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PROFESSOR DEWEY FINN’S OSTENTATIOUSLY ODD, SCHOLASTICALLY SCATTERSHOT BACK-TO-SCHOOL (OF ROCK?) MOVIE QUIZ
As you may have noticed, things have been somewhat quiet on the SLIFR University campus this past school year. How quiet? Well, the last quiz had a timely Christmas theme, and almost nine months later Yours Truly, headmaster of all he surveys here at our little learning boutique, still hasn’t submitted his own answers to it. (I’d promise to rectify that soon, but it’s more likely to take me until this coming Christmas to get those answers together—which isn’t a bad idea for a holiday post, now is it?) It may seem like the SLIFR U staff has been on vacation, but it’s not exactly true. But yes, despite how it may look, our hardy educators have been bunkered down in offices, conference rooms and the moldy basement of the SLIFR U cafeteria trying to come up with new ways to invigorate academic endeavors and reinvent learning for the few dedicated, loyal students who still care to park their carcasses in the lecture halls of this storied institution.
To this end, we welcome a new addition to the well of knowledge from which so many have drank, filled their heads and moved on. (And probably continued to drink, just not from our metaphorical well, but whatever…) His name is Professor Dewey Finn, and he will be joining our esteemed music department. Though Professor Finn is not exactly a proper professor, he did insist we address him as such as a condition of his accepting employment here, so we have done so, however reluctantly. (The heavily tenured head of the department, Dr. Anton Phibes, has registered the most empathic resistance to this idea, and though he has been civilized in his objections so far, per his history Dr. Phibes has been instructed by our legal advisors to approach Prof. Finn with caution and respect in any future encounters.) Professor Finn hopes to stimulate your brains with a strange mélange of questions with little purpose or focus beyond his own amusement, a strategy he hopes will serve him well as he shepherds the rock division of our musical studies here at the university this year.
As part of his introductory duties, Professor Finn has devised a brand-new quiz in that spirit with which to ring in the new school year, and you see it before you now— he calls it his very own Ostentatiously Odd, Scholastically Scattershot Back-to-School (Of Rock?) Movie Quiz—which should warm you up for the rest of the adventures in movie education that await you as the calendar enters is autumn/winter phase. The notes on this quiz are the same as always: You may provide links to your answers if you have your own blog or Web site, but if you enter your answers in the comments field, please copy and paste the questions along with your answers so readers may more easily reference the context of your answers. Also, Professor Finn is very much like the rest of our staff in that, while he will certainly accept short, to-the-point answers, he is much more entertained and enlightened by an answer that isn’t afraid to err on the side of the verbose. So feel free to let loose your logorrheic tendencies here!
So, without any further hesitation, let’s jump right in. Pencils at the ready, back straight, eyes forward. You may begin!
to see get the HARD DAY’S NIGHT or HEAD treatment
2) Oliver Reed or Alan Bates?
3) Best thing about the move from physical to streaming media in home video
4) Worst thing about the move from physical to streaming media in home video
5) Favorite Robin Williams performance
6) Second favorite Carol Reed movie
7) Oddest moment/concept in rock music cinema
8) Favorite movie about growing up
9) Most welcomed nudity, full or partial, in a movie (question
submitted by Peter Nellhaus, class of 2004)
10) Least welcomed nudity, nude or partial, in a movie
(question submitted by Peter Nellhaus, class of 2004)
11) Last movie watched, in a theater, on DVD/Blu-ray, via streaming
12) Second favorite Bertrand Blier movie
13) Googie Withers or Sally Gray?
14) Name a piece of advice derived from a movie or movie
character that you’ve heeded in real life
15) Favorite movie about learning
16) Program a double bill of movies that were announced but,
for one reason or another, never made. These could be
projects cancelled outright, or films that were made, but at
one time had different directors, stars, etc., attached--
and your "version" of the film might be the one with that
lost director, for example (question submitted by
Brian Doan, class of 2007)
17) Oddest mismatch of director and material
18) Favorite performance by your favorite character actor
19) Favorite chase scene
20) Movie most people might not have seen that you feel like
proselytizing about right now
21) Favorite movie about high school
22) Favorite Lauren Bacall performance
23) David Farrar or Roger Livesey?
24) Performance most likely to get overlooked during the
upcoming awards season
25) Rock musician who, with the right project, could have been
a movie star
26) Second favorite Ted Post movie
27) Favorite odd couple
28) Flicker or Zeroville?
29) Favorite movie about college
30) In a specific movie full of memorable turns, your favorite
underappreciated performance
31) Favorite movie about parenting
32) Susannah York or Sarah Miles?
33) Movie which best evokes the sense of place in a region with
which you are well familiar
34) Name a favorite actor from classic movies and the
contemporary performer who most evokes their
presence/stature/talent
35) Your favorite hot streak of any director (question submitted
by Patrick Robbins, class of 2008)
*************************************************
33 comments:
1) Band without their own movie, from any era, you’d most like
to see get the HARD DAY’S NIGHT or HEAD treatment
Death. Three brothers from Detroit, black, create a proto-punk band.
2) Oliver Reed or Alan Bates?
Ken Russell in love? Bates has the classier filmography but Reed has Beat Girl and Castaway.
3) Best thing about the move from physical to streaming media in home video
Not having to buy DVDs. There are films I might not have seen otherwise.
4) Worst thing about the move from physical to streaming media in home video
Wrong aspect ratio. Unreadable or absent subtitles. Dubbed language tracks.
5) Favorite Robin Williams performance
World's Greatest Dad.
6) Second favorite Carol Reed movie
If anyone asks, "Carol Reed - who's she?" expel them immediately. Second favorite, Odd Man Out.
7) Oddest moment/concept in rock music cinema
Everything related to that Sgt. Pepper movie.
8) Favorite movie about growing up
Night of the Hunter
9) Most welcomed nudity, full or partial, in a movie
Totally unprepared for Yoko Tani topless in the European version of Savage Innocents.
10) Least welcomed nudity, nude or partial, in a movie
The movie was seen under the title of Orloff and the Invisible Monster. I don't know the name of the actress, but she evoked thoughts of serious gardening as in a bush in need of severe trimming.
11) Last movie watched, in a theater, on DVD/Blu-ray, via streaming Theatrically: Snowpiercer. DVD: Private School (RIP Noel Black). Streaming: Howling (Korean film).
12) Second favorite Bertrand Blier movie
It's been years since I've seen anything by Blier. Going Places.
13) Googie Withers or Sally Gray?
Gray in Green for Danger.
14) Name a piece of advice derived from a movie or movie
character that you’ve heeded in real life
"Breathe". Eric Tsang in Aberdeen.
15) Favorite movie about learning
Not really a favorite, but I liked how mathematical concepts were illustrated in A Beautiful Mind.
16) Program a double bill of movies that were announced but,
for one reason or another, never made. These could be
projects cancelled outright, or films that were made, but at
one time had different directors, stars, etc., attached--
and your "version" of the film might be the one with that
lost director, for example (question submitted by
Brian Doan, class of 2007)
The Alain Resnais/Stan Lee double feature of The Monster Maker with Spiderman starring Henry Winkler.
17) Oddest mismatch of director and material
Donald Siegel and the uncredited Sam Peckinpah directing Bette Midler in Jinxed.
8) Favorite performance by your favorite character actor
Terry-Thomas in Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines.
19) Favorite chase scene
Still, The Line-up.
20) Movie most people might not have seen that you feel like
proselytizing about right now
Dismissed by most critics, I still say Sector 7 is the Korean monster movie that Howard Hawks never made.
21) Favorite movie about high school
High School Confidential. One of the best opening scenes, ever.
22) Favorite Lauren Bacall performance
Young Man with a Horn.
23) David Farrar or Roger Livesey?
Farrar. Films with Antonioni and Allan Dwan. Plus he played Gillian Hill's dad in Beat Girl, which featured Oliver Reed.
24) Performance most likely to get overlooked during the
upcoming awards season
Will genre prejudices hinder Tilda Swinton?
25) Rock musician who, with the right project, could have been
a movie star
Arthur Lee.
26) Second favorite Ted Post movie
Beneath the Planet of the Apes
27) Favorite odd couple
Alain Resnais and Stan Lee
28) Flicker or Zeroville?
