Classic Movie BONUS: Midnight Express

Welcome to Classic Movie Monday, BONUS edition. Every Monday (and random days like today), I watch a film at least 25 years old that I have never seen before. I will then write my comments on the film, telling you what I thought of it. This is an attempt to beef up my classic film knowledge as well as highlight some forgotten gems of Hollywood's heyday. So without further ado...

Midnight Express
Released: October 6, 1978
Directed by: Alan Parker
Starring: Brad Davis, Randy Quaid, & John Hurt

Plot in a Nutshell:
A Student from America is caught trying to smuggle drugs out of Turkey. After he is thrown in prison for at first only a few years but eventually the sentence is expanded to 30, does he attempt escape or go insane?

What I thought:
I enjoy films in similar veins to Midnight Express. It's always good to see somebody break out of jail, right? I love movies like the Great Escape, Escape from Alcatraz, or even Shawshank Redemption. With Midnight Express, the tone becomes far darker and more dangerous. The character here, Billy (Davis), is incarcerated in a strange and hostile country, the punishment is harsher than it should be, and the prison is a place where madmen are born. What a tough movie to watch.

This is a cautionary tale about how to respect a foreign country's rigid rules. I remember going to Singapore where the laws there are very strict and the punishments even harsher. God forbid, I look at a woman wrong or chew gum. In this story the danger is there with a Muslim government, but Billy actually tries to smuggle hash. Because terrorist concerns are running high at the time, he is searched more thoroughly than to be expected, and of course he gets busted. The opening sequences detailing this attempt and failure, are probably the best moments in the entire film.

What happens when he gets into the system is often scary, but is it unjustified? The man had two kilos of hash on him in a nation that strictly forbids drugs. So while I think getting sentenced to prison for a few years fits the crime, it is the subsequent re-sentencing that really boils the blood. He was doing his time, he was waiting his sentence, as I think he should. But then to be told they're throwing the book at you and you won't see freedom for 30 years, that's absurd.

It was at this point that things went sour for our character (as if they weren't sour enough). Constantly being oppressed by the guards, and seeing his friends brutally beaten for the pettiest of crimes, he slowly begins to lose his mind. Brad Davis plays this character very well. He has just enough boyish naivete and American confidence, that it begins to burn when you see him dealing with the pains of the harsh prison. A scene, early in the third act, where he completely goes crazy on a snitch, is a real highlight for Davis.

I'm on the fence with this film. I think it has excellent moments in it and does present a great cautionary tale, yet it is so unbelievably depressing. I can only guess that that was the intent of the film, but it is so dour, so harsh that I can't say it is an easy film to watch. I found myself about 2/3rds of the way through, just wanting it to be over, needing this poor guy to just get out. It really brought me down. So I'm not sure what to think of it. I can't say it didn't have an impact on me. The performances are strong, and the film as a whole is well made. I just don't think I'll ever watch it again, simply because it is so depressing.

As an afterthought, the films I mentioned earlier; Shawshank, Alcatraz, and Escape, all have one thing Midnight doesn't: hope. There is no source of hope, no moment of inspiration, not one uplifting moment that makes it all worthwhile. While I think a filmmaker could make a good argument for hitting an audience square in the nuts by presenting a hard, unforgiving film like this, I ultimately feel you do your audience a great disservice by not providing a source of hope. Films are a roller-coaster, You have your highs, and you have your lows, they should be balanced. But when a film lingers in despair for so long, it becomes a bit of a discouraging and upsetting mess.

Bottom Line:
While the film itself is strong, it is unforgiving, and relentless in its own hopelessness. I'm very tired after this.

B-

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Classic Movie BONUS: This Is Spıinal Tap

Welcome to Classic Movie Monday, BONUS edition. Every Monday (and random days like today), I watch a film at least 25 years old that I have never seen before. I will then write my comments on the film, telling you what I thought of it. This is an attempt to beef up my classic film knowledge as well as highlight some forgotten gems of Hollywood's heyday. So without further ado...

