Wednesday, May 18, 2022
Lawrence of Arabia
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: We even had, the second time we watched it, a Watching Lawrence of Arabia party. Very successful.
Both my mother and I are surprised at the things we learn about my father knowing that this movie was one of his two favorite movies, the other being Khartoum. He and I saw Khartoum together, a very memorable event, one I'll probably remember as though I'm going through it when I'm old and mentally creative. It happened in Honolulu, probably 1966, the year the movie came out, and involved a long evening stroll along the Ala Wai.
I have, however, had no desire to see that one again. Lawrence of Arabia, though, sometimes I put the disc in and zone out on it for a half hour or so. My mother doesn't do this, but she enjoys the movie.
Roger Ebert wrote about this movie twice: first in 1989 and then again in 2001 as a "Great Movie", the review for which I linked to the title of this post.
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 Peter O'Toole T. E. Lawrence Alec Guinness Prince Faisal Anthony Quinn Auda abu Tayi Jack Hawkins General Allenby Omar Sharif Sherif Ali ibn el Kharish José Ferrer The Turkish Bey Anthony Quayle Harry Brighton Claude Rains Mr. Dryden
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1962
Directed by David Lean.
Labels: adventure4, biography2, claude-rains, dad-favorite, dramaC, historical4, me-favorite4, political4, popcorn-and-soda6, war2
Born on the Fourth of July
- Who's watched: G [M was in the room looking at the TV for awhile, but not watching...she evetually napped.]
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: It was on sale, I thought, sight unseen, I'd be glad I owned it...what can I say?!? I'm glad I watched it. It was one of the last few in a long line of Vietnam War movies (including the obscure) I make it a point to watch. I thought I'd want to watch this one more than once. Not really. I would have liked to have seen it when it first came out and Tom Cruise wasn't . I think I would have appreciated his performance more. For some reason, as I watched this, I was continually reminded of Risky Business. I kept having to remind myself that it is based in 'truth' because it was acted for melodrama, which was distracting to the story. I doubt that I'll ever watch it again. I may pass it off to someone.
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 Tom Cruise Ron Kovic Willem Dafoe Charlie Kyra Sedgwick Donna Raymond J. Barry Mr. Kovic Jerry Levine Steve Boyer Frank Whaley Timmy Caroline Kava Mrs. Kovic Cordelia Gonzalez Maria Elena Ed Lauter Legion Commander Stephen Baldwin Billy Vorsovich Bob Gunton V.A. Dr. #1 Lili Taylor Jamie Wilson
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1989
Directed by Oliver Stone.
Labels: biography2, bob-gunton, dramaD, oliver-stone, period6, political5, tom-cruise, war2, willem-dafoe
American Splendor
- Who's watched: M & G, both more than once
- Mentions: *1* *2*
- Commentary: My relationship with Harvey Pekar began through a former boyfriend of mine who was a rabid fan of his comics. He introduced me to the wonderful world of adult comics, but, more than that, he was sure I would have an affinity for American Splendor. He was right. He is also long dead as I write this, but, when I watch this movie, I imagine him looking over my shoulder approvingly and say, "I knew this was movie material! I knew they'd make a movie of it!" He did. And he was right.
Mom 'caught' me watching this the afternoon I purchased it when she was napping. I was surprised that she was as seduced by it as I am. I think his character displays a sensibility that she learned well during her young-to-middle adult years, having been born in 1917.
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 Paul Giamatti Harvey Pekar Hope Davis Joyce Brabner Judah Friedlander Toby Radloff James Urbaniak Robert Crumb
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up for this film.
Release Date: 2003
Directed by Shari Springer Berman & Robert Pulcini.
Labels: animated, biography2, dramedy2, female-director1, film-art2, hope-davis, me-favorite4, paul-giamatti
Saturday, July 03, 2021
Mommie Dearest
- Commentary: If this movie isn't the most controversial movie I own, it's very close to the top of that list. Check out the Wikipedia article on it linked below in the usual place and you'll see what I mean. By "controversial", I don't mean "universally panned". There are those who unabashedly love it (I belong in this category), those who four-square despise or dismiss it (think Roger Ebert in the review to which the title of this post is linked), and people who fall at all points in between.
