Tag Archives: Gene Hackman

1-By Laksh, ET, Movies

Robin Williams and Nathan Lane Shine in This Classic Comedy: A Review of ‘The Birdcage’

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“The Birdcage” is a 1996 American comedy film directed by Mike Nichols, starring Robin Williams, Gene Hackman, Nathan Lane, and Dianne Wiest. The movie is a remake of the 1978 French-Italian film “La Cage aux Folles.”

The film follows a gay couple, Armand (Robin Williams) and Albert (Nathan Lane), who run a drag nightclub in Miami Beach. When their son, Val (Dan Futterman), announces that he’s getting married to the daughter of a conservative politician, they are forced to hide their lifestyle and pretend to be straight. Chaos ensues when the conservative family decides to visit their home.

The movie is a delightful comedy that touches on the themes of love, family, acceptance, and identity. The performances by Robin Williams and Nathan Lane are top-notch, and they bring a lot of humor and heart to the film. Their chemistry on screen is fantastic, and they play off each other’s strengths beautifully. The supporting cast, including Gene Hackman, Dianne Wiest, and Christine Baranski, are all excellent and add to the film’s comedic charm.

The movie’s direction by Mike Nichols is solid, and he does a great job of balancing the humor with the more emotional moments. The script, written by Elaine May, is smart and witty, with some great one-liners and hilarious moments that will make you laugh out loud.

Overall, “The Birdcage” is a fantastic comedy film that still holds up well today. It’s an excellent showcase of Robin Williams and Nathan Lane’s talent and a great reminder of the importance of acceptance and love. If you’re looking for a fun and heartwarming movie to watch, “The Birdcage” is definitely worth checking out.

1-By Laksh, ET, Movies

Class Action (1991) – A Well-Made Legal Drama

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Source: http://impawards.com/1991/class_action.html

Class Action is a legal drama film released in 1991 that stars Gene Hackman, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Laurence Fishburne. The movie follows the story of a father and daughter, who are both lawyers, as they work together on a class-action lawsuit against an automobile company. The father, Jedediah Ward (Gene Hackman), is a veteran lawyer known for his no-nonsense approach to cases, while the daughter, Maggie Ward (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio), is a young and ambitious lawyer who wants to make a name for herself.

The movie showcases the dynamics between the two lawyers, as they navigate through the complexities of a class-action lawsuit. The film also highlights the tension between the two sides, as the automobile company tries to defend themselves against the lawsuit. The film’s strong cast delivers excellent performances, with Gene Hackman bringing depth to his character and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio showing her range as an actress. The supporting cast, including Laurence Fishburne, also does a great job in delivering their lines and making the film more engaging.

Class Action is a well-written film that keeps the audience engaged from start to finish. The script is engaging and thought-provoking, as it raises questions about the legal system and the way corporations operate. The film’s cinematography, production design and background score are also noteworthy, as they give the film a sense of authenticity and realism and adds an extra layer of intensity to the film’s scenes.

In summary, Class Action is a well-made legal drama film that is a must-watch for fans of the genre. The film’s strong cast, excellent script, and engaging cinematography make it a standout film in its genre. If you’re looking for a thought-provoking and engaging legal drama film, Class Action is the perfect choice.

1-By Laksh, ET, Movies, TV

‘Godless’ : Devil is the God.

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godless

It takes some time to get used to the pace of  ‘Godless’, but once you do, you will get bowled over by everything in it.

An interesting take on the Westerns, yet serving all the ingredients–gunfire, duel finale, satanic villains, loner hero etc–in good measures. What sets ‘Godless’ apart from a B movie western is ironically its leisurely pace and the build up to next episodes. Equally worth mentioning are interesting characters, terrific acting and brilliant production values. Thumbs up for editing and music, both grow on you and pull you into the action and the drama of this mini series.

Often, the right casting of the protagonists does it for a good execution. ‘Godless’ makes it great, with almost all the characters perfectly cast, right from Jeff Daniels as the devil incarnate to  Tantoo Cardinal as the Indian grandmother…and the lesser screentime actors from the black town. In the end every ones get their share of hurrah and lift the series to the next level.

One does wonder about the portrayal of Frank Griffin, by Jeff Daniels, an unique take of a villain who is so sure of himself yet that morally wrong.  May be you could position his take of the charcter between between El Indio (Gian Maria Volontè) in ‘For a Few dollars more’ and Little Bill Daggett (Gene Hackman) in ‘Unforgiven’. Frank Griffin is in a way opposite to these characters though…if the villain in ‘For a Few dollars’ is in constant turmoil and subconsciously waits for death, Frank on the other hand believes death can’t touch him. In ‘Unforgiven’ Sheriff believes he has an entitlement to certain beautiful future, and has a goal sort of, while Frank only interest is in mayhem and murder, till Roy Goode provides him with something to go after.

Undeniably Jeff Daniels delivers one of the best performances and depicts the villain in a manner we haven’t seen before. This also brings the excellent writing into spotlight, and you could say material was all there for him to play with.

Overall, ‘Godless’ is a must watch for all fans of Westerns and good drama….and if you make it to the final episode, it is worth the effort.

Related Links

Unfogiven
For a Few Dollars More
Deadwood
Title Music and Sequence