Reviews
From the Terrace (1960)
Horrid jump in story made me turn it off
Newman meets Woodward at a party and is summarily rebuffed. The very next scene shows them canoodling on a sailboat. I actually stopped the DVD, thinking it had been manufactured with a dropped or mis-ordered scene. But no...the editors apparently decided it was unimportant for us to know how the two eventually got together. (See the discussion board for similar comments on this flaw.) I was shocked, considering this is an adaptation by the talented Ernest Lehmann. I made a conscious decision to not even finish watching the film. If you're interested in experiencing some of that Woodward/Newman magic, may I suggest "The Long, Hot Summer." Or with Newman in a director's role, the under-appreciated "Rachel, Rachel" which features Woodward in an outstanding performance,
The Heartbreak Kid (1972)
Jeannie Berlin is the standout
Jeannie Berlin (as Grodin's wife Lila) has been sadly undermentioned in all of the comments. What a wonderful performance. She is so "out there"--watch her eat an egg-salad sandwich and then try to picture one of today's actresses willing to look so natural and vulnerable. (Well, maybe Cameron Diaz with her "hair gel" in "There's Something About Mary.") But Berlin's performance is so believable. I wish she had done more over the years.
And please note the beauty of Cybill Shepherd's figure in the surf scenes. How refreshing to see something other than one of today's stick figures as the objection of desire. She is healthy, lush, and gorgeous.
The Farm: Angola, USA (1998)
Compelling. Terrific.
Have your kids or students watch this. It's interesting and will provide lots of fodder for discussion about choices in life and their consequences, family, faith, and hope. As others have mentioned, the parole board hearing is of particular interest. You might find yourself shaking your head, as I did. By the way, there is no bad language--as compared to "Scared Straight" for example, so you needn't concern yourself with pre-screening. Outstanding job by filmmakers who stay in the background and let the characters be the story. If you're not familiar with Scared Straight and its sequel, be sure to check it out as well. Note: This is the prison depicted in Oliver Stone's "JFK," where Jim Garrison interviews hustler Willie O'Keefe (Kevin Bacon).