Saturday, July 17, 2021
The Story of Ruth
- Commentary: Yes, if you read this journal (and, if you do, you're the only one other than me who does, I think), I know you've seen this movie listed in another, frankly, miscellaneous area, when I was considering giving it to the library the year after my mother died. But, I didn't. In fact, since then, I've watched it more than I've watched many movies I've owned since before my mother's death.
As a reminder, and in the interest of historiography, let me repeat what I posted previous to mom's death and then, again, some months later when I was considering passing the movie on:
"Again, another Bible movie that I haven't yet written up and that Mom saw, a couple of times, but I was too busy to pay it much attention. I need to watch this one before I let it go. It was one of Mom's favorites. I wonder if I can guess why when I watch it.
Update 4/2/09: I ... watched this movie last night and, although I find its 1960 Bible Movie smoothness irritating and temple priestess gowns for Biblical times being cut like late-1950's-early-1960's ball gowns hilarious, the story is interesting, informative and it fits fairly nicely into the Bible Story Collections that I'm keeping (for the time being, anyway). I also like the ending genealogical recap which connects Ruth and Boaz to the House of David: Ruth and Boaz begat Obed, who begat Jesse, who begat David (who, by the way, begat Solomon). It is frequently a story's trajectory to (and from) the House of David that recommends it to the Abrahamic God story tradition. One of the reasons I find many of these videoed stories so interesting is that they easily clarify biblical ancestry and land movement among Abrahamic populations."
I watched this movie, again, a few weeks ago, just for fun. It's a great way to spend a couple of rain-soaked afternoon hours, or an evening when you're at odds with the idea of doing or watching anything "meaningful". Stuart Whitman is fun to watch. He swaggers through this movie as though it's a western. Elana's unusual beauty, is, of course, captivating. The relationship between Ruth and her mother-in-law (perfectly played by Peggy Wood) is sweet and realistic. The mother-in-law's machinations in the service of finding Ruth a husband are interesting and devious.
Both Elana Eden and Peggy Wood had continuing careers as actors, Wood's being quite a bit more hefty than Eden's, but Eden was a busy Israeli soul her entire life, if not on screen, then in real life, dying at the age of 81. Peggy Wood acted right up to her death in 1978 at the age of 86. Stuart Whitman, as well, was busy in acting all his life, right up to his death at the age of 92 in 2020.
Including the priestesses gowns, the movie has a decidedly early 60's edge all the way through, although the clothing for those of lesser means was appropriately drab and, for the women, shapeless. The movie was well liked by critics at the time, well attended, and even won some awards.
And, yes, I'm keeping it. I'm telling you, if I can figure out a way to take my movie collection beyond the grave with me, that's what I'm planning to do. This movie will be among my after-death treats.
I want to include a link to one more review from Three Movie Buffs because it nicely enlarges and balances the review linked to the title of this post.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Elana Eden Ruth Peggy Wood Naomi Viveca Lindfors Eleilat Tom Tryon Mahlon Les Tremayne Elimelech Ziva Rodann Orpah Stuart Whitman Boaz Jeff Morrow Tob
The Wikipedia write-up for this movie is here.
Release Date: 1960
Directed by Henry Koster.
Labels: bible-movies1, historical4, period6, popcorn-and-soda6, romance4
Friday, July 16, 2021
Certain Women
- Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Laura Dern Laura Wells Kristen Stewart Elizabeth Travis Michelle Williams Gina Lewis Lily Gladstone Jamie James LeGros Ryan Lewis Jared Harris William Fuller René Auberjonois Albert John Getz Sheriff Rowles
Here is the link to the Wikipedia write-up of this movie.
Release Date: 2016
Directed by Kelly Reichardt.
Labels: §2, Criterion3, female-director1, kristen-stewart, rené-auberjonois, women's-movie2
When a Woman Ascends the Stairs
- Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Hideko Takamine Keiko Yashiro Masayuki Mori Nobuhiko Fujisaki Reiko Dan Junko Inchihashi Tatsuya Nakadai Kenichi Komatsu Daisuke Katō Matsukichi Sekine Nakamura Ganjirō II Goda Eitaro Ozawa Minobe Keiko Awaji Yuri
Here's the link to the Wikipedia write-up of this film.
