Hello there dearest reader, how are you? Welcome to the second edition of My Fictional Odyssey; thanks for joining me. Last time around I tackled Tom Sawyer and a small collection of films – mostly modern, I’m ashamed to say. This time around, though, I’m happy to report that the majority of flicks were made before I was even popped out, let alone knew what films were. So let’s get to it and see what I’ve gotten through this time. Starting with…
From a light-hearted children’s tale to an epic Russian piece about prisons, crazy men and landlord troubles. At least, that’s what I’ve gathered from the first thirty-odd pages. It’s certainly not a fair amount to gather a true opinion of the book, but it’s all I’ve managed in and amongst the busy days of late. Instead of curling up in bed for a few chapters I have, instead, just curled up in bed. And nothing else… for around seven to eight hours.
Believe you me I will find the time, or steal the time, or somewhere acquire the time to pick my literary duties back up. I’ve heard great things about this book and I want to find out if they’re true or not, and that won’t happen if it only collects dust on my bedside table.
Perhaps not the most well-known film, but one I very much wanted to address as I’m such a fan of Jack Lemmon, who won an Oscar for this. It’s a great, understated piece that follows Lemmon’s Harry Stoner, a clothing company executive who struggles with the complexities of modern day life versus the simplicity of his youth. He yearns for the past with it’s wonderful jazz, baseball pitchers that wound up before each throw and the American flag when it actually meant something.
I can see why they struggled to get the film made, because it really does lack commercial flair in almost every way. It’s slow and considered, and not much seems to happen. But watching Stoner go through his days with his thoughts and feelings, and Lemmon’s masterful acting… it’s just great. I really enjoyed it, and I think you should check it out too. It won’t be everybody’s cup of tea, mind, but I really bought into the ‘art’ of this film.
Special Notes: In addition to Lemmon’s Best Actor win at the Oscars, Save the Tiger was nominated for Best Motion Picture in the drama category of the Golden Globes, where it lost to The Exorcist. Go figure.
Fargo follows Jerry Lundergaard (played by William H. Macy) as he tries to lie his way to a free ransom payment by hiring two hit men to ‘kidnap’ his wife and conning her rich father to pay them off. Meanwhile, polite and smart police officer Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand) negotiates the situation (and her large, heavily pregnant belly), and tries to solve the crime.
I’d heard quite a lot about this before hand, expected great things and, for the most part, it delivered. Although the accents grate on occasion, Macy’s in particular, I found the whole film to be intriguing and enjoyable. Steve Buscemi is great as the scheming Carl Showalter, and in some ways I wish he’d had more screen time. His death also wasn’t as interesting as I’d been told, but overall he helped to make it a really good film, and one I’m glad I finally got around to watching. Although, I must admit, I don’t think it’s quite as good as some people will have you believe. It’s not perfect, and it’s not masterful. Just very, very good. And a great advert for not hiring hit men to kidnap your own wife.
Special Notes: Frances McDormand won Best Actress at the Oscars for her role, and the Coen brothers scooped the screenplay award at the same ceremony where they also had five further nominations. The film was inducted into the US National Film Registry in 2006, and is the most recently made feature length film in there.
What do you think would happen if a rogue US military man knocked down the first domino on the way to total and utter annihilation of the human race? Well it might go a little like this. When General Jack D. Ripper initiates a plan to attack the Soviet Union, a panicked war room assembles and puzzles over what can be done to prevent the end of mankind, with nuclear warfare sure to follow unless they conjure up a sufficiently cunning plan. George C. Scott plays the fantastic General Buck Turgidson who briefs, whilst often finding himself at odds with President Merkin Muffley, one of the many roles performed by Peter Sellers.
From what I’ve learned of Kubrick, I’d love to be able to dislike him and his films. I would, because everything I’ve ever read paints him as a bit of a pretentious prat but, here, he crafted a corker of a film. It’s funny, sharp, interesting, the characters are great, the acting is spot on and, if it hadn’t been for my over-eager ex-college tutor spoiling the ending, I would’ve been hooked right until the very brilliant end. I still was, mind, but the impact is always lessened after someone spoils it, of course. Thank you very much, Gareth! The only thing I could say I didn’t really like was the titular Dr. Strangelove himself, who I found ever so slightly annoying. But it’s okay, because he’s not there for the most part. Additionally, I’d also love to know the amount of people who watch this nowadays for the first time, and have a good old laugh at the bit they recognise for being lampooned by the The Simpsons. If you’ve seen it, then I’m sure you know what I mean.
