Friday, March 09, 2007
On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: I was surprised to see that I mentioned this movie in my journals, albeit some time ago. I'd forgotten about it until some cable channel showed it not too long ago, I clicked into it and Mom was not only thoroughly entertained by it but enjoyed the idea that time can collapse forward as well as backward. It's very dated, true, and the singing is not well woven into the movie, but Streisand's performance, especially as her re- and pre-incarnated personalities, is riveting. Jack Nicholson has a forgotten part in this movie, as well, which renders it fun to watch, simply because he participated in this movie long before he became known for his portrayals of ticklish, "Nicholsonian" characters.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Barbra Streisand Daisy Gamble/Lady Tentrees Yves Montand Marc Chabot Larry Blyden Warren Pratt Bob Newhart Dr. Mason Hume Simon Oakland Dr. Conrad Fuller John Richardson Sir Robert Tentrees Jack Nicholson Tad Pringle Mabel Albertson Mrs. Hatch
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1970
Directed by Vincente Minnelli.
Labels: barbra-streisand, coming-of-age1, dramedy1, fantasy2, jack-nicholson, period4, popcorn-and-soda3
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Secondhand Lions
- Who's watched: Both, partially
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: Yes, although we haven't completely watched it, we own it. This is the movie with which MCF gifted us and tried to get Mom and me to watch over Christmas. Mom fell asleep on the couch. I saw parts of it and began to understand why they raved about it. I think we will enjoy this movie, too, and watch it again. From what I saw, it reminds me a little of Holes in structure, but I may be mistaken about that. Hmmm...today seems like I good day to watch this for the first time. If anything else strikes me about this movie and/or Mom's reaction to it, I'll be back. Please note, the labeling is pre-viewing.
Update 2/9/18: We never watched it. After Mom died, I didn't watch it, even though I noted that Roger Ebert liked it. Maybe it's the material. Maybe girls-and-aunts is a completely different world than that of boys-and-uncles, although I didn't much like How to Make an American Quilt, either. So, maybe not. I mean, there are plenty of guy-movies that I love, some of which are my favorites. One thing I know, I haven't, and won't, be checking this out of the library,where I took it, out of curiosity.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Haley Joel Osment Walter Caldwell Robert Duvall Hub McCann Michael Caine Garth McCann Kyra Sedgwick Mae Caldwell
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2003
Directed by Tim McCanlies.
Labels: adventure3, buddy, dramedy2, michael-caine, period4, road-movie, robert-duvall
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Mary, Mother of Jesus
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This one is a bit of a surprise. We discovered it one evening while searching through the channels looking for movies. Mom's eyes latched onto the title and we clicked into it, then caught a later run to catch what we'd missed. It's a made-for-TV movie that is more about Mary's imagined influence in Jesus' life than it is about Jesus. It was made by the Kennedy family, to what purpose I'm not sure, but it's intriguing, especially the parts that suggest that the parables of Jesus were actually stories Mary told Jesus, when he was a child, in order to illustrate ethical and moral values. I found the first viewing fascinating but quickly realized it wouldn't be one that I'd watch repeatedly. Mom, though, was quite taken with it and requested that we add it to our collection, so that's what I did. It's been watched once again since it arrived, and, again, Mom said, "I think we should get a copy of that movie." I reminded her that we did, and she just watched it. Interestingly, it reminded me of Anne Rice's book, Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt. I wonder if either influenced the other.
It reminded me that the theaters are currently featuring a new movie about Mary's story, so to speak, The Nativity Story. I imagine, when that's in DVD once we've rented it, Mom will want that one added to our collection, as well.
I don't think this movie was seen by a lot of people, so few are the reviews for it. Mary Movies, though, come and go, as we are reminded in this article about the plethora of Mary Movies, published, unsurprisingly, in the Catholic Digest. Despite what may seem like an obvious pairing, the article is actually quite informative about Mary Movies.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Christian Bale Jesus of Nazareth Toby Bailiff Young Jesus Pernilla August Mary of Nazareth David Threlfall Joseph of Nazareth Simone Bendix Mary Magdalene Robert Addie Pontius Pilate Edward Hardwicke Zechariah Hywel Bennett Herod Geraldine Chaplin Elizabeth Christopher Routh John the Baptist Andrew Grainger Barrabas John Light Archangel Gabriel
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1999
Directed by Kevin Connor.
