The Wild Colonial Boy

They sing this in the bar in my favoite movie. Next week will be my annual renewal of endearment for The Quiet Man.

There was a wild colonial boy, Jack Duggan was his name.
He was born and bred in Ireland in a town called Castlemaine.
He was his father’s only son, his mother’s pride and joy
And dearly did his parents love their wild colonial boy.

At the early age of sixteen years he left his native home,
And to Australia’s sunny shore he was inclined to roam.
He robbed the rich to feed the poor, he stabbed James McEvoy
A terror to Australia was the wild colonial boy.

One morning on the prairie as Jack Duggan rode along
Listening to the mockingbird singing a cheerful song
Out stepped three troopers fierce and grim, Kelly, Davis and Fitzroy
They all set out to capture him, the wild colonial boy.

Surrender now, Jack Duggan, for you see we’re three to one
Surrender in the Queen’s high name, for you’re a plundering son.
Jack drew two pistols from his belt and glared upon Fitzroy,
“I’ll fight, but not surrender,” said the wild colonial boy.

He fired a shot at Kelly which brought him to the ground
And turning then to Davis he received a fatal wound,
A bullet pierced his proud young heart from the rifle of Fitzroy,
And that was how they captured him, the wild colonial boy.

The Wild Colonial Boy was a great favourite of John Ford’s. It concerns an Australian bushranger and outlaw of Irish extraction called Jack Duggan (originally Doolin). One of the lines was changed to fit the plot of The Quiet Man – “He robbed the rich to feed the poor, he stabbed James McEvoy” – became “He robbed the wealthy Squireen, all arms he did destroy”

#thequietman #quietmanmovie #quietmancottage #whiteomorn #whiteomorncottage #thequietmancottage #stpatricksday #irish #ireland #paddysday #stpattysday

Viva Zapata!

Another old movie, had never seen this before. Was attracted for many reasons.
Released in 1952 and directed by Elia Kazan this is a story about the Emiliano Zapata, a leader of the peasant revolution in the Mexican state of Morelos. Zapata was also the founder of the agrarian movement called Zapatismo.  Zapata was also an ally of the more famous Pancho Villa.  The screen play is based on the work of John Steinbeck.
The movie plot is meant to follow this historic life.  Emiliano Zapata was had come from a well to do family whose lands had been confiscated. In an effort to gain recompense, he went to Mexico City to complain that their land has been taken, leaving them only in the unusable rocky hills. Zapata expressed dissatisfaction to the President.  He then rescues a prisoner being dragged by the police and by this becomes an outlaw. Encouraged by the adviser Fernando Aguirre, he leads the revolutionaries to victory. Emiliano Zapata becomes involved in the new government which is not unlike the previous.  Zapata again strikes out with his rebels for agrarian freedom.  In this struggle and Zapata is eventually ambushed and dies on April 10, 1919.
The Viva Zapata! cast is excellent:

• Marlon Brando as Emiliano Zapata, only the best actor ever.
• Jean Peters as Josefa Zapata, a good looking woman in her time
• Anthony Quinn as Eufemio Zapata, won the Oscar for Best Supporting in this movie.
• Joseph Wiseman as Fernando Aguirre, this dude has always creeped me out but posted an impressive array of television and movie work before his death in 2009, including playing the evil protagonist in Dr. No.

The director as already stated is the acclaimed Elia Kazan, whose work includes a couple of my other favorites.

• A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, from the great novel, 1945
• A Streetcar Named desire, also with Brando, 1951
• On the Waterfront, also with Brando, 1954
• East of Eden, based on another Steinbeck work, 1955

This was good stuff, I am curious as to why it is not on television stations like TCM.

Chariots of Fire

Unlike the recent pattern of waiting on the NetFlix mail to arrive, this movie was next on the list and then sat on the kitchen counter for almost a month.  Chariots of Fire, a movie from my college days, 1981, was never a movie that I had any interest in. To me it looked like another gay English type of movie where, men ran along the beach feeling really proud about how handsome they are.
This is a movie recounting of amateur careers of Olympic runners who have survived their departed teammates. The period follows World War I and is based on the the successes of the English track team. In that English manner of snobbery, they through superior character overcome the favored , over trained, under educated American runners. Given that back ground the English do overcome the Americans for triumph.
This all was what actually happened, but strikes me as a parallel to the American gold medal victory in hockey, a clinging to an unlikely set of events and results.  Enough already.
The cast English runners, was largely as set of unknowns at the time,

• Nicholas Farrell as Aubrey Montague
• Ian Charleson as Eric Liddell
• Ben Cross as Harold Abrahams
• Daniel Gerroll as Henry Stallard

The American runners are only briefly present but oddly enough are played by more recognizable actors.

