Movie Stats:
Released 1949 (USA)
American, in English
Director - Raoul Walsh
Stars - James Cagney, Margaret Wycherly, Edmond O’Brien
Plot Summary:
A heist caper featuring a remorseless killer — Cody Jarrett (Cagney) — with a mommy complex (Ma is played by Wycherly) who comes to trust a man he maybe shouldn’t trust, Vic Pardo (O’Brien).
Warnings:
Violence.
Bad Stuff:
It has a little too much “movie magic” for me, i.e. absolutely everyone is a crack shot or that one scene where Ma is being followed by the police & a car conveniently backs out of a driveway, blocking the police car following her, etc.
Cody’s wife Verna (Virginia Mayo) is completely superfluous to the plot. She added nothing beyond a pretty face. It would’ve been the same movie without her in it.
Good Stuff:
I enjoyed the cat & mouse nature of it.
The acting is good. I particularly enjoyed all three leads.
I liked the idea that Cody was thoroughly dependent on Ma, and not in a creepy way. She wasn’t his moral compass but his reality compass, making sure that his plans were solid & keeping an eye out for plots against him. Then [SPOILER] as soon as she’s gone, he’s completely incapable of making sound decisions [SPOILER]. I thought it was a nice twist on the genre.
About the Performance:
I don’t think it’s any secret that Cagney played a lot of gangsters. It was kind of his thing. Normally this is something I might complain about here, “Oh, he played the same type of character he always plays!” But I thought there was more nuance to Cody Jarrett than that. Here is this thief and murderer who rules his gang with an iron fist, who executes complex plots, and he needs his mommy to be successful. Watching him unravel was quite fascinating. [SPOILER-y] The scene where he discovers he’s been duped and says, “And we went for it, I went for it,” I absolutely loved his delivery. [SPOILER] I was impressed.
Other performances of Cagney’s I’ve reviewed: Yankee Doodle Dandy; The Public Enemy.
The Verdict:
I thought this would be a fairly standard gangster film but found that it had a little something extra. Perhaps that’s because it came fairly late in the game (old style gangster films had largely fallen out of fashion by the late 40s). I liked that it showcased actual hit-the-pavement police work. I liked how clever & resourceful Pardo was, and the delicate dance he does with Cody. Most of the acting falls on a range from good to impressive. Occasionally, things get a little too convenient in order to move the plot forward, but beyond that, I thought it was both engaging and enjoyable. A really solid film.
I give it 4 stars.
Monday, March 11, 2019
Thursday, February 28, 2019
Top 50 Actors, #49 - Clint Eastwood: "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" (1966)
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.
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.
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
Tuesday, January 29, 2019
Woodland Enchantress Cross Stitch, Progress Report 9
Back on track for updates, hopefully! Here's a reminder of what the cross stitch is supposed to look like when it's done:
Here's what it looked like the last time I updated, in October 2018:
And here's what it looks like now:
Once again, I haven't been keeping up with tracking my hours. I think I'll try to get back to it, because it's actually pretty interesting to see how long it takes. I'm hoping to finish the actual stitching by July, which will be the 3-year mark since I began. After that will be the back stitching to give the picture details, but that's typically not as time or labor intensive.
One problem I've run into is that I've actually run out of floss for a few colors! That's never happened to me before. For the life of me, I can't figure out how to order extra floss from Dimensions, the makers of the kit, so I've had to buy more at a fabric store. The colors don't match exactly. I'm hoping it won't be noticeable.
I'm feeling excited to get this project finished some time this year!
Here's what it looked like the last time I updated, in October 2018:
And here's what it looks like now:
Once again, I haven't been keeping up with tracking my hours. I think I'll try to get back to it, because it's actually pretty interesting to see how long it takes. I'm hoping to finish the actual stitching by July, which will be the 3-year mark since I began. After that will be the back stitching to give the picture details, but that's typically not as time or labor intensive.
One problem I've run into is that I've actually run out of floss for a few colors! That's never happened to me before. For the life of me, I can't figure out how to order extra floss from Dimensions, the makers of the kit, so I've had to buy more at a fabric store. The colors don't match exactly. I'm hoping it won't be noticeable.
I'm feeling excited to get this project finished some time this year!
Tuesday, January 8, 2019
Top Movies of the Year 2018
Click on the Top Movies tag at the bottom to view all the posts on this topic.
During the Great Blog Burnout of 2018, I stopped keeping track of the movies I watched sometime in April. That means, not only do I not have any numbers to share with you, but I also don’t have great recall on what I actually did watch after April. I know that there weren’t a lot of movies that truly spoke to me this year. I remember feeling disappointed a lot, even by some of the year’s most popular movies (“Black Panther,” “A Star Is Born”). At one point, I basically stopped watching movies at all. I’m still watching more TV shows than movies right now.
