Friday, July 12, 2024
Poor Things
- Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Emma Stone Bella Baxter Mark Ruffalo Duncan Wedderburn Willem Dafoe Dr. Godwin Baxter Dr. Godwin Baxter Max McCandles Christopher Abbott Alfie Blessington Suzy Bemba Toinette Jerrod Carmichael Harry Astley Kathryn Hunter Swiney Vicki Pepperdine Mrs. Prim Margaret Qualley Felicity Hanna Schygulla Martha von Kurtzroc Keeley Forsyth Allison the Maid
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2023
Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos.
Labels: science-fiction2, willem-dafoe
Tuesday, May 21, 2024
Spike Lee 7 Joints
- Commentary: Still workin' on it, honey. Got a ways to go.
Funny, though, I'm having a hard time finding an interesting, informative review of this specific collection. Not sure why, and it's possible I'll be completely unsuccessful, but, in the meantime, I think it's important to include the fact that no one seems to want to take on a critique of this collection.
In the meantime, you might want to read a short, pithy interview Roger Ebert conducted with Spike Lee as Lee was preparing to shoot Malcolm X in 1991. I attached the interview to the title of this post.
This is, of course, not the only collection of Spike Lee films in existence, nor will it be the last. In the meantime, for what it's worth, here is the official Wikipedia perspective on Spike Lee, his life and career.
- Do the Right Thing
Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Spike Lee Mookie Danny Aiello Sal Ossie Davis Da Mayor Ruby Dee Mother Sister Giancarlo Esposito Buggin' Out Bill Nunn Radio Raheem John Turturro Pino Richard Edson Vito Rosie Perez Tina Joie Lee Jade Martin Lawrence Cee Samuel L. Jackson Mister Señor Love Daddy Robin Harris Sweet Dick Willie Paul Benjamin ML Frank Vincent Charlie John Savage Clifton Leonard L. Thomas Punchy Frankie Faison Coconut Kid Rick Aiello Officer Gary Long Luis Antonio Ramos Stevie
→ john-turturro; ruby-dee; ossie-davis
Roger Ebert included this movie in his "Great Movies" collection, the review for which is connected to the title of this movie.
This movie is loaded with cameos. Although I listed 20 actors, above, the actual list could go on forever. You'll notice this, if you watch the movie, as every other scene involves an actor of which you think, "I know that one. Who is that?" A more complete list (although I can't swear that it contains all the cameos) can be found in the Wikipedia write up for this film, linked below.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of this film.
Release Date: 1989
Directed by Spike Lee. - Mo' Better Blues
Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Denzel Washington Minifield "Bleek" Gilliam Spike Lee Giant Wesley Snipes Shadow Henderson Joie Lee Indigo Downes Cynda Williams Clarke Bentancourt Giancarlo Esposito Left Hand Lacey Bill Nunn Bottom Hammer Jeff "Tain" Watts Rhythm Jones Dick Anthony Williams Mr. "Big Stop" Gilliam Abbey Lincoln Lillian Gilliam John Turturro Moe Flatbush Nicholas Turturro Josh Flatbush Robin Harris Butterbean Jones Samuel L. Jackson Madlock Coati Mundi Roberto Rubén Blades Petey
→ john-turturro
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of this film.
Release Date: 1990
Directed by Spike Lee. - Jungle Fever
Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Wesley Snipes Flipper Purify Annabella Sciorra Angela Tucci Spike Lee Cyrus Ossie Davis The Good Reverend Doctor Purify Ruby Dee Lucinda Purify Samuel L. Jackson "Gator" Purify Lonette McKee Drew Purify John Turturro Paulie Carbone Frank Vincent Michael Tucci Anthony Quinn Lou Carbone Halle Berry Vivian Tyra Ferrell Orin Goode Phyllis Yvonne Stickney Nilda Nicholas Turturro Vinny Miguel Sandoval Officer Mark Ponte Debi Mazar Denise Tim Robbins Jerry Brad Dourif Leslie Queen Latifah Lashawn Giancarlo Esposito Homeless Man
→ john-turturro; debi-mazar; ruby-dee; ossie-davis; tim-robbins
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of this film.
