Saturday, April 9, 2011
Magazines: Arthur (2011)
Great classic films, best all time movies
Summon things are just supposed to Beâ¦.
Great classic films, best all time movies
Elizabeth Taylor
Great classic films, best all time movies
With discussion Douglas with tons fir K off. Daniel author new Biografie off brooks off Richard
Earlier this month, I posted a review of the Richard Brooksâ film âThe Happy Ending.â Much to my surprise and delight, I had a comment from Douglass K. Daniel, author of the new book âTough as Nails: The Life and Films of Richard Brooks.âThis is Douglassâ third book, following a comprehensive look at the TV series âLou Grantâ and a biography of Harry Reasoner.After a few e-mail exchanges, Douglass agreed to answer a few questions for me regarding Richard Brooks (above). Below is our conversation.CFB: What first interested you in Richard Brooks?DD: When I hit on the idea of a Richard Brooks biography, I revisited his filmography. I knew about âIn Cold Blood,â of course, and âElmer Gantry.â! And I remember seeing âBite the Bulletâ in the theater. What surprised me were his connections to other movies I have liked: âKey Largo,â âBlackboard Jungle,â âDeadline-U.S.A.,â âThe Professionals,â and âLord Jim.â I was also intrigued with the movies Iâd never heard of, such as âCrisisâ and âThe Last Hunt.âWriting a book means living with the subject of it for two or three years. Based on those movies and the little bit Iâd read about Richard Brooks as a person, I thought he would make a compelling subject to explore and to tell about to others. And I was right, I think.From your point of view, what about Brooks and his work do you think attracts people all these years later?CFB: The strong material. He didnât shy away from hard-hitting themes, yet he found a way to present them intelligently and cinematically. The fact that he was able to successfully translate material from another medium to film demonstrates his ability to underst! and the main themes and character traits of material and how t! o preser ve them yet tell a good story at the same time on film.How would you rank Brooks among Hollywood's great writers/directors?DD: To my mind, Richard Brooks is indeed in the top tier of the writer-directors. I think his best work rivals that of contemporaries like Billy Wilder, Joseph L. Mankiewicz and John Huston, filmmakers who were writers first and directors second. Brooks worked alone and thus was not as prolific as many directors and some writer-directors, yet he built a significant body of work while writing scripts and directing movies about subjects he cared about and ideas he wanted to share with audiences.He had some real misfires, to be sure. âWrong Is Rightâ is off-key, and âFever Pitchâ is almost unwatchable. He is an imperfect artist. But arenât they all? There are several movies by those named above that are just lousy. Some have a better âbatting averageâ than others. I think that Brooks operated at a pretty high level.Tell me, how do you assess h! is body of work in relation to that of his peers?CFB: I agree with you. Iâve always admired writer-directors, because in my mind a good movie starts with strong material. The best writers-directors understand this and realized that their directing skills are to enhance the story, not take precedence over it. Brooks definitely falls into this category.What's one thing people will be surprised to know about Brooks?DD: I think people may be surprised at his passion for his work. I know I was.Not all filmmakers are that driven. Iâve never had the impression that John Huston was all that devoted to filmmaking; he enjoyed life in all its glory and, to me, saw filmmaking as a means to an end as well as a way to express himself. (And he made some great movies.) Brooks shared that sense of obsession that appears to have driven Kubrick, if to a lower degree.Brooks loved the movies, loved working, and believed film was just the right medium for expressing himself. And he had tried! other media â" short stories and novels, for example, even a! few pla ys. He put writing and directing above everything else in his life. Work is what he enjoyed, what drove him to begin the day. And, in the end, when his creative life was over, because of age an infirmity, I think he may have found it hard to go on, perhaps even pointless.Iâm curious to know your opinion â" do you think biography is an effective way to look at a directorâs work, or do you prefer the âfilms ofâ approach that bypasses narrative to focus on the movies rather than the moviemaker?CFB: Honestly, I like the mixture of both. Itâs important to learn where a person came from, because that influences his or her work. The âbackstory,â so to speak, is important to me. But then I want to know about the films themselves â" why that material was selected, what challenges were being faced, etc. Often you can see what formed the filmmaker show up in his work and decisions, which enriches the in-depth narratives of the movies themselves.
Which of Brooks' films do you like the most and why?DD: I think his three best movies â" those that offer compelling narratives, good dialogue, strong performances, and an interesting visual style â" are âIn Cold Blood,â âElmer Gantryâ and âThe Professionals.â To me, his efforts in all those areas â" editing, too â" really clicked. (And thatâs also because he had fine collaborators.) These movies form a high point in his career, kind of the top of the bell curve.Three others that are strong entries in the Brooks filmography are âBlackboard Jungle,â âCat on a Hot Tin Roofâ and âSweet Bird of Youth.âI donât know if youâve seen all of his movies, but Iâd be interested to know what you think is a Br! ooks film that could have been great but fell short. Not woefu! lly shor t, but just didnât seem to work as well as it should have.CFB: Honestly, itâs the movie that first brought you to my blog â" âThe Happy Ending.â I didnât think it worked, but I saw numerous great moments, and I think he hit upon a general idea of this disillusioned housewife with some incredible insight at a time leading up to the womenâs movement, plus he was trying to help his wife, Jean Simmons. But he couldnât convey the problem or the symptoms properly. The movie stuck with me -- not for what it did but what it could have done (although Simmons was heartbreakingly terrific). DD: Hereâs my âif onlyâ movie: âLord Jim.