Tag: Family

Quick Reviews of the Indiana Jones Movies

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Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) starring Harrison Ford & Karen Allen

Indiana Jones – the new hero from the creators of JAWS and STAR WARS. -Tagline

In 1936, archaeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones is hired by the U.S. government to find the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis can obtain its awesome powers. -Synopsis

This past month, I’ve been binge-listening to The Fordcast, a V fun/informative podcast re: career of actor Harrison Ford. I have been (re-watching) some of his (’80s & ’90s) movies. The 1st of the Indiana Jones movies is considered “one of the 1st Summer blockbusters” (after Jaws); it was directed by Steven Spielberg and story is credited to his friends/frequent collaborators (George Lucas- who created Indy, Lawrence Kasdan, and Phillip Kaufman). The music (which suits the action/adventure V well) was composed by John Williams. Long-time fans (according to what I’ve read online) consider it to be the best (or 2nd) best of the franchise. I saw this movie (on network TV) many yrs ago; I didn’t recall much about the plot. I re-watched it last month and had a LOT of fun! In the title role, Ford has a LOT more to do than in the (also iconic) Star Wars franchise. Indy’s (buttoned-up) professor is almost like a different man from his (risk-taking) adventurer; I was reminded of the Clark Kent/Superman dichotomy. Ford was NOT considered “conventionally handsome” (when he went to auditions early in his career). I’m guessing that he was the (rare) male actor who wasn’t vain.

Marion: You’re not the man I knew ten years ago.

Indy: It’s not the years, honey, it’s the mileage.

Indy’s line to Marion (smart, independent, and sassy) when they are on the ship (see above) was ad-libbed by Ford. Marion (Karen Allen) returns in a later film; she’s considered to be the “true love” of Indy’s life. In the opening of the story, we see a (young/slim) Alfred Molina. Indy’s Egyptian friend, Sallah (John Rhys-Davies), will be seen in later movies also; many know him from the LOTR trilogy. The posh/British dean at Indy’s college, Marcus Brody (Denholm Elliott), will be recognizable to period drama fans; he appeared in A Room with a View (1985) and Maurice (1986). The famous scene in which Indy shoots the swordsman was NOT in the script. Ford was supposed to use his whip to get the sword out of his attacker’s hands, BUT the food poisoning he (and the rest of the crew) had gotten made him too sick to perform the stunt. After several tries, Ford suggested “shooting the sucker;” Spielberg liked the idea!

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) starring Harrison Ford, Kate Capshaw, & Ke Huy Quan

In 1935, Indiana Jones is tasked by Indian villagers with reclaiming a rock stolen from them by a secret cult beneath the catacombs of an ancient palace. -Synopsis

Indy: [groping desperately down Willie’s dress] Where’s the antidote?
Willie: Oh, listen, I just met you! Oh, I’m not that kind of girl…
Short Round: Hey, Dr. Jones, no time for love. We’ve got company.

A LOT of (younger) ppl are discussing this movie lately; Ke Huy Quan (Short Round), has received many awards for his role in Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022). His mom saw an ad in the newspaper looking for child actors; Quan (aged 12 in this movie) got an audition! The Chinese-American actor (who worked mostly as a stuntman) appeared in another famous movie- The Goonies (1985). Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw (Willie), met and fell in love during production. Quan does a good job w/ what he is given (though he never acted before); he later said “I was just a kid having fun.”

This is NOT a V effective film (aside from a few scenes of action and humor). The pacing is NOT good; it drags in many places. Worst of all, there are stereotypes and MANY problematic elements involving POC (most notable those playing Indians). I don’t know what the co-writers (William Huyck and Gloria Katz) or producers were thinking! Indie film fans may recognize Roshan Seth; he is a fine character actor known internationally. Amrish Puri shaved his head for the role of Mola Ram (the main baddie here); he kept that look and became one of India’s most popular film villains. Women/girls will NOT be amused; Willie (the singer) is characterized as a shallow, nearly helpless, and complaining re: everything; Capshaw later admitted that the role was “mostly screeching.” For the bug chamber scene, Capshaw was covered w/ over 2,000 insects; she took sedatives to get over her initial fear, and said “they definitely worked.” There is a shirtless scene in the cave; Ford (who is looking esp. fit) worked out using the Body by Jake program. Y’all remember all the exercise crazes we had in the ’80s!?

