tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66221592714408544402024-03-13T22:26:39.349-05:001001: A FILM ODYSSEY1001: A FILM ODYSSEY...
OPINIONS, STORIES AND OBSERVATIONS INSPIRED BY MY ATTEMPT TO SEE ALL OF THE
"1001 MOVIES YOU MUST SEE BEFORE YOU DIE"1001: A Film Odyssey is produced, directed and written by Chris, a librarian.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04803620768028761898noreply@blogger.comBlogger1094125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622159271440854440.post-65689793222637885702020-07-16T21:25:00.000-05:002020-07-16T21:25:02.751-05:00OSCAR NOMINEES? YES. 1001 BOOK WORTHY? REMAINS TO BE SEEN.<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHOtIwLrOtgOjxoaM4wtCMj5Ngxj-6dE5PCDPNJxykk4ZCwhB4YnTzSSNo-ijfj8iG0Yrr1w6QLsLsMb804llv217oMwac0jXtXMu9KoeQoi8Ptj_zthX6Qj39K8sqvd5wAXl0w7FjHw/s1600/sunrise+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="554" data-original-width="1600" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHOtIwLrOtgOjxoaM4wtCMj5Ngxj-6dE5PCDPNJxykk4ZCwhB4YnTzSSNo-ijfj8iG0Yrr1w6QLsLsMb804llv217oMwac0jXtXMu9KoeQoi8Ptj_zthX6Qj39K8sqvd5wAXl0w7FjHw/s400/sunrise+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
In determining what films will make the updated edition of the 1001 Movie Book, it's a good idea to look at the Best Picture Nominees from the previous year. Usually at least half of them make the cut.<br />
I'm assuming of course that there will be an updated edition this year. I've listed these movies in what I think is likely to make the updated book.<br />
<br />
1.<i> Parasite</i>-Boon Joon-ho's film of the have and have nots took home the Best Picture and Best Foreign Language Oscar and even motivated people who don't normally watch Foreign language films to check it out. This is a sure thing to make the book. (Best Picture Winner, International Film Winner)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNq424HOfS-K5cIfGx3hgBXaDnyraOo-nPof1a8nadn4BXCh6is19MaCGN1Ug26mkK2M3oeW8tHsY1gLZAMy-6RalRzgoJzerTtJvoBuGAj3ZVNPwsR5lv4d7ck9mi80WyX_Q_oKyLWA/s1600/parasite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNq424HOfS-K5cIfGx3hgBXaDnyraOo-nPof1a8nadn4BXCh6is19MaCGN1Ug26mkK2M3oeW8tHsY1gLZAMy-6RalRzgoJzerTtJvoBuGAj3ZVNPwsR5lv4d7ck9mi80WyX_Q_oKyLWA/s320/parasite.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Parasite</i></div>
<br />
2. <i>Jojo Rabbit-</i>This offbeat film of a kid in Nazi Germany coping with a Jewish girl hiding in his house while being shadowed by his imaginary friend named Adolph has enough laughs, drama and critical acclimation to make the book (Best Picture Nominee)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1sVBJScX3sgwPX7dUvfg7xP30SWFacmnG3sc8eNarQd8WQxZL7lvbx56yZhyphenhyphenWuRVaZV6mY6KkZwfzFSWdxFteEriDW75acx4b_fsBFw1XHpsd3ZBjebfhAAVEevZAhTxGc5dET0rViA/s1600/jojo.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="720" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1sVBJScX3sgwPX7dUvfg7xP30SWFacmnG3sc8eNarQd8WQxZL7lvbx56yZhyphenhyphenWuRVaZV6mY6KkZwfzFSWdxFteEriDW75acx4b_fsBFw1XHpsd3ZBjebfhAAVEevZAhTxGc5dET0rViA/s320/jojo.webp" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> Jojo Rabbit</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
3.<i>1917</i>-This one long shot story of two soldiers racing to the front during WW1 has a chance to make it for the technical achievement alone. It's also important that you care about the people in the story that he makes it and we (at least I) do. This one should get in. (Best Picture Nominee)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19dJbDgzkY2l32NJj9zvxnb2_-DCERCdV9YBjJzb0xwcLLHvLNQ6MadnYBtVc2lfhe_f9t-g1WQbZZ8WuLwKngZxsGeCrYyF6ExQ7cphV5WcAzcbc6RHE3txSrNROYdsdVTFI7qXGJg/s1600/1917.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="580" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19dJbDgzkY2l32NJj9zvxnb2_-DCERCdV9YBjJzb0xwcLLHvLNQ6MadnYBtVc2lfhe_f9t-g1WQbZZ8WuLwKngZxsGeCrYyF6ExQ7cphV5WcAzcbc6RHE3txSrNROYdsdVTFI7qXGJg/s320/1917.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>1917</i><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
4.<i>Joker</i>-The retelling of the Joker origin story through a different lens than we are used to seems to be broken down into camps of loving it and hating it. I do think most agree on the emotionally powerfull performance of Joqauin Phoenix. I think this one gets in. (Best Picture Nominee)<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoW6jpsntF21LANamu6knT44KLwP5RhzjwSGH9Vu36I5n3hbFz0rnriuPe1bFwRn-oEkywBDhoiYb9K9USQJHOzfufi6796lAWOG0F_P09UR7PGzZh-RAgIPRideunHw99DbuXqdGlzg/s1600/joker.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="185" data-original-width="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoW6jpsntF21LANamu6knT44KLwP5RhzjwSGH9Vu36I5n3hbFz0rnriuPe1bFwRn-oEkywBDhoiYb9K9USQJHOzfufi6796lAWOG0F_P09UR7PGzZh-RAgIPRideunHw99DbuXqdGlzg/s1600/joker.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Joker</i></div>
<br />
5. <i>Once Upon a Time in Hollywood</i>-Quentin Tarantino's tale of Hollywood during the time of the Tate/Labianca murders has everything but Charles Manson's kitchen sink in it. I think this one gets in. though Tarantino's <i>The Hateful Eight</i> did not. (Best Picture Nominee)<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPlNOH3xtFN8II89WAmyjrfB8iNVkRz8kLoQP0-Z3Ggm4fTIelqkPHCOplim4sfdGBA-bouNRmKzXAOKtGa4wlRc7SHa-Y6IzwR3Rxe26J3-vWM3mRLZJOl9H6oejSPr8BQ96fqx3IXg/s1600/once.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1078" data-original-width="1600" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPlNOH3xtFN8II89WAmyjrfB8iNVkRz8kLoQP0-Z3Ggm4fTIelqkPHCOplim4sfdGBA-bouNRmKzXAOKtGa4wlRc7SHa-Y6IzwR3Rxe26J3-vWM3mRLZJOl9H6oejSPr8BQ96fqx3IXg/s320/once.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><i>Once Upon a Time in Hollywood</i></i><br />
<i><i><br /></i></i></div>
6.<i>Marriage Story</i>-Story about the breakup of a bi-coastal marriage is a strong family drama with stellar performances. I'm on the fence whether this one gets in the book. (Best Picture Nominee)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0-PecSbDEEjPNPERLLD2szQdBlSAQO7VSpxJJOn3LkxOnB5LeJtwWbpNDnMw9hyphenhyphenhiOL1d_gEq2lEcPt6jxOhXG3POnFc1TzWfxnzw4DCeXXEoK2HKdBzuWXin0lz4qK-40lngumt5g/s1600/marriage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1110" data-original-width="1600" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0-PecSbDEEjPNPERLLD2szQdBlSAQO7VSpxJJOn3LkxOnB5LeJtwWbpNDnMw9hyphenhyphenhiOL1d_gEq2lEcPt6jxOhXG3POnFc1TzWfxnzw4DCeXXEoK2HKdBzuWXin0lz4qK-40lngumt5g/s320/marriage.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Marriage Story</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
7. <i>The Irishman-Long film about teamster Jimmy Hoffa has been criticized for being too long and not quite to the level of some of other Scorsese films. I liked it, but still don't think it gets in.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0-PecSbDEEjPNPERLLD2szQdBlSAQO7VSpxJJOn3LkxOnB5LeJtwWbpNDnMw9hyphenhyphenhiOL1d_gEq2lEcPt6jxOhXG3POnFc1TzWfxnzw4DCeXXEoK2HKdBzuWXin0lz4qK-40lngumt5g/s1600/marriage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-yUJoFFr0yaf0Bk9nOq_p-HS-zaCpTKu8HPz2cvxmU7Qb5xrhwk4SnAiUZnl8FVFbevyGWut2S7Cb4tXERLraOPOF5wit5F5IrhyKHdZh7JE0m01i9pubkXvgC8YOFdoi6-g205hiQg/s1600/irish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="1296" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-yUJoFFr0yaf0Bk9nOq_p-HS-zaCpTKu8HPz2cvxmU7Qb5xrhwk4SnAiUZnl8FVFbevyGWut2S7Cb4tXERLraOPOF5wit5F5IrhyKHdZh7JE0m01i9pubkXvgC8YOFdoi6-g205hiQg/s320/irish.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<i>8. Ford v. Ferrari</i>-60's racing biography of Ken Miles and Carroll Shelby is an fine film and I learned about a story I knew little about. I still don't see this one getting in the book. (Best Picture Nominee)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwMr3ug6QLXyj1Zv007fsdCe_CAgfY29hZMjEW_8lCDPuqpFs20MHcykxbK8cgzSmEqdUpt1u_-QnOsrDtDHs0VwDIfgx6qxiAuG7LnDwKC283H2TagC19vSZKA_IbnYjYK298oqLTxQ/s1600/ford+v+ferrari.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwMr3ug6QLXyj1Zv007fsdCe_CAgfY29hZMjEW_8lCDPuqpFs20MHcykxbK8cgzSmEqdUpt1u_-QnOsrDtDHs0VwDIfgx6qxiAuG7LnDwKC283H2TagC19vSZKA_IbnYjYK298oqLTxQ/s320/ford+v+ferrari.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Ford v. Ferrari</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
9. <i>Little Women-</i>Nice, well-acted update of the classic even has sort of a meta-twist between the character of Jo and Louisa May Alcott. I still don't think it gets in the book. (Best Picture Nominee)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWbbgbz-BKadXnerD23Ia3io6ZOhyphenhyphenNd_aCxx-AZjxieT8tRLMFd7sVRj9HpCnsAwQpUooGXWYB5SDjJiqg6WC_ggSP9QLYVfHE3MmM3fE7dwXTJY9WsxTPaoNK1JGWo5QYr863BIStcw/s1600/little.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWbbgbz-BKadXnerD23Ia3io6ZOhyphenhyphenNd_aCxx-AZjxieT8tRLMFd7sVRj9HpCnsAwQpUooGXWYB5SDjJiqg6WC_ggSP9QLYVfHE3MmM3fE7dwXTJY9WsxTPaoNK1JGWo5QYr863BIStcw/s320/little.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-style: italic;">Little Women</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>
<i>10. Toy Story 4</i>-The first two <i>Toy Story</i> movies have been in different versions of the book and you really should see all four. I'm pretty sure Part 4 won't make the book, but you've gone this far with the toys, so you might as well see it to the end! (Best Animated Feature winner)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWaeR6RVE6UvQUUxnKBrdLVJmKnDXtn0J9Kxb4LKd9uZ6X07HtcyiQ7y9pGcSLuWASeBmAB-mtfYYoz3QRvLbn9SYS6mPGZRSBuMxKWPHyRPq5U8mC3R3pMVLtkVxqvGB3Ws93C_XgPg/s1600/toy+story.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="960" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWaeR6RVE6UvQUUxnKBrdLVJmKnDXtn0J9Kxb4LKd9uZ6X07HtcyiQ7y9pGcSLuWASeBmAB-mtfYYoz3QRvLbn9SYS6mPGZRSBuMxKWPHyRPq5U8mC3R3pMVLtkVxqvGB3Ws93C_XgPg/s320/toy+story.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Toy Story 4</i><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
11. <i>American Factory-</i>Fascinating story of a Detroit motor plant being taken over by Chinese management is definitely worth a watch. Documentaries have been slighted by the book in recent years and don't think this one gets in either. (Best Documentary winner)<br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_E2SdwiXYxEmRqKQMomK-1WIghhb-ISIFRPM3Tg4b3CijY_gv6hm5yHrKLPWEzkrXz-ZzZDteFDR5UeFkH_kaZS8oIMP1DmSFEGB9x0CpoZN6VB8-sL7qh3l82uaA6oI88ucQD7UNAg/s1600/american+factory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="960" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_E2SdwiXYxEmRqKQMomK-1WIghhb-ISIFRPM3Tg4b3CijY_gv6hm5yHrKLPWEzkrXz-ZzZDteFDR5UeFkH_kaZS8oIMP1DmSFEGB9x0CpoZN6VB8-sL7qh3l82uaA6oI88ucQD7UNAg/s320/american+factory.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>American Factory</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<div style="text-align: left;">
12. <i>Judy</i>-Renee Zellweger's great star turn as the older Judy Garland is work a look-especially fans on Hollywood bio's.Still very unlikely this makes the book. (Best Actress Winner)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJ24uLWk1IDcrU4boaOJQ7bk-3oYt3V_Ph9sGe8sejxp5bH5OZxQdC7gdDFWtn20yhyphenhyphenQ_h4DnUKnMQ2opLszA75eAdjvnIGmSzyCd5z3A4vIA2bRIUsPP4VSYg_k4o5Dt59GSdzPIQg/s1600/judy+judy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="174" data-original-width="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJ24uLWk1IDcrU4boaOJQ7bk-3oYt3V_Ph9sGe8sejxp5bH5OZxQdC7gdDFWtn20yhyphenhyphenQ_h4DnUKnMQ2opLszA75eAdjvnIGmSzyCd5z3A4vIA2bRIUsPP4VSYg_k4o5Dt59GSdzPIQg/s1600/judy+judy.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Judy</i></div>
</div>
1001: A Film Odyssey is produced, directed and written by Chris, a librarian.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04803620768028761898noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622159271440854440.post-75519381552303876882020-07-09T21:15:00.000-05:002020-07-09T21:15:09.490-05:00BLACK LIKE ME (1964), WATERMELON MAN (1970)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguzgTCE0PekQ7DpmJqLDcSeUxzROLbMmEVm23BtDNSD_OyPTcMRD4h6nIion1m4pvjSGASIvNjkgC21dy24qNcKU1rpTAXJ5bCwifl3_1eGdtpzLMUj6CmNZWxzCaj9QKQpQlAbJqQsw/s1600/black+like+me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguzgTCE0PekQ7DpmJqLDcSeUxzROLbMmEVm23BtDNSD_OyPTcMRD4h6nIion1m4pvjSGASIvNjkgC21dy24qNcKU1rpTAXJ5bCwifl3_1eGdtpzLMUj6CmNZWxzCaj9QKQpQlAbJqQsw/s320/black+like+me.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Journalist John Horton (James Whitmore) gets some </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"how to be black" advice from shoeshine man Burt Wilson</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Richard Ward) in <i>Black Like Me</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
"With James Whitmore blackened to look like and end man in a minstrel show-<i>Black Like Me </i>shows the abuse and mental torment to which this man is exposed when he makes a knowledge-seeking tour through the South."-Bosley Crowther, <i>New York Times</i>, May 23, 1964<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
White Man's Burden...<br />
<br />
Texas journalist John Howard Griffin went into the deep south and posed as a black man in 1959. He wrote about his experiences in the book <i>Black Like Me</i> and the subsequent film. The movie features James Whitmore as Griffin (Horton in the film). Horton comes across as an articulate educated guy when he is white and plays it exactly the same when he goes undercover...just with a darker complexion. He seems to meet an awful lot of bad white people who talk to him like he's garbage and constantly make crass comments about black women folk. Horton becomes despondent about his situation very quickly and wants to quit this experiment. He acts like he's been dropped into a war zone...and maybe he has...Lessons are learned.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ul5fA2M48_g79fS0CHF_wp08w-42QQMrBRINNGPE7Hfo2kWo_qLaT3eIeoeyARanZAC03qFw90kK1vKPkhh-fgWlWI18bp1VALDYi7u-vBdS2IeYUa6pQge-gseVyrekXnSL1Vetdw/s1600/black+like+me+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="323" data-original-width="220" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ul5fA2M48_g79fS0CHF_wp08w-42QQMrBRINNGPE7Hfo2kWo_qLaT3eIeoeyARanZAC03qFw90kK1vKPkhh-fgWlWI18bp1VALDYi7u-vBdS2IeYUa6pQge-gseVyrekXnSL1Vetdw/s320/black+like+me+2.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiT9woBv2dw-is_zD4J3WBDOisgN8gXIL19B1MyLbeQaKrlLx3NkhfGuE9tdAn0jYOM395gF-Q0nQTI96L8g4ahBx5dPHCrtJTHKZ9MYaHpXdjcRLOPIx77NfpAYBsaYOrw94YUjpOhQ/s1600/watermelon+man.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1170" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiT9woBv2dw-is_zD4J3WBDOisgN8gXIL19B1MyLbeQaKrlLx3NkhfGuE9tdAn0jYOM395gF-Q0nQTI96L8g4ahBx5dPHCrtJTHKZ9MYaHpXdjcRLOPIx77NfpAYBsaYOrw94YUjpOhQ/s320/watermelon+man.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Jeff Gerber (Godfrey Cambridge<i>) </i>discovers a change </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
one morning in <i>Watermelon Man</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Black Man's Burden...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I first caught <i>Watermelon Man</i> on late night TV back when I was in high school. It's about a loud-mouthed white bigoted insurance salesman named Jeff Gerber (Godfrey Cambridge) who wakes up one morning to find out he has turned into a black man. I thought it was funny then and watching the whole thing now, I still think so, with Cambridge landing most of his lines most effectively. I do think at times Herman Raucher's story teeters close to the edge between comedy and drama, but I don't mind that at all. I like the surprisingly serious ending as well, which was a conscious choice by director Melvin Van Peebles and differed from the original concept.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The movie didn't get great reviews, even getting mercilessly panned in The New York Times and seems to be largely forgotten. That is until I recently saw it pop up on Amazon Prime. I say give it a go. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0MQl9EzCXk0hVPmjo93PGDnwUe1jX7NOZTFpeR9s99iNUcCT-A2nm515kQ-w4Susi1cH7Riv8dj1Uf0jVHi6sc3wpkrOIoTGPxYBJMVw7OhutqWif0Yjcgg26lnU5R9UC6TRMS6K2Yg/s1600/watermelon+man+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="284" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0MQl9EzCXk0hVPmjo93PGDnwUe1jX7NOZTFpeR9s99iNUcCT-A2nm515kQ-w4Susi1cH7Riv8dj1Uf0jVHi6sc3wpkrOIoTGPxYBJMVw7OhutqWif0Yjcgg26lnU5R9UC6TRMS6K2Yg/s320/watermelon+man+2.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
1001: A Film Odyssey is produced, directed and written by Chris, a librarian.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04803620768028761898noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622159271440854440.post-63131263346192288782020-07-06T12:00:00.000-05:002020-07-06T12:00:05.392-05:00JULIET OF THE SPIRITS (1965, ITALY), SPIRITS OF THE DEAD (1969, ITALY)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB394pTB_01jbaYbd2_n63lOjxbkdUA7L4DWgOoc8LmRJ6Y-isiuK3njfwixnuX7da1NpDdVze9ig7S7VNhmRc6Lf34wxonfzV5uCr-wu8B58XZ3ZKv0_dr-PHLpsYN2lrW07xWM9WKg/s1600/juliet+of+the+spirits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="345" data-original-width="630" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB394pTB_01jbaYbd2_n63lOjxbkdUA7L4DWgOoc8LmRJ6Y-isiuK3njfwixnuX7da1NpDdVze9ig7S7VNhmRc6Lf34wxonfzV5uCr-wu8B58XZ3ZKv0_dr-PHLpsYN2lrW07xWM9WKg/s400/juliet+of+the+spirits.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Juliet of the Spirits</i><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
"Mr. Fellini is not trying to resolve a mystery. he is trying primarily to give you an exciting experience on the screen, generated by a bold conglomeration of visual an aural stimuli. And that he does, with becoming accretions of humor and poignancy."-Bosley Crowther, New York Times, November 4, 1965.<br />
<br />
Ah, Fellini. He's either brilliant and awe inspiring or confusing and mind numbing.<i> </i>Fellini's <i>Juliet of the Spirits </i>has a simple basic plot of a middle-aged married woman's (frequent Fellini muse Guilietta Masina) suspicion that her husband might be having an affair. She experiences a search for incriminating facts and embraces new dimensions of self-awareness through dreams, mediums, psychics, witchcraft, mysticism and a more traditional private detective. I really have to be in the right mood to watch a Fellini film and maybe my mind wasn't totally engaged. However, I did appreciate the "bold conglomeration of visual and aural stimuli" upon reflection.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmdstS28seAXvcP3jaZ5ZUeqFRmtsXFopemBskXakCWJ2-kNmp6MkG2zRpUQ0Reh-nommeCxdU8lu3cWDtkbBpy0CxOkgfr_MrTC2BYv-3IVVYwEja7AxdW8YFptQkFj7hJoQjqj95kw/s1600/spirits+of+the+dead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1179" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmdstS28seAXvcP3jaZ5ZUeqFRmtsXFopemBskXakCWJ2-kNmp6MkG2zRpUQ0Reh-nommeCxdU8lu3cWDtkbBpy0CxOkgfr_MrTC2BYv-3IVVYwEja7AxdW8YFptQkFj7hJoQjqj95kw/s400/spirits+of+the+dead.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Spirits of the Dead</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br />
</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>"Toby Dammit" </i>the first Fellini film to be seen since <i>Juliet of the Spirits</i> is marvelous: a short movie but a major one. I would have never thought Fellini and Poe had much in common, but the Italian director has assimilated his source material in such a way that it has become a kind of postscript to "La Dolce Vita," the picture of an exhausted once beautiful person handing his soul over to the devil."-Vincent Canby, <i>New York Times</i>, September 4, 1969,<br />
<br />
<i>Spirits of the Dead</i> features three short films loosely based on stories by Edgar Allen Poe. The first two films, from Roger Vadim and Louis Malle, set a pretty ethereal mood for the storytelling with differing degrees of success. Then we come to the Fellini portion (<i>Toby Dammit</i>) and it is nothing in tone like the other two. The film reminds me a bit of <i>8 1/2</i>, with an actor replacing the director as the main character.. We also get the smorgasbord of Fellini characters that we have become accustomed to in the just mentioned <i>Juliet of the Spirit</i>s and his subsequent <i>Satyricon.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
