by Bob Martin | Jan 17, 2011 | Film, Movies
The difference between “12” and the more famous “Twelve Angry Men” is the time spent on the conditions in which a young man grows up. Unlike the original play and movie, there is more to consider in addition to each angry man’s personal short comings and/or heroism. In challenging the evidence in an effort to discover the truth, the complete story remains hidden.
Who really committed the crime and our concern for the well being of the accused is a new element to this storyline, and suggest justice needs to be served in and out of court.
12 which is beautifully acted and directed, is not necessarily better then Twelve Angry Men, which was about a different time and circumstance, 12 is however bigger and a more expansive view of the deliberation of a trial.
by Bob Martin | Jan 14, 2011 | Film
A wonderful piece of movie making and story telling. My favorite line
“Ground’s too hard. Them men wanted a decent burial, they should have got themselves killed in summer.”
Miss Hailee Steinfeld is remarkable!
by Sandy | Jan 10, 2011 | Art, Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, Books, Culture, Movies
Shakespeare’s Macbeth is my favorite.
I know, if I wish to impress, I should say – Hamlet, King Lear, etc.
They may be “deeper”, but, they’re not as much fun.
Macbeth has witches (3) it has ghosts (8 plus), (Hamlet only has a flickering dad). The play has a “moving” forest and a man with a questionable birth. This is drama! 
You are grabbed with the first scene and it won’t let you go until that pesky forest starts to inch forward, (I hope I haven’t given too much away)
I’ve seen Macbeth on stage once – the witches were in Japanese white Butoh masks(interesting). I have relied on an occasional reread and film rentals to revisit this story of power and madness. There are several British color versions from the 70’s and 80’s, but, the Orson Welles version is my favorite. He starred in and directed a stark, black & white minimalist film (read low budget with paper-mache sets, and cardboard crowns) in 1948.
Welles, as Macbeth, and Jeanette Nolan, as Lady M, bring the play to life. They, and the rest of the spirited cast, proceed to climb the scenery, without there being much to climb. (The sets are pretty bare). All underlying ambition and greed of the passionate duo is uncovered, They eventually embrace their baser nature with relish and self destruct. Sound familiar?
Wm. Shakespeare’s flawed characters transcend centuries and we can still relate.
Love it.
by Cybel Martin | Dec 31, 2010 | Film, Movies
How lucky I (we) am to be an artist. Not only do we create something out of nothing and have the capacity to show others how to perceive the world, we alter their psyche. I just finished watching Tarkovsky’s “Solaris” (Russia’s answer to “2001”) which has some of the most phenomenal, tactile cinematography. There is a moment in the film where the camera pans over Brueghel’s “The Hunters”. Looking at that shot triggered thoughts (and sounds) of “Peter and The Wolf”. In turn, “Solaris” became also a story, a moral tale, of a young boy venturing out against his parent’s wishes. If the director had put in a different painting, say something celebratory that triggered a Parliament song (Flashlight?), I might have concluded that space travel was an adventure well worth taking.
by Bob Martin | Dec 27, 2010 | Art, Dance, Dancers, Movies
Natatlie Portman "Black Swan"
Much like “The Wrestler”, Darren Aronofsky takes a familiar storyline (Swan Lake), edges up so that it is thrilling and fun to watch. My suggestion is to Ignore all of the spin about this movie (both pro and con) and see “Black Swan” for yourself without any expectation. My surprise was Mila Kunis who I knew nothing about other then her stint on “That 70’s Show“. You may find other surprise!
I admit I had expectations for both Natalie Portman and Vincent Cassel and I was not disappointed.
by Bob Martin | Nov 19, 2010 | Art, Cable, Directors, Movies
Films that are dependent on story and story alone are what I think of as “little” films.
Claire Danes in Polish Wedding
They are little films because they are not blockbusters. Blockbusters are ordained to be big and successful, little films have to grow in popularity and unfortunately may never be successful. Hannah and her Sisters is one film that I’ve seen a number of times and continue to find delight in the story telling I’ve just seen David Duchovny’s House of D (Don’t think it was ever released to theaters) and Theresa Connelly’s (if she every existed) Polish Wedding, both films are first time efforts for writer/director story tellers and neither meets the standard of “successful” and you’ve got to start someplace. Duchovny will get a chance if he wants to write and direct another feature film and it’s unfortunate that Ms Connelly has not done anything else in film. Those of us who like story telling need to support folks who try- otherwise films will consist of a 40 minute gun battle, 20 minute car chases, 25 minutes of suggested sex, 10 minutes of dialogue and 25 minutes of credits for the special effects. Lets give the story tellers a second and third chance.
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The difference between “12” and the more famous “Twelve Angry Men” is the time spent on the conditions in which a young man grows up. Unlike the original play and movie, there is more to consider in addition to each angry man’s personal short comings and/or heroism. In challenging the evidence in an effort to discover the truth, the complete story remains hidden.
