Top 25 Academy Award Nominations - Best Actor

Actor	Movie
Clark Gable	It Happened one Night (1934)
James Cagney	Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)
Humphrey Bogart	Casablanca (1943)
Bing Crosby	Going My way (1944)
James Stewart	It’s a  Wonderful Life (1946)
William Powell	Life with Father (1947)
Larry Olivier	Hamlet (1948)
John Wayne	Sands of Iwo Jima (1949)
Marlon Brando	Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
William Holden	Stalag 17 (1953)
Marlon Brando	On the Waterfront (1954)
Charles Laughton	Witness for the Prosecution (1957)
Alec Guinness	Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
Charlton Heston	Ben Hur (1959)
Paul Newman	The Hustler (1961)
Rex Harrison	My Fair Lady (1964)
Richard Burton	Spy who came in from the cold (1965)
Steve McQueen	The Sand Pebbles (1966)
George c. Scott	Patton (1970)
Gene Hackman	French connection (1971)
Al Pacino	Godfather II (1974)
Robert De Niro	Raging Bull (1980)
James Woods	Salvador (1986)
Tom Hanks	Castaway (2000)
Philip Seymour Hoffman	Capote (2006)

25 Top Oscar Nominations - Best Actress

Actress	Movie
Claudette Colbert	It Happened One Night (1934)
Irene Dunne	The Awful Truth (1937)
Vivien Leigh	Gone with the Wind (1939)
Kate Hepburn	Woman of the Year (1942)
Jeanne Arthur	The More the Merrier (1942)
Ingrid Bergman	Gaslight (1944)
Joan Crawford	Mildred Pierce (1945)
Bette Davis	All About Eve (1950)
Vivien Leigh	Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
Audrey Hepburn	Roman Holiday (1953)
Ava Gardner	Mogambo (1953)
Judy Garland -	A Star is Born (1954)
Grace Kelly	The Country Girl (1954)
Deborah Kerr	The King and I (1956)
Susan Hayward	I want to Live (1957)
Elizabeth Taylor	Suddenly, Last Summer (1959)
Doris Day	Pillow Talk (1959)
Geraldine Page  -	Summer and Smoke (1960)
Shirley MacLaine	The Apartment (1960)
Sophia Loren	Marriage Italian Style (1964)
Julie Andrews	Sound of Music (1965)
Maggie Smith	Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1970)
Diane Keaton	Annie Hall (1977)
Meryl Streep	Out of Africa (1984)
Kathy Bates	Misery (1990)

Shout at the Devil (1976)

Plot: In 1914 East Africa, an Irish-American adventurer and an English aristocrat take on the Germans.
Stars:  Lee Marvin, Roger Moore,  Barbara Parkins
Best Quote:  Its a big, dumb, silly movie that's impossible to dislike. It's so cheerfully corny, so willing to involve its heroes in every possible predicament, that after awhile we relax - Roger Ebert

Enjoyable, but way too long (150 minute) African-war adventure film. Marvin plays the drunken rogue, and Moore the charming hero, well enough - the two have good chemistry.  But we need more. The direction/editing are barely adequate, and there's little characterization or wit. On the plus side, some action scenes are good, and I always love movies in Africa. But we get too much padding**, Inexplicably, the comic-villain German turns baby killer - a jarring note in an otherwise lighthearted war-adventure movie.

Summary:  Best viewed after a few drinks at the local Pub. Moore, Marvin, and the African scenery are good - everything else is average. Shout at the Devil was a great idea for an action movie with a great cast. It should be better than it is.

** = Supposedly 30 minutes were cut for the American Theaters. 

The Wheeler-Dealers (1963)

Plot: A broke Texas Oilman goes to Wall Street to raise $1.5 million
Stars: James Garner, Lee Remick, Jim Backus, Phil Harris, Louie Nye, Chill Willis
Best Quote:  Women shouldn't be allowed to have lunch clubs. We gotta keep 'em off-balance, disorganized, clawing and scratching at each other. Otherwise they might turn on us like mad dogs!

The Wheeler-Dealers has a great cast. They improve the stock characters and somewhat silly story - but not enough to make it more than an enjoyable time-waster. We get some funny scenes and lines, here and there, but the script needed more attention. At 107 minutes - its about 15 minutes too long.

