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Reviews
The Spitfire Grill (1996)
A bittersweet look at small-town life and the vagaries of doing good
I rated this movie 5/10 only because I truly hate the ending. Is the author saying Percy HAD to die to redeem everyone else? If so, that really stinks. God knows what her life was life before she took her tormentor out. AND after. Reminds me of "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn." The mother killed the man who raped her daughter, but after awhile all that anyone seems to remember is that she was convicted of murder. And then there's "Mystic River," wherein Tim Robbins' character was molested as a young boy by two priests, barely escapes with his life, such things were not discussed at that time, he lived with his pain, and then is taken out, and his murderer justifies the unfortunate wrongful murder, but we're left hanging as to any justice occurring, whatsoever.
Also, I cannot abide Will Patton, in anything I've seen him in.
Otherwise, I think the movie was pretty extraordinary, and I wish I'd walked out of the theater before the ending. If the author ever reads these reviews, I do wish he would explain the ending.
Thank you for listening.
Flags of Our Fathers (2006)
Golden opportunity lost!
Having just finished reading the book by the son of John "Doc" Bradley, and seen the movie based on it, I would highly recommend to anyone, to read the book first. Without it, I would have been lost, viewing the film. I think the flashbacks and flash-fronts were confusing, and in the process of trying to figure out what tense we were in, much of the action/dialogue was lost or obscured.
I think more time should have been spent on the battle for Iwo Jima itself, emphasizing that this is the only known battle where the "victors" lost more soldiers than the "vanquished." And the fact that our bombing of Toyko took more civilian lives than A-bombing Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Points I felt critical to the book's story, got lost. The book closely follows the past and present of perhaps 10 of the soldiers on Iwo, giving context to their lives and their deaths or survival. And the cost of survival of such a horrifyingly brutal battle.
I think poor strategic decisions by the higher-ups in the military, should have been emphasized. So many "little" points that, together, add up to "this battle could have been better fought," or not fought at all. WHY was it strategic to the Allied Forces' victory? I think no one seeing the movie could respond to any of these questions very intelligently, because it wasn't offered up.
In summary, I think Mr. Eastwood had a golden opportunity to tell an amazing, if gruesome story, and I think he fell woefully short. I would recommend seeing it to anyone, AFTER you read the book. And then read the book again after the movie, just to reassure yourself that there was indeed so much more to the story.
Munich (2005)
Acting was impeccable, dialogue good if somewhat predictable
Seeing Munich last Saturday, I came away emotionally exhausted, my husband left feeling unresolved. I found some of Spielberg's attempts at humor distracting, such as the accountant making abundantly clear he wanted receipts!!! The tenor of the film seemed a little uneven, perhaps that was the intent, the whole situation was pretty untenable. Not sure what to make of Papa and/or Louis, who proclaim such disdain for what governments can and do do, but make a very comfortable living off of that ambiguity. Not clear why such relatively untrained people were brought in for these jobs. Amazing what they pulled off, all things considered. Are targets really that easily accessed? Eric Bana has been a personal favorite since Blackhawk Down, I thought he did the best he could with Hulk, he was very effective in Troy, or was that just by way of contrast with Bloom and Pitt? Still remember "Papa" from "The Jackel"(the original one:), he continues to be convincing and effective. I thought perhaps Louis had the most difficult role of any, lacking the passions of his father, how did he feel about his "job." Clearly I need to view this film again. No doubt all my questions are answered. In the meantime, though, I applaud the film and Spielberg. It is the first feature-length film to take on this horrific time and crime. I remember the made-for-TV movie, of many moons ago, with Lindsey Wagner as a compassionate flight attendant who talks to one of the terrorists, I almost feel like that depiction was more evenhanded, perhaps. Of course, it stops with this event's playing-out.
It seems clear to me Ms. Meir's motivation was pretty purely revenge/vengeance, not sure she had any good alternative choice, though.
Those are my thoughts, as of this day!