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   Nicholas Whyte (nwhyte@wandering.shop)'s status on Saturday, 01-Mar-2025 20:01:32 JST Nicholas Whyte

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   This marks the halfway point of this crazy project.

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     Nicholas Whyte (nwhyte@wandering.shop)'s status on Saturday, 01-Mar-2025 20:01:32 JST Nicholas Whyte

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     47) Gigi (1958)

     Actually subversive of gender politics; Gigi and her relatives navigate a world ruled by men, but at their own pace and by their own rules. Isabel Jeans, Hermione Gingold, and esp Leslie Caron all adorable.

     https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/gigi-1958-plus-original-book-and-bonus-cat/

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     Nicholas Whyte (nwhyte@wandering.shop)'s status on Saturday, 01-Mar-2025 20:01:33 JST Nicholas Whyte

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     48) Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

     Character study of how Lawrence transforms himself, a damaged person bringing that damage to others. Amazing scenery and superb music. There is not a single woman among the credited cast.

     https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/lawrence-of-arabia-and-the-seven-pillars-of-wisdom/

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     Nicholas Whyte (nwhyte@wandering.shop)'s status on Saturday, 01-Mar-2025 20:01:34 JST Nicholas Whyte

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     49) Dances With Wolves (1990)

     The exploitation, displacement and mass murder of the original inhabitants of the Americas by European-descended settlers was a terrible thing. But it might be possible to tell a more interesting story about it.

     https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/dances-with-wolves/

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     Nicholas Whyte (nwhyte@wandering.shop)'s status on Saturday, 01-Mar-2025 20:01:35 JST Nicholas Whyte

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     51) Titanic (1997)

     I don’t think Leonardo di Caprio is a particularly good actor. The music manages not to be annoying. Kate Winslet has a great part and does it well. The narrative is not original but competently executed. The effects are spectacular.

     https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/titanic/

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     Nicholas Whyte (nwhyte@wandering.shop)'s status on Saturday, 01-Mar-2025 20:01:35 JST Nicholas Whyte

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     50) Out of Africa (1985)

     This is about white people in Africa; actual Africans are scenery. Plot rather dull. We are told the Blixens' marriage will be a disaster in the 3d of 160 minutes. Meryl Streep good; landscapes breathtaking with suitable music.

     https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/out-of-africa-film-1985-and-book-1937/

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     Nicholas Whyte (nwhyte@wandering.shop)'s status on Saturday, 01-Mar-2025 20:01:36 JST Nicholas Whyte

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     52) The Last Emperor (1987)

     This is a gorgeous film to look at. The core narrative is sound - a little boy who has incomprehensible power thrust upon him. But the plot is delivered more in spectacle than in emotion.

     https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/the-last-emperor-and-puyis-autobiography/

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     Nicholas Whyte (nwhyte@wandering.shop)'s status on Saturday, 01-Mar-2025 20:01:37 JST Nicholas Whyte

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     53) Driving Miss Daisy (1989)

     Pulls its punches on social commentary. Music is annoyingly upbeat. Morgan Freeman is always watchable and delivers a solid and convincing performance here. But it belongs to Jessica Tandy.

     https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/driving-miss-daisy/

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     Nicholas Whyte (nwhyte@wandering.shop)'s status on Saturday, 01-Mar-2025 20:01:38 JST Nicholas Whyte

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     55) The Deer Hunter (1978)

     Looks very good and convincing. Crowd scenes particularly effective - wedding, Vietnamese bars, last days of Saigon. The hospital scene where Mike finds Steve is gut-wrenching. But it's too long, and hugely racist.

     https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/the-deer-hunter/

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     Nicholas Whyte (nwhyte@wandering.shop)'s status on Saturday, 01-Mar-2025 20:01:38 JST Nicholas Whyte

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     54) Rocky (1976)

     A charming character-driven film (I still don't like boxing). Talia Shire becomes sexy when she takes her glasses off. (Try it, girls.) The music is not obtrusive, and the theme ridiculously catchy. And the cinematography is effective.

     https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/rocky/

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     Nicholas Whyte (nwhyte@wandering.shop)'s status on Saturday, 01-Mar-2025 20:01:39 JST Nicholas Whyte

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     56) Marty (1955)

