Sunday, March 21, 2021

Done, Again!

"Hi everyone!

I decided to become the most fulfilled person in the world and complete both 1001 lists.  I am a major film buff so I think this will be a lot of fun!  I have made such a dent in this list however that it will be awhile until I am up to date but since no one reads my blog anyway we should be good to go!  Enjoy and leave comments!

Amanda

P.S. All facts/clips will come from either Wikipedia, IMDb, or Youtube."

I was 15 years old when I started this blog, and I sound like it. And apparently, I made a point to ward against infringement claims. I mean, good god. However and but in the same sentence. This is why I don't respond to comments made on my older posts. For me, it's the equivalent of pulling out old prom photos. 

I didn't go to prom, though. I am not going to say I was watching movies and blogging instead, although that would fit nicely. But the blog was with me through high school, my early twenties, and now my mid twenties. It's hard to say goodbye to anything that's been with you for ten years. I associate certain blog posts with certain memories. I watched a horror movie with a boyfriend long-gone, or I put on a documentary post-operation, on the hope it would give me a second's relief from pain. 

But it's time to direct my creative energy elsewhere. I finished the 1001 albums blog several months ago, so the timing works out.  I don't think I'll be able to resist the impulse to pop in again if or when they decide to update the 1001 movie List. I'd like to keep up the dialogue for any readers. And it's a long way to go before I'll be writing a post like this on my book blog. 

I love movies. I hope you've had at least half the fun reading my posts as I have had, as past Amanda put it, "becoming the most fulfilled person in the world." 

With love,

Amanda

1233. Signs and Wonders

Signs and Wonders
2000
Directed by Jonathan Nossiter













Would you believe that this was the hardest film on the List for me to find? Usually it's the low budget documentaries from Zaire (back when Zaire was a country) that give me trouble. But no, it's this oddball film that I had to overpay for on eBay. Since it was the last movie on the List, I was willing to live in squalor if I have to.

In this bizarre story, Stellan Skarsgard plays a married man having an affair with his colleague. He leaves his wife Marjorie not once, but twice for this woman. When he tries to get his wife back, he makes the unpleasant discovery that she's taken up with a Greek political activist. Good for you Madge. He has a very strange reaction to these developments.

We all know that Skarsgard is a really good actor. So what was going on here? Was it the directing that made his performance so hammy and unconvincing? Just what were we supposed to get out of that sex scene anyway? I think when a man makes that expression it's time to dismount. It's a movie that definitely left me with more questions than answers. And now I have a DVD copy of it in my tiny apartment. 

This being the last List movie and all, I will definitely pop back in again soon to give my closing statements. Stay tuned!

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

Shot on location in Athens.

Cowritten by British poet James Lasdun, which might explain some of the weirdness.

Saturday, March 20, 2021

1232. Christ Stopped at Eboli

Christ Stopped at Eboli
1979
Directed by Francesco Rosi











I finally received my DVD copy of this film, and finally possess the mobility to turn on my DVD player. I was fully expecting the DVD to lag, or not work on my DVD player (which, let's face it, is a racist). But the Criterion Collection doesn't fuck around, and I was permitted to be miserable in Italy for a couple hours.

Carlo Levi is a writer and painter from Turin. He is arrested in 1935 by Mussolini's regime for anti-fascist ideas, and sentenced to live in exile. He is confined to Aliano, a remote town in southern Italy. Having earned a degree in medicine but never practiced, Carlo starts to put his learning to good use by helping the villagers. Predictably, they are insular, impoverished, and superstitious. But even a village as cut off as Aliano is touched by Mussolini's reign. They have to pay high taxes, which forces them to do things like kill their goats, and make us watch.

Another perk of the copy I watched, depending on your point of view, is that it was the fully uncut version, which was 220 minutes. So you really had time with the characters. I mean, a lot of time. I think the novel version of this is on the 1001 book list as well, so this isn't the last time I'll be with these characters for the long haul.

Visually, this is a stunning movie with breathtaking landscape shots. Of course, this is contrasted sharply with the conditions of the village's inhabitants. So many of them had fled to the USA for a better life, that at one point a character jokes if his people had a capital, it would be New York City. It's fascinating that even in "exile," the village isn't free from the terror of Mussolini or the Catholic Church. Well, it was fascinating for the first hour or so anyway.

One more movie to go! The most elusive of the bunch, and here's hoping I'm able to track it down.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

The source novel is based on the memoir of Carlo Levi.

The title of the movie comes from an expression by the people of Gagliano (Aliano in the film) who say "Christ stopped short of here, at Eboli." 

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

1231. Strange Days

Strange Days
1995
Directed by Kathryn Bigelow













And we are back to movies require a bit of creativity to obtain. The remaining two titles are the Final Bosses in terms of difficulty. So it might be awhile until you hear from me again, but I'll come back, like a returning victorious army, ready to enjoy home cooked meals from their mothers.

In the last remaining days of 1999, LA has gone to hell. The FBI developed SQUID, an electronic device that records memories and physical sensations directly from the brain, and copies it onto a device for playback. The FBI had originally developed SQUID for body camera purposes, but the device has leaked into the black market. The movie begins with Lenny Nero, watching/experiencing a robbery from the point of view of one of the dead robbers. Nero is a former LAPD officer who is now a black marketeer of SQUID tapes. Nero is still in love with his ex girlfriend Faith and, of course, watches the"when we were happy" tapes over and over again, which are required in every sci-fi movie.  When Nero gets wind that Faith is danger, he goes to any lengths to save her.

That might be one of the best opening scenes I've ever seen. I love the concept behind this movie, even as a writing exercise. What they do with the concept is about as disturbing as it gets, but I still enjoyed it. And the comments on police brutality were obviously still relevant, even if this was supposed to take place more than twenty years ago.

I didn't know how well Ralph Fiennes would do as a rugged action star, but he pulled it off well. Why is this movie so difficult to find? Is it because the Powers That Be are allergic to female directors? It's the best sci-fi movie the List has presented us with for awhile. And way better than Blade Runner.

RATING: *****

Interesting Facts:

Juliette Lewis did all her own singing for the movie. The music she sings was written by P.J. Harvey. This excites me.

Bigelow wanted John Travolta for the lead role. 