The Actors. They're the reason to watch. Garner expertly riffs off his Maverick con-man character and Remick is charming and lovely. Backus and Nye have small parts - but steal the show.

The Story.  Anyone expecting 2018 sexual attitudes in a 1963 movie will be disappointed.  Women in the workplace and male chauvinism are both played for laughs.  We're supposed to cheer Remick's desire to be a successful Wall Street analyst - but think its a little strange too.  Meanwhile, Garner's border-line tax fraud is portrayed as funny because he only cheats the IRS! Today, we all have 401K's and the financial shenanigans seem less funny.

Summary:  Almost forgotten (962 IMDB votes) The Wheeler-Dealers is a mediocre comedy - but if you like the actors - you might enjoy it.  Rating ** 1/2

The Player (1992)

Plot: Hollywood Satire.  A Studio VP is receiving death threats from a writer while battling to keep his job.
Stars:  Tim Robbins, Fred Ward, Whoppi Goldberg, Greta Scacchi
Best Quotes: : It's Patricia Highsmith meets Monty Python meets Nathaniel West - The New Yorker.

Levy:  I'll be there right after my AA meeting.
Griffin:  Oh Larry, I didn't realize you had a drinking problem.
Levy:  Well I don't really, but that's where all the deals are being made these days.

Background
Often described as Altman's "Comeback film", this was his first big hit after a string of critical and box office flops. Hysterically praised in 1992 and nominated for 4 Oscars, it currently has a 7.6 IMDB rating. Today, people like the movie, but it doesn't get the critical love it once did. Of course, the movie has never been popular with the masses - satire never is.

The Good
Its one of Altman's best films, and features a clever 8 minute opening tracking shot, and a good performance by a well-cast Tim Robbins.  He's able to make us root for "Griffin" - our anti-hero - despite the fact that he's a self-entitled, egotistical, amoral creep who gets away with murder. But then he's no worse then the other Studio "Players" are.  Altman smartly juggles murder, satire, black humor, suspense. The romance is less well done.  Other pluses: The Player is more tightly plotted and the dialogue much wittier than the  typical Altman Film. Unlike MASH, the movie gets better at the end, and the appearance by Bruce Willis is a highlight.

The Bad
Every Altman film has some big flaws, and The Player has two big ones. The first is Whoopi Goldberg, who can't act, and is far too smug and way too Hollywood to be a police detective.  We also get a trite, conventional love story, which isn't particularly interesting and takes up too much screen time. Side note: Did anyone - ever - find Tim Robbins romantic or sexy?

Satire Has lost its Punch
Like Griffin Mill's football-sized "mobile phone" and his Fax machine, Altman's satire is somewhat dated.  Today, no one expects Hollywood to make "real" or "artistic" films - or cares.  Its now an entertainment money-making machine churning out comic book films and endless sequels.  All the "art" has been off-loaded to Netflix's or HBO.

But then, its not clear how sincere The Player's satire is.
For example, at the end, a character complains the Execs have "Sold Out" and given the audience a happy ending to their originally "Real" "Tragic" movie. But Altman seems to agree with Execs - since the "real" "Tragic" ending was just as phony as the  Bruce Willis coming to the rescue.  Certainly the movie that was pitched as "no stars, real people, no BS" was in fact silly melodrama.

Summary:  My 2nd Favorite Altman film after Secret Honor. Even with the horrendous Whoopi Goldberg and a dull romance, it's one of the best satires of Hollywood.

All the President's Men (1976)

Plot:  Based on True events: Reporters Woodward and Bernstein investigate the June 1972 Watergate Break-in
Stars: Robert Redford, Dustin Hoffman,  Jason Robards
Best Quote:  I never asked about Watergate. I simply asked what were Hunt's duties at the White House. They volunteered he was innocent  - when nobody asked if he was guilty.

People love the movie (8.0 IMDB rating) - but I didn't. Maybe its because I read the book, and I'm too familiar with Nixon and Watergate. Or maybe its because I was looking for some entertainment and thrills (Someone called it a "Political thriller") but  there wasn't any.

