Oldies Review - The Godfather

Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Genre: Drama/ Crime
Runtime: 175 minutes
Year: 1972
Starring: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert DuVall, Diane Keaton, Talia Shire, John Cazale
 
Description: The aging patriarch (Marlon Brando) of an organized crime dynasty in postwar New York City transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant youngest son (Al Pacino).

Review: Don Vito Corleone, better known as The Godfather, is the head of the Corleone mafia family. When an attempt is made to take his life, son Michael unexpectedly steps into the family business.
For many, including myself, “The Godfather” is an all-time favorite and an absolute timeless classic. It is and remains a great mafia epic and probably one of the most influential films ever made.

As soon as the film starts with the atmospheric music of Nino Rota, you are transported to the past and become part of the Corleone family. The head, Don Vito, commands the screen with his presence. With this, Marlon Brando won an Academy Award for one of the most iconic roles ever.

It is a film completely focused on the Corleone family. Despite all the criminal acts within the world of the mafia, the story also highlights the love, frustration and misfortune within the family. This makes the whole realistic. In doing so, each member also leaves an impression. Daughter Connie who allows herself to be in an abusive marriage, tough brother Sonny with his anger issues and even the more sleezy Fredo, who has a more prominent role in “Godfather Part II” (1974). The film’s lead role is given to the youngest son of the family: Michael Corleone.

This was Al Pacino’s big break, an it is understandable why. We frequently see event sfrom Michael’s perspective, which makes him somewhat sympathetic. Michael’s character development, which begins here and continues in the two sequels, is fairly tragic to see. Someone who had no interest in the family business at first, but unexpectedly follows in his father’s footstep, becoming the head of it.

“The Godfather” is not only a timeless classic, that every person, film fan or not, should see. But it’s also a masterclass in filmmaking. I think it’s every filmmakers dream to create aa masterpiece such as “The Godfather”. After so many years, the praise for this movie is still justified.

Rating: 5/ 5

Oldies Review - Kramer Vs. Kramer

Director: Robert Benton
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 105 minutes
Year: 1979
Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep, Jane Alexander, Justin Henry, Howard Duff, George Coe, JoBeth Williams, Bill moor, Howland Chamberlain, Jack Ramage, Jess Osuna, Nicolas Hofmann, Ellen Parker, Shelby Brammer, Carol Nadell

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2021 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 11: A MOVIE FROM THE 70S

Description: After Joanna (Meryl Streep) leaves her husband Ted (Dustin Hoffman), Ted rediscovers his bond with his son Billy. But a heated custody battle ensues over the divorced couple’s son, deepening the wounds left by the separation.

Review: Ted Kramer is a busy businessman with a job that takes up a lot of his time. When Ted comes home after a long day at work and after bringing in a big deal, his wife Joanna is about to leave him. Joanna has had enough of her life where Ted is negligent and leaves him with their young son Billy. Now that he is on his own, Ted must find a balance between work and his son.
Ted has quite a hard time doing this. He wakes up late, burns food and lashes out at Billy. The frustration reaches a boiling point when Billy refuses to eat his dinner one night and decides to eat ice cream against his father’s wishes. Ted gets angry and Billy goes to bed crying. Fortunately, they make up and things go a lot better from then on. Ted finds a routine and can balance his work life with being a father for Billy. Until Joanna suddenly turns up again.
For a film with mayor names like Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep, this movie feels so small. And I love it. It only has a few characters and it takes place in a few different locations. And the story deals with troubles in one family. Big problems told in a small story.
The movie starts with Joanna’s departure and you seem to sympathize with her. You understand that she can’t deal with Ted working all the time. She gave up a good job to be a mom, but that isn’t enough for her anymore. You still don’t fully understand why she would leave her son as well. Along the way, you begin to feel more and more for Ted as he begins to emerge as a good father. And you will probably take his side in the battle.
The acting is powerful and so strong. Especially Dustin Hoffman blew me away. And it’s definitely a film you must see.

 Rating: 4,5/ 5

Oldies Review - Escape from Alcatraz

Director: Don Siegel
Genre: Thriller/ Drama
Runtime: 112 minutes
Year: 1979
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Patrick McGoohan, Roberts Blossom, Jack Thibeau, Fred Ward, Paul Benjamin, Larry Hankin, Bruce M. Fischer, Frank Ronzio, Fred Struthman, David Cryer, Madison Arnold

Description: Alcatraz is the most secure prison of its time. It is believed that no one can ever escape from it, until three daring men make a possible successful attempt at escaping from on of the most infamous prisons in the world.

Review: Frank Morris tries to make the impossible possible in this true story, by escaping from Alcatraz, one of the most highly secures prisons, just off the coast of San Francisco, California.
Clint Eastwood excels as the stoic but intelligent Morris. To his superiors he is obstinate and among the prisoners he is loyal to anyone who approaches him kindly. Gradually he becomes somewhat of a leader.
Eastwood forms a group of confidants around him. People who see him as someone they can trust. It is great to see how Morris doesn’t seem to fear the warden, but also no fear for anything else in Alcatraz. A guy named Wolf, who is supposed the be a threat, doesn’t really scare or impress Morris.
Director Don Siegel, who also made “Dirty Harry” with Eastwood, managed to create film that you will be invested by, without any frills or fuss. Less is more for this film, which could have easily turned out the be a bombastic, epic and spectacular Hollywood film. But that doesn’t fit for this film or for Eastwood. It’s modest, but extremely effective.
“Escape from Alcatraz” is an excellent film, which has excitement without any fuss.

