Reviews
Number One (1976)
Hiding in the Boys' Bathroom
This short, which really isn't short at a painful-to-watch 42 minutes, starts with two girls hiding in the boys' bathroom at their school, but slowly evolves into a huge waste of time.
The scenes with the two girls and two boys in the boys' bathroom are handled with taste and the child actors seem natural and unrehearsed. But when the first adult arrives, in the form of the school's principal, the normally pitch-perfect Allan Garfield, the film heads straight into, well, the toilet.
Subsequent scenes involve the various children being queried by their respective parents as to what transpired in the bathroom. One of the two boys is admonished by his parents as they bicker and try to force him to eat his dinner of liver and potatoes. This scene is far too long -- the point is obvious after a few minutes -- and is punctuated by Dyan Cannon's voice off-screen as the child's mother.
At 20 minutes, the film would have been worth seeing. At 42 minutes, you'll be looking for an exit 15 minutes in.
Ms. Cannon recently appeared at the AMPAS and told the audience the master print of the film was destroyed by a fire at her home. As a result of the fire, the film now only exists on DVD. One might want to consider tossing the DVD on a fire as well.
Sorrell and Son (1927)
Sorrell & Son -- Found (Kinda)
"Sorrell & Son," a film once believed lost to the ravages of time has been restored as fully as possible by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The only known surviving print of the film was discovered among the Academy Film Archive's holdings. Although suffering from deterioration and shrinkage and a missing last reel, the film was restored as completely as possible using existing materials (a final reel was constructed using still photographs and title cards).
The 1927 United Artists release garnered a "best direction of a dramatic picture" nomination for writer and director Herbert Brenon (for the very first Academy Awards).
The film, released as a silent picture, stars H.B. Warner and Nils Asther as father and son who strive to maintain their relationship and integrity despite being impoverished and deserted by their wife and mother, played by Anna Q. Nilsson.
- Based on information provided by the AMPAS -
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Revenge of the Sith is the best of the prequel trilogy (The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones being the two films that complete the trilogy). Revenge of the Sith is probably the third best film in the Star Wars canon -- behind only the original film and The Empire Strikes Back.
Revenge of the Sith shares the same weaknesses and strengths exhibited by the other Lucas-scripted and directed Star Wars chapters. On the plus side, special effects that create visually stunning images -- on the minus side, tinny dialog, choppy story sequencing and uneven acting. It's possible that Lucas should have only provided the vision while letting someone else write the script (a la Brackett and Kasdan) and possibly even direct (think Irvin Kershner).
As Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ewan McGregor puts forth the most solid acting in the film. Hayden Christensen is definitely better as Anakin this go around, but there are still points in the film where you wonder if it's Christensen's acting or Lucas' writing that makes Anakin seem overly petulant. Natalie Portman doesn't have much in the way of screen time and is reduced to little more than the excuse for Anakin's apprehension and turmoil. Thankfully, Jar Jar Binks seems to have been sent into exile (meesa really think so).
Revenge, like the other prequels, lacks the spirited performances and on screen chemistry of Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill and Alec Guiness. Go back and watch the original Star Wars and you'll definitely notice patches of dialog made of tin -- the actors just make the dialog work.
The storyline for Revenge, when aggressively pursued, presents a host of opportunities for the viewer to scratch her or his head and ask questions. On the initial viewing, I suggest just going with the flow -- save the questions for subsequent viewings -- either theatrical or later at home with the inevitable Super Nuclear Special Edition DVD box set.
The film itself is gorgeous. The special effects readily create worlds which we the viewers just accept as existing. For better or worse, the special effects have become so sophisticated that viewers almost take them for granted -- especially in the Star Wars films. The worlds created by Lucas and his technical staff are both stunning and fascinating. -SPOILER- And if you're a light saber fan, there must be a dozen (all of them exciting) light saber duels in Revenge.
By film's end all of the principal characters have been neatly moved into position for the start of "Episode IV -- A New Hope."