The Killing (1956)

Stanley Kubrick demonstrated time and again that he was a director far ahead of his time.  In 1956 he directed The Killing, a crime drama about a group of men with a plan to steal $2 million at a L.A. horse racing track.  It comes off feeling a bit like Ocean's Eleven, only with real character development and little comedy.

The Killing was like no other film before it, and few since have done its techniques as well.  Sure, there were plenty of crime dramas, and plenty of gangster films, but this one is a breath of fresh air in what was already becoming a stale genre.  Kubrick accomplished this in two specific ways.

First, the story is told in several parallel lines.  One of the conspirators will be shown doing his part of the heist plan, and then another will do his part, beginning prior in time to what was already seen.  It's not nearly as confusing as it sounds, and a narrator is a huge help as he continuously gives what times certain events happen.  Of course, even though this technique works well for the film it does come across a bit overdone.  I mean, there is only so many times you want to hear that the horses are getting ready for the 7th race before it feels old.  Other films have copied this technique Kubrick used in The Killing, but here it feels fresh, original, and very pivotal to a proper understanding of all that happens.

The second truly standout feature of The Killing is the character development.  Each of the conspirators has a different motivation for being involved in the plot, and these motives are all quite believable and natural.  They are thieves, sure, but not because they only greedy or evil.  These seem like real people, with real problems who approach this heist as a real solution.  As a result, you find yourself rooting in a way for these criminals.  They are smart and cunning, yet human and failing.  The audience can relate to them, since they are not simply denounced as wicked "black hat" bandits from some simplistic western.

I loved The Killing.  I liked the understated and largely unpretentious acting.  I thought the plot moved along with a fresh and lively pace that kept me engaged.  And I loved how the end seemed to reference the Humphrey Bogart masterpiece from 1948 The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.

This one is a hidden gem, a film I'd not heard much about prior to seeing it.  But it really is a great and unforgettable film that deserves a place among the movie greats.

Entertainment: 8/10
Artistic Value: 7/10
Technical Merit: 8/10

Overall: 8/10

The Great Escape (1963)

On March 24, 1944 several hundred prisoners in the German prison camp Stalag Luft III put into action a plan they had been working on for over a year.  This was a new camp, one boldly called "escape proof" by the Luftwaffe.  But you see, they hadn't counted on the ingenuity of their RAF prisoners.  And that night 76 prisoners managed to go through their tunnel and escape the camp.

The Great Escape is the Hollywood adaptation of that story.  Clearly, many things are changed in the story. James Clavell, the screenwriter, obviously had his orders to make certain changes to make the story appeal to more than just British audiences.  So Steve McQueen, for example, has quite the starring role as one of the three Americans in the movie who never existed in real life.

The result of it all, inflated history as it is, is nothing short of a brilliant movie delight.  Everything, particularly the writing, is simply marvelous.  The first half of the film plays out almost as comedy, as the prisoners outwit and outmaneuver their German captors.  The second half then is pure action adventure, as the 76 who managed to get through the tunnel do their best to make it to freedom.

Of course there are the iconic elements involved; the music, the image of Charles Bronson crawling through the tunnel as he digs, and of course Steve McQueen bouncing his baseball around in the "cooler."  If you have never seen it, you must; The Great Escape is both amazing entertainment and unbelievable history.

Entertainment: 9/10
Artistic Value: 6/10
Technical Merit: 7/10

Overall: 9/10

P.S.  It has its drawbacks.  1.The ending is weaker than the rest.  2. Some of the actors are not as good as the main players. 3. I think an opportunity was missed to make some greater artistic points in the midst of the action and wit.

In spite of whatever drawbacks might be found, this is still a greatly wonderful movie, one nearly impossible to improve.  Bottom line: The Great Escape is one of the most fun and watchable (and re-watchable) movies of all time.

Iron Man 3 (2013)

I love superheros.  I love movies.  The confluence of these powers renders me a geeky mess.  It's just a weakpoint.  I know that superhero films rarely are good enough to win oscars (aside from visual effects), but I love them anyway.

So what about Iron Man 3, the film currently smashing open the box office?  Simply put, this movie rocks, and may be among the better comic book films yet made.

I like Iron Man.  Of all the Marvel comics characters, he's one of my favorite.  I like guys who are more or less normal, who find ways to become a hero that doesn't rely on the dumb luck of being bitten by a radioactive bug (which is probably why my favorite superhero of all time is Batman).  In the Marvel universe, Iron Man is that guy -normal human with typical personality defects a flaws.  In the comics Tony Stark battle alcoholism and anxiety attacks; he never is presented to the reader as a perfect guy who can do no wrong.

All that said, Iron Man 3 gets Tony Stark right.  Even more so than the first Iron Man movie, the third really seems to get in Tony's head and understands him.  All in all, Iron Man 3 just might be as good a movie about Iron Man as I could have hoped.

However, it is not a film for fans of the Mandarin.  No spoilers here, but if you know your comics, and regard them as sacrosanct, what happens in the plot regarding Mandarin will leave you aghast to say the least.  But hey, we need to remember that the movie is not the book, nor should it be.  For the movie, what they chose to do with the character made sense and worked exceptionally well.

And the payoff is amazing, with the film culminating in a few great action sequences, including a terrifically filmed freefall/skydive rescue.

The acting is fine, though nothing too terribly outstanding.  Robert Downey Jr. clearly has fun playing his now-iconic character for the fourth time.  Gweneth Paltrow has a lot more to do in this one than in the second or in The Avengers, and she makes the most of it.  Sir Ben Kingsley has way more fun than he should be allowed to have playing Mandarin.  And Guy Pierce simply chews large holes through the scenery as Aldrich Killian.

The writing is great (for an action movie.  Shakespeare it is not).  It hits all the right tender/contemplative notes, then turns and throws one comedic zinger after another.  Plus, as I alluded to before, it managed to rather surprise me.  About 1/3 of the way through the film I said "This is a combo of both Extremis and The Five Nightmares."  At that point I thought I knew (as a result of knowing those Iron Man books) exactly how the film would end.  And I was wrong.  Very wrong.  But the plot still resolved itself in a way that did homage and justice to those classic storylines.  This is a rather large accomplishment.

All in all I enjoyed it very much.  And what else do we really want from the movies?

Entertainment: 8/10
Artistic Value: 3/10
Technical Merit: 5/10

Overall: 6/10

A postscript with SPOILERS:
Again, below there be a few SPOILERS -ye have been warned.


Ok, you know what bugged me far more than the whole "Mandarin is just a distraction away from the real bad guy" bit?  The bit where Tony was breaking into the Mandarin's compound with weapons he constructs out of hardware tools.  Know why?  The guy knows S.H.E.I.L.D. and all the other Avengers!  He needs help, he knows where the bad guy is, and all the other Avengers owe him a solid big time!  Why did he have to do this himself?  I mean, other than the fact that the movie is called Iron Man and not Avengers 2?