Recently, I was talking to someone about who I thought were the best child actors when I was also a child. Two that really stood out to me were Elijah Wood and Joseph Mazello, and one film those two were in together was called Radio Flyer. Then I was reminded about the uniqueness of this film. Instead of reviewing the film, I wanted to have an open discussion about the ending. It deals with a tough issue; child abuse. What I’ve noticed is the way that the film ends is interpreted many different ways, and the filmmakers never came forward to say what was right and wrong. I’m interested in hearing everyone’s opinions on it. How did you interpret the ending? Obviously spoiler alerts will follow.. For those of you who haven’t seen the film, the basic premise is this: Two young boys, Mikey (Wood) and Bobby (Mazello) move in with their single mother and her boyfriend, who refers to himself as ‘The King’. It doesn’t take long for The King to start physically abusing ...
I've only seen Scream 3 which was okay but not nearly as smart as the first. I have the Disaster Artist in my queue but haven't gotten to it yet. The title of the last has always kept me at bay but maybe if I'm in the mood some day I'll give it a go.
ReplyDeleteThis is a whole little subgenre of film with many picks so I reached back a bit for three I enjoyed.
Hollywood Story (1951)-Producer Larry O’Brien (Richard Conte) decides to make a film of the infamous unsolved murder of a silent film director that had occurred decades earlier and remained shrouded in mystery. As he attempts to investigate during pre-production the truth begins to emerge and he finds his life in danger. We see behind the scenes of at the time modern filmmaking as well as the appearance of several one-time silent stars. Slightly reworked (probably because many of the participants were still living) version of the infamous real life murder of silent film director William Desmond Taylor which remains officially unsolved to this day and destroyed the careers of silent stars Mabel Normand and Mary Miles Minter and rocked the 1922 film community.
The Bad and the Beautiful (1952)-Movie producer Jonathan Shields (Kirk Douglas), ruthless and opportunistic claws his way from bottom of the barrel movies to the apex of studio system success. Along the way he enlists, uses and betrays movie star Georgia Lorrison (Lana Turner in her best screen work), director Fred Amiel (Barry Sullivan) and writer James Lee Bartlow (Dick Powell) making sworn enemies of each. Now down on his luck Shields, though his agent (Walter Pidgeon), attempts to involve them in a collaborative project but old wounds are not so easily healed. Nominated for six Oscars it won five including Adapted Screenplay and Supporting Actress (Gloria Grahame-a great actress but her role is a nothing).
Contempt (1963)-Writer Paul Laval (Michel Piccoli) is hired by boorish American producer Jeremy Prokosch (Jack Palance) to contemporize his current film’s script about Ulysses which he feels director Fritz Lang (who plays himself) is making too prosaic. Heading to the Isle of Capri with wife Camille (Brigitte Bardot) in tow he becomes enmeshed in the process of filming as his marriage disintegrates in large part due to Camille’s resentment that Paul is using her to leverage his position in the production. Directed by Jean-Luc Godard.
The Disaster Artist was easily one of my favs from last year. Me and Earl is a great little film. It's heavy, but not overly so. I haven't seen any of your picks.
DeleteI cried like a baby too when I watched Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.
ReplyDeleteThat ending was rough!
DeleteI saw The Room several years ago and The Disaster Artist did such a great job of telling the story of the original bad movie. I was hesitant about my wife watching The Disaster Artist but as it turned out she loved it and said it was very uplifting to which I would agree. One of the better films in recent times.
ReplyDeleteArlee Bird
Tossing It Out
It really did. I loved the side by side shots they did at the end too.
DeleteWell I do not believe I've seen Scream 3 but I definitely enjoyed your other two picks. The last made me cry as well.
ReplyDeleteI'd be surprised if someone didn't cry in that last one.
DeleteI still haven't seen The Disaster Artist as I'm extremely reluctant to watch The Room. Scream 3 was alright as I wished there wasn't a fourth one. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is an incredible film.
ReplyDeleteOh man you need to see The Disaster Artist!
DeleteSome nice choices here, Brittani. Have you, by chance, seen Brigsby Bear from last year? Another great movie about movies that flew way under the radar last year, but an absolute fantastic and heartwarming one at that. I'd highly recommend checking it out. :)
ReplyDeleteI have that in my Netflix queue but it hasn't made its way to the top yet. I've heard some good things about it.
DeleteI have only seen Scream 3 and it is ok but the first is the best. I haven’t seen the other 2 and wouldn’t mind seeing The Disaster Artist which reminds me of Ed Wood. Your original picks, have seen and I love them especially Bowfinger
ReplyDeleteI need to see Ed Wood, I've never managed to catch that one.
DeleteTOO MUCH WIND MACHINE BLOW ME AWAY, MY GOD!
ReplyDelete<3 <3 <3 <3 <3
DeleteMe and Earl and the Dying Girl was SO GOOD.
ReplyDeleteYes it was!
DeleteScream 3 is so much better than it gets credit for. I really loved Disaster Artist, too - I nearly fell off my chair laughing and I've never even seen The Room.
ReplyDeleteI love hearing that TDA works for people that haven't seen the original. I figured it would be required viewing, I'm glad it isn't. Personally I wish I could watch the entire Room film acted out by the actors in the Disaster Artist.
DeleteScream 3 is the only one I've seen and I do want to watch the other two too.
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy them. The Disaster Artist is my favorite of the three.
DeleteI LOVE these picks. Uh, even if I've only seen Scream 3. Apparently, I will be a mess at the end of Me, Earl & The Dying Girl...so I might want to avoid that one till I live alone under a bridge.
ReplyDeleteI can't really think of anything that hasn't been mentioned already, but I always kinda dug the flick the kids made in Super 8. Does that count?
What about Zack and Miri?
Zack and Miri disappointed me. I remember seeing that and and Role Models in the same day, I thought RM would suck and ZM would be hilarious and it ended up being the other way around.
DeleteGreat choices. God, what I would give to know where Wiseau's seemingly limitless wealth actually comes from. I love how money was no option to him in The Disaster Artist. Like... what? And Scream 3 will always have a special place in my heart.
ReplyDeletehi
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