Moderns and Classics

The Great Dictator (1940)

2008-11-11T00:55:00.000-08:00

Chaplin's The Great Dictator is a superb film with great comedy and a lot of heart. It succeeds in poking fun at a very serious situation without being disrespectful Granted at the time it was made the atrocities of the Nazi's were not known to the extent in which they existed, and had they been known perhaps this film would not have been made.

The film follows two main characters, both played by Chaplin of course. The first is a Jewish barber, a veteran of the first world war. He was injured at the end of the war in a plane crash. He was in a coma a very long time and awakened nearly a decade later into the Hynkel regime. Hynkel is the dictator of the Jewish barber's home country created by Chaplin meant to be a spoof on Hitler.

The barber returns to his shop (which is now covered in cobwebs and dust) and begins to set up when a couple of storm troopers come and begin to give him trouble. Not knowing what the current situation of his country is, the barber puts up a fight. He appears to be getting beaten, but a lovely neighbor girl (Paulette Goddard) gives the help of her frying pan for his rescue.

The second character is the dictator of Tomania, (the fictional country made to represent Nazi Germany) Adenoid Hynkel. Hynkel is not as ruthless as the real life Hitler, he is made to seem more like a puppet to his right hand man Garbitsch (pronounced garbage). Garbitsch is Hynkel's top advisor and does almost all the thinking for the dictator (reminded me a bit of the Bush-Cheney relationship as depicted in Oliver Stone's picture W.).

The film is really quite outstanding, with shining performances by Chaplin as usual as well as Ms. Goddard and Maurice Moscovitch as Mr. Jaeckel. You'll get a kick out of Chaplin's German as he often throws wiener schnitzel and sauerkraut into the Hynkel speeches. An outstanding script written by an amazingly talented individual, not since Chaplin has one man been able to do so much for the world of comedic films with the exception of maybe Woody Allen.

If you are a fan of classic films, but are unable to sit through a silent then I would recommend The Great Dictator as your introduction into Chaplin films. You'll certainly get a better since of who Charlie Chaplin was then you will in, say, A Countess from Hong Kong. Also an interesting look into a perception of Nazi Germany right in the heat of the war. Overall 3.5/4 Stars Grade = A-

Lifeboat (1944)

2008-06-14T13:18:00.000-07:00

Although I wouldn't consider Lifeboat to be one of Hitchcock's best films, it is still worth seeing. Straying away from his niche of suspenseful mysteries, Hitch goes into an examination of characters and human nature as he sticks seven survivors of a shipwreck on a lifeboat, as well as a survivor from the Nazi U-Boat that sunk them.

Tallulah Bankhead plays Connie Porter, a world famous photographer and reporter who was covering the war in Europe and traveling to Bermuda when the ship was sunk. She is seemingly very self-absorbed and the only thing that seems to matter to her is getting material for her book.

Gus Smith (William Bendix) was a crewman aboard the ship. He was at the wheel when the ship went down, and was hit in the leg with some shrapnel and is very worried about becoming gimpy if his leg doesn't heal. Gus has German heritage, and has changed his name from Schmidt to Smith out of embarrassment and shame of the Nazis. Back home he has a girl named Rosie whom he loves very much, and he is worried that if he returns a gimp that she may leave him for another man.

John Hodiak is John Kovac, an engine room worker and tattooed bad boy. He is a born leader, but his brash personality and attitude make the others distrust his judgment at times. When the Nazi is brought on board Kovac immediately distrusts him and wants him thrown overboard. Kovac also has an immediate strong distaste for Connie and her selfish attitude.

Charles Rittenhouse, or Ritt as he likes to be called (Henry Hull) is a self-made millionaire with many factories stateside. Ritt is friends with Connie from the ship, and they are very buddy-buddy with each other on the lifeboat. He loves to play poker, and passes his time on board the lifeboat by playing cards with Kovac.

Mary Anderson plays Alice MacKenzie, a medical officer in the U.S. Army. For her the shipwreck was a blessing in disguise because the boat was eventually going to take her to London where she had some trouble with a married man. Alice is a very pretty young woman, and there seems to be some kind of romance brewing between her and Sparks (Hume Cronyn). Sparks is a Merchant Marine whom you don't really learn much about. He seems to be a good man, and does a good job of keeping his cool in rough situations.

Joe (Canada Lee) is the last of the survivors from the ship. He is the only African-American on the lifeboat, and is a sympathetic and good-natured character; a rarity in films during this time period. He is an ex-pickpocket who is leading a good life with his wife and children. He also seems to have known Connie and Ritt from before, and spends a great deal of time playing the flute.

Willy the Nazi (Walter Slezak) is the only survivor from the U-Boat that shot down the ship. No one really knows whether to trust him or not at the beginning, or whether or not to even let him live. He seems like an all-right fellow but you really can't trust a Nazi. He is only able to communicate through Connie who is the only one aboard who speaks German.

Lifeboat is worth watching, especially if you're a Hitchcock fan who would like to see something different. Hitch does a great job of giving us unique characters and unique reactions to a group mentality as well as difficult moral situations. William Bendix is the brightest star of the picture in my opinion, he gained my respect as an actor in his debut role in Woman of the Year and he is just as superb in Lifeboat as he is in the previously mentioned.

If you have yet to see a Hitchcock picture, I would not start with Lifeboat, as you will not get a good feel for his directorial style. I would definitely recommend it for future viewing, but I would get you started with Vertigo or North by Northwest (which happen to be two of my all-time favorite films).

Lifeboat is based off of a novella by John Steinbeck, which alone is reason enough to see the film. It is impossible for me to say whether or not Hitch stuck to Steinbeck's story because the Steinbeck story has never been published. I have been led to understand however that if you would like to view a copy of it then you can make an appointment at the National Steinbeck Center in Carmel, California. Worth watching, especially if you're a fan of Hitchcock or Steinbeck. Overall 3.0/4 Stars Grade = B+

The Circus (1928)

2008-05-21T15:13:00.000-07:00

In The Circus Charlie Chaplin yet again demonstrates just why he is one of the most talented people to ever live. Chaplin was recognized as such for his work writing, directing and producing this film by the first Academy Awards in 1929. They bestowed upon him and honorary award "For versatility and genius in acting, writing, directing and producing The Circus". Chaplin also wrote the score, and sang the title song in the 1969 re-release.

Chaplin stars as his trademark character The Tramp. The circus is currently in town, and The Tramp is visiting. While he is standing watching a side show a pickpocket is doing his work. When the pickpocket is confronted, he slips the stolen wallet and watch into The Tramp's pocket. Later on, when The Tramp notices is spending some of his newfound wealth the wallet's original owner shows up and attempts to have The Tramp arrested. The Tramp flees, and the police officer chases after him through the circus in a bout of hilarity which is so humorous that the Ring Master (Al Ernest Garcia) offers him a job.

Since The Tramp has no job and no money, he accepts the Ring Master's offer and sets up a tryout for the following morning. Unfortunately since The Tramp was not intending to be funny when he was fleeing the law, he fails miserably at his audition and the job offer is revoked. But when the disgruntled property men quit, the Ring Master must find someone quick and the only man around is The Tramp. However every time The Tramp goes on stage to bring out a prop he fails and ends up flopping around and the crowd goes nuts with laughter. The Tramp has no idea, but he is the big draw to the shows and the big moneymaker for the circus.

The Circus then continues with comedic genius as The Tramp steals the show, falls for the girl (Ring Master's abused step-daughter played by Merna Kennedy) and fights the boss. This is really one of Chaplin's most underrated films. I personally enjoyed it more so than City Lights and almost as much as Modern Times. I certainly don't consider myself a Chaplin expert, but this movie is great. He not only comes up with a wonderful story of love and sacrifice, but he sustains a great amount of humor throughout the picture that is sure to bring a smile to anyone's face young and old, and at only 68 minutes long it's a much better hour spent than say watching an episode of CSI: Miami. Overall 3.5/4 Stars Grade = A

Free Money (1998)

2008-05-20T16:04:00.000-07:00

I went in to Free Money thinking that it was going to be another bad comedy from the nineties, and I was actually quite pleasantly surprised. It’s really not that bad of a movie. Admittedly it is very dumb, and rather unoriginal but there was something about it that I really found rather charming.

The movie starts out with teenage identical twins daughters Inga and Liv (Christin and Holly Watson in their only roles, cinematic or otherwise) telling their father (Marlon Brando) that they are pregnant. The soon to be fathers are lifetime losers Bud (Charlie Sheen) and Larry (Thomas Haden Church). Bud and Larry are terrified of the girls' father, who is the warden of the state prison and nicknamed The Swede. The Swede has a reputation for his brutality, and is currently being investigated by beautiful FBI agent Karen Polarski (Mira Sorvino) for the death of an attempted escapee.

They throw together a shotgun wedding, and Bud and Larry are now in it for better or worse (pardon the PUN) with the twins and The Swede. The girls insist they move in with their father, and there are strict rules placed on the new husbands. Bud and Larry end up hating their lives living with The Swede so much that they hatch a plan to hold up a train coming through the area. The train is transporting old worn out money that is being taken out of circulation. The train engineers are local idiots Louis and Dwayne, and Bud is able to get inside information out of them because of their naivety and ignorance. Bud insists that his plan is flawless and that it will have them set for life so they can take Inga and Liv and get as far away from The Swede and humanly possible. Of course everything goes awry.

There are definitely a lot of things that this movie needs to improve on. For example director Yves Simoneau lacks any real directional skill. He has no distinguishing trademarks, he seems to just set up a camera and shoot. Absolutely no artistry. Also, as I mentioned before, the story is completely unoriginal. There are some new aspects to it, like the daughters still being in high school, but for the most part it's nothing we haven't seen before.

I think what really made me enjoy the movie though is the performance by Charlie Sheen. Personally I consider Sheen to be a great comedic actor, as he has proven in such movies as Major League and television programs Spin City and Two and a Half Men. Thomas Haden Church is also quite funny; he really does a great job in this film with outstanding comedic timing and a spot-on midwestern accent.

Free Money really has gotten a bad rap, undeservedly so in my opinion. I think that when people saw Oscar winners Marlon Brando and Mira Sorvino attached they went in expecting something great, but that's not what they got. If you go in to this movie just looking for a fairly good time then you won't be disappointed. Overall 2.0/4 Stars Grade = C

The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996)

2008-05-13T18:46:00.000-07:00

John Frankenheimer's The Island of Dr. Moreau is not a terrible picture, as I had been led to believe by other reviews and an abysmal 3.9 rating on IMDb. It is merely a very mediocre film, with its good moments and it's bad moments.

David Thewlis stars as Edward Douglas, a man whose airplane crashed at sea and after the two fellow survivors murdered each other, he became the lone survivor. A boat transporting animals to an island picked up Douglas adrift and an American on board the ship then nursed him back to health. The man being an eccentric doctor (or veterinarian) named Montgomery (Val Kilmer).

When the ship reaches Montgomery's destination, Douglas is persuaded to come ashore and stay on the island in waiting to be rescued and returned home. However, it is not long after the ship is gone that Douglas realizes he is captive on the island as he is locked in his room by Montgomery from the outside.

After Douglas picks the lock in his room, he starts doing some exploring. He ventures his way into an old military hanger where he finds lots of cages filled with exotic animals. There is also some kind of surgery going on in the center of the room, and as Douglas gets closer he realizes that it is some kind of half-man half-animal mutant giving birth. Douglas is so disgusted that he allows himself to utter "Oh my God" which attracts the attention of the men performing the operation. You notice that these "people" are also mutations.

Douglas makes a run for it, and he is helped out by Aissa (Fairuza Balk, whom he had met briefly upon his arrival) who tells him that she can get him off the island so long as he doesn't do anything to hurt her father Dr. Moreau. Douglas agrees, and she leads him through the jungle to a community of these creatures living inside old WWII aircraft wreckage. He is lead to the Sayer of the Law (Ron Perlman), and it appears that the Sayer is going to help Douglas when Montgomery and Dr. Moreau (Marlon Brando) show up in search for Douglas. Douglas is lead back to the main compound where Moreau explains to him exactly what his experiment is and how he plans to save humanity with his results.

As I mentioned before, The Island of Dr. Moreau is not a terrible film. H.G. Wells' story is so strong that no matter what the cast and crew did to try to destroy it there were still remnants of quality left over. The story is so original and compelling that it is my belief that no matter what is done it is not possible to butcher it to the point of being unwatchable.

The make-up work in The Island of Dr. Moreau is superb. If it were not for the arms and legs you would have no way of telling that there was an actual human actor behind some of the creatures. If this film deserved any recognition, it should have been for make-up at the Academy Awards.

There is no doubt that John Frankenheimer has made far superior pictures (ie. The Manchurian Candidate, Ronin) and he didn't seem to have any control over the script or the cast of this film. I have read that he butted heads with both Kilmer and Brando who have been known to be very hard to work with and egotistical, and instead of really dealing with it the two of them were allowed to portray their characters in any way they saw fit and run wild on set. This is something that should have been righted, but was not and the film suffered because of it. I certainly wouldn't go out of my way to see this film, but it really doesn't deserve the harsh reputation that it has. It will soon be forgotten (if it hasn't been already), and mixed in with all the other examples of mediocrity in mainstream cinema over the years. Overall 1.5/4 Stars Grade = C-

Sullivan's Travels (1941)

2008-04-27T16:12:00.000-07:00

Sullivan's Travels is really a wonderful film, it has great writing and direction and it does a fantastic job of mixing intellectuality with comedy.

Joel McCrea is John L. Sullivan, a rich Hollywood director who wants to venture away from comedies and make a serious picture about poverty in America based off of O Brother, Where Art Thou. Problem is though that his producers don't think he has it in him to make a good picture about poverty. They tell him he hasn't had a moment of trouble in his life, and they're right so Sullivan decides to embark on an adventure across the country disguising himself as a transient in order to learn the life of the less fortunate.

The following day Sullivan heads out, but unfortunately the studio heads have decided to follow him in a giant land yacht documenting his adventure. He is finally able to shake them, and ends up hitching a ride in the back of a semi-truck.

Much to Sullivan's dismay, he wakes up the following morning in the back of the truck back in Hollywood. He makes his way into a diner to grab some breakfast, and that is where we meet The Girl, played by the lovely Veronica Lake. She buys him some food, and he offers to give her a ride back home in his "friends" car. Problem is, he forgets to tell anyone he's taking out his car and it's reported stolen so before too long they are pulled over and arrested. In order to get himself out of jail, he has not choice but to reveal his real identity to the girl.

At first she's hostile towards Sullivan for having tricked her, but she quickly grows to like him and insists on joining him for his experiment. Of course Sullivan is against her accompaniment, he tells her to either stay at his house or go home but she is very persistent and ends up joining him anyways. Along the voyage it seems that every time they get into any trouble his people keep coming to the rescue, whether he wants it or not (and believe it or not sometimes he wants it), so he really doesn't get any tough experience at all... not yet at least.

Sullivan's Travels is probably one of the best comedies I have ever seen. It's able to not only show us the world of the less fortunate, but it is able to show us how they are able to get by day to day and their simple pleasures in life that the rich can't understand.

Preston Sturges' writing is absolutely magnificent; he is able to give us just the right doses of comedy and just the right amount of seriousness. His direction is also incredible; he gets the maximum performances out of the bit players and just the right amount of hopelessness from the actors portraying the poor. Joel McCrea and Veronica Lake also give outstanding performances, all-in-all Sullivan's Travels is really a masterpiece. Definitely worth checking out. Overall 4.0/4 Stars Grade = A

21 Grams (2003)

2008-04-23T12:31:00.000-07:00

21 Grams is a very good picture with many strong points, however it was Naomi Watts' performance as Cristina that really shone through and impressed me.