Zeroville
29) Favorite movie about college
Duck Soup
30) In a specific movie full of memorable turns, your favorite
under appreciated performance
Richard Lester is right about George Harrison in A Hard Day's Night
31) Favorite movie about parenting
Gorgo
32) Susannah York or Sarah Miles?
Oh, Susannah. Between Sister George and smooching Elizabeth Taylor in X, Y and Zee, the winner here.
33) Movie which best evokes the sense of place in a region with
which you are well familiar
The Denver location scenes in The Glenn Miller Story.
34) Name a favorite actor from classic movies and the
contemporary performer who most evokes their
presence/stature/talent
There was a time when I thought Ashley Judd should have made films in the Thirties. She sometimes had that faintly exotic look of Myrna Loy.
35) Your favorite hot streak of any director (question submitted
by Patrick Robbins, class of 2008)
Roger Corman meets Edgar Allan Poe.
1) Band without their own movie, from any era, you’d most like to see get the HARD DAY’S NIGHT or HEAD treatment?
Doug Clark and the Hot Nuts.
2) Oliver Reed or Alan Bates?
Alan Bates. Never saw enough of him in movies, whereas with Reed you felt like you could never get away from him.
3) Best thing about the move from physical to streaming media in home video?
Far more practical for watching long runs of television series, isn't it? Not only can you see an old Columbo, but you can see it in HD. But you're probably thinking about movies. One thing I notice on Netflix, since it runs non-mainstream movies, is return a feeling of pleasant surprise that something is available that you had with the old Z Channel -- the "Oh wow, that's on" feeling.
4) Worst thing about the move from physical to streaming media in home video?
Well, I haven't really, but I imagine it would be the ever-shifting availability of particular movies and shows.
5) Favorite Robin Williams performance?
It's gotta be the Genie.
6) Second favorite Carol Reed movie?
Our Man in Havana. When I refreshed my memory on IMDB, I was amazed to see that he'd also directed Flap.
7) Oddest moment/concept in rock music cinema?
It's pretty hard to get my head around the idea of Paul Williams in a rock and roll movie.
8) Favorite movie about growing up.
The Wizard of Oz.
9) Most welcomed nudity, full or partial, in a movie (question submitted by Peter Nellhaus, class of 2004)?
Angelina Jolie in Gia. The nudity in this movie is those two things that film nudity ideally ought to be, which is "extended" and "repeated." If you say it doesn't count because it was a TV movie, then Nicole Kidman in Eyes Wide Shut, I suppose.
10) Least welcomed nudity, nude or partial, in a movie (question submitted by Peter Nellhaus, class of 2004)?
I think I've seen more of Bob Hoskins than I really needed to.
11) Last movie watched, in a theater, on DVD/Blu-ray, via streaming?
In a theater, Snowpiercer. On DVD, I just watched Aladdin again, for reasons you can guess. On Blu Ray, Dirty Harry. Streaming, Outrage Piled Higher and Deeper. Actually, no, I'm sorry, Beyond Outrage, that's what they called it.
12) Second favorite Bertrand Blier movie?
Haven't seen two. Or one.
13) Googie Withers or Sally Gray?
Sally Gray was in Green for Danger, so Sally Gray.
14) Name a piece of advice derived from a movie or movie character that you’ve heeded in real life?
See answer to question No. 18.
15) Favorite movie about learning.
See answer to question No. 18.
16) Program a double bill of movies that were announced but, for one reason or another, never made. These could be projects cancelled outright, or films that were made, but at one time had different directors, stars, etc., attached-- and your "version" of the film might be the one with that lost director, for example (question submitted by Brian Doan, class of 2007)
A second feature after Kubrick's Napoleon would be a feat of endurance, but if you were up for it, it would be Terry Gilliam's Don Quixote.
17) Oddest mismatch of director and material?
Sam Peckinpah and Convoy.
18) Favorite performance by your favorite character actor?
Harry Dean Stanton as Bud in Repo Man. I have always tried to live by the Repo Code.
19) Favorite chase scene?
Buster Keaton vs. the brides in Seven Chances.
20) Movie most people might not have seen that you feel like proselytizing about right now.
Miracle in Milan.
21) Favorite movie about high school.
Rushmore.
22) Favorite Lauren Bacall performance?
The Big Sleep. Could always be sultry, but let's face it, she had to turn down Paper Bag because she couldn't act her way out of one.
23) David Farrar or Roger Livesey?
I Know Where I'm Going plus Matter of Life and Death plus Colonel Blimp equals Roger Livesey. Did you know Livesey starred in a BBC TV series about Falstaff? Wiped, I suppose. A deep BBC streaming service is something I might subscribe to.
24) Performance most likely to get overlooked during the upcoming awards season.
The only industry award that really engages my interest is last spot on the In Memoriam montage. As of now Robin Williams is a mortal lock.
25) Rock musician who, with the right project, could have been a movie star.
This is cheating, but Louis Jordan.
26) Second favorite Ted Post movie.
Of his two Columbo episodes, the one that was second best. I assume this is obliquely a Dirty Harry question. As alluded to above, I just saw the original Don Siegel Dirty Harry for the first time. Harry Callahan doesn't wait around for verdicts, but mine is: Far-fetched, but suspenseful. More suspenseful than thrill-packed. All the suspense leaks out when it goes political, and it has to be re-inflated. Strictly as a vigilante movie, Death Wish is better. Call me a fuddy-duddy but I can't see engineering shoot-outs on crowded streets as a desirable crime fighting strategy.
27) Favorite odd couple.
Blondie and Tuco Ramirez.
28) Flicker or Zeroville?
My awareness of Flicker is the faintest flicker. My awareness of Zeroville is zeroville, daddy-o.
29) Favorite movie about college.
Animal House, in much the same way Red River would be your favorite film about cattle drives.
30) In a specific movie full of memorable turns, your favorite underappreciated performance?
I was going to say Toshiro Mifune in Grand Prix because there's lots and lots of turns in that and then you're all oh wow that's Toshiro Mifune, but the hell with it.
31) Favorite movie about parenting.
Charlie Chaplin's The Kid.
32) Susannah York or Sarah Miles?
Susannah York. A finalist in the most welcomed nudity category, incidentally.
33) Movie which best evokes the sense of place in a region with which you are well familiar?
The Long Goodbye.
34) Name a favorite actor from classic movies and the contemporary performer who most evokes their presence/stature/talent?
Cary Grant and George Clooney.
35) Your favorite hot streak of any director (question submitted by Patrick Robbins, class of 2008)?
Oh, well, you can't beat Preston Sturges from The Great McGinty to Hail the Conquering Hero, can you?
Part 1
1) Band without their own movie, from any era, you’d most like to see get the HARD DAY’S NIGHT or HEAD treatment
A: The Rolling Stones, but only if it was pre 1970 and only if it wasn't A Clockwork Orange which actually could've happened because Mick owned the rights to the novel
2) Oliver Reed or Alan Bates?
A: It's a tie, but Reed wins the tie-breaker for being in more Ken Russell films
3) Best thing about the move from physical to streaming media in home video
A: Convenience and the possibility I might watch and love something I wouldn't ordinarily bother with if it wasn't just sitting there right in front of me ready to play.
4) Worst thing about the move from physical to streaming media in home video
A: Selection and the occasional pointless cropping of widescreen movies to 16:9
5) Favorite Robin Williams performance
A: Tough call, but Popeye because I think he was the least like his usual persona in it
6) Second favorite Carol Reed movie
A: Our Man in Havana because who doesn't love a Guiness chaser?
7) Oddest moment/concept in rock music cinema
A: The entirety of Timothy Carey's "The World's Greatest Sinner." I'm still not sure what the hell that is
8) Favorite movie about growing up
A: Boyhood. I try to give movies a few years to breathe before using them to answer questions like this, but there you go
9) Most welcomed nudity, full or partial, in a movie (question
A: Phoebe Cates in Fast Times at Ridgemont High eased me through puberty. Thank you, Phoebe
10) Least welcomed nudity, nude or partial, in a movie
A: Jason Segel. Forgetting Sarah Marshall. It's not just because he's a physical lump I don’t want to look at, he's also completely anti-charismatic and he took a huge turd on the chest of my childhood with The Muppets
11) Last movie watched, in a theater, on DVD/Blu-ray, via streaming
A: The Social Network. It went over better than it did in 2010
12) Second favorite Bertrand Blier movie
A: Too Beautiful for You. Yeah, I haven't seen a lot of Blier to pick from so this answer is essentially meaningless
13) Googie Withers or Sally Gray?