Anyway, I’ve had to build my top 5 movies list from my incomplete “movies watched” list & my shaky memory, so there were probably better movies I watched last year that I’ve forgotten. (Or maybe not; if I forgot it, could it really have been that good?)
5. “I, Tonya” (2017), directed by Craig Gillespie
This biopic of controversial figure skater Tonya Harding features a lot of excellent performances. A friend (who turned the film off after 10 minutes) felt it was too sympathetic toward her, but I thought it did a good job of showcasing both the hardships of her life and how she created her own hardships.
4. “Coco” (2017), directed by Lee Unkrich & Adrian Molina
An aspiring young musician, trying to understand his family’s ban on music, enters the Land of the Dead in search of his great-great-grandfather, who was a musician himself. This movie is visually stunning and deeply touching. Plus, the music is awesome. I think it could make even a stone cry.
3. “A Star is Born” (1954), directed by George Cukor
A famous actor helps a struggling singer hit the big time. I didn’t hate the 2018 version (both Bradley Cooper & Lady Gaga were fantastic), but I think this version is so much better. The directing is far superior, and I feel like it just makes more sense, especially the “big thing” that happens toward the end. In this version, you could see the film leading to it. In the 2018 version, it kind of came out of nowhere. All comparisons aside, I LOVED this film.
2. “Witness for the Prosecution” (1957), directed by Billy Wilder
A sickly but prominent barrister attempts to save a charismatic man from a murder charge. This is one of the mostly masterfully played out stories I’ve ever had the pleasure of watching. The twist ending completely blindsided me. Everyone is magnificent in this, but no one more so than Marlene Dietrich. Watch this and you’ll understand why she was a star.
1. “Avengers: Infinity War” (2018), directed by Anthony & Joe Russo
Superheroes saving the world from a bad guy, what’s so great about that? That’s pretty much every superhero movie. I guess I was living under a rock because I had no idea this was a 2-parter and I’ve never read the comics, so I wasn’t expecting the ending at all. Beyond that, this movie has action, great performances, humor, drama, stunning visual effects (I love how they do Dr. Strange’s magic), and a good soundtrack. It’s the only movie that I saw that came out in 2018 of which I can say, “I really loved that film!”
During the Great Blog Burnout of 2018, I stopped keeping track of the movies I watched sometime in April. That means, not only do I not have any numbers to share with you, but I also don’t have great recall on what I actually did watch after April. I know that there weren’t a lot of movies that truly spoke to me this year. I remember feeling disappointed a lot, even by some of the year’s most popular movies (“Black Panther,” “A Star Is Born”). At one point, I basically stopped watching movies at all. I’m still watching more TV shows than movies right now.
Anyway, I’ve had to build my top 5 movies list from my incomplete “movies watched” list & my shaky memory, so there were probably better movies I watched last year that I’ve forgotten. (Or maybe not; if I forgot it, could it really have been that good?)
5. “I, Tonya” (2017), directed by Craig Gillespie
This biopic of controversial figure skater Tonya Harding features a lot of excellent performances. A friend (who turned the film off after 10 minutes) felt it was too sympathetic toward her, but I thought it did a good job of showcasing both the hardships of her life and how she created her own hardships.
4. “Coco” (2017), directed by Lee Unkrich & Adrian Molina
An aspiring young musician, trying to understand his family’s ban on music, enters the Land of the Dead in search of his great-great-grandfather, who was a musician himself. This movie is visually stunning and deeply touching. Plus, the music is awesome. I think it could make even a stone cry.
3. “A Star is Born” (1954), directed by George Cukor
A famous actor helps a struggling singer hit the big time. I didn’t hate the 2018 version (both Bradley Cooper & Lady Gaga were fantastic), but I think this version is so much better. The directing is far superior, and I feel like it just makes more sense, especially the “big thing” that happens toward the end. In this version, you could see the film leading to it. In the 2018 version, it kind of came out of nowhere. All comparisons aside, I LOVED this film.
2. “Witness for the Prosecution” (1957), directed by Billy Wilder
A sickly but prominent barrister attempts to save a charismatic man from a murder charge. This is one of the mostly masterfully played out stories I’ve ever had the pleasure of watching. The twist ending completely blindsided me. Everyone is magnificent in this, but no one more so than Marlene Dietrich. Watch this and you’ll understand why she was a star.
1. “Avengers: Infinity War” (2018), directed by Anthony & Joe Russo
Superheroes saving the world from a bad guy, what’s so great about that? That’s pretty much every superhero movie. I guess I was living under a rock because I had no idea this was a 2-parter and I’ve never read the comics, so I wasn’t expecting the ending at all. Beyond that, this movie has action, great performances, humor, drama, stunning visual effects (I love how they do Dr. Strange’s magic), and a good soundtrack. It’s the only movie that I saw that came out in 2018 of which I can say, “I really loved that film!”
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