Labels: bible-movies1, christian-bale, jesus-dvds, period4, religion1
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
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
The Greatest Story Ever Told
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: Yet another one of Mom's "jesus-dvds" (I use this term tongue-in-cheek, as I also consider The Ten Commandments a "jesus-dvd"). I didn't think we'd ever own it because the last time we watched it on TV I noticed there were no English subtitles, which is essential for my mother's enjoyment of any movie. I found a cheap copy of it at the grocery store today, though, with closed captioning (although no English subtitles, which is unfortunate since closed captioning is sometimes kind of iffy on our set) so decided I'd get it for Mom. I think this is one of her favorites of this genre; not because it features yet another Nordic Jesus, but because of the scope and grand presentation. And, it's length. Weighty movies work better for her when they go to extreme lengths. This is not my favorite, but I am attracted to it's spectacle.
Now all we need to do is procure a copy of The Last Temptation of Christ [we finally did procure a copy of this movie] and Mom will figure we're set.
Update 2/7/18: Yes, I donated this movie to my local library. In the end, I knew I would never watch it again. Funny, because there are several jesus-dvds and bible epics in my/our collection that I enjoy, even when they are clearly cheesy. But this one? No can do. Sorry, Mom.
Update 5/16/2022: The cast in this movie is stupendous. Take a look at the Wikipedia segment about it; not the listing, but the paragraph below. An even better, more complete, list is the one at IMDb, as it attaches more actors to their roles than Wikipedia. It's a lot of fun to go through it. It was as though the production company decided to corral every actor signed to the overseeing studio into one movie before they started dying off. I mean, Pat Boone as The Angel at the Tomb? Really? Clearly, I mean, clearly a vanity project, and an unsuccessful one, at that. But, Mom loved it. I have a feeling there were, and are, a lot of Christian women "of a certain age" that feel the same.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Max von Sydow Jesus Dorothy McGuire The Virgin Mary Charlton Heston John the Baptist Claude Rains Herod the Great José Ferrer Herod Antipas Telly Savalas Pontius Pilate Martin Landau Caiaphas David McCallum Judas Iscariot Donald Pleasence The Dark Hermit - Satan Michael Anderson Jr. James the Less Roddy McDowall Matthew Joanna Dunham Mary Magdalene Joseph Schildkraut Nicodemus Ed Wynn Old Aram Pat Boone Angel at the Tomb Shelley Winters Woman Who Is Healed
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1965
Directed by George Stevens.
Labels: bible-movies1, charlton-heston, claude-rains, drama8, jesus-dvds, max-von-sydow, mom-favorite1, period4, spectacle2, van-heflin
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Dr. Strangelove
- Who's watched: G, I think
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: My confession is this: I think I've probably seen this entire movie, but I've never seen the entire movie in one sitting. I have memories of seeing parts of it while watching a football game. Weird, I know.
I got it because this, also, was at a very low sale price, not Costco, and I have, for some time, very much wanted to see the movie of a piece.
I don't think my mother has ever seen the movie, in whole or part, and I don't think it would command her attention. I think she'd consider it boring.
Aside from the review linked to the title of this post, which is excellent, I'm sure you won't be surprised to know that this movie has also been reviewed more than a few times by Roger Ebert's site. This paragraph will contain all those writings I consider pertinent: initial review (remember, Ebert was 12 when the movie was first released); Great Movies review; a 2018 re-review of the film and it's relevance today and to ex-President Trump.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Peter Sellers Cpt. Lionel Mandrake Peter Sellers U. S. Pres. Merkin Muffley Peter Sellers Dr. Strangelove George C. Scott Gen. Buck Turgidson Sterling Hayden Brig. Gen. Jack D. Ripper Keenan Wynn Col. Bat Guano Jack Creley Mr. Staines Slim Pickens Mjr. T. J. "King" Kong Peter Bull Alexei de Sadeski James Earl Jones Lt. Lothar Zogg Tracy Reed Miss Scott Shane Rimmer Cpt. Ace Owens
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1964
Directed by Stanley Kubrick.
Labels: apocalyptic, nuclear, period4, political3, satire2, stanley-kubrick, war2
Saturday, November 11, 2006
The Man Who Would Be King
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: I didn't know about this movie version of Rudyard Kipling's story (which I read some time in late high school, I think, in a collection of short stories, and remained haunted by it) until te late 1970's when the sister of a good friend of mine told me of the movie, extolled it's virtues, told me it was her "favorite", that it was showing on television that night and persuaded me to watch it. I was enchanted. Not only did the half remembered story come back to me in full, the movie overshadowed the story, for me, so well is it done. It is a movie I've never forgotten. A few years after I came to live with Mom and we began renting movies, I scoured several video stores before I found it. Mom loved it, too. I've rented it since, a couple of times, so I was thrilled when I ran across a copy of it. I was determined to buy it, cheap or not, as long as it was letter-boxed, which it was.
