Clint Eastwood has been directing movies since the early 1970s, and since about 1990, he's turned out some really good ones. I've seen more than a dozen of the movies he directed, and I've lost count of the ones he starred in. I can't put him in the same class as Steven Spielberg, but I've decided any movie Eastwood directs is worth seeing.
I've written about Morgan Freeman before. He's one of those actors, like Gene Hackman, who can make any character interesting, and most of them likeable. If he's been in a movie that wasn't improved by his performance, I haven't seen it. His portrayal of God in Bruce Almighty is one of my favorites, and is an example of him making a so-so movie much better than that. Like Robert Duvall, Freeman often plays the same character with subtle variations; I've started to lose interest in Duvall, but Morgan Freeman still keeps me glued to the screen.
I first saw Matt Damon in Good Will Hunting. My wife loved that movie, but it lost me after ten minutes. I wasn't impressed with Damon initially, but he kept popping up in movies like Saving Private Ryan and gradually began to grow on me. Just as Clint Eastwood isn't quite in Spielberg's class, Matt Damon isn't quite in Morgan Freeman's class --- but he's getting there.
Today we saw Invictus, directed by Clint Eastwood, starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon. Freeman plays Nelson Mandela, and the movie dramatizes actual events involving Mandela's efforts to unify post-apartheid South Africa behind its national rugby team. Movies using sports as a backdrop are often from the heartwarming, feel-good genre. Clint's last movie with a sports background was Million Dollar Baby, which nobody would call a feel-good flick. Invictus resemblesThe Natural as far as being uplifting and capable of producing a lump in the throat. If I knew anything about rugby, I'd have liked Invictus even more, but it was worth the admission price at it was. Rated 8 and recommended.
Showing posts with label Recommended. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Recommended. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Friday, December 4, 2009
Picture Shows
About a month ago, I took Mrs. bee to see Amelia, the biopic about Amelia Earhart. While we were there, we saw the trailer for Everybody's Fine, with Robert DeNiro and Drew Barrymore. It looked like a family comedy set around Christmas, the kind of movie my wife loves, and we agreed on the spot that it would be one of the holiday releases we'd see this year.
My own expectations for Everybody's Fine were fairly low. Based on the trailer, it seemed to be the kind of movie I usually prefer to watch on cable TV. But I've been a big fan of Robert DeNiro for about thirty years, and I've had a serious crush on Drew Barrymore since she reached adulthood, so I figured I could get through 100 minutes or so of this one.
We saw Everybody's Fine this afternoon and I was in for a surprise, because the movie was much more serious than the teasers led me to expect. It deals with the relationships among DeNiro, a retired widower, and his adult children. At one point, DeNiro says he didn't have many dreams about what he wanted to be during his life --- he just wanted to work hard and be a good father. I personally identified with that position, making it easy for me to see the events in the movie through the eyes of DeNiro's character. He learns that he doesn't know as much about his sons and daughters as he thought he did, and that their lives went in directions other than what he'd hoped for and expected. As a father with adult children of my own, there were things going on in Everybody's Fine that I could relate to on a personal level, and it affected me emotionally more than anticipated. For that reason, I recommend this movie, although the professional critics may not be inclined to do so.
My own expectations for Everybody's Fine were fairly low. Based on the trailer, it seemed to be the kind of movie I usually prefer to watch on cable TV. But I've been a big fan of Robert DeNiro for about thirty years, and I've had a serious crush on Drew Barrymore since she reached adulthood, so I figured I could get through 100 minutes or so of this one.
We saw Everybody's Fine this afternoon and I was in for a surprise, because the movie was much more serious than the teasers led me to expect. It deals with the relationships among DeNiro, a retired widower, and his adult children. At one point, DeNiro says he didn't have many dreams about what he wanted to be during his life --- he just wanted to work hard and be a good father. I personally identified with that position, making it easy for me to see the events in the movie through the eyes of DeNiro's character. He learns that he doesn't know as much about his sons and daughters as he thought he did, and that their lives went in directions other than what he'd hoped for and expected. As a father with adult children of my own, there were things going on in Everybody's Fine that I could relate to on a personal level, and it affected me emotionally more than anticipated. For that reason, I recommend this movie, although the professional critics may not be inclined to do so.
