Saturday 12 December 2015

Alternate Best Actor 1962: Tatsuya Nakadai in Harakiri

Tatsuya Nakadai did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Hanshiro Tsugumo in Harakiri.

Harakiri is an excellent film about a samurai who comes to a feudal lords's home to request the right of suicide, harakiri, according to the code of Bushido, but all is not as it seems.

Tatsuya Nakadai plays a samurai, which is neither the first nor the last time, you'll see me writing this. Nakadai like his frequent onscreen opponent Toshiro Mifune, often played roles that potentially seem similair, Nakadai here plays a samurai which he would later do in Samurai Rebellion, The Sword of Doom, and in 62 as well with Sanjuro, just to name a few. Nakadai though does not deliver the same performance for any one of those films that I mentioned, nor does he do so here. We first see Nakadai in the film in what one what assume is in a terrible state, as his character Hanshiro Tsugumo requests the feudal Lord to allow him to commit the official act of suicide in his courtyard. Nakadai does not play Hanshiro as overtly depressed, in that he's not just this sad man making a request. There's something else going and Nakadai brilliantly reflects this with his performance. It does seem like a man with death on the mind, though not exactly as one might expect. As he says that he will be dying soon in his eyes one knows this to be, true as Nakadai reveals such a powerful conviction in them. Again though what it alludes to is made purposefully a mystery by the film as well as Nakadai's performance.

Nakadai is a fascinating enigma in these early scenes as Hanshiro first introduces his request to the lord. Nakadai commands each scene with a striking voice of someone who seems to be absolutely certain of his fate. It goes even more than that though as there is something in his voice that is almost otherworldly in his whole manner. The way he stares through the men, and the way he moves is though he is from some high plane of existence than the Lord. Nakadai is amazing in that he creates this peculiar state of his character in these scenes, as he speaks and acts with this certain detachment towards the world and the Lord, yet there is some emotional quality about. Nakadai is haunting as he seems to make Hanshiro almost some sort of spirit who has arrived at the gate. Hanshiro is told by the Lord another story of a samurai who made a similair request, which lead the lord's men to have the man forcefully commit suicide in an extremely painful way by making him use a bamboo knife while refusing to grant mercy. As Hanshiro is told this story though Nakadai portrays no loss in Hanshiro's reserve in the least, the conviction stands without question, and Hanshiro stays as something more than a man as he insists on the right of Harakiri.

Eventually when he takes to the courtyard to perform the rite Hanshiro requests assistance from the the men who were instrumental in the brutal treatment of that other samurai. All of the men claim to be sick, and Lord wishes for Hanshiro to proceed, but Hanshiro reveals that he was well aware of the other samurai's story even before the lord told him. We are then given a flashback to see Hanshiro some time ago as a samurai with a daughter to support, but no wars to fight so no Lord to support him, trying to make ends meat best he can. Nakadai presents a very different man in these scenes playing Hanshiro much more of an average enough guy. His voice actually far more relaxed as is his whole manner. Although his financial troubles are there Nakadai presents the man effectively as a man happy with the life he has, and just a likable man trying to make it through life with his daughter. This eventually turns to with his daughter, and her eventual husband and father to Hanshiro's grandson who just happens to be that samurai who had been forced to commit Harakiri before Hanshiro.

The hardships only continue to build up as there is no work for the unemployed samurai, and Hanshiro's grandson falls ill. Nakadai is excellent, as unlike the scenes set in the present, he takes a more straight forward approach which is fitting to Hanshiro who is just trying to live out his life in peace. Nakadai does well just only present Hanshiro as a genuine caring man and is incredibly moving in depicting Hanshiro's reactions to his growing misfortunes. Nakadai is especially affecting because that contentment and optimism of before just slowly seems to seep out of the man as things only become worse. Nakadai is heartbreaking as he shows that just everything that goes wrong so deeply wounds Hanshiro, and importantly though Nakadai presents this not as Hanshiro feeling sorry for himself, but rather a deep empathy for the three members of his family. Even with this hardship this man still does not seem to be that man telling the story, even when the body of his son-in-law is brought to his home. Nakadai portrays a man not filled with anything but a deep overwhelming sadness as well as this certain resignation as he sees the corpse mutilated. The flashbacks of that portion ends though as Hanshiro informs the Lord that soon afterwards his daughter and grandson died shortly after.

The mystery behind Hanshiro becomes shattered, but nothing is lost in terms of Nakadai's performance instead only new depths are found in what Nakadai has only shown. Nakadai does not actually alter his performance in the least at this point, nor should he as Hanshiro has been very much set on his path since he first entered the Lord's domain. What Nakadai has already shown though suddenly can be seen in a new light. Those intense eyes of his, have the wear of a sea of tears, and that voice of his changed through the cries of anguish. Though we now know he is indeed a man he might as well not be, as Nakadai portrays Hanshiro as a spirit of vengeance. This is of course not in the literal sense, but he seems as omnipresent as a ghost who can wander freely. Nakadai realizes the force within Hanshiro as being worldly, but seemingly as terrible as a power beyond the realm of man, by being a man so transfixed on one objective. Nakadai does not even depict this as though Hanshiro is merely obsessed, he's gone beyond that point, as Nakadai creates the sense in Hanshiro that this objective is all he has left, his sadness having turned into a internalized yet volcanic rage at both the men as well as the system that wronged his family. Nakadai is outstanding in his final scene as the will is within his eyes, and his voice. The sheer might of it is made true by Nakadai's performance that derives it from such fierce emotion. It such remarkable work as Nakadai because even as he so poignantly reveals the man behind the cryptic, he never loses that aura around him. Nakadai makes it so Hanshiro is more than a man, yet is still a man, it is a tremendous performance.

185 comments:

Calvin Law said...

Need to check this out. Nakadai is perhaps the actor I've grown to love most from reading this blog; can't wait till you see Ran.

Excellent review!

Anonymous said...

Another great Nakadai performance.
Louis: Who would be your cast and director for:
Gone Baby Gone (1940's, 1950's and 1960's version)
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (1950's version)
Killer Joe (1960's version)

Alex Marqués said...

I couldn't agree more with your rating, Nakadai is a legend and he's quickly becoming one of my favourite actors of all time. Definitely on par with the great Toshiro Mifune IMO.
Excellent review by the way, I especially agree with you on the way he pulls off the "other-worldly" nature of his character so well. Keep up the good work!


