772. The Dead

The Dead
1987
Directed by John Huston

I really don't like James Joyce, but I am going to try not to let that color my review too much, as this is a separate entity and should be viewed as such.  I can still feel my hatred surging through me, so I apologize if you like this movie.

In 1904, two sisters host a party in Dublin.  Among their guests is Gretta and Gabriel Conroy,  a seemingly happy couple.  Of course, Joyce is too in love with his own style to give us much more in way of plot.  Sorry, that sounded bitter.

I wasn't too impressed with Full Metal Jacket, Kubrick's last film in the book.   Gee, I am hard to please lately aren't I?  I am getting fussy in my old age.  Anyway, John Huston similarly ends his reign in a rather lackluster fashion.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

The film was released after John Huston's death.

733. Prizzi's Honor

Prizzi's Honor
1985
Directed by John Huston

If I was composing my dream movie, it would probably include Jack Nicholson, John Huston, and Angelica Huston.  It would probably also include a full frontal nudity shot of Nicholson, but I can live without it.  Barely.

Charley Partanna is a hit man working for the mob.  He meets and falls for Irene Walker (men really need to stop falling for Kathleen Turner) who, like him, is a contractor for the mafia.  Of course, he asks his ex girlfriend about Irene, because men are always oblivious to women's feelings.  Sorry, I am editorializing a bit.

I really have no valid criticisms about the film, as it is brilliantly acted and directed.  I actually don't have a lot to say about it, as it is just a great movie, albeit predictable.  It is basically Mr. and Mrs. Smith, only the actors are slightly less hot and lot more talented.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

John Huston often reminded Jack Nicholson that his character was supposed to be stupid before takes.

552. Fat City

Fat City

1972

Directed by John Huston

All right, let's get this over with.  I don't think I have ever liked a sports movie and certainly not a boxing movie.  This is probably due to the fact that I have never seen a sport that I liked either.  Well, maybe rugby, but that has nothing to do with the game.

Stacy Keach plays a boxer past his prime with an alcohol problem.  What a treat for everyone.  He meets young newcomer Ernie Munger, who is dealing with personal problems of his own.  He also encounters one of the most annoying female characters in all of cinema.  She is pictured above and even her picture is obnoxious.  She also has a drinking problem and yells at people a lot.  Two treats!

What a dull, dull, dull film full of unsympathetic characters.  I suppose we are supposed to like the coach, who genuinely seems to care for his fighters.  I see nothing elegant or admirable in boxing so I had a hard time finding anything meaningful in these people's lives.

Skip it.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

Marlon Brando was considered for a role in this film.  Is he just in every seventies film?

268. Beat the Devil

Beat the Devil
1953
Directed by John Huston

This is another movie I did not really understand but this time it wasn't due to my stupidity.  Apparently, no one is supposed to really understand the plot since it is a spoof of quest films, which by 1953 we are all extremely familiar with.

All right, so like I said, the plot is extremely fuzzy.  Still, it is funny and well-acted.  Of course, it was only really fun because I have seen so many adventure films from the list.  So unless you have seen a lot of forties quest films, you will not enjoy it as much.

A unique film that has Humphrey Bogart?  Check it out!

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Humphrey Bogart was in a serious car accident during production and had to be dubbed in some scenes by Peter Sellers.

The novel Set This House on Fire is based on this production.

237. The African Queen

The African Queen
1951
Directed by John Huston

Yay!  This is one of those joyous occasions where I get to review one of my favorite films of all time.  Actually, come to think of it, this is pretty hard because I don't know if I can convey through my writing how good it is.  Oh no! The pressure!

First of all, the mere fact that this is a movie starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn should be enough to convince you to watch it.  I get more excited about that pairing than when modern romantic comedies have fifty stars in their casts.

Humphrey Bogart plays Charlie Allnut who is gin drinking, rough river boat captain.  Katharine Hepburn plays a straitlaced spinster who convinces Charlie to use his boat to attack the Germans.  Both roles are so unlike their usual characters that it is truly a thrill to watch them; it's like discovering the actors for the first time.

