Movie Stats:
Released 1983 (USA)
American, in English (significant Spanish, mostly non-translated)
Director - Brian De Palma
Stars - Al Pacino, Steve Bauer, Michelle Pfeiffer
Plot Summary:
Set in 1980s Miami, after arriving as a “boat person,” Cuban immigrant Tony Montana (Pacino) experiences a meteoric rise up the ranks of a drug cartel. Bauer co-stars as Tony’s BFF Manny & Pfeiffer as Tony’s love interest, Elvira.
Warnings:
Extreme violence; extreme gore; heavy blue language; brief female nudity (breasts & butt); heavy consensual drug use (mostly cocaine).
Bad Stuff:
Most of the actors playing Cubans are not, in fact, of Cuban descent (or even Latinx descent for that matter).
It’s just a little bit too long.
The end scene is pretty over-the-top ridiculous. I also thought it didn’t make a whole lot of sense. [SPOILER] I mean, this guy spends millions of dollars on security and his system is that easy to defeat? Like anybody can just jump over the wall? Seemed like an overly convenient plot device to make sure Tony could have his now-famous last stand. [SPOILER]
Good Stuff:
With one exception (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, as Tony’s sister, Gina) the acting was very good.
I liked the overarching theme, how it played with the idea that what one wants and what one needs can often be two entirely different things.
I enjoyed the character of Tony, as reprehensible as he was. He’s not a genius. He’s not a criminal mastermind. He’s a guy who knows what it’s like to be at the bottom & he’ll do anything to keep from going back there. That felt real to me.
About the Performance:
After watching “Heat,” I was worried about seeing another Pacino film. I agonized over whether to watch this or “Scent of a Woman.” But I’ve never been interested in Woman, and I figured, if Pacino went all AL PACINO in this, at least it made sense for a guy involved in the cocaine business. In the end, I quite liked him in this role. There’s a quiet, coiled sense of danger about Tony through the whole film. You know he’s going to explode and you sit there in tension, waiting for that moment when it bursts forth. It was well done. There are times when he turns into a screaming maniac but those scenes felt natural. It reminded me of why people consider Pacino a great actor.
Other performances of Pacino’s I’ve reviewed: The Godfather; The Godfather: Part II; Heat.
The Verdict:
I actually liked this film a lot. It’s not a cinematic masterpiece or anything, but it’s entertaining. My husband found it slow. I liked that about it. The tension ratchets up and up as the film goes along. By now, most of us are familiar with that famous last scene, whether we’ve seen the movie before or not, so you know it’s coming and you feel a bit breathless, wondering how things are going to get there. I was even impressed by the underlying message, which I wouldn’t have expected from a film of this caliber: getting to the top doesn’t matter if you haven’t taken the time to work on yourself because unhappiness follows you wherever you go. I suspect lots of people enjoy this film because they dream of going out in a blaze of glory but I liked it for its philosophical musings.
I give it 4 stars.
Tuesday, September 3, 2019
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Up with Geography: Gabon
Country Name:
Gabon
Capital:
Libreville
Continent:
Africa
Maps:
Neighbors:
Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo
Water Borders:
Atlantic Ocean
Total Area:
103,347 square miles
Five Largest Cities:
Libreville, Mandji (Port-Gentil), Masuku (Franceville), Oyem, Moanda
Famous Geographical Point:
Cristal Mountains
Famous Person:
Yann Ulrich Stéphane Lasme, basketball player
Book Set In/About:
The Fury and Cries of Women by Angèle Rawiri
Set in 1980s Gabon, it’s the tale of one woman’s quest to discover herself and define womanhood in the crossroads between modernity and tradition.
Movie Set In/About:
“The Rhythm of My Life: Ismael Sankara” (2011), directed by Franck A. Onouviet & Marc A. Tchicot
This documentary short follows an American-based rapper who goes to Gabon and stumbles across the project of his dreams.
