Film #35 of Hooptober Ocho
Well, this version certain puts opera in The Phantom of the Opera." It's a handsome production, with beautiful period costuming and sets, and several lavish opera scenes. Claude Rains is a fine actor, and he does a good job with the unassuming violinist who becomes unhinged and murders several people for perceived wrongs. Likewise, all the other major actors give decent performances as well.
So why is it that of the four versions of Phantom…
Film #27 of Hooptober Ocho
Memory, perception, and emotions collide in Louisiana, as two sisters try to navigate the secrets, betrayals, and unspoken realities in their family over the summer of 1962.
So, when I was prepping my Hooptober list, I was looking at lists of the best horror films from African-American directors, or with African-American actors, and this film kept coming up over and over again. And it is a truly excellent film.
It just isn't actually a horror…
Totoro is a perfect film; charming, magical, nostalgic. Totoro is a movie of simple beauty, of the enchantment of childhood and the magic of nature. It's a film of patience and the unfolding of life around us. It's a film with a simple story and superb animation. It's a film about wonder, about growing up, about responsibility, about children who act like children, and the profound reality of being human. A perfect film. Sit back and enjoy.
Film #16 of Smiler Grogan's Scavenger Hunt
Task 10/30: A film with a score by Danny Elfman
Film #1 of Hoop-Tober 3.0
This is a seasonal favorite of ours; we try to watch it every year. It's such a practically perfect Halloween film. The atmosphere is superbly gothic, creepy, otherworldly. This is done with every detail - the character design, the choice of color palette, and, of course, the music. Both the score and the songs really work to enhance…
