Posts Tagged ‘American Film’
Friday, September 3rd, 2010
Review:
60 year old rancher John Wayne is in desperate need of helpers for a cattle drive, but gold fever has gripped the town and no one is willing to work for him. So he turns to ten young teenagers, none older than fifteen, and hires them for the dangerous drive. Together with black cook Roscoe Lee Browne they set out, facing plenty of trouble and chances to turn boys into men along the way. The film is a far cry from perfect, but it is a good story that is decently told. Wayne’s lead performance is decent, but it’s really the cowboys that should make the film come alive, but which they can’t. It’s a nice swan song to John Wayne Week, but nothing more.
Random Observations:
The Cowboys at the IMDb
The film picks up a lot of speed, momentum and gravitas in the last half hour, but even that is not enough.
The DVD transfer has a horrible image quality.
Film debut of Robert Carradine.
The film was criticized upon its release for sending the message that it is okay to arm children and set them dangerous jobs. During the Vietnam War, this is understandable.
Tags: 1972, A Martinez, Alfred Barker Jr., Allyn Ann McLerie, American Film, book adaptation, Bruce Dern, Charles Tyner, Clay O'Brien, Colleen Dewhurst, Drama, english, Harriet Frank Jr., Irving Ravetch, John Wayne, Lonny Chapman, Mark Rydell, Mike Pyeatt, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, Nicolas Beauvy, Norman Howell, Robert Carradine, Roscoe Lee Browne, Sam O'Brien, Sarah Cunningham, Sean Kelly, Slim Pickens, Stephen R. Hudis, Steve Benedict, The Cowboys, Western, William Dale Jennings
Posted in Minute Movie Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies | No Comments »
Wednesday, September 1st, 2010
Review:
Sheriff John Wayne has a brutal murderer in jail and is waiting for the arrival of the Federal Marshall, while the prisoner’s brother does everything he can to free him. Accompanied only by former drunk Dean Martin, cripple Walter Brennan and a reluctant Ricky Nelson, they must keep the prisoner and battle the onslaught of their enemies. The story is simple, but powerfully told, with lots of nice little moments of both dramatic tension and comic relief. This western is essentially a thriller - and quite a good one at that.
Random Observations:
Rio Bravo at the IMDb
Director Howard Hawks really tended to recycle his ideas. Not only did he remake this film only seven years later as El Dorado, he also frequently reused characters and lines. This is the third film where the woman says to the hero: “I’m hard to get. You only have to ask” or something along those lines. The other two films? Only Angels Have Wings and the awesome To Have and Have Not - nobody can say that line like Lauren Bacall.
I actually somewhat prefer El Dorado, although this is the objectively better film. The reason? Why, Robert Mitchum is in it!
Awesome musical trio in this film, with Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson and Walter Brennan… Who, incidentally, also was in To Have and Have Not in a not dissimilar role.
Harry Carey Jr. and Malcolm Atterbury are credited in the film despite having all their scenes deleted - or in Carey’s case, never filmed.
“My Rifle, My Pony and Me” is a pretty awesome song. Luckily, Walter Brennan does not participate here.
The film is a direct response to High Noon. See that review for why Hawks and Wayne considered it necessary.
Part two of the three-part John Wayne Week! One more film on Friday.
Tags: 1959, American Film, Angie Dickinson, B.H. McCampbell, based on short story, Claude Akins, Dean Martin, El Dorado, english, Estelita Rodriguez, Harry Carey Jr., High Noon, Howard Hawks, John Russell, John Wayne, John Wayne Week, Jules Furthman, Lauren Bacall, Leigh Brackett, Malcolm Atterbury, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, Only Angels Have Wings, Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez, Ricky Nelson, Rio Bravo, Robert Mitchum, To Have and Have Not, Walter Brennan, Ward Bond, Western
Posted in Minute Movie Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies | No Comments »
Monday, August 30th, 2010
Review:
After his family has been murdered by Comanche, John Wayne sets out to take his little niece back from them. For years he tracks the tribe, with the help of an adopted son, more intent on revenge than anything else. This John Ford film features what may be Wayne’s best performance and has a magnificent story. Ford, of course, is a very able director and the film is very close to being perfect, even if it has become rather dated and the story and themes could be explored much better.
Random Observations:
The Searchers at the IMDb
This film is a favourite of many contemporary film-makers. Steven Spielberg claims to watch it before starting each of his films to remind himself what a perfect film looks like.
The film reminded me of a quote from The Dark Knight: “You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.”
The only film to star both Natalie Wood and her little sister Lana. But while Natalie is by far the superior actress, she is upstaged here by her ten year old sister.
