From Russia w/ Love (1963)
Probably my favorite James Bond movie. It's not the typical or at least what as become the typical. It's more of a spy movie w/ strong character/story/love aspects. I think the JB franchise needs another one like this. The audience may not like it, but it needs to be pulled back to what makes it really good: the story/characters.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Flightplan (2005) - 4/5
Flightplan (2005)
Powerful start of a good pyscho-thriller. A good uneasiness rests over the whole
thing as you empathize w/ the main character. The mood of panic and confusion is
well done.
It maintains the tense feeling and the overall trapped feeling well. I thought it was going
to be hard to pull of the whole thing on a plane, but they do it well.
Some great shots of flight and related landscape too.
Powerful start of a good pyscho-thriller. A good uneasiness rests over the whole
thing as you empathize w/ the main character. The mood of panic and confusion is
well done.
It maintains the tense feeling and the overall trapped feeling well. I thought it was going
to be hard to pull of the whole thing on a plane, but they do it well.
Some great shots of flight and related landscape too.
Meet the Fockers (2004) - 3.5/5
Meet the Fockers (2004)
Funny and well acted. The interaction of everyone makes this movie. The levels are all good: silliness, love, affection, mystery, etc.
Funny and well acted. The interaction of everyone makes this movie. The levels are all good: silliness, love, affection, mystery, etc.
The Jerk (1979) - 3/5
The Jerk (1979)
Mostly liked by me b/c I saw it so many times as a kid. There were still a few
jokes in there I didn't get as a kid that were fun to see now.
It's createive and original and that goes far.
Mostly liked by me b/c I saw it so many times as a kid. There were still a few
jokes in there I didn't get as a kid that were fun to see now.
It's createive and original and that goes far.
Goldfinger - 3.5/5
Goldfinger (1964)
Great James Bond movie. It has everything you want in a good, old JB movie.
It's not built around the gadgets and such, but the story and characters. Good stuff.
The exagerated plot is there, which is good too - world domination type stuff. :)
Great James Bond movie. It has everything you want in a good, old JB movie.
It's not built around the gadgets and such, but the story and characters. Good stuff.
The exagerated plot is there, which is good too - world domination type stuff. :)
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Lord of War (2005) - 3/5
Lord of War (2005)
The first 20 mins feel like serious liberal propaganda to me: guns are bad and kill children and people who like them are only into money and don't care, etc.
After that it's a decent unfolding of events, but not the best story. It's nice to watch though in the sense of shots and the international stage, etc.
I liked the feel of it, but it wasn't helped by the rest of it: story, acting, etc. I felt like everyone was just reading lines.
Early on there were some decent symbolic shots w/ the docks making a cross and such, but it all felt too heavy-handed to me. I thought about noting some examples of my point, but soon there were too many.
The first 20 mins feel like serious liberal propaganda to me: guns are bad and kill children and people who like them are only into money and don't care, etc.
After that it's a decent unfolding of events, but not the best story. It's nice to watch though in the sense of shots and the international stage, etc.
I liked the feel of it, but it wasn't helped by the rest of it: story, acting, etc. I felt like everyone was just reading lines.
Early on there were some decent symbolic shots w/ the docks making a cross and such, but it all felt too heavy-handed to me. I thought about noting some examples of my point, but soon there were too many.
Cinderella Man (2005) - 4/5
Cinderella Man (2005)
Great movie. Even better being based on a true story. It was all great.
Great story, drama, action, everything really.
I wdn't say it's the deepest story and not too much underneath the surface, but I don't mean that in any type of negative way - it's just a great story told well.
Great movie. Even better being based on a true story. It was all great.
Great story, drama, action, everything really.
I wdn't say it's the deepest story and not too much underneath the surface, but I don't mean that in any type of negative way - it's just a great story told well.
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Big Momma's House (2000) - 3/5
Big Momma's House (2000)
Funny and a decent story.
I noticed a similarity btwn this and "Diary of a Mad, Black Woman" in that it also had a 'silly' character (both heavy black women played by men), dark storyline and significant Christian presences (more cultural than spiritual).
I started thinking about other comedies and if they had similarities. I figured I cd find the silly/comedy , but not the Christian.
The first one I thought of was "Fletch" - silly characters/comedy, but a serious story of drugs/murder.
Then I went extreme: "Dumb and Dumber" - same: silly characters/comedy, but serious story of kidnapping.
Funny and a decent story.
