THE VERDICT - 1982
RATED - R for language. Mostly early in the movie in onc scene a number of 'f' words. Pretty minor after that. No sex or nudity. One incident of violence where a woman is slapped across the face and shown with bloody nose.
RATINGS - 94 Amazon (5/5), 252.718 Netflix (3.8/5), 10,518 IMDB (7.7/10).
STARRING - Paul Newman, Charlotte Rampling, James Mason, Jack Warden.
AWARDS - Five 1983 Academy Award and four Golden Globe nominations including BEST PICTURE and BEST ACTOR.
THEMES - Justice, relationships.
STORY - The film opens with down and out attorney Frank Galvin (Newman) spending his day the way he usually does - with alcohol and playing pin ball games. A former editor of his college law review and partner in a prestigious law firm, he is now an ambulance chaser and alcoholic. A professional lapse in judgment which led to almost being disbarred and to the end of his marriage has taken its toll. A friend and former colleague, Mickey Morrissey (Warden) refers him a 'softball' case which should easily settle out of court with the insurance company for a nice fee. With only ten days before the case goes to court (Frank has forgotten) his conscience starts to bother Frank and he really believes he can go to court and win, contrary to the client's wishes and everyone else's advice. What follows is a fascinating courtroom drama as well as character study. Enough surprises and twists to keep you on the edge of your seat until the end. One of Newman's more overlooked gems. If you like legal thrillers and courtroom drama, this is a classic. Great supporting performances from Mason, Warden and Rampling.
LINKS - IMDB/TRAILER
Saturday, May 29, 2010
THE HUSTLER
THE HUSTLER - 1961
RATED - NR but probably PG-13. Almost every scene involves alcohol and adult topics. There is no foul language, sex or nudity. There is some minor violence, mostly partially hidden or off screen.
RATINGS - 115 Amazon (4.5/5), 337,363 Netflix (4.0/5), 24,464 IMDB (8.2/10)
STARRING - Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason, George Scott, Piper Laurie and Myron McCormick.
AWARDS - Nine Academy Award Nominations including BEST PICTURE, BEST ACTOR, BEST ACTRESS and two BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR. BAFTA BEST PICTURE award and several Golden Globe nominations including BEST ACTOR.
THEMES - Relationships, justice.
STORY - The film opens with a typical scene in a day of the lives of 'Fast Eddie' (Newman) and Charlie (McCormick). Another small town stop pretending to be salesman with car trouble on their way to a sales award convention so they need to spend a few hours at the local pool hall while their car is being worked on. They go into their routine to 'setup' the locals for the big hustle and at the end of the day the locals are a few hundred dollars lighter. The ultimate goal is to 'hustle' the mighty one, Minnesota Fats (Gleason) who hasn't been beaten in 15 years. The big match lasts 36 grueling hours and several bottles of booze. The cocky, swaggering Eddie has met his match but it wasn't the pool skills that did him in. Can he recover or is he the 'born loser' that Bert Gordon (Scott), the 'Fat Man's manager and professional gambler, accuses him of being? Sarah (Laurie) enters the picture and can two 'born losers' rehabilitate each other? The acting is outstanding by all five main characters and the settings in seedy bars, bus stations and pool halls genuinely gives the feeling of life in another world where day to day survival is fueled by alcohol and nicotine and petty pursuits. Can anyone pull themselves out of this environment or are they destined to be 'born losers'? Human nature at its most raw and vulnerable. One of Newman's great performances along with Gleason, Scott and Laurie. A classic!!!
LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB/TRAILER
RATED - NR but probably PG-13. Almost every scene involves alcohol and adult topics. There is no foul language, sex or nudity. There is some minor violence, mostly partially hidden or off screen.
RATINGS - 115 Amazon (4.5/5), 337,363 Netflix (4.0/5), 24,464 IMDB (8.2/10)
STARRING - Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason, George Scott, Piper Laurie and Myron McCormick.
AWARDS - Nine Academy Award Nominations including BEST PICTURE, BEST ACTOR, BEST ACTRESS and two BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR. BAFTA BEST PICTURE award and several Golden Globe nominations including BEST ACTOR.
THEMES - Relationships, justice.