It's not just the structure of the movie that provokes comment. Everything, including Faye Dunaway's performance (which even she has expressed reservations about), the audacity of basing it on a controversial memoir, the directing, the editing, the choice of material upon which the screenplay was based, even scene placement comes up for comment.
Well, sorry, everyone, I love, love, love this movie! I've been wanting to own it for awhile, despite the fact that I neglected to include it in Movies I've Seen, Do Not Own but Can't Forget. Ever since I began hankering for it, it's been in my "very pricey" category. Last week I noticed that, while still in that category, the price had dropped by five bucks (it didn't drop, at all, during any of those recent, much ballyhooed sales on certain purchasing sites), so I decided, okay, I'm going for it.
I received it yesterday. Watched it last night. Rarely have I been so satisfied with a purchase! The movie is so over-the-top that I was surprised to discover that, those scenes and moments I remembered previous to purchase, well, I'd remembered them exactly!
Truthfully, I'm sorry to read (in the article pegged to the title, above) that Dunaway has reservations not only about her performance, but, as well, the directing of that performance. I am not one of those who loves this movie because it's "campy", as it's been labeled numerous times, although I understand why it is so labeled. By the time this movie was initially released, Joan Crawford had become camp. She was partially responsible for this, considering the movie choices she made later in her life (think Trog and Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, the latter of which, in the words of the attached Wikipedia article: "...spawned a succession of horror/thriller films featuring psychotic older women, later dubbed the psycho-biddy subgenre...").
I don't consider this movie campy. I don't necessarily consider it to be the unvarnished history of Joan Crawford's life, either. It was, after all, based on a book written by an abused and conflicted daughter. But, let's face it, people. Those who lead lives that glitter, especially those who choose those lives, in part, because of the glitter they'll don, well, the "truths" of their lives will always partly distract, as well as attract. That is, in large part, why we, as members of the audience, are hungry to know more about them and doomed to never know the unglittered truth.
Here's the interesting part: If you own a copy of Joan Crawford's Mildred Pierce © 2005 Turner Entertainment Company, check out the documentary profile included as a special feature, Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star. Although there is some information in the movie that is not addressed in the documentary (how she treated her first two children, for instance), nothing in the documentary refutes, or is refuted by, anything in Mommie Dearest. I can attest to this because, immediately after I watched the movie, last night, I was driven to watch the documentary, precisely because I wondered about this. The immediately previous link, by the way, is to a different article about the movie; here is yet another, full of interesting backstory. It looks like no one can get enough of this movie, which is fine with me because I thoroughly enjoyed it, last night, and expect to, again.
There are a couple of other articles at RogerEbert.com that meditate on the movie, while it was still in production, by Roger Ebert (although it was published after the movie was released and after Ebert's final review of the movie) and many years after it was released, by Angelica Jade Bastien. No matter what your reaction to the movie, they make for intriguing reading, especially the second article.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Faye Dunaway Joan Crawford Diana Scarwid Christina Crawford Steve Forrest Gregg Savitt Howard Da Silva Louis B. Mayer Rutanya Alda Carol Ann Harry Goz Alfred Steele Michael Edwards Ted Gilbert Jocelyn Brando Barbara Bennett Priscilla Pointer Margaret Lee Chadwick Xander Berkeley Christopher Crawford Belita Moreno Belinda Rosenberg Alice Nunn Helga
Here's the Wikipedia write-up for this movie.
Release Date: 1981
Directed by Frank Perry.
Labels: aging, biography2, coming-of-age2, dramaD, faye-dunaway, historical4, period6, popcorn-and-soda6
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
The Elephant Man
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This is one of those movies that has a hypnotic effect on both of us; both the way it's filmed and the story. Every time we watch it we're galvanized into a discussion of the extraordinary possibilities inherent in the desire to survive, regardless of the difficulty.
