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Netflix Instant; Gently down the stream...
Topic Started: Oct 8 2012, 11:46 AM (1,814 Views)
YancySkancy
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I don't know if this will take, but since we have a TCM thread, it seems logical to have one for Netflix Instant streaming, particularly since it offers so many titles that are otherwise unavailable.

Today, while flipping around the TV "dial," I stumbled upon something called Diary of a Bachelor, a 1964 romp produced and directed by Sandy Howard, a former helmer of The Howdy Doody Show who went on to a career in B films (he produced Gary Sherman's great Vice Squad). I caught a few minutes of a poker scene that really seemed fascinating as an examination of sexist attitudes in the 60s. I was kicking myself for not being able to record the whole thing, but I've learned it's on Instant, so it's now in my queue.

The cast is mostly unknowns, but a young Dom De Luise is in the poker scene. The most surprising thing I've learned is that credited screenwriter "Ken Barnett" was an alias for the great British director/cinematographer Freddie Francis! It's one of only two writing credits for Francis, and I have no idea what the backstory is there.

EDIT: Found a little more about the film here, in a review of MGM's 2011 manufactured-on-demand DVD release: http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/54675/diary-of-a-bachelor/

Includes lots of spoilers. Learned that leading man William Traylor was a celebrated acting coach who went on to play Ted Underhill in the Fletch movies.

Anyway, I thought this might be of interest to some of you as well, so there ya go.

Now post your own Instant recos!
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Karim Amir
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My Netflix Instant queue of full of sports documentaries and PBS stuff. I'm boring. :/
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YancySkancy
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A bunch of Mario Bava stuff just got added!
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Continental Op
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I for one always like to know when somewhat new releases become available, so I don't accidentally Redbox them...for instance:

The Innkeepers (Ti West, 2011)
Coriolanus (Ralph Fiennes, 2011)
The Devil's Double (Lee Tamahori, 2011)

I know what you're thinking...isn't that what the new releases/popular sections on the Netflix site are for? But, in my experience, those sections aren't always the most detailed.

Anyway, great idea for a thread Yancy, thanks!
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YancySkancy
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You're welcome, Conty!

Yeah, Netflix's site is borderline useless to me except for the Search function. As most of you probably know, the problem warranted someone coming up with instantwatcher.com, a site that lets you know when Netflix streaming titles are expiring and also offers listings by year in several different categories.

Another recent addition:

The Grey (Joe Carnahan, 2012)
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Continental Op
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Yancy, that instantwatcher site is awesome, thank you!

A couple of films that will be gone by the 31/1st and might be interesting to some folks for upcoming consensus lists:

The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid (Philip Kaufman, 1972)
One from the Heart (Francis Ford Coppola, 1982)
The Atomic Cafe (Several, 1982)
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Continental Op
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The debut of the first (right?) Netflix original series, House of Cards is getting some rave reviews...David Fincher directed the first episode...looking forward to getting into it.

House of Cards
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Dirt
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After all.....

"Netflix Instant...or What Haven't I Watched Lately"

Story of the Film: An Odyssey ... got about 8 minutes into this before giving up due to a perceived prejudice and the narrator's narration. I should probably just suck it in about the apparent dismissal of American cinema (I've subsequently read reviews of this film where it's noted that that derision does not dissipate) but the presentation of the narration is mind-numbing. Just couldn't do it. I may (as others have suggested) try this again using only subtitles.

Mafioso ...speaking of subtitles, BLOOD RED subtitles?? It was so difficult to try to read that I had to turn it off. I may try to watch it on another TV but I'm not expecting it to be much better.

Nanjing! Nanjing! / City of Life and Death...speaking of subtitles, this selection had none. I "submitted" my report and have heard a big fat nothing from Netflix. I was really looking forward to watching this. The first ten minutes of it is fascinating enough even without subtitles.