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) starring Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, & Alison Doody

Have the adventure of your life keeping up with the Joneses. -Tagline

In 1938, after his father goes missing while pursuing the Holy Grail, Indiana Jones finds himself up against the Nazis again to stop them from obtaining its powers. -Synopsis

I consider this to the best of the franchise; it was enjoyable from start to finish! The opening (flashback) is terrific; we see a teenaged Boy Scout, Indy (River Phoenix), facing off against some big/tough men attempting to steal artifacts in a cave. Phoenix (older brother to Joaquin who died in ’93) played Ford’s son in The Mosquito Coast (1986); the older actor recommended him for young Indy. Though they are NOT that far off in age, Ford and Connery make a great duo. If you weren’t impressed w/ Connery much before, check this movie out! Did anyone recall the 23 y.o. actress Alison Doody (Elsa)? She’s Irish, worked as a model in the ’80s, and went on to work as a painter. Doody recently had a baddie role in the Indian hit movie RRR (2022).

Prof. Henry Jones: [accidentally shoots their own plane with the machine gun]
Indy: Dad, are we hit?
Prof. Henry Jones: More or less. Son, I’m sorry. They got us.

Ford cut his chin in a car accident in SoCal when he was 20 y.o. This cut is explained by young Indy cutting his chin w/ a whip. As w/ the other movies in this franchise, Ford did many of his own stunts. According to his stunt double, Vic Armstrong, he had to pull Ford to one side and ask him to let him “do some work”- LOL! Armstrong commented: “If he wasn’t such a great actor, he would have made a really great stuntman.” Most of the uniforms worn by the Nazis in the Berlin book-burning scene are real WWII uniforms, not copies. I learned that 2,000 rats were bred for this production; this was necessary, as ordinary rats would have been riddled w/ disease- wow!

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) starring Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchett, Shia LaBeouf, Ray Winstone, & Karen Allen

In 1957, Indiana Jones becomes entangled in a Soviet plot to uncover the secret behind mysterious artifacts known as the Crystal Skulls. -Synopsis

Indy: What’s your mom’s name again?

Mutt: Mary. Mary Williams. You remember her?

Indy: There’ve been a lot of Marys, kid.

Mutt: [jolts up from chair] Shut up! That’s my mother you’re talking about! All right? That’s my mother.

Indy: You don’t have to get sore all the time just to prove how tough you are.

I heard that it was (mostly) bad- and yup- those critics/viewers were right! Here we see that even the FAB Cate Blanchett (who plays an Eastern European villain) didn’t “hit it out of the park” every time. Of course, some ppl will be avoiding this movie b/c of (the problematic IRL) LaBeouf. The CGI looks dated, too. Ford convinced David Koepp (co-writer) to incl. some jokes re: Indy’s age in the script, believing they’d help reduce the “American paranoia about aging.” He also refused to dye his hair for the role, arguing Indy’s appeal wasn’t in his youth, BUT in his imagination and resourcefulness. I had assumed (when I was younger) that The Last Crusade would be the final of this franchise.

Quick Reviews of Four Neo Noirs

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The Big Easy (1986) starring Dennis Quaid & Ellen Barkin

He’s got to hide the truth. She’ll stop at nothing to find out. But tonight, everything’s off the record.

-Taglines for the film

Lt. Remy McSwain (Quaid), a cop in Homicide, finds that he has 2 probs: 1) a brutal series of gang killings and 2) Ann Osborne (Barkin), an attorney from the D.A.’s police corruption task force. He begins a relationship w/ her as the killings continue, only to have charges filed against him for accepting bribes (after he stumbles into a sting operation). Meanwhile, the criminal leaders insist that none of their gangs are behind the killings. FYI: Jim Garrison (the judge in Remy’s bribery case) was a real lawyer and judge. He was, for a time, the DA of NOLA. A case he had while in that position was the subject of Oliver Stone’s JFK (1991); Garrison was played by Kevin Costner.

