luni, 31 iulie 2017
Donnie Brasco, written by Paul Attanasio, based on the books by Joseph D. Pistone and Richard Woodley, 10 out of 10
Donnie Brasco, written by Paul Attanasio, based
on the books by Joseph D. Pistone and Richard Woodley
10 out of 10
Notes and
thoughts on other books are available at:
- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEVa4_CsRStSBBDo4uJWT8BSWtTTn0N1E
and http://realini.blogspot.ro/
This film?
-
“Forget about it!!”
As Donnie
Brasco explains when asked by his fellow FBI agents, this is a catch phrase,
leitmotif used by the mobsters.
They used
for a car that was not good, for a meal that they enjoyed and was extraordinary
or just to say…forget about it.
When I used
it for the film itself, I meant to say that it is astounding and one of my
favorite, top twenty movies.
The director,
Mike Newell is behind two other motion pictures that I liked: Four Weddings and
a Funeral and Mona Lisa Smile.
I was
surprised to find that this staggering production was only nominated for an
Academy Award and no Golden Globe.
It was the
year when The Titanic has taken all the possible prizes, leaving nothing for
the rest of the better works
In my book,
Donnie Brasco is much better, even if the effort, the daring, innovation and
power behind the catastrophe movie are to be appreciated.
Donnie Brasco
is actually the assumed name of FBI agent Joe Pistone, on whose book the script
of the film is based.
Donnie Brasco
has the task of infiltrating the mafia in order to get evidence that would put
criminals behind bars.
Johnny Depp
proves yet again that he is a master of this art and his performance is…As Good
As It Gets…for which Jack Nicholson won the Oscar, in 1998 and Depp would have
deserved a nomination at the very least, much more than Dustin Hoffman for his
presence in a rather unexceptional film- Wag the Dog.
Lefty
Ruggiero is the first contact, a mobster that is portrayed with brilliance by
Al Pacino- I am not sure if this was not the last great role, for this viewer,
of an actor who has been for a good many years on a descending slope.
Donnie becomes
attached to Lefty, who introduces the young man in the underworld of the group
controlled by Sonny Black.
There are
disputes for the top position and Sonny Black is in conflict with another,
older leader called Sonny Red.
Trying to
fit in as well as possible, in order to protect his real identity and life,
agent Pistone becomes…much like the Mafiosi.
This leads
to violent disputes with his wife Maggie (Anne Heche), who is accusing her
spouse of becoming a bandit.
And she is
right, Donnie- Pistone himself admits it, saying that he has become one of them
and he is worried by the things he has to do.
Life on the
edge is really the experience of this undercover agent, who has a few brushes
with exposure and hence death.
At one
moment, the Goodfellas are supposed to eat in an Asian restaurant, where they
have to take their shoes off, only in the case of the FBI agent, his boots are
the hiding place for the recording device he is carrying…
So he has
to act theatrical and racist, pretending that America has won the war and not
these bastards and he would not take his boots off…
Some events
are awkward, sad and hilarious, like the gift of a lion, given by Sonny black
to Lefty, because he knows he likes wild life…the latter is indeed watching a
lot of National Geographic documentaries on TV.
Throughout the
film, one of the most compelling aspects is the drama of Lefty Ruggiero, who
appears like a sad old man, quite often.
His life is
a failure in some ways, his son is a drug addict that has an overdose and ends
up on life supporting machines.
Lefty is
forever waiting to be “sent for”, which could mean something good, but very
often it is a bullet in the head, which is exactly what would happen to him if
and when agent Pistone pulls out from the game.
The Mafia
will be ruthless with the man who has recommended that Donnie Brasco would
become a “made man”, a member of the
exclusive organized crime group.
As agent
Pistone says to his wife: “it is like I would kill him myself, practically
putting a bullet through his head”.
Donnie Brasco
is a glorious film.
duminică, 30 iulie 2017
Lawrence of Arabia, written by Robert Bolt and Michael Wilson, based on the writings of T.E. Lawrence, 10 out of 10
Lawrence of Arabia, written by Robert Bolt and
Michael Wilson, based on the writings of T.E. Lawrence
10 out of 10
Notes and
thoughts on other books are available at:
- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEVa4_CsRStSBBDo4uJWT8BSWtTTn0N1E
and http://realini.blogspot.ro/
This is a
glorious, epic, magnificent chef d’oeuvre and one of the best ten films ever
made, perhaps the best five.
The audiences
have included it in their preferences, ranking it on the IMDB site, where it
has an extraordinary Metascore of 100.
It has won
seven Academy Awards, six Golden Globes, four BAFTAs, but most important, it
will remain an all-time classic.
The narrative
is extraordinary and the hero comes as near as possible to being a Superman,
the ultimate Übermensch.
British Lieutenant
T.E. Lawrence is brilliantly portrayed by the new comer Peter O’Toole, who was
lucky to get the part-and so was the public.
I have read
in the classic Adventures in the Screen Trade by the phenomenal William Goldman
about this role.
Albert Finney
was supposed to have the leading role, acting with the likes of grand Alec Guinness
as Prince Faisal, the superb Anthony Quinn as Auda Abu Tayi, the sublime Omar Sharif
as Sherif Ali, Jose Ferrer as the Turkish Bey and so many other sensational
actors.
