Tag Archives: Drama

#180: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

13 Sunday Jul 2014

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As Hurricane Katrina is nearing New Orleans,
An old woman lies in her hospital bed.
This Daisy requests that her daughter named Caroline
Read her a journal she never has read.
It tells of a man known as Benjamin Button,
Who didn’t grow old, but grew younger instead.
 
His mom died in childbirth, and his own father
Abandoned him due to his aged condition.
A black girl named Queenie, a nursing home lady,
Decided to care for God’s latest addition.
He grew, an old man among older old people,
And felt right at home with his gray disposition.
 
He met lots of people, an African pygmy
Who urged him to follow and showed him the town;
A woman who taught him to play the piano;
An old man whom seven times lightning struck down,
A young girl named Daisy whom Benjamin liked;
And even his father, of Button renown.
 
He found his first job on a tugboat in port
With Captain Mike Clark, an artiste of tattoos.
Clark showed him the world (and a few other things),
And Benjamin loved all the sailing and booze.
He once met a woman and had an affair,
Short-lived, for the captain received some war news.
 
He worked on the boat in the Second World War,
And lost many shipmates amid a brief fight.
Returning back home, he met Daisy again,
A spry ballerina with passions forthright.
He loved her but she had a life of her own,
Till a car accident in the City of Light.
 
Her injury left her unable to dance,
And she didn’t want any pity from Ben.
In time, she came back to New Orleans and him,
And they lived together with joy once again.
When Daisy got pregnant, they welcomed the child,
But though “now” was fine, Button worried of “then.”
 
While growing still younger, he knew he could not
Be father when he was a child as well,
So Benjamin left, leaving Daisy his money
For young Caroline, whom he just could not tell.
He came back but once several years after that,
And Daisy and he paired up at a hotel.
 
The next time she found him, he looked very young,
And Daisy took care of him as he regressed.
He died as a baby within her old arms,
After 84 years as this backward world’s guest.
Katrina moves in as Miss Daisy joins him,
Having told Caroline of the man she loved best.
____________________

 

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is the first film on my list that fits into one of my favorite unofficial sub-genres of film, what I call a “meet ‘em and move on” movie. Such a film follows a single character through life (or a microcosm of it) as they interact with and learn from several different interesting people over time, usually ending with a satisfying wrap-up that may or may not include a recap of the various acquaintances encountered. They can be fanciful and weird like Big Fish or down-to-earth and slow like The Straight Story. I’ve included several such films higher on my list because they tend to touch me deeply (the two mentioned above are exceptions). This film has a number of the things I love about such movies: a unique way of framing the tale, a number of colorful characters made likable by quirks and familiarity, and a touching relationship at the heart of the film.

Benjamin Button is only #180 because it is a blend of elements I love and others I don’t. I was pulled in by the opening vignette about the clockmaker and young/old Benjamin’s adoption by the religious Queenie; then I was turned off by his introduction to a brothel. I enjoyed the listing of his shipmates at sea, not so much Daisy’s talk about her dance troupe “trusting” each other through sex. On the one hand, I loved Cate Blanchett’s performance, as well as Brad Pitt’s, but on the other, the truth is that Benjamin Button as a character is rather underdeveloped and flat. I admire several insightful lines and scenes, such as the build-up to Daisy’s accident. Yet Pitt doesn’t show much of a range of emotions, and my VC felt that Benjamin’s choice to leave Daisy and his daughter was selfish and unnecessary.

Many critics pointed out a number of similarities to another “meet ‘em and move on,” Forrest Gump.I suppose a main reason I like Forrest Gump as a character so much more than Benjamin Button is that Forrest is a better role model. Forrest loved Jenny unconditionally and stayed pure for her, even as she delved into depravity. Benjamin, meanwhile, was nonchalant about sex and had an affair with a married woman, as well as a number of one-night stands, never even marrying Daisy. Even his foster mother Queenie had nightly rendezvous with a close man, though Mrs. Gump wasn’t perfect in that regard either. Forrest took in everything that happened in his life with innocence and naiveté, while Benjamin accepted it all with dull worldliness.

Despite all these detractions and some profanity, the ending of the film is one of the best among “meet ‘em and move on” films. Nothing else in the movie even brought me close to tears, but seeing all the people he met one after another was such a great pay-off that ended the film in the best way possible. Overall, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is an unusual love story that excels more in its details than in the big picture.

Best line: (Benjamin Button) “Our lives are defined by opportunities, even the ones we miss.”

 
Artistry: 10
Characters/Actors: 8
Entertainment: 7
Visual Effects: 10
Originality: 6
Watchability: 8
Other (language and aforementioned issues): -5
 
TOTAL: 44 out of 60
 

Next: #179 – The Hobbit

© 2014 S. G. Liput

155 Followers and Counting

 

Something the Lord Made (2004)

12 Saturday Jul 2014

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When Vivien Thomas was needing some work,
He found some with Alfred Blalock,
A pioneer surgeon experimenting
On dogs and the study of shock.
 
Though just an assistant, he learned very fast,
His hands and his memory deft.
He found that he loved seeing life at its source,
And he followed Blalock when he left.
 
They went to Johns Hopkins, a researching team
But odd because Thomas was black.
He raised many eyebrows among the white staff,
But Blalock defended his knack.
 
Blalock’s latest challenge was finding a cure
For sick babies who had turned blue.
Both Thomas and he labored tirelessly,
Though heart surgery was taboo.
 
When Thomas realized that he was a class 3,
Two grades below what he should be,
He made the fact known, and Blalock pulled some strings
And gave him the right guarantee.
 
