Crash

Documentaries

** Highly Recommended **

Blackfish: Never Capture What You Can't Control, dir by Gabriela

Library DVD. Many years ago, I was in the audience for one of those fabulous dolphin shows at SeaWorld, and gave not a thought to where the Orca whales (known as blackfish by First Nations) were confined for the night. These social beings feel real grief when their young are separated from the pod. SeaWorld did not cooperate with the film, and you can go to their website to read why they call this film propaganda (not documentary). SeaWorld says, for starters,” We do not separate killer whale moms and calves, and in the rare occurrences that we do move whales among our parks, we do so only in order to maintain a healthy social structure.”

Library DVD. Originally aired on Frontline in 1999 (but may have been updated since). Recommended for anyone who, like me, knew only the barest outline of Mandela’s upbringing (b. 1918), his 27 years in prison, his marriages, what he means to South Africa and the world. Watched this a few months after Mandela’s death at age 95 in Dec, 2013.

Library DVD. Sarah talks with relatives and friends about her mother, who died in 1990 when Sarah was 11. The story intrigues. This won both the NYFCC and LAFCC Best Documentary honors and was on many critics' end-of-year top 10 lists, and was Oscar-nominated. But the Oscar went to Twenty Feet from Stardom.

This was fascinating. Inventor Tim Jenison believes Dutch Master Johannes Vermeer used a mirror and camera obscura to get his "photographic" views, and proceeds to prove his point. {But no one in the film has a clue what a Vermeer is.}

** Also Worth Seeing **

Library DVD. Take care who you love, as the Donovan lyric says. As this movie unfolds, what we see is a woman who is pathologically unable to bear being rejected. Andrew Bagby was a great guy. (Numerous friends, interviewed for the movie, all say they had hoped he would be the Best Man at their wedding.) But Andrew had the misfortune of getting involved with Shirley Turner (twice-divorced and 13 years his senior) while he was in medical school. Right after beginning his residency in Latrobe, PA, he broke up with her and put her on a plane back to Iowa. No sooner was she back there than she drove across country, uninvited, and showed up on his doorstep. Terrible things ensue.

This was the feature film in this year’s Rochester Bicycle Film Fest. In 2010, Graeme Obree was inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame. He broke the one-hour record in 1993 at age 28: (32.06 miles, beating the record of (31.78 miles by .28 miles (445 meters). He built his own bike (see Miscellany). He had been tormented in his youth by bigger, stronger, meaner kids. Perhaps some of that gave him his drive to succeed. {At the time, the record had only been broken 31 times since 1873 (120 years).}

Dryden Theatre. Liv Ullmann was 26 and Ingmar Bergman was 47 when they met in 1965 on the island of Fårö, a Swedish military outpost in the Baltic Sea, to shoot the exteriors of “Persona.” He was smitten first; then came mutual attraction. But, both were married, and she returned to Denmark, in an unsuccessful attempt to forget him. The movie features excerpts from Liv Ullmann's autobiography Changing (1977), her private letters to Ingmar Bergman, his letters to her, and his autobiography The Magic Lantern (1988). All interwoven with a contemporary interview with Liv.

There were six altogether. One of my favorites was “The Lady in Number 6” (and Bob saw this one later, on YouTube). It profiles cellist and pianist Alice Herz-Sommer, the oldest living Holocaust survivor. Age 106 (at time of filming), she was living in north London. “I am Jewish, but Beethoven is my religion.” [RIP: 2003 – Feb 2014.] My other favorite was “Cavedigger,” about artist Ra Paulette who digs cathedral-like sculptural caves in the sandstone of New Mexico. We learn that it is difficult for Paulette to satisfy his clients’ needs regarding deadlines.

