New to Netflix: Spinal Tap, Blazing Saddles, Jurassic Park...
Friday, March 3, 2017 at 8:12PM It's that time of month when we get our new streaming options. Here are random new titles on Netflix for March (or that showed up late in February), freeze framed at totally random places, whatever comes up. As we do...
It's part of a musical trilogy I'm doing in D minor, which I find is really the saddest of all keys. I don't know why but it makes people weep instantly.
This is Spinal Tap (1984)
Heh. So funny this movie. Christopher Guest and Rob Reiner's collaboration became a classic. Without it we probably wouldn't have had Waiting for Guffman or Best in Show or whatnot.
More films after the jump...
Jurassic Park (1993)
Oh, perfect timing. I'd hoped they'd hatch before I had to go to the boat.
Love B.D. Wong. Love Laura Dern's gaping awe FACE. Love scientists as heroes. Love medium shots that show multiple characters. Love this movie. I don't think I appreciated it enough when it came out; I was hopped up on new cinephilia in college, I hadn't yet relaxed enough to the acceptance that masterful popcorn movies are rare beasts, too, and ought to be regarded as just masterful movies.
YOU BET YOUR ASS."
Blazing Saddles (1974)
GULP. I've never seen this one. *dodges tomatoes* I think I'd always hoped to see it in a theater because classic comedies are sometimes weird to watch on DVD with only yourself or one other person. Crowd laughter is such a crucial part of comedies.
-See anything you like?
-I'm ashamed to admit I'm attracted to all of them. I like cheap sex. I guess that makes me shallow.
Midnight in Paris (2011)
I remember being so surprised when this got a Production Design nomination at the Oscars. Shouldn't have been because it's one of Woody Allen's handsomest productions. It's just that his films, even the period efforts, aren't usually nominated for craft categories. Do you think Woody, who is 81 years old and still directing one movie every year as he's done since 1982, will have one last Oscar hit or was this the Academy swansong?
-It's been awhile since Jason and I have had a vacation. Not that I expect this to be one, in the traditional sense.
-No, I know what you mean!
Singing with Angels (2016)
I always forget that Mormons have their own movies now until one is right in front of my face like, oh right, they have a whole mini industry of faith films. This is exactly what Mormon women look like too so I guess not much has changed. This ones about a woman in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
[music montage]
The Craft (1996)
My best friend still quotes Fairuza Balk lines from this movie. So surprised this hasn't been remade.
Also New to Netflix:
Angry Birds (S2)
Chicago
Deep Run
Dirt Every Day (S1)
Epic Drives (S2)
Friday After Next
Greenleaf (S1)
Head 2 Head (S2)
Hot Rod Unlimited (S1)
I Don't Feel At Home In This World Anymore
Ignition (S1)
Impossible Dreamers
Jurassic Park III
The Lost World: Jurassic Park
Kate & Mim-Mim (S2)
King Cobra
Kung Fu Panda
Memento
Milk
Nacho Libre
Night Will Fall
Roadkill (S2)
Rolling Stones: Crossfire Hurricane
Safe Haven
Sausage Party
Señora Acero (S3)
Sustainable
Slums of Beverly Hills
This Is Spinal Tap
Tenacious D in: The Pick of Destiny
White Nights
Later in the Month:
Hands of Stone (8th)
The Waterboy (8th)
Thithi (9th)
Burning Sands (10th)
The Boss' Daughter (10th)
Love (S2, 10th)
One More Time (S1, 10th)
Million Dollar Baby (13th)
Must Love Dogs (13th)
Pete's Dragon (14th)
The BFG (15th)
Notes on Blindness (15th)
Coraline (16th)
Iron Fist (S1, 17th)
Reader Comments (19)
Nat:
1. Blazing Saddles is...yep. VERY of that time period. At least 1/2 of that would NOT fly today, though the perspective on it still holds up. Distressingly well. ("You've got to remember that these are just simple farmers. These are people of the land. The common clay of the new west. You know...morons.")
2.I'd guess Midnight in Paris is Allen's "across the board" swan-song. He probably gets an Original Screenplay nom or two and ONE more acting nomination, but he's nowhere near as important as he once was.
Jurassic Park is the standard all blockbusters are held to. If not for Schindler's List I think it would have gotten more Oscar attention. And as I said during Laura Dern week- where was her Oscar buzz? Just coming off a nomination and be in a critically acclaimed film that happens to be the highest grossing film ever (at that time). If that happened today that would almost lock up a nomination for any actress.
