Hollywoodland (2007 film)

This movie looks at the unsolved murder/suicide of actor George Reeves in 1959.  I grew up watching reruns of the George Reeves’ Superman TV show.  I loved that show and thought George embodied Superman (second only to Christopher Reeves – no relation).  Ironically it wasn’t until years later that I realized he was the same actor you portrayed Stuart Tarleton in the opening sequence of “Gone With The Wind” in 1939.  That was George’s first film part.  Sadly, twenty years after that he was paid peanuts to be the Man of Steel on an on-again-off-again television serial.

A fictionalized tale, it looks at the known facts and events through the eyes of Louis Simo, a seedy private detective.  Although the LAPD immediately called it a suicide, there were doubts from the start.  The first time I read about the story, it claimed George was despondent over typecasting and financial problems.  I later read accounts that cast a big shadow on the “official” story.  This movie considers 3 options: suicide, accidental shooting by his fiancée, or a hot ordered by the studio executive husband of his long-time lover.  They leave it to the audience to decide.

The acting is good with a strong cast.  Adrien Brody is believable as Simo.  Ben Affleck does a plausible job as Reeves.  Diane Lane is fabulous as Reeves’ married flame Toni Mannix with Bob Hoskins as her husband.  The writing is ok but not as good as other movies I’ve seen written by Paul Bernbaum.  The direction is also ok by a superb director Allen Coulter – I know what he was trying to do and he almost got there.  I liked the movie in general but found it unsatisfying as too much was fictionalized, taking away from the real subject.  I think if you watch it as just a film (without the weight of history) it will be more interesting and enjoyable.

Good Night and Good Luck (2005 film)

Good Night and Good Luck (2005  film)

Written and directed by George Clooney, this movie shows  a slice of American history – 1953 – and the war of words between  Edward R. Murrow (David Strathaim) and Senator Joe McCarthy (play by himself – using actual archival footage). 

I enjoyed the movie, only wishing for more.  It shows a small snippet of the House Un-American Activities Committee, its dying breathes.  The movie also gives a window into the operations of 1950’s newsrooms and networks.  The acting is superb.  Strathaim is joined by a superior cast including Patricia Clarkson, Jeff Daniels, Robert Downey Jr, Frank Langella, and Georgoe Clooney.  The straight-forward writing is fitting to the subject and the sub-plots gave it authenticity.  I know some reviewers don’t like sub-plots which may appear have nothing to do with the story, but in a period piece I think it is appropriate and gives it depth.  The script pulls from transcripts, newsreels, individual recollections, and several other contemporary sources.  Robert Elswit’s cinematography is a beautiful aspect of the story-telling.  As with most well-done historical pieces, the pace fits the mood and the subject.   

A few fun facts about the production, Clooney’s salary was only $1 each for acting, directing, and writing.  He had to fund the project himself – taking a huge personal risk – and only made money from his share of the profits.  If the movie had not done well, he might have lost everything.  Also there is a myth/rumor/story of tests audience complaining that the actor playing McCarthy was too over the top (not realizing they were watching actual newsreels).

 

Humphrey Bogart Marathon

I watched a personal mini-marathon of Humphrey Bogart movies and instead of writing a review on each one, I thought I’d do a review of an actor’s body of work.  You see, I have loved Bogart since I was a little girl.  My mom and I would watch movies from the golden age of Hollywood and I promptly became enamored with Humphrey Bogart.  It didn’t hurt that he reminds me of my dad.  I actually like every one of his movies.  It’s easy to dismiss Bogart as a one-note actor, but watch his movies and you will see he actually convincingly played several different characters.  He starred in westerns, gangster pictures, film noir, romantic melodramas, and so much more.  He was a character himself who played roles with character.

Some of my favorite films include the four he made with Lauren Bacall: "To Have and Have Not" (1944), "The Big Sleep" (1946), "Dark Passage" (1947), and "Key Largo" (1948). Their on-screen chemistry was amazing.  Their romance was a rare example of a May-December romance that worked.  Mutual respect and a loving partnership are important in any relationship – there was nothing tawdry or salacious.  They are great together, personally and professionally.  I recommend a Bogart-Bacall retrospective, and watch them in order of release.  Each movie brings something special to the viewing

·         To Have and Have Not – “You know how to whistle, don`t you Steve” (FYI they named their son Steve after this character)

·         The Big Sleep – Marlowe “What's wrong with you?” Vivian “Nothing you can't fix.”

·         Dark Passage – the first hour of the movie is from Bogart’s perspective, who don’t see him until after the bandages are removed

·         Key Largo – there is so much that is memorable, it is impossible to pick one

There are several other Bogart movies which you should add to your must-see list:

·         African Queen – alongside the amazing Katherine Hepburn, it is one of his best roles.

