This is a wonderful film. It also turned me into a bit of a Paul Giamatti fan.
Films Worth Viewing Year 2
- Thread starter zymurg
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This is a wonderful film. It also turned me into a bit of a Paul Giamatti fan.
"Seconds"-John Frankenheimer-1966
This film has gone from failure to cult classic without ever being a success;that is a paraphrase of John Frankenheimer. I have some problems with this film. The story is that a middle aged man, Arthur Hamilton (John Randolph) receives two mysterious calls from a dead college friend and doubles partner. He offers Arthur a chance to be re-born. Initially, Arthur is reluctant, but he later agrees to begin the transformation. There are arrangements to be made. These include a substantial payment to the company, planning a death, massive plastic surgery, rehabilitation, and the construction of a new identity. I didn't have a problem with the set up.
The acting throughout is at least solid and in most cases good and there are several excellent performances.
The transformed subject is named Antioches Wilson (Rock Hudson). He is a painter rather than a banker. He lives in Monterey rather than NYC. He fails to adjust to his new life. I found the choice of a new identity puzzling. I found the wine estate tribute to Bacchus to be way over the top. Wilson's cocktail party was even worse. Wilson tries through visits to his old life to find out what went wrong. The company doesn't like this.
Wilson ends up in the day room waiting for another new identity.
The following actors were excellent: Hudson, Randolph, Willl Geer (the company founder), Frances Reid (Arthur's wife), and Salome Jens (Wilson's California girlfriend). The photography is interesting. Jerry Goldsmith's score is very good.
This film was a miss for me, but the critical reviews and audience reviews are excellent. The concept of a second chance at life is provocative. It is available for free on Amazon Prime. Worth viewing ??
This film has gone from failure to cult classic without ever being a success;that is a paraphrase of John Frankenheimer. I have some problems with this film. The story is that a middle aged man, Arthur Hamilton (John Randolph) receives two mysterious calls from a dead college friend and doubles partner. He offers Arthur a chance to be re-born. Initially, Arthur is reluctant, but he later agrees to begin the transformation. There are arrangements to be made. These include a substantial payment to the company, planning a death, massive plastic surgery, rehabilitation, and the construction of a new identity. I didn't have a problem with the set up.
The acting throughout is at least solid and in most cases good and there are several excellent performances.
The transformed subject is named Antioches Wilson (Rock Hudson). He is a painter rather than a banker. He lives in Monterey rather than NYC. He fails to adjust to his new life. I found the choice of a new identity puzzling. I found the wine estate tribute to Bacchus to be way over the top. Wilson's cocktail party was even worse. Wilson tries through visits to his old life to find out what went wrong. The company doesn't like this.
Wilson ends up in the day room waiting for another new identity.
The following actors were excellent: Hudson, Randolph, Willl Geer (the company founder), Frances Reid (Arthur's wife), and Salome Jens (Wilson's California girlfriend). The photography is interesting. Jerry Goldsmith's score is very good.
This film was a miss for me, but the critical reviews and audience reviews are excellent. The concept of a second chance at life is provocative. It is available for free on Amazon Prime. Worth viewing ??
"The Spy Who Came in From the Cold"-Martin Ritt-1965
This is a classic. Ritt, who died in 1990, is largely forgotten today. He made solid films and quite a few classics.
They include "Suddenly, Last Summer," "Hud,"" Sounder," and "The Great White Hope." He made a cluster of films with Paul Newman. John Le Carre is perhaps the greatest spy novelist in English; Graham Green is his only real competitor. This novel is his first blockbuster success It was published in 1963; two years later the movie premiered. This was filmed at two studios. Le Carre was on set for much of the filming. He has spoken and written about this experience. Most 'Yarders are probably more familiar with "Tinker, Tailor, Spy," and "Smiley's People." "The Tailor of Panama" is also worth searching out.
Richard Burton plays the key Protagonist Alex Leamas. Burton and Elizabeth Taylor were recently married, so she was always on set. Ritt and Burton didn't get along. His drinking was a major problem; LeCarre was originally brought on set to help handle Burton. This is filmed evocatively in black and white, I find that using black and white helps with certain types of movies. Generally, we are used to spy films as a sub set of CGI action films. Here we are concerned with what is going on inside the character's minds. The score is minimalist background with a theme which is melancholy and repeated.
Burton is tremendous in this film. He is supported well by Cyril Cusak as Control and Oskar Werner as Fiedler. Claire Bloom plays the love interest. She and Burton had more than a moment before Liz.
This is available for Free if you have Amazon Prime. My highest recommendation.
This is a classic. Ritt, who died in 1990, is largely forgotten today. He made solid films and quite a few classics.
They include "Suddenly, Last Summer," "Hud,"" Sounder," and "The Great White Hope." He made a cluster of films with Paul Newman. John Le Carre is perhaps the greatest spy novelist in English; Graham Green is his only real competitor. This novel is his first blockbuster success It was published in 1963; two years later the movie premiered. This was filmed at two studios. Le Carre was on set for much of the filming. He has spoken and written about this experience. Most 'Yarders are probably more familiar with "Tinker, Tailor, Spy," and "Smiley's People." "The Tailor of Panama" is also worth searching out.
Richard Burton plays the key Protagonist Alex Leamas. Burton and Elizabeth Taylor were recently married, so she was always on set. Ritt and Burton didn't get along. His drinking was a major problem; LeCarre was originally brought on set to help handle Burton. This is filmed evocatively in black and white, I find that using black and white helps with certain types of movies. Generally, we are used to spy films as a sub set of CGI action films. Here we are concerned with what is going on inside the character's minds. The score is minimalist background with a theme which is melancholy and repeated.
Burton is tremendous in this film. He is supported well by Cyril Cusak as Control and Oskar Werner as Fiedler. Claire Bloom plays the love interest. She and Burton had more than a moment before Liz.
This is available for Free if you have Amazon Prime. My highest recommendation.
"Steele Wool"Frank Capella-2020
Are you talking yo yourself? I know I am. We are bereft of sports. No UConn basketball, no NBA, no baseball, no Premier League football. Reading about corona virus doesn't fill all my waking hours. I fault myself, no not for the virus, but for my lack of empathy. If upping the number of my previews alleviates even for a few hours a day the boredom and the inertia which threatens all of us, then it is my duty, and yes my pleasure to find interesting films which may help us in our time of need.
Let us begin. Frank Capella has been around the Indie film world for years. He met Cami Varela on line. He was intrigued by her life story. She lost her hearing at age 12; her father died in an auto accident several years later.
She acted in the deaf theater, but in recent years she had stopped. She has a cochlear implant which allows her to hear. Capella wrote the script and together they developed a story. Their names in the film are Tony Steele and Daphne Wool hence the title. A film was made for less than the cost of a Yugo. That is a quote from the site. The Yugo was a car built in Yugoslavia during the cold war.
What a film it is. This s the story of how a deaf woman kills her husband and becomes a hitwoman for a mysterious syndicate supposedly dedicated to removing evil doers from this life. Tony is Daphne's sidekick and getaway driver. This film has a nice light touch and quite a bit of humor. I should mention a gigantic Samoan hitman named Moses who befriends Daphne. The syndicate attempts to get rid of Daphne, Tony, and Moses. This leads to a bang up finale. I wanted to see more of these characters when the film ended.
This little film has its own center of gravity, and like spinning top moves along merrily. It is available on Amazon Prime for free if you are a member. Don't worry next up is a film much easier to find: "Whistleblower."
Are you talking yo yourself? I know I am. We are bereft of sports. No UConn basketball, no NBA, no baseball, no Premier League football. Reading about corona virus doesn't fill all my waking hours. I fault myself, no not for the virus, but for my lack of empathy. If upping the number of my previews alleviates even for a few hours a day the boredom and the inertia which threatens all of us, then it is my duty, and yes my pleasure to find interesting films which may help us in our time of need.
Let us begin. Frank Capella has been around the Indie film world for years. He met Cami Varela on line. He was intrigued by her life story. She lost her hearing at age 12; her father died in an auto accident several years later.
She acted in the deaf theater, but in recent years she had stopped. She has a cochlear implant which allows her to hear. Capella wrote the script and together they developed a story. Their names in the film are Tony Steele and Daphne Wool hence the title. A film was made for less than the cost of a Yugo. That is a quote from the site. The Yugo was a car built in Yugoslavia during the cold war.
What a film it is. This s the story of how a deaf woman kills her husband and becomes a hitwoman for a mysterious syndicate supposedly dedicated to removing evil doers from this life. Tony is Daphne's sidekick and getaway driver. This film has a nice light touch and quite a bit of humor. I should mention a gigantic Samoan hitman named Moses who befriends Daphne. The syndicate attempts to get rid of Daphne, Tony, and Moses. This leads to a bang up finale. I wanted to see more of these characters when the film ended.
This little film has its own center of gravity, and like spinning top moves along merrily. It is available on Amazon Prime for free if you are a member. Don't worry next up is a film much easier to find: "Whistleblower."
"Whistleblower"-Larysa Kondraki-2010
This film represents the coming together of the stories of two women. The director, Larysa Kondraki, grew up in Canada, but she was an immigrant from Ukraine. When she heard about the story of Kathryn Bolkavac a police officer in Lincoln. Nebraska who became a UN peacekeeper in Bosnia; she was determined to make this her first feature film. She and her co-writer, Ellis Kirman based the film of Bolkavac's experiences trying to end a human trafficking pipeline into Bosnia. It took her 8 years to bring her idea to fruition.