One odd note: This movie was filmed in Black & White. Every time we watch this movie, the B&W filming tricks my mother into thinking one of two things, sometimes both on the same night: 1) that the film is a very old movie made when she was much younger than she is now, and 2) that the film is actually a newsreel captured early in the 20th century. Funny, the tricks the history of film can play on someone who's been alive through much of that history!
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Anthony Hopkins Frederick Treves John Hurt John Merrick Hannah Gordon Ann Treves Anne Bancroft Madge Kendal John Gielgud Francis Carr Gomm Wendy Hiller Mrs Mothershead Freddie Jones Mr Bytes Michael Elphick Jim the Night Porter
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1980
Directed by David Lynch.
Labels: anthony-hopkins, biography2, drama9, historical3, john-gielgud, john-hurt, period4, wendy-hiller
Friday, February 10, 2006
The Sound of Music
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: I actually asked Mom, when I noticed the 40th anniversary edition of this movie at Costco, if she wanted me to purchase a copy. Silly question. Although most of the songs are too catchy to be believed and I have good-but-not-quite-reverent memories of this movie, if she'd said "No" I would have heeded her request. Some years ago, when one of my nieces was much younger, this movie was her absolute favorite, always playing at her family's house to the point where I entered "The Sound of Music" overload and have yet to exit that state. I have to say, though, "watching" the movie while doing chores and tending to my mother is pleasant and my mother is thoroughly entertained, singing along, rocker-dancing, etc. As well, this edition includes the Biography channel program about the real Von Trapp family, which is enormously interesting, so much so that we found ourselves searching through movie scenes afterwards to compare fact with fiction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Julie Andrews Maria Christopher Plummer Cpt. von Trapp Eleanor Parker Elsa von Schraeder Richard Haydn Max Detweiler Peggy Wood Mother Abbess Charmian Carr Liesl von Trapp Daniel Truhitte Rolf Gruber Nicholas Hammond Friedrich von Trapp Angela Cartwright Brigitta von Trapp Marni Nixon Sister Sophia Anna Lee Sister Margaretta Portia Nelson Sister Berthe
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1965
Directed by Robert Wise.
Labels: biography2, christopher-plummer, julie-andrews, musical1, period4, popcorn-and-soda4, romance2, spectacle2
Forrest Gump
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: I'm not surprised this movie hasn't been mentioned in my journals. When I bought it I thought I remembered that Mom liked it. She may have, but had little patience for it this time around. I thought I had found it interesting. I did, but immediately after watching it for the first time in a long time, I decided it would be one I'd never enter in here and would sell back as soon as I had a few other movies to turn in. Watching it made me uncomfortable. For myself. For the United States. Then, I found myself going back to the movie, replaying particular scenes, looking forward to the well planned music score, watching Gary Sinese closely...and decided, hmmm, I'd better keep this one. It does remain one of the strangest crafted-to-be-a-box-office-hit movies ever made. Being a movie maven, this is a good enough reason for me to keep it. Who knows. The next time I play it "in front of" Mom, she might like it again.
Update 8/12/21: Along with the review, above, linked to the title, and, in light of it, I want to present another few reviews published to commemorate the 25th anniversary of this movie. 'Forrest Gump,' 25 Years Later, by Eric Cohn perfectly expresses my unease with this film. Because of my ambivalence about this film, I was always surprised that Roger Ebert seemed to swallow it hook, line and sinker. Perhaps he was a Republican. Perhaps he simply enjoyed live-action that is cartoonish. I don't know. What I do know is continued occasional viewings of this film, for me, make me grateful that I remain capable of finding this movie off-putting, regardless of how much I enjoy individual scenes or pieces of actor performance.
About a year after the review immediately above came out, another, in video format, by Renegade Cut, was published. It deserves a close viewing if you find yourself uncomfortable with this movie.
Finally, a two video review was published by the website The Take in commemoration of the same anniversary: here are the first and the second. Lighter in tone than the reviews cited above, these two videos also have more clips from the movie and have a kinder, gentler interpretation of the movie's overall presentation of the United States' character and history.
