A Place in the Sun

One way or another I will get my movie fix. This past week Turner Classic Movie (TCM) Channel presented the 1951 Oscar winning classic A Place in the Sun. It had been eons since first seeing George Eastman (Montgomery Cliff), Angela Vickers (Elizabeth Taylor) and Alice Tripp (Shelley Winters) in this story that pits social class and desire in a life and death arena. I don't remember how old I was the first time I watched it, but after this week's viewing, the one thing I do know is that I completely misremembered the film. I had such a crush on Montgomery Cliff during the first viewing that I remembered the wealthy Angela Vickers being self-absorbed and insensitive, the blue collar worker, Alice Tripp being annoying beyond any one's tolerance, and George Eastman as someone trapped between those two worlds and actually a victim of circumstances. In my memory neither woman deserved to be with him. I am almost ashamed to admit how warped my memory was of the film.

This time around, it was as though I were watching a completely different film, one truly worth watching. Hauntingly chilling Montgomery Cliff plays a despicable sociopath that doesn't recognize the darkness of his own soul. As a matter of fact, I was still so enchanted with him that I almost missed it again. It wasn't until the prosecuting attorney clearly and plainly says that the young man was living a double life that I regained my moral compass. All of the sudden I imagined that this story could be on one of those true life murder mystery shows on any channel during any given time of the day. This time around Angela's angelic heart and the fact that Miss Tripp did not deserve the trip Eastman set up for her were evident. This was a man who caused grief and sorrow to all who knew him, including, his praying mother that loved him unconditionally, who ended up with a notorious son in the headlines.

Yet, I was just as much in love with him as Angela and wanted reality to present a different version. One of the treats in watching a classic on TCM is that the viewers are given background information that adds insight and depth. At the end of the film we are informed that the movie was based on a Theodore Dreiser's 1925 novel An American Tragedy, which was inspired by a real life 1906 murder trial. As the plot line in the novel unfolds the reader is given background information to Eastman's past before arriving in Angela's and Alice's worlds. The character's names are different from both the real life people and the characters in the novel. To add insult to memory, this evening our host at TCM tells us that the real life person sold photos of himself to young female admirers while on trial. A Place in the Sun brought to light my misremembering a moral monster all because he looks so good!

Entertainment: A Social Commentary:

A Good Day to Die Hard

 Action movies are fun. They provide ridiculous stunts that the normal human body would not be able to live through. These days, action stories are super hero stories without the cape and tights or nifty gadgets. In all of the Die Hard movies John McClan (Bruce Willis) is a hard working tough guy cop with a sense of humor, (I love his smirk) who comes in and handles what no one else can. He is macho without taking himself too seriously and in the midst of all that machismo he reveals the vulnerable side of himself in family relationships. There is just enough pathos there to remind us that he is human and not a super hero. What is there not to love about his character? Who cares that he is solving a ridiculous mastermind plot to take over the world? That's not what movie goers pay to see when we submit ourselves to this modern day cowboy movie.

This fifth installment in the Die Hard movie franchise is just that, an installment, the next comic book in a series, just one more time with McClan. We had to check in on his family status after seeing his separation and divorce in the previous movies we need to know what is going on with the family. The new theme in these action films seems to be to have the veteran, physically older action hero, team up with the younger, techno savvy neophyte action hero. Audiences were treated to witty banter about generation gaps in the latest bond film Skyfall, and once again we get to see a generational bridge to accomplish a goal. I love it when films deliver messages about current challenges in a subtle and sometimes not so subtle way. They give us more than an interesting story; they give us something to chew on and perhaps adopt in our own waking lives. It's just enough of a message to hit us subliminally and it doesn't overwhelm or preach so we can still enjoy the action.

We can see the bad guys get their comeuppance...without thinking too much about the plot or theme making sense. Once again, we get to see Americans save the day and the world with those virtues of cunning, wit, and being physical fit. In the world of John McClan even a blue collar cop can perform feats that were once the sole domain of James Bond.

Entertainment: C Social Commentary: B

 

 

Side Effects

We are all too familiar with the rattled off list of possible side effects in commercials for new medicines on the market. Oftentimes the side effects sound more harmful than the symptoms or disease it is supposed to be curing. A person might be subjected to 20 new physical ailments, from upset stomach, to hives, to death. This movie takes the idea of medicinal side effects to a complete new level. Being a mystery story, I don't want to unveil too much or even talk about the film in generalities for fear of giving away some crucial surprise. So I won't.