A: Googie Withers because you don't argue with a name like "Googie Withers". Also: Brunette plus Night and the City and The Lady Vanishes
14) Name a piece of advice derived from a movie or movie character that you’ve heeded in real life
A: "If you're going to shoot, shoot. Don't talk." Tuco - The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. No, I haven't shot anyone (yet), but the rule generally applies to any action when you're tempted to spend time talking about it rather than just quietly going about it
15) Favorite movie about learning
A: 2001: A Space Odyssey. No, I'm not going to wax philosophic about this movie because it's a surefire way to look like a pretentious stooge
16) Program a double bill of movies that were announced but, for one reason or another, never made. These could be projects cancelled outright, or films that were made, but at one time had different directors, stars, etc., attached-- and your "version" of the film might be the one with that lost director, for example (question submitted by Brian Doan, class of 2007)
A: Stanley Kubrick's Napoleon and Coen Bros' To The White Sea just because they're the ones that got away. The Kubrick Exhibit at LACMA and elsewhere had an entire room just for Kubrick's research into Napoleon
17) Oddest mismatch of director and material
A: John Huston, Annie
Part 2
18) Favorite performance by your favorite character actor
A: I'm not sure quite where you draw the line between actor and character actor (is Malkovich a character actor?) but Steve Buscemi, Fargo. "You should see the other guy."
19) Favorite chase scene
A: The truck chase from Raiders of the Lost Ark. I automatically excluded anything that was aided by CGI. It was tempting to go with one of the classic 70s car chases, but this one wins for variety and because I saw it at an impressionable age
20) Movie most people might not have seen that you feel like proselytizing about right now
A: I'm done with proselytizing. Either you're on board or you're not. If you're not, screw you
21) Favorite movie about high school
A: Fast Times at Ridgemont High (see answer 9 above)
22) Favorite Lauren Bacall performance
A: To Have and Have Not. I didn't realize this when I first saw this film as a kid, but it was my first exposure to a woman's eyes saying (and doing) something the censors would not let her say (or do) with her mouth
23) David Farrar or Roger Livesey?
A: Roger Livesey because of Colonel Blimp
24) Performance most likely to get overlooked during the upcoming awards season
A: Well, a lot of performances will be overlooked and rightly so, but Timothy Spall deserves recognition for Mr. Turner (if not for his previous work alone). He might still get it, but I have a bad feeling he's going to get screwed, partly because his character is an asshole
25) Rock musician who, with the right project, could have been a movie star
A: Rock stars should stick to being rock stars and movie stars should stick to being movie stars
26) Second favorite Ted Post movie
A: Beneath the Planet of the Apes. It was a tough call between this and Magnum Force, but in the end I think the Apes sequel is less of a drop off from the original than the Dirty Harry sequel
27) Favorite odd couple
A: Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger because they go from hating each other to a begrudging respect and it's pretty spectacular to watch even today
28) Flicker or Zeroville?
A: Sadly, I haven't read either one but Flicker sounds more interesting
29) Favorite movie about college
A: The Social Network was nothing at all like my own college experience (I wore a Harvard t-shirt in high school but no one understood I was being ironic) but I love this movie. End of story
30) In a specific movie full of memorable turns, your favorite underappreciated performance
A: He's not exactly underappreciated, but George C. Scott generally comes after Peter Sellers when people talk about Dr. Strangelove and he shouldn't be. He's spectacular and I wish he'd done more comedy.
31) Favorite movie about parenting
A: Auntie Mame because she teaches the kid to make martinis
32) Susannah York or Sarah Miles?
A: Susannah York but only because I've liked more movies she's been in
33) Movie which best evokes the sense of place in a region with which you are well familiar
A: Short Cuts does a spectacular job of describing my adopted hometown from a dozen different angles
34) Name a favorite actor from classic movies and the contemporary performer who most evokes their presence/stature/talent
A: Clooney approximates the smooth appeal of Cary Grant about as well as you can since the studio system disappeared
35) Your favorite hot streak of any director (question submitted by Patrick Robbins, class of 2008)
A: Hal Ashby from 1970 to 1979. 10 years, 7 terrific movies: The Landlord, Harold and Maude, The Last Detail, Shampoo, Bound For Glory, Coming Home and Being There
My answers can be found here: http://pmckelway53.tumblr.com/post/94938569366/my-responses-to-the-sergio-leone-and-the-infield-fly
1) Band without their own movie, from any era, you’d most like to see get the HARD DAY’S NIGHT or HEAD treatment
I think Booker T. and the MGs. I mean, half of them were in Blues Brothers, and we know how well that turned out. Besides, the plot writes itself - "We gotta find a singer for you guys!" 90 minutes later: "Hey, they're all right just the way they are!"
2) Oliver Reed or Alan Bates?
Bates. Just a shade more relatable.
3) Best thing about the move from physical to streaming media in home video
As James Joyce said about masturbation, the amazing availability of it.
4) Worst thing about the move from physical to streaming media in home video
Not necessarily having the option to watch what you want when you want to watch it.
5) Favorite Robin Williams performance
The Fisher King. Had the same "made me laugh, made me cry" essence of Patch Adams, but with far, far fewer empty calories.
6) Second favorite Carol Reed movie
I've only seen the one, sad to say.
7) Oddest moment/concept in rock music cinema
Ann-Margaret and the baked beans in Tommy.
8) Favorite movie about growing up
It's hard not to pick Boyhood so soon after seeing it, but I want to let that marinate for a while longer. I think today I'll choose My Life as a Dog. It runs the emotional gamut and totally brings the viewer into its world.
9) Most welcomed nudity, full or partial, in a movie (question submitted by Peter Nellhaus, class of 2004)
Here's a funny answer - the toplessness of Purity Busch in Screwballs. The whole movie's raison d'etre was to see her with her top off, and the instant it happened, the credits started rolling. I don't know if a movie has ever been so naked about its purpose, no pun intended but totally intended.
10) Least welcomed nudity, nude or partial, in a movie (question submitted by Peter Nellhaus, class of 2004)
Kathy Bates in About Schmidt. Important to the plot, yes. Well handled, certainly. I just didn't welcome it, that's all.
11) Last movie watched, in a theater, on DVD/Blu-ray, via streaming
Theater: Life Itself. DVD: The Men Who Stare at Goats. Streaming: MST3K's version of The Creeping Terror.
12) Second favorite Bertrand Blier movie
Pass.
13) Googie Withers or Sally Gray?
Sally Gray, just because I like how she quit while she was still ahead.
14) Name a piece of advice derived from a movie or movie
character that you’ve heeded in real life
"Visions are worth fighting for. Why spend your life making someone else's dreams?" - Orson Welles in Ed Wood
15) Favorite movie about learning
I'm going to make this about school learning; otherwise I'll be parsing all day ("Well, Emilio Estevez learns how to be a repo man..."). So, The Paper Chase, for its very '70s fashion, its look at the intensity of studying and study groups, and the towering performance of John Houseman.
16) Program a double bill of movies that were announced but,
for one reason or another, never made. These could be projects cancelled outright, or films that were made, but at one time had different directors, stars, etc., attached--and your "version" of the film might be the one with that lost director, for example (question submitted by Brian Doan, class of 2007)
A Robert Altman double feature - Nashville 13, the giant sequel with Ronee Blakely as a Barbara Jean lookalike, and Hands on a Hard Body, based on the 1997 documentary.
17) Oddest mismatch of director and material
I still can't quite wrap my head around John Huston directing Annie.
18) Favorite performance by your favorite character actor
Vincent Schiavelli as Mr. Vargas in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. "I just switched to Sanka, so... have a heart."
19) Favorite chase scene
The Bank Dick. Maybe not the most famous, but far and away the funniest.
20) Movie most people might not have seen that you feel like
proselytizing about right now
Right now... let's say Lakeboat. An early David Mamet play directed in 2000 by Joe Mantegna (his only movie direction credit to date), it grossed five grand at the box office. But it's a great guy movie, with laugh out loud dialogue and a wonderful performance by Robert Forster.
