Directed and Produced by...

Charles Ferguson. As I watched the documentary "No End in Sight", I had to wonder. Does the nickname "Rummie" mean "Rum Dumb" or "Redrum"? He seems to be the only one "getting" the jokes in his press conferences. By instigating (with distinguished help) the abolition of the pro-U.S.A. Iraqi military squads (and putting them out of work), he achieved, presumably accidentally:
1) An effective genocide, by "allies" against U.S. troops.
2) Anarchy of the worst kind in Iraq.
3) Creation, perhaps, of a solid 3 country bloc against us (of fundamentalist extremists). Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq, as a single, focused entity, will be a powerful "Axis of Evil".
Oh well, stuff happens Henny Penny. Comical.

It occurs to me that no North American administration (hopefully) will ever foster the expose' like the Bush guys of the early 21st. century.


Robert Redford. Oh alright, he's not an off-beat director. But he does have an off-beat persona. I had resisted seeing "The Legend of Bagger Vance" for years. Looked sappy. I didn't realize that it was a "sweet" golf movie. I love golf! And I liked the movie. Will Smith, great. Matt Damon, great. J. Michael Moncrief, great. Charlize Theron, you know. It's the first time that I thought I was wrong and I was right. What?

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Bros Coen, The Best of

"Blood Simple" was the great debut film by the best storyteller brothers since the Brothers Grimm. Frances McDormand, a favorite of Joel and Ethan C, stars in this crime flick. The quirky M. Emmet Walsh steals the show, in my opinion. Dan Hedaya is Abby's (Frances M.) husband and a strange ranger, of course. LOOK UNDER THE FISH BLOODY BUDDY!
"Fargo" is their best. Frances McDormand is the main character (a nine months prego copper) in beautiful, snowy Fargo, N.D. Her hubby is the reliably effective William H. Macy. Quirky actor Steve Buscemi stars also. The Coens love the crime stuff and this one is (ya hey dere you betcha) a good one. Frances garnered a well deserved "Best Actress" Oscar.
"No Country for Old Men" is J & E's (2007) nicely done film-noir, this one involving drug dealing gone violent. Who would have thunk? Tommy Lee Jones stars as the sheriff. Javier Bardem, a fine actor and Josh Brolin star also. This not too bad film took Best Pic, Best Director(s) and Best Supporting Actor (Bardem) at the Academy Awards ceremony.
"Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?" is Joel & Ethan's adaptation of Homer's "The Odyssey". What? It has a great southern Mississippi soundtrack, which won a Grammy. This is the film that let me know that I had previously under-respected George Clooney as an actor. He is brilliant in this chain gang story. John Turturro and Tim Blake Nelson are good as his escapee brothers.
"Raising Arizona" likewise made me respect Nicolas Cage. Holly Hunter is great too in the comedy based on the unlikely premise of a baby's kidnapping. This is a touching film by the Coen Brothers. The always funny John Goodman and Frances McDormand are in this one.

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Well Ya Play That (Quentin) Tarantino, All the Hounds They Start to Roar, His Best

"Reservoir Dogs" has a great title and has one of the greatest gangster casts ever assembled, in my opinion. Tim Roth, Harvey Keitel, Michael Madsen, and Steve Buscemi (as the sweet "Mr. Pink") are not the most famous names. These guys are great character actors, though. I can't tell you much more without ruining it. Besides those four Misters, there are Mr. Blue and Mr. Brown (who is Q.T. himself). It's great and see it is what I can say. This is Tarantino violent, bloody fun.
"Kill Bill"-volumes 1 & 2 are both great action flicks. The classic two-parter featuring Uma Thurman (she worked really hard to become her character) and arch nemesis David Carradine as Bill. Lucy Liu gives Uma a little grief also. This is one of those rare instances in which the sequel is as good as the initial feature. I consider this pair must-see Tarantino. Uma did her own stunts and martial arts. The movies are worth seeing just for the moves.
"Pulp Fiction" has a pretty neat soundtrack for one thing-mostly oldies. It's a pretty neat movie for another thing. Uma Thurman again (she's the smoker on the famous movie poster), Tim Roth again, John Travolta, and Samuel L. Jackson star in this beauty of a crime film-noir.
"Natural Born Killers" is that unusual movie that you can't watch and can't stop watching. Q.T. did not direct this weirdo but did write the story. Close 'nuff. Leading man and lady Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis have some disturbing issues I would say. I hate to judge but... They are unusual enough actors without the Tarantino factor thrown in. Bonnie & Clyde on steroids. Brilliant violence, directed by Oliver Stone. He has a not so normal reputation himself.

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Federico Fellini, His Best

"City of Women" is my favorite by this fellow, even if the critics did not like it. It is a hilarity about a chauvinist pig getting in trouble with a bunch of feminists. Marcello M. stars as usual in the dream sequence movie. The star of the show falls asleep in a train and awakes at the end of the movie. The 2 hour plus interim is exquisitely funny and mind-blowing.
"La Strada" stars Anthony Quinn, Richard Basehart, and Federico's wife Giuletta in the famous tale of love overcoming all abuses. The lead actress is sold to Quinn's "Zampano" and learns to love him. A very heart-rending story. Many critics consider this Fellini's best work. It's my wife's favorite (black & white 1954).
"8 1/2" would be the other critics' favorite. This is Federico's autobiography (he is played by Marcello, of course). It's about a movie director with no ideas who is under a deadline. He don't care about no stinking deadlines, and bulls.... his way through everybody. The quintessential Federico Fellini. (black & white)
"Nights of Cabiria" stars Fellini's wife as a prostitute. But it really is a cute (black & white) story. She would like to find true love but it doesn't happen for her. She never gives up though, and her positive attitude is the key to the story. We shall overcome.
"Satyricon" is a story about Nero's orgiastic Rome. You've just got to see it if you like this director. The collection of unorthodox characters is mind-numbing. It's unreal, bizarre, kooky.

The wife would substitute "I Vitelloni" for "8 1/2". She's wrong but it is good also.

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