Movies, Mom & Me

• 
  Commentary:  Mmm, mmm, mmm! I love this film. I know. It's not classic film art. Whatever. It just mesmerizes me from beginning to end, no matter how many times I see it, which is why I decided I need to own it. Our library has about four copies in the system, including the branch I frequent, but it is always checked out of my branch, so, when I yearn to see this movie I have to wait at least a week.
    Why do I love this film? I think it's because I like to imagine myself in the heroine's shoes, scientifically altered body and brain and all. I like the fact that she is "plussed" (vs. "nonplussed") throughout, no matter what comes her way, and only slightly cracks when she hears her father being shot. She is in-the-moment-to-the-near-future to the extreme, completely, unshakeably self-possessed. I wouldn't mind being that way. As well, Cate Blanchette is terrific fun in this movie. Although some critics panned her for her over-the-top acting, she reminded me of Anthony Hopkins when he's having lots of fun acting. You know, it's funny, since I began exploring thrillers some years ago (hmmm...I guess it's been about eight years, now) I've become more critical of them, too, and can be easily bored by chase after almost-catch after narrow escape. Some critics place this movie in that category. One critic even called it "derivative", at which I wonder, derivative of what? Is there something else out there like this movie that I might love even more? If so, let me know. I'm ready. Until then, you'll find me on the floor watching Hanna.
  Update 6/4/2022:  No, I didn't follow the TV series Hanna, despite its increasingly good to excellent reviews. I tried, but the movie did it all for me, wrapped it up with a bow, and left the rest to my imagination, which I prefer.
  Update 8/27/2024:  I've actually had this movie for quite awhile, at least 5 years, but the post became corrupted and I had to salvage what I could, repost and redate it and re-enter it into my Alpha List. It seems to be okay, now.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Saoirse Ronan	Hanna	Eric Bana	Erik Heller	Vicky Krieps	Johanna Zadek	Cate Blanchett	Marissa Wiegler
  Jessica Barden	Sophie	Aldo Maland	Miles	Olivia Williams	Rachel	Jason Flemyng	Sebastian

  
    Release Date: 2011
    Directed by Joe Wright.

Labels: action1, adventure1, cate-blanchett, drama4, fantasy1, mystery1, saoirse-ronan, science-fiction1, spy, super-hero1, suspense1, thriller1, violence2

# posted by gail @ 17:49    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  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, john-de-lancie, me-favorite1, satire1, thriller2, tragedy1, TV1, violence2

# posted by gail @ 12:11    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  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.
  → joan-allen
    
  
  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.
  → joan-allen, david-straithairn
    
  
  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.
  → joan-allen, željko-ivanek, david-straithairn
    
  
  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

  
  → tommy-lee-jones
      Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
      Release Date: 2016
      Directed Paul Greengrass.

Labels: §4, action1, adventure1, chris-cooper, david-strathairn, drama5, edward-norton, joan-allen, neo-noirB, oscar-isaac, political2, rachel-weisz, spy, super-hero2, thriller2, tommy-lee-jones, violence2, željko-ivanek

# posted by gail @ 11:55    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  For years, ever since I've owned The Godfather, I've wanted to own the trilogy. This part, of course, rivals the original. It has a different style, a different mood, a different feel, but it's great. I don't think I need to say anything else. I'm sure you know why I'm the proud owner of this trilogy.
    Once again, no surprise, to me, anyway, Roger Ebert christened this movie as one of his Great Movies.
  Update 8/17/2016:  Last night I watched this movie after having watched The Godfather on the previous night. Although I continue to enjoy this one and was thoroughly involved, I realized that, to me, The Godfather is a far superior movie. It's so tight nothing leaks. It is complete in and of itself, while The Godfather II (and The Godfather III, for that matter) demand that you watch the one or two parts previous to get everything. Additionally, they both contain extraneous scenarios that aren't really needed, even though they're interesting. When The Godfather ends you do not wonder what happens to Michael Corleone and everyone else, you "know". You don't wonder about anything at the end of the original, not even individual character biography. Granted, the Vito Corleone biography contained in The Godfather II is interesting and illuminating, but if the trilogy had not become a trilogy parts II and III would not be missed. Neither of the other two is necessary to be overwhelmed by the saga of The Godfather. To be overwhelmed by either Part II or Part III, the original is necessary. This is what makes The Godfather the superior film in the trilogy.
  Update 8/12/2021:  And of course, somebody disagrees with me. Gerardo Valero, one of Ebert's site "far flunger" correspondents, has posted this argument as to why Part II is the best of the trilogy.
  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
  Al Pacino	Michael Corleone	Robert Duvall	Tom Hagen	Diane Keaton	Kay Adams-Corleone	Robert De Niro	Vito Corleone
  John Cazale	Fredo Corleone	Talia Shire	Connie Corleone	Lee Strasberg	Hyman Roth	Michael V. Gazzo	Frank Pentangeli
  G. D. Spradlin	Sen. Pat Geary	Richard Bright	Al Neri	Gastone Moschin	Don Fanucci	Bruno Kirby	Peter Clemenza
  Morgana King	Carmela Corleone	Troy Donahue	Merle Johnson	Joe Spinell	Willi Cicci	Abe Vigoda	Salvatore Tessio
  John Aprea	Young Tessio	Harry Dean Stanton	FBI Agent	Danny Aiello	Tony Rosato	Dominic Chianese	Johnny Ola

