Surely one of the best westerns of all-time, & has to be THE most authentic western ever made, I cannot think of another to match it. Carefully crafted screenplay, told it how it really was, the characters brilliantly played by everyone involved. But it's authenticity is what makes it so fascinating a film to watch, it literally transports you back in time, a real history lesson. Some great iconic one liners, 'Don't stand behind me, boy!' & 'Why put a name to something you might have to eat!?' Geoffrey Lewis, Billy Green Bush & Gary Grimes were riveting in their portrayals. Lewis's hard-man character, so sinister, you really did think, 'This guy is a psycho!!' Bush played the trail weary boss with such attitude it made you acutely aware the hardships & dangers these men faced for so little reward. Grime's naive young character was played to perfection. A great piece of American history, & I have to say, the violence is not overdone, nor is there too much of it, compared to many other western films. If this film is not stored somewhere in a State Library, well, it should be!
Reviews
11 Reviews
Roots
(1977)
one of the greatest series ever screened.
4 April 2008
One of the greatest & most successful series ever screened. I was in my 20's when it came out &, as in the US, over here in England it was a massive hit. Not only was it great entertainment but a wonderful history lesson too. A powerful epic charting the lives of generations of the Kunta Kinta family, above all it is so thought provoking. I am sure this, as much as any other factor, delved deep into the American psyche & helped white Americans (& white British) appreciate the awful times these slaves went thru & enhanced everyone's understanding of the black American cause, to be treated as an equal. The direction was brilliant,the actors superb & the script so intelligently written & with so many interesting characters that sprang to life on screen. Generally speaking, American actors are the best in the world & they have proved it time & again. Give them a good script they'll make the characters believable.
It Started in Naples
(1960)
Could have been really good, but wasn't.
5 February 2008
This film could have been so good, but wasn't. Despite two great stars in Gable & Loren it just did not work. The obvious lack of chemistry between Gable & Loren, which was glaringly obvious to everyone in every scene they did, was a stumbling block to the light -hearted atmosphere the film was attempting to portray. Plus, Gable was miscast, as by now he was 61 yrs old to Loren's 26, & it showed. The film lurches along, but the wonderful Isle of Capri scenery shots did help. The comedy falls quite flat most of the time, a pity, it could all have been so much better. Pity too, this was to be Gable's penultimate film, a great film actor, who had a lot more years of acting in him yet.
The World's Fastest Indian
(2005)
Great true-life story about a wonderful character.
3 February 2008
My daughter urged me to watch this film after she & her partner had seen it. Some few months later I did so. It was all she said it was. One of the loveliest films you will ever watch, it's based on the true-life story of New Zealander Bert Munro, who spends years rebuilding an Indian motorbike & takes it to Salt Lake Flats in Utah, in an effort to beat the land speed record. Bert's charming naivety & amiable, easy going manner captures the hearts of all he came across on his journey. The type of human being you would expect to meet in Utopia, Bert is a wonderful character. Anthony Hopkins is outstanding in this so feel-good film. It makes one take stock of how we view life & treat other people, makes you feel very humble to have known Bert, albeit on a film screen & only for 90 or so minutes. Wish that we were all like Bert, what a nicer place Earth would be.
The Way We Were
(1973)
what a great script & acting!
2 February 2008
Warning: Spoilers
The screenplay is what makes this film above all else. Nothing less than brilliant! The film captures the political mood of Hollywood at that time. The two main characters were interesting throughout. The ending is by far the saddest I have ever seen in any film, having two daughters myself, both very much Daddy's girls, I cry every time I watch the last scene. After they split, as he's based in Hollywood, she in NY, they decide best he doesn't see his daughter, to allow Katie's new husband to be her dad. In a chance meeting on a NY street..., 'She's beautiful, Hubble, you'd be so proud, you'll see her when you come for that drink.' 'I...I...I can't, Katie...I can't....you know I can't come...is he a good father?' 'Yes, Hubble, he's a good father, a very good father.'..........' Take care, Katie' 'And you, Hubble.....' He walks away, the music starts up again.... The End. I'm welling up now, just thinking about it!!
28 Days Later
(2002)
not quite as good as I expected.
