Short shorts 2002

The Chubbchubbs!  10/28/12, Best Animated Short 2002

One of the benefits of watching the winners in the Short Film/Animated categories is that you usually get to watch the competition at the same time as part of a compilation. And as a result of that, you can make almost instantaneous comparisons (or at least with an hour or so). The Chubbchubbs! was originally released with Men in Black 2. After watching all of the contenders, I really don’t know how this won. It’s funny and kind of cute, and there’s an irony in these cute little chick-like creatures being so fierce, but I don’t think it should have won. If you want cute and cuddly and funny, Mike’s New Car, starring Mike and Sully from Monsters Inc. is just that. If you want intellectual and thought-provoking, Katedra or Atama-Yama would be the ones (although I really didn't get Atama-Yama). If you get the compilation disk, then you can judge for yourself.

This Charming Man 10/28/12, Best Live Action Short 2002

This Charming Man was an entry from Denmark, and is an interesting take on racism and discrimination in a country that is not usually associated with those topics. Lars is an out-of-work accountant who gets his identity mixed up with El Hassan, a Pakistani immigrant. There are a few twists and turns along the way, and considering that this was made just one year after 9/11, it was a fairly bold way to look at one’s country. I’ll wait for the next one was from France, and was very clever, but I thought was a little mean-spirited (yes, I do have a heart); fait d’hiver was from Belgium and reminded me of a scary story told around a campfire (most of my campfires have been in suburbia, but in my imagination, it would be told around a campfire), something from Hitchock or Steven King. I did not see the end coming at all, but perhaps that’s why it didn't win. Inja was from Australia but set in South Africa. At first, I thought it was some cute little story about a boy and his dog. Um, yeah, I didn't see that coming at all. It’s a reap what you sow story, and that’s one of the name of the songs that is sung. The animation and live action came on one disk, and if you want to see a lot of different ideas and stories without a huge time commitment, then you should check these out.

Left wanting more

A Fish Called Wanda 10/21/2012 Best Supporting Actor 1988

I've been trying to think why it has taken so long to review this movie, one of the funniest movies ever (or so I've been told). It might be my brain is unaccustomed to humor after all the serious downer films I've watched lately, or perhaps it wasn't all that funny. I think it’s somewhere in between. Kevin Kline won for Best Supporting Actor as the rabid, manic, pseudo-enlightened Otto. Eh. I actually thought Michael Palin and John Cleese were funnier, especially the story line with Michael Palin as Ken, who loves animals and experiences an unfortunate series of events; reminding me of a great skit from a sketch comedy series (not quite Python-esque). The movie is about a jewel heist and the aftermath as the thieves back-stab each other and the story goes all over as Wanda (Jamie Lee Curtis) has relationships with whoever will get her closer to the jewels. John Cleese is one of those men, and he finds himself in some interesting situations as well. It was funny in parts, but made me think more about Python than anything else. So, I leave it up to you. I feel the same way I do after I have lunch at this Greek place in the skyway, high hopes only to feel sort of satisfied when I’m done, and thinking I should have had LeeAnn Chin instead.

I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore

Network 10/13/12 Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress 1976

“I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore”, no, I’m fine, but we've all heard this quote at some time or another, and I finally saw the source of the quote, Network a movie about television, specifically the television news business. Peter Finch, who won for Best Actor (posthumously), yelled this and many other things as troubled/enlightened news anchor, Howard Beale. There is a lot of yelling in the movie and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Overall, the movie works. Sidney Lumet (12 Angry Men amongst others) directed and Paddy Chayefsky (Marty) wrote it. It was released in 1976, but if you added some technological updates, like social networks and cable news, it could be made now; in fact, I’m surprised it hasn't been remade given the dearth of originality in Hollywood. Howard Beale is a news anchor in the twilight of his career, but he makes a comeback as a voice of the people, railing against The Establishment, much to the chagrin of the news producers. Beale’s unscripted, profanity-laden diatribes strike a chord with the audiences. Faye Dunaway, as Diana Christensen, head of the programming department, thinks he’s brilliant; Dunaway won the award for Best Actress for her ambitious and aggressive portrayal.  The movie is actually filled with great performances from a cast of greats: William Holden (he was nominated as Best Supporting Actor, but lost out to Ned Beatty, his co-star in the movie),Ned Beatty and Robert Duvall; Beatrice Straight won for the Best Supporting Actress (I quibble with this one; her performance was good, very brief, but I don’t understand how it was better than Jane Seymour’s in All the President’s Men) or Marlene Warfield who played Laurene Hobbs also from Network, who was wonderful as the over-the-top Angela Davis-like member of the Ecumenical Liberation Army. The movie is a satire, so everything should be taken with a grain of salt (note the Mao-Tse Tung Hour). I love watching William Holden, I think he may be underrated, and certainly unappreciated by today’s audiences (see The Bridge on the River Kwai, which also has the shape-shifting Alec Guiness). There is so much going on in this movie, and it’s very fast-paced, and I hardly noticed the running time (which I almost ALWAYS notice). If you’re a fan of television, television history, enjoy great acting and smart writing, you should watch this. You may enjoy comparing it to television today and how incredibly prescient Chayefsky was in his characterization today's infotainment. You’re welcome.

