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Post by Mr. Atari on Jul 2, 2004 8:31:19 GMT -5
In light of the Godfather's passing, I thought this might be a nice poll.
I'm a big fan of his early work. While The Godfather is great, it's tough to beat the "I coulda been a contender" speech from On The Waterfront.
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Torgo
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Post by Torgo on Jul 2, 2004 8:47:26 GMT -5
As I said in the thread that I started, I've seen very few of his movies. I guess the best of the ones I've had would be Superman.
I think it's hillarious that he got billing over Gene Hackman and Christopher Reeve when he's in it for about 15 minutes total.
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yousonuva
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Post by yousonuva on Jul 2, 2004 8:51:33 GMT -5
Yeah, you two started your threads at the exact same time.
Apocalypse Now. Martin Sheen at his best, Marlon Brando at his creepiest (intentionally). Great stuff.
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Post by Phantom Engineer on Jul 2, 2004 9:00:29 GMT -5
I don't have a one favorite but I really like Streetcar and The Wild One.
"What are you rebelling against?" "What have you got?"
Or something close to that.
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Torgo
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Post by Torgo on Jul 2, 2004 9:00:47 GMT -5
Yeah, you two started your threads at the exact same time. I thought about closing mine, but the threads looked different enough so I'll just leave it be.
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TomServo69
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Post by TomServo69 on Jul 2, 2004 11:49:01 GMT -5
In light of the Godfather's passing, I thought this might be a nice poll. I'm a big fan of his early work. While The Godfather is great, it's tough to beat the "I coulda been a contender" speech from On The Waterfront. Agreed on all counts. On the Waterfront is classic. So is the Godfather, but, his performance in On the Waterfront was the greatest. Rest in Peace Don Corleone, Servo
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Post by MonsterX on Jul 2, 2004 15:26:35 GMT -5
Apocalypse now. Best movie ever made.
The Godfather. also the best movie ever made.
Coincidence? Or a testament to Brando’s incredible stage presence and acting ability?
RIP Marlon Brando, your one of the good dead ones.
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Post by Skyroniter on Jul 2, 2004 15:27:22 GMT -5
No mention of "Last Tango..." On a MST board no less! I can imagine Mike and the bots enjoying that one.
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Post by Mr. Atari on Jul 2, 2004 16:06:11 GMT -5
No mention of "Last Tango..." On a MST board no less! I can imagine Mike and the bots enjoying that one. I thought about adding it. But there was only room for one more. I went with "Christopher Columbus: The Discovery" and I stand by my decision. Even the great ones have some lemons on their resume.
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Post by mummifiedstalin on Jul 2, 2004 16:45:20 GMT -5
No mention of "Last Tango..." On a MST board no less! I can imagine Mike and the bots enjoying that one. That one was my "other" vote up above. I actually liked it. It'll make you think twice before you eat butter again, tho...
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Post by nightfalcawk on Jul 2, 2004 16:48:58 GMT -5
Godfather.
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Post by mightyjack on Jul 2, 2004 17:01:26 GMT -5
Pardon me my friends, but I'm gonna get very long winded here. As family and friends can attest, Brando meant a lot to me.
And getting old is hell kids, especially when the folks you grew up with and admired, start dying. I feel very sad and old right now. I also feel like I lost a part of me, a part of my youth.
Brando for acting, like the Beatles for music, defined an era and tho his best work came in the 50's, the shadow Marlon cast on the film world reached out to me in the 60's and 70's. He was my favorite actor.
His performance in "On the Waterfront" is the Greatest work of acting ever present on the silver screen, period! Watching it even today, sends chills down my spine. Yet, it's not the bluster that so many focus on (tho the raw, sexual power of his Stanley Kowalski in "Streetcar" is both devisating and attractive) but the subtle touches that grabed me.
On the Waterfront: 1) Terry Malloy's clumsy attempts at wooing Eva Marie Saint. She drops her glove (this was an accident but Brando rolled with it) and Malloy picks it up, puts it on his hand. It's subtle, but a tender moment. He's trying to keep her there, talking, and to have something of hers close to him. And damn if it isn't one of the most beautiful courtships ever filmed.
2) In the bar, Eva's character pleads with him to tell him the truth about her brother, Only half of Marlon's face can be seen, but the moment is heartbreaking. You know he wants to tell her, to free his soul, but he's struggling with the decision. Again, not an explosive moment, but tender, subtle and powerfull.
The Wild One: All hells broken lose and the townsfolk are after the bikers. Brando's character flees on his Bike but is cornered and there's a brief moment there were you see him starting to crack, he's trying so hard to maintain that "Cool", but he's starting to drift between laughter and tears. Panic, as I've never seen an actor do. He nails it, that traped animal, the verneer starting to fade. No actor has ever captured those small truths of character like Brando does.
Mutiny on the Bounty: Marlon takes his knocks for this one. Unjustly. It is a richly nuanced perfomance and the critics of the era were in "teardown" mode at the time. His Fletcher Christian starts off as a fop, a dandy who doesn't take anything seriously. But he is forced to be a man due to Blyes cruelty. To make a stand and show some integrity even if it will damn him for all time. The transformation is stunning.
Godfather: James Caan was all fury and on first viewing it is he who captures your eye. But watch it again and Brando's subtle power is capivating. It's a role that improves over the years.
Last Tango In Paris: This is so raw, such a blunt force. But there are these scenes where a distracted Brando keeps standing by these doors as if he's listening for something. He also keeps tightening spigots on leaky fawcets. At first I wondered what the hell he was doing, were his lines written near there? Why wasn't he paying attention to what the other characters were saying. Then it hit me the 2nd time I saw it. When his wife commited suicide, before he broke in and found her - he could hear the dripping fawcet of the tub behind the bathroom door where she was.
In any other film there would have been a big dramatic monologue about how the sound of dripping fawcets hauted him. But this way was better, it respects the audiences intellegence and allows Brando to express himself without words, just the slight hurt and vacant distracted stare of a man who has lost much.
Thanks for allowing me to go on. I don't know if anyone will read all of this, but it felt good to get it out.
You had a troubled life at times, so rest in peace Marlon. And thank you for touching me with your art.
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Post by Mr. Atari on Jul 2, 2004 17:10:47 GMT -5
MJ, thanks for the post. I agree with everything in there. In fact, next to "On The Waterfront", I'd put "Mutiny on the Bounty" as my favorite.
I think I'm going to go watch my "Waterfront" DVD tonight.
"You think you're God Almighty, but you know what you are? You're a cheap, lousy, dirty, stinkin' mug! And I'm glad what I done to you, ya hear that? I'm glad what I done!"
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Post by Railingkill on Jul 2, 2004 17:28:39 GMT -5
I voted Godfather since its the only one i've seen.
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Post by BeatnikChick on Jul 2, 2004 18:05:29 GMT -5
Thank you, MightyJack. That was absolutely beautiful, and so very true on all counts. It was hard to choose, but I picked On the Waterfront. Great acting (Karl Malden is my favorite cinematic priest in this one), great story, great social relevance. Superlative filmmaking in every respect. Peaceful rest, Wild One. We'll miss you.
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