Posts Tagged ‘book adaptation’
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
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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
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Wednesday, August 18th, 2010
Review:
Stevens (Anthony Hopkins) is the butler of the well-meaning Lord Darlington (James Fox), who is a strong proponent of appeasement to Nazi Germany. Stevens has dedicated his life to his work and is a perfect example of those old school British butlers. Meanwhile, a new housekeeper (Emma Thompson) arrives, but her love for him is not requited since he does not allow himself any feelings, also turning a blind eye to his master’s folly. The film is essentially a costume drama that is elevated by the strong theme of loyalty, dedication, servitude and their ultimate futility. Great performances elevate the romantic sub plot, which is perfectly underplayed.
Random Observations:
The Remains of the Day at the IMDb
Based on the novel by Kazuo Ishiguro, whose When We Were Orphans I always thought was the first novel I ever read in English outside of school. However, since it was only published in 2000 (and I have the paperback, no less), this simply can not be. Further proof that my memory is horrible - how’s that for a completely pointless insight into my life?
Hugh Grant is in this and on the record as stating that this was the best film he ever made.
I never thought much of Anthony Hopkins as an actor, finding him vastly overrated. This film, however, is almost enough to make me change my mind.
Tags: 1993, Anthony Hopkins, Ben Chaplin, book adaptation, Brigitte Kahn, British Film, Christopher Reeve, Drama, Emma Thompson, english, Hugh Grant, James Fox, James Ivory, John Savident, Kazuo Ishiguro, Lena Headey, Michael Lonsdale, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, Peter Vaughan, romance, Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, The Remains of the Day, Tim Pigott-Smith, When We Were Orphans
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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
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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
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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
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Monday, July 19th, 2010
Review:
When tennis player Guy meets strange guy Bruno on the train, he is presented with the idea for a perfect murder: each would commit the other’s murder, thereby erasing all motive from the equation. But when Bruno actually goes through with the plan and kills Guy’s cheating wife, so that he can marry the woman he loves, things start to unravel, since Guy has no intention to commit murder. The film, based on a novel by acclaimed American crime writer Patricia Highsmith, is a prime example of why Alfred Hitchcock is called “the master of suspense”. It’s an engaging thrill ride with many twists and turns and by the time the climatic finish comes along, you’ve become heavily involved in the story. Plus, it’s a really neat idea for the perfect murder.
Random Observations:
Strangers on a Train at the IMDb
Now here is proof that 1951 produced better films than the Best Picture Oscar winner An American in Paris. After two films each, Hitchcock has taken a clear lead.
Raymond Chandler worked on the screenplay. Chandler is of course best known for creating Philip Marlowe, the greatest hard-boiled detective of all time. While the books are much better, I can also recommend the film version of The Big Sleep.
Once you have seen a few (in my case, that’s 17) of Hitchcock’s films, it becomes real fun to spot his cameos.
Can someone explain to me why actress Laura Elliott (whose birth name, incidentally, was Imogene Rogers), changed her stage name to Kasey Rogers in 1956? She played the murdered wife here in a truly memorable turn. Neither of her two husbands was called Elliott either.
Tags: 1951, Alfred Hitchcock, American Film, An American in Paris, book adaptation, crime movie, Czenzi Ormonde, Drama, english, Farley Granger, film noir, Howard St. John, John Brown, Jonathan Hale, Kasey Rogers, Laura Elliott, Leo G. Carroll, Marion Lorne, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, Norma Varden, Patricia Highsmith, Patricia Hitchcock, Raymond Chandler, Robert Gist, Robert Walker, romance, Ruth Roman, Strangers on a Train, The Big Sleep, Thriller, Whitfield Cook
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Wednesday, July 14th, 2010
Review:
Acclaimed stage actress Marlene Dietrich runs to her lover Richard Todd to help after her husband’s death. When he becomes a suspect, he turns to his amour Jane Wyman to help him. Sure that Dietrich has set him up, she decides to pose as her dresser in order to clear her friend’s name. This Alfred Hitchcock thriller is incredibly slow and boring for the first hour, but really picks up the pace after that. Dietrich as the stage diva is simply superb and a great supporting turn by Alastair Sim make the film worth watching, even if it is one of the director’s lesser efforts.
