Change Your Image
noibn48
Reviews
M*A*S*H: Rainbow Bridge (1974)
Not A 300 Mile Goof
The comment that the docs would had to drive 300 miles is wrong. The Chinese army was deep into South Korea in 1952. In this case "Chinese territory" was Chinese HELD territory and could have easily been a 50 mile run.
Blackboard Jungle (1955)
On The Jungle Front
A year earlier in 1954 we saw their dads in "On The Waterfront." The next year another superb film was made about their sons. Another fine cast giving us the satisfaction of a terrific ifvdark performance. The evolution of the characters is sublime. Still, the film scared hell out of adults across the country fearing a harbinger of things to come, including that awful "jungle music" from Bill Haley. They were right except it took a little longer. Elvis broke with "Heartbreak Hotel" ten months later and, like the Beatles nine years later, and the culture immediately changed. Perpetually watchable, this all music lover's heart still breaks when all those great records get smashed.
A Hard Day's Night (1964)
A Subversive Film!
Well, not like "Dr. Strangelove" was that same year. But, for a 15 year old in 1964 Midwest America, the confident cheekiness of the band towards their elders (and betters) was an eye-opener.
Prime example is Ringo's response to the well heeled businessman who reminded him that "I fought the war for your sort." Ringo's reply still echoes: "I'll bet you're sorry you won!" There's plenty more of that throughout the film in nearly every vignette. Even Paul's "grandfather" is something of a rebel causing his own brand of trouble for staff and officialdom alike.
Like so much of what the Beatles did, said and produced, HDN was and remains a template for what came after. A fine film that still appears less dated than it looks. As for the they-can't-act knock, the band admitted as much early and often. Compared to the beach & Elvis movies out then, HDN is positively new wave stuff.
Context, people, context!
(Oh, and by the way, the music is terrific and Beatlemania was really like that)
The Death of Stalin (2017)
Where is the snow?
Stalin died in March. Hardly high summer in Moscow but it's mice and green in the film.
Fine acting and writing, good research; a very good movie. It's not all laughs. We're reminded of Stalin's and Beria's crimes and tyranny but not hammered with it. Maybe that's why I think I liked In The Loop better.
A Hard Day's Night (1964)
A Subversive Film!
Well, not like "Dr. Strangelove" was that same year. But, for a 15 year old in 1964 Midwest America, the confident cheekiness of the band towards their elders (and betters) was an eye-opener.
Prime example is Ringo's response to the well heeled businessman who reminded him that "I fought the war for your sort." Ringo's reply still echoes: "I'll bet you're sorry you won!" There's plenty more of that throughout the film in nearly every vignette. Even Paul's "grandfather" is something of a rebel causing his own brand of trouble for staff and officialdom alike.
Like so much of what the Beatles did, said and produced, HDN was and remains a template for what came after. A fine film that still appears less dated than it looks. As for the they-can't-act knock, the band admitted as much early and often. Compared to the beach & Elvis movies out then, HDN is positively new wave stuff.
Context, people, context!
(Oh, and by the way, the music is terrific and Beatlemania was really like that)