In the opening credits, we see over the bayous and countryside rushing by below (w/ the energetic zydeco music- played through the film). The filmmakers do a good job at bringing NOLA to life w/ its sights and sounds (incl. Creole dialects). Quaid (TOO pushy to get a date in the first 20 mins; this kind of behavior would NOT work today) plays a man who is energetic, obstinate, and self-assured. However, he gets to reveal another (emotional) side when the story asks for it. Quaid also sings a song! Barkin does an better job at selling the movie (as some critics noted); Anne is a woman who is strong, BUT also vulnerable (being unlucky w/ romance in the past). Barkin and Quaid (both 32 y.o.) have a chemistry that is playful and hot; they both said this was their fave movie! There is a (much discussed) love scene where they’re partly clothed, BUT he goes down on her (V rare to see onscreen at that time). A phone call interrupts them (of course), so they have to rush over to a crime scene. A bit later on, there is another (also good) love scene. The supporting characters (cops) incl. John Goodman, Lisa Jane Persky, and Ned Beatty. Unfortunately, the few Italian and Black characters aren’t shown in a nuanced manner.

Mortal Thoughts (1991) starring Demi Moore, Glenne Headly, & Bruce Willis

Something terrible happened that night. Something everyone wanted to talk about. Something no one was telling the truth about. -Taglines for the film

A young hairdresser/wife/mom, Cynthia Kellogg (Moore- w/ big/permed hair), is in a police station (in Bayonne, NJ) being interrogated by an experienced cop, Det. John Woods (Harvey Keitel), and his younger/female partner. Through flashbacks, Cynthia explains how her bestie/co-worker, Joyce (Glenne Headly), married her loud/macho/jobless hubby, James Urbaniak (Bruce Willis); how hard Joyce’s marriage was; and why Joyce ended up killing James (in self-defense). The cop (who is smarter than he acts) finds some contradictions in her statement and pushes Cynthia, trying to get her to disclose the whole truth.

The film’s title refers to Macbeth (Act I, Scene 5), in which Lady Macbeth says: “Come, you spirits / That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here / And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full / Of direst cruelty…” Siskel and Ebert noted that they liked the movie, esp. the friend relationship btwn. Moore and Headley (who has appeared in theater and many indies). Willis plays a wholly unredeemable villain; he creates a cartoonish character (w/ a NOT so cute goatee). Moore and Willis were married at this time. I found the themes here compelling and it kept my interest; Moore does a good job here (as she is adept at projecting vulnerability). There is a twist in this movie, which makes sense, BUT I didn’t see coming!

Under Suspicion (1991) starring Liam Neeson, Laura San Giacomo, & Kenneth Cranham

How close can you get to a killer before you’re too close? -Tagline for the film

I learned about this movie (set in 1959 in the seaside town of Brighton, England) on the Fatal Attractions podcast. Disgraced cop turned PI, Tony Aaron (Neeson), falsifies adulteries for use as evidence in divorce cases. He involves his wife as the fictional co-respondent for painter Carlo Stasio, BUT both of them are shot dead in a hotel room. In charge of the case is Frank (Cranham), Tony’s former partner who still works on the police force. Frank’s most likely suspects are Angeline (San Giacomo), Stasio’s young/American mistress, who is set to inherit his house and paintings, and Tony himself, whose story doesn’t add up.

It’s NOT easy to get a movie made in the UK, so I think these filmmakers deserve respect for giving it a shot. It MAY be tough for some modern viewers to see Neeson in this (loser-type) role; also, there is no chemistry btwn him and San Giacomo. It looks like they don’t believe the words they’re are saying in the love scenes- a bad sign. The pacing is quite slow, BUT there is good dialogue and colorful supporting actors. There are lovely location shots and some cool-looking costumes (esp. hats and jackets). Cranham did a fine job as a weary/experienced detective. There is a twist ending which I did NOT see coming!