This is a pretty amazing first feature. This novice director/screenwriter was able to find high profile actors, Rachel Weisz, Vanessa Redgrave, and Davd Straithan as featured players. Along the way she picked up studio distribution. This is a tight narrative. Some creative concepts make this fiction and not a documentary. The three named actors play real people, but the trafficked girls and young women are composites. The film shows considerable brutality towards the trafficked women. The original film was so shocking particularly in a rape scene with a metal pipe, that a member of the preview audience fainted. There was some modification, but the film is still very violent in places. Critics in some cases found this over the top. "Okay, we know human trafficking is a serious evil, but you don't have to beat us about the head constantly, we get it." I wonder if the critics really got it. In fact on site observers have stated in numerous sites and in filmed interviews; that the film while being realistic didn't show some of the worst parts of the general program of dehumanization of the trafficked women.
The system was able to survive only with the see no evil policy of the military contractor and the UN representatives. Even worse some of the military contractors were part of the transportation pipeline, and took cuts ofthe revenue provided by the women. When Bolkavac uncovered the problem; she attempted to bring to justice not only Bosnian locals, but the military contractors as well. The military contractors were protected by diplomatic immunity. Still her investigations were causing problems. Kathryn was first demoted and then fired by the contractor DynCorp (the name was changed in the film.) Bolkavac sued in England for discrimination against her whistleblowing. The court in her favor, but in this case the corporation and the UN got off without penalties. Human trafficking is prevalent in many UN peacekeeping missions.
This is a very solid story. The acting is excellent. Filming in Romania gives a gritty naturalistic feeling for what we see on the screen. Highly recommended. This streams for free with Amazon Prime.
This film represents the coming together of the stories of two women. The director, Larysa Kondraki, grew up in Canada, but she was an immigrant from Ukraine. When she heard about the story of Kathryn Bolkavac a police officer in Lincoln. Nebraska who became a UN peacekeeper in Bosnia; she was determined to make this her first feature film. She and her co-writer, Ellis Kirman based the film of Bolkavac's experiences trying to end a human trafficking pipeline into Bosnia. It took her 8 years to bring her idea to fruition.
This is a pretty amazing first feature. This novice director/screenwriter was able to find high profile actors, Rachel Weisz, Vanessa Redgrave, and Davd Straithan as featured players. Along the way she picked up studio distribution. This is a tight narrative. Some creative concepts make this fiction and not a documentary. The three named actors play real people, but the trafficked girls and young women are composites. The film shows considerable brutality towards the trafficked women. The original film was so shocking particularly in a rape scene with a metal pipe, that a member of the preview audience fainted. There was some modification, but the film is still very violent in places. Critics in some cases found this over the top. "Okay, we know human trafficking is a serious evil, but you don't have to beat us about the head constantly, we get it." I wonder if the critics really got it. In fact on site observers have stated in numerous sites and in filmed interviews; that the film while being realistic didn't show some of the worst parts of the general program of dehumanization of the trafficked women.
The system was able to survive only with the see no evil policy of the military contractor and the UN representatives. Even worse some of the military contractors were part of the transportation pipeline, and took cuts ofthe revenue provided by the women. When Bolkavac uncovered the problem; she attempted to bring to justice not only Bosnian locals, but the military contractors as well. The military contractors were protected by diplomatic immunity. Still her investigations were causing problems. Kathryn was first demoted and then fired by the contractor DynCorp (the name was changed in the film.) Bolkavac sued in England for discrimination against her whistleblowing. The court in her favor, but in this case the corporation and the UN got off without penalties. Human trafficking is prevalent in many UN peacekeeping missions.
This is a very solid story. The acting is excellent. Filming in Romania gives a gritty naturalistic feeling for what we see on the screen. Highly recommended. This streams for free with Amazon Prime.
"Rango"-Gore Verbanski-2011
This was Industrial Light and Magic's first full length feature. Verbanski had worked with Depp previously on the
Pirates of the Caribbean. This is an animated feature for adults, particularly for those who like westerns. I really liked the opening, but for me it lagged somewhat in the middle. The plot is that a simple lizard is scripting his own film/story with several subordinate inanimate characters. His world is shattered by accident (Raising Arizona); he meets Roadkill, a giant armadillo, who has almost been cut in two. This sage/visionary sets Rango (Johnny Depp) on a quest. It is intended that the viewer sees Don Quixote in Roadkill (Alfred Molina). Where the lizard had been trying to create his own story; he now embarks on his story which will be to save Dirt a desert town.
At first the lizard tries to embelish the story. He tells a tall tale where he kills seven bad guys with one bullet, This is a tip of the hat to the little tailor who kills 7 with one blow; of course the 7 in question were flies. He takes the name Rango.and he becomes the sheriff. He must solve the town's water problem. He meets the mayor. The turtle is an homage to the John Huston played Noah Cross character. Control of the water is control of everything. The mayor (Ned Beatty) is the type of subtle villain who often figures in modern thrillers,
but Rattlesnake Jake (Bill Nighy), modeled on Lee Van Cleef is more direct in his menace. Rango backs down and flees Dirt, but he meets the Spirit of the West(Tim Olyphant) obviously Clint Eastwood. Rango refers to him as "the man with no name." Rango is told that he can't leave his own story. He returns to Dirt to fulfill his own destiny. There is a traveling mariachi band which serves as a kind of Greek chorus within the story.
I should mention that the vocal parts were recorded on stage as opposed to in isolation booths. This allowed the actors to interact and improvise. This won the Oscar. The ending is solid and upbeat. Well worth viewing and available on Amazon Prime free for members.
This was Industrial Light and Magic's first full length feature. Verbanski had worked with Depp previously on the
Pirates of the Caribbean. This is an animated feature for adults, particularly for those who like westerns. I really liked the opening, but for me it lagged somewhat in the middle. The plot is that a simple lizard is scripting his own film/story with several subordinate inanimate characters. His world is shattered by accident (Raising Arizona); he meets Roadkill, a giant armadillo, who has almost been cut in two. This sage/visionary sets Rango (Johnny Depp) on a quest. It is intended that the viewer sees Don Quixote in Roadkill (Alfred Molina). Where the lizard had been trying to create his own story; he now embarks on his story which will be to save Dirt a desert town.
At first the lizard tries to embelish the story. He tells a tall tale where he kills seven bad guys with one bullet, This is a tip of the hat to the little tailor who kills 7 with one blow; of course the 7 in question were flies. He takes the name Rango.and he becomes the sheriff. He must solve the town's water problem. He meets the mayor. The turtle is an homage to the John Huston played Noah Cross character. Control of the water is control of everything. The mayor (Ned Beatty) is the type of subtle villain who often figures in modern thrillers,
but Rattlesnake Jake (Bill Nighy), modeled on Lee Van Cleef is more direct in his menace. Rango backs down and flees Dirt, but he meets the Spirit of the West(Tim Olyphant) obviously Clint Eastwood. Rango refers to him as "the man with no name." Rango is told that he can't leave his own story. He returns to Dirt to fulfill his own destiny. There is a traveling mariachi band which serves as a kind of Greek chorus within the story.
I should mention that the vocal parts were recorded on stage as opposed to in isolation booths. This allowed the actors to interact and improvise. This won the Oscar. The ending is solid and upbeat. Well worth viewing and available on Amazon Prime free for members.
.-.
"Zodiac"-David Fincher-2007
Fincher is one of the most prominent directors who emerged in the'90's. It is worth looking at his body of work. Starting with Seven in 95, then The Game, Fight Club, Panic Room, we reach Zodiac. All of these are at least good; most are considerably better than that. "Zodiac" is a classic, but it is a messy classic. The Zodiac killer first came to widespread notice with his letters to the media in the summer of '69. The movie begins with the July 4th murder. One of the problems was that the crimes were spread across multiple jurisdictions. Take a look at the credited cast list; it is longer than any I can remember barring epics. Then we have the duration of the case. The person considered to be the killer was never arrested. He died of a heart attack in 1982 before he could be arrested.
The film works on two tracks. One track is the San Francisco Chronicle the other is law enforcement with San Francisco playing the central role. The two key players at the newspaper are Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr.) a prima donna star with a drinking problem and Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal) the paper's new cartoonist.
Graysmith becomes totally involved in the case; he ended up writing a best seller. In San Francisco two inspectors: David Toschi (Mark Ruffalo) and William Armstrong (Anthony Edwards) are given the case. Over the years Graysmith and Toschi become unwitting partners. What the film does really well is to document how the case impacted the lives of key participants. The acting is sterling and the script by James Vanderbilt is a winner.
If you haven't seen this perhaps a short list of some of the featured players may pique your interest: Chole Sevigne, Brian Cox, Ellias Koteas, Dermot Mulrooney, and Donal Logue. This is top flight group, and they all are more than worthy. If you have any interest in this genre this is a must see. Fincher had to take over cinematography in the middle of the shoot and does a masterful job. Quality,Quality, Quality.
