Movies Film

[D.M.V]

True, you never know about gems of entertainment and art.

Since the Coen brothers were mentioned, might as well remember ‘O Brother Where Art Thou’ and more recently ‘The Ballad of Buster Scruggs’. Both featured the unique talent of Tim Blake Nelson. Can’t help but laugh out loud and smile imaging Nelson playing the Runt From Reata Pass, aka the San Saba Songbird, in the Buster Scruggs mini production

Ahhh Buster Scruggs.... What a excellent film. That movie is so well done.

 

[D.M.V]

Did any of you hear there supposed to be making Blood Meridian. From the articles I've read about it it's supposed to be a faithful representation. McCarthy was involved in the production before he died and I read his son has taken over the role of advising the producers now and they are going to give it a go. I would think the film would have to be a epic. Perhaps several hours long to give it any kind of justice. Some opinions said a HBO style mini series. I think it could be done in a single film but not a 90 min pump and dump.

 

[fourfive8]

Couple of Buster Scruggs clips for some light weight entertainment

 

[Velo Dog]

“The Dogs of War”

I like this film in spite of a huge flaw in it.
Christopher Walken is armed with some silly looking contraption that is supposed to be I think a revolving chambers rocket launcher ?

The scenes wherein this thing was fired, resulted in way more destruction than would’ve been possible from such small projectiles.

It would’ve been a better movie if Walken had instead simply been firing a small mortar or even just throwing hand grenades.

Aside from that childlike fantasy weapon ruining the battle scene, I recommend this 1980 movie.

 

[Velo Dog]

“Dirty Harry”

Again they put a weapon in there that was not right (Clint Eastwood firing a .458 Winchester in downtown San Francisco).

That scene would’ve been much better served if he had been instead firing an M-1 US .30 Carbine or an AR-15 across those roof tops at the bad guy.

However, this 1971 classic, remains one of my very favorite cops & robbers movies.

 

[Velo Dog]

“Heat”

This 1995 movie is pretty much my very favorite Cops & Robbers one of all time.
It had a couple of smallish flawed scenes but no glaring nonsense.
Love this one.

 

[Velo Dog]

“Serpico”

Another tip top Cop & Robbers movie.
I highly recommend it.
It was released to theaters during 1973.

 

[fourfive8]

Buster Scruggs is genius because each segment skit can be stand alone. Here's one showing a street shoot out with Surly Joe's brother following the saloon shooting of Surly Joe. This one is strikingly similar to a scene in Selleck's Crossfire Trail.

 

[fourfive8]

This cantina shootout has a classic Mexican border, "western movie" theme. The closing script with the purposefully mispronounced "wolves and geela monsters" is simple yet brilliant.

 

[Velo Dog]

“The Onion Field”

This Cops & Robbers film is a very realistic one, about a tragic series of events, that did happen in Los Angeles and eventually out of the city, on a farm as well.
I find no flaws in this semi-documentary tragic drama movie.

In spite of the fact that I get choked up and teary eyed each and every time I watch it (typically once every 4 or 5 years) nonetheless, I highly recommend it.

This movie was released to theaters in 1979, starring James Woods, (a great actor in any role plus a great American in real life), Franklyn Seales, John Savage, Ted Danson and a few other good actors.

During the time this movie was in theaters, I was a 26 years young, Deputy Sheriff in California.
My agency and probably most if not all other California Law Enforcement agencies used a few minutes clip, showing the traffic stop scene from this film, as a training video.

 

[Velo Dog]

“The Culpepper Cattle Company”

Released in 1972.
It remains one of my favorite Cowboy movies, starring Billy “Green” Bush and Bo Hopkins, among other great actors from that time.

Hiho fourfive8, your recommendation on “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” cantina shootout scene reminded me that there is an epic cantina shootout scene in the movie I am blathering about here.

Anyway, said cantina shootout scene in this movie is about as realistic as I have ever watched in any western movie.
Things (very bad things) are suddenly happening so fast and furious that there is a lot of handgun blasts and chaos.
Considering how inaccurate, if not outright absurd, a lot of the scenes Hollywood movies assail us with …
It’s as if they think all of their viewers are 1/2 blind and 3/4 stupid.

At any rate, I highly recommend this film, despite the as usual, puzzling inclusion of typical Hollywood nonsense in it.
The story is about an 1866 North American cattle drive.
Yet, clearly visible in several scenes are 1873 Colt revolvers and 1892 Winchester rifles.
That’s as utterly ridiculous as putting a 1958 Corvette in several scenes of the wonderful 1942 movie, “Casa Blanca”. Sheesh.
It seems like equipping the actors with historically correct hardware and clothing would be just as easy as equipping them with such things as had not been yet invented at the time the story was supposed to be taking place.

At least they did put proper hats, clothing and general horse tac on everyone and their horses, in this great western.
And “The Kid” at least was toting a proper revolver (1858 Remington .44 cap-n-ball) for that period in time.

 

[Velo Dog]

Perhaps my #1 favorite cowboy movie:

“The Wild Bunch”

Released in 1969, starring William Holden, Jaime Sanchez, Ernest Borgnine, Warren Oates, Struther Martin and Ben Johnson, among other great actors.
One of my childhood friends who now raises mules on his small ranch in California, told me that Ben Johnson actually was a working cowboy, on a ranch in Oklahoma, when Hollywood discovered him.

Anyway, the story unfolds in 1913, along the US and Mexican border.
It is quite well done.
This, in spite of one or two hats being wrong.
William Holden (character name “Pike Bishop”) is wearing a 1950’s “skimmer” style little hat, such as “Little Joe” used to wear in the old TV series “Bonanza”.
Also incorrect hat for that show’s (Bonanza’s) depicted era.

My nit picking aside, “The Wild Bunch” is a fantastic western movie and I highly recommend it.