Right up there with Barry Lyndon. I wonder if Kubrick saw this movie, which predates Barry Lyndon by a good 12 years. It is sumptuous and luxurious to look at but there is enough plot and dialogue to digest, as well. Ever class conscious, Visconti here decides to show us how the other half lives, even if it takes place 150 years ago. Interesting for history buffs like myself to get an insider's view of the Italian war of independence and how the lines between Royalists and Garibaldi's men were sometimes blurred. Oh, did I mention how regal Burt Lancaster looks here. He plays the part to perfection. The young Claudia Cardinale looks great, too, opposite the magnetic Alain Delon. They only add to the sybaritic nature of the film.
Reviews
17 Reviews
Barry Lyndon
(1975)
Possibly the most beautiful movie ever shot
22 August 2013
Although this movie came out in 1975, I didn't get around to it until about 2003, when I acquired the Stanley Kubrick box set. That's what happens when you listen to critics. The so-called "experts" panned this movie when it came out, probably because it was not 2001 or A Clockwork Orange or Dr. Strangelove. So the story isn't groundbreaking, so what. Its a great story, set in a great period and it is lovingly told by Kubrick. What was and is groundbreaking about Barry Lyndon was the cinematography. The whole movie was shot in natural light-a monumental achievement when you think about it. All of the nighttime scenes were shot by candlelight and it puts you right there in the 1760's. I can think of no other period piece movie that conveys the pre-electricity age so accurately-just one of the many reasons why this movie won so many awards, including the Oscar, for Cinematography. Filming at picturesque locales in Ireland, England and Germany didn't hurt, either. You just can't stop watching this movie.
Kubrick continued his fabulous use of Classical music to enhance the action on screen in Barry Lyndon. No synthesizers here-only music faithful to the era performed on instruments that were in use at the time. Gorgeous cinematography...gorgeous music. The result is sublime. They don't make 'em like this anymore.
Kubrick continued his fabulous use of Classical music to enhance the action on screen in Barry Lyndon. No synthesizers here-only music faithful to the era performed on instruments that were in use at the time. Gorgeous cinematography...gorgeous music. The result is sublime. They don't make 'em like this anymore.
Marco Polo
(2007 TV Movie)
Hard to watch this drivel
15 January 2013
Really, who's idea was this? A retreat back to the bad old days of Hollywood when Caucasians played Chinese, Indians and every race under the sun because how can we entrust these roles to "inferior" races. Brian Dennehy as Kublai Khan is as laughable in the 21st century as Bruce Cabot was as Maqua in the Last Of The Mohicans in 1936. And then, in a stunning reversal of typecasting, Achmed, a Muslim Saracen, is played by a Chinese. You can't write this stuff. Or, maybe you can. Somebody did here. God, what a mess. Let's not forget the casual glossing over of the trip to the East, which took almost 4 years and zips by here in a few minutes. Do yourself a favor and seek out the 1982 mini-series which was a labor of love with an all star cast, location filming and fabulous music from the master, Ennio Morriconne. Will someone finally release that on DVD so we won't have to be subjected to these awful remakes!!
The Last of the Mohicans
(1936)
Tepid storytelling based on Cooper's novel
9 December 2012
The best part of this movie was how much Randolph Scott looked like Errol Flynn. The rest? Well, let's cut them some slack. After all, it was only 1936, the beginning of time as far as film making is concerned. The book is only a rough guideline for the movie. I won't get into spoilers, but if you've read the book, the plot line here will have you scratching your head saying, "What gives?!" This is typical Hollywood sentiment. The main thrust here is romance, not the strength of character of the novel's protagonists. Little, if any attention is paid to the ways of the Indian. While Cooper went to great lengths to describe their customs and living conditions, the movie just ignores that in favor of a couple of dreamed up romances. Typical of the times, there are no real Indians, either. While the same prejudice was shown in Charlie Chan movies, at least Warner Oland and Sidney Toler were enjoyable to watch. The ersatz Indians here just bring the proceedings down. I'm gonna watch the 1992 version next and I sure hope its a more authentic account of the time of the French & Indian War.
Owl and the Sparrow
(2007)
Another gem from Vietnam
2 February 2012
Its hard to imagine a country that has been through more heartache and tragedy than Vietnam over the last 100 years. Occupied by the French, then the Americans, then the Russians....the mere fact of their survival points to a strong, national character and the movies coming out of this country over the last 15 years or so all have a strong moral compass and a soul rarely seen in Western films these days.