Fincher is one of the most prominent directors who emerged in the'90's. It is worth looking at his body of work. Starting with Seven in 95, then The Game, Fight Club, Panic Room, we reach Zodiac. All of these are at least good; most are considerably better than that. "Zodiac" is a classic, but it is a messy classic. The Zodiac killer first came to widespread notice with his letters to the media in the summer of '69. The movie begins with the July 4th murder. One of the problems was that the crimes were spread across multiple jurisdictions. Take a look at the credited cast list; it is longer than any I can remember barring epics. Then we have the duration of the case. The person considered to be the killer was never arrested. He died of a heart attack in 1982 before he could be arrested.
The film works on two tracks. One track is the San Francisco Chronicle the other is law enforcement with San Francisco playing the central role. The two key players at the newspaper are Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr.) a prima donna star with a drinking problem and Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal) the paper's new cartoonist.
Graysmith becomes totally involved in the case; he ended up writing a best seller. In San Francisco two inspectors: David Toschi (Mark Ruffalo) and William Armstrong (Anthony Edwards) are given the case. Over the years Graysmith and Toschi become unwitting partners. What the film does really well is to document how the case impacted the lives of key participants. The acting is sterling and the script by James Vanderbilt is a winner.
If you haven't seen this perhaps a short list of some of the featured players may pique your interest: Chole Sevigne, Brian Cox, Ellias Koteas, Dermot Mulrooney, and Donal Logue. This is top flight group, and they all are more than worthy. If you have any interest in this genre this is a must see. Fincher had to take over cinematography in the middle of the shoot and does a masterful job. Quality,Quality, Quality.
Waquoit
Mr. Positive
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Thanks again, zy. We caught this one last night. Just great. The spy game is a dirty business.
"True Grit"-Henry Hathaway-1969
"True Grit"-Coen Brothers-2010
Both versions are based on Charles Portis' 1968 novel "True Grit." The 2010 version is actually closer to the novel. Marguerette Roberts wrote the 69 screenplay; the Coen brothers wrote the 2010 version. Hathaway was a super veteran director. He started in features in the early 30's. Some of his better films include : Lives of a Bengal lancer, House on 92nd Street, The Desert Fox, and North to Alaska. John Wayne was always the first choice for Rooster Cogburn. Hathaway disliked both Glenn Campbell and Kim Darby. John Wayne didn't speak to Darby on the set, she didn't mind that,but she really disliked Hathaway. This was not a happy set. The film did very well at the box office. John finally won his Oscar.
I should say a little about the actual film. It is beautifully filmed in Colorado. The novel is set in Arkansas and Indian Territory (Okalahoma). John Wayne plays John Wayne. He more than gets away with it. Glen Campbell is the weak link as far as acting goes. The script is filled with good dialogue. The ending is changed from the novel.
The basic story is unchanged in both versions. Mattie Ross ( a fourteen year old girl) goes to Fort Smith to get her father's body and bring him back home to be buried. She s determined to bring to justice Tom Chaney the family hired hand who murdered him. Chaney fled to Indian Territory; local law enforcement can't operate in the Indian Territory. Mattie plans to hire a U.S. Marshall to track him down. A Texas Ranger has been tracking Tom Chaney for the murder of a state senator in Texas. There some minor differences in the relationships among this trio while they track Chaney. Chaney has joined up with Lucky Ned Pepper a well known outlaw leader.
One ofthe biggest story differences is that in the 2010 film a 40 year old Mattie provides the narration for the story. She physically appears in a final scene. She attempts to visit Rooster 25 years after the central events; Rooster died several days before she arrives at a wild west show where he was working. Jeff Bridges portrayal is more like the book;Hailee Stanfield is really well cast as Matty. Matt Damon is more than a step up from Glenn Campbell. I actually like the ending of the first version a little better. The Coen version is filmed in Texas. This is a much more bleak and desolate setting; that again is closer to the original novel.
You won't go wrong with either film. In my opinion the later version edges out the original by a chin whisker.
Both are highly recommended.
"True Grit"-Coen Brothers-2010
Both versions are based on Charles Portis' 1968 novel "True Grit." The 2010 version is actually closer to the novel. Marguerette Roberts wrote the 69 screenplay; the Coen brothers wrote the 2010 version. Hathaway was a super veteran director. He started in features in the early 30's. Some of his better films include : Lives of a Bengal lancer, House on 92nd Street, The Desert Fox, and North to Alaska. John Wayne was always the first choice for Rooster Cogburn. Hathaway disliked both Glenn Campbell and Kim Darby. John Wayne didn't speak to Darby on the set, she didn't mind that,but she really disliked Hathaway. This was not a happy set. The film did very well at the box office. John finally won his Oscar.
I should say a little about the actual film. It is beautifully filmed in Colorado. The novel is set in Arkansas and Indian Territory (Okalahoma). John Wayne plays John Wayne. He more than gets away with it. Glen Campbell is the weak link as far as acting goes. The script is filled with good dialogue. The ending is changed from the novel.
The basic story is unchanged in both versions. Mattie Ross ( a fourteen year old girl) goes to Fort Smith to get her father's body and bring him back home to be buried. She s determined to bring to justice Tom Chaney the family hired hand who murdered him. Chaney fled to Indian Territory; local law enforcement can't operate in the Indian Territory. Mattie plans to hire a U.S. Marshall to track him down. A Texas Ranger has been tracking Tom Chaney for the murder of a state senator in Texas. There some minor differences in the relationships among this trio while they track Chaney. Chaney has joined up with Lucky Ned Pepper a well known outlaw leader.
One ofthe biggest story differences is that in the 2010 film a 40 year old Mattie provides the narration for the story. She physically appears in a final scene. She attempts to visit Rooster 25 years after the central events; Rooster died several days before she arrives at a wild west show where he was working. Jeff Bridges portrayal is more like the book;Hailee Stanfield is really well cast as Matty. Matt Damon is more than a step up from Glenn Campbell. I actually like the ending of the first version a little better. The Coen version is filmed in Texas. This is a much more bleak and desolate setting; that again is closer to the original novel.
You won't go wrong with either film. In my opinion the later version edges out the original by a chin whisker.
Both are highly recommended.
Both movies are good. My wife is a big John Wayne westerns fan, so she absolutely loves that version. To me, the main difference in the films is the focus. In the original, as you say, John Wayne plays John Wayne, and the focus is more on him than anything else. In the Coen Brothers remake, the focus of the film is much more on Matty, and I thought Hailee Stanfield was more than up to the task.
"Downfall"-Oliver Hirschbiegel-2004
This is a compelling film. The film is based on two books one of which is Traudi Junge's 1st person account of her 21/2 years as Hitler's secretary. The agreement among historians is almost 100% that this film is historically accurate. Bruno Ganz, Hitler, researched Hitler's accent and the effects of Parkinson's disease on Hitler. Ganz is a great actor, and despite my love for "Wings of Desire;" this might be his greatest performance. This is film's best Hitler. There was only one piece of audio existing of Hitler speaking in private. This 10 minute tape discovered in 1992 has been studied by dozens of historians and Bruno Ganz. The film gives us an insight into Hitler's considerable personal charm. Previously we have known Hitler through his public pronouncements. "The Triumph of the Will" which depicts the Nuremberg rally is a base template. We have seen portrayals of Hitler as a madman, but that seems overly simple, and it doesn't explain the adherence of millions of Germans.
Think about Franklin D. Roosevelt and his fireside chats over radio with the American people. If Roosevelt reached millions of Americans; then believe that Hitler and Goebbels knew how to reach millions of Germans.
What this film allows us to see is how those closest to Hitler personally behaved in the final days.
Traudi became Hitler's personal secretary in November of 1942. She stayed with him until his death in May 1945. Looking back on those years in her autobiographical work, she says that being young was no excuse for her adherence to Hitler and National Socialism. Is this just her trying to make an excuse? Alezandria Maria Lara's portrayal is brilliantly elusive. In the end she chooses not to take her life. Compare that with Frau Goebbels who poisons her own children after giving them a sleeping potion. She didn'twant her children living in a world without National Socialism.
Details are important in an historical film. Hitler pins his gold party pin #1 on Frau Goebbels shortly before he commits suicide. The Russians found the pin; they put it on public display in 2005. It was stolen in a smash and grab robbery. Hitler and Eva Braun commit suicide. The cyanide pills were made in concentration camps; this opens the possibility of sabotage. That's why you see so many of the suicides including Hitlers include both cyanide capsules and a head shot. Hitler made assurance double sure by poisoning his dog Blondi to check if the batch of capsules worked.
I suppose that this film is not a top choice for upbeat viewing, but up next is "The Great Train Robbery" which is escapist fare. This is available for free on Prime. This is an uncopromising film, but also a great one.
This is a compelling film. The film is based on two books one of which is Traudi Junge's 1st person account of her 21/2 years as Hitler's secretary. The agreement among historians is almost 100% that this film is historically accurate. Bruno Ganz, Hitler, researched Hitler's accent and the effects of Parkinson's disease on Hitler. Ganz is a great actor, and despite my love for "Wings of Desire;" this might be his greatest performance. This is film's best Hitler. There was only one piece of audio existing of Hitler speaking in private. This 10 minute tape discovered in 1992 has been studied by dozens of historians and Bruno Ganz. The film gives us an insight into Hitler's considerable personal charm. Previously we have known Hitler through his public pronouncements. "The Triumph of the Will" which depicts the Nuremberg rally is a base template. We have seen portrayals of Hitler as a madman, but that seems overly simple, and it doesn't explain the adherence of millions of Germans.