The film is really extremely complex, following three different story lines as they intersect and become one. The director Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu jumps in between the three stories as well as many different time zones in order to tell you what is happening, what has already happened and what is going to happen all at once. This is very confusing for the first half of the film, you really don't get a good idea of what is going on, but it all comes together in the second half.

Normally, I give you a fairly detailed synopsis of the plot of a film in my reviews however I feel that that is impossible for this film without including major spoilers. All I can give you is a brief summary of the characters involved.

Cristina is a grieving mother who has recently lost her husband and two daughters and is turning to drugs and alcohol in order to cope with her pain. Paul (Sean Penn) is a terminally ill mathematician who is married to a woman he doesn't love who wants to have his child while he waits for a heart donation and tries to deal with the concept of what's going to happen when the time comes and he actually dies. And then there's Jack (Benicio Del Toro). Jack is an ex-con who has been in and out of prison since he was sixteen for everything from drugs to grand theft auto. Jack has turned his life over to the Lord and is clean of drugs and alcohol as he tries to keep his life in order and raise his family. A freak accident resulting in tragedy brings these three people and their problems together.

21 Grams is really a film that you have to pay extra close attention to, if your mind wanders at all you will get lost and quite possibly never find your way back in. The way the times move around, it will get you wondering if Alejandro just shuffled the scenes together and threw them in. I am being facisous of course, it becomes obvious about an hour into the film that Alejandro knew exactly what he was doing and he knew exactly where he wanted every scene to be.

The acting is incredible, especially by Naomi Watts as I mentioned earlier. The grief she brings to the screen is so powerful and so convincing you'd think she had lost her own family. Sean Penn and Benicio Del Toro also give strong performances, not nearly as strong as Watts however but their roles were not as demanding.

21 Grams is definitely a depressing film, I've even heard some people say that it is the most depressing film ever, but I question that. Many of Ingmar Bergman's films alone are much more depressing than this one not to mention some of Lars Von Trier's work. I would recommend 21 Grams to anyone who considers themselves a cinemaphile, however if you consider yourself a philistine then this film is probably far too complex for your tastes. Overall 3.5/4 Stars Grade = B+

The Freshman (1990)

2008-04-22T18:19:00.000-07:00

I can't say I was particularly impressed with Andrew Bergman's The Freshman. Bergman previously showed immense comedic promise with his screenplay work on Mel Brooks' Blazing Saddles, but The Freshman just doesn't have what it takes.

Matthew Broderick stars as Clark Kellogg, an incoming freshman at the NYU film school. Upon his arrival in New York Clark is promptly robbed of all his possessions by a thief named Vic (Bruno Kirby). This poses a big problem for Clark, he has no money and no clothes and an egotistical professor who insists his students purchase each and every one of his books (a price upwards of $700).

While in the aforementioned professor's office explaining just why he will be unable to purchase the required reading, Clark notices Vic walking down the street across from the room in which Clark is currently occupying. Clark excuses himself, climbs out the window and begins pursuing Vic down the street. After catching up to Vic, Clark demands his money and possessions back. The money, however, Vic has gambled away at the track. Clark threatens to go to the police, but Vic offers him a job with good money working for his uncle in order to keep himself out of jail.

The uncle is Carmine Sabatini, a powerful importer played by Marlon Brando. The character is the same role that Brando played in The Godfather. The film makes light at the fact that Sabatini is the same character as Corleone. There are many references to The Godfather and multiple characters mention the resemblance between Sabatini and Corleone.

Sabatini offers Clark a job picking up packages at the airport and delivering them to their destination. The job pays $1,000 a week for two days of work, and this high amount of money makes Clark nervous that the job is not entirely legal. Sabatini assures him that everything is on the level, and Clark reluctantly accepts.

Clark assumes that he will be picking up and delivering drugs, but on his first assignment he goes to the airport and picks up a giant lizard. After doing a little research that night, Clark comes to find out that the giant lizard, a Komodo Dragon, is an endangered species. Clark is very upset, and goes to see Sabatini to tender his resignation immediately, but before he can say anything Sabatini kisses him tells him he's marrying his daughter (Penelope Ann Miller) and gives him a brand new Mercedes as an engagement present. He tells him that he is now family, for life.

The problem with The Freshman is that it is supposed to be a comedy and it's just not very funny. The concept of the story is actually somewhat original, but since they were writing it as a comedy and not a drama it becomes flat and uninteresting. Bergman spends too much effort trying to add to the comedic aspect of the story, and doesn't spend enough time in character developement or on the reasons why Sabatini is as powerful as he is. Instead there are scenes that are really somewhat useless like the Komodo Dragon getting loose and running through the mall.

The idea of bringing Marlon Brando in to play Don Corleone with a different name is definitely something unexpected, and it actually doesn't fail miserably. Brando is able to play it with a little bit of humor, and his performance is the lone bright spot in the film. I really wouldn't waste my time on The Freshman; if you want some good Matthew Broderick humor go rent Ferris Bueller's Day Off or Election and if you want some good Brando go for The Godfather. The Freshman just isn't worth it. Overall 1.5/4 Stars Grade = C-

Sin City (2005)

2008-04-21T15:05:00.000-07:00

Robert Rodriguez's masterpiece Sin City is a stylized montage of violence mixed with art and sex appeal in possibly the greatest action film of the 21st Century. Based off of the graphic novels by Frank Miller this is truly a film that anyone that can appreciate true art will enjoy.

The film follows three stories, that of police officer Hartigan (Bruce Willis), ex-con in pursuit of revenge Marv (Mickey Rourke), and murderer with a new face Dwight (Clive Owen). Although the stories never intersect, the characters involved are present in all three as well as secondary characters important to the story lines.

Hartigan is an honest cop in a force filled with corruption. After saving eleven-year-old Nancy Callahan from Senator Roark's child molester son Junior, he is shot in the back by his partner (Michael Madsen) and set up by the Senator to take the fall for his son in the rape of young Nancy.

Marv is a mean looking thug who has just had the night of his life with a beautiful girl named Goldie (Jamie King). During the sleep after the copulation someone snuck into the room and killed Goldie. It's obvious that this murder was a frame job, as the police are arriving before anyone could know that Goldie has been killed. There's a great fight scene where Marv takes out multiple cops, and he starts on his voyage of revenge to find Goldie's killer.

Dwight is a wanted killer who has returned to Basin City with a new face to resume his life. When his new girlfriend's (Brittany Murphy) ex-lover Jackie Boy (Benicio Del Toro) comes by with his crew and roughs her up, Dwight decides to follow them through town to make sure that they don't kill any innocent women. He follows them into Old Town, which is run by the hookers. The girls have already got their eye on Jackie Boy and his friends, and when he pulls a gun out on one of them they let them have it. Unfortunately Jackie Boy is a cop, and if it is found out by the police that a cop has been killed in Old Town the truce between the girls and the police will be nullified and Old Town will be left open to be taken over by the pimps and the mob.

Sin City is really a masterpiece of modern filmwork. The usage of very few colors on a mostly black and white screen is almost like watching a painting in motion. The way the black and white and colors is used also brings the ultra violence and gore down to a very subdued level. What would normally be almost unwatchable due to the extremity is brought down to a very watchable level where even people that loathe violence in films are able to handle it.

It takes a few minutes to get used to the way Sin City is written and acted. For the first ten minutes or so I always catch myself thinking that the acting is very poor and the script badly written however once you get used to it, it works very well. The stiffness of some of the performances and the novelistic way that the script is written really ends up working in favor of the film. It goes along so well with the colors (or lack-there-of) and the direction that it ads to the style of the film.

The cast of Sin City is really incredible. It is just packed with big names and A-listers; from Jessica Alba to Elijah Wood, Alexis Bledel to Josh Hartnett and Rosario Dawson to Rutger Hauer. While not all of their performances are stunning, it's not great performances that make this movie what it is. It is the art direction by Steve Joyner and Jeanette Scott, and the direction and editing by Robert Rodriguez that make this film so great. Sin City is really the film that established Rodriguez as a great director, and I personally can't wait for the sequels to come out. Overall 4.0/4 Stars Grade = A

Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)

2008-04-21T11:41:00.000-07:00

When people like Judd Apatow, Seth Rogen, Bill Hader and Jason Segel are involved with the production of a comedy you know you're in for a good laugh. That is the reason that I decided to actually spend the money to go out and see Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and I wasn't disappointed.

Jason Segel (who also wrote the film) stars as Peter Bretter, a musician who writes the score for the crime drama Crime Scene (which is a spoof on CSI: Miami). Peter is also dating the sexy star of the program, Sarah Marshall (played by the beautiful Kristen Bell). However it's when Sarah breaks up with Peter that the film really starts.

Peter has a very difficult time dealing with the break-up, he spends most of his time wallowing in self-pity and going out and picking up random girls for one-night stands. The quick flings do nothing to ease his pain, so taking the advice from his stepbrother Brian (Bill Hader) he takes a vacation to Hawaii to get away from it all. Unfortunately upon his arrival in Hawaii Peter realizes that not only is Sarah also vacationing in Hawaii with her new lover the rocker Aldus Snow (played by Russell Brand), but they are staying in the same resort.

Peter spends the first few days continuing his self-sorrow from back in LA, but with some encouragement from Brian he makes some friends with the staff of the resort, and becomes romantically interested in the gorgeous Rachel Jansen (Mila Kunis). He begins courting her, and before long she reciprocates the feelings and they begin a relationship.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall is another hilarious film from the Apatow boys, and it really showcases new writer Jason Segel's great comedic talent. Although it is at times a bit raunchy, this is not a dirty film. All the sex scenes are put in there for comedic relief and are not particularly graphic. There is a scene where Peter and Rachel are engaging in the act of coitus, and Sarah overhears and becomes jealous and starts a competition for who can scream louder.

Mila Kunis, who previously has been known for her roles on That 70's Show and Family Guy, really has a breakout performance in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. It's a role that really lets her display her talent, and she shines so much I am sure that she will be getting a lot more decent roles in the future. It’s really a fantastic transition from the small screen to features.

Russell Brand is also magnificent as the rock star Aldus Snow. He brings in some great physical comedy, and while all the other performances are great they lack the physicality that Brand brings to the screen. In one scene he is teaching a young newlywed how to please his wife that will have you rolling on the floor.

I would highly recommend Forgetting Sarah Marshall for anyone that can appreciate a good comedy. With great performances and even better writing Forgetting Sarah Marshall comes in as the best comedy of the year so far. Richard Roeper said that it is one of the top 50 comedies of all time, and I'm not sure I would go that far but it's close. Definitely worth seeing. Overall 4.0/4 Stars Grade = A-

I would highly recommend Forgetting Sarah Marshall to anyone who can enjoy a good comedy. With great writing, and fantastic performances

The Burning Hills (1956)

2008-04-14T12:32:00.000-07:00

Although Stuart Heisler’s The Burning Hills has a fantastic story with interesting characters, it is really brought down by poor acting and an abysmal script. Not even the wonderful Natalie Wood can bring this script to life.

The film starts out with a man getting shot in the back on a ranch and his horses being stolen. The man is the brother of Trace Jordan (Tab Hunter), the hero of our picture.

Trace gets word from one of his ranch hands that the dirty business of horse theft and murder comes from the nearby town, so he heads in to investigate. He learns that everything in the town is run by a Mr. Sutton (played by Ray Teal who gives the only noteworthy performance in the film in his small role). Trace goes to pay Sutton a visit, and upon his arrival at his gate he notices some of his brother's horses with their brands changed from JJ to JS.

After forcing his way inside, he confronts Sutton who is very upset to have his people accused of murder and horse thievery. He insists that it was no one from his town, but Trace knows better. Trace informs Sutton that since the town has no sheriff he will be headed out to bring in the US Military to bring justice to the men that killed his brother. Sutton cannot allow this to happen, so he takes a shot at Trace who returns fire, hitting Sutton in the belly. On his way retreating out of town, Trace gets shot in the side injuring him severely. He rides as far as he can, and ends up collapsing in a small creek at the opening of an old abandoned mine.

The small creek trickles down the hill and into the valley below where it is used to hydrate the sheep of the ranch on the property. When the water stops flowing into the valley because it is blocked by Trace's body Maria (Natalie Wood) heads up the hill to see what is going on. She finds Trace lying there wounded, and nurses him back to health.

Maria has a strong hatred for Sutton and his men, as they killed her father, and as soon as she finds out that Trace had shot old man Sutton she vows to herself that she will do anything she can to help him. She helps distract Sutton's men, and tells him of a place to go and hide for the time being until she can join him and help him to go get the Military. Unfortunately Sutton's men, led by his son Jack (Skip Homeier), soon learn that Maria is helping Trace and it doesn't take long to extract his hiding place from her younger brother.

Throughout the rest of the film is an exciting game of cat and mouse as Trace and Maria try to outrun Sutton's men until they reach the Military outpost. It's a shame that The Burning Hills has so many flaws, because with the strong story and the incredibly talented Natalie Wood in one of the lead roles it could have been an all time classic Western. Tab Hunter and Skip Homeier are absolutely dreadful in their roles, and the lines written for Miss Wood (who's character is half Mexican and speaks broken English) are laughable. They keep emphasizing that she is only half Mexican on her mother's side and that her father was a Yankee which leads me to believe that she would have spoken much better English then she was.

I suppose that the majority of the problems in The Burning Hills can be attributed to Irving Wallace the screenwriter. Even though many of the performances were weak, a good script can strengthen any performance. I would have to think that Louis L'Amour's novel would be far superior to the film, especially since the major strength of the film is the story that L'Amour created. I'd only go out of my way to see The Burning Hills if you're a huge Natalie Wood fan, since she's the only real star in the film. Overall 2.0/4 Stars Grade = C

The Brood (1979)

2008-04-13T19:06:00.000-07:00

David Cronenberg's The Brood is a pretty twisted picture, but if you're familiar with his other work then that won't surprise you. The Brood was made right around the same time as Scanners and Rabid so it's right smack in the middle of when he was making some of his most disturbing films.

Art Hindle plays Frank Carveth, a father of a five-year-old daughter named Candice and husband to a mentally ill wife Nola (Samantha Eggar). Nola is a patient in a facility that practices a new type of psychiatry where the psychiatrist takes on the roles of people in the patient's life in order to get them to express their deep inner feelings.

One day after picking up his daughter from her weekend visit with Nola, Frank notices that Candice has been beaten; presumably by Nola. This obviously upsets Frank greatly, and he storms down to the psychiatry building to tell them that Candice will not be returning for her weekly visits to her mother.

A little later on in the week Frank takes Candice to stay with her Grandmother for the day while he works. Not long after he drops her off, there is a disturbance in her kitchen. Grandma goes to investigate, and is brutally murdered by what seems to be a child wearing a red coat. Candice not only sees the body, but she also sees the killer and it seems to have traumatized her as it would any normal child.

As the film goes on, more people that are either family members of Nola or friends of her husband and daughter are killed by these children who we now learn are essentially mutants. After Candice is kidnapped by these miniature killers, Frank realizes he must hunt them down if he ever wants to see his daughter again.

Although there are very few scenes where the creatures are actually present, The Brood is a very scary film. The brilliant musical score written by Howard Shore really adds to the suspense and elevates the fear factor to the next level. There are many great performances, especially by Samantha Eggar and Oliver Reed who plays the psychiatrist Dr. Hal Raglan. Ms. Eggar really brings Nola’s insanity to the next level.

