A Movie quiz...

I cribbed this little quiz from the Sergio Leone and the Infield Fly Rule blog. For my own amusement I'll try to answer it here as I like some of these questions



1) What was the last movie you saw, either in a theater or on DVD, and why?

The Hungarian gem "Hukkle". Not a word of dialog, but lots of sound and amazing visuals. It's a cross between "Microcosmos", "Koyaanisqatsi" and a crime mystery.

2) Name the cinematographer whose work you most look forward to seeing, and an example of one of his/her finest achievements.

Just for the beautiful "The Conformist", I'd say Vittorio Storaro. Christopher Doyle's name always gets my attention though for the lovely Asian films he's done.

3) Joe Don Baker or Bo Svenson?

Joe for sure. I had to check IMDB for Bo. Anyway, I just saw Joe in Steven Soderbergh's fine "The Underneath" and he was also in "Mitchell" - one of the finer MST3K episodes.

4) Name a moment from a movie that made you gasp (in horror, surprise, revelation…)

Somewhere in the middle of the documentary "Capturing The Friedmans" when the detectives are discussing their questioning of the young kids who had allegedly been molested, the male detective says "We had to help them remember some things...".

5) Your favorite movie about the movies.

Probably the documentary on cinematography "Visions Of Light". It had some truly great clips and showed how well light and shadows can be used to set mood.

6) Your Favorite Fritz Lang movie.

Though I really want to see the noir "The Big Heat" again, I don't think "M" will ever be displaced.

7) Describe the first time you ever recognized yourself in a movie.

Can't really think of a specific case right now, but others saw me in "Almost Famous (when he was spinning his sister's albums) and in Hi Fidelity (certain moments in the record store and others while sorting his collection - not so much the screwed up relationship portion...).

8) Carole Bouquet or Angela Molina?

Out of the two objects of desire, Angela was definitely the least obscure.

9) Name a movie that redeems the notion of nostalgia as something more than a bankable commodity.

The first thing I could think of is Barry Levinson's "Diner". Not my favourite movie, but handled the time and place so very well. Even better (as a film and with its use of nostalgia) is another Levinson film called "Avalon".

10) Favorite appearance by an athlete in an acting role.

Wayne Gretzky in "The Young And The Restless". Ha! Just kidding...Probably Jim Brown in "The Dirty Dozen".

11) Favorite Hal Ashby movie.

"Being There". But "Shampoo" is the only other Ashby film I've seen...

12) Name the first double feature you’d program for opening night of your own revival theater.

I'd love to see both "Kwaidan" and "Onibaba" on the big screen. Classic Japanese horror.

13) What’s the name of your revival theater?

Nothing snappy comes to mind. Probably would call it something simple like "The Movie House".

14) Humphrey Bogart or Elliot Gould?

Bogie.

15) Favorite Robert Stevenson movie.

Thanks again IMDB...I guess it would have to be "The Love Bug".

16) Describe your favorite moment in a movie that is memorable because of its use of sound.

Probably the sudden lack of sound in Kiyoshi Kurosawa's "Pulse". In certain key scenes, the dropping out of all ambient noise heightens the spooky/creepy factor way up. One of the strengths of Japanese horror films is their use of the sound field, especially in subtle ways.

17) Pink Flamingoes-- yes or no?

Haven't seen it yet, but let's just say it's way down on the list...

18) Your favorite movie soundtrack score.

"Ocean's Twelve". It fit so perfectly with the spirit of the movie.

19) Fay Wray or Naomi Watts?

Can't really lose on that one. I might have said Naomi Watts, but I recently watched the original "King Kong" and Fay is just stunning in that scene early on when she's doing a screen test for the camera.

20) Is there a movie that would make you question the judgment and/or taste of a film critic, blogger or friend if you found out they were an advocate of it?

Short of the obvious 'Z' grade movies, 2 sprng to mind that I saw last year: "The Girl From Monday" (just horrible acting and a mess of what might have been an interesting story) and "Hangman's Curse" (played like a lame after school special with a tidy family moral at the end and not the intriguing horror film it was presented as - proof it sucked: Michael Medved likes it).

21) Pick a new category for the Oscars and its first deserving winner.

I liked someone else's answer for this one --> Best Opening Titles.

22) Favorite Paul Verhoeven movie.

"Robocop". Funny both in satire and in sight gags. And just pretty damn cool at times.

23) What is it that you think movies do better than any other art form?

Envelop you.

24) Peter Ustinov or Albert Finney?

Albert Finney.

25) Favorite movie studio logo, as it appears before a theatrical feature.

The Japanese Nikkatsu logo.

26) Name the single most important book about the movies for you personally.

"1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die". A great wide ranging list that has really helped expose me to classic and foreign language cinema.

27) Name the movie that features the best twist ending. (Please note the use of any “spoilers” in your answer.)

"Fight Club" worked perfectly for me and caught me right off guard.

28) Favorite Francois Truffaut movie.

"Day For Night". Though at this stage, it's my only Truffaut movie.

29) Olivia Hussey or Claire Danes?

Olivia.

30) Your most memorable celebrity encounter.

As soon as I have one, I'll let you know.

31) When did you first realize that films were directed?

"Raising Arizona" was probably the most influential film for me in recognizing a director's style and methods for telling the story.