Think about Franklin D. Roosevelt and his fireside chats over radio with the American people. If Roosevelt reached millions of Americans; then believe that Hitler and Goebbels knew how to reach millions of Germans.
What this film allows us to see is how those closest to Hitler personally behaved in the final days.
Traudi became Hitler's personal secretary in November of 1942. She stayed with him until his death in May 1945. Looking back on those years in her autobiographical work, she says that being young was no excuse for her adherence to Hitler and National Socialism. Is this just her trying to make an excuse? Alezandria Maria Lara's portrayal is brilliantly elusive. In the end she chooses not to take her life. Compare that with Frau Goebbels who poisons her own children after giving them a sleeping potion. She didn'twant her children living in a world without National Socialism.
Details are important in an historical film. Hitler pins his gold party pin #1 on Frau Goebbels shortly before he commits suicide. The Russians found the pin; they put it on public display in 2005. It was stolen in a smash and grab robbery. Hitler and Eva Braun commit suicide. The cyanide pills were made in concentration camps; this opens the possibility of sabotage. That's why you see so many of the suicides including Hitlers include both cyanide capsules and a head shot. Hitler made assurance double sure by poisoning his dog Blondi to check if the batch of capsules worked.
I suppose that this film is not a top choice for upbeat viewing, but up next is "The Great Train Robbery" which is escapist fare. This is available for free on Prime. This is an uncopromising film, but also a great one.
Waquoit
Mr. Positive
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- Reaction Score
- 102,005
I watched the Coen Grit in the theater and loved it. I sought out the Wayne version after and was surprised how much I liked that one as well. Campbell, like zy said, was just way too sub-par for me. I had a guy at work try to make the case that Glen was better then Matt Damon. I told him I'll never take his word on a movie again.
.-.
Waquoit
Mr. Positive
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2011
- Messages
- 36,462
- Reaction Score
- 102,005
"The Great Train Robbery"-Michael Crichton- 1978
Crichton was a popular novelist. Much of his work could be considered SciFi eg Jurrssic Park. He adapted some of his popular works for the screen starting with "Coma." He was lucky to secure Sean Connery for the lead (Edward Pierce) in "The Great Train Robbery." In the UK the film had a First beginning the title. There was a theft of more than 2 million pounds from a train, This story was covered in a TV series; that's worth looking for if you can find it streaming free. The film is available to stream for free on several sites including Amazon Prime.
The Crimean war was one of the major inflexion points for change in the Victorian era. Metal ships and the Red Cross are but two of the key points. This was also the first war covered daily by correspondents. The British and the French were fighting Czarist Russia. The soldiers had to be paid; every month gold bullion worth 25,000 English pounds was sent from a London bank to a port, and then shipped to Crimea.
There had never been a robbery of a moving train in 1855; it was widely thought to be impossible. The bank took extra precautions. The bullion was divided between two 500 pound Chubb safes. Each safe needed to have two keys to be opened. All four keys were needed. The car was locked from the outside. Pierce assembled a gang which included a safe man, Agar(Donald Sutherland) and Mirriam (Lesly Ann Down. Their first task was to make copies oft he four keys. One was held by the Bank President, one by the bank manager, and two in the London train station office. They added a second story man and the guard inside the car to tie up loose ends.
Sean Connery still had to climb out of his first class car onto the roof of a moving train. He had to climb from car to car until he reached the baggage car so the outside lock could be unlocked. Connery did this without a stunt double; the train was supposed to have a top speed of 35 mph, but it actually was going over 50 mph..
Crichton's novel deviated from reality in making it more difficult for the gang. Crichton's hair literally caught fire while shooting the train sequence.
This is a classic caper film. It is really enjoyable; there are no deep hidden meanings, no social commentary. They are professional criminals and they did it for the money. Highly recommended.
"Detached"-Tony Kaye-2012
This film didn't get a real theatrical release n the US. Itwas shown at numerous film festivals. It was partially funded by the Tribeca Film Festival. The director is better known for music videos but, You may be familiar with American History X. This is the screenwriter's (Carl Lund) only credit. He is a former public school teacher. It is available for free streaming on 1,2,3 as well as Amazon Prime. The cast includes: Adrian Brody, Marcia Gaye Harden, James Caan, Christina Hendricks, Lucy Liu, Blythe Danner, William Peterson, and Brian Cranston.
Flashing red lights illuminate signs reading danger depression ahead, proceed at your own risk. You've been warned. Adrian Brody plays a substitute teacher in NYC. His grandfather is his only living relative; he is close to death in a nursing home. Brody is a highly regarded long term sub; he is beginning a month long assignment as an English teacher in a new school. Scenes of events/happenings at the school are interspersed with Henry Barthes' (Brody) narrative and his memories. Bathes witnesses some of the events, others happen out of view. this sounds herky-jerky, but I didn't find it disconcerting. Barthes is an emotionally distant person; see the title.
With the exception of Brian Cranston, all the named actors are teacher at this high school; he plays the husband of Marcia Gaye Harden, the school principal. She is targeted for firing/retirement at the end of the school year.
James Caan's character is popping anti-depressant pills; Lucy Liu's character has a monumental breakdown where she totally trashes an indifferent student. The high school is totally broken, but so is the rest of society. On one particular evening Barthes faces a situation where the nursing home totally fails to properly care for his grandfather who is experiencing dementia and has locked himself in the bathroom. On the subway ride home Barthes' witnesses a teen prostitute blowing a man. When she asks for pay, she(Sami Gayle) is beaten.
The acting is brilliant. I kept thinking how good the film was while watching it. I was simultaneously wondering if the film was going to be only a cycle of despair. There are some over the top moments for instance when the principal makes an intercom announcement while in a fetal position. A suicide of a student while carefully set up may seem too contrived in its totally theatrical nature. This film gripped me, I felt compelled to write this piece. Many/most reviewers found this bad; the vast majority of the public really admired the film.
I will think about this film for a long time. For now my takeaway is society is crumbling; the schools which should be a hope for the future are failing. This probably isn't for all tastes. Soyez prudent!
This film didn't get a real theatrical release n the US. Itwas shown at numerous film festivals. It was partially funded by the Tribeca Film Festival. The director is better known for music videos but, You may be familiar with American History X. This is the screenwriter's (Carl Lund) only credit. He is a former public school teacher. It is available for free streaming on 1,2,3 as well as Amazon Prime. The cast includes: Adrian Brody, Marcia Gaye Harden, James Caan, Christina Hendricks, Lucy Liu, Blythe Danner, William Peterson, and Brian Cranston.
Flashing red lights illuminate signs reading danger depression ahead, proceed at your own risk. You've been warned. Adrian Brody plays a substitute teacher in NYC. His grandfather is his only living relative; he is close to death in a nursing home. Brody is a highly regarded long term sub; he is beginning a month long assignment as an English teacher in a new school. Scenes of events/happenings at the school are interspersed with Henry Barthes' (Brody) narrative and his memories. Bathes witnesses some of the events, others happen out of view. this sounds herky-jerky, but I didn't find it disconcerting. Barthes is an emotionally distant person; see the title.
With the exception of Brian Cranston, all the named actors are teacher at this high school; he plays the husband of Marcia Gaye Harden, the school principal. She is targeted for firing/retirement at the end of the school year.
James Caan's character is popping anti-depressant pills; Lucy Liu's character has a monumental breakdown where she totally trashes an indifferent student. The high school is totally broken, but so is the rest of society. On one particular evening Barthes faces a situation where the nursing home totally fails to properly care for his grandfather who is experiencing dementia and has locked himself in the bathroom. On the subway ride home Barthes' witnesses a teen prostitute blowing a man. When she asks for pay, she(Sami Gayle) is beaten.
The acting is brilliant. I kept thinking how good the film was while watching it. I was simultaneously wondering if the film was going to be only a cycle of despair. There are some over the top moments for instance when the principal makes an intercom announcement while in a fetal position. A suicide of a student while carefully set up may seem too contrived in its totally theatrical nature. This film gripped me, I felt compelled to write this piece. Many/most reviewers found this bad; the vast majority of the public really admired the film.
I will think about this film for a long time. For now my takeaway is society is crumbling; the schools which should be a hope for the future are failing. This probably isn't for all tastes. Soyez prudent!
"Believe in Me"-Robert Collector-2006
There is a sub genre of sports films dealing with coaches. This film is an example of this with a double twist. The first twist is that is about girls' high school basketball. The second twist is that it is based on a novel, "Brief Garland" written by Harold Keith the uncle of the coach in question, Jim Keith. In 1951 Jim Keith and his wife traveled to Sayer, Oklahoma. He thought he was being hired to coach boys basketball, but he was actually hired to coach girls.
In movie world the arrival is Middleton in the 1960's. Clay Driscoll (Jeffrey Donovan) arrives with his wife Jean (Samantha Mathis) believing that he is going to coach boys. The school board head and the biggest swinging dick in the county, Ellis Brawley (Bruce Dern) has hired another coach. Clay has the support of Hugh Moreland (Bob Gunton) the high school principal, but he is stuck with girls. In the movie girls basketball in Oklahoma is five on five in the 60's. They along with Iowa were one of the final holdouts for six on six. The switch wasn't made until around the turn of the century.
