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Post by Moe Howard on Nov 2, 2022 2:55:33 GMT
Another off my backlog of recorded movies. Synopsis is from cable listing.
Michael Clayton (2007) A "fixer" (George Clooney) at a corporate law firm faces the biggest challenge of his career when a guilt-ridden attorney (Tom Wilkinson) has a breaddown during a class-action lawsuit.
New to me. I found it to be a decent flick but slow moving and every plot turn predictble. Several side stories, like his relationship with his son, were added I suppose to add character dimension, but I didn't find them worthwhile. Be a long time before I'd watch this again.
Arthur (Tom Wilkinson) has a major change of heart when he meets Anna (Merritt Wever) at a deposition. Arthur instantly morphs from corporate giant super lawyer to nearly naked champion of the little guy, or in this case, little girl. This seemingly wacky behavior sets the wheels in motion for Michael Clayton (George Clooney) being called on to subdue Arthur before he makes public some highly problematic documents proving wrongdoing by their client, evil international conglomerate, U-North.  |
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Post by Andrea Doria on Nov 2, 2022 10:14:58 GMT
The main thing I remember about "Michael Clayton," was that Tilda Swinton got the Oscar for a very small part and people were complaining. I've since watched her in other things, particularly, "We Need to Talk About Kevin," and have become a big fan. So these days I'll watch anything she's in and would watch MC again if I had the chance.
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Post by dianedebuda on Nov 2, 2022 11:12:44 GMT
I like this movie [Michael Clayton] quite a bit, but I'm a sucker for court room dramas, which is what this movie boils down to despite the movie being sans court room. |
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Post by Moe Howard on Nov 2, 2022 16:34:48 GMT
The main thing I remember about "Michael Clayton," was that Tilda Swinton got the Oscar for a very small part and people were complaining. I've since watched her in other things, particularly, "We Need to Talk About Kevin," and have become a big fan. So these days I'll watch anything she's in and would watch MC again if I had the chance. I don't know if I would classify her roll as "small". Maybe she's less conspicuous than your typical antagonist. But oh boy. is she an evil witch in this movie.  |
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Post by Moe Howard on Nov 2, 2022 17:02:01 GMT
I like this movie [Michael Clayton] quite a bit, but I'm a sucker for court room dramas, which is what this movie boils down to despite the movie being sans court room.
I enjoy Grisham's The Rainmaker, A Time To Kill and The Chamber very much. Runaway Jury, not so much. Really dislike the switching tobacco from the book for guns, in the movie. The Lincoln Lawyer is also very good, the books are fantastic.
But the top of the heap has to be A Civil Action. It's based on a true story and is required viewing in some law schools.
Jan Schlichtmann (John Travolta) doing a little research on a case that will eventually ruin him.
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Post by dianedebuda on Nov 2, 2022 18:13:41 GMT
I enjoy Grisham's The Rainmaker, A Time To Kill and The Chamber very much. Runaway Jury, not so much. Really dislike the switching tobacco from the book for guns, in the movie. The Lincoln Lawyer is also very good, the books are fantastic.
But the top of the heap has to be A Civil Action. It's based on a true story and is required viewing in some law schools.
I liked the movie of The Firm (1993), but the intricate ending of the book was so much more interesting. I agree about not liking the tobacco-to-gun switch in The Runaway Jury (2003), but I'm a Gene Hackman fan, so that made up for it. Funny thing about that - the first movie I saw him in was the French Connection (1971) which I disliked, so I avoided his films. Then came Superman (1978) & I was a convert. 
Haven't seen A Civil Action (1998), so I'll have to keep an eye out for it. Thanks!
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Post by Moe Howard on Nov 2, 2022 18:39:34 GMT
Agree on both counts. I left it out because I was talking courtroom drama. I'd put The Firm in the crime drama category rather than court-room drama.