Anonymous said...

John Smith: Thoughts and ratings on the cast of "Ferris Buellers Day Off"

Calvin Law said...

Thoughts and ratings on the cast of Once Upon a Time in Mexico and Seabiscuit?

Robert MacFarlane said...

Louis, say for a second Nolan managed to find a way to make certain Batman villains work for his version of Gotham. Who would you have cast as the Riddler, Me. Freeze, and Hugo Strange?

Robert MacFarlane said...

*Mr. Freeze, damn autocorrect.

Michael McCarthy said...

I've always wanted to see Bryan Cranston play Mr. Freeze.

JackiBoyz said...

Has anybody seen Trumbo yet, just wondered what others thought about it?

Calvin Law said...

Riddler: John Hawkes

Mr. Freeze: Paul Bettany

Robert MacFarlane said...

For me:

Riddler: Jake Gyllenhaal
Mr. Freeze; David Morse
Strange: Christopher Plummer

Matt Mustin said...

Robert: On the topic of David Morse, I think he'd actually make a pretty damn good Gordon.

Matt Mustin said...

These would by my choices:
Riddler: Ralph Fiennes
Hugo Strange: Tom Waits

And Mr. Freeze, I don't know. All I can think of is Michael Ansara.

Robert MacFarlane said...

For me Hugo Strange, despite his name, should not be played as an eccentric, especially not in a Nolanized universe. There has to be some degree of convincing us that he could have a good enough public face to run his "legitimate mental health practices" without attracting too much attention. Someone like Plummer who could switch between warmth and cruelty on a dime would be perfect.

Matt Mustin said...

Well Plummer is actually a perfect choice.

Matt Mustin said...

I do stand by Ralph Fiennes as the Riddler, though. I think that would be perfect.

Michael McCarthy said...

Robert: What about just having Christoph Waltz play all them?

Robert MacFarlane said...

Or Cumberbatch. Whoever had the lamer reveal.

JackiBoyz said...

Quite a few critics nominations have appeared, and its still not clear who is getting nominated this year, all of them seem to have completely different results, which is great more unpredictability =).

Anonymous said...

Louis what are your thoughts, and score rating for these films?

Wake Island
Boomerang!
Brigadoon
Marnie
Massacre in Rome
Pimpernel Smith
Heaven Can Wait (1943)
Sahara

Michael Patison said...

Riddler: Gyllenhaal would be a great choice, I guess; to be honest, Cumberbatch is the clearest choice, and therefore also the most boring; not really sure, on the whole
Mr. Freeze: David Morse (I would never have come up with him but I love Morse and he's be fantastic)
Strange: Michael Chiklis or Corey Stoll

Matt Mustin said...

I just want to see David Morse in a part that gives him something to do, honestly.

Luke Higham said...

Hardy's nominated for Critic's Choice. :)

Anonymous said...

John Smith: Am i the only one who does not get all the hate agains Shia Laboef?

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Can I have your Ratings & Thoughts on the cast of The Longest Day.

Psifonian said...

1. "Mad Max" cleaning up at all the critics.
2. At long last, my updated Supporting Actor video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tThsLwnvfoM

Robert MacFarlane said...

Hm, Reilly over Cruise, huh? Still sticking with Hall as Magnolia MVP.

Matt Mustin said...

I think pretty much everyone in Magnolia is fantastic, but my three favourites are Tom Cruise, Melora Walters, and Philip Baker Hall.

RatedRStar said...

Luke: Tom Hardyyyy =D =D

RatedRStar said...

Psifonian: Still happy you gave my hero something =D.

Anonymous said...

Luke: I'm expecting another win for Rylance.

Luke Higham said...

Films that I'm looking forward to in 2016.
Silence
Hail, Caesar!
Deadpool
Triple 9
The Witch
High-Rise
Midnight Special
The Nice Guys
X-Men: Apocalypse
The BFG
Jason Bourne 5
A Monster Calls
Doctor Strange
Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them
Rogue One
Assassin's Creed
The Light Between Oceans
Hacksaw Ridge
The Neon Demon

Louis Morgan said...

These precusors are making me very concerned for our hopes being built up only for them to be brutally dashed with the Academy itself, and I even think Mad Max is going to get in at PGA and DGA.

And Tom Hardy really needed that.

Anonymous & Calvin & John Smith:

I'll get you all those thoughts soon.

Robert:

Riddler: Gyllenhaal's a good choice, or maybe Joaquin Phoenix as I feel a Nolan's Riddler would probably be a deranged yet brilliant mathmatician sort.

Hugo Strange: I like your choice and the reasons you gave.

Mr. Freeze: I don't think he could work in Nolan's verse as no villain was was ever "too" farfetched. I'd love to see Mr. Freeze done properly though (though Batman almost has to be a supporting character with that). David Morse is a good choice, I'd also consider William Hurt.

A few more I'd think could have worked in Nolan's style.

Dummy/Scarface: Stephen Tobolowsky
Blackmask: Kevin Bacon
Hush: Leonardo DiCaprio
Penguin: Toby Jones
Calender Man: Woody Harrelson
Deathstroke: Russell Crowe

ruthiehenshallfan99 said...

Psifonian: To be honest, Bert Lahr is in my top 5 for 1939 Best Supporting. I'm deciding between him, Frank Morgan, Claude Rains, And Thomas Mitchell (for Stagecoach). Leslie Howard is in fifth.
Also, can you tell me the name of the themes used in you Best Director video?

Matt Mustin said...

Louis: Damn dude, Calendar Man? That's a fairly obscure one.

Matt Mustin said...

Also, *love* the idea of Toby Jones as Penguin. Everyone was suggesting Philip Seymour Hoffman at the time, but Jones would be perfect.

Anonymous said...

Toby Jones as The Penguin is just a perfect choice.

Luke Higham said...

Everyone: When do you plan on seeing Star Wars: The Force Awakens, as I'll be going to watch it on Thursday.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Not sure yet. Probably Friday.

RatedRStar said...

I am so excited to see if Force Awakens will be bad or good, Red Letter Media will have enjoyable day if it turns out to be bad lol.

Anonymous said...