It's interesting to watch this movie 25 years after its release and recontemplate it in view of the variety of quarter century anniversary videos. It's quite striking how more loquacious citizens of the United States interpret the movie and its impact on a variety of aspects of United States life, now, and citizens of this country.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Tom Hanks Forrest Gump Robin Wright Jennie Curran Gary Sinise Lt. Dan Taylor Mykelti Williamson Bubba Blue Sally Field Mrs. Gump Haley Joel Osment Forrest Gump Jr. Sam Anderson Principal Hancock Siobhan Fallon Hogan School Bus Driver
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1994
Directed by Robert Zemeckis.
Labels: biography2, dramedy2, fantasy3, period4, popcorn-and-soda4, satire2, tom-hanks
Monday, November 14, 2005
The Last Emperor
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: This movie causes both Mom & me to swoon. I'm pleased we finally own a copy. It's a "mood movie" for me: When I'm in the mood to watch it, nothing can take it's place and when we didn't own it I hungered for it when I wanted to see it.
Here you will find a list of resources about Pu Yi, people surrounding him and his time in history. Excellent resource.
Update 5/13/2022: Yes, I continue to hunger for this movie, at least once a year, sometimes more. It has seemed especially pertinent within the last few years because of the political clashes around the globe over who has a right to govern, and, sometimes, own, countries and regions. Although there is usually some coverage of the challenged governments, these days, there is hardly any coverage of the personal effects on ousted leaders. Covering these concerns regarding the family and staff of those leaders is covered almost never.
Besides this, there are many excellent actors playing these roles.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role John Lone Adult Puyi Joan Chen Wanrong Peter O'Toole Reginald Johnston Ying Ruocheng Camp Warden Victor Wong Chen Baochen Dennis Dun Big Li Ryuichi Sakamoto Masahiko Amakasu Maggie Han Eastern Jewel Ric Young Camp Interrogator Vivian Wu Wenxiu Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa Chang Lisa Lu Empress Dowager Cixi Basil Pao Prince Chun Dong Liang Lady Consort Chun Henry O Lord Chamberlain Tijger Tsou Puyi 8 years
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1987
Directed by Bernardo Bertolucci.
Labels: biography2, coming-of-age2, dramaA, haunting2, historical3, me-favorite2, political4, royals, spectacle2
De-lovely
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: Pure delight for both Mom and me. One of my favorite aspects of this film is the presentation of each song. These presentations are specfically suited to the song by performer and setting. It seems fitting, since Cole Porter was a popular entertainment song writer. This is a keeper and one we'll watch frequently. Alanis Morissette is one of these performers.
Update 2/7/18: Although I rarely update one of these blurbs to include another link, I'm going to, this time. Roger Ebert wrote a lovely (yes, lovely), meticulous review of this movie which I always remember whenever I think of, or watch, it (yes, I continue to watch it; sometimes, nothing else will do). Check it out in the title to this post.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Kevin Kline Cole Porter Ashley Judd Linda Lee Porter Jonathan Pryce Angel Gabriel Kevin McNally Gerald Murphy Sandra Nelson Sara Murphy Allan Corduner Monty Woolley Peter Polycarpou Louis B. Mayer Keith Allen Irving Berlin
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2004
Directed by Irwin Winkler.
Labels: biography2, historical3, jonathan-pryce, kevin-kline, musical1, shared-favorite
Sunday, October 09, 2005
Funny Girl
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: Mom has never cared for Barbra Streisand, neither her voice nor her presence. I have always adored Barbra Streisand without question. Having said this, we both enjoyed this movie and Mom has a few other Barbra Streisand favorites, like Nuts and Yentl (here's my own post about Yentl, neither of which we've yet collected (I acquired Yentl the April after Mom died). She also has a problem with Omar Shariff. She considers him overwhelming. I think he's great in this movie.
