ivorybigsis Reviews

Jeremiah Johnson (1972)

One man's embattled quest for a very personal peace

[9/10 · 21 January 2012]

I avoided viewing this well-known film for many years as I thought that it was merely another "solitary man" flick...Needless to say I was all too wrong...Suze Orman would like Jeremiah Johnson. He carved out a lifestyle of "Standing in your truth". To dismiss Jeremiah as merely anti-social is an injustice. He wanted to embrace his vision of happiness; this realization was inextricably tied to the wilderness and the beauty he longed to carve out of it....Will Geer is a revelation in his role as Johnson's impromptu wilderness teacher and guide. He is a complex, unflinching man who himself is a study in swimming against the tide...There are moments of sheer beauty in this story. You'll need them to steady yourself later in the story...Most of us in our lifetime have at one time or another, been compelled to embrace an agenda that is really not our own. We may have been deliberately misled, or of our own negligence, ill informed as to the 360 degrees of such a cause...The outcome finds us mere onlookers as a latent evil takes center stage, and thrusts the well-intended into a dark tunnel. In Jeremiah's case, he is so devastated that survival and retribution become one and the same. We too embrace his outrage. Although we want him to remember the canvas of his former dreams, we know that his palette is now colorless, his brush stroke now too broad to paint the intricacies of what he used to imagine for himself...Robert Redford is brilliant in a must see film.

Wuthering Heights (1967)

A melodramatic scream fest

[1/10 · 3 October 2010]

As one so enamored with Period Piece films, I deeply regret to say that this rendering of the classic Wuthering Heights was almost unwatchable. This is as uninspired a screenplay that was ever ill-conceived in what must have been a lapse of the Screenwriter's sanity There is not a single character that you can truly have empathy for. You want to at least like the patriarch, Mr. Earnshaw, but he too is so gruff, and uncivilized that his genuine affection for the rejected Heathcliff seems almost out of place....Gratuitously violent, pitifully acted, and unskillfully cast and directed, I don't dislike anyone enough to ask them to watch this production!

Derailed (I) (2005)

There's a reason that life contains PAUSES...

[8/10 · 29 May 2010]

Derailed is yet another film about the power of and fallout from CHOICES. Owen and Aniston are very effective here as people who appear to both have decent, but uninspiring lives, hence they give themselves license to do something stupid to spice up their humdrum existence... I was struck by the fact that in coming together, there were pauses with which to reflect and analyze; lust and the hurry that accompanies it was not so all-consuming that it shut out the PAUSE....Such are the goings on of flesh and blood fallible sexual beings: WE WANT INSTANT GRATIFICATION SO BADLY THAT WE FLIP THE PRICE TAG TO THE BLANK SIDE IN THE HOPES THAT THAT WILL CANCEL IT (that pesky price) OUT ALTOGETHER...Giancarlo Esposito is right on here as a seasoned detective. He who sees crime, and the effects of crime daily, must in the end come to terms with his own definition of Justice, lest his own finger disturb the precarious balance of that scale.....Watching Derailed is a bit like watching the Game of Life: Some make good choices, some make awful choices, and sometimes the innocent suffer for sins they did not commit....Not a flawless film, but well worth the lessons to be learned from it!

So Well Remembered (1947)

A man's discovery of his true self exposes the misplaced faith in his spouse

[10/10 · 5 May 2010]

Martha Scott was an actress that has been acknowledged consistently as a "Good Actress", yet never achieved the Superstar status that she truly deserved- not for celebrity, but for sheer acting skill alone. She is excellent here as a narcissistic, maneuvering woman who lacks the depth to appreciate the man she has pledged herself to in marriage. When she seeks to cheat the Law of sowing what you reap, you see the machinations of a woman desperate to evade the loneliness that she herself has unwittingly planned.....John Mills, the unsung hero here, is wonderful as the pragmatic, yet compassionate man who would redirect himself if need be to follow this true heart. Trevor Howard is once again first-rate, entirely believable in the role of a beleaguered doctor....Well-written,and inspirationally cast, this film is a keeper!

Daniel Deronda (2002)

Eliot serves up a different, yet still savory dish

[10/10 · 21 March 2010]

Kudos to Andrew Davies who continues to spook me out with his grasp on the mores and idiosyncrasies of English society of yesteryear. (I think he is secretly utilizing a time machine) The casting is flawless; Bonneville's character is almost intrinsically wicked. Although he illustrates that he is a man who understands financial investments, his dearth of understanding of the necessity of genuine emotional investments becomes his undoing. It may seem simplistic, but one hand does wash the other.....I expected Scacci's spurned mistress to have more sympathy for one as blinded as indeed she was when still young and alluring. Greta is formidable as a woman facing the aspect of Grandcourt's ultimate disloyalty, as she herself was disloyal to a spouse who must have trusted her to some degree... Daniel Deronda himself is much more than highly likable; he is a hero of the first order......This film is truly worth watching.

