Thursday, June 09, 2022
The Bourne Identity
- Commentary: I can't remember how I discovered the existence of this series. Apparently, I knew about it when I purchased the Bourne collection, because I mention it in the write-up for the first of the Damon series. I can't recall how I was reminded recenty that Richard Chamberlain had done his take on the circuitous identity known as, in this movie, simply "Bourne". But I'm glad I was. This time, I decided to see if the series was available. It was. As well, this series runs, episodically, for 185 mins and is based on only the first book. You'll notice, as well, it preceded the first of the Damon/Bourne series by 14 years.
More later, after I watch this series.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Richard Chamberlain Bourne Jaclyn Smith Marie St. Jacques Anthony Quayle Gen. François Villiers Donald Moffat David Abbott Shane Rimmer Alexander Conklin Yorgo Voyagis Carlos Denholm Elliott Dr. Geoffrey Washburn Peter Vaughan Fritz Koenig Michael Habeck The Fat Man Wolf Kahler Gold Glasses Philip Madoc D'Armacourt Bill Wallis Chernak
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1988
Directed by Roger Young.
Labels: §4, spy, thriller3, TV3
No Country for Old Men
- Commentary: This movie definitely captured the imagination of film critics. On RogerEbert.com alone, articles of commentary bleed into a second page.
I've seen the movie more than once. For me, it's both disturbing and revelatory. It comes to my mind a fair amount. Which is why I decided to add it to my collection. More, later, when I watch it, yet again, without having to check it out of the library this time, or scour the few channels to which I have access to see if anyone's playing it.
Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Tommy Lee Jones Ed Tom Bell Javier Bardem Anton Chigurh Josh Brolin Llewelyn Moss Woody Harrelson Carson Wells Kelly Macdonald Carla Jean Moss Garret Dillahunt Wendell Tess Harper Loretta Bell Barry Corbin Ellis
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2007
Directed by Joel & Ethan Coen.
Labels: neo-noirC, revisionist-western, thriller3, tommy-lee-jones
Tampopo
- Commentary: A Japanese Western about ramen?!? Count me in!
Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Tsutomu Yamazaki Gorō Nobuko Miyamoto Tampopo Kōji Yakusho Man in White Suit Ken Watanabe Gun Rikiya Yasuoka Pisukin Kinzō Sakura Shōhei Yoshi Katō Noodle-making Master Hideji Ōtaki Rich Old Man Fukumi Kuroda Man in White Suit's Mistress Setsuko Shinoi Rich Old Man's Mistress Yoriko Dōguchi Pearl Diver (Oyster Girl) Masahiko Tsugawa Supermarket Manager
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1985
Directed by Juzo Itami.
Labels: §4, comedy2, food, satire3
There Will Be Blood
- Commentary: This movie is the ultimate meditation on personal, capitalistic greed. It leaves nothing out. It expertly delineates, on both a personal and a corporate level, how increasingly debilitating capitalism becomes in the lives of people who practice it ... and the devastating effect the condition has on those who are in contact with the person who is in singleminded pursuit of satisfying greed. Daniel Day-Lewis' performance is breathtaking. He is flanked by the best of actors, even in the small roles. One of the aspects of this movie that I find most arresting is that the main character, who Daniel Day-Lewis plays, is never good. Many movies about capitalism, whether they are about the effects on one person or on society, attempt to meander through some sort of explanation of how capitalism has turned a good person, or a good group, bad. No such explanation, here. To me, this is a revelation: if you are born into capitalism and accept it, as an infant, you are rotten from the start. You can't ever know good, be good, because the system that nurtured your humanity is bad. Whew! This is an important statement. Potentially depressing, but important.
RogerEbert.com featured many articles about this movie. Here is the search page I pulled on the movie title over there. Have at it.
Update 6/9/2022: This post was originally published on 8/14/16 but disappeared from public view. I am now reinstating it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Daniel Day-Lewis Daniel Plainview Paul Dano Paul & Eli Sunday Kevin J. O'Connor Henry Ciarán Hinds Fletcher Hamilton Dillon Freasier H. W. Plainview Russell Harvard Adult H. W. Plainview Sydney McCallister Young Mary Sunday Colleen Foy Adult Mary Sunday David Willis Abel Sunday Hans Howes Bandy Paul F. Tompkins Prescott Jim Downey Al Rose
Here is Wikipedia's write-up on this film.
