"This is a story of a period between two World Wars — an interim in which insanity cut loose. Liberty took a nose dive, and humanity was kicked around somewhat."

 

Review: The Great Dictator (1940)

An Augustus Review of 10/10

To finish off my series of classic movie reviews, I’ve decided to review a movie that has changed the lives of many, and continues to be one of the greatest films in history. Written, directed and starring the one and only Charlie Chaplin, today’s 10/10 flick is no other than The Great Dictator. 

The story begins in a battle near the end of WW1. Our protagonist, the Barber (Charlie Chaplin), is deep in the trenches battling for the fictional country of Tomainia. The Barber hears a fallen pilot’s cries and darts out of the trenches, saving the fallen commander, Schultz, and barely escaping gunfire. The two climb onto Schultz’s plane and fly off. Schultz tells the Barber that he has important dispatches that could win the war for their country. Unfortunately, the plane runs out of fuel and crashes nearby. The two survive, but the Barber has amnesia. The rescuers come and Schultz gives them the dispatches only to find out the war is over; Tomainia has lost. 

Years later, the Barber is released from the hospital and isn’t aware of the current fascist regime that has taken over his country. The Barber is Jewish, and returns to his neighbourhood. The dictator of the country, Adenoid Hynkel (also played by Charlie Chaplin), has set out to prosecute all the Jews from his country. 

At the Barber’s shop in the Jewish ghetto, storm troopers paint the word “Jew” on the side of his store which the Barber strongly opposes. The troops begin to chase him but he is able to flee with the help of his neighbour, Hannah.  The Barber is almost caught by a gang of troops, but is saved by Schultz, a high-ranking officer in the regime. He realizes the Barber is not Aryan, as he had originally thought but tells his troops regardless to leave them alone. 

Dictator Hynkel becomes obsessed with the idea of ruling the world. He eases up on prosecuting Jews to gain a loan from a Jewish financer. When he refuses to give Hynkel any money to invade the surrounding countries, Hynkel intensifies the Jew hunt. Schultz, who feels extremely empathetic towards the Jews, objects the idea of hurting them and Hynkel denounces him as a democrat and a traitor. Hynkel orders to put Schultz into a concentration camp but Schultz is able to escape and flee to the Barber’s neighbourhood.  

Schultz, the Barber and Hannah along with other residents plan to overthrow Hynkel’s authoritarian government. However, a failed mission results in Schultz and the Barber getting captured and thrown into a concentration camp while Hannah is able to escape. The dictator is ready to invade the surrounding countries and become a supreme leader; the Barber and Schultz only have one more chance to save their country and the world. 

The Great Dictator, although written as a dramatic-comedy, is one of the most influential movies of its time. It was nominated for five awards, including Best Actor, Best Writing, Outstanding Production and Best Music. The movie came out right before WWII and was used by many countries, the Allies mostly, as war propaganda against the Nazis. In other countries however, the movie was banned altogether. The Great Dictator was Chaplin’s highest grossing film, earning 11 million worldwide during its time.

 - Augustus

 

 

"It has nothing to do with Satan, Mama. It's me. Me."

Review: Carrie (1976)

An Augustus Rating of 8/10

For my last post for the week, I decided to do a movie from the 70s based on Stephen King's novel, Carrie. This movie stars Sissy Spacek as Carrie, Piper Laurie as Carrie's Mother, Amy Irving as Sue Snell and William Katt as Tommy Ross. Carrie is sure to leave shivers down your spine as this young ostracized girl becomes the terror of the town. 

Carrie is a young teenage girl who lives with her insane Christian fundamentalist mother. Carrie is shy and is usually abused and harassed by her mother and the girls at school. After gym class one day, Carrie experiences her first period while taking a shower. Because of her sheltered life, she becomes frightened that she is dying. The other girls begin to laugh and throw tampons and pads at her until the gym teacher intervenes. Before she helps Carrie, a light bulb bursts above them.

Carrie is taken to the principal's office where the principal is constantly mispronouncing Carrie's name. As she tries to correct her, the principal tells Carrie that it is because she is so isolated that nobody can even remember her name. At the same moment, an ashtray on the desk mysteriously falls off the table and smashes. 

On Carrie's way home, a boy on a bike begins to tease her. Carrie angrily glances at him and the boy all of a sudden falls off his bike. At home, Carrie's Mother receives a phone call from the school, telling her of the shower incident. Carrie's Mother immediately tells them that it was an act of God, that Carrie has sinned. She locks Carrie in  closet, forcing her to pray. Frightened Carrie trembles in front of a mirror until it shatters. 

