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Friday, February 2, 2018

Thursday Movie Picks #186: Story Within a Story



Hello there and welcome to Thursday Movie Picks a weekly series where you share your movie picks each Thursday. The rules are 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 Story Within a Story

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A story within a story seems like something that could make an interesting movie. While I think I may have seen one that I like, but the title escapes me now, so my picks are those that I am not really a fan of.

Third Person (2013)
This has three interlocking stories. One of them has a writer at the center, so you can already see where the story within a story comes from. Ambitious but ultimately uninteresting.

The Words (2012)
Once again it's a movie that has writer characters. Less ambitious but the link between the stories are clearer so I think it makes for a more coherent storytelling.

The Princess Bride (1987)
A grandfather reads a story to his grandson. This is one of those movies that I want to re-watch as I just didn't see why everyone just love this movie. 
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9 comments:

  1. I know I'm in the minority but I liked Third Person. It was messy but I found it to be an interesting watch. I forgot The Words existed.

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    1. I don't blame you...The Words was rather forgettable

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  2. The first two I haven't seen but they sound worth checking out. I have however seen The Princess Bride several times and find it charming. The story itself is cute but what really sells it is the cast. All are so well cast and they really jump into the spirit of the piece with relish.

    This one was a real brain teaser, I had to do quite a bit of searching to come up with three. But a challenge is always welcome.

    Hellzapoppin’ (1941)- Projectionist Shemp Howard (ya one of the Three Stooges) is running a filmed dance number that turns into a funhouse ride collapsing into Hell where the dancers are tortured by demons until comics Olsen & Johnson arrive in a taxi and disrupt the scene. They call the scriptwriter in and we discover we’re in Miracle Pictures Studios (their slogan “If it’s a good picture, it’s a Miracle!”) where the boys are attempting to translate their Broadway hit show into a movie. Crazy patchwork quilt of a film throws everything, including a kitchen sink! into the mix and comes up with unrestrained lunacy that might make little linear sense since it bounces back and forth between stories but adds up to a very enjoyable viewing experience. Good cast with a standout Martha Raye. The source play was the longest running musical in history up to that point.

    The Locket (1946) - Because of a false accusation of theft as a young girl a woman (Laraine Day) sets out for revenge on the world becoming a kleptomaniac, chronic liar, and eventually a murderess. The story is told in layered flashbacks (flashbacks within flashbacks) from different points of view. Complex thriller has many noirish touches and a good cast including a young Robert Mitchum.

    The Fall (2006)-In a hospital ward in 20’s Los Angeles a young girl with a broken arm meets a seriously injured stunt man (Lee Pace) who as their friendship grows weaves elaborate stories in extravagant settings of different men who share a mission. As each story ends he asks her to forage in the hospital infirmary for morphine to help him endure his pain. Cryptic and challenging.

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    1. You picked the movie that I could not recall: The Fall. I love it, great story and visually stunning.

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  3. I've only seen The Princess Bride and I liked it.

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  4. I haven’t seen the first 2 but I have seen The Princess Bride and enjoyed it immensely especially Peter Cook

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  5. Not a big fan of The Words, but it is a perfect fit for the theme. Haven't seen your other picks.

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  6. I saw The Words but for the life of me, I can't remember anything about it.

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