** I Might Have Skipped These **

Dryden Theatre. The great comic strip Calvin and Hobbes was produced from 1985 to 1995. Bill Watterson was born in 1958. (So, he was 27 when he started the strip and 37 when he retired from it, which is pretty amazing to contemplate.) The strip was eventually syndicated in 2400 newspapers. He chose not to allow animations or merchandizing. Watterson is famous for not granting interviews. He did not appear in this film. Many other cartoonists were interviewed, almost none of whom I had ever heard of.

Library DVD. I loved the three main subjects—Darlene Love, Merry Clayton and one other, but this film could have been shorter, and I’m surprised it won the Oscar.

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Narrative Films

** Some of this actually happened **

Library DVD. We finally saw this classic. According to commentary by the real Henry Hill, what is portrayed is 99% accurate. That’s no doubt an exaggeration, and certainly the real characters were not as handsome. But, Paulie really was one of four lieutenants in the Lucchese crime family, and Billy Batts really was killed and buried and dug up, and Henry really went into the witness protection program, and so on. Not enjoyable subject matter, but the acting and direction were wonderful, and I’m glad we saw it. Joe Pesci was certainly a standout.

Library DVD. Biopic staring Barbara Sukowa as Hannah and Janet McTeer as her friend Mary McCarthy. I had to see most of this twice, and watch all the special features (Q&A with director and actresses, and the ‘Making Of’ documentary) before fully appreciating it. It led me to much reading afterwards in Wikipedia. Side note: Arendt was born the exact same year (1906) as Eichmann and as my father.

Library DVD. This year, I watched this film for a second time. Having recently read Team of Rivals, I was much more interested now in each character than I was when I first saw this. I think the screenplay is very well done. The actual period covered is Jan – Apr 1865, but the story manages to seamlessly weave in the context. For instance, they have some young soldiers talking to Lincoln, and telling him that they were there at Gettysburg the day he gave his speech to dedicate the ground, and then they recite the speech.

Library DVD. Tells the story of the Oakland A’s 2002 season and their General Manager, Billy Beane (Brad Pitt). Billy and his Assistant Manager (good job by Jonah Hill) begin to use data, not scouting, to build the team. In this sense, it was the opposite of Trouble With the Curve, where the old scout knows best.

George Clooney co-wrote this and stars in it, as well as directing it. He used his clout to good purpose here. There were a lot of people in the theatre when we saw it (and it had already left first-run theatres by that time). I’m guessing that the star power (John Goodman, Bob Balaban, Matt Damon, Bill Murray, Hugh Bonneville, George Clooney) drew an audience who then heard a bit of (fictionalized) history they might otherwise never have thought about. Based on the book by the same name by Robert Edsel.

Judi Dench, always a hit. I watched The Trip (2010) on DVD the weekend before seeing this movie, and that was my first introduction to Steve Coogan. I enjoyed seeing him 2010 and 2013. (He looks much better in this movie.) It’s interesting to think about how out-of-wedlock births were dealt with, in Ireland and in the U.S., in the 1950s, and how they are dealt with now. (See my summary under Miscellany.)

This is the story of Walt Disney finding a way to work with P.L. Travers when making the movie based on her book. Enjoyable performances by both Emma Thompson and Tom Hanks. I have put the Mary Poppins books on my list to read. Mary Poppins (the Disney movie) came out when I was at Aquinas, and our whole class (if not the whole school) trooped over to 71^st Street to see it.

Library DVD. Based on a novel by Brian Moore, which in turn is loosely based on the life of Paul Touvier, the only Frenchman convicted of World War II crimes against humanity. There are two conflicting interests in pursuit of the Michael Caine character—the police want to put him in jail, and his fellow Vichy war criminal assassins want to kill him before he is caught and names names. Loved Norman Jewison’s 1987 Moonstruck, but this one didn’t fare as well.

This film, which I very much liked, and which I saw at Thanksgiving with Eva and Herman, is based on Jane Wilde Hawking’s memoir, Travelling to Infinity, My Life with Stephen, and follows her relationship with Stephen Hawking (b. 1942) beginning in 1963 when they met. James Marsh also directed Man on Wire. English actor Eddie Redmayne (b. 1982) should be in high demand after this!!

