Tuesday, May 24, 2022
American Girl Movie Collection
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1* *2*
- Commentary: The "Mention" is only for one movie, but we watched all four with just about equal pleasure.
Although I'm sure there are excellent reasons to critique the movies, we just sat back and enjoyed them.
I understand yet another American Girl movie has been released, Chrissa. If Mom was still alive I don't think I'd be collecting this one because there is no obvious historical context and it looks like a highly moral 'tween version of Mean Girls. Much of the draw, for Mom and me, of this series, was the historical context.
Kit Kittredge [Directed by Patricia Rozema. Release Date: 2008]; Mom's favorite. It's the one that takes place during the Great Depression of the 1930s. This is the movie that elicited the most enthusiastic response from her, possibly because she was a child during that period. This movie so far, has been the only one to be reviewed by a major film critic, Roger Ebert. I've attached his review as the link for this movie.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Abigail Breslin Margaret Mildred 'Kit' Kittredge Chris O'Donnell Jack Kittredge Julia Ormond Margaret Kittredge Joan Cusack Lucinda Bond Stanley Tucci Jefferson Jasper Rene Berk Jane Krakowski May Dooley Madison Davenport Ruthie Smithens Austin MacDonald Roger Willow Smith Constance Wallace Shawn Mr. Gibson Glenne Headly Mrs. Howard Colin Mochrie Mr. Pennington
Felicity [Directed by Nadia Tass. Release Date: 2005]; My favorite. It's the one that takes place just prior to the American Revolution.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Shailene Woodley Felicity Merriman Marcia Gay Harden Martha Merriman Katie Henney Elizabeth Cole John Schneider Edward Merriman
Samantha [Directed by Nadia Tass. Release Date: 2004]; This one is the Christmas movie in this collection.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role AnnaSophia Robb Samantha Parkington Kelsey Lewis Nellie O'Malley Mia Farrow Mary Edwards Jordan Bridges Gardner Edwards
Molly [Directed by Joyce Chopra. Release Date: 2006].
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Maya Ritter Molly McIntire David Aaron Baker Dr. James McIntire Molly Ringwald Helen McIntire Thomas Brodie-Sangster Boy in Spelling Bee
Although I'm sure there are excellent reasons to critique the movies, we just sat back and enjoyed them.
I understand yet another American Girl movie has been released, Chrissa. If Mom was still alive I don't think I'd be collecting this one because there is no obvious historical context and it looks like a highly moral 'tween version of Mean Girls. Much of the draw, for Mom and me, of this series, was the historical context.
Apparently, American Girl movies continue to be made. I just scrolled through Amazon and several are out there, including some that are free to watch if you're an Amazon Prime member (and, of course, some require a rental fee, as well). I haven't watched any of the movies we acquired when Mom was alive since she died. All other links are to Wikipedia pages, I'm afraid, but the main article has some interesting information about the series history and almost every movie in the series has an additional Wikipedia link of its own. In time, I might scan through Amazon Prime (to which I subscribe) and check out the free movies. Should be interesting.
Update 8/26/21: Out of curiosity, I decided to check to see if any more American Girl (same link as in the title of this post) movies have been produced. As of 2017, 10 more, aside from the initial four which we own, have been released. Four of them appear as a four-pack on Amazon. Two are stand alones. Four, so far as I can tell, have only been released on Prime Video.
Will I be watching them? I doubt it, but you never know. They're pretty sleek productions.
Update 5/24/22: Yet another post published on 4/09/09 that "disappeared" and I had to recapture.
Labels: Christmas, coming-of-age1, female-director1, historical3, kids, marsha-gay-harden, period3, popcorn-and-soda3
Sunday, May 06, 2007
The Queen
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: I bought this movie sight unseen, the day it was released, based strictly on Mom's (and, now, my) love of stories about English Royals and my admiration for Helen Mirren. One of my best purchases to date! Mom and I so loved the movie that we watched it twice the day it arrived, then again the next day. We (almost) endlessly discussed details of the movie, including: The appearance of the stag, that it was actually a 15 pointer and wondered if odd numbered points were excluded when rating a rack; the importance of Diana as an icon; the likelihood that the portrayal of Prince Charles was accurate; the difficulty of being a monarch in today's world, depending on where one lives; the history of the political significance of the English monarchy and whether it would outlive this century; Queen Elizabeth II's dogs; the ick factor of lamb stew, especially when it's cold; Mirren's astonishing range, considering her performance in Elizabeth I and this movie; and many other aspects of the movie.