China Moon (1994) starring Ed Harris, Madeleine Stowe, Benicio Del Toro, & Charles Dance

He thought it was passion. It was deceit. He thought it was love. It was murder. -Taglines for the film

This movie was filmed in 1990-91, BUT was thrown into limbo when Orion filed for bankruptcy in late ’91. After a reorganization of the production company, the film finally had its release in 1994. This is a tightly edited (99 min.) simple story in the vein of Body Heat (1981), which is also set in a small Florida town. Det. Kyle Bodine (Harris) quickly falls for Rachel (Stowe) who is trapped in a violent marriage w/ a wealthy banker, Rupert Munro (Charles Dance- w/ blonde hair and a posh Southern accent). Many will know Dance from his (more recent) role of Tywin Lannister on GoT; as a younger actor, he played many baddies. After Rachel shoots her hubby during a domestic fight, Kyle (reluctantly) agrees to help her hide the body. Soon after, Kyle’s younger partner, Det. Lamar Dickey (Del Toro- just 24 w/ a baby face), starts showing initiative and finding clues. As one fan of this (lesser-known) noir wrote: “The main reason to check his out is a great performance from Ed Harris. The feeling of him being sucked into something is written all over his face, and the way he goes from cop in control of all the details into a hunted animal is really good. Stowe is also really good and the support cast also has quality…” Siskel and Ebert liked this movie also, incl. the chemistry btwn Harris and Stowe. There is a twist (which was a surprise), BUT makes sense!

Spoiler-Free Reviews of Two Indies (2023): “Polite Society” & “Joyland”

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Polite Society

A merry mash up of sisterly affection, parental disappointment and bold action, Polite Society follows martial artist-in-training Ria Khan who believes she must save her older sister Lena from her impending marriage. After enlisting the help of her friends, Ria attempts to pull off the most ambitious of all wedding heists in the name of independence and sisterhood.

-Synopsis (Focus Features)

Are you a fan of the (genre-defying) indie hit Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) directed by the Daniels? Then, THIS is the next film (written/directed by a young woman- Nida Manzoor) is for you! Polite Society is an unique blend of action (incl. martial arts) and comedy w/ domestic drama and horror elements mixed in. A modern-day British Pakistani teen, Ria (Priya Kansara), aspires to be a stuntwoman like her idol Eunice Huthart (recently a stunt coordinator on Star Wars and Marvel movies IRL). Her parents, teachers, and peers are skeptical about her ambition. However, Ria is supported by her older sister, Lena (Ritu Arya), who left art school and is back home wondering what to do next. In their community of British Asians, there is a wealthy woman w/ a (single/doctor) son named Salim; when he meets Lena, they quickly hit it off. Ria is NOT so happy to see her sis dating (and maybe falling for) this man.

Joyland

The youngest son in a traditional Pakistani family takes a job as a backup dancer in a Bollywood-style burlesque and quickly becomes infatuated with the strong-willed trans woman who runs the show.

-Synopsis

I heard re: this film while watching the Independent Spirit Awards (which streamed on YT this Spring). The young director/co-writer, Saim Siddiq, was applauded for Joyland (his 1st feature film). The movie was originally banned in Pakistan, but the censors later cleared it; a ban remains in Punjab, (where the story is set). During an interview at Cannes w/ an Indian film critic, Siddiq said that he edited parts out for his native country: “though most directors would not allow it, I wanted this to be seen by a broad audience.” The film got an 8 min. long standing ovation at Cannes. It is Pakistan’s submission to the 95th Academy Awards. As one of the programmers at TIFF (a Canadian Indian young man) commented, this is “a story of family, desire, and who gets to express that desire.” It is the type of restrained story that is rare to see today; there isn’t much music (therefore no pushing to elicit emotions from the audience). Siddiq chose to use silence a LOT, as he felt that was more powerful.

In modern-day Lahore, a quiet/unassuming young man, Haider (Ali Junejo), serves the (unofficial) caretaker in his “joint family.” At first, you may think of him as a bystander in his own life. His wife, Mumtaz (Rasti Farooq- close friend/classmate of Siddiq), works at a beauty salon. The head of the household is Haider’s elderly father; he is a widower who uses a wheelchair. Haider’s older brother (Saleem) and his wife (Nucchi) have 3 young daughters; they’re expecting another baby soon (perhaps a son). After several yrs. w/o a job, Haider gets an interview at an “erotic theatre” (part of an amusement park- “Joyland”). A confident/fast-talking trans woman, Biba (Alina Khan), is one of the dancers; she also choreographs the routines. Biba needs 6 men to be her back-up dancers; Haider is NOT naturally a dancer, BUT the pay is V good.

