Tag: History

“Priscilla” (2023) starring Cailee Spaeny & Jacob Elordi

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Wife to the King. Icon to the world. Destined for more. -Tagline

When teenage Priscilla Beaulieu meets Elvis Presley, the man who is already a meteoric rock-and-roll superstar becomes someone entirely unexpected in private moments: a thrilling crush, an ally in loneliness, a vulnerable best friend. -Tagline

Are any of y’all having a hard time sleeping? Well, this movie MAY be the solution- no joke! We have (another) case of style over substance. I had modest (NOT high) hopes for this biopic; it had gotten a LOT of buzz at the Venice Film Festival last Fall. The teens/20s crowd (mostly female) waiting for pics/autographs went wild for the statuesque Jacob Elordi (who plays Elvis). Priscilla Presley (whose autobiography the film was based on) was on the red carpet, along w/ Sofia Coppola (director) and petite/newcomer Cailee Spaeny (who plays the title role).

I think it would’ve been easy to make a much darker movie, especially because seeing something unfold onscreen can be so much more visceral than reading it. But I didn’t want the darker side of their relationship to completely overshadow the film, so it was a matter of trying to show the reality. It was important to Priscilla that it was still her love story and to show Elvis as a real human being instead of some two-dimensional villain. I just wanted to show her point of view and leave it to the audience to come to their own conclusions about this relationship. But it was a matter of finding some balance because I don’t want the film to seem like it’s condoning certain things, but I also wanna portray Priscilla’s experience as she says it was. It was important to me for her to feel good about the film, and that it felt truthful to her experience and how she told it. -Sofia Coppola, director

Lisa Marie Presley (before passing away suddenly) read the script and strongly disapproved; she wrote a letter to Coppola criticizing the portrayal of her father. Elvis Presley Enterprises declined approval for this film to use his songs; Coppola used music by her husband’s band (Phoenix) and cover versions of songs. As we expect from this director, the look of the film is impressive; the period details are cool to see. At nearly 2 hrs in run time, this movie seems TOO long b/c of its pacing. The tone is heavy throughout. I didn’t see much heat (romantic chemistry) btwn Elordi and Spaeny! Was this perhaps intentional (in some scenes), I had to wonder? Their acting is good for what they’re given, BUT I didn’t find depth in the dialogue or feel connection to the story. The supporting characters don’t get much to say/do, which makes the tale seem even more thin. As the Young’uns might say: “It was meh.”

Spoiler-Free Review: “Society of the Snow” (2023)

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In 1972, the Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571, chartered to fly a rugby team to Chile, catastrophically crashes on a glacier in the heart of the Andes. Only 16 of the 40 passengers survived the crash and finding themselves in one of the world’s toughest environments, they are forced to resort to extreme measures to stay alive. -Synopsis

This movie (streaming on Netflix) is Spain’s official submission for Best International Feature Film at the 2024 Oscars; it is in Spanish w/ English subtitles. At the Goya Awards on February 10th, it became in the 3rd most awarded movie in Spain’s history by winning 12 prizes. The director (and one of several co-writers) is from Spain; J.A. Bayona recently worked on eps of The Rings of Power (Amazon Prime) and the movie Jurassic Park: Fallen Kingdom. Pablo Vierci, the author of the book La Sociedad de la Nieve is a friend of some of the young men in the crash; he also served as a consultant on this movie. Some of you may be familiar w/ Alive (1993) starring Ethan Hawke.

I checked out this movie after noting a LOT of Twitter posts re: its lead- 30 y.o. Uruguayan actor Enzo Vogrincic. He plays Numa Turcatti, a college grad/photography enthusiast who is best pals w/ one of the rugby players. Many viewers have pointed out his physical resemblance to Adam Driver in this film. Others noted that in Vogrincic’s modeling photos (incl. for the Spanish fashion brand Loewe), the similarity isn’t as strong. Yes, the South American actor (who does a fine job) is indeed a fan of Driver’s work. Vogrincic (working on becoming fluent in English) was recently seen at BAFTA; you can follow him on IG (vogrincicenzo).

I have searched within my family tree, I cannot find actors, writers, poets. I think I did it (deciding to be an actor) to go against them, but it is very personal, I am creative in everything I do, it is part of my be, I can’t help it. -Enzo Vogrincic (actor)

The film was mostly shot in the Andes in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic; the cinematography is stunning (the snow is real)! The haircuts, clothing, and accessories are pulled directly from photos of those involved in the crash. Filming was done in chronological order (which is rare) to allow the young actors to lose lbs. (to add to the realism). The story is NOT too bleak (dark); the focus is on the resilience of the human spirit. Much is revealed w/o a LOT of words in some tense/emotional scenes. The run time is a BIT long and I’d have liked more character development.