The next day, a popular boy Tommy, defends Carrie after the class has mocked her and his girlfriend, who teased her prior, tells him to ask Carrie to the prom as an apology for making fun of her. He continually asks Carrie but fearing it is another trick, she refuses. Carrie in the mean time finds out that she has the power of telekinesis after researching it in the library. Tommy continues to ask Carrie until she finally agrees to go to prom. 

Ecstatic Carrie tells her mother about prom only to be scolded and beaten. Carrie begins to get angry and starts to use her powers to break windows in her house. Her mother becomes hysterical and yells that it is the power of Satan causing her daughter to act this way. 

Before the prom, the remainder of the popular girls who teased Carrie decided to play a prank on her at prom. They go to a pig farm and kill a pig. They drain the blood and flesh into a bucket and proceed to the prom.

At prom, Carrie and Tommy are crowned prom King and Queen and Carrie is absolutely thrilled. She stood on stage wearing the crown and for the first time, felt happy. Just as she was crowned, the bucket of pig's flesh falls onto Carrie and she is drenched in blood. The kids begin to laugh at her and Carrie finally snaps. Her powers take over and now, nothing can stop her. 

Carrie was regarded as one of the best films of its decade. It received numerous awards including Best Actress and went on to become one of the most popular watched films. 

- Augustus

"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn"

Review: Gone with the Wind

An Augustus Review of 8/10

This week I’ve decided to review an old time classic where love is truly abundant and war is threatening to prevail. Today I review Gone with the Wind, a 1930s classic set in the 1800s during the American Civil War. It stars Vivien Leigh as Scarlett, Leslie Howard as Ashley Wilkes, Clark Gable as Rhett Butler and Olivia de Havilland as Melanie Hamilton. This movie was made into two parts, but today, I will only give you a taste of Part 1.

Scarlett O’Hara is a young woman who lives with her parents and her sisters on the Tara cotton plantation in Georgia. On the Eve of the American Civil War, she learns that Ashley Wilkes, a man whom she secretly loves, is to be married to Melanie Hamilton. The engagement is to be announced the next day at a friendly barbeque at the Wilkes’ family plantation, Twelve Oaks.

At the barbeque, Scarlett notices that she is being admired by Rhett Butler, a man who is commonly disliked for his abrupt nature. She secretly finds Ashley and confesses her love to him. To her dismay, Ashley tells her that he and Melanie are in love and make a better pair. The party is interrupted by the news of war and the men quickly assemble to enlist in battle. In the commotion, Ashley’s younger, more timid brother asks Scarlett to marry him. Although she does not love him, she is too heartbroken to refuse and agrees; the two are married before he leaves for battle.

Marriage for Scarlett is short-lived when she is quickly widowed; her husband died of pneumonia and measles while serving for the army. Her mother sends her to Atlanta in hopes to cheer her up, but it is evident that Scarlett’s true intentions are to await Ashley’s return.

Scarlett attends a party where she is scolded by the other women for partying rather than mourning and Rhett makes a surprise appearance. The gentlemen are invited to make bids on women to dance with them in order to raise money for war support. Rhett makes a bet on Scarlett and they dance, during which Rhett is determined to win her over.

The war begins to get out of hand and many of the men from Scarlett’s town are dead. Ashley visits the town and Scarlett tries again for his love. Eight months later, Scarlett’s town in Atlanta is under siege and Melanie goes into premature labor. Rhett is able to find them a horse and sends them back to Tara. Scarlett finds her town completely destroyed and nothing but Tara is still standing. Scarlett vows that she will take care of family and herself at whatever means necessary.

Gone with the Wind won numerous awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress and more. It has become a heartwarming story of a young woman and her difficulties to find love yet survive the travesties of war.

So, will Scarlett save herself? Will she ever find love? To find out what happens in part two, you gotta go and watch!

- Augustus

"You wake up sometimes, don't you? You wake up in the dark and hear the screaming of the lambs"

Review: The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
An Augustus Review of 9/10
For my last review of this week, I've decided to do a movie from the early 90s. This movie is creepy, terrifying and absolutely fantastic. This is one of those movies that keeps me awake all night thinking and trembling. Ladies and Gentlemen, are you ready for terror, cannibalism and a real mystery? Are you ready for The Silence of the Lambs?

The Silence of the Lambs stars Jodie Foster as Clarice, Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lector, Ted Levine as Buffalo Bill and Scott Glen as Jack. 

Clarice is an FBI agent fresh out of the academy who is pulled by Scott Glen to go on a special task. She is asked to interview a former psychiatrist and incarcerated cannibalistic serial killer: Hannibal Lector. Glenn believes that Lector will be able to help the FBI find another serial killer, Buffalo Bill, who rapes and skins his female victims. 

