REAL SPACE FLIGHT
We went to see First Man (2018) recently and it occurred to me to wonder if there are many movies about space flight that are non-fiction. I have found four other good films that are about true events in our space program.
The first entry is aptly named The Right Stuff (1983) taken from the fine book of the same name by Tom Wolfe. It begins with pilots testing the supersonic F1, in which Chuck Yeager (played by Sam Shephard) becomes the first man to break the sound barrier. The film then tracks the progress of the Mercury spacecraft program with Alan Shepard (played by Scott Glenn) the first American to fly a rocket. Then comes John Glenn (played by Ed Harris) who becomes the first American to orbit the earth. All of the astronauts become national heroes, and their stunning expertise and bravery are in full display in this film. It was nominated for eight Academy Award, and won four, all in technical categories.
Ron Howard’s achievement in directing Apollo 13 (1995) is considerable, because everyone in the world knows the ending- Apollo 13 did not crash and burn, but returned safely to earth. And yet, this is one of the most edge-of-your-seat, suspense-filled movies ever made. A stellar cast includes Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon, Gary Sinise and Ed Harris. The special effects are extremely convincing, and this movie will leave you gasping in spite of yourself!
Hubble (2010) was produced exclusively for IMAX but you can rent it. Granted, it loses a lot in the smaller screen format, but is still a worthwhile hour. It is the true story of the attempt to repair the damaged Hubble space telescope by astronauts in zero gravity. It features incredible pictures of galaxies and nebulae, sometimes allowing the viewer to fly through the middle of them. The film is narrated by Leonardo DeCaprio and provides a special journey for the movie-goer.
Hidden Figures (2016) is a terrific film about African-American women who just happened to be mathematical geniuses, and who provided the data that allowed the space program to go forward. They were treated badly by the brass, and the film shows this happening. It also shows project director Kevin Costner destroying a racially offensive sign, and astronaut John Glenn insisting the women be consulted to solve a thorny problem the program encounters. Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monae play the math whizzes. Kirsten Dunst, Jim Parsons and Mr. Costner provide able support.
And we’re back to First Man, which stars Ryan Gosling as Neil Armstrong. This film zeroes in on the life of Armstrong, and the families of the astronauts. Claire Foy is excellent as Armstrong’s wife and Gosling is just right as Armstrong. As in Apollo 13, you already know the ending. The Gemini rocket does just fine and Armstrong walks on the moon (not the Arizona desert!).
All of the films (except First Man of course) in this article are available on DVD. All are fine for 10 and up.
Sunday, October 28, 2018
Sunday, October 21, 2018
ACTORS
Almost all movies have actors. But are there any good movies about actors? Well, yes!
Looking For Richard (1996) was a labor of love for director-actor Al Pacino, and we are the grateful recipients of his dedication. This wonderful film features an actor’s dissection of each scene of Shakespeare’s darkly beautiful Richard III. Kenneth Branagh, Kevin Spacey, Winona Ryder, Alec Baldwin, and many more, are on hand to provide a marvelous viewing of the play on film, which could only have been made by a consummate actor.
Vanya On 42d Street (1994) is director Louis Malle’s original take on Chekov’s Uncle Vanya, in which the actors rehearsing that play somehow become the characters right before your eyes. Wallace Shawn, Andre Gregory and Julianne Moore (almost ten years before her Oscar in The Hours) provide a fascinating glimpse of what actors do and how it affects them- and us.
One of the best films ever made about acting and actors is the oldest in this article. In A Double Life (1947), Ronald Coleman finally becomes the character he is playing, much to the despair of his family and friends in real life. This still-convincing film shows how actors can go over the edge. Many professional actors have said that this movie is very perceptive about their craft.
The actor in The Dresser (1983) is the superb Albert Finney and the title character is his jack-of-all-trades lackey Tom Courtenay. The actor’s every whim is satisfied by the dresser, who seems to exist only to appease his master. There is a scene where the aging actor commands a rushing train to stop that is unforgettable, as
are the performances of the two principals.
Topsy-Turvy (2000) is much, much more than a biopic of operetta composers Gilbert & Sullivan. It takes us behind the scenes as no other film has quite done and shows us the world of producers, directors, writers and actors. Jim Broadbent and Allan Corduner are very good as the writers of famous plays. But the story of, and performance of, Timothy Spall as the Mikado, is simply memorable.