â It has so much going for it, not least of all Peter OâToole and a grand cast as well as Freddie Youngâs beautiful cinematography. Itâs Brooksâs shot at delivering a David Lean film. But there is something that doesnât quite connect, that makes this a wannabe epic and not a fully realized one. I enjoy watching it, but I alw! ays feel a little empty at the end.CFB: If you could meet Brooks, what would you ask him about first?DD: The biographer in me would want to ask him about his parents; I suspect their influence is something I canât really appreciate without his help. Iâd also ask about his wives; he was married at least four times, but I know nothing about Wife No. 1, and little about Wife No. 3.But, to the point of film rather than personal history, I think Iâd ask Brooks whether, looking back, he wished heâd spent less time developing scripts and more time directing good scripts by other writers. He could have done at least a half-dozen more films than he did after âIn Cold Bloodâ had he not insisted on writing everything himself. Iâd say the same thing about Kubrick and the way he worked so methodically â" donât take 10 years to do a movie, Stanley, we want to see your genius more often.I know, I know -- thatâs what makes their movies their movies. But, still ⦠Iâm ! a selfish movie-lover in this respect: I want more â" like ga! ngster J ohnny Rocco says in âKey Largoâ: âThat's it! More. That's right, I want more!âAnd, like Johnny Rocco, I guess Iâll never get enough.=======================================Iâd like to thank Douglass for initially stopping by my blog and then in joining me for this conversation. Brooks has been on my mind this week in regards to the passing of Elizabeth Taylor, who was superb in the equally superb âCat on a Hot Tin Roof.â Feel free to check out âTough as Nailsâ on Amazon. If any of you have a question for Douglass, feel free to leave it in the comments. Iâm sure heâd be happy to respond! Great classic films, best all time movies
Elizabeth Taylor: In Memoriam
Movie legend Elizabeth Taylor has died at the age of 79. Arguably the biggest film icon, along with Marilyn Monroe, to come forth from the screen, Taylor was the much married, much publicized, much ridiculed and much loved star, known above all for her dark, sultry beauty.Literal volumes have been written about Elizabeth Taylor, as there was a lot in her long and varied life to record. Born in Hampstead, England on February 27, 1932, she came to the United States and began her career as a child star. Her soft voice, violet eyes and dark good looks, set her apart from others and with National Velvet, made in 1944, she made a name for herself and a wad of dough for her studio, MGM. ! Unlike other child actors, she made the transition to adult roles almost seamlessly, due to her mature beauty at an early age (the girl looked like a goddess at 16 in A Date with Judy).First married at 18 to hotel heir Nicky Hilton, she later married seven more times, twice to actor Richard Burton. Through them all, as well as her personal and public trials, tribulations and many health problems, the press followed her like a gossip hungry entourage. Heck, for an information hungry media, she was a veritable scandal buffet!
Not only a pretty face and name in the news, Taylor was also an Academy award winning actress. Her first Oscar came to her in 1960 for Bu! tterfield 8 (some say as a consolation for nearly dyi! ng from pneumonia the previous year), her second for a much deserved performance with her then husband Burton in Whoâs Afraid of Virginia Woolf in 1966. In 1999, La Liz was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. The title suited her.Besides the afore mentioned films, Taylor appeared in such classics as Little Women (1948), the original Father of the Bride (1950), Giant (1956), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) and the massive Cleopatra (1963) the mega-bomb in which she met and fell in lust/love with Burton and became the first actress to be paid $1 million for a single film. (The thing about Cleopatra is, despite its woeful reception by critics, it was the highest grossing picture of 1963, but due to its enormous production costs ~ it was set to cost $2 million, but ended up with a $44 million price tag ~ it lost millions). Love her or hate her, E! lizabeth Taylor was a true movie star. 
Great classic films, best all time movies
Friday, April 8, 2011
Misjudged hero: The technical advisor one âthe smart head â
Willie MosconiSerious Film's Michael C. here. 2011 will mark the 50th anniversary of Robert Rossen's classic The Hustler, so in this episode of Unsung Heroes I thought it a great opportunity to tip my hat to a man who is a large part of why the film is still watched and loved five decades later.
There is a vibe you get from certain films, a vibe that tells you “this movie knows what it’s talking about. This is how it really is.” The film's subject may be totally unfamiliar, space travel or gourmet cooking, but you can still sense when a film has done its homework and when it’s faking it. It’s the difference between the poker movie which simply gives the hero a royal flush, and the poker movie that knows it is more impressive to watch the hero play an average hand brilliantly.
Robert Rossen’s The Hustler is a movie you can feel knows its business cold from its first seconds. The Hustler had as technical advisor pool playing great Willie Mosconi, a man whose impact on the game of pool is comparable to Wayne Gretzky’s on hockey. His mastery seeps into every frame of this movie.
From the way the players screw their cues together to the way they call their shots this film has every detail in place. The Hustler is especially skilled at showing what happens when two competitors at the top of the game come up against each other. A lesser movie would simply have billiard balls spinning and hopping all over the table but The Hustler is wiser than that. Thanks to Mosconi’s know-how, and the great script by Rossen, it makes clear that the game is won or loss on stamina and concentration, not on show-off displays and trick shots.
Rather than bogging it down with technical info this level of detail opens the story as a battle of personalities. The Hustler understands not only how pool is played, but how different characters types manifest themselves on the table. In one memorable exchange George C. Scott informs Newman's Fast Eddie he has the talent to be the best. When Newman asks why it was he lost anyway, Scott smirks that it was a lack of character. It's a testaments to the depth of the film's portrait of the game that we know exactly what he’s talking about.
Beyond creating a fully realized battlefield for the characters to clash, the technical know-how achieves something even more crucial to the film’s lasting success: It makes the movie incredibly cool. This is what I responded to most strongly when I first found this film as a teenager. These guys weren’t just hotshots. They were religiously devoted to the game. The question of the best was as weighty in the pool hall as it was in the world of chess or dance. With the aide of Mosconi, Rossen was able to show, for the first time to most of the public, that the pool hall was a worthy arena for this level of drama.
Great classic films, best all time movies
Summon things are just supposed to Beâ¦.