Rating: 4 / 5

Oldies Review - Mad Max

Director: George Miller
Genre: Action/ Drama/ Adventure/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 93 minutes
Year: 1979
Starring: Mel Gibson, Joanne Samuel, Hugh Keays-Byrne, Steve Bisley, Tim Burns, Roger Ward, Lisa Aldenhoven, David Bracks, Bertrand Cadart, David Cameron, Robina Chaffey, Stephen Clark, Mathew Constantine, Jerry Day, Reg Evans.

Description: In a self-destructing world, a vengeful Australian policeman (Mel Gibson) sets out to stop a violent motorcycle gang.

Review: The then unknown Mel Gibson plays Max, an agent of the special unit who, after a fallout, stops criminals and motorcycle gangs. In a spectacular opening scene, the cold-blooded Max mercilessly deals with the ruthless criminal Nightrider and that puts bad blood between im and the motorcycle gang led by the insane Toecutter. Toecutter and his followers seek revenge and soon they open the hunt for Max and his buddies.
When Max’ god friend Goose ends up in the hospital, Max realizes that the police unit is no longer in control and he decides to take a break to sort everything out. But when his wife and son are murdered by Toecutter and his gang, Max is determined to return to the unit and avenge his family. A sensational chase with a fatal outcome in the forbidden area is the result.
Director and screenwriter George Miller created a violent action film set in a post-apocalyptic landscape in Australia. The film contains hardly any dialogue, convincing acting and surprising plot twists, but the explicit images of the wasteland, the bizarre crimes of Toecutter’s gang and the excessive violence appeal to the imagination. And with only a runtime of 93 minutes, “Mad Max” is an great watch with not a dull moment in sight.

Rating: 3,5 / 5

Oldies Review - Barry Lyndon

Director: Stanley Kubrick
Genre: Drama/ Romance
Runtime: 184 minutes
Year: 1975
Starring: Ryan O’Neal, Marisa Berenson, Patrick Magee, Hardy Krüger, Steven berkoff, Gay Hamilton, Marie Kean, Diana Körner, Murray Melvin, Frank Middlemass, André Morell, Arthur O’Sullivan, Godfrey Quigley, Leonard Rossiter, Philip Stone, Leon Vitalo, John Bindon, Roger Booth, Billy Boyle, Jonathan Cecil, Peter Cellier, Geoffrey Chater

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2020 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 24: A MOVIE MADE BY STANELY KUBRICK

Description: An Irish rogue (Ryan O’Neal) wins the heart of a rich widow (Marisa Berenson) and assumes her dead husband’s aristocratic position in 18th-century England.

Review: After astonishing the film world with films like “Dr. Strangelove” (1964), “2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968) and “A Clockwork Orange” (1971), director Stanley Kubrick made a film that didn’t have as much shock value. “Barry Lyndon” is a three-hour costume drama about the rise and fall of an eighteenth-century slick. In a period of rising blockbusters like “Jaws”, the films was received very lukewarmly at the box office, and many critics dismissed it as a boring and long-winded film that was nothing like any other Kubrick movies.
“Barry Lyndon” will always stand in the shadow of the previous mentioned films. And I can understand why critics said the things they said at the time. It’s a slow-burn and a very long movie where not a lot of spectacular events happen. But due to its dreamy style, hypnotic harmony of images and music and detached-static photography, this film looks like a moving painting.
I think this is a misunderstood film and the length of it doesn’t help. I also think the aforementioned films are all better, since “Barry Lyndon” is definitely a movie I wouldn’t rewatch. But still I appreciate it.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

Oldies Review - Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

Director: George Lucas
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Science Fiction/ Fantasy
Runtime: 125 minutes
Year: 1977
Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Alec Guinness, Peter Cushing, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, David Prowse, Kenny Baker, James Earl Jones, Phil Brown, Shelagh Fraser, Jack Purvis, Alex McCrindle, Eddie Byrne

Description: Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) joins forces with a Jedi Knight (Alec Guinness), a cocky pilot (Harrison Ford), a wookiee and two droids to save the galaxy from the Empire's world-destroying battle-station, while also attempting to rescue Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) from the evil Darth Vader.

Review: If you’re young or old, a fan or not. Everyone know the “Star Wars” series. The franchise knows many unique characters and all the great adventures. The first film, “Star Wars Episode IV – A New Hope” is a legendary and timeless science fiction film and the start of what probably is the most popular movie franchise ever.
After Darth Vader intercepts Princes Leia’s spaceship, she asks Jedi knight Obi-Wan Kenobi for help. Together with the young Luke Skywalker and pilot Han Solo, Obi-Wan goes after Leia who is the leader of the rebel alliance.
In 1977 there was no advanced technology, something many film makers use nowadays. George Lucas had his fantasy, imagination and a creative crew. Although you can see that it’s an older film, the visual effects are still stunning.
Although the performances feel somewhat forced, it never bothers you. The interaction between Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher is fun to watch and it adds a lot of humor to the film.
“Star Wars Episode IV – A New Hope” is a joy to watch, every time.

Rating: 5/ 5