Monday, April 17, 2023
Gangs of New York
- Commentary: Under construction.
Although Roger Ebert rated this movie a "mere" 3.5 stars, (his review is linked to the title of this post, above), being the Scorsese fan that he is, he was fascinated enough with this film to interview Scorsese about the making of this movie. It's an interesting, occasionally provocative interview in which Scorsese admits how he played with history in order to increase the tension in the movie. If you find this film at all worthy of attention, you should check out that interview.
By the way, you'll notice that the Actor/Role table (below) for this movie is stacked. This movie is full of historical personages that I wanted to list, I wanted to make sure the one named child actor was represented, as were as many of the female actors as possible and as many racially diverse actors as possible were included in the table.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Leonardo DiCaprio Amsterdam Vallon Cian McCormack Young Amsterdam Vallon Daniel Day-Lewis William "The Butcher" Cutting Cameron Diaz Jenny Everdeane Jim Broadbent William "Boss" Tweed John C. Reilly Happy Jack Mulraney Henry Thomas Johnny Sirocco Liam Neeson "Priest" Vallon Brendan Gleeson Walter "Monk" McGinn Gary Lewis McGloin Stephen Graham Shang Eddie Marsan Killoran Alec McCowen Reverend Raleigh David Hemmings John F. Schermerhorn Lawrence Gilliard Jr. Jimmy Spoils Cara Seymour Hell-Cat Maggie Roger Ashton-Griffiths P. T. Barnum Barbara Bouchet Mrs. Schermerhorn Michael Byrne Horace Greeley Giovanni Lombardo Radice Mr. Legree
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2002
Directed by Martin Scorsese.
Labels: gang-movie, historical4, leonardo-dicaprio, martin-scorsese, period7, violence5, war3
Thursday, June 09, 2022
Shutter Island
- Commentary: This movie received highly contradictory critiques, from being considered a high best film of 2010 to being declared not having been worth making. It created so much critical controversy that, aside from triggering more than one critic to produce a review of this movie on RogerEbert.com, there were also several critics who opined about the issues the movie raised for them. The immediately previous link takes you to the simple search I performed for the movie's title, which typically brings up only one review per movie.
I found the movie intriguing, involving, enjoyable and ultimately entertainingly disturbing. It was sent to me by MFS, out of the blue. After I watched the film I wondered why she picked it out for me. I still haven't asked her, but now it doesn't matter. I've watched it three times since I received it. I find that with each viewing, I discover something that I need to bookmark in my mind and pull out on a next watching. In fact, I think I might watch it, again, tonight, now that I'm thinking of it.
Although it appears to have a highly complicated plot, by the end you realize that the complications are solely in the main character's mind, not in yours, which, in a sense, increases the satisfaction in watching it. It is also, for me, a bit scary to watch. After the second watching, I found myself speculating that a similar type of confusion could easily afflict me. I wouldn't have the excuse of murder to drive me to confound myself, but there's enough odd about my life that I can imagine becoming troubled over my deep contemplation of myself and not being able to exit. That is the power of this movie. Although few of us are outright murderers, most of us feel deadly guilty about some incident in our lives. Even my mother had such an incident. When she finally told me what it was, it seemed benign enough to me. It did not involve the murder or even the mistreatment of someone. It involved an incident in which she realized she was unfairly prejudiced against a particular group of people (not because of color, because of religion). It did not involve an opportunity to make direct amends. Upon discovering her prejudice she immediately set about conquering it, but the memory of the discovery haunted her, literally, to her dying day, for a full 40+ years, even though she was successful in understanding and overcoming it.
So, essentially, for me, this movie is a reminder that our monsters, as well as our angels, are just beneath the surface, ready, equally, to take advantage of any opportunity to escape.
Update 6/9/2022: 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 Leonardo DiCaprio Edward Daniels Mark Ruffalo Chuck Aule Ben Kingsley Dr. John Cawley Max von Sydow Dr. Jeremiah Naehring Michelle Williams Dolores Chanal Emily Mortimer Nurse Portraying Rachel Solando Patricia Clarkson Rachel Solando Jackie Earle Haley George Noyce John Carroll Lynch 1st Deputy Warden McPherson Joseph Sikora Glen Miga Ted Levine The Warden Elias Koteas Andrew Laeddis Ruby Jerins Little Girl Robin Bartlett Bridget Kearns Curtiss Cook Trey Washington Christopher Denham Peter Breene
Here is the Wikipedia write-up for this film.