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** Original Screenplays and screenplays based on books **

(not, as far as I know, based on actual events)

** Highly Recommended **

NT Live: War Horse

National Theatre of Great Britain’s original stage production of War Horse. This played at various theatres around the country (including The Little) in one-night events. Based on Michael Morpurgo’s novel and adapted for the stage by Nick Stafford.

** Also Worth Seeing **

Library DVD. The title character, a doctor in East Germany in 1980, was played by the lovely Nina Hoss. I hadn’t seen her before, but apparently German director Petzold has cast her a lot. I can’t say I enjoyed this movie, but I’m glad I saw it. Christian Petzold won Best Director award at the Berlin Film Festival for this film.

Library DVD. Daigo and Mika move to Daigo’s hometown (after the orchestra in which Daigo plays cello dissolves, and he is jobless). He stumbles into a job as an encoffiner, learning from a master the respectful ritual of washing and preparing bodies after death. Family and friends are encouraged to observe and it is done in a ceremonial, not workmanlike, manner. Winner of Oscar for Best Foreign Film.

The Dryden. Stars Audrey Hepburn, Fred Astaire, and Kay Thompson (author of the Eloise books). Audrey was 27 or 28 when this was made.

Enjoyable. She does quite a wonderful dance. Songs by George Gershwin and costumes by Edith Head. {Richard Avedon served as a consultant for the Astaire character.}

My first 3D movie. The story was not much. But, I am blown away by the skills and vision of the director, the special effects people, and everyone else involved. I was glad to see that Cuarón won the Best Director Oscar.

Library DVD. Set somewhere in the Southwestern United States in the 1870s or 1880s. This one is worth seeing just for the pleasure of Jimmy Stewart and John Wayne “together for the first time” (according to the movie posters). And to ponder whether you agree with The New Yorker's Richard Brody, who called it "the greatest American political movie." {Based on the content: role of violence, role of myth.}

Library DVD. Matthew McConaughey stars as a fellow hiding out from the law in Arkansas (on an island in the Mississippi). The two young boys who were cast as the 14 year olds Ellis and Neckbone (Tye Sheridan and Jacob Lofland, respectively) were so wonderful in their parts. Ellis’s family lives on a houseboat. He is learning about love.

Library DVD. Gena Rowlands, who plays nursing-home-Allie, is the director’s mother. James Garner, who plays her husband, had just died (7/19/2014, age 86), which is what prompted me to watch this movie. I guess he is most famous for Maverick (1957-59) and The Rockford Files (1974-79), though both of those TV shows passed me by. This film has a similar structure to The Bridges of Madison County and Fried Green Tomatoes, both of which were better than this. However, this is a good movie for anyone touched by Alzheimer’s.

The Dryden. Having just seen Sandra Bullock at age 50 in Gravity, I was interested to see her at age 30 in her breakout role. When I expressed an interest in seeing this, Bob warned me this was not my kind of movie. I surprised him in that I did enjoy it.

Library DVD. Our first sampling of Sarah Polley was Stories We Tell. Now I tried this original screenplay written by her. I stayed up late to watch this after having slept a good bit of the day, when I had a summer sore throat. I had seen Michelle Williams in A Week with Marilyn and in Brokeback Mountain. She was good again in this. A few weeks after seeing this, I was trying to recall it and couldn’t. Until I read this summary: “Margot is happily married to Lou, a good-natured cookbook author. But when Margot meets Daniel, a handsome artist who lives across the street, their mutual attraction is undeniable.”

** I Might Have Skipped These **

Library DVD. This film won Best Foreign Language Oscar, and Emmanuelle Riva was also the oldest Oscar nominee for Best Actress, at 85. I was interested to read that she made her (stunning) film debut at the age of 32 in 1967’s Hiroshoma Mon Amour. Haneke says, “I don’t base my films on themes, but on impressions that have stayed with me.” That probably explains why this would never be a film I would really resonate with.

