Call of the Wild (2020)

I rented this on Redbox last month - it was one of the new films released right before quarantine that I was most looking forward to seeing --- and I really enjoyed it, most especially the scenery which filled me with awe from my urban abode. I really felt transported to that period in time and felt as if I were journeying with the main dog character Buck - fully CGI. The GCI of the animals was one thing that I was concerned about since I  really enjoy seeing real animals in epic adventure stories (IE Milo & Otis, Homeward Bound, etc). But the character of Buck, and his personality, really grew on me and won me over. I was also worried there would be an excess of poop and flatulence jokes but mercifully there is none, which is refreshing. I enjoyed the mail delivery sequences and made me think of the days when sled dogs carried the mail. I liked the cast including Harrison Ford who is good. And I thought one of the characters who abuses Buck was played by Michael Shannon but I double checked and apparently it is another actor (who does resemble him a bit). 

I really wish the DVD contained some making-of features, or a commentary track (there's nothing extra on the disc I rented). Maybe one day. 

I was really curious about the location and sets because the views and scenery were so incredible. After doing a bit of research I found that most all of it was done with GCI and nothing was filmed in Canada or on location. Wow, I was completely fooled on this; the effects team did a pretty impressive job. 

Nevertheless, I did feel inspired to want to get out into nature more.

I think this movie was meant for a viewer like me who has not read the book nor seen any other film versions. I think it captures the essence of the story in my opinion, and would recommend it.

A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935)

A Shakespeare classic adapted for the screen......a big-budget all star spectacular from MGM featuring an all star cast and fantastic scenery in glorious black and white. It's one of the first films of both Olivia de Havilland (Hermia) and young Mickey Rooney, who was only 15 when he played Puck. The young whippersnapper is amusing in the part, he really hams it up for the camera. deHavilland is good in one of her first films, as is James Cagney, who plays "Nick Bottom".

Also in the cast:
Joe E. Brown: "Francis Flute".
Dick Powell: "Lysander"

Two Academy Awards: "Best Cinematography", "Best Film Editing"

Little Dorritt (1988)

With a 6-hour running time, 1988's Little Dorritt always seemed to be a challenging watch but it was on my list because of its acclaim and cast (including Alec Guinness). Last fall the film aired on TCM in 2 parts, and I really enjoyed it!

In his 4-star review, Roger Ebert wrote that he felt the movie might be better experienced seeing it in one day, with a break for lunch in between  (read his review here).

Part 1 is very enjoyable, as we are introduced to a kind man named Mr. Stammers (Derek Jacobi) who returns to his hometown after 20 years of being overseas. He gets reacquainted with a certain family member who has a connection to a mysterious house servant, Amy Dorritt. Stammers spends the entire half of the movie learning about the mystery behind Dorritt and building a name for himself in the community as a businessman and investor.

Part 2 was even better than the first half. The entire second half was told from Amy Dorrit's point of view, and we learn much more about her relationship with her father, splendidly played by Alec Guiness.

I haven't ever read the book, but I understand the story was adapted into a 6 part mini-series starring Tom Courtenay as father Dorritt, which would make for a great watch one day.

It would be nice if this 1988 movie were ever to be released on DVD.

I was curious to see how the film performed at the box office back in 1988, so I checked IMDB and to my surprise it grossed over $1 million. When the movie played at art house theaters in 1988, many theaters charged a separate admission for each 3-hour installment.

Misery (1990)

The two lead stars of Misery - James Caan and Kathy Bates - recently reunited for a photoshoot for the annual "Reunions" issue of Entertainment Weekly.

Here's a link to the story and video clip from "The Today Show", featuring the two stars reminiscing about their time on the film:

http://www.today.com/popculture/misery-loves-company-kathy-bates-james-caan-reunite-discuss-1990-t49286

I recently re-watched this movie after almost 20 years, and was surprised how well the movie holds up and is able to thrill even after seeing it three separate times.  Also featuring small roles by the late Richard Farnsworth and the late Lauren Bacall, who are both very good in this.

If you haven't seen this movie before, I recommend it for a good Halloween watch.

The Late George Apley (1947) starring Ronald Coleman

Thing thing to know before seeing this film is that it's a comedy of manners, satirizing the aristocracy of 1900 Boston in particular. It is based on a Pulizer Prize winning novel from 1938, and a stage play from 1944. Not having read the book or seen the play, I unfortunately can't comment on what was lost in translation.