The presentation is sparkling, but, being a very cheap version, the movie is cut in two; half on one side of the DVD, half on the other. This surprised us wen we watched it this afternoon. "I don't remember it having an intermission," I said.
"I couldn't tell you," responded Mom, "I don't believe I've ever seen this movie."
Good. I can get away with watching it a few more times before she becomes suspicious!
For the curious and uninformed, while looking for links about the movie I came across the original short story here.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Sean Connery Daniel Dravot Michael Caine Peachy Carnehan Christopher Plummer Rudyard Kipling Saeed Jaffrey Billy Fish Shakira Caine Roxanne Doghmi Larbi Ootah Jack May District Commissioner Karroom Ben Bouih Kafu Salim
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1975
Directed by John Huston.
Labels: adventure3, christopher-plummer, drama8, haunting2, michael-caine, period4, popcorn-and-soda3, shared-favorite
The Ten Commandments
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1* *2* *3* *4* *5*
- Commentary: Although I can't remember my journal comments, I'm sure, if you're even a semi-regular reader of my journal(s) about my mother, you know that this is one of my mother's all time favorites, and I've come to enjoy it, as well. I love the opulence, the story, the acting and the sets. I am proud to say that I can quote dialog from this movie. I never get tired of my mother wanting to see this movie. Each time she decides to watch this movie, the chances always become excellent that I will drop what I'm doing and join her.
Update 2/10/18: For fun, I thought I'd link the title of this write-up to the original 1956 review of this movie in the New York Times.
Update 8/19/19: I just discovered, to my dismay, that the old title link to the original NYT review of this movie dead-ended; so, I looked up the review and attached the new link. Just in case, though, I am appending the entire November 9, 1956, review (by Bosley Crowther) below. Take note of the opening sentence, it's quite interesting. So is the later commentary on the special effects in the movie:
"AGAINST the raw news of modern conflict between Egypt and Israel—a conflict that has its preamble in the Book of Exodus—Cecil B. De Mille's "The Ten Commandments" was given its world première last night at the Criterion Theatre, and the coincidence was profound. For Mr. De Mille's latest rendering of Biblical literature in the spectacular framing and colloquial idiom of the screen tells an arresting story of Moses, the ancient Israelite who was a slave with his people in Egypt and who struggled to set them free.
"As Mr. De Mille presents it in this three-hour-and-thirty-nine-minute film, which is by far the largest and most expensive that he has ever made, it is a moving story of the spirit of freedom rising in a man, under the divine inspiration of his Maker. And, as such, it strikes a ringing note today.
"But aside from the timely arrival and contemporary context of this film, it is also a rather handsome romance in Mr. De Mille's best massive style. To the fundamental story of Moses, as told in the Old Testament and reflected in other ancient writings consulted by Mr. De Mille, he and his corps of screen playwrights have added some frank apocrypha which, while they may not be traceable in history (or even in legend), make for a robust tale.
"In this imaginative recount, Moses is raised as a prince in the palace of Egypt's Pharaoh, after being found, as the Bible tells, by the Pharaoh's daughter in the bullrushes, where he was hidden by his mother, a Hebrew slave. And as a presumed Egyptian, he is a candidate for the Pharaoh's throne and a rival for the love of a luscious princess with the Pharaoh's own son Rameses.
"As one might well imagine, the plot-minded Mr. De Mille does not pass lightly or briefly over this phase of his tale. Moses, as played by Charlton Heston, is a handsome and haughty young prince who warrants considerable attention as a heroic man of the ancient world. And Anne Baxter as the sensual princess and Yule Brynner as the rival, Rameses, are unquestionably apt and complementary to a lusty and melodramatic romance.
"But the story is brought back to contact with the Bible and with its inspirational trend when Moses discovers, acknowledges and is exiled from Egypt because of his Hebraic birth. Then Mr. De Mille, who, incidentally, acts as narrator for his film in many of its more exalted stretches, takes him into the wilderness and establishes his contact with his Maker, which leads to the Exodus and the Covenant on Mount Sinai.
"In the latter phases of the drama, wherein the impulse to set his people free from the bondage of Egypt flames in Moses, the spiritual and supernatural surge comes somewhat bluntly in the picture, and the performance of such awesome miracles as the crossing of the Red Sea and the burning of the Ten Commandments into the tablets of stone may strike the less devout viewer as a bit mechanical and abrupt.
"Also, and with all due regard for the technical difficulties besetting Mr. De Mille, we must say his special effects department was not up to sets or costumes. The parting of the Red Sea is an obvious piece of camera trickery in which two churning walls of water frame a course as smooth and dry as a race track. And the striking off of the Ten Commandments by successive thunderbolts, while a deep voice intones their contents is disconcertingly mechanical.