“Fatal Attraction” (Paramount+): Episode 1

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A deep-dive reimagining of the classic 80s thriller, exploring timeless themes of marriage and infidelity through the lens of modern attitudes toward strong women, personality disorders and coercive control. -Synopsis

Introduction:

Are you a fan of the (iconic) movie Fatal Attraction (1987) starring Michael Douglas and Glenn Close, or perhaps the erotic thriller genre? If so, then you may want to check out this new Paramount+ streaming show (w/ a subscription on Amazon Prime). Three eps were released last SUN (April 30th); there will be a total of 8 eps (about 1 hr./ea.) For fans of the original, there are “Easter eggs” to be found, as co-writer Alexandra Cunningham noted. James Dearden (who wrote the original screenplay) is credited; long-time fans may recognize (discarded) ideas from his original script. Beth has a much larger role to play; she has a small business (so is not a housewife). Dearden originally wrote Beth as a schoolteacher who’d taken a few yrs off, BUT was planning to return to work. Producers didn’t like that idea, so that’s why movie Beth (Ann Archer) was an ideal “happy homemaker.”

Episode 1:

15 years after Alex Forrest’s murder, Dan Gallagher is paroled and reaches out to his estranged daughter Ellen. In the past, a crushing career defeat drives him to first connect with Alex. -Synopsis of the pilot episode

Do you know the (alternate) ending to the ’80s movie which the producers rejected? That finale included Dan being convicted of murdering Alex! The ep opens w/ Dan’s hearing in front of the parole board; he has served his sentence of 15 yrs. It sounds like he has been a model prisoner during this time. His manner is humble and his speech is V serious/calm. Though he doesn’t notice her, the adult Ellen (a grad student in Psychology) is at the hearing.

The setting of the story has been moved from NYC to LA. In 2008, Dan (Joshua Jackson, 45 y.o.) is still a lawyer, BUT he’s a Deputy District Attorney (NOT in corporate law). As in the movie, he has a comfy home, loving wife (Beth), and young daughter (Ellen is aged up to 8 y.o.) He seems to be respected/liked by most of his colleagues at the Criminal Courts Building. Dan is turning 40 soon and up for a judgeship. Alex (Lizzy Caplan, 40 y.o.) isn’t a book editor here; she works in Victims Services (and is also a colleague of Dan’s). In the era of #MeToo, this adds another layer to the classic story of infidelity.

This show has 2 timelines: the present (2023) has a cool color palette, while the time period of the affair/its aftermath (2008) has a warmer look. In the past, Dan is often in the center of the frame (as one would typically present a main character). He wears suits, talks fast, and walks in an upright/confident manner. In the present, Dan is sometimes on the sidelines (as the story is NOT just his anymore). He has more gray hair, is dressed V casually, talks carefully (slowly) and has his head/shoulders lowered. There is more to see, so check out the show for yourself!

My first reaction was that I missed the (more glam) setting of Manhattan. Then, I wondered how much of the story would focus on law and order. Ellen’s focus is on Carl Jung; I wonder if this may play out in the show. Do you think the casting of the leads is fitting? I will keep on watching and post review of the full series when it has finished. If you’re active on Twitter, I’ve posted some related tweets. (See videos below.)

“Damage” (1992) & “Obsession” (Netflix: 2023)

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Damage (1992) starring Jeremy Irons, Juliette Binoche, Miranda Richardson, & Rupert Graves

With love comes risk. With obsession comes… Damage.

The most talked about novel of the year is now the most talked about film of the year.

-Taglines for the film

A middle-aged/married member of Parliament, Dr. Stephen Fleming (Irons), falls passionately in love w/ his son’s young fiancée/art curator, Anna Barton (Binoche). They conduct their affair recklessly. Soon, Stephen wants to leave is wife, Ingrid (Richardson), to be w/ Anna. She has no intention of allowing him to do that. They’re eventually discovered by the son, Martyn (Graves), and must deal w/ the resulting “damage.”

Anna: Damaged people are dangerous. They know they can survive.