This Is Spinal Tap
Released: March 2, 1984
Directed by: Rob Reiner
Starring: Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, & Harry Shearer

Plot in a Nutshell:
This mockumentary examines the "complicated" and drama infested lives of rock stars on a tour. Hilarity ensues.

What I thought:
I've heard many things about this fake documentary for years. So many people reference so many times when talking about trumped up ego-filled rock stars. Made in an interesting style, the fake documentary, this film manages to capture the absurdity of modern day rock stars so effortlessly. And it is at times, very funny.

I'm not sure what the back-story to this project is, how it got made, why they chose who they did, how things came together. The reason I don't know is that it seems everyone involved apparently wants to maintain the illusion that this is in fact a real British rock band called Spinal Tap. And they really were the subject of a documentary. So all you have to go on with this film is the film itself (funny how that works).

Mostly ad-libbed by the three primary band members, and the documentary director (Reiner), the film contains the spontaneity of a documentary shot on the cuff. But hidden within the sometimes incoherent mumbling and the dopey eyed stares of an aging rock band, is some genuine comedy. The part that is probably most well known is the talk about how their amps have dials that go to 11. So they can leave it at 10, but if they need just that little extra bit of power, they can take it up to 11.

The film is filled with interesting little moments like that. They first make you laugh with their arrogant incompetence, then you find yourself thinking, are they REALLY like that? Did the actors, really capture the essence of rock stars? Without having any friends who travel or perform on tour, I can't really say. But I can't imagine the Steven Tylers or the Ozzy Osbournes are really that far off from these crazy characters.

The thing that made it so enjoyable was just how lost these guys really are. There's a real duality to them in that they are supreme, confident, and so sure of themselves. Yet they are vacant-headed enough that they can't find their way to a stage, they can't tell feet from inches, and they can't use pieces of tiny bread to make a sandwich. They are complete airheads, that so believe in themselves and their lifestyle. You almost wonder what they are like when the tour ends, and they go home.

Bottom Line:
Cocky, dim-witted rock stars are hilarious.

B+

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Classic Movie BONUS: Sudden Impact

Welcome to Classic Movie Monday, BONUS edition. Every Monday (and random days like today), I watch a film at least 25 years old that I have never seen before. I will then write my comments on the film, telling you what I thought of it. This is an attempt to beef up my classic film knowledge as well as highlight some forgotten gems of Hollywood's heyday. So without further ado...

Sudden Impact
Released: December 9, 1983
Directed by: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, & Pat Hingle

Plot in a Nutshell:
San Francisco Police Inspector Harry Callahan returns in this fourth film of the Dirty Harry series. In it Harry is forced to take a "vacation" due to his unusual approach to fighting crime, meanwhile bodies are stacking up, killed in unusual circumstances from a single killer.

What I thought:
I haven't seen all the entries in this 5-film series. Up until this, I've only seen the original, Dirty Harry. But everything I have read or heard says this is one of the better ones. And while it managed to stick on me more than the first, I still found it to be a bit lacking. Don't get me wrong, Eastwood's character of Callahan is unmatched by anyone in any other film, yet everything else, doesn't quite hold up.

Clint Eastwood's personification of Inspector Callahan is probably one of his best creations. He is a man comprised of simple black and white, crime and the law. There isn't much in the way of compromise when it comes to Harry and Justice. Preferring to take his own route, he almost seems to take satisfaction out of crooks who dare pull a gun on him. He is an extraordinarily proficient killing machine who so happens to be moonlighting as an actual lawman. Well, he's not really moonlighting, he IS a policeman at heart, and he believes in justice. But in these days, the system is failing to catch the baddies. Bogged down in bureaucracy and politics, the cogs of Law don't work in Callahan's eyes.

I could go on forever about this amazing character, but other things must be discussed. Not only is the set up of character so well done, the accompanying performance is simply void of a single flaw. Eastwood commands the screen in every scene. But as with every great thing, there is a downside.

