Thursday, July 27, 2023
A Star Is Born - Judy Garland
- 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
Tuesday, July 25, 2023
Vanity Fair
- Commentary: Under construction.
Well, this one's a surprise that jumped right out at me. I've been scouting this out for some years, now, and have been unsuccessful at finding it for a ridiculously cheap price. But, tonight, just as I was about to close down my movie journal labors, perusing some unrelated stuff by Mira Nair, pop, up this came for a more than reasonable price, widescreen to boot, with bonus content. I had to grab it before someone had the sense to take it off the shelf.
Back when it was released, I saw this in the theater by mistake. I went to the theater with a friend who was in to hard core horror. I wasn't, really, but it was interesting to watch her watching these movies. As well, I learned enough about horror to develop an appreciation for some of it, the better stuff, not the spear-through-the-belly-on-the-bed stuff my friend loved. Anyway, one evening we both thought she was ushering us into yet another horror flick. This is the movie that was playing, instead. Luckily, my friend took an immediate interest in it because of its lavishness. I did because, well, it was a historical drama, it starred Reese Witherspoon, it was based on a book I had read years previous and I had just about come to the end of my dour-shitty-horror-films rope. Sad to say, this did not turn my friend's interest away from horror, but it allowed me to slink away from indulging her interest. Did our friendship survive? No, but it wasn't a sour break up, either. She simply found someone else to haul to horror flicks. Which pleased me, and, I'm sure, her, as well.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Reese Witherspoon Rebecca Sharp Crawley James Purefoy Col Rawdon Crawley Rhys Ifans Major Dobbins Geraldine McEwan Countess of Southdown Gabriel Byrne Marquess of Steyne Bob Hoskins Sir Pitt Crawley the Elder Jim Broadbent Mr. Osborne Sian Thomas Lady Darlington
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2004
Directed by Mira Nair.
Labels: dramaF, historical5, reese-witherspoon
Like Someone in Love
- Commentary: Under construction.
I am so looking forward to watching this film. The premise sounds intriguing. More later, once I've watched it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Rin Takanashi Akiko Tadashi Okuno Takashi Watanabe Ryô Kase Noriaki Denden Hiroshi Mihoko Suzuki The Neighbor Kaneko Kubota Akiko's Grandmother Hiroyuki Kishi The Former Student Reiko Mori Nagisa Kôichi Ôhori Taxi Driver Tomoaki Tatsumi The Mechanic Seina Kasugai Nagisa's Friend Ryota Nakanishi A Student
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2012
Directed by Abbas Kiarostami.
Labels: Criterion6
The Forgiveness of Blood
- Commentary: Under construction.
Well, it was inevitable that this would happen. I've ended up with two copies of this movie. Luckily, both copies were bought on sale. It is too late to cancel my current order of this movie, but, funnily enough, it's a movie I watch three or more times a year, when I want to contemplate blood feuds, war, etc. So, I may keep both copies under the assumption that, at some point, one of the copies will become corrupted and I'll have a back-up copy. Maybe a happy coincidence?
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Tristan Halilaj Nik Sindi Lacej Rudina Refet Abazi Mark Ilire Vinca Celaj Drita Zana Hasaj Bardha Erjon Mani Tom Luan Jaha Zef Çun Lajçi Ded
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2011
Directed by Joshua Marston.
Labels: Criterion6
Taste of Cherry
- Commentary: Under construction.
You'll notice in his review attached to the title of this post that Roger Ebert literally hated this movie, subsequently adding it to his list of most hated movies of all time. I was shocked to discover this, as I saw the movie long before I was aware of Roger Ebert's opinion and was swept into it. I don't always agree with Roger Ebert, can nit-pick his reviews with the best of them, but this review of his greatly disappointed me. I've since had a hard time understanding how he missed the nuance, humanity and visual beauty of this movie.
Roger Ebert's site, though, contains a retrospective of Kiaarostami's work written by the site's staff of editors which quietly repudiates Ebert's opinion of this movie and was written a few years after Ebert's death.
More later.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Homayoun Ershadi Mr. Badii Abdolrahman Bagheri Mr. Bagheri Afshin Khorshid Bakhtiari The Soldier Mir Hossein Noori The Seminarian
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1997
Directed by Abbas Kiarostami.
Labels: Criterion6
The Big City
- Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Madhabi Mukherjee Arati Mazumdar Anil Chatterjee Subrata Mazumdar Haradhan Bannerjee Himangshu Mukherjee Vicky Redwood Edith Simmons Jaya Bhaduri Bani Haren Chatterjee Priyogopal Sefalika Devi Sarojini Prosenjit Sarkar Pintu
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1963
Directed by Satyajit Ray.
Labels: Criterion6, satyajit-ray
Sansho the Bailiff
- Commentary: Under construction.
Roger Ebert designated this movie as one of his Great Movies.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Kinuyo Tanaka Tamaki Kyōko Kagawa Anju Eitarō Shindō Sanshō Yoshiaki Hanayagi Zushiō Ichirō Sugai Minister of Justice Niō Ken Mitsuda Fujiwara no Morozane Masahiko Tsugawa Zushiō as a Boy Masao Shimizu Taira no Masauji Chieko Naniwa Ubatake Kikue Mori Priestess Akitake Kōno Tarō Ryōsuke Kagawa Donmyō Ritsushi
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1954
Directed by Kenji Mizoguchi.