Release Date: 1991
Directed by Spike Lee. - Crooklyn
Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Alfre Woodard Carolyn Delroy Lindo Woody David Patrick Kelly Eyes Zelda Harris Tony Carlton Williams Clinton Sharif Rashed Wendell Tse-Mach Washington Joseph Chris Knowings Nate José Zúñiga Tommy La La Isaiah Washington Vic Powell Ivelka Reyes Jessica Spike Lee Snuffy N. Jeremi Duru Right Hand Man Frances Foster Aunt Song Norman Matlock Clem Patriece Nelson Viola
→ delroy-lindo
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of this film.
Release Date: 1995
Directed by Spike Lee. - Clockers
Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Harvey Keitel Det. Rocco Klein John Turturro Det. Larry Mazilli Delroy Lindo Rodney Little Mekhi Phifer Ronald "Strike" Dunham Isaiah Washington Victor Dunham Keith David Andre "The Giant" Ashley Sticky Fingaz Andres "Scientific" Atkins Regina Taylor Iris Jeeter Fredro Elvis "Go" Atkins Tom Byrd Errol Barnes Lawrence B. Adisa Stan Gilmore Hassan Johnson Trevor "Skills" Jeeter Michael Imperioli Det. Joey "Jojo" Thompson Mike Starr Det. Shawn "Thumper" Ferrell Paul Calderon Jesus at Hambones Spike Lee Chucky Bridges Sr.
→ john-turturro; delroy-lindo
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of this film.
Release Date: 1995
Directed by Spike Lee. - Inside Man
Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Denzel Washington Det. Keith Frazier Clive Owen Dalton Russell Jodie Foster Madeline White Christopher Plummer Arthur Case Willem Dafoe Cpt. John Darius Chiwetel Ejiofor Det. Bill Mitchell Spike Lee Civilian Kim Director Valerie Keepsake/Stevie James Ransone Darius Peltz/Steve-O Carlos Andrés Gómez Kenneth Damerjian/Steve Bernie Rachelle Chaim Waris Ahluwalia Vikram Walia
→ christopher-plummer; jodie-foster; willem-dafoe
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of this film.
Release Date: 2006
Directed by Spike Lee. - BlacKkKlansman
Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role John David Washington Det. Ron Stallworth Adam Driver Det. Philip "Flip" Zimmerman Laura Harrier Patrice Dumas Topher Grace David Duke Topher Grace Kwame Ture Harry Belafonte Jerome Turner Jasper Pääkkönen Felix Kendrickson Ryan Eggold Walter Breachway Frederick Weller Pt. Andy Landers Paul Walter Hauser Ivanhoe Ashlie Atkinson Connie Kendrickson Michael Buscemi Jimmy Creek Ken Garito Sergeant Trapp Alec Baldwin Kennebrew Beauregard Nicholas Turturro Walker Damaris Lewis Odetta
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of this film.
Release Date: 2018
Directed by Spike Lee.
Wikipedia doesn't have a write-up of this specific film series. I've included the Wikipedia links for the individual movies in their write-ups, above.
Labels: christopher-plummer, debi-mazar, delroy-lindo, denzel-washington, giancarlo-esposito, jodie-foster, john-turturro, ossie-davis, ruby-dee, samuel-l-jackson, spike-lee, tim-robbins, willem-dafoe
Thursday, June 09, 2022
John Wick
- Commentary: Under construction.