• Dennis Christopher as Charles Paddock, Christopher of one of my favorite movies Breaking Away
• Brad Davis as Jackson Scholz, the departed Davis, well known for the lead in the historic Midnight Express

I sat through the whole thing but will not again.
Not worth the expense.

Bikers Denied Permit for 9/11 DC Rally

This is in today's news with regards to tomorrow's anniversary.  If I had known today than the day before I would already be visiting friends in Bethesda.  The reasons for the denial of a non-stop permit are probably valid, but given the exposed attitude of the Federal government having animus towards right leaning organizations, coupled with the approval of re-coined Muslim organization, eyebrows should raised, favoritism toward enemies of state is the modus operendi of our executive regime.
Will be watching to see if this makes national new tomorrow.  The free wheeling attitude of  most  bikers is the sort that will defy bureaucratic dogma. 

Bikers denied no-stop permit for 9/11 rally through D.C. but will ride anyway - Washington Times

Found more on the subject at one of my favorite blogs, Sondrakistan, Knowledge is Power.  
Maybe there can be a movie about it, sort of like Convoy in the seventies, initiated by the CB radio craze.  This a movie that in my opinion stains the careers of Kris Kristofferson, Ali MacGraw and director Sam Peckinpah.

http://www.sondrakistan.com/2013/09/09/hoggin-the-road/

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Welcome to the Rileys

This DVD has been sitting on my table for a month. You've heard it before. Something that was on my Netflix queue that I cannot remember why I selected it.
Welcome to the Rileys was released in 2010 and directed by Jake Scott whom I believe is released to Tony Scott.
The main actors are few and strong, with...

• James Gandolfini as Douglas Riley, Gandolfini has been around for a while made is mark as Tony Soprano.
• Kristen Stewart as Allison and Mallory, Stewart is famous by way of those crappy vampire movies.
• Melissa Leo as Lois Riley.
• I saw Ally Sheedy in there as a Harriet, Lois's bitchy sister.  Quoting her from early in the movie...

Okay. I have to drive over here all the way from Zionsville every day because my nutcase sister can't walk down her own damn driveway. Lois? Somehow, someway, and someday you're just gonna have to walk out that door.

The story is about a couple who lost their 15 year daughter a few years ago.  The married parents are left in a sad life that neither can bear. Lois is a shut-in and Doug smokes and cries in the dark of the garage. Douglas goes to New Orleans on a business trip and in a chance meeting finds Mallory in a strip club. Mallory is about sixteen and looks just like the Doug's dead daughter.  He immediately learns that she is a orphaned minor and decides, perhaps serve as her father, watching out for her safety and trying to teach her some basic facts of life while indirectly coax her out of the sex trade.  Lois, on being told by Doug that he isn't coming home, breaks her self imposed prison and drives to New Orleans to be with her husband. After an initial shock the couple takes up the charge of helping this young woman.
Eventually Allison gets in trouble with the law and in a fit of anger runs off, the couple left without a goal and in caring for another has rekindled their love decides to head back to Indiana.  After a couple of weeks Allison calls and says she is headed for Las Vegas, apparently having cleaned up a little bit.  She asks if she can keep in touch which the couple is happy to accept.
Being unsure of what to expect in this movie, I was happily impressed and recommend to anyone.  Gandolfini plays the awkward father figure very well, Leo just as good as the recluse mother breaking out.  Kristen Stewart is impressive.
See it if you get a chance.

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True Grit

Just for grins we recently rented DVD copy of said movie. Reminds me that my son and I went to see this movie in 2010 at a theater, the first that I've paid for since he was in high school. That was over four years ago. The original is one of my favorite John Wayne movies after the The Quiet Man, The Sons of Katie Elder and the one that is not El Dorado and had drunken Dean Martin in the drunken Robert Mitchum role.
True Grit is the Coen brothers remake of the movie that finally got John Wayne his Oscar. A story of an, all-about-business, teen aged girl whose father was murdered by a vagabond killer. Following up on her father's death she finds that the the local sheriff is unwilling to chase the killer into Indian Territory, she is obliged to to offer a ransom to the Federal Marshal of her choice, a man this time played by Jeff Bridges, selected not because he is the best tracker, not because he is the most humane, but because he gets the job done no matter how tough and dirty it is. Just think about how few of those people live in your life today, or if any, at all, work in government.
Well, just like the original, Mattie gets Rooster to lead the way into the Indian Territory, with Texas Ranger LaBoeuf.  Rooster drinks too much and argues with the Ranger.  Mattie shoots Tom Chaney down at the creek. Mattie gets captured.  Rooster fights it out, one on four, saved in the end by a long shot.  LaBoeuf gets whacked in the head and is unconscious.  Mattie falls into the pit with the snakes and gets bit. Rooster goes into the pit.  The Ranger wakes up and pulls Mattie and Rooster out.  Rooster then kills Little Blackie racing to save her from the rattler bite.
Then the story takes a turn from the original.  First of all Laboeuf live after the two are saved from the pit, it is still the end of the part in the movie.. Twenty five years later, invited by the former marshal,  Mattie goes to visit Rooster for the first time while he is acting in the Wild West Show.  She appears minus one arm, lost to the snake bite, three days after Rooster dies.  Mattie has the coffin dug up and brought to her ranch where she has him buried with her family.  Mattie continues on as a middle aged spinster.
The cast included..

