list http://www.spout.com/ Recent community activity around American Beauty on Spout Copyright 2005-9 Spout, LLC Spout RSS http://www.spout.com/images/SpoutLogoRSS.jpg http://www.spout.com/ 136 30 http://www.spout.com/films/American_Beauty/134793/default.aspx Title: American Beauty
Year: 1999
Director: Sam Mendes
Plot: Noted theater director Sam Mendes, who was responsible for the acclaimed 1998 revival of Cabaret and Nicole Kidman's turn in The Blue Room, made his motion picture debut with this film about the dark side of an American family, and about the nature and price of beauty in a culture obsessed with outward appearances. Kevin Spacey plays Lester Burnham, a man in his mid-40s going through an intense midlife crisis; he's grown cynical and is convinced that he has no reason to go on. Lester's relationship with his wife Carolyn (Annette Bening) is not a warm one; while on the surface Carolyn strives to present the image that she's in full control of her life, inside she feels empty and desperate. Their teenage daughter Jane (Thora Birch) is constantly depressed, lacking in self-esteem, and convinced that she's unattractive. Her problems aren't helped by her best friend Angela (Mena Suvari), an aspiring model who is quite beautiful and believes that that alone makes her a worthwhile person. Jane isn't the only one who has noticed that Angela is attractive: Lester has fallen into uncontrollable lust for her, and she becomes part of his drastic plan to change his body and change his life. Meanwhile, next door, Colonel Fitts (Chris Cooper) has spent a lifetime in the Marine Corps and can understand and tolerate no other way of life, which makes life difficult for his son Ricky (Wes Bentley), an aspiring filmmaker and part-time drug dealer who is obsessed with beauty, wherever and whatever it may be. American Beauty was also the screen debut for screenwriter Alan Ball. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Times Tagged: 160
Number of Lists: 169
Number of blog posts: 15
Number of discussion threads: 23
SpoutRating: 4
]]>Sat, 22 Aug 2009 18:49:55 GMTAmerican Beauty1999Sam MendesNoted theater director <a href="/players/P___271193/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Sam Mendes</a>, who was responsible for the acclaimed 1998 revival of Cabaret and <a href="/players/P____38065/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Nicole Kidman</a>'s turn in The Blue Room, made his motion picture debut with this film about the dark side of an American family, and about the nature and price of beauty in a culture obsessed with outward appearances. <a href="/players/P____67045/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Kevin Spacey</a> plays Lester Burnham, a man in his mid-40s going through an intense midlife crisis; he's grown cynical and is convinced that he has no reason to go on. Lester's relationship with his wife Carolyn (<a href="/players/P_____5346/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Annette Bening</a>) is not a warm one; while on the surface Carolyn strives to present the image that she's in full control of her life, inside she feels empty and desperate. Their teenage daughter Jane (<a href="/players/P_____6271/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Thora Birch</a>) is constantly depressed, lacking in self-esteem, and convinced that she's unattractive. Her problems aren't helped by her best friend Angela (<a href="/players/P___223626/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Mena Suvari</a>), an aspiring model who is quite beautiful and believes that that alone makes her a worthwhile person. Jane isn't the only one who has noticed that Angela is attractive: Lester has fallen into uncontrollable lust for her, and she becomes part of his drastic plan to change his body and change his life. Meanwhile, next door, Colonel Fitts (<a href="/players/P____14803/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Chris Cooper</a>) has spent a lifetime in the Marine Corps and can understand and tolerate no other way of life, which makes life difficult for his son Ricky (<a href="/players/P___263919/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Wes Bentley</a>), an aspiring filmmaker and part-time drug dealer who is obsessed with beauty, wherever and whatever it may be. American Beauty was also the screen debut for screenwriter <a href="/players/P___271194/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Alan Ball</a>. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide160Tag Target (>10)16915234http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t52009tsbfm.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/American_Beauty/134793/default.aspxFilm http://www.spout.com/groups/Weekly_Theme/Re_Weekly_Theme_for_September_7_Infidelity/625/43857/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: Risselada
Post To: Weekly Theme
Post Date: 9/10/2009 2:06:12 PM
