Friday, May 28, 2021
I Just Completed Upgrading My Listings-to-the-Left
- Commentary: You can see what I've done by taking a look at the "labels" category at the bottom left. I noticed, a few days ago, that Blogger only allows 20 posts at a time to show up on a page, even if those posts are categorized. For several of my movie categories, that leaves out a few, some, many or most. So, I worked out a system wherein, click by click, a reader will be able to view all the movies in any particular category. For those categories without multiple numbered (or lettered) segments, that means that category contains 20 or less movies and all will display on the label page with one click. For those with more than 20 (you'll notice there are several) I split the category up into segments of 20 (and less, for the stragglers) per segment, designated by multiple repetitions of the category followed by numbers (or letters), i.e., "action1", or "dramaA", etc. Seeing as how almost no one accesses this journal, I don't expect to hear how my system is working, but, it's primarily for me. Yes, Virginia, I actually do watch and rewatch all of my movies, at one time or another, over years, and this system works for me when I want to watch a movie, have a vague idea of what kind, but can't recall all the movies I have of that type.
Which further incentivizes me to, someday soon ("goin' with him" --thank you Judy Collins) take another dvd count.
Tuesday, May 25, 2021
Remind Me, Please
- Commentary: I've decided to add a label another label: "popcorn-and-soda" movie. I made it up as a description for The Gauntlet but I like it so much, it perfectly describes so many movies that I enjoy, that I think I'll add it as a label. It may take me awhile to apply it to everything I think it describes in my list of movies, but I'll definitely start with The Gauntlet.
The Attack
- Commentary: Curiously, the Wikipedia page for this movie is a sad affair. It contains not even a plot summary, just a list of the cast, some links to other films by Ziad Doueiri and a list of "External Links" to critical sites that write about this movie. In fact, there is more written about this film in the Wikipedia write-up for Zaid Doueiri, the director, than there is in Wikipedia's write-up about the movie.
I do not remember when I first saw this movie, or how. It was certainly between 2012 and now, probably on a streaming service, definitely at no charge. It seems to me that it may have been within the last five years. I also have a vague recollection of watching it at least twice, perhaps more.
This is a haunting movie that I should have included in my list of Movies I've Seen, Do Not Own but Can't Forget, as I think about it often. This movie lays out a peculiar story about a Palestinian-Islamic physician practicing in Israel whose Palestinian Orthodox Catholic wife is killed in a terrorist bombing. The physician discovers something about his wife's death that horrifies and befuddles him. The bulk of the movie documents his journey to understand her and Israel's and Palestine's roles in her death.
There are no simple answers in this movie, for either the physician or the audience. It will keep you ruminating about The Human Condition long after you've completed watching the movie. In this sense, it is a priviledge for every member of the audience to be invited along on this physician's journey to discover the truth about his wife's life and death, and more. The number of labels I've appended to this film should be an indication of its overwhelming impact.
Finally, if you are in doubt about the impact this film may have on you, read this eloquent review by someone unknown to me who was also gob-smacked by this film.
Warning: This is not a popcorn-and-soda movie. Prepare to be moved, not entertained.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Ali Suliman Amin Jaafari Reymond Amsalem Siham Jaafari Evgenia Dodina Kim Dvir Benedek Raveed Uri Gavriel Captain Moshe Ruba Salameh Faten Karim Saleh Adel Nisrin Siksik Leila Bassem Lulu Yasser Ezra Dagan Ezra Benhaim Ramzi Maqdisi Priest Arieh Worthalter The Man
Release Date: 2012
Directed by Ziad Doueiri.
Labels: drama1, film-art1, haunting1, me-favorite1, mystery1, political1, psychological1, reflective, spiritual1, tragedy1, violence1
Monday, May 24, 2021
The Gauntlet
- Commentary: Unlike the immediately previous movie, this movie, which came as a "double feature" with The Enforcer was just god damned violence fun. As I watched it last night (5/25/21) I realized that, yes, I have seen it before, remembered little of it, which is typical of popcorn-and-soda movies for me, even those I really enjoy, like this one. There's almost nothing more entertaining than watching a Clint Eastwood character fuck around with obstacles in his way when he's involved in a task that has turned risky. Although Eastwood's character in this movie is named "Ben Shockley" (how grinningly appropriate for an Eastwood character), this movie may as well be yet another episode in the Dirty Harry canon (or, "cannon", whichever seems more appropriate).