They worked and they worked till the dogs were blue too,
As test cases for operation.
Through Vivien’s help, they obtained a solution,
Albeit with some complication.
 
The time at last came: the first heart surgery,
On a blue baby on her deathbed.
Blalock needed Vivien close by his side
And turned sickly blue to light red.
 
His wondrous success changed the medical world
And garnered him instant acclaim,
But Thomas was troubled and quit his job when
Blalock wouldn’t mention his name.
 
In time, he decided the work’s what he loved,
Returning to Johns Hopkins soon.
For decades he served as a faithful technician
With skills that no man could impugn.
 
Though Blalock passed on, a large portrait of him
Still hangs in the hall, not alone.
For next to his doctor is Vivien Thomas,
Who earned a portrait of his own.
_____________________
 

Something the Lord Made was an HBO film that I just happened to watch one day for the peculiarity of the very British Alan Rickman playing a southern doctor, and he skillfully pulled it off. Not only is his accent well-replaced, but he plays Dr. Alfred Blalock with just the right balance of compassion and egotism. Mos Def is even more remarkable as Vivien Thomas, the carpenter-turned-lab technician who helped to change the world of medicine without ever going to college. I noticed during this latest viewing that his facial expressions are not particularly varied, but he successfully evokes every emotion, from the focus and tension of the operations to the betrayal felt when he is ignored for his contributions to the quiet awe and gratitude when he is finally awarded such recognition.

The film is not for the very squeamish since there are some surgery scenes, though they’re not too graphic. Also, modern-day animal rights activists would probably have prevented Blalock’s breakthrough by taking away the dogs on which he experimented. The scenes of the surgeons cutting into upturned canines may displease some animal lovers, but it paved the way for modern heart surgery, saving millions of lives.

As usual, there is some completely unnecessary foul language, and the make-up to age the characters is non-existent (just grayed hair), but there are certainly more positives than negatives. It presents many racist period details, such as blacks’ sitting at the back of the bus and vacating sidewalks for whites, but mostly as details, facts of life for the characters. The sensitive relationship between Blalock and Thomas is the highlight of the film, a little-known piece of history that is truly amazing when you think about it. I don’t watch a lot of HBO films due to their content, but if there were more like this one, I would.

Best line: (Vivien Thomas) “The dead are with us all the time, I believe. Can’t separate the past from the future any more than you can your right arm and your left arm.
(Dr. Blalock) “Ah, but, you see, they are separated by this, by the heart.”
(Thomas) “Or connected.”
(Blalock) “Or connected.”

 

Artistry: 9
Characters/Actors: 10
Entertainment: 8
Visual Effects: N/A
Originality: 8
Watchability: 8
 
TOTAL: 43 out of 60

 

Next: #180 – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

© 2014 S. G. Liput

155 Followers and Counting

 

 

Funny Girl (1968)

11 Friday Jul 2014

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(Best sung to “Don’t Rain on My Parade”)
 
When Fanny Brice was just a show-biz starter,
She couldn’t be a chorus girl, but smarter;
She had the voice to make the audience acclaim.
Though like a bagel compassed by bialys,
She was a starlet in the Ziegfeld Follies.
She made the people laugh and earned the highest fame.
 
Quite early on, she meets a handsome mister.
This Nicky Arnstein just wants to assist her,
But over time their love inevitably grows.
When he must leave to catch a ship and gamble,
She follows him and dumps her show to ramble
With him, the man who’s glad to see her and propose.
 
They’re glad together for a time, but Nicky
Runs out of luck, and earning money’s tricky.
Yet Fanny’s still the star of Ziegfeld’s latest show.
Increasingly, he can’t provide the bacon;
He feels his confidence and pride are shaken;
And he will not accept the help she can bestow.
 
This streak of bad luck—Nick cannot crack it,
So he decides to join a bond scheme racket.
He goes to jail for eighteen months, and they both part.
Though Fanny still may love her former wooer,
They both decide to start their lives the newer
By separating, but Miss Brice still sings her heart.
______________________
 

Funny Girl was Barbra Streisand’s first film, based off the Tony-nominated Broadway show she headlined, and it’s the film that won her the Academy Award for Best Actress (albeit tied with Katharine Hepburn for The Lion in Winter). The role of Fanny Brice suits her just as much as that of Dolly Levi, both strong Jewish women (at least as played by Streisand), and, though it entails her being self-conscious about her looks, her comedic and vocal talents are given great opportunity to shine.

Omar Sharif is also as “gorgeous” as ever as the charming gambler Nick Arnstein, who helps Fanny early in her career. Sharif certainly sells the character, but Arnstein is an unfortunate example of pride gone awry. Ignoring the fact that he seduces Fanny and only marries her at her suggestion, the way he handles his poor luck is frustrating to me. It’s usually admirable when some poor movie father says he won’t accept charity but will rather earn his own money, but I think most such fathers would take the contribution before turning to illegal activities. Nick was given a chance to finally have a somewhat stable career, and he turned it down because his wife was helping to finance it. That’s not even charity; it’s simple sharing! For him to knowingly commit a crime and desire divorce is perhaps not as fatal as the actions of Norman Maine in A Star Is Born, but it does show that his own pride trumped his love for Fanny. But I digress….

While the unsatisfying end and the rather long running time detract somewhat, the music makes up for it. Many songs were omitted from the stage production, but several show-stopping numbers just had to be included. Of course, Streisand’s rendition of “People” is quite popular, but “His Love Makes Me Beautiful” is a hoot. I actually prefer the more upbeat songs “I’m the Greatest Star” and “Don’t Rain on My Parade.” The lyrics are all clever, and the final notes are awe-inspiring.