You have to forget all that; this is fiction. It is well done even though this path is well traveled. Jeffrey Donovan is the central character; he is best known for his TV work: Burn Notice and Fargo. Interestingly, he is a Mass native. Bob Gunton has said he would be perfect for a Roy Rogers bio pick. Bruce Dern excels at nasty. I like this film a lot, but I understand that it is not profound. It is fun and uplifting. For Husky Nation there is an added tidbit a GOAT appears as an opposing coach. She worked with the young actresses on sit in New Mexico.
This is available to stream for free. It is also on Prime. Enjoy the experience, "Pack up your troubles in an old kit bag and smile,buddy, smile."
There is a sub genre of sports films dealing with coaches. This film is an example of this with a double twist. The first twist is that is about girls' high school basketball. The second twist is that it is based on a novel, "Brief Garland" written by Harold Keith the uncle of the coach in question, Jim Keith. In 1951 Jim Keith and his wife traveled to Sayer, Oklahoma. He thought he was being hired to coach boys basketball, but he was actually hired to coach girls.
In movie world the arrival is Middleton in the 1960's. Clay Driscoll (Jeffrey Donovan) arrives with his wife Jean (Samantha Mathis) believing that he is going to coach boys. The school board head and the biggest swinging dick in the county, Ellis Brawley (Bruce Dern) has hired another coach. Clay has the support of Hugh Moreland (Bob Gunton) the high school principal, but he is stuck with girls. In the movie girls basketball in Oklahoma is five on five in the 60's. They along with Iowa were one of the final holdouts for six on six. The switch wasn't made until around the turn of the century.
You have to forget all that; this is fiction. It is well done even though this path is well traveled. Jeffrey Donovan is the central character; he is best known for his TV work: Burn Notice and Fargo. Interestingly, he is a Mass native. Bob Gunton has said he would be perfect for a Roy Rogers bio pick. Bruce Dern excels at nasty. I like this film a lot, but I understand that it is not profound. It is fun and uplifting. For Husky Nation there is an added tidbit a GOAT appears as an opposing coach. She worked with the young actresses on sit in New Mexico.
This is available to stream for free. It is also on Prime. Enjoy the experience, "Pack up your troubles in an old kit bag and smile,buddy, smile."
"The Way Back"-Peter Weir-2010
Weir is a top notch director; his credits include
icnic at Hanging Rock; Gallipoli, Year of Living Dangerously, Witness, Dead Poets Society, and Master and Commander. The background of this picture is more than interesting. It was inspired by Slavomir Rudicz memoir "The Long Walk"published in 1955. This best seller was really non fiction. Rudicz made up the story of his long walk from a Russian Gulag to India during WWII. The Russians released him from a gulag in 1942.
Weir is one of a handful of directors whose pictures have beautiful images, solid plots, and well developed characters. In this film a group of prisoners escape from a gulag in Siberia and walk 4000 miles to India. En route several die and they are joined by a young Polish girl who walked off a collective farm. The leader of the group, Janusz (Jim Sturgess) is a Pole who was tortured by the Soviets. The film begins with the partition of Poland into Russian and German zones. When Janusz refuses to falsely confess; they torture his wife. She confesses that he was a spy and saboteur. He is sentenced to 20 years of hard labor. There are two types of prisoners in a stalag ploitical and ordinary criminals. The ordinary criminals run the camps.
Valka (Colin Farrell) a regular criminal joins the group because he has been unlucky at gambling and he owes so much he will be killed by his compatriots. The escapees are a mixed group of nationalities and professions. The professions include chef, accountant,priest, and engineer. The nationalities include Estonian, Latvian, Polish, Russian, and American. The American is Mr. Smith (Ed Harris) he was an engineer for the Underground. His son was shot and killed when he was arrested. They were followed by Irina (Saorise Ronan) when they are near Lake Bakal. Herparents were Polish Communists who were killed during the purges; she was put in an orphanage then sent to a collective farm. She dies in the desert, but not before she has got the male escapees to open up about their pasts. Valka leaves the group at the Russian border. Mr. Smith leaves when they reach Tibet;he plans to try and reach the American forces in China.
Weir had an entire gulag built in Bulgaria; I believe it still is standing today. Saorise Ronan turned 16 during filming. The film runs 2 1/2 hours; I found no dead spots. The ending which re-unites Janusz with his wife is a sentimental add on. This merits my highest recommendation and it isn't even my favorite Weir film. Try guessing.
Weir is a top notch director; his credits include
icnic at Hanging Rock; Gallipoli, Year of Living Dangerously, Witness, Dead Poets Society, and Master and Commander. The background of this picture is more than interesting. It was inspired by Slavomir Rudicz memoir "The Long Walk"published in 1955. This best seller was really non fiction. Rudicz made up the story of his long walk from a Russian Gulag to India during WWII. The Russians released him from a gulag in 1942. Weir is one of a handful of directors whose pictures have beautiful images, solid plots, and well developed characters. In this film a group of prisoners escape from a gulag in Siberia and walk 4000 miles to India. En route several die and they are joined by a young Polish girl who walked off a collective farm. The leader of the group, Janusz (Jim Sturgess) is a Pole who was tortured by the Soviets. The film begins with the partition of Poland into Russian and German zones. When Janusz refuses to falsely confess; they torture his wife. She confesses that he was a spy and saboteur. He is sentenced to 20 years of hard labor. There are two types of prisoners in a stalag ploitical and ordinary criminals. The ordinary criminals run the camps.
Valka (Colin Farrell) a regular criminal joins the group because he has been unlucky at gambling and he owes so much he will be killed by his compatriots. The escapees are a mixed group of nationalities and professions. The professions include chef, accountant,priest, and engineer. The nationalities include Estonian, Latvian, Polish, Russian, and American. The American is Mr. Smith (Ed Harris) he was an engineer for the Underground. His son was shot and killed when he was arrested. They were followed by Irina (Saorise Ronan) when they are near Lake Bakal. Herparents were Polish Communists who were killed during the purges; she was put in an orphanage then sent to a collective farm. She dies in the desert, but not before she has got the male escapees to open up about their pasts. Valka leaves the group at the Russian border. Mr. Smith leaves when they reach Tibet;he plans to try and reach the American forces in China.
Weir had an entire gulag built in Bulgaria; I believe it still is standing today. Saorise Ronan turned 16 during filming. The film runs 2 1/2 hours; I found no dead spots. The ending which re-unites Janusz with his wife is a sentimental add on. This merits my highest recommendation and it isn't even my favorite Weir film. Try guessing.
"The Way Back"-Peter Weir-2010
Weir is a top notch director; his credits include
Weir is one of a handful of directors whose pictures have beautiful images, solid plots, and well developed characters. In this film a group of prisoners escape from a gulag in Siberia and walk 4000 miles to India. En route several die and they are joined by a young Polish girl who walked off a collective farm. The leader of the group, Janusz (Jim Sturgess) is a Pole who was tortured by the Soviets. The film begins with the partition of Poland into Russian and German zones. When Janusz refuses to falsely confess; they torture his wife. She confesses that he was a spy and saboteur. He is sentenced to 20 years of hard labor. There are two types of prisoners in a stalag ploitical and ordinary criminals. The ordinary criminals run the camps.
Valka (Colin Farrell) a regular criminal joins the group because he has been unlucky at gambling and he owes so much he will be killed by his compatriots. The escapees are a mixed group of nationalities and professions. The professions include chef, accountant,priest, and engineer. The nationalities include Estonian, Latvian, Polish, Russian, and American. The American is Mr. Smith (Ed Harris) he was an engineer for the Underground. His son was shot and killed when he was arrested. They were followed by Irina (Saorise Ronan) when they are near Lake Bakal. Herparents were Polish Communists who were killed during the purges; she was put in an orphanage then sent to a collective farm. She dies in the desert, but not before she has got the male escapees to open up about their pasts. Valka leaves the group at the Russian border. Mr. Smith leaves when they reach Tibet;he plans to try and reach the American forces in China.
Weir had an entire gulag built in Bulgaria; I believe it still is standing today. Saorise Ronan turned 16 during filming. The film runs 2 1/2 hours; I found no dead spots. The ending which re-unites Janusz with his wife is a sentimental add on. This merits my highest recommendation and it isn't even my favorite Weir film. Try guessing.
From the Peter Weir films that I have seen, Witness is probably my favorite. As for you, we'll try Master and Commander, that was awfully good as well, but honestly it seems to be fairly crowded at the top for the best or favorite Weir film, there are a bunch of really good ones to choose from.
.-.
"A Shot at Glory"-Michael Corrante-2000
The Raith Rovers sit atop the Scottish First Division; the third highest of the four divisions in Scottish Football. Surprisingly, they are finalists for the Challenge Cup. This is one of the two major cups in Scottish Football, but this is 2020 and the season and the cup final are postponed due to coronavirus. In 1994 the Raith Rovers won the League Cup. This improbable victory, 6-5 over Celtic, put them into competition with some of the greatest sides in the world. They lost in the third round to the eventual winner, Bayern Munich.
This bit of Football history provides the inspiration for an unknown screen writer, Dennis O'Neill, and an unknown director, Michael Corrante to make a film about a struggling Scottish Football team, Kilnockey. This fictitious fishing town has a football team. It is one of the 42 professional teams in a country of 4 million.
Why did this film get made? Robert Duvall. He stars and produces; unlike "The Apostle" where he starred, wrote, produced, and financed the film; this film was far from a financial success. The reviews weren't great.
