Great cast, good script, awesome set design, but the Director's intense focus on Richard Harris is often comical. Why did Ken Hughes devote this film this film to one actor's indulgences? A good film could have been great with a little more ensemble cast and a little less Harris.
Reviews
5 Reviews
The Godfather Part II
(1974)
Al Pacino
9 April 2021
I love Al Pacino because of this movie. He was good in several other films but never again offered the understated genius of this role. Pacino played many parts that could have been performed better by other actors (Any Given Sunday, Sea of Love, Dick Tracy, et al). Even in his acclaimed performances, he over-acted. Right? But only Coppola could contain Pacino's smoldering essence of Michael Corleone. He said as much with his eyes as his lines. Nowadays, Godfather 1 & 2 are i chronological narrative within one story and are the very best in Cinema history (imho). The story, the sets, the camera shots, the music, the cast, the script, the story, the performances - none other can match this standard.
Next
(2007)
Good movie
9 April 2021
Nic Cage makes alot of bad films but this isn't one of them. He plays it as a Las Vegas loser but who can see in the future. Since he knows what's coming, he can be a pencil-necked bad-ass. The scene where Cris meets Liz in the diner is great! Jessica B is awesome and Julianne M plays against type as the bad guy. Philosophical flavor about the conflict of predestination gets lost early in big picture theatrics. Nic saves the day despite his bad hair. Compared to most, this was clever. Moderate violence & low sex .
A gentle pass at a complicated genius
10 February 2021
Great photos & great music. Miles was incredibly good-looking & made high art & hung out with Sartre & Picasso. No disrespect to the artist. The movie, however, is a big bow to the musician and not a bio of the man. It's a superficial sketch of an misunderstandably complicated life. Thoroughly sympathetic touches of Miles's contrary & difficult nature told by people who knew & loved him. No detractors made final cut. Some ghastly commentary from so-called experts gushing about late '40's France as a country free of American-style racism. (Paris had been a Nazi city only a few shorts years before). The movie's narrator, in the raspy voice of a Miles impersonator, was creative but also helped gloss-over the ugly drama included in artist's long, incredibly brilliant career as an angry rich kid from Julliard. Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Carlos Santana and other giants share anecdotes that are funny & interesting. Above all, the music cuts are superb. I'd rate this movie, in the context of music, as Pop
Within the Whirlwind
(2009)
Epic performance
12 January 2021
Emily Watson delivers an incredibly strong performance as Genia. Set in the mid-30's USSR, just as Stalin's paranoia begins to terrorize a nation. Professor Eugenia Ginsburg has everything - Prestigious teaching post, connected husband, great kids & elite Party Membership. But unexpectedly, everything good goes bad and she finds herself on the wrong side of Marx. . In the ensuing nightmare, Genia's strength & integrity sustain her & those around her to survive unspeakable cruelty & savagery. Great story, great script & great romance. Best movie I've seen in quite a while (even though it's 10+ years old)
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