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1974
    Directed by Francis Ford Coppola.

Labels: action1, al-pacino, diane-keaton, drama5, gang-movie, harry-dean-stanton, period2, revenge1, robert-de-niro, robert-duvall, violence2

# posted by gail @ 20:33    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  I know, I know, this is, overall, a third rate movie, even though it's aligned with the trilogy. Some of the actors absolutely suck, those who don't simply throw away their parts, probably because those they were acting with sucked, and the story is a little over the top. But, hey guys, its a trilogy. This part completes the epic. It's important to know how the saga ends, and, believe me, this ends it. It's almost as though Coppola was thinking, "Okay, okay, we have to round it out. I don't really want to do this again, but it's necessary. If I'd stopped after the first, well, no problem, but the second begs the third. So, let's get this over with and we can all go home." Ended, it is. Everyone's either dead or finished. Tawdry, yes, but fun to watch if you're doing a Godfather marathon.
  NOTE:  I've purposely linked the title to Roger Ebert's fine, forgiving review of this last movie in the trilogy. I sought it out wondering why the movie didn't seem to make the cut. Although I'm sure there are plenty of other reasons, including the speculations I wrote above, Ebert has some more which I found eye-opening and, in fact, cause me to always watch the trilogy as a unit, now.
    Just because I can't resist, one more link, to an interesting and insightful article by Pablo Villaça, another of Ebert's "far flungers" about Kay Corleone's clothes throughout the trilogy. Ebert was still with us at the time this was published. I'm sure it must have amused and delighted him.
  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
  Al Pacino	Michael Corleone	Diane Keaton	Kay Adams-Corleone	Talia Shire	Connie Corleone	Andy García	Vincent Corleone
  Eli Wallach	Don Altobello	Joe Mantegna	Joey Zaza	George Hamilton	B. J. Harrison	Bridget Fonda	Grace Hamilton
  Sofia Coppola	Mary Corleone	Raf Vallone	Cardinal Lamberto	Franc D'Ambrosio	Anthony Corleone	Donal Donnelly	Archbishop Gilday
  Richard Bright	Al Neri	Al Martino	Johnny Fontaine	Helmut Berger	Frederick Keinszig	Don Novello	Dominic Abbandando

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1990
    Directed by Francis Ford Coppola.

Labels: action1, al-pacino, andy-garcía, diane-keaton, drama5, eli-wallach, gang-movie, period2, popcorn-and-soda2, revenge2, violence2