I don't know if I'll ever visit Mr. Fellini again, but I appreciate his original way of telling a story and his creativity. I can't say I get where he's going all the time, but I don't think I'm supposed to.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq0GaL4hfjgtpUZI36Dvd7tINKfktgasMsVaui2wSyNnZkAxrFHy0cs3wqIK6QSzz4wae45wnZY3RIIXHIUWeVrGg-nex-1xiMGp-nvzWZH875tm6RzwOL9RpMPSLH3SVqehlNTrTuBg/s1600/fellini.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="705" data-original-width="1100" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq0GaL4hfjgtpUZI36Dvd7tINKfktgasMsVaui2wSyNnZkAxrFHy0cs3wqIK6QSzz4wae45wnZY3RIIXHIUWeVrGg-nex-1xiMGp-nvzWZH875tm6RzwOL9RpMPSLH3SVqehlNTrTuBg/s320/fellini.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Federico Fellini (1920-1993)<br />
<span style="text-align: left;">Guilietta Masina (1921-1994)</span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;">Married from 1943-1993 (his death)</span></div>
<br /></div>
1001: A Film Odyssey is produced, directed and written by Chris, a librarian.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04803620768028761898noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622159271440854440.post-11330425362927573992020-02-29T02:45:00.000-06:002020-03-06T16:20:12.655-06:00THE UP SERIES (1964-2019, GREAT BRITAIN)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Given me a child when he is seven and I will give you the man</i>.-Jesuit proverb</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFkVU6GmM1605s7jPk4l2zURX6hfs40fadFhyLusvTwH5twZPgg3ceN3pJYOGm85FHqtVkbDIMvFrfp1jNOGPqaJwNv8c9FBq2r5DEayZs7A_-fNkw8nO9zxovs-PQdPh7XvCcLPcHQ/s1600/up+series+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="400" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFkVU6GmM1605s7jPk4l2zURX6hfs40fadFhyLusvTwH5twZPgg3ceN3pJYOGm85FHqtVkbDIMvFrfp1jNOGPqaJwNv8c9FBq2r5DEayZs7A_-fNkw8nO9zxovs-PQdPh7XvCcLPcHQ/s320/up+series+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The featured players of the <i>Up</i> series</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
at different life stages</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In 1964, Granada television in Britain chose fourteen seven-year-old subjects for a television special about what it was like to be that age. This original film was directed by Paul Diamond and was originally supposed to be a one and off special. The subjects of the film were chosen by a young researcher named Michael Apted, who saw the potential for something really special here. Apted took over as director of the project and filmed the children again at age fourteen in 1970. He then filmed all the subjects in the film every seven years (all that would participate) all the way until <i>63 Up</i> in 2019.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I had heard about this series over the years, but never watched it. We got the <i>56 Up!</i> DVD at the library a couple of years ago, but really wanted to see the films from the beginning. In recent weeks, I noticed Britbox had all the episodes and my wife and I decided to plunge in and watch them.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I don't binge watch shows often, but <i>The Up Series</i> is definitely one I'd recommend going that route with. I feel like I just met these seven-year-old kids a couple of weeks ago and watching a show a night, they quickly are all reaching retirement age. It acts like an only slightly less speedy <i>Picture of Dorian Gray </i>with the featured kids.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We see the participants make schooling decisions, marriage decisions, career decisions and family decisions. Through the episodes, the extended family of the participants become players in this drama as well. Other participants keep their family out of it entirely. We also see past shows cleverly edited into each new show to give the viewer perspective.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
One of the elements in the choosing of the original subjects is class. You have the prep school boys, seemingly born with silver spoons in their mouth and poorer East End kids that have to struggle for everything. The truth is of course much more complicated than that.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here are the subjects for the film:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9PlxB8yJB6wKQXvHit8LwwObKURtmcgXhnMQ1sPUBISc7aG63V5YaYcUht3SigAQgnVJDpPpEtmffptnmYqYeV84RgQ85Woo9cveWGrzzYaZfEQM4mrpfFkznYBgfrDsafx_zaG3wHQ/s1600/up+series+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="189" data-original-width="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9PlxB8yJB6wKQXvHit8LwwObKURtmcgXhnMQ1sPUBISc7aG63V5YaYcUht3SigAQgnVJDpPpEtmffptnmYqYeV84RgQ85Woo9cveWGrzzYaZfEQM4mrpfFkznYBgfrDsafx_zaG3wHQ/s1600/up+series+6.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
John, Andrew and Charles on the couch</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
in <i>14 Up</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>The Three Prep School Boys on the Couch</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
John Brisby, one of the upper class kids, was seemingly on the path to being a barrister from age seven. He likes to point out in later episodes that he had to struggle a lot more than what is portrayed in the earlier films.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Andrew Brackfield was one of the funniest of the seven year old kids, going on about he read <i>The Financial Time</i>s on a daily basis. He later became a solicitor, but seems to spend a lot of time in his garden as the years go on. He appears to have one of the happier marriages and families in the film.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Charles Furneaux is the third of the Prep School boys. Charles didn't participate in any films after 21 Up, despite later becoming a documentary filmmaker himself!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi704psH0QSYGCRrTnMMIxP9OuYQDRhil95cHq8hRFB-DfC3qai5vALpfzgNwlcLcD8lNRsXZly5kZjcobJBLaSY9GwUOW57oNkpl7u-fJy-5LcH1p0OehKx7dsQkTjg-zKrjxFuO6KEg/s320/up+series+5.jpg" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Jackie, Lynn and Sue on the slide at age seven</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>The Three Working Class Girls on the Couch</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Jackie Bassett is one of the three girls in the film that are usually filmed together. Her life has had her ups and downs with marriages, kids, work and health. She often seems to have a love/hate relationship with director Apted. I find her one of the most interesting subjects in the film.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Lynn Johnson was one of Jackie's friends who <i>definitely</i> had her ups and downs. She married young and had a family early, but kept her marriage together throughout her life. I certainly like the fact that she worked at libraries and a bookmobile for many years. She had many health issues over the years which she talks about in many episodes. She died in 2013 at the age of 57.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Sue Davis is the third of the three girls filmed together in episode one. She had her ups and downs with marriage and divorce over the years. She also had a potential singing career that she points out she was never able to follow through with. In later years, she is seen as being happily engaged to the same man for 21 years!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>The Charity Boarding School Classmates</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Symon Basterfield was the only participant of mixed race in this film. He worked at various jobs over the years which the viewer gets to experience vicariously (There's Symon on the fork lift again!). He married and had five kids only to divorce. His second wife was a strong presence in <i>49 Up</i> and <i>56 Up</i>.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Paul Kliegerman was also one of the funniest of the kids at seven. The clip that they show about his fear of marriage because his wife might serve him greens makes me laugh every time they show it. In actuality, Paul has had the same wife since <i>21 Up</i>, and we see many of their travels through the outback and raising of their family over the years. One of the most likable participants in the film, we see Paul reunited with his classmate Symon in <i>49 Up</i> (or was that <i>42 Up</i>?)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5BN9P4WmoFPqJ2qvVEfJsv3hUUCW3iPTCp5Y1fyc4JZ53Er5yNqIWllIUamTgzMKtgj62SSZnD8LJTVnLFQ1rO2ASS3D09GBPPQ3Q29sVyZPO4MOs4HC367tpnsQHblMtlgQsLWBsrw/s320/up+series+2.jpg" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The entire group together at <i>21 Up</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>The Academics</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Bruce Balden may be the person I identify the most with in the film. Always concerned about social issues and injustice early on, he becomes a teacher in the inner city and in Bangla Desh for awhile. It didn't seem like he would ever get married, but did in <i>35 Up</i> in a ceremony conducted by fellow Up participant Neil Hughes.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Nick Hitchon started out on a farm and went to boarding school before going to Oxford and eventually becoming a professor specializing in Nuclear Fusion at the University of Wisconsin. Nick's first marriage is documented in <i>28 Up</i>, but that didn't last and seems happy with his second wife in later episodes. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>I just want to promote me band!</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Peter Davies was a Liverpudlian youth who in 21 Up said some negative things about the Thatcher Administration which he got some criticism for and decided not to participate in the series again until <i>56 Up</i> to promote his folk band!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>This is pointless and silly!</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Suzy Lusk had a most interesting evolution on the show. She went from being one of the rich kids in the beginning to being from a broken home and deciding the project was "pointless and silly" by the age of 14. At 21, she was an angry chain-smoking young lady who would never want to have kids and was mad at the world. By 28, she married someone who seemed to change her worldview for the better and has appeared to have a happy life (with kids!).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDmPe8JMvylnvsDD9L6YIMVD4Hb59_Ct86xyky2IV1tpD9-i6hO-Y4HYqBEIge9sJGnxanKjdjJ_q6754uGrKylA8wXZlsIBwmO4kWj1cDdDW9ljear2YgCGp-jFQufx1BaLCC0B_2w/s1600/up+series+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="615" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDmPe8JMvylnvsDD9L6YIMVD4Hb59_Ct86xyky2IV1tpD9-i6hO-Y4HYqBEIge9sJGnxanKjdjJ_q6754uGrKylA8wXZlsIBwmO4kWj1cDdDW9ljear2YgCGp-jFQufx1BaLCC0B_2w/s320/up+series+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Tony Walker at <i>7 Up </i>and <i>56 Up</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>The breakout stars</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Tony Walker-"I want to be a jockey when I grow up. I want to be a jockey when I grow up!" I always quote Tony's seven-year-old aspirations to my wife before we start a new episode. Tony is one of the lower East Side kids who did indeed become a jockey for awhile before becoming a taxi driver among other things. The fast talking Tony seems to be one of those people who can probably get away with a lot just by talking his way out of things. Married at 28, his wife was featured in all the subsequent episodes and they are not afraid to speak openly about the highs and lows of their relationship.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5cEsHf296vvP-Uq4ZQJPquDHUzmu_2bADmx9K70ZeinNzu5-eQZjIFMW3tYRLZ-nUM1sx6HLHpQhgsu99wISF9mZvuuDGBzsQsPkaBbZTVpIBzF6DCJ3UnXXGR8pqnccL2RY4J44NVw/s320/up+series+4.jpg" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Neil Hughes at 56 Up and 7 Up</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Neil Hughes was the Liverpool youth who had aspirations, yet never seemed to find his way. He was often depicted throughout the run of the show as homeless or suffering from a form of mental illness-yet always finding a way to survive. He later became a local councilman and even a preacher (performing the marriage ceremony for Bruce Balden).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I think for the most part the participants haven been shown in a positive light. I mean there aren't any villains in this piece (Maybe Charles, only because he wouldn't participate after 21 Up) and I hope the lives of all of them continue to improve through 63 Up, 70 Up, 77 Up...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
1001: A Film Odyssey is produced, directed and written by Chris, a librarian.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04803620768028761898noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622159271440854440.post-81286674351948758552020-02-27T18:02:00.000-06:002020-02-27T18:02:07.031-06:00THE UNBELIEVABLE TRUTH (1989), TRUST (1990)<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinPLeYOyY7UI6sKutz3KktFYcYXYbAukCu1MSyFZmPwGU6wTL3SoycLX_ccpKeleSSgPg03LCgl239XUI5ZaiYdmXFcBrkGVGGoi1Ts-K6l_ImX9AYSdpTJ7UxPXs_ETKEmukwobv2wQ/s1600/unbelievable+truth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinPLeYOyY7UI6sKutz3KktFYcYXYbAukCu1MSyFZmPwGU6wTL3SoycLX_ccpKeleSSgPg03LCgl239XUI5ZaiYdmXFcBrkGVGGoi1Ts-K6l_ImX9AYSdpTJ7UxPXs_ETKEmukwobv2wQ/s320/unbelievable+truth.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Adrienne Shelly and Robert Burke</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
seek out <i>The Unbelievable Truth</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Director Hal Hartley's three decade (so far) career as an indie film director began with his 1989 film<i> The Unbelievable Truth</i> in 1989. It's a story about a mechanic named Josh (Robert Burke) who returns to his hometown after a stretch in prison for a murder he may or may not have committed. He gets involved with Audry (<span style="text-align: center;">Adrienne Shelly), the daughter</span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span>of the owner of the garage where he lands a job. It's a nice little film with interesting plot twists and characters and I really have to give credit to any film with a budget of $75,000 (even in 1989 dollars).</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPU15ip7X4u5fNkNC-nmkpwKptTkcEXmA-_ALfL_stOLNwdlziJCH4fb6aBRQI2HF6oj27AdF6u-isrkV4R32cak0KY3cYBgJ__evylfCRkj2fPjlugS6wiv8WmfDqbXqZRrxsMdYzug/s1600/trust.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPU15ip7X4u5fNkNC-nmkpwKptTkcEXmA-_ALfL_stOLNwdlziJCH4fb6aBRQI2HF6oj27AdF6u-isrkV4R32cak0KY3cYBgJ__evylfCRkj2fPjlugS6wiv8WmfDqbXqZRrxsMdYzug/s320/trust.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Adrienne Shelly and Martin Donovan </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
learn to<i> Trust </i>each other</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="text-align: left;">Trust</i><span style="text-align: left;"> is Hal Hartley's low-budget romance about a pregnant high schooler named Maria that accidentally kills her dad, gets banished by her mother, dumped by her boyfriend, survives an attempted rape in a store...before hooking up with a electronics repairman named Matthew whose main character flaw is that he is too ethical to hold a job. Matthew has parental problems of his own with his oddly controlling father. The characters of Maria and Matthew grew on me after awhile (especially Adrienne Shelly as the girl) and the film has some nice touches of dark humor and some poignancy as well.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: left;">Leading lady Adrienne Shelly later became a director in her own right (<i>Waitress</i>), but her promising career was cut short by her tragic death in 2006 at the age of 40.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeEn1JiWI509-ZR2dwTBMjgRY5758wz7jJH4wKwAGquuTuemYitB8CZpkoJe9-uS0whrKm_U41pHJ2ZzQY585jz4RPLAemdh-_8q71ZYVSphLEhUeFUkvMFfsrJ0gAgtQ9-wxUbdHAeg/s1600/adrienne+shelley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeEn1JiWI509-ZR2dwTBMjgRY5758wz7jJH4wKwAGquuTuemYitB8CZpkoJe9-uS0whrKm_U41pHJ2ZzQY585jz4RPLAemdh-_8q71ZYVSphLEhUeFUkvMFfsrJ0gAgtQ9-wxUbdHAeg/s320/adrienne+shelley.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;">Adrienne Shelly in <i>Waitress</i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
1001: A Film Odyssey is produced, directed and written by Chris, a librarian.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04803620768028761898noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622159271440854440.post-75049424227976807112020-02-24T01:38:00.000-06:002020-02-24T01:38:02.026-06:00A QUESTION OF SILENCE (1982), CAROL (2015)<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHm48k1oP4kCzPolXnabhKG8i0lf5YBHM1Xk_bBhwHcXBHaj9qxU9CzYDiut2KrgjYw4sQ0dUvobvC38jWxGZUEDcol8W2Ipoj8-_t7OvJx-V2cN62TXZykPRgSDdKnoQkddKweoVO6g/s1600/question+of+silence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="408" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHm48k1oP4kCzPolXnabhKG8i0lf5YBHM1Xk_bBhwHcXBHaj9qxU9CzYDiut2KrgjYw4sQ0dUvobvC38jWxGZUEDcol8W2Ipoj8-_t7OvJx-V2cN62TXZykPRgSDdKnoQkddKweoVO6g/s320/question+of+silence.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Three women converge of the shop owner<br />
in <i>A Question of Silence</i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span id="goog_1428754526"></span><i>A Question of Silence</i> is a story of three women. One is a seemingly happy, plump middle aged waitress. But is she <i>really</i> happy? She's alone and perhaps she isn't really as contented as she seems. Another is an attractive office assistant. Her boss relies on her to run the office, but seems to have little respect for her ideas. The third is a housewife with a family. The three women don't know each other but find themselves at a dress shop one day. The housewife attempts to steal a garment and is approached by the owner. The three women converge of him and...well, they beat him to death.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The women are in custody and are interviewed by a female criminal psychiatrist named Janine. Janine tries to understand them at first and actually comes to sympathize with them as time goes on.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
A feminist parable to be sure. What is the director/writer Gorris trying to say? And should a man watch this with a different eye than a woman? I'm not sure, but I don't think anyone watches <i>A Question of Silence</i> and says, "Wow, that was entertaining!" Of course, it wasn't meant to be.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rgFb_kR_6x2eT1dKrMvp0QhHJIY2dEA2LMz8rz0sfGcMPvvtz8iqJF6HQjmuUwLY8pB9kBi4ybqdxpOowMePeBNaSUElLZZyy5LFCa7ZZRJIfnvcIoSV6xYaOPnpFlbtpP7For9Xvg/s1600/question+of+silence+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="841" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rgFb_kR_6x2eT1dKrMvp0QhHJIY2dEA2LMz8rz0sfGcMPvvtz8iqJF6HQjmuUwLY8pB9kBi4ybqdxpOowMePeBNaSUElLZZyy5LFCa7ZZRJIfnvcIoSV6xYaOPnpFlbtpP7For9Xvg/s320/question+of+silence+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZsKsGEONOp3ZJKgTyAnuBTZHLxQcrDjJPr9ylbXGZfqEFVoL2gJ07HCB_NvGqQ1bwHJZdcFwqb2at0w0jxHX2qVgSaDfdc-UHp01C_FyUNX3Hffm04dqLi91PfjeErHBEFqhLL_7eYQ/s1600/carol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZsKsGEONOp3ZJKgTyAnuBTZHLxQcrDjJPr9ylbXGZfqEFVoL2gJ07HCB_NvGqQ1bwHJZdcFwqb2at0w0jxHX2qVgSaDfdc-UHp01C_FyUNX3Hffm04dqLi91PfjeErHBEFqhLL_7eYQ/s320/carol.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Carol (Cate Blanchette) meets Therese (Rooney Mara)<br />
in <i>Carol</i><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
