Movie Review: Flags of Our Fathers (2006)

Posted on February 7, 2018 by Brian Wright

Understated Eastwood (anti)war movie

Directed by Clint Eastwood
Screenplay by William Broyles Jr. and
Paul Haggis

Ryan Phillippe …. John “Doc” Bradley
Jesse Bradford …. Rene Gagnon
Adam Beach …. Ira Hayes
John Benjamin Hickey …. Keyes Beech
John Slattery …. Bud Gerber
Barry Pepper …. Mike Strank
Jamie Bell …. Ralph “Iggy” Ignatowski
Paul Walker …. Hank Hansen
Robert Patrick …. Colonel Chandler Johnson

Clint Eastwood’s Flags of Our Fathers is a touching rendition of the lives of three men who raised the flag that became “the single [camera] shot that can end the war” in the early days of the Battle of Iwo Jima on February 23, 1945.

Three of the six men who raised that flag, then survived the battle, were extracted from the campaign to become spokesmen for the government’s successful War Bonds’ appeals. They were paraded around the country as bona fide war heroes, to their embarrassment (and in the case of American Indian Ira Hayes, into a downward spiral of alcoholic self-destruction).

This is magic cinema, whether you like the war authenticity—the movie is coproduced by Eastwood and Steven Spielberg (Saving Private Ryan)—or the reminiscent romantic touches of Bridges of Madison County. Depicting such reality of battle has the effect of a hundred antiwar marches. And Eastwood, whose companion movie is Letters from Iwo Jima, has indicated in interviews he regards the movies as gritty testaments to the evil of war. Continue reading →

Movie Review: The Running Man (1987)

Posted on January 31, 2018 by Brian Wright

Comic/harsh political satire nails our time _ 8/10

Damon Killian: This is television, that’s all it is. It has nothing to do with people, it’s to do with ratings! For fifty years, we’ve told them what to eat, what to drink, what to wear… for Christ’s sake, Ben, don’t you understand? Americans love television. They wean their kids on it. Listen. They love game shows, they love wrestling, they love sports and violence. So what do we do? We give ’em *what they want*! We’re number one, Ben, that’s all that counts, believe me. I’ve been in the business for thirty years.

Damon Killian: Hello, this is Killian. Give me the Justice Department… Entertainment Division.

Directed by Paul Michael Glaser
Novel Stephen King
Screenplay Steven E. de Souza

Arnold Schwarzenegger … Ben Richards
Maria Conchita Alonso … Amber Mendez
Yaphet Kotto … William Laughlin
Jim Brown … Fireball
Jesse Ventura … Captain Freedom
Erland van Lidth … Dynamo
Gus Rethwisch … Buzzsaw
Professor Toru Tanaka … Subzero
Mick Fleetwood … Mic
Dweezil Zappa … Stevie
Richard Dawson … Damon Killian
Karen Leigh Hopkins … Brenda

Phil Hilton: *The Running Man* has been brought to you by: Breakaway Paramilitary Uniforms, Ortopure Procreation Pill, and Cadre Cola; it hits the spot! Promotional considerations paid for by: Kelton Flame Throwers, Wainwright Electrical Launchers, and Hammond & Gage Chainsaws. Damon Killian’s wardrobe by Chez Antoinne: 19th-Century craftsmanship for the 21st-Century man. Cadre Trooper and studio-guard side arms provided by Colchester: the pistol of patriots. Tickets for the ICS studio tour are always available for Class-A citizens in good standing. If you’d like to be a contestant on THE RUNNING MAN, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to: ICS Talent Hunt, care of your local affiliate, and then go out and do something really despicable! I’m Phil Hilton! Good night, and take care! Continue reading →

Movie Review: Another Woman (1988)

Posted on January 24, 2018 by Brian Wright

One of Woody Allen’s most poignant efforts, speaks to aging and regrets
Reviewed by Brian R. Wright

Before I launch into a review of this marvelous creative effort I want to preface things by repro-ducing an email sent in response to one of my co-workers who dismisses Allen’s films with one word: pedophile. Forget that the usage of that word includes many meanings: some innocent platonic affection for the young, some inappropriate attention, some literally forced sex. Then consider we live in a world that to be accused of something is to be guilty of it. What my coworker is really saying is that he doesn’t care how good or creative an individual is, and doesn’t care to know the truth in any event. To him it’s depravity by hearsay.

