Tuesday, August 27, 2024
Once Upon a Time in America – Both Cuts
- Who's watched: M & G (G many times)
- Mentions: *1* *2*
- Commentary: Another movie for which I have an unreasonable love which my mother tolerates. All I can say is, the scene where Noodles stirs his coffee? Devastates me every time.
I don't think my mother gets the garbage truck scene, although she gets the rape scene and doesn't like it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Robert De Niro Noodles James Woods Max Elizabeth McGovern Deborah Joe Pesci Frankie Monaldi Burt Young Joe Tuesday Weld Carol Larry Rapp Fat Moe Danny Aiello Police Chief Aiello James Hayden Patsy William Forsythe Cockeye Darlanne Fluegel Eve Amy Ryder Peggy Jennifer Connelly Young Deborah Scott Tiler Young Noodles Rusty Jacobs Young Max/David Bailey Brian Bloom Young Patsy
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 229 minute cut-1983; 251 minute cut-2014
As far as I know, the original 269 minute version has yet to be released to the public, or, at least the the U.S. public. I'm not sure about any other public.
Directed by Sergio Leone.
Update 09/13/2019: I am now a proud owner of the extended director's cut of this movie. Owning director's cuts is not really my style, but this is one of my all-time favorite movies and the extension adds an additional 22 minutes. I've read that the inclusions are not particularly smooth, since the optics put them a bit out of joint with the rest of the picture. I have no problem with them. In fact, since I haven't recently watched the initial European theater version, which is the cut I first owned, I can't actually tell, yet, which are the added scenes. There are special features on this version, as well, which I haven't yet watched, but I'm looking forward to seeing them.
Update 8/27/2024: I've actually had this movie for quite awhile, at least 5 years, but the post became corrupted and I had to salvage what I could, repost and redate it and re-enter it into my Alpha List. It seems to be okay, now.
Labels: dramaC, dream2, gang-movie, james-woods, jennifer-connelly, joe-pesci, me-favorite4, period5, robert-de-niro, tuesday-weld, violence3
Thursday, June 09, 2022
Chaplin
- Commentary: The Roll Dance, a piece of music written for, and from, this movie, perfectly encapsulates what I love about this movie. For me, it doesn't just reflect the scene in which it's played. It reflects the entire ambience of this bio-pic: upbeat, with a hint of the unsettled, a hint of trauma, a hint of being provoked simultaneously to a need to be uplifting while also acknowledging the tragedy that dogs one's footsteps throughout life.
Robert Downey, Jr., in my opinion, was the perfect actor to play Chaplin. He has the same tendency as Julia Roberts, to be "Robert Downey, Jr. playing ... ", but, while this irritates me in Julia Roberts it delights me in Robert Downey, Jr. Robert Downey, Jr. is, for instance, Iron Man, as he says in the movie Iron Man. He is Kirk Lazarus in Tropic Thunder. And, he is Chaplin in this movie.
Granted, it is a bit disturbing to see Robert Downey, Jr. in the sequences where he is playing Chaplin as an old man; something about the make-up job. It's not bad and it's not good, but I guess aging make-up hadn't been perfected at the time of this production. Nonetheless, I believe him as old Chaplin.
Finally, it is impossible for me to watch this movie and not be transported by the scintilating perfection of its production. I've been wanting to own this movie forever. I've had it for about three months, now, and, call me crazy, but I've watched it at least three times since I received it. In fact, I think I'll watch it again, tonight!
A bynote: Roger Ebert (who's review is linked to the title of this post) did not like this movie. He considered it an insult to the man it portrayed. I have no quibble with his criticisms, but, damnit I really like the film. I've watched it a lot. I'm not opposed to Ebert's criticism, but neither am I swayed by it.
