I do not claim to be an aficionado of the work of Charles Durning. What I can say is this...whenever I saw him in a movie, he was utterly believable. I suppose with most character actor we all seem to remember how much they did rather than one role. But for me, I can only think of him in his role as the crooked cop in "The Sting". He played that role so well. He was convincing as a mercenary cop, and any scene that he was in was made immeasurably better.
I also remember his fine work in the brilliant comedy "Tootsie." He was lovable and vulnerable as a widower who has his heart broken by a cross dresser. That sentence on its own seems like an oddity, but he made the role truly heartfelt. And, he was hilarious as the vicious owner of a frog legs franchise determined to hire Kermit as his spokesman in "The Muppet Movie".
Anyhow, he was a great actor, and also an American hero. He stormed the beaches at Normandy and lived to tell about it.
I'm going to have to watch "The Sting" again sometime soon.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Saturday, December 29, 2012
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Many times it seems as though a film maker will dream up a movie just so he can have a decisive shot, and the story of the movie can almost write itself after that. There is such a shot near the beginning of "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel", a film with a long title and a lot to say. Once all of the principal characters (save one) have been introduced, all of them have something in common. They all seek an escape from their present condition. They all read a promising brochure from India concerning a retirement community. So, all of the main characters decide to book flights and move to Jaipur, India. As they arrive at the airport, all of the characters take a seat in the airport terminal. The camera shows us a wide shot of all of the characters sitting next to each other. They do not know each other yet, but they soon will, and they have exciting things in store.
We had received this movie from Netflix, and it sat on our counter for a few days. Then, Christmas Night, Steph and I decided to watch it. I'm glad we did. It was a perfect end to a wonderful Christmas. This movie has nothing to do with Christmas, but the leisurely pace of the movie coupled with the emotional realism in it were a perfect fit for us. The movie is an ensemble piece, so there are several stories to follow. Evelyn (Judi Dench) is a recently widowed house wife who finds out her late husband left her a lot of debts. She sees The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel as a way to live within her means. Graham (Tom Wilkenson) is a gay lawyer who suddenly decides to retire, and decides to return to his boyhood home of Jaipur, India to settle some old struggles from his past. Jean and Doug (Penelope Wilton and Bill Nighy) are also seeking affordable retirement, as Doug had sunk a lot of their nest egg into their daughter's internet start up company. Muriel (Maggie Smith) is a racist woman who needs a hip replacement. When the NHS doctor tells her she will be on a 6 month waiting list, she decides to bite the bullet and travel to India to have the hip replacement done right away, even though it will be performed by people of color. Madge (Celia Imrie) is a grandmother who loves her grandchildren, but is tired of her kids pawning them off on her. She goes to The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel to seek an escape, and a husband. Finally, Norman (Ronald Pickup) is an aging ladies' man (so he thinks), who goes to India looking for action. They all end up at The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, a complex owned and operated by Sonny (Dev Patel). He is a young entrepreneur who desperately wants to accomplish his vision for the The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. He also is in love with a woman of whom his mother does not approve. All of these plot lines are woven together effectively to make an enjoyable story. This is not a life changing movie, and you probably won't see it nominated for any Oscars, but it is a pleasant story that features very good actors.
The thing that makes the movie special is the subtext of the movie. I'll take one of the many plot lines to show what I mean. The plot line involving Evelyn is very true to life. There is so much depth to her story that the viewer could imagine seeing a movie just about her character. As Evelyn mourns the loss of her husband of over 40 years (on a side note, its interesting how a couple of the movies I have seen recently feature characters who were married the same amount of time as my parents were before my Dad died in June), there is so much wealth to the scenes she is in. For instance, watch the scene in which Evelyn is calling her internet company to change her account. As she attempts to make the change in her account, the operator informs her that since she is not the primary name on the account, she cannot make any changes to the account. She tries to delicately say that the person in whose name the account is cannot make the changes, but when the operator insists on pushing the policy, Evelyn has to tell her that the primary account holder is dead. However, even after that, the operator still goes back to the boilerplate script. This brought back memories of the several calls I had to make after dad's death regarding insurance, social security, health insurance, etc...and the film nails it. There is a business like element to it all that is at once necessary and unbelievably harsh. This is just one small area where this film is incredibly true to life.
The characters in the film all develop and are forced to deal with their own personal crises. This is what gives the film its realism. All of the characters (even the ones put in the film for comic relief) are true to life, and that is what makes a movie like this work. This is the sort of movie that seems like a good movie when you watch it, but the more the viewer thinks about it, the more one can reflect on how much great material there is in the movie. Check it out!
We had received this movie from Netflix, and it sat on our counter for a few days. Then, Christmas Night, Steph and I decided to watch it. I'm glad we did. It was a perfect end to a wonderful Christmas. This movie has nothing to do with Christmas, but the leisurely pace of the movie coupled with the emotional realism in it were a perfect fit for us. The movie is an ensemble piece, so there are several stories to follow. Evelyn (Judi Dench) is a recently widowed house wife who finds out her late husband left her a lot of debts. She sees The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel as a way to live within her means. Graham (Tom Wilkenson) is a gay lawyer who suddenly decides to retire, and decides to return to his boyhood home of Jaipur, India to settle some old struggles from his past. Jean and Doug (Penelope Wilton and Bill Nighy) are also seeking affordable retirement, as Doug had sunk a lot of their nest egg into their daughter's internet start up company. Muriel (Maggie Smith) is a racist woman who needs a hip replacement. When the NHS doctor tells her she will be on a 6 month waiting list, she decides to bite the bullet and travel to India to have the hip replacement done right away, even though it will be performed by people of color. Madge (Celia Imrie) is a grandmother who loves her grandchildren, but is tired of her kids pawning them off on her. She goes to The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel to seek an escape, and a husband. Finally, Norman (Ronald Pickup) is an aging ladies' man (so he thinks), who goes to India looking for action. They all end up at The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, a complex owned and operated by Sonny (Dev Patel). He is a young entrepreneur who desperately wants to accomplish his vision for the The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. He also is in love with a woman of whom his mother does not approve. All of these plot lines are woven together effectively to make an enjoyable story. This is not a life changing movie, and you probably won't see it nominated for any Oscars, but it is a pleasant story that features very good actors.
The thing that makes the movie special is the subtext of the movie. I'll take one of the many plot lines to show what I mean. The plot line involving Evelyn is very true to life. There is so much depth to her story that the viewer could imagine seeing a movie just about her character. As Evelyn mourns the loss of her husband of over 40 years (on a side note, its interesting how a couple of the movies I have seen recently feature characters who were married the same amount of time as my parents were before my Dad died in June), there is so much wealth to the scenes she is in. For instance, watch the scene in which Evelyn is calling her internet company to change her account. As she attempts to make the change in her account, the operator informs her that since she is not the primary name on the account, she cannot make any changes to the account. She tries to delicately say that the person in whose name the account is cannot make the changes, but when the operator insists on pushing the policy, Evelyn has to tell her that the primary account holder is dead. However, even after that, the operator still goes back to the boilerplate script. This brought back memories of the several calls I had to make after dad's death regarding insurance, social security, health insurance, etc...and the film nails it. There is a business like element to it all that is at once necessary and unbelievably harsh. This is just one small area where this film is incredibly true to life.
The characters in the film all develop and are forced to deal with their own personal crises. This is what gives the film its realism. All of the characters (even the ones put in the film for comic relief) are true to life, and that is what makes a movie like this work. This is the sort of movie that seems like a good movie when you watch it, but the more the viewer thinks about it, the more one can reflect on how much great material there is in the movie. Check it out!
Monday, December 24, 2012
A Christmas Carol (1984)
I have seen almost all of the film versions of this beloved Christmas classic by Charles Dickens, but this one is my favorite by far. It is a work of warmth, genuine emotion, humor, sadness and hope. At about this time every year when I was a boy (after sunset on Christmas Eve), our family would watch this movie. Even in the warmth of winter in Southern California, there was always a atmosphere of winter as the days grew shorter, and we would turn on this familiar tale. Our family would huddle up and watch it together...and dad loved it. As dad has now been dead for 6 months (he died June 25, removed 6 months to the day from Christmas), it is fitting for me to remember how much he loved this movie, but also how much I love it, and why I love it.
For anyone who has never seen or heard this story, it follows the archetypal miser Ebenezer Scrooge. Scrooge's business partner Jacob Marley has been dead 7 years. Scrooge has been very successful in his business, but he shares his wealth with no one. He scorns charitable giving, exploits his hard working employee Bob Cratchit, mocks his nephew as he invites him to Christmas dinner, and makes clear how much he detests this annual racket he calls Christmas. On Christmas Eve, he is visited by the ghost of his late partner Jacob Marley. Marley is living a life of misery in his post death existence. He is forced to carry heavy chains through eternity as a punishment for his life of greed. He comes to warn Ebenezer and to tell him that he will be visited by three spirits over the next three nights. These spirits (the ghosts of Christmases Past, Present and Future) give a warning to Ebenezer to reform his ways lest he have a fate similar to Jacob Marley.
As the film unfolds, in all of its poignant truth and creepiness (it is a ghost story after all), it always feels like a well crafted symphony. The shadows of Christmas past begin the transformation in Scrooge as it brings out warm feelings of nostalgia in Scrooge. They also remind him of the one decision he deeply regrets-spurning the love of his life to pursue his business interests. Then, the visions of the present show him things as they are. The mocking of him at the hands of his nephew and niece at their Christmas dinner (an event to which he annually turns down an invitation) show his feelings being hurt, while the anger shown toward him by Mrs. Bob Cratchit gives him a glimpse into the pain he is causing in others through his lack of charity. Finally, the dark vision of his future is shown to him. And as he sees his name on the gravestone, the film reaches an emotional climax. Scrooge finally totally gets it, and he is overcome with feelings both of guilt and repentance. He begs for another chance, and he gets it. My father was always moved by George C. Scott's work in this scene, and I think I always thought George C. Scott to be a brilliant actor because of how much his work in this scene impressed my dad. He actually quoted George C. Scott in this film when he found out I had proposed to my then girlfriend Stephanie ("I'm as giddy as a schoolboy!")
Christmas is indeed a time of charity. It is a time when we focus on giving to others. This movie focuses on that, and it does a wonderful job of showing what we all miss when we ignore charity. The scenes involving Bob Cratchit's son Tiny Tim are particularly moving. As we see a child who is depicted as sweet and pious, we are reminded of Jesus' command to his disciples to "Allow the little children to come to me...for to such as these belong the kingdom of God." Tiny Tim's fate seems to be one of the great tipping points for Scrooge, because he sees that his life of isolation doesn't work. He has tried to be left alone, but he realizes that by pursuing such a solitary existence, he has hurt others. These truths are wonderful, biblical truths, but they still don't get to the heart of the Christmas story. They are wonderful by products of the Christmas story, but they are peripheral to the central truth of Christmas. Jesus Christ was and is God incarnate, and he became a human in order to die a horrible death and redeem anyone who has faith in him. The central truth of the Christian faith is that Jesus has proclaimed good news to the poor-both in money and in spirit. He has come to redeem, not simply to spread wealth. Scrooge realizes that the truth of Christmas demands that he be charitable. I also am convicted by that truth-that God expects me to give everything I have to him. But let us not miss the main point. We have all, I repeat, ALL, sinned and need to be right with God. Christmas gives us the story of when God broke into human history to save humanity, not just from poverty, but mainly from our own sin. I have been listening a lot to the book of John recently, and the truths of chapter 8 are especially applicable. In this chapter Jesus proclaims that we are all slaves to sin, and Jesus (who was given the same Hebrew name as Joshua, who led the people of Israel into the promised land) delivers those who repent. Scrooge repents of his life of greed, but the truth of the gospel goes deeper than that.
And so, I can enjoy this movie for what it is. It is a wonderful reflection on the need for humans to share their wealth with one another. It is especially important for those of us with means to think of others who have so little. That is a Christian idea put forth in scripture. But Dickens sees Jesus more in the role of moral example than in the role of redeemer and the one who atones for sin. As I reflect on life this first Christmas after dad's death, I am comforted by how much these truths meant to him, and how much they mean to me. The truth of Dickens' work speaks volumes, but it is not the whole story. For the whole story, search the scriptures :).....Merry Christmas!
For anyone who has never seen or heard this story, it follows the archetypal miser Ebenezer Scrooge. Scrooge's business partner Jacob Marley has been dead 7 years. Scrooge has been very successful in his business, but he shares his wealth with no one. He scorns charitable giving, exploits his hard working employee Bob Cratchit, mocks his nephew as he invites him to Christmas dinner, and makes clear how much he detests this annual racket he calls Christmas. On Christmas Eve, he is visited by the ghost of his late partner Jacob Marley. Marley is living a life of misery in his post death existence. He is forced to carry heavy chains through eternity as a punishment for his life of greed. He comes to warn Ebenezer and to tell him that he will be visited by three spirits over the next three nights. These spirits (the ghosts of Christmases Past, Present and Future) give a warning to Ebenezer to reform his ways lest he have a fate similar to Jacob Marley.
As the film unfolds, in all of its poignant truth and creepiness (it is a ghost story after all), it always feels like a well crafted symphony. The shadows of Christmas past begin the transformation in Scrooge as it brings out warm feelings of nostalgia in Scrooge. They also remind him of the one decision he deeply regrets-spurning the love of his life to pursue his business interests. Then, the visions of the present show him things as they are. The mocking of him at the hands of his nephew and niece at their Christmas dinner (an event to which he annually turns down an invitation) show his feelings being hurt, while the anger shown toward him by Mrs. Bob Cratchit gives him a glimpse into the pain he is causing in others through his lack of charity. Finally, the dark vision of his future is shown to him. And as he sees his name on the gravestone, the film reaches an emotional climax. Scrooge finally totally gets it, and he is overcome with feelings both of guilt and repentance. He begs for another chance, and he gets it. My father was always moved by George C. Scott's work in this scene, and I think I always thought George C. Scott to be a brilliant actor because of how much his work in this scene impressed my dad. He actually quoted George C. Scott in this film when he found out I had proposed to my then girlfriend Stephanie ("I'm as giddy as a schoolboy!")
Christmas is indeed a time of charity. It is a time when we focus on giving to others. This movie focuses on that, and it does a wonderful job of showing what we all miss when we ignore charity. The scenes involving Bob Cratchit's son Tiny Tim are particularly moving. As we see a child who is depicted as sweet and pious, we are reminded of Jesus' command to his disciples to "Allow the little children to come to me...for to such as these belong the kingdom of God." Tiny Tim's fate seems to be one of the great tipping points for Scrooge, because he sees that his life of isolation doesn't work. He has tried to be left alone, but he realizes that by pursuing such a solitary existence, he has hurt others. These truths are wonderful, biblical truths, but they still don't get to the heart of the Christmas story. They are wonderful by products of the Christmas story, but they are peripheral to the central truth of Christmas. Jesus Christ was and is God incarnate, and he became a human in order to die a horrible death and redeem anyone who has faith in him. The central truth of the Christian faith is that Jesus has proclaimed good news to the poor-both in money and in spirit. He has come to redeem, not simply to spread wealth. Scrooge realizes that the truth of Christmas demands that he be charitable. I also am convicted by that truth-that God expects me to give everything I have to him. But let us not miss the main point. We have all, I repeat, ALL, sinned and need to be right with God. Christmas gives us the story of when God broke into human history to save humanity, not just from poverty, but mainly from our own sin. I have been listening a lot to the book of John recently, and the truths of chapter 8 are especially applicable. In this chapter Jesus proclaims that we are all slaves to sin, and Jesus (who was given the same Hebrew name as Joshua, who led the people of Israel into the promised land) delivers those who repent. Scrooge repents of his life of greed, but the truth of the gospel goes deeper than that.
And so, I can enjoy this movie for what it is. It is a wonderful reflection on the need for humans to share their wealth with one another. It is especially important for those of us with means to think of others who have so little. That is a Christian idea put forth in scripture. But Dickens sees Jesus more in the role of moral example than in the role of redeemer and the one who atones for sin. As I reflect on life this first Christmas after dad's death, I am comforted by how much these truths meant to him, and how much they mean to me. The truth of Dickens' work speaks volumes, but it is not the whole story. For the whole story, search the scriptures :).....Merry Christmas!
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Joel's Movie Christmas List
Last year, I wrote on 4 or 5 Christmas movies. This year, I thought I would put together a list of Christmas favorites. Christmas movies could be defined a lot of ways. In the end, a Christmas movie is usually a movie that is set at Christmas time, and it almost always deals with all of the complexity, joy, rage and poignancy that this time of year brings. Some of the movies on this list are sentimental favorites, while others may not be ones that would be traditionally thought of as "Christmas movies." I have even found certain movies to be a joy to watch at this time of year because there is a great scene or set of scenes set at Christmas which make me want the movie during advent and Christmas. In any case, all of them are ones that I have returned to, and usually, I return to watch them again between Thanksgiving and New Years. By the way, you will not find "Christmas Story". I find "Christmas Story" annoying, so I don't have warm feelings about it. Maybe I'll give it another try some time...until then, here are my picks...
