list HairyLime's Recent Activity - Spout http://www.spout.com/ HairyLime's Recent Activity - Spout Copyright 2005-9 Spout, LLC Spout RSS http://www.spout.com/images/SpoutLogoRSS.jpg HairyLime's Recent Activity - Spout http://www.spout.com/ 136 30 Spout Group:Spout Customer Care - Get answers to your questions here! http://www.spout.com/groups/Spout_Customer_Care/420/default.aspx Group Name: Spout Customer Care - Get answers to your questions here!
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Have a general question? Need help with some thing on the site? Have a bug you would like to report? Well then, you have come to the right place. No matter what you are having trouble with, we would like to help you find a solution. And maybe, through your own experience with the site, you will want to help other users too. That's what communities are all about. 


Created: 8/1/2007
Number of Members: 79
Number of discussion posts: 513
]]>Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:47:00 GMTSpout Customer CareWed, 01 Aug 2007 09:06:04 GMT790513Group Spout Group:HORROR MOVIES 101 - FOR ALL WHO LOVE HORROR MOVIES http://www.spout.com/groups/HORROR_MOVIES_101/222/default.aspx Group Name: HORROR MOVIES 101 - FOR ALL WHO LOVE HORROR MOVIES
Group Description:    " I bid you welcome...  Enter freely and of your own will..."
Created: 12/17/2006
Number of Members: 414
Number of Lists: 6
Number of discussion posts: 2333
]]>Sun, 30 Aug 2009 00:53:17 GMTHORROR MOVIES 101Sun, 17 Dec 2006 01:20:09 GMT41462333Group Spout Group:foureyedmonsters - Talk to Susan & Arin about the movie and those addictive podcasts. http://www.spout.com/groups/foureyedmonsters/338/endorsed.aspx Group Name: foureyedmonsters - Talk to Susan & Arin about the movie and those addictive podcasts.
Created: 6/4/2007
Number of Members: 322
Number of discussion posts: 56
]]>Fri, 28 Aug 2009 05:42:31 GMTfoureyedmonstersMon, 04 Jun 2007 15:28:43 GMT322056Group Spout Group:Weekly Theme - "Fighting off boredom with the Iron Fist of Variety" http://www.spout.com/groups/Weekly_Theme/625/default.aspx Group Name: Weekly Theme - "Fighting off boredom with the Iron Fist of Variety"
Created: 6/30/2008
Number of Members: 52
Number of Lists: 12
Number of discussion posts: 701
]]>Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:20:23 GMTWeekly ThemeMon, 30 Jun 2008 15:13:45 GMT5212701Group Spout Group:Spout Mavens - Spout's best movie reviewers. Membership is limited. http://www.spout.com/groups/Spout_Mavens/366/default.aspx Group Name: Spout Mavens - Spout's best movie reviewers. Membership is limited.
Group Description:

A group of Spout's best reviewers.
Read the requirements.


Created: 6/20/2007
Number of Members: 36
Number of Lists: 9
Number of discussion posts: 451
]]>Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:10:52 GMTSpout MavensWed, 20 Jun 2007 10:13:29 GMT369451Group Spout Group:missing a film - we'll help you find a film http://www.spout.com/groups/missing_a_film/263/default.aspx Group Name: missing a film - we'll help you find a film
Created: 3/5/2007
Number of Members: 131
Number of Lists: 1
Number of discussion posts: 234
]]>Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:30:05 GMTmissing a filmMon, 05 Mar 2007 16:37:43 GMT1311234Group Spout Group:Friends of Foreign Flicks - Discussions of all films not American. http://www.spout.com/groups/Friends_of_Foreign_Flicks/591/default.aspx Group Name: Friends of Foreign Flicks - Discussions of all films not American.
Group Description:

At some point you just want more than what's right in front of you.


Created: 4/24/2008
Number of Members: 30
Number of Lists: 1
Number of discussion posts: 92
]]>Wed, 26 Aug 2009 04:05:26 GMTFriends of Foreign FlicksThu, 24 Apr 2008 11:44:11 GMT30192Group Spout Group:The Documentary - A place to talk about the much overlooked genre of the Documentary. http://www.spout.com/groups/The_Documentary/79/default.aspx Group Name: The Documentary - A place to talk about the much overlooked genre of the Documentary.
Created: 4/2/2006
Number of Members: 49
Number of Lists: 4
Number of discussion posts: 53
]]>Tue, 25 Aug 2009 21:05:39 GMTThe DocumentarySun, 02 Apr 2006 00:58:55 GMT49453Group Spout Group:Sound on Sight - Podcasts, movie reviews, interviews, news and more. http://www.spout.com/groups/Sound_on_Sight/529/default.aspx Group Name: Sound on Sight - Podcasts, movie reviews, interviews, news and more.
Group Description:

Sound on Sight proudly brings you two podcasts each week. Voted best podcast in 2008, these hard working hosts cover everything from mainstream Hollywood films to noir, horror, science fiction, cult cinema, documentary film making and more. Look out for a new show added every Tuesday and Thursday morning.

http://www.soundonsight.org/

 

 


Created: 1/6/2008
Number of Members: 104
Number of discussion posts: 150
]]>Tue, 25 Aug 2009 21:03:03 GMTSound on SightSun, 06 Jan 2008 21:24:34 GMT1040150Group Spout Group:Worst Movie Ever - The Group is dedicated to uncovering the bombs, so you don't have too. http://www.spout.com/groups/Worst_Movie_Ever/104/default.aspx Group Name: Worst Movie Ever - The Group is dedicated to uncovering the bombs, so you don't have too.
Created: 5/5/2006
Number of Members: 200
Number of Lists: 10
Number of discussion posts: 412
]]>Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:43:26 GMTWorst Movie EverFri, 05 May 2006 20:20:45 GMT20010412Group Spout Group:Movie Polls - Vote in weekly polls and discuss http://www.spout.com/groups/Movie_Polls/657/default.aspx Group Name: Movie Polls - Vote in weekly polls and discuss
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Each week I will post a new poll.  Please vote in the poll and reply to the discussion thread to discuss the question.  Please do not vote more than once.


Created: 11/25/2008
Number of Members: 66
Number of discussion posts: 414
]]>Tue, 25 Aug 2009 02:42:29 GMTMovie PollsTue, 25 Nov 2008 16:54:38 GMT660414Group Spout Group:Zombie Obsession - Zombie Lovers, Unite! http://www.spout.com/groups/Zombie_Obsession/329/default.aspx Group Name: Zombie Obsession - Zombie Lovers, Unite!
Group Description:

Join us to discuss your favorite or most horrifying Zombie Movies or just your most memorable Zombie Moments.  From Funny to Scary to Gory to Bizarre...

 


Created: 5/28/2007
Number of Members: 104
Number of Lists: 1
Number of discussion posts: 594
]]>Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:29:56 GMTZombie ObsessionMon, 28 May 2007 02:04:45 GMT1041594Group Spout Group:A World of MSTies - Thank You, Won't We? http://www.spout.com/groups/A_World_of_MSTies/590/default.aspx Group Name: A World of MSTies - Thank You, Won't We?
Group Description:

Glorify the best show ever (MST3K) with wit, wisdom and downright wackiness!


