Wednesday, December 14, 2022
Minority Report
- Commentary: Roger Ebert was, in his words, so "blindsided" by the "brilliance" of this movie that, aside from his usual write-up (connected to the title of this post), he conducted an interview with Steven Spielberg, the film's director, and Tom Cruise, the film's lead actor, to delve into a variety of topics surrounding the making of the movie and its contribution to its genre. Speaking of which, you might notice that I included it in both neo-noir and melodrama (my film-noir category). I did this because I've seen it listed as both, so, you know, to be fair ...
I saw this movie twice when my mother was alive. She was a fan of science fiction (all types), found this movie thrilling and clamored to see it twice, in the theatre, which we did.
Twenty years later, I remember it as complicated and astonishingly high tech. I was reminded of the movie when I was reading an article about robots in the movies (which I did not, alas, bookmark, but there are so many articles out there about this movie that similar sentiments probably won't be hard to find, if you're looking for them). The article mentioned that this movie is an example of robots that do not engage with humans, do not become friendly with humans, do not react to individual humans, do not, in fact, veer from the purpose for which they were created, which is to identify and, thus, help corral generic humans in various ways, without concern about who the humans are individually, politically and spiritually. This, the article suggested, puts it in a peculiar and somewhat smaller category than those of most movies that feature robots. I was surprised at this article's mention of robots in this movie because my memories of it didn't contain any robots. I have a niggling interest in movies that feature robots, so I decided to obtain the movie. When I receive and rewatch the movie, I'm sure I'll have more to say about this aspect of it, and other features, as well.
Update 12/30/22: Well, I did it, all day today. I indulged myself in the third watching, in my life, of this movie. I also watched all the many special features included on a second disc (I highly recommend them all, but, especially, the interview with Steven Spielberg). Going in, I wondered how much of it would be familiar to me. Coming out, I was breathless. I remembered a lot of it, but what I didn't remember were the tech savvy action sequences and the out-of-nowhere subplots, which continue to thrill me, perhaps because my mother's gasps of surprise, so many years ago, had also been stored in my memory and brought back cozy memories of absorbing her reactions along with my own.
Good movie? Yes, I'm glad I added it to my collection. I hadn't remembered, as well, how much heart the movie has and how much it relies on the slow unfolding of the tragedy at the center of the protagonist's (played by Tom Cruise) life. Nor did I remember the surprising resolution of Anderton's despair, despite the fact that it is prefigured in the characterization of his former wife.
BTW, quite a bit of the characters' dialog in the movie is recorded here by, no doubt, discerning fans.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Tom Cruise Chief John Anderton Max von Sydow Lamar Burgess Colin Farrell Danny Witwer Samantha Morton Agatha Lively Michael Dickman Arthur Arkadian Matthew Dickman Dashiell Arkadian Lois Smith Dr. Iris Hineman Kathryn Morris Lara Anderton Tyler Patrick Jones Sean Anderton Mike Binder Leo Crowe Steve Harris Jad Watson Jessica Harper Anne Lively Tim Blake Nelson Gideon Daniel London Norbert Wallace Peter Stormare Dr. Solomon P. Eddie Neal McDonough Gordon Fletcher
Besides the stacked and noteworthy cast listed above, the movie is teeming with significant actors playing bit parts and walk-ons. There must have been a great deal of industry buzz about this movie as it was being made since it appears that everyone and their dogs were clamoring to be included.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2002
Directed by Steven Spielberg.
Labels: lois-smith, melodramaC, neo-noirC, science-fiction2, steven-spielberg, thriller4, tom-cruise, violence5
Thursday, September 29, 2022
The Terminal
- Commentary: Yes, I've seen this movie, more than once, although likely not more than twice. I was suitably impressed by it, so much so that I wrote about it, briefly and recently, in my write-up for Jaws, another Spielberg movie.
