SURELY,THIS SHOT OF TOM CRUISE SAYS IT ALL
Almost all of the great American directors have made a Vietnam movie; some factual, some fictional. Some pro the foreign war, but the majority against America’s involvement in hostilities far from home.
A PAUNCHY JOHN WAYNE KILLING IN THE NAME OF DEMOCRACY
John Wayne began the pro Vietnam lobby while the war was still raging;don't get me wrong, I’m not saying for a moment that he was a great director! What I mean is that Wayne made as many War films as he did Westerns; The Green Berets, made in 1968, was, to him, part of a genre, rather than an emotional or political statement.
RIGHTWINGER BARRY GOLDWATER
Although 'Duke' was quite right wing, voted for Barry Goldwater, I'm sure. Unfortunately, Wayne misread completely the feelings of the time, gung ho was then a huge no no.But , historically,The Green Berets was the first commercial film to highlight the war.
PASSIVE COURAGE:VOIGHT WITH JANE FONDA
The real examination of Vietnam came a decade later, when Hal Ashby directed Coming Home, with Jon Voight winning an Oscar as a damaged war vet/ hero. Jane Fonda won her second award as his lover, choosing him over her serving soldier husband. Not for nothing was she known as Hanoi Jane.
NAPALM IN THE MORNING
Michael Cimino made a chillingly pertinent war statement in The Deer Hunter, opening a heated onscreen debate. Frances Ford Coppola made Apocalypse Now and Oliver Stone directed both Platoon and Born on the 4th of July. Not to be outdone, in 1987, Frances Ford Coppola, examined the war again, this time from the view point of the individual in Gardens of Stone.
A YOUNG KIRK DOUGLAS IN PATHS OF GLORY
It seemed inevitable that Stanley Kubrick, who in 1957, had made one of the most powerful anti war statements of all time Paths of Glory, should have his say. He did, in his adaptation of Gustav Hasford’s The Short Timbers, which he filmed in 1987 as Full Metal Jacket [SABC1.Wednesday.22.30 and 00.30].
MATTHEW MODINE IN FULL METAL JACKET
Kubrick explores his recurring theme of dehumanization in a film that is both flawed and brilliant. The first half, set on Parris Island sees young men being trained to kill and the second sees the killing machine in action. In the end, what Kubrick makes abundantly clear is that there is no glory; only death.
SO WILLING TO GO AND DIE UPON SOME FOREIGN SHORE-THEN AND NOW
Compare Full Metal Jacket to In the Valley of Elah: different war, different motivation, but finally, the ending is the same; cessation of life. I reviewed In the Valley of Elah [M-Net.Sunday.02.40] in June 2009.
MONICA BELUCCI
Malena [SABC3.Friday.23.30] is a more traditional examination of human nature under the duress of conflict. This Italian movie, set in Italy during World War Two has moments of insightful but is marred by an uneasy sexist undertone. It is not dissimilar to Captain Corelli’s Mandolin [SABC3.Tuesday.00.30], at least in time, if not in context. I did a full review of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin in Column #29.
A WEATHER BEATEN BILLY BOB-HIS TEAM IN THE BACKGROUND
If war is a reflection of life, so then, for many, is sport. After all, both are always with us. In Friday Night Lights [SABC3.Friday.19.30] the sport is an All- American one; Gridiron. Billy Bob Thornton leads a cast which depicts sport as a religion.
ANOTHER COACH
You don’t have to understand the rules to identify with the ethos. ‘Kill the Coach’ is a theme well known to South African rugby and cricket supporters.
RUSSELL CROWE PLAYS BOXER JAMES J. BRADDOCK. PAUL GIAMATTI PLAYS HIS FAITHFUL COACH
During the Depression, American heroes came from three major sources; on the Silver Screen, on the wrong end of a policeman’s gun and in the boxing ring. Ron Howard does a fine job, telling the story of James J Braddock in Cinderella Man [SABC3.Saturday.19.30], a fighter who was given his nickname by writer Damon Runyon.
RENEE ZELLWEGER WITH CROWE
The feel for the period is extraordinary; Russell Crowe is wonderful in the title role, with Renee Zellweger and especially Paul Giamatti in finely polished support.
JOHN GARFIELD IN BODY AND SOUL
Boxing movies; really the fight and plight of the underdog, hold a firm place in American film history; Rocky made in 1976, was steeped in a proud tradition. Golden Boy, Requiem for a Heavy Weight, Body and Soul etc.
DE NIRO WAS RAGING BULL
Later came Scorsese’s Raging Bull and Michael Mann's Ali. Golden Gloves have always been as American as apple pie.Another fight film, from almost the same period as Rocky, which comes across as extremely wishy and very washy, is The All- American Boy [SABC3.Saturday.21.30], which stars a young Jon Voight and an even younger Anne Archer. Full circle seems to be coming soon, Mark Wahlberg stars in The Fighter, which is being tipped for Oscar glory this year.