Spoiler-Free Reviews of Three 2023 Movies

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Killers of the Flower Moon

In 1920s Oklahoma, a simple-minded/former WWII soldier, Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio), comes under the influence of his powerful/businessman uncle, William Hale (Robert DeNiro). In this area, the members of the Osage nation are V wealthy, as they hold land rights (to where oil was discovered). While working as a driver, Ernest meets and courts Mollie (Lily Gladstone), a young/single Osage woman who comes from a family of several sisters. Ernest and Mollie marry and have children, though their life together is NOT always smooth. In time, we learn of (mysterious) deaths of several Osage; the (newly formed) FBI sends agents to investigate, incl. Tom White (Jesse Plemons).

IF the 3 hrs. and 26 mins. run time doesn’t put you off, then you should check it out. I feel V important events, issues, and themes are discussed. I saw it w/ 2 of my friends a few weeks after it was released. I think younger (under 25) audiences could have a tough time, as they have shorter attention spans. Modern viewers are also NOT used to such long takes of scenes, some of which could’ve been edited further. IF you’re sensitive to blood, racist/sexist language, and violence, this MAY be difficult to watch; director Martin Scorsese films don’t shy away from these elements.

DiCaprio (who made a salary of $30M) is wearing a downturned (frowning) expression w/ his brows knit tightly; some critics commented that Ernest is working hard to understand what’s going on (as he’s NOT V smart). Gladstone is prominent in the 1st half of the film; she can express a LOT while speaking little. DeNiro plays the affable (unofficial) patriarch; he speaks the Osage language and knows the culture. I thought that most of the supporting (mostly NOT famous) characters did a good job and fit their roles; the standout was Louis Cancelmi (as several critics have noted). The production design was V impressive; you can tell that a LOT of research went into this production.

I was disappointed that the FBI storyline was NOT as developed much as I expected. The FBI came in ONLY in the last 1/3 of the movie; Tatanka Means (son of activist/actor Russell Means) is the young/handsome Native American agent. As some of you MAY know, the (original) script had DiCaprio playing Tom White and focused more on the law & order angle. When Scorsese decided to focus more on Ernest and Mollie’s story, Plemons was brought on to play Agent White (who became a supporting character). There are some V effective shots which will stay in your mind; we wouldn’t expect less from Scorsese. What did you think of the ending? I think it was an unusual directorial decision. This story did get me emotional in the final moments.

Napoleon

I went to see this movie on a TUES about one week after it was released; I ONLY paid $7 for the ticket (at Regal). I didn’t have high hopes, BUT was curious to see what director Ridley Scott had done. I was disappointed to see that French actor, Tahar Rahim (who plays aristocrat/general Paul Barras), was ONLY in the first 1/3 of the story. English actress Vanessa Kirby (Josephine) is a strong onscreen presence; I wanted to know a BIT more about her. As for Joaquin Phoenix in the lead role, I was NOT impressed by the characterization (we know he is a strong actor). He speaks w/ an American accent and is now close to 50; Napoleon accomplished much as a young man. Napoleon often looks tired, annoyed, and petulant; we see him planning battles (in ONLY one scene) though he was famed for strategy. As one critic said, this movie shows us “the greatest hits” (just 3 of his battles). As for these few action scenes, I thought they were done quite well. Some of the background CGI is NOT that realistic. At the end, I saw that the (small) audience I went to see it w/ was NOT impressed. Scott’s work in the past 15 yrs. has been hit or miss.

Oppenheimer

I went to see this movie the day after it was released, as I had time off that afternoon; the (IMAX) theater was full w/ viewers of ALL ages. I’m sure MANY of you have heard/read re: this movie, so I won’t give a synopsis. I was glad to see that Cillian Murphy (an Irish actor I admire) got a starring role; he is now 47 y.o. (so it’s high time). He is up to the challenge of carrying the film; there are MANY close-ups of his face. My audience seemed to enjoy the scenes w/ Murphy and Matt Damon (in the 1st act); they have good onscreen chemistry and quippy banter. Even more so than w/ KOTFM, we see supporting actors who each get a chance to shine. The standouts among the scientists are two Americans: David Krumholtz (who started out in teen comedies) and Benny Safdie (also an indie director). There are some cameos which MAY surprise viewers.

