The Lone Ranger (1956) The first feature film starring Clayton Moore as the Lone Ranger feels like an extended TV episode. It doesn’t hold up well. It’s nearly 60 years old and feels older. Unless you’re interested in wasting time, don’t bother. The Lone Ranger (2013) One reason I think this film failed to… Continue reading Hi-yo Silver!
Month: March 2014
In prison; escaping from prison; going to prison
Caesar Must Die (2012) This film about prisoners in an Italian suburb staging a production of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar won the Golden Bear at the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival. The director used actual prisoners in the cast, which makes the film interesting, but it didn’t do anything for me. The Last Stand (2013) Ray… Continue reading In prison; escaping from prison; going to prison
An old man goes to a hell house and a flood breaks out
Venus (2006) Elderly actor Maurice (Peter O’Toole) begins a relationship with Jessie, the much younger niece of his friend Ian. Jessie tolerates his amorous advances because she’s struggling financially and Maurice provides her with a steady income, while the pursuit of Jessie provides Maurice with a purpose and renewed vitality. Richard Griffiths, Leslie Phillips, and… Continue reading An old man goes to a hell house and a flood breaks out
All my orphans
Orphans of the Storm (1921) In the late 18th century, Henriette (Lillian Gish) takes her blind sister Louise (Dorothy Gish) to Paris to find a doctor who can cure her condition. The two are separated by the political forces of the French Revolution. This romantic epic is really a warning about the then contemporary dangers of Bolshevism and… Continue reading All my orphans
DNA testing the men of the Robinson clan
Gattaca (1997) In this version of the future, genetic testing determines everything. Vincent Anton Freeman (Ethan Hawke), wants to be an astronaut, but is denied this opportunity because his genetic code indicates weakness and a limited lifespan. In order to pursue his dream, he assumes the identity of Jerome Morrow (Jude Law) who has a perfect genetic… Continue reading DNA testing the men of the Robinson clan
A vampyr played tennis in the Big East for 12 Years
Requiem for the Big East (2014) A part of ESPN’s excellent 30 for 30 series, this is the story of the Big East Conference from its founding in 1979 until its demise in 2013. While the Big East exists as a conference today, it’s a completely different entity. This was fascinating, but rushed. It’s too difficult to condense thirty years… Continue reading A vampyr played tennis in the Big East for 12 Years
The priest of Wall Street
Leon Morin, Priest (1961) A communist rabble-rouser (Emmanuelle Riva) goes to confession to pick a fight with a priest (Jean-Paul Belmondo); they develop a friendship and meet regularly to discuss issues of faith. Like the philosophical movies of Carl Th. Dreyer or Louis Malle’s My Dinner with Andre (1981), this film by Jean-Pierre Melville is basically a two-hour… Continue reading The priest of Wall Street
Wagging the dog in the jungle
The Jungle Book (1967) Inspired by Rudyard Kipling’s novel, Bagheera, a black panther, takes an orphaned boy he finds in the jungle to live with a pack of wolves. Years later, the wolf tribe learns Shere Khan (George Saunders) has returned to the jungle and realize the young boy, Mowgli, is in danger. Despite his protests,… Continue reading Wagging the dog in the jungle
A pathetic explanation and a delightful blue bird
Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain (2013) This is a concert film of Kevin Hart’s 2013 sold out Madison Square Garden show. I enjoyed the television show Undeclared, and Hart’s 2013 Saturday Night Live appearance was decent, but this was my first exposure to his stand up act. Sadly, most of his “jokes revolve around the difficulties of being… Continue reading A pathetic explanation and a delightful blue bird
A little bit of drinking, a little bit of grass, and a tiny thumb
Drinking Buddies (2013) Kate (Olivia Wilde) and Luke (Jake Johnson) are coworkers at a Chicago brewery. Despite their obvious compatibility and attraction, they’re only friends because Kate is dating Chris (Ron Livingston), while Luke is in a relationship with Jill (Anna Kendrick). As Kate and Luke grow closer, their relationships are tested. Director Joe Swanberg… Continue reading A little bit of drinking, a little bit of grass, and a tiny thumb