Reviews

This is not only THE best Documentary of 2009, but of the decade! See it -- and make everyone you know see it! It may save your or their life/lives. And no, that's not hyperbole. I diagnosed myself with the 'alleged' disease 30+ years ago and had one hell of a time find any M.D. who was willing to give me multiple runs of (good) antibiotics! (And STILL have not!!) If not for too-frequent ancillary problems (resp. infections, e.g.) and the use of mega-doses of supplements, there is NO doubt in my mind, I'd have been roadkill long before now! This is a most vile, despicable problem and a genocidal, and/or sociopaths' corp-politic agenda, i.m.o.

Re: Awesome, insane film by jim6263 A different time frame here, growing up with the B&Ws, back when "This Island Earth" was "Zowie!"... but I agree. Railsback is excellent (the 116-minute WS/LBX version *only*, as of now anyway!); he's into every moment (unlike the likely relative or in-law of some producer or director, who 'played' the hapless crewmate being interviewed about the onbaord mishap, who was just plain bad -- the only one, thankfully). I didn't care for/wouldn't have cast Firth (esp. as a military guy; his acting was not bad); most all were very good. It's *not* easy for actors to make/regurgitate banal corn and cheese dialogue and be believable! Add Mathida May's lovely presence, A-list F/X (cutting edge *for its time*), an A-list composer, a quality Director, + darkened ham = a Classic! Most unfortunately (as too usual), the idiot (apparently) Prodco didn't know that (and/or the censor board -- and yes, it is! -- did them in!??), as the theater release was too disjointed and *much* less pleasurable a view than is the DVD. (And what a view... I'd have loved a bit more light on the subject.) It still looks primo (vs. today's lot); I thought sure it must have been remastered!? But, apparently not. I doubt the F/X could do as well today, exc'g the transformations totally w/o cut-aways.

Excellent fun! Right up there with (or over) "Return of the Living Dead." A great Double-bill for some venue with foresight, f.t.m.... say like 10 p.m.

13 September 1999 10/10 Author: ravis-46 from USA

I thoroughly agree w/ the comments of the above viewer.

I would only add that one *must* see *only* the Dir's Cut of this film. nd that its epic pacing is true to the time it depicts and will not likely satisfy the younger Attention Deficit Disorder generations, as it's all about character, story, detail/s, and Nature... not just constant action and/or explosions. It's possible, too, that its being P.I. *may* have, in part, also played to the motives to shorten (thus making incomprehensible the story of) this magnificent film (and its primary character/s).

Recently seen playing on some Premium cable channel, I agree that it's not all that great a film. But, it was a blast from the past for me, seeing Dick Weber again (who had to be @50 or more when this film was shot), still virtually flawless and youthful-looking as always. They had a tour stop in my home town @4 decades ago -- not televised, as I recall, perhaps wrongly -- in which the PBA Finals (at that time) had the top 2 bowlers (for the week/that tourney) roll a three-game set, head-to-head: in this case, Dick Weber vs. Nelson Burton. As I recall (perhaps wrongly) Burton won (which would have been to my chagrin), but they were outrageously good. Their score was something like 786 to 802 -- No joke! I primarily watched to see if they'd cast an actor who was (apparently) a decent bowler, which they did. But the great character/supporting actor Jack Warden would never have been a Pro with the form I saw in this film. Granted, he was fairly old at the time, but...

I was such a bowling alley rat, practically lived in the place, but not with not near such a gifted physique as Mathieson. I wish I had! But still, my (honest) open bowling average was 225~230. Yeahp, anyone who says bowling is not good, honest exercise should try bowling 120 games a week for a few months/+ -- i.e. alone, or with one friend, open bowling frame after frame with a 15~16# ball... NO sitting down! It's a lot harder if/when one's not yet a good bowler, btw... esp. perhaps for one's blood pressure.

SOON -- and that they comments, seeing as there are only ~5!

Very Interesting that even though Amazon.com sells it, IMDb has no hyper-link for/to it (up in the right-hand corner of its title page there) like they do virtually all other films (and/or the/an official website link!! What the hell's w/ that??