Ronald Coleman plays a snob, and I found it difficult to like his character as well as the film. The story revolves mainly around Apley's ultra conservative ways, primarily his disapproval of his son and daughter who are both in love with non-Bostonians, which seems utterly absurd. Perhaps that's what's supposed to be funny about it.  One character says to him, "Stop apologizing for sex, George Apley...you didn't invent it! 

After a long talk with his more sensible brother-in-law Roger (Percy Warram) - the most memorable scene in my opinion - Apley eventually comes to accept his children's decisions and dreams  Before Apley's conversion, however, there is much drama between the father, son and daughter that seems to drag.

If the story is mainly about dealing with the changing times, I don't see why this film couldn't have been brought up to date with a modern twist.   There are some really impressive period sets and costumes, but the visuals are not ultimately what you'd want to takeaway from the film. It wasn't nominated for any Oscars, and I'm not surprised. Coleman did win for Best Actor that year, but for another film - A Double Life.

Not a bad film, just average. With Peggy Cummings, Mildred Natwick.

For another blogger's perspective about the film, check out the review here from Bobby Rivers' blog. I'd say he enjoyed the film more than I did!

97 min • 20th Century-Fox

Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz • 1947

Mockingjay, Part 1 (2014)

This new installment could be my new favorite of the series, reminding me of the some of the best war stories about resistance fighters.   Jennifer Lawrence, as Katniss, really impressed me in this one. I liked how she struggles with her new identity as the voice of the revolution, and how she has to accept that her life as she used to know is over. There were so many good parts; my favorite might be was when Katniss sings her blues song "Hanging Tree" and the rebels take it on as their anthem. Philip Seymour Hoffman was good in it too. The music by James Newton Howard is good.

Billy Budd (1962)

This post is my contribution to The Great Villain Blogathon hosted by Silver Screenings, Shadows and Satin, and Speakeasy. Click here for a list of all the participating blogs in the blogathon.

Terrence Stamp as Billy Budd

Kristina's entry yesterday in The Great Villain Blogathon focused on the terrifying Zod, portrayed by Terence Stamp in Superman II (1980). When I was kid, I was quite frightened by him. Over the years I saw more of Mr Stamp's films, including his impressive film debut in Billy Budd (1962).

Based on a story  by Herman Melville (Moby Dick) Billy Budd takes place aboard a British war ship during the Napoleonic era. One of the new sailors aboard the ship is Billy Budd -- Stamp plays him, and trust me, there is not a hint of Zod to be found in him. Budd is the polar opposite of Zod: friendly, noble, and honest. Stamp is so convincing in his portrayal of the character that he was nominated for an Oscar. [1]

At the core of the story is an allegory tale depicting two natures of the human soul: the good in Budd, and the evil personified by John Claggart, the captain's first-mate in charge of the ship's discipline. So cruel is Claggart, he has men whipped for the slightest reason. In another universe, Claggart and Zod would get along very well.

In portraying Claggart, American film noir icon Robert Ryan (Crossfire, Born to Be Bad, Caught) delivers another stellar performance. Which brings us to the focus of today's post.

"I am what the world has made me"

While reading some other reviews of this film, I discovered universal acclaim for Ryan's performance, and I am in wholehearted agreement:

• Pauline Kael wrote: "Robert Ryan gives a fine performance in the difficult role of Claggart...he makes evil comprehensible." [2]


• From the blog Classic Film Freak: "He completely personifies the evil and mean spirited Claggart -- in retrospect it is as close to a perfect performance as I’ve seen from Ryan." [3]


• From the blog Captain Critic: "The way he pounds his baton against his leg with every stroke of the floggger's whip, his lips quavering with hunger as he counts the strokes, is one of the most revolting depictions of sadism I've ever seen on film." [4]

Onscreen, you can sense the fear and intimidation Claggart evokes in everyone as he walks by. Even when he's not onscreen, you can sense his authoritative presence.

At times Ryan is filmed from the waist down or from behind, towering over others.