All The President's Men - As a Movie 
I don't know how you can make a cinematic, satisfying movie about reporters talking to DC Politicians.  All the Presidents Men is well acted and well directed - but when all is said and done, its just a 40 year old,  political gab fest. We also get snowed under with lots of names, phone numbers and addresses.

And we get all the Newspaper film cliches (even though they're true). W&B:

• Battle with their bosses (I need more time on this story, Chief, its gonna blow this town wide open!)
• Schmooze reluctant witnesses (We have some questions Mrs X, you must talk to us)
• Knock on doors and get leads (follow the money)
• Fake out secretaries to talk to sources (Let me by, Sweetheart, I'm a Rich businessman) 
• Get their big break  (Deep Throat spills the beans)
• And then finally publish the big story.

Redford and Hoffman
Both are good in the movie, although the real Woodward looks nothing like Redford. Its humorous to see how the Director minimizes the co-stars' height differences. Occasionally we see them standing side by side, but usually Hoffman's tiny stature is hidden by having either him or Redford sitting or showing them walking in front of each other (as opposed to side by side).

Were W&B that Important?
Sure, W&B got the ball rolling on Watergate in 1972, but the scandal went on for another 1.5 years, and its the White House tapes, Judge Sirica, and Senate Committee that destroyed Nixon, not W&B's reporting.  And 50 years later, does it really matter that Nixon resigned? He was replaced by Gerald Ford, who was a carbon-copy in terms of policy. For example, Kissinger didn't miss a beat during the change over.

Summary:  I wouldn't bother unless you're a fan of the co-stars, political movies, or a Watergate history buff,  All the President's Men is well done, but dull. They tried to make a factual film  - not an entertainment - but still couldn't avoid the usual cliches.

California Split (1974)

Plot:  A magazine writer hooks up with a small time gambler and becomes addicted.

Stars:  Eliot Gould,  George Segal

A buddy picture about compulsive gambling,  this is one of Altman's better efforts. Segal and Gould make a great team and they fit their roles perfectly.  Gould, in particular, seems at ease in the sleazy world of LA racetracks and Nevada Casinos. As usual with Altman, we get some funny-pathetic moments - but California Split's comedy is low-key, and the film is often rambling & unfocused, We don't mind when the movie ends abruptly because there's no real story. 

Summary:  If you like the Altman, the co-stars, or gambling movies, you'll probably like California Split. Others should skip it. Rating ** 1/2 

Ace of Aces (1933)

Plot: Hoping to win back his girlfriend, a pacifist sculptor joins the Air Service and becomes an Ace
Stars: Elizabeth Allan, Richard Dix, Ralph Bellamy
Best Quote:  It’s a grand war. I only hope the next one is half as good. I used to think I could take clay and mold it into the semblance of a living thing. The closer it came to being alive, the greater my glory. The power of life is more than that, Nancy. Life! Life for myself as I control my plane. And then, death. Swift and final. In the squeeze of my fingers.” 

This is an interesting, unusual, anti-war movie.

The Lead Actors
We can start with our "hero" played by Richard Dix - who plays the part well. Starting as a pacifist sculptor he's uninterested in the war,  he wants to create. Later, stung by his patriotic girlfriend with the charge of coward, he joins the Air Service and finds he likes killing and fighting. Eventually, he becomes famous - decorated Ace with 42 kills. Throughout this, he remains pompous and entitled.  Its only when he's wounded and put in a Hospital bed next to a German pilot - that he softens and becomes likable. Dix is able to express the egotism - and the softening - without excess.

 Next there's Elizabeth Allan who not only acts well, she's beautiful and manages to be believable as the naive, but always good-hearted, girlfriend and nurse. She meets Dix on 48 hour leave in Paris, and in a risque scene agrees they should do more than play Parcheesi - surprising for 1933.

The Movie
Refreshingly, there's a complete lack of cynicism, over-the-top emotionalism, or graphic violence. The death of a German flier is touching.  The Aerial scenes are well done (for their time) but are somewhat disappointing if you're expecting the aerial stunt work of Wings. The film's main drama is on the ground - not in the air. Its only 71 minutes and moves at fast clip. 