We recently read the 1952 novel <i>The Price of Salt</i> by Patricia Highsmith for my book club. It is the story of a young lady named Therese who slowly becomes enamored by an older married woman named Carol. It is a book that really delves into Therese's thoughts and somehow makes intricate details and mundane thoughts interesting. I actually liked this book more than some of the women in my book group who thought she relied on this detail too much and neglected getting on with the story.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Having read the book makes the praised film adaptation <i>Carol</i> interesting. I've seen it before, but looking at it right after reading the book makes it seem somehow less than when I first saw it. Granted, film is a different medium and taken as a stand alone without knowing about the book, it is a pretty good study of these two women. It also recreates the time well and Cate Blanchette and Rooney Mara are good in the lead roles.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Overall, the story is about a clear love between two women that can not be expressed because of the time and the situation they are in. But the end surprisingly does give them and the reader (or viewer) hope that they can both ultimately be happy.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2UcdkeYP4-foZXM8ZwVrW4-ry3qJUJLVygh86P3DzLNAbPJGoxAlfJCyKz909-fH7c0RR_6FrDgKJ01dEYP3NpOyaytUIW_uEyVV-pkMLUGgVDbYSKbhuubNkl-tckssd-SFUhkpaA/s1600/price+of+salt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2UcdkeYP4-foZXM8ZwVrW4-ry3qJUJLVygh86P3DzLNAbPJGoxAlfJCyKz909-fH7c0RR_6FrDgKJ01dEYP3NpOyaytUIW_uEyVV-pkMLUGgVDbYSKbhuubNkl-tckssd-SFUhkpaA/s1600/price+of+salt.jpg" /></a></div>
The Price of Salt<br />
(listed under Highsmith's alias<br />
Claire Morgan)</div>
1001: A Film Odyssey is produced, directed and written by Chris, a librarian.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04803620768028761898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622159271440854440.post-29566176414553876242020-02-21T03:00:00.000-06:002020-02-21T03:00:03.630-06:00ECSTASY (1933, CZECHOSLOVOKIA), SAMSON AND DELILAH (1948), BOMBSHELL: THE HEDY LAMARR STORY (2017)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YhaHmIZAVJag-3dR1DuWNPvR8RBPdb2F5KHcE8WhQ5w_64cquCifSLUA5Mn_pSS9vuEpCtLZxOQr18KSUxJNGRyGHe1cvf5rUJ2cBp3eEFFPNPGXD-vSgwoZ2oVo6QQeidbdba2o9A/s1600/ECSTASY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="198" data-original-width="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YhaHmIZAVJag-3dR1DuWNPvR8RBPdb2F5KHcE8WhQ5w_64cquCifSLUA5Mn_pSS9vuEpCtLZxOQr18KSUxJNGRyGHe1cvf5rUJ2cBp3eEFFPNPGXD-vSgwoZ2oVo6QQeidbdba2o9A/s1600/ECSTASY.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hedy Kielser naked and afraid<br />
in <i>Ecstasy</i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: center;">The Czech film <i>Ecstasy</i></span> is a somewhat puzzling film to watch. It is about a bride named Eva who is on her honeymoon with her older husband named Emil and suddenly realizes she doesn't love him and leaves him to go back to the comfort of her family. While swimming and chasing a horse before she is able to get her clothes on she meets a builder who eventually becomes her lover. Emil eventually comes back to try to reconcile with Eva and complications ensue.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: center;"><i>Ecstasy</i></span> director Gustav Machaty and his cinematographer definitely have some cinematic skill with their often offbeat camera angles and slow pacing. The film itself often plays like a silent, with minutes between dialogue even though sound had been around for several years when this film was shot! It's not a bad film now that I think about it, but there's really only one reason it's remembered today.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Heddy Lamar</b>: Eva is played by Austrian Hedy Kiesler, who later became famous in America under the name of Heddy Lamar. Her scene when she is running after her horse in the nude was considered quite scandalous at the time, but it did give her some attention which later led to her emigration to the United States and becoming a star for MGM studios in the 40's.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6PBX-tMy8KR5nTBZyIOuC6_Z9CNZiolbVrXj2nQNbB8fObmvJntr05-0ZsYcQkPnZ-nMySAhXt__UjpGIS-9a1g3fI_5WlVx7gU6zXSadgSSfUCNMoILJkt4vDLR6M8Bok9Z_pUFRcw/s1600/samson+and+delilah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="819" data-original-width="1118" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6PBX-tMy8KR5nTBZyIOuC6_Z9CNZiolbVrXj2nQNbB8fObmvJntr05-0ZsYcQkPnZ-nMySAhXt__UjpGIS-9a1g3fI_5WlVx7gU6zXSadgSSfUCNMoILJkt4vDLR6M8Bok9Z_pUFRcw/s320/samson+and+delilah.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Heddy Lamar using her body </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
in <i>Sampson and Delilah</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Samson and Delilah</i> was one of the biggest hits MGM and director Cecil B. Demille had during the 1940's.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Heddy Lamar played the seductive temptress Delilah and she did indeed have looks to kill for...or at least get your haircut for. I actually liked this film more than I thought I would (I think I'm just growing soft for old movies). The final destruction of the temple as well as other action scenes (such as Samson kicking ass with the jawbone of an ass) makes for a pretty good spectacle and Lamar's co-star Victor Mature is able as the mighty Samson. We also have on hand a young Angela Lansbury as Delilah's sister and the always wonderful (to me) George Sanders as the Saran.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGtgJImsHIMtc7iizQbDL2Jm_4VVqE1P3pPaXkZF1ylCqA_CJ2sT4JOSkDYUV7nFNi0SKadi6bhN2W0Myfnf-0ss25_pndUX8l3g9zASuRjBIsbBLyYK2HHfPuVWTDyZFwrdNPJhmhQ/s320/heddy+lamar+bombshell.jpg" /> </div>
Heddy Lamar using her brain<br />
in <i>Bombshell: The Heddy Lamar Story</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
The last film of my Heddy Lamar triple feature is the documentary <i>Bombshell: The Heddy Lamar Story</i>. This film shows Heddy's rise from a Czech ingenue to a major Hollywood star, her many marriages and the many peaks and valleys of her career before becoming a recluse later in life. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
One of the noted aspects of this documentary is showing Heddy's...brain. She is credited (or maybe not credited enough) with the development of "frequency hopping"to prevent enemy subs and such for picking up on messages delivered to allies during World War II. She and George Antheil were awarded a patent on this in 1942 and was used as a valuable tool in keeping transmissions secret in subsequent years (and wars.)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix6TNvm08KFhmFHYOOVT0bV7xo6XrUzoM2ww3xMaYw8LJy5DVcZiTlTZYq_lE8-9cMsqlMOCM4dSvYTYT3T8gXIPuBLD62b0Oe2FwPs3VI74WbtS1tz-K-gZEVvxMztaFsMMkrw4Aw-Q/s1600/hedley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix6TNvm08KFhmFHYOOVT0bV7xo6XrUzoM2ww3xMaYw8LJy5DVcZiTlTZYq_lE8-9cMsqlMOCM4dSvYTYT3T8gXIPuBLD62b0Oe2FwPs3VI74WbtS1tz-K-gZEVvxMztaFsMMkrw4Aw-Q/s320/hedley.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
</div>
1001: A Film Odyssey is produced, directed and written by Chris, a librarian.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04803620768028761898noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622159271440854440.post-31167917290039402562020-02-18T07:09:00.000-06:002020-02-18T07:09:09.225-06:00DIVA (1981, FRANCE), SABOTEUR (1942)<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4XbqYYlvZS9Rjb-_cfqlm4VOkAfZtZL9k622oxq-luQo4570oc8ZzeY-AzR7PS7FwiwhE0kyEQGlbxVnl79cb96PqTr0vKB_fDr1oVlWcgy5gTX7z3LTbHCSV4f1qxJOXxTEr0jiWEw/s1600/diva+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1522" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4XbqYYlvZS9Rjb-_cfqlm4VOkAfZtZL9k622oxq-luQo4570oc8ZzeY-AzR7PS7FwiwhE0kyEQGlbxVnl79cb96PqTr0vKB_fDr1oVlWcgy5gTX7z3LTbHCSV4f1qxJOXxTEr0jiWEw/s320/diva+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jules the postman (Frederic Andrei) </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
shares his love of the <i>Diva </i>with a friend</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Diva</i> is the story of a young Parisian postman who literally bumps into a prostitute with an incriminating cassette tape that she hides in Jules's moped. The prostitute is killed and Jules finds he is quickly in over his head in a situation not of his choosing. The plot of the film also involves Jules's obsession with an classical singer named Cynthia Hawkins who never lets herself be recorded. Ah! But Jules has a bootleg recording of her, which he listens to constantly. So essentially Jules has one recording he loves and another one that he wants no part of.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This engaging French thriller reminds me a great deal of some of Alfred Hitchcock's movies that feature an everyman that gets involved in a situation way over his head, such as <i>The Man Who Knew Too Much.</i> That film also had a similar musical tie-in in the plot.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisLmEMxqmlomQwdWRzgfQfBIZ39_meaSSVe5pYp9WdVXsUGiUyhCyosOiQJSIodghu9iofoQasihzVdk3_YLTtUDivT86TsXGHEYL36a_vqRH-guwp-rscugs80Cbb9nOSmiY7aIpuJQ/s1600/diva+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1440" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisLmEMxqmlomQwdWRzgfQfBIZ39_meaSSVe5pYp9WdVXsUGiUyhCyosOiQJSIodghu9iofoQasihzVdk3_YLTtUDivT86TsXGHEYL36a_vqRH-guwp-rscugs80Cbb9nOSmiY7aIpuJQ/s320/diva+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Diva</i> Cynthia Hawkins (Wilhelmenia Fernandez) </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
sings live...so don't record her!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I wanted to team <i>Diva</i> up with a Hitchcock film that I hadn't seen before, so I chose <i>Saboteur</i>, a 1942 film which also features an average guy that gets involved in a situation over his head<i>.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Aircraft factory worker Barry Kane (Bob Cummings) is an average Joe that is falsely accused of setting a fire at the factory that killed a friend of his. He is sought by police and ends up on the run, but has a clue about the identity of the real culprit, a man named Fry (Norman Lloyd). The acts of sabotage turn out to be much bigger than just Fry, which Barry discovers a little bit at a time. He also picks up a blonde (Priscilla Lane) along the way who wants to turn him in at first, but of course later becomes an ally.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The film culminates with a memorable scene with Fry dangling from the Statue of Liberty with Barry unsuccessfully trying to save him.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>Saboteur</i> isn't top twenty Hitchcock, but it's not bad either. It does seem like a bit of a test film in retrospect for Hitch's later <i>North by Northwest.</i> Bob Cummings and Priscilla Lane aren't Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint, but they're likable and effective enough. And the conclusion on top of the Statue of Liberty is good, just not as good as the Mount Rushmore finale of <i>North by Northwest.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP6SQAUSQRE_3eDPqDcADYprvSKY1IsglvJj_BvAykZ4eHeFhuzMTrY5Yl8pyDrYOKa8uxN8F-g1Zu05JIBsm53JbOyJbwwU0v_Dye08MBO1qnJcsAOJvhqj6cMpeZGBqjWw3b_z6QiA/s1600/saboteur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="1600" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP6SQAUSQRE_3eDPqDcADYprvSKY1IsglvJj_BvAykZ4eHeFhuzMTrY5Yl8pyDrYOKa8uxN8F-g1Zu05JIBsm53JbOyJbwwU0v_Dye08MBO1qnJcsAOJvhqj6cMpeZGBqjWw3b_z6QiA/s320/saboteur.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Bob Cummings and Priscilla Lane have issues<br />
in <i>Saboteur</i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
As in many Hitchcock films, we do have many memorable supporting players. I especially like the truck driver looking for excitement that helps Barry escape from the police. Otto Kruger plays a sophisticated villain here...Otto seemed to played a sophisticated villain a lot. Also on hand are Vaughan Glaser as a blind man that also helps Barry and a train full of circus performers who debate between themselves whether or not to turn in our fugitives.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
My favorite of all of the supporting players is Norman Lloyd as Fry. Norman became a frequent Hitchcock collaborator throughout his career. I know him best in later years as Dr. Auschlander from <i>St. Elsewhere</i>. Norman provided insights on the commentary track of <i>Saboteur</i> and he mentioned that Hitchcock felt it was a mistake to have the bad guy in peril at the end of the movie because the audience isn't really invested as much on whether or not he falls as they would be if it were the hero. This is another improvement the director made in <i>North by Northwest.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
As of this writing, Norman Lloyd is still alive at age 105 and comes across in his commentary as an extremely charming guy.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6gEGmy_h6nVnDJVTUV8o_Py0Fwt0cDO5uk8j2whPi_xZYjIQnetPoY4yemfPHPLNev-HpM-SXHj1ES2sSJDw60ZH5c4lhTj9uu5xlIaYuXp3Nuw1qoDNosXoB2bxxXoIC3v8ixZCiCA/s1600/norman+lloyd+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6gEGmy_h6nVnDJVTUV8o_Py0Fwt0cDO5uk8j2whPi_xZYjIQnetPoY4yemfPHPLNev-HpM-SXHj1ES2sSJDw60ZH5c4lhTj9uu5xlIaYuXp3Nuw1qoDNosXoB2bxxXoIC3v8ixZCiCA/s320/norman+lloyd+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Norman Lloyd hanging on to the Statue of Liberty<br />
for the moment is <i>Saboteur</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioysG-1fKNa2liP3i2q7JlrIz3VELXgf3obVpBFWhRDPult96ZJkv7Moxe7CvKu-4iP0WDDx2_yOQBHGCFGCc8CxFDVPpdMNv-BTmMBJ5OprwpqkIdUN7ebfqM5wrO5RYyzXNPvFOVrw/s1600/norman+lloyd+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="863" data-original-width="630" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioysG-1fKNa2liP3i2q7JlrIz3VELXgf3obVpBFWhRDPult96ZJkv7Moxe7CvKu-4iP0WDDx2_yOQBHGCFGCc8CxFDVPpdMNv-BTmMBJ5OprwpqkIdUN7ebfqM5wrO5RYyzXNPvFOVrw/s320/norman+lloyd+2.jpg" width="233" /></a></div>
<span id="goog_1832990893"></span><span id="goog_1832990894"></span>Norman Lloyd as Dr. Auschlander<br />
in<i> St. Elsewhere</i><br />
<br /></div>
1001: A Film Odyssey is produced, directed and written by Chris, a librarian.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04803620768028761898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622159271440854440.post-80318203345843538812020-02-15T20:29:00.000-06:002020-02-15T20:29:05.767-06:00CEDDO (1977, SENEGAL), MANILA: IN THE CLAWS OF LIGHT (1975, PHILIPPINES)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVk52VYoK40vAFsqHyBYwydlT1SuWwqZXjp2_J-zQaWYV2J5CEzbK0LlEO4RKibcyMkqFKFLNDSQX1uEiv8baeo117I8OtC510Ls91H0gHP241CnQiYupGTXk1_u6m7Dmfv8fGJCx9VA/s1600/ceddo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="393" data-original-width="655" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVk52VYoK40vAFsqHyBYwydlT1SuWwqZXjp2_J-zQaWYV2J5CEzbK0LlEO4RKibcyMkqFKFLNDSQX1uEiv8baeo117I8OtC510Ls91H0gHP241CnQiYupGTXk1_u6m7Dmfv8fGJCx9VA/s320/ceddo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Ceddo</i><br />
<br />
<i>From the CIA World Factbook</i><br />
<b>Senegal</b><br />
Granted independence 1960<br />
Population 15 million<br />
95% Muslim 5% Christian<br />
Official language: French<br />
Interesting export item: Fish, Groundnuts<br />
Imports: Fuels<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
The only Senegalese movies in any edition of the 1001 book are two movies directed by Osuman Sembene (<i>Moolade</i>, about female genital mutilation and <i>Ceddo</i>). <i>Ceddo</i> is about what goes on in a local village when the coming of the slave trade occurs, as well as attempts to convert the people to Christianity and later Islam. Neither of the outside factors are portrayed sympathetically, which is a good thing. I'm interested in movies that come from a different perspective than I'm used to and Ceddo is a good fit into this category of film.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_mhgiPfz43ZfU73lhbFrGdGA7MvkCL6wLun3HHdYs_DnwWpIk34rIyPs1ediLepmLm4HkEAEuP7pOaSSauqZsqxK_-HxxlJ_9YEPl3yLMI5YsTW8WElrod5bFRWmOoxP58tHqLXEJcg/s1600/manila.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="201" data-original-width="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_mhgiPfz43ZfU73lhbFrGdGA7MvkCL6wLun3HHdYs_DnwWpIk34rIyPs1ediLepmLm4HkEAEuP7pOaSSauqZsqxK_-HxxlJ_9YEPl3yLMI5YsTW8WElrod5bFRWmOoxP58tHqLXEJcg/s1600/manila.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Manila: In the Claws of Light</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<i>From the CIA World Factbook</i><br />
<b>Philippines</b><br />
Became a self-governing commonwealth in 1935<br />
Population 105 million<br />
80% Roman Catholic, 8% protestant<br />
Official languages: Filipino, English<br />
Interesting Export Item: Coconut Oil<br />
Interesting Import Item: Plastic<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
The only film from the Philippines in the 1001 book is <i>Manila: In the Claws of Light. </i>It is about a young villager named Julio who comes to the big city of Manila to find out what happened to his girlfriend, Ligaya. He has to toil in a construction job for almost no pay and later even considers being a male escort to make ends meet. After being in Manila for over a year, he finally encounters Ligaya, who has been caught up in a sexual slavery ring during most of this time. Her life is further complicated by her giving birth and being blackmailed by her pimp into not running away.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Not unlike some other dramas of the type, this one is once again interesting in coming from the point of view of a Filipino filmmaker who is not afraid to show many of the problems inherent in his society, including the exploitation of male construction workers and girls taken into forced prostitution.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
You have to admire both of these directors, who have made films that their respective governments could not have been enthusiastic about the citizens of their respective countries seeing.</div>
</div>
1001: A Film Odyssey is produced, directed and written by Chris, a librarian.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04803620768028761898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622159271440854440.post-15407819409426763682020-02-12T20:14:00.000-06:002020-02-13T03:55:33.056-06:00RED PSALM (1972, HUNGARY), THE ASTHENIC SYNDROME (1989, SOVIET UNION)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipdWKcu9kyDgqEsbf3-DMEcQdlZY9031vBE0RUrGer2PdumcYkZhTF-fjvolguQwaTkDp9Srn62V4kYp9DoJ8RbIWHeh9tlzpy2yxuwDXsD-x_FxDS4kZFddxl1LB87zxS09gfG-Xiug/s1600/red+psalm.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipdWKcu9kyDgqEsbf3-DMEcQdlZY9031vBE0RUrGer2PdumcYkZhTF-fjvolguQwaTkDp9Srn62V4kYp9DoJ8RbIWHeh9tlzpy2yxuwDXsD-x_FxDS4kZFddxl1LB87zxS09gfG-Xiug/s320/red+psalm.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Circle of unity in <i>Red Psalm</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Well, comrades. I must say <i>Red Psalm</i> depicts a lot of solidarity amongst the peasant workers being put down by the business interests and using the army as an instrument to fight against them. They do this through a lot of singing "Long live the workers! Long live the rights of workers society! Let's dance and celebrate the cannon of the liberator!" The camera is always moving and there are many effective scenes of the people moving one way hand in hand while the camera goes in the opposite direction. The scene where the army opens fire is enhanced by the <i>lack </i>of blood depicted. The people fall down, but fall down as one.You hear me brothers and sisters?<br />
<br />