Continuing in the fine tradition of films like The Scent Of Green Papaya, Cyclo, Three Seasons, etc., Owl and the Sparrow is an absolute jewel. Its hard not to be touched by the gritty, 3rd World reality forced upon children who have no time to be kids. The suffering of the Vietnamese people over the last 100 years has imbued them with a dogged determination to overcome at all odds and the little 10 year old girl, Thuy, who is the main focus of the movie, shows that grit and determination while still retaining the adorable charm of a child. And I don't like kids!!!!!
Enough people have commented on the plot line and the technical aspects before. Suffice to say this is a feel-good movie of the first order. If you are not emotionally all in by the end of this movie, better check your pulse.
Continuing in the fine tradition of films like The Scent Of Green Papaya, Cyclo, Three Seasons, etc., Owl and the Sparrow is an absolute jewel. Its hard not to be touched by the gritty, 3rd World reality forced upon children who have no time to be kids. The suffering of the Vietnamese people over the last 100 years has imbued them with a dogged determination to overcome at all odds and the little 10 year old girl, Thuy, who is the main focus of the movie, shows that grit and determination while still retaining the adorable charm of a child. And I don't like kids!!!!!
Enough people have commented on the plot line and the technical aspects before. Suffice to say this is a feel-good movie of the first order. If you are not emotionally all in by the end of this movie, better check your pulse.
The Other Boleyn Girl
(2008)
Where's Richard Burton?
11 March 2010
Warning: Spoilers
I'm sorry, but Henry VIII will always be Richard Burton in my mind. Eric Bana just doesn't cut it. He's good in other movies...ie:Troy, but he just doesn't have the volcanic effect that Burton brought to the screen in Anne of The Thousand Days. Not that either of these women are going to make me forget Genevieve Bujold, either. They do a passable job and Natalie Portman finally kicks it into gear just before they chop her head off. The only place where this movie has the edge is that it gives an overview of the lives and intrigues of the Tudor court but you better be up on your English history to keep up with all the wives. No timelines are given and many prolonged dramas are Reader's Digest condensed into a few minutes so that anyone not familiar with the actual events might wonder how we got from A to B. The costumes and the castles are exceptionally well done and make this worth viewing.
The White Silk Dress
(2006)
Another fine example of the amazing Vietnamese resolve
1 May 2009
Warning: Spoilers
As someone who has traveled the length of this beautiful country 8 times, I am constantly reminded of the outstanding character of its people. So many times, I have been the recipient of kindnesses from those whose situation in life could not be any more different than my own. It doesn't matter to the Vietnamese. Even in Hanoi, as an American, I was expecting a bitter reception only to be humbled by the warmth and sincerity of my welcome. Why am I going on about the Vietnamese people without a mention of the movie? Because the movie is but one more shining example of how these people have fought through tragedy after tragedy and refused to buckle. Their resolve is second to none-as evidenced by their defeats of the French, Americans and Chinese in a span of 25 years.
The movie picks up the story of a young couple in a northern village in 1954, the year Ho Chi Minh finally defeated the French. The couple sees this as a good time to escape the grinding poverty of their serf-like existence and head south. They settle in Hoi An and raise a family. This isn't the Hoi An of tourist shops, restaurants and 500 tailors that has somehow become a hot destination in the last ten years. This is the Hoi An of pre-UNESCO fame; just another village full of people trying to get by. They never escape the poverty that seems to weigh on them from the beginning, but, despite it all, they have the love of a tight knit family in spades. And, there is the achingly beautiful countryside around Hoi An. Even in poverty, these people's lives are not without many of Nature's rewards.
With our knowledge of history, we can pretty well guess that there is more tragedy in store and it really is heartbreaking. The anguish and suffering that are such a large part of Vietnamese history does not leave this wonderful family untouched and it won't leave you untouched, either.
The movie picks up the story of a young couple in a northern village in 1954, the year Ho Chi Minh finally defeated the French. The couple sees this as a good time to escape the grinding poverty of their serf-like existence and head south. They settle in Hoi An and raise a family. This isn't the Hoi An of tourist shops, restaurants and 500 tailors that has somehow become a hot destination in the last ten years. This is the Hoi An of pre-UNESCO fame; just another village full of people trying to get by. They never escape the poverty that seems to weigh on them from the beginning, but, despite it all, they have the love of a tight knit family in spades. And, there is the achingly beautiful countryside around Hoi An. Even in poverty, these people's lives are not without many of Nature's rewards.
