Don't Bother to Knock - 8 stars out of 10
Soft-spoken and innocent, Marilyn Monroe perfectly portrays this emotionally unstable woman with secrets hiding under the surface. She brings a dramatic intensity to the role, breaking out of her stereotype. It is also interesting to see Anne Bancroft in the role that began her illustrious career. The story is straightforward and becomes predictable after a half hour, yet you will never tire of watching the charming Monroe light up the screen in a way that you would not expect.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
True Grit (1969) - 6 stars out of 10
True Grit (1969) - 6 stars out of 10
"True Grit" is one of those classics that everybody needs to see, even if only as a salute to John Wayne's incredible career in cinema. The writers did a good job of building anticipation, making us wait over 10 minutes to get our first glimpse of Wayne and 20 minutes to meet his character. The main reason that anybody will watch this film is to see him and the writers exploit that. I don't agree that Wayne's performance was better than Dustin Hoffman in "Midnight Cowboy," but I do agree with the Academy for making sure that he received an Oscar (like Bogart in "The African Queen"). Besides, Rooster is just way too cool to let anybody beat him for that award. Glen Campbell and Robert Duvall are above average, but Kim Darby has more grit than the rest of the cast combined. It may lack in action and intensity compared to many films but the grit offered by Wayne and Darby in "True Grit" make it worth watching.
"True Grit" is one of those classics that everybody needs to see, even if only as a salute to John Wayne's incredible career in cinema. The writers did a good job of building anticipation, making us wait over 10 minutes to get our first glimpse of Wayne and 20 minutes to meet his character. The main reason that anybody will watch this film is to see him and the writers exploit that. I don't agree that Wayne's performance was better than Dustin Hoffman in "Midnight Cowboy," but I do agree with the Academy for making sure that he received an Oscar (like Bogart in "The African Queen"). Besides, Rooster is just way too cool to let anybody beat him for that award. Glen Campbell and Robert Duvall are above average, but Kim Darby has more grit than the rest of the cast combined. It may lack in action and intensity compared to many films but the grit offered by Wayne and Darby in "True Grit" make it worth watching.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (2009) - 9 stars out of 10
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (2009) - 9 stars out of 10
"The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest" backs away from the action sequences possessed in the first two installments of this series and moves toward a psychological, courtroom drama. It creates intensity through the stress exemplified in the actors' voices as they deliver this intelligently written dialogue. From the onset of the film, I was struck by Georgi Staykov's incredible make-up. As the movie progresses, the story permeates deeper as more layers are unraveled in this thriller and Lisbeth continues her progression from antagonist to victim in our eyes. The organization of the courtroom scene is excellent, interjecting the evidence at exactly the right times, culminating in a Godfather-esque sequence as all of the key players are brought down. The story gets neatly wrapped up... and then the realization occurs that one issue has not been resolved. Finally, everything comes full circle in the penultimate scene as the I-iii chord progression from the opening credits of the first film return with Lisbeth still unable to properly express her emotions. The characters complete an incredible journey throughout these films and, if at all possible, I strongly recommend watching the entire trilogy over three nights, or even in one day. The second and third films in particular are essentially one long movie and it's worthwhile to experience the transformed perspective of Lisbeth over a short timespan.
"The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest" backs away from the action sequences possessed in the first two installments of this series and moves toward a psychological, courtroom drama. It creates intensity through the stress exemplified in the actors' voices as they deliver this intelligently written dialogue. From the onset of the film, I was struck by Georgi Staykov's incredible make-up. As the movie progresses, the story permeates deeper as more layers are unraveled in this thriller and Lisbeth continues her progression from antagonist to victim in our eyes. The organization of the courtroom scene is excellent, interjecting the evidence at exactly the right times, culminating in a Godfather-esque sequence as all of the key players are brought down. The story gets neatly wrapped up... and then the realization occurs that one issue has not been resolved. Finally, everything comes full circle in the penultimate scene as the I-iii chord progression from the opening credits of the first film return with Lisbeth still unable to properly express her emotions. The characters complete an incredible journey throughout these films and, if at all possible, I strongly recommend watching the entire trilogy over three nights, or even in one day. The second and third films in particular are essentially one long movie and it's worthwhile to experience the transformed perspective of Lisbeth over a short timespan.
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