wbhome Reviews

The World's Fastest Indian (2005)

many stories; one of which is about the kindness of strangers

[8/10 · 26 February 2006]

I just saw this movie and what moved me was at critical junctures the character was helped by the kindness of strangers, whether in New Zealand or the US. When I say "critical junctures" at these points had the character not been helped his dream of 25 years - of going to Bonneville - would have ended.

And the help came from some unexpected sources.

Being a car guy I was immensely impressed by this character's "working miracles" in his primitive work shop. Anyone ever hear of anyone melting aluminum and casting their own pistons? I hadn't until the movie - and apparently it is all true.

He reminded me a bit of the Christopher Lloyd character (Dr. Brown) in the Back to the Future series - coming up with simple solutions to complex problems and the solutions coming from places no one had thought of before.

Well, in fact, I knew a fellow a bit like Burt - from England - who was an extraordinary mechanic - but even he didn't make his own pistons.

One other thing - when Burt gets to Long Beach (did he really sail across the Pacific on a ship that small?) - anyway he reminded me a bit of the Paul Hogan character in Crocodile Dundee - naive but kind to the "city slickers" but they still don't "pull the wool over his eyes".

I enjoyed the photography of the Salt Flats - the sunrise picture - and the "vintage" vehicles there - including Mickey Thompson's...

Someone mentioned that this was a "chick flick for guys" - I can say that both genders should enjoy it.

Bill

Mrs. Henderson Presents (2005)

I'm recommending that some UK friends of mine see this

[9/10 · 5 February 2006]

I just saw this movie today in Sacramento, CA. A friend of mine who is a movie aficionado recommended it. It has had no advertising here that I know of - and yet proves that some of the best movies are those for which the producers have little money for promotion yet show work worthy of an Academy Award.

Needless to say there are other movies that have bombed that have had 10's of millions of dollars in advertising.

It is at different times funny - uproariously so, dramatic - with the London Blitz in the background, and sad.

I am smitten with the Kelly Reilly character (Maureen).

It reminds me a bit of the movie - and later play - The Producers, except that they are not trying to make a play that bombs but rather have such different fare from the rest of the West End. It's the only movie that I have seen that can show full nudity and yet one should not hesitate in taking the entire family. Shows you how nudity is presented by much of the industry I suppose.

The Judi Dench character is both formidable and vulnerable. And they even play period British music about the Blitz - can't wait for the DVD to come out.

Finally while in the Army 30 years ago I stopped at a theater in the West End that involved nudity - I wonder if it was the Windmill - but a 30 year question was answered by this movie. Without spoiling it see the movie. You will understand the question.

The Horse Whisperer (1998)

Some of the most beautiful cinematography you will find

[9/10 · 12 January 2006]

It is one of Robert Redford's best - the quiet rancher - meets the pushy high powered NYC editor who is determined to help her daughter after a traumatic riding accident.

As others have mentioned the experience not only changes the horse but most of the "supporting" characters.

The cinematography was powerful - while I am not a student of the discipline I could see that the angles chosen for the subject, the landscape scenes of the beautiful Montana ranges and sunsets - one could watch and understand the movie without the dialog.

I believe Ansel Adams - if he were alive - would love some of these scenes.

I vote this as a "must see" for everyone. It not only has a powerful plot but beautiful cinematography...

Downfall (2004)

A Masterpiece

[10/10 · 4 December 2005]

I have been fascinated not only by the movie (I have watched this now 10 times) but the divergence of opinion - with some Germans saying it was terrible. This I don't understand.

In the West from the time of Charlie Chaplin Hitler was portrayed as a raving lunatic - but to me that does not explain his rise to power. A lunatic could not nearly conquer and enslave half the world. In his early rise to power, he was ridiculed in the West.

The fact that this movie gives him some human qualities makes him all the more chilling. There is a dialog between the Junge character and the Braun character that perfectly summarizes Hitler. They talked of the great gulf between the private man and the public man. The Braun character said that she had known the man for 15 years - and yet she knew nothing of him.

I believe to truly understand the movie one must also watch the movie with the director's commentary. Everything about this movie - with the exception of 2 things mentioned by the director - (which having just read the spoiler agreement I will refrain from mentioning - everything was based on fact, which makes the movie all the more dramatic. And the movie characters make some minor statements - based on fact - that would be lost on the audience without outside knowledge of those historical facts.

Small case in point: The Eva Braun character is telling the Traudl Junge character that she "so looked forward to coming to Berlin" with the inference (to me) that she hadn't seen Hitler for awhile. Then I read elsewhere that she was in Obersaltzburg for 6 months away from Hitler prior to coming to Berlin. The director stated that he wanted this movie to be treated not only as a drama - but a documentary. He succeeded in both.

I suppose this movie is controversial - a local reviewer said it tried to make Hitler sympathetic by giving him some human qualities but as someone else said this makes him all the more evil. It is these human qualities that make him a believable entity - kind to many individuals, indifferent and murderous to millions. And with the end he was indifferent to the fate of his own people, who were dying for him.

Watching this movie made me think that the German people's initial support of Hitler followed a plot from Goethe - that a Mephistopheles - a demon in disguise - promises the recipient all that he wants in return for his soul. This of course is a theme that has subsequently replayed countlessly in western literature since Goethe's Faustus.

This movie is based not only on Junge's book and Fest's book, but interviews with some of the survivors of the bunker.

I would recommend not only the movie but then watch it with commentary from the director a second time. It is all the more haunting when you realize that virtually everything was based on fact during Berlin's last days.

Bruno Ganz - as all the cast - turned in an excellent performance. Watching Ganz in this performance was watching Hitler. You will feel as if you too are a witness in the Bunker.

The beginning and end statements by the real secretary Traudl Junge make the movie even more powerful. This movie was so moving for me that I have bought Traudl Junge's book, "Until the Last Hour".

In the US on the DVD it is said it was nominated for "best foreign picture" - if it didn't win, it should have.