And remember comrades, don't be distracted by our sisters occasionally taking their clothes off!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJmRm1PeCB0MowrUjrwYGEBGSAqTNnv6qZpN1Nwlp-sctFrImsZHhS74zjfKoS-vewMqyNiReDelr871R_45rOxOZtaeqtfz_Ch5Fdx6d7RTn49zgatkK3Pftx55AVTTbp1eJZDHY7A/s1600/asthenic+syndrome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="684" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJmRm1PeCB0MowrUjrwYGEBGSAqTNnv6qZpN1Nwlp-sctFrImsZHhS74zjfKoS-vewMqyNiReDelr871R_45rOxOZtaeqtfz_Ch5Fdx6d7RTn49zgatkK3Pftx55AVTTbp1eJZDHY7A/s320/asthenic+syndrome.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Random trumpet blowing in <i>The Asthenic Syndrome</i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Okay, comrades. I wish I got more out of <i>The Asthenic Syndrome. </i>The black and white section of the story shows a woman who has lost her husband and is going through grief. The larger color second half shows a teacher who suffers from the titular affliction of falling asleep at inappropriate times. The story isn't presented in an easy to fathom narrative most of the time. At least it's not <i>too capitalist</i>.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Both of these films might gain from repeated viewings. <i>Red Psalm </i>may bring you to its camp by sucking you into it's rhythm. <i>The Asthenic Syndrome </i>may be more palatable with a context of what to look for established in your mind before diving back in.</div>
</div>
1001: A Film Odyssey is produced, directed and written by Chris, a librarian.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04803620768028761898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622159271440854440.post-80385214609468545912020-02-09T18:00:00.000-06:002020-02-09T18:00:07.523-06:00THE OSCAR (1966)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmype9EPfYQ9YwqUZx0jb1LfJ-syY5wVfLzzvUU-sAM2f6XQXBoU2s53ubL7wO5cnqCta_m0vxGMNCUySATDY1NRe-17l-xKEqaDdPfzyF1xlqMqnlLF3CwHpLKrBl_syUh-u6Z2JfVQ/s1600/the+oscar+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="437" data-original-width="584" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmype9EPfYQ9YwqUZx0jb1LfJ-syY5wVfLzzvUU-sAM2f6XQXBoU2s53ubL7wO5cnqCta_m0vxGMNCUySATDY1NRe-17l-xKEqaDdPfzyF1xlqMqnlLF3CwHpLKrBl_syUh-u6Z2JfVQ/s320/the+oscar+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
What better way to get into the mood for tonight's Academy Awards presentation than watching the 1966 film <i>The Oscar</i>? Okay, there may have been better ways to tell you the truth, but this is the path I have chosen! I knew the reputation of this film was not a good one ever since I had my old copy of <i>The Golden Turkey Awards</i> where Tony Bennett was given the Golden Turkey for Worst Performance by a Popular Singer performance in a movie. More on him in a minute.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The plot of the movie involves a (for lack of a better word) asshole named Frankie Fain (played by Stephen Boyd) who tries to make ends meet in strip clubs and such with his girl (Jill St. John) and loyal sidekick Hymie (Tony Bennett). At one point, they get taken in on a trumped up prostitution charge which they eventually get out of, but Frankie's girl breaks up with him and Frankie heads out on his own.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Frankie gets involved with a fashion designer named Kay (Elke Sommer) and is discovered to really have some star appeal by a talent scout (Eleanor Parker). Yadda yadda yadda, Frankie becomes a big movie star, but never seems to quit being a prick. His career takes a downward turn until he nabs an elusive Oscar nomination. He plants a story in the paper (with the help of an unsavory detective played by Ernest Borgnine) about the old prostitution rap. You see, people will think one of the other nominees planted that story and Frankie will get the sympathy vote, right? That Best Actor Oscar will put Frankie's career back on the right track...if he wins....</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's Oscar night. The Best names are read out. And the winner is....Frank...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As the name is read, Frankie stands up before presenter Merle Oberon finishes reading out the name...Sinatra! The real Frank Sinatra is actually there to pick up the Best Actor Oscar he never won in real life as the picture ends with a stunned Frankie Fain unconvincingly trying to put on a brave face. For all the flaws in the film, I did like this gotcha ending very much.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But let's face it, <i>The Oscar </i>is basically a soap opera in the Sidney Sheldon/Jacqueline Susann school with extremely broad performances and a pretty over-the-top rags to riches story. I would say it doesn't date well, but it was pretty much panned in 1966, too.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyOtC0Uka0mKeYGjLhOMeaaHNP4p4AVf5NBa1mn271zegxqf8KBqRwfhDMj9313OEhXqectAtnLwRehiFpC0Ef89lQQu3JI9aw7du39X00S43NUx39n35N-alo_hE86aR2L5pJdk7_Ag/s1600/the+oscar+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyOtC0Uka0mKeYGjLhOMeaaHNP4p4AVf5NBa1mn271zegxqf8KBqRwfhDMj9313OEhXqectAtnLwRehiFpC0Ef89lQQu3JI9aw7du39X00S43NUx39n35N-alo_hE86aR2L5pJdk7_Ag/s320/the+oscar+3.jpg" width="242" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Stephen Boyd tries to reason with</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Tony Bennett in <i>The Oscar</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Unpacking the Oscars from </b><i><b>The Oscar</b></i><b>:</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Surprisingly, the film itself was nominated for two Oscars: Best Production design (losing out to <i>Fantastic Voyage</i>, which also starred Stephen Boyd) and Best Costume Design (Losing out to <i>A Man for All Seasons</i>). Edith Head was the costume designer for <i>The Oscar </i>and also appears as herself in the movie. Edith won eight Oscars in her career, including five in the six years between 1950-1955.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Stephen Boyd was never nominated for an Oscar, not even for his most famous performance as Massala in <i>Ben-Hur</i>.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In 1955, Frank Sinatra (cameo in <i>The Oscar</i>) was nominated for Best Actor in <i>The Man With the Golden Arm </i>but<i> </i>lost out that year to Ernest Borgnine (the private investigator in <i>The Oscar</i>) for <i>Marty. </i>Sinatra's co-star in that film was Eleanor Parker (who played the talent scout in <i>The Oscar</i>). According to Sinatra's biography, he didn't take the loss well. Sinatra did win Best Supporting Actor in 1953 for <i>From Here to Eternity.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's also interesting that Peter Lawford has a small role here as a washed-up actor turned maitre'D a couple of years after he was kicked out of Sinatra's Rat Pack.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Other Oscar winners with small parts or cameos in the film include: Broderick Crawford, Ed Begley Sr., Walter Brennan and Joan Crawford.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Bob Hope appears as himself as the Oscar master of ceremonies.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Not surprisingly, Milton Berle's dramatic turn as Frankie's agent didn't get him an Oscar nod or many other dramatic roles in the future.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Columnist Hedda Hopper appears as herself. She passed away the year the film was released.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>#<i>TheOscar</i>SoWhite:</b> About the only person of color in the whole film is Jack Soo as Fain's servant. I did like Jack in the little he got to do here.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Harlan Ellison? </b>I was shocked when I saw acerbic writer Harlan Ellison's name on the screenplay credits.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Harlan's quote about the film: "I knew my film career was over the night I saw <i>The Oscar</i>. I practically wept!"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Anthony Dominick Bennedetto: </b>Tony Bennett is widely recognized as one of the great singers of the twentieth century. And I'm not here to rag on Tony Bennett's performance in <i>The Oscar</i>. He is obviously trying so hard in the emotional scenes at the end of the film! Trying so damn hard! A for effort...like I said, a legendary singer.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuSjbpplZsL5eHyl94y1o0Fp9GOAJiLVdcFbKpQDhj6Ntk63Dl5K_qgs6G6XN36hDLpLtLgMdFNwbt10L9n4JRZ3SSbodgD553BJpDsrFSVDSP40bnz-9SQzjudeFEDgzM1YnU0JCfrw/s1600/the+oscar+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="720" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuSjbpplZsL5eHyl94y1o0Fp9GOAJiLVdcFbKpQDhj6Ntk63Dl5K_qgs6G6XN36hDLpLtLgMdFNwbt10L9n4JRZ3SSbodgD553BJpDsrFSVDSP40bnz-9SQzjudeFEDgzM1YnU0JCfrw/s320/the+oscar+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
1001: A Film Odyssey is produced, directed and written by Chris, a librarian.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04803620768028761898noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622159271440854440.post-23004712948554550532020-02-08T08:00:00.000-06:002020-02-09T14:30:23.671-06:00ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (1930), 1917 (2019)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJIMbwTmaXF41tB31BXRtNAPGg8xeGEaBx1XOXp5WdOfo4ia7x9Jr4fP_V3bJjQKnb8CECq6ykBAYHaMkNS_vetCBXxG70ZC5VSpGzLGIXQipqe6sQ08_h-BXKbeNImHCWnMbeLV_EkA/s1600/all-quiet-on-the-western-front+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJIMbwTmaXF41tB31BXRtNAPGg8xeGEaBx1XOXp5WdOfo4ia7x9Jr4fP_V3bJjQKnb8CECq6ykBAYHaMkNS_vetCBXxG70ZC5VSpGzLGIXQipqe6sQ08_h-BXKbeNImHCWnMbeLV_EkA/s320/all-quiet-on-the-western-front+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
In the trenches in <i>All Quiet on the Western Front</i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
There is a lot of criticism of a lot of the early Best Picture Academy Award choices, but the 1930 Best Picture choice of <i>All Quiet on the Western Front</i> is a decision that has stood the test of time. Even prickly alternative Oscar writer Danny Peary thinks the Academy got this one right.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The film is of course based on the anti-war novel by Erich Maria Remarque and depicts a group of young soldiers excitedly joining the German army during World War I only to find their dreams of heroism brings them mostly horror and death. I don't think that there were any war films like this in the early talkie era and one can only imagine the impact the sounds of warfare had on audiences of the time.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Read the book...see the movie.. then.go do something to make the world a better place.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghAdoNV6WwKZYcUP1v8mquuFER8G4HsOlUDc37aXQu89cCJfZVfjJEtixtatDZzXhKMAOdO6SC8OwhA51kpgpPrjoLQqlMO9PLsgbG_wr7in22rtTNDGHBSSbXdgP9I_njVMlETffimA/s1600/1917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghAdoNV6WwKZYcUP1v8mquuFER8G4HsOlUDc37aXQu89cCJfZVfjJEtixtatDZzXhKMAOdO6SC8OwhA51kpgpPrjoLQqlMO9PLsgbG_wr7in22rtTNDGHBSSbXdgP9I_njVMlETffimA/s400/1917.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Corporal Schofield (George Mackay) tries to get a message</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to the front in<i> 1917</i><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
<i>All Quiet on the Western</i> front was only ten years removed from the end of World War I and this year we have another Oscar contender one-hundred years removed from the event. The film is <i>1917</i> and is director Sam Mendes's recount of stories passed down from his grandfather Alfred Mendes about the Great War.<br />
<br />
The story depicts about soldiers in the British Army who have to get a message to company commanders to cancel an attack that aerial surveillance has discovered to be a set-up from the enemy. <i>1917</i> follows these soldiers (Schofield and Blake) as they try to make it to the front in time. The film is noted for being shot in one take and that is a most impressive technical trick. The set design is really stunning. I may watch this whole film again and just try to catch everything that is going on in the background! There has been some criticism that the movie is made for the video game generation. Maybe a little. I can see <i>1917</i> on Nintendo being a thing...But it's still an impressive work and the latest <i>Awards Watch </i>post has <i>1917</i> as winning Best Director and Best Picture. Roger Deakins should be a shoo-in for the Cinematography Award and the picture may clean up on many other technical award categories. Except editing, of course. We'll see on February 9th.</div>
</div>
1001: A Film Odyssey is produced, directed and written by Chris, a librarian.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04803620768028761898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622159271440854440.post-88227572463419648352020-02-06T06:26:00.000-06:002020-02-06T06:26:03.754-06:002019 DOCUMENTARIES<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>2019 Documentary Films</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhal3YKnGe_FJCZzBEcR7WGz1IEDpESsvfwpA5gRI5Hh7B4XY57o2bOFoJ8K6XB5RE1MhFxgJJe2blXAQUx9wCQkGT8BjOFBnXsaidXL2qQrx0Y6gb67I0j86_bhagLRPUJETJ0j7-MZQ/s1600/for+sama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="412" data-original-width="618" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhal3YKnGe_FJCZzBEcR7WGz1IEDpESsvfwpA5gRI5Hh7B4XY57o2bOFoJ8K6XB5RE1MhFxgJJe2blXAQUx9wCQkGT8BjOFBnXsaidXL2qQrx0Y6gb67I0j86_bhagLRPUJETJ0j7-MZQ/s320/for+sama.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>For Sama</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>For Sama </i>is the story documented by director Waad Al-Kateeb about her marriage and the birth of her son under the unimaginably horrific circumstances of the uprisng in Aleppo, Syria during the last few years. It's a first person view of the consequences of war with children often the innocent victims. <i>For Sama</i> was nominated for the Best Documentary Oscar for 2019.<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRRVhfmNO9x09OmJ0AoTwDzFPwf0fLrKFJF9H3lB5HDoz2PbdoLVeHRVXGK0urAYu_x8X7LrX4XEB_kbX-30KirPeUe1qAq0nDxVl-skYTEHNdGOXg2ZbIDeaqNhf1xYjbCQ7-XbGwA/s1600/edge+of+democracy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="780" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRRVhfmNO9x09OmJ0AoTwDzFPwf0fLrKFJF9H3lB5HDoz2PbdoLVeHRVXGK0urAYu_x8X7LrX4XEB_kbX-30KirPeUe1qAq0nDxVl-skYTEHNdGOXg2ZbIDeaqNhf1xYjbCQ7-XbGwA/s320/edge+of+democracy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>The Edge of Democracy</i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Another type of first person documentary shows what has happened to Brazil over the last couple of decades. The country has gone from a spirited democracy to basically being taken over by what is basically a Fascist regime. Petra Costa, daughter of prominent political activists, is the recorder of the unfolding story here. <i>The Edge of Democracy</i> was nominated for Best Documentary for 2019. .</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLrZ_R_x5vx3RuTwAlrz9oD4WyiTlS-lq6Rw7j4bpAT33frsi06sSfRKN8UpkLHNiqarevlY4Zx1c7Fr5lP8Owg2Mm-WnQUQCIvkYUJ7eh2iv360kk3tpQ99rplvc1NoI3fKFEtiWdg/s320/HONEYLAND.jpg" /><br />
<i>Honeyland</i><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Honeyland</i> depicts a small community in North Macedonia whose villagers depend on honeycombs and beekeeping to earn a living. The film focuses especially on one woman and her elderly mother. <i>Honeyland</i> definitely shows a world that I've never seen before as only a good documentary can.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Honeyland </i>is nominated for Best Documentary and Best International Film for 2019.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBomyE_8h0U5S3pNfDWKHOWZn-UdvtjHhmpaVRpYshKM5BWXQjrEaVVcPO9UjehS6JG9q_Nie4-koeZDxvZX3sTRi3v_FkkxmX36oJtd-N9GdSJK3KxjhKH5qq-GA277DJjiojkuCGrg/s1600/apollo+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1000" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBomyE_8h0U5S3pNfDWKHOWZn-UdvtjHhmpaVRpYshKM5BWXQjrEaVVcPO9UjehS6JG9q_Nie4-koeZDxvZX3sTRi3v_FkkxmX36oJtd-N9GdSJK3KxjhKH5qq-GA277DJjiojkuCGrg/s320/apollo+11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Apollo 11</i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Apollo 11</i> is a documentary using only archival footage of the first trip to the moon. It was listed as one of the Oscar favorites going in, but didn't even get nominated. Speculation is that it may have been seen more as a triumph of editing rather than as a documentary in the traditional sense.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjicZrVjyMUlV8FgTgFT_Pcy7M4rrejIwidV6FoUjyAu6e-s2v2SI6j4C900r9mxdpMVfYAXDmWTUIbK3IXl27qbzafWAIymhH6TTChLL_qh7qCCZfgk7kDWcb6-_BY9K0LBkbltGGqZA/s1600/american+factory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="799" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjicZrVjyMUlV8FgTgFT_Pcy7M4rrejIwidV6FoUjyAu6e-s2v2SI6j4C900r9mxdpMVfYAXDmWTUIbK3IXl27qbzafWAIymhH6TTChLL_qh7qCCZfgk7kDWcb6-_BY9K0LBkbltGGqZA/s320/american+factory.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>American Factory</i><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>American Factory</i> shows what happens when a large Chinese car glass manufacturer takes over a previously shut down plant in Ohio. It is fascinating to watch the culture clashes, the work ethic and the fight over unionization. I didn't realize the film was produced by Barack and Michelle Obama until the closing credits. <i>American Factory </i>was nominated for Best Documentary Oscar for 2019. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8iMDbgZ87sUaPrWoyai0hoI3U_mjKHRqY20Pso6WPfYECb3WmyL8pq9jmL-oT-Rox2gIdjLV3s1hSgG5a6kETDYfkVE82h34REobs8CuUQb8RxqGAruJ8s_t1eXSNh60TD0BR2zRNgQ/s1600/KNOCK+DOWN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="613" data-original-width="920" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8iMDbgZ87sUaPrWoyai0hoI3U_mjKHRqY20Pso6WPfYECb3WmyL8pq9jmL-oT-Rox2gIdjLV3s1hSgG5a6kETDYfkVE82h34REobs8CuUQb8RxqGAruJ8s_t1eXSNh60TD0BR2zRNgQ/s320/KNOCK+DOWN.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<i>Knock Down the House</i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Knock Down the House</i> is the inspirational (at least to me) of four Justice Democrats who ran for congress during the 2018 election. The odds were against them as they didn't take corporate donations and had the establishment fighting them all the way. I like all the women here, though the breakout star of this vehicle is clearly future president* Alexadria Ocasio-Cortez. The film won a prize at the Sundance film festival, but did not get an Oscar nomination.<br />
<br />
*On a 2009 entry on this blog I said (jokingly!!) that Donald Trump was going to one day be the President. Let's see if I can prognosticate someone more positive for the future on this entry!</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
1001: A Film Odyssey is produced, directed and written by Chris, a librarian.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04803620768028761898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622159271440854440.post-52794101130777429982020-02-04T02:44:00.000-06:002020-02-04T02:44:04.823-06:00LITTLE WOMEN (2019), LADY BIRD (2017)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1uQdx99Z95Yp53W1XgLF_pBBwV-K0IBK7klP5n59NE28JtNJfLZjjw2gNQDx7LIkHWTp3hkizuImzFDrGD92AJUeeeFopNNHQpuDzP6asQ2GRmIWvJGFRgOPTH-_nLlpBVYHgws0eSg/s1600/lady+bird+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="750" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1uQdx99Z95Yp53W1XgLF_pBBwV-K0IBK7klP5n59NE28JtNJfLZjjw2gNQDx7LIkHWTp3hkizuImzFDrGD92AJUeeeFopNNHQpuDzP6asQ2GRmIWvJGFRgOPTH-_nLlpBVYHgws0eSg/s320/lady+bird+2.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