Monday, March 15, 2021

1230. Fast, Cheap, and Out of Control

Fast, Cheap, and Out of Control
1997
Directed by Errol Morris







This is a break from my recent trend of hidden movies on the List, as I was saving it to watch with a non Lister. Namely, my boyfriend, who is also an Errol Morris fan. Well, he didn't like it so much, and my pristine record of recommending films he'll like has been marred. 

With no clear connection, Morris showcases four men who are very passionate about their jobs. We've got David Hoover, a lion tamer, who discusses the dangers of the cage, rather than the rampant animal abuse going on around him.. George Mendonca, a topiary gardener at Green Animals Topiary Garden. Ray Mendez is a naked mole rat expert, and shares many disgusting facts about the creatures. Then there is Rodney Brooks , a MIT scientist who designs bug like robots that look like the androids they turned to scrap metal in A.I.

I pointed out that since naked mole rats roll around in each other's feces to acquire the same odor, then that means if a naked mole rat ate you, all if its friends would be spinning in your remains. That's when my boyfriend began to express disappointment in the direction the evening had gone. 

I guess it was an idea of Morris' to have a documentary with multiple subjects where the connection between the subjects is unclear.  I guess the idea began to form by the end, but I think he wore out the patience of the audience by then. I thought it was really messy how he kept ping-ponging us between interviewees.

But this was his early work, and I think he has much improved since then.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Morris used a technique he invented which allows the interview subject to maintain eye contact with the interviewer while looking directly in the camera.


Saturday, March 13, 2021

1229. Gohatto

Gohatto
Taboo
1999
Directed by Nagisa Oshima






















Roger Ebert wrote that "Taboo is not an entirely successful film but it isn't boring." He could always hit the nail on the head when it came to movie reviews and always approached movies ready to love them. I miss that man. I wonder how he saw Taboo. For me obtaining the movie was, to borrow a phrase from In The Loop, difficult, difficult, lemon difficult.

In the mid 19th century, an elite samurai group recruits a young and handsome man, Kano Sozaburo. His hotness causes other samurai to be attracted to him. And I guess the samurai don't learn how to make sexual advances, because they do so in very awkward ways. But I guess it works for Kano, who seems to be a Japanese sex doll that's come alive.

It's like Mr. Ebert said. It certainly kept my interest throughout, but I'm not sure it said what it meant to say. The editing was strange. I felt like a scene would cut off before any tension had time to build. Everything felt very abrupt and hurried along. That's probably why they had the bizarre title cards providing narration throughout the movie.

In the end, it sounded much more interesting than it was. It was intriguing to see the issue of homosexuality addressed but it didn't really go anywhere. I would love to watch a slightly more daring film about gay samurai where Kano has more of a personality.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

This was Nagisa Oshima's only film after suffering from a stroke in 1996. 




Friday, March 12, 2021

1228. Attack the Gas Station

Attack the Gas Station
1999
Directed by Kim Sang-jin












Well, the List decided to reward my efforts for putting up with the snore that was the previous entry, and tracking down this obscure film. This was actually pretty fun, although much like the robbers, it might have overstayed its welcome a bit.

A group of street thugs decide to rob a gas station, simply because it's fun. That was the translation on my title card, at least, but I guess other versions say "Just because!" Anyway, they rob a gas station that they had previously robbed and destroyed already. Predictably, the manager didn't make the same mistake twice, and now has his wife take the money from the cash register every evening. He also tells the robbers this, so I guess he really has concern for his wife's safety. The robbers take the employees hostage instead and stick around, hoping to get their money. As more and more people visit the gas station, the number of hostages they take becomes a tad unruly.

This was a funny movie, which I am grateful for. The List has made me well aware that humor doesn't always cross cultural lines. It was also interesting learning what led each of the robbers to this moment. I think they are representative of many young men in Korea, sans the video game obsession. But I guess this was made in 1999, so we haven't gotten there yet.

5 movies left!

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Kim Sang-jin has claimed that the film has inspired real life copy cats. 

Thursday, March 11, 2021

1227. What Time Is It There?

What Time Is It There?
2001
Directed by Tsai Ming-liang












Today we check off another one which required internet acrobatics to obtain with English subtitles. This might have been one of the most boring films we've had on the List, although I'm cognizant that there is some heavy competition in that area.

Hsiao-kang is a street vendor who sells watches in Taipei, and Shiang-chyi is a young woman taking a trip to Paris. They meet briefly and afterward, Hsiao-kang wants to change every clock he sees to Paris time. I don't know how I thought they changed the time on those big clocks on buildings, but that wasn't it. Oh, and he is also coping with the death of his father, I guess. 

Doesn't this director realize that taking long stationary shots of people slowly doing things is Ozu's thing? Maybe it was supposed to be a loving homage. Anyway, I was basically hobbled Annie Wilkes-style in December, and I still move faster than these characters. 

I actually find the idea that a character would be compelled to change all the clocks he sees, for whatever reason, very interesting. But the film does everything it can to make the movie as dull as possible.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

Jean-Pierre Leaud, the lead actor in 400 Blows, has a brief cameo in this movie.

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

1226. Lamerica

Lamerica
1994
Directed by Gianni Amelio













Every time I locate one of the remaining titles, I feel I should receive hefty praise. These are hard to track down, dammit. It's like Zero Dark Thirty, and I'm Jessica Chastain. The non English films are particularly hard to track down, because I have to make sure I can get a subtitle track as well. Anyway, onto the actual act of watching the film.

Gino is a young Sicilian involved in a scam shoe company that ostensibly promises to give every Albanian a pair of quality shoes. Gino and his boss try to find "a man of straw," somebody to do what they say and be the fake chairman of the company. They choose Spiro as their stooge, but Gino might have bitten off a bit more than he could chew. 

I get crankier about a film being awarded a "must see" crown when I had to go to so much trouble to watch it. I even read on the source of All That Is True, Reddit, that Lamerica was added to the List to correct a previous printing error which put Dear Diary in the wrong year. But it was still a fairly interesting watch. Gino represents a new Italy that Spiro doesn't know how to navigate, having only known fascism and poverty.