Clarice travels to the hospital for the criminally insane in Baltimore where she meets Lector. At first, he seems to be quite courteous but later grows impatient at Clarice's mediocre interrogation.   For entertainment, he beings to turn the interrogation on her and she decides to leave. On her way out, Lector decides to be "cooperative"; he tells Clarice of an old patient of his whom he believes might be of help. 

Lector's hint brings Clarice to an old storage shed where she finds the patient's severed head in a bag. Once she returns to the hospital, Lector tells her that Buffalo Bill was after his patient. He offers to profile Bill but on the condition that he is moved to a different facility and given a new doctor. 

Buffalo Bill kidnaps the senator's daughter and Clarice is given instructions to make a fake deal with Lector: information on Buffalo Bill in exchange for a new facility. In her pursuit to get information, Lector flips the game on her. He begins to ask her questions and will only reveal information if she reveals bits on her personal past, something she was warned not to do. The doctor of the facility records the conversation and tells Lector he will make him a better deal. Lector agrees and is flown to Tennessee where he profiles Buffalo Bill. 

The hunt for Buffalo Bill begins and Clarice visits Lector in his new cell. She attempts to ask for more information but he is able to turn the interrogation on her. He asks her of her past which she reveals fully. Lector gives her Buffalo Bill's case file before they are interrupted by the police and she is escorted out. That night, Lector manages to escape his cell and kill the guards. Now Clarice has to face her past, Buffalo Bill and Hannibal Lector. 

This movie was a box office success. It grossed over 13 million in its first weekend, surpassing its initial budget. The movie later grossed over 270 million worldwide, making it the fourth highest grossing film of 1991. 

So if you are feeling brave and ready for a real horror-thriller, curl up on the couch and watch with your full intention. Oh, and make sure no one can sneak up behind you, otherwise you will have to change your diaper. 

- Augustus

"They're young... they're in love... and they kill people."

Review: Bonnie and Clyde (1967)

An Augustus Review of 8.5/10

Travel back to the 1930s, where the Depression is at its highest, and people are scrounging for cash. People are resorting to violence due to lack of food, water and occupation. Some are committing crimes while others are falling in love. A certain couple is doing both; the infamous duo, Bonnie and Clyde. 

This 1967 flick loosely follows the lives of the real Bonnie and Clyde of the 1930s. They are outlaws who rob banks, murder and continually fall more in love with each other and the game. Bonnie is played by Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty stars Clyde. Together, this couple cause havoc across the United States.

 The movie begins with Clyde, a junkie, trying to break into Bonnie’s car. Bonnie meets Clyde for the first time and is intrigued by him. Bonnie up until this point, worked as a waitress in which she hated doing. She decides to join Clyde and become partners in crime.

At first, the crimes the couple commits are miniscule and extremely sloppy. However, the two gain a passion for crime and the excitement of breaking the law. Their crime spree escalates when they team up with C.W Moss (Michael J. Pollard), a dim and lousy gas station owner.

The three expand their gang when Clyde’s brother and sister-in-law join. The women immediately butt heads and argue continuously.  The group takes the crimes up a notch and begin to rob banks. After robbing a bank, Clyde shoots the bank manager in the face.

The gang is followed by law enforcement officer Frank Hamer (Denver Pyle). However, they end up capturing him and harass him. They make the mistake and let him go after tormenting him. The outlaws are later caught off guard when the police find them and open fire. Clyde’s brother is fatally shot and his wife is also wounded. Bonnie, Clyde and C.W. barely escape; they continue to run, but pursuit is tight on their trail.

Bonnie and Clyde was the first movie to break the sex/violence ratio in movies. With its intense violence and sex scenes, this movie actually opened up the new style of movies. Warner Bros was sceptical and offered to give Warren Beatty (star-producer as well) 40% of the gross income because they felt the movie would not be a hit. Little did they know that this movie would gross over 70 million worldwide. Bonnie and Clyde also was nominated for numerous awards and won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and Best Cinematography.

-          Augustus

"Weeping willow with your tears running down, why do you always weep and frown? Is it because he left you one day? Is it because he could not stay? On your branches he would swing, Do you long for the happiness that day would bring? He found shelter in your shade, he thought his laughter would never fade. Weeping willow stop your tears, for there is something to calm your fears. You think death has ripped you forever apart, but I know he'll always be in your heart."

