I have been waiting patiently for the seasonal movie quiz from Dennis’ stellar site – and at long last – it has arrived!! I put my answers in the comments section on Dennis’ site – and seriously, reading thru everyone’s comments makes me feel so happy – it’s just the kind of place I love, and the TONE of the comments section is also admirable, fun, opinionated, but welcoming. So make sure to visit the link above!! But I’m re-posting my answers here, because then I can link to stuff, and also put in pictures …
Thanks for yet another awesome quiz, Mr. Shoop!
1) Favorite quote from a filmmaker
“Make it true, make it seem true. And don’t have something, even in a farce like Some Like it Hot that isn’t true.” — Billy Wilder
2) A good movie from a bad director
I dislike Anthony Minghella’s movies. The English Patient stank up the field, and I thought the entire world had gone crazy for praising that piece of junk. Same with his other movies. I find him obvious, condescending, and shallow. I don’t know – he’s obviously skilled, so I can’t in all good conscience call him “bad” – let’s just say I dislike his sensibility, and I thnk he’s crap at telling stories.
HOWEVER. Truly Madly Deeply is one of my favorite movies ever. My post about it here.
3) Favorite Laurence Olivier performance
You know, I saw his King Lear – the one he did in the 80s on PBS, I think – it’s remarkable. At least I remember it being remarkable. He sometimes can be a bit actor-y for my taste (and makes me WISH I had seen him live!!) – but his King Lear was truly tragic.
4) Describe a famous location from a movie that you have visited (Bodega Bay, California, where the action in The Birds took place, for example). Was it anything like the way it was in the film? Why or why not?
The steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum. If you look at those steps, and DON’T feel like re-enacting that famous scene, there is something seriously wrong with you. My boyfriend and I used to run up them all the time – and then leap up and down in triumph – I don’t know if we ever walked normally up those steps.
5) Carlo Ponti or Dino De Laurentiis (Producer)?
I feel like I SHOULD say Dino De Laurentiis, because of Dune, and because … well … you know
6) Best movie about baseball
I’m partial to 61* – but I love most baseball movies.
7) Favorite Barbara Stanwyck performance
Ball of Fire
I mean, honestly.
8) Fast Times at Ridgemont High or Dazed and Confused?
9) What was the last movie you saw, and why? (Weâve used this one before, but your answer is presumably always going to be different, soâ¦)
Self-explanatory.
Or at least it should be.
10) Whether or not you have actually procreated or not, is there a movie you can think of that seriously affected the way you think about having kids of your own?
Nope, not really. There were a couple of afterschool specials that put the fear of God into me about having sex and getting pregnant while still in high school … but that’s not quite the same thing.
11) Favorite Katharine Hepburn performance
She has never been so moving to me than she was in that movie. I get all choked up every time I watch it.
12) A bad movie from a good director
Amistad is pretty bad, I thought.
13) Salo: The 120 Days of Sodom– yes or no?
Actually, this film was off my radar – but after reading the comments on IMDB, I feel I need to see it. So I guess yes.
14) Ben Hecht or Billy Wilder (Screenwriter)?
Ben Hecht.
15) Name the film festival youâd most want to attend, or your favorite festival that you actually have attended
I’d like to attend Cannes at least once in my life. Just for the spectacle. Also the Toronto Film Festival has always appealed to me.
I had a blast at the Montreal Film Festival a couple years ago.
16) Head or 200 Motels?
haha
200 Motels
17) Favorite cameo appearance
(Try visiting here and here for some good ideas! This question was inspired by Daniel Johnson at Film Babble)
There are so many more I can think of – I love cameos – but that’s the first one that came to mind.
18) Favorite Rosalind Russell performance
19) What movie, either currently available on DVD or not, has never received the splashy collectorâs edition treatment you think it deserves? What would such an edition include?
Well, up to 5 or 6 months ago, I would have shouted REDS, DAMMIT – but that has now been rectified.
The fact that The Magnificent Ambersons isn’t even on DVD at all is completely outrageous
20) Name a performance that everyone needs to be reminded of, for whatever reason
(Jack Nicholson is the one I am talking about. Watch him shine!)
Never forget her brilliance as a comedienne
Just because, dammit.
… in one scene in Running on Empty – now THAT is acting. The best acting I think I’ve ever seen.
He was known as a great tragic actor. That’s the beauty of how hiLARIOUS he is in Twentieth Century.
My thoughts on her incredible performance in Sudden Fear here. It’s just good to remember how GOOD she was, when she was on top of her game.
And because I must:
it would be easy for Stockwell to be overshadowed by the other three (Hepburn, Richardson and Robards) but seriously, he’s the cornerstone to the whole thing.
21) Louis B. Mayer or Harry Cohn (Studio Head)?
Well. MGM. I’m gonna go with Mayer, even though he was such an ass to Judy Garland.
22) Favorite John Wayne performance
But then there’s also The Searchers – where he reaches (in my opinion) truly tragic heights. It’s an iconic performance.
23) Naked Lunch or Barton Fink?
Barton Fink!!
24) Your Ray Harryhausen movie of choice
I have no Ray Harryhausen movie of choice.
25) Is there a movie you can think of that you feel like the world would be better off without, one that should have never been made?
Basic Instinct 2. (I also wish Forrest Gump had never happened.)
24) Favorite Dub Taylor performance
I know I’ve seen him a ton of times – but I’ll go with Bonnie and Clyde
25) If you had the choice of seeing three final movies, to go with your three last meals, before shuffling off this mortal coil, what would they be?
Quickly, with no thought beforehand:
26) And what movie theater would you choose to see them in?
The Music Box, on Southport in Chicago.
Here’s the original post – the comments are so exciting and fun to read! Thanks, Dennis – you’re the best!!