From the start,
T.E. Lawrence reveals some of his outstanding qualities, as he marches in the desert
and meets Sherif Ali, in a first confrontation over water and an introduction
into the habits of the region.
-
My name is for my friends…none of my
friends is a murderer…this is one of the first memorable lines of this
fantastic chef d’oeuvre
After facing each other over the murder of a man
for the water, Lawrence and Sherif Ali would become not just allies, but very
good friends, for most of the time fighting together in World War I, against
the Turks.
Lawrence becomes
“of Arabia” as he shows a brilliant tactical mind and manages to lead the “Arab
army” into a series of spectacular victories, starting with Aqaba, for which
the tribes traverse the desert.
Before that,
the British man had to use diplomatic, persuasion skills to get the flamboyant Auda
Abu Tayi to come along to fight those who pay him 150 guineas a month, just for
“his pleasure” as Lawrence puts it.
Anthony
Quinn- as well as Omar Sharif, the indeed royal Alec Guinness- is tremendous in
this challenging role of a complex leader, warrior, at times thief, and
chieftain, both wise and foolish man who says:
-
“I am a river for my people”
T.E.
Lawrence has to suffer through some personal tragedies, as he sees first one of
his young friends die, after he had saved him from the desert, and he is the
one to execute his companion, to avoid a conflict between opposing Arab tribes.
As they
prepare to blow up a Turkish train, the hero is forced to kill the other young
man who has been close all the way, because he is too severely injured to move
and the Turks were very cruel with their prisoners.
Lawrence of
Arabia is caught and tortured by the Turks, after which the American journalist
and others are wondering: “what did the Turkish general did to him?” …for he
came changed, more modest and subdued for a while.
The shortcomings
of the man who lead the Arab revolt become evident as he confesses to have
liked killing a man and then shows a side that likes to boast, trumpet his
glory and surround himself with loathsome individuals.
Notwithstanding
these flaws, the protagonist is a real role model in many ways, proving himself
to be brave, resilient, smart, a wonderful speaker, outstanding leader, heroic
fighter, fabulous communicator.
His loyalty
is questioned by his own side, after an initial fascination with his incredible
victory in Aqaba.
When he
arrives in Cairo, escorted by his young Arab companion, wearing the traditional
clothes of the Harith, he shocks.
The guards
would not even let him in and in any case they insist that the “native boy”
cannot enter the officers ‘club.
But in the
complicated game of “realpolitik” Lawrence and his Arab friends are used by the
generals and politicians.
Many articles
have been written on this chef d’oeuvre and it is revealing that there are
critics who insist on the “failures”, the fact that the script exaggerates the
stature and contribution of Lawrence of Arabia, when compared with Prince
Faisal of Auda Abu Tayi, the latter having a more important role in the taking
of Aqaba.
What remains
is a cinema classic that stands with the best, alongside The Godfather,
Casablanca, Citizen Kane…
sâmbătă, 29 iulie 2017
The Pawnbroker, written by Morton S. Fine and David Friedkin, based on the novel by Edward Lewis Wallant, 9 out of 10
The Pawnbroker, written by Morton S. Fine and
David Friedkin, based on the novel by Edward Lewis Wallant
9 out of 10
Notes and
thoughts on other books are available at:
- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEVa4_CsRStSBBDo4uJWT8BSWtTTn0N1E and http://realini.blogspot.ro/
This is a terrific,
if sad masterpiece.
It is
included on The New York Times’ Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made list:
The
director of this mesmerizing work is Sidney Lumet; the creator that gave
audiences wonderful works of art:
-
Dog Day Afternoon, 12 Angry Men, The
Hill, Network, Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead and other films
Sidney
Lumet is also the author of a magnificent book on the film industry in which he
explains apparently simple aspects, like fitting the very tall Sean O’Connery
and the much shorter Al Pacino in the same frame, and more complicated details,
like the way he shot A Dog Day’s Afternoon, where the aforementioned star went
on with his lines for longer than there was film in one camera, the car for
Murder On The Orient Express and other films…
The
Übermensch Rod Steiger has the leading role of Sol Nazerman, a survivor of the
Nazi concentration camps.
Rod Steiger
was both a glorious actor and the one who detained a less known first place in
an unusual competition.
He was “the
most connected actor”, with the smallest distance of 2.53 from everyone else,
followed by Charlton Heston and Kevin Bacon…https://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/faculty/uzzi/ftp/Uzzi_EuropeanManReview_2007.pdf
Sol
Nazerman is obviously suffering from the trauma he has been through and he
would be a typical case of PTSD.
Very often,
he is absent from the conversation and has flash backs in which he sees the torturing
of his wife, abused by fascists, the camps and prisoners killed while trying to
escape, the moments before the war.
When
dealing with those around, people who come with their cheap objects looking for
some money, the hero appears somewhat detached.
Some even
think he has no heart, since he does not give in to their often pathetic claims
that one or another object is worth one hundred dollars, while The Pawnbroker
is only offering two dollars for the “precious” item.
After a
revelation about the origin of the money circulating in the pawn shop and his
small laundry business, Sol has a breakdown.
He now
gives astonishing sums of money for the things that are brought to him, for he
does not care anymore.
When he
did, Sol Nazerman even gave a lecture to his assistant, Jesus Ortiz about the
importance of money:
-
They are the only thing that counts
Disabused
by what happened in the World War II, the depressed protagonist has no faith in
mankind and he only works for money now.