I noticed a similarity btwn this and "Diary of a Mad, Black Woman" in that it also had a 'silly' character (both heavy black women played by men), dark storyline and significant Christian presences (more cultural than spiritual).
I started thinking about other comedies and if they had similarities. I figured I cd find the silly/comedy , but not the Christian.
The first one I thought of was "Fletch" - silly characters/comedy, but a serious story of drugs/murder.
Then I went extreme: "Dumb and Dumber" - same: silly characters/comedy, but serious story of kidnapping.
Monday, January 23, 2006
Blazing Saddles (1974) - 3.5/5
Blazing Saddles (1974)
Very funny, but not as fast paced as I remembered. I think in today's terms it wd be considered a slow movie. There's a musical number that probably killed when it was new and now seemed to drag on too long.
I still found it creative and witty and juvenille and silly at the same time.
I'm not sure Gene Wilder pulled of the 'cool' of the character as he needed to. Also, I can't believe the freedom of the 'N' word they took in this movie.
The DVD has a pilot of a show based on Black Bart - I didn't much as apparently no one did.
Anyway, it's funny and dumb as you wd expect/remember.
Very funny, but not as fast paced as I remembered. I think in today's terms it wd be considered a slow movie. There's a musical number that probably killed when it was new and now seemed to drag on too long.
I still found it creative and witty and juvenille and silly at the same time.
I'm not sure Gene Wilder pulled of the 'cool' of the character as he needed to. Also, I can't believe the freedom of the 'N' word they took in this movie.
The DVD has a pilot of a show based on Black Bart - I didn't much as apparently no one did.
Anyway, it's funny and dumb as you wd expect/remember.
Monday, January 16, 2006
My Date with Drew (2004) - 4/5
My Date with Drew (2004)
This was a good surprise. I heard about this a while back from Mo and was pretty interested. I didn't hear much for a while and kinda forgot about it.
I rented hoping it wd just be somewhat interesting b/c I just assumed it wasn't too goo. W/ low expectations like that, it cdn't help but impress me.
I probably gave it a higher rating that it might deserve as far as full cinema 'quality', but it makes up for all that w/ lots of heart.
I liked it from just about every angle. Brian is authentic and energetic and very likable. He really does represent so many little dreams we've all had and go unfulfilled.
Official Site
Brian's got some great friends to do so much of this w/ him.
SPOILERS
I have to say I thought it was a little strange that he avoided the movie premiere idea so much. A) It was like he assumed he cd go though maybe that's just the way I took it and B) I wd think that wd be the best bet and he wd have spent more of his energy towards that. It was like he wanted a date w/ her, but he didn't want to have to deal w/ her to get it!?!??
Also, I was pretty disappointed that once he got to the movie premiere, he froze up. A) What do you think you'll do on the date? and B) Anyone w/ the heart/guts to do all the things he did, sd have been able to do better???
And just for the record, I didn't really like the camera 'scam' and the fake ID part. No biggie, but I just don't like them taking advantage of things. I guess the camera store will get decent promotion for it... or at least their 30 day policy will.
Drew rocked! She was so real and nice and generous. I read she invited him to the "50 First Dates" premiere later on (I read that from the site above).
UPDATE: I think one of the best parts of this movie is when he gets the call about finally getting the date. It's great b/c he doesn't (get to) say much. You just see his reaction as he soaks up every word from the phone. I think it's great how only the two of them on the phone know what was fully said. It had a cool effect IMO.
This was a good surprise. I heard about this a while back from Mo and was pretty interested. I didn't hear much for a while and kinda forgot about it.
I rented hoping it wd just be somewhat interesting b/c I just assumed it wasn't too goo. W/ low expectations like that, it cdn't help but impress me.
I probably gave it a higher rating that it might deserve as far as full cinema 'quality', but it makes up for all that w/ lots of heart.
I liked it from just about every angle. Brian is authentic and energetic and very likable. He really does represent so many little dreams we've all had and go unfulfilled.
Official Site
Brian's got some great friends to do so much of this w/ him.
SPOILERS
I have to say I thought it was a little strange that he avoided the movie premiere idea so much. A) It was like he assumed he cd go though maybe that's just the way I took it and B) I wd think that wd be the best bet and he wd have spent more of his energy towards that. It was like he wanted a date w/ her, but he didn't want to have to deal w/ her to get it!?!??