Love Actually
A textured, hilarious, overambitious and sentimental treat. This movie follows story lines involving several Londoners (including the Prime Minister) which all touch on very different elements of the concept of love. This is not a family film, though I will say that it makes some profound points in the midst of some raucous and bawdy humor. For instance, take the plot involving John and Judy. To me, this plot line sums up what this movie is about. John and Judy are two "actors" who are filming scenes as body doubles for sex scenes. As they engage in their "work", even though they are engaged in intimate behavior, they discuss the traffic they had coming in to work. This plot line shows the fact that there is more to love than the physical. In the most heartbreaking story line, Laura Linney plays an American living in London who is in love with a coworker. She gets her chance with him, but it becomes clear that things are more complicated than the viewer first realized. The cast is full of great actors, and another plot line which involves an aging rock star and his manger always brings the laughs. The movie also has a great soundtrack, which adds to the texture of the movie. This movie is always great to watch again with the Christmas tree lit. Here's a link to my article on it from last year.
About a Boy
Another good example of a movie that happens around Christmas, but is not about Christmas. Will Freeman's (Hugh Grant) completely shallow existence is made possible by the fact that his father wrote a very famous Christmas pop song. He lives off the royalties and spends all his time listening to music, watching television, and bedding women. One day, he realizes that single mothers are a treasure trove of beautiful, emotionally vulnerable women. So, he makes up a story about being a single dad and begins attending a single parents' support group. Of course, this fateful decision sets in motion a series of events that challenge his whole lifestyle. He meets a troubled single mother (Toni Colette) and her young son, and her son ends up working his way into Will's life. The best part of this movie to me is the title...which "boy" is the movie about? Watch the movie and decide for yourself.
Miracle on 34th Street
This is a great fantasy. Some of the best fantasies are set in the real world. This movie follows a single mother named Doris (Maureen O' Hara) and her daughter Susie (Natalie Wood). Doris works at Macy's Department store in New York, and the beginning of the movie depicts her organizing the famous Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. When the actor hired to play Santa Claus for the parade turns up drunk ("It's cold, a man's got to do something to keep warm"), Doris is forced to hire a passerby who looks like Santa Claus and claims to have experience with the part. The man ends up being Kris Kringle, and he is convinced that he is really Santa Claus. Kringle stays on as the Macy's Santa, and works his way into the life of the cynical Doris and her daughter Susie, who has been trained in the same cynicism by her mother. When Kris moves to Manhattan with Fred Gayley (Doris's next door neighbor and suitor), things take an unexpected turn and "Santa" goes on trial for lunacy. This was a film that was always on in our home growing up. It means a lot to me, but that wouldn't mean a whole lot if the movie itself wasn't so enchanting.
Shadowlands
I'm bending my own definition here, but there is a wonderful section in the middle of this movie that is set at Christmas. Because of that section, I always associate this movie with Christmas. The movie follows the story of real life author CS Lewis and American Joy Greshham and her son Douglas. In the movie, Lewis and his brother Warnie are confirmed bachelors. Lewis is an Oxford Don who presides over a world that has very few challenges for him. He begins receiving letters from Joy as she is a fan of his writing, and her son is a fan of The Chronicls of Narnia, Lewis' famous children's books. They end up marrying for convenience, as Joy is trying to escape an abusive marriage. Only after their marriage do they begin to realize that they truly love each other. Then, Joy is stricken with cancer, and Lewis is faced with the reality that he may lose his wife. It is a striking depiction of faith, suffering, and how Christians deal with suffering. And Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger are absolutely brilliant in the two lead roles. The section in the middle set at Christmas and the fact that Christ came into a world of this kind of suffering make this a great Christmas movie for me.
Home Alone
I just watched this one last week with my kids, and I have to admit, it holds up pretty well. One of the things that the late John Hughes (who wrote this movie) will always be remembered for is his ability to combine juvenile humor with touching poignancy. When a young boy (Macaulay Culkin) is accidentally left home alone by his parents as they travel to Europe for Christmas, he is left to fend for himself. This gets even more interesting as a pair of burglars (Daniel Stern and Joe Pesci) try to rob his house. The pratfalls involved will tickle most people's funny bone. I seem to remember my late grandfather, of all people, cracking up while seeing the bumbling burglars take one piece of abuse after another. That and the relationship Kevin ends up having with a mysterious neighbor make for a heart warming piece of fluff.
The Santa Clause
Another entry with very little gravitas, but a whole lot of fun. In this celebration of the other side of Christmas (nothing sacred here folks) Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) unknowingly agrees to "become" the next Santa Claus. As Scott tries to mend his relationship with his son, he rediscovers a lot of joy in life. This is another piece of fluff, but a fun one, and the kids loved it.
While You Were Sleeping
Sure, it has the same pop songs as almost any other romantic comedy of its era. Sure, it has a certain formulaic quality to it. But it has two things going for it. First of all, my wife really likes it, and I like watching it with her. Any movie that you can share with a loved one makes it a favorite. Second, there is something substantial about this movie that is hard to put my finger on. Perhaps it's the tone that depicts a family spending time together at Christmas. After all, since my whole family had practically 2 weeks off when I was growing up, the hours spent with family that this movie depicts is familiar to me. In that light, there are also some big laughs, as the foibles of different family members are on display. Perhaps it's the believability of Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman in their roles. Or perhaps it's the ensemble cast which provides a lot of structure and laughs to this comfortable tale. Whatever it is, this movie seems to be greater than the sum of its parts, and that's always noteworthy.
It's A Wonderful Life
A mixed bag for me...I wrote about this one last year, and I haven't changed my mind. There's no denying its place in the film pantheon, but this movie is a train wreck. Here's a link to what I wrote last year about this movie. Overall, this is a complex story which seems to have sentimentality, but in the end ends up feeling empty to me. Wonderfully acted and imagined, but tragically flawed.
A Christmas Carol
There are many versions of this beloved piece of literature, but my favorite will probably always be the made for TV movie with George C. Scott in the lead role of Ebenezer Scrooge. We always watched it as a family, and my father loved it. What sets this version apart from other depictions is the emotional impact that it makes. What's more, the impact the movie has also sets it apart as a film of any kind. In the familiar tale, miser Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by 3 spirits in an attempt to reclaim his soul from darkness. As Scrooge begins to see the reality of his wasted life, some of the scenes of his redemption are truly cathartic. When I watch them, I actually feel excited for Scrooge, since he has a new lease on life. I particularly am moved every time I see the reformed Scrooge visit his cheerful nephew Fred. It is in this scene that we see the genuine transformation of this man into a kind person. While the center of Christmas is far deeper than simple human charity, surely one of the benefits of the holiday is the spirit of charity that it invokes in many people, and this movie captures that very well.
Hopefully, there will be others in the years ahead that can be added to the list. We have watched "Elf" a couple of times and have liked it, but it hasn't yet made it on to a favorites list. Let me know some of your favorites! Happy Holidays.
Love Actually
A textured, hilarious, overambitious and sentimental treat. This movie follows story lines involving several Londoners (including the Prime Minister) which all touch on very different elements of the concept of love. This is not a family film, though I will say that it makes some profound points in the midst of some raucous and bawdy humor. For instance, take the plot involving John and Judy. To me, this plot line sums up what this movie is about. John and Judy are two "actors" who are filming scenes as body doubles for sex scenes. As they engage in their "work", even though they are engaged in intimate behavior, they discuss the traffic they had coming in to work. This plot line shows the fact that there is more to love than the physical. In the most heartbreaking story line, Laura Linney plays an American living in London who is in love with a coworker. She gets her chance with him, but it becomes clear that things are more complicated than the viewer first realized. The cast is full of great actors, and another plot line which involves an aging rock star and his manger always brings the laughs. The movie also has a great soundtrack, which adds to the texture of the movie. This movie is always great to watch again with the Christmas tree lit. Here's a link to my article on it from last year.
About a Boy
Another good example of a movie that happens around Christmas, but is not about Christmas. Will Freeman's (Hugh Grant) completely shallow existence is made possible by the fact that his father wrote a very famous Christmas pop song. He lives off the royalties and spends all his time listening to music, watching television, and bedding women. One day, he realizes that single mothers are a treasure trove of beautiful, emotionally vulnerable women. So, he makes up a story about being a single dad and begins attending a single parents' support group. Of course, this fateful decision sets in motion a series of events that challenge his whole lifestyle. He meets a troubled single mother (Toni Colette) and her young son, and her son ends up working his way into Will's life. The best part of this movie to me is the title...which "boy" is the movie about? Watch the movie and decide for yourself.
Miracle on 34th Street
This is a great fantasy. Some of the best fantasies are set in the real world. This movie follows a single mother named Doris (Maureen O' Hara) and her daughter Susie (Natalie Wood). Doris works at Macy's Department store in New York, and the beginning of the movie depicts her organizing the famous Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. When the actor hired to play Santa Claus for the parade turns up drunk ("It's cold, a man's got to do something to keep warm"), Doris is forced to hire a passerby who looks like Santa Claus and claims to have experience with the part. The man ends up being Kris Kringle, and he is convinced that he is really Santa Claus. Kringle stays on as the Macy's Santa, and works his way into the life of the cynical Doris and her daughter Susie, who has been trained in the same cynicism by her mother. When Kris moves to Manhattan with Fred Gayley (Doris's next door neighbor and suitor), things take an unexpected turn and "Santa" goes on trial for lunacy. This was a film that was always on in our home growing up. It means a lot to me, but that wouldn't mean a whole lot if the movie itself wasn't so enchanting.
Shadowlands
I'm bending my own definition here, but there is a wonderful section in the middle of this movie that is set at Christmas. Because of that section, I always associate this movie with Christmas. The movie follows the story of real life author CS Lewis and American Joy Greshham and her son Douglas. In the movie, Lewis and his brother Warnie are confirmed bachelors. Lewis is an Oxford Don who presides over a world that has very few challenges for him. He begins receiving letters from Joy as she is a fan of his writing, and her son is a fan of The Chronicls of Narnia, Lewis' famous children's books. They end up marrying for convenience, as Joy is trying to escape an abusive marriage. Only after their marriage do they begin to realize that they truly love each other. Then, Joy is stricken with cancer, and Lewis is faced with the reality that he may lose his wife. It is a striking depiction of faith, suffering, and how Christians deal with suffering. And Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger are absolutely brilliant in the two lead roles. The section in the middle set at Christmas and the fact that Christ came into a world of this kind of suffering make this a great Christmas movie for me.
Home Alone
I just watched this one last week with my kids, and I have to admit, it holds up pretty well. One of the things that the late John Hughes (who wrote this movie) will always be remembered for is his ability to combine juvenile humor with touching poignancy. When a young boy (Macaulay Culkin) is accidentally left home alone by his parents as they travel to Europe for Christmas, he is left to fend for himself. This gets even more interesting as a pair of burglars (Daniel Stern and Joe Pesci) try to rob his house. The pratfalls involved will tickle most people's funny bone. I seem to remember my late grandfather, of all people, cracking up while seeing the bumbling burglars take one piece of abuse after another. That and the relationship Kevin ends up having with a mysterious neighbor make for a heart warming piece of fluff.
The Santa Clause
Another entry with very little gravitas, but a whole lot of fun. In this celebration of the other side of Christmas (nothing sacred here folks) Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) unknowingly agrees to "become" the next Santa Claus. As Scott tries to mend his relationship with his son, he rediscovers a lot of joy in life. This is another piece of fluff, but a fun one, and the kids loved it.
While You Were Sleeping
Sure, it has the same pop songs as almost any other romantic comedy of its era. Sure, it has a certain formulaic quality to it. But it has two things going for it. First of all, my wife really likes it, and I like watching it with her. Any movie that you can share with a loved one makes it a favorite. Second, there is something substantial about this movie that is hard to put my finger on. Perhaps it's the tone that depicts a family spending time together at Christmas. After all, since my whole family had practically 2 weeks off when I was growing up, the hours spent with family that this movie depicts is familiar to me. In that light, there are also some big laughs, as the foibles of different family members are on display. Perhaps it's the believability of Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman in their roles. Or perhaps it's the ensemble cast which provides a lot of structure and laughs to this comfortable tale. Whatever it is, this movie seems to be greater than the sum of its parts, and that's always noteworthy.
It's A Wonderful Life
A mixed bag for me...I wrote about this one last year, and I haven't changed my mind. There's no denying its place in the film pantheon, but this movie is a train wreck. Here's a link to what I wrote last year about this movie. Overall, this is a complex story which seems to have sentimentality, but in the end ends up feeling empty to me. Wonderfully acted and imagined, but tragically flawed.
A Christmas Carol
There are many versions of this beloved piece of literature, but my favorite will probably always be the made for TV movie with George C. Scott in the lead role of Ebenezer Scrooge. We always watched it as a family, and my father loved it. What sets this version apart from other depictions is the emotional impact that it makes. What's more, the impact the movie has also sets it apart as a film of any kind. In the familiar tale, miser Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by 3 spirits in an attempt to reclaim his soul from darkness. As Scrooge begins to see the reality of his wasted life, some of the scenes of his redemption are truly cathartic. When I watch them, I actually feel excited for Scrooge, since he has a new lease on life. I particularly am moved every time I see the reformed Scrooge visit his cheerful nephew Fred. It is in this scene that we see the genuine transformation of this man into a kind person. While the center of Christmas is far deeper than simple human charity, surely one of the benefits of the holiday is the spirit of charity that it invokes in many people, and this movie captures that very well.
Hopefully, there will be others in the years ahead that can be added to the list. We have watched "Elf" a couple of times and have liked it, but it hasn't yet made it on to a favorites list. Let me know some of your favorites! Happy Holidays.
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Another Star Trek Trailer
Follow this link to see the new trailer...looks intense....
http://www.startrek.com/article/first-look-new-star-trek-into-darkness-trailer
http://www.startrek.com/article/first-look-new-star-trek-into-darkness-trailer
Monday, December 17, 2012
Lincoln
There is a scene near the end of "Lincoln" that shows why movies matter so much as an art form. Almost every viewer of this film will know going in that Abraham Lincoln was assassinated at Ford's Theater merely days after the Civil War came to a close. So, any filmmaker who makes a movie about the last days and months of Lincoln's life will have to depict that awful moment when Lincoln is murdered. How Steven Spielberg and Tony Kushner bring this tragedy into their film resonated very well with me. It was effective, mostly because the human wreckage that a murder (or even a death for that matter) brings can be every bit as horrifying as the death itself. I will not ruin the surprise of the artistry of this film, but I will say that how that fateful night is depicted was noteworthy. The movie itself is a standard piece of narrative done with excellent craft at every step. It is a work of wonder, while not being groundbreaking. It reminds us that a film needn't be groundbreaking in order to be great.
The movie's overall story concerns itself with the months of Januray through April of 1865, most of the action taking place in the month of January. As the Civil War draws to a close, President Lincoln is faced with a choice. Will he push for a Constitutional Amendment banning slavery, or will he not risk his political capital at a time when the country is being unified around the war effort? Daniel Day Lewis plays the president. At this point in time, Lewis has done so much extraordinary work that it seems redundant to talk much about it. His work here is again great. Surrounding him is a remarkable cast of character actors who all bring tremendous professionalism to their roles...David Straithorn as Secretary of State Seward, Tommy Lee Jones as abolitionist congressman Thaddeus Stevens, Sally Field as Mary Todd Lincoln, Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Robert Lincoln, etc., etc., etc. At the center also of this work is beautiful photography as well as a wonderful script by Tony Kushner. This movie is almost entirely dialogue driven, so a script that is able to keep that dialogue lively and riveting for 2 1/2 hours is quite an accomplishment.
The other thing that this movie accomplishes is to give an earthy realism to the fight for the 13th amendment. This movie shows that the more things change, the more they stay the same. A lot of the unsavory wheeling and dealing that it took for Lincoln to get this amendment passed is shown. Just because the 13th amendment was a good idea does not mean it was ratified in a just and honest matter. 150 years later, I see a president of African ancestry right now wheeling and dealing with congress over the budget. I also hear a lot of talk about how divided we are as a nation. We are divided as a nation. We have big differences among us. But, as I watched this film, it became more real to me how conflict follows any society, especially a democratic one which encourages dissenting voices. We have not as of yet taken up arms against each other in a Civil War, and I think that we can be grateful for that reality in the face of our differences.
As I mentioned earlier, the photography the film was beautiful. It sort of reminded me of photographs from that era, which I would imagine was part of the point. As such, there was a truth
to the movie that was striking. It almost seemed as though I was watching the events as they unfolded. The wonderful performances also brought that realism out. One aspect of Daniel Day Lewis' portrayal that I really liked a lot was showing the side of Lincoln as a folksy storyteller. Lincoln's duel nature of being both a down home guy from the Midwest while also being a tough as nails politician was a wonderful addition to this story. While some of the domestic difficulties portrayed were somewhat standard, it was still heartbreaking to see how much struggle the Lincoln family had, both in public and in private.
