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jerryduck47
Reviews
Apollo 11 (2019)
Brings back vivid memories!
This extraordinary documentary was featured at Sundance this year. Unfortunately I could not work it in but I am thrilled that it was picked up and is in pretty wide release. It is hard to believe that this incredible journey occurred nearly fifty years ago. It seems like yesterday.
The film opens with footage of enormous machinery transporting the gigantic Saturn V rocket to the launchpad at what is now fittingly Cape Kennedy. The monstrous rocket weighed in at six and a half million pounds! Let that sink in.
The beauty of this endeavor by director Todd Douglas Miller is that he exclusively uses the actual footage and actual narration throughout. Everything from the astronauts' communications to launch control to Walter Cronkite's unforgettable coverage are captured.
The calmness exhibited by Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins is humbling. There seemed to be no fear in them whatsoever. There are communications regarding their heart rates at various key points in the mission, such as the "burn" to achieve lunar orbit and the initial lift off.
In ninety-three short minutes Miller takes us beautifully through the eight day mission. Fifty years ago we caught what we could on the televisions of that day but this experience brings so much more. It is startling to witness the sheer numbers of mission staff actively working throughout the mission. Managing such a colossal undertaking would seem impossible but it was done to perfection.
When you see it, and you must, keep an eye out for high profile people in the crowds at the launch. I caught several glimpses of Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon along with Lyndon Baines Johnson, Spiro Agnew and more. It was a bit comical to see the young Carson standing in the Florida heat wearing a paper hat to shield the sun! Somehow I expect that sidekick McMahon, a former Marine pilot in WWII and Korea, convinced him to attend.
I would be remiss in not mentioning the music in the film. It is as close to perfect as you can get. Hats off to multi-instrumentalist and composer Matt Morton, who hails from the astronaut central Buckeye state. Morton caps off the score by inserting a tune actually played on cassette during the voyage, the perhaps little known "Mother Country" by John Stewart.
I caught "Apollo 11" at a 10 am showing and likely would have been alone in the theater were it not for three vacationing Dads who got their kids up early to witness this treasure. I can only hope that more Dads and Moms will do the same. If you are lucky enough to catch it in an IMAX showing all the better.
"Apollo 11" was nominated for the documentary Grand Jury Prize at Sundance and won the documentary Editing Award. It is sure to be recognized come Oscar time next year.
Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins returned safely to Earth on July 24, 1969, the day before my 22nd birthday. A thrill of a lifetime for so many of us.
The Mustang (2019)
Beautiful Film
I woke earlier than usual this morning and with Daylight Savings Time hitting tomorrow decided to get up and acclimate a day early. Perusing the upcoming movie releases, I was thrilled to see that "The Mustang" is scheduled to hit the theaters this month. I don't know how wide a release it will be, but it's well worth tracking this beautiful film down
French actress Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre makes her feature film directorial debut here. There is little question that she will be given many more opportunities after this endeavor.
Fortunately she was at the Sundance opening for the film and we had the chance to hear how she brought this film to fruition. The story is based on an actual prison rehabilitation program whereby violent inmates are given the opportunity to break and train wild mustangs in an effort to ready them for auction. There are more than 100,000 mustangs in the wild and a portion are herded up each year to enter the program.
The film stars Belgian actor Matthias Schoenaerts. He is an established star in his country and has appeared in several Oscar nominated foreign language films, and he received a Cesar Award for Most Promising Actor for his performance in "Rust and Bone" In 2013.
Schoenaerts is the heart of this movie. He and the wild horse he is assigned to break. His violent past can be discerned just by looking at him. He is a deeply troubled man and wants nothing than to be left alone. "I'm not good with people" he bluntly states. Adding to the richness of the characters in the film is Bruce Dern who delightfully plays the crusty, irascible trainer to the inmates. It's good to see him deliver a solid performance at age 82.
The cinematography in the film is stunning. The mountains of Nevada enveloping this maximum security prison provide good material for the director. She puts it all to great use. Some of the scenes with Roman Coleman (Schoenaerts) and his horse are intimate and moving.
This was one of my favorites from this year's Sundance Festival and I am very pleased that it made it to the big screens. I hope it reaches many of them and that you get to see it. Enjoy.