Now as you have probably gathered, I love movies, does not matter to me if its Silent cinema, War movies, Sci-fi, Art-House or modern cinema. I will watch anything. People always ask me what my favorite movie is of all time?, my reply is Citizen Kane, this is usually met by “why not something modern” or “Your just going along with all critics with that choice”. So what is it that makes me adore this movie so much and makes me go back to it time and again?.

The man himself Orson Welles was only 25 when he started making this film, that is as the writer, director and the star, at 25 that is one hell of an amazing thing to do, now I don’t know about you but I certainly couldn’t do that at 25. The film has a brilliant narrative that was so revolutionary for the time. It starts with a news reel telling us the story of this Charles Foster Kane and what he did and accomplished in his life.. and the scandals. This is the way of Orson Welles telling us what is in store for us and this enigmatic figure of a man he has created. The character Kane lives in his own secluded mansion called Xanadu. Xanadu is showing the perfect metaphor of what this man Kane is, Dark, Secluded and mysterious. The narrative i refer too is “ROSEBUD”, Rosebud is Kane’s last word on his death bed, he whispers it in his last breath, a news reel reporter is hired to find out who/what was Kane’s rosebud. We finally find out at the end, Orson Welles is pure genius when he lets us discover who/what is Rosebud, just like that Ghostly Whisper at the start, like a metaphorical whisper, sort of paying homage to the start its wonderfully done.

The direction and camera work was amazing for a first time director, Welles goes for low angles, high angles and even having the camera zoom in through a sky light and back again. Its little touches like this that make me awe at the film. Welles could of used a cast of well know actors but no….. he brought in fellow radio stars like Joseph Cotten, who would go on to have a terrific career in the movies. The narrative, use of camera, the cast, the story and Orson himself stealing the show as Kane, whom has this sort of self cockiness that suits the character he has created. All these just help me love this film so much, yes there is probably better films out there, but every time I watch this film I take something different away from it. I would love to know if anybody else likes this film, or, what your favorite film is and what you like about it so much. Thanks for reading and keep listening to the brilliant shows these guys do.

We arrive at 1975, this is the year of Stanley Kubrick’s costume drama Barry Lyndon. Barry Lyndon is a 18th century Irish man played by Ryan O’Neal .The film follows his rise from been a nobody on the run from the law to getting married into Nobility. Unfortunately his success doesn’t come from a genuine way of hard work, he lies, cheats and gambles his way to getting noticed, and eventually finds the power he craves by marring a Noble woman. For me it is Kubrick’s hidden gem, the way he shot the film is brilliant, the use of the English countryside and huge manors for interior shots is beautiful, well worth a watch I say.

1980, now we have Stanley Kubrick’s movie about a descent into madness, The Shining. Jack Nicholson’s performance is just brilliantly insane, the look he has in his eyes just looks wild and savage like, he really looks like something has clicked in his head and has drove him over the sanity barrier. Full Metal Jacket is next for Kubrick in 1987, this is a war movie set during the Vietnam War.  This film is like a film in two halves, the first following recruits at a training camp, the second, following the war through the eyes of one of the recruits from the first half. For me the first half of the film is stronger, in my opinion. Lee Emery plays a drill Sgt. training these recruits he is such a character you just never forget him and some of the things he comes out with. Kubrick goes back to his strong use of music too, lets say you will never see the Micky Mouse Club Song sung in any other way stranger and darker than this.

It would be a long wait for his next film, 1999 to be exact. That film was Eyes Wide Shut starring Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise. This film is another not often talked about gem from Kubrick. The film is like one big daydream, the use of color and long camera panning shots is brilliant. Believe it or not both leads were great in their roles too. This film I believe has a R rating in the US, believe me it needs that rating, there is a few scenes taking place in a mansion with a strange cult, these scenes are not for young eyes. This film reminds me of Alfred Hitchcock‘s work because its like a mystery cat chase mouse film. Unfortunately Kubrick never got to see the release of it he died on March 7th, 1999. The world lost a great visionary director, who tried to make every film different but also somewhat familiar with his usual tricks of music and sound. Watch his movies you will not regret it. Thanks for reading.

