El Dorado (1966)

Bad guy Bart (Ed Asner) tries to hire gunfighter Cole (John Wayne) to assist in stealing the MacDonald clan’s water, but Cole decides to take sides with his good buddy J.P. (Robert Mitchum), the drunken sheriff of El Dorado. After arresting Black Bart, our heroes hold up in the town jail while Bart’s gang threatens to make trouble.

El Dorado bears more than a passing familiarity with Rio Bravo, both directed by Howard Hawks. He denied this was a remake, and the inciting incidents differ, but the situation is identical and there is a one to one correlation between the principal characters of the two films.

Lou Grant playing the heavy was quite strange, but the role suited him. A young James Caan played the Ricky Nelson character. Arthur Hunnicutt (playing the Walter Brennan character) was actually three years younger than Wayne. Love interest Charlene Holt was slightly closer to Wayne’s age than Angie Dickinson. Wayne was uncomfortable about the age gap in the earlier film.

The internal logic of traditional westerns can be pretty bonkers, this being a prime example. Bart is taken into custody because he is responsible for a non-lethal shooting, but the many other killings go completely unremarked. Our heroes must hide in the jail because it is too dangerous for them to venture out, even for food, until the story requires it. The grizzled Indian fighter uses a crossbow for stealth, but carries a bugle to announce the attack. And Cole uses his guns like Homer Simpson in that one episode.

El Dorado isn’t a terribly original film, and it doesn't help that it closely resembles a much better film. And it was something of a throwback at the time. Remember, this was contemporary to the Dollars trilogy. But that’s not to say it’s not enjoyable. It was box office success. Hawks and Wayne deliver, Chinese impression, aside. AMRU 3.5.

The Age of Consent (1932)

Serious youth Michael is frustrated by the flighty behavior of his best girl Betty, who appears to be receptive to the advances of the campus alpha-douche. Events have Michael in the arms, and other places, of young waitress Dora. Come morning they are discovered, and Paw goes for the preacher and shotgun.

Memorable for the amusing dialog lampooning promiscuous college attitudes Michael’s traditional values are in stark contrast to his college peer’s but with dad’s downright Victorian views. Michael knows he must do what’s right even if it dashes all of his life’s plans.

There are themes here, but don't go thinking this is a deep film. On the topic of promiscuity, I believe it is suggesting a "moderation in all things" approach. I don't believe a deeper investigation is warranted. Future pin-up girl Betty Grable has a blink-and-you'll-miss-her scene. I had blinked.

Age of Consent is a pretty clumsy early talkie, partially redeemed by the risque theme (Dora, the sexual aggressor, is a minor) and the somewhat amusing dialog:

“You know, you'd be much nicer if you'd loosen your morals.”
“I would be much more comfortable if you would loosen your grip.”

And at 63 minutes, it also has the virtue of brevity. But this gets us only so far. It's fairly dull film. AMRU 2.5.

Downhill (1927)

After taking the blame for an indiscretion he was innocent of, young Roddy’s (Ivor Novello) life heads in some sort of negative slope analogy.

Produced directly after the success of The Lodger, Alfred Hitchcock returned to his star, Ivor Novello. Unfortunately, Downhill wasn’t nearly as successful, and it shouldn’t come as surprise. All the mystery and intrigue of the previous film was replaced with “bad stuff happens to good guy”. No mystery, no suspense.

Metadata on IMDb implies gay coding with the Roddy character, but I don't see it. Novello himself was openly gay, but I sense this is commentary on Roddy not responding to Mabel's advances. I don't see that interpretation anywhere else.

Novello is an interesting character. A bona fide matinee idol at the time, the 35ish Novello believably played a high school boy. Ah, what acting talent, pancake makeup, and grainy film stock can do. He co-wrote the play on which the film is based, along with many other plays and songs. His film career would be fairly brief, but would continue to write. The Ivor Novello Awards are still presented for songwriting and composing.

Hitch wasn’t quite Hitch, not just yet. He played with elements of visual style uncommon of the day (some of which he would later criticize) but the film is a bit of a snoozer. Not a painful watch, but not a very compelling one either. AMRU 2.5.

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)

A boozy couple (Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor) with a complicated relationship entertain a young couple (George Segal and Sandy Dennis) after hours. Mental games are played and secrets are revealed. Will love bloom? That’s not quite right. Everyone lived happily ever after? Let’s go with “It’s complicated”.

