One of the TV stations here is having a classic american movie season. Which is great because they mostly seem to be ones I've never seen. These three are modern enough that unlike Grapes of Wrath, I wasn't distracted by their age. Sadly I missed Chinatown, but here's some I did catch:
Raging BullAll I knew about this movie was that De Niro went all out studying for the part of Jake Lamotta. For instance, that he actually broke Joe Pesci's ribs in one scene and that when he started boxing training, he was actually winning real amateur boxing fights. Now that's dedication! And it shows. It certainly makes for realistic scenes when the actor really can box. I don't know if people know this, but method acting was invented in the 19th century in Russia. I don't know when hollywood actors adopted the method, (I'm going to guess 1960's) but with this movie, you can say for sure that by 1980 it was well established.
It's not just the acting though, it's the story. It's based on Lamottas biography, and Lamotta consults in the movie. Anyone who has seen the movie would know what an a-hole Lamotta was. I think it's a remarkable thing for someone back then to acknowledge so much of his bad side
Use colour in a movie? Fuggedabadit!
4.5/5
PlatoonYes, I had never seen Platoon until last night. So sue me
A fictional story involving three main characters Barnes (Tom Berringer), Elias (Willam Dafoe), and Taylor (Charlie Sheen), who relates the story to his grandmother through his letters. Barnes and Elias are veterans, and have both gone a bit loopy- Elias in a strangely noble way, Barnes in a nefarious way. War crimes are committed, tensions rocket sky high. Seems everyones a loser. Early beginnings of the American perspective of the Vietnam war. I guess Apocalypse Now was one of the first. I would like to see a Hollywood perspective of the other side one day. But for 1986, this was still a fairly fresh genre, and I can easily take that into account.
4/5
Two Lane Black-topThis followed straight on from Platoon last night and hadn't been advertised. But the opening scene was of American muscle cars in illegal street racing, so I kept watching
This is a road movie. And like Easy Rider, it mostly stars people who can't act. But also like Easy Rider, it doesn't matter! James Taylor, yes THE
James Taylor, Dennis Wilson (I spent the whole movie thinking, Is this the Dennis Wilson from the Beach Boys? He is) and a young model named Laurie Bird (had to google that too, sadly she committed suicide at 25).
Anyway, there are four main characters. The Driver (Taylor), The Mechanic (Wilson), The Hitchhiker (Bird) and the Wanker (my term
) played by an actual actor, Warren Oates. His big claim to fame (for most of us here) would be Stripes. I have only seen Stripes once, back in the 80's. I might have to revisit (",)
The film is kind of aimless. Even Easy Rider had an aim. The Driver and The Mechanic have some sort of purpose, even though they are aimless characters. They drive around in their big block 55 Chevy, looking for hot headed people to drag race and thus make money from betting. There seems to be a discipline about it, because they keep the winnings separate from the money they use for living. There is no explanation of what they are saving for that I could tell. The Hitchhiker again, seems to have a purpose in the movie, even though she too is purposeless. She just jumps into peoples cars, often at truck stops. I found it funny that none of the drivers ever seemed surprised that a pretty hitchhiker has suddenly appeared in their car.
The Wanker was much harder to fathom. I didn't understand his purpose at all. Which is probably the point. He told every person he met a different story, all of them quite grand. He breaks down and starts to tell The Driver his real story. The Driver stops him and says "I don't want to know". "Why?". "It's not my problem". Hehe.
Taylors acting is pretty bad, he muddles up his lines a number of times, but it seems to add to a shy character so I guess they just left them in. Film isn't cheap, you use what you can in a low budget movie. But I like James Taylor so I forgive him his woeful acting. And he really looked the part. Wilson is probably as bad an actor, but he doesn't screw up his lines. Bird seems ok, not brlilliant. But I can imagine the director saying "Just be yourself" and that works just fine for her part. I'd like to check out all her movies to see how she evolved. She only made three before her death.
But all of that doesn't matter much, because this movie is chock full of American Muscle (cars, not body builders). Lots and LOTS of cars. And nice scenery. It's kinda hard to screw up a road movie, although apparently a dude named Vincent Gallo had a good shot at screwing one up with his movie Brown Bunny. Apparently it's only saving grace is that Chloe Sevigny ACTUALLY blows him in one scene. I've checked that scene myself, over and over for research purposes
. It's hard to tell. But I digress...
CARS! If you like old American Cars, and nice scenery. You need to see this movie. If not, there's nothing much for you in this flick...
4/5 (2.5/5) if it weren't for the cars and the scenery)
Next week is Jason and The Argonauts. I'll definitely try and catch that one (",)
my score for recent movies you may have seen:
5/5 - The Kings Speech, Michael Clayton, In Bruges, Gran Torino, Mary and Max
4.5/5 - Taken, Iron Man, Reign Over Me, Watchmen, The girl with the dragon tattoo
4/5 - True Grit, Traitor, Bedtime Stories, Sunshine, pineapple express
3.5/5 - 300, Max Payne, You dont mess with the Zohan, Yes Man
3/5 - That new Indiana Jones flick, Disturbia, That new TMNT flick,
2.5/5 - Angels and Demons
2/5 - The Love Guru. Note: My 2 is probably someone elses 1. Just leaving room for worse!
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Topic: retro rated: A whole buncha movies (",) (Read 1847 times)