Saoirse Ronan as <i>Lady Bird</i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; text-align: left;">Nice coming of age film that I've actually seen twice now-and it does gain through a second viewing. </span><span style="text-align: left;">Saoirse Ronan got a well deserved Oscar nomination for her role as the titular Lady Bird and it might be my favorite performance of all the nominees (from two years ago). This is director Greta Gerwig's first major motion picture as a director. But is she going to be a one-hit wonder???</span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxJPyHo5GdwR90_wHNwJ-d-b1tjVYYHQ3HLXVMdlh6EMhn3hwIF_aqsvuya_XArPPppZUT0FESY7Kj2Ck8G7jjP8nJ_5eJcpndUoJ8_gpjlNTcTCW2I1SjlEyenSChAwjc_qrjohUHQ/s1600/little+women.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="780" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxJPyHo5GdwR90_wHNwJ-d-b1tjVYYHQ3HLXVMdlh6EMhn3hwIF_aqsvuya_XArPPppZUT0FESY7Kj2Ck8G7jjP8nJ_5eJcpndUoJ8_gpjlNTcTCW2I1SjlEyenSChAwjc_qrjohUHQ/s320/little+women.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;">Emma Watson (Meg), Florence Pugh (Amy),</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;">Saoirse Ronan (Jo) and Eliza Scanlen (Beth)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;">are <i>Little Women</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="text-align: left;">The answer to that is obviously no. Gerwig's new adaptation of <i>Little Women</i> has been been praised greatly and many think it is the best film adaptation yet of Louisa May Alcott's famous novel. I did go with a friend who is an expert on all things<i> Little Women</i> and though she liked it, she still didn't like it as much as the 90's version with Wyonna Ryder.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: left;">I haven't read the book in awhile and did find the jumping around with the timeline a bit confusing at times. I did like the meta take in that the character of Jo is actually trying to write the book <i>Little Women</i> about their lives!</span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: left;">Gerwig did bring back a couple of her Lady Bird stars to be in Little Women: Saoirse Ronan (Jo) and Timothee Chalamet (Laurie).</span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: left;">Random <i>Little Women </i>question: Of the sisters, Jo is clearly the star, Amy is the one with all the emotional problems and Beth is the tragic figure. But what about Meg? I can't figure out her deal exactly. Is she basically the Zeppo of the <i>Little Women</i> quartet?</span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: left;"><i>Little Women</i> has been nominated for six Oscars, including: Best Picture, Best Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay. Gerwig did <i>not</i> get a nomination for Best Director.</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1GX1EsiULQp_gn_0mINie-rfSciNLpATrEN7B0h5Xb8kh3XN16S0ZCdXJPHaDAXW6iMaD792ma-p1kr7U0Dlah3uEEFQ9u-Ig9Y4RKFgR0xDlzH3mit-vZOH8NxY3APv9DWE6qgmuA/s1600/original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="1112" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1GX1EsiULQp_gn_0mINie-rfSciNLpATrEN7B0h5Xb8kh3XN16S0ZCdXJPHaDAXW6iMaD792ma-p1kr7U0Dlah3uEEFQ9u-Ig9Y4RKFgR0xDlzH3mit-vZOH8NxY3APv9DWE6qgmuA/s320/original.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: left;">Timothee Chalamet and </span><span style="text-align: left;">Saoirse Ronan</span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;">in <i>Lady Bird</i></span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAoS_TZ7YvWwoDM0ACwgSY7G_YZEvwMuIJXqGFs3LP0IRnG6J6WVkC-M8ZeZsIcdQxlhjOhXiu6BbliyPqNl-5voS-tQ2aczsdS-DKRKCuJw9OUVOc0ALBoUgPZdmhym-18NT2cMjp9g/s1600/little+women+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="825" data-original-width="1100" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAoS_TZ7YvWwoDM0ACwgSY7G_YZEvwMuIJXqGFs3LP0IRnG6J6WVkC-M8ZeZsIcdQxlhjOhXiu6BbliyPqNl-5voS-tQ2aczsdS-DKRKCuJw9OUVOc0ALBoUgPZdmhym-18NT2cMjp9g/s320/little+women+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: left;">Saoirse Ronan and Timothee Chalamet</span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;">in <i>Little Women</i></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
1001: A Film Odyssey is produced, directed and written by Chris, a librarian.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04803620768028761898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622159271440854440.post-64187223676579632832020-02-01T02:36:00.000-06:002020-02-01T02:36:01.215-06:00WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS (2014), HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE (2016), JOJO RABBIT (2019)<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7GQC0wqYU7tBPkqFh5Zn-Se6funCzCLC5rz_EofBjhrWWXfEGUXszvtOHIV1BaTWXlC0Z5EN7acJmqVloLdlP2nOD-Ln1QDnshXwXUkNDS5PcJQmeOvJPvbTCX2cMc1DgujilPBp9fg/s1600/what+we+do+in+the+shadows.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1551" data-original-width="1600" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7GQC0wqYU7tBPkqFh5Zn-Se6funCzCLC5rz_EofBjhrWWXfEGUXszvtOHIV1BaTWXlC0Z5EN7acJmqVloLdlP2nOD-Ln1QDnshXwXUkNDS5PcJQmeOvJPvbTCX2cMc1DgujilPBp9fg/s320/what+we+do+in+the+shadows.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The vampire crew in <i>What We Do in the Shadows</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
New Zealand director Taika Waititi's cult film <i>What We Do in the Shadows</i> is a most amusing mockumentary about vampires. These vampires aren't particularly menacing, in fact, the vamps in the film are living together and mostly have to do humdrum thing like doing the dishes or deciding what to cook for dinner. They also experience difficulty with getting into clubs because vampires can't go into places unless they are asked and have trouble dressing because they can't see themselves in a mirror! It's a fun film.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB3rfxUDWoOTSPrl5jULUj9hJMwqAueuoCf_FQ6WqJ2_zdKRsnLi91F4Jex3arDvhLpYiBCwaUsxGKs65y5xLYxKjpJGsUylxHYZG9dJVmo5GDk1d9egXgIeZO90F21_b1DcXBVzh5iQ/s1600/hunt+for+the+wilderpeople.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB3rfxUDWoOTSPrl5jULUj9hJMwqAueuoCf_FQ6WqJ2_zdKRsnLi91F4Jex3arDvhLpYiBCwaUsxGKs65y5xLYxKjpJGsUylxHYZG9dJVmo5GDk1d9egXgIeZO90F21_b1DcXBVzh5iQ/s1600/hunt+for+the+wilderpeople.jpg" /></a></div>
Sam Neill and Julian Dennison<br />
in <i>Hunt for the Wilderpeople</i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Another Waititi film that is quite charming is <i>Hunt for the Wilderpeople</i>. The film begins with an older couple, Bella and Hector Faulkner (Sam Neill, Rima Te Diata) who live near the bush in New Zealand that adopt a largely unwanted 13-year-old orphan named Ricky Baker (Julian Dennison). Things seem to be just starting to work with the three of them when Bella suddenly drops dead. Hector tells Ricky that it was Bella and not him that wanted to adopt him and this leads to Ricky running away into the bush. Hector goes after him, but the their journey into the bush becomes quite an adventure when they get lost and Hector is suspected of kidnapping Ricky. They meet several interesting creatures and people in the woods, my favorite of which is a woodsman named Psycho Sam. This is a very charming and likable film. Two for two so far.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4T3OEjGKOFWCAsW-W_fVDXTCDkAgi7JR8edc8d52pNo8YRXFVQrYGyP-TA4iV3tJ6h9Ewj2qwdCKuCUSsPiiNNFyNDJdJaFCmot6NDla7eTspM0Ow7FU29Y7TfQw_qNZpxll33Nlmg/s1600/joho+rabbit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4T3OEjGKOFWCAsW-W_fVDXTCDkAgi7JR8edc8d52pNo8YRXFVQrYGyP-TA4iV3tJ6h9Ewj2qwdCKuCUSsPiiNNFyNDJdJaFCmot6NDla7eTspM0Ow7FU29Y7TfQw_qNZpxll33Nlmg/s320/joho+rabbit.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Sam Rockwell, Scarlett <span style="text-align: left;">Johansson </span>and Roman Griffin Davis<br />
in <i>Jojo Rabbit</i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Jojo Rabbit</i> is Waititi's first film to get a Best Picture Oscar nomination. The black comedy is about a young boy named Jojo in World War II Germany who learns to be a good Nazi by having the imaginary presence of Hitler encouraging him along the way. Jojo's Nazi ways are challenged by the fact that his mother (Scarlett Johansson) is a collaborator with the enemy who keeps a Jewish girl (Thomasin McKenzie) hidden in their house. Jojo comes to like the girl and the film has a lot of moving moments, as well as some pretty funny ones.<br />
<br />
<i>Jojo Rabbit</i> has been nominated for six Oscars, including: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress and Best Original Screenplay.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Taika Waiti the Actor</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl2-j0ejMpY2Lj_wfXI1WIbUzWfDtTLkSkSlkCjvO3_Srs_i0lvMtnjR0fLi_4vRvekea5CP752j6Yj3LDgGuRV2yvcVW7T-j0JSY-0ZAoplNM_AJqHlv6XuZo4q9CfsKrQ1OBEKMXbg/s1600/taiki+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl2-j0ejMpY2Lj_wfXI1WIbUzWfDtTLkSkSlkCjvO3_Srs_i0lvMtnjR0fLi_4vRvekea5CP752j6Yj3LDgGuRV2yvcVW7T-j0JSY-0ZAoplNM_AJqHlv6XuZo4q9CfsKrQ1OBEKMXbg/s1600/taiki+1.jpg" /></a></div>
Waititi plays the leader of the vampire house<br />
in <i>What We Do in the Shadows</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMJ8G-uXjmTtGJsQtRj7tVUH7KjQWzuY0UwBGH-dLk_NditAYOD863dO2pJLfb4gstufKkNEKyoG88Fr6VPYB6rVldI8yOjJE60srkaWP2aUoG6N4HRhIFUGfFoYVWbbayiVLQDhGSQ/s1600/taika+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="176" data-original-width="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMJ8G-uXjmTtGJsQtRj7tVUH7KjQWzuY0UwBGH-dLk_NditAYOD863dO2pJLfb4gstufKkNEKyoG88Fr6VPYB6rVldI8yOjJE60srkaWP2aUoG6N4HRhIFUGfFoYVWbbayiVLQDhGSQ/s1600/taika+2.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Waititi has one scene as the minister in </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Hunt for the Wilderpeople</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyRjd7HXt3c6lpPZZkn5f5ZKJuuqVc2uuc8U_9ahbJbCVmyrCYTk3p3ZSK4QTqIL2bBu9l1GJNc3XWkaVcHuCpmO56qV4x1DOxYlHdt44xkEG4s-zIJ91_0SPGzlGyJsXtT45LB46vlQ/s1600/taika+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="1092" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyRjd7HXt3c6lpPZZkn5f5ZKJuuqVc2uuc8U_9ahbJbCVmyrCYTk3p3ZSK4QTqIL2bBu9l1GJNc3XWkaVcHuCpmO56qV4x1DOxYlHdt44xkEG4s-zIJ91_0SPGzlGyJsXtT45LB46vlQ/s320/taika+3.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span id="goog_267979514"></span><span id="goog_267979515"></span>And finally, Waititi cast himself as the menacing<br />
and more than a bit goofy imaginary version<br />
of Hitler in J<i>ojo Rabbit</i></div>
1001: A Film Odyssey is produced, directed and written by Chris, a librarian.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04803620768028761898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622159271440854440.post-28852550394153111652020-01-30T01:00:00.000-06:002020-01-30T01:00:10.249-06:00THE SQUID AND THE WHALE (2005), MARRIAGE STORY (2019)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbTQIinBUWCvYn0lAXtEY_G6Fwjq2rKlK8sU6hyphenhyphenSpKcnbEY-7lrlgkuV9hNHaLxwa8jI54ZK3AMXyek2i9Jtoh4nUiHD_-A2b-fDVGpLmS721GbsYKgx7aUlc_Ut4BptgRnHVwl3NZrw/s1600/squid+and+dthe+whale+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="626" data-original-width="940" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbTQIinBUWCvYn0lAXtEY_G6Fwjq2rKlK8sU6hyphenhyphenSpKcnbEY-7lrlgkuV9hNHaLxwa8jI54ZK3AMXyek2i9Jtoh4nUiHD_-A2b-fDVGpLmS721GbsYKgx7aUlc_Ut4BptgRnHVwl3NZrw/s320/squid+and+dthe+whale+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jeff Daniels and Laura Linney at counseling</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
in <i>The Squid and the Whale</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Noah Bambauch's <i>The Squid and the Whale</i> tells the story of Bernard Berkman (Jeff Daniels) and his wife Joan (Laura Linney), a couple going through a divorce in 1986 Brooklyn. The Berkman's are an academically minded couple, with Bernard being a writer and professor and Joan being an aspiring novelist. They both love their kids, Walt and Frank, but express this love in odd ways at times exacerbated by the fact that they are now living in different houses. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is an interesting character study of all four of the main leads. Bernard is a bit of a stuffy academic, who looks down on people like Ivan (William Baldwin), the local tennis pro, who he refers to as a philistine. Joan's disconnect with Bernard led to her having affairs (including Ivan) which is explored here also. Walt Berkman (Jesse Eisenberg) admires his dad-He has a poster of one of his dad's favorite films, <i>The Mother and the Whore</i> on his wall for Heaven's sake! Walt seems to blame his mom for their troubles more than dad. He has trouble finding a girl that he considers good enough and openly plagiarizes Pink Floyd at the school talent show. The younger brother Frank (Owen Kline) is starting to have troubles of his own involving his own relationships and experimentation with drinking and masturbation...the latter of which wouldn't be a problem if he wasn't doing it in the library!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is an intellectual and fascinating story of the dissolution of a marriage and family. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-Gu_JxsMI5pna__6namQ_d2DZJPzK5SLB1-A0aSCxJyL6V3BSHb96Qc9mH3Z0mpXX1xQYMVhuAN_kGMQBDb3HEvO4N6KblE5kL7RsOcvPXYqYCNBGtlvljUdVJaFv61eA4DpPGXyyg/s1600/squid+and+the+whale+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="852" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-Gu_JxsMI5pna__6namQ_d2DZJPzK5SLB1-A0aSCxJyL6V3BSHb96Qc9mH3Z0mpXX1xQYMVhuAN_kGMQBDb3HEvO4N6KblE5kL7RsOcvPXYqYCNBGtlvljUdVJaFv61eA4DpPGXyyg/s320/squid+and+the+whale+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Jesse Eisenberg and Owen Kline in</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>The Squid and The Whale</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56mBkimoRPNdGNgA3V0maeiA_aXCEy15vm4Dlemjptuad-jA4hxCK7TODqxQ1ow-t63oS_hxd-iaIgW4q_wQZlsZnIEdVYJ84f6Ad25s4av4pVqh-hZDLTtcgtzIDzYsdqHZ-wpltEA/s1600/squid+and+the+whale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="943" data-original-width="1600" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56mBkimoRPNdGNgA3V0maeiA_aXCEy15vm4Dlemjptuad-jA4hxCK7TODqxQ1ow-t63oS_hxd-iaIgW4q_wQZlsZnIEdVYJ84f6Ad25s4av4pVqh-hZDLTtcgtzIDzYsdqHZ-wpltEA/s320/squid+and+the+whale.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Didn't every 80's kid have a poster of Jean Eustache's</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>The Mother and the Whore</i> on their wall?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimj4ARwkCUlJnfI3KCqLJt403-C_vMod8PJDXG8BwNNNNTLVFsAceycaCN9eNU1N_OU9CXOGVebNMOD-uzeOlHkkTefXuqu9clxtNrYrZaaqL1LtwGwJYtB1hvrkfhPwG3f_tIsZl9Ww/s1600/marriage+story.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="720" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimj4ARwkCUlJnfI3KCqLJt403-C_vMod8PJDXG8BwNNNNTLVFsAceycaCN9eNU1N_OU9CXOGVebNMOD-uzeOlHkkTefXuqu9clxtNrYrZaaqL1LtwGwJYtB1hvrkfhPwG3f_tIsZl9Ww/s320/marriage+story.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
in <i>Marriage Story</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Noah Baumbach goes to the broken family well again in 2019's much praised <i>Marriage Story</i>. I was at first a little taken aback by the fact that the couple are both in show business, but this is later an important plot point in that Charlie directs plays in New York and Nicole has moved to Los Angles to further her professional career in television. Their son Henry (Azhy Robertson) is caught in the middle. One of the most interesting aspects of the film is legally. Divorce isn't cheap, financially or emotionally. Nicole finds a lawyer (Laura Dern) that takes no prisoners. Charlie finds a older but caring lawyer (Alan Alda) at first, but then realizes he's got to get his own "asshole" lawyer (Ray Liotta).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The film is very well acted and is a strong emotional piece. Adam Driver is especially solid and his performance of the song <i>Being Alive</i> at the end of the film is a fitting catharsis to the film.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Noah Baumbach and his wife Greta Gerwig (<i>Little Women</i>) both have films nominated for Best Picture this year...I hope that doesn't cause them any problems at home...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>Marriage Story</i> has been nominated for six Oscars, including: Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Original Screenplay.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKUWgLY5aT0idWZknSYD51F2hZDkLOdRv5a4CZEiDq07WP6vJxaGQt6yXKI7bblpuRtenxUMeFtnGGd8ZUBXbN8E-OanJZkdkBJ46dX_vhBn7pn5awR5E5_jIkT3-e-poQMO3eaHmpqw/s1600/marriage+story+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="620" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKUWgLY5aT0idWZknSYD51F2hZDkLOdRv5a4CZEiDq07WP6vJxaGQt6yXKI7bblpuRtenxUMeFtnGGd8ZUBXbN8E-OanJZkdkBJ46dX_vhBn7pn5awR5E5_jIkT3-e-poQMO3eaHmpqw/s320/marriage+story+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Lawyering up...Alan Alda assists Adam Driver</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
in <i>Marriage Story</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl3eY3nVkltDmSKeAJR3ZfNUuonqTHYWT-8faOr4vYIOgCCM38dO8IzCOgiDJIGBkPZlmHSH30ZkmJkiC5ovIyvl5VEyyxLiz1r29IDAhi2eFwYAxuurciOldqKokATbcIt4edZQBB5w/s1600/marriage+story+2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="780" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl3eY3nVkltDmSKeAJR3ZfNUuonqTHYWT-8faOr4vYIOgCCM38dO8IzCOgiDJIGBkPZlmHSH30ZkmJkiC5ovIyvl5VEyyxLiz1r29IDAhi2eFwYAxuurciOldqKokATbcIt4edZQBB5w/s320/marriage+story+2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Lawyering up...Laura Dern advocates for</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Scarlett Johannson in Marriage Story</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
1001: A Film Odyssey is produced, directed and written by Chris, a librarian.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04803620768028761898noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622159271440854440.post-90552541135437159202020-01-27T03:29:00.000-06:002020-01-27T12:09:15.870-06:00THE TWO POPES (2019), FIRST REFORMED (2017)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCydOKkey8CW5rgRAHKOqr5nQRZsMtYbxqn4EHOtcfmfoxupnjWFdSQH6Uclzm49Pw4UBCwtuha2KKIgqdt4mXeazVQUq2n4nQt8kOFGhdgdwO_F1xraZIRLt08UAFY0e9XvimpgXbTA/s1600/first+reformed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCydOKkey8CW5rgRAHKOqr5nQRZsMtYbxqn4EHOtcfmfoxupnjWFdSQH6Uclzm49Pw4UBCwtuha2KKIgqdt4mXeazVQUq2n4nQt8kOFGhdgdwO_F1xraZIRLt08UAFY0e9XvimpgXbTA/s320/first+reformed.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Toller (Ethan Hawke) tries to comfort</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Mother Mary (Amanda Seyfried) </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
in <i>First Reformed</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Today's crisis of faith double feature begins with Paul Schrader's <i>First Reformed,</i> a story of a minister named Toller (Ehtan Hawke) in upstate New York who has to wrestle with an interesting conundrum-How can Toller spread the word of God in his little church when it is being backed by a megachuch that has financial backing of polluters? How can God's word be spread when we seem to care so little about the planet he has blessed us with? Toller's other demons include a son that was killed in Iraq and an ongoing drinking problem. Much of Toller's viewpoint is exacerbated by his ministering to a stuggling environmental activist and his pregnant wife Mary (Amanda Seyfried). </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>First Reformed</i> reminds me a lot of Bresson's <i>Diary of a Country Priest </i>(The pastor keeps a diary as his health deteriorates in both films). The film also appears to be headed for a finale reminiscent of Schrader's own <i>Taxi Driver </i>script. However, the conclusion didn't go at all the way I expected. There is really a lot to unpack in this film and it is well worth the effort. Despite many accolades, First Reformed only received on Oscar nomination, that being for Schrader's Screenplay.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I've liked Schrader's films over the years, many of which were heavily influenced by his strict Calvinist upbringing in which he wasn't even allowed to see a movie until he was seventeen! This struggle between his religiosity and the secular is exemplified in many of his films such as Hardcore (1979) and <i>The Last Temptation of Christ</i> (1988). </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGPL-GL-XVihLe-xeQK9WJLXmEapUxv39okULOmUbXLZt_cunkO_Y_hdvtyE9N1SoaIOyJTBJTE3LplhVqWoV5qB26viSm1SY8Ueb7RU1-_QYpGKx6f_O3IYa-tnQhjJXOLaLToj-5kg/s1600/two+popes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="620" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGPL-GL-XVihLe-xeQK9WJLXmEapUxv39okULOmUbXLZt_cunkO_Y_hdvtyE9N1SoaIOyJTBJTE3LplhVqWoV5qB26viSm1SY8Ueb7RU1-_QYpGKx6f_O3IYa-tnQhjJXOLaLToj-5kg/s320/two+popes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Current Pope (Anthony Hopkins) tries to pick</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the brain of future Pope Francis (Johnathan Pryce)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