Great classic films, best all time movies
Elizabeth Taylor
Great classic films, best all time movies
With discussion Douglas with tons fir K off. Daniel author new Biografie off brooks off Richard
Earlier this month, I posted a review of the Richard Brooksâ film âThe Happy Ending.â Much to my surprise and delight, I had a comment from Douglass K. Daniel, author of the new book âTough as Nails: The Life and Films of Richard Brooks.âThis is Douglassâ third book, following a comprehensive look at the TV series âLou Grantâ and a biography of Harry Reasoner.After a few e-mail exchanges, Douglass agreed to answer a few questions for me regarding Richard Brooks (above). Below is our conversation.CFB: What first interested you in Richard Brooks?DD: When I hit on the idea of a Richard Brooks biography, I revisited his filmography. I knew about âIn Cold Blood,â of course, and âElmer Gantry.â! And I remember seeing âBite the Bulletâ in the theater. What surprised me were his connections to other movies I have liked: âKey Largo,â âBlackboard Jungle,â âDeadline-U.S.A.,â âThe Professionals,â and âLord Jim.â I was also intrigued with the movies Iâd never heard of, such as âCrisisâ and âThe Last Hunt.âWriting a book means living with the subject of it for two or three years. Based on those movies and the little bit Iâd read about Richard Brooks as a person, I thought he would make a compelling subject to explore and to tell about to others. And I was right, I think.From your point of view, what about Brooks and his work do you think attracts people all these years later?CFB: The strong material. He didnât shy away from hard-hitting themes, yet he found a way to present them intelligently and cinematically. The fact that he was able to successfully translate material from another medium to film demonstrates his ability to underst! and the main themes and character traits of material and how t! o preser ve them yet tell a good story at the same time on film.How would you rank Brooks among Hollywood's great writers/directors?DD: To my mind, Richard Brooks is indeed in the top tier of the writer-directors. I think his best work rivals that of contemporaries like Billy Wilder, Joseph L. Mankiewicz and John Huston, filmmakers who were writers first and directors second. Brooks worked alone and thus was not as prolific as many directors and some writer-directors, yet he built a significant body of work while writing scripts and directing movies about subjects he cared about and ideas he wanted to share with audiences.He had some real misfires, to be sure. âWrong Is Rightâ is off-key, and âFever Pitchâ is almost unwatchable. He is an imperfect artist. But arenât they all? There are several movies by those named above that are just lousy. Some have a better âbatting averageâ than others. I think that Brooks operated at a pretty high level.Tell me, how do you assess h! is body of work in relation to that of his peers?CFB: I agree with you. Iâve always admired writer-directors, because in my mind a good movie starts with strong material. The best writers-directors understand this and realized that their directing skills are to enhance the story, not take precedence over it. Brooks definitely falls into this category.What's one thing people will be surprised to know about Brooks?DD: I think people may be surprised at his passion for his work. I know I was.Not all filmmakers are that driven. Iâve never had the impression that John Huston was all that devoted to filmmaking; he enjoyed life in all its glory and, to me, saw filmmaking as a means to an end as well as a way to express himself. (And he made some great movies.) Brooks shared that sense of obsession that appears to have driven Kubrick, if to a lower degree.Brooks loved the movies, loved working, and believed film was just the right medium for expressing himself. And he had tried! other media â" short stories and novels, for example, even a! few pla ys. He put writing and directing above everything else in his life. Work is what he enjoyed, what drove him to begin the day. And, in the end, when his creative life was over, because of age an infirmity, I think he may have found it hard to go on, perhaps even pointless.Iâm curious to know your opinion â" do you think biography is an effective way to look at a directorâs work, or do you prefer the âfilms ofâ approach that bypasses narrative to focus on the movies rather than the moviemaker?CFB: Honestly, I like the mixture of both. Itâs important to learn where a person came from, because that influences his or her work. The âbackstory,â so to speak, is important to me. But then I want to know about the films themselves â" why that material was selected, what challenges were being faced, etc. Often you can see what formed the filmmaker show up in his work and decisions, which enriches the in-depth narratives of the movies themselves.
Which of Brooks' films do you like the most and why?DD: I think his three best movies â" those that offer compelling narratives, good dialogue, strong performances, and an interesting visual style â" are âIn Cold Blood,â âElmer Gantryâ and âThe Professionals.â To me, his efforts in all those areas â" editing, too â" really clicked. (And thatâs also because he had fine collaborators.) These movies form a high point in his career, kind of the top of the bell curve.Three others that are strong entries in the Brooks filmography are âBlackboard Jungle,â âCat on a Hot Tin Roofâ and âSweet Bird of Youth.âI donât know if youâve seen all of his movies, but Iâd be interested to know what you think is a Br! ooks film that could have been great but fell short. Not woefu! lly shor t, but just didnât seem to work as well as it should have.CFB: Honestly, itâs the movie that first brought you to my blog â" âThe Happy Ending.â I didnât think it worked, but I saw numerous great moments, and I think he hit upon a general idea of this disillusioned housewife with some incredible insight at a time leading up to the womenâs movement, plus he was trying to help his wife, Jean Simmons. But he couldnât convey the problem or the symptoms properly. The movie stuck with me -- not for what it did but what it could have done (although Simmons was heartbreakingly terrific). DD: Hereâs my âif onlyâ movie: âLord Jim.â It has so much going for it, not least of all Peter OâToole and a grand cast as well as Freddie Youngâs beautiful cinematography. Itâs Brooksâs shot at delivering a David Lean film. But there is something that doesnât quite connect, that makes this a wannabe epic and not a fully realized one. I enjoy watching it, but I alw! ays feel a little empty at the end.CFB: If you could meet Brooks, what would you ask him about first?DD: The biographer in me would want to ask him about his parents; I suspect their influence is something I canât really appreciate without his help. Iâd also ask about his wives; he was married at least four times, but I know nothing about Wife No. 1, and little about Wife No. 3.But, to the point of film rather than personal history, I think Iâd ask Brooks whether, looking back, he wished heâd spent less time developing scripts and more time directing good scripts by other writers. He could have done at least a half-dozen more films than he did after âIn Cold Bloodâ had he not insisted on writing everything himself. Iâd say the same thing about Kubrick and the way he worked so methodically â" donât take 10 years to do a movie, Stanley, we want to see your genius more often.I know, I know -- thatâs what makes their movies their movies. But, still ⦠Iâm ! a selfish movie-lover in this respect: I want more â" like ga! ngster J ohnny Rocco says in âKey Largoâ: âThat's it! More. That's right, I want more!âAnd, like Johnny Rocco, I guess Iâll never get enough.=======================================Iâd like to thank Douglass for initially stopping by my blog and then in joining me for this conversation. Brooks has been on my mind this week in regards to the passing of Elizabeth Taylor, who was superb in the equally superb âCat on a Hot Tin Roof.â Feel free to check out âTough as Nailsâ on Amazon. If any of you have a question for Douglass, feel free to leave it in the comments. Iâm sure heâd be happy to respond! Great classic films, best all time movies
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Elizabeth Taylor: In Memoriam
Movie legend Elizabeth Taylor has died at the age of 79. Arguably the biggest film icon, along with Marilyn Monroe, to come forth from the screen, Taylor was the much married, much publicized, much ridiculed and much loved star, known above all for her dark, sultry beauty.Literal volumes have been written about Elizabeth Taylor, as there was a lot in her long and varied life to record. Born in Hampstead, England on February 27, 1932, she came to the United States and began her career as a child star. Her soft voice, violet eyes and dark good looks, set her apart from others and with National Velvet, made in 1944, she made a name for herself and a wad of dough for her studio, MGM. ! Unlike other child actors, she made the transition to adult roles almost seamlessly, due to her mature beauty at an early age (the girl looked like a goddess at 16 in A Date with Judy).First married at 18 to hotel heir Nicky Hilton, she later married seven more times, twice to actor Richard Burton. Through them all, as well as her personal and public trials, tribulations and many health problems, the press followed her like a gossip hungry entourage. Heck, for an information hungry media, she was a veritable scandal buffet!
