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tlfisher-1
Reviews
Mr. Roosevelt (2017)
Who put up the money for this?
You have an opportunity to make a movie, and this is what you come up with? Yet another movie where an immature young woman who creates her own "problems" is supposed to interest us. I ended up watching (well, I fast-forwarded through some) to the end because I went from, Hey this might be kind of a cute movie, to hating a cliché, watch-what-words-you-choose-men, selfish child that is the modern pastiche of a woman, and finally to morbid fascination at a project gone wrong. The actor and character of the drummer-waitress was the only redeeming quality.
Lady Bird (2017)
Overrated
Lady Bird has to be one of the most overrated films in recent history. Of course, movies with limited "art house" releases usually gain at least a star or two (either because of critics' pomposity or because they mistake "boring" for some deeper meaning). This one is about an immature teenager who engages in obnoxious, erratic conduct-I guess because of teen angst or hormones or some other "coming of age" cliché. Yes, teenagers really are frequently obnoxious and erratic; that doesn't make it profound or cute. Some funny lines and decent character actors partially make up for a dreary-to-meaningless story.
Sensation Hunters (1945)
Better than most Bs of the era
The plot and characters hold your attention with suspense and an ending that you hope you're wrong about. Probably too melodramatic for some tastes, but for others it's nice to see something from that era without the over-the-top silliness that (all due respect) they considered "comic relief."
The Wind and the Lion (1975)
Great dialogue, here are some samples . . .
I agree with msinabottle; this is a great movie. Here are some dialogue snippets:
Raisuli (Sean Connery) to Eden Pedecaris (Candice Bergen): "You see the man at the well, how he draws the water? When one bucket empties, the other fills. It is so with the world. At present, you are full of power. But you're spilling it, wastefully. And Islam is lapping up the drops as they spill from your bucket."
Raisuli: The English have paid very well in the past. Pedecaris: Well you'll not have your way with the Americans. President Roosevelt will have your head for this. Raisuli: Roosevelt. This President Roosevelt--he would try and take it himself? Pedecaris: He certainly would! He is a man of grit and strong moral fiber. He does not kidnap women and children! Raisuli: What kind of rifle does he use? Pedecaris: A Winchester! Raisuli: Winchester. Winchester. I have no knowledge of this rifle. Pedecaris: You will.
Teddy Roosevelt (Brian Keith): The American Grizzly Bear is a symbol of the American character: strength, intelligence, ferocity. A little blind and reckless at times, but courageous beyond all doubt. Oh, and one other trait goes with all previous. Newspaper reporter: And that, Mr. President? Teddy Roosevelt: Loneliness. The bear lives out his life alone. Indomitable. Unconquered. But always alone. He has no real allies, only enemies--but none of them are as great as he. Newspaper reporter: You feel this might be an American trait? Teddy Roosevelt: Certainly. The world would never love us. It may respect us. It may even grow to fear us. But it'll never love us. For we have too much audacity. And we're a bit blind and reckless at times, too.
Mary Stevens, M.D. (1933)
Great film and interesting example of era.
It's interesting that Kay Francis played a physician in two films, Mary Stevens, M.D., and Dr. Monica, just a few years apart in a time when the female physician was a rarity. Also, both films dealt with unplanned pregnancies. (I'm basing that on the IMDb summary of Dr. Monica, as I haven't had the opportunity to see that one yet.) In Mary Stevens, M.D., the protagonist encounters society's prejudice against doctors who happen to be female, but that is not the movie's emphasis. Instead, the main plot is simply a great drama (though, in a different way, the drama does stem from mores of the era), and a sad one. Mary Stevens, M.D., is also an interesting example of a 30s-style dichotomy: while Dr. Stevens is a "modern" woman by virtue of having become a physician, she also patiently accepts an ENORMOUS amount of nonsense from the man she loves.