Tuesday, August 27, 2024
I Origins
- Commentary: This is not a typical "catch" movie (see descriptions of other of her movies below) of Brit Marling's. It hit me as a "trick" movie and left me a bit uncomfortable with the story. The elements were fine, but the design into which they were put was a little too mushy for me. Otherwise the production is top notch, as is Marling's usual. Her single job in this production was as an actor. The writer is one she's worked with before, but her own thoughtful magic was missing. Maybe that's what was wrong with this movie for me. It certainly scored well with other "members of the audience".
This movie generated three articles at RogerEbert.com. The first, linked in the title to this post, a "general review", is Brian Tallerico's. The second, also by Brian Tallerico, is an interview with Mike Cahill and Michael Pitt "dissecting" (word lifted from the title) the movie. The third, by Alan Zilberman, is a curious and very interesting meditation on the eye, Lenses and Reflections: "I Origins" and the history of the eye closeup, in film.
The eye is the subject of the movie. Why shouldn't it be the subject of an essay about the eye in film?
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 Michael Pitt Ian Gray Brit Marling Karen Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey Sofi Elizondo Steven Yeun Kenny
Archie Panjabi Priya Varma Cara Seymour Dr. Jane Simmons Venida Evans Margaret Dairy William Mapother Darryl Mackenzie
The cast also includes Kashish Kumari as Salomina.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2014
Directed by Mike Cahill.
Labels: brit-marling, drama5, fantasy2, mystery1, romance1, science-fiction1
Hanna
- Commentary: Mmm, mmm, mmm! I love this film. I know. It's not classic film art. Whatever. It just mesmerizes me from beginning to end, no matter how many times I see it, which is why I decided I need to own it. Our library has about four copies in the system, including the branch I frequent, but it is always checked out of my branch, so, when I yearn to see this movie I have to wait at least a week.
Why do I love this film? I think it's because I like to imagine myself in the heroine's shoes, scientifically altered body and brain and all. I like the fact that she is "plussed" (vs. "nonplussed") throughout, no matter what comes her way, and only slightly cracks when she hears her father being shot. She is in-the-moment-to-the-near-future to the extreme, completely, unshakeably self-possessed. I wouldn't mind being that way. As well, Cate Blanchette is terrific fun in this movie. Although some critics panned her for her over-the-top acting, she reminded me of Anthony Hopkins when he's having lots of fun acting. You know, it's funny, since I began exploring thrillers some years ago (hmmm...I guess it's been about eight years, now) I've become more critical of them, too, and can be easily bored by chase after almost-catch after narrow escape. Some critics place this movie in that category. One critic even called it "derivative", at which I wonder, derivative of what? Is there something else out there like this movie that I might love even more? If so, let me know. I'm ready. Until then, you'll find me on the floor watching Hanna.
Update 6/4/2022: No, I didn't follow the TV series Hanna, despite its increasingly good to excellent reviews. I tried, but the movie did it all for me, wrapped it up with a bow, and left the rest to my imagination, which I prefer.
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.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Saoirse Ronan Hanna Eric Bana Erik Heller Vicky Krieps Johanna Zadek Cate Blanchett Marissa Wiegler Jessica Barden Sophie Aldo Maland Miles Olivia Williams Rachel Jason Flemyng Sebastian
Release Date: 2011
Directed by Joe Wright.
Labels: action1, adventure1, cate-blanchett, drama4, fantasy1, mystery1, saoirse-ronan, science-fiction1, spy, super-hero1, suspense1, thriller1, violence2
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
Thursday, June 02, 2022
The Ghost Writer
- Commentary: Maybe it's because this is a Roman Polanski movie and I have yet to watch one of his that I don't love, but I love this movie. So well done, so intriguing, great mystery, great thriller. Come to think of it, that's a category I should add, "thriller". I'm sure I've already got some listed that I didn't think of as "thrillers" but, rather "suspense", but this is a good time to add that category, as, no matter how many times I watch this movie, it's definitely a thrill for me.
Not only was Roger Ebert surprised and pleased by this film, one of his colleagues, Jim Emerson was, as well, and weighed in twice [first article, second article] on Polanski's achievements vis a vis this movie. I can't agree with Ebert and Emerson more.