In case you are keeping track, I have 808 winners to watch, and I think it may take around 3 years to finish, or at least get current. A few people have asked me the most obvious question of 'Why?' Well, I like to know where things come from, including famous quotes in their original context, the influence of one director or actor on another, etc. It's kind of fun understanding the whole origin of Howard Beale's breakdown and the genesis of his famous phrase, quoted above. Or being able to see the evolution of an actor's career (Conchata Farrell has a small role in Network and is now the wise-cracking housekeeper on Two and a Half Men). If you have any thoughts on the next movies I should watch, let me know. I'll see if Netflix or the library will oblige.

I did get a craving for gefilte fish

Yentl 10/12/12 Best Original Song Score or Adaptation Score 1983

I am totally conflicted on this movie, I feel like culturally I should love this film and tell everyone to see it, you will gain a great understanding of Jewish culture and history from early 20^th century Europe. I just don’t know if I can. It wasn't terrible (is this like a backhanded compliment?), but I think I would have liked it without the singing, I don’t think it needed to be a musical. I’m not even sure it’s a true musical, it’s really only Barbra Streisand who sings, isn't Mandy Patinkin a singer? How come he didn't warble a little something? How come there wasn't great cantorial music (I don’t know if that’s a word, but if you know what a cantor is, then you understand). The movie is set in Eastern Europe (Poland I think, although in the early 20^th century, those things weren't always clear) in 1904 and Yentl is a young woman who wants to study and learn about the Talmud, which is not allowed; women aren't supposed to read and learn. After her father dies, Yentl embarks on a journey to study the Torah and the Talmud by masquerading as a young man. All kinds of things happen, including a friendship with Mandy Patinkin, and an eventual ‘marriage’ to Amy Irving (this was fun for me to watch because I enjoyed the wedding celebration with the traditional dancing) and the great reveal. Isaac Bashevis Singer wrote the original short story in Yiddish on which this was based, and from what I could gather, Barbra Streisand went to great lengths to get this movie made, so it really was a labor of love for her. I wish I had millions to work on my labors of love. It was easy to imagine the shtetl where Yentl lived to be one where my great-grandparents may have lived, going to the market, going to synagogue, etc. Parts of the movie were filmed in Prague (doubling as Lublin) and they cross the Charles Bridge and I wanted to love the movie more; maybe less singing would have helped. I don’t know, something just didn't click. Maybe I was hoping for Fiddler on the Roof? The movie won for Best Original Song Score or Adaption Score which was done by Michel LeGrand (he of The Thomas Crowne Affair soundtrack) and Marilyn and Alan Bergman, there were only three nominees, perhaps they should have skipped that category. On a side note, Amy Irving was nominated as Best Supporting Actress, she lost out to Linda Hunt in The Year of Living Dangerously, which was the right choice, in my opinion. I’m not sure how she got nominated, the role was pivotal but she wasn't (you can see Amy Irving in Crossing Delancy another cultural favorite set in the 1980s or 1990s in New York City). So, again, should you watch it? Yentl, I mean. See Fiddler first, set about 20-30 years earlier in Tsarist Russia; it’s much more of a musical, with the great Zero Mostel. That should hold you for a bit. 