in The Two Popes</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Another crisis of faith is in store for Pope Benedict XVI (Anthony Hopkins), as he struggles with the unprecedented decision of retiring from being Pope and likely having the new Pope be the much more progressive Cardinal Bergoglio (Jonathan Pryce). The back and forth between the stodgy Conservative Benedict and the more liberally minded Bergoglio provide for much of the meat of this film. The script by Anthony McCarten nicely shows the confrontation between the two men without being overly preachy (for lack of a better word) about the dogmas of the two men. It is also necessary for the leads to be two heavy hitters and Hopkins and Pryce fill that bill nicely. The two of them carry most of the movie with the exception of some flashback scenes of the early life of Bergoglio.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Director Meirelles has been praised in the past for his films such as City of God (2002) and The Constant Gardener (2005).<br />
<br />
<i>The Two Popes</i> has been nominated for three Oscars: Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor and Best Adapted Screenplay.</div>
</div>
1001: A Film Odyssey is produced, directed and written by Chris, a librarian.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04803620768028761898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622159271440854440.post-36120030545479062092020-01-24T03:00:00.000-06:002020-01-24T03:00:01.119-06:00JOKER (2019), JUDY (2019)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The frontrunners...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQBS1y5uNvOamkxVFnugdQlO-13cV8y3mej2uEdEvAbmDsypdMs_cKJxTKgdDBHkuCiwtg5ICUJ66xZyxAgKVcgs_1nsJ63sLsK8OCOIjxw3cdjlmpGLxFFA4vIf3QSGudd-c6BUkpIg/s1600/joker.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQBS1y5uNvOamkxVFnugdQlO-13cV8y3mej2uEdEvAbmDsypdMs_cKJxTKgdDBHkuCiwtg5ICUJ66xZyxAgKVcgs_1nsJ63sLsK8OCOIjxw3cdjlmpGLxFFA4vIf3QSGudd-c6BUkpIg/s320/joker.webp" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Joaquin Phoenix about to perform</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
as <i>Joker</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The frontrunner in the Best Actor Oscar race by all accounts is Joaquin Phoenix as <i>Joker</i>. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>Joker</i> plays fast and loose with the origin story of most famous of Batman villains known by so many from DC comics. In this movie, he is know as Albert Fleck, who lives with his mother and manages to scrape by with the money he can make as a party clown. Arthur suffers from various mental issues that require his taking several types of medication to keep in control. Personal issues develop with his sickly mother and funding cuts that deprive Arthur of the drugs he needs. Arthur subsequently transforms into the Joker as he slowly loses control of his sanity and discovers some sobering truths about his life that push him over the edge for keeps.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Phoenix gives his all here. I can't imagine anyone better or <i>stranger</i> to take on this role both physically and mentally. I thought his only potential detriment to winning the Oscar might be the fact that Heath Ledger won an Oscar for the same role in <i>The Dark Night.</i> From every prediction sight I've looked at, this doesn't seem to matter and he's a heavy favorite.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>Joker </i>was nominated for 11 Academy Awards: including Best Picture, Actor, Director, Screenplay and Music.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsq6GIO897JvYQ484Y4_HI5RrurDjzF3yX01p_XkqAyq8g0wKJdwLRj5JsWTp6Fm-c6_ZQ2s3QRkFR1EzNfhrN_MnzHy0oIEgVhGQVonaiHxYzyW1m-dYZEDSYuXRqCRSR91UThQE7Lw/s1600/Judy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="450" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsq6GIO897JvYQ484Y4_HI5RrurDjzF3yX01p_XkqAyq8g0wKJdwLRj5JsWTp6Fm-c6_ZQ2s3QRkFR1EzNfhrN_MnzHy0oIEgVhGQVonaiHxYzyW1m-dYZEDSYuXRqCRSR91UThQE7Lw/s320/Judy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Rene Zellweger about to perform</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
as <i>Judy</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Even more of a sure thing seems to be Rene Zellweger taking home the Best Actress award for her performance as Judy Garland towards the end of her life in <i>Judy</i>. Most of the film is set in Swinging London of the late 60's, as we see Miss Garland performing to make money to keep custody of her kids. The movie shows Judy's drug/pill problem which it intersperses with clips of young Judy on <i>The Wizard of Oz</i> set where the pressures of the studio and willing accomplices get Judy hooked on pills at a very tender age.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Zellweger gives a wonderful interpretation of the latter day Garland, including performing her songs in a very convincing way. It's a sad story that seems to play a bit loose with the facts and condenses some of what actually happened for the sake of the plot. I don't know if Judy actually ate omelettes with a gay couple she met at the end of one show, but it's a nice enough scene!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Judy</i> was nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Actress and Best Makeup/Hairstyling </div>
1001: A Film Odyssey is produced, directed and written by Chris, a librarian.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04803620768028761898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622159271440854440.post-41020066174952048072020-01-20T02:34:00.000-06:002020-01-20T02:34:06.421-06:00THE HATEFUL EIGHT (2015), ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD (2019)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVNAnCpY5iLTm48NkWxLDN2z5oQVru2UBL90Gq8vX1Ct51xbUsA7AYqliwgesix_UDI9jN1rDVZNXZEKPojRcdSoR8GpQp1VcaK0clSuQlwsonH8REqtb7TDOpZEqbnu8EOn-kK4cNIg/s1600/hateful+eight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="814" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVNAnCpY5iLTm48NkWxLDN2z5oQVru2UBL90Gq8vX1Ct51xbUsA7AYqliwgesix_UDI9jN1rDVZNXZEKPojRcdSoR8GpQp1VcaK0clSuQlwsonH8REqtb7TDOpZEqbnu8EOn-kK4cNIg/s320/hateful+eight.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Kurt Russell and Jennifer Jason Leigh</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
in <i>The Hateful Eight</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>The Hateful Eight </i>or maybe Agatha Christie's <i>Kill Bill</i>, but set in a Western setting?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A stagecoach with bounty hunter John Ruth (Kurt Russell) and his prisoner (Jennifer Jason Leigh) picks up another bounty hunter (Samuel L. Jackson) and a southern soldier from the war (Walter Goggins) on their trek to the city of Red Rock. Bad weather forces them to stay at a haberdashery who has as guests an assortment of characters, many of whom are not what they seem to be. Who and what these desperadoes are up to is the question of this film, which is well over three hours in the expanded version I saw on Netflix. You can say that Tarantino borrows liberally from other movies...hell!, I even recognized some rehashing of some of Tarantino's own movies like <i>Inglorious Basterds </i>and <i>Reservoir Dogs</i>...but...I found what was going on on the screen compelling enough and the characters interesting enough to never think the running time as being too long...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqEBNEzUhv00vGlZOkavgiCoBXpy7XiimtbkL2jyvTgmv6f2QkDUH6MgCxNl8SjfCqdgSYuUDhF6Kf7u7H61Vv3tjUoWdFPZnkd3RUrign8emxfrwmfD4j6p7KCfJgZyHXodkYJkveig/s1600/once+upon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqEBNEzUhv00vGlZOkavgiCoBXpy7XiimtbkL2jyvTgmv6f2QkDUH6MgCxNl8SjfCqdgSYuUDhF6Kf7u7H61Vv3tjUoWdFPZnkd3RUrign8emxfrwmfD4j6p7KCfJgZyHXodkYJkveig/s320/once+upon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Brad Pitt, Leonardo Di Caprio and Al Pacino<br />
in <i>Once Upon a Time in Hollywood</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>...T</i>his leads us to Tarantino's latest effort<i>, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood</i>. I originally heard about a year ago that Tarantino was making a film about Charles Manson, so it surprised me now that I've seen it that Manson as a character only has a walk on part here. The main plot of the film involves actor Rick Dalton (Leonardo Di Caprio), who is experiencing a similar career arc to Clint Eastwood and his loyal stunt man Cliff (Brad Pitt). The two get involved through being in the wrong place at the wrong time with the Manson family, which comes to a head on August 8, 1969...but not in the way you might think. Shraon Tate (Margot Robbie) is also featured prominently here. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Tarantino certainly has an eye for detail and an intense nostalgia of the time and has created a most entertaining film. I <i>am </i>concerned that the <i>The National Review</i> gave this film such a positive review. I'm going to have to think on that one a bit.<br />
<br />
<i>Once Upon a Time in Hollywood</i> has been nominated for ten Oscars, including: Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.</div>
</div>
1001: A Film Odyssey is produced, directed and written by Chris, a librarian.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04803620768028761898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622159271440854440.post-38774555396967669512020-01-14T06:00:00.000-06:002020-01-21T21:15:31.473-06:00THE LAST EMPEROR (1987)<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<b>AND THE FINAL BEST PICTURE WINNER</b></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<b>THAT I HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE IS...</b></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<i>#1 The Last Emperor</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgwv74RQ8CPBgksTV7N-1OOh8zwukbCR2Kxb2F0FfKV-BNFCJVBcDAToXRptbdkcC0Rxp1NdLU1rMr1mT3e355BBJRRXnsHJFluXV9mghDQuzWOn4psz6dxI1jCEuTz-N7pxHNkrnXQ/s1600/last+emperor+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgwv74RQ8CPBgksTV7N-1OOh8zwukbCR2Kxb2F0FfKV-BNFCJVBcDAToXRptbdkcC0Rxp1NdLU1rMr1mT3e355BBJRRXnsHJFluXV9mghDQuzWOn4psz6dxI1jCEuTz-N7pxHNkrnXQ/s320/last+emperor+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The young emperor prepares to greet his subjects<br />
in the opening scene of<i> The Last Emperor</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Lastemperoritis-</i>The inability to finish a list of movies you want to see because you never seem to be in the mood to watch a three-hour film about a toddler that becomes emperor of China.<br />
<br />
"What interests Bertolucci-who by now had emerged as far more the child of Freud than of Marx-was the indecision, the passivity, the powerlessness of Pu Ti. And by far the most beautiful passages of the film are those of his sexual education and later humiliation, as a figure so pampered that he hardly has identity, let alone character."-David Thomson, <i>Have You Seen...</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</i><br />
<br />
<i>The Last Emperor</i> is Bernardo Bertolucci's epic which covers roughly fifty years of China in the twentieth century is undeniably beautiful to look at. The story of the young emperor trapped by his own title and then set out into the world as a commoner and eventually a prisoner has appeal, too. It has a <i>Lawrence of Arabia</i> flavor to it which had to appeal to Academy voters. It even had Peter O'Toole-Lawrence himself as the only prominent Westerner in the cast! There were some slow parts, so I can't say I was riveted from beginning to end, but I think this one could have easily been an entry in the 1001 book....And it only took me thirty-two years to get around to seeing it!<br />
<br />
<br />
1987 Best Picture Nominees<br />
<i>The Last Emperor</i><br />
<i>Broadcast News</i><br />
<i>Fatal Attraction</i><br />
<i>Hope and Glory</i><br />
<i>Moonstruck</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>The Last Emperor</i> and <i>Hope and Glory</i> were the only two films nominated for Best Picture this year that didn't make the 1001 book.<br />
<br />
<i>The Last Emperor</i> famously won all nine categories which it was nominated, including Best Director (Bertolucci) and Best Screenplay (Mark Peploe and Bertolucci) and Best Original Score (Three artists, including Talking Head David Byrne). It received no acting nominations.<br />
<br />
Well, I've seen them all now. Ninety-some odd films that have won Best Picture. I'm working on watching the major contenders for next month's Academy Awards, we'll see how that goes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd51GtHj1U5t8E8UKVvA2PVdJfBNVDFt0rjfJEvPahstcHNEdSZMSEJnr2CYk7gC55gZ76FK96aRdv8A0UjE7Dl-CpVouzdQNPpcj_zNeekNXl2A6ibTB066U0SYxqdjsE68duL778FA/s1600/last+emperor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="800" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd51GtHj1U5t8E8UKVvA2PVdJfBNVDFt0rjfJEvPahstcHNEdSZMSEJnr2CYk7gC55gZ76FK96aRdv8A0UjE7Dl-CpVouzdQNPpcj_zNeekNXl2A6ibTB066U0SYxqdjsE68duL778FA/s320/last+emperor.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
John Lone and Joan Chen in <i>The Last Emperor</i></div>
<br /></div>
<i><br /></i></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.75pt;"><b>Oscar
Best Picture winners </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">1927-28: </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Wings</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> and Sunrise</span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">1928-29: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">The Broadway Melody</span></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">
</span>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">1929-30: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">All Quiet on the Western Front</span></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">1930-31: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Cimarron</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">1931-32: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Grand Hotel</span></i></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1932-33: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Cavalcade</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1934: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">It Happened One Night</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1935: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Mutiny on the Bounty</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1936: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">The Great Ziegfeld</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1937: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">The Life of Emile Zola</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1938: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">You Can’t Take It with You</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1939: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Gone with the Wind</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1940: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Rebecca</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1941: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">How Green Was My Valley</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1942: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Mrs. Miniver</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1943: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Casablanca</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1944: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Going My Way</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1945: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">The Lost Weekend</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1946: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">The Best Years of Our Lives</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1947: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Gentleman’s Agreement</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1948: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Hamlet</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1949: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">All the King’s Men</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1950: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">All About Eve</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1951: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">An American in Paris</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1952: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">The Greatest Show on Earth</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1953: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">From Here to Eternity</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1954: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">On the Waterfront</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1955: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Marty</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1956: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Around the World in 80 Days</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1957: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">The Bridge on the River Kwai</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1958: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Gigi</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1959: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Ben-Hur</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1960: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">The Apartment</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1961: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">West Side Story</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1962: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Lawrence of Arabia</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1963: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Tom Jones</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1964: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">My Fair Lady</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1965: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">The Sound of Music</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1966: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">A Man for All Seasons</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1967: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">In the Heat of the Night</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1968: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Oliver!