Thursday, June 09, 2022
China Beach Complete Series
- Commentary: I worried, when I first bought this series (for, I must say, much, much, much less than it retails for now) that my memory of it might be disappointed. Didn't happen. It's my kind of war video, more character driven than action driven, surprising, moody, realistic (for the most part; sometimes, especially in the first season, it panders a little too much to the audience). I'm not at all sorry it's now a part of my permanent collection of video material. I read, somewhere, a long time ago, that it was the first war series/movie that was done from the women's point of view. Maybe that's why I like it, but I don't think of it that way.
My copy of this series is not the boxed set spoken of in the link connected to the title. When I bought the series, the seasons were still being distributed as separate entities. Thus, my "set" includes only 18 of the 21 discs this review touts. It includes all the series episodes, just not quite as much special feature material, which is fine with me. When my mother was alive, it was a bit irksome that there were no subtitles. However, I have no problem with that. Perhaps I will when I get older??? Perhaps, as well, I will want to replace my discs with the set. We'll see.
Update 6/2/2022: This post was originally published on 8/14/16 but disappeared from public view. I am now reinstating it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Dana Delany 1st Lt./Cpt. Colleen McMurphy Nan Woods Cherry White Michael Boatman SP4 Samuel Beckett Marg Helgenberger Karen Charlene "K.C." Koloski Robert Picardo Cpt. Dick Richard Tim Ryan Cpt. Bartholomew Austen Concetta Tomei Mjr. Lila Garreau Brian Wimmer Cpl. Boonwell Lanier Jeff Kober Stf. Sgt. Evan Winslow Chloe Webb Laurette Barber Megan Gallagher Airman Wayloo Marie Holmes Troy Evans Mst. Sgt. Bob Pepper
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the series.
Release Date: 1988-1991
Directed by several people, a few more women than usual, and some women who were regulars.
Labels: drama5, female-director1, historical2, jesse-borrego, military, period2, political2, TV1, violence2, war1
Saturday, June 04, 2022
1900
- Commentary: This is one of those "sprawling historical epics" that tends to put me in a dream state. I am a fan of the director, even though his movies are sometimes difficult on the public. I am a fan of the musical scorer and always delight when I notice his name in the credits before watching a movie, including his collaboration on what general movie mavens consider the questionable compilations The Bible Collection and The Bible Series, both to which I remain devoted and continue to watch on a regular basis. I love all the actors in this movie, including the minor ones.
I can't remember how I learned about this movie, but I checked it out of our library a few years ago, thinking I might enjoy it, despite its length and convolusive structure. I did. Once I watched it, I couldn't get it out of my head. It is a depiction of the struggle between capitalism and communism/socialism (in several guises), but on a very personal level. At the time I first watched it, I was deeply involved in the vagaries of the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election and Bernie had not yet been discarded by the Democratic Party in favor of Hillary. By the time I ordered it for my movie collection I was no longer smarting from debacle of the actual election. I was, however, deep into a reading campaign of literature disparaging capitalism/neo-liberalism and arguing for socialism. Watching this movie again, owning it, helps me put politics into perspective and calms me down, especially in light of everything that's happened since. If you're really into politics and you enjoy movies, you should watch this one.
Update 6/2/2022: This post was originally published on 2/5/2018 but disappeared from public view. I am now reinstating it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Robert De Niro Alfredo Berlinghieri Gérard Depardieu Olmo Dalcò Dominique Sanda Ada Chiostri Polan Francesca Bertini Sister Desolata Laura Betti Regina Donald Sutherland Attila Mellanchini Stefania Sandrelli Anita Foschi Werner Bruhns Ottavio Berlinghieri Stefania Casini Neve Sterling Hayden Leo Dalcò Anna Henkel-Grönemeyer Anita Dalcò Ellen Schwiers Amelia Alida Valli Signora Pioppi Burt Lancaster Alfredo the Elder Romolo Valli Giovanni Berlinghieri Giacomo Rizzo Rigoletto
Here's the link to the Wikipedia write-up for this movie.