Like Hello, Dolly, Funny Girl is not my favorite musical, but it’s a great mixture of drama, comedy, and music that meshes beautifully, mainly due to Streisand’s performance. While the last song “My Man” may finish it on a high note, I do wish the film overall ended more happily.

Best line: (Fanny, speaking of Nick) “I see him as he is. I love him as he is!”   (her mother Rose) “Fanny, love him a little less. Help him a little more.”

VC’s best line: (Fanny, explaining how she’s different) “I’m a bagel on a plate full of onion rolls!”

 
Artistry: 8
Characters/Actors: 9
Entertainment: 8
Visual Effects: N/A
Originality: 8
Watchability: 7
Other (great music and singing): +3
 
TOTAL: 43 out of 60
 

Next: #181 – Something the Lord Made

© 2014 S. G. Liput

153 Followers and Counting

 

Have a Little Faith (2011)

10 Thursday Jul 2014

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A eulogy seems like a difficult chore
For newspaper writer Mitch Albom, who’s sore
Toward any religion; this eulogy’s for
His childhood rabbi named Al.
The rabbi is friendly and kind all along
And often breaks out into jubilant song,
His sermons make his congregation feel strong,
And Mitch grows to be a close pal.
 
Although he had feared Albert Lewis when young,
Mitch quickly is charmed by his clever old tongue
And the warmhearted ways that his greetings are sung
And shares many visits for years.
Meanwhile, in Detroit, Albom happens to meet
A black pastor helping those out on the street.
Though his shabby church has no light and no heat,
His whole congregation still cheers.
 
But this Henry Covington has had a past;
He once was a drug dealer, living life fast.
All his offenses leave Albom aghast,
Yet here Henry is, a changed man.
When he was most desperate, oppressed by mistakes,
God helped him survive, Henry setting the stakes.
He then made a promise that he never breaks,
To serve God as long as he can.
 
A hole in the roof causes Henry much stress,
And Mitch wants to help but is nervous, I guess,
That Henry might be tempted still and regress,
But Henry proves he is reformed.
Mitch then puts the word out for charity aid,
And soon Henry’s church is quite nearly remade.
The roof hole is fixed, and the bills are all paid;
The building’s now well-lit and warmed.
 
Eight years after Albert, the teacher most wise,
Asked distant Mitch Albom to please eulogize,
The ninety-year-old singing rabbi then dies,
Having strengthened the uncertain Mitch.
And Henry as well, having won much affection,
Whose life was recycled by God’s wise direction,
Went home to the Lord till the next resurrection,
A soul God employed to enrich.
______________________
 

Following up the Hallmark-like The Ultimate Gift, here’s a real Hallmark Hall of Fame movie based on Mitch Albom’s book, which featured real-life conversations with his old rabbi and a Protestant pastor. As inspiring as it is faith-building, the film proves how powerful television movies can be. As the film goes back and forth between the homespun Jewish wisdom of Rabbi Lewis and the touching salvation story of Pastor Henry Covington, the audience gets to know them as characters just as Mitch Albom did, gradually.

Martin Landau is especially convincing and likable as the elderly rabbi, and Laurence Fishburne is also excellent as Henry, portraying him in both his free-wheeling, drug-ridden days and his devoted, repentant later life. Even though the film got no nominations, I thought both of them deserved an Emmy for their performances. Bradley Whitford is all right as Mitch, although his dense misunderstanding of religion borders on frustrating at times. I know he’s a non-practicing Jew, but even most non-believers can agree on someone’s ability to change their own life.

I think Have a Little Faith is an overlooked gem that deserves its Hallmark Hall of Fame status. It’s realistic yet restrained, instructional yet not preachy, dramatic and sweet yet not overly so. It’s a portrait of two men worth admiring, the kind of quality television most channels have ceased making.

Best line: (Mitch, to Rabbi Lewis) “Do you believe in God?”   (Rabbi) “Yes. Occupational hazard.”

 
Artistry: 8
Characters/Actors: 10
Entertainment: 9
Visual Effects: N/A
Originality: 8
Watchability: 8
 
TOTAL: 43 out of 60

 

Next: #182 – Funny Girl

© 2014 S. G. Liput

153 Followers and Counting

 

The Ultimate Gift (2006)

09 Wednesday Jul 2014

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When rich Red Stevens meets his end,
His family does not regret.
They only care what he’ll extend
To them within the will he set.
 
He gives them limited control
And nowhere near what they desire.
The rest is missing as a whole,
Perhaps for one who will aspire.
 
To Jason Stevens, Red’s grandson,
Whose father died he knows not how,
Red gives a challenge that, if won,
Will grant the most he can endow.
 
Since Jason is a spoiled punk
Who hopes for something still to gain,
He flies to Texas in a funk,
As Red’s will stipulated plain.
 
Unlike the simple gift he thought
He would receive when set down,
He’s told to work and toil a lot
Upon a ranch some hours from town.
 
Eventually, he gets the gist
And digs fence posts for many miles,
But when he’s finished and dismissed,
There is no gift for all his trials.
 
He got, it seems, the Gift of Work,
And soon the Gift of Problems comes.
He sees that every “friend’s” a jerk
When he’s made poor and joins the bums.
 
He has to find just one true friend,
A gift that is in short supply.
Then he finds someone to defend,
Although he’s now a homeless guy.
 
Alexia and daughter too
Named Emily are grateful so
The young girl says their friendship’s true,
Although they met not long ago.
 
He ditches them, but soon he learns
That Emily is bound to die.
Her cancer sparks his own concerns,
And Jason pays their rent, though high.
 