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Post by mike65 on Nov 3, 2022 12:54:55 GMT
This Gun For Hire (Watched this one on the Criterion Channel). Somehow, I missed this over the years, a quick watch in just 81 mins, really solid noir. Alan Ladd's breakout role and Veronica Lake is a treat here as well. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Gun_for_HireDirected by Frank Tuttle Screenplay by Albert Maltz W.R. Burnett Based on A Gun for Sale by Graham Greene Produced by Richard Blumenthal Starring Veronica Lake Robert Preston Laird Cregar Alan Ladd Cinematography John Seitz Edited by Archie Marshek Music by David Buttolph Color process Black and white Production company Paramount Pictures Distributed by Paramount Pictures Release date April 24, 1942 Running time 81 minutes Country United States Language English Budget Less than $500,000[1] or $512,423.16[2] Box office $1 million (US rentals)[3] Bosley Crowther, film critic for The New York Times, wrote a rave review: One shudders to think of the career which Paramount must have in mind for Alan Ladd, a new actor, after witnessing the young gentleman's debut as a leading player in that studio's This Gun for Hire... Obviously, they have tagged him to be the toughest monkey loose on the screen. For not since Jimmy Cagney massaged Mae Clarke's face with a grapefruit has a grim desperado gunned his way into cinema ranks with such violence as does Mr. Ladd in this fast and exciting melodrama. Keep your eye peeled for this Ladd fellow; he's a pretty-boy killer who likes his work... Mr. Ladd is the buster; he is really an actor to watch. After this stinging performance, he has something to live up to – or live down.[18] |
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Post by cineclassics on Nov 3, 2022 23:01:10 GMT
This Gun for Hire is a truly great, neglected film noir. I'm unsure of why that is exactly. I also would like to point out that the combo of Ladd/Lake are the "First Couple" of the genre, preceeding Bogie/Bacall by a few years.
This guy's film noir analysis of This Gun for Hire is very insightful, as are all of his "Film Noirchive" videos, including Double Indemnity, Murder, My Sweet, and more.
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Post by dianedebuda on Nov 4, 2022 10:14:31 GMT
Yet another from my backlog: The Great Train Robbery (1903). Was not my first exposure to early film and didn't do any prep research before watching this. I was amazed at the quality and content of this film. Surprised that some of the scenes were obviously hand tinted. Didn't expect that it would be completely silent and think an appropriate piano soundtrack would just enhance the viewer experience. After watching, read about some of the innovations used and that just adds to my appreciation.
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Post by dianedebuda on Nov 5, 2022 4:05:10 GMT
Continuing with my backlog, another train movie - Terror on a Train (1953). An expert (Glenn Ford) tries to defuse a time bomb found on a British freight train full of explosives. Compact, modestly suspensful British thriller. Think they added an unnecessary, short side story of marital conflict just to make the film long enough to qualify as a 2nd feature. Ford gives his usual 100% with a good supporting cast. Memorable is a slightly senile character ("I like trains") who the authorities have a difficult time keeping away from the focus of everyone's attention. 😊
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Post by topbilled on Nov 5, 2022 20:31:09 GMT
I (re) watched THE TOY WIFE. This classic film has one of my favorite Luise Rainer performances.
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Post by BunnyWhit on Nov 5, 2022 21:27:05 GMT
Even though he was a "stinker", shall we say, I find it impossible not to love Erich von Stroheim. It showed a lot of moxie at take up acting after Hollywood banned him as a director. I've often wondered if as an actor he was difficult for directors to work with. He certainly was difficult as a director -- both for actors and producers.  Edit: Sorry -- I meant to post this as a reply to TopBilled's comments about So Ends Our Night. |
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Post by Fading Fast on Nov 5, 2022 21:51:56 GMT
Even though he was a "stinker", shall we say, I find it impossible not to love Erich von Stroheim. It showed a lot of moxie at take up acting after Hollywood banned him as a director. I've often wondered if as an actor he was difficult for directors to work with. He certainly was difficult as a director -- both for actors and producers. Edit: Sorry -- I meant to post this as a reply to TopBilled's comments about So Ends Our Night. |
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Post by BunnyWhit on Nov 5, 2022 23:40:51 GMT
I just watched....
The Assassination Bureau (1969)
Oliver Reed, Diana Rigg, Telly Savalas; dir Basil Dearden
Picture it: London, 1908. An aspiring young journalist, Sonya Winter, (Rigg) uncovers a group that specializes in killing for hire: The Assassination Bureau Limited. The bureau's founder stipulated that commissions be taken only on those who deserved to be killed, and this moral high ground (so to speak) has been observed until some of the older members of the Bureau become much more interested in the monetary aspect of their work. Her abhorrence for the very idea of such a group causes Winter to devise a plan to bring about the demise of the Bureau by commissioning the assassination of none other than Ivan Dragomiloff (Reed), the Chairman of the Bureau. Dragomiloff is amused at the concept, so he accepts the commission, telling the Bureau members to do their best to earn the sum. Either they will kill him, or he will kill them.
Original source material was the unfinished novel by Jack London of the same name. After London's death, the work was taken up by Robert Fish (who also wrote Mute Witness [1963] which became the film Bullitt [1968].)
The film was expensive with high production value in the anticipation that it would spur a franchise. Distribution was delayed, and reception was not nearly so grand as was hoped.
I enjoyed the film. Think: Around the World in 80 Days meets RED.
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