And - in an interesting twist - Ryan does not attempt speak his lines with a British accent. Some might see this as flaw. But I think it makes the character seem even more arrogant and sinister. It adds to the mystery of his tormented soul, as if he was exiled from a foreign land at some point in his life.

One night, the simplehearted Budd - unable to fathom how a man could be so cruel - tries to get the inhumane Claggart to open up.

Their conversation is my favorite scene in the film; here's a snippet of their dialogue:

Claggart: Is it ignorance or irony that makes you speak so simply?

Budd: It must be ignorance, sir, because I don't understand the other word.

I love how Classic Film Freak describes Ryan in this scene:  "You can visibly see his emotions change just by looking at his eyes. You can tell that Claggart would like to be amiable, perhaps even have a friend aboard. He envies Budd in this regard. His eyes soften momentarily with eagerness, but then their usual hard stare return as Claggart rebuffs Budd. Masterful casting." [5]

Claggart goes on to say, "The surface of the sea is calm, but beneath it every creature is a killer."

A series of events then take place, but I will not give anything away if you haven't seen the film or are unfamiliar with the story.

The less you know, the much more exciting the experience will be.

The film's supporting cast includes a number of recognizable actors including John Neville, Paul Rogers, Robert Brown (James Bond's "M"), Ray McAnally, and David McCallum who plays one of the officers aboard the ship. Melvin Douglas (soon to win an Oscar for 1963's Hud) has a small but important role as an old Danish sailor who serves as a mentor to Billy.

Directed by the brilliant Peter Ustinov, who also plays the ship's conflicted captain ("You only have two duties: to fight and to obey", he declares at one point). I love that the film was photographed in black-and-white over color, which I don't think would have been as effective. And the way the camera sways every so subtly makes you feel like you are on the ship with the others.

I highly recommend this film as a "must see".

Available on DVD (with commentary by Terence Stamp).

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Trivia

By the time the film went into production, the story had been adapted for the stage and for television.

According to a 1997 biography by Franklin Jarlett, Robert Ryan lobbied for a role in this picture. [6]

According to Rob K from the blog The Luna Park Gazette, in the 1953 television production, William Shatner played the role of Billy Budd [7]

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References

1. Best Actor (blog). Best Supporting Actor 1962: Terence Stamp in Billy Budd  (Published Oct 2011)

2. The Age of Movies: Selected Writings of Pauline Kael, Pauline Kael. (Library of America, 2011)

3, 5. Classic Film Freak (blog). Billy Budd (1962)  (Published Aug 2012)

4. Captain Critic (blog).  Reeling Backward: Billy Budd (1962) (Published Oct 2012)

6.  Robert Ryan: A Biography and Critical Filmography, Franklin Jarlett (McFarland & Co., 1997)

7. The Luna Park Gazette (blog)  This Budd's For You (Published June 2011)

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This post is part of The Great Villain Blogathon hosted by Silver Screenings, Shadows and Satin, and Speakeasy. 

Click here for a list of all the participating blogs in the blogathon.

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Another review from Just a Cineaste

The Young Philadelphians (1959)

Robert Vaughn

Paul Newman plays a young ambitious lawyer in a film based on the best-selling novel "The Philadelphian" by Richard P Powell about a lawyer's rise up the social ladder. The film's first half focuses on Newman starting out in his career and his relationships as he tries to get ahead in a firm. One of his best friends is played by Robert Vaughn, who was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance.  The movie picks up steam toward the end, when Newman takes on the most challenging case of his life. The setting moves to the courtroom, and Newman acts as defense attorney in a murder case.  In one interrogation, Newman has a witness sniff glasses of liquor which is amusing at first but proves to be an important part of the evidence.

The Accidental Tourist (1988)

"William Hurt gives an exquisite performance as a man shattered by the death of his son, who comes out of his shell when he meets a kooky, aggressive young woman (Geena Davis) who couldn't be less his type. Finelhy wrought, extremely faithful adaptation of Anne Tyler's novel dares to take its time; may be too slow ffor some viewers, but offers many rewards." (from Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide).

I think Leonard Maltin is right, that many viewers won't like the slow pacing. But that's exactly what I love about the movie. It was such a refreshing respite from the loud, shaky-cam, crashing and GCI explosions of some recent superhero blockbusters.