Here’s the note:

“Sifting thru the alleged sexual abuse information in Wikipedia, I’m not finding anything solid that Woody Allen is guilty of anything but (perhaps grossly) inappropriate behavior toward a minor. In the big custody case re: adopted girl Dylan the Connecticut team found “no evidence of sexual assault.” Although the judge ruled “grossly inappropriate,” Connecticut (btw this is all timeframe early 1990s) did not pursue molestation charges. Also, New York social services closed its own 14-month investigation stating “no credible evidence” to support allegation of abuse. Continue reading →

Movie Review: The Pursuit of Happyness (2007)

Posted on January 17, 2018 by Brian Wright

An inspiring albeit grueling experience ___ 8/10

Written by Steve Conrad
Directed by Gabriele Muccino

Will Smith … Chris Gardner
Jaden Smith … Christopher
Thandie Newton … Linda
Brian Howe … Jay Twistle

Will Smith was nominated for an Oscar in his role as Chris Gardner, a struggling medical device salesman in 1980s’ San Francisco who one day gets the inspiration to better himself by becoming a stockbroker for Dean Witter Reynolds. Gardner is a real person who years later reaches his dream of fortune through his own investment firm, and even fame as a motivational speaker and philanthropist.

It all makes for an inspiring movie albeit a grueling one. Like The Last of the Mohicans, the lead character finds himself seemingly in a constant full run—in Chris’s case either to catch a bus, put a dime in the parking meter, pick up his son Christopher at day care, meet an appointment, prevent his landlord from evicting him, and so on.

When not running at full-tilt boogie, Gardner encounters one major obstacle after another.

Sales of his network-marketed portable bone scanner are slow (yet it doesn’t stop a hippie chick or an old crazy man from trying to steal it), he’s behind on the rent, his wife Linda (Thandie Newton) leaves him, his son’s day care center pacifies the kids with daytime TV drivel and sugar treats, friends stiff him on debts they owe, the city impounds his car… and that’s in the first five minutes! Continue reading →

Movie Review: Get Low (2009)

Posted on January 10, 2018 by Brian Wright

Enthralling character study coming to grips __ 9/10

Frank Quinn: I sold 26 of the ugliest cars in the middle of December with the wind blowing so far up my ass I was farting snowflakes into July.

Frank Quinn: You’ve been wanting a shot at sales. As of right now, you’re on commission. Remember—foot in the door, establish trust, and drop the hammer.
Buddy: I’d rather you go, too.
Frank Quinn: No doubt. But if you don’t do this by yourself, you’ll never know if you’re any good. And you’ll never be good if you don’t know that you are.

Felix Bush: They keep talking about forgiveness. “Ask Jesus for forgiveness.” I never did nothing to him.

Too bad these are the only movie quotes on the IMDb page, because the quote I wanted to present here was from the Frank Quinn character (Bill Murray)—who to my mind provides the main social thread, not to mention the low-key humor, to the enterprise. It’s a quote where he sticks up for himself as a small-town funeral home proprietor, if you will, a salesman (illustrated by the top quote above)… and proud of it. Or at least not ashamed to assert himself to the seemingly moralistic Mr. Felix Bush (Robert Duvall). Continue reading →

Movie Review: Sunshine Cleaning Company (2008)

Posted on January 3, 2018 by Brian Wright

Inspirational movie transcends quirkiness __ 8/10

Rose Lorkowski: (paraphrasing) Yes, I do clean up special sites, often after a tragedy such as a death or a suicide of a loved one. I’m extremely proud of what we do, especially how we touch people’s lives and help in a small way to lift their sadness and loneliness.

Written by Megan Holley
Directed by Christine Jeffs

Amy Adams … Rose Lorkowski
Emily Blunt … Norah Lorkowski
Alan Arkin … Joe Lorkowski
Jason Spevack … Oscar Lorkowski
Steve Zahn … Mac
Mary Lynn Rajskub … Lynn
Clifton Collins Jr. … Winston

On the surface , Sunshine Cleaning seems to be among the movies about quirky people, that is movies about individuals who are pleasantly offbeat or don’t fit the mold. But scratch the surface and there’s a firm reality to everyone on the set, from: Continue reading →

Movie Review: The Departed (2006)

Posted on December 28, 2017 by Brian Wright

Brutal inside view of mob/cop culture ___ 8/10

Screenplay by William Monahan
Directed by Martin Scorsese

Leonardo DiCaprio … Billy Costigan
Matt Damon … Colin Sullivan
Jack Nicholson … Frank Costello
Mark Wahlberg … Dignam
Martin Sheen … Oliver Queenan
Ray Winstone … Mr. French
Vera Farmiga … Madolyn
Anthony Anderson … Brown
Alec Baldwin … Ellerby

Speaking of insiders, The Departed is the ultimate story of parallel universes of cop culture and crime culture, with spies on each side. The setting is Massachusetts, the local Mob leader is Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson) and the state-police leader of the organized-crime task force (OTF) [my acronym] is Oliver Queenan (Martin Sheen).

They’re playing a chess match with young recruits, particularly Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon). These two become the cream of the crop of a graduating class of Massachusetts State Police (staties); each has a past that makes him susceptible to the entreaties of the crime/cop leadership. Continue reading →