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Un tè con Mussolini (1999)
Shows how easy it could have been to not see the Nazi/fascists coming
See comments by obo-3. I have to agree on many of those weaknesses, although I have a talent for suspending my disbelief in order to appreciate some finer qualities of a movie. This didn't receive a very high rating from me, however, I have stringent guidelines.
I do think it is worth seeing merely because it does a good job of showing us a different perspective. For our generation to look back into history and judge those who were naive as doing nothing to stop the atrocities... I do not make excuses for those who saw the horror with their own eyes and turned away, or worse, gave up their neighbors... But for example, in this movie, when the local military knocks the town around a bit, some of the fine British believed it to be an isolated incident and just didn't believe that Jews were really being rounded up and carted away like livestock elsewhere. They trusted the word of Mussolini and believed in the greater good of the governments and aristocracy of the time.
This is a touchy subject, but in our age of media coverage, even I doubted the stories I read in the paper of the atrocities in eastern Europe and thought it may be propaganda and overblown. I just couldn't believe it what was happening in our modern times and in Europe. This disbelief was coming from an educated person (in political science, no less) who knows a bit of history. I still could not believe that was happening, until I saw the pictures of the refugee camps and the burned out homes with my own eyes, and finally, until I shared a flat with a man whose parents and child were driven from their homes. I can fully believe that some Europeans at that time, would not see the big picture to stop Hitler and his cronies until it was all too late. It frightens me, even to see how easy it happened.
It is worth seeing this movie just to understand the perspective of how quietly and quickly the Nazi/fascists did what they did.
The Story of Us (1999)
too close to home
The short excerpts of them fighting--especially in the bed--were just too close to home for me. I thought it would be a feel good "Harry and Sally" movie, perfect to waste away an evening with a fellow, and boy was I shocked. It evoked emotions and reactions in me that I didn't want to share with anyone. Hard to laugh through the tears on this one.
I am just glad I didn't see it 6 months ago, as I had originally planned--I couldn't have sat through it.
**Spoiler** I am glad, however, at the happy ending. After going through it myself, we need hope that it does work out eventually or for some people!
Urban Cowboy (1980)
Like it or not, fiction it ain't
Okay, so I have come a long way from Houston by now, but whenever I see this movie, I am taken back to a little cowgirl's dream to one day ride the bull at Gilley's. (It burned down before I was of drinking age.)
If you grew up in in East Texas, then you know this movie is an accurate depiction of contemporary life at that time. If you didn't then trust me and watch the movie. Either you will join the many who love it (and at the same time strangely repulsed), or at the very least, you can make fun of the red-necks. (There is plenty material for poking fun.) This movie doesn't try to be P.C. (what was that in the 80's) or hide the white trash element and it is honest to the time and place.
Gotta be a 10 for me!
Any Given Sunday (1999)
Must see for football or Pacino fans
Although it won't rank as one of my all time favorite movies, this kept my attention the entire 3 (?) hours it ran. There was nothing especially unique about the plot (cliches about sacrifice, teamwork and instant celebrity) but the direction was powerful. Although I love football, I have never been in a huddle (could be those matching chromosomes of mine) and this movie took me right into the grit of it.
I would have never in a million years thought of Al Pacino as a football coach (too all-american?) despite the fact that I am a huge fan. But, he played it perfectly, from the intense, firebreather on the sidelines to the tired and aging legend who sacrificed his life and family to the god of football.
This movie rides on Stone's direction and Pacino's acting, and it is more than enough.
Be sure to sit long enough into the credits to see the press conference...