Unfortunately, we don’t get a LOT of character development for the 2 main women- Kitty (Emily Blunt) and Jean (Florence Pugh). Blunt gets more to do than Pugh; as some critics said in the past, director Christopher Nolan doesn’t focus much on women. Another issue is the (incessantly overdramatic) music which I did NOT appreciate! There are a few shots (whether practical or special effects) that were V impressive. When we get to the last act, it looked like people were NOT as engaged. This is the section where we see more of Robert Downey, Jr; his young aide is played by Alden Ehrenreich (who was the co-lead in Fair Play). It was a V long movie, BUT I was mostly interested in the material. Nolan isn’t much for emotion (as y’all cinephiles know), BUT he does have an unique viewpoint here.

“Outlaw King” (2018) starring Chris Pine, Stephen Dillane, Billy Howle, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, & Florence Pugh

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A true David vs. Goliath story of how the 14th C. Scottish “Outlaw King” Robert the Bruce used cunning and bravery to defeat the much larger and better equipped occupying English army. -Synopsis

Are you a fan of the epic movie Braveheart (1995), like me? To recap that story: A commoner, William Wallace (Mel Gibson), led a rebellion against Longshanks, AKA King Edward I of England (Patrick McGoohan), who wished to inherit the crown of Scotland for himself. When he was a boy, William’s father, brother, and many men of his village lost their lives trying to free Scotland. Once his wife, Murron (Catherine McCormack), is killed by a British soldier, William begins his quest to make his country free once and for all. He seeks to make an alliance w/ a young nobleman, Robert the Bruce (Angus Macfadyen), who yearns for the love/respect of his people (which William has). This recent Netflix movie is the (unofficial) sequel to Braveheart.

Robert the Bruce: It is our feudal duty to provide fighting men for our overlord, King Edward.
Villager: You assured us these obligations would be over!
Robert: I’d hoped they were.

I always wanted to know what happened to Robert; he was a complicated character. His father grew up partly in the English court w/ King Edward I; they fought in “the holy lands” as young men. I enjoyed this movie (for the most part); I learned that some of it is NOT historically accurate. Hey, the filmmakers of Braveheart changed a LOT of that story! The look is simply beautiful; some viewers felt that it was TOO “nice-looking” for the subject matter. I don’t agree w/ that; I’m tired of the modern trend of gray-ish/blue-tinted historical pieces! This film was shot on location in Scotland. Director David Mackenzie is known for small budget/indies; he does a good job here. However, I felt some scenes were a BIT too long or too short; I learned that the original version was quite a BIT longer (40 more mins.) As for those of you who’re sensitive to blood/gore, this is NOT the movie for you!

King Edward: It was my hope to grow old and not die on the battlefield, but I see now that the great danger in a death from natural causes is that one may be lying in one’s bed chamber thinking of all the things that have been left undone.

I was surprised to discover that the love story btwn Robert and his young/2nd wife, Elizabeth Burgh (Florence Pugh), was more interesting than the war (action) elements. Yeah, they have an arranged marriage and are separated by more than a decade, BUT slowly fall in love over several mos. However, it is NOT probable that ppl lived chastely for long, as a marriage wasn’t considered “real” until it was consummated. I’m sure the “slow burn” romance was written to appeal to modern audiences. Pine (w/ a NOT so glam haircut) does a fine job; he gets to show his range as an actor. As you may’ve heard, there is one scene where (pun intended) we glimpse the full Pine. Pugh is always FAB, no matter what material she is given! Now y’all understand why Pine and Pugh had such great chemistry in their scenes together in Don’t Worry Darling (2022).

James Douglas: Thinking about revenge? It tears on the soul, but it can also be a weapon.

When it comes to the (baddie) Brits- whoa boy- they’re ALL evil! Did you expect subtlety from a Netflix production? Edward, Prince of Wales (Billy Howle) has some serious “daddy issues” (as we saw in Braveheart); however, here he is violent and desperate to prove himself. King Edward I (Stephane Dillane) is cold/power-hungry; he can still fight at his (advanced) age. One of the allies of Bruce is James Douglas, Lord of Douglas (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), a wild-eyed/bushy bearded Scotsman bent on revenge. When I see this actor’s name, I have to cringe a little. Though James is a tough warrior w/ some cool sword skills, he doesn’t get much characterization. Taylor-Johnson will star in a superhero movie soon (no shocker). If you’re a fan of dramas like Game of Thrones, then you should check it out. I want to learn more re: Scotland’s history.