Created: 4/23/2008
Number of Members: 10
Number of Lists: 2
Number of discussion posts: 23
]]>Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:25:25 GMTA World of MSTiesWed, 23 Apr 2008 20:21:48 GMT10223Group Spout Group:It's a Wonderful Night for Oscar! - Devoted to everything nominated or snubbed by the Academy of Golden Guys http://www.spout.com/groups/It_s_a_Wonderful_Night_for_Oscar/46/default.aspx Group Name: It's a Wonderful Night for Oscar! - Devoted to everything nominated or snubbed by the Academy of Golden Guys
Group Description: Year after year, movie lovers and non movie lovers alike discuss ad nauseum the fate of films nominated for the utmost honor, the Academy Award. Some people watch it for the fashion. Some people watch for the haute couture. Some people watch for their fill of celebrity sightings. If you are a member of this group, you love everything about the Super Bowl of movies, especially the movies themselves! You love to make predictions, guess at the politics, discuss and dissect who should have been nominated and who should have won...or, you're just an avid movie lover that likes to pay attention. Come join the group!
Created: 3/4/2006
Number of Members: 41
Number of Lists: 58
Number of discussion posts: 226
]]>Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:11:33 GMTIt's a Wonderful Night for Oscar!Sat, 04 Mar 2006 15:24:32 GMT4158226Group Spout Group:Movie Marathons http://www.spout.com/groups/Movie_Marathons/693/default.aspx Group Name: Movie Marathons
Group Description:

This is a group for members to start and organize movie marathons. Its primary purpose is to get more people exposed to more film. And to watch these films and discuss them as a group.

Anyone can start a marathon and marathons can be organized in many different ways to showcase the films of a director, actor, genre, theme etc...

Check the Guidlines and Suggestions discussion for ideas.


