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jeremy

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 11:56 am

Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 6794 Location: Derby, England and Hamilton, New Zealand (yes they are about 12,000 miles apart)

I saw Murphy's War when it came out, I'd have been about twelve so my judgement and memory is probably faulty. I'd guess that seeing it now, I'd find it a somewhat dated war/adventure film, though not entirely without merit. Our resident war film expert, Rod mightbe able to help you out. It's tone is a long way from either the serious drama of Bridge On The River Kwai. or the attempted realism of the Vietnam films made in the late seventies and early eighties.

Murphy's War was made in the same era as films like The Dirty Dozen and Kelly's Heroes; films that wanted to be M*A*S*H, but couldn't pull off the black humour, which ironically now make them more discomfiting and seem more callous than their blacker inspiration. Did that make sense? If you don't mind misfiring and inappropriate levity, I'd suggest you try, Hannibal Brookes starring Oliver Reed instead.

I've also seen Pulp, but can't remember anything about it.

I can't even remember whether I've seen The Chairman or not. Being a shy boy, I watched an awful lot of crap on TV in my early teens.

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Nancy

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 12:11 pm

Joined: 20 May 2004 Posts: 4607 Location: Norman, OK

gromit,

The Chairman is no Manchurian Candidate (which it reminded me of for some reason), but it is somewhat entertaining, as I recall. And it stars Gregory Peck, whom I'll watch in almost anything. I'd even watch him reading the Tokyo phone book.

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jeremy

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 12:13 pm

Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 6794 Location: Derby, England and Hamilton, New Zealand (yes they are about 12,000 miles apart)

Quote:

I'd even watch him reading the Tokyo phone book

I'd love to see him try.

I once started on the phone book, residential, for Ongar and Brentwood, but I put it down...I couldn't get past the cast list.

Nancy

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 12:16 pm

Joined: 20 May 2004 Posts: 4607 Location: Norman, OK

jeremy wrote:

Quote:

I'd even watch him reading the Tokyo phone book

I'd love to see him try.

Well, it is easier to do if you're still alive.

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"All in all, it's just another feather in the fan."

Isaacism, 2009

jeremy

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 12:17 pm

Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 6794 Location: Derby, England and Hamilton, New Zealand (yes they are about 12,000 miles apart)

Good point.

gromit

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 12:22 pm

Joined: 31 Aug 2004 Posts: 9010 Location: Shanghai

Yeah, Gregory Peck.
I just watched him in a fun but somewhat stiff performance in On the Beach.

On the Beach is a fairly interesting 1959 film about nuclear annihilation ... with the radiation slowly wending its way to Australia, after the rest of mankind has perished. It's fairly gloomy and hard-hitting for that era. In a lot of ways it seems to be from a transitional period, where a good deal of 50's morality and chasteness is struggling to break free and face bigger issues (including sexuality).

In fact this conflict is personified in the relationship between upright family-man, US naval officer (Gregory Peck) and the loose drunken aging Australian (Ava Gardner). It's interesting to see three generations of American actors: Fred Astaire, Gregory Peck and Anthony Perkins. Astaire is very good here, although I found it hard to remember that his character was supposed to be an intellectual, and former nuclear scientist.

The Perkins role could have been better scripted. Most scenes with him and his wife are rather melodramatic and stagy. Yet it was effective that they were new parents and had an infant to consider.

It's the end of the world at the end of the world. Accents come and go, so Waltzing Mathilda is played repeatedly to remind us this is Australia.

Stanley Kramer was not exactly the most subtle director, as the last shot attests. But the film successfully places impending nuclear doom in the background (though 5 months off seems like a long time) and portrays how people live and act knowing that they and mankind will be extinct in a matter of months.
Recommended.

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Melody

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 12:26 pm

Joined: 20 May 2004 Posts: 2242 Location: TX

I'm putting On the Beach on my wish list, Gromit. Thanks for the recommendation.

Recent viewing includes United 93, something I had no interest in seeing when it was released last year, but since it was on HBO last night, I watched it. It's kind of like a two-hour episode of 24, complete with shaky handheld camera and lots of quick cuts. (That's not a slam, by the way. I've come to admire that particular filmmaking technique, mostly.)

I was pleasantly surprised to see Christian Clemenson as one of the passengers who springs into action. He's better known (to me, anyway) as Jerry "Hands" Espenson on Boston Legal and is really terrific here.

Was it too soon for United 93 to be made? I had thought so last year. But I admit I was moved to tears when the air traffic controllers stopped everything and watched the second plane crash into the WTC. It reminded me of the moment I first saw the news footage at my daughter's school, standing in the office with a couple of other moms, horrified.

I don't pretend to know the right answer, but after processing it overnight, I know a couple of things. First, I'm glad I saw it at home and NOT in a crowded theater so I wouldn't have to hold back my tears. That's so unhealthy. Besides, I needed a good cry.

And second, this movie put a lot of things into perspective about the jumbled mess of events that day. I hope, if nothing else, it serves as a warning of the danger of placing ridiculously incompetent people in high places and giving them the responsibility to protect us.

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jeremy

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 1:01 pm

Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 6794 Location: Derby, England and Hamilton, New Zealand (yes they are about 12,000 miles apart)

Movies On A Plane

I went home for Easter. Said hello to the kids, went down the pub and tried to bring a smile to me other 'alf. In truth she's had enough of me after ten days - you get used to having your own space. i felt sorry for littl Suki, who's always pleased to see me and sad to seeme go, but in truth its big sister, bristling with indifference who prbably needs me more.

