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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 6 to 30 of 55. Go back in thread:
Posted by Adam on January 7, 2000, at 16:16:43
In reply to Movie Therapy, posted by JohnB on January 7, 2000, at 5:27:12
Old Classic: Monty Python's The Holy Grail
Recent Obsession: Being John Malkovitch (I love, LOVE this movie, from Cameron Diaz to that heavenly Bjork tune, Amphibian, during the final credits...and of course the eponymous star.)
> A good movie comedy I think can be very theraputic. Any suggestions people? I nominate "Austin Powers - The Spy Who Shagged Me."
Posted by anna on January 7, 2000, at 16:25:44
In reply to Movie Therapy, posted by JohnB on January 7, 2000, at 5:27:12
Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein (hump? what hump?)....and ANYTHING with Liam Neeson--very theraputic!
Posted by Cass on January 7, 2000, at 16:38:49
In reply to Re: Movie Therapy, posted by anna on January 7, 2000, at 16:25:44
I ordered Lily Tomlin's "The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe." I have seen hysterical exerpts. If this thread is still going after I've seen the whole thing, I'll give you a more thorough evaluation.
Posted by Noa on January 7, 2000, at 18:22:28
In reply to Re: Movie Therapy, posted by Cass on January 7, 2000, at 16:38:49
I like Being John Malkovich, too.
I saw Lily Tomlin perform some of the material that went into Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe. She is sumpn else.
Posted by Noa on January 7, 2000, at 18:24:54
In reply to Re: Movie Therapy, posted by Cass on January 7, 2000, at 16:38:49
For some good dark humor (I guess Malkovich qualifies, too), try After Hours, starring Griffin Dunne, and I think directed by Scorsese. It also has Rosanna Arquette and Teri Garr, Cheech and Chong, among others. Bizzaro movie, dark humor, but FUNNY.
Recently, I rented a bunch of old Rocky and Bullwinkes. I LOVE them.
Posted by JohnB on January 7, 2000, at 19:04:19
In reply to Re: Movie Therapy, posted by Noa on January 7, 2000, at 18:24:54
Speaking of Scorsese comedies, "King of Comedy" is a classic. Not well known. Sandra Bernhart's debut, also DeNiro, and Jerry Lewis.
Anybody like Andy Kaufman?
Posted by mat on January 8, 2000, at 0:09:16
In reply to Movie Therapy, posted by JohnB on January 7, 2000, at 5:27:12
>
Posted by Cass on January 8, 2000, at 0:29:23
In reply to Re: Movie Therapy, posted by JohnB on January 7, 2000, at 19:04:19
I'm a big fan of "The Truman Show"
Posted by Noa on January 8, 2000, at 0:52:57
In reply to Re: Movie Therapy, posted by Cass on January 8, 2000, at 0:29:23
In Play it Again Sam, one of the characters (cannot recall name) is constantly calling his answering service to let them know what number he is at ("I'm now at ###-####. In five minutes, I'll be walking by the pay phone on the corner of whatever and whatever. Then I'll be at ...."
I think of this all the time, and think it was prophetic. Look at how "connected" we all are now. How often do we check our messages, carry our cell phones, etc etc. Woody Allen also calls attention to another technofad in Crimes and Misdemeanors. There, it is the Alan Alda character who is constantly recording little memos to himself on his mini-dication tape recorder. I haven't seen all his recent films. Has he featured a palm pilot device yet? Or the internet?BTW, there is also a good line in Play it again, Sam, where the Woody Allen character says something like, I would have called my shrink, but he was out of town because it was August. In August all the psychiatrists evacuate the city, and all the patients go nuts for the month. (Actually, if someone remembers the actual wording, please remind me, it is doubtless much funnier than my paraphrase).
Posted by JohnB on January 8, 2000, at 3:53:08
In reply to Re: Movie Therapy, posted by Noa on January 8, 2000, at 0:52:57
> BTW, there is also a good line in Play it again, Sam, where the Woody Allen character says something like, I would have called my shrink, but he was out of town because it was August. In August all the psychiatrists evacuate the city, and all the patients go nuts for the month. (Actually, if someone remembers the actual wording, please remind me, it is doubtless much funnier than my paraphrase).Noa, I'm gonna have to rent that movie, it's been so long since I've seen it. But your description reminds me of another amusing film - "What About Bob?" . . . Bill Murray . . . (also enjoyed him in "Groundhog Day".
Posted by Annie on January 8, 2000, at 14:14:22
In reply to Re: Movie Therapy, posted by Noa on January 7, 2000, at 18:24:54
More dark humor: Serial Mom with Katherine Turner makes me laugh no matter how down I am. Watch for the part with Patty Hurst as a juror. Hysterical!