Headline of the Day:
“Gabon: Journalists Unhappy with Media Regulator” in africanews.com.
Gabon
Capital:
Libreville
Continent:
Africa
Maps:
 |
| African continent. Gabon outlined in dark ink. |
 |
| A close-up of Gabon & its neighbors. |
Neighbors:
Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo
Water Borders:
Atlantic Ocean
Total Area:
103,347 square miles
Five Largest Cities:
Libreville, Mandji (Port-Gentil), Masuku (Franceville), Oyem, Moanda
Famous Geographical Point:
Cristal Mountains
Famous Person:
Yann Ulrich Stéphane Lasme, basketball player
Book Set In/About:
The Fury and Cries of Women by Angèle Rawiri
Set in 1980s Gabon, it’s the tale of one woman’s quest to discover herself and define womanhood in the crossroads between modernity and tradition.
Movie Set In/About:
“The Rhythm of My Life: Ismael Sankara” (2011), directed by Franck A. Onouviet & Marc A. Tchicot
This documentary short follows an American-based rapper who goes to Gabon and stumbles across the project of his dreams.
Headline of the Day:
“Gabon: Journalists Unhappy with Media Regulator” in africanews.com.
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
Top 50 Actors, #37 - Edward G. Robinson: "Key Largo" (1948)
Movie Stats:
Released 1948 (USA)
American, in English
Director - John Huston
Stars - Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Lionel Barrymore, Edward G. Robinson
Plot Summary:
On his way to Key West, Frank McCloud (Bogart) stops in to visit the family of a friend he lost during WWII — Nora Temple (Bacall), the dead man’s widow, and James Temple (Barrymore), his father — and finds they’re all trapped in a hotel with notorious gangster Johnny Rocco (Robinson) & his goons during a hurricane.
Warnings:
Violence.
Bad Stuff:
As is typical of films of this era, the treatment of the Native American characters isn’t exactly culturally sensitive.
I thought it was a bit boring. Lots of pontificating.
I didn’t care for the score, especially not the “romantic” music at the end, which felt out of place.
Good Stuff:
All the acting is top notch. I felt Bogart and Claire Trevor (as Johnny’s dame, Gaye Dawn) were the standouts.
It does a good job of building a tense atmosphere. Most of the action takes place in just one or two rooms, giving the film a claustrophobic feel.
I enjoyed the complexity of the relationship between Rocco and Dawn. It had the whole Madonna/whore vibe. Rocco liked her when he “found” her on the chorus line, young and innocent. Now that his influence has corrupted her, he finds her disgusting. It’s frustrating, but it’s well played by the actors.
About the Performance:
I like Robinson. I felt he did a good job with the nuances of the character. Rocco isn’t likable; I wouldn’t say he has any redeeming qualities. At the same time, he didn’t seem pure evil to me, either. He’s unsavory. Robinson portrays that well through Rocco’s smarm and ego. He made me feel exactly what I was supposed to feel for the character: revulsion.
Other performances of Robinson’s I’ve reviewed: Soylent Green; Double Indemnity.
The Verdict:
I didn’t love it. As mentioned above, a large portion of the film is just McCloud and Rocco metaphorically waving their wangs at each other. I don’t really care for that in movies (or in real life for that matter). It’s pretty ho hum to me. Also, I didn’t find McCloud’s rapid close relationship with the Temples especially believable. However, I did admire the film’s ability to create tense, dramatic moments and there were a lot of great performances. I don’t think I’ll ever watch it again, but I could see why a person might add it to a list of their favorites.
I give it 3.5 stars.
Released 1948 (USA)
American, in English
Director - John Huston
Stars - Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Lionel Barrymore, Edward G. Robinson
Plot Summary:
On his way to Key West, Frank McCloud (Bogart) stops in to visit the family of a friend he lost during WWII — Nora Temple (Bacall), the dead man’s widow, and James Temple (Barrymore), his father — and finds they’re all trapped in a hotel with notorious gangster Johnny Rocco (Robinson) & his goons during a hurricane.