Body: [quote user="mercurial"] Awesome topic. Probably my favorite film about cheating / having an affair is Dressed to Kill. The first twenty, thirty minutes of the film is so insane, so mind blowingly intense - a woman in an unhappy marriage is hooked into a quickie with a stranger and . . . I can't say anymore because it's just so awesome you have to watch for yourself. True Lies had fun with the typical affair plot with Jamie Lee Curtis wanting more from her marriage and toying with the idea of having an affair with sleazy Bill Paxton. Of course there is Fatal Attraction which made every man think twice before committing adultery. Dave is a great film about the president of the United States having an affair and his staff having to cover it up in an absurd yet amusing way. Monsoon Wedding dealt with a woman dealing with an arranged marriage and the other man she is madly in love with. American Beauty was another film about a bored suburban marriage falling apart. Rushmore had that great little love triangle with Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman duking it out. More when I think of 'em. [/quote] Oh boy. It would seem weird for me to say something like "my favorite film about cheating / having an affair is..." because I realize a lot of times any kind of affair / infidelity / promiscuity in movies turns me off. At least when I am supposed to be sympathetic to the characters. That's just me. And I realize it's a thing that really turns me off to a lot of movies that some peopel otherwise thing are great. But that's why we are all different I guess! Two movies I saw recently that both have "brief" in the title came to mind. David Lean's Brief Encounter and Vittorio De Sica's A Brief Vacation. They are also both similar in that they deal with good women with no so perfect husbands (but who do love them) getting sucked into affairs with much more appealing men, but not going as far as they could have before retracting. I liked them both well enough. They say that Brief Encounter is still the best classis "chick flick" that a lot of guys seem to like as well. The Coen brothers first movie Blood Simple deals with an affair which results in some death and violence like a lot of their subsequent films. And Kubrick's final film Eyes Wide Shut seems to be a warning against even taking the first steps towards the world of infidelity. Emery, I see you mention Romance & Cigarettes so often I don't know why I haven't seen it yet. But I trust you, and I'm curious to see what Turturro did with these great actors too. Hopefully it will rise to the top of my Netflix queue soon.
]]>Thu, 10 Sep 2009 18:06:12 GMTRisseladaWeekly Theme9/10/2009 2:06:12 PM[quote user="mercurial"] Awesome topic. Probably my favorite film about cheating / having an affair is Dressed to Kill. The first twenty, thirty minutes of the film is so insane, so mind blowingly intense - a woman in an unhappy marriage is hooked into a quickie with a stranger and . . . I can't say anymore because it's just so awesome you have to watch for yourself. True Lies had fun with the typical affair plot with Jamie Lee Curtis wanting more from her marriage and toying with the idea of having an affair with sleazy Bill Paxton. Of course there is Fatal Attraction which made every man think twice before committing adultery. Dave is a great film about the president of the United States having an affair and his staff having to cover it up in an absurd yet amusing way. Monsoon Wedding dealt with a woman dealing with an arranged marriage and the other man she is madly in love with. American Beauty was another film about a bored suburban marriage falling apart. Rushmore had that great little love triangle with Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman duking it out. More when I think of 'em. [/quote] Oh boy. It would seem weird for me to say something like "my favorite film about cheating / having an affair is..." because I realize a lot of times any kind of affair / infidelity / promiscuity in movies turns me off. At least when I am supposed to be sympathetic to the characters. That's just me. And I realize it's a thing that really turns me off to a lot of movies that some peopel otherwise thing are great. But that's why we are all different I guess! Two movies I saw recently that both have "brief" in the title came to mind. David Lean's Brief Encounter and Vittorio De Sica's A Brief Vacation. They are also both similar in that they deal with good women with no so perfect husbands (but who do love them) getting sucked into affairs with much more appealing men, but not going as far as they could have before retracting. I liked them both well enough. They say that Brief Encounter is still the best classis "chick flick" that a lot of guys seem to like as well. The Coen brothers first movie Blood Simple deals with an affair which results in some death and violence like a lot of their subsequent films. And Kubrick's final film Eyes Wide Shut seems to be a warning against even taking the first steps towards the world of infidelity. Emery, I see you mention Romance &amp; Cigarettes so often I don't know why I haven't seen it yet. But I trust you, and I'm curious to see what Turturro did with these great actors too. Hopefully it will rise to the top of my Netflix queue soon. http://www.spout.com/groups/Weekly_Theme/Re_Weekly_Theme_for_September_7_Infidelity/625/43832/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: mercurial
Post To: Weekly Theme
Post Date: 9/9/2009 4:05:16 PM
Body: Awesome topic. Probably my favorite film about cheating / having an affair is Dressed to Kill. The first twenty, thirty minutes of the film is so insane, so mind blowingly intense - a woman in an unhappy marriage is hooked into a quickie with a stranger and . . . I can't say anymore because it's just so awesome you have to watch for yourself. True Lies had fun with the typical affair plot with Jamie Lee Curtis wanting more from her marriage and toying with the idea of having an affair with sleazy Bill Paxton. Of course there is Fatal Attraction which made every man think twice before committing adultery. Dave is a great film about the president of the United States having an affair and his staff having to cover it up in an absurd yet amusing way. Monsoon Wedding dealt with a woman dealing with an arranged marriage and the other man she is madly in love with. American Beauty was another film about a bored suburban marriage falling apart. Rushmore had that great little love triangle with Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman duking it out. More when I think of 'em.
