Skyfall

I'm not a huge fan of the James Bond franchise.  Although I've seen several of them, they've just never really floated my boat that much.  They're a little cheesy, not to mention campy, and they usually fail to make much sense.  

Now that I've finally got that off my chest, I have to say, that I absolutely adored "Skyfall", the most recent entry in the Bond series.  Daniel Craig, as Bond, was awesome, and the story really worked for me.  In this installment, an Evil Genius and his nefarious henchmen steal a list of MI6 agents and proceed to release the list to other nefarious types, who proceed to "off" said agents.  Not only that, but Evil Genius, who is a former MI6 agent, has it in for the MI6 Spymaster "M", played by Judi Dench, who he feels is responsible for his tortured and messed up life.  Bond has to try and stop the Evil Genius and save "M" in the process.

The acting is great, Daniel Craig is hot (in the most lustful sense of the word), the special effects are pretty incredible, and we get to see some Bond backstory, to give us an idea where he came from and how and why "M" recruited him.  Finally, a Bond movie that makes sense!

Oh yeah - make sure you are in your seat for the Opening Credits.  They are visually stunning, and there's a terrific song by British pop songstress Adele that ought to win the Oscar for original song.

Killer Collaborators: The Archers

Today, I'd like to introduce a new spotlight, where I discuss folks who were better as partners than they were as individuals, a spotlight that I'm going to call "Killer Collaborators".  To start us off, The Archers, otherwise known as Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger.  

Powell and Pressburger together gave us a string of classics of 1940's British Cinema, pictures that were original, daring, and visually stunning.  Other than perhaps Hitchcock, I would consider them the first "auteurs" of the cinema.

They also introduced US audiences to some of the greats of British film - among them Deborah Kerr, Wendy Hiller, Roger Livesey, and Sabu.  In addition, they, along with their regular cinematographer Jack Cardiff, explored the use of color and lighting, so that you recognize one of their pictures the moment you come into it.  And the really cool thing is that they did it together.

The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp - The life of a young British Army officer, from the Boer War up to World War II, the regrets and sacrifices, and the effort to remain relevant in a fast-changing empire. Notable for Roger Livesey's starring role, and for Deborah Kerr playing three different women important to him at various stages.

I know Where I'm Going - Wendy Hiller, on her way to a Scottish Isle to join her much-older fiance, runs into foul weather and is forced to remain in the village of Mull, where she meets the young Laird, Roger Livesey. Will she choose a life of wealth and convenience, or a life of love?

Stairway to Heaven (a.k.a. A Matter of Life and Death) - David Niven is an RAF pilot who's about to crash, who connects over his radio with operator Kim Hunter, and falls immediately in love.  Complications ensue because he was supposed to be taken to Heaven, but his angelic escort missed him. Now, he needs to fight for his right to remain on earth and be with the woman he loves.  Notable for it's use of color, as well as black and white, and for his argument before a historical and heavenly jury.

Black Narcissus - Deborah Kerr is leader of a group of Nuns, who take over an old abbey high in the Himalayan mountains.  The exotic culture and mysterious atmosphere begin to have a damaging effect on the sisters and their psyches.  Notable for it's use of color and for the claustrophobic atmosphere it creates.  Watch for a very young Jean Simmons as Kanchi, a Himalayan dancing girl.

The Red Shoes - The story of a young ballet dancer, torn between her desires to become a prima ballerina under the guidance of an obsessive dance master, and her love for a young composer.  Notable for not just it's brilliant color, but it's casting of actual dancer Moira Shearer in the lead, and for it's use of ballet to tell much of the story.

Les Miz

Went the other day to see the movie musical version of "Les Miserables", or "Les Miz" as it's affectionately known.  For those unfamiliar with the story - and really, you've got to have been hiding under a rock to be unfamiliar with it - it's the story of a man named Jean Valjean. He's a Frenchman in the first half of the 19th Century who has been imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister's family.  After nearly 20 years, he's released. Unable to find work or refuge, and just when he is caught stealing again, he is shown mercy by a Catholic priest. This changes him and he remakes himself, giving himself a new identity and occupation.  However, he is constantly on the run, hounded by a police inspector named Javert, who doesn't believe in mercy or repentance and would like nothing better than to throw him back in prison.  This all takes place against the backdrop of corruption, poverty, and misery that comes to a head when some rich youth try to lead the peasants in a revolt against the government of Napolean II.

If that description seems long, let me just say that's not even the half of it.  And the movie seems even longer.  I wish I could say that I loved it - I really wanted to.  I mean, they assembled a terrific cast - Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, and Sacha Baron Cohen, and had an Oscar-winning Director in Tom Hooper.  They even trot out Colm Wilkinson (the original Jean Valjean) as the priest.  So I went in with high expectations.  But alas, it is 3 hours of nothing but dirty filthy miserable people singing - and doing it off-key.  

The singing was all done live and not to a pre-recording, and not everyone could stay on key, which was a distraction for me.  And frankly I missed having some dialog.  Most of the acting was ok - I would give a shout out to Anne Hathaway (as Fantine), Eddie Redmayne (Marius) and Samantha Barks (Eponine)

If you've seen the stage musical (which I haven't), you'll likely love the movie.  I've heard stories of people sobbing through it, and huge rounds of applause at it's conclusion.  While I admit to a few tears at the end (I dare even the most hard-hearted not to have a few tinges of emotion), I was really just glad it was all over.