Warnings:
Violence.
Bad Stuff:
As is typical of films of this era, the treatment of the Native American characters isn’t exactly culturally sensitive.
I thought it was a bit boring. Lots of pontificating.
I didn’t care for the score, especially not the “romantic” music at the end, which felt out of place.
Good Stuff:
All the acting is top notch. I felt Bogart and Claire Trevor (as Johnny’s dame, Gaye Dawn) were the standouts.
It does a good job of building a tense atmosphere. Most of the action takes place in just one or two rooms, giving the film a claustrophobic feel.
I enjoyed the complexity of the relationship between Rocco and Dawn. It had the whole Madonna/whore vibe. Rocco liked her when he “found” her on the chorus line, young and innocent. Now that his influence has corrupted her, he finds her disgusting. It’s frustrating, but it’s well played by the actors.
About the Performance:
I like Robinson. I felt he did a good job with the nuances of the character. Rocco isn’t likable; I wouldn’t say he has any redeeming qualities. At the same time, he didn’t seem pure evil to me, either. He’s unsavory. Robinson portrays that well through Rocco’s smarm and ego. He made me feel exactly what I was supposed to feel for the character: revulsion.
Other performances of Robinson’s I’ve reviewed: Soylent Green; Double Indemnity.
The Verdict:
I didn’t love it. As mentioned above, a large portion of the film is just McCloud and Rocco metaphorically waving their wangs at each other. I don’t really care for that in movies (or in real life for that matter). It’s pretty ho hum to me. Also, I didn’t find McCloud’s rapid close relationship with the Temples especially believable. However, I did admire the film’s ability to create tense, dramatic moments and there were a lot of great performances. I don’t think I’ll ever watch it again, but I could see why a person might add it to a list of their favorites.
I give it 3.5 stars.
Monday, August 19, 2019
Up with U.S. Geography: Oregon
Oregon is the sixth of the eight states I've lived in to make the list! I lived there for for nine years, from 1998 - 2007. Never thought I was going to leave but sometimes these things happen when you fall in love.
State Name:
Oregon
Capital:
Salem
Date of Entry:
February 14, 1859
Maps:
Neighbors:
Washington, Idaho, Nevada, California
Water Borders:
Pacific Ocean, Columbia River
Total Area:
98,381 square miles
Five Largest Cities:
Portland, Salem, Eugene, Gresham, Hillsboro
Famous Geographical Point:
Crater Lake
State Nickname:
The Beaver State. Back when fur hats were "in," they were often made from beaver pelts, a lot of which came from Oregon. Note: Oregon’s legislature has never approved an official nickname, but this is the state’s widely accepted unofficial one.
Famous Person:
Matt Groening, cartoonist, writer, producer, voice actor (creator of "The Simpsons")
Book Set In/About:
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
After faking insanity for a lighter sentence, criminal McMurphy matches wits against the evil Nurse Ratched.
Movie Set In/About:
"The Goonies" (1985), directed by Richard Donner
A group of kids go on a treasure hunt in order to save their neighborhood from a land developer. Definitely not the best movie set/filmed in Oregon, but it includes some very iconic Oregon scenery, which is why I chose it.
Headline of the Day:
"Oregon Has Way Too Much Legal Weed. This Is Where It's Going" in Vice.
State Name:
Oregon
Capital:
Salem
Date of Entry:
February 14, 1859
Maps:
 |
| Map of USA. Oregon outlined in dark ink. |
 |
| A close-up of Oregon & its neighbors. |
Washington, Idaho, Nevada, California
Water Borders:
Pacific Ocean, Columbia River
Total Area:
98,381 square miles
Five Largest Cities:
Portland, Salem, Eugene, Gresham, Hillsboro
Famous Geographical Point:
Crater Lake
State Nickname:
The Beaver State. Back when fur hats were "in," they were often made from beaver pelts, a lot of which came from Oregon. Note: Oregon’s legislature has never approved an official nickname, but this is the state’s widely accepted unofficial one.
