450. Sedmikrasky

Sedmikrasky
Daisies
1966
Directed by Vera Chytilová

Note: I have no idea why is the font is freaking out but the black highlighter with white font seems to be the only way the text is readable.  I am honestly one step away from going all Office Space on this computer.

I have been busy all day procrastinating and not getting anything done so I thought I would take a break with this blog.  Now, let's take a quick guess if I am going to like this film.  It has no plot, two bratty girls, and is incredibly pretentious. 

The movie stars two characters who both happen to be named Marie.  God, I already hate it.  It is like One Hundred Years of Solitude all over again.  All right, stay on point.  The girls eat from a Tree of Knowledge and then...oh fuck it, it is all nonsense anyway.

This film was directed by a woman, which is shocking to me, since I thought that the film definitely had a male gaze.  I mean, watching two women frolic around for an hour or so does not seem like something that a woman would come up with.

Another somewhat pointless film and I hope something comes along soon to break the cycle.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

Part of the Czech New Wave.

449. Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo

Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
1966
Directed by Sergio Leone

Finally, we break the streak of dull, pretentious movies with probably the most famous spaghetti western of all time.  This is just a fun watch, which is, unfortunately, a nice change.

The three eponymous characters (guess which one Clint Eastwood is) are all completely obsessed with tracking down gold that was stolen from the Confederacy.  It is pretty reminiscent of Treasure of Sierra Madre, but there is much more manliness involved (yeah, I said it; Eastwood is manlier than Bogart).

Don't get me wrong; I think this movie is amazing.  However, I never really understood why it was considered such a masterpiece.  Sure, the scenery is amazing but it seems weird that such a fun, entertaining movie is so critically acclaimed.  Am I jaded now after seeing such boring movies?

Fantastic film and the cemetery scene is flawless.

RATING: *****

Interesting Facts:

Eli Wallach and Sergio Leone communicated in French since Wallach didn't know Italian and Leone didn't know English.

Eli Wallach almost died several times throughout filming.

Sorry for the short review but I have done a lot of writing today!

Trailer:

448. Blow-Up

Blow-Up
1966
Directed by Michelangelo Antonioni

We have reached what is probably the most pretentious film on The List.  Now that I have a better understanding of Antonioni's work, I should probably appreciate this movie more than when I first saw it a couple years ago.  Unfortunately, I still think it is a piece of pompous garbage.

A womanizing photographer believes that he accidentally took photos of a murder.  It seems like a really good premise and I would have loved to see how someone like Hitchcock might of handled it.  But instead of a really interesting mystery, we get mimes playing tennis.  If that doesn't warrant an eye roll, I don't know what does.

Now, there are certain films on this list that aren't meant to be entertaining (which is something that has always been hard for me to get used to).  However, I failed to find any truths in this movie in the midst of my boredom.

Just a dull film masquerading as something deep.  I know I am going to get some heat for this review.  I await my sentence.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

First British film to show full frontal female nudity.

Performance by the Yardbirds.  Love those guys.

447. Hold Me While I'm Naked

Hold Me While I'm Naked
1965
Directed by George Kuchar

There are some movies that leave absolutely no impression on me when I watch them.  I actually expected to hate this film while simultaneously being offended and disturbed by the images.  In truth, it really didn't get that much of a reaction from me, which was probably due to its extremely short running time.

A film director is making a porno in his mother's house.  As if that is not embarrassing enough, his main star quits.  Oh no!  Now he is a failure.

I am really not sure what the point of having this movie on The List was, unless the list makers were just really impressed by the last line: "there's a lot of things in life worth living for...isn't there?"  Really?  Are our standards this low now?

Overall, this movie sucked...didn't it?  Yes, it did.

RATING: *----

Interesting Facts:

Available on YouTube:

446. De man die zijn haar kort liet knippen

De man die zijn haar kort liet knippen
The Man Who Had His Hair Cut Short
1965
Directed by Andre Delvaux

Pictured: Subtlety

Oh my goodness, is it true Amanda? You are back?  I cried every night that you were gone!

Yes, it is true, dear readers: I have returned.  I was unable to find this movie anywhere, which brought operations to a screeching halt, since I go through The Book chronologically.  I finally got it on Amazon for the outrageous price of thirty five dollars, but I put off watching it because it was such a bore.  I just checked Amazon again and apparently, now it is being sold for only eleven dollars.  Excuse me, while I go kick something.

A few more announcements before we get started.  For one thing, I found the coolest video that somebody made online. It is a compilation of the 1001 movies and is guaranteed to make film buffs tear up.  Click here to watch it!  Also, I just want to mention that over my hiatus, my book blog won the Liebster Award (which was previously won by this blog actually).  If anyone wants to head over and read my answers on that site, click here.  All right, back to business.

Govert Miereveld is a married professor who is in love with a younger student.  As his obsession over Fran grows, it because more and more unclear if the events we are seeing are in his head or are actually happening.

Oh boy, a older unhappily married guy falling for a younger woman.  Where have we seen that before?  Oh, everywhere?  Right.  I can't even justify this as being the start of this trope, because Lolita was first.

Sorry for the short review, but I don't really have a whole lot to say on this one.  It is not worth the trouble of getting a hold of it.  I suppose the acting was pretty good.  The Man was just okay, but the Hair was fantastic.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

Made for television but released theatrically when it received positive reviews.

Quick Check In

Hi everyone!

I thought I would check in since I haven't posted in awhile.  I have been in London visiting my sister, having an amazing time visiting parks, pubs, and getting slowly addicted to Custard Creams.  Anyway, I am back in the United States, where it is ridiculously cold and Custard Cream-free.  To add to my angst, I am having trouble finding The Man Who Had His Hair Cut Short for less than thirty dollars.  If anyone has a link I could use I would appreciate it!   Otherwise, I should be back in a week after I order it on Amazon.

Amanda