Saturday, July 02, 2022
The Hit
- Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Terence Stamp Willie Parker John Hurt Mitchell Braddock Tim Roth Myron Laura del Sol Maggie Bill Hunter Harry Fernando Rey Senior Policeman Willoughby Gray Judge Jim Broadbent Barrister
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1984
Directed by Stephen Frears.
Labels: §4, bill-hunter, john-hurt, neo-noirA
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
Gallipoli
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: As I recall, my mention of this one in my journal, which is fairly recent, says it all.
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 Mark Lee Archy Hamilton Mel Gibson Frank Dunne Bill Kerr Jack Harold Hopkins Les McCann Charles Yunupingu Zac Ron Graham Wallace Hamilton Gerda Nicolson Rose Hamilton Robert Grubb Billy (Lewis) Bill Hunter Major Barton Tim McKenzie Barney Wilson David Argue Snowy (G. S. Wilkes) Steve Dodd Billy Snakeskin
Here's the Wikipedia link for this movie.
Release Date: 1981
Directed by Peter Weir.
Labels: bill-hunter, dramaC, historical4, mel-gibson, peter-weir, war2
Finding Nemo
- Who's watched: M & G, many times
- Mentions: *1* *2* *3*
- Commentary: As I recall, my mentions of this movie speak for both my mother's and my delight in it. Aside from my favorite scene with Bruce the Shark, which I've seen many times, I love being transported by the oceanic graphic environment of the movie, including, and especially, the background ocean music. It is truly one better than the ocean, only because it is so available. Watching the movie is practically like having a virtual experience without the nerve stimulation technology.
My mother, I should note, usually takes a nap after this movie. Perhaps, she actually lives through 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 Albert Brooks Marlin Alexander Gould Nemo Ellen DeGeneres Dory Willem Dafoe Gill Allison Janney Peach Andrew Stanton Crush Nicholas Bird Squirt Barry Humphries Bruce Geoffrey Rush Nigel Vicki Lewis Deb & Flo John Ratzenberger Moonfish school Bill Hunter Dentist Philip Sherman
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2003
Directed by Andrew Stanton & Lee Unkrich.
Labels: animated, bill-hunter, coming-of-age2, dramedy2, kids, shared-favorite, willem-dafoe
Thursday, January 13, 2022
On the Beach
- Commentary: I only own a few of Stanley Kramer's movies, but I've seen, throughout the years of my life, several of them. Check out this list. I'm sure you'll recognize several you've seen. Considering how long he lived (from 1913 - 2001), he wasn't particularly prolific, but the list to which I've connected will show you that he was extraordinarily important as a producer and director. It's almost as though he had a golden touch; he didn't use it often, but when he did, the results were always spectacular, often groundbreaking. I'll be writing more about this film when I watch it again after having not seen it for a few decades. I can't believe my luck that it was available!
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Gregory Peck Cmdr Dwight Towers Ava Gardner Moira Davidson Fred Astaire Julian Osborn Anthony Perkins Lt Cmdr Peter Holmes Donna Anderson Mary Holmes Lou Vernon Bill Davidson Kevin Brennan Dr. King John Meillon Ralph Swain John Tate Admr. Bridie RAN Harp McGuire Lt. Sunderstrom Lola Brooks Bridie's Secretary Bill Hunter extra/swimming double
Cary Peck, Gregory Peck's son, also had an uncredited cameo in this film.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1959
Directed by Stanley Kramer.
Labels: apocalyptic, bill-hunter, dramaE, fred-astaire, gregory-peck, nuclear, romance5, war2
Monday, January 28, 2019
Muriel's Wedding
- Commentary: I can't tell you when I first viewed this one. Obviously, sometime after 1994. I'm not sure if Mom ever saw it. I, however, fell in love with it on first viewing.
I was already a fan of Australian cinema. That started with my viewing of Outback/Wake in Fright, many years previous. It was, however, the beginning of my admiration of Toni Collette. And, my appreciation of Australian comedy. I remember, after initially viewing this movie, scouring our library for other Australian comedy gems, which is what brought me to Strictly Ballroom. Australian comedy has a surprisingly sharp edge that catches you unawares and that U.S. comedy lacks, I find, except in extraordinary instances. Let's see, do I own any of those "extraordinary [U.S.] instances"? A few. Adaptation, for one. Network, for another. If I wanted to stretch a point, Natural Born Killers takes U.S. comedy edge well beyond any Australian comedy edge I've yet seen. Buster Keaton, though, is probably the best example of U.S. comedy edge competitive with Australian comedy edge. I'd include Charlie Chaplin but he was a Brit who shaped U.S. movies into what they would, and continue to, become.
This movie, combined with Strictly Ballroom, brought to my awareness a slate of excellent Australian actors, one of whom, Bill Hunter is/was (sadly, he's dead) in four movies I own.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Toni Collette Muriel Heslop Bill Hunter Bill Heslop Rachel Griffiths Rhonda Epinstall Sophie Lee Tania Degano Jeanie Drynan Betty Heslop Gennie Nevinson Deidre Chambers Daniel Lapaine David Van Arkle Matt Day Brice Nobes
Just in case, here's the link to the Wikipediea write-up.
Release Date: 1994
Directed by P. J. Hogan.
Labels: bill-hunter, comedy1, coming-of-age1, toni-collette, women's-movie1
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Strictly Ballroom
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1* *2*
- Commentary: Both Mom and I could watch this movie every day for a year, then turn around and watch to celebrate the following New Year's Day. Plus, this video includes the full length docu-video about the Kendall's School of Dance, which inspired Baz Lurhmann to write this story. This documentary, alone, is worth the price of the video...and then, you get the main feature! What a treat!
Although Paul Mercurio is a professional dancer in real life, his acting is a bit stiff. This has a negligible effect, though, because Tara Morice is as liquid an actor as she is a dancer and the two are supported by a host of excellent Australian actors.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Paul Mercurio Scott Hastings Tara Morice Fran Bill Hunter Barry Fife Pat Thomson Shirley Hastings Antonio Vargas Rico Armonia Benedito Ya Ya Barry Otto Doug Hastings Sonia Kruger Tina Sparkle
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1992
Directed by Baz Luhrmann.
Labels: 20th-century-chick-flicks1, bill-hunter, dance, drama8, popcorn-and-soda4, romance2, satire2, shared-favorite