With our knowledge of history, we can pretty well guess that there is more tragedy in store and it really is heartbreaking. The anguish and suffering that are such a large part of Vietnamese history does not leave this wonderful family untouched and it won't leave you untouched, either.
Once Upon a Time in the West
(1968)
Hard to find a better western
7 July 2008
I was such a fan of Sergio Leone's Western trilogy with Clint Eastwood that when I saw he did a western with a big name Hollywood cast and Hollywood budget, I said, "Aw, that's it for Leone. Cross him off the list. Its all just cash-in time, now." And for almost 40 years, I never saw Once Upon A Time In The West. Oh sure, there were those late night TV airings where I saw the first excruciatingly exquisite scene and dug the music and the mood and then fell asleep. But, a couple of Ennio Morricone CDs always kept the theme music to Once Upon A Time in my immediate memory. I vowed to sit through the whole thing the next time it came on late night TV. Last night was the night I came to realize what a fool I'd been all those years. Wow, what a film. Every scene is a delight to behold, especially now that I have a 46" LCD to enjoy it all the more. The shots of Monument Valley (reminiscent of How The West Was Won-another personal fave) are incredible as are all the trademark Leone close-ups. Everything in the movie is just perfect. Fonda is the ultimate villain (WHO KNEW!), Robards is excellent, as usual, even Claudia Cardinale provides more than the de rigeur eye candy. Bronson....well, Bronson book-ends the Sixties Western if you think about it. He had a fine role in the 1960 classic, The Magnificent 7 and ends the decade with another classic western. Nicely done.
Kansas City
(1996)
A must for real jazz fans
26 March 2008
The music is superb. The movie is so-so. The period sets are perfect and its just like being back in KC during the infamous Pendergast era. Altman made this movie as a paean to his hometown and the music that came out of it. One cannot divorce the music from the movie. Either you are a jazz fan or you're not. If you're not, you won't like this movie. Its that simple. If you are, you are really in for a treat. The film features all of the "new" stars in jazz from the mid-90's (James Carter and Craig Handy on saxes, Mark Whitfield on guitar, Geri Allen and Cyrus Chestnut on piano....the list goes on and on. They all play the legends of jazz that came out of Kansas City-people like Count Basie, Joe Williams, Lester Young and Coleman Hawkins. A veritable treat for the in-the-know jazz fan but probably a bore for anyone else. Altman stays on the music longer than most directors would because this is a film about the music as much as it is about the plot.
And here's the real irony. Movie buffs will say they wished Altman wouldn't have devoted so much time to the music and jazz buffs will say they wished Altman would have done away with the ridiculous, annoying plot and grating performance by Jennifer Jason Leigh and focused entirely on the music. How to please everyone? The end result is uneven but there's enough here to keep all parties interested.
If any actor should be singled out, it should be Harry Belafonte. His turn as the underworld kingpin, Seldom Seen, is fantastic. He speaks in a low, gruff rasp but his dialogue is truly worth the effort to understand. When he goes off on the Marcus Garvey speech, its worth the price of admission. Of course, it helps to know who Marcus Garvey was. Jazz fans (and reggae fans, too) will get it. After all, this is a movie for them/us.
And here's the real irony. Movie buffs will say they wished Altman wouldn't have devoted so much time to the music and jazz buffs will say they wished Altman would have done away with the ridiculous, annoying plot and grating performance by Jennifer Jason Leigh and focused entirely on the music. How to please everyone? The end result is uneven but there's enough here to keep all parties interested.
If any actor should be singled out, it should be Harry Belafonte. His turn as the underworld kingpin, Seldom Seen, is fantastic. He speaks in a low, gruff rasp but his dialogue is truly worth the effort to understand. When he goes off on the Marcus Garvey speech, its worth the price of admission. Of course, it helps to know who Marcus Garvey was. Jazz fans (and reggae fans, too) will get it. After all, this is a movie for them/us.