Yet another movie we'll watch over and over and over.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Helen Mirren Queen Elizabeth II Michael Sheen Tony Blair James Cromwell Prince Philip Helen McCrory Cherie Blair Alex Jennings Prince Charles Roger Allam Robin Janvrin Sylvia Syms The Queen Mother Tim McMullan Stephen Lamport
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2006
Directed by Stephen Frears.
Labels: biography1, docu-drama, helen-mirren, historical3, period3, political3, royals, shared-favorite
Bobby
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This movie was given to us by a friend who is interested in politics, clearly remembers the 1960's (better than me, actually, since I went through a somewhat different 60's experience on Guam) and was sure she'd love the movie. She picked it up at Costco, where it was being sold with a free copy of a biography of RFK. She was completely disappointed in the movie, although not in the book, but said she wouldn't read it again and passed that off to us, too.
Mom only sat through half the movie. I watched all of it. I understand what Estevez did in the movie and think he accomplished his goal, but I also understand why the critics were so divided on this movie. If I'd rented the movie, I'd've made a mental note not to buy it, even though many of its moments have stuck with me. I felt cheated that a lot of it was fictionalized...it seemed to me there was little to no reason to do this. However, I also found the vignettes involving and many of the performances excellent (I especially liked the vignette with Helen Hunt and Martin Sheen). Interesting and effective splicing of actual newsreel footage, too, although, frankly, The Queen does this better and more effectively.
I don't think this is a movie that, on a second attempt at watching, Mom would discover she enjoyed. It isn't one I expect to watch again, at least not soon. I may add it to our ever expanding pile of movies for trade-in. I'll probably read the book, although I may not get around to it until after Mom dies.
Update 5/21/2022: By the way, this cast is so loaded with stars that some of them aren't even mentioned in either Wikipedia, or IMDb. Sidney Poitier for instance. This is the reason I used the particular capsule review that I attached to the title of this post: it mentions Sidney Poitier's involvement in the film, whereas no one else did.
At any rate, I never question why a movie was made. Someone involved in its creation always has a reason. I do, however, often question why a movie was released. This is one of those questionable movies. I can only "blame" the star power behind it. And, believe me, there is so much blame to be had that the movie deserved an overwhelming star list in order to smooth the blame a bit thinner. I can't imagine that it was hard to solicit so much star power, either. Actors are, if nothing else, eager to participate in something that promises high visibility. Unfortunately, it was a promise that didn't deliver.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Harry Belafonte Nelson Joy Bryant Patricia Nick Cannon Dwayne Clark Emilio Estevez Tim Fallon Laurence Fishburne Edward Robinson Dave Fraunces Robert F. Kennedy Jeridan Frye Ethel Kennedy Lindsay Lohan Diane Howser Anthony Hopkins John Casey William H. Macy Paul Ebbers Demi Moore Virginia Fallon Martin Sheen Jack Helen Hunt Samantha Stevens Sharon Stone Miriam Ebbers Elijah Wood William Avary Shia LaBeouf Cooper
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2006
Directed by Emilio Estevez.
Labels: anthony-hopkins, docu-drama, historical3, laurence-fishburne, period3, political3
Friday, March 09, 2007
Elizabeth
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: Yes, that's right, yet another "Elizabeth" movie, just as good and just as involving as the others. I almost feel as though I should have a category label of "elizabeth movies" or, perhaps, "english royals movies", as A Man for All Seasons definitely qualifies for the same category. Mom has already mentioned that she wants to see the movie The Queen, as well, and I suspect we will end up owning it. So far, the only English Royals movie she's seen and in which she lost interest halfway through was Mrs. Brown, which I immensely enjoyed. She was so distracted through it, though, that I haven't yet considered purchasing it; although it has occurred to me to rent it again, run it by her once more and see how she likes it. Could be that this one is not "period" enough for Mom. Could also be that the movie about Elizabeth II will be the same kind of experience for her. We'll see.