Release Date: 1960
Directed by Mikio Naruse.
Labels: §1, Criterion3, tatsuya-nakadai, women's-movie2
Fröken Julie [Miss Julie] - 1951 Film
- Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Anita Björk Miss Julie Ulf Palme Jean Märta Dorff Kristin Lissi Alandh Countess Berta Anders Henrikson Count Carl Kurt-Olof Sundström Julie's fiancé Åke Fridell Robert Max von Sydow Hand
Here is the link to the Wikipedia article on this movie.
Release Date: 1951
Directed by Alf Sjöberg.
Labels: §, birth-year, Criterion3, max-von-sydow, romance4
Frances Ha
- Commentary: Under construction.
This movie was originally listed in the post Movies I've Seen, Do Not Own but Can't Forget. I own this movie, now. Here is the commentary I wrote for it in my wish list post: "Oh, how I love this movie! It was not particularly popular, so, now, it is especially hard to get ahold of. However, when it first came out on disc, I bought a copy for my niece, who I thought would really identify with it. I'm sure she did, but she and I have never discussed it. At the time I bought her copy, I should have bought my own, as it is entirely possible that I identified with it more than she did, despite the fact that she was in the age range to find it compelling and I was several decades older! I don't know. I may never know. But, when it becomes available, again, a copy of it will be winging it's way to my mailbox."
It is, essentially, a quietly joyous film about establishing one's identity. You may think that this places it out of any category that would include me in my sixties, but, you know, this film makes it clear that identity is a life-long journey, a constant reevaluation. If you ever feel like you're done with it, wait a moment.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Greta Gerwig Frances Halladay Mickey Sumner Sophie Levee Adam Driver Lev Shapiro Michael Zegen Benji Patrick Heusinger Reade Krause Michael Esper Dan Charlotte d'Amboise Colleen Grace Gummer Rachel Josh Hamilton Andy Maya Kazan Caroline Justine Lupe Nessa Britta Phillips Nadia
For your convenience, here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up on this movie.
Release Date: 2012
Directed by Noah Baumbach.
Labels: coming-of-age2, Criterion3, greta-gerwig
Punch-Drunk Love
- Commentary: Under construction.
Update 8/2/21: Although I haven't "officially" written-up this movie, yet, out of curiosity, I looked it up on Roger Ebert's site and discovered, wow! He wrote about the movie (see the link in the title of this post), Adam Sandler and its director. He enjoyed this movie so much, for a variety of reasons, he wrote about it in innumerable catch-all "recommended movie" posts. Finally, although Roger is no longer with us, his site, mid-2018, published "an excerpt" (quite a lengthy excerpt) of an interestingly ambivalent essay by Ethan Warren published in Bright Wall/Dark Room. I'm including links to both the "excerpt" and the entire article because Bright Wall/Dark Room has a pay-wall that allows several free access visits but I'm not sure how many one gets before one is denied access without a subscription.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Adam Sandler Barry Egan Emily Watson Lena Leonard Philip Seymour Hoffman Dean Trumbell Mary Lynn Rajskub Elizabeth Egan Luis Guzmán Lance Robert Smigel Walter Rico Bueno Rico Hazel Mailloux Rhonda
Here is the Wikipedia write-up on this movie.
Release Date: 2002
Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.
Labels: Criterion3, dramedy3, romance4
Homicide
- Commentary: Here's a movie that had me so puzzled I watched it two and a half times, then looked online for a full, detailed summary of the story (linked to the title, above) in order to understand the the movie. Turns out, I was wrong about the identity of the man in chains and a jump suit being shuffled down the hall at the very end of the film who turns and smiles at Detective Bobby Gold. I thought that guy was the librarian, but it was the man at the beginning of the movie who had killed his wife and kid(s) [Did he have one kid or more?] and promised to tell Gold the nature of evil. Which makes more sense than my misunderstanding.
For another take on the movie here's Roger Ebert's four star review. Frankly, I kind of have a feeling that men, in particular (versus women) have a special place in their hearts for the kind of hard biting male-to-male drama David Mamet incorporated in this film, and some others.