Until he
has a talk with Rodriguez, the man who is patronizing his shop and provides
money, as they are actually making losses not profits.
Sol just
had a visit from a girl who offered him sex for money, but asked that this is a
secret, because if Rodriguez finds out, there would be serious trouble.
Understanding
that Rodriguez makes money through the most obscene and vile means, exploiting
the girls horrifies Sol.
He has the
image of his wife in front of him, mas she was dragged by the German servicemen
into a room and assaulted.
He
confronts Rodriguez, but he is faced with violence and threatened then he would
die if he does not keep in his place.
Alas, Jesus
Ortiz has been disappointed by his boss, when Sol treated the young man with
arrogance and meanness- “you are nothing to me”
This has
dramatic consequences that I will not reveal…I will only say that Jesus Ortiz
has a complex role and Sol has not seen the end of his suffering yet.
Chihwaseon aka Painted Fire, written by Yong-ok Kim, Byung-sam Min, Kwon-taek Im and directed by the latter, 9 out of 10
Chihwaseon aka Painted Fire, written by Yong-ok
Kim, Byung-sam Min, Kwon-taek Im and directed by the latter
9 out of 10
Notes and
thoughts on other books are available at:
- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEVa4_CsRStSBBDo4uJWT8BSWtTTn0N1E and http://realini.blogspot.ro/
Painted
Fire is a magnificent meditation on art, sacrifice, the suffering required by
chefs d’oeuvre and the meaning of life
It has been
awarded the Best Director prize at the most important completion, The Cannes
Film Festival.
The
audience is invited to learn from the life a great artist, the painter Jang
Seung-up, also known as Owon.
He lives in
Korea between 1843 and 1897, but it is from 1882 to the end of his life that the
film takes events.
The most
important theme seems to be the sacrifice and pain required by everlasting
works of part, paintings that will stand the test of time.
Notwithstanding
this familiar statement, psychology has proved that the truth may contradict
this saying:
-
No pain no gain…and transform it
into no pain more gain
The Harvard
Professor of Positive Psychology Tal Ben-Shahar goes as far as to suggest that
a more positive, optimistic Marcel Proust- the greatest writer for this reader-
could have been even more creative if he weren’t so negative and depressive.
From the
beginning of his apprenticeship, Jang Seung- up shows great promise and talent
that will make him famous.
The film
has plenty of lessons for would be artists, especially painters, if they want
to take a more traditional path:
-
The stone must have life for a real
painter
-
Hold the brush like it was an egg,
touch it with all fingers and watch the energy go into it…not quotes, but words
to that effect…I hope
If a very
gifted, magnificent painter, the man appears to fit the profile portrayed by
Paul Johnson in his accomplished work:
-
The Intellectuals, in which he looks
at the lives of Jean Jacques Rousseau, Ernest Hemingway, Henrik Ibsen, Leo
Tolstoy and comes to the conclusion that many –maybe most? – Prominent intellectuals
have despicable sides…
Owon is
drinking too much and following excesses he becomes violent with those around,
women included.
His pride
is justified and admirable when he faces up to corrupt officials, Chinese or
Japanese invaders.
But at times,
he takes an arrogant, defiant stand even towards those who are close to him and
who try to support the artist.
The painter
is evidently haunted and a rebel, when he is taken to the royal palace, he is
feeling trapped.
In his
early days, he copies famous art and he is even invited to draw pornography, as
“this is a part of life”.
Korea is
trapped in a struggle between Japanese, reformers and conservatives, Chinese
and different warring parties.
At one
stage, an admirer of the paintings of Owon says something like: “Your paintings are the only thing left for
this humiliated people”
The genius
becomes so famous that his art is widely imitated and copied and when a buyer
shows him one drawing and asks if it is real, the answer is: “most of the
paintings attributed to me are false…this one is”.
And he is
very harsh on those around, but he has even less patience with himself,
destroying most of the drawings he makes.
When he
became a household name, someone says to him that “he should relax, what more can
he achieve?”
The answer
brought to mind the Japanese concept of those who live on Okinawa, most of whom
live for a long time:
-
Ikigai
-
They never retire and do not even
have a word for that…instead, they keep busy and animated by a reason to keep
working
vineri, 28 iulie 2017
Carnal Knowledge, written by Jules Feiffer and directed by Mike Nichols, 9 out of 10
Carnal Knowledge, written by Jules Feiffer and
directed by Mike Nichols
9 out of 10
Notes and
thoughts on other books are available at:
- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEVa4_CsRStSBBDo4uJWT8BSWtTTn0N1E
and http://realini.blogspot.ro/
Carnal Knowledge
is an exceptional film.
It is
included on The New York Times’ Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made list:
The director
is the wonderful Mike Nichols, the genius who gave the audiences:
-
The Graduate, Charlie Wilson’s War,
Closer and other great films
Jack Nicholson,
one of the best actors ever, has the role of Jonathan, an interesting, excited,
curious, not very loyal young man.
Art Garfunkel,
better known for his musical career and his contribution to the soundtrack of The
Graduate, plays Sandy.
Jonathan and
Sandy talk about girls, their desires and preferences, if they would rather
love than be loved…
Jonathan appears
the earthier, experienced, the winner type when compared with his more naïve companion.
The former
is encouraging the latter to approach Susan, portrayed by the resplendent
Candice Bergen.