Many films that have a child as one of the lead roles are brought down by poor performances by the child actor. This is not the case in The Brood as young Cindy Hinds does a fantastic job as Candice. Although she has a very prominent role, her lines are few and far between which really works in portraying her inner terror at the horrible things she has seen.

I would recommend The Brood for anyone that loves horror films or early Cronenberg. Personally I thought it was a little too scary for me, so if you get scared fairly easily in movies then I might skip it. Also if you are a fan of Cronenberg's newer work like A History of Violence or Eastern Promises then you should know that his earlier work like The Brood is very different. It's much cruder and grittier and feels a lot less Hollywood. Personally I prefer his newer work, but I certainly appreciate his older stuff. Overall 2.5/4 Stars Grade = B-

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)

2008-04-10T12:36:00.000-07:00

Although it moves at a snail's pace, Andrew Dominik's The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is an outstanding film. Dominik's direction is superb, and Roger Deakins proves once again why he's one of the best cinematographers in the business; if not the best.

Even though Brad Pitt is top billed portraying Jesse James, the story actually revolves around Casey Affleck's Robert Ford. Bob Ford is a 19-year-old kid who has idolized Jesse James his entire life. His older brother Charley (Sam Rockwell) has recently been recruited by Jesse and his brother Frank (Sam Shepard) to join his gang in an attempt to rob a train.

While the gang is setting up and getting ready for the robbery, Bob is keeping himself busy by talking to Frank and Jesse James. Frank is very apprehensive towards young Robert, but Jesse is much more receptive and personable. Bob is told to stay away from the robbery tonight, but he sees big things for himself in the future.

Over the next few days Robert becomes rather friendly with Jesse. He helps him with odd jobs around the house, and he seems convinced that when another job comes along Jesse will want him on the crew. When the work he is needed for is complete, Jesse sends him home to wait until he needs him again.

Robert lives in a cottage with his sister and Charley, as well as various other members of the Jesse James gang who come to stay there while they're in the area. At the current time Jesse's cousin Wood Hite (Jeremy Renner) and Dick Liddil (Paul Schneider) are residing at the abode. From the Ford household Wood and Liddil now head to Wood's father's home. Dick is a bit of a womanizer, and Wood's father is married to a beautiful young woman. Wood warns Dick to stay away from his father's wife, but Dick doesn't pay any attention and this leads to a falling out between the two.

A couple of months later Dick is back at the Ford cottage. He's upstairs sleeping one morning when Wood comes looking for him. There is still a lot of bad blood between the two, and either one of them would kill the other given the chance. Wood heads upstairs to shoot Dick, but Dick is sitting there waiting for him; gun drawn. What ensues is a shootout between the two former friends, which ends with Bob shooting Wood in the head in order to save Dick's life.

Not long after this event occurs, Jesse comes by looking for someone to ride with him and help him knock off some banks. The fact that Bob killed Jesse's cousin makes both Bob and Charley very nervous. Jesse is notorious for his wild temper, and they know that if he were to find out that they would be killed. Although Jesse inquired about Wood's whereabouts, he believes the Ford brothers when they tell him that they have not seen him.

After a little while on the road, Charley convinces Jesse to let Bob join them. The more time Bob spends with Jesse, the more his admiration weakens and his hatred grows. It becomes painfully obvious that either Bob is going to kill Jesse, or Jesse is going to kill Bob. You already know which one it was.

No review of this film would be complete without mentioning the homosexual undertones between Ford and James. James is obviously not a homosexual, and I don't believe Ford was either but his admiration for James was so intense that it needed some kind of sexual release, which was obviously out of the question. Without this much-needed release, the admiration turned to extreme hatred.

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is really an exceptional picture. You need to know however that it is not an action film. I heard stories of teenagers going into the theater expecting action and actually walking out. I would hate for someone to be expecting something so drastically different from what they get that they would feel that strongly against this picture.

As I mentioned earlier, Roger Deakins' cinematography in this film is absolutely splendid. He also did the cinematography on No Country for Old Men as well as The Shawshank Redemption and many other great films. The way he shoots landscapes is reminiscent of an old David Lean epic. Casey Affleck is absolutely superb in his Oscar nominated role as Robert Ford. He shows great range and versatility taking on the many complex moods of the character. Brad Pitt, as always, is also magnificent. I have yet to see him perform poorly in any of his films, he can truly play any role and have you lost in his portrayal or his character. I would definitely recommend The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, with beautiful cinematography, brilliant acting and great direction it should go near the top of anyone’s list. Just please don't fool yourself into thinking you're going to see some fast paced shoot-em up. Overall 3.5/4 Stars Grade = B+

Million Dollar Baby (2004)

2008-04-09T12:45:00.000-07:00

As a general rule I am not particularly fond of Clint Eastwood's directorial work. The only films of his that I have been particularly impressed with have been Mystic River and Play Misty for Me. I can now add Million Dollar Baby to that mix. I don't hold it in as high regard as Mystic River, but it is still very good.

Clint Eastwood plays Frankie Dunn, a boxing trainer and manager in the twilight of his career. He owns a gym, and has recently lost a fighter to the current big shot manager Mickey Mack. His longtime friend Eddie (Morgan Freeman) tells him it's because he didn't show enough confidence in the man as a fighter, and Mickey Mack did.

Recently there has been a woman named Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank) who has been working out at the gym. She's been trying to convince Frankie to train her, but he insists that he doesn't train girls. Maggie is very persistent however, and continues to show up at the gym day in day out. Along the way Eddie has been giving her little tips to try and help her out.

After some period of time Maggie's persistence pays off. On her 32nd birthday Frankie finally gives in and agrees to train her, as long as she doesn't ask any questions and does exactly what he says. Of course she is ecstatic and agrees. After about a year of training, it seems Maggie is ready for a fight.

Maggie's already too good once she finally enters the ring. She keeps winning by KO time and time again in the first round. She’s so dominant and the fights are over so fast that she’s not spending enough time in the ring to improve her game. Eventually no managers will let their fighters be embarrassed by facing Maggie in the ring. Frankie doesn't want to take the chance on moving her up to the next league at this point in her career, but since no one will fight her he has no choice.

It turned out to be the right choice, as Maggie continues to be absolutely dominant and before too long she is getting offers to fight for titles. She heads to England for the British title and wins. She continues on to many other European countries and continues to win, and before too long she's ready for the World Championship Fight.

The fight for the Welter Weight World Championship is against a German fighter named Billie The Blue Bear. Billie is a notoriously dirty fighter who wins her fights by bending and breaking all the rules. Think a female Mike Tyson. Maggie puts up a good fight, and just as things seem to be going her way tragedy strikes. Billie The Blue Bear hits her from behind as she's heading back to the corner and she falls and breaks her neck on the stool. This starts a whole new dimension in the film as Frankie must now decide how to deal with the situation and figure out what's right and what's wrong.

Million Dollar Baby is a superb film led by magnificent performances that really carry the film. Oscar winners Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman really strut their stuff in some of their greatest roles. Morgan Freeman narrates the film, something that he can do better than anyone out there. Any movie where Mr. Freeman is listed as narrator is probably worth checking out.

Paul Haggis (who also wrote/directed Crash) writes a fantastic screenplay. He is able to really bring across the father/daughter relationship that develops between Frankie and Maggie without changing the way they speak to each other too drastically. Remember that behind most great performances is a great script. Definitely a depressing film, make sure that you have the tissue box handy for your wife or girlfriend. In my opinion it is worth seeing, even if you find the vast majority of Eastwood's work overrated like myself. Overall 3.5/4 Stars Grade = B+

A Dry White Season (1989)

2008-04-08T14:26:00.000-07:00

I went into A Dry White Season without any prior knowledge of the film and I must say I was very pleased. A Dry White Season is a very good, very powerful film, similar to Hotel Rwanda.

The film takes place in 1976 South Africa, during the apartheid. Donald Sutherland plays Ben du Toit, a schoolteacher. When Ben's long time friend and gardener Gordon (Winston Ntshona) comes to him asking for help because the police had whipped his son, Ben tells him he's sorry but there's nothing he can do. When Gordon comes to him again asking for help after his son has been killed, Ben again tells him he's sorry but there's nothing he can do.

Gordon is obviously very upset at the death of his son, and makes the decision to investigate the matter. Any kind of investigation by a private citizen into the matters of the Special Police is a very risky matter. The way they operate is very secretive, and very shady and they don't want the truth to be known by the white society and they will do anything to keep it that way, including torture and murder.

It's not long before the Special Police take Gordon into custody. They immediately begin beating him, and torturing him in an attempt to find out the names of anyone that gave him information on the death of his son. Within a matter of days he is dead.

The Special Police bring word of Gordon's death to his wife Emily (Thoko Ntshinga). They tell her that Gordon committed suicide by hanging himself in his cell. Of course Emily does not believe this to be true, and sends word to Ben by way of a good friend Stanley (Zakes Mokae). Ben has no reason to believe that Gordon would commit suicide, and is now starting to become suspicious of the Special Police and asks Stanley to take him to see Gordon's body. It is very dangerous for a white man to go into the town, but Stanley agrees to take him. Upon arrival at the funeral home and viewing Gordon's body it becomes painfully obvious to Ben that Gordon did not in fact kill himself, he was murdered.

Ben feels absolutely terrible that he did not help Gordon and his family when he had the chance, and he wants to do everything in his power to bring justice to the situation. He employs the great human rights lawyer Ian McKenzie (Marlon Brando) to bring charges to the Special Police and especially their captain, a man named Stolz (Jürgen Prochnow). Stolz is one sadistic bastard. He is the man who personally hunts down anyone who he sees as a threat to the Special Police and he personally tortures them and seems to enjoy every minute of it.

McKenzie tries to explain to Ben that it will be of no use to try and bring these sadists to justice, that there is no justice in South Africa, but Ben feels he owes to Gordon to at least try. McKenzie assures Ben that he will do everything he can in assisting him, even though it will be to no avail. Of course McKenzie is correct, they are unable to win the case. They do succeed, however, in exposing a lot of Captain Stolz's inhumane activities to the public.

Despite his loss in the trial, Ben refuses to give up. He and Stanley hire another lawyer from within the black community, and go around collecting sworn affidavits from people who witnessed the capture and murder of Gordon's son. This leads to Captain Stolz's attempt to take down Ben, as well as Ben's alienation from the community that he has lived in his entire life. His friend's and family turn against him, and he loses his job but he keeps on fighting.

It's really a shame that no one seems to remember this film. I only stumbled upon it because I have been watching all of Marlon Brando's films, and I'm glad I did. Director Euzhan Palcy does a very good job of showing us the brutality in South Africa without being too graphic. I cannot say that I am familiar with any of her other work, so I don't know how A Dry White Season stacks up against it but I think it would be safe to assume that it is her best.

Donald Sutherland, who is an underrated actor in my opinion, does a very good job in the lead role. He is such a versatile actor who can do anything from comedy to tragedy and do a great job in either of them. Marlon Brando and Susan Sarandon are also superb in their small but important roles, and I think that the best performance was put in by the relatively unknown Winston Ntshona.

I think films like A Dry White Season, Blood Diamond and Hotel Rwanda are very important. American's tend to overlook the horrible things that are going on in Africa, and although the problems that the aforementioned films have since been resolved there is still massacres going on in many African countries and these films help bring that into light. I would definitely recommend A Dry White Season, many do not remember it but it is certainly a very good film with great acting and a powerful story and message. Overall 3.5/4 Stars Grade = B+

Repulsion (1965)

2008-04-07T15:26:00.000-07:00

A lot of people say that Roman Polanski's Repulsion is an extremely disturbing picture. I personally did not find it to be disturbing, but it is certainly a bit twisted. That's something that we have come to expect from many of Polanski's pictures so I don't think one should be surprised.

The film is about a young woman named Carole (Catherine Deneuve) who slowly loses her mind and slips into a state of total psychosis.

Carole lives with her sister Hélène (Yvonne Furneaux), and works at a salon. Lately her mind has been wandering, and she has been staring off into space seemingly oblivious to her surroundings. She has been sent home from work early a few times because she's been too absent minded to do her work, and her coworkers seem worried about her well-being.

Hélène has been too busy with her beau to notice the change in her sister. The two of them are always going out, and have been planning a trip together to Italy. The idea of this trip is greatly upsetting to Carole, who is afraid to be alone, but Hélène thinks she will be fine.

After Hélène leaves for Italy things really start to go bad for Carole. She starts hallucinating and she thinks that her apartment is falling apart and that there are men waiting around to rape her everywhere. Whether these thoughts of rape are a fear or fantasy is something that the viewer will have to decide for their self. She eventually becomes so paranoid that she turns to violence against anyone that dares come to see her.

Roman Polanski is an absolutely fantastic director who has created many masterpieces; such as Chinatown and The Pianist. I would not go so far as to say that Repulsion is a masterpiece, but it is still very good. The way Polanski pulls us into Carole's dementia is incredible, sometimes it will have you wondering whether it is real or not. The way he sets up the contrast between the elegant beauty salon and the drab apartment is also very impressive.

Catherine Deneuve is absolutely incredible as Carole. She has very few lines in the picture and must express her emotions and thoughts through facial expressions. She really pulls you into her world, and you can almost understand the strange and sick things that she does. The main problem that I had with Repulsion really had nothing to do with the picture, and more to do with the DVD. The film has not yet been released by a major distributor and the audio and video transfer are very poor. As far as I know it is also not available in a widescreen format, so we miss half the picture in fullscreen. I know some people don't care about widescreen or fullscreen, but I can't honestly see those people being interested in a film like Repulsion. I would definately recommend Repulsion, especially if you're a Roman Polanski fan like myself. Overall 3.0/4 Stars Grade = B

Reservoir Dogs (1992)

2008-03-31T12:38:00.000-07:00

Although Reservoir Dogs is considered an incredibly violent film, it really has much less violence than you may realize. In watching the film this time, I decided to count just how many scenes in the picture actually have violence. I counted just eight, one of them being extremely sadistic (the scene where Mr. Blonde tortures the cop).

The film starts off with the entire crew meeting at a diner for breakfast, in one of the most brilliantly written scenes in film history. We get to listen to Mr. Brown (Quentin Tarantino) explain just what exactly Madonna's "Like a Virgin" is about, as well as a brilliant discussion on just why Mr. Pink (Steve Buscemi) doesn't tip. It's really a great way to introduce all the characters in the film.

Now we shoot forward to after the job has taken place, and apparently gone wrong. Mr. White (Harvey Keitel) is driving a vehicle, and Mr. Orange (Tim Roth) is bleeding profusely and screaming in pain in the back. Mr. White is attempting to keep Mr. Orange calm as they head to the rendezvous, telling him he's not going to die and he's going to be fine and whatnot. They finally get to the rendezvous, a warehouse used to store coffins and hearses, where Mr. White continues to try and keep Mr. Orange calm. Mr. Orange begs Mr. White to take him to a hospital, but Mr. White refuses. He tells him that once Joe (the boss of the operation played by Lawrence Tierney) gets there, Joe will get a doctor and he’ll be taken care of.

Mr. Pink now enters the warehouse, visibly angry and hollering about the job being a setup. Mr. White disagrees, but Mr. Pink has some very convincing arguments. The police were there within seconds of the alarm being set off. The average response time is about four minutes; they were there in less than one. One thing they definitely agree on is that Mr. Blonde (Michael Madsen) was completely out of line and is a psychopathic killer. Mr. Blonde went on a shooting rampage, killing a lot of innocent people as soon as the alarm was set off. It is felt that if they had known Mr. Blonde's personality they never would have taken the job.

