Saw The Town last night. I liked it--a fun tight action film, with some really nice performances. Also, that Affleck guy has been doing SOME working out--laws a mercy.

Speaking of French movies, I just watched La Reine Margot. Wow, that was a lot of blood. Historically justified, but still.

Saw Let Me In today. I was surprised at how much it was like Let The Right One In, as it was not supposed to be a remake, just based on the same book. A lot of the scenes and dialog were very similar. (The book had a lot more going on than just the Eli/Oskar stuff, so I thought that this version might have some of the other stuff in the book, but not really.)

I thought Chloe Moretz (who played Hit Girl in Kick Ass) was very good but not as good as the two kids in Let The Right One In (who were both amazing). Also, Let The Right One In was just beautifully shot. So overall I think Let Me In was good but not as good as the first version.

Sally Menke, a film editor who worked closely with Tarantino, found dead.

In follow up to that...

Quentin would rent out a bungalow in some isolated spot to edit the movies. That way they couldn't have studio heads dropping by to give opinions. But it was kind of a lonely gig for four to eight weeks, sitting in the dark cutting the movie.

So he'd have the actors drop little hellos to his favorite collaborator during their takes.

Here are the "Hello Sallys" from Death Proof to cheer her up while she worked. Usually after a blown take.

Here are the Hi, Sallys from Inglorious Basterds.

Those were wonderful. Thanks for the links.

For Hec:

Louise Brooks's private journals to be revealed.

They are right here! Louise is also reputed to have written in a lot of library books in Rochester.

Louise Brooks's private journals to be revealed.

I hope they're released unexpurgated, because they'll be sizzling.

I want to hear about her relationship with Garbo, and also Wm. S. Paley (founder of CBS).

I saw a fun forgotten oldie over the weekend -- The Penguin Pool Murder. The body of murdered stockbroker Gerry Parker is found when it falls into the penguin pool at the local aquarium. Several plausible suspects just happen to be at the aquarium at the time. So is teacher Hildegarde Withers (Edna May Oliver) and her pupils. Miss Withers uses the force of her personality (and some beautifully delivered one-liners) to "persuade" Detective Piper (James Gleason) to allow her to assist him in the investigation. The murder is eventually solved in a totally implausible manner.

It's often said, "They don't make 'em like that anymore." In this case, it's true, but for a different reason than people usually say it. This movie is a little more than an hour of lightweight amusement -- nothing more, nothing less. Probably intended as a second feature for double bills. In other words, it's a little movie that would get lost among today's extravaganzas.

But Oliver plays Miss Withers brilliantly as That Teacher -- a Certain (but not quite certain) Age, unmarried, no tolerance for nonsense, devastating wit that she isn't afraid to use. And there's definite chemistry with Gleason, whose Piper is also somewhat older. Miss Withers's class is surprisingly diverse for 1932 -- several black pupils, and at least one seems to be Jewish (if rather embarrassingly stereotyped).

Note for cephalopod fans: An octopus has a featured part. Nothing to do with the plot. I think it's supposed to be symbolic.

Tempest trailer.