22 February 2009
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Another Italian film in the top 250 and this one does not disappoint. Penned and directed by Frederico Fellini as with our La Dolce vita entry at 239. He passed away in 1993 but one of his screenplays is currently in production.
La Strada is a sad tale of a traveling entertainer who purchases an assistant that is mentally imbalanced. They have an unusual relationship and try to make ends meet traveling from town to town. She’s ill treated but drawn to him for her own reasons.
To say more would be spoiling it. If you’re looking for a template movie this is not for you. It’s a look at human nature with a twist of reality which is not always pretty but has its moments. A pleasant 7/10.
La Strada (1954)
10 February 2009
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Directed by Clint Eastwood we have a subtle movie that’s a monster hit in my opinion. Eastwood really is becoming an experienced film maker and we’ll get to see more of his movies further down the road.
Mystic River is set in Boston where we open with 3 kids are playing street hockey in 1975. The events of that day when one of them is kidnapped by child molesterers forever changes their relationship. Their paths cross years later when the daughter of one of the kids is brutally killed. We witness the crime being solved and how each man deals with the problems they face surrounding these events.
When I first watched this movie I fell in love with it. The performances given by the cast is second to none. We see Sean Penn, Tim Robbins and Kevin Bacon deliver powerful performances and backed up by the wise direction of Clint Eastwood I had no choice but to give this one a 10/10.
Mystic River (2003)
8 February 2009
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I bet you the writers of this movie thought they were so cool and smart. Line after line of fast talking characters full of witty comments. It got a bit boring to be honest. I guess there is such a thing as too cool for your own good. In any case, I did enjoy this hip flick and its evil characters.
A manipulative and all too powerful columnist tries to keep his sister all to himself by destroying her lover’s good standing. He uses people all too easily and does not hide it. Falco is one of his many publicists who does his dirty work. Together they make and break careers but how long can they get away with it before it all catches up with them?
I must admit I did enjoy the film and I wasn’t really put off by all the hip lines. I just wish they held back on a few of them. Shame they were too cool for their own good. I gave it a 6/10.
Sweet Smell of Success (1957)
6 February 2009
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Take note. As plentiful as films are it is a rare occasion for one to be this good.
I first saw this film last year and I fell in love with it. It was unassuming, rather plain, very grounded and superb as a whole. It does not treat you like an idiot. If your movie diet is all Hollywood you might not get it. You might think it’s bland and boring. You just might scratch your head and wonder why this is a comedy and why you are watching this English snoozer when you could be enjoying a good laugh watching Garfield or some such. Wait what? You’re watching Garfield?
This is where I give you a brief outline of the plot only I can’t this time. You just have to trust me and rent, buy, hire, borrow, steal or download this 10/10.
In Bruges (2008)
4 February 2009
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James Stewart and John Wayne pair up for the first time and we get to see just how poor of an actor Wayne can be. Sure he’s a legend and I’ve enjoyed many of his movies but I could never warm to his bland one trick acting.
Senator Stoddard returns to the town of Shinbone where he gets coaxed by the local reporters to tell them why he’s visiting their little town for some funeral of an old man in a simple pine box. So the Senator tells his tale of how he came to this town all those years ago when there was no law or order. He tells the tale of a group of people who were thrown together by an outlaw and how the killing of that outlaw has changed and shaped their lives.
It is a really interesting look into how an event has burdened a man and his wife for years and how, as hard as he might try, he can not shake the legend. I had the sense that Stoddard would have done things differently had he known the results many years later. A thoroughly entertaining watch and an 8/10.
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)