The film has only four credited actors, and all four were nominated for Academy Awards. Liz, believably playing a woman twenty years older than herself, won her second Oscar. Sex kitten roles, by design it seems, were in her rear view mirror at this point. Dennis also won as the ‘slim hipped’ young wife too drunk to understand what’s going on.

Taylor and Burton again made it difficult on set, refusing to start work until late, not working past 6, and taking extra long lunches. As they were in every scene, it’s a wonder the film was completed.

Quite engaging for a two plus hour film mostly of just people talking. Based on the Edward Albee play, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? touches themes of expectations and reality. Both couples serve as foils for each other, and maybe a vision of the future for the younger. Much is going on and much is revealed over the course of the night. And, I expect, much more to be revealed on a second viewing. AMRU 4.

What else I watched, 2024Q1

Last year I included non-blog films in my end of year wrap-up, and the list was rather long. Too long to go into any depth. I want to try something different this year. Instead I will post quarterly. It will allow me to go into better depth without resorting to a novel-length piece that would give Spider-Bot pause. Let’s see how it goes.

Newer films:
Asteroid City (2023)
I am a big fan of Wes Anderson and went into Asteroid City aware of a certain amount of hand-wringing. I didn’t know what to expect of this Most Wes Anderson Wes Anderson film and it delivered on that ambiguity. It is his lowest rated film and I get that. The film insists on not being what the viewer expects it to be. Despite or because of this, it may be my favorite. From a watch for enjoyment perspective Grand Budapest is very much tops, but Asteroid City certainly demands a second viewing. AMRU 4+. 

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023)
Origin story for President Snow. Didn’t know this film even existed. Has some good stuff, some not so good. It’s pretty dark in parts and I liked that. I’d have more of an opinion were I a Hunger Games fanboy, which I am not. Now, if you will excuse me, I will go back to not knowing that this film exists. AMRU 3-. 

The Mercy (2018)
Truish story about a sailing amateur who enters an around the world, non-stop sailing competition. Things don’t go as planned. Interesting watch but I was taken out of the story by the contradiction between how the main character is portrayed (sober, rational, family man) and the choices he makes. Colin Firth is always great, but the flaw remains. There are a few videos that detail the actual events. AMRU 3.

Past Lives (2023)
I could describe the story but it would sound boring. First time film director Celine Song wrote the script and was nominated for best screenplay and best picture. Filmmaking, it’s been said, is about making good decisions. As director and screenwriter, Song made some amazingly brave and wise decisions. It’s a simple yet complex story, intensely moving but not manipulative. It’s a film about adults acting like adults. I’ve already scheduled my second viewing, this time with others. Better than Barbie. AMRU 4.5.

Documentaries:
John Ford: The Man Who Invented America (2019)
I knew very little about the enigmatic John Ford. The man directed 122 features and won four Oscars, but I've only seen two of his films. This documentary was very enlightening and motivated me to watch more of his work. A bunch are already on my DVR. Stay tuned. AMRU 3.5+. 

The Heart of New England (2023)
iMax film that explores the heart of New England, from Boston to the coast of Maine, to Boston, and did I mention Boston? I think they mentioned Connecticut once. It was fun and encouraged me to start jogging. I didn’t, but wanted to while watching. AMRU 3. 

Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004)
In the 1970’s and 80’s there was a pay cable channel that would broadcast uncut films of all categories, and was so popular with cinephiles that it died before 1990. I would have loved a channel like this back then. This documentary covers the rise and fall of Z Channel and its charismatic program director Jerry Harvey. The channel's commercial failure despite the adoration of film lovers interestingly mirrors the plight TCM finds itself in now. An adored, singular source of quality cinema that is in constant danger of being cut by profit obsessed executives. The parallels are profound. I'm sure completely by accident, once recorded, Magnificent Obsession was titled The Last of the Mobile Hot Shots (1970) on my DVR. AMRU 4. 

The Power of Film (2024)
A six part series focusing on various topics of filmmaking, featuring retired film studies professor Howard Suber. Interesting if not exactly enlightening, it seemed to insist on explaining things by not explaining them. Sometimes these elements are like this and sometimes like this. Pleasant, but a bit of a fluff piece. AMRU 3. 

VOIR (2021)
Tony Zhou, famous for his Every Frame a Painting youtube channel, was involved in producing this six part special for Netflix. While it doesn’t match his best youtube content, it was still excellent and informative viewing. Tony’s segment was the least interesting. AMRU 3.5.

Four narrative films, three documentaries, two short series. I've struggled to find time to watch anything in recent months, but that is a temporary situation. It has encouraged me to be more selective in the meantime.