Username Password Remember me Forgot password?

Wanna join? Sign up

Find movies you'll love

pippin06

Member since 1/15/2006, last signed in last week.

"So many movies...so little time!"

Send a message

Add to contacts

Invite to a group

Personal statement:

The Muppets are philosophical geniuses: 'Life's like a movie, write your own ending. Keep believing, keep pretending...'

[more]

pippin06's movie tags

Talk

An American in Paris

Revisiting An American in Paris ...
By pippin06 in Reel Thoughts
Was this review helpful? [Be the first to tell us!]
"What's the AFI Project, you ask? For more information, or if you just enjoy my bemused ramblings, read here:http://www.spout.com/blog s/pippin06/archive/2008/3/1/25 756.aspx An American in Paris is on the following AFI lists: The Original Top 100 (#68) 100 Years...100 Passions (#39) 100 Greatest Film Songs (#32 - "I Got Rhythm") 25 Greatest Movie Musicals (#9) I initially watched An American in Paris when I was attempting to complete this original AFI list the first time, back in college. I remembered liking it, if not exactly loving it, because for a couple of semesters, I played violin (second) in the Michigan Pops Orchestra at the University of Michigan, and one of our concerts was Gershwin-themed. The actual American in Paris piece, which is the foundation of the finale ballet at the end of this film, was the Orchestra’s piece de resistance after cycling through numbers like Rhapsody in Blue, excerpts from Porgy and Bess, and other goodies. I remember relating to the ... " [More]

Norma Rae

Viewing Norma Rae for the AFI P ...
By pippin06 in Reel Thoughts
Was this review helpful? [Be the first to tell us!]
"What's the AFI project, you ask? For more information, or if you just enjoy my bemused ramblings, read here:http://www.spout.com/blog s/pippin06/archive/2008/3/1/25 756.aspx Norma Rae is on the following AFI lists: 100 Years...100 Heroes and Villains (Norma Rae Webster is the #15 hero)100 Most Inspiring Movies (#16) This film also represents the fifth of nine Oscar-nominated dramas topping my Netflix queue, just in case you were keeping track. Sally Field has always been one of those actresses that I enjoy watching in film (and even on TV, at least in Gidget). She may not be my favorite actress or even, necessarily, the most memorable one, but I have yet to see a bad film with her in it or, at least, a bad performance by her. I think I queued Norma Rae up because she has always been so consistent and because I knew this film was on the AFI lists it was on but also because I knew that the film would be enjoyable, good, even if not necessarily memorable. That is, after all, the k ... " [More]

The Manchurian Candidate

Viewing The Manchurian Candidat ...
By pippin06 in Reel Thoughts
Was this review helpful? [Be the first to tell us!]
"What's the AFI Project, you ask? For more information, or if you just enjoy my bemused ramblings, read here:http://www.spout.com/blog s/pippin06/archive/2008/3/1/25 756.aspx The Manchurian Candidate is on the following AFI lists: The Original Top 100 (#67)100 Most Heart-Pounding Movies (#17)100 Years...100 Heroes and Villains (Mrs. John Iselin is the #21 villain) This is a film that I have been looking forward to watching for quite a while now. After all, the plot summary alone is intriguing, but then, the film received a high-profile remake treatment featuring the likes of Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep. I swore off the remake (even as the previews tantalized and teased me) in favor of the original because I knew it was on my AFI lists and because, from everything I've ever read or been told, the original far surpasses its successor. I'm happy to say, my anticipation was well rewarded because this is one of the best films I've ever seen, i think, or it's at least the best ... " [More]

Gorillas in the Mist

Oscar Flashback: Gorillas in th ...
By pippin06 in Reel Thoughts
Was this review helpful? [Be the first to tell us!]
"What's an Oscar Flashback (tm)? Read here: Next on my Netflix queue was Gorillas in the Mist, for which Sigourney Weaver was nominated for the Best Actress Oscar; Stuart Baird was nominated for the Best Film Editing Oscar; Maurice Jarre was nominated for the Best Score Oscar; Andy Nelson, Brian Saunders, and Peter Handford were nominated for the Best Sound Oscar; and Anna Hamilton Phelan and Tab Murphy were nominated for the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar (film year, 1988; awarding year, 1989). The other nominees in these categories were: Best Actress The Accused - Jodie Foster (Winner) Dangerous Liaisons - Glenn CloseWorking Girl - Melanie GriffithA Cry in the Dark - Meryl Streep Best Film Editing Who Framed Roger Rabbit (Winner) Die HardMississippi BurningRain Man Best Score The Milagro Beanfield War (Winner) The Accidental TouristDangerous LiaisonsRain Man Best Sound Bird (Winner) Die HardWho Framed Roger RabbitMississippi Burning Best Adapted Screenplay Dangerous Liaisons (Win ... " [More]

