Change Your Image
ledzepp461
Reviews
Huey Long (1985)
Solid documentary, but not "classic"
There were some excellent little touches to this film: Robert Penn Warren's interview, great video of Huey speaking, interviews with rural Louisiana folks who still love Huey, and even a great Randy Newman song during the title credits. That being said, the documentary was missing a few things that have already been mentioned. I think the main problem is that Huey's life was so incredible and packed with material, that it was hard to whittle it down to 90 minutes. Burns is usually known for these epic, multi-part documentaries (which I usually think are a bit too much), but in this case, Huey's life deserved such treatment! This could have easily been a four-part, eight-hour documentary.
I also think the documentary would have been stronger had it been made ten years later, after new details emerged about Huey's assassination. True, Burns wouldn't have gotten to interview Robert Penn Warren and some of the other people now in the film, but I think more material would have been available for Burns, and he might have considered making the film longer.
As far as the content, it was amazing to see the different views on Long: the old-timers living in the rural parts of the state still loved Huey, as opposed to the old anti-Longs who said they were happy at his assassination! I think these interviews, while not directly having to do with the facts surrounding Long's life, were a great indication of the powerful spell Huey cast on people, whether they loved him or hated him. The legend lives on.
All in all, a strong documentary, but leaves the audience wanting more.
The Final Sacrifice (1990)
"Rowsssssssdowerrrrrrrrr!!"
Ahhhhhh...Quest for the Lost City! Good times!
This film features an alcoholic hick hero named "Zap Rowsdower"; an effeminate teenage boy named "Troy"; a black-clad, mullet-sporting group of Canadian wrestlers; a bad guy who talks like Darth Vader; and Canada's answer to Yosemite Sam!!
Go see it!!
Distant Voices, Still Lives (1988)
Beautiful, emotional, poetic...
It gets better each time I see it. The music is brilliant and the story is touching, but in a very melancholy way. This is as close to poetry on film as I have ever seen. I only wish it would be released on DVD.
California Split (1974)
Loved it!
I was also lucky enough to see this one on the big screen a couple weeks ago. When I first saw Elliot Gould in The Long Goodbye I thought "This guy can't seriously be considered a great actor." However, after seeing him in M*A*SH, California Split, and again in The Long Goodbye, I realized that the lazy, slob-like attitude is what makes him such a great actor...he is a reflection of US. We are not watching some typical Hollywood actor pretending to be something he is not. Gould's acting is as real and pure as acting can be. We are watching ourselves on screen when we watch Gould.
That being said, Gould is magnificent in California Split as a sleazy gambling addict. I agree with a previous poster that the Altman/Gould combo is stellar! Go see this one if you get the chance!!