Clearing that up, however, didn't really change my understanding of the bulk of the movie. Bobby Gold is a human who is stuck between a birth identity he didn't know he carried and a work/life identity he thinks he understands but doesn't. He thinks the two are intertwined in a way that they aren't, and doesn't really understand how they are intertwined until after he's more or less taken out of commission from his work/life. When he understands that the intertwining has nothing to do with him or his Jewishness, well, at the end of the film the camera catches him in the discomposure of being stunned.
There are Mamet scripts I enjoy more than this one. This film is a hard row for me to mentally hoe. There are Mamet scripts that I think I don't understand because I'm not male and women suffer different identity crises than men. This movie is one of them. Glengarry Glen Ross is another. But I can say I loved the content and delivery of the dialogue, the extraordinarily clean presentation of Gold's internal conflict and the surprise ending, a double surprise because I had to amend my understanding of the entire film once I correctly identified the prisoner being walked down the hall. To certain death.
Wow. Makes me want to watch Glengarry Glen Ross again and piques my curiosity about American Buffalo.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Joe Mantegna Buddy Gold William H. Macy Tim Sullivan Ving Rhames Robert Randolph Natalia Nogulich Chava Vincent Guastaferro Lt. Senna J. J. Johnston Jilly Curran Lionel Mark Smith Charlie Olcott Rebecca Pidgeon Rebecca Pidgeon
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1991
Directed by David Mamet.
Labels: coming-of-age2, Criterion2, detective1, mystery2, police-procedural
Leave Her to Heaven
- Commentary: I watched this movie last night (7/23/21). I knew nothing about it, which, I think, intensified my reaction (for the better). What an extraordinary movie! Look at all the labels I (legitimately) attached to it! It's got something for everyone, and the entire story [which is, really, a series of stories with one bright red thread (think Ellen's lipstick) running through them] attaches everything that happens to everything else! Yikes!
First of all, Gene Tierney is amazing as the antagonist. The other actors' performances are well turned out, but they are all supportive. The movie belongs to Tierney's character, and, holy jesus, what a character she plays and how well she plays her!
Secondly, when the movie starts, you'll notice it has an odd format: It's full-screen color. Once the movie starts, though, it takes no time to get used to this.
Thirdly, this is not a popcorn-and-soda movie. Go ahead and put out snacks if you want, but, I can guarantee, you will be so riveted from the very beginning to the very end that you'll forget everything except the story, including any food you've supplied.
Finally, the Criterion "special feature" material, both the film essay and the written essay, don't do justice to this movie's singularity. I've seen a lot of movies, in my time, and I am a fan of horror. The only movie I can think of that even approaches the horrific enjoyment I experienced from watching this movie is Midsommar, and, frankly, at this time, fresh from this movie, I can't tell you which I will favor. Perhaps they'll sit atop my horror genre choices in a category of their own.
This is just a gem of a horror movie, in part because it isn't marketed as a horror movie, which was a wise choice by somebody, not sure who. I didn't even realize it was headed in that direction until a little less than half the way through. The story is masterfully manipulated. The settings give absolutely no clue as to what is going to happen. The relationships between the characters start out, and continue for quite awhile, so innocently that you cannot help but be astonished at what is happening, from scene to scene, right before your eyes, and then, when you think you've reached peak astonishment, well, hang onto your hat! No wonder Criterion has this movie in their catalog. It deserves the high honor that a Criterion production confers!
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Gene Tierney Ellen Berent Harland Cornel Wilde Richard Harland Jeanne Crain Ruth Berent Vincent Price Russell Quinton Mary Philips Mrs. Berent Ray Collins Glen Robie Gene Lockhart Dr. Saunders Reed Hadley Dr. Mason Darryl Hickman Danny Harland Chill Wills Leick Thome Olive Blakeney Mrs. Louise Robie Jim Farley Train Conductor
Here's the link to the Wikipedia write-up of this movie.
Release Date: 1945
Directed by John M. Stahl.
Labels: Criterion2, film-noir3, horror1, legal, melodramaA, popcorn-and-soda6, psychological1, romance4, suspense3, thriller2, tragedy2, violence4
The Bad Sleep Well
- Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Toshirô Mifune Kōichi Nishi Masayuki Mori V.P. Iwabuchi Kyōko Kagawa Yoshiko Nishi Tatsuya Mihashi Tatsuo Iwabuchi Takashi Shimura Admin. Ofc. Moriyama Kō Nishimura Contract Ofc. Shirai Takeshi Katō Itakura Kamatari Fujiwara Asst. Chief Wada Chishū Ryū Public Prosecutor Nonaka Seiji Miyaguchi Prosecutor Okakura Kōji Mitsui Reporter Susumu Fujita Detective
Here is the Wikipedia write-up for this movie.
