Welcome to BlogHub: the Best in Veteran and Emerging Classic Movie Blogs
You can rate and share your favorite classic movie posts here.
You can rate and share your favorite classic movie posts here.
Godard Forever: The Cinephiliac on Breathless
Pretty Clever Films Posted by Brandy Dean on Jan 22, 2014
Did you know that regular Pretty Clever Films contributor Toyiah Murray also has her blog, The Cinephiliac? It’s true! While Pretty Clever Films has been covering Godard Forever: Part One, the lavish Godard retro screening at the TIFF Bell Lightbox, Toyiah has been covering Godard’s ear read more
Godard Forever: Part One Hits the TIFF Bell Lightbox
Pretty Clever Films Posted by Brandy Dean on Jan 21, 2014
On Thursday, January 28, 2014 a massive retro of the work of Jean-Luc Godard, one of cinema’s most known/loved/controversial directors, opens at the TIFF Bell Lightbox. Godard Forever: Part One runs until February 13 and includes a whole smattering of gems, including a rare archival 16mm prin read more
Deep End (1970)
Pretty Clever Films Posted by John Munshour on Jan 20, 2014
The reasons you haven’t seen Deep End are no longer good enough. Sorry to declare that like an edict right out of the blue, but I know what the reasons are; it hasn’t been talked about and hasn’t been around. This 1970 film by Jerzy Skolimowski (best known as co-writer of Roman Polanski’s read more
Overlooked Gems: Local Hero (1983)
Pretty Clever Films Posted by Lesley Coffin on Jan 17, 2014
In 1983, a fairy tale of sorts hit a movie screen which wasn’t a hit at the box-office. According to the film history legend, Local Hero’s soundtrack sold more than the feature film. It’s understandable that Mark Knopfler’s melodic, touching music would do so well in record stores. I read more
Sabrina (1954) (2)
Pretty Clever Films Posted by Robert Liwanag on Jan 17, 2014
By 1954, Billy Wilder had released a string of films that showcased his remarkable storytelling and technical abilities across an array of genres. More importantly perhaps, Wilder was a filmmaker who could consistently get stellar performances from his actors and actresses. So it made sense that Sa read more
The Lost Weekend (1945) (2)
Pretty Clever Films Posted by Brandy Dean on Jan 16, 2014
By the time Billy Wilder won the Best Director Oscar for The Lost Weekend in 1945 he was already Hollywood elite. How else to explain how this movie was even made? Based on Charles R. Jackson’s 1944 novel of the same title, it’s the tale of Don Birnam, a down on his luck writer who wil read more
Love in the Afternoon (1957)
Pretty Clever Films Posted by Toyiah Murry on Jan 15, 2014
Billy Wilder didn’t usually tell simplistic love stories. It just wasn’t in his cinematic nature. Whenever a love angle is the focus of his sceenplays, more often than not they are extremely complicated and rooted in lengthy dramatics. Sunset Boulevard examines how struggling writer Joe read more
A Gallery of Images from Love in the Afternoon (1957)
Pretty Clever Films Posted by Brandy Dean on Jan 15, 2014
Check out a gallery of images from Billy Wilder’s off-kilter romance Love in the Afternoon, starring Audrey Hepburn and Gary Cooper. Billy Wilder read more
Dietrich’s Furs
Pretty Clever Films Posted by Christina Stewart on Jan 15, 2014
Marlene Dietrich is a fashion and cinematic icon of the highest order. She is the epitome of glamour. I highly doubt if a “bad” image of her even exists. The way she used her body, clothes, and light to achieve the illusion of constant perfection spanning over 50 years is simply mind blowing. This read more
Why Star Wars is the Best Movie Ever
Pretty Clever Films Posted by Brandy Dean on Jan 14, 2014
Not surprisingly, the #1 movie on Wade Sheeler’s 5 Films Everybody Loves But Me list sparked a little controversy. Turns out, at least for that entry, Wade was correct – everyone does love Star Wars except for him. Richard Simone-Friedland has submitted this respectful rebuttal to Wade& read more