"However, in its other technical aspects—in its remarkable settings and décor, including an overwhelming facade of the Egyptian city from which the Exodus begins, and in the glowing Technicolor in which the picture is filmed—Mr. De Mille has worked photographic wonders. And his large cast of characters is very good, from Sir Cedric Hardwicke as a droll and urbane Pharaoh to Edward G. Robinson as a treacherous overlord. Yvonne DeCarlo as the Midianite shepherdess to whom Moses is wed is notably good in a severe role, as is John Derek as a reckless Joshua.
"This is unquestionably a picture to which one must bring something more than a mere wish for entertainment in order to get a full effect from it. But for those to whom its fundamentalism will be entirely credible, it should be altogether thrilling and perhaps even spiritually profound."
The title link to the NYT article that ran when the movie premiered, is back, again, and appears to be generally available to all digital readers of NYT, not just subscribers. I'm not sure why, and I don't trust it, so, just in case, I'm keeping this link in reserve.
As an aside, from a Special Feature which accompanies the DVD of the movie, Charlton Heston tells viewers that he also voiced God in the movie, and gives an interesting reason: He imagined that the voice of God would come from within oneself and would, therefore, sound like oneself.
Update 6/22/2022 Regarding the voice of God: Although there is considerable confusion online about who voiced God in this movie, what finally seems apparent is that God was voiced by more than one actor. Jesse Delos Jewkes definitely voiced God in the Ten Commandments Tablet scene. [See, also, this article about Jesse Delos Jewkes.] Charlton Heston, in an interview available on my "Special Edition" copy of the movie, said that he was the voice of God; it seems apparent that, for the Burning Bush scene, he probably was (which is confirmed in the Wikipedia article about this movie). Other sources credit Cecil B. DeMille as voicing God in certain segments of the movie, but I cannot find anything authoritative to confirm this. Perhaps we will never know, for sure, how many actors voiced God in this movie and who all of them were.
Yet another link, if you can handle it. Aside from the DVD Savant review I linked in the title, he wrote another review when the blu-ray edition was released with an extra 11 minutes of footage added to the film. I think. I'm not sure. That might be an extra 11 minutes of special features. At any rate, although some of the review is repetitive, it also adds knowledge and perspective, having been written 7 years after his initial review. So, I'm including it in the immediately previous link.
My Final Commentary 8/19/19: I don't consider it true that "one must bring something more than a mere wish for entertainment in order to get a full effect" of the movie. I was not a god-believer when I initially saw the movie and have not been since. The movie's "full effect", however, subsumes me every time I watch it. In fact, after having updated this post, I'm thinking, this afternoon might be a good time for me to watch the movie, again. Just for fun, and to enjoy that subsumation experience, once again.
My Absolute Final Commentary 6/21/2022: I'm about a third of the way through a special on YouTube about the making of The Ten Commandments - 1956. Watching it reminded me of some family history surrounding this movie that I want to record. This movie is the very first DVD that Mom and I obtained. At that time, neither of us had any idea that we would build a large collection around it. One year, I'm not sure which year but it was definitely post 1997 (when she bought the house in Prescott, in which I continue to reside), MFS sent us a coupon for Blockbuster Video in celebration of some holiday or birthday or something-or-other. Mom and I initially figured we'd use it to rent movies, since we'd established a habit of doing this in Mesa and Prescott. Mom sent me to the store while she begged off by saying, "I feel a nap coming on. Get something good for tonight." When I discovered that The Ten Commandments - 1956 was on sale and fit right into the budget established by the gift certificate from MFS, I realized I had a decision to make. I knew that this was a movie that both Mom and I would want to see again and again and decided, instead of renting a few movies that we may or may not watch before they were due back, to buy this movie. I remember Mom being very excited about my choice of "rental" and even more excited when I told her I out-right bought it so we could watch it whenever we wanted. That's where, and how, our movie collection began. From that point on Mom's preference was to own, not to rent, and I had no quarrel with that decision. No, Virginia, I don't remember what our second movie purchase was. It doesn't matter, really. With this movie, alone, our collection was off and running.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Charlton Heston Moses/Voice of God Sir Cedric Hardwicke Seti I Yul Brynner Rameses II Anne Baxter Nefretiri Edward G. Robinson Dathan Yvonne De Carlo Sephora Debra Paget Lilia John Derek Joshua Nina Foch Bithiah Martha Scott Yochabel Judith Anderson Memnet Vincent Price Baka John Carradine Aaron Olive Deering Miriam Eduard Franz Jethro John Miljan The Blind One
Here is the Wikipedia article about the movie, just in case.
