sksolomonb
Joined Sep 2014
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sksolomonb's rating
I agree with sharonjudithlee that this is a wonderful film, and it is unfortunate that it is virtually unknown. I loved the ethnic music, the charming Irish homes, and the scenery. I also found the plot unique since it revolves around a jilted woman who tries to blackmail her former lover after he has married someone else.
I was especially impressed by the acting of Brendan Clegg, a British child actor who reminds me so much of Tommy Rettig. Unfortunately, the biography section of imdb has no real information on him, except that he had roles in one other motion picture. I found the child's portrayal very innocent, clever, and endearing, and it is a shame his acting career did not continue as it should have.
I also was glad to see Wilfrid Brambell, who portrayed Paul McCartney's grandfather in "A Hard Day's Night."
I plan to watch the film again to fix key elements in my mind. I believe it truly should have become classic, and I hope it will be remastered to improve the clarity of the production and to gain a following among today's motion picture fans. I really love everything about it.
I was especially impressed by the acting of Brendan Clegg, a British child actor who reminds me so much of Tommy Rettig. Unfortunately, the biography section of imdb has no real information on him, except that he had roles in one other motion picture. I found the child's portrayal very innocent, clever, and endearing, and it is a shame his acting career did not continue as it should have.
I also was glad to see Wilfrid Brambell, who portrayed Paul McCartney's grandfather in "A Hard Day's Night."
I plan to watch the film again to fix key elements in my mind. I believe it truly should have become classic, and I hope it will be remastered to improve the clarity of the production and to gain a following among today's motion picture fans. I really love everything about it.
After hearing Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert praise "Fargo," I finally got around to seeing it. I do believe the plot and the script are well constructed, and the acting is realistic. However, I hesitate to buy into the idea of the "Minnesota nice" way of communication between individuals. Frances McDormand did a terrific job in portraying the law enforcement officer, but the calm attitude, tact, and cautious approach she used in talking to people, I believe, is typical of the way police officers speak when they do not want a situation to escalate.
On the other hand, I was shocked and disappointed to see how naive and/or ignorant most of the characters were. The two motel hookers exemplified extremely low IQs and social maladjustment, and I believe their mentally "dense" conditions and dialogue really weakened the film. However, the gentleman in the driveway, who told the police officer about the suspicious activity at the lake house, was a very sensible, forthright, and responsible person in speaking with the officer.
The situation of Jerry's hiring the two criminals to kidnap his wife reminded me of the revelation in the Darlie Routier case, which happened years after Mrs. Routier was convicted of murder and sent to prison. When Gov. Rick Perry was in office, someone found evidence that Mr. Routier, who was somewhat in debt, had engaged the "friend of a friend" to stage a burglary at the Routier residence so that Mr. Routier could collect funds from an insurance claim and use the funds to pay off some bills. However, the "friend of a friend" overdid everything when he broke into the Routier home and stabbed to death the two Routier sons, who were about ages five and seven, and left Mrs. Routier near death from a knife wound 1/16th of an inch from her jugular vein or artery. Mr. Routier reportedly was sleeping with the nine-month-old son upstairs and supposedly "never heard a thing."
Unfortunately, Mrs. Routier was charged with and convicted of the murder of the two little boys, in spite of the testimony of medical doctors who said there was no way she could have inflicted the knife wound in the neck on herself. Women on the jury disregarded the testimony of the doctors and hysterically reacted to a video of a prayer service held in the cemetery on the birthdays of the two children. The prayer service also included a launch of balloons, which contained messages the little friends and cousins of the boys had written to the departed children they believed were in heaven. Women on the jury, who did not understand the Christian faith that motivated the balloon launch, became hysterical and insisted that "only a mother who had murdered her children" could have a "frivolous" balloon launch at a memorial service. Furthermore, the judge did not take issue with the reaction of the women on the jury.
Since 1996 Mrs. Routier has been on death row in Texas, her youngest son has died of leukemia, and Mr. Routier divorced her. When the evidence about the burglary Mr. Routier had staged came to light, Mrs. Routier and her attorney filed for a new trial, but Governor Perry, unfortunately, did not grand her a new trial. She remains on death row to this day.
I do believe "Fargo" shows very well what can happen when someone gets involved with criminals to pull off a scheme. I believe it also has as its main message the quotation from the Book of James, which says, "For the love of money is the root of all evil."
On the other hand, I was shocked and disappointed to see how naive and/or ignorant most of the characters were. The two motel hookers exemplified extremely low IQs and social maladjustment, and I believe their mentally "dense" conditions and dialogue really weakened the film. However, the gentleman in the driveway, who told the police officer about the suspicious activity at the lake house, was a very sensible, forthright, and responsible person in speaking with the officer.
The situation of Jerry's hiring the two criminals to kidnap his wife reminded me of the revelation in the Darlie Routier case, which happened years after Mrs. Routier was convicted of murder and sent to prison. When Gov. Rick Perry was in office, someone found evidence that Mr. Routier, who was somewhat in debt, had engaged the "friend of a friend" to stage a burglary at the Routier residence so that Mr. Routier could collect funds from an insurance claim and use the funds to pay off some bills. However, the "friend of a friend" overdid everything when he broke into the Routier home and stabbed to death the two Routier sons, who were about ages five and seven, and left Mrs. Routier near death from a knife wound 1/16th of an inch from her jugular vein or artery. Mr. Routier reportedly was sleeping with the nine-month-old son upstairs and supposedly "never heard a thing."