Luke: I'll see the film whenever it's put on some site.

Michael Patison said...

Psifonian: Ahhhh!!! I bandwagon with Robert on giving you a hard time for agreeing with Louis so much, etc., but I love your videos and was eagerly, if only intermittently, awaiting your Supporting Actor update (finally, indeed)

Louis: Your point about Mr. Freeze being "too" farfetched is exactly why I think Morse would work. I think he would be incredible at grounding the mania in Fries's painful past and tortured genius (in the most literal way).

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Your Female Lead/Supporting Top 5s for 1960 and 61 with ratings and any other 4+ Performances.

Robert MacFarlane said...

I actually get along with Psifonian, Michael. Besides, Louis and him don't always agree.

RatedRStar said...

I am fine with the choices, I am just little surprised by that Tom Hanks for Cloud Atlas win, you might have to explain why you chose him.

Louis Morgan said...

Calvin:

Once Upon A Time in Mexico:

Depp - 3(I'll admit it has been some time since I watched this but I found this to be an enjoyable enough over the top performance for him which fit within the film's absurd style)

Banderas - 2.5(Perhaps just a bit too stoic for his own good here, as he's fine but just rather forgettable)

Hayek - 2(Really does not do anything here other than look pretty)

Blades - 3.5(The best part of the film as he brings a lot of character and humor into his scenes, and makes following his little plot a surprising amount of fun)

Rourke - 3(Rourke takes a nothing role and makes at least something out of it, making his character switch perfectly natural despite the limitations)

Dafoe - 2.5(Dafoe's accent is over the top, but he still manages to bring enough of a menace for his character through his performance)

Seabiscuit:

Cooper - 3.5(Cooper gives a good work as the very typical rugged, yet goodhearted old timer type. It's a pretty standard character, but Cooper makes the most of it going further with the role than just a caricature)

Bridges - 3(Felt very much like his performance from Tucker, but shortened and simplified)

Macy - 3(He brings the right sort of life to the slightly wacky radio personality, and does a good job of distinguishing between the on air and off air sides of his character)

Maguire - 3(I found his performance to be just fine here. He avoids the extreme blandness that can often define his performance. It's not great work, but wholly decent)

Anonymous:

Gone Baby Gone 1940's directed by Robert Montgomery:

Patrick Kenzie: Burt Lancaster
Angie Gennaro: Ava Gardner
Captain Doyle: Charles Coburn
Detective Bressant: Edward G. Robinson
Helene McCready: Jessica Tandy
Lionel Maccready: Brian Donlevy

Gone Baby Gone 1950's directed by John Huston:

Patrick Kenzie: Tony Curtis
Angie Gennaro: Patricia Neal
Captain Doyle: Barry Fitzgerald
Detective Bressant: Melvyn Douglas
Helene McCready: Ida Lupino
Lionel Maccready: Hume Cronyn

Gone Baby Gone 1960's directed by Sidney Lumet:

Patrick Kenzie: Donald Sutherland
Angie Gennaro: Shirley Knight
Captain Doyle: Fredric March
Detective Bressant: Lee J. Cobb
Helene McCready: Terry Moore
Lionel Maccready: James Whitmore

Before the Devil Knows Your Dead 1950's directed by Elia Kazan:

Andy Hanson: Ernest Borgnine
Hank Hanson: Montgomery Clift
Gina Hanson: Susan Hayward
Charles Hanson: Victor McLaglen
Nanette Hanson: Spring Byington
Bobby Lasorda: Brad Dexter
Dex: Lee Marvin

Killer Joe 1960's directed by Martin Ritt:

Killer Joe: Paul Newman
Chris: Charles Grodin
Dottie: Melinda Dillon
Sharla: Gloria Grahame
Ansel: Robert Ryan

John Smith:

I think you can find them somewhere if you search.

Anonymous:

Wake Island - 3.5
Boomerang! - 4
Brigadoon - 4
Marnie - 3.5
Massacre in Rome - 3
Pimpernel Smith - 4.5
Heaven Can Wait (1943) - 4
Sahara - 4.5

Luke:

No one exactly stands out, there are few that are worse, but most are just fine in kind of a Black Hawk Down sort of way.

1960:

Lead:

Jean Simmons - Elmer Gantry
Janet Leigh - Psycho
Shirley MacLaine - The Apartment
Deborah Kerr - The Sundowners

Supporting:

Jean Simmons - Spartacus
Wendy Hiller - Sons and Lovers
Shirley Jones - Elmer Gantry
Brenda De Banzie - The Entertainer
Glynis Johns - The Sundowners

And:

Joan Plowright - The Entertainer
Mary Ure - Sons and Lovers
Kyoko Kagawa - The Bad Sleep Well

1961:

Lead:

Ruby Dee - A Raisin in The Sun - 4.5
Audrey Hepburn - Breakfast At Tiffany's
Jeanne Moreau - La Notte - 4.5
Ingrid Bergman - Goodbye Again
Natalie Wood - Splendor in the Grass
Marilyn Monroe - The Misfits

Supporting:

Claudia McNeil - A Raisin in the Sun - 4.5
Maria Schell - The Mark - 4
Daniela Rocco - Divorce, Itlian Style - 4
Judy Garland - Judgment At Nuremberg
Patricia Neal - Breakfast At Tiffany's
Piper Laurie - The Hustler

Michael Patison:

I just meant because Nolan's trilogy never went full blown fantasy or sci-fi with any of the villains.

Robert MacFarlane said...

See anymore movies?

Louis Morgan said...

Robert:

The Walk.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Ratings and thoughts on the cast?

Louis Morgan said...

Robert:

Gordon-Levitt - 3(His accent is imperfect, and not simply in terms of imitating Petit, but just it falls out sometimes. I think going as big as he does with the role overcomes this a bit though as he basically plays the role as though he is doing an over the top circus performance almost the whole time. As that I think his performance holds enough charm and does work for the film)

Kingsley - 2(A very lazy performance on his part as he just really seemed like he was phoning it in the whole time, in terms of his accent, his whole demeanor and his lack of an attempt to really make any sort of chemistry with Gordon-Levitt)

Le Bon - 2.5(I did not mind her but she really did not stand out much as "supportive girlfriend")

Dale - 3.5(A weakness I felt in the film was that the accomplishes were pretty forgettable in terms of both writing and the performances except for Dale. Dale got to be the best of both worlds though I suppose as he's very funny as the slightly rough New Yorker type then is appropriately elvish himself as a scheming Frenchmen. He brought a needed life to his scenes, which I wish the rest of the supporting cast had been able to do)

Matt Mustin said...