Release Date: 1976
Directed by Bernardo Bertolucci.
Labels: §2, anti-fascist, burt-lancaster, donald-sutherland, dream1, gérard-depardieu, historical2, political2, robert-de-niro
Miss Hokusai
- Commentary: There are so many reasons why I could have missed this film, not the least of which is that I was unfamiliar with the manga series. Suffice it to say, I am ever grateful to the movie gods that I didn't. This evocative film is right up my alley. The animation, as well, is stunning. It roils underneath while observing a startling surface propriety. Just a gem.
Here's a second review that I found interesting, as well.
Update 6/2/2022: This post was originally published on 2/5/2018 but disappeared from public view. I am now reinstating it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role O-Ei Erica Lindbeck Katsushika Hokusai Richard Epcar Ikeda Zenjiro Ezra Weisz Utagawa Kuninao Robbie Daymond Koto Barbara Goodson O-Nao Courtney Chu Iwakubo Hatsugoro Marc Diraison Kichiya Kevin T. Collins
The Wikipedia write-up for this film (and manga series) is here.
Release Date: 2015
Directed by Keiichi Hara.
Labels: animated, drama5, father-daughter-dynamics, film-art1, haunting1, historical2, period2, spiritual1, women's-movie1
The Way Back
- Commentary: I own this, in large part, because it is a Peter Weir film and I strive to own most of his films. It is a crazily involving film, for me. Trek films are one of my weaknesses. This one suits me and, besides, contains many of the hallmarks that make Peter Weir films great in my eyes: startling landscapes, curious and difficult relationships, complicated conflicts, minutely specific characterizations, a sense of time standing still.
I notice, in the Wikipedia write-up, some critics considered this film not up to his usual quality, not one of his best, as Roger Ebert points out in his review, linked to the title of this post. I quibble with him and others who have "Peter-Weir-expectation" problems with it. This is a Peter Weir film. That's why I own it. Peter Weir, through his films, owns me, this film, included. It is, as well, a "spectacle" film, if for no other reason than the landscape, which is so involving that, well, it demands to be in a Peter Weir film.
In addition to the Actor/Role table, below, Mark Strong plays escapee Andrei Timofeyevich Khabarov.
Update 6/2/2022: This post was originally published on 2/5/2018 but disappeared from public view. I am now reinstating it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Jim Sturgess Janusz Wieszczek Ed Harris Mr. Smith Saoirse Ronan Irena Zielińska Colin Farrell Valka Dragoș Bucur Zoran Alexandru Potocean Tomasz Horodinsky Gustaf Skarsgård Andrejs Voss Sebastian Urzendowsky Kazik
Release Date: 2010
Directed by Peter Weir.
Labels: §, adventure1, drama4, haunting1, historical2, period2, peter-weir, political2, popcorn-and-soda2, saoirse-ronan, spectacle1
Tuesday, May 24, 2022
Aguirre, The Wrath of God
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1* *2*
- Commentary: My mother's interest in this movie was a big surprise for me. I didn't expect her to enjoy it because it is subtitled, it portrays a brutal episode in history and Werner Herzog spared no one and nothing in making this movie, but she was mesmerized by it. Unfortunately, the only copy we were able to obtain was one that had been "formatted for your screen"...big problem with this movie, since it depends on panoramic scenes, especially in the beginning, but I don't think my mother noticed or cared. I will probably keep tabs on versions of this movie and replace my copy with a widescreen version at some time in the future.
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 Klaus Kinski Lope de Aguirre Helena Rojo Inés de Atienza Ruy Guerra Don Pedro de Ursúa Del Negro Brother Gaspar de Carvajal Peter Berling Don Fernando de Guzmán Cecilia Rivera Flores de Aguirre Daniel Ades Perucho Alejandro Repullés Gonzalo Pizarro
One of Roger Ebert's Great Movies.
