Fans may be disappointed that I include no boxing screen captures from Raging Bull (1980). That's partly because I'm drawn to the characters more than the fights, and partly because stills won't capture those superb sequences.
Robert De Niro shows again his tremendous acting, as he plays boxer Jake La Motta over a period of twenty-three years and sixty pounds. You read that right. De Niro gained sixty pounds to play the older La Motta. According to the IMDB trivia, De Niro (a Method actor who heavily researches and lives his roles), trained extensively and even entered three Brooklyn boxing matches. He won two of them.
This is an elegant, sad, graceful movie. The music, by 19th century composer Pietro Mascagni, exactly fits the operatic mood. This isn't a boxing movie. It's a piece of art where the anti-hero happens to be a boxer.
Robert De Niro, as the heavy, middle aged La Motta.
And, as the lean, savage La Motta.
Cathy Moriarty. In the film, the stunning 20-year-old actress is first introduced as being a 15-year-old girl.
De Niro
Great work from Joe Pesci
Robert De Niro shows again his tremendous acting, as he plays boxer Jake La Motta over a period of twenty-three years and sixty pounds. You read that right. De Niro gained sixty pounds to play the older La Motta. According to the IMDB trivia, De Niro (a Method actor who heavily researches and lives his roles), trained extensively and even entered three Brooklyn boxing matches. He won two of them.
This is an elegant, sad, graceful movie. The music, by 19th century composer Pietro Mascagni, exactly fits the operatic mood. This isn't a boxing movie. It's a piece of art where the anti-hero happens to be a boxer.
Robert De Niro, as the heavy, middle aged La Motta.
;)
And, as the lean, savage La Motta.
;)
Cathy Moriarty. In the film, the stunning 20-year-old actress is first introduced as being a 15-year-old girl.
;)
De Niro
;)
Great work from Joe Pesci
;)
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Let me tell you want I didn't expect in The Deer Hunter (1978). I didn't expect three hours of character development. After the first hour I thought, "Wow, an hour of character development before the 'story' kicks in." Nope. The entire movie is about the characters, and director Michael Cimino somehow manages to keep the pacing alive throughout, holding my attention from the first frame to the last. (Sadly, Cimino's next film, Heaven's Gate was a truly huge disaster--it caused United Artists to file bankruptcy--, and his career has never lived up to this movie.)
One of the stars is Robert De Niro, only a couple of years after Taxi Driver. He shows that he's a true actor, by which I mean someone who can become another person. I'm not against stars who seem to play the same character over and over. But De Niro is a great actor. (Watch The King of Comedy followed by The Mission sometime.)
The other three stars I was familiar with were the intense John Savage, the superb Christopher Walken, and the tremendous, lovely Meryl Streep in only her fourth film. I also really liked the character played by George Dzundza.
The Deer Hunter can't in any way be called a happy movie. Its whole point is how regular people get destroyed by wars that they didn't initiate, and, in the case of Vietnam, were forced to fight in. But it's the normalcy of the characters that's compelling. De Niro's efforts on the part of his friends aren't due to special nobility, but instead to a kind of character evident in many people. What happens to all of them doesn't reveal them as lesser or greater humans. It reveals them as simply humans who have done and seen things no human should.
Let's see if I get this correct. But first, who do you recognize? (sorry, it's not the best screen capture).
Starting from the left: John Cazale, who died soon after filming, Robert De Niro, John Savage (behind the bar), an extra, Chuck Aspegren, and Christopher Walken.
Meryl Streep and Christopher Walken. Notice how the photo of De Niro is framed next to Walken, foreshadowing later film events.
Like a Rembrandt painting, Robert De Niro.
The exquisite Meryl Streep, who's performance makes acting look far easier than it is.
John Savage nailed his role.
Stunning.
One of the stars is Robert De Niro, only a couple of years after Taxi Driver. He shows that he's a true actor, by which I mean someone who can become another person. I'm not against stars who seem to play the same character over and over. But De Niro is a great actor. (Watch The King of Comedy followed by The Mission sometime.)
The other three stars I was familiar with were the intense John Savage, the superb Christopher Walken, and the tremendous, lovely Meryl Streep in only her fourth film. I also really liked the character played by George Dzundza.
The Deer Hunter can't in any way be called a happy movie. Its whole point is how regular people get destroyed by wars that they didn't initiate, and, in the case of Vietnam, were forced to fight in. But it's the normalcy of the characters that's compelling. De Niro's efforts on the part of his friends aren't due to special nobility, but instead to a kind of character evident in many people. What happens to all of them doesn't reveal them as lesser or greater humans. It reveals them as simply humans who have done and seen things no human should.
Let's see if I get this correct. But first, who do you recognize? (sorry, it's not the best screen capture).
Starting from the left: John Cazale, who died soon after filming, Robert De Niro, John Savage (behind the bar), an extra, Chuck Aspegren, and Christopher Walken.
;)
Meryl Streep and Christopher Walken. Notice how the photo of De Niro is framed next to Walken, foreshadowing later film events.
;)
Like a Rembrandt painting, Robert De Niro.
;)
The exquisite Meryl Streep, who's performance makes acting look far easier than it is.
;)
John Savage nailed his role.
;)
Stunning.
;)
Thank goodness for Tootsie (1982), after both Patton and Schindler's List!
I definitely needed a laugh, and this brilliant comedy proves, once again, that men in dresses is intrinsically funny. But it takes more than a sight gag to make good cinema. In this case, it's a cast of superb talent, a terrific script by Larry Gelbart (take a look at his resume), and the tight direction of Sidney Pollack.
