Lost Reviews #10

Batman Begins (2005)
Christopher Nolan

--There are times when I wonder which Batman movie I enjoy more... Batman Begins or The Dark Knight. Both are so good its hard to even create an argument. The four stars I once gave this film hardly does it justice.--

Unlike any of Christopher Nolan’s movies, Batman Begins doesn’t keep you guessing much. It does however have its share of twists and turns, each of which is well led up to and for the most part, believable. The acting in Batman Begins is spectacular, starting with its star. Christian Bale delivers every line with perfection. He’s funny when he supposed to be and brilliant the rest of the time. The supporting characters, made up of the likes of Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Tom Wilkinson and Liam Neeson are of course, brilliant as well. While the acting was the highlight, the story was great. It progressed at a very steady and suspenseful pace, leading me as a viewer to want more at all times. The occasional mistake of poorly written dialogue and extra long car chases were really the only flaw in Nolan’s direction. The fight scenes were great and original, and flashbacks were used well. Batman Begins doesn’t rank among Nolan’s best work in The Following and Memento, but it is certainly a great movie, worthy of much credit.
****
07/16/05

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)

Directed by: George Roy Hill
Starring: Paul Newman, Robert Redford

***1/2

I fee like its been about a month since I've been able to sit down and watch a movie. Today, I chose Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid from my DVD selection to get the ball rolling again. I've not seen the film since my first viewing and hesitated watching it for whatever reason since owning it as part of my Paul Newman collector set but I'm glad I did because in a way, its really your quintesential western, and its good.

I've seen enough of Paul Newman and Robert Redford to appreciate how natural, talented and compatible they are. There are a few combinations of acting talents whom you could pair up to create the repore you get from Newman and Redford as Cassidy and Sundance but something about these two really works. There is something about them that seems like they could stroll out of the old west into the depression era and run a con on a rich New Yorker. They have such a consistant banter, connection and level of sympathy that they are pretty much a perfect pair.

All this aside, the film itself falls slightly short of being great. Katherine Ross, who's work I love gives the film another dimension. Unfortunately, in doing so, creates a very one dimensional character. We get no background on her or her relationships with Butch and Sundance other than the fact that she probably sleeps with both of them. Making up for this is the levels within the relationship between Butch and Sundance themselves. They seem to be two pees in a pod but we learn that they aren't always honest with each other, that they have their own motives and intentions for what they do and how they act. While they come as a pair, they are very much individuals. As much success as they've had robbing trains and banks, the reality is that they hold each other back.

This movie could be considered as a film about friendship and loyalty above all else but I would argue it focuses more on ignorance and self indulgence. Its not until Butch and Sundance realize that they need each other that they can succeed, and by then, its too late. Butch is the smart one and Sundance has the fast draw. To a point, they've each been able to get by with that alone but its the combination of the two that make them both successful robbers and cinematic legends. The brains and the brute has to be one of the oldest pairings in literary history. Butch and Sundance have to be one of the best examples.

There are points during the film where I was taken out... Butch and Elda (Ross) riding on a bicylce to the tune of "Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head" was awkward for lack of a better term. Hill is clearly known for using music that doesn't necessarily match the period in which he's recreating but in The Sting, the music works. This bit of song didn't seem to do much other than draw out a conflict that could have been created with a line of dialogue. Also, Butch and Sundance's competition for Elda never really takes off or lasts.

Some poor use of music and a one dimensional love interest are really the only complaints I have for this film. That being the case, I still can't classify it as great but it is way above average and certainly a landmark western. The characters alone increase the movies quality ten-fold. Everything aside, the fate of this film is just about the complete opposite of the fate of its characters.

Lost Reviews #9

Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)
John Avnet

--Notes about this review... I remember nothing about it except that I think Chris O'Donnell is in it and he sucked as usual. --

The performances were great from start to finish. The story had its emotional moments and its dramatic qualities. The movie itself, however, lacked direction, made no connections and really didn’t make a stand on a subject. Well, maybe that the Ku Klux Klan were the bad guys and that women can be strong. Evelyn Couch (Kathy Bates) meets Ninny Threadgoode, who just might be another Threadgoode, I wouldn’t want to ruin it for anyone too stupid to realize who she actually is. Ninny tells Evelyn the story of her and her friend Ruth and all they went through. It’s portrayed as a beautiful story taking place in Alabama in the 1920s. The movie wanted very much to make you laugh, cry and care for all of the characters. While it may have succeeded to some extent in those capacities, it failed massively in the connections it may have tried to make. It failed so badly in fact, I question whether or not there was any intention at all in making connections, in a movie that very much called for them. None of the stories tied together, one thing never led to another. Every action took place for no relative reason. Nothing applied to any point the movie may have been trying to make. It’s a respectable effort to draw attention to the time period and the few changes that have been made along the lines of prejudices, but ultimately this movie failed in most areas.
**
06/19/05