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Showing results for tags 'Dalton Trumbo'.
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Since I was a young girl, "Roman Holiday" has been one of my favorite films. It won three Academy Awards: best actress, costume design and screenwriting. I watched it again, and I still love it. It isn't the most complicated story. There aren't any special effects. But the chemistry between Peck and Hepburn is compelling, and the shots of Rome are delightful. The thing that makes this film a classic--the standard by which romantic comedies are judged, and often found lacking--is Audrey Hepburn.- 3 replies
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- Romantic Comedy
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I suspect most readers here have neither seen "The Fixer," nor are familiar with the grotesque (but true) accusation of "Blood Libel" (completely unrelated to the term "Blood Simple"). Sir Alan Bates was justifiably honored for his portrayal of an early-twentieth-century Russian Jew named Yakov Bok (based on the unbelievable-but-true story of Menahem Mendel Beilis) with a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Actor (which went to Cliff Robertson for "Charly" (which was a fine performance, but Bates deserved the award)) . The book (reportedly superior to the film) was written by Bernard Malamud (author of "The Natural"), and the screenplay by Dalton Trumbo (writer of "Roman Holiday" and director of "Johnny Got His Gun"). I won't summarize the film, but although slightly hamfisted (Trumbo was talented, but not subtle), this is an important movie, and a laudable performance by Bates, who looks freakishly like Anton Chigurh (enough so that I think that several aspects of Chigurh were based on Yakov Bok, even though one man is pure good, and the other is pure evil). For now, the film is available, in high quality, for free on YouTube, but I council people to watch it all in one day, and to be prepared for something more than lighthearted fare. -
I first heard about "Johnny Got His Gun" when I was in college, when a friend told me it was about the most depressing movie he'd ever seen. I've heard it come up several times since then, all with pretty much the same synopsis: 'About as depressing as a film can be.' This comment inspired me to finally watch it, and you can tell from the first ten minutes of the film, that it's not going to be something that makes you want to go out and party when it's over. The opening credits alone signify war in its strongest possible connotations; then, the first few minutes reveal that what you're about to see is as grim as it gets. And, unfortunately, it appears that it's going to be a very well-made film, too (poorly made films are easier to laugh at, dismiss, and forget). My advice ten minutes into the movie: Don't start watching this unless you're glad you endured "Shoah," and thought "The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover" was a great film (which I did). This is not going to be an easy two hours. The juxtaposition between Joe's thoughts and dreams (in color) and his harsh reality (in black-and-white) are incredibly effective, and the dream scenes are long enough where you become absorbed in them, and then - *Bang!* - back to reality. Even though I'm only a few minutes into this film, I have a general idea of what it's about, and I'm almost dreading it while at the same time feeling a sort of "need" to watch it. It is noteworthy how much Donald Sutherland looks like the European perspective of Jesus Christ - there may be some sort of connection here (I've just been introduced to him for the first time, at the card game). So far, there is a pervasive feeling of "gentleness" to this movie - Joe's comments to himself, for example, are spoken in soft, gentle tones, and even when he gets angry (e.g., when he realizes they're removing staples from up around his shoulder area), he's still a gentle person. This community is not for the discussion of religion, unless it's in proper context, and when discussing a film, it's fair game. Christianity here (I'm 33 minutes into the film) is being strongly portrayed both as an asset and a liability - who would deny these poor people hope of ultimate salvation, which is the only possible reason for them to keep going? And yet, the tale of tying up the group of Native American hunters with rocks around their feet and drowning them in the lake was undoubtedly done "in the name of Christian principles." Sutherland was indeed portrayed as a Christ figure, and I can see that motif developing as the film progresses - I have a pretty good feeling that Christianity won't be looking terribly good as the film ends, but let's wait and see - there's a very "small," humanistic aspect to this movie that I think is going to trump any sort of grandiose, anti-religious message, which would just be too lazy and unoriginal to force us to choke down. All this said, there is a reversal-of-roles between what Joe's mother was feeding him ("God is the only reality; everything else is just a dream") and his eventual state, which is the exact opposite of what he was taught - regardless of how this plays out, there's little doubt that Christianity is a leitmotif in this movie. My impression, 33 minutes in, is that I absolutely love this movie. Also, that I'm glad I didn't see it when I first heard about it thirty years ago because I didn't have the wisdom to process it. (Note: I just sneak-peaked to see if Roger Ebert gave this movie his highest possible rating, which I figured he did ... and he did. I didn't read what he wrote (yet); just looked at the rating.) At one moment, Joe is panicking because he's in-between a dream- and a reality-state and says, 'Oh, Jesus Christ, how can I even tell there's a difference?" And then the camera immediately cuts to Donald Sutherland. I watched the final hour of this movie without wanting to come over here and type anything. It is anti-war propaganda, sure, but it is so masterfully done that it is an art form of the highest order. Even though it's a simple premise, this is a multi-layered, complex, film that requires the viewer to come to terms with some very difficult questions. It is at once, the most basic of human dramas, but also a political indictment every bit as powerful as "Dr. Strangelove." I was wrong about one thing, however - it's not *as* depressing as I thought, as it is, in some perverse way, a celebration of human life, and I left the movie feeling that one day, soon, Johnny would not only get his gun, but Joe would also get his wish. It also bears mentioning that there's virtually no gore or violence. This is not a partisan film in any way (anti-war, yes), and it is a must see. In a strange way, Joe reminded me of Hal at the end of "2001," the difference being that Hal was completely helpless against being turned off; Joe was completely helpless against remaining on. "Johnny Got His Gun" is available to watch for free on Veoh, and the quality is very good, although the time it takes to rewind scenes is unacceptable.