     The story of Marty, a New York butcher who thinks he will never find love, and then actually does. A charming character study, beautifully shot. The chemistry between Ernest Borgnine and Betsy Blair is very watchable.

     https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/marty-1955/

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     Nicholas Whyte (nwhyte@wandering.shop)'s status on Saturday, 01-Mar-2025 20:01:40 JST Nicholas Whyte

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     57) Nomadland (2020)

     These folks are making the best of the disruption caused by capitalism in a crumbling USA. Was it necessary to bring in an A-list Hollywood actor to help them tell their story? But it looks really good and sounds really good.

     https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/nomadland/

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     Nicholas Whyte (nwhyte@wandering.shop)'s status on Saturday, 01-Mar-2025 20:01:41 JST Nicholas Whyte

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     59) Grand Hotel (1932)

     Ensemble piece showcasing Greta Garbo, John Barrymore, Joan Crawford, Lionel Barrymore - all fantastic. Impressive use of the hotel set as performance space. Some great lines as well. A little bit stagey (and rather white).

     https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/grand-hotel-1932-film-and-1930-book/

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     Nicholas Whyte (nwhyte@wandering.shop)'s status on Saturday, 01-Mar-2025 20:01:41 JST Nicholas Whyte

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     58) The Life of Emile Zola (1937)

     We all hate injustice, and love to see someone standing up for what is right. Nothing spectacular or innovative about the way the story is told (decent music), but if it’s a good story you don’t really need that.

     https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/the-life-of-emile-zola-1937-zola-and-his-times/

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     Nicholas Whyte (nwhyte@wandering.shop)'s status on Saturday, 01-Mar-2025 20:01:42 JST Nicholas Whyte

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     60) In the Heat of the Night (1967)

     White men with harsh accents yell at each other, and occasionally get thrown into jail, or take a break from yelling at each other to yell at the black guy. Unlike GWTW, tackles race from the right side of the issue.

     https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/in-the-heat-of-the-night-film-1967-and-novel-1965/

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     Nicholas Whyte (nwhyte@wandering.shop)'s status on Saturday, 01-Mar-2025 20:01:43 JST Nicholas Whyte

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     61) The Godfather, Part II (1974)

     1950s-1960s: Not gripped. Michael is fundamentally unpleasant. The Senate hearing scenes lack oomph.
     1917-1920s: Much better. Vito generates some empathy despite his violence.
     Good cinematography, fantastic music.

     https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/the-godfather-ii-1974/

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     Nicholas Whyte (nwhyte@wandering.shop)'s status on Saturday, 01-Mar-2025 20:01:44 JST Nicholas Whyte

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     63) Mrs. Miniver (1942)

     A heartfelt, uplifting story of ordinary upper-middle-class English folk caught up in the Second World War. Wholesome enough, propaganda perhaps too obvious. Dodgy accents, working-class comic relief. But several good set-pieces.

     https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/mrs-miniver-film-and-book/

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     Nicholas Whyte (nwhyte@wandering.shop)'s status on Saturday, 01-Mar-2025 20:01:44 JST Nicholas Whyte

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     62) On The Waterfront (1954)

     Brando completely magnetic: portrays a not terribly bright kid who is compelled to raise his game and do the right thing. Music really impressive. Plot obvious as nice characters move along different arcs of redemption.

     https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/on-the-waterfront-1954/

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     Nicholas Whyte (nwhyte@wandering.shop)'s status on Saturday, 01-Mar-2025 20:01:45 JST Nicholas Whyte

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     64) How Green Was My Valley (1941)

     Infamously, beat Citizen Kane. The tone is emotionally uneven. The various tragic events of the film seem to just happen and then life moves on to the next tragic event. Music good, looks fantastic.

     https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/how-green-was-my-valley/

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     Nicholas Whyte (nwhyte@wandering.shop)'s status on Saturday, 01-Mar-2025 20:01:46 JST Nicholas Whyte

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     65) Gladiator (2000)

     It’s great to look at, especially if you like to see acres of rippling male flesh (limited appeal for me). Core performances are all solid. The filmography is good and the music *really* good. But there isn’t really much there there.

     https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/gladiator-2000-and-those-about-to-die/

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     Nicholas Whyte (nwhyte@wandering.shop)'s status on Saturday, 01-Mar-2025 20:01:47 JST Nicholas Whyte

