Chip Kaufmann’s Pick:
Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
Sergio Leone’s 1968 Western Once Upon a Time in the West is a multi-character, multi layered film. The principal story concerns the expansion of the railroad into new territory as presided over by a greedy railroad baron who uses a merciless killer to do his dirty work for him.
Leone’s unconventional storytelling, using ever increasing flashbacks, and the offbeat casting of Henry Fonda as the merciless killer disturbed audiences and critics and doomed the film upon its initial release (the same thing appears to be happening to the new Lone Ranger as well).
This is the movie that launched Charles Bronson’s international career. It also features bravura performances from Jason Robards, Italian character actor Gabriele Ferzetti, and a wonderful turn from Claudia Cardinale (the only time a Leone film featured a heroine). There’s also a slew of cameos from such American character icons as Jack Elam, Woody Strode, Keenan Wynn, and Lionel Stander.
The iconic opening titles sequence lasts for 13 minutes with only one sentence being spoken. It cuts back and forth between a speeding locomotive and three men waiting for its arrival and the man (Charles Bronson) aboard it. Leone utilizes numerous close-ups of the men’s faces in place of dialogue. Once seen it can never be forgotten. It ends in a typical Leone showdown with three guns against one with the one prevailing.
Bronson then meets up with notorious outlaw Cheyenne (Jason Robards) who’s wanted for murdering Claudia Cardinale’s family. Only he didn’t do it. Henry Fonda did pretending to be Robards. Bronson decides to help Cardinale & Robards. It turns out that he and Fonda have a history going back many years and this is the reason for the flashbacks. It all leads to a climactic showdown that isn’t what you expect.
Paramount cut over 40 minutes from the movie removing most of the character motivation and dumped it into theaters where it fared poorly and disappeared before its revival some years later thanks to VHS and later DVD. Now it’s back, uncut, and even available on Blu-Ray. If you’ve never seen West then you should even if you don’t like Westerns. It’s not a typical Western. It’s a psychological drama in a Western setting.
Michelle Keenan’s Pick:
The Sapphires (2012)
A few months ago I had the distinct pleasure of whiling away a couple of hours at a screening of The Sapphires. Unfortunately, being a monthly publication, the timing of the screening and the limited run of the film at one local theatre prevented me from running a review of it. When I saw that the little-seen film was coming to DVD on August 6th I knew I had my DVD pick of the month.
Inspired by a true story, The Sapphires follows the journey of four young singers in Aborigine girl band in 1968. As with the Civil Rights movement in the US during the sixties, times were volatile in Australia for the Aborigine. As the story goes here, the girls (three sisters) leave the rural mission where they live to attend a talent contest.
Clearly heads and tails above the closest competitor, the girls are jeered and booed and lose. As it turns out however, Dave Lovelace (Chris O’Dowd), the drunken Irishman serving as emcee, really does know a thing or two about music and talent, and these girls are the real deal. Meanwhile, one of the girls sees an advertisement for entertainers in Vietnam; Dave agrees to manage them and safely escort them to perform for the U.S. troops. They also enlist a lighter skinned cousin, who is living (off the reservation so-to-speak) as a white person, to complete the group.
With racial tension and the Vietnam War as the backdrop, some might wonder how this could be a feel good, comedy. Recall Good Morning Vietnam and you’ll get the idea. The Sapphires is a solid story with a heart of gold and a whole lot of soul – music that is! Chris O’Dowd’s comic presence is in top form, but so too is his warmth and compassion.
Even though he is the outsider, he becomes the glue in the story of these young women and in their lives. The Australian actresses who make up the group are played by Deborah Mailman, Miranda Tapsell, Jessica Mauboy and Sharri Sebbens are mostly unknowns to Americans, but may after this that’ll change.
Written by Tony Briggs, the son of one of the members of the real group, The Sapphires is meant for pure enjoyment. Little happens that will surprise you, but it will delight you.