Mr. Blonde shows up at the rendezvous, and after taking a barrage of insults from Mr. White informs them that he has a surprise for them. He leads them out to his car, opens the trunk, and shows them the cop he has taken hostage. They drag the cop inside and tie him up, and start to beat him to try and get information out of him on the setup. They're really about to start laying into him when Nice Guy Eddie (Chris Penn) shows up. He agrees the cop must be killed, but insists they won't get any information out of him by beating him.

Eddie informs the trio of colors that Joe is on his way, and that he's pissed off and if he finds all those stolen cars parked out front he's going to be even more pissed off. Eddie tells Mr. White and Mr. Pink to come with him to get rid of the cars, and tells Mr. Blonde to stay behind and keep an eye on the cop and Mr. Orange. Mr. White protests on grounds that Mr. Blonde is a psycho and can't be trusted, by Eddie insists. As soon as they're gone, Mr. Blonde starts into his now famous torture scene with the cop.

Throughout the film, we are being given background stories on each of the central characters. These scenes that are inserted in sections during the present time show how each character knew Joe, and how they came across the job at hand. This style of shifting between present and past has really become a staple of Tarantino's films and something that his fans have come to expect and love about his pictures.

One thing I love about Tarantino is his ability to get seemingly non-talented or washed up actors to give great performances. In Reservoir Dogs we have great performances by Chris Penn, Tim Roth and Michael Madsen. Pulp Fiction has the revival of John Travolta, Jackie Brown the revival of Pam Grier. QT will take a chance on someone when everyone else in Hollywood thinks they're finished, and that's something to be admired. I think the reason he can do this is the strength of his scripts, while he is a talented director it's really the scripts that make his films great.

Reservoir Dogs really thrust Tarantino onto the film scene, turning him into an overnight superstar. It's really incredible how someone who dropped out of school in junior high could write such brilliant scripts, and direct such brilliant movies. It just goes to show you that education isn't everything. Reservoir Dogs is really a gritty masterpiece, and something that anyone who can appreciate great writing should enjoy. Overall 4.0/4 Stars Grade = A

Darling (1965)

2008-03-30T14:03:00.000-07:00

I wasn't particularly impressed with John Schlesinger's Darling. Although it was nominated for five Oscars and won three, the film seems uninspired and bored with itself which leaves the viewer feeling bored as well.

The film revolves around Diana Scott (Julie Christie), a beautiful young model trying to work her way to the top. Diana is married to a man who she likes, but feels is too immature. She is obviously getting bored with him, and as soon as the older and more mature Robert Gold (Dirk Bogarde) comes around you know her marriage is close to the end.

Robert is a television journalist who reports on such intellectual subjects like literature and the people's view on the moral state of London. Robert is married as well, and has children who he loves very much. However he cannot resist Diana's beauty or her love of life, and soon leaves his wife to start a new life with Diana. Unfortunately, it's not too long before Robert and Diana's relationship is on the rocks as well.

Diana has no concept of fidelity and will seemingly have an affair with anyone who she thinks can help her in her career. That person at this point in the picture is Miles Brand (Laurence Harvey). Miles is an important man within the fashion industry, and has many connections within the entertainment industry. Of course it's not long before it's evident that this relationship won't work out either.

As the film continues, we come to realize it's really the standard plot where the central character is a beautiful yet promiscuous person. They seem to be living the wonderful life, but end up finding themselves depressed and alone. It's been done time and time again, and they will keep doing it probably until the end of time. Darling makes an attempt to tackle such social issues as adultery, homosexuality, abortion as well as others but it doesn’t fare too well. It’s just not daring enough, even for the time period.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't think Darling is a bad film, it definitely has its upsides. Frederic Raphael's script is pretty good, it could use a little more tongue-in-cheek comedy to let you know that they aren't taking themselves too seriously but it certainly has its moments. One scene that really stands out as well written is about two-thirds through the film right after Robert has found out Diana has had an affair; there's really some great dialogue there. Shades of John Schlesinger's directorial talent come through as well; he really does a great job of contrasting the big city and the country. However if I were to recommend one of his films it wouldn't be Darling, Midnight Cowboy is a far superior film.

Julie Christie may have won an Oscar for her role in Darling, but I certainly don't think it was deserved. Her acting seems rather wooden and uninspired and she seems bored with her role. Her performances in Doctor Zhivago and the more recent Away from Her show that she is a lot better of an actor than she shows in this. The only actor who really seemed like he or she cared about their role was Laurence Harvey, who puts in a very good performance as Miles. I don't think I would recommend this film, unless you're a John Schlesinger completest. Overall 2.5/4 Stars Grade = B-

Doctor Zhivago (1965)

2008-03-30T10:29:00.000-07:00

David Lean's Doctor Zhivago is an absolute masterpiece. From the moment the film starts with Sir Alec Guinness searching for his niece you know you're in for something special. Of course if you're familiar with director Lean's other work such as Lawrence of Arabia or The Bridge on the River Kwai, then you knew that going in.

The film takes place right in the middle of the Bolshevik revolution in Russia. Omar Sharif plays Yuri Zhivago, a young doctor who, having been orphaned at a young age, grew up with the family of one of his mother's close friends. Yuri is in love with and soon to marry the daughter of this family, Tonya (Geraldine Chaplin).

Lara (played by the wonderful Julie Christie at the height of her beauty) is a young woman working towards a scholarship and living with her mother and her mother's lover Victor (Rod Steiger). Victor has eyes for the beautiful young Lara, and makes it known one night after dinner at a fancy restaurant. This starts a very dominant and tumultuous relationship between Lara and Victor.

Lara is not fond of Victor; he is a very brash and domineering man and has no respect for her. On Christmas Eve, after Victor has raped her, Lara hunts him down at a party and shoots him in a failed attempt to kill him. Victor refuses to have her arrested, because despite his attitude he still cares for her, and she is led off by Pasha (Tom Courtenay), a revolutionary and a man who is soon to become her husband. Yuri and Tonya are also guests at this party, and witness the whole scene.

World War I has now broken out, and Yuri is a doctor on the front lines. While retreating from the battlefield, Yuri and his comrades meet their replacements. When the two groups meet up, insanity ensues and it seems that the revolution has started as the troops attack and murder their COs. There are several that are wounded or killed, and Yuri feels it is his duty to stay behind and tend to the casualties. Also remaining to help is Lara, who is a nurse and was headed out to the front lines to search for her husband. The two of them are then summoned to a military hospital, where there are dozens of sick and wounded that need tending to and Yuri and Lara are the only ones around to do it. Over the next six months the two of them become very close, but the relationship stays platonic.

Upon his arrival home Moscow is now in a state of total communism. Thirteen families are now living in the home that he left, and Tonya and her father and his child have only one room of their own to live in as a family. After a rough night, Yuri finally meets his half brother who advises him to take his family and head to the country.

On the way to the country, Yuri runs into Pasha, who is now a prominent man in the communist party. Yuri had been captured by Pasha’s guards who thought he was there to attempt assassination, and Yuri told him to go get his wife, Lara, who would vouch for him. Pasha then informed Yuri that he had not seen Lara since the war, and that she is now living in a town very near Yuri’s destination.

At first Yuri has no intention of getting in touch with Lara. He loves Tonya and his son very much, and does not wish to betray them. However after a very long winter, the temptation proves too much and Yuri rides into town to find Lara. The chemistry between them immediately sparks up and the two of them start up the relationship that both of them had wanted for so long.

Although the bulk of the film is a romance, the backdrop of the revolution and war is a strong thematic element. In many films you only have the main story that has any quality with the backdrop only there to provide a sense of time and place. For example, in Pan’s Labyrinth, we have the wonderful story of Ofelia and her world of imagination, but then there’s the story of Civil War in Spain, which is much weaker and far less original — necessary, but not up to the quality of the story of Ofelia. We are very fortunate that with Doctor Zhivago both storylines are fantastic.

When this film came out many critics complained that while it was a beautifully constructed picture, the story just wasn’t there and that there wasn’t a point to the film. Although I disagree with them (I thought the story was fantastic), I don’t feel that a film needs to have that deep a story if the characters are interesting enough, which they are. Zhivago is the flawed hero of the film; you really care for him even though he’s an adulterer because you see that he really is a good man. Lara has had so much undeserved trouble thrown her way by each man in her life and the constantly in turmoil government that it is amazing she is able to stay as full of life and wonderful as she is.

The other characters may not have as much to offer as Yuri and Lara, but they are still deep nonetheless. Even if you do feel that Doctor Zhivago is pointless you can still appreciate its beauty. David Lean’s cinematography is absolutely gorgeous; the way he is able to shoot landscapes is incredible. It’s like watching a painting in motion. Julie Christie gives an absolutely magnificent performance, really conveying each hardship that comes her way.

The film is long at three hours and twenty minutes, but it really just flies by. The story is so intriguing, and the characters so deep and interesting, that the film could be six hours and you wouldn't get bored. I really admire Robert Bolt’s screenplay. The way he is able to write a romance without any instance of cheesiness is incredible. I really cannot say enough good things about this picture; you'll just have to see it for yourself. Overall 4.0/4 Stars Grade = A

Metropolis (1927)

2008-03-28T09:25:00.000-07:00

Fritz Lang's Metropolis is widely considered the greatest silent film of all time. Now I admit, I have not seen very many silent films, but from what I have seen Metropolis is the best.

Metropolis is a city is divided up into two categories of people; the workers and the thinkers. The thinkers come up with ideas, and the workers put the thinkers ideas into motion. The thinkers cannot work, and the workers cannot come up with ideas. The workers and the thinkers are completely separate of one another, but together they make the city whole.

Gustav Fröhlich plays Freder, who is the son of the leader of the city Joh Fredersen (Alfred Abel). Freder has lead a sheltered life, and is not aware of how the city is kept running or what goes on in the city of the workers, until one day when a beautiful woman (Brigitte Helm) comes to him and urges him to see.

Freder is very intrigued by the beautiful woman, and thus heads down to the underworld of the workers in an attempt to find her. What he finds is astonishing to him, the workers working themselves to the bone in an attempt to keep the city running. Freder is truly touched, and offers to trade places with one of the workers. The worker is more than eager, however he promptly violates Freder's trust and goes out on the town spending Freder's money and is caught and sent back down to the city's depths.

After some period of time working the machine, another worker approaches Freder and leads him down deeper into the depths of the city. Down here, all the workers have gathered and are listening to a sermon being performed by the beautiful woman who had come to see Freder earlier that day. Freder is obviously madly in love with this woman who goes by the name Maria. After the sermon, Freder approaches Maria who is apparently very taken by Freder as well, and they plan to meet later on.

Meanwhile, Joh Fredersen has been watching this sermon as well and is concerned that Maria will lead a rebellion among the workers. He was led to his vantage point by the crazed inventor Rotwang (Rudolf Klein-Rogge). Rotwang has created a machine-man that he plans to morph into his late wife Hel, however Fredersen has different plans. Fredersen informs Rotwang that he is to turn the machine-man into Maria, so as to demolish any potential uprisings. Rotwang agrees, however he betrays Fredersen and decides to use the machine-man to destroy the city of Metropolis as well as Joh Fredersen and his son.

How this film was made in 1927 is beyond my comprehension. The sets and the special effects and the cinematography are absolutely mind-blowing. There is a scene rather early on where Lang shows the workers working one of the machines, perfectly choreographed, that is one of the most amazing pieces of film work in it's history.

You are informed prior to the start of the film that the majority of the film was lost around the time of its release in 1927, and there are cards placed in to inform you what you are missing. This is a damned shame, with the brilliance of what has remained you know that what you are missing must be mind-blowing.

The performances are also incredible, especially by Brigitte Helm who is absolutely superb. The facial expressions that Ms. Helm portrays are just amazing. Metropolis is an absolutely wonderful film, and I'm sure it would be even more wonderful if we were getting the entire picture. Fritz Lang (who also directed the masterpiece M) goes to show you yet again why he is one of the all-time greats. Definitely worth seeing. Overall 4.0/4 Stars Grade = A

Sands of Iwo Jima (1949)

2008-03-28T00:35:00.001-07:00

Allan Dwan's Sands of Iwo Jima is a slightly better than average WWII military propaganda film. I have definitely seen better, and I have definitely seen worse.

Although John Wayne is the top bill in this film, he is not the lead role. That honor goes to John Agar who plays Pfc. Peter Conway. Conway doesn't consider himself to be a military man; he joined for the sole reason that it's a bit of a family tradition.

John Wayne is Sgt. John Stryker. Stryker is a strictly by the books man, and pushes his unit hard. His men don't care for him too much, but they respect him. Stryker knows he isn't a popular man, but that's not important to him. What is important to him is that his men be ready when it is time to hit the front lines.

Conway immediately dislikes Stryker from the moment Stryker informs him that Conway's father was Stryker's CO and the best CO he's ever had. Conway wasn't fond of his father; he was always a disappointment in his father's eyes. Not strong enough. Every time Conway looks at Stryker, or hears Stryker speak it's like his father is speaking.

As the film heads along and as you get to know Stryker better you come to see that he's not as bad a guy as he seems. His tough guy attitude is really just a veneer that he puts on in order to keep his squad on edge and in tip-top shape. Slowly but surely the men start to realize this as they head into battle.

While none of these propaganda films will come close to the quality of today's war films, Sands of Iwo Jima certainly tries and gets a lot of help from John Wayne who puts in a superb performance. Unfortunately that cannot be said for his peers, whose wooden acting is sub-par to say the least. Allan Dwan does his job, there really isn't any style to his direction he just shot the shots his producer told him to. I wouldn't recommend going out of your way to see Sands of Iwo Jima, but if it's on TV then by all means watch it. Overall 2.5/4 Stars Grade = C

I Love You, Alice B. Toklas! (1968)

2008-03-26T09:27:00.000-07:00

After seeing Paul Mazursky's Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice I felt inclined to see I Love You, Alice B. Toklas! since it is also written by Mazursky. Unfortunately for me, I Love You, Alice B. Toklas! is not nearly as good, or humorous as Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice. Sure, it has its moments but it's just not great.

Peter Sellers stars as Harold, a lawyer in the late 1960s. Harold is a square and he knows it, but it doesn't matter to him (at least not yet). He is engaged to a woman named Joyce, and he is very successful in his profession. He doesn't know it yet, but his life is about to change.

One day at the office, Harold's mother (Jo Van Fleet) comes rushing in weeping about how a man had just died. Harold thinks it's his father, but is relieved to find out it's just the butcher. It is important to his mother that Harold attends the funeral, and brings his brother along. Harold's brother is a hippie living in Venice Beach, and Harold hasn't seen him in three months but he agrees.

When the day of the funeral arrives, Harold goes to pick up his brother Herbie (David Arkin) at his apartment. Upon his arrival Harold is met by Herbie and Herbie’s lady friend Nancy (the lovely Leigh Taylor-Young, who you may recognize as Shirl in Soylent Green). Herbie looks ridiculous, as he's dressed in traditional Hopi Indian funeral garb and this upsets Harold greatly. This is not something a normal person wears to a Catholic funeral, but there's nothing he can do.

The funeral is one of the more humorous scenes in the film. The hearse drivers are on strike, so there is no way to get the body from the funeral home to the cemetery. Harold is the only person in attendance with a station wagon, and it's loaner that he had to take after his Lincoln was hit. The wagon is painted up and down with rainbows and peace signs; it's really a sight. Harold volunteers to transport the body, and the procession goes on its way. Unfortunately, Harold gets pulled over and loses the procession and ends up driving around for hours trying to find the cemetery.