Release Date: 1956
Directed and Narrated by Cecil B. DeMille.
Labels: bible-movies1, charlton-heston, drama8, moses, period4, popcorn-and-soda4, religion1, shared-favorite, spectacle2
The Passion of the Christ
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1* *2* *3*
- Commentary: For both my mother and me, the controversy over this movie was beside the point. My mother is an aficionado of both Jesus and religious movies, so, of course, she had to see this one. If I hadn't been living with my mother when it came out, I probably would not have seen it, but not in some sort of intellectual or spiritual protest. I wouldn't have bothered because I know the story so well and know what I believe about the issues it raises.
The rough and violent nature of the movie bothered neither of us. We discussed, briefly, whether Jesus was singled out for unusual torture, as, basically, his crucifixion was all in a day's work, and he wasn't the only person crucified on the day he died, nor was he the only person ever convicted of exactly the type of political treason that sent him to Golgotha.
Other than that, my mother's favorite "character" in the movie is the oblique, white head of who she assumes to be "satan", or, more appropriately, as she expressed it, the spirit of evil and selfishness luring Jesus to turn his back on his mission. The head reminds me a bit of the spirit masks floating about in Spirited Away.
I've linked the title of this post to Roger Ebert's extraordinary and cogent review of this movie.
The movie is definitely a winner from the "Bible Movie" perspective, for my mother.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Jim Caviezel Jesus of Nazareth Maia Morgenstern Mary, mother of Jesus Monica Bellucci Mary Magdalene Luca Lionello Judas Iscariot Rosalinda Celentano Satan Luca De Dominicis Herod Ántipas Pietro Sarubbi Barabbus Hristo Naumov Shopov Pontius Pilate Giacinto Ferro Joseph of Arimathia Sergio Rubini Dismas, Penitant Thief Mattia Sbragia Caiaphas Francesco De Vito Peter
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film, which outlines some of the controversy against which Roger Ebert was writing in his review.
Release Date: 2004
Directed by Mel Gibson.
Labels: bible-movies1, drama8, jesus-dvds, mel-gibson, mom-favorite1, period4, religion1, spectacle2, violence3
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Mr. Skeffington - The Bette Davis Collection
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: Although I'm nowhere near a Bette Davis expert, this movie seemed to me like a Bette Davis miscast, at first, although my inordinate love of Claude Rains took my mind off this for quite awhile. Despite this, it didn't take long for me to believe her portrayal; a credit to Davis, not the casting, I think. Mom loved the intense, obvious melodrama. She also got lost in the lush period flavor and imagined, afterward, that the movie had been in color; which I understand is a typical reaction to both this movie and Jezebel. I'd watch this movie again, just for the pleasure of watching Claude Rains again.
Once again, as with the Joan Crawford Collection, I've linked the second part of the title to a site that gets it done when it comes to collections (and other reviews, as well). The review for this movie is the second review on the page. Thank you, DVD Savant, now CineSavant!
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Bette Davis 'Fanny' Trellis Skeffington Claude Rains Job Skeffington Walter Abel George Trellis Richard Waring Trippy Trellis Jerome Cowan Suitor Edward Morrison Dorothy Peterson Manby Marjorie Riordan Fanny Rachel Trellis Johnny Mitchell Johnny Mitchell, Fanny's daughter's husband
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1944
Directed by Vincent Sherman.
Labels: 20th-century-chick-flicks1, bette-davis, claude-rains, drama9, melodramaA, period4, romance2, shared-favorite
Jeremiah Johnson
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1* *2*
- Commentary: This was the other movie I ordered for Mom's birthday. Truth is, I could only vaguely remember whether she had a marked interest in it. As it turns out, she did. When I cued it, she remembered, almost immediately, having seen it.
"Oh," I said, "I hope it isn't one of those movies you only wanted to see once."
"Oh, no," she replied, "I think I remember liking this movie."
She loved it, maybe even more than How the West Was Won. We saw the movies back to back and she even mentioned, regarding the portrayals of Native Americans, "Yes, now this seems more realistic."
Since I'd never watched the entire movie, I settled down and was surprised, pleased and inspired. "Well, Mom, that's what I'd like to do, figure out how to be completely self-sufficient, in landscape similar to that."
She looked at me approvingly. "I know what you mean," she said. "So would I. Even with all the problems and difficulties."
