kaljic Reviews

Oppenheimer (I) (2023)

Epic Presentation but Distracting

[8/10 · 10 November 2023]

The story of Robert Oppenheimer is a tragic but compelling story, one that has implications to this day. It was a film I had been waiting to see for some time. The tale of J. Robert Oppenheimer has weighed heavy on my mind since watching the superlative documentary, The Day After Trinity, which hit me in the solar plexus since first seeing it years ago. Christopher Nolan has done a good job as in every movie he has made. Nolan's Oppenheimer is chock full of great Oscar-bait performances. The interpretation by Cillian Murphy in the lead role in Oppenheimer is positively ungodly and matches the desperation (but not the profound sadness) of Oppenheimer's psyche. Matt Damen correctly conveys the steely cold-heartedness of Leslie Groves. The rest of the actors are excellent, all which justify repeated watchings.

As good as the movie is, it is not without its faults. I suspect someone first encountering the Oppenheimer story will not fully understand how completely conflicted were many of the scientists who worked on the Manhattan Project. The only ones completely on board to build the nuclear bomb in the beginning were Leslie Groves and for different reasons, Oppenheimer himself. The divided feelings experienced by many of the scientists are touched on in the movie, but not emphasized. Some of the scientists who worked on the Project remained severely depressed for years afterward. Especially Oppenheimer himself. When he passed away in 1967, he was so overcome by dread that he was a shell of his former self.

This is, however, a movie, and not a documentary. Fair enough. However, I found the many many edits in the movie distracting. The camera rarely focused on one scene more than ten, fifteen, or thirty seconds before panning to another angle or another scene. The movie ran like a video game. It was as if Nolan was trying to tell too much of the story in his movie. After the movie ended I was utterly exhausted by all the cuts and edits. ... But then again, perhaps this is the feeling Nolan wanted the viewer to experience.

Despite these minor complaints, Oppenheimer is a movie which deserves to be watched.

Madame Butterfly (1995)

The Dark Under-Belly of Madame Butterfly

[10/10 · 3 March 2023]

Madame Butterfly is one of my favorite Operas. It is certainly Puccini's masterpiece, and Mitterand's movie adaptation does full justice to the Opera. The main characters are perfectly cast. Richard Troxell captures the full spectrum of the brashness and exuberance of his character, Pinkerton. Ying Huang exudes the sensitivity, vulnerability, and wisdom of the named protagonist. The movie gives a richness and realness to Japan that no operatic production is able to do. All the main characters are themselves operatic singers.

Fondly enough, the greatest innovation of this movie are the English subtitles. The subtitles are fresh, modern translations. Prior librettos had always been in stilted, posh, English, leaving the listener to only guess at the plot while enjoying the music. The modern English subtitles of this movie leave little doubt as to what is really going on here.

Yes, it is a love story between an American officer and a Japanese geisha. The actual, real, dialogue, spoken with its blunt honesty, coupled with the superb secondary performances (mainly, the Middleman, Goro), portray the whole Madame Butterfly story as a lurid, depraved example of human trafficking. Pinkerton is young, brash, energetic, and clearly relishing Japan. He makes it very clear from the beginning that he has no intention of staying faithful after marriage to MB and enters his marriage with the clear intention of leaving MB for the United States to marry there, and he sees nothing wrong with that. Huang perfectly plays the vulnerable MB. However, as she states about her life, she was forced to became a geisha because her parents died and she had no other place to go. To make matters worse, she is fifteen years old, and has a son from a husband who left her. You get the impression MB is a geisha because she had no other option to survive.

A geisha you might ask? There is misconception that all geishas are sex workers. Historically, they were not considered to be sex workers, but whose function is to "entertain" men. "Entertaining" consists of being able to carry on a informed conversation-geishas were educated women---play musical instruments, and serving food and drink. Of course, the sex part sometimes, but necessarily always, came into it.

The movie clarifies the role of the Middleman, Goro. This is how he was described in older translations-"middle man," "match-maker," fairly benign. The Goro in this movie is a sinister and conniving. He is not just a match-maker or middleman; he is in the business of selling flesh, if not for "entertainment" purposes. Jingma Fan, who pays Goro, gives new life to the whole MB story. Goro is in the business in selling geishas to his clients. Pinkerton pays Goro to marry MB. The entire transaction is nothing more than a glorified run-of-mill sex trafficking case.