Update 6/9/2022: This post was originally published on 1/16/2021 but disappeared from public view. I am now reinstating it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Robert Downey Jr. Charlie Chaplin Marisa Tomei Mabel Normand Geraldine Chaplin Hannah Chaplin Paul Rhys Sidney Chaplin John Thaw Fred Karno Moira Kelly Hetty Kelly Francesca Buller Minnie Chaplin Nancy Travis Joan Barry Anthony Hopkins George Hayden Dan Ackroyd Mack Sennett Penelope Ann Miller Edna Purviance Kevin Kline Douglas Fairbanks Matthew Cottle Stan Laurel Maria Pitillo Mary Pickford Milla Jovovich Mildred Harris Kevin Dunn J. Edgar Hoover Deborah Moore Lita Grey Diane Lane Paulette Goddard James Woods Joseph Scott David Duchovny Roland Totheroh
Here's the Wikipedia write-up for this movie.
Release Date: 1992
Directed by Richard Attenborough.
Labels: anthony-hopkins, biography1, charlie-chaplin, dramedy1, historical1, james-woods, kevin-kline, period1, political1, reflective, robert-downey-jr
Thursday, November 18, 2021
The Way We Were - 2
- Commentary: Yes, I know, a lot of people consider this a pedestrian movie. Many critics who initially reviewed it chose to snipe at it even when granting the occasional kudo for this or that aspect. Frankly, I decided to obtain this movie because every time I watch the Sex and the City episode (season 2, episode 18, Ex in the City in case you're ever curious, too) in which "the girls" compare Carrie's relationship with Big to this movie and, subsequently, Carrie quotes the line from The Way We Were, "Your girl is lovely, Hubbell", in a chance meeting with Big at the end, I always wonder, hmmm, maybe I should watch that! I have checked it out from the library at least a couple of times, including before my mom died. She loved Sex in the City [her favorite character was Samantha Jones (I know, sounds crazy, but my mom was calm, cool and collected and adventurous in many of the same ways Samantha Jones is)] and was curious about this movie, too. I don't remember her reaction to it, though, so it must have been underwhelming. And, actually, I never remember my own reaction to it. So, I decided, since this movie continues to cross my mind every time I watch that Sex and the City episode and I suddenly, again, have a desire to watch it, I should add it to my collection.
By the way, although most critics were nit-pickety harsh, not all of them were. All three of the Three Movie Buffs (all of whom are men) thoughtfully gave this movie high praise. I've attached a link to their reviews to the link for this movie just before the infamous Carrie quote. All three opinions are an enlightening read, especially if you've ever felt conflicted about this movie.
Rewatched 3/5/22 As I rewatched this movie, I had in the back of my mind that I might, once again, eliminate it from my collection. I've decided to continue to keep it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Barbra Streisand Katy Morosky Robert Redford Hubbell Gardiner Bradford Dillman J. J. Lois Chiles Carol Ann Patrick O'Neal George Bissinger Viveca Lindfors Paula Reisner Herb Edelman Bill Verso James Woods Frankie McVeigh
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1973
Directed by Stanley Pollack.
Labels: barbra-streisand, dramaE, james-woods, political5, robert-redford, romance5
Thursday, July 29, 2021
The Virgin Suicides
- Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role James Woods Ronald Lisbon Kathleen Turner Sara Lisbon Kirsten Dunst Lux Lisbon Josh Hartnett Trip Fontaine Michael Paré Adult Trip Fontaine A. J. Cook Mary Lisbon Hanna R. Hall Cecilia Lisbon Leslie Hayman Therese Lisbon Chelse Swain Bonnie (Bonaventure) Lisbon Jonathan Tucker Tim Weiner Noah Shebib Parkie Denton Andrew Gillies Principal Woodhouse Mairlyn Smith Mrs. Woodhouse Robert Schwartzman Paul Baldino Scott Glenn Father Moody Danny DeVito Hayden Christensen Joe Dinicol Dominic Palazzolo Sherry Miller Mrs. Buell Kristin Fairlie Amy Schraff Giovanni Ribisi Narrator
Here is the Wikipedia write-up for this movie.
Release Date: 1999
Directed by Sofia Coppola.
Labels: §, Criterion3, female-director1, james-woods, kirsten-dunst
Thursday, August 08, 2019
John Q
- Commentary: I've seen this movie, probably when my mom was alive, we were companions and she loved movies even more than I do, so we'd watch everything and anything that popped up on the various movie channels proffered by our cable TV subscription. I have not watched it since it arrived as a part of the Denzel Washington four pack. I had to peruse the description in Wikipedia to determine whether I'd ever seen it.
