Category: Movies

“The Last Hurrah” Short Film Captures the Spirit of Film Noir

Film Noir Short

K. Patrick Tutera‘s short film The Last Hurrah is a charming homage to film noir and an entertaining story in its own right.  The movie effectively tells an engaging tale through two characters with a past, spinning a narrative worthy of classic film noir movies.

The movie clocks in at less than 18 minutes, but in that time Tutera tells a tight well-paced story that never feels rushed. Every shot is effective, beginning with the credits that quickly establishes the movie’s film noir pedigree.  The Last Hurrah‘s opening credits are accompanied by scenes that appear out of old film noir movies, such as shots of a winding road along the California coast and cars from the 1940s on city streets.

Noir Short Quotes from William Faulkner and Picasso then appear on the screen, highlighting themes we will encounter. And a newsreel voice-over helps complete the setting. The short piece of news effectively confirms the time period as around the end of World War II. Thus, the astute viewer immediately knows The Last Hurrah is set in the same era as many classic film noir movies.

The camera then follows a woman and a man to an apartment.  We see that Petra (Aleksandra Vujcic) and Samuel (Michael Bronte) are carrying bags that we soon discover contain money.

The images are beautifully shot as the two climb the stairs and go to an apartment. Director of Photography Philip Hurn did an excellent job throughout the movie.

Thus, before any conversation begins, the viewer recognizes the film noir setting. The black and white images combined with the sound of the rain evoke film noir so well that a vase on a mantle made me look twice to make sure it was not a maltese falcon statue.

Almost all of the rest of the film occurs inside the apartment.  We learn how Petra and Samuel obtained their money, and, more importantly, we begin to learn about the past between the two characters.

Noir Short To say more about the plot and what happens to Petra and Samuel would ruin the story.  But the filmmakers do an excellent job creating a short story in one setting through conversation, styles, images, and sounds reminiscent of film noir. And veteran actors Vujcic and Bronte also do a great job effectively capturing the appropriate mood.

The entire movie, including the ending, makes viewers feel they are watching a movie from the classic film noir era. Even the music, with an outstanding score by composer David Frank, is perfect for the movie.

Tutera directed and wrote the screenplay for The Last Hurrah, a film that was funded through a Kickstarter campaign. The ultimate result reveals how the fundraising platform can be used to create quality work.

Watch for The Last Hurrah on the festival circuit to see an excellent short movie that takes you back to the time when Hollywood created beautiful film noir films.  Also, keep an eye out for the future work of K. Patrick Tutera.

The Last Hurrah premieres on Saturday, December 10, 2016 at the Film Noir Festival in Albert, France.

Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    The Hanging of Tom Horn

    Tom Horn Prison

    On October 22, 1903, Tom Horn was hanged in Wyoming, one day short of his forty-third birthday. Historians generally do not dispute that Horn had killed a number of men.  But most believe Horn was innocent of the killing for which he was hanged. Many are familiar with Horn’s later life through one of Steve McQueen’s final films.

    Tom Horn’s Life

    Horn was born on November 21, 1860 at a family farm in Scotland County, Missouri. Young Tom had a troubled early life, growing up in a large family with an abusive father. In one of his early fights, he was beat up by two boys who then killed his dog.

    At the age of sixteen, Horn moved West.  There, he worked a number of different jobs, including acting as a scout for the Army. Horn acted as an interpreter when Geronimo surrendered to the Army. After the Apache Wars, Horn bought his own ranch.  But cattle thieves overran his ranch, again causing him to wander.

    Horn found other work, such as as a prospector, a ranch hand, a deputy sheriff in Arizona, and an agent for the Pinkerton Detective agency. But it was his work for cattle companies that eventually led to his demise.

    During the Johnson County War in Wyoming, Horn worked for the Wyoming Stock Growers Association. Reportedly, Horn killed a number of men in this role. He then worked in Colorado for the Swan Land and Cattle Company, where he again killed more men who were suspected of rustling.

    Horn then served in the Army in Cuba during the Spanish American War. Eventually, though, he ended up back West working for cattle owners, this time working for cattle baron John C. Coble in Wyoming.

    The Murder and Trial

    On July 18, 1901, the body of a 14-year-old son of sheep ranchers was found murdered. Authorities began investigating the killing of the young Willie Nickell, soon focusing on Tom Horn.

    The government put Horn on trial in Cheyenne, Wyoming.  The trial featured as a key piece of evidence a statement Horn made.  He had claimed, apparently while still drunk, that if he did the killing, it was the “best shot that I ever made and the dirtiest trick that I ever done.”

    On October 24, 1902, the jury found Horn guilty of the murder. A few days later, the court sentenced him to death by hanging.

    During the appeal, Horn wrote his autobiography while in jail, focusing on his early life: Life of Tom Horn, Government Scout and Interpreter. Eventually, the Wyoming Supreme Court turned down the appeal.