Sunset Boulevard (1950)
Pretty Clever Films Posted by Laura Grande on Jan 14, 2014
When Billy Wilder unleashed his satirical masterpiece Sunset Blvd. on an unsuspecting audience in 1950 he was still coming off a career high with two Oscar wins for The Lost Weekend (1945), his tale of a chronic alcoholic. This time around, however, the Polish auteur dared to delve into the dark s read more
Sex and Censorship: Wilder and Hollywood’s Production Code
Pretty Clever Films Posted by Pam on Jan 13, 2014
The first Billy Wilder movie I ever saw was Sunset Boulevard (1950). A noir classic, dark and cynical, it’s equal parts funny, sad, nostalgic and creepy. It included fantastic cameos from early Hollywood royalty, and referenced its scandalous past. Naturally, I sought out Wilder’s other read more
Ace in the Hole: Noir in Broad Daylight
Pretty Clever Films Posted by Brandy Dean on Jan 12, 2014
Read up on Billy Wilder’s immaculate Ace in the Hole with Ace in the Hole: Noir in Broad Daylight, a Criterion Essay by Molly Haskell. Get your own copy of Ace in the Hole from Amazon. Billy Wilder’s Ace in the Hole almost requires an honorary expansion of the term film noir. There read more
Ace in the Hole: Chin Up for Mother
Pretty Clever Films Posted by Brandy Dean on Jan 11, 2014
Read up on Billy Wilder’s immaculate Ace in the Hole with Ace in the Hole: Chin Up for Mother, a Criterion Essay by Guy Maddin. Get your own copy of Ace in the Hole from Amazon. The celebrated divot points manfully toward the crest of the next hill, and the next, and the next, and to the hori read more
An Optical Poem (1938)
Pretty Clever Films Posted by Bennett O'Brian on Jan 11, 2014
In the late 1930s, a few animation companies had cornered the market on one-reel comedies. After making international movie stars out of affable talking animals, some of the biggest names in the cartoon business began to experiment with slightly more serious subject matter. The most famous such end read more
Win Enough Said on Blu-ray
Pretty Clever Films Posted by Brandy Dean on Jan 10, 2014
James Gandolfini, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Catherine Keener shine in this heartwarming comedy that A.O. Scott of The New York Times calls “a small miracle of a movie.” Divorced mom Eva (Louis-Dreyfus) may be falling for Albert (Gandolfini), a sweet, funny, like-minded divorcé. But as their relation read more
5 Films Everybody Loves But Me
Pretty Clever Films Posted by Wade Sheeler on Jan 10, 2014
I’ve compiled lists before of what I consider overrated movies. This list, though, consists of movies that my negative opinion is solidly in the minority; movies that everybody loves, reveres and idolizes. I used to not get it; now I just accept those things which I am powerless to control; such as read more
The Apartment (1960)
Pretty Clever Films Posted by Lesley Coffin on Jan 10, 2014
If you ever need to show an instructional video on inappropriate workplace behavior and sexual harassment, The Apartment might be a more artful alternative. The 1960 classic from Billy Wilder is one of the funniest, saddest, and most profound romantic comedies ever made, but also a biting satire a read more
A Gallery of Images from The Apartment (1960)
Pretty Clever Films Posted by Brandy Dean on Jan 10, 2014
Check out a gallery of images from Billy Wilder’s 1960 classic The Apartment, starring Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine. The Apartment is available from Amazon. Billy WilderThe Apartment read more
A Gallery of Images from The Lost Weekend (1945)
Pretty Clever Films Posted by Brandy Dean on Jan 9, 2014
Check out a gallery of images from Billy Wilder’s hard-as-nails alcoholic drama The Lost Weekend. The Lost Weekend is available from Amazon. Billy WilderThe Lost Weekend read more