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     67) The French Connection (1971)

     It’s an unsophisticated story of two not very interesting policemen biffing the bad guys and occasionally also the good guys with whom they disagree. Admittedly it does have a couple of really brilliant moments.

     https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/the-french-connection-film-1971-and-book-by-robin-moore/

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     Nicholas Whyte (nwhyte@wandering.shop)'s status on Saturday, 01-Mar-2025 20:01:47 JST Nicholas Whyte

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     66) My Fair Lady (1964)

     Higgins’ misogynistic treatment of Eliza is awful – constant negging, and pretty close to gaslighting. But there are some wonderful songs, and one or two utterly stunning visuals. My absolute favourite sequence is the Ascot scene.

     https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/my-fair-lady-1964-pygmalion-1938-and-the-original-script-by-bernard-shaw/

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     Nicholas Whyte (nwhyte@wandering.shop)'s status on Saturday, 01-Mar-2025 20:01:48 JST Nicholas Whyte

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     68) Going My Way (1944)

     Harmless; I guess the wartime mood in 1944 helped this feelgood escapism went down well with the public for reasons that we can understand. I didn’t find any of it awful, but I didn’t find any of it terribly memorable either.

     https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/going-my-way-1944/

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     Nicholas Whyte (nwhyte@wandering.shop)'s status on Saturday, 01-Mar-2025 20:01:49 JST Nicholas Whyte

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     69) Annie Hall (1977)

     A few *very* funny lines, but protag thinks he is more interesting than he is, and his failed relationships are largely his own fault. We are supposed to find this sympathetic and interesting, but I found it sad and rather boring.

     https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/annie-hall/

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     Nicholas Whyte (nwhyte@wandering.shop)'s status on Saturday, 01-Mar-2025 20:01:50 JST Nicholas Whyte

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     71) Gentleman’s Agreement (1947)

     Anti-semitism is a serious issue, but this is not a very good film about it. In the year when the state of Israel was created, there might be more than being barred from posh hotels? Wooden performance from Gregory Peck.

     https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/gentlemans-agreement-1947-and-book-by-laura-z-hobson/

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     Nicholas Whyte (nwhyte@wandering.shop)'s status on Saturday, 01-Mar-2025 20:01:50 JST Nicholas Whyte

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     70) Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)

     Central character is unattractive and it’s difficult to sympathise with his (self-inflicted) problems. Maybe I’ve read too much sf not to find it all a bit glib. Good cinematography and music.

     https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/birdman-or-the-unexpected-virtue-of-ignorance-writerjonleaf/

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     Nicholas Whyte (nwhyte@wandering.shop)'s status on Saturday, 01-Mar-2025 20:01:51 JST Nicholas Whyte

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     73) Ordinary People (1980)

     A story of father/son growth with the mother walking out. To be honest they are not just "ordinary" people, they are rather dull people as well. But the leads are all strong, even if I did not think all that much of their material.

     https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/ordinary-people-1980-film-and-1976-book/

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     Nicholas Whyte (nwhyte@wandering.shop)'s status on Saturday, 01-Mar-2025 20:01:52 JST Nicholas Whyte

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     75) The Departed (2006)

     2.5 hours long. Lots of people get killed. None of the characters is especially likeable. But the central theme of identity, involving two double agents operating in opposite directions, is fascinating and well executed.

     https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/the-departed/

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     Nicholas Whyte (nwhyte@wandering.shop)'s status on Saturday, 01-Mar-2025 20:01:52 JST Nicholas Whyte

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     74) The Hurt Locker (2009)

     Iraq is a real country, with real people, but not in The Hurt Locker. Much unpleasant gore. I liked the fact that the protagonist is a real asshole. I think most of us have worked at some time or another with people like him.

     https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/the-hurt-locker/

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     Nicholas Whyte (nwhyte@wandering.shop)'s status on Saturday, 01-Mar-2025 20:01:53 JST Nicholas Whyte

     76) Gone with the Wind (1939)

     Could easily have lost an hour and been better. First half has a tremendous impetus, but once the war is over, the narrative thrust has gone, and we slip into a series of somewhat disconnected episodes. Also, racism.

     https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/gone-with-the-wind/