Release Date: 1960
Directed by Akira Kurosawa.
Labels: §2, akira-kurosawa, chishū-ryū, Criterion2, detective1, mystery2, neo-noirA, toshirô-mifune
Thursday, July 15, 2021
Deep Cover
- Commentary: Under construction.
This movie was originally listed in the post Movies I've Seen, Do Not Own but Can't Forget. I own this movie, now. Here is the commentary I wrote for it in my wish list post: "Okay. This is yet another of my juicy fetishes. I love the story: corruption galore, even within the best of the characters. Laurence Fishburne: come on, how can you resist this character of his?!? [How can you resist anything done by Laurence Fishburne?!?] And Goldblum's rendering of Jason, and the way the pair plays off one another, oh, my, my! This movie, for me, falls into the same category as the Equalizer movies and the John Wick movies. Although I enjoy all of them, I have to say, I favor this one because the character is not squeaky clean, like Washington's McCall, nor is he on a sacred rampage, like Reeves' Wick. In fact, at the end of the movie, you are left wondering about the content of Stevens' character. I can't help but think that Fishburne, Goldblum and their fellow actors had loads of fun making this movie."
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Laurence Fishburne DEA Agt. Russell Stevens Jr./John Hull Jeff Goldblum David Jason Yvette Heyden Nancy Jason Charles Martin Smith DEA Agt. Gerry Carver Victoria Dillard Betty McCutcheon Gregory Sierra Felix Barbosa David Weixelbaum Chino Glynn Turman Russell Stevens Sr. Arthur Mendoza Anton Gallegos Clarence Williams III Dt. Taft Roger Guenveur Smith Eddie James T. Morris Ivy
Here is the Wikipedia write-up for this film.
Release Date: 1992
Directed by Bill Duke.
Labels: Criterion2, dramaD, laurence-fishburne, loose-cannon-cop, neo-noirB, police-procedural, violence3
Wednesday, July 14, 2021
The Heiress
- Commentary: I enjoyed this movie so much the first time around I watched it again, this afternoon (7/23/2021)! It's an interesting and curious story about a daughter who, even after his death, can't get out from underneath the restrictive hand of her father. It's my first movie under the category "father-daughter-dynamics". Seems odd that I haven't noticed any others to which that label applies, so I'll have to check through and see if I just didn't notice this with any other obvious possibilities.
This movie features a sweet, retiring "older" single daughter who feels so protected in her father's all-encompassing care that she doesn't realize until some years later in her life, well after her father's death, that the dynamics between her and her father have warped her for any semblance of enjoyable male-female relations. In addition, her first, and last, suitor is the smoothest and most dastardly of cads, but this is something she doesn't realize until it is too late, emotionally, for her to even consider pursuing any sexual bond. Her aunt, as well, doesn't help. She is a widow who so idealizes her one marriage that she is completely blind to what the audience sees developing almost immediately. In this blindness she offers her niece, Catherine, who is completely untutored in romantic relationships, such cockamamie advice that this smart, but, unfortunately, naive, niece of hers is simply locked in a web of well-meant but treacherous deceit. And don't even get me started on her father! Fathers, and aunts, and cads, oh my!
Very well acted. Very well written. Her change of character seemed sadly inevitable as I watched it happen, but her life and her reactions are fleshed out so well that, by the end, I did't feel pity for her but simply acknowledged her personal resolve. Yes, dear reader, I was surprised by my final reaction.
Update 8/10/21: I just obtained the 1997 remake of this film, or, rather, a re-filming of this story, Washington Square. At this precise moment I have not viewed it, yet, but I will be doing so tonight. I may, or may not, have comments to add, here, about the correspondences (or lack, thereof) between these two films. Stay tuned.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Olivia de Havilland Catherine Sloper Ralph Richardson Dr. Austin Sloper Miriam Hopkins Lavinia Penniman Montgomery Clift Morris Townsend Vanessa Brown Maria Betty Linley Mrs. Montgomery Ray Collins Jefferson Almond Mona Freeman Marian Almond Selena Royle Elizabeth Almond Paul Lees Arthur Townsend Harry Antrim Mr. Abeel Russ Conway Quintus
Here is the Wikipedia write-up for this movie.