I know we'll be watching this one again...probably every time I have multiple Abandoning Fantasies.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Robert Redford Jeremiah Johnson Will Geer Bear Claw Chris Lapp Stefan Gierasch Del Gue Delle Bolton Swan Josh Albee Caleb Joaquín Martínez Paints His Shirt Red Allyn Ann McLerie Crazy Woman Paul Benedict Reverend Lindquist Jack Colvin Lt. Mulvey Matt Clark Qualen Richard Angarola Chief Two-Tongues Lebeaux Charles Tyner Robidoux
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1972
Directed by Sydney Pollack.
Labels: adventure3, biography1, period4, revenge1, revisionist-western, robert-redford
Elizabeth I
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1* *2*
- Commentary: See, also, commentary on Elizabeth R. Although I confessed to preferring, by a minor edge, Glenda Jackson's epic, truth is, it depends on my mood. They are both lush, but in this HBO production the lushness is almost palpable. They are both dramatic but, in this production, there is more emphasis on Elizabeth's emotional life. The curiosity, to me, is that Mirren's and Jackson's portrayals are side-by-side excellent and, rather than competing with one another, it is as though one fleshes out the other. Neither my mother nor I ever tire of watching either.
Sidebar: My mother prefers the hairstyles in this one.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Helen Mirren Queen Elizabeth I Jeremy Irons Earl of Leicester Hugh Dancy Earl of Essex Toby Jones Robert Cecil Patrick Malahide Sir Francis Walsingham Ian McDiarmid Lord Burghley Barbara Flynn Mary, Queen of Scots Ewen Bremner King James VI Geoffrey Streatfeild Sir Anthony Babington Toby Salaman Dr Lopez Charlotte Asprey Frances Walsingham Eddie Redmayne Southampton
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2005
Directed by Tom Hooper.
Labels: biography1, drama9, elizabeth-I, helen-mirren, historical3, period4, political3, royals, TV2
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Elizabeth R
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1* *2*
- Commentary: Another one of our perennial BBC favorites. Believe it or not, our entire family first watched this on Guam during it's first run. I was reminded of it when my mother became entranced with HBO's recent offering Elizabeth I.
It's hard to say which she and I each prefer, although the BBC version has more compelling detail, and, of course, Glenda Jackson is the definitive Queen Elizabeth I, although Helen Mirren runs a very, very close second, and Jeremy Irons is my favorite, by a hair, for The Duke of Leichester.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Glenda Jackson Elizabeth I Robert Hardy Robert Dudley Ronald Hines William Cecil Stephen Murray Francis Walsingham John Shrapnel Thomas Radclyffe Bernard Horsfall Christopher Hatton Robin Ellis Robert Devereux Jason Kemp Edward VI
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1971
The directors of the six episodes are:- The Lion's Cub directed by Claude Whatham
- The Marriage Game directed by Herbert Wise
- Shadow in the Sun directed by Richard Martin
- Horrible Conspiracies directed by Roderick Graham
- The Enterprise of England directed by Donald McWhinnie
- Sweet England's Pride directed by Roderick Graham
Labels: biography1, drama9, elizabeth-I, historical3, period4, political4, royals, TV2
The Elephant Man
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This is one of those movies that has a hypnotic effect on both of us; both the way it's filmed and the story. Every time we watch it we're galvanized into a discussion of the extraordinary possibilities inherent in the desire to survive, regardless of the difficulty.
One odd note: This movie was filmed in Black & White. Every time we watch this movie, the B&W filming tricks my mother into thinking one of two things, sometimes both on the same night: 1) that the film is a very old movie made when she was much younger than she is now, and 2) that the film is actually a newsreel captured early in the 20th century. Funny, the tricks the history of film can play on someone who's been alive through much of that history!
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Anthony Hopkins Frederick Treves John Hurt John Merrick Hannah Gordon Ann Treves Anne Bancroft Madge Kendal John Gielgud Francis Carr Gomm Wendy Hiller Mrs Mothershead Freddie Jones Mr Bytes Michael Elphick Jim the Night Porter
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1980
Directed by David Lynch.
