Friday, July 15, 2022
Sicario
- Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Emily Blunt Kate Macer Josh Brolin Matt Graver Benicio del Toro Alejandro Gillick Daniel Kaluuya Reggie Wayne Victor Garber Dave Jennings Jon Bernthal Ted Jeffrey Donovan Steve Forsing Raoul Trujillo Rafael Julio Cesar Cedillo Fausto Alarcón Hank Rogerson Phil Coopers Bernardo Saracino Manuel Díaz Maximiliano Hernández Silvio
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2015
Directed by Denis Villeneuve.
Labels: §4, action4, emily-blunt, josh-brolin, thriller3, violence4, war3
Thursday, June 09, 2022
No Country for Old Men
- Commentary: This movie definitely captured the imagination of film critics. On RogerEbert.com alone, articles of commentary bleed into a second page.
I've seen the movie more than once. For me, it's both disturbing and revelatory. It comes to my mind a fair amount. Which is why I decided to add it to my collection. More, later, when I watch it, yet again, without having to check it out of the library this time, or scour the few channels to which I have access to see if anyone's playing it.
Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Tommy Lee Jones Ed Tom Bell Javier Bardem Anton Chigurh Josh Brolin Llewelyn Moss Woody Harrelson Carson Wells Kelly Macdonald Carla Jean Moss Garret Dillahunt Wendell Tess Harper Loretta Bell Barry Corbin Ellis
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2007
Directed by Joel & Ethan Coen.
Labels: josh-brolin, neo-noirC, revisionist-western, thriller3, tommy-lee-jones, woody-harrelson
Saturday, January 16, 2021
W.
- Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Josh Brolin George W. Bush Elizabeth Banks Laura Bush James Cromwell George H. W. Bush Ellen Burstyn Barbara Bush Richard Dreyfuss Dick Cheney Jeffrey Wright Colin Powelv Scott Glenn Donald Rumsfeld Thandiwe Newton Condoleezza Rice Toby Jones Karl Rove Bruce McGill George Tenet Ioan Gruffudd Tony Blair Noah Wyle Donald Evans Rob Corddry Ari Fleischer Dennis Boutsikaris Paul Wolfowitz Jason Ritter Jeb Bush Stacy Keach Earl Hudd
The Wikipedia write-up for this film is here.
Release Date: 2008
Directed by Oliver Stone.
Labels: §1, ellen-burstyn, josh-brolin, oliver-stone, popcorn-and-soda1, presidential, richard-dreyfuss
Monday, August 19, 2019
Avengers: Endgame
- Commentary: I haven't watched this one, yet. It's a new own. Relatively bargain priced, considering it's been on the shelves for only a minute. I have very few of the 22 (I read that number somewhere, recently) Marvel Universe movies: Iron Man, Black Panther, Captain Marvel and this one, in the order in which I obtained them. You know how I feel about super-hero movies, I generally love them, the quirky ones in particular (I consider, for instance, Shyamalan's Eastrail 177 Trilogy (of which I own all three) quirky; click here and here (direct links to all the movies I own that I've placed in the "super-hero" category) to see what I consider a super-hero movie; you'll likely be surprised) but in general there are many I don't care for and have no reason to own, especially of the Marvel Universe. I decided to add this one to my collection, sight unseen, though, since it's the end. Game. You know.
So, I'll be appending to this write-up when I watch this movie. Who knows. Maybe it will spur me to add a few more Marvel Universe super-hero movies to my collection. Maybe not. We'll see.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Robert Downey Jr. Tony Stark/Iron Man Chris Evans Steve Rogers/Captain America Mark Ruffalo Bruce Banner/Hulk Chris Hemsworth Thor Scarlett Johansson Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow Jeremy Renner Clint Barton/Hawkeye Don Cheadle James Rhodes/War Machine Paul Rudd Scott Lang/Ant-Man Brie Larson Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel Karen Gillan Nebula Danai Gurira Okoye Benedict Wong Wong Jon Favreau Happy Hogan Bradley Cooper Rocket Gwyneth Paltrow Pepper Potts Josh Brolin Thanos
Also stars Michael Douglas as adult Hank Pym/Ant-Man.
In case you're curious, the Wikipedia write-up for this movie is here.
Release Date: 2019
Directed by Anthony Russo & Joe Russo.
Labels: §2, aliens, josh-brolin, michael-douglas, popcorn-and-soda1, robert-downey-jr, samuel-l-jackson, science-fiction1, super-hero1
Monday, January 28, 2019
American Gangster
- 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
