Sunset Blvd. is one of those breakthrough films that shattered the image of Hollywood's glamour, showing it for what it is, a lot of phony people who sleep around for success.

I think you're comparing a lot of older films to more modern standards too much. For instance, Swanson was supposed to be overacting. She was a woman who tried to surround her life in narcissistic drama.

My review is below.

http://www.gangsterbb.net/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=6;t=007212

Although I'm not the one to judge from an objective point of view, chances are I'm guilty as charged.

And thanks for linking your review, I always enjoy seeing what others opinions were.

I only saw it once but I rather enjoyed Sunset Blvd. myself

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl ***

Gearing up for the sequel in 2 weeks with a quick rewatch. A great cast with Johnny, Orlando, Keira and Geoffrey. Plenty of humor for everyone and probably my favorite Johnny Depp character (and possibly movie) ever

A Clockwork Orange **
I had a lot of expectation out of this film, so I am a little disappointed. I admire Kubrick for choosing a bold subject and his skillful use of camera in this movie. The music is also excellent. But somehow I did not get what he wanted to convey through this film. And that leaves me a little unsatisfied at the end.

Message in a bottle.

Please watch this trailer. I think this film is more for women than men but men welcome to.
Message in a bottle trailer.

Billy Wilder Speaks
1992/Grischow & Schlöndorff

An interesting documentary, rather a set of casual interviews of 83 year old Wilder looking back on his famed filmography and discussing his impressions of different actors as well as his his own methods for writing and directing. I never knew that Wilder was such a heavily-accented Austrian, especially with an American name like Billy Wilder. His anecdotes and discussions, while sometimes rambling, were consistently interesting and entertaining, and give some sense of depth to the behind-the-scenes aspect of his films. Although most of the information presented here has since been plastered all over the internet, so there wasn't much new, it was fun to hear Wilder retell it all. Overall a solid piece for a fan of any of his films. It makes me want to see Stalag 17, Double Indemnity, and Sabrina. He most definitely was one of the great directors of his time.

3.5/5 Stars

One of the worst films ever,dont evan bother to watch this

No it is really good its just not for men.

WISE GUYS (1986) - *1/2

There is a reason why even this movie is forgotten within Brian DePalma's filmography. While evidence of his style exists, including some of his usual brilliance to it, the problem with this comedy is that it isn't funny. While that is a subjective answer, other problems include the fact that DeVito and Piscopo(ya, I forgot about him too) simply don't have the chemistry.

Then again, from the get go, how can we take seriously a premise where two loser crewmen for the Mafia lose $250,000 smackers for their boss, to which then they each are put on a special assignment that will clear their debts. The assignment for each guy? Kill the other!

I mean, DePalma I persume tries to make for some funny bits, like DeVito having to start a car, while his crew captains are betting on whatever he gets blown to bits or not, but again, WISE GUYS is a comedy that tries to be humorous, but its as flat as the floor of a very nice trunk.

Anyone ever notice how mob comedies in general are lame?

TIME AFTER TIME (1979) - ***

Before he arguably took the STAR TREK franchise to the height of its entertainment with WRATH OF KAHN, Nicholas Meyer made his directorial debut with this pleasing and actually refreshing time travel picture with a nice premise. What if the legendary sci-fi author H.G. Wells, besides writing his novel THE TIME MACHINE, had actually built one for himself in London's 1893? What if one of his friends happens to moonlight as the infamous Jack the Ripper? What if "Jack" used the machine to escape through time, and Mr. Wells(Malcolm McDowall) has to go back through time to catch him, in 1979 San Francisco.

A few things that still bug me about this movie, like the convient copout with the assumed fate of one character, but beyond that, TIME AFTER TIME is an nice movie to get one's head clean and try to express itself creatively.

THE STUNT MAN (1980) - ****

Richard Rush's career gem, this underrated picture that examines about reality and the art of making illusions, with both intercutting to the point that we have no clue which is which. An escaped conman(Railsback) flees comes to the company of an insane director (Peter O'Toole), who agrees to hide the conman in exchange for working as a stunt man on the production. Soon enough though, its quite apparent that perhaps the director wants this fugitive to do the biggest stunt of all caught on camera: His death.

Worthy picture I heavily recommend to my fellow critics like Hagen, DV, Omar, Sully, Capo, etc.

I enjoyed Analyze This, as well as Snatch, Layer Cake, Lock Stock, and Get Shorty, if you're willing to count those.

Great poster. Doesn't look like it's available to me but I'll continue to look for it.

Let me rephrase Hagen. I meant comedies in general that dealt with the American Mafia, not specifically crime in general. You know?

Anyway, STUNT MAN is on actually a pretty good DVD, last I checked, from ANCHOR BAY, the Criterion for horror/sci-fi nerds(and cheaper too, even if they fucking release the EVIL DEAD trilogy every 6 months!)

All and all I think the film is about the value of freedom and how the pressures of codes and such can destroy someone, although Alex is a very extreme example.

Yeah, I've heard you speak of it a few times... It has been added to my list, feeble being.

