End of Summer Movie Quiz: My Answers

Dennis Cozzalio presents: Dr. Smith’s Lost in the Space at the End of Summer Movie Quiz. I live for his seasonal quizzes!

I have answered (in my typical fashion) with images and Youtube clips rather than just words. It’s been soooo fun finding the right image to go with my answer, etc. Kind of a challenge … so … unfurling below are my answers!

Make sure to go visit Dennis’ most excellent site – because all of the answers in the comments-section to that particular post are awesome. Dennis has one of the best communities on the web – so go have a look!

My answers below.

1) Your favorite musical moment in a movie

In terms of ongoing emotional power (for me, I mean) this clip has to be my favorite.

His face, and its openness, in that final section – in between the 3 minute mark and the 3:30 mark … got me through the roughest patch in my life in 2002. I went into it, kind of, here.

But then I have to go with this as well:

That’s as hot as it gets. When she throws her whole body backwards, arching her back, head dropped down to the floor? GOOSEBUMPS.

Other musical moments I love:

— the final rap battle in 8 Mile
— Shipoopi in The Music Man
— John C. Reilly and Mark Wahlberg in the studio recording their “song” in Boogie Nights
— Liza Minelli singing “Maybe This Time” in Cabaret
— the opening number in Oliver!, with all the little orphans tramping through the workhouse with their bowls – brilliant
— the music that happens when you see John Travolta “strutting” down the street in Saturday Night Fever – perfection
— the entire damn film of All That Jazz
— the closing credit sequence of The Darjeeling Limited – with the train traveling along through India as the credits roll – with the wonderful Joe Dassin singing “Les Champs Elysees” – one of the most infectious, happy, and yet bittersweet songs I’ve ever heard (and I don’t even understand the lyrics since it’s in French. It doesn’t matter. Perfect music choice.)

And also:

That clip reminds me of being about 11 or 12 years old, standing out in the backyard with my friends, pre-puberty, all of us draped in beach towels for capes, strutting around in the summer dusk, singing at the top of our lungs, “I’M JUST A SWEET TRANSVESTITE FROM TRANSSEXUAL TRANSYLVANIAAAAA HA HA”. We didn’t even know what any of that meant, we just knew that what we had seen was freakin’ COOL and we wanted to act it out. I know it’s bizarre. It’s called being a child of the 1970s.

2) Ray Milland or Dana Andrews

3) Favorite Sidney Lumet movie

4) Biggest surprise of the just-past summer movie season

I haven’t seen all that much (in the theatres, anyway). But I’m going with:

I was apprehensive going to see it … just because. I loved every second of it. Well, wasn’t wacky about Cate Blanchett … but everything else? Including (most importantly) the spirit of the thing … I loved it.

5) Gene Tierney or Rita Hayworth

6) What’s the last movie you saw on DVD? In theaters?

DVD:

Theatres:

7) Irwin Allen’s finest hour?

8) What were the films where you would rather see the movie promised by the poster than the one that was actually made?

I’ve written about that poster before. It stopped me in my tracks when I was coming out of another movie. It’s arresting, it’s terrifying – it just doesn’t look like any other poster. The movie was a piece of SHIT.

9) Chow Yun-Fat or Tony Leung

I like his acting, I like his ambition for himself, I like how he talks about acting, and that he is willing to take risks. Not that Leung is not … but there’s something about Chow Yun-Fat I very much admire.

11) Favorite Russ Meyer movie

This is the only one I’ve scene so I’ll go with that.

12) Name the movie that you feel best reflects yourself, a movie you would recommend to an acquaintance that most accurately says, “This is me.”

God, I love this question. Well done, Professor.

For various reasons I won’t go into, I would have to answer:

13) Marlene Dietrich or Greta Garbo

All the way.

14) Best movie snack? Most vile movie snack?

I like to sneak in snacks, not being a candy or, really, a popcorn fan. I do enjoy putting peanut M&Ms into my unbuttered popcorn (a trick taught to me by Allison. Good stuff. Salty AND sweet. Good stuff.)

Most vile movie snack? Those nachos with the rubbery cheese. No thanks.

15) Current movie star who would be most comfortable in the classic Hollywood studio system

I know Clooney is the typical answer, and I do agree with that as well – but I think Carrey even more so.

16) Fitzcarraldo—yes or no?

Sure, why not? I saw it on the big screen, and it is literally an insane movie. Like: literally. Boats over mountains, Peruvian peasants, Klaus Kinski … but then, I’d watch Werner Herzog direct a McDonalds commercial, so take it with a grain of salt.

17) Your assignment is to book the ultimate triple bill to inaugurate your own revival theater. What three movies will we see on opening night?

18) What’s the name of your theater? (The all-time greatest answer to this question was once provided by Larry Aydlette, whose repertory cinema, the Demarest, is, I hope, still packing them in…)

Hippodrome Redux

19) Favorite Leo McCarey movie

No contest:


20) Most impressive debut performance by an actor/actress.

I fluctuate on this question between two choices:

and

Two extraordinary debuts. Their work is far more sophisticated than their experience would show. Fantastic performances, both of them.

