Netflix gives the length of this Italian-made English-language film as 170 minutes, while IMDb gives it as 165 -- until you poke around the latter site and find that the international version runs 123. When I watched, the end credits stopped at 125. That annoyed me, as I'd set it aside for a time that I could afford (and stand) to watch another 45 minutes, but it beats the opposite confusion.
Anyway, the title refers to Danny Boodmann T.D. Lemons 1900 (played in adulthood by Tim Roth), named by an eccentric stoker (Bill Nunn) who found him abandoned in infancy on an ocean liner on January 1, 1900. The stoker decides to raise him right there on the ship, hiding him from authorities for the time being. Even after his de facto godfather's death, 1900, who rarely goes by any other name, opts to stay on board at all times, a boy/man without a country or much else. What he does have in abundance is piano talent, which gets him the attention needed to become a legend. The narrator for most of the movie is a trumpet player, Max (Pruitt Taylor Vince), who knew 1900 for years.
Showing posts with label tim roth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tim roth. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Selma (2014)
It's not easy to review a film with a focus on a civil rights hero. Viewers' passions are bound to run high, and some might take even a slight criticism as a sign of racism. Others might roll their eyes at me for going too easy on it, thinking I'm racist in its favor. Well, all I can offer is my earnest impression.
The story begins with MLK (David Oyelowo) preparing to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Before long come two indicators that he still has a lot of work to do: a church bombing and a ludicrous suffrage obstacle. Since talking to the president will accomplish only so much, he organizes a protest march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. The march itself doesn't get a lot of screen time; there's more than enough drama in just preparing for it, what with threats of arrest and physical violence from multiple parties. It doesn't help that the FBI is typewriting the activist leaders' every move, as shown right on the screen.
The story begins with MLK (David Oyelowo) preparing to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Before long come two indicators that he still has a lot of work to do: a church bombing and a ludicrous suffrage obstacle. Since talking to the president will accomplish only so much, he organizes a protest march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. The march itself doesn't get a lot of screen time; there's more than enough drama in just preparing for it, what with threats of arrest and physical violence from multiple parties. It doesn't help that the FBI is typewriting the activist leaders' every move, as shown right on the screen.
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