Library DVD. For me, it’s all about story. I’m not a good appreciator of acting. I guess Cate Blanchett was great as Jasmine (Golden Globe, BAFTA, Oscar) but the story didn’t interest me. Also featuring Sally Hawkins and Alec Baldwin. Some critics have noted that the film seems to be directly inspired by, or based on, Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire. I say leave well enough alone.

Library DVD. Marie said some years ago that she had seen this and would like to discuss it with someone. Well, I finally saw it. Bob started watching it with me, and bailed after about 15 minutes, and he was right to do so. I watched the whole thing, but it never got better. The two main actors were Juliette Binoche and William Shimell (who is an operatic baritone, and hasn’t been in too many movies, but he was in Amour). Haneke, director of Amour, says, “My favorite film-maker of the decade is Abbas Kiarostami. He achieves a simplicity that’s so difficult to attain.” This movie, shot in Italy, is supposedly a departure from the Iranian director’s usual fare, though I wouldn’t know, as this is the first of his movies that I have seen.

Library DVD. Based, of course, on the novel by Jane Austen (which I have never read). I got interested in seeing this after having seen Jeremy Northrup as Colonel Roux in The Statement. He was quite handsome. His bio on imdb refers to “his beloved portrayal of "Mr. Knightley" in Miramax's Emma, starring opposite Gwyneth Paltrow.” Also features Toni Collette, Ewan McGregor, Greta Scacchi.

The Dryden. Peter Sellers as Quilty. (Now I’m interested to see the old HBO special on him.) Didn’t enjoy this movie, so not sure I should waste my time on the 1997 version with Jeremy Irons (but I am curious). The story is, of course, based on the novel (I started it once about a year ago, but did not finish it) by Vladimir Nabokov. What’s to like about the story? Charolotte Haze (played here by Shelley Winters) is pathetic. Humbert Humbert is pathetic. Lolita (the 14-yr-old Sue Lyons) is living under the controlling power of Humbert.

RIP Philip Seymour Hoffman (July 1967 – Feb 2014). I tend to find this kind of movie (money-laundering schemes, terrorist cells) confusing, and this was no exception. On top of that, there was not enough character development to get me to really care. Based on a 2008 John le Carré's novel of the same name. This year, I have seen Rachel McAdams in this movie and in a bigger part in The Notebook. {Nina Hoss, Robin Wright, Willem Dafoe are worthy of mention.}

Before either Eva or I had seen this, she warned me that I probably wouldn’t like it (even though I like Bruce Dern) since I hadn’t particularly liked either of A. Payne’s last two movies. Bob and I didn’t purposely set out to see this, but when the movie we had hoped to see was sold out, we opted for this. Eva was right. The son learns some things about his father (from other people) during their journey, but has no luck trying to talk to his father. Life can be like that. But why make a movie about it? (As it turns out, Eva and Herman saw this later in the year, and she loved it!)

Library DVD. The 3 main women (Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow, and Anna Camp) were beautiful. But, that’s about all there was to like about this movie about an all-girls a cappella group at the fictional Barden College. I guess it was supposed to be a comedy. One more confirmation that I don’t “get” comedy.

Library DVD. With Talia Shire (younger sister of Francis Ford Coppola) and Sylvester Stallone (who wrote the screenplay and would not sell it unless they cast him in the main part—smart move). Ranked #2 (in June, 2008) on the American Film Institute's list of the 10 greatest films in the genre "Sports."

DVD. Steve Coogan plays Steve, and Rob Brydon plays Rob. Apparently this movie is an edited version of the British TV series of the same name, and the two actors are well known British comedians. I think they are famous for doing impressions, and they do lots of them (quite good) in this movie.