Release Date: 1949
Directed by William Wyler.
Labels: character-study, Criterion2, dramaD, father-daughter-dynamics, miriam-hopkins, romance4
The Seventh Seal
- Commentary: This is a very emotionally complex movie. I've actually watched it twice since I received it. It casts a spell on me. It's not that it causes me to focus on deaths which have affected me, it's that it produces in me deep meditation about life, our knowledge that life is limited and no particular time frame or experience is promised to anyone.
The final scene of the film, too, carries a unique poignance. I think it's up to the viewer whether The Dead are resisting Death's lead, confused about what's happening or simply celebrating the dropping of the final curtain. Perhaps it depends on the individual characters in the dance. Whatever each of the characters is experiencing, the same experience is happening to all of them, but, as in the Dance of Life, each one is having an individual reaction. That's why I included as many actors/roles as I found listed in the table below. This film is not about the experience, I think, but the reaction to it. Which is why the chess game is so important. When one is given a chance, just before death, to play with the possibilities, well, what difference does it make? Good, and not rhetorical, question. Perhaps none? Perhaps all?
I may write more, later. I may not. I can assure my readers, though, I will be emotionally magnetized to watching it again. And, again.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Gunnar Björnstrand Jöns Bengt Ekerot Death Nils Poppe Jof Max von Sydow Antonius Block Bibi Andersson Mia Inga Landgré Karin Block Åke Fridell Plog Inga Gill Lisa Erik Strandmark Jonas Skat Bertil Anderberg Raval Gunnel Lindblom Mute Girl Maud Hansson Witch Gunnar Olsson Church Painter Albertus Pictor Church Painter Anders Ek The Monk Benkt-Åke Benktsson Merchant Gudrun Brost Maid Lars Lind Young Monk Tor Borong Farmer Harry Asklund Innkeeper
One of Roger Ebert's Great Movies.
Here is the Wikipedia write-up for this movie.
Release Date: 1957
Directed by Ingmar Bergman.
Labels: §1, Criterion2, magical-realism, max-von-sydow, period6, philosophical, war2
A Special Day
- Commentary: Under Construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Sophia Loren Antonietta Marcello Mastroianni Gabriele John Vernon Emanuele Françoise Berd Caretaker
Here is the Wikipedia write-up of this movie.
Release Date: 1977
Directed by Ettore Scola.
Labels: §2, anti-fascist, Criterion2, period6, political5
Akira Kurosawa's Dreams
- Commentary: This film is a series of biographical vignettes from an extremely personal perspective. That may sound like it's difficult to watch, but, in fact, it is, like it's title, dreamy and extraordinarily engaging. As you watch, you can either consider it a Kurosawa statement, or you can meander through the vignettes as individual statements being made by the characters.
The fact that this collection of films is "hosted, of sorts, I sometimes find annoying, but then another vignette begins and I lose myself. Again.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Name Role Name Actor Name Role Name Actor Name Role Name Actor Name Role Name Akira Terao I, Dreamer I, Dreamer Mitsunori Isaki I, Young Dreamer Mitsuko Baisho Dreamer's Mother Martin Scorsese Vincent Van Gogh Chishū Ryū Old Man Mieko Harada Snow Spirit Yoshitaka Zushi Private Noguchi Toshie Negishi Woman with Child Hisashi Igawa Nuclear Power Plant Man Chosuke Ikariya The Demon Akira Kurosawa Self Matt Sloan Host
Here is a link to the Wikipedia write-up on this film.
Release Date: 1990
Directed by Akira Kurosawa.
Labels: §1, akira-kurosawa, chishū-ryū, Criterion2, fantasy4, magical-realism
The Red Shoes
- Commentary: I remember the first time I saw this movie. I was a mid-teen (or, perhaps, a little younger), continuing to take dancing classes but not toward any particular goal. I don't know how it happened but the local university managed to wrangle a a copy of this movie for an exclusive showing. My dance teacher, who considered me talented but unmotivated, badgered me until I asked my mother to take me to the showing of the movie.
