Movies - Take Two. Action!

[GuitarGeek]

I haven't seen it, yet, but did wonder about the title. And then I saw a segment on CBS Sunday Morning about the book, The Negro Motorist Green-Book, which was just called "the green book" and from which the movie got its title. I don't know if they mention this in the movie but it was a travel guide for African-Americans so that they could find diners, shelter, and motels that served them, as well as towns that had sundown laws.

I actually didn't have any interest in seeing the movie until I saw that segment.

Now you've got me curious to see it too.

[SteveSly]

I haven't seen it, yet, but did wonder about the title. And then I saw a segment on CBS Sunday Morning about the book, The Negro Motorist Green-Book, which was just called "the green book" and from which the movie got its title. I don't know if they mention this in the movie but it was a travel guide for African-Americans so that they could find diners, shelter, and motels that served them, as well as towns that had sundown laws.

I actually didn't have any interest in seeing the movie until I saw that segment.

Yes, the actual “Green Book” is mentioned in the movie several times. I have done quite a bit of reading on details of the movie since seeing it. One criticism of the film is that, in the movie, the places where the Green Book directed the characters were all “dive” type establishments. According to what I have read, the actual Green Book, (which was published from 1936 to 1966), featured more upscale accommodations and restaurants than are depicted in the movie. Either way it is very interesting stuff that I was not aware of before seeing the film.

[SteveSly]

I respect your opinion but it's more than a typical buddy movie. It's a period of history in the South where the racisim was a rule. There relationship centered around the racism they faced and the transition in their relationship.

Yes, I agree. I hope I am not giving the impression that I did not like the movie as I did and would definitely recommend it. I just don't know that I would consider it the best movie of the year.

[Sturgeon's Lawyer]

The "Green Book" (or a fictionalized version of it) is also at the core of Matt Ruff's Lovecraftian horror novel Lovecraft Country, which I heartily recommend.

[Hal...]

Yes, the actual “Green Book” is mentioned in the movie several times. I have done quite a bit of reading on details of the movie since seeing it. One criticism of the film is that, in the movie, the places where the Green Book directed the characters were all “dive” type establishments. According to what I have read, the actual Green Book, (which was published from 1936 to 1966), featured more upscale accommodations and restaurants than are depicted in the movie. Either way it is very interesting stuff that I was not aware of before seeing the film.

Here's the segment from CBS Sunday Morning if anyone wants to see it: Traveling with "The Green Book"

I forgot to mention the other reason I'm interested in seeing it: Linda Cardellini. I've had a crush on her since Freaks & Geeks. She's one of those rare actresses who gets better looking as they age.

[Scott Bails]

I recently watched a two-part doc on ID TV called Children of the Snow. It was generally about the murder and disappearance for four children up in the Detroit, Michigan area, but also delved into a pedophile ring in the area too. Many of the men in that ring were very wealthy, one even owning a helicopter that would transport many of the male children to a "camp" on an island (I think) somewhere around that area where men would fly in and molest the kids. One of the wealthy men, was a multi-millionaire who left the country for Amsterdam before they actually trapped him and could bring him to justice. But they would distribute kiddie porn, etc. among whatever else, and they were trying to tie them to the four murders, but afaik never did get to the bottom of it.

Gross.

And you know it's still going on, somewhere....

[GuitarGeek]

Here's the segment from CBS Sunday Morning if anyone wants to see it: Traveling with "The Green Book"

I forgot to mention the other reason I'm interested in seeing it: Linda Cardellini. I've had a crush on her since Freaks & Geeks. She's one of those rare actresses who gets better looking as they age.

Freaks And Geeks was an awesome show. Such a damn shame it was so short lived.

[MYSTERIOUS TRAVELLER]

Here's the segment from CBS Sunday Morning if anyone wants to see it: Traveling with "The Green Book"

I forgot to mention the other reason I'm interested in seeing it: Linda Cardellini. I've had a crush on her since Freaks & Geeks. She's one of those rare actresses who gets better looking as they age.

thank you for posting that. I had no idea how bad it was even into the mid-60s!

[proggy_jazzer]

Watched Free Solo last night, after seeing it win the Documentary Feature category in the Academy Awards. Breathtaking - literally, sometimes. The footage is beyond incredible, and the soundtrack is spot-on (not including the Tim McGraw tune over the credits, which I could have done without). Some fascinating glimpses inside Honnold's mind and his motivations. I can't fathom wanting to attempt free solo climbing, but this film had me on the edge of my seat with sweaty palms. Highly recommended.

[nosebone]

The wife and I finally saw "Green Book" last night. Not sure that I would agree that it is best picture of the year, but we both enjoyed it for the most part.

We watched it last night and felt the same way.

Not a lot of standout films for us in 2018.