]]>Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:05:16 GMTmercurialWeekly Theme9/9/2009 4:05:16 PMAwesome topic. Probably my favorite film about cheating / having an affair is Dressed to Kill. The first twenty, thirty minutes of the film is so insane, so mind blowingly intense - a woman in an unhappy marriage is hooked into a quickie with a stranger and . . . I can't say anymore because it's just so awesome you have to watch for yourself. True Lies had fun with the typical affair plot with Jamie Lee Curtis wanting more from her marriage and toying with the idea of having an affair with sleazy Bill Paxton. Of course there is Fatal Attraction which made every man think twice before committing adultery. Dave is a great film about the president of the United States having an affair and his staff having to cover it up in an absurd yet amusing way. Monsoon Wedding dealt with a woman dealing with an arranged marriage and the other man she is madly in love with. American Beauty was another film about a bored suburban marriage falling apart. Rushmore had that great little love triangle with Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman duking it out. More when I think of 'em. http://www.spout.com/groups/Weekly_Theme/Re_Weekly_Theme_for_January_19_Neighborhood_Watch/625/39691/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: Dr_Gor
Post To: Weekly Theme
Post Date: 1/20/2009 12:36:40 AM
Body: [quote user="mercurial"] Nowadays, the American Dream is tough. Finding a decent paying job. Looking for love. Buying a house. Mowing your lawn. And just when you think you've got it, some jerk has to move into your perfect little neighborhood and ruin it all. You know who I'm talking about. The pyscho mass murderers, the pedophiles, or worse, one of those weird French guys with their creepy accent and stupid looking berets. Whether you're looking out for the safety of your kids (like Sarah Pierce and Brad Adamson in Little Children), suffering from OCD (like Melvin Udall in As Good As It Gets), or just plain racist and homophobic (like Walt Kowalski in Gran Torino and Col. Frank Fitts in American Beauty), there is always some reason to take an overactive interest in your neighbors and plot to drive them out of their homes (or kill them). So with that said, what are your favorite Neighborhood Watch films? [/quote] Just because you are paranoid does not mean that they are not out to get you! Try watching The Marathon Man one more time and you might get it... The Neighbors is a good example of this kind of movie...
]]>Tue, 20 Jan 2009 05:36:40 GMTDr_GorWeekly Theme1/20/2009 12:36:40 AM[quote user="mercurial"] Nowadays, the American Dream is tough. Finding a decent paying job. Looking for love. Buying a house. Mowing your lawn. And just when you think you've got it, some jerk has to move into your perfect little neighborhood and ruin it all. You know who I'm talking about. The pyscho mass murderers, the pedophiles, or worse, one of those weird French guys with their creepy accent and stupid looking berets. Whether you're looking out for the safety of your kids (like Sarah Pierce and Brad Adamson in Little Children), suffering from OCD (like Melvin Udall in As Good As It Gets), or just plain racist and homophobic (like Walt Kowalski in Gran Torino and Col. Frank Fitts in American Beauty), there is always some reason to take an overactive interest in your neighbors and plot to drive them out of their homes (or kill them). So with that said, what are your favorite Neighborhood Watch films? [/quote] Just because you are paranoid does not mean that they are not out to get you! Try watching The Marathon Man one more time and you might get it... The Neighbors is a good example of this kind of movie... http://www.spout.com/groups/Weekly_Theme/Re_Weekly_Theme_for_January_19_Neighborhood_Watch/625/39687/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: leeroy711
Post To: Weekly Theme
Post Date: 1/19/2009 9:26:53 PM
Body: [quote user="mercurial"] Nowadays, the American Dream is tough. Finding a decent paying job. Looking for love. Buying a house. Mowing your lawn. And just when you think you've got it, some jerk has to move into your perfect little neighborhood and ruin it all. You know who I'm talking about. The pyscho mass murderers, the pedophiles, or worse, one of those weird French guys with their creepy accent and stupid looking berets. Whether you're looking out for the safety of your kids (like Sarah Pierce and Brad Adamson in Little Children), suffering from OCD (like Melvin Udall in As Good As It Gets), or just plain racist and homophobic (like Walt Kowalski in Gran Torino and Col. Frank Fitts in American Beauty), there is always some reason to take an overactive interest in your neighbors and plot to drive them out of their homes (or kill them). So with that said, what are your favorite Neighborhood Watch films? [/quote] Now this is a kick-ass theme.How could anyone forget Jimmy Stewart in Rear Window. I just bought Brian DePalma's Sisters to add to my Criterion Collection umm collection. Anyways it too is about a reporter who witness a murder in a window across the street. Than it just gets more twisted from there. And for some reason, I'm reminded of the neighborhood community feel of Stir of Echos. Kind of a guilty pleasure of mine.
