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Summary: CULT MOVIES 54
Review: 54. THE ARRIVAL (sci-fi, 1996) Obsessed with discovering extraterrestrial life radio astronomer Zane (Charlie Sheen) devotes his time to scanning the universe for any trace. Then suddenly a strange signal is picked up. He takes the evidence to project leader Giordan (Ron Silver). Without any reason Giordan dismisses the sounds as fake and inexplicably closes down the project. But Zane doesn't give up and continues the project on his own terms. Setting up a house-made station he picks the signal up again and finds the origin as being in Mexico. He sets out to find the mysterious source.Critique: Once in a while the sci-fi genre produces a film that to some extent redeems it self of some of the saddest, and most absurd efforts ever filmed. The Arrival is one of those films and one of the smartest too. Writer-Director David Twohy is better known for screenwriting some nifty action films (e.g. 'The Fugitive'). But with this, his first directorial effort, he completely departed the genre he seemed to be best at. The result is an intriguing combination of high wire, action-packed scenes, with some 50s-type 'cold war' movie cliches. Similarities to the classic "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" can easily be made. Charlie Sheen is credible enough as the hectic Zane, as is Ron Silver in the role of villain (characters that he has specialized in portraying). But as in most futuristic thrillers the visual and make-up effects is the real draw card here. After years of churning out creatures and 'aliens' of all sorts and shapes we are still surprised by some uniquely designed creations. Best of all every situation and special effect employed do serve a purpose and are not only thrown in for genre's sake (watch for the funky-rotating-vacuum-alien-ball). Let's hope David Twohy has another sci-fi project up his sleeve. QUOTES: Giordan: "If you can't tend to your own planet none of you deserve to live here."
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Summary: All time favorite!
Review: This movie has it all, actiom, adventure, comedy and tragedy. It also isn't shown much on TV- a real plus! It also is by and large historically acurate, and a good choice for mature kids 11 and up or so.
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Summary: A LESSON IN HUMILITY & THE HUMOR OF EVERYONES LIVES
Review: IF THIS MOVIE IS APPROACHED AS A LEARNING TOOL YOU WILL BE AMAZED AT WHAT YOU CAN DISCOVER ABOUT YOURSELF.I RECOMMEND THAT YOU WATCH IT AT LEAST THREE OR FOUR TIMES.IT'S A RIOT. LIFE ITSELF IS REALLY A RIOT.
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Summary: Hoffman is great, Interesting Commentary on indian massacre
Review: Hoffman gives a touching look at the integration of one white man into an indian tribe and the non integration of the indian culture with that of the land hungry white christian mob from Europe. As told from one man's perspective we see and feel the heart of the indian people.
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Summary: My Son , this Movie Makes My Heart Soar Like a Hawk
Review: I remember seeing the original theatrical release of Arthur Penn's "Little Big Man" in the early 1970's. Now over thirty years later it has been released in DVD form and it is a film, that is both funny and tragic as ever.In the film, 121 year old Jack Crabb (played humorously by Dustin Hoffman) recounts his life (in narrated backflash) growing up among both the Cheyenne Indians and the white man in the old wild West.We follow the Crabb character as he goes through various phases as a Cheyenne warrior, a medicine show conman, a gunfighter, entrepreneurial business man, drunkard and finally a mule skinner/U.S. Army scout. Crabb is a man trapped between two cultures. He hilariously stumbles through the old west trying to find a place among his own kind, even though his heart is still with the Cheyenne Indians who adopted him. The movie leads up to Crabb's eventual, critical participation in the 'Battle of Little Bighorn', otherwise known as 'Custard's Last Stand'.The film is humorus as it shows how little people change over history. Just as today, people of the historical old West were driven by such things as love, lust, vanity, power and money.Unfortunatly they also were driven by bigiotry, hatred and violence.One of the main themes of "Little Big Man" is the terrible, almost genocidal treatment of the American Indian at the hands of the U.S. government.It's somewhat ironic, that the Cheyenne in the film refer to themselves as 'the human beings', yet the white men seem to treat them as anything but that. Arthur Penn (director of "Bonnie & Clyde") has created a sprawling, well directed, historical tapestry of a film, which makes you want to laugh and cry at the same time.The movie is a star vehicle for the then young, Dustin Hoffman. Like "The Graduate", this film shows off, what a wonderful comic performer Hoffman can be.The large cast has many standout performances. Faye Dunaway is hilarious as Jack's religious, yet lascivious, adoptive mother, Mrs.Pendrake. The same goes for comic actor, Richard Mulligan, who puts in a very funny performance playing General George Armstong Custard as a pompous egomaniac, who's vanity leads to his imfamous place in history.But by far, one of the best performances in the film comes from Chief Dan George, who play's Hoffman's wise and mystical, yet somewhat scatological adoptive, indian grandfather.The character is intersting, because he always seems to be able tell us the obvious truth of the moment.He understands that this time in history is the begining of the end for his people. I love the speech he makes in which he explains, that "there are endless amounts of white men, but only so many 'human beings'" (indians).Its's a shame Chief George didn't get an Academy Award for his wonderful performance.The DVD for this movie has a good picture and sound transfer, but is absolutly bare bones in extras (not even a trailer). Still, it is great film, which I highly recommend.