Put all these pieces together changes the entire story. Pinkerton exploits and disrespects MB and gets off Scott free. He is like so many overseas American servicemen you occasionally hear run into problems with the local womenfolk. The tragedy of this story is that MB commits suicide. MB is a Universal symbol of victimized, objectivized, women. Goro is, not a march-maker or middleman, let's face it, he is a sex trafficker. Mitterand's movie presents MB as both a passionate love story and a sordid tale of sex exploitation.

All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)

Unforgettable.

[10/10 · 4 November 2022]

All Quiet on the Western Front will cause a mix of emotions. The futility of war. The empathy one has to the young recruits who have no idea what they are getting into. The disconnect between the national and military leaders and the boots on the ground. This and the utter horror of the battlefield. AQWF is a stark portrayal, not simply of World War I, but all wars. Because War is Hell, and it doesn't matter what country or what war we are speaking of. The same starkness was in Saving Private Ryan, but the battlefield horror was only in the beginning of the film. Here the entire film is unrelenting and does not let the viewer off the hook. The battlefield is not glorified but the battle field is shown for what it is.

AQWF is all the more relevant from what is going on now in the Ukraine.

Don't worry the language spoken is not English. What is happening and what is to happen is clear enough.

Love Struck (2014)

An Honest, Entertaining Love Story with Real Humans

[10/10 · 5 October 2022]

An Honest, Entertaining Love Story with Real Humans

It is rare, especially in Greek cinema, to find a love story honestly told. Let's face it. If you've ever watched Greek daytime television involving love stories-especially involving love triangles- you will see a lot of yelling with bulging eyes, tears, screeching, and animated histrionics. While this no doubt sometimes occurs, "real life" is usually much more banal-even in Greece. This is how the story is told here.

In any language, this movie has an astonishing real feel to it. The characters are ordinary people having ordinary jobs caught up in a difficult situation. At the same time, it presents interesting picture of life in modern Greece.

Apo Erota is a story which involves real, ordinary, people, using real dialogue, and presenting the difficulties of a love triangle may sometimes present in an honest, forthright, and entertaining way.

Thou-Vou Bald Agent, Operation Havoc (1969)

Pure Insanity!

[10/10 · 1 October 2022]

Probably the funniest, craziest movie by the incredible Thanasis Vengos.

Thanasis throws in all the stops. Thanasis uses slapstick to satirize James Bond (always a theme for him), Felinini, the movie-making industry itself, stuffy governmental bureaucracy. Heck, when everything does go completely nuts, he puts in samples from Big Brother and the Holding Company.

Not much of plot here. Thanasis plays a spy on a mission. But does that matter? Not a bit. Thanasis goes through one insane scene after another. The insanity get more insane as the movie ends, reach a completely over the top ending.

Do not understand Greek? No problem. Just watch the screen and enjoy the craziness and you'll figure it out.

It will have you in stitches!

The Taxi Driver (1953)

Enjoyable, Very Watchable

[10/10 · 16 September 2022]

Enjoyable, Very Watchable

Somewhat of a neglected gem, this movie is a good vehicle for the famed Greek actor, Mimis Fotopoulos. Fotopoulos is in top form as he plays a cagey, smart-alecky taxi driver who falls head over heels with higher-class woman. This movie is enjoyable and a thrill to watch. It is remarkable not only for the performance of Fotopoulos and the supporting cast. The movie was film entirely on location, on the streets of Athens. It is a time capsule of what daily life looked like in Athens, 1953.

The language spoke in the movie is obviously Greek and a copy of the Cabbie with English subtitles might be difficult. If one can be found, my recommendation is to grab it and watch it.

Bullet Train (2022)

Can Someone Please Tell Me What This Movie Was About?

[3/10 · 5 September 2022]

Bullet Train was one of those movies full of pyrotechnics, flashes of explosions and shootings, all at brake neck speed. It is no understatement that the movie is short on character development. But the characters, such as they were, fought over a bundle of cash. Other than that, I could not really see any plot. This is a movie geared for people raised on video games-the movie IS a video game, with every conceivable plot twist thrown in the mix. If this is what you are looking for, you have found the movie for you. If not, when the movie finishes you are going to rub your eyes and wonder how you spent the last two hours.