Alexia, touched by this act,
Agrees to share his Thanksgiving,
Thanks to her daughter, who, in fact,
Wants them to pair up while she’s living.
 
The Stevens family dinner goes
Downhill because of pride and greed.
When Jason sees their moral lows,
He sees himself and can’t proceed.
 
The next gift in Red’s repertoire
Is that of Learning things through pain.
To do that, Jason must withdraw
And go someplace to find a plane.
 
In Ecuador, his father crashed,
And Jason always had blamed Red.
With this real story now rehashed,
He misses more those Stevens dead.
 
When Jason’s captured by cartels,
He thinks his life’s about to end,
But he escapes them and dispels
The worries of his new-found friend.
 
Alexia and Emily
Are glad he’s back, albeit late,
But even now that he is free,
Both death and heartache still await.
 
When all his challenges are through,
He’s given millions from Red’s will,
But there is something he can do
For those like Emily, still ill.
 
When he presents expensive plans
For family homes for those in need,
He feels at last he understands
How he can help and intercede.
 
But Emily soon goes to heaven,
Leaving Lexi in good care.
For now the ultimate gift is given:
Jason’s ready to be heir.
________________________
 

Watching the greedy excesses of the rich and infamous has become a favorite pastime for many television viewers lately. With all the Kardashians and “Housewives” and such out there, I’m sure plenty of people would love to see them taught a lesson. While Bobcat Goldthwait wanted to gun them down in his atrocious black “comedy” God Bless America, I, for one, much prefer the reformation portrayed in the Hallmark-esque The Ultimate Gift.

James Garner is the heart of the film as the deceased Red Stevens, who teaches his grandson the deeper life lessons that his privileged upbringing could not. His recorded messages throughout the movie may be reminiscent of Brewster’s Millions, but they help tie the film and its lessons together. Drew Fuller as Jason is a bit too blank-faced to be really compelling for most of the film (Nick Stahl or Chris Pine could have done just as well), but Abigail Breslin gives a touchingly precocious performance as young Emily. The lovely Ali Hillis is also quite good as Alexia, but for me the film’s main appeal, like its lessons, belong to the older generation: Garner, Bill Cobbs as his aged lawyer friend Mr. Hamilton, Lee Meriwether as Miss Hastings, and Brian Dennehy as hard-working rancher Gus.

Many critics were, well, critical of how the film pushed its good-for-you values on both characters and the audience, but when those lessons are this universal, I don’t mind. It’s satisfying to see a spoiled playboy like Jason stripped of everything he thought was valuable, only for him to get it back and more with a very different viewpoint and appreciation. Both he and Emily act almost as guardian angels for Alexia, and their interactions are both believable and sweet.

I will say that the whole part in Ecuador, while heightening the drama, is so different in tone and setting from the rest of the film as to seem out of place. Another thing I do wonder is how the apples fell so far from the tree. I know that the second generation rarely equals the tycoons who earned them all their money, but Red Stevens seems so down to earth, wise, and prudent that I can’t help but wonder how his kids turned out so greedy and ungrateful. There’s another movie higher on my list with a similar problem, but here there is at least the hope that Jason, as the next Red Stevens, will run his empire much better than any of Red’s children would. The Ultimate Gift isn’t just the fortune Jason inherits but the experience to use it wisely.

Best line: (Jason, to Emily about a statue of Jesus; a good example of the film’s unobtrusive religiosity) “I don’t know much about God or Jesus, but I can promise you those arms are meant for you.”

 
Artistry: 8
Characters/Actors: 9
Entertainment: 8
Visual Effects: N/A
Originality: 7
Watchability: 7
Other (lessons everyone should learn): +4
 
TOTAL: 43 out of 60
 

Next: #183 – Mitch Albom’s Have a Little Faith

© 2014 S. G. Liput

152 Followers and Counting

 

The Way (2010)

07 Monday Jul 2014

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Santiago de Compostela
Waits for pilgrims crossing Spain,
Journeying on El Camino,
But their trek is not in vain.
 
Hikers through the centuries
Have walked the many-mile trail,
Ending at the tomb of St. James
After braving much travail.
 
Thomas Avery is told
His son died in the Pyrenees,
So he flies to claim the corpse,
Though he and Daniel weren’t at ease.
 
Daniel wished to see the world,
Including this, the famous Way.
Now that he is only ashes,
Thomas has a debt to pay.
 
As he carries Daniel’s pack,
He sprinkles ashes as he goes,
Feeling Daniel still is near him,
Nearer than the lives they chose.
 
Early on, he meets a Dutchman,
Joost, who’s hiking to lose weight.
Eating, chattering, smoking drugs,
Joost cannot help but irk his mate.
 
Soon they separate, but Thomas
Meets a girl Canadian, eh.
Sarah seems extremely angry,
Unlike most who walk the Way.
 
She is trying quitting smoking,
Which she’ll slough off at the end,
But until then she’ll keep lighting
While avoiding any friend.
 
Joost and Sarah and old Thomas
End up trekking as a group.
Thomas, though, keeps wholly silent,
Marching like an army troop.
 
Then they meet an Irish writer,
Jack, who suffers writer’s block.
He is hoping inspiration
Just might find him on this walk.
 
Briefly, Sarah opens up
To Tom enough to introduce
Guilt about a past abortion
And her husband’s cruel abuse.
 
Joost and Jack seem always merry,
But when wine is passed around,
Thomas gives his full two cents,
Insulting these comrades he found.
 
Feeling guilty afterward,
He lets Jack write his journey’s tale,
And they continue, heading west
Along the ever-winding trail.
 