A TV movie called Who Am I This Time? (1982) was right on the money in showing how the line between an actor’s part and his real life can begin to blur in disturbing ways. A very young Christopher Walken is the chameleon-like actor and Susan Sarandon his confused friend.
All of the films in this article are available on DVD, and all are for grown-ups.
Almost all movies have actors. But are there any good movies about actors? Well, yes!
Looking For Richard (1996) was a labor of love for director-actor Al Pacino, and we are the grateful recipients of his dedication. This wonderful film features an actor’s dissection of each scene of Shakespeare’s darkly beautiful Richard III. Kenneth Branagh, Kevin Spacey, Winona Ryder, Alec Baldwin, and many more, are on hand to provide a marvelous viewing of the play on film, which could only have been made by a consummate actor.
Vanya On 42d Street (1994) is director Louis Malle’s original take on Chekov’s Uncle Vanya, in which the actors rehearsing that play somehow become the characters right before your eyes. Wallace Shawn, Andre Gregory and Julianne Moore (almost ten years before her Oscar in The Hours) provide a fascinating glimpse of what actors do and how it affects them- and us.
One of the best films ever made about acting and actors is the oldest in this article. In A Double Life (1947), Ronald Coleman finally becomes the character he is playing, much to the despair of his family and friends in real life. This still-convincing film shows how actors can go over the edge. Many professional actors have said that this movie is very perceptive about their craft.
The actor in The Dresser (1983) is the superb Albert Finney and the title character is his jack-of-all-trades lackey Tom Courtenay. The actor’s every whim is satisfied by the dresser, who seems to exist only to appease his master. There is a scene where the aging actor commands a rushing train to stop that is unforgettable, as
are the performances of the two principals.
Topsy-Turvy (2000) is much, much more than a biopic of operetta composers Gilbert & Sullivan. It takes us behind the scenes as no other film has quite done and shows us the world of producers, directors, writers and actors. Jim Broadbent and Allan Corduner are very good as the writers of famous plays. But the story of, and performance of, Timothy Spall as the Mikado, is simply memorable.
A TV movie called Who Am I This Time? (1982) was right on the money in showing how the line between an actor’s part and his real life can begin to blur in disturbing ways. A very young Christopher Walken is the chameleon-like actor and Susan Sarandon his confused friend.
All of the films in this article are available on DVD, and all are for grown-ups.
Sunday, October 14, 2018
Charlie Chaplin
As instantly recognizable as the Washington Monument or Mount Rushmore, Charlie Chaplin’s Little Tramp is a true American icon. In this day of computerized special effects, are Mr. Chaplin’s movies still worth a look? Oh, yeah!
All of the silents are good, from the early shorts right through the beginning of sound. It’s hard to pick the top few, but here goes:
City Lights (1931) is simply one of the best movies ever made by anybody. Charlie loves a blind flower girl and will sacrifice all so that she will be able to see again. His friendship with a drunken millionaire is fun and funny. Witty, touching and gripping throughout, this 86 minute gem is a must-see for any film fan.
In The Gold Rush (1925) Charlie joins in the race for riches with his own comic touches. Perhaps his funniest film, this one features the famous dancing shoes scene and many other delightful moments.
Modern Times (1936) is Charlie’s gentle, but quite effective, battle with the machine age. He teams with Paulette Goddard to try to maintain man’s individuality in ingenious, and always comical, ways. This was his last silent film.
Charlie is The Great Dictator (1940) Adenoid Hynkel in a hilarious spoof of you-know-who that holds up remarkably well almost 80 years later. Everyone in Hollywood tried to talk Chaplin out of making this film; fortunately he had enough clout to ignore them and do it anyway. Paulette Goddard is back as his lady friend, and Jack
Oakie has a hilarious turn as Benzino Napoli of neighboring Bacteria.
Chaplin joins The Circus (1928) by accident (don’t ask) and takes on any job they’ll put him to, with very funny results. He, of course, falls in love with the beautiful bareback rider.
The Kid (1921) is a very impressive six-year-old Jackie Coogan, a street kid wise beyond his years who Charlie raises for lack of alternatives. It’s funny as heck and remarkably moving.