Oh yes, and that hefty praise I mentioned before? It will need to increase with each entry, as they just keep getting harder to find.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Did you know that platypuses sweat milk since they don't have teats? Well, I couldn't find anything on this movie. 


Tuesday, March 9, 2021

1225. Deconstructing Harry

Deconstructing Harry
1997
Directed by Woody Allen












I am currently watching Allen vs. Farrow, which explores the abuse allegations against Woody Allen and his relationship with Soon Yi Previn. It's enough to kill any pleasure you can get from watching his movies. I do think art can be separated from the artist, but Allen's art just seems so personal.

Harry Block is a writer who pulls from the characters in his own life to write his stories, much to rage of his various muses. His ex lover is hysterical and homicidal over his latest work, where he revealed their affair on the page. His ex wife is also furious about her portrayal in his works, and often refuses to let him see his son as result. Harry is due to receive an honorary degree from a college that once kicked him out, and the person he would have liked to have taken most is marrying his best friend.

With such an all star cast, you'd think this movie would have more lasting power. But it's a little too dark, and maybe a bit too honest, to appeal to the mainstream. I think it's fascinating to portray a character who functions better in art than real life. And Allen always makes me laugh. 

It was also a dreamlike film that would appeal to Bergman fans. So if you can still stomach his movies, this is a good one to pick.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

Roger Ebert suggested that the character of Harry is based on Philip Roth, not Allen.

Jennifer Garner's feature film debut.

Sunday, March 7, 2021

1224. Nueve reinas

Nueve reinas
Nine Queens
2000
Directed by Fabián Bielinsky












After The Idiots I was resigned to the idea that the remaining titles, which have been a scooch difficult to find, wouldn't hold much merit. Thankfully, Nine Queens proved me wrong, and this is probably more widely available outside the U.S.

Juan, a con artist, successfully scams a cashier and then attempts the same scam on the next employee after the first cashier's shift ends. Seeing this, Marcos, another grifter, pretends to be a cop and escorts Juan out of the convenience store. Juan explains to Marcos that his desperation for money comes from his father being in jail, and Juan having to come up with a bribe so the judge will reduce his sentence. Marcos doesn't show much interest in the two pairing up until a irresistible con job falls into their laps. 

I don't recall if we have ever had an Argentine movie on the List, so it's nice to see some representation. I felt like we got to see the real Argentina, with the government's corruption being central to the plot. I also enjoyed the many twists and turns of the story. 

It might be a guilty pleasure, but I enjoy movies that feature conmen. I don't want to spoil anything, but they really pulled off the gambit/battle of wits element that is common in these films. Worth watching should you ever come across it. Which, if my American brothers and sisters are reading this, is doubtful.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

Was remade in the US and India.

Saturday, March 6, 2021

1223. Idioterne

Idioterne
The Idiots
1998
Directed by Lars von Trier













We have now officially reached the "Mind Your Own Beeswax" portion of the List, which alludes to the way I have obtained the remaining titles. You always know when a movie is nearly impossible to locate that you are in for a slam dunk. This was just as terrible as I expected it to be.

A group of adults decide to behave in public as though they were mentally disabled, to challenge the establishment, or release their inhibitions, or I don't know what else. I guess it's to get a reaction from society, and get a reaction from us, the audience. If I'm required to forfeit a reaction, will they settle for dispirited and resigned?

Doesn't the graphic sex scene technically make this porn? I wasn't particularly bothered by it, but mostly because the movie had been so stupid up to that point that it made for a refreshing change of pace.

This is part of Lars von Trier's Dogma 95 Manifesto, which was really off to a spiffing start with this entry. I don't know if it is as difficult to find in other parts of the world as it was in my sector, but I would recommend avoiding this at all costs. Should be pretty easy. 

RATING: *----

Interesting Facts:

A favorite film of Tom Six, the creator of The Human Centipede trilogy. What a ringing endorsement.

English critic Mark Kermode was thrown out of a screening at the Cannes film festival for loudly heckling the film and yelling "Il est merde!"

Friday, March 5, 2021

1222. The Accidental Tourist

The Accidental Tourist
1988
Directed by Lawrence Kasdan















The List had one last William Hurt movie up its sleeve. I've only read one Ann Tyler book, and I found it to be so full of colorful characters that it made me feel ill. This film's characters were a bit more toned down, although Geena Davis had enough quirks to go round.

Macon and Sarah Leary are facing a difficult time in their marriage after the murder of their 12 year old son Ethan. Sarah leaves Macon and moves into an apartment. Macon breaks his leg and then decides to move in with his siblings. He hires Muriel to train his dog, and Muriel pursues Macon in a not-so subtle way. 

I guess we are on a kick lately of having movies focus on grieving family members. But this film had a better sense of humor than the other entries. This made some of the more dramatic sceness easier to swallow. 

But I can definitely see why this was removed from subsequent editions. In the end, I don't think anything particularly profound happened here, and it was a disposable Hurt movie. The List is filled to the brim with those.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Kathleen Turner was second billed, even though Geena Davis' part was bigger.

First film adaptation of an Anne Tyler work.

Scored by John Williams.

Thursday, March 4, 2021

1221. Lost in Translation

Lost in Translation
2003
Directed by Sofia Coppola












I saved this movie for the tail end of the project, because I was really excited to see it, and I knew the end of the List might be tough going. Turns out I was right to happily anticipate this film. Hopefully, I'm wrong about how excruciating these next ten or so watches might be.

Bob Harris is a fading movie star who is in Tokyo to promote Suntory whiskey. He is in the midst of a midlife crisis, and at odds with his wife and kids because of his frequent absences. Charlotte is a young American woman and college graduate who has followed her photographer husband to Japan. Both find themselves at a crossroads in their lives, and meet one night at the hotel bar. They are drawn to each other, although neither seems sure about how far they are willing to go with the attraction.

Traveling is disorienting, or at least, I remember it being disorienting from when we were allowed to travel. And meeting someone who has equally poor footing can feel completely magical. So it was interesting seeing a film portray that, and I've always admired Sophia Coppola's style.

The movie would never have worked if Bill Murray and ScarJo had no chemistry, but they really clicked here. Well worth the wait.

RATING: *****

Interesting Facts:
 
Bill Murray's favorite movie he's been in.

