s-varian Reviews

The Graduate (1967)

Robert Redford as Benjamin Braddock? noooo

[13 May 2012]

The Graduate is such a crazy good movie. I love Dustin Hoffmans underdog, kind of loserish character. He asks for nothing, and gets more than what he bargains for. I had read somewhere that Mike Nichols had given Robert Redford a screen test for the part of Benjamin Braddock. I laughed, because there's no way RObert Redford could pull that kind of character off. Dustin Hoffman was phenomenal because he was so good at being nothing. He was too good at it. It made for such a dynamic screen sensation when he laid next to Mrs. Robinson and tried asking her questions about her interests. Heres a kid who doesn't like much stuff himself, but he wants to know all about someone else. It's such a great script and i could analyze everything that happens all day and write books on it. I also loved Simon and Garfunkel in this film. Some movies are just totally made by the sound track, and this one is one of them.

Bonnie and Clyde (1967)

end of the hays code

[13 May 2012]

If there was ever an iconic movie to symbolize what the end of the Hayes code was, it would by Bonnie and Clyde. The ending of Bonnie and Clyde is more violent and bloody than most movies that come out today. This was such an important step in history, and such an important event that shaped the way movies are made still today. Warren Beatty is a great actor and this movie placed him on the map. Naturally the real Clyde Barrow was no where near as attractive as Warren Beatty, but that's really insignificant to the story. Arthur Penn just did a wonderful job of taking this already existing story and making it his own and making it better. I don't know anyone who hasn't at least heard of this movie. My aunt was named Bonnie after it, if that matters at all. This movie is just so well made, with such a great script and great blocking an cinematography.

The Little Shop of Horrors (1960)

much better than the remake

[13 May 2012]

As much as i like seeing Rick Moranis sing horribly, and Bill Murray get his rocks off on pain, i never really liked the musical remake of this movie. I just don't like musicals. The best part of this film was the fact that it kept its dark comedy feel that inspired the remake. Roger Corman is best known for his b movies, and this is probably one of his most famous. It's got such a cheesy, unbelievable plot, and such flimsy acting and overall horrible sets, but it doesn't even matter because we as the audience know it's supposed to be funny. We know this was Cormans intention and it makes the whole thing much much easier to endure. I thoroughly enjoyed the original movie to the remake because there wasn't much of an excuse for the remake. Corman made this in a time when this was what was popular. The remake was done when b-movies weren't really excused, and it was also made a musical? Thats just asking to be placed on the 100 worst films of all time list.

Psycho (1960)

best horror movie of all time

[13 May 2012]

Psycho is by far one of my favorite horror movies. Hitchcock was a phenomenal director, and a phenomenal screenwriter as well. I've never seen a movie with a more perfect script than this. The story is told so well, that i've seen this probably ten times and have never gotten bored or annoyed by it. Anthony Perkins plays a phenomenally creepy mentally insane murderer, who in all truthfulness haunted my dreams for years. I know have a healthy respect for him but only because he plays his part so insanely well. Anthony Perkins is what makes Psycho, Psycho. The shot by shot remake of this film, while identical in every way was missing the most vital thing, Perkins. He can not be replaced, as no one can mimic the character he became to complete this film. The chemistry was seriously lacking in the remake because you copy Hitchcock, but you can't be him, you can't be his genius.

Singin' in the Rain (1952)

not a fan of musicals, but still phenomenal

[13 May 2012]

I'm a huge Gene Kelly fan and I've loved this movie since i was a kid. I'm not particularly fond of musicals at all, but the plot in this one far outshines the fact they sing. The classic story of an evil lady trying to sabotage an innocent girl is almost always an entertaining story. The whole script was just so well written from every stage of the movie, from the flashbacks in the beginning, to the end, and even some of the song lyrics, every things perfect. What i love most about this movie is the fact that it blends comedy so well with the fact that its also a musical. First and foremost, it's a love story with twists and turns and such, and secondly, they sing. I mean, i have to admit some songs were catchy and the choreography was phenomenal, i just find most musicals something hard to relate to.