This story is so bleh. Basically it goes like this: A young woman who was brutally attacked and raped by a group of reckless kids, comes back years later to hunt down each of her attackers. She seduces them, gets them vulnerable, then BAM, shoots em in the crotch, and once in the head. That sounds interesting, and it almost becomes a compelling character. I just find that it was handled very poorly in the film. The actress, Sondra Locke, never really captures the emotional weight involved with her character's brutal gang rape. Yeah they show some scenes here and there trying to illustrate her turmoil, i.e. she breaks mirrors. But it just never came across as anything realistic at any point.

It's a shame, because her story is pretty much THE story of the entire film. The only point that I thought it became interesting was in the end. Harry, a sort of vigilante with a badge, had to decide whether he'd let this girl go. According to his very defined code of ethics, she is a criminal, she has killed many men, brutally. But she is in essence doing the very thing he does, dispatching the scum of the city. It was an interesting moment in the film, and as far as story is concerned I think it was the real highlight of the piece. But it was one of only a few good plot points.

This movie exists because of the character Eastwood has created. For this simple reason this movie is more than worth watching. Dirty Harry Callahan is a film icon that needs to be seen. His lines, his mannerisms, his unbending view on crime and punishment, all of it makes for a fantastic character. Unfortunately, I wish the film could keep up with him.

Bottom Line:
This movie is about one thing and one thing only: Eastwood's unyielding and flawless performance of a iconic character. Everything else is secondary.

B

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Classic Movie Monday: The Graduate

Welcome to Classic Movie Monday. Every Monday, I watch a film at least 25 years old that I have never seen before. I will then write my comments on the film, telling you what I thought of it. This is an attempt to beef up my classic film knowledge as well as highlight some forgotten gems of Hollywood's heyday. So without further ado...

The Graduate
Released: December 21, 1967
Directed by: Mike Nichols
Starring: Anna Bancroft, Dustin Hoffman, & Katharine Ross

Plot in a Nutshell:
A timid university graduate is seduced by an older woman, but falls for her daughter.

What I thought:
The Graduate is an unusual comedy. It is a much more subtle humor than slapstick or jokey styles, but it still manages to be quite hilarious in its awkward moments. The concept is simple enough, the idea of an older woman having a sexual affair with a young man is something I find unique to this film at this time period. What makes it great is the change in tonality that carries through the initial awkward moments of the film all the way to the emotional and satisfying climax.

The strongest portion of film is the uneasy performance by Dustin Hoffman. His character at the start is so unsure of himself, of life, and of sexuality. It is no challenge for a woman of extraordinary confidence and stature like Mrs. Robinson, to easily take control of him. So when the ending comes, you see the significant change in him and his actions. The uncertainty is now confidence. The awkward demeanor has now transformed into assured fearlessness. What does this character owe to such a change in personality? Almost certainly he owes it to his assorted affair with the infamous Mrs. Robinson, and the subsequent whirlwind romance with her daughter Elaine.

I found that by the end of the film I was questioning how his character made such the dramatic change. I still don't think I can quite understand how his relationship with Elaine seemed so strong. It just was. I suppose it could simply be a matter of kindred spirits. Both are caught up in doing what their parents think is right, or what they feel they should do. So i imagine it is out of this mutual hatred of control that they are able to bond so quickly, and then cause the awesome ending at the church. But I have to say honestly, I'm not sure. The film doesn't really explore why these two hit it off, but if you don't pay it much mind, the conclusion is more than fulfilling.

One of the things I admired about this film is the almost voyeuristic approach to its perspective. Shots are taken across rooms, scenes are played in the dark, and conversations are silenced by loud music. It's almost as if the events were happening and the crew was there to capture it. The purpose to doing it like this is to make things seem real. The characters pop to life in ways that you don't normally see.

The Graduate is a film that marks a time in history. It is a young man's comedy, akin to the likes of today's American Pies or Risky Businesses. The thing that makes this stand out as a genuine classic, is the performances by Hoffman and Bancroft. Their unusual chemistry is surprising, especially considering the circumstances their characters are in. I wish that that strength sustained itself throughout the film, but it successfully manages to switch gears towards the final act. Just wish there was more Mrs. Robinson. Always, there must be more Mrs. Robinson.