Tom: I can't imagine her and Attenborough were far from the ballot. For Attenborough, I'd easily ditch Malkovich and for Dern...either Ryder for Age of Innocence or Holly Hunter for The Firm.
Well, two years later, Blue Jasmine won 33.3% of its Oscar categories (to Midnight in Paris' 25%, and both screenplays were nominated), so I think Woody's still got some life in him.
I really don't know how they air "Blazing Saddles" on television, what with all the talk about the [CHURCH BELL].
If you can find a theater screening, please do go. It really is offensively, riotously, incorrectly political funny.
I think Woody will want to go out on a high, and will try for one more like swoon-worthy "Midnight". I certainly hope so.
Tom & Volvagia -- as someone who lived through that Oscar season i can't imagine Dern was anywhere near the shortlist. In fact I'd be shocked if she hadn't been well behind these non-nominees whose movies were being discussed for acting honors in some capacity... (Jurassic Park just wasn't discussed in that context.)
Gong Li - Farewell My Concubine (DEFINITELY just outside the shortlist)
Miriam Margolyes - Age of Innocence (BAFTA nominated and comically pissed about Winona's supporting campaign)
Angelica Huston - Manhattan Murder Mystery
Penelope Ann Miller - Carlito's Way (PROBABLY just outside the shortlist)
Sally Field - Mrs Doubtfire
Isabella Rossellini - Fearless
Embeth Davidtz - Schindler's List (POSSIBLY just outside the shortlist)
Julianne Moore - Short Cuts
Madelein Stowe - Short Cuts
BUT IF THE ROLE IS LEADING A DIFFERENT SET OF WOMEN.
still i dont think she was anywhere in the conversation
I always thought Dern was leading that year not supporting. Perhaps she could have taken Debra Winger's place if Schindler had not been in contention. Oh well, it's always fun to play the "what if" game when it comes to Oscar.
@Volvagia- if Attenborough had been nominated, I think that would have been the first time some one got nominated in a film directed by someone they beat in the Best Director Oscar race.
(Attenborough beat Spielberg for the Oscar in the early 80's)
Dern an Oscar nominationfor gawping I don't think so.
What about those great Short Cuts ladies,my first Julianne nomination.
Laura Dern's role in Jurassic Park is leading, surely?
I like to think Woody Allen will bring out another film that is widely adored.
I loved Blazing Saddles as a child and still think of it fondly, especially Madeline Kahn and then the brawl across movie sets at the end. When the fight reached the set of the all-male song and dance number ("French Mistake"), the kid me was entranced. What is THAT movie? Only years later did I realize it was ridiculing gays. (Made much clearer by finally seeing an unedited version and hear Dom DeLuise say "listen up, faggots") For a split second it rankled, but since it's billed as the movie that offends EVERYBODY, I was mostly happy to be included.
Mark -- oh yeah, Short Cuts. Forgot about that. so i'll add those two ladies to the list. ;)
You have to see Blazing Saddles if only to see the delicious Madeline Kahn! Her Marlene Dietrich-like saloon singer is hilarious.
Grace and Frankie S3 comes out March 24th!! My most anticipated streaming premiere this month by far, though I did enjoy Gillian Jacobs quite a bit in the first season of Love.
Don't forget about Julie's Green Room on March 17th. Julie Andrews + puppets + broadway guest stars explaining the arts to children.
Basically everything this world needs.
Don't forget about Julie's Green Room on March 17th. Julie Andrews + puppets + broadway guest stars explaining the arts to children.
Basically everything this world needs.
I've never seen Blazing Saddles either!
Spinal Tap and Jurassic Park are two of my favorites - got em both on DVD. It says something that the first still makes me laugh at every joke, and the second still thrills & chills me at every scare moment, even though I know when they're coming.
Also, the V/E of JP have really held up. Amazingly so, considering it was over 20 years ago.
"Cafe Society" should have been nominated for Production Design, too. And Cinematography (how could they pass up Storaro?!).
" Blazing Saddles" might have lost some of it's shock value but it has some brilliant satirical moments- Madeline Kanh doing Dietrich singing " I'm Tired" to a saloon filled with horny cowboys and the great Dom Deluise teaching his dancing queens to do " The French Mistake" a very gay Busby Berkley extravaganza.
93 Leading Ladies
Ryder
Pfieffer
Bassett
Channing
Binoche
Thompson
Winger
Hunter
Foster
Ryan