Update 6/9/2022: This post was originally published on 8/14/16 but disappeared from public view. I am now reinstating it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Keanu Reeves John Wick Michael Nyqvist Viggo Tarasov Alfie Allen Iosef Tarasov Adrianne Palicki Ms. Perkins Bridget Moynahan Helen Wick Dean Winters Avi Ian McShane Winston John Leguizamo Aurelio Willem Dafoe Marcus David Patrick Kelly Cleaner Charlie Randall Duk Kim Specialty Doctor Lance Reddick Hotel Concierge Charon
The Wikipedia write-up for this film is here.
Release Date: 2014
Directed by Chad Stahelski.
Labels: don't-ask-me-why, keanu-reeves, neo-noirC, revenge1, super-hero1, willem-dafoe
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
Finding Nemo
- Who's watched: M & G, many times
- Mentions: *1* *2* *3*
- Commentary: As I recall, my mentions of this movie speak for both my mother's and my delight in it. Aside from my favorite scene with Bruce the Shark, which I've seen many times, I love being transported by the oceanic graphic environment of the movie, including, and especially, the background ocean music. It is truly one better than the ocean, only because it is so available. Watching the movie is practically like having a virtual experience without the nerve stimulation technology.
My mother, I should note, usually takes a nap after this movie. Perhaps, she actually lives through it.
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 Albert Brooks Marlin Alexander Gould Nemo Ellen DeGeneres Dory Willem Dafoe Gill Allison Janney Peach Andrew Stanton Crush Nicholas Bird Squirt Barry Humphries Bruce Geoffrey Rush Nigel Vicki Lewis Deb & Flo John Ratzenberger Moonfish school Bill Hunter Dentist Philip Sherman
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2003
Directed by Andrew Stanton & Lee Unkrich.
Labels: animated, bill-hunter, coming-of-age2, dramedy2, kids, shared-favorite, willem-dafoe
Born on the Fourth of July
- Who's watched: G [M was in the room looking at the TV for awhile, but not watching...she evetually napped.]
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: It was on sale, I thought, sight unseen, I'd be glad I owned it...what can I say?!? I'm glad I watched it. It was one of the last few in a long line of Vietnam War movies (including the obscure) I make it a point to watch. I thought I'd want to watch this one more than once. Not really. I would have liked to have seen it when it first came out and Tom Cruise wasn't . I think I would have appreciated his performance more. For some reason, as I watched this, I was continually reminded of Risky Business. I kept having to remind myself that it is based in 'truth' because it was acted for melodrama, which was distracting to the story. I doubt that I'll ever watch it again. I may pass it off to someone.
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 Tom Cruise Ron Kovic Willem Dafoe Charlie Kyra Sedgwick Donna Raymond J. Barry Mr. Kovic Jerry Levine Steve Boyer Frank Whaley Timmy Caroline Kava Mrs. Kovic Cordelia Gonzalez Maria Elena Ed Lauter Legion Commander Stephen Baldwin Billy Vorsovich Bob Gunton V.A. Dr. #1 Lili Taylor Jamie Wilson
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1989
Directed by Oliver Stone.
Labels: biography2, bob-gunton, dramaD, oliver-stone, period6, political5, tom-cruise, war2, willem-dafoe
Wednesday, August 25, 2021
Motherless Brooklyn
- Commentary: I just added this movie to my collection today, 8/25/21. I haven't watched it yet but I don't think I'll be disappointed. I'll report back within the next few hours, or days, depending.
It should be noted that this movie was written, produced and directed by Edward Norton and stars him, as well. This is one of the reasons I wanted to add it to my collection, since I'm becoming interested in Edward Norton's work. The critics were impatient with, and mostly downgraded their reviews because of, its length. The length of a film never bothers me, unless it's because it wasn't well edited, which no one accuses this film of being. As well, according to Wikipedia, Edward Norton's "personal engagement" with this film is immense, and, might I add, compelling to me, at least.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Edward Norton Lionel Essrog Bruce Willis Frank Minna Gugu Mbatha-Raw Laura Rose Alec Baldwin Moses Randolph Willem Dafoe Paul Randolph Bobby Cannavale Tony Vermonte Cherry Jones Gabby Horowitz Michael K. Williams Trumpet Man
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2019
Directed by Edward Norton.