Release Date: 2007
Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.
Labels: drama2, historical1, period1, revisionist-western
Shutter Island
- Commentary: This movie received highly contradictory critiques, from being considered a high best film of 2010 to being declared not having been worth making. It created so much critical controversy that, aside from triggering more than one critic to produce a review of this movie on RogerEbert.com, there were also several critics who opined about the issues the movie raised for them. The immediately previous link takes you to the simple search I performed for the movie's title, which typically brings up only one review per movie.
I found the movie intriguing, involving, enjoyable and ultimately entertainingly disturbing. It was sent to me by MFS, out of the blue. After I watched the film I wondered why she picked it out for me. I still haven't asked her, but now it doesn't matter. I've watched it three times since I received it. I find that with each viewing, I discover something that I need to bookmark in my mind and pull out on a next watching. In fact, I think I might watch it, again, tonight, now that I'm thinking of it.
Although it appears to have a highly complicated plot, by the end you realize that the complications are solely in the main character's mind, not in yours, which, in a sense, increases the satisfaction in watching it. It is also, for me, a bit scary to watch. After the second watching, I found myself speculating that a similar type of confusion could easily afflict me. I wouldn't have the excuse of murder to drive me to confound myself, but there's enough odd about my life that I can imagine becoming troubled over my deep contemplation of myself and not being able to exit. That is the power of this movie. Although few of us are outright murderers, most of us feel deadly guilty about some incident in our lives. Even my mother had such an incident. When she finally told me what it was, it seemed benign enough to me. It did not involve the murder or even the mistreatment of someone. It involved an incident in which she realized she was unfairly prejudiced against a particular group of people (not because of color, because of religion). It did not involve an opportunity to make direct amends. Upon discovering her prejudice she immediately set about conquering it, but the memory of the discovery haunted her, literally, to her dying day, for a full 40+ years, even though she was successful in understanding and overcoming it.
So, essentially, for me, this movie is a reminder that our monsters, as well as our angels, are just beneath the surface, ready, equally, to take advantage of any opportunity to escape.
Update 6/9/2022: This post was originally published on 8/14/16 but disappeared from public view. I am now reinstating it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Leonardo DiCaprio Edward Daniels Mark Ruffalo Chuck Aule Ben Kingsley Dr. John Cawley Max von Sydow Dr. Jeremiah Naehring Michelle Williams Dolores Chanal Emily Mortimer Nurse Portraying Rachel Solando Patricia Clarkson Rachel Solando Jackie Earle Haley George Noyce John Carroll Lynch 1st Deputy Warden McPherson Joseph Sikora Glen Miga Ted Levine The Warden Elias Koteas Andrew Laeddis Ruby Jerins Little Girl Robin Bartlett Bridget Kearns Curtiss Cook Trey Washington Christopher Denham Peter Breene
Here is the Wikipedia write-up for this film.
Release Date: 2010
Directed by Martin Scorsese.
Labels: ben-kingsley, drama2, dream1, emily-mortimer, leonardo-dicaprio, martin-scorsese, max-von-sydow, mystery1, neo-noirC, psychological1
The Social Network
- Commentary: I obtained this film, sight unseen, because of Aaron Sorkin's involvement. I was looking forward to yet another flood of trenchant dialogue, a la The Newsroom and The West Wing, and was so sure Sorkin's involvement would guarantee this that I didn't check the movie out of the library before I purchased it. Turns out, what can you do with dialogue that comes out of the mouths of people such as Mark Zuckerberg and the Winklevoss twins? What can you do with dialogue that proceeds from a petty (although highly monied) capitalistic squabble? Not much.
That being said, I'm glad I own it. I'm such a fan of Aaron Sorkin's work that I feel obligated to own even work of his that I don't enjoy. It was, as well, a critical success. I'm not sure why. That is another reason for me to own it. Perhaps, on subsequent viewings, I'll be able to appreciate Sorkin-managed capitalist dialogue. Certainly, we live in a world overflowing with such dialogue. Might be a good idea to not only get used to it, but to try to understand something of what other people consider the beauty of it.