Anyway, Y'all can also get this most-excellent DVD at peaceproject.com , I'm quite sure. It's really disturbing -- also re: so many other fine film documentaries -- that so few people have seen and are (apparently) unaware of its existence! If people don't get their act together, we're REALLY in a LOT of trouble, Y'all -- and i don't mean only re: food/s!!

This "Brainstorm" truly is a very good/+ film experience, done w/ unique style of a visionary! Great chemistry between the talented and lovely Natalie Wood and Christopher Walken, who's always interesting; this is one of his best films. Louise Fletcher was excellent. Others have already written well re: the integrated stories and non-CGI F/X, so a few comments re: dissenters quibbles.

Of course the tech looks clunky/outdated; it was made 25 years ago! So, how have 'we' humans progressed along w/ the tech? Well, that's pretty obvious -- and the results are remarkably similar to the Q&A presentation made by Cliff Robertson as Charly to the scientists in the auditorium in the film "Charly," another split-screen film.

Re: the military intrigue subplot being unreal and/or clichéd: That *is* what they do -- and have done -- for many decades! You are uninformed re: history! There are hundreds of documented examples. Here are three:

1. 1943 -- the F.B.I. steals numerous trunks-full of research notes and papers, very shortly after Nikola Tesla's death is discovered!

2. Early '60s, precocious teen Patrick Flanagan invents a gadget w/ great medical potential, the "Neurophone." It was very soon seized by the gov't! Later, he's hired by the C.I.A./whichever. NOW, 45~50 years later, you and 'we' can finally actually buy one/them -- downgraded perhaps; certainly other more-powerful versions exist!.

3. Read below -- No joke; authors are world-class medical researchers!:

From: project day lily.com -- close the spaces!

PROJECT DAY LILY: An American Biological Warfare Tragedy

The Project Day Lily story chronicles the events surrounding what the public knows as "The Gulf War Syndrome" or "Gulf War Illnesses." To this day, the public perception of that tragedy is very limited, and no one seems to remember or knows what really happened. Many veterans went to the Gulf War as healthy individuals and returned with chronic ailments and an unusual infection that they inadvertently transmitted to their spouses and children. Now, there are over 150,000 veterans of that conflict who suffer from chronic illnesses, and tens of thousands have died without acknowledgment or proper assistance to keep secret the origin of their illnesses.

The "exposures" in Kuwait and Iraq and the chronic infections picked up by our troops just didn't "happen" like a flu infection. These men and women were actually "bombed" and "sprayed" with a chemical and biological soup from missiles and sprayers unleashed by Saddam Hussein's forces. They were also inoculated during their deployment with questionable vaccines. What makes this even more horrific …in the soup of vaccines and environmental exposures were biological agents not created by some mad Iraqi scientist or some rogue ex-Soviet scientist hired by Saddam as part of his "Weapons of Mass Destruction" arsenal.

No. This deadly soup was actually created in the United States by our own scientists; some of whom were trained by the "Operation Paperclip" scientists brought back from Nazi Germany after World War II. And it was tested in our own prisons using unsuspecting prisoners long before the first Gulf War.

Not only did our own scientists create new deadly biological agents, but our own Federal government approved sending these materials directly to Saddam during the Iran-Iraq war. We must have known that Saddam would use these weapons against the Iranians. So we created our own Frankenstein monster when we supplied Iraq with the germs almost a decade before the first Gulf War.

The biggest drawback to man's existence is the proclivity for a monumentally stupid mindset that allows sheer brilliance and compassion to co-exist with a darker side that kills, starts wars, and inflicts unspeakable acts.

"Project Day Lily" is based on the true story of two scientists in Texas that discovered the presence of one of the most insidious incapacitating biological agents ever developed in Gulf War veterans' blood. This microbe hides inside cells and causes all sorts of chronic signs and symptoms, similar to what one would see with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia Syndrome, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis, and many other chronic illnesses. It also tells the story of the two scientists being thrust into a world of danger and intrigue as they unravel the mystery of how sinister university and government administrators plotted to keep what these scientists had discovered hidden from the American public, even attempting to murder the two whistle blowers to prevent the exposure of their hideous experiments from public scrutiny. The final irony is that the inheritance of one of these scientists was likely used to finance the development and testing of biological weapons of mass destruction by a rogue faction of government scientists, bureaucrats and intelligence operatives, and these same funds likely financed the diabolical campaign of sabotage against the two Texas scientists.