I also like to re-watch Willy Wonka and try to identify all the famous quotes Gene Wilder uses.> For some good dark humor (I guess Malkovich qualifies, too), try After Hours, starring Griffin Dunne, and I think directed by Scorsese. It also has Rosanna Arquette and Teri Garr, Cheech and Chong, among others. Bizzaro movie, dark humor, but FUNNY.
>
> Recently, I rented a bunch of old Rocky and Bullwinkes. I LOVE them.
Posted by CarolAnn on January 8, 2000, at 16:10:12
In reply to Re: Movie Therapy, posted by Annie on January 8, 2000, at 14:14:22
My turn:
All Of Me - with Steve Martin & Lily Tomlin, totally hilarious and an incredible tribute to Steve's expertise at physical comedy.
I also like old movie musicals, "Meet Me In St. Louis" with Judy Garland is a favorite.
What I simply cannot tolerate is *any* movie that has an emotionally "bad" ending. Even if the whole movie is sad, scary, ect., If there's a happy or at least uplifting end, I will watch it. I just feel extremely strongly that I have too many unpleasant emotions on a general basis to ever choose a form of escape that doesn't give me an emotional lift, as I head back into my own life!CarolAnn
Posted by Noa on January 8, 2000, at 23:42:38
In reply to Re: Movie Therapy, posted by CarolAnn on January 8, 2000, at 16:10:12
Funny you should mention Steve Martin, because I was thinking about adding another suggestion: The Man With Two Brains. That movie cracks me up, especially the oddball poetry.
I also love his physical comedy in All of Me. The man is positively fluid.
Posted by Renee N on January 9, 2000, at 1:56:45
In reply to Re: Movie Therapy, posted by CarolAnn on January 8, 2000, at 16:10:12
> My turn:
>
> All Of Me - with Steve Martin & Lily Tomlin, totally hilarious and an incredible tribute to Steve's expertise at physical comedy.
>
> I also like old movie musicals, "Meet Me In St. Louis" with Judy Garland is a favorite.
>
> What I simply cannot tolerate is *any* movie that has an emotionally "bad" ending. Even if the whole movie is sad, scary, ect., If there's a happy or at least uplifting end, I will watch it. I just feel extremely strongly that I have too many unpleasant emotions on a general basis to ever choose a form of escape that doesn't give me an emotional lift, as I head back into my own life!CarolAnnI like a good tearjerker now and then. I find the tears to be cleansing. I see how relatively small some of my own problems are. Terms of Endearment, Love Story, Stepmom, Titanic, One True Thing. For a good laugh I give **** to The Jerk(Steve Martin), Blazing Saddles, The Trouble With Mary, and Twins(Danny DeVito and Arnold Schwartzenegger--SP?).
Let's think for awhile, and then somone get a new thread going about bibliotherapy making use of novels and poetry.
Posted by dove on January 10, 2000, at 10:39:57
In reply to Re: Movie Therapy, posted by Renee N on January 9, 2000, at 1:56:45
For laughs how about "I Love You to Death" with Kevin Kline and Tracy Ulman, I laugh so hard I think I'm going to die everytime I watch it. William Hurt as the ex-con druggie is beyond hilarious. "Arsenic and Old Lace" with Cary Grant is another one that keeps me rolling. And "Homegrown", especially the part where the helicopter pilot has them all in the grave and is screaming at them not to make deals with the mafia, they cry and scream like they're gonna die. The facial expressions are so real, petrified out of their minds, what a total hoot! I rewind that part up to five times just to laugh 'til I'm breathless.
"Brazil" is another favorite, though I have trouble watching it on a down day, too bleak.
My two fave's for tear-jerkers (one's you can watch more than twice and don't push you over the edge) are "The Professional" and "Pi". Two unique flicks in my opinion. The first has so much humanity, seeping with gut-level emotion tangled with morals/intellectual emotion, real human texture in an unlikely plot. The second movie makes me feel "normal", and yet I recognize familiar aspects in the middle of the bizarre sequence of events. I really related to the main character and his motivations and reactions to the circumstances handed to him, though by his own admission he could have left them alone. Anyone else like "Pi"?
dove
Posted by Noa on January 10, 2000, at 11:28:38
In reply to Re: Movie Therapy, posted by dove on January 10, 2000, at 10:39:57
I saw Pi and liked it, but it was unsettling, so it wouldn't be one I'd watch to feel better.
Posted by Adam on January 10, 2000, at 18:33:48
In reply to Re: Movie Therapy, posted by Noa on January 10, 2000, at 11:28:38
Sometimes when I'm feeling down, I like to see a good comedy. Sometimes when I feel really down, for some reason, I like to see the most depressing, head-kicker of a movie I can possibly find. Sometimes I like movies that are full of sadness, but somehow uplift with a redemptive message...
Comedies:
Something About Mary: Totally crass. Laughed my butt off.
A Fish Called Wanda: "Don't call me stupid!"