Update 7/31/21: Forgive me, but this reminds me of a funny story to tell on myself. Soon after I'd discovered Barbara Streisand, long before this movie came out, I used to wander around the house singing Streisand songs I'd heard on the radio, trying, as hard as possible, to imitate her voice. I asked my mother, once, if I sounded at all like Streisand and she replied, "Oh, much better!" I'm sure she said this because she had no love for Streisand's voice, and I knew this, so I dismissed her comment. During the same period but a bit later, though, I was told by a friend who overheard me vocalizing on "the slab" (the concrete foundation of an abandoned tennis court in our housing area), one day, that I sounded like Mahalia Jackson. Although I was startled, considering who I was trying to imitate, I was also familiar with Jackson's voice and was deeply complimented by her comment. Truth is, though, I do not have a good singing voice because I don't have a good ear for my own voice. I do for instruments being played, including when I play them, but I can't hear myself slip when my voice goes off-key. So, no chance that I'll ever be "discovered", even though I continue to sing, and hum, throughout odd moments of the day.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Barbra Streisand Fanny Brice Omar Sharif Nicky Arnstein Kay Medford Rose Brice Anne Francis Georgia James Walter Pidgeon Florenz Ziegfeld Lee Allen Eddie Ryan Mae Questel Mrs. Strakosh Gertrude Flynn Mrs. O'Malley
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1968
Directed by William Wyler.
Labels: barbra-streisand, biography2, dramedy2, musical2, period5, romance3
Beyond the Sea
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: I bought this sight unseen based on television previews. Although I don't have a fascination with Bobby Darin, I do have a fascination with the song of the movie title and I love watching Kevin Spacey do a tour de force. Mom enjoyed the fairy tale quality of the story, was pleasantly surprised at the constant introduction of the kid, but thought that the nasty marriage backstory could have been dumped. I thought Kate Bosworth was amazing as Sandra Dee. My only complaint has to do with aesthetics. I remember when Sandra Dee was a star. I wasn't in the age group that revered her, I was a little too young, but my older sister was, and bought the magazines that featured her and such celebrities as Bobby Darin, Troy Donahue, the Nelson brothers, etc. I also have an acute memory of style from that period, because I hated it so. In this movie, Kate Bosworth's hair is softly tousled, à la some decades later. Her clothes are are swishy and loose fitting, considering the style. Her make-up was airy and light. Let me tell you, Sandra Dee's hair was fashioned and sprayed into tightly coiffed helmet, even when it was long and appeared to be "flowing". There was no tousling about it. Her bodices were tight and she appeared to be corseted underneath. Her breasts were encased in the padded cones that were so popular in that era. Her make-up was thick and obvious, as befitted the fashion of the times. It was, specifically, the fashion that encased Sandra Dee and her female peers against which my peer rebelled. My guess is that the movie wouldn't have been as big a hit if the costuming and make-up departments had gotten it absolutely right. I'm sure, in fact, that they were aware of what they were rejecting. The standard of glamour in those days looks silly and pretentious, now. But, yes, that was Sandra Dee's standard of glamour.
This movie is not easy to watch. It's hard to forget that Darin died at the age of 37 and Spacey is older than that as he plays Darin. He also does an amazing job as Bobby Darin but, as I watch the movie, I keep wondering why, why does it exist? A special feature, of course, explains that Spacey has been possessed by the spirit of Darin for a long time. This may be true, but, in that case, it seems as though a better movie could have been made if the making of it hadn't been rushed. Not that I have any information that tells me it was. It just seems to have been. And, yet, I'm a little possessed by the spirit in Darin's singing, at least, too. I have mp3 copies of a couple of his songs, including the one after which this movie was named and "Mack the Knife". Darin's is my all time favorite rendition of this song. I never really liked night club singing much, was never a fan of Sinatra, Martin, Davis Jr., Martino, any of those singers or, later, the Michael Bublé/Harry Connick, Jr. crowd. But, for a lot of complicated reasons, I don't consider watching this movie a waste of time. I even got rid of it, once, then bought it, again.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Kevin Spacey Bobby Darin William Ullrich Young Bobby Kate Bosworth Sandra Dee Bob Hoskins Charlie Maffia John Goodman Stephen Blauner Brenda Blethyn Polly Cassotto Caroline Aaron Nina Cassotto Maffia Greta Scacchi Mary Douvan
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2004
Directed by Kevin Spacey.