STORY - The film opens with a typical scene in a day of the lives of 'Fast Eddie' (Newman) and Charlie (McCormick). Another small town stop pretending to be salesman with car trouble on their way to a sales award convention so they need to spend a few hours at the local pool hall while their car is being worked on. They go into their routine to 'setup' the locals for the big hustle and at the end of the day the locals are a few hundred dollars lighter. The ultimate goal is to 'hustle' the mighty one, Minnesota Fats (Gleason) who hasn't been beaten in 15 years. The big match lasts 36 grueling hours and several bottles of booze. The cocky, swaggering Eddie has met his match but it wasn't the pool skills that did him in. Can he recover or is he the 'born loser' that Bert Gordon (Scott), the 'Fat Man's manager and professional gambler, accuses him of being? Sarah (Laurie) enters the picture and can two 'born losers' rehabilitate each other? The acting is outstanding by all five main characters and the settings in seedy bars, bus stations and pool halls genuinely gives the feeling of life in another world where day to day survival is fueled by alcohol and nicotine and petty pursuits. Can anyone pull themselves out of this environment or are they destined to be 'born losers'? Human nature at its most raw and vulnerable. One of Newman's great performances along with Gleason, Scott and Laurie. A classic!!!
LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB/TRAILER
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
THE SECRETS OF JONATHAN SPERRY
THE SECRETS OF JONATHAN SPERRY - 2008
RATED - PG for mild thematic elements. VERY family friendly.
RATINGS - 4 Amazon (5/5), 5,036 Netflix (3.7/5), 89 IMDB (6.1/10).
STARRING - Gavin MacLeod (The Love Boat) as Jonathan Sperry, Jansen Panettiere as Dustin. Directed by Rich Christiano.
THEMES - Spirituality, relationships.
STORY - First of all, I love films where faith plays an important role in the story and where it fits into the movie but is not necessarily the center of the narrative. The latter tend to come across as sermons disguised as movies or books or whatever. This film has too much of that. The only thing missing was the altar call and I don't say that to be overly critical. For being set in 1970 it still comes across as too much like Leave It To Beaver. The 'good' kids seems a little too good and the 'bad' dude seems a little too good, also. In not wanting to offend the 'church' audience they sanitize it to the point it doesn't seem real. The bullies I remember used language that offended and other gestures that conveyed less than holy thoughts. Even good kids didn't always have it together or behave appropriately all the time. While the acting is pretty decent and it has warm fuzzies, it just doesn't come across as a realistic portrayal of the way life happens even to those whose faith is a priority in their life. Is it a waste of time? No, it has its merits and there are several meaningful lessons to be considered by viewers. Many will be inspired by the message of the film. There is nothing wrong with the movie, it's just that I would love to see people of faith concentrate on developing great stories where faith fits naturally into the story instead of developing a message and trying to fit it into a movie. There is a difference and the difference is between a realisic portrayal of life and what we would like to imagine life to be like. This is a film that has a message but ultimately it will probably 'preach to the choir'.
LINKS - IMDB/TRAILER
RATED - PG for mild thematic elements. VERY family friendly.
RATINGS - 4 Amazon (5/5), 5,036 Netflix (3.7/5), 89 IMDB (6.1/10).
STARRING - Gavin MacLeod (The Love Boat) as Jonathan Sperry, Jansen Panettiere as Dustin. Directed by Rich Christiano.
THEMES - Spirituality, relationships.
STORY - First of all, I love films where faith plays an important role in the story and where it fits into the movie but is not necessarily the center of the narrative. The latter tend to come across as sermons disguised as movies or books or whatever. This film has too much of that. The only thing missing was the altar call and I don't say that to be overly critical. For being set in 1970 it still comes across as too much like Leave It To Beaver. The 'good' kids seems a little too good and the 'bad' dude seems a little too good, also. In not wanting to offend the 'church' audience they sanitize it to the point it doesn't seem real. The bullies I remember used language that offended and other gestures that conveyed less than holy thoughts. Even good kids didn't always have it together or behave appropriately all the time. While the acting is pretty decent and it has warm fuzzies, it just doesn't come across as a realistic portrayal of the way life happens even to those whose faith is a priority in their life. Is it a waste of time? No, it has its merits and there are several meaningful lessons to be considered by viewers. Many will be inspired by the message of the film. There is nothing wrong with the movie, it's just that I would love to see people of faith concentrate on developing great stories where faith fits naturally into the story instead of developing a message and trying to fit it into a movie. There is a difference and the difference is between a realisic portrayal of life and what we would like to imagine life to be like. This is a film that has a message but ultimately it will probably 'preach to the choir'.