Most they meet along the Way
Are friendly (one a little mad),
But when they reach the town of Burgos,
Tom’s pack’s stolen by a lad.
 
There is little they can do,
For Gypsies all of them despise,
But the young man’s father comes,
Returning to apologize.
 
With his pack, Tom journeys on,
Continuing with Dan’s remains.
Near the end, he gifts his friends
With luxury for all their pains.
 
At last, they reach the great cathedral,
Where so many have arrived.
During Mass, they all look on
With hope and faith perhaps revived.
 
Goals they set may not have happened,
But they journey to the sea.
Thomas empties Daniel’s ashes
And keeps up his odyssey.
_________________
 

A coworker of mine once criticized the Lord of the Rings movies for having way too much walking, but that’s what a quest is for. It’s what happens during the walk that matters. The Way received little fanfare upon its release in 2010, but when my family heard about it, we decided to go see it on Halloween night (since I was too old for trick-or-treating by that time). Most people watch horror movies at that time of year, but this was much more inspiring.

The film was the brainchild of Emilio Estevez, who directed, produced, wrote, and starred in the film as the deceased Daniel. Inspired by Martin Sheen’s own journey with Estevez’s son, who met his future wife on the Camino, the film isn’t melodramatic or overly sentimental. Martin Sheen evokes a father’s pain at the loss of his son in very realistic ways, clamming up, yelling when his inhibitions are lowered, feeling he must take this journey but wanting to get it over with as soon as possible. All the other characters likewise seem very authentic, not fitting into a tired Hollywood archetype. Yorick van Wageningen, Deborah Kara Unger, and James Nesbitt are quite convincing as Joost, Sarah, and Jack, all of whom have quirks that clearly irritate Tom but aren’t enough to make them unlikable as characters. They’re the kind of traveling companions one would hope to find on such a journey. (By the way, if it wasn’t for this film introducing me to James Nesbitt, I would be totally unfamiliar with the thirteen dwarves in The Hobbit. He played Bofur and was at least one face I could recognize.)

The entire film was shot on the actual Camino, with all the walkers being real pilgrims, aside from the main actors. This heightens the authenticity but doesn’t detract from the artistry. Estevez’s skillful camerawork frequently focuses on a close-up of something, whether meaningful or insignificant, and then switches to a wide shot showing the enormity of the Camino and the surrounding countryside. The little character moments along the way range from funny to touching, and the final outcome for the travelers’ reasons for walking the Camino is more realistic than most Hollywood fare. It also presents Gypsies in a more sympathetic light than I think many Europeans would.

The final scene in the cathedral is not only fascinating (there’s a giant thurible called Botafumeiro that swings incense throughout the entire church) but also especially moving and brought my VC to tears. Estevez claimed he wanted to make a film that could appeal to everyone, “pro-people, pro-life, not anti-anything,” and I think he succeeded. The religious elements can appeal to Christians (though Catholicism technically forbids the spreading of ashes), but there’s enough cynicism and character-driven drama to captivate everyone else. It makes me want to perhaps walk the Camino myself one day. Who knows?

Best line (a frequent excuse for not doing things in life): (Tom) “Have you ever walked the Camino, Señora?”   (Spanish woman in the stamp office) “No. When I was young, I was too busy, and now that I’m older, I’m too tired.”

 
Artistry: 9
Characters/Actors: 10
Entertainment: 8
Visual Effects: N/A
Originality: 9
Watchability: 8
Other (brief language): -1
 
TOTAL: 43 out of 60
 

Next: #185 – Spaceballs (now for something completely different)

© 2014 S. G. Liput

150 Followers and Counting!

(Thanks to everyone reading out there!)

 

Twister (1996)

05 Saturday Jul 2014

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When Jo was a cute little girl,
She witnessed the wind in a whirl.
Her father was trying
To help but went flying
When deadly gusts started to swirl.
 
Grown up, she now studies the weather
Which treats a large truck like a feather.
Her split husband Bill
Used to share in her skill;
They both used to chase storms together.
 
But now he is seeking divorce,
With his new fiancée, but of course.
Melissa seems nice,
Giving carnal advice,
But Jo doesn’t rush to endorse.
 
Then Bill learns of Jo’s latest cause,
A system improving what was,
Some sensors to map
A tornado death-trap;
It’s called DOROTHY, like in Oz.
 
Bill further learns Jonas is near,
His rival who’s less than sincere.
He’s copied for free
Bill’s idea: DOROTHY.
And Bill won’t let him pioneer.
 
So while Oklahoma begins
To waken with whirligig winds,
Melissa and Bill
Tag along for a thrill
To watch as a great tempest spins.
 
The first DOROTHY has a fall,
And Bill and Jo have a close call,
But soon they’re right back
On a double storm’s track;
Melissa’s near ready to bawl.
 
The team visits Jo’s rural aunt,
Who always has dinner to grant.
While there at Aunt Meg’s,
They have great steak and eggs.
They’d all like to stay, but they can’t.
 
The next twister found jumps about,
And DOROTHY II is knocked out,
Yet Jo is obsessed
With her funnel cloud quest,
And Bill has to stop her and shout.
 
Her father’s death gave her the drive
To see twisters’ power alive.
Bill tells her somehow
They must focus on now
In order for marriage to thrive.
 
A drive-in that’s showing The Shining
Is where their team ends up reclining,
But then a storm hits
And just rips it to bits.
The whole place may need redesigning.
 
By this time, Melissa’s distraught
And leaves Bill, for things are too taut.
Bill says he’s beyond
Love for storms and his blonde,
But she clearly sees he is not.
 
