Modern Times

The film does feel very relevant, especially when looked at in the context of the Google Bus/gentrification protests. More admirable physical comedy by Charlie Chaplain--even more astonishing given he was 47 when he made the film. A less savory factoid is the fact he later married his very young co-star, Paulette Goddard who was about 26 when the film was made. That aside, she is very spunky and gives you someone to cheer for throughout a very long and unremarkable movie. This is the loosest of his films plot-wise; indeed, most of it feels like an amalgamation of loosely related comedy bit sequences. Even the soundtrack including spoken (sung?) dialogue by Chaplain can't save this from a two star rating.

Nashville

Typical Robert Altman film with long, fast paced, slapstick comedic sequences. The film is meant to be an indictment of the entertainment business, and politics--I assume trying to not so subtly suggest they are similar. The BBC reporter played Geraldine Chaplain (Charlie Chaplain's daughter--and mother of Oona Chaplain of Game of Throne's fame) is quite annoying and sticks out in the plot. The use of Jeff Goldblum as the link between all the scenes is clever, but that's about the only positive thing I have to say about this film.

The Deer Hunter

A long movie, with some very good scenes, and some that were merely good--I admit the editing (or lack therof) is what kept me from giving it five stars. I have to admit, the setting in Pittsburgh did help endear it to me. Bobby DeNiro is good as usual, Christopher Walken is a hoot, and Meryl is Meryl. It's hard to watch the John Cazale scenes, knowing he'd die so soon after. I appreciate the desire to show how raw the experience in Vietnam was, but it was over gleeful in painting the Viet Cong soldiers as barbaric sadists.