2009 Advisor
ChrisJarmick
Seattle, WA

O ! You'll love these Best/Great Movies Gift Ideas!!!

5 star rating

into movies that tell a great story, a Movie Guru, a cult film connoisseur, a fan of movies that take chances, a movie connoisseur
Pros

    Brilliant interesting movies

Cons
    May be too off-beat and quirky for some

DEC
18
2008
Welcome to a series I'm doing suggesting your view several worthwhile films that you may not be familiar with.  I'm doing these lists alphabetically !!!    Here's some of the best movies (but there are more) that begin with the letter O.   Great gift ideas for the movie buff in your life!


O


O LUCKY MAN (1973) Directed by Lindsay Anderson

At just under 3 hours, this ambitious mini-epic of a film shifts tones several times during its running time. Consider it a black comedy. Some of it will seem extremely dated, but it was once ahead of its time and now seems to be even smarter, funnier, darker and more slyly cynical then when it was first released. It’s the second part of a trilogy that began with If. . . . and continued with the disappointing Brittania Hospital.

Malcolm McDowell gives yet another incredible performance as an ambitious, somewhat gullible coffee bean salesman, he’ll rise, he’ll crash and he’ll be re-born during the film. Alan Price’s score at times purposefully and rudely interrupts what is going on, and at other times punctuates, comments and compliments the film. The superb cast, many of whom play multiple roles include: Ralph Richardson, Arthur Lowe, Helen Mirren, Mona Washbourne and Warren Clark. After years of not being on DVD a beautiful edition thanks in part to Malcolm McDowell was produced and released!

The Old Dark House (1932) Directed by James Whale

Director James Whale made a funny, satire of haunted house movies. It takes a little while to get used to, and it's certainly an OLD film and quite dated. . . but stick with it. Karloff appears as a drunken, deformed, mute bearded butler as a group of travelers are stranded and seek refuge in THE OLD DARK HOUSE meeting the oddest assortment of eccentric characters you could imagine. This must have been the inspiration for Charles' Addams' cartoons (the Addams Family). James Whale directs a who's who cast in grand style. Ernest Thesiger (Bride of Frankenstein, Horse’s Mouth) who plays his role quite effeminately has a brother who likes to play with fire, a religious fanatic sister, a 102 year old father and more. With... Charles Laughton, Melvyn Douglas, Gloria (Titanic) Stuart, Raymond Massey and Lillian Bond.

 
The Old Fashioned Way (1934) Directed by William Beaudine and an uncredited W.C. Fields

W.C. Field’s Great McGonigle's traveling theatrical troupe are staying at a boarding house. They are preparing a production of "The Drunkard" (which we see during this movie). Cleopatra Pepperday backs the show in return for getting a part in the show ("Here comes the prince!"). Little Albert Wendelschaffer (Baby Leroy) torments McGonigle all through lunch ("How can you hurt a watch by dipping it in molasses?"). McGonigle is being pursued by several sheriffs and struggles to put on his show and see his daughter Betty happily married. Another Fields classic not to be missed.

On the Waterfront (1954) Directed by Elia Kazan

Brando, Steiger, Karl Malden, Eva Marie Saint and Lee J. Cobb in the classic and tough drama about N.Y.C. harbor unions by Budd Schulberg based on a series of articles by Malcolm Johnson. It is and remains a controversial film, directed by the very controversial Kazan. What does that mean?

 
Once Upon a Time in the West (1969) Directed by Sergio Leone

Written by Leone, Bernado Bertolucci and Dario Argento, this revisionist Western epic is about a band of ruthless gunmen who are trying to murder a young woman (Claudio Cardinale) who is waiting for a train. Why? Ah you’ll have to watch the film…. It opens with a incredibly detailed opening sequence which includes the credits as well. The locations are the same as many classic John Ford Westerns in Monument Valley. It’s remembered for its tight close-ups, odd angles, quiet moments and because Henry Fonda stars as one of the coldest killers the cinema has ever seen. Leone’s masterpiece and the first of his trilogy which included Duck You Sucker aka Once Upon a Time in Italy, and Once Upon a Time in America. Ennio Morricone’s music score is superb.
 
Out of Sight (1999) directed by Steven Soderbergh

A lesser Elmore Leonard book becomes a brilliant film thanks to Soderbergh and company. You have to accept a slightly far-fetched central premise for the film to work, but as it takes subtle and not so subtle turns through what you think were courses you've experienced before you suddenly realize you're watching something different, smart and unique.. George Clooney, and Jennifer Lopez in star-making performances with an amazing dramatic performance from Albert Brooks.

Out of the Past (1947) Directed by Jacques Tourneur

Here’s a film that was mostly overlooked when it was first released. Robert Mitchum became a star, but the film was discovered by the French and appreciated much more in the mid 60s forward than it was in the 40s. A private detective is involved in a very complex case where love and betrayal and murder and money all figure into it. Stylish, atmospheric, looks great thanks to Nicholas Musuraca. It was based on the Geoffrey Holmes novel Build My Gallows High. Holmes and Danil Mainwaring wrote the screenplay. One of those once in a lifetime casts include: Robert Mitchum, Kirk Douglas, Jane Greer, Rhonda Fleming, Steve Grodie, Dickie Moore etc.It’s was re-made as the so-so Against All Odds in 1984. That film is more dated today than this one is.

Last edited on Jan 28, 2009



I_thumb_up Best Movies Alphabetically "O" Movies beginning with the letter O is recommended by ChrisJarmick

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