Since I could not find a youtube video link of Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox introducing director Mike Hodges 1971 British gangster classic Get Carter, readers will have to rely on his transcript (read here). The episode’s original airdate was May 20, 1990 (read here). Nothing more I can say here about this great film except that I agree with everything Cox said about it.
Here is a youtube video link to the film’s original theatrical trailer
I have posted a youtube video link below to Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox’s introduction to director Terry Gilliam’s 1985 darkly satiric masterpiece Brazil. My readers can also read his transcript here. The episode’s original airdate was May 13, 1990 (read here). What else is there to say except that I agree with everything Cox says about this film. While Michael Radford’s 1984 (released a year earlier) was very good, I too think that Brazil is the better film. For me, this is the film one gets If you take Franz Kafka’s The Trial, George Orwell’s 1984 and the surrealist humor of the Monty Python troupe and blend it into one. I do not know If I am the first person to come to that conclusion, but I would not be surprised If others have beaten me to it.
Here is a youtube video link to Alex Cox’s Moviedrome intro to Brazil
Here is another youtube video link to Alex Cox’s Moviedrome intro to Brazil that my good friend Steve (click here to see his youtube channel) reminded me to post 🙂 While both of us (and hopefully all of you readers) love the above video, I decided to post it on here to see what all of you readers prefer 🙂 But I am concluding that all of us here love both of them no matter what 🙂
Here is a youtube video link to one of the US trailers to Brazil (Universal handling domestic distribution) with praise by critics
Here is a youtube video link to that same one – only without the critical praise
Finally, here is a youtube video link to either the UK trailer (20th Century Fox handling either UK or international distribution)
Happy 2020 everybody 🙂 Well I am back, how was the Christmas and New Years of my dear readers 🙂 A new year also calls for the beginning of not only a new Moviedrome Monday entry from me, but also the first episode in the new season of Moviedrome, which in this case would be season 3. I also have a youtube video link of Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox introducing the 1976 cult classic Assault on Precinct 13 by now legendary director John Carpenter. If any of you readers are interested in reading Cox’s introductory transcript, read here. The episode’s original airdate was May 6, 1990 (read here). Though Cox has nice things to say about the film, he seems to give off the vibe that it is “overrated”, which I totally disagree with him on. I love Assault on Precinct 13, but then again, Cox has always been something of a contrarian. If any of you readers are interested in reading my list of my favorite John Carpenter films, read here.
Here is a youtube video link to Alex Cox’s Moviedrome intro of Assault on Precinct 13
Here is a youtube video link to the film’s original theatrical trailer
The last episode of Season 2 in Moviedrome is undoubtedly a memorable American classic. I have posted a youtube video link below to Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox introducing director/co-writer Billy Wilder’s 1950 Hollywood satire Sunset Boulevard. Readers can also read Cox’s intro transcript here. The episode’s original airdate was September 10, 1989 (read here). Every great thing that has ever been said about this film, I nod in agreement to. If any of you are interested in reading a list of my favorite Billy Wilder films, read here.
While this will not be my last blog entry for 2019, it will be my last one concerning the Moviedrome Mondays entries. I will resume my Moviedrome Mondays blog series in the new year (Sunday, January 12, 2020) beginning with season 3 of Moviedrome.
Here is a youtube video link to Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox’s introduction to Sunset Boulevard
Here is a youtube video link to the film’s original theatrical trailer
Since I could not find a youtube video link of Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox presenting director Alexander Mackendrick’s 1957 classic Sweet Smell of Success, readers will once again have to rely on Cox’s transcript (read here). The episode’s original airdate was September 3, 1989 (read here). What more can be said about this great film. We get two powerhouse performances by Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis, memorable dialogue from screenwriters Ernest Lehman and Clifford Odets (who was also a playwright) (you’re a cookie full of arsenic), spectacular black-and-white cinematography by the late legendary James Wong Howe and last, but not least, late great composer Elmer Bernstein’s jazzy score. I have seen all of Mackendrick’s Ealing comedies, but it has been a while since I saw his last two films, which were A High Wind in Jamaica and Don’t Make Waves, so I will have to re-watch them sometime in the future. Nevertheless, If any of you readers are interested in reading my list of my favorite Alexander Mackendrick films, read here.