A funny serial killer is Monsieur Verdoux (1947), which is either years before its time or a complete waste of time, depending on your point of view. I’m somewhere in between, but to me this is not great Chaplin.
The 1992 biopic, Chaplin, is, alas, not very good. Robert Downey, Jr. does a creditable job in the title role but the screenplay is a mess. It dwells way too long on Chaplin’s private problems, without explaining them at all, and does very little in showing or explaining his magic.
All of the films in this column are available on DVD. And all are suitable for any age.
As instantly recognizable as the Washington Monument or Mount Rushmore, Charlie Chaplin’s Little Tramp is a true American icon. In this day of computerized special effects, are Mr. Chaplin’s movies still worth a look? Oh, yeah!
All of the silents are good, from the early shorts right through the beginning of sound. It’s hard to pick the top few, but here goes:
City Lights (1931) is simply one of the best movies ever made by anybody. Charlie loves a blind flower girl and will sacrifice all so that she will be able to see again. His friendship with a drunken millionaire is fun and funny. Witty, touching and gripping throughout, this 86 minute gem is a must-see for any film fan.
In The Gold Rush (1925) Charlie joins in the race for riches with his own comic touches. Perhaps his funniest film, this one features the famous dancing shoes scene and many other delightful moments.
Modern Times (1936) is Charlie’s gentle, but quite effective, battle with the machine age. He teams with Paulette Goddard to try to maintain man’s individuality in ingenious, and always comical, ways. This was his last silent film.
Charlie is The Great Dictator (1940) Adenoid Hynkel in a hilarious spoof of you-know-who that holds up remarkably well almost 80 years later. Everyone in Hollywood tried to talk Chaplin out of making this film; fortunately he had enough clout to ignore them and do it anyway. Paulette Goddard is back as his lady friend, and Jack
Oakie has a hilarious turn as Benzino Napoli of neighboring Bacteria.
Chaplin joins The Circus (1928) by accident (don’t ask) and takes on any job they’ll put him to, with very funny results. He, of course, falls in love with the beautiful bareback rider.
The Kid (1921) is a very impressive six-year-old Jackie Coogan, a street kid wise beyond his years who Charlie raises for lack of alternatives. It’s funny as heck and remarkably moving.
A funny serial killer is Monsieur Verdoux (1947), which is either years before its time or a complete waste of time, depending on your point of view. I’m somewhere in between, but to me this is not great Chaplin.
The 1992 biopic, Chaplin, is, alas, not very good. Robert Downey, Jr. does a creditable job in the title role but the screenplay is a mess. It dwells way too long on Chaplin’s private problems, without explaining them at all, and does very little in showing or explaining his magic.
All of the films in this column are available on DVD. And all are suitable for any age.
Sunday, October 7, 2018
MIYAZKI’S LAST (OR FIRST) HURRAH
JAPANESE ANIME
I mostly like Disney animation products, especially Pixar. But there’s a completely different kind of animation that will bedazzle the biggest Disney fan.
Many people are not familiar with the Japanese form of animation called Anime. I knew nothing about it until Spirited Away won the Oscar as best animated feature in 2002. The finest practitioner of the art is Hayao Miyazaki. He is now 77 and has said he’s retiring. He personally writes, directs and produces each of his screenplays. Every frame of every movie is hand drawn. The lush beauty and exacting detail is simply amazing! There just isn’t anything remotely like it. And to top it off, these are wonderful stories.
Just recently, Studio Ghibli released for the first time in America the first of their features, Only Yesterday (1991). Taeko, a young woman with a good job in Tokyo, decides to spend the summer on her grandmother’s farm. The main crop is saffron, and the story of how it is grown and harvested is fascinating in itself. While working on the farm Taeko has memorable flashbacks to “my fifth grade child.” The ending is a real upper, and the drawing is just marvelous.
Castle In The Sky (1986) is a magical floating island called Laputa. It is sought by our heroine Sheeta and her intrepid sidekick Payu. Unfortunately, it is also the target of vicious (but extremely dull-witted) pirates, and of the military. The spaceships and gardens and the resolution of the story are all quite wonderful.
In My Neighbor Totoro (1988) sisters Satsuki and Mei have just moved with their father (their mother is ill and in the hospital) to their new house near an enchanted forest. The film features two amazing creatures: the Cat Bus, with eight legs for wheels and glowing eyes for headlights, and Totoro, a huge nondescript forest creature who is charmingly protective of all little people. The girls cope with their new home, their new friends and their mom’s illness amid scenes of eye-popping beauty.