Interesting, too, is the fact that the reviewer of the film at RogerEbert.com, Jim Emerson, felt it necessary to write twice about the film in two days. This link is to his second review. In addition, the site added an interview with Justin Timberlake, who plays Sean Parker in the movie, conducted by Roger Ebert.
One final item: This movie is listed as a biography in it's Wikipedia write-up, linked in the title above. It's not. In case you're wondering, this movie is also decidedly not about social media. It's all about ownership. Capitalistic ownership.
Update 6/9/2022: This post was originally published on 8/14/16 but disappeared from public view. I am now reinstating it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Jesse Eisenberg Mark Zuckerberg Andrew Garfield Eduardo Saverin Justin Timberlake Sean Parker Armie Hammer Cameron & Tyler Winklevoss Max Minghella Divya Narenda Brenda Song Christie Lee Rashida Jones Marilyn Delpy John Getz Sy David Selby Gage Denise Grayson Gretchen Douglas Urbanski Larry Summers Rooney Mara Erica Albright Joseph Mazzello Dustin Moskovitz Wallace Langham Peter Thiel Patrick Mapel Chris Hughes Steve Sires Bill Gates
Here's the link to the Wikipedia write-up about this movie.
Release Date: 2010
Directed by David Fincher.
Labels: aaron-sorkin, drama2, economic, historical1, legal, political1
Network
- Commentary: Another classic had-to-have favorite. This movie is so good and so correctly prophetic (and so fucking well done) it still scares the bejesus out of me. I am driven to watch it at least twice a year.
Does it surprise you to know that Roger Ebert reviewed this movie twice? He did, again, as one of his "Great Movies", linked to the title of this post, and 24 years earlier when he initially saw it on it's first release.
Update 6/9/2022: This post was originally published on 8/14/16 but disappeared from public view. I am now reinstating it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Faye Dunaway Diana Christensen Wiliam Holden Max Schumacher Peter Finch Howard Beale Robert Duvall Frank Hackett Wesley Addy Nelson Chaney Ned Beatty Arthur Jensen Beatrice Straight Louise Schumacher Jordan Charney Harry Hunter Conchata Ferrell Barbara Schlesinger Darryl Hickman Bill Herron William Prince Edward Ruddy Ken Kercheval Merrill Grant
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1976
Directed by Sidney Lumet.
Labels: faye-dunaway, me-favorite1, ned-beatty, political2, prophecy, satire1
John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum
- Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Keanu Reeves John Wick Halle Berry Sofia Al-Azwar Ian McShane Winston Laurence Fishburne The Bowery King Mark Dacascos Zero Asia Kate Dillon The Adjudicator Lance Reddick Concierge Charon Tobias Segal Earl Anjelica Huston The Director Saïd Taghmaoui The Elder Jerome Flynn Berrada Randall Duk Kim The Doctor
The Wikipedia write-up for this film is here.
Release Date: 2019
Directed by Chad Stahelski.
Labels: don't-ask-me-why, laurence-fishburne, neo-noirC, revenge1, super-hero1
John Wick: Chapter 2
- Commentary: Under construction.
In addition (and much to my surprise, even though I enjoy all three John Wick movies, RogerEbert.com contains a second meditation on this movie.
By the way, many critics liked, loved or adored all three of the John Wick movies. In fact, John Wick: Chapter 4, although it's release has been delayed by almost exactly a year, is due out in May of 2022. According to that Wikipedia article, "Keanu Reeves stated that he will continue making sequels, as long as the films are successful. Lionsgate intended to film the fourth and fifth films back-to-back but dropped those plans in March 2021 ... due to the COVID-19 pandemic." I probably won't see either in a theater, I rarely go to the theater, anymore, but, you can bet, I'll be adding the discs to my collection to watch at home. With enthusiasm.
Update 6/9/2022: This post was originally published on 8/14/16 but disappeared from public view. I am now reinstating it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Keanu Reeves John Wick Common Cassian Laurence Fishburne The Bowery King Riccardo Scamarcio Santino D'Antonio Ruby Rose Ares Lance Reddick Concierge Charon Peter Stormare Abram Tarasov Bridget Moynahan Helen Wick Franco Nero Julius John Leguizamo Aurelio Ian McShane Winston Claudia Gerini Gianni D'Antonio
The Wikipedia write-up for this film is here.
