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The Twilight Zone: Walking Distance (1959)
The TZ and the Time Machine Within Us
"Walking Distance" is Rod Serling's timeless allegory on our desire to escape to the past. Rod said in interviews that he was inspired by his own wish to return to the simple pleasures of his boyhood. But because he was a brilliant writer, he came up with a story that so many of us can identify with. Too many viewers take this story literally, as if Martin Sloane really went back in time to his boyhood days. But I believe that "Walking Distance", with its dream-like quality, can only be viewed as allegory, whether or not Rod meant it that way. There's more going on here than just a trip back in time.
It's not a coincidence that we know nothing of the adult Martin Sloane's personal life, beyond his age and his job. Rod doesn't tell us if he's married, single, divorced, a widower or whether or not he has children. The fact that he's "escaping" by himself suggests that, at age 36, he's not in an important relationship. This could explain why he tries to connect with a time in his life when he had love and emotional security.
Since it's impossible for anyone to go back in time, we can never hope to meet the people from our past or relive the happy moments of our youth. But what we can connect to are the emotions that those memories evoke. I think that's what Rod/Martin is trying to do here and why he creates an idealized version of his childhood. I don't know about you, but even though my childhood had its share of good memories, there's no way on Earth that I'd ever wanna go back there. There were too many moments that were less than happy and some that were a lot less. Martin Sloan tried going back and he ended up in pain, both physically and emotionally.
In the end, I think Martin learned that, as adults, we have to be satisfied with recalling the times we shared with loved ones and the moments that brought us happiness, and to take pleasure from them. That's the closest any of us will ever come to time travel. We can also, in some ways, relive those moments through our children. I believe that's what Martin's father was trying to tell him when he said, "Try looking ahead." Good advice for all of us, from the Twilight Zone.
Yesterday (2019)
Does anyone else see the irony in this disaster?
The premise of "Yesterday" is that the Beatles no longer exist. The irony is that the filmmakers have made a movie that treats the Beatles as if this was REALLY the case. There is absolutely no attempt to show the incalculable impact that the Beatles had on the world. Instead, we get a global society that's pretty much the same, but bereft of the Beatles music, as if music was their only contribution to life as we know it.
This ludicrous script is basically a "romantic comedy" that presents a litany of every cliche in the genre, with an ending that is so saccharine, and so contrived, I almost walked out of the theater (If I were closer to the aisle, I would have). There is also a "cameo" towards the end of the film that is beyond tasteless. How in the world can Apple, the Beatles and their heirs have signed off on this?!
If you love the Beatles and their music, avoid this insult to everything they stood for. Hopefully, it will disappear quickly and be forgotten. If you truly want to know who the Beatles were, I recommend Mark Lewisohn's brilliant biography, "Tune In".
The Beatles 4 Ever!
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)
Possibly the worst movie I've ever seen
Having seen a ton of films in my 63 years, this one is, for me, the bottom of the movie barrel. It's a pointless and pretentious exercise in sadism and depression. I know that extreme violence has become commonplace in films and is a reflection of the real world. Perhaps that's why I don't find it entertaining, even when it's made for that purpose. I watched four of the five episodes, waiting to see why it had garnered some positive reviews. But by the time I got to the final segment, i gave up and felt that I came away from the experience diminished as a human being. The friend who recommended this film to me is emotionally disturbed, so I'll cut him some slack. But what excuse do the Coen Brothers and Netflix have for serving up this nightmare? In spite of what the studio robo-reviewers have posted here, avoid this movie like the plague. In fact, if you have a choice, choose the plague.
What's the Name of the Dame? (2009)
You'll Have the Time of Your Life!!!!
"What's the Name of the Dame?" Isn't just a great film, it's an experience! Fun, funny and entertaining from start to finish, it features nine highly talented performers who also happen to be drag queens. Each performs an ABBA classic, giving their own unique takes on the songs. The results are exciting, hilarious and even heart-rending. That these diverse "videos" come together is due to the excellent direction by Allan Neuwirth. Neuwirth not only gives us that wonderful ABBA music, but we also meet the complex men behind the wigs, makeup and sequins. There are are also appearances by Christine Baranski, Joan Rivers and ABBA's own Benny Andersson. I loved this movie and you will too!
Little Man Tate (1991)
I love this movie, but where are the men? ***CONTAINS SPOILERS***
This is an excellent directorial debut by Jodie Foster. It's a deep film that tackles an unusual subject--the gifted child's place among his or her peers. There are many memorable scenes throughout the movie, and Foster's direction shows a true understanding of the film-making process. What I find interesting is that Foster has created a world that's devoid of any strong adult males. Fred's father, or any mention of him, is nonexistent in the film. David Hyde Pierce plays a character who has some sort of relationship with the Dianne Wiest character, but it's never defined. Although he seems to works with Wiest, he has no interaction with her young geniuses, including Fred. The only other prominent male is played by Harry Connick Jr. His character, Eddie, is a feckless college student who almost kills Fred accidentally. Eddie then befriends Fred for a day, but later gives him the brush-off, initiating Fred's meltdown. Foster seems to be saying that Fred needs a male figure in his life, but it ain't gonna happen. I've read interviews with Foster in which she spoke about her anger toward and resentment of the father who abandoned her as a child. Since no one in this film even comes close to being a father figure, she's clearly sending a message here, whether consciously or subconsciously. My message to Ms. Foster is: We're not all that bad. You'll find many good fathers and responsible men in the real world. There was no need to write us out of existence (she reads these comments, right?).
The Babe Ruth Story (1948)
NOW it makes sense!!
As a boy, I was a fanatical Yankees fan and had read everything I could about the Babe. When "The Babe Ruth Story" appeared in the the TV listings, I couldn't wait to see it! I guess I was expecting another "Pride Of The Yankees". Imagine my disappointment as I sat in my living room, incredulous, as one ridiculous scene followed another. I was so bummed! I couldn't understand why the greatest baseball player was the subject of one of the worst movies I'd ever seen. Years later, I think I finally understand why this movie was so dreadful. It's the only possible explanation. It was made by Red Sox fans to revenge the trading of Babe Ruth to the Yankees.!! (I'm giving it one star because William Bendix, who was in his forties at the time, plays Babe Ruth as a teenager! That's the funniest casting ever!!)
Far from the Madding Crowd (1967)
Could have been so much better
Far From the Madding Crowd is my favorite novel and an all-time literary classic. Thomas Hardy's superb storytelling and his cinematic descriptions of the people and places should have produced a great movie. Unfortunately, while this version has some good things going for it, it's not the book that Hardy wrote. The main character in FFTMC is Gabriel Oak. Most of what occurs is seen through his eyes. But the film comes across as a vehicle for Julie Christie, with the emphasis on her romantic relationships. Oak, the hero of the novel, becomes just another one of her suitors. I found the cast excellent, except for Alan Bates, who resembles the Gabriel Oak of the book but doesn't act the part. This could be due to the director, John Schlesinger or Frederic Raphael, the screenwriter who adapted Hardy's masterpiece without truly understanding it. The cinematography is beautiful and captures the Wessex that Hardy describes. I have a BIG problem with the score, by Richard Rodney Bennett, a fine composer whose soundtrack is much too dreary to my ears. I know that FFTMC story is somewhat depressing at times, but it's also romantic and celebrates the beauty of the English countryside. The music of British composers Ralph Vaughan Williams or George Butterworth would have been much more suitable. Other attempts have been made to film this book, but they have yet to get it right. I wonder if they ever will.