# posted by gail @ 20:29    0 comments    email......this post

• Who's watched:  M & G
• Mentions:  *1*
• 
  Commentary:  My initial interest in this movie was that Robert Downey, Jr., plays the title character. I've never been disappointed with his work, even loved and admired some of it, and I couldn't imagine him playing a super hero. "Must really need the money," I thought, but I went for it, anyway. Perfect casting, I decided, just perfect, and good super hero story, too, good enough for me to want to own it after having rented it (and, I don't have a yen to own many super hero movies, although I try to watch as many as possible). Even though I purchased this movie some weeks before Mom's death and we both watched it (she wasn't thrilled with it), after Mom's death I found myself watching this movie several times...introducing it to relatives then watching it more on my own. I can't explain why, but it has provided me with inexplicable comfort since my mother's death. And, LOVE the suit...
    By the way, Jim Emerson of Scanners, a blog he writes attached to RogerEbert.com, also wrote an interesting review of this movie, highlighting different aspects of the feature and the actors. In addition, in an ancillary commentary highlighting the tendency of movies the celebrate "free-market principles" (not only super-hero movies, but those, as well) to be more popular (probably because they are more likely to be promoted by those with promotional money, he insinuates) and more lucrative than movies with a socialistic bent. It's very eye-opening. You should check it out, Dear Reader.
  Update 5/24/22:  Yet another post published on 4/09/09 that "disappeared" and I had to recapture.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Robert Downey, Jr.	Tony Stark	Terrence Howard	James Rhodes	Jeff Bridges	Obadiah Stane	Shaun Toub	Ho Yinsen
  Gwyneth Paltrow	Virginia Pepper Potts	Paul Bettany	J.A.R.V.I.S.	Clark Gregg	Phil Coulson	Samuel L. Jackson	Nick Fury

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 2008
    Directed by Jon Favreau.

Labels: action1, adventure3, drama7, fantasy2, jeff-bridges, me-favorite2, robert-downey-jr, samuel-l-jackson, science-fiction1, super-hero2, suspense2, violence3

# posted by gail @ 09:40    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  Yeah, I know, what am I doing with only the 5th season? A friend of mine gave it to me when I was complaining about having to wait forever to check it out from the library, and told me not to bother giving it back, she was done with it. "Pass it on," she said. Once I'm done with it I will, on to the library. I know from the length of their hold list on this, of which I was once a part, they could use another copy of it. And, yes, I enjoyed it, but not enough to keep, I don't think. Although I'm not sure. We'll see.
  Updated 2/5/18:  "By hook, crook" (not really, regarding the "crook") and purchase I now own all seven seasons of this serial, and I'll probably own the eighth, when it's available. I don't have the luxury of watching this show when it debuts on HBO, but I'm hooked, now, much to my surprise. I don't agree with the critics that it's the best television series ever produced (I haven't made my mind up about that, yet), but I do think it's close, certainly many-notes-worthy, and a production to which I know I'll refer many times. Just in case, since I'm noticing that many links to the producers of these movies and tv series often go dead after awhile, here's the Wikipedia link to Game of Thrones.
  Updated 1/18/21:  As you can see by the title, I now own the entire Game of Thrones series. My favorite seasons are the middle ones, where people are striving to accomplish their goals. I felt I owed it to the series, though, to follow it through to the end, not knowing that the final season would be anticlimactic throughout all six episodes. I'm okay with that, though. Like many others, worldwide, I became addicted, for good reason. The last season competently ended that addiction. Not that I will never watch any of the series, again. I am currently, and slowly, making my way through the series. I'm early into Season 5. Great acting and great storytelling doesn't exist to be abandoned on a shelf.
  Update 11/17/2021:  This post was originally published August 14, 2016. It was one of the accidental deletions that occurred, which is covered in this post.
  Update 6/15/2022:  If, like me, you found yourself unpleasantly gob-smacked by the eighth season of this series, you might find this video commentary interesting.
  