When Sandy
does not get anywhere, Jonathan wants to try his luck, but Sandy persists and
gets close to Susan.
Only later
on, Jonathan makes a comeback, calls the girl and says that he is the friend of
her boyfriend…
They get
together and a sort of a ménage a trois follows, with innocent Sandy unaware of
being betrayed.
In fact,
the pushy, more assertive Jonathan advances much more quickly and becomes
intimate with the woman.
Feeling compassion,
perhaps pity for Sandy, who admits that it is the first time he kissed or did
anything with the girl, she encourages him…
So much so
that Jonathan is jealous and even goes as far as to say to the girl who is
caught between that:
-
Why can’t you be like with Sandy
when you are with me?
This was
the first period in the lives of the two friends, a stage in which they did not
know much about a relationship with a woman.
From this “Age
of Innocence” we move to a later time, when Jonathan is more like a Don Juan, a
womanizer and a hedonistic type.
He meets
Bobbie, portrayed by Ann-Margret- winner of the Golden globe for this
performance and nominated for an Oscar.
Their relationship
is developing well, albeit based more on Carnal Knowledge rather than on a
deeper understanding.
It may be
that Jonathan, more interested in sex and maintaining independence at the same
time is too shallow to commit to a long term bond.
When Bobbie
keeps bringing up her need for stability and a solid association, Jonathan is
showing anger and anxiety.
The tension
is increasing and there is aggression and violence, more verbal than physical,
but the trend is destructive.
The fact
that Bobbie quits her job does not help, even if she is bored with it, staying
all day at home, mostly in bed is a recipe for disaster.
Psychology research
has showed that almost all couples experience a “Honeymoon Effect” and after about
two years, creativity is needed so that someone new does not benefit from
novelty and need for variety to break the couple.
Jonathan appears
to be bored, looking for variety- which is indeed a necessary ingredient for
happiness, but can be introduced through other means- and is ever more
demanding of Bobbie, who wants to get married.
Sandy’s
partner attracts the attention of Jonathan and they are both more interested in
someone new, rather than their girlfriends…
And an interesting
aspect of the filming, the accomplished way in which Jack Nicholson could act
at his best:
“Screenwriter Jules Feiffer said he had no idea
how Nicholson would tackle the multiple levels of the Jonathan/Bobbie fight, in
which the character is "defensive, enraged, contemptuous, and
bullying." If the actor got half of everything Feiffer had put into the
scene on paper, the writer said he would be more than satisfied. Nicholson got
everything, and on the first take, according to Feiffer. Astonished, the writer
asked director Mike Nichols what he had told the actor. "Nothing,"
Feiffer reports Nichols replying with a grin. "I told him absolutely
nothing. He came up with it all himself.”
joi, 27 iulie 2017
Malcolm X, written by Spike Lee and Arnold Perl, based on the books by Alex Haley and Malcolm X respectively, 9 out of 10
Malcolm X, written by Spike Lee and Arnold
Perl, based on the books by Alex Haley and Malcolm X respectively
9 out of 10
Notes and
thoughts on other books are available at:
- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEVa4_CsRStSBBDo4uJWT8BSWtTTn0N1E
and http://realini.blogspot.ro/
This is a phenomenal
film.
The hero is
controversial and there many sides of him that were loathsome, but his
complexity makes the story ever more interesting.
This could
be the best film directed by Spike Lee, even if I have also appreciated 25th
hour, with the outstanding Edward Norton and equally fabulous Philip Seymour
Hoffman, the excellent Anna Paquin, winner of an Academy Award at an early age.
Denzel Washington
is in top form and he was nominated for both an Academy Award and the Golden
Globe for Best Actor in a Leading Role.
The film
begins with Malcolm Little- who would only later become “X”- as a young man,
interested to look…white.
He keeps
using a substance on his hair that seems to be both dangerous and really
painful, setting his head on fire, if not literally, at least raising the temperature
to an unbearable degree, judging from the hilarious reactions to it.
There are flashbacks
and frequent references to a childhood in which the family suffered from racism
and violence.
Members of
the Ku Klux Klan came to the house and Malcolm’s mother could hardly get the
away by saying that her husband is gone.
When he was
home, the powerful, strong man used his gun to scare the assailants, without
shooting any of them.
His spouse emphasizes
that he could, but this did not save him from being attacked and then placed on
the railway line to be killed.
The childhood
of the would be political and religious leader was terrifying and explains to
large extent some of his later stands on violence and other topics.
As a young
man, he liked white women and he gets involved with West Indian Archie,
brilliantly portrayed by Delroy Lindo.
Malcolm
Little is caught after committing a crime and sentenced to a maximum term, even
if first time offenders, including the white accomplices were treated with
lenience, because they have been with white women and those judging were
racists.
In jail, he
is insubordinate and has to spend long periods in solitary confinement, after
which he meets with a follower of Elijah Muhammad.
Enchanted with
this faith, after an initial, strong rejection, Malcolm Little becomes a strong
believer and preaches in the name of the Nation of Islam, always proclaiming
the sanctity and wisdom of Elijah Muhammad.
The name X indicates
the fact that the white men took into slavery the free men and women of Africa
and gave them names that do not reflect a choice on the part of the slaves, who
have been tortured and abused for so long.
Malcolm X
is outraged by what happened to African Americans and he is rather radical in
advocating gun clubs and the right to defend themselves against whites that he considers
bad without exception.
