by Bob Martin | Feb 23, 2009 | Art, Directors, Film, Photograhy
Could it be because this movie is French that it is ignored by politicians? Or at least very few seem to mention it. That is about as far as I am willing to go in a political debate.
“The Battle of Algiers” is a powerful film, made not long after independence was achieved. It’s grainy black and white footage suggest documentary (more difficult to do in the 1960’s) and not “Gone with Wind”. War is an ugly experience, there is no melancholy or heroic music being played. Real gun fire does not sound as big as it does in the movies and when you are shot on screen you are still able to go home at the end of the day. Real war is sort of a gray, bleak and worthless execise in misery. When the war is about an occupation, you can figure the misery will increase exponentially.
I found this quote, attributed to Jean-Paul Sartre, which are his views about this particular conflict and referenced in the film. “This rebellion is not merely challenging the power of the settlers, but their very being. For most Europeans in Algeria, there are two complementary and inseparable truths: the colonists are backed by divine right, the natives are sub-human. This is a mythical interpretation of reality, since the riches of the one are built on the poverty of the other. In this way exploitation puts the exploiter at the mercy of his victim, and the dependence itself begets racialism. It is a bitter and tragic fact that, for the Europeans in Algeria, being a man means first and foremost superiority to the Moslems. But what if the Moslem finds in his turn that his manhood depends on equality with the settler? It is then that the European begins to feel his very existence diminished and cheapened.”
War is a violent game of tag – somebody is always “it”. This movie should be mandatory viewing for politicians, it is already a dietary supplement for Military in this country.
by Bob Martin | Feb 22, 2009 | Creativity, Directors
Sometimes people want to see a film that is entertaining, joyous and uplifting. My regrets to the New York Times and The New Yorker.
“Slumdog Millionaire” and its director, Danny Boyle, with their modern-day fairy tale about hope and hard times in the slums of Mumbai, pushed aside big-studio contenders to sweep top honors at the 81st annual Academy Awards on Sunday. NYtimes
by Sandy | Feb 10, 2009 | Actors, Arts, Entertainment and Music, Directors, Film, Movies
Award season is here – SAG, Directors Guild, Golden Globes and of course the Academy Awards in 2 weeks. Was just thinking over past winners and there are many multi-taskers among them.
They say that everyone has at least one good book in them (The rules: “write what you know”. “Write about what is real for you”, etc). To paraphrase a little, every good actor has at least one great directing job in them. Quite a few of them have won Academy Awards for their efforts. These actor/directors don’t always put together a movie about what they themselves have experienced, but they do direct films with subjects that you can tell they are passionate about:
*Warren Beatty* Beatty was nominated for 4 academy awards, best Director/Picture/Actor/Screenplay for “Reds” 1981 – a film about John Reed who went to Russia in 1917 to report about the revolution. At one time, many thought Communism to be the utopia of the people and Beatty was able to bring a lot of that era to life. He won for Best Director.
*Robert Redford * “Ordinary People”, 1980, Best Director for this dysfunctional family drama. (Also gave us a good movie called, “Quiz Show” 1994 – I’m dating myself, but I remember that scandal from the early days of television)
*Kevin Costner* Early in his career, Costner was cast as the dead friend in “The Big Chill”. I’m sure realizing there was no where to go but up, he gave us “Dances with Wolves” 1990, Best Director, Best Picture.
*Clint Eastwood* Much more than just a squint eyed cowboy with no name and a cigarillo, he has won critical acclaim for tons of films and was nominated several times, same film, for Best Actor/Director/Picture. Eastwood won Academy Awards for “Unforgiven” 1992 and ”Million Dollar Baby” 2004. (“Mystic River”, 2003 did not win, but it is still brilliant, brilliant, brilliant.)
*Ron Howard* And, of course, can’t forget “Opie” (Andy Griffith Show) /” Richie Cunningham” (Happy Days). He won Best Director in 2001 for “Beautiful Mind”. He has been nominated again, Director/Picture this year for “Frost/Nixon”. (I thought another of his movies, “Apollo 13” was awesome. I remembered how the space flight ended, but I was still totally wrapped up in the drama of it all.)
