Sequel to the first "Work and the Glory," the American Zion is the second in what may be nine movies that follow the fictional Steed family, converts to Mormonism in their search for right to worship God as their hearts dictate. Author Gerald Lund's series of nine books sold over 2 million copies and so has a popular following. Financed by Utah Jazz owner Larry Miller, the first movie obviously made enough money to make the second worthwhile.
The problem in any fictionalization of history is that readers form images of real people that may be different than that portrayed in the fiction. Such is the case in this movie which portrays the prophet Joseph Smith, a well known character in history esteemed by Latter-day Saints. Most people who know his history have their own view of what the prophet was like. It doesn't always jive with the interpretation of the author or the movie-makers, no matter how good their research.
"When you hear him speak, you can see the fire in his eyes," says one of the characters about Joseph Smith. As good an acting job as Jonathan Scarfe does in portraying Joseph Smith, he still is unable to create the fire in the eyes. Probably no one could. That will always be the problem in fictionalization characters that in history are bigger than life.
For more information about this and other LDS films, go to http://www.ldsfilm.com/.
Sunday, June 11, 2006
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Alias - May 3, 2006
With three episodes left, it looks like a blood bath. Two died tonight. Both got it in the juggler vein. More to come. Let's see - will Sydney meet the same fate? I hope so. Enough is enough.
Is this culture? Yes, America's culture of violence on TV and in the movies.
Is this culture? Yes, America's culture of violence on TV and in the movies.
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
NOEL (2004)
Disconnect. That's how I would describe this 2004 movie directed by Chazz Palminteri and written by David Hubbard. The movie would be better if it centered on one story rather than three, or was it five. The DVD jacket says, "As five strangers' lives intertwine on Christmas eve, a story of companionship, love and healing unfolds." Only two stories really intertwine, that's the one where Paul Walker's character Mike loses his fiance (Penelope Cruz) because of his jealousy and he learns a lesson about love from Alan Arkin, who lost his wife because of his jealous rage. On another front, Susan Sarandon's character Rose meets Robin Williams (the dying Charlie) and her life is changed. (Susan Sarandon spends most her time walking the streets of Manhatten.) And then there is this completely wild story of a fellow (Marcus Thomas) who breaks his hand to get admitted to emergency because his best Christmas ever happened in an ER. One could easily get lost trying to follow the characters and plot that move back and forth, but seldom intertwine.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Mostly Martha
Mostly Martha is a charming romantic comedy about a single woman whose life is disrupted when her neice, Lina, comes to live with her. In addition, her place as chief chef is challenged when a new Italian cook, Mario, is hired at the chic restaurant where she works. It's only with Mario's help that she gains Lina's confidence and love.
Not only does this film have an engaging story, but it shows an interesting blend of German and Italian cultural stereotypes. Martha is cool and aloof; Mario is exhuberant and engaging. Martha confronts Mario about taking her job away. He threatens to quit. Both show emotions typical of each others' cultures. But Mario's Italian charm wins Lina and through Lina he eventually gains Martha's respect, then her love. In the meantime we are treated to visuals of some very enticing meals.
Not only does this film have an engaging story, but it shows an interesting blend of German and Italian cultural stereotypes. Martha is cool and aloof; Mario is exhuberant and engaging. Martha confronts Mario about taking her job away. He threatens to quit. Both show emotions typical of each others' cultures. But Mario's Italian charm wins Lina and through Lina he eventually gains Martha's respect, then her love. In the meantime we are treated to visuals of some very enticing meals.
Sunday, March 05, 2006
The Constant Gardener
In preparation for tonight's Academy Awards, last night I saw The Constant Gardener, a film directed by Brazilian Fernando Meirelles and based on John le Carre's book. The film has been nominated for four Oscars: Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role; Achievement in Film Editing; Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score); and Adapted Screenplay.
The movie was povocative and saddening - one of those movies where the audience sits in their seats for five minutes afterwards in silence. Watching it on my laptop's DVD player, I'm sure it had lesser effect. However, I have thought about the movie all night, waking each time from a restless sleep to think about it again. After his wife's murder, Ralph Fiennes, who acts as British Diplomat Justin Quayle, finishes his wife's work to expose the corruption of a pharmaceutical company and the diplomats, who support it. As Tessa Quayle, Rachel Weisz portrays the wife, a passionate activist whose investigation into the dealings of an international pharmaceutical company leads to her murder. Although the wife's death occurs at the first of the movie, flashbacks effectively tell her story throughout the film. As one layer of the mystery after another unfold, we ultimately come to the conclusion that Justin must also give his life to "finish his wife's work."