Famous Person:
Matt Groening, cartoonist, writer, producer, voice actor (creator of "The Simpsons")
Book Set In/About:
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
After faking insanity for a lighter sentence, criminal McMurphy matches wits against the evil Nurse Ratched.
Movie Set In/About:
"The Goonies" (1985), directed by Richard Donner
A group of kids go on a treasure hunt in order to save their neighborhood from a land developer. Definitely not the best movie set/filmed in Oregon, but it includes some very iconic Oregon scenery, which is why I chose it.
Headline of the Day:
"Oregon Has Way Too Much Legal Weed. This Is Where It's Going" in Vice.
Sunday, August 18, 2019
Top 50 Actors, #38 - Robert DeNiro: "Heat" (1995)
Movie Stats:
Released 1995 (USA)
American, in English
Director - Michael Mann
Stars - Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro
Plot Summary:
A professional crew of thieves, led by Neil McCauley (DeNiro), plays cat and mouse with the LAPD, led by Lt. Vincent Hanna (Pacino).
Warnings:
Extreme violence; gore; heavy blue language; implied sexy times.
Bad Stuff:
It’s way too long (nearly 3 hours) with too many superfluous storylines that don’t advance the plot, like the stuff with Vincent’s stepdaughter Lauren (Natalie Portman) or the violent extracurricular activities of Neil’s former teammate Waingro (Kevin Gage).
Pacino’s scenery chewing acting is so out of control I literally laughed during moments that weren’t funny.
Amy Brennerman’s (as Neil’s love interest Eady) terribly done accent is an affront to all Southern accents (it took me a long time to realize it was even supposed to be Southern).
Good Stuff:
I liked the interplay between Neil and Vincent, especially the diner scene.
I enjoyed its message about choosing a path in life that is all-consuming and how it drew the parallel between the criminal life and the cop life. Both Neil and Vincent are addicted to the thrill of a big score; the only difference is in the score. It’s a message that could’ve been heavy-handed but wasn’t.
Neil is a good character, a believable character, and DeNiro plays him well.
About the Performance:
I really liked DeNiro in this. I don’t want to say he played out of type because he’s played a lot of criminals but there was something different about Neil. He’s tough but he’s not a wiseguy. He’s dangerous but not crazy. He’s cool, calculated, taciturn. The movie tells you nothing about his past and yet you find you can picture it, all the little moments that led him to be the kind of man who sets a serious set of rules for himself and generally moves with caution. DeNiro manages to convey a lot while saying little. It’s especially noticeable how understated he his when you compare his performance to Pacino's.
Other performances of DeNiro’s I’ve reviewed: Casino; Goodfellas; Brazil; Raging Bull; The Deer Hunter; Taxi Driver; The Godfather: Part II.
The Verdict:
As you can see, I’ve reviewed a lot of DeNiro’s films. In fact, there’s only one other actor I’ve reviewed as much as him. I had a difficult time finding a highly rated film of his I hadn’t already reviewed. Originally, I chose “Once Upon a Time in America.” My enthusiasm dimmed once I saw it’s nearly 4 hours long. I still tried to watch it but gave up after an hour (hated it). My husband owns “Heat,” has been trying to get me to watch it for years, so I thought I’d finally give it a shot. I wasn’t wowed. It’s definitely too long. I hated the subplots. And all the female characters sucked. On the other hand, I liked the main plot, the movie’s themes, and DeNiro’s acting. In the end, I decided to give it a low-end, middle-of-the-pack rating.
I give it 3.25 stars.
Released 1995 (USA)
American, in English
Director - Michael Mann
Stars - Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro
Plot Summary:
A professional crew of thieves, led by Neil McCauley (DeNiro), plays cat and mouse with the LAPD, led by Lt. Vincent Hanna (Pacino).