When JFK
dies and Malcolm X is interviewed he says he is not sorry, he is glad, because
this is what the white man had unleashed and as a farm boy he sees this as just
“the chickens coming home to roost” and this is payback for violence.
This brings
to the forefront an increasing tension between Malcolm X and those close to the
leader Elijah Muhammad.
The latter
calls the younger, ascending X and criticizes him vehemently for his position
on the death of the extremely popular John F. Kennedy, banning him from
speaking in public for a very long period and antagonizing him.
Innuendo from
the sexual activities of the supposedly saintly Muhammad entered the public
life and Malcolm X could hear from various women about what the old man did,
opposed to what he preached.
In short, a
separation follows and Malcolm X follows a different path, followed nevertheless
by the hatred of the leaders of The Nation of Islam.
No spoilers
are necessary given that the film is based on the real life of the famous and
rather fundamentalist leader.
A trip to
Mecca and a period of reflection play an important role in diminishing the aggressiveness
of his attitude and position versus the white people and the black leaders that
he had considered much too tolerant.
Alas, just
as Malcom X becomes somewhat more moderate- without giving in on the right of
black people to belong to gun clubs and forcefully stand up to potential
violence- his extreme enemies become more determined to use outrageous methods
to silence their eloquent adversary and they even attack his family and
children…
marți, 25 iulie 2017
luni, 24 iulie 2017
The Ox- Bow Incident, written by Lamar Trotti and Walter Van Tilburg Clark, based on a novel by the latter, 9 out of 10
The Ox- Bow Incident, written by Lamar Trotti
and Walter Van Tilburg Clark, based on a novel by the latter
9 out of 10
Notes and
thoughts on other books are available at:
- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEVa4_CsRStSBBDo4uJWT8BSWtTTn0N1E
and http://realini.blogspot.ro/
The Ox-Bow
Incident is one of the films that you remember for a long time, if not for ever,
with its poignant message.
It is
included on the New York Times’ Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made list:
It was
nominated for the Academy award for Best Motion Picture and a few other
prestigious prizes, most of which it won.
The director
is William A. Wellman, nicknamed Wild Bill for his lifestyle and personality,
captain of such films as:
-
Public Enemy and A Star is Born
The star of
the western is Henry Fonda, a legend, a superman, demigod of the Screen Trade,
the leading actor in:
-
12 Angry Men, The Grapes of Wrath,
Once Upon a Time in the West, Advise & Consent, On The Golden Pond…
In The
Ox-Bow Incident he is playing the role of Gil Carter, one of those people who
have a conscience.
He arrives
in this small town with his travelling companion, portrayed by Harry Morgan, a
familiar actor, present in the M.A.S.H. TV series.
There is
humor in the introducing scenes, as Gil Carter tries to figure out a painting
on the wall of the saloon.
But pretty
soon, an “Incident” is creating a kerfuffle, with the entire small town
outraged at the killing of a local farmer.
The sheriff
is not in town and this creates a legal problem, because only he can deputize
and make a posse legal…
At least
that’s how it seemed to me, listening to the judge, who opposed the action of
those who wanted “justice”.
You can’t
do this without the sheriff and it is illegal- this is what the judge says more
or less to the mob assembled.
One of them
is very active and angry with what he calls the “very slow motion of justice…which
might even let the killer escape”.
They have
some information about the route of the “suspects” as they hear a man that has
seen the cattle, marked with the sign of the dead man in a pass nearby, with a
few people leading them West of the town- or was it East?
The posse
is formed and Gil and his friend join it, not as much out of conviction, but
because they would be suspicious to do otherwise.
The Conformity
principle explained in the masterpiece Influence by Robert Cialdini would
explain some of what happens in the film.
People tend
to do what others do and some examples refer to extreme cases, such as mass
suicide in Guyana, where one after another, hundreds of cult followers killed
themselves, to more mundane adoption of big shopping carts.
I think
that the same applies to a great extent to a number of those in the posse who
were bent on killing.
It is not
just conformity, for a number of them were too violent and bloody to think
differently, but it was an important factor.
Without any
spoilers, I would just say that those who wanted justice found the cattle and
the men suspected of murder.
Two of them
are played by great actors: Dana Andrews and Anthony Quinn and their personages
claim innocence.
The cattle
have been bought, there was no violence or crime involved and they have no idea
about any shooting.
Because of “circumstantial
evidence” or what the “self-appointed jury” sees as such, they condemn the
suspects.
Seven men
are against this verdict and I will not go any further than that, expect to say
that a woman is one of the group that wants executions, no matter what.
Extraordinary
tale, with a very powerful message, lessons on life and its meaning, compassion
and vengeance…
The Insider, written by Eric Roth, Michael Mann and Marie Brenner, based on an article by the latter, directed by Michael Mann, 9 out of 10
The Insider, written by Eric Roth, Michael Mann
and Marie Brenner, based on an article by the latter, directed by Michael Mann
9 out of 10
Notes and
thoughts on other books are available at:
- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEVa4_CsRStSBBDo4uJWT8BSWtTTn0N1E
and http://realini.blogspot.ro/
The Insider
is one of the most interesting films ever.