Update 2/7/18 & 8/2/21: We did, indeed, purchase The Queen, to which I've linked my write-up. We also purchased Mrs. Brown, to which I've also linked my write-up. I've left the first link to this movie, above, as it is, though, since it links to a mini-review of the movie. You'll notice, I haven't purchased the sequel, released 9 years later, Elizabeth: The Golden Age. I have no quibbles with this movie, its successor, but, by the time the dvd came out, I was pretty much Elizabethed out and Mom was dead. Don't get me wrong. I continue to watch the Elizabeth movies I have. I just don't want anymore. At least not now.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Cate Blanchett Elizabeth I Geoffrey Rush Francis Walsingham Joseph Fiennes Robert Dudley Richard Attenborough William Cecil Christopher Eccleston Thomas Howard Kathy Burke Queen Mary I Fanny Ardant Mary of Guise Vincent Cassel Francis, Duke of Anjou Emily Mortimer Kat Ashley Kelly Macdonald Isabel Knollys John Gielgud Pope Pius V Daniel Craig John Ballard
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1998
Directed by Shekhar Kapur.
Labels: biography1, cate-blanchett, drama7, elizabeth-I, emily-mortimer, historical3, john-gielgud, mom-favorite1, period3, royals
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: Yet another that is well covered in the one mention of it in the main journal. Can't think of much else to say except that Mom remains highly entertained by this movie...and, for all it's datedness and its pertinent faults which Roger Ebert points out meticulously in his excellent review (despite his perception of its faults, he still gave it four stars, although, thank the movie gods, he didn't assign it "Great Movie" status) so do I.
Update 5/19/2022: Should I be embarrassed to say the following, that I continue to watch this movie at least once a year? I do. It's another one of those movies that transports me to watching it with my mother, recalling her comments as she watches it, absorbing her enjoyment ... yes, another one of those. No, I'm not embarrassed, I've decided. Just grateful that I have such clear memories of Mom watching this movie.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Spencer Tracy Matt Drayton Katharine Hepburn Christina Drayton Sidney Poitier Dr. John Wade Prentice Katharine Houghton Joanna Drayton Cecil Kellaway Monsignor Ryan Beah Richards Mary Prentice Roy E. Glenn Sr. Mr. John Prentice Sr. Isabel Sanford Tilly Virginia Christine Hilary St. George Alexandra Hay carhop Barbara Randolph Dorothy D'Urville Martin Frankie Tom Heaton Peter Grace Gaynor Judith Jacqueline Fontaine Cocktail Lounge Singer Skip Martin Delivery Boy
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1967
Directed by Stanley Kramer.
Labels: drama8, historical3, katharine-hepburn, political3, popcorn-and-soda3, romance2, spencer-tracy, tracy-hepburn
Saturday, November 11, 2006
I, Claudius
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1* *2*
- Commentary: My mother and I discovered this separately, together, many years ago when it first came out. I think we weren't even in the same state, but were in close touch and both of us mentioned it. Unfortunately, this version has no CC, and, whereas Mom had trouble with British accents at the time, now they wreak havoc upon her ears. But she remembers the story, loves watching it unfold again and loves the spectacle.
Damned fine cast, by the way!
In addition to the review above, which is stunning, you might be interested to know some reviews of "ordinary" watchers of the series. Three people responded to the Quora question, "What is your review of the TV mini-series 'I, Claudius'?" The first response is particularly meticulous and includes a video snatch from the show.
Update 2/7/18: I have two sets of this production, now, the original without subtitles and the 35th Anniversary Edition with subtitles. I'm sad this wasn't produced before Mom's death. She missed the subtitling by 3 years. Oh well, I'm enjoying it now and discovering there are a few delightful phrases I missed in the original, regardless of how good my hearing was (and still is, actually), i.e. Augustus often using the phrase "...as boiled asparagus", when he's annoyed or troubled, which is hilarious in the various contexts to which he puts it. I never quite heard it right, until I could access it on the screen in the subtitles. That's when it became funny to me!