Louis, if you haven't done this yet, how would you rank Zemeckis' films?

Matt Mustin said...

Also, Louis, would you consider Michael Shannon to be supporting or lead in 99 Homes?

Calvin Law said...

Patrick Kenzie: Donald Sutherland, just perfecto.

Also, revised thoughts on Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's? From what I recall she used to be a 3.5.

Calvin Law said...

Luke: Am seeing The Force Awakens on Thursday.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: For 1960 Female Lead, where would you place Sophia Loren for Two Women. You forgot about Kerr and Franklin for 1961.

Ratings for Hiller, De Banzie, Plowright, Bergman and Wood.

Anonymous said...

Luke: De Banzie is a 4, Plowright is a 3,5, Wood is a 3,5 as well. I'd assume that Hiller is a 4,5 since Simmons and Jones also have the same rating.
Louis: Just one final premake question.
Cast and director for:
Reservoir Dogs (40's, 50's and 70's)
Gone Baby Gone (30's, 70's, 80's and 90's)

Luke Higham said...

Louis: You also forgot about Rachel Roberts in Saturday Night and Sunday Morning and Melina Mercouri in Never On Sunday.

Rating for Harriet Andersson in Through A Glass Darkly

Anonymous said...

John Smith: Louis, i searched you hav not given your thought and ratings on the cast for Ferris Bueller

Anonymous said...

Just finished watching Beasts of No Nation. Pretty good film.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Ratings for Attah & Elba.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Both are fives. Attah's performance is one of the best I've ever seen from a child actor. One of my favorite scenes of him is where he has to kill a man and is reluctant to do so. Elba's performance is one of the greatest supporting performances I've seen so far. Such charisma and passion he brings to this commanding presence.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Oh, yeah, I forgot to say that I watched Bridge of Spies yesterday. It was a very entertaining picture. Hanks is a 4,5, while Rylance is a 5 for me.

Louis Morgan said...

Matt:

Zemeckis:

1. Back to the Future
2. Who Framed Roger Rabbit




3. Back to the Future Part III
4. Back to the Future Part II
5. Cast Away
6. Forrest Gump
7. The Walk


8. A Christmas Carol
9. Contact
10. The Polar Express
11. Flight

Supporting and wouldn't have to think twice either. There's only a brief moment at the beginning where he's not through Garfield's perspective.

Calvin:

Accidental misplacement though I think a four is more fitting to how I already felt about her performance.

Luke:

I'll admit I rushed that one. Here's the fixed version:

Lead:

Jean Simmons - Elmer Gantry
Sophia Loren - Two Women
Harriet Andersson - Through the Glass Darkly - 4.5
Janet Leigh - Psycho
Melina Mercouri - Never on a Sunday

And:

Shirley MacLaine - The Apartment
Deborah Kerr - The Sundowners

Supporting:

Jean Simmons - Spartacus
Rachel Roberts - Saturday Night and Sunday Morning
Wendy Hiller - Sons and Lovers
Shirley Jones - Elmer Gantry
Brenda De Banzie - The Entertainer

And:

Glynis Johns - The Sundowners
Joan Plowright - The Entertainer
Mary Ure - Sons and Lovers
Kyoko Kagawa - The Bad Sleep Well

1961:

Lead:

Deborah Kerr - The Innocents
Ruby Dee - A Raisin in The Sun - 4.5
Jeanne Moreau - La Notte - 4.5
Ingrid Bergman - Goodbye Again - 4
Audrey Hepburn - Breakfast At Tiffany's

Supporting:

Pamela Franklin - The Innocents
Claudia McNeil - A Raisin in the Sun - 4.5
Maria Schell - The Mark - 4
Daniela Rocco - Divorce, Itlian Style - 4
Judy Garland - Judgment At Nuremberg

And:

Patricia Neal - Breakfast At Tiffany's

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

Reservoir Dogs 40's directed by John Huston:

Mr. White: Warner Baxter
Mr. Orange: Dana Andrews
Mr. Pink: John Carradine
Mr. Blonde: Robert Ryan
Mr. Brown: Elisha Cook, Jr.
Mr. Blue: Walter Huston
Joe Cabot: Eugene Palette
Nice Guy Eddie: Simon Oakland

50's directed by Stanley Kubrick:

Mr. White: Humphrey Bogart
Mr. Orange: Montgomery Clift
Mr. Pink: Ralph Meeker
Mr. Blonde: Sterling Hayden
Mr. Brown: Murray Hamilton
Mr. Blue: Edward G. Robinson
Joe Cabot: Edward Arnold
Nice Guy Eddie: Pat Hingle

70's directed by Don Siegel:

Mr. White: William Holden
Mr. Orange: Al Pacino
Mr. Pink: Bruce Dern
Mr. Blonde: Harry Dean Stanton
Mr. Brown: Harrison Ford
Mr. Blue: Richard Widmark
Joe Cabot: Burl Ives
Nice Guy Eddie: George Dzunda

Gone Baby Gone 30's directed by William Wyler

Patrick Kenzie: Henry Fonda
Angie Gennaro: Mary Astor
Captain Doyle: H.B. Warner
Detective Bressant: Louis Wolheim
Helene McCready: Gale Sondergaard
Lionel Maccready: Charles Bickford

70's directed by Alan J. Pakula

Patrick Kenzie: Tommy Lee Jones
Angie Gennaro: Susan Sarandon
Captain Doyle: James Stewart
Detective Bressant: Jack Palance
Helene McCready: Susan Strasberg
Lionel Maccready: Rip Torn

80's directed by William Friedkin:

Patrick Kenzie: Gary Sinise
Angie Gennaro: Linda Hamilton
Captain Doyle: Art Carney
Detective Bressant: Robert Loggia
Helene McCready: Patty Duke
Lionel Maccready: Scott Glenn

90's directed by Clint Eastwood:

Patrick Kenzie: Robert Downey Jr.
Angie Gennaro: Robin Wright
Captain Doyle: Sidney Poitier
Detective Bressant: James Caan
Helene McCready: Laura San Giacomo
Lionel Maccready: Joe Pantoliano

John Smith:

Broderick - 3(I don't exactly buy him as the guy who is too cool for all of school exactly, that being said I do think his performance works well enough with John Hughes slightly absurd style he goes with around his performance)

Ruck - 3.5(I prefer to take the film as Cameron is really the lead and Ferris is just in his imagination. Ruck though is very good, and thoroughly abused straight man to Ferris's ridiculousness.Also worth mentioning is that in just his small doses he does manage to convincingly portray his little character arc)

Jones - 3.5(Like Broderick he is also all about the ridiculousness, perhaps even more so, but I certainly enjoyed his performance so that's just fine, though there's been funnier "evil Dean" types John Vernon for example (who was so good because he was serious in the role))

Anonymous said...