It’s a bit strange to see this film after having seen so many films that have been obviously inspired by it.
We continue our Themed Weeks Theme with John Wayne Week. Two more Wayne westerns on Wednesday and Friday!
Tags: 1956, Alan Le May, American Film, Antonio Moreno, Beulah Archuletta, book adaptation, Dorothy Jordan, Drama, english, Frank S. Nugent, Hank Worden, Harry Carey Jr., Henry Brandon, Jeffrey Hunter, John Ford, John Qualen, John Wayne, John Wayne Week, Ken Curtis, Lana Wood, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, Natalie Wood, Olive Carey, Patrick Wayne, Pippa Scott, The Dark Knight, The Searchers, Vera Miles, Walter Coy, Ward Bond, Western
Posted in Minute Movie Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies | No Comments »
Friday, August 27th, 2010
Review:
Let’s see now: the film is a version of Anton Chekhov’s play Uncle Vanya, as adapted by David Mamet, brought to the stage by Andre Gregory, filmed in the derelict New Amsterdam Theater by Louis Malle, where rehearsal is taking place, blending the lives of the actors with the play. It’s basically an experimental version of a well-known and good play, that creates an interesting, gimmicky film that doesn’t quite succeed. Everything here is deliberately done to look accidental, creating something very unusual, but not very great. Nevertheless, the play is good enough to warrant watching and the frame-work is not so distracting that it becomes unbearable.
Random Observations:
Vanya on 42nd Street at the IMDb
Some real nice stage acting here by the cast, which naturally does not translate to film at all. I’m sure it’s intentional and it is well done, but it is also annoying.
This concludes Louis Malle Week on something of a sour note, although the film is a far cry from being bad. Just not as brilliant as the last one.
Typical Mamet dialogue has subtly entered the play. I wonder how much else he changed.
Tags: 1994, American Film, Andre Gregory, Anton Chekhov, based on play, Brooke Smith, David Mamet, Drama, english, George Gaynes, Jerry Mayer, Julianne Moore, Larry Pine, Louis Malle, Louis Malle Week, Lynn Cohen, Madhur Jaffrey, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, Phoebe Brand, Uncle Vanya, Vanya on 42nd Street, Wallace Shawn
Posted in Minute Movie Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies | No Comments »
Monday, August 16th, 2010
Review:
After being moved to a higher office in the Police Department because their charity fight brokered everyone a pay increase, rivals Aaron Eckhart and Josh Hartnett team up. They are having a good time of it until a girl is murdered and Eckhart’s desire to find the killer and once more claim the spotlight starts to create trouble. But this is only half of the overly convoluted, stupid, erroneous and downright insulting thing this film calls it’s storyline. Director Brian De Palma set out to make a modern day film noir and his recreation of 1940s Los Angeles is certainly very beautiful, with great production design and cinematography, but in all that glory he forgot to create a compelling and coherent story or to hire actors that can act or at least direct them decently. The film is overly ambitious and fails spectacularly, which is still better than all the middling fare out there, but not enough to make it worth spending any time with.
Random Observations:
The Black Dahlia at the IMDb
The film is based on James Ellroy’s novel, which in turn is based on a true story. Which in this case means: the murder actually happened, but it was never solved and none of the people apart from the victim in the novel ever existed, and even the real Elizabeth Short aka The Black Dahlia bore little resemblance to the book or film version. So basically they just used a true murder as a hook to get people interested in the crappy story. (For full disclosure, I should add that I have never read the novel, but if the story is anything like in the film, it’s bound to be bad.)
Whatever happened to Josh Hartnett? There was a time when he seemed like the next big thing, but now he seems all but forgotten. Could it be that this film exposed his limited acting ability?
The only actor in this film who is any good is Aaron Eckhart. Everyone else, even otherwise talented people like Fiona Shaw, Hilary Swank or Scarlett Johansson turn in absolutely lacklustre performances that are distracting from the film more than anything else. On the other hand, maybe that was intentional.
Tags: 2006, Aaron Eckhart, American Film, Anthony Russell, based on true story, book adaptation, Brian De Palma, crime movie, Drama, english, Fiona Shaw, Hilary Swank, James Ellroy, James Otis, Jemima Rooper, John Kavanagh, Josh Friedman, Josh Hartnett, Mia Kirshner, Mike Starr, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, Patrick Fischler, Rachel Miner, Rose McGowan, Scarlett Johansson, The Black Dahlia, Thriller, Troy Evans, William Finley
Posted in Minute Movie Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies | No Comments »
Wednesday, August 11th, 2010
Review:
Married Robert Mitchum and Deborah Kerr travel across early 20th century Australia with their teenage son. He works as a drover, going where the work takes him and enjoying the restless life, while she and the son long for a home to call their own. They are joined by Peter Ustinov for one job who then decides to stick around when they take jobs on a sheep farm for one season. There, all manner of entertaining drama happen, while the two sides struggle to convince the other of their lifestyle choice. The film is less of a single coherent story and more of a collection of wanderings, creating the feeling of restlessness very successfully. It’s not a great film - to little happens for that - but it’s a good story well told.
