CONSPIRACY

CONSPIRACY - 2001

RATED - R for language. Not the worst I've heard but take it seriously.

RATINGS - 113 Amazon (4.5/5), 62,678 (3.6/5), 4,997 (7.8/10)

AWARDS - Many awards & nominations including Emmy, Golden Globe and Peabody. AWARDS

THEMES - Evil, pure and simple.

STORY - This film is another relatively unknown HBO made for TV gem. It is based on the minutes of an actual meeting in 1942 of Nazi Department Heads. All the notes were to have been destroyed but one copy survived. This was a meeting convened by Adolf Eichmann in a suburban mansion outside Berlin. The agenda: what to do about the Jewish storage problem. With the Nazi war machine devouring the German treasury, they had to make a decision about all the Jews in work camps that were becoming very expensive to maintain. Until this point, there had been no overall German plan for dealing with the 'Jewish problem'. This meeting determined the fate of millions of Jewish citizens. The film does not try to sensationalize or over dramatize this event. In many ways, it comes across as a corporate board of directors meeting or cabinet level meeting for government. Evil can be so cold and calculating and seemingly rational. This is a reminder that evil does not always or often come in frenzied, worked up packages but often through the distorted worldview of 'normal' people like all of us. A well done, tightly scripted movie with excellent performances by the cast that will give you chills when you consider the ramifications of one hour of time with these 15 men. The setting (basically one room) and intensity remind me of 12 ANGRY MEN. Watch a piece of history that changed our world forever. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 03/14/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

THE ISLAND ON BIRD STREET

THE ISLAND ON BIRD STREET - 1997

RATED - PG-13 for violence. Not graphic. Family approved by the Dove Foundation.

RATINGS - 5 Amazon (4.5/5), 8,169 Netflix (3.7/5), 518 IMDB (7.1/10).

AWARDS - Numerous wins and nominations including 3 Emmy Awards.

THEMES - Relationships, justice, discrimination.

STORY - Based on a true story during WWII in Warsaw, Poland, it is the survival of an eleven year old Jewish boy separated from his father and uncle who are taken to work camps, from which no one returns. He has three things to sustain him: his pet white mouse, Snow; the book Robinson Crusoe; the promise of his father that he will return. The Nazis regularly patrol the bombed out buildings in the ghetto looking for stray Jews who may have escaped their clutches. It's survival in its most basic form. This overlooked film tells the amazing story of the imagination and wits of this 11 year old as lives day to day trying to survive against all odds. Ala Robinson Crusoe, he establishes a loft for himself in a bombed out building and uses every instinct he has to stay alive and not get captured. A fascinating story and well done film. Great camera work and editing. The many twists and turns in the story will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. Strong performance by Jordan Kiziuk as the 11 year old Alex.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, THE BOOK

49TH PARALLEL

49TH PARALLEL - 1942

RATED - NR but probably PG

RATINGS - 19 Amazon (4.5/5), 5,920 Netflix (3.5/5), 1,399 IMDB (7.5/10).

STARRING - Laurence Olivier, Raymond Massey, Anton Walbrook & Leslie Howard.

AWARDS - Academy Award for BEST WRITING, ORIGINAL STORY and nominated for BEST PICTURE and BEST WRITING, SCREEN PLAY.

THEMES - War, propaganda, relationships.

STORY - First of all, this Criterion-restored version is a great quality picture, clean and crisp. Second, it is a movie with an ulterior motive, that of getting the then-neutral USA into the war. While I don't think it detracts from the entertainment merits, some people do. The story begins with a German U-Boat somewhere in the northern part of Canada. It destroys a Canadian cargo ship and then refuses to help save the survivors. The commander decides to head for Hudson Bay to lay low for awhile until they can escape. They send a small crew ashore to steal supplies they will need. While the U-Boat is surfaced, it is spotted by the Canadian Air Force and destroyed. The stranded crew on shore must try to navigate their way to the 49TH PARALLEL (the line dividing the US and Canada) and the neutral U.S. where they can find freedom. The propaganda enters in when they encounter Canadian citizens in their journey and enter into debates about the merits of democracy versus the white supremacy worldview of 'The Fuhrer'. There are some surprising turns and twists and a satisfying ending. A very interesting aspect of WWII and how it affected Canadians. There were some 500,000 Germans living in Canada at the time and apparently some 850 were interned for being Nazi spies as well as subversives and saboteurs. There are several interesting extras along with the Criterion edition. Enjoy. Lu for Lu's Reviews. 08/16/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TCM

THE TRAIN

THE TRAIN - 1964

RATED - NR but probably PG for violence including some scenes of military style executions.

RATINGS - 78 Amazon (4.5/5), 36,113 Netflix (3.7/5), 3,250 IMDB (7.8/10).

STARRING - Burt Lancaster, John Frankenheimer (Director)

AWARDS - Nominated for 1966 Academy Award Best Writing Original Screenplay as well as AFI Top 100 Thrills and 1965 BAFTA Best Film.

STORY - It's 1944 and WWII is in its last days. The Nazis are trying to take anything they can out of the rich art treasures in France. There is a warehouse in Paris full of Van Goghs, Picassos, etc. A German Colonel loads them on to a train for Germany. The French Resistance learns of this and goes into action to sabotage the train and save the treasures. Paul Labiche (Lancaster), a French train engineer is not interested at first (he is counting on the Allies to show up at any moment and save Paris) but when he sees the patriotism and heroics of the Resistance fighters, he becomes a part of the resistance and uses his courage and skills to try and thwart the German Colonel. In the end it becomes a one on one match of wits and ingenuity between the two men-a microcosm of the good versus evil that was symbolic of the greater war. A lot of action but real action, not the computer generated stuff of today's films. Burt Lancaster does all his own stunts which are not insignificant. A terrific view of another slice of life during WWII. Did I mention that Burt Lancaster and I co-starred in AIRPORT. Actually........if you're really quick with your pause button you might be able to spot me walking across the airport lobby. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 06-14-2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TCM.