I must say, if I were voting, I would vote for Wes Anderson's "Moonrise Kingdom" over this film for my favorite movie of the year. This film is a wonderful work of narrative, and I would recommend it to anyone. However, it feels like it represents a very traditional style, while filmmakers like Anderson are bringing fresh vision to their movies. I almost hesitate to say that, because this is a
very good movie. Having said that, this movie felt like a return to form for
Spielberg. This is a solid, passionately told narrative. Of the movies of his that I have seen, this is by far his best work since Schindler's List. To be able to have so many films that can be so watchable, entertaining and universal is a true contribution.
The movie's overall story concerns itself with the months of Januray through April of 1865, most of the action taking place in the month of January. As the Civil War draws to a close, President Lincoln is faced with a choice. Will he push for a Constitutional Amendment banning slavery, or will he not risk his political capital at a time when the country is being unified around the war effort? Daniel Day Lewis plays the president. At this point in time, Lewis has done so much extraordinary work that it seems redundant to talk much about it. His work here is again great. Surrounding him is a remarkable cast of character actors who all bring tremendous professionalism to their roles...David Straithorn as Secretary of State Seward, Tommy Lee Jones as abolitionist congressman Thaddeus Stevens, Sally Field as Mary Todd Lincoln, Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Robert Lincoln, etc., etc., etc. At the center also of this work is beautiful photography as well as a wonderful script by Tony Kushner. This movie is almost entirely dialogue driven, so a script that is able to keep that dialogue lively and riveting for 2 1/2 hours is quite an accomplishment.
The other thing that this movie accomplishes is to give an earthy realism to the fight for the 13th amendment. This movie shows that the more things change, the more they stay the same. A lot of the unsavory wheeling and dealing that it took for Lincoln to get this amendment passed is shown. Just because the 13th amendment was a good idea does not mean it was ratified in a just and honest matter. 150 years later, I see a president of African ancestry right now wheeling and dealing with congress over the budget. I also hear a lot of talk about how divided we are as a nation. We are divided as a nation. We have big differences among us. But, as I watched this film, it became more real to me how conflict follows any society, especially a democratic one which encourages dissenting voices. We have not as of yet taken up arms against each other in a Civil War, and I think that we can be grateful for that reality in the face of our differences.
As I mentioned earlier, the photography the film was beautiful. It sort of reminded me of photographs from that era, which I would imagine was part of the point. As such, there was a truth
to the movie that was striking. It almost seemed as though I was watching the events as they unfolded. The wonderful performances also brought that realism out. One aspect of Daniel Day Lewis' portrayal that I really liked a lot was showing the side of Lincoln as a folksy storyteller. Lincoln's duel nature of being both a down home guy from the Midwest while also being a tough as nails politician was a wonderful addition to this story. While some of the domestic difficulties portrayed were somewhat standard, it was still heartbreaking to see how much struggle the Lincoln family had, both in public and in private.
I must say, if I were voting, I would vote for Wes Anderson's "Moonrise Kingdom" over this film for my favorite movie of the year. This film is a wonderful work of narrative, and I would recommend it to anyone. However, it feels like it represents a very traditional style, while filmmakers like Anderson are bringing fresh vision to their movies. I almost hesitate to say that, because this is a
very good movie. Having said that, this movie felt like a return to form for
Spielberg. This is a solid, passionately told narrative. Of the movies of his that I have seen, this is by far his best work since Schindler's List. To be able to have so many films that can be so watchable, entertaining and universal is a true contribution.
Friday, December 14, 2012
December Quiz Answers
Well, I got a lot of hits on this quiz, but only two responses. The winner is my sister Faith! She got 8 points. Here are the answers...thanks for reading!
"Bright light, bright light!!"-Howie Mandel, "Gremlins"
"You sit on a throne of lies."- Will Ferrel, "Elf"
"A lovely cheese pizza just for me." Macaulay Culkin, "Home Alone"
"Kids: Don't buy drugs...become a pop star and they give them to you for free!" Bill Nighy, "Love Actually"
"You're not a bad mother...just a barking lunatic!!!"-Hugh Grant, "About a Boy"
"Welcome to the party pal!!!"-Bruce Willis, "Die Hard"
"Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to..."-Maureen O' Hara, "Miracle on 34th Street"
"It's nothing sir, just a small compound fracture..."-Danny Kaye, "White Christmas"
"You use my own words against me."-George C. Scott, "A Christmas Carol"
"Mr Martini, how about some wine?"-Donna Reed, "It's a Wonderful Life"
"Bright light, bright light!!"-Howie Mandel, "Gremlins"
"You sit on a throne of lies."- Will Ferrel, "Elf"
"A lovely cheese pizza just for me." Macaulay Culkin, "Home Alone"
"Kids: Don't buy drugs...become a pop star and they give them to you for free!" Bill Nighy, "Love Actually"
"You're not a bad mother...just a barking lunatic!!!"-Hugh Grant, "About a Boy"
"Welcome to the party pal!!!"-Bruce Willis, "Die Hard"
"Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to..."-Maureen O' Hara, "Miracle on 34th Street"
"It's nothing sir, just a small compound fracture..."-Danny Kaye, "White Christmas"
"You use my own words against me."-George C. Scott, "A Christmas Carol"
"Mr Martini, how about some wine?"-Donna Reed, "It's a Wonderful Life"
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Monday, December 10, 2012
Family Films: Brave
Recently, I went with my kids to a local theater and we watched the new Pixar movie "Brave". I asked them about it, and they had some good stuff to say. If you are interested in totally being surprised, thre are a couple of key plot points revealed here, so know that going in. I record these interviews on my iphone, and it has a fun old style recording screen when I do the interviews. At some point in the interview, Jack got more interested in seeing how high he could make the sound needle go than actually talking...but before it went there, I got some good stuff from them :)....
Joel: "So we went over to the Riverview theater today and saw a movie...what did we see Wessie?"
Wes: "MMM...Brave."
Joel: "Now what...do you know what the company that made this movie is called?"
Jack: "I don't know."
Joel: "That thing with the lamp."
Corrie: "Pixar."
Joel: "What other movies has Pixar made?"
Corrie: "Cars"
Joel: "Cars...Jack said Wall-E."
Jack: "Nemo!"
Joel: "Nemo...they all kind of look alike don't they? Similar style."
Corrie: "They all look like they're made of clay."
Joel: "I really liked 'Brave' a lot, I thought it was one of my favorite Pixar movies. My favorite Pixar movie is of course what?"
Jack: "Nemo."
Joel: "Not Nemo."
Corrie: "Wall-E?"
Joel: "No not 'Wall-E.'"
Corrie: "I was about to say 'Kipper'!
Joel: "Not 'Kipper', that's not a..."
Jack: "What is your favorite Pixar movie?"
Joel: "Ratatouille."
Steph: "That movie is gross."
Joel: "It's not gross, it's a cute movie...it's odd."
Corrie: "I like how the rat is like...he doesn't like eating rat foods..."
Joel: "What I liked about Brave is that I really felt like it told a classic fairy tale kind of story. The girl was a strong willed character, but it reminded me of a Grimm's fairy tale. Let me ask you some questions about why I feel that way. Is it all a happy-go-lucky story?"
Corrie and Jack: "No!!"
Joel: "What is the main character's name?"
Corrie: "Merida."
Joel: "What does she do wrong in the movie? What does she do that really gets her into trouble?"
Corrie: "She wants a spell that will change her mother, and she does get one, but she got tricked, because it changed her mother but not in the way she had in mind."
Jack: "She changes her into a bear."
Joel: "So she has to figure out out to get her right again. There's a lot of fairy tales where people in the same family do some strange and sad things to each other. I can think of one right away..."
Corrie: "Snow White?"
Joel: "Yeah...the one I think of the most has to do with two kiddos who get lost in the woods..."
Corrie: "Hansel and Gretel."
Joel: "Yeah...the mom wants to get rid of the kids! Fairy tales can be pretty harsh, and this one goes along with it."
Corrie: "It's not just the parents who make a mistake in 'Brave'."
Joel: "Well, one of the reasons many of them are so harsh is that they want to make a point, like an Aesop fable. What was your favorite part in the movie Corrie?"
Jack: "My favorite part was the end."
Corrie: "O like the end and I like the part where she's riding through the woods with Angus and shooting the targets in the trees...I bet she put them there."
Joel: "I also really liked the art work...very pretty...how great the drawing looks"
Corrie: "That's drawing?"
Joel: "It's drawing that people do on computers...whereas 'Winnie the Pooh' is hand drawn, this one is made on computers."
Jack: "Then they put all the pictures they made into one big moving part!"
Joel: "So do you think this movie is too scary for little kiddos?"
Corrie: "It's not the most kid friendly movie in the world...it's not like 'Winnie the Pooh' or 'Kipper'"
Jack: "It's a little bloody..."
Corrie: "There's no blood!"
Joel: "It made me think of the two ladies in my life, the mommy and the girl in our house, but you guys don't fight like that. And mommy doesn't get to pick out your husband for you. Did you like the archery scene Corrie?"
Corrie: "That was really fun."
Joel: "Do you want to shoot archery like that."
Corrie: "I liked it when I shot the middle of the target when we went."
Joel: "How many did she get in the middle of the target? All of them! She was walking across the targets and the last one she split the arrow?"
Corrie: "Yeah the guy had shot it in the middle and then she split it."
Joel: "What's your favorite Pixar movie?"
Corrie: "This one!"
Jack: "I like a lot of them..."
Corrie: "The one I liked best before was 'Tangled' that's Pixar isn't it?"
Joel: "Actually, that's a Disney movie but not Pixar..."
Jack: "WOO HOO-My favorite Pixar movie is....IS.....I don't know..."
Joel: "OK...Jack is now just talking loud to watch the sound needle go up...allright, that's all for now."
Joel: "So we went over to the Riverview theater today and saw a movie...what did we see Wessie?"
Wes: "MMM...Brave."
Joel: "Now what...do you know what the company that made this movie is called?"
Jack: "I don't know."
Joel: "That thing with the lamp."
Corrie: "Pixar."
Joel: "What other movies has Pixar made?"
Corrie: "Cars"
Joel: "Cars...Jack said Wall-E."
Jack: "Nemo!"
Joel: "Nemo...they all kind of look alike don't they? Similar style."
Corrie: "They all look like they're made of clay."
Joel: "I really liked 'Brave' a lot, I thought it was one of my favorite Pixar movies. My favorite Pixar movie is of course what?"
Jack: "Nemo."
Joel: "Not Nemo."
Corrie: "Wall-E?"
Joel: "No not 'Wall-E.'"
Corrie: "I was about to say 'Kipper'!
Joel: "Not 'Kipper', that's not a..."
Jack: "What is your favorite Pixar movie?"
Joel: "Ratatouille."
Steph: "That movie is gross."
Joel: "It's not gross, it's a cute movie...it's odd."
Corrie: "I like how the rat is like...he doesn't like eating rat foods..."
Joel: "What I liked about Brave is that I really felt like it told a classic fairy tale kind of story. The girl was a strong willed character, but it reminded me of a Grimm's fairy tale. Let me ask you some questions about why I feel that way. Is it all a happy-go-lucky story?"
Corrie and Jack: "No!!"
Joel: "What is the main character's name?"
Corrie: "Merida."
Joel: "What does she do wrong in the movie? What does she do that really gets her into trouble?"
Corrie: "She wants a spell that will change her mother, and she does get one, but she got tricked, because it changed her mother but not in the way she had in mind."
Jack: "She changes her into a bear."
Joel: "So she has to figure out out to get her right again. There's a lot of fairy tales where people in the same family do some strange and sad things to each other. I can think of one right away..."
Corrie: "Snow White?"
Joel: "Yeah...the one I think of the most has to do with two kiddos who get lost in the woods..."
Corrie: "Hansel and Gretel."
Joel: "Yeah...the mom wants to get rid of the kids! Fairy tales can be pretty harsh, and this one goes along with it."
Corrie: "It's not just the parents who make a mistake in 'Brave'."
Joel: "Well, one of the reasons many of them are so harsh is that they want to make a point, like an Aesop fable. What was your favorite part in the movie Corrie?"
Jack: "My favorite part was the end."
Corrie: "O like the end and I like the part where she's riding through the woods with Angus and shooting the targets in the trees...I bet she put them there."
Joel: "I also really liked the art work...very pretty...how great the drawing looks"
Corrie: "That's drawing?"
Joel: "It's drawing that people do on computers...whereas 'Winnie the Pooh' is hand drawn, this one is made on computers."
Jack: "Then they put all the pictures they made into one big moving part!"
Joel: "So do you think this movie is too scary for little kiddos?"
Corrie: "It's not the most kid friendly movie in the world...it's not like 'Winnie the Pooh' or 'Kipper'"
Jack: "It's a little bloody..."
Corrie: "There's no blood!"
Joel: "It made me think of the two ladies in my life, the mommy and the girl in our house, but you guys don't fight like that. And mommy doesn't get to pick out your husband for you. Did you like the archery scene Corrie?"
Corrie: "That was really fun."
Joel: "Do you want to shoot archery like that."
Corrie: "I liked it when I shot the middle of the target when we went."
Joel: "How many did she get in the middle of the target? All of them! She was walking across the targets and the last one she split the arrow?"
Corrie: "Yeah the guy had shot it in the middle and then she split it."
Joel: "What's your favorite Pixar movie?"
Corrie: "This one!"
Jack: "I like a lot of them..."
Corrie: "The one I liked best before was 'Tangled' that's Pixar isn't it?"
Joel: "Actually, that's a Disney movie but not Pixar..."
Jack: "WOO HOO-My favorite Pixar movie is....IS.....I don't know..."
Joel: "OK...Jack is now just talking loud to watch the sound needle go up...allright, that's all for now."
Friday, December 7, 2012
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Monday, December 3, 2012
Like Crazy
The first time I saw the movie "Office Space", I had high expectations. When I watched it, I thought the first 45 minutes was awesome. There was so much great content, and I was impressed. But, as the movie went on, the sketch comedy nature of the thing couldn't sustain itself, and it ran out of steam. I felt this way as well about this movie. It has a very charming premise, wonderful performances, but somehow, it didn't quite pack the emotional punch that it could have.
My wife Stephanie and I sort of debated about this movie. It follows two young people, Jacob and Anna, who meet at the end of their college years. Anna is from London, and she is required to go back to London at the end of the year due to her student visa's expiration. Anna blows off her immigration issues and decides to spend a special summer with Jacob. After separating, Anna attempts to come back to the US to reunite with Jacob. Due to her law breaking on her previous visit, she is sent back to the UK without being able to see Jacob. The rest of the film follows their relationship as it moves on from a promising beginning to a more realistic, long term clash of two people with different ideals.
The movie has guts, I will admit. Maybe I craved a more Hollywood ending, one which this movie does not provide. Though the more I consider the movie, the more its appeal grows. It won the Grand Jury prize at the Sundance film festival, and it is not hard to see why. It features fully improvised dialogue, a fact which I did not know while I watched the film. The film had a remarkable air of authenticity, and I suppose this feature of its production contributed to how real it felt. The movie is at its best in the small moments. Witness the distance between Jacob and Anna at the scene in the market. Their back and forth will be familiar to anyone who has had rocky times in relationships. I suppose this includes almost everyone. Both Jacob and Anna begin separate relationships while they are apart, and they begin to have an almost desperate need to still be in love the way they were that first summer.
This does deal well with the Paul McCartney idea that "The love you take is equal to the love you make." Both of these characters do not nurture their relationship they way it needs to be, and a promising beginning (complete with a ringing endorsement from Anna's parents) begins to waiver. I had trouble relating to some of the decisions the characters made, especially if they are crazy in love as they say they are. All of this makes for a complicated story in spite of its simplicity (if that makes any sense). There are several shots in the final moments that reveal much about the two characters. It seems that Anna may have been the driving force behind the relationship, while Jacob loved her but seemed to not love her as much. This movie will need to be watched again. It is a story with a great deal of truth about relationships.
My wife Stephanie and I sort of debated about this movie. It follows two young people, Jacob and Anna, who meet at the end of their college years. Anna is from London, and she is required to go back to London at the end of the year due to her student visa's expiration. Anna blows off her immigration issues and decides to spend a special summer with Jacob. After separating, Anna attempts to come back to the US to reunite with Jacob. Due to her law breaking on her previous visit, she is sent back to the UK without being able to see Jacob. The rest of the film follows their relationship as it moves on from a promising beginning to a more realistic, long term clash of two people with different ideals.
The movie has guts, I will admit. Maybe I craved a more Hollywood ending, one which this movie does not provide. Though the more I consider the movie, the more its appeal grows. It won the Grand Jury prize at the Sundance film festival, and it is not hard to see why. It features fully improvised dialogue, a fact which I did not know while I watched the film. The film had a remarkable air of authenticity, and I suppose this feature of its production contributed to how real it felt. The movie is at its best in the small moments. Witness the distance between Jacob and Anna at the scene in the market. Their back and forth will be familiar to anyone who has had rocky times in relationships. I suppose this includes almost everyone. Both Jacob and Anna begin separate relationships while they are apart, and they begin to have an almost desperate need to still be in love the way they were that first summer.
This does deal well with the Paul McCartney idea that "The love you take is equal to the love you make." Both of these characters do not nurture their relationship they way it needs to be, and a promising beginning (complete with a ringing endorsement from Anna's parents) begins to waiver. I had trouble relating to some of the decisions the characters made, especially if they are crazy in love as they say they are. All of this makes for a complicated story in spite of its simplicity (if that makes any sense). There are several shots in the final moments that reveal much about the two characters. It seems that Anna may have been the driving force behind the relationship, while Jacob loved her but seemed to not love her as much. This movie will need to be watched again. It is a story with a great deal of truth about relationships.
Friday, November 30, 2012
December Movie Quiz
Here's another quiz folks. The theme here is movies that are set at Christmas. The normal rules apply. Each quote is worth two points, 1 point for naming the movie from which the quote comes, and 1 point for naming the actor or actress who uttered the line (two different people uttered number 7 so that one is worth 3). As I continue to post other articles, I will continue to still advertise this one, because I would like to have the deadline for it be December 14 at 9PM, so that gives everyone 2 weeks. The normal rules apply: please either e-mail you responses to me (losbascoms@mac.com) or send me a private Facebook or Twitter message. This will guarantee that no one else sees your answers. If you put your answers in the comment section of my blog, I will delete them. Also, PLEASE DO NOT SEARCH FOR YOUR ANSWERS...this is a quiz, not a scavenger hunt. Since it's Christmas time, I'll sweeten the pot just a bit this month...the winner gets a $15 gift card this time. Good luck, and have fun!
1. "Bright light, bright light!!"
2. "You sit on a throne of lies."
3. "A lovely cheese pizza just for me."
4. "Kids: Don't buy drugs...become a pop star and they give them to you for free!"
5. "You're not a bad mother...just a barking lunatic!!!"
6. "Welcome to the party pal!!!"
7. "Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to..."
8. "It's nothing sir, just a small compound fracture..."
9. "You use my own words against me."
10. "Mr Martini, how about some wine?"
1. "Bright light, bright light!!"
2. "You sit on a throne of lies."
3. "A lovely cheese pizza just for me."
4. "Kids: Don't buy drugs...become a pop star and they give them to you for free!"
5. "You're not a bad mother...just a barking lunatic!!!"
6. "Welcome to the party pal!!!"
7. "Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to..."
8. "It's nothing sir, just a small compound fracture..."
9. "You use my own words against me."
10. "Mr Martini, how about some wine?"
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
New Les Miserable Trailer
I really want to take a look at this one...I read the book this year, and I look forward to seeing this unique movie musical
Monday, November 26, 2012
Joel's Ten Favorite Sports Movies
You may begin to see me repeating myself, but if you do, I am sorry. Some of my favorite films transcend genre, and since they do, when a genre pops up, it's likely that they may pop up again. Sports are a perfect subject for films, because most sport in and of itself is laced with drama. This is the case since, if they are being played honestly, no one knows the outcome of the story. Being able to use that and add more human elements add up to a great movie as well. Here are some of my favorite sports movies:
Hoosiers
Maybe my favorite sports movie, and since baseball is my favorite sport, that says something about how great this movie is. This story of a small town Indiana high school team which wins the state championship is a classic underdog story. But what makes it so watchable are the characters. There's Shooter (Dennis Hopper), the town drunk who also happens to be a basketball encyclopedia. There's Jimmy, the silent basketball prodigy. There's Myra Fleener (Barbara Hershey), the cynical small town resident who is trapped in the town for reasons she cannot control, but sees something interesting in this new addition to her town. And, as that addition, Gene Hackman plays Norman Dale, the coach of the team with a shady past. This film uses these characters to tell a wonderful story. It shows us why we love sports and why we go to the movies. We love unexpected drama.
The Natural
I have heard lots of criticism of this movie over the years. I have never read the book upon which it is based, and I have heard that it differs significantly from the movie. I may never read the book in order to avoid the disappointment. Robert Redford plays Roy Hobbs, a baseball prodigy who somehow loses his way and his innocence on his way to the big time. After years off the grid, he is given one last chance to play in the big leagues. In so doing, he is offered the chance to help redeem a struggling team and a manager (Wilford Brimley) who is caught in a power struggle with the team's owner. It is another "against all odds" story that resonates with me, and it has a romantic view of baseball.
Moneyball
Speaking of a romantic view of baseball, this movie is about a man who is trying to have an unromantic view of baseball, but in the end, realizes he cannot. Brad Pitt plays Billy Beane, the real life owner of the Oakland A's. This movie tells his story. Beane is forced to try to compete with teams in the American League who can spend way more money than him. Aided by his assistant (Jonah Hill), Beane is able to put together a competitive team even though he spends relatively little money. As with so many sports movies, part of the reason this one works so well is that it is another underdog story. Also, the way that director weaves in Billy's personal journey as a player and later a father is a masterful stroke of storytelling.
Rudy
Another underdog story which shows us how much we love the size of a player's heart more than anything. Sean Astin plays Rudy, a Midwestern boy who dreams of playing football for Notre Dame. With his heart and determination, his dream is realized. Pure sentimentality.
Rocky
On most lists of sports films, "Raging Bull" is the boxing movie that always beats Rocky. I will admit that I like this movie more. Scorsese's biopic is a greater work of art (and I admit I have only seen it once), but this film is more about the sport itself, and the central character is one for whom we can root. It hits you in the gut with its passion and its emotion. Also, after so many sequels, it is wonderful to revisit this film and see how spare this movie truly is. The opening shots of the working class end of Philadelphia are a marvelous way to show the humble beginnings of this young boxer, and it stands in stark contrast to where we journey with him at the end of the film.
Hoop Dreams
Just the dedication shown by the filmmakers of this documentary is noteworthy. This film follows the real lives of two young inner city boys who dream of making it to the NBA one day. I haven't seen it for awhile, but it made a powerful impact on me due to its realism and the power of the human drama. I need to take another look at this one.
The Fighter
This movie, a recent entry, takes a look not only at the dynamics of the sport of boxing, but also the dynamics of a troubled family in Lowell, Massachusettes. Christian Bale won an Oscar for playing Dicky, the drugged out brother to Mickey, played by Mark Wahlberg. Their relationship is the heart of the movie. But, to me, the real drama is seeing how Mickey deals with the conflicts of his life. He knows he needs Dicky's expertise in the ring, but he also knows that Dick's lifestyle is destroying his ability to pursue boxing. On another battle front, Melissa Leo plays Alice, Mickey and Dicky's controlling mother. As Mickey gets involved with Charlene (Amy Adams), Mickey becomes the rope in a tug of war. Charlene thinks he should sever ties with his family, and Mickey's mother can't stand Charlene, obviously. It all makes for great domestic drama and a great underdog sports story.
Endless Summer
This surfing documentary is a great diversion. But more than anything, I remeber it for the setting in which I first saw it. The documentary follows a group of surfers who travel around the world following summer and continuing to seek the thrill of the surf. The first time I saw it was back in high school. My youth group would camp out on the beach, and one of the nights we had a movie night out on the sand. The setting was perfect...we all sat on the beach watching the projection of this surfing film onto a screen with the ocean as our back drop.
Karate Kid
This movie was directed by the same man who directed "Rocky", and one can see the parallels. Pat Morita landed the role of his career as Mr. Miyagi, a wise karate master who tutors young Daniel Laruso (Ralph Macchio) in the ways of self defense. Daniel has just moved to LA from the East Coast, and he is truly an outsider in this new life in the San Fernando Valley. As Daniel learns to deal with bullies at school, a truly special relationship develops between the two main characters, and the climactic fight scenes can always bring the drama.
61*
This is a movie that Billy Crystal directed that follows the home run chase in 1961, as Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle chased the single season home run record held by the immortal Babe Ruth. As it becomes clear that Maris and not Mantle was going to be the one who truly challenges the record (much to the chagrin of the NY press), we see truly human drama on display in the most unimportant of things. The pressure of the limelight is not what Maris wanted, and this film shows that very well. Maris was a simple family man who was very good at his job, and this film brings that home very well. It reminds us that the jobs we think of as desirable have draw backs as well.
Hoosiers
Maybe my favorite sports movie, and since baseball is my favorite sport, that says something about how great this movie is. This story of a small town Indiana high school team which wins the state championship is a classic underdog story. But what makes it so watchable are the characters. There's Shooter (Dennis Hopper), the town drunk who also happens to be a basketball encyclopedia. There's Jimmy, the silent basketball prodigy. There's Myra Fleener (Barbara Hershey), the cynical small town resident who is trapped in the town for reasons she cannot control, but sees something interesting in this new addition to her town. And, as that addition, Gene Hackman plays Norman Dale, the coach of the team with a shady past. This film uses these characters to tell a wonderful story. It shows us why we love sports and why we go to the movies. We love unexpected drama.
The Natural
I have heard lots of criticism of this movie over the years. I have never read the book upon which it is based, and I have heard that it differs significantly from the movie. I may never read the book in order to avoid the disappointment. Robert Redford plays Roy Hobbs, a baseball prodigy who somehow loses his way and his innocence on his way to the big time. After years off the grid, he is given one last chance to play in the big leagues. In so doing, he is offered the chance to help redeem a struggling team and a manager (Wilford Brimley) who is caught in a power struggle with the team's owner. It is another "against all odds" story that resonates with me, and it has a romantic view of baseball.
Moneyball
Speaking of a romantic view of baseball, this movie is about a man who is trying to have an unromantic view of baseball, but in the end, realizes he cannot. Brad Pitt plays Billy Beane, the real life owner of the Oakland A's. This movie tells his story. Beane is forced to try to compete with teams in the American League who can spend way more money than him. Aided by his assistant (Jonah Hill), Beane is able to put together a competitive team even though he spends relatively little money. As with so many sports movies, part of the reason this one works so well is that it is another underdog story. Also, the way that director weaves in Billy's personal journey as a player and later a father is a masterful stroke of storytelling.
Rudy
Another underdog story which shows us how much we love the size of a player's heart more than anything. Sean Astin plays Rudy, a Midwestern boy who dreams of playing football for Notre Dame. With his heart and determination, his dream is realized. Pure sentimentality.
Rocky
On most lists of sports films, "Raging Bull" is the boxing movie that always beats Rocky. I will admit that I like this movie more. Scorsese's biopic is a greater work of art (and I admit I have only seen it once), but this film is more about the sport itself, and the central character is one for whom we can root. It hits you in the gut with its passion and its emotion. Also, after so many sequels, it is wonderful to revisit this film and see how spare this movie truly is. The opening shots of the working class end of Philadelphia are a marvelous way to show the humble beginnings of this young boxer, and it stands in stark contrast to where we journey with him at the end of the film.
Hoop Dreams
Just the dedication shown by the filmmakers of this documentary is noteworthy. This film follows the real lives of two young inner city boys who dream of making it to the NBA one day. I haven't seen it for awhile, but it made a powerful impact on me due to its realism and the power of the human drama. I need to take another look at this one.
The Fighter
This movie, a recent entry, takes a look not only at the dynamics of the sport of boxing, but also the dynamics of a troubled family in Lowell, Massachusettes. Christian Bale won an Oscar for playing Dicky, the drugged out brother to Mickey, played by Mark Wahlberg. Their relationship is the heart of the movie. But, to me, the real drama is seeing how Mickey deals with the conflicts of his life. He knows he needs Dicky's expertise in the ring, but he also knows that Dick's lifestyle is destroying his ability to pursue boxing. On another battle front, Melissa Leo plays Alice, Mickey and Dicky's controlling mother. As Mickey gets involved with Charlene (Amy Adams), Mickey becomes the rope in a tug of war. Charlene thinks he should sever ties with his family, and Mickey's mother can't stand Charlene, obviously. It all makes for great domestic drama and a great underdog sports story.
Endless Summer
This surfing documentary is a great diversion. But more than anything, I remeber it for the setting in which I first saw it. The documentary follows a group of surfers who travel around the world following summer and continuing to seek the thrill of the surf. The first time I saw it was back in high school. My youth group would camp out on the beach, and one of the nights we had a movie night out on the sand. The setting was perfect...we all sat on the beach watching the projection of this surfing film onto a screen with the ocean as our back drop.
Karate Kid
This movie was directed by the same man who directed "Rocky", and one can see the parallels. Pat Morita landed the role of his career as Mr. Miyagi, a wise karate master who tutors young Daniel Laruso (Ralph Macchio) in the ways of self defense. Daniel has just moved to LA from the East Coast, and he is truly an outsider in this new life in the San Fernando Valley. As Daniel learns to deal with bullies at school, a truly special relationship develops between the two main characters, and the climactic fight scenes can always bring the drama.
61*
This is a movie that Billy Crystal directed that follows the home run chase in 1961, as Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle chased the single season home run record held by the immortal Babe Ruth. As it becomes clear that Maris and not Mantle was going to be the one who truly challenges the record (much to the chagrin of the NY press), we see truly human drama on display in the most unimportant of things. The pressure of the limelight is not what Maris wanted, and this film shows that very well. Maris was a simple family man who was very good at his job, and this film brings that home very well. It reminds us that the jobs we think of as desirable have draw backs as well.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
About Schmidt
A few months back I watched "The Descendants", Alexander Payne's most recent film. I wrote a blog entry about it. The thing that most struck me about that film was its closing shot. My wife and I finally watched this film, which Payne made 10 years ago. I found it even more impressive than "The Descendants", only partly because of the fact that, here again, the final shot of the film reorganizes the entire narrative which the viewer has just finished. This is a work of great profundity, and it seems interesting that I would come upon it as the wounds of the loss of my father still are somewhat fresh. This movie shows us an array of human emotion which includes loss, resentment, loneliness, despair, and hope.
Warren Schmidt is an insurance actuary living in Omaha, Nebraska. As the movie opens, he and his wife are heading to a dinner honoring his retirement. At the dinner, we meet life long friends and colleagues of Warren, as well as the young man in line to take his job. As Warren begins his new life, it quickly becomes clear to him that his life is without much purpose. He goes back to the office to visit with his predecessor and see if he needs any help. Not only does this young man not need his help, but on his way out of the building, Warren notices that the boxes and boxes of files that had been his life's work have been simply cast into the recycling area awaiting disposal. One night, Warren notices an advertisement for a charity which asks for sponsorship for poor children in third world countries. Warren secretly signs up to become a sponsor up and begins a correspondence with a 6 year old boy in Tanzania. Shortly after that, his wife dies suddenly. The scenes which ensue are amazing in how well they depict the grief process. Even though Warren and his wife had drifted apart, they were married for 42 years (interestingly, the same amount of time my parents were married), and her sudden absence is a shock to Warren. Another effective portrait is the business surrounding death. For a few days, Warren is surrounded by friends, and his daughter comes in from Denver with her fiancee to be with her father. But as the friends leave, Warren is left with his daughter, and some of the tensions in their relationship come out, After his daughter leaves, he is left alone, and some of the scenes after that are both tragic and comical. For instance, witness Warren's trip to the grocery store, wherein his bounty consists of frozen pizzas and hash browns. Were it not for the fact that his daughter is getting married soon in Denver, Warren may just become completely stagnant. But her wedding day is coming soon, and he begins to drive the enormous RV that he and his wife had planned to spend their retirement in to Denver. Along the way, he makes a journey into his own past. He revisits his birthplace (which has been replaced by a tire store), takes a stroll at his old college, and eventually ends up in Denver. It becomes clear that Warren can't stand his daughter's fiancee. He voices his objections, but knows that his efforts are futile. I will not give away the ending, but the movie continues to show us a man who is rather bland, but is in a world around him that is spinning out of control. All of this madness is organized around the letters that Warren writes to his 6 year old sponsor child in Tanzania. These letters give us a window into Warren's soul. It is only here in these letters do we see who is behind this facade. The contents of the letters are hardly appropriate for a 6 year old, but it becomes clear that Warren needs these letters to grapple with his new life, however long or short that life may be.
I have never thought of Jack Nicholson as anything other than a wonderful actor, but this film puts him in another category. I seem to remember some people scoffing at his Oscar win in "As Good as It Gets" because it seemed all to believable that Jack Nicholson would play a misanthrope. Here, Nicholson plays the opposite of what we perceive him to be. Warren is awkward, bashful and completely helpless without his late wife. Jack Nicholson inhabits this role so well. He is so believable, especially as he creates a character who seems to be utterly mystified by everything around him. The character is especially interesting as he relates to his daughter. Hope Davis plays his daughter Jeannie, and their relationship is complicated and delicate. He loves her terribly, but also alienates himself from her. She doesn't want him around, even though she loves him. We see this delicate balance played out masterfully as Warren gives a rambling toast at Jeannie's wedding.
