Three movie reviews
1. Angels in America
Angels in America is an HBO series that deserves to be watched. I found the series to be rather long - sort of like Tolstoy. I guess I'm more a fan of conciseness, like Chekhov! Oh, well, there I go somehow bringing Russia into it.... Angels in America intertwines the stories of four gay men, their lives and their struggles with AIDS. Al Pacino plays an arch-conservative lawyer and closet homosexual - an oxymoron to the extreme, who is dying of AIDS. I have to say that I think this was perhaps Pacino's best performance ever! Another oxymoronic character is a gay Mormon! Whereas Pacino knows he's gay, this Mormon is coming to terms with the fact that he is gay. One other character has more the role of being the glue that brings all the characters together - although it is a fate and not of his own volition. However, it is this character who comes to understand the true meaning of love, and in this respect, he could be characterized as the main character. But the true primary character is a man struck with AIDS and having to deal with the issue of his own mortality, loneliness, love.
Although this may not seem relevant to the movie, nonetheless I must quote one line from the movie that I loved:
"The white cracker who wrote the national anthem knew what he was doing. He set the word 'free' to a note so high nobody can reach it."
2. Stop Loss
Another Progie award nominee.
As the name implies this movie is about the forced reenlistment (stop loss) of Iraqi veterans. Stop Loss could be referred to as a modern-day Deerhunter, as most of the movie is about the lives of soldiers who have returned home after several tours only to discover they must return again. This effects not only the soldiers themselves, but their families and friends. The hero of the movie seeks to fight his return, which entails going AWOL. His comrades, family and friends are sucked into the whirlwind he has created and thus he must face not only the challenge of fighting for his own rights, but must take into consideration how his decision will effect the lives of those he holds closest.
3. God on Trial
About a month ago I sent out an email encouraging people to watch this movie. Now I've finally watched it and can only recommend it even more! Since this was a PBS movie, however, I don't know if it will be available at a store or the library. But if you can find it, watch it! In fact, this is probably a play, so you might be able to find the actual play at the library.
Now, when I say this is another holocaust movie, this is not your typical one - at least, not as far as I know. The scene is an Auschwitz concentration camp. The Jewish inmates decide to put God on trial for breaking the covenant with the Jews. The ensuing trial (with God in absentia) is a excellent polemic for and against God. The arguments made with respect to free will were particularly interesting.
Well, I won't give away the final verdict!
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