Saturday, November 12, 2022
Internal Affairs
- Commentary: Despite its meager but complimentary review-of-sorts in the Reception section of this movie's Wikipedia write-up, the truth is, it's hard to find a review of this movie, let alone a positive review. This surprises me because I saw the movie sometime between its release in theaters and 1993, on home video, and I still remember it, still remember enjoying it, so much so that, when I was reminded of it a few days ago when ordering The Infernal Affairs Trilogy, I decided to purchase a copy.
Regarding the all-over-the-map reviews of this movie, metacritic collates a score of "generally favorable reviews". The Los Angeles Times has a muddled write-up, praising some aspects of the movie while excoriating others, as does the WAPO review attached to the title of this post.
I was introduced to this movie by my next door neighbor in Seattle who managed (and, later, owned) a video rental store. I was riveted. So was she, I might add, although she'd seen the movie more than a few times. I have not seen this movie since. I've been reminded of it a lot throughout the intervening years, just not when I was renting or buying videos. Now, that situation has been corrected, I'm pleased to say. I'm really looking forward to Richard Gere's delightfully smarmy performance of a disgustingly smarmy cop.
Once I receive the movie and watch it, again, I'm sure I'll be back, so, consider this post under construction.
Update 11/15/22: I've been watching this movie throughout the night, on again, off again. I was not disappointed! It is full of thrilling suspense. The acting is solid. The storytelling is point-by-point and leaves no holes through which the watcher might fall at the end. The entire movie is rather like looking at a crooked smile. When you turn away you're still a bit on edge, but you know the crookedness is "right", the only way, really, it could be. I remembered my first watch of it as deeply satisfying, and, just so, it was, again. And, man, I gotta tell ya, those late 80's-early 90's clothes and hair styles! What a treat! I'd forgotten that's what people who were considered part of "the professional class" wanted to, and did, look like back then! I'm glad I obtained this movie. I'll definitely be watching this again.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Richard Gere Ofc Dennis Peck Andy García Sgt Raymond Avilla Nancy Travis Kathleen Avilla Laurie Metcalf Sgt Amy Wallace Annabella Sciorra Heather Peck William Baldwin Ofc Van Stretch Faye Grant Penny Stretch Elijah Wood Sean Stretch
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1990
Directed by Mike Figgis.
Labels: action4, andy-garcía, detective1, laurie-metcalf, loose-cannon-cop, neo-noirB, popcorn-and-soda7, richard-gere
Thursday, June 02, 2022
Pacific Heights
- Commentary: Part of Warner Brothers 4 Film Favorites collection. This is the other one-of-two in this collection that I had seen and enjoyed, in the theater, in fact, in Seattle, with a friend. Michael Keaton's portrayal of the apartment scam psycho is delicious. The story was, and is, fun, novel and creepy. I wouldn't have bought it if I hadn't gotten it so cheaply and serendipitously, but I'm glad I own it. The four movies in the collection are this one, Diabolique, The Crush and Copycat.
Update 6/2/2022: This post was originally published on 8/14/16 but disappeared from public view. I am now reinstating it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Melanie Griffith Patricia Palmer Matthew Modine Drake Goodman Michael Keaton Carter Hayes/James Danforth Mako Toshio Watanabe Nobu McCarthy Mira Watanabe Laurie Metcalf Stephanie MacDonald Luca Bercovici Greg Tippi Hedren Florence Peters
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1990
Directed by John Schlesinger.
Labels: drama6, folk-horror, laurie-metcalf, matthew-modine, mystery1, neo-noirB, popcorn-and-soda2, thriller2
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
Monday, May 10, 2021
Lady Bird
- Commentary: Under construction.
Once again, a loaded list over at RogerEbert.com when pulling a search on this movie, including an interview with Greta Gerwig.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Saoirse Ronan Christine MacPherson Laurie Metcalf Marion MacPherson Tracy Letts Larry MacPherson Lucas Hedges Daniel O'Neill Timothée Chalamet Kyle Scheible Beanie Feldstein Julianne Steffans Lois Smith Sister Sarah Joan Stephen McKinley Henderson Father Leviatch Odeya Rush Jenna Walton Jordan Rodrigues Miguel MacPherson Marielle Scott Shelly Yuhan Jake McDorman Mr. Bruno
Here is the Wikipedia write-up on this movie.
Release Date: 2017
Directed by Greta Gerwig.
Labels: §2, A24, coming-of-age1, dramedy1, female-director2, greta-gerwig, laurie-metcalf, lois-smith, saoirse-ronan
Sunday, October 09, 2005
Roseanne: 1st & 2nd Seasons
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1* *2* *3*
- Commentary: This is one of both of our's long time favorites. Even with the series at hand, if we're channel surfing and discover an episode we watch it. We will definitely be collecting all the seasons, even the much maligned (and much deserving of being maligned) last season.
As far as post title reviews are concerned, I decided to link the first part of the title up through "1st" to a review that was enthusiastic. I linked "2nd Seasons" to a less enthusiastic but nonetheless informative review. Considering that I've never expanded my collection of this show's dvds, I think that's a fair representation of where I am on the subject of this show.
Update 2/9/18: Well, we didn't collect all the seasons and I'm not sure that I will. My love for this show hasn't evaporated but I haven't, since my mother's death, watched what I have so I'm not sure I'd watch any of the other seasons. I did, take note, watch the syndicated reruns on television, as long as I had a cable subscription. That's over now, though. Perhaps I have a strong enough memory of the series that I don't need to rewatch it, anymore. However, I continue to hang onto it through multiple library dumps of other movies and shows. And, I have fond memories of certain specific scenes in these two seasons, and a few other seasons.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Roseanne Barr Roseanne Conner John Goodman Dan Conner Laurie Metcalf Jackie Harris Michael Fishman D.J. Conner Sara Gilbert Darlene Conner Lecy Goranson Becky Conner Estelle Parsons Beverly Harris Natalie West Crystal Anderson-Conner George Clooney Booker Brooks Fred Thompson Keith Faber Ned Beatty Ed Conner Jared Rushton Chip
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1988-1990
Directed by: Most of the episodes in Season 1 are directed by a woman. All of the episodes in Season 2 are directed by a man.
Labels: comedy1, female-director2, laurie-metcalf, ned-beatty, satire2, shared-favorite, TV2