Still this is one of my favorite semi-guilty pleasures. I really think it is solid, engaging, and stands up to repeated viewings. For all of us who love films there are one or two films that we really like, and we know that are opinion is not shared by the hoi polli.
This little film has an engaging story, some beautiful scenes of Scotland, some fine acting, and if you like football some good game bits. Andrew McLeod (Robert Duvall) is not a happy man. He manages a team with a one hundred year history of failures. He is estranged from his only child, Kate (Kirstey Mitchell) so he rarely sees his grandson. Kate married a wonderfully talented footballer, Jackie McQuillan; unfortunately he has wasted his talent because of drink and a hair trigger temper. He and Kate are separated. Meanwhile the Kilnockey football club has been purchased by a rich American, Peter Cameron (Michael Keaton); he is considering moving the club to Dublin. If that were not bad enough; he hires McLeod's son in law.
The team is moving along through the League Cup Matches and is winning games in the 2nd division. Could Andrew McLeod have his shot at glory? The fans are quite funny. The central characters are well drawn, for most of us, the accents are heavy. Duvall was criticized for his accent. Some commentators disagreed and stated that his Glasswegian tones were true. Turn on your subtitles. The film ends not with triumph, but as McLeod remarks:"That's football."
Unfortunately, I couldn't find a free streaming service. I have watched this little film at least 10 times; I keep coming back, and it keeps providing me with pleasure.
The Raith Rovers sit atop the Scottish First Division; the third highest of the four divisions in Scottish Football. Surprisingly, they are finalists for the Challenge Cup. This is one of the two major cups in Scottish Football, but this is 2020 and the season and the cup final are postponed due to coronavirus. In 1994 the Raith Rovers won the League Cup. This improbable victory, 6-5 over Celtic, put them into competition with some of the greatest sides in the world. They lost in the third round to the eventual winner, Bayern Munich.
This bit of Football history provides the inspiration for an unknown screen writer, Dennis O'Neill, and an unknown director, Michael Corrante to make a film about a struggling Scottish Football team, Kilnockey. This fictitious fishing town has a football team. It is one of the 42 professional teams in a country of 4 million.
Why did this film get made? Robert Duvall. He stars and produces; unlike "The Apostle" where he starred, wrote, produced, and financed the film; this film was far from a financial success. The reviews weren't great.
Still this is one of my favorite semi-guilty pleasures. I really think it is solid, engaging, and stands up to repeated viewings. For all of us who love films there are one or two films that we really like, and we know that are opinion is not shared by the hoi polli.
This little film has an engaging story, some beautiful scenes of Scotland, some fine acting, and if you like football some good game bits. Andrew McLeod (Robert Duvall) is not a happy man. He manages a team with a one hundred year history of failures. He is estranged from his only child, Kate (Kirstey Mitchell) so he rarely sees his grandson. Kate married a wonderfully talented footballer, Jackie McQuillan; unfortunately he has wasted his talent because of drink and a hair trigger temper. He and Kate are separated. Meanwhile the Kilnockey football club has been purchased by a rich American, Peter Cameron (Michael Keaton); he is considering moving the club to Dublin. If that were not bad enough; he hires McLeod's son in law.
The team is moving along through the League Cup Matches and is winning games in the 2nd division. Could Andrew McLeod have his shot at glory? The fans are quite funny. The central characters are well drawn, for most of us, the accents are heavy. Duvall was criticized for his accent. Some commentators disagreed and stated that his Glasswegian tones were true. Turn on your subtitles. The film ends not with triumph, but as McLeod remarks:"That's football."
Unfortunately, I couldn't find a free streaming service. I have watched this little film at least 10 times; I keep coming back, and it keeps providing me with pleasure.
You are right. So next up Peter Weir's "The Witness." Why has Harrison Ford never achieved iconic status?
"Witness"-Peter Weir-1985
In addition to the Indiana Jones films and the Star Wars franchise Harrison Ford Had some other solid successes including the Jack Ryan series and "Presumed Innocent" and, "The Fugitive." I'm still not sure why he hasn't achieved iconic status, perhaps because his range wasn't that great. Still this is one of his finest screen performances, and it was the only time he was ever nominated for an Oscar. The script (William Kelly, Pamela Wallace, Earl Wallace) won as did the editing. The score (Maurice Jarre), the cinematography (John Seale), the film,and the director were also nominated. If you can get a copy of the DVD, the five part documentary on the making of the film is well worth your attention.
The film opens with the death/funeral of a young Amish man. His wife, Rachel Lapp (Kelly McGillis) and her son Samuel (Luke Haas) take a train trip to visit her sister. They had to change trains in Philly, and the train to Baltimore is 3 hours late. Samuel is restless; he wanders the huge waiting room. He ends up in the men's room.
He witnesses a murder. He remains hidden; the killers are unaware of his presence. Captain John Book of the Philly homicide division leads the investigation.
Samuel identifies the killer. He is a black narcotics lieutenant (Danny Glover). The victim was also a police officer. Book consults his mentor in the police department, Shaffer (Joseph Sommer), but as we later find out he is involved in a multi-million conspiracy involving drug thefts from confiscated property. After a shootout where he is wounded; Book flees Philly with the two Lapps. They return to Amish country.
There a several memorable scenes including a barn raising, Book's attempt to milk a cow,, Book and Rachael dancing to Sam Cooke's "Wonderful World" playing on the car radio, Book dealing with Samuel's attempt yo play with his gun, and the group of elders standing over Book's sickbed in a manner reminiscent of a Vermeer painting. The reaction shots of the character's faces are memorable, dialogue is limited. This isn't a talky picture; the action and the visuals are our entrance point to the characters. There is a beautiful economy and simplicity to this picture.
I have to deal with the love story. Rachel and Book are attracted to each other, and more than physically. Most critics ignore the attraction between Book and Samuel. They develop a father/son bond. Ultimately,
neither relationship would work out. Rachael and Samuel have the opportunity to become a family again
with Daniel Hochleitner (Alexander Gudanov). Book has lost his family, the Philadelphia Police Department.
The last words spoken in the film come from Eli Lapp, Samuel's grandfather,: "You be careful out among the English." Book is returning to a very uncertain world. This film tells a story like few others. The resolution leaves much unresolved. Enjoy the experience,ponder the questions.
In addition to the Indiana Jones films and the Star Wars franchise Harrison Ford Had some other solid successes including the Jack Ryan series and "Presumed Innocent" and, "The Fugitive." I'm still not sure why he hasn't achieved iconic status, perhaps because his range wasn't that great. Still this is one of his finest screen performances, and it was the only time he was ever nominated for an Oscar. The script (William Kelly, Pamela Wallace, Earl Wallace) won as did the editing. The score (Maurice Jarre), the cinematography (John Seale), the film,and the director were also nominated. If you can get a copy of the DVD, the five part documentary on the making of the film is well worth your attention.
The film opens with the death/funeral of a young Amish man. His wife, Rachel Lapp (Kelly McGillis) and her son Samuel (Luke Haas) take a train trip to visit her sister. They had to change trains in Philly, and the train to Baltimore is 3 hours late. Samuel is restless; he wanders the huge waiting room. He ends up in the men's room.
He witnesses a murder. He remains hidden; the killers are unaware of his presence. Captain John Book of the Philly homicide division leads the investigation.
Samuel identifies the killer. He is a black narcotics lieutenant (Danny Glover). The victim was also a police officer. Book consults his mentor in the police department, Shaffer (Joseph Sommer), but as we later find out he is involved in a multi-million conspiracy involving drug thefts from confiscated property. After a shootout where he is wounded; Book flees Philly with the two Lapps. They return to Amish country.
There a several memorable scenes including a barn raising, Book's attempt to milk a cow,, Book and Rachael dancing to Sam Cooke's "Wonderful World" playing on the car radio, Book dealing with Samuel's attempt yo play with his gun, and the group of elders standing over Book's sickbed in a manner reminiscent of a Vermeer painting. The reaction shots of the character's faces are memorable, dialogue is limited. This isn't a talky picture; the action and the visuals are our entrance point to the characters. There is a beautiful economy and simplicity to this picture.
I have to deal with the love story. Rachel and Book are attracted to each other, and more than physically. Most critics ignore the attraction between Book and Samuel. They develop a father/son bond. Ultimately,
neither relationship would work out. Rachael and Samuel have the opportunity to become a family again
with Daniel Hochleitner (Alexander Gudanov). Book has lost his family, the Philadelphia Police Department.
The last words spoken in the film come from Eli Lapp, Samuel's grandfather,: "You be careful out among the English." Book is returning to a very uncertain world. This film tells a story like few others. The resolution leaves much unresolved. Enjoy the experience,ponder the questions.
Waquoit
Mr. Positive
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2011
- Messages
- 36,462
- Reaction Score
- 102,005
I agree. I haven't seen it since the theater but I still remember Book walking away at the end passing Daniel who's walking the other way. Reminds me a little of Remains of the Day.
This is a twofor. "RBG-Betsy West and Julie Cohen-2018 and "On the Basis of Sex"-Mina Leder-2018. The first is a documentary the second a bio-pic. The documentary premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival; it was not in competition. It tells the story of the life of "The Notorious RBG." It uses interviews with significant people in Ruth Bader Ginsberg's life to illuminate both her legal career and her personal life. It includes a section where the filmmakers document a day in the life. It was a major financial success. It was shown on CNN, so the audience was quite large. This is well worth viewing. This physically small woman has had a major impact of US law. In her 80s this woman has become a cultural hero to millions of young girls and women.
