Movie Review: McLintock (1963)

Posted on April 30, 2014 by Brian Wright

More solid ideological substance than given credit for… 8/10

… or what the majority of fans would have watched it for back in the day. McLintock was a big, successful action-packed movie in the the early 60s around the time of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and just before the buildup and war in Vietnam that tore the country apart. But I don’t remember having seen it at the local theater. A reader, Neil, recommended McLintock to me for various pro-liberty sentiments and principles expressed in much of the movie’s dialog and action. And he’s right: the writers have the protagonist GW McLintock (John Wayne) making strong statements in favor of property rights, personal responsibility, productive ambition, fair treatment of Indians as individuals, and the detrimental, illogical effects of most government activity. Continue reading →

Movie Review: The Green Zone (2009)

Posted on April 23, 2014 by Brian Wright

First class war story, war for the truth __ 9/10

The Green Zone is an Iraq movie that gets right to the point. Director Paul Greengrass is a veteran of the Bourne movies, specifically numbers 3 and 4: The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum. So right from the gitgo—immediately following the American invasion of Iraq in 2003—we see Army boots on the ground as Chief Warrant Officer Roy Miller (Matt Damon) and his men are tasked with quickly finding weapons of mass destruction (WMDs)… the existence of which was the Bush administration’s main pretext for the invasion. Continue reading →

Movie Review: The Apostle (1997)

Posted on April 16, 2014 by Brian Wright

Scary, heartwarming, or both? __ 9.5/10

You can search far and wide for movies that are authentically American, yet so unique that they defy being categorized. The Apostle would be on a very short list, possibly the only entry. You’re struck by what in the heck was going on in writer-director Robert Duvall’s life to create such a revealing and deep story of the Best of the Bible Belt.

Are these people of faith the best? Is the leader of this Fort Worth, Texas-based, richly funded evangelical church an example of the best of the best? Or are they sinners like everyone else? I’ll answer that question without giving anything away: they’re sinners like everyone else, and Sonny clearly more so. But it isn’t obvious, nor can I pass judgment on the man without fear of contradiction. Indeed, you will find that among freethinking secular persons—such as yours truly—a lively discussion emerges as to whether the preacher man Sonny Dewey, later Apostle E.F., exemplifies destructive or constructive qualities of character. Continue reading →

Movie Review: Silent Running (1972)

Posted on April 9, 2014 by Brian Wright

For its time a bold, clever cry for Nature __ 8/10

Announcer: On this first day of a new century we humbly beg forgiveness and dedicate these last forests of our once beautiful nation to the hope that they will one day return and grace our foul earth. Until that day may God bless these gardens and the brave men who care for them.

Freeman Lowell: It calls back a time when there were flowers all over the Earth… and there were valleys. And there were plains of tall green grass that you could lie down in – you could go to sleep in. And there were blue skies, and there was fresh air… and there were things growing all over the place, not just in some domed enclosures blasted some millions of miles out in to space.

Freeman Lowell: [gesturing toward a picture] Look on the wall behind you. Look at that little girl’s face. I know you’ve seen it. But you know what she’s never going to be able to see? She’s never going to be able to see the simple wonder of a leaf in her hand. Because there’s not going to be any trees. Now you think about that. Continue reading →

Movie Review: The Bridges of Madison County (1995)

Posted on April 2, 2014 by Brian Wright

A Tour de Force by Eastwood, Streep __ 9/10

Francesca: Robert, please. You don’t understand, no-one does. When a woman makes the choice to marry, to have children; in one way her life begins but in another way it stops. You build a life of details. You become a mother, a wife and you stop and stay steady so that your children can move. And when they leave they take your life of details with them. And then you’re expected move again only you don’t remember what moves you because no-one has asked in so long. Not even yourself. You never in your life think that love like this can happen to you.
Robert Kincaid: But now that you have it…
Francesca: I want to keep it forever. I want to love you the way I do now the rest of my life. Don’t you understand… we’ll lose it if we leave. I can’t make an entire life disappear to start a new one. All I can do is try to hold onto to both. Help me. Help me not lose loving you. Continue reading →

Movie Review: The Flamingo Kid (1984)

Posted on March 26, 2014 by Brian Wright

Morality play that made Matt Dillon a star __ 8/10

Jeffrey Willis: Gin, Phil.

This one, produced in 1984, was overlooked by many audiences and critics (though Roger Ebert gave it 3 1/2 stars and said it was a lot of fun). It’s set in Brooklyn, NY, in the summer of 1963, and has a look and feel of Dirty Dancing (1987) crossed with American Graffiti (1973). The story recounts the coming of age of a young man Jeffrey Willis (Matt Dillon).[1] Continue reading →

Movie Review: Brief Encounter (1945)

Posted on March 19, 2014 by Brian Wright

A love affair destined for greatness __ 9/10

Dr. Alec Harvey: Could you really say goodbye? Never see me again?
Laura Jesson: Yes, if you’d help me.
Dr. Alec Harvey: I love you, Laura. I shall love you always until the end of my life. I can’t look at you now cause I know something. I know that this is the beginning of the end. Not the end of my loving you but the end of our being together. But not quite yet, darling. Please. Not quite yet.
Laura Jesson: Very well. Not quite yet. Continue reading →