Louis: Cagney played Robert Montgomery's role in Night Must Fall in a radio adaptation. Do you think he would have been great for the role in the film adaptation?

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

He probably would have been great, though the idea that there is a mystery to the killer would have been lessened all the more, though there was barely one to begin with.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Is Janet Leigh a 5 or 4.5 for Psycho.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Your Female Lead/Supporting Top 5s with ratings and other 4+ performances for 1963 and 1964.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Andersson's '61 Lead.

Anonymous said...

97% rating for Star Wars =D

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: :) I've heard Driver's the MVP, which makes me even more pleased. I've also heard that Ren's a more complex version of Darth Vader.

Robert MacFarlane said...

I heard Ridley is MVP.

Luke Higham said...

Robert: I've only read the British reviews, though Ridley's received a great deal of praise as well.

Anonymous said...

The Hateful Eight has 93%, 2015 is easily the best year in film so far this decade, far too many great films this year, better than the mostly decent 2014 year of films.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: It's certainly the best year for acting this decade, though I'll wait until I see Macbeth, The Revenant, The Hateful Eight and The Force Awakens to determine whether it's the best for films in general.

Anonymous said...

Luke: I think that the next films I'm going to see are Legend and Steve Jobs.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I hope you like Hardy as much as I.

Anonymous said...

Luke: We'll see if I do. :)

Anonymous said...

Louis: Who do you think might have been better for the two leading roles in For Whom The Bell Tolls than Cooper and Bergman? And what do you think of the film overall and what rating would you give it?

Calvin Law said...

Can't wait till tomorrow evening.

Luke Higham said...

Calvin: 8:45 for me. :)

ruthiehenshallfan99 said...

Well, I Want to Live is on TCM in about 45 minutes, followed by Anatomy of a Murder. I hope to love them. Also, I watched Gone with the Wind for the tenth time. Still my favorite.

RatedRStar said...

ruthiehenshallfan99: Wow that will be on long session lol

I love the fact that The Hateful Eight is basically a murder mystery, something I always love =D.

ruthiehenshallfan99 said...

RatedRStar: Luckily I took an hour break after Gone with the Wind. Otherwise... oh boy.

RatedRStar said...

Room is on PL, yess =D.

Luke Higham said...

Louis:
Room
http://putlocker.is/watch-room-online-free-putlocker.html

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Whenever you do watch Room, can I have your thoughts on the film and Ratings & Thoughts on the cast.

ruthiehenshallfan99 said...

Louis: Thoughts and rating for Eve Arden in Anatomy of a Murder

Luke Higham said...

Room
Larson - 5
Tremblay - 5
Allen - 4
My #3 film of the year so far.

Louis Morgan said...

Morricone has been deemed eligible for The Hateful Eight. One must hope. (Of course they could have saved us all the troubled and just given him the win for The Mission!)

Luke:

Quick thoughts on Room: I thought it was very good though I did have a few problems with the last third as I felt certain elements felt a bit rushed or underdeveloped, particularly in regards to what happens with William H. Macy's character. It felt almost as though it was decided late that the film would never lose the child's perspective, which is indeed where the film really worked quite well, on that note though.... if Tremblay is nominated in supporting it will be the most egregious case of category fraud in the category since.....well ever, besting even Richard Burton in My Cousin Rachel. Give me a bit more time to make my thoughts a bit more exact, but it is safe to say that I quite liked Larson's performance.

Saw Brooklyn yesterday as well.

Leigh is a five and Andersson should be just below Moreau in 61.

63:

Lead:

Ingrid Thulin - The Silence - 5
Rachel Roberts - This Sporting Life
Audrey Hepburn - Charade
Gunnel Lindblom - The Silence - 4.5
Tippi Hedren - The Birds - 3.5

Supporting:

Patricia Neal - Hud
Ethel Merman - It's a Mad...World - 4.5
Lilia Skala - Lilies of the Field
Joan Greenwood - Tom Jones
Edith Evans - Tom Jones

And:

Joyce Redman - Tom Jones
Lotte Lenya - From Russia With Love - 4
Julie Christie - Billy Liar
Susannah York - Tom Jones

64:

Lead:

Kim Stanley - Seance on a Wet Afternoon
Anne Bancroft - The Pumpkin Eater
Julie Andrews - Mary Poppins
Melina Mercouri - Topkapi - 4
Tippi Hedren - Marnie - 4

And:

Bette Davis - Hush....Hush, Sweet Charlotte - 4

Supporting:

Lilia Kedrova - Zorba The Greek
Olivia DeHavilland - Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte
Ava Gardner - The Night of the Iguana - 4.5
Ava Gardner - Seven Days in May
Flora Robson - Guns at Batasi - 4

Anonymous:

Humphrey Bogart, Bergman easily could have worked with him, though the problem may have been in Sam Wood. There are some good things about the film, Paxinou, but much of the story feels underdeveloped with a lack of needed chemistry between the characters. Though I honestly believe the film would have been greatly improved with someone better as Pablo, as Tamiroff really wastes a complex character, making him just a one dimensional oaf. It has interesting ideas swirling around, as well as it does attempt some daring subject matter for the time, but few things really come together as they should. This is not helped by Wood's fairly banal direction, which fails to give the action scenes the visceral edge they could have used. I'd give it a 2.

ruthiehenshallfan99:

Arden - 4(She's very good doing her usual thing, but it is a perfect fit for the character. I really like her chemistry with Stewart, and she's just entertaining as the classically slightly sardonic yet supportive secretary)

Robert MacFarlane said...

