Movie Stats:
Released 1966 (Italy)
Italian, Spanish, & West German, in English (minor, non-translated Spanish)
Director - Sergio Leone
Stars - Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach, Lee Van Cleef
Plot Summary:
Set against the backdrop of the Civil War, two frenemies — Blondie (Eastwood) & Tuco (Wallach) — form an uneasy truce in order to beat another man, Angel Eyes (Van Cleef), to $200,000 in stolen Confederate gold coins.
Warnings:
Extreme violence; minor gore; minor blue language (including a slur uttered in Spanish).
Bad Stuff:
It’s way, way too long (nearly 3 hours). There were many scenes that felt either superfluous to the story or simply bloated.
It appears that some of the actors spoke in their native language (Italian, I’m guessing) and were dubbed over in English. I found it a bit distracting.
Good Stuff:
Loved the cinematography & costuming.
I appreciated the experimental aspects of the film, such as the unusual camera angles, close-up shots, and the fact that the first 10 minutes have no dialogue. You wouldn’t expect a scene of two men silently eating potatoes to provide a lot of tension, but it does.
It’s got a good bit of humor.
About the Performance:
I don’t dislike Eastwood but I can’t say that I ever feel particularly impressed by him, either. He always seems to play the same character: squinty, tough, stoic. Practically emotionless, really, which isn’t all that hard to convey IMO. Granted, I haven’t seen a ton of his films, but the only one I can think of where I glimpsed a bit of range was "Million Dollar Baby." Anyway, I wasn’t blown away, but I did enjoy his performance. He’s good at what he does.
Other performances of Eastwood’s I’ve reviewed: Million Dollar Baby; Unforgiven.
The Verdict:
I liked it. As Westerns go, it was really complete; it kind of had everything: tough-as-nails characters, the struggle to survive, the desert, lust for money, backstabbing, uneasy alliances, plot twists, violence. I mean, really, you name it. It’s an epic for the ages. I particularly enjoyed the scene at the bridge, which the Confederate & Union soldiers fought & died for fruitlessly, which seemed like a commentary about the futility of war in general, thrown in for good measure. However, it’s too damn long. I got really bored after a while. Just not quite my cup of tea.
I give it 3.75 stars.
Thursday, February 28, 2019
Sunday, February 24, 2019
Up with Geography: Estonia
Country Name:
Estonia
Capital:
Tallinn
Continent:
Europe
Maps:
Neighbors:
Russia, Latvia
Water Borders:
Gulf of Riga, Baltic Sea, Gulf of Finland, Lake Peipus, Lake Pskov
Total Area:
17,413 square miles
Five Largest Cities:
Tallinn, Tartu, Narva, Pärnu, Kohtla-Järve
Famous Geographical Point:
Lake Võrtsjärv
Famous Person:
Arvo Pärt, composer
Book Set In/About:
Purge by Sofi Oksanen
An old woman who lives in an isolated cabin in the woods discovers a battered, beaten young woman in her garden one night. She takes the girl in and soon discovers a shocking truth that rockets her into memories of her past.
Movie Set In/About:
“Risttuules (In the Crosswind)” (2014), directed by Martti Helde
Based on a true story, it tells the tale of one Estonian family’s deportation to Siberia (In 1941, thousands of people from the Soviet-occupied Baltic states faced such deportations; the mortality rate of these unlucky souls is estimated at 60%).
Headline of the Day:
“Estonia Celebrates the Independence Day” on estonianworld.com
I felt compelled to choose this headline because today (February 24) is, in fact, Estonian Independence Day. I had no idea! However, I thought I would also mention my favorite headline of the day: “Workers in Estonia Rescue Dog from Icy River, Only to Find out It’s Actually a Wolf” in The News Journal.
Estonia
Capital:
Tallinn
Continent:
Europe
Maps:
 |
| European continent. Estonia outlined in dark ink. |
 |
| A close-up of Estonia & its neighbors. |
Neighbors:
Russia, Latvia
Water Borders:
Gulf of Riga, Baltic Sea, Gulf of Finland, Lake Peipus, Lake Pskov
Total Area:
17,413 square miles
Five Largest Cities:
Tallinn, Tartu, Narva, Pärnu, Kohtla-Järve
Famous Geographical Point:
Lake Võrtsjärv
Famous Person:
Arvo Pärt, composer
Book Set In/About:
Purge by Sofi Oksanen
An old woman who lives in an isolated cabin in the woods discovers a battered, beaten young woman in her garden one night. She takes the girl in and soon discovers a shocking truth that rockets her into memories of her past.
