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The Gems in Your Movie Collection


Raf
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Forget about the movies you think everyone's got. Let's recommend some gems we don't think everyone's got.

Top of my list:

Sommersby (1993) Richard Gere, Jodie Foster

The less you know about it going in, the better. This is a post Civil War romantic drama. The rest, I leave to you.

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"Cannery Row" with Nick Nolte and Debra Winger.

I never even heard of it and just happened upon it on a cable channel once. A classic, made even better with the voice-overs of John Huston. I loved it...

BTW, I should note, this is an amalgam of "Cannery Row" and a Steinbeck short story "Sweet Thursday", so it's not for the purists. Being as I've never cared for Steinbeck anyway, I thought Hollywood actually improved on the original for a change.

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"Ghost Dog (the Way of the Samurai)" - Jim Jarmusch film, stars Forest Whitaker. Whitaker plays a professional hit man who lives by the code of the Samurai and is betrayed by a Mafia family he does hits for.

"The Abyss", John Cameron movie, pre-Titanic. Great love story, sci-fi. Where JC got started on his underwater work. Get the DVD full set, has a "Making of" section for the film. Incredible effort went in to making it.

"Office Space". Corporate Cubicle Culture, lots of good actors.

"Hi Fidelity", John Cusak. Sweet story.

"Amadeus". Tom Hulce plays Mozart.

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Not quite a movie, more than a live concert - "James Taylor Live at the Beacon Theatre". 109 minutes, audio digitally mastered in Dolby stereo and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound. The audio quality is exquisite, extra DVD goodies and JT does both the familiar material and some not-so.

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I should have been a little more clear, although I appreciate the entries so far...

I'm trying to come up with movies you suspect others here have not seen. I might want to rent some of these based on your recommendations (the only ones I've seen, beginning to end, are Stand By Me, Amadeus and It's a Wonderful Life).

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Another one not many have heard of is "Crumb".

It's a documentary of R. Crumb - yes that R. Crumb - of "Zap" comix fame.

Not exactly family fare, but an interesting look at a unique kinda guy. There are moments that are sorta goofy, some almost pornographic, and even a few pathos-charged scenes that kinda tug at your heartstrings. The whole time where he's talking with his brother at their mother's house is downright touching.

You won't think of this guy the same after getting the behind-the-scenes look at him.

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"The Killers" (1946) - Burt Lancaster's first flick. Excellent film noir of a short Hemingway story... Up there with "Double Indemnity". Excellent music score, from whence the "Dragnet" theme derives.

"The President's Analyst" (1967) -my favorite James Coburn movie. He plays the president's personal psychiatrist gone AWOL, chased by agents from our government and others...

"The Loved One" - (Jonathan Winters, Robert Morse)- I'm waiting for an official dvd release of this one. A dark, quirky comedy about a funeral home pursuing the gimmick of shooting the remains of the lately departed into outer space. I've only caught it once a few years ago, but it made an impression.

"The Trip" - late 60s - starring Peter Fonda -

"Whoa...look at that orange over there...I've never noticed those colors before..."

Actually it's probably worse than I remember.

"The Curse of Bigfoot" - Horrible hodge-podge of a flick, with early 70s footage added to the 1963 film. It's absolute crap, but highly entertaining for some strange reason.

"Invaders from Mars" - the 1953 version, with a bizarre score of "singing Martians" during the scenes where 1950s folks disappeared into the sandpit on the hill, only to return acting like they just joined the Way Corpse. Very impressionible to my fragile youthful mind - and Scarey!

Better stop here.

Danny

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Dittos for "My Man Godfrey".

And speaking of William Powell, any of the "Thin Man" movies. Did you know Myrna Loy was a star in silent movies. The latest thing I remember seeing her in was a "Columbo" episode. What a lady! What a career!

Lillian Gish was cool, too.

"Gold Diggers of 1933", especially Ginger Rogers singing "We're In The Money" in pig-latin, and the Busby Berkley number of "The Forgotten Man".

"Roman Scandals" or just about any other Eddie Cantor movie.

"Forty-Second Street"

"The Big Trail" with John Wayne.

And one of my all-time favorites, "It Happened One Night" with Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert!

They just don't make 'em like that anymore.

Love,

Steve

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Ditto for "Crumb". I recorded that off the Independent Film Channel (digital cable) in 1999. He did some music in the mid 70's. He called his group 'R. Crumb and the Cheap Suit Serenaders'. The music was funky, jazzy, like the music he was listening to in the beginning of the movie. Put out at least 2 albums. Wouldn't mind hearing that again. Probably have to try ebay.

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  • 2 weeks later...

True Romance - Christian Slater, Rosanna Arquette This is NOT A CHICK FLICK! The screen play was written by Tarantino if that gives you any idea.

Walking Across Egypt - A great "feel good" movie

Cookie's Fortune - Hilarious story with Glen Close and Liv Tyler or Ashley Judd (can't remember). It shows typical southern living with all it's quirks in a way that so hard to describe

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  • 3 weeks later...

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