  Seasons 1 - 8   

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Peter Dinklage	Tyrion Lannister	Lena Headey	Cercie Lannister	Nikolaj Coster-Waldau	Jamie Lannister	Emilia Clarke	Danerys Targaryen
  Kit Harington	Jon Snow	Sophie Turner	Sansa Stark	Maisie Williams	Arya Stark	Iain Glen	Jorah Mormont
  Alfie Allen/Reek	Theon Greyjoy	Sean Bean	Eddard Stark	Michelle Fairley	Catelyn Stark	Harry Lloyd	Viserys Targaryen
  Isaac Hempstead Wright	Brandon Stark	Jack Gleeson	Joffrey Baratheon	Rory McCann	Sandor "The Hound" Clegane	Aidan Gillen	Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish
  Liam Cunningham	Davos Seaworth	Stephen Dillane	Stannis Baratheon	Carice van Houten	Melisandre	Natalie Dormer	Margaery Tyrell
  Conleth Hill	Varys	Jerome Flynn	Bronn	Charles Dance	Tywin Lannister	John Bradley	Samwell Tarly
  James Cosmo	Jeor Mormont	Joe Dempsie	Gendry	Oona Chaplin	Talisa Stark	Kristofer Hivju	Tormund Giantsbane
  Gwendoline Christie	Brienne of Tarth	Iwan Rheon	Ramsey Snow/Bolton	Hannah Murray	Gilly	Nathalie Emmanuel	Missandei
  Dean-Charles Chapman	Tommen Baratheon	Tom Wlaschiha	Jaqen H'ghar	Indira Varma	Ellaria Sand	Jonathan Pryce	The High Sparrow
  Daniel Portman	Podrick Payne	Bella Ramsey	Lyanna Mormont	Pilou Asbæk	Euron Greyjoy	Anton Lesser	Qyburn
  Gemma Whelan	Yara Greyjoy	Lino Facioli	Robin Arryn	Jacob Anderson	Grey Worm	James Faulkner	Randyll Tarly
  Diana Rigg	Olenna Tyrell	Keisha Castle-Hughes	Obara Sand	Joseph Mawle	Benjen Stark	Kate Dickie	Lysa Arryn
  David Bradley	Walter Frey	Jim Broadbent	Archmaester Ebrose	Max von Sydow	Three-eyed Raven	Julian Glover	Grand Maester Pycelle
  Peter Vaughan	Maester Aemon	Kristian Nairn	Hodor	Jason Momoa	Khal Drogo	Thomas Brodie-Sangster	Jojen Reed

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 2011-2019
    Directed by: Okay, so here's a huge disappointment. Despite having many directors, only one of those directors was a woman and she directed only two episodes in Season 4. Shameful.

Labels: action1, adventure1, drama6, fantasy2, female-director3, indira-varma, jonathan-pryce, max-von-sydow, period2, peter-dinklage, political2, royals, spectacle1, suspense2, tragedy1, TV1, violence2, war1

# posted by gail @ 01:01    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  A couple of years ago my old DVD/VHS player died. I bought a new player, a DVD/BLU-RAY model, on a promotion special that paired it with a random Blu-Ray movie. This is the movie I got. Yes, I watched it. I'm not generally a fan of war movies, although I have a (very) few favorites, most of which, I think, I already own. This is not a movie I would have either sought out or bought. I can't recommend it because I'm not a fan of war movies. I imagine it's okay. I don't really know. I've not watched it again and it remains in my collection only because I forget that it's there. I'm even instituting a new category for this movie: forgotten-movies.
  Update 2/6/18:  So, I'm cleaning up this website, adding and changing links, and I noted that I had not linked the title of this movie to any kind of explanation. I hopped over to Wikipedia and began reading about the film. The write-up, especially the history of it, was so interesting that I've decided I should watch this again from a renewed perspective. Perhaps I'll have more to say about it, once I've re-viewed (yes, the dash is intentional) it.
  Update 11/17/2021:  This post was originally published February 6, 2005. It was one of the accidental deletions that occurred, which is covered in this post.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Dirk Bogarde	Lt-Gen. Frederick Browning	Edward Fox	Lt-Gen. Brian Horrocks	Donald Douglas	Brig. Gerald Lathbury	Michael Caine	Lt-Col. J.O.E. Vandeleur
  Anthony Hopkins	Lt-Col. John Frost	Ben Cross	Trooper Binns	Paul Maxwell	Maj. Gen. Maxwell Taylor	Ryan O'Neal	Brig. Gen. James Gavin
  Elliott Gould	Col. Robert Stout	Arthur Hill	US Army Surgeon Colonel	Robert Redford	Maj. Julian Cook	John Ratzenberger	Lt. Wall
  James Caan	Stf. Sgt. Eddie Dohun	Gene Hackman	Mjr. Gen. Stanisław Sosabowski	Wolfgang Preiss	Gen-fd-mrsch. Gerd von Rundstedt	Maximilian Schell	Gen. der Waffen-SS Wilhelm Bittrich
  Laurence Olivier	Dr. Jan Spaander	Liv Ullmann	Kate ter Horst	Richard Attenborough	Lunatic Wearing Glasses	Erik Chitty	Organist

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1977
    Directed by Richard Attenborough.

