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sronan2002
Reviews
West Side Story (2021)
Russell Stover vs. Belgium Chocolates
None of the musical numbers approached the earlier version in choreography or vocal performances. "America" came the closest by opening it up and taking it to the streets. "Dance at the Gym" was the weakest, too many people and not enough standouts.
Whereas the '61 version played fast and loose with the sequence of the musical numbers, this version conforms closely to the stage play, and suffers for it. "Cool" is in the middle, instead of at the end after the rumble, and seems irrelevant to the story. Most regrettable is Maria's Cinderella fantasy, "I Feel Pretty," which immediately follows two gruesome killings.
Apart from those choices, Steven Spielberg's direction was deft and unobtrusive. Be prepared for A LOT of Spanish as a concession to America's changing demographics, and the di rigueur amount of Hollywood white-bashing and trans-praising.
The actors/dancers were all good, though there was little attempt to develop individual characters outside of the principals. Ariana DeBose (Anita) will likely receive an Oscar nomination. Rita Moreno had a surprisingly large role allowed her to shine.
This is a watchable version of West Side Story. If I was to compare the two to candy, this version would be Russell Stover's, and and the original Belgium chocolates.
Les revenants (2012)
Endless walking and talking
The premise of the dead returning is a promising one. This mini-series broke that promise.
From all indications, the director's idea of action is walking. Almost no one is ever seen in a vehicle, and every character covers miles and miles of ground on foot, mostly by themselves. By the end, I felt as though I had hiked across the Alps in real time.
When the characters weren't walking they were talking. The dialog was so mundane and repetitious that I could hardly wait for them to begin walking again. The problem was the script, not the acting.
This mini-series illustrates the truth of the old proverb, you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. The script meanders endlessly as if searching for a second and third act. In this it was unsuccessful.
On a positive note, the two gloriously red-headed actresses who play sisters are always watchable, mostly for their startling beauty; they are the only pleasant memory I keep from this star-crossed undertaking.
Il mercante di pietre (2006)
A solid thriller
Don't let the politically-correct crybabies discourage you from watching, or buying this movie. It is a good contemporary thriller and deserves to been seen.
The acting level is generally high, but what would you expect from F. Murray Abraham and Harvey Keitel, who are convincing in their challenging roles. The drama, however, turns on the tour de force performance of Jane March. How many actresses can maintain audience empathy while stepping out on a crippled husband? And how many of those are breathtakingly beautiful?
This is an exotic thriller with strong performances. Give it a try.
To the DVD producers: Please add subtitles.
Cornered (1945)
Dick Powell at his best
Powell's is an unsentimental, yet human, portrayal of a man broken by war who clings to vengeance as salvation. In my opinion, it is Powell's greatest acting achievement.
The emotional subtlety of his performance is intimidating. Anger, tension, and frustration are portrayed without histrionics. It's like watching Picasso on an Etch-a-Sketch; fast, surprising, and riveting. By the time he made this movie Powell had learned the camera likes less, not more, and he used his face as subtly as Bogart used his voice, and Gary Cooper his eyes.
This movie has great direction, dialogue, memorable bad guys, and Dick Powell's strongest performance to recommend it.
The Siege of Firebase Gloria (1988)
One of the best war movies you will ever see
This movie accomplished its mission; entertainment, character development, believability, and education.
All the combat scenes were tense and unpredictable. You were always aware that they were surrounded by an overwhelming enemy, with no way out.
There was a remarkable degree of character development within this well-written war movie. R. Lee Ermey was unimpeachable as the USMC Sergeant Major; his performance being so strong, that by contrast, it increased my interest in lesser characters that might have otherwise seemed inadequate. Wings Hauser's character permitted us a glimpse of the inner Sargeant Major. Ermey has given us the single greatest portrayal of a career military character in action on film.
The minimal narration by Ermey contributed to the veracity, setting, and historical significance of the story. The power of the narrative, for which Director Brian Trenchard-Smith deserves credit, and the performances by the actors, especially Ermey and Hauser, secure an honored spot for this film in the Pantheon of war movies.