You see, I'm not a fan of heavy-duty message movies. Oh, I know, every movie "has a message", even if the message is only in screwing with the viewer's visual perception. But, you know what I'm talking about.
Funny thing, I'm somewhat of a "justice warrior", at least I was in years past, so, you know, you'd think I'd be attracted to message movies. But, I'm not. I find heavy duty "justice warrior" movies frustrating and, often, thin and not well thought out. I like "justice warrior" documentaries, somewhat. I probably own a few of those. Ah, yes. I'm remembering at least one. But fiction presented as a "justice warrior" message movie ... hold on, let me see if I have any of those at all ...
Well. Aside from the fact that whenever we communicate we are intending to send a message and hope it will be received without too much corruption, and movies are nothing if not communication, and the premise of almost all fiction/fictionalized movies is "this is what happens when...", I found only two movies in my collection that I'd consider justice warrior/message movies. One, Gentlemen's Agreement, while heavy with message, is so well done from a film making standpoint that I don't mind the message. It came to me as one of a collection of Elia Kazan movies curated by Martin Scorsese. The other, Crash, is pretty heavy duty and fares the worse for it. In my brief write-up I mention that I bought the movie on the recommendation of MPNC, who was at the right age (early-to-mid teens) when movies like this would have been important to her because of their overwrought messaging. It is both a message movie and in the "justice warrior" vein. Not as blatant as this movie, John Q, but close.
I also own a movie, The Ten Commandments (that's right, Virginia), that so wanted to be a "message"/"justice warrior" movie that the producer/director, Cecil B. DeMille, filmed himself "on stage" prior to the movie to tell you that's what his film is. It succeeds as neither, but, whenever I watch it, and I do watch it at least once a year (it's so visually luxurious I can't help watching it regularly) I never skip the intro because I find it endearing and perfectly appropriate to the age during which it appeared in theaters. I did, by the way, see it in the theater when it was re-released in 1966 (I was too young, really, to see it in 1957). I was 14 or 15 (not sure when, during the year, it played) and the sole movie scene I carry, indelibly, in my memory, is a scene measuring mere seconds in Sodom/Gommorrah of a dancing woman's eyelids painted masterfully to look like open eyes ... and then she opens her eyes. Really made an impression on me. Every time I've watched the movie, since, I've rewound that scene at least once just to experience the shock, again. Masterful cinematics!
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Denzel Washington John Quincy Archibald Kimberly Elise Denise Archibald Daniel E. Smith Michael Archibald James Woods Dr. Raymond Turner Anne Heche Rebecca Payne Robert Duvall Lt. Frank Grimes Ray Liotta Chief Gus Monroe Eddie Griffin Lester Matthews
Release Date: 2002
Directed by Nick Cassavetes.
Labels: action2, denzel-washington, drama3, economic, james-woods, robert-duvall, suspense1, thriller1
Monday, January 28, 2019
Contact
- Commentary: I'm surprised I haven't entered this movie into this index before this. I've owned it for about a year. My movie collecting has slowed, considerably, true, but I didn't realize it had slowed to the point that I was sure I'd entered this one. Everything I've entered in this update is much "younger", in my collection, anyway, than this one.
Thus, it should not surprise you that I've watched it several times since buying it. Which is exactly why I bought it for my collection. I checked this movie out of the library so much that I remember looking it up online and thinking, "This is so cheap, I should just own it!"
For me, this is another one of those movies that has a diaphanous quality to it. No matter how much contact it actually contains, for me the bulk of the movie is about dreaming, wishing, hoping and actualizing, even in the face of the lack of recognition of everyone around you. Sure, it's a cool sci-fi movie. But, bottom line, this movie says to me, experience isn't what others say happened to you, it's what you know happened to you.
In case you're wondering, yes, I read the book upon which it is based long before the movie went into production. The book, perhaps because my primary familiarity with Carl Sagan is through the Cosmos series (which is, in itself, more about dreaming and actualizing than it is about space) was, for my mother and me, an essential fill-in for the series. I sometimes wonder if Carl Sagan considered himself, primarily, a dreamer and only secondarily a scientist. Or, perhaps he was a scientist, an astrophysicist, because he was, first, a dreamer.