After the whole funeral ordeal is finally over, Harold heads home. On his way he sees Nancy hitchhiking. Harold feels that it is very dangerous for a single girl to be hitchhiking; there are too many sex maniacs out and about so he offers to give her a lift. Nancy doesn't really have anywhere to go, so he takes her back to his place to crash on his couch.

The next day while Harold is out picking up his Lincoln, Nancy bakes him some "special" brownies as a showing of appreciation for his hospitality. When Harold returns, he finds his parents and fiancé waiting. The five of them head in, and Joyce finds the brownies. No one is aware of the groovy ingredient, so they all indulge themselves to their fill. Of course they're all high as a kite now, and go out to enjoy some miniature golf. It is now that Harold realizes he has fallen in love with Nancy, and becomes a hippie himself in order to prove it.

Peter Sellers does a decent job as Harold, but I’ve seen him put in a lot better performances (Dr. Strangelove). I thought that Jo Van Fleet was a bit over-the-top, she made it way too obvious that she was a Jewish mother by pulling out so many stereotypes.

I think that this film was probably a lot funnier when it was produced, but it hasn't aged well. The majority of the jokes don't work any more, and a lot of the references would only be funny during that time period. It is directed by Hy Averback, who spent the majority of his career directing television shows; both before and after I Love You, Alice B. Toklas!. If you were around in the sixties, or just wish you were (like myself) then I would recommend it. However if you are not one of the aforementioned, then you probably won't enjoy this film, as it has no deep meaning that is relevant to today. My other problem with the film is the ending. The ending is very confusing, and you never are really able to figure out whether what just happened was real or an illusion. Overall 2.5/4 Stars Grade = C+

Superman (1978)

2008-03-25T11:32:00.000-07:00

Director Richard Donner's Superman is a classic. The first of all the Superman films, it is far and away the best and I doubt that they will ever be able to reach this quality again. Mario Puzo came up with the story and co-wrote the screenplay, and for anyone that's seen The Godfather we know just how skilled Mr. Puzo is.

The film starts on the planet Krypton. Jor-El (Marlon Brando) is giving a speech to the council, trying to convince them that the planet is going to explode within thirty days and they are doomed unless they evacuate immediately. Unfortunately, the council disagrees with him and insists he not cause widespread panic by either evacuating, or leaving the planet on his own accord. Jor-El promises the council that neither him nor his wife will leave Krypton, however he mentions nothing of his infant son. Jor-El and his wife load young Kal-El into a spaceship and send him off the Earth, just as Krypton starts to explode.

It takes three years for the ship to reach Earth, and when it arrives it crashes into a field somewhere in Middle America; a town called Smallville. Driving on the road through the field are Jonathan and Martha Kent. The meteor startles them and they swerve causing a flat tire. They stop to fix the tire, and notice the ship. Emerging from the wreckage is a little boy, thus becomes the birth of Clark Kent.

Growing up is tough for Clark, having to hide his special abilities from his peers and upon his eighteenth birthday he takes a glowing crystal from the ship in which he arrived and heads on a quest to find himself and his meaning. This quest ends in what appears to be the North Pole, which is now to become his fortress of solitude. It is here where over the next twelve years Clark Kent learns from Jor-El all the secrets to himself and the universe, and where he transforms into Superman.

When he returns to the regular world he assumes his secret identity, that of Clark Kent, the meek mild mannered reporter at the Daily Planet. This of course is only to hide his true self from his enemies, as he takes on evil genius Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) and saves his true love Lois Lane (Margot Kidder).

One of the things that make Superman great is the special effects. Before the days of CGI directors actually had to try and make things look real, and in my opinion all this CGI is really hurting the films of today. Another great quality is the script. Although it starts out poorly with a few too many clichés from Marlon Brando, it really gains strength upon Kal-El's arrival on Earth, as it becomes less pretentious and the perfect amount of humor is thrown in.

Christopher Reeve plays the part to a tee; he even looks like the Superman did in the comic books. Although Superman was not Christopher Reeve's big screen debut (that honor going to Gray Lady Down), it is most certainly the role for which he is remembered. He was a fine man and will surely be missed. Glenn Ford is fantastic in his small yet important role as Jonathan Kent; he was a great actor in the 40's and 50's and shows here that despite his age he didn't lose a step. As always Gene Hackman is great as the diabolical Lex Luthor, and Ned Beatty gives one of the all time great comedic performances as Otis; Luthor's idiotic henchman.

Superman is definitely worth seeing for anyone who hasn't yet, and definitely worth showing your kids. They will love it, I did when I was a child. I don't hold it in as high regard as Tim Burton's Batman, but they can't really be compared, as Batman is a much darker film. For an action/adventure movie it is a bit long at two and a half hours, but the time just flies by. I've seen 90 minute long films that took at lot longer than this. Overall 3.5/4 Stars Grade = B+

Cash McCall (1960)

2008-03-24T18:09:00.000-07:00

On the surface it doesn't seem that Cash McCall has very much to offer, but it really is a fairly charming little picture. James Garner plays the title character, a very rich businessman who buys up companies, whips them into shape, then turns around and sells them for a profit. Dean Jagger is Grant Austen, owner of Austen Plastics. Grant is getting older, and has decided to sell his company. He thinks it over, discusses it with his consultant Gil Clark (Henry Jones) as well as his daughter Lory (Natalie Wood). Gil tells him that he might have a buyer, and thinks he can get two million for the company. The buyer turns out to be none other than Cash McCall.

Austen and McCall set up a meeting, and Grant asks Lory to come along since she owns 10% of the company. It is now that we learn that Cash and Lory are previously acquainted, and Lory seems to be holding some great animosity towards Cash. Turns out Lory and Cash met one another the previous summer in Maine, Lory had fallen in love with Cash but he rejected her. While Grant is off calling his lawyer, Cash tries to explain that he had made terrible mistake in Maine and that he is in love with her, but she won't listen and storms off.

The sale goes as planned, and Cash is finally able to tell Lory his true feelings for her, but it's not smooth sailing yet. Since Cash is a very wealthy and rather famous businessman (think today’s Donald Trump), there are a lot of dirty rumors going around and a lot of people who want to destroy his credibility. One of these men meets up with Grant Austen, and informs him that Cash has already sold his company for three million, and that he has been ripped off. This sends Grant into a tirade, threatening lawsuit against Cash for fraud. There is also the assistant manager of the hotel in which Cash lives. This woman, a Mrs. Kennard (Nina Foch), is in love with Cash and a very jealous woman.

Cash and Lory have now been seeing each other for a little while now, and Cash has just proposed. Lory is overwhelmed, and of course accepts his proposal. Cash must rush to a business meeting, and leaves Lory at the hotel to wait for him to return. Unfortunately, word has gotten to Mrs. Kennard that there is a woman in Cash’s room. Since she thinks Cash loves her, this sends her into a jealous rage. She rushes up to Cash’s room and feeds Lory some BS story, which sends Lory home in tears.

So now Cash has two problems with the same family. Grant thinks he's been screwed, and Lory thinks he's been screwing around. Cash now must explain to Grant that he’s been on the level, and the only reason he wanted to buy his company was so he could get in contact with Lory whom he is in love with. He also must explain to Lory that there is no other woman, and the blonde is just the crazy hotel assistant manager. Of course he is able to smooth everything out just in time for the classic Hollywood happy ending.

Sure Cash McCall is a cheesy movie, but sometimes that’s OK. The characters are interesting enough, and James Garner puts in a good performance. Also be on the lookout for Edward Platt who plays Harrison Glenn, one of Cash's business associates. I did feel, unfortunately, that Natalie Wood seemed uninspired in the role. I have seen the majority of her films, and feel that she gave one of her weaker performances in this one; also the Barbara Bush hairstyle was less that becoming but that's just my personal opinion. I think Cash McCall is worth seeing, just take it for what it is, a charming yet cheesy slice out of 1950's pop culture. Overall 2.5/4 Stars Grade = C+

Marjorie Morningstar (1958)

2008-03-23T23:36:00.000-07:00

Marjorie Morningstar is a piece of cinematic romance from the late 1950's which has been forgotten, and after seeing it I don't believe it has been missed. I'm not saying that it's a particularly bad film; it's just really nothing special.

Natalie Wood stars as Marjorie Morgenstern, a young Jewish woman living with her family in Manhattan. She has been dating a boy named Sandy Lamm for some time, and he is in love with her and wishes to marry her. Marjorie's mother is quite fond of Sandy, whose parents own a department store. Class and business sense is something that is very important to Marjorie’s mother. Unfortunately Marjorie isn't in love with Sandy, or at least she doesn't think so, and their parents are planning a trip in which Sandy and Marjorie could be together all summer. Marjorie isn't too keen on the idea, and her friend Marsha Zelenko (Carolyn Jones) offers to get her a job as dramatic counselor at a girls summer camp.

Across the lake from the girls camp is another camp, kind of a getaway for rich folks. At this camp they have plays, and dances and other types of productions put on to entertain the guests. Marsha has been sneaking across the lake nightly and seeing a musician, and one night she is able to convince Marjorie to come along. It is on this night that Marjorie meets Noel Airman (Gene Kelly) who produces the camps plays, and who will quickly become the love of her life.

After a tumultuous summer of love, Marjorie returns home, single, and finishes college. She is now dating a doctor (Martin Balsam), and pursuing a career as an actress. After returning home one evening, she is surprised to see Noel waiting for her. He has left his job at the camp, and is now working for an advertising agency; and he is still madly in love with Marjorie. Marjorie doesn't plan on anything to happen, but she cannot deny her feelings and the two of them immediately get involved again.

When an old friend Wally (Martin Milner) shows back up, with a new hit Broadway show it really sends Noel off the deep end. He misses his life in show business, and is upset that he never accomplished anything like Wally did. He goes on a drinking binge that ends in an affair, and he calls it off with Marjorie.

Of course it's never really over between Marjorie and Noel, they love each other too much and have too much chemistry. After some period of time, they are back together and Noel is working on a musical of his own and the tumultuous relationship continues. Everett Freeman's script is cheesy at some points, and the film never really challenges Wood or Kelly, and it offers neither of them an opportunity to be great. It's definitely watchable, and it'll get a few good chuckles out of you. If they're showing Marjorie Morningstar on TCM or something and you have nothing else going on, then by all means watch it; but I wouldn't go out of my way to see it unless you are an enormous Natalie Wood or Gene Kelly fan. Overall 2.0/4 Stars Grade = C

Gypsy (1962)

2008-03-22T23:18:00.000-07:00

I was very disappointed in Gypsy. I went into the film expecting at least slightly interesting characters, and a decent plot line but that is definitely not what I got. The film is watchable, and the last 15 minutes or so are decent but that's about it. A musical based on the life of real life burlesque queen Gypsy Rose Lee. The majority of the film takes place in Gypsy's childhood, where she went by Louise. Louise is part of her mother's vaudeville act starring her sister Baby June; Louise is just background noise for now. Louise's mother Rose (Rosalind Russell) is the typical stage mother, pushing her daughters hard and not listening to anything anyone else has to say. On an audition for an act in Hollywood, Rose meets Herbie (Karl Malden). At the time it doesn't seem important, but when the two of them meet again by accident in Oregon something starts to brew. Herbie quickly becomes quite fond of Rose, and offers to drive her and her children up to her father's house in Seattle on his way to Chicago. While on the road Herbie becomes quite attached to Rose, June and Louise and promises to book them an act in Chicago at the Weber Theatre. It's not long before a telegram comes from Herbie informing them they're booked and they're on their way to the big time; all they have to do is get some boys in the show. Once in Chicago the Baby June show really takes off, they're booking vaudeville circuits weekly all over the country. The success is able to continue for several years, but then the depression hits and people aren't interested in vaudeville any more. The shows are becoming less frequent, and the venues less prestigious. June is getting fed up with playing the same role night after night, and wants to pursue other activities, so she runs off and gets married. The boys are aware that vaudeville is dead, and leave to pursue other interests. The only people left with Rose are Louise and Herbie, who knows vaudeville is dead but is too in love with Rose to leave her. Now with June gone, Rose has decided to make Louise a star, problem is that she isn't talented. Rose, of course, won't accept this fact and is determined, so she hires a group of girls to back Louise and creates the vaudeville act Rose Louise and her Hollywood Blondes. Herbie does everything he can to promote it, but the only gig he can get is at a burlesque house as something legitimate to keep the cops out. The show is a flop, but it pays and at the end of the run Herbie and Rose are to be married; something Herbie has longed for for years. As Rose and Louise are packing up to leave the burlesque, Rose overhears the owner complaining that he doesn't have a star stripper booked for the next two weeks. Rose is elated, and rushes in insisting that Louise have the job. Louise must be a star, even if it is just burlesque. The men are desperate, so they agree. This infuriates Herbie, and he leaves Rose for good; but Louise won't leave her mother. She goes on stage as the classiest and most beautiful stripper you'll ever see. It is this act of course that leads to her famous career as Gypsy Rose Lee, queen of the burlesque. The story is good enough, but director Mervyn LeRoy takes way too long to get you there. The music for the most part is mediocre at best, there's maybe one song with a slightly catchy tune; the rest you won't remember right after they're done singing it. They don't even give Natalie a scene to show off her acting prowess until near the end of the picture. The only way I'd recommend Gypsy is if you live for Stephen Sondheim musicals, if not then do yourself a favor and skip it. Overall 1.5/4 Stars Grade = C-

Quai des Orfèvres (1947)

2008-03-20T00:56:00.000-07:00

Henri-Georges Clouzot's Quai des Orfèvres is a good film, however it doesn't come close to reaching the quality of The Wages of Fear. The film stars Bernard Blier who plays Maurice Martineau, a musician married to a beautiful singer named Jenny Lamour (Suzy Delair). Jenny is a very ambitious girl; she loves her husband, but getting ahead in the world is very important to her. Maurice sees the way she flirts with other men, and the way they stare and he is a very jealous man. While doing a photo shoot with their good friend Dora (the beautiful Simone Renant), Jenny meets a rich producer named Brignon. Brignon is a "dirty old man", he tells girls that he wants them for pictures so they will sleep with him and take nude photos. Brignon tells Jenny that he wants to sign her on for a picture he’s doing. He makes a date for lunch so that she can meet the director, but of course this isn’t what he has in mind at all. Dora warns Jenny about Brignon, but she won't listen. When Maurice finds out, he goes into a jealous rage and heads down to meet Brignon where he threatens to kill him if he ever contacts Jenny again. Of course Jenny does see him again, she meets him at his home so she can sign a contract. Of course, there is not contract Brignon is just hoping for some action. When Maurice finds out that Jenny is with Brignon it upsets him immensely, so he gets his gun and heads out to kill Brignon. Problem is, when he gets there Brignon is already dead. Cut to Jenny and Dora. Jenny is very upset, she is crying and confesses to Dora that she has just killed Brignon with a bottle of champagne. Another major problem arises when she realizes she left her fox fur at Brignon's home, so Dora volunteers to go retrieve it. So now we have all three main characters at he scene of the murder, on the night of the murder and the police are about to get involved and investigate. Louis Jouvet plays Inspector Antoine, the man in charge of the case. Through the rest of the film, we go through each character’s torture as some try to clear their name, and all of them try to not be caught. Some excellent acting, and a great story with a magnificent ending you won't see coming. Quai des Orfèvres is quite a good little picture that people shouldn't miss, even if it doesn't match up to the masterpiece The Wages of Fear. Overall 3.5/4 Stars Grade = B