"Project Day Lily" explains to the general public what happened to the veterans and their family members after the first Gulf War and what is happening to our Armed Forces to this day. ... "Project Day Lily" is a wake-up call to America. The book explains why America's involvement in biological agent development and testing made us less safe and resulted in extremist's justification for terrorist attacks like September 11, 2001.

______________________________________

About the authors:

Garth L. Nicolson, Ph.D. Professor Garth L. Nicolson ... currently Professor of Integrative Medicine at Capitol University of Integrative Medicine and a Conjoint Professor at the University of Newcastle (Australia). He was formally ... also Professor of Comparative Pathology at Texas A&M University. Among the most cited scientists in the world, Professor Nicolson has published over 550 medical and scientific papers - including 3 Current Contents Citation Classics, edited 14 books, served on the Editorial Boards of 20 medical and scientific journals, and is currently serving as Editor of two -- "Clinical & Experimental Metastasis" and the "Journal of Cellular Biochemistry." ... (Truncated!!)

Nancy L. Nicolson, Ph.D. - (Truncated per IMDb!!)

While I'm not crazy about the soundtrack, I agree with both:

Seeing this film was like reliving my teen years..., 28 May 2004 9/10 Author: (karenletitiaZ) from Northern California

AND

bad film-making, good documentation, 20 May 2001 Author: Matt Moses from Brooklyn, NY

re: relating the overall fundamental experience of the times -- and a much more satisfying one than "The Trip" w/ Peter Fonda (and I forget who else). For those who'd like to view a fiction film that truly captures the essence of the mid-60s to mind-70s (or so), I most highly recommend (the still virtually unheard of and WAY under-viewed and under-appreciated) Authur Penn's "Four Friends" -- Look it up!!

For those who wish to know more re: the politics behind the time -- i.e., how LSD came into the drug scene and why it's been outlawed -- I most highly recommend this most-excellent article!:

www(dot)mind*mined (dot) com/ public_ library/ nonfiction/ Jessica_ Locke_ del_ Greco _ L*S*D _research (dot) html -- REMOVE the Asterisks, blank spaces, change her name to SMALL Case, etc.!!

"LSD Research: An Overview" by Jessica Locke Del Greco

While not a user, I read 1/2 dz. books on LSD (back when), but, as mentioned by one guy in "Revolution," I was scared off by the media dis-information (Read the above article!!) and were the pharmaceutical- quality available in a environmentally friendly and *clinical* setting, I'd love to try to improve my state of Being!

Boy, there must have been a real dearth/scarcity of film fests back then!? (Not that being Nom'd for the Palme d' Or is chicken feed!!) But no others? Very odd!

Re: whomever's comment about Clu being "demented," he didn't seem that way to me, although I guess he had somewhat of a rep as an actor. Numerous actors who really care about their craft and/or are simply real people do have such days (or weeks, or years), so...!? His interview on the DVD of "The Killers" is very lucid, although it may have been rehearsed? No idea!

But this is a really terrific short film; it's worth renting "Geogre Washington" just to watch it, imo!!!

"White Noise" is a very effective chiller built around a real-life phenomena. Some documentary exposition re: it is added in the DVD extras, but that knowledge is not needed to enjoy this film's story. This is one of an ever-increasing number (it seems like, which is fine by me) of post-1990 films that are primarily non-CGI F/X, very slick, realistical in style, and psychologically sophisticated films whose stories and/or premise/s are both obtuse and engaging yet invite one to question our (alleged) reality: "Sixth Sense," "The Manchurian Candidate" remake (and the original), "The Forgotten," et al. The common requirement for enjoying all of such are two needs: 1) be patient, and 2) pay attention to details of the story -- as they are deliberately paced and built momentum. One implication of this story, as told, e.g., could be: Be careful what you choose to believe and/or invest time into (even if it's factual) because the unexpected in life is always lurking, waiting to bite one in the ass. And no, that (my p.o.v.) is not a religion-based comment (for those who may think so).