]]>Tue, 20 Jan 2009 02:26:53 GMTleeroy711Weekly Theme1/19/2009 9:26:53 PM[quote user="mercurial"] Nowadays, the American Dream is tough. Finding a decent paying job. Looking for love. Buying a house. Mowing your lawn. And just when you think you've got it, some jerk has to move into your perfect little neighborhood and ruin it all. You know who I'm talking about. The pyscho mass murderers, the pedophiles, or worse, one of those weird French guys with their creepy accent and stupid looking berets. Whether you're looking out for the safety of your kids (like Sarah Pierce and Brad Adamson in Little Children), suffering from OCD (like Melvin Udall in As Good As It Gets), or just plain racist and homophobic (like Walt Kowalski in Gran Torino and Col. Frank Fitts in American Beauty), there is always some reason to take an overactive interest in your neighbors and plot to drive them out of their homes (or kill them). So with that said, what are your favorite Neighborhood Watch films? [/quote] Now this is a kick-ass theme.How could anyone forget Jimmy Stewart in Rear Window. I just bought Brian DePalma's Sisters to add to my Criterion Collection umm collection. Anyways it too is about a reporter who witness a murder in a window across the street. Than it just gets more twisted from there. And for some reason, I'm reminded of the neighborhood community feel of Stir of Echos. Kind of a guilty pleasure of mine. http://www.spout.com/groups/Weekly_Theme/Weekly_Theme_for_January_19_Neighborhood_Watch/625/39682/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: mercurial
Post To: Weekly Theme
Post Date: 1/19/2009 8:37:32 PM
Body: Nowadays, the American Dream is tough. Finding a decent paying job. Looking for love. Buying a house. Mowing your lawn. And just when you think you've got it, some jerk has to move into your perfect little neighborhood and ruin it all. You know who I'm talking about. The pyscho mass murderers, the pedophiles, or worse, one of those weird French guys with their creepy accent and stupid looking berets. Whether you're looking out for the safety of your kids (like Sarah Pierce and Brad Adamson in Little Children), suffering from OCD (like Melvin Udall in As Good As It Gets), or just plain racist and homophobic (like Walt Kowalski in Gran Torino and Col. Frank Fitts in American Beauty), there is always some reason to take an overactive interest in your neighbors and plot to drive them out of their homes (or kill them). So with that said, what are your favorite Neighborhood Watch films?