• Jeff Bridges as Rooster Cogburn, not as much fun as John Wayne, but that is the way the directors chose to go. 
• Hailee Steinfeld as Mattie Ross, I think played better and more realistically than Kim Darby.
• Matt Damon as LaBoeuf , better than Glen Campbell by a long shot.
• Josh Brolin as Tom Chaney, much better in the role of the simple minded murderer.
• Barry Pepper as Lucky Ned Pepper, played differently than Duval, more realistically unlikeable.
• Elizabeth Marvel as 40-Year-Old Mattie, a surprise to me. 

This is a in my opinion a stronger cast than was in the original movie. The subject was centered in the dark side of human nature, a more realistic construct to the time and situation.  This made for a better movie, though by no means happier.  I liked it, others must have as well because it was nominated for ten Oscars.

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Fandango

Had been interested in watching this early Kevin Costner film for a while.
Fandango was released in 1985, this comedy was written and directed by Kevin Williams, who 10 years later directed Costner again in Waterworld.
A story of of 5 fraternity brothers who have all just finished, most graduated, from college at the University of Texas.  Because the year is 1971, all are eligible for the draft and most have already been given notice to report for boot camp.
On a spur of the moment lark, or "Fandango", takes form as a road trip to dig up somebody named Dom near the Mexico border.  The young men go through a number of adventures including riding the top of the Cadillac like the car was a elephant, endlessly drinking beer, running out of gas in the middle of nowhere, skydiving in the Pecos, having the front of the car torn off by a train. After they reach the resting place of Dom, the one of the men has remorse about breaking up with his fiance the night before, because he was being drafted.  Thus begins the climatic adventure of getting the bride to the wedding.  In the end,  all go their separate ways to manhood.
The cast...

• Kevin Costner plays Gardner Barnes, the wildest brother of the "Groovers".
• Judd Nelson as Phil Hicks, early work for the then young man, plays the tight assed one of the group, a proud ROTC man anxious to go to Vietnam.
• Sam Robards as Kenneth Waggener, this actor is the son of Jason Robards and the ex-husband of cast mate Suzy Amis. In this movie the enigmatic graduate who cancelled his engagement, leading to the road trip.
• Chuck Bush as Dorman, the quiet big dude, amusing.
• Brian Cesak as Lester Griffin, the genius of the group, already hired by Arthur Anderson, dodging Vietnam.
• Marvin J. McIntyre as Truman Sparks, the stoner pilot, a great part.
• Suzy Amis as The Girl, a good looking one at that.

On the whole, I liked the movie, if you are a Costner fan, a strong recommend.  Who Dom is, is for you to find out.

  

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The Last Days of Disco

The third of Whit Stillman's directorial triumphs.  Also written by Mr. Stillman, this movie was released in 1998 and up 2011 was the bottom of the well.  This may be because this movie lost a lot of money.  I am happy to see he has another movie out call Damsels in Distress.
The Last Days of Disco is about a pair of young ladies who work in the publishing business during the day and enjoy the New York disco scene at night.  The women are recent college graduates and evolving from the party every night mode toward searching for permanent partners and career goals.  In the end disco has faltered, the White Sox stadium riot punctuated that.  The ladies with the men in their lives recognize that a stage has passed. Of course there is one who predicts the re-emergence of disco.
My favorite part is the argument about the Disney movie The Lady and the Tramp.
The major players in the cast were....

• Chloë Sevigny as Alice, the heroine, a smart young lady, unafraid to express herself, yet unsure with men.
• Kate Beckinsale as Charlotte, Kate is really young in this movie, plays a bitchy manipulative beauty.
• Chris Eigeman as Des, Chris plays the same roguish character as he does in the previous two Stillman flicks. Best role in the movie.
• Mackenzie Astin as Jimmy, as squeamish little jerk, Astin has a very familiar face but no major parts in is biography.
• Matt Keeslar as Josh, Des's friend and hopeful beau of Alice.
• Robert Sean Leonard as Tom, you would recognize Robert from his role in the series House M.D., was earlier in the movie The Dead Poets Society. 
• Jennifer Beals as Nina, one of the girlfriends that Des runs off by claiming to have discovered his gayness.
• Taylor Nichols as Charlie, as veteran like Eigeman, of both previous Stillman movies, plays a small part that dovetails with his leading role in Barcelona.

