Change Your Image
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Reviews
Lonely Are the Brave (1962)
Viewpoints on the Screen
Some 72 different reviews that I saw... most proclaim the movie as very good to excellent while one or two pan it and say 'Burns got what he deserved.' Interesting as the film portrays without really endorsing (aside from the fact that the 'to be Libertarian' Jack Burns is the hero) a man who feels that 'freedom' is valuable enough to engage in behavior that potentially could cost that rare commodity. Brave but some have said foolish.
The film is engaging in that a variety of 'types' are represented. Certainly no one can argue that Matthau is a 'type' as are Rowlands (the wife in love with someone else perhaps) and the 'brutal' type of Kennedy's role. The buffoonery of some of the deputies and the over exuberance of the young Airmen... all types but mixed well in this film which I found extremely well done... and I was rooting for Whiskey all the time and there is NO mention of who owned or trained that splendid animal. The scenes urging her up the rocky cliffs was enough to suggest a Oscar for Whiskey.
But the oncoming (Spoiler) 18 wheeler carrying toilets (would have been worse if it was toilet paper!) while close the book on Jack's valiant and brave efforts to elude his pursuers and get across the border(s) to freedom someplace else. The acting was superb by all and landscape, filming, locations... all really added greatly to the films attraction. Some might say that such an era is past but freedom loving people are still around who will die for it and, as many might suggest that such freedoms are waning, perhaps we'll see many such Jack Burns rising up to engage the Gutierrezs of today's oppressive society.
Great film (spoiler alert)with a tragic ending but Burn's soul will not be snuffed out. Douglas is good in many films but I 'like' him in this one and, as Matthau discovered, such men are hard to corral if not impossible.
Act of Valor (2012)
OUTSTANDING and so real you might want bandages...
This film is being called 'exciting' and 'riveting' and terms that are often used to describe "action" movies. I would say that gut wrenching is a bit more accurate because for probably the first time we are seeing into a world of both clandestine ops "and" the type of warriors dedicated to keeping America safe. Many will say that "keeping America safe" is just a phrase developed to allow excesses in military use or to scare America but this film is absolutely spot on in its portrayal of civil societies enemies and the degree of barbarism they will go to in order to initiate chaos.
Technically the film was remarkably accurate in its depiction of America's anti-terrorism capabilities and expertise with procedural and material accuracy. "How do we get such warriors" is both an unanswered and unasked question but we have them and they are better than any other countries combatants and to a certain degree this film demonstrates their remarkable abilities.
There is very little profanity (perhaps a bit unrealistic there ;^) and, as the type of firepower shown is both real and destructive, overall not a lot of gore. The movie does not discuss to any great degree the morality of war but seriously, once engaged it isn't a subject for discussion. Men and some women that form the nucleus of our teams are there for reasons of their own but there can be no doubt that in part their desire is to protect America and our way of life and I am thankful for the dedication and professionalism they exude! From the first explosion to the very last scene exceptional realism is maintained. Certainly there are some scenes were there is/are cliché remarks or incidents but clichés are part of real combat. Acting is excellent overall although I would agree that some few scenes are a bit predictable and / or wooden but only for a moment and it is not a detraction in my opinion. The people in the theater were absolutely silent in many scenes and this was not treated as a 'gung-ho' or 'rah-rah' film. Folks departing were respectfully quiet, contemplative if you will and that is a good final impression of this excellent film.
Adam-12 (1968)
Complexity made simple...
Before one can even watch this they have to recognize Jack Webb's persona. All of the complexities of human interaction were present in the late '60s and early '70s but, unlike a lot of the relativistic 'gray' portrayals of law enforcement and crime today, they were not given a lot of air time. Adam-12 was simply a show depicting the 'best' of LAPD and 'how' things should have been done versus how they often were. Jack Webb's involvement with LAPD "and" (significantly) his support of the 'average cop' on the beat went way back and perhaps simply because he had a tough childhood and had to 'be responsible' much of his effort is to show accountability. He was never a cop, his military background was limited but he certainly produced a wonderfully entertaining yet simple "police drama" with Reed and Malloy. "1 Adam-12, see the woman..." and so it goes.
These shows were sans profanity, obvious sexuality and even real violence. Significantly they lacked CGI and much in the way of volatility type action (explosions, car crashes and so forth) and really seemed more of 'a training film' process for civilians. Call it nostalgic but I liked that time and manner. Great series! Worth watching today.
Margin Call (2011)
Outstanding Portrayal of Lost Humanity
I don't often review (perhaps after it may be apparent why) because movies that entertain are subjective and anything otherwise is objective but solely the opinion of the viewer so the "subjective" overrules.
This film, purely as a film and a work of art, possesses a clear warning while it cleverly depicts that actions of a trading firm in free fall. The acting is splendid. The technical aspects of the stock market are underplayed and not complicated but the power of the firm and its leaders clearly is evident. This is a history lesson wrapped in the professional acting skills of people who lived this period. There are some obvious (and mentioned in other reviews) technical glitches about 'site security' and so forth but what is not present (and not missed) in any menace as so often alluded to in other films depicting businesses and the markets.
What is so well exampled was an underlying coldness that enveloped each interaction. So many times you would wait for the word of kindness, not politeness but kindness, and it never came. The voice of reassurance, not direction but affirmation of one for all and all for one, but it never came. I sense that this movie did something unlike other movies, it clearly showed a business without mercy, compassion if you will or love. But respectful politeness only. And it did such with a clarity that impressed and, in a way, worried. I suppose we might be losing our humanity but in reality this wonderful film showed how that loss could be the underpinnings of much of today's real experience. Great film... wonderfully acted and so real and valid as to have kept me silent.
Trust (2010)
People Call It "Hallmark Film" But These People Exist
After reading a few of the very "I want to be Roger Ebert" type reviews many of which indicate this is too much like a Hallmark Movie I had to wonder. The victims of the portrayed crimes are often 'Hallmark' types, innocent, trusting, young, inexperienced and would never cop to any of those attributes. Presenting 'real' patterns and characters that behave as victims often do doesn't a Hallmark movie make.
Parents with girl childs should see this... you may be worldly wise and cynical yourselves but do you have any idea of the Cinderella fantasies you pretty baby embraces? In fact the hard workers making the grade into upper middle and above incomes are often the parents of these victims solely because their world and their kids are eons apart. Then it can crash.
Acting, script, performances are very good in this film and it moves along but the real kicker is simply that it is a true representation of what happens too often because people think "Hallmark" is not real life. Innocence is easily tricked and then lost. Well done movie.
The Incident (1967)
Great Film that makes one think
It did make me think of Goetz almost immediately but that was then and this move took place even earlier. Back when folks still counted on cops, felt that civility and social restraint were the foundations of living (and they should be) but were more or less helpless when faced with fending off malevolence. Wasn't it Genovese that got stabbed to death on a N.Y. city street while many watched (night) and no one called as she pleaded for help... the mind my business mentality. This portrays it well and the acting is not bad. It is the 'substance' of this film over the portrayal that makes it such a film. Usually on late and no fanfare. Everyone should think about what they 'would' do when everyone else around them is sitting on their hands... 'do alone' that is?