Labels: biography2, musical2, popcorn-and-soda5
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Postcards from the Edge
- Who's watched: G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This movie is one of four "Meryl Streep" movies I deliberately bought in a set, the other three being: Adaptation, Kramer vs. Kramer and Dancing at Lughnasa. It does not contain one of my favorites, Sophie's Choice, but that'll come later. My favorite part of this movie is the Country & Western video at the end, but there are many aspects of this film I enjoy, including the chemistry between Meryl Streep and Shirley MacClaine.
This movie is distinguished in that it is the only movie I've ever watched with the commentary overdub. I felt compelled to do this, considering the stature of the mother-daughter-actor duo Street and McClaine were playing. It was worth it. I would recommend listening to the overdub (during a second watching ... please, don't spoil your first watching with it) to anyone who enjoys this movie, and I say that knowing that this movie likely has a somewhat specialized audience.
BTW, the reason I included so many actors in the table, below, is because it seems that everybody and their dogs insisted on being in this movie. It's quite astonishing, considering the low profile of its release, and subsequent viewings. I think this whole movie, and the book upon which it is based by the way, can legitimately be considered a vanity project of high order. It's like, "It's about HOLLYWOOD, Guyzzzz ...", so everyone jumped on board for a piece of the action. And, they found a role for everyone!
Turns out it was, much to my surprise after I watched it, a critical coup. Yeah, it was a fun movie, but nowhere near deserving of the praise and the push it received. To quote one of Roger Ebert's comments on the movie (cited the the Wikipedia post about this movie), "...its heart is not in the right place."
Update 8/16/21: Weird, that I've never obtained a copy of Sophie's Choice. I just checked prices and it seems everybody who has it for sale is selling it at a whopping high price, or, it's unavailable. I think I never really wanted it, anyway, even though I remember enjoying my one watching of it and marveling at Meryl Streep's and Kevin Kline's performances. If I ever really want to see it, I'm sure my library probably has several copies of it. But, I probably won't seek it out. Not sure why, but, there you have it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Meryl Streep Suzanne Vale Shirley MacLaine Doris Mann Dennis Quaid Jack Faulkner Gene Hackman Lowell Kolchek Richard Dreyfuss Dr. Frankenthal Rob Reiner Joe Pierce Annette Bening Evelyn Ames Simon Callow Simon Asquith Gary Morton Marty Wiener Mary Wickes Grandma Conrad Bain Grandpa Oliver Platt Neil Bleene C. C. H. Pounder Julie Marsden Anthony Heald George Lazan Dana Ivey Wardrobe Mistress Michael Ontkean Robert Munch
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1990
Directed by Mike Nichols.
Labels: annette-bening, biography2, meryl-streep, popcorn-and-soda5, richard-dreyfuss, satire2, shirley-maclaine
The Straight Story
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1* *2*
- Commentary: Another absolute favorite. I discovered this movie playing on one of the independent film channels. The entire movie is perfectly luscious, including the music, and the photography. The acting is superb. It should be a Required Viewing film for anyone who cares for an Ancient One.
The first time I viewed this film, I bought it lock stock and barrel. The second time, I was a little uneasy with what hit me as mawkishness in the act featuring the pregnant runaway and some of the Twin Brothers episode. On the third viewing, though, I was fine with everything. Ancient Ones are often mawkish. Sometimes thoughtfulness leads to a kind of mawkishness.
My mother always identifies with the spirit of Alvin Straight, and loves the fact that this man was (and remains in character) an Iowan.
It's funny, too, because I have an astute movie lover friend who absolutely hates this movie, thinks it's the most boring film he's ever seen. I guess you have to be an Iowan to appreciate it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Richard Farnsworth Alvin Straight Sissy Spacek Rose Straight Harry Dean Stanton Lyle Straight Jane Galloway Heitz Dorothy
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1999
Directed by David Lynch.
