Fitzcarraldo

*Year: 1982
*Director: Werner Herzog
*Cast: Klaus Kinski, Claudia Cardinale, Jose Lewgoy, Paul Hittscher, Huerequeque Enrique Bohorquez


Brian Sweeney "Fitzcarraldo" Fitzgerald, a European entrepreneur in early 20th century Peru, is known to the sucessesful business men of the town as a bit of a failure who's constant schemes to revolutionize Peru often end in bankruptcy. Through his obsessive love of opera, he concots an idea to build an opera house in the middle of the Amazon jungle. With a steamship financed by his madame girlfirend, he travels against the Amazon river to the unowned plot of land where he will build his opera house. But the journey proves much more of an undertaking than many ever dreamed.


The Herzog-Kinski films are often called the most fruitful of all film collaborations. They were also known for their uneasy friendship that was put to the test on many films. These arguments were often peppered with death threats and on one occasion, a native tribe offered to kill Kinski for Herzog who declined. This film was probably the most difficult film they ever did together which is saying something as herzog was known for maintaining realism in his films whatever the cost. And maintaining such realism in the Amazon is not an easy task. The struggles of the characters on film were the same struggles faced by the film makers. In Fitzcarraldo, the main character and his crew (along with a native tribe) must haul a 300 ton steamship over a mile long isthmus at a 40 degree uphill angle. Herzog refused to take the film-making out and decided to actually pull it uphill with nothing but the enginuity of the crew and strength of the natives.


It's justifiable to question whether the ends justified the extreme hardships faced by so many people on the film. Along with the daunting task of hauling the steaship, the production was plauged by extremely unhelpful weather (when rains were needed, it just so happened that the longest dry spell in Peruvain history had to happen at the same time), intense tribal conflicts and distrust of the Anglo film crew. But thankfully the film is quite good. Perssonally, I hesitate to declare it the masterpiece so many do but it's definitley a very good film.


The first 40-50 minutes of the 2 1/2 hour film are rather slow and uninteresting. It doesn't really feel likes it's going anywhere. But once our hero's journey starts, so does the film. Herzog always shines when he's in his confort zone. And his comfort zone seems to be nature. The captivating Amazon serves as an interesting and well filmed background to the unique struggles of the characters. and they are unique. At one point, his entire crew deserts him. Vanishing out into the jungle. And the no nonsense of the last 2 hours of the film really help. It's also a technically interesting film. It's definitley a curious thing seeing the steamship pulled across the isthmus.


The film is also noteworthy for being one of Kinski's most harmless and innocent characters. Ofcourse a harmless and innocent Kinski is still an extremely eccentric and obsessive man comparatively. And as usual, his performance is magnificent.


For anyone who's interested in real cinema, the Kinski-Herzog films are a must. Especially Fitzcarraldo which is a flawed but very interesting and in the end, rewarding film.

Apocalypse Now

*Year: 1979

*Director: Francis Ford Coppola

*(PON)Cinematographer: Vittorio Storaro

*Cast: Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall, Albert Hall, Frederic Forrest, Sam Bottoms, Laurence Fishburne

Famed film adaptation of the Novella, Heart of Darkness. Martin Sheen stars as Captain Willard. A soldier sent into Cambodia to assassinate a rogue Colonel (Brando) who it seems has lost his mind and is commanding tribal forces in brutal attacks on the NVC/VC. The closer he gets to arriving at the Colonel's compound, the more his obsession with the man grows.

This film is probably the epitime of physcological darkness in film. Throughout it's 3 hour + runtime, it examines the darkside of humanity and the mind. And the messages it sends about warfare and such seem very true. The insane Colonel Kurtz has witnessed war and through it has deduced that to defeat the enemy (in this case, the Vietnamese) the US must adopt the barbaric Guerilla tactics used by such an enemy. It's a rather surreal film by the end and very potent. It may affect people differently. But as for myself, it was very powerful. not necessarily in it's messages or importance, but in it's sheer darkness.

Some say the film suceeds as a war film but not much else. I would say that it fails as a war film and suceeds at being great Cinema regardless. I never really watched the film as a war film. Ofcourse it is one but it isn't really about combat. The film has a great storyline and is very well made. Another criticism of the film is that the ending is a big let down. Once Willard has met Kurtz, the rest of the film seems much like a lecture in philosophy, civilization, warfare, and humanity. I actually liked this aspect myself. But I see where people may be annoyed by it as the previous 2 hours moved rather quickly, once Marlon brando comes into the pciture, the film sort of comes to a hault and the suspense of meeting this mysterious man wears off.

Another plus is Vittorio Storaro's gorgeous cinematography. I'd say Storaro is Cinema's best cinematographer. His traditional use of vibrant colors is even more vibrant here. It's a beautiful looking film filmed in deep oranges which are the result of accentuated Asian sun and tribal camp fires and torches.