Here is a youtube video link to the film’s original theatrical trailer
Once again, I could not find a youtube video link of Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox introducing director Bob Rafelson’s widely praised 1970 character study Five Easy Pieces, readers will have to rely on his intro transcript (read here). The episode’s original airdate was August 27, 1989 (read here). While I may not adore Five Easy Pieces like Cox seemingly does, I still greatly admire it. Though undoubtedly dated in some ways, it remains fascinating thanks to it’s subject matter – the working class. As Cox implies at the end of his transcript, it also contains a memorable diner scene.
BTW, my two favorite Bob Rafelson films (and they are great one) are 1972’s The King of Marvin Gardens (also with Nicholson) and 1987’s Black Widow with Debra Winger and Theresa Russell, who ranks as one of my many favorite actresses.
Here is a youtube video link to the film’s original theatrical trailer
Also, here is a youtube video link to the film’s memorable diner scene
Since I could not find a youtube video link of Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox introducing director Steve Rash’s 1978 biographical drama The Buddy Holly Story, readers will have to rely on a transcript of his intro (read here). The episode’s original airdate was August 20, 1989 (read here). Nothing really to add here except that I echo Cox’s sentiments on this film. Nevertheless, it is turned to a good film thanks to Gary Busey’s electrifying performance as the iconic title character. A shame that the rest of it comes up bland by comparison (notice I said “by comparison”).
Here is a youtube video link to the film’s original theatrical trailer
I have posted a youtube video link to Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox’s intro to director Charles Band’s 1984 sci-fi entry Trancers. The episode’s original airdate was August 13, 1989 (read here). Readers can read his transcript right here. As Cox implies here, Trancers is like a blend between The Terminator and Blade Runner. While by no means a classic, it is undeniably entertaining.
Here is a youtube video link to Alex Cox’s Movidrome intro of Trancers
Here is a youtube video link to the film’s original theatrical trailer
Since I could not find a youtube video link to Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox’s intro to director Monte Hellman’s 1971 cult classic Two-Lane Blacktop, readers will have to make due with a link to his transcript for it (read here). The episode’s original airdate was August 6, 1989 (read here). Not unlike what the owner of Moviedromer.tumblr.com thought, I too disagree with Cox regarding the acting of singers James Taylor and Dennis Wilson (the latter from The Beach Boys). I too think it is just them improvising or making conversation. Nevertheless, I do agree with Cox’s sentiments on the late great Warren Oates (but then again, who wouldn’t?), who co-stars in this film. If you readers are interested in reading my list of my favorite Monte Hellman films, read here.
Here is a youtube video link to the film’s original theatrical trailer
I have posted a youtube video link below to Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox’s intro to legendary French New Wave filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard’s 1965 science-fiction mystery Alphaville. My readers can also read Cox’s transcript here. The episode’s original airdate was July 30, 1989 (read here). Taking into account Raoul Coutard’s black-and-white cinematography and the image of American actor Eddie Constantine as a trenchcoat-clad detective, Alphaville may also be Godard’s way of paying homage to 1940’s film-noir. As usual, Godard manages to say a lot on many things of the film -socio, political or otherwise. Equally impressive is Godard’s reliance on actual locations, as opposed to building futuristic sets. Since modernistic glass and concrete buildings were new at the time (read here), Godard decided to stick with this. Whether it was due to budgetary restraints or not, he managed to make this viewer feel that it was visually convincing dystopian future. If any of you readers are interested in reading my list of my favorite Jean-Luc Godard films, read here.
Here is a youtube video link to Alex Cox’s Moviedrome intro of Alphaville
Here is a youtube video link to (what I believe) was the original theatrical trailer for the French market
Here is a youtube link to (what I believe) is a 2014 revival trailer for the American market
cinematiccoffee 