Monday, November 2, 2009
On biopics
Mrs. bee is a fan of the genre, so I've seen a fairly large number of biopics over the last forty years or so. When they're well done, biographical films can be as interesting or entertaining as any drama, comedy or action movie. For example, I consider the HBO production John Adams to be one of the very best things I've ever seen on television (or any screen for that matter).
When the subject of a biopic is someone who was alive in the 20th century, things get tricky because most people have seen films or videos of the actual famous person, or possibly even television or movie appearances. At a minimum, they'll have seen numerous still photographs. To be really successful, the actor playing the leading role in a biopic needs to physically resemble the famous person, and be able to capture speech patterns and mannerisms. For example, the main reason the movie Ray worked for me was the performance by Jamie Foxx, who looked and sounded so much like Ray Charles, the movie was like a documentary. Philip Seymour Hoffman looks almost nothing like Truman Capote, but was able to simulate his distinctive voice and mannerisms to perfection; Meryl Streep was equally accomplished playing Julia Child. Ben Kingsley as Ghandi and Denzel Washington as Malcolm X are other examples of convincing performances that come to mind.
Less successful, in my opinion, were Anthony Hopkins as Richard Nixon, Kevin Spacey as Bobby Darin, and Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash. Watching Jamie Foxx, I could almost imagine that I was seeing actual events from the life of Ray Charles; I never quite believed I was watching scenes from Johnny Cash's life, even though I liked Walk The Line overall.
Today, Mrs bee and I went to see Amelia, dramatizing roughly the last ten years or so in the life of Amelia Earhart. I don't recall seeing any films of Earhart in which her voice could be heard, but Hilary Swank so closely resembles her physically, she could be her clone. The costumes and set designs capture the period (1928-1937), and the photography and special effects are excellent. I was never sure which flying sequences were CGI and which were real. Like last year's Valkyrie, I knew how the story ended before I bought my ticket, but Amelia works well enough as an example of the biopic genre that I can recommend it as a good way to kill two hours.
When the subject of a biopic is someone who was alive in the 20th century, things get tricky because most people have seen films or videos of the actual famous person, or possibly even television or movie appearances. At a minimum, they'll have seen numerous still photographs. To be really successful, the actor playing the leading role in a biopic needs to physically resemble the famous person, and be able to capture speech patterns and mannerisms. For example, the main reason the movie Ray worked for me was the performance by Jamie Foxx, who looked and sounded so much like Ray Charles, the movie was like a documentary. Philip Seymour Hoffman looks almost nothing like Truman Capote, but was able to simulate his distinctive voice and mannerisms to perfection; Meryl Streep was equally accomplished playing Julia Child. Ben Kingsley as Ghandi and Denzel Washington as Malcolm X are other examples of convincing performances that come to mind.
Less successful, in my opinion, were Anthony Hopkins as Richard Nixon, Kevin Spacey as Bobby Darin, and Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash. Watching Jamie Foxx, I could almost imagine that I was seeing actual events from the life of Ray Charles; I never quite believed I was watching scenes from Johnny Cash's life, even though I liked Walk The Line overall.
Today, Mrs bee and I went to see Amelia, dramatizing roughly the last ten years or so in the life of Amelia Earhart. I don't recall seeing any films of Earhart in which her voice could be heard, but Hilary Swank so closely resembles her physically, she could be her clone. The costumes and set designs capture the period (1928-1937), and the photography and special effects are excellent. I was never sure which flying sequences were CGI and which were real. Like last year's Valkyrie, I knew how the story ended before I bought my ticket, but Amelia works well enough as an example of the biopic genre that I can recommend it as a good way to kill two hours.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Chick Flick
Yesterday was my 40th wedding anniversary, meaning that it was time to take Mrs. bee to the movie of her choice. Besides the special occasion, I owe her one because she went with me to see Public Enemies, which had more shooting and violence than she usually cares to watch.
Her choice today was Julie and Julia, written and directed by Nora Ephron, with Meryl Streep playing Julia Child. I'd be lying if I said I'd been eagerly awaiting the chance to see this picture, but it turned out to be not too bad. There are four reasons why:
First, Meryl Streep. When she reaches the stage where she's receiving lifetime achievement awards, someone who's presenting her trophy will say that a role was never written that Meryl Streep couldn't play with near perfection, and he'll be right. She really captures the speech and mannerisms of Julia Child, and it was hard to remember I was watching the same actress I enjoyed so much in A Prairie Home Companion.