In typical Whitman style, the dialog is intelligent and if you are not the type that likes to pay attention by listening, don't bother.  I enjoyed the movie more on this reviewing than the first time about 10 years ago.

  

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Joe Kidd

I am sitting here like a vegetable, watching Joe Kidd. A fun enough movie that I've only ever watched in bits. Eastwood is too cool to be stuck in a cowboy movie. Duval playing the dick he was so good at before all of the sweetheart roles. In this! was checking information at ImDB, and learned that Duval is younger than Eastwood. Only by a year, but would have bet Duval was ten years older. Guess my powers of perception aren't so great. Duval just got shot.

Next time I'll knock your damn head off.

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The Last Picture Show

I have been focused on Larry McMurtry lately, even getting the final Jeopardy question right the other night when none of the contestants did. This led me to watch The Last Picture Show, a movie I heard about for years and never caught on television.
After watching the DVD, I understand whey it is not on television.
A movie released in 1971, based on a story written by the author of stories that led to many popular movies, such as Hud, Terms of Endearment, Lonesome Dove and Brokeback Mountain. An early direction work by director-actor Peter Bogdanovich, whose immediate following works included Paper Moon. More recently he has appeared as a psychiatrist on the series The Sopranos.

The movie is based in a dying Texas town of the early 1950's.  The main characters are high school classmates, with little sense of future or ambition.  The opportunities for employment are all out of town, those being in oil, military or college.  Duane is Jacy's boyfriend and has all he can handle with girl that is learning to be an expert at manipulation.  Sonny has the same affection for Jacy but respects the order of things.  In time they graduate and move on the the next stage, except for Sonny who seems trapped in a town with no future. 

The cast is positive, catching many well known actors early in their careers.

• Timothy Bottoms, the lead male, as Sonny Crawford, in a created and later reprized in Texasville.
• Jeff Bridges as Sonny Crawford's best friend Duane Jackson.
• Cybill Shepherd as Jacy Farrow, the object of every young man's affection.  A good looking girl, whose poor ability was masked by the director's control of the role.  Her naked breasts, even then, did not match the beautiful exterior.
• Ben Johnson as Sam the Lion, always entertaining.
• Cloris Leachman as Ruth Popper, a good portrayal of a sad woman.
• Ellen Burstyn as Lois Farrow, Jacy's mother, whose skill at manipulating men is her chief bequest to her daughter.
• Eileen Brennan as Genevieve, not quite sure how all the relationships worked, and at the time has a pretty good figure.
• Sam Bottoms as Billy, brother of the lead, playing the town mute.
• Randy Quaid as Lester Marlow, a goofy looking, awkward rich kid with the hots for Jacy.

My enjoyment of the movie is based on the story and film editing.  Filmed entirely on location, it has a visually gritty feel not unlike The Grapes of Wrath. This is a movie most people would not enjoy.  To have seen Sal Mineo in the lead role of Sonny would have been very different and I think not as good.

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Edge of Darkness

Being home sick has its benefits. Sat through this recent Mel Gibson (2010) feature this morning and for my part, was enjoyed.
This movie released in 2010 was directed by Martin Campbell, and written by William Monahan and Andrew Bovell.
Situated in Boston, the movie begins with the star's daughter coming home from work to visit her father. The young lady is spitting up blood and in short order is shot as she comes through the front door. The mother is long gone and not explained, so the bereaved detective puts all of his effort toward solving the case, and inside of that apply retribution. He for the most part achieves his goal, with the politicians taken care of by a man of similar skills and admiration for Thomas Craven.
The cast is.....
Mel Gibson as Thomas Craven
Ray Winstone as Darius Jedburgh, Winstone is becoming popular out there, was excellent in another Boston film, The Departed.
The rest does not really matter.
With the personal issues that Gibson has endured or brought upon himself, however you look at it. These types of movies may be what we forever see from here out, an aging actor playing aging roles.
I enjoyed the movie in as much as in not feeling well, the act of determination was inspiring. If you don't like cop movies or Mel Gibson, skip it.