Release Date: 2010
Directed by Martin Scorsese.
Labels: ben-kingsley, drama2, dream1, emily-mortimer, leonardo-dicaprio, martin-scorsese, max-von-sydow, mystery1, neo-noirC, psychological1
Sunday, January 17, 2021
Silence
- Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Andrew Garfield Sebastião Rodrigues Adam Driver Francisco Garupe Tadanobu Asano The Interpreter Ciarán Hinds Alessandro Valignano/Voice of Jesus Liam Neeson Cristóvão Ferreira/Sawano Chūan Shinya Tsukamoto Mokichi Issey Ogata noue Masashige Yōsuke Kubozuka Kichijirō Nana Komatsu Mónica (Haru) Ryo Kase João (Chokichi) Katsuo Nakamura The Monk Yoshi Oida Ichizo
Here's the Wikipedia write-up for this movie.
Release Date: 2016
Directed by Martin Scorsese.
Labels: §1, historical4, martin-scorsese, religion1
Tuesday, November 05, 2019
The King of Comedy
- Commentary: O.K. This movie is just fun for me. When I want to be jolted back into a realistic perspective about the follies of U.S. media this film is my go-to. Robert de Niro is simply superb in a role so unlike most of his other roles, whether they be serious or comedic. His renown in reality isn't beside the point, it is the point. Jerry Lewis is luscious and hilariously serious. Sarah Bernhard is perfectly cast. It's as though everyone involved in this film just got it. And gave it.
Side Note: Aside from the fact that this movie, in itself, is an inside/outside joke, full, as well, of inside/outside jokes, one of the broadest of these jokes is that many, many participants in this movie reprise their own performance personalities.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Robert De Niro Rupert Pupkin Jerry Lewis Jerry Langford Sandra Bernhard Masha Diahnne Abbott Rita Keene Shelley Hack Cathy Long Margo Winkler Receptionist Kim Chan Jonno Frederick De Cordova Bert Thomas
Also, just in case, here's the Wikipedia write-up about this film. As well, while in Cannes for the festival that played this film, Roger Ebert interviewed Jerry Lewis. There isn't much, directly, about Lewis' appearance in the film, but a lot about the celebrity issues this film raises.
Release Date: 1982
Directed by Martin Scorsese.
Labels: comedy1, martin-scorsese, robert-de-niro, satire1
The Age of Innocence
- Commentary: Truth is, I read this novel long, long, long before I saw this movie, which is why I was reluctant to see it. I read the book at a time, being an older teen, when I found the story poignant and troubling. This is no longer true for me. The movie exists for me, now, as an opulent drama of manners, well done by Scorsese, well acted by the entire cast and a great way to spend a rainy (or snowy, which was the weather the last time I watched it) afternoon in a mountain community.
Roger Ebert christened this movie as one of his "Great Movies", as well. In addition, he conducted an interview with Martin Scorsese specifically about this movie and Scorcese's history with it, among other issues highlighted by the movie.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Daniel Day-Lewis Newland Archer Michelle Pfeiffer Ellen Olenska Winona Ryder May Welland Miriam Margolyes Mrs. Mingott Geraldine Chaplin Mrs. Welland Michael Gough Henry van der Luyden Richard E. Grant Larry Lefferts Mary Beth Hurt Regina Beaufort Robert Sean Leonard Ted Archer Norman Lloyd Mr. Letterblair Alec McCowen Sillerton Jackson Siân Phillips Mrs. Archer Carolyn Farina Janey Archer Jonathan Pryce Rivière Alexis Smith Louisa van der Luyden Joanne Woodward Narrator
Just in case, as always, here's the Wikipedia write-up for this film.
Release Date: 1993
Directed by Martin Scorsese.