Second, Nora Ephron. I'm not an expert on chick flicks, but she's directed two of the best I've seen, Sleepless In Seattle and You've Got Mail. Having Tom Hanks as the leading man in both definitely helped, of course. Ephron also wrote When Harry Met Sally, easily one of my favorite romantic comedies, so her track record is above average. Julie and Julia isn't in the same class as those three, but it's reasonably close.
Third, Amy Adams. She plays Julie Powell, who wrote the book upon which the movie's based. I'd seen her in Catch Me If You Can and Doubt, and was starting to have a small crush on her, similar to the ones I developed for Renee Zellweger and a few other actresses during the earlier years of this decade. Amy Adams is as cute as a bug in this movie, and I'm almost ready to put her in a class with Renee and Kirsten Dunst.
Finally, a substantial part of the movie involves blogging, which Julie takes up as part of an effort to get life working for her again. In the movie she starts out slowly, convinced the only person reading her blog is her mother down in Texas, but she eventually attains a followership and the sort of broader success that most people who do this only fantasize about. Since I've taken up the activity myself and therefore have a feel for what it's like, the scenes of Amy sitting at her laptop's keyboard at night felt like a visit home for me.
Rated about 7.5, and worth a look as a superior example of the chick flick genre.
Her choice today was Julie and Julia, written and directed by Nora Ephron, with Meryl Streep playing Julia Child. I'd be lying if I said I'd been eagerly awaiting the chance to see this picture, but it turned out to be not too bad. There are four reasons why:
First, Meryl Streep. When she reaches the stage where she's receiving lifetime achievement awards, someone who's presenting her trophy will say that a role was never written that Meryl Streep couldn't play with near perfection, and he'll be right. She really captures the speech and mannerisms of Julia Child, and it was hard to remember I was watching the same actress I enjoyed so much in A Prairie Home Companion.
Second, Nora Ephron. I'm not an expert on chick flicks, but she's directed two of the best I've seen, Sleepless In Seattle and You've Got Mail. Having Tom Hanks as the leading man in both definitely helped, of course. Ephron also wrote When Harry Met Sally, easily one of my favorite romantic comedies, so her track record is above average. Julie and Julia isn't in the same class as those three, but it's reasonably close.
Third, Amy Adams. She plays Julie Powell, who wrote the book upon which the movie's based. I'd seen her in Catch Me If You Can and Doubt, and was starting to have a small crush on her, similar to the ones I developed for Renee Zellweger and a few other actresses during the earlier years of this decade. Amy Adams is as cute as a bug in this movie, and I'm almost ready to put her in a class with Renee and Kirsten Dunst.
Finally, a substantial part of the movie involves blogging, which Julie takes up as part of an effort to get life working for her again. In the movie she starts out slowly, convinced the only person reading her blog is her mother down in Texas, but she eventually attains a followership and the sort of broader success that most people who do this only fantasize about. Since I've taken up the activity myself and therefore have a feel for what it's like, the scenes of Amy sitting at her laptop's keyboard at night felt like a visit home for me.
Rated about 7.5, and worth a look as a superior example of the chick flick genre.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
An Afghan trilogy
This week, Mrs. bee has gone to fulfill grandmom duties with the newest member of our extended family, and I'm again enjoying having the house to myself and being able to devote almost every minute of the week to doing strictly things I want to do. As usual when the cat's away, this mouse plays by watching some of those movies on DVD that have stacked up, waiting to be seen.
The president has been talking recently about the pressing need to get the war in Afghanistan under control, so it turns out the first three movies on this week's viewing list were timely choices: Afghanistan figures prominently in all three. Kind of an Afghanistan trilogy, so to speak.
First up: The Kite Runner, based on a best-selling novel. A first-rate film that deals with the issue of redemption, one of my favored themes. On my rating scale, this picture earns about a 9.5 and is therefore highly recommended. Like the best movies, The Kite Runner shows us people, places, and things we might never see or understand otherwise, and honors simple human decency. I've been fortunate to see The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Atonement, and The Visitor recently, and The Kite Runner is the equal of those three.