The King's Speech

The bride said she wanted to watch this movie, so I rented it, it sat on the counter for a month before I could get her to pay attention to it. When we started watching she gave up after 15 minutes. I who did not want to rent the thing in the first place was happily pleased.
Released in 2010, this movies is a biographical representation of King George VI ascendance to the throne. The screen play was written by David Seidler and action directed by Tom Hooper. Mr. Hooper also directed the mini-series about John Adams which I enjoyed very much.
The cast of this movie is as follows:
- Colin Firth as the King, Albert or "Bertie", younger brother to David.
- Helena Bonham Cater as the King's wife
- Geoffrey Rush as Lionel Logue, the speech therapist.
- Guy Pearce as King Edward VIII, David, Albert's older brother.
- Eve Best as Wallace Simpson, David's American lover for which he gave up the throne.
The plot, as far as I am aware follows the commonly held chain of events. Beginning with Albert's desire and efforts to overcome a stammering problem, seeks medical therapy. David, as the oldest brother, is first in line to assume the throne. Albert engages Lionel Logue an Australian speech therapist who learned his kraft working with shell shocked World War I soldiers. During the father's illness David is in a strong relationship with Wallace Simpson, a woman because of American birth is unsuitable for a monarch's wife. As history tells, King George V dies, leaving the throne to David, who chooses the name Edward VIII (I did not know they chose their own names). Wallace must have had some special skills because, David can disengage. While all of this is happening, Hitler is happening to the rest of Europe, the pressure is on the monarchy to lead. David's distractions are insurmountable. David abdicates making Albert King. The oncoming war obligates Albert to make public speeches which will unify and prepare the country for war. To prepare for the first of these important speeches Lionel coaches the King through his radio address using a see-saw speech pattern. The pauses required by the King to emit the words make the speech itself more effective. The speech succeeds and the friendship between King and Lionel cemented.
I enjoyed the movie a great deal, others must have as well because it won 4 Oscars, including Best Picture. Firth got Best Lead, Rush should have gotten Best Supporting.
Watch it.

Good Night, and Good Luck

This bloody DVD sat in my mail to read pile for about a month, then I spilled a glass of water on it, then I had to pry the envelope open.

But the wait was worth it.

This quiet little docu-drama of the relation ship between CBS and the McCarthy hearings was, allowing for the liberal leanings of the director-writer, George Clooney,an informative movie that can hold you theatrically.
Released in 2005, the movie is short at 93 minutes long.

The cast is strong with excellent supporting work.

• Jeff Daniels as Sig Mickelson, the first director of CBS television news.
• David Strathairn as Edward R. Murrow.
• Tate Donovan as Jesse Zousmer
• Patricia Clarkson as Shirley Wershba, producer and bride of Joe Wershba.
• Robert Downey Jr. as Joe Wershba, producer, husband of Shirley Wershba and Pulitzer nominee.
• George Clooney as Fred Friendly
• Frank Langella as William Paley, CBS Chairman.

This movie is about the struggles surrounding the McCarthy Communism created trials. How the media sought to expose unethical persecution tact and how the government sought to control public perception of that.  CBS saw themselves as a protector or individual rights and with fear proceeded to expose actions they knew to be un-Constitutional. At career risk and personal expense the CBS news division made public evidence that eventually took the wind out of the Joseph McCarthy hearings.

The movie tends to stay away the the Democrat vs. Republican issue, which I appreciated. McCarthy himself was a Republican but he was supported by many Democrats and staffers which included Roy Cohn and Robert Kennedy.

On the whole I liked the movie and recommend that any patron of history watch. 

 

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Cashback

No clue what so ever as to why I chose this movie from Netflix, it is like there is a gremlin screwing with my queue. Cashback came in and I watched it the same night.
Released in 2006, this is billed as romantic comedy. The male lead is a an art student who has just broken up with a girlfriend. The breakup was his own doing but leads to insomnia. In that situation, he decides to trade his extra time for money, taking night shift in the local grocery store. The grocery store is inhabited by a group of similar oddballs who in their boredom devise ways to pass the time, other than working that is. Ben Willis, being and art student, has a real love for the female form, he imagines that he can stop time and enjoy his unknowing models on his own terms. After a time Ben befriends a pretty female cash register worker. They start to date but are broken apart by a moment that was innocent but misunderstood.
He had fallen for her, but she is gone. In his pain he expresses in his art, pictures and sketches of Sharon. The art is so good, Ben gets a show in a gallery before he even graduates. Sharon comes to the show, learns of Ben's love by the focus of his subject, all of her, imagined from frozen moments. Sharon promises Ben she trusts him and he shows her how to freeze time. The end.

 

The actors were...

• Emilia Fox as Sharon Pintey, the object of Ben's attention. A really pretty girl she kind of reminds me of the woman in that old television show the Avengers.
• Sean Biggerstaff as Ben Willis, a part played in a low key approach that I really enjoyed. The young man looked really familiar and when I looked him up learned that he had been in the Harry Potter movies.

On the whole I really liked the movie and recommend it.  If I had to characterize the movie I would call it a chick flick that has enough weirdness to keep the interest of men.   