Summary: I enjoyed the movie. Someone called it "dated" which it is.  The flying scenes have been done better (cf: Wings and Dawn Patrol) and everything else is just above average. But its a good war movie - with two good leads. 

Orson Bean on the Blacklist

“The blacklist of people on the left grew out of a defacto blacklist of people on the right within the industry,” recalls Orson. “There was communist directors, members of The Party, who only would cast you if you were also a member of The Party, or they were trying to woo you as a member of The Party. A lot of rightwing actors…were really furious at them. So when the Cold War happened…these rightwing actors, who had been seething for years about the way the communists were infiltrating the Hollywood business and were infiltrating the unions too, took their revenge. I don’t think that story’s ever been written because it’s not attractive for the Left.”

“Morrie Ryskind, who was a Pulitzer Prize winner, couldn’t get a job because he didn’t think exactly like these fellows,” recalled John Wayne.

After testifying before the House Un-American Activities Committee as a “friendly witness”, the extraordinarily talented Morrie never received another offer from a studio again – and neither did other screenwriters that testified against communism in Hollywood. When the “official” blacklist era ended, liberals continued where they left off – freezing out conservatives…to far better effect.

“I think there’s a reverse blacklist, even today,” said director and Hollywood Ten member Edward Dmytryk in Hollywood on Trial, a 1976 documentary about the blacklist. “I think that the liberals who are riding high, are going in the opposite direction. I think some of the fellas back then, who were on the reactionary side, are having a tough time getting jobs now.”

Is McCabe and Mrs. Miller Really A Western?

Yep, Its a Western

• Set in Washington Territory before 1900 
• Small Mining Town has a Whorehouse and Saloon
• Hired Guns start a gun battle
• People wear pistols in holsters and draw 
• There's no real law and order 

Nope,  Its not

• No Indians or US Calvary
• Not about Pioneers or Settling the West
• No Western Outlaws - or Marshal and Sheriff Involved
• No Cowboys or Ranchers
• No Great Western scenery - all we see are Pine Trees 
• Almost no horses - people only use them to ride into town
• Everyone talks and behaves like its 1971 - not 1890

And then there's the Plot

For the first 80 minutes, we follow McCabe, a pimp and two-bit gambler, as he brings in Mrs. Miller and builds a successful whorehouse in the small mining town.  There's nothing really "western" about it.  This part of the story could have been set in any remote location prior to 1920.

In the 2nd act,  the Mining Corporation tries to buy McCabe out, fails, and then sends 3 hired guns to kill him. And there's nothing really "western" about this part either. If the killers had arrived in a Model T or used snub-nosed 38's it would've played out the same way.

Conclusion:  McCabe and Mrs. Miller is actually a costume drama/action film and not a Western.

Shortcuts (1993) Altman

Boy, did I hate Shortcuts. 
Its an awful  ensemble drama about average people and their problems. Usually in these kind of movies, the "average people" are just boring,  But in Shortcuts they're also weird and unlikable.  No one is witty, charming, or inspiring.  All the characters are leading lives of quiet desperation,  or they're heartless ninnies, or  just plain nuts.  Set in LA, Altman spices up their middle-class lives with murder, an injured child, suicide, naked women, sex talk, and adulterous affairs,  Its supposed to make us laugh a little, cry a little, and make us think.

But it doesn't. Its  all  just contrived drama - with a capital FAKE. A big vulgar soap opera.

The characters are completely unlikable .
Like many Altman movies.  The characters dress ugly, act ugly, and live in ugly houses. In real life, I wouldn't want to be near them. And some of the casting is off. Who believes Tim Robins as a LA Cop?

And the padding and sluggish pace! 
Endless shots of people waking up, fixing breakfast, putting their kids to bed, driving around, and having meaningless small talk. Incredibly, its 3 hours long and could have been 30 minutes shorter just by cutting the filler.

Summary:  Currently, has a 7.7 IMDB rating and lots of people love it. But I found it pretentious, dull - and way too long. Usually, I find some good in every movie, but this is an exception.  Yeah, I didn't like it.