"On the Basis of Sex" focuses on two areas of her life. The first half of the film details the early years of her marriage to Martin Ginsberg when they were both students at Harvard Law. They had a young daughter, Annie.
There were only 6 female first year students in 1956 when Ruth began her Harvard career. We get some hints about how difficult it was for female law students. The law school dean, Eywin Griswold (Sam Watterson) invites
the female first year students to dinner. He asks each to stand up and say why they deserved a place at Harvard Law instead of some deserving male. The real challenge comes when Martin Ginsberg (Arnie Hammer) is diagnosed with testicular cancer. In 1956 95% of those so diagnosed died. Martin does survive. With Ruth's help Martin graduates on time. He was a year ahead of her. He gets a job with a big firm in NYC. Ruth (Felicity Jones) wants to finish her legal education at Columbia but still receive a Harvard degree. Dean Griswold refuses despite Ruth's excellent record and the fact that this privilege was given to several male students.
Ruth follows her husband to NYC. She finishes her degree at Columbia with great distinction. She fails to find a single law firm in NYC willing to hire her. She is lucky to find a position teaching at Rutgers Law School. There was a vacancy because the only black professor left and they wanted to find another minority. I should mention that the marriage was a long love affair. Martin who became a brilliant tax attorney was the homebody and emotionally closer to the children. Ruth was a notoriously bad cook. Over the years it became a family joke. During production Arnie Hammer prepared a meal for the cast and crew from Martin's cookbook.
The scene shifts to 1970. Martin finds a tax case where a single male tried to take a tax deduction for a nurse
to help care for his invalid mother. A single male wasn't allowed to take this tax deduction. This case, Moritz versus Commissioner, is the focus of the remainder of the movie. Both Ginsbergs argue before the Court of Appeals that such a distinction is unconstitutional. There was more than 100 years of decisions which allowed discrimination on the basis of sex. This case was the beginning of the overturning of hundreds of laws which discriminated on the basis of sex.
Many of the negative reviews of this picture and the documentary focus on what these critics believe are the liberal views of Justice Ginsberg. What this movie does is to show the Ginsbergs as a loving family who believed deeply in equality. As some of you realize, I have problems with criticisms which deal with something not on the screen. They there are those criticisms which find the film boring. The actors were miscast; the script (written by her nephew and approved by RBG0 was inaccurate. The film portrays the eras in meticulous detain, clothes, backdrops, cars, etc. It was filmed in Montreal not in NYC and Cambridge.
I didn't find the movie boring. I thought there was real chemistry between the principals. This wasn't a pushy movie; trumpets do not blare. There was emotion in the film, but it was handled well. With films like this, I believe interest in the subject matter determines somewhat ones response. Knowing that I like this type of subject, you should weigh my observations against your interests. I highly recommend both options. Neither is available for free streaming.
"On the Basis of Sex" focuses on two areas of her life. The first half of the film details the early years of her marriage to Martin Ginsberg when they were both students at Harvard Law. They had a young daughter, Annie.
There were only 6 female first year students in 1956 when Ruth began her Harvard career. We get some hints about how difficult it was for female law students. The law school dean, Eywin Griswold (Sam Watterson) invites
the female first year students to dinner. He asks each to stand up and say why they deserved a place at Harvard Law instead of some deserving male. The real challenge comes when Martin Ginsberg (Arnie Hammer) is diagnosed with testicular cancer. In 1956 95% of those so diagnosed died. Martin does survive. With Ruth's help Martin graduates on time. He was a year ahead of her. He gets a job with a big firm in NYC. Ruth (Felicity Jones) wants to finish her legal education at Columbia but still receive a Harvard degree. Dean Griswold refuses despite Ruth's excellent record and the fact that this privilege was given to several male students.
Ruth follows her husband to NYC. She finishes her degree at Columbia with great distinction. She fails to find a single law firm in NYC willing to hire her. She is lucky to find a position teaching at Rutgers Law School. There was a vacancy because the only black professor left and they wanted to find another minority. I should mention that the marriage was a long love affair. Martin who became a brilliant tax attorney was the homebody and emotionally closer to the children. Ruth was a notoriously bad cook. Over the years it became a family joke. During production Arnie Hammer prepared a meal for the cast and crew from Martin's cookbook.
The scene shifts to 1970. Martin finds a tax case where a single male tried to take a tax deduction for a nurse
to help care for his invalid mother. A single male wasn't allowed to take this tax deduction. This case, Moritz versus Commissioner, is the focus of the remainder of the movie. Both Ginsbergs argue before the Court of Appeals that such a distinction is unconstitutional. There was more than 100 years of decisions which allowed discrimination on the basis of sex. This case was the beginning of the overturning of hundreds of laws which discriminated on the basis of sex.
Many of the negative reviews of this picture and the documentary focus on what these critics believe are the liberal views of Justice Ginsberg. What this movie does is to show the Ginsbergs as a loving family who believed deeply in equality. As some of you realize, I have problems with criticisms which deal with something not on the screen. They there are those criticisms which find the film boring. The actors were miscast; the script (written by her nephew and approved by RBG0 was inaccurate. The film portrays the eras in meticulous detain, clothes, backdrops, cars, etc. It was filmed in Montreal not in NYC and Cambridge.
I didn't find the movie boring. I thought there was real chemistry between the principals. This wasn't a pushy movie; trumpets do not blare. There was emotion in the film, but it was handled well. With films like this, I believe interest in the subject matter determines somewhat ones response. Knowing that I like this type of subject, you should weigh my observations against your interests. I highly recommend both options. Neither is available for free streaming.
I saw "Witness" several times many years ago, but I hadn't seen it all in many years until I came across it on TV maybe a year ago, and gave it a watch for the heck of it. I immediately felt being drawn into the film again, so it certainly holds up.
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"The Conversation"-Francis Ford Coppola-1974
This film was made between Godfather I and II. Coppola had a deal with Paramount that he could make a cheap film if the Godfather made a lot of money. It did so Coppola got to make this film. He had written the script 6 years before. It was influenced by "Blowup;" the parallels are reasonably obvious. This is sound; that was pictures. The opening overhead shots are memorable. That was the work of Haskell Wexler; he was replaced by Bill Butler because he and Coppola clashed over the direction of the film.
There is quite a bit of symbolism in this film beginning with Harry Caul's name. I'm going to ignore it. In this case I much prefer a factual approach. Harry Caul (Gene Hackman) is a master of surveillance. He is employed both by various government agencies and private companies. His current job is the surveillance of a couple in a open square with dozens of other people constantly moving and with several musicians playing. His task is to pick up all of their conversation and to create one tape which goes directly to his customer.
Harry is not a convivial person. He has some business relationships and a mistress, but none of these relationships can be deemed personal. He loses both his mistress and his key employee Stan (John Cazale) because he is unwilling to share business or personal secrets.
There is a national convention for those in the surveillance profession. Caul is prominent enough so that his name is mentioned in the press coverage of the event. Caul behaves uncharacteristically at the event. First he discovers that Stan has left him for a competitor Bernie Moran (Alan Garfield). Next he carelessly allows himself to be bugged. Stan back temporarily reveals the technical details of his current operation. Harry foolishly embellishes this. He had previously made a revealing confession to a woman he picked up at the confession; this was revealed by the bug. The nadir occurs when he wakes up the next morning to find that the woman he picked up has stolen the key tapes.
Harry Caul's life has spiraled out of control. His guiding principle always had been: "I don't care what they are talking about, all I want is a nice fat recording." That no longer is his reality.
This is masterfully done, but by contemporary standards it moves at a leisurely pace. That doesn't bother me; I can be patient if the film engages me. It did. My only problem with the film is that Harry's loss of control
becomes phantasmagorical.
This is one of the best thrillers of the 70's; for me it easily stands the test of time. Free streaming on Prime, don't miss this one.
This film was made between Godfather I and II. Coppola had a deal with Paramount that he could make a cheap film if the Godfather made a lot of money. It did so Coppola got to make this film. He had written the script 6 years before. It was influenced by "Blowup;" the parallels are reasonably obvious. This is sound; that was pictures. The opening overhead shots are memorable. That was the work of Haskell Wexler; he was replaced by Bill Butler because he and Coppola clashed over the direction of the film.
There is quite a bit of symbolism in this film beginning with Harry Caul's name. I'm going to ignore it. In this case I much prefer a factual approach. Harry Caul (Gene Hackman) is a master of surveillance. He is employed both by various government agencies and private companies. His current job is the surveillance of a couple in a open square with dozens of other people constantly moving and with several musicians playing. His task is to pick up all of their conversation and to create one tape which goes directly to his customer.
Harry is not a convivial person. He has some business relationships and a mistress, but none of these relationships can be deemed personal. He loses both his mistress and his key employee Stan (John Cazale) because he is unwilling to share business or personal secrets.