Where the Sidewalk Ends (1950)

shel silverstein poem

[13 May 2012]

I only had an interest in watching this because of the title, it's also that poem book by SHel SIlverstein, and I love him. But i was pleasantly surprised at how much i actually liked this movie. Otto Preminger gives a superb example of just what a good film noir is all about. The main character is a rough cop who accidentally kills someone, and must cover up the tracks while still being a good guy and trying to win the heart of the widow of the man hes killed. It makes for a dramatic and interesting watch. The best little plot twist is that the wife's father is suspect number 1 in the murder of her husband, and the detective is trying to clear the innocent man while not getting in trouble himself. It's a pretty classic textbook film noir kinda of movie. My favorite part of this movie is just how calm and intelligent Dana Andrews pulls off playing the detective.

Mildred Pierce (1945)

such good scenes.

[11 May 2012]

This movie was such a good example of what a good, film noir movie should be. I'm not a big fan of Joan Crawford, but this part was perfect for her not so varied acting talents. Ernest Haller was a phenomenal cinematographer. My favorite scene that exemplifies his talents is when Mildred is wearing a mink, and shes wielding a gun, and Mildred comes upon Monte and Vida kissing. It's such a remarkably dramatic scene and it's one of those shots that will stick in my head forever. He darkens everyones profiles so it gives the scene an extra film noir dimension. It's such a phenomenal scene that really just sets the whole movie for me. Michael Curtiz does a wonderful job of keeping the movie balances. There isn't many boring shots and the whole movie just keeps you interested in what happens to Mildred.

Penny Serenade (1941)

tear jerker

[11 May 2012]

This was a phenomenal movie. I loved the way they portrayed the struggles of a couple who are raising their first child. George Stevens does a wonderful job directing this. If any other director tried to do what he did, the film would be a miserable tear jerker. It's unfortunate how realistic this movie really was, but yet it ends happily which is exactly how people needed their movies to end in the 40s. George Stevens really attempted to compose this film with a lot of respect to the narrative. The story here was more important than the actual film making. There are many flaws and cheap screw ups, but that's not something the audience is looking for. It's an emotional, happy, drama, and it doesn't matter how bad the movie is made quality wise. It was made badly though, it just had some flaws.

King Kong (1933)

absolutely phenomenal

[8 May 2012]

King Kong is a phenomenally iconic movie. Almost every horror movie can attribute something back to Kong. King Kong used some amazing for its time special effects. Every scene that the monster Kong was in was eerily phenomenal. The special effects, although it looked cheesy to us, was state of the art when it was released. It has an amazing cast, phenomenal acting, an extremely well made ending, and much more. One thing that sticks out to me is the amount of screaming in this movie. Mainly children and women , but men alike as well. And of course Faye Wray, the original scream queen makes very memorable and horrifying scenes. King Kong is very well made and very iconic, forging new and already established methods of film making into one amazing movie.

Casablanca (1942)

best movies ever made

[8 May 2012]

Casablanca is an iconic movie that allows us a cultural freeze into the time period. Humphrey Bogart, and Ingrid Bergman are phenomenal actors and they give an explosive and life changing performance. There is an air tight plot with an extremely well written screen play. The pacing is awesome. The themes in Casablanca were life altering as well. The price of freedom is worth any sacrifice. There's a memorably music score, there are tons and tons of great quotes.

The entire plot is action packed and it is satisfying story line that keeps the audience interested and on the edge of their seats. The ending is one of the most beautiful and satisfying endings of any movie, it's extremely beautiful and calming. Overall Casablanca is one of the best movies ever made.

Frankenstein (1931)

One of the best

[10/10 · 22 February 2012]

I saw this movie for the first time a few years ago at a friends house. Most of my friends were annoyed that this was not the stereotypical horror movie most people expected. It's not gory, and it's not bloody, but it's bizarre enough to really make someone think. The beginning scene when Henry and his assistant are digging through the grave for dead bodies was fantastic to start with. The whole scene is heavily foreshadowing the terrible events towards the end. The whole movie gives off an eerie type of feel, everything dark, and the actors, especially Colin Clive are so passionate in their roles. The fact that no music was used during the film adds an extra element of eeriness. Every sound is heard, such as the cries of the angry mob of towns people, and the tortured shouts and grunts of the monster are excellent examples of this raw sound. Another brilliant scene was the electricity scene when the monster was first brought to life. The vivid electric currents and the sounds created a wonderfully powerful scene.