When Meg’s house is hit by a twister,
They all rush right there to assist her.
Once she’s safe and sound,
Yet another comes round,
A storm with no equal or sister.
 
They modify DOROTHY’s spheres
To catch all the wind as it steers.
It fails yet again,
But they’re horrified when
Jonas dies from not heeding their fears.
 
As the mile-wide twister swirls round,
Obstructions and dangers abound.
As Bill and Jo drive,
Trying just to survive,
The right opportunity’s found.
 
They let the last DOROTHY fly,
Exulting at their latest try,
But then the cyclone
Just won’t leave them alone.
They flee to a pipe shed nearby.
 
Securing themselves tightly there,
They watch as they float in the air.
They hold as they enter
The tornado’s center,
And it dies out, leaving the pair.
Now they have much data to share.
____________________
 

Many disaster movies like The Poseidon Adventure or The Towering Inferno are blown out of proportion for the sake of the film, while others like The Impossible are more realistic but focus on catastrophes that are still rare. Tornadoes happen all the time out in the Midwest, and sometimes it takes a film like this to remind those who don’t live there of the power and devastation of these storms. That’s not to say Twister isn’t rather overblown as well, with a convenient rash of tornadoes breaking out within driving distance (which is still plausible) and tons of special effects. While it received mixed reviews overall, even critics couldn’t help but praise the effects used to bring the twisters to life and iconically fly cows across the screen (or maybe the same cow).

They may not be Oscar-worthy, but Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton pair quite well as meteorologist action heroes, and both at least seem like real people. Jami Gertz also has some memorable moments as Bill’s overwhelmed girlfriend Melissa, and Philip Seymour Hoffman and Alan Ruck are great fun as the leaders of the storm-chasing entourage. Cary Elwes skillfully drops his English accent to play Dr. Jonas Miller, preparing him for other villainous roles later on. By the way, that was Alexa Vega of Spy Kids fame playing the young Jo at the beginning. In addition (Lost alert!), there’s Jeremy Davies, who played Daniel Faraday on my favorite show. It’s a small role as one of the members of Jo’s storm team, but when I saw this film after Lost, I said “Oh, my gosh, it’s Daniel!” (He’s the one who gets up from Meg’s table to let Melissa sit down.)

The final twister is truly spectacular in its enormity, tossing around everything from houses to oil tankers, but because it’s so big and powerful, it strains credulity that no one but the bad guy got hurt. I mean seriously, with all that debris flying around, none of it hurt Bill and Jo as they were running through the heart of it? It’s one of those action movies that conveniently protects the main characters from all harm, but the scenes of destruction are believable enough to make up for that. The drive-in scene and the collapsing house scene are both edge-of-your-seat sequences so impressive that they were recreated for the theme park attraction down at Universal Studios. Twister is a whirlwind of a movie with plenty of thrills and laughs, a memorably greasy breakfast scene, and remarkable visuals that have kept me from ever wanting to move to Oklahoma. No offense.

Best line: (Melissa, on the phone during a twister) “I gotta go, Julia; we got cows!”

 
Artistry: 5
Characters/Actors: 7
Entertainment: 9
Visual Effects: 8
Originality: 7
Watchability: 10
Other (language): -3
 
TOTAL: 43 out of 60
 

Next: #187 – Frozen

© 2014 S. G. Liput

147 Followers and Counting

 

Rocky III (1982)

04 Friday Jul 2014

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Three years after Rocky’s win against Apollo Creed,
He’s still the champ and has the cash to finally succeed.
He’s no more just a bum; he’s Philly’s fighting favorite son
And can afford a charity match that’s turbulent but “fun.”
 
When Rocky’s famous statue’s being unveiled for a crowd,
A challenger named “Clubber” Lang intrudes a bit too loud.
He says he wants a match with Rock and will destroy the “fool,”
And Rocky wants to fight him too and take him back to school.
 
But something Clubber says makes Rocky ask his trainer Mick
If his past fights were set-ups, won through Mickey’s careful pick.
Though Mickey chose opponents Rocky certainly could beat,
He did it to protect him from the torment of defeat.
 
This Clubber is too hungry, too robust and young and strong,
For Rocky to face off against and share the ring for long.
Yet Rocky doesn’t listen, and he doesn’t train his best,
And when the fight arrives, poor Mickey clutches his own chest.
 
Mick’s heart is giving out, and this unsettles Rocky so,
That he can’t hold his own tonight and loses by K-O.
He cannot bring himself to tell his trainer that he failed,
And Mickey dies in Rocky’s arms, believing he prevailed.
 
Apollo comes to Rocky with an offer unexpected,
To train him that his pride and his career be resurrected.
He takes him to his L.A. gym where his own path began,
And Rocky relearns boxing through Apollo’s training plan.
 
But Rocky’s heart’s not in it; he’s afraid to fight because
Perhaps he wasn’t quite as skilled as he believed he was,
But Adrian, his wife, insists he salvage his career,
But he himself must do his best and conquer all his fear.
 
From then on out, he labors hard to raise his strength and speed.
Before long, he can outrun his new friend Apollo Creed.
The night arrives for Lang and Rocky’s rematch for the title;
While Rocky looks determined, Clubber’s looking homicidal.
 
As Rocky holds his own and Lang’s strong punching doesn’t work,
The former champ is trying to provoke, annoy, and irk.
Soon, Clubber’s rage is blinding, and then Rocky lets it rip
And knocks him out to retake the world boxing championship.
 
