Saturday, March 10, 2007
An Unfinished Life
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This movie surprised us both. I rented it on the strength of Lasse Hallström's, Morgan Freeman's and Robert Redford's participation, even though it's gotten little favorable press. While it's true that it's an example of Hallstrom's uneveness as a director, it's also true that it's a solid story solidly presented with so few stilted scenes that these are easily ignored. Mom refers to this movie as "the bear movie" and we've watched it several times. It's not hard for me to watch repeatedly, either. It has more than a few interesting, subtle moments that catch one's eye: the smile on Griff's face when she's driving the truck; Jean's handling of a couple of assholes in the restaurant in which she's waitressing; several of the scenes between Griff, Einar and Mitch. The bear, as well, is commanding. There is a priceless scene in which the bear is roaming a neighborhood and during one section of the scene a woman exits, sees the bear, and quickly reenters her home. It's a short, sweet, telling little scene of what it's like to live in bear territory.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Robert Redford Einar Gilkyson Jennifer Lopez Jean Gilkyson Morgan Freeman Mitch Bradley Josh Lucas Sheriff Crane Curtis Lynda Boyd Kitty Damian Lewis Gary Winston Camryn Manheim Nina Becca Gardner Griff Gilkyson
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2005
Directed by Lasse Hallström.
Labels: animal, drama7, mom-favorite1, morgan-freeman, popcorn-and-soda3, robert-redford
Friday, March 09, 2007
Fiddler on the Roof
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: I'm not sure it's even necessary to talk about why my mother loves this movie. It has been easy for me to forget to purchase because there is something about Topol's performance that irritates me, but, I like everyone else's performances, love the dances, love the fiddler, love most of the songs, usually sing along to them when the movie plays...so, when it showed up on cable one day a month or so ago and Mom was so sure we owned it that she asked me to replay the dancing at the wedding party, I realized, oops, it's time to purchase it!
Update 8/2/21: Funny thing about this movie. Although I donated it to my local library branch quite a while ago, like, years ago, every time I run across it on television, I watch it, once per appearance on whatever channel. I continue to feel exactly the same way I wrote, above, but, I don't know, maybe it's the musical numbers, maybe it's that watching this movie brings my dead mother back into my living room ... I'm not sure. As long as my library has copies of this movie, though (and, it has several, it remains very popular and easily viewable), I'll not be replacing it in my collection.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Chaim Topol Tevye Norma Crane Golda Rosalind Harris Tzeitel Michele Marsh Hodol Neva Small Chava Molly Picon Yente Paul Mann Lazar Leonard Frey Motel Kamzoil Paul Michael Glaser Perchik Raymond Lovelock Fyedka Elaine Edwards Shprintze Candy Bonstein Bielke
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1971
Directed by Norman Jewison.
Labels: dance, drama7, musical1, period3, romance2
Funny Lady
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: Mom like this one better than Funny Girl. I'm not sure which I like more. From my point of view, these two movies are completely different and this one almost doesn't, in my mind, qualify as a sequel to the first. Everything seems different about the Fanny Brice character Barbra Streisand plays in this one; so much so that her continued infatuation for Nicky Arnstein seems unbelievable. There are some splendid production numbers in this movie, Ben Vereen is incredible and James Caan is a huge surprise. We watched this on TCM during their "31 Days of Oscar" this year and Mom's eyes popped when she watched it. They're still popping...we've watched this movie a couple of times since I purchased it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Barbra Streisand Fanny Brice James Caan Billy Rose Omar Sharif Nick Arnstein Roddy McDowall Bobby Moore Ben Vereen Bert Robbins Carole Wells Norma Butler Larry Gates Bernard Baruch Eugene Troobnick Ned
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1975
Directed by Herbert Ross.
Labels: barbra-streisand, biography1, dance, dramedy1, musical1, romance2
Elizabeth
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: Yes, that's right, yet another "Elizabeth" movie, just as good and just as involving as the others. I almost feel as though I should have a category label of "elizabeth movies" or, perhaps, "english royals movies", as A Man for All Seasons definitely qualifies for the same category. Mom has already mentioned that she wants to see the movie The Queen, as well, and I suspect we will end up owning it. So far, the only English Royals movie she's seen and in which she lost interest halfway through was Mrs. Brown, which I immensely enjoyed. She was so distracted through it, though, that I haven't yet considered purchasing it; although it has occurred to me to rent it again, run it by her once more and see how she likes it. Could be that this one is not "period" enough for Mom. Could also be that the movie about Elizabeth II will be the same kind of experience for her. We'll see.
