FLIX!
I know that at this time of year there are a flurry of movies that screen in "selected cities"; translation: New York and LA, just so they can make it under the deadline and qualify for this year's Oscars. And sure, I'm dying to see "Her", and "American Hustle". But for now, I will just have to go with what I saw on the big screen this past year and tell you that these were the best I saw. In reverse order they are:
5. THE LONE RANGER
Armie Hammer and Johnny Depp make this happen. It was a fine movie that delivered exactly what it promised. It was accurate to the original story line, was fun, and even included the obligatory "Hi-O Silver, and Away!!" To which Tonto begs: "Don't ever do that again."
4. Lee Phillips' THE BUTLER
Forrest Whitaker delivers another of his astounding performances playing a man who was a Butler in the White House from Dwight Eisenhower through Ronald Reagan. This includes all the strife of the 60's and his son who breaks away and sees the future, much to his father's chagrin and disapproval.
3. CAPTAIN PHILLIPS
Tom Hanks as the Captain on a shipping vessel that is ultimately over-run by pirates, is superb. This guy still has his chops. In my opinion this was his greatest performance since "The Green Mile". The supporting cast not so much, but Tom and the Pirates were uncanny. And hats off to the Navy nurse who stepped up to help Tom in one of his final scenes. This was good stuff.
2. DJANGO UNCHAINED
Quentin Tarantino is at it again. Using his new-found friend Gustav Waltz and the pretty darned great Jamie Foxx, created a new western with the Tarantino twist. Quentin has begged time and time again, to remember that Slavery was a thousand times worse than this, but his critics, continue to assail him for not being sensitive enough. Especially the very jealous Spike Lee, who wishes he could make a movie like this. The script uses the "N", which is crazy I guess because everybody knows no-one in the pre-Civil War South ever called black people the "N" word. Please critics, screw you heads on right. If you want to criticize a few of the costumes or Tarantino's laughable attempt at an accent, okay. This was a look at a black man who really wanted his wife back. Mark Twain would have been proud, because he alludes in "Huckleberry Finn" Huck was amazed when he heard Jim crying, missing his wife and children. Huck had never realized that blacks loved their families too. Anyway, Django is a partner of a bounty hunter who gives Django his freedom and is determined to help him achieve his goal. It isn't an easy goal, folks. But it is wonderful.
1. 42
Not only was this one of the greatest films I saw this year, it is one of the greatest films I ever saw. Certainly circumventing "Field of Dreams" as the best baseball movie ever. I knew that Jackie Robinson "broke the color barrier" and that he was the first black player in the Major Leagues, but I really had no idea what this man went through. And what his wife in the stands went through. And the fans weren't the only ones. There were the newspapers and team-mates. Jackie Robinson was a man of outstanding character, perseverance, determination, and talent. It takes a special person to break a color barrior, and Jackie Robinson was the right man at the right time. And let's not forget this would never happened if it weren't for the vision of Branch Rickey, (played by Harrison Ford) owner and manager of The Brooklyn Dodgers. This was a tremendous movie, and I urge you all to not only see it, but to own it.
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