21) Favorite movie about high school
Dazed and Confused, full stop.
22) Favorite Lauren Bacall performance
The "Anybody got a match?" scene in To Have and Have Not. Runner up: the horse talk in Big Sleep.
23) David Farrar or Roger Livesey?
Pass.
24) Performance most likely to get overlooked during the upcoming awards season
Tom Hardy in Locke, a thriller set entirely in a car during one drive. Everything Phone Booth wanted to be and couldn't.
25) Rock musician who, with the right project, could have been a movie star
A Chet Baker movie in the '50s would be a dream to watch today, but he's not a rock musician. So I'll say Bruce Springsteen. I always thought he did good work as the mechanic in the "I'm On Fire" video, and would've been interested to see if he could stretch that out to movie length.
26) Second favorite Ted Post movie
Maybe I shouldn't admit this, but Good Guys Wear Black.
27) Favorite odd couple
Martin and Lewis. What I'd give to have seen their nightclub act.
28) Flicker or Zeroville?
Never even heard of either book before this.
29) Favorite movie about college
Animal House, full stop.
30) In a specific movie full of memorable turns, your favorite underappreciated performance
Brad Sullivan as Mo Wanchuk in Slap Shot. Vulgar beyond belief but still lovable in his own way.
31) Favorite movie about parenting
The Royal Tenenbaums. Proof positive that parenting doesn't stop until the day you die.
32) Susannah York or Sarah Miles?
Oh... Susannah.
33) Movie which best evokes the sense of place in a region with
which you are well familiar
In the Bedroom was filmed in Maine, and it *gets* the state like few other things I've seen. I first saw it at the Maine International Film Festival, and when Sissy Spacek opens the fridge to reveal cans of Moxie, a murmur of approval rippled through the crowd.
34) Name a favorite actor from classic movies and the
contemporary performer who most evokes their presence/stature/talent
I always bring together Brendan Fraser and Joel McCrea. I still say Fraser has yet to be used to the utmost of his ability.
35) Your favorite hot streak of any director (question submitted by Patrick Robbins, class of 2008)
Much as I like Hal Ashby's '70s work, I have to go with Preston Sturges for writing *and* directing:
The Great McGinty (1940)
Christmas in July (1940)
The Lady Eve (1941)
Sullivan's Travels (1941)
The Palm Beach Story (1942)
The Miracle of Morgan's Creek (1944)
Hail the Conquering Hero (1944)
Seven great movies, including three all-time classics, in five years. Nobody's ever going to top that.
Man, I saw this at 6:00 Sat. morning, and there were already a bunch of answers. Still, I think I'm in the top 10.
Answers at my place: http://coolbev.blogspot.com/2014/08/did-you-know-that-school-of-rock-had.html
Duck Soup? I meant Horse Feathers.
It's been a while since I completed one of these quizzes. I've started several over the years and just never finished them because I have a tendency to over-think my answers, so I'm just going to bang this one out quickly. I'm not even really going to think about my responses at all. I'm just going to type the first thing that comes into my head.
1) Band without their own movie, from any era, you’d most like to see get the HARD DAY’S NIGHT or HEAD treatment
Not really a band, but "Weird Al" Yankovic
2) Oliver Reed or Alan Bates?
Although I liked Bates in Zefferelli's HAMLET, there really is no beating Oliver Reed, is there?
3) Best thing about the move from physical to streaming media in home video
The immediacy and convenience of being able to watch almost anything I want whenever I want.
4) Worst thing about the move from physical to streaming media in home video
Need I say it? No more video stores.
5) Favorite Robin Williams performance
So many great ones to choose from. I'm tempted to go with the one I grew up with (POPEYE), the one that first made me realize he was an excellent serious actor (AWAKENINGS) or the one for which he deservedly won his Oscar (GOOD WILL HUNTING), but in the end I' m gonna have to go with the one I've always had a soft spot for: THE FISHER KING. That was my favorite movie for a period of two years or so after I saw it. Watched it again the other night. It's still superb... as is he in it. Nobody else could have played that part. Nobody.
6) Second favorite Carol Reed movie
OLIVER! The first would naturally be THE THIRD MAN.
7) Oddest moment/concept in rock music cinema
When Harry Shearer pulls the cucumber wrapped in tinfoil out of his trousers.
8) Favorite movie about growing up
(I should probably preface this by mentiningg that I haven't seen BOYHOOD yet.)
An unusal choice perhaps, but I'm gonna have to go with Spielberg's EMPIRE OF THE SUN
9) Most welcomed nudity, full or partial, in a movie
THE SHINING
10) Least welcomed nudity, nude or partial, in a movie
THE SHINING
11) Last movie watched, in a theater, on DVD/Blu-ray, via streaming
Theatre - TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES
DVD - POPEYE
Blu-ray - MUPPETS MOST WANTED
Streaming - KING SOLOMON'S MINES (the one with Richard Chamberlain)
12) Second favorite Bertrand Blier movie
I don't know who that is.
continued...
13) Googie Withers or Sally Gray?
Pass.
14) Name a piece of advice derived from a movie or movie character that you’ve heeded in real life
Whenever I shave, I think of that great advice Jon Polito gave in MILLER'S CROSSING.
15) Favorite movie about learning
Not sure what my favorite movie about learning is, but my favorite movie about teaching is actually, believe it or not, SCHOOL OF ROCK. I'm sure it seems like I'm just trying to be a teacher's pet with this answer but it's true.
16) Program a double bill of movies that were announced but, for one reason or another, never made. These could be projects cancelled outright, or films that were made, but at one time had different directors, stars, etc., attached--and your "version" of the film might be the one with that lost director, for example
I've always been curious to see that Roger Rabbit sequel that never materialized (TOON PLATOON) and the version of GOLDENEYE that Timothy Dalton was about to do before legal issues prevented it would be interesting too.
17) Oddest mismatch of director and material
Wes Craven and MUSIC OF THE HEART
18) Favorite performance by your favorite character actor
Don't know if it's necessarily my favorite but I love Richard Libertini's crazy dictator in THE IN-LAWS.
19) Favorite chase scene
I'm gonna be completely unoriginal and say THE FRENCH COLLECTION.
20) Movie most people might not have seen that you feel like proselytizing about right now
I will proselytize about THE LONE RANGER until the day I die (as Matt Zoller Seitz said, "I'm Team Ranger."). That movie really deserved much better than it got.
21) Favorite movie about high school
FERRIS BEULLER'S DAY OFF
22) Favorite Lauren Bacall performance
THE BIG SLEEP
23) David Farrar or Roger Livesey?
Pass.
24) Performance most likely to get overlooked during the upcoming awards season
Andy Serkis' phenomenal work in DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES
continued...
25) Rock musician who, with the right project, could have been a movie star
See answer #1
26) Second favorite Ted Post movie
BENEATH THE PLANET OF THE APES
27) Favorite odd couple
Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau
28) Flicker or Zeroville?
Neither.
29) Favorite movie about college
Harold Lloyd's THE FRESHMAN
30) In a specific movie full of memorable turns, your favorite underappreciated performance
I don't know if it's "full" of memorable turns, but I always thought Richard Gere's work in PRIMAL FEAR was overshadowed by the stellar but far more flashy work done by Edward Norton.
31) Favorite movie about parenting
PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS (and not least of all because it's story resembles my own)
32) Susannah York or Sarah Miles?
York... but only because she's Superman's mother.
33) Movie which best evokes the sense of place in a region with which you are well familiar
THE HUNTED really captures Portland and the surrounding forrests very well.
34) Name a favorite actor from classic movies and the contemporary performer who most evokes their presence/stature/talent
I've said it before and shall say it again: I think GEORGE CLOONEY is the modern-day Cary Grant
35) Your favorite hot streak of any director
Every film the Coen brothers made before LADYKILLERS
1) Band without their own movie, from any era, you’d most like
to see get the HARD DAY’S NIGHT or HEAD treatment
Kimono My House-era Sparks
2) Oliver Reed or Alan Bates?
I really hate having to choose between the two, but Oliver Reed has that satanic-boy-next-door Keith Moon charisma that makes me want to join him in whatever he’s doing even though I know it will end badly.
3) Best thing about the move from physical to streaming media in home video
It’s 2 am, you’ve had a few drinks, you’re not wearing pants, you’re eating cold leftovers from the fridge, but you’re in the mood to browse a selection of movies you don’t own and watch something.