But Louis, Tremblay is "supporting the film". Seriously, every year I hear that excuse wheeled out. Every. Single. Year.

Louis Morgan said...

Well obviously we should abolish the leading category since obviously no one man or woman could possibly "lead" a film......ehhhhh.

Calvin Law said...

Thoughts and ratings on the cast of Brooklyn, as well as the film itself.

Louis Morgan said...

Calvin:

I'll give you more detailed thoughts tomorrow, but I'll say I loved the film, Ronan (Easy 5), and am saving Cohen.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Oh, I hope that's good news for Cohen. I was so pleasantly surprised by how great he was. Could have fell into tough guy posturing in the role, instead went for fumbling shyness and unironic sensitivity.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Your Female Lead/Supporting Top 5s for 1965, 1966 and 1968 with ratings & other 4+ Performances.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Your ratings for Hepburn, Skala, Greenwood, Bancroft, Andrews, DeHavilland and Gardner (Seven Days In May).

Anonymous said...

Luke: Hepburn and Andrews are 4's and Bancroft and De Haviland are likely 4,5's. Gardner is a 4 for Seven Days in May.

Anonymous said...

*De Havilland

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Ratings and Thoughts for the casts of Room and Brooklyn. :)

Less than 9 hours to go now. :)

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I think we're getting more than 7 Fives in Supporting this year.

Anonymous said...

Luke: I suppose that after I watch Legend and Steve Jobs, I'll be watching Room and Brooklyn. But I don't think I'm going to watch Legend and Steve Jobs right away.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous:
My current Five predictions for Supporting Actor.
Locks
Mark Rylance - Bridge Of Spies
Benicio Del Toro - Sicario
Richard Jenkins - Bone Tomahawk
Idris Elba - Beasts Of No Nation
Fairly/Pretty Likely
Tom Hardy - The Revenant
Nicholas Hoult - Mad Max: Fury Road
Michael Keaton - Spotlight
Sylvester Stallone - Creed
Emory Cohen - Brooklyn
Walton Goggins - The Hateful Eight (Rumoured to be the best Male Supporting Player)
Outside Chance
Oscar Isaac - Ex Machina
Samuel L. Jackson - The Hateful Eight

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: That's fine with me. :)

Anonymous said...

Luke: I've been re-watching Philadelphia and The Theory of Everything in this last week of school, and also watched Bridge of Spies and Beasts of No Nation, so I'd say that my break is pretty justifiable. :)

Anonymous said...

Louis: Since you disliked Jagger in Twelve O'Clock High, who do you think might have been better in his role? And as for Peck, do you think he could have been better with a better script and what other actors could you see in his role?

Anonymous said...

Luke: I have a feeling that Silence could be the best film of 2016.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Either that or Hail, Caesar!

If there's one actor, that I really hope gets their first five next year, It's Liam Neeson, closely followed by Garfield and Clooney.

Luke Higham said...

Weathers is now a 5 for Rocky.

Calvin Law said...

YES

And Star Wars later, so much good stuff to take my minds off more disheartening things.

Anonymous said...

Luke: I'm still not that impressed by Weathers' performance, Meredith was the best thing about Rocky.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: He's still a 4.5 for me, though I wanted to inform everyone, in case no one had known by now.

Anonymous said...

Luke: So who do you think might be the next review?

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Mifune

Anonymous said...

Luke: Perhaps Clooney will give the best performance of his career in Hail, Caesar!

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Quite honestly, I'll be surprised if he doesn't get at least a 4.5.

Anonymous said...

Luke: If we were to do a version of Clayface (Batman villain) in the 40's, I would choose Chaney Jr.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Anyway, going back to Clooney, I'm confident that the Coens will be able to get a great performance out of them. It'd be a damn chance if they didn't.

Anonymous said...

*him

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Chaney Jr. or Karloff for me.

I'm gonna try and predict Louis' Top 5 films of 2015.

1. Mad Max: Fury Road
2. The Revenant
3. Brooklyn
4. Spotlight
5. The Hateful Eight/Star Wars: The Force Awakens/Son Of Saul

Anonymous said...

Luke: I think that The Revenant will be his favorite of the year. Inarritu just impressed him with Birdman and will probably do so with The Revenant. It will probably be my favorite of the year, too.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: The Divisive Reviews are slightly holding me back from putting The Revenant at the #1 spot.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I'll put Carol at #3.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Some retro choices for Batman villains are quite easy, but there are some hard ones like Blackmask, Hush, Calendar Man and Deathstroke.

Calvin Law said...

Star Wars ratings (no comments so as to avoid spoilers)
Boyega: 4.5
Ridley: 4/4.5
Isaac: 4
Driver: 4/4.5
Ford: 4
Fisher: 3
Ngong'yo: 3.5
Gleeson: 3.5/4
Sydow: 3
Serkis: 2.5

Anonymous said...

Calvin: So...was the film good?

Calvin Law said...

Entertaining and sent chills down my spine, but definitely flawed

Luke Higham said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Luke Higham said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Luke Higham said...

My Ratings
Boyega - 4/4.5
Ridley - 4/4.5
Driver - 4.5
Ford - 4
Fisher - 3/3.5
Nyong'o - 3.5
Gleeson - 3.5
Sydow - 3
Serkis - 3

I absolutely enjoyed the film and as Calvin said, there is one particular scene that sends a chill down your spine. The biggest flaw it had, which didn't really detract from my experience was it's similarities to A New Hope.

Luke Higham said...

Isaac's a 3.5.

RatedRStar said...

Luke: Could you do me a slight favour?, could you message me on FB what that scene was, cause I am curious =)

ruthiehenshallfan99 said...

Louis: Thoughts on Ava Gardner in The Night of the Iguana. And ratings on the following:

Ursula Andress: Dr. No
Daniela Bianchi: From Russia with Love
Honor Blackman: Goldfinger
Claudine Auger: Thunderball
Mie Hama: You Only Live Twice
Jill St. John: Diamonds Are Forever
Kim Basinger and Barbara Carrera: Never Say Never Again

Luke Higham said...

RatedRStar: Did you get the message. I hardly ever use Facebook.

RatedRStar said...

