Sunday, November 27, 2022
The Trap
- Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Rita Tushingham Eve Oliver Reed La Bete Rex Sevenoaks Trader Barbara Chilcott Trader's Wife Linda Goranson Trader's Daughter Blaine Fairman Clerk Walter Marsh Preacher Joseph Golland Baptiste
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1966
Directed by Sidney Hayers.
Labels: adventure4, goflexB, oliver-reed, romance5
Thursday, August 04, 2022
The Brood
- Commentary: Immediately upon its release, this movie polarized critics. Roger Ebert not only hated it and gleefully gave it one star but found it worthy of several paragraphs expressing his disgust. In the meantime, other critics felt they "got" it and praised it while others scribbled confused and fascinated essays about it. The film was anything but ignored. Peter Sobczynski delineates the volatile history of reaction to this movie in his very interesting essay on its reactionary history which I recommend you read if you've watched, or been curious about, this movie.
I haven't yet watched the movie but have known about it, seemingly, forever. More later when I've seen it, thus, this post continues under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Oliver Reed Dr. Hal Raglan Samantha Eggar Nola Carveth Art Hindle Frank Carveth Henry Beckman Baron Kelly Nuala Fitzgerald Juliana Kelly Susan Hogan Ruth Mayer Cindy Hinds Candice Carveth Gary McKeehan Mike Trellan Michael Magee Inspector Robert A. Silverman Jan Hartog Larry Solway Lawyer Nicholas Campbell Chris
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1979
Directed by David Cronenberg.
Labels: §4, dramaF, horror2, oliver-reed, psychological2, science-fiction2, suspense3, thriller3, violence4
Monday, May 09, 2022
Gladiator
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1* *2* *3*
- Commentary: As covered in one of the above Mentions, this movie was suggested by MFS. I was surprised at how much Mom loved it. I enjoy it, too. It's yet another spectacle movie for me (I should create a "spectacle" category, shouldn't I...I think I will, then add to it later) and I love a variety of the acting performances in this movie, particularly (but not solely) Richard Harris as Marcus Aurelius. Before he ever says anything in the movie his acting makes many aspects of Marcus Aurelius' character clear. We watched this movie on TV several times, in "to-fit-your-screen" format, before I finally purchased it. Much better in widescreen. On a whim, I watched the movie last night. I continue to find it supremely entertaining; and, as well, now that Mom's dead, surprisingly emotional, specifically at the end when Juba says, as he buries Maximus' personal idols, "I will see you again, but not yet." If you have any interest in this movie, I urge you to click into the link to the title of the movie, above, which will send you to a thorough and compelling critique of the historicity of the movie. Believe me, despite the astonishing number of historical inaccuracies in the movie, the critique renders watching the movie even more enjoyable.
Update 2/7/18: So much has been written about this film since it aired. Quite a bit has been dumped, as well, including the link I had originally attached to the title above. I've attached another which may be helpful but, just in case, here's the Wikipedia link for Gladiator which may be a good starting place if you're interested in historicity research.
Update 8/2/21: The link I attached in 2018 still holds strong, is still remarkably interesting, and even has a comment attached. Take advantage of it before it disappears into the oligarchic ether.
Update 5/23/22: Another post I managed to disappear. It's original publication date is 4/9/09.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Russell Crowe Maximus Decimus Meridius Joaquin Phoenix Commodus Connie Nielsen Lucilla Oliver Reed Antonio Proximo Derek Jacobi Senator Gracchus Djimon Hounsou Juba Richard Harris Marcus Aurelius Ralf Möller Hagen Tommy Flanagan Cicero David Schofield Senator Falco John Shrapnel Senator Gaius Tomas Arana General Quintus Spencer Treat Clark Lucius Verus David Hemmings Cassius Sven-Ole Thorsen Tigris of Gaul Giannina Facio Maximus's wife Omid Djalili Slave Trader Giorgio Cantarini Maximus's son Adam Levy Condemned Officer David J. Nicholls Giant Man
Release Date: 2000
Directed by Ridley Scott.
Labels: action3, adventure3, derek-jacobi, drama7, historical2, joaquin-phoenix, oliver-reed, period3, political3, revenge1, richard-harris, ridley-scott, russell-crowe, shared-favorite, spectacle1, suspense2, violence3, war1
Friday, March 09, 2007
The Bible Series
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This set contains the stories of three Old Testament characters and a review of the first book of the Old Testament:
Esther [Directed by Raffaele Mertes; Release Date: 1999; Wikipedia link]
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Louise Lombard Hadassah/Esther F. Murray Abraham Mordecai Jürgen Prochnow Haman Thomas Kretschmann King Ahasuerus Ornella Muti Vashti Umberto Orsini Memucan Darren Branstord Nehemiah Natasha Williams Mimouna
→ f-murray-abraham
Jeremiah [Directed by Harry Winer; Release Date: 1998; Wikipedia link]
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Patrick Dempsey Jeremiah Oliver Reed General Safan Andrea Occhipinti King Joiakim Vincent Regan King Zedekiah Leonor Varela Judith Klaus Maria Brandauer King Nebuchadnezzar Stuart Bunce Baruch Jolyon Stephenson Ebed Melech
→ oliver-reed
Solomon [Directed by Roger Young; Relase Date: 1997; Wikipedia link]
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Ben Cross Solomon Anouk Aimée Bathsheba Max von Sydow David Ivan Kaye Adonijah Maria Grazia Cucinotta Abishag Umberto Orsini Nathan Roger Hammond Zadok Pete Lee-Wilson Ahlijah
Genesis: The Creation and the Flood [Directed by Ermanno Olmi; Release Date: 1994; Wikipedia link].
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Paul Scofield Narrator Omero Antonutti Noah Sabir Aziz Adam Haddou Zoubida Eve Annabi Abdelialil Cain B. Haddan Mohammed Abel
Mom is, of course, transfixed by all the movies. My personal favorite is the story of Solomon, although I appreciate the production of Esther's story, especially after having seen One Night with the King. It is this series and The Bible Collection that prompted me to institute a new label, "bible-movies", as these don't quite fit in the category of "jesus-dvds".
Update 8/2/21: (My late mother's birthday, by the way: Happy Birthday, Mom!): I hesitate to mention this, but, if something of my mother continues to exist and is aware of me, she'll be pleased that I continue to watch all the movies in this assortment and The Bible Collection religiously (forgive the pun) throughout every year with much enjoyment, even though I am an agnostic atheist. That's how well done they are.
Labels: bible-movies1, f-murray-abraham, max-von-sydow, oliver-reed, religion1