4) Worst thing about the move from physical to streaming media in home video
(Three-way tie) The lack of information about the quality of the digital stream/the many good films that get lost in the shuffle when a newer format overtakes its predecessor in popularity/the erratic and sometimes way too brief licensing of streaming rights
5) Favorite Robin Williams performance
World’s Greatest Dad, with close competition from Popeye and Shakes the Clown
6) Second favorite Carol Reed movie
Odd Man Out
7) Oddest moment/concept in rock music cinema
Every frame of Xanadu.
8) Favorite movie about growing up
Ozu’s I Was Born, But...
9) Most welcomed nudity, full or partial, in a movie (question
submitted by Peter Nellhaus, class of 2004)
Every woman in Russ Meyer’s Up!
10) Least welcomed nudity, nude or partial, in a movie
(question submitted by Peter Nellhaus, class of 2004)
John Lithgow’s butt has its own Facebook page, but that was for a TV show. I think I’ll leave this one alone. If you have the courage to allow your nakedness to be projected on a big screen in front of strangers, you probably don’t need some guy on the Internet making fun of your body.
11) Last movie watched, in a theater, on DVD/Blu-ray, via streaming
Theater: The Straight Story (part of a complete David Lynch retrospective at the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin), DVD: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, streaming: Slacker
12) Second favorite Bertrand Blier movie
I’ve only seen two Blier films, and the one I liked the least was Too Beautiful for You
13) Googie Withers or Sally Gray?
Googie Withers, but only because I haven’t seen any Sally Gray films, though she’s got a fascinating face if the stills I looked at online are a good representation.
14) Name a piece of advice derived from a movie or movie
character that you’ve heeded in real life
“Never ask a man why he’s in a hurry.” – Eddie Coyle, from The Friends of Eddie Coyle, but George V. Higgins and his novel should probably get the credit for that one.
15) Favorite movie about learning
Truffaut double feature: The 400 Blows and The Wild Child
16) Program a double bill of movies that were announced but,
for one reason or another, never made. These could be
projects cancelled outright, or films that were made, but at
one time had different directors, stars, etc., attached--
and your "version" of the film might be the one with that
lost director, for example (question submitted by
Brian Doan, class of 2007)
David Cronenberg’s Frankenstein and Abel Ferrara’s Jekyll & Hyde
17) Oddest mismatch of director and material
John Huston and Annie
18) Favorite performance by your favorite character actor
My favorite Harry Dean Stanton performance is all of them, but right now I’m riding high off his trailer park landlord in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me
19) Favorite chase scene
I love the wrong-way-down-the-freeway chase in To Live and Die in L.A.
20) Movie most people might not have seen that you feel like
proselytizing about right now
I saw Matthew Gordon’s The Dynamiter at the Austin Film Festival a few years ago, and I wish this gorgeous little understated Southern drama had received wider distribution and more press attention.
21) Favorite movie about high school
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
22) Favorite Lauren Bacall performance
The Big Sleep
23) David Farrar or Roger Livesey?
Roger Livesey
24) Performance most likely to get overlooked during the
upcoming awards season
Ralph Fiennes in The Grand Budapest Hotel and Scarlett Johansson in Under the Skin
25) Rock musician who, with the right project, could have been
a movie star
It’s easy for me to imagine Jim Morrison, especially with his film school background, starring in some early ‘70s Hal Ashby or Arthur Penn movie if he hadn’t let the booze and drugs take him down.
26) Second favorite Ted Post movie
I’m going to go with the sentimental choice and pick childhood favorite Beneath the Planet of the Apes
27) Favorite odd couple
Minnie & Moskowitz
28) Flicker or Zeroville?
Haven’t read either.
29) Favorite movie about college
Strange Behavior
30) In a specific movie full of memorable turns, your favorite
underappreciated performance
Melinda Dillon in Magnolia
31) Favorite movie about parenting
Taking Off
32) Susannah York or Sarah Miles?
Sarah Miles
33) Movie which best evokes the sense of place in a region with
which you are well familiar
I grew up in a small, rural town in Nebraska, and Alexander Payne’s Nebraska and Lynch’s The Straight Story both get central Midwestern small town life and its relation to the landscape just right, in very different ways.
34) Name a favorite actor from classic movies and the
contemporary performer who most evokes their
presence/stature/talent
I may be crazy, but, as he ages, Tony Leung sometimes strikes me as a kindred spirit to John Garfield. I hope his life is much longer, though.
35) Your favorite hot streak of any director (question submitted
by Patrick Robbins, class of 2008)
John Cassavetes, Faces through Love Streams.
1) Band without their own movie, from any era, you’d most like
to see get the HARD DAY’S NIGHT or HEAD treatment
Why Hal Hartley didn’t make a movie for Yo La Tengo in 1995, I don’t understand. By rights, that should have happened. This can still happen, guys.
2) Oliver Reed or Alan Bates?
Oliver Reed, because I recently rewatched The Brood, and it’s awesome.
3) Best thing about the move from physical to streaming media in home video
I can watch so many movies. Right! Now!
4) Worst thing about the move from physical to streaming media in home video
I can watch so many movies. Right! Now!
5) Favorite Robin Williams performance
I like Popeye, The World According to Garp, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Good Will Hunting, and AI, so I could easily choose any of those roles. Also, there’s his brief appearance in Hamlet which is almost as good as Bill Murray’s Polonius. And, though I don’t care for the films, Williams’s performances in The Fisher King and Cadillac Man are impressive. But, for my money, the role I’d happily watch him in any day of the week is Mel, the out-of-focus actor, in Woody Allen’s underrated Deconstructing Harry.
6) Second favorite Carol Reed movie
Easy! The Third Man. (Won’t tell you what my favorite one is—ha!)
7) Oddest moment/concept in rock music cinema
That part with the whale in I’m Not There? All of Repo Man? Nope. It’s that they had to (allegedly) air-brush some cocaine from Neil Young’s nostril in The Last Waltz.
8) Favorite movie about growing up
Kicking and Screaming (1995—not 2005).
9) Most welcomed nudity, full or partial, in a movie (question
submitted by Peter Nellhaus, class of 2004)
Mark Wahlberg’s prosthetic penis in Boogie Nights.
10) Least welcomed nudity, nude or partial, in a movie
(question submitted by Peter Nellhaus, class of 2004)
So, as much as I loved Under the Skin, I found Scarlett Johansson’s nudity at least partially problematic—not the partial/artful nudity in the first-half, but rather the full nudity later on. It wasn’t gratuitous, but it did seem to run counter to the general ideas of the film, as they relate to gender and sexuality. I’d have to rewatch the movie again to more fully develop (or dismiss) these ideas. But I did find that her nudity took me aback.
11) Last movie watched, in a theater, on DVD/Blu-ray, via streaming
In a theater: How to Train Your Dragon 2. On DVD: The Man Who Fell to Earth. Streaming: Berberian Sound Studio.
12) Second favorite Bertrand Blier movie
I plead ignorance: I’ve only seen Get Out Your Handkerchiefs.
13) Googie Withers or Sally Gray?
Going to plead ignorance again.
14) Name a piece of advice derived from a movie or movie character that you’ve heeded in real life
Harry Dean Stanton’s repo code, of course.
15) Favorite movie about learning
Wonder Boys
16) Program a double bill of movies that were announced but, for one reason or another, never made. These could be projects cancelled outright, or films that were made, but at one time had different directors, stars, etc., attached--and your "version" of the film might be the one with that lost director, for example (question submitted by
Brian Doan, class of 2007)
First, David Lynch’s Return of the Jedi. (Logically, Jodorowsky’s Dune would follow. However, I have no interest in watching that movie. Sorry.) Instead, for the second film in this double bill, let’s go with Spike Jonze’s Harold and the Purple Crayon. You know, two kids for films by directors who probably shouldn’t be directing movies for kids except by virtue of being inappropriate choices for directing children’s films should totally be directing all of them.
17) Oddest mismatch of director and material
Smiley Face seemed a bit outside Gregg Araki’s wheelhouse. It was excellent, but I’m not sure The Living End and Mysterious Skin screamed stoner comedy. (Aside: Can we please start giving Anna Faris good starring roles again??)
