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, April 25, 2024
Dark City
- Commentary: Under construction.
Roger Ebert was so intrigued by this movie he reviewed it twice. He assigned it Great Movie status in 2005 after having reviewed it upon it's initial release in 1998 and having given it four stars. His Great Movies review is attached to the title of this post.
I also find it interesting to note that while many reviewers were also pleased by this film, its two iterations, its theatrical release and its director's cut, were also analyzed by reviewers, which is, in essence, what Roger Ebert accomplished with his two reviews. Even critics who were not impressed with many aspects of the film praised its extraordinary visuality.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Rufus Sewell John Murdoch William Hurt Ins. Frank Bumstead Kiefer Sutherland Dr. Daniel P. Schreber Jennifer Connelly Emma Murdoch/Anna Richard O'Brien Mr. Hand Ian Richardson Mr. Book Bruce Spence Mr. Wall Colin Friels Det. Eddie Walenski John Bluthal Karl Harris Mitchell Butel Ofc. Husselbeck Melissa George May Frank Gallacher Chf. Ins. Stromboli Ritchie Singer Hotel Manager/Vendor Justin Monjo Taxi Driver Nicholas Bell Mr. Rain Satya Gumbert Mr. Sleep
As usual, more later when I've watched this film.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1988
Directed by Alex Proyas.
Labels: jennifer-connelly, philosophical, science-fiction2, william-hurt
Monday, May 22, 2023
House of Sand and Fog
- Commentary: Under construction.
I have seen this movie only once, before my mother died (I can't recall if she watched it), but it has such staying power that each time I think of it, I feel as though I saw it just yesterday. It is not only a detailed, devastating story of interpersonal conflict, it is a precise-to-the-point-of-being-painful character study of two people who hash out their differences while not really understanding what their differences are.
The last time I thought of it I vowed that if I was at home the next time it came to mind, I would immediately order it. It will be arriving here within a few days. I await it with somber anticipation.
More later.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Jennifer Connelly Kathy Nicolo Ben Kingsley Col. Massoud Behrani Shohreh Aghdashloo Nadereh "Nadi" Behrani Ron Eldard Lester Burdon Frances Fisher Connie Walsh Jonathan Ahdout Esmail Behrani Kim Dickens Carol Burdon Carlos Gómez Lt. Alvarez Navi Rawat Soraya Behrani Al Rodrigo Torez Marco Rodríguez Mendez Aki Aleong Tran Kia Jam Ali Cooper Thornton Gary Ray Abruzzo Frank Spencer Garrett Auctioneer
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2003
Directed by Vadim Perelman.
Labels: ben-kingsley, character-study, haunting3, jennifer-connelly, tragedy3
Thursday, September 16, 2021
Noah
- Commentary: I finally watched this movie a couple of nights ago, let's see, Friday night, the 17th of September, 2021. I think Darren Aronofsky's mind was in the right place when he approached making this movie, but the part of it that follows narrative sense quirked out on him. Truth is, Noah's story in the Bible, and Enoch, doesn't make a lot of sense. I think it's supposed to be a "testament of signs and wonders", so to speak, and, as such, isn't meant to make quotidian sense. So, any film maker can not only be forgiven for adding and revamping strict biblical material, but can be praised for off-official-story changes that the film maker chooses to make. In making a film with wild, misshapen material, it isn't, though, forgivable for a film maker to let a sense of giddiness take over when making choices. I think that's what Aronofsky did. In addition, he underplayed, to the movie's detriment, some of the original story's frank suggestions of moral turpitude and overplayed, also to the movie's detriment, some of the story's suggestions of Noah's moral rectitude and ardor.
Having said all that, and revealing a sense of disappointment in the movie, still, it's a spectacular attempt at a biblical epic, and better than any other Noah films I've seen (yes, I've seen a few, but, I think there are only a few). And, besides, I enjoyed the whole sub-development of The Watcher's story. It reminded me of the movie Watchmen (sorry, I never followed the comic book series), and kept me wondering what the whole deal is with men (male men, that is) and watchers. So I'm keeping it, because, as you may remember, Dear Reader, I have this thing about bible movies, mainly because my mother loved them so much. And, you never know, perhaps yet another agnostic atheist in the family will find them equally fascinating when I am no more of this earth. And, anyway, now I have a personal mystery to solve ... what is it with this male obsession with watchers/watchmen, anyway?
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Russell Crowe Noah Jennifer Connelly Naameh Ray Winstone Tubal-cain Anthony Hopkins Methuselah Emma Watson Ila Logan Lerman Ham Douglas Booth Shem Marton Csokas Lamech
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2014
Directed by Darren Aronofsky.
Labels: anthony-hopkins, apocalyptic, bible-movies1, darren-aronofsky, jennifer-connelly, ray-winstone, russell-crowe
Friday, April 10, 2009
Requiem for a Dream
- Who's watched: G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: I had wanted to watch this movie ever since it came out and somehow never got the chance. I never mentioned it to anyone, but I thought of it often. When we joined a rental service I put it in my queue but there were always so many other, much lighter movies that I placed before it because, somehow, I knew this wasn't a film Mom would want to watch. Then, during the spring of 2008 when Mom was in the hospital in rehab, out of the blue MFS sent me a copy of this movie...even though I'm sure I never mentioned my interest in it to her...it's become, since, a symbol of our psychic link.
This movie is frenetic, tragic and gorgeous, all at the same time. Ostensibly the story of what addiction (to a variety of "things", including dreams) can do to a person. It's wonderfully acted and so succinctly imagined, written, produced, directed and portrayed that, after one scene in which one of the characters sexually compromises herself for drugs, MFS told me she felt like she needed to take a shower. It's true: The movie throws the grime of desperation right through the screen at you. There's something in this movie to make anyone, everyone feel dirty. The desperation never lets up; it's like watching a family version of Titus Andronicus. Which, of course, thrills me. I don't know why I'm attracted to such spot-on portrayals of the dregs of life, but I am, and this one is a masterpiece. I've watched it three times since I've received it. I'll watch it again. I've even created the category of "tragedy" for it, because, oddly, despite my attraction to tragedy, except for some of the video adaptations of Shakespeare's plays, we have no other relentless tragedies. I think I held off while Mom was alive because I suspected that I wouldn't be able to watch them, much. I was right...but, (cackling deleriously and rubbing hands together) THE SCREEN IS MINE, NOW, ALL AND ONLY MINE ...
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Ellen Burstyn Sara Goldfarb Jared Leto Harry Goldfarb Jennifer Connelly Marion Silver Marlon Wayans Tyrone C. Love Christopher McDonald Tappy Tibbons Mark Margolis Mr. Rabinowitz Louise Lasser Ada Marcia Jean Kurtz Rae Sean Gullette Arnold The Shrink Keith David Big Tim Janet Sarno Mrs. Pearlman Dylan Baker Southern Doctor
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2000
Directed by Darren Aronofsky.
Labels: audio-visual, darren-aronofsky, drama7, dream1, dylan-baker, ellen-burstyn, film-art1, haunting2, jennifer-connelly, me-favorite2, tragedy2, violence2