Warnings:
Extreme violence; gore; heavy blue language; implied sexy times.
Bad Stuff:
It’s way too long (nearly 3 hours) with too many superfluous storylines that don’t advance the plot, like the stuff with Vincent’s stepdaughter Lauren (Natalie Portman) or the violent extracurricular activities of Neil’s former teammate Waingro (Kevin Gage).
Pacino’s scenery chewing acting is so out of control I literally laughed during moments that weren’t funny.
Amy Brennerman’s (as Neil’s love interest Eady) terribly done accent is an affront to all Southern accents (it took me a long time to realize it was even supposed to be Southern).
Good Stuff:
I liked the interplay between Neil and Vincent, especially the diner scene.
I enjoyed its message about choosing a path in life that is all-consuming and how it drew the parallel between the criminal life and the cop life. Both Neil and Vincent are addicted to the thrill of a big score; the only difference is in the score. It’s a message that could’ve been heavy-handed but wasn’t.
Neil is a good character, a believable character, and DeNiro plays him well.
About the Performance:
I really liked DeNiro in this. I don’t want to say he played out of type because he’s played a lot of criminals but there was something different about Neil. He’s tough but he’s not a wiseguy. He’s dangerous but not crazy. He’s cool, calculated, taciturn. The movie tells you nothing about his past and yet you find you can picture it, all the little moments that led him to be the kind of man who sets a serious set of rules for himself and generally moves with caution. DeNiro manages to convey a lot while saying little. It’s especially noticeable how understated he his when you compare his performance to Pacino's.
Other performances of DeNiro’s I’ve reviewed: Casino; Goodfellas; Brazil; Raging Bull; The Deer Hunter; Taxi Driver; The Godfather: Part II.
The Verdict:
As you can see, I’ve reviewed a lot of DeNiro’s films. In fact, there’s only one other actor I’ve reviewed as much as him. I had a difficult time finding a highly rated film of his I hadn’t already reviewed. Originally, I chose “Once Upon a Time in America.” My enthusiasm dimmed once I saw it’s nearly 4 hours long. I still tried to watch it but gave up after an hour (hated it). My husband owns “Heat,” has been trying to get me to watch it for years, so I thought I’d finally give it a shot. I wasn’t wowed. It’s definitely too long. I hated the subplots. And all the female characters sucked. On the other hand, I liked the main plot, the movie’s themes, and DeNiro’s acting. In the end, I decided to give it a low-end, middle-of-the-pack rating.
I give it 3.25 stars.
Friday, August 9, 2019
Woodland Enchantress Cross Stitch, Project Report 11
Time for a cross stitch update!
Here's a reminder of what it's supposed to look like when it's done:
Here's what it looked like the last time I updated, in April 2019:
And here's what it looks like now:
This represents 36.50 hours of work. I pushed really hard to finish the regular stitching by July, as that marked 3 years since I began the project. I did meet that deadline, and even started the back stitching in July, but stopped pretty early on in the month. I'm in a place where I'm using brown thread to outline on brown stitches, black to outline on black, etc., and it's very difficult to see what I'm doing even in natural light. I needed a break. In the picture, the back stitching I've done so far is most noticeable in her hands/cuffs and her face.
Here's a reminder of what it's supposed to look like when it's done:
Here's what it looked like the last time I updated, in April 2019:
And here's what it looks like now:
This represents 36.50 hours of work. I pushed really hard to finish the regular stitching by July, as that marked 3 years since I began the project. I did meet that deadline, and even started the back stitching in July, but stopped pretty early on in the month. I'm in a place where I'm using brown thread to outline on brown stitches, black to outline on black, etc., and it's very difficult to see what I'm doing even in natural light. I needed a break. In the picture, the back stitching I've done so far is most noticeable in her hands/cuffs and her face.