Release Date: 2017
Directed by Chad Stahelski.
Labels: don't-ask-me-why, laurence-fishburne, neo-noirC, revenge1, super-hero1
The Game
- Commentary: I have two copies of this movie: one is the normal presentation with no special features. The Criterion version is loaded with interesting, thoughtful goodies. I bought the stripped version without realizing Criterion was as fascinated with the movie as I am. Once I realized that a Criterion version exists, well, I needed those special Criterion features. It was worth it. I may pass the plain version onto someone in my family. We'll see. In the meantime, if one of them blows up, I always have the other! Which is good, because this movie always holds my interest, no matter how many times I see it. What a way to find out what people really think of you, and to figure out how to care about that!
Update 6/9/2022: This post was originally published on 8/14/16 but disappeared from public view. I am now reinstating it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Michael Douglas Nicholas van Orton Sean Penn Conrad van Orton Deborah Kara Unger Christine/Claire James Rebhorn Jim Feingold Peter Donat Samuel Sutherland Carroll Baker Ilsa Armin Mueller-Stahl Anson Baer Anna Katarina Elizabeth Charles Martinet Nicholas' Father Mark Boone Junior Private Investor Tommy Flanagan Solicitor/Taxi Driver Spike Jonze Airbag EMT Beltran
Here is the Wikipedia write-up on the film.
Release Date: 1997
Directed by David Fincher.
Labels: carroll-baker, Criterion1, michael-douglas, neo-noirB, suspense1, thriller1
John Wick
- Commentary: Under construction.
Update 6/9/2022: This post was originally published on 8/14/16 but disappeared from public view. I am now reinstating it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Keanu Reeves John Wick Michael Nyqvist Viggo Tarasov Alfie Allen Iosef Tarasov Adrianne Palicki Ms. Perkins Bridget Moynahan Helen Wick Dean Winters Avi Ian McShane Winston John Leguizamo Aurelio Willem Dafoe Marcus David Patrick Kelly Cleaner Charlie Randall Duk Kim Specialty Doctor Lance Reddick Hotel Concierge Charon
The Wikipedia write-up for this film is here.
Release Date: 2014
Directed by Chad Stahelski.
Labels: don't-ask-me-why, neo-noirC, revenge1, super-hero1
A Few Good Men
- Commentary: I ended up with this movie as part of a package deal, although I can't remember which movie came with it. I like it, and have watched it more than once. If I hadn't gotten it as an add on, I wouldn't own it, but I don't think I'll be sending this one off to the library. It's a great I-want-to-watch-something-but-I-don't-know-what movie.
The famous Nicholson-in-the-courtroom scene is one of my all time favorites.
Update 6/9/2022: This post was originally published on 8/14/16 but disappeared from public view. I am now reinstating it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Tom Cruise Lt. J.G. Daniel Kaffee Jack Nicholson Col. Nathan R. Jessup Demi Moore Lt. Cmdr. JoAnne Galloway Kevin Bacon Cpt. Jack Ross Kiefer Sutherland 1st Lt. Jonathan James Kendrick Kevin Pollak Lt. J.G. Sam Weinberg Wolfgang Bodison Lance Cpl. Harold W. Dawson James Marshall Pvt. 1st Class Louden Downey J. T. Walsh Lt. Cnl. Matthew Andrew Markinson J. A. Preston Judge (Cnl.) Julius Alexander Randolph Michael DeLorenzo Pvt. 1st Class William Santiago Actor Name Role Name Noah Wyle Cpl. Jeffrey Owen Barnes Cuba Gooding Jr. Cpl. Carl Edward Hammaker Xander Berkeley Cpt. Whitaker Matt Craven Lt. Dave Spradling John M. Jackson Cpt. West Christopher Guest Cmdr. (Dr.) Stone Joshua Malina Tom Aaron Sorkin Bragging Lawyer
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1992
Directed by Rob Reiner.