·         Caine Mutiny – strawberries (just watch it).

·         Casablanca – romance, war, melodrama, Nazis, oh my! (perhaps his most famous movie)

·         Petrified Forest – The role that started it all, first on Broadway then on screen.  Co-star Leslie Howard insisted Bogart had to be hired for the movie or he’d walk.  Bogart never forgot and named his daughter after him.

·         Sabrina – I agree with Audrey Hepburn…I’d pick Bogart over William Holden too.

·         Treasure of Sierra Madre – Directed by John Huston and co-staring Walter Huston, a gritty story with realism and no happy ending.

·         Public Enemy – second fiddle in one of James Cagney’s best gangster flick.

A little known fact, Lauren Bacall coined the phrase “rat pack” to describe their circle of friends.  A skinny crooner joined the group – Frank Sinatra.  After Bogart’s death, he was briefly engaged to Bacall (she wised up and moved on) but the moniker stuck went with him and his drinking/singing buddies.

The long and the short of it…Humphrey Bogart is an important part of American film history.  Enjoy his movies with a friend, you won’t regret it.

Eight Men Out (1988 Film)

Eight Men Out (1988 Film)

I had the privilege of meeting American writer and director John Sayles in 1987.  He was at a film festival on Oahu and happened to know my English professor.  At that time he was better known as a Roger Corman apprentice and writer of such cult classics “Piranha,” Battle Beyond the Stars,” and “The Howling.”  He was in Hawi’i to promote his new film, “Matewan” about the 1920 coal mine strike in Matewan, West Virginia.  This was one of his first mainstream films. The class I was taking focused on film criticism, so we watched “The Brother from Another Planet” and “Matewan” before meeting Sayles.  It was great to be able to discuss a film with its creator, to understand the artistic choices made and those forced by financial constraints.  I have adored his movies ever since.

“Eight Men Out” was released the following year – although the project took more than 10 years to finance and produce. It is an intriguing look at the White Sox fixing of the 1919 World Series.  This film opens up baseball’s history including its creation of an outside commissioner.  It looks at the characters involved in the scandal, good, bad, and those swept up in the events.  It reveals the politics, the theatrics, and the big machine running the sport.  The writing is superb – John Sayles based his screenplay on the Eliot Asinof 1963 book of the same name.  The cinematography creates a mood in tune with the subject.  The actors are all good, some great.

The cast includes many top notch young actors of the day and many new faces.  John Cusack’s Buck Weaver portrayal is one of the best.  He portrays a voice of innocence with not a hint of sarcasm or deception.  Charlie Sheen gives us one of his better performances as fellow player Happy Felsch (who wild ways is now ironic of the actor’s future past). Other wonderful performances include Christopher Lloyd as Bill Burns, John Mahoney as Kid Gleason, DB Sweeney as shoeless Joe Jackson, Michael Rooker as Chick Gandil, John Anderson as Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis, David Strathairn as Eddie Cicotte, and James Read as Left Williams.  John Sayles appears in his own film as reporter Ring Lardner (and proves to be an apt actor).

The movie is “slow” by today’s standards, but it is worth the stroll.  I realize it is not everyone’s cup of tea, but if you like a good story (or just love baseball), give it a chance.

I recommend you watch this followed by Ken Burn’s PBS miniseries “Baseball.”  It is almost as if they were always meant to be paired.

Capote (2005 film)

Capote (2005 film)

I have been a fan of Truman Capote since I first saw “Breakfast at Tiffanys” as a child.  It’s become one of the few times when I like both the film and the source material even though they differ.  I like them for different reasons, so it works out.  However, my favorite work of Capote is “In Cold Blood.”  I have academically studied both the book and 1967 film.  It opened an interest in abnormal psychology and the strange bends in the human mind.  The 2005 film “Capote” (starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman) focuses on the small segment of Truman’s life when he was researching and writing the book.

The movie is wonderful.  The late Phillip Seymour Hoffman truly loses himself in the character that was Truman Capote.  He masters the look, mannerisms, and vocal idiosyncrasy of his character.  He isn’t a caricature but a mirror of the man.  I am often amazed by this actor’s talent and ability.  The yin to Hoffman’s yang is Catherine Keeper who shows immense talent herself as Capote’s old friend and “To Kill a Mocking Bird” author Harper Lee.  Her minimalist personality is a great compliment to Capote’s flamboyance.  This along with their shared background makes it understandable why they were life-long friends.

In addition to these two superstars, the cast includes Chris Cooper as Inspector Alvin Dewey who leads the Cutter family murder investigation.  Clifton Collins Jr. portrays the murderer Perry Smith with a believability and false vulnerably which surpasses Robert Blake’s portrayal in the 1967 “In Cold Blood” film.  Bruce Greenwood plays Jack Dunphy – longtime Capote companion – with his usual expertise.