Update 2/7/18 & 8/2/21: We did, indeed, purchase The Queen, to which I've linked my write-up. We also purchased Mrs. Brown, to which I've also linked my write-up. I've left the first link to this movie, above, as it is, though, since it links to a mini-review of the movie. You'll notice, I haven't purchased the sequel, released 11 years later, Elizabeth: The Golden Age. I have no quibbles with this movie, it's predecessor, but, by the time the dvd came out, I was pretty much Elizabethed out and Mom was dead. Don't get me wrong. I continue to watch the Elizabeth movies I have. I just don't want anymore. At least not now.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Cate Blanchett Elizabeth I Geoffrey Rush Francis Walsingham Joseph Fiennes Robert Dudley Richard Attenborough William Cecil Christopher Eccleston Thomas Howard Kathy Burke Queen Mary I Fanny Ardant Mary of Guise Vincent Cassel Francis, Duke of Anjou Emily Mortimer Kat Ashley Kelly Macdonald Isabel Knollys John Gielgud Pope Pius V Daniel Craig John Ballard
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1998
Directed by Shekhar Kapur.
Labels: biography1, drama7, emily-mortimer, historical3, john-gielgud, mom-favorite1, period3, royals
On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: I was surprised to see that I mentioned this movie in my journals, albeit some time ago. I'd forgotten about it until some cable channel showed it not too long ago, I clicked into it and Mom was not only thoroughly entertained by it but enjoyed the idea that time can collapse forward as well as backward. It's very dated, true, and the singing is not well woven into the movie, but Streisand's performance, especially as her re- and pre-incarnated personalities, is riveting. Jack Nicholson has a forgotten part in this movie, as well, which renders it fun to watch, simply because he participated in this movie long before he became known for his portrayals of ticklish, "Nicholsonian" characters.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Barbra Streisand Daisy Gamble/Lady Tentrees Yves Montand Marc Chabot Larry Blyden Warren Pratt Bob Newhart Dr. Mason Hume Simon Oakland Dr. Conrad Fuller John Richardson Sir Robert Tentrees Jack Nicholson Tad Pringle Mabel Albertson Mrs. Hatch
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1970
Directed by Vincente Minnelli.
Labels: barbra-streisand, coming-of-age1, dramedy1, fantasy2, jack-nicholson, period4, popcorn-and-soda3
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: Yet another that is well covered in the one mention of it in the main journal. Can't think of much else to say except that Mom remains highly entertained by this movie...and, for all it's datedness and its pertinent faults which Roger Ebert points out meticulously in his excellent review (despite his perception of its faults, he still gave it four stars, although, thank the movie gods, he didn't assign it "Great Movie" status) so do I.
Update 5/19/2022: Should I be embarrassed to say the following, that I continue to watch this movie at least once a year? I do. It's another one of those movies that transports me to watching it with my mother, recalling her comments as she watches it, absorbing her enjoyment ... yes, another one of those. No, I'm not embarrassed, I've decided. Just grateful that I have such clear memories of Mom watching this movie.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Spencer Tracy Matt Drayton Katharine Hepburn Christina Drayton Sidney Poitier Dr. John Wade Prentice Katharine Houghton Joanna Drayton Cecil Kellaway Monsignor Ryan Beah Richards Mary Prentice Roy E. Glenn Sr. Mr. John Prentice Sr. Isabel Sanford Tilly Virginia Christine Hilary St. George Alexandra Hay carhop Barbara Randolph Dorothy D'Urville Martin Frankie Tom Heaton Peter Grace Gaynor Judith Jacqueline Fontaine Cocktail Lounge Singer Skip Martin Delivery Boy
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1967
Directed by Stanley Kramer.
Labels: drama8, historical3, katharine-hepburn, political3, popcorn-and-soda3, romance2, spencer-tracy, tracy-hepburn
After Life
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1**2*
- Commentary: Again, another movie in which the "mentions" say it all; except for an update: We've watched this movie a couple more times since I purchased it. Each time, I question Mom on her one preferred memory. Each time, she comes up with a variety of memories but still can't decide which she'd keep and which she'd allow to be blocked.
One other thing: I noticed, when I received our purchased copy, which came in a DVD case with, you know, the usual info sleeve, that my interpretation of the movie, that one relives their chosen memory for eternity, is exactly the way the sellers of the movie to the U.S. interpret it. Here is the specific part of the cover blurb: "With the help of dedicated caseworkers, each soul is given three days to choose one cherished memory from their life that they will relive for eternity." Interesting that the English subtitles for the movie don't exactly explain this. Makes me wish I was fluent in Japanese, so I could tell if the original script for the movie suggests this. I wonder if this interpretation is strictly a U.S. cultural interpretation or if the movie is meant to communicate this and does so in the Japanese dialogue. Comments in regard to this mystery from anyone who is fluent in both Japanese and English would be welcome.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Arata Takashi Mochizuki Erika Oda Shiori Satonaka Susumu Terajima Satoru Kawashima Taketoshi Naito Ichiro Watanabe Takashi Naito Takuro Sugie Hisako Hara Kiyo Nishimura Kei Tani Kennosuke Nakamura Kisuke Shoda Toru Yuri Kazuko Shirakawa Nobuko Amano Yūsuke Iseya Yusuke Iseya Sayaka Yoshino Kana Yoshino Kotaro Shiga Kenji Yamamoto Kyōko Kagawa Kyoko Watanabe Natsuo Ishidô Young Kyoko Watanabe Sadao Abe Ichiro Watanabe Tomomi Hiraiwa Receptionist
Here's the link to the Wikipedia write-up of this movie.