Not only a pretty face and name in the news, Taylor was also an Academy award winning actress. Her first Oscar came to her in 1960 for Bu! tterfield 8 (some say as a consolation for nearly dyi! ng from pneumonia the previous year), her second for a much deserved performance with her then husband Burton in Whoâs Afraid of Virginia Woolf in 1966. In 1999, La Liz was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. The title suited her.Besides the afore mentioned films, Taylor appeared in such classics as Little Women (1948), the original Father of the Bride (1950), Giant (1956), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) and the massive Cleopatra (1963) the mega-bomb in which she met and fell in lust/love with Burton and became the first actress to be paid $1 million for a single film. (The thing about Cleopatra is, despite its woeful reception by critics, it was the highest grossing picture of 1963, but due to its enormous production costs ~ it was set to cost $2 million, but ended up with a $44 million price tag ~ it lost millions). Love her or hate her, E! lizabeth Taylor was a true movie star. 
Great classic films, best all time movies
Summon things are just supposed to Beâ¦.
Great classic films, best all time movies
Elizabeth Taylor
Great classic films, best all time movies
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Elizabeth Taylor: In Memoriam
Movie legend Elizabeth Taylor has died at the age of 79. Arguably the biggest film icon, along with Marilyn Monroe, to come forth from the screen, Taylor was the much married, much publicized, much ridiculed and much loved star, known above all for her dark, sultry beauty.Literal volumes have been written about Elizabeth Taylor, as there was a lot in her long and varied life to record. Born in Hampstead, England on February 27, 1932, she came to the United States and began her career as a child star. Her soft voice, violet eyes and dark good looks, set her apart from others and with National Velvet, made in 1944, she made a name for herself and a wad of dough for her studio, MGM. ! Unlike other child actors, she made the transition to adult roles almost seamlessly, due to her mature beauty at an early age (the girl looked like a goddess at 16 in A Date with Judy).First married at 18 to hotel heir Nicky Hilton, she later married seven more times, twice to actor Richard Burton. Through them all, as well as her personal and public trials, tribulations and many health problems, the press followed her like a gossip hungry entourage. Heck, for an information hungry media, she was a veritable scandal buffet!
Not only a pretty face and name in the news, Taylor was also an Academy award winning actress. Her first Oscar came to her in 1960 for Bu! tterfield 8 (some say as a consolation for nearly dyi! ng from pneumonia the previous year), her second for a much deserved performance with her then husband Burton in Whoâs Afraid of Virginia Woolf in 1966. In 1999, La Liz was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. The title suited her.Besides the afore mentioned films, Taylor appeared in such classics as Little Women (1948), the original Father of the Bride (1950), Giant (1956), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) and the massive Cleopatra (1963) the mega-bomb in which she met and fell in lust/love with Burton and became the first actress to be paid $1 million for a single film. (The thing about Cleopatra is, despite its woeful reception by critics, it was the highest grossing picture of 1963, but due to its enormous production costs ~ it was set to cost $2 million, but ended up with a $44 million price tag ~ it lost millions). Love her or hate her, E! lizabeth Taylor was a true movie star. 
Great classic films, best all time movies
Summon things are just supposed to Beâ¦.