Harakiri ... a little late for the 1962 poll but what I got was the 1919 version. It's a bit early for that poll so maybe I'll get to it (when I'm in the mood for a silent) in time to rate. Pissed me off though.
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Continental Op
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Posted Image

One I'll certainly be checking out before the '42 deadline (has done well in CDDB)
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YancySkancy
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Rachel and I watched two Bill Burr standup comedy specials over the last couple of days:

Bill Burr: You People Are All the Same (2012) -- This one is a Netflix original
Bill Burr: Why Do I Do This? (2008)

Funny stuff. Looking forward to his other streaming title, Bill Burr: Let It Go (2010). Burr's executive producer is Dave Becky, who performs the same function for Louis CK's series and specials. I think an episode of Louie had a shot of a comedy club marquee with Burr's name on it, too. So he's Louis CK-approved, if that helps pique anyone's interest.
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Continental Op
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Bill Burr is also very good in a (very) bit roll on Breaking Bad Season 4 as a money collecting henchman
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YancySkancy
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12:16 PM
Bill Burr is also very good in a (very) bit roll on Breaking Bad Season 4 as a money collecting henchman

Yeah, I didn't recognize him at the time, but saw that among his credits and was like, "Oh, yeah!" He's also in the upcoming Sandra Bullock/Melissa McCarthy buddy cop comedy, The Heat. Apparently, he's hit it off so well with Bullock that romance rumors are floating around.

Last night we watched that other special I mentioned, Let It Go. Another goodie.
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YancySkancy
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Here's a link to a list of titles expiring on Instant on May 1:

http://letterboxd.com/socialretard/list/ne...piring-5-01-13/

Quite a few good'uns there: The Landlord, Smile, Thieves Like Us, The Killer is Loose, etc. From my queue, I'll try to catch Death Rides a Horse and Johnny Cool; maybe Five on the Black Hand Side.

Anyone reco Losey's The Big Night?

Isn't Francesco Rosi's Illustrious Corpses (The Context, 1976) highly regarded?
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Russ
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Bark! Go away
YancySkancy,Apr 14 2013
03:58 PM
Anyone reco Losey's The Big Night?

Yeah, I would. Here's what I wrote in CDDB:

One of the more unusual coming-of-age films you'll likely see. John Drew Barrymore is mostly convincing as the awkward youth who seeks revenge against the man who savagely beat his father. With the entirety of the narrative taking place over a 24 hour span, it seems to presage later, similar works (ie, Scorcese's After Hours), if not in content, then in structure. Losey adds some interesting touches, prominent among them a brief observation of a particular social issue regarding race (and it's a terrific scene featuring Barrymore's meeting with a nightclub singer played by Mauri Lynn). Barrymore gets a lot more than he bargains for in his quest, and is more than ably supported by a wonderful supporting cast, with Preston Foster (as the father), Joan Lorring (as a female companion) standing out, but especially Howard St. John, as the 'heavy', Al Judge (a crippled sportswriter). Yeah, this is one odd duck, alright, but it's also a pretty good one.


I think you'd probably enjoy it.
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YancySkancy
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Russ,Apr 14 2013
10:08 AM
YancySkancy,Apr 14 2013
03:58 PM
Anyone reco Losey's The Big Night?

Yeah, I would. Here's what I wrote in CDDB:

One of the more unusual coming-of-age films you'll likely see. John Drew Barrymore is mostly convincing as the awkward youth who seeks revenge against the man who savagely beat his father. With the entirety of the narrative taking place over a 24 hour span, it seems to presage later, similar works (ie, Scorcese's After Hours), if not in content, then in structure. Losey adds some interesting touches, prominent among them a brief observation of a particular social issue regarding race (and it's a terrific scene featuring Barrymore's meeting with a nightclub singer played by Mauri Lynn). Barrymore gets a lot more than he bargains for in his quest, and is more than ably supported by a wonderful supporting cast, with Preston Foster (as the father), Joan Lorring (as a female companion) standing out, but especially Howard St. John, as the 'heavy', Al Judge (a crippled sportswriter). Yeah, this is one odd duck, alright, but it's also a pretty good one.


I think you'd probably enjoy it.

Sold! It goes in the queue, and hopefully I'll get to it before the deadline.

I usually think to check the CDDB for member reviews of titles I'm considering, but totally forgot to do so this time. Thanks!
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