[nycsteve]

Just watched Green Book. I havn't seen all the completion for this years Best Picture yet , but GB is a damn fine movie. Both leads were very good , and the picture hadf a great look. Well directed, respectful but not heavy handed treatment of the subject. The wife enjoyed also. I really don't think it deserved the PC hit job it got. Spike Lee really came off looking like a sore loser especially. Easy 9 of 10 IMO.

[GuitarGeek]

I really don't think it deserved the PC hit job it got. Spike Lee really came off looking like a sore loser especially.

Spike Lee always comes off like a sore loser! Remember when he tried to sue The National Network, because they were going to change their name to Spike? As if he was the first person in the world to use Spike as a proper noun.

[Hal...]

Spike Lee always comes off like a sore loser! Remember when he tried to sue The National Network, because they were going to change their name to Spike? As if he was the first person in the world to use Spike as a proper noun.

Attachment 12837

[NogbadTheBad]

[Hal...]

Incidentally, Snoopy's brother was named Spike, too.

[mozo-pg]

Just watched Green Book. I havn't seen all the completion for this years Best Picture yet , but GB is a damn fine movie. Both leads were very good , and the picture hadf a great look. Well directed, respectful but not heavy handed treatment of the subject. The wife enjoyed also.

I thought it was a fine movie.

[GuitarGeek]

Incidentally, Snoopy's brother was named Spike, too.

That's right. He wanted to make an animated version of Citizen Cane, I believe.

[progeezer]

Showtime 2 is running a 2018 2 hr. 15 min. new documentary, Eric Clapton:Life In 32 Bars, directed by Lili Zanuck, that I just finished watching.

Narrated by mostly EC himself, with input from, among many others, Chris Dreja, John Mayall, George Harrison & Roger Waters, it has some incredible footage, including The Roosters, the first band he ever played in. It spans his entire career, and he pulls no punches when it gets to his "smack" period.

Highly recommended.

[NogbadTheBad]

Saw it previously, it's very good, the smack year performances are brutal to watch.

[GuitarGeek]

Showtime 2 is running a 2018 2 hr. 15 min. new documentary, Eric Clapton:Life In 32 Bars, directed by Lili Zanuck, that I just finished watching.

I'll have to look for that. Showtime has been showing a lot of music documentaries lately. They've got a really good Jeff Beck one that I saw a couple months ago, and they've also been running one about George Michael, one about Lynyrd Skynyrd (which I posted about a few months ago), and a few others.

[SteveSly]

Showtime 2 is running a 2018 2 hr. 15 min. new documentary, Eric Clapton:Life In 32 Bars, directed by Lili Zanuck, that I just finished watching.

Narrated by mostly EC himself, with input from, among many others, Chris Dreja, John Mayall, George Harrison & Roger Waters, it has some incredible footage, including The Roosters, the first band he ever played in. It spans his entire career, and he pulls no punches when it gets to his "smack" period.

Highly recommended.

I will have to try to DVR that.

[Progatron]

Tonight we watched Victoria & Abdul, a delightful film about the latter days of Queen Victoria's life with her young Indian assistant/teacher/friend Abdul Karim. Outstanding acting from the leads (Judi Dench plays Victoria) and the film moves at a good pace, with a perfect balance of drama and light comedy. Really enjoyed it.

After only recently finishing the Victoria BBC series (season 3), it was kind of strange to jump ahead fifty or sixty years in her life, but fascinating all the same. Eddie Izzard plays her son Bertie.

[Klonk]

Caught the latest Jurassic World a few nights ago. It scratched my giant monsters itch, but that's about it. Really not that great. Passed the time fine though.

[GuitarGeek]

Watched most of an early 70's French picture called Trafic. Directed and (sort of) starring Jacques Tati (who I understand to have been a highly rated director, though he only made something like 9 feature films), the picture is basically a comedy about a crew trying to transport a prototype car from somewhere in France to Amsterdam for a car show. Interesting picture, I enjoyed it, but the DVR ran out of space near the end, hopefully, I'll get another chance to see it in the not too distant future (I may also check out more of Tati's pictures).

One scene I liked was this overhead shot of the floor of the car show, where you see people looking at several cars, opening and closing the bonnets, boot lids, doors, etc. Hard to explain, there was just something I amusing I found about the choreography of the scene. Its' one of those things like the scene in Room Service where the Marx Brothers are eating, you can't explain why it's funny, it just is. At least, to me it is.

One thing I found intriguing wast he occasional line of English I'd hear in the dialog. Someone's talking in French or Dutch, and suddenly, in the middle of that, you'll hear a few words of English. And it happens multiple times through the picture, by several different characters. Seemed strange. The way it happens in the movie, you have to figure Tati did it deliberately, but one wonders if there was a "reason" beyond "Long after I'm dead, I'm going to be making smoke pour out of some American dork's ears with this shit".

[MYSTERIOUS TRAVELLER]

opening and closing ... boot lids

American dork

if yer a Merc, its supposed to be trunk lids were you born in Britain?