This movie is one of those captivating collaborations between Eastwood and Sondra Locke, who turned out to have been a very busy "early pioneer for women in Hollywood" (I use this quote without irony), both within and without her relationship with Eastwood. Her performance in this movie is sassy and fun. It makes me want to check out her work without Eastwood.
This movie is filed alphabetically on my shelves as "Clint Eastwood".
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Clint Eastwood Det. Ben Shockley Sondra Lockwood Augustina Mally Pat Hingle Det. Maynard Josephson William Prince Com. Edgar A. Blakelock Bill McKinney Constable Michael Cavanaugh Asst. D.A. John Feyderspiel Carole Cook Waitress Mara Corday Jail Matron Doug McGrath Bookie Jeff Morris Desk Sergeant Roy Jenson Biker Dan Vadis Biker
In case you're wondering why I cite, above, so many unnamed roles and their actors, it's because Eastwood tends to use the same actors over and over again, sometimes in named roles, sometimes in unnamed roles.
Here's the Wikipedia write-up for this movie.
Release Date: 1977
Directed by Clint Eastwood.
Labels: clint-eastwood, loose-cannon-cop, neo-noirA, pat-hingle, popcorn-and-soda1, violence1
The Outlaw Josey Wales
- Commentary: Yes, this movie is the only movie listed in the category "jean-favorite". That's because it's the only movie that I know my Aunt Jean was in love with. I am remembering that she may have enjoyed Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, but I'm not sure of that ... I think this may have been mentioned to me by one of her immediate family, but I never heard her talk about that movie, nor do I even know if she saw it.
Of course, I have a suspicion that she probably watched and loved as many Clint Eastwood movies as she could find (this was back in the days when it was rare for people to have movies of any type in their home, reel-to-reel monstrosities that they were, let alone the equipment through which to show a movie, let alone a library of hundreds). But, again, I don't know. I do know about this Clint Eastwood movie, because she was so excited about it that she dragged my mother and me to a showing of its 1976 release at the original theater at Scottsdale Fashion Square in Scottsdale, AZ.
I ended up liking the movie, much to my surprise. At that time, I tended to avoid westerns, for no other reason than I'd not been exposed to them (or much TV, or many movies, at all) during my childhood and teen years and had the idea that they were simply repeats of the western TV shows my father would watch in the evening when I was a kid and always doing something other than watching TV. I remember Gunsmoke being one of those westerns, although I'm sure I never saw an episode, except bits in passing through the living room and out the door.
I'm not sure, but I think my mother liked being in her sister's presence more than anything else. Throughout their lives, until they were senior citizens, they spent so little time together in even the same state, let alone the same continent, it would be accurate to say that they never really got to know one another until they both retired. When they were finally living in the same city, they discovered that they enjoyed each other's company so much they actively sought each other out as often as possible.
This movie was acquired as a Double Feature with Pale Rider.
This movie is filed alphabetically on my shelves as "Clint Eastwood".
So, you know, Clint, thanks for providing opportunities for my mother and her sister!
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Clint Eastwood Josey Wales Chief Dan George Lone Watie Sondra Locke Laura Lee Bill McKinney Terrill John Vernon Fletcher Paula Trueman Grandma Sarah Sam Bottoms Jamie Geraldine Keams Little Moonlight Woodrow Parfrey Carpetbagger Joyce Jameson Rose Sheb Wooley Travis Cobb Royal Dano Ten Spot Matt Clark Kelly John Verros Chato Will Sampson Ten Bears William O'Connell Sim Carstairs
Here's the Wikipedia write-up for this movie.