Also, I was pretty disappointed that once he got to the movie premiere, he froze up. A) What do you think you'll do on the date? and B) Anyone w/ the heart/guts to do all the things he did, sd have been able to do better???
And just for the record, I didn't really like the camera 'scam' and the fake ID part. No biggie, but I just don't like them taking advantage of things. I guess the camera store will get decent promotion for it... or at least their 30 day policy will.
Drew rocked! She was so real and nice and generous. I read she invited him to the "50 First Dates" premiere later on (I read that from the site above).
UPDATE: I think one of the best parts of this movie is when he gets the call about finally getting the date. It's great b/c he doesn't (get to) say much. You just see his reaction as he soaks up every word from the phone. I think it's great how only the two of them on the phone know what was fully said. It had a cool effect IMO.
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) - 3/5
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
I liked this movie, but it's hard to say it's very 'good.' I think it starts well w/ some good setting of premise and characters, but then it seems to stop.
I'm probably guilty of comparing it too much to the first movie which I really liked. I think this movie sets the tone w/ Charlie, but then leaves him for most of the rest of the story and focuses on Wonka.
Also, the first movie didn't have the modern technical abilities which I think made this version focus too much on the setting and not enough on the characters.
SPOILERS:
In the original movie, they had the concept of the 'spy' offering money to tempt the children to bring him an everlasting gobstopper. This movie didn't have that. So this movie didn't have a 'test' really for Charlie to pass. He just lasted longer than the other kids who were clearly intentionally tested by their obvious weakness.
Charlie wasn't tested and therefore lasted the longest. He was tested to leave his family which he passed, but that was after the fact (and Wonka didn't reward the 'passing' so it wasn't a test by him).
Also, as someone else pointed out, the story of this movie was more about the 'saving' of Wonka instead of Charlie. Again, that might be comparing too much to the first, but I really liked the first one.
I liked this movie, but it's hard to say it's very 'good.' I think it starts well w/ some good setting of premise and characters, but then it seems to stop.
I'm probably guilty of comparing it too much to the first movie which I really liked. I think this movie sets the tone w/ Charlie, but then leaves him for most of the rest of the story and focuses on Wonka.
Also, the first movie didn't have the modern technical abilities which I think made this version focus too much on the setting and not enough on the characters.
SPOILERS:
In the original movie, they had the concept of the 'spy' offering money to tempt the children to bring him an everlasting gobstopper. This movie didn't have that. So this movie didn't have a 'test' really for Charlie to pass. He just lasted longer than the other kids who were clearly intentionally tested by their obvious weakness.
Charlie wasn't tested and therefore lasted the longest. He was tested to leave his family which he passed, but that was after the fact (and Wonka didn't reward the 'passing' so it wasn't a test by him).
Also, as someone else pointed out, the story of this movie was more about the 'saving' of Wonka instead of Charlie. Again, that might be comparing too much to the first, but I really liked the first one.
Friday, January 13, 2006
Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005) - 3/5
Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005)
This movie is a weird mix of silly comedy, serious drama and Christian movie themes. I think they did a good job of pulling it off, but it's such a weird mix that it still stood out to me.
Tyler Perry has done several plays based on one of the (silly/comedic) characters, Madea. He plays her and also plays 2 others in the movie: one comedic and one serious.
The basis of the story is one, really two, marriages that are broken for two different fleshly sins. How do people react/handle the situation when they are wronged?
I was left wondering if the Christian influence and presence in the movie was cultural. Many shots of the Bible, church, people talking and referencing Christian things, topics and ideas. It wasn't overt, but it was clearly there (though I wdn't call it a Christian movie).
It was an interesting movie more for those reasons than the story itself.
SPOILERS:
Each of the offending spouses turns to the love of the flesh in one way or another. However, in one marriage, the offending spouse kicks the innocent out and the reverse for the other couple.
When the first needs salvation, the innocent returns to care for him out of Christian duty. In the other case, repeated failings have caused further requests to be rejected.
In the end, both relationships are restored in different ways. The first still winds up in divorce (all the Christian influence, but the divorce still continues) to stay w/ a man she has since fallen in love with. The first husband is redeemed by a change in ways and receiving salvation, but the wife no longer loves him and only helped him out of a sense of right.
The second marriage is reconciled when the offending spouse, the wife, goes thru rehab and returns to the church.
This movie is a weird mix of silly comedy, serious drama and Christian movie themes. I think they did a good job of pulling it off, but it's such a weird mix that it still stood out to me.
