth]

Sherlock Holmes in Washington, 1943..




US War Bonds promo tagged onto the end of the film reads: "You're not giving - just lending - when you buy war savings stamps and bonds - on sale here" .. The "V for victory" matchbooks were for war bonds and were not fictional.

If you listen closely to Clarence Muse's (the porter) dialogue and how he is saying it, you can hear a highly intelligent black man speaking and playing the part of a lesser educated black man. Clarence Muse studied and attended law school for two tears before giving it up and turning to acting. He was the first black man ever to star in a movie.

[struth]

Bad Timing, 1980... bluray.




Director Nicolas Roeg and actress Theresa Russell fell in love during the shoot and married. Russell was 22 years old at that time, while Roeg was already 52 years old. They had two children, but divorced later.

In 2013 Criterion Collection released a list of director Christopher Nolan's 10 favorite films from its catalog and this film was among them.

[struth]

Archive (2020), bluray..



Archive is a 2020 British science fiction film written and directed by Gavin Rothery, in his directorial debut. It stars Theo James, Stacy Martin, Rhona Mitra, Peter Ferdinando, Timea Maday Kinga and Toby Jones. Set in 2038, the film follows a scientist who is trying to advance artificial intelligence a step further than human beings, all while bringing his wife back from the dead. (Or so it seems)

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, Archive holds an approval rating of 78% based on 37 reviews, with an average rating of 7.2/10. The site's critical consensus reads: "Archive executes its fairly basic program efficiently, offering sci-fi fans an engaging meditation on love and human nature."

[Barry]

Bad Timing, 1980... bluray.



It's a very disturbing film IMO: Art Garfunkle is quite sinister in his role, whereas Harvey Keitel plays a sympathetic character, unlike most of his usual parts.

I have only seen it on TV (twice), but would quite like to get a copy.


Director Nicolas Roeg and actress Theresa Russell fell in love during the shoot and married. Russell was 22 years old at that time, while Roeg was already 52 years old. They had two children, but divorced later.

In 2013 Criterion Collection released a list of director Christopher Nolan's 10 favorite films from its catalog and this film was among them.

It's a very disturbing film IMO: Art Garfunklel is quite sinister in his role, whereas Harvey Keitel plays a sympathetic character, unlike most of his usual parts.

I have only seen it on TV (twice), but would quite like to get a copy.

[Barry]

'Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson' (2008)

I was always a big fan. Not a bad documentary but it jumps about a bit too much and doesn't really do him full credit.

Nit-picking really, it's well worth a watch, there's no way to make a documentary about this man and have it be dull.

I agree - it would be difficult to make a good biopic/documentary about Hunter Thompson. The film 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' was IMO a limited success.

Back in the early '70's I read a book about the Hell's Angels, which I think was written by Thompson.

[struth]

^^ not a bad film..


now, The Paleface, 1948..bluray reg A.




Bob is a class act, and Jane Russell was a doll...

[struth]

Girl with a Pearl Earring, 2003..




Although Vermeer and the painting both are real historic figures, the screenplay is based on Tracy Chevalier's novel and therefore largely fictional or hypothetical. Only 36 Vermeer paintings are known to exist today, and none of the models has ever been positively identified. A poster of the painting in her bedroom inspired Chevalier to write her own version of how it came to exist, based on the framework of Vermeer's known history. Chevalier sold the film rights and opted not to have any involvement in the film or screenplay, although after its release said that she was pleased with the results.

The painting that Griet inspired Vermeer to paint while she is washing the window of his studio is called "Woman with a Water Jug". It is currently at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY. In the movie, Vermeer is working on the painting "The Concert", which was stolen in 1990 and is still missing. It is now valued at over 200 million dollars and one of the most famous stolen painting in the world.

[struth]

Donnie Brasco, 1997...




The film was a box office success, earning $124.9 million against its $35 million budget, and received positive reviews from critics. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

The film is loosely based on the true story of Pistone (Depp), an FBI undercover agent who infiltrated the Bonanno crime family in New York City during the 1970s, under the alias Donnie Brasco, a jewel thief from Vero Beach, Florida.

[Barry]

Girl with a Pearl Earring, 2003..




Although Vermeer and the painting both are real historic figures, the screenplay is based on Tracy Chevalier's novel and therefore largely fictional or hypothetical. Only 36 Vermeer paintings are known to exist today, and none of the models has ever been positively identified. A poster of the painting in her bedroom inspired Chevalier to write her own version of how it came to exist, based on the framework of Vermeer's known history. Chevalier sold the film rights and opted not to have any involvement in the film or screenplay, although after its release said that she was pleased with the results.

The painting that Griet inspired Vermeer to paint while she is washing the window of his studio is called "Woman with a Water Jug". It is currently at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY. In the movie, Vermeer is working on the painting "The Concert", which was stolen in 1990 and is still missing. It is now valued at over 200 million dollars and one of the most famous stolen painting in the world.

Not a bad little film; creditable and stars the lovely Scarlett Johansson.