Category Archives: Not Feel Good

1000NYTimes, 1001BeforeDie, 1998, Classic, Could Be Hard To Watch, Drama, Not Feel Good, Violent, War

The Thin Red Line (1998)

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From NetFlix:

Director Terrence Malick’s lyrical retelling of James Jones’s novel about the bloody 1942 battle for Guadalcanal was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. With narration from Pvt. Witt (Sean Penn), fellow soldiers Capt. John Gaff (John Cusack), Sgt. Keck (Woody Harrelson) and the rest of the company become a tight-knit group as they face the horrors of war to hold onto a key-positioned airfield — and their own sanity.

Both the “NY Times Best 1000” and “1001 Films to See Before You Die” rave about Malick’s war film. At 170 minutes, it is a long an harrowing adventure. There are too many known actors to even begin mentioning them. Essentially an anti-war film, it constantly blends exotic filming of an island paradise (scenery, natives, birds, etc) with the horrors of the effort to defeat the Japanese entrenced on the summit of the island. But most of all, it accompanies various soldiers as we hear their thoughts, their meditations on this sanity-threatening experience. Of all the threads, two impressed me the most:

Nick Nolte plays Lt. Col. Toll who is an older man that in peacetime was bypassed for promotion. This war is his big chance to be noticed. Accordingly he is willing to sacrifice his men in order to achieve personal glory. At one point he orders Captain Staros, a soldier and lawyer, to launch a suicidal attack. But Staros refuses to order his men to their death, defies Toll’s order, and finds a better way. After successfully reaching the summit, Toll bribes Staros with a Purple Heart so that Staros will not tell the outside world what an as _ _ _ le comander he, Toll, really is.

Ben Chaplin plays Pvt. Bell who survives the terror by constantly remembering his time with his dearly beloved wife. However, at one point he receives a “Dear John” letter asking him for a divorce. Chapin’s portrayal of the slowing dawning, almost impossible to accept, realization of his loss is devastating.

Critics has questioned the length of the film. But this is a classic war film that you should see before you die.

2001, Could Be Hard To Watch, Drama, Kathryn Bigelow, Not Feel Good, Nudity, Violent

The Weight of Water (2001)

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From NetFlix:

Two couples (Catherine McCormack and Sean Penn, Josh Lucas and Elizabeth Hurley) head off to New Hampshire to look into the double murder of two sisters in 1873. The film, based on Anita Shreve’s novel, volleys back and forth between the past and the present, dredging up not only the past killings but the modern-day relationships of the foursome, as well.

Kathryn Bigelow, who directed this film, has been in the news lately. So I am now trying to see as many of her films as I can. She has a reputation for pulling no punches in her films. Eventually in this film you experience this in the murder scenes and in the storm at sea. But just as unsettling are the motives for the murder. The scenes switch back and forth from the past (the murder) and the present (the foursome on the boat) with great rapidity and in a clever way by matching the mood in each scenario.

My attention never wavered. I am now officially a Kathryn Bigelow fan.

2008, Animated, Could Be Hard To Watch, Docudrama, Explicit sex, Graphic Novel, Not Feel Good, Violent, War

Waltz with Bashir (2008)

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From NetFlix:

Utilizing vivid black-and-white animation in this Golden Globe winner for Best Foreign Language Film, director Ari Folman documents his quest to explore the memory gaps in his life during his service for the Israeli army in the Lebanese war of the early 1980s. Recounting several story vignettes based on recorded interviews with colleagues and friends, Folman explores the horrors of war and the curious coping mechanisms that mankind uses to survive and function under brutal circumstances.

Not everyone enjoys animantion. However, from the limited viewpoint of watching a Graphic Novel, “Waltz with Bahir” was for me captivating. Just watching the faces was enjoyable.

But these comments are superficial. For the historical background of the 1980 war in Lebanon and of this film and the various reactions to the film you could read the ample article in Wikipedia.

Just be prepared for the final portion in which the animation is replaced by actual film footage of the horror.

2007, Could be boring, Could Be Sad, Drama, Imperfect, Not Feel Good

Evening (2007)

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From NetFlix:

With daughters Constance (Natasha Richardson) and Nina (Toni Collette) by her bedside, terminally ill matriarch Ann Grant (Vanessa Redgrave) recounts a passionate romance that took place 50 years in the past yet defined the rest of her life. Claire Danes stars as a younger Ann, and Patrick Wilson portrays her lover. This adaptation of Susan Minot’s best-seller also features the megawatt talents of Meryl Streep and Glenn Close.