Also I like the premise that the William Hurt character - Macon Leary - is a writer of travel books for business travelers. The movie starts off kind of sad, with his marriage dissolving with his wife (Kathleen Tuner), but then he meets Geena Davis' character who brings a bit of spark back into his life.

Geena Davis, as the dog trainer to Macon's dog,  won the 1988 Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, but her role could be considered a lead role. I love the dog in this movie, which was the same dog that was in the 1990s TV show Dharma and Greg.

Also there are some nice scenes of Baltimore (the film is set there and was filmed there).

A less-interesting (but still entertaining) subplot in the film involves Macon's sister (Amy Wright) falling in love with his boss, a book publisher played by Bill Pullman.  His sister and and his two brothers (Ed Begley Jr and David Ogden Stiers) are portrayed as being a bit more eccentric than he is.

Directed by Lawrence Kasdan. Nominated for Best Picture of 1988.

Jane Eyre (2011)

If you live near a theater showing it and are looking for a good movie experience, I cannot recommend it highly enough. Without comparing it to the novel (which I have't read) or any other film versions (I've only seen the 1944 version) I must say it is a thrilling film experience, even if you know the basic story. Cheers to the director, Cary Fukunaga, who did a marvelous job, and to the screenwriters. You can get a sense of Jane's yearning for freedom from the very first scenes, and what she will do to achieve it. I loved what was done with the flashback scenes and the focus on the life-changing decisions that Jane has to make. It's a fine period film with beautiful scenery. And amazing performances, especially from Mia Wasikowska, as Jane. Also, Jamie Bell (as St. John Rivers) impressed me.  The actor who plays Rochester, Michael Fassbender is great. Judi Dench's presence in the film (as Mrs Fairfax) is a highlight. A modern day classic, and a must-see. A+ Not on DVD. In cinemas now.

It is PG-13 for brief moments of violence and some mature subject matter. If you know the story you will know what to expect; in the beginning young Jane is hit, and later, Helen is hit in the school.

Special thanks to the blog Enchanted Serenity of Period Films for all the updates on this movie and for posting trailers, featurettes, and links about the film.

Jane Eyre (1944)

The new movie version of Jane Eyre starring Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland), Judi Dench, Jaime Bell, and Sally Hawkins opens in more cities today, and it's been getting very good reviews, including positive ones from Roger Ebert and Leonard Maltin. I love the 1944 version with Orson Welles, Joan Fontaine, and a young Elizabeth Taylor in one of her first roles.

l-r: Joan Fontaine (as Jane), Orson Welles (as Rochester), Margaret O'Brien (as Adele), Peggy Ann Garner (as Young Jane), and Elizabeth Taylor (as Helen)

What it's About

Setting: England, 1829. As the film begins, young Jane (Peggy Ann Garner), an orphan, is living in a strict house of her wicked and cruel aunt (Agnes Moorhead). At the age of 10, she is sent to a prison-like boarding school, Lowood, where she's taunted, teased, called an "unregenerate child" and cruelly punished, all while getting "spiritual instruction". Her best friend Helen (Elizabeth Taylor) helps her keep her sanity.

Peggy Ann Garner and her best friend Helen, played by Elizabeth Taylor

The story advances a few years and Joan Fontaine plays Jane at 18. She accepts a job at a country estate known as Thornfield Hall, where she works as a governess and caretaker of little Adele (played by Margaret O'Brien), who appears to be an orphan, like Jane. The master of the household is Mr. Rochester, played by Orson Welles, who is very domineering and intimidating. As time goes by, Jane learns to accept him and grows fond of him, becoming jealous when he courts another woman.

I was impressed with Joan and thought she was well cast opposite Welles.

Rochester also has feelings for her, but there is something he's not telling her.

My Take:

I was not familiar with this story before seeing this movie, the first film version I had ever seen of this. So the last part of this movie really was exciting for me because I did not know what to expect. Why was the the door upstairs banging?, I asked. It is a thriller of a story. Joan Fontaine is excellent, and has the right personality and maturity to bring this character to life, even if she was a little older (27) than the character. Welles is also fantastic in this, very convincing as this character.

There have been a number of other movie versions of this classic novel over the years, but I haven't seen them and cannot compare them to this version. To me, this is the definitive version. Featuring a beautiful music score by Bernard Herrmann (Citizen Kane), intense black-and-white cinematography by George Barnes (Rebecca) and is well directed by Robert Stevenson. I really liked how at certain points actual pages from the novel were shown as Joan (as Jane) narrates.

