Easy Rider (1969)

Posted on August 8, 2013 by 4 Star Films

Starring Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper, this road film follows the two young men traveling across country from L.A. after a drug deal. Along the way they meet a Hippie colony, experimenting with drugs, and simply live life as they please. Much of the movie comprises of the many pit stops they take as they make their way to Mardi Gras. Some people welcome them, and still others are hostile, especially in the South. This film does a wonderful job of portraying the counter culture generation and the experiences they had. In some ways it seems that Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda are not really acting, but partially embodying the existence that they are already used to. One of the highlights in the film would be Jack Nicholson’s odd ball, hick lawyer who crosses paths with the two hippie bikers in a Southern jail. A stellar soundtrack including such 1960s groups like the Byrds and the Band take potentially boring biking sequences and make them some of the best moments of the film. They also often express the mindset of the generation including anthems such as “Born to Be Wild” and “I Wasn’t Born to Follow.” Although it is not the greatest movie, it holds historical importance in order to help us remember this past generation.

4/5 Stars

Nashville (1975)

Posted on August 8, 2013 by 4 Star Films

Directed by Robert Altman, this musical, comedy, drama has an ensemble cast made up of 24 different people. The film’s story takes place over several days in Nashville, Tennessee during the political season. From the beginning we follow the politics, music, and most importantly the folks who inhabit and visit this place. They come from all backgrounds, some are in Nashville for musical careers and others for their own personal reasons. You have shaky relationships, an ill country singer, a British BBC journalist, and many other characters who are all interrelated. All their stories culminate in one tragic moment at a show. However, they all quickly move on with their lives. This film was enjoyable because there were so many different people. Even if it made the story more difficult to follow, that did not really matter. By the end everything seemed relatively cohesive. True, the conclusion is abrupt but I think that is how the story was meant to end.

4.5/5 Stars

The Graduate (1967)

Posted on August 8, 2013 by 4 Star Films

Some may see this film as a comedy drama that is not in the category of great movies. However I feel if nothing else, The Graduate is culturally significant because it ushered in an age in the late 1960s where films focused on trying to attract younger audiences. Along with its good writing this film was one of the forerunners in using popular music in its soundtrack.

*May Contain Spoilers

Starring Dustin Hoffman, Anne Bancroft, and Katherine Ross with direction by Mike Nichols, the film opens with Benjamin Braddock returning home from college. He has excelled in many ways and yet he feels bored and alienated from his parents. However the naive Benjamin soon finds himself in an affair with an older woman. This further confuses him as he figures out what to do with his life. His unknowing parents want him to date a girl attending Berkeley. Things become complicated since it turns out to be Mrs. Robinson’s daughter. Not wanting anything to happen between Benjamin and Elaine, Mrs. Robinson sabotages the relationship and tries to marry her daughter off while her own marriage goes down the tube. Benjamin who is ultimately in love with Elaine crashes the wedding and takes her away to face an unknown life ahead. With the help of a memorable Simon and Garfunkel soundtrack, this film ushered in a new age geared toward the younger generations.

4.5/5 Stars

Monkey Business (1931)

Posted on August 8, 2013 by 4 Star Films

Starring the four Marx Brothers, the film opens with them stowing away aboard an ocean liner. As they try to avoid the crew, they cause trouble as always and then accidentally get involved with rival mobsters. When they finally get off the boat, they attend a party of one of the men.
However, during the festivities mixed with craziness, his beautiful daughter is kidnapped by the other gangsters. In the final showdown, the Brothers lend a hand and save the girl being help captive in a barn. Aside from the usual chaos, some notable scenes include the opening sequence, the Punch and Judy Show, the Maurice Chevalier scene, and of the course the final barn sequence!

4/5 Stars

A Chump at Oxford (1940)

Posted on August 7, 2013 by 4 Star Films

This short comedy film has Laurel and Hardy scrounging around for work and they masquerade as a maid and butler in a well-to-do home. As expected they cause loads of trouble and skip out. Next they are a pair of street sweepers who come upon some luck while on break. They unwittingly capture a bank robber and they are soon rewarded with a free education at Oxford. There they are met with a group of haughty Oxford snobs who cannot wait to mess with the new arrivals. The ensuing moments include getting lost in a maze, dizzy spells, run-ins with the Dean, and a chance encounter with Oxford Athletic hero Lord Paddington, who shares an uncanny resemblance to Stan. Despite all the ups and downs, Stan and Ollie make it through and they succeed in making this comedy quite funny.

