Category Archives: True Story

2013, Acceptable Science, Art History, Documentary, Photography, Small gem of a film, True Story, Unusual

Tim’s Vermeer (2013)

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From Netflix:

Teller, of Penn & Teller fame, directs this absorbing film about inventor Tim Jenison’s quest to solve one of art’s greatest mysteries: How did Dutch master Johannes Vermeer paint so photo-realistically 150 years before the invention of photography?

Recently I took a course in photography in which the teacher recommended this film, probably because it involves the use of lenses.

For one hour and twenty minutes you get to accompany Tim Jenison on his unusual and obsessive quest to exactly reproduce Vermeer’s famous painting “The Music Lesson”. Here is a man who never gives up, although at one point he admits that if he were not being filmed then he would probably have quit before he finished.

His thesis is that without some technical aid it would have been impossible for Vermeer to create this masterpiece. In other words, the painting is suspiciously too good to be true. Other artists agree with Jenison. In the process of making his thesis more believable (we will never know for sure because Vermeer left no notes whatsoever), this amazingly talented and capable polymath begins by recreating exactly the very room that appears in the painting, including hand-making the furniture [even if it requires literally slicing an expensive tool in half].

Of course, it helps that this inventor is now financially independent. Nonetheless, his persistence is mind-blowing as we watch him day after day in the reproduction process. Finally he succeeds and weeps in happiness.

While possibly not interesting for everyone, Jenison’s achievement is worth witnessing.

2000, Acceptable for children, B-movie, Based on true facts, Black History, Corny at times, Deep Sea Diving, Feel Good For All, Human spirit, Mediocre, Military, Navy, Navy Diver, Sea Rescue, True Story

Men of Honor (2000)

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From Netflix:

Against formidable odds — and an old-school diving instructor embittered by the U.S. Navy’s new, less prejudicial policies — Carl Brashear sets his sights on becoming the Navy’s first African-American master diver in this uplifting true story.

HBO recently showed this 14-year old film. As with most films about real-life heroes (military and other), the story is compelling while the film can be a bit corny, as in “wearing your emotions on your sleeve”. Nonetheless, Carl Brashear was brave, persistent, and an admirable role-model.

Spoiler: this old-fashioned film has a happy ending. Give the film a B and enjoy it.

2013, AIDS, British, Catholic culture, Could Be Sad, DO NOT MISS, Emotional child abuse, Ethical struggles, Feel Good Not For Children, Gay theme, Journalist, Quiet, True Story, Wonderful acting

Philomena (2013)

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From Netflix:

Floundering BBC journalist Martin Sixsmith and aging Irishwoman Philomena Lee form an unlikely bond when they pair up to find the son Philomena was forced to give up for adoption 50 years ago.

If I had not already known the story of Philomena I would have finished watching this marvelous film in a really upset and angry mood. Never mind that this outrageously true story has as happy an ending as is possible given the situation.

Judi Dench (Philomena) and Steve Coogan (Martin Sixsmith) play off one another perfectly as in ying versus yang, as in a Catholic believer versus an atheist, as in simple down-to-earth versus a sophisticated Oxford educated journalist. Much of the charm of the story is seeing each of them change over the course of the film: he softens into compassion, she forgives the evil nuns but finally feels the need to let the world know what happened to all those unwed young mothers.

No more will I say. Just enjoy the plot twists. One surprise (this is not a spoiler) is that at one point seemingly simple Philomena shows that she understands in blunt terms quite a bit about contemporary mores. Somehow that fact just did not ring true with me.

As a culture-vulture side note: Peter Hermann (Pete Olsson) is married to Mariska Hargitay (“Law and Order”) who is the daughter of Mickey Hargitay and Jayne Mansfield. Just remember that for your next game of Trivial Pursuit.

DO NOT MISS!

2013, Based on true facts, Black History, Could Be Hard To Watch, DO NOT MISS, FilmReview, Human spirit, Mental Illness, Nudity, Rape, Sadism, Sex Scenes, Slavery, Suspense, Torture, True Story, Violent, Wonderful acting

12 Years a Slave (2013)

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From Netflix:

The autobiography of Solomon Northup, a free black man who was abducted from New York state and sold into slavery in the mid-1800s, serves as the basis for this historical drama. Chiwetel Ejiofor stars as Northup, and Brad Pitt plays an abolitionist.

“12 Years a Slave” is a LONG film (2 hours 15 minutes). At least it certainly seems long due to all the sadistic cruelty portrayed. You will see enough whippings to last you a lifetime. Children should NOT see this torture-fest. If you last through the whole film, be sure to read the final follow-up text.

Just how realistic a portrayal of the slave owners this film is would take a bit of research to determine. You can read an account of Jefferson’s treatment of his slaves.

Many reviews exists of this film. One such review says that Brad Pitt’s role was too good to be true, but since he was one of the producers, he could do as he pleased.

