JAWS DIELMAN, 1975.

ALMOST ALTERATIONS - THIRD EDITION.

The First Edition:

http://almostentertainment.blogspot.com/2021/04/alterations.html

The Second Edition:

http://almostentertainment.blogspot.com/2022/04/almost-alterations-second-edition.html

Today marks the third anniversary of this blog. And it’s becoming a tradition that around this time I make additions to previously published posts. It’s not about correcting the endless typos or facts that I flat-out got wrong. It’s more about appeasing those pesky regrets that still have me thinking, “Oh, shoot - I should’ve...”

So here are this year’s (very few) alterations.

DIRECTORS, TOO.

original post:

http://almostentertainment.blogspot.com/2020/04/too-watch.html

She directed one of my favourite movies, so why she was initially left off this list is a bit of a mystery to me. I clearly wasn’t thinking clearly.

What has she directed?

MURMUR (2019)

Why should we be talking about her?

Because her first feature is one of the most quietly assured I’ve ever seen. It holds you in a firm tonal grip and doesn’t let go, as she directs with a strict, exacting style - yet never lets that overshadow the rich substance she’s carefully laid out. Tarantino once called “Taxi Driver” one of the definitive portraits of loneliness. Well, in my opinion, “Murmur” belongs on that list, too. It’s also a profound snapshot of sadness. And addiction. You know you’re onto something (and talented) when you reach an almost uncomfortable level of intimacy on screen (without resorting to sexual content of any kind, no less). Movies this honest rarely break past the festival circuit because audiences are often turned off when faced with such naked reality. Young doesn’t care, serving up a kind of cinematic medicine that will make us squirm but ultimately better us. I hope she continues to do so in many movies to come.

TERRIFIBLE.

original post:

http://almostentertainment.blogspot.com/2020/05/terrifible.html

I’m gonna keep updating this list until it reaches one hundred, which it probably should have done in the first place.

WE MIGHT HAVE A SEQUEL HERE.

original posts:

http://almostentertainment.blogspot.com/2021/05/we-might-have-sequel-here.html

http://almostentertainment.blogspot.com/2022/02/we-might-have-sequel-here-too.html

What might it be a sequel to?

Murder by Death (1976)

Is it?

No.

Although both movies were directed by Robert Moore, written by Neil Simon, star Peter Falk as a Sam Spade-esque detective and feature the brilliant Eileen Brennan, the two are not connected in any narrative way whatsoever. In “Murder by Death”, Falk’s character’s name is Sam Diamond and in this he plays Lou Peckinpaugh. Case closed.

What might it be a sequel to?

The Conversation (1974)

Is it?

No…?

Lots of people are certain it’s a sequel because Gene Hackman’s character is strikingly similar to the one he played in the Coppola classic. Even IMDb has it listed as an official sequel on their “connections” page. But, I’m sorry - I just refuse to believe it. I’m sure the characters’ similarities aren’t entirely a coincidence. They must have been well aware of the homage on their hands when they cast Hackman. But I think what started as one giant wink at the audience has snowballed out of control thanks to fans online. It can’t be a sequel. It just can’t. That’s too absurd. Besides, the two characters have different names. Unless… they’re both aliases because someone in his line of work would never use his real name. That’s possible, I guess. Wait… maybe…