[1] …everything is crammed together quickly, if they had made a mini series they could have showed more of the story. […]

The action scenes are brilliant in the Outlaw King, and you can tell that most of it was inspired by Braveheart, from the gore, to the realism. However, I feel the movie put style over story and characters. I would watch it just for its visuals alone.

[2] A great story, impressive fight and battle scenes, care for details and a powerful, convincing lesson about fundamental values. In the age of blockbusters, it is a “must see.”

[3] The film does take certain liberties with historical accuracy, namely certain events either merged together or moved around on the timeline – all in aid of dramatic effect. Nonetheless, this does not shadow the realism that does exist, especially in terms of the savagery of warfare and intrigue, as well as the superb set pieces and costume designs that accompany the productions heavy attention to detail.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

Re-watching “The Searchers” (1956) starring John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles, Ward Bond, & Natalie Wood

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Introduction

The Searchers was voted both the 13th “Greatest Film” of all time and the “Greatest Western” of all time by Entertainment Weekly. It was among the 1st 25 movies to be selected by the LOC for preservation in The National Film Registry in 1989. In 2007, AFI ranked this as the #12 Greatest Movie of All Time. Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, George Lucas, Jean-Luc Godard, John Milius, and Paul Schrader regard this as one of the films that have most influenced them. David Lean (British filmmaker) noted that the way that the landscape was shot (by director John Ford) influenced scenes in Laurence of Arabia (1962).

While on the desert locale, Ford was stung by a scorpion. Worried about his investment, financial backer C.V. Whitney asked Wayne, “What if we lose him? What are we going to do?” Wayne offered to check in on the “stricken” director. A few minutes later he came out of Ford’s trailer and said to Whitney, “It’s OK. John’s fine, it’s the scorpion that died.” LOL!

Synopsis

In 1868, a hardened/middle-aged Confederate veteran of the Civil War, Ethan Edwards (John Wayne), turns up on the small Texan ranch of his brother (Aaron). Instead of settling down to a life of peace, Ethan chooses to embark on a journey of revenge, after Comanches- lead by Chief Scar (Henry Brandon)- murder his family, burn their home, and abduct his 2 nieces: Lucy (a teen) and Debbie (9 y.o.) Ethan is joined by a young man (1/8 Cherokee)- Martin Pawley (Jeffrey Hunter)- an orphan/unofficial member of the Edwards family. The 15 y.o. Debbie is played by Natalie Wood (who was still in HS); she has about 10 mins. of screen time in the final act. Young Debbie is played by Lana, Wood’s sister.

The screenplay was adapted by Frank S. Nugent from Alan Le May’s 1954 novel. It was based on the real Comanche kidnapping of Cynthia Ann Parker, a young white girl in Texas in 1836. Parker, who was given the name “Narua” (“one who was found”) would become mother of a Comanche chief, Quanah Parker. She was recaptured after 25 yrs. and never adjusted to life among whites, starving herself to death after the illness/death of her remaining child. Yikes!

Blood Family vs. Found Family

It is V clear that Ethan does NOT consider Marty (who is part Navajo) to be part of his family; he keeps telling the younger man to stop calling him “uncle.” This MAY seem cold/mean to some viewers; after all, Ethan is the one who found Marty out in the desert (after his parents died). He has been raised for many yrs. in the same household as Aaron’s kids. Marty considers the Edwards kids to be his siblings; he refers to Debbie as “my sister.”

Some astute viewers wondered: Is Ethan Debbie’s birth father? Several times, Ford hinted that Ethan had had an affair w/ Aaron’s wife, and was possibly the father of Debbie. Ethan’s thirst for vengeance then could stem NOT from the murder of his brother, BUT of Martha (the woman he’d loved). On a recent re-watch, I saw the subtle clues! In the 1st act, Ethan and Martha share a few meaningful looks. In an early family dinner, Aaron, Lucy and Ben (both blonde-haired) are on one side of the table; on the opposite side are Martha, and Debbie (who all have dark brown hair). Martha strokes Ethan coat when she brings it to him. When the local preacher/sheriff, Rev. Capt. Clayton (Ward Bond), asks why he hung around Texas so long, there is a moment where it looks like Martha wants to speak (before Ethan answers).