On another front, the look of the film is one of stark Midwestern bleakness. There is hardly anything in this film but gray skies, and it reflects the tone of this film perfectly. This is such a deliberate decision on Payne's part, and the final shot of the film coupled with the overwhelming sense of gray in the film provide the key to the heart of this film. In the end, it is a film about hope and finding meaning. Any human life, however vain it may seem, has the possibility to be redeemed and to be meaningful. The visual impact of the last shot is stunning, and it really does bring a whole new light to the film. Every scene in the film is unflinching in its veracity. It seems odd, but it seemed therapeutic to watch this man deal with such a huge life change as I deal with a life change and watch my family go through a life change. Art can be quite a good friend at times.
Warren Schmidt is an insurance actuary living in Omaha, Nebraska. As the movie opens, he and his wife are heading to a dinner honoring his retirement. At the dinner, we meet life long friends and colleagues of Warren, as well as the young man in line to take his job. As Warren begins his new life, it quickly becomes clear to him that his life is without much purpose. He goes back to the office to visit with his predecessor and see if he needs any help. Not only does this young man not need his help, but on his way out of the building, Warren notices that the boxes and boxes of files that had been his life's work have been simply cast into the recycling area awaiting disposal. One night, Warren notices an advertisement for a charity which asks for sponsorship for poor children in third world countries. Warren secretly signs up to become a sponsor up and begins a correspondence with a 6 year old boy in Tanzania. Shortly after that, his wife dies suddenly. The scenes which ensue are amazing in how well they depict the grief process. Even though Warren and his wife had drifted apart, they were married for 42 years (interestingly, the same amount of time my parents were married), and her sudden absence is a shock to Warren. Another effective portrait is the business surrounding death. For a few days, Warren is surrounded by friends, and his daughter comes in from Denver with her fiancee to be with her father. But as the friends leave, Warren is left with his daughter, and some of the tensions in their relationship come out, After his daughter leaves, he is left alone, and some of the scenes after that are both tragic and comical. For instance, witness Warren's trip to the grocery store, wherein his bounty consists of frozen pizzas and hash browns. Were it not for the fact that his daughter is getting married soon in Denver, Warren may just become completely stagnant. But her wedding day is coming soon, and he begins to drive the enormous RV that he and his wife had planned to spend their retirement in to Denver. Along the way, he makes a journey into his own past. He revisits his birthplace (which has been replaced by a tire store), takes a stroll at his old college, and eventually ends up in Denver. It becomes clear that Warren can't stand his daughter's fiancee. He voices his objections, but knows that his efforts are futile. I will not give away the ending, but the movie continues to show us a man who is rather bland, but is in a world around him that is spinning out of control. All of this madness is organized around the letters that Warren writes to his 6 year old sponsor child in Tanzania. These letters give us a window into Warren's soul. It is only here in these letters do we see who is behind this facade. The contents of the letters are hardly appropriate for a 6 year old, but it becomes clear that Warren needs these letters to grapple with his new life, however long or short that life may be.
I have never thought of Jack Nicholson as anything other than a wonderful actor, but this film puts him in another category. I seem to remember some people scoffing at his Oscar win in "As Good as It Gets" because it seemed all to believable that Jack Nicholson would play a misanthrope. Here, Nicholson plays the opposite of what we perceive him to be. Warren is awkward, bashful and completely helpless without his late wife. Jack Nicholson inhabits this role so well. He is so believable, especially as he creates a character who seems to be utterly mystified by everything around him. The character is especially interesting as he relates to his daughter. Hope Davis plays his daughter Jeannie, and their relationship is complicated and delicate. He loves her terribly, but also alienates himself from her. She doesn't want him around, even though she loves him. We see this delicate balance played out masterfully as Warren gives a rambling toast at Jeannie's wedding.
On another front, the look of the film is one of stark Midwestern bleakness. There is hardly anything in this film but gray skies, and it reflects the tone of this film perfectly. This is such a deliberate decision on Payne's part, and the final shot of the film coupled with the overwhelming sense of gray in the film provide the key to the heart of this film. In the end, it is a film about hope and finding meaning. Any human life, however vain it may seem, has the possibility to be redeemed and to be meaningful. The visual impact of the last shot is stunning, and it really does bring a whole new light to the film. Every scene in the film is unflinching in its veracity. It seems odd, but it seemed therapeutic to watch this man deal with such a huge life change as I deal with a life change and watch my family go through a life change. Art can be quite a good friend at times.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Interview with the Kids: ET
Recently, Stephanie and I decided to show ET to our kids. This movie holds a special place in my heart as my dad took me to see this great movie when I was about the age of my son Jack. I asked them what they though of it:
Joel: "We just finished watching a movie that my dad took me to see when I was about Jack's age..."
Jack: "Yeah, you were about my age..."
Joel: "What was the name of the movie."
Jack: "It was called ET."
Joel: "Now Corrie, this was an emotional movie for you, wasn't it?"
Corrie: "Yes...towards the end I thought that he had died and I was very sad...I had a lot of emotions...first I was happy, then I was sad, then I was angry...when I first thought that ET was dead."
Joel: "Jack, what was your favorite scene in the movie."
Jack: "I liked most of the funny scenes, but the one I liked the most was when he says to ET, 'No, it's a fake knife'."
Joel: "That was funny. Corrie, do you have a favorite scene in the movie?"
Corrie: "I like when he saw the person dressed as Yoda and said 'HOME..HOME..."
Jack: "Why does he say, 'HOME.'"
Corrie: "Yoda is an alien, and he thought that the person dressed as Yoda was someone from where he was from, and the Yoda person was like staring at him..."
Joel: "Did you guys notice...did they show the grown ups in the movie...what did they show when they showed grownups..."
Corrie: "Just the mom and the nice guy."
Joel: "Yeah, but, before that..."
Corrie: "Yeah...waist down..."
Joel: "Why do you think that the movie was shot that way?"
Corrie: "Kind of supposed to be more like a children's movie and when they do stuff like that it shows you that the children are more the main characters than the grown ups are..."
Joel: "I think that's a great answer. There's a scene when the older brother is in the closet when ET is sick. One of the things that's neat about the movie is that Elliott is old enough to really know what's going on, while the younger sister doesn't know as much, but the older brother is old enough to sort of to be a young man and the only dad Elliott has because Elliott's dad isn't there anymore. But he's also sort of a kid, so when he's scared about ET's health, what does he do?"
Corrie: "Goes into Elliott's closet."
Joel: "He goes into the closet like a little kid again, doesn't he?"
Jack: "So, Dad, how do they know that the spaceship was going to land there?"
Joel: "Great question! What did ET build...the place where the phone was was where the ship came..."
Jack: "So they knew that it was there?"
Joel: "Yeah. What did you think of the part at the school...with the frogs."
Corrie: "Well, I would have freaked if there were huge masses of frogs leaping everywhere, but I didn't really liked how he was acting. I know that ET was connected to Elliott..."
Jack: "Why was he connected to him?"
Joel: "We're not really sure why...it's some sort of connection that the ET creature has with Elliott that unique."
Corrie: " I didn't like how he did whatever the TV did! I didn't like how he...you know what..."
Joel: "You know what? I have a feeling you're talking about when he kissed that girl? Yeah..."
Corrie: "That made me feel so uncomfortable."
Joel: "So, I guess the only other thing is...did you like the music? When I was a kiddo I had a record of music from the movie...I don't know where it is now...probably just gone. When this movie came out, I was about Jack's age, and it was so popular...every kiddo saw it, every kiddo was going around saying "ET phone home..."
Corrie: "So you could ask someone if they had seen ET and you could know that they would say yes?"
Joel: "Anyway, mommy and daddy thought this would be a great movie night movie...you guys liked it, right? Anything else you want to say about the movie?"
Jack: "I hated it when he got dressed up in all the girl's clothes...he was being treated like a doll..."
Wesley: "She looked like an alien slash girl..."
Corrie: "I think that...I have seen a lot of movies where certain children find objects that aren't normal...like "Indian in the Cupboard"...the boy Omri, they have to get to know each other, then when they develop a friendship then they have each other for awhile and then something happens that makes it necessary for the Indian and his friends go home.."
Joel: "There was one other thing that you guys said that I thought was cool...at the beginning of the movie, you said that ET reminded you of somebody...who was that?"
Corrie: "I thought he reminded me of WALL-E."
Joel: "I have a feeling that the people who made WALL-E, because it was made 25 years after ET, they would probably tell you that part of the inspiration for WALL-E was ET. Do you remember the name Ben Burtt from the Star Wars Radio dramas Corrie?"
Corrie: "Uh huh"
Joel: "He did the sound effects for the Star Wars movies, the sound for WALL-E, and the sound for ET."
Corrie: "They all seem so connected. ET, Star Wars and WALL-E...I think Star Wars and WALL-E are connected is because a lot of it takes place in space, and WALL-E and ET are alike for another reason...they talk but they don't say long sentences..."
Jack: "How long is this interview going to be Dada?"
Joel: "It's over now."
Jack: "Why....?
Joel: "We just finished watching a movie that my dad took me to see when I was about Jack's age..."
Jack: "Yeah, you were about my age..."
Joel: "What was the name of the movie."
Jack: "It was called ET."
Joel: "Now Corrie, this was an emotional movie for you, wasn't it?"
Corrie: "Yes...towards the end I thought that he had died and I was very sad...I had a lot of emotions...first I was happy, then I was sad, then I was angry...when I first thought that ET was dead."
Joel: "Jack, what was your favorite scene in the movie."
Jack: "I liked most of the funny scenes, but the one I liked the most was when he says to ET, 'No, it's a fake knife'."
Joel: "That was funny. Corrie, do you have a favorite scene in the movie?"
Corrie: "I like when he saw the person dressed as Yoda and said 'HOME..HOME..."
Jack: "Why does he say, 'HOME.'"
Corrie: "Yoda is an alien, and he thought that the person dressed as Yoda was someone from where he was from, and the Yoda person was like staring at him..."
Joel: "Did you guys notice...did they show the grown ups in the movie...what did they show when they showed grownups..."
Corrie: "Just the mom and the nice guy."
Joel: "Yeah, but, before that..."
Corrie: "Yeah...waist down..."
Joel: "Why do you think that the movie was shot that way?"
Corrie: "Kind of supposed to be more like a children's movie and when they do stuff like that it shows you that the children are more the main characters than the grown ups are..."
Joel: "I think that's a great answer. There's a scene when the older brother is in the closet when ET is sick. One of the things that's neat about the movie is that Elliott is old enough to really know what's going on, while the younger sister doesn't know as much, but the older brother is old enough to sort of to be a young man and the only dad Elliott has because Elliott's dad isn't there anymore. But he's also sort of a kid, so when he's scared about ET's health, what does he do?"
Corrie: "Goes into Elliott's closet."
Joel: "He goes into the closet like a little kid again, doesn't he?"
Jack: "So, Dad, how do they know that the spaceship was going to land there?"
Joel: "Great question! What did ET build...the place where the phone was was where the ship came..."
Jack: "So they knew that it was there?"
Joel: "Yeah. What did you think of the part at the school...with the frogs."
Corrie: "Well, I would have freaked if there were huge masses of frogs leaping everywhere, but I didn't really liked how he was acting. I know that ET was connected to Elliott..."
Jack: "Why was he connected to him?"
Joel: "We're not really sure why...it's some sort of connection that the ET creature has with Elliott that unique."
Corrie: " I didn't like how he did whatever the TV did! I didn't like how he...you know what..."
Joel: "You know what? I have a feeling you're talking about when he kissed that girl? Yeah..."
Corrie: "That made me feel so uncomfortable."
Joel: "So, I guess the only other thing is...did you like the music? When I was a kiddo I had a record of music from the movie...I don't know where it is now...probably just gone. When this movie came out, I was about Jack's age, and it was so popular...every kiddo saw it, every kiddo was going around saying "ET phone home..."
Corrie: "So you could ask someone if they had seen ET and you could know that they would say yes?"
Joel: "Anyway, mommy and daddy thought this would be a great movie night movie...you guys liked it, right? Anything else you want to say about the movie?"
Jack: "I hated it when he got dressed up in all the girl's clothes...he was being treated like a doll..."
Wesley: "She looked like an alien slash girl..."
Corrie: "I think that...I have seen a lot of movies where certain children find objects that aren't normal...like "Indian in the Cupboard"...the boy Omri, they have to get to know each other, then when they develop a friendship then they have each other for awhile and then something happens that makes it necessary for the Indian and his friends go home.."
Joel: "There was one other thing that you guys said that I thought was cool...at the beginning of the movie, you said that ET reminded you of somebody...who was that?"
Corrie: "I thought he reminded me of WALL-E."
Joel: "I have a feeling that the people who made WALL-E, because it was made 25 years after ET, they would probably tell you that part of the inspiration for WALL-E was ET. Do you remember the name Ben Burtt from the Star Wars Radio dramas Corrie?"
Corrie: "Uh huh"
Joel: "He did the sound effects for the Star Wars movies, the sound for WALL-E, and the sound for ET."
Corrie: "They all seem so connected. ET, Star Wars and WALL-E...I think Star Wars and WALL-E are connected is because a lot of it takes place in space, and WALL-E and ET are alike for another reason...they talk but they don't say long sentences..."
Jack: "How long is this interview going to be Dada?"
Joel: "It's over now."
Jack: "Why....?
Friday, November 9, 2012
Family Film Friday: ET
Since this movie resonates a lot with me personally, I am going to devote two entries to it. I want to write about it for me, and for my kids. I interviewed my kids about this movie, and I will give that interview on the blog as well. At the same time, this movie affected me so much as a kid that I wanted to write on it as well.
When I was 7 years old (the same age as my son Jack is right now), my parents took me to see "ET". I say it was my parents, because I am pretty sure we saw it as a family, but for some reason, the only memories I have of that night were of my dad. We didn't see a lot of movies, so it was special to go and see this one. When we got to the 4 theater complex at Fashion Square in La Habra (the world's first free standing four theater complex, I might add), there was a long line outside the theater. I knew nothing about the movie, but dad assured me that the reason there were so many people waiting was it was a great movie.
I agreed then, and I still do. As I sat down recently with my three kids to watch this movie for their first time, I couldn't help but remember that night 30 years ago when dad took me. Watching it this time, I was very impressed by its perspective, and how much director Steven Spielberg allows the camera to tell the story. The movie follows the adventures of two beings. Elliott is a 10 year old boy whose family has recently been ripped apart by divorce. One night, an alien vessel lands in the forest outside of the suburb in which Elliott lives. Several creatures depart the ship to explore, but when cars full of inquisitive humans pull up in the forest, the aliens are forced to run back to their ship. Alas, one little guy is left behind, as he doesn't make it back to the ship fast enough. He finds his way into Elliot's care, and the two of them develop an intense bond of friendship. The rest of the movie shows us ET's attempt to return home. The only two adults of note in the movie are Mary (Dee Wallace), the broken hearted mother who is the lone caretaker of her three children, and a sympathetic man (played by Peter Coyote) for his own reasons, but who is not named in the film. Elliot and his brother and sister (played by Drew Barrymore at the age of 6) have been thrown into a magical world...one that cannot last.
The story entranced me as a child. It was simple to follow, and it was clear who the bad guys and good guys were. Watching it now, I am very impressed by the world created by those who made this film. I noticed how much this movie is about the innocence of childhood. It gives us a world of childhood, a world where grown ups seem strange and dangerous. For most of the movie, the only face of a grown up that we see is that of Elliot's mother. Upon this viewing, there was one brief scene that made an impression on me that I did not remember. As ET is thought to have deceased, Elliot's older brother Michael retreats to his brother's room. He huddles up in the fetal position in a closet full of toys. As Michael grows toward adulthood, he is stuck in that weird time of life when one is not sure whether they are an adult or a child. Michael feels like a child right now, even though he has had to be the protector of his siblings and mother for the whole movie. In this one moment of sadness for him, he finds solitude for a moment and retreats back into the comfortable and safe world of his childhood.
As an adult watching this movie, I can relate to the children since I was a child once. But, I also found myself relating to the adults. The adults in the suits weren't simply bad anymore, just out of touch with the kids. As a parent, I know about that as well. Sometimes the business of my world eclipses the world of my kids. As I watched it with my kids, I was transported back to the first time I saw it with my dad. I can remember his laugh echoing in the theater during certain scenes, and I can remember how much it meant to me to see it with him. As I watched it with my kids, I saw this movie in a whole new way, and I enjoyed the view.
When I was 7 years old (the same age as my son Jack is right now), my parents took me to see "ET". I say it was my parents, because I am pretty sure we saw it as a family, but for some reason, the only memories I have of that night were of my dad. We didn't see a lot of movies, so it was special to go and see this one. When we got to the 4 theater complex at Fashion Square in La Habra (the world's first free standing four theater complex, I might add), there was a long line outside the theater. I knew nothing about the movie, but dad assured me that the reason there were so many people waiting was it was a great movie.