</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1969: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Midnight Cowboy</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1970: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Patton</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1971: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">The French Connection</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1972: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">The Godfather</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1973: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">The Sting</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1974: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">The Godfather: Part II</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1975: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1976: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Rocky</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1977: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Annie Hall</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1978: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">The Deer Hunter</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1979: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Kramer vs. Kramer</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1980: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Ordinary People</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1981: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Chariots of Fire</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1982: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Gandhi</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1983: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Terms of Endearment</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1984: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Amadeus</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1985: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Out of Africa</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1986: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Platoon</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1987: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">The Last Emperor</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>1988: </i></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">Rain Man</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1989: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Driving Miss Daisy</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1990: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Dances with Wolves</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1991: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">The Silence of the Lambs</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1992: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Unforgiven</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1993: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Schindler’s List</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1994: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Forrest Gump</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1995: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Braveheart</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1996: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">The English Patient</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1997: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Titanic</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1998: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Shakespeare in Love</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1999: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">American Beauty</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">2000: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Gladiator</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">2001: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">A Beautiful Mind</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">2002: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Chicago</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">2003: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">2004: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Million Dollar Baby</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">2005: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Crash</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">2006: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">The Departed</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">2007: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">No Country for Old Men</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">2008: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Slumdog Millionaire</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">2009: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">The Hurt Locker</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">2010: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">The King’s Speech</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">2011: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">The Artist</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">2012: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Argo</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">2013: 12 Years a Slave</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">2014: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">2015: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Spotlight</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">2016: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Moonlight</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">2017: The Shape of Water</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">2018: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Green Book</span></div>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i>2019: Ford v Ferarri? The Irishman? Jojo Rabbit?</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Joker? </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Little Women? Marriage Story? </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">1917? </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood? Parasite?</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">(We'll find out this year's winner on February 9th)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZG6HelCt0ONSIQLwR7GuKHFQ1rxARV4Hpp47wDeL78uRzXrkaoxkY7Nmz7-h6H6iQ_lH5S5SUtRBdtPlz_PLDCYk7ZrunYfRNL6Q-99plOGunj_kiY3ghgk4kjKaLL6NjaqhAB1kNQ/s1600/oscar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZG6HelCt0ONSIQLwR7GuKHFQ1rxARV4Hpp47wDeL78uRzXrkaoxkY7Nmz7-h6H6iQ_lH5S5SUtRBdtPlz_PLDCYk7ZrunYfRNL6Q-99plOGunj_kiY3ghgk4kjKaLL6NjaqhAB1kNQ/s1600/oscar.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
1001: A Film Odyssey is produced, directed and written by Chris, a librarian.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04803620768028761898noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622159271440854440.post-18720721617251685752020-01-13T06:00:00.000-06:002020-01-21T21:14:01.845-06:00TOM JONES (1963, GREAT BRITAIN)<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>THE FINAL FOUR BEST PICTURE WINNERS</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>THAT I HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
#2 <i> Tom Jones</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-t0YuOos6N25ib8cs0bEgm-BsZcBQH07YFmlMaDUhsjsh8n7hhf5N6eHUP_KaiGi-KRkwzNmiO5db2XNKfzJvgGTv08QqPHhcyE4DrsfsqIEPbXK3Z6oJqQTY6DeCHmgQ3hyDeIGfQ/s1600/tom+jones+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="721" data-original-width="1200" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-t0YuOos6N25ib8cs0bEgm-BsZcBQH07YFmlMaDUhsjsh8n7hhf5N6eHUP_KaiGi-KRkwzNmiO5db2XNKfzJvgGTv08QqPHhcyE4DrsfsqIEPbXK3Z6oJqQTY6DeCHmgQ3hyDeIGfQ/s320/tom+jones+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Susannah York and Albert Finney pitch woo</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
in<i> Tom Jones</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
"Prepare yourself for what is surely one of the wildest, bawdiest and funniest comedies that a refreshingly agile filmmaker has ever brought to the screen."-Bosley Crowther, <i>New York Times</i>, October 8. 1963</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>"Tom Jones </i>is a mess, sometimes called a romp, and a tribute as much as anything to the sudden new appetite for things English."-David Thomson, <i>Have You Seen...?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Yes, the bawdy romp that is <i>Tom Jones</i> seems to have its fans as well as its detractors. Interesting that I've never gotten around to seeing it before. In fact, I can hardly remember it ever being on TV over the years...at least not often. Seen now, it's an interesting transition British film when the country went from making serious early 60's English films such as Saturday <i>Night and Sunday Morning</i> (also starring Finney) to the Swingin' London films of the later 60's, such as <i>Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatment</i> (starring David Warner of T<i>om Jones</i>).<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Tom Jones</i> is a fun film especially for those who like period pieces, though the "bawdiness" of the film seems quite subdued by modern standards.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>What's New Pussycat?: </b>The Welsh singer Thomas Woodward was rechristened as "Tom Jones" after the success of the movie of the same name. I'm pretty sure more people in recent years are more familiar with the singer Tom Jones than the movie <i>Tom Jones</i>, let alone the original novel by Henry Fielding! But it's not unusual, I guess.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZYRN7kfbGaY-ZofO8AtlWhyBOc07TnryKz3tcu1AZsq-TVujOKr8fmNspLmgbyH2L1q8ToLjMqO56IdNVtc8phVogspJv5JloMCcrDsjxHHmmEAwtniQRnbw_CQIVghEGoSJC5GYTQ/s1600/tom+jones+singer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="466" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZYRN7kfbGaY-ZofO8AtlWhyBOc07TnryKz3tcu1AZsq-TVujOKr8fmNspLmgbyH2L1q8ToLjMqO56IdNVtc8phVogspJv5JloMCcrDsjxHHmmEAwtniQRnbw_CQIVghEGoSJC5GYTQ/s320/tom+jones+singer.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>1963 Best Picture Nominees</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Tom Jones</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>America, America</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Cleopatra</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>How the West Was Won</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Lilies of the Field</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>None</i> of the Best Picture Nominees for this year made the 1001 book.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In his <i>Alternative Oscar</i> book, Danny Peary awarded no Academy Award winner for 1963. The only year he gave it to no winner. (Though<i> 8 1/2, Hud</i> and <i>The Great Escape </i>seem like potentially worthy choices to me.)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Tony Richardson won the Best Director award for <i>Tom Jones</i>, beating out the formidable competition of Federico Fellini, Martin Ritt, Elia Kazan and Otto Preminger.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Tom Jones</i> also won Best Adapted Screenplay for John Osborne and Best Adapted Musical Score by John Addison</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Tom Jones </i>had five Acting Nominations...none of whom won.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Albert Finney lost Best Actor to Sidney Potier of <i>Lillies of the Field</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Hugh Griffith lost Best Supporting Actor to Melvyn Douglas of <i>Hud</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Diane Cilento, Edith Evans and Joyce Redman all lost Best Supporting Actress to Margaret Rutherford in The <i>V.I.P.'s</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>A Little Love for Susannah York, Please!</b>: The five acting Oscar nominees for <i>Tom Jones</i> did not include leading lady Susannah York. She went on to have a very fine career in motion pictures, but never received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actess during her career.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Sometimes it Pays to Look Back in Anger</b>: John Osborne was awarded the Best Screenplay Oscar for <i>Tom Jones</i> and had his play <i>Luther</i> win the Tony for Best Play the same year<i>! </i>The original West End production of<i> Luther </i>starred Albert Finney. The 1973 film version featured Hugh Griffith in a supporting role. Tom Jones director Tony Richardson also directed <i>Luther</i> on the stage.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIvv0mNrUNXgdc16ekYbl-sgwIdeYGnLbUCZ3sUFpnlz7XiK3KgbFkZVE74J-S0q_fclkzaUGy3iq7f6fw0TS3JKMyKtfI-DXht6unkO6PzhTFhplzCvn0ZlXPD_7Aqhfhz_xlaZdIcw/s1600/tom+jones+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="477" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIvv0mNrUNXgdc16ekYbl-sgwIdeYGnLbUCZ3sUFpnlz7XiK3KgbFkZVE74J-S0q_fclkzaUGy3iq7f6fw0TS3JKMyKtfI-DXht6unkO6PzhTFhplzCvn0ZlXPD_7Aqhfhz_xlaZdIcw/s320/tom+jones+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The hunting scene shot largely from a helicopter</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
in <i>Tom Jones</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Tomorrow: </b>The final Best Picture winner that I have never seen before!</div>
</div>
</div>
1001: A Film Odyssey is produced, directed and written by Chris, a librarian.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04803620768028761898noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622159271440854440.post-36963403172959866682020-01-12T06:00:00.000-06:002020-01-12T06:00:09.653-06:00AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS (1956)<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>THE FINAL FOUR BEST PICTURE WINNERS</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>THAT I HAVE (SORT OF) NEVER SEEN BEFORE</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
#3<i> Around the World in 80 Days</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGzfR4STQ1Ubp2kTqiV-wguG8vX8hE9osf3LolVE1nK1wT1Cc0g7EAmpViz0bymPVhZcivDJiG8iPRgboSz3_XA1O54ILNTw6xfVnr7N_Egq83-tpo9fO9FvTiBv1w2-nWaqcpKOlsA/s1600/around+the+world.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="850" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGzfR4STQ1Ubp2kTqiV-wguG8vX8hE9osf3LolVE1nK1wT1Cc0g7EAmpViz0bymPVhZcivDJiG8iPRgboSz3_XA1O54ILNTw6xfVnr7N_Egq83-tpo9fO9FvTiBv1w2-nWaqcpKOlsA/s320/around+the+world.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
David Niven and Cantinflas prepare to go</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Around the World in 80 Days</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
"Imagine this-and being married to Liz (Taylor), too!"-Mike Todd, after <i>Around the World in 80 Days</i> wins Best Picture-<i>Inside Oscar: The Unofficial History of the Academy Awards</i> by Mason Wiley and Damien Bona<br />
<br />
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I said in the heading "Sort of" never seen before because I'm sure I saw at least chunks of it on television as a kid as it was a regular staple of something you could show on the tube at any hour that would have kid appeal and be okay for the grownups to tune in. I have previously seen the similar film <i>Five Weeks in a Balloon</i> and star Cantinflas's follow-up <i>Pepe</i> in full<i>.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Well<i>,</i> <i>Around the World in 80 Days</i> is big. It's expansive. It travels all around the world. It's got a ton of extras. It's even got a ton of <i>animal </i>extras. David Niven is snootily charming as Phileas Fogg. Mexican comic legend Cantinflas is also on hand as Fogg's sidekick, Passeportout. There's action, adventure and many star cameos. There's also great closing credit sequence from the legendary Saul Bass. The Victor Young score is good. And don't forget the film comes form the literary pedigree of Jules Verne!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
That's a lot of positives. Despite all that, I can't say I found <i>Around the World in 80 Days</i> overly riveting. It's amusing in part (Thanks mostly to Cantiflas) but not the most hilarious comedy of the era. It certainly seems in retrospect that <i>Giant </i>probably should have won Best Picture for 1956. The picture that has had the most staying power from the below nominee list is the perennially shown <i>The Ten Commandments</i>. The beloved (by some) <i>The King and I</i> also seems to have stood the test of time more than <i>Around the World in 80 Days</i>.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Michael Todd: </b>You can't mention this film without mentioning the ambitious producer of the whole thing, Michael Todd. After great successes in other mediums, this was his first (and only) film and it was a big hit and, of course won the Oscar. Todd's career ended in a plane crash in 1958. It would have been interesting to see what ambitious film projects would have come after this one if he had lived.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Cameos</b>: Todd is also credited with coining the phrase "cameo" to denote a star in a brief role. There are many in <i>Around the World in 80 Days</i>, from Frank Sinatra to Marlene Dietrich to John Carradine. If you get bogged down in the plot, you can always play the spot the celebrity bit-player game. "Look, honey. Isn't that Jack Oakie?"</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Which Indians come off worse? </b>During Fogg and Passepartout's journey to India, they come across a princess (played by a young Shirley Macclaine) about to be burned alive after her husband dies. She is saved from death from these heathens by the resourceful Passeportout. Later, in the United States, the crew are travelling by train and get attacked by another kind of Indian. The kind with bows and arrows! They kidnap Passeportout and try to burn <i>him</i> at the stake! He is of course rescued. The Indians (dots) at least had a reason for burning the princess (although a pretty bad one). The Indian's (feathers) motivations seem to be to just supply an excuse for an action sequence.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Can someone please find me a Frenchman? </b>In the book by Jules Verne, Passepartout is a French valet.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In this version, he is played by the Mexican Cantinflas</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In the 1989 television version, he is played by Englishman Eric Idle</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In the 2004 feature film, he is played by Jackie Chan, who I'm pretty sure also isn't French.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>1956 Best Picture Nominees</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Around the World in 80 Days</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Giant</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Friendly Persuasion</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>The King and I</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>The Ten Commandments</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Around the World in 80 Days' </i>Michael Anderson lost out on Best Director to George Stevens of Giant</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Neither Niven nor Cantinflas was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar for <i>Around the World in 80 Days</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Yul Brynner won Best Actor for <i>The King and I</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Cantinflas <i>was</i> given The Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical Golden Globe Award.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
James Poe, John Farrow and S. J. Perlman won Best Adapted Screenplay for <i>Around the World in 80 Days</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Victor Young won for Best Musical Score for<i> Around the World in 80 Days</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This was Young's first Oscar after being nominated a previous twenty-one times. He died the year he won the award, which was given posthumously. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The film also won for Best Color Cinematography and Best Film Editing</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPUwBbPdHHF1bJoSSkZ2JsP2KaxT0C3_gHMrr9mwuHWW-uQ9VZnX2E26ZXO949gyA0Ahn7NMAiVa-8elaGO6vEjXTZ-4XsVSaeokMckEHP0zRsjhBtboJOnRYdRe5DpfmuRa_6DwCGMQ/s1600/around+the+world+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="187" data-original-width="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPUwBbPdHHF1bJoSSkZ2JsP2KaxT0C3_gHMrr9mwuHWW-uQ9VZnX2E26ZXO949gyA0Ahn7NMAiVa-8elaGO6vEjXTZ-4XsVSaeokMckEHP0zRsjhBtboJOnRYdRe5DpfmuRa_6DwCGMQ/s1600/around+the+world+2.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