Great classic films, best all time movies
Elizabeth Taylor
Great classic films, best all time movies
With discussion Douglas with tons fir K off. Daniel author new Biografie off brooks off Richard
Earlier this month, I posted a review of the Richard Brooksâ film âThe Happy Ending.â Much to my surprise and delight, I had a comment from Douglass K. Daniel, author of the new book âTough as Nails: The Life and Films of Richard Brooks.âThis is Douglassâ third book, following a comprehensive look at the TV series âLou Grantâ and a biography of Harry Reasoner.After a few e-mail exchanges, Douglass agreed to answer a few questions for me regarding Richard Brooks (above). Below is our conversation.CFB: What first interested you in Richard Brooks?DD: When I hit on the idea of a Richard Brooks biography, I revisited his filmography. I knew about âIn Cold Blood,â of course, and âElmer Gantry.â! And I remember seeing âBite the Bulletâ in the theater. What surprised me were his connections to other movies I have liked: âKey Largo,â âBlackboard Jungle,â âDeadline-U.S.A.,â âThe Professionals,â and âLord Jim.â I was also intrigued with the movies Iâd never heard of, such as âCrisisâ and âThe Last Hunt.âWriting a book means living with the subject of it for two or three years. Based on those movies and the little bit Iâd read about Richard Brooks as a person, I thought he would make a compelling subject to explore and to tell about to others. And I was right, I think.From your point of view, what about Brooks and his work do you think attracts people all these years later?CFB: The strong material. He didnât shy away from hard-hitting themes, yet he found a way to present them intelligently and cinematically. The fact that he was able to successfully translate material from another medium to film demonstrates his ability to underst! and the main themes and character traits of material and how t! o preser ve them yet tell a good story at the same time on film.How would you rank Brooks among Hollywood's great writers/directors?DD: To my mind, Richard Brooks is indeed in the top tier of the writer-directors. I think his best work rivals that of contemporaries like Billy Wilder, Joseph L. Mankiewicz and John Huston, filmmakers who were writers first and directors second. Brooks worked alone and thus was not as prolific as many directors and some writer-directors, yet he built a significant body of work while writing scripts and directing movies about subjects he cared about and ideas he wanted to share with audiences.He had some real misfires, to be sure. âWrong Is Rightâ is off-key, and âFever Pitchâ is almost unwatchable. He is an imperfect artist. But arenât they all? There are several movies by those named above that are just lousy. Some have a better âbatting averageâ than others. I think that Brooks operated at a pretty high level.Tell me, how do you assess h! is body of work in relation to that of his peers?CFB: I agree with you. Iâve always admired writer-directors, because in my mind a good movie starts with strong material. The best writers-directors understand this and realized that their directing skills are to enhance the story, not take precedence over it. Brooks definitely falls into this category.What's one thing people will be surprised to know about Brooks?DD: I think people may be surprised at his passion for his work. I know I was.Not all filmmakers are that driven. Iâve never had the impression that John Huston was all that devoted to filmmaking; he enjoyed life in all its glory and, to me, saw filmmaking as a means to an end as well as a way to express himself. (And he made some great movies.) Brooks shared that sense of obsession that appears to have driven Kubrick, if to a lower degree.Brooks loved the movies, loved working, and believed film was just the right medium for expressing himself. And he had tried! other media â" short stories and novels, for example, even a! few pla ys. He put writing and directing above everything else in his life. Work is what he enjoyed, what drove him to begin the day. And, in the end, when his creative life was over, because of age an infirmity, I think he may have found it hard to go on, perhaps even pointless.Iâm curious to know your opinion â" do you think biography is an effective way to look at a directorâs work, or do you prefer the âfilms ofâ approach that bypasses narrative to focus on the movies rather than the moviemaker?CFB: Honestly, I like the mixture of both. Itâs important to learn where a person came from, because that influences his or her work. The âbackstory,â so to speak, is important to me. But then I want to know about the films themselves â" why that material was selected, what challenges were being faced, etc. Often you can see what formed the filmmaker show up in his work and decisions, which enriches the in-depth narratives of the movies themselves.
Which of Brooks' films do you like the most and why?DD: I think his three best movies â" those that offer compelling narratives, good dialogue, strong performances, and an interesting visual style â" are âIn Cold Blood,â âElmer Gantryâ and âThe Professionals.â To me, his efforts in all those areas â" editing, too â" really clicked. (And thatâs also because he had fine collaborators.) These movies form a high point in his career, kind of the top of the bell curve.Three others that are strong entries in the Brooks filmography are âBlackboard Jungle,â âCat on a Hot Tin Roofâ and âSweet Bird of Youth.âI donât know if youâve seen all of his movies, but Iâd be interested to know what you think is a Br! ooks film that could have been great but fell short. Not woefu! lly shor t, but just didnât seem to work as well as it should have.CFB: Honestly, itâs the movie that first brought you to my blog â" âThe Happy Ending.â I didnât think it worked, but I saw numerous great moments, and I think he hit upon a general idea of this disillusioned housewife with some incredible insight at a time leading up to the womenâs movement, plus he was trying to help his wife, Jean Simmons. But he couldnât convey the problem or the symptoms properly. The movie stuck with me -- not for what it did but what it could have done (although Simmons was heartbreakingly terrific). DD: Hereâs my âif onlyâ movie: âLord Jim.â It has so much going for it, not least of all Peter OâToole and a grand cast as well as Freddie Youngâs beautiful cinematography. Itâs Brooksâs shot at delivering a David Lean film. But there is something that doesnât quite connect, that makes this a wannabe epic and not a fully realized one. I enjoy watching it, but I alw! ays feel a little empty at the end.CFB: If you could meet Brooks, what would you ask him about first?DD: The biographer in me would want to ask him about his parents; I suspect their influence is something I canât really appreciate without his help. Iâd also ask about his wives; he was married at least four times, but I know nothing about Wife No. 1, and little about Wife No. 3.But, to the point of film rather than personal history, I think Iâd ask Brooks whether, looking back, he wished heâd spent less time developing scripts and more time directing good scripts by other writers. He could have done at least a half-dozen more films than he did after âIn Cold Bloodâ had he not insisted on writing everything himself. Iâd say the same thing about Kubrick and the way he worked so methodically â" donât take 10 years to do a movie, Stanley, we want to see your genius more often.I know, I know -- thatâs what makes their movies their movies. But, still ⦠Iâm ! a selfish movie-lover in this respect: I want more â" like ga! ngster J ohnny Rocco says in âKey Largoâ: âThat's it! More. That's right, I want more!âAnd, like Johnny Rocco, I guess Iâll never get enough.=======================================Iâd like to thank Douglass for initially stopping by my blog and then in joining me for this conversation. Brooks has been on my mind this week in regards to the passing of Elizabeth Taylor, who was superb in the equally superb âCat on a Hot Tin Roof.â Feel free to check out âTough as Nailsâ on Amazon. If any of you have a question for Douglass, feel free to leave it in the comments. Iâm sure heâd be happy to respond! Great classic films, best all time movies
Showers from April: Wrestling DEVICE Iceland
Great classic films, best all time movies
Summon things are just supposed to Beâ¦.