Here's the Wikipedia write-up for this film.
Release Date: 1972
Directed by Werner Herzog.
Labels: adventure3, drama7, haunting2, historical2, period3, political3, spectacle2, violence3, werner-herzog
Monday, May 09, 2022
Gladiator
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1* *2* *3*
- Commentary: As covered in one of the above Mentions, this movie was suggested by MFS. I was surprised at how much Mom loved it. I enjoy it, too. It's yet another spectacle movie for me (I should create a "spectacle" category, shouldn't I...I think I will, then add to it later) and I love a variety of the acting performances in this movie, particularly (but not solely) Richard Harris as Marcus Aurelius. Before he ever says anything in the movie his acting makes many aspects of Marcus Aurelius' character clear. We watched this movie on TV several times, in "to-fit-your-screen" format, before I finally purchased it. Much better in widescreen. On a whim, I watched the movie last night. I continue to find it supremely entertaining; and, as well, now that Mom's dead, surprisingly emotional, specifically at the end when Juba says, as he buries Maximus' personal idols, "I will see you again, but not yet." If you have any interest in this movie, I urge you to click into the link to the title of the movie, above, which will send you to a thorough and compelling critique of the historicity of the movie. Believe me, despite the astonishing number of historical inaccuracies in the movie, the critique renders watching the movie even more enjoyable.
Update 2/7/18: So much has been written about this film since it aired. Quite a bit has been dumped, as well, including the link I had originally attached to the title above. I've attached another which may be helpful but, just in case, here's the Wikipedia link for Gladiator which may be a good starting place if you're interested in historicity research.
Update 8/2/21: The link I attached in 2018 still holds strong, is still remarkably interesting, and even has a comment attached. Take advantage of it before it disappears into the oligarchic ether.
Update 5/23/22: Another post I managed to disappear. It's original publication date is 4/9/09.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Russell Crowe Maximus Decimus Meridius Joaquin Phoenix Commodus Connie Nielsen Lucilla Oliver Reed Antonio Proximo Derek Jacobi Senator Gracchus Djimon Hounsou Juba Richard Harris Marcus Aurelius Ralf Möller Hagen Tommy Flanagan Cicero David Schofield Senator Falco John Shrapnel Senator Gaius Tomas Arana General Quintus Spencer Treat Clark Lucius Verus David Hemmings Cassius Sven-Ole Thorsen Tigris of Gaul Giannina Facio Maximus's wife Omid Djalili Slave Trader Giorgio Cantarini Maximus's son Adam Levy Condemned Officer David J. Nicholls Giant Man
Release Date: 2000
Directed by Ridley Scott.
Labels: action3, adventure3, derek-jacobi, drama7, historical2, joaquin-phoenix, oliver-reed, period3, political3, revenge1, richard-harris, ridley-scott, russell-crowe, shared-favorite, spectacle1, suspense2, violence3, war1
Thursday, November 18, 2021
Schindler's List
- Commentary: This movie came to me (as several in this new list did) when I was scanning the Hastings going-out-of-business shelves for movies I don't own but would like to. What can I say. It's masterful. I've watched it twice since I bought it. Every performance is spot on and, despite its length, there is no fat in this movie.
Although this movie was released long before my mother died, since it was not in my collection until after she died and I can't recall that we ever ran across it on television, she never saw it. My guess is that she probably would not have enjoyed it and would have snoozed through it. My mother was in the U.S. Navy in WWII. She was a gunnery instructor. She taught soldiers how to shoot. That's how she met my father. He was one of her students. In addition, she outranked him. Her view of WWII does not include detailed musings of what happened to Jewish people and many others during the war. She was certainly aware of this, and, obviously, was on the side of defeating Hitler's forces. But she was single-minded in preparing "our boys" for the front, not in what was going on in the nether regions of the war.