It didn't motivate my dancing but it did accelerate my interest in romantic tragedy. I remember audibly gasping at the scene of Vicky Page's death. I was not expecting it. This brought the movie into focus for me and I've had a hankering to watch it, again. Now, it's a part of my collection.
So far, I've only watched it once. During that watching, I couldn't help but compare it to the story portrayed in Black Swan, which I've seen, but, you'll note, I do not own, and doubt that I ever will, unless someone gifts me with it. Anyway, it occurred to me as I was watching this, and, mind you, this consideration is based on a relatively poor memory of Black Swan, that Black Swan portrays the interior danger of living for one's art and this film portrays the external danger of living for one's art. Not that I particularly, well, sympathize with either of the movies' statements. But, there you have it, an off-the-cuff thought about these two movies.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Anton Walbrook Boris Lermontov Marius Goring Julian Craster Moira Shearer Victoria Page Robert Helpmann Ivan Boleslawsky Léonide Massine Grischa Ljubov Albert Bassermann Sergei Ratov Ludmilla Tchérina Irina Boronskaya Esmond Knight Livingstone Montague
One of Roger Ebert's Great Movies.
The Wikipedia write-up for this movie is here.
Release Date: 1948
Directed by Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger.
Labels: §1, Criterion2, dance, dramaD, fantasy4, romance4
Lady Snowblood: Love Song of Vengeance
- Commentary: Under construction. In same case as Lady Snowblood.
When you click into the link in the title of this post, you can access the review for Lady Snowblood: Love Song of Vengence by scrolling down the page. It is after the review for Lady Snowblood.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Meiko Kaji Yuki Kashima/Lady Snowblood Juzo Itami Ransui Tokunaga Kazuko Yoshiyuki Aya Tokunaga Yoshio Harada Shusuke Tokunaga Shin Kishida Seishiro Kikui Toru Abe Kendo Terauchi Rin'ichi Yamamoto Inspector Maruyama Kôji Nanbara Toad
The Wikipedia write-up for this movie is here.
Release Date: 1974
Directed by Toshiya Fujita.
Labels: §, action3, adventure4, Criterion2, dramaD, gender-bender, period6, revenge2, samurai, violence3
Lady Snowblood
- Commentary: Under construction. In same case as Lady Snowblood: Song of Vengeance.
When you click into the link in the title of this post, you can access the review for Lady Snowblood at the top of the page. It is before the review for Lady Snowblood: Love Song of Vengeance.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Meiko Kaji Yuki Kashima/Lady Snowblood Mayumi Maemura Young Yuki Kō Nishimura Dōkai the priest Toshio Kurosawa Ryūrei Ashio Masaaki Daimon Gō Kashima Miyoko Akaza Sayo Kashima Eiji Okada Gishirō Tsukamoto Sanae Nakahara Okono Kitahama
The Wikipedia link for this film is here.
Release Date: 1973
Directed by Toshiya Fujita.
Labels: §, action3, adventure4, Criterion2, dramaD, gender-bender, period6, revenge2, samurai, violence3
Gomorrah
- Commentary: If you want to watch a film about the mob, this is the film you want to see. This film isn't, like the Godfather trilogy, deadly but beautiful and somewhat sympathetic. This film is gritty, grim and deadly. There is no sympathy for the organization it portrays, nor the actors and their motivations within the organization. There is no beauty in this dump of corruption. At times, it's like watching a documentary shot undercover. This is probably due to the fact that it is based on a non-fiction book of the same name written by Roberto Saviano.
If you want a romantic portrayal of crime syndicates that, despite it's savagery, manages to put on gorgeous weddings and muster a certain ethical construct that is almost understandable to "just regular people", watch the Godfather Trilogy. This movie is not that trilogy.
Although this movie garnered much acclaim, not everyone appreciated it. Dan Schneider of Critical Movie Critics had several bones to pick with the movie and, frankly, he's not wrong. In fact, what disturbed me about the movie is that, typically, even documentaries attempt to entertain, if only to keep eyes on the screen. This movie, whether objectively considered a documentary, docudrama or the term Dan Schneider attaches to it, cinema verité, allows the viewer, me, that is, no place to seek a little sultry refuge for awhile. It's bare bones dread and death. Many times for no discernable reason. And that's it. Which fascinates me. So, I'll watch it, again. I'm glad I have it in my collection. To my (paltry) knowledge of film, it's one of a kind. What does that admission say about me?