Network

Viewing Network for the AFI Pro ...
By pippin06 in Reel Thoughts
Was this review helpful? [Be the first to tell us!]
"What's the AFI Project, you ask? For more information, or if you just enjoy my bemused ramblings, read here:http://www.spout.com/blog s/pippin06/archive/2008/3/1/25 756.aspx Network is on the following AFI lists: The Original Top 100 (#66)100 Movie Quotes (#19 - Howard Beale: "I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!")The Revised Top 100 (#64) Network, instantly viewed on Netflix, is one of those films that I've always vaguely heard about but never paid much attention to until reviewing the films for this project. When I read the premise and prior reviews, I was greatly intrigued but otherwise had no preconceived notions. I'll leave it at that until after offering the obligatory plot summary. Network is a wily satire of the machinations of television. The term floated in the film is "trash TV," though the film easily makes the argument that all television is trash. For the purposes of the film and its plot, though, trash TV seems to refer to exploitative, se ... " [More]

Out of Africa

Viewing Out of Africa for the A ...
By pippin06 in Reel Thoughts
Was this review helpful? [Be the first to tell us!]
"What's the AFI Project, you ask? For more information, or if you just enjoy my bemused ramblings, read here:http://www.spout.com/blog s/pippin06/archive/2008/3/1/25 756.aspx Out of Africa is on the following AFI lists: 100 Years...100 Passions (#13)25 Film Scores (#15) This film also represents the third of nine Oscar-nominated dramas topping my Netflix queue, just in case you were keeping track. Out of Africa is one of those movies that I've heard about ever since its release in the mid-80s but never paid much attention to; after all, I was a child at the time and much more mesmerized by contemporary films like Back to the Future. Still, as I've gained years of age, I've also gained a growing appreciation for one of my favorite actresses, Meryl Streep, and I've made it something of a mission to cover more of her filmography. Thus, when Netflix was making its convenient recommendations to me, I popped Out of Africa on my queue. As it turns out, Out of Africa is based on the writ ... " [More]

Re:Who is your favorite member ...
By pippin06 in Movie Polls
"[quote user="Risselada"] [quote user="pippin06"] But Palin would run a close second because many of Cleese's best stuff was supported by Palin. Everyone's favorite dead parrot sketch is the two of them. [/quote] It would be hard for me to pick, but I ended up just selecting Palin because he is so likeable!! And I would argue that even more enjoyable than the Cleese / Palin / customer / shopkeeper sketch of the dead parrot sketch is the cheese shop sketch. Although I do have a personal obsession with cheese. Did you know that John Cleese's family surname used to be "Cheese" but his dad changed it at some point to Cleese? [/quote] I did actually! I have a lot of Monty Python related stuff and have read a lot about them, and I remember reading that somewhere along the way. I like Cheese Shop. That's one of my favorites too, and really, that is Palin's sketch. Cleese's character is incidental/support really because he's just requesting all of the cheese. Oh, and the hilarious in ... " [More]

Re:Who is your favorite member ...
By pippin06 in Movie Polls
"As probably cliche as it is, I had to go with Cleese. Running through all my favorite Flying Circus sketches in my head, he's in the majority of them. Running through Holy Grail, he plays some of the best supporters (the black knight, Tim the enchanter), and he's just a generally funny man. Even when he's supporting, like in the majority of Life of Brian, it's his crazy facial expressions that get me going in the background. But Palin would run a close second because many of Cleese's best stuff was supported by Palin. Everyone's favorite dead parrot sketch is the two of them. And Palin inaugurated the gumby. And Palin is Dennis in Holy Grail and says one of my favorite lines (Help! Help! I'm being repressed!). Of course, my favorite sketch in the world, which is Self Defense Against Fresh Fruit, has all of them in it, and Cleese is the center point, but the best supporter there is Idle. So obviously, I like them all for different reasons. My least favorite is probably Gillia ... " [More]

The Silence of the Lambs

Revisiting The Silence of the L ...
By pippin06 in Reel Thoughts
Was this review helpful? [Be the first to tell us!]
"What's the AFI Project, you ask? For more information, or if you just enjoy my bemused ramblings, read here:http://www.spout.com/blog s/pippin06/archive/2008/3/1/25 756.aspx The Silence of the Lambs is on the following AFI lists: The Original Top 100 (#65)100 Most Heart-Pounding Movies (#5)100 Years...100 Heroes and Villains (Dr. Hannibal Lecter is the #1 villain, and Clarice Starling is the #6 hero)100 Movie Quotes (#21 - Dr. Hannibal Lecter: "A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti.")The Revised Top 100 (#74) Because I've seen The Silence of the Lambs a fair few times, I secured a copy the old-fashioned way by finding someone who owned it rather than using a Netflix rental on it. With better timing, I could have tried to locate it on cable, since it sees ample rotation, albeit edited for language and content. The Silence of the Lambs is, without question, a modern classic. Even those who have not seen the film can discern ... " [More]

