Some random thoughts:
* I enjoyed this a lot more on second viewing, on the big screen at the Egyptian - it helped seeing it in a packed cinema with enthusiastic fans.
* Ryan O'Neal is very good - it takes a while to get used to Mr Handsome in an action film but it helped viewing the film a second time, when I was used to him - he had the right level of determination and aloofness - there's not a lot of fire and tension in the performance, but it is effective.
* Isabelle Adjani isn't so great - she looks the part, but struggles with her words.
* Bruce Dern is a lot of fun - now I've read his memoir I can't look at him without thinking of him jogging to and from set.
* Ronee Blakely is extremely effective and her death scene is the best bit in the film because it's so shocking.
* I got confused by some of the story... Dern gets a gang to hire O'Neal so he can bust O'Neal... but O'Neal turns down the gang... then Dern talks to O'Neal, and O'Neal takes the job, is that right? I feel this confusion, in addition to O'Neal's casting, is what contributed to the film's underwhelming performance at the US box office.
* alternate castings that would've worked in this film... (this is a game I like to play) - well, McQueen and Bronson turned it down, and I can't see Pacino, Beatty, Hoffman or Nicholson do it - Burt Reynolds too jokey (but you know something, he would've worked). Paul Newman might have done it because it involved cars. Eastwood. Sean Connery. Hackman.
*Last car chase especially outstanding.
*I feel Hill's direction may not have been sufficiently stylised. Needed more music and artiness, to go with the story. I feel he fixed this on The Warriors.
Thursday, October 12, 2017
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
Movie review - "Baby Driver" (2017) ***1/2 (warning: spoilers)
Joyous, sharp, and full of life. It's well cast, and Ansel Elgort anchors things well, which is important. The character does a lot of dodgy stuff but you can't help feel sympathy for him with his ear condition and dead mother. He and Lily James are sweet.
I felt structurally maybe the film shouldn't have had Elgort get off the hook with Spacey, hang around with James for ten minutes, then get put back on the hook - it was a release of tension. Also Jon Hamm continually coming back to life at the end like a super villain got a bit wearisome.
But I liked what Kevin Spacey's character did at the end, and I liked how he went to prison. Walter Hill provides a voice cameo at the end, in the trial!
I felt structurally maybe the film shouldn't have had Elgort get off the hook with Spacey, hang around with James for ten minutes, then get put back on the hook - it was a release of tension. Also Jon Hamm continually coming back to life at the end like a super villain got a bit wearisome.
But I liked what Kevin Spacey's character did at the end, and I liked how he went to prison. Walter Hill provides a voice cameo at the end, in the trial!
Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Movie review - "Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice" (2016) **1/2
This starts off pretty well - I enjoy the brooding Zak Snyder world and the booming Hans Zimmer score. Ben Affleck is a strong Bruce Wayne/Batman, helped by greying temples and the fact you believe he's (a) tormented (b) rich (c) a bit crazy.
The Honest Trailers version of this summed up the film better than I could - it's a good Batman film, a confusing Superman film, which features some really cool action sequences and goes on far too long. There's not enough Batman vs Superman - the conflict it set up quite well, from Batman's POV anyway, you can understand why Batman distrusts Superman. It's a bit wobbly why Superman doesn't like him, and Lex Luthor's plan is super confusing. The dispute is resolved in a famously unconvincing bit of business.
The appearance of Wonder Woman and cameos from Acquaman and the Flash were a little bit enjoyable but I get the feeling the film might've been better off without them because it felt overloaded. The last third was very loud and noisy.
It's always nice to see Oscar winners sparking up a comic book movie - Holly Hunter, Jeremy Irons - though also depressing because you know it means they don't have any other gigs going. Gal Gadot impresses as Wonder Woman but Henry Cavill really isn't killing it as Superman.
The Honest Trailers version of this summed up the film better than I could - it's a good Batman film, a confusing Superman film, which features some really cool action sequences and goes on far too long. There's not enough Batman vs Superman - the conflict it set up quite well, from Batman's POV anyway, you can understand why Batman distrusts Superman. It's a bit wobbly why Superman doesn't like him, and Lex Luthor's plan is super confusing. The dispute is resolved in a famously unconvincing bit of business.
