tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2925606367227514818.post2855926325194591885..comments2024-03-27T15:36:10.416-07:00Comments on Film Reviews from Two Guys in the Dark: White Bird in a Blizzard and St. Vincent (plus shorter comments on Fury and Last Days in Vietnam)Ken Burke; Pat Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18358623927080966157noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2925606367227514818.post-14417488176854609032014-10-30T23:01:22.214-07:002014-10-30T23:01:22.214-07:00Hi rj, Thanks for the compliment but someday I hop...Hi rj, Thanks for the compliment but someday I hope to do a Short Takes comment that's actually short (get the flying pigs warmed up and we'll see what happens). I really like your observations about <i>Fury</i>, which I completely agree with, concerning both the popularity of Pitt and the difficulty of the U.S. getting out of the global policeman role, which I sense our nation is very divided about relinquishing, despite the consistent fed-up response by many of our countrymen as to what we're accomplishing with the number of military graves we've had to dig in the last half-decade.<br /><br />I've never seen <i>The Young Lions</i> but have read about it and agree with your recommendation. Brando managed to bring himself back up to his potential a few times in the 1970s, but we're in agreement again that his younger years were when his screen presence was constantly at the level of being overwhelming. As always, I look forward to your input; given Pat's consistent—although unintended, even now—silence over the Two Guys' short run I really appreciate having another partner making significant contributions, so please feel free to keep them up at any time, at any length, with any content, in agreement with me or not. KenKen Burke; Pat Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18358623927080966157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2925606367227514818.post-53334894948119553762014-10-30T04:39:06.731-07:002014-10-30T04:39:06.731-07:00Ken,
Your "short takes" are longer and ...Ken, <br />Your "short takes" are longer and usually better than most other reviews out there. The injection of your personal story certainly adds interest. <br /><br />I caught "Fury" as well; and while not Spielberg it was worth the time. I think there are at least two universal truths around this theme: 1) If Brad Pitt is in a movie it will succeed; women love him, men wish they were him and he is a good actor getting better with age 2) Political leaders on any side of a war will usually sacrifice their young to win, regardless of their initial noble intent. Certainly the anti-war movement of the sixties had dramatic effect to our involvements at the time; no similar opposition has occurred in the Gulf Wars although Obama certainty wanted out; the regrouped opposition knew how to draw him back. <br /><br />For an interesting WWII contrast, I would recommend <i>The Young Lions</i> with Marlon Brando in his prime playing a German officer with a conscience and a French girlfriend. Brando may have been the Brad Pitt of his day; however Brando's best work was in his youth; Pitt seems to be improving as he gains more influence in Hollywood.rjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13025728540081089210noreply@blogger.com