Created: 7/22/2009
Number of Members: 15
Number of discussion posts: 22
]]>Sat, 22 Aug 2009 16:33:02 GMTMovie MarathonsWed, 22 Jul 2009 01:35:58 GMT15022Group Spout Group:Movies we do not want to see - Try to convince us to see these movies! http://www.spout.com/groups/Movies_we_do_not_want_to_see/70/default.aspx Group Name: Movies we do not want to see - Try to convince us to see these movies!
Group Description: Want to be a member? Send me a message with a list of at least 5 movies that you do not want to see. There are many movies that I do not want to see. I'm not sure if its right of me to decide never to see a movie without seeing it. You know...like when a kid says they hate mushrooms even though they admit never trying them. So maybe this is a good spot for people to display movies they don't think they want to see, and see if anyone can convince us to try them out.
Created: 3/22/2006
Number of Members: 20
Number of Lists: 3
Number of discussion posts: 190
]]>Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:31:56 GMTMovies we do not want to seeWed, 22 Mar 2006 14:27:50 GMT203190Group Spout Post: Memorial Day Viewing http://www.spout.com/blogs/hairylime/archive/2008/5/28/30067.aspx Post By: HairyLime
Post To: HairyLime Blog
Post Date: 5/28/2008 9:09:49 AM
Body: Caught this one on our 'On Demand' cable service last night. I'm a big fan of 'submarine movies' with all their cliches and standardized plotlines (the 'silent running sequence', the 'depth charges sequence', the 'battle weary captain' the 'going too deep and the pressure is going to crush us sequence'). I wasn't expecting much at first, the acting by the bit players was wooden and the dialog a little corny, but once the two main characters were introduced and the chase begun, this turned out to be a pretty decent little war film. Mitchum and Jurgens were both great, and it was interesting to see a war film that actually avoids taking sides, and treats the enemy with a bit more respect and intelligence. Some other favorites: Run Silent Run Deep, Tokyo Bay, U-571, Das Boot, Crimson Tide, The Hunt for Red October
]]>Wed, 28 May 2008 13:09:49 GMTHairyLimeHairyLime Blog5/28/2008 9:09:49 AMCaught this one on our 'On Demand' cable service last night. I'm a big fan of 'submarine movies' with all their cliches and standardized plotlines (the 'silent running sequence', the 'depth charges sequence', the 'battle weary captain' the 'going too deep and the pressure is going to crush us sequence'). I wasn't expecting much at first, the acting by the bit players was wooden and the dialog a little corny, but once the two main characters were introduced and the chase begun, this turned out to be a pretty decent little war film. Mitchum and Jurgens were both great, and it was interesting to see a war film that actually avoids taking sides, and treats the enemy with a bit more respect and intelligence. Some other favorites: Run Silent Run Deep, Tokyo Bay, U-571, Das Boot, Crimson Tide, The Hunt for Red October Spout Post: Deathly Dull http://www.spout.com/blogs/hairylime/archive/2007/10/25/21174.aspx Post By: HairyLime
Post To: HairyLime Blog
Post Date: 10/25/2007 12:06:16 PM
Body: Sure, a lot of pretty visuals, but really no better or worse than the average video game, which is what it mostly reminded me of. Way too much slow motion (I suppose so you can better appreciate the time and effort that went into the CGI visuals and to best appreciate Frank Millers static design sense), but frankly the story, characters and acting put me to sleep, and I ended up turning it off out of boredom before the 'epic battle' even took place. If you liked Sin City, you wil probably like this too. Frank Miller seems endlessly mired in a 14 year old mindset, dramatic shadows, sculpted muscles, tits and lots of blood seem to be the formula. If you are looking for something a little more grown up, try Spartacus, or Gladiator.
]]>Thu, 25 Oct 2007 16:06:16 GMTHairyLimeHairyLime Blog10/25/2007 12:06:16 PMSure, a lot of pretty visuals, but really no better or worse than the average video game, which is what it mostly reminded me of. Way too much slow motion (I suppose so you can better appreciate the time and effort that went into the CGI visuals and to best appreciate Frank Millers static design sense), but frankly the story, characters and acting put me to sleep, and I ended up turning it off out of boredom before the 'epic battle' even took place. If you liked Sin City, you wil probably like this too. Frank Miller seems endlessly mired in a 14 year old mindset, dramatic shadows, sculpted muscles, tits and lots of blood seem to be the formula. If you are looking for something a little more grown up, try Spartacus, or Gladiator. Spout Post: Cold Biopic http://www.spout.com/blogs/hairylime/archive/2007/10/9/20513.aspx Post By: HairyLime
Post To: HairyLime Blog
Post Date: 10/9/2007 12:35:22 AM
Body: I was frequently reminded of my favorite 'Sports Movies' while watching this Canadian Film, and how the best of them can move or excite or thrill despite the viewer's complete ignorance of the particular sport. I'm thinking of 'Breaking Away' (bicycle racing), or 'Hoosiers' (basketball), or 'Eight Men Out', 'The Rookie', 'The Natural' (baseball), 'Slap Shot' (hockey), 'Remember the Titans' (football), 'Rocky', 'Cinderella Man' or 'Body and Soul' (boxing) or even the recent 'Dodgeball'. All manage to engage the viewer in the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat regardless of whether you are a sports fan or not. There are times in this film that the filmmakers got close to the net, and a couple moments where they scored a goal, but they couldn't quite put together a hat trick with this one. The hockey action scenes were well filmed and edited, and gave a sense of excitement. I particularly enjoyed the scene where the notoriously violent New York player tries to 'get' our hero, but gets a surprising comeuppance. But the scenes never quite seemed to flow together enough to get the audience in a 'cheering' mood, but were just pockets of excitement here and there. I frequently found myself confused about what was going on. Perhaps this is one of those movies where you need to be familiar with the sport/sporting legend to fully appreciate it. The lead actor did a fine job, portraying the simple french canadian machinist/hockey star with a calm dignity and stubborn drive, and the 'fight for french canadian dignity' was effective and interesting. Roy Dupuis reminds me of a young Rock Hudson, or possibly Sam Raimi favorite Bruce Campbell. The whole 'family drama' angle kind of left me cold. I really wasn't overly interested in the 'brother in law who can't good tickets to the games' subplot, or the 'poor people fence' or the 'father in law who doesn't approve of the son-in-law' subplot (seems like they tried to squeeze too many subplots into the mix, and couldn't quite decide which one to emphasize or expand on, so all are given short shrift)..and the wife seemed almost an afterthought to the story (There is a scene where our hero goes all gushy over his newborn baby, but then we never see the kid again after that).. The actor who played the Montreal Canadiens coach was particularly good (and looks real familiar to me, I'll have to IMDB him to see where else I've seen him). Some of the camera work seemed a bit unnecessary, especially the sudden switches to washed out black and white for certain scenes (with no particular rhyme or reason that I could decipher). Could've been a condender, but left me a bit cold. A cut above most of the other 'Spout Mavens' discs I've received.
]]>Tue, 09 Oct 2007 04:35:22 GMTHairyLimeHairyLime Blog10/9/2007 12:35:22 AMI was frequently reminded of my favorite 'Sports Movies' while watching this Canadian Film, and how the best of them can move or excite or thrill despite the viewer's complete ignorance of the particular sport. I'm thinking of 'Breaking Away' (bicycle racing), or 'Hoosiers' (basketball), or 'Eight Men Out', 'The Rookie', 'The Natural' (baseball), 'Slap Shot' (hockey), 'Remember the Titans' (football), 'Rocky', 'Cinderella Man' or 'Body and Soul' (boxing) or even the recent 'Dodgeball'. All manage to engage the viewer in the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat regardless of whether you are a sports fan or not. There are times in this film that the filmmakers got close to the net, and a couple moments where they scored a goal, but they couldn't quite put together a hat trick with this one. The hockey action scenes were well filmed and edited, and gave a sense of excitement. I particularly enjoyed the scene where the notoriously violent New York player tries to 'get' our hero, but gets a surprising comeuppance. But the scenes never quite seemed to flow together enough to get the audience in a 'cheering' mood, but were just pockets of excitement here and there. I frequently found myself confused about what was going on. Perhaps this is one of those movies where you need to be familiar with the sport/sporting legend to fully appreciate it. The lead actor did a fine job, portraying the simple french canadian machinist/hockey star with a calm dignity and stubborn drive, and the 'fight for french canadian dignity' was effective and interesting. Roy Dupuis reminds me of a young Rock Hudson, or possibly Sam Raimi favorite Bruce Campbell. The whole 'family drama' angle kind of left me cold. I really wasn't overly interested in the 'brother in law who can't good tickets to the games' subplot, or the 'poor people fence' or the 'father in law who doesn't approve of the son-in-law' subplot (seems like they tried to squeeze too many subplots into the mix, and couldn't quite decide which one to emphasize or expand on, so all are given short shrift)..and the wife seemed almost an afterthought to the story (There is a scene where our hero goes all gushy over his newborn baby, but then we never see the kid again after that).. The actor who played the Montreal Canadiens coach was particularly good (and looks real familiar to me, I'll have to IMDB him to see where else I've seen him). Some of the camera work seemed a bit unnecessary, especially the sudden switches to washed out black and white for certain scenes (with no particular rhyme or reason that I could decipher). Could've been a condender, but left me a bit cold. A cut above most of the other 'Spout Mavens' discs I've received. Spout Post: Re:Re: 13 Tzameti http://www.spout.com/groups/Spout_Mavens/Re_Re_13_Tzameti/366/20199/1/ShowPost.aspxPost By: HairyLime