Tyler Perry has done several plays based on one of the (silly/comedic) characters, Madea. He plays her and also plays 2 others in the movie: one comedic and one serious.
The basis of the story is one, really two, marriages that are broken for two different fleshly sins. How do people react/handle the situation when they are wronged?
I was left wondering if the Christian influence and presence in the movie was cultural. Many shots of the Bible, church, people talking and referencing Christian things, topics and ideas. It wasn't overt, but it was clearly there (though I wdn't call it a Christian movie).
It was an interesting movie more for those reasons than the story itself.
SPOILERS:
Each of the offending spouses turns to the love of the flesh in one way or another. However, in one marriage, the offending spouse kicks the innocent out and the reverse for the other couple.
When the first needs salvation, the innocent returns to care for him out of Christian duty. In the other case, repeated failings have caused further requests to be rejected.
In the end, both relationships are restored in different ways. The first still winds up in divorce (all the Christian influence, but the divorce still continues) to stay w/ a man she has since fallen in love with. The first husband is redeemed by a change in ways and receiving salvation, but the wife no longer loves him and only helped him out of a sense of right.
The second marriage is reconciled when the offending spouse, the wife, goes thru rehab and returns to the church.
Thursday, December 29, 2005
King Kong (2005) - 4.5/5
King Kong (2005)
Great action and a good story too. The characters were deep, varied and interesting - it wasn't just about a big monkey.
There's certainly some deeper thoughts behind it. Very intense and action, action, action.
Great action and a good story too. The characters were deep, varied and interesting - it wasn't just about a big monkey.
There's certainly some deeper thoughts behind it. Very intense and action, action, action.
And lo, the beast looked upon the face of beauty. And it stayed its hand from killing. And from that day, it was as one dead.
The Hustler (1961) - 4/5
The Hustler (1961)
Great story and cool acting. A lot of subtext w/ her being 'lame' in one way and him another; dependence on various things; living in various senses.
"Twisted, Perverted, Cripple"
Great story and cool acting. A lot of subtext w/ her being 'lame' in one way and him another; dependence on various things; living in various senses.
"Twisted, Perverted, Cripple"
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Ed Wood (1994) - 3.5/5
Ed Wood (1994)
An interesting look at an interesting life. Who knows how accurate it is, but that just seems fitting. Depp and Landau give 2 great performances and others are good too... or at least fitting.
It didn't have too much trouble 'adapting' and sometimes it was compromise, but he loved making movies. He didn't care too muchfor details - he just seemed to love making movies.
There's a good bit of a touching story here btwn him and Bela. Set in this movie, I think it might lose something, but it's there.
"Pull the string! Pull the string!"
An interesting look at an interesting life. Who knows how accurate it is, but that just seems fitting. Depp and Landau give 2 great performances and others are good too... or at least fitting.
It didn't have too much trouble 'adapting' and sometimes it was compromise, but he loved making movies. He didn't care too muchfor details - he just seemed to love making movies.
There's a good bit of a touching story here btwn him and Bela. Set in this movie, I think it might lose something, but it's there.
"Pull the string! Pull the string!"
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Star Wreck: In the Pirkinning (2005) - 3.5/5
Star Wreck: In the Pirkinning (2005) (V)
A homemade movie by 5 friends in Finland that has gotten a good bit of attention. You can down load it at starwreck.com.
It's an impressive effort w/ amazing CGI - hard to believe it's homemade. I can't say enough about how impressed I am w/ it. The story is pretty good, a bit campy in humor, but good and they use it to their strength. The plot is good too.
The acting is lacking, but better than I'd expect.
But the CGI is great.
Very impressed all over really.
A homemade movie by 5 friends in Finland that has gotten a good bit of attention. You can down load it at starwreck.com.
It's an impressive effort w/ amazing CGI - hard to believe it's homemade. I can't say enough about how impressed I am w/ it. The story is pretty good, a bit campy in humor, but good and they use it to their strength. The plot is good too.
The acting is lacking, but better than I'd expect.
But the CGI is great.
Very impressed all over really.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) - 4/5
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
I had high expectations of this mainly b/c of similarities btwn it and Lord of the Rings in both underlying subject matter and production.
Anyway, I thought it was really good. I think they did a good job of balancing the seriousness w/ a children's story. The CGI was really good, but in a couple places lacked just a little. Though that may have been intentional to keep things from looking 'too real'???