18) Favorite performance by your favorite character actor
Someone else said Harry Dean Stanton in Repo Man. So for variety’s sake, I’ll go with my favorite performance by my second favorite character actor: Warren Oates in Cockfighter. (For the record, second favorite performance by my favorite character actor is HDS in UFOria.)
19) Favorite chase scene
We Own the Night
20) Movie most people might not have seen that you feel like proselytizing about right now
So many choices. Can I go with one new and one old? Ok: New: Viola by Matias Pineiro, which is the best cinematic adaptation of Shakespeare in a long long time. If you liked Whedon’s Much Ado, you might hate Viola, but you shouldn’t because it’s awesome. Old: It’s been a long time, but William Richert’s Winter Kills blew my mind. Did you know that there’s a paranoid thriller-comedy starring Jeff Bridges and featuring John Huston, Tony Perkins, and Eli Wallach? Oh, and this paranoid thriller-comedy was directed by the guy playing Bob/Falstaff in My Own Private Idaho? This is a thing that happened, and you should seek it out.
21) Favorite movie about high school
Dazed and Confused
22) Favorite Lauren Bacall performance
The Big Sleep
23) David Farrar or Roger Livesey?
I prefer Livesey’s body of work as a whole but Farrar’s performance in Black Narcissus is probably better than anything Livesey did.
24) Performance most likely to get overlooked during the upcoming awards season
Scarlett Johansson in Under the Skin.
25) Rock musician who, with the right project, could have been a movie star
Jarvis Cocker
26) Second favorite Ted Post movie
Define “second favorite.” I enjoyed Hang ‘Em High. Did not care for either of the other movies of his that I’ve seen, Magnum Force and Beneath the Planet of the Apes.
27) Favorite odd couple
Walter Matthau and Bruce Dern in The Laughing Policeman
28) Flicker or Zeroville?
Zeroville has been on my to-read list, but, having read a brief description of Flicker, I think I’ll take that.
29) Favorite movie about college
Kicking and Screaming
30) In a specific movie full of memorable turns, your favorite underappreciated performance
I just rewatched Nashville. Allen Garfield’s combination of callousness, tenderness, and menace is fantastic. No one’s going to miss Ned Beatty, Lily Tomlin, Shelley Duvall, Henry Gibson, Barbara Baxley, Ronnee Blakley, etc. I mean, everyone in that movie is outstanding. But Garfield is just as good and is someone who is, I think, underappreciated in general. He holds his own against Hackman in The Conversation too.
31) Favorite movie about parenting
The 400 Blows
32) Susannah York or Sarah Miles?
Sarah Miles
33) Movie which best evokes the sense of place in a region with which you are well familiar
You Can Count on Me is set, more or less, in the region of NY where I grew up. It gets small town upstate life pretty well without condescending to the people. (See also, Donal Mosher’s October Country, a documentary that achieves a similar effect. Also, watch that movie anyway because it’s fantastic and probably underseen.)
34) Name a favorite actor from classic movies and the contemporary performer who most evokes their presence/stature/talent
I dunno. How about Joaquin Phoenix as the second-coming of James Cagney? Hear me out: Phoenix and Cagney both seem like fairly traditional masculine types on the surface, but, underneath, there’re things that makes their bravado suspect, clearly a performance. Now we just need to get Phoenix to star in some musicals.
35) Your favorite hot streak of any director (question submitted by Patrick Robbins, class of 2008)
Todd Haynes hasn’t made a bad movie since 1987. Take that, everyone else ever.
Here you go, Dennis! As usual, this was so enjoyable and inspired, my friend:
http://le0pard13.com/2014/08/22/a-back-to-school-slifr-movie-quiz-count-me-in/
Many thanks :-)
Sorry, I'm late. Posted my answers here and linked back to this post.
Better late than never. Hope I don't get points off. http://filmicability.blogspot.com/2014/08/can-you-stand-it-more-answers-for-good.html
1) Band without their own movie, from any era, you’d most like to see get the HARD DAY’S NIGHT or HEAD treatment
I imagine a Ramones film could be quite entertaining. Certainly ought to be lively! And probably quite short.
2) Oliver Reed or Alan Bates?
I like them both, but Oliver Reed always seems to have more unpredictable roles, and is more unpredictable in them – he stands out more in my imagination. So, Reed.
3) Best thing about the move from physical to streaming media in home video
Instant availability (assuming it actually is available)
4) Worst thing about the move from physical to streaming media in home video
Loss of connection, especially when it happens in the middle of a film!
5) Favorite Robin Williams performance
I think I can only narrow it down to three. For wild comic mode, the on-radio scenes in Good Morning, Vietnam. For a more serious role, Awakenings. And for “I’m just so glad this man exists” purposes, “Blame Canada” on the 2000 Oscars broadcast.
6) Second favorite Carol Reed movie
I’m pretty sure I’ve seen Oliver! but I just can’t remember it, so I’ll have to go with The Agony and the Ecstasy.
7) Oddest moment/concept in rock music cinema
I haven’t seen much, but the suit of armor/injection chamber in Tommy rather freaked me out.
8) Favorite movie about growing up
At its heart, I’d say To Kill a Mockingbird is about growing up.
9) Most welcomed nudity, full or partial, in a movie
The end of Boogie Nights.
10) Least welcomed nudity, nude or partial, in a movie
My first response was “Some totally unnecessary scene just there for titillation purposes” (I know there’s a nice term for that, and I can’t think of it). But I figured I needed an example, at least. 20 minutes later I can’t think of one. So I guess I pass on this. :)
11) Last movie watched, in a theater, on DVD/Blu-ray, via streaming
Theater: Holy moly, I think it was Inside Llewyn Davis, which was brilliant.
DVD: The Grand Budapest Hotel, which was bizarre and delightful.
Streaming: OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies. I love chicken chuckin’.
12) Second favorite Bertrand Blier movie
Tout est noir.
13) Googie Withers or Sally Gray?
I have seen Googie Withers in The Lady Vanishes, so she wins!
14) Name a piece of advice derived from a movie or movie character that you’ve heeded in real life
“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming” -- Finding Nemo.
15) Favorite movie about learning
Educating Rita
16) Program a double bill of movies that were announced but, for one reason or another, never made. These could be projects cancelled outright, or films that were made, but at one time had different directors, stars, etc., attached -- and your "version" of the film might be the one with that lost director, for example
How about an Orson Welles double feature? Don Quixote and The Other Side of the Wind.
17) Oddest mismatch of director and material
Teach, stop cribbing from past tests! :) Norman Jewison and Jesus Christ Superstar.
18) Favorite performance by your favorite character actor
William Demarest in … man, which one? Maybe The Lady Eve.
19) Favorite chase scene
So many possibilities, but I’ll say the “Huggies” chase in Raising Arizona.
20) Movie most people might not have seen that you feel like proselytizing about right now
If I’m going to proselytize, then let’s make it Jesus of Montreal.
21) Favorite movie about high school
Dazed and Confused. It certainly wasn’t my scene in high school, but I felt like I understood my sister’s experience for the first time after watching that movie.
22) Favorite Lauren Bacall performance
This is probably an odd choice, but given my age, the Lauren Bacall I think of is a slightly older one than the Bogey/Bacall era – I only saw those much later. So, my favorite is probably as Caroline Hubbard in Murder on the Orient Express.
23) David Farrar or Roger Livesey?
I’ve only seen two films each, and I’ve got to admit, was only really impressed with one of the performances, and that was David Farrar in The Small Back Room.
24) Performance most likely to get overlooked during the
upcoming awards season
Haven’t seen many of this year’s films yet. Right now, the main person I’m hoping gets recognized isn’t actually a performer (although apparently he does do some whistling in the film!) – Alexandre Desplat for his score to The Grand Budapest Hotel.
1) Band without their own movie you’d most like
to see get the HARD DAY’S NIGHT or HEAD treatment
What terror would emerge from a System of a Down movie?
2) Oliver Reed or Alan Bates?
Reed, for surviving more Ken Russell movies.
3) Best thing about the move from physical to streaming media
Never even have to get off your butt to put a movie in the player. wall-e will be reality soon.
4) Worst thing about the move from physical to streaming
Selection way too limited .
5) Favorite Robin Williams performance
The Fisher King will be as close as we will ever get to the real Robin: maniacally funny, but with a heart much too fragile to last long in this world.