Do Not Ask For Whom The Bell Tolls

For Whom the Bell Tolls, 10/6/12 Best Supporting Actress 1943

Full disclaimer:  Not a Hemingway fan, not a huge Gary Cooper fan, and yet, I didn’t hate this movie. I didn't love it, but it was not as bad as I thought I would be. I actually took a Hemingway/Fitzgerald class in high school and kicked myself for a whole semester, actually that’s not true, a good friend and I had fun mocking one of the 20^th century’s great writers. For Whom the Bell Tolls is the story of an American in Spain to fight with the Republicans during the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s. ‘Roberto’ played by Gary Cooper is an expert at bridge demolition and he connects with a group of Republicans, including Ingrid Bergman as ‘Maria’ (sorry, I didn't buy that either) and Best Supporting Actress winner, Katina Paxinou as ‘Pilar’. As I said, I read the book, and I liked the character of Pilar the best, and that would be the same in the movie. There is a passion and fire in Pilar that holds your attention and you want to know more about her (kind of the way Jane Darwell had a quiet intensity in The Grapes of Wrath). Roberto and Maria of course fall in love, but other than that, I won’t ruin it for you. It is interesting to watch this movie about a piece of history that many people do not know. The Spanish Civil War (the Republicans versus the Monarchy/Fascists and Francisco Franco) was a precursor to the World War in Europe, the way the invasion of Manchuria was in Asia. There are parts of the movie that are beautiful to watch, the cinematography and scenery are wonderful. The movie shows how and why civil wars are not easily understood, sometimes you join forces with your enemy against a common foe, but then perhaps turn on your former ally. Politics and war make strange bedfellows.

Sometimes Gary Cooper is so wooden you half expect to strings and a puppeteer, other times you totally believe him and his character. I love Ingrid Bergman, but this just didn’t work for me. Apparently, there wasn't an actual Spaniard in the main cast; in fact, you sometimes hear what sounds like Russian accents (really). Paxinou was a Greek actress. If you’re wondering if you should watch this movie, maybe, if nothing else is in your top twenty and you want to get a high level introduction to the Spanish Civil War and see a great Best Supporting Actress Performance (see the next review for a not Best Supporting Actress nomination), then yes, you should watch it; if you read the book, sure, watch the movie. Otherwise, you’ll survive if you don’t.

A Happy Accident

A Star is Born, 10/5/12 Best Original Song 1976

Well, if you read my previous post, I hope you haven’t been waiting too long – I failed miserably at getting through the five movies. I picked the longest movies in the world to watch, and I just couldn't find the energy. Then when I found the energy, and the time (mostly the energy/desire), I wound up watching a movie that wasn't even on my flipping list! Ah!! I only found this out midway through the three hour movie. However, it wasn't all in vain, and it was actually part of my master plan, sort of. The movie I watched was A Star is Born from 1954 with Judy Garland (Grand Rapids, Minnesota’s own) and James Mason. I swear it was on the list, but alas, it was not. For those of you that do not know, there are actually three ‘A Star is Born’ movies, one from 1937, 1954 and this one from 1976. The movie from 1937, with Janet Gaynor, actually won an Oscar for Best Story. That is in the queue, so look for a review soon. The 1954 version with Judy Garland was really good and she was nominated for in the Best Actress category, but lost out to Grace Kelly. I thought she was fabulous, and really carried the movie. She showed why she was such an amazing star. I didn't really see James Mason as her husband, I just didn't buy it (I love James Mason, most especially Eddie Izzard’s impersonation of James Mason as God). The story is a tragic love affair, and even if you see the end coming, it’s still sad. The 1954 version is much more in the musical tradition with big song and dance numbers; Judy at her best.

The 1976 version, with Kris Kristofferson and Barbra Streisand won for the best song. I don’t know if it’s irony or just funny (to me only, maybe), but “Evergreen” the song that won, was co-written by Streisand and Paul Williams. Paul Williams also wrote “Rainbow Connection” from the Muppet movie.  I don’t think I have ever watched the movie in its entirety before, but I liked it. There was nothing too sophisticated or high-brow, or even surprising, but it had some good music, except when Kris Kristofferson was singing. It sounded like a cat was being tortured. I guess that goes to show you can write great songs, but maybe not be the best singer in the world (he wrote “Me and Bobby McGee” amongst others). I've never been a big Barbra Streisand fan, so I wasn't sure how this would go, but she was really good. The story pretty much follows the story arc of the other two movies, with some modern updating. If you have 800 movies on your list to watch, I don’t know that I would move this up with a bullet. I would put the Garland version higher on the list. But, if you’re a Barbra fan, and somehow missed this, you should watch it.