Movies, Mom & Me

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  Commentary:  Under construction.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Timothy Treadwell	Timothy Treadwell	Werner Herzog	Werner Herzog

  
    By far, the most interesting and informative review of this movie is an Amazon Customer Review written by Tracy H and posted here. This reviewer wrote a fascinating and detailed analysis of not only the movie, but on the personalities, characters and motivations of the human participants and many others who felt compelled to ruminate aloud about what Timothy Treadwell did, what happened to him and how Werner Herzog packaged the experience. It is the most interesting and thoughtful commentary on this movie that I've read, so far. Thank you, Tracy H.
    By the way, in case you're interested, Roger Ebert's site has several excellent articles about Werner Herzog and this movie. I pulled a search of these by simply typing "Grizzly Man" into the search box on Roger Ebert's site. The articles give extra insight into the movie, one of its presentations and Werner Herzog, if you're interested.
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 2005
    Directed by Werner Herzog.

Labels: adventure4, docu-drama, road-movie, tragedy3, werner-herzog

# posted by gail @ 10:24    0 comments    email......this post

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  Commentary:  Under construction.
    I saw this movie some years ago. I remember the experience of viewing it, but have less of a memory of the story. I remember being stunned by it. Now that I've been reminded of it, I want to see it again. And, again. That's why, when I happened across it this evening, I decided it should be in my collection.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Rena Owen	Beth Heke	Temuera Morrison	Jake Heke	Julian Arahanga	Nig Heke	Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell	Grace Heke
  Taungaroa Emile	Mark Heke	Rachael Morris Jr.	Polly Heke	Joseph Kairau	Huata Heke	George Henare	Mr. Bennett
  Cliff Curtis	Uncle Bully	Pete Smith	Dooley	Shannon Williams	Toot	Mere Boynton	Mavis

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1994
    Directed by Lee Tamahori.

Labels: tragedy3

# posted by gail @ 23:48    0 comments    email......this post

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  Commentary:  Under construction.
    In case you're wondering why I included so many actors in the table below who were either uncredited in the movie or had such small roles you might not even notice their on screen presence, pay attention to those "minor" names. Many of them went on, after this film, to prolific careers in both movies and television. This was not only an important movie for the entertainment industry, it was an important movie for those who participated in its production, such as Nancy Kulp (The Beverly Hillbillies) and Strother Martin (important supporting character actor in many movies and TV series).
    More later.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Judy Garland	Esther Blodgett/Vicki Lester	James Mason	Norman Maine	Jack Carson	Matt Libby	Charles Bickford	Oliver Niles
  Tommy Noonan	Danny McGuire	Amanda Blake	Susan Etting	Lucy Marlow	Lola Lavery	Irving Bacon	Graves
  Irving Bacon	Graves	Hazel Shermet	Libby's Secretary	Nancy Kulp	Esther's Neighbor	Strother Martin	Delivery Boy

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1954
    Directed by George Cukor.

Labels: dramaF, james-mason, musical2, tragedy3

# posted by gail @ 16:58    0 comments    email......this post

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  Commentary:  Hmmm. What to say about this movie? Well, firstly, it was almost universally panned by The Critic Class. You know who I mean. The critics who get published in newspapers and magazines. Roger Ebert didn't even touch it. Surprisingly, there were two major critics who gave it high ratings: The critic for the LA Times (review attached to the title of this post) and the critic for the San Francisco Chronicle (here's the link for the sfgate review). Otherwise, the pros just generally stomped all over this production. However, secondly, among plebian movie watchers (myself included), it was almost univerally enjoyed and well rated. My experience is that I saw the movie on some streaming service not long after it was released for theatrical viewing and then pulled from theaters. I don't remember what service, nor do I remember what provoked me to watch it, but it stuck with me, so much that, when I was reminded of the movie earlier today (in an article delineating "movie stinkers") I decided, let me check the price on this, oh, it's reasonable, more than reasonable, in fact, it's a bargain, and I ordered it.
    The LA Times review, by the way, includes cast reactions to the audience and critical reactions, as well.
    I didn't know, until today, searching out the movie, that it was universally panned by critics and universally enjoyed by plebes, including me. Realizing this is a large part of why I decided to acquire it. I am not above enjoying movies that (many professional) others find downright detestable (and, believe me, many professional critics placed this film into that category).
    So saying, since it isn't a popular movie, it'll take a few days to make it to my doorstep (or mailbox, whatever). I'll report back. I'm so very curious to see how this movie hits me, now, and, by the way, pleased to add it to my collection, in large part because of the contention surrounding it.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Antonio Banderas	Carlos Rueda	Emma Thompson	Cecilia Rueda	Leticia Dolera	Teresa Rueda	Maria Canals	Esme Palomas
  Rubén Blades	Silvio Ayala	Irene Escolar	Eurydice	Fernando Tielve	Orfeo/Enrico	Mariana Seligmann	Guzman Tochter
  Andreas Tang	Himself	Carlos Kaniowski	Rubén Mendoza	Claire Bloom	Sara Sternberg	John Wood	Amos Sternberg

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

Labels: emma-thompson, haunting3, historical5, magical-realism, political5, tragedy3, war3

# posted by gail @ 16:38    0 comments    email......this post

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  Commentary:  Under construction.
    I have seen this movie only once, before my mother died (I can't recall if she watched it), but it has such staying power that each time I think of it, I feel as though I saw it just yesterday. It is not only a detailed, devastating story of interpersonal conflict, it is a precise-to-the-point-of-being-painful character study of two people who hash out their differences while not really understanding what their differences are.
    The last time I thought of it I vowed that if I was at home the next time it came to mind, I would immediately order it. It will be arriving here within a few days. I await it with somber anticipation.
    More later.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Jennifer Connelly	Kathy Nicolo	Ben Kingsley	Col. Massoud Behrani	Shohreh Aghdashloo	Nadereh "Nadi" Behrani	Ron Eldard	Lester Burdon
  Frances Fisher	Connie Walsh	Jonathan Ahdout	Esmail Behrani	Kim Dickens	Carol Burdon	Carlos Gómez	Lt. Alvarez
  Navi Rawat	Soraya Behrani	Al Rodrigo	Torez	Marco Rodríguez	Mendez	Aki Aleong	Tran
  Kia Jam	Ali	Cooper Thornton	Gary	Ray Abruzzo	Frank	Spencer Garrett	Auctioneer

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

Labels: ben-kingsley, character-study, haunting3, jennifer-connelly, tragedy3

# posted by gail @ 01:20    0 comments    email......this post