]]>Tue, 20 Jan 2009 01:37:32 GMTmercurialWeekly Theme1/19/2009 8:37:32 PMNowadays, the American Dream is tough. Finding a decent paying job. Looking for love. Buying a house. Mowing your lawn. And just when you think you've got it, some jerk has to move into your perfect little neighborhood and ruin it all. You know who I'm talking about. The pyscho mass murderers, the pedophiles, or worse, one of those weird French guys with their creepy accent and stupid looking berets. Whether you're looking out for the safety of your kids (like Sarah Pierce and Brad Adamson in Little Children), suffering from OCD (like Melvin Udall in As Good As It Gets), or just plain racist and homophobic (like Walt Kowalski in Gran Torino and Col. Frank Fitts in American Beauty), there is always some reason to take an overactive interest in your neighbors and plot to drive them out of their homes (or kill them). So with that said, what are your favorite Neighborhood Watch films? http://www.spout.com/groups/Weekly_Theme/Re_Weekly_Theme_for_November_17_In_The_Nude/625/37420/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: mercurial
Post To: Weekly Theme
Post Date: 11/18/2008 8:43:22 PM
Body: So many to list . . . so how about I go with the most shocking (to me). Julianne Moore / Heather Graham / Mark Wahlberg in Boogie Nights Kevin Bacon in Wild Things Never have I wanted to rip out my eyes so badly before. Denise Richards in Wild Things Makes up for Kevin Bacon. Kate WInslet in Titanic Jennifer Connelly in Requiem for a Dream Holly Hunter in Crash Mena Suvari in American Beauty Michael Pitt in The Dreamers Kate Hudson in Almost Famous Get your pause buttons ready. Dina Meyer in Starship Troopers Gwyneth Paltrow in Shakespeare in Love Monica Bellucci in Irreversible Laura Harring in Mulholland Dr. Out of the middle of nowhere, BAM! Lesbian Sex Scene! Elizabeth Berkley / Gina Gershon in Showgirls From Saved By The Bell to this. Nice transition. Jaime King in Sin City Vinessa Shaw in Eyes Wide Shut Wait? She was wearing a mask? I didn't notice. Milla Jovovich in The Fifth Element Selma Blair in Storytelling Some people only saw a big black censored square over her. Find the unrated version of the film. Selma Blair in A Dirty Shame So they are obviously fake, but holy &#$%! Uma Thurman in The Adventures of Baron Munchausen So she's almost completely naked. Who cares! Sheryl Lee in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me They couldn't do that on television! Rose McGowan in The Doom Generation Erika Eleniak in Under Siege Happy Birthday to me! Erika Eleniak in Chasers Amy Adams in Psycho Beach Party Before she was an Academy Award Nominee. Natalie Portman in Hotel Chevalier Heather Matarazzo in Hostel 2 Christina Ricci in The Opposite of Sex Christina Ricci in Black Snake Moan WOW! Isabella Rossellini in Blue Velvet Ewan McGregor in Velvet Goldmine Emmanuelle Seigner in The Ninth Gate Straddling Johnny Depp next to a burning castle. Hot! Demi Moore in Striptease I think that's enough for now. And yes, I am a pervert.
]]>Wed, 19 Nov 2008 01:43:22 GMTmercurialWeekly Theme11/18/2008 8:43:22 PMSo many to list . . . so how about I go with the most shocking (to me). Julianne Moore / Heather Graham / Mark Wahlberg in Boogie Nights Kevin Bacon in Wild Things Never have I wanted to rip out my eyes so badly before. Denise Richards in Wild Things Makes up for Kevin Bacon. Kate WInslet in Titanic Jennifer Connelly in Requiem for a Dream Holly Hunter in Crash Mena Suvari in American Beauty Michael Pitt in The Dreamers Kate Hudson in Almost Famous Get your pause buttons ready. Dina Meyer in Starship Troopers Gwyneth Paltrow in Shakespeare in Love Monica Bellucci in Irreversible Laura Harring in Mulholland Dr. Out of the middle of nowhere, BAM! Lesbian Sex Scene! Elizabeth Berkley / Gina Gershon in Showgirls From Saved By The Bell to this. Nice transition. Jaime King in Sin City Vinessa Shaw in Eyes Wide Shut Wait? She was wearing a mask? I didn't notice. Milla Jovovich in The Fifth Element Selma Blair in Storytelling Some people only saw a big black censored square over her. Find the unrated version of the film. Selma Blair in A Dirty Shame So they are obviously fake, but holy &amp;#$%! Uma Thurman in The Adventures of Baron Munchausen So she's almost completely naked. Who cares! Sheryl Lee in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me They couldn't do that on television! Rose McGowan in The Doom Generation Erika Eleniak in Under Siege Happy Birthday to me! Erika Eleniak in Chasers Amy Adams in Psycho Beach Party Before she was an Academy Award Nominee. Natalie Portman in Hotel Chevalier Heather Matarazzo in Hostel 2 Christina Ricci in The Opposite of Sex Christina Ricci in Black Snake Moan WOW! Isabella Rossellini in Blue Velvet Ewan McGregor in Velvet Goldmine Emmanuelle Seigner in The Ninth Gate Straddling Johnny Depp next to a burning castle. Hot! Demi Moore in Striptease I think that's enough for now. And yes, I am a pervert. http://www.spout.com/groups/Top_5/Re_Depressing_holidays_dysfunctional_families_fo/190/37212/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: Risselada
Post To: Top 5
Post Date: 11/11/2008 12:52:55 PM
Body: [quote user="indieabby88"] Top dysfunctional families (in no particular order) The Tenenbaums from The Royal Tenenbaums The Buckmans from Rachel Getting Married The Berkmans (coincidence?) from The Squid and the Whale The Burnhams from American Beauty The Burnses from Pieces of April The Burroughses/the Finches from Running with Scissors The family from Death at a Funeral (no last names were given) Carrie and her mother from Carrie The Torrances from the Shining Weird bit of trivia: Peter Hedges, who wrote and directed "Pieces of April" also wrote and directed "Dan in Real Life," another movie about a dysfunctional family with the last name of Burns. [/quote] Wow all of the family names start with B or T. Strange.