Labels: action1, adventure3, anthony-hopkins, drama6, forgotten-movies, historical2, michael-caine, period2, robert-redford, war1

# posted by gail @ 22:04    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  By now you should know that I like gangster movies. Not all, mind you, but the complicated ones, the touching ones, the ones that are created out of reverie rather than a desire for action. Thus, it shouldn't surprise you that this movie has made it into my collection. I rank it up there with my (so far) favorite three gangster movies of all time, Once Upon a Time in America, The Godfather (the first, although I love the second and like the third and always watch all three together, even though the third causes me to involuntarily cringe, at times) and, you'll never guess, or maybe you will, The Public Enemy. Now, I have a list of four favorite gangster movies.
    In all but one of the above movies (The Public Enemy) the primary action is emotional, not physical. The melodrama is understated, which is why I don't include Godfather III in this line-up, which is all melodrama. Considering this second point, why do I include The Public Enemy as one of my top four gangster movies? That one is all melodrama, as well. Mainly, I think, because I identify with Tom Powers, so the melodrama is beside the point. I've known people like him. Personally. I dealt with one last year. I don't identify with anyone, let alone Michael Corleone, in Godfather III, even though I identified with him in both The Godfather and The Godfather II. Finally, why, then, do I not include The Godfather II as one of my top gangster movies? It's not far below but I don't consider it a gangster movie. I consider it a family saga about the establishment of both the Corleone blood-related and business-related families.
    So, yes. This movie, American Gangster (this link is to the Wikipedia write-up of this movie), is detailed, involving, polished. There has been plenty of criticism of its accuracy. According to Wikipedia, "...Johnson described the real life Lucas as 'illiterate, vicious, violent, and everything Denzel Washington was not.'" Okay. The Frank Lucas in this film is "'almost noble'", which the real Richie Roberts contrasts with the real object of his law enforcement attention. I think that other character, the "real" Frank Lucas, would be a great subject for a great film, as well. In fact, that character is the subject of a great film: The Public Enemy. I have no quarrel with this, even as I really love Denzel Washington's gangster depiction. Every gangster is a person and every person is different. The character Denzel Washington played may have been different than the real Frank Lucas, but I like his characterization, this story. I think, frankly, after having seen Training Day, Denzel could play that Frank Lucas successfully, as well. That's a movie I'd definitely see and probably buy. Is anyone in the film community listening?
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Denzel Washington	Frank Lucas	Russell Crowe	Richie Roberts	Chiwetel Ejiofor	Huey Lucas	Josh Brolin	Det. Trupo
  Clarence Williams III	Bumpy Johnson	Lymari Nadal	Eva	Ted Levine	Lou Toback	John Hawkes	Freddy Spearman
  Ruby Dee	Mahalee Lucas	Cuba Gooding Jr.	Nicky Barnes	Armand Assante	Dominic Cattano	Ritchie Coster	Joey Sadano
  Idris Elba	Tango	KaDee Strickland	Richie's Attorney	Roger Guenveur Smith	Nate	John Ortiz	Javier J Rivera

  
    Release Date: 2007
    Directed by Ridley Scott.

Labels: action1, adventure1, biography1, denzel-washington, drama3, gang-movie, historical2, john-hawkes, josh-brolin, legal, neo-noirB, period2, ridley-scott, ruby-dee, russell-crowe, violence2

# posted by gail @ 11:33    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  Yet another film I was surprised to discover I didn't own. This was a Mom favorite and it was through me watching her savoring the movie (especially the love story and the plight of Varinia) that I came to appreciate it to the point that, a good year or so ago, after checking the movie out of the library several times, decided to purchase it.
    Yes, it's clearly dated in its portrayal. It rather reminds me of my reaction to The Story of Ruth, when I blurted, in response to watching the priestesses preparing for a sacrifice to Chemosh, "Isn't it interesting that the priestesses gowns look exactly like 1960's evening gowns. Do you think the state of dressmaking, at that time, included all those stays and breast shapers?" My mother ignored me.
    At any rate, I continue to find this movie involving. The write-up of the movie on the back of the case in which the movie came characterizes it as a portrayal of a "triumphant" slave revolt. Maybe idealogically and politically it was "triumphant" but, certainly, the fate of the slaves who participated in the revolt was, well, not particularly triumphant. Looking back at the revolt from 2100 years, noticing the current failings of imperialism, the nascent revolt of everyone but the plutocrats, the years-long dismissal of Christianity, let alone religion, and the success of various social democracies versus the burgeoning torpor of a variety of neo- and post-imperial regimes, well, however inspirational it might have been in 1960, it is mildly depressing, now.
  Update 9/29/19:  Is this a "gang-movie"? Yeah, it is. More of a "good-gang" movie, but a gang-movie, nonetheless. Still fun to watch.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Kirk Douglas	Spartacus	Laurence Olivier	Crassus	Jean Simmons	Varinia	Charles Laughton	Gracchus
  Peter Ustinov	Batiatus	Tony Curtis	Antoninus	John Gavin	Julius Caesar	John Dall	Marcus Glabrus
  Nina Foch	Helena Glabrus	John Ireland	Crixus	Joanna Barnes	Claudia Marius	Charles McGraw	Marcellus