It is on
The New York Times’ Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made list:
The film
was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including for Best Picture, Actor in a
Leading Role, Director, Screenplay…
And in the
same categories it received Golden globe nominations…
One of the
most compelling aspects of the film, if not the most important part, is the
fact that it is based on a true story
-
We know what big tobacco did to its
clients and how they denied for decades, until they were forced to pay billions
in damages
-
So in many ways, we know what the
end could be, without spoilers, even if the individual fates of those involved are
not known until the credits roll…
Jeffrey Wigand
is the absolute hero of the story, portrayed in an interesting manner by
Russell Crowe, nominated for this role.
This is a
complex character, which has been caught shoplifting and is really angry when
confronted and he is right.
This makes
his position even more extraordinary, for the man has shortcomings and idiosyncrasies
and finds the strength to fight.
He has been
working for a big tobacco company, one of the big seven, led by what they call “The
Seven Dwarfs”.
As he says
in an interview, he discovered that cigarettes are just the means to deliver
nicotine and get clients addictive.
Substances used
in the process increase the boost and are very, very dangerous, responsible for
cancer in patients.
And yet,
called to testify under oath, the CEOs of the big tobacco firms are denying any
knowledge of any danger posed by their products.
Lowell Bergman
is the other super hero of the movie, with al Pacino in good form, before he
started going over the top with his exaggerated, more recent performances…
He is the
producer of “60 Minutes” at a time when tens of millions of Americans watched
this most successful TV program.
Lowell Bergman
makes tremendous effort to get the story from Jeff Wigand and assure him that
he will try his best to protect him.
Faced with
abuse and pressure from the CEO of Brown- Michael Gambon is as ever excellent
in the role- Wigand agrees to an interview.
Meanwhile,
the life of the scientist who has to teach in a high school now, in spite of
being over qualified is coming to pieces, faced with death threats, anonymous
phone calls and men following him around.
There are
reminders of the Network in this chef d’oeuvre, since CBC, the station involved
is about to be bought and the prospect of a lawsuit will send the share price
tumbling down and the bonuses of the legal counselor, head of the company…
So once
they have the interview that incriminated the tobacco companies, which was so
difficult to do, the network is told to cut the Wigand part out and censure the
information, knowing it is accurate.
Furthermore,
the public interest is enormous in the case, for we are talking about a time
when research had proved that smoking is deadly, but the respective companies
had immense power, financial and otherwise.
Indeed, CBS
could have become a part of Brown, if the latter won a legal challenge worth
lots of money.
This is also
a story of betrayal and not on the part of the scientist forced to sign
contracts with confidentiality clauses, but on the part of people working in
the media, like Mike Wallace aka Cristopher Plummer.
This is a
brilliant narrative about the mass murder of so many smokers- even if not as
repugnant as in the Nazi or Communist camps- but also a story about the role of
the media, the ethics and greed involved, the status of a journalist and the
producers, the power of ruthless people interested only in the money, a tale of
people who fought, even if afraid with big corporations and powerful, mighty
enemies, courage and loyalty, with scoundrels and heroes, victims and villains,
role models and despicable individuals.
It is a
fantastic work of art and investigation.
duminică, 23 iulie 2017
Road to Perdition, adapted from the graphic novel by David Self, directed by Sam Mendes, 9 out of 10
Road to Perdition, adapted from the graphic
novel by David Self, directed by Sam Mendes
9 out of 10
Notes and
thoughts on other books are available at:
- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEVa4_CsRStSBBDo4uJWT8BSWtTTn0N1E
and http://realini.blogspot.ro/
Road to
Perdition is an exceptional film.
-
Why is it that it did not get more
recognition?
-
I do not know
Tom Hanks
has the leading role of Michael Sullivan and it is a tough challenge, a man
with many sides, but he is very good in that position.
Paul Newman
has a negative role, that of John Rooney, an Irish American mobster that
controls an underworld empire.
Indeed,
Paul Newman, excellent at his late stage in his outstanding, brilliant career-
started with Somebody up There Likes Me, a role which he could take because
Montgomery Clift wouldn’t-was nominated for
-
The Academy Award and the Golden
Globe for his acting
Otherwise, I
do not see why this motion picture did not go further than it did, even with a
good Metascore of 72.
As for
possible flaws, maybe Jude Law is somewhat over the top as the paid, lunatic
assassin who follows Michael Sullivan.
To begin
with, the relationship between Michael Sullivan and John Rooney is excellent,
the former working as a hit man for the latter.
We can see
trouble in paradise at a funeral, where Finn McGovern, one of the people under
the control of the mobster is probably drunk and talks about his late brother
and then starts to rebel against the boss.
So far,
Michael Sullivan is like the son of the leader of this organized crime group and
they even play the piano together…
Up to the
night when he has to do some dirty work with the biological son of the don,
Connor Rooney.
The latter
is an impulsive, out of control, violent, stupid, psychopathic, gruesome, evil
son of John Rooney.
He kills a
man, without a reason, on impulse- just as he often acts- and the unlucky thing
is that Michael Sullivan Jr. is a witness.
And this is
where all hell breaks loose, in a manner of speaking, for the ruthless Connor,
played by Daniel Craig is on the loose.
Wanting to
make sure that there are no witnesses to his murder, he goes to the house of
his associate.
He kills
the wife and the son that he finds at home, with Michael Sullivan Jr.
witnessing part of his new crime.
