Doggone it, C.K. Dexter Haven. Either I'm gonna sock you or you're gonna sock me
Some of the answers to the Top Five Meme, the rest will come shortly.
Top Five Films
Harakiri
+ The Third Man - you know what I love most about this film? The way the ever present music stops when Harry Lime is trapped in the sewer. The dance is finally up, and it's so eerie. All in all a perfect film, that also has Joseph Cotton.
+ Sound of Music - see icon. This was one of first films I loved utterly. It actually made me want to be a nun. Until that is I found out what real nuns actually do, and that very few of them resemble Julie Andrews. Still, the world needs singing nuns. Its just the way things are.
+ Seven Samurai - thus began my love for all things Toshiro Mifune.
+ Harakiri - thus began my love for all things Tatsuya Nakadai.
+ Casablanca - It's the film that always manages to be on my Deserted Island list, and even though it's sometimes nearly beaten by His Girl Friday, Casablanca wins because it manages to be stirring and funny at the same time. Also it has Claude Raines.
With honourable mention going to Last of the Mohicans (don't judge me!), Out of the Past (" - No person is wholly evil! " - Well, she comes the closest"), Night of the Hunter ("Chiiildreeen!"), Nights of Cabiria (*sob!*), Tokyo Monogotari (*SOB!*), The Royal Tenenbaums(have I mentioned I'm a sucker for cinematography?) and M (If you only see one Fritz Lang film etc.)
Top five favourite things about Norway
+ The dark, morbid humour.
+ Kick ass folk music.
+ The Law of Commons. It's actually an old Viking custom, if the land is in common use it belongs to everybody and it cannot be claimed as private. So you rarely have to worry about trespassing, which is excellent if you are mushroom crazy. And I am.
+ Okay, I'll admit the nature is pretty cool.
+ Bergen.
Bergen
Top five storylines from The Wire
+ Stringer Bell, the rise and fall of, respectively.
+ Frank Sobotka, walking knowingly to his doom.
+ The character development of Carver. Such a huge, yet believable change.
+ The whole of season four.
+ And because I need something a bit sweet after all that doom, I'm rather fond of the Omar and Ronaldo lovestory. Or Omar Little in general actually.
Top five film noir style movies
The Big Heat
+ The Big Heat Fritz Lang, weirdly symbolic plot and Gloria Grahame as my favourite femme fatale ever; Debbie Marsh
+ Out of the Past So quotable it is actually painful. "- After a while all the places seem the same. - I bet you say that to all the places" or "Baby, I don't care!"
+ M - since we are talking film noir style I have to include one of the films that preceded them all. Also, Fritz Lang, Peter Lorre, late Weimar-cinema, claustrophobic cinematography and disturbing plot. I see nothing wrong here!
+ Notorious - Hitchcock, Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman and Claude Raines. In addition the cinematography is so good it is like visual candy.
+ Where the Sidewalk Ends - I have a fondness for Dana Andrews as a tortured hero, and that he is here, in a way he simply isn't in Laura. Though Gene Tierney is bland in both. And since I'm a sucker for cinematography I love the highly stylized look of this film, more than I do Laura's crazy plotlines.
Top five classic Hollywood pairings(either in real life or film)
To dispense with the classics first:
+ Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn. If nothing else, then for the glory that is Adam's Rib
+ Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart. If in movie, then The Big Sleep is a good bet.
As for on-screen couples:
+ Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant. Brining Up baby is delightful, but Philadelphia Story is pure love.
And to move away (?) from the romantic angel:
+ Cary Grant and James Stewart in Philadelphia Story. And yes, it's not technically a classic pairing, because they only did this film together (I think), but dammit I want to see more of the friendship between Mike Connor and C.K. Dexter Haven. Let them get drunk and discuss Marx! It would be glorious!
(+ and should the last not be qualified I've always had a soft spot for the craziness that was Marlene Dietrich/Jean Gabin. )
Top five films set during WWII
Kalde Spor/Cold Tracks
+ Ernie Pyle's The Story of G.I.Joe - based on war reporter Erine Pyle's reports, it chronicles an infantry company up and through the battle of Monte Cassino. Beautifully played and shot (including on location in Italy, in 1946! With the ruins and damages of war quite visible). It's one of those film's that manages to be pro-troops, yet anti-war.