21) Biggest disappointment of the just-past summer movie season

Probably The Dark Knight, although, like I said, I haven’t seen everything.

22) Michelle Yeoh or Maggie Cheung

I must choose her because she gave what I consider to be one of the greatest performances ever given by an actress (no exaggeration) in 1992’s Yuen Ling-yuk – a film I saw with Ted in Chicago – it’s a biopic of silent film star Ruan Ling Yu – sort of the Greta Garbo of China … and my GOD it’s an amazing film. Ted and I were hugely depressed by it. I remember we went out for dinner afterwards and kind of couldn’t shake the film. It stayed with us. Maggie Cheung is fucking unbelievable. The interesting thing about her is because she is so beautiful she is often underestimated, or just hired as “the pretty girl”. There was a similar thing going on in Yuen Ling-yuk (American title is The Actress) – where Ruan Ling Yu had to convince people she was more than a pretty face. There are moments in that film (and I have not seen it since 1992) that have stayed with me, like indelible ink. It’s difficult to find – I have it on VHS – but I seriously recommend you tracking it down, if possible.

23) 2008 inductee into the Academy of the Overrated

Please. Just go away.

24) 2008 inductee into the Academy of the Underrated

I know she’s not wasting away in silly projects, she works all the time and is always good – but it’s my belief she’s a future Oscar winner. Maybe even multiple Oscar winner. She’s terrific. I want to see her smash through into major box office clout.

25) Fritz the Cat—yes or no?

I don’t care.

26) Trevor Howard or Richard Todd

I wonder if this is because of the Saint Joan/Pope Joan connection? Is there another one to be made?

I have to go with Trevor Howard.

27) Antonioni once said, “I began taking liberties a long time ago; now it is standard practice for most directors to ignore the rules.” What filmmaker working today most fruitfully ignores the rules? What does ignoring the rules of cinema mean in 2008?

Frogs falling from the sky.
A sweet movie about the porn industry.
A 4 hour movie about an insane oil tycoon – where the first HOUR has maybe one line of dialogue.

I don’t think he’s always on target, and sometimes he misses the mark … but I appreciate way more his risk-taking than others who play it safe, only doing what they think an audience of the lowest-common-denominator will want. Now, look, I loves me some typical Hollywood fare, if it works. But I love, too, that there are wild-card artists out there – Robert Altman (well, not anymore, but …), and Almodovar, and Wes Anderson … who have their own vision and are relatively uncompromising about bringing it to fruition.

To me, focusing on narrative and character rather than just plot is really rule-breaking in today’s movie culture … where scenes seem to all have a POINT, and everything needs to be explained or over-explained. I cherish those film-makers who are not so worried about explaining everything, who leave a vast landscape in their film up to MY interpretation.

28) Favorite William Castle movie

For me, there is only one answer:

Brilliant campy ridiculous film – with random boxes of Pepsi placed strategically (for no reason) through the set because of Crawford’s connection with Pepsi. My favorite moment (maybe ever) is when Crawford, wearing Bettie Page bangs and a flowered dress, begins to act in a vaguely slutty and inappropriate way towards the psychiatrist and she lights her match off a turning record on the turnstile, shrieking the music to a halt. It is delightfully nuts. Love that movie. Alex, Eric, Mitchell and I laughed so loudly watching it that Chrisanne told us to keep it down. hahahahahaha

The clip can be seen here:

I honestly don’t know what to say. The lighting-match moment comes at 3:17. I never get sick of it. And his following line, “Why don’t you sit down?” in that context makes it even funnier. Unintentionally funny, yes, but it all adds up to a deliciously ridiculous and enjoyable film.

Here is Kim Morgan’s essay on the film – not to be missed.

29) Favorite ethnographically oriented movie

I thought about this one quite a bit. I took social studies (unfortunately) in college. I am racking my brains. Do the Right Thing came to mind. So did Wall Street. But finally – I had to go with my “favorite” – it was my favorite movie of last year as well:

30) What’s the movie coming up in 2008 you’re most looking forward to? Why?

I have watched the previews for this film maybe 20 times now. They make me laugh. I love the campiness of what I have seen (Clooney sneaking around with a giant knife, Pitt getting punched in the face by Malkovich) … and anything with Frances McDormand in a leading role is okay by me.

31) What deceased director would you want to resurrect in order that she/he might make one more film?

32) What director would you like to see, if not literally entombed, then at least go silent creatively?

Robert Zemeckis.

33) Your first movie star crush

Oh gosh, where do I start? Lance Kerwin was not, technically, a movie star, but I loved him with the burning intensity of a supernova. And I was in love with Ralph Macchio from before his Karate Kid career – I loved him from Eight is Enough (which I’ve written about here) …

I think, though, if we stick with “movie stars”, I’d have to go with:

It was more the part he played in those movies than HIM, to be honest … but honestly. Yowza.

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11 Responses to End of Summer Movie Quiz: My Answers

  1. mitchell says:

    1) Your favorite musical moment in a movie: too many…Barbra singing “I’m The Greatest Star” and “My Man” in Funny Girl…Judy singing “The Trolley Song” in Meet Me in St. Louis…Judy and Fred singing and dancing to “Alabam”” auditioning for Ziegfeld in “Easter Parade”…soo many more.