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 Ewan McGregor The Ghost Writer Pierce Brosnan Adam Peter Bennett Lang Olivia Williams Ruth Lang Kim Cattrall Amelia Bly Timothy Hutton Sidney Kroll Tom Wilkinson Paul Emmett Jon Bernthal The Ghost Writer's Agent James Belushi John Maddox Robert Pugh Richard Rycart Tim Preece Roy Quigley David Rintoul Grieving Father Eli Wallach Old Man
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2010
Directed by Roman Polanski.
Labels: adventure1, drama6, eli-wallach, mystery1, neo-noirC, political2, roman-polanski, thriller2, tom-wilkinson, tragedy1
Michael Clayton
- Commentary: I've been a shameless fan of this movie since I first saw it, as recommended by one of my sisters. Tilda Swinton, Tom Wilkinson and George Clooney are matchless, especially the first two. The story is pertinent and revealing. The production is perfect. When I subscribed to cable TV I would endlessly search this movie out, no matter how many times I'd seen it. Now, I don't have to do that, which is good since I can't.
When pulling a search for this movie on RogerEbert.com, I discovered a raft of articles written by many people at many times. This movie has apparently, captured the imagination of so many more than just me.
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 George Clooney Michael Clayton Tom Wilkinson Arthur Edens Tilda Swinton Karen Crowder Sydney Pollack Marty Bach Michael O'Keefe Barry Grissom Sean Cullen Gene Clayton Ken Howard Don North Merritt Wever Anna
Here's the Wikipedia write-up for this movie.
Release Date: 2007
Directed by Tony Gilroy.
Labels: drama6, legal, mystery1, political2, thriller2, tom-wilkinson
Copycat
- Commentary: Part of Warner Brothers 4 Film Favorites collection. It's also one of my two favorites in that collection. Both actresses, Sigourney Weaver and Holly Hunter, are great and Harry Connick, Jr. is wonderfully slithery. The sub-story of Weaver's character overcoming her extreme agoraphobia is interesting, too. If I hadn't run across this movie (collection) at Hastings' going-out-of-business sale I probably wouldn't ever look to own any of the four movies, but getting all four for much, much less than the price of one clinched the deal. The four movies in the collection are this one, Diabolique, The Crush and Pacific Heights.
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 Sigourney Weaver Dr. Helen Hudson Holly Hunter Ins. Mary Jane Monahan Dermot Mulroney Ins. Reuben Goetz Harry Connick Jr. Daryll Lee Cullum
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1995
Directed by Jon Amiel.
Labels: drama6, mystery1, popcorn-and-soda2, sigourney-weaver, thriller2
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
Diabolique - 1996
- Commentary: This is not the original 1955 Diabolique, which is cool and creepy. This is the 1996 Hollywood remake which is, eh. This may end up at the library the next time I thin my collection. Yet another in the Warner Brothers 4 Film Favorites collection. The four movies in the collection are this one, Copycat, The Crush and Pacific Heights.
Update 6/2/2022: This post was originally published on 8/14/16 but disappeared from public view. I am now reinstating it.
Update 6/2/2022: You'll notice, I never passed this movie on, as I thought I might. I kept it because I couldn't believe how many excellent actors ended up in a film that was worse than a middling remake of a very famous film. I think it's a case of all these actors needed money, thus, needed work, thus, got together and scrounged up work, without much passion but with a definite purpose. That's how things go sometimes, in every profession; why not in the entertainment profession!?! I have one other movie I can think of, right of the bat, that gave me this same feeling: Fallen. With Denzel Washington and John Goodman, no less! And, although it occurred to me that that movie was "fun to do", the performances of the actors in this one indicate to me that this one wasn't. Which is exactly why I'm keeping it. I like collecting movies for a variety of reasons, one of them being to answer the question, what's the value of a schlock movie to the actors, to the audience? Comparing these two movies tells me, it's not necessarily clear.
Although neither of these movies got good reviews, Fallen's reviews were significantly better than the reviews for this one. I'm not sure why. Perhaps it was because of Denzel Washington's and John Goodman's participation.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Sharon Stone Nicole Horner Isabelle Adjani Mia Baran Chazz Palminteri Guy Baran Kathy Bates Shirley Vogel Spalding Gray Simon Veatch Shirley Knight Edie Danziger Allen Garfield Leo Katzman Clea Lewis Lisa Campos
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1996
Directed by Jeremiah Chechik.