I felt they got to tell a lot of the story in the time they had. I don't know the story in enough detail to know all the places they made changes or how important they all are. I know of a few which I didn't think dramatically changed anything in the story.
I think it was well cast also.
SPOILERS:
I liked that Aslan told Peter to clean off his sword after killing the captain of the police. They didn't say why, but I liked that they didn't just take it all out.
I wish they wd have had Santa Claus tell Susan and Lucy that battle isn't proper for girls.
I liked how the White Witch wore a 'mane' at the last battle - like she was the new king.
I thought Aslan sd have been bigger and had a better, deeper and somewhat more expressive voice.
I had high expectations of this mainly b/c of similarities btwn it and Lord of the Rings in both underlying subject matter and production.
Anyway, I thought it was really good. I think they did a good job of balancing the seriousness w/ a children's story. The CGI was really good, but in a couple places lacked just a little. Though that may have been intentional to keep things from looking 'too real'???
I felt they got to tell a lot of the story in the time they had. I don't know the story in enough detail to know all the places they made changes or how important they all are. I know of a few which I didn't think dramatically changed anything in the story.
I think it was well cast also.
SPOILERS:
I liked that Aslan told Peter to clean off his sword after killing the captain of the police. They didn't say why, but I liked that they didn't just take it all out.
I wish they wd have had Santa Claus tell Susan and Lucy that battle isn't proper for girls.
I liked how the White Witch wore a 'mane' at the last battle - like she was the new king.
I thought Aslan sd have been bigger and had a better, deeper and somewhat more expressive voice.
The Goonies (1985) - 3/5
The Goonies (1985)
Good kids movie - I wish I had seen this when it came out, but I didn't. I guess I was 15 so maybe it was too late for me???
I think it's a good, classic kids movie though there is a little bit of cussing in it which surprised me.
The slapstickness and general silliness sd appeal to most kids.
All in all, a good movie. I probably wd have given it a higher rating if I were younger.
Good kids movie - I wish I had seen this when it came out, but I didn't. I guess I was 15 so maybe it was too late for me???
I think it's a good, classic kids movie though there is a little bit of cussing in it which surprised me.
The slapstickness and general silliness sd appeal to most kids.
All in all, a good movie. I probably wd have given it a higher rating if I were younger.
Friday, December 09, 2005
Solaris (2002) - 3.5/5
Solaris (2002)
I may give this movie a different rating in time - it's tough to digest this one. I'm not sure it can be???
Definitely worth seeing. Slow, quiet, strange, confusing, intriguing and quite a journey to watch. The whole sci-fi aspect is just out of necessity.
"And death will have no dominion"
SPOILERS:
A possibly telling line in the movie is from Rheya when we wonders about Solaris saying "it made me, but I have no way to communicate with it." Is Solaris God? Is it Heaven? Hell?
It gives you what you sd want, but incompletely.
Why is it raining all the time on Earth?
I think Kelvin stays b/c he knows that no matter how artificial and empty (and short) live may be at Solaris, it's better than going back to Earth having been there. The boy welcomes him to stay... in Heaven?
Why don't the dead people from the station coming back?
Gibarian: "And you're not? Or maybe you're my puppet. But like all puppets you think you're actually human. It's the puppets dream, being normal. "
Gibarian: "There are no answers, only choices."
I may give this movie a different rating in time - it's tough to digest this one. I'm not sure it can be???
Definitely worth seeing. Slow, quiet, strange, confusing, intriguing and quite a journey to watch. The whole sci-fi aspect is just out of necessity.
"And death will have no dominion"
SPOILERS:
A possibly telling line in the movie is from Rheya when we wonders about Solaris saying "it made me, but I have no way to communicate with it." Is Solaris God? Is it Heaven? Hell?
It gives you what you sd want, but incompletely.
Why is it raining all the time on Earth?
I think Kelvin stays b/c he knows that no matter how artificial and empty (and short) live may be at Solaris, it's better than going back to Earth having been there. The boy welcomes him to stay... in Heaven?
Why don't the dead people from the station coming back?
Gibarian: "And you're not? Or maybe you're my puppet. But like all puppets you think you're actually human. It's the puppets dream, being normal. "
Gibarian: "There are no answers, only choices."
And death shall have no dominion.
Dead men naked they shall be
one with the man in the wind and the west moon.
When their bones are picked clean
and the clean bones gone
they shall have stars at elbow and foot.
Though they go mad they shall be sane.