A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

Visionary in what it reveals about human strivings and failings

[10/10 · 19 February 2010]

This is a masterpiece of multi-faceted brilliance. Each character's personal predicament genuinely contributes to the larger-than-life enigma that Williams is recruiting us to try to comprehend.....Would the entanglements and dilemmas of this piece have played out as effectively had it been set in a respectable section of town void of red lights and free flowing vice? I think that the characterizations are so well written, so strong that they could have survived even a change of venue!...In a flawless film work such as this, you pick out the bits that affect you deeply and you revisit them repeatedly in your mind's eye. There are many such bits in A Streetcar named Desire...In life we are faced with the problem of forgiveness and some conclude that in the end it exalts both the giver and the receiver. When Mitch storms in belatedly to the vestige of Blanche's birthday celebration, it is a changed embittered man who has lost the gentleness and gentility that drew her to him. We want to believe that after her anguished confession, he is physically embracing her in acceptance of who she really is. Blanche needs so desperately to belong to someone that we are taken aback by his verbal response to her appeal concerning their future. Mitch, who initially did not seem "of the Quarter", is himself degraded by now treating the misguided pathetic creature much in the same way that the world (minus her sister Stella) treats her. We also know that if no one believes in Blanche, she is truly doomed...Kudos to Vivien Leigh for so accurately portraying the character's descent into a Mental black hole from which there are no resources with which she can be extracted. Brando (in an awesome Star turn) is a Stanley who is capable of loving Stella, but quite limited in his understanding of the Human condition, and the forces that molded Blanche....Great acting here, not just with the principals, but in the smaller roles such as Stella's upstairs neighbor...When Blanche's screams force Mitch out into the night, the singular sound echoes the stripping away of all altruism that life can be kind. It is quite unfortunate the premium Blanche has placed on that kindness...

Gosford Park (2001)

Near perfect panoramic study of a Society where almost everyone has an agenda

[9/10 · 10 February 2010]

I am ashamed to admit that this is my first experience with the direction of Robert Altman. I was not disappointed here. I do believe however, that had this story focused on a bunch of American Anglo-Saxons of similar social standing, it may not have fared as well. English Actors often have a depth of training sorely lacking here. I see them less about maintaining Star status as they are about rolling up their sleeves and getting the canvas painted so that the story can be told. Although we know that the casting involved a Who's Who of British Stage and Film, all the assorted aristocratic characterizations (as well as the portrayals of the seemingly invisible staff that facilitate that gentility) are dead-on.... This film is a must see, and I am struck by the realism here. Altman has accurately conveyed the claustrophobia and dearth of genuine affection in this very ordered world of people for whom jockeying for position and maintaining that position is everything. Although food is plentiful in the Society of those "above stairs", when it comes to authentic love, there isn't a morsel to be shared

Like Mother Like Son: The Strange Story of Sante and Kenny Kimes (2001 TV Movie)

Creepy, seemingly implausible, but Moore hits the bulls eye

[9/10 · 30 October 2009]

"Like Mother, Like Son" is a study in the degeneration of the potential of a child due to the influence of a narcissistic and soul sick parent. We have to believe that even if the son Kenny had exhibited some personality problems at an early age (I believe that initially he was as normal as any other kid), they need not be cemented into his character as they would eventually be under the misguidance of the psychopathic Sante. Sante is a master at manipulation, which to quote the Bible: "....is as the Sin of Witchcraft",bending husbands too, to her will. You wish that one of her unlucky lovers could have really cared enough about the sons to try to free them from her grasp. The elder son does eventually break free; it comes at a point where he is mature enough to discern that Sante's endless scheming guarantees that a productive life is impossible for anyone connected with her. Mary Tyler Moore has clearly shown us her true range as an actress here because in this film SHE IS Sante Kimes in all her ugly glory. Good acting all around in this disturbing film based on the real like Kimes and her unlucky, lost son.

Country Matters (1972– )

Grim, sometimes mean little stories

[2/10 · 26 September 2009]

Country Matters is packaged with lovely, serene photos. Fueled by the title, the mind conjures up pastoral images. I was prepared for a series of Period Piece short films that spoke of love, hate, loss, gain, apathy, greed, and all other such matters related to life everywhere, not just in a country setting.....What I got was several grim, sometimes mean little stories and the sole taste left in my mouth was that of utter cynicism. I wanted to be just in my assessments, and followed through by first actually viewing all of the stories in the two DVD set. Secondly, I truly strived to view these vignettes with an open mind....It is admirable that the authors of these slice-of-life stories strived for realism. I regret, however, that their point of view was quite unbalanced in that the Law of Reciprocity(You know-the reap what you sow thing) seems not to exist in the world of these stories. No one expects the "happy ever after". Again I understand that these are simply vignettes. The nuances of hope, light, and (God forbid, can I say it) redemption are sorely absent from this archival collection. There wasn't a single film in this collection that left me with a desire and or longing to watch it again.