+ The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp - Powell and Pressburger's strange, slightly patriotic tale that avoids preaching. Instead it is warm, thought-provoking and quite touching.
+ Kalde Spor/Cold Tracks - possible the film none of you have seen. A Norwegian war film that focuses on the trauma of the Occupation, seen through the eyes of a man that is literary haunted. It is creepy, it is beautiful and it is one of the best Norwegian films ever made.
+ The Human Condition - nine hours of the sorrowful and deeply tragic tale of a Japanese soldier trying to fight for his individuality and humanity in the Japanese Army. Wonderfully played by Tatsuya Nakadai and directed by Kobayashi. Depressing as all hell, but quite possible the best war films there is.
+ Come and See - alexandral recommended me this one, and it is incredibly good, yet I will never willingly see it again. For if ever there was a film that captured the whole "War is hell" adage...
Top five war movies where women play an important on screen role.
- I must first admit that I'm a bit disturbed by how difficult compiling this list was.
+ In Harm's way. Patricia Neal as the nurse that romances John Wayne. It could have been a boring character, but Neal makes her something special. Someone with her own agenda and great believability.
+ From Here to Eternity Deobrah Kerr and Donna Reed make out more than half of this film, and they are just as flawed and desperate as the men.
+ Der Untergang. In a sense Traudl Junge is the centre of this film. It is her naivety, her wilful ignorance and her horrid realisations that carries the emotions of the film and in my opinion gives it is power. Without her it would be just a brilliantly executed docu-drama.
+ The Battle for Algiers - the first - and only - on the list with actual female combatants, and as utterly terrifying terrorist bombers at that.
+ Mrs. Miniver - Greer Garson in her defining role. Though the film is more than a bit marred by the whole "England can take it!" theme, I am fond of the fact that one of the most successful film's of all of WWII had a female main character, and a prominent female supporting character as well. In this film it is the men that are cardboard.
----
To be honest I've always wanted someone to make a film or video that used Radiohead's Exit Music for a Film. then it turns out someone has, to the edited version of Franco Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet. The beginning is a bit slow, but it picks up and becomes excellent towards the end:
Top Five Films
Harakiri
+ The Third Man - you know what I love most about this film? The way the ever present music stops when Harry Lime is trapped in the sewer. The dance is finally up, and it's so eerie. All in all a perfect film, that also has Joseph Cotton.
+ Sound of Music - see icon. This was one of first films I loved utterly. It actually made me want to be a nun. Until that is I found out what real nuns actually do, and that very few of them resemble Julie Andrews. Still, the world needs singing nuns. Its just the way things are.
+ Seven Samurai - thus began my love for all things Toshiro Mifune.
+ Harakiri - thus began my love for all things Tatsuya Nakadai.
+ Casablanca - It's the film that always manages to be on my Deserted Island list, and even though it's sometimes nearly beaten by His Girl Friday, Casablanca wins because it manages to be stirring and funny at the same time. Also it has Claude Raines.
With honourable mention going to Last of the Mohicans (don't judge me!), Out of the Past (" - No person is wholly evil! " - Well, she comes the closest"), Night of the Hunter ("Chiiildreeen!"), Nights of Cabiria (*sob!*), Tokyo Monogotari (*SOB!*), The Royal Tenenbaums(have I mentioned I'm a sucker for cinematography?) and M (If you only see one Fritz Lang film etc.)
Top five favourite things about Norway
+ The dark, morbid humour.
+ Kick ass folk music.
+ The Law of Commons. It's actually an old Viking custom, if the land is in common use it belongs to everybody and it cannot be claimed as private. So you rarely have to worry about trespassing, which is excellent if you are mushroom crazy. And I am.
+ Okay, I'll admit the nature is pretty cool.
+ Bergen.
Bergen
Top five storylines from The Wire
+ Stringer Bell, the rise and fall of, respectively.
+ Frank Sobotka, walking knowingly to his doom.
+ The character development of Carver. Such a huge, yet believable change.
+ The whole of season four.
+ And because I need something a bit sweet after all that doom, I'm rather fond of the Omar and Ronaldo lovestory. Or Omar Little in general actually.
