Thursday Movie Picks - Historical Mysteries

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It's another mystery edition at Wandering Through The Shelves. This week we're talking about historical ones. Let's see what I came up with..


1) Changeling - I'm usually not a huge fan of Eastwood movies but I adore this one, about a real life kidnapping. Angelina Jolie gives one of her best performances. There's a few weak spots (hello Jeffrey Donovan and whatever the fuck your accent was doing) but overall, I really enjoyed this.


2) The Black Dahlia - This murder mystery is infamous. I know this movie is overwhelmingly known as "bad" but I've always enjoyed it. All the actors involved were good and the costumes and set design were lovely.


3) JFK - Back and to the left. You can't deny this film about a murdered president is very engaging. 

Comments

  1. joel65913September 8, 2022 at 11:21 AM

    I love historical films and I was looking forward to JFK but with some reservations, the length and the fact that Oliver Stone's films are a variable lot made me leery but I ended up loving it. What a cast and Stone led them well though the complex story. It's been a while since I've watched it, I should really give the film another view.

    Likewise I put off Changeling for several years because it the whole idea behind it seemed disturbing. Once I finally did I found I was right that it was very bleak but it pulled me in and held my interest. Angelina was excellent, she really should make more films.

    Speaking of disturbing The Black Dahlia case is that in spades. I was familiar with the case before I saw the film since it's been wildly notorious since it occurred with dozens of suppositions as to who actually committed the crime and Elizabeth Short's life held up as a cautionary tale of what can happen to a person's life. I didn't hate the film but I thought the script was full of plot holes, I do agree however about the performances (Fiona Shaw's was delightfully unhinged) and production design were very good.

    The first three that come to mind for me are Robert Altman's wonderful "Gosford Park", the ridiculous but very fun "Clue" and any of the many versions of Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None".

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    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamSeptember 9, 2022 at 8:08 AM

      Can't go wrong with And Then There Were None! I still think Black Dahlia is the best TV/Movie version that's out there. I watched I Am The Night a few years ago and that was incredibly dull.

      Delete
    2. joel65913September 9, 2022 at 9:20 AM

      I agree that I Am the Night was very disappointing. I stuck with it until the end because I like Chris Pine but it was curiously inert especially considering the subject matter.

      I've also seen the now very obscure 70's TV movie "Who is the Black Dahlia?" wherein Lucie Arnaz played Elizabeth Short. It wasn't terrible but it was hemmed in by its TV origins and the restrictions of the time. There hasn't been a definite version of the story made and it would be a tough assignment since the details of the crime are an open invitation to luridness. It would require someone with the skill Curtis Hanson employed in adapting L.A. Confidential in walking that fine line between storytelling and exploitation to make it work.

      Delete
    3. Brittani BurnhamSeptember 12, 2022 at 3:49 PM

      Brigit mentioned that version too! I've never seen it.

      Delete
  2. thevoid99September 8, 2022 at 2:48 PM

    We share two picks. YAY! I don't think The Black Dahlia is that bad of a film as Brian de Palma's made worse films than this as I just thought it was OK. It's a shame that it was the film that kicked de Palma out of Hollywood and he deserves better.

    I kind of wish Prince Harry becomes king and make some serious changes. Plus, I hate the way his wife has been treated. I'd like to beat the living fuck out of Piers Morgan and kick Sharon Osbourne in her fat arse.

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    1. Brittani BurnhamSeptember 9, 2022 at 8:07 AM

      It's weird that this was the film de Palma got shunned for. What was so bad? Hard no for Prince Harry being king, I think he and Meghan are insufferable dolts lol. The more Meghan talks, the less I believe her.

      Delete
  3. WandererSeptember 8, 2022 at 5:40 PM

    I've only one seen The Black Dahlia, I remember not liking it.
    I have not seen the Changeling but had thought the title was weird when it was released, I was unfamiliar with the term back then so had looked it up. The folklore is interesting.

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    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamSeptember 9, 2022 at 8:05 AM

      It was a very weird title for what the movie was, but it was eye catching. I highly recommend it.

      Delete
  4. BirgitSeptember 12, 2022 at 2:44 PM

    You picked some good ones here. I wish Angeliba made more of these films because it shows she is talented. How sad and depressing the way they treated this lady. 10bto 1 the boy was murdered by that setisl killer.
    I know about the Black Dahlia murder case and this was a bit of a disappointment. I actually like the TV movie starring Lucie Arnaz as the Black Dahlia. It's not bad.
    I havevyet yo see JFK but believe he was not killed by Oswald. I've seen some compelling documentaries on this and too many people died right after him from. MONROE to Dorothy Kilgallen. My dad always maintained she was murdered because she was ready to tell the world what she found out in her investigation.

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    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamSeptember 12, 2022 at 3:49 PM

      I don't believe Oswald killed JFK either. I wonder if we'll ever get to the bottom of that?

      Delete
  5. ThePunkTheoryOctober 25, 2022 at 9:02 AM

    Changeling was soooo chilling to watch

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