Sofia Coppola based the characters of Charlotte and John on herself and her then husband Spike Jonze.

Murray's only Oscar nominated performance.


Wednesday, March 3, 2021

1220. Mat i syn

Mat i syn
Mother and Son
1997
Directed by Alexander Sokurov












Now that we've seen a film about a grieving family recovering from the loss of their son, I thought we try out the inverse of that. Everybody still have their tissues handy? 

Basically, the son takes care of his dying mother, as she clearly suffers from a great deal of pain. The son takes the mother on a long journey through the countryside before their inevitable parting. 

Well, this film isn't exactly chock-full of long meaningful conversations about death, but a lot is communicated in the dreamlike visuals and silent interactions between the characters. Of course, that doesn't mean that there aren't many dull stretches throughout that had me watching the clock, but at least it's a fairly short movie.

Obviously not something I would watch to cheer me up after a long day, but as far as weird experimental Russian movies go, I've seen worse.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

Nick Cave wrote a review for this film. It was titled "I wept and wept, from start to finish." 

In order to achieve the strange look of the film, Sokurov used special lenses, painted glass, and distorting mirrors. 



Tuesday, March 2, 2021

1219. La stanza del figlio

La stanza del figlio
The Son's Room
2001
Directed by Nanni Moretti








With only 14 films left, there may be some gaps in postings now as I struggle to secure the remaining titles. I have a couple more I am saving to watch for one reason or another, but after that, I'll have to do some fancy footwork to see the rest of the List. But for now, let's focus on another heartbreaking film: The Son's Room.

The story focuses on a grieving family after the death of their son, Andrea. The father, Giovanni, is a therapist and finds it increasingly difficult to analyze his patients. The mother, Paola, does her best to cope with her agonizing pain, and their daughter, Irene, takes it out on the ref of her basketball games. One day, Paola receives a love letter intended for Andrea, and the family struggles to deal with this fresh complication.

Well, that was emotionally devastating as it was intended to be. It was moving to experience a family's grief. The father, in particular, broke my heart, as in many ways he blamed himself for what happened. It was also accompanied by a beautiful score that complemented the quiet performances very well.

Of course, a movie I wouldn't recommend, but a very effective and graceful film. And I loved the Brian Eno allusion.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

Last film directed by Nanni Moretti where he also plays the main character.

Saturday, February 27, 2021

1218. Field of Dreams

Field of Dreams
1989
Directed by Phil Alden Robinson













Wow, did I hate this movie. I actually had no idea this movie was a fantasy story, I thought it was going to be some underdog tale about triumphing over the rival team on a field where anything is possible. When I realized what this film was, or more accurately, what it was trying to be, I prepared myself for another grueling experience with Kevin Costner.

Ray Kinsella lives with his wife, Annie, and a daughter, Karin, on a farm in Iowa. Ray is troubled that he never reconciled with his father before his death. Above all, Ray's father loved baseball. One day, when he is walking through a cornfield, he hears a voice whisper "If you build it, he will come" and sees a vision of a baseball diamond in the field with Shoeless Joe Jackson standing on it. Ray thinks if he builds a baseball field, Shoeless Joe Jackson, who his father idolized, will get to play baseball instead. He tells his wife Annie about this, and she's on board, because she is a Good Wife. I would be looking into involuntary commitment, but that's me. Anyway, he keeps following the voice in his head in order to encounter more baseball player ghosts.

Well, it was interesting watching this after Dawson City: Frozen in Time, because I actually knew what they were talking about with Shoeless Joe Jackson. That's the only thing that was mildly engaging about this movie. Even the cast was behaving strangely, like they knew it was silly.

I think this was included on The List for its famous line, but now that I've heard the context of the line, I'm not all that impressed. I was right to put this one off until the end. 

RATING: *----

Interesting Facts:

Final film of Burt Lancaster.

The line "If you build it, he will come" was rated as AFI's #39 movie quote (out of 100). 

The Chicago White Sox and the New York Yankees were scheduled to play a game on the movie's baseball field in 2020. But it was cancelled because of COVID-19. 


Thursday, February 25, 2021

1217. The Wrestler

The Wrestler
2008
Directed by Darren Aronofsky










Well, here we go with the movies I put off until the very end. I really have no interest in anything to do with sports. Then again, is wrestling really a sport? Since it's all fake, seems like some sort of performance art. Although in my experience, men get really defensive if you question whether their passion is a sport or not. So I'll just call wrestling a sport and leave it at that.

Randy "The Ram" Robinson was a wrestling champion in the 80s, but is now past his prime. Now he just wrestles on weekends and works part time at a supermarket. He meets Cassidy, a stripper who works at the strip club he frequents. He becomes enamored with her (who wouldn't? It's Marisa Tomei), and she convinces him to try to make amends with his estranged daughter. But Randy's heart can no longer take his lifestyle or steroid abuse,  and Randy must make a choice about his future.

Like I said, I don't like sports movies, but the sports scenes in this movie weren't that frequent, and the climax didn't involve The Big Game, where everybody had to come together as a team. It was more a drama about a man out of place in the world, which is a feeling we can all relate to. I mostly am familiar with Mickey Rourke through him being the butt of jokes, but he did a really nice job of portraying Randy and his feelings of being lost. 

Now let's see if I click with the next sports movie half as much.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

Nicolas Cage was the studio's choice to play Randy, but Aronfsky fought for Mickey Rourke.

All of the wrestling scenes were filmed at real wrestling events in front of live audiences.

Shooting schedule of only 35 days.

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

1216. Bus 174

Bus 174
2002
Directed by Jose Padilha and Felipe Lacerda












There are a few exceptions, but for the most part, we are now wading through the murky waters of obscure films that lurk at the end of the List. I remember this from last time, and I am pretty sure I sold my first born to obtain a copy of Too Little, Too Late. I should really check on that. Bus 174 is one of those movies that isn't widely available, but I happened to stumble across a copy online. So I get to celebrate by diving into police corruption in Brazil.

In 2000, Sandro do Nascimento held passengers on a bus hostage for four hours. The event was caught on live television, and the film contains much of this footage. The perpetuator was from a poor background, and  the remainder of the documentary examines what life is truly like in the slums of Rio de Janeiro. 

