Movies, Mom & Me

• 
  Commentary:  Under construction.
    Yes, this is the 50-years-later remake of the 1957 movie of the same name, which I also own and appears below. I hadn't intended to add both to my collection until I was perusing the reviews for the first, kept running into reviews for the remake, became intrigued and thought, "Hmmm, it's cheap enough, think I'll add that one to my collection, too." Plus, you know, Russell Crowe and Christian Bale in the lead roles? And, considering that probably all men in the world are fascinated by and envious of the Western history of the United States. And, Australia, in particular, Russell Crowe's country, has it's own Western history, a few movies about which I own. Yes, yes, yes. I want to consider both of these iterations.
    As always, more later.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Russell Crowe	Ben Wade	Christian Bale	Dan Evans	Logan Lerman	William Evans	Dallas Roberts	Grayson Butterfield
  Ben Foster	Charlie Prince	Peter Fonda	Byron McElroy	Vinessa Shaw	Emma Nelson	Alan Tudyk	Dr. Potter
  Gretchen Mol	Alice Evans	Lennie Loftin	Glen Hollander	Johnny Witworth	Darden	Kevin Durand	Tucker

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 2007
    Directed by James Mangold.

Labels: christian-bale, russell-crowe, van-heflin, western

# posted by gail @ 02:03    0 comments    email......this post

• Who's watched:  M & G
• Mentions:  none specific to this DVD
• 
  Commentary:  Although I remember the two of us delving into this DVD set soon after in arrived, I have no memory of three of the interviews:
  • Al Pacino Release Date: 2006,
  • Robert DeNiro Release Date: 1998,
  • Sean Penn Release Date: 1999.
  • and only a vague memory of one, Russell Crowe's Release Date 2004; Interview Transcript.
    Hard to imagine that I spaced so much of these episodes, as I'm sure both of us enjoyed all of them...but, I received this sometime in 2008 and can only imagine that my concentration level was severely hampered by everything that was going on during Mom's last year of life. At any rate, the link connected to the title, above, gives a good overview of each interview...and writing this reminds me that I need and want to watch these episodes again!
  Update 5/24/22:  Yet another post published on 4/09/09 that "disappeared" and I had to recapture.
    Sorry, no Wikipedia links to these specific programs, but the individual actor's names are linked to their individual IMDb Inside the Actors Studio appearance pages.
    All Episodes directed by Jeff Wurtz.

Labels: al-pacino, interview, russell-crowe, TV1

# posted by gail @ 09:40    0 comments    email......this post

• Who's watched:  M & G
• Mentions:  *1*
• 
  Commentary:  Although I was doomed to own a copy of this movie because it is a Peter Weir movie, and although both my mother and I have watched it, once, and enjoyed it, my mother, especially, because she was in the Navy, married a Navy man and was a Navy woman/wife/mother, although we wondered throughout where it was going, then, at the end, where it had gone, I have to say, we enjoyed the booklet that came with the movie, as well, for its interesting exposition of life in the Navy "at that time". My mom was riveted both to the screen and by the book. I remember, when the man who was deemed responsible for the doldrums was made to walk the plank, she continued to watch with rapt attention, then said, "Yes, well, I guess they used to do that back then."
    I will probably watch it again, someday, when I'm feeling the need for a Peter Weir fest. My mother may watch, again, by default.
  Update 11/17/2021:  This post was originally published February 6, 2005. It was one of the accidental deletions that occurred, which is covered in this post.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Russell Crowe	Jack Aubrey	Paul Bettany	Surgeon Stephen Maturin	James D'Arcy	1st Lt Thomas Pullings	Edward Woodall	2nd Lt William Mowett

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 2003
    Directed by Peter Weir.