I agreed then, and I still do. As I sat down recently with my three kids to watch this movie for their first time, I couldn't help but remember that night 30 years ago when dad took me. Watching it this time, I was very impressed by its perspective, and how much director Steven Spielberg allows the camera to tell the story. The movie follows the adventures of two beings. Elliott is a 10 year old boy whose family has recently been ripped apart by divorce. One night, an alien vessel lands in the forest outside of the suburb in which Elliott lives. Several creatures depart the ship to explore, but when cars full of inquisitive humans pull up in the forest, the aliens are forced to run back to their ship. Alas, one little guy is left behind, as he doesn't make it back to the ship fast enough. He finds his way into Elliot's care, and the two of them develop an intense bond of friendship. The rest of the movie shows us ET's attempt to return home. The only two adults of note in the movie are Mary (Dee Wallace), the broken hearted mother who is the lone caretaker of her three children, and a sympathetic man (played by Peter Coyote) for his own reasons, but who is not named in the film. Elliot and his brother and sister (played by Drew Barrymore at the age of 6) have been thrown into a magical world...one that cannot last.
The story entranced me as a child. It was simple to follow, and it was clear who the bad guys and good guys were. Watching it now, I am very impressed by the world created by those who made this film. I noticed how much this movie is about the innocence of childhood. It gives us a world of childhood, a world where grown ups seem strange and dangerous. For most of the movie, the only face of a grown up that we see is that of Elliot's mother. Upon this viewing, there was one brief scene that made an impression on me that I did not remember. As ET is thought to have deceased, Elliot's older brother Michael retreats to his brother's room. He huddles up in the fetal position in a closet full of toys. As Michael grows toward adulthood, he is stuck in that weird time of life when one is not sure whether they are an adult or a child. Michael feels like a child right now, even though he has had to be the protector of his siblings and mother for the whole movie. In this one moment of sadness for him, he finds solitude for a moment and retreats back into the comfortable and safe world of his childhood.
As an adult watching this movie, I can relate to the children since I was a child once. But, I also found myself relating to the adults. The adults in the suits weren't simply bad anymore, just out of touch with the kids. As a parent, I know about that as well. Sometimes the business of my world eclipses the world of my kids. As I watched it with my kids, I was transported back to the first time I saw it with my dad. I can remember his laugh echoing in the theater during certain scenes, and I can remember how much it meant to me to see it with him. As I watched it with my kids, I saw this movie in a whole new way, and I enjoyed the view.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Casino Royale
My Dad did not like James Bond. Therefore, I never saw any James Bond movies growing up. I ended up finally seeing my first Bond film 15 years ago or so, when Pierce Brosnan played James Bond. It was entertaining, but not great. When "Casino Royale" was released, I was impressed with the great reviews it got, so I figured I should give it another shot. That was 6 years ago. My wife and I just watched the movie, and I have to say, I really did like this movie. There are many reasons for this, but I have to say, I think even my dad would have found several things to like about this movie.
As I understand it, this film is a reboot of the James Bond franchise. As such, it deals with the origins of James Bond and his "License to Kill". What makes this movie entertaining is that James Bond appears very human in the movie. He makes costly mistakes at the beginning, and still needs lots of seasoning before he can be the professional that he will become. The plot is secondary. It involves a wealthy villain who acts as a banker to terrorists and other unsavory types. It is Bond's job to stop him..
I have been told that this is an unusual Bond film, because so many of the Bond elements are not in this film. Maybe that's why I liked it so much. This man appears human and vulnerable, while still the essence of cool. Ladies aren't quite as expendable to him as I would have thought, and some of the non politically correct talk seems to have been toned down a bit.
All and all, seriously reflection on this movie is beside the point. However, fun movies can be hard to nail down as well, and the ability of the filmmaker to make a movie that can sustain a story for over 2 hours is noteworthy. The plot is simple enough that we can enjoy the action, but has enough substance and intrigue to keep it from being meaningless. Daniel Craig inhabits the role well, and the supporting players are all effective as well. Stephanie and I are also big fans of Judi Dench, and her presence in this film gives it way more gravitas then it needs. I sort of wish I could watch this one with my dad, though the fast forward button would probably be used a couple of times.
As I understand it, this film is a reboot of the James Bond franchise. As such, it deals with the origins of James Bond and his "License to Kill". What makes this movie entertaining is that James Bond appears very human in the movie. He makes costly mistakes at the beginning, and still needs lots of seasoning before he can be the professional that he will become. The plot is secondary. It involves a wealthy villain who acts as a banker to terrorists and other unsavory types. It is Bond's job to stop him..
I have been told that this is an unusual Bond film, because so many of the Bond elements are not in this film. Maybe that's why I liked it so much. This man appears human and vulnerable, while still the essence of cool. Ladies aren't quite as expendable to him as I would have thought, and some of the non politically correct talk seems to have been toned down a bit.
All and all, seriously reflection on this movie is beside the point. However, fun movies can be hard to nail down as well, and the ability of the filmmaker to make a movie that can sustain a story for over 2 hours is noteworthy. The plot is simple enough that we can enjoy the action, but has enough substance and intrigue to keep it from being meaningless. Daniel Craig inhabits the role well, and the supporting players are all effective as well. Stephanie and I are also big fans of Judi Dench, and her presence in this film gives it way more gravitas then it needs. I sort of wish I could watch this one with my dad, though the fast forward button would probably be used a couple of times.
Saturday, November 3, 2012
The Iron Lady
Once again, Meryl Streep disappears into a role. Her work here as Margaret Thatcher is truly a sight to behold, and it reminds us of one of the many reasons we watch movies. Over the years, many of the great performances put on film have not necessarily been in the greatest movies. However, the greatness of the performance in the film makes the film not only watchable, but also noteworthy. I remember feeling that way when I watched "Yankee Doodle Dandy", with James Cagney. While I think that is a finer film than this one, it nevertheless is carried by an outstanding performance by James Cagney. So it is in the movie.
One of the weaknesses of the film is that it doesn't have a cohesive, driving narrative. True, the film tells the story of Margaret Thatcher's life (she became the first female Prime Minister in the Western World). It tells it mostly in flashbacks, but I felt that it seemed to more resemble a greatest hits album than a powerful story. Fortunately, the hits of Thatcher's life are compelling enough to still tell an exciting story. The person the film depicts is and was a person of deep conviction. In these times of constant political questioning, that can be charming to some and enraging to others. To some, conviction is a weakness as it shows itself to be inflexible and dogmatic. To others, conviction shows a depth of character. Interestingly enough, many times we only admire those with conviction if their convictions agree with our own.
But the real story, again, is Meryl Streep. As I watched this biopic, I was transported back some 8 years to watching the funeral for Ronald Reagan. The funeral featured a video taped message from Margaret Thatcher, who was not well enough to speak in person at the funeral, even though she did attend. Her voice is mimicked so well by Streep that I could hear that video taped message in my head. But the film would be even weaker than it already is if all Streep was doing was some sort of impression for a comedy club. Instead, she inhabits the role, and the voice she uses is a window into the soul of this complicated woman.
The woman of depiction here is one with deep pride in her country, and who sees the heart of her country under attack by the welfare state. Whether one agrees with this or not, there is a certain sympathy to be had in seeing how these sensibilities developed in young Margaret. Though people on both sides of the political aisle are demonized by the other side, it is always vital to remember that each person has arrived at their own conclusions for specific reasons. As we dialogue with each other, we must remember how these life lessons were learned by each of us. I have no idea of the politics of the films' director, but I think it is notable that one cannot tell what they are from watching the film. Here is a film that is more concerned with showing us a picture of a life rather than telling us how we should view that life. I wish it had been more compelling, but the material is fascinating.
One of the weaknesses of the film is that it doesn't have a cohesive, driving narrative. True, the film tells the story of Margaret Thatcher's life (she became the first female Prime Minister in the Western World). It tells it mostly in flashbacks, but I felt that it seemed to more resemble a greatest hits album than a powerful story. Fortunately, the hits of Thatcher's life are compelling enough to still tell an exciting story. The person the film depicts is and was a person of deep conviction. In these times of constant political questioning, that can be charming to some and enraging to others. To some, conviction is a weakness as it shows itself to be inflexible and dogmatic. To others, conviction shows a depth of character. Interestingly enough, many times we only admire those with conviction if their convictions agree with our own.
But the real story, again, is Meryl Streep. As I watched this biopic, I was transported back some 8 years to watching the funeral for Ronald Reagan. The funeral featured a video taped message from Margaret Thatcher, who was not well enough to speak in person at the funeral, even though she did attend. Her voice is mimicked so well by Streep that I could hear that video taped message in my head. But the film would be even weaker than it already is if all Streep was doing was some sort of impression for a comedy club. Instead, she inhabits the role, and the voice she uses is a window into the soul of this complicated woman.
The woman of depiction here is one with deep pride in her country, and who sees the heart of her country under attack by the welfare state. Whether one agrees with this or not, there is a certain sympathy to be had in seeing how these sensibilities developed in young Margaret. Though people on both sides of the political aisle are demonized by the other side, it is always vital to remember that each person has arrived at their own conclusions for specific reasons. As we dialogue with each other, we must remember how these life lessons were learned by each of us. I have no idea of the politics of the films' director, but I think it is notable that one cannot tell what they are from watching the film. Here is a film that is more concerned with showing us a picture of a life rather than telling us how we should view that life. I wish it had been more compelling, but the material is fascinating.
Friday, November 2, 2012
Movie Quiz Answers
Here are the answers for the October quiz! The winner was my friend Christian, who got 28 points out of 35...nice work!
"Life is like a box of chocolates..."-Tom Hanks, Forrest Gump
"La de da, La de da..."-Diane Keaton, Annie Hall
"FREEDOM!!!!!"-Mel Gibson, Braveheart
"Sam, I thought I told you never to play that..."-Humphery Bogart, Casablanca
"For Frodo..."-Viggo Mortenson, The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
"We keep you alive to serve this ship...row well and live."-Jack Hawkins and Charlton Heston, Ben Hur
"I coulda been a contender..."- Marlon Brando, On the Waterfront
"Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy night..."- Bette Davis, All About Eve
"Four jacks! You owe me 15 grand pal!"-Paul Newman, The Sting
"This is not the stuff of which martyrs are made..."-Paul Scofield, A Man for All Seasons
"Yo Adrian."-Sylvester Stallone, Rocky
"Why didn't you take off all your clothes? You could have stopped forty cars."-Clark Gable, It Happened One Night
The connection? All of the movies from which the quotes are taken won the Best Picture Oscar. Thanks for reading and playing...stay tuned for more quizzes!
"Life is like a box of chocolates..."-Tom Hanks, Forrest Gump
"La de da, La de da..."-Diane Keaton, Annie Hall
"FREEDOM!!!!!"-Mel Gibson, Braveheart
"Sam, I thought I told you never to play that..."-Humphery Bogart, Casablanca
"For Frodo..."-Viggo Mortenson, The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
"We keep you alive to serve this ship...row well and live."-Jack Hawkins and Charlton Heston, Ben Hur
"I coulda been a contender..."- Marlon Brando, On the Waterfront
"Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy night..."- Bette Davis, All About Eve
"Four jacks! You owe me 15 grand pal!"-Paul Newman, The Sting
"This is not the stuff of which martyrs are made..."-Paul Scofield, A Man for All Seasons
"Yo Adrian."-Sylvester Stallone, Rocky
"Why didn't you take off all your clothes? You could have stopped forty cars."-Clark Gable, It Happened One Night
The connection? All of the movies from which the quotes are taken won the Best Picture Oscar. Thanks for reading and playing...stay tuned for more quizzes!
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Movie Quiz...Connections Update
Happy Tuesday everyone! I am re-posting my movie quiz I have gotten two responses so far. Take a shot! I thought I would tweak it a little
this time. I am posting 12 quotes from 12 different movies. The twelve
quotes have a specific connection. So...here's how we'll do this: the
winner will win a $10 Trader Joe's gift card as usual. And, as usual,
identifying the movie from which the quote comes is worth one point, and
naming the actor who uttered the phrase is also worth one point.
Naming the right connection will be worth 10 points. This means that
the total points possible is 35: 25 points for the quotes (quote number 6
is uttered by two people), and 10 points for naming the connection. I
will take entries until Friday, November 2 at 9PM. Please e-mail your
entries to losbascoms@mac.com. Any entries posted in the comments
section will be deleted, as they will be seen by others. Finally,
please do not look on the internet for the answers! No cheating :)!!
If there is a tie, I have a question in mind to break the tie. Good
luck!!
1. "Life is like a box of chocolates..."
2. "La de da, La de da..."
3. "FREEDOM!!!!!"
4. "Sam, I thought I told you never to play that..."
5. "For Frodo..."
6. "We keep you alive to serve this ship...row well and live."
7. "I coulda been a contender..."
8. "Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy night..."
9. "Four jacks! You owe me 15 grand pal!"
10. "This is not the stuff of which martyrs are made..."
11. "Yo Adrian."
12. "Why didn't you take off all your clothes? You could have stopped forty cars."
1. "Life is like a box of chocolates..."
2. "La de da, La de da..."
3. "FREEDOM!!!!!"
4. "Sam, I thought I told you never to play that..."
5. "For Frodo..."
6. "We keep you alive to serve this ship...row well and live."
7. "I coulda been a contender..."
8. "Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy night..."
9. "Four jacks! You owe me 15 grand pal!"
10. "This is not the stuff of which martyrs are made..."
11. "Yo Adrian."
12. "Why didn't you take off all your clothes? You could have stopped forty cars."
Monday, October 29, 2012
Joel's 5 Favorite Coen Brother Films
I have seen every film that Joel and Ethan Coen have directed. One of the interesting things about the Coen Brothers' films is that most of them take more than one viewing to really sink in. For instance, I remember being almost repelled the first time I saw Fargo, but it has ended up being one of my favorite films not only by the Coens, but also one of my favorite films ever. Their films have ranged greatly in theme, setting and tone, but they do all have some idiosyncrasies that bind them. Above all, the Coen Brothers love film making. When they received an Oscar for Best Picture for "No Country For Old Men", one of the brothers said that they see their film making as playing in the sand box. The work that they have done exhibits that. It is entertaining, never overly sentimental, and always concerned with craft. Here's my list, in no particular order:
Fargo
Though they achieved their glory with "No Country for Old Men", this film, to me, is the quintessential Coen Brothers movie. It has everything. It has quirky dialogue, wonderfully realized characters, an engaging plot, and a wonderful setting. Setting is always very important in the films of the Coen Brothers. The place in which their films are set often takes on a character of its own. Perhaps one of the reasons this film works so well is that it is set in the place of their birth. Minneapolis provides the backdrop for this blood soaked murder tale. What breaks through in this movie that sometimes doesn't break through in some of the Coens' work is the subtle sentimentality made manifest in the character of Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand). It is her simple Midwestern decency which is the heart of this movie. As Jerry Lundegaard (a wonderfully inept character brought to life by William H. Macy) makes a bigger and bigger mess of his plot, her cleverness solves the mystery. She is constantly being underestimated, and even though there is tragedy in the film, Gunderson's hard work does indeed pay off.
Fargo is one of those films that makes you marvel. The characters are so real, so funny, and so true to life. The movie has popularized the Minnesota accent, but the longer I live here, the more I see how affectionate the portrayal is. While the body count continues to grow in the film thanks to Steve Buscemi's loose cannon cut rate criminal, Frances McDormand continues to work to solve the case, and she continues to live her simple, lovely life. The scenes between her and her husband are among the most poignant I can ever remember seeing on film, and they provide a welcome relief from the blood shed in the movie. They remind us that the people who execute justice have very normal lives. The love that the two of them share is comfortable, decent love. You just don't see that portrayed in films very often. Stories like this come along so rarely.
True Grit
The Coens' most recent effort may be their least offbeat work, but it is a highly satisfying and engaging western. It is clear that they loved the novel upon which the film is based, and the result is a good film with great characters and an exciting story. The setting is important in this film as well. With many westerns, beautiful vistas and stunning sunsets enhance the film and give them an almost dream like quality. The sparse landscapes and harsh realities of the West in this film are a noteworthy contrast. There is still a beauty to the landscape in the film, but one that is much more harrowing and desolate.
When Mattie Ross (a great performance by newcomer Hailee Steinfeld) loses her father, she goes on a quest to avenge her father. This leads her to hire U.S. Marshall Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) to help her track down the man who killed her father, Tom Cheney. The movie is a classic western very well told. In the end, it does have some distinctly Coen Brothers stamps, but over all it is a simple narrative very well told. Jeff Bridges is the cornerstone of the movie, making a drunken washed up Marshall truly sympathetic. Matt Damon is also good as a Texas Ranger who joins in the hunt, and who has more to him than meets the eye. There is not a lot to really ponder in this movie. It is simply a great western that reminds all of us that sometimes in a film, story is everything. This is a great story.