Labels: adventure4, biography2, dramaB, harry-dean-stanton, haunting2, popcorn-and-soda5, shared-favorite, sissy-spacek
Monday, February 21, 2005
The Motorcycle Diaries
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: Although this movie is a very recent purchase, Mom and I have already watched it twice. I had planned on watching it alone, first, guessing that it may be a quiet, subtle road movie that would be disappointing to someone (like my mother) whose preference is for action road movies. Mom noticed the box, though, read the back and wanted to see it immediately because it mentioned traveling through Latin America, which is something my mother has always wanted to do. She was surprised at the shape of the movie but enjoyed it anyway. The next night, last night, she discovered the box, yet, again, read the back again, and insisted on watching the movie again as though she hadn't yet seen it. Afterwards, I insisted that we watch the short interview with Alberto Granado, which we both enjoyed. As the interview closed, my mother said, "He's still dancing," with pleasure and approval.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Gael García Bernal Che Guevara Rodrigo de la Serna Alberto Granado Mercedes Morán Celia de la Serna Jean Pierre Noher Ernesto Guevara Lynch
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2004
Directed by Walter Salles.
Labels: biography2, political4
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
The Life of Emile Zola
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: My mother has no memory of this movie, although it was she who recommended it to me, back in the days when I was reading obscure fictional 'biographies' like Mika Waltari's The Egyptian. I had to haunt art movie theaters for it and was magnetized by Muni's performance in parts of this movie, much as I was by Robert De Niro's stirring scene in Once Upon a Time in America.
I got the thing on sale, ridiculous price. I think it was the only copy. Otherwise, I would not thought to have purchased it. It's been quite a while, since before I went to Seattle, that I've seen the movie, so it exists larger than movie-life for me. It'll be interesting to see it again. As I recall, the movie has an irresistable, old-timey, gee-whiz quality about it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Paul Muni Émile Zola Gloria Holden Alexandrine Zola Gale Sondergaard Lucie Dreyfus Joseph Schildkraut Donald Crisp
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1937
Directed by William Dieterle.
Labels: biography2, political4, popcorn-and-soda5
Sunday, February 13, 2005
Amadeus
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: This is one of our Spectacle Movies, sort of like Gone with the Wind. It's too lavish and bright to watch often, but it makes a great dessert. It's one of those movies where we often catch ourselves saying, during the viewing, "Oh, yeah, I forgot about that! I love that!"
Update 5/9/2022: I watched this movie very recently, within the last couple of weeks. It had been awhile, like, I'm thinking, maybe a couple of years. I was struck by the brilliance and particularity of the actors' performances, including the smaller parts, so much so that I had to look most of them up to see what they'd done since, see if there was anything that looked promising. I did notice that I no longer consider it "too lavish and bright to watch often". In fact, I so thoroughly enjoyed my "first" watching that, the next night, I turned around and watched it again.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role F. Murray Abraham Antonio Salieri Tom Hulce Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Elizabeth Berridge Constanze Mozart Roy Dotrice Leopold Mozart Simon Callow Emanuel Schikaneder Christine Ebersole Caterina Cavalieri Jeffrey Jones Emperor Joseph II Richard Frank Father Vogler Patrick Hines Kapellmeister Giuseppe Bonno Cynthia Nixon Lori Vincent Schiavelli Salieri's Valet John Strauss Conductor
One of Roger Ebert's Great Movies.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up for this movie.
Release Date: 1984
Directed by Miloš Forman.
Labels: biography2, cynthia-nixon, dramedy3, f-murray-abraham, historical3, shared-favorite, spectacle2
Gandhi
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: I'll bet we've seen this movie, on cable, at least four times. When we notice it, anywhere, commercials or not, we watch it. We forget it between being serendipitiously reminded. It is a movie that fascinates us at several levels, though.