Release Date: 1998
Directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda.
Labels: drama8, dream1, fantasy2, film-art2, haunting2, shared-favorite, spiritual1
One Night with the King
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This is the story of the biblical Esther with additional drama and eye candy. Although some of it is authentic, much was added in order to attract an audience. I don't think it got very good reviews, but I've noticed, as well, that Costco has increased its stock of this movie in order to accommodate the high demand for it on DVD. I understand that demand. It is thoroughly involving and enjoyable to watch. John Rhys-Davies is commanding, as always, the portrayal of Esther is enjoyably whimsical, the King of Persia, which not particularly well acted, is played by a man who has a sufficiently exotic charisma, even the part of Haggai is noteworthy. It's fun, as well, to watch the cameos of Peter O'Toole and Omar Sharif. It is full of eye candy, a rival to The Ten Commandments, at least in this respect, and the dramatic emphasis is satisfying. Although it is probably the least accurate of the movie bible portrayals that we own, I would have to say that it's one of my mother's favorites. At this writing we've probably viewed it four times, three at my mother's request, and we've had it only two weeks. Much to my ambivalent chagrin and delight, it's a winner in our household.
The only reliable and fair review I could find is, yes, a "Christian" review, for a "Christian" audience, but it is surprisingly fair and actual brings some critical skill to bear, noticing technical flaws that I didn't notice.
Update 8/2/21: Funny thing. As I was adding the director to this movie, I was reminded of my ambivalence about it, then, suddenly, I remembered when I saw and bought the movie at Costco, without having seen it.
There was a woman next to me at the DVD table (which Costco no longer has) picking up a copy and saying to me, "I just love this movie! Don't you just love this movie?"
I admitted that I hadn't yet seen it and was buying it because my mother enjoys bible movies.
"Oh," she gushed, "You'll both just love it!"
Weird that I even have that memory!
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Tiffany Dupont Hadassah/Esther Luke Goss Xerxes I of Persia John Rhys-Davies Mordecai Omar Sharif Prince Memucan Tommy Lister, Jr. Hegai Jonah Lotan Jesse John Noble Admatha James Callis Haman Peter O'Toole Prophet Samuel Denzil Smith Prince Carshena Jyoti Dogra Queen Vashti Tom Alter King Saul Aditya Bal King Agag Dilshad Patel Anna Nimrat Kaur Sarah Asif Basra Prince Marsena
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2006
Directed by Michael O. Sajbel.
Labels: bible-movies1, mom-favorite1, popcorn-and-soda3, royals, spectacle2
The Bible Collection
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This set of Old Testament Stories, covering:
Abraham [Directed by Joseph Sargent; Release Date: 1993; Wikipedia link]
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Richard Harris Abraham Barbara Hershey Sarai/Sarah Vittorio Gassman Terah Maximilian Schell Pharaoh Carolina Rosi Hagar Kevin McNally Nahor Gottfried John Eliezer Andrea Prodan Lot
David [Directed by Robert Markowitz; Release Date: 1997; Wikipedia link]
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Nathaniel Parker David Jonathan Pryce Saul Leonard Nimoy Samuel Sheryl Lee Bathsheba Ben Daniels Jonathan Maurice Roëves Joab Franco Nero Nathan Gideon Turner Young David
Jacob [Directed by Peter Hall; Release Date: 1994; Wikipedia link]
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Matthew Modine Jacob Lara Flynn Boyle Rachel Sean Bean Esau Joss Ackland Isaac Juliet Aubrey Leah Irene Papas Rebeccah Giancarlo Giannini Laban Christoph Waltz Morash
Joseph [Directed by Roger Young; Release Date: 1995; Wikipedia link]
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Ben Kingsley Potiphar Lesley Ann Warren Potiphar's Wife Paul Mercurio Joseph Stefano Dionisi Pharoah Michael Attwell Judah Pete Lee Wilson Gad Kelly Miller Tamar Warren Clarke Ednan
Moses [Directed by Roger Young; Release Date: 1995; Wikipedia link]
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Ben Kingsley Moses Frank Langella Merneptah Christopher Lee Pharaoh David Suchet Aaron Geraldine McEwan Miriam Enrico Lo Verso Joshua Maurice Roëves Zerack Sônia Braga Zipporah Philip Stone Jethro Anthony Higgins Korah Anton Lesser Eliav Vincent Riotta Midian
Samson & Delilah [Directed by Nicolas Roeg; Release Date: 1996; Wikipedia link]
P.S. The revenge2 movie in this collection is Samson & Delilah, one of the ultimate revenge stories in the Abrahamic bible, in part because it features more than one revenge story. It is as though "God" created Samson to be an instrument of revenge.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Eric Thal Samson Jonathan Rhys Meyers Young Samson Elizabeth Hurley Delilah Dennis Hopper Gen. Tariq Diana Rigg Mara Paul Freeman Manoah Michael Gambon King Hanun Ben Becker Prince Sidqa Alessandro Gassman Amrok Debora Caprioglio Rani Sebastian Knapp Yoram Jale Arıkan Naomi
This is the collection that most captures my interest. Mom considers it a continuation of The Bible Series. My favorites are the stories of Joseph, Abraham and Moses, as it is a delight for me to watch Ben Kingsley and Richard Harris in anything. One of the aspects of both this and The Bible Series that I appreciate is the obvious attempt to authentically capture the time periods. I notice, especially, the tight use of space and the fact that they are somewhat less full of eye candy as, say, the productions of The Ten Commandments and One Night with the King.
