What classics did you see last week ? (22 Jul - 28 Jul 2018)

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And the worst Tom Cruise movie I've seen -

Macbeth X 2

The Tragedy of Macbeth / Roman Polanski (1971). Just about everybody in the English speaking world turned amateur psychiatrist when this film was released. It was about as bloody and gory as anything released (at least mainstream) up until that time. It was Polanski’s first film after the death of his wife Sharon Tate, their unborn child, and four others at the hands of the so-called Manson Family. It was obvious to millions of people who had never even seen Polanski in person that he was working out issues related to the horrific real-life deaths. Two generations later, the film should be considered on its own; the only history to be discussed is how it shocked audiences who expected a film of a Shakespeare play to be as dry and academic as they wanted it to be – suitable to screen for bored high school students. The other aspect that shocked traditionalists was the room full of naked older and, shall we say, not conventionally beautiful women. Other than violence and nudity, Polanski’s “Macbeth” is, in many many ways, that conventional Shakespeare movie that was expected. The time period is correct, the scene and set designs play up the dirt and grime, the witches are the wizened old crones of many a stage production over the centuries, and all the famous and important speeches are there and intact (although sometimes heard as a voice-over interior monologue). Another small innovation is the youth of the Macbeth couple (“the Macbeths as hippies” chorused the armchair analysts). Jon Finch was 29 and his Lady, Francesca Annis, was 26. For the first half of the film they indeed seemed too young. Finch never looked like a military leader and hero. But in the last part, when guilt, dissipation, and mental decline takes over, they are both fine and fascinating. This has to be near the top of the list of the theatrically released Macbeths. I much prefer it over the 2015 film with Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard.



Macbeth / Geoffrey Wright (2006). This Australian adaptation sets Shakespeare’s play as a gangster thriller in modem day Melbourne, but its combo of violence, sex, and nudity make it a descendent of Polanski’s 1971 film. As a modern day backdrop, it falls below Baz Luhrmann’s “Romeo + Juliet” (1996) as a crime family feud in a Florida coastal city but way above the terrible Michael Almereyda’s incomprehensible production of “Cymbeline” (2014) that had the early Brits against the Roman Empire become a rivalry of two biker gangs. “Macbeth” starts with members of Duncan’s gang making a huge drug buy. When the dealers try to pull a double-cross and take the drugs and the money, a street battle erupts. After Duncan’s men have prevailed, they find that one of their own, the Thane of Cawdor had betrayed them. Duncan is told that his man Macbeth had been the main fighter in the gang. After Macbeth (Sam Worthington) is promoted and given Cawdor’s territory, he and his wife (Victoria Hill) start thinking about taking over the mob, themselves. At first, Shakespeare’s early modern English sounds a bit incongruous in the modern dress, but as the story progresses Shakespeare’s powerful verse and unerring storytelling takes over and you stop noticing. Acting is pretty much at a high level all around, especially Hill, Steve Bastoni as Banquo, and Lachy Hulme as Macduff. If there is one weak spot, it is Worthington. He is something of a mumbler and doesn’t look the part. With his casual clothes and greasy hair, he appears to be one of the lowest thugs, not a mob leader of men. There is some explicit brutality, in particular, the deaths of Macduff’s wife and child is especially disturbing. And, ah, the three witches who start Macbeth on his path to treason: whereas Polanski made his witches very elderly and otherworldly, they are played in Wright’s film by young women in their early 20s who appear first dressed as school girls. They do not have any witch make-up on and, in the caldron scene, they have no clothes on either. They appear to and have a foursome sex scene with Macbeth in the all together, starkers, nekked as a jay bird, which means some of the dialog, mainly the deceptive prophecies, are unclear and who is listening anyway. Interesting take on the subject. Recommended only for Macbeth completists (like me).

Sam Worthington and Victoria Hill


The Caldron Scene


OTHER

Charlie Chan In London / Eugene Forde (1934). Of the first five Charlie Chan films starring Warner Oland, four are lost. “In London” is the sixth and from here on, all Chans are available. In this mystery, Chan takes on the task of clearing a convicted murderer due to be executed in four days. Can he do it? Shut up. Also in the cast is Ray Milland (billed as Raymond Milland) as the male ingénue, Alan Mowbray as the Lord of the Manor where the murder took place, and E.E. Clive as the dim local constable. Ranks high among the Charlie Chan films.