In Roger Ebert's initial review of this film (linked to the title of this post), he gave the movie three and a half stars. Then, in 2011, he christened Contact one of his Great Movies and added the initially lacking half star. In the review he discusses the differences in his opinion from his initial watching and watching it 14 years later. It's interesting to compare the two reviews.
Update 8/11/2021: Funny thing, yesterday my older sister and I, in a lengthy phone conversation (life-catch-up, really), discussed this movie (it remains a popular movie, folks) in light of a series of beach scenes aired during Season 17 of Grey's Anatomy in which Meredith, while suffering from COVID-19, meets up with previous and current colleagues on a beach. I don't have access to this season (or any seasons past 12), but I looked them up to clarify exactly what my sister was comparing to this movie. For those of you who remain as cable-challenged as I, here is a descriptive rundown of those scenes. My sister brought up those scenes (in our conversation she remembered them as one scene) without reference to this movie. Once she described them, I brought up their curious duplication of Ellie's beach scene with her father in this movie. Although I didn't use the term, my sister's description of these scenes seemed to me a rip-off of that famous scene in Contact. Although my sister said she's seen the movie, she didn't recall the scene I was describing. My take-away, now, is that, both of us being unaware of the other's references, we were kind of talking at cross purposes, yesterday, without realizing it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Jodie Foster Dr. Eleanor Ann Arroway Jena Malone Young Ellie Matthew McConaughey Palmer Joss David Morse Theodore Arroway Tom Skerritt Dr. David Drumlin James Woods Michael Kitz John Hurt S. R. Hadden William Fichtner Kent Clarke Angela Bassett Rachel Constantine Jake Busey Joseph Rob Lowe Richard Rank Geoffrey Blake Fisher
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1997
Directed by Robert Zemeckis.
Labels: adventure1, aliens, david-morse, drama3, dream1, fantasy1, james-woods, jodie-foster, john-hurt, popcorn-and-soda2, pseudo-cgi-animation, science-fiction1
Sunday, October 09, 2005
The Way We Were
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: Both Mom and I are late comers to this movie. The first time either of us saw it, believe it or not, was the day I purchased it a month or so ago. All I knew about the movie was that it is an enormously popular chick flick and I intrigued by it's mention in a Sex and the City episode. Both of us were pleasantly surprised, especially with the political exploration of the era in which the movie took place. Excellent contemporary period piece.
Quick note: I also remember putting it in my "take-to-the-library" box, without hesitation. I was sure I'd never watch it again, once Mom died.
And, yet, I sometimes yearn to watch this movie, usually because I've watched the episode of Sex and the City - Ex and the City (Season 2 - Episode 18) in which the movie is mentioned, its theme is partially sung by the four friends and Carrie quotes a line from the movie when confronting Mr. Big in connection to him being engaged to Natasha (I know, scary how much I've absorbed of this show), but not enough to ever buy it. In fact, just now, I checked it out on Amazon and, despite a reasonable price, decided, nah, not today, anyway. Maybe, if it were around $5.00 (it was $11.99 on 7/31/21 and there is some confusion as to whether this particular edition is even playable in the U.S.), but, I don't know. Maybe some other day. Maybe not.
Ah. Well. I cleared up the region code issue, and the only edition that will play in my region is the blu-ray edition, which costs around $25.00. Also, I checked on Barnes & Noble. Their DVD was only $9.99, but shipping was $4.99 and, of course, there's tax. Turns out, too, that my local library has 9 copies, none checked out (kind of reminds me why I got rid of it in the first place), and my closest branch has one on the shelf (probably the one I donated to them). So, buying it? No thanks.
Directed by Sydney Pollack.
Update 11/18/21: I finally repurchased this movie, new, at a good price. Forgetting that I had already written it up, I wrote it up again. You can access that write-up in the list to the left, referred to as The Way We Were - 2. That post is where I attached the Actor/Role list, as well.
Labels: dramaA, james-woods, political4, robert-redford, romance3