Vincent and Theo (1990)

Plot:  The life of Vincent Van Gogh and his brother Theodore.
Stars:  Tim Roth,  Paul Rhys
Best Quote: Watching this two hour and twenty minute abomination left me, and my wife, stunned by its wretchedness. From the nonexistent narrative, to the indulgence of every artistic cliché imaginable, to possibly the worst soundtrack ever used in a film -  it's a wonder Altman ever crawled his way out from under the odium of this horror-show, the nadir of his career - IMDB Review

A more realistic, art-house version of  Lust for Life - it was also incredibly boring.

In Lust for Life we get  Van Gogh-Kirk Douglas over-acting with Gauguin-Anthony Quinn. Here, we get a sordid Van Gogh with stained teeth interacting with his dull, art-dealer Brother. Probably more realistic, but who cares?  There are some wonderful shots of Van Gogh's paintings and some beautiful landscapes  - but that's the only plus.

Which brings up the question: Can you make a *true* and interesting movie about a painter?  After all, what do painters do?  They sit and paint. Not exactly cinematic is it?  And while really smart, artistic people, can look at a painting and talk for hours about the lines, the colors, what the artist was trying to do, etc.  I think most movie-goers are like me,  and can only look at a painting for a while, think its beautiful or interesting, and then have to move on.

Summary:  I'm not a big fan of Lust for Life  but it did have an intense Kirk Douglas, Anthony Quinn .and some marvelous Wide-screen views of Van Gogh's Art.  OTOH, Vincent and Theo seems more like a low budget made-for-TV movie.  Unless you're an Altman or Van Gogh obsessive, I'd skip it.

White Lightning (1973)

Plot: An Ex-con moonshiner goes undercover to get the County Sheriff who killed his brother
Stars: Burt Reynolds, Bo Hopkins, Ned Beatty
Best Quote: The film was a breakthrough in that area of blending comedy and action. And it made a lot of money, so other people began trying to do the same thing. They thought, 'Well, he smashed up sixty cars and it made a lot of money, so we'll do a hundred crashes.' But that had nothing to do with its success as a comedy. - Burt Reynolds

Filmed on location in Arkansas,  White Lightning has an authentic "Backwoods" feel to it. Its entertaining action-comedy film, its main flaw is it doesn't know what it wants to be. One moment, its a serious crime film with people being tortured or drowned - the next, its comedy and car chases. Its an uneasy mix, but to Reynolds credit, he's completely comfortable in either situations  Also good is the supporting cast, with R.G. Armstrong standing out as the hard-nosed moonshiner.

 Summary: One of the first "Redneck Exploitation" flicks, White Lighting is a well done comedy-action film with Reynolds playing a Good O'l Boy with a hard edge. It paved the way for films like: Mason County Line, Convoy, and Smokey and the Bandit.  A  good movie of its kind.

Shampoo (1975)

Plot: In November 1968, a Beverly Hills hairdresser tries to juggle 3 Girlfriends and start his own business
Stars: Warren Beatty, Julie Christie, Lee Grant, Goldie Hawn, Jack Warden
Best Quote:  Have you ever listened to women talk, man? Do you? Cause I do until it's running out of my ears. I mean, I'm on my feet all day long listening to women talk and they only talk about one thing - how some guy beeped 'em over. That's all that's on their minds. That's all I ever hear about.

Background - In 1975, Shampoo was the 4th most popular film and got good reviews from most critics - including Pauline Kael who loved it.  People - especially Liberals - loved the profanity, frank sex talk, vulgarity and Nixon satire.  Beatty made a fortune and Shampoo earned 4 AA nominations.

Not as bad as I remembered. I saw this 35 years ago and hated it. But I enjoyed parts of it this time round - despite my dislike of Warren.

Cons:

• Lee Grant is stuck with a stereotypical "Cougar"  role aka the unhappily married, middle-aged woman who likes her "boy toy". Yawn.
• Only one likable Character  (Hawn)
• Serious ending has little impact, since Beatty's character is unsympathetic.
• Constant profanity and 1975 vulgarity is annoying rather than "edgy".
• Drags in the middle - Election Eve party is a bore
• Dated political Satire. No one cares about  Watergate/Nixon anymore. 
• Carrie Fischer = completely unsexy.  A million beautiful starlets in Hollywood and they give Carrie the role.  Amazing. 

