From NetFlix:
Lonely, burnt-out NYPD detective Frank Keller (Al Pacino, in a Golden Globe-nominated performance) is on the hunt for a serial killer who uses personal ads to attract potential victims in director Harold Becker’s taut, suspenseful thriller. Unfortunately, Frank falls hard for Helen (Ellen Barkin), the alluring top suspect in the case. Now, their white-hot attraction could save him — or kill him.
In every Al Pacino film I have seen, his personality is more or less the same: wisecracking tough guy. Although this film is no exception to that comment, the younger Al Pacino here is slightly softer, slightly more vulnerable. His paring with John Goodman works well. Catching the serial killer, while the central theme, is really secondary to Al Pacino’s dealing with his sad personal life. “Sea of Love” is as representative of any Pacino fiilm that I have seen, although he was excellent in Angels In America (2003).
From NetFlix:
Director Steven Soderbergh’s voyeuristic indie drama paints an intense, intimate portrait of discord among a frigid housewife (Andie MacDowell), her philandering husband (Peter Gallagher), her adulterous sibling (Laura San Giacomo) and an intriguing out-of-towner (James Spader). When Spader arrives with a trunk load of videotapes featuring women confessing their sexual secrets on camera, he gradually turns the quartet’s lives inside out.
This film is recommended in “NY Times Guide to Best Movies Ever” and “1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die”. It never would have occurred to me to watch this film until my brother-in-law Jack (a movie fan) recommended the TV series “Boston Legal”. One of the lead actors in “Boston Legal” is James Spader who is perfect for the part. In searching for James Spader in IMDB I spotted “sex, lies, and videotape” featuring a very young James Spader. In fact, although I am good with faces as they age and change, I never would have recognized James Spader (especially with really long hair).
Not for everyone, this is a thoughtful film is as much about sex versus love as it is about truth versus lying. Don’t expect explicit sex, it isn’t at all pornographic. But do expect a lot of heads talking about sex. Great plot twists. Very soft-spoken dialogs. I’d have to say this is an “important” film. From “1001”: “Written in just 8 days and filmed in 5 weeks on a budget of just $1.2 million, the movie (Soderbergh’s debut) is credited with transforming the independent movie industry.”
In the NY Times I stumbled across a recommendation for older books for summer reading. Among the suggestions was a book by Jane Smiley containing two novellas. “Ordinary Love” was the first novella and it was OK. But what I am recommending is the second novella “Good Will”.
Weighing in at 101 pages, “Good Will” for me was a uniquely original story. Told in the first person by the father of the family of three, father and mother and son, we see a family that lives a counterculture life on a somewhat remote piece of land. Much of the narration gives us details about how this family survives without money. They do everything for themselves: raise farm animals, grow their own crops, and build their own buildings. But they stop short at home-schooling the boy Tom. He gets to take the bus although most of the time this auto-less family walks or skis to destinations such as town. Don’t be put off by the initial description of how the family accomplishes the day to day chores. You might think, “Oh, this is just too self-congratulating and dull.” Hang in there for some real surprises. Without giving anything away, the suspense centers around the son. How would your react if you were a shoolboy whose parents were so independently self-reliant ?
From NetFlix:
When a heist goes wrong, gangster John Sedley’s (Mickey Rourke) best friend is killed, leaving him alone to take the blame for the crime. But the disfigured crook gets a second chance at life after receiving a brand-new face from a prison surgeon. Ellen Barkin, Elizabeth McGovern, Forest Whitaker and Morgan Freeman co-star in this gritty action drama about one man’s hunger for revenge against those who wronged him.
“The Wrestler” has generated so much noise that I wanted to see a film with Mickey Rourke. First I tried “Rumble Fish (1983)” but did not even want to finish watching it. Rourke seemed to be one of those actors who act by not acting (i.e. he keeps his face still and you credit him, rightly or wrongly, with feeling certain emotions). But I tried again with “Johnny Handsome (1989)” and this 20-year old movie shows the actor in a better light. It’s one of those movies that you want to end in a certain way but you just have to ride it out to see what really happens. No more hints. So far for me Rourke is not a great actor.
Violent, not for children.
From NetFlix:
Willem Dafoe fights the battle of his life as Salamo, a
Greek Jew (and former champion boxer) who’s incarcerated
in Auschwitz by the Nazis and must defeat all comers in
weekly boxing exhibitions. If he doesn’t, he faces the gas
chamber. Based on a true story, Triumph of the Spirit recounts
one man’s fight to stay alive against almost insurmountable odds.
As with most concentration camp movies, this film can be hard to watch. So I put into the category “Not feel-good, not for everyone”. But the acting is good. Willem Dafoe does an excellent job as the boxer. If you can stand to watch, I do recommend this film
From NetFlix:
Daniel Day-Lewis won an Oscar for his portrayal of Irish writer
Christy Brown, who was born with cerebral palsy. Misdiagnosed
as mentally disabled for the first 10 years of his life, Brown
learned to write using his left foot, the only body part he
could control. The story unfolds in flashbacks, with Hugh O’Conor
as the young Christy equaling Day-Lewis’s performance as the adult.
“My Left Foot” is one of those classics that you should see at least once
before you die. Somehow Daniel Day-Lewis never seems to age. To me he looks practically the same in each of his films. Not only his performance but also that of the young Christy and Christy’s mother are phenomenal. I had seen this film years ago. It is ageless and I enjoyed it probably more the second time. Do not miss this movie!
From NetFlix:
When principal Joe Clark ( Morgan Freeman) takes over decaying
Eastside High School, he’s faced with students wearing gang colors
and graffiti-covered walls. Determined to do anything he must to
turn the school around, he expels suspected drug dealers, padlocks
doors and demands effort and results from students, staff and
parents. Autocratic to a fault, this real-life educator put it all on
the line to give kids a chance.
At first I was not taken with the film. Morgan Freeman seemed just too
much the tough guy. But the movie makes sense (and is based on
reality). There is suspense toward the end of the film.
As an alternative, try “Stand and Deliver”.
Films Tony is comfortable recommending.
