elizabeth-chesney Reviews

Conspiracy (2001 TV Movie)

unflinchingly honest, horrifying, and ultimately sad

[15 March 2005]

As a 4th generation American of German heritage, I have a deep interest in attempting to understand how a presumably cultured, educated, Christian society could become the Nazi nightmare of WWII.

This film, as so eloquently stated by previous posters, is quite simply a cautionary tale for all of humanity. I have seen the film several times on HBO, and whenever it comes on, I feel compelled to drop what I'm doing and watch, again transfixed -- at the ability of our human brains to rationalize and deny even in the face of undebatable truths.

Any honest person watching the film must ask himself -- How would I respond if I were at that table? How would I respond if I were a German citizen in the Third Reich? Americans, I believe, right now in 2005 -- should look at this film as a warning. No -- we are not fascist Nazis -- not yet. But the groundwork is there. The propaganda, the denial of the facts and the demonization of our enemies. The blind nationalism. We are at a turning point in our country -- and we would be wise to look to history as a reminder of what can happen when we as human beings let fear, ego, and the lust for power dominate over all else.

I will buy this DVD and share it with my family and friends.

As long as people believe in absurdities then they will continue to commit atrocities.

-- Bertrand Russell

The Turning Point (1977)

The ultimate quality chick-flick

[9/10 · 28 February 2005]

What a movie! It's got it all -- drama, beauty, intrigue, comedy, romance...and even a bit of violence (of the feline persuasion, in the infamous cat fight between Shirley McLaine and Anne Bancroft).

It is Hollywood legend that Ms. Bancroft improvised the famous drink-in-the-face of the unsuspecting Ms. McLaine -- and of course our Shirley, professional that she is -- did not break the scene and just incorporated it into celluloid. I don't know if this is urban legend but it is fun to imagine.

They certainly don't make 'em like this anymore, that's for sure. I recently added this one to my DVD collection and couldn't wait to share it with my adolescent nieces who are enthusiastic ballet students. They had never seen nor heard of Mikhail Barishnikov -- what a pleasure to be the one to introduce Misha to another generation. We had a big estro-fest, with my mother, my sisters, and my nieces -- 3 generations -- all sitting enraptured and then finally wet with tears together at the final scene of lovely Amelia just dancing -- hair flying in an act of ultimate joy and freedom -- at the end. Beautiful!

Desperate Housewives (2004–2012)

This is satire?

[25 February 2005]

I, too, was lured in to by the promos for this show -- I love a dead-on satire or sardonic view of so-called every day life. "Six Feet Under", for example. I also love a hip comedy that looks at modern adults and their sex lives with humor, intelligence and heart -- like "Sex and the City." SIGH. Thanks a lot, HBO, you have ruined me for network TV.

The success of Desperate Housewives is disturbing on a number of levels. The first point that must be made to Marc Cherry is -- THIS IS NOT SATIRE! Satire requires irony, and there is nothing ironic about this show. Most of the time, the show glamorizes laziness, materialism, deceitfulness, lawlessness, shallow-self centeredness and cruelty.

An excellent example of this is the episode where the one housewife found the joys of speed through stealing her kids Ritalin tablets -- and she then goes on a rampage all over the neighborhood raiding her neighbors medicine cabinets and stealing THEIR kids Ritalin! Now, my complaint is not that they portrayed the issue itself -- in fact I'm sure this happens all the time and is an issue which deserves to be discussed and/or portrayed in the media -- but the problem is, Marc Cherry portrayed it as A JOKE!!!!!!!!!!!! I hate to break it to you, Mr. Cherry, but stealing DEA-controlled drugs from your children and your neighbors is a felony, which could land you in jail and render your children permanently under the care of the Department of Children's Services! And I could go on and on. Marc Cherry and his ilk need to go watch hundreds of episodes of Sex and the City and Six Feet Under, and sleep with American Beauty playing in the background. And then he needs to go back to school and actually get a degree in literature and creative writing.

But the worst thing is -- American women in particular seem to be eating this up. It makes me sad.

The Wedding Date (2005)

so lame I left the theatre physically depressed

[2/10 · 25 February 2005]

What a shockingly lame movie this was. I went with my sister and our two adolescent nieces, hoping for a light, fun chick-flick to enjoy together. Well, it wasn't light, it wasn't fun, and we left the theatre gasping for air.

What was it about these characters that left me literally depressed about the human race? Was it their group selfishness? Or perhaps their group shallowness? This movie wanted to be "Four Weddings and a Funeral" so badly you could feel it, but what the people behind this movie need to realize is that a 4W's and a F doesn't just HAPPEN. It takes thought -- and consideration -- and compassion and humor -- and, sad to say, it takes intelligence and depth on the part of the writer and director, not just an online fill-in-the-blanks screen writing program.

The saddest part is, I didn't know what to say to my poor adolescent nieces. My sister and I basically said: "Look -- just do the exact opposite things in life that the characters did in this movie, and you should be happy."

Love with the Proper Stranger (1963)

Shockingly honest

[8/10 · 24 February 2005]

I saw this film for the first time today on HBO (thanks guys, for occasionally bring out older nuggets like this one to re-introduce them to subsequent generations!).

The first half of this film was stunning in it's honesty, and in the subtle directing, acting and script. The abortion scene brought tears to my eyes, as it was so REAL: There were so many underlying themes intersecting all at once: First for Natalie Woods character -- it was clear that she was hell bent on taking control of her life and her future, and that meant ending the pregnancy...and yet, there was no denying the strong bond she felt with Steve McQueens rebellious player character (I always feel sorry for women who fall for guys like this!!!!!!) -- she wondered: Could it work? But then reality slaps her in the face and her steely resolve returns...and also she's got to be scared to death just for the physical invasion she is about to endure under such circumstances.

And then, complicating the matter even further, was Steve's character, waiting outside the door for her to finish the procedure -- he, too, was clearly experiencing many conflicting emotions all at once: of course, being a player with no plans for being tied down, he was relieved she was "taking care of it." And yet -- like Natalies character, he was strangely drawn to this woman he had only really "known" for less than a day -- could it be love? Could it be REAL? I have rarely seen such genuine passion in a film as the scene where he bursts in, grabs Natalie, and when she falls into his arms sobbing, he whispers: "I would kill them before they hurt you." Not a dry eye in the house I'm sure. What a moment. Adding to the poignancy is the fact that both of these fine actors died in the "live fast/die young" category of Hollywood actors -- making it all seem that much more touching.

The second half of the movie became more typical, but that's OK. Please, Hollywood -- let us say once again "They DO make movies like that AGAIN!"