"Shade" is actually a pretty good film -- but esp. for those who like any card game/s and/or films about "the con," such as Mamet's "House of Games," "The Griters," et al. The drama & dialogue aren't Mamet calibre, but hey: That's why Mamet is Mamet, eh!? Granted Griffin is the weakest of the ensemble, but hers is not so large a role that it should distract... exc. those who dislike her anyway. The credits are truly amazing and I stress: These are NOT camera or editing tricks or CGI; they are real hands in real time doing real manipulations... truly remarkable!! Tyro director Nieman, also its scripter, obviously (well, my guess, anyway!) drew upon the mood & style of varied "con" films, as well as "The Usual Suspects" et al. -- i.e., it's a non-linear unfolding of the story and a lot of intentionally vague relationships that leaves the viewer to fill in the blanks. Personally, I like obtuse films, but it may annoy those who insist on everything being spelled out, and in order. Not a great film, but a fine debut for Nieman and very interesting to view. Also excellent acting by most of the cast, with no real scenery chewing (exc. Jamie Foxx, who was a bit over the top; but hey, there ARE people who are like that, so...!?).

Sublime in its understatedness, a portrayal of the veneer of propriety as love is "Ordinary People." I suspect that its title was intended to be ironical, as, if economic class and privilege were a measure, this family should have been above such harsh realities of ordinary life. Survivors of such "love" may prefer to have been pummeled by Jake LaMotta!? One recovers from such -- usually, anyway. Not so with the agony and emotional loss of subtle parental neglect, indifference, and/or worse! It may not be as cinematically dazzling or as gritty, but it is righteously the better drama and Best Picture winner, as was Redford's direction. With the superb performances throughout, it's an indelibly memorable viewing experience!

This probably was intended/made as B-movie fodder...and it is. But it's a very good B movie -- although I do agree and wasn't all that satisfied with Broderick Crawford (good actor, though!), who was over too over the hill physically to be believable as a "fast draw." Glenn Ford, OTOH, was a legitimate, real-life fast draw (and horseman), unlike many TV & film cowboy "star" wannabes (Hugh O'Brian of TV's "Wyatt Earp," e.g.)! While there are a number of frames snipped (to speed up) one gag in the film, Ford was genuinely fast and it shows! So I'd guess he understood, and could extrapolate, the mental pathology of such a character w/o much trouble. The refreshing difference -- aside from Tamblyn's (alleged) relatively impromptu dance (He was primarily a tumbler/acrobat before being known for film dancing.) -- w/ this Western is that while it is still a simple morality play, it adds depth to its characters -- both as individuals and as a town! So, it goes a step better than even many star-driven A-list western vehicles in that regard. And the twist ending is terrific; that's the first time I recall ever seeing it used, and that was near its release time.

Having read others' comments here and having just watched its new DVD, I'll add my two cents. This has been one of my faves since first seeing it (too) long ago. Well, it is more relevant than ever and should be seen be everyone (literally)!! I notice some (likely younger) folks mentioned comparisons to some contemporary politicians, but indeed Lonesome Rhodes was based on the phenomenally successful (and notoriously haughty) radio & early TV host Arthur Godfrey. Yes, Godfrey discovered Julius La Rosa, but La Rosa probably got fired for asking for a raise (after becoming very popular, both on the show and solo records). Apparently Arthur, like Lawrence Welk, was a cheap prick skinflint who only paid scale -- no matter what their tenure or how successful were his performers.

"A Face In the Crowd" was most definitely social commentary, NOT satire; although, as one from that era, I can understand why it seemed so to many at the time. And also why it inspired so many talents! That this film was not nominated on its own merits due to political differences/grudges is a GD crime! Can't say why Andy wasn't, but he sure deserved it... Awesome!! So awesome,it actually effected his personal life.

Anyway, re: politicians, "A face In the Crowd" was a prescient warning of the dangers of that new media, thus akin to those who subsequently capitalized on its propaganda value and the *science* of people's weakness of mistaking "image" for truth!