  
    Just in case, here's the Wikipedia write-up for the movie.
    Release Date: 1960
    Directed by Stanley Kubrick.

Labels: action1, adventure1, drama4, fantasy1, gang-movie, historical2, jean-simmons, kirk-douglas, mom-favorite1, period2, political1, spectacle1, stanley-kubrick, tragedy1

# posted by gail @ 08:33    0 comments    email......this post

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  Commentary:  As I mention in my write-up for Platoon, this movie, here, is my favorite Vietnam movie. I finally purchased it a while ago. I've watched it a few times since. It is always a thrill. I am ever aware that the movie was, in its time, still is, in fact, controversial. It is not an actor's movie, that is true. Neither was the Vietnam War an actor's war (in the sense that, for instance, WWII became an actor's war). It was a brutal, bloody mess of a capitalist imperial "adventure". It deserved to be lost, as did all the connected wars in Southeast Asia that the U.S. perpetuated. This movie makes that fact abundantly clear.
    Although the war, itself, was carnage on a grand scale, the movie is not. As a director's movie, it is a prime example of the interpreting art of film directing. As such, it gets the misdirection/misadventure of the actual war and the global (let alone U.S.) reaction to it right. I will never tire of wanting to watch this movie. It's probably a generational thing. So be it.
  Update 9/29/19:  I've added this film to a category that I feel I need to defend: the "gang-movie" category. Although the group of men portrayed in this movie are a military unit, they are, clearly, also a gang, as well as part of a larger gang, the overwhelming military gang of professional warriors. It's impossible for me to consider them different than a street gang. Watch the movie. You'll see what I mean.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Matthew Modine	Pvt./Sgt. J. T. Davis	Vincent D'Onofrio	Pvt. Leonard/Gomer Pyle	Lee Ermey	Gunnery Sgt. Hartman	Adam Baldwin	Animal Mother
  Arliss Howard	Pvt./Sgt. Evans	Kevyn Major Howard	Rafterman	Dorian Harewood	Eightball	Tim Colceri	Doorgunner
  Ngoc Le	VC Sniper	Ed O'Ross	Lt. Walter J. Schinoski	John Terry	Lt. Lockhart	Bruce Boa	POG Colonel

  
    Just in case, here's the Wikipedia write-up for this movie.
    Release Date: 1987
    Directed by Stanley Kubrick.

Labels: action1, coming-of-age1, gang-movie, haunting1, historical2, horror1, matthew-modine, military, period2, spectacle1, stanley-kubrick, vincent-d'onofrio, violence2, war1