Luke:Yep got it thanks =D.

Calvin Law said...

Luke: Looks like we pretty much agree on everything. I did like the similarities but some were definitely too overt. I will say that the performances of Driver, Isaac and Boyega definitely elevated their material (which wasn't bad to start with).

It would be my #4 of the year I think; what about you?

Calvin Law said...

I gave Isaac a 4 because he made so much out of the very little he was given.

Luke Higham said...

Calvin: It's my #3.

Luke Higham said...

Calvin: I'm close to doing the same for him. :) I hope Boyega & Isaac don't go on their seperate paths, since they potentially make a terrific duo, as good as they were together in this film.

Calvin Law said...

I am guessing the following ratings for Louis:

Boyega: 4
Ridley: 4
Isaac: 3.5
Driver: 4.5
Ford: 4
Fisher: 3.5
Nyong'o: 3
Gleeson: 3.5
Serkis: 3
Sydow: 3

Calvin Law said...

Yes. To not spoil things for anyone they had terrific chemistry :)

Luke Higham said...

Calvin: I'm in complete agreement with your prediction.

Calvin Law said...

I think Ridley will be the Luke figure who goes of on her own while Poe and Finn are the new duo.

Also:

BB-8: 5

Luke Higham said...

Calvin: Love that little fella. I'll give him an honorary 5 as well. :)

Louis Morgan said...

Saw Star Wars, I'd tell you my ratings, but Calvin got them almost all right.......almost. Driver I need to think about, Serkis I'd go lower and Sydow is more of a N/A. I'd note Boyega, Ford and Ridley would be strong 4's.

Anonymous:

Peck could have been better with just a little better of a script (get rid of that catatonic state scene). Instead of Jagger, how about Ward Bond, Claude Rains, Barry Fitzgerald, Walter Brennan, William Demarest or of course Thomas Mitchell

ruthiehenshallfan99:

I might have given my thoughts before, let me check then I'll get back to you.

Ursula Andress: Dr. No - 3
Daniela Bianchi: From Russia with Love - 1.5
Honor Blackman: Goldfinger - 3.5
Claudine Auger: Thunderball - 2
Mie Hama: You Only Live Twice - 1.5
Jill St. John: Diamonds Are Forever - 3
Kim Basinger and Barbara Carrera: Never Say Never Again 1.5

Luke:

1965:

Lead:

Elizabeth Hartman - A Patch of Blue
Samantha Eggar - The Collector
Julie Christie - Doctor Zhivago
Julie Andrews - The Sound of Music
Carol Lynley - Bunny Lake is Missing - 3.5

Supporting:

Simone Signoret - Ship of Fools
Shelley Winters - A Patch of Blue
Kyoko Kagawa - Red Beard
Geraldine Chaplin - Doctor Zhivago - 4
Claire Bloom - The Spy Who Came in From the Cold - 4

1966:

Persona Ladies
Audrey Hepburn - How To Steal A Million
Lynn Redgrave - Georgy Girl - 4
Elizabeth Taylor - Whose Afraid of Virginia Woolf

Lead:

Charlotte Rampling - Georgy Girl - 4.5
Machiko Kyo - The Face of Another - 4.5
Wendy Hiller - A Man for All Seasons
Vanessa Redgrave - Blow Up - 4
Susannah York - A Man For All Seasons

And:

Simone Signoret - The Deadly Affair - 4
Shelley Winters - Alfie - 4

Supporting:

1968:

Lead:

Katherine Hepburn - Lion in Winter
Lynn Carlin - Faces - 5
Sondra Locke - The Heart is a Lonely Hunter - 4.5
Patricia Neal - The Subject Was Roses - 4.5
Gena Rowlands - Faces - 4

And:

Claudia Cardinale - Once Upon a Time in The West
Olivia Hussey - Romeo and Juliet

Supporting:

Ruth Gordon - Rosemary's Baby
Shani Wallis - Oliver! - 4
Pat Heywood - Romeo and Juliet - 3.5
Kim Hunter - Planet of the Apes - 3.5
Elizabeth Hartman - The Fixer - 3.5

Louis Morgan said...

Calvin:

Also when rating Gleeson I would have referred to him as Grand Moff Gleeson.

Matt Mustin said...

Louis, what did you think of Star Wars? Without spoilers please.

Louis Morgan said...

I found it very entertaining with certainly enough emotional investment to pull you in with both the old and new characters. It is well mounted and the technical aspects all are very admirable. There is certain fan service element, not wholly unlike Abrahms's Star Trek, which I believe will be a point of contention, some will love it some will hate it, I was mixed about it personally, some of it worked but not all of it.

I felt just a few of the smaller characters could have been given a bit more to do (Gwendoline Christie!), and the BIG moment in the film I think probably should have been held off until the next film just so they could have built the relationship involved with it up a bit more, which I believe would have made it more powerful. I do think it's a film where its high points are likely to win someone over to the point of loving it even if there are faults, and in the end it is a worthy sequel to the original films.

Michael McCarthy said...

I was very impressed by Adam Driver. Unfortunately the most fascinating aspects of his performance involve huge spoilers.

Calvin Law said...

I thought he had a few 'off' moments but hit some very high points too. Boyega was by far the MVP for me though;reminded me a lot of a young Denzel Washington which is a good thing.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Your Ratings for Larson & Allen in Room and Walters, Broadbent and Gleeson in Brooklyn.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Your rating for Kagawa in Red Beard.

Luke Higham said...

Michael McCarthy: Your ratings for the cast of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Anonymous said...

Louis: What other actors could you see in Peck's role in Twelve O'Clock High? I could see Mitchum, Wayne, Gable and Stewart in the role.

Calvin Law said...

I'm going to bump Gleeson up to a 4 and Ford to a 4/4.5 upon re-think. Still in two minds about Driver but he can only go up. Not sure whether the problem I had was with Serkis or his character but I'll leave him at 2.5 for now.

Michael McCarthy said...

Ridley: 4
Boyega: 4
Isaac: 3.5
Ford: 4 (very close to 4.5)
Driver: 4.5
Gleeson: 3.5
Nyong'o: 3
Serkis: 2.5

Calvin: I'd kinda like to discuss Driver's performance with you, I'd like to know what you thought were the "off moments," but I don't want to spoil anything. Do you have Facebook or anything?