7) Oddest moment/concept in rock music cinema
Ann-Margaret rolling around in baked beans on what was a white carpet in Tommy. Ken Russell at his most Ken Russell-ish.
8) Favorite movie about growing up
Melody (1971) beautifully captures that moment when you first notice someone “that way.” Melody also understands that a first crush is not about sex, but about spending time with someone, the first time her hand brushes yours, etc.
9) Most welcomed nudity in a movie
The two lovemaking scenes between Lara Harring and Naomi Watts in Mulholland DR.
10) Least welcomed nudity in a movie
Such Good Friends featured a near frontal nude scene with . . .Burgess Meredith. As disturbing as it sounds.
11) Last movie watched
The Birdcage.
14) Name a piece of advice derived from a movie or movie
character that you’ve heeded in real life
“You can act like a man!”-Vito Corleone.
15) Favorite movie about learning
The Karate Kid
16) Program a double bill of movies that were announced but,
for one reason or another, never made.
Napoleon by Stanley Kubrick, followed at midnight by David Lynch’s Ronnie Rocket.
17) Oddest mismatch of director and material
Wolf. A werewolf movie directed by Mike Nichols?
18) Favorite performance by your favorite character actor
Jack Nance in Eraserhead.
19) Favorite chase scene
The French Connection. No chase scene has seemed as flat out intense and dangerous.
20) Movie most people might not have seen that you feel like
proselytizing about right now
See Q11
21) Favorite movie about high school
Dazed and Confused-by a wide margin.
22) Favorite Lauren Bacall performance
The Shootist (1976)
24) Performance most likely to get overlooked during the
upcoming awards season
Ralph Fiennes as the comic-heroic M. Gustave in The Grand Budapest Hotel.
25) Rock musician who, with the right project, could have been
a movie star
With his handsomeness, ego and pretentiousness, I’m sure Jim Morrison would have been asked to act at some point.
26) Second favorite Ted Post movie
Beneath the Planet of the Apes
27) Favorite odd couple
Warren Oates and Alfredo Garcia’s head.
29) Favorite movie about college
Animal House.
30) In a specific movie full of memorable turns, your favorite
underappreciated performance
In American Beauty, Chris Cooper actually gives the best performance. His acting during the last 20 minutes is extraordinary.
31) Favorite movie about parenting
The “You made me play second base!” scene in Parenthood is brilliant and hilarious parody of a trauma nearly every parent faces.
32) Susannah York or Sarah Miles?
Miles for Hope and Glory
33) Movie which best evokes the sense of place in a region with
which you are well familiar
Nashville still captures the eclectic stew of liberal and conservative, church going and pot smoking, tacky and trendy, old fashioned and artistic melodies that make this city special.
34) Name a favorite actor from classic movies and the
contemporary performer
There’s only one Jimmy Stewart, but Matthew McConaughey’s performance in True Detective showed he could play someone in psychological pain, like Stewart did in Vertigo. He also has the range to play lighter, funnier roles if needed.
35) Your favorite hot streak of any director
Coppola’s incredible streak of The Godfather, The Conversation, The Godfather Part 2 and Apocalypse Now narrowly edges Hitchcock’s Vertigo, North by Northwest, Psycho trifecta.
1) Band without their own movie you’d most like
to see get the HARD DAY’S NIGHT or HEAD treatment
What terror would emerge from a System of a Down movie?
2) Oliver Reed or Alan Bates?
Reed, for surviving more Ken Russell movies.
3) Best thing about the move from physical to streaming media
Never even have to get off your butt to put a movie in the player. wall-e will be reality soon.
4) Worst thing about the move from physical to streaming
Selection way too limited .
5) Favorite Robin Williams performance
The Fisher King will be as close as we will ever get to the real Robin: maniacally funny, but with a heart much too fragile to last long in this world.
7) Oddest moment/concept in rock music cinema
Ann-Margaret rolling around in baked beans on what was a white carpet in Tommy. Ken Russell at his most Ken Russell-ish.
8) Favorite movie about growing up
Melody (1971) beautifully captures that moment when you first notice someone “that way.” Melody also understands that a first crush is not about sex, but about spending time with someone, the first time her hand brushes yours, etc.
9) Most welcomed nudity in a movie
The two lovemaking scenes between Lara Harring and Naomi Watts in Mulholland DR.
10) Least welcomed nudity in a movie
Such Good Friends featured a near frontal nude scene with . . .Burgess Meredith. As disturbing as it sounds.
11) Last movie watched
The Birdcage.
14) Name a piece of advice derived from a movie or movie
character that you’ve heeded in real life
“You can act like a man!”-Vito Corleone.
15) Favorite movie about learning
The Karate Kid
16) Program a double bill of movies that were announced but,
for one reason or another, never made.
Napoleon by Stanley Kubrick, followed at midnight by David Lynch’s Ronnie Rocket.
17) Oddest mismatch of director and material
Wolf. A werewolf movie directed by Mike Nichols?
18) Favorite performance by your favorite character actor
Jack Nance in Eraserhead.
19) Favorite chase scene
The French Connection. No chase scene has seemed as flat out intense and dangerous.
20) Movie most people might not have seen that you feel like
proselytizing about right now
See Q11
21) Favorite movie about high school
Dazed and Confused-by a wide margin.
22) Favorite Lauren Bacall performance
The Shootist (1976)
24) Performance most likely to get overlooked during the
upcoming awards season
Ralph Fiennes as the comic-heroic M. Gustave in The Grand Budapest Hotel.
25) Rock musician who, with the right project, could have been
a movie star
With his handsomeness, ego and pretentiousness, I’m sure Jim Morrison would have been asked to act at some point.
26) Second favorite Ted Post movie
Beneath the Planet of the Apes
27) Favorite odd couple
Warren Oates and Alfredo Garcia’s head.
29) Favorite movie about college
Animal House.
30) In a specific movie full of memorable turns, your favorite
underappreciated performance
In American Beauty, Chris Cooper actually gives the best performance. His acting during the last 20 minutes is extraordinary.
31) Favorite movie about parenting
The “You made me play second base!” scene in Parenthood is brilliant and hilarious parody of a trauma nearly every parent faces.
32) Susannah York or Sarah Miles?
Miles for Hope and Glory
33) Movie which best evokes the sense of place in a region with
which you are well familiar
Nashville still captures the eclectic stew of liberal and conservative, church going and pot smoking, tacky and trendy, old fashioned and artistic melodies that make this city special.
34) Name a favorite actor from classic movies and the
contemporary performer
There’s only one Jimmy Stewart, but Matthew McConaughey’s performance in True Detective showed he could play someone in psychological pain, like Stewart did in Vertigo. He also has the range to play lighter, funnier roles if needed.
35) Your favorite hot streak of any director
Coppola’s incredible streak of The Godfather, The Conversation, The Godfather Part 2 and Apocalypse Now narrowly edges Hitchcock’s Vertigo, North by Northwest, Psycho trifecta.
I'm submitting my regular contributor's answers, Dennis:
1) Band without their own movie, from any era, you’d most like to see get the HARD DAY’S NIGHT or HEAD treatment.
Either Linda Ronstadt and Stone Poneys (Who later evolved into The Eagles). Or the late, great Lowell George and Little Feat, for their ecletic”Throw anything against the microphone and see what happens” style of arranging and performing.
5) Favorite Robin Williams performance
Robin Williams’ performance as a suddenly grief stricken, out of town widower in the premiere episode of the second season of NBC’s ‘Homicide: Life on the street’.
7) Oddest moment/concept in rock music cinema
Just for the sake of argument. I’ll go with Frank Zappa and ‘200 Motels’.
8) Favorite movie about growing up
‘The Summer of ’42’. Basically for its cadre of off beat male characters.
9) Most welcomed nudity, full or partial, in a movie (question submitted by Peter Nellhaus, class of 2004)
Linda Fiorentino in Tighty Whities just before she sets up Peter Berg in ‘The Last Seduction’. Not exactly welcome, but an eerily clever piece of Psycho Drama that works flawlessly!
10) Least welcomed nudity, nude or partial, in a movie (question submitted by Peter Nellhaus, class of 2004)
Marlon Brando in many scenes in ‘The Last Tango in Paris’. Off putting, to say the least.