Release Date: 1976
Directed by Clint Eastwood.
Labels: clint-eastwood, jean-favorite, revenge1, revisionist-western, violence1
The Enforcer
- Commentary: Third Dirty Harry film. Under construction.
By the way, I may as well include these here, since I have plenty of space. Roger Ebert conducted three notable interviews, at least, that I know of: Here are the first, the second and the third. He may well have interviewed Clint more than these. If you're interested in Clint Eastwood, (and, I wonder, who isn't, I mean, the man, who was born in 1930, produced, directed and starred in a movie which has yet to be released but on which production has concluded, in his 91st year on the planet) you'll find the interviews fun and quirky, I think.
This movie came as a Double Feature with The Gauntlet.
This movie is filed alphabetically on my shelves as "Clint Eastwood".
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Clint Eastwood Ins. Harry Callahan Tyne Daly Ins. Kate Moore Harry Guardino Lt. Al Bressler Bradford Dillman Cpt. Jerome McKay John Mitchum Ins. Frank DiGiorgio Bill Ackridge Andy DeVeren Bookwalter Bobby Maxwell Albert Popwell Ed Mustapha John Crawford Mayor of San Francisco Robert Hoy Buchinski Michael Cavanaugh Lalo Jocelyn Jones Miki Waleska
Here's the Wikipedia write-up for this movie.
Release Date: 1976
Directed by James Fargo.
Labels: §, clint-eastwood, loose-cannon-cop, neo-noirA, popcorn-and-soda1, violence1
Pale Rider
- Commentary: I just finished watching this movie for the first time and I feel a little breathless. Some of that, I think, is due to me finally getting around to really appreciating westerns. The rest is due to me finally getting around to appreciating Clint Eastwood.
My Aunt Jean was both a western fan and a Clint Eastwood fan. I even went to the theater with her and my mother when The Outlaw Josie Wales debuted. At that time, it was a "courtesy" visit. I hadn't yet discovered the wonders of westerns, so I watched the movie with blocks in front of my eyes and brain, I am ashamed to admit.
That is no longer true. I have a fair number of westerns in my catalogue to the left, about as many as I have of any type of movie, and I don't think there's a dud in the bunch.
I love the mystery in this movie surrounding The Preacher, from his first appearance to his final disappearance. The story is very involving, with no loose ends. Even The Preacher's departure isn't treated as a loose end. It's as though, although you know you won't be privy to any more of The Preacher's exploits, you know he's headed off to another one, and that's enough.
I love the way Eastwood uses silent showing, through the eyes of other roles, to reveal just enough, even as he heightens the mystery. He also has an acute talent for picking actors, using them well, and respecting not just the story, but the roles the actors play and the actors' strengths, as well.
It's funny, because I considered obtaining the four-pack of Eastwood movies, of which this is one, kind of like an assignment, as though I had an obligation to familiarize myself with this guy's work, considering how much I'm into movies. Well, this movie was a pleasure, Mr. Eastwood, and I'm expecting the next four to be equally pleasing.
The movie came as a Double Feature with the movie The Outlaw Josie Wales.
This movie is filed alphabetically on my shelves as "Clint Eastwood".
Thank you, Mr. Eastwood. I'm really looking forward to the next three movies in this four-pack.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Clint Eastwood The Preacher Michael Moriarty Hull Barret Carrie Snodgress Sarah Wheeler Richard Dysart Coy LaHood Chris Penn Josh LaHood Sydney Penny Megan Wheeler John Russell Marshal Stockburn Richard Kiel Club Doug McGrath Spider Conway Chuck Lafont Eddie Conway Billy Drago Deputy Mather Jeffrey Weissman Teddy Conway Charles Hallahan McGill Marvin J. McIntyre Jagou Fran Ryan Ma Blankenship Richard Hamilton Pa Blankenship
In case you're interested, here is the Wikipedia write-up on this movie.
Release Date: 1985
Directed by Clint Eastwood.
Labels: clint-eastwood, popcorn-and-soda1, revisionist-western, violence1
