Two by John Sayles – I imagine he’s made a bunch more brill flicks but these are the two I’ve seen and gotta have in the Maderer Memorial Film Library.
The Brother from Another Planet – Joe Morton is an escaped mute, space alien, slave trying to find a new life on Earth. His spaceship crash lands on Ellis Island and he ends up in Harlem. He finds work, community, and tries to avoid the slave catchers.
Return of the Secaucus Seven – seven friends spend a weekend together in New Hampshire. It’s a reunion of college activist chums plus an extra or two. Relationship dramas, basketball, skinny-dipping, a dead deer, an overnight in jail – a winding story ensues.
The Big Chill was the glammed up, big money, nostagia-soundtrack, Hollywood, rip off of this.
Daughters of the Dust – an astoundingly beautiful movie by Julie Dash.
In 1902, a multigenerational family in the Gullah community on the Sea Islands off of South Carolina—former West African slaves who carried on many of their ancestors’ Yoruba traditions—struggle to maintain their cultural heritage and folklore while contemplating a migration to the mainland, even further from their roots. (source)Liquid Sky – I don't recall the story line at all BUT the movie resonated heavily because it reminded me SO much of a night I spent at a bar/club in Chicago. It was summer of 1978 or '79 and my second season with a traveling carnival. That summer we mostly traveled from neighborhood to neighborhood on the South Side with occasional forays into the suburbs. One night, after the show shut for the night, one of the ride jocks and I went to the punk club O'Banion's. Swear to god, whoever dreamed up the sets for Liquid Sky had spent a few nights at O'Banion's.
Big Night - in the 1950s, two Italian immigrant brothers on the Jersey Shore run a restaurant which is not thriving despite its great chef. The brothers arrange for a big night as a way to boost the restaurants profile – a five course free banquet with jazz/swing celeb singer Louis Prima as guest of honor. Food porn, joy, drama, and comedy follow.
God, what a great flick!
Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean – this is the movie where I discovered, and fell in love with, Robert Altman (yeah, somehow I missed everything he did before 1980 – go figure) and found out that Cher can really act. A James Dean fan club in a small West Texas town reunites after 20 years.
I saw this movie when it came out 44 years go and it still comes to mind as a true classic.
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen – who doesn’t love a Terry Gilliam movie? I mean, really now. This is Baron von Munchausen’s surreal journey to save a town from defeat. He’s swallowed by a sea-monster, takes a trip to the moon (whose King is played by an uncredited Robin Williams), dances with Venus and escapes from the Grim Reaper.
I TOTALLY need to see this again. All I’m really remembering now is how visually dazzling this was.
Run Lola Run – Lola’s boyfriend, who’s a bagman, is on the U-Bahn on his way to deliver big money to his dangerous bosses. He loses the loot and has 20 minutes to come up with replacement dough (or the original) or he gets offed. Somehow it’s up to Lola to save the day. Three different possible scenarios are played out with much running.
Just watching this, I feel like I get a good cardio workout.
Stop Making Sense – yes, I know I can’t hear the music anymore but, Jesus Psycho Killer Christ, the energy levels, the visuals, the drumming! As with Lola, just watching this, I feel like I get a solid cardio workout.
Fellini's 8½ – question: WHY is it always referred to as Fellini’s 8½? Was there another 8½? Ya know, Kronbachl’s 8½? Stawarski’s 8½? Leichenberg 8½?
Marcello Mastroianni (swoon) plays Guido Anselmi, a director whose new project – an epic science fiction movie – is collapsing around him, as is his life. I remember surreal humor. FABULOUS. My absolute favorite Fellini film.
Derivative pedophile director, Woody Allen ripped it off to make Stardust Memories. Yes, yezzz, I know it's usually called an hommage. This was my favorite of the kid fucker's movies, back before I knew of his extreme heinousosity.
Léon: The Professional – who doesn’t love a flick about an assassin who’s good with kids and platns?
Blade Runner – of fucking course!
Alien Resurrection – the best of the series, in my opinion.
Zardoz – oh C’MON! It was the early ‘70s and it was awesome.
All About Eve
To Sir, With Love
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Wings of Desire
Smoke Signals
Truly, Madly, Deeply – I went to see this by myself after Kevin died. Good thing and smart that I went to an early matinee on a weekday. I ugly, sloppy cried AND laughed throughout. God, I was a mess but WHAT a good movie.
Good Morning, Vietnam
The Fisher King
There's so many more that I want to see again. Put me in a darkened room in a comfy chair with snacks, cranberry juice and a way to order in/order up the flicks and I may never come out.
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