Post To: Spout Mavens
Post Date: 9/28/2007 9:13:49 AM
Body: My Review of 13 Tzameti http://www.spout.com/blogs/hairylime/archive/2007/9/28/20198.aspx
]]>Fri, 28 Sep 2007 13:13:49 GMTHairyLimeSpout Mavens9/28/2007 9:13:49 AMMy Review of 13 Tzameti http://www.spout.com/blogs/hairylime/archive/2007/9/28/20198.aspx Spout Post: Alice in Slumberland http://www.spout.com/blogs/hairylime/archive/2007/9/28/20198.aspx Post By: HairyLime
Post To: HairyLime Blog
Post Date: 9/28/2007 9:07:34 AM
Body: Well, I'd warn you to avoid the review if you are worried about spoilers, but to be honest, there isn't anything all that earth shattering to reveal. A young roofer overhears some "mysterious" conversations, and after his employer overdoses, decides to take his place on a 'money making opportunity'. He's in need of money, well, not desperately, but just needs some (it is kind of hard to tell what motivates anyone in this movie, all the characters are such blanks -- ha ha, shooting blanks, get it?). He ends up at a sort of 'russian roulette competition' with a bunch of rich guys betting on who makes it to the end. It takes a slow 45 minutes to get to the "big secret", and then once it has been revealed, you are stuck with round after pointless round with little or no suspense (I mean, we know who's going to win, the number in the movie title?). I suppose it is meant to be bleak and existential (one of the 'coaches' gives his contestant a pep talk to that effect in one of the early rounds). I don't know what went wrong with this film, but I found myself fast forwarding through the last half. None of the characters engaged, the situation, once revealed, was tedious to sit through, and the outcome was mostly a foregone conclusion. A tacked on bleak ending put the final nail in the coffin of this forgettable movie.Later in the evening, I was flipping channels, and came across "The Insider". A movie I've seen a couple times before, and I had no intention of watching the whole thing again, but I was struck by how tense and thrilling and full of paranoid menace they were able to convey, with a seemingly less thrilling premise (whether or not a 60 minutes interview will be aired about a smoking industry whistle blower). This film got it right. I ended up staying up til the wee hours riveted by the story, and trying to figure out what it was that made this movie work, and the one I'd tried to watch earlier in the evening fail so miserably to capture my attention. A lesson there somewhere, but I don't know what it is.
]]>Fri, 28 Sep 2007 13:07:34 GMTHairyLimeHairyLime Blog9/28/2007 9:07:34 AMWell, I'd warn you to avoid the review if you are worried about spoilers, but to be honest, there isn't anything all that earth shattering to reveal. A young roofer overhears some "mysterious" conversations, and after his employer overdoses, decides to take his place on a 'money making opportunity'. He's in need of money, well, not desperately, but just needs some (it is kind of hard to tell what motivates anyone in this movie, all the characters are such blanks -- ha ha, shooting blanks, get it?). He ends up at a sort of 'russian roulette competition' with a bunch of rich guys betting on who makes it to the end. It takes a slow 45 minutes to get to the "big secret", and then once it has been revealed, you are stuck with round after pointless round with little or no suspense (I mean, we know who's going to win, the number in the movie title?). I suppose it is meant to be bleak and existential (one of the 'coaches' gives his contestant a pep talk to that effect in one of the early rounds). I don't know what went wrong with this film, but I found myself fast forwarding through the last half. None of the characters engaged, the situation, once revealed, was tedious to sit through, and the outcome was mostly a foregone conclusion. A tacked on bleak ending put the final nail in the coffin of this forgettable movie.Later in the evening, I was flipping channels, and came across "The Insider". A movie I've seen a couple times before, and I had no intention of watching the whole thing again, but I was struck by how tense and thrilling and full of paranoid menace they were able to convey, with a seemingly less thrilling premise (whether or not a 60 minutes interview will be aired about a smoking industry whistle blower). This film got it right. I ended up staying up til the wee hours riveted by the story, and trying to figure out what it was that made this movie work, and the one I'd tried to watch earlier in the evening fail so miserably to capture my attention. A lesson there somewhere, but I don't know what it is. Spout Post: Dog http://www.spout.com/blogs/hairylime/archive/2007/9/2/19262.aspx Post By: HairyLime
Post To: HairyLime Blog
Post Date: 9/2/2007 10:34:59 AM
Body: Hmm. Saw this last night with the family unit at our local 'cheapie movie' theater, which plays a mixture of 2nd run blockbusters on their last legs mixed with a sprinkling of independant features (I think this one is already on DVD if I'm not mistaken). Not really what I was expecting, but that isn't always a bad thing. I admire all the actors, who all did a spectacular job, but the story was a bit uncomfortable to sit through. It is always a bit nerve wracking to watch a movie in which the main character gradually becomes unhinged, because you have a tendency to see things through their eyes, and on the one hand, you can see why their actions make sense based on their own inner logic, but on the other hand, you can't divorce your own personal feelings from that of the character you are watching, and you find yourself fighting the urge to scream at the screen "STOP IT - what the heck are you thinking?" I was reminded of such films as Scorcese's Taxi Driver, or King of Comedy, or Nick Nolte in Affliction, or Gene Hackman in The Conversation. I suppose we can be grateful that this movie didn't choose the conventional route of the the main character finding 'mr. right' and settling down to a happy ever after life. While the ending seemed a bit unrealistic (she's going to get her job back and be forgiven of attacking her neighbor with a hunting knife and embezzling funds with a few phone calls?), I did however like the final 'summing up' where she compares her 'love of animals' with all the other various forms of love and affection and obsession that others cling to, and really, is it any less meaningful - but I suppose what it comes down to, is where YOUR obsessions and interests cross the line and impact others (and THEIR loves, interests and obsessions). I guess I admire this movie, but I can't honestly say I enjoyed it.
]]>Sun, 02 Sep 2007 14:34:59 GMTHairyLimeHairyLime Blog9/2/2007 10:34:59 AMHmm. Saw this last night with the family unit at our local 'cheapie movie' theater, which plays a mixture of 2nd run blockbusters on their last legs mixed with a sprinkling of independant features (I think this one is already on DVD if I'm not mistaken). Not really what I was expecting, but that isn't always a bad thing. I admire all the actors, who all did a spectacular job, but the story was a bit uncomfortable to sit through. It is always a bit nerve wracking to watch a movie in which the main character gradually becomes unhinged, because you have a tendency to see things through their eyes, and on the one hand, you can see why their actions make sense based on their own inner logic, but on the other hand, you can't divorce your own personal feelings from that of the character you are watching, and you find yourself fighting the urge to scream at the screen "STOP IT - what the heck are you thinking?" I was reminded of such films as Scorcese's Taxi Driver, or King of Comedy, or Nick Nolte in Affliction, or Gene Hackman in The Conversation. I suppose we can be grateful that this movie didn't choose the conventional route of the the main character finding 'mr. right' and settling down to a happy ever after life. While the ending seemed a bit unrealistic (she's going to get her job back and be forgiven of attacking her neighbor with a hunting knife and embezzling funds with a few phone calls?), I did however like the final 'summing up' where she compares her 'love of animals' with all the other various forms of love and affection and obsession that others cling to, and really, is it any less meaningful - but I suppose what it comes down to, is where YOUR obsessions and interests cross the line and impact others (and THEIR loves, interests and obsessions). I guess I admire this movie, but I can't honestly say I enjoyed it. Spout Post: My Sister Eileen http://www.spout.com/blogs/hairylime/archive/2007/8/21/18474.aspxPost By: HairyLime