This movie has a list of Actors/Characters as long as my two arms. The following table contains only the first twelve, even though, in some movie tables, I've gone as far as listing twenty. So many of the characters in this movie die, though, after a few minutes on screen ...
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Toni Servillo Franco Gianfelice Imparato Don Ciro Maria Nazionale Maria Salvatore Cantalupo Pasquale Gigio Morra Iavarone Salvatore Abruzzese Totò Marco Macor Marco Ciro Petrone Ciro Carmine Paternoster Roberto Giovanni Venosa Don Giovanni Vittorio Russo Zio Vittorio Bernardino Terracciano Zio Bernardino
Here is the Wikipedia write-up for this movie.
Release Date: 2008
Directed by Matteo Garrone.
Labels: §, Criterion2, dramaD, gang-movie, violence3
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
- Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Noémie Merlant Marianne Adèle Haenel Héloïse Luàna Bajrami Sophie Valeria Golino The Countess
Here is the Wikipedia write-up for this movie.
Release Date: 2019
Directed by Céline Sciamma.
Labels: §1, Criterion2, dramaD, female-director2, historical4, period6, romance4
Memories of Murder
- Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Song Kang-ho Park Doo-man Kim Sang-kyung Seo Tae-yoon Kim Roi-ha Cho Yong-koo Song Jae-ho Sgt. Shin Dong-chul Byun Hee-bong Sgt. Koo Hee-bong Go Seo-hee Ofc. Kwon Kwi-ok Ryu Tae-Ho Jo Byeong-Sun Park No-shik Baek Kwang-ho Park Hae-il Park Hyeon-gyu Jeon Mi-seon Kwok Seol-yung Seo Young-hwa Eon Deok-nyeo Woo Go-na Kim So-hyeon
Here is the Wikipedia write-up for this movie.
Release Date: 2003
Directed by Bong Joon-ho.
Labels: §2, bong-joon-ho, Criterion2, detective1, dramaD, mystery2, neo-noirC
General Idi Amin Dada: A Self-Portrait
- Commentary: Under construction.
The Wikipedia write-up for this film is here.
Release Date: 1974
Directed by Barbet Schroeder.
Labels: §2, autobiography, biography3, Criterion2, documentary2, interview
pina
- Commentary: Under construction.
The Wikipedia write-up for this film is here.
Release Date: 2011
Directed by Wim Wenders.
Labels: §1, Criterion2, dance, documentary2
The Apartment
- Commentary: Under construction.
This movie was originally listed in the post Movies I've Seen, Do Not Own but Can't Forget. I own this movie, now. Here is the commentary I wrote for it in my wish list post: "It's taken a long time for me to get around to wanting this movie in my collection. What clinches my decision is that, at odd times throughout any particular month, some event in a day suddenly brings forth a snatch of dialogue between Jack Lemmon's character and one of the many characters he encounters during his messy attempts to climb the corporate ladder, especially Shirley MacClaine's character. In this movie, although the dialogue is dependent on the situation, the dialogue is the scene stealer. It stays with you. For years, decades, even."
I will be writing more, later, once I have a chance to watch it, again.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Jack Lemmon Calvin Clifford Baxter Shirley MacLaine Fran Kubelik Fred MacMurray Jeff D. Sheldrake Ray Walston Joe Dobisch Jack Kruschen Dr. David Dreyfuss David Lewis Al Kirkeby Edie Adams Miss Olsen Hope Holiday Mrs. Margie MacDougall Joan Shawlee Sylvia Naomi Stevens Mrs. Mildred Dreyfuss Johnny Seven Karl Matuschka Joyce Jameson Blonde in Bar Hal Smith Santa Claus Willard Waterman Mr. Vanderhoff David White Mr. Eichelberger Lynn Cartwright Elevator Supervisor
One of Roger Ebert's Great Movies.
The Wikipedia write-up on this film is here.
Release Date: 1960
Directed by Billy Wilder.
Labels: dramedy3, romance4, satire3, shirley-maclaine