The Dryden. Rotten Tomatoes’ consensus was: "Jacques Demy elevates the basic drama of everyday life into a soaring opera full of bittersweet passion and playful charm, featuring a timeless performance from Catherine Deneuve." Soaring opera? Singing every line of dialogue does not opera make. The supposed charms of this movie eluded both of us. Why is this a classic? {It was “a classic” 50 years ago.}

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Movie-related Quotes

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Saving Mr. Banks

P.L. Travers: A pleasure to meet you, though I fear we shan't be acquainted for too long.

Robert Sherman (composer/lyricist): Excuse me?

P.L. Travers: These books simply do not lend themselves to chirping and prancing. No. Certainly not a musical. Now, where is Mister Disney? I'd very much like to get this started and finished as briskly as is humanly possible.

"Pamela, the ship has sailed."

- Walt Disney to P.L.Travers when she reportedly approached him at the film’s premier (she wasn't invited to it and had to confront a producer to be allowed to go) and told him that the animated sequence had to go.

Hannah Arendt

I did try to reconcile the shocking mediocrity of the man with his staggering deeds. Trying to understand is not the same as forgiveness. I see it as my responsibility to understand. Thinking is being engaged in that silent dialogue between me and myself. In refusing to be a person, Eichmann utterly surrendered that single most-defining human quality, that of being able to think. And consequently he was no longer capable of making moral judgments. ... I hope that thinking gives people the strength to prevent catastrophes in these rare moments when the chips are down.

- Hannah Arendt

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Reviews or Descriptions I Liked

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Amour

Haneke says that films should offer viewers more space for imagination and self-reflection. Films that have too much detail and moral clarity, Haneke says, are used for mindless consumption by their viewers. It is often difficult for people to ascertain Haneke’s philosophy and the exact messages he wishes to illustrate in his works.

- Wikipedia

Barbara

One of the most intriguing aspects of Barbara is the lack of narrative hand-holding, with the lead's main intent remaining a mystery for a good chunk of the movie. There are no twists to spoil, but admittedly, much of the film's pull anchors on its masterful use of low-key storytelling.

- Christopher Bell, 12/18/12, blogs.indiwire.com

A film of glancing moments and dangerous secrets, Barbara paints a haunting picture of a woman being slowly crushed between the irreconcilable needs of desire and survival. Germany's official Oscar submission for Best Foreign Language Film.

- from the promoters of the film, and perhaps overstated

The Flying Scotsman

Too-brisk pacing reduces the scale of cyclist Graeme Obree’s accomplishments while not uncovering what makes him tick.

- Pretty much the consensus on Rotten Tomatoes

Goodfellas

When Goodfellas was released in 1990, Paul Sorvino thought he had hurt his career. After thinking about it some more, he revisited that opinion, according to WhosDatedWho.com. “I’m kind of coming through a clearing here, and I’m thinking that’s not a boring movie; that it’s a good movie; a great movie maybe,” he reflected. “And I’m really good in it!”

Brilliantly adapted from Nicholas Pileggi’s true-life bestseller Wiseguy, Goodfellas is a colorful and superbly crafted look at the rise and fall of a mob insider. Directed and co-written (with the author) by Martin Scorsese, this modern masterpiece received six Academy Award® nominations (Joe Pesci won for Best Supporting Actor) and was voted “Best Picture of the Year” by the New York, Los Angeles, and National Societies of Film Critics. Filled with electrifying performances by a standout cast that includes Robert DeNiro, Paul Sorvino, Ray Liotta, and Lorraine Bracco, it stands as a modern American classic and one of the finest gangster films of all time. The late, great Roger Ebert himself called it “the best mob movie ever!” in the Chicago Sun-Times.

- Orlando Weekly, March 13, 2014, Cameron Meier

Justified

*** Note: I am watching several TV series, including Justified, but have removed these from my list in the interests of space. ***

One of the best things about Justified is that the title isn't just a badass turn of phrase from the pilot. Graham Yost and company are constantly revisiting what it means to Raylan (and others) to be justified in taking their own measures to secure justice.