Great classic films, best all time movies
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Elizabeth Taylor: In Memoriam
Movie legend Elizabeth Taylor has died at the age of 79. Arguably the biggest film icon, along with Marilyn Monroe, to come forth from the screen, Taylor was the much married, much publicized, much ridiculed and much loved star, known above all for her dark, sultry beauty.Literal volumes have been written about Elizabeth Taylor, as there was a lot in her long and varied life to record. Born in Hampstead, England on February 27, 1932, she came to the United States and began her career as a child star. Her soft voice, violet eyes and dark good looks, set her apart from others and with National Velvet, made in 1944, she made a name for herself and a wad of dough for her studio, MGM. ! Unlike other child actors, she made the transition to adult roles almost seamlessly, due to her mature beauty at an early age (the girl looked like a goddess at 16 in A Date with Judy).First married at 18 to hotel heir Nicky Hilton, she later married seven more times, twice to actor Richard Burton. Through them all, as well as her personal and public trials, tribulations and many health problems, the press followed her like a gossip hungry entourage. Heck, for an information hungry media, she was a veritable scandal buffet!
Not only a pretty face and name in the news, Taylor was also an Academy award winning actress. Her first Oscar came to her in 1960 for Bu! tterfield 8 (some say as a consolation for nearly dyi! ng from pneumonia the previous year), her second for a much deserved performance with her then husband Burton in Whoâs Afraid of Virginia Woolf in 1966. In 1999, La Liz was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. The title suited her.Besides the afore mentioned films, Taylor appeared in such classics as Little Women (1948), the original Father of the Bride (1950), Giant (1956), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) and the massive Cleopatra (1963) the mega-bomb in which she met and fell in lust/love with Burton and became the first actress to be paid $1 million for a single film. (The thing about Cleopatra is, despite its woeful reception by critics, it was the highest grossing picture of 1963, but due to its enormous production costs ~ it was set to cost $2 million, but ended up with a $44 million price tag ~ it lost millions). Love her or hate her, E! lizabeth Taylor was a true movie star. 
Great classic films, best all time movies
Summon things are just supposed to Beâ¦.
Great classic films, best all time movies
With discussion Douglas with tons fir K off. Daniel author new Biografie off brooks off Richard
Earlier this month, I posted a review of the Richard Brooksâ film âThe Happy Ending.â Much to my surprise and delight, I had a comment from Douglass K. Daniel, author of the new book âTough as Nails: The Life and Films of Richard Brooks.âThis is Douglassâ third book, following a comprehensive look at the TV series âLou Grantâ and a biography of Harry Reasoner.After a few e-mail exchanges, Douglass agreed to answer a few questions for me regarding Richard Brooks (above). Below is our conversation.CFB: What first interested you in Richard Brooks?DD: When I hit on the idea of a Richard Brooks biography, I revisited his filmography. I knew about âIn Cold Blood,â of course, and âElmer Gantry.â! And I remember seeing âBite the Bulletâ in the theater. What surprised me were his connections to other movies I have liked: âKey Largo,â âBlackboard Jungle,â âDeadline-U.S.A.,â âThe Professionals,â and âLord Jim.â I was also intrigued with the movies Iâd never heard of, such as âCrisisâ and âThe Last Hunt.âWriting a book means living with the subject of it for two or three years. Based on those movies and the little bit Iâd read about Richard Brooks as a person, I thought he would make a compelling subject to explore and to tell about to others. And I was right, I think.From your point of view, what about Brooks and his work do you think attracts people all these years later?CFB: The strong material. He didnât shy away from hard-hitting themes, yet he found a way to present them intelligently and cinematically. The fact that he was able to successfully translate material from another medium to film demonstrates his ability to underst! and the main themes and character traits of material and how t! o preser ve them yet tell a good story at the same time on film.How would you rank Brooks among Hollywood's great writers/directors?DD: To my mind, Richard Brooks is indeed in the top tier of the writer-directors. I think his best work rivals that of contemporaries like Billy Wilder, Joseph L. Mankiewicz and John Huston, filmmakers who were writers first and directors second. Brooks worked alone and thus was not as prolific as many directors and some writer-directors, yet he built a significant body of work while writing scripts and directing movies about subjects he cared about and ideas he wanted to share with audiences.He had some real misfires, to be sure. âWrong Is Rightâ is off-key, and âFever Pitchâ is almost unwatchable. He is an imperfect artist. But arenât they all? There are several movies by those named above that are just lousy. Some have a better âbatting averageâ than others. I think that Brooks operated at a pretty high level.Tell me, how do you assess h! is body of work in relation to that of his peers?CFB: I agree with you. Iâve always admired writer-directors, because in my mind a good movie starts with strong material. The best writers-directors understand this and realized that their directing skills are to enhance the story, not take precedence over it. Brooks definitely falls into this category.What's one thing people will be surprised to know about Brooks?DD: I think people may be surprised at his passion for his work. I know I was.Not all filmmakers are that driven. Iâve never had the impression that John Huston was all that devoted to filmmaking; he enjoyed life in all its glory and, to me, saw filmmaking as a means to an end as well as a way to express himself. (And he made some great movies.) Brooks shared that sense of obsession that appears to have driven Kubrick, if to a lower degree.Brooks loved the movies, loved working, and believed film was just the right medium for expressing himself. And he had tried! other media â" short stories and novels, for example, even a! few pla ys. He put writing and directing above everything else in his life. Work is what he enjoyed, what drove him to begin the day. And, in the end, when his creative life was over, because of age an infirmity, I think he may have found it hard to go on, perhaps even pointless.Iâm curious to know your opinion â" do you think biography is an effective way to look at a directorâs work, or do you prefer the âfilms ofâ approach that bypasses narrative to focus on the movies rather than the moviemaker?CFB: Honestly, I like the mixture of both. Itâs important to learn where a person came from, because that influences his or her work. The âbackstory,â so to speak, is important to me. But then I want to know about the films themselves â" why that material was selected, what challenges were being faced, etc. Often you can see what formed the filmmaker show up in his work and decisions, which enriches the in-depth narratives of the movies themselves.
