Kind of like a classic book, you know the high points of this movie, but have you ever seen it? It came out at a good time in the 60s. Probably would be a good movie to see on LSD.
The two most striking things about this movie are the audio and the visual. The space visuals I expected. You can see how it influenced Star Wars movies. The prop visuals were even better:
the colored spacesuits, the Deadmaus helmets, the coffins in hibernation, the unblinking eye of HAL 9000.
The audio was very original. It was at many times a silent movie. It could have easily been done in the silent era. That was powerful, especially when interspersed with the heavy breathing of the astronauts in space. You can almost hear their heartbeats.
The story was somewhat nonliner and hyperlinked. The crew psychology, the death of a computer, the lost in space, the apes, the Starchild. Very abstract at times.
It's a mark of a good movie that we see now how ahead of its time it was then.
* * * * * Classic
Life Itself
This is a combination of a biopic as well as a reality show about the film critic and writer Roger Ebert, who died this year. Available On Demand now. Directed by Steve James of Hoops Dreams fame, which is perfect for a combo of Chicago and reality.
Roger had thyroid cancer and had his lower jaw removed. In the movie, you can see through his mouth back to the bandages on his neck which cover the hole where he receives his nutrition. Shocking at first, after the film goes on, you get used to seeing it. He uses voice recognition and computer writing and blogging to communicate.
As an experienced writer, he takes to the new form like its an old hand, which it really it. We see his growing up and writing starting at a young age. We see his film career and the two-edged sword of his TV partnership/professional rivalry with Gene Siskel Like two brothers who don't like each other.
Very well done as it gives an insight into the personality of Roger Ebert. It makes you like him and also know some of his faults at the same time. A very fine tribute to a man who made a great contribution to American society.
* * * *
"Two Thumbs Up!"
Roger had thyroid cancer and had his lower jaw removed. In the movie, you can see through his mouth back to the bandages on his neck which cover the hole where he receives his nutrition. Shocking at first, after the film goes on, you get used to seeing it. He uses voice recognition and computer writing and blogging to communicate.
As an experienced writer, he takes to the new form like its an old hand, which it really it. We see his growing up and writing starting at a young age. We see his film career and the two-edged sword of his TV partnership/professional rivalry with Gene Siskel Like two brothers who don't like each other.
Very well done as it gives an insight into the personality of Roger Ebert. It makes you like him and also know some of his faults at the same time. A very fine tribute to a man who made a great contribution to American society.
* * * *
"Two Thumbs Up!"
Grumpy Cat movie - Worst Christmas Ever
Now here's a movie I can really get behind! Grumpy Cat Christmas movie! Out this December on Lifetime cable TV.
Scarface
Before we saw this movie, my friend Mark said "Everyone else has probably seen it on DVD". That's why only 10 people were in the theater. You could say this wine was a little past its prime.
When it was released, this movie was considered shocking in its violent depictions. On reviewing today, it wouldn't even get an R rating except for the cartoonish mounds of cocaine. Al Pacino plays Tony Montana a Cuban emigre out to make a quick buck in Miami in the 80s. The quickest route is thorugh crime which does pay, at least for a while. A star is born, he goes up, you know the rest.
For a movie about Cubans in South Florida, there were NO Hispanics in this movie. It seemed very dated. Like other Brian De Palma films it sought to shock (Carrie, Blow Out) but upon viewing it falls a little flat. Don't bother.
* *
When it was released, this movie was considered shocking in its violent depictions. On reviewing today, it wouldn't even get an R rating except for the cartoonish mounds of cocaine. Al Pacino plays Tony Montana a Cuban emigre out to make a quick buck in Miami in the 80s. The quickest route is thorugh crime which does pay, at least for a while. A star is born, he goes up, you know the rest.
For a movie about Cubans in South Florida, there were NO Hispanics in this movie. It seemed very dated. Like other Brian De Palma films it sought to shock (Carrie, Blow Out) but upon viewing it falls a little flat. Don't bother.
* *
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