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Summary: ehhh
Review: I've read the book, so I'm definitly biased, but I'd like to think that even if I hadn't read the book I wouldn't like this movie. It gets two stars for Dustin Hoffman and his Indian wife, who was really hot.
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Summary: One of the truly all time greatest epic westerns
Review: "Little Big Man" from 1970 is one of the truly all time great epic westerns.I first saw it in the theatre back in the early '70's and was really impressed.I later added it to my video library back in the '80's first on Beta then later on VHS.The movie loses some of it's epic scope when transferred to the small screen ,however it's still powerful. Directed by Arthur Penn(the classic "Bonnie&Clyde from 1967) and based on the novel by Thomas Berger, it stars Dustin Hoffman as Jack Crabb.The story is told by Jack as a 121 year man to a writer who is interviewing him and he narrates throughout the story. In the beginning of the story we see the aftermath of a battle with white settlers after an Indian attack.Jack and his sister are captured by the Cheyenne braves.His sister escapes but he is adopted and raised by the tribe who call themselves "the human beings". As Jack grows into a young man he proves himself in battle and is given the name "Little Big Man" by the elder of the tribe "Old Lodge Skins" (well played by actual Native American ,Chief Dan George),and what was most impressive was the fact that Chief Dan George wasn't a professional actor.Jack is given that name because his size is little but his bravery is big.Old Lodge Skins becomes Jack's adopted Grandfather and their relationship is at the center of the story. The movie features a first rate supporting cast including Martin Balsam as Mr.Merriweather,Faye Dunaway as Mrs.Pendrake, Jeff Corey as Wild Bill Hickok,Richard Mulligan as General George Armstrong Custer and Aimee Eccles as Sunshine.The story has many funny moments,sad moments,and intense moments, something not found in many westerns or many movies for that matter.Chief Dan George was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role.A movie with a similar theme came out 20 years later in 1990 called "Dances with Wolves" directed and starring Kevin Costner which won several Academy Awards.Some found that film to be as good as "Little Big Man",some didn't.The tagline on the movie poster for "Little Big Man" read,"Being the adventures of Jack Crabb,either the most neglected hero of the American West or a liar of insane proportions." Judge for yourself.
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Summary: One of the Greatest Movies
Review: I sincerely consider Little Big Man to be one of the greatest movies made. Dustin Hoffman is just superb as Jack Crabb, who as a boy is adopted by the Cheyenne after his family was butchered by the Pawnee. He grows up to become a full-fledged Cheyenne brave, but when is adoptive father, played by the great Chief Dan George, decides to wage war against the Whites, Crabb suddenly finds himself swept along in the events of the day. He becomes--in rapid succession--a school boy, con man, gunfighter, store propriertor & husband, Cavalry soldier, drunk, and a scout for General Custer. This movie abounds with humour, but ultimately I guess this was done in order to make the true message of the movie easier to take. The movie is in actuality a an indictment of America's "Wild West" era, during which the native inhabitants of the West saw their homelands invaded, and were to a large degree exterminated for daring to defend their homes.
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Summary: Great Western
Review: This is not your typical Cowboy and Indian Western, which is one reason it is so good. And you can watch Dustin Hoffman act before he started doing all his weird stuff. This story is oddly touching, funny, and tragic. If I had to pick one movie about the West, this would be it (my apologies to John Wayne and Clint Eastwood).
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Summary: Little Strange Movie
Review: This strange movie tries to be many things on different levels. It portrays the whites and indians in radically different ways, neither of which is probably very accurate. At times one gets the impression of slapstick comedy almost. There is a distinct sardonic and ironic outlook throughout this film, which works sometimes better than others. I do give it credit for being rather unique in its presentation. The coincidences of the main character being involved in all these events seems fantastic. Still, this method serves as a means to provide a pastiche of the American West incorporating all the popular icons of the period that have come down to us over the years.
The movie tries to show that both white and red man were crazy in their own ways. The Indians come off looking more harmless in their eccentricities as compared to the whites, and one gets the impression this is the main the message this long epoch is trying to convey. The scenes with Custer are amusing, and certainly exaggerated even for him! I think if one takes into account that this was one man's view of history we can begin to see the film in a more realistic light. Deffinitely a film of its time, one often gets the feeling that Dustin Hoffman is replaying "The Graduate" with Faye Dunaway on a different level. Worth seeing for its depictions of Custer, even if bizarre. The film itself is also bizarre, but worth seeing at least once.
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