Labels: barbara-hershey, ben-kingsley, bible-movies1, leonard-nimoy, matthew-modine, moses, religion1, revenge2
The Bible Series
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This set contains the stories of three Old Testament characters and a review of the first book of the Old Testament:
Esther [Directed by Raffaele Mertes; Release Date: 1999; Wikipedia link]
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Louise Lombard Hadassah/Esther F. Murray Abraham Mordecai Jürgen Prochnow Haman Thomas Kretschmann King Ahasuerus Ornella Muti Vashti Umberto Orsini Memucan Darren Branstord Nehemiah Natasha Williams Mimouna
Jeremiah [Directed by Harry Winer; Release Date: 1998; Wikipedia link]
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Patrick Dempsey Jeremiah Oliver Reed General Safan Andrea Occhipinti King Joiakim Vincent Regan King Zedekiah Leonor Varela Judith Klaus Maria Brandauer King Nebuchadnezzar Stuart Bunce Baruch Jolyon Stephenson Ebed Melech
Solomon [Directed by Roger Young; Relase Date: 1997; Wikipedia link]
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Ben Cross Solomon Anouk Aimée Bathsheba Max von Sydow David van Kaye Adonijah Maria Grazia Cucinotta Abishag Umberto Orsini Nathan Roger Hammond Zadok Pete Lee-Wilson Ahlijah
Genesis: The Creation and the Flood [Directed by Ermanno Olmi; Release Date: 1994; Wikipedia link].
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Paul Scofield Narrator Omero Antonutti Noah Sabir Aziz Adam Haddou Zoubida Eve Annabi Abdelialil Cain B. Haddan Mohammed Abel
Mom is, of course, transfixed by all the movies. My personal favorite is the story of Solomon, although I appreciate the production of Esther's story, especially after having seen One Night with the King. It is this series and The Bible Collection that prompted me to institute a new label, "bible-movies", as these don't quite fit in the category of "jesus-dvds".
Update 8/2/21: (My late mother's birthday, by the way: Happy Birthday, Mom!): I hesitate to mention this, but, if something of my mother continues to exist and is aware of me, she'll be pleased that I continue to watch all the movies in this assortment and The Bible Collection religiously (forgive the pun) throughout every year with much enjoyment, even though I am an agnostic atheist. That's how well done they are.
Labels: bible-movies1, max-von-sydow, religion1
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Rain Man
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: Well, I wrote such a dissertation on the movie at the site of the one "mention" that I think I pretty much said it all.
Update 5/29/2022: Admittedly, I do not watch this movie as often as Mom and I watched it when she was alive. I think it's partly because she and I watched it so often that I can quote dialog from it and partly because we discussed it so thoroughly and I though about it so much because I was caregiving for someone whose mental acquity wasn't "normal", that it's as though I have this movie running on it's own channel in my head. Thus, actually watching it, with my eyes, seems redundant, somehow.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Dustin Hoffman Raymond Babbitt Tom Cruise Charles Babbitt Valeria Golino Susanna Jerry Molen Dr. Gerald Bruner Ralph Seymour Lenny Bonnie Hunt Sally Dibbs Lucinda Jenney Iris Jack Murdock John Mooney
If you're interested, here's the Wikipedia article on it. Its Critical Reception and In popular culture sections are interesting.
Release Date: 1988
Directed by Barry Levinson.
Labels: adventure3, buddy, caregiver, road-movie, shared-favorite, tom-cruise