Review: My Girl

An Augustus Review of 6.5/10

 Today I wanted to focus on a coming of age film. Although there are hundreds of thousands of choices, I decided to go with the 1991 movie, My Girl. This movie is the definition of tear-jerking but a great flick none the less. This movie was directed by Howard Zieff and stars Anna Chlumsky as Vada, Macaulay Culkin as Thomas, Dan Aykroyd as Vada's father and Jamie Lee Curtis as Shelly. 

 The story beings with Vada, a young 11 year old girl who lives with her father. Vada is a hypochondriac (always worried that she has a serious illness). She is usually ignored by her father, who just doesn't seem to understand her.  Vada's house serves as a funeral parlor because her father is a funeral director. This has a tremendous effect on Vada, who is obsessed with death. She believes she killed her mother who died giving birth to her. She usually helps out her grandma who has Alzheimer's. 

Vada's best friend is her neighbour, Thomas. Thomas is allergic to absolutely "everything". He decides one day to squirt Vada with a water gun. This drives a chase between the two leading them into a forest. Vada throws a rock at Thomas but misses and hits a beehive instead. The bees begin to chase them and in the pursuit, Vada loses her mood-ring.

The summer starts off well, Vada meets Shelly, the new makeup artist at the funeral parlor. Shelly acts as the female guidance that Vada much needed. Vada also becomes infatuated with her school teacher whom she believes she will marry. Although everything seems swell, events take turn for the worst.

Shelly and Vada's father begin to date and eventually become engaged. Vada experiences her first menstrual cycle and becomes confused about her life. Her and Thomas sit at a dock near the river and experience their first kiss. Vada tells him that she lost her mood ring and soon after, he goes into the forest to find it. As he looks for it, he is attacked by bees and falls unconscious. Vada's life turns upside down when further bad news awaits her. 

My Girl is your classic movie of a girl learning the hardships of growing up. It really makes you feel sappy and warm inside. My Girl  grossed a total of over 59 million compared to its 15 million budget.

So if you love a good movie filled with love and childhood experiences, I recommend this one for you.

- Augustus

 

“This is the job. Don't wait for it to happen. Don't even want it to happen. Just watch what does happen.”

Review: The Untouchables
An Augustus Review of 9/10
 For today’s review, we travel back to Chicago, 1920s, during the time of prohibition. The Untouchables is based on the real Eliot Ness and his agents along with the infamous Al Capone.

This 1987 movie stars Kevin Costner as Eliot Ness, Sean Connery as Jimmy Malone, Andy Garcia as George Stone, Charles Martin Smith as Oscar Wallace and Robert Di Niro as Al Capone. This movie is based on the 1957 book by the same name written by Oscar Farley. 

The movie begins with the rich and powerful Al Capone gloating over his success. At this point, he has the entire city of Chicago in the palm of his hand and is controlling the illegal sale of alcohol. He feels unbeatable and no one dares to interfere… Except for a local government agent, Eliot Ness, who wants to bring in Capone on a silver platter. 

Ness sets up a team of highly trained police officers to help him with a bust he is sure will get Capone. However, the majority of the police force is corrupted and has tipped off Capone, resulting in a failed raid. Ness seeks Jimmy Malone, an uncorrupted officer who is willing to help him out. Malone summons George Stone, an officer fresh out of the academy and Oscar Wallace, an accountant from Washington to create the Untouchables. 

Wallace tells Ness that Capone has not filed income tax returns in over four years and that they can charge him for tax evasion. Ness however, is determined to prove Capone guilty of illegal alcohol distribution and murder. On his way home, Ness is stopped by one of Capone’s henchmen who tries to make a deal with Ness to drop the case. Ness refuses to leave the case alone and the man threatens to murder his family. Ness quickly assembles help to move his family out of Chicago and swears vengeance on Capone. 

The team goes to the Canada-United States boarder to raid an alcohol shipment and get into a brawl with Capone’s men. Ness is forced to kill one of the men in self defense. Malone capture’s Capone’s accountant and begins to interrogate him. The accountant proves to be uncooperative and Malone shoots the already dead gangster whom was killed earlier by Ness to scare him. The method works and the accountant surrenders. 

Back at the headquarters, the men celebrate their victory. But, the party is short lived as they realize the entire police force is under Capone’s control. A police officer sold out Wallace and the accountant to Capone who in return, sends his gangster to the squad to pay Ness a very unfriendly visit. Ness is pushed into a corner where he must decide his next move. 

The Untouchables ranked 6th highest grossing movie in its opening weekend with an income of over ten million. It received overall positive reviews and was nominated for four academy awards. Sean Connery won the award for Best Supporting Actor.

As Vincent Canby from The New York Times stated, The Untouchables is "vulgar, violent, funny and sometimes breathtakingly beautiful". 

- Augustus