Top five film noir style movies
The Big Heat
+ The Big Heat Fritz Lang, weirdly symbolic plot and Gloria Grahame as my favourite femme fatale ever; Debbie Marsh
+ Out of the Past So quotable it is actually painful. "- After a while all the places seem the same. - I bet you say that to all the places" or "Baby, I don't care!"
+ M - since we are talking film noir style I have to include one of the films that preceded them all. Also, Fritz Lang, Peter Lorre, late Weimar-cinema, claustrophobic cinematography and disturbing plot. I see nothing wrong here!
+ Notorious - Hitchcock, Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman and Claude Raines. In addition the cinematography is so good it is like visual candy.
+ Where the Sidewalk Ends - I have a fondness for Dana Andrews as a tortured hero, and that he is here, in a way he simply isn't in Laura. Though Gene Tierney is bland in both. And since I'm a sucker for cinematography I love the highly stylized look of this film, more than I do Laura's crazy plotlines.
Top five classic Hollywood pairings(either in real life or film)
To dispense with the classics first:
+ Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn. If nothing else, then for the glory that is Adam's Rib
+ Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart. If in movie, then The Big Sleep is a good bet.
As for on-screen couples:
+ Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant. Brining Up baby is delightful, but Philadelphia Story is pure love.
And to move away (?) from the romantic angel:
+ Cary Grant and James Stewart in Philadelphia Story. And yes, it's not technically a classic pairing, because they only did this film together (I think), but dammit I want to see more of the friendship between Mike Connor and C.K. Dexter Haven. Let them get drunk and discuss Marx! It would be glorious!
(+ and should the last not be qualified I've always had a soft spot for the craziness that was Marlene Dietrich/Jean Gabin. )
Top five films set during WWII
Kalde Spor/Cold Tracks
+ Ernie Pyle's The Story of G.I.Joe - based on war reporter Erine Pyle's reports, it chronicles an infantry company up and through the battle of Monte Cassino. Beautifully played and shot (including on location in Italy, in 1946! With the ruins and damages of war quite visible). It's one of those film's that manages to be pro-troops, yet anti-war.
+ The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp - Powell and Pressburger's strange, slightly patriotic tale that avoids preaching. Instead it is warm, thought-provoking and quite touching.
+ Kalde Spor/Cold Tracks - possible the film none of you have seen. A Norwegian war film that focuses on the trauma of the Occupation, seen through the eyes of a man that is literary haunted. It is creepy, it is beautiful and it is one of the best Norwegian films ever made.
+ The Human Condition - nine hours of the sorrowful and deeply tragic tale of a Japanese soldier trying to fight for his individuality and humanity in the Japanese Army. Wonderfully played by Tatsuya Nakadai and directed by Kobayashi. Depressing as all hell, but quite possible the best war films there is.
+ Come and See - alexandral recommended me this one, and it is incredibly good, yet I will never willingly see it again. For if ever there was a film that captured the whole "War is hell" adage...
Top five war movies where women play an important on screen role.
- I must first admit that I'm a bit disturbed by how difficult compiling this list was.
+ In Harm's way. Patricia Neal as the nurse that romances John Wayne. It could have been a boring character, but Neal makes her something special. Someone with her own agenda and great believability.
+ From Here to Eternity Deobrah Kerr and Donna Reed make out more than half of this film, and they are just as flawed and desperate as the men.
+ Der Untergang. In a sense Traudl Junge is the centre of this film. It is her naivety, her wilful ignorance and her horrid realisations that carries the emotions of the film and in my opinion gives it is power. Without her it would be just a brilliantly executed docu-drama.
+ The Battle for Algiers - the first - and only - on the list with actual female combatants, and as utterly terrifying terrorist bombers at that.
+ Mrs. Miniver - Greer Garson in her defining role. Though the film is more than a bit marred by the whole "England can take it!" theme, I am fond of the fact that one of the most successful film's of all of WWII had a female main character, and a prominent female supporting character as well. In this film it is the men that are cardboard.
----
To be honest I've always wanted someone to make a film or video that used Radiohead's Exit Music for a Film. then it turns out someone has, to the edited version of Franco Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet. The beginning is a bit slow, but it picks up and becomes excellent towards the end:
Click to view