The Movie Journal

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid I originally did not know what to think about 1969’s Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid . Considering people call this film one of the greatest Westerns of all time, I thought the film, although fine, was nothing special of consequence. The I kept thinking about it, kept thinking about it some more, and then truly took a long time to leave my thoughts. Only a very good movie has the ability to do that. After much debate, I still feel this film falls short of being the very best. That said, this is a fun movie that gives the audience some insight on two of America’s most famous outlaws plus it has some great character interactions and dynamite performances from Paul Newman and Robert Redford. This film was written by one of Hollywood’s greatest screenwriters-William Goldman. He recounted many times how hard it was to get this film rolling off the ground. He spent eight years researching these outlaws. Those who know basic American histo...

In the Heat of the Night (1967) 1967’s In the Heat of the Night is an incredibly tense, racially-charged drama that is very important and relevant-back in 1967 and in today’s racially-tense world. The film came out during the Civil Rights Movement and only a few years after the Civil Rights Act and Voting Act were enabled. It was a tense time for the traditional South, and this movie accurately depicts that tension in the small town of Sparta, Mississippi. This is one of the first movies to show black people in a fair, positive light when opposed to white people. It’s a movie about wary townsfolk not keen on outsiders and so forth. The drama is intense and sometimes chilling. But in the end, director Norman Jewison and star Sidney Poitier gave us one unforgettable movie. The film was based off John Ball’s bestselling novel and adapted to the screen by Stirling Silliphant. The screenplay is powerful and boasts some incredible lines of dialogue which are expertly delivere...

Modern Times (1936) 1936’s Modern Times is my first look at Charlie Chaplin. Despite everyone raving about his work, I never felt particularly attracted to his films because silent films were never my jam. Lucky for ever-changing tastes! This particular film is often considered one of Chaplin’s best so why not use this film to enter his filmography. I loved this film! During it’s breezy 1 hour and 27-minute length, I was enthralled with what this legend brought to the screen. This film, which was seen as far-sighted when initially released, is a politically relevant film even here in the 21 st century. The film is also beautiful, romantic, hilarious, well-acted, well-directed, and just a wonderful film in general. The film was released in 1936, when talky films were in full force. Chaplin’s main appeal was silence and his famed character “The Tramp” was based on actions, not words. He felt sound would alienate many of his fans, which is why he retired the character aft...

The Apartment (1960) 1960’s The Apartment is one of the better, more realistic films of the early 1960’s. It’s a timely, sharp film that features classic director Billy Wilder at his best. This film focuses on the theme of adultery, which was still a subject that many filmgoers did not take lightly. In fact, Fred MacMurray claimed that women would accost him in the street and disapproved of his performance. That said, contemporary critics call this film a masterpiece and I would be inclined to agree. The film, while timely and often sardonic, infuses a mixture of wry humor and a hint of sadness to make this a film you can never forget. There are actually people out there who believe this is a good holiday movie because of its setting, but I’m not entirely sure about that. Billy Wilder is considered one of cinema’s greatest auteurs. I still cannot believe that this is the first film of his that I saw with my own eyes. Some Like It Hot , Double Idemnity , and Sunset Boule...

Sunrise: A Song for Two Humans (1927) As a film student, it’s important to understand all aspects of film history. The era I was…and still is most unfamiliar with is the period of silent films. Honestly, they really never appealed to me. After my viewing of 1927’s Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans , I want to see more silent films to truly appreciate this era. I really enjoyed this film very much so. While I do not consider it a masterpiece on my initial viewing, there are many artistic values this film provides. Thanks to fantastic and ground-breaking cinematography, amazing performances (Janet Gaynor comes to mind), and smooth direction from F.W Murnau. This film came out at an era where silent films were near their death because of the advent of sound. In fact, The Jazz Singer, which is the first sound film, was released in theaters around this time. The film does make use of a somewhat ominous score that fits very well with the movie. While not a box office success, Hol...

A Night at the Opera (1935) 1935’s A Night at the Opera is my first foray into the work of the Marx Brothers. As someone who wants to familiarize myself with the history of cinema from the very beginning, I felt it was important to understand who these brothers were because they are all-time comic legends. They are the kings of slapstick and that was made prevalent in this movie, one that many people proclaim their best. I cannot judge that statement yet, but I can say I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. A great comedy? I do not think so. A fun, 95-minute exercise in comedy? Sure, let’s go with that. There are plenty of jokes that I found hilarious and memorable, but others that do fall flat. But isn’t that the whole point of the Marx Brothers’ routine? Before this film, the brothers were at Paramount Pictures and their style of comedy was different. There might be somewhat of a resemblance towards a plot, but the emphasis was mainly given to the slapstick and the jokes. I...

Swing Time (1936) Leading this review off, I shall be frank. Up to this point in 2019, I have never seen a Fred Astaire or Ginger Rogers movie. Of course their reputation precedes me and I knew they have been in countless number of films together, but much to the dismay of my older family members, I have not seen a film of theirs…..until I received the desperate pleas to watch 1936’s Swing Time. Guys, I think I loved it. The production values, the song and dance routines, and the erotic yet intelligent chemistry between Astaire and Rogers is really something else. Watching this movie made me fall in love with this duo and has me eagerly wanting to see all of their films together. It’s been told that this particular film is their best one. The excellent song and dance production values are matched very well with a funny and well-rounded script by Howard Lindsay and Allan Scott. Because this film associates itself with music (well, duh!), I need to talk about these songs....