Labels: drama6, mystery1, popcorn-and-soda2, suspense2
The Crush
- Commentary: Yet another eh movie in the Warner Brothers 4 Film Favorites Thrillers collection. This movie was made two years before Alicia Silverstone's break-out film Clueless. Her acting ability is clear from this film but the story just didn't grab me. Another that may end up at the library. The four movies in the collection are this one, Diabolique, Copycat and Pacific Heights.
Update 7/30/21: I decided, some time ago, to keep this film because it was Silverstone's first film. Seems wise, in movie maven logic, to have a copy of it.
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 Cary Elwes Nicholas Eliot Alicia Silverstone Adrian/Darian Forrester Jennifer Rubin Amy Maddik Kurtwood Smith Cliff Forrester Gwynyth Walsh Liv Forrester Amber Benson Cheyenne Matthew Walker Michael Deborah Hancock Samantha
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1993
Directed by Alan Shapiro.
Labels: drama6, mystery1, popcorn-and-soda2, suspense2
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
Sound of My Voice
- Commentary: This is the first Brit Marling movie I sought out after having fallen for Another Earth. As before, as is true of all her work, the story is unusual and a touch unbelievable, so much so that even characters in the movie don't believe it, which leads to a "catch" at the end, a feature of many of Marling's productions. It's brooding, which also seems to be a Marling trademark, but not heavily so. After I watched this movie it occurred to me that Marling and her regular work colleagues seem to be fooling with the science-fiction/fantasy formula, adding a little here, subtracting a little there, playing around to see what's possible.
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 Christopher Denham Peter Aiken Jack Griffo Young Peter Nicole Vicius Lorna Michaelson Brit Marling Maggie Davenia McFadden Carol Briggs Kandice Stroh Joanne Richard Wharton Klaus Christy Myers Mel Alvin Lam Lam Constance Wu Christine James Urbaniak Mr. Pritchett Avery Pohl Abigail Pritchett
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2011
Directed by Zal Batmanglij.
Labels: brit-marling, drama5, fantasy2, journalism, mystery1, science-fiction1
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
Gone Girl
- Commentary: This movie has quickly become one of my all time favorites. I read the book before seeing the movie, so when I checked the movie out of the library, it was with much trepidation, all of which vanished upon watching the movie. I knew I had to own it. So well done, in all aspects, including book adaptation. Rosamunde Pike is glorious in this; a brilliant characterization of a sociopath. Despite the fact that her character is meant to be "evil", she is also strong, resilient, can take a punch and give as much as she takes. The problem is, of course, that she doesn't necessarily "give" to the people from whom she originally "took".
Update 11/17/2021: This post was originally published August 14, 2016. It was one of the accidental deletions that occurred, which is covered in this post.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Ben Affleck Nick Dunne Rosamund Pike Amy Elliott Dunne Neil Patrick Harris Desi Collings Tyler Perry Tanner Bolt Carrie Coon Margot Dunne Kim Dickens Det. Rhonda Boney Sela Ward Sharon Schieber Lola Kirke Greta
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2014
Directed by David Fincher.
Labels: ben-affleck, drama6, me-favorite1, mystery1, neo-noirC, revenge1, rosamund-pike, suspense2
Tuesday, May 25, 2021
The Attack
- Commentary: Curiously, the Wikipedia page for this movie is a sad affair. It contains not even a plot summary, just a list of the cast, some links to other films by Ziad Doueiri and a list of "External Links" to critical sites that write about this movie. In fact, there is more written about this film in the Wikipedia write-up for Zaid Doueiri, the director, than there is in Wikipedia's write-up about the movie.
I do not remember when I first saw this movie, or how. It was certainly between 2012 and now, probably on a streaming service, definitely at no charge. It seems to me that it may have been within the last five years. I also have a vague recollection of watching it at least twice, perhaps more.
This is a haunting movie that I should have included in my list of Movies I've Seen, Do Not Own but Can't Forget, as I think about it often. This movie lays out a peculiar story about a Palestinian-Islamic physician practicing in Israel whose Palestinian Orthodox Catholic wife is killed in a terrorist bombing. The physician discovers something about his wife's death that horrifies and befuddles him. The bulk of the movie documents his journey to understand her and Israel's and Palestine's roles in her death.
There are no simple answers in this movie, for either the physician or the audience. It will keep you ruminating about The Human Condition long after you've completed watching the movie. In this sense, it is a priviledge for every member of the audience to be invited along on this physician's journey to discover the truth about his wife's life and death, and more. The number of labels I've appended to this film should be an indication of its overwhelming impact.