Next up: Lions For Lambs. Nowhere near The Kite Runner in terms of excellence, but worth seeing if you're a fan of Robert Redford, Meryl Streep, and Tom Cruise. For people who followed the progress of the Bush-Cheney-Rove war on terror with a critical eye, Lions For Lambs provides a refresher course on things that pissed them off about American politics, 2002-2008.
Finally, a movie I originally thought I wouldn't like much: Charlie Wilson's War. Despite my low expectations, I realized a movie with Tom Hanks and Philip Seymour Hoffman couldn't be all bad. In fact, this movie surpassed my expectations despite the presence of Julia Roberts, whose popularity tops the list of Things I'll Never Understand. Mike Nichols has directed some great American films; while Charlie Wilson's War isn't among them, it's not far off the mark. Loosely based on actual events, the movie reveals how the government works in reality, as opposed to what we were taught in public school. The DVD special features are also worth seeing for the remarks by the real people played by Tom and Julia in the movie, with photographs of the CIA agent played by Hoffman.
The Kite Runner is a must-see. Charlie Wilson's War is a must-see if you keep up with history and politics. Lions For Lambs is worth seeing if you're a fan of its stars or a liberal Democrat.
The president has been talking recently about the pressing need to get the war in Afghanistan under control, so it turns out the first three movies on this week's viewing list were timely choices: Afghanistan figures prominently in all three. Kind of an Afghanistan trilogy, so to speak.
First up: The Kite Runner, based on a best-selling novel. A first-rate film that deals with the issue of redemption, one of my favored themes. On my rating scale, this picture earns about a 9.5 and is therefore highly recommended. Like the best movies, The Kite Runner shows us people, places, and things we might never see or understand otherwise, and honors simple human decency. I've been fortunate to see The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Atonement, and The Visitor recently, and The Kite Runner is the equal of those three.
Next up: Lions For Lambs. Nowhere near The Kite Runner in terms of excellence, but worth seeing if you're a fan of Robert Redford, Meryl Streep, and Tom Cruise. For people who followed the progress of the Bush-Cheney-Rove war on terror with a critical eye, Lions For Lambs provides a refresher course on things that pissed them off about American politics, 2002-2008.
Finally, a movie I originally thought I wouldn't like much: Charlie Wilson's War. Despite my low expectations, I realized a movie with Tom Hanks and Philip Seymour Hoffman couldn't be all bad. In fact, this movie surpassed my expectations despite the presence of Julia Roberts, whose popularity tops the list of Things I'll Never Understand. Mike Nichols has directed some great American films; while Charlie Wilson's War isn't among them, it's not far off the mark. Loosely based on actual events, the movie reveals how the government works in reality, as opposed to what we were taught in public school. The DVD special features are also worth seeing for the remarks by the real people played by Tom and Julia in the movie, with photographs of the CIA agent played by Hoffman.
The Kite Runner is a must-see. Charlie Wilson's War is a must-see if you keep up with history and politics. Lions For Lambs is worth seeing if you're a fan of its stars or a liberal Democrat.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Kids, through old eyes
My children have started producing grandsons with some degree of frequency, which causes me to think about the passage of time in my own life and the lives that lie ahead for the three young males added to the clan in recent years. Our newest grandson rolled off the assembly line in the past week, joining his two cousins.
Mrs. bee is spending a few days this week with R and A and their newborn, while I tend the home fires. In addition to contemplating aging, change, children, and other mysteries of life, I've had a few hours to watch movies I've been wanting to see. Each time I load a DVD, I'm amazed by the technological changes occurring in the span it took my children to progress from being kids to having kids.
Last night, I finally watched Into The Wild, a movie that's been on my must-see list for more than a year. It was written and directed by Sean Penn, based on a non-fiction book by that title about a young man named Christopher McCandless, his decisions, and their consequences. This turned out to be a film that blended into my preoccupation this week with youngsters and transformation.
I've been a young man in my time, and I've known many other young men, so I can speak with some authority on the types of situations young men often get into as a result of their disinterest in caution and taking time to think things through. Chris, the young man portrayed in Into The Wild, is highly intelligent and idealistic and has traces of a reckless streak, a combination of characteristics that lead him to abandon his life of privilege for what he believes will be the freedom of life lived at its most fundamental level. As the title suggests, he winds up in the Alaskan wilderness, unburdened by the conveniences of civilization.