Raising Arizona
One of the most uproarious comedies I have ever seen. Nicholas Cage plays Hi, an ex con who is trying to get back to the straight and narrow. When he marries police officer Ed, they learn that they cannot have children, and they kidnap one of the Arizona quintuplets. This sets off a series of mad events which make for a hilarious roller coaster ride.
A lot of times, comedies can be best remembered for certain scenes. We all end up quoting these scenes to others, and a certain bond takes place. For me, the scene in which Nathan Arizona is being questioned regarding the disappearance of his son is gold. I cannot think of any 5 minutes of screen time wherein more huge laughs are stuffed. Every performance in this movie is note perfect, and it gets funnier each time you see it.
A Serious Man
The last two films on my list are films that I have only seen once, but they each made a big impact on me. This film seems like a very personal work, as it was filmed partly in the suburb wherein the Coens acutally grew up. I worked in St. Louis Park, MN for 3 years, and the synagogue used for part of the filming was very close to the Trader Joe's where I worked. This film has a lot going for it, primarily an almost Job-like meditation on suffering and what happens when things go terribly wrong for a man. It follows a professor named Larry whose entire life is in a state of chaos. The film does not have much closure to it, but it does offer a fascinating look at a cultural enclave.
One of the reasons this film made such an impact on me was a single moment in the film. I have no idea what the film makers intended with the scene, and that might not matter. During the bar-mitzvah of Larry's son, there is a moment wherein one of the participants on the platform is carrying a heavy scroll. As he trips due to the scroll's weight, he utters the curse, "Jesus Christ!" There is an irony in that utterance. The Christian belief is that Jesus Christ took upon himself the weight of the law...the sight of a person being crushed by the weight of the law and uttering Christ's name is a rich and ironic sight. This film will demand further viewings, but my first viewing of it made a big impact.
Miller's Crossing
Though I have only seen it once, this film's narrative really captured me. It is a lot like True Grit, because it emphasizes story over anything else. The story of mob right hand man Tom (Gabriel Byrne) navigating his way through the double crosses and triple crosses of organized crime is highly engaging. What has always stuck with me, however, is the veracity in the voice of John Turturro's desperate criminal. It is amazing to think that he is not genuine, but the story of the film shows otherwise. This movie also makes amazing use of story along with music to create some amazing scenes. I must watch it again.
Fargo
Though they achieved their glory with "No Country for Old Men", this film, to me, is the quintessential Coen Brothers movie. It has everything. It has quirky dialogue, wonderfully realized characters, an engaging plot, and a wonderful setting. Setting is always very important in the films of the Coen Brothers. The place in which their films are set often takes on a character of its own. Perhaps one of the reasons this film works so well is that it is set in the place of their birth. Minneapolis provides the backdrop for this blood soaked murder tale. What breaks through in this movie that sometimes doesn't break through in some of the Coens' work is the subtle sentimentality made manifest in the character of Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand). It is her simple Midwestern decency which is the heart of this movie. As Jerry Lundegaard (a wonderfully inept character brought to life by William H. Macy) makes a bigger and bigger mess of his plot, her cleverness solves the mystery. She is constantly being underestimated, and even though there is tragedy in the film, Gunderson's hard work does indeed pay off.
Fargo is one of those films that makes you marvel. The characters are so real, so funny, and so true to life. The movie has popularized the Minnesota accent, but the longer I live here, the more I see how affectionate the portrayal is. While the body count continues to grow in the film thanks to Steve Buscemi's loose cannon cut rate criminal, Frances McDormand continues to work to solve the case, and she continues to live her simple, lovely life. The scenes between her and her husband are among the most poignant I can ever remember seeing on film, and they provide a welcome relief from the blood shed in the movie. They remind us that the people who execute justice have very normal lives. The love that the two of them share is comfortable, decent love. You just don't see that portrayed in films very often. Stories like this come along so rarely.
True Grit
The Coens' most recent effort may be their least offbeat work, but it is a highly satisfying and engaging western. It is clear that they loved the novel upon which the film is based, and the result is a good film with great characters and an exciting story. The setting is important in this film as well. With many westerns, beautiful vistas and stunning sunsets enhance the film and give them an almost dream like quality. The sparse landscapes and harsh realities of the West in this film are a noteworthy contrast. There is still a beauty to the landscape in the film, but one that is much more harrowing and desolate.
When Mattie Ross (a great performance by newcomer Hailee Steinfeld) loses her father, she goes on a quest to avenge her father. This leads her to hire U.S. Marshall Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) to help her track down the man who killed her father, Tom Cheney. The movie is a classic western very well told. In the end, it does have some distinctly Coen Brothers stamps, but over all it is a simple narrative very well told. Jeff Bridges is the cornerstone of the movie, making a drunken washed up Marshall truly sympathetic. Matt Damon is also good as a Texas Ranger who joins in the hunt, and who has more to him than meets the eye. There is not a lot to really ponder in this movie. It is simply a great western that reminds all of us that sometimes in a film, story is everything. This is a great story.
Raising Arizona
One of the most uproarious comedies I have ever seen. Nicholas Cage plays Hi, an ex con who is trying to get back to the straight and narrow. When he marries police officer Ed, they learn that they cannot have children, and they kidnap one of the Arizona quintuplets. This sets off a series of mad events which make for a hilarious roller coaster ride.
A lot of times, comedies can be best remembered for certain scenes. We all end up quoting these scenes to others, and a certain bond takes place. For me, the scene in which Nathan Arizona is being questioned regarding the disappearance of his son is gold. I cannot think of any 5 minutes of screen time wherein more huge laughs are stuffed. Every performance in this movie is note perfect, and it gets funnier each time you see it.
A Serious Man
The last two films on my list are films that I have only seen once, but they each made a big impact on me. This film seems like a very personal work, as it was filmed partly in the suburb wherein the Coens acutally grew up. I worked in St. Louis Park, MN for 3 years, and the synagogue used for part of the filming was very close to the Trader Joe's where I worked. This film has a lot going for it, primarily an almost Job-like meditation on suffering and what happens when things go terribly wrong for a man. It follows a professor named Larry whose entire life is in a state of chaos. The film does not have much closure to it, but it does offer a fascinating look at a cultural enclave.
One of the reasons this film made such an impact on me was a single moment in the film. I have no idea what the film makers intended with the scene, and that might not matter. During the bar-mitzvah of Larry's son, there is a moment wherein one of the participants on the platform is carrying a heavy scroll. As he trips due to the scroll's weight, he utters the curse, "Jesus Christ!" There is an irony in that utterance. The Christian belief is that Jesus Christ took upon himself the weight of the law...the sight of a person being crushed by the weight of the law and uttering Christ's name is a rich and ironic sight. This film will demand further viewings, but my first viewing of it made a big impact.
Miller's Crossing
Though I have only seen it once, this film's narrative really captured me. It is a lot like True Grit, because it emphasizes story over anything else. The story of mob right hand man Tom (Gabriel Byrne) navigating his way through the double crosses and triple crosses of organized crime is highly engaging. What has always stuck with me, however, is the veracity in the voice of John Turturro's desperate criminal. It is amazing to think that he is not genuine, but the story of the film shows otherwise. This movie also makes amazing use of story along with music to create some amazing scenes. I must watch it again.
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Movie Quiz...Connections
OK folks, movie quiz is back. I thought I would tweak it a little this time. I am posting 12 quotes from 12 different movies. The twelve quotes have a specific connection. So...here's how we'll do this: the winner will win a $10 Trader Joe's gift card as usual. And, as usual, identifying the movie from which the quote comes is worth one point, and naming the actor who uttered the phrase is also worth one point. Naming the right connection will be worth 10 points. This means that the total points possible is 35: 25 points for the quotes (quote number 6 is uttered by two people), and 10 points for naming the connection. I will take entries until Friday, November 2 at 9PM. Please e-mail your entries to losbascoms@mac.com. Any entries posted in the comments section will be deleted, as they will be seen by others. Finally, please do not look on the internet for the answers! No cheating :)!! If there is a tie, I have a question in mind to break the tie. Good luck!!
1. "Life is like a box of chocolates..."
2. "La de da, La de da..."
3. "FREEDOM!!!!!"
4. "Sam, I thought I told you never to play that..."
5. "For Frodo..."
6. "We keep you alive to serve this ship...row well and live."
7. "I coulda been a contender..."
8. "Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy night..."
9. "Four jacks! You owe me 15 grand pal!"
10. "This is not the stuff of which martyrs are made..."
11. "Yo Adrian."
12. "Why didn't you take off all your clothes? You could have stopped forty cars."
1. "Life is like a box of chocolates..."
2. "La de da, La de da..."
3. "FREEDOM!!!!!"
4. "Sam, I thought I told you never to play that..."
5. "For Frodo..."
6. "We keep you alive to serve this ship...row well and live."
7. "I coulda been a contender..."
8. "Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy night..."
9. "Four jacks! You owe me 15 grand pal!"
10. "This is not the stuff of which martyrs are made..."
11. "Yo Adrian."
12. "Why didn't you take off all your clothes? You could have stopped forty cars."
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Trouble with the Curve
The only trouble with this movies is it has no curves, other than that, it's a great piece of entertainment. There is nothing unpredictable about it and nothing cutting edge. This is just a simple piece of Hollywood confection, and it is to be enjoyed as such. The acting is great, the story is interesting enough, and since the subtext of the story is baseball, I simply couldn't look away.
In the movie, Clint Eastwood plays Gus Lobel, a veteran scout for the Atlanta Braves who, like Eastwood himself, is getting on in years. He has a highly uneasy relationship with his only child Mickey (named after Mickey Mantle, and played very well by Amy Adams). Mickey had been shipped away by her father after her mother had died. He didn't know how to cope, so he sent her away to relatives. Gus is beginning to lose his eyesight, and his employers have begun to doubt his ability to do his job. They send Gus out on a scouting trip to check out a hot high school prospect in North Carolina. Unbeknownst to Gus, the Braves also send a young hot shot numbers cruncher to make sure Gus gets the job done and signs the hot prospect. Gus' friend and colleague Pete (John Goodman) contacts Mickey to see if she can accompany Gus on the trip because he is worried about him. The problem with this scenario for Mickey is that she has just landed a promotion at her law firm, and the expectations on her are high, so the last thing she should be doing after landing the promotion is going off to North Carolina. While on the road, Gus comes upon Johnny Flanagan (Justin Timberlake), a scout for the Red Sox who is also checking about the hot shot high school prospect. Gus knows Johnny because he had once drafted him for the Braves, but Johnny's arm gave out, and he ended up going into the life of scouting. These plot elements all set up a somewhat predictable outcome, as the father and daughter are forced to deal with old painful issues, and the old scout is forced to show his stuff to the young hot shots.
In an era when there are two distinct schools of thought about baseball which are beginning to merge, this movie takes a highly romantic view of baseball. Whereas "Moneyball" was the story of one man's struggle to overcome his romanticism with science, this movie is about a man who is trying to overcome new fangled technology with old school thought. Witness, for example, Gus' advice to one young prospect: he flies the prospects family in on the Braves' dime, and the kid suddenly goes 4 for 4. Gus is not only knowledgeable about the game, but a brilliant psychologist as well (except of course, with his own daughter). All of this sets the stage for a very entertaining story which gives the audience a sentimental favorite as well as a villainous, arrogant numbers cruncher with whom Gus clashes.
Baseball is a game, like other sports, that is unpredictable. The thing that made "Moneyball" such a great movie is that it acknowledged the human element within the numbers crunching. This movie swings to the romantic side, and that's what makes it likable, but it lacks the same kind of truth. Having said that, it's a highly watchable story, and there are so many "only in the movies" type moments that we can take it for what it it: an entertaining piece of fiction. None of us know how much longer Clint Eastwood will be making movies, but when he does exit, we will have all lost something. His presence here is the movie's heart, especially as the story allows us to see more into his mind. Amy Adams is a great presence as well, as she brings the correct blend of stubbornness and grace that makes her character work. Justin Timberlake and John Goodman are both good in supporting roles, bringing further depth to the story. As a father of a daughter, it is special also to see the connection between these two, especially when it comes to baseball.
In the movie, Clint Eastwood plays Gus Lobel, a veteran scout for the Atlanta Braves who, like Eastwood himself, is getting on in years. He has a highly uneasy relationship with his only child Mickey (named after Mickey Mantle, and played very well by Amy Adams). Mickey had been shipped away by her father after her mother had died. He didn't know how to cope, so he sent her away to relatives. Gus is beginning to lose his eyesight, and his employers have begun to doubt his ability to do his job. They send Gus out on a scouting trip to check out a hot high school prospect in North Carolina. Unbeknownst to Gus, the Braves also send a young hot shot numbers cruncher to make sure Gus gets the job done and signs the hot prospect. Gus' friend and colleague Pete (John Goodman) contacts Mickey to see if she can accompany Gus on the trip because he is worried about him. The problem with this scenario for Mickey is that she has just landed a promotion at her law firm, and the expectations on her are high, so the last thing she should be doing after landing the promotion is going off to North Carolina. While on the road, Gus comes upon Johnny Flanagan (Justin Timberlake), a scout for the Red Sox who is also checking about the hot shot high school prospect. Gus knows Johnny because he had once drafted him for the Braves, but Johnny's arm gave out, and he ended up going into the life of scouting. These plot elements all set up a somewhat predictable outcome, as the father and daughter are forced to deal with old painful issues, and the old scout is forced to show his stuff to the young hot shots.
In an era when there are two distinct schools of thought about baseball which are beginning to merge, this movie takes a highly romantic view of baseball. Whereas "Moneyball" was the story of one man's struggle to overcome his romanticism with science, this movie is about a man who is trying to overcome new fangled technology with old school thought. Witness, for example, Gus' advice to one young prospect: he flies the prospects family in on the Braves' dime, and the kid suddenly goes 4 for 4. Gus is not only knowledgeable about the game, but a brilliant psychologist as well (except of course, with his own daughter). All of this sets the stage for a very entertaining story which gives the audience a sentimental favorite as well as a villainous, arrogant numbers cruncher with whom Gus clashes.
Baseball is a game, like other sports, that is unpredictable. The thing that made "Moneyball" such a great movie is that it acknowledged the human element within the numbers crunching. This movie swings to the romantic side, and that's what makes it likable, but it lacks the same kind of truth. Having said that, it's a highly watchable story, and there are so many "only in the movies" type moments that we can take it for what it it: an entertaining piece of fiction. None of us know how much longer Clint Eastwood will be making movies, but when he does exit, we will have all lost something. His presence here is the movie's heart, especially as the story allows us to see more into his mind. Amy Adams is a great presence as well, as she brings the correct blend of stubbornness and grace that makes her character work. Justin Timberlake and John Goodman are both good in supporting roles, bringing further depth to the story. As a father of a daughter, it is special also to see the connection between these two, especially when it comes to baseball.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Where Have I Been?
After a good break, I think it's time to start writing again. Almost everyone who reads this blog would already know this, but for those who don't, my dad died suddenly at the end of June. Before I get back to the movie reviews, I felt the need to write one entry about dad and this whole process. The healing process is continuing, and I have left the state of shock and have more entered a state of poignancy. It is appropriate that it should be this way. Dad was a great father and a good friend, and I love him very much. For me to not feel this way would be odd.
This is my first encounter with deep grief. Yes, I have had other people I love pass away, but no one this close to me, and no one this suddenly. As I made my way to California in June, nothing could have been more real, but it all felt so surreal. For the ensuing days, weeks and months, there was a constant mantra in my head, whether I liked it or not. It kept saying, "Dad is dead." I didn't choose that mantra, but there it was. We went through the customary services both at the school where he worked and at the grave side. We saw hundreds of people who came to pay their respects. My family and I stayed in California another week to be with my Mom and my sister and her family. Then, all too quickly, things had to get back to normal.
My first day back at work was challenging. It all proved difficult for me, and I left that day wondering how I things could ever be normal again. I knew this whole time that things would get better, but having never been where I was before, I simply had to trust that fact rather than know it for sure.
During this whole process, movies and other art forms have proven to be a Godsend. At times, they have provided a way of escape. Other times, they have been a source of comfort and identification. Watching "Moonrise Kingdom" shortly after his death provided a nice distraction. Watching "Steel Magnolias" and "About Schmidt" gave my grief more of a frame of reference. "Singing in the Rain" provided great reminders of the many times we watched that movie together as a family. As I, Lord willing, live the days, months and years ahead, I will revisit many other movies as well that I shared with him, and they will be more rich and more textured than ever.
So these days, I live with a sense of loss. It is a much more manageable feeling to deal with then the brutal shock when dad first died. However, it still is a new experience for me. I realize now that how much I love(d) dad is directly proportional to the heart ache I feel now. I also have such a burden in my heart for my mom and sister, who have lost so much. Finally, I see the lost opportunity for the ongoing relationships that my kids would have had with him. As I begin writing again, Dad will continue to pop up in these entries. This blog is one of my outlets, and since dad's death is so close to me, it affects my writing and what I want to write about. I know this loss will be with me from now on, and as I encounter more works of art, more elements of art will jog new or forgotten memories of dad, and I will write them.