In sum, we, those of us who were likely not even a gleam in our parents' eyes, during WWII, see this war differently than the participants. Our perspective is valuable. This movie proves that. But, fighting a war is very different than contemplating the war after the fact. This is probably the most valuable lesson this movie has to offer.
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.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Liam Neeson Oskar Schindler Ben Kingsley Itzhak Stern Ralph Fiennes Amon Göth Caroline Goodall Emilie Schindler Jonathan Sagall Poldek Pfefferberg Embeth Davidtz Helen Hirsch Andrzej Seweryn Julian Scherner Piotr Polk Leo Rosner
One of Roger Ebert's Great Movies.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1993
Directed by Steven Spielberg.
Labels: anti-fascist, ben-kingsley, docu-drama, historical2, period2, steven-spielberg, war1
Wednesday, November 17, 2021
A Bridge Too Far
- 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
Monday, January 28, 2019
American Gangster
- 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
Spartacus
- 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
Full Metal Jacket
- 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
Saturday, May 26, 2018
Platoon
- 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
Talk Radio
- Commentary: I'll bet you've never heard of this movie. I saw it in 1988 when it was released theatrically and I've never forgotten it. It was an absolute must-have when I decided to beef up the Oliver Stone section of my movie collection. All the movies in this posting, in fact, were procured at the same time, for the same reason. This movie is strange and, yes, "haunting". It was the first movie I watched of the three when I received them, just to see if my memory of its impact on me was correct. It was.
Although you might think the movie would be dated 30 years later, it's not. American talk radio has not calmed since 1988. If anything, it's gotten more virulent, and now includes Canadian talk radio.
Although I'm labeling this movie a "period" movie, it wasn't meant to be that. It hit the theaters only four years after the assasination of Alan Berg, the talk radio host about which this story was written, so, obviously, no period inflection had to be invented during the production of this movie. It seems "period" now, though.
One more thing: I don't usually notice the juxtaposition of a musical score with a movie, especially if it's done well. In this movie it's done so well that it actually adds editorial comment, especially at the end. If you decide to watch this movie, watch, and listen, through the end credits.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Eric Bogosian Barry Alec Baldwin Dan Ellen Greene Ellen Leslie Hope Laura John C. McGinley Stu John Pankow Dietz Michael Wincott Kent Zach Grenier Sid Greenberg Anna Levine Basketball Game Woman Robert Trebor Jeffrey Fisher Linda Atkinson Sheila Fleming Allan Corduner Vince
Interested in the Wikipedia write-up? Here it is.
Release Date: 1988
Directed by Oliver Stone.
Labels: biography1, drama4, haunting1, historical2, oliver-stone, period2, political1
Evita
- Commentary: This is one of the musicals I watched when I was in deep consideration of La La Land [see my write-up for An American in Paris for a meticulous discussion about my ad hoc study of musicals in order to try to understand, well, something about my niece's, and, frankly, the world's overwhelming veneration of La La Land, which I have not bought and will not be buying, BTW]. Although I was surprised at how thoroughly Evita involved me, I was even more surprised at how many times, over the next few weeks prior to my purchasing it, I was recalling scenes from the movie. Many things about this movie engaged me: The caliber of the actors' performances; the interesting adaptation of this particular musical to film, which almost seemed more appropriate than a theater performance (although, I must confess, I have not seen a theater performance of this movie); the staging; the pathos; the cinematography. I could go on. Suffice it to say, finally, a few weeks ago, after checking it out of the library yet again, strictly for my own pleasure, I decided, yes, I'm adding this movie to my collection. Bravo, everyone involved in this production! Striking and, as one film critic, Zach Conner, put it, "... pretty damn fine ..."!
