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Brothers Grimm, Sisters Wild (2019)
The result of tremendous love
I am currently working on Mia Fazio Truxaw's autobiography. This film is the culmination of years of research, a story about storytellers written by a tremendous storyteller. The cast--most of them who knew Mia before ALZ stole her words--worked instinctively together giving their talent and love to the work. I can't say enough about all of them but want to mention a few of them.
Lydia is an amazing artist who has participated in various productions of the story, playing almost every character from one rehearsal to the next performance --always with tremendous creativity.
Vitto was Mia's favorite male actor back in the day when she wrote and directed for TADW-- Teenage Drama Workshop--and when she needed a ringer when she taught and directed at Louisville High School.
And our son. John, who has contributed in so many ways supporting and participating in so many manifestations of the play and film. Despite his significant aversion to being on stage rather than back stage.
There is important history for each cast member which I will eventually discuss in Mia's biography.
Blue Valentine (2010)
2 unconnected halves
While extremely well acted, the film flip flops back and forth between 2 phases of a couple's relationship. We learn a lot about the individuals and their relationships during their courtship and then when they are having significant difficulty, but what is missing is what really caused the rift between them, cause and effect become blurred and while we enjoy fine acting we never get the story itself. Of course there is a lot we are allowed to connect if we want to, we can make up the story of the missing years and decide for ourselves what the failures were, but I ended up very unsatisfied. So if you are the kind of viewer who likes to write the story line yourself you will probably delight in this film. I would prefer to be given insight more directly.
The Sea of Grass (1947)
A portrait of mean-hearted male chauvinism
This film reminds us of the unbridled male chauvinism of the 1940's. Spencer Tracey's character ruins the lives of everyone around him with impunity. I am amazed that Katherine Hepburn agreed to do this role. Her "sacrifice" is sickening. The ending especially is truly mind blowing as she totally gives up all sense of self in order for Tracey's character to finally accept her back after years of exile. If she showed up at the end and put a bullet through his head it would have been much more fulfilling and would have rung with much more a sense of justice. If seen from a proper perspective, its a great study of abuse of power.
Week-End Marriage (1932)
A good study in the ultimate male chauvinism of the 1930's
The only value of this film is as propaganda showing the ultimate male chauvinism of the day. Loretta Young is a hard working business woman who needs her career to support an ungrateful, untalented and unloving husband. She works hard and tries to make her marriage work but her husband played by George Brent is unrelenting in his demands that she give up her career and be a normal housewife. Today it would be considered a tragedy of major scope.
I love watching Loretta Young with her loose and sexy dresses with plunging necklines and sexy pouty lips but it was torture to see her character subject herself to the outrageous demands of the people in her life to be less than human. The film presents this as not only appropriate behavior but the only acceptable behavior for a woman.
The only use this film has would be in a woman's study course to show the extremes of male chauvinism.
Fairly Legal (2011)
A real actor.
Sarah Shahi is a delight. When I learned of her background I was blown away by her sophisticated style. I just do not expect a cheerleader to have her poise with complex dialog.
Even though there are an number of somewhat far-fetched situations and solutions--what show doesn't? I really enjoy a show which deals with conflict resolution through consensus rather than conflict.
Shifting between ultimate confidence in dealing with powerful people and self-doubt about her private life, Sarah segues between them with the ease of a true actor.
I believe Mz Shahi has a wonderful career ahead of her.