Random Observations:
Stage Fright at the IMDb
We continue our celebration of American Cinema of the 1950s with this British Film. That’s what I get for just assuming that Hitchcock worked exclusively in Hollywood in the 50s…
The film was dismissed at the time because it “cheated” the audience. I don’t want to go to far into the matter here so as not to spoil the film, but let’s just say that Hitchcock did something nobody had ever done before.
I really liked it when Hitchcock was showing off, having the camera follow an actor inside a house through the door, then have the door close and follow the actor further without any cuts.
Tags: 1950, Alastair Sim, Alfred Hitchcock, Alma Reville, André Morell, Ballard Berkeley, book adaptation, British Film, crime movie, Drama, english, Hector MacGregor, Jane Wyman, Joyce Grenfell, Kay Walsh, Marlene Dietrich, Michael Wilding, Miles Malleson, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, Patricia Hitchcock, Richard Todd, Selwyn Jepson, Stage Fright, Sybil Thorndike, Thriller, Whitfield Cook
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Monday, July 5th, 2010
Review:
A tyrannical school principal mistreats both his heart sick wife and his mistress, so the two conspire to kill him. But what should be the perfect murder doesn’t come off as same, especially when the body is not found as planned and the dead man seems to have come back to life. Henri-Georges Clouzot’s film is an absolute classic horror thriller and was for a while considered the scariest film of all time, at least until Psycho came along. The film is dark and horrifying and towards the end you start to question all of your assumptions - even about the final scene.
Random Observations:
Les diaboliques at the IMDb
The film is based on the novel Celle qui n’était plus (The Woman Who Was) by French authors Pierre Boileau and Thomas Narcejac, which Alfred Hitchcock also wanted to buy. So they went and wrote D’entre les morts, the book that Vertigo is based on, especially for him.
The wife is played by Véra Clouzot, wife of director H.G. Clouzot, who only acted in his films, which is a real shame. The history of her and her family is also quite interesting, if anyone cares to read up on that.
Tags: 1955, Aminda Montserrat, book adaptation, Camille Guérini, Celle qui n'était plus, Charles Vanel, crime movie, D'Entre Les Morts, Drama, english, Frédéric Grendel, French film, Georges Chamarat, Georges Poujouly, Henri-Georges Clouzot, horror movie, Jacques Hilling, Jacques Varennes, Jean Brochard, Jean Lefebvre, Jean Témerson, Jérôme Géronimi, Les diaboliques, Michel Serrault, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, Noël Roquevert, Paul Meurisse, Pierre Boileau, Pierre Larquey, Psycho, René Masson, Robert Dalban, Simone Signoret, The Devils, Thérèse Dorny, Thomas Narcejac, Thriller, Véra Clouzot, Vertigo, Yves-Marie Maurin
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Monday, June 28th, 2010
Review:
A young woman falls for a recently widowed and very rich man and at first their marriage is bliss, but when they return to his home, she is overshadowed by his dead first wife, Rebecca, who was basically the most awesome person ever. As she struggles to find her place in the household, her husband withdraws more and more and all this before the twist in the middle of the film shakes things up significantly. Hitchcock’s classic film works because it manages to perfectly set the mood, keeps the story interesting from start to finish and is one of the most beautifully photographed black and white films of all time, and in spite of the complete lack of believable chemistry between leads Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine, largely due to the former’s displeasure with the choice of his co-star and is resulting petulant behaviour.
Random Observations:
Rebecca at the IMDb
The film is based on the book by Daphne Du Maurier, whose work has repeatedly been adapted by Hitchcock, such as for The Birds.
George Sanders in a villainous role is always a joy to see, so naturally he helps improve the film considerably.
The model of the house, Manderley, is among the most convincing in film history, rivalling those made 60+ years later for The Lord of the Rings trilogy. It also was the most expensive set for the film.
If you are familiar with the restriction the Production Code imposed on stories, I’m sure you can figure out where the film differs from the book. Whether that detracts from the story is up for argument.
Tags: 1940, Alfred Hitchcock, American Film, book adaptation, C. Aubrey Smith, Daphne Du Maurier, Drama, Edward Fielding, english, Florence Bates, Forrester Harvey, George Sanders, Gladys Cooper, Joan Fontaine, Joan Harrison, Judith Anderson, Laurence Olivier, Leo G. Carroll, Leonard Carey, Lumsden Hare, Melville Cooper, Michael Hogan, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, Nigel Bruce, Philip MacDonald, Philip Winter, Rebecca, Reginald Denny, Robert E. Sherwood, romance, The Lord of the Rings, Thriller
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