You will notice that I've labeled this, in addition to other designations, an "oliver-stone" movie. According to the Wikipedia write-up of this movie, Stone's involvement is convoluted, at best, but IMDB lists it as one of his writing credits.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Madonna Eva Perón Antonio Banderas Ché Jonathan Pryce Juan Perón Jimmy Nail Agustín Magaldi Victoria Sus Doña Juana Ibarguren Julian Littman Juancito Duarte Olga Merediz Bianca Duarte Laura Pallas Elisa Duarte Peter Polycarpou Domingo Mercante Andrea Corr Juan's Mistress Alan Parker Tormented Film Director Peter Hughes General Francisco Franco
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1996
Directed by Alan Parker.
Labels: drama4, historical2, jonathan-pryce, musical1, oliver-stone, period2, political2, spectacle1
Tuesday, March 06, 2018
Giant
- Commentary: It's not that I have a thing for James Dean. It's only been within the last year that I've owned any of his three movies, and then, not intentionally but as part of collections I've purchased. After watching East of Eden and Rebel Without a Cause, (the former twice), I read a bit about James Dean, his truncated life and career, and decided to check this movie out of the library, having only a vague memory of having once watched it, likely when Mom was alive. Once I'd returned it, the three, together, began to haunt me and I decided to purchase this one. Do I think James Dean had the makings of a great actor? I'm not sure. His characterizations differed so little among the three roles that I think he was still in the stage of playing the same character over and over, which may have been a result of type-casting. After watching Giant it occurred to me that he might have evolved into the Julia Roberts of male actors; someone who was believable as himself and savvy at picking roles that required little in the way of character variance but were blockbusters (in part because of his name), nonetheless. Truthfully, his generation and the ones immediately previous and subsequent produced many of these actors, Rock Hudson (one of his costars in this movie) and John Wayne among them. It's probably unfair of me to peg these generations, in particular, for producing this type of actor because I think every generation has its Julia Roberts and James Dean actors. I have to add, Amazon Prime has some television episodes of performances by James Dean that I intend to check out, so, be forewarned, my opinion of his acting abilities and his prospects, had he lived, is likely evolving.
Giant, however, has other delectables. It is a "sprawling family saga" of the type my mother would have loved and probably did, as I can't imagine that she and I didn't watch this movie at some time on TCM. I just have no memory of it. It also has many of those classic character actor performances that often outshine the performances of the leads. Three that come to mind are Carroll Baker's Luz Benedict, Mercedes McCambridge's Luz Benedict, Sr. (so to speak) and Jane Wither's Vashti Hake Snythe (what a name!). As well, Dennis Hopper as Jordan Benedict III contributes one of the more promising performances of his decidedly spotty career. Watching him in this movie reminded me of noticing Jack Nicholson in On A Clear Day You Can See Forever, kind of an anti-climactic shock, reminding one that, yes, these actors had to earn their chops just like everyone else. The landscaping, as well, is fabulous and the story is certainly engaging.
So, now, I own the James Dean movie trilogy. I feel as though that's an accomplishment. And, yes, I'll watch all three again. And again.