What's best about Tootsie is that it makes its points about women in society without using a sledgehammer. The focus of the movie is on the love story, as it should be, and also the transformation of a few characters. If this movie were made today, I'm not sure it would be allowed the same complex treatment within the prevailing Hollywood style.
Put this movie next to Some Like It Hot and you'll find the same gentle craft and hysterical situations. You'll also find that Tony Curtis and Dustin Hoffman can deliver a look, regardless of makeup, that will break your heart.
Dustin Hoffman, before...
...and after, in a classic transition.
The understated, and therefore very funny, Dabney Coleman
Director Sidney Pollack. His role isn't a cameo. He has as much screen time as several other actors.
Geena Davis, in her first film role. At 6" tall, she towers over 5'7" Hoffman and, in my opinion, is much easier on the eyes. (And just so you don't think I'm only looking at Ms. Davis, notice the great set work, with the unicorn posters on the walls.)
Dustin Hoffman and George Gaynes, who turns in a delicious performance, especially later in the film when he makes a few minutes screen time into a complex wonder of pathos.
The funny, lovely, silly Teri Garr, who spent a lot of this film crying. Her character deserves better treatment that she receives from Hoffman.
Charles Durning. Utterly believable. It's clear that he can do anything.
Jessica Lange. Ms. Lange also turns in an understated performance, in what could easily have been a two-dimensional caricature. Very nice.
Bill Murray, being his bread and butter character. But it's sooo goooood!
This scene was exceptionally tender. The photo doesn't do it justice.
I definitely needed a laugh, and this brilliant comedy proves, once again, that men in dresses is intrinsically funny. But it takes more than a sight gag to make good cinema. In this case, it's a cast of superb talent, a terrific script by Larry Gelbart (take a look at his resume), and the tight direction of Sidney Pollack.
What's best about Tootsie is that it makes its points about women in society without using a sledgehammer. The focus of the movie is on the love story, as it should be, and also the transformation of a few characters. If this movie were made today, I'm not sure it would be allowed the same complex treatment within the prevailing Hollywood style.
Put this movie next to Some Like It Hot and you'll find the same gentle craft and hysterical situations. You'll also find that Tony Curtis and Dustin Hoffman can deliver a look, regardless of makeup, that will break your heart.
Dustin Hoffman, before...
;)
...and after, in a classic transition.
;)
The understated, and therefore very funny, Dabney Coleman
;)
Director Sidney Pollack. His role isn't a cameo. He has as much screen time as several other actors.
;)
Geena Davis, in her first film role. At 6" tall, she towers over 5'7" Hoffman and, in my opinion, is much easier on the eyes. (And just so you don't think I'm only looking at Ms. Davis, notice the great set work, with the unicorn posters on the walls.)
;)
Dustin Hoffman and George Gaynes, who turns in a delicious performance, especially later in the film when he makes a few minutes screen time into a complex wonder of pathos.
;)
The funny, lovely, silly Teri Garr, who spent a lot of this film crying. Her character deserves better treatment that she receives from Hoffman.
;)
Charles Durning. Utterly believable. It's clear that he can do anything.
;)
Jessica Lange. Ms. Lange also turns in an understated performance, in what could easily have been a two-dimensional caricature. Very nice.
;)
Bill Murray, being his bread and butter character. But it's sooo goooood!
;)
This scene was exceptionally tender. The photo doesn't do it justice.
;)
I wept.
Schindler's List (1993)
Ralph Fiennes
;)
Liam Neeson
;)
Ben Kingsley
;)
"I could have done more."
;)
"You did so much."
;)
"One more person."
;)
For various reasons, I'm behind on my AFI films. I watched Patton (1970) over a week ago, and am just now getting to this write up.
Well, first of all, I'll cut to the chase. As General George S. Patton, Jr., Gearge C. Scott delivers one of the greatest performances by any actor ever, anywhere.
From his opening monologue, he pierces the audience in a way that must be seen. What was it like, I wonder, on the set when Scott was in character? He must have caused several grown men to wet their pants, and feel as small as roaches. Scott is reputed to have said that he never really captured Patton, which I find frightening. He also famously turned down the Academy award for best actor, not believing in competition between actors.
And, he was aided by the superb Karl Malden, who provided an excellent complement. In my view, Malden's is exactly the right performance. He's the human soldier, not brilliantly audacious like Patton, but excellent as the head of the US army (in fact, Patton's superior) who must balance Patton's nerve with national politics and winning the war.
I'm going to surprise you by having only two screen captures for a three hour movie. In my opinion, there are only two people to show. They are the film.
Patton is a complex movie about a complex man and complex time. Don't miss it.
George C. Scott
Karl Malden
Well, first of all, I'll cut to the chase. As General George S. Patton, Jr., Gearge C. Scott delivers one of the greatest performances by any actor ever, anywhere.
From his opening monologue, he pierces the audience in a way that must be seen. What was it like, I wonder, on the set when Scott was in character? He must have caused several grown men to wet their pants, and feel as small as roaches. Scott is reputed to have said that he never really captured Patton, which I find frightening. He also famously turned down the Academy award for best actor, not believing in competition between actors.
And, he was aided by the superb Karl Malden, who provided an excellent complement. In my view, Malden's is exactly the right performance. He's the human soldier, not brilliantly audacious like Patton, but excellent as the head of the US army (in fact, Patton's superior) who must balance Patton's nerve with national politics and winning the war.
I'm going to surprise you by having only two screen captures for a three hour movie. In my opinion, there are only two people to show. They are the film.
Patton is a complex movie about a complex man and complex time. Don't miss it.
George C. Scott
;)
Karl Malden
;)
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