Sunday 24 February 2008

Classic Cinema Part II

"PartII? Where is Part I?", I hear you ask. Well, some time ago I discussed the merits (or otherwise) of "Battleship Potempkin". Today I'm continuing my survey of Classic "must watch films" which I have watched so you don't have to with a couple of Italian "Greats".

Note that the plots are discussed, so if you don't want to know stop reading NOW.



The Bicycle Theives (Vittorio de Sica, 1948)

Background: Set in poverty stricken post-war Rome.

Plot: Man gets bicycle stolen, man and son spend all day looking for it, but can't find it. The End.

Good Points: The location filming

Bad Points: At 87 minutes it's about 80 minutes too long.

This is the heart rending tale of a man struggling to keep food on his family's table. He gets a job as a poster putter-upper (what are they called???) but whilst he's busy gluing one to a wall theives nick his bike. Without it he can't do his job, so he and his son go out and try and find the bike.

I suppose it's a social commentary, but not my idea of entertainment, I'm afraid. You may remember the title - it's the film that Tim Robbins goes to see in "The Player". And, if I remember rightly, he's about the only person in the cinema.


La Dolce Vita (Fellini, 1960)















Background:
Rome, Trevi Fountain, Anita Ekberg

Plot: Famous film star, paparazzi reporters, not sure (see below).

Good Points: Rome, Trevi Fountain, Anita Ekberg

Bad Points: At 166 minutes, it's about 140 minutes too long.

This is a leisurely look at fame. I think. It's so leisurely that although I've watched it right through twice I couldn't tell you what happens. I'm sure things do happen, but it's never seemed to me to be very coherent.

Anita Ekberg looks good in that black dress, but you don't need to watch the film - just get a poster.


It's not every blog that might have just saved you from wasting 253 minutes of your precious lives. Maybe you can spend a few of them thinking up a specially witty comment ("First!" doesn't constitute a witty comment).

22 comments:

Bee said...

First-eth?????

Bee said...

OK I'm back with a "witty" comment. What dress do you speak of? All I see are boobs.
Also, thank you for not letting me waste my time on movies I've never heard of therefore endangering myself with boredom.

And, as opposed to my blog that has given you thousands of minutes of boredom.

Brian o vretanos said...

That's the reason (or both reasons) why the dress and the film are so famous.

I'm amazed you've never heard of that film.

Not thousands of minutes - 1298 to be precise ;-) And most of those were enjoyable not boring.

Bee said...

No no, I'm sure it's more than that. Maybe you misplaced a decimal, it happens to me all the time.

Jean Knee said...

hmmm. I didn't remember that
"Battleship Potempkin" post at all. I must have been taking that evil zoloft at the time.

first one seems a bit like The Grapes Of Wrath--totally depressing, excruciatingly slow moving. Thanks for watching for me.


What boobs, I didn't see no boobs?

Jean Knee said...

Oh, those boobs. hmmm
speaking of which, did anyone see those disgusting pictures of Lindsey Lohan in playboy? I saw it on some dude's website. there was no air brushing. Isn't she young and cute?
She's supposed to look like Marilyn Monroe , closer to Marilyn Manson

Brian o vretanos said...

Jean Knee:

No I didn't see Lindsay Lohan. Does she have a job? Or serve a purpose?

Do you read Playboy?

Tracy Rambles On And On said...

You know what's funny? The first thing I thought when I saw that picture was "I bet any movie with those boobs in it will get people to watch it." And Jean Knee didn't even notice the boobs. Maybe I was a boob guy in a past life.
Thank you for saving me all those minutes in my life. Now if you could just find a way to get me back all the minutes I've wasted watching the Wiggles, I would be most appreciative.

Jean Knee said...

I only get playboy for the articles. wink

Jean Knee said...

Tracy, you should switch to lazy town, at least Sporticus is hawt.

Jean Knee said...

scarlet must be asleep, I left 11 th entirely open

Brian o vretanos said...

Tracy:

That's the only reason I can see for watching La Dolce Vita. It's said that the film was the first to use the word "paparazzi". It's also the only Fellini film I've actually managed to watch.

I don't even know what "The Wiggles" are, but if I ever come across them I'll avoid them, so thankyou in advance.

Jean Knee:

Well done! 11th at last! I'm so pleased for you.

Brian o vretanos said...

Bee:

Doesn't your Big Brother Blog Counter thing tell you how many happy hours I've spent on Bee's Musings?

Bee said...

I was sent the link to Lind's breasteses meh... let me know if anybody wants it.

Tracy Rambles On And On said...

Brian- Lindsey Lohan is supposed to be an actor but all of her movies bomb and other than that the only purpose she serves here is to get publicly wasted and let people take pictures of her.

Jean Knee-I did see the Marilyn pictures. They couldn't have airbrushed a freckle or two? And I though her boobs were a little flat. If I wanted to see flat boobies, I could have just stayed home.

Jean Knee said...

The thing is, Lindsey is supposed to be young and cute and they made her look like an ancient prostitute. the girl is 21 or something

I liked her in Freaky Friday--that rocked

Jean Knee said...

I think her boobs were real therefore they looked flatish cuz we're used to seeing fake over inflated ones

Jean Knee said...

doesn't that make you want to see them Brian?

Brian o vretanos said...

Jean Knee:

No.

Jean Knee said...

are you saying you like fake, overinflated boobs over real boobs?

Brian o vretanos said...

Jean Knee:

Absolutely not. Fake ones are worse than anything else. Ideal is big and natural...

Jean Knee said...

if I were a man or lesbian I would definitely hate fake ones


that's what she said


that wasn't even funny