Wednesday, August 7, 2019
Top 50 Actors, #39 - Errol Flynn: "The Adventures of Robin Hood" (1938)
Movie Stats:
Released 1938 (USA)
American, in English
Directors - Michael Curtiz & William Keighley
Stars - Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Basil Rathbone, Claude Rains
Plot Summary:
While the rightful king is being held prisoner during the Crusades, his brother Prince John (Rains) takes over the throne with the help of lackey Guy of Gisbourne (Rathbone) and terrorizes the lower classes. Only Robin of Locksley (Flynn) is man enough to stand up to him. De Havilland co-stars as Robin’s love interest, Lady Marian.
Warnings:
Violence; sexual assault.
Bad Stuff:
It’s pretty cheesy. The laughing is so over the top!
It’s very gaudy. I think it’s one of the earliest films shot in Technicolor. It’s like they wanted to put every color in every scene because they could.
The sound mixing isn’t great. Some of the dialogue is muffled.
Good Stuff:
It’s quite funny, although I could’ve done without all the fat jokes.
The fight/action scenes are awesome! Very thrilling.
I like how cheerful & good-natured it is.
About the Performance:
This is literally the only film of Flynn’s I’ve seen. I have the impression that he’s kind of the same in everything but I can’t say for sure without any other performances for comparison. I thought he did well in this. He’s handsome & charming. This is not your modern-day Robin Hood and I think Flynn had the right sort of “feel" for this more light-hearted version. However, I wasn’t blow away.
Other performances of Flynn’s I’ve reviewed: none.
The Verdict:
I like this film. It’s fun and sweet. Nowadays, this story is given the “gritty” treatment. There’s something I really appreciated about it being told from an upbeat perspective. It lacks drama, which I mean in a good way. Robin Hood is, I think, universally appealing. We all like the idea of a man who stands up for the downtrodden. That’s probably why this story has been filmed so many times. This particular movie has a lot of Hollywood heavy hitters, all of whom do a fine job. If you choose to watch this, I think you’ll be very entertained.
I give it 4 stars.
Released 1938 (USA)
American, in English
Directors - Michael Curtiz & William Keighley
Stars - Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Basil Rathbone, Claude Rains
Plot Summary:
While the rightful king is being held prisoner during the Crusades, his brother Prince John (Rains) takes over the throne with the help of lackey Guy of Gisbourne (Rathbone) and terrorizes the lower classes. Only Robin of Locksley (Flynn) is man enough to stand up to him. De Havilland co-stars as Robin’s love interest, Lady Marian.
Warnings:
Violence; sexual assault.
Bad Stuff:
It’s pretty cheesy. The laughing is so over the top!
It’s very gaudy. I think it’s one of the earliest films shot in Technicolor. It’s like they wanted to put every color in every scene because they could.
The sound mixing isn’t great. Some of the dialogue is muffled.
Good Stuff:
It’s quite funny, although I could’ve done without all the fat jokes.
The fight/action scenes are awesome! Very thrilling.
I like how cheerful & good-natured it is.
About the Performance:
This is literally the only film of Flynn’s I’ve seen. I have the impression that he’s kind of the same in everything but I can’t say for sure without any other performances for comparison. I thought he did well in this. He’s handsome & charming. This is not your modern-day Robin Hood and I think Flynn had the right sort of “feel" for this more light-hearted version. However, I wasn’t blow away.
Other performances of Flynn’s I’ve reviewed: none.
The Verdict:
I like this film. It’s fun and sweet. Nowadays, this story is given the “gritty” treatment. There’s something I really appreciated about it being told from an upbeat perspective. It lacks drama, which I mean in a good way. Robin Hood is, I think, universally appealing. We all like the idea of a man who stands up for the downtrodden. That’s probably why this story has been filmed so many times. This particular movie has a lot of Hollywood heavy hitters, all of whom do a fine job. If you choose to watch this, I think you’ll be very entertained.
I give it 4 stars.
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