It’s an absolute classic and if you’re looking to school yourself on film history, you absolutely must add this to your list.
Special Notes: Although nominated for four Oscars it failed to win a single one, losing out on Best Picture to My Fair Lady. In 1989 it was rightly inducted to the US National Film Registry.
We’ve all seen the parodies, haven’t we? The young buck and old cougar joyously shack up as here’s to you, Mrs. Robinson plays out on the soundtrack. Well here’s the film that started it all, where a young Dustin Hoffman plays a conflicted college graduate who’s unsure about his future. While his parents coo over his academic success to their friends and push him to go to graduate school, he lays by the pool and avoids his future in between shacking up with the wife of his father’s business partner and, later, her daughter.
I was hoping for an entirely different movie, I think, and therefore it’s probably a little unfair on the film itself that I didn’t like it more. Whereas I wanted a heart-warming piece where two lost souls validate each other and enjoy a meaningful and therapeutic relationship, I instead got quite a bleak story where nobody remotely likable exists. An annoying college boy shacks up with a snappy old broad, then falls all too quickly in love with her daughter (who, ludicrously, falls in love even quicker) and things go a bit pear-shaped when, inevitably, the scoop gets out.
Whilst Anne Bancroft (as the famous Mrs. Robinson) plays the most interesting character, she actually gets a disappointingly little amount of screen time in the big scheme of things. The whole film was a little too bleak, and lacked a single element that could be considered ‘nice’ and, for me, this placed it on the wrong side of medium. I think, in all fairness, it’s more a product of its time than other classics, and so it suffers a little in retrospect, with parental pressure not as common in modern times as it was back then. Still, for the soundtrack (which is, in places, quite affecting) and the sheer experience of watching a classic film that has been parodied endlessly, you should still check it out.
Special Notes: Bancroft and Hoffman both received Oscar nominations for their parts while Mike Nichols scooped the director’s award, and it is preserved in the US National Film Registry.
Well, this was awful. I can’t really think of much else to say. Apart from the small joy of seeing so many famous faces appear in one film (and even that gets a little too nepotistic at times), I can’t think of any redeeming qualities here. Some people like it – hell – go crazy over it, and quote all the lines day in, day out, but I didn’t find it funny at all. Will Ferrell does his one and only film character, spouting rubbish dialogue in an intentionally terrible acting style which, I’m told, makes everything he says instantly hilarious. Steve Carell plays the obvious loser with the obvious, freaky, out of touch things to say, and Paul Rudd also does things and stuff at various points. I’m not a fan of the ultra, unrelenting insincerity of these kinds of films where it’s like one constant in-joke that is supposed to be totally, absolutely hilarious, maaaaan! Did you hear that!? It’s so funny what he said, and how he said it; I can’t believe it. Oh my God that’s funny. I literally just peed my pants over how he said what he said when he said that thing back there. I’m gonna repeat that over and over again because it was so funny!!!
It brings a lot of happiness to some people which, although I could consider worrying if I fancy being a snob, I suppose is a good thing. All I can conclude is that, in terms of my own writing and potential professional career, I don’t think I could ever go down this route of insincere comedy. I don’t really respect it. But hey, if it’s your bag then by all means, enjoy it.
Final Thoughts
There we have it, some really good films this week. There’s more to come, and hopefully I’ll have done some reading by next time. If I haven’t then it’s time to start hassling me about it because classic literature is just as important as film, here. Absolutely.
So that’s it for this entry; leave comments below if you agree, disagree or just have something to say. Start a conversation! All the best, and tune in again to find out what I’m watching, reading and, hopefully, enjoying.