"Dee dee de deee ...and here's to you Mrs. Robinson."

Bottom Line:
A unique story (at the time), humorous performances, and Simon and Garfunkel highlight this comedy classic.

A

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Out with it!

I'm going to do something a little unconventional for me and this site: I'm going to try and reach out to the you, the reader, for support. Not support like I need you to comment here, or I need you to email me, or to even respond at all. The kind of support I need is the simple idea of knowing that there are people out there who know what I want to do. That's it. I basically need to do an equivalent of "coming out," only without the homosexual aspect. So nobody could read this and I'll get all the support I need, crazy isn't it?

I'm going to let you in on what I am doing. I don't normally talk about my life on this site. Usually I either rant or review, or a combination of both. Never have I really opened up about my life and the things I keep close to the chest.

So first and foremost, I have come to the conclusion that my time in the service is up. I won't go into detail (we'll save that for another post, when it is behind me), but next April is the last of the Navy for me. It's been a long ride, one that I am more than ready to jump off of.

I have decided to finally embark on that great quest of getting a degree. Yeah. I'm so not excited (maybe a little). But it has been long enough and I've taken more than a short break from school. What was supposed to be a few years turned into almost a decade. Enough is enough. I'm here where I want to be (Southern California), and only a short drive away from where I want to go (UCLA). With the new GI bill taking effect this year, effectively paying 100% tuition as well as giving me living expenses for 3 years, now is the time.

I have a pretty good plan for the next few years and i can only hope it will be rewarding in a few ways, if not in every way. I've never been one to talk much about where I wanted to go, except in vagaries and possibilities. The truth is, I hate people who talk and don't act. So I've never been one to talk overly about my aspirations, mainly because I never knew if it would become reality. The last thing I would ever want to do is tell people I want to be a brain surgeon, and end up a General Practitioner. Weird, I know, but that's me. I like to be truthful but not cocky.

So imagine what it means when I come out with it. Oceans are moving. Tectonic plates are colliding.

To let you in a little bit, I've been working on one script for 5 years now. And it still isn't finished. Oh I'm close, but I have no doubt that the final product is so hob-scotched together that it would take another five years just to sort it out into a cohesive narrative.

Let's be honest, I'm not a screenwriter, and I'm not a filmmaker. Yet. All I've got is my instinct and barely any drive. But things have been happening in the past few months and weeks that have gotten me to a place where I feel like the unattainable is just within grasp. The act of deciding to take the jump out of the service has made an enormous impact on my thinking. Now, I actually have to get my butt in gear.

So I'm now faced with a difficult decision, my 72 page draft can be jettisoned or finished (shooting for 90 pages), but either way I pretty much have to start over. The challenges I now have in finishing it are greater than any problem I've faced with it yet.

I will be finishing it very quickly in a very short amount of time just to get it done and out of me. It would be nice to get out from under it. Not a day goes past that I don't think I should sit down and plod away on it, but as I said before, it really is a mess at this point. I basically started out writing one story and halfway through I changed some key things that in turn affect everything I've already written. In short: it needs some serious restructuring.

I am realistic. Believe me this thing is no where close to being anything readable by anyone but me. In years past I have doled out pieces to the closest people to me and only one person has read it all. I am private about it. It is killing me just to write this post and publish it for all my friends and family to see.

But I need pressure. I need to know that there is somebody out there that knows about my writing on this project. So rather than it being my unaccomplished secret, where i could easily sit on it for another 5 years, now at least, it is a known project.

So if you made it this far, thanks. And keep a look out for another update. If you don't hear about this again, than I'm full of hot air and I'll already be floating in the upper atmosphere.

So, in other words; you'll be hearing more.

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Classic Movie Monday: Baraka

Welcome to Classic Movie Monday. Every Monday, I watch a film at least 25 years old (exception in this post) that I have never seen before. I will then write my comments on the film, telling you what I thought of it. This is an attempt to beef up my classic film knowledge as well as highlight some forgotten gems of Hollywood's heyday. So without further ado...