Well, that was certainly moving, to see a real life hostage situation take place. Thankfully, the body count is low. I wouldn't put it past this List to make us watch a snuff film one of these days. Anyway, I had never heard of this event before, so it was illuminating hearing so many accounts of police brutality.  

We took a short break, but we are back to the emotionally traumatic films. 

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Voted one of the ten best films of the year by New York Times.

Directorial debuts of the directors.

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

1215. Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels

Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels
1998
Directed by Guy Ritchie












After Time Regained, I thought I deserved something a little bit lighter, so I chose to watch what I think is the last remaining comedy on the List. I enjoyed this one, so it was nice way to say goodbye to laughter.

Long time friends Eddie, Tom, Soap, and Bacon put together £100,000 so that Eddie,  a card sharp, can buy into Hatchet Harry's high stakes poker game. Unfortunately, the game is rigged, and Eddie ends up in massive debt for £500,000. Wanting to keep all their appendages, the group comes up with a plan. Eddie overheard his neighbors planning to rob some local cannabis growers soon. The group decides they will rob the neighbors after they pull off the heist. Naturally, things don't go according to plan.

There were actually a lot of players to keep track of here, which was confusing at first, but ultimately rewarding. I really liked this movie. I thought the cast had great chemistry. All of the relationships were believable, and my crush on Jason Statham has not wavered. The dialogue was funny as well, and I was excited that it took place in London, a city I miss very much.

An unusual take on heist movie, and I definitely enjoyed it more than I thought I would. 

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

Statham's film debut.

The word "fuck" is used 125 times.

Of the 44 speaking parts in the movie, 17 are played by people who have never acted before.

Monday, February 22, 2021

1214. Le temps retrouve

Le temps retrouve
Time Regained
1999
Directed by Raul Ruiz












A little awhile ago, I watched The Captive, which was loosely based on the fifth book in In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust. I innocently though "Huh, a Marcel Proust novel would be hard to adapt." Little did I know that we would soon be watching a movie that attempts to cover the entire seven volumes of Proust's novel. Poor Marcel, he has to be the center of attention for nearly three hours.

This is a difficult film to summarize, but to put it succinctly, Marcel reminisces about all the strange characters he has met over the years, with the most prominent figures being Albertine and Gilberte. Marcel is a fairly awkward guy who doesn't seem to belong to the wartime era. His inability to get what he wants out of relationships dominates the story. 

Well, I said "poor Marcel" but perhaps I should have said poor us, for having to endure this movie. I just don't think this masterpiece translates to film well, and we should all just leave it alone as a novel. The transitions, the quirky characters, the music of the language: none of these things worked as well as they did in the book. Instead, it was mostly a long plodding trek from one memory to the next, with Marcel barely participating. 

I respect what the filmmakers were trying to do, but I think the vision was just too big.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

Third time that Chiara Mastroianni acted alongside her mother, Catherine Deneuve.


Saturday, February 20, 2021

1213. Distant Voices, Still Lives

Distant Voices, Still Lives
1988
Directed by Terence Davies 








As we get closer to the end of the List, the remaining titles tend to fall into two categories. One segment consists of films so obscure, they seemingly only exist on one film roll in Dawson City. The other category contains movies I am putting off because I have absolutely no interest in the subject matter (stay tuned!). This film falls into the former category, but I happened to stumble upon an online version. It reminded me that obscure movies are usually that way for a reason.

The movie focuses on a suburban working class family in 1940s Liverpool. It doesn't follow a plot so much as it flutters from memory to memory. The three siblings, Maisie, Tony, and Eileen, all experience abuse at the hands of their father, but they have different recollections of certain events. It's also not a musical per se, but music is a constant presence in the story, and seems to be the only source of a joy for a few of the characters.

This was a very odd movie that didn't quite settle with me. It felt very artificial to me, which is strange, because the movie was semi-autobiographical so you would think it would feel very real. I guess the style was so strange that it prohibited the actors from doing anything that felt authentic.

A non-musical musical I could have lived without.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

Pete Poslethwaite didn't believe Terence Davies' father (on whom his character was based) could have been so vile to his family. Davies finally asked his sister to tell him about being beaten in the cellar by their father (as shown in the movie) that he accepted it was true. Um fuck you Pete. Why would you presume to know how much of a dick his father was?

The film had a very low budget and was shot intermittently over a period of two years.

Friday, February 19, 2021

1212. Gomorrah

Gomorrah
2008
Directed by Matteo Garrone












When I first started my 1001+ movie journey, I was a cad about town, and wasn't doing the responsible thing, like keeping track of what I had watched, or what I still had to watch. So when I finally sat down and gathered the data, I realized I had one missing movie, and I had no idea what it was. It turned out to be Gomorrah. Sorry Gomorrah. 

Gomorrah focuses on the Scampia feud, which was a feud between the Camorra gangs in Naples. The fight was between the Di Lauro clan, and a group of secessionists who tried to overthrow them in the drugs and prostitution racket. The movie opens with the murder of gangsters in a tanning salon, and then sections off to tell the story of five people affected by the violence of the gang war.

This film felt so episodic that I am not surprised it spawned a television spin off six years later. Obviously, they picked a fascinating subject and it took some balls for Robert Saviano to write the novel this film was based on.

Like most movies that choose to segment themselves in this way, it had its stronger sections, and it's not so strong sections. My favorite story was the Roberto storyline, with my least favorite being the one pictured above. My reasoning is probably fairly obvious.

It was interesting watching a movie about the Italian mob that didn't involve Martin Scorsese or Al Pacino. Sorry again Gomorrah for forgetting about you.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Saviano is under permanent police protection after getting death threats for exposing the activities of the Camorra.

Because the film is spoken in heavy Neapolitan dialogue, the film had to be subtitled for Italians. 

Thursday, February 18, 2021

1211. Diva

Diva
1981
Directed byJean-Jacques Beineix












My surgeon let me know that it is well documented phenomenon that nerve pain gets worse at night, although nobody knows why. So I try to take advantage of my non night pain time, and then when the Night Hurts arrive, I'll distract myself with a movie. This time the distraction movie was Diva, which I knew just from looking at the poster was going to be a cult classic. 