Apocalypse Now is one of the favorite films. Easily in my top 5. A well made and sucessfully adapted story. A film you don't need me to recommend, as it is any cinephiles duty to see a film like this.

55 Days at Peking

*Year: 1963
*Director: Nicholas Ray
*(Person of Note)Producer: Samuel Bronston
*Cast: Charlton Heston, David Niven, Ava Gardner, Robert Helpmann, Leo Glenn, Flora Robson, John Ireland, Philippe Leroy

Set in Peking China, 1900. Based on actual events. The peasants of China (Boxers), have been causing unrest in Colonial China. The presence of numerous Anglo nations in China has led to increasing anti colonial sentiment. In this particular story, Major Matt Lewis and his detatchment of marines are stationed in Peking along with the forces of many other European nations. With the increasing Boxer threat ascentuated by the Chinese government's sanctioning of their actions, the nations deside to hold their ground in citadel fortress of the city and hold out till reinforcements arrive.


One lazy Wednesday afternoon, while scrolling through the TCM schedule, I happened upon this film. I knew of it through my familiarity with Nicholas Ray, the director. My dad also knew of the film and watching it was a wonderful experience. And since then, I've mebarked on a marathon of old school epics which I have learned to love.


This was producer Samuel Bronston's penultimate Super production. He had previously produced El Cid and King of Kings. As well as producing Fall of the Roman Empire the following year. And like the previous films, this is another big budget historical epic filmed entirely in Spain. It would employ most of Spains Chinese residents to portray the Boxers while giving the more important Chinese roles to Anglos. Anyway, the film, though a tad bit talky, is full of spectacular action scenes and breath taking sets. All of which were paid for by the profits of the last 2 films. Director Nicholas Ray was not used to filming such ambitious projects. He was more comfortable filming his own films with smaller budgets. He even predicted that this film would be the end of him. In a sense, it was. Near the end of production, he was fired by Bronston and the remaining action scenes were directed by two uncredited assistants. Ray suffered a heart attack soon after. Thus ending his Hollywood career.


I enjoyed this film very much. The roadshow structure (Overture, Entr' Acte, Exit) is not only enjoyable through a nostalgic sense, but gives you time for the film to sink in more. It's pretty well balanced. Though their is perhaps one too many dialogue scenes. But the spectacular action sequences more than make up for it. These battles are juxtaposed with the internal struggles of the characters. Their also seems to be a message of international unity overcoming great odds. Which I suppose is a good message.


For me, and perhaps many others; the troubled shoot was worth it. The film has a great cast, grandiose music (Dimitri Tiomkin), great action scenes, and beautiful set design. Though the more leisurely pace may be a detractor for some.

The Sand Pebbles

*Year: 1966
*Director: Robert Wise

*(Person of Note)Cinematography: Joseph MacDonald
*Cast: Steve Mcqueen, Richard Attenborough, Candice bergen, Richard Crenna, Mako

Set in 1926, China. Jake Holman is a Naval enginer in the US Asiatic fleet. Though a good crew member, he is somewhat rebellious and has several transfers to show for it. He is transfered to the San Pablo, a gunboat patrolling the Yangtze River. Though he almost immediatley befriends one sailor, Frenchy, he is obstricized by the rest of the crew as a Jonah. All the while, the Captain has to manage his increasinly disgruntled crew as well as holding back the endless hordes of angry and violent Chinese combatants without the luxury of violent force for fear of sparking an international incident.


Like Stagecoach and Citizen Kane, this film to me seems like one of the quintesential good movies. I first discovered it years back as a bored kid who would watch anything on TV. I first saw bits and pieces of it on AMC and since it was an old movie, I naively dismissed it. Since I now have a complete love of old movies, I checked this one out and fortunatley for me, it's as good as they say.


To start off, the film has impecable pacing. Though it is long (over 3 hours!), it moves along very nicely. Thats not to say it's action packed, because it isn't. Though it is filled full of numerous great scenes that will always keep your eyes glued to the screen. Because I have an amazingly short attention span, I often doodle while watching a movie and sort of watch it out of the corner of my eye. But with this film, I couldn't look away.


There is nothing about the film that jumps out at you or sets it apart from other films. It is just a very well made film. Drama is balanced nicely with charater developement, tension, violence, romance, social commentary, and action. No one scene in the film feels unncecessary or out of place. And thus, feels like it is much shorter than 3 hours. There is also some good acting here. McQueen was given his only Oscar Nomination. Richard Crenna alos stands out as the stoic yet troubled Captain. Joseph Macdonald, one of the great cinematographers, delivers the goods here. Great widescreen views of the Chinese Rivers and farm lands. As well as some great interior lighting.


The film was nominated for 8 Academy Awards including Best Director and Best Picture. A wonderfully made film.