Movies, Mom & Me

• 
  Commentary:  Under construction.
    This is yet another movie that warranted two dedicated write-ups at Roger Ebert's website [the first review is linked to the title of this post, the second is immediately previous to this bracketed phrase] and several mentions in further articles about festival nominees and winners.
  
  
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Frances McDormand	Mildred Hayes	Woody Harrelson	Bill Willoughby	Sam Rockwell	Jason Dixon	Abbie Cornish	Anne Willoughby
  Lucas Hedges	Robbie Hayes	Željko Ivanek	Cedric Connolly	John Hawkes	Charlie Hayes	Peter Dinklage	James

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 2017
    Directed by Martin McDonagh.

Labels: §4, detective1, john-hawkes, peter-dinklage, woody-harrelson, željko-ivanek

# posted by gail @ 13:50    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  Under construction.
    Deadwood The Movie:  HBO site for the movie. Several extras, both written and video, all available to HBO non-subscribers as of 5/5/21.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Timothy Olyphant	Seth Bullock	Ian McShane	Al Swearengen	Molly Parker	Alma Ellsworth	Paula Malcomson	Trixie
  W. Earl Brown	Dan Dority	Dayton Callie	Charlie Utter	Kim Dickens	Joanie Stubbs	Brad Dourif	Doc Cochran
  Anna Gunn	Martha Bullock	John Hawkes	Sol Star	Gerald McRaney	Sen. George Hearst	Leon Rippy	Tom Nuttall
  William Sanderson	E. B. Farnum	Robin Weigert	Calamity Jane	Brent Sexton	Harry Manning	Sean Bridgers	Johnny Burns

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up on this film.
    Release Date: 2019
    Directed by Daniel Minahan.

Labels: §, brad-dourif, drama1, historical1, john-hawkes, me-favorite1, violence1, western

# posted by gail @ 14:59    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  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

# posted by gail @ 11:33    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  So, I bought a copy of this movie for my dramatist niece. And, remembered it (and the book) so fondly that I had to have my own copy. Which I watched immediately upon its arrival. I love this movie so much that I've checked it out of the library too many times to remember exactly the number. It's just one of those. You know. This movie is the first time I'd seen or heard of Jennifer Lawrence. It's a spectacular performance. I've seen her in other stuff, since. She's a talented, stand-out actress but, in my mind, she has yet to best her performance in this piece. It is, as well, yet another in my collection that, immediately upon watching it, makes me feel as though I've just dreamt it.
    One of Roger Ebert's Far Flung Correspondents, Wael Khairy weighed in, also, with a haunting review.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Jennifer Lawrence	Ree Dolly	Isaiah Stone	Sonny Dolly	Ashlee Thompson	Ashlee Dolly	Valerie Richards	Connie Dolly
  John Hawkes	Teardrop Dolly	Garret Dillahunt	Sheriff Baskin	Dale Dickey	Merab Milton	Sheryl Lee	April

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 2010
    Directed by Debra Granik.

Labels: drama5, dream1, female-director3, haunting1, john-hawkes, mystery1, neo-noirC, southern-gothic, thriller1

# posted by gail @ 23:44    0 comments    email......this post

• Who's watched:  M & G, avidly
• Mentions:  *1* *2* *3* *4*
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  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

# posted by gail @ 07:27    0 comments    email......this post