Labels: action3, adventure4, historical4, peter-weir, russell-crowe, war2

# posted by gail @ 19:47    0 comments    email......this post

• 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

# posted by gail @ 14:15    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  I finally watched this movie a couple of nights ago, let's see, Friday night, the 17th of September, 2021. I think Darren Aronofsky's mind was in the right place when he approached making this movie, but the part of it that follows narrative sense quirked out on him. Truth is, Noah's story in the Bible, and Enoch, doesn't make a lot of sense. I think it's supposed to be a "testament of signs and wonders", so to speak, and, as such, isn't meant to make quotidian sense. So, any film maker can not only be forgiven for adding and revamping strict biblical material, but can be praised for off-official-story changes that the film maker chooses to make. In making a film with wild, misshapen material, it isn't, though, forgivable for a film maker to let a sense of giddiness take over when making choices. I think that's what Aronofsky did. In addition, he underplayed, to the movie's detriment, some of the original story's frank suggestions of moral turpitude and overplayed, also to the movie's detriment, some of the story's suggestions of Noah's moral rectitude and ardor.
    Having said all that, and revealing a sense of disappointment in the movie, still, it's a spectacular attempt at a biblical epic, and better than any other Noah films I've seen (yes, I've seen a few, but, I think there are only a few). And, besides, I enjoyed the whole sub-development of The Watcher's story. It reminded me of the movie Watchmen (sorry, I never followed the comic book series), and kept me wondering what the whole deal is with men (male men, that is) and watchers. So I'm keeping it, because, as you may remember, Dear Reader, I have this thing about bible movies, mainly because my mother loved them so much. And, you never know, perhaps yet another agnostic atheist in the family will find them equally fascinating when I am no more of this earth. And, anyway, now I have a personal mystery to solve ... what is it with this male obsession with watchers/watchmen, anyway?
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Russell Crowe	Noah	Jennifer Connelly	Naameh	Ray Winstone	Tubal-cain	Anthony Hopkins	Methuselah
  Emma Watson	Ila	Logan Lerman	Ham	Douglas Booth	Shem	Marton Csokas	Lamech

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 2014
    Directed by Darren Aronofsky.

Labels: anthony-hopkins, apocalyptic, bible-movies1, darren-aronofsky, jennifer-connelly, ray-winstone, russell-crowe

# posted by gail @ 14:04    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  By now you should know that I like gangster movies. Not all, mind you, but the complicated ones, the touching ones, the ones that are created out of reverie rather than a desire for action. Thus, it shouldn't surprise you that this movie has made it into my collection. I rank it up there with my (so far) favorite three gangster movies of all time, Once Upon a Time in America, The Godfather (the first, although I love the second and like the third and always watch all three together, even though the third causes me to involuntarily cringe, at times) and, you'll never guess, or maybe you will, The Public Enemy. Now, I have a list of four favorite gangster movies.
    In all but one of the above movies (The Public Enemy) the primary action is emotional, not physical. The melodrama is understated, which is why I don't include Godfather III in this line-up, which is all melodrama. Considering this second point, why do I include The Public Enemy as one of my top four gangster movies? That one is all melodrama, as well. Mainly, I think, because I identify with Tom Powers, so the melodrama is beside the point. I've known people like him. Personally. I dealt with one last year. I don't identify with anyone, let alone Michael Corleone, in Godfather III, even though I identified with him in both The Godfather and The Godfather II. Finally, why, then, do I not include The Godfather II as one of my top gangster movies? It's not far below but I don't consider it a gangster movie. I consider it a family saga about the establishment of both the Corleone blood-related and business-related families.
    So, yes. This movie, American Gangster (this link is to the Wikipedia write-up of this movie), is detailed, involving, polished. There has been plenty of criticism of its accuracy. According to Wikipedia, "...Johnson described the real life Lucas as 'illiterate, vicious, violent, and everything Denzel Washington was not.'" Okay. The Frank Lucas in this film is "'almost noble'", which the real Richie Roberts contrasts with the real object of his law enforcement attention. I think that other character, the "real" Frank Lucas, would be a great subject for a great film, as well. In fact, that character is the subject of a great film: The Public Enemy. I have no quarrel with this, even as I really love Denzel Washington's gangster depiction. Every gangster is a person and every person is different. The character Denzel Washington played may have been different than the real Frank Lucas, but I like his characterization, this story. I think, frankly, after having seen Training Day, Denzel could play that Frank Lucas successfully, as well. That's a movie I'd definitely see and probably buy. Is anyone in the film community listening?
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Denzel Washington	Frank Lucas	Russell Crowe	Richie Roberts	Chiwetel Ejiofor	Huey Lucas	Josh Brolin	Det. Trupo
  Clarence Williams III	Bumpy Johnson	Lymari Nadal	Eva	Ted Levine	Lou Toback	John Hawkes	Freddy Spearman
  Ruby Dee	Mahalee Lucas	Cuba Gooding Jr.	Nicky Barnes	Armand Assante	Dominic Cattano	Ritchie Coster	Joey Sadano
  Idris Elba	Tango	KaDee Strickland	Richie's Attorney	Roger Guenveur Smith	Nate	John Ortiz	Javier J Rivera

  
    Release Date: 2007
    Directed by Ridley Scott.

Labels: action1, adventure1, biography1, denzel-washington, drama3, gang-movie, historical2, john-hawkes, josh-brolin, legal, neo-noirB, period2, ridley-scott, ruby-dee, russell-crowe, violence2

# posted by gail @ 11:33    0 comments    email......this post