For all the big name stars (and their real-life children) in this film, the acceptably interesting story could have been told a lot better. Wife Kathy and neighbor Bev (a MovieFan) called a halt to watching it about a quarter of the way through. On my own I slogged through the rest just to see how it all ended. You have better things to do with your time than to watch this slow boat to old age.

2008, Could Be Hard To Watch, Drama, Not Feel Good, Nudity, Redemption, Revenge, Suspense, Unusual, Violent

Blindness (2008)

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From NetFlix:

After a plague of blindness overtakes the residents of a city, all sense of order breaks loose in the hospital where the victims are being quarantined. It’s up to a woman (Julianne Moore) who’s keeping her sight a secret to lead a group safely to the streets. Gael García Bernal, Mark Ruffalo, Sandra Oh and Danny Glover also star in this psychological thriller, an adaptation of José Saramago’s gripping masterpiece.

“Blindness” is one of the most unusual films I have ever seen. Read carefully because it will not be everyone’s taste. Julianne Moore is excellent as the only secretly sighted person in a population where eventually everyone becomes blind. Ask yourself what would happen if in fact everyone went blind. To give you a taste of the unpleasantness you can expect: In the beginning the government sequesters all the afflicted persons into a kind of stone penitentiary. Moore is married to a doctor Mark Ruffalo. She can see, he goes blind. Saramago is careful with the details of just how people would even be able to move about, get food, etc. The prisoners are divided into groups. The guards shoot upon sight any blind person attempting to leave. Food arrives and must be distributed to the various groups. That is where the trouble begins. One group, led by Gael García Bernal decides to bully the other groups by capturing the food and demanding to be paid first with jewelry and eventually women’s sexual services. It gets ugly. If you can survive this descent into non-civilization, this movie is for you.

Another unusual aspect is the manner of vocal delivery. There is no actor voice projection. People speak as is there is no camera.

If you are still reading this review, then I should be a bit more positive and say that there is an underlying philosophy that once people stop seeing the superficial in others, then they begin to appreciate the real internal personalities. Despite the horror, the film ends as much as is possible on a happy note.

I dare you!

2003, Drama, Not Feel Good, Nudity, Redemption, Sports, Violent

Undefeated (2003)

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From NetFlix:

Lex Vargas (John Leguizamo), a Latino boxer from the mean streets of Jackson Heights, Queens, discovers that his success with his fists (and the big financial payoffs) alienates his friends. Question is, can he balance victories in the ring with life outside the squared circle? Robert Forster co-stars in this film, which marks Leguizamo’s directorial debut (he also co-scripted).

“Undefeated” is an unimportant, unexceptional, acceptable film. For this reason I might say it is a “B” film. However, there are no inconsistencies, all the actors do well, the story makes sense and offers a tale of partial redemption. For this reason I might say it is an “A” film.

There are many, many boxing scenes which prompted the “violent” category.

I don’t regret seeing the film, but then as a retired person I have a lot of time to do so.

2008, Could Be Hard To Watch, Drama, Not Feel Good, Revenge, Violent

Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

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From NetFlix:

After coming within one question of winning 20 million rupees on the Indian version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” 18-year-old Mumbai “slumdog” Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) is arrested on suspicion of cheating. While in custody, Jamal regales a jaded police inspector (Irfan Khan) with remarkable tales of his life on the streets, as well as the story of Latika (Freida Pinto), the woman he loved and lost. Danny Boyle’s film won a Golden Globe and Oscar for Best Picture.

Hollywood has produced a technically excellent film that successfully exploits the misery of Indian slum dwellers by coating the film with a thin veneer of Spielberg-like good feelings. I just couldn’t buy it. During this film, which in my opinion is NOT FOR CHILDREN, you will be treated to the following spectacles:

  • The police inspector beats Jamal and subjects him to electric torture. This is perfectly acceptable because Jamal, after all, is merely a slum dweller.
  • Hindus set muslims on fire as living torches.
  • Of course Jamal will jump into the cesspool so he can get a Bollywood actor’s autograph.
  • During the day poor Indians search the garbage dump for edible food.
  • At night orphans sleep at this garbage dump
  • Predators entice these orphans from the dump with cold Coca-Cola. The orphans are taken to a camp and fed. These orphans then experience the following:
    • At the very best they are turned into beggar slaves for the predators
    • Those male orphans who can sing are then blinded by pouring hot liquid into their eyes and sent out as singing beggars.
    • Female orphans are trained as prostitutes.
  • In one scene Jamal’s beautiful sweetheart Latika has both sides of her face scarred in revenge for her disobience to her owner.