Ray Wilson – “My Fictional Odyssey (Part Two)”
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Hello there dearest reader, how are you? Welcome to the second edition of My Fictional Odyssey; thanks for joining me. Last time around I tackled Tom Sawyer and a small collection of films – mostly modern, I’m ashamed to say. This time around, though, I’m happy to report that the majority of flicks were made before I was even popped out, let alone knew what films were. So let’s get to it and see what I’ve gotten through this time. Starting with…
Literature
Crime and Punishment (1866) written by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
From a light-hearted children’s tale to an epic Russian piece about prisons, crazy men and landlord troubles. At least, that’s what I’ve gathered from the first thirty-odd pages. It’s certainly not a fair amount to gather a true opinion of the book, but it’s all I’ve managed in and amongst the busy days of late. Instead of curling up in bed for a few chapters I have, instead, just curled up in bed. And nothing else… for around seven to eight hours.
Believe you me I will find the time, or steal the time, or somewhere acquire the time to pick my literary duties back up. I’ve heard great things about this book and I want to find out if they’re true or not, and that won’t happen if it only collects dust on my bedside table.
Films
Save the Tiger (1973) directed by John G. Avildsen
Perhaps not the most well-known film, but one I very much wanted to address as I’m such a fan of Jack Lemmon, who won an Oscar for this. It’s a great, understated piece that follows Lemmon’s Harry Stoner, a clothing company executive who struggles with the complexities of modern day life versus the simplicity of his youth. He yearns for the past with it’s wonderful jazz, baseball pitchers that wound up before each throw and the American flag when it actually meant something.
I can see why they struggled to get the film made, because it really does lack commercial flair in almost every way. It’s slow and considered, and not much seems to happen. But watching Stoner go through his days with his thoughts and feelings, and Lemmon’s masterful acting… it’s just great. I really enjoyed it, and I think you should check it out too. It won’t be everybody’s cup of tea, mind, but I really bought into the ‘art’ of this film.
Special Notes: In addition to Lemmon’s Best Actor win at the Oscars, Save the Tiger was nominated for Best Motion Picture in the drama category of the Golden Globes, where it lost to The Exorcist. Go figure.
Fargo (1996) directed by Joel Coen
Fargo follows Jerry Lundergaard (played by William H. Macy) as he tries to lie his way to a free ransom payment by hiring two hit men to ‘kidnap’ his wife and conning her rich father to pay them off. Meanwhile, polite and smart police officer Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand) negotiates the situation (and her large, heavily pregnant belly), and tries to solve the crime.
I’d heard quite a lot about this before hand, expected great things and, for the most part, it delivered. Although the accents grate on occasion, Macy’s in particular, I found the whole film to be intriguing and enjoyable. Steve Buscemi is great as the scheming Carl Showalter, and in some ways I wish he’d had more screen time. His death also wasn’t as interesting as I’d been told, but overall he helped to make it a really good film, and one I’m glad I finally got around to watching. Although, I must admit, I don’t think it’s quite as good as some people will have you believe. It’s not perfect, and it’s not masterful. Just very, very good. And a great advert for not hiring hit men to kidnap your own wife.
Special Notes: Frances McDormand won Best Actress at the Oscars for her role, and the Coen brothers scooped the screenplay award at the same ceremony where they also had five further nominations. The film was inducted into the US National Film Registry in 2006, and is the most recently made feature length film in there.
Dr. Strangelove (1964) directed by Stanley Kubrick
What do you think would happen if a rogue US military man knocked down the first domino on the way to total and utter annihilation of the human race? Well it might go a little like this. When General Jack D. Ripper initiates a plan to attack the Soviet Union, a panicked war room assembles and puzzles over what can be done to prevent the end of mankind, with nuclear warfare sure to follow unless they conjure up a sufficiently cunning plan. George C. Scott plays the fantastic General Buck Turgidson who briefs, whilst often finding himself at odds with President Merkin Muffley, one of the many roles performed by Peter Sellers.