Movie Set In/About:
“Risttuules (In the Crosswind)” (2014), directed by Martti Helde
Based on a true story, it tells the tale of one Estonian family’s deportation to Siberia (In 1941, thousands of people from the Soviet-occupied Baltic states faced such deportations; the mortality rate of these unlucky souls is estimated at 60%).
Headline of the Day:
“Estonia Celebrates the Independence Day” on estonianworld.com
I felt compelled to choose this headline because today (February 24) is, in fact, Estonian Independence Day. I had no idea! However, I thought I would also mention my favorite headline of the day: “Workers in Estonia Rescue Dog from Icy River, Only to Find out It’s Actually a Wolf” in The News Journal.
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Top 50 Actors, #50 - Johnny Depp: "Dead Man" (1995)
Movie Stats:
Released 1995 (France)
American, German & Japanese, in English (significant non-translated Cree)
Director - Jim Jarmusch
Stars - Johnny Depp, Gary Farmer
Plot Summary:
During the 19th century, naive young Cleveland accountant William Blake (Depp) accepts a job in the Wild West town of Machine, only to quickly find himself in trouble. A Native American man by the name of Nobody (Farmer) comes to his aid.
Warnings:
Heavy blue language; extreme violence; extreme gore; sexy times; brief male & female nudity (buttocks only); consensual drug use (peyote).
Bad Stuff:
I really hated the soundtrack (by Neil Young). I found it oppressive and distracting.
There’s more than a whiff of that popular 90s motif: the Native American as noble savage.
The pacing is ponderous.
Good Stuff:
It has a surprising amount of funny moments.
Loved Gary Farmer.
For a movie with so much bloodshed and death, I find it quite beautiful. I think what touches me about this story is Nobody’s compassion. [SPOILER] He finds a stranger on death’s doorstep, nurses him back as close to health as he can get, and ushers him to his inevitable end with humor, grace, and dignity. There’s something unspeakably beautiful in that. [SPOILER]
About the Performance:
I used to love Johnny Depp. But then he played Captain Jack Sparrow (a role I enjoy him in) and forever after that only seemed interested in playing “weirdo” characters. It got old fast. Originally, I was supposed to review “Ed Wood” for this but feared that the characterization would be too close to the weirdo phase of his career for me, so I chose something else. I went with this film because I saw it some 20 years ago & loved it. I remembered it as a good vehicle for him. Upon re-watch, I’m no longer certain that it’s a great showcase of his talents. He spends a lot of the film unconscious. Despite that, I think he does a lovely, understated job of portraying Blake’s growth, including his slow acceptance of his role in life and his fate.
Other performances of Depp’s I’ve reviewed: The Tourist; Platoon.
The Verdict:
This is a 90s indie film through and through. I still liked it upon a third watch (I watched it twice when I rented the VHS all those years ago) but I saw the flaws in it this time that I didn’t see before. I especially wish I could’ve muted the soundtrack. On the other hand, it has a wealth of great cameos, some of which were an utter scream (I especially loved Michael Wincott as bounty hunter Conway Twill & Iggy Pop, Jared Harris, and Billy Bob Thornton as a trio of backwoods weirdos). It’s moving, lyrical, and beautiful. A truly unique film in many ways.
I give it 4 stars.
Released 1995 (France)
American, German & Japanese, in English (significant non-translated Cree)
Director - Jim Jarmusch
Stars - Johnny Depp, Gary Farmer
Plot Summary:
During the 19th century, naive young Cleveland accountant William Blake (Depp) accepts a job in the Wild West town of Machine, only to quickly find himself in trouble. A Native American man by the name of Nobody (Farmer) comes to his aid.
Warnings:
Heavy blue language; extreme violence; extreme gore; sexy times; brief male & female nudity (buttocks only); consensual drug use (peyote).
Bad Stuff:
I really hated the soundtrack (by Neil Young). I found it oppressive and distracting.