]]>Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:52:55 GMTRisseladaTop 511/11/2008 12:52:55 PM[quote user="indieabby88"] Top dysfunctional families (in no particular order) The Tenenbaums from The Royal Tenenbaums The Buckmans from Rachel Getting Married The Berkmans (coincidence?) from The Squid and the Whale The Burnhams from American Beauty The Burnses from Pieces of April The Burroughses/the Finches from Running with Scissors The family from Death at a Funeral (no last names were given) Carrie and her mother from Carrie The Torrances from the Shining Weird bit of trivia: Peter Hedges, who wrote and directed "Pieces of April" also wrote and directed "Dan in Real Life," another movie about a dysfunctional family with the last name of Burns. [/quote] Wow all of the family names start with B or T. Strange. http://www.spout.com/groups/Top_5/Re_Depressing_holidays_dysfunctional_families_fo/190/37172/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: indieabby88
Post To: Top 5
Post Date: 11/10/2008 8:12:07 PM
Body: Top dysfunctional families (in no particular order) The Tenenbaums from The Royal Tenenbaums The Buckmans from Rachel Getting Married The Berkmans (coincidence?) from The Squid and the Whale The Burnhams from American Beauty The Burnses from Pieces of April The Burroughses/the Finches from Running with Scissors The family from Death at a Funeral (no last names were given) Carrie and her mother from Carrie The Torrances from the Shining Weird bit of trivia: Peter Hedges, who wrote and directed "Pieces of April" also wrote and directed "Dan in Real Life," another movie about a dysfunctional family with the last name of Burns.
]]>Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:12:07 GMTindieabby88Top 511/10/2008 8:12:07 PMTop dysfunctional families (in no particular order) The Tenenbaums from The Royal Tenenbaums The Buckmans from Rachel Getting Married The Berkmans (coincidence?) from The Squid and the Whale The Burnhams from American Beauty The Burnses from Pieces of April The Burroughses/the Finches from Running with Scissors The family from Death at a Funeral (no last names were given) Carrie and her mother from Carrie The Torrances from the Shining Weird bit of trivia: Peter Hedges, who wrote and directed "Pieces of April" also wrote and directed "Dan in Real Life," another movie about a dysfunctional family with the last name of Burns. http://www.spout.com/groups/Community_Recommendations/Re_Mercurial_Yet_Not_Entirely_Unrefined/643/35847/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: mercurial
Post To: Community Recommendations
Post Date: 10/2/2008 8:17:01 PM
Body: [quote user="SkyPilot"] What are some good dark romantic comedies? [/quote] Harold and Maude - Undoubtedly the most lauded dark romantic comedy. Arsenic and Old Lace - One of the earliest dark romantic comedies. Sweethearts - If you're not a fan of Janeane Garafalo then probably avoid this. The Living End - About two men, so if that freaks you out then not for you. And very light on the comedy, but nonetheless an interesting view. The House of Yes - About incest, but if Parker Posey was your sister . . . The Rules of Attraction - Bret Easton Ellis. Romantic. Scary. Funny. Welcome to the Dollhouse - The most endearing Todd Solondz film. Natural Born Killers - True love mixed with spastic humor and homicide. Secretary - I thought it was funny, but others might just get weirded out. American Beauty - No explanation needed. Lost in Translation - Again, fairly mainstream. So my definition of romantic comedy is a little skewed, but I am more than willing to argue why these films fit the bill.