Update 3/10/18: Okay, I watched the two television plays Amazon features in which James Dean appears: Harvest and A Long Time Before Dawn. The first piece offers Dean a role requiring fairly subdued acting and he performs admirably. The second casts Dean as a "hoodlum" who has just finished a stint in prison, killed a beloved shop owner while attempting to return to his wife and, once he returns home to his father, who is harboring his wife, dreams, allows his volatility to get the best of him in the wake of his murder of the shop owner, and is killed. As I watched it I wondered if this role was one that typecast him for the three feature length films he was in. I could see the buds of all three of those roles in his portrayal of the ex-convict in A Long Time Before Dawn. I noticed that between 1951 and his death, Dean played loads of television, not an insignificant number of small roles in other feature films, all uncredited, and was busy on stage, as well, both on and off Broadway. He was definitely career minded and was very busily paying his dues. I am satisfied with the three films and two television plays I've seen. I don't think I'll be seeking out any more of his work, though. I'm not really a fan, own two out of the three features films I have of his by accident and, well, although it might be interesting to see how much of a range he displayed before dying, to be blunt, I'm not interested. I should note, though, as I watched the two television plays, I was reminded of the curious career of the character Smith Jerrod in Sex and the City and wondered if James Dean stumbled upon a Samantha Jones who helped boost and burnish his career.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Elizabeth Taylor Leslie Lynnton Benedict Rock Hudson Jordan Benedict Jr. James Dean Jett Rink Jane Withers Vashti Hake Snythe Robert Nichols Mort Snythe Chill Wills Jordan's Uncle Mercedes McCambridge Luz Benedict Carroll Baker Luz Benedict II Dennis Hopper Jordan Benedict III Fran Bennett Judy Benedict Dace Earl Holliman Bob Dace Elsa Cárdenas Juana Villalobos Benedict Paul Fix Dr. Horace Lynnton Judith Evelyn Mrs. Nancy Lynnton Rod Taylor Sir David Karfrey Sal Mineo Ángel Obregón II
Release Date: 1956
Directed by George Stevens.
Labels: adventure1, carroll-baker, drama4, historical2, rock-hudson
Monday, February 05, 2018
Will Penny
- Commentary: This movie is a very recent purchase. I've been unaware of it for decades because I don't typically watch or like westerns. I own very few. About a month ago, though, I was idly looking up some information on Charlton Heston, wondering if he ever acted in anything in which he didn't indulge in "spectacle acting", you know, like The Ten Commandments or Ben Hur (admittedly, less so the latter movie), movies I own primarily because of my mother's love for them, although I have to admit, they have fostered in me an appreciation for spectacle acting. Anyway, this movie came up. I checked it out, watched it and decided I had to own it as an example of why Charlton Heston had a reputation for being a good actor. It made me realize that the art of spectacle acting has probably been lost, that's probably a shame, but, in the meantime, Charlton Heston made a western that I really like, this one! Joan Hackett is in it, too, and I love her work.
And, an added bonus: Donald Pleasence, whose work I always love, in anything.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Charlton Heston Will Penny Joan Hackett Catherine Allen John Gries Horace Greeley Allen Donald Pleasence Preacher Quint Lee Majors Blue Bruce Dern Rafe Quint Ben Johnson Alex Slim Pickens Ike Walterstein Clifton James Catron Anthony Zerbe Dutchy Roy Jensen Boetius Sullivan G. D. Spradlin Anse Howard
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1968
Directed by Tom Gries.
Labels: charlton-heston, drama4, historical2, joan-hackett, period2, revisionist-western, romance1
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Capitalism: A Love Story
- Who's watched: Watched and bought this movie AMD
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: Well, of course I own this movie! I watched it in the theater when it was first released, then bought a copy. I regularly force watchings upon relatives and friends. Much has been written and said about this movie which doesn't need repeating. I can tell you, though, that one moment I found the scariest was observing the slight smile on President George W. Bush's face when he announced the economic "global meltdown"; as though the plutocrats had not only orchestrated it but were rubbing their hands together with glee when it happened, knowing it would lead to a government bailout of the plutocracy and a startling, one time transfer of even more wealth into their rarefied percent of the population. As it happens, the financial reform that is now being wrangled over in the Legislature will likely not prevent another economic meltdown (although it's debatable whether any more bailouts will be okayed, at least in the near future). I want to mention that I found some of the special features on the DVD as, if not more, interesting than the movie. Two in particular, Commie Taxi Drivers and The Socialist Bank of — North Dakota? are especially hopeful. The movie can be relatively discouraging, so I have to be careful about repeat watchings. However, I have to say, Michael Moore's last line, "I refuse to live in a country like this — and I'm not leaving," more than makes up for the discouragement this movie and the some of special features dish out.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2009
Directed by Michael Moore.