When all is said and done, when there’s no media or talk,
Apollo seeks a friendly rematch with his rival Rock.
_________________
 

Perhaps Rocky IV would have been a more patriotic film for Independence Day, and I certainly like it as well (it has some of the best musical montages of the whole series), but I prefer Rocky III over any of the other sequels. It’s pretty much the usual plotline with Rocky Balboa facing a big fight, which he ends up training hard for and winning at the end, but this third film throws in some variables that make it special.

Perhaps the biggest emotional punch is the death of Burgess Meredith’s gruff trainer Mickey Goldmill. Since he was already old at the start of the series, his heart troubles are certainly believable, and his death scene really is heartbreaking. The other thing that sets this film apart is Mr. T as Clubber Lang. Though he was nominated for a Golden Raspberry for Worst New Star, I think he’s the best antagonist of the Rocky films. While Rocky IV’s Drago was practically a machine and Apollo Creed was moderately sympathetic, Clubber is so in-your-face belligerent with his patented “I-pity-the-fool” delivery that it’s that much more satisfying when he is finally defeated. I also appreciate how Apollo becomes more of a friendly rival, helping Rocky to “rise up to the challenge of [his] rival.”

The training scenes aren’t the best of the series, but Hulk Hogan has a fun cameo as Thunderlips, “the Mountain of Molten Lust,” and the final fight with Lang is a stand-out. Unlike almost all the others in which Rocky’s hard head just takes a pounding to basically outlast the other guy, here he actually uses a strategy to make Clubber so angry that he tires himself out so that Rocky can overcome. Rocky’s actually active and more conscious by the end of the fight so that there can be a nice little post-fight scene with Apollo. Also, Survivor’s ”Eye of the Tiger” perfectly bookends the film and earns placement in my End Credits Song Hall of Fame. Rocky III may be rather predictable, but it’s formula done well.

Best line: (Rocky, referring to Thunderlips, the wrestling champ) “Wow, he’s awful big. Hey, Mick, how much do you think he eats?”
(Mickey) “About 202 pounds.”
(the announcer, introducing Rocky) “Weighing in at 202 pounds…”

 

Artistry: 7
Characters/Actors: 9
Entertainment: 9
Visual Effects: N/A
Originality: 8
Watchability: 9
 
TOTAL: 42 out of 60

 

Next: #188 – Twister

© 2014 S. G. Liput

146 Followers and Counting

 

Joyeux Noël (2005)

02 Wednesday Jul 2014

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In 1914, war began,
Embraced by most, except a few.
As nations called on every man,
The horror of it came in view.
 
The Scots, the Germans, and the French
Were fortified on Christmas Eve.
Each army huddled in its trench,
No reinforcements to relieve.
 
Then, lo, there rose a single voice,
A tenor on the German side,
Reminding them to still rejoice,
For Christ was born for all worldwide.
 
The Scots employed their instrument
To complement the brave recruit,
And everybody was content
To lend an ear instead of shoot.
 
The three commanders met that night,
To call a temporary truce,
To share champagne instead of fight,
To put their time to better use.
 
A Scottish priest performed a Mass
For every soldier, friend or foe,
And one attending German lass
Performed soprano in the snow.
 
Although the night soon ran its course,
The morning saw increased rapport.
They could not dole out death and force
On those they met the night before.
 
Instead, they gathered hand in hand,
The dead of every camp to bury,
And they transformed no man’s land
Into one large cemetery.
 
When shelling was to be dispersed,
The Germans warned their rival friend,
And when their places were reversed,
The Scots let courtesy extend.
 
Yet friendship was not meant to last,
For when superiors heard tell
Of what occurred, they were aghast
And punished all such personnel.
 
Though others thought their acts a shame,
The men who lived that silent night
Were proud to greet their foe by name
And share in peace on earth outright.
________________
 

Time to kick off Christmas in July with Joyeux Noël, which is French for Merry Christmas.There aren’t many foreign-language films on my list, but this one has a unique blend of languages, since it presents an amazing event during World War I from the point of view of German, Scottish, and French soldiers. All three languages are spoken side by side, not only heightening the film’s realism but also allowing English, French, and German-speaking viewers to hear their own language a third of the time.

The film wonderfully humanizes its characters and doesn’t set out to cast any side as the villain. True, Austria-Hungary and Germany were the aggressors, but, unlike the Second World War, I don’t believe there was true evil fueling the conflict. World War I was mainly fought over border disputes and entangling alliances, and the soldiers in the trenches were present only out of duty to their nations, not malice toward the opposing side. Of course, war forces countries to inevitably demonize their enemies in order to give their troops the drive to fight (as is hauntingly illustrated by the film’s opening poem, as well as the bishop’s sermon at the end), but most of those on the ground on both sides were ordinary people, real people, family men.

The film doesn’t provide as much characterization for the soldiers as I would have liked, but perhaps that was intentional. The war had just begun and the men were just getting to know each other, whether as friends, as enemies, or as something in between. Benno Fürmann stands out the most as the German tenor Sprink, along with his lover Anna, played by Diane Kruger of National Treasure fame. Guillaume Canet, Gary Lewis, and Daniel Brühl are also marvelous as the French lieutenant, a Scottish priest, and the German lieutenant, respectively.