Ever since I mentioned it in the above linked post I haven't been able to get it out of my head, so I looked it up and found a copy of it at a sweet, ridiculously low price and decided to order it. It will be arriving in a couple of days, so I'll wait until then, after I watch it yet again, to give it its due, here, but, I wanted to, at least, get it posted and linked to the left in the Alpha Index for this site.
So, yes, under construction, more later.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Tom Hanks Viktor Navorski Catherine Zeta-Jones Amelia Warren Stanley Tucci Frank Dixon Chi McBride Joe Mulroy Diego Luna Enrique Cruz Barry Shabaka Henley Judge Thurman Kumar Pallana Gupta Rajan Zoë Saldaña Dolores Torres Eddie Jones Richard Salchak Jude Ciccolella Karl Iverson Michael Nouri Max Benny Golson Self
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2004
Directed by Steven Spielberg.
Labels: dramedy3, steven-spielberg, tom-hanks
Tuesday, September 20, 2022
Duel
- Commentary: I haven't received this movie, yet. It's on it's way. I wanted to set up its "home", though, because I've got some other material I want to recommend to readers (and capture the links for myself).
The first link, which you can also find in the write-up about Jaws, is a video in which Stephen Lang reads the story by Richard Matheson from which Matheson also adapted the screenplay, accompanied by video clips of the movie.
TCM also hosts a good write-up for the film that includes production details.
In addition, although I haven't yet found anything Roger Ebert may have said about this film, either when it was released as a TV or theatrical movie, I discovered this excerpt from a book by Steven Awalt about the making of the movie.
You can read about my history with this story and the movie in my write-up about Jaws.
Exciting story and movie! I can't wait to receive it! The disc promises some interesting special features, as well, that I'm looking forward to viewing. Tomorrow can't come soon enough!
Of course, more later.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Dennis Weaver David Mann Jacqueline Scott Mrs. Mann Carey Loftin Truck Driver Eddie Firestone Café Owner Lou Frizzell Bus Driver Eugene Dynarski Man in Café Lucille Benson Lady at Snakerama Tim Herbert Gas Station Attendant Charles Seel Old Man Shirley O'Hara Waitress Alexander Lockwood Jim, Old Man in Car Sweet Dick Whittington Radio Interviewer
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1971
Directed by Steven Spielberg.
Labels: steven-spielberg, suspense3, thriller3
Monday, September 19, 2022
Jaws
- Commentary: In 2000, after having reviewed Jaws in 1975 upon it's initial release and given it four stars, Ebert reviewed it, again, as one of his Great Movies (the title of this post is linked to that review). In both reviews, he praised the movie for its story, its acting and, most importantly, its overall craft. I have no idea why it took him 25 years to decide the movie was great.
I initially saw this movie when it was released in 1975. I was spellbound, from beginning to end. Why, then, once DVDs became popular and I became owner and curator of what was, at one time, my mother's movie collection, did it take me this long to remember it and want to acquire a copy of it? At first I thought, well, it's a horror film and I don't own many of those, don't think in a "horror movie" track. So I checked, and discovered that, indeed, I own several horror movies. It's not a burgeoning slice of my collection, but it's not insignificant. Maybe, I thought, it's because I subconsciously avoid Spielberg movies. I owned, prior to my purchase of this one, only two. I even looked up his filmography to see if maybe I simply haven't seen many of his movies. In fact, I've seen, and enjoyed, well over half of the films with which he's been involved in a variety of roles. Why, then, aren't they in my collection? Suddenly, as I was scanning the list, it came to me: I noticed that for every movie I'd seen, I could recall it so clearly that I may as well consider my mind a part of my Spielberg collection. At this date, there are only three of his movies that I am now contemplating owning, one of which I just ordered. They are (with the reasons I want to own them in parentheses): The Terminal (one of the quirkiest, funniest depictions of muddled beaurocratic mindset I've ever seen); Empire of the Sun (this film so confuses me that I'm never sure if the problem is it or me); Duel, of which I have exquisite memories, having initially read the short story in my father's copy of Playboy in which it was originally published. The short story so adhered to my memory that I was thrilled when I discovered it as a television movie. I carry vivid memories of both the short story and the movie to this day, so much so that I decided to add it to my collection.
