Comments on: Play Misty For Me (1971) http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/08/02/play-misty-for-me-1971/ Film reviews and commentary tonight, before I forget tomorrow Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:14:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: VIDEOWEBB http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/08/02/play-misty-for-me-1971/comment-page-1/#comment-7904 VIDEOWEBB Thu, 04 Mar 2010 07:35:23 +0000 http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/08/02/play-misty-for-me-1971/#comment-7904 Let's not forget that even though the title of the film was "Play Misty For Me", the star of the movie's soundtrack was Roberta Flack's moving performance of "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face". And as an African American, let me take this opportunity to applaud Mr. Eastwoods conscientious efforts to consistently include pivotal roles for actors of color in his films. You're a Good Man Clint Eastwood! Let’s not forget that even though the title of the film was “Play Misty For Me”, the star of the movie’s soundtrack was Roberta Flack’s moving performance of “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”. And as an African American, let me take this opportunity to applaud Mr. Eastwoods conscientious efforts to consistently include pivotal roles for actors of color in his films.
You’re a Good Man Clint Eastwood!

]]> By: the communicatrix http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/08/02/play-misty-for-me-1971/comment-page-1/#comment-6758 the communicatrix Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:17:02 +0000 http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/08/02/play-misty-for-me-1971/#comment-6758 How have I not yet commented on this, one of my all-time favorite movies? Everything you said, Joe, and more. Eastwood was so smart to set this in Carmel and environs, an area he both loves and is thoroughly familiar with. The sense of place is palpable in <em>Misty</em>; it might be another reason this movie has held up so well over time. (It's also really similar in this regard to another of my fave films, <em>Jackie Brown</em>, whose action Tarantino moved from Miami to the South Bay of Los Angeles County, an area he's intimately acquainted with. Never discount the positive impact of that kind of shorthand, I guess the lesson might be.) <em>Misty</em> is also really stripped down to the bone: everything there to tell the story properly, and no crazy bells and whistles. Without spoiling it for anyone lucky enough to have not seen it yet, in the special features of the DVD, Eastwood reveals his very specific and deliberate reasons for having both the dreamy love interlude and the Jazz Festival sequences, and I think his decision was spot-on. How have I not yet commented on this, one of my all-time favorite movies?

Everything you said, Joe, and more. Eastwood was so smart to set this in Carmel and environs, an area he both loves and is thoroughly familiar with. The sense of place is palpable in Misty; it might be another reason this movie has held up so well over time. (It’s also really similar in this regard to another of my fave films, Jackie Brown, whose action Tarantino moved from Miami to the South Bay of Los Angeles County, an area he’s intimately acquainted with. Never discount the positive impact of that kind of shorthand, I guess the lesson might be.)

Misty is also really stripped down to the bone: everything there to tell the story properly, and no crazy bells and whistles. Without spoiling it for anyone lucky enough to have not seen it yet, in the special features of the DVD, Eastwood reveals his very specific and deliberate reasons for having both the dreamy love interlude and the Jazz Festival sequences, and I think his decision was spot-on.

]]> By: Joe Valdez http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/08/02/play-misty-for-me-1971/comment-page-1/#comment-5552 Joe Valdez Thu, 07 Aug 2008 01:33:57 +0000 http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/08/02/play-misty-for-me-1971/#comment-5552 <strong>Patricia</strong>: What impresses me about Eastwood as a director is how free form and improvisational a lot of his films are. There's stuff that doesn't work - like the cigarette ad or the jazz concert in this one - but sometimes he captures lightning in a bottle, like casting Jessica Walter. You get the feeling though that he's trying things, and if they work, great, and if not, he's moving on to something different. There aren't many box office stars who would make a movie with an orangutan. <strong>Shahn</strong>: Wow, from visiting your site I would have thought that languid, artistic pacing would be in your wheelbarrow. I could see how <em>Misty</em> would make an impression on you as a kid though. Jessica Walter frightens me and I'm grown. Patricia: What impresses me about Eastwood as a director is how free form and improvisational a lot of his films are. There’s stuff that doesn’t work – like the cigarette ad or the jazz concert in this one – but sometimes he captures lightning in a bottle, like casting Jessica Walter. You get the feeling though that he’s trying things, and if they work, great, and if not, he’s moving on to something different. There aren’t many box office stars who would make a movie with an orangutan.

Shahn: Wow, from visiting your site I would have thought that languid, artistic pacing would be in your wheelbarrow. I could see how Misty would make an impression on you as a kid though. Jessica Walter frightens me and I’m grown.

]]> By: shahn http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/08/02/play-misty-for-me-1971/comment-page-1/#comment-5548 shahn Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:09:05 +0000 http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/08/02/play-misty-for-me-1971/#comment-5548 Although the languid pacing is not to my taste (which is why I'm not a big fan of movies from this period), I loved watching this on television when I was young. For some reason, it was often shown with THE MEPHISTO WALTZ- or maybe that's a false memory/fantasy double-bill. Although the languid pacing is not to my taste (which is why I’m not a big fan of movies from this period), I loved watching this on television when I was young. For some reason, it was often shown with THE MEPHISTO WALTZ- or maybe that’s a false memory/fantasy double-bill.

]]> By: Pat Evans http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/08/02/play-misty-for-me-1971/comment-page-1/#comment-5534 Pat Evans Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:41:28 +0000 http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/08/02/play-misty-for-me-1971/#comment-5534 For a freshman directing debut this film gives great indication of Eastwood's promise. He and Walter also give virtuouso performances. It really was the start of greater things to come from him while holding up well on its own. The only bit that misfires is the slo-mo/cigarette ad love interlude with Donna Mills. For a freshman directing debut this film gives great indication of Eastwood’s promise. He and Walter also give virtuouso performances. It really was the start of greater things to come from him while holding up well on its own. The only bit that misfires is the slo-mo/cigarette ad love interlude with Donna Mills.

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