Labels: anthony-hopkins, biography2, drama9, historical3, john-gielgud, john-hurt, period4, wendy-hiller
Friday, February 10, 2006
The Sound of Music
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: I actually asked Mom, when I noticed the 40th anniversary edition of this movie at Costco, if she wanted me to purchase a copy. Silly question. Although most of the songs are too catchy to be believed and I have good-but-not-quite-reverent memories of this movie, if she'd said "No" I would have heeded her request. Some years ago, when one of my nieces was much younger, this movie was her absolute favorite, always playing at her family's house to the point where I entered "The Sound of Music" overload and have yet to exit that state. I have to say, though, "watching" the movie while doing chores and tending to my mother is pleasant and my mother is thoroughly entertained, singing along, rocker-dancing, etc. As well, this edition includes the Biography channel program about the real Von Trapp family, which is enormously interesting, so much so that we found ourselves searching through movie scenes afterwards to compare fact with fiction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Julie Andrews Maria Christopher Plummer Cpt. von Trapp Eleanor Parker Elsa von Schraeder Richard Haydn Max Detweiler Peggy Wood Mother Abbess Charmian Carr Liesl von Trapp Daniel Truhitte Rolf Gruber Nicholas Hammond Friedrich von Trapp Angela Cartwright Brigitta von Trapp Marni Nixon Sister Sophia Anna Lee Sister Margaretta Portia Nelson Sister Berthe
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1965
Directed by Robert Wise.
Labels: biography2, christopher-plummer, julie-andrews, musical1, period4, popcorn-and-soda4, romance2, spectacle2
Sense and Sensibility
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: We watched this one afternoon on TCM and our interest in it surprised us both. Every performance is a delight. The film of the story is much better than the book, full of character scrutinizing scenes. My mother teared up at the end of the movie; very unusual for her. When I saw a copy of it being sold, I had to have it. We watched it again, the day I bought it. Again, my mother was transported to tears at the end. We'll be watching this again.
It's notable that Roger Ebert reconsidered his initial two-and-a-half star review of this film. The article in which he talks about this is here, but surrounded by many other opinions on many other movies. Thus, I'm going to quote his reconsideration here:
"I didn't give 'Sense and Sensibility' a favorable review when it was first released. I preferred one of the year's other Jane Austen adaptations, 'Persuasion,' a tougher and more thought-provoking film. But as 'S & S' began to emerge as the Oscar front-runner, I went back to see it again. I enjoyed it, yes, and if I had it to do all over again I might be tempted to give it three stars instead of two and a half. (I wouldn't change a word of my newspaper review, however, which expresses both what I liked and didn't like about the film.)
"What 'Sense and Sensibility' has, above all, is the image of a high-minded, literate, respectable Oscar winner. It is from Britain (the Academy loves British films and actors). It is attached to Jane Austen, one of the most beloved trade names in literature. It has no negatives like sex, violence, or naughty words. Hollywood can honor it and feel good about itself: See here, it can say, what wholesome films we make!"
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Emma Thompson Elinor Dashwood Kate Winslet Marianne Dashwood Alan Rickman Colonel Brandon Imogen Stubbs Lucy Steele Hugh Grant Edward Ferrars Greg Wise John Willoughby Gemma Jones Mrs. Dashwood Hugh Laurie Mr. Palmer Imelda Staunton Charlotte Palmer Tom Wilkinson Mr. Dashwood Harriet Walter Fanny Dashwood Elizabeth Spriggs Mrs. Jennings
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1995
Directed by Ang Lee.
Labels: alan-rickman, emma-thompson, imelda-staunton, period4, romance2, shared-favorite, tom-wilkinson
Little Women
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: This was yet another movie that I never thought I'd like and avoided with a passion. I never read the book but from what I'd heard from other "little women" about their favorite characters, I just knew, well, it wasn't for me. Then, one evening, Mom noticed it on one of those cable channels and decided she wanted to watch it. I watched most of it and was surprised at how interested I became in it, although, now, I think my interest had to do with actually being able to watch something on TV while my mother was up and about. I purchased it because, after that fateful watching, Mom said, "If you ever see that, get it. I'd like to see that again." So, I did. She watched it at least twice. I liked Wynona Ryder's performance; it's a little hammy but she's got the goods. Too damned bad she doesn't act much, anymore. Too damned bad she was in this movie.
When I looked up this film on Roger Ebert's website, I noticed that since this version of Little Women was released, two more have come out! Ye gods! I have no desire to see any of them, including the one with which Greta Gerwig is involved, despite my enjoyment of her work. People, can we get over this story? According to Wikipedia, seven versions of this film have been made since the first silent in 1917, followed a year later by a second silent, on and on and on ... people, GET OVER THIS STORY! IT'S A NOTHING STORY AND THESE "LITTLE" WOMEN DID NOT LEAD EXCITING, OR EVEN PARTICULARLY MEANINGFUL LIVES! THEY DIDN'T EVEN LIVE IN AN EXCITING PLACE OR AN EXCITING TIME! AS A SOCIETY, WE NEED TO FORGET ABOUT THIS STORY! I THINK IT MAY BE HOLDING US BACK!!!
