Change Your Image
Gustav-11
Reviews
Unforgiven (1992)
"We all have it coming, kid."
Just as "Saving Private Ryan" is the war movie to end all war movies, "Unforgiven" is the western to end all westerns. In the history of film, the "western" film genre has been one of the most violent. Senseless violence to say it more truthfully. Usually, there are bands renegades, a solo gunslinger, and a countless number of innocent fatalities. Some would say a western is filmed for violence for violence sake. The typical "western" usually represents the moral conflict of good vs. evil. Pushing further, the brother-genre of the "western" is the epic war film, which in moral terms is validated by the soldiers fighting for a certain philosophy, i.e. freedom, tyranny, religion. What has usually lacked in the "western", is a script that goes beyond the anarchic confines of the great plains, where a man or family is tested to fight for survival. That is until "Unforgiven" was filmed. I can only praise this films intention on a philosophical level. Clint Eastwood, who stared in and directed this film, has taken a moral standpoint against the type of films that brought him into fame. The beauty of this film and the reason it is potent is that there are no good guys or heroes present. It's intent is to show, through realism, the absurdity of glorifying the life of a gunfighter in the wild west. All the main characters are bad guys: the hit men, the rapists, the law enforcement. As a viewer, it is only by habit that one would side with Clint Eastwood, for in the characters actions they are all morally bankrupt. This film topples the pedestal that Clint Eastwood has stood on throughout his career. Conceptually, this film is a treatise on the consequences of pulling a trigger with the intent to kill for killings' sake. Of course, in the situations that surrounds these men, it is either kill or be killed, backed by the idea of self-defense. But this film has Clint in the role he has played so many times before, which is the roving hitman. Only this time we see the thoughts and reactions of a man who has killed more men on film than is imaginable. This time we also see his friends, his children, we know his history. All these things, which are usually left out of the plot, when considered helps us to dramatically understand the motives and react to the consequences that face a premeditated killer. What a courageous statement filmed by Eastwood!
This film was decorated by the Academy Awards for it's wonderful performances by Hackman, Freeman, Eastwood,..the cinematography, screenplay, sets, and of course direction. This film has a vision. In my eyes it is Clint Eastwood's reflection on the genre he took to the heights and solidified his career. The western gunslinger seeks no forgiveness by giving death to another man because they all know that they have it coming,...kid.
La guerre du feu (1981)
A journey through the essence of the human spirit.
Jean Jacques Annaud's "Quest for Fire" caught me by surprise. I have always been enthralled by movies that take place in prehistoric times, but I never expected this movie to be filmed with such consistency. This film captures an innocent adventure, in which three men (Naoh, Amoukar,& Gaw) are selected by the tribe to recapture their snuffed out fire. The journey brings them into many trials of existence, which we modern beings very seldom come in contact with. At points, there scenes that capture a sense of humor that is so basic to our modern way of thinking, but for these characters they are just discovering such things like the concept of laugher. At other points of the film, these brave men encounter situations that show the true brutal world of the survival of the fittest. The manner in which these characters search for fire gives the viewer a true love for the characters courage and heroic nature. For if they do not succeed, it is surely the end of their tribe and for them. The fire holds the key to survival with its warmth, cooking function, and most of all its ability to ward off stalking predators. Fire is power for beings at this point in time. Just as knowledge is for modern human beings.
This film succeeds in it's proportions,direction, settings, music, great special effects,and acting. The acting especially is something to take notice of, since there is no recognizable language spoken. The preparation for such a role as this these is amazing in its own right. "Quest for Fire" will lead you into the reality of what once was and capture the essence of the human spirit.
Network (1976)
I'm as happy as hell! and...
The greatness of a movie depends on its ability to move a human being into a particular state of mind, whether emotional or intellectual that is up to the creator of the script. But alongside that, is the fruition of the vision, which is attained by the means of the director, production crew, designers, composers, and of course, actors. Network is a movie that attains greatness on all levels. Actually this movie's moved me to think that in its substance and presentation that it could be successful as a work of theatre. I'm not talking about a below-mediocre rendition, but if it was consistent with the script, could produce what great plays have to offer. This movie makes no claim to great special effects or sweeping landscapes- just a great story based on Chayefsky's vision of the world of television.
The signature line of this film is "I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore." When it comes to the world of television, I think the viewer holds his/her own destiny in their remote control. The story revolves around a suicidal news anchorman, Howard Beale (Peter Finch), who's reaction to being fired leads him to, first, reveal that he will commit suicide on the air, and second, to expose the demented philosophy of the cut-throat environment of television. The premise of Chayefsky's script is an examination of the ethics of the programming in the television industry. In my opinion the independent television viewer gets what they tune in to, the decision is theirs to make. And to be "as mad as hell" means that the viewer sees no other alternative than sitting in front of the tube and taking only what it has to offer. And as morbid as it sounds, I think that the occurrence of such a Beale-like figure would produce the same reaction in reality. Can't you envision the "enraged" masses of people rallying behind such a loose cannon, who is virtually telling them to "get mad" about something that they already have means to overcome. This movie touches upon the ideas of the current censure trends and will surely produce a anger inside oneself. This movie is unlike anything produced in Hollywood, with exception of the rendition of Ayn Rand's Fountainhead, because it based only on ideas. The content of this movie demands that the viewer to bring along their rational mind.
Chayefsky has created a treatise that leads the individual to evaluate ones relationship to the television set. Is it your guide to the outside world? Is it your entertainment? Is it the teacher of your political and spiritual philosophy? Has it given meaning to your life? If you have answered yes, "you should be as mad hell". Don't take it anymore-- click it "off".