3.5/5 Stars

The Night of the Hunter (1955)

Posted on August 6, 2013 by 4 Star Films

Directed by Charles Laugton and starring Robert Mitchum, Lillian Gish, with Shelley Winters, the film tells the story of a preacher who epitomizes a wolf in sheep’s clothing. While serving a short sentence in jail, this “preacher” (Mitchum) learns from another man who is to be hanged that he hid $10,000 near his home. Intent on finding it, the fanatical man slithers his way into the life of the man’s widow (Winters) hoping to find the money by using her kids. They are adamant to not tell where it is and they soon discover what kind of man he is. After he murders their mother, the two children flee down the river. There they are taken in by a hospitable Christian woman (Gish) who has other orphans. They grow to love and trust her as their own mother. However, the sly preacher is bent on taking them away along with the money. Gish realizes his evil and has none of it. In the final scenes it is proved that love always wins over hate. This movie is certainly chilling, and disconcerting but the latter half I found especially good. Laughton deserves credit and the acting was good as well.

4.5/5 Stars

East of Eden (1954)

Posted on August 5, 2013 by 4 Star Films

In his first great film role, James Dean plays a rebellious son named Cal Trask who lives with his father and brother Aron in Salinas. Directed by Elia Kazan from the Steinbeck novel, the movie chronicles Cal’s struggles in the shadow of his favored brother Aron. Despite good intentions at first, Cal is constantly rejected the praise that his brother garners. Thus embittered, he lashes out at his brother, falls for Aron’s girl, and turns their father’s world upside down. With his performance Dean brings alive the character who is himself an allegory for Cain. Julie Harris, Raymond Massey, and Jo Van Fleet all deliver good performances that play off Cal. Overall this is a classic adaption of a classic author.

4/5 Stars

I Love to Laugh (2013)

Posted on August 5, 2013 by 4 Star Films

I came to the realization recently that a lot of the films on Four Star Film are rather dramatic and heavy. I figured a change of pace would be good and I wanted to lighten up some. So in the near future I wanted to highlight some great comedy films from the Marx Brothers, Laurel Hardy, Mel Brooks, Rob Reiner, and Jacques Tati, as well as some great screwball comedies of the 1930s and 40s. Hopefully these films will give you a chuckle whether it is a Groucho Marx quip, a comic footfall of Laurel and Hardy, or a light romantic comedy. I took some inspiration from the American Film Institute, but also added a few of my own favorites. Maybe I can’t “Make Em’ Laugh,” but I sure do love to laugh.

Animal Crackers (1930)

Posted on August 5, 2013 by 4 Star Films

Headed by the four Marx Brothers, the film opens with the return of the famous African explorer Captain Jeffrey Spaulding (Groucho), who is being honored at the estate of a Mrs. Rittenhouse (Margaret Dumont). Along with him there are two musicians (Chico and Harpo), and an art lover with an especially extraordinary painting in his possession. The daughter of the hostess is in love with a young, aspiring artist. She enlists the help of the two musicians to replace the painting with a fake done by her beau. However, they are not the only ones with an interest in the masterpiece and mayhem ensues. In the end all is revealed and everything works itself out. Besides some famous Groucho quips about his travels, there is “the flash” sequence, several musical numbers, and the final scene with the insecticide gun. As always the brothers deliver the chaotic and pun laden humor they gained notoriety for.

4/5 Stars

Juno (2007)

Posted on August 3, 2013 by 4 Star Films

This movie covers a sensitive topic, it is a little rough around the edges, and oh so quirky, but despite this it comes across as a good film all the same.

The cast is led by a strong performance by Ellen Page as a forthright and unique 16 year old named Juno Macguff. Quickly she learns that she is now pregnant and she must figure out how to deal with the situation while also facing her friends and family. Finally, she realizes she doesn’t want an abortion and Juno becomes invested in finding foster parents for the baby inside of her. All the while she is ostracized at school and her relationship with the father Beaker changes. In a moment of providence, Juno seemingly comes across the perfect parents in a Penny Saver and when she meets them they appear to be a perfect fit. They have a perfect marriage, beautiful home, and are unable to have kids. There might be something too perfect here, but Juno pushes forward just relieved to find someone who can take her baby. She keeps them up to date on her condition and forms a bond with the husband (Jason Bateman) who also enjoys rock music and horror movies. However, when the husband gets cold feet which leads to divorce, Juno’s situation is thrown into jeopardy. She is still willing to go through with it if the wife (Jennifer Garner) is prepared still. The day of the pregnancy comes and Juno gives birth. The foster mother gets her child and Juno is able to go back to being a teenager, playing guitar, and having high school romances.

There is not a single throw away character in this film, everyone has some peculiarity that makes them tick. The perpetual group of runners, the happily innocent soundtrack, and the script create a heartfelt coming of age dramedy that succeeds beyond any doubt.

4.5/5 Stars