Random Observations:
The Sundowners at the IMDb
A sundowner, as one character thankfully explains to another, is an Australian term for people without a home, who just camp wherever the sun goes down, making their home there.
This is one of those typically understated Mitchum performances. You don’t really realize its impact until afterwards, when the whole nuances of his character become clear in retrospect.
Director Fred Zinnemann reminded me a lot of Terrence Malick with his focus on nature and wildlife in some shots. Sure, Malick has elevated this to a new art form, but Zinnemann certainly was a forebear for him.
The film shares many themes with Australia, but is much better (and subtler!) at exploring them.
Tags: 1960, adventure movie, American Film, Australia, book adaptation, Chips Rafferty, Deborah Kerr, Dick Bentley, Dina Merrill, Drama, english, Ewen Solon, Fred Zinnemann, Gerry Duggan, Glynis Johns, Isobel Lennart, John Meillon, Jon Cleary, Leonard Teale, Lola Brooks, Max Osbiston, Mercia Barden, Mervyn Johns, Michael Anderson Jr., minute movie review, Molly Urquhart, movie review, Movies, Peter Carver, Peter Ustinov, Robert Mitchum, Ronald Fraser, Terrence Malick, The Sundowners, Wylie Watson
Posted in Minute Movie Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies | No Comments »
Tuesday, August 10th, 2010
Review:
This film, authentically depicting small town life in Texas mid-20th-century uses hunting as it’s hook, hence the title, an extract from a Robert Louis Stevenson poem. Robert Mitchum plays a middle aged father of a 17 year old boy that has been raised by his mother, a deal he made with her so that she would stay despite his numerous affairs. When he decides to make a man of the boy and teach him how to hunt, it changes the dynamic of the family. But this is only the start of a sprawling story with many different elements, clearly taken directly from William Humphrey’s attempt at the fabled “Great American Novel”. Strong actors, especially George Hamilton as the son and George Peppard as his slightly older mentor and illegitimate half-brother (and Mitchum, naturally), make this a film that despite some lengths is well worth watching and emotionally rewarding.
Random Observations:
Home from the Hill at the IMDb
Directed by Vincente Minnelli, whom I really need to stop considering a musical director.
Apparently, the hunting scenes are extremely realistic. No idea if that’s true, though.
George Peppard went on to star in everyone’s second favourite prostitute movie, Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
Robert Mitchum made this film when 42, an age when many of his contemporaries where still playing the romantic leads seducing 20 years younger women.
Tags: 1960, American Film, Anne Seymour, book adaptation, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Constance Ford, Drama, Eleanor Parker, english, Everett Sloane, George Hamilton, George Peppard, Harriet Frank Jr., Home from the Hill, Irving Ravetch, Ken Renard, Luana Patten, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, Ray Teal, Robert Louis Stevenson, Robert Mitchum, Vincente Minnelli, William Humphrey
Posted in Minute Movie Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies | No Comments »
Monday, August 9th, 2010
Review:
The daughter of a chemistry professor falls madly in love with the rich business-man and moves to high society after they are married, but her husband displays some rather startling aggressiveness and especially hatred for his brother and anything connected with him that make her doubt her love and instead be drawn to the mysterious missing brother, who many believe to be dead. The film by Vincente Minnelli is beautifully photographed and has some great actors, including Katharine Hepburn and Robert Mitchum, but it just doesn’t work. None of the relationships in the film are believable and the slow pacing is unsettled by the frantic ending, although it injects some much needed life into the proceedings. It’s a good story and could have been a great film, but sadly falls short.
Random Observations:
Undercurrent at the IMDb
To celebrate Robert Mitchum’s birthday (which actually was last Friday, he would have turned 93), we are going to deviate from the regular Mon-Wed-Fri schedule and bring you a review of one of his films every day this week! (Actually, only through Friday, the internet has the weekend off.) Mitchum is one of the most underrated leading actors Hollywood ever had, a tough guy who could play anything from comedy to sensitive melodrama. His best roles include such film noir classics as Crossfire and Out of the Past, but otherwise it is high time to showcase his incredible talent and range, which we’ll do this week. Although I admit that in this film his chemistry with Katharine Hepburn is non-existent and she reportedly told him that he couldn’t act, I still hold that he was a great actor and deservedly shortly after this film moved on to lead roles.
