bloggin' and tumblin'

Just watched: Cadence by Martin Sheen (1991) starring his son Charlie Sheen. Enjoyable drama taking place in a military prison. This does not deal with violence and other inhuman conditions in jail but with father and sons and unmet expectations. A decent film.

Just watched: Bright Leaf by Michael Curtiz (1950) starring Gary Cooper in the part of a cigarette maker who aims to make money in order to seduce the wrong woman. Once o top, he realizes he missed more important goals. Classic dramatic structure but that’s American’s Cinema Golden Age: it just works!

Just watched: Blood Work by Clint Eastwood (2002) Not a masterpiece, just a strong crime story. It’s well done, well acted, well scripted and still raises interesting questions. Three Clint in a week, I feel fine!

Just watched: the Complete Monterey Pop Festival by D.A Pennebaker (1968) Looks and sounds like Woodstock’s kid brother (not in quality but in length at least). Favorite performance: Janis Joplin followed by Shankar and Hendrix.

Just watched: Anywhich Way You Can by Buddy Van Horn ( & Clint ?) (1980) I don’t care who you are, that’s funny. My favorite line “You are a walking infraction to the laws of Nature. But we don’t enforce these laws”.

Just watched: Everywhich Way but Loose by James Fargo ( & Clint Eastwood?) (1978) Hard to turn down any Clint movie, even if he has a pet monkey. Plus, it’s funny.

Just watched: 21 by Robert Luketic (2008) A MIT teacher trains a team of students to win at BlackJack. They have a system. Greed eventually sets in and the student has to betray the master. Nothing you’ve never seen before but it remains enjoyable to watch.

Just watched: The Harder they Come by Perry Henzell (1972) Jimmy Cliff stars in this moving portrait of a young Jamaican who came to the city to become a reaggae singer but finds out that the music business, much like everything else, is under strict control and that singing won’t get him what he thinks he deserves. He wants to make it big and he’s willing to die trying.
He tries his luck on the wrong side of the law but there are rules there, too and he is still the lowest guy on the totem pole. Great film, great soundtrack!

Just watched: How Sweet the Sound, the PBS American Masters Series episode about Joan Baez. She is great, I saw her live two years ago and it was a fantastic show. The documentary focuses on her impressive involvment in pacifism and fight for freedom and her musicianship which she considered second to her political stands for a long time.
The relationship with Dylan (already well hinted at in No Direction Home) is again discussed. He even agreed to be interviewed which is a nice surprise. The other witness of Joan’s career are David Crosby, Roger McGuinn and Steve Earle. Great stuff!

Just watched: Man’s Favorite Sport by Howard Hawks (1964) A light comedy taking place around a lake during a fishing tournament. Rock Hudson can’t fish but he has to and thanks to a tree, a book and a bear, he might just be good at it.

Just watched: Silence of the Lambs by Jonathan Demme (1991) I had never watched it so I finally did (it took guts, I usually skip horror and serial killers movies). This one is well done and Hopkins is perfect. I enjoyed it and will remember the line “I’m having an old friend for dinner”.