But Kazan was not simply a great director; he was perhaps the most socially conscious of all Hollywood directors!! And he was one of the great actors' directors; hence, why you never saw an Andy Griffith act like in this film again! (The DVD also has an excellent up-to-date documentary about the making of AFITC and its genesis, with many pertinent historical tidbits re: Kazan.)

In just 21 films, Kazan directed at least 10 GREAT films: "America, America" (1963), "Wild River" (1960), "Baby Doll" (1956), "East of Eden" (1955), "On the Waterfront" (1954), "Viva Zapata!" (1952), "A Streetcar Named Desire" (1951), "Panic in the Streets" (1950), "Gentleman's Agreement" (1947), and "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" (1945).

In his films, 21 different actors had Oscar-nominated performances: James Dunn, Celeste Holm, Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire, Anne Revere, Jeanne Crain, Ethel Barrymore, Ethel Waters, Karl Malden, Vivien Leigh, Kim Hunter, Marlon Brando, Anthony Quinn, Eva Marie Saint, Lee J. Cobb, Rod Steiger, Jo Van Fleet, James Dean, Carroll Baker, Mildred Dunnock, and Natalie Wood -- of which Dunn, Holm, Malden, Leigh, Hunter, Quinn, Brando, Saint and Van Fleet ALL won Oscars for their performances in one of Kazan's movies.

Not too shabby, eh!?

Il not recount the story, as others have. The lack of response and proper public recognition for this film my be due to Elaine May's very dry wit and wry sense of humor, which, I think, simply sailed over the heads of many viewers. And it's truly most unfortunate, as this is a VERY funny film (for those who are perceptive and appreciate the subtler and darker shades of humor and life)! To the dude who rated it a "1": "A New Leaf" was nominated for 2 Golden Globes (Comedy -- Best Picture and Best Actress) and for the WGA's (the industry's official Writer's Guild -- i.e., her peers, other screenwriters) writing award for best comedy (from another medium) that year! No offense, but I value my own (and their) sensibilities a bit more than yours!! And it's impeccably acted, as others have mentioned, filled with flawless comedic timing and wry, wry wit. Simply wonderful.

This film has been most remembered for catapulting "Jack" to stardom and making low-bud films the dream hobby of millions, as this film made a TON of $$$! I doubt the IMDb grosses are all that up-to-date or include video and DVD sales, ftm. But, taking their info at face value, $30 Million's not a bad return on $340K, eh!? Well, I saw this the week it came out -- "Easy Bummer" I called it! -- and it's good to see that so many young people are discovering it (and many other great films from the 60s & 70s; I was just checking out "The Taking of Pelham 123," too!), as it (et al) should be mandatory/desired viewing for everyone who loves films... and the America that we thought it was... for awhile, anyway (until JFK, RFK,& MLK were offed)! Of course, it's not a great story per se, but it is an accurate reflection that (fairly large) subculture and of what a majority of Americans felt -- and still do -- towards "hippies" and/or others who are considered "undesirable" by virtue of the fact that they simply march to a different drummer or lifestyle or political/religious opinion or p.o.v.... like believing in true freedom and what our Founding Fathers intended! Yes, it's a leisurely paced film...these guys were drug dealers (which most hippies were not), but they were MJ stoners, so that's an accurate reflection of their (desired) casual road trip, as is their passiveness in the face of abuse. Pretty much every film fan knows about "The Graduate," "Midnight Cowboy," The Godfather," "Taxi Driver," "Star Wars," "Jaws," "Network," and many other great films of that era... but here are a some more to check out:

"The Taking of Pelham 123" (1974) (Terrific crime thriller!!) "Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round" (1966) (Just fun!) "The Last Of Sheila" (1973) (Just fun!) "Little Big Man" (1970) (One of the great westerns!) "Four Friends" (1981) (Which sums up the personal emotional gestalt of the 60s & early 70s better than any other film for me!)