In a delightful bit of irony, Brahms’ 3rd Symphony soars on the sound track just as the title card for Herbert Stothart’s original music appears on screen.
This was lead actor Robert Taylor’s first film after returning from the war, an episode in his life that is not visible in his acting.
It’s very odd to see Katharine Hepburn play such a boring and weak female lead - and not entirely convincing.
Tags: 1946, American Film, Billy McClain, Charles Trowbridge, Clinton Sundberg, Crossfire, Dan Tobin, Edmund Gwenn, Edward Chodorov, english, film noir, Herbert Stothart, James Westerfield, Jayne Meadows, Johannes Brahms, Katharine Hepburn, Kathryn Card, Leigh Whipper, Marjorie Main, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, Out of the Past, Robert Mitchum, Robert Taylor, Thelma Strabel, Thriller, Undercurrent, Vincente Minnelli
Posted in Minute Movie Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies | No Comments »
Friday, August 6th, 2010
Review:
New York advertising men Cary Grant is mistaken for somebody else and set up to be killed. He barely escapes, but nobody believes his story. As things move along, he gets more and more drawn into the plot, desperately trying to both find out what is going on and simply staying alive. The script was written especially for Alfred Hitchcock to make “the Hitchcock film to end all Hitchcock films” and it largely succeeds. It perfectly showcases Hitchcock’s humorous and fantastic side, while also being an excellent thriller.
Random Observations:
North by Northwest at the IMDb
This is the 21st Alfred Hitchcock film I’ve reviewed for this here publication. It’s also the first Hitchcock film I ever saw, many years before I ever decided to write my opinions on films down.
Saul Bass is probably the most underrated “signature” artist of the 20th century. The moment I saw the opening titles, I knew he had designed them. And this despite the fact that his titles for different films never look the same, he just has a very unique style.
This concludes our four week marathon of American Cinema of the 1950s. And what a high note to go out on!
Tags: 1959, action movie, Adam Williams, adventure movie, Alfred Hitchcock, American Film, Cary Grant, Drama, Edward Binns, Edward Platt, english, Ernest Lehman, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason, Jessie Royce Landis, Josephine Hutchinson, Ken Lynch, Leo G. Carroll, Les Tremayne, Martin Landau, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, North by Northwest, Patrick McVey, Philip Coolidge, Philip Ober, Robert Ellenstein, romance, Saul Bass, Thriller
Posted in Minute Movie Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies | No Comments »
Wednesday, August 4th, 2010
Review:
In this documentary made to celebrate MGM’s 50th anniversary in 1974, a bunch of their musical stars from the 1930s to 1950s take a look back at what made the studio great and successful: it’s all talking, all singing, all dancing musicals. It features clips from many of them, showing somewhat haphazardly the evolution of the studio and the art form. While the film actually explains very little, it’s at least an interesting look back at some of the biggest films and stars of the time, a good introduction into a film genre nobody really wants to see many examples off.
Random Observations:
That’s Entertainment! at the IMDb
Take a good look at the footage of MGM’s 25th anniversary celebratory luncheon and you will see that their claim “More Stars Than There Are In Heaven” was more than a slogan.
While not strictly speaking a film of the 1950s, this is nevertheless an interesting look at the American Cinema of that time. It also perfectly demonstrates while Gene Kelly’s (mostly) inferior films were more commercially and critically successful than Alfred Hitchcock’s: they were what people wanted, a distraction from their humdrum existence. Sure, they are cheesy, corny and a bunch of other things starting with “c”, but they are also light-hearted and simple fun.
This is the last film ever shot on the famous MGM backlot, with many of the sets already crumbling. They were torn down shortly afterwards, erasing the biggest reminder of Hollywood’s golden past for ever.
It’s interesting to note with how much regard Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire talk about each other. It’s unusual to see two so uniquely talented people appreciating the other one instead of seeing him as a rival or competitor.
I knew that pretty much everyone in Hollywood was reeled into musicals back in the day, but I never realized that this included such A-list talent as Cary Grant, Clark Gable and James Stewart. But at least they were forced by the studio, an excuse that Johnny Depp does not have…
Tags: 1974, American Film, Bing Crosby, Cary Grant, Clark Gable, Debbie Reynolds, documentary, Donald O'Connor, Elizabeth Taylor, english, Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Jack Haley Jr., James Stewart, Johnny Depp, Liza Minnelli, MGM, Mickey Rooney, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, music film, musical, Peter Lawford, That's Entertainment!
Posted in Minute Movie Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies | No Comments »
Loading ...