Labels: Criterion1, drama3, historical1, joanne-woodward, jonathan-pryce, martin-scorsese, period1, popcorn-and-soda1, romance1, spectacle1
Monday, February 05, 2018
The Elia Kazan Collection
- Commentary: This collection, dear Reader, is my prize. I stumbled across it while looking for a copy of one of my all time favorite movies, A Face in the Crowd. After Donald Trump was elected U.S. President, I couldn't get this movie out of my head. I was not alone in this. Four Films That Explain the Rise of Donald Trump, a thoughtful article written by Sean Mulvihill on the Roger Ebert website, meditates on this, as well. Interestingly, long before Donald Trump was elected U. S. President, I owned all of the four films Sean Mulvihill talks about. Our library, at the time I was ravenous to watch A Face in the Crowd, didn't have a copy (it does, now; I suspect there were several people requesting it after Trump's election). Every copy I found for sale was horribly expensive. Then, I noticed this collection that included this movie. It was priced out of my range but I kept my eye on it, day after day, month after month. Finally, it dropped by half, which brought the price down to just under $2.00 a movie. That I could afford. I scanned the collection of the other 14 movies. Some I'd seen, some I hadn't, two I already owned (which meant I could give copies of those movies to my actor niece, both of which are classics). I knew of all of them and was excited about seeing all of them. The list below is what was contained in the collection. There are still four (or, maybe five, I can't remember) that I haven't seen. Owning this collection is a delight. I'd never paid much attention to Elia Kazan as a director. Now, I'm much better educated!
- A Letter to Elia: The collection includes an "intensely personal and deeply moving tribute" to Elia Kazan by Martin Scorsese and a coffee table type book about the films and Kazan's development. The tribute is pretty much a vanity project, but the book is interesting and the tribute is not a complete waste of time.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2010 - A Tree Grows in Brooklyn: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Dorothy McGuire Katie Nolan Joan Blondell Aunt Sissy James Dunn Johnny Nolan Lloyd Nolan Officer McShane James Gleason McGarrity Ted Donaldson Neeley Nolan Peggy Ann Garner Francie Nolan Ruth Nelson Miss McDonough John Alexander Steve Edwards B.S. Pully Christmas Tree Vendor Ferike Boros Grandma Rommely Charles Halton Mr. Barker
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1945 - Boomerang: Pretty interesting legal drama. Made me wonder if this created a standard by which all legal dramas are now measured.
Arthur Miller appeared in this movie as a suspect in a police lineup.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Dana Andrews Henry L. Harvey Jane Wyatt Madge Harvey Lee J. Cobb Chief Harold F. Robinson Cara Williams Irene Nelson Arthur Kennedy John Waldron Sam Levene Dave Woods Taylor Holmes T. M. Wade Robert Keith Mac McCreery Ed Begley Paul Harris Karl Malden Det. Lt. White William Challee Stone Lewis Leverett Whitney
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1947
→ film-noir1; lee-j-cobb - Gentleman's Agreement: Dated but engaging film about anti-Semitism in the U.S. Disturbing despite its datedness.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Gregory Peck Philip Schuyler Green Anne Revere Mrs. Green Dorothy McGuire Kathy Lacey June Havoc Elaine Wales John Garfield Dave Goldman Albert Dekker John Minify Celeste Holm Anne Dettrey Jane Wyatt Jane Dean Stockwell Tommy Green Nicholas Joy Dr. Craigie Sam Jaffe Prof. Fred Lieberman Harold Vermilyea Lou Jordan
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1947
→ gregory-peck - Pinky: An unusual take on discrimination in the U.S. South. Shows, obliquely, how idiotic, and yet how powerful, it is.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Jeanne Crain Patricia "Pinky" Johnson Ethel Barrymore Miss Em Ethel Waters Dicey Johnson William Lundigan Dr. Thomas Adams Basil Ruysdael Judge Walker Kenny Washington Dr. Canady Nina Mae McKinney Rozelia Griff Barnett Dr. Joe McGill Frederick O'Neal Jake Waters Evelyn Varden Melba Wooley Raymond Greenleaf Judge Shoreman Juanita Moore Nurse
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1949 - Panic in the Streets: An early plague movie with a film-noir twist. Engaging.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Richard Widmark Lt. Cmdr. Reed, M.D. Paul Douglas Cpt. Tom Warren Barbara Bel Geddes Nancy Reed Jack Palance Blackie Zero Mostel Raymond Fitch Alexis Minotis John Mefaris Dan Riss Nef Guy Thonajan Poldi
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1950
→ film-noir2; jack-palance -
A Streetcar Named Desire: My write-up, including Actor/Role table, is linked to the title.