O fotografos tou horiou (1977)

A Little-Known Masterpiece

[10/10 · 5 September 2022]

This was a mini series of life in a mountainous village. It aired in January 1977 and consisted of sixteen 30-minute episodes.

At one time this was believed to be lost due to faulty archiving by the television station. It is now readily available for viewing on streaming media. The mini-series is an early attempt at a docu-drama, before there was such a thing. It uses hand-held cameras, sweeping steady cams and pans, and interesting camera points of view to document the life of a resident returning to his home village after an unsuccessful attempt to begin the life as an immigrant in the United States. Indeed, The Village Photographer (O Fotografos tou Horiou) flows like a proto-reality show. It displays filming techniques years ahead of its time.

While fictionalized, the dialogue and situations are engrossing and depict a way of village life which is increasing rare and/or sadly long since gone. At times the Third Wall is broken and narration is spoken directly into the camera from the point of view of the main character, the Village Photographer.

A truly amazing piece of film-making.

Elvis (2022)

Worth Watching

[10/10 · 18 July 2022]

I'll, be honest. At first I had my doubts. The trailers were too glitzy, garish. And after watching the film, there is a cheesy element in how it portrays the life of Elvis Presley, the King. But this is not a movie about Elvis; it is a movie of the relationship he had with Colonel Tom Parker, his manger. In life he was, at best, a shadowy figure, shrouded in mystery. The Colonel is ably portrayed by Tom Hanks, in probably his best performance in years. Austin Butler nails the mystic and charisma of the real Elvis. That alone is worth watching this movie. The other performances are also equally strong. The movie seems to cram too much from the life of Elvis in two hours and a half. Still, this movie is worth watching, not just once, but many times.

The Travelling Players (1975)

The Beauty of Banality

[10/10 · 18 June 2022]

We watch movies to forget the true banality of life. Movies are packed with witty, non-stop dialogue, head-spinning action which takes place in a short period of time, and, of course, beautiful, drop-dead gorgeous women. We are so conditioned by contemporary movies, we forget or want to forget ordinarily life.

The Traveling Players by Angelopoulos has none of this. The dialogue is ordinary, spoken by ordinary people, by ordinary men and women. When they speak it is not rapid-fire, non-stop delivery, but ordinary speech most times separated by long periods of silence.

The beauty of The Traveling Players - or any film by Angelopoulos - the ordinary is beautiful. The sweeping, long scenes in this movie are stunning. We quickly identify with one or more of the traveling players. In the dialogue we can hear words spoken by a close friend or acquaintance. When the film ends nearly four hours later, you will want to see more.

This movie should not be missed.

Julius Caesar (2012 TV Movie)

Bravo!!

[10/10 · 21 May 2022]

Julius Caesar

There have been many modern adaptations of Shakespeare's plays, with varying results. This version of Julius Caesar is by far one of the best. The setting is a small, dictatorial African country, the players are African-American, and the finished product is remarkable. In even the most successful modern adaptation, the delivery tends to be a mind-numbing drone of Shakespearean of the lines with little thought to the cadence of natural speech. Most of the time, these modern adaptations seem unnatural and forced. Here, the natural delivery of the play gives new meaning to the play itself, allowing the viewer to see the dynamics of the conflict between the players. Julius Caesar is a remarkable Shakespearean play in that the main character is killed off relatively early, and while the remainder of the play centers on his assassins, Caesar always remains on the assassins' mind. This quality of the play is clearly demonstrated by this version of the play. The acting is top-notch, and its setting in a Central African country divided with internal strife give new meaning to the play. The acting and delivery of the play will keep you engaged for the duration.

Ziteitai pseftis (2010)

Smart, Witty Remake of a Political Comedy Classic

[10/10 · 15 December 2021]

Zitietai Pseftis ("Liar Wanted") is a remake of a Greek comedy classic made in 1962, based on a play by the prolific playwright Dimitris Psathas. The issues in this movie is political corruption, cronyism, and the tendency to "stretch the truth" (= lie) in politics. It is a dark, witty political comedy about a charming, yet pathological, liar, who works his way up the political ladder as a political aide for an honest, yet clueless and largely ineffectual, government minister.

On the down side, the movie reverts, however briefly, to the tendency in many Greek comedies to become a "T & A" farce. Thankfully and quickly, the movie returns to the comic issues present in Psathas' play.