The trouble with short trips is that unless they happen on the cusp of the month, you always get the same programme of films. I saw that Childen Of Men and the ideal film to see when eating an aircraft meal, Music & Lyrics, were scheduled for May. The headline film for April was The Pursuit Of Happiness [sic] - which I decided not to watch because its crap. And I don't care for what anybody else thinks about it, as though actually seeing the film validates their opinion. In preference, I watched Stranger Than Fiction again, which stood up, if creakily, to a second viewing.

Before resorting to the Disney classics and TV comedies - I was really impressed by a British comedy, Jack Dee's, Lead Ballon, though I suspect it's too English - dry as a box of cream crackers in Arizona and full of painful self-deprecation - for an American audience...where was I...oh yeah...I watched, The Holiday .

Chick flick is a derogatory term. but I like lots of chick flicks - Bend It like Beckham, Bridget Jones, Pride & Prejudice, most of the Richard Curtis comedies, so I wasn't put off byThe Holiday credentials or its cute premise or its cast. Unfortunately, thpough not terrible it was just too clunky and contrived to hold my interest. It may also be the worst mistake off Cameron Diaz's career. Not because she was bad, but because she was playing in a parallel role to Kate Winslet, who not adverse to good lager, is probably the best actress in the world today. Despite the quality the material, she lit up every scene she was in and left Cameron Diaz, not a bad actress, seeming wanting in her, admittedly underwritten part. Jude Law was similarly saddled with a part so mushy and light that he had nothing to get his teeth into, but he just about pulled it off and he showed some potential for light comedy. Jack Black, denied any scope to extemporize was hopelessly miscast - but at least he got to kiss Kate Winslet.

I also watched chicky flicky, Gemima fudle fuck, Miss Potter, which I found watchable and charming, if not particularly sustaining or credible. it featured a good performance from Miss Zellwegger, giving her more than passable English accent another work out.

Finally, I succumbed to the siren call of Toy Story II. And cried buckets over Jessie's story and the accompnmaying song. I always cry watchoin films on planes, not sure why. it could be sometihng to do with the reduced pressure and alcohol or perhaps the perceived anonymity of a personal creen and headphones or more probably the rag bag emotions associated with coming and going, loved ones and all that.

marantzo

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 1:14 pm

Guest

Nancy wrote:

Quote:

And it stars Gregory Peck, whom I'll watch in almost anything.

That is very much like a verse from one of Bob Dylan's songs (Brownsville Girl). The verse goes like this:

Well, I'm standin' in line in the rain to see a movie starring Gregory Peck,
Yeah, but you know it's not the one that I had in mind.
He's got a new one out now, I don't even know what it's about
But I'll see him in anything so I'll stand in line.

Rod

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 10:27 pm

Joined: 21 Dec 2004 Posts: 2944 Location: Lithgow, Australia

Ava Gardner on shooting On The Beach in Melbourne: "The perfect place to make a film about the end of the world."

Indeed, the thought of force-of-nature Ms Gardner on the loose in '50s Melbourne is grimly hilarious.

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Marj

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 1:46 pm

Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 10497 Location: Manhattan

Jeremy,

I agree. I thought The Pursuit of Happyness was awful too. But if anyone wants to see a nice film about a father and son's bonding see The Thing About My Folks. I'm an unabashed Peter Falk fan so even though this trifle is a little uneven it's still worth a viewing.

I also caught up with Bobby which I also thought was awful. It reminded me of those Artur Hailey movies in which there were numerous stories surrounding one event. But none of the characters in Bobby were remotely interesting save the kitchen staff and especially Lawrence Fishburn. In fact had I not known how passionate Esteves was about Kennedy I would have thought that this was exploitive. It was also filmed poorly. It reminded me of a 1970's movie with bad cinematography.

I also saw The Good Shepherd, but have to see it again. I was distracted and missed a lot. So I'll have more to say later. But for children of all ages I do recommend Charlotte's Web. It's a charming film and not overly cutsie.

marantzo

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 2:03 pm

Guest

Quote:

It reminded me of a 1970's movie with bad cinematography.

That reminds me of something I thought would be a good little diversion for the film forum. What is the worst decade for American movies. I thought of this because there were a couple of absolute clunkers on TCM a few days ago and they were typical of crap from the 50's. Of course the thought came to me that the 50's were the worst.

yambu

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 2:06 pm

Joined: 23 May 2004 Posts: 6441 Location: SF Bay Area

Marj wrote:

Jeremy,

I agree. I thought The Pursuit of Happyness was awful too....

I can understand why people don't like it, what with the storybook ending and all. But I loved the kid, and his mom, and the film made a rare, honest try at showing what the term "grinding poverty" can mean to those afflicted. And being in the SF Bay Area, I loved seeing Cecil Williams and his amazing Glide Memorial Church getting deserved recognition.

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billyweeds

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 3:42 pm

Joined: 20 May 2004 Posts: 20618 Location: New York City

I actually liked The Pursuit of Happyness a lot; by far my favorite Will Smith performance. But whatever--I wouldn't go to the wall for it.

As for the worst decade in American moviemaking:

Not the 50s by a long shot. More of my favorite movies are from the 50s than any other decade. Rear Window, Strangers on a Train, Some Like It Hot, North by Northwest, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Sunset Boulevard, On the Waterfront, All About Eve...and on... and on...and on...

No, the worst decade in US filmmaking was indisputably and by a large margin...(drum roll)...

The 1960s. Check it out. I am right. Runner-ups: the 80s and 90s.

marantzo

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 4:38 pm

Guest

There were definitely some great movies in the 50's but there was a carload of crap also. A bunch of the musicals were dreadful and a big bunch of the 'women's' movies. This would be more in the second half of the 50's I'd guess.

You left off Singin' In the Rain, Billy. You should be ashamed of yourself.

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