His Girl Friday (1940)

love this

[8/10 · 22 February 2012]

Cary Grant is one of my top 10 favorite actors of all time. He's hilarious and serious and everything a good actor should be. This film was really cute, as it showcased his acting abilities as well as Rosalind Russel. One of the best parts of this movie was how fast all of the characters move. They were deliberately told to be as fast as possible for effect. The pacing is probably one of the best parts of this film, as it matches the stereotypical "news reporter" quickness. One part that I thought was hilarious was how Grant character mentioned the name "Archie Leach". Cary Grant's birth name is Archibauld Leach. It's those kinds of subtle yet hilarious things that make screwball comedies the best.

My Man Godfrey (1936)

judged a movie by it's cover.

[10/10 · 9 February 2012]

I judged this film unfairly before I watched it,I thought it was going to be bland black and white with bad acting and cheap scene structure. I was wrong on so many levels. Firstly, William Powell is a fantastic actor. His facial expressions are one of the reasons why this is such a great screwball comedy. You don't need a laugh track when his sly exasperated looks are always there to remind you how hilarious a scene is supposed to be. I haven't seen any films with Carole Lombarde before, and I already like her better than Catherine Hepburn and Ginger Rogers, and Ingrid Bergman. She was funny and her acting skills are far superior to Catherine Hepburn, who uses charm alone to captivate audiences. This can go the same for the actress who played Cornelia. However unlikable her character was, her acting was superb. The actress who played the mother was hilarious in her own right. She was scatterbrained and spoiled and treated everything like a little pet, including Carlo, her Russian protégé. Arguably the funniest scene from this movie was Carlo's monkey scene when he tries to cheer up Irene. This film was endearing and funny, and largely a commentary on humanity. Godfrey's simple sentence, "The only difference between a man and a derelict is a job," is something that still holds true today. People are people, and economic status is something that should not fuel our love for one another.

I'm guilty of assuming this film was junk before watching it, and it is probably one of my favorites now. I find myself talking about it in conversation and have already bought the DVD.

Scarface (1932)

Dark Shadows.

[10/10 · 30 January 2012]

Paul Muni is such a fantastic actor. His portrayal of the borderline insane Tony Camonte is phenomenal.

The filming is great. The streets look dark and terrifying and they make you feel small when looking at them. It's a scare tactic that definitely makes this film memorable. Another memorable bit is when Muni whistles before each kill. It's terrifying to think that when you hear that sound, you'll be dead.

This film is the ultimate gangster film, and it shows it by being totally apathetic to human lives. The death count in this film is ridiculous. There are many things in this film that would totally have been banned by the Hayes code if it were done any later. There's rampant sexuality and tons of violence.

The Navigator (1924)

One of Keatons cuter films

[30 January 2012]

The Navigator was a cute and funny film that displayed Buster Keatons classic gestures greatly. One of his best scenes is when he tastes horribly made coffee on the ship. You don't need sound to be able to understand what is going through Keatons mind. It's classic scenes like that that really showcase Keaton's physical comedy and acting abilities.

The Navigator was rich with physical gags and facial gestures that Keaton is best known for. He was famous for mechanical comedy, such as using hilarious contraptions to do simple things like grind coffee. It did lack in drama, and it didn't really allow for Keatons real heart warming side to show up, like in The General.

It was a great film that was adorable to watch.

I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)

The American Dream

[30 January 2012]

This was one of the best films I've seen in a long time. There is no greater life goal than the American Dream, and it's ironic how James Allen is trying to achieve this, but is being kept down by America itself. Paul Muni was a fantastic actor. He portrayed the awestruck young man trying to do big things extremely well. His descent from a hard worker with morals to a fugitive who steals is amazing, and I'm not sure any other actor could have done it as well. The use of shadows in this movie were amazing as well. The shadows that play on Muni's face as the movie goes on get progressively heavier. The best scene using these shadows was of course the end scene, where he appears from the shadows, just to disappear again and fade out. It's a fantastic, classic film.

The Circus (1928)

Be Funny!

[8/10 · 30 January 2012]

The Circus wasn't my favorite Charlie Chaplin film, but it definitely gave more insight to the kind of person Chaplin was. It was still loaded with slapstick humor and lots of over the top facial gestures.

This movie was a chance for Chaplin to express some other sides of himself that other movies didn't give him the chance to express. In one part of the movie, the ring leader shouts at him and says "Be Funny!" That relayed heavy with me because that's what Charlie based his career on, being funny. America loved him, but in the end, why? Did they love him because he was a goofy looking hobo? No, it was because he was constantly funny. In this movie, the themes of love, responsibility, and morality, as well as many others were explored.