Literally, just that still from Running on Empty makes my eyes fill with tears. Best father/daughter moment ever. For me, best father/son moment is the “wanna have a catch?” from Field of Dreams. I cry every single time. Sometimes I watch it because I know I *need* to cry and that will bring it on.
1) Favorite quote from a filmmaker
(paraphrased) Dennis Hopper on Waterworld: “It’s just as hard to make a bad movie as it is to make a good one.”
2) A good movie from a bad director
Bad Boys by Michael Bay
3) Favorite Laurence Olivier performance
The Jazz Singer because it was great feeling the worldwide cringe of Jewish people everywhere. I ain’t a big Olivier fan…in college, I came in late to a film of King Lear. I said it was great except for the ham as Lear. Then everyone castigated me for having the gall to not like him. Yawn. Overdone yawn.
4) Describe a famous location from a movie that you have visited (Bodega Bay, California, where the action in The Birds took place, for example). Was it anything like the way it was in the film? Why or why not?
Griffith Observatory where James Dean and Sal Mineo get in that knife fight in “Rebel Without a Cause”. It’s an eerie place, beautiful but spooky.
5) Carlo Ponti or Dino De Laurentiis (Producer)?
Barbarella tips the scales in favor of Dino. Plus his name is Dino.
6) Best movie about baseball
Bad News Bears. Hands down. Any other famous movie adds something that real baseball doesn’t have. Treacle.
7) Favorite Barbara Stanwyck performance
Dallas.
8) Fast Times at Ridgemont High or Dazed and Confused?
Dazed and Confused. I can watch that movie over and over again. They pinpoint the perfect High School moment…the day after Junior Year. You are finally at the top of the food chain, you are out for summer, and adulthood is not quite threatening. Plus, Parker Posey and the last appropriate McConnagooglyeyebongoboy casting.
9) What was the last movie you saw, and why? (Weâve used this one before, but your answer is presumably always going to be different, soâ¦)
Harry Potter last night. If I have to say why, you just don’t get it.
10) Whether or not you have actually procreated or not, is there a movie you can think of that seriously affected the way you think about having kids of your own?
No.
11) Favorite Katharine Hepburn performance
Philadelphia Story. Sexy!
12) A bad movie from a good director
Miami Vice. Wow. I could smell the fish.
13) Salo: The 120 Days of Sodom– yes or no?
No idea, so I’ll say yes out of sheer curiosity.
14) Ben Hecht or Billy Wilder (Screenwriter)?
Can’t take the time to google Hecht so I’ll have to go with Wilder. Very comfortable with that. He’s awesome.
15) Name the film festival youâd most want to attend, or your favorite festival that you actually have attended
Cannes. No comparison. Never attended any.
16) Head or 200 Motels?
Don’t know, don’t care.
17) Favorite cameo appearance
(Try visiting here and here for some good ideas! This question was inspired by Daniel Johnson at Film Babble)
Kareem Abdul Jabbar in Airplane!
18) Favorite Rosalind Russell performance
Mame.
19) What movie, either currently available on DVD or not, has never received the splashy collectorâs edition treatment you think it deserves? What would such an edition include?
What’s Up Doc? needs outtakes, bloopers, deleted scenes, etc.
20) Name a performance that everyone needs to be reminded of, for whatever reason
George Segal in Where’s Poppa? A truly brilliant movie, truly brilliant performance. That being said, Trish Van DeVere is UNREAL in this movie.
21) Louis B. Mayer or Harry Cohn (Studio Head)?
I don’t give a shit about corporate fat cats.
22) Favorite John Wayne performance
Quiet Man.
23) Naked Lunch or Barton Fink?
Neither. Yawn.
24) Your Ray Harryhausen movie of choice
Not a clue.
25) Is there a movie you can think of that you feel like the world would be better off without, one that should have never been made?
My Blue Heaven with Steve Martin and Lick MyAnus.
24) Favorite Dub Taylor performance
Who?
25) If you had the choice of seeing three final movies, to go with your three last meals, before shuffling off this mortal coil, what would they be?
1. What’s Up, Doc?
2. Groundhog Day
3. Young Frankenstein
26) And what movie theater would you choose to see them in?
Campus Cinema
Sheil, I love that we each reference Olivier’s Lear in totally opposite ways…to each their own!
Bren – I think we might have seen it in the same class!! I saw it in that Shakespeare class in college that was a requirement – did you see it then too? with that crazy teacher who was literally in LOVE with Ophelia? It made me uncomfortable when he lectured on Hamlet.
And I love Jazz Singer. “I have ….. NO SON.”
I love your answers! Bad News Bears – yes! And totally with the What’s Up Doc bloopers – man, I have to see those!
and sniff, sniff with Campus Cinema!
Ann marie – yes yes yes!!! It’s that last moment … when she gets up and walks away and he completely falls apart. My God!!!
Yes, Walter Barker.
I have to go back to Olivier. I know I could be proven wrong over and over again and I’m sure that seeing him live was unreal, but my first reaction to him was …ewwww! Can’t help it.
I believe Dad feels the same way about Olivier.
I did like Marathon Man – but I think we’re really missing something in not having seen him live. This was a man who was able to keep 3 great Shakespearean roles in his head at the same time in order to play them in repertory. Like: WHAT?????
But he’s too actor-ish most of the time for me.
Jazz Singer is great – a very subtle performance in, uhm, not a very subtle movie.
Do you remember that we saw that on the plane on our way to Ireland when we were kids? Probably not – since all you remember about our time in Ireland is that you put salt on your cornflakes in some B&B and had to eat it.
Sheila, Bren,
Have you guys seen his “Hamlet” on film?
Holy crap.
I mean…really a life changing performance for me. It still haunts me.