- Viva Zapata!: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Marlon Brando Emiliano Zapata Jean Peters Josefa Zapata Anthony Quinn Eufemio Zapata Joseph Wiseman Fernando Aguirre Arnold Moss Don Nacio Alan Reed Pancho Villa Margo Soldadera Harold Gordon Francisco Ignacio Madero Lou Gilbert Pablo Frank Silvera Victoriano Huerta Florenz Ames Señor Espejo Richard Garrick Old General Fay Roope Porfirio Díaz Mildred Dunnock Señora Espejo Henry Silva Hernández Ross Bagdasarian Officer
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1952 - Man on a Tightrope: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Fredric March Karel Černík Terry Moore Tereza Černík Gloria Grahame Zama Černík Cameron Mitchell Joe Vosdek Adolphe Menjou Fesker Robert Beatty Barović Alexander D'Arcy Rudolph Richard Boone Krofta
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1953
→ marlon-brando - On the Waterfront: I am ashamed to admit that I have not watched this yet. I keep avoiding it, despite my curiosity. I'm not sure why but will report back when I've watched it.
Yes, Roger Ebert christened this movies as one of his Great Movies.
Yet another movie, by the way, that has actors who were later stars playing small, uncredited roles.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Marlon Brando Terry Malloy Karl Malden Father Pete Barry Lee J. Cobb Michael J. Skelly Rod Steiger Charlie Malloy Eva Marie Saint Edie Doyle Pat Henning Timothy J. Dugan John F. Hamilton Pop Doyle Ben Wagner Joey Doyle Fred Gwynne Mladen Sekulovich Martin Balsam Gillette Pat Hingle Jocko Nehemiah Persoff Cab Driver
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1954
→ pat-hingle; nehemiah-persoff; marlon-brando; lee-j-cobb - East of Eden: My write-up, including Actor/Role table, is linked to the title.
- Baby Doll: This is a dark, satirical romp that is multi-layered. I've watched it twice in astonishment. Each time I notice something else bizarre. Everyone performs exquisitely.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Karl Malden Archie Lee Meighan Carroll Baker Baby Doll Meighan Eli Wallach Silva Vacarro Mildred Dunnock Aunt Rose Comfort Lonny Chapman Rock Eades Hogue Town Marshal Madeleine Sherwood Nurse Rip Torn Dentist
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up for this movie.
Release Date: 1956
→ southern-gothic; eli-wallach - A Face in the Crowd: Watch this movie because Donald Trump is President of the U.S. Watch it because Andy Griffith's performance will blow you away. It will make you wonder how the hell he got stuck in Mayberry.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Andy Griffith Larry Rhodes Patricia Neal Marcia Jeffries Anthony Franciosa Joey DePalma Walter Matthau Mel Miller Lee Remick Betty Lou Fleckum Percy Waram Gen. Haynesworth Paul McGrath Macey Rod Brasfield Beanie Marshall Neilan Sen. Worthington Fuller Kay Medford 1st Mrs. Rhodes Lois Nettleton Nurse Rip Torn Barry Mills
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1957 - Wild River: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Montgomery Clift Chuck Glover Lee Remick Carol Garth Baldwin Jo Van Fleet Ella Garth Albert Salmi R.J. Bailey Jay C. Flippen Hamilton Garth James Westerfield Cal Garth Barbara Loden Betty Jackson Frank Overton Walter Clark Malcolm Atterbury Sy Moore Bruce Dern Jack Roper Robert Earl Jones Sam Johnson Ross Apperson Attorney Armstrong
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1960
→ southern-gothic; pat-hingle - Splendor in the Grass: The first time I saw this movie I was unmoved. After I received this collection I watched it again and became surprisingly caught up in it. The final scenes are perfect.
Both TCM and Emmanuel Levy have a flurry of pages about this movie. I've linked the title of the movie to the TCM posts. A list of Emmanuel Levy's posts about this movie is here. They all look interesting.