Update 7/31/21: Once Mom died, I never watched this movie again and knew I never would, despite my appreciation for Wynona Ryder's performance and considering my life-long indifference to the story. So, to the library it went.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Winona Ryder Jo March Gabriel Byrne Friedrich Bhaer Trini Alvarado Meg March Kirsten Dunst Amy March Claire Danes Beth March Christian Bale Theodore "Laurie" Laurence Eric Stoltz John Brooke John Neville James Laurence Mary Wickes Aunt Josephine March Susan Sarandon Marmee March Matthew Walker Robert March Janne Mortil Sally Moffat
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1994
Directed by: Gillian Armstrong.
Labels: christian-bale, drama9, female-director2, kirsten-dunst, period4, romance2
Forrest Gump
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: I'm not surprised this movie hasn't been mentioned in my journals. When I bought it I thought I remembered that Mom liked it. She may have, but had little patience for it this time around. I thought I had found it interesting. I did, but immediately after watching it for the first time in a long time, I decided it would be one I'd never enter in here and would sell back as soon as I had a few other movies to turn in. Watching it made me uncomfortable. For myself. For the United States. Then, I found myself going back to the movie, replaying particular scenes, looking forward to the well planned music score, watching Gary Sinese closely...and decided, hmmm, I'd better keep this one. It does remain one of the strangest crafted-to-be-a-box-office-hit movies ever made. Being a movie maven, this is a good enough reason for me to keep it. Who knows. The next time I play it "in front of" Mom, she might like it again.
Update 8/12/21: Along with the review, above, linked to the title, and, in light of it, I want to present another few reviews published to commemorate the 25th anniversary of this movie. 'Forrest Gump,' 25 Years Later, by Eric Cohn perfectly expresses my unease with this film. Because of my ambivalence about this film, I was always surprised that Roger Ebert seemed to swallow it hook, line and sinker. Perhaps he was a Republican. Perhaps he simply enjoyed live-action that is cartoonish. I don't know. What I do know is continued occasional viewings of this film, for me, make me grateful that I remain capable of finding this movie off-putting, regardless of how much I enjoy individual scenes or pieces of actor performance.
About a year after the review immediately above came out, another, in video format, by Renegade Cut, was published. It deserves a close viewing if you find yourself uncomfortable with this movie.
Finally, a two video review was published by the website The Take in commemoration of the same anniversary: here are the first and the second. Lighter in tone than the reviews cited above, these two videos also have more clips from the movie and have a kinder, gentler interpretation of the movie's overall presentation of the United States' character and history.
It's interesting to watch this movie 25 years after its release and recontemplate it in view of the variety of quarter century anniversary videos. It's quite striking how more loquacious citizens of the United States interpret the movie and its impact on a variety of aspects of United States life, now, and citizens of this country.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Tom Hanks Forrest Gump Robin Wright Jennie Curran Gary Sinise Lt. Dan Taylor Mykelti Williamson Bubba Blue Sally Field Mrs. Gump Haley Joel Osment Forrest Gump Jr. Sam Anderson Principal Hancock Siobhan Fallon Hogan School Bus Driver
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1994
Directed by Robert Zemeckis.
Labels: biography2, dramedy2, fantasy3, period4, popcorn-and-soda4, satire2, tom-hanks
The Color Purple
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: I'm surprised I've made no mention of this movie in any of my journals. This is one of those movies that we watch every time we can catch it on a television channel, which is why I snatched it up when I ran across a copy of it. We both hone into this movie as though we're having a dream. I'm glad we finally got a copy of it because when it was on TV I used to have a hell of a time getting Mom to go to the bathroom during a playing of it. Now, I can stop the movie when I notice she looks like she'd better hit the toilet. [Her joke is that you can tell when someone needs to go to the bathroom when you can see waves crashing in their eyes...which is almost the truth with my mother.]
Roger Ebert was so impressed with this movie that he not only gave it an initial four star review the year of its release (that review is linked to the title of this post), he followed that up with an interview with Whoopi Goldberg and later christened it as one of his Great Movies.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Whoopi Goldberg Celie Harris Johnson Danny Glover "Mister" Albert Johnson Oprah Winfrey Sofia Margaret Avery Shug Avery Akosua Busia Nettie Harris Adolph Caesar "Old Mister" Johnson Willard Pugh Harpo Johnson Rae Dawn Chong Mary Agnes “Squeak” Johnson Laurence Fishburne Swain Carl Anderson Reverend Samuel Leonard Jackson Pa Harris Dana Ivey Miss Millie
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1985
Directed by Steven Spielberg.
Labels: danny-glover, drama9, dream1, laurence-fishburne, period4, political4, steven-spielberg, whoopi-goldberg