Thunder Road / Arthur Ripley (1958). Luke Doolin (Robert Mitchum) is a Korean War veteran who, by his own admission, came home a changed man. Sure, he is still devoted to his family and ladylove, nightclub singer Francie (Keely Smith), he has taken up the family business of running illegal alcohol into the cities of Tennessee and Kentucky. His new stubbornness and willingness to fight makes him resistant to either the buy-out offs of gangster Carl Kogan (Jacques Aubuchon) as well as offers of amnesty from ATF agent Troy Barrett (Gene Barry) for help in bringing down Kogan. This drive-in theater cult classic features some of the best car chase action before “Bullitt” ten years later. Luke even has a rear bumper device to lay down an oil slick on the road behind him, anticipating James Bond by five or six years. Mitchum demonstrates his ‘50s Cool credentials in the famous scene where a pursuer draws even to Luke’s vehicle and Luke calmly flicks his lit cigarette across car windows into the other man’s lap. Robert Mitchum dominates the movie. He was not only star, but producer and co-writer of the script and title song. It is even rumored that he directed much of the film. The major drawbacks to “Thunder Road” becoming a full-fledged classic are the low budget black and white photography and the rough editing with some major continuity errors. At one point, Agent Barrett stops to talk to Luke’s younger brother, Robin (James Mitchum, Robert’s son and near clone) outside the boy’s school. About half-way through the brief conversation, the outdoor setting abruptly and obviously shifts to rear projection. After another few seconds, it jumps back to the outdoor location. Also in the cast is Sandra Dee-ish actress who had a brief film career in minor roles in mostly minor films. In 1963 she married the equally unknown actor Jack Nicholson. FUN FACT: Mitchum at first wanted Elvis Presley to play Robin but Colonel Parker wanted a fee that was more than the movie’s total budget. So the less expensive James Mitchum got the call.

Robert and James Mitchum


The title song was sung by Randy Sparks over the titles, but Robert Mitchum recorded his own cover which had some radio play (over my radio) but never reached the Billboard Top 40.


Thoroughbreds / Cory Finley (2017). This is writer/director Finley’s first feature film. He is a playwright who originally intended his script for the stage, but has turned it into a riveting slow-burn thriller for the screen that features a perfectly constructed story and acting to the highest degree. Two young women who had known each other from childhood meet up at the large estate belonging to the mother and step-father of Lily (Anya Taylor-Joy, amazing). The other girl, Amanda (Olivia Cooke), is from a more middle class home. Each has secrets in their brief pasts and are psychologically and emotionally damaged. After some sparring, they bond and begin to discuss what to do about Lily’s obnoxious step-dad who is eager to get her out of the house, preferably to some boarding school or institution. Clearly – at least to their minds – they have to kill him. Anton Yelchin appears as a low-level street drug dealer who the girls try to rope into their plot. This was one of Yelchin’s last roles before his tragic and untimely death in an accident. The man had talent and range. What a loss. Highly recommended. One of the best of 2017.





Five Seasons: The Gardens Of Piet Oudolf / Thomas Piper (2017). You may never have heard of Piet Oudolf but in the profession of landscape design, he is worldwide famous. His public garden designs are not the typical rows of flowers with identifying signage, but are carefully chosen plants in a mass, created to evoke emotion, appearing natural but controlled. As Oudolf says, “As we would like nature to be.” This documentary follows Oudolf on several of his jobs and revisits to some. His world can be found in his native The Netherlands as well as the U.K. and U.S. – New York City (High Line), Chicago (Lurie Garden), and Fredericksburg in the Texas Hill Country. We see him amazed at the wildflower displays in Texas that only last about a month and his delight at his first taste of Texas BBQ. If you see this with a spouse or SO, chances are that one of you is the constant gardener, the green thumber. That is the one between the two of you who will love this 75-minute coverage of Oudolf’s work (with a bit of biography thrown in). The one of you who is not a gardener may find this something of a snooze, yet you can still appreciate the beautiful nature photography which this film is full of.