Finally, if you are in doubt about the impact this film may have on you, read this eloquent review by someone unknown to me who was also gob-smacked by this film.
Warning: This is not a popcorn-and-soda movie. Prepare to be moved, not entertained.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Ali Suliman Amin Jaafari Reymond Amsalem Siham Jaafari Evgenia Dodina Kim Dvir Benedek Raveed Uri Gavriel Captain Moshe Ruba Salameh Faten Karim Saleh Adel Nisrin Siksik Leila Bassem Lulu Yasser Ezra Dagan Ezra Benhaim Ramzi Maqdisi Priest Arieh Worthalter The Man
Release Date: 2012
Directed by Ziad Doueiri.
Labels: drama1, film-art1, haunting1, me-favorite1, mystery1, political1, psychological1, reflective, spiritual1, tragedy1, violence1
Saturday, May 22, 2021
The Wrong Man
- Commentary: This movie was originally listed in the post Movies I've Seen, Do Not Own but Can't Forget. It was the first movie listed. As of today, I own it. Although I'll write more once I've watched the movie as my property (which I expect to do tonight), in the meantime I want to append what I wrote when I was jonesing for this movie:
I saw this movie, initially, with my mom, probably on TCM, since, during her life, we had a cable TV subscription. It's been over a decade since I've had access to TCM, but it hasn't been that long since I've seen this movie. It initially intrigued me because I have had dental problems all my life. As a non-dependent adult, some of those problems have been exacerbated because dental care is too expensive for me to afford. This is part of the initial reason why Henry Fonda's character in this movie ends up in a position to be mis-identified by the police. Although the rest of the movie is thoroughly engrossing, this minor fact is what drew me into watching this movie more than once. I was, frankly, gob-smacked that inability to afford dental care was a rampant problem in 1956! Everyone, in these days of rallying for Medicare for All, rants about the disgusting inequity of health care in the U.S. Why does no one, anywhere in the world, rant about the long-standing unaffordability of dental care?
There. That's done. More later.
Update 5/24/21: After having watched this movie last night, start to finish, I'm not sure I ever watched it in its entirety before. I discovered that I didn't remember quite a bit of it.
What a movie! The story is subtly told. Henry Fonda's performance is appropriately understated. For most of the movie he looks like Everyman in a Stupor, and that's not a dis, that's a high compliment, as, how else could one look as someone who is, indeed, "The Wrong Man"?!? Balestrero, as played by Fonda, when being confronted by this absurd accusation, never, ever looks like he finally "gets it". When he is pulled back into his normal life, as he is often throughout the film, he looks and acts and appears to think like a normal working guy with a wife and family. When he becomes The Wrongly Accused, he is perpetually dumbfounded. It is hard not to think that, if he had not had a normal, job-home-family life to consistently fall back into, he would have gone as crazy as his wife. The three main lighting contrasts, sharp-dark for the accusation scenes, brightly lit for the home and personal investigative scenes and a kind of anticipatory light gray for the courtroom and lawyer's office scenes, are revelatory in themselves. The scenes with his lawyer and in the courtroom are especially delicious because he is in a legal situation in which he has no way of helping himself, and this is dramatised beautifully.
I have to say, after watching it last night I think, if I had watched the movie before, it was likely snippets, during my companionship with my mother, never beginning to end, as I experienced it last night. It's impossible not to feel the jaws of a trap not set for Balestrero closing around Balestrero's soul.
I have to admit to some disbelief of Rose Balestrero's reaction, although, since it's the telling of a true story, I suppose her reaction and her subsequent predicament happened. Perhaps I was raised in the wrong era. I can not only not imagine myself reacting that way to my husband being wrongly accused and tried, I know no one for whom Rose Balestrero's behavior would emerge in any situation, let alone one like this. I wonder if that's one of the differences of women being raised in an environment that emphasizes domesticity versus my having been raised in an environment that emphasized women's full participation in society (despite the fact that this was only partially achieved).
Wonderful production, astonishing story (which the epilogue makes clear is, in fact, a true story), well acted, well staged, well directed, well produced, well done! This may not be the scariest movie Hitchcock ever made (although I'm willing to bet that, for people who have been through similar circumstances, it might be, and, as well, it packs the extra punch of being true), but it's way up there. Bravo, Alfred!