Labels: aaron-sorkin, drama5, jack-nicholson, legal, military, suspense1, tom-cruise
China Beach Complete Series
- Commentary: I worried, when I first bought this series (for, I must say, much, much, much less than it retails for now) that my memory of it might be disappointed. Didn't happen. It's my kind of war video, more character driven than action driven, surprising, moody, realistic (for the most part; sometimes, especially in the first season, it panders a little too much to the audience). I'm not at all sorry it's now a part of my permanent collection of video material. I read, somewhere, a long time ago, that it was the first war series/movie that was done from the women's point of view. Maybe that's why I like it, but I don't think of it that way.
My copy of this series is not the boxed set spoken of in the link connected to the title. When I bought the series, the seasons were still being distributed as separate entities. Thus, my "set" includes only 18 of the 21 discs this review touts. It includes all the series episodes, just not quite as much special feature material, which is fine with me. When my mother was alive, it was a bit irksome that there were no subtitles. However, I have no problem with that. Perhaps I will when I get older??? Perhaps, as well, I will want to replace my discs with the set. We'll see.
Update 6/2/2022: This post was originally published on 8/14/16 but disappeared from public view. I am now reinstating it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Dana Delany 1st Lt./Cpt. Colleen McMurphy Nan Woods Cherry White Michael Boatman SP4 Samuel Beckett Marg Helgenberger Karen Charlene "K.C." Koloski Robert Picardo Cpt. Dick Richard Tim Ryan Cpt. Bartholomew Austen Concetta Tomei Mjr. Lila Garreau Brian Wimmer Cpl. Boonwell Lanier Jeff Kober Stf. Sgt. Evan Winslow Chloe Webb Laurette Barber Megan Gallagher Airman Wayloo Marie Holmes Troy Evans Mst. Sgt. Bob Pepper
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the series.
Release Date: 1988-1991
Directed by several people, a few more women than usual, and some women who were regulars.
Labels: drama5, female-director1, historical2, military, period2, political2, TV1, violence2, war1
Breaking Bad Complete Series
- Commentary: I would never have watched this series had not one of my sisters, the one who has been the source of more than a few of my very favorite movies, been electrified by it and started sending me the seasons. Nothing else to say. I'm like everyone else, a staunch fan. Many (if not all) of the episodes continue to stick in my head and at least once every couple of weeks I become captured by one and have to watch it. Again. And again. My sister and I are still looking to hear from Jesse.
I want to link to one more review but, since I'm not sure how long it will be available, I'm not attaching it to the title of this post. Forbes published a review of Breaking Bad in 2013 at the end of the series. It's quite interesting. With any luck to me, and you, Dear Reader, it will remain accessible.
Once this series got going, there were many, many notable actors who participated in small and bit parts. I picked out as many as I could without rendering the following Actor/Table overwhelming.
Update 6/2/2022: This post was originally published on 8/14/16 but disappeared from public view. I am now reinstating it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Bryan Cranston Walter White Anna Gunn Skyler White Aaron Paul Jesse Pinkman Dean Norris Hank Schrader Betsy Brandt Marie Schrader RJ Mitte Walter White Jr. Giancarlo Esposito Gustavo Fring Bob Odenkirk Saul Goodman Jonathan Banks Mike Ehrmantraut Laura Fraser Lydia Rodarte-Quayle Jesse Plemons Todd Alquist Raymond Cruz Tuco Salamanca Krysten Ritter Jane Margolis John de Lancie Donald Margolis Danny Trejo Tortuga Steven Bauer Don Eladio Vuente
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the series.
Release Date: 2008-2013
Directed by mostly men, some women each season, a few female regulars.
Labels: action1, adventure1, drama5, female-director1, giancarlo-esposito, haunting1, me-favorite1, satire1, thriller2, tragedy1, TV1, violence2
The Bourne Classified Collection
- Commentary: Go ahead. Make fun of me. I don't care. I love this series of movies for just pure action thriller enthrallment. I even like the one without Matt Damon. I was introduced to these movies through a friend of mine who you wouldn't expect would like them, since she's not ordinarily a fan of spy action-thrillers. She nagged me, though, until I finally started checking them out of the library, one by one. It is these movies that hooked me on action-thrillers. I don't know why I developed a taste for them late in life but, well, I did, and I'm enjoying the hell out of the flavor.
They are all personal guilty pleasures. Not much more to say about these movies that hasn't already been said, except I understand there's another in the theaters and I can't wait until it hits DVD. Well, I can wait until the price drops. There is even a slot in the collection's case for that DVD. You can bet I'll be filling it.