# posted by gail @ 07:53    0 comments    email......this post

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  Commentary:  Well. Folks. Yes. I own a copy of this movie. It's certainly not the best super-hero movie in my collection, in fact I would venture that it's probably the worst. It's beautiful to look at and a lot of the ideas, especially the technological state of Wakanda and a few of the political ideas, are interesting to contemplate. When I first watched the movie, immediately upon its DVD release (I checked it out of the library), I kept waiting for the story to start until, about half way through the movie, I realized, oh, this movie is not going to be story driven! How peculiar! The actors were given nothing with which to work, thus some amazing talents are little more than props for the cgi and none of the characters appear to have discernible, well, character, including, amazingly, Black Panther. The cgi, while breathtaking in parts, often seems little more than a confused mish-mash, like someone threw a graphics program at the script, picked up the pieces and declared them "a movie". Yes, the costuming is glorious. Yes, the hints of what Wakanda really is as a country and a political entity are intriguing. Some of the characters have real promise, which, unfortunately, none of them fulfill: Shuri, for instance, as a science genius and strong-willed princess, is treated like little more than the comical sidekick dragon in Mulan, even though, at one point, which piqued my interest, someone suggests, after the assumed death of Black Panther, her brother, that she ingest the panther-making potion, but, for some reason never explained, she doesn't; Ramonda, the glorious queen, is never assumed to be the rightful heir to her dead husband's throne, even though woman-power seems something Wakanda values, as its cadre of woman warriors attests; Killmonger, the alluring villain who seems less like a villain and more like someone who would make a more lively and engaging Black Panther than the Black Panther he supposedly killed; the entire Jabari tribe, who appear to have adopted the silver-backed gorilla as their god, evidenced by the light colored, shortened fur capes they wear, and whose leader seems charismatic and worthy of a movie, himself; and, last but not least, Okoye, a fearsome, luminous presence who certainly deserves her own story line. As well, while watching the movie last night for the second time, I suddenly became obsessed with the concept of city building in Wakanda. You'd think that such an innovative culture (or, at least, what appears to be an innovative culture but, in the movie, doesn't really live up to this promise) might have innovative city structures, following, say, the structure of the the tree that is featured in the landscape scenery throughout the movie. One group, I can't remember which one, although I think it might be the Jabari, has some structural idiosyncracies but, otherwise, African city structure, including that of Wakanda, in the movie, mimics sky-scraper city structure.
    Something else that bothered me quite a bit is that the super hero is a monarch. Why? The super heroes I like the best are people-of-the-people like David Dunn of Unbreakable, or those who are transformed by encounters with people-of-the-people, like Tony Stark of Iron Man. If there had been something in the film to humanize T'Challa I don't think I would have given his royal status a second thought. But there wasn't. So, I did. Perhaps, in the comics (which I've not read, although I'm intrigued enough to consider reading, at this point, especially Ta Nehisi Coates' and Roxanne Gay's versions) Black Panther is not a wooden statue. In this movie, he is.
    So. It seems, this movie impressed me about about as much as La La Land (my discussion of it is embedded in a write-up for another movie) and failed me as a viewer for many of the same reasons. So, why did I buy it, considering that I venerate musicals but could not bring myself to own a copy of La La Land? It is, after all, one thing to create a movie that is little more than a plastic toy of the main character. It's quite another to create a movie that inspires a plastic toy that is venerated as a true idol of the main character. Also, the disc versions are not yet in their "cheap phase".
    Simply put, I saw it at Costco when I was shopping, yesterday, initially bypassed it, remembering my initial reaction to it, then, as I was headed toward the coffee section, I entertained a second consideration: I don't think this will be the end of the Black Panther MCU franchise. At least, I hope it won't. There is so much unfulfilled promise in this movie and the legendary character of Black Panther. I mean, didn't you ever in your childhood imagine yourself as a fearsome cat of some kind, especially a jaguar? Such an exotic creature-name! I'm sure, as well, that the creators have become aware of the cogent, helpful criticism (not much, but all I've read is on point) this movie has generated [as an example, take a look at this review, which hits on all the unsatisfying points I mention above, a few more, including the problem of critic agreement, and is the fairest "bad" review I could find, considering that there are almost no bad reviews of this film] and will do better, much, much better, next time. I wait with bated breath.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Chadwick Boseman	T'Challa/Black Panther	Michael B. Jordan	N'Jadaka/Erik Killmonger Stevens	Lupita Nyong'o	Nakia	Danai Gurira	Okoye
  Martin Freeman	Everett K. Ross	Daniel Kaluuya	W'Kabi	Letitia Wright	Shuri	Winston Duke	M'Baku
  Angela Bassett	Ramonda	Forest Whitaker	Zuri	Andy Serkis	Ulysses Klaue	Sterling K. Brown	N'Jobu

  
    Release Date: 2018
    Directed by Ryan Coogler.

