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fluffhead34
My name is Gary and live in Ann Arbor, MI. I am 45 years old and have been a member of the IMDb since 2003. The IMDb and it's member's have been instrumental in opening my mind to all types of cinema, many that I wasn't aware of before, others that I was aware of but never took the time to check out. Now I will give almost any film/film maker a chance and more often than not I am happy I did. So many people close their mind to different styles of movies not understanding how much they are limiting themselves.
Some of the genre's that have become favorites in the last decade are; foreign films (esp. French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Swedish/Danish, Czech and German), including styles as diverse as German Expresionism, Italian Neo-Realism, French New-Wave and Surrealism just to name a few. The "silent" era of film making has become especially fascinating to me. I am a fan of film noir, slapstick and "cult" films of the 60's & 70's. I won't begin to go into my favorite directors or actors, but I have a few LISTS that are public here that will give you an idea.
Movies have always made my life more enriching, now I just have a much larger palette to choose from!
-----------Gary
Update (10-13):
Some of my favorite film-makers of all-time include;Fritz Lang,Carl T.Dreyer, Bunuel, Fellini, Bergman, Kurosawa, Truffaut, Louis Malle, Polanski to name a few, as well as Woody Allen, Scorsese, Kubrick, Hitchcock, Chaplin, Keaton, & Coppola. As far as film-makers working these days, well 10 years ago I stated that I found the independent films far more interesting than any so-called mainstream. Lately, I have been pretty disappointed on all sides. I really like the Coen Bros., P.T. Anderson, Gus Van Sant, David Lynch, Wes Anderson, Jim Jarmusch,
Christopher Nolan, Danny Boyle, Darren Aranofsky, but they're all getting older and thier films are few and far between...sigh! Oh can't forget Lars von Trier. Chan-Wook Park is simply amazing. I like a lot of S.Korean films...Joon-ho Bong is one I've got my eye on too! Anyway, as you can see I'm pretty open, you have to be to find anything original. As far as voting goes, I'm tend to rate fims a little higher than they deserve, and personally I don't believe in voting a film a one. Even some of the worst films have something that merits at least a three. I think a lot of people, correction, I KNOW, a lot of "trolls" will vote 1 on the highest rated films just to bring down the average. Get a life, Geez! Enough negativity Gary!!
So I was 34 when I joined the IMDb (hence the name fluffhead34), I just turned 45 (Sept.19 2013). It say's that I've been a member since 2004, I went through a period without any internet, and had to re-enlist. What's a couple years at my age. I kinda like that they put your membership B-day on here now. Anyway, keep an eye out for some of my lists, I don't belong to face book, or any of the other "social networks" so I can no longer read people's comments on my lists (but feel free to send me an e-mail as long as it's not offensive, I can take honest criticism though... PEACE, Gary
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Ricochet (1984)
Not just another concert documentary
Looks like I'm the first one to vote and comment on this film! I must admit that I had a heck of a time finding this page at all. I saw this documentary way back when it was (fairly) new late at night on the old "Night Flight" show that used to air on the USA cable network every Friday Night from 11pm to 7am showing all kinds of "counterculture" type programs, including drug related doc's, early propaganda films; I saw Reefer Madness for the first time on Night Flight. And of course many music related programs, if I remember correctly they would run music videos at the end of the night, from 5-7am I believe.... this is before everything went commercial. Anyway, that was the first and only place that I had seen Ricochet (until tonight after much searching), I had recorded it on VHS and had it for quite awhile, until it was either worn out or lost.
The film is a documentary filmed during David Bowie's Serious Moonlight Tour in 1983 while he was in Southeast Asia, specifically Bangkok, Singapore and Hong Kong, which is what makes it fascinating and unique. In between concert footage we see the different city's many sides. The cameras often follow Bowie as he explores the diverse areas which make up these ancient city's, from the modern city streets and skyscrapers of Hong Kong, still under British rule at the time,(the upcoming transfer of governing to Communist China in 1997 is discussed by Bowie and some residents). The areas where poverty and overpopulation are a serious problem are also featured. In Singapore he visits temples and other traditional places, even taking part in some rituals. In Bangkok he cruises the red light district, and travels down a river in a native style boat. All in all I found it a fascinating look at these countries as well as a concert documentary, with some very beautiful photography of Southeast Asia in 1984.
Nuovo Cinema Paradiso (1988)
A Beautiful Movie!
A beautiful film that celebrates life,love and the magic of cinema. I just watched the original version on TCM, and loved every minute of it. There were no scenes that dragged (for me), and the subtitles did not distract me from the wonderful camera work and cinematography which sometimes happens to me with foreign language films. No repeated viewings are needed to understand and enjoy this film.
Robert Osbourne of Turner Classic Movies spoke of the new version that is available with over 50 minutes of added footage, but said that he thought that this is one film where added footage did not improve on the original, though he left it to the viewers to decide for themselves by watching them as they are both available on DVD. I for one can not see how this film could possibly be improved upon,
but I will of course have to see for myself!
À Meia Noite Levarei Sua Alma (1964)
Coffin Joe; A GREAT CHARACTER!!
***MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS***(Mild)
I saw "Coffin Joe: At Midnight I'll Take Your Soul" last Friday (1/12/07) on IFC's new "Grindhouse". I have to say that I laughed my ass off through the whole picture. Notbecause it was dumb or not an authentic horror film, I'm sure is was quite frightening in 1964 and probably the first horror film made in Brazil. What was so amusing to me was the character of Coffin Joe,known to the townspeople as "Ze do Caixao". Director, writer and star Jose Mojica Marins created one of the most memorable characters that I've ever seen in horror films, or any films for that matter. At the beginning of the film, we are warned by a gypsy fortune teller to leave the theater if you are not sure of your courage, after 2 minutes she says "too late! it's midnight! stay if you think you are brave!" The story opens on a Friday night when the Catholic tradition is to abstain from meat, I believe that Brazil is almost exclusively Catholic. So, Coffin Joe being an atheist, sits at his window eating a leg of lamb and laughing as he watches the Catholic precession go by, SO EVIL! Later at the local tavern he forces a local to eat from another leg of lamb. Soon his sins become much larger and murder is just one of them. I loved the camera work, especially the close ups of Joe's eyes with one eyebrow raised. Joe is the town's undertaker, funeral director, and gravedigger all in one, and dresses in a black suit with a cape and a top-hat. Joe/Jose's long curled fingernails (real), complete the picture! I recommend this film to anyone who loves camp or open to the bizarre!