This is a terrific/character-driven drama (directed by Louis Malle) re: emotionally damaged people and romantic obsession. It is effective, b/c emotions are portrayed honestly. Stephen has a great career, a pretty/supportive wife, two kids, and a lovely home. Why threaten it with an affair!? We think he is making a huge mistake, yet many others have done this IRL. At an event in Parliament, Anna seeks out Stephen and introduces herself. (Some of you may wonder if her dating Martyn was a way to get to him.) All they can do is stare at each other (in a quite strong scene, as Roget Ebert noted). For Stephen, part of the appeal lies in unleashing the passion which he perhaps sublimated in his youth; there is also danger. Anna remains (mostly) a mystery; she has a tragedy in her youth involving her brother.

[1] The acting is marvelous – Binoche is exquisitely dressed, though some of those marvelous clothes are ripped off of her – she brings an exotic, androgynous and mysterious quality to the role of Anna. Irons is excellent as an up-tight father and half-crazed lover. […]

The last 30 minutes of this movie are some of the most shattering moments in film, and what makes them so shattering is not only the situation but the absolutely devastating, visceral, no holds barred performance by Miranda Richardson.

[2] “Damage” is, has been, and is going to be, a beautiful and interesting film to some. To others, it is, has been and is going to be cold and dull. Count me in as somebody in the former camp, while totally seeing why it won’t connect, and hasn’t connected, for others and am not in any way going to hold that against them.

[3] …the sex between Irons and Binoche is not there just to get the audience all hot and bothered. You have to look at it within the context of the story… […] From the moment they meet, they are both captive to an overwhelming, inexplicable passion, due to deep-seated, subconscious motivations stemming from each person’s individual history and emotional nature. It’s fairly clear from the mostly silent, often awkward, and sometimes almost painful-looking sex that they are not in it for the sheer physical sensation, or even to show affection/love for each other. They simply can’t help themselves.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

Obsession (Netflix: 2023) starring Richard Armitage, Charlie Murphy, Indira Varma, & Rish Shah

IF you haven’t watched this (TV-MA) miniseries yet, then don’t (you can thank me now)! IF you think that most of Netflix content is crap, this will NOT change your mind. There is so much wrong here, starting w/ the format of 4 eps at 40 mins/ea. Why drag it out!? This (simple) story doesn’t need to be broken down; as some reviewers said, it could’ve been a 90 min. movie. Secondly, there is almost zero character development (which pissed me off)! Next up, we have the (cringe-worthy) sex scenes which were (no joke) directed by a husband-wife team. There is NO chemistry btwn the two leads- Armitage (looking FAB over 50) and Murphy (who has a V odd hairstyle)! As y’all know, I’m a fan of Armitage, BUT he can’t save this on his own. The actor wears a look of confusion in a LOT of the “steamy” scenes. Some media execs still don’t realize that the script is the MOST important thing! Some of my pals (IRL and online) commented that they were impressed by Varma; she is TOO good for the material. This is a waste of talent! Nothing erotic. Nothing thrilling. Perhaps the worst element here is the (painfully) dramatic/loud musical score. OK, I have to stop, before I get TOO angry!

[1] This was a very un-sexy letdown, due to completely lacking writing and plot. I watched this for Richard Armitage who is, frankly, too good of an actor for such a lame script…

I understand that it’s labeled a thriller, but for such ominous music to be playing during supposedly passionate scenes is just bizarre and a huge turnoff. Am I gonna be jump-scared? It’s confusing.

[2] What a waste of talent. I even disliked Richard’s acting in this role. No on screen chemistry. I cared not what happened to anyone here. I wished there was a voice off the screen yelling “cut!”. “This is crap. I am not doing this.”

The female protagonist is totally unlikable. Totally. Unlikable. No internal substance. Nothing. […]

Oh- the intimate scenes were laughable at best. I cannot believe I actually fast forwarded through them. Yes. I skipped the supposed “juicy” parts. Not compelling. They were boring

[3] …there was nothing thrilling in this mini series. The biggest problem is that we are offered no character development – two people meet once and are immediately obsessed with each other abandoning all reason. […]

There is no real chemistry between the characters. The sex scenes are a frankly ridiculous – as if they were all choreographed by a socially-awkward person. The hotel pillow scene actually made laugh.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews