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Making Montgomery Clift (2018)
Patrica Bosworth's rebuttal, on reel to reel.
I just saw this doc at the Palm Springs Film Festival last night. While it valiantly attempts to dispel supposed "myths" about Monty's life, it fails to recognize some obvious truths, as well. such as his decline into alcohol and drugs, which undoubtedly led to heart failure at 45 years old.
It was only mentioned during the Q&A's afterward that Clift's even had a twin sister and her entire side of the large family refused to participate. Much of the doc was composed of secret recording by he filmmaker's father, Monty's brother Brooks Clift.
While the doc's obvious mission was to focus on his talent and unconventional bucking of a studio contract to maintain his sexual freedom, I feel it was rather to have more control in the films he chose and the dialog contained within. They filmmakers heavily downplayed the impact of his automobile accident, which forever altered his incredible good looks and descent into addiction. I applaud them for attempting to show a different side of Clift than the one portrayed by both biographers Bosworth and LaGuardia, but in doing so, they also failed to address several elephants in the room.
The doc loses its way on occasion and becomes bogged down in its own minutia, but still offers an alternative to previous insights by a proud nephew..
Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)
HGTV meets Elimidate
With a chick star, chick director and having been based upon a chick book, it's a pretty simple equation - this is a chick flick. I have nothing against chick flix, and as for the genre', it was worth the 121 minute investment. Fluffy, not stuffy.
Recently divorced middle aged writer, Frances (Diane Lane), having been cheated on by her philandering husband of a zillion years, is required by law to relinquish half of everything AND pay him alimony (equal rights are a bitch, eh ladies?). Her friends, a trendoid, inter-racial-lesbian-couple give her a ticket for an all gay tour of Tuscany that they can't attend because of a pregnancy. Their hope is she'll go to lick her divorce wounds and "find herself." Wow, all this can happen on a ten day tour? Where do I sign up?
So...Francesca (that's what they call her when she's in Italy) goes, then quickly jumps the gay tour (in the middle of nowhere) to buy an ever-so-charming, 300 yr. old, dilapidated Tuscan villa, "Bramsole," from somebody's Grammy, complete with really cool antique furnishings, leaky plumbing and scary bugs. OK, now the accommodations are set, it's time to turn every man in sight into "Mr. Right."
Of course, they all end up being the standard Italian cultural caricatures from American psyches, including the elegant sophisticate, slimy womanizer (about 5-6 of these guys) , and the compensatory burning hunka hunka Mediterranean love (Raoul Bova). Eventually, it's the non threatening, fellow American good guy/writer that steals her heart (go figure).
In the meantime, the three Polish stooges renovate her dream den while she shops in Rome and hops in a speeding Alfa Romeo (what else?) with a handsome stranger and travels to the coast for a quick lay . Where's Ty from HGTV when ya need him to pull double duty?
Along her yellow brick road of enlightenment, Francesca meets kooky, aging, free spirit, Catherine (well played by Lindsay Duncan), who constantly quotes Fellini and dances in fountains, only to be rescued by the Rosanno Brazzi wannabe - the dashingly sophisticated Realtor guy (potential Mr. Right #1, who turned out to be married - dang!).
In the end, love and family (the pregnant lesbian shows up after getting dumped) conquers all with a glorious outdoor Italian wedding reception for one of her barely legal aged Polish workers, held at "Bramsole," which by now is worth about 4 times what her house in San Francisco ever was. What about those alimony payments, huh lady?
The movie is pretty to look at and the lush Italian locales are gorgeously captured and duly romanticized, showing off both Italy and Italians the way we Americans all like to imagine them to be, particularly seaside Positano and Raoul Bova. This movie could have easily been a "Come to Italy" travel video.
Unfortunately, there were several holes in the plot. What did Francesca do in Italy for money? Who was the old dude putting flowers in her wall every day, does lightening really do that to a washing machine, and most importantly, how do you sneak a kitten on the bus home from Rome to Tuscany?
Sort of a "Mr. Blanding Builds his Dream House" meets "Looking for Mr. Goodbar,", except the chick lives. 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Big Eden (2000)
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
If only life, and small town America, were this ideal and accepting. Kind of a Northern Exposure goes gay, with every single quirky, crusty one of the townfolk being so OVERLY accepting of homosexuality, except the lead homosexual himself.
The Indian was entertaining to a point, then he became as annoying and poorly written as the rest of the cast. I liked Frances, his dog, but that was about it. 2 out of 5 stars
Soldier's Girl (2003)
A Timeless Love Story, Bring Your Hanky
Based on a 1999 true story, Soldier's Girl is a poignant and ultimately heartbreaking love story of two people from different worlds. It's an old story, one that never changes and has played out for centuries of mankind. The only thing that changes are the differences. The intolerance, cruelty and prices paid always remain the same.
Studly Barry Winchell (deftly played by Troy Garity - son of Jane Fonda and Tom Hayden) is the new, young recruit on a macho Army base just outside of Nashville, Tennessee. One night, as a joke, the boys from the barracks pay a visit to a local drag club where Winchell's fascination (and ours) begins with the memerizingly beautiful, transexual performer, Calpurnia.
Calpurnia Adams, stunningly portrayed by Lee Pace, has mixed emotions at first about letting this brutally handsome straight boy into her world and into her heart. Finding himself attracted to someone like Calpurnia is new territory for Winchell as well. The tenderness and particularly the bonds of trust that slowly develops between the two is realistic. It could have been very easy to cross all the wrong boundaries with this type of movie, but it was executed with a carefully crafted and believable realism and in good taste.
The two embark on a clandestine love affair that ultimately and predictably ends in tragedy.
Soldier's Girl might cause you to question your views on gays in the military, love, and the infinitely broad spectrum of human sexuality.
Originally produced for Showtime, now available on DVD, Soldier's Girl was nominated for two Independent Spirit Awards for both leads.
The Restless Years (1958)
Peyton Place meets Carrie
John Saxon and Sandra Dee in all their 1958 youthful splendor explore teen sexuality and angst in Libertyville, USA.
Teresa Wright plays Dee's downtrodden, seamstress Mother living life as the town's neurotic spinster recluse, having once regrettably abandoned herself to a traveling trumpet player under the town's infamous bandstand, having later given birth to Dee as a result of her shameful tryst.
Hot Rods, hoop skirts, and gymnasium rock and roll abound, replete with alcoholic parents from both sides of the tracks fully represented. Luana Patten is wonderful as the snotty, slutty rich girl so accustomed to getting whatever she wants.
It's as cornball and cliche' as you can get, but good fun for a nostalgic look at small town Americana in the late 50's. You've seen Saxon and Dee much better than this, but it's remains a guilty pleasure to relish, particularly with Ross Hunter at the helm dishing up plenty of his particular style of small town pathos to keep you amused.
Look for Saxon's Pop (James Whitmore) near the end, driving off with the lovely Mrs. with a smile and a beer in his hand! Somehow, Toto, you know this kinda behavior tells us we're not in Kansas anymore.