Steve McQueen is Frank Bullitt, a tough as nails San Francisco police lieutenant whose witness he is protecting is killed in a mob hit, and he becomes determined to find the killer at all costs, including pissing of a powerful political figure, his boss, and his his girlfriend played by the beautiful Jacqueline Bisset.
This is a movie I always figured I needed to see for one reason and one reason only. A very beautiful and curvy 1968 Ford Mustang fastback. This car has become one of the most iconic film cars of all time, and it was a shame after owning like 4 Mustangs over the course of my life, that I had never seen this film. Hailed for it's fast car chases this was definitely a must see film on my list.
Bullitt is the prototype of which all modern cop films are based off of. You definitely see John McClain (Die Hard) or Martin Riggs (Lethal Weapon) in McQueen's character. While the movie drags in spots compared to today's action films, it's a good movie. Although it surprises me that cops in 1968 didn't have portable radios with them and it sucks when you're in a hurry that you have to use a rotary dial phone, it was great fun watching the story unfold.
This is one of those must see for guys. First...the cars. OMG...the cars. The good guy drives a green 68 Fastback and the bad guy drives a black 68 Charger RT. It's kinda like watching Megan Fox and Angelina Jolie mud wrestle. Who cares who is winning as long as it keeps going on. Women....I got nothing for you. Steve McQueen is a good looking guy with great blue eyes, so if that's ur thing and you can sit through a movie full of hot cars that kinda drags, I say suck it up for your boyfriend just once. But make him buy you a nice dinner before hand.
Monday, July 5, 2010
#3 Three Days of the Condor (1975)
Robert Redford plays a CIA analyst who is literally out to lunch when his entire office is killed, and he's forced to spend the next 72 hours on the run, trying to stay alive and figure out what happened. Redford enlists (ok...he kidnaps) the help of Faye Dunaway to find out why everyone he seems to know wants him dead.
First, I gotta say I love Robert Redford. Sneakers is one of my all time favorite movies, and his character, Condor, could easily be the character he plays in Sneakers 20 years earlier. Sydney Pollack is also one of my favorite directors and Faye Dunaway is just beautiful (well in 1975). This is a movie I remember hearing my Scoutmaster talk about when I was a kid and I never had a reason to watch it, so when it was recommended by Netflix (can I get a sponsorship please???) I knew I was going to watch it. I am so glad I did.
Although some parts had that very 1970's feel to it, others felt very timeless as far as character development goes and pacing. The only moment I really questioned is one where Redford and Dunaway get it on. But whatever, I didn't get the idea she was that into her boyfriend and so what if his girlfriend just died. Grief sex is pretty common I hear.
I'd definitely recommend this film and I think next time I watch it I'm going to watch it right before Sneakers and skip the first 5 minutes of sneakers to pretend that this is the prequel to it. Redford is a great actor and look at those eyes....how can you not love the guy.
First, I gotta say I love Robert Redford. Sneakers is one of my all time favorite movies, and his character, Condor, could easily be the character he plays in Sneakers 20 years earlier. Sydney Pollack is also one of my favorite directors and Faye Dunaway is just beautiful (well in 1975). This is a movie I remember hearing my Scoutmaster talk about when I was a kid and I never had a reason to watch it, so when it was recommended by Netflix (can I get a sponsorship please???) I knew I was going to watch it. I am so glad I did.
Although some parts had that very 1970's feel to it, others felt very timeless as far as character development goes and pacing. The only moment I really questioned is one where Redford and Dunaway get it on. But whatever, I didn't get the idea she was that into her boyfriend and so what if his girlfriend just died. Grief sex is pretty common I hear.
I'd definitely recommend this film and I think next time I watch it I'm going to watch it right before Sneakers and skip the first 5 minutes of sneakers to pretend that this is the prequel to it. Redford is a great actor and look at those eyes....how can you not love the guy.
#2 Harold and Maude (1971)
Harold is a 20 year old rich kid who is obsessed with death, and whose hobbies include pretending to commit suicide for the benefit of his mother and attend funerals. Maude is a 79 year old Holocaust survivor who embraces every second of life to its fullest. After meeting at a funeral and while Harold's mother tries to marry him off, he falls in love with Maude and announces he is going to marry her. Of course Maude has her own plans.