Labels: Criterion6
The Earrings of Madame de...
- Commentary: Under construction.
Roger Ebert designated this movie as one of his Great Movies.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Charles Boyer Général André de... Danielle Darrieux Comtesse Louise de... Vittorio De Sica Baron Fabrizio Donati Jean Debucourt Monsieur Rémy Jean Galland Monsieur de Bernac Mireille Perrey La Nourrice Hubert Noël Henri de Maleville Lia Di Leo Lola
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1953
Directed by Max Ophüls.
Labels: Criterion6
Wings of Desire
- Commentary: Under construction.
Roger Ebert designated this movie as one of his Great Movies.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Bruno Ganz Damiel Solveig Dommartin Marion Otto Sander Cassiel Curt Bois Homer Peter Falk Filmstar Hans-Marrin Stier The Dying Man Elmar Wilms A Sad Man Sigurd Rachman The Suicide
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1987
Directed by Wim Wenders.
Labels: Criterion6
Othello
- Commentary: Under construction.
Although, as you can read in his review above, Roger Ebert did not like this adaptation/presentation of this story (and there have been many adaptations and presentations of this story on stage and as movies), many critics not only liked it but praised it. I've seen Orson Welles version, in a class on Shakespeare I took, and have no complaints with that film. It was one of my introductions to Shakespeare and, in a classroom setting, was thoroughly discussed, which helped immensely. In fact, thinking about that experience, I should probably obtain a copy of that film.
Ebert did not rave about that version, either, but he was positive, encouraging and gave it a "thumbs up" rating.
I have a "thing" about Laurence Fishburne's acting, so I expect I will probably like this version much more than did Roger Ebert. I'll find out, soon.
More later.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Laurence Fishburne Othello Kenneth Branagh Iago Irène Jacob Desdemona Nathaniel Parker Cassio Michael Maloney Roderigo Anna Patrick Emilia Indra Ové Bianca Michael Sheen Lodovico
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1995
Directed by Oliver Parker.
Labels: shakespeare
Law & Order SVU 1
- Commentary: Under construction.
I am currently smack dab in the middle of this season. Once I realized that both MFS and I have a fascination with the character Olivia Benson and started winding my way through Season 22, I decided I wanted to get a grasp of the characters from the beginning and watch their evolution through the series' time line, so I obtained this one. Interesting series from the very beginning! So far, the unit has lost one detective who has continuing emotional trouble handling the kind of crimes the unit is expected to handle. That detective has transferred to the Narcotics division. I never expected that, except that, as I progressively watched the season, it occurred to me that he was having an unusual amount of reaction to what he was being asked to investigate. Quite deft, the way the writers and story-tellers handled this story line.
In addition, if you have any interest at all in this series, you owe it to yourself to go back and watch this first season. The unit, the characters and the stories come into much sharper focus as you watch this season. It helps with the rest of the series.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Christopher Meloni Sr Det Elliot Stabler Mariska Hargitay Jr Det Olivia Benson Richard Belzer Sr Det John Munch Michelle Hurd Sr Det Monique Jeffries Dann Florek Cpt Donald Cragen Dean Winters Jr Det Brian Cassidy Chris Orbach Jr Det Ken Briscoe Erin Broderick Maureen Stabler
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of this season of the series.
Release Date: 9/20/99 - 5/19/2000
Directed by Various.
Labels: detective2
Law & Order SVU 19
- Commentary: Under construction.
My Florida Sister sent me this season because there is a specific episode, number 13, she wants me to watch. I've received the season but have not yet watched the episode. Things have been harried around here, what with the traumatic death of a beloved one and internet problems harrying me. I expect to be back on track and ready to watch MFS's recommended episode shortly.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Mariska Hargitay Lt Olivia Benson Kelli Giddish Jr Det Amanda Rollins Ice-T Sr Det/Sgt Odafin "Fin" Tutuola Peter Scanavino Jr Det Dominick Carisi, Jr. Raúl Esparza Asst Dst Atty Rafael Barba Philip Winchester Asst Dst Atty Peter Stone Dean Winters Dst Atty Inv Brian Cassidy Tamara Tunie ME Melinda Warner
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 9/27/17 - 5/23/18
Directed by Various.
Labels: detective2
Law & Order SVU 22
- Commentary: Under construction. This is one season of this series in which the character Olivia Benson is Commander of her unit.
More later once I finish watching it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Mariska Hargitay Cpt Olivia Benson Kelli Giddish Sr Det Amanda Rollins Ice-T Sr Det Sgt Odafin Tutuola Peter Scanavino Asst Dst Atty Dominick Carisi, Jr. Jamie Gray Hyder Ofc/Jr Dt Katriona Tamin Demore Barnes Dep Chief Christian Garland Raúl Esparza Def Atty Rafael Barba Tamara Tunie Chief ME Melinda Warner
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the this season of this series.
Release Date: 11/12/20 - 8/3/21
Directed by Various.
Labels: detective2