The credited screenwriters are director Stevenson, Aldous Huxley, John Houseman, a good friend of Welles' from his early days in the theater. Stevenson went on to direct many classic Disney films of the 1960s. He does a good job directing all the child actors here, and gets a few comic moments out of little Margaret O'Brien.

This movie is 96 minutes long and you can watch it streaming on NetFlix or rent on DVD.

Cast:

Edward Rochester............Orson Welles

Jane Eyre.........................Joan Fontaine

Young Jane (age 10)........Peggy Ann Garner

Helen...............................Elizabeth Taylor

Dr. Rivers.........................John Sutton

Mrs. Reed........................Agnes Moorehead

Mrs. Fairfax....................Edith Barrett

Blanche.....................Hillary Brooke

The final title card encouraged the audience of 1944 to buy war bonds.



Originally posted on my other blog Olivia de Havilland and Joan Fontaine: Sisters of the Silver Screen

The new Jane Eyre movie looks good

Well this weekend the new film version of Jane Eyre opens in the US (see the movie's official website), but only in two cities, New York and LA. I hope there will be a wider release soon.

It has a great cast: Mia Wasikowska ("Alice in Wonderland" from last year), Judi Dench, Jamie Bell, Sally Hawkins, and playing Rochester, Michael Fassbender. I don't know anything about him but he's supposed to be very good in this.

This version is supposed to play up the horror parts of the story a bit. I've seen the Orson Welles-Joan Fontaine version and enjoyed that one very much.

Leonard Maltin recently reviewed it and he liked it. Read review here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/leonardmaltin/archives/movie_review_jane_eyre/

I just watched the review from Ebert Presents At the Movies: Here's the link to watch it.
http://www.ebertpresents.com/movies/jane-eyre#ooid=VrZ2NiMjqXLexf-SC8pjcvlKYxJY1A2f

Return to Oz (1985)

This is one of those films that I like but almost everyone hates it, or dislikes it. I always found it really quirky and liked seeing new characters in Oz. I saw it first on a black-and-white TV in the late 80s, and it really captivated me. I still enjoy it. Starring Fairuza Balk, Piper Laurie, Matt Clark, Nicol Williamson, and Jean Marsh. 

Movies based on comic strips that I like

Not counting superhero films, these big screen adaptations of comic strips are among my favorites.

I did go to see "Marmaduke" this summer, but it wasn't all that great.

The Old Man and the Sea (1958) Starring Spencer Tracy

Spencer Tracy plays Cuban fisherman Santiago, isolated at sea in a small little fishing boat reminiscining about old times and waiting for a catch. One day he's stunned to come across a huge marlin who circles his boat. Santiago harpoons it; and eventually attracts a few sharks on his way home. The sea struggles (between Spence and the fish) are exciting, and Dimitri Tiomkin's score is really good. Thanks to director John Sturges, who is at his best with action sequences like this. There are many moments of narration by Tracy; the words come directly from Hemingway's book. I was not convinced that Spence was a Cuban. But the movie, like the novel, is very allegorical and not everything makes sense. Several flashback sequences feature symbolic images of lions and fish, and in one scene we're taken back to an arm wreslting match between Spencer and a man who is referred to as a "negro" multiple times. In the end, the old man returns to his village exhausted, and is reaquainted with his young Cuban apprentice, a boy named Manolin, but all the old man can do is sleep. There was a made-for-TV 1990 version with Anthony Quinn.
Oscar win for best Original Music Score

Treasure of The Sierra Madre (1948)

One of my favorite movies ever. Greed and obsession with gold. A classic starring Humphrey Bogart as a gold digger in the mountains of Tampico, Mexico. The movie starts off explaining how he starts on his mission for gold, and meets up with Tim Holt and Walter Huston who become his partners.

Based on a book by B. Traven, a writer who lived in Mexico. I've heard some great things about some of his other stories and want to read more of his work one day.

Read Ed's review from his blog, Decisions at Sundown: A Blog About Westerns.

Read Rod's review from his blog, This Island Rod.

Read an interesting post from Projections.

Another great post from Confessions of a Film Philistine.