Movie Monday #44 – True Romance

Challenge #44: Favourite romantic on-screen couple?

Oh, which one to choose? Well, opposites attract. My favourites include Jill and Don from Butterflies Are Free. And Pat and Kat from 10 Things I Hate About You. And how about Eddie and Rose from Dogfight? At this very moment, I would choose as my favourite couple Paula and Elliott from The Goodbye Girl. Simply because I miss them. I haven’t seen this film in ages, I don’t own a copy on dvd It’s a story of  a pragmatic and cynical single mom Paula (Marsha Mason) who meets an unconventional quirky actor Elliott (Richard Dreyfuss) and little by little, the two fall in love. It is such an irresistibly sweet and funny film. Love it to bits!

Movie Monday #39 – Horror Music

Challenge #39: Best horror film theme ever?

Some bloggers mentioned Goblin’s theme for Suspiria (1977). Which is excellent, no question. But I prefer Goblin’s music for Profondo Rosso (1975). Profondo Rosso is The Most Thrilling horror film ever. And Goblin’s music is the key element in making it so. I can hardly listen/watch this clip, it’s so powerful…

Movie Monday #37 – The one in charge

Challenge #37: Top 3 Directors

 

1. Peter Bogdanovich

Peter Bogdanovich, photo from Wikipedia

The Last Picture Show (1971) and Paper Moon (1973) were such masterpieces. It really doesn’t matter that his later films have been… disappointing. He’s still my number one.

2. Alfred Hitchcock

Hitch is Hitch. Genius.

3. Blake Edwards

If I remember correctly, Edwards wasn’t the first choice to direct Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961). Thank goodness, he did direct it! And so many other fantastic films such as Experiment in Terror (1962) and The Pink Panther (1963)

Movie Monday #34 – Eye Candy

Challenge: We’ve all got (at least) one. A favourite piece of eye candy who gets you all hot and bothered that is. Who is yours?

Oh I’ve had several. I just can’t seem to remember any of them. Except for one redhead.

Damien Lewis

Damien Lewis, the British actor, has gorgeous red hair, cute freckles and a mischievous smile. How could you resist that? Actually, I don’t care for the actor enough to watch Life but if he appears in anything half decent, I’ll watch it.

 

Movie Monday #33 – Child Star

Challenge #33: Who is your favourite (former) child actor/actress?

This is sooo easy! Who is the cutest, sweetest, funniest blonde girl in the world?

Hayley Mills as Pollyanna

Hayley Mills! Obviously! Who else could’ve been Pollyanna? Hayley Mills was the perfect girl for Disney films. Talented, charismatic, funny and so adorable. (And I love her post-Disney films as well, especially the films with Hywel Bennett.)

Handprints in concrete

Steve McQueen’s hand and footprints in forecourt of Grauman’s Chinese Theater.

Steve's hand and footprints

This is the closest I’m ever gonna get to my idol. I got to press my hand against the imprint Steve’s handprint. Millions of other people have touched it before me but nevertheless… I hope no one ever makes a biopic of Steve. There is no actor today worthy to portray The King of Cool. What if there already is such a film? What a horrible thought.

Movie Monday #24 – Our Furry Friends

Challenge #24: Which film featuring an animal is dearest to your heart?

I’m “a crazy cat lady”. I love all cats, big and small. So it’s no surprise that my favourite animal film is Disney’s That Darn Cat! (1965). DC is a handsome and independent tomcat who is instrumental in rescuing one kidnapped bank teller. Admittedly, he gets a little help from some nice people like Patti (Hayley Mills) and Zeke (Dean Jones). This film is just pure brilliance from start to finish. The cast is excellent (Hayley, Dean, Dorothy Provine, Roddy MacDowall, Frank Gorshin, Tom Lowell), the story and dialogue are sooo funny! I could watch this film over and over. Attention! Beware of remake from 1997, it’s downright blasphemy!

 

 

 

Movie Monday #18 – Favourite Outlaw

Challenge #18: Who is your favourite movie outlaw?

Who else could it be than Cat Ballou? She simply rules!

Movie Monday #15 – Movies That Everyone Hates But Me

Challenge #15 :  What is the movie that you love but everyone else seems to hate?

I can’t name just one. I guess I’d have to say old Finnish films in general. Most people don’t seem to have a lot of love for the products of  “The Golden Age of Finnish Film”. Surely, there are many films that are badly done, childish, amateurish, ridiculous, pompous and just over the top in every way possible. Like Tuhottu Nuoruus (1947), now there’s a film that should have never been made, even Helena Kara can’t save that mess. But there are real gems to be found in Finnish film history. Like the drama Ihmiset suviyössä (1948) based on F.E. Sillanpää’s novel, directed by Valentin Vaala. The beauty of summer, the intensity of human emotions, I think no one has captured it better on film before or since. And how about comedies? One of the funniest Finnish films must be Hilman päivät (1954) based on Agapetus’ play, directed by Matti Kassila. The film depicts (mostly) a day in the life of miscellaneous characters in a very small town somewhere in the Finnish countryside. The cast is filled with top actors such as Matti Ranin, Tauno Palo and Aino Mantsas.

Unfortunately, when I talk about my love for the old Finnish film, I get a lot of frowns. But you can’t judge old films by contemporary standards which is what many people seem to do. You have to accept a certain amount of flaws even in the best of films. Once you get pass the occasional poor sound quality or shaky camera work and give the story a chance, you can actually enjoy the film.

Movie Monday #13 – So Funny!

Challenge #13: The funniest movie scene ever?

This cracks me up every single time!! (Sorry, no embedding).