On the up side, the dialogue is smart, the acting is spot-on, the casting is perfect, and the pace is fast-paced and engaging. The issues are indeed universal. While many of the situations in this movie may be specific to Greece, political corruption and lying politicians are hardly limited to Greece. World-wide, in politics the game is the same. Anyone could relate to this movie if not for the fact that lying and political corruption is a fact of life in every country world wide.

While the protagonist predictably gets caught up in his numerous lies, the movie wisely downplays the type of moralism that could easily spoil the comedy intended on the subject. There are indeed tragic and far-reaching consequences to political prevarication (remember "Weapons of Mass Destruction"?). Disregarding this, it is comical, albeit darkly comic and mainly in hindsight, to witness a governmental functionary tell an obvious, plain, falsehood, a bald-face lie, say, at a Congressional hearing or in national address or press conference.

For English viewers, there are subtitles to enjoy the action. For Greek-speakers, the dialogue is hilarious. There are certain things that cannot be stated in subtitles. The movie should not be missed.

Man of God (2021)

Powerful Depiction and Performances, But ...

[8/10 · 11 September 2021]

Seen at a theater in Athens, Greece.

Man of God is a heart-felt movie with powerful performances. The depiction of the life of Saint Nektarios, patron saint of the island of Aigina, is at times didactic. There are at times when the story bats you over the head on how he, as in real life, in his own saintly way, stood up against the established religious establishment. Yet the performances are moving and powerful.

At the same time, the movie suffers a big drawback. There is an international cast and the movie is primarily in English. While this barrier is cured with subtitles, it cuts against the authenticity of the depiction and the portrayal of the characters. The main characters are, after all, Greek, and these characters, including the main character played by Aris Servatalis, are superb. Moreover, the events take place in Greece and Egypt a hundred years ago, yet all the characters speak in English. There are portions of spoken Greek, but if the director chose to have those portions with Greek dialogue, it makes you wonder why the entire movie wasn't with Greek dialogue. This, along with the other linguistic limitations of the Greek language, detract from the "suspension of disbelief" and overall effect of the film.

Still, the audience --- and I --- were enthralled with the film. In modern Greece Saint Nektarios is revered to this day. If anything, this movie will introduce this Saint to the English-speaking world.

Deadly Outlaw: Rekka (2002)

A Neglected Miike Gem

[9/10 · 20 August 2021]

Takashi Miike is truly one of the most versatile film directors working today. You cannot pigeonhole him. He slips into action, drama, comedy, family, fantasy, science fiction, manga, or art movies, or just plain weird, cultish movies, and back again, with ease, skill, and dexterity.

This movie is more or less a conventional action movie. It is a typical revenge movie, the rage of retribution by a young Yakuza gangster avenging the death of his mentor.

It is one of his neglected gems, while this might be easy to do as he has put out one hundred movies at this writings.

It also has, in my opinion, one of the best fight scenes ever committed to film, ever.

Nuff said.

The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It (1977 TV Movie)

Goofy Fun

[10/10 · 10 August 2021]

This is an underappreciated gem from the work of John Cleese. For this reason the humor is pythonesque to be sure, but it is, incredible enough to say, stream-of-consciousness python humor. That may not seem possible, but for this short it is. It is a one-hour running collection of jokes, satires, and spoofs, one after the other, with no tell-tale plot. Even though the gags appear to have no rhyme or reason, it works. The glue that holds everything together is that it has something to do with espionage and is a satire of the spy and detective genre. The results are hilarious. I say, hi-lar-i-ous.

For anyone familiar with UK miniseries and televison programs, the names and faces will be familiar. Some of the political humor and references are a bit dated, but it is guaranteed to provoke a chuckle or two.

Recommended!

The Little Things (2021)

Good Movie

[9/10 · 4 August 2021]

Seen on a trans-Atlantic flight to Europe.

This is what is known in the trade as a "masterful film." Good plot, great actors, good performances all around, a cops and robbers movie which keeps your attention through plot and character twists, and most of all, NOT based on a predictable script. Not exactly Academy Award material - but at this point we just don't know.

Denzel and Rami, both Academy Award winners, play competitive cops who find out eventually that they have more in common than previously thought and apart from trying to find a serial killer. Their performances are competent if not stellar. The more than adequate performances of the supporting roles more than adequate and ably support their roles.

As a added plus, The Little Things is filmed entirely on location in Southern California. These locations include both from the seedier side of Los Angeles, the outlying high desert areas, and many points in between.