Ok, the sole reason I know about this movie is that Harold drives a 1959 Cadillac Miller Meteor hearse in it. You know...the hearse version of the Ghostbuster-mobile Ecto1. So after strolling through Netflixs the other day it popped up and I decided I needed to watch it. It wasn't bad. I could have done without the Cat Stevens soundtrack but hey...it's 1971. What can you do.
Once you get past the idea that Harold is like 20 and that Maude is 79 the love story and tale of growth is actually pretty good. I don't know that Harold is particularly relatable, but it's well acted all around.
I don't know that I'd watch it again, or have any real reason to tell anyone to watch it, but I did enjoy it. In all fairness there have been very few movies I've out and out disliked. I can normally find something I like about any movie. I do think it will be a while before I listen to anything by Cat Stevens though.
Ok, the sole reason I know about this movie is that Harold drives a 1959 Cadillac Miller Meteor hearse in it. You know...the hearse version of the Ghostbuster-mobile Ecto1. So after strolling through Netflixs the other day it popped up and I decided I needed to watch it. It wasn't bad. I could have done without the Cat Stevens soundtrack but hey...it's 1971. What can you do.
Once you get past the idea that Harold is like 20 and that Maude is 79 the love story and tale of growth is actually pretty good. I don't know that Harold is particularly relatable, but it's well acted all around.
I don't know that I'd watch it again, or have any real reason to tell anyone to watch it, but I did enjoy it. In all fairness there have been very few movies I've out and out disliked. I can normally find something I like about any movie. I do think it will be a while before I listen to anything by Cat Stevens though.
#1 THX 1138 (1971)
In George Lucas' directorial debut, we find Robert Duvall's character THX1138 rebeling against the system, falling in love, getting a chick knocked up and the screwball played by Donald Pleasance helping him escape from lock up.
Hmmmmm....maybe I should like find an official description somewhere and use that. But that's the gist of the story. Did I mention it's set in this futuristic Utopian kinda society? That adds a little relevance to the story.
Ever since seeing little easter eggs hidden in other GL's movies referencing this I figured I should see it, however after seeing the Phantom Menace, I honestly didn't have high hopes for anything George wrote or directed with the exception of the original Star Wars.
First let me say I didn't see the original short, I watched the bigger budget full length directors cut. I do have to say I was really surprised that I liked it. It wasn't superly well written in parts, but I enjoyed the story. I love Robert Duvall as an actor and there was a little nudity so that always bumps up a movie's view ability :). Just kidding. It was hard watching it knowing that it was basically a college film, wondering how he accomplished stuff on such a small budget, wondering how he got certain actors, so it's probably one of those movies I'd go back and research later to answer some questions about.
As a bald guy, I was happy to see everyone in the future is bald, but the white uniforms we'd have to wear will be a pain in the ass to keep clean. Of course it didn't look like bbq sauce was a problem there.
My recommendation, watch it as part of your George Lucas appreciation tour but don't expect Star Wars...or Howard the Duck. If I ever see George again I'll tell him I like it, but not to suck up to him.
Hmmmmm....maybe I should like find an official description somewhere and use that. But that's the gist of the story. Did I mention it's set in this futuristic Utopian kinda society? That adds a little relevance to the story.
Ever since seeing little easter eggs hidden in other GL's movies referencing this I figured I should see it, however after seeing the Phantom Menace, I honestly didn't have high hopes for anything George wrote or directed with the exception of the original Star Wars.
First let me say I didn't see the original short, I watched the bigger budget full length directors cut. I do have to say I was really surprised that I liked it. It wasn't superly well written in parts, but I enjoyed the story. I love Robert Duvall as an actor and there was a little nudity so that always bumps up a movie's view ability :). Just kidding. It was hard watching it knowing that it was basically a college film, wondering how he accomplished stuff on such a small budget, wondering how he got certain actors, so it's probably one of those movies I'd go back and research later to answer some questions about.
As a bald guy, I was happy to see everyone in the future is bald, but the white uniforms we'd have to wear will be a pain in the ass to keep clean. Of course it didn't look like bbq sauce was a problem there.
My recommendation, watch it as part of your George Lucas appreciation tour but don't expect Star Wars...or Howard the Duck. If I ever see George again I'll tell him I like it, but not to suck up to him.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)