O Lucky Man (Split from Second Base)

[Centerfield]

Vic Sage wrote: "Let the BOY TRY!" "yes, yes... let the boy try!!"

Is that from Excaliber?

Is it weird that even though she's in her sixties I'm still attracted to Helen Mirren?

[Guest iramets]

Centerfield wrote: Vic Sage wrote: "Let the BOY TRY!" "yes, yes... let the boy try!!" Is that from Excaliber? Is it weird that even though she's in her sixties I'm still attracted to Helen Mirren?

You're remembering lines from ancient adventure movies and you think the weird thing about you is being turned on by beauties past their prime?

[Vic Sage]

Centerfield wrote: Vic Sage wrote: "Let the BOY TRY!" "yes, yes... let the boy try!!" Is that from Excaliber? Is it weird that even though she's in her sixties I'm still attracted to Helen Mirren?

1) yes it is;
2) no it isn't; and
3) shut up, Ira.

[Centerfield]

iramets wrote: Centerfield wrote: Vic Sage wrote: "Let the BOY TRY!" "yes, yes... let the boy try!!" Is that from Excaliber? Is it weird that even though she's in her sixties I'm still attracted to Helen Mirren? You're remembering lines from ancient adventure movies and you think the weird thing about you is being turned on by beauties past their prime?

Admit it. You love both Excaliber and Helen Mirren.

[Guest iramets]

Centerfield wrote: Centerfield wrote: Vic Sage wrote: "Let the BOY TRY!" "yes, yes... let the boy try!!" Is that from Excaliber? Is it weird that even though she's in her sixties I'm still attracted to Helen Mirren? You're remembering lines from ancient adventure movies and you think the weird thing about you is being turned on by beauties past their prime? Admit it. You love both Excaliber and Helen Mirren.

Helen Mirren, si. Excalibre, not so much. Have you seen her in "O Lucky Man!"?

[Centerfield]

iramets wrote: Helen Mirren, si. Excalibre, not so much. Have you seen her in "O Lucky Man!"?

I have not. Should I? I will if you recommend it.

[Vic Sage]

"O Lucky Man" is a strangely fascinating movie.

It is the middle chapter of Brit director Lindsay Anderson's "mick travis" trilogy... 3 films he made with Malcolm McDowell playing a sort of Candide type protagonist wandering thru Anderson's surreal satires about British society.

The first, "IF...", was made in 1968 and had McDowell, in his youthful pre-CLOCKWORK ORANGE period, leading a student revolt in the British school system. I remember some of the scenes were in color, some in B&W. There was much theorizing of the implications of this technique, but director Anderson later said he just ran out of money about 2/3 of the way thru, so he just shot the rest in B&W. The scene of McDowell on the school roof, shooting everybody with what i remember as a gatling gun, has stayed with me for 25 years.

The next chapter, "O, Lucky Man", is Anderson's take on British capitalism and class, with post-CLOCKWORK McDowell now a cult star. Its chaotic, random "structure" (if you will excuse the expression) is punched up by some great music. It is a bit overlong and entirely incoherent, but worth the effort if you like that sort of thing. I do.

Anderson's third film in the trilogy, "Britannia Hospital" (1982), has MacDowell experiencing the British system of socialized medicine. Its a less interesting film than the first 2, and worth seeing only to complete the series.

[Guest sharpie]

Saw it on a double bill in college with "If." I remember that I kind of liked it but can remember very little about it.

[Guest iramets]

Oh, HERE's where that thread went. I was trying to reply to CF, and assumed that, like "O Lucky Man," the thread was just a dimly-remembered part of my lost past.

Yes, I recommend it. Helen Mirren plays a sort of early Penny Lane-type character, an interesting and somewhat jaded rock-band groupie. Alan Price's rock band blows of the doors, btw--it's fairly amazing how, after this film, which was quite popular, he didn't become a giant star. Tough, quirky, cynical, big-voiced--the guy had it all.