This is a movie that bears repeated viewings and is very satisfactory. Highly recommended.

God, You're Such a Prick (2020)

Don't Bother

[2/10 · 28 July 2021]

Seen on a trans-Atlantic flight to Europe.

The most generous thing I can say about this movie is that it is a Bucket List copy-cat, only the main protagonist is a teenage girl. She has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and goes off, away from home, to experience one adventure after another.

The movie tries too hard to be serious and hip at the same time and fails miserably. The acting is predictable and one-dimensional and the plot and "adventures" incredulous.

The only noteworthy aspect of this movie is that it has perhaps the funniest title of any movie in recent memory. Still, stay away, far away, from this film.

Kamikaze Taxi (1995)

Works Well on Many Levels

[10/10 · 3 June 2021]

Works Well on Many Levels

At first what attracted me to this film was its cool title - Kamikaze Taxi. While I expected an action-packed Yakuza movie, what I got was much, much more.

Corrupt politicians, dispossessed ethnic citizens, young Yakuza wannabees, action, killings, street life in modern Japan, reconciliation with Japan's involvement in WWII. There are many elements thrown together in this movie, and it does a good job dealing with them in a coherent story that will keep your interest for the length of the movie.

On the surface it is a story of a young Yakuza, Tatsuo, exacting revenge against a corrupt politician for beating up his girlfriend/prostitute who is later killed by a Yakuza shylock. Tatsuo and his other neophyte Yakuza buddies blunder into stealing a great deal of money from a crime boss. With the assistance of an ethnic Japanese taxi cab driver born in Peru, Tatsuo flees and attempts to avenge the killing of his girlfriend.

Social issues relevant to Japan at the time Kamikaze Taxi abound. In the early 1990s, Japan was rocked with corruption in high office, both in the mainland and abroad. In Peru an ethnic Japanese politician, Alberto Fugimori, was President, and he was plagued throughout his term and ultimately ousted by charges of corruption. These two events are alluded to in the movie.

The politician in this movie, Domon, is a survivor from WWII, a former Kamikaze fighter. Not only is he prejudiced, but he is also morally depraved, sadistic, and virulently chauvinistic. That prejudice is aimed as well to the taxi cab driver, who while ethnically Japanese, is looked upon as a second-class citizen. While practically unknown outside of the country, the issue of migrant Japanese citizens is a burning issue in Japan.

If there is a downside to the movie it is the numerous subplots and other twists and turns. There are many and they are diverse. To some, the sheer number of elements may drag the momentum of the action. Director Masato Harada (who played the character of Omura, the pro-West advisor to the Emperor of Japan in The Last Samurai) ties all these elements very well, however, which gel together quite nicely through most of the movie.

The movie jumps the shark a bit when Tatsuo and the taxi cab driver stumble into an encounter group session in a foothill retreat.

This is a minor defect. Harado finds a way to tie in this encounter group into the story line. Besides, this is not your average Yakuza film with disposable, one-dimensional characters. The actors play complex characters with depth in a well-written, thoughtful, sometimes contemplative, script.

This movie has the force of a Miike Yakuza movie, and displays flashes of craft and subtle humor enough to justify repeated viewings. Even at over two and a half hours you will not be dissatisfied.

The Young Karl Marx (2017)

Educational and Entertaining

[10/10 · 4 May 2021]

Its not every day that you see a movie about Karl Marx --- and a young Karl Marx at that --- but to my surprise, this is a really good film. This movie is, as the title indicates, a story of the life and times of the young Karl Marx. It is a great movie of the man, his life, and his ideas.

The movie depicts the social and political changes sweeping through Europe during Marx's youth. The film dramatizes the efforts of Marx and other historical figures, such as Pierre Proudon, Engels, and Engels' partner, Mary Burns, in starting a movement and organizing textile workers at a factory owned by Engel's father! Engel's father, of course, had other ideas about the labor organizing. One aspect of this film is the clash of generations.

Set in the beginning stages of the Industrial Age in Germany and England, great attention is paid to details of daily life. This historical detail does not slow down the action. The film shows the genesis of Marx's political and economic thought without sacrificing the impact of human drama, character development or cinematic quality. The director Raoul Peck (Lumuba, I am Not Your Negro) transforms what could have easily descended into a pedantic, preachy, bore, into a movie that entertains and teaches, in that order.

