Nights of Cabiria (1957 - Italian)

This morning I watched Fellini's Nights of Cabiria (1957). It's now one of my favorite Fellinis. His wife Giulietta Masina(always good) is wonderful as Cabiria, a Prostitute who Dreams of a Better Life but always seems to fall short, but who still has a smile for the final shot. When it looks like she's found Happiness, somehow you know Something Heartbreaking is going to happen. Has some of the usual Fellini Touches, such as Nino Rota's great music. If you've never seen Fellini, you might start with this one. A Wonderful Experience.

The Films of Ozu : Late Spring(1949)

I've finally seen Late Spring. It's the lovely tale of a relationship between father and daughter. She is independent and 27, getting pressure from everywhere to Get Married Already, but she's content with her life as is. Any film that brings me to tears has to be good A lovely experience. I'll look forward to seeing more of his. Simple but powerful.

Champagne(1928)

I watched Hitchcock's Champagne (1928). It was cute enough, about a spoiled girl being cut off financially, so she thinks, by her father, No Great Shakes. What really impressed me was the classical score, including Ravel's Bolero which I hadn't heard in quite a while. That kept me more riveted than the film.

Stolen : Kids Say the Darndest Things

Superman(1978)

This morning I watched Superman for the first time on DVD, an extra 6 minutes I think? This is easily the best superhero movie. The extra scenes were hit or miss. There was Lois Lane on a train as a little girl, having a Clark Kent Sighting, with him as a teenager. This seems far fetched to me, as it seems as adults, they're about the same age. There was a touching scene between Superman and his long dead father Jor-El, where Superman tries to reach out to embrace him, also Jor-El instructs him never to reveal his secret identity. This is notable as a 70's movie with no sex and minimal, if any violence, proving filmmakers don't have to resort to this. Yes, the John Williams music is spectacular. There is a music only version on the DVD I haven't watched yet.

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly(2007)

I've seen The Diving Bell and the Butterfly(2007), the true story of Jean-Dominique Bauby, who suffered a stroke which left him with a condition known as locked-in syndrome. The condition paralyzed him from the neck down and also can't speak. This is engrossing from the first frame, as we see everything from Jean Do's point of view, right when he wakes up from the coma. It's claustrophobic for a while, as the viewer is in his POV and sees how he must feel. Jean Do has many sarcastic remarks which apparently were ad-libbed by actor Mathieu Amalric. Max von Sydow is heartbreaking as his papa. It's ultimately inspiring as Jean Do learns to communicate through blinks and composes his memoir. Wonderful film.

Stolen : Once Upon a Time...

There were two Catholic boys, Timothy Murphy and Antonio Secola, whose lives parallel each other in amazing ways. In the same year Timothy was born in Ireland, Antonio was born in Italy.

Faithfully they attended parochial School from kindergarten through their senior year in high school. They took their vows to enter the priesthood early in college, and upon graduation, became priests.

Their careers had come to amaze the world, but it was generally acknowledged that Antonio Secola was just a wee cut aboveTimothy Murphy in all respects.

Their rise through the ranks of Bishop, Archbishop and finally Cardinal was swift to say the least, and the Catholic world knew that when the present Pope died, it would be one of the two who would become the next Pope.

In time the Pope did die, and the College of Cardinals went to work. In less time than anyone had expected, white smoke rose from the chimney and the world waited to see whom they had chosen.

The world, Catholic, Protestant and secular, was surprised to learn that Timothy Murphy had been elected Pope!

Antonio Secola was beyond surprise. He was devastated, because even with all of Timothy's gifts, Antonio knew he was just a bit better qualified.

With gall that shocked the Cardinals, Antonio Secola asked for a private session with them in which he candidly asked, "Why Timothy?"

After a long silence, an old Cardinal took pity on the bewildered man and rose to reply.
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"We knew you were the better of the two, but we just could not bear the thought of the leader of the Roman Catholic Church being called POPE SE-COLA!