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Reviews
Lost Command (1966)
A Thinking Person's War Movie
This may likely be the best Mark Robson war movie of the 60's; certainly much better in my opinion than the more highly regarded Von Ryan's Express. Due a better fate than rental (Spoiler) due to its intelligent exposition of the brutalization of war and the erosion of human honor and self-respect as( Spoiler) Respiguy seeks the patronage of the widow of the aid who he had suspected of betraying him at Dien Ben Phu and with whom he and she become lovers. (Spoiler)Once in Algeria the unit formed initially responds with repulsion to the atrocities until they participate at Rahlem;s(Spoiler) from this point on Respiguy's moral decline increases till he wins the final battle with treacherous tactics.
(Spoiler): The film title may best be explained in the context of Respiguy's erosion of moral compass for personal glory and socio- political security in The Fourth Republic. (Spoiler) Deftly edited and photographed with excellent use of the Panavision camera; a remarkable Hollywood assessment of the first modern Guerilla War.
The Better Hour (2008)
excellent documentary on social reformer
This is an excellent 56minute PBS documentary on the life of William Wilberforce SPOILER Before the title the viewer sees graphic color etchings and prints of the terrible abuse meted out to slaves in this period, SPOILER after a further brief review of contemporary slavery and the slave ship conditions, we are introduced to the early dissolute life of Wilberforce, his later Conversion to Christ and the long battle to end the slave trade and reform British morals ... This Documentary would make a suitable companion piece to Amazing Grace and Amistad ...As a note to the reader or viewer of the documentary or any of the above films on a sombre note the fight against slavery trafficking and exploitation in all its modern forms continues till this day ...SPOILER ...tho this is not mentioned in the documentary ...
Anna and the King (1999)
7 out of 10
I remember seeing Anna And The King on its Australian release in 1999 and thinking what a wonderful, sumptuous, if at times tragic romantic drama it all was. SPOILER ALERT Certain images remain in the mind long after the film is viewed such as the bathing scene where we see much of Ms Fosters legs or the execution of Tuptim or the bridge being detonated.
The performances of Main and Supporting cast are superb; Jodie Foster and Chow Yun Fat work well together.SPOILER ALERT The dialog allows for some ironic political correctness about the nature of imperialism which mark this as a liberal and not conservative film in the Raj tradition of the Rank films.
On release the 2.30min length passed quickly enough but now in the light of even most period costume drama such as Sofia Coppala's Marie Antionette or the British Film The Duchess, Andy Tennants pacing seems slow and not as wonderfully paced as his delightful Drew Barrymore period Comedy Ever After. On release I would have given this a nine. Now as it has dated a little I feel it merits only 7 out of 10.
Robbery Under Arms (1985)
Entertaining Bushranger Movie NOT a Western
SPOILER ALERT- Unlike the 1957 Jack Lee Directed Rank "ROBBERY UNDER ARMS" which safely qualifies as an Australian Western through the superficial Americanisation of the Capn Starlight Character as then portrayed by Peter Finch(ie the clothes and stetson style hat and revolver; the way the bank hold up is portrayed) indicate what was then contemporary Western influence on that particular film, The 1985 film is a through-going Bushranger film which has links to a separate Aussie film tradition equally as old as Porters The Great Train Robbery, for the earliest Bushranger film, following different conventions The Kelly Gang came out in Ausralia round the same time. SPOILLER ALERT- The cattle drive of stolen cattle and sale in Adelaide is based on actual events when a rogue by the name of Harry Redford did the selfsame thing. This 1985 release of Robbery Under Arms is a fairly entertaining cut- down version of a TV miniseries for cinema release. Betraying its TV origins the editing and acting are not particularly adventurous tho Sam Neill does an exceptionally fine turn as Starlight SPOILER ALERT -Is Starlight a disgraced member of the Royal family or Aristocracy who has fallen out with his Class?.SPOILER ALERT As an Aussie its refreshing to hear Aussie idiom without demure as it is in this movie.