Michael Clayton (2007)

2008-03-19T22:34:00.000-07:00

Michael Clayton is an outstanding edge of your seat thriller. George Clooney plays Michael Clayton, a lawyer for the firm Kenner, Bach & Ledeen. Michael's job is that he cleans up all the messes for the firm. The film starts out with Michael going to meet a high society client who has just hit a man with his car and left the scene. After leaving the man's house, Michael stops along the road to look at some horses. While doing this, his Mercedes explodes from a bomb stashed somewhere in the vehicle. Flash back to four days earlier. Michael is in big debt, owing $75,000 to cover his degenerate brother's debt. Unfortunately Michael himself is broke due to a gambling problem. His firm is nearing a settlement over a six billion dollar class action suit where they are defending an agrochemical company whose product allegedly killed 486 people. The lawyer leading the case for Kenner, Bach and Ledeen is Arthur Edens (Tom Wilkinson). Arthur is a manic-depressive, who has just decided to stop taking his medication. This causes him to make a scene where he strips down naked during the deposition of the plaintiff. This also leads Arthur to come to the conclusion that the case he's working on and the company he's defending are pure evil. Michael, of course, is sent in to clean up the mess. The more Michael hears from Arthur the more it starts to make sense, and the more desperate Karen Crowder (one of the heads of the agrochemical company) becomes. She hires men to watch Arthur like a hawk, and comes to discover that he is building a case against her company. Of course, knowing that he has a lot of information that could harm her and the company, she panics. This is a great directorial debut from Tony Gilroy, and he is helped out immensely by fantastic performances by Tom Wilkinson, George Clooney, Tilda Swinton and Sydney Pollack. I'm not sure Michael Clayton deserved seven Oscar nominations, but it is definitely worth seeing. Overall 3.5/4 Stars Grade = B+

West Side Story (1961)

2008-03-19T00:52:00.000-07:00

When you first start watching West Side Story you'll probably think to yourself "Wow, this is probably the fruitiest movie I've ever seen". But don't worry, it gets better. The story is about two rival gangs in New York, the Jets and the Sharks. The Jets have a small area of land they have deemed as their territory, and the Sharks are trying to take it over. The main difference between the Jets and the Sharks is that while the Jets are white and were born in America, the Sharks are full-blooded Puerto Rican. The Sharks hate the Jets for the sole reason that they are Americans. Ever since the members of the Sharks came to America they have been treated like scum simply because they are Latino, and therefor have a chip on their shoulder. Newer, bigger problems arise one night at a dance in which both gangs are in attendance. Tony (Richard Beymer), who is a co-founder of the Jets but has since left the gang in order to pursue a more legitimate lifestyle notices Maria (Natalie Wood), who is the sister of Sharks leader Bernardo (George Chakiris). Another problem is that she notices him. They are immediately drawn to each other, and it is truly love at first sight. Tony doesn't know who Maria is, and Maria doesn't know who Tony is and the thing is they don't care. They just want to be together. This spectacle of course upsets Bernardo immensely, and he now feels he has even more reason to hate Americans and the Jets. There is nearly a fight between the two gangs right there in the dance hall, but instead Riff (Russ Tamblyn), the leader of the Jets, and Bernardo set up a meeting in order to set up a brawl at a later date. Maria and Tony see each other a few more times and fall deeply in love, but the idea of a brawl is very upsetting to Maria and she makes Tony promise to stop it. Unfortunately, both the Sharks and the Jets want to brawl badly and Tony trying to stop it just leads to more violence and even death. Now with the Sharks out for vengeance, Tony and Maria must get away before more senseless deaths occur. Normally I cannot stand musicals, and for the first half hour or so I thought this was going to be the case with West Side Story, but the film really calms down and actually becomes a decent picture. It did bother me that neither Natalie Wood or Richard Beymer actually sing, it is a dubbed voice and quite obvious. I thought the ending was absolutely superb, with a great scene from Natalie Wood as she displays yet another instance of her thespian superiority. Worth watching, especially if you like musicals but even if you don't. Overall 3.0/4 Stars Grade = B

Autumn Sonata (1978)

2008-03-18T00:48:00.000-07:00

Ingmar Bergman is one of the greatest directors of all time, however Autumn Sonata was not one of his best. That's not to say it is a bad film, quite the contrary, its just saying that it is not quite at the level as some of his other films. The film revolves around Eva, played by Liv Ullmann. Eva lives at her home with her husband Viktor (Halvar Björk) and her invalid sister Helena (Lena Nyman) whom she cares for. Eva has not seen her mother for seven years and after hearing about the death of a close friend of her mother’s Eva sends a letter to her mother inviting her to come visit. Her mother, Charlotte (Ingrid Bergman), is a world famous classical pianist who spent most of Eva's childhood on tour. At first Eva is ecstatic that her mother has come, but as Ingmar makes apparent, Charlotte is a very selfish woman with seemingly no true feelings for anyone, so this happiness is not to last. It starts with a few minor issues; comments on Eva's interpretation of Chopin, the obligatory visit to Helena, and the attire worn to dinner. Despite these petty issues, everything seems to be going fine; just the minor arguments common within families. During the night Charlotte has a nightmare from which she awakens with a yelp. She heads downstairs to calm her nerves, but her yelp has also awakened Eva who comes down to see if everything is all right. Unfortunately, with this late hour the two of them end up having a long discussion about Eva's childhood where Eva lets out years of pent up rage and hatred towards her mother. Eva even comes out and blames her mother for Helena’s illness. Autumn Sonata is not quite as depressing as most Bergman films, but it’s certainly not cheerful. Liv Ullmann and Ingrid Bergman put out stellar performances, and Ingmar's direction is superb. Björk is also quite good as Viktor, and Lena Nyman does a great job in the role of Helena. Worth seeing if you are a Bergman fan (Ingmar or Ingrid), but I don't think the average American would enjoy this film. Overall 3.0/4 Stars Grade = B

The Missouri Breaks (1976)

2008-03-17T22:41:00.000-07:00

Jack Nicholson stars as Tom Logan, a horse thief in the Wild West. He and his gang have recently robbed a train (for the first, and last time) and have some money lying around. They buy a ranch and set up shop. The problem is however that one of Mr. Logan's neighbors, a one Mr. David Braxton (John McLiam), is very concerned with horse thieves in the area and has hired a famous "regulator" named Robert E. Lee Clayton (Marlon Brando) to come in and hunt down and assassinate these thieves. A regulator is a sort of man-hunter. Someone who is hired to come in, locate someone, and kill them. At first Braxton has no reason to suspect Logan, but after Logan starts seeing his daughter Jane (Kathleen Lloyd) he begins to despise Logan and starts to notice things, things that Clayton himself has also noticed about Logan’s character and business. Clayton gets all the evidence he needs after a botched trip to Canada in the attempt to steal 60 of the Mounties’s horses. After the Mounties catch up to Logan's gang, they split up and Little Tod (Randy Quaid) runs into Mr. Lee Clayton. Clayton assumes a false identity in order to extract information from Tod, but Tod won't talk so Clayton drowns him. This, of course, means war between Logan and Clayton. Jack Nicholson is outstanding in the film, and that's the only thing that makes the film worthwhile in my opinion. Thomas McGuane's script has its moments of humor, and Arthur Penn is a good director but this certainly isn't his best. Marlon Brando is ridiculous as an Irish cowboy, completely unbelievable. Fact of the matter is, when Jack isn't on screen the movie drags. The Missouri Breaks is only worth watching if you're a big fan of one of the leads, or director Arthur Penn. Overall 2.0/4 Stars Grade = C

Double Indemnity (1944)

2008-03-16T23:47:00.000-07:00

Fred MacMurray is Walter Neff, a slick talking insurance salesman in LA. When he stops by the home of a Mr. Dietrichson to speak with him about his auto insurance he meets the femme fatale of the picture Mrs. Phyllis Dietrichson played by Barbara Stanwyck. Mrs. Dietrichson is very eager to talk to Walter about accident insurance on her husband, who is an oilman, which she considers to be very dangerous work. Mrs. Dietrichson seems very concerned about her husband's well being, but all Walter seems concerned with is Mrs. Dietrichson. The more Phyllis talks to Walter about this accident insurance for her husband, the more Walter sees that she just wants to kill him and collect the money. He tries to explain to her that she doesn't stand a chance, she'll got caught and she'll get the chair; but she really seems to have taken a hold on him. The next day when she comes to deliver his hat to his apartment, Walter realizes that he loves her and offers to kill her husband so they can take the money and run away together. Since Walter is in the insurance business he knows exactly how to do it so they won't get caught. It must be done on a train, so they can collect double indemnity on the insurance. And they must work together to do it. It has to be absolutely perfect. After the dirty deed is done, everything seemed to be going swimmingly. The claims investigator Barton Keyes (Edward G. Robinson) who has caught every phony claim to come his way in 26 years doesn't suspect a thing. The head of the company suspects suicide, but Keyes sets him straight. However the smooth sailing doesn't last long, choppy waters are ahead. All of the sudden it doesn't sit right with Keyes. He knows it was murder, he knows it was two people, and he knows one of them was Phyllis Dietrichson. Double Indemnity is a superb film noir, with a great story of seduction, murder and deception. The film has great performances by Stanwyck, MacMurray and Robinson with a good performance by Jean Heather as Mr. Dietrichson's daughter Lola. A must see film for film noir fans especially, but worth seeing by anyone else who can appreciate good cinema. Overall 3.5/4 Stars Grade = B+

The Shining (1980)

2008-03-16T20:59:00.000-07:00

Stanley Kubrick's The Shining is a masterpiece of horror in the truest sense of the word. Jack Nicholson stars as Jack Torrance, a writer who has agreed to be the caretaker of the Overlook Hotel during the winter season. At the interview for the job, Jack is told of a tragedy that occurred at the hotel ten years earlier. A man named Delbert Grady was the caretaker of the Overlook and had lost his mind, murdering his wife and two daughters with an axe and then blowing his brains out. This does not dissuade Jack from taking the job, he assures the gentleman in charge that this will not happen to him. Along with Jack are his wife Wendy (Shelley Duvall) and young son Danny (Danny Lloyd). Danny has a special skill, something which allows him to see into the past and the future. Upon arriving at the Overlook Danny meets the head chef Dick Hallorann (Scatman Crothers). Hallorann has the same special ability as Danny, and he calls it shining. The first month at the Outlook is smooth sailing. Danny is enjoying himself, riding his big wheel around the hotel and Wendy is keeping herself busy with the upkeep of the hotel while Jack works on his book, but things are about to take a turn for the worst. Jack has a bad case of writer's block, and is becoming irritable and suffering from insomnia. One afternoon, Danny rides his big wheel past room 237, a room which has a bad feeling about it and which Hallorann has warned him to stay away from. The door to room 237 is open, and Danny goes in. At the same time, Jack is screaming in his sleep and Wendy awakens him and he tells her he had a terrible nightmare where he killed Danny and her with an axe. This is really the beginning of the end, as Danny comes down traumatized and bruised. Wendy accuses Jack, and this really causes Jack to go off the deep end. He starts seeing things and talking to people that aren't there, including Delbert Grady the man whom ten years prior had murdered his family and committed suicide. There are many strange things that happen beyond this point which lead you to question whether or not Jack is actually crazy, and whether the things which he sees are illusions or real life. The Shining is the greatest horror film of all time in my opinion; it works on so many levels. Kubrick's direction is a work of art; the scene with Danny riding his big wheel around the hallways is the single greatest piece of film work this reviewer has ever seen. Jack Nicholson gives the performance of a lifetime, and young Danny Lloyd is incredible. It's a shame Mr. Lloyd never pursued an acting career after The Shining. A must see film for any fan of cinema. Overall 4.0/4 Stars Grade = A

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958)

2008-03-14T00:01:00.000-07:00

Although the 1958 Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is a bit tamer than the Tennessee Williams play, it is still a damn good film. Liz Taylor plays Maggie the Cat and Paul Newman plays her husband Brick. The two of them are visiting Brick's father Big Daddy (Burl Ives) on his sixty-fifth birthday mainly to find out the tests on whether or not he has cancer. Big Daddy unfortunately does have inoperable terminal cancer, but Big Momma (Judith Anderson) and Big Daddy have both been told by the doctor that the tests were negative; presumably so that Big Daddy could enjoy his last birthday. Also up for the occasion are Brick's older brother Gooper (Jack Carson) and his wife Mae (Madeleine Sherwood) and their five little "no-neck monsters". No one in the family seems too fond of Gooper and his wife; they come across as very self-centered and greedy, only out for Big Daddy's fortune. Gooper and his wife are also quick to point out Brick's drinking problem (which stemmed from the death of his best friend Skipper) in order to prove him irresponsible and unworthy of inheritance, and the fact that he doesn't seem all that fond of his wife who obviously is still madly in love with him. Big Daddy himself doesn't seem to like anyone, except for Brick and Maggie and with Brick's severe drinking problem Big Daddy is wondering whether he can trust Brick with his plantation. Brick has no interest in the plantation, for all he cares Gooper can just have it, however since Big Daddy is not at all fond of Gooper this is not a reasonable solution. As Brick puts it in the film, family crisis brings out the best and the worst in everyone and that is certainly apparent in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Liz Taylor is absolutely superb in her performance; and Burl Ives, Paul Newman and the rest of the cast are spectacular as well. The film completely skirts over the homosexual undertones of Brick and Skipper's relationship, no doubt due to the time it was produced and I felt that that took a bit away from the film, but it is still outstanding. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is definitely worth watching, one of Elizabeth Taylor's greatest roles. Overall 3.5/4 Stars Grade = B+

Three Days of the Condor (1975)

2008-03-13T00:40:00.000-07:00

Three Days of the Condor is a well-made thriller by director Sydney Pollack. Robert Redford is Joe Turner, code name Condor, a CIA man who's job it is to read and analyze books to see if they have any new ideas or if they're on to anything the CIA is trying to accomplish. One day upon returning to the office after lunch he discovers all of his colleagues murdered. Turner immediately calls the head offices, and they tell him to meet his supervisor behind an alley so they can pick him up, but upon his arrival the man shoots at Turner and Turner is forced to kill him. Turner isn’t a field agent, so he has no real training in evasion or on how to stay alive, so all he can really rely upon is his gut and what he’s read in adventure stories for the government. Turner doesn't know whom he can trust or where he can hide, so he kidnaps Kathy (Faye Dunaway) in a snap decision and forces her to take him to her apartment. When Turner first tries to explain to Kathy what is really going on she of course doesn't believe a word he says, but as time goes on she begins to realize he is telling the truth and wants to help him. The two of them then roam around New York trying to keep Turner alive and trying to expose the corruption from within the CIA. Robert Redford does a fantastic job, he has many previous collaborations with director Sydney Pollack (This Property is Condemned, The Way We Were and Jeremiah Johnson) and it shows with his performance. It’s always nice to see the great Max Von Sydow as well; he plays the killer for hire and does a fantastic job as usual. A very interesting story that is very suspenseful will have you on the edge of your seat. Three Days of the Condor is definitely worth watching. Overall 3.0/4 Stars Grade = B

Alfie (2004)