If you go: Take a cushion and be prepared to stay awhile. The film comes in at just under 3 hours. Also bring plenty of tissues.

Classic Character - John Ford Stock Company

Harry Carey, Jr. died today.  He was a great performer in classic Westerns.  But what makes his passing particularly notable is that he was the last of a group of actors known collectively as the "John Ford Stock Company".  John Ford was perhaps the greatest American film director ever, and he had a group of character actors that he worked with pretty much exclusively. They show up in his movies again and again.  People like Ward Bond, Victor McLaglen, John Qualen, Mildred Natwick, Jane Darwell, Ben Johnson, and of course, Harry Carey, Jr. So in his honor, today's classic character is a shout out to the entire John Ford Stock Company, and some of their classic roles.

Ward Bond - It Happened One Night, Drums Along the Mohawk, It's a Wonderful Life, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, Rio Grande (aka The Cavalry Trilogy), The Quiet Man, The Searchers

Victor McLaglen - The Informer (Oscar Winner), Gunga Din, The Cavalry Trilogy, The Quiet Man

John Qualen - The Grapes of Wrath, His Girl Friday, Casablanca, The Searchers, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

Mildred Natwick - The Enchanted Cottage, The Three Godfathers, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, The Quiet Man, Dangerous Liaisons

Jane Darwell - Gone with the Wind, The Grapes of Wrath (Oscar Winner), The Ox-Bow Incident, My Darling Clementine, several Shirley Temple movies, and Mary Poppins

Ben Johnson - The Cavalry Trilogy, Shane, Hang 'Em High, The Wild Bunch, The Last Picture Show (Oscar Winner), The Sugarland Express

Harry Carey, Jr. - Red River, The Three Godfathers, The Cavalry Trilogy, The Searchers, Mister Roberts, Mask, Tombstone

For most of these folks, their careers lasted for several decades, spanning from the silent era on up to the 1990's, and included some of the finest pictures ever made in Hollywood, and not just those made by Ford. But it was their association with Ford that brought them all together and makes them "Classic Characters".   

Hitchcock

It's 1959, and Alfred Hitchcock is fresh off the success of "North by Northwest".  He's bored, and he's looking for his next great achievement. He picks up a pulp horror novel called "Psycho", and becomes convinced that this will be his next project.  The movie "Hitchcock" is about his efforts to get the film made, while dealing with multiple issues. First, there's his relationship with his wife Alma Reville. She's his closest collaborator, but she's tired of the self-sacrifice this constantly requires, and is anxious to show what she can do on her own.  Then there's the studios, who are loathe to spend money on a campy horror movie, that they're not even sure they can distribute, as there's no possible way it will get past the censors.

How this all plays out is great campy fun. I absolutely loved this movie.  That said, it's probably not for everyone.  It is definitely an "Art-House" picture, and will have a limited appeal, mainly to those like myself who are enthralled by movie history.  The acting is all amazing, and that's saying something.  Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren, and Toni Collette are terrific as always. But who'd have thought Scarlett Johanson and Jessica Biel would have it in them.  It's an incredible achievement for first-time feature director Sasha Gervasi.  One small quibble - I could have completely done without Danny Huston's character.

(Word to the wise: Like I said, this movie is not for everyone.  There are several scenes of Hitch commiserating with serial killer Ed Gein, model for the character of Norman Bates. While these are all an illusion, they may be uncomfortable for some.  And some conservative types may also be uncomfortable with the characterization of Anthony Perkins as a closeted gay man, although it is accurate.)

Life of Pi

Based on one of the more popular recent novels, a young Indian man named Pi, and his family make the difficult decision to leave India for a new life.  His father is a zookeeper, so they leave by cargo boat, taking all the animals with them - the animals are all destined for other zoos.  While en route, the storm of the century arises, sinking the boat and all the occupants, with the exception of Pi and a few of the animals.  This is the story of his fight for survival over months at sea, with only a tiger for company.

If any movie this year were to score awards for visual effects and cinematography, this one is it.  It is a beautiful movie to look at - visually stunning, and the special effects are breathtaking.  The young star, Suraj Sharma, is incredible.  It's a terrific achievement from director Ang Lee.  Roughly two-thirds of it takes place in the middle of the ocean, amid storm and sun, where it's just Pi against the ocean and the tiger. I don't think it gives too much away to say that the tiger is an obvious metaphor.

While I enjoyed it, this isn't a movie that bears repeated viewing. 

Lincoln

Saw the new movie "Lincoln" recently, and it was a pleasure to watch.  It takes place during the time leading up to the passage of the 13th Amendment in early 1865, just prior to the end of the Civil War.  President Lincoln is convinced that passage of the amendment will bring an end to the war, and this shows the efforts of lawmakers and lobbyists to make sure that passage happens.

The movie has so many stars, but I call out just a few: Daniel Day-Lewis is amazing as Lincoln. His ability to inhabit a character is like no other, and this is perhaps his crowning acting achievement.  Sally Field is fantastic as Mary Todd Lincoln. Tommy Lee Jones is brilliant as Representative Thaddeus Stevens, ugly hairpiece and all. And James Spader as lobbyist W.N. Bilbo is absolutely hysterical.

It's a terrific film, and not without it's light touches despite it's serious historical message.  Spielberg's direction is spot on.  Definitely worth seeing.

(Word to the wise: There is some foul language in places, as well as scenes of war carnage. Definitely a PG-13, and not for young children)