One great line out of the film is "The pharmaceuticals are right up there with the arms dealers." I questioned the underlying truth behind this statement and the film, which endicts the pharmaceuticals for using Africans as human guinea pigs in testing unsafe drugs. So I did a "google"search and up came an article "Pharmaceutical colonialism in Africa" by Jean-Philippe Chippaux. The article claims that "big drug companies are conducting clinical trials in Africa with no consideration for ethics, the health of patients or the relevance of the drugs to the needs and the pathology of the continent." Some of the drug testing is supported by funds from the US government and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Le Monde diplomatique, August 2005 http://mondediplo.com/2005/08/11pharma
Of course the storyline is fiction and very unfavorable in its portrayal of the British diplomatic corps. Yet, the filming in Kenya occurred because of the cooperation of the British High Commissioner. Like me he must be a John le Carre fan. He also recognized that a story needed to be told about Africa and realized that most film viewers can separate truth from fiction in a story. One of the great truths in this story is the portrayal of the poverty of people who smile and are obviously happy despite the difficulties of their lives. Much of the movie was filmed in Kibernia, a shack town outside Kenya's capital, that houses 700,000 people with little sanitation and clean water. A fascinating scene shows Tessa, a lone white among thousands of black faces, watching a stage play supporting tolerance of HIV victims. The filming and editing at this point of the film are spectacular, as is its sympathetic depiction of African culture.
Another great line from the film was "Some very nasty things live under rocks, especially in foreign gardens." Yes, indeed.
The movie was povocative and saddening - one of those movies where the audience sits in their seats for five minutes afterwards in silence. Watching it on my laptop's DVD player, I'm sure it had lesser effect. However, I have thought about the movie all night, waking each time from a restless sleep to think about it again. After his wife's murder, Ralph Fiennes, who acts as British Diplomat Justin Quayle, finishes his wife's work to expose the corruption of a pharmaceutical company and the diplomats, who support it. As Tessa Quayle, Rachel Weisz portrays the wife, a passionate activist whose investigation into the dealings of an international pharmaceutical company leads to her murder. Although the wife's death occurs at the first of the movie, flashbacks effectively tell her story throughout the film. As one layer of the mystery after another unfold, we ultimately come to the conclusion that Justin must also give his life to "finish his wife's work."
One great line out of the film is "The pharmaceuticals are right up there with the arms dealers." I questioned the underlying truth behind this statement and the film, which endicts the pharmaceuticals for using Africans as human guinea pigs in testing unsafe drugs. So I did a "google"search and up came an article "Pharmaceutical colonialism in Africa" by Jean-Philippe Chippaux. The article claims that "big drug companies are conducting clinical trials in Africa with no consideration for ethics, the health of patients or the relevance of the drugs to the needs and the pathology of the continent." Some of the drug testing is supported by funds from the US government and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Le Monde diplomatique, August 2005 http://mondediplo.com/2005/08/11pharma
Of course the storyline is fiction and very unfavorable in its portrayal of the British diplomatic corps. Yet, the filming in Kenya occurred because of the cooperation of the British High Commissioner. Like me he must be a John le Carre fan. He also recognized that a story needed to be told about Africa and realized that most film viewers can separate truth from fiction in a story. One of the great truths in this story is the portrayal of the poverty of people who smile and are obviously happy despite the difficulties of their lives. Much of the movie was filmed in Kibernia, a shack town outside Kenya's capital, that houses 700,000 people with little sanitation and clean water. A fascinating scene shows Tessa, a lone white among thousands of black faces, watching a stage play supporting tolerance of HIV victims. The filming and editing at this point of the film are spectacular, as is its sympathetic depiction of African culture.
Another great line from the film was "Some very nasty things live under rocks, especially in foreign gardens." Yes, indeed.
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
The movie, "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," has many of the same elements as "Grosse Point Blank," a 1997 film where John Cusack plays the assassin. "Grosse Point Blank" has an R rating for violence and language. "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" rated a PG-13. Still the same violence but not the strong language. For elements of humor, "Grosse Point Blank" wins out.
Both movies were shoot-em uppers like few others. The characters fire over walls, around corners, with no aim but great success. People die all over, but with minimum blood loss. These movies both seem to come out of the glory days of westerns. It seems like the same Indians are getting killed over and over again.
We live in a culture where violence is considered part of life. We eat, breath and wear it. We are fascinated and entertained by it. But it is nothing like reality. The reality is that people are killed and maimed by violence. Gang members and innocent bystanders die in our streets. Young men and women, children and older people die in war. Violence in movies and on our TV screens insulates and desensitizes us from these realities.
If we understood the realities of violence, would we be so eager to go to war? Maybe not. But on the other hand, real violence genders hate. And hate is the great opium of war. It makes men foolish and uncaring. Hate engenders war and makes us killers.
