Tuesday, April 18, 2023
The Cell
- Commentary: I can't remember when I first saw this movie, although I know it wasn't in a theater. I've seen it a few more than a couple times since then, the last a couple of years ago on a streaming service. As is typical of Tarsem Singh movies (whether they succeed or not), it is voluptuous, both visually and dramatically, is attached to an interesting story with many threads, all of which intertwine into a well wrought carpet, and, to my mind, manages all of this masterfully, which, considering that it is Singh's first effort at a feature film, says a great deal.
I was reminded of this film today when I decided to obtain The Fall, another stunning film by Tarsem Singh. He hasn't produced much in the way of movies, but, when he scores, it's always out of the park, as is this one.
This film is interesting because critics were sharply divided in their opinions of it. When Roger Ebert reviewed this movie (review attached to the title of this post), he spoke directly to the critical controversy swirling around this film and spoke up, strongly, on its behalf, which I found both surprising and interesting.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Jennifer Lopez Dr. Catherine Deane Vincent D'Onofrio Carl Rudolph Stargher Jake Thomas Young Stargher Vince Vaughn SA Peter Novak Jake Weber SA Gordon Ramsey Dylan Baker Henry West Marianne Jean-Baptiste Dr. Miriam Kent Tara Subkoff Julia Hickson Musetta Vander Ella Baines Patrick Bauchau Lucien Baines Dean Norris Cole Peter Sarsgaard John Tracy
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2000
Directed by Tarsem Singh.
Labels: detective1, dylan-baker, jennifer-lopez, psychological2, suspense3, thriller4, vincent-d'onofrio
Tuesday, December 07, 2021
Worricker The Complete Series
- Commentary: This series is, essentially, about international politics gone rotten through attempting to manipulate terrorism to acquire personal and national political power and monetary reward. As well, the three segments are closely interrelated. For instance, one of the key characters dies in the middle of the first segment but isn't replaced in the highly important position he occurpied until the third segment. When he is replaced, his replacement is someone who is in cahouts with another important character who is attempting to keep an explosive secret. My memory of this trilogy is dim, but not so dim that I can't remember being electrified by it. That's why I added it to my collection. The machinations and motivations can be confusing and elusive, so it's best to watch closely, perhaps with the remote in hand. Finally, many of the roles are handled by a team of top-notch British actors, which is always a thrill. As you can imagine, many of the roles and their actors reappear throughout the series. I'll attempt not to repeat too many of them from segment to segment.
I may be moved to write more later, after I watch all three shows again. Really looking forward to watching the complete series, back to back! And, then, watching it again whenever I want!
Page Eight Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Bill Nighy Johnny Worricker Rachel Weisz Nancy Pierpan Michael Gambon Benedict Baron Judy Davis Jill Tankard Tom Hughes Ralph Wilson Saskia Reeves Anthea Catcheside Ewen Bremner Rollo Maverley Felicity Jones Julianne Worricker Ralph Fiennes Alec Beasley Alice Krige Emma Baron Holly Aird Anna Herve Richard Lintern Max Vallance
→ alice-krige
Turks & Caicos Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Helena Bonham Carter Margot Tyrrell Rupert Graves Stirling Rogers James McArdle Ted Finch Winona Ryder Melanie Fall Christopher Walken Curtis Pelissier Dylan Baker Gary Bethwaite Meredith Eaton Clare Clovis Zach Grenier Dido Parsons
Salting the Battlefield Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Valeria Vereau Elisabeth Olivia Williams Belinda Kay Leanne Best Amber Page Pip Carter Freddy Lagarde Daniel Ryan Bill Catcheside Kate Burdette Allegra Betts Shazad Latif Jez Nichols Malcolm Sinclair Reverend Bernard Towers
The Wikipedia links for each of the episodes are as follows: Page Eight, Turks & Caicos, Salting the Battlefield
Release Dates: 2011, 2014, 2014
Director (all three episodes): David Hare
Labels: alice-krige, christopher-walken, dramaE, dylan-baker, rachel-weisz, spy, TV3
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Across the Universe
- Who's watched: Watched and bought this movie AMD
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: Although this movie was released before Mom's death, I didn't watch it until after she died, when it became available for rental. On first watching I determined that I wasn't particularly interested in owning it, even though it was entertaining. I wasn't impressed by the story. I did, however, find myself keeping the movie for several days and re-viewing the music segments, some of which I found captivating, and playing it in the background because I found that the reproductions of the songs by various artists added flavor to the compositions. I still resisted owning it, though, until I stumbled across a severely marked down copy. I don't find it an adequate substitute for The Beatles, but it's an interesting and informative adjunct.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Evan Rachel Wood Lucy Jim Sturgess Jude Joe Anderson Max Dana Fuchs Sadie Lynn Cohen Grandmother Karrigan Dylan Baker Mr. Carrigan Carol Woods Gospel Singer Harry Lennix army sergeant James Urbaniak Manager Bill Bono Dr. Robert Eddie Izzard Mr. Kite Salma Hayek Bang Bang Shoot Shoot Nurses
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up for this film.
Release Date: 2007
Directed by Julie Taymor.