There is a national convention for those in the surveillance profession. Caul is prominent enough so that his name is mentioned in the press coverage of the event. Caul behaves uncharacteristically at the event. First he discovers that Stan has left him for a competitor Bernie Moran (Alan Garfield). Next he carelessly allows himself to be bugged. Stan back temporarily reveals the technical details of his current operation. Harry foolishly embellishes this. He had previously made a revealing confession to a woman he picked up at the confession; this was revealed by the bug. The nadir occurs when he wakes up the next morning to find that the woman he picked up has stolen the key tapes.
Harry Caul's life has spiraled out of control. His guiding principle always had been: "I don't care what they are talking about, all I want is a nice fat recording." That no longer is his reality.
This is masterfully done, but by contemporary standards it moves at a leisurely pace. That doesn't bother me; I can be patient if the film engages me. It did. My only problem with the film is that Harry's loss of control
becomes phantasmagorical.
This is one of the best thrillers of the 70's; for me it easily stands the test of time. Free streaming on Prime, don't miss this one.
"Fort Apache"-John Ford-1948
This is the first film in the cavalry trilogy (She Wore a Yellow Ribbon and Rio Grande) and it is filmed in Monument Valley. John Ford had his own production company,Argosy Films. This was the second production.
Ford had Frank Nugent as a script writer. With a budget in excess of $2 million; this was a big budget film.
Ford did his usual meticulous pre-production work. He was able to cut his shooting schedule by almost two weeks. It was shot in 44 days in punishing conditions; the temperature rose to above 110 degrees in the day; the nightime temperature was a pleasant 90 degrees. One stuntman so distinguished himself, Ben Johnson, that he became a featured actor in Ford productions.
One of the most interesting casting choices was Shirley Temple as Philadelphia Thursday the daughter of Colonel Owen Thursday (Henry Fonda). Temple had been the biggest box office star in Hollywood during several years in the 30's. She made one previous film with Ford, "Wee Willee Winkee." The got along well.
Her portrayal has been criticized, but I think she has a lot of charm in this role. She plays opposite John Agar (Lt. O' Rourke). They were married in real life. Ford trashed Agar roundly, but John Wayne (Captain Kirby York) helped him greatly.
to be continued
This is the first film in the cavalry trilogy (She Wore a Yellow Ribbon and Rio Grande) and it is filmed in Monument Valley. John Ford had his own production company,Argosy Films. This was the second production.
Ford had Frank Nugent as a script writer. With a budget in excess of $2 million; this was a big budget film.
Ford did his usual meticulous pre-production work. He was able to cut his shooting schedule by almost two weeks. It was shot in 44 days in punishing conditions; the temperature rose to above 110 degrees in the day; the nightime temperature was a pleasant 90 degrees. One stuntman so distinguished himself, Ben Johnson, that he became a featured actor in Ford productions.
One of the most interesting casting choices was Shirley Temple as Philadelphia Thursday the daughter of Colonel Owen Thursday (Henry Fonda). Temple had been the biggest box office star in Hollywood during several years in the 30's. She made one previous film with Ford, "Wee Willee Winkee." The got along well.
Her portrayal has been criticized, but I think she has a lot of charm in this role. She plays opposite John Agar (Lt. O' Rourke). They were married in real life. Ford trashed Agar roundly, but John Wayne (Captain Kirby York) helped him greatly.
to be continued
A few comments while waiting for the next part of this review.
All three of the movies in the John Ford Cavalry trilogy are excellent and quite entertaining. All three of these movies my wife and I have seen repeatedly. we will watch them whenever we come across them on television.
It is mentioned that John Ford trashed John Agar roundly, and that John Wayne was a great help to Agar with this. John Ford was indeed a great director, but he was also in the habit of trashing many of the actors in his films. From what I understand Wayne was often a target of Ford's vitriol as well. Agar also went on appear in the second film in the Cavalry trilogy, "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" as well. Even though Ford was often in the habit of trashing actors on the sets of his films, he was also in the habit of using the same many actors from film to film, so much so that the John Ford Stock Company of actors is a quite well known item. John Ford Stock Company - Wikipedia
I also have no problems with Shirley Temple's acting in "Fort Apache". Also mentioned here is Ben Johnson, who went on to appear in several Ford films. In these John Ford films Johnson often ends up being paired up with another veteran of John Ford films, Harry Carey Jr., whose father (Harry Carey) was also a repeat performer in Ford movies. At any rate, Ben Johnson and Harry Carey Jr. are a marvelous duo together in these Ford films.
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ClifSpliffy
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'Her portrayal has been criticized, but I think she has a lot of charm in this role. She plays opposite John Agar (Lt. O' Rourke). They were married in real life. Ford trashed Agar roundly, but John Wayne (Captain Kirby York) helped him greatly.'
not sidewinding, but just wondering, or more likely, snickering. in 'f troop' tv series, two main characters are corporal agarn (larry storch) and sergeant o'rouke (forest tucker). it's the agar/agarn thing that set me to wondering/snickering, just coincidence, right?
nwhoopfan
hopeless West Coast homer
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Have you seen Enemy of the State (1998)? While it isn't connected to this film at all, I can't help but think Hackman is actually the same character, several decades later and extremely paranoid. Hackman isn't the lead but plays a key role. Quite good thriller that seems to have been very prophetic in where we were headed.
back again
Fonda plays a Lt. Colonel who was a general during the Civil War. This demotion was not uncommon; Custer is another example. He believes he has been sent to the ends of the Earth with opportunity for neither glory nor promotion. He also has disdain for his potential opponents, the Apache. If he were only opposing the Sioux or the Comanche. Colonel Friday is a thoroughly unsympathetic character. Fonda does a good job; he has some real depth in his characterization. Ultimately, Thursday is a man of "shreds and patches." A group of Apaches go off the reservation and start marauding. A troop rides out to meet them. Thursday is unsatisfied with the response. He wants to get all the Apaches back on the reservation. Cochise had left several years before. (An Anthony Quinn lookalike plays Cochise.) Captain York is dispatched with a single trooper (Pedro Armendirez) to meet with Cochise in Mexico and convince him to return to the reservation. York makes a personal pledge that this time the treaty will be upheld.
Ford portrays Cochise as an honorable man. The Apaches are acknowledged to be great fighters. Of course Fonda mounts an attack as soon as the Apaches near the reservation. He believes they are savages; there is no honor lost in not honoring your word to them. This encapsulates 200+ years of the US government's dealing with various native American peoples. Thursday is advised against the attack. The scene of the attack is modeled on the famous picture of Custer's last stand. York rescues Thursday, but Thursday goes back into certain death carrying York's Sabre .
Just a note Ford uses Navajo as Apaches. Shooting in Monument Valley isn't historically accurate. This is obviously fiction, but Ford uses the film to bring to light some historical truths. The Indian Agency was full of corruption, but it also had a number of devout Christians. The tag on ending is interesting. It is highly unlikely that such a collection of reporters would be interviewing a Colonel not engaged in conflict. York is willing to let the legend stand. The heroic picture of Friday's last charge is artistic fiction. This is an early example of print the legend.
This is one of Ford's best pictures. He creates an enjoyable two hours with romance, comedy, and action.
Beneath the surface we find out about the true nature of courage, the folly of the policy toward Native Americans, a hint of the role played by the military in re-uniting the country after the Civil War, and several other interesting observations. Finally, this is availing for free streaming, but I was only able to find a colorized version. This is a winner.
Fonda plays a Lt. Colonel who was a general during the Civil War. This demotion was not uncommon; Custer is another example. He believes he has been sent to the ends of the Earth with opportunity for neither glory nor promotion. He also has disdain for his potential opponents, the Apache. If he were only opposing the Sioux or the Comanche. Colonel Friday is a thoroughly unsympathetic character. Fonda does a good job; he has some real depth in his characterization. Ultimately, Thursday is a man of "shreds and patches." A group of Apaches go off the reservation and start marauding. A troop rides out to meet them. Thursday is unsatisfied with the response. He wants to get all the Apaches back on the reservation. Cochise had left several years before. (An Anthony Quinn lookalike plays Cochise.) Captain York is dispatched with a single trooper (Pedro Armendirez) to meet with Cochise in Mexico and convince him to return to the reservation. York makes a personal pledge that this time the treaty will be upheld.
Ford portrays Cochise as an honorable man. The Apaches are acknowledged to be great fighters. Of course Fonda mounts an attack as soon as the Apaches near the reservation. He believes they are savages; there is no honor lost in not honoring your word to them. This encapsulates 200+ years of the US government's dealing with various native American peoples. Thursday is advised against the attack. The scene of the attack is modeled on the famous picture of Custer's last stand. York rescues Thursday, but Thursday goes back into certain death carrying York's Sabre .
Just a note Ford uses Navajo as Apaches. Shooting in Monument Valley isn't historically accurate. This is obviously fiction, but Ford uses the film to bring to light some historical truths. The Indian Agency was full of corruption, but it also had a number of devout Christians. The tag on ending is interesting. It is highly unlikely that such a collection of reporters would be interviewing a Colonel not engaged in conflict. York is willing to let the legend stand. The heroic picture of Friday's last charge is artistic fiction. This is an early example of print the legend.
This is one of Ford's best pictures. He creates an enjoyable two hours with romance, comedy, and action.
Beneath the surface we find out about the true nature of courage, the folly of the policy toward Native Americans, a hint of the role played by the military in re-uniting the country after the Civil War, and several other interesting observations. Finally, this is availing for free streaming, but I was only able to find a colorized version. This is a winner.
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