Unfortunately, Mrs. Routier was charged with and convicted of the murder of the two little boys, in spite of the testimony of medical doctors who said there was no way she could have inflicted the knife wound in the neck on herself. Women on the jury disregarded the testimony of the doctors and hysterically reacted to a video of a prayer service held in the cemetery on the birthdays of the two children. The prayer service also included a launch of balloons, which contained messages the little friends and cousins of the boys had written to the departed children they believed were in heaven. Women on the jury, who did not understand the Christian faith that motivated the balloon launch, became hysterical and insisted that "only a mother who had murdered her children" could have a "frivolous" balloon launch at a memorial service. Furthermore, the judge did not take issue with the reaction of the women on the jury.
Since 1996 Mrs. Routier has been on death row in Texas, her youngest son has died of leukemia, and Mr. Routier divorced her. When the evidence about the burglary Mr. Routier had staged came to light, Mrs. Routier and her attorney filed for a new trial, but Governor Perry, unfortunately, did not grand her a new trial. She remains on death row to this day.
I do believe "Fargo" shows very well what can happen when someone gets involved with criminals to pull off a scheme. I believe it also has as its main message the quotation from the Book of James, which says, "For the love of money is the root of all evil."
Like many other reviewers, I have a very favorable impression of the characters, acting, dialogue, plots, and setting of the "Heartland" series. So far I am watching Season Six on Tubi, and I have enjoyed following the story of the ranch family, their challenges, and the family dinners that bind everyone together .
One feature that has surprised me is how much the ranch country of Alberta, Canada, resembles that of Texas along Highway 10 between Houston and San Antonio. I lived in Houston for four years and saw plenty of ranch country when I took the Continental Trailways bus on Highway 10 to spend holidays with my aunt and uncle in San Antonio. Needless to say, the scenery in "Heartland" brings back wonderful memories of my years in the Lone Star State.
I also appreciate the fact that "Heartland" is a clean show that presents various social issues in a tasteful way and also the humor with which patriarch Jack Bartlett dispenses his pearls of wisdom to his friends and family.
Some reviewers have complained about the selfishness of Lou and her father Tim, but I believe their attitudes can be explained. Lou is the over-achieving older daughter who left rural life for a career in New York City and then returned home for her mother's funeral. However, her NYC employer fires her for taking too much time off work for a bereavement leave. Next, her NYC boy friend gets transferred to Chicago, so that her ties to NYC are severed forever. As she spends more time at the ranch, she discovers she can fit in there again and still have a career. She does move away from the selfish mode when she becomes a mother to her baby Katie and a mentor and adoptive mother to the orphaned Georgie, with whom Lou can identify.
Lou's father Tim is introduced as the ne'er-do-well former son-in-law of Jack, and at times Jack's dim view of Tim seems to be justified. However, Tim does come to regret his abandonment of his daughters so that he does re-connect with them. He proves to be a very loving person as he relates to his granddaughter Katie, to his son Shane, and to his adopted granddaughter Georgie. From time to time he ventures into ill-fated investments, but the failures are due to factors beyond anyone's control. I believe viewers need to accept the fact that less-than-perfect people exist and that they can grow and change for the better as they journey through life.
I hope to continue watching "Heartland" as long as possible, and I recommend it to people who appreciate a clean, family-oriented series.
One feature that has surprised me is how much the ranch country of Alberta, Canada, resembles that of Texas along Highway 10 between Houston and San Antonio. I lived in Houston for four years and saw plenty of ranch country when I took the Continental Trailways bus on Highway 10 to spend holidays with my aunt and uncle in San Antonio. Needless to say, the scenery in "Heartland" brings back wonderful memories of my years in the Lone Star State.
I also appreciate the fact that "Heartland" is a clean show that presents various social issues in a tasteful way and also the humor with which patriarch Jack Bartlett dispenses his pearls of wisdom to his friends and family.
Some reviewers have complained about the selfishness of Lou and her father Tim, but I believe their attitudes can be explained. Lou is the over-achieving older daughter who left rural life for a career in New York City and then returned home for her mother's funeral. However, her NYC employer fires her for taking too much time off work for a bereavement leave. Next, her NYC boy friend gets transferred to Chicago, so that her ties to NYC are severed forever. As she spends more time at the ranch, she discovers she can fit in there again and still have a career. She does move away from the selfish mode when she becomes a mother to her baby Katie and a mentor and adoptive mother to the orphaned Georgie, with whom Lou can identify.
Lou's father Tim is introduced as the ne'er-do-well former son-in-law of Jack, and at times Jack's dim view of Tim seems to be justified. However, Tim does come to regret his abandonment of his daughters so that he does re-connect with them. He proves to be a very loving person as he relates to his granddaughter Katie, to his son Shane, and to his adopted granddaughter Georgie. From time to time he ventures into ill-fated investments, but the failures are due to factors beyond anyone's control. I believe viewers need to accept the fact that less-than-perfect people exist and that they can grow and change for the better as they journey through life.
I hope to continue watching "Heartland" as long as possible, and I recommend it to people who appreciate a clean, family-oriented series.