Labels: animated, audio-visual, drama6, dylan-baker, fantasy2, female-director1, film-art1, musical1, period3, romance1, spectacle1
Friday, April 10, 2009
Requiem for a Dream
- Who's watched: G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: I had wanted to watch this movie ever since it came out and somehow never got the chance. I never mentioned it to anyone, but I thought of it often. When we joined a rental service I put it in my queue but there were always so many other, much lighter movies that I placed before it because, somehow, I knew this wasn't a film Mom would want to watch. Then, during the spring of 2008 when Mom was in the hospital in rehab, out of the blue MFS sent me a copy of this movie...even though I'm sure I never mentioned my interest in it to her...it's become, since, a symbol of our psychic link.
This movie is frenetic, tragic and gorgeous, all at the same time. Ostensibly the story of what addiction (to a variety of "things", including dreams) can do to a person. It's wonderfully acted and so succinctly imagined, written, produced, directed and portrayed that, after one scene in which one of the characters sexually compromises herself for drugs, MFS told me she felt like she needed to take a shower. It's true: The movie throws the grime of desperation right through the screen at you. There's something in this movie to make anyone, everyone feel dirty. The desperation never lets up; it's like watching a family version of Titus Andronicus. Which, of course, thrills me. I don't know why I'm attracted to such spot-on portrayals of the dregs of life, but I am, and this one is a masterpiece. I've watched it three times since I've received it. I'll watch it again. I've even created the category of "tragedy" for it, because, oddly, despite my attraction to tragedy, except for some of the video adaptations of Shakespeare's plays, we have no other relentless tragedies. I think I held off while Mom was alive because I suspected that I wouldn't be able to watch them, much. I was right...but, (cackling deleriously and rubbing hands together) THE SCREEN IS MINE, NOW, ALL AND ONLY MINE ...
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Ellen Burstyn Sara Goldfarb Jared Leto Harry Goldfarb Jennifer Connelly Marion Silver Marlon Wayans Tyrone C. Love Christopher McDonald Tappy Tibbons Mark Margolis Mr. Rabinowitz Louise Lasser Ada Marcia Jean Kurtz Rae Sean Gullette Arnold The Shrink Keith David Big Tim Janet Sarno Mrs. Pearlman Dylan Baker Southern Doctor
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2000
Directed by Darren Aronofsky.
Labels: audio-visual, darren-aronofsky, drama7, dream1, dylan-baker, ellen-burstyn, film-art1, haunting2, jennifer-connelly, me-favorite2, tragedy2, violence2
Monday, November 14, 2005
The West Wing: The Entire Series
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1* *2*
- Commentary: It took me a long time to decide to buy this series. When we watched it first run on TV I was never sure that Mom liked it. Finally, when the price dropped drastically and even more so at Costco, I picked up these seasons. To my surprise Mom was as fascinated with it in arrears as I am. We will probably and eventually purchase all the seasons, even the much maligned fifth and certainly the last season. Mom especially enjoys watching the episodes with the good subtitles and has mentioned that she "understands it a lot better" now that we can "rewind" when she doesn't catch something. When we watch this I am reminded how Mom still enjoys following politics even though she can't remember who the current president is and doesn't anymore care who it is.
I asked her, after we watched the first season on DVD, why she liked the show.
"It's like bartering in shops in Mexico," she said.
12/24/06 Update: You'll notice the designation has changed to "The Entire Series", rather than just seasons 1 & 2. I received the series this year as a surprise gift from a long time friend. It was an extreme surprise because he and I have never been known to exchange gifts, we rarely see each other, we don't email each other, we talk on the phone infrequently, and yet we remain bonded. He is one of the few people I know who is aware of my ambivalent interest in politics and my "secret" desire to become President of the United States. Truth is, I only vaguely remember talking to him about the series once, soon after it started, when Mom and I still lived part of the year in Mesa and, him living in Scottsdale, we spoke more frequently and occasionally visited one another. I do remember I was pretty excited about it, at the time we talked about it. So was he. He was recording the episodes. I wasn't, though. Funny thing, when I noticed that the entire series was available of a piece, I thought about buying it but since I already had the first two seasons and Mom and I hadn't watched it in awhile, I figured, well, maybe I should try it out on her again and see if I should collect the other seasons separately. I couldn't see spending the amount of money involved in purchasing the entire series when it would be cheaper for me to fill in the seasons. So, this was like one of those magical gift moments that blew me away!
Needless to say, I'll be turning the first two seasons in for credit at my usual search-for-bargains video store.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Martin Sheen Josiah Bartlet John Spencer Leo McGarry Bradley Whitford Josh Lyman Richard Schiff Toby Ziegler Allison Janney C.J. Cregg Janel Moloney Donna Moss Stockard Channing Abbey Bartlet Moira Kelly Mandy Hampton Joshua Malina Will Bailey Mary McCormack Kate Harper Alan Alda Arnold Vinick Jimmy Smits Matt Santos Rob Lowe Sam Seaborn Dulé Hill Charlie Young Kristin Chenoweth Annabeth Schott Lily Tomlin Deborah Fiderer
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the series.
Release Date: 1999-2006
Directed by, as usual, very few women, scattered throughout all seasons, mostly men.
Labels: aaron-sorkin, dramaA, dylan-baker, edward-james-olmos, female-director2, political4, presidential, TV2, william-devane, željko-ivanek
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Northern Exposure 4th Season
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: none, yet
- Commentary: We've only watched this season informally in TV reruns. It's just one of our "must haves". I know we will watch it, probably in a marathon.
For a list of recurring actors/characters, see this post.
Here is the Wikipedia write-up for the fourth season.
Release Date: 1992-1993
Directed by various people, one woman.
Labels: bibi-besch, dramedy2, dylan-baker, female-director2, shared-favorite, TV2