TRIUMPH OF THE WILL

TRIUMPH OF THE WILL - 1934

RATED - NR

RATINGS - 34 Amazon (4.5/5), 29,604 Netflix (3.6/5), 3,828 IMDB (7.9/10).

THEME - Propaganda

STORY - This is the infamous documentary produced by Leni Riefenstahl of the 1934 Nazi Party rally in Nuremberg, Germany. Working with an unlimited budget, she created the almost perfect propaganda film to promote the Nazi Party in Germany. Fascinating today, just for the historical interest, it has been the model over the decades for others wanting to understand the power of propaganda film. It was a powerful influence in establishing Hitler as the messiah for Germany. It was shown in part or whole in every theater throughout Germany during WWII. Of course, today we see it thru the lens of history and the unspeakable evil that was committed by Hitler and his regime but the people watching in 1934 did not have that insight. At the very least, it is a powerful warning to those of us who have the benefit of history to be more discerning in our falling for those who would seek to use this same kind of propaganda to push a cause, no matter how noble or good it might seem and the Nazi Party certainly seemed to be a noble cause for the German people. Riefenstahl used 30 cameras and 120 technicians during the filming. Hitler was always filmed separately so he could be edited in and out of the crowd pictures for maximum manipulation of imagery and seduction of the mind. While it runs a little long and is a little repetitive in places, this is an amazing piece of history and very much worthwhile of your time. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 06/07/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

THE MAN IN THE GLASS BOOTH

THE MAN IN THE GLASS BOOTH - 1975

RATED - PG probably for adult issues and emotional intensity.

RATINGS - 10 Amazon (4.5/5), 3,242 Netflix (3.2/5), 268 IMDB (7.6/10).

STARRING - Maximilian Schell, directed by Arthur Hiller.

AWARDS - Academy Award nomination for Best Actor (Schell).

THEMES - Guilt, forgiveness, prejudice, persecution, hatred.

STORY - The film begins on the balcony of a luxurious penthouse apartment in New York City overlooking Central Park. An obviously wealthy, Jewish businessman, Arthur Goldman (Schell) is pontificating about seemingly random subjects to his loyal assistants. At first, he seems just eccentric but then you being to question his sanity. The line between sanity and eccentricity blurs even further as he sees his father (murdered in Auschwitz) working a food cart on the street below and as he begins to act paranoid over a blue Mercedes he believes is watching his apartment. Then, suddenly, two men (Israeli agents) break into his apartment and arrest/abduct him for being Adolph Dorf, the SS Colonel in charge of the concentration camp where Goldman's parents were killed. The scene moves to a jail cell in Jerusalem where the prosecutor fills Goldman/Dorf in on the charges and where he announces he will defend himself. The trial begins and Goldman/Dorf is put in a soundproof, bulletproof booth for his protection. I won't tell any more of the story but hang in there during the first half hour because here's where the story really gets interesting and Schell puts on a powerful performance worthy of his Oscar nomination. Who really is Goldman/Dorf. Is he the killer the Israelis believe or have they made a tragic mistake? What is the mental state of someone who has survived the holocaust while their family has been exterminated? Can the real truth be known? Originally, this was a stage play, and was adapted for the big screen as part of a project to bring the theater to the masses. It will leave you thinking much more deeply about the holocaust experience of the Jewish people. Not a light film by any means but worthwhile watching. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 05/26/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

THE NINTH DAY

THE NINTH DAY - 2004

RATED - NR but probably PG for some mature themes and non-graphic violence.

RATINGS - 4 Amazon (5/5), 508 IMBD (7.3/10), 4,375 Netflix (3.7/5).

AWARDS - 1 GERMAN FILM AWARD (Academy Award Equivalent) and 7 nominations plus numerous other award and nominations at various film festivals.

THEMES - War, faith, love, prejudice.

STORY - The film begins in the Dachau concentration camp, one of the most brutal. We stay there long enough to meet Father Henri Kremer and his fellow clergy prisoners and to experience the day to day brutality and persecution they endure. One day, Henri is asked to follow the guard. Fearing the worst, a fellow pastor was just hung from a cross, he heads toward the area where the crosses are set up. Instead, he is redirected to the Commandant's office where, to his utter amazement, he is given his release. He boards the train to his home in Luxembourg. Trudging his way home in the snow from the station, he is picked up by the head of the Gestapo, Herr Gebhardt and told to report to his office promptly in the morning where he will discover, it's not a release he was given but a nine day pass. So begins Day one of nine in which he is to persuade the Bishop of Luxembourg to cooperate with the Nazis or he and his fellow clergy will be transferred to a death camp in the east. Will Father Kremer compromise his faith to save his and the others' lives? Every day he must report his progress to Gebhardt, personally, who uses every psychological trick he knows to persuade Henri to cooperate. Gebhardt is really Evil incarnate. It is a showdown between religion that would use power to dominate and control versus faith that seeks to serve and to love. It is the ultimate showdown of good and evil-the one with the weapons and the power and the one with love and faith. This is a powerful story that never lets up. It is intense to the end. What would you do in the same situation? Do you believe anything that you would be willing to die for? Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 12/22/2007.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMBD, TRAILER.