Pros:

• Goldie Hawn is charming and lovely (as usual)
• Actresses dominate the movie
• Julie Christie well cast and gives excellent performance
• Set design is great,  Beverly Hills looks wonderful
• Some funny moments, including  Jack Warden's face-drop when he realizes his mistress is making out with Beatty, & George's (Beatty) ridiculous lies to the three women and inability keep his stories straight

Warren Beatty:  I'm not a fan, but the role of a super-stud, Beverly Hills Hairdresser, is a perfect fit. And since its situational humor -, he's not  required to be funny.  IMO,  Beatty wasn't cut out for most leading man roles. He's softer than a tub of butter,  making him an unbelievable gangster, soldier, PI, cowboy, or authority figure.  Macho he ain't. And he's not much of an actor, - as shown by the film's final scene. However, he can hold his own in this kind of movie.

A Top 100 Comedy?  No way. Weirdly, that's what the AFI says.  But Shampoo is at best a drama with some funny moments.  Its too serious and sluggish to be labeled a "Sex Farce" and doesn't have enough jokes to be a straight comedy.  The script was co-written by Beatty - who was involved in Ishtar - 'nough said.

Two AA Supporting Actor Noms - neither of them deserved.  Hawn and Christie do better in their roles then Grant, but she's the one who got an AA. And while Warden does well as the nasty Businessman, the part should have been played by a middle-aged leading man,  Lancaster, Douglas, Glenn Ford, Bill Holden, Fonda, etc.  I assume Warden's nomination was a "Life time achievement award". 

Summary: Currently has a 6.3 IMDB rating - and that's about right. What was "edgy" and titillating in 1975 is old hat today. And no one cares about Richard Nixon. Anyone expecting a Top 100 comedy will be disappointed - although the movie has its  funny moments and Christie and Hawn do well.

Casablanca - Did Rick really hate Nazi's?

Someone had an interesting post on Casablanca and seemed to think Richard Blaine aka "Rick" really hated Nazis. He was a Nazi punching fool

Yet if you look at the film, is that really true? Let look at the facts:

He Ran Guns in Ethiopia and Supported the Loyalist Side in Spain
True, but as Rick says, "He was well paid for it". And what exactly has Rick been doing since 1936?  We know he was in Paris in June 1940, but doing what exactly? Certainly  not punching any Nazi's.  Mostly, he's  been drinking Champagne with Ilsa.  Why wasn't he in the French Army?

Not Punching Any Nazi's at the Cafe American
So, somehow Rick ends up in Casablanca as a Cafe Owner. And he's perfectly content to be there. In Vichy France, with best friend forever, Claude Rains,-  a corrupt Vichy official. If Rick was all against Fascism why has he spent 1.5 years (Its December 1941 remember) in Vichy France?  Weren't they a bunch of Fascists?  And while Claude Rains, indicates his distaste for the visiting Gestapo agents, Rains really isn't that upset at them, is he? Basically, he's just a Frenchman who doesn't like the Bosch pushing him around. And this is Rick's best buddy!

But What about..??
Yeah, I know. He does *little* things to show he doesn't like the Germans. He tears up a Deutsches Bank cheque.  He congratulates Ugarte on killing the German Courier and  helps hide the letters of transit.  But he later says " I stick my Neck out for Nobody." and  " I don' t like any disturbances at my place. Either lay off the politics or get out."

Not exactly Mr. Nazi Puncher is he?

 Where I go, you can't follow 
Now we get to the end, where Rick *supposedly* show his true colors and gives up Ilsa to "punch Nazis". But does he really?  He really does it all for Ilsa. As Rick says, they can't stay in Casablanca, they'd windup in a Concentration Camp. And taking Ilsa on the plane, would make her despise him for the rest of her life, after she'd gotten her bearings. So, the only way to save her is to act noble and let her go with Lazlo. And since he can't stay in Casablanca, what else is there to do, but leave for the Free French Garrison?  Even corrupt Claude Rains understands he has to get out of town too.

Rick really does it all for love.