tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786565.post1341293668535631755..comments2023-12-17T16:13:06.670-05:00Comments on In a Godward direction: Lies and ConsequencesTobias Stanislas Haller BSGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08047429477181560685noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786565.post-86440824547339603602011-11-30T16:51:50.785-05:002011-11-30T16:51:50.785-05:00Thanks, Charlie. I agree with you about Hoover; bu...Thanks, Charlie. I agree with you about Hoover; but for me the film remains a three- rather than a four-star.Tobias Stanislas Haller BSGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08047429477181560685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786565.post-18535316141206464862011-11-30T14:49:38.013-05:002011-11-30T14:49:38.013-05:00Tobias
I don't often disagree with you, but h...Tobias<br /><br />I don't often disagree with you, but here I must. I enjoyed the film a great deal. Yes, Hoover was a flawed person (who isn't). But his denial of himself (his sexuality, his cowardice, his self importance) was tragic indeed.<br /><br />As Eastwood's Dirty Harry once said: "A man's got to know his limitations."<br /><br />J. Edgar didn't and perhaps couldn't.Deacon Charlie Perrinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786565.post-24756384794463017942011-11-29T09:47:55.579-05:002011-11-29T09:47:55.579-05:00Ah, yes, QE I as well. She is really one of the be...Ah, yes, QE I as well. She is really one of the best. I've not seen her version of the Tempest, which I hope to catch at some point.Tobias Stanislas Haller BSGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08047429477181560685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786565.post-68911997422936634832011-11-29T01:07:44.371-05:002011-11-29T01:07:44.371-05:00Or, Helen Mirren as QE1, for that matter. The lad...Or, Helen Mirren as QE1, for that matter. The lady's a true gem. <br /><br />She even made me feel a slight touch of humanity in Ayn Rand . . . a <i>very</i> slight touch, but still.MarkBrunsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16971990948866488080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786565.post-8817395871988125722011-11-28T12:45:40.352-05:002011-11-28T12:45:40.352-05:00Mimi, I think that's right. The physical resem...Mimi, I think that's right. The physical resemblance need not be a perfect match; and if it is only achieved with tons of makeup that actually gets in the way. There is always the danger of falling into an impersonation rather than acting, too.Tobias Stanislas Haller BSGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08047429477181560685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786565.post-63113619424178276962011-11-28T12:28:44.999-05:002011-11-28T12:28:44.999-05:00Actually, a close physical resemblance to a histor...Actually, a close physical resemblance to a historical person seems not to be all that important for the actor. Of course, you're the expert here, and I should have payed attention to you, other negative reviews, and my own best instincts. Roger Ebert gave the movie a good review, which convinced me to go. I'm now wondering if we saw the same film. ;-)June Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01723016934182800437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786565.post-62258659388027613952011-11-28T09:45:21.421-05:002011-11-28T09:45:21.421-05:00Further thought re the last... Compare with Frost/...Further thought re the last... Compare with Frost/Nixon, for example, where neither actor is quite so famous in himself. The actors were able to inhabit the roles and be convincing.<br /><br />Or even more, perhaps the best along this line in recent years, Helen Mirren as QE II...Tobias Stanislas Haller BSGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08047429477181560685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786565.post-13312329653152688532011-11-28T09:43:24.876-05:002011-11-28T09:43:24.876-05:00Thanks, Mimi. You are right about the uneven pacin...Thanks, Mimi. You are right about the uneven pacing, as well as some of the effective scenes.<br /><br />I think DiCaprio suffers from his stardom -- as good as he is as an actor, even with layers of foam latex, he is too recognizable. I think it's a particular problem when playing an historical character some of us actually remember! It's too easy to say, "That's not Hoover, it's Leo!"Tobias Stanislas Haller BSGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08047429477181560685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786565.post-10956409618542373972011-11-28T00:09:56.074-05:002011-11-28T00:09:56.074-05:00Tobias, I should have taken your post more to hear...Tobias, I should have taken your post more to heart, but Tom wanted to see the movie. Certain scenes in the film held my interest, but during rather long stretches, I wanted a fast-forward button. As you say, there were fine performances. Judi Dench was marvelous, as usual, and Armie Hammer was quite good as Tolson, but with DiCaprio, I could not suspend disbelief. Through much of the film, he remained an actor playing a part, but for a few scenes with Hammer.<br /><br />I agree that there are the makings of a tragedy and a morality tale in Hoover's story, but Eastwood did not make either happen.June Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01723016934182800437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786565.post-34931407719953806682011-11-26T14:32:42.984-05:002011-11-26T14:32:42.984-05:00Well, Scoop, as I say, you won't be missing an...Well, Scoop, as I say, you won't be missing anything great. The film misses more than it hits, and that's too bad.Tobias Stanislas Haller BSGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08047429477181560685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786565.post-58299753102009413232011-11-26T14:19:23.497-05:002011-11-26T14:19:23.497-05:00I just don't think I can bring myself to see t...I just don't think I can bring myself to see this one, even though I teach US history. Hoover was a repugnant person, and I have never quite forgiven Leo for Titanic.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />http://abidinginhope.blogspot.com/Scoop (Leslie Scoopmire)https://www.blogger.com/profile/03599423243399045800noreply@blogger.com