In all, well worth seeking and watching.

Young Aphrodites (1963)

The Ultimate Art-House Film

[9/10 · 2 April 2021]

There will be two reactions from the average movie viewer. You will either think this is garbage or you will think this is the highest expression of movie-making. I fall in the middle.

On the one hand, the concept and creation of this film is flawless. It is a Greek film by Nicos Koundourou, one of the greatest directors to come from Greece. It is the story of the discovery and pursuit of love in a nomadic community in 200 B. C. There is minimal dialogue in the movie. With the minimal dialogue you will find yourself emotionally invested on the individual lives of the main characters. Dialogue, indeed, is not needed. The story is told through the movement of the actors. This is a very visual film. All one needs to do is look at the action and body language of the actors and you will know what is going on. In some ways this movie can be described as a limited silent movie. Moreover, Koundourou employed many non-actors in Young Aphrodite; many were actual shepards in real life. However, this did nothing to take away from the finished product. This alone gives an air of authenticity to the movie. Many parts of this movie are striking and compelling. A very unique movie experience.

On the other hand, the movie suffers in very accurately and laboriously depicting what everyday life is like for shepards suffering through a drought. As a result, a good part of the movie will show the tedium and boredom of a shepard's life intersperse between incidents of real action. Most will probably look at this tedium and dismiss the movie itself as boring. This is a mistake. This film is one of the best examples of an art-house film. Shot entirely on location, this can be viewed time after time and still be enjoyed.

Isovites (2008)

There is a Lot to Like

[10/10 · 1 April 2021]

This is a delightful Greek satire which attempts to join several distinct trends in movie-making.

One, it is the Greek version of Pulp Fiction. It has snappy dialogue, colorful characters, and fast-paced story-telling. The only difference: the story-telling is lineal, straight narrative.

Two, like The Big Lebowski, it tells the hapless existence of not one but two good-natured losers. One is a truck driver. No, there is more. The character admits during the film he cannot think unless he is behind the wheels of a big rig. That facet of his personality works against him. The other is a fiery hot-head who is the editor of a scandal rag and whose enthusiasm eventually works very much against him.

Three, this is, yes, a road movie. Since one of the main characters is a truck driver, a good part of this picture is on the road.

These three elements work together to make a real fun movie. The picture "jumps the shark" briefly into the movie. The action lapses into a slapstick which so many Greek comedies have a tendency to frequently do. The good news is that the quickly movie recovers, and goes back into a slightly campy satire which is not so pronounced that it makes you wince, but is exaggerated enough that it makes observations which can be applied to any modern society, not just Greece.

I have read about this movie that the director, Theodoros Maragos, made this movie "on the cheap." While it is true that he makes extensive use of outdoor locations, these locations actually work in the movie's favor. It gives someone who has never been to Greece an idea what modern Athens and the environs look like.

For non-speakers of the Greek language, there are English subtitles. The subtitle are not perfect, but gets the idea across. The movie is hilarious in any language.

The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)

Captures the Spirit of Time in History

[10/10 · 26 March 2021]

How do you summarize a trial that lasted over six months? How do you display the political spirit of times as different from the present day as day is to night? How do you portray historical characters, many of which are not among us today and those who are alive are so much different from 1969? How do you summarize events spanning one year in 130 minutes? To paraphrase the line Gary Oldman said in his recent movie, Mank, it is impossible to tell the story of a person's life accurately; the best you can do is give "an impression." This is what The Trial of the Chicago Seven does. It gives an impression, but a good impression, of the political spirit, as near as accurate as possible.

Speaking as one active in the times portrayed in this movie, I was energized watching this movie. As I looked at the events of this movie, all those memories of those turbulent times came rushing back, in a big way. Both while watching this film and after the credits rolled at the end, I concluded, thinking to myself, "Yeah, that's what it was like."

Is the depiction stone cold accurate? No. William Kunstler was much more bombastic in court and outside the courtroom when making statements to the press than that portrayed by Mark Rylance. Abbie Hoffman was WAY more outrageous in life, both in the courtroom and out, than Sasha Baron Cohen's portrayal. Julius Hoffman, believe it or not, was more unpredictable, frivolous, and incredulous during the court proceedings than Frank Langella's Hoffman.