Sean Penn did some excellent work putting Into The Wild together, and this is a movie worth seeing more than once. I was impressed by its photography and the performances of its supporting cast members, particularly Hal Holbrook's as an older man whose wise advice Chris disregards. The Holbrook character is one I can relate to in a film examining American ways of life that are foreign to me. At roughly 148 minutes, Into The Wild is long but held my interest all the way. From my perspective as a grandpa, I'll recommend this as a movie every dad should see while his sons are young. Penn didn't intend his film as a cautionary tale, but it worked out to be like one for me.
Mrs. bee is spending a few days this week with R and A and their newborn, while I tend the home fires. In addition to contemplating aging, change, children, and other mysteries of life, I've had a few hours to watch movies I've been wanting to see. Each time I load a DVD, I'm amazed by the technological changes occurring in the span it took my children to progress from being kids to having kids.
Last night, I finally watched Into The Wild, a movie that's been on my must-see list for more than a year. It was written and directed by Sean Penn, based on a non-fiction book by that title about a young man named Christopher McCandless, his decisions, and their consequences. This turned out to be a film that blended into my preoccupation this week with youngsters and transformation.
I've been a young man in my time, and I've known many other young men, so I can speak with some authority on the types of situations young men often get into as a result of their disinterest in caution and taking time to think things through. Chris, the young man portrayed in Into The Wild, is highly intelligent and idealistic and has traces of a reckless streak, a combination of characteristics that lead him to abandon his life of privilege for what he believes will be the freedom of life lived at its most fundamental level. As the title suggests, he winds up in the Alaskan wilderness, unburdened by the conveniences of civilization.
Sean Penn did some excellent work putting Into The Wild together, and this is a movie worth seeing more than once. I was impressed by its photography and the performances of its supporting cast members, particularly Hal Holbrook's as an older man whose wise advice Chris disregards. The Holbrook character is one I can relate to in a film examining American ways of life that are foreign to me. At roughly 148 minutes, Into The Wild is long but held my interest all the way. From my perspective as a grandpa, I'll recommend this as a movie every dad should see while his sons are young. Penn didn't intend his film as a cautionary tale, but it worked out to be like one for me.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Oscars
In most years, I'll see one or two movies in a theater, maybe three at most. Last year was different, though. In the last six weeks of 2008, I saw four movies in a theater: Australia, Valkyrie, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and Doubt. In January, I saw another late 2008 release, Revolutionary Road.
All five of those movies were well worth the price of admission, and I've written about them here. I would have no problem recommending any of them to anyone who loves movies as much as I do. All five were intelligently written with fine leading performances, and each had something interesting to offer in its own way; I was reasonably sure most if not all would be nominated for Oscars in the major categories.
Goes to show how much I know. Australia and Valkyrie got no nominations, and Revolutionary Road only a couple in lesser technical categories like costume design. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Doubt were up in the leading and supporting actor/actress categories, but didn't score a single statuette among them. Instead, the evening's big showing was by a movie I haven't seen and know virtually nothing about, Slumdog Millionaire.
My sis and I talked movies a few weeks ago, and she recommended Slumdog Millionaire enthusiastically. I politely agreed to consider seeing it, even while doubting I would. Now, my interest has been aroused and it's on my must-see list. If it can triumph over a movie I enjoyed as much as Benjamin Button, maybe it really is as good as I've heard.
The Academy Award television presentation tonight was a fairly radical departure from its traditional format. I liked it. But then, what do I know ?
All five of those movies were well worth the price of admission, and I've written about them here. I would have no problem recommending any of them to anyone who loves movies as much as I do. All five were intelligently written with fine leading performances, and each had something interesting to offer in its own way; I was reasonably sure most if not all would be nominated for Oscars in the major categories.
Goes to show how much I know. Australia and Valkyrie got no nominations, and Revolutionary Road only a couple in lesser technical categories like costume design. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Doubt were up in the leading and supporting actor/actress categories, but didn't score a single statuette among them. Instead, the evening's big showing was by a movie I haven't seen and know virtually nothing about, Slumdog Millionaire.
My sis and I talked movies a few weeks ago, and she recommended Slumdog Millionaire enthusiastically. I politely agreed to consider seeing it, even while doubting I would. Now, my interest has been aroused and it's on my must-see list. If it can triumph over a movie I enjoyed as much as Benjamin Button, maybe it really is as good as I've heard.