Which of Brooks' films do you like the most and why?DD: I think his three best movies â" those that offer compelling narratives, good dialogue, strong performances, and an interesting visual style â" are âIn Cold Blood,â âElmer Gantryâ and âThe Professionals.â To me, his efforts in all those areas â" editing, too â" really clicked. (And thatâs also because he had fine collaborators.) These movies form a high point in his career, kind of the top of the bell curve.Three others that are strong entries in the Brooks filmography are âBlackboard Jungle,â âCat on a Hot Tin Roofâ and âSweet Bird of Youth.âI donât know if youâve seen all of his movies, but Iâd be interested to know what you think is a Br! ooks film that could have been great but fell short. Not woefu! lly shor t, but just didnât seem to work as well as it should have.CFB: Honestly, itâs the movie that first brought you to my blog â" âThe Happy Ending.â I didnât think it worked, but I saw numerous great moments, and I think he hit upon a general idea of this disillusioned housewife with some incredible insight at a time leading up to the womenâs movement, plus he was trying to help his wife, Jean Simmons. But he couldnât convey the problem or the symptoms properly. The movie stuck with me -- not for what it did but what it could have done (although Simmons was heartbreakingly terrific). DD: Hereâs my âif onlyâ movie: âLord Jim.â It has so much going for it, not least of all Peter OâToole and a grand cast as well as Freddie Youngâs beautiful cinematography. Itâs Brooksâs shot at delivering a David Lean film. But there is something that doesnât quite connect, that makes this a wannabe epic and not a fully realized one. I enjoy watching it, but I alw! ays feel a little empty at the end.CFB: If you could meet Brooks, what would you ask him about first?DD: The biographer in me would want to ask him about his parents; I suspect their influence is something I canât really appreciate without his help. Iâd also ask about his wives; he was married at least four times, but I know nothing about Wife No. 1, and little about Wife No. 3.But, to the point of film rather than personal history, I think Iâd ask Brooks whether, looking back, he wished heâd spent less time developing scripts and more time directing good scripts by other writers. He could have done at least a half-dozen more films than he did after âIn Cold Bloodâ had he not insisted on writing everything himself. Iâd say the same thing about Kubrick and the way he worked so methodically â" donât take 10 years to do a movie, Stanley, we want to see your genius more often.I know, I know -- thatâs what makes their movies their movies. But, still ⦠Iâm ! a selfish movie-lover in this respect: I want more â" like ga! ngster J ohnny Rocco says in âKey Largoâ: âThat's it! More. That's right, I want more!âAnd, like Johnny Rocco, I guess Iâll never get enough.=======================================Iâd like to thank Douglass for initially stopping by my blog and then in joining me for this conversation. Brooks has been on my mind this week in regards to the passing of Elizabeth Taylor, who was superb in the equally superb âCat on a Hot Tin Roof.â Feel free to check out âTough as Nailsâ on Amazon. If any of you have a question for Douglass, feel free to leave it in the comments. Iâm sure heâd be happy to respond! Great classic films, best all time movies
Elizabeth Taylor
Great classic films, best all time movies
Summon things are just supposed to Beâ¦.
Great classic films, best all time movies
Elizabeth Taylor
Great classic films, best all time movies
Monday, April 4, 2011
Does wants Glenn Close become have doubles mentioned tons of Oscars?
Glenn Close has been fighting to get Albert Nobbs, the 19th century drama about a cross-dressing woman in Ireland, made into a film for some time. She starred in the play in the summer of 1982, the same summer that her debut film performance in The World According to Garp arrived in theaters. She was famously Oscar-nominated for that debut.
Not only is she playing the role again 29 years later for the screen but she's co-written the adaptation*. It's her first screenplay credit and it could theoretically win her another "first timer" Oscar nomination. Once I imagined this scenario and narrative (AMPAS does respect a dream project) I couldn't let it go. Sometimes Oscar narratives get stuck in my head for weeks, impervious to all logic**.
A play poster; Mia Wasikowska and Glenn Close in the film.
Oscar obsessing takes up an alarmingly large percentage of my cerebrum and this blog and the charts (SCREENPLAY Predictions are ready for you***) are the results. But sometimes it gets a little out of hand. Neurologists were alarmed to discover that that same gold shiny fixation has now drifted to my brain stem. Studies show that my Oscar obsession is now a completely involuntary function... like breathing. They've asked me to donate my gray-gold matter to science when I'm dead.
*If she accomplishes this it won't be the first time. At least four other actors have written roles that they were Oscar nominated for both writing and performing. Can you name them?
** Logic like this troubling fact: none of Rodrigo García's well meaning but muted films have attracted much awards recognition. My personal theory is that someone needs to jolt him with electric shock on ocassion. I really want to love his films and I suspect he's a kindred spirit given his devotion to actresses but there's something too sleepy about the movies. And I don't mean boring. Does anyone feel me here? I just think they need some filmmaking crackle that's not entirely performance-driven.
*** I felt weird about not excluding Carnage in the predictions but the more I think about it the more I'm unsure of how well it will transfer to the screen.
Garp, The Big Chill, The Natural, Fatal Attraction, Dangerous Liaisons
P.S. (God shut up already, Nathaniel.) How would you rank Glenn's Oscar nominations? I still don't get what that 1984 bid was about at all -- other than involuntary nominating reflex, blame the AMPAS brain stem-- but fuckyeah on her 1980s run all told, right? She was nearly as Oscar ubiquitous as Streep. if they're both nominated this year for Albert Nobbs and The Iron Lady it'll be their third head-to-head showdown.