Lurie Garden, Chicago

Any comparisons between these two films regarding Murder At An English Country House tropes could probably be applied to any number of films.

The main reason to discuss Charlie and Gosford together is that the (fictional) Hollywood producer played by Bob Balaban is in England casting "Charlie Chan In London." I really liked Gosford but didn't remember that part of it. I learned it while reading up on Charlie/London for my review.

Hi all,whilst in Birmingham with pals we went to the oldest cinema in the UK (The Electric Cinema) and saw a fun British indie Comedy. In December 2017,a family friend gave me a list of Aussie films he was after,and there was one Aussie New Wave that I could not find anything about (no reviews,and even no sign of Brian May's score.) Spending months looking for it online,I found a video on Amazon.com-but the cost of shipping it to the UK was shocking. Spending more time looking round,I at last found a copy on disc at an OK price,and after a replacement got sent out (first got lost in the post!) I at last saw...



Breakfast in Paris (1982) 8-First IMDb or Letterbox review for it

Backed by a whimsical, chime score from Queens Brian May, director John D. Lamond & cinematographer Ross Berryman casts a deep melancholy atmosphere from wide shots along the cafe's and bars (Australian locations dressed up to look like Paris!) where Wyatt and Barnes romance grows. Straying away from making everything too sweet, Lamond stylishly uses the ANW rawness to bring a fractured mood to the couples exchanges, via closed in shots following the sparks that fly between Wyatt and Barnes off the cuff comments to each other.

As the couple run into each other, the screenplay by Alan Hopgood creates the impression of a whirlwind romance about to unfold. Slyly, Hopgood unties this love at first sight by giving the dialogue a robust edge,which wonderfully opens the possibility of Wyatt shrugging off Barnes advances at any time. Dreaming of Wyatt flying into his arms, Rod Mullinar gives a great performance as Barnes, whose laid-back flirting Mullinar heats up into bubbling passion. Wanting to escape it all, Barbara Parkins gives a terrific performance as Wyatt,whose frosty cold shoulders towards the first encounter are melted by Parkins,as Barnes and Wyatt have breakfast in Paris.

Swimming with Men (2018) 6



Stripping the outline of The Full Monty for this adaptation of the real life Swedish Men's Synchronised Swimming team winning the World Championships, (they cameo in the movie)the screenplay by Aschlin Ditta dives into the unique "winning" status some British teams gain,where they trip at the final hurdle, but are treated like champions. Drawing British Sit-Com thumb-nail sketches of the team, Ditta spins an easy-going Comedy atmosphere linking the sports genre bonding of the team,with Scott finding fulfilment in the team work.

Closing in on Scott's loneliness with stark close-ups, director Oliver Parker & cinematographer David Raedeker bring light to his life with colourful edits linked between each swim,and stylish underwater camera moves,which allows for the formation of each impressive synchronised move to be viewed. Holding the team together as his personal life goes out to sea, Rob Brydon gives a warm performance as Scott,with Brydon's breezy comedic skills making a splash, as Scott begins to swim with men.

HK movies:



Story of Ricky 9



Heroic Duo 7

Dynamite Fighters (1987) 8

Lighting the fuse in the era when all the guys were firing with all guns blazing, director David Chung enthusiastic attitude towards doing a different type of Action flick sparkles across the swift run-time. Lassoing into the 1930's with a war against imperialist Japan, Chung makes the action scenes stand out by putting modern fire power aside for historical weapons, whose weight in gun fights and sword play gives the fights a heaviness, neatly balanced by a rip-roaring Adventure atmosphere of slow-motion Kung-Fu moves and colourful explosions.

Fighting into the small village to save it from the boo-hiss Japanese baddies, the screenplay by Kan-Cheung Tsang perfectly compliments Chung style with the serial like mix of spies, break-neck action set-pieces,goofy comedy spots,and lead hero Ming-Ming given quiet moments that allow her family life to be seen, before Tsang throws them all into the next danger on the adventure. Charging into battle, the eye-catching Michelle Yeoh gives an extremely charismatic performance as Ming-Ming. Kicking the action with a graceful ease, Yeoh brings a real sense of excitement to Ming-Ming diving into a dangerous adventure, and lighting the fuse of the dynamite fighters.