The Academy Award television presentation tonight was a fairly radical departure from its traditional format. I liked it. But then, what do I know ?
Saturday, February 14, 2009
A cautious recommendation
Tonight, I finally saw a movie I first heard about two years or so ago. It's called The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, and it's a French film with subtitles. Sometimes I'll see a movie that's almost an ordeal to watch, but is so well-made it qualifies as a work of art. In those situations, I offer cautious recommendations and that's what I'm doing now.
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is based on actual events, and concerns a French magazine editor afflicted with an extremely rare condition known as "locked-in syndrome." He's unable to speak and totally paralyzed other than an ability to blink one eye. Since I have a fear of being buried alive, the depiction of this man's condition was unsettling to watch for roughly 112 minutes. In spite of his physical limitations, which are as extreme as you can imagine, he's able to accomplish something which would seem impossible at first glance.
I'd describe this movie as thought-provoking, as in -- under identical circumstances, would I want to continue living (the term used here in its biological sense) ? Would I be able to muster the strength to make the best of a bad situation, as the main character does ? I'll be thinking about this movie for awhile, and hope I won't be dreaming about it.
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly was tough to watch, but I couldn't look away from it. Highly recommended for people who are up to the task, and worth viewing to hear the alphabet repeatedly recited in French and appreciate its nearly musical rhythm.
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is based on actual events, and concerns a French magazine editor afflicted with an extremely rare condition known as "locked-in syndrome." He's unable to speak and totally paralyzed other than an ability to blink one eye. Since I have a fear of being buried alive, the depiction of this man's condition was unsettling to watch for roughly 112 minutes. In spite of his physical limitations, which are as extreme as you can imagine, he's able to accomplish something which would seem impossible at first glance.
I'd describe this movie as thought-provoking, as in -- under identical circumstances, would I want to continue living (the term used here in its biological sense) ? Would I be able to muster the strength to make the best of a bad situation, as the main character does ? I'll be thinking about this movie for awhile, and hope I won't be dreaming about it.
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly was tough to watch, but I couldn't look away from it. Highly recommended for people who are up to the task, and worth viewing to hear the alphabet repeatedly recited in French and appreciate its nearly musical rhythm.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Revolutionary Road
This afternoon I went to another of the movies on my Christmas must-see list: Revolutionary Road, with Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio. Kate and Leo were the perfect romantic pair in Titanic several years ago, and they're both excellent in Revolutionary Road, which studies what life is like after the romance wears off. This is one hell of a serious drama -- some scenes are so close to reality it's a little unsettling to watch them.
I've long believed that life as an adult in America basically involves a constant daily struggle to balance responsibility (what we should do) against happiness (what we want to do), and Revolutionary Road dramatizes that exact struggle. To say I identified with Leonardo's situation and the thoughts he expresses is understatement, and for that reason I award Revolutionary Road a rating of 9.0 and recommend it to anyone who appreciates intense drama and doesn't require action sequences or happy endings in movies.
I've long believed that life as an adult in America basically involves a constant daily struggle to balance responsibility (what we should do) against happiness (what we want to do), and Revolutionary Road dramatizes that exact struggle. To say I identified with Leonardo's situation and the thoughts he expresses is understatement, and for that reason I award Revolutionary Road a rating of 9.0 and recommend it to anyone who appreciates intense drama and doesn't require action sequences or happy endings in movies.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Screen time
It's a holiday tradition in my household to see at least one movie in a theater between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. The film industry, for reasons having to do with marketing, always seems to hold the kind of movies that interest me until the end of the year. In 2007, the holiday movie was No Country For Old Men. This year, the holiday season releases that look interesting are numerous, and I've already been able to see two movies on my list.
My daughter's husband is another movie lover; he sees many more movies and knows a lot more about them than I do. When R and A come to visit, it's often an opportunity to see a good movie at a theater. One of the movies I wanted to see, Valkyrie, was on A's list as well so we went to see it Friday. Valkyrie is a reasonably accurate account of the conspiracy to assassinate Adolf Hitler in 1944; Tom Cruise plays one of the instrumental figures in the plot, Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg.
