Hidden Treasures - Week of Dec. 3rd
It’s my intention to make Hidden Treasures a weekly offering, shedding light on four excellent films that have not received the level of attention I think they deserve. All of the films I will touch on in Hidden Treasures are available on DVD, and I highly recommend each and every one of them.
THE TAKING OF PELHAM ONE TWO THREE (1974)
A taut, gripping thriller in which a band of terrorists takes over a New York subway car, THE TAKING OF PELHAM ONE TWO THREE is an ambitious film, one that branches off into several directions during its 2-hour running time, yet never once does it lose its entertaining edge. Walter Matthau leads an all-star cast in a film that served as one of Quentin Tarantino’s inspirations for RESERVOIR DOGS (like that film, all of the terrorists in THE TAKING OF PELHAM ONE TWO THREE take colors for names, in order to hide their true identity).
I AM A FUGUTIVE FROM A CHAIN GANG (1932)
There was a time, many years ago, when Paul Muni was the biggest star in Hollywood. To understand why, one needs look no further than I AM A FUGUTIVE FROM A CHAIN GANG, a 1932 film based on a true story. Muni stars as a drifter whose convicted of petty theft and sentenced to serve out his term on a chain gang. So powerful was this film’s social message that it helped bring down the chain gang justice system in Georgia (the film was banned in that state for many years following its release). I AM A FUGUTIVE FROM A CHAIN GANG is a thought provoking movie starring one of the most talented leading men in Hollywood history.
SYDNEY (aka HARD EIGHT) (1996)
Before he directed such modern classics as BOOGIE NIGHTS and MAGNOLIA, Paul Thomas Anderson made SYDNEY, also known as HARD EIGHT. Philip Baker Hall stars as the title character, a professional gambler who takes a down-on-his-luck novice, played by John C. Reilly, under his wing and teaches him how to survive in Las Vegas. Though much narrower in its scope and execution than Anderson’s subsequent films, SYDNEY is nonetheless on the same dramatic level as any of the director’s biggest hits. Hall and Reilly are superb, as are Gwyneth Paltrow and Samuel L. Jackson in supporting roles.
BARFLY (1987)
Based on the life of noted writer Charles Bukowski, BARFLY sticks out like a sore thumb in the early filmography of actor Mickey Rourke. Having relied on his good looks and charm in films such as DINER, THE POPE OF GREENWICH VILLAGE and 9 ½ WEEKS, Rourke took his screen persona in a completely different direction with BARFLY, playing one of the filthiest, grungiest drunks in cinematic history. The character Rourke created in BARFLY was so complete that it even impressed the real-life inspiration for the role. “Mickey doesn’t just imitate me”, Bukowski said in an interview, “he’s improved upon me”.
Kurt said
December 3 2007 @ 1:31 pm
I really have to get a copy of Taking of Pelham 1.2.3. I spent about 20 minutes in Line at TIFF this year with James Rocci (Cinematical) who had a delightful monologue on the odd comedy of this film. I do want to see it before the Tony Scott remake comes along.
And Walter Mathau is one of those actors who I like watching in just about anything. He’s great.
Dave Becker said
December 3 2007 @ 8:26 pm
PELHAM ONE TWO THREE was a movie that snuck up on me; I didn’t know very much about it when I saw it, but I had such a good time watching this film that I saw it again a few days later. Yes, there’s definitely some comedy in the movie (especially in the scenes involving the Mayor of New York), but there’s a lot of EVERYTHING in this film. You really have to see it more than once to catch it all.
I agree with you about Walter Matthau. Known mostly for his comedies (in which he’s VERY funny), He does just as great a job here with action and thrills.
Finally, PELHAM ONE TWO THREE has one of the best closing scenes I’ve ever seen in a movie; it got a big laugh out of me!
John Allison said
December 4 2007 @ 9:24 am
I think I’ll go see if I can find Syndey today.