Labels: §1, edward-norton, neo-noirC, police-procedural, willem-dafoe
Saturday, May 26, 2018
Platoon
- Commentary: This movie was an obvious choice for my Oliver Stone movie section. Of course. And, it's a favorite of mine. I'm surprised I didn't own it before now. I'm not sure it's my favorite Vietnam film. I've seen several, for obvious reasons. The young men of my generation were drafted into fighting this war, many of whom I knew. I was coming-of-age during the protest of this war, so, in a sense, it's "my" war. I haven't seen every movie about the Vietnam war. There are a few I've missed that I still want to see. But, of all the Vietnam war movies I've seen and those I own, it's right up there at the top. What's my favorite? This may surprise you: Full Metal Jacket. It's such a favorite, in fact, that I thought I had a copy of it and just discovered that I don't. Well, I'll have to remedy that. In the meantime, Platoon is my third favorite Vietnam movie, the other (which vies with Full Metal Jacket for most favorite) being Jacob's Ladder. I know, I have strange tastes in Vietnam movies. So sue me.
Speaking of additional links, you might find Sense Memory: "Platoon Through a Veteran's Eyes" interesting. It's from the RogerEbert.com website. Roger Ebert wrote a review of this film, linked to the title of this post, but, years later, in 2016, a writer for Roger's website wrote a memoir of his experience viewing the film for the first time, as a veteran.
Update 9/29/19: Yet another military movie that highlights military gang behavior in an excruciating manner and more realistically, in some ways, than Full Metal Jacket, so, I believe it has earned a place in my "gang-movie" category.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Charlie Sheen Chris Taylor Tom Berenger Sgt. Barnes Willem Dafoe Sgt. Elias Keith David King Forest Whitaker Big Harold Francesco Quinn Rhah Kevin Dillon Bunny John C. McGinley Sgt. O'Neill Mark Moses Lt. Wolfe Johnny Depp Lerner Corey Glover Francis Reggie Johnson Junior
Also, as usual when I haven't linked it to the title of one of these posts, here's the Wikipedia write-up of the movie.
Release Date: 1986
Directed by Oliver Stone.
Labels: action1, coming-of-age1, drama4, forest-whitaker, gang-movie, historical2, oliver-stone, period2, war1, willem-dafoe
Sunday, December 24, 2006
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
Monday, February 07, 2005
The Clearing
- Who's watched: G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This one was a "freebie" with another movie, I can't remember which one. With Willem Dafoe, Helen Mirren and Robert Redford I thought this would be an interesting little piece. It wasn't quite as interesting as I thought, although I always enjoy watching all these actors. Mom hasn't watched it. I'll probably forget to mention it to her.
Update 8/11/21: No, I didn't keep this film. I didn't completely dislike it. I just realized, when it came time to cull my collection, I hadn't watched it more than once and probably wouldn't. So, I gave it to the library. If I decide I want to watch it, again, it's there for me. My library system, as it turns out, has four copies.
Update 10/19/24: I know. Bizarrely, I re-added this movie to my collection. Truth is, I've never forgotten it and when I find myself ruminating on it, I find myself wondering about this character quirk or that plot point or an idea in the movie's philosophy. In fact, just a few hours ago I was watching a movie essay in which this film was featured. Since I didn't remember exactly what the reviewer was talking about, and since the movie is extraordinarily cheap, now, I decided, what the hell, I'm placing another order, why not include this movie.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Robert Redford Wayne Hayes Helen Mirren Eileen Hayes Willem Dafoe Arnold Mack Alessandro Nivola Tim Hayes
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2004
Directed by Pieter Jan Brugge.
Labels: action3, dramaB, helen-mirren, robert-redford, willem-dafoe