I was reminded, very recently, of my memory and love of Jaws through Daisuke Beppu's several mentions of his admiration for it in several of his videos. I recalled my own reaction to watching it in the theater in 1975, whereupon I immediately checked out the book and read it.
You see, I was raised on an island sitting just above the deepest trench in the Pacific Ocean (or, for that matter, any ocean). Sharks were a common interest and concern, so much so that one of the branches of the military was said to regularly dump chum into the ocean from an isolated northern cliff in order to keep the shark traffic around the island under control so people could enjoy the beaches. A friend of mine, as well, was killed by a shark in those very waters surrounding the island. Only part of his body was recovered when it washed ashore after the attack. So, the shock and horror of a shark attack and the desire to relive both in order to get an emotional handle on those reactions are not only understandable to me, they are a part of my lived experience. This movie so closely mirrors my own lived experiences that I can't help but own it. I'm looking forward to seeing how I react to the movie, now, being several years and hundreds of miles away from the possibility of ever being affected by a shark attack again.
I will likely report back after I watch this movie.
Update 9/20/22: Yes, yes, I watched this movie last night. It was even more exciting and involving than I remembered! Good choice for me! I had remembered nothing about the ending, and absolutely loved the fact that it ended with Brody and Hooper paddling back to shore on a makeshift "raft", of sorts, of two of the kegs attached to a plank from the Orca. I also began watching some of the special features, which are unusually interesting, and lengthy, so I'll have to pick up where I left off later. Everyone interviewed spoke about the movie from a distance, which added a lot of information about the film.
I've also added The Terminal and Duel to my collection, and watched them, although I haven't yet beefed up their write-ups.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Roy Scheider Chief Martin Brody Robert Shaw Quint Richard Dreyfuss Matt Hooper Lorraine Gary Ellen Brody Murray Hamilton Mayor Larry Vaughn Lee Fierro Mrs. Kintner Susan Backlinie Chrissie Watkins Peter Benchley Interviewer
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1975
Directed by Steven Spielberg.
Labels: folk-horror, richard-dreyfuss, steven-spielberg, suspense3, thriller3, violence4
Thursday, November 18, 2021
Schindler's List
- Commentary: This movie came to me (as several in this new list did) when I was scanning the Hastings going-out-of-business shelves for movies I don't own but would like to. What can I say. It's masterful. I've watched it twice since I bought it. Every performance is spot on and, despite its length, there is no fat in this movie.
Although this movie was released long before my mother died, since it was not in my collection until after she died and I can't recall that we ever ran across it on television, she never saw it. My guess is that she probably would not have enjoyed it and would have snoozed through it. My mother was in the U.S. Navy in WWII. She was a gunnery instructor. She taught soldiers how to shoot. That's how she met my father. He was one of her students. In addition, she outranked him. Her view of WWII does not include detailed musings of what happened to Jewish people and many others during the war. She was certainly aware of this, and, obviously, was on the side of defeating Hitler's forces. But she was single-minded in preparing "our boys" for the front, not in what was going on in the nether regions of the war.
In sum, we, those of us who were likely not even a gleam in our parents' eyes, during WWII, see this war differently than the participants. Our perspective is valuable. This movie proves that. But, fighting a war is very different than contemplating the war after the fact. This is probably the most valuable lesson this movie has to offer.
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 Liam Neeson Oskar Schindler Ben Kingsley Itzhak Stern Ralph Fiennes Amon Göth Caroline Goodall Emilie Schindler Jonathan Sagall Poldek Pfefferberg Embeth Davidtz Helen Hirsch Andrzej Seweryn Julian Scherner Piotr Polk Leo Rosner
One of Roger Ebert's Great Movies.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1993
Directed by Steven Spielberg.
Labels: anti-fascist, ben-kingsley, docu-drama, historical2, period2, steven-spielberg, war1
Friday, February 10, 2006
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
