1) The classic movie moment that everyone loves except me is:
Sharon Stone crossing her legs in Basic Instinct.
Big Whoop. I'd rather see Grace Kelly cross her brow.
That disappointment is closely followed by the "Parting the Red Sea" in The 10 Commandments
I'd like to direct my own "parting" of the legs and the oceans.
This wonderful movie quiz, "Miss Jean Brodie's Modestly Magnificent Matriachally Manipulative Springtime-for-Mussoline Movie Quiz" is brought to you by Sergio Leone and the Infield Fly Rule.
Blog your own answers, it's so refreshing!
2) Favorite line of dialogue from a film noir?
Brigid O'Shaughnessy:
"I haven't lived a good life. I've been bad, worse than you could know."
3) Second favorite Hal Ashby film
My favorite is Harold and Maude, but what a hard decision to make.
4) Describe the moment when you first realized movies were directed as opposed to simply pieced together anonymously.
I thought, as a child, that all movies were based on BOOKS, because the first films I saw in a theater were "Island of the Blue Dolphins," and "Mary Poppins."
I was aware of writers— I remember asking my parents why the writer was not listed in the credits at the end, in big letters, with the Director. I didn't understand what the "Producer" did, exactly, and why they were listed second to last in the credits. You can see that I presaged the Writers Guild on this issue!
5) Favorite film book
Blue Movie, by Terry Southern
Reference-wise, the first movie book I pored over for hours was A New Pictorial History of the Talkies.
6) Diana Sands or Vonetta McGee?
Diana Sands-- and gosh, she died so young, at 39. I think she was amazing, so adventurous and ahead of her time.
7) Most egregious gap in your viewing of films made in the past 10 years
I never read or saw a single Harry Potter episode.
8) Favorite line of dialogue from a comedy
"I am: McLovin!"
Superbad, 2007
"Nobody's Perfect!"
Some Like It Hot, 1959
"You see what happens, Larry? You see what happens when you fuck a stranger in the ass?"
Walter Sobchak in The Big Lebowski, 1998
To be frank, The Big Lebowski has more screaming favorite lines of comedy than any other.
"Yeah, well, that's just, like, your opinion, man."
9) Second favorite Lloyd Bacon film
Not my sort of thing, either his musicals or his patriotic war movies starring Ronnie Reaguns. I do giggle when I say "Knute Rockne, All American!"
10) Richard Burton or Roger Livesey?
Nothing against Roger, but I always had a crush on Richard Burton, and I'm reading his diaries now.
11) Is there a movie you staunchly refuse to consider seeing? If so, why?
Yeah, a few of the recent Oscar nominees. Lincoln, for example; and more than ten minutes of Zero Dark Thirty.
I can't take being bored anymore, or lied to by gratuitious idiots.
I'm so mean I won't even link to those movies, let alone see them.
12) Favorite filmmaker collaboration
Recently: Roman Polanski, Yasmina Reza, Jodie Foster, John C. Reilly, Kate Winslet, and Christopher Waltz. CARNAGE!
13) Most recently viewed movie on DVD/Blu-ray/theatrical?
DVD: The Ten Commandments, for Easter. An atheist fun-fest.
Blu-Ray: I've never seen a Blu-Ray movie!
Theatrical: Spring Break. If only it had been 25 minutes long, it woulda been perfect.
14) Favorite line of dialogue from a horror movie
"I've often thought that there should be beauty contests for the insides of bodies."
Dead Ringers, 1988
15) Second favorite Oliver Stone film
My first pick would probably be JFK.
16) Eva Mendes or Raquel Welch?
Icon: Raquel, especially for her USO tours, as pictured above.
Acting: Eva
I love them both.
17) Favorite religious satire
As of last Sunday, The Ten Commandments, obviously.
Look at the trailer, for god's sake: "INTACT!" "UNCUT!"
18) Best Internet movie argument?
I don't call in "arguing," I call it reveling in your favorite movies with like-minded cineastes.
19) Most pointless Internet movie argument?
"What is the difference between erotica and pornography?"
20) Charles McGraw or Robert Ryan?
I always admired Robert Ryan, onscreen and off.
21) Favorite line of dialogue from a western
Westerns often have such exceptional hard bites... I love them. Starting with a quote from Proverbs, "The wicked flee when none pursueth," every SINGLE line from True Grit is a revelation, in either film version, by way of author Charles Portis.
And who can forget:
“This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.”
The Man who Shot Liberty Valance, 1961
22) Second favorite Roy Del Ruth film
"Topper Returns in the gayest adventure of them all!"
23) Relatively unknown film or filmmaker you’d most eagerly proselytize for
I flog my friends all the time.
24) Ewan McGregor or Gerard Butler?
Ewan McGregor gets my heart racing a bit more.
25) Is there such a thing as a perfect movie?
No, but there are many sublime moments watching them.
26) Favorite movie location you’ve most recently had the occasion to actually visit
I just rode the Amtrak Coast Starlight train through Spahn Ranch, now part of the Santa Susana Mountains State Park. What a gorgeous trip. You feel like you're traveling through time, and you are--- to a place where all those famous Western movies were made.
27) Second favorite Delmer Daves film
Director, the original 3:10 to Yuma!
28) Name the one DVD commentary you wish you could hear that, for whatever reason, doesn't actually exist
I wish that every single time. I get inordinately disappointed if there's not a commentary!
29) Gloria Grahame or Marie Windsor?
I appreciate both their notches in film noir. But for sheer personal balls, I think I'll go with Gloria Grahame. She was no Latter Day Saint.
30) Name a filmmaker who never really lived up to the potential suggested by their early acclaim or success
Jeez, this sounds like one of those questions you get in a job interview! Pass.
31) Is there a movie-based disagreement serious enough that it might cause you to reevaluate the basis of a romantic relationship or a friendship?
Sure. "Movie-based" disagreements will move past the trivial if they reveal your philosophical differences.
Take The Ten Commandments-- please. I probably offended devout viewers on Easter by breaking down laughing at numerous moments.
I couldn't help myself! I haven't seen the movie since I was a little Catholic girl, and it was such a relief to see it from the other side.
