Playlist: The Red Shoes (1948)

Why?

1. It's a Classic, Bitch

2. Really...Martin Scorsese just dumped a ton of money into its restoration and Criterion is putting out a primo set for it

3. I heard Scorsese say this is one of his favorite films

4. Francis Ford Coppola also has said it's one of his favorite films of all time...he also uses it as inspiration for his film TETRO...he takes parts of Red Shoes literally right out and has put recreations of it in Tetro...also the lovers triangle mimics the love story between Gallo, Father and a lady.

5. Ballet...anticipation for Darren Aronofsky's "The Black Swan" coming in December

SO WHAT?
It's tough to watch old films...most times I feel that it's all been done before so why should I watch an old film with the same stories that we get now...and today the camera work and acting is better anyway. Sometimes this is true...other times you get a surprise and see something that no one can duplicate...example you say?...Citizen Kane ...I say

The Red Shoes is also a good example of a story you have seen before...love, obsession, and tragedy...but that's like every film right? Here the music is great...the dancing is real fun and never boring...the 15 minute Red Shoes ballet/film within a film is mesmerizing..and the acting by the villain of the film, Anton Walbrook is spectacular. Old style acting...really anything before 1970 feels dated...even the greats...but then again acting today is getting dated...all the comedians feel like they want to do a retread of Will Ferrell or something...any way back to a good film and a great actor...Anton plays a French Ballet Producer...who is obsessed with these dancers and buries the ones who he can't have...he looks like DeNiro in some scenes and other times looks like famous Italian directors or a French New wave actor...he's got style damn it.

The Red Shoes lives up to the hype set up for me by Coppola and Scorsese...its tough because when you sit to watch a 2 1/2 hour film about Ballet you want to make sure it's good...this my be the best.

Lifetime Movies: 1990

Winner: Goodfellas

This needs no explanation and I know Vin will have more to say in his post. What separates this from so many of the other elite films of all time is that it's just so much damn fun. Dances with Wolves? Really?

Films of Note:

The Adventures of Ford Fairlaine: The most disappointing movie ever. Phantom Menace? Ok, maybe, but...this was Andrew Dice Clay. The Diceman. Teenage Me was expecting Caligula in a leather jacket (not that I knew what Caligula was at the time). What I got was, my god, I still don't know what I got. No nudity, for one. No nudity! How was that possible. And am I remembering a koala?

Edward Scissorhands: When people talk about what a visionary Tim Burton is they're thinking about this magical modern fairy tale. This twenty year old magical not-so-modern-anymore fairy tale. Is it that he won't or that he can't make original stories like this anymore? Long sigh.

The Grifters: An absolutely underrated noir gem (produced by Martin Scorsese). Annette Bening gives one of my favorite performances ever.

Miller's Crossing: I remember hearing about this Coen Brothers film a few years later when I got to college. Particularly how it was a precursor to the Tarantino-led indie cool scene. I know I felt hipper once I saw it.

Side Out: Still the best beach volleyball movie in the history of cinema.

Tremors: One of the best "B" monster movies ever. One of those movies that just exceeds all expectations despite there being no reason that it should. Plus, my favorite sitcom dad, Michael Gross from "Family Ties", as a right-wing gun nut.

Playlist: Shutter Island (Remix)

Going in, I heard a lot about how you can see the "twist" coming from a mile away. Funny, how everyone is so smart when it comes to movies and not at any other time. (This is a far bigger pet peeve. Seriously, even if I believed you figured out the ending of a film--which I usually don't--SFW. Good for you, your brilliant mind ruined the enjoyment of watching a movie. Be proud.)

Anyway, guess what? The movie gets better AFTER the twist. The twist was never the point. Martin Scorsese doesn't need gimmicks, even when he tests his hand at a new genre. The payoff doesn't come from what happens (taking notes, Night?), but in what comes next.

If anything, this film was Marty having fun playing around with CGI and arty flourishes (to wonderful effect, I should add.) I know this may sound strange, but it's easy to forget how talented a filmmaker he is. It's too easy for him to get overshadowed by his actors' powerhouse performances or simply by the stories themselves. Maybe that's not so strange considering how long he was overlooked at the Oscars. But this movie is a great example of what he can do with a camera. I know Vin picked up on this, but there's a great overhead tracking shot when they first get to the island that reminded me of the ascent up Shining mountain.