Great classic films, best all time movies
Elizabeth Taylor: In Memoriam
Movie legend Elizabeth Taylor has died at the age of 79. Arguably the biggest film icon, along with Marilyn Monroe, to come forth from the screen, Taylor was the much married, much publicized, much ridiculed and much loved star, known above all for her dark, sultry beauty.Literal volumes have been written about Elizabeth Taylor, as there was a lot in her long and varied life to record. Born in Hampstead, England on February 27, 1932, she came to the United States and began her career as a child star. Her soft voice, violet eyes and dark good looks, set her apart from others and with National Velvet, made in 1944, she made a name for herself and a wad of dough for her studio, MGM. ! Unlike other child actors, she made the transition to adult roles almost seamlessly, due to her mature beauty at an early age (the girl looked like a goddess at 16 in A Date with Judy).First married at 18 to hotel heir Nicky Hilton, she later married seven more times, twice to actor Richard Burton. Through them all, as well as her personal and public trials, tribulations and many health problems, the press followed her like a gossip hungry entourage. Heck, for an information hungry media, she was a veritable scandal buffet!
Not only a pretty face and name in the news, Taylor was also an Academy award winning actress. Her first Oscar came to her in 1960 for Bu! tterfield 8 (some say as a consolation for nearly dyi! ng from pneumonia the previous year), her second for a much deserved performance with her then husband Burton in Whoâs Afraid of Virginia Woolf in 1966. In 1999, La Liz was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. The title suited her.Besides the afore mentioned films, Taylor appeared in such classics as Little Women (1948), the original Father of the Bride (1950), Giant (1956), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) and the massive Cleopatra (1963) the mega-bomb in which she met and fell in lust/love with Burton and became the first actress to be paid $1 million for a single film. (The thing about Cleopatra is, despite its woeful reception by critics, it was the highest grossing picture of 1963, but due to its enormous production costs ~ it was set to cost $2 million, but ended up with a $44 million price tag ~ it lost millions). Love her or hate her, E! lizabeth Taylor was a true movie star. 
Great classic films, best all time movies
Summon things are just supposed to Beâ¦.
Great classic films, best all time movies
Elizabeth Taylor
Great classic films, best all time movies
Elizabeth Taylor: In Memoriam
Movie legend Elizabeth Taylor has died at the age of 79. Arguably the biggest film icon, along with Marilyn Monroe, to come forth from the screen, Taylor was the much married, much publicized, much ridiculed and much loved star, known above all for her dark, sultry beauty.Literal volumes have been written about Elizabeth Taylor, as there was a lot in her long and varied life to record. Born in Hampstead, England on February 27, 1932, she came to the United States and began her career as a child star. Her soft voice, violet eyes and dark good looks, set her apart from others and with National Velvet, made in 1944, she made a name for herself and a wad of dough for her studio, MGM. ! Unlike other child actors, she made the transition to adult roles almost seamlessly, due to her mature beauty at an early age (the girl looked like a goddess at 16 in A Date with Judy).First married at 18 to hotel heir Nicky Hilton, she later married seven more times, twice to actor Richard Burton. Through them all, as well as her personal and public trials, tribulations and many health problems, the press followed her like a gossip hungry entourage. Heck, for an information hungry media, she was a veritable scandal buffet!
Not only a pretty face and name in the news, Taylor was also an Academy award winning actress. Her first Oscar came to her in 1960 for Bu! tterfield 8 (some say as a consolation for nearly dyi! ng from pneumonia the previous year), her second for a much deserved performance with her then husband Burton in Whoâs Afraid of Virginia Woolf in 1966. In 1999, La Liz was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. The title suited her.Besides the afore mentioned films, Taylor appeared in such classics as Little Women (1948), the original Father of the Bride (1950), Giant (1956), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) and the massive Cleopatra (1963) the mega-bomb in which she met and fell in lust/love with Burton and became the first actress to be paid $1 million for a single film. (The thing about Cleopatra is, despite its woeful reception by critics, it was the highest grossing picture of 1963, but due to its enormous production costs ~ it was set to cost $2 million, but ended up with a $44 million price tag ~ it lost millions). Love her or hate her, E! lizabeth Taylor was a true movie star. 
Great classic films, best all time movies
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Elizabeth Taylor
Great classic films, best all time movies
Elizabeth Taylor: In Memoriam
Movie legend Elizabeth Taylor has died at the age of 79. Arguably the biggest film icon, along with Marilyn Monroe, to come forth from the screen, Taylor was the much married, much publicized, much ridiculed and much loved star, known above all for her dark, sultry beauty.Literal volumes have been written about Elizabeth Taylor, as there was a lot in her long and varied life to record. Born in Hampstead, England on February 27, 1932, she came to the United States and began her career as a child star. Her soft voice, violet eyes and dark good looks, set her apart from others and with National Velvet, made in 1944, she made a name for herself and a wad of dough for her studio, MGM. ! Unlike other child actors, she made the transition to adult roles almost seamlessly, due to her mature beauty at an early age (the girl looked like a goddess at 16 in A Date with Judy).First married at 18 to hotel heir Nicky Hilton, she later married seven more times, twice to actor Richard Burton. Through them all, as well as her personal and public trials, tribulations and many health problems, the press followed her like a gossip hungry entourage. Heck, for an information hungry media, she was a veritable scandal buffet!
Not only a pretty face and name in the news, Taylor was also an Academy award winning actress. Her first Oscar came to her in 1960 for Bu! tterfield 8 (some say as a consolation for nearly dyi! ng from pneumonia the previous year), her second for a much deserved performance with her then husband Burton in Whoâs Afraid of Virginia Woolf in 1966. In 1999, La Liz was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. The title suited her.Besides the afore mentioned films, Taylor appeared in such classics as Little Women (1948), the original Father of the Bride (1950), Giant (1956), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) and the massive Cleopatra (1963) the mega-bomb in which she met and fell in lust/love with Burton and became the first actress to be paid $1 million for a single film. (The thing about Cleopatra is, despite its woeful reception by critics, it was the highest grossing picture of 1963, but due to its enormous production costs ~ it was set to cost $2 million, but ended up with a $44 million price tag ~ it lost millions). Love her or hate her, E! lizabeth Taylor was a true movie star. 
Great classic films, best all time movies
Elizabeth Taylor
Great classic films, best all time movies