Comments on: The Humorless Left Can't Take Jokes or Creativity in Conservatives' Criticism

By: David Swindle

David Swindle — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 15:19:32 +0000

You didn’t care for DiCaprio in “The Departed”?

By: David Swindle

David Swindle — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 15:17:55 +0000

Cas,
1. I didn’t include “Taxi Driver” on my list because I was only listing the Scorsese films that I enjoyed since “Goodfellas” came out. If we’re to include work prior to that then “Mean Streets,” “Taxi Driver,” “Raging Bull,” “The King of Comedy,” “After Hours,” “The Last Waltz,” and especially “The Last Temptation of Christ” (one of my top 5 favorite films) would be singled out for praise. Also make a point to dig up his short film “American Boy: A Portrait of Steven Prince” which is a must-see. It’s about 45 minutes long and features Prince (he played the gun salesman in Taxi Driver) telling stories from his life. He’s quite a gifted raconteur. The film can be purchased from various bootleg sites, I don’t think it’s ever had an official DVD release.

2. Your analysis of the themes of “The Godfather” is excellent.

3. There’s a lot to like in “Gangs of New York.” I think the picture is very visually interesting. The period and setting is also practically unique. This kind of “urban Western” set during the Civil War in New York City hasn’t been done before or since. I also have plenty of fondness for Day-Lewis’s extraordinary Bill the Butcher performance.

By: kathyshaidle

kathyshaidle — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:43:43 +0000

Actually I was spoiled by watching a PBS (I think) documentary about Five Points before I saw Gangs. The doc was SO outstanding that Scorcese’s film looked stupid in comparison.

I thought Casino had far too much expository dialogue/narration, which is one of my pet peeves. “And then there was the time the plane landed on the gold course…” Yeah, I kinda picked up on that by the shot of… the plane landing on the golf course. Thanks.

Scorcese should let the story tell itself. Show don’t tell etc. And his obsession with deCaprio is a puzzlement. The boy has no gravitas or stature, certainly not enough to play a titan like H. Hughes. I first saw the boy in Gilbert Grape and was bowled over. He should have quit the biz right after that.

By: Julie Trevor

Julie Trevor — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 14:08:31 +0000

Is Terry a fargen icehole? Loved Goodfellas.

By: Cas Balicki

Cas Balicki — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 04:32:41 +0000

Sorry that should have read as the attempted murder of his father.

By: Cas Balicki

Cas Balicki — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 04:29:30 +0000

David, I agree with all your picks except â€œGangs of New Yorkâ€. I didnâ€™t like it. I would add Taxi Driver to your list, though. I may see Gangs again to either cement my original opinion or, perhaps, change my mind. As for Cathy and The Godfather, I see the film, or more accurately the three films–the last being the weakest, as an allegory that plots Evilâ€™s unrelenting overtaking of innocence. The whole point of the Pacino character is to focus the audienceâ€™s attention on good manâ€™s fall into the abyss that is organized crime. In my view Michael doesnâ€™t play as a â€œsuddenâ€ change, but as a dismally inevitable transition. He goes from defending his father to protecting the â€œfamily.â€ What is important is the he is half drawn and half pushed into the criminal life. Michael is drawn into the criminal fold because power is very hard to resist and pushed by the murders that surround him: his father, his brother, and his Sicilian wife, Appollonia. The audience must see this transition as not only tragic, but as ambiguous in order to feel the full weight of the passage from hope to darkness. In short the audience must see this movie through Kay’s eyes, for she is the horrified observer.

As for Goodfellas, itâ€™s an outstanding movie, much grittier than The Godfather. But that tragedy of Goodfellas and, I might add, Casino is that the â€œgood lifeâ€ comes apart. The tragedy in the Godfather is much more profound. Lastly, yes, Puzoâ€™s book was better than the movie, but The Godfather is still among the top five films ever to come out of Hollywood.

By: David Swindle

David Swindle — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 01:59:55 +0000

Thanks Kathy.

While I agree with you that Scorsese probably hasn’t done anything equaling “Goodfellas” I’m still a huge fan of “Kundun” (a strangely meditative picture,) “Casino” (lots of fun to watch,) “Bringing Out the Dead,” “Gangs of New York” (vastly underrated,) “The Aviator,” “No Direction Home,” and “The Departed.”

By: Kathy Shaidle

Kathy Shaidle — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 01:23:43 +0000

Thank God for you, David Swindle.

The Godfather is hugely overrated. The idea that the past is sepia-toned is so juvenile I can’t believe that silly conceit made it into such a “great” film without comment.

Pacino’s character arc is absurd. One minute he’s an educated, sophisticated veteran who loathes the family business, and suddenly he’s the new Don. Huh?
Yes, that hospital sequence is something. But for every bit like that, we endure long stretches of boredom.

And frankly, I find “leave the gun, take the cannoli” neither funny nor sensible; it’s explained why they “leave the gun” in the novel (it is untraceable) but in the movie it just seems like inscrutable idiocy. Same with “keep your enemies closer.” What idiotic advice!

Maybe because I grew up in a heavily Italian ‘hood, but seriously: I can live the rest of my life without seeing The Godfather or the Sopranos or whathaveyou.

Goodfellas is indeed great, however. It expertly seduces you with the “glamor” then pulls the rug out from under you. Far superior, except for the casting of DeNiro as an Irishman. Everything by Scorcese was downhill from there. It’s like he’s been replaced by a podperson.

I’ve always loved the fact that Puzzo made up half of the mafia “lore” in his book, and then the real mafia borrowed it as there own.