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Henry Fonda Christopher Emmanuel Balestrero Vera Miles Rose Balestrero Anthony Quayle Frank O'Connor Harold J. Stone Det. Lt. Bowers Charles Cooper Det. Matthews John Hildebrand Tomasini Esther Minciotti Mama Balestrero Doreen Lang Ann James Laurinda Barrett Constance Willis Norma Connolly Betty Todd Nehemiah Persoff Gene Conforti Lola D'Annunzio Olga Conforti Werner Klemperer Dr. Bannay Bonnie Franklin Young Girl Tuesday Weld Giggly Girl Harry Dean Stanton Dept. of Corrections Employee
Here's the Wikipedia write-up on the movie.
Release Date: 1956
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock.
Labels: alfred-hitchcock, drama1, film-noir1, harry-dean-stanton, henry-fonda, melodramaC, mystery1, nehemiah-persoff, psychological1, suspense1, thriller1, tuesday-weld
Saturday, May 15, 2021
The Last Wave
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: This movie has haunted me since I saw it when it was first released. My mother has watched it a couple of times with me. She likes the background digideroo music, the otherworldliness of the movie...but she's not interested in trying to make sense of it. Neither am I, so we just watch it in awe on a fairly frequent basis.
Update 5/15/21: This post was originally published on February 9th, 2005. I had to replace it because some glitches had developed in its labels and it wasn't coming up when I corralled most of the labels applied to it. Everything is working fine, now.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Richard Chamberlain David Burton Olivia Hamnett Annie Burton David Gulpilil Chris Lee Fred Parslow Reverend Burton Vivean Gray Dr. Whitburn Nandjiwarra Amagula Charlie Walter Amagula Jerry Lee Roy Bara Larry
Here's the Wikipedia write-up for this movie.
Release Date: 1977
Directed by Peter Weir.
Labels: apocalyptic, Criterion1, drama1, dream1, fantasy1, haunting1, me-favorite1, mystery1, peter-weir
Wednesday, January 22, 2020
The Red Violin
- Commentary: I didn't buy this movie for the story, I bought it for the music and the performance of Joshua Bell, but I enjoy the story well enough and will likely watch it, again. It's lively, involving, wide-ranging and, for the most part, the actors are good, if a bit hammy. And, it's not the story of people, really, it's the story of a musical instrument and, desire for, as Samuel Jackson's character says, (I paraphrase) the desire for perfection and beauty, for which we all yearn and which is curious and provocative to contemplate. The movie case says the violin has a "shocking secret", but it's not shocking to me, just delightfully surprising.
The score won an Academy Award in 1998; that is how I learned of the movie. The score is full of beautiful classical-standard-sounding pieces, all written by John Corigliano [see, also Wise Music's page on John Corigliano or, if you prefer, his Wikipedia page, which is surprisingly sparse, considering his accomplishments], a much lauded composer who, at this writing, is alive and continuing to compose and teach. I heard the intriguing music before I knew anything about the story contained in the movie.
I think, as well, this movie is one my mother would have absolutely loved, dementia-lite or not. And, yes, I continue to enjoy watching movies that my mother loved or I think she would have loved. These movies bring my mother back into the living room, into her rocking chair, next to me, whenever I watch them.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Samuel L. Jackson Charles Morritz Colm Feore Auctioneer Carlo Cecchi Nicolò Bussotti Irene Grazioli Anna Rudolfi Bussotti Christoph Koncz Kaspar Weitz Jean-Luc Bideau Georges Poussin Jason Flemyng Frederick Pope Greta Scacchi Victoria Byrd Joshua Bell 1st Violin Sylvia Chang Xiang Pei/Her Mother) Liu Zifeng Zhou Yuan Sandra Oh Madame Ming
Here's the Wikipedia write-up for this film.
Release Date: 1998
Directed by François Girard.
Labels: adventure2, drama2, historical1, musical1, mystery1, samuel-l-jackson
Thursday, August 08, 2019
Laura
- Commentary: This is the movie for which I bought the four-pack mentioned in the immediately previous post. I love this movie. I love the ambience and the mystery. I love that Laura isn't seen until the end of the movie. I love that the mystery woman doesn't know she's a mystery woman. I love the lanky, devil-may-care attitude of the man for whom Laura has become a mystery. Of course, they do make them "like this, anymore", but, whenever I watch and fall in love with an "old" move like this, I am ever grateful for DVD (et al) technology.
