[sphinx]

Movie Ping List -- October

The most common freeper reaction on the movie threads, after @#&^%!* Hollywood, is "they don't make films like they used to."

Well, they still make Westerns, don't they? Ya wanna an old fashioned film? Check out Old Henry. It just opened today in theaters. No streaming yet. That's old fashioned right there. It's a throwback Western that debuted in Venice to solid reviews: horses, villains, big sky country, lots of gunplay, a straightforward (sort of) morality play, and no sex. Heck, there aren't even any women in the film. In Hollywood today, that doesn't mean no sex, but in Old Henry, not to worry: in this film, homosexuals hadn't been invented yet. Here's the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZc4PVVd-0w

I looked for Westerns because the most commonly mentioned new film on freepers' watchlists for this fall was Cry Macho, the latest Clint Eastwood offering: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZc4PVVd-0w

But if it's traditional you want, Old Henry looks better. The Man With No Name retired a long time ago. Clint now has feelings.

The Oscar bait Western this year is The Power of the Dog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELvKuuXdfCU&t=1s

The Power of the Dog was shot in New Zealand, which is cheating in my book when it comes to Westerns, but the director is from New Zealand, so there. The big plot twist would probably have been provocative 30 years ago, but since I'm cynical about the modern film industry, I saw it coming midway through the second review that I read. Whatever. The acting is universally praised, with both Benedict Cumberbatch and Kirsten Dunst being touted for Oscars.

I'll round out the Western list with another neo-Western (like Cry Macho, it's set in modern times with a modern plot line). It qualifies as a Western because it's set on a ranch, has horses and (civilized) Indians, and has spectacular big sky cinematography, unmistakable villains, and is another clear morality story in a classic Western setting, by which I mean loss, loneliness, evocative emptiness and redemption as well as geographical location. And a chicken makes the ultimate sacrifice. It debuted at TIFF to very good reviews and raves about the acting. There's no distribution deal or trailer yet. I'm beginning to think it may slide into 2022, perhaps as part of a classic low-budget indie film march through the festivals. But I don't know. It's Montana Story. Since there's no trailer, I looked for a review without too many spoilers: https://www.flickeringmyth.com/2021/09/toronto-international-film-festival-2021-review-montana-story/

So: four Westerns, for you old-fashioned movie buffs. I've not seen any of them yet but a couple of them are of considerable interest. As always, pass along any other recommendations that you may have.

[sphinx]

October Movie List Ping

As always, pass along your recommendations, especially on good “conservative” films. Freepmail me if you want off the list.

[Artemis Webb]

@#&^%!* Hollywood.
:-)

[Pollard]

So: four Westerns, for you old-fashioned movie buffs.

Movie 1?

Movie 2?

Movie 3?

Movie 4?

Seems like that would have been a better format

[circlecity]

I tried to watch that recent western “News of the World” with Tom Hanks on HBO+ and fell asleep.

[Kartographer]

Has anyone seen ‘Apache Junction’? Most of the westerns they make to day are so bad, most a ‘WOKE’ trash a gun slinging woman or a Homo Erotica/Leather thrash like the remake of ‘3:10 to Yuma’

[Alberta's Child]

I knock it down a few pegs because it’s a made-for-TV movie, but “Conagher” (Sam Elliott) captures the essence of a great western better than any movie I’ve seen.

[Frohickey]

The last “western” I watched in the theatres was Cowboys&Aliens with Bond,James Bond and Indiana Jones.

[Telepathic Intruder]

Westerns do nothing to promote socialism so they, like everything else, must go.

[JonPreston]

The Yellowstone seasons w/Kevin Costner are excellent. For something totally offbeat, I loved the Australian series, Mr Inbetween.

[Secret Agent Man]

Yeah

like wokeback mountain

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

I will check them out for date night.

Hate October because it seems to be just one slasher film after another but one of these might be decent.

[Chode]

Old Henry looks good, hard to believe the guy was in O Brother Where Art Thou...

[roving]

Silverado. Quigley down under

[A Navy Vet]

Tombstone used to be my favorite until Open Range came along. That movie emphasizes the free spirit of America. I always thought Unforgiven was over-rated, except for the end.

Eastwood's non-western movie, GRAN Torino, was his best. He wrote the screenplay, produced, directed, and starred in it. It works on so many levels. "Get off my lawn".

[howlinhound]

If the “Grit” channel broadcasts in your area they play only westerns and they are from all eras.

[Bloodandgravy]

They Call Me Trinity

[Organic Panic]

A couple I recently watched streaming.

“The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” - Short Story Westerns
“Savages” - Christian Bale
“In a Valley of Violence” - Ethan Hawke
“Hateful Eight” - Kurt Russel
“The Ridiculous Six.” - Terry Crews
“Hell On Wheels” Colm Meaney
“Bone Tomahawk” - Kurt Russel

Oh Yeah. @*(&$ Hollywood

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

I haven’t followed what is new from Hollywood since I stopped reading newspapers. Plus, generally there isn’t much of interest. I like westerns, though. Thanks for the tips.

[devane617]

TMC has stopped showing John Wayne movies.

[moovova]

"Later in the film, after we find out more about who Henry once was — it’s a revelation, and an ecstatic one, but not exactly a twist, as we see it coming from miles away — it’s almost as if he’s been briefly liberated, allowed to become who he really is."

Sounds like a Western "Nobody". I'll watch it.