hbc1949 Reviews

El Norte (1983)

Good concept, but why not add in acting and script?

[4/10 · 16 February 2009]

The oppression of immigrants is without question.....by coyotes, federals, etc. up to and including the employers in the USA who exploit the illegal immigrants who, for the most part, want little more than a chance to have a better life.

The biggest issue for me with EL NORTE was the time line. In the time it takes Enrique and Rosa to learn English well enough to get work and such...and to converse in fairly idiomatic ways........her disease is --what?----waiting to erupt? The bites were not the same day as her fever, right? Also, the acting was wooden to the point of "community theater is better" especially on the part of the gringos---from the Border Patrol guys to the Chicago woman......

And...would two Spanish speaking people talk to each other in English when communicating complex ideas such as best chance, green card, etc. as the scene at the motel with Enrique and the "arranger?" There are many good and great movies out there about the perils of immigration, oppression and so forth--and THIS one got the Oscar nomination? Again..a good concept.

Frozen River (2008)

Interesting movie...but Melissa Leo is no "newcomer"

[7/10 · 11 February 2009]

Another post is surprised to see Melissa Leo....but her filmography dates back to her mid-20's and she's nearly 50 now. Truly, a major role is not her usual billing, so it can be seen as "new to the big platform." The movie is small in focus..with a cast of fewer than ten, effectively......with a fine tale of family to tell. No Brady Bunch here..but if the Tribal Police will really let you off with an apology for credit card theft-----!!

Michael O'Keefe gives another fine performance which adds to my wonder about why he never really has "taken off" as a bigger name in film. He is perhaps not top-of-the-bill-material in today's Hollywood but his long string of great character works (yes, even Caddyshack!) makes me wonder what happened. His choice?

Melissa Leo was fantastic as Kay Howard years ago on NBC's "Homocide: Life on the Street" but it's even more fun to see her peel back layers of depth in "Frozen River." A must see for anyone interested in character rather than CGI.

The Password Is Courage (1962)

A good war movie

[23 October 2004]

A poor man's "Great Escape", perhaps, but done in 1962 (a year before Steve and the gang) and the similarities are wild! The dirt disposal in the recreation yard; coming up 40 feet short of the woods as they tunnel; the capture at the train station......just who was doing the copying? Great Escape was big budget with great music. "Password" is lower in key but very entertaining...and both were based on real events and people. Plus....Bogarde's character lived, unlike "X" in Great Escape.