Discovering: Film and The Directors

[CrockettandTubbs]

Originally Posted by DTSBOY

Would be an excellent programme except for one of the presenters.... Ian Nathan. This bloke cannot talk without flailing his arms about. He'd be snookered if his hands were tied, I kid you not.


Somebody tell him for cryin' out loud.

Yep - see post #52

[DTSBOY]

Originally Posted by CrockettandTubbs

Yep - see post #52

If you knew someone like that you'd tell them wouldn't you? I mean, nobody I know talks with crazy hand movements. They'd be the first to know I guarantee it.

[OceanBlue]

CrockettandTubbs, I could swear you asked me recently whether they had done an edition of Discovering: Film about Marlene Dietrich (unless it was someone else here). Have checked Sky's On Demand service and it appears to have all previous thirteen series/seasons. Marlene Dietrich was the subject of the very first edition (Series 1, Episode 1).

[OceanBlue]

In the back of my mind I'm thinking I'd already seen the Discovering: Film special about the horror genre (that the screening yesterday (which I didn't watch) was a repeat. I'm sure it was shown last year or the year before. I'll check Sky's On Demand service).

[OceanBlue]

Watched the Tom Cruise edition this past weekend. It's bound to happen when an actor is prolific, but a fair few films were skipped. I found it interesting when some of the film critics said Cruise had the "midas touch", where each film he was doing in the second half of the eighties did popular at the box office, but he did occasionly do a film which wasn't successful (and yet they didn't mention that).

What irks me from time to time on Discovering; Film is when the film critics have subtle digs at other actors (when they talk about the subject of the new edition choosing their roles carefully, choosing varied films).

I agree about Ian Nathan on the Tom Cruise edition, with his arms constantly moving about.

Is veteran film critic Derek Malcolm not in the best of health? He had been a regular contributor on the show since I think the very beginning, but has been appearing less frequently on the last series or two of Discovering: Film. Dr. Bonnie Greer hasn't been on for a while. Did notice though, that on the most recent series of The Directors, the other American female contributor appeared on a couple of editions, but that was it.

[Deadend45]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

but he did occasionly do a film which wasn't successful

Does not matter. If you have seen one 'star' Cruise flick you have seen them all. Its always the same character. We are not talking Dustin Hoffman here.

[OceanBlue]

If the current series of Discovering: Film consists of thirteen editions, I'm guessing it will have a short break over the Christmas and New Year holidays, finishing later on in January.

Hopefully, I'll enjoy this coming Thursday evening's/night's new edition (about Kevin Costner).

Hoping Dr. Bonnie Greer appears sometime during the new series of Discovering: Film, as I've enjoyed listening to her opinions.

[CrockettandTubbs]

Episode 4:

Tim Robbins (Thursday, 18th Nov: 8 pm)

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by CrockettandTubbs

Episode 2 is Costner

Watched the Kevin Costner edition this past weekend. Enjoyed it more than the Tom Cruise edition (I know some have a problem with Kevin Costner post-Dances with Wolves, but I prefer his films compared to Tom Cruise).

Mr. Nathan was waving his arms about again, and there were some criticisms of Costner as the programme went on (but there were more positives than negatives).

I remember seeing one of his nineties films at the cinema, A Perfect World. I still haven't seen Field of Dreams and The Untouchables in full. This edition seemed to cover the majority of his earlier films, but a few of the later films were skipped as it went on (Mr. Brooks was one of them).

[Blu Lemmy]

I downloaded the S1E1 last night, looking forward to getting stuck into this series

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by Blu Lemmy

I downloaded the S1E1 last night, looking forward to getting stuck into this series

You've got plenty to catch-up on. There is also The Directors, which has the same film critics contributing. Not sure if the Discovering: Film specials are available.

Not sure why, but the Brigitte Bardot edition of Discovering: Film was shorter than the usual length of around forty-five minutes.

[CouncilSpectre]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

I still haven't seen Field of Dreams and The Untouchables in full.

Mate, seriously, have a word with yourself because that’s borderline criminal!

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by CouncilSpectre

[Show spoiler]

Mate, seriously, have a word with yourself because that’s borderline criminal!

There is only so much time, and I haven't got round to watching both films in full. Dances with Wolves though, I've seen a few times now (regret not going to that one-off screening at the local cinema of the director's cut many years ago. But no one is perfect).

Thanks for checking out the thread and for the helpful reply.

[OceanBlue]

All I had in my head with Glenn Close films was Fatal Attraction (watching tonight's new edition of Discovering: Film). Then straight at the beginning I was reminded of Powerhouse/Indicator's Blu-ray release of Jagged Edge.

[Blu Lemmy]

I watched S1E1 last Night, Marlene Dietrich.

It was great. I hope this level of quality is maintained.

[CrockettandTubbs]

Originally Posted by CrockettandTubbs

Episode 4:

Tim Robbins (Thursday, 18th Nov: 8 pm)

Episode 5:

Michael Keaton (25th November)

I'm sure Sam L Jackson will be on soon. There's a pic of him alongside Keaton and Robbins on the Discovering Film website.

[Show spoiler]

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by Blu Lemmy

I watched S1E1 last Night, Marlene Dietrich.

It was great. I hope this level of quality is maintained.

You will find on some editions that when an actor was prolific, some films do get skipped (so you may end up being slightly disappointed). The quality in my opinion is maintained (you may find as well that certain critics on the show give their opinion in a certain way (it's difficult to explain).

I didn't particularly like how Neil Norman spoke about one of Charles Bronson's films from the early eighties (I'm biased yes, he was entitled to his opinion, but I thought he went a bit far), and it's stuck in my mind ever since. I've enjoyed Derek Malcolm's contributions, but the more recent addition to the group of film critics contributing seems obsessed with originality and film characters not being pantomime characters.

The edition of Discovering: Film I've enjoyed the most so far was the one about Gene Hackman.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by CrockettandTubbs

Episode 5:

Michael Keaton (25th November)

I'm sure Sam L Jackson will be on soon. There's a pic of him alongside Keaton and Robbins on the Discovering Film website.

[Show spoiler]

That'll be the next edition after the one about Kevin Costner that I'll enjoy a lot (about Michael Keaton). Last night's about Glenn Close started off well, but I lost interest as it went on.

You do find sometimes on the show, that two actors who starred together in the same film, are each the subject of an edition shown close together.

Are they running out of actors who starred in films from many decades ago? I'm not complaining about who have been the subject(s) of recent editions, but they seem more recent.

[CrockettandTubbs]

Episode 6: John Malkovich (Dec 2nd)

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by CrockettandTubbs

Episode 6: John Malkovich (Dec 2nd)

Thanks for posting these updates. Assuming the current series will consist of thirteen editions again, we're almost at the halfway point.