Change Your Image
margaretwestlake-1
Reviews
The Red Danube (1949)
The director, George Sydney, and his tech crew were geniuses.
I liked this movie very much; it resonated clearly. I grew up during the 2nd WW, and the aftermath was often a mystery; this relates to that time vis-a-vis Russia and her ex-patriots. This is not a formula movie; we care about the main characters and it really reaches to the heart. The points the script made about our choices in life were well made, and the reference to religion was fair. I'm going to use the metaphoric model of the painter, paint, ladder and ceiling in my own work. The actors were wonderful, and the camera work was exceptional at getting to the feelings that shine through the face. The lighting was part of that effect. I knew something was up when I saw the close-ups with artistic lighting, but I didn't know how strongly they would tie to later scenes and evoke emotions. This added to our caring about the sweet innocent Janet Leigh, and the young, idealistic Peter Lawford. I didn't agree with all the philosophy, but it certainly was mostly a tribute to listening to the conscience.
Finding Nemo (2003)
Finding Nemo is Finding Family, Fish or Human
God is in the details in this so endearing film. The beauty of the undersea terrain is unparalleled, in real life or art. The faces of the creatures are so expressive and dear that one cannot help but connect emotionally. Brooks is exemplary, he is the worried, unselfish, loving father. Everyone was exemplary in voice and emotion. I heard a TV critic say that Ellen DeGeneris deserved a prize, and if you knew how these complex characters are created by voice and then drawn, you would have to agree. Through emotions of both sadness and joy we felt love for the family. The humor was agreeable to my age (over 50) and it must have been agreeable to children too, considering the high box office. The young kindergarten characters were so joyfully portrayed that I can still see them in my mind. I have seen this movie four times and every time I run across it on Cable I can't help but stop for a minute or often two hours and watch it again. Always fresh, and enchanting. I wish we had more family movies with this loving quality.