Robert MacFarlane said...

I just got back from TFA, and frankly was even more enthusiastic about Boyega and Ridley then the rest of you.

Luke Higham said...

Robert: What did you think of Driver.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Well, I thought he [REDACTED DUE TO SPOILERS].

Luke Higham said...

Robert: :)

Anonymous said...

Most people seem to be giving Serkis the lowest grade, why is that?
also, Carol and Brooklyn are now on PL.

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous: They certainly would have worked.

Luke:

Larson - 4.5/5(Still need time to think)
Allen - 3
Walters - 3
Broadbent - 3.5
Gleeson - 3.5
Kagawa - 4

Robert:

Honestly I could go higher on much of the cast, I'm just going to let it all settle first.

Anonymous:

I can't speak for anyone else but personally I found the two pure C.G.I. characters unneeded, I would preferred if they had just been done with practical effects since so many things were, Nyong'o could have easily been replaced with a yellowified Linda Hunt (I'm pretty sure that's what she was doing anyways) or just with a made up Nyong'O for that matter. Same deal in regards to Serkis, but I also just found his performance, as well as the design of the character, just excessively uninspired, especially compared to the rest of the film.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Your Thoughts on Saorise Ronan in Brooklyn, as well as your thoughts on Carol and ratings & thoughts on the cast, whenever you do see it.

http://putlocker.is/watch-carol-online-free-putlocker.html

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Whenever you make your decision on Larson's rating, can you tell us straight away.

Matt Mustin said...

Louis, what's your ratings and thoughts on Richard Crenna and Brian Dennehy in First Blood and Arnold Schwarzenegger in Predator?

Anonymous said...

Louis: For an American version of Chinatown in the 50's, would Mitchum be your choice?

Anonymous said...

*for Gittes?

Michael McCarthy said...

Uhhhh Larson might not be a 5? *eye twitch*

Luke Higham said...

Michael McCarthy: Even If she does get a five, I'm getting the impression that he preferred Tremblay.

Michael McCarthy said...

I'd be fine with that since Tremblay's currently my runner-up for best actor. Larson however, gave my favorite performance of the year.

Robert MacFarlane said...

I have to agree that Snoke was a big letdown. Managed to make Thanos's cameo seem climactic.

Michael McCarthy said...

Eh, I haven't lost faith in Serkis. Maybe there'll be more to his character inEpisode VII.

Michael McCarthy said...

VIII I mean

Calvin Law said...

Michael: Sure, if you can find me on it :) I'll post a link here if you can't.

Luke: Oooh much as I'd like to hear Louis' thoughts on Carol, I think it best if he waits till the big screen which is the only way to properly appreciate it.

Michael McCarthy said...

Calvin: Could you? There seem to be a lot of Calvin Laws on Facebook.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Have you seen any other 2015 releases recently.

Anonymous said...

Luke: I think I'll watch Legend and Steve Jobs tomorrow.

Luke Higham said...

Carol
Blanchett/Mara - 5
Chandler - 4
Paulson - 3.5

Anonymous said...

Luke: So, how was the film?

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: It was brilliantly directed by Haynes and had two outstanding performances from the 2 Leads, Mara especially.

It's my #2.

Anonymous said...

Luke: You know, there's another performance that Louis should review IMO for the bonus reviews: Robert Mitchum in The Friends of Eddie Coyle.

Luke Higham said...

My Lead Actress Top 5
1. Mara
2. Ronan
3. Blanchett
4. Larson
5. Mulligan

Calvin Law said...

Michael: I think it's you but I think I found you!

Luke:Haven't seen Larson yet (will do so asap) but my top 5 is fairly similar:

1. Mara
2. Ronan
3. Blanchett
4. Mulligan (Far From the Madding Crowd)
5. Theron/Blunt (who's now a 5 for me)

Anonymous said...

Louis you gave your ratings but what are your thoughts on

Wake Island
Boomerang!
Brigadoon
Marnie
Sahara

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

Ronan - (Luminous would be a good way to describe her here. It's just pitch perfect work from her. She's excellent in the way she so unassuming in basically the way she plays the part yet she never feels vague or overshadowed. She realizes her character shyer qualities while never letting it define her. She has excellent chemistry with Cohen, and the two are just wonderful in their interactions with one another. Honestly she just feels so real in the part that's just so effortlessly charming work. The more dramatic moments in her performance though also are keenly felt yet always come across in such a natural fashion, that feel just as a facet of her character. It's brilliant understated work.)

Matt:

Crenna - 3.5(He's good as acting as basically the sanity for the entirety of the film giving the right severity to his words, and controlled passion as he tries to talk sense into the Sheriff and Rambo. He's particularly good in his final scene with Stallone)

Dennehy - 3.5(It's a good performance as Dennehy portrays the small town bully with the right amount of sleaze though without overpowering as he still portrays the desperate man who is trying to prove something he does not even know in his attempt to take down Rambo. Now he is good, but the character I think perhaps had even more potential that was not tapped into though that may have been more due to the direction and script rather than Dennehy)

Schwarzenegger - (It is extremely solid Schwarznegger as you sort of get the best of his both his worlds. In the first half you get his gleeful delivery of the over the top one liners while wielding big weapons. Then in the later scenes though he's good in building up the threat of the Predator, by actually conveying rather the certain dread that grows in his character. Now I don't know if it is a gradual transition between these two sides, but they both work)

Anonymous:

He'd be a good choice.

Anonymous:

Wake Island - (It's a just fine war film in terms of the action but it doesn't go beyond that too much. It's characters are all fairly thin, though it always remains watchable enough)

Boomerang! - (Maybe a puts a bit too much of the DOCU in docudrama, but it still works as such. It does not have too great of an emotional heft to it because of that, but it works in that it is telling an interesting enough of a story.)

Brigadoon - (The music's pretty good, the sets, the dancing, there's nothing to complain about, and the story certainly works well enough, plus Van Johnson brings some much needed earthiness to the whole thing)

Marnie - (As a true examination of one's mental problems I don't think it completely works. It is effective enough in terms of the style that is made around the presentation of this though to make the film work)

Sahara - (A very good war film as it does give each character there little moment as well as just tells a tight story involving these group of men, as well as creating the right sense of atmosphere through the desert)