John Rooney
is beating his son over the head for this, calling him all sorts of names and
saying something like:
-
I curse the day when you were born-
repeatedly and then embracing his son and resolving to help him
Which means
that Mike Sullivan is now on the run and tries first to find some protection
and support with Frank Nitti.
This character
is played by the always excellent Stanley Tucci and he refuses to take the hit
man on board.
What follows
is a one man fight against a big, powerful organization that has money, man
power and bankers working for it.
But Mike
Sullivan figures out that he needs to take the mobsters money from the banks
and he does that with efficiency.
Until they
have a reaction and a man on his heels, Maguire, an individual who like to take
photos of…dead people.
That says
about all and the man is definitely sick, but the way Jude Law decided to
portray him is still a bit farfetched.
There are
some confrontations, from a restaurant along the road to Perdition, to a much
more violent gun fight in a hotel.
This is an
excellent motion picture, directed by Sam Mendes, the creator who gave us
American Beauty, Revolutionary Road and other such masterpieces…
sâmbătă, 22 iulie 2017
500 Days of Summer, written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, 9 out of 10
500 Days of Summer, written by Scott Neustadter
and Michael H. Weber
9 out of 10
Notes and
thoughts on other books are available at:
- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEVa4_CsRStSBBDo4uJWT8BSWtTTn0N1E
and http://realini.blogspot.ro/
500 Days of
Summer is a very entertaining film.
Notwithstanding
the sad moments, it is a refreshing, enjoyable comedy.
It was nominated
for two major Golden Globes, Best Motion Picture and Best Performance by an
Actor…
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
is indeed marvelous as the loving, creative, loyal, subdued, patient and
resilient Tom.
I have
noted on another film with this remarkable actor, wherein he had to portray a
totally different personality:
in Don Jon,
the protagonist is a superficial, rather uneducated man, with an obsession for
pornography, even when he is blessed with as beautiful a companion as Scarlet
Johansson, who is granted an overbearing, quite obnoxious girlfriend at times.
With this
film, I have learned that the excellent and beautiful actress in the leading
role, Zooey Deschanel is named after a J.D. Salinger story:
-
Franny & Zooey
Zooey Deschanel
has a challenging task in her role as Summer- for the 500 days of Summer mean
the time spent with the heroine of the film.
Summer is
both the lovely girl that we enjoy seeing with the hero, sharing his feelings
and the one who ends it…
I do not
think a spoiler alert was needed before talking of the end, for it is clearly
stated in the title which specifies:
-
500 Days of Summer…only, even if at
first I thought this is about a particularly long summer, perhaps in a place
where there is no other season…
The dialogue
in this moving picture is wonderful.
Funny at
times, witty for the most part and even when it is somewhat awkward, it still
feels natural in some manner.
Like when
Summer Finn starts shouting penis in the park where she sits with Tom, who
tries hard to stop her…
Or when they
have this exchange:
-
“Summer: We've been like Sid and
Nancy for months now.
-
Tom: Summer, Sid stabbed Nancy,
seven times with a kitchen knife, I mean we have some disagreements but I
hardly think I'm Sid Vicious.
-
Summer: No, I'm Sid.
-
Tom: Oh, so I'm Nancy...”
The professional
side of Tom’s life may have had some influence, perhaps a big one on Summer’s
decision to leave.
Even if
trained as an architect and in love with beautiful buildings that he admires at
Angela’s Plaza, tom works in a company that sells…cards.
He is using
self-deprecating humor about it and is evidently a real positive hero, with his
generosity, love for Summer, gentle manner, persistence and acceptance of the
other’s flaws and shortcomings, grit, but still this is one side of him that is
less than heroic:
-
“I guess I just figured, why make
something disposable like a building when you can make something that lasts
forever, like a greeting card.”
The film is
sophisticated, smart, with references and images from The Graduate (by the way,
I am reminded of a humorous take on the final scene of this classic, offered in
Barcelona, where one character, maybe Frank, is very upset with “oh Elaine,
Elaine” and how everybody allows this jerk- as he sees the personage- to run
off with the bride), The Seventh Seal, Henry Miller, Bruce Springsteen and many
more.
-
“Tom: [the girl at the job interview
agrees to meet Tom for coffee afterward] We'll figure it out. My name's Tom.
-
Girl at Interview: [Last lines of
the film] Nice to meet you. [Shakes his hand]
-
Girl at Interview: I'm Autumn.”
Perhaps every
cloud does have a silver lining after all…
vineri, 21 iulie 2017
joi, 20 iulie 2017
The African Queen, written by James Agee and C.S. Forester (based on the latter’s novel), directed by John Huston, 9 out of 10
The African Queen, written by James Agee and
C.S. Forester (based on the latter’s novel), directed by John Huston
9 out of 10
Notes and
thoughts on other books are available at:
- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEVa4_CsRStSBBDo4uJWT8BSWtTTn0N1E
and http://realini.blogspot.ro/
The African
Queen is a fabulous adventure, drama and romantic movie, with a charming touch
of comedy.
It is
included on The New York Times’ Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made list:
This is a
narrative about phenomenal heroes.
Both of the
protagonists are ultimate role models.
Humphrey Bogart
has won the Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his fantastic
work playing Charlie Allnut.
To start
with, the captain of the boat named The African Queen does not strike the
audience as a Superman.
In fact, Charlie
Allnut looks like the total opposite of Rose Sayer, portrayed by the wondrous
Katharine Hepburn.