]]>Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:17:01 GMTmercurialCommunity Recommendations10/2/2008 8:17:01 PM[quote user="SkyPilot"] What are some good dark romantic comedies? [/quote] Harold and Maude - Undoubtedly the most lauded dark romantic comedy. Arsenic and Old Lace - One of the earliest dark romantic comedies. Sweethearts - If you're not a fan of Janeane Garafalo then probably avoid this. The Living End - About two men, so if that freaks you out then not for you. And very light on the comedy, but nonetheless an interesting view. The House of Yes - About incest, but if Parker Posey was your sister . . . The Rules of Attraction - Bret Easton Ellis. Romantic. Scary. Funny. Welcome to the Dollhouse - The most endearing Todd Solondz film. Natural Born Killers - True love mixed with spastic humor and homicide. Secretary - I thought it was funny, but others might just get weirded out. American Beauty - No explanation needed. Lost in Translation - Again, fairly mainstream. So my definition of romantic comedy is a little skewed, but I am more than willing to argue why these films fit the bill. http://www.spout.com/groups/Forever_Young/Re_Top_5_Films_of_the_90s/85/35726/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: pippin06
Post To: Forever Young
Post Date: 9/30/2008 4:56:32 PM
Body: [quote user="filmgal81"] ( Originally posted on the 80s Movies board, but i think it fits better here) Picking up where Seely left off, I'd like to start a list of the Top 5 Films of the 90s. Again, not necessarily cinematic genius, but films that epitomize how you remember the 90s ( or a particular part of the 90s). Here's mine: 1) Edward Scissorhands - does anything scream 90s like this film? Early Johnny Depp, the Rebel Without a Cause like angst of the early 90s personified in Tim Burton's creation about a man forever on the outside of the "perfect" world ( a theme that also reverberates throughout many of his later films) 2) Singles - A film complete with long hair, plaid shirts, and the Seattle grunge music scene- classic! 3) House Party- on the lighter side, there was this fun film featuring a very popular rap duo named Kid n Play. The fashion, the music, the dancing, blatant sexual references...also classic! 4)Dances with Wolves - & 5) Wyatt Earp - 90s actors of the moment paying tribute to our frontier past. [/quote] Ah, thank you for posting! This group has been sleepy lately, so it's nice to know people are still interested. And a good topic...but... I have a question: are we talking our five fave films in general from the 90s? Or our five fave teen flicks? Since this is the group devoted to those guilty pleasures we call the teen movie, I'll approach it from both vantage points, but if you like Top 5's, the Top 5 group is the best place to play this game. Still, we're open to all here - So: top 5 teen flicks from the 90s (not as good as from the 80s...but yeah). 1. 10 Things I Hate About You - I admit it. I like it. I mostly like Heath before his superstardom, but the whole massively guilty pleasure is just fun to watch. Even when you're sick! 2. Clueless - As if! Whatever happened to what's her name? You know, the star? 3. Never Been Kissed - Is Drew Barrymore believable as Josie Grossie? Hard to say, but another massively guilty pleasure. 4. Election - Overachiever hell by Reese Witherspoon. 5. Now and Then - The female version of Stand By Me for the 90s! Now, to pick my favorite movies of the 90s. That's considerably harder - I mean, it was a good decade and all, but I don't think my favoritest films include many from the decade. I'm trying to think back to my movie collection; ironically, it dances around the 90s quite dramatically. Let's see if I can pick five... 1. Forrest Gump / Apollo 13 - I put these Tom Hanks movies together because this was during the Tom Hanks era, when he couldn't escape a year without an Oscar nod. I like Philadelphia too, but I liked these movies more. Forrest sees it all - it's funny and touching and yes, he's not a smart man, but he knows what love is! And Apollo 13 still tenses me up, and I already know the outcome (I have seen it a few times, after all, in addition to, well, history). 2. Schindler's List - It's hard to watch, but it's the artistic pinnacle of the decade without question. 3. Pulp Fiction - QT exploded onto the map with this quintessential film, and John Travolta had a second coming. It's violent, profane, and overtly sexual (not to mention the unadulterated cocaine use), but it's one of the best told yarns on film. 4. American Beauty / The Usual Suspects - Two of my favorite movies starring one of my favorite actors. Kevin Spacey, playing the duplicitous Verbal Kint or hysterically sardonic Lester Burnham, pretty much rocked my world, and I've watched these movies multiple times and own them both too. 5. The Sixth Sense - Shyamalan seems to offend many nowadays, but no one can deny the thrills and chills factor of this, his very first film, about seeing dead people. And for good measure, my top 5 honorable mentions for the decade: Wayne's World / Austin Powers - It was Mike Myers' decade, after all. Toy Story - A masterpiece but oddly not my favorite Pixar anymore. The Mask / The Truman Show - It was Jim Carrey's decade too, and these two films exemplify his wacky acting schizophrenia. The Silence of the Lambs - Almost made my top 5, but I can't watch it repeatedly. Hannibal scares me. And he should. Titanic - Oh shut up. You know you loved it the first time you saw it. It was only after Celine Dion's painfully worded ballad and James Cameron's self-indulgent "I'm the king of the world" nod that you decided you were too cool to like it. Besides, the production values on the film are astounding. I get cold just watching those poor people drown in the icy Atlantic.