This file offers a glimpse into Capote’s motivations, fears, and methods.  It also shows the audience a slice of American history when the Cutter family murder was the “murder of the century” (before the next one came along).

I found this movie to be well acted, well written, well directed, and well filmed. Excellent movie.

The real Truman Capote in 1968

Beowolf (2007 film)

Beowolf (2007)

With a director like Robert Zemeckis and an all start cast including Anthony Hopkins, John Malkovich, Robin Wright, Crispin Glover, and Angelina Jolie you would think it has to be great. Sadly the answer is no, no, no, no, and hell no.

The two biggest issues with this movie are the computer animation and the script.  The animation technique – also used in the stinker “300” – is annoying and disturbing.  I’ve seen better motion capture animation in some of William’s older video games.  I’ve heard people call it amazing and great.  I just don’t see it.  I have nothing against CGI – my movie collection has many a superhero and sci-fi flick.  I also have no issue with using tech to capture an actor’s performance and overlay it as has been done with Andy Serkis in both Tolkien and Ape franchises. In this film the characters are wooden and clunky.

Now I love the Beowolf poem.  I love it so much I spent a semester learning this form of ancient English so I could recite the poem in its original language.  I own multiple copies and translations.  The problem is that Neil Gaiman and Roger Avary change the whole story and alter character behavior.  Aside from character names and some minor details, it bears little resemblance to its source. They missed the entire point of the epic poem which has withstood centuries.  With their thinking these writers would probably have Hamlet marry Ophelia with a mess of kids, turning a major tragedy into a poor version of “A Comedy of Errors.”  In looking at his body of work, Avery’s writing has never been to my liking.  However, Gaiman later wrote two excellent episodes of Dr. Who (“The Doctor’s Wife” and “Nightmare in Silver”).

Regardless, if you are trying to get a handle on the text, do not (I repeat, do not) use this movie to help you understand the story.  You will flunk English.  May I recommend instead reading the modern English translation by Seamus Heaney.

I guess it goes without saying, but I did not enjoy the movie.

Angels in America (miniseries review)

As I am currently on bed rest against my will (ha ha) I have decided to catch up on my movies and books.  I have a few in my library I either haven’t watched/read or it was so long ago I thought it was time for a revisit.

Today’s review is “Angels in America” by Tony Kushner.   I recall when the two-play series first came out 20 years ago.  “Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes” captured the early days of the AIDS epidemic - swinging between delusional fantastic and ugly realism, the audience receives a front row seat.

In this HBO miniseries Mike Nichols’ direction and Tony Kushner’s words with an amazing cast bring life to this poignant modern period-piece.  As in the play, some actors play multiple roles.  Meryl Streep portrays a male rabbi, the ghost of Ethel Rosenberg, a mother, and an angel.  As always, she melts into each role and becoming the characters.  She brings the audience to anger, derision, sympathy, and finally happiness. Emma Thompson plays a nurse, homeless woman, and the main angel. She holds her own against a strong cast and plays each role with finesse. Al Pacino excels as Roy Cohn, an infamous attorney involved with the McCarthy red scare and responsible for the Rosenberg convictions during a dark yet fascinating period of American history.  Through his money and influence he was able to convince the world he was dying of liver cancer, hiding the truth of his AIDS diagnosis.  A man who proudly abused his power and those of his political friends, it was only on his deathbed that his disbarment is successful

Justin Kirk is fabulous as the shows’ main focus Prior Walter.  He embodies the “everyman” of the epidemic and puts a face on the disease that claims millions.  His story is presented in stark contrast of Roy Cohn.  Ben Shenkman is Louis, Prior’s former boyfriend who waffles between what is right and the easy path.  His guilt-ridden confusion represents all those who turned their backs on the sick and dying.  Mary-Louise Parker aptly plays a neglected housewife with valium-induced delusions. Her closeted husband Joe Pitt is Patrick Wilson evokes sympathy and derision. The only actor who transitioned from the stage to screen versions is Jeffrey Wright.  He provides life to the characters of Mr. Lies, Belize, a homeless man, and an angel.  It is Belize who brings all of the characters together.  He is the night nurse caring for Cohn.  He is Prior’s friend who stays by his side when Louis cannot.  He knows everyone’s secrets and plays as kind of a Jiminy Cricket conscious-type being to each character. Rounding out the cast in brief roles includes the talents of James Cromwell, Michael Gambon, and Simon Callow.

I found the mini-series to be funny, sad, moving, fantastical, and fascinating.  The six hour run time flew by and was worth every minute.  I would watch it again.