JAN- MICHAEL VINCENT WHEN HE WAS YOUNG AND STRONG
The eternal wave is shown in Big Wednesday [SABC3.Saturday.02.30], this time, surfing as a metaphor for life. This is the classic, directed by John Milius, who, as a screenwriter, penned the immortal words from Apocalypse Now, ‘I love the smell of Napalm in the Morning’.
WILLIAMS IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Hero and or anti hero, which is which? Robin Williams plays one or the other in Dead Poets Society [SABC3.Friday.21.30], directed by Australian filmmaker, Peter Weir. The movie is greatly loved and highly regarded in many quarters, personally I find it preachy, long winded and overrated.
BOYS ON THE VERGE OF MANHOOD
Weir’s direction is, for once, a little off the mark and Robin William’s performance is a tad overblown. For those who care, Tom Sculman won an Oscar for writing the screenplay and the movie did launch the career of Ethan Hawke.
JAMIE FOXX ON TOP FORM
Is it ethically correct to legally kill a human who has taken human life? That is the question asked in both Redemption and The Life of David Gale. Jamie Foxx plays real life gangster, Stan Tookie in Redemption [e.tv.Thursday.22.20], the question that recurs is; would Tookie have reformed if he hadn’t been caught. Jamie Foxx gives a strong performance but this made for TV movie doesn’t ever answer the central question.
SPACEY AND LINNEY PLAYING WITH FIRE
The Life of David Gale [SABC3.Sunday.22.00] begins as a philosophical debate about the question of Capital Punishment; then the proceedings take a nasty turn. The premise is fascinating, with much to ponder upon. There are also some marvelous performances from Kevin Spacey, Laura Linney and Kate Winslet.
KATE WINSLET
Kate Winslet is just one of the actresses who Hilary Swank beat out to win her two Oscars. Other luckless nominees include Meryl Streep (of course), Julianne Moore and Annette Bening, twice.
SWEET... BUT SAME OLD SAME OLD
There are no signs of acting greatness, as Swank plays the title role in The Next Karate Kid [e.tv.Saturday.20.00 and Sunday.15.05].
SWANK WITH RICHARD GERE IN AMELIA
Her career has been patchy, at best. Recently, in Amelia (apart from her dental work, which is spot on), Swank fails to capture the spirit of Amelia Earheart whose life still intrigues, some eighty years after the aviator's mysterious death.
BERGMAN AS ANASTASIA
But, apparently Swank is wonderful in Conviction. Who knows, will she set a new Oscar record. The closest anyone else has ever come two three wins, is Ingrid Bergman who won, over her long career, two Main Awards (Gaslight and Anastasia) and one Supporting one(Murder on the Orient Express). At only 36, Hilary Swank certainly has the time, if not the sustained talent to do it.
GIRL'S NIGHT IN
Treat yourself to talent aplenty in Friends With Money [e.tv.Thursday.20.30 and 00.15]; the plot is fairly predictable, but Wow! a chance to see Catherine Keener, Frances McDormand and Joan Cusack in one movie. Dear Jennifer Aniston, as usual, gets a resounding ten out of ten for effort and likeability.
LIAM NEESON IN VENGEFUL MODE
Wrecking violence for the sake of revenge is a perennial movie plot ploy; just when is enough too much. Taken [M-Net.Saturday.21.05], in which Liam Neeson cold bloodedly tracks and kills for the sake of his daughter’s life, is compelling enough, in spite of the high body count and a lacklustre ending.
BUTLER WITH JAMIE FOXX
In the same vein, Law Abiding Citizen [M-Net.Sunday.20.30] really takes the blood drenched cake. Gerard Butler goes on a sadistic manhunt while Jamie Foxx stands by; baffled and bemused. Under the gore, lurks the potential of a good thriller, but the unconnected body parts sicken rather than satisfy.
THE ANSWER TO 22 ACROSS-ANY EXCUSE TO BUNG IN A PHOTO OF AVA GARDNER
A well made, adsorbing documentary to restore balance and sanity. This movie provides a diversion for anyone who has ever puzzled over puzzles; like one I saw the other day :That Gardner Lady (3). Wordplay [M-Net.Monday.11.00] is for Crossword people and anyone with a love for words and documentary footage.
DOWN BUT NOT OUT
My pick is Cinderella Man [SABC3.Saturday.19.30], because I love the era. Friends With Money [e.tv.Thursday.20.30 and 00.15] runs a close second; because it is always a joy to watch talented people doing a good job.