Derek |
|
ON THE VIDEO SHELF
Section H
Bad Day at Black Rock
A mysterious stranger comes into a small western town that seems to be isolated from the rest of the world. The stranger stirs the interest and passion as they try to find out what his purpose is in coming to the town.
The tale slowly unveils as the stranger, played by Spencer Tracy, begins to ask questions which sends the town even further into anxiety. It is a strong tale of bigotry and drives questions of morality straight to the point.
A somber and desolate film that features great roles for Robert Ryan and Lee Marvin in supporting roles in addition to Tracy’s inquisitive yet sedate role. Midway
While this movie in of itself is not that strong, it is very watchable because it showcases the tenuous situation the United States was in at the beginning of the war. Here we see both the United States and Japan preparing for a major showdown early in the war which culminates at Midway. If the United States is successful, they will have stopped the Japanese juggernaut that was sweeping through the Pacific. If the Japanese win, then the United States would be crushed before they could really start.
It is a series of lucky coincidences, mixed up communications, and gut instinct by different leaders that spelled out the event known as Midway. The battle scenes are highly effective mainly because actual footage was intercut in on many shots.
While certainly not an epic on the grand scale, it is watchable because of its importance and will give you a new respect for the role of luck in war. Harold and Maude
A neo-classic film that was all the rage in the 70’s might not stand the test of time with some viewers. Perhaps, some nostalgia is necessary but you should at least check it out. You may find it a delightful romp or it may pull at your stomach linings.
Bud Cort plays Harold, a rich and bored youth who attempts a serious of bizarre suicide attempts in a blatant attempt to draw attention to himself. Maude is played by Ruth Gordon who takes Harold under her wing and attempts to show him the beauty of the world as well as the ugliness. Lots of imagery surface and the strange love affair between the two may be unsettling for some. Quirky but enjoyable, but like we said...no guarantees. Andromeda Strain
A chilling movie that dealt with the possibility of a deadly plague about to sweep through mankind. Although most plague scenarios deal with man-made viruses or nature unleashed (such as Ebola), this one dealt with one that came from space. But that is not the focal point. Here, we see the possible effects of the plague sweeping through and the research that goes into stopping it.
Arthur Hill and Kate Reid are featured as two research investigators who work in a secret facility to find the clues to stopping the deadly disease. Very procedural in its approach, the somberness nonetheless doesn’t take away from the dramatic tension that develops. Based on the book from Michael Creighton (and his first movie adaptation), this film is terrifying because of how real it seems. The Red Tent
Although you might find this in a Sean Connery collection, don’t be fooled as Connery only plays a small role in this film. However, there is plenty to find appealing in this film even though it deals with a bleak and desperate situation. Based on a true story, this is the tale of the crash of Nobile’s dirigible as it attempted to get to the North Pole. The crash itself is well done and the feature focuses on the survivors attempting to live long enough to get rescued. Nobile, played by Peter Finch, received a great deal of criticism for his actions and it is beautifully addressed in a unique narration flashback sequence as Finch demands a "trial" by his peers during his dreams. A fascinating story which unfortunately didn’t get a great deal of attention because it was an Italian production that came out in 1971. Badlands
The first feature film from Director Terry Malick and was shot on a low budget. It told the tale of two teens, Charles Starkweather and his girlfriend, as they embarked on a murderous rage across the Midwest in the late 1950’s. Based on a real event, the performances by Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek were very good, especially Sheen.
Although there have been many attempts to do films similar, this is perhaps the most chilling one made and showed by Malick was a director to be reckoned with in the future.