From what I’ve learned of Kubrick, I’d love to be able to dislike him and his films. I would, because everything I’ve ever read paints him as a bit of a pretentious prat but, here, he crafted a corker of a film. It’s funny, sharp, interesting, the characters are great, the acting is spot on and, if it hadn’t been for my over-eager ex-college tutor spoiling the ending, I would’ve been hooked right until the very brilliant end. I still was, mind, but the impact is always lessened after someone spoils it, of course. Thank you very much, Gareth! The only thing I could say I didn’t really like was the titular Dr. Strangelove himself, who I found ever so slightly annoying. But it’s okay, because he’s not there for the most part. Additionally, I’d also love to know the amount of people who watch this nowadays for the first time, and have a good old laugh at the bit they recognise for being lampooned by the The Simpsons. If you’ve seen it, then I’m sure you know what I mean.
It’s an absolute classic and if you’re looking to school yourself on film history, you absolutely must add this to your list.
Special Notes: Although nominated for four Oscars it failed to win a single one, losing out on Best Picture to My Fair Lady. In 1989 it was rightly inducted to the US National Film Registry.
The Graduate (1967) directed by Mike Nichols
We’ve all seen the parodies, haven’t we? The young buck and old cougar joyously shack up as here’s to you, Mrs. Robinson plays out on the soundtrack. Well here’s the film that started it all, where a young Dustin Hoffman plays a conflicted college graduate who’s unsure about his future. While his parents coo over his academic success to their friends and push him to go to graduate school, he lays by the pool and avoids his future in between shacking up with the wife of his father’s business partner and, later, her daughter.
I was hoping for an entirely different movie, I think, and therefore it’s probably a little unfair on the film itself that I didn’t like it more. Whereas I wanted a heart-warming piece where two lost souls validate each other and enjoy a meaningful and therapeutic relationship, I instead got quite a bleak story where nobody remotely likable exists. An annoying college boy shacks up with a snappy old broad, then falls all too quickly in love with her daughter (who, ludicrously, falls in love even quicker) and things go a bit pear-shaped when, inevitably, the scoop gets out.
Whilst Anne Bancroft (as the famous Mrs. Robinson) plays the most interesting character, she actually gets a disappointingly little amount of screen time in the big scheme of things. The whole film was a little too bleak, and lacked a single element that could be considered ‘nice’ and, for me, this placed it on the wrong side of medium. I think, in all fairness, it’s more a product of its time than other classics, and so it suffers a little in retrospect, with parental pressure not as common in modern times as it was back then. Still, for the soundtrack (which is, in places, quite affecting) and the sheer experience of watching a classic film that has been parodied endlessly, you should still check it out.
Special Notes: Bancroft and Hoffman both received Oscar nominations for their parts while Mike Nichols scooped the director’s award, and it is preserved in the US National Film Registry.
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) directed by Adam McKay
Well, this was awful. I can’t really think of much else to say. Apart from the small joy of seeing so many famous faces appear in one film (and even that gets a little too nepotistic at times), I can’t think of any redeeming qualities here. Some people like it – hell – go crazy over it, and quote all the lines day in, day out, but I didn’t find it funny at all. Will Ferrell does his one and only film character, spouting rubbish dialogue in an intentionally terrible acting style which, I’m told, makes everything he says instantly hilarious. Steve Carell plays the obvious loser with the obvious, freaky, out of touch things to say, and Paul Rudd also does things and stuff at various points. I’m not a fan of the ultra, unrelenting insincerity of these kinds of films where it’s like one constant in-joke that is supposed to be totally, absolutely hilarious, maaaaan! Did you hear that!? It’s so funny what he said, and how he said it; I can’t believe it. Oh my God that’s funny. I literally just peed my pants over how he said what he said when he said that thing back there. I’m gonna repeat that over and over again because it was so funny!!!
It brings a lot of happiness to some people which, although I could consider worrying if I fancy being a snob, I suppose is a good thing. All I can conclude is that, in terms of my own writing and potential professional career, I don’t think I could ever go down this route of insincere comedy. I don’t really respect it. But hey, if it’s your bag then by all means, enjoy it.
Final Thoughts
There we have it, some really good films this week. There’s more to come, and hopefully I’ll have done some reading by next time. If I haven’t then it’s time to start hassling me about it because classic literature is just as important as film, here. Absolutely.
So that’s it for this entry; leave comments below if you agree, disagree or just have something to say. Start a conversation! All the best, and tune in again to find out what I’m watching, reading and, hopefully, enjoying.
Ciao