Saturday, September 24, 2022
Conan the Barbarian
- Commentary: I've seen this film more than a few times, checking it out of the library. I managed to get what amounts to a free copy of it, just today, 9/24/22. I don't have it, yet, it'll be arriving Monday, reportedly. I could probably start a write-up of it from my memory of watching it, but I think I want to wait, since it's been awhile (like a few years) since I've seen it last, and I need to luxuriate in it, once again, this time knowing it'll be my personal copy, before writing about it. So, consider this post, for the time being, Under construction.
And, BTW, Roger Ebert reviewed it. And liked it! Not completely, mind you. His lack of a fourth star is explained, in detail, in his write-up, and not only makes sense, especially considering when the movie came out and Roger wrote his review, but it is provocative, thoughtful and timely, even today, 40 years after it was written. Which is probably a good thing, since it's still a lively seller. I mean, here I am, selecting it as a free movie option! Roger's review is attached to the title of this post. You should read it.
Another group of critics reviewed this movie, Three Movie Buffs. Their results are more than interesting, they are loaded with logistical details about the movie. If you have a "thing" for this movie, you should read their reviews.
Anyway, we'll talk more when I receive the movie and watch it afresh.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Arnold Schwarzenegger Conan the Barbarian Gerry Lopez Subotai Sandahl Bergman Valeria James Earl Jones Thulsa Doom Max von Sydow King Osric Mako Iwamatsu Wizard of the Mounds William Smith Conan's Father Sven-Ole Thorsen Thorgrim Ben Davidson Rexor Cassandra Gava Witch Valérie Quennessen Osric's Daughter Nadiuska Conan's Mother Jorge Sanz Young Conan Luis Barboo Red Hair Franco Columbu Pictish Scout Akio Mitamura Mongol General
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1982
Directed by John Milius.
Labels: adventure4, fantasy4, max-von-sydow, me-favorite4, oliver-stone, spectacle2, super-hero2, sword-&-sorcery, violence4
Friday, September 23, 2022
Murder á la Mod
- Commentary: This film is included as a Special Feature with Blow Out. I just found this out (9/23/22). It came as a surprise to me, so I have not yet watched it. The film is talked about as "25" in a list of De Palma films (with short reviews for each film) at the link attached to the title of this post. More later.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Andra Akers Tracy William Finley Otto Margo Norton Karen Jared Martin Chris Ken Burrows Wiley Jennifer Salt Bird Lorenzo Catlett Policeman Jack L. Harrell Salesman
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1968
Directed by Brian De Palma.
Labels: §5, brian-de-palma
Tuesday, September 20, 2022
The Hitcher
- Commentary: I used to have a good friend (she is long dead, having been almost exactly 20 years older than me) who, among other things, introduced me to all kinds of movies and, particularly, horror movies. This is one of the most memorable horror movies in her line-up, and I am living proof of this because, decades later, I still have vivid memories of it. In addition, this movie has captured the imaginations of many people, including movie critics, who were wildly split in their critiques (although the audience critiques were not split), which is why I linked the title of this post to the Metacritic round-up of reviews. This film is a doozey and I'm glad to finally own it, even though it is surprisingly pricey (although, perhaps not surprising, considering its continued popularity).
Its effect on me is rather like that of Duel: once it starts, even knowing its trajectory, I can't stop watching it. What an extraordinary villain Rutger Hauer fashioned in this movie! I consider this killer iconic, and that is in large part due to the smooth, unbearably attractive menace with which Hauer imbued his character.
Roger Ebert hated this movie. So did Gene Siskel. Many prominent critics hated this movie. Some high level critics enjoyed it and appreciated it. I am mesmerized by it, which is why I've added it to my collection. I don't own many horror movies because I'm very discerning about my horror, but the ones I own are top of the crop. This movie is at the top of the top.
I'll be receiving and watching it very soon, so I'll be back later with a follow-up on my second watching of it. Here's to many more.
Thanks, Pat. You schooled me well, and I remain grateful.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Rutger Hauer John Ryder C. Thomas Howell Jim Halsey Jeffrey DeMunn Captain Esteridge Jennifer Jason Leigh Nash John M. Jackson Sergeant Starr Billy Green Bush Trooper Donner Jack Thibeau Trooper Prestone Armin Shimerman Interrogation Sergeant Gene Davis Trooper Dodge Jon Van Ness Trooper Hapscomb Henry Darrow Trooper Hancock Tony Epper Trooper Conners
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1986
Directed by Robert Harmon.
Labels: horror2, jennifer-jason-leigh
Short Cuts
- Commentary: I saw this movie a long time ago, shortly after I became my mother's companion, during the period when she and I pursued our separate lives (mine included work, at that time) and lived together for her emotional comfort and to my enjoyment (my mother and I have been friends since I was a young adult). I didn't see it when it was first released, but a few years later at an art house theater. My memory of it is fuzzy, but my memory of my reaction to it has been very clear ever since that viewing. I think of it as a kind of Dazed and Confused for the "more mature" set. Since I began to investigate my mother's collection of movies on DVD, I've sporadically tried to hunt it down, not knowing if it had even been burnt to disc. Suddenly, today, as it turns out, I watched this video by Daisuke Beppu and, low an behold, there was my movie! Not only that, but he talked about not only the most recent release, but the old one with a booklet of Raymond Chandler's short stories, the edition for which I've been searching all these years!
Criterion no longer carries their original release of this film (with the booklet). The last place I considered looking was Amazon, but when I ran a search through my favored search engine, that's where it turned up! It's winging it's way to me, as I write, and should arrive a week from tomorrow. Its page indicates that the movie, itself, is "new", which I didn't expect at all, so I'm very excited!
I have to admit, it's more expensive than the movies I usually buy, but not for a Criterion movie (which I only buy during sales at reduced prices from other places besides Criterion) but, frankly, I consider its price a bargain, considering everything. It is still cheaper than your average, off-sale price of a Criterion movie sold at the Criterion website.
It's done in what has become known as Robert Altman's style (like Nashville, which I own and love and watch semi-regularly). As is true of a typical Robert Altman work, it features loads of actors, famous, not-so-famous and infamous, and sets each of them in situations which play to their acting strengths. There is an overall "theme", but not like Nashville.
It's been a long, long time since I've seen it, so watching it will be akin to my memory surprising me over and over. I'll be back, later, to catalog my reaction to seeing it again.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Andie MacDowell Ann Finnigan Bruce Davison Howard Finnigan Julianne Moore Marian Wyman Matthew Modine Dr. Ralph Wyman Anne Archer Claire Kane Fred Ward Stuart Kane Jennifer Jason Leigh Lois Kaiser Chris Penn Jerry Kaiser Lili Taylor Honey Piggot Bush Robert Downey Jr. Bill Bush Madeleine Stowe Sherri Shepard Tim Robbins Gene Shepard Lily Tomlin Doreen Piggot Tom Waits Earl Piggot Frances McDormand Betty Weathers Peter Gallagher Stormy Weathers Annie Ross Tess Trainer Lori Singer Zoe Trainer Jack Lemmon Paul Finnigan Lyle Lovett Andy Bitkower Buck Henry Gordon Johnson Huey Lewis Vern Miller Charles Rocket Wally Littleton Michael Beach Jim Stone
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1993
Directed by Robert Altman.
Labels: §5, Criterion4, dramedy3, jennifer-jason-leigh, julianne-moore, matthew-modine, robert-altman, robert-downey-jr, tim-robbins
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