- Joe Reid, vulture.com, 4/3/2013

Lolita

The film’s year of release (1962) came a mere two years after Psycho shocked the censors by depicting an adult couple of philanders in the same bedroom. Though the prurient details of Lolita’s taboo relationship were never explicitly shown, the very fact that a pubescent girl and her 50-something lover stepfather might be the subject of a film showed that the primrose walls of the Production Code were tumbling swiftly indeed. … The book had its humorous side: Nabokov writes with such a joie-de-vivre and Humbert possesses such coruscating wit that it’s impossible not to enjoy ‘Lolita’ as a page-turner or even whimsical travelogue at times. Yet Humbert remains a deeply tragic character, and once that glib sheen of verbosity and ego is prized away we must confront the ragged threads of suburban desperation.

- from a blog post about the movie

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence

There's a lot in the film if we care to notice. This is all to be seen: The role of a free press, the function of a town meeting, the debate about statehood, the civilizing influence of education.

- Roger Ebert

It’s really a film about what is heroic, and what is truth, and how what is received as truth maybe didn’t happen.

- Kenneth Turan, in his new book Not to Be Missed: Fifty-Four Favorites from a Lifetime of Film

(I like it when someone is able to articulate what a film is “really about.” But that’s usually when I realize that I missed the point of the movie.)

The Monuments Men

[D]espite its absorbing story [it] never quite hits its stride either as a stylish wartime thriller (of which John Frankenheimer’s similarly themed The Train will forever be the epitome) or jocular lark (“Ocean’s Altarpiece,” anyone?).

- Ann Hornaday, The Washington Post, Feb 6, 2014

A Most Wanted Man

While the camera frame is Hoffman's oyster, playing a sloppy, chain smoking, drunk is not exactly a challenge, nor, sadly, a stretch.

- from a reviewer on imdb.com

Hoffman graces the audience with one final demonstration of his cavalcade of talents. His abilities to draw purpose and subtext out of every line and provide nuance and signature—to what may have otherwise been bromidic characters in the hands of other actors—are unlike any class of acting that I've personally ever witnessed.

- a completely different perspective, from a different reviewer on imdb

The Statement

Although identified as a Canadian author, Moore was born in Ulster—and actually lived most of his later life in California and the South of France. He was clearly fascinated by questions of faith, of good and evil—and he boldly tackled these themes in The Statement. He writes in a Graham Greene-esque mode, his characters often anguished or guilty Catholics or ex-Catholics who struggle to live morally in a degraded and corrupt world.

- From a reviewer on imdb

Stories We Tell

[U]nlike those filmmakers who explore their family histories to settle scores or indulge in self-mythology, Sarah Polley knows that it is never all about her. … [B]uilding on the interest in narrative form that she expressed in earlier movies like Take This Waltz, she explores storytelling itself and the space between a life lived and its different, at times conflicting representations.

- The New York Times, May 9, 2013, Manohla Dargis

Take This Waltz

[A] society where the constraints may be different (no one will be paraded around the town labelled as an adulterer), but the emotional and ethical risks remain significant and personal.

- The Observer, Aug 18, 2012, Philip French

Tim’s Vermeer

Whether or not he made use of optical instruments, Vermeer looked at the world with a uniquely penetrating eye. He was able to paint what he saw with a delicate hand. If you can't see the astonishing nature of his talent when you are standing in front of his paintings you should walk away from them – not make a film about how easy they are to replicate.

- The Guardian, Jan 28, 2014, Jonathan Jones

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg and Funny Face

Any number of Hollywood musicals are far better. Try Funny Face with Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire if you want great photography, a great (Gershwin) score, a witty and sophisticated screenplay, and a superbly sophisticated supporting cast, notably marvelous Kay Thompson. The scene of Hepburn descending the stairs in the red gown is worth all of The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. - a reviewer on imdb

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Movie Miscellany

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Blackfish

For Georges Chapouthier, a neurobiologist and director of the Emotion Centre at Pierre and Marie Curie University in Paris, self-awareness means that dolphins and whales, along with some higher primates, can experience not just pain but also suffering.