 

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Midnight Cowboy

After a long string of unremarkable Netflix rentals a surprise. Midnight Cowboy was a forty-one year old movie that I found I knew little about.

 

Released in 1969, this movie was directed by John Schlesinger, who over a nearly 50 year directorial career worked on many well known movies such as, The Falcon and the Snowman, Marathon Man ending with the forgettable Madonna film The Next Best Thing. The director passed in 2003.

 

The movie is about a Texas greenhorn named Joe Buck. Buck is a handsome young man with past that hinted at throughout the movie, a past that includes maternal abandonment and molestation. Fresh out of the service Joe decides to leave his dish washing job in Texas for a New York career as a male prostitute. On arrival he soon finds that New York is burgeoning with the easy pickings of women wanting to pay for getting laid. In his downward spiral he is befriended by down-and-out but outcast named Ratso Rizzo. In their deepening poverty Buck has to turn to street hustling with the only people who will pay, men. It's not what he wants but from his earlier experiences knows he will survive. Joe's friendship with Ratso is one of cooperation, they learn to steal and cheat effectively as a team. Their targets are small, usually food to eat, booze to drink. Living in an abandoned tenement Ratso is become very sick, he wants to escape to Florida. As the infirmity become critical, Joe Buck takes to the street and is picked up by an older man who he kills in his hotel room for the cash in his wallet. With enough money for the trip, the two are on bus ride south, a trip Ratso does not survive

 

The cast is small but skilled.

• Dustin Hoffman plays Ratso Rizzo a role for which he should have won the Academy Award.
• Jon Voight play Joe Buck the Texas greenhorn
• Sylvia Miles plays Cass, an interesting part, Joe's first mark who turns the tables.
• Brenda Vaccaro plays Shirley the only woman that pays Joe for the pleasure. Love that voice.

I give this movie a rating of 44 of 50. A very good movie that won 1970 Oscars for Best Director, Best Picture, and Best Writing. This is the only movie released with an X rating to ever win Best Picture.

• Character Development, 10 of 10, the descent of man under stress.
• Screenplay, 8 of 10.
• Acting, 8 of 10, no Academy Awards, Hoffman is superlative.
• Photography, 8 of 10. Some of that outdated sixties color shifting and collage views.
• Plot, 10 of 10.  Unique. 

 

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Fanny and Alexander

Foreign films are not really my thing, but this time the critics were right. This has got to be one of the most artistic films I have ever watched.

Fanny and Alexander if the semi-autobiographical movie written and directed by Ingmar Bergman. Released in 1982. This is the story of two children, as titled, of father Oscar and mother Emilie in the early 1900's of Sweden. Oscar, the beloved owner of a theater dies and the mother Emilie marries a local bishop. The bishop and his family are minimalists in a Puritan like deity. The children having lived in the artistically rich theatrical world of their father and grandmother don't fit very well. The are immediate conflicts between Alexander and the bishop. Eventually the the mother Emilie escapes with the children and the bishop dies in a terrible accidental fire. The children return to the luxurious home of their grandmother the beautiful farmer actress.

 

The cast was unknown to me though I felt the parts played by the grandmother and mother Emilie were excellent, not to mention the work of Bertil Guve who played Alexander. In the cast as Rosa played the actress Lena Olin still active today in Hollywood.

 

In 1984 this movie won 4 Oscars.

• Best Art Direction-Set Decoration
• Best Cinematography
• Best Costume Design
• Best Foreign Language Film

and was nominated for 2 more awards

• Best Director
• Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen

Very strong work by Bergman, take to time to watch you will not be disappointed.

 

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Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore

For Christmas the bride gave me a set of Martin Scorsese movies, like most sets the majority of films are ones you've never heard of. After watching Mean Streets and Goodfellas a couple of times, decided to broach the other two.
This was a pleasant surprise. Ellen Burstyn was under contract to do a film with Warner Brothers, they gave her creative license to select script and director. Burstyn wanted to create a movie that was based on a female perspective, rejecting typical scripts offered by the film company chose a story written by Robert Getchell who at that time was unheard of. Getchell later wrote screenplays for movies such as The Client, Point of No Return and Mommie Dearest.

"NO WIRE HANGERS!"

Burstyn having selected a script began her search for a director, asked Francis Copola for a recommendation. Copola suggested see watch a movie called Mean Streets.  This she did and while that movie does not relate to women, Burstyn saw special skill.