I first became aware of the assassination plot depicted in Valkyrie during my public school years when I saw The Desert Fox, in which James Mason played Field Marshal Erwin Rommel. I wasn't sure a movie dramatizing historic events would hold my interest since I'd already know how everything worked out in the end, but Valkyrie plays well as a suspense film. Bryan Singer also directed the excellent crime movie The Usual Suspects, so he obviously knows his stuff.
Later that day, A and I rounded up our wives and went to an early-evening presentation of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. This is another picture I can recommend without reservation, a feel-good movie with an unusual premise, adapted from a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald. David Fincher directed this film; his earlier work includes Seven, Panic Room, and Zodiac, but Benjamin Button is the diametrical opposite of the dark, deeply depressing Seven. Brad Pitt plays the title character, a man whose life is a process of reverse aging. Like all the best movies, this one mixes elements of humor and tragedy, with some funny moments and some that produced a lump in my throat. Anyone who liked Forrest Gump or The Green Mile will probably enjoy The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, none of which could have succeeded without the artistic use of computer-generated effects.
There are several movies in current release that I'm still looking forward to, including Doubt and Revolutionary Road.
Looking back at 2008, I watched the HBO miniseries John Adams last summer. I wrote about it at the time, and believed it was the finest television production since Lonesome Dove. This was a special Christmas for me because R and A gave me the DVD set of John Adams, and now I can see it over and over again.
Another outstanding HBO show was Black and White Night, a 1987 performance by Roy Orbison with what was probably the greatest group of supporting musicians ever assembled. When Bruce Springsteen and James Burton start trading guitar moves, it causes chills to run up and down my spine. Anyone who believes that 1960 to 1980 was a fertile period in American music needs to see Black and White Night. The local PBS station usually shows it during their fund-raising drives, and I'll watch it, pledge breaks and all. This year's Christmas gift to myself was the DVD edition, meaning that I now own DVDs of the three best things I've ever seen on television: Lonesome Dove, John Adams, and Black and White Night. Sometimes, I have to admit, life can be good.
My daughter's husband is another movie lover; he sees many more movies and knows a lot more about them than I do. When R and A come to visit, it's often an opportunity to see a good movie at a theater. One of the movies I wanted to see, Valkyrie, was on A's list as well so we went to see it Friday. Valkyrie is a reasonably accurate account of the conspiracy to assassinate Adolf Hitler in 1944; Tom Cruise plays one of the instrumental figures in the plot, Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg.
I first became aware of the assassination plot depicted in Valkyrie during my public school years when I saw The Desert Fox, in which James Mason played Field Marshal Erwin Rommel. I wasn't sure a movie dramatizing historic events would hold my interest since I'd already know how everything worked out in the end, but Valkyrie plays well as a suspense film. Bryan Singer also directed the excellent crime movie The Usual Suspects, so he obviously knows his stuff.
Later that day, A and I rounded up our wives and went to an early-evening presentation of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. This is another picture I can recommend without reservation, a feel-good movie with an unusual premise, adapted from a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald. David Fincher directed this film; his earlier work includes Seven, Panic Room, and Zodiac, but Benjamin Button is the diametrical opposite of the dark, deeply depressing Seven. Brad Pitt plays the title character, a man whose life is a process of reverse aging. Like all the best movies, this one mixes elements of humor and tragedy, with some funny moments and some that produced a lump in my throat. Anyone who liked Forrest Gump or The Green Mile will probably enjoy The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, none of which could have succeeded without the artistic use of computer-generated effects.
There are several movies in current release that I'm still looking forward to, including Doubt and Revolutionary Road.
Looking back at 2008, I watched the HBO miniseries John Adams last summer. I wrote about it at the time, and believed it was the finest television production since Lonesome Dove. This was a special Christmas for me because R and A gave me the DVD set of John Adams, and now I can see it over and over again.
Another outstanding HBO show was Black and White Night, a 1987 performance by Roy Orbison with what was probably the greatest group of supporting musicians ever assembled. When Bruce Springsteen and James Burton start trading guitar moves, it causes chills to run up and down my spine. Anyone who believes that 1960 to 1980 was a fertile period in American music needs to see Black and White Night. The local PBS station usually shows it during their fund-raising drives, and I'll watch it, pledge breaks and all. This year's Christmas gift to myself was the DVD edition, meaning that I now own DVDs of the three best things I've ever seen on television: Lonesome Dove, John Adams, and Black and White Night. Sometimes, I have to admit, life can be good.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)