After re-watching all the Stanley Kubrick movies, the thought came to me, why not make your next post on Movie Madness Podcast about his films, so here it is. Stanley Kubrick for me, made his films always with a sparkle of mad story telling, with a twist of classical music thrown in, its like he is making these films for him and no one else. For me he was a Visionary he wanted us to not just watch but also listen to and feel his movies. With what could be a controversial move I’m starting from 1960, for I feel that is the start of the genius. 1960 was the release of Spartacus. This very famously starred Kirk Douglas in one of his most famous roles. This movie was a huge commercial success earning six Academy Award nominations and winning four, this told the world that Kubrick was a great Director in the making. Next was Lolita in 1962, this film for me is hard to watch, it stars the great James Mason who plays a character who has a crush on a young teenage girl, and  follows their journey through their lives. Its great for James Mason’s acting but I could not warm to it. Next up was the brilliant Dr Strangelove, in 1964. This film was a black comedy set after World War II, and the start of the cold war. Its a brilliant watch with Peter Sellers playing three very different roles. For me this starts off the path of Kubrick doing movies that stay with you because, you are always thinking about them, even days after watching them. 1968 is here and so is 2001: A Space Odyssey.   This for me is one off the greatest science fiction movies of all time. It shows us the story of Mans rise to power and where it could lead in the future. Its worth seeing alone for the brilliant use of music and early special effects, and not forgetting Hal, who in my view is, one of the greatest “Movie Villains” of all time. 1971 and A Clockwork Orange is brought into the world by Kubrick. This is one great movie but, it is, a very violent movie. The film could be described as an exploration of violence and experimental rehabilitation by the law, and what sort of measures they could go to to stop this violence. I was glued to this film there is so much going on, it shows how far Kubrick would go to make his film stand out and get noticed. I’m keeping this short and sweet. I shall return with final part of this great Directors work.

Don’t you just love classic movies, I for one adore my classics (as I’m sure you will find out) and 2014 marks the 75th Anniversary of what many critics and movie fanatics call the greatest year as a whole for quality classic movies, 1939. 1939 brought us the ultimate family movie in “Wizard of Oz”, everyone must have a special place in their lives for this film, for generations it has opened up the imaginations of youth. Frank Capra and James Stewart gave us the ever brilliant “Mr Smith Goes to Washington”. A film about corruption in politics, but has a wonderful sense of patriotism, James Stewart’s look of wonder and excitement as he looks at all the various monuments of the capital, I’m not an American but even I feel kinda of moved at these scenes. These two went on to do the fantastic “Its a wonderful life”. Charles Laughton gave us one of the greatest performances of all time in “Hunchback of Notre Dame”, it was a painful character performance and helped us feel so much pity for Quasimodo, it reminds me of John Hurt in the “Elephant Man” which was released 1980 so Charles was first!. Cary Grant and Douglas Fairbanks Jr teamed up for “Gunga Din”, not a film I enjoyed but I can understand it been regarded a classic. We also had Robert Donat who was amazing in the very touching journey through life drama of a well loved teacher, “Goodbye Mr Chips”. Errol Flynn traded his Swash-buckler image in for revolvers to become a cowboy in “Dodge City” to huge commercial success. The great Greta Garbo proved she was still Box Office success with “Ninotchka”, which came behind Gone With The Wind and Oz as third most successful film of the year. To top off 1939 we had of course the film that swept the Academy Awards… “Gone With The Wind”, which happens to be a personal favorite of mine. There is many more films from that year too that are regarded as classics. If you own the 70th Anniversary edition of “Gone With The Wind” there is a very insightful documentary on 1939 which talks about all the great films released by each studio in turn, its a great watch, its also narrated by Kenneth Branagh. What I want to know is, What is your favorite movie and acting performance of 1939? And do you think 1939 was the greatest as a whole?. I’ll end on this..Brace yourself for what no doubt will be endless Blu ray/DVD releases of 75th Anniversary editions of most of the films from 1939. I will be posting reviews of new and classic films so keep an eye on this site, keep listening and checking out the brilliant shows these guys do.

This is the movie I’ve been waiting for most of my life. The book is titled A Princess of Mars and is one of the great action/adventure/love stories of all time. Written by Edgar Rice Burroughs and enduring as well as any story in the last 100 years if they follow the book, and looking at the trailer it appears so, John Carter of Mars should be a real treat. In theaters March 9th. Enjoy!

Welcome everyone to the new Movie Madness Podcast website. We welcome all comers, the crazier the better! I will be back soon to do more…