What are your 5 current DVD's in rotation this week?1.
Firestarter (84) Mark L. Lester
2.
Islands in the Stream (77) Franklin J. Schaffner
3.
The Day of the Dolphin (73) Mike Nichols
4.
The Hindenburg (75) Robert Wise
5.
Crimson Rivers 2: Angels of the Apocalypse (04) Olivier Dahan
Been on a George C. Scott kick lately (as you can tell, since he's in every one of the films I've listed this week except for Crimson Rivers 2). Buck Henry (who wrote The Day of the Dolphin for the screen) told an excellent story about George C. It was on the set of the film, when George C. was playing chess. There was a full crew assembled doing various things to prepare for the day's shoot (something like 150 people). George C. had brought along his two giant bull mastiffs (the only breed of dog befitting the great and powerful man - on and off the set) and they were restless. Finally, George C. leaned over and with a deep and bellowing command, growled:
"SIT DOWN!!!" Henry said all 150 of the crew proceeded to sit. Henry then added, "I was already seated, and I still sat down, if you catch my drift." That was George C.
American stage and screen actor Edward Herrmann once remarked: "he was
our Olivier". Damn straight.
The Best of George C.Anatomy of a Murder (59) *****The Hustler (61) *****The List of Adrian Messenger (63) ****
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (64) *****The Bible (66) ****
The Flim-Flam Man (67) ****
Petulia (68) ****
Patton (70) *****Jane Eyre (70) ****
They Might Be Giants (71) ****
The Hospital (71) ****1/2
The New Centurions (72) ****1/2
The Day of the Dolphin (73) ****
The Hindenburg (75) ****
Islands in the Stream (77) ****1/2
Hardcore (79) ****1/2
The Changeling (80) ****
Taps (81) ****
A Christmas Carol (84, TV) ****1/2
The Last Days of Patton (86, TV) ****
The Exorcist III (90) ****
12 Angry Men (97) ****1/2
Inherit the Wind (99) ****
"I have three tests (on judging acting). First, which dominates, the character or the actor? With very few exceptions it should be the character. Second, on film - as opposed to stage - we're pretty much playing basic emotions - love, anger, fear, pity. So the trick is whether you can come up with any fresh choices to present these common emotions. Third - and this is the quality that separates the great ones from the good ones - I look for a 'joy of performing' quality. Who had that quality? As much as anyone, Jimmy Cagney."
"I have nothing against Oscar. I know what he stands for and it's terrific. And I think when people used to hang around and pat each other on the back over a drink and dinner it was wonderful. But when it became an international hoopla, where careers lived and died on whether or not you did or didn't get an Oscar, then it got out of hand."
"I became an actor to escape my own personality. Acting is the most therapeutic thing in the world. I think all the courage that I may lack personally, I have as an actor."
George Campbell Scott
October 18, 1927 - September 22, 1999.....................................................................................
Crimson Rivers 2: Angels of the Apocalypse was a horrible mess. I blind-bought the region 1 DVD last week for two reasons, 1. because I loved the first one so much (The Crimson Rivers, 00) and 2. for Christopher Lee. I wont bore you with the boring details, but the only reasons to see this one are obviously for a good laugh and Mr. Lee (speaking flawless French). With a plot as absurd as what's on display here, you would at least expect some inspired direction or amusing performances - but everyone involved was taking it far too seriously. Even for a French film. I'm not saying it was a total nightmare (or shit sandwich for that matter) because I do believe that people who have a fondness for religious mysteries and historical fiction will get a kick out of it, but man, what the fuck were they thinking? The great Jean Reno (reprising his role of stoic Chief Inspector Niemans from the first film, and sleepwalking through his performance here) is investigating a series of ritual murders, the victims of which were crucified (in various grisly ways). He teams up with young officer Reda (Benoît Magimel from The Piano Teacher, 01) who gets embroiled in the investigation after a man dressed as a monk tries to kill a guy who has made himself up to look like Christ. No shit.
Together with a specialist on christian mythology (Camille Natta) they uncover a mysterious group called "Angels of the Apokalypse" tied into ancient relgious artifacts, the monastery and a group of nazi's led by (you guessed it) Chrisptopher Lee. The whole shebang was concocted by none other than Luc Besson (Léon 94, The Fifth Element 97). As of this month, Besson has no less than 15 projects in active development as producer, 3 he is writing and 1 in post-production as director (Arthur and the Minimoys, 06). Perhaps he should have slowed down a bit and come up with something a little more solid than superhuman nazi henchman dressed as monks taking shots of adreneline to make them virtually indestructible against any kind of force. Woops, maybe I just gave something away here. Oh well, the only thing you'll give a crap about anyway is Lee. His five minutes alone prove what a little class and experience can provide to a picture as lacking in any form or direction as this. The direction, by the way, was supplied by Olivier Dahan. Who is Olivier Dahan, you might ask? Exactly. The region 1 DVD has extensive behind the scenes footage which show Mr. Dahan in action (or should I say: inaction). There just wasn't anything inspired about this. The first half is absolutely terrible. It does pick up toward the end. Especially in the scenes with Lee and Reno. I will say this: they could have never gotten away with making a film like this in the States. Christ, running for his life from a dude made up to look like the grim reaper, complete with hood and crossbow?...let's just hope Ron Howard's The Da Vinci Code (06) is only half as good.
"One should try anything he can in his career, except folkdance and incest."
Christopher Lee