Runaway Train
(I) (1985)
A great movie despite one minor quibble
19 November 2007
In the theatrical version, when the warden breaks into the bathroom and shoves the weasel train dispatcher's head in the toilet, he then said, "Now, wipe that pss off your face." This was edited for the cable release to, "Wipe your face". Give me a break. Like that's such gross dialog in this age of a million f***s a picture. Sure ruined it for me seeing it again after all these years. That's one of the most memorable lines ever. What a riveting, over-the-top performance by Jon Voight at his peak. This earned him a well deserved Oscar nomination for best actor. Great cinematography as well, filmed on location in Alaska. Eric Roberts seemed primed for super-stardom around this time (Star 80, Pope Of Greenwich Village) but he never climbed to the top rung.
No Nukes
(1980)
A great concert film from the Golden Era
29 October 2007
A lost treasure. Yeah, the Boss is great but so is everyone else at this show, which featured a fantastic lineup. Everyone plays their ass off and the combinations are really fun, too. Not to be overlooked is the haunting theme song to the event, Power, written and sung by John Hall, who was recently elected to Congress from New York in a largely Republican district! How about that. Other great performances are by the Doobie Brothers, with and without Carly Simon, and Poco. Paul Cotton delivers a great version of Heart Of The Night, which in light of all the tragedy in New Orleans, seems all the more poignant. Why is there no DVD of this event. What a shame.
The Adventures of Marco Polo
(1938)
What a lot of hooey
10 April 2006
Golden Age of Hollywood, huh? Sam Goldwyn production, Vasquez Rocks sitting in for China, a 40-ish looking Gary Cooper playing a 17 year old, some harmless, Caucasian boob masquerading as the Great Khan, good old Alan Hale for comic relief (what else could he provide?). Whew! This is hard to sit through. Thank goodness for Basil Rathbone as the scheming Saracen, Achmed. He's the only redeeming part of this stinker. The racial discrimination of Hollywood in the 30's is on full display here. The only Asians allowed are what they call in the biz "scenery". Not even Keye Luke in any part. What we have instead, is a bunch of white people pretending (and not very well) to be Chinese. Excruciating. At least the Charlie Chan movies gave speaking roles to Chinese actors. Oh, did I mention the history is ridiculously shoddy? People who decry the current state of the film industry should be forced to sit through this and wonder who had the gall to reduce one of the grandest pageants of all time to a backlot studio formula pic. The sets remind me of Flash Gordon, which was also about this time. Hell, they should have gotten Charles Middleton (Ming the Merciless) to play Kubilai Khan. He would have been a damn sight better than the guy here. What's really galling is that the 1982 mini-series, which featured some excellent, Chinese actors, fantabulous scenery shot around the world including China, and a marvelous score by Ennio Morricone, is not available on DVD and hasn't been seen for over 20 years. This mini-series borrowed much of the plot from the 1938 movie but, with the benefit of 45 years of technical and social advances, managed to tell a more complete and accurate story in a much more entertaining production. Yet, we have to be subjected to this claptrap every month or so on cable. Don't waste your time.
The Sea Is Watching
(2002)
A precious gem of a movie
26 September 2004
Finally, after 2 years, my Japanese roommate hunted down this DVD.
This was the screenplay Kurosawa was working on when he died. While it isn't on the grand scale of some of the master's works, and it was directed by one of his disciples, it is a precious gem-burnished and gleaming as you inspect it from all angles. What a deft touch making the lives of prostitutes so compelling, and in the final scene, even heroic. The featurette with the DVD shows how Kurosawa was enamored with the "chic" of old Edo. It goes a long way to explaining the loving look of the film. Not to mention, the opening music theme is haunting and entrancing.
This was the screenplay Kurosawa was working on when he died. While it isn't on the grand scale of some of the master's works, and it was directed by one of his disciples, it is a precious gem-burnished and gleaming as you inspect it from all angles. What a deft touch making the lives of prostitutes so compelling, and in the final scene, even heroic. The featurette with the DVD shows how Kurosawa was enamored with the "chic" of old Edo. It goes a long way to explaining the loving look of the film. Not to mention, the opening music theme is haunting and entrancing.
Marco Polo
(1982–1983)
A fine, ambitious mini-series that deserves a DVD Box Set.