Update 6/2/2022: This post was originally published on 8/14/16 but disappeared from public view. I am now reinstating it.
The movies in this collection are:
The Bourne Identity
Did you know there is a 1988 version of this film (same name), a TV Mini Series starring Richard Chamberlain and Jaclyn Smith? Although IMDb rated it a bit lower than this one, it wasn't a ratings slouch. If you read the comments, you'll notice that almost everyone liked to loved it; some even preferring it to the Matt Damon/Jeremy Renner franchise.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Matt Damon Jason Bourne/David Webb Franka Potente Marie Kreutz Chris Cooper Alexander Conklin Clive Owen The Professor Brian Cox Ward Abbott Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje Nykwana Wombosi Gabriel Mann Danny Zorn Julia Stiles Nicolette Parsons
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2002
Directed by Doug Liman.
The Bourne Supremacy
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Matt Damon Jason Bourne Joan Allen Pamela Landy Brian Cox Ward Abbott Franka Potente Marie Kreutz Julia Stiles Nicolette Parsons Karl Urban Kirill Marton Csokas Jarda Oksana Akinshina Irena Neski
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2004
Directed Paul Greengrass.
The Bourne Ultimatum
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Matt Damon Jason Bourne Julia Stiles Nicolette Parsons David Strathairn Noah Vosen Scott Glenn Ezra Kramer Paddy Considine Simon Ross Édgar Ramírez Paz Albert Finney Dr. Albert Hirsch Joan Allen Pamela Landy
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2007
Directed by Paul Greengrass.
The Bourne Legacy
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Jeremy Renner Kenneth James Kitsom/Aaron Cross Rachel Weisz Dr. Marta Shearing Edward Norton Col. Eric Byer Stacey Keach Mark Turso Dennis Boutsikaris Terrence Ward Oscar Isaac Outcome #3 Joan Allen Pamela Landy Albert Finney Dr. Albert Hirsch David Strathairn Noah Vosen Donna Murphy Dita Mandy Željko Ivanek Dr. Donald Foite Shane Jacobson Mackie
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2012
Directed Tony Gilroy.
Jason Bourne
Update 2/5/2018: Yes, I purchased the fifth installment to fill the fifth slot in this collection, Jason Bourne, which surprised me. I actually expected it to be, well, more of the same. It was, but different. Interesting. Yes, I enjoy it as much as the first four. Yes, the purchase included a DVD copy, as well as a Blu-Ray copy. I may, later, pass the DVD copy off to someone who wants it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Matt Damon Jason Bourne Tommy Lee Jones Robert Dewey Julia Stiles Nicolette Parsons Alicia Vikander Heather Lee Vincent Cassel The Asset Ato Essandoh Craig Jeffers Riz Ahmed Aaron Kalloor Scott Shepherd Edwin Russell
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2016
Directed Paul Greengrass.
Labels: §4, action1, adventure1, chris-cooper, drama5, edward-norton, neo-noirB, oscar-isaac, political2, rachel-weisz, spy, super-hero2, thriller2, tommy-lee-jones, violence2
The Big Country
- Commentary: To me, this is the frontier version of Giant. It's a bit more romancy, yes, but the central conflict is essentially the same: the challenges of capitalistic success in western America. And, anyway, it's a delight to see Jean Simmons and Charlton Heston in such off-track roles. This movie played with Giant back to back (doesn't matter which is played first) is a great way to spend a precipitous afternoon. In fact, there are some precipitous days coming up shortly. Guess what I'll be doing through at least one of them!
Finally, yes, I know, many critics considered it silly and cliché ridden. I know it's silly and cliché ridden. And, still, I consider it one of the ultimate pop-corn-and-soda movies of all time.
Update 6/9/2022: This post was originally published on 1/16/2021 but disappeared from public view. I am now reinstating it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Gregory Peck James McKay Jean Simmons Julie Maragon Carroll Baker Patricia Terrill Charlton Heston Steve Leech Burl Ives Rufus Hannassey Charles Bickford Mjr. Henry Terrill Alfonso Bedoya Ramón Gutierrez Chuck Connors Buck Hannassey Chuck Hayward Rafe Hannassey Buff Brady Dude Hannassey Jim Burk Cracker Hannassey Dorothy Adams Hannassey Woman
Here's the Wikipedia write-up for this movie.