Post To: HairyLime Blog
Post Date: 8/21/2007 11:12:48 AM
Body: Caught this one on TCM last night. Rather silly stage adaptation (you can even pick out where the curtains drop on act one and two). A lot of the jokes are rather dated, which is probably why this one doesn't show up on television all that often. Rosalind Russell plays her usual 'smart alec street smart dame' role that she did so well, and has to fend off numerous oddball characters interested in her naive pretty younger sister while trying to make it as a writer in New York. I lost interest in the third act, but my wife stuck with it and seemed to find the ending satisfactory (even with a cameo by the Three Stooges) and in her words 'very cute'.
]]>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:12:48 GMTHairyLimeHairyLime Blog8/21/2007 11:12:48 AMCaught this one on TCM last night. Rather silly stage adaptation (you can even pick out where the curtains drop on act one and two). A lot of the jokes are rather dated, which is probably why this one doesn't show up on television all that often. Rosalind Russell plays her usual 'smart alec street smart dame' role that she did so well, and has to fend off numerous oddball characters interested in her naive pretty younger sister while trying to make it as a writer in New York. I lost interest in the third act, but my wife stuck with it and seemed to find the ending satisfactory (even with a cameo by the Three Stooges) and in her words 'very cute'. Spout Post: Almost http://www.spout.com/blogs/hairylime/archive/2007/8/21/18473.aspx Post By: HairyLime
Post To: HairyLime Blog
Post Date: 8/21/2007 11:05:41 AM
Body: Rented this one on the basis of a few interesting trailers and a couple conflicting reviews. The movie started out pretty good, and had some interesting camera work and special effects throughout, but it was too long, and meanders around aimlessly in the middle and then by the time the movie picks up steam at the end, it feels less like a satisfactory conclusion, and more like a video game hero who just beat the 'big boss' at the end of the level. Rather disappointing overall.
]]>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:05:41 GMTHairyLimeHairyLime Blog8/21/2007 11:05:41 AMRented this one on the basis of a few interesting trailers and a couple conflicting reviews. The movie started out pretty good, and had some interesting camera work and special effects throughout, but it was too long, and meanders around aimlessly in the middle and then by the time the movie picks up steam at the end, it feels less like a satisfactory conclusion, and more like a video game hero who just beat the 'big boss' at the end of the level. Rather disappointing overall. Spout Post: No Weddings and One Funeral http://www.spout.com/blogs/hairylime/archive/2007/8/21/18471.aspx Post By: HairyLime
Post To: HairyLime Blog
Post Date: 8/21/2007 10:54:19 AM
Body: Saw this at the multiplex this weekend. Laugh out loud black comedy with a whole mess of Brit actors that look sort of familiar (we had to go home and imdb the whole bunch of them, everyone except Peter Dinklage that is). The set ups seemed a bit forced in the beginning, i.e.: hallucinagenic drugs in the wrong bottle, cranky old wheelchair bound uncle, dead dad with a secret, parson who really really has to be out of here by 3:00 - like you are able to see the puppeteers hands working the strings. But once you relax into it and get familiar with the characters a bit it works like a charm. But I wonder if years from now I'll return to it, like I did with 'A Fish Called Wanda', and wonder what it was I found so sidesplittingly funny.
]]>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:54:19 GMTHairyLimeHairyLime Blog8/21/2007 10:54:19 AMSaw this at the multiplex this weekend. Laugh out loud black comedy with a whole mess of Brit actors that look sort of familiar (we had to go home and imdb the whole bunch of them, everyone except Peter Dinklage that is). The set ups seemed a bit forced in the beginning, i.e.: hallucinagenic drugs in the wrong bottle, cranky old wheelchair bound uncle, dead dad with a secret, parson who really really has to be out of here by 3:00 - like you are able to see the puppeteers hands working the strings. But once you relax into it and get familiar with the characters a bit it works like a charm. But I wonder if years from now I'll return to it, like I did with 'A Fish Called Wanda', and wonder what it was I found so sidesplittingly funny. Spout Post: Slow Road to Crimea http://www.spout.com/blogs/hairylime/archive/2007/8/12/17891.aspx Post By: HairyLime
Post To: HairyLime Blog
Post Date: 8/12/2007 8:42:25 AM
Body: Starting to notice a trend in the four movies I've received as part of the 'Spout Maven's' group. Each of the movies has involved a young boy, set adrift, abandoned, neglected by adult foibles and shortcomings beyond his power to either influence or comprehend. In "Clean" it was drugs and show business, in "The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things" it was a whole myriad of child neglect nightmare scenarios, in "Mother Mine" it was WWII and the foster parent program, and, now in "Roads to Koktebel" we have alcoholism and abject poverty. This movie is what you would call 'deliberately paced', which is an art film term for slow moving. This film was so slow in fact, that I was convinced at one point that it was moving backwards. We are introduced to a father and son travelling with little or no means of support from the big city of Moscow to a new life at a sister's house by the Black Sea. The father and son seem rather distant from each other, the father speaks in curt sarcastic tones to the boys' occasional questions, and the boy has a stern far off look of sad determination much of the time. We gradually understand by the father's refusal of vodka, that he had a drinking problem at some point, which may have added to their bad fortune, and that the boy's mother died at some point in the past and may have led to the drinking, but it is never spelled out in so many words. At one point he falls off the wagon with a persuasive host, and shows signs of alcoholic desperation for a single scene, but seems to get over it rather quickly (a shotgun to the shoulder will do that I suppose), and when they are taken in by a somewhat attractive woman doctor, the father falls under her charms and abruptly changes their plans and decides to stay there with the woman. The son gets fed up with the father and takes off to complete the journey alone. There are frequent allusions to flying and albatroses throughout, and when the boy reaches the 'sea' we are treated to a few confusing scenes that I suppose have something to do with the 'flying' metaphor, but they were lost on me, I'm afraid. The film is beautifully shot, the bleak Russian landscapes and life of poverty were filmed with a real love of composition and color. I was reminded of the Cormac McCarthy book "The Road" (except without the cannibals), in which the boy eventually leaves the father to find his own path - and I was also reminded of the wonderful film "Sullivan's Travels" about the filmmaker who wants desperately to make a 'serious film' about 'real people', 'real poverty and real desperate lives', and discovers that real people go to the movies to escape their 'real poverty and real desperate lives' (and to make this point the movie is wonderful in the way it uses every cheap escapism trick in the book, slapstick car chases, caricatured stereotypes, pratfalls, and Veronica Lake does a number of titilating shower scenes).