Labels: action1, adventure1, andy-serkis, drama4, fantasy1, forest-whitaker, pseudo-cgi-animation, science-fiction1, super-hero1, violence2

# posted by gail @ 11:47    0 comments    email......this post

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  Commentary:  This movie was an obvious choice for my Oliver Stone movie section. Of course. And, it's a favorite of mine. I'm surprised I didn't own it before now. I'm not sure it's my favorite Vietnam film. I've seen several, for obvious reasons. The young men of my generation were drafted into fighting this war, many of whom I knew. I was coming-of-age during the protest of this war, so, in a sense, it's "my" war. I haven't seen every movie about the Vietnam war. There are a few I've missed that I still want to see. But, of all the Vietnam war movies I've seen and those I own, it's right up there at the top. What's my favorite? This may surprise you: Full Metal Jacket. It's such a favorite, in fact, that I thought I had a copy of it and just discovered that I don't. Well, I'll have to remedy that. In the meantime, Platoon is my third favorite Vietnam movie, the other (which vies with Full Metal Jacket for most favorite) being Jacob's Ladder. I know, I have strange tastes in Vietnam movies. So sue me.
    Speaking of additional links, you might find Sense Memory: "Platoon Through a Veteran's Eyes" interesting. It's from the RogerEbert.com website. Roger Ebert wrote a review of this film, linked to the title of this post, but, years later, in 2016, a writer for Roger's website wrote a memoir of his experience viewing the film for the first time, as a veteran.
  Update 9/29/19:  Yet another military movie that highlights military gang behavior in an excruciating manner and more realistically, in some ways, than Full Metal Jacket, so, I believe it has earned a place in my "gang-movie" category.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Charlie Sheen	Chris Taylor	Tom Berenger	Sgt. Barnes	Willem Dafoe	Sgt. Elias	Keith David	King
  Forest Whitaker	Big Harold	Francesco Quinn	Rhah	Kevin Dillon	Bunny	John C. McGinley	Sgt. O'Neill
  Mark Moses	Lt. Wolfe	Johnny Depp	Lerner	Corey Glover	Francis	Reggie Johnson	Junior

  
    Also, as usual when I haven't linked it to the title of one of these posts, here's the Wikipedia write-up of the movie.
    Release Date: 1986
    Directed by Oliver Stone.

Labels: action1, coming-of-age1, drama4, forest-whitaker, gang-movie, historical2, oliver-stone, period2, war1, willem-dafoe

# posted by gail @ 12:35    0 comments    email......this post

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  Commentary:  Yikes! A third candidate for "horror" label status, all in the same editing session! This movie was a must-view-must-have for me. It's the second in the Eastrail 177 Trilogy by M. Night Shyamalan. I didn't know this, though, when I checked the film out of the library and watched it. All I knew was that it is the latest Shyamalan movie to be released so I wanted to see it. I don't always like his movies, like, for instance, The Village and Lady in the Water, not to mention The Last Airbender. Some of them, like Signs (which I don't own but occasionally check out of the library), I find entertaining but not worthy (yet, anyway) of owning. There are a few I haven't seen but expect to. My favorite of his films, though, is Unbreakable.
    I liked Split so much that I immediately looked up information on it. When I discovered it is part of a trilogy of which Unbreakable is the first, well, I wanted to own it. I expect, eventually, to own Glass to complete the trilogy in my collection (I own it, now).
    Split is of interest to me because I have a peculiar interest in super-hero evolution movies. Split is a super-villian evolution movie. To quote the Wikipedia entry on the movie: "The film has been referred to as the first supervillain origin story; the first time a film has been completely devoted to the origins of a villain as opposed to the origins of the superhero." My interest in super-hero movies and series is so eccentric that I avoid a lot of them. Unbreakable was the happy accident that lead me into a deeper interest in super-heroes. Now, I find that interest expanding into super-villians. I'll not be instituting a super-villian category, yet, because this would be the only movie in that category, at least for awhile, until other film makers catch the wave. Thank you, M. Night Shyamalan for being the first, and spectacularly!
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  James McAvoy	Kevin Wendell Crumb/alter egos	Anya Taylor-Joy	Casey Cooke	Betty Buckley	Karen Fletcher	Haley Lu Richardson	Claire Benoit
  Jessica Sula	Marcia	Sebastian Arcelus	Casey's Father	Brad William Henke	John Cooke	Neal Huff	Mr. Benoit
  Lyne Renée	Academic Moderator	Rosemary Howard	Penelope Crumb	M. Night Shyamalan	Security Guard Jai	Bruce Willis	David Dunn

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 2016
    Directed by M. Night Shyamalan.

Labels: action1, coming-of-age1, drama4, fantasy1, horror1, m-night-shyamalan, science-fiction1, super-hero1

# posted by gail @ 12:01    0 comments    email......this post