Release Date: 1958
Directed by William Wyler.
Labels: adventure2, carroll-baker, charlton-heston, drama2, historical1, jean-simmons, period1, popcorn-and-soda7, romance1, western
Raising Buchanan
- Commentary: This movie is a sweet, silly, funny movie. It is, as well, not a movie I would own if I didn't have an actor niece who played a walk-through part in it and a sister who thought to send me a copy of it. I'm also pleased I own it because it is the second to the last movie in which René Auberjonois appeared, whose work I adore. In addition, it won a slew of film festival awards across the U.S., deservedly, I can say, since I've seen it. The crux of the movie is the dilemma of seeking an ill-conceived boost to one's life. It ends poignantly and is thoroughly enjoyable, much to my delight.
Update 6/9/2022: This post was originally published on 1/16/2021 but disappeared from public view. I am now reinstating it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role René Auberjonois U.S. President James Buchanan Amanda Melby Ruth Kiesling Cathy Shim Meg Terence Bernie Hines Phillip Crosby M. Emmet Walsh Larry Kiesling Robert Ben Garant Lancaster Guy Jennifer Pfalzgraff Holly Steve Briscoe Errol
Here's the Wikipedia write-up on this movie.
Release Date: 2019
Directed by Bruce Dellis.
Labels: buddy, dramedy1, psychological1, reflective, rené-auberjonois, satire1
Chaplin
- Commentary: The Roll Dance, a piece of music written for, and from, this movie, perfectly encapsulates what I love about this movie. For me, it doesn't just reflect the scene in which it's played. It reflects the entire ambience of this bio-pic: upbeat, with a hint of the unsettled, a hint of trauma, a hint of being provoked simultaneously to a need to be uplifting while also acknowledging the tragedy that dogs one's footsteps throughout life.
Robert Downey, Jr., in my opinion, was the perfect actor to play Chaplin. He has the same tendency as Julia Roberts, to be "Robert Downey, Jr. playing ... ", but, while this irritates me in Julia Roberts it delights me in Robert Downey, Jr. Robert Downey, Jr. is, for instance, Iron Man, as he says in the movie Iron Man. He is Kirk Lazarus in Tropic Thunder. And, he is Chaplin in this movie.
Granted, it is a bit disturbing to see Robert Downey, Jr. in the sequences where he is playing Chaplin as an old man; something about the make-up job. It's not bad and it's not good, but I guess aging make-up hadn't been perfected at the time of this production. Nonetheless, I believe him as old Chaplin.
Finally, it is impossible for me to watch this movie and not be transported by the scintilating perfection of its production. I've been wanting to own this movie forever. I've had it for about three months, now, and, call me crazy, but I've watched it at least three times since I received it. In fact, I think I'll watch it again, tonight!
A bynote: Roger Ebert (who's review is linked to the title of this post) did not like this movie. He considered it an insult to the man it portrayed. I have no quibble with his criticisms, but, damnit I really like the film. I've watched it a lot. I'm not opposed to Ebert's criticism, but neither am I swayed by it.
Update 6/9/2022: This post was originally published on 1/16/2021 but disappeared from public view. I am now reinstating it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Robert Downey Jr. Charlie Chaplin Marisa Tomei Mabel Normand Geraldine Chaplin Hannah Chaplin Paul Rhys Sidney Chaplin John Thaw Fred Karno Moira Kelly Hetty Kelly Francesca Buller Minnie Chaplin Nancy Travis Joan Barry Anthony Hopkins George Hayden Dan Ackroyd Mack Sennett Penelope Ann Miller Edna Purviance Kevin Kline Douglas Fairbanks Matthew Cottle Stan Laurel Maria Pitillo Mary Pickford Milla Jovovich Mildred Harris Kevin Dunn J. Edgar Hoover Deborah Moore Lita Grey Diane Lane Paulette Goddard James Woods Joseph Scott David Duchovny Roland Totheroh
Here's the Wikipedia write-up for this movie.
Release Date: 1992
Directed by Richard Attenborough.