]]>Sun, 12 Aug 2007 12:42:25 GMTHairyLimeHairyLime Blog8/12/2007 8:42:25 AMStarting to notice a trend in the four movies I've received as part of the 'Spout Maven's' group. Each of the movies has involved a young boy, set adrift, abandoned, neglected by adult foibles and shortcomings beyond his power to either influence or comprehend. In "Clean" it was drugs and show business, in "The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things" it was a whole myriad of child neglect nightmare scenarios, in "Mother Mine" it was WWII and the foster parent program, and, now in "Roads to Koktebel" we have alcoholism and abject poverty. This movie is what you would call 'deliberately paced', which is an art film term for slow moving. This film was so slow in fact, that I was convinced at one point that it was moving backwards. We are introduced to a father and son travelling with little or no means of support from the big city of Moscow to a new life at a sister's house by the Black Sea. The father and son seem rather distant from each other, the father speaks in curt sarcastic tones to the boys' occasional questions, and the boy has a stern far off look of sad determination much of the time. We gradually understand by the father's refusal of vodka, that he had a drinking problem at some point, which may have added to their bad fortune, and that the boy's mother died at some point in the past and may have led to the drinking, but it is never spelled out in so many words. At one point he falls off the wagon with a persuasive host, and shows signs of alcoholic desperation for a single scene, but seems to get over it rather quickly (a shotgun to the shoulder will do that I suppose), and when they are taken in by a somewhat attractive woman doctor, the father falls under her charms and abruptly changes their plans and decides to stay there with the woman. The son gets fed up with the father and takes off to complete the journey alone. There are frequent allusions to flying and albatroses throughout, and when the boy reaches the 'sea' we are treated to a few confusing scenes that I suppose have something to do with the 'flying' metaphor, but they were lost on me, I'm afraid. The film is beautifully shot, the bleak Russian landscapes and life of poverty were filmed with a real love of composition and color. I was reminded of the Cormac McCarthy book "The Road" (except without the cannibals), in which the boy eventually leaves the father to find his own path - and I was also reminded of the wonderful film "Sullivan's Travels" about the filmmaker who wants desperately to make a 'serious film' about 'real people', 'real poverty and real desperate lives', and discovers that real people go to the movies to escape their 'real poverty and real desperate lives' (and to make this point the movie is wonderful in the way it uses every cheap escapism trick in the book, slapstick car chases, caricatured stereotypes, pratfalls, and Veronica Lake does a number of titilating shower scenes). Spout Post: Zombies on Speed http://www.spout.com/blogs/hairylime/archive/2007/8/4/17256.aspx Post By: HairyLime
Post To: HairyLime Blog
Post Date: 8/4/2007 11:49:14 AM
Body: Caught this one the other night on cable. Wasn't expecting much, but it was a fun zombie/apocalypse/survival flick with appealling leads and only a few shortcomings. I've never seen the original of this, but I've seen Night of the Living Dead numerous times, and now am kind of curious to see the original. Ving Rhames and Sarah Polley give good performances and the action is well paced and exciting. Some of the characters have "red shirt" written all over them from their first appearance, and a few of the sequences and one liners seem blatantly ripped off from other movies (one line that the 'annoying boat owner dude' uses is straight from Pulp Fiction, and the whole 'rescue the dog across the street' sequence is pure Rear Window, and the final 'escape from the mall' sequence quite closely resembles 'Road Warrior' in many ways). A fun zombie romp, and I may be checking out the original Dawn of the Dead, and perhaps Day of the Dead next.
]]>Sat, 04 Aug 2007 15:49:14 GMTHairyLimeHairyLime Blog8/4/2007 11:49:14 AMCaught this one the other night on cable. Wasn't expecting much, but it was a fun zombie/apocalypse/survival flick with appealling leads and only a few shortcomings. I've never seen the original of this, but I've seen Night of the Living Dead numerous times, and now am kind of curious to see the original. Ving Rhames and Sarah Polley give good performances and the action is well paced and exciting. Some of the characters have "red shirt" written all over them from their first appearance, and a few of the sequences and one liners seem blatantly ripped off from other movies (one line that the 'annoying boat owner dude' uses is straight from Pulp Fiction, and the whole 'rescue the dog across the street' sequence is pure Rear Window, and the final 'escape from the mall' sequence quite closely resembles 'Road Warrior' in many ways). A fun zombie romp, and I may be checking out the original Dawn of the Dead, and perhaps Day of the Dead next. Spout Post: Better Than Average http://www.spout.com/blogs/hairylime/archive/2007/8/4/17255.aspx Post By: HairyLime
Post To: HairyLime Blog
Post Date: 8/4/2007 11:42:07 AM
Body: Another example of how a decent director can manage to get a good performance out of usually 'over the top' comedians by simply reigning them in. (Jack Black in Nacho Libre, Jim Carrey in Eternal Sunshine, Adam Sandler in Punch Drunk Love come to mind immediately). Not quite as good as most of the recent crop of esoteric independent films that have been crawling out of the woodwork in recent years (Being John Malkovich, Eternal Sunshine, I Heart Huckabees, etc etc) with oddball plotlines and a leap of faith and imagination by the audience required, - but overall, I think it works and is an enjoyable film on many levels. Maggie Gyllenhaal is appealing as the romantic lead, Emma Thompson and Dustin Hoffman give workable but unmemorable performances, and Will Ferrell does a fine job as the bland everyman lead - the one character which seemed totally unnecessary (except as someone for Emma Thompson to converse with) was Queen Latifah who seemed totally out of her element here.
]]>Sat, 04 Aug 2007 15:42:07 GMTHairyLimeHairyLime Blog8/4/2007 11:42:07 AMAnother example of how a decent director can manage to get a good performance out of usually 'over the top' comedians by simply reigning them in. (Jack Black in Nacho Libre, Jim Carrey in Eternal Sunshine, Adam Sandler in Punch Drunk Love come to mind immediately). Not quite as good as most of the recent crop of esoteric independent films that have been crawling out of the woodwork in recent years (Being John Malkovich, Eternal Sunshine, I Heart Huckabees, etc etc) with oddball plotlines and a leap of faith and imagination by the audience required, - but overall, I think it works and is an enjoyable film on many levels. Maggie Gyllenhaal is appealing as the romantic lead, Emma Thompson and Dustin Hoffman give workable but unmemorable performances, and Will Ferrell does a fine job as the bland everyman lead - the one character which seemed totally unnecessary (except as someone for Emma Thompson to converse with) was Queen Latifah who seemed totally out of her element here. Spout Post: Joan! http://www.spout.com/blogs/hairylime/archive/2007/8/4/17254.aspx Post By: HairyLime
Post To: HairyLime Blog
Post Date: 8/4/2007 11:31:00 AM
Body: I have a soft spot for old cheesy Joan Crawford movies. Poor Joan, always the long suffering martyr for love and family values, always over the top with the most laugh out loud dialog in all her movies, but you can't help but love her sincerity. In films like Mildred Pierce, or Sudden Fear she's had to deal with murderous ungrateful daughters and homicidal husbands, and in this one plays a lonely workaholic spinster who falls for an unbalanced young man (who of course doesn't show any signs of his mental condition until she's married him) and then a previous wife and concerned father who aren't what they seem to be pop out of the closet and things really come to a head. Fine scenery chewing performances from Joan, from Cliff Robertson as the unbalanced loony of a husband (who just needs 6 months of psychiatric care and a few shock treatments to put him right!), and supporting work from Lorne Greene and Vera Miles. I've always been fascinated with Joan, she's not conventionally pretty, in fact she frequently looks as if she were a man in drag, with those chiselled features, heavy eyebrows and gobs of makeup who is frequently softened thanks to a talented lighting technician who always manages to hide her wrinkly 'old lady neck' in shadow, no matter which part of the room she stands in. Good cheesy fun, not to be missed.
]]>Sat, 04 Aug 2007 15:31:00 GMTHairyLimeHairyLime Blog8/4/2007 11:31:00 AMI have a soft spot for old cheesy Joan Crawford movies. Poor Joan, always the long suffering martyr for love and family values, always over the top with the most laugh out loud dialog in all her movies, but you can't help but love her sincerity. In films like Mildred Pierce, or Sudden Fear she's had to deal with murderous ungrateful daughters and homicidal husbands, and in this one plays a lonely workaholic spinster who falls for an unbalanced young man (who of course doesn't show any signs of his mental condition until she's married him) and then a previous wife and concerned father who aren't what they seem to be pop out of the closet and things really come to a head. Fine scenery chewing performances from Joan, from Cliff Robertson as the unbalanced loony of a husband (who just needs 6 months of psychiatric care and a few shock treatments to put him right!), and supporting work from Lorne Greene and Vera Miles. I've always been fascinated with Joan, she's not conventionally pretty, in fact she frequently looks as if she were a man in drag, with those chiselled features, heavy eyebrows and gobs of makeup who is frequently softened thanks to a talented lighting technician who always manages to hide her wrinkly 'old lady neck' in shadow, no matter which part of the room she stands in. Good cheesy fun, not to be missed. Spout Post: Joan! http://www.spout.com/blogs/hairylime/archive/2007/8/4/17254.aspx Post By: HairyLime