I know there are other terrific movies directed by actors, but these are just some of my Academy Award winning favorites.
by Sandy | Nov 2, 2008 | Directors, Film, Movies
This is a new 2008 DVD collection of 7 early films from the master of suspense. The movies may have different plots and locations – spies in South America, the trials of a new wife, London court room intrigue, people lost at sea – but, they all have that element of surprise/edge of seat tension that director Alfred Hitchcock does so well.
“Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection“ :
The Lodger, 1927 – (Rare silent film)
Young and Innocent, 1937 – (Spies/intrigue)
Rebecca, 1940 – (Mrs. Danvers gave live-in help a bad name)
Lifeboat, 1944 – (Tallulah Bankhead at her best)
Spellbound, 1945 – (Ingrid Bergman/Gregory Peck – lovely!
Notorious, 1946 – (Ingrid Bergman/Cary Grant – lovely!)
The Paradine Case, 1947 – (Gregory Peck)
by Sandy | Sep 14, 2008 | Actors, Blogroll, Directors, Film, Movies
“A History of Violence” – don’t let the name turn you off. This movie is as much about blood as it is about a family that stays together despite outrageous mayhem.
It opens as 2 men go to great lengths to avoid paying a motel bill and the plot escalates from there.
We meet an owner of a small diner, played by Viggo Mortensen, who comes to the aid of his employees when they are threatened by the 2 motel thugs and becomes something of a hero. His violent response is so quick, so natural and so effective, like second nature?
He becomes a local celebrity and his extreme action in self defense gains interest even outside of his small community. Some guys from out of town pop up to look him over, the accomplished actor Ed Harris is great as the leader, and insist on calling our hero by another name, which he denies, but, he gets this haunted look in his eyes. (Whenever I get to these “UhOh!” moments in any movie, the theme from “Jaws” starts to play softly in my head for a few seconds.)
So, who is he really? These sinister men, former “friends”, refuse to go home. Are they threatening him, are they threatening his wife, played by Maria Bello, and kids? What becomes clear is that our small town diner guy does not want to be found and does not want his family to know how he got his skills.
The family rallies around their dad, or rather they rally against those that want to take him away even though they’re not quite sure why – they want him to remain the man he is in their lives, not go back to whoever he was. As a father, he also wants to protect his family and the nice quiet life he has invented for himself.
Who is tracking him down and why? He closes the diner and takes a trip. He drives back East into his old life to erase it however he can, which is easier said than done. We are introduced to his evil, vengeful brother, played with much fun by William Hurt – and the battle is on.
After much chasing, fighting, and shooting, the father returns home to have breakfast with his family. No one asks where he’s been or why he looks like he’s been put thru a meat grinder. They just pass the eggs.
Written by Josh Olsen and directed by David Cronenberg, the cast is terrific. I enjoyed “A History of Violence”, 2005 (now on DVD) – good movie!
by Sandy | Aug 28, 2008 | Actors, Blogroll, Directors, Movies
Film remakes – why? If it ain’t broke, why “fix” it? The classic movie in question is “The Women” – from the 1936 play written by Clare Boothe Luce, and then the 1939 screenplay by Anita Loos.
The original, directed by George Cukor, is great fun, with Norma Shearer, Rosalind Russell, Joan Crawford, Paulette Goddard, and a whole slew of other terrific actresses. Any attempt to update, revamp, revisit, recreate the magic of this clever, witty film – about a husband who strays and how his wife handles the betrayal – is fraught with danger. The audience (me) may come away with a feeling of disappointment.
Yes, the scenario is still a familiar one, unfortunately, and the situations may seem dated, but the story is also about friendship among “women”, not girls, women. (The concept did not originate with “Sex & the City”.) Some of the aid/advice given is successful, some disastrous, but, that is what makes the movie entertaining.
The current remake of “The Women”, directed by Diane English, comes to theaters in September, 2008. The stellar cast includes, Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Debra Messing and Jada Pinkett Smith. I’m hoping whatever was done to bring this story into the 21st century, that it still remains a great story for adults and it still makes me laugh.
BTW – In 1956, the movie was made into a musical called, “The Opposite Sex” with June Allyson playing the wronged wife.
Could it be because this movie is French that it is ignored by politicians? Or at least very few seem to mention it. That is about as far as I am willing to go in a political debate. 