So many fine actors played such diabolical roles, that I was embarrassed for them. Michael Fassbender will probably remain in my mind as a psychotic pervert.

WARNING: This is NOT an easy film to watch. If you can stand the sadism, DO NOT MISS!

Based on true facts, Black History, Drama, Ethical struggles, Father-son relations, Human spirit, Optimistic, Political statement, Race Relations, Slavery, Thought provoking, True Story, Vietnam, Violent, War

Lee Daniel’s The Butler (2013)

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From Netflix;

Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker delivers a powerful performance as Cecil Gaines, who served as the White House butler under eight presidents. His three decades of service unfold against a backdrop of unparalleled change in American history.

By combining the history of the civil rights movement with the life of a particular family, that of the butler Cecil Gaines, you can feel the impact of the events much more personally.

All the black actors, including Oprah Winfrey, do a fine job, while the white presidents were merely acceptable. Special mention to Jim Gleason in his small role as R.D. Warner with his pitch-perfect portrayal of a nasty, arrogant, dismissive and probably racist White House staff manager. Similarly the murderous white Southern plantation son was equally hate inspiring.

More need not be said about a historical drama that really nails it! DO NOT MISS!

2012, Based on true facts, Docudrama, Philosophic Discussions, Political statement, Talking Heads, Terrible acting, Thought provoking, True Story

Hannah Arendt (2012)

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From Netflix:

After fleeing Nazi Germany for the United States, a Jewish-German philosopher accepts an assignment from the New Yorker to cover the trial of an infamous war criminal, resulting in an article that ignites controversy all over the world.

According to Wikipedia:

In 2012 a German film titled Hannah Arendt was released, directed by Margarethe von Trotta, and with Barbara Sukowa in the role of Arendt. The film concentrates on the Eichmann trial, and the controversy caused by Arendt’s book, which at the time was widely misunderstood as defending Eichmann and blaming Jewish leaders for the Holocaust.

Perhaps “talking heads” best describes this philosophical, talkative, historical non-action film in which the characters endlessly discuss (argue?) the nature of evil, the involvement of the Jewish leaders during the Nazi regime, group versus individual culpability, Eichmann’s trial, etc. etc. etc.

Most of the dialog is in German. Subtitles are for all spoken words, German and otherwise. Perhaps the fact that this is a German film explains why so many of the lines spoken in English sound like something out of a high school drama class.

As the film often reminds us, it is not fair to criticize the ideas of Hannah Arendt without first having the fortitude to read what she wrote.

Try and keep watching up to the point in which Hannah defends her ideas before a large student body. Her speech is moving and in direct opposition to the irrational, emotional, and completely understandable reaction of many Jews.

1990, Anti-Semitism, Based on true facts, Could Be Hard To Watch, DO NOT MISS, Gay theme, German, Human spirit, Jewish Culture, Military, Nudity, Polish, Revenge, Russian, Sex Scenes, True Story, Violent, War, WWII

Europa Europa (1990)

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From Wikipedia:

Europa Europa is a 1990 film directed by Agnieszka Holland. Its original German title is Hitlerjunge Salomon, i.e. “Hitler Youth Salomon”. It is based on the 1989 autobiography of Solomon Perel, a German Jewish boy who escaped the Holocaust by masquerading not just as a non-Jew, but as an elite “Aryan” German. The film stars Marco Hofschneider and Julie Delpy; Perel appears briefly as himself in the finale. The film is an international co-production between CCC Film and companies in France and Poland.

Hopefully you will watch both this 2 hour film and also the 3 hour film Sunshine.
Whereas “Sunshine” is an epic showing the history of Hungarian Jews during several epochs, “Europa Europa” is a true story about one Jewish teenager’s survival in the confusing changes in political alignment in Germany, Poland, and Russia between Hitler and Stalin.

WARNING: Once again (as in “Sunshine”) there will be some ugly scenes. Once such scene shows what it was like in the Jewish ghetto during WWII when the Germans either starved the Jews, or killed them outright, or sent them to concentration camps.

If this were not an autobiography I would label it as fantasy or magic realism or some such departure from reality. Yupp, the teenager, had literally unbelievable good luck. However, he survived partly because in all his reincarnations he learned to speak not only German but also Polish and Russian. Of course, he was also very resourceful. Moreover, when faced with a moral choice, he chose survival.

Watching the indoctrination of the Nazi Youth into a violent anti-Semitism was a revelation.

Despite the story’s best efforts, I will personally never believe that the German people did not know what was happening to the Jews.

Coupled with “Sunshine” I would call this film a DO NOT MISS!