Unlike nociception—a basic nerve response to harmful stimuli found in all animals—or lower-order pain, "suffering supposes a certain level of cognitive functioning," he said. "It is difficult to define what that level is, but there's a lot of data now to suggest some higher mammals have it, including great apes, dolphins and, most likely, whales."

As for intelligence, cetaceans are second only to humans in brain size, once body weight is taken into account.

More telling than volume, though, are cerebral areas which specialise in cognition and emotional processing—and the likelihood that this evolution was partly driven by social interaction, according to several peer-reviewed studies. Some scientists suggest this interaction can best described as culture, a notion usually reserved for homo sapiens.

– The Telegraph, 20 Jun 2010

Cavedigger (the Oscar-nominated documentary short)

Paulette’s spectacular, Gaudi-like caves are easily on par with the most well-known land artists — Goldsworthy, Smithson, De Maria — yet only a small circle in Northern New Mexico is aware of his work.”

– filmmaker Karoff, in a blog for the Maui Film Festival

Departures

The basic foundational principle in the ritual of encoffinment is the belief of a life after death and the encoffiner acting as an intermediary force between this world and the next. But unfortunately Japan has … followed the path the world is following which is the secular and sophic view that everything has a natural order and encoffinment is not necessary as we need not worry of what happens after death. … We also cannot deny that there is true beauty in how the Japanese once viewed this as a sendoff to something greater, something eternal.

- http://reinventingknowledge9.blogspot.com/2011/09/departures-japanese-art-of-encoffinment_08.html

The Flying Scotsman

The original Old Faithful bike is on display at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.

“I never took drugs to improve my performance at any time, as has been happening in the sport for a long time. In other words, if you buy a signed poster now, it will not be tarnished later.”

– Graeme Obree’s official website

Gravity 3D

Bullock spent an enormous amount of time in a special 12-wire rig designed to allow her to float as if she were in zero gravity. Created by visual effects supervisor Neil Corbould, this system resembled a marionette, and the production brought in some of the best puppeteers in the business to play puppet master [Robin Guiver and others; they had worked on War Horse]. Guiver says,“In the world of puppets, we are able to break the laws of physics in graceful and expressive ways.” - www.digitaltrends.com

Hannah Arendt

From Wikipedia's article on Eichmann: "Arendt calls him the embodiment of the ‘banality of evil,’ asserting that he appeared to be ordinary and sane, yet displayed neither guilt nor hatred."

Stanley Milgram interpreted Arendt's work as stating that even the most ordinary of people can commit horrendous crimes if placed in certain situations and given certain incentives. He wrote: "I must conclude that Arendt's conception of the banality of evil comes closer to the truth than one might dare imagine."

- "The Perils of Obedience," Harper's Magazine, Dec 1973

Professor Majid Yar of the University of Hull interprets Arendt's stance to be that Eichmann unthinkingly followed orders without taking into account the consequences of his actions.

Regarding the Wannsee Conference, Eichmann stated that he felt a sense of satisfaction and relief at its conclusion. As a clear decision to exterminate had been made by his superiors, the matter was out of his hands; he felt absolved of any guilt. On the last day of the examination, he stated that he was guilty of arranging the transports, but he did not feel guilty for the consequences.

"The world now understands the concept of 'desk murderer.' We know that one doesn't need to be fanatical, sadistic, or mentally ill to murder millions; that it is enough to be a loyal follower eager to do one's duty."" - Simon Wiesenthal, from his 1988 book Justice, Not Vengeance

In Treatment (a TV series that I tried briefly in 2014)

Trivia about Gabriel Byrne (born 1950) from Wikipedia: He is featured as therapist Dr. Paul Weston in the critically acclaimed HBO series In Treatment (2008-2010). Byrne [formerly married to Ellen Barkin] married his long term partner, Hannah Beth King, on 4th August 2014 at Ballymaloe House in Co. Cork, Ireland. He was cultural ambassador for Ireland for a while until he criticized the tourism initiative “The Gathering,” describing it as an attempt by Ireland's politicians and media to fleece wealthy Americans. Byrne also criticized the marketing strategy employed by Guinness known as Arthur's Day as "a cynical piece of exercise in a country which has a huge drinking problem." His 1995 autobiography, Pictures in My Head, continues to be on my list to read.