Post To: HairyLime Blog
Post Date: 8/4/2007 11:31:00 AM
Body: I have a soft spot for old cheesy Joan Crawford movies. Poor Joan, always the long suffering martyr for love and family values, always over the top with the most laugh out loud dialog in all her movies, but you can't help but love her sincerity. In films like Mildred Pierce, or Sudden Fear she's had to deal with murderous ungrateful daughters and homicidal husbands, and in this one plays a lonely workaholic spinster who falls for an unbalanced young man (who of course doesn't show any signs of his mental condition until she's married him) and then a previous wife and concerned father who aren't what they seem to be pop out of the closet and things really come to a head. Fine scenery chewing performances from Joan, from Cliff Robertson as the unbalanced loony of a husband (who just needs 6 months of psychiatric care and a few shock treatments to put him right!), and supporting work from Lorne Greene and Vera Miles. I've always been fascinated with Joan, she's not conventionally pretty, in fact she frequently looks as if she were a man in drag, with those chiselled features, heavy eyebrows and gobs of makeup who is frequently softened thanks to a talented lighting technician who always manages to hide her wrinkly 'old lady neck' in shadow, no matter which part of the room she stands in. Good cheesy fun, not to be missed.
]]>Sat, 04 Aug 2007 15:31:00 GMTHairyLimeHairyLime Blog8/4/2007 11:31:00 AMI have a soft spot for old cheesy Joan Crawford movies. Poor Joan, always the long suffering martyr for love and family values, always over the top with the most laugh out loud dialog in all her movies, but you can't help but love her sincerity. In films like Mildred Pierce, or Sudden Fear she's had to deal with murderous ungrateful daughters and homicidal husbands, and in this one plays a lonely workaholic spinster who falls for an unbalanced young man (who of course doesn't show any signs of his mental condition until she's married him) and then a previous wife and concerned father who aren't what they seem to be pop out of the closet and things really come to a head. Fine scenery chewing performances from Joan, from Cliff Robertson as the unbalanced loony of a husband (who just needs 6 months of psychiatric care and a few shock treatments to put him right!), and supporting work from Lorne Greene and Vera Miles. I've always been fascinated with Joan, she's not conventionally pretty, in fact she frequently looks as if she were a man in drag, with those chiselled features, heavy eyebrows and gobs of makeup who is frequently softened thanks to a talented lighting technician who always manages to hide her wrinkly 'old lady neck' in shadow, no matter which part of the room she stands in. Good cheesy fun, not to be missed. Spout Post: Twists and Turns http://www.spout.com/blogs/hairylime/archive/2007/8/2/17056.aspx Post By: HairyLime
Post To: HairyLime Blog
Post Date: 8/2/2007 9:14:04 AM
Body: Been a problematic viewing history for me on this movie. Saw the last third of this a couple months ago on cable, and noticed over the past week that it has appeared in our 'on demand' menu from our local cable company, but have been having trouble with the feature, it keeps giving me error messages when I try to call it up, and then last night we finally got it going, but then in conked out on us about halfway through the picture. But I think at this point, I've seen most of it. I really like the musical version from the late 60s, but it was interesting seeing a bit more faithful adaptation of the story. Beautifully cast, gritty and squalid, with some fine performances by Ben Kingsley as a bit more sinister Fagin than Ron Moody's sly tongue in cheek performance. Barney Clark gives Oliver a bit more moxie than Mark Lester's fey pantywaist interpretation, and makes the story a bit more believable as a result.
]]>Thu, 02 Aug 2007 13:14:04 GMTHairyLimeHairyLime Blog8/2/2007 9:14:04 AMBeen a problematic viewing history for me on this movie. Saw the last third of this a couple months ago on cable, and noticed over the past week that it has appeared in our 'on demand' menu from our local cable company, but have been having trouble with the feature, it keeps giving me error messages when I try to call it up, and then last night we finally got it going, but then in conked out on us about halfway through the picture. But I think at this point, I've seen most of it. I really like the musical version from the late 60s, but it was interesting seeing a bit more faithful adaptation of the story. Beautifully cast, gritty and squalid, with some fine performances by Ben Kingsley as a bit more sinister Fagin than Ron Moody's sly tongue in cheek performance. Barney Clark gives Oliver a bit more moxie than Mark Lester's fey pantywaist interpretation, and makes the story a bit more believable as a result. Spout Post: mmmmm... Simpsons Movie ... http://www.spout.com/blogs/hairylime/archive/2007/8/2/17055.aspx Post By: HairyLime
Post To: HairyLime Blog
Post Date: 8/2/2007 9:06:44 AM
Body: A disclaimer: I'm a rabid Simpsons fan. For many years in the 90s it was the ONLY network television series we watched. It began the year my son was born, and we didn't miss an episode if we could help it. The past few years we have sort of let the Simpsons go by the wayside as far as the new episodes (but we will watch it if we happen to be in front of the television on Sunday night at 8), but we religiously purchase the season dvds as they come out. So it was with mixed feelings about whether or not to see the 'Movie'. Not to worry, even for its shortcomings (i.e. it just seems like an hour and half television episode with occassional big expensive looking graphics, there is no 'song and dance sequence' which really disappointed, it kind of runs out of steam in the middle, very few celebrity voices oddly enough) - even for its shortcomings, it is funnier than any other movie comedy I've seen in a long time, and certain sequences had me laughing so hard I had crusted tears on my cheeks (the Bart skateboarding nude sequence is worth the price of admission alone). Many of those rabid former fans who regularly dump on the program for 'how it has slipped' frequently forget that even the worst Simpsons episode contains more belly laughs than most other half hour 'sitcoms' combined, and they've been consistently putting these out for almost two decades. An amazing feat, and I'm more than happy to put another 8 bucks in Matt Groening's pocket.
]]>Thu, 02 Aug 2007 13:06:44 GMTHairyLimeHairyLime Blog8/2/2007 9:06:44 AMA disclaimer: I'm a rabid Simpsons fan. For many years in the 90s it was the ONLY network television series we watched. It began the year my son was born, and we didn't miss an episode if we could help it. The past few years we have sort of let the Simpsons go by the wayside as far as the new episodes (but we will watch it if we happen to be in front of the television on Sunday night at 8), but we religiously purchase the season dvds as they come out. So it was with mixed feelings about whether or not to see the 'Movie'. Not to worry, even for its shortcomings (i.e. it just seems like an hour and half television episode with occassional big expensive looking graphics, there is no 'song and dance sequence' which really disappointed, it kind of runs out of steam in the middle, very few celebrity voices oddly enough) - even for its shortcomings, it is funnier than any other movie comedy I've seen in a long time, and certain sequences had me laughing so hard I had crusted tears on my cheeks (the Bart skateboarding nude sequence is worth the price of admission alone). Many of those rabid former fans who regularly dump on the program for 'how it has slipped' frequently forget that even the worst Simpsons episode contains more belly laughs than most other half hour 'sitcoms' combined, and they've been consistently putting these out for almost two decades. An amazing feat, and I'm more than happy to put another 8 bucks in Matt Groening's pocket. Spout Post: Just Once http://www.spout.com/blogs/hairylime/archive/2007/8/2/17053.aspx Post By: HairyLime
Post To: HairyLime Blog
Post Date: 8/2/2007 8:55:50 AM