18 September 2004
As a long-time history buff and Silk Road scholar, I've been enamored of the Marco Polo mystique for many years. I've had this on VHS since it first aired and finally replayed the whole thing last week for the first time in 20 years. While it holds up remarkably well, it is not without some major faults. While the international cast is fabulous, Ken Marshall in the lead role is adequate at best. The real problem lies in the stiffs in the Asian scenes. I mean horrendously badly read English by Asian actors who sound like they took their first English lesson last week. What was the director thinking in letting such amateurish work into the final cut? Or was this an attempt at cinema verite, where people are struggling with a tongue that is not their own? Whatever, it is actually painful to listen to some of this stuff. Apart from Ying Ruocheng, who is perfect as Kubilai Khan, and James Hong, as Phags-Pa, the rest of the Asian cast sounds embarrassingly inept. Maybe its just the dubbing, but this is a real obstacle to enjoying some of the scenes set in China. I'm thinking they should re-dub some of the parts if they decide to ever release a DVD of this in the States. But, that's the only negative to this fine, ambitious project that succeeds in telling the story of Marco Polo against the backdrop of some great, exotic locations and the fabled Forbidden City in Beijing. And what's the deal with that? Wasn't the Forbidden City built by the Ming Dynasty after the fall of the Mongols? Oh well, we need not split hairs here. That and the Great Wall look fabulous. There's a lot to enjoy over the many hours and Ennio Morricone's score is still beautiful. Its a shame it isn't as exalted as some of his other work. I consider it one of his best.
Three Seasons
(1999)
Beautifully photographed look at life in present day Saigon
11 May 2001
You will see lots of comments calling this movie boring. Most of these are by people who still do homework or judge a movie on its body count. That should clue you as to their attention span. Whether intentional or not, plot is not the main focus of this movie. It is languidly paced, reflecting the heat of the Saigon summer it portrays. Perhaps a tone poem to the city, peeking in on the intertwining lives of some of its citizens. If you have any interest in this part of the world, check it out. It is not perfect by any means. Sure, the lack of character development is a little frustrating, especially the Harvey Keitel character, and some of the plot is familiar, but all of these are minor quibbles with a wonderful, evocative film. Thank god this is not another "Focus on the white man in foreign surroundings" movie. I've been to Vietnam twice in the early 90's and enjoyed this update, despite what one reviewer calls inaccuracies.
Indochine
(1992)
Forget the Maltin comment about tripe
20 June 2000
After seeing The Scent of Green Papaya, I was not expecting much, just a vehicle for Catherine Deneuve. And while it most definitely is that, it is also so much more.
The stunning cinematography, the elegant score, and the epic love story set against the turbulent colonial times. I was quite taken with the myriad plot twists. Too bad our high schooler has a 3minute attention span.
This is a very real depiction of colonialism. One reviewer noted the maternalism of Deneuve's character while pointing out the brutality of the slave sellers. People expecting a total condemnation of colonialism or a total condemnation of communism just don't see the gray between the black and white. Unfortunately, only Europeans could have made this movie. There is no didactic viewpoint, which is why some Americans don't react well to it. While the ending is a bit flat, it still doesn't detract from the fact that this was a great movie.
One of the little pleasures of this movie is listening to the Vietnamese housemaid's pidgin French and reading the subtitled translation. While movies like The Scent of Green Papaya are wonderful and deserve all the accolades they are accorded, this movie is very underrated. Green Papaya is a nice cultural experience but it can't come close to Indochine for grit and history. 3 1/2 stars out of 4.
The stunning cinematography, the elegant score, and the epic love story set against the turbulent colonial times. I was quite taken with the myriad plot twists. Too bad our high schooler has a 3minute attention span.
This is a very real depiction of colonialism. One reviewer noted the maternalism of Deneuve's character while pointing out the brutality of the slave sellers. People expecting a total condemnation of colonialism or a total condemnation of communism just don't see the gray between the black and white. Unfortunately, only Europeans could have made this movie. There is no didactic viewpoint, which is why some Americans don't react well to it. While the ending is a bit flat, it still doesn't detract from the fact that this was a great movie.
One of the little pleasures of this movie is listening to the Vietnamese housemaid's pidgin French and reading the subtitled translation. While movies like The Scent of Green Papaya are wonderful and deserve all the accolades they are accorded, this movie is very underrated. Green Papaya is a nice cultural experience but it can't come close to Indochine for grit and history. 3 1/2 stars out of 4.
One Touch of Venus
(1948)
The young Ava Gardner is gorgeous!
25 February 2000
Never mind her vocals may have been dubbed. Its joy enough to watch her light up the screen. Thankfully, the music is kept to a minimum. This is not a full-blown musical on the order of My Fair Lady or The Music Man. Good, light-hearted comedy.
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