Labels: documentary1, economic, historical2, michael-moore, political2, tragedy1
Friday, April 10, 2009
John Adams
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: Yet another one of those teaching videos, for Mom. The Mention says it all. Yes, we made it through the entire series before she died. Yes, she was shocked and intrigued at the vaccination and breast cancer episodes; worthy of pauses and further discussion between us. During the breast cancer surgery (which wasn't completely displayed), she speculated, aloud, how lucky MCS (who is a breast cancer survivor) was that "we" weren't living during "those days". The surprising aspect of this was that my mother remembered that MCS had breast cancer several years ago.
Update 8/2/21: Well, Whad'ya know! The Washington Post is still allowing access to it's movie reviews, at least. Old ones, anyway. Thanks, WP! Just for that, I'll bold your reference and link to you!
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Paul Giamatti John Adams Laura Linney Abigail Adams Stephen Dillane Thomas Jefferson David Morse George Washington Tom Wilkinson Benjamin Franklin Rufus Sewell Alexander Hamilton Justin Theroux John Hancock Danny Huston Samuel Adams Clancy O'Connor Edward Rutledge Željko Ivanek John Dickinson Ebon Moss-Bachrach John Quincy Adams Sarah Polley Abigail Adams Smith Andrew Scott William S. Smith Mamie Gummer Sally Smith Adams Samuel Barnett Thomas Adams Tom Hollander King George III
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2008
Directed by Tom Hooper.
Labels: david-morse, drama7, historical2, laura-linney, paul-giamatti, period3, political3, presidential, tom-wilkinson, TV1, war1, željko-ivanek
Mrs. Brown
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: I was surprised at Mom's initial reaction to this movie. She is usually chomping at the bit to watch any movie about "the royals", specifically the British royals. I think, though, this movie may have been a bit too restrained, not quite matching her expectations of a "royals" movie. And, it is a quiet movie, unlike most "royals" movies we have in our collection.
Despite the unresounding reception Mom gave this film when we first watched it, after some extensive wrangling I finally obtained a copy of it, solely because I wanted to watch it again, and again, and probably again. After a second watching of it, Mom warmed to it. It's a subtle movie, restrained acting in display of a restrained household...which is part of its magic. Judi Densch and Billy Connolly are wonderful in it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Judi Dench Queen Victoria Billy Connolly John Brown Geoffrey Palmer Henry Ponsonby Antony Sher Benjamin Disraeli Gerard Butler Archie Brown David Westhead Prince of Wales Bertie Richard Pasco Dr. Jenner Georgie Glen Lady Churchill
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1997
Directed by John Madden.
Labels: biography1, drama7, historical2, judi-dench, me-favorite2, period3, political3, royals
Mongol
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: One of the advantages, for Mom & me, of subscribing to a DVD rental service was (and remains) the availability of foreign films. Slowly, because of my interest in films from everywhere, if they're good, she learned to handle foreign language films with subtitles. Our favorites, though, were the sweeping epics that communicate mostly without language. This movie became one of our favorites in 2008. You'd think, because it is mostly about conflict, sometimes bloody, short on specific cultural information, etc., we would have found it boring. Quite the opposite. Mom loved the scene-after-scene sprawl of the steppes and the detailed portrayal of every day life. I loved the mythical ambience of the film.
Update 8/2/21: Oh! I noticed I forgot to mention, this film is about the ultimate Mongol, Ghengis Khan, before he was the Great Khan.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Tadanobu Asano Temüjin/Genghis Khan Sun Honglei Jamukha Chuluuny Khulan Börte Amadu Mamadakov Targutai Ba SenTD> Yesügei Sai Xing Ga Chiledu Bu Ren Taichar Aliya Oelun He Qi Dai-Sechen Deng Ba Te Er Daritai Zhang Jiong Garrison Chief Ben Hon Sun Monk
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2007
Directed by Sergei Bodrov.
Labels: action1, adventure3, biography3, drama7, historical2, period3, political3, spectacle1, violence2, war1