2008-03-12T21:57:00.000-07:00

I have got to think that the original 1966 Alfie was better and more original than this version. Jude Law plays the title character, a British playboy using the island of Manhattan as his own personal playground. Charles Shyer's film documents Alfie in a quasi-documentary style following him throughout his relationships with many different women, all while he looks directly at the camera and narrates. First there is Dori (Jane Krakowski), a beautiful wife of a husband who doesn't appreciate her. Alfie gives her the sexual pleasure her husband has no interest in, but when she starts to fall for him he runs the other direction. Then there's Julie (Oscar winner Marisa Tomei). Julie is Alfie's "glorified booty call". A single mother, Alfie goes to her when the night is done and essentially uses her for a bed and food. Julie is really Alfie’s favorite, but he doesn’t realize it until it’s too late. There's the high class Liz (Oscar winner Susan Sarandon), who Alfie ultimately falls for but since she is the female version of him it is not to be. Then we have the beautiful but crazy Nikki (Sienna Miller) who seems to be a rip-off of Kate Winslet’s character in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Nikki is so gorgeous that Alfie totally lets his guard down and becomes involved with her and she moves into his apartment. She’s so nuts though, that it really makes Alfie realize that T&A aren’t everything. Of course throughout the film you come to realize that Alfie really isn't happy in his playboy lifestyle. He is lonely, and really has no friends he hasn't alienated. This is of course what you have probably expected watching this film, because it has been done hundreds of times but with different actors and different characters. Alfie is so full of clichés that it’s ridiculous. The film has its moments of humor, and Jude Law gives a very decent performance, but the movie just isn't all that impressive. If all you want in a movie is a menagerie of beautiful women, then Alfie is for you but if you want an actual decent film then go elsewhere. Overall 2.0/4 Stars Grade = C

Last Tango in Paris (1972)

2008-03-12T00:25:00.000-07:00

The Last Tango in Paris is a slightly interesting film about two people. Marlon Brando is Paul, a man trying to cope with the recent suicide of his wife. Maria Schneider is Jeanne, a young woman seemingly trying to find herself. Paul and Jeanne’s paths cross one day while they are both looking at an apartment to rent in Paris. They immediately have intercourse, and Paul ends up taking the apartment. For some period of time, Jeanne comes to see Paul for sex and sex alone. He refuses to talk about himself, and wants to know nothing about Jeanne, not even her name. As soon as she brings up anything even remotely personal Paul gets very hostile. Paul and Jeanne truly have a no-strings-attached, entirely sexual relationship. In his personal life, Paul runs a run down hotel that is frequented by hookers and junkies. His mother-in-law has recently come to stay at the hotel due to her daughter’s death and this does not please Paul, they often get into fights about religion and the way to deal with her daughter’s funeral. In Jeanne’s personal life she is engaged to a man named Tom who is a young filmmaker. Tom latest project is a story of love in which Jeanne is the main subject. Tom is constantly following Jeanne around with a camera and crew and Jeanne doesn’t much care for this. It seems that the afternoons of sex is the only escape that Paul and Jeanne have from their stressful and depressing lives. I wasn’t particularly impressed with The Last Tango in Paris, the storyline wasn’t very original and the characters really weren’t that interesting. Maria Schneider is beautiful as Jeanne and gives a good performance, and Brando isn’t bad either. The script at times seems to be needlessly dirty, Bernardo Bertolucci appears to just be going for as much shock value as he can get. All in all The Last Tango in Paris is an okay film, but I certainly wouldn’t go out of my way to see it. Overall 2.5/4 Stars Grade = C

Kings Go Forth (1958)

2008-03-11T00:28:00.000-07:00

Kings Go Forth is the story of Lieutenant Sam Loggins (Frank Sinatra) and Corporal Britt Harris (Tony Curtis). On a weekend leave the Lieutenant and his outfit take holiday in Nice where Sam meets the beautiful Monique (Natalie Wood). Monique was born in American, but moved to France as an infant and was raised French. Sam immediately falls in love with Monique, but she is less than receptive. She likes Sam, but only as a friend. After a few weeks of Sam coming down to Nice to see her, she confesses to him that her father was a "negro". Of course because of the way American's viewed interracial relationships in the 1940's she never expected to see him again. Sam struggles with this information all week, but at the last minute he decides that this isn’t as big an issue for him as he initially had thought and heads back down to Nice. Monique and her mother are ecstatic to see he has returned, and it looks as though a romantic relationship might happen between the two. In celebration, Sam takes Monique out on the town where they run into Cpl. Harris. Harris is quite the smooth operator, and Monique immediately shows fondness towards him. It seems that her father being black is not an issue for Britt, and Sam just wants Monique to be happy so Sam and Britt continue to come see her every Saturday. As the weeks go on it is apparent that Monique and Britt are falling in love. After a long night, Britt comes back to the hotel and informs Sam that he and Monique are to be married. Sam seems apprehensive, but ultimately wishes Britt the best. Britt, of course, isn't all he's cracked up to be as you will come to learn and as you will have suspected from the very beginning. Kings Go Forth really isn't that great of a film, it is really very mediocre. Frank Sinatra isn't bad but Tony Curtis definitely doesn't give his best performance and the usually magnificent Natalie Wood is not believable as a French woman. The story isn't very original either, and some of the scenes are really pretty cheesy. I'd only see this if you are an enormous fan of the stars or director Delmer Daves. Overall 2.5/4 Stars Grade = C

Caché (2005)

2008-03-10T22:09:00.000-07:00

I was very disappointed in Caché. Throughout the film, you feel that it is building up to some grand conclusion but then is just piffles out into nothing. Daniel Auteuil stars as Georges Laurent, a wealthy television host of some kind of literary talk show. When he starts receiving strange video's at his door that show hours of surveillance on his home he starts fearing for the safety of himself and his family. Georges and his wife Anne (Juliette Binoche) go to the police, but the police are not concerned until this stalker proves to be dangerous. The tapes start becoming more frequent, and an anonymous caller keeps calling Anne asking for Georges, but the police still do nothing. On the third tape Georges thinks he has figured out who is sending the tapes, and goes to the suspect’s home for a visit. The gentleman is someone Georges knew as a child, someone who may feel that he was treated unfairly by Georges and out for revenge but there is never closure on the subject. There is also a tape of Georges confronting the man that is sent to his wife and his employer, which makes you think that it could be blackmail, but they never really go into depth on the subject and it is dropped without any real explanation. The acting is quite good, and at times there is a fair amount of suspense but the suspense never amounts to anything. Normally I don’t have a problem with films that go unresolved, but Caché just left me feeling completely unfulfilled. I suppose if anything can be said of Caché it is that it is an interesting look into the lives of people who feel endangered. I don't think it's really a film worth watching, it's certainly not terrible but it's not particularly good either. Overall 2.0/4 Stars Grade = C

Hotel Rwanda (2004)

2008-03-09T22:24:00.000-07:00

Hotel Rwanda is an incredibly harrowing and emotionally draining film depicting the genocide of the Tutsi's in Rwanda in 1994. The true story of Paul Rusesabagina (played by Don Cheadle who got an Academy Award nomination for his role) and his courageous actions to save 1,200 Tutsi and Hutu refugees. Paul was the manager of the Milles Collines Hotel, a four-star hotel in the city of Kigali, Rwanda. Being the hotel manager Paul was able to make valuable connections and friends with many important and influential people including Colonel Oliver (Nick Nolte) of the UN and General Bizimungu (Fana Mokoena) of the Rwandan army. The Hutus had discriminated and fought against the Tutsis for many years. This is all because when Belgium occupied Rwanda, they classified all Rwandans into two categories based on their height, nose and color of their skin. These two categories were Hutu and Tutsi, and the Belgians put the Tutsis in charge. However when the Belgians left, they left the Hutus in charge and the Hutus sought out revenge on the Tutsis who had been in power for many years prior. The Hutu president of Rwanda had just signed a peace treaty that meant better times for all people of Rwanda, but Tutsi rebels assassinated soon the president leading the country into all-out civil war. At first Paul's only concern was to save his family, but once he realized that there would be no help from the United Nations or anyone else he knew that he could not just let all his neighbors and innocent countrymen be slaughtered in the genocide. Paul then opened the Milles Collines to the refugees, and used his connections within the UN for some protection. He also bribed General Bizimungu to have Rwandan police guarding the entrance. An incredible film by director Terry George that will leave you emotionally wrecked. Outstanding performances by Don Cheadle and Sophie Okonedo, who played Paul's wife Tatiana, lead the film with other outstanding performances by the rest of the cast. Hotel Rwanda is definitely a must see film, if not to just shed light on what happened in Rwanda and is still happening in other African countries today. Overall 4.0/4 Stars Grade = A

Splendor in the Grass (1961)

2008-03-09T00:30:00.000-08:00

Elia Kazan's Splendor in the Grass is really an outstanding picture. When I first saw it I was about sixteen, and I did not feel that way at all. I think this was probably due to the very slow pace of the film, because as we all know Mr. Kazan takes his sweet time. Natalie Wood plays Deanie Loomis, a high school girl in the late 1920s. Deanie is dating Bud Stamper (Warren Beatty in his first big screen role) who is the captain of the football team and son of oil tycoon Ace Stamper. Deanie and Bud are madly in love, but Bud is becoming increasingly frustrated with not being able to sleep with Deanie and his father not allowing them to be married. Meanwhile Deanie is also becoming frustrated because of her strong physical feelings for Bud but her mother telling her that nice girls don't feel that way. All of Bud's frustrations take hold of him on New Year's Eve 1928, when he finds his drunken flapper sister in a car with one of Deanie's friend’s date. This incident makes Bud feel that he is not being fair to himself or Deanie knowing that all he wants is sex at this time in his life. He doesn’t want to cheat on Deanie with the local flapper Juanita Howard, so he calls it off with Deanie. This sends Deanie into an emotional downward spiral, eventually leading to her attempted suicide that lands her in a mental hospital Wichita. Natalie Wood gives an absolutely incredible performance that should have won her the Oscar, which went to Sophia Loren instead. Warren Beatty is great as well in the role that made his career. Splendor in the Grass is a great story with even greater characters, definitely one to see if you're old enough to appreciate it. Overall 3.5/4 Stars Grade = B+

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1976)

2008-03-07T23:48:00.000-08:00

The 1976 Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with Laurence Olivier, Robert Wagner, Natalie Wood and Maureen Stapleton is a lesser-known, yet still outstanding version of this classic play. Natalie Wood plays Maggie the Cat, a middle-aged woman married to an ex football star who is no longer in love with her and has turned to alcohol to deal with the death of a friend. Robert Wagner is Maggie's husband Brick, who just wants some peace and quiet so he can relax and drink his whiskey. Brick and Maggie are visiting Brick's father Big Daddy, played by Laurence Olivier, who has just been diagnosed with cancer on this his sixty-fifth birthday. Big Daddy is a multi-millionaire who owns a 28,000-acre plantation in Mississippi. Big Momma is having a birthday party for Big Daddy so the entire family is at the estate and everyone is creating drama. Big Daddy’s eldest son Gooper and his wife Mae and their five children seem to be the cause of most of the drama. This isn’t their intention of course, it’s just that they are very loud and very brash and don’t exactly keep to themselves and aren’t exactly cordial. Gooper and Mae aren’t alone at fault, as Big Daddy himself has a few outbursts and Brick and Maggie’s marital problems are very obvious whenever they are together. At first it is kept from Big Momma and Big Daddy that Big Daddy has cancer, they are told that his tests were negative in order to let Big Momma enjoy the birthday party. It is inevitable however that they tell Big Momma the truth about Big Daddy’s cancer something that kind of hangs over their heads throughout the story. The film is done with Tennessee Williams' screenplay and has outstanding performances by Olivier and Wood. The film is really shot and acted more like a stage play and not like a movie. What I mean to say is that it is very theatrical and not cinematic. This isn’t a problem of course; it just takes a couple minutes to get used to. I didn't think Robert Wagner was all that great, he is more of a film actor and less theatrical but he got better as the film went on. This version of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is definitely worth watching, especially if you're a Tennessee Williams fan. Overall 3.0/4 Stars Grade = B

Requiem for a Dream (2000)

2008-03-06T22:13:00.000-08:00

Darren Aronofsky's disturbing masterpiece Requiem for a Dream is a chillingly graphic film that makes you wonder how anyone could let themselves become an addict. The film opens up with Harry Goldfarb (Jared Leto) stealing his mother's television to pawn for heroin money, they give you the impression that this is a common occurrence. Along with Harry is his friend and fellow addict Tyrone (Marlon Wayans). While Harry is the brain of the operation, Tyrone is the one who puts the plan into effect. There is also Harry's girlfriend Marian, played wonderfully by Jennifer Connelly, who seems to have the most level head of the three but is drawn in by the junk as well. At first the three of them really seem to be making it work. Harry and Tyrone are distributing and making good money, while Marian is designing dresses and clothing so that she can set up a clothing store. Unfortunately, a rival soon kills their connection and Tyrone ends up in jail and thus thrusts them back to the poorhouse. As you view the film you just sit and watch as the three of them circle down the drain and throw their lives into a living Hell where the only thing that can pull them up is another fix. In the meantime Harry's mother Sara (Ellen Burstyn) has found out that she has won a contest and is going to be competing on television. It is very important to Sara to fit into an old red dress she has that her late husband was very fond of, so she goes to a doctor to get diet pills. Unfortunately the only thing that the doctor cares about is getting paid, so he gives her no information about the pills that she is taking and soon she becomes strung out on speed. Requiem for a Dream is a very harsh, very graphic, very disturbing film. It is very hard to watch, but it is most certainly a masterpiece. Ellen Burstyn's performance ranks up there with the best all time, and the music by the Krono's Quartet is magnificent. A definite must see film for anyone that can stomach it. Overall 4.0/4 Stars Grade = A

La Dolce Vita (1960)

2008-03-06T19:12:00.000-08:00

La Dolce Vita is a look into the life of Marcello Rubini (Marcello Mastroianni), a Roman journalist trying to find himself. Yvonne Furneaux is Emma, Marcello's live-in girlfriend who is very insecure and suicidal mostly due to Marcello's playboy ways. Throughout the film Marcello and Emma are constantly at each other’s throats, yet everything always seems to work out in the end between them due to Emma’s undying love towards Marcello. The film follows Marcello during one week in his life while he meets new people, conquers new women, and attends high society parties with the paparazzo always close behind. The first of these encounters is Maddalena, played by Anouk Aimée. Maddalena is an heiress to some kind of fortune, who seemingly bored with her life and spends time with Marcello and ends up sleeping with him in a whore's bedroom. Next is big time Hollywood actress Sylvia (Anita Ekberg), whom Marcello is extremely attracted to but who is already in a tumultuous relationship with fellow actor Robert, who seems to be a big American star as well. Following a large fight with Robert, Sylvia runs off into the night with Marcello who makes his attempts to woo her but finds her short attention span and high maintenance attitude tiring. He then attends an intellectual party at his troubled friend Steiner's apartment. Steiner is a writer who seems very balanced, but ends up murdering his children and killing himself for no apparent reason. There are many other encounters like these, all just as interesting with characters just as deep and flawed as the ones previously mentioned. La Dolce Vita is a very long and complicated film, so make sure when you watch it you are at full attention and awake throughout so as to no miss anything. Federico Fellini is an amazingly talented director, and this is definitely a beautiful film with some shots that will absolutely blow your mind. Overall 3.5/4 Stars Grade = B+

Les Enfants Terribles (1950)