Annie Hall: Not exactly bust-a-gut laughs, but... Y'all know this was supposed to be called "Anne Hedonia" I'll stick "Manhattan" in too.
Head Kickers:
"A Clockwork Orange"
"My Own Private Idaho"
"Last Exit to Brooklyn"
"Naked"-This may top the list as the single most depressing movie I have ever seen.Sad but Redemptive (way too many to list):
"Sophie's Choice"
"Gandhi"
"Schindler's List"-Not a Spielberg fan, but he got it right this time.
"Kundun"
"Three Seasons"-This one esp. grabbed me. Partly the gorgeous ambience of the soundtrack, perhaps, and the sweetness of the most downtrodden characters.
"
Posted by Cass on January 10, 2000, at 20:58:33
In reply to Re: Movie Therapy, posted by Adam on January 10, 2000, at 18:33:48
Okay, since Adam started this category, I have a few to add:
"The Color Purple"
"Savior"
(A somewhat recent movie which it seems no one in the world saw except me. It was profound and incredibly redemptive. I have not been so moved by a movie since, guess, The Color Purple.)
"The Piano"
Posted by Noa on January 10, 2000, at 21:11:01
In reply to "Sad but redemptive", posted by Cass on January 10, 2000, at 20:58:33
how about To Kill A Mockingbird?
For some reason, when I am sick, my traditional movie to watch is an old version of Great Expectations.
Posted by Elizabeth on January 11, 2000, at 1:32:51
In reply to Re: Movie Therapy, posted by Adam on January 10, 2000, at 18:33:48
My mom the movie buff suggested _A Simple Plan_ as a "head kicker." I haven't seen it yet so can't say much more.
Posted by Deb R on January 11, 2000, at 8:06:17
In reply to Re: Movie Therapy, posted by Elizabeth on January 11, 2000, at 1:32:51
I had been looking forward to seeing the movie "Grand Canyon" and each time I planned to go, something would stop me, like kids being sick, work (gotta grab that when I can!) and so on. Finally it was being advertised as "last days" so I knew I had to go, and soon!
Finally got there, paid my money and entered the theatre - I was the only person in the whole theatre! (this theatre is in a complex of about 8 cinemas in total.) Wow - I ran out to the kiosk and bought lots of munchies, ran back in and was still the only person there! I sat back (even put my feet up on the seats in front....never done that before!) and proceeded to have the best time ever.
I think the movies are very important, as well as the memories of the times when we see them, the people we are with, how we are feeling at the time. Grand Canyon was a pretty good movie, not the greatest, but when I saw it, alone in the theatre, it made it that much more memorable.
Deb.
Posted by Morc on January 11, 2000, at 14:41:54
In reply to Re: Movie Therapy, posted by Noa on January 8, 2000, at 0:52:57
Good God! I watched some Three Stooges shorts on AMC the other day and laughed my ass off. I tend to prefer innocent, heart-warming stuff to lift me up. "Court Jester" with Danny Kaye is an all-time favorite. ("The pellet with the poison's in the vessel with the pestle...")
Posted by anna on January 11, 2000, at 17:34:25
In reply to Re: Movie Therapy, posted by Morc on January 11, 2000, at 14:41:54
> Good God! I watched some Three Stooges shorts on AMC the other day and laughed my ass off. I tend to prefer innocent, heart-warming stuff to lift me up. "Court Jester" with Danny Kaye is an all-time favorite. ("The pellet with the poison's in the vessel with the pestle...")
My mom refused to let me watch The 3 Stooges"--she felt they were violent. I think that must be why I am now a testement to modern pharmacology!
(And hide everytime someone says curly or moe.)
Posted by Cass on January 11, 2000, at 23:37:42
In reply to Re: Movie Therapy, posted by anna on January 11, 2000, at 17:34:25
> My mom refused to let me watch The 3 Stooges"--she felt they were violent. I think that must be why I am now a testement to modern pharmacology!
> (And hide everytime someone says curly or moe.)Just a little note: My mother didn't let me watch the 3 Stooges for the same reason, nor did she let me watch frightening things. The irony was that my mother was psychologically abusive and rejecting to a pathological degree. People never understand the contradiction. I don't fully understand it myself. Well, anyways, to this day, I can't enjoy the 3 Stooges either. It seems sadistic.
Posted by JohnB on January 12, 2000, at 9:25:46
In reply to Anna, movie therapy, posted by Cass on January 11, 2000, at 23:37:42
I think if I had to choose just one comedy to take with me to a desert island, it would be "Harvey" starring Jimmy Stewart (late 1940's). The story is about a small-town eccentric who is either a genius or a lunatic, depending on who you ask, (he has a 6 foot 3 1/2" invisible white rabbit as his best buddy). Classic is an overworked word, but this movie is a classic.
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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