A young Parisian postman is obsessed with the opera. In particular, an opera singer named Cynthia Hawkins, an American soprano who has never allowed her voice to be recorded. Jules attends one of her recitals and surreptitiously makes a recording, and steals a gown from her dressing room. Some fan. Meanwhile, Jules also becomes involved in a prostitution and drug racket, after a desperate woman drops a damning cassette in his postbag moments before she is murdered. 

Most of the movies that were added/cut from my edition of the List are from the 2010s era, so it's interesting to go back a little further. I'm old movie starved, and I guess we are getting to the point where the 80s are considered really old. Or, at least, I must pretend they are to keep up my guise of youth.

I really enjoyed this movie, I thought the plot was exciting and the characters were intriguing. The idea of an opera singer who can't stand to hear herself sing sounds like a writing prompt, and I was just as fascinated by her as Jules was. I wouldn't steal her gown though.

It was also nice to see a French movie with a bit more color.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Wilhelmenia Fernandez did her own singing for the film.

Based on a book by Delacorta. 

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

1210. United 93

United 93
2006
Directed by Paul Greengrass













I was dreading watching this movie, for obvious reasons. But we are nearing the end of the List, and that means doing things you don't want to do, like watching your 74th Scorsese film, 3rd Toy Story sequel, or an upsetting deep dive into the events of 9/11. 

The film shows us the hijacking of United 93, pretty much in real time, right to the bitter end. It's incredible how brave the passengers were in that situation. They were able to get over paralysis and denial, and actually revolt. I was shocked by how little the people on ground were able to do in the situation. I don't know what I imagined they did, but I thought it was more than what was shown. 

The actors did a great job of portraying the kind of terror those people must have been in that day. Just thinking about it breaks my heart, so I'll move on from this entry quickly.

RATING: *****

Interesting Facts:

Families of the 40 passengers and crew members killed on United 93 cooperated with production, which gave Paul Greengrass details to use about the passengers, such as the clothing they wore, or the snacks they brought.

The flight crew is played by real pilots and flight attendants.

The actors who played the hijackers and the actors who played the passengers were kept in separate hotels during filming.

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

1209. Hana-bi

Hana-bi
Fireworks
1997
Directed by Takeshi Kitano












I think we are all familiar with the retired police cop trope, when the former detective has some dark past but can't give up the job. I was ready to settle into a comfortably cliche movie, but it actually took a very unexpected turn.

Yoshitaka Nishi was a police detective, until a violent workplace incident forced him to retire. Now he spends most of his time taking care of his wife, who is dying from leukemia. Nishi had to borrow money from the yakuza to pay for his wife's care, and is now having trouble coming up with the cash to pay them back. Meanwhile, the other survivor of the grisly incident copes with his own health troubles/PTSD as well.

Like I said, this film did some unexpected things. Amidst all the violence, and there was quite a bit of it, the movie managed to sneak in some really serene moments. I enjoyed the juxtaposition between peace and bloodshed, and the ending really captured that dichotomy perfectly.

A surprisingly beautiful film, and I'm starting to enjoy these movies more as we get closer to the end. 

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

The first Japanese film released in Korea since World War II. 

Remade in Canada in 2009.

Monday, February 15, 2021

1208. Todo sobre mi madre

Todo sobre mi madre
All About My Mother
1999
Directed by Pedro Almodovar








It's a shame that so many Pedro Almodovar movies have been cut from the List. I am really enjoying him as a director. I felt like he had a bigger vision for this film, even though it came before Volver. 

Manuela is an Argentine nurse living in Madrid. She oversees donor organ transplants at a hospital, and is a single mother to Esteban, a teenaged boy who loves "A Streetcar Named Desire" a little too much. After a life changing night, Manuela travels to Barcelona where she reconnects with old friends and meets some unforgettable new faces as well. 

Apologies for another vague description, but Almodovar tends to immediately throw the viewer into the action, which makes spoilers tough to avoid. I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as Volver, which I felt had more vibrant characters. But once again, Penelope Cruz left a strong impression and it was clear she has star quality.

All of the actresses involved gave great performances and it's nice to see more female-centric stories on the List.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

The movie is dedicated to Bette Davis, Gena Rowlands, and Romy Schneider.

All of the authors mentioned in the movie are famously gay writers.

Sunday, February 14, 2021

1207. Volver

Volver
2006
Directed by Pedro Almodovar












I realized that there are two Pedro Almodovar movies left on the List and decided to knock them all both at the same time. My first watch was Volver, and while I didn't love every moment of it, I thought it featured great performances and a fascinating story.

Raimunda and Sole are two sisters living in Madrid whose parents died in a fire a few years before. It's a bit hard to reveal any more plot details without giving away spoilers. Suffice to say, Raimunda will do anything to protect her daughter, and Sole returns home for a funeral and starts to see visions of her mother. 

I always love generational stories, where there isn't necessarily a protagonist. In these stories, a character's position in the family is often more important than who they are as an individual (which is a very unAmerican idea and is interesting to observe as an outsider). I was shocked by some of the twists in the plot and Penelope Cruz is always enchanting.

I think this movie brought some much needed color to this List, and I'm looking forward to watching the other Almodovar movie.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

Cruz is the first Spanish actress to be nominated for a Best Actress Oscar. 

Cruz is dubbed for the singing scene.

Saturday, February 13, 2021

1206. Cache

Cache
Hidden
2005
Directed by Michael Haneke












This is the last Michael Haneke on the List, and probably his most accessible movie. I think I accidentally started with his hardest works. I also think there are more men named Michael on this List than there are women present. 

Anne and Georges Laurent, an affluent married couple, discover a videotape left on their property that shows hours of footage of their residence. At first they believe it is a practical joke, possibly involving their young son Pierrot. But then a second tape arrives, this time with a childlike drawing that would make me immediately pee my pants. Georges has a theory about who might be behind it all, but he's not willing to share his hunch with Anne, causing further strain in an already tense situation. 

I always avoid spoilers, but I don't mind saying the ending is ambiguous, which I really liked. I think there's an answer in there if you can find it, but if you're left as mystified as the characters, that's not such a bad thing either. I thought Georges was a fairly fascinating character. It was interesting watching when he was obstinate and when he crumbled.

