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, October 13, 2022
Goodfellas - WB 20 Film Collection Thrillers
- Commentary: I'd seen this movie more than once before I saw it again in this collection, and watching again was absolutely a pleasure. It's a one-of-a-kind gangster movie, and I love both gangster movies and one-of-a-kinds. There is nothing I don't like about this movie and many things I adore about it. Joe Pesci, for instance: a singular performance of a singular character. The generosity of the other stellar actors toward his performance is a thing of beauty to behold. Such a beauty, it seems, that Roger Ebert christened this movie as one of his Great Movies.
Included at the site is a thoughtful meditation on Scorsese and morality throughout his movies, by Jim Emerson.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Ray Liotta Henry Hill Robert De Niro Jimmy Conway Joe Pesci Tommy DeVito Lorraine Bracco Karen Hill Paul Sorvino Paulie Cicero Frank Vincent Billy Batts Catherine Scorsese Tommy's Mother Jerry Vale Himself Samuel L. Jackson Stacks Edwards Illeana Douglas Rosie Kevin Corrigan Michael Hill Debi Mazar Sandy
Originally published in this journal on 081416.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1990
Directed by Martin Scorsese.
Labels: debi-mazar, gang-movie, joe-pesci, robert-de-niro, samuel-l-jackson
Thursday, June 02, 2022
JFK
- Commentary: It shouldn't surprise anyone that I own this film, the director's cut with a second disc of extras. I'm not someone who constantly talks political conspiracies, or even thinks about them, but I love a good, real life political mystery and this is one of biggest. Although it is clearly not a documentary, it has a documentary feel about it, which I love and which Stone handles with mastery. This is definitely one of the films he was born to make.
Roger Ebert's site contains several reviews and commentaries on this film:
- Firstly, of course, is his initial review, attached to the title of this post.
- Secondly, Ebert interviewed Oliver Stone specifically about this movie of his in 1991.
- Thirdly, in 1992 Ebert published a touché article criticizing others who criticized this film.
- Fourthly, Ebert christened it one of his Great Movies in 2002.
- Fifthly (is there such a word), in 2012 Gerardo Valero, a compatriot reviewer on the site, questions whether ths movie should have been made in a very interesting historical analysis of the film.
- Some months after Roger's death, Matt Zoller Seitz published an interview with Oliver Stone regarding Ebert's critiques of many of his movies, including JFK. It's likely that I'll include a link to that article in a few other write-ups here.
- And, that's not all. The film comes up as a mention in several articles having nothing, directly, to do with it. Pull a search and see.
Whew! Someone, and other of his compatriot reviewers, were deeply impressed, in many ways, by this film over the years. I must admit, I'm with him. I'm with them all. I find myself watching this film at least twice a year, for a variety of reasons.
Update 6/2/2022: This post was originally published on 8/14/16 but disappeared from public view. I am now reinstating it.
Update 6/3/2022: Oliver Stone packed his cast with notables. I listed as many as I recognized, in order to make sure this role came up when any of them are searched individually. One notable cast member I did not insert in the Actor/Role table includes a non-actor who deserves to be mentioned: Jim Garrison played Earl Warren in this movie.
Actorc Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Kevin Costner Jim Garrison Kevin Bacon Willie O'Keefe Tommy Lee Jones Clay Shaw/Bertrand Laurie Metcalf Susie Cox Gary Oldman Lee Harvey Oswald Jay O. Sanders Lou Ivon Sissy Spacek Liz Garrison Joe Pesci David Ferrie Jack Lemmon Jack Martin Walter Matthau Sen. Russell B. Long Donald Sutherland Mr. X Ed Asner Guy Banister John Candy Dean Andrews Jr. Sally Kirkland Rose Cheramie Tony Plana Carlos Bringuier Vincent D'Onofrio Bill Newman Lolita Davidovich Beverly Oliver John Larroquette Jerry Johnson Ron Rifkin Mr. Goldberg/Spiesel Bob Gunton News Anchor
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1991
Directed by Oliver Stone.
Labels: bob-gunton, docu-drama, donald-sutherland, joe-pesci, laurie-metcalf, mystery1, oliver-stone, political2, presidential, sissy-spacek, tommy-lee-jones, vincent-d'onofrio