11) Last movie watched, in a theater, on DVD/Blu-ray, via streaming
Theater: ‘Sin City’. DVD: ‘The Bedford Incident’. I don’t stream.
14) Name a piece of advice derived from a movie or movie character that you’ve heeded in real life
Nick Nolte’s Ray Hicks from ‘Who’ll Stop The Rain’.
“I’m a white American who fought for my country. And I don’t take $hit from Martians!” has stood me well for decades.
15) Favorite movie about learning
I’ll go with ‘Fresh’ from 1992. Not exactly “book learning”. Most definitely learning about life at home. And on the street! Brought to life by a superb cast.
16) Program a double bill of movies that were announced but, for one reason or another, never made…
HBO had nearly green lighted an adaptation of Tom Clancy’s ‘Without Remorse’ with Clancy Brown as John Kelly/John Clark (Perfect casting!). Opposite John Glickenhaus’ ‘The Exterminator’ from 1980. For two completely different views of the “vengeful veteran” genre of films.
18) Favorite performance by your favorite character actor
Gene hackman’s “Popeye” Doyle strung out on heroin and explaining his preference for Hershey Bars over bland, not sweet enough French chocolate in ‘French Connection II’.
19) Favorite chase scene
Bullitt’, ‘To Live and Die in L.A.’ and ‘Ronin’.
20) Movie most people might not have seen that you feel like proselytizing about right now
Can’t argue with ‘Hickey & Boggs’! Honorable Mention(s) would include, Mamet’s ‘House of Games’ and Steve Zallian’s ‘Searching for Bobby Fischer’ for two distinct views of Joe Mantegna’s vast talents!
22) Favorite Lauren Bacall performance
‘The Big Sleep’. With equal props for Dorothy Malone and her Acme Book Shop Proprietress and her quick change from bland to very fetching!
Con't:
24) Performance most likely to get overlooked during the upcoming awards season
You can’t beat Tim Olyphant and Walton Goggins. Or any other cast member [of JUSTIFIED]
25) Rock musician who, with the right project, could have been a movie star
I’d go with Eric Clapton. Though, he’d never leave his guitar!
26) Second favorite Ted Post movie
Excellent Choice with ‘Go Tell The Spartans’! I also like Post’s work in ‘The Long Way Home’, parts 1 and 2 on ABC’s ‘Combat!’ from the 1960s.
27) Favorite odd couple
Michael Moriarty and Yaphett Kotto in ‘Report to the Commissioner’.
29) Favorite movie about college
Definitely ‘The Paper Chase’. With ‘The Sterile Cuckoo’ a close second. For Liza Minelli in a very non Liza Minnelli role as Pookie Adams.
30) In a specific movie full of memorable turns, your favorite underappreciated performance
Rod Steiger’s brief cameo as a Destroyer captain. And his comments on the size of the invasion fleet and its impact on history in ‘The Longest Day’.
31) Favorite movie about parenting
‘Yours, Mine and Ours’ and ‘With Six You Get Egg Roll’.
33) Movie which best evokes the sense of place in a region with which you are well familiar
Mamet’s ‘Homicide’. And its bare, very unflattering view of Baltimore, MD.
34) Name a favorite actor from classic movies and the contemporary performer who most evokes their presence/stature/talent
Helen Mirren and Emma Thompson. Very much passing the torch from one to the other.
35) Your favorite hot streak of any director (question submitted by Patrick Robbins, class of 2008)
Roger Corman. The unsung independent director, pioneer (The Guy With Arrows In His Back) and King of the B-Movies. And his fifteen film run from ‘The Intruder’ in 1962. To ‘The Trip’ in 1967.
1) Band without their own movie, from any era, you’d most like to see get the HARD DAY’S NIGHT or HEAD treatment.
Not a band, exactly, but I'd love to see a good movie about the Brill Building in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
2) Oliver Reed or Alan Bates?
I think I prefer Reed as a screen presence, but it's hard to forget the image of Reed acting like an ass opposite Shelley Winters on "The Tonight Show." So it's a toss-up.
5) Favorite Robin Williams performance
His anarchist bomber in "The Secret Agent."
7) Oddest moment/concept in rock music cinema
"Wild in the Streets" is pretty darn goofy.
8) Favorite movie about growing up
Diner
9) Most welcomed nudity, full or partial, in a movie
It's a godawful movie, but I'll always be grateful for the sight of Dana Delaney walking up out of a pool in her full glory in "Exit to Eden."
11) Last movie watched, in a theater, on DVD/Blu-ray, via streaming
Saw "The 100-Foot Journey" in a theater three weekends ago.
13) Googie Withers or Sally Gray?
Googie, because an entire school of architecture was named after her.
14) Name a piece of advice derived from a movie or movie character that you’ve heeded in real life
"Any damn fool can drink himself to death." - Wild Bill Hickok, "Little Big Man"
17) Oddest mismatch of director and material
I know he loved the band, but I still think Oliver Stone and the Doors is a very odd combo.
18) Favorite performance by your favorite character actor
Claude Raines in "Notorious"
20) Movie most people might not have seen that you feel like proselytizing about right now
"Man in the Saddle," directed by Andre de Toth and starring Randolph Scott. Remarkably intelligent and well-crafted for a movie I'd never heard of.
25) Rock musician who, with the right project, could have been a movie star
Chuck Berry. There's a scene in "Don't Knock the Rock with Chuck and Alan Freed where Chuck is cool, suave, witty, and dangerous, with no help from the writer or director. It struck me that he would have made a great film noir detective. Too bad he was too early to play Easy Rawlins.
29) Favorite movie about college
Animal House
30) In a specific movie full of memorable turns, your favorite underappreciated performance
Roman Bohnen as Dana Andrews' father in "The Best Years of Our Lives." The scene where he reads his son's letter of commendation is a small gem of acting that never fails to choke me up.
32) Susannah York or Sarah Miles?
Sarah Miles
33) Movie which best evokes the sense of place in a region with which you are well familiar
"Mike's Murder" (Los Angeles)
35) Your favorite hot streak of any director
Leo McCarey, from 1934 to 1939 (Duck Soup, Ruggles of Red Gap, Make Way For Tomorrow, The Awful Truth, Love Affair). Runner-up: Jonathan Demme from 1977 to 1986 (Citizens Band, Melvin and Howard, Swing Shift, Stop Making Sense, Something Wild)
Having trouble getting the last part of my quiz to post -- maybe it's too long, so I'll split it up.
25) Rock musician who, with the right project, could have been a movie star
I’m thinking Stan Ridgway. Probably more of a character actor than a star, but shoot, his songs are practically mini-movies to begin with, with him playing all the parts.
26) Second favorite Ted Post movie
I haven’t seen any of these, except perhaps for some of the TV credits. I’ll say the lesser of the two Columbos.
27) Favorite odd couple
How about an odd trio? John Lurie, Tom Waits and Roberto Benigni in Down by Law.
28) Flicker or Zeroville?
Haven’t read either one, but Flicker looks like a lot of fun.
29) Favorite movie about college
I can’t think of one I like more than The Paper Chase. Enjoyed the TV version as well.
30) In a specific movie full of memorable turns, your favorite underappreciated performance
I’ll nominate Kelly MacDonald, for two such movies -- Gosford Park and No Country for Old Men.
31) Favorite movie about parenting
Mon Oncle.
32) Susannah York or Sarah Miles?
I’m embarrassed that I’ve only seen one film each, and I fear quality of film is the rationale here – Susannah York (for A Man for All Seasons) over Sarah Miles (for Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines).
33) Movie which best evokes the sense of place in a region with which you are well familiar
I’m not that familiar with very many places. For Oregon’s Willamette Valley, perhaps Stand by Me, although it seems like it was capturing a time more than a place. No, I know, Blood Simple for West Texas. I saw it when I lived down there and actually didn’t like the film at first, I think because it hit a little too close to home, so to speak.
34) Name a favorite actor from classic movies and the contemporary performer who most evokes their presence/stature/talent
Well, since I already mentioned William Demarest, I thought I would try to figure out who most reminds me of him today. No one, truthfully. But the closest I can come up with is Steve Buscemi.
35) Your favorite hot streak of any director
I’ll still go with the Coens – only a couple of films they’ve ever done I didn’t love.
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