One of my problems with this movie, for me, is the astonishing number of "name" British, Indian and American actors managed to wrangle parts in this movie, and I do mean "wrangle". The first time I saw it, it occurred to me that this must have been the "go to" movie of the late 70's through early 80's for actors. Since the script required what would normally be thousands of extras, Richard Attenborough, as both producer and director, probably took advantage of the interest to cheaply (my guess, only) and luxuriously staff his picture. Just take a look at the three-tiered Actor/Role chart, below. And believe me, I think it encompasses only half of the actor-participants listed in the Wikipedia roster, which you can access below, as usual.
Update 2/7/18: Knowing what I know, now, about the movie and the man, I'm somewhat uncomfortable about this movie, but I am reluctant to let it go. I recently watched it again and, damn, Ben Kingsley, what can I say? Extraordinary actor. It would be worth it to keep this in my collection just based on his acting in this movie. Yes, I own other movies in which he's acted, most notably, off the top of my head, Sexy Beast. There are others I'd like to own. House of Sand of Fog, for instance. So, I'll keep this one. For the collection.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Ben Kingsley Mahatma Gandhi Rohini Hattangadi Kasturba Gandhi Roshan Seth Jawaharlal Nehru Pradeep Kumar V. K. Krishna Menon Candice Bergen Margaret Bourke-White Edward Fox Reginald Dyer John Gielgud Viceroy Lord Irwin John Mills Lord Chelmsford Martin Sheen Vince Walker Daniel Day-Lewis Colin John Ratzenberger American driver Saeed Jaffrey Vallabhbhai Patel
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1982
Directed by Richard Attenborough.
Labels: ben-kingsley, biography2, candice-bergen, historical3, john-gielgud, political4, spectacle2, spiritual1
Patton
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: Mom doesn't remember this movie from watching to watching, but, each viewing rivets her, nonetheless. Her memory of WWII and her service in the Navy snap to attention in frequent spasms throughout the movie.
Me? It's one of my all time favorites, not just for performance, or other film-making qualities, but I often think of this movie when I meditate on the subject of conflict.
Roger Ebert christened this as one of his Great Movies, the review for which I linked to the title of this post.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role George C. Scott Lt. Gen. George S. Patton Karl Malden Lt. Gen. Omar N. Bradley David Bauer Lt. Gen. Harry Buford James Edwards William George Meeks
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1970
Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner.
Labels: biography2, historical3, karl-malden, me-favorite3, war2
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
The Spencer Tracy Legacy
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: Both my mother and I found Kathryn Hepburn's participation in this project especially revealing, and the letter she wrote to "Spence" after his death especially touching.
Please note, in order to access the article linked to the title of this post you will have to click into TCM's title link. It seems impossible to directly link to articles on TCM's website.
The top image, by the way, is a copy of the cover of the collection. The second image is of the cover of the individual dvd.
As of 8/17/21, there is no Wikipedia write-up for this documentary.
Release Date: 1986
This video is a part of the Tracy & Hepburn The Signature Collection.
Labels: biography2, documentary1, popcorn-and-soda5, spencer-tracy, tracy-hepburn
Monday, February 07, 2005
Ray
- Who's watched: Neither of us has seen this one
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This is one of only two dvds I've intentionally bought without viewing the presentation.
The other was The Mosquito Coast and, being a Peter Weir movie, I was destined to own it whether I liked it or not. It is my least favorite, so far, of all the Peter Weir films I've seen. I consider Master and Commander more worth another watch than The Mosquito Coast.
Anyway, I bought this one strictly from seeing Jamie Foxx on Inside the Actors Studio a couple of Sunday's ago. Mom and I both watched that episode and when I told her last week I'd bought the movie, she was pleased. But, we haven't yet seen it. I can't wait.
We finally watched the movie. Jamie Foxx's performence is dazzling, the music is good, the story is fairly interesting. We've only seen it once. I've kept it because of the "Hit the Road Jack" sequence and some of the other music, but, well, I don't know when we'll watch it again.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Jamie Foxx Ray Charles C. J. Sanders Young Ray Kerry Washington Della Bea Robinson Clifton Powell Jeff Brown
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2004
Directed by Taylor Hackford.
Labels: biography2, dramaC, musical2, popcorn-and-soda6, taylor-hackford