In addition, DVD Savant has a review well worth reading in this post about the Natalie Wood Signature Collection. The review for this movie can be found as the third movie reviewed down the page.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Natalie Wood Wilma Dean Loomis Pat Hingle Ace Stamper Audrey Christie Mrs. Loomis Barbara Loden Virginia Stamper Zohra Lampert Angelina Warren Beatty Bud Stamper Fred Stewart Del Loomis Joanna Roos Mrs. Stamper John McGovern Doc Smiley Jan Norris Juanita Howard Martine Bartlett Miss Metcalf Gary Lockwood Allen Tuttle Sandy Dennis Kay Crystal Field Hazel Marla Adams June Lynn Loring Carolyn Phyllis Diller Texas Guinan Sean Garrison Glen Mark Slade Rusty William Inge Reverend Whitman
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1961
→ pat-hingle - America America: Haven't watched this yet but I suspect I am going to fall in love with it. It's an old world/new world historical drama with an emphasis on character; right up my alley. I'll report back.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Stathis Giallelis Stavros Topouzoglou Frank Wolff Vartan Damadian Harry Davis Isaac Topouzoglou Elena Karam Vasso Topouzoglou Estelle Hemsley Grandmother Topouzoglou Gregory Rozakis Hohannes Gardashian Lou Antonio Abdul Salem Ludwig Odysseus Topouzoglou John Marley Garabet Joanna Frank Vartuhi Paul Mann Aleko Sinnikoglou Linda Marsh Thomna Sinnikoglou
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up for this movie.
Release Date: 1963
- A Letter to Elia: The collection includes an "intensely personal and deeply moving tribute" to Elia Kazan by Martin Scorsese and a coffee table type book about the films and Kazan's development. The tribute is pretty much a vanity project, but the book is interesting and the tribute is not a complete waste of time.
Labels: carroll-baker, eli-wallach, elia-kazan, film-noir1&2, gang-movie, gregory-peck, jack-palance, karl-malden, lee-j-cobb, marlon-brando, martin-scorsese, melodramaB, natalie-wood, nehemiah-persoff, pat-hingle
Sunday, December 24, 2006
The Last Temptation of Christ
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1* *2* *3*
- Commentary: I noticed, in the mentions, one of them states that Mom always thinks she wants to see this movie, then she gets bored with it. This is no longer true. It is now one that she asked after the last time we did a "jesus movie" festival, so, this year, I purchased it.
For me, as well, the more I watch the movie, the more I like it. I tend, now, to ignore the discontinuities, like yet another Nordic Jesus, Harvey Keitel as a red-headed Judas and Barbara Hershey's bee-stung lips. Especially since I've read the book, I tend to appreciate the story more for what it symbolizes rather than what it portrays.
I think what Mom likes about it is the gritty realism and the startling detail, like how the crosses are made. We watched this movie again, recently, right after I ordered it and just after a couple of other Jesus movies. It seems that each movie has its own version of how crucifixion crosses are constructed, which mom noticed this time around, which led to yet another Jesus movie festival.
The only disappointing aspect of this movie was that it promised subtitles and they may exist but they aren't listed in any of the menus so I'm not sure if listing this as a feature was an error or if there is an Easter Egg technique to cuing them. I need to check this out. It does not feature Closed Captioning. I was afraid this would be a problem for Mom but the first time we watched it after receiving it, Mom had no problem with it. This is, at any rate, primarily a visual feast for her, so I guess that's why it doesn't matter. As well, the dialogue is not mumbled or distorted by other sound tracks.
The review linked to the title of this post is an interesting view of the movie from the perspective of how it had been (up to the point of its writing) and may continue to be viewed by the religious community. It seemed to me a relevent discussion to have about it.
Roger Ebert reviewed the movie twice, once as a "regular" movie and once more as a Great Movie.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Willem Dafoe Jesus Harvey Keitel Judas Iscariot Barbara Hershey Mary Magdalene Harry Dean Stanton Saul/Paul of Tarsus David Bowie Pontius Pilate Verna Bloom Mary, Mother of Jesus Andre Gregory John the Baptist Nehemiah Persoff Rabbi Leo Marks Voice of Satan Tomas Arana Lazarus Victor Argo Peter Martin Scorsese Isaiah
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1988
Directed by Martin Scorsese.
Labels: barbara-hershey, bible-movies1, Criterion2, drama8, fantasy3, harry-dean-stanton, harvey-keitel, jesus-dvds, martin-scorsese, nehemiah-persoff, period4, religion1, shared-favorite, spiritual1, willem-dafoe




