 

The film is about a recently widowed woman, with a 12 year old boy.  The boy is a typical 12 year old, weird, weird, weird.  Left without an income, she goes in search of a singing career.  On her trek to California she stops in Phoenix, in need of cash shell takes a job as a waitress.  There she meets a local rancher who in the end offers to follow her to California, if that's what she wants. 
The main cast was:

• Ellen Burstyn as Alice Hyatt.
• Kris Kristofferson in his first leading role as David.
• Alfred Lutter III as Alice's son Tommy.  Lutter was also in The Bad News Bears.
• Diane Ladd as Flo, big hair and foul mouthed, the most fun character in the movie.
• Harvey Keitel as Ben the lying, philandering abusive first boyfriend.  Harvey is a carry over from Mean Street and frightening in his scene of abuse.
• Jodie Foster as Audrey the delinquent daughter of another single woman.

I give this movie a rating of 40 of 50.  A very nice surprise.

• Character Development, 8 of 10, a woman build a life on her terms, at them time of release an unconventional development.
• Screenplay, 8 of 10.
• Acting, 9 of 10, Burstyn got an Academy Award.
• Photography, 7 of 10. Scorsese concentrated on the plot but in some scenes like the opening and ranch his skill is obvious.
• Plot, 8 of 10. They thought of the plot well enough to make it a television series.

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The Blind Side

Normally I do not rush to watch the latest Oscar winning movies, lately it seems that, like the Nobel Peace Price, awards are given to those viewed to have the most deserving liberal political position.

A story that is true and has not finished for that matter. Big Mike is an over sized Memphis teenager, homeless and abandoned by a drug addict mother, Michael Oher is accepted into a Christian high school.  There Leigh Ann Tuohy recognizes Michael's needs and invites him into her home.  Because of his massive size Michael is encouraged to play football.  At first Mr. Oher's inclination is not to the violence of football, but after Mrs. Tuohy gives the coaches and Michael the insight that he has a very strong defensive personality.  From there Mike excels, takes a scholarship at the University of Mississippi and then is a first round draft choice into the NFL.  Today he still plays.

The cast...

• Sandra Bullock plays Leigh Anne Tuohy. I have always considered Bullock a lightweight, but I was wrong, for this she was good enough to win the Oscar for Best Actress.
• Tim McGraw plays Sean Tuohy, Leigh Anne's husband, former basketball player of Ole Miss and successful fast food franchise mogul.  So far I think this son of a major league pitcher, and full time singer a bit of dilettante, this roll fits that.  Friday Night Lights was a good movie for him.
• Quinton Aaron plays Michael Oher a goo actor, I do not know if personalities are matched but the role is played in a very believable manner.
• Jae Head play S.J. Tuohy, the sports crazy boy of Sean and Leigh Anne.  Cute part, very entertaining.
• Lily Collins plays Collins Tuohy, the sister of SJ, has some special problems presented by being in high school with Mike but is able to act as more of an adult than her peers.

I give this movie a rating of 38 of 50. Enjoyed a great deal..

• Character Development, 8 of 10, a young man is found abandoned, with love an support achieves NFL stardom.
• Screenplay, 8 of 10.
• Acting, 9 of 10, somebody got an Academy Award.
• Photography, 5 of 10. Nothing special
• Plot, 8 of 10 

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An American Affair

Usually I 'm ahead of the curve and anticipate movies with Gretchen Mol.  This one, the neighbors told me about and how much they enjoyed the period piece. An American Affair was released in 2009, written by Willaim Olsson and directed by Alex Metcalf.
The plot:
A maturing teenager of 13 notices the seducty beauty of his neighbor acrosss the street.  he interest leads him into actions of curiosity that border on voyerism. The woman is mature and active with more than one partner, she is also friendly to her young admirer in a mature parental and proper manner. She shows respect and understanding.  In the boys curiosity, he learns that Catherine is involved with the president. Later by way of reading Catherine's diary, this is confirmed.  While all of this is growing in the boy's personality, the Bay of Pigs and the Presidential assisination is unfolding.  The two are linked and the CIA is involved.  Catherine, because of her relationships with JFK, Cuban contacts and the CIA is left in a dangerous position.  When knowledge of her diaries is learned by the CIA, proof that there is linkage, Catherine is doomed.  In short order the woman is murdered and her diaries destroyed.  The movie ends with the boy receiving a package in the mail, this is a segmented painted portrait of the boy.  Something that doubt a real man would have saved for the rest of his live.
The primary actors were:

• Gretchen Mol as Catherine Caswell. A semi fictional character, who divorced from a CIA operative, is one of JFK's mistresses. A woman with bohemian artistic tastes and a very interesting past.
• Cameron Bright as Adam Stafford. Plays the 13 year old admirer of the beautiful neighbor Catherine. A busy actor for a young man of 17, not a lot that is noteworthy.
• James Rebhorn as Lucian Carver. Easy to recognize but harder to place, this man is a common character actor who here plays the heavy, director of the CIA.
• Noah Wyle as Mike Stafford.  The original ER cast member her plays the father of the

Grading, 44 out of 50, highly recommended:

• Character Development, 9 of 10. The boy comes to understand that adults are flawed, goverments are even more. and women are beautiful and interesting.
• Screenplay, 9 of 10. Uses reports from real life and myths of Camelot to create a real feeling to the plot.
• Acting, 8 of 10. Wyle was better than the expected, Reborn about the same as in everything else he does, the focus of the movie on the woman and the boy is where the best work is performed.
• Photography, 8 of 10. Filmed in Georgetown, many of the camera shots gave a narrow feel of the brownstones, perhaps reflecting the closing in of life on the teenager.
• Plot, 10 of 10.  Tops.