Howards End

Oscar Flashback: Howard's End ( ...
By pippin06 in Reel Thoughts
Was this review helpful? [Be the first to tell us!]
"What's an Oscar Flashback (tm)? Read here: Next on my Netflix queue was Howard's End, which was nominated for Best Picture and for which Emma Thompson won the Best Actress Oscar; Vanessa Redgrave was nominated for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar; James Ivory was nominated for the Best Director Oscar; Ruth Prawer Jhabvala won the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar; Tony-Pierce Robers was nominated for the Best Cinematography Oscar; Ian Whittaker and Luciana Arrighi won the Best Art Direction/Set Decoration Oscar; Jenny Beaven and John Bright were nominated for the Best Costume Design Oscar; and for which Richard Robbins was nominated for the Best Original Score Oscar (film year, 1992; awarding year, 1993). The other nominees in these categories were: Best Picture Unforgiven (Winner) The Crying GameA Few Good MenScent of a Woman Best Actress Indochine - Catherine DeneuveLorenzo's Oil - Susan SarandonLove Field - Michelle PfeifferPassion Fish - Mary McDonnell Best Supporting Actress My ... " [More]

A Clockwork Orange

Re:Which of these movies direct ...
By pippin06 in Movie Polls
"Of these Kubrick films listed, I've seen: 2001: A Space OdysseyA Clockwork OrangeDr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the BombThe Shining (part)Spartacus (part) I don't really count the partial ones. And, after a few gos at viewing, as it's one of my favorite movies, I feel like I completely understand 2001, so that one's my favorite hands down. A Clockwork Orange was powerful but too disturbing for my sensitive palette, and Dr. Strangelove was darkly funny and funnily dark, but 2001 is just an amazing film to me on every level. " [More]

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Revisiting Close Encounters of ...
By pippin06 in Reel Thoughts
Was this review helpful? [Be the first to tell us!]
"What's the AFI project, you ask? For more information, or if you just enjoy my bemused ramblings, read here:http://www.spout.com/blog s/pippin06/archive/2008/3/1/25 756.aspx Close Encounters of the Third Kind is on the following AFI lists: The Original Top 100 (#64)100 Most Heart-Pounding Movies (#31)100 Most Inspiring Movies (#58) Close Encounters of the Third Kind (hereinafter called "Close Encounters") is another one of those films that I watched and rewatched throughout my childhood. I have also owned it in various forms (the test passes!) and bought the super-fancy-deluxe-anniversary edition in advance of viewing it again for this project. To me, Close Encounters is something like ET for adults, or ET with a mystery-type beginning, and yet, it's a film that stands on its own merits. It's a multilayered exploration and discussion of many themes, from faith to preserving innocence to opening the mind to extreme possibilities, and it's also a classic film that has held up well, ... " [More]

Lists

2009 Movies I'm dying to see (8)
My up and comers for 2009.

Films I want to see (1376)
Films I want to see

AFI's 100 Heroes and Villains (32)
The American Film Institute's 100 Movies with the best good guys and bad guys.

AFI's Revised 100 Greatest Films (60)
The American Film Institute's 100 Greatest FIlms as of 2007 - for consideration

AFI's 100 Heart-Pounding Films (29)
The American Film Institute's 100 Scariest Films

Films I've seen (1019)
Films I've seen

AFI's 100 Inspiring Movies (22)
The American Film Institute's 100 most inspiring movies.

AFI's 100 Quotable Films (30)
The American Film Institute's list of 100 films with the best quotes.

AFI's 10 Top 10 Westerns (4)
The American Film Institute's 10 best Westerns.

AFI's 100 Love Stories (21)
The American Film Institute's 100 Most Romantic Films

Movies: Search movies; In theaters; Coming soon; New on DVD; Coming to DVD; Trailers; Downloads

People: Search people; Find friends; Mavens; What's a maven; Most active; Top bloggers; Top listers; Taggers

Groups: Search groups; Create a group; Genres; Discussions; Popular groups; List activity; Most movies; Most talkative

Reviews: Write a review; Spoutblog reviews; Community reviews; Maven reviews

Podcast: Subscribe

News: Lists; Hollywood; Classics; Indie; Interviews; Festivals

About us: Jobs; Advertise with us; Promote your film; Contests; SpoutNews; Newsletters

Contact us: Media contacts; Feedback; Customer care; Become a Spout tester

Privacy

Help

Site map