The Amateur Film Critic

A blog about films.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

All the President's Men


WOW! This movie is stunning. If I could, I'd give it six stars, but sadly I don't have a graphic or label for that. Both Redford, Hoffman, and Robards are amazing in this and compliment each other well, between Redford's more introspective cautious style, Hoffman's disarrayed eagerness, and Robards as the unwitting editor-in-chief who is at the helm of the paper that breaks the Watergate Scandal to the public. I loved the sound direction and parts of the art direction. In particular there is a scene in which Redford is just about becoming aware of the fact he is being followed--the soundtrack is a slow ringing thudding like a clock's pendulum while Redford starts walking slowly and then increasing his gait into a run away from the garage in which he had met deep-throat. The shots alternate between his dark frame being projected against the white wall of the garage or his body front lit the dark of night. Worth watching for the acting and historical significance. I never realized that the Watergate scandal was essential broken by two newsman while the rest of the news world and justice department dragged their feet unwilling to either believe the magnitude of what had happened or afraid to stake their reputations on it. Makes me want to go pick up the book and give it a read. In a side note, the Washington Post's office reminded me of 9 to 5.

Labels: , , , , ,

Monday, November 17, 2008

Sophie's Choice


While I do love Meryl Streep, this movie really didn't wow me. Meryl does look gorgeous in this, and its refreshing to see the younger Meryl, before she became a multiple Oscar winner and the force that she is now. Kevin Kline is a bit of a caricature and Peter MacNicol's character is too flat (though I do adore the accent). For a movie about the Holocaust, this is sort of flounders and isn't able to capitalize on the innate sympathy it should be able to draw. Streep's character is the only one that has any depth of chance for development, but that alone is not able to save its meandering plot, weak script, and unmemorable music and cinematography.

PASS!

Labels: , , , , ,