The appearance of Wonder Woman and cameos from Acquaman and the Flash were a little bit enjoyable but I get the feeling the film might've been better off without them because it felt overloaded. The last third was very loud and noisy.
It's always nice to see Oscar winners sparking up a comic book movie - Holly Hunter, Jeremy Irons - though also depressing because you know it means they don't have any other gigs going. Gal Gadot impresses as Wonder Woman but Henry Cavill really isn't killing it as Superman.
Movie review - "Dark Command" (1940) ***
After Stagecoach John Wayne and Claire Trevor made a few films together, of which this is one. It's made for Republic, and directed by Raoul Walsh - who made surprisingly few films with Wayne.
Republic took out the cheque book for this one - they borrowed Walter Pidgeon from MGM, have Gabby Hayes and Roy Rogers no less in the support cast (Rogers is quite good), the source material comes from a novel by W R Burnett, there are plenty of extras.
It's a good story, helped by an action packed background - bleeding Kansas before and during the war. John Wayne comes to town and becomes a sheriff; he's Union leading, he falls for Claire Trevor whose brother Rogers likes Wayne but is Confederate leaning. Pidgeon loves Trevor and goes around robbing people secretly, which upsets his mum Marjorie Main.
It's all good melodramatic stuff and I actually wasn't sure how it would end. There's an attack on Lawrence based on the Lawrence Massacre but it's so fictionalised (Wayne gets there in time to warn people, the people fight back, no kids are mown down) that it doesn't matter. Needless to say, there's not one black face in the film.
Wayne is warm and engaging and spars well with Trevor. Its fun to see Pidgeon in a villainous role, there's plenty of action, Walsh keeps things moving fast.
Republic took out the cheque book for this one - they borrowed Walter Pidgeon from MGM, have Gabby Hayes and Roy Rogers no less in the support cast (Rogers is quite good), the source material comes from a novel by W R Burnett, there are plenty of extras.
It's a good story, helped by an action packed background - bleeding Kansas before and during the war. John Wayne comes to town and becomes a sheriff; he's Union leading, he falls for Claire Trevor whose brother Rogers likes Wayne but is Confederate leaning. Pidgeon loves Trevor and goes around robbing people secretly, which upsets his mum Marjorie Main.
It's all good melodramatic stuff and I actually wasn't sure how it would end. There's an attack on Lawrence based on the Lawrence Massacre but it's so fictionalised (Wayne gets there in time to warn people, the people fight back, no kids are mown down) that it doesn't matter. Needless to say, there's not one black face in the film.
Wayne is warm and engaging and spars well with Trevor. Its fun to see Pidgeon in a villainous role, there's plenty of action, Walsh keeps things moving fast.
Saturday, October 07, 2017
Book review - "Portugal's Guerrilla Wars in Africa: Lisbon's Three Wars in Angola, Mozambique and Portuguese Guinea 1961-74" by Al Venter
I got this because I didn't know much about Portugal's guerrilla wars in Africa. I've read bits about it - the occasional Portuguese veteran pops up in an action novel, in the battle of Rhodesia the fall of Portugal colonialism was a big deal.
Venter's spent a lot of time in Africa and knows the word. It's an interesting structured book - it feels as though it ambles a long a bit; it doesn't try to be a definitive account of the war or anything, which I admit frustrated me because I only wanted to read one book on this topic.
It's a depressing book because the wars went on for over a decade, and lots of people died (innocent locals more than Portuguese) and bankrupted Portugal, and resulted in dictatorships coming in. There was a lot to admire about the way Portugal ran their countries - the color bar didn't see to be as strong - but the countries weren't particularly well developed; they didn't leave much of an administrative or democratic legacy.
The three fields of war were very different. Mozambique was badly run - the general seems to have been an idiot, frustrating the Rhodesians. Portuguese Guinea was tough and primitive and based in water. The war in Angola was actually won.
In hindsight the Portuguese were clearly over-stretched, fighting wars in three different areas. An interesting "what if"... what if they'd abandoned Portuguese Guinea and Mozambique and focused all there energies on Angola, which bordered South Africa? They might have held it. Still, I imagine the decision was too ruthless for the colonial office to take.