Though they sink through the sea
they shall rise again.
Though lovers be lost love shall not.
And death shall have no dominion.
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
The Ox-Bow Incident (1943) - 4.5/5
The Ox-Bow Incident (1943)
Great movie. A powerful story about justice being blind in the wrong way. Mob justice.
It shows both sides of guilty-until-proven innocent. Not only the devastating effects on the victim, but those having to live w/ their actions.
What is this film saying about how things 'ought to be?' How can this change? Are we to listen to the elders, the wise, the religious? Are we to change in ourselves to be better? If so, how?
I think the movie tells us it's from a conscience from God.
SPOILERS:
The movie starts off and the first line remarks about how 'dead' the town is. The drifters come in to a barren town w/ the first member being a dog crossing the road.
They go in the saloon and stare at a picture above the bar of a woman seductively posed and a man half-way in the room behind her. One drifter comments about how the man is a bit slow to be leaving. He's somewhat jealous and protective in a way. He's probably already thinking of 'his girl' Rose in the town.
The barkeeper sees it from a different angle - the man is always close to her, but can't do a thing about it.
The drifter winds up in a fight w/ someone and his friend comments about how he sometimes needs to fight. It doesn't matter if he wins or losers - he feels better afterwards.
They learn about the robbery and start forming a mob posse. The older man, Davies, is the voice of reason and few side w/ him. A mocked paster, Sparks, and soon the judge. The Sheriff's Deputy, clearly immoral, joins the mob and 'deputizes' them all.
They head out and it's dark soon. They stop to rest and we learn that Sparks' brother had been lynched when he was young. No one knows for what or if he even did it, but it's close to him and he knows it can easily be done w/o good reason.
A coach goes by and thinks they're going to be robbed so they speed up and shot at the mob. Croft, the main drifter's friend, is shot. The coach has Rose in it newly married. It's pretty clear she still has feelings for one or more of the men and has married for money. It's a strange sub-plot that I'm not sure what to make of.
Later the mob makes it to the ox-bow and the shot is of them just under the tree they later hang the men from. A clear picture of them being guilty.
Thru the discussions of the situation some interesting comments are made:
Carter: "Hangin' is any man's business that's around." - no one is innocent
Deputy: "first he won't talk, now he talks too much" - the accused is guilty and can do no right.
The decide to wait until morning to hang them and move back to the fire. The accused men are on the left of the picture w/ the accusers on the right across from them. Straight ahead is Sparks, the man of God, between the two groups separated by fire.
The main accused man gets to write a letter to his wife. He entrusts Davies to delivery it. Davies reads it and shows it to 'the Major' who it seems has read it and realizes it's implications. He either thinks it trash from a guilty man or total rebuke from an innocent one and wants no part of either.
The mob calls for majority rules for hanging them. A complete mock of true justice, they turn to mob rules. Might is right. They call for those opposed to stand to the side. It starts w/ Sparks, a black man, and then Davies. The shot clearly showing the matter is black and white. Others join them including 'the Major's son. Sparks/religion/God again is the center of the shot. The group however is in minority.
Carter starts a bit of a fight. He loses, but maybe he feels better???
'The Major' forces his son to be one of the ones whipping the horses to hang the men. The father gives the son the whip in one last attempt to make him like himself. The son can't do it and the father clubs him unconscious. He'll have no female sons bearing his name.
After the lynching, the Sheriff shows up and explains Kincade isn't dead, but only shot and they caught the men who shot him. He snatches the star from the Deputy and calls on Davies for the truth (turning TO the wise for truth as opposed to running from it). The Sheriff hopes God will have mercy on them b/c he, the tool of justice, won't.
Carter asks for the letter to read from Davies.
'The Major' goes home w/ his son. He locks his son out of the house and the son, w/ a veil btwn them, tells off the father. He accuses his father of loving only power and cruelty and the son claims he wd have shot him if not for his own cowardness.
Carter reads the letter to his friend. You can't see his eyes as he reads. This may be an image of truly blind justice. The truth coming not from a man, but a higher source.
The letter:
In the end, the drifters leave to deliver the letter to the widow. They leave the way they came and things look the same. Even the dog crosses back to the other side of the street. Is this a message saying the despite all this, things don't change? Or is it a call to go back to the way things used to be?
Great movie. A powerful story about justice being blind in the wrong way. Mob justice.
It shows both sides of guilty-until-proven innocent. Not only the devastating effects on the victim, but those having to live w/ their actions.