Of course, the goal of their journey doesn't matter.  What matters is the fact that they are stuck on board together and forced to interact.  I always love movies where two people who otherwise would never have a conversation are put together by circumstances.  Great dialogue always comes out of this scenario.

There are some great adventure sequences, but like I said, at its heart, this film is a romance.  And what a great romance this is.

RATING: *****

Interesting Facts:

Bogart won his only Oscar for this film.

Huston hired locals to help with the movie but many would not show for fear that the filmmakers were cannibals.

#65 in AFI's top 100.

Bogart and Huston were the only ones that avoided getting sick during filming, mostly because they drank so much alcohol.

224. Asphalt Jungle

Asphalt Jungle
1950
Directed by John Huston

I did seven of these today, not counting the 1940s Oscars.  I am becoming more prolific than Nora Roberts, although hopefully I don't suck quite as much.

The thing about early crime movies is you always know how it is going to end.  Because of the production code, you know the criminals can't not get away with it.  So you are kind of just waiting for some horrible fate to befall them.  It can still be interesting but there is really no intrigue or suspense.

If this film had been made post 1968 it could have been really awesome.  As it is, however, it is merely so-so.  This is a heist film but because people are greedy and unreliable, everything goes to hell.  Huston really had a thing about greed, I guess.  Anyway, as you can see from the above picture Marilyn Monroe has a part, though she is by no means the star.  I always love seeing young actors before they were famous.

The movie has absolutely no balls, which is really not its fault but it stills suffers because of it.  Still worth a watch.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Body count is only 4.  Come on.  I can't wait for Reservoir Dogs…

Total scoring is around five minutes.

212. The Treasure of Sierra Madre

The Treasure of Sierra Madre
1948
Directed by John Huston

This was my favorite Bogey film for awhile (until I saw The African Queen).  He really breaks out of his shell here.  It is like if Katherine Heigl played a woman who wasn't high strung and neurotic.  And if she was good.

Three men go off into the desert to try to find gold.  Really, this plot is just an excuse to have an excellent character study.  You can just see back and watch these three characters absolutely unravel as the pressure of greed and the elements gets to them.

Sorry for the brevity; had to do a lot of these today.  A really refreshing change.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

First father/son win in the history of the Academy Awards.

Bogart wore a wig throughout the entire shoot.

John Huston adopted a Mexican boy during the shoot and didn't tell his wife.

174. The Battle of San Pietro

The Battle of San Pietro
1945
Directed by John Huston

I knew going into this that this wouldn't be the most enjoyable experience.  War documentaries aren't really my thing; I seem to prefer movies where I learn as little as possible.  The positive side was that this movie is only around thirty minutes long.


I set this film up in my sister's bedroom.  She seemed to take this as an excellent time to not study the film, but to teach me how to walk in heels since apparently I am the disgrace of the family when I wear them.  A decision is still pending on whether or not I am allowed to wear my black heels Saturday night.  I imagine you will eagerly await the verdict with me.


Anyway, I didn't pay to much attention as soon as the narrator started droning on about the soldiers.  It is a load of propaganda fluff anyway so I didn't miss too much wisdom.  Skip it.

RATING: **---


Interesting Facts:


US army considered it too damaging to a soldier's morale to be shown.


Cut to a 32 minute version since it was considered to anti war.

144. The Maltese Falcon

The Maltese Falcon
1941
Directed by John Huston

So...exhausted writing posts...no one reads...so tired...can't go on...

I watched this movie and read the book so I am kind of a fan of the whole plot (complicated as it is).  Maybe I am a bit biased.  I am told girls really don't like this movie.  I guess I am more of an exception then, not the rule.  Still, everyone likes to watch Humphrey Bogart right?

Film noir is what most people think of whenever they think of 40s movies and this is pretty much the intro to that.  Watch and enjoy I guess; I have been doing this for about two hours.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

UGH!! Do it yourself: here