La Strada

Have said it before, this dvd came to the house, have no idea how I selected an Italian movie.  Probably because Netflix made the suggestion when I chose The Lives of Others.  As it turned out, lucky for me.
Directed by Frederico Fellini who assisted TullioPinelli in the writing of the sparse but deep story.
Produced by two men well known in America, Dino De Laurentiis who at 90 is still out there working, and Carlo Ponti who passed 3 years ago but earned my respect by marrying Sophia Loren.
The actors were a mix of Americans and Italians...

• Anthony Quinn plays the abusive brutish Zampanò, circus strongman. 
• Giulietta Masina plays Gelsomina, the fated heroine of the movie, a adled young woman with a natural flair for theatrics. In real life Masina was Fellini's wife.
• Richard Basehart as Il Matto, "The Fool", Zampanò's antogonist who specializes as a high wire walker and clownish charcter.

The plot is simple enough but draws you in completely by the by the end.  Living with her poor mother and younger sisters in a nut on a deserted beach, Gelsomina is sold, for about $20.00, by her mother to Zampanò, for the purpose of serving as the itinerant strongman's assitant.  In that exchange we learn that Rosa, Gelsomina's older sister was Zampanò's previous assistant, and has mysteriously died. By the end of the story, you come to imagine that Rosa came to an awful end at the hands of the brutish man. The pair travel the roads of Italy, in a three wheeled motorcycle that has a tent, moving from town to town.  In that time Gelsomina becomes the better performer, having a talent for entertainment, she is a natural clown in expression of both happiness and sadness. Zampanò in his animalistic manner eventually rapes Gelsomina, who playing the clown in real life acts out with mixed emotions.  These mixed emotions come to be affection, which of course is not recognized by by the chauvanistic Zampanò.  He in his punishing manner ignores her growing affection and hooks up with a protitute and later a work worn cook. 

The travels bring the couple to a ad-hoc circus outside of Rome. Here we meet the amusing talented wire walker Il Matto.  By way of previous dealings between Il Matto, Zampanò and the deceased Rosa, there is very bad blood between the two men.  This brews into fisticuffs causing both men to be expelled from the circus. 

Back on the road the couple of Gelsomina and Zampanò are working their act as before.  Their travels bring them across Il Matto whose auto has a flat tire.  Minor fisticuffs begin again, in which the clown head was hit on the car.  He takes a few steps and dies.  Zampanò then moves the body and stages the death like it was a car accident.  This course of action drives the simple Gelsomina into a deep depression.  Over the next couple of weeks she has stopped acting during Zampanò's chain breaking act.  Travelling into the Italian Alps the couple stops near a snow covered deserted house.  Gelsomaina comes out of the motorcycle tent and shows some improved perkiness, which is immediately brought down by comments Zampanò makes about Il Matto.  She then goes to sleep by the fire. 

Zampanò in is constant self-absorbed mode, sees and opportunity and sneaks off by puching the motorcycle without starting.  The next scene is at another beach and we see Zampanò as visibly older and lacksidasically

going through the same old chain act.  Later walking through town, Zampanò hears a hummed tune that was Gelsomina's favorite creation.  He questions the lady that was humming the tune and learns that 4 or 5 years ago a vagabond woman had been in town, and sickly stayed with her family.  As thanks and in appreciation for her care she had often played her trumpet to the family.  Unfortunately she had died without leaving any indication of who to inform.  Later that night Zampanò gets obscenely drunk, walks out onto the beach and breaks down, realizing that he missed on a woman that loved him.

The scene is famous for its lack dialog and music.

The entire movie was scored by Nino Rota who also did The Godfather.

I give this movie a rating of 46 of 50. This movie won the 1957 Oscar Best Foreign Language Film, so I guess other people liked it too. Get it, watch it.

• Character Development, 10 of 10.
• Screenplay, 8 of 10.
• Acting, 9 of 10. Both Anthony Quinn and Richard Basehart in the best roles of their lives.
• Photography, 9 of 10. Italian neo-realism perfected.
• Plot, 10 of 10.

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