Justified

Raylan [...] has an intuition about people and their criminal intentions which usually leads to him shooting them despite his best efforts to resolve things peacefully. - Wikipedia

Lolita

In a scene from the film, Humbert plays chess with Lolita's mother as Lolita kisses Humbert goodnight. His line in the scene is "I take your Queen" suggestive of his designs on her daughter. Chess is a recurrent motif in the novels of Nabokov and a favorite pastime of director Stanley Kubrick. – Wikipedia

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence

Edith Head's costumes for the film were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Costume Design, one of the few westerns ever nominated for the award.

Mud

Director Jeff Nichols said in an interview that he wrote the part of Mud with McConaughey in mind, and also wrote the Tom Blankenship part with Sam Shepard in mind, so was thrilled when both loved the script and agreed to do the film.

Philomena

My summary.

In the 1950s:

a) Social pressure, not sex education, was the tool used to keep the problem of unwed mothers at bay.

b) Nuns ran orphanages. They would take care of the children, and the mothers had to work there to pay for their health care and the children's care.

c) The young mothers were told they would face damnation if they ever revealed their guilty secret (this was a completely unnecessary burden).

d) If not facing damnation, certainly the young mothers were stigmatized and there was possibly an attitude among many that they deserved whatever pain they suffered.

e) The adoptions were unregulated; decisions were left to the nuns; adopting families had to meet their criteria (agree to raise the child as a Catholic, probably); money being offered may have influenced decisions.

f) While it was good for the babies and young children to have the crucial bonding experience, it was wrenching for the mothers to bond and then have the children adopted.

g) Records were sealed and lies were told.

h) Unmarried mothers who had chosen to keep their babies were an insignificant percentage of the population; young mothers were pressured into giving their children up for adoption.

i) Unmarried mothers not yet out of high school mostly dropped out of school.

Today:

a) Improved communication and sex education are the tools used in the hope of avoiding the problem before it happens.

b) Less stigma: mother gets counseling and can choose to abort, be a single parent, or give the baby up for adoption.

c) The mother can choose to abort the child. This can have its own psychological effects on the mother.

d) The mother can choose to be a single parent. This has not worked out well. In general, these children don't have great outcomes, and have a high rate of poverty. Society is trying pretty unsuccessfully to bear this social burden.

e) The mother can choose to give up the baby for adoption; if she does so, she does it at birth.

f) Records are not sealed, and birth mothers have a chance to connect with their children at some point.

g) More diverse families are able to adopt.

Stories We Tell

Sarah Polley, being interviewed on Fresh Air about Stories We Tell: “My father's entire story, for me, was really the central story, because he was the one who had the most to lose and to respond to.”

The Theory of Everything

From Wikipedia: Hawking's marriage [was] strained for many years. Jane felt overwhelmed by the intrusion into their family life of the required nurses and assistants. The impact of his celebrity was challenging for colleagues and family members, and in one interview Jane described her role as "simply to tell him that he's not God."

In the late 1980s Hawking had grown close to one of his nurses, Elaine Mason, to the dismay of some colleagues, caregivers and family members who were disturbed by her strength of personality and protectiveness. Hawking told Jane that he was leaving her for Mason, and departed the family home in February 1990. After his divorce from Jane in the spring of 1995, Hawking married Mason in September, declaring "It's wonderful—I have married the woman I love."

In 2006 Hawking and Elaine quietly divorced, following which Hawking resumed closer relationships with Jane, his children and grandchildren.