Backlog, Part 5: This isn’t even all of it
1001 Movies
As the title mentions, this does not clear me of the backlog I have on movies that I have watched, but not written about. But since I have these already written, I might as well as post them.
The Wall
A musical experience that depicts a society that is being alienated and controlled. Think of it as Fantasia, but with more drugs and loud rock & roll. The soundtrack only has small deviations from the track list to the corresponding Pink Flyod album. The movie is primarily live action, but does have a number of animated scenes done by Gerald Scarfe. The piece works very well because the idea for doing the movie along with the album was hatched ever before recording started of the music.
Judge Priest
It is almost the end of the 19th century and William Priest is the judge in a small Kentucky town. Priest has his own way of running his court room. For example, he reads a newspaper during the first trial before he interrupts and has a conversation with a few of his war buddies who make up the entire audience. We do see that he has a good heart as he continually finds creative ways to help his nephew spend time with the young girl who lives next door to him. While the intent of the movie is always goodhearted and humorous, the African-American roles follow stereotypes to the line. The male character barely speaks broken English and the female character is a made who is always singing gospel songs. This speaks more to the state of the world in the 1930s than it takes away from the film.
City Lights
Charlie Chaplin does what Charlie Chaplin does best. The primary source of antics in the film is a wealthy drunkard who befriends Charlie after a night on the town, but continually forgets him upon sobering up. Additionally, Charlie falls in love with a blind girl who sells flowers on the street. He makes huge sacrifices in order to get her to see him for who he truly is.
Ordet
A study on religion and living a religious life. Morten is an old widower who has three sons. The oldest is married, has a daughter and another child on the way, and has lost his faith. The youngest is attempting to woo the daughter of a man from town who often feuded with Morten about religion. The middle son studied theology, but then began thinking he was Jesus Christ and denouncing those around him for not having true faith. As the family goes about their days and deals with conflicts, they reflect on the choices they have made and where that has brought them.