Timothy Pettus

Ranks, almost, up there with Saving Private Ryan and The Longest Day for fully realized storytelling, providing the audience with not just the what, but the why and timeline for when. Stellar cast including many Japanese actors; you’ll recognize so many faces from film and television from the 50’s through the 80’s. It’s a bit long, but the two I mentioned above are as well; all three worth the attention spans. Highly recommend.

I saw the his film when I was ten years old. My mother insisted on previewing it before she would allow me to see it. Her assessment was that it contained “Salty language” but that it was OK for me. It was a landmark; I’ll never forget the experience. It holds up very well; I still watch it every so often. Highly recommend.

A pretty good film noir. Admittedly, more than a few breadcrumbs are dropped in the first 20-25 minutes, but it plays out well. Displays the kind of morality contrast that is almost always a key feature of the genre. Initial scenes of office, home and autos are highly stylized in that Hollywood late 40s glamorous way. I recommend.

Just out of viewing. It shows Donald Trump for the charlatan and fraud is and has been for decades. He was brought up in what seems to be a dysfunctional family situation. He is a profoundly damaged person. He has no business being any elected official. Strong recommend for the film. Shouts to the writers and director.

This Cold War era film is, on one level, laughable, on other levels, good fun and a relevant commentary on fears that still exist, that is fears of “the other”. Marie Windsor in typical 60’s wigs tries as a wife who is trying to hide the reality of the impending end of her marriage to a NASA ish scientist. It’s creepy in a corny way and a bit slow, but a good popcorn watch. Really nice use of the Greystone mansion in Beverly Hills as the principal location.

Hello, all! I’m just now watching the first episode, so, honestly, nothing substantive yet. So fat, just beautiful people in beautiful Hawaiian settings. Not holding my breath, but hopeful.

I hesitated before watching, because though it holds the talents of Kazan, Neal, Matthau, Remick and others, it stars Andy Griffith. The corn pone, folksy persona he almost always displayed throughout his career is unappealing and boring in my opinion, no matter how successful he indeed was. But in this role, with the script and direction he utilizes, he gives a riveting, eventually maniacal performance that I never would have thought he had in him. I found it particularly engaging and chilling as I watched, drawing parallels between his story and that of the Orange Wannabe Fascist moron I know and loathe. Hits very close to reality in not all, but many, respects. Gullible, seemingly willfully supporters and lackeys blindly following a raging moron with his self-created bully pulpit. I recommend watching.

A well made film. James Stewart plays his oft-seen laconic good guy, working as an FBI agent in the early days of the organization, before and then during the autocratic, scheming administration of J. Edgar Hoover. But, as almost always, Stewart is the incorruptible every man, and is married to a long-suffering and devoted, loving Vera Miles. Thorough, long-winded at times, the screenplay proves as a very good PR piece for the bureau and Stewart’s steady presence never bores. Recommend; just don’t view it expecting anything like a Warner’s early 30’s gangster picture.

I was 17 when The Rose was released. I saw it with friends at the Continent Cinemas In Worthington, Ohio. I was a fan of Midler’s since I was in Junior High. But for most of America and the world, this was when Bette became known and was considered by those who were previously little aware or hadn’t known of her, this was a Star is Born moment. She gave a performance of vulnerability and self doubt and ferocity. All authentic vocals, all real fans in the concert scenes. Director Mark Rydell turned out a very good study of fame, survival and self destruction. Between this film and Streisand’s Star is Born ( same decade of release ), this is the more hard-hitting, emotionally rewarding and engaging film. A star was born.