Thursday Movie Picks: The Cold War
1) Charlie Wilson's War
Julia Roberts initially put me off from seeing this, which is crazy because it stars Amy Adams and Philip Seymour Hoffman and they are two of my favorite actors.
2) Good Night and Good Luck
Another one that has been in my Netflix queue for ages. I've seen parts of this movie just never in one sitting. Admittedly, I was bored with what I saw, but I'd like to give this film a fair shot eventually.
3) Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
I have no desire to see this to be honest but my husband really liked it so I feel I should watch it for him.
I have not seen the first film but it is on my watch list. I really enjoyed Good Night and Good Luck but, judging from previous reviews, what I like you often find boring. My hubby was bored a bit by it because it is mainly a talking picture and it moves with a slow but steady pace which I found excellent. Tinker tailor I saw at the theatre but I need to see it again because I was so tired when i went I fell asleep but that is no fault of the movie. What I did see, I enjoyed but i was a bit lost with the plot...again I blame my fatigue:)
ReplyDeletelol I really like David Straitharn though, so I think I might be okay with Good Night and Good Luck. I don't mind slow if it makes sense.
DeleteI haven't seen any of these but I want to see Charlie Wilson's War because of the cast.
ReplyDeleteSame! lol
DeleteCharlie Wilson's War is something on my watchlist but yeah Roberts keeps scaring me off :D
ReplyDeleteI need to bite the bullet, I love Philip Seymour Hoffman so much, it's sad that I've missed it.
DeleteWell this is a good week to get introduced to new, and good, cold war movies. I've only seen TTSS, which I really liked.
ReplyDeleteIt definitely is since I'm clearly lacking in this area.
DeleteCharlie Wilson's War was adequate but I thought it was missing some indefinable element that would have made it compelling. Tom Hanks was good and I thought Julia Roberts was pretty good. I usually don't care for her too much in dramas, comedy absolutely, but her role had a lightness that fit her skill set.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to love Tinker, Tailor but found it ponderous. Gary Oldman was excellent and Tom Hardy showed up briefly and completely stole his few scenes but the rest despite a great cast just drug along.
Circle the calendar, we match!! Good Night and Good Luck takes some patience and benefits if you have some knowledge of the McCarthy witch hunts but is a beautifully acted film.
I went a little more current than my usual though I had dozens of Cold War films from the 50's I considered.
Bridge of Spies (2015)-During the Cold War, the Soviet Union captures U.S. pilot Francis Gary Powers after shooting down his U-2 spy plane. Sentenced to 10 years in prison, Powers' only hope is New York lawyer James Donovan (Tom Hanks), recruited by a CIA operative to negotiate his release. Donovan boards a plane to Berlin, hoping to win the young man's freedom through a prisoner exchange. If all goes well, the Russians would get Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance), the convicted spy who Donovan defended in court. Excellent performances by all and strong direction by Steven Spielberg keep this involving throughout.
Good Luck, and Good Night (2005)-Senator Joseph McCarthy begins a vicious witch hunt to root out Communists in America destroying lives and careers without concern. Powerful CBS News reporter Edward R. Murrow (David Strathairn) dedicates himself to exposing the atrocities being committed by McCarthy's Senate "investigation." Murrow is supported by a news team that includes long-time friend and producer Fred Friendly (George Clooney). The CBS team does its best to point out the senator's lies and excesses, despite pressure from CBS' corporate sponsors to desist. Directed by Clooney in stark black and white to evoke the period this has a stacked cast, Patricia Clarkson, Robert Downey, Jr. and Jeff Daniels among others, all working at top speed but it’s Strathairn’s Oscar nominated turn that makes the film run.
The Manchurian Candidate (1962)-Near the end of the Korean War, a platoon of U.S. soldiers are captured by communists and brainwashed. Following the war, the platoon returns home, and Sergeant Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey) is lauded as a hero by the rest of his platoon. However, the platoon commander, Captain Bennett Marco (Frank Sinatra), finds himself plagued by strange nightmares and, together with fellow soldier Allen Melvin (James Edwards), races to uncover a terrible plot leading to the top tiers of power. John Frankenheimer directs with laser point precision guiding the story without wasting a frame. Angela Lansbury is flat out amazing in a portrait of coiled evil hidden behind a placid veneer.
I hated Bridge of Spies, I thought it was such a bore lol. I haven't seen The manchurian Candidate but I assume that will be popular. I remember working at the theater when the remake was out.
Delete3 films that I've seen and enjoyed. Charlie's Wilson War was a better film than I thought it would be as everyone went to see it because of Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts but it was Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams I felt were the ones in the film that really stood out and kind of stole the film from them.
ReplyDeleteGood Night, and Good Luck is another great film as is Tinker Tailor Soldler Spy.
I read through your Twitter scroll about that rumor of Emma Watson in Black Widow and.... NO. I can't see her in any role in that film. Plus, if Scarlett needs someone to play the main antagonist. It should be her equal and I know the person who should play the main villain. Duh... Jena aka THE BEST IN THE WORLD! She can play another Black Widow but more unhinged and angry at Natasha as they were students at the school born in the same year but Jena's character is just a total extreme. I can't see Hermione play that.
Jena would be an amazing choice. I would get behind that instantly.
DeleteThe whole time I was reading this I kept thinking of Dr. Strangelove. It's a VERY different take on the Cold War but it is easily one of my favorites on the subject.
ReplyDeleteThat's on my Blind Spot list this year so I'll see it soon!
DeleteHaven't seen your first and third. I don't think I'll ever get to the book so I do want to watch Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.
ReplyDeleteEventually I'll cross these off my list. Charlie Wilson's War probably sooner rather than later.
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