The movies from my new attempt to use the Hennepin County Library as my personal, free, Netflix have begun to roll in. In combination with the wonderful Robbinsdale store, Video Universe, I am seeking out movies clearly in one of two categories: those to watch in Sharon's company, and those which she doesn't care to see. In the past three days, I have seen two of the former.
Movie 1: Shepherd of the Hills (1941: Dir. Henry Hathaway) This is part of my attempt to cover a chronological history of John Wayne's 4-star movies. I had to skip The Dark Command, which I wanted to see, but which is not available at either of my two sources (currently not existing on DVD at all-only VHS and Laser Disc). It was a bit of a departure from the traditional Wayne western, with him playing a somewhat normal young man from a freaky mountain family with a blood-veneange on a long-lost, estranged father (played by Harry Carey-the original one). I thought it was OK, but not great. I may make my Wayne project a long, long, long one (as in, taking breaks between movies). I get the sense I could get burned out pretty quick. But I will say I think, all "legend" status aside, I think he's a bit of a critically underrated actor.
Movie 2: Soylent Green (1973: Dir. Richard Fleischer) Starring Charlton Heston, this movie has become a parody of itself, with an oft-repeated famous line at the end that I will not utter here, on the unlikely chance that a reader both is not familiar with it and wants to see the film. I will say that I was quite surprised by both the lack of campiness and the overall cinematic quality of the film. It was quite well put together, very compelling, and very effective in drawing me into both the message and theme. If you are one of the "uninitiated" few mentioned above, careful about researching very much about this movie, as the original trailer and just about all information you can get about this movie pretty much give you too much information, probably ultimately spoiling the climax. The brief summary, from imdb, is
It's the year 2022... People are still the same. They'll do anything to get what they need. And they need SOYLENT GREEN.
But that doesn't really do the setting or plot justice whatsoever.
One more thing on this movie: Charleton Heston is what he is. He may be a nut, but he really is not a bad actor; not at all. He had this quality of acting in a manner that isn't all that realistic, but which (I think) is carried by his strength of his personality and style. It seems very arbitrary which actors from history are loved for this quality (Jimmy Stewart, Humphrey Bogart, Cary Grant) and which are ridiculed (Wayne, Charleton Heston, William Shatner).
And what better way to watch a film than with a sudsy brew in one hand? I have decided to finally start officially documenting my preferences and trek through the World Beer Tour on www.beeradvocate.com. I choose to do no beers from memory, as I'd like to be writing down my thoughts as I consume a bottle (and, as "appearance" figures into the review, I will be committing at least one bottle from every pack to consumption after being poured into a mug). I recently bought a Leinenkugel sampler pack to start the endeavor; check out my first review, of their Honey Weiss. Check back soon for Leiney's Red, which I'm liking better.
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11 comments:
Growing up as a crazy John Wayne fan, I think he allowed himself to be typecast and thus generally eliminated any possibility of determining his true worth as an actor. The same could be said for most of those on your list of quirky styles (some loved, some ridiculed).
I watched a documentary about Cary Grant recently on PBS - some of you also may have seen it, and it was fascinating. He really dropped out of the public eye when he felt he had nothing more to add, and remained anonymous until his death, except for a final speaking tour that was basically him sitting on a stage answering questions from the audience. He died on this tour, in Davenport, Iowa.
Funny you should mention Cary Grant. I was watching an episode of This Old House on PBS the other night and they were at one of his houses in Southern California. I believe that they were working on a house near his home, so they spun off of their focus to give a brief tour around the house. Anyway, their is some interesting architecture in both the house and the yard. One interesting aspect to me was how the mitered to panaels of glass together to make a tall section of glass that supports no weight. This window was mitered longitudinaly. Another interesting feature was the ground parubila which holds a get away garden on a backyard slope.
Mix-do you like John Wayne movies now, beyond any emotional attachment to your own history with it? I had assumed Cary Grant remained at least somewhat visible in his later years; I recall my mom saying of him, "the handsomest old man I've ever seen."
Cory-Sounds like an interesting house. What's a parubila?
Parubila is definitely outside my list of architecture related terms.
parabola
pergola
I like some John Wayne movies, though the war ones I liked when younger seem ridiculous and oversimplified.
Still love a bunch of the westerns:
Rio Bravo - of course.
Son's of Katie Elder
Rooster Cogburn
And you definitely must see "The Shootist."
I am quite certain that I am mispelling it. It is traditionally used over a patio in the yard. It is like a roof, but it is just slats of wood. It provides some shade, but also lets in some sun. You end up with 50% sun and 50% shade. To further clarify, every other space is left open, and every other space you put a plank of wood.
The one that I am talking about is non-traditional and is basicaly a deck that is on a backyard slope. There are openings on the floor, but has a walkway. I think some of the plants grow up through the deck like parubila / paruviala.
My grandad built one of those. He hand-made a limestone slab deck that was about 30 x 20 ft and had a "parubila" at one end.
Pergola.
Do need to see The Shootist again. I actually saw it in the theater as a child, and remember not liking it, but I was expecting a little more typical fare.
Your grandpa sounds like the kind of guy that I would have liked to talk to.
He was a pretty freaking amazing guy. My "handy" skills, or lack thereof, are a disgrace to his memory.
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