Update 5/16/2022: Even if you haven't seen this series, you likely know that the cast is huge and ever adds new principal actors in new principal roles. I'm not going to attempt to list everyone in the table below, just those standouts who I think likely, or know, go on to star in other productions I have in my collection and those who delivered standout performances in this series like, for instance, Young Herod Agrippa. Even at that, the table may be overwhelming. I apologize in advance.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Derek Jacobi Claudius Siân Phillips Livia George Baker Tiberius John Hurt Caligula Beth Morris Drusilla Robert Morgan Young Caligula Brian Blessed Augustus Margaret Tyzack Antonia Patricia Quinn Livilla Kevin McNally Castor John Paul Agrippa Frances White Julia Christopher Biggins Nero David Robb Germanicus John Castle Postumus Fiona Walker Agrippina James Faulkner Herod Agrippa Michael Clements Young Herod Sheila White Messalina Patrick Stewart Sejanus John Rhys-Davies Naevius Sutorius Macro Bernard Hepton Marcus Antonius Pallas John Cater Tiberius Claudius Narcissus Barbara Young Agrippinilla Jo Rowbottom Calpurnia Peter Bowles Caractacus John Bennett Gaius Stertinius Xenophon Patsy Byrne Martina Nicholas Amer Mnester Moira Redmond Domitia Lepida Charlotte Howard Scylla Tony Haygarth Claudius' Slave
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1976
Directed by Herbert Wise.
Labels: biography1, derek-jacobi, drama8, historical3, john-hurt, political3, shared-favorite, TV2
The Year of Living Dangerously
- Who's watched: G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This is one of what I consider to be Peter Weir's more mysterious movies. Every time he does a movie about obvious political conflict, I come away with a sense that the big picture is disastrously easy to miss in the detail of living politically.
I never think of this movie when Mom and I are deciding what to watch together. I expect she will never see it, simply because I don't think of it, even when we have a Peter Weir fest, which we do about once a year. I think she would find Linda Hunt's performance entertaining and noteworthy, but in a Samuel Johnson kind of way. Otherwise, I don't think she would find the story at all involving. Although I may be wrong. If I ever discover that I am, I will certainly update this report.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Mel Gibson Guy Hamilton Sigourney Weaver Jill Bryant Bill Kerr Colonel Henderson Michael Murphy Pete Curtis Linda Hunt Billy Kwan Noel Ferrier Wally O'Sullivan Bembol Roco Kumar Mike Emperio Sukarno
As often happens, the title for this post, above, is linked to an alternate source, other than Wikipedia. Here is the Wikipedia article on this movie, if you're interested.
Release Date: 1982
Directed by Peter Weir.
Labels: adventure3, drama8, historical3, journalism, me-favorite2, mel-gibson, peter-weir, political3, sigourney-weaver, war2
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
United 93
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: The "mention" is so complete that it may as well be a review of how Mom and I related to this movie. No need to add anything, I think.
Aside from his formal review, linked to the title of this post, Roger Ebert.com published more than once about various aspects of this movie and the actual incident: The missing facts in 'United 93'; "United 93:" What came before "Let's roll!"; NORAD, 9/11 and United 93; 'United 93': A study in empathy; Debunking 'United 93' debunkers; Whose story is 'Flight93'?. Additionally, the film is mentioned in at least half a page of reviews about other "disaster" movies, fiction and non-fiction. I find it fascinating that a film made about the United 93 disaster so captured the imagination of film watchers and film critics. I don't have much to say about this, but I thought recording it might be, hmmm, helpful? Interesting? Not sure what word to use, here.
The cast for this film was huge, and largely actors I don't recognize, so I'm only recording the first four on the Wikipedia list in the table below. If you're curious, the link to the article, below, will take you directly to the cast list. You can peruse the rest of the article from there.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Christian Clemenson Tom Burnett Cheyenne Jackson Mark Bingham David Alan Basche Todd Beamer Peter Hermann Jeremy Glick
Although the exclusive use of little known actors to play the roles in the film is nowhere discussed (at least not that I've found), my (uneducated) guess is that the anonymity of the actors is meant to enhance the possibility of audience members identifying with the passengers and crew on the flight.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2006
Directed by Paul Greengrass.
Labels: docu-drama, historical3, political3, popcorn-and-soda4, violence3
A Man for All Seasons
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This is one of those movies that, when we stumble across it on TV we always watch. It enthralls both of us. We never tire of it. There isn't a false note in the casting. As well, Shaw brings a special, light, provocative touch of madness to his portrayal of Henry VIII that is thrilling to glimpse. This will be a perennial favorite of ours.