What is this film saying about how things 'ought to be?' How can this change? Are we to listen to the elders, the wise, the religious? Are we to change in ourselves to be better? If so, how?
I think the movie tells us it's from a conscience from God.
SPOILERS:
The movie starts off and the first line remarks about how 'dead' the town is. The drifters come in to a barren town w/ the first member being a dog crossing the road.
They go in the saloon and stare at a picture above the bar of a woman seductively posed and a man half-way in the room behind her. One drifter comments about how the man is a bit slow to be leaving. He's somewhat jealous and protective in a way. He's probably already thinking of 'his girl' Rose in the town.
The barkeeper sees it from a different angle - the man is always close to her, but can't do a thing about it.
The drifter winds up in a fight w/ someone and his friend comments about how he sometimes needs to fight. It doesn't matter if he wins or losers - he feels better afterwards.
They learn about the robbery and start forming a mob posse. The older man, Davies, is the voice of reason and few side w/ him. A mocked paster, Sparks, and soon the judge. The Sheriff's Deputy, clearly immoral, joins the mob and 'deputizes' them all.
They head out and it's dark soon. They stop to rest and we learn that Sparks' brother had been lynched when he was young. No one knows for what or if he even did it, but it's close to him and he knows it can easily be done w/o good reason.
A coach goes by and thinks they're going to be robbed so they speed up and shot at the mob. Croft, the main drifter's friend, is shot. The coach has Rose in it newly married. It's pretty clear she still has feelings for one or more of the men and has married for money. It's a strange sub-plot that I'm not sure what to make of.
Later the mob makes it to the ox-bow and the shot is of them just under the tree they later hang the men from. A clear picture of them being guilty.
Thru the discussions of the situation some interesting comments are made:
Carter: "Hangin' is any man's business that's around." - no one is innocent
Deputy: "first he won't talk, now he talks too much" - the accused is guilty and can do no right.
The decide to wait until morning to hang them and move back to the fire. The accused men are on the left of the picture w/ the accusers on the right across from them. Straight ahead is Sparks, the man of God, between the two groups separated by fire.
The main accused man gets to write a letter to his wife. He entrusts Davies to delivery it. Davies reads it and shows it to 'the Major' who it seems has read it and realizes it's implications. He either thinks it trash from a guilty man or total rebuke from an innocent one and wants no part of either.
The mob calls for majority rules for hanging them. A complete mock of true justice, they turn to mob rules. Might is right. They call for those opposed to stand to the side. It starts w/ Sparks, a black man, and then Davies. The shot clearly showing the matter is black and white. Others join them including 'the Major's son. Sparks/religion/God again is the center of the shot. The group however is in minority.
Carter starts a bit of a fight. He loses, but maybe he feels better???
'The Major' forces his son to be one of the ones whipping the horses to hang the men. The father gives the son the whip in one last attempt to make him like himself. The son can't do it and the father clubs him unconscious. He'll have no female sons bearing his name.
After the lynching, the Sheriff shows up and explains Kincade isn't dead, but only shot and they caught the men who shot him. He snatches the star from the Deputy and calls on Davies for the truth (turning TO the wise for truth as opposed to running from it). The Sheriff hopes God will have mercy on them b/c he, the tool of justice, won't.
Carter asks for the letter to read from Davies.
'The Major' goes home w/ his son. He locks his son out of the house and the son, w/ a veil btwn them, tells off the father. He accuses his father of loving only power and cruelty and the son claims he wd have shot him if not for his own cowardness.
Carter reads the letter to his friend. You can't see his eyes as he reads. This may be an image of truly blind justice. The truth coming not from a man, but a higher source.
The letter:
A man just naturally can't take the law into his own hands and hang people without hurtin' everybody in the world, 'cause then he's just not breaking one law but all laws. Law is a lot more than words you put in a book, or judges or lawyers or sheriffs you hire to carry it out. It's everything people ever have found out about justice and what's right and wrong. It's the very conscience of humanity. There can't be any such thing as civilization unless people have a conscience, because if people touch God anywhere, where is it except through their conscience? And what is anybody's conscience except a little piece of the conscience of all men that ever lived?
In the end, the drifters leave to deliver the letter to the widow. They leave the way they came and things look the same. Even the dog crosses back to the other side of the street. Is this a message saying the despite all this, things don't change? Or is it a call to go back to the way things used to be?
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