Labels: anthony-hopkins, biography1, charlie-chaplin, dramedy1, historical1, james-woods, kevin-kline, period1, political1, reflective, robert-downey-jr
War for the Planet of the Apes
- Commentary: This final Planet of the Apes reboot is probably the hardest to follow. Apes and humans have engaged in an all out war. The war, itself, is blamed, simultaneously, on bad human actors, bad ape actors and, well, inevitability, which is what mars the events portrayed in the film. About half the war is between two arms of the military against one another, one of which is holding the apes captive. It is hard to determine, frankly, if the second branch of the military is ape friendly or if that even matters.
At any rate, Caesar's dies at the end of this movie, thus bringing his biography to an end, as well. The apes as a group, however, survive and look forward to continued existence.
There has been talk about a fourth Planet of the Apes Reboot film. I'm not sure this is necessary, or even desirable. It will have to be a damned good one, taking a completely different trajectory, thus requiring some super thoughtful creativity. If you've watched the initial Planet of the Apes Sextilogy, you'll know that the movies declined in quality and thoughtfulness as the stories continued. I hope that isn't the fate of this Planet of the Apes Reboot.
Finally, once again, here are the results of my search crawl on RogerEbert.com for, simply, "Planet of the Apes movies". It pulled a lot of material, continuing on to a second page. Go ahead. Click and try it yourself. I'll bet there are even more articles on these movies than there were on 8/7/21, when I performed my crawl. These movies, the old ones, the middle one by Tim Burton, the "new" ones seem to be endlessly fascinating to our species, even as we are creating them, ourselves. Ver-r-r-r-(roll that "r")y Inter-r-restingk!
Update 6/9/2022: This post was originally published on 1/16/2021 but disappeared from public view. I am now reinstating it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Andy Serkis Caesar Woody Harrelson The Colonel Steve Zahn Bad Ape Toby Kebbell Kobo Gabriel Chavarria Preacher Judy Greer Cornelia Karin Konoval Maurice Terry Notary Rocket Michael Adamthwaite Luca Ty Olsson Red Devyn Dalton Cornelius Sara Canning Lake Aleks Paunovic Winter Amiah Miller Nova Max Lloyd-Jones Blue Eyes Roger Cross Rod Wilson
Here's the Wikipedia write-up on this movie.
Release Date: 2017
Directed by Matt Reeves.
Labels: action2, adventure2, animal, biography1, cgi-animation, drama2, military, popcorn-and-soda1, science-fiction1, super-hero1, tragedy1, violence1, war1
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
- Commentary: This is the first movie in the Planet of the Apes Reboot series, and it's a honey of a movie. It's one of the best super-hero origin stories I've seen. Andy Serkis, an extraordinary actor, plays the role of Caesar, the chimpanzee who is born into super-hero ape status.
My mother, who was famous in our family for her love of the original Planet of the Apes series, did not live long enough to see this reboot. I think she would have loved it, even though there are several differences, the first and most significant being that the apes don't speak English, they speak Ape. There are a few words they pick up, here and there, most significantly, the word, "No!", but communication between apes is handled so well that a watcher is never in doubt as to what is communicated. Really a magnificent reboot of the series. I often hope, as I watch each of the three reboot movies, that, if there is a survival of consciousness after death, my mother is watching over my shoulder as I watch these movies.
Update 6/9/2022: This post was originally published on 1/16/2021 but disappeared from public view. I am now reinstating it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role James Franco Dr. William Rodman Freida Pinto Dr. Caroline Aranha John Lithgow Charles Rodman Brian Cox John Landon Tom Felton Dodge Landon David Oyelowo Steven Jacobs Andy Serkis Caesar Karin Konoval Maurice Terry Notary Rocket/Bright Eyes Richard Ridings Buck Devyn Dalton Cornelia Christopher Gordon Koba
Here is the Wikipedia write-up for this movie.
This Wikipedia article provides an excellent overview of all the Planet of the Apes movies. It also hints at a fourth installment of the Reboot series.
Release Date: 2011
Directed by Rupert Wyatt.
Labels: action2, adventure2, animal, biography1, cgi-animation, drama2, fantasy1, john-lithgow, political1, science-fiction1, super-hero1, violence1, war1