2012, Acceptable for children, Based on a Book, Based on true facts, Biographical, Corny, Docudrama, Manic depression, Military, Politicians, Race Relations, Slavery, Steven Spielberg, True Story, War

Lincoln (2012)

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From NetFlix:

Director Steven Spielberg takes on the towering legacy of Abraham Lincoln, focusing on his stewardship of the Union during the Civil War years. The biographical saga also reveals the conflicts within Lincoln’s cabinet regarding the war and abolition.

As soon as the film started I knew this was directed by Steven Spielberg even though I hadn’t realized that before the film started. How could I possibly criticize the work of a great director? However, taking advantage of my American freedom of speech I cannot fail to notice that his films are: long (this one logs in at two hours and thirty minutes), grandiose, possibly long-winded, and wear their hearts on their sleeves (dare I say “corny”?).

Once you get past that first scene in which black union soldiers personally berate Lincoln for the U.S. military discrimination against black soldiers and then walk away reciting by heart Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address (honestly, I am not joking), then you will begin to realize that this film concerns almost exclusively the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment which abolished slavery.

Please read the rather long Wikipedia article which talks about Doris Kearns Goodwin and her wonderful book “Team of Rivals” which was the inspiration for the film. In fact you might want to read “Team of Rivals” which my wife Kathy read twice and still talks about. You might then appreciate more all those scenes of roundtable meetings with Lincoln talking to (arguing with ?, confronting ?) groups of importantly-dressed men. Lincoln cleverly surrounded himself with men who were not only his rivals but were adversaries with their other cabinet members. That is the point of “Team of Rivals”.

Listen to the language these politicians used. Although it may seem flowery, that is how educated people back then actually spoke. Words were important then as opposed to our current twitter-dumb manner of speaking.

At first I squirmed and then settled down to watch 2.5 hours that really zoomed by. As an capsule introduction to Lincoln and his times this film is worth watching.

2012, Based on true facts, CIA, DO NOT MISS, Docudrama, Iran, Suspense, Thriller, True Story

Argo (2012)

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From NetFlix:

In 1979, when Iranian militants seize the American embassy, six Americans slip into the Canadian embassy for protection, prompting the CIA to concoct an elaborate plot to rescue them by pretending that they are filmmakers rather than diplomats.

From the Wikipedia article we learn:

Upon release, Argo received widespread acclaim and also received seven nominations for the 85th Academy Awards and won three, for Best Film Editing,[7] Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Picture. The film also earned five Golden Globe nominations, winning Best Picture – Drama and Best Director, while being nominated for Best Supporting Actor for Arkin.

From that same article you can read about reactions of the Iranians, reactions of New Zealand, and historical inaccuracies. Initial subtitles put that historical period into perspective, telling us just how we got into such a mess. From one point of view it is no wonder the Iranians hate us.

Tony Mendez, the real-life CIA agent, must have been an amazing person. For 120 minutes you will be sitting on the edge of your chair hoping he can help the six Americans escape. Scenes were contrived to heighten that suspense. For example at the very end of their ordeal, as the 6 Americans and Tony Mendez have just gotten into the plane and that plane is slowly maneuvering to take off into the air, there are truckloads of angry Iranians racing down the runway trying to stop the takeoff.

If you can stand the excitment, DO NOT MISS THIS FILM!

Based on true facts, CIA, Suspense, Terrorist Attack, Torture, True Story, Violent

Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

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From NetFlix:

For a decade, an elite team of intelligence and military operatives, working in secret across the globe, devoted themselves to a single goal: to find and eliminate Osama bin Laden. ZERO DARK THIRTY reunites the Oscar-winning team of director-producer Kathryn Bigelow and writer-producer Mark Boal (2009, Best Picture, THE HURT LOCKER) for the story of history’s greatest manhunt for the world’s most dangerous man.

Two and one-half hours is quite a bit of time to spend watching a CIA procedural. If there is one theme that runs throughout the film (in addition to the quest for Osama bin Laden) it is that Jessica Chastain as a CIA agent named Maya is doggedly determined to achieve her goal of killing Osama. She plays a very intellignt and capable agent who bucks no opposition from the CIA hierarchy. Indeed the film makes clear that the job is made more difficult due to conflicts, doubts, differences of opinion, and the need to maintain an appearance of success by each careerist. “Careerist” is not really fair: the agents were sincerely seeking to eliminate the terrorist. Of all the many fine actors involved, who do you suppose plays the C.I.A. directory: none other than the godfather himself, James Gandolfini.

“Zero Dark Thirty” is a phrase used by the military in designating an unspecified time after midnight but before sunrise.

In the beginning of the film there are several torture scenes taking place in a CIA black house. Once those torture scenes are finished, there are no more such scenes for the rest of the film. This is another way of saying that you could easily skip he torture scenes.

For the last hour or so you get to see the young bucks who actually raid the house of OBL (as Osama bin Laden is lovingly referred to in the dialog). And the raid makes all the procedurals worth the wait.

Get a good night’s sleep and then watch this film.