Venter's spent a lot of time in Africa and knows the word. It's an interesting structured book - it feels as though it ambles a long a bit; it doesn't try to be a definitive account of the war or anything, which I admit frustrated me because I only wanted to read one book on this topic.
It's a depressing book because the wars went on for over a decade, and lots of people died (innocent locals more than Portuguese) and bankrupted Portugal, and resulted in dictatorships coming in. There was a lot to admire about the way Portugal ran their countries - the color bar didn't see to be as strong - but the countries weren't particularly well developed; they didn't leave much of an administrative or democratic legacy.
The three fields of war were very different. Mozambique was badly run - the general seems to have been an idiot, frustrating the Rhodesians. Portuguese Guinea was tough and primitive and based in water. The war in Angola was actually won.
In hindsight the Portuguese were clearly over-stretched, fighting wars in three different areas. An interesting "what if"... what if they'd abandoned Portuguese Guinea and Mozambique and focused all there energies on Angola, which bordered South Africa? They might have held it. Still, I imagine the decision was too ruthless for the colonial office to take.
Movie review - "Seven Sinners" (1940) ***
Marlene Dietrich's career revived with Destry Rides Again so Universal whipped up this follow up, which uses many of the same elements, and mixes it in with Sadie Thompson. She's a singer who travels through the South Seas, getting kicked out of various islands for causing brawls, which is a funny concept. She lands on one island and falls for naval officer John Wayne.
Wayne and Dietrich work well together - they had an affair in real life and their chemistry is evident: she with her exotic looks and warm nature, and he this big handsome lug. They seem to genuinely like each other as well as finding each other attractive.
The other strength of this film is the support cast - Dietrich has these offsiders including dopey Broderick Crawford, doctor Albert Dekker, and pickpocket Mischa Auer.
There's a horrible scene were Crawford slaps Dietrich around to dissuade her from marrying Wayne - and the film seems to support that position. It's not exactly strong on plot either - it's mostly men falling for Dietrich, with Oscar Homolka being a bit too stalker-y.
There's several brawls and songs. I'm a sucker for stories set in the South Seas, and it has the breezy charm of many medium budget films Wayne starred in during that decade between Stagecoach and Red River.
Wayne and Dietrich work well together - they had an affair in real life and their chemistry is evident: she with her exotic looks and warm nature, and he this big handsome lug. They seem to genuinely like each other as well as finding each other attractive.
The other strength of this film is the support cast - Dietrich has these offsiders including dopey Broderick Crawford, doctor Albert Dekker, and pickpocket Mischa Auer.
There's a horrible scene were Crawford slaps Dietrich around to dissuade her from marrying Wayne - and the film seems to support that position. It's not exactly strong on plot either - it's mostly men falling for Dietrich, with Oscar Homolka being a bit too stalker-y.
There's several brawls and songs. I'm a sucker for stories set in the South Seas, and it has the breezy charm of many medium budget films Wayne starred in during that decade between Stagecoach and Red River.
Friday, October 06, 2017
Movie review - "Diabolically Yours" (1967) ** (warning: spoilers)
The last film of Julien Duvivier, this was a flop despite the presence of Alain Delon and Santa Berger in the leads, and a decent idea: Delon wakes up with amnesia, with a lot of money and a hot wife and begins to suspect that he isn't who they say he is.
There's a few familiar tropes - urst with the wife, turbulent dreams, a dodgy butler. It isn't done particularly well. Delon and Berger look attractive; Berges always about to have a shower or getting a massage.
It lacks a bit of oomph and some decent twists. It's got the story elements of say something like Scent of Fear but none of the spookiness, psycho drama or "oh my god" moments. I have trouble remembering scenes from it and I saw it not that long ago.
There's a few familiar tropes - urst with the wife, turbulent dreams, a dodgy butler. It isn't done particularly well. Delon and Berger look attractive; Berges always about to have a shower or getting a massage.
It lacks a bit of oomph and some decent twists. It's got the story elements of say something like Scent of Fear but none of the spookiness, psycho drama or "oh my god" moments. I have trouble remembering scenes from it and I saw it not that long ago.
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