I hate to break your “rice bowl”, but the second in our series of auteur directors is none other than David “F-ing” Mamet. We watch his 2001 film, “Heist”. I’ll give you three guesses what it’s about. We also discuss the plumbing skills of Dame Judi Dench.
In Seen It, we discuss a man named Sullivan, a man named Truman and a man named Gatsby.
Love the show. Some possible Viewer’s Choices for your consideration:
Ninotchka — Because pairing uber-dramatic superstar Garbo and the great inventor of romantic comedy Ernst Lubitsch is still possibly the most unconventional and inspired pairing in cinematic history. Because it still has laughs. Because Garbo deadpans “Must you flirt?”
Duck Soup — Because it’s still the funniest comedy. Or maybe A Night At the Opera is funnier. Or Horse Feathers. Or Day at the Races. Nope. It’s Duck Soup. Because Rufus T. Firefly IS an upstart. Because “This Means War” was first uttered in this film.
The Strange Love of Martha Ivers — Because it’s really good and you probably haven’t Seen It. Because Barbara Stanwyck > Bette Davis. Because Kirk Douglas manages to keep up with her in his very first film. Because it’s a better Noir than the one you did a while back. Because the creepy aunt dies mysteriously. Because Douglas as the cowardly drunk and Van Heflin as the dangerous loner should feel wrong, but it doesn’t.
The Magnificent Ambersons — Because there’s a point, right around the middle, as the years begin to pass and the story doesn’t go anywhere close to where you assumed it would, when you think you might be watching the greatest movie ever made. Because, after the studio finished butchering the ending and hacking up Agnes Moorehead’s performance, Orson Welles allegedly buried the true uncut masterpiece on the lot where they made the original Popeye cartoons. Because Joseph Cotten doesn’t have to wear bad old-man makeup and adopt a phony southern accent and beg for cigars. But you’ve probably Seen It.
Theodora Goes Wild — Because Irene Dunne is criminally underrated and nearly forgotten. Because it’s elegant and racy and way ahead of its time.
One-Eyed Jacks — Because it was even better the first time with Brando and Karl Malden, before Clint Eastwood and Gene Hackman did a pretty respectable job with the same material. Because it’s a little bit Kubrick and a lot of Brando.