The title character in Kiki’s Delivery Service (1998) is a 13-year-old witch just
starting out. In this world witches aren’t bad. Kiki blends her budding talents (including, of course, flying!) into the perfect business- a delivery service!
A young prince sets out to discover what’s wrong in the forest, why men and nature can no longer peacefully co-exist. On his travels, he meets and befriends Princess Mononoke (1999) a spirited girl raised by wolves. The prince slays an incredible forest beast which has fur made of live snakes. They battle the evil foundry workers, who will stop at nothing less than totally destroying nature.
Chichiro and her parents are on their way to their new home when they encounter a strange and quiet amusement park. The parents are turned into pigs and disappear. They have been Spirited Away (2002) to a magical city. Their brave little daughter has all sorts of adventures and meets all sorts of creatures in attempting to reunite with her folks.
As a bonus, I’ll throw in When Marnie Was There (2014), a wonderful film that may be Studio Ghibli’s last. Mr. Miyasaki was not involved in this one, but it is nonetheless absolutely fine.
Now, all of these films have plenty of dramatic tension, but none is really scary like a slasher movie. Any child who can handle fairy tales will be fine. All other ages will enjoy them tremendously. And all are available on DVD.
JAPANESE ANIME
I mostly like Disney animation products, especially Pixar. But there’s a completely different kind of animation that will bedazzle the biggest Disney fan.
Many people are not familiar with the Japanese form of animation called Anime. I knew nothing about it until Spirited Away won the Oscar as best animated feature in 2002. The finest practitioner of the art is Hayao Miyazaki. He is now 77 and has said he’s retiring. He personally writes, directs and produces each of his screenplays. Every frame of every movie is hand drawn. The lush beauty and exacting detail is simply amazing! There just isn’t anything remotely like it. And to top it off, these are wonderful stories.
Just recently, Studio Ghibli released for the first time in America the first of their features, Only Yesterday (1991). Taeko, a young woman with a good job in Tokyo, decides to spend the summer on her grandmother’s farm. The main crop is saffron, and the story of how it is grown and harvested is fascinating in itself. While working on the farm Taeko has memorable flashbacks to “my fifth grade child.” The ending is a real upper, and the drawing is just marvelous.
Castle In The Sky (1986) is a magical floating island called Laputa. It is sought by our heroine Sheeta and her intrepid sidekick Payu. Unfortunately, it is also the target of vicious (but extremely dull-witted) pirates, and of the military. The spaceships and gardens and the resolution of the story are all quite wonderful.
In My Neighbor Totoro (1988) sisters Satsuki and Mei have just moved with their father (their mother is ill and in the hospital) to their new house near an enchanted forest. The film features two amazing creatures: the Cat Bus, with eight legs for wheels and glowing eyes for headlights, and Totoro, a huge nondescript forest creature who is charmingly protective of all little people. The girls cope with their new home, their new friends and their mom’s illness amid scenes of eye-popping beauty.
The title character in Kiki’s Delivery Service (1998) is a 13-year-old witch just
starting out. In this world witches aren’t bad. Kiki blends her budding talents (including, of course, flying!) into the perfect business- a delivery service!
A young prince sets out to discover what’s wrong in the forest, why men and nature can no longer peacefully co-exist. On his travels, he meets and befriends Princess Mononoke (1999) a spirited girl raised by wolves. The prince slays an incredible forest beast which has fur made of live snakes. They battle the evil foundry workers, who will stop at nothing less than totally destroying nature.
Chichiro and her parents are on their way to their new home when they encounter a strange and quiet amusement park. The parents are turned into pigs and disappear. They have been Spirited Away (2002) to a magical city. Their brave little daughter has all sorts of adventures and meets all sorts of creatures in attempting to reunite with her folks.
As a bonus, I’ll throw in When Marnie Was There (2014), a wonderful film that may be Studio Ghibli’s last. Mr. Miyasaki was not involved in this one, but it is nonetheless absolutely fine.
Now, all of these films have plenty of dramatic tension, but none is really scary like a slasher movie. Any child who can handle fairy tales will be fine. All other ages will enjoy them tremendously. And all are available on DVD.
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