2008-03-05T00:00:00.000-08:00

Les Enfants Terribles was a good film by Jean-Pierre Melville, however I feel that if it had had Jean Cocteau's masterous touch at direction and not just the screenplay I feel it would have been much better. The story is about sixteen year old Paul, played by Edouard Dermithe, a fragile boy who becomes bedridden after being hit by a snowball at school. He lives with his invalid mother and psychotic sister, Elisabeth (played by Nicole Stéphane), who looks after their mother. Not long after Paul becomes ill, their mother passes on and it is just the two of them. They bicker constantly, even when company is present (company mostly being Gerard, Paul's friend from school). After a large fight between Paul and Elisabeth, Elisabeth decides to go get a job modeling for Gerard's uncle's high-end clothing store. While modeling Elisabeth befriends fellow model Agathe (Renée Cosima) who moves in with Paul and Elisabeth. This upsets Paul greatly, as he feels Agathe is invading his space. Through this job of Elisabeth's she meets a rich American named Michael, who for some strange reason has fallen in love with her and they are to be married. Michael owns a large eighteen-room mansion, which pleases Paul greatly because it will get both Elisabeth and Agathe out of his home. Unfortunately, however, Michael is killed in an automobile accident directly after the wedding and not soon thereafter Agathe, Paul and Gerard all move in to the mansion with Elisabeth where all kinds of drama ensues thereafter. Les Enfants Terribles is worth watching, especially due to Cocteau's fantastic script and narration. Dermithe and Stéphane give outstanding performances as the siblings constantly at each other's throats, and Jacques Bernard (Gerard) and Renée Cosima are also superb. Worth watching for sure, I just wish Cocteau had directed. This is not a slight against Jean-Pierre Melville it is simply stating Jean Cocteau's mastery behind a camera. Overall 3.0/4 Stars Grade = B

Rebel Without A Cause (1955)

2008-03-04T00:53:00.000-08:00

James Dean stars as Jim Starks, a teenager who has just moved into town and is already getting into trouble. Jim is a rebellious young man, although he is really a good kid. He is just starved for discipline. His father, played by Jim Backus, is a bit of a wimp and doesn't stand up for himself or anyone else and this upsets Jim greatly. Jim is a man who stands for honor and believes you have to stand up for yourself no matter what, and is really quite ashamed of his dad. On his first day of school in this new town, Jim meets Judy (Natalie Wood), a very popular girl who hangs with the rough kids. Although Jim immediately seems taken by Judy, she as well as her friends sees him more as a "disease". It is not until after a fight with a boy named Buzz, and a run of "chiky" (where two cars speed towards a cliff and the drivers jump out), which goes awry and kills Buzz, that he gains her affection. There is also Plato (Sal Mineo), an effeminate yet seemingly mentally unstable boy, who quickly befriends Jim. Plato really sees Jim as a father figure, and becomes completely dependant on him for approval, and when he thinks Jim has deserted him it really sends him off the deep end. The entire film takes place in one day, from the first meeting, to the accident, to Jim, Judy and Plato running from Buzz's friends who want to severely beat Jim to keep him from going to the police. My only problem with the film is that it seems Judy, who was Buzz's best girl, gets over Buzz's death within a matter of hours and I found that to be quite unrealistic. James Dean and Natalie Wood give great performances, and the direction is really good in this classic story. You should definitely put Rebel Without a Cause on your list. Overall 3.5/4 Stars Grade = B+

The Nightcomers (1972)

2008-03-03T22:32:00.000-08:00

I wasn't particularly impressed with Michael Winner's The Nightcomers, a prequel to The Turn of the Screw, although I can't say I was terribly surprised as I went in expecting a very mediocre film and I got a very mediocre film. The story is about a pair of very wealthy orphans named Flora and Miles who live in a large mansion somewhere in England. The children are cared for by the cook and maid Mrs. Grose (Thora Hird), their nanny Miss Jessel (Stephanie Beacham) as well as Peter Quint, the gardener (Marlon Brando). The children seem to be normal kids, they enjoy the normal things that eleven year olds do, and they are very fond of Quint. They spend much of their day hanging around Quint who tells them stories and teaches them the way of the world as he sees it, which is not always correct but the children believe anything he says. Quint and Miss Jessel in the meantime are having a sadomasochistic relationship, but all the children know is that they love each other. Miles is very curious about sex, but doesn't understand anything about it, and being that it is 1901 no one is willing to explain it to him, so he spies on Quint and Miss Jessel while they explore each other in very unconventional ways. Miles will then go and mimic these actions with his sister. Mrs. Grose is aware of this relationship between Quint and Miss Jessel, and does not approve. One day Miss Jessel and Mrs. Grose hear struggling and screaming from the children, and go to investigate and discover them mimicing in a very dangerous manner one of the encounters they had witnessed between Miss Jessel and Quint. This of course forces Mrs. Grose to fire Miss Jessel, which upsets the children greatly and that's when the story gets disturbing. I can't say I would recommend The Nightcomers, or anything else by Michael Winner for that matter as this is my second Winner film and I have come to discover he is a very sub-par director. The acting is also very poor, especially by Thora Hird and the children. Not worth your time. Overall 1.5/4 Stars Grade = C-

This Property Is Condemned (1966)

2008-03-03T01:17:00.001-08:00

At first while I was watching This Property Is Condemned I kept thinking, "wow, this is a really underrated film", but once I saw the ending I understood why it isn't talked about anymore. Natalie Wood is at her best, both aesthetically and with her performance, portraying Alva Starr a young woman in a small Southern town during the depression. Alva lives with her mother and sister in a boarding house they run for all the railroad people that come and go. As Willy, Alva's sister portrayed by Mary Badham would put it "Alva is the main attraction". Because of her beauty, and seeming overall love of life, Alva is lusted after by each and every one of the railroad workers including her mother’s beau. Alva's mother also notices how then men lust after her and is constantly whoring her out to a rich man from Chicago so that she can further herself in life. Alva seems both aware of this and in denial at the same time. One day a man named Owen Legate (Robert Redford) comes to town. Owen is a man who works for the railroad and his job is to figure out who is to be laid off. Alva is immediately attracted to Owen, but he doesn't seem interested in her at all and his "smart alec" attitude seems to enrage her and at the same time multiply her attraction. Eventually, after a big argument about what it is he is doing in town with the layoffs, they end up sleeping with each other and falling in love. The characters are fantastic, and Natalie Wood and Robert Redford put in incredible performances. As I mentioned earlier, this film is great up until the end. They seem to just cut off the main story, and go back to the narrative taking place a few years in the future to tell you what happened. If they had taken the time to go a little further and actually show you, it would have been much more powerful and possibly even become a tear-jerker. If the ending had been done correctly this would have been a four star film. Overall 3.0/4 Stars Grade = B+

The Maltese Falcon (1941)

2008-03-02T22:17:00.000-08:00

John Huston's The Maltese Falcon is one of the greatest film noirs of all time. The legendary Humphrey Bogart stars as Sam Spade, a private detective who has just been hired by Brigid O'Shaughnessy (Mary Astor), under the false name Wonderly, to tail a man named Floyd Thursby who she claims is running away with her sister. Spade's partner Miles Archer goes on the job, and is murdered, presumably by Thursby. Spade is informed of his partner’s death, and goes down to see the body and shortly afterwards Thursby turns up dead. Spade is obviously the top suspect in the case, so he has detectives showing up at his place at all hours throughout the film. Not long after this, a man named Joel Cairo (played by Peter Lorre) comes into the picture. Cairo is willing to pay Spade $5,000 if he is to come up with an enamel falcon which Cairo claims Miss O'Shaughnessy is in possession of. The film continues on with a lot of great twists and turns in one of the most classic stories of all time. Huston's direction is superb, and I don't think I need to tell you how great Bogart and Lorre are as that is a given, but the rest of the cast is quite good as well. The script is absolutely fantastic and has given us such classic lines as "When you're slapped you'll take it and like it", and "The stuff dreams are made of". Definitely one of the best film noirs, a must see for any film fan. Overall 4.0/4 Stars Grade = A

The Red Desert (1964)

2008-03-01T23:51:00.000-08:00

Michelangelo Antonioni's The Red Desert is a very good, yet very deep and complicated film. Monica Vitti plays Giuliana, a severely depressed and co-dependant wife of a factory owner whose plant pollutes the air and rapes the land. Giuliana tries her best to keep her mental illness secret from her husband Ugo, played by Carlo Chionetti, and does so by leading him to believe it is just side effects from an automobile accident in which she suffered severe shock. One day while visiting her husband at the plant with their son she meets Corrado (Richard Harris), one of Ugo's business partners. Corrado is immediately taken by the lovely Giuliana, and sets his mind to wooing her. Throughout the film Giuliana's mental condition seems to deteriorate more and more, and when Ugo leaves for South America and her son fakes Polio to get out of going to Kindergarten it pushes her over the edge which sends her running into the arms of Corrado who is just dying to take advantage of her. Antonioni's direction is outstanding and some of the cinematography is just mind-blowing. Vitti gives an outstanding performance; Harris and Chionetti are also quite good. Worth watching, but pay close attention or you will be lost faster than you can say Antonioni. Overall 3.0/4 Stars Grade = B

Father of the Bride (1950)

2008-03-01T20:15:00.001-08:00

Father of the Bride is a good film, however it is certainly not Spencer Tracy nor Elizabeth Taylor's best. Tracy plays Stanley Banks, a middle class lawyer with three children. Elizabeth Taylor is his twenty-year-old daughter Kay. Upon arriving home from work one evening, Stanley notices that his daughter seems to be glowing from the inside with happiness. At the dinner table Kay reveals to her father that she is to be married to a gentleman named Buckley Dunston (portrayed by Don Taylor). At first Stanley and his wife (Joan Bennett) are extremely worried about this marriage, with the standard concerns of parents who's daughter is about to be wed, such as finances and whether or not the gentleman is a louse. Upon meeting and getting to know Buckley these fears are alleviated, but new problems are soon to arise. Although both Kay and her father want a small ceremony, it soon comes to fruition that this is not possible. With all the extended family and important business associates the guest list soon reaches nearly 600 people. Throw on top of that all the dresses, tuxedos, rentals, caterers and Stanley has himself a very expensive situation. There ends up being many other problems that arise, and much more drama ensues but as they show you at the beginning everything works out just fine. The script is pretty good, with a lot of great one-liners and there are some good bits of physical comedy from Tracy. All in all it is a good film, but I wouldn't go too far out of my way to see it unless you're a huge Spencer Tracy or Elizabeth Taylor fan. Overall 3.0/4 Stars Grade = B

Notorious (1946)

2008-03-01T01:00:00.000-08:00

Notorious is yet another clinic on how to direct a movie by the master Alfred Hitchcock. Although I don't consider Notorious to be one of Hitchcock’s masterpieces, even his lesser films are still extraordinary. The film stars Ingrid Bergman, whose beauty I believe is overrated but acting ability most certainly is not. Ms. Bergman plays Alicia Huberman, the daughter of a German-American found guilty for treason and working with the Nazi government. Alicia does not agree with her father's politics, and the American government is aware of this and sends in T.R. Devlin, played by the masterful Cary Grant, to try and persuade her to come and work for them down in Rio de Janeiro to take down some prominent Nazi leaders who have taken refuge in Brazil. Devlin succeeds in convincing her and they are soon aboard a flight to Brazil. The mission that they will be working on together is still in the developmental stages so the two of them have some free time to get to know each other, and end up falling in love. This, of course, becomes a problem when the mission is revealed to them and involves Alicia's convincing of her father's old friend Alex Sebastian (who has been in love with her for a long time) that she is in love with him. In order for Devlin to deal with this he becomes very brash towards Alicia, which causes her to become very deeply involved in this undercover mission. Notorious is a fantastic film, definitely worth seeing. However it gets off to a rather slow start, but don't be disheartened. Overall 3.5/4 Stars Grade = B+

Love with the Proper Stranger (1963)

2008-02-29T22:48:00.000-08:00

Love with the Proper Stranger is not at all what I expected going in, however it was still a very good film. Steve McQueen plays Rocky Papasano, a struggling jazz musician in New York who while at what seems to be a job fair he is paged by a young woman, played by the beautiful Natalie Wood, who tells him that she is pregnant with his child. Angie Rossini, the young woman, works at Macy's and lives at home with her mother and three overprotective older brothers who drive her crazy. At first when Rocky finds out that she is pregnant he is obviously stunned, but as he comes to his senses he realizes that it is his responsibility. They seriously consider abortion, but decide against it, and he decides to marry her. However Angie has no desire to be in a loveless marriage that would leave everyone unhappy. For the time being this suits Rocky just fine, until they both come to realize that they are in love with each other even if they won't admit it to anyone but themselves. A very well done film by director Robert Mulligan in his follow-up to To Kill a Mockingbird, and fantastic performances by Wood and McQueen make this film worth seeing. Hopefully they will release it on DVD sometime soon. Overall 3.0/4 Stars Grade = B

L.A. Confidential (1997)

2008-02-28T22:35:00.000-08:00

L.A. Confidential is a very good film. Set in 1953 Los Angeles it tells the story of deep police corruption and murder. Guy Pearce plays Ed Exley, a Lieutenant who is not well liked within the force for snitching out his fellow officers when they beat a bunch of prisoners who were accused of beating a cop. Exley, however, is a very smart and incorruptible cop who is good at his job. Russell Crowe plays Bud White, also a good cop but in much different ways than Exley. White is a hot head that will beat the truth out of a witness and has a penchant for violence. When there is a murder at a local coffee shop in which White's former partner is killed the mystery begins. The case gets solved but something doesn't smell right. White does his own behind the scenes investigation, while Exley works with Sergeant Jack Vincennes, a narcotics officer who does a lot of behind the scenes dealings with tabloids, to try and figure out exactly what is going on. White and Exley hate each other for various reasons, but when all this stuff goes down they are forced to work as a team. L.A. Confidential is a great homage to the 1940's film noirs, and has fantastic performances from Crowe, Pearce, Spacey, Basinger, et al. Definitely a film that everyone will enjoy, succeeds at everything that De Palma tried to do with The Black Dahlia and failed. Overall 3.5/4 Stars Grade = B+

Tree of Hands (1989)

2008-02-28T00:29:00.000-08:00

Tree of hands is a very mediocre film. Helen Shaver plays Benet Archdale, an American writer living in London. Lauren Bacall is her manic-depressive mother, Marsha Archdale, who has come to visit and meet her three-year-old grandson James. On her first night there Benet is forced to rush James to the hospital, where he dies some hours later. Benet is obviously devastated, and her mother is doing everything she can. While on her way back from a lunch date Marsha sees a lone child wandering the street, and picks him up and brings him home. When Benet finds out the child, Jason, has been abducted she is very upset at first and feels he must be returned. However when she goes to give him a bath she sees that his entire body is bruised and badly beaten. She does a little investigating of the family and comes to the conclusion that the child is really much better off with her. This film is almost impossible to find, and not really worth going to the trouble unless you are a Bacall completist like myself. Gone Baby Gone by Ben Affleck has a very similar subject matter and is a far superior film. Overall 2.0/4 Stars Grade = C-

Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969)

2008-02-27T22:23:00.000-08:00

Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice is quite possibly one of the funniest films I have ever seen. The gorgeous Natalie Wood and Robert Culp play Bob and Carol a couple who have just returned from a sort of psychological retreat where they have learned to really be open with each other. Elliott Gould and Dyan Cannon play their close friends Ted and Alice. Bob and Carol are really hyped up about this new way of life they are living and really want to share it with Ted and Alice. Bob has an affair while on a business trip to San Francisco. He returns home feeling guilty and upset and proceeds to tell Carol all about it. Much to his surprise she is actually quite pleased. This makes for one of the funniest scenes in cinematic history. The film is so totally ridiculous that it is fantastic. A definite must see in my opinion. Overall 3.5/4 Stars Grade = B+