I very much prefer this to White Ribbon, and I think Haneke would be disappointed in me for that.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

There is no music, except for the theme on George's show and the background music at Anne's publishing party.

Included in Roger Ebert's Great Movies List.

Friday, February 12, 2021

1205. Entre les murs

Entre les murs
The Class
2008
Directed by Laurent Cantet










Thank heavens there are people in the world who want to teach teenagers. I really couldn't think of a worse task and would probably be in tears within minutes of taking a stab at it. I was fully prepared for some sort of Dead Poets Society sentimental movie, where the white teacher would teach inner city kids that rap and Shakespeare aren't so different after all. What we got was a little more interesting. 

Francois Marin teaches mostly foreign born students the French language, and has to deal with the requisite problem children. But Marin himself isn't the saintly fearless teacher that we are often presented with in fiction.

I really enjoyed just listening to the conversations that happened in the classroom. It wasn't some free-wheeling place where everybody is able to express themselves without consequence. It actually reminded me of Philip Roth's The Human Stain a bit, as it examined the outcome of a well-intentioned teacher forgetting their audience for a moment, and having to pay a heavy price.

So an interesting film I was happy the List introduced me to.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

The translation of the French title is "Between the Walls."

The classroom conversations were largely improvised.

Thursday, February 11, 2021

1204. Anvil! The Story of Anvil

Anvil! The Story of Anvil
2008
Directed by Sacha Gervasi












I am shocked that I didn't listen to Metal on Metal when I was following the 1001 Album List, as that project was heavily dominated by metal music, much to my chagrin. I guess the 1001 Movie List was eager to fill in that gap. But I would much rather watch a documentary about a metal band than listen to their music. 

Anvil never achieved the same level as success as the bands they headlined with during the Super Rock festival in Japan in 1984, including Scorpions, Whitesnake, and Bon Jovi. The documentary follows their attempts to continue to perform and churn out music, despite their financial difficulties and disagreements between band members. 

I am actually in a bit of a hurry today, so I will just say that I enjoyed this documentary. I don't watch many music documentaries, but I like that the director had a genuine passion for the band he was following. Just don't expect the other Rob Reiner to make an appearance. I was disappointed by that.


RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Sacha Gervasi was once a roadie for Anvil.

Wednesday, February 10, 2021

1203. Jo-eun nom nappeun nom isanghan nom

Jo-eun nom nappeun nom isanghan nom
The Good, The Bad, and The Weird
2008
Directed by Kim Jee-woon











I inadvertently seemed to have left all the really sad foreign films for last, so I'm delighted that there is still an action comedy to stumble upon among my remaining titles. I feel like this refreshed me, and now I am ready to go back to watching solemn monks, starving children, or whatever else the List has to throw at me during my home stretch. 

The film takes place in Manchuria on the brink of World War II. Park Chang-yi is the Bad, and enjoys cutting people's fingers off. He is hired to acquire a treasure map of a Japanese man traveling by train. His plan of stealing the map is thwarted by Yoon Tae-goo, the Weird, who gets to the map on the train first. In all the chaos, Park Do-Won, the Good, appears, who wants to claim the bounty on the Bad's head. Enough violence ensues to make Tarantino proud.

Well, a lot of this movie was watching action scenes, and if you're not the type to enjoy that, you might find this film rather dull. The ploy may be thin, but it's also exciting and energetic. I liked the homage to Westerns with a distinctly Eastern twist. 

And the last twenty minutes of the move provides great pay off. 

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

Kim Jee-woon refers to this as a "kimchee western," because it's spicy and vibrant, like Korean culture and people.

Most expensive film in Korean history.

Tuesday, February 9, 2021

1202. Das weiße Band, Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte

Das weiße Band, Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte
The White Ribbon
2009
Directed by Michael Haneke











I didn't realize that we would be diving into Michael Haneke's work to this extent, but I'm glad we are. Even if I haven't always liked the result, he's a director with remarkable range, and each of his movies has been unique from the others. If I wasn't striving for 100% completion of the List, I would only have associated him with Funny Games. What a fool I would have been!

The story is set in Eichwald, a fictional German town that is hovering on the brink of World War I. The town is pretty much ruled by the pastor, the doctor, and the baron, each of whom inflict their own brand of evil on the townspeople. Terrible, unexplained things begin to happen in town. This actually sounds like a summary for the M. Night Shyamalan, but I promise it's better than that.

So of course patriarchal oppression gets me down, but this film goes even deeper than that, to the very heart of how Nazism can take over a group of people. Sort of like that scene in Lord of Rings when the orcs are being born from the mud.

It's definitely my favorite Haneke film so far, although the more I think about Amour, the more I like it.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

More than 7000 children were interviewed during the six month long casting period.

The scenes were altered in post production to be black and white.

Sunday, February 7, 2021

1201. Des hommes et des dieux

Des hommes et des dieux
Of Gods and Men
2010
Directed by Xavier Beauvois
















It's exciting to be so close to the end of the second part of this journey, with only 32 movies to go. Actually, now that I write that down, it still seems like a lot. Oh well, onward and upward, and this time we are really in for a treat. Personally, I can't think of a subject more fascinating than French monks.

French monks live a peaceful existence in Algeria, providing medical assistance to the community and performing daily rituals where they find their salvation. The threat of an Islamic terrorist group looms in the background, but the monk's leader, Christian, declines protection from the local corrupt civil authority. The monks are divided about whether to stay or go, but they feel a strong moral pull to stay. 

I am not a religious person, and watching these men martyr themselves wasn't fun for me. And some of these scenes really dragged; I don't know many people that could make it through that "monks listening to classical music" scene without twitching. It was also very uncomfortable knowing where the film was going for its entire length.

Another arguably important film that I didn't enjoy at all.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Mostly shot in an abandoned monastery in Morocco. 

Once the screenplay was finished, it was sent to the relatives of the real monks for approval.

Saturday, February 6, 2021

1200. Jodaí-e Nadér az Simín

Jodaí-e Nadér az Simín
The Separation
2011
Directed by Asghar Farhadi








1200! Thankfully, we get to celebrate with the best movie I have seen in a long time. I watched this at approximately 3:30 am, because that's when my pain alarm clock woke me up. This proved to be a compelling watch that was able to distract me until pain medication kicked in. 