There’s more than a whiff of that popular 90s motif: the Native American as noble savage.
The pacing is ponderous.
Good Stuff:
It has a surprising amount of funny moments.
Loved Gary Farmer.
For a movie with so much bloodshed and death, I find it quite beautiful. I think what touches me about this story is Nobody’s compassion. [SPOILER] He finds a stranger on death’s doorstep, nurses him back as close to health as he can get, and ushers him to his inevitable end with humor, grace, and dignity. There’s something unspeakably beautiful in that. [SPOILER]
About the Performance:
I used to love Johnny Depp. But then he played Captain Jack Sparrow (a role I enjoy him in) and forever after that only seemed interested in playing “weirdo” characters. It got old fast. Originally, I was supposed to review “Ed Wood” for this but feared that the characterization would be too close to the weirdo phase of his career for me, so I chose something else. I went with this film because I saw it some 20 years ago & loved it. I remembered it as a good vehicle for him. Upon re-watch, I’m no longer certain that it’s a great showcase of his talents. He spends a lot of the film unconscious. Despite that, I think he does a lovely, understated job of portraying Blake’s growth, including his slow acceptance of his role in life and his fate.
Other performances of Depp’s I’ve reviewed: The Tourist; Platoon.
The Verdict:
This is a 90s indie film through and through. I still liked it upon a third watch (I watched it twice when I rented the VHS all those years ago) but I saw the flaws in it this time that I didn’t see before. I especially wish I could’ve muted the soundtrack. On the other hand, it has a wealth of great cameos, some of which were an utter scream (I especially loved Michael Wincott as bounty hunter Conway Twill & Iggy Pop, Jared Harris, and Billy Bob Thornton as a trio of backwoods weirdos). It’s moving, lyrical, and beautiful. A truly unique film in many ways.
I give it 4 stars.
Monday, February 4, 2019
Up with Geography: Eritrea
Country Name:
Eritrea
Capital:
Asmara
Continent:
Africa
Maps:
Neighbors:
Sudan, Djibouti, Ethiopia
Water Borders:
Red Sea
Total Area:
45,405 square miles
Five Largest Cities:
Asmara, Keren, Teseney, Mendefera, Agordat
Famous Geographical Point:
Dahlak Archipelago
Famous Person:
Michael Adonai, painter
Book Set In/About:
I Didn't Do It for You: How the World Betrayed a Small African Nation by Michela Wrong
A non-fiction book detailing the many abuses Eritrea suffered at the hands of larger nations throughout its history.
Movie Set In/About:
"White Hotel" (2001), directed by Dianne Griffin and Tobi Solvang
A documentary about HIV/AIDS in Eritrea. It was exceedingly difficult to find a movie to fit this category. Eritrea is relatively newly independent (1993) and apparently has no film schools. I wanted to feature a writer/director by the name of Rahel Tewelde but could find no descriptions of her movies online.
Headline of the Day:
"Residents of Badwe Voice Concern Over Handover to Eritrea" in Deutsche Welle
Eritrea
Capital:
Asmara
Continent:
Africa
Maps:
 |
| African continent. Eritrea outlined in dark ink. |
 |
| A close-up of Eritrea & its neighbors. |
Neighbors:
Sudan, Djibouti, Ethiopia
Water Borders:
Red Sea
Total Area:
45,405 square miles
Five Largest Cities:
Asmara, Keren, Teseney, Mendefera, Agordat
Famous Geographical Point:
Dahlak Archipelago
Famous Person:
Michael Adonai, painter
Book Set In/About:
I Didn't Do It for You: How the World Betrayed a Small African Nation by Michela Wrong
A non-fiction book detailing the many abuses Eritrea suffered at the hands of larger nations throughout its history.
Movie Set In/About:
"White Hotel" (2001), directed by Dianne Griffin and Tobi Solvang
A documentary about HIV/AIDS in Eritrea. It was exceedingly difficult to find a movie to fit this category. Eritrea is relatively newly independent (1993) and apparently has no film schools. I wanted to feature a writer/director by the name of Rahel Tewelde but could find no descriptions of her movies online.
Headline of the Day:
"Residents of Badwe Voice Concern Over Handover to Eritrea" in Deutsche Welle