What I will say is that it is one of the best suspense  mysteries I have seen in a very long time. Director, Steven Soderbergh's vision and pacing of the story is perfect! Just as the viewer believes they are connecting the dots to one revelation, a completely different murky mystery is brewing. Taut without being exhausting, it is none of what I expected - it was so much more! Side Effects actually reminded me a bit of the 1955 movie, Diabolique, which might already be saying too much if you are familiar with the film. 

So on that note, I want to applaud the actors who breathed life into their characters, especially Jude Law who shines in the role of Dr. Johnathan Banks, the well-meaning psychiatrist. Soderbergh's directing created a story that is not only enjoyable, but believable. I was mildly restless for the first 20 minutes, there is something about watching movies about mental and emotional illness that I do not enjoy, however as the story unfolded I found myself engrossed in the conflict.

This is also one of those gems of a movie where the viewer can become a little bit more savvy in how and why we are inundated with commercials for various medicines. So,  I also applaud the social commentary. This was not just an intriguing, well-acted, entertaining thriller, it was also a film by which I learned something new about prescription medicine.

Entertainment: A-          Social Commentary: A

Broken City (Spoiler Alert)

It is difficult these days to be surprised by a movie where one of the main characters is a politician. It stands to reason that this person will be power-hungry, self-indulgent, narcissistic and ethically bereft of a moral compass.

Yes, once again that was the stereotype portrayed in Broken City written by Brian Tucker. Even in the gifted hands of director Allen Hughes, the cliches and stereotypes were blatant and disappointing. With a power-hungry, wicked politician he should have a wife of little to no consequence, which also seems to be the case.
 One of my favorite scenes is when Mayor Hostetler (Russel Crowe) puts his hands around his wife's neck,Cathleen (Catherin Zeta-Jones), and it is obvious that she is terrified and his seems to be in absolute control.

Another stock character is the alcoholic cop Billy Taggart (Mark Wahlberg), with an iron will who makes mistakes but is fierce in his pursuit of whatever his particular mission. There are twists and turns enough to keep the viewer mildly interested but not intrigued. The cinematography was enjoyable, but nothing felt authentic. Great actors, but there seemed to be something off in the casting, though I am not sure what it is... or maybe it wasn't the casting; maybe it was the 1990's feel to the content and theme of the film. 

Much of the movie is forgettable, and with so many stock characters, the only thing that felt mildly genuine was the homosexual relationship. As a matter of fact, it seems as though the story was the backdrop to the true conflict of being a closeted homosexual in fear of public opinion. It would have made a much more interesting movie and story if it dealt with this topic rather than yet again, another fat cat doing fat cat things.

Even with justice somewhat being served at the end I felt as though justice truly wasn't served because the one issue that rang true was just one more scene dissolved into a series of forgettable scenes.

Entertainment: C                Social commentary: B


 

Flight (Spoiler Alert)

Has Denzel Washington ever made a bad movie? If his name is in the film it is sure to be a theme of substance and depth. Having said that, this was one of the most frustrating films I have ever seen. I knew what was going to happen before it happened. The outcome fits the national statistics because of that I was more than disappointed.

If I wanted to see another story about a black man going to prison, I could see that just about anywhere. If I wanted to see a story about a professional black man, on a quick descent from pilot to prisoner - well, then I needed to see Flight. But did I want to see that? No!

Why is it that I can watch a film called Arbitrage where a wealthy man literally murders a woman by accident, displays his racism/classism, and walks away as though nothing ever happened; and then take the African-American hero of this story that saves most of the lives, on flight, yet he ends up in prison.

I know the writer John Gatins and director Robert Zemeckis are making a statement about hitting bottom and about coming clean and about having an authentic life as opposed to one floating in the clouds of irresponsibility. I just didn't find it entertaining. It was unsettling because there are too many lives that resemble the life of Whip Whitaker (Denzel Washington). This film would definitely work at an N.A or A.A meeting.  So, while watching the film, I regretted my date paying top dollar for us to come away soberly somber, quietly reflective, and feeling rather bland.

Entertainment: C     Social Commentary: B