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Reviews
The Irishman (2019)
Scorsese and the old gang of actors
I went into watching this movie cold; I knew nothing about the story line. All I knew was it was a mob movie with Marty Scorsese directing along with actors that he's worked with in the past - De Niro, Pesci, Keitel. Throw in Al Pacino and I figured what's not to like? The big payoff for me was that the script was right out of two books that I read a long time ago - "The Quiet Don: The Untold Story of Mafia Kingpin Russell Bufalino" and "I Heard You Paint Houses: Frank 'The Irishman' Sheeran & Closing the Case on Jimmy Hoffa". When you add to this the fact that I grew up 10 miles from Philadelphia and have relatives that live close to the upstate town of Pittston where Bufalino ruled it became a movie I only dreamed would be made.
Given all this, it's obvious that I'm going to be heavily biased in favor of "The Irishman". Be that as it may, I still think - objectively - that it's a really well made Scorsese film. You can read all the pros and cons about it in the other reviews listed here. All I'll say is watch it, it's worth your time.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
Who cares about plot. It's all about chemistry.
One of the best buddy films of the New Hollywood era (1967 - 1974) or any era for that matter. The chemistry between Newman and Redford is terrific. Their humor, driven by William Goldman's Academy Award winning script, is sophisticated, witty, and sarcastic. Newman is superb playing Butch, the affable guy you'd want to buy a beer in a bar, while Redford's Sundance Kid was, is, and always will be the ultimate cool character in all of film.
As a side note, I have to say that it makes me laugh when someone refers to this movie as being "dated". A Western, by definition, is dated but if they're referring to the dialog, all I can say is - Are you kidding?? I also find it comical when people complain that there's no real "plot" to the film. Who cares when Newman and Redford are this entertaining??!!
This was an enormously popular film in 1969, an instant classic ... and as we all know, the classics are timeless.
Midnight Cowboy (1969)
At the top of the list
I saw Midnight Cowboy when it was originally released in 1969. I was 19 at the time. From the time I saw it to the present day, it has been my all time favorite movie. I've often wondered why. As an amateur film critic, I readily acknowledge that The Godfather I and II (let's forget about III) are the greatest movies I have ever seen ... and yet, Cowboy is my favorite. Why? Surely the spectacular acting by Voight and Hoffman is part of it but Brando and Pacino are equally as great (as are De Niro and Duvall) in GF I and II. The plot? What plot? Midnight Cowboy is a character study but let's review the plot anyway: wannabe cowboy moves from Texas to New York City to hustle women; fails; gravitates to the underbelly of NYC; befriends crippled homeless guy; they ultimately leave New York for Miami via bus and the homeless guy (who apparently has pneumonia) dies in transit. Compare this to the Godfather story lines and it's obviously no contest. So what is it? Why do I love this movie so much? I've come to the conclusion that it's all about its poignant presentation of the human condition and how we're drawn into it. You watch Midnight Cowboy and you feel like you're right there with Joe and Ratso, like you're living what they're living. When I watch the Godfather movies, I know I'm watching a movie ... a great movie, but a movie nonetheless. When Ratso dies on the bus, it rips Joe's heart out but it also rips the heart out of everyone watching the movie. His grief becomes our grief. It's this bonding with the characters that sets Midnight Cowboy apart from other movies ... and makes it my favorite of all time.
Scarecrow (1973)
Two of the greats
I saw Scarecrow when it originally came out in 1973. Like so many movies of that era (late 60's - early 70's) it didn't have the requisite "happy ending" that Hollywood force feeds us today. Instead, we're presented with the desolate lives of two drifters searching for redemption at their respective destinations of Pittsburgh and Detroit. Hackman and Pacino are at their best here, providing the same type of brilliant acting and on-screen presence that Voight and Hoffman gave us in Midnight Cowboy (1969). In fact I've always thought these two movies would make for a great "compare and contrast" assignment in a Theatre Arts class.
Hackman has been quoted as saying that this was his favorite role. No argument here, it's my favorite too. Thanks Gene. You too Al.