Update 5/15/2022: I have to mention, this movie remains a perennial favorite of mine. I watched it last a few months ago. It's partly the actors, partly the setting and partly the politics, especially in the subtle ways Henry asserts his dominance on everyone, and in the ways subtly defies Henry's dominance.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Paul Scofield Sir Thomas More Wendy Hiller Alice More Leo McKern Thomas Cromwell Orson Welles Cardinal Wolsey Robert Shaw Henry VIII Susannah York Margaret More Nigel Davenport Duke of Norfolk John Hurt Richard Rich Corin Redgrave William Roper Colin Blakely Matthew Cyril Luckham Archb. Thomas Cranmer Vanessa Redgrave Anne Boleyn
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1966
Directed by Fred Zinnemann.
Labels: drama9, historical3, john-hurt, political3, religion1, royals, shared-favorite, wendy-hiller
Elizabeth I
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1* *2*
- Commentary: See, also, commentary on Elizabeth R. Although I confessed to preferring, by a minor edge, Glenda Jackson's epic, truth is, it depends on my mood. They are both lush, but in this HBO production the lushness is almost palpable. They are both dramatic but, in this production, there is more emphasis on Elizabeth's emotional life. The curiosity, to me, is that Mirren's and Jackson's portrayals are side-by-side excellent and, rather than competing with one another, it is as though one fleshes out the other. Neither my mother nor I ever tire of watching either.
Sidebar: My mother prefers the hairstyles in this one.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Helen Mirren Queen Elizabeth I Jeremy Irons Earl of Leicester Hugh Dancy Earl of Essex Toby Jones Robert Cecil Patrick Malahide Sir Francis Walsingham Ian McDiarmid Lord Burghley Barbara Flynn Mary, Queen of Scots Ewen Bremner King James VI Geoffrey Streatfeild Sir Anthony Babington Toby Salaman Dr Lopez Charlotte Asprey Frances Walsingham Eddie Redmayne Southampton
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2005
Directed by Tom Hooper.
Labels: biography1, drama9, elizabeth-I, helen-mirren, historical3, period4, political3, royals, TV2
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Elizabeth R
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1* *2*
- Commentary: Another one of our perennial BBC favorites. Believe it or not, our entire family first watched this on Guam during it's first run. I was reminded of it when my mother became entranced with HBO's recent offering Elizabeth I.
It's hard to say which she and I each prefer, although the BBC version has more compelling detail, and, of course, Glenda Jackson is the definitive Queen Elizabeth I, although Helen Mirren runs a very, very close second, and Jeremy Irons is my favorite, by a hair, for The Duke of Leichester.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Glenda Jackson Elizabeth I Robert Hardy Robert Dudley Ronald Hines William Cecil Stephen Murray Francis Walsingham John Shrapnel Thomas Radclyffe Bernard Horsfall Christopher Hatton Robin Ellis Robert Devereux Jason Kemp Edward VI
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1971
The directors of the six episodes are:- The Lion's Cub directed by Claude Whatham
- The Marriage Game directed by Herbert Wise
- Shadow in the Sun directed by Richard Martin
- Horrible Conspiracies directed by Roderick Graham
- The Enterprise of England directed by Donald McWhinnie
- Sweet England's Pride directed by Roderick Graham
Labels: biography1, drama9, elizabeth-I, historical3, period4, political4, royals, TV2
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
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
Shakespeare in Love
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This is one of my favorites. I think we originally watched it on television without Closed Captioning. Mom isn't as familiar with Shakespeare and 17th century English as I am but I think she'll like this story, once she can read the lines. I love it. To me it's an overview of much of the best of Shakespeare.
Turns out, I was right. She did enjoy it when she could read the lines, even though she's not a Shakespeare buff. The thing about this movie is that it's colorful, there's lots of action that underlines the plot, and the acting is often, on purpose, so close to the top that it's in danger of spilling over, but, that's so much the better for the kind of movie this is.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Joseph Fiennes William Shakespeare Gwyneth Paltrow Viola de Lesseps Geoffrey Rush Philip Henslowe Colin Firth Lord Wessex Ben Affleck Ned Alleyn Judi Dench Queen Elizabeth I Simon Callow Edmund Tilney Imelda Staunton Nurse Tom Wilkinson Hugh Fennyman Daniel Brocklebank Sam Gosse Rupert Everett Christopher Marlowe John Inman Lady Capulet actor
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1998
Directed by John Madden.