David Niven with Buster Keaton,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
One of the many "cameos" in</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Around the World in 80 Days</i></div>
1001: A Film Odyssey is produced, directed and written by Chris, a librarian.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04803620768028761898noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622159271440854440.post-27715697344819141412020-01-11T06:00:00.000-06:002020-01-11T06:00:02.763-06:00THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH (1952)<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b>THE FINAL FOUR BEST PICTURE WINNERS</b><br />
<b>THAT I HAVE (ALMOST) NEVER SEEN BEFORE</b><br />
#4 <i>The Greatest Show on Earth</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9s9jGGDPLASc-NKQn333ch47aPHy9mqC1uDnJTOlNytAxiaPnf8tzNCw6WhL5PpOoqAY0MBHvSM2akq7UOB9gljc9AQnb2jmRTq0DBenZW84S3MqOODMfuVPV5LJb80raWn7K0gq7kQ/s1600/greatest+show+on+earth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="1000" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9s9jGGDPLASc-NKQn333ch47aPHy9mqC1uDnJTOlNytAxiaPnf8tzNCw6WhL5PpOoqAY0MBHvSM2akq7UOB9gljc9AQnb2jmRTq0DBenZW84S3MqOODMfuVPV5LJb80raWn7K0gq7kQ/s320/greatest+show+on+earth.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span id="goog_1471158171"></span><span id="goog_1471158172"></span>Charlton Heston and James Stewart in<br />
<i>The Greatest Show on Earth</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
"To Everyone's astonishment (including presenter Mary Pickford), the winner was<i> The Greatest Show on Earth</i>. Back in New York, the audience at the Century could not even applaud and a voice asked, "Who decides these things, anyway?"-<i>Inside Oscar: The Unofficial History of the Academy Awards</i> by Mason Wiley and Damien Bona</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
"I thought <i>High Noon</i> or <i>The Quiet Man </i>would get it," Cecil B. DeMille said backstage.<br />
<br />
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I had to qualify the never seen before tag on this one, as I did see it on TV in the late 70's, so I may have to change the heading on this to "Haven't seen in the last forty years."</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Anyway, <i> The Greatest Show on Earth</i> isn't really a choice that has aged well. DeMille was right, <i>High Noon</i> or <i>The Quiet Man</i> (or <i>Singin' in the Rain)</i> would have been better choices. I think at the time the Academy was trying to give an award to a film directed by DeMille, probably the greatest living filmmaking pioneer at the time. The movie itself is a big color extravaganza of the circus featuring an all-star cast (Yes, Betty Hutton and Cornel Wilde were major stars at one time) that reminds me a little bit of 1970's disaster films in having the name cast in a somewhat soapy melodrama, though we aren't waiting to see who will die or not like in those films. That being said, the film does end with a massive train wreck of the Barnum and Bailey circus train that was pretty spectacular for the time, but doesn't particularly date that well either, though I still kind of like the train scene, anyway.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Worth seeing, though I'd argue with you if you call this the Best Picture of the Year.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Star that comes off best:</b> Easily the best story under the big top is Jimmy Stewart as a clown named Buttons that is secretly an on the lamb doctor accused of murder. He wears his make-up throughout the film. I honesty wish the film had been centered more around his character.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Star that comes off the worst:</b> Dorothy Lamour. Not that she is particularly bad, but the film gives her very little to do. She just pops up every twenty minutes or so to remind us that Dorothy Lamour is indeed in this picture!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Rising star: </b>Demille cast Charlton Heston as the head of the circus in what was easily his biggest role to date. Demille and Heston would team up a few years later to in what was possibly the most iconic film for both of them, <i>The Ten Commandments</i>.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1952 Best Picture Nominees:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>The Greatest Show on Earth</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>High Noon</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Ivanhoe</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Moulin Rouge</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>The Quiet Man</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
John Ford did win Best Director for <i>The Quiet Man </i>over Demille.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>The Greatest Show on Earth'</i>s elaborate costume design by Edith Head lost out on that award to <i>Moulin Rogue</i>. Ms. Head did win the costume design award eight other years.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>The Greatest Show on Earth'</i>s only other Oscar went to Frederic Frank, Theodore St. John and Frank Cavett for their screenplay.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28AgunqklsLTb1kYuknx1H2siluUYzoD2j_wadj9kvMn9Ve5CGNMVDPH3bXgn6PxSkDHdXKm3qLJ06pLvuTTfqvJGIiQgny3yELxFUjBNKsRa8-g8-xY3tqwUqWd4Fy9xm1qoUbZbaA/s1600/greatest+show+on+earth+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="553" data-original-width="749" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28AgunqklsLTb1kYuknx1H2siluUYzoD2j_wadj9kvMn9Ve5CGNMVDPH3bXgn6PxSkDHdXKm3qLJ06pLvuTTfqvJGIiQgny3yELxFUjBNKsRa8-g8-xY3tqwUqWd4Fy9xm1qoUbZbaA/s320/greatest+show+on+earth+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Cornel Wilde, Betty Hutton and Charlton Heston</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
under the big top</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
in <i>The Greatest Show on Earth</i></div>
</div>
1001: A Film Odyssey is produced, directed and written by Chris, a librarian.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04803620768028761898noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622159271440854440.post-22402300378108852262020-01-08T04:00:00.000-06:002020-01-08T04:00:04.652-06:00JOE (1970), PUTNEY SWOPE (1969)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRlEMA_ZtI_z5-segs99P0gSiohJ7VaBrnQ-OilTMoeo4aj18Lirqj6cXzaD8qRKkBnOoWxYa4bTJ-IN2Q1f-_PXcvwfY_GkHWsgAIfCHdA7BHYnQRRiqVOfZ1qRT17TEQmIUZkfWz6A/s1600/joe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="1468" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRlEMA_ZtI_z5-segs99P0gSiohJ7VaBrnQ-OilTMoeo4aj18Lirqj6cXzaD8qRKkBnOoWxYa4bTJ-IN2Q1f-_PXcvwfY_GkHWsgAIfCHdA7BHYnQRRiqVOfZ1qRT17TEQmIUZkfWz6A/s320/joe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Peter Boyle as <i>Joe</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I've heard about the movie <i>Joe </i>for a long time. I knew it was about a bigot played by Peter Boyle, but the movie turned out to be a much different cinematic experience than I expected. We don't even get to meet Joe until about 30 minutes into the movie!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The plot starts with a young hippie chick named Melissa (Susan Sarandon) trying to get along with her druggie boyfriend. Unfortunately, she has a freak out and gets sent to the hospital. Her affluent father Bill Compton (Dennis Patrick) then goes to their pad when they aren't there to gather her belongs. The boyfriend comes home and provokes Compton who kills the young hippie in a rage.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The clearly upset Compton goes into a bar where we (finally) meet Joe (Peter Boyle), who has plenty to say negatively about blacks and gays. However, Joe has a special animosity towards those young hippie punks (Hey, boomers) who he thinks are destroying the moral fabric of society. The working class Joe and the upper class Compton form an unlikely friendship that leads them to unlikely places.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Joe</i> is a very solid drama. Part of this can be attributed to the script by Haskell Wexler (Read the section of Bob Zmuda's book on Andy Kaufman for a look at <i>how</i> crazy Wexler was.) As I mentioned, the story did not go into predictable places and some may find parts of it dated or the ending a bit too much, but I still give it a thumbs up, especially for those who like films from the period.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjElZvt0A3oe5yzo-K2xpx2EsPU1Hu6RC7O2byvGdgr1UCw3XWFsbDAsfC-_aH1RHUJJLayF5zGVk-CJkubvom7Ns0TOKpAgqz7sQdqSnrHYuyNUJmPy4yICLbweiUCTQPAfw-35_WRlQ/s1600/joe+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="480" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjElZvt0A3oe5yzo-K2xpx2EsPU1Hu6RC7O2byvGdgr1UCw3XWFsbDAsfC-_aH1RHUJJLayF5zGVk-CJkubvom7Ns0TOKpAgqz7sQdqSnrHYuyNUJmPy4yICLbweiUCTQPAfw-35_WRlQ/s320/joe+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Susan Sarandon in <i>Joe</i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieHcSXaFMehhdOVxsDNTYfRZwYMfR8lxlNYyuCsOG059RXFBfJh1CmxYJkLZ_vPkKYQFjHYxRXnosn_lzbVic6Ga2QnvGpg0Qud7LedvqHMbqRB1bhqA2Q8ny7jxGAu-csIfs6ykrx8g/s1600/putney+swope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="560" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieHcSXaFMehhdOVxsDNTYfRZwYMfR8lxlNYyuCsOG059RXFBfJh1CmxYJkLZ_vPkKYQFjHYxRXnosn_lzbVic6Ga2QnvGpg0Qud7LedvqHMbqRB1bhqA2Q8ny7jxGAu-csIfs6ykrx8g/s320/putney+swope.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
There's a new business model</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
in <i>Putney Swope</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Speaking of films of the period, how about Robert Downey Sr.'s film <i>Putney Swope</i>? <i>Putney </i>has a small cult following, but I had never seen it before today. The movie begins with one black board executive (named Putney Swope) at an advertising company becoming the CEO when the old CEO dies and the rest of the board votes Swope CEO because they all thought no body else would vote for him!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Swope cleans house and now the advertising firm is called <i>Truth and Soul</i> and big changes come about. The story is tongue and cheek and intentionally over-the-top. Some of the jokes don't land quite as solidly perhaps they were intended to, but there are a lot of truths that come out of this film. Truths about advertising, selling out, doing anything for money, pay inequality and getting rid of anyone who doesn't agree with you. We also have a midget president, an executive board that looks like members of The Black Panthers and some commercial ads that are often tasteless and usually pretty funny.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Glad to finally get these off my late 60's early 70's bucket list (Which I guess must be an unwritten supplement to the <i>1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die</i> List).</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGx_DXGUMeW5836dpPh7au9_pymObHEKLSYw2dqdZcFE975HE-fXgxVZrvpmnkKs533Sghr2xpHQuhSr44x3X8OIs-KbehpssEToL48SBShrzWqX7qkyToBjQcBo3nyVfN3J0VJwsrlg/s1600/putney+swope+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="620" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGx_DXGUMeW5836dpPh7au9_pymObHEKLSYw2dqdZcFE975HE-fXgxVZrvpmnkKs533Sghr2xpHQuhSr44x3X8OIs-KbehpssEToL48SBShrzWqX7qkyToBjQcBo3nyVfN3J0VJwsrlg/s320/putney+swope+2.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The midget president in <i>Putney Swope</i></div>
1001: A Film Odyssey is produced, directed and written by Chris, a librarian.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04803620768028761898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622159271440854440.post-42876569424820414992020-01-05T03:00:00.000-06:002020-01-05T03:00:14.714-06:00SHOAH (1985), THE PAWNBROKER (1964), PASSENGER (1963, POLAND)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirWoCOkISinLLAxHOIo1-Wu8P-ZZeX2Gx3p7ZKLtWWawHvdn7HKkrxwD4JyFH3LqsiQn1YNavxyfyxgluDTagXrSM1W1qibDgq13kpSkCNjVPtLPOYJBDYqHBeawQSsBz9y-m9pm8sXA/s1600/passenger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirWoCOkISinLLAxHOIo1-Wu8P-ZZeX2Gx3p7ZKLtWWawHvdn7HKkrxwD4JyFH3LqsiQn1YNavxyfyxgluDTagXrSM1W1qibDgq13kpSkCNjVPtLPOYJBDYqHBeawQSsBz9y-m9pm8sXA/s320/passenger.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Passenger</i><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Passenger</i> is Andrzej Munk's uncompleted film that begins with a lady on a passenger ship named Lisa who sees a another woman board. Lisa becomes distraught because of recognizing the other woman from a life that she thought she had put behind. This life was when Lisa was an SS officer and the other woman (named Marta) was a Jewish inmate of the camp.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The issue with <i>Passenger</i> as a viewing experience is that it was never completed. Munk died in a car accident during the filming and what we are left with is what was put together by filmmaker Witold Lesiewicz. I will say what we have is often compelling. We see mostly flashback sequences with Lisa as a harsh camp guard and are left with her rather undefined relationship with Marta. Lisa actually saves Marta from death on several occasions. The audience is left to wonder whether the reason for this is just the latent humanity of Lisa or a possibly even a latent attraction? We don't really know the answer because the film was never completed. Many of the scenes from the ship are still pictures with voice-over narration. It's a shame the film was never finished, but the slightly under an hour remainder is worth a watch, if you don't mind being left with more questions than answers.<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMyGuP4HDM3ra3zjBPq71yBE9fKGyGUUmo0hVdtUf-7Uym5IZ0H3_KG9lE2eMqoVtpH1paswyEsHfazhxioZViA_WMT7N6CKVX4enJJ53vB5EJ7XtlUyrE591kMR1isAabUVrmu5DDg/s1600/shoah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="522" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMyGuP4HDM3ra3zjBPq71yBE9fKGyGUUmo0hVdtUf-7Uym5IZ0H3_KG9lE2eMqoVtpH1paswyEsHfazhxioZViA_WMT7N6CKVX4enJJ53vB5EJ7XtlUyrE591kMR1isAabUVrmu5DDg/s320/shoah.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Shoah<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Claude Lanzman's documentary of the Holocaust called <i>Shoah</i>. on the other hand, took over a decade to complete and is over ten hours in length. The first thing that is striking about <i>Shoah</i> is that there is no archival footage used. What we have are interviews that take up the entirety of the film. It reminded me a little of the Marcel Ophlus films like <i>The Sorrow and the Pity</i>, though Ophlus's films had some archival footage to back his story up.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
There are many interviews with survivors of the camps. We have the reminiscences of people from neighboring villages to where the camps were. There is a memorable interview with a barber who cut the hair of those about to be killed. We have a couple of academic scholars to attempt to add some clarity to what went on and why. Perhaps most frighteningly we have interviews with some of the villains from this tragedy, those that worked in the camp, ran the trains going to the camp and coordinated the liquidation as if they were running a business on a strict deadline.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The film was shot from the mid 70's until the release of the film in 1985 and is an invaluable historical record of those that were there.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrkG0QlCPsyvzr_rr3fgrYrI5zhikLRDui0CEGsyBPf65LyaTeeXPyR-iOJcxFI0u6G-PZMe1xjp5-1iKZUnrcQCIQCHR-p1SuqHZnfw_yhJ1POUpaNxs-RuO4D3u-3r88-JF6Ns8xrg/s1600/pawnbroker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrkG0QlCPsyvzr_rr3fgrYrI5zhikLRDui0CEGsyBPf65LyaTeeXPyR-iOJcxFI0u6G-PZMe1xjp5-1iKZUnrcQCIQCHR-p1SuqHZnfw_yhJ1POUpaNxs-RuO4D3u-3r88-JF6Ns8xrg/s320/pawnbroker.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The Pawnbroker<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Sidney Lumet's <i>The Pawnbroker</i> (1964) is a story based on the novel by Edward Lewis Wallant, about a man named Sol Nazerman (Rod Steiger) who lost his entire family to the holocaust and years later runs a pawn shop in New York City. Nazerman has an assistant named Jesus Ortiz who he is teaching the business. But there is no happiness in Sol's life. As he points out to Jesus, the only thing he respects now is money. It isn't out of greed he does this, but simply because there is nothing left of value to him to hold on to.<br />
<br />
This is a pretty powerful film and one I'm surprised I haven't seen before now. There is much to see in the film as far as symbolism (The ultimate sacrifice of a character named Jesus, Sol's attempt to run his hand down on a spike as if being crucified himself etc.). It is also a worthy addition to the impressive career output of director Lumet and may also be Steiger's best performance.<br />
<br />
I love the look of dramas from the sixties that were still filmed in black and white. The cinematographer of <i>The Pawnbroker </i>was Boris Kaufman, who also filmed <i>On the Waterfront</i>, as well as several other films for Lumet.</div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlhD9dlcE2yZOjGcMR4aZ7qdOhAkLGbPjbjLKCQg2O0i5hvspj6Kx7NghKEvyQ8Gmz3RKatDSc9PI-BbP3ShwsAOtkzFYDC5n7s_hZtEnX1_e7zBevgAo7VTjZYiW_y7MuNnov9p-s3A/s1600/twilight+zone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlhD9dlcE2yZOjGcMR4aZ7qdOhAkLGbPjbjLKCQg2O0i5hvspj6Kx7NghKEvyQ8Gmz3RKatDSc9PI-BbP3ShwsAOtkzFYDC5n7s_hZtEnX1_e7zBevgAo7VTjZYiW_y7MuNnov9p-s3A/s320/twilight+zone.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Deaths-Head Revisited 1961</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
These movies made me think of <i>The Twilight Zone</i> episode <i>Death's Head Revisited.</i>..which I myself revisited. It features a former SS guard named Lutze (played by Oscar Beregi) who goes back to visit the concentration camp where he brutally tortured and murdered people during the war only to now be haunted by the ghosts of prisoners past (led by Joseph Schildkraut). One of my favorite <i>Twilight Zones</i> and featuring one of the easily most despicable heavies from the series.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgej9bJvXIO1Z35kVANjVBROZt0Djo5yE2ADeLtwkUZN8Rfifg02gnSzPl15_ANBX5Pxk2GJ-0j_l3gim5ckFIU957umWlDFpnoxivZmJeoRNVO2tJX7tCf_Sqb0g1RTbFqm0VIN92vFg/s1600/outer+limits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgej9bJvXIO1Z35kVANjVBROZt0Djo5yE2ADeLtwkUZN8Rfifg02gnSzPl15_ANBX5Pxk2GJ-0j_l3gim5ckFIU957umWlDFpnoxivZmJeoRNVO2tJX7tCf_Sqb0g1RTbFqm0VIN92vFg/s320/outer+limits.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Tribunal 1999</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
I thought there was an episode of the classic <i>Outer Limits</i> episode about a concentration camp, but could only find an episode from the<i> reboot </i>of the <i>Outler Limits</i> from 1999 titled <i>Tribunal</i>. This episode has a modern day reporter finding a surviving war criminal from one of the camps. The reporter is aided by a time traveler which leads to some interesting plot twists and leads to the war criminal being executed by a younger version of himself!...</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Shalom...</div>
</div>
1001: A Film Odyssey is produced, directed and written by Chris, a librarian.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04803620768028761898noreply@blogger.com2