Baraka
Released: September 15, 1992
Directed by: Ron Fricke

Plot in a Nutshell:
A collection of evocative imagery telling the story of humanity and the planet on which it resides.

What I thought:
I'm going to point out that this film does not meet the criteria I've set for my Classic Movie Monday Column. But I think rather than sticking to my hard rule of a classic film definition (more than 25 years old), I'm going to highlight this fantastic film, simply because it deserves it. And in my mind it has already achieved a classic status based on its renown and following.

So what is this film? That's a hard question. There is no narrative, no plot or story structure. There is no voice over, no interviews, and no interruptions. This is simply a collection of imagery that speaks to the human spirit, condition and I daresay the soul in all of us.

Shot in 65 mm film (more than double the size of your standard run-of-the-mill film), the film is shot with such detail and care for its subjects, that even without a story, you find yourself becoming immersed in the power of it all. The shots presented here are far beyond complex. Some of the time lapse photography just boggles my mind at how long it had to have taken to create. In fact the accompanying documentary reveals that many night time time lapse shots ran for the entire night, and only a third of the tries came out exceptional or even usable. And some of these shots simply cannot be described by words alone.

I am a bit of a film junkie. I love the technical aspects of creating film, the cinematography mostly; lighting, shot placement, framing, subject positioning, etc. In Baraka all of those aspects shine bold and bright. But what I think is the real strength of the picture is it's subjects. The filmmaker's selection of where to shoot, who to shoot, is impeccable. They have no problem showing you the natural beauty of a mountain top village in the warm and crisp morning light, and then later they show you the machinations of thousands of factory workers rolling cigarettes like robots.

Often times my jaw would drop at the juxtaposition of certain elements. One scene in particular was a monk in Tokyo slowly walking down a sidewalk, one tiny step at a time. With every step he rang a little bell and chanted a prayer. While this monk is doing this meditation the hustle and bustle of the major metropolitan area of Tokyo moving all around him like a river goes around a strong rock. The way in which it was shot and put together was simply breathtaking, and that is only one of many powerful moments in this film.

One of the things I must point out is that I was watching this on blu ray with a hi def TV. Save for going to a full-on 70mm screening on a very big screen, there is no other way you can watch this picture except on blu ray in hi def. Part of the beauty of this film achievement is in its detail. Shot on 65mm film and scanned at an unprecedented 8k resolution (to put that in perspective, most films today are scanned in at a 2k resolution, few at 4k), Baraka is unmatched in crystal clear clarity and detail.

This is an incredibly moving portrait of humanity. It's a fantastic and wondrous portrayal of the planet and its inhabitants that is unmatched in any documentary or series that I have ever seen. If you have a HiDef tv and blu ray, you owe it to yourself to pick this up. If you don't, stop by my place and I'll show it to you, it deserves to be seen.

Bottom Line:
With no definitive story or plot, Baraka succeeds in every possible way as a triumph of humankind in all its varieties.

A

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Talk about ugly Mutts

If you've read some of my posts, you know I like pictures of cute kittens. Nothing is more sweet and innocent than a little curious ball of fur. Mmm, warm fuzzy thoughts. Today I offer to you a little collection of the exact opposite to cute kittens: Ugly Dogs. I'm not talking merely unsightly or unkempt dogs, no I'm talking disproportionate, oddly shaped, tounge hanging, disgustingly ugly canines.

In case you're wondering where this came from, recently a World's Ugliest Dog contest was held at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, California. This was the big winner of said contest...

But believe me, he ain't the ugliest. Oh no, not by a long shot. More hideousness after the break.

Awwwww, he looks so proud of that ribbon.

I like this guy. He kind of conjures an image of a canine version of Nicodemus from Secret of Nimh. What do you think?

Now this next one looks like a zombie dog from Resident Evil.

If I saw that running after me on the street, I'd soil myself.

And then finally, this guy just let himself go.

If you want to know more about this contest go here, here, or here.

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