"Network" (1976) is another great film with many truths. Like "Easy Rider," in retrospect it seems prescient... but they were just telling it like it was (and still is; exponentially so, most unfortunately). Want to blow your mind, kiddies? Watch the coming very soon DVD, "A Face In the Crowd"...also about the "potentially" damaging power of the media. That one's from producer/writer/director Elia Kazan, one of the most socially conscious film makers, winner of 3 Tonys (nom'd for 7) and director of all of these highly recommended and/or flat-out great films, of which you likely know of him for at least one:

"America, America" (1963) "Wild River" (1960) "Baby Doll" (1956) "East of Eden" (1955) "On the Waterfront" (1954) "Viva Zapata!" (1952) "A Streetcar Named Desire" (1951) "Panic in the Streets" (1950) "Gentleman's Agreement" (1947) "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" (1945)

Hey, I love that we now have CGI F/X! I just finished watching LOTR trilogy. But unless the writer and director are Peter Jackson or similar, all HW cranks out tired remakes of old TV shows and better films in shallow-character/storyline cotton candy flix, so... Viva la 60s & 70s! There's gold in them there times!!

This is a fine film, which won Oscars for Best Cinematography & Best Film Editing, it was also nominated for Best Picture. Filmed in spectacular locations/panoramas in an Africa that likely no longer exists with excellent actors and native tribepersons, there is much to appreciate. But despite its story and thrilling moments, it's likely to be a bit slow for the MTV/Attention Deficit Disorder generation/s. The only thing that bothers me about this film -- and it's significant -- is that it does NOT follow the book, which is actually more exciting and interesting even though (or because it's) sans the obligatory formulaic Hollywood-added love interest, which was for purposes of revenue-enhancing demographics, I assume!? It is an excellent family film! But will a writer/director like Peter Jackson PLEASE a film of this BOOK (and its excellent sequel, which has grand dramatic battle sequences, btw!) please!??? Someone mentioned it seemed almost like a documentary. H. Rider Haggard was a British Gov't official in Africa for *many* years, so he knew that of which he wrote, although he obviously romanticized some elements and/or stories (such as "She"). He did for adventure novels what Edgar Allan Poe did for detective novels! And if you do get/choose to read his books, get the UNabridged versions by HIM; some of the editions are truly horrible "translations"!

Will some company PLEASE make a (good+) DVD of this film!??? Aside from being a wonderful film about relationships and friendships, "Four Friends" is the ONLY film I've ever seen -- And I have, literally, spent *years* of my life watching films! -- that captures the essence of the 60s experience (and I was there!): the idealism, the hope, the freedom, the confusion, the betrayals, and ultimately its upbeat but bittersweet denouement. And all of this is accomplished without being a story about any of the numerous upheavals of that era, although many are just touched upon... as part of the tapestry. But the story is primarily about the characters and their friendship over about 10~15 years... and that those survived and deepened, despite the tragedies of that turbulent decade. Absolutely a joy and must-see film... even if one's not an old hippie!!!

This IS one of the funniest films I have ever seen! I waited and looked for it MANY years on cable and dish, but never found it shown (although it may have been?). Even so, I recall much of it... and laughing my ass off in the theater. Fortunately -- unlike the most-excellent western (and Gary Cooper's second-best, and sadly last, film), "The Hanging Tree" and Arthur Penn's most excellent "Four Friends" -- "What's Up, Doc?" is out on DVD!! So I look forward to enjoying this one again very soon. Others have already summarized the plot/story, so there's no need for me to go into that. Just suffice to say, that it outshines virtually all more-recent "comedies"!

It's still amazing me that excellent films such as "The Hanging Tree" and Arthur Penn's "Four Friends" (to name but two) are NOT made available on DVD -- esp. LONG before such crap as "My Mom's A Werewolf" (to name but one example)!!! Others commenters here have already summarized the story well, and this is one of the very best and detail-memorable of the western genre, esp. when one discounts the epic westerns and certainly one of Cooper's best. Co-star Karl Malden is excellent as always, and this is the time I recall noticing George C. Scott on film, in a small but scenery chewing role. I've not seen this film in at least 10~15 years, sad to say, but I hope to again. MAKE A DVD OF THIS FILM!!!