The movie begins with Simin begging a family court judge for a divorce from Nader, who refuses to let her leave Iran with their eleven-year-old daughter Termeh. Nader doesn't want to leave his father, who is suffering from Alzheimer's, and won't agree to Simin taking Termeh away from him. The court denies her request, and deems the couple's problems unworthy of divorce. At this point, I thought this would be a story about an abusive husband, and a woman trapped in a country where she has very little rights. Instead, the plot shifts when Simin moves back in with her parents. Nader needs somebody to look after his ailing father, and employs Razieh, a deeply religious woman, who thinks washing a old man after he peed his pants is a sin. I suppose I will stop there so as not to provide any spoilers.

I think it is important that not every foreign film you watch be some gruesome tale about the local atrocities that took place there. While those stories are clearly important, they dehumanize the people living in those countries to some extent. We start to feel like they aren't really people, but just a collection of tragedies that we are helpless to fix. We get a plot here that doesn't revolve around war crimes, even if it does showcase some horrors of living in Iran.

I was really into this plot and it almost felt like Rashomon, with every character giving their side of the story and keeping the audience guessing. Highly recommended.

RATING: *****

Interesting Facts:

First Iranian movie to win an Oscar. The news of winning was mentioned only once on Iranian television.

Considered by Roger Ebert to be the best movie of 2011.

1199. Le Havre

Le Havre
2011
Directed by Aki Kaurismaki














I saw somewhere that this film was described as "sunny," so I was excited to watch it. I could use some cheering up lately. Well, it was certainly more upbeat than our tour of human misery has allowed for lately, so I was happy it came along.

Marcel Marx has given up his dreams of becoming an author and is currently living in the port city of Le Havre. He works as a shoeshiner and lives with his wife, Arletty. Arletty starts to get sick (having just watched Amour, I had a really bad feeling about this). At the same time, Marcel comes across an underage illegal immigrant from Africa. Along with his neighbors, Marcel attempts to hide him from the police.

As you can probably surmise from the description, it's heartwarming watching somebody attempting to help a stranger at great risk to himself. We haven't exactly been treated to a lot of heroes lately. My favorite parts were the interactions between Marcel and Idrissa, and I almost wish we had more dialogue between them to sink our teeth into. As is, the movie is fairly enjoyable.

So thank you Le Havre, for bringing a little bit of sunshine to this blog.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

Laika the dog also had a role in La Vie de Boheme.

Friday, February 5, 2021

1198. La grande bellezza

La grande bellezza
The Great Beauty
2013
Directed by Paolo Sorrentino













I was intrigued by another Paolo Sorrentino film on this List, The Consequences of Love, but honestly, that movie feels much tamer in comparison to this. It was trying really hard to be something and I'm not quite sure what that is. I really should have been content with the one Sorrentino movie.

Jep Gambardella is a 65 year old journalist and theater critic, who can cut you down and pull off a suit jacket better than anybody else. He is the author of one book that he hates, and can't seem to find it himself to pen another. He mostly drifts through Roman parties with his superficial friends. Life eventually forces him and his friends to stop being so frivolous, but at least human misery is good for writer's block.

I realize that wasn't the best summary, but I had a hard time keeping track of everything going on here. The director seemed more interested in showing off than telling a coherent story. I think I would have been more fascinated by this character in literary format; I couldn't really get a good read of him here.

Not the most memorable films of late, but we've had worse.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

First cut of the movie was 183 minutes.

Thursday, February 4, 2021

1197. Saul fia

Saul fia
Son of Saul
2015
Directed by Laszlo Nemes












Good lord, and I thought reading A Day in the Life Ivan Denisovich was depressing. Our quest to find the most joyless films in the world continues with the Son of Saul. I would venture to say this is the saddest movie we have left, but they like to creep up on me. 

Saul Auslander is a Jewish-Hungarian prisoner in Auschwitz. His job is to salvage valuables from those killed in the gas chambers and to prepare the chamber for the next massacre. Saul witnesses the killing of the boy who somehow survived the gas chamber, and wants to give him a proper Jewish burial. I'm not surprised that our recent List movies have taken inspiration from Greek tragedies. Anyway, Saul must search for a rabbi who can perform the proper rituals. Saul also becomes involved with a potential uprising against the SS guards.

Well, a quick gander at that plot summary will tell you how many times you'll be smiling while enduring this movie. It's one of those films that seems important to watch, but might ruin your day if you let it. I have to hand it to the director for his technique while filming this. We stuck by Saul's side for the entire film, which was a cool literary twist on the medium. 

So another really great movie that I wish I hadn't seen.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Laszlo Nemes made a pact with the cinematographer and production designer that the film would not look beautiful or appealing. They also decided the camera must follow Saul the entire runtime. 

Nemes cited Come and See as his inspiration. Well, that figures.

The son of Saul is actually played by twin brothers. 

Wednesday, February 3, 2021

1196. Jackie

Jackie
2016
Directed by Pablo Larrain








I'm surprised that Natalie Portman didn't win Best Actress for her performance in 2016. I would think portraying Jackie Kennedy would be uniquely challenging, as we have so much footage to compare to Portman's performance. On the other hand, it probably gave Portman plenty to work with while researching the role, making it easier in some ways. She does a fantastic job of inhabiting the role of Jackie, even if I didn't love the movie.

The film focuses on the period immediately after JFK's assassination, when Jackie is coping with her husband's death. As her old life collapses around her, Jackie tries to protect her children and deal with her trauma.

God, being a First Lady would suck. You're just there for the photographs while your husband cheats on you constantly and men tell you what to do all the time. It would have been fascinating if the film went back farther into JFK's presidency, but this movie is about Jackie, so I understand why they chose the timeframe they did. It was moving watching Jackie attempt to make sense of things with the eyes of the world on her.

I actually thought the interview scenes with the journalist seemed out of character for her. She was much harder and more defensive in those scenes. I guess it just shows how the events of her life hardened and changed her. I enjoyed her conversations with the priest the most, when she was at her most vulnerable.

Definitely an Oscar worthy performance, I have words for the Academy clowns regarding this one.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

The only character that doesn't possess a real life counterpart is the priest.

JFK has about one minute and forty seconds of screentime.