Sentinel *
Routine hollywood FBI/CIA traitor plot with a minor difference - it is president's security in the place of FBI/CIA. Usual car chases, helicopters, shooting sequences, good man framed, proves his innocence finally. $1 (dollar theater), 2 hours, no complaints BTW stars Michael Douglas, not that it makes any difference...

The last few weeks plus vacation.

Casino
The Sopranos: Season 1 [no rating]
The Sopranos: Season 2 [no rating]
The Sopranos: Season 3 [no rating]
The Sopranos: Season 4 [no rating]
The Roaring Twenties

Sarkar-- A Hindi tribute to a little film called The Godfather. This stars my two absolute favorite Indian actors ever, father and son Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan. Abhishek actually won an IIFA award for his portrayal of Shankar, who is like the Michael Corleone character. Well-deserved, in my opinion-- he did a fantastic job.

It's not made to be exactly an Indian version of GF, there are some things that are different in the plot, as well as the entire setting of the film and its political storyline. The director has a statement in the Special Features saying that he wasn't trying to duplicate The Godfather, only pay tribute to it. But a lot of it is very similar; it even starts with a guy coming to Sarkar and asking for justice for his daughter's rape.

This doesn't have any of the usual singing and dancing of Hindi films (which I love, but a lot of people hate, I guess) so if that would have been a deterrent in anyone's watching this movie, don't worry about it.

svsg, what does Sarkar mean, literally? Is it a title, or does it actually mean godfather, or what?

Sarkar means Government literally, but is used in this context to refer to a ruler/king. I did not like Sarkar so much because of the two villians(selvamani and the swami characters) who were made unintentionally funny. But I liked the equivalents: Selvamani - Tessio. Vishnu - combination of Sonny and Fredo, Character played by Katrina Kaif - Kay, the other girl - probably apollonia. Ram Gopal Verma is my favorite Hindi movie director. Watch "Satya", a great gangster movie made by him, one of my all time favorite Indian movies.

I hated the swami guy... although you're right, it was kind of funny, once you get over how annoying he was. He reminded me of the guy in Dus, I don't know if you saw that... but the one who at the beginning they think he's Jambhal, with the long hair. Just like the sheer evil that's in both characters made me make that connection, I guess.

And at first, I thought Vishnu was totally Sonny's character, but then I realized too, that he's actually a combination of Sonny and Fredo.

I added Satya to my Netflix list, thanks for the recommendation! I'll let you know when I watch it. Before Sarkar I hadn't seen anything by Ram Gopal Varma, but so far I like him.

24: Season 2 (4th time) ****

Ok, so its not a movie, but I don't know where else to post this.

******SPOILER ALERT******

For me, season 2 of 24 is the high point of the series. Granted...that's like choosing between which child you love more...as all 5 seasons thus far have been great. But there's just something about Season 2 that kept me more captivated than any of the other 4 seasons. The detonation of a nuclear bomb on U.S. soil, the death of George Mason, Nina Myers being granted immunity, the bombing of CTU, the death of Jack Bauer (his heart stops beating for a few moments while being interrogated), the "Marie Warner being a terrorist" twist, President Palmer being ousted when the cabinet invokes section 4 of the 25th Amendment, the Cypress recording, the cliffhanger ending involving an assassination attempt on Palmer...the list goes on. ******END SPOILERS******

I have thoroughly enjoyed EVERY season of 24...but Season 2 is my favorite...and IMO...the best the show has to offer.

GORKY PARK (1983) - ***

Based on the 1981 international best-selling detective novel of Russian copper "Arkady Renko", brought to life with William Hurt, within his decade of acting height. A refreshing take on the detective/cop mystery picture, with Masculine Idol Lee Marvin as one of the baddies.

D Generation X **
(Second Viewing)

A nice overview of one of the greatest groups in wrestling history. However, I wish it would have been a bit more in-depth with storylines like DX vs The Hart Foundation and a little longer than 1 hour.

Is this a documentary?

It's a WWE home video

Click **

Pretty disappointing as I had heard some positives about this film. Not bad overall but not the great Adam Sandler comedy I was expecting. It's been too long since I've seen an Adam Sandler movie in the theaters (The Longest Yard in May of last year)

Am I crazy or about 2 years ago I saw trailers for Click but it was callled Remote?

The Matrix ***

Great visual-effects and fighting sequences. Also Hugo Weaving was awesome as Agent Smith.

Even as the MATRIX sequels slipped further in confusion, well-meaning but flat work, and other shit further into that series, Hugo Weaving was always the man. Hell, he actually may be the only thing worth a damn in REVOLUTIONS.

Virgin Suicides **
Sophia Coppola's first movie is a drama about teenage girls who are raised in a conservative family.The narration is from the perspective of a bunch of boys in the neighborhood who are fascinated by these girls, but cannot understand them. We too are not allowed to know much about the characters. Therein lies the mystery. Very good first movie and the actors are very convincing as their respective characters.

Matrix trilogy off the top of my head.

The Matrix - 4.5/5
Reloaded - 4.5/5
Revolutions - 3/5

The first Matrix was a decent movie. The others were stupid bullshit full of pseudo-philosophy. Plus it's one of the rare instances where I watch a fight scene that gets boring after 20 minutes of the same deuchbag fighting the same guys in the same way until he grabs a pole.