Thursday, April 25, 2024
Dark City
- Commentary: Under construction.
Roger Ebert was so intrigued by this movie he reviewed it twice. He assigned it Great Movie status in 2005 after having reviewed it upon it's initial release in 1998 and having given it four stars. His Great Movies review is attached to the title of this post.
I also find it interesting to note that while many reviewers were also pleased by this film, its two iterations, its theatrical release and its director's cut, were also analyzed by reviewers, which is, in essence, what Roger Ebert accomplished with his two reviews. Even critics who were not impressed with many aspects of the film praised its extraordinary visuality.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Rufus Sewell John Murdoch William Hurt Ins. Frank Bumstead Kiefer Sutherland Dr. Daniel P. Schreber Jennifer Connelly Emma Murdoch/Anna Richard O'Brien Mr. Hand Ian Richardson Mr. Book Bruce Spence Mr. Wall Colin Friels Det. Eddie Walenski John Bluthal Karl Harris Mitchell Butel Ofc. Husselbeck Melissa George May Frank Gallacher Chf. Ins. Stromboli Ritchie Singer Hotel Manager/Vendor Justin Monjo Taxi Driver Nicholas Bell Mr. Rain Satya Gumbert Mr. Sleep
As usual, more later when I've watched this film.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1988
Directed by Alex Proyas.
Labels: jennifer-connelly, philosophical, science-fiction2, william-hurt
Saturday, April 01, 2023
Until the End of the World
- Commentary: Under construction.
Although I won't be receiving and viewing this movie until a few days hence, I'm pretty excited about it. This film has gone through many iterations and, during yet another routine scrounge for not just this movie but others I have on an extended list, I noticed that Criterion released the second-to-the-longest, best reviewed version, yet, a few years ago. I stumbled across it this evening, noticed it was at an unusually good price for a brand-spanking-new disc (I mean, I never expected to see it at this price, at least not new), being sold through a vendor with whom I've dealt before and trust, so I snatched it up.
Something tells me that this will not be the last version released, so this movie might be one of the very few of which I end up obtaining more than one version. But, I've waited for a long time and I'm thinking I'll wildly appreciate this version of it. It might even satisfy me. Of course, I'll let you know.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Solveig Dommartin Claire Tourneur Chick Ortega Chico Rémy Eddy Mitchell Raymond Monnet William Hurt Sam Farber/Trevor McPhee Adelle Lutz Makiko Sam Neill Eugene Fitzpatrick Rüdiger Vogler Philip Winter Kuniko Miyake Mrs. Mori Chishū Ryū Mr. Mori David Gulpilil David Jeanne Moreau Edith Farber Max von Sydow Henry Farber
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1991/2019 version
Directed by Wim Wenders.
Labels: apocalyptic, chishū-ryū, Criterion6, science-fiction2, william-hurt
Friday, July 15, 2022
Black Widow
- Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Scarlett Johansson Black Widow Natasha Romanoff Florence Pugh Black Widow Yelena Belova David Harbour Red Guardian Alexei Shostakov O-T Fagbenle Rick Mason Olga Kurylenko Taskmaster Antonia Dreykov William Hurt Thaddeus Ross Ray Winstone Dreykov Rachel Weisz Black Widow Melina Vostokoff Michelle Lee Red Room Assassin Oksana Jade Xu Black Widow Helen Julia Louis-Dreyfus Valentina Allegra de Fontaine Jeremy Renner Voice of Clint Barton
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2021
Directed by Cate Shortland.
Labels: §4, rachel-weisz, ray-winstone, super-hero2, thriller3, tragedy2, violence4, william-hurt
Tuesday, May 24, 2022
Into the Wild
- Who's watched: G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: Mom never saw this movie. I suspect she would have found it interesting, but I don't know, for sure. I'm basing my guess on her reaction to Grizzly Man, which was highly favorable and of which I'm surprised we never sought a copy. Anyway, I bought the movie on the cheap because I've always harbored a desire to take off and attempt to live "in the wild" and was curious about this movie, even though much of my reading about it had forewarned me that Christopher McCandless' journey was probably more about mental/spiritual/emotional/social (take your pick) illness than anything else and that he headed "Into the Wild" frighteningly unprepared, despite himself. Some have speculated that the movie is irresponsible. Thus, any leaning toward a romantic viewing of this film had been cleared before I watched it. Still, I enjoyed the story of what this man did, even though the movie is not completely clear on the brain chemistry or social environment behind his character and choice. It's a highly romantic retelling which, opposing the critics, I find appropriate. Despite this man's talent for personal tragedy, watching the movie has a tendency to allow me to (dangerously, I suppose) consider that, well, maybe someday...with quite a bit more preparation than an idea, I can assure you ...
Roger Ebert, by the way, wrote stunning, heartfelt review of this movie. In fact, the only reason I didn't attach his review to the title of this post is because, for some reason, I thought a definition of schizophrenia, in the context of the film, might be more appropriate. I'm not sure I was right, but, still, I'm sticking with my choice.
Update 5/24/22: Yet another post published on 4/09/09 that "disappeared" and I had to recapture.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Emile Hirsch Chris McCandless Marcia Gay Harden Billie McCandless William Hurt Walt McCandless Jena Malone Carine McCandless Catherine Keener Jan Burres Hal Holbrook Ron Franz Kristen Stewart Tracy Tatro Vince Vaughn Wayne Westerberg Zach Galifianakis Kevin Thure Lindhardt Mads Merritt Wever Lori Leonard Knight Himself
So, I was able to find a title link alternate to Wikipedia, an interesting one, too, and it remains up, but, just in case, here's the Wikipedia article.
Release Date: 2007
Directed by Sean Penn.
Labels: action3, adventure3, drama7, kristen-stewart, marsha-gay-harden, road-movie, tragedy2, william-hurt
