Wiendish Fitch

She was super talented. I don't like the film version of South Pacific (damn you, Joshua Logan!), but Gaynor was well-cast as Nellie Forbush.

Fair point. As I've said, puffed sleeves are a risk, but when they pay off? I think they're adorable. I was looking past my old posts on this thread (I might have a bit of an ego problem) and, aside at how utterly repetitive I am in my descriptions, a lot of ensembles I like do include puffed sleeves. Here's a rundown:

I concur. IMO, here's another example of puffed sleeves done well: Claudette Colbert in Midnight (1939). They're like enchanted clouds! They're big, but they don't sag like Mia Wasikowska's in Crimson Peak. They complement the rest of Colbert's dress.

Puffed sleeves are tricky. For me, proportion is everything. If they are small or not overpowering the dress or the wearer, I personally think they’re darling. If they are the mammoth, saggy monstrosities Mia is sporting? Bleecchhh.

They won't because they apparently have too many "business interests" in Hollywood. Yeah, Ashton and Mia are so hot and in high demand right now, it would be a shame to walk away from that. Dammit, great stars like Greta Garbo and Doris Day walked away from the spotlight and stayed away, why can't these two chucklefucks?

Reality can also be dull as tombs. I like some escapism now and then.

Am I horrible for never seeing Joey as the heart of Friends? Joey, aside from being nightmarishly stupid (especially as the show progressed), always struck me as more than a bit scummy.

Never liked Seinfeld, but I do kind of appreciate how Elaine is getting her due these days. I realize my bias is showing, since I love Julia Louis-Dreyfus, but still...

It has always irritated me when people empty their hairbrushes into the sink, gunking up the drain. Use the trash or the toilet!

I LOVE Mad Love! By far my favorite Peter Lorre performance. I love how, tempting as it might be, they never once try to woobify Dr. Gogol; I don't care if he's a brilliant surgeon, he's a deranged incel who must be stopped. Lorre does have to walk a fine line between campy and creepy, but he does it absolutely brilliantly. I can't recommend this movie enough for fans of black and white horror. The sets and cinematography are also out of this world. Other thoughts: It was kind of weird seeing Colin Clive in a non-Dr. Frankenstein role. Disney fans, be on the lookout (hear-out?) for Billy "Sneezy" Gilbert and Edward "Timothy Q. Mouse" Brophy! Frances Drake is great as Yvonne, a wonderfully self-possessed heroine. It was... weirdly progressive how Gogol's assistant surgeon was an Asian man who isn't a cringey stereotype, but just a normal person who is clearly great at his job. Hey, for a film from 1935, that's really saying something.

And when is George McDonald going to get his due?! The only film adaptation of any of his work that I'm aware of is that crappy 1994 flick The Princess and the Goblin that maybe 20 people on the planet have seen!

THANK YOU. It's unsettling how many people miss this. Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff? Eh, maybe it could work. Heathcliff was a violent asshole, and if the allegations against Elordi are to be believed... Sorry, that's not fair, I'm just engaging in hollow snark. My UO is... do we really need another Wuthering Heights adaptation?

"Jimmy/Oh, Jimmy/Silly boy/Gee what a real swell guy..." 48 is too young. RIP.

Another formidable talent lost. Dame Maggie Smith had such range, and was unafraid to play utterly awful people (Miss Jean Brodie, anyone?). Regardless of how much you liked or disliked her characters... you never forgot them.

Way back in 1998 or so, there was a Time magazine cover story asking "Is Feminism Dead?", that showed black and white photos of noted feminists... and then Calista Flockhart as Ally McBeal. Now, I never liked Ally McBeal (the character or the show), still don't, but in hindsight, this is tied with Dan Quayle condemning Murphy Brown as a rather silly, alarmist reaction. Ms. Flockhart has even pointed out how unfair it was, given that the men on Ally McBeal were hardly dignified or admirable, but the onus was on her to be a role model to all. Do I like positive female role models? Absolutely, but variety is the spice of life as well as fiction, and depending on the story you're telling, said female character might work better riddled with flaws.

I have learned to avoid anything with Ryan Murphy's name attached to it. Even the first installment of Feud left me cold.

I can't tell you how relieved I am that I never got into Once Upon a Time. I'd have yanked all my hair out. BTW, I still hate Catra. I don't care what that says about me.

It never ceases to astonish me the sway predators have over others that make them either turn blind eye or even excuse them.

"Oh, baby, you are so talented... and they are so dumb!"

Blazing Saddles 100% lives up to the hype. I adore Cleavon Little as Bart: his timing, his delivery, his charm, it's kind of a bummer he didn't have a bigger career. Gene Wilder is delightful as always, and they play off each other really well. Who can forget this moment?

Whoa, John Hodiak gives ... an actual performance?! Now this I gotta see!

I hope I don't come off as mindlessly contrarian, but most of my favorite Val Lewton films are the more underrated ones: Isle of the Dead (feels more relevant than ever), Ghost Ship (an early indictment of toxic masculinity) and Bedlam (Anna Lee plays the spunkiest and most engaging of Lewton's heroines). I adore Cat People, but I found Curse of the Cat People lackluster. I also don't care for The Seventh Victim (I really don't like Kim Hunter's acting in this one) and I Walked With a Zombie (but that's because I've always hated Jane Eyre). I've been meaning to rewatch The Body Snatcher. Any reason to watch Karloff is a good one!

Ha! Good point! I love Val Lewton, though I confess I found The Leopard Man underwhelming. Maybe I should give it another chance.

James Earl Jones is a delight in Conan, striking just the right balance between campy and intimidating. Even in the goofy scene where he transforms into a snake, Jones manages to keep his dignity. Conan the Barbarian is a fun movie overall (avoid the sequel at all costs).

One of the all time great talents (and voices) is gone forever. James Earl Jones's voice was so haunting, memorable and (forgive the cliche) iconic, it's hard to believe he struggled with a stutter in his youth. What I loved about Jones was that he really was an "actor's actor". I normally don't like that expression, but when you think about it, he was. Jones really did have a passion and respect for his craft, and stardom never seemed to be his MO. He could headline a movie (The Great White Hope) or a play (Fences), but he was able to leave indelible impressions playing supporting or even character parts. He once played a blind nursing home resident in an episode of Frasier, and it's easily one of my favorite episodes of the series.