2 February 2008
Not as good as I thought it would be. It began well enough, but then deteriorated halfway through when they met up with the army platoon. The scenes thereafter were reminiscent of some old TV programme from the 70's. Not as much substance, not so much happening as there should have been, could have been slicker, more style. The acting by main characters was OK, the plot from around halfway through was not, afraid to say. Better the setting should have been kept in London for most of the film, more scope for greater scenes of suspense. Instead we saw the motley bunch of survivors legging it out of the capital ASAP. The film lost much of it's atmosphere after that.
A Good Year
(2006)
a wonderful feel-good film, great story, directing & acting.
31 January 2008
A really lovely film. So much so my wife & I did not want it to end, it was so uplifting. A film with an unashamed feel-good factor. Crowe's character, the London city trader, takes off on a whim to investigate his inheritance in France, & the plot gets better & better as the film goes on. Crowe & Finney are marvellous, but then all the actors captured the spirit of the film so wonderfully well, as did the director. I cannot imagine what the critics thought so wrong about it. The film was beautifully filmed, well directed, well acted, had a good story & a wonderful script, with wonderful, almost larger than life, but totally believable characters! What more is there supposed to be!?? Good film, which will leave you feeling better about life than when you first sat down to watch it!
Jeremiah Johnson
(1972)
One of Redford's best films, not a western, a great American tale.
29 January 2008
Warning: Spoilers
When asked to name his favourite film of those he's starred in Redford says this one, without hesitation. Quote, 'A great American tale', is his summary in a nut shell. He plays a man disillusioned (& probably shell-shocked) from fighting in a war he does not care about, nor wants to, who embarks on the solitary life of mountain man. A life where every day is not only a battle with Nature to survive but also against hostile Indians. A beautifully made film, it is as much a journey of self discovery as it is about the brave, solitary life of the mountain men themselves. The character's joy in at long last finding company again in the form of an Indian wife & a young white boy traumatised from losing his parents to Indians, was so well done. Then, when he loses them we too can feel the grief, feel the isolation & loneliness creeping back in, such was the intensity of those scenes! The music & cinematography is superb, the scenery lending it's magic to a great film. Redford too became enchanted & built his Sundance home there in Utah. One of the few films I don't mind watching time over time.
Into the Wild
(2007)
good, but a little tedious & main character out of sinc.
29 January 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Director's style is reminiscent of the arty, hippy films of the 60's. It was too long, too slow & tedious in parts, could have done with being 30 minutes shorter. I could not understand, if his parents had been such bad parents & his leaving them in limbo, for so long, not knowing if he was dead or alive, why his bitterness did not show in the film. He was a likable, well adjusted young lad, who did not portray the usual hang-ups resulting from an unhappy childhood. But he still disowned his parents. He obviously kept this bitterness part of his personality well hidden from those he met on his travels. So, in that respect the film just does not add up. Hal Holbrook nominated for an Oscar!?? Good part, yes, but he was only in the film for five minutes, for goodness sake!
As near to perfection as you'll get!
21 March 2006
Everything about this film is so near to the perfect film! The screenplay, the acting, the casting, the lighting, camera angles & above all, of course, the directing. Michael Douglas as producer was right to hold out against his father, Kirk's pressure to cast him in the lead role. Jack Nicholson was a 'Tour De Force'. However, let not that comment take anything away from the other actors who were all so superb. The casting had 'genius' written through it in every role. A huge tribute to Milos Foreman for his brilliant understanding of the book, he translated it so well on screen. A film that holds you totally through every minute. A classic of WORLD cinema!!
No Place Like Homicide!
(1961)
acted out with great enthusiasm!
19 March 2006
A good film that borrowed on the 'mousetrap' plot, & rather predictable. Acted out at a fast pace with great enthusiasm by all. Sid James was his usual brilliant self & Ken Connor too. Shirley Eaton played her part well. Dressed in a shift over a nylon slip for much of the film, strange how, when running from room to room, she'd continually hold her shift together in an attempt to stop it falling open thus giving us a glimpse of her slip underneath. Naively prudish of her, & ironic in that 2 yrs later she would appear in a Bond film wearing nothing but a coat of paint! At the time Ken Connor was one of the most sought after comedy film actors.
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