]]>Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:56:32 GMTpippin06Forever Young9/30/2008 4:56:32 PM[quote user="filmgal81"] ( Originally posted on the 80s Movies board, but i think it fits better here) Picking up where Seely left off, I'd like to start a list of the Top 5 Films of the 90s. Again, not necessarily cinematic genius, but films that epitomize how you remember the 90s ( or a particular part of the 90s). Here's mine: 1) Edward Scissorhands - does anything scream 90s like this film? Early Johnny Depp, the Rebel Without a Cause like angst of the early 90s personified in Tim Burton's creation about a man forever on the outside of the "perfect" world ( a theme that also reverberates throughout many of his later films) 2) Singles - A film complete with long hair, plaid shirts, and the Seattle grunge music scene- classic! 3) House Party- on the lighter side, there was this fun film featuring a very popular rap duo named Kid n Play. The fashion, the music, the dancing, blatant sexual references...also classic! 4)Dances with Wolves - &amp; 5) Wyatt Earp - 90s actors of the moment paying tribute to our frontier past. [/quote] Ah, thank you for posting! This group has been sleepy lately, so it's nice to know people are still interested. And a good topic...but... I have a question: are we talking our five fave films in general from the 90s? Or our five fave teen flicks? Since this is the group devoted to those guilty pleasures we call the teen movie, I'll approach it from both vantage points, but if you like Top 5's, the Top 5 group is the best place to play this game. Still, we're open to all here - So: top 5 teen flicks from the 90s (not as good as from the 80s...but yeah). 1. 10 Things I Hate About You - I admit it. I like it. I mostly like Heath before his superstardom, but the whole massively guilty pleasure is just fun to watch. Even when you're sick! 2. Clueless - As if! Whatever happened to what's her name? You know, the star? 3. Never Been Kissed - Is Drew Barrymore believable as Josie Grossie? Hard to say, but another massively guilty pleasure. 4. Election - Overachiever hell by Reese Witherspoon. 5. Now and Then - The female version of Stand By Me for the 90s! Now, to pick my favorite movies of the 90s. That's considerably harder - I mean, it was a good decade and all, but I don't think my favoritest films include many from the decade. I'm trying to think back to my movie collection; ironically, it dances around the 90s quite dramatically. Let's see if I can pick five... 1. Forrest Gump / Apollo 13 - I put these Tom Hanks movies together because this was during the Tom Hanks era, when he couldn't escape a year without an Oscar nod. I like Philadelphia too, but I liked these movies more. Forrest sees it all - it's funny and touching and yes, he's not a smart man, but he knows what love is! And Apollo 13 still tenses me up, and I already know the outcome (I have seen it a few times, after all, in addition to, well, history). 2. Schindler's List - It's hard to watch, but it's the artistic pinnacle of the decade without question. 3. Pulp Fiction - QT exploded onto the map with this quintessential film, and John Travolta had a second coming. It's violent, profane, and overtly sexual (not to mention the unadulterated cocaine use), but it's one of the best told yarns on film. 4. American Beauty / The Usual Suspects - Two of my favorite movies starring one of my favorite actors. Kevin Spacey, playing the duplicitous Verbal Kint or hysterically sardonic Lester Burnham, pretty much rocked my world, and I've watched these movies multiple times and own them both too. 5. The Sixth Sense - Shyamalan seems to offend many nowadays, but no one can deny the thrills and chills factor of this, his very first film, about seeing dead people. And for good measure, my top 5 honorable mentions for the decade: Wayne's World / Austin Powers - It was Mike Myers' decade, after all. Toy Story - A masterpiece but oddly not my favorite Pixar anymore. The Mask / The Truman Show - It was Jim Carrey's decade too, and these two films exemplify his wacky acting schizophrenia. The Silence of the Lambs - Almost made my top 5, but I can't watch it repeatedly. Hannibal scares me. And he should. Titanic - Oh shut up. You know you loved it the first time you saw it. It was only after Celine Dion's painfully worded ballad and James Cameron's self-indulgent "I'm the king of the world" nod that you decided you were too cool to like it. Besides, the production values on the film are astounding. I get cold just watching those poor people drown in the icy Atlantic. http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/comedy/MemberTagFilms.aspxcomedy
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