Change Your Image
imt206
Reviews
The Search (1948)
Heartbreaking, one of Zinnemann's & Clift's best
Truly heartbreaking story about the concentration camps through the children's perspective. The beginning alone is enough to bring one to tears.
Clift is absolutely magnetic as the American G.I. who finds the young boy and takes him in. Jarmilia Novotna gives an emotional performance as the mother who never gives up hope that her son is still alive.
Special kudos should be given to the young boy who plays the lost son. His role would be difficult for an adult to perform, and he gives an amazing performance. Especially the scene where he tells Monty that if he knows his mother is still alive, and if he were his friend, he would help him find her.
Overall, excellent - the screenplay, acting and directing. I felt enriched by watching it. It's not out on video, so if you see it on TCM, spend the time to watch it, it's worth it.
Sunset Blvd. (1950)
One of the greatest movies ever made
As someone who works in this industry, I know what it does to a person, and also what people will do to make it. That is the story of Norma Desmond and Joe Gillis, one who has reached the pinnacle of success in Hollywood, only to have to have lost her youth and beauty and forgotten; and another who is struggling at the bottom to make it and will do just about anything to achieve that.
That parallel is what makes this movie so genius. Norma Desmond is one of the great characters in cinematic history, and Gloria Swanson does a phenomenal job portraying her. I had only seen Gloria in silent films previous to this, and was doubtful of her "speaking" abilities, but she just absolutely nails this role. I cannot imagine anyone who could have done this better than her. Especially that end scene, where she does that eerie dance down the stairs and raises her eyebrows and walks into the camera. Absolutely Fantastic!
Although William Holden was amazing, I kinda would have liked to have seen how Montgomery Clift would have pulled it off. I think what was appealing about Monty was that sensitivity and vulnerability he portrayed, and I think that would have worked very well in this role.
Other than that, the casting was perfect. Erich von Stronheim was excellent, and what is scary is that he used to be a up and coming director in the 20s. Nancy Olson had that innocent, wholesome look that was perfect for Betty, the only character in this movie that gives this industry any redemption. For that reason alone, I would have given her the oscar over Josephine Hull.
I know that Billy Wilder was one of the people who wrote this script, and if he came up with that line, "I'm still big, it's the pictures that got small," on top of his direction of this movie, he is absolute genius.
One of the ten greatest movies ever made.
Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
Groundbreaking
I recently saw this movie, and I'm suprised it came out in 1975. Pacino is absolutely fantastic in this role, I would rate it a close second to his performance in the first Godfather. Chris Sarandon is also great in his very risque role.
Sunday Bloody Sunday (1971)
Should have received a Best Picture nomination
I recently saw Sunday, Bloody Sunday and thought it was brilliant. I was suprised it came out in 1971, it is definitely ahead of its time. The highlight of the movie is Peter Finch's role - it took guts to take a role like this back then. I'm glad he eventually went on to win the oscar for Network.
Gladiator (2000)
Why does everyone think this movie is so good?
I don't understand what all the fuss is about this movie. I mean, was I the only one who noticed how crappy the screenplay was? All right, there were some good special effects, but that's about it.
I cannot believe that Gladiator even got a best picture nomination, let alone the oscar. That has to be the biggest travesty ever in oscar history (even bigger than Shakespeare in Love beating out Saving Private Ryan in 1998). I know that Dreamworks had to have at least one best picture nomination, but why didn't they push Almost Famous? It was such a better movie than Gladiator. I think Almost Famous was actually one of the top five movies of the year, and it would have made much more sense if Dreamworks has pushed that movie instead of Gladiator.
I guess I'll compromise and say that I don't disagree with Ridley Scott getting a Best Director nomination (only because he got a DGA nomination), and I thought Russell Crowe was pretty good as the Gladiator, so I won't protest his nomination, either. But other than that, Gladiator did not deserve any other major nomination. The most appalling one is best original screenplay. What was the Academy thinking? And what was up with Joaquin Phoenix's nomination? There were so many more deserving supporting roles this year, like Michael Douglas in Traffic and Mark Ruffalo in You Can Count On Me.
All I can say is that I've lost all confidence in the Oscars. It's not about the quality of the film anymore, what counts nowadays is the campaign. It's such a shame...........
Philadelphia (1993)
Grounbreaking for its times
It's hard to believe, it our enlightened time of "Will & Grace," that there was once a time when it was very risque to have gay characters in your big-budget Hollywood movie. Tony Curtis was denied of an Oscar nomination for Some Like it Hot, and the movie was even banned in Kansas (what a surprise). But then in the early 80's, a time when glam rockers were wearing makeup and had long hair, there was a surge of gender-bending roles, starting with Dustin Hoffman's Tootsie. There was also Julie Andrews and Robert Preston in Victor/Victoria and John Lithgow in The World According to Garp. Then, in 1985, there was in my opinion the greatest "gay" performance of all time, William Hurt in Kiss of the Spider Woman (I was surprised that the Academy actually had the guts to give him the Oscar that he deserved hands down).
But then the 90s came roaring in, and people seemed to feel guilty about the open-mindedness, and a new wave of homophobia set in. But there was also a wave of political correctness, and I think some ground-breaking films were made, like Longtime Companion in 1991. Jaye Davidson also gave a phenomenal performance in The Crying Game. But there still was never really a wide-release Hollywood film that dealt with homosexuality. Then came Philadelphia.
When I first saw this movie, there was no doubt in my mind that Tom Hanks would go on and win the Oscar that year. First of all, it took a lot of guts for him to even take this role, because God forbid people in Hollywood think you're gay. And there were so many phenomenal scenes that he really just nailed. Like the scene when he's listening to the music (I don't want to give any spoilers), it was really just amazing. Jonathan Demme, fresh off his Oscar win for Silence of the Lambs, also does a great job in directing.
I really think this movie deserved a Best Picture nomination. I also think Jason Robards deserved a Best Supporting actor nomination. I know that his character was truly just an idiot stuck in the 50s, but a movie like this needs a villian, the absolute homophobe to round out the story. There wouldn't be a movie without the homophobic dumb ass, would there? I also think he is a great actor.
So all you people who criticize this movie (homophobic, perhaps?) should really take into consideration the groundbreaking that this movie did. Would The Birdcage have done so well in the box office if Philadelphia didn't pave the way?
A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
One of the greatest movies made
A Streetcar named Desire is, in my opinion, one of the greatest movies ever made. The fact that it didn't win Best Picture proves that it is leaps and bounds ahead of its time. At a time when schools were still segregated, this movie tackles racism, promiscuity, homophobia and alcoholism -- when other movies wouldn't even hint them.
Tennessee Williams' brilliantly written script and Elia Kazan's phenomenal directing bring this masterpiece to life. And it is also one of the best ensemble acting performances I have ever seen. I cannot believe that Marlon Brando did not win Best Actor for his portrayal of Stanley. It should have swept the acting awards. At least they honored Vivien Leigh, Karl Malden and Kim Hunter with awards (Vivien Leigh was a shoo-in).
I hope this movie is appreciated for the barriers it broke.