The film is replete with moments of touching beauty, of enemies slowly coming together to exchange gifts, of a lovely operatic rendition of Ave Maria that leaves the troops spellbound, of kindness being shown even when they know it should be forbidden. It speaks strongly of the unifying power of music, religion, uncommon decency, and coffee/tea. Little details, such as a Frenchman’s clock-related habits or the back-and-forth claiming of an itinerant cat, help bring the story to life. (By the way, much of this story was previously featured in the music video for Paul McCartney’s “Pipes of Peace” back in 1983. Here’s the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7ErrZ-ipoE)

There are several profanities and a brief but unnecessary sex scene, but, as far as violence, the film is thankfully restrained enough to be realistic without being gory. Overall, Joyeux Noël is one of the most inspiring Christmas films I’ve seen, even if the ending is less than happy. As the 100th anniversary of these events approaches at the end of this year, the film remains a timely illustration of Thomas Hardy’s poem “The Man He Killed,” which ends with “Yes; quaint and curious war is!/You shoot a fellow down/You’d treat, if met where any bar is,/Or help to half a crown.”

Best line: (Scottish Father Palmer) “Tonight, these men were drawn to that altar like it was a fire in the middle of winter. Even those who aren’t devout came to warm themselves.”

 
Artistry: 9
Characters/Actors: 9
Entertainment: 7
Visual Effects: 7
Originality: 8
Watchability: 6
Other (language, sex): -4
 
TOTAL: 42 out of 60
 

Next: #190 – Hello, Dolly

© 2014 S. G. Liput

146 Followers and Counting

 

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

01 Tuesday Jul 2014

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Indiana Jones is back! Within a Chinese bar,
A deal involving artifacts is going well so far,
But soon he drinks a poison, and sheer chaos then ensues
As he retrieves the antidote, since he’s too good to lose.
 
By accident, he grabs a girl named Willie, who can sing,
And young Short Round drives them away, with bad guys following.
They think they’ve flown to safety, but events change in a flash
As villains parachute away and leave their plane to crash.
 
Among the Himalayas, our three heroes have one hope:
They use a blown-up raft to then toboggan down a slope.
They soon locate a village with no children and no joy,
And Indy swears to find some stones and every girl and boy.
 
Marching through the jungle, Willie constantly complains,
But something else scares off their guides till not a one remains.
They find an ancient palace of a quite young Indian prince,
And everyone seems civilized, though dinner makes them wince.
 
But when night falls, a man jumps Indiana from behind,
And they discover passageways they were not meant to find.
Once done with bugs and booby traps, they see the head adult
Perform a violent ritual to serve the Thugee cult.
 
They see the stolen sacred stones and plan to take them back,
But all of them are captured in a sudden sneak attack.
While Shorty is imprisoned with the other captured youth,
Our hero’s forced to drink some blood that makes him act uncouth.
 
He helps prepare poor Willie for the coming sacrifice,
Behaving like he is bewitched and just no longer nice,
But Shorty knocks him out of it, and Indy saves the day,
Then freeing Willie and the kids, who quickly run away.
 
The trio’s chased in mining carts as all the tunnels flood,
But Mola Ram, the evil priest, still has a taste for blood.
Emerging on a canyon wall, they cross a rope bridge, where
The three are cornered by the priest, his thugs, and evil glare.
 
When Indiana takes a risk to cut the bridge in two,
He takes out most of Mola’s minions, leaving just a few.
While climbing up the broken bridge, the priest opposes Jones,
Who feeds him to the crocodiles but keeps one of the stones.
 
The British come a little late but save them from the cult,
And long-lost kids return back home, where parents all exult.
The elders thank our hero for their stone with magic strong,
And Jones and Willie share a kiss (but it won’t last for long).
______________________
 

Here we have the second Indiana Jones, both the second one released and the second one on my list. Temple of Doom is one of those films that is a strange mix of ingenious inspiration and unfortunate creative choices. On the one hand, there are sequences of sheer brilliance, such as the opening scene with the gong, the mine cart chase, the spiked-ceiling booby trap, and the rope bridge standoff, all scenes that blow away most action movies and have been frequently imitated.

On the other hand, Lucas and Spielberg threw in many violent and annoying elements that detract from the film’s overall watchability. Did anyone want to see a guy get impaled by a flaming shish kebab or someone’s heart be ripped out? Is that inflatable raft scene really plausible? Kate Capshaw is lovely (Spielberg thought so too), but she’s helpless and irritating with all her whining and I-broke-a-nail prissiness. The bugs Willie must endure are a bit much but nothing compared with that bizarre dinner table. Chilled monkey brains, anyone?

Thus, it has much to criticize, while retaining much of the entertainment value of Raiders. Harrison Ford remains the quintessential action hero, yet he’s even turned into a villain, caging Willie and striking Short Round, although he is being mind-controlled at the time. Young Jonathan Ke Huy Quan is surprisingly likable as Short Round, much more so than other eager young sidekicks, like, ahem, Francis in Swiss Family Robinson. It makes me wonder what happened to his character since he never appears elsewhere, as well as Willie for that matter. Oh, that’s right, she married Spielberg instead.

Overall, Temple of Doom is an unnecessarily violent film (it helped establish the PG-13 rating) that is still quite worthy of the Indiana Jones name. Until Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, it was considered the worst of the Jones films, but it has enough merits to still exceed many lesser adventure movies. It may be a bit bumpy, but it’s one heck of a ride.

Best lines (during the booby trap scene): (Willie, after seeing two corpses) “There are two dead people in here!” (Indy, in the shrinking room) “There’s gonna be two dead people in here! Hurry!” (and Indy, a little later) “Willie, we are going to DIE!” (the way he says it is priceless)

 
Artistry: 5
Characters/Actors: 7
Entertainment: 9
Visual effects: 9
Originality: 8
Watchability: 8
Other (violence, language): -4
 
TOTAL: 42 out of 60
 

Next: #191 – Joyeux Noel

© 2014 S. G. Liput

146 Followers and Counting