P. S.: With this movie, I am initiating the category "detective". Not sure why I never thought of categorizing by that, before. I'm sure I must have movies that would fit nicely into that category. I only thought of it because this movie, however mysterious it may be, has a somewhat gentler presentation than a standard "thriller" or "suspense", but is something more than a "mystery". The story of the effort to "detect" Laura is the whole story.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Gene Tierney Laura Hunt Dana Andrews Mark McPherson Clifton Webb Waldo Lydecker Vincent Price Shelby Carpenter Judith Anderson Ann Treadwell Dorothy Adams Bessie Clary Ralph Dunn Fred Callahan Clyde Fillmore Ad Agency Owner
One of Roger Ebert's Great Movies.
In case you're curious, here's a link to the Wikipedia article about this movie.
Release Date: 1944
Directed by Otto Preminger.
Labels: detective1, drama3, film-noir1, melodramaA, mystery1, romance1
Gaslight
- Commentary: Of course I was bound to own this movie! I am, after all a self-respecting movie maven-of-sorts. And, of course, it is this version I chose to own. Ingrid Bergman; Angela Lansbury; Charles Boyer; Joseph Cotten. Are you kidding? Is there any other version?!?
This movie is not only a pure delight of a thriller, for me, I love the way it's done. The planning of the contrasts between outside and inside, light and dark, expansive and claustrophobic, are, yes, thrilling for me to watch. Angela Lansbury is a delicious tart. Ingrid Bergman is a surprisingly unshrinking violet. Charles Boyer plays against type so well, it's hard to remember his performances as a romantic male lead.
The main reason I thought to buy it recently is because of the current craze for using the word "gaslight" and its derivatives, especially in news and commentary. When I hear these young ones using it, I chuckle internally. I'm sure a majority of these earnest politicos have no idea of the term's derivation. In fact, when I watch this movie, I often think of my niece, who shares my love of movies (and is an actor) and I partly bought the movie so I would have it the next time she visits because, you know, she's of the generation of people who is tossing this term around and I have a sneaking suspicion she doesn't know where it comes from.
To this day, an utter gem of a movie. And, yes, the site to which I linked the title of this post gives a review of both the 1940 and 1944 movies. Mine is the 1944 version with Ingrid Bergman, although I've wished to see the 1940 one, just out of curiosity.
By the way, I've linked Bergman's name to an article featuring interviews of three people done for Roger Ebert's site in 2015.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Charles Boyer Gregory Anton/Sergis Bauer Ingrid Bergman Paula Alquist Anton Joseph Cotton Brian Cameron Dame May Whitty Bessie Thwaites Angela Lansbury Nancy Oliver Barbara Everest Elizabeth Tompkins Emil Rameau Maestro Guardi Edmund Breon General Huddleston Halliwell Hobbes Mr. Mufflin Heather Thatcher Lady Mildred Dalroy Lawrence Grossmith Lord Freddy Dalroy Jakob Gimpel Pianist
As well, just in case, here's the Wikipedia write up to this particular film.
Release Date: 1944
Directed by George Cukor.
Labels: angela-lansbury, drama3, film-noir1, ingrid-bergman, melodramaA, mystery1, period1, suspense1, thriller1
Sunday, November 20, 2016
Winter's Bone
- 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
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Fracture
- Who's watched: Watched and bought this movie AMD
- Mentions: none
- Commentary: It seems that this movie was released a good year before Mom died, but I didn't hear of it or see it until a few years after she died. Aside from the fact that the story is a nail-biter no matter how many times I see it, it is pure pleasure for me to watch the astonishing, perfect chemistry between Anthony Hopkins and Ryan Gosling, over and over and over and over ...
I'm sorry my mother never saw this. Despite being a "pure soul", she loved a good murder mystery, which explains her addiction to Murder, She Wrote, the twistier the better. I also like a good murder mystery, but Murder, She Wrote wasn't twisty enough for me. This movie is.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Anthony Hopkins Theodore Crawford Ryan Gosling William Beachum David Strathairn DA Joe Lobruto Rosamund Pike Nikki Gardner Embeth Davidtz Jennifer Crawford Billy Burke Lt. Rob Nunally Fiona Shaw Judge Robinson Bob Gunton Judge Frank Gardner
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2007
Directed by Gregory Hoblit.
Labels: anthony-hopkins, bob-gunton, david-strathairn, drama6, me-favorite2, mystery1, rosamund-pike, suspense2
