Tuesday 2 September 2014

AUGUST FILMS AND TV

I was having an average month's viewing during August, until my daughter woke me up about midnight one evening in tears, telling me Robin Williams was dead. For the past 10 years or so, she has held Mrs Doubtfire close to her heart, as it was a film she always watched with her granddad, now sadly no longer with us. Only the previous week, she had watched it again in her bedroom after we had declined an invitation to view it in the lounge.

I would have to say, I would never have ranked Williams in my top ten film actors and probably wouldn't have any of his movies in my list of top ten films, but I have enjoyed watching him over the years in a variety of roles. Most of the following couple of days, I couldn't stop thinking of him on and off and felt immeasurably sad for both him and his family. The weekend after the news we watched four of his films, a couple new-to-me and a couple of oldies including Mrs Doubtfire!  

There's a couple more I want to track down and re-watch - Good Morning Vietnam and Dead Poet's Society, both of which I enjoyed when watched many years ago. Maybe in September then.

We were away for the 3rd week in the month so didn't devote a lot of time to watching Italian television.
Eventually watched the first episode of Fargo, loved it. All I need to do is find about 10 hours to watch the rest of it!


Not a big Leo fan, but I enjoyed this tale of greed and excess.

Part viewed - was enjoying it and fell asleep, will watch fully at some time in the future.

Horror film, initially seen a couple of years ago with my son at the cinema. Ok, good not great.

Part watched, had to go out before it finished. Ok, because I've seen it before, I prefer Steve Martin to Goldie. Loved him in a few family films - particularly Cheaper by the Dozen.

Always watchable, bless him.


First time viewed, really enjoyed it. Love Pacino, love Hilary, Williams wasn't shabby either.

Second time around for this, though I probably paid more attention this time. A great film, Bridges and Williams are both superb. Cheesy ending, but I loved it. 
Wonder how many more times I will be seeing this one! Who cares, always raises a chuckle in our house.
First time for me - amazing, I  loved everything about it and everyone in it. Matt Damon looks so young. I can see why Williams got his oscar for this - why have I never watched it before?

8 comments:

  1. I was surprised when I worked out how many Robin Williams films I had seen - I didn't think of myself as a fan, but his films were part of the zeitgeist. Sad story.

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    1. Agreed. Some more I want to watch or re-watch, but some I won't be putting myself out to see..eg Toys

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  2. Col - Robin Williams' death was so very sad. I've enjoyed several of his films through the years, seen some of his standup comedy and so on. He was very talented and will be missed.

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    1. Margot, I envy you having seen his stand-up comedy. I've never seen that aspect of his talent. My first recollection of him was in Mork and Mindy.

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  3. Col, I can't tell you how many times I have seen "Mrs. Doubtfire" and to a lesser extent, "Dead Poet's Society." Williams was terrific in the former. I intend to see "Insomnia" and "The Fisher King." I have seen "Housesitter," too, though frankly I no longer watch Martin's films as I used to. His roles are stereotype.

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    1. Prashant, ditto on Doubtfire, it's got to be double digits. I can't recall the last Martin film I saw, though I'd still pick him over Hawn if the choice was between the two of them.

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  4. I have never been a Robin Williams fan, but I was saddened by his death. I did enjoy two of his roles: in Insomnia and in Dead Again. Especially the latter.

    I would not mind seeing Oceans 12, although I have heard it doesn't measure up at all to Oceans 11. Then I would watch Oceans 13, which I have heard is better.

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    1. I've never heard of Dead Again, I will have to look it up. I'll keep an eye out for Oceans 13 as well.

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