Body: Saw this last weekend, and I had pretty high expectations for it, based on the word of mouth and reviews that I'd seen. I think it is a welcome relief in the heat of summer from the usual hollywood crap to see a small, cinema verite bittersweet romance make it to the multiplexes, which could account for its popularity with the starved moviegoing public. I was a bit underwhelmed. The music was ok, the male lead "guy" (Glen Hansard) who I had seen before as the guitar player in "the Commitments" was great, his singing was impassioned, his awkward mooning over the girl was believable, and his quiet relationship with his vacuum cleaner repairman father was cute. The "girl" on the other hand, I just didn't see what he saw in her, her vocals and piano playing were a bit dull and wooden, her personality wasn't really fleshed out very much - perhaps it was enough for her to just "like his music" (where did the money come from to rent to recording studio? I'm a bit unclear on that?). As for the film overall, a bit heavy on the MTV sequences (but probably more enjoyable to watch than more painfully awkward conversations). The 'Dublin Street Musician' culture that we got a glimpse of in the beginning was kind of quirky and interesting, and on the plus side, the movie really knew how not to overstay its welcome, clocking in under 90 minutes (ending just about at the point where I was checking my wife's luminous watch to see how much more of the movie we had coming).
]]>Thu, 02 Aug 2007 12:55:50 GMTHairyLimeHairyLime Blog8/2/2007 8:55:50 AMSaw this last weekend, and I had pretty high expectations for it, based on the word of mouth and reviews that I'd seen. I think it is a welcome relief in the heat of summer from the usual hollywood crap to see a small, cinema verite bittersweet romance make it to the multiplexes, which could account for its popularity with the starved moviegoing public. I was a bit underwhelmed. The music was ok, the male lead "guy" (Glen Hansard) who I had seen before as the guitar player in "the Commitments" was great, his singing was impassioned, his awkward mooning over the girl was believable, and his quiet relationship with his vacuum cleaner repairman father was cute. The "girl" on the other hand, I just didn't see what he saw in her, her vocals and piano playing were a bit dull and wooden, her personality wasn't really fleshed out very much - perhaps it was enough for her to just "like his music" (where did the money come from to rent to recording studio? I'm a bit unclear on that?). As for the film overall, a bit heavy on the MTV sequences (but probably more enjoyable to watch than more painfully awkward conversations). The 'Dublin Street Musician' culture that we got a glimpse of in the beginning was kind of quirky and interesting, and on the plus side, the movie really knew how not to overstay its welcome, clocking in under 90 minutes (ending just about at the point where I was checking my wife's luminous watch to see how much more of the movie we had coming). Spout Member:The_MOW - Mickey Micklon http://www.spout.com/members/148616/default.aspx Identity: The_MOW
Name: Mickey Micklon
Interests: movies, sci-fi, professional wrestling
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]]>Sun, 30 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMTThe_MOWMickey Micklon369Uberlister (>100)Sat, 04 Apr 2009 11:50:30 GMTMember Spout Member:horror http://www.spout.com/members/144661/default.aspx Identity: horror
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]]>Sun, 30 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMTArgueta0Beginner (<10)Fri, 31 Aug 2007 20:52:15 GMTMember Film:Funny Games http://www.spout.com/films/Funny_Games/288707/default.aspx Title: Funny Games
Year: 2007
Director: Michael Haneke
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]]>Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:47:00 GMTFunny Games2007Michael Haneke27Tag Target (>10)241483http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s288707.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/Funny_Games/288707/default.aspxFilm Film:The Dark Knight http://www.spout.com/films/The_Dark_Knight/288704/default.aspx Title: The Dark Knight
Year: 2008
Director: Christopher Nolan
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Number of blog posts: 156
Number of discussion threads: 55
SpoutRating: 4
]]>Sun, 30 Aug 2009 23:13:34 GMTThe Dark Knight2008Christopher Nolan149Tag Target (>10)98156554http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s288704.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/The_Dark_Knight/288704/default.aspxFilm Film:H2 http://www.spout.com/films/H2/397884/default.aspx Title: H2
Year: 2009
Director: Rob Zombie
Number of Lists: 1
Number of blog posts: 1
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Year: 1982
Director: John Erman
Number of blog posts: 1
]]>Sun, 30 Aug 2009 02:47:51 GMTEleanor: First Lady of the World1982John Erman1http://www.spout.com/images/no_image.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/Eleanor_First_Lady_of_the_World/10331/default.aspxFilm Film:Black Test Car http://www.spout.com/films/Black_Test_Car/328181/default.aspx Title: Black Test Car
Year: 1962
Number of Lists: 2
SpoutRating: 4
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]]>Sat, 29 Aug 2009 15:53:10 GMTDumpster BabyJames Bickert1http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t76920jjhow.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/Dumpster_Baby/273527/default.aspxFilm Film:Rick http://www.spout.com/films/Rick/235722/default.aspx Title: Rick
Year: 2002
Director: Curtiss Clayton
Times Tagged: 1
Number of Lists: 1
SpoutRating: 2
]]>Sat, 29 Aug 2009 14:32:48 GMTRick2002Curtiss Clayton1Slightly Tagged (1-5)12http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t51978e8qnf.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/Rick/235722/default.aspxFilm Film:Speed Racer http://www.spout.com/films/Speed_Racer/297765/default.aspx Title: Speed Racer
Year: 2008
Director: Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski
Times Tagged: 90
Number of Lists: 16
Number of blog posts: 41
Number of discussion threads: 16
SpoutRating: 3
]]>Sat, 29 Aug 2009 14:21:45 GMTSpeed Racer2008Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski90Tag Target (>10)1641163http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s297765.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/Speed_Racer/297765/default.aspxFilm Film:Speed Racer [Anime Series] http://www.spout.com/films/Speed_Racer_Anime_Series/32330/default.aspx Title: Speed Racer [Anime Series]
Year: 1967
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Number of blog posts: 1
Number of discussion threads: 1
SpoutRating: 3
]]>Sat, 29 Aug 2009 14:20:43 GMTSpeed Racer [Anime Series]19671113http://www.spout.com/images/no_image.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/Speed_Racer_Anime_Series/32330/default.aspxFilm Film:The Raven http://www.spout.com/films/The_Raven/317289/default.aspx Title: The Raven
Year: 2007
Director: Ulli Lommel
Number of blog posts: 2
SpoutRating: 1
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Year: 1991
Director: Simon Callow
Number of blog posts: 2
SpoutRating: 2
]]>Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:25:24 GMTThe Ballad of the Sad Cafe1991Simon Callow22http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t54643em1b1.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/The_Ballad_of_the_Sad_Cafe/2239/default.aspxFilm Film:New York, New York http://www.spout.com/films/New_York_New_York/24524/default.aspx Title: New York, New York
Year: 1977
Director: Martin Scorsese
Times Tagged: 23
Number of Lists: 12
Number of blog posts: 57
Number of discussion threads: 2
SpoutRating: 2
]]>Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:22:40 GMTNew York, New York1977Martin Scorsese23Tag Target (>10)125722http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/u47828gvtpe.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/New_York_New_York/24524/default.aspxFilm Film:St. Nick http://www.spout.com/films/St_Nick/402616/default.aspx Title: St. Nick
Year: 2009
Director: David Lowery
Times Tagged: 3
Number of Lists: 2
Number of blog posts: 5
SpoutRating: 5
]]>Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:01:06 GMTSt. Nick2009David Lowery3Slightly Tagged (1-5)255http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s402616.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/St_Nick/402616/default.aspxFilm Film:We Are the Strange http://www.spout.com/films/We_Are_the_Strange/314016/default.aspx Title: We Are the Strange
Year: 2007
Director: M dot Strange
Number of Lists: 3
Number of blog posts: 3
SpoutRating: 4
]]>Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:25:52 GMTWe Are the Strange2007M dot Strange334http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s314016.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/We_Are_the_Strange/314016/default.aspxFilm Film:The Sadist http://www.spout.com/films/The_Sadist/29811/default.aspx Title: The Sadist
Year: 1963
Director: James Landis
Number of Lists: 4
SpoutRating: 3
]]>Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:08:29 GMTThe Sadist1963James Landis43http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t27402rl1sl.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/The_Sadist/29811/default.aspxFilm Film:The Alligator People http://www.spout.com/films/The_Alligator_People/50507/default.aspx Title: The Alligator People
Year: 1959
Director: Roy Del Ruth
Number of Lists: 2
Number of blog posts: 1
SpoutRating: 2
]]>Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:04:19 GMTThe Alligator People1959Roy Del Ruth212http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t46806zj8ua.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/The_Alligator_People/50507/default.aspxFilm