The Silver Screen Oasis

So, I noticed that GOSFORD PARK (2002) was playing on that certain cable network.

[things get a little spoilerishy)



I saw this when it came out and LOVED IT, not one to rewatch films, I think this is the first I've seen it in 21 years, but Lord Knows I have been wrong before, I had forgotten quite a lot about it...

Like how MARVELOUS EMILY WATSON is in what borders on a LEADING ROLE- I don't always like her, but DAMN she is a STAR in this film, and I had forgotten how ABSOLUTELY EPIC the scene is where she accidentally reveals at a formal dinner that she is sleeping with The Lord of the Manor.

I had forgotten how great the songs are- especially THE LAND OF MIGHT HAVE-BEEN.

I had forgotten how AMAZING THE SOUND EFFECTS IN THIS MOVIE ARE- the RAIN in the night, the sound of music from another room, the overlapping dialogue- just some ACE SOUND EFFECTS.

I had also forgotten how THE CAMERA is almost always MOVING everso slightly to the side in this film, like the steering wheel on a car that is really, really out-of-alignment- but I mean that as a compliment.

I had forgotten ALAN BATES was in this, and that he's really really good although damn, he looks a little rough.

MICHAEL GAMBON is such a s*** in this, love him.

even some of the performances and roles that seem weak or superflous at first start to make sense as the film moves on.

This is one of the best films of the 21st century- really, left quite a mark in that it elevated MAGGIE SMITH and most especially HELEN MIRREN to next level status- the latter is one of the BEST EXAMPLES what makes a GREAT SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE- (see also: VIOLA DAVIS in DOUBT) where a performer sits much of the movie out, and then they get THEIR SCENE and DAMN, the CHEW THAT BONE TO THE MARROW and it is AMAZING. She is SO MOVING in this film, with the help of the actress who plays THE COOK whose name I am too lazy to imdb right now and I am sorry.

I have a sneaking suspicion SIR JULIAN FELLOWS might not be the nicest person in the world, but DAMN he knows how to write a script.

EILEEN ATKINS in the actress who plays THE COOK and shares a major part in the finale:

(sorry for not imdbing her mid-review)

Lorna wrote: ↑February 18th, 2024, 1:07 pm So, I noticed that GOSFORD PARK (2002) was playing on that certain cable network.

... the overlapping dialogue- just some ACE SOUND EFFECTS.

I had also forgotten how THE CAMERA is almost always MOVING everso slightly to the side in this film, like the steering wheel on a car that is really, really out-of-alignment- but I mean that as a compliment. ..

Sounds like a ROBERT ALTMAN film...

Allhallowsday wrote: ↑February 18th, 2024, 1:43 pm Sounds like a ROBERT ALTMAN film...

sadly, no SHELLEY DUVALL though.

** I should probably amend my above review to note MAGGIE SMITH and HELEN MIRREN had both been around and successful for a looooong time before their roles in this film, and both had been nominated for Academy Awards (SMITH winning 2) , but this film introduced them to a whole new generation of film goers on a very wide level- and the character Maggie Smith plays in this movie went on to basically become the same character in DOWNTON ABBEY who has become an ICON

^ I saw GOSFORD PARK when new also and liked it. I caught some of it on one of those HBO channels we're getting free which was how I remembered it's ROBERT ALTMAN. That's also how I got to see GRAN TORINO which I've looked at at least 3 times (beautiful).

Vampire Hookers (1978)


Two sailors on shore leave for the first time in a new port discover ladyboys and a cemetery crypt with unexpected features.

I believe that the only thing holding this movie back from being a campy comedy classic is the unfunny script, horrible direction and total lack of acting talent.

Watching this movie taught me that I have a foible which I had not previously expected: I am unable to suspend disbelief when vampires have tan lines. ?????

4.8/17

This movie is available for watching for free with commercials on: TubiTV but I would not recommend it.

Masha wrote: ↑February 18th, 2024, 4:50 pm Vampire Hookers (1978)


Two sailors on shore leave for the first time in a new port discover ladyboys and a cemetery crypt with unexpected features.

I believe that the only thing holding this movie back from being a campy comedy classic is the unfunny script, horrible direction and total lack of acting talent.

Watching this movie taught me that I have a foible which I had not previously expected: I am unable to suspend disbelief when vampires have tan lines. ?????

4.8/17

This movie is available for watching for free with commercials on: TubiTV but I would not recommend it.

Which makes one wonder how this perpetually tanned actor made a believable vampire, supposedly one that eschews daylight.

txfilmfan wrote: ↑February 18th, 2024, 5:08 pm
Which makes one wonder how this perpetually tanned actor made a believable vampire, supposedly one that eschews daylight.

Love at First Bite (1979) is one of my favorite movies! I am sure that he had a uniform shade all over his luscious body.

Vampires possess supernatural attractiveness. That is part of their predatory features as it allows them to mingle with attractive people. This harkens back to the ancient knowledge that healthy people are typically more attractive than unhealthy people. Healthy people have a greater amount of high-quality blood than their sickly kin have.

It is therefore somewhat believable that a vampire may have a deeply tanned body.

Possessing maggot-white breasts, mons pubis and fundament is not attractive in the general sense and so would not be part of vampire's natural shading.

The only explanations for variance in melanin concentration are exceedingly rare conditions/diseases and sunlight/UV exposure. It is beyond reason to assume that a rare metabolic imbalance would affect exactly the same areas on multiple people and only those areas on any of them.

Lorna wrote: ↑February 18th, 2024, 1:07 pm So, I noticed that GOSFORD PARK (2002) was playing on that certain cable network.

[things get a little spoilerishy)

I saw this when it came out and LOVED IT, not one to rewatch films, I think this is the first I've seen it in 21 years, but Lord Knows I have been wrong before, I had forgotten quite a lot about it...


even some of the performances and roles that seem weak or superflous at first start to make sense as the film moves on.

This is one of the best films of the 21st century- really, left quite a mark in that it elevated MAGGIE SMITH and most especially HELEN MIRREN to next level status- the latter is one of the BEST EXAMPLES what makes a GREAT SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE- (see also: VIOLA DAVIS in DOUBT) where a performer sits much of the movie out, and then they get THEIR SCENE and DAMN, the CHEW THAT BONE TO THE MARROW and it is AMAZING. She is SO MOVING in this film, with the help of the actress who plays THE COOK whose name I am too lazy to imdb right now and I am sorry.

You've made the followig comment on the TCM message boards before, LHF. I'm not sure why it always surprises me, but it does:
not one to rewatch films

As for GOSFORD PARK, it is a favorite of mine. It is one of my top three Robert Altman movies and is my favorite Altman movie without Shelley Duvall.

Helen Mirren's performance is indeed brilliant, as is Robert Altman's direction of her.

The sweetie and I have been watching the PRIME SUSPECT series (we just finished Series 1) featuring Helen Mirren in her iconic role as Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison, which is probably the role that made her a recognizable name to the mainstream American audience because PRIME SUSPECT was shown on PBS in the US.
This the first time viewing for the sweetie (who is a big fan of the POIROT series).

Jane Tennison practically chain smokes in every series. I was surprised to find out that Helen Mirren is not a smoker in real life.

Jane Tennison: "I want everyone on that route questioned, and that means everyone, I mean, including the neighbor's cat."

** you know, now that I think about it – I rewatch movies much more than I give myself credit for- although I will admit, I naturally gravitate towards new things are things I haven’t seen, or being kind of a “completist” about things – but yeah, many films deserve a rewatch.