Hate, Racism, & Revenge

The actors playing Comanche Indians are ALL Navajo, w/ the exception of Brandon (a German-born Jew). The language, clothing, and dances seen are Navajo, NOT Comanche. Much of the film’s plot is revealed on a prop that most viewers rarely notice. Just before the deadly raid on the homestead, the tombstone (of Ethan’s mother) that Debbie hides next to reveals the source of his hatred for Comanches. The marker reads: “Here lies Mary Jane Edwards killed by Comanches May 12, 1852. A good wife and mother in her 41st year.” We learn that Marty’s parents were also killed by Comanches, BUT he doesn’t have hate for Native Americans. Marty is NOT nice to the Native woman (“Look”) who follows them, thinking that he has bought her (instead of a blanket). Ethan jokes about Marty’s “wife,” who meets a tragic end (at the hand of a different tribe).

Comedy & Romance

There are some light-hearted scenes, a few which hold up, while others are cringe-y. Marty and Laurie (Vera Miles- before Psycho fame) grew up in this same community and are in love, BUT (like some IRL couples) can’t seem to communicate. When the local men first leave to search for the girls, Marty shakes Laurie’s hand good-bye- LOL! Two yrs, later, when Ethan and Marty (w/ facial hair) come to the Jorgensen home, Laurie throws herself into Marty’s arms and kisses him first. Laurie is more sensible/mature than Marty; he acts petulant/boyish when angry. Since Hunter (captain in the Star Trek failed pilot; Jesus in King of Kings) was in his late 20s while filming, it doesn’t seem fitting. In their 5 yrs, of separation, Marty writes Laurie one letter; he hasn’t had a LOT of education (we assume). Laurie fears becoming an “old maid;” there were NOT many options for husbands in the Old West.

Laurie’s father, Mr. Jorgensen (John Qualen- veteran character actor) talks w/ a thick Norwegian-like accent. Laurie’s replacement beau, Charlie McCorry (Ken Curtis), speaks in drawling/slow manner which is annoying! Curtis objected to the accent, BUT Ford argued it’d get him noticed in a thankless role. In the dance scene before the (failed) wedding, the males are some of the most famous stunt men of the era: Chuck Hayward, Terry Wilson, John Hudkins, Fred Kennedy, Frank McGrath, and Chuck Roberson. After this scene, the crew nicknamed them “Ford’s chorus girls” – LOL! The role of the eager/young cavalry officer, Lt. Greenhill, is played by Patrick (Wayne’s son).

Ethan Edwards: Hero or Anti-Hero?

There is TOO much anger, bitterness, and hate in Ethan for him to be close to others. Even after yrs. on the road together, he and Marty don’t become (emotionally) close. He makes Marty his heir when he thinks that he’ll die, BUT Marty refuses. Until his sudden turn in the 3rd act, Ethan considers Debbie to be ruined/savage; she won’t be able to live w/ whites. We are relieved when he decides NOT to kill Debbie! Godard commented that no matter how much he despised the actor’s right-wing political beliefs, every time he saw Wayne taking up Debbie in his arms at the end, he forgave him for everything. What did you think of the ending shot? Is the door closing on Ethan b/c his time (and way of thinking) is coming to an end?

This was one of Wayne’s 3 personal faves, along w/ She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949) and The Quiet Man (1952). These films were all directed by Ford. Unlike his usual manner, Wayne decided to stayed in character between takes. When a Navajo child became ill w/ pneumonia, Wayne had his pilot take the little girl to a hospital in his private plane. For this good deed, the Navajos named him “The Man With The Big Eagle.”

[1] An integral part of the combined elements that makes THE SEARCHERS great is Max Steiner’s outstanding score. It is the picture’s driving force – its backbone. Steiner’s music propels the film forward, unifies the narrative and gives greater density to its key scenes. In fact without his music much of the picture’s impact would be considerably diminished.

[2] Ethan Edwards is probably the most racist man Wayne ever portrayed on the screen, yet we feel sympathy for him at the same time. It’s been a hard and bitter life on the frontier for him. Just as it’s been for the Indians as well. Chief Scar, played by Henry Brandon, is Wayne’s opposite number and he makes clear what he thinks of whites. Two of his sons were killed and he’s going to take many white scalps in reprisal.

[3] With all of Ford’s unique ‘touches’ clearly in evidence (the doorways ‘framing’ the film’s opening and conclusion, with a cave opening serving the same function at the film’s climax; the extensive use of Monument Valley; and the nearly lurid palette of color highlighting key moments) and his reliance on his ‘stock’ company of players (Wayne, Ward Bond, John Qualen, Olive Carey, Harry Carey, Jr, Hank Worden, and Ken Curtis), the film marks the emergence of the ‘mature’ Ford, no longer deifying the innocence of the era, but dealing with it in human terms, where ‘white men’ were as capable of savagery as Indians, frequently with less justification.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews