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Friday, April 21, 2017

Thursday Movie Picks #145: A Disappearance



Hello there and welcome to Thursday Movie Picks a weekly series where you share movie picks each Thursday. The rules are simple simple: based on the theme of the week pick three to five movies and tell us why you picked them. For further details and the schedule visit the series main page here.


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This week's Thursday Movie Picks is A Disappearance

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Today's a mix bag of a newer watch and two old favorites.

White Bird in a Blizzard (2014)
The disappearance of her mother hangs over a teenage girl's life until she confronts the suspicious events surrounding it. This is one of my newer watch. It's a little weird and trippy, but interesting.

In My Father's Den (2004)
A man returns to his hometown after his father's death and befriends his ex-girlfriend's teenage daughter. When the girl disappears, he becomes a suspect. An old favourite that I have often picked and it's here again. It's such a good movie, but I think it's become quite a forgotten little gem.
 
Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975)
A few girls and a teacher disappear after a picnic at Hanging Rock. Guess what? This is being readapted into a mini series with Natalie Dormer as the headmistress. So this is probably a good time to check out the excellent 1975 movie or read the book. Then afterwards read the theories about the mystery or if you can get that secret chapter that was published separately posthumously...which I have yet to read but wonder if they'll include in the new adaptation

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11 comments:

  1. Oh I LOVE Picnic at Hanging Rock!! It's a great fit for the theme, so dreamy and hypnotic. I'm not crazy about the idea of a new adaptation this is one of those instances where they can't possibly improve on the original or capture that feeling.

    Haven't seen the other two though they both sound interesting. I've queued up White Bird.

    The pickin's were a little leaner this week but still good films to choose from. My first is one of my top 20 all-time favorites.

    Missing (1982)-A young American couple Charlie and Beth Horman (John Shea & Sissy Spacek) are living in Chile while he works as a freelance writer observing the political situation. Suddenly they are caught in a coup and when Beth returns home one day their house is ransacked and Charlie is missing. When word reaches the States his disapproving father Ed (Jack Lemmon) arrives looking for answers. Despite assurances by the authorities that everything is being done an unbelieving Beth and increasingly doubtful Ed begin their own search, as they come to understand each other at last Ed’s eyes are opened to facts that go against everything he believes in. Riveting fact based drama directed by Costa-Gravas earned four Oscar nominations-Best Actor & Actress for Lemmon and Spacek as well as a Best Adaptation and a Best Picture nod.

    Without a Trace (1983)-Susan Selky (Kate Nelligan) helps her six year old son Alex get ready and watches him set off on the three block walk to school in their affluent New York City neighborhood but he never makes it. When he doesn’t return home at the appointed hour she slowly comes to the realization that something is terribly wrong and contacts the police. Both she and her husband (David Dukes) are immediately suspected, when it becomes clear they aren’t involved the police follow other leads but the case soon turns cold. For everyone that is but Susan who becomes so determined in her pursuit she pushes almost everyone including her husband and good friend (Stockard Channing) away. However with the assistance of one detective who also won’t give up (Judd Hirsch) she presses on determined to have some resolution whatever that may be. Exceptionally well-acted but a tough watch.

    The Seventh Victim (1943)-Mary Gibson (Kim Hunter) arrives in New York City intent on locating her sister Jacqueline who has disappeared. As she starts searching she meets resistance from all quarters including her sister’s husband. As she delves deeper into the mystery she discovers a connection to devil worship and begins to fear for her own safety. Low budget noir produced by Val Lewton has a nice sense of dread and looks at a provocative subject for a forties film. This was future Oscar winner Hunter’s screen debut.

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    1. Hmm...I don't know....there have been some great TV lately that looks very cinematic, so I am looking forward to the TV adaptation.

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  2. I haven't heard of the first 2 but I have heard of the 3rd and isn't it based on a true story??? Sounds like a good film

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    1. The author of Picnic at Hanging Rock wrote it like it was a true story, but it was all fiction. And yes it is a good film, like Joel said it's very dreamy and hypnotic and just beautiful to look at.

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  3. White Bird in a Blizzard didn't work for me, at all. Eva Green was too far over the top and Woodley's character was insufferable.

    I really need to see Picnic at Hanging Rock. I've heard nothing but raves about that one.

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    1. I agree with you...the thing about Green and Woodley is I usually don't enjoy any of their performances, so it was no different in this movie. I don't consider WBiaB a favourite, but like I said I do find it interesting.

      And yes...Picnic at Hanging Rock is so so good. If you like a period drama mystery that's also a little weird...you'd enjoy it.

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  4. I haven't seen nor heard of any of these.

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    1. Aww...that's a pity...I'd say check out the bottom two...they're great.

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  5. I love White Bird in a Blizzard. You're right, it's very weird but I enjoyed it so much.

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    1. I didn't quite love it...but I'd say I enjoyed it.

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  6. Great picks! Especially Picnic at Hanging Rock.

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