Theatrical Thursday – Paths of Glory (1957).

Stanley Kubrick, a legendary filmmaker of great renown, has been at the helm of some of cinema’s most well-known and iconic pictures; who can forget Lolita (1962), Spartacus (1960), Dr. Strangelove (1964), 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), A Clockwork Orange (1971), The Shining (1980), and Full Metal Jacket (1987)? His resume reads like a greatest hits list, the multitude of his work being critically acclaimed and pioneering in their own right. Quite possibly my all-time favorite Kubrick flick, though, is the utter masterwork that is Paths of Glory. Set in WWI, the film’s focus involves the trial of three men accused of cowardice in the face of the enemy after a failed assault on the enemy German positions. Kirk Douglas, a personal favorite, plays the role of French Colonel Dax, a visceral portrayal of a man tasked with defending the accused soldiers, who all face death by firing squad. His character faces the daunting task of proving the unwavering character of his men, while facing the impossible brutality that was WWI.

The film itself is wrought with a tension befitting the backdrop of one of the world’s most brutal conflicts, with themes of honor, duty, nationalistic pride, greed, betrayal, family, and idealism laced tightly within. The stark realism on display in the raw and gritty set pieces and the intricately placed details add to the brilliant performances of the actors. The grand scale of the set captured the sheer scope and intensity of the conflict, and the dramatic, solemn tension vividly captured the perilous plight of the condemned men. An outstanding achievement in film from a director and cast known for their remarkable performances.

Check it out!

 

 

SaturdayDreaming – Life’s Calling.

We often hear people refer to their calling in life. We hear it all the time. But it makes you wonder; do most people answer their life’s call? That’s a very good question. What is a calling, anyway? Is it the universe speaking to us, urging us to manifest some sort of predetermined destiny that’s been implanted in us since birth? Is it a role or function or purpose that we were meant to play based on economic or social circumstances? Or is it just something that we’ve always wanted to be, a profession or purpose that we’ve always admired or yearned to achieve or accomplish? Is it developed, learned, or are we just born with it? I like to think that it’s a fair combination of all of the above. I like to think we’re all gifted a purpose in life; that certain elements of our lives are somewhat predetermined, that certain aspects are supposed to be fulfilled. They’re meant to be accomplished.  
I enjoy hearing people discuss their life’s calling, because they vary so much, and it’s a pleasure to hear people relate their life’s joys. It’s fun to banter about life’s differing purposes. It’s fun to chat about our own little personal meanings within the whole sphere, and to see someone’s face light up when they discover their own life’s purpose.  
We hear it all the time, people discussing their various callings, and it’s something to take notice about. We all have something within us; a skill, a passion, a drive, a function that far outweighs the others. Maybe you’ve always loved music, or painting, or acting, for example. The pursuit of any one of them is your calling. But the question still begs, how many of us heed that call? 
It’s easy to rot away in a cubicle or warehouse. It’s easy to bury your calling under phone calls and meetings and reports and all of the other numerous responsibilities that life provides. But it is also a responsibility to not only discover, but to cultivate whatever it is you feel that you were ‘born’ to do. No matter what it is. We all have gifts and talents and passions just waiting to be discovered, if they haven’t been uncovered already. Whatever those motivations may be, we need to discover them. Take a class. Network. Do whatever it is that you need to do. We all have a purpose, a reason…a calling. We owe it to ourselves to fulfill it, no matter the cost. The question is, will we choose to answer it?

Theatrical Thursday – Hell’s Angels (1930).

 

There’s nothing quite like the feel of the early classics; the attention to sharp dialogue (even if it was laced with gooey mozzarella), the richly layered intensity of the orchestral scores, and the overly dramatic stage-esque acting style combined with a precision lacking in so many of today’s films. I set my sights on Hell’s Angels this morning, the 1930 Howard Hughes masterwork. Hughes, the notorious perfectionist and eccentric in later life, directed and produced the piece at a cost of nearly 4 million dollars, which was the most expensive film production ever made at the time. But I have to say that the money was well spent; the attention to detail and the immensity and daring creativity of the aerial combat shots made for an exhilarating viewing.

 

The story tells the tale of two brothers, Roy and Monte Rutledge, (James Hall and Ben Lyon respectively), and their high flying exploits as pilots in Britain’s Royal Flying Corp during WWI. Austere Roy contrasted with Monte, who was quite the lecher (Monte joined the corp just to get a kiss from a girl at the recruiting post), but the two went on to serve in the conflict. Roy is deeply in love with Helen (played by Jean Harlow), who isn’t quite who she appears to be, but his love for her plays a pivotal role in the story. The production was originally filmed as a silent picture, but the advent of sound technology led the crew to re-shoot most of the movie using this new technique.

 

Nearly 100 WWI pilots were brought in to fly the planes, with three of them crashing and dying during the filming. The film makes use of groundbreaking aerial camera work and features some of the most thrilling scenes of mock aerial combat filmed; the extent of the scenes is truly remarkable for the era, as quality WWI dogfights are a rarity. Had the film been made today, 90% of it would have been done with CGI, so it’s great to watch a picture with real guts and mechanics. An exciting film done in the old, big Hollywood style, it’s definitely worth a watch even if you’re not a fan of old war movies. If you are, you’d better get on it ASAP.

 

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