Thanks, Roy. For me, the odd thing with Prince Timmee is I can *see* his charisma without being at all *affected* by it -- I often find him slightly annoying, and it seems like this film smashes that button pretty hard. Still, it sounds interesting enough that I plan to check it out. A comparison to Raging Bull will always make me prick up my ears. And I'm a sucker for Old New York movies.
I don't think I could make it through our long national nightmare without Roy's political commentary, but it does seem a shame that his obvious talents are being wasted on a boob like Donald Trump.
Your description reminds me of The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz. I saw that one sometime in the 1970's, so it's a little blurry. If I remember correctly, our boy Duddy goes from one hustle to the next. Each one sets up more dominoes for the eventual crash. Richard Dreyfus who payed the young striver later said the film was harmed by it's low budget and rushed shooting schedule. That made it fit right in with the gritty "street pictures" of the era.
Tangentially, the Raging Bull references is triggering for me.
I took my retired mom to see it at the local movieplex. Ma grew up in the 1930's, so I figured a romance about a boxer and his girlfriend would be a real treat. That fiasco was only part of a trend. For my thirteenth birthday she took me to see a movie. What did the little shit ask to see?
TAODK stuck with me because I was moving into the adult world when I saw it. I wondered if I'd ever be able to deal with the kind of fuckups Duddy husbanded. Specifically, the lives he'd ruined, including his own, with nary an "Arthur"-like feelgood turnaround in the final reel. Or a nice bouncy theme song over the credits to keep my toes tapping.
...and it seems I was correct. They waited til I'd left the scene before hazarding a march east. outnumbered by cops and possibly by press. Croc tears for poor Fascli Babbitt...
Hey, maybe it was that "anti-war right" that I've heard so much about? Tulsi Gabbard and that sort, showing up to protest US imperialism, "dumb wars" and "nation-building". I think you got an accurate count of their actual numbers, which is zero.
There's a local guy does videos-whilst-wandering-around here in DC. Specializes in demos. His 15 minute compilation from yesterday justifies my declamation: we are inundated by FAHBs: Failures As Human Beings.
Sounds like the formula of life as a funnel narrowing to a hindsight foregone conclusion. I like your review, spoilers be damned! I can't take the new movies anymore. The old ones seem more comforting, and we need comfort. Take You Can't Take It With You. Comforting.
I thought this was interesting, but I also thought it went way too easy on him. He's basically a high-functioning sociopath, using and abusing absolutely everyone he meets, and then I'm supposed to give him a pass because he weeps when he sees his child? Not too sure about that.
Just watched it in time for the Oscars...well worth the watch! As the movie ended, the first thing I thought of was that it opened and closed with Tears For Fears songs ("Change" & "Everybody Wants To Rule The World")
As I watched it. I kept thinking how bizarre, that this early chapter of Dylan's life, before he picked up the guitar, has gone untold!
Thanks, Roy. For me, the odd thing with Prince Timmee is I can *see* his charisma without being at all *affected* by it -- I often find him slightly annoying, and it seems like this film smashes that button pretty hard. Still, it sounds interesting enough that I plan to check it out. A comparison to Raging Bull will always make me prick up my ears. And I'm a sucker for Old New York movies.
"cinematography is full of scuzzy beauty"
I enjoy your film criticism - there's a lot of value in descriptions like this.
Film criticism brings out his style in a special way.
I don't think I could make it through our long national nightmare without Roy's political commentary, but it does seem a shame that his obvious talents are being wasted on a boob like Donald Trump.
You're telling me
Your description reminds me of The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz. I saw that one sometime in the 1970's, so it's a little blurry. If I remember correctly, our boy Duddy goes from one hustle to the next. Each one sets up more dominoes for the eventual crash. Richard Dreyfus who payed the young striver later said the film was harmed by it's low budget and rushed shooting schedule. That made it fit right in with the gritty "street pictures" of the era.
Tangentially, the Raging Bull references is triggering for me.
I took my retired mom to see it at the local movieplex. Ma grew up in the 1930's, so I figured a romance about a boxer and his girlfriend would be a real treat. That fiasco was only part of a trend. For my thirteenth birthday she took me to see a movie. What did the little shit ask to see?
"Deliverance".
TAODK is a good comparison!
TAODK stuck with me because I was moving into the adult world when I saw it. I wondered if I'd ever be able to deal with the kind of fuckups Duddy husbanded. Specifically, the lives he'd ruined, including his own, with nary an "Arthur"-like feelgood turnaround in the final reel. Or a nice bouncy theme song over the credits to keep my toes tapping.
Don't know why but I'm thinking of Paddy Chayefsky's "Marty". Would it have been playing at the movie houses?
Hey Marty what's happened with you? Well...
Sorry, but I gotta go (downtown). Enrique Tarrio claims to lead a march today from the Ellipse to the Capitol. No way I'll miss that (if it happens.)
I finally put my recollections in print:
https://thatbern.substack.com/p/cold-grey-day-in-hell
Hell of a thing, Bern.
Jesus, what's their grievance now? We're not letting Trump be President enough?
Well nobody showed up whilst I was down there, so no grievances were conveyed...maybe word got round I was on the way...
...and it seems I was correct. They waited til I'd left the scene before hazarding a march east. outnumbered by cops and possibly by press. Croc tears for poor Fascli Babbitt...
Hey, maybe it was that "anti-war right" that I've heard so much about? Tulsi Gabbard and that sort, showing up to protest US imperialism, "dumb wars" and "nation-building". I think you got an accurate count of their actual numbers, which is zero.
There's a local guy does videos-whilst-wandering-around here in DC. Specializes in demos. His 15 minute compilation from yesterday justifies my declamation: we are inundated by FAHBs: Failures As Human Beings.
Sounds like the formula of life as a funnel narrowing to a hindsight foregone conclusion. I like your review, spoilers be damned! I can't take the new movies anymore. The old ones seem more comforting, and we need comfort. Take You Can't Take It With You. Comforting.
Take comfort where you find it!
Well, I did see the new Avatar movie. Tell you about it later.
After the first one became the highest-grossing film of all time, some smartass said, "Name a single line from it."
“scuzzy beauty”
I’m going to borrow that, Roy. It describes so much of what I see and photograph in the backstreets and along the roadsides of Mexico.
I will pay royalties in the form of scintillating comments here on REBID.
Great review once again as well. You’re film criticism’s unsung internet hero, IMO.
Thanks. "I will pay royalties in the form of scintillating comments here on REBID." We also take cash.
Could be worse, you could be paid in exposure.
Oof?
Thanks, I'll happily accept even a tentative oof.
"the struggle to survive persists in his do-anything drive..."
So Marty is the State of Israel?
Sort of!
I thought this was interesting, but I also thought it went way too easy on him. He's basically a high-functioning sociopath, using and abusing absolutely everyone he meets, and then I'm supposed to give him a pass because he weeps when he sees his child? Not too sure about that.
No, you're supposed to give him a pass because he's the star!
It's Daddy Kravitz but with ping-pong! I liked it a lot more than I expected to.
Just watched it in time for the Oscars...well worth the watch! As the movie ended, the first thing I thought of was that it opened and closed with Tears For Fears songs ("Change" & "Everybody Wants To Rule The World")