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tgladek
Reviews
Hands on a Hard Body: The Documentary (1997)
Insightful study in human behavior
Although the film is a bit slow at first it does grab you, a bit like a serial show, and you just have to sit it out until the end. I remember when this was released and heard from several friends, originally from this area, that it was a must-see- movie. I'm not a "car person", so I wasn't very enthusiastic about seeing it. Then, I couldn't find it anywhere. Well, it's so much more about people and their little quirks, paranoia and drive that it is about cars or a contest to win a truck. Everyone is motivated by circumstance and desire.
This fun and novel contest showcases human behavior and motivation - they
are the stars of this documentary that ultimately celebrates the sheer peculiarity of the unwashed-Texas-public.
Sandcastles (1972)
One my favorite movies
Maybe it's nostalgia, or maybe I'm getting mushy in my old age, but I enjoy this film more and more as I get older. I haven't been able to find it on cable or network television, so I was thrilled to pick it up for a buck at a garage sale.
Jan Michael Vincent is touching and sincere (not to mention gorgeous) and Bonnie Bedelia is lovely and charming. The plot is simple and gentle - an easy watch.
Cross of Iron (1977)
Makes quite a statement... or three
Peckinpah has the ability to make powerful statements with graphic visuals and blessedly few words. Although some of the historical facts are tossed around, the end result is a better understanding of the German's point of view of World War II and the political issues at hand with the US, Europe and Russia.
Ultimately, I felt a greater appreciation for humanity. But then, Peckinpah has that impact on me. As hard as this was to watch - it just broke my heart in so many places - I'm glad I made it through it. Much more "realistic" than Saving Private Ryan.
The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds (1972)
Provacative and reminiscent of teenage agnst
It's tempting to revist a "favorite" film from one's teenage years. It's fascinating and more than a little intimidating to see how much of it you do or don't relate to as an adult. This was the defining movie of the "in" crowd of which I was a member. We were so full of angst (and ourselves) that we were just insufferable. Having said that, I can now look back and say that although the story did not meet our life's expectations or our predict how our lives would turn out, it was very accurate about how we felt and was able to portray all those awful teenage emotions we were feeling. It's all about perceptions. I would suggest that any parent of a teenager, especially a girl, watch this and then read the novel. As an adult, you might think it melodramatic and extreme, but I promise you, I remember how it felt, and Paul Newman poignantly and heartbreakingly captures every single tear shed by these two sisters and their mother. An under-rated gem and a teenage must-see film.