LINKS - IMDB/TRAILER
Saturday, May 8, 2010
THE SONG OF SPARROWS
THE SONG OF SPARROWS - 2008
RATED - PG for mild language. Very family friendly.
RATINGS - 2 Amazon (4/5), 9.536 Netflix (3.5/5), 781 IMDB (7.6/10).
STARRING - Directed by Majid Majidi who also directed the Academy Award winning CHILDREN OF HEAVEN and THE COLOR OF PARADISE.
AWARDS - Six wins and two nominations at various major film festivals. The Iranian entry for Academy Award category Best Foreign Language Film.
THEMES - Relationships, spirituality.
STORY - This is the story of Karim, the rural Iranian father of a deaf teen-aged daughter and two younger children. When, at the same time, he loses his job on an Ostrich ranch and his daughter loses her hearing aid right before important school exams, he heads to Tehran on his motorbike to look for work. By accident, he becomes a motorbike taxi driver and begins to make more money than he ever dreamed of. But he also begins to change as his desire for things and his ethics collide. Having promised his wife that the first priority would be to replace their daughter's hearing aid, he finds himself tempted by the material life he now has access to. Several heart breaking incidents cause him to examine what he has become. While the story/parable may be familiar, what is special is the way Majidi presents it. The dialogue is minimal letting the non-verbal actions of the characters speak for themselves as well as the great cinematography. Unlike many (not all)American films, it does not insult your intelligence with shallow dialogue and unnecessary action. Majidi really develops the characters into believable human beings. Reza Naji is great as Karim and the children in the film are so delightful and photogenic. And if you enjoy learning about and experiencing other cultures, it is a great window into Iranian culture, in this case, both rural and urban. With most of us only getting the sound bites about Iran we hear on radio or TV, this will give an insight into the real people and culture.
LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB/TRAILER
Saturday, May 1, 2010
BASEBALL - A FILM BY KEN BURNS
BASEBALL - 1994
RATED - NR but probably G/PG for some thematic elements.
RATINGS - 179 Amazon (4.5/5), 68,259 Netflix (4.0/5), 1228 IMDB (9.2/10).
STARRING - Every well known and not so well known baseball player who has contributed to the success of the sport since its beginning.
STORY - This is Ken Burns' epic series on the history of baseball. It is 10 discs for a total of about 20 hours. You don't have to watch them all and you don't have to watch in the chronological order they were produced but once you start it is hard to stop. Even those who may consider themselves marginal baseball fans can enjoy this amazing series. Baseball is so much a part of the history of our country since it began in the 1850's - yes, that's right they played baseball during the Civil War. Sometimes it reflects our culture (racial discrimination until Jackie Robinson) and sometimes it creates culture (hundreds of leagues at all ages playing the game in the beginning). Nobody does documentaries about our life in America better than Ken Burns and he is at his best with BASEBALL. He does a great job of bringing in political and cultural influences on the sport. The sport of baseball and particularly professional baseball does not exist in a vacuum and is subject to the same outside influences as any other institution in America. And, yes, there really was some good in the 'good old days' but there was also a lot that needed fixing and you will experience both during this series. As someone who once stood countless times along the chalk baseline in a straight row with teammates and sang the National Anthem waiting to hear the umpire say 'let's play ball', I can honestly say this is a priceless story of the game of baseball. Thanks, Ken Burns, for helping all of us understand why baseball is America's pastime and so much a part of American life. And for all those whose overly efficient mothers threw out their boxes of baseball cards when they went away to college, this is for you. And for all those sisters (I know at least four) who had to watch hundreds of their brothers' games growing up, this may help you to understand why he was so passionate about the game. Enjoy!!
LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB
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