"Fall" movies...

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/14/08 at 9:58am

The weather's been pretty cool here in L.A., lately, and while I know we'll likely be betting another wave of heat, I'm already in the mood for "fall" movies.

I watched A Beautiful Mind yesterday. For some reason it reminds me of fall, probably because of all the college campus scenes with the turning leaves. It was a great afternoon movie, and I still think Russell Crowe deserved Oscar #2 for it.

I also watched "The Others" with Nicole Kidman. It's almost more disturbing and sad if you know about the plot twist in advance. Wonderful, moody, haunting film. I think I'm already in the mood for some Halloween/scary movies too. I recently rewatched Rosemary's Baby. And "The Other" with Uta Hagen. Creepy little film.

Others on my "I think I want to watch this now because it's fall" list:

Far From Heaven
Audry Rose
Peyton Place
When Harry Met Sally
The Exorcist
The Lady in White
The Omen
Ordinary People
The Goodbye Girl
Snoopy, Come Home
The Haunting
The Innocents
The Trouble With Harry
Lassie, Come Home
Sunrise
Nosferatu
Kramer vs. Kramer
Psycho
Small Change (Truffaut)
The Wild Child (Truffaut)
The Adventures of Ichabod & Mr. Toad

I know, a random list! What are your favorite "fall" movies?

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 9/14/08 at 1:06pm

Don't really have anything to add to your list, Besty. I just wanted to comment on how much I love THE OTHERS. I own it and I agree the film is more disturbing if you know the plot twist, especially that scene with her and her husband. Nicole Kidman truly shines in that role.
I'm glad you have KRAMER V. KRAMER in that list, I'm teaching that movie to my students, and I think it's very appropriate for the fall semester. I'm a bit worried though, the other day we were talking about PULP FICTION and they said I shouldn't expect them to know it because it's a 1994 movie...and that's old. What a depressing thought. But alas I digress, great list.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 9/14/08 at 2:22pm

MICHAEL CLAYTON really reminds me of Fall for some reason.

[Jon]

Posted: 9/14/08 at 2:57pm

Movies set on college campuses always remind me of fall. Everything from The Paper Chase to Animal House.

[Jane2]

Posted: 9/14/08 at 3:03pm

Most of Woody Allen's films remind me of Fall. Duh, that's when he would shoot them in New York. I always loved the music he chose like Autumn in New York, etc. Those films had so much atmosphere! He'd always insisted on beige and brown to be worn by the extras. No other colors were allowed.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 9/14/08 at 3:04pm

Ray-
Even worse is when you discover students who weren't alive when "Beauty and the Beast" was first released.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 9/14/08 at 3:19pm

I've never seen The Others. I guess I need to rent it, huh?

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 9/14/08 at 4:18pm

Husk, I teach in college so thankfully all my students were at least born in 1990. I'm just not over the shock that they think PULP FICTION is old. I don't even wanna think about them not being alive when BEAUTY AND THE BEAST was released! That's a scary thought.
Either way, I wonder what they'll think about KRAMER V. KRAMER. I really do agree that it's a wonderful fall movie. I'm particularly thinking of that beautiful scene with Joanna hugging her son, such a beautiful moment.
And StockardFan, you really need to see THE OTHERS. It's a short, great, haunting film. Nicole Kidman does some of her best acting of her career in that movie.

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/14/08 at 4:32pm

Jane, I'd forgotten about the Woody Allen films, but your absolutely right!

I think Hannah and Her Sisters and Manhattan probably are the most "fall" for me!

And ray---I didn't know you taught film in college! That's very cool, and it explains your well-thought-out posts on the subject.

And Jon--The Paper Chase and Animal House are great ones too!

[Jane2]

Posted: 9/14/08 at 4:50pm

Besty, I don't know what Woody's doing these days, but the working title of every one of his older films was "Fall Project." I noticed he's shooting out of the country lately but I don't know if it's still in the Fall.

At the top of your list, though, is one of the most Fall-like ones I could think of, and that's Far From Heaven. The saturated colors in that film was really the only thing I liked about it.

[artscallion]

Posted: 9/14/08 at 5:19pm

First movies I thought of when I saw this thread title were "Ordinary People" and "Far From Heaven," both on your list.

[Mamie]

Posted: 9/14/08 at 5:48pm

Actually any school film would apply here. I think the Harry Potter films would fit in here nicely. I also thought of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

Lovely topic Besty! There are several favorites here that I haven't watched in a while and I'm going to pull them out now. And I've definitely got to order The Others. It's a lovely film.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 9/14/08 at 6:13pm

Besty, I teach Comp 1 in college, but I try to incorporate as much film as I can. So to talk about writing opposing arguments, I'm screening KRAMER V. KRAMER, and having them write about that fantastic courtroom scene.
FAR FROM HEAVEN is such a wonderful fall film. Dennis Quaid should have won an Oscar for that role--he wasn't even nominated.

Oh, and I would add GOOD WILL HUNTING to the list. Definitely one of my favorite fall movies. Matt Damon, Minnie Driver, and Robbin Williams all at the top of their game.

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/14/08 at 6:46pm

Good Will Hunting is a GREAT fall movie!

I need to add that to my "watch" list.

[mc1227]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 11:55am

I always think of "Splendor in the Grass" as a fall movie. I'm not sure why. Maybe because Bud goes off to college and plays football. Perhaps it's because the relationship changes as the seasons do.

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 11:58am

Splendor in the Brown Grass With Leaves On It?

[Mandi Moo]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 12:12pm

I really want to watch October Sky again, and I definitely think of that as a fall movie. One of my absolute favorites.

[blueroses]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 12:20pm

The first movie that came to mind for me was Hannah and Her Sisters, too! These also remind me of the fall...

Moonstruck
Home for the Holidays
Pieces of April
Love Story
The Ice Storm
Planes, Trains and Automobiles

[Auggie27]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 12:46pm

FAR FROM HEAVEN -- the definitive autumn movie. You can feel and smell the season in the air. And its evocative look at the era is hynoptic. I always tell fellow baby boomers who haven't seen it that it's like a dreamscape of your childhood, and to me, oddly enough, childhood always seems to take place in fall (the start of the school year marking the year?)

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/19/08 at 10:11pm

Watching "Lady In White" right now.

Not only is it a great ghost story, it's FULL of fall colors, falling leaves, and an incredible New England town.

If you want a "fall movie" (and something perfect for Halloween), put this at the top of your list!

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 12:00am

I love this thread, did I say that already?
I start teaching KRAMER V. KRAMER next week, hope my students appreciate the "fall-ness" of it.
Besty, I've never seen LADY IN WHITE--or heard of it, which I'm ashamed to say--but I love ghost stories (as long as they aren't scary movies) ala THE OTHERS.
A fun, campy Halloween/Fall movie that I can't wait to see next week is HOCUS POCUS.

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 12:22am

I would definitely rent "Lady In White," ray! It's not TOO scary, but it does have a few frightening moments that might crawl under your skin. It's a good, creepy story, though! Ghosts, murders, mysteries... And if you ever wondered what Len Cariou must have been like as the menacing Sweeney Todd, check this movie out. You won't be disappointed.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 2:33pm

Does HALLOWEEN count as a fall movie?

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 6:20pm

But of course! It's fall in the movie, ain't it?