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History Versus Hollywood (Biopics)

Based on a true story?
A Dispatch from Reuters: based on a true story?

I was recently watching Turner Classic Movies, in particular, a film starring Edward G. Robinson,  A Dispatch from Reuter’s, supposedly about the life and times of the founding member of the Reuters New Service.

My purpose in writing will not attempt to expose the likely historical inaccuracies that this and many a bio-pic. Watching this movie just got me thinking about some of my favorite films from the period spanning the 1930’s – 1950’s that were stories “based on the life of …” – but not really.

  • Madame Curie (1944)
  • Sergeant York (1941)
  • St Louis Blues (1958)
  • I am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)
  • The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939)
  • Devotion (1946)
  • Man of a Thousand Faces (1957)
  • The Three Faces of Eve (1958)
  • They Died With Their Boots On (1939)

In the modern era there are obviously plenty of “based on the life of …” stories that come to mind. In an earlier post I mentioned Elizabeth I (2005) the cable television biopic starring Dame Helen Mirren. Other notables cinematic turns include Frost/Nixon (2008), Gia (1998), The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007), American Gangster (2007), The Last King of Scotland (2006) ….

As you can see the list can get quite extensive. At the end of the day, it is important to remember that these works are pieces of entertainment.

Here is a video I found that features some of the best biopics to be released over the past decades:

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Summer Counterprogramming … It can work for you!

cinema(Originally written on July 7, 2009)

Part of my Sunday evening ritual is to visit the internet movie database (imdb for the already initiated) and check up on the weekly box office returns. I have no idea why I routinely do this – I guess I am just curious about the successes (and failures) or certain films.

So far this summer there has not been a lot of that I have concerned myself with (see post on summer movie previews), so imagine my surprise when I saw that The Proposal was still in the top 5 with a  domestic  box office receipt of  94.2 million, easily meaning it will reach the magical 100 million mark. Since I originally wrote this piece (as of July 22, 2009, that total is $128M)!

However, should I really be too surprised? Let’s face it — most of the big box office, maximum appeal bonanzas Star Trek, Transformers and Harry Potter 6. This is not to say that their critical reception will be less favorable. Personally, I really liked Harry Potter 6 and Star Trek.

The Proposal on its surface is a standard issue “chick flick” and these types of films are usually released when there will not be huge box office competition. That means either it will come out during non-blockbuster season or if it is released during the summer months, its release will be a couple of weekends prior or after a film like Star Trek. At least that has been my observation. The audience for these often niche films is those who may feel left out of the traditional summer box office.

In the case of The Proposal, I think I underestimated the draw that Sandra Bullock continues to have with audiences. That being said, I personally like her and think that she is a pleasant screen presence.

But I digress. Back to counterprogramming. I found a great site that has one reviewer’s favorite picks for summer counterprogramming options for Summer ’09. For my part, I have seen Away We Go (loved it!) and have tickets for this Saturday’s showing of Whatever Works. Also on my MUST SEE list is 500 Days of Summer (can’t wait).

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Criterion Collection Blow-Out at Barnes and Noble!!!!!

Criterion Titles
Criterion Titles

Check out this limited time offer! Usually these disks run in the forty dollar range, so being able to get them at 20 bucks is a fantastic opportunity! I have already indulged and may go back for more ….

Click here for more on the Criterion Collection.

You may be wondering why film fans are clamoring for such a special deal. Criterion DVDs and Blu Rays go beyond the standard issue disks not only in the quality of the digital transfer, but also in the meticulous detail that goes into developing the special features. Not only do the folks at Criterion get noted film scholars and filmmakers  to provide commentary and/or essays, but their producers have apparently scoured the world to get any existing information out there in the public domain pertaining to a particular title.

Take my Criterion Blu Ray version of “The Third Man;” Here are just a few of the listed Special Edition Features:

– Two audio commentaries (by Steven Soderbergh and Tony Gilroy) and one by film scholar Dana Polan

– Abridged recording of Graham Greene’s treatment, read by Richard Clarke

– A 2005 documentary on the making of the film

– Joseph Cotten (Holly Martins’) alternate opening voice-over narration for the U.S. version of the film

– Booklet featuring an essay by critic Luc Sante

…. and much much more!

As you can see, if you are a particular fan of a title that Criterion offers, owning one of these disks is like having a master class in that movie. I cannot recommend them enough.

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