mercurial
Posts 320
|
10/13/2008 4:15 PM
posted awhile ago
Weekly Theme for October 13: Just One Day
With the last two films I've seen taking place over the course of a single day, I decided to make this week's theme all about those films that aren't hindered by the passing of many months, years or even centuries, but that take place over the course of twenty four hours.
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist was a cute little film that had it's characters running around trying to find a secret concert during the wee hours of the night.
The passing of Paul Newman and what an incredible actor he was became all that more clear to me after recently watching Cat on a Hot Tin Roof which has a whole slew of emotions bursting out of everyone during the family patriarchs birthday.
Both 200 Cigarettes and Four Rooms take place on New Year's Eve and are full of all sorts of hilarious drunken debauchery.
Groove, Trick and London are about the bringing together and falling apart of couples over a single day.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show is all sorts of crazy packed into one night.
And one of my favorites, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? with a bats**t crazy Elizabeth Taylor and her verbally abused husband Richard Burton spewing brandy laden zingers at one another during a laborious night of drinking.
So time's running out . . .
. . . lets get to talking about those films that take place over 24 hours!
|
|
|
Smooth_J
Posts 116
|
10/13/2008 9:53 PM
posted awhile ago
Re:Weekly Theme for October 13: Just One Day
Do the Right Thing instantly comes to mind, although the ending shows a bit of the aftermath of the previous days' events. The tension and immediacy of keeping the film within one day really helped to convey Spike Lee's sense of urgency and anger about modern racism, which made for a super-duper movie.
I recently saw Dazed and Confused and was enlightened...and to think so much of the 70s was crammed into one day...
La Haine, a powerful French movie by the guy that made the apparent abomination Babylon A.D. (Mathieu Kassovitz), takes place over the course of one day, chronicling the drug addled and frustratingly bleak lives of three teenagers in the Parisian suburbs. This one even has a ticking clock, helping you keep track of the day as it slides along.
I know there's so many that I'm missing...
|
|
|
ChrisThilk
Posts 4
|
10/14/2008 11:24 AM
posted awhile ago
Re:Weekly Theme for October 13: Just One Day
You can't mention Dazed and Confused without also talking about the movie that it most directly is influenced by, which is American Grafitti. The story stretches into two "days" but it's all within one 24-hour period, which I think still allows it to qualify for this discussion.
If memory serves (I haven't seen it in a while but I think I'm right) Empire Records also takes place over a similar stretch of time, even if it does again take place on two calendar days.
|
|
|
Risselada
Posts 2068
|
10/14/2008 2:55 PM
posted awhile ago
Re:Weekly Theme for October 13: Just One Day
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three - one of the best action/thriller/comedy movies ever made. A lot of it takes place in almost real time.
12 Angry Men - another one that's almost in real time, so certainly within a day.
Magnolia - the EPIC of one day films.
Clerks. - he was supposed to have that day off
High Noon - also almost real time
Kids - I think this was just one day. It feels like it.
Rope - real time
My Dinner with Andre - real time
Most movies based on classical theater will take place within 24 hours since this was one of the ancient restriction of good theatre. Time, space, and subject were all supposed to be remain the same.
More Linklater films - Before Sunrise / Before Sunset / Slacker
These come up under one night I think
Night of the Living Dead
Goonies
Die Hard
Escape from New York
Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle
|
|
|
leeroy711
Posts 490
|
10/14/2008 4:59 PM
posted awhile ago
Re:Weekly Theme for October 13: Just One Day
 Risselada:
I was gonna mention Rope also - that's my favorite Hitchcock and as I recall, The Lady Vanishes begins one evening at the hotel and is over by the next afternoon so that one counts also.
And, doesn't Go all take place in the same day? I can't remember.
|
|
|
Dr_Gor
Posts 1207
|
10/15/2008 2:58 AM
posted awhile ago
Re:Weekly Theme for October 13: Just One Day
The Warriors ... one of my favorites. Also Night of the Living Dead , Halloween , Hell Night , Night of the Demons , The Funhouse , Terror Train and Demons . And one of my favorite sexploitation/horror films Hard to Die ...
|
|
|
chrismorrell
Posts 34
|
10/15/2008 6:59 AM
posted awhile ago
Re:Weekly Theme for October 13: Just One Day
Cant see it yet..first thing that comes to mind "Dog Day Afternoon" stupendous..the way i will always remember Pacino...and ,of course John Cazale as "Sal" ... that haircut!
|
|
|
SkyPilot
Posts 576
|
10/16/2008 3:37 PM
posted awhile ago
Re:Weekly Theme for October 13: Just One Day
The Set-Up (1949) stars Robert Ryan as a boxer way past his prime. When he learns his manager has bet against him in a fight, he boxes harder than he ever has before.
The movie's in real time, and it came out three years before High Noon(1952). Are there any earlier examples?
I like that Rizzo called Magnolia the EPIC of one-day films. I couldn't think of any others.
Not so epic, but has anyone mentioned 12 Angry Men?
I think Predator occurs in 24 hours too.
|
|
|
Risselada
Posts 2068
|
10/16/2008 5:44 PM
posted awhile ago
Re:Weekly Theme for October 13: Just One Day
SkyPilot:
The Set-Up (1949) stars Robert Ryan as a boxer way past his prime. When he learns his manager has bet against him in a fight, he boxes harder than he ever has before.
The movie's in real time, and it came out three years before High Noon(1952). Are there any earlier examples?
Wow I had no idea that was another real time movie. I saw it was a movie directed by Robert Wise. I've seen a handful of his films now and I give them such different ratings, I never know what to expect. Is it pretty noirish like his amazing Born to Kill?
SkyPilot:
I like that Rizzo called Magnolia the EPIC of one-day films. I couldn't think of any others.
Not so epic, but has anyone mentioned 12 Angry Men?
uuuuuuuh Adam, which movie do you see that I mentioned directly before Magnolia?
|
|
|
SkyPilot
Posts 576
|
10/16/2008 10:18 PM
posted awhile ago
Re:Weekly Theme for October 13: Just One Day
Risselada:
Wow I had no idea [The Set-Up] was another real time movie. I saw it was a movie directed by Robert Wise. I've seen a handful of his films now and I give them such different ratings, I never know what to expect. Is it pretty noirish like his amazing Born to Kill?
uuuuuuuh Adam, which movie do you see that I mentioned directly before Magnolia?
lol
The Set-Up is very noir, and I personally liked it more than Born to Kill. It's a different tone though because Robert Ryan's boxer is very different from Lawrence Tierney's character. Ryan plays a very decent but desperate guy who fights for a shred of respect. The Set-Up feels very realistic and is pretty sad--it's less quotable and "fun" than movies like Out of the Past or Murder, My Sweet.
|
|
|