Change Your Image
ovcharenko
Reviews
King of Kings (1961)
title does not accurately reflect the film's main theme
I agree that this is one of the best, if not the best depiction of Jesus' life. I am not as enchanted by the actor as many others seem to be, but what is appealing about him are the lines he delivers, wonderful wisdom from the Bible itself (or the Jesus Seminar version of it). But absolutely the most compelling figure in this film is Lucius -- in fact, I would argue that it could rightfully be called "The Conversion of Lucius".
Little Man Tate (1991)
TV show parody --- blink and you'll miss it
Did anybody else notice the "Firing Line" parody? William F. Buckley is brilliantly imitated by George Plimpton (apparently they were friends), who plays "Winston F. Buckner" and his TV show "Live Wire" --- a welcome bit of fun in an otherwise fairly grim movie. I also very much liked the character of Eddie, played by Harry Connick, Jr. Of all the characters, including both Dede and Jane, he did the best job of relating to the boy at exactly the right level of understanding and experience, also not afraid to be always truthful with him --- including when it came to telling Fred that he was incapable of being the (father) figure he needed and deserved.
The Shoes of the Fisherman (1968)
Neither novel nor movie prescient, based on real men
Recent viewers and reviewers tend to marvel at the "prescience" of the movie and the novel it is based on, mistakenly associating the election of the Slavic pope with that of John Paul II some years in the future. In fact, novelist Morris West based the character of Kirill Lakota on two Ukrainian (Byzantine Rite) Catholic bishops, who were actually persecuted by the Soviet regime and imprisoned in Siberia. Patriarch Josef Cardinal Slipyj was released in 1963 thanks to the efforts of the presiding Pope (and JFK), and lived in Rome until his death in 1984. The movie screenplay and Quinn as actor do convey well a great deal of Slipyj's character, who was a tall, imposing presence with a fierce intellect and inspiring faith.