Her brother,
Reverend Samuel Sayer had his mission burned down by the Germans, who are now
at war.
World War I
has repercussions even in Africa, where the action of the film takes place and
where many of the parties involved in conflict have colonies.
And the
poor Reverend is also beaten and dies soon afterwards, his sister is there to
bury him, but then she has to escape the enemy.
So she is
off for the trip of her life, with her opposite, Charlie Allnut…here we have a
case of “opposites attract”.
Nevertheless,
this and most other sayings are silly and very wrong- take “all is fair in love
and war” as a good case in point.
The story
of the making of the film is nearly as exciting as the tale told on screen, by
a fabulous director John Huston and his stars.
It appears
that everyone got sick on this adventurous endeavor, with the exception of the
director and the leading actor…
-
“Bogart later said, "All I ate
was baked beans, canned asparagus and Scotch whiskey. Whenever a fly bit Huston
or me, it dropped dead."
From the
autobiographies, biographies and the recollections of members of the crew, we
get humorous and some intriguing details…
Katharine Hepburn
drank water, to protest the heavy drinking of the aforementioned duo and got
very sick.
Locals hired
to help the shooting did not come to the set because they feared their
employers were…cannibals.
As for
enjoying this perilous filming location, in The Heart of Darkness, the actors
were as different as their personages:
-
“While I was griping, Katie was in
her glory. She couldn't pass a fern or berry without wanting to know its
pedigree…”
On screen,
the story is captivating and transformation, which could actually be described
as redemption takes place
And it
involves both protagonists, Rose Sayer and Charlie Allnut change almost beyond
recognition, after taking this trip together.
And to
conclude, this is a superb film, with an extraordinary beautiful setting and a
marvelous dialogue that only adds to the pleasure of watching two heavyweights,
Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn at the top of their form:
-
“Charlie: We can't do that!
-
Rose: How do you know? You never
tried it.
-
Charlie: Well, yeah, but I never
tried shooting myself in the head neither…
-
Charlie Allnut: What are you being
so mean for, Miss? A man takes a drop too much once in a while, it's only human
nature.
-
Rose Sayer: Nature, Mr. Allnut, is
what we are put in this world to rise above.”
miercuri, 19 iulie 2017
The Defiant Ones, written by Nedrick Young and Harold Jacob Smith, 10 out of 10
The Defiant Ones, written by Nedrick Young and
Harold Jacob Smith
10 out of 10
Notes and
thoughts on other books are available at:
- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEVa4_CsRStSBBDo4uJWT8BSWtTTn0N1E
and http://realini.blogspot.ro/
The Defiant
Ones is a fantastic film.
It is a
story about race relations and racism, friendship, loyalty and sacrifice, valor
and resilience, compassion and hatred.
It was included
on The New York Times’ Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made list:
This
exceptional work has won:
-
The Academy Award for Best Writing,
Story and Screenplay- Written Directly for the screen and it was nominated in
all the major categories- Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role for both
Tony Curtis and Sidney Poitier, Best Director…
-
It won the golden globe for Best Motion
Picture- Drama
Sidney Poitier
is marvelous in the role of Noah Cullen and so is Tony Curtis as John “Joker”
Jackson, two convicts.
The vehicle
transporting them has an accident and they take advantage and they escape, only
they are chained together.
When someone
from the party that are chasing them with dogs asks about the fact that a white
man is chained to a black man:
-
“Law officer: How come they chained
a white man to a black?
-
Sheriff Max Muller: The warden's got
a sense of humor.
-
[Why they don't have to worry about
finding the 2 convicts]
-
Sheriff Max Muller: They'll kill
each other in five miles.”
Indeed, the
two escapees do not get along together very well, at least for parts of the
movie, even when in danger.
Joker saves
Noah’s life when they are forced to swim in a rapid river and the latter says
thanks, only to get the reply:
-
Hey, I did not save you, I just
prevented you from dragging me away to drown with you
They arrive
at a small town, where they try to break into a shed to get tools for the chain
and some food.
Alas, when
they fall inside, coming from the roof, they wake everyone up and they are soon
caught by the crowd.
They are
preparing to lynch the two and racism is more than evident, with hatred visible
all around, with one single exception, a man who ultimately saves them, first
from a horrible death and later by freeing them.
Even if the
“couple” seemed to be progressing in their relationship and understanding,
Joker is saying before the “Madding Crowd”:
-
“Ya'll can't lynch me! I'm a white
man!”
But after
this low moment of betrayal, just in front of death and after all subterfuges
have failed, the two become friends.
They are
after all involved in one of the Ultimate Team Building Exercises which some
companies in the world might try.
Perhaps the
people of the late Enron, did it, chaining themselves together physically not
just spiritually, with their penchant for extreme risk, sports and gambling
with so many victims money and pension savings…
A first
climax is reached when one of them is faced with the option of letting the
other die, in strange circumstances.
For reasons
of spoiler alerts I will not say what happens, only that in the first place one
of the men proves:
-
Loyalty, friendship, willing to self-sacrifice,
determination, valor, grit, unselfishness and devotion
Instead of
thinking about his own escape and chances, he decides to try his best to help
the other one.
And the
moving picture becomes one of the best dramas, a lesson of respect, anti-
racism, and compassion.
And it is
also proved that even people who are at the bottom of society, outcasts who
have been send to jail can find redemption.
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