Why did not India sue the filmmakers for exposing the savage underbelly of India ? Of course every country has it shame. Do not forget that in the American South, after a negro was lynched, the spectators cut the body into parts and saved the pieces as souvenirs.

There is a large article on this film in wikipedia. Hopefully none of the children actors from slums were sent back to the slums. There is also this link to one of the many organizations that try to help.

2007, Could Be Sad, Drama, Explicit sex, Not Feel Good, Nudity, Redemption, Revenge, Suspense, Violent

Crossing Over (2007)

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From NetFlix:

Boasting an all-star cast that includes Harrison Ford, director Wayne Kramer’s thoughtful drama weaves several stories together to create an emotionally charged examination of immigration in Los Angeles. Ashley Judd and Ray Liotta co-star in the powerful ensemble film, which provides a harrowing look at border crossing, document fraud, asylum seekers, naturalization, counterterrorism and the clash of cultures in America.

“Crossing Over” is one powerful, compelling tapestry of immigrant stories. Very few of the subplots end happily. Therein lies my only complaint: the film is very heavily slanted toward the viewpoint that the INS is unfair, uncaring, and in one case corrupt. Having said that, my heart was with the sad lives of the illegals. Most of the immigrants in the film are, in fact, illegals seeking desperately to become legal. I have met illegals in my neighborhood doing things like painting, mowing, etc. Their stories can be heart-rending as are the stories in this film.

As far as the craft of filmmaking is concerned, this is a very well made film. There are too many fine actors doing an excellent job to be able to credit any one in particular.

2008, Biographical, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Not Feel Good, Revenge, Suspense, Violent, War

Defiance (2008)

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From NetFlix:

Daniel Craig stars as Tuvia Bielski, one of four Jewish brothers who escape from Poland into the forests of Belarus during World War II to lead a band of resistance fighters and create a safe haven for Jewish refugees. The real-life sanctuary established by the Bielski brothers saved more than 1,000 Jews from persecution and death. Edward Zwick directs this moving historical drama that also stars Liev Schreiber, Jamie Bell and George MacKay.

Go the Wikipedia article for the history of the Bielski Partisans.

“Defiance” tells a story, an exciting, suspenseful and meaningful story to be sure. Yes, there is some nuance of personalities, but the story is first and foremost (as it was in “Shindler’s List”). However there is also quite a bit of philosophical questioning: what happens to moral principles under the pressure of persecution ? Also there is the ever present anti-semitism, for example among the Russian partisans.

Sometimes the staging seems a bit suspect (a beautiful snowy wedding under a silk canopy in the forest ?). But hopefully for the most part the forest encampments looked as filmed.

Daniel Craig (Tuvia Bielski) is well-known as the current James Bond. Liev Schreiber (Zus Bielski) is the bad guy in the current “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” and has played in 4 CSI TV episodes. It is a pleasure watching these two actors escape their unfortunate Hollywood pigeon holes and do an excellent job. Even their voices take on that low rumble associated with rough Slavic speakers.

Finally if you want to see a wonderful historical dramatization, DON’T MISS THIS FILM !

2008, Could Be Hard To Watch, Could Be Sad, Drama, Not Feel Good

Revolutionary Road (2008)

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From NetFlix:

Based on the novel by Richard Yates and set in the mid-1950s, this story helmed by Sam Mendes follows the Wheelers (Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslett, in a Golden Globe-winning role), a young couple in suburban Connecticut who tries desperately to confront the problems in their relationship while raising two children. Despite their best intentions, the couple’s intense arguments send them into a downward spiral. Michael Shannon co-stars in an Oscar-nominated role.

DiCaprio and Winslett are superb, but of the two, Winslett expresses such pain that her performance just soars. Michael Shannon as the unbalanced mathematician is memorable. Kathy Bates as his mother is good as usual. David Harbour, playing a neighbor who has the hots for Winslett, does his role well.

Beware: this is a very unhappy film. I’ll play Devil’s Advocate here, go out on a limb and say the unhappy couple brought their problems on themselves. Is the film’s thesis that we should never settle down into a solid, hopefully financially secure lifestyle until we have found our true selves and are living out our most cherished dreams ? True, not everyone loves his job. So why not do what the majority probably do, work at something not completely horrible and get another life outside of work ? Granted that is a bit difficult if you are working 60 hours a week. No, I cannot commiserate with this sad couple. I can feel their pain even if I do not agree with that pain.

Note how slyly the film tries to get us to agree with the thesis: at the end other neighbors in their own way indicate how they really hate their dull lives.

Would anyone out there care to champion this neurotic pair of souls ?