    2) Ray Milland or Dana Andrews: ambivalent

    3) Favorite Sidney Lumet movie: Network

    4) Biggest surprise of the just-past summer movie season: Mama Mia…so dumb…sooooooo fun!

    5) Gene Tierney or Rita Hayworth: Gene Tierney..i could watch The Ghost and Mrs. Muir back to back to back…

    6) What’s the last movie you saw on DVD? In theaters?: All About Eve(dvd) Chris and Don(theater)

    7) Irwin Allen’s finest hour?: “im a very skinny lady in the water!” The Poseidon Adventure

    8) What were the films where you would rather see the movie promised by the poster than the one that was actually made?: The Producers(the musical)

    9) Chow Yun-Fat or Tony Leung: Chow Yun-Fat

    10) Most pretentious movie ever: anything by Mel Gibson

    11) Favorite Russ Meyer movie: Beyond the Valley of the Dolls

    12) Name the movie that you feel best reflects yourself, a movie you would recommend to an acquaintance that most accurately says, “This is me.”: anything with Judy Garland

    13) Marlene Dietrich or Greta Garbo: Marlene…Marlene…Marlene

    14) Best movie snack? Most vile movie snack?: chocolate covered almonds are my fave(mixed with popcorn)…vile? the price of anything.

    15) Current movie star who would be most comfortable in the classic Hollywood studio system: julia Roberts..i wish she had the “woman’s picture” treatment.

    16) Fitzcarraldo—yes or no? : never saw it

    17) Your assignment is to book the ultimate triple bill to inaugurate your own revival theater. What three movies will we see on opening night?: Nashville/What’s up Doc/A Star is Born(1954)

    18) What’s the name of your theater? (The all-time greatest answer to this question was once provided by Larry Aydlette, whose repertory cinema, the Demarest, is, I hope, still packing them in…): The Avon

    19) Favorite Leo McCarey movie: Awful Truth

    20) Most impressive debut performance by an actor/actress: Madeline Kahn in What’s Up Doc? and Barbra in Funny Girl

    21) Biggest disappointment of the just-past summer movie season: The (loooooong) Dark Knight

    22) Michelle Yeoh or Maggie Cheung: Michelle Yeoh…love her.

    23) 2008 inductee into the Academy of the Overrated: Aaron Eckhart

    24) 2008 inductee into the Academy of the Underrated: Jane Lynch

    25) Fritz the Cat—yes or no? : YES

    26) Trevor Howard or Richard Todd: no opinion

    27) Antonioni once said, “I began taking liberties a long time ago; now it is standard practice for most directors to ignore the rules.” What filmmaker working today most fruitfully ignores the rules? What does ignoring the rules of cinema mean in 2008?: Almaldovar, Anderson, Todd Haynes…it means casting real actors.

    28) Favorite William Castle movie: Im with Sheila…Strait-Jacket is off the chain bad and bizarre!

    29) Favorite ethnographically oriented movie:huh?

    30) What’s the movie coming up in 2008 you’re most looking forward to? Why?: 2009 actually…Nine..i want to hear Daniel Day Lewis sing and see Sophia Loren on a big screen

    31) What deceased director would you want to resurrect in order that she/he might make one more film? : Robert Altman

    32) What director would you like to see, if not literally entombed, then at least go silent creatively?: Terry Gilliam

    33) Your first movie star crush: Ryan O’Neal in What’s Up Doc?

  2. red says:

    ARGH how could I forget Madeline Kahn?? What am I, insane???

    “PULL the door open.”

    I mean, seriously. She is so brilliant in that movie it’s uncanny.

    Love your answers, hon – I want to go to your triple feature!!

  3. red says:

    And amen to your Julia Roberts comment!

  4. mitchell says:

    wouldnt it be cool if she had a william wyler or a george cukor to shape her movies…and the photographers they had back then!

  5. red says:

    Totally. Real movies for grown-ups.

  6. mitchell says:

    and cheekbones..yesterday was Hepburn day on TCM…mmmm..today is all Spencer Tracy .

  7. red says:

    what did they show yesterday??

  8. mitchell says:

    omg…pat and mike/woman of the year/sylvia scarlett/little woman/on golden pond/philadelphia story/bringing up baby etc etc

  9. red says:

    ahhhhh! Sylvia Scarlett!!

  10. Catherine says:

    Breaking my comment virginity over here!

    That Crawford scene had me in stitches. I really need to get ahold of a copy of that film. Sounds like something my sis and I would lap up.

    I posted my answers over at my blog. Snap at some of the answers, like Dana Andrews and Burn After Reading.

    Love this blog, btw. Sláinte!

  11. red says:

    Catherine – Sláinte! What’s the URL to your blog? I’d love to read your answers!

    And seriously – if you can track down a copy of Strait-jacket do yourself a favor! It’s so weird, and you just can’t look away!

    I love when she starts listening to the record in that clip and she claps twice, randomly. It’s so so weird.

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