Gigot (1962)

The lessons we learn from the unloved and society's misfits...

[9/10 · 11 July 2009]

Gigot is yet another precious film that reminds us that the lessons we learn from the unloved and society's misfits are priceless. We fear for the gentle Gigot and we want to give him a voice so that he can express what he represses deep beneath his pleasant demeanor. We want him to love and be loved by the charming child, but we want to infuse him with a worldliness that will better arm him to deal with the selfish woman of the streets that can't deserve exposure to a heart like Gigot's......We know that he's destined for heartbreak, and that being mute will only sharpen the alienation that he will feel....Jackie Gleason's understanding of his character is more than solid; his interpretation of the lonely janitor is a revelation. The most gifted Comedians' comedy is fueled by a unique inner pain. This reservoir can be tapped for Drama as well, sometimes even more effectively. This is at first poignant, but at last an unforgettable film.

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969)

A passionate hearted mentor vicariously living out her stilted dreams

[9/10 · 8 June 2009]

In the Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, there is a perfect team effort of Acting, Directing, Screen writing, and Casting. The result is a masterwork of characterization that is simply unforgettable. Maggie Smith's portrayal of the sensitive, utterly altruistic teacher with an uncertain grasp on reality is flawless. We see her as the rare porcelain dish standing proud perched on a shelf. We also know that a relatively small quake could knock it down and render it broken and useless. She shows flashes of gritty strength and resolve, but lacks a genuine understanding of the workings and the foibles of the world at large. Miss Brodie is a woman who would attempt to paint life with a palette with no dark colors that might conspire to produce the dreaded shadow. Pamela Franklin's Sandy is yet another revelation. I am not sure that we are watching her metamorphosis into a woman who can see her Mentor for what she truly is; perhaps the essence of who Sandy is remains the same. A more accurate observation may conclude that because Jean felt that she was personally responsible for the making of girls like Sandy, Sandy had a better vantage point to witness the many layers of mask worn by Miss Brodie fall away when time refused to be ignored any longer. I am amazed at the skill, the depth, and the nuances of Franklin's performance at such a young age......Bravos all around to this great film!

Persuasion (2007 TV Movie)

Compels you slowly; before you realize it, you're caught up

[9/10 · 18 June 2008]

This current adaptation of Austen's mature novel is very endearing. Rupert Penry-Jones'adept utilization of facial expressions reveal a man who is deeply wounded and angry with good reason, yet subconsciously conflicted. His Captain Wentworth doesn't know if, and how he should proceed. He deftly portrays a spurned lover that is compelled to look back in spite of himself. Sally Hawkins expertly portrays a gentle introvert who hides a long held affection in some compartment of herself. She functions well enough in life, but she does not ,and cannot flourish, and wonders if she ever will embrace abundant happiness......The staging is accurate and the costumes lovely. Kudos to Anthony Head; he flawlessly captures Sir Walter Elliot, the most conceited, clueless genteel idiot who was ever most ingeniously conceived in the mind of a true observer of human nature and character-Jane Austen. We, the viewing public, are both sobered and amused.....

Mansfield Park (1999)

Incomprehensible Directing of an awful screenplay

[1/10 · 1 May 2008]

RUN, do not walk away from this mess of a supposed adaptation of a heretofore respected piece of literature. A supposed director should never attempt to direct a piece that he or she neither respects or believes in. (Personally, I think Hemingway is over-rated. I would never, however, rewrite a work of his and try to pass it off as an alternate take on the original!) The actor that portrayed Henry Crawford has much potential; he was wasted on bad writing and idiotic directing. I don't know if I should say "God save the Queen" or "God help us all"......I think both are appropriate when I think of this travesty that passes itself off as a Jane Austen film.....

Vanity Fair (1987)

Splendid thorough adaptation in all its sprawling beauty

[10/10 · 23 July 2007]

Vanity Fair starring Eve Matheson as Becky is one of the few film adaptations of a classic novel that allows you to be unashamed that you did not read the novel. Matheson's seemingly heartless, relentlessly maneuvering Becky is a characterization that compels us to cherish the art of film acting. She is hands down the quintessential Becky Sharp. Thackeray's subplots are well executed here with remarkable actors such as Sian Phillips in a tour de force performance as Miss Crawley.

Class consciousness is at center stage here. Everyone seems to be aspiring for a coveted spot in a society that never promised anyone a perpetual rose garden. Some think themselves secure enough in that esteemed class to condescend to amuse others whom they secretly hope will never truly take a place beside them in the register of the "haves". It is with the utmost degree of mortification that the "secure" wake up in an unguarded instant to find themselves hastily uninvited to social events, and stashing away their best silks and laces against the inevitable rap of the creditor on the front door. Beg, borrow, and try not to steal to see this Vanity Fair!