Labels: ben-affleck, colin-firth, dramedy2, fantasy3, historical3, imelda-staunton, judi-dench, me-favorite4, romance3, shakespeare, tom-wilkinson
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Deadwood - 1st Season & The Entire Series
- Who's watched: M & G, avidly
- Mentions: *1* *2* *3* *4*
- Commentary: I've talked quite a bit about this series and my mother's and my interest (separate, mostly) in it.
Aside from that, if you're eschewing this series because of the language, sexuality and violence, you're missing a great production on many levels, not the least of which is its take on American History and the American Character.
My mother goes back and forth in her feelings about this series. Sometimes it fascinates her. Sometimes it repulses her. At this point I feel we will continue to collect the seasons.
Update 2/7/18: We did not collect the other two seasons. She, in fact, made the decision that we didn't need to own the other two seasons of Deadwood. I was (and continue to be) satisfied with that decision.
Update 5/5/21: I did, finally, on my own, obtain the entire Deadwood series. A few months ago I decided to watch the first season again, and found myself hungering, yes, for the other two seasons. Unfortunately, our library system does not have any of the seasons, although, curiously, it does have the movie, which was made a full thirteen years after the series was cancelled.
I've watched all three seasons, now, and the movie. Although I'm not one to ever claim that any movie or series is "the best ... of all time", as more than a few critics did, I mean, how foolish, considering that time continues and humans have no quotidian, reliable or accepted way of peering into the future. That being said, I remain riveted to the series and astonished by the quality of acting, writing and production that characterizes this series right up to its cancellation.
If she wants it, I'll probably pass my original set of the first season onto MCN. If she doesn't, clearly, my local library system could use it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Timothy Olyphant Seth Bullock Ian McShane Al Swearengen Molly Parker Alma Garret Jim Beaver Whitney Ellsworth Brad Dourif Doc Cochran John Hawkes Sol Star Paula Malcomson Trixie Leon Rippy Tom Nuttall William Sanderson E. B. Farnum Robin Weigert Calamity Jane W. Earl Brown Dan Dority Dayton Callie Charlie Utter Keith Carradine Wild Bill Hickock Powers Boothe Cy Tolliver Kim Dickens Joanie Stubbs Anna Gunn Martha Bullock
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the series.
Release Date: 2004-2006
Directed by various people, none women.
Labels: brad-dourif, dramaB, historical3, john-hawkes, me-favorite3, TV2, violence3, western
Das Boot
- Who's watched: G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: I originally watched this movie some years ago when I was self-studying war. I've now watched the series (which Wolfgang Petersen put together by adding a lot of his raw footage to the original theatrical cut of the film) since my sister sent it to me, all together and going back over bits that have stuck in my mind, when I desperately need to be reminded of everyone's essential humanity and of the root of all conflict.
As the Wikipedia article, linked below, explains, there are several different versions of this film in circulation on home video. Mine is the director's cut.
I believe I saw the theatrical cut during my first viewing, since it was all of a piece (a somewhat long piece), before My Florida Sister sent me this one. This one seemed, the first time I watched it, slightly different than the one in my memory. Aside from its length and it's presentation as a series of episodes, I think the director's cut is more engaging and affecting, in part because it gives you a chance for breathing/thinking room between sections and, in part, because the individual characters in the film are clearer, which enhances the effect of the series.
This film/series continues to have an impact on all who see it. In 2011, 14 years after Ebert wrote his initial review, one of the companion reviewers at Roger Ebert's site was moved to publish this review.
Roger Ebert, by the way, reviewed the director's cut, released the year he wrote his review.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Jürgen Prochnow Kapitänleutnant Herbert Grönemeyer Leutnant Werner Klaus Wennemann Leitender Ingenieur Hubertus Bengsch 1st Watch Officer Oberleutnant
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1981/1997
Directed by Wolfgang Petersen
Labels: dramaB, haunting2, historical3, me-favorite3, political4, war2
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