Both movies were shoot-em uppers like few others. The characters fire over walls, around corners, with no aim but great success. People die all over, but with minimum blood loss. These movies both seem to come out of the glory days of westerns. It seems like the same Indians are getting killed over and over again.
We live in a culture where violence is considered part of life. We eat, breath and wear it. We are fascinated and entertained by it. But it is nothing like reality. The reality is that people are killed and maimed by violence. Gang members and innocent bystanders die in our streets. Young men and women, children and older people die in war. Violence in movies and on our TV screens insulates and desensitizes us from these realities.
If we understood the realities of violence, would we be so eager to go to war? Maybe not. But on the other hand, real violence genders hate. And hate is the great opium of war. It makes men foolish and uncaring. Hate engenders war and makes us killers.
Prince and Me 2
I like chick flicks. They bring my daughter and me together on Saturday nights for a laugh and popcorn. But this flick was disappointing and predictable to the point of being a cliche.
Commoner is engaged to prince. But rival comes into scene and points out prince can't marry because of rule against marrying commoners. Rival woos prince while embarrassing commoner. Rival gets prince almost to the alter, when commoner finds loophole. Prince marries commoner who gets revenge on rival. Dah! Acting was as bad as the story line. No wonder Julia Stiles didn't want to do this movie.
Supposedly set in Denmark, it says more about the snobbery of royalty than it does about Danish culture. Maybe the only cultural comment is that the Danes love their king. I would think the whole movie would be an affront to the Danes. Scenery was nice and inviting. However, Americans who decide they want to visit Denmark because of this movie should be warned that it was actually filmed in.... Where was it filmed? The Czech Republic.
Commoner is engaged to prince. But rival comes into scene and points out prince can't marry because of rule against marrying commoners. Rival woos prince while embarrassing commoner. Rival gets prince almost to the alter, when commoner finds loophole. Prince marries commoner who gets revenge on rival. Dah! Acting was as bad as the story line. No wonder Julia Stiles didn't want to do this movie.
Supposedly set in Denmark, it says more about the snobbery of royalty than it does about Danish culture. Maybe the only cultural comment is that the Danes love their king. I would think the whole movie would be an affront to the Danes. Scenery was nice and inviting. However, Americans who decide they want to visit Denmark because of this movie should be warned that it was actually filmed in.... Where was it filmed? The Czech Republic.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
The state of Mormon film
At the recent LDS Film Festival, the Deseret News (January 27, 2006) reported, Richard Dutcher was irked. Apparently Mormon audiences are choosing "the goofy stuff" - like "Singles Ward," "R.M." and "The Home Teachers" - over his more serious work. His movies "Brigham City" and "States of Grace" have not had the audiences the lighter works have had. Dutcher said "it is time for faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to vote for cinematic excellence with their pocketbooks."
Surely, room exists in the marketplace for both types of movies. I have yet to see "States of Grace," but enjoyed "Brigham City," which brought together the secular and religious in an intriguing mystery story. I also enjoyed "Singles Ward" and the other "ha ha" movies because they made fun of Mormon culture. They were not great movies, but I was able to laugh at them and myself. As Mormons, we should laugh at ourselves more often.
One of the better movies poking fun at our culture is "The Best Two Years." It brought back great memories of my own two years as a missionary in France. I feel other movies, including the "Work and the Glory" and "Saints and Soldiers," reached a higher standard than even "Brigham City." I enjoyed the "Work and the Glory" movie much better than the book. (The characterization in the book was too one dimensional.) You wouldn't know "Saints and Soldiers" was an LDS film, except that the lead character had strong values and served a mission in Germany before the World War II. ("Saints and Soldiers" won 14 Best Picture Awards at film festivals nationwide. In my view it is also worthy of an Oscar.)
Another good movie that is not recognizable as an LDS film is Johnny Lingo. Financed by Tahitian Noni International, it is a remake of the Sunday School classic. The "Other Side of Heaven," also based in Polynesia, is obviously about a Mormon missionary, but appeals to a general audience. It was only so, so as a movie.
The big movie success was "Napoleon Dynamite," which reached block buster status. Of course, it had universal appeal and any critique of Mormon culture was a critique of American culture generally. We learned that Preston, Idaho, in the heart of Mormon country is no different than any other small town in America. All the same prejudices exist among Mormons as in the general population.
Frankly, I like what has been happening in the LDS film industry. It is sad that it is not supported better financially. However, it still is in its fledgling state and will continue to get better. Thank you, Richard Dutcher for your contribution. Please don't get discouraged. I'll be watching you - and your movies.
P.S. I'm a little disappointed by movies made by the LDS Church itself. The recent Joseph Smith movie was disappointing in its portrayal of the greatest religious figure of our time. I really feel it failed to grasp the importance and mission of Joseph Smith. PBS did a much better job in their portrayal of the Prophet.
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