Dad is in a glorious state now, I am quite sure. I think he also is somehow pulling for us all in this ordeal, all the while enjoying a new life that is devoid of so much of the pain of life on this earth. To the extent that God gives us his glory in his Word, in his creation, and in the wonderful works of man in the arts, we have a piece of eternity here on earth. Maybe that is why it is in those moments of experiencing art that I still feel close to dad, and both the loss and God's glory seem magnified.
SOLA GLORIA DEI
This is my first encounter with deep grief. Yes, I have had other people I love pass away, but no one this close to me, and no one this suddenly. As I made my way to California in June, nothing could have been more real, but it all felt so surreal. For the ensuing days, weeks and months, there was a constant mantra in my head, whether I liked it or not. It kept saying, "Dad is dead." I didn't choose that mantra, but there it was. We went through the customary services both at the school where he worked and at the grave side. We saw hundreds of people who came to pay their respects. My family and I stayed in California another week to be with my Mom and my sister and her family. Then, all too quickly, things had to get back to normal.
My first day back at work was challenging. It all proved difficult for me, and I left that day wondering how I things could ever be normal again. I knew this whole time that things would get better, but having never been where I was before, I simply had to trust that fact rather than know it for sure.
During this whole process, movies and other art forms have proven to be a Godsend. At times, they have provided a way of escape. Other times, they have been a source of comfort and identification. Watching "Moonrise Kingdom" shortly after his death provided a nice distraction. Watching "Steel Magnolias" and "About Schmidt" gave my grief more of a frame of reference. "Singing in the Rain" provided great reminders of the many times we watched that movie together as a family. As I, Lord willing, live the days, months and years ahead, I will revisit many other movies as well that I shared with him, and they will be more rich and more textured than ever.
So these days, I live with a sense of loss. It is a much more manageable feeling to deal with then the brutal shock when dad first died. However, it still is a new experience for me. I realize now that how much I love(d) dad is directly proportional to the heart ache I feel now. I also have such a burden in my heart for my mom and sister, who have lost so much. Finally, I see the lost opportunity for the ongoing relationships that my kids would have had with him. As I begin writing again, Dad will continue to pop up in these entries. This blog is one of my outlets, and since dad's death is so close to me, it affects my writing and what I want to write about. I know this loss will be with me from now on, and as I encounter more works of art, more elements of art will jog new or forgotten memories of dad, and I will write them.
Dad is in a glorious state now, I am quite sure. I think he also is somehow pulling for us all in this ordeal, all the while enjoying a new life that is devoid of so much of the pain of life on this earth. To the extent that God gives us his glory in his Word, in his creation, and in the wonderful works of man in the arts, we have a piece of eternity here on earth. Maybe that is why it is in those moments of experiencing art that I still feel close to dad, and both the loss and God's glory seem magnified.
SOLA GLORIA DEI
Friday, August 31, 2012
Quiz results
Well.........nobody e-mailed me an entry!
So...I will save this quiz again for when I am back on social media...clearly that made all the difference in participation.
Thanks for checking in anyway!
So...I will save this quiz again for when I am back on social media...clearly that made all the difference in participation.
Thanks for checking in anyway!
Thursday, August 23, 2012
August Movie Quote Quiz: BASEBALL
The baseball season is winding down, so I thought it would be a good time to bring out some quotes from some great baseball movies. There are 9 quotes here (appropriate)...each respondent gets 1 point for giving me the name of the movie, and 1 point for giving me the name of the performer who uttered the line. I will take responses for until August 31at 9PM. The winner will get a $10 Trader Joe's gift card (I always get them out, though more promptly some months than others :) ). PLEASE E-MAIL YOUR RESPONSES TO ME at losbascoms@mac.com. Do not leave answers in the comments section...others will see them GOOD LUCK!!!
"Today, I consider myself, the luckiest man on the face of the earth."
"How can you not be romantic about baseball?"
"We don't need no middle aged rookies."
"What are you grinnin' at, you ghost?"
"We got ourselves a natural disaster!"
"There's no crying in baseball!!!"
"Um, you know Ben...I didn't realize how big this Red Sox thing is with you."
"Whatever Lola wants..."
"People will come Ray..."
"Today, I consider myself, the luckiest man on the face of the earth."
"How can you not be romantic about baseball?"
"We don't need no middle aged rookies."
"What are you grinnin' at, you ghost?"
"We got ourselves a natural disaster!"
"There's no crying in baseball!!!"
"Um, you know Ben...I didn't realize how big this Red Sox thing is with you."
"Whatever Lola wants..."
"People will come Ray..."
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
The Artist
As I sat and watched this film, I was more in a state of admiration than anything else. This is a movie that obviously took a tremendous amount of work as well as a unique vision. As I watched, I was also reminded of countless other movies. There is so much borrowing in this movie from other movies that one knows that the director has tremendous affection for classic films, both silent and talkie. At the same time, though I liked it, I couldn't help but think that some of the reason that so many accolades have been heaped upon this film is its novelty.
The plot reminded me a lot of "Singin' in the Rain", though it is quite a bit darker. It follows a silent film star George Valentine (Jean Dujardin, who won a best actor Oscar for this performance) who is caught in that fateful time in which films made the transition from silent to talkies. As such, it threatens his livelihood. At the same time, a chance meeting with a young fan named Peppy (Berenice Bejo ) leads to increased stardom for her. Their careers end up being inversely proportional-as her star brightens, his star fades. He decides to direct another silent film, but two things happen that seal his fate. First, his film opens on the same day as Peppy's debut. Second, the stock market crashes the day his film debuts, and he loses his wealth. This leads to poverty and despondency for George.
The film ends up being an affectionate tribute to classic Hollywood. As such, I think it stands on the shoulders of other films much better than it stands on its own. The narrative of the film was not terribly strong to me, but the novelty of a silent film released in 2011 was a strong presence. From a purely technical standpoint, it is a wonderful film. It achieves a look that looks like the genuine article. The actors in the film (well known 21st century actors like John Goodman, Penelope Ann Miller and James Cromwell) look like actors from the 1920's. The actors in the film do an amazing job of dancing, and the physical comedy is first rate.
I suppose it is impossible to duplicate what Lloyd, Chaplin and Keaton (as well as so many others) achieved. The constraints of silent film making allowed those artists to thrive within the boundaries in which they found themselves. It would be hard for anyone to do that again, because the same atmosphere does not exist. With that in mind, this movie can be seen as a brilliant execution of nostalgia, but it does not quote achieve what the classics did. It is not trying to do that, and that is both its greatest strength and its greatest weakness. It would be fascinating to see the director Michel Hazanavicius (who also won an Oscar for best director) make a silent film set in the 21st century. He clearly can tell a story well...I would be fascinated to see what he would do with other kinds of material.
This is a movie for those who love movies. It has so many homages to other movies that it is a wonderful treat. One could certainly enjoy it without being a movie buff, but knowledge of the movie does help. There is a lot in this movie both to enjoy and to admire!
The plot reminded me a lot of "Singin' in the Rain", though it is quite a bit darker. It follows a silent film star George Valentine (Jean Dujardin, who won a best actor Oscar for this performance) who is caught in that fateful time in which films made the transition from silent to talkies. As such, it threatens his livelihood. At the same time, a chance meeting with a young fan named Peppy (Berenice Bejo ) leads to increased stardom for her. Their careers end up being inversely proportional-as her star brightens, his star fades. He decides to direct another silent film, but two things happen that seal his fate. First, his film opens on the same day as Peppy's debut. Second, the stock market crashes the day his film debuts, and he loses his wealth. This leads to poverty and despondency for George.
The film ends up being an affectionate tribute to classic Hollywood. As such, I think it stands on the shoulders of other films much better than it stands on its own. The narrative of the film was not terribly strong to me, but the novelty of a silent film released in 2011 was a strong presence. From a purely technical standpoint, it is a wonderful film. It achieves a look that looks like the genuine article. The actors in the film (well known 21st century actors like John Goodman, Penelope Ann Miller and James Cromwell) look like actors from the 1920's. The actors in the film do an amazing job of dancing, and the physical comedy is first rate.
I suppose it is impossible to duplicate what Lloyd, Chaplin and Keaton (as well as so many others) achieved. The constraints of silent film making allowed those artists to thrive within the boundaries in which they found themselves. It would be hard for anyone to do that again, because the same atmosphere does not exist. With that in mind, this movie can be seen as a brilliant execution of nostalgia, but it does not quote achieve what the classics did. It is not trying to do that, and that is both its greatest strength and its greatest weakness. It would be fascinating to see the director Michel Hazanavicius (who also won an Oscar for best director) make a silent film set in the 21st century. He clearly can tell a story well...I would be fascinated to see what he would do with other kinds of material.
This is a movie for those who love movies. It has so many homages to other movies that it is a wonderful treat. One could certainly enjoy it without being a movie buff, but knowledge of the movie does help. There is a lot in this movie both to enjoy and to admire!
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Taking a break from the social network
I have had a great year and a half writing this blog. I want to keep doing it. However, I want to escape the social network for awhile, and since Facebook and Twitter are the main ways I get my readers, I would expect that even though I may write entries, I will not get many readers. Feel free to check back in anyway, as I may write as the spirit hits.
It has been a very emotional summer, and this blog has been a small part of me getting back to normal. The barrage of information, opinions and negativity (especially as it pertains to the election) on social media is making me want to take a break from Facebook and Twitter. I hope some of you will still visit this sight without prompting from those two places.
Thanks!
It has been a very emotional summer, and this blog has been a small part of me getting back to normal. The barrage of information, opinions and negativity (especially as it pertains to the election) on social media is making me want to take a break from Facebook and Twitter. I hope some of you will still visit this sight without prompting from those two places.
Thanks!
Monday, August 6, 2012
Citizen Kane
This movie is regularly found at or near the top of lists of the greatest films of all time. Though few can argue with how great the story is, it can be hard to see what all the fuss is about. The fuss is worth it. There are so many things to love about this movie. Every time I write on a bona fide classic, I am standing on the shoulders of many other people who know a lot more about movies than I do. Here I stand on those shoulders, yet I hope to contribute something unique as well.
For those who don't know, the film tells the story of a young boy who is taken away from his home, given a great education, and ultimately goes into the newspaper business. He becomes and enormously successful newspaper mogul, and with all of the wealth and power we see a fragile existence underneath it all. The film begins with Kane's death, and Kane's story is told in flashbacks by people who knew him.
One of the things that is always the case with a trailblazing work of art is that it's imitated so much that it can be hard to remember how special the original is. "Star Wars" comes to mind. Here, one of the things that stands out is the visual imagination of the film. Many of the visual effects in the movie which seem mundane now were quite new at the time. For instance, there is a shot in which the camera pans into a night club and focuses in on Kane's ex wife. It is a shot with tremendous visual imagination and passion for the cinematic medium. An example might help. In Wes Anderson's latest film, "Moonrise Kingdom", there's a scene which echoes one of Citizen Kane's signature moments. As Bill Murray and Frances McDormand end their day, they come to rest in their bedroom. As the debate, Anderson's camera stays focused on their faces as they debate about their daughter. It is only after several exchanges that Anderson pulls back his camera to show that the two of them are sleeping in double beds. I thought of "Citizen Kane" when I saw this. As the character of Kane begins his first marriage, we see the couple sitting at dinner. At first, the couple sits close together in an intimate fashion. Then, director Orson Wells uses visuals to depict the passing of years of time in only minutes of film time. With each shot, we see the couple growing more distant. They become more and more annoyed with each other. This whole time, the only thing Wells shows is the faces of the characters. After the characters become completely exasperated with each other, Wells shows us the new reality of the couple. They are now dining far away from each other, sitting at an enormous dining table metaphorical miles apart. All of this is simply communicated visually.
There are so many scenes like that in the movie that an encyclopedia could be written about it. But all of the visual imagination in the world would amount to nothing without a story told well. The story is a great story, and it is told in a nonlinear fashion which brings an artistic quality to the storytelling. Movies as far away in content as "Pulp Fiction" work in the shadow of "Citizen Kane." The mystery of the opening line is never totally solved, but the famous final shot does give us a wonderful enigma upon which to chew.
As I write, "Citizen Kane" has finally been dethroned in the Sight and Sound movie. For 50 years, this movie stood at the top of this poll that is taken every ten years. The poll asks critics and directors to nominate their ten best films, and when the votes are tallied, the film that appears on the most polls wins the poll. "Citizen Kane" was finally dethroned by Hitchcock's "Vertigo". They are both fine films, but "Kane" always won the poll, I suspect, due to its influence. As a younger generation of critics begin taking the poll, it makes sense that the films that were closer to them may rise on the list, though "Kane" only dropped one spot to number 2. I suspect that "Kane" will continue to be on the list for years to come, simply due to its scope and influence. But, it could not be more fitting to see that with the passage of time, other films rise in younger viewers' estimation. Though I love "Kane", it would not appear in a personal top 10. I think that it really gets at how important influence is as people perceive greatness. If I had to try to measure greatness, I suppose "Kane" would be in a top ten of mine. But that would only be if art were as measurable as a person's foot. Instead, art is a confluence of many things. It touches on individual experiences and emotions that make no two people's experience the same. The reason a poll like this is so interesting is that it shows the enormous influence of the films on the list. People from different walks of life all felt "Kane" still deserved a spot on this list. That is noteworthy, and when one looks at "Citizen Kane" for the first time, digests it, and watches it again, it becomes clear what all the fuss is about.
For those who don't know, the film tells the story of a young boy who is taken away from his home, given a great education, and ultimately goes into the newspaper business. He becomes and enormously successful newspaper mogul, and with all of the wealth and power we see a fragile existence underneath it all. The film begins with Kane's death, and Kane's story is told in flashbacks by people who knew him.
One of the things that is always the case with a trailblazing work of art is that it's imitated so much that it can be hard to remember how special the original is. "Star Wars" comes to mind. Here, one of the things that stands out is the visual imagination of the film. Many of the visual effects in the movie which seem mundane now were quite new at the time. For instance, there is a shot in which the camera pans into a night club and focuses in on Kane's ex wife. It is a shot with tremendous visual imagination and passion for the cinematic medium. An example might help. In Wes Anderson's latest film, "Moonrise Kingdom", there's a scene which echoes one of Citizen Kane's signature moments. As Bill Murray and Frances McDormand end their day, they come to rest in their bedroom. As the debate, Anderson's camera stays focused on their faces as they debate about their daughter. It is only after several exchanges that Anderson pulls back his camera to show that the two of them are sleeping in double beds. I thought of "Citizen Kane" when I saw this. As the character of Kane begins his first marriage, we see the couple sitting at dinner. At first, the couple sits close together in an intimate fashion. Then, director Orson Wells uses visuals to depict the passing of years of time in only minutes of film time. With each shot, we see the couple growing more distant. They become more and more annoyed with each other. This whole time, the only thing Wells shows is the faces of the characters. After the characters become completely exasperated with each other, Wells shows us the new reality of the couple. They are now dining far away from each other, sitting at an enormous dining table metaphorical miles apart. All of this is simply communicated visually.
There are so many scenes like that in the movie that an encyclopedia could be written about it. But all of the visual imagination in the world would amount to nothing without a story told well. The story is a great story, and it is told in a nonlinear fashion which brings an artistic quality to the storytelling. Movies as far away in content as "Pulp Fiction" work in the shadow of "Citizen Kane." The mystery of the opening line is never totally solved, but the famous final shot does give us a wonderful enigma upon which to chew.
As I write, "Citizen Kane" has finally been dethroned in the Sight and Sound movie. For 50 years, this movie stood at the top of this poll that is taken every ten years. The poll asks critics and directors to nominate their ten best films, and when the votes are tallied, the film that appears on the most polls wins the poll. "Citizen Kane" was finally dethroned by Hitchcock's "Vertigo". They are both fine films, but "Kane" always won the poll, I suspect, due to its influence. As a younger generation of critics begin taking the poll, it makes sense that the films that were closer to them may rise on the list, though "Kane" only dropped one spot to number 2. I suspect that "Kane" will continue to be on the list for years to come, simply due to its scope and influence. But, it could not be more fitting to see that with the passage of time, other films rise in younger viewers' estimation. Though I love "Kane", it would not appear in a personal top 10. I think that it really gets at how important influence is as people perceive greatness. If I had to try to measure greatness, I suppose "Kane" would be in a top ten of mine. But that would only be if art were as measurable as a person's foot. Instead, art is a confluence of many things. It touches on individual experiences and emotions that make no two people's experience the same. The reason a poll like this is so interesting is that it shows the enormous influence of the films on the list. People from different walks of life all felt "Kane" still deserved a spot on this list. That is noteworthy, and when one looks at "Citizen Kane" for the first time, digests it, and watches it again, it becomes clear what all the fuss is about.
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