This is as good as movies of historical events go. Movies are judged on their entertainment value. The standard is different for historical movies. The historical facts must be tweaked to not provoke boredom or tedium in the audience. In very rare cases the entertainment value of these movies will be equal to or surpass what you learn about the events portrayed. Believe it or not, folks, there was a time and place called Chicago, 1969. Dead accurate? No, but this movie accurately captures the spirit and drama of the times. And that is good enough.

Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan (2021– )

Entertaining and Informative

[10/10 · 15 March 2021]

It is rare to find a mini-series or documentary which is informative and entertaining at the same time. There are documentaries on PBS which follow the same model as the Age of Samurai, but to be honest most are informative but plain boring or terrible. This mini-series is not. It is very well done and after viewing this mini-series you just might learn something.

The Age of Samurai follows a familiar format - charts and diagrams, historical re-enactments, interspersed with commentary from academics and historians. What sets this mini-series apart is it is the perfect combination of information and entertainment.

Personally, I have been a big fan of samurai films for a long while. Before finishing this mini-series I had no idea of the larger historical context for samurai films. For roughly four hundred years, over two long historical periods, the internal situation in Japan was one of total chaos, with various feudal lords fighting each other for dominance, and with a weak central government. In other words, constant, intense Civil War. You can imagine, in those four hundred years there were innumerable battles with many, many personages. This mini-series highlights the major battles and the most significant personalities. Many of the battles portrayed are subjects of their own separate movies, some many times over.

This is required viewing.

Judas and the Black Messiah (2021)

An Outstanding Portrayal

[10/10 · 13 March 2021]

Given the subject matter, this movie is an unflinching, unvarnished, uncompromising look into the life and revolutionary thought of Fred Hampton.

For those who are unfamiliar with Fred Hampton, during the time of the Chicago 7, in the late Sixties, Fred Hampton was the leader of the Black Panthers (not of course to be confused with the recent movie, Black Panther) of Chicago. Long before the term was fashionable, Hampton was able to forge what he called a rainbow coalition with other brown and white revolutionary groups, which no doubt hastened his death. In December 1969 he was shot dead while he sleeping by members of the Chicago Police and FBI. There is no historical disagreement that J. Edgar Hoover personally directed the assassination of Fred Hampton. None of the participants were prosecuted nor even questioned following his assassination.

The story is told through the eyes of the Judas, the traitor in the organization, Bill O'Neil, and his FBI handler. In life, O'Niel was Fred Hampton's closest associate, so you can see how deep the FBI was able to penetrate the organization. While there are moments when the movie digresses into Hollywood hokum, on the whole this movie is a sympathetic and accurate portrayal of the revolutionary thought of Fred Hampton. The focus of the film is Hampton's thoughts and dreams. By watching this film you will see the care with which that revolutionary thought was presented on the screen. It is both surprising and gratifying at the same time to see a major studio embark on this project and preserve Hampton's life, memory, and thoughts for a new generation.

The Magnificent Nine (2016)

Excellent Movie

[10/10 · 10 March 2021]

This is a great story expertly done about the transition period in Japan, from the Samurai to modern periods. This movie is an interested twist on The Seven Samurai of Kurosawa, this movie proves there is more than one way to skin a cat.

A small poor farming community is found within the dominion of a feudal lord. This lord from time to time claims the local horses for his own personal purposes, further impoverishing the town. What well-off, influential citizens of the town decide that enough is enough and realize they are plunging further and further in poverty. This group - the magnificent nine - decide to accumulate a sum of money, lend it to the feudal lord, and force him out of his position when they enforce to collect the interest loaned.

This summary does not spoil the enjoyment of the movie. That enjoyment is obtained in seeing how the town accumulate the capitol, how long their plan takes, the internal tensions in the group, the ups and downs in executing the plan, and the final rewards.

This is an interesting take on a well-worn paradigm in movie history. The innovation of this movie is that instead of fighting an outside threat with brute force, the townspeople battle the feudal lord through financial means, allowing him to drown in debt. All they want is their horses returned.

There have been many, many copy-cats to Kurosawa's movie. Some are downright terrible. But not this one. The movie is so convincingly executed you feel you have been provided a window into 1850s Japan. The attention to detail, from the buildings in the town to the dress of the local peoples is perfect.

I saw this movie during a trans-continental flight to Europe. I was looking forward to the DVD release when I returned. That day has unfortunately not arrived. Maybe some day.