    The governor refused to stop the hanging. And Horn was hanged in Cheyenne by means of a “Julian Gallows” that used water as a means of releasing the trap door.

    Many historians believe Horn was innocent of the killing of Willie Nickell, while noting that he did do a number of other killings. Still, his case is a reminder of how innocent people may be convicted of capital crimes. Still today, we discover innocent people on death rows across America.

    Tom Horn on TV and Film

    Tom Horn’s story has resonated in popular culture. The 1954 television series Stories of the Century, took an unflattering look at Tom Horn and his crimes.

    The episode portrays Horn as someone who worked for the law but “then for some reason turned criminal.” In the episode, actor Louis Jean Heydt portays Horn.

    Steve McQueen provided the most famous portrayal of Horn in the 1980 movie Tom Horn. The film was based on Horn’s writings, and McQueen gives a largely sympathetic portrayal of Horn, while not shying away from his violence.

    Steve McQueen McQueen was notorious for clashing with his directors, and Tom Horn went through several directors before TV director William Wiard came on board to finish the film. McQueen also requested several rewrites of the script, which included work by the great Western writer Thomas McGuane.

    Tom Horn     — which was released on March 28, 1980 — was the next-to-last film released that starred McQueen. During the filming of the movie, McQueen had trouble breathing, and he was later diagnosed with a form of lung cancer, malignant mesothelioma. On August 1 of that year, his final film, The Hunter, was released. McQueen died on November 1, 1980 at the age of 50.

    The movie Tom Horn received mixed reviews and did a disappointing $12 million at the box office. At the time, Variety claimed that McQueen appeared to be walking through the lead role. But actor James Coburn claimed Tom Horn was McQueen’s best film. Currently, it has a 68% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

    The movie seems to have aged well over time, as has Michael Cimino’s Heaven’s Gate, which was released the same year.  Empire calls Tom Horn an “underrated, gloomy Western.”

    In subsequent years, viewers were more tolerant of Westerns that focused on something besides action.  In 2014, True West explained that the movie and McQueen’s acting in the film were ahead of their time: “Audiences were used to action-packed Westerns with gunfights and brawls. McQueen offered them something different—a meditation of the West and a character study of one of America’s best-known figures of the era.”

    Below is the trailer for Tom Horn. Check it out.

    Photo via public domain. What did you think of the movie “Tom Horn”? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt Travel Space in “Passengers”

    Pratt Lawrence

    The trailer for the upcoming movie Passengers shows Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt using all of their charms in outer space. The film looks like it is sort of a rom-com in space, although I suspect there might be a twist or two.

    In the film, Lawrence and Pratt are on a ship traveling to a distant planet with thousands of others in a sleep state. But something goes wrong, waking Lawrence and Pratt 90 years too soon.

    From the trailer, it is difficult to tell whether the movie features a good science fiction story or whether the makers are banking on the two popular leading actors. Still, it looks like it might be worth taking a chance on seeing the movie. Check out the trailer.

    Passengers is directed by Morten Tyldum based on a screenplay by Jon Spaihts. Passengers hits theaters on December 21, 2016.

    Will you see “Passengers”? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Is “Captain Fantastic” Fantastic?

    Captain Fantastic film

    The film Captain Fantastic (2016) is much better than one might expect.  Although a short description of the film sounds like a family television series, the movie rises above expectations so that the sum of its parts make it one of the more enjoyable movies of the summer.

    Captain Fantastic, written and directed by Matt Ross, stars Viggo Mortensen as Ben, an idealistic father trying to raise his six children away from society in the wilds of Washington state.  As the movie opens, we learn that Ben’s wife is away being treated in a hospital.

    Ben is serious about the education of his children, teaching them such activities as defending themselves with knives and rock climbing.  But he equally teaches them about politics, philosophy, and literature.  For example, the anti-capitalist family celebrates Noam Chomsky‘s birthday instead of Christmas.

    As the movie progresses, word about Ben’s wife leads him and the children to go on the road. Some of the more humorous moments involve the family clashing with modern society.  Ben also clashes with family members, in particular with his father-in-law Jack, played by Frank Langella.

    From a description, so much of the movie seems predictable.  But the movie works for several reasons.  First, the actors are outstanding.  Mortensen, of course, dominates the film.  But the actors playing the children do an excellent job of giving personality to the roles.  Actors Samantha Isler and George MacKay, for example, show that they have promising careers ahead of them.

    Another reason the movie works is that the characters are three-dimensional.  Producers of movies like this one are often tempted to make the father character perfect, but Ben is far from perfect, just as Langella’s character is not all bad.

    Captain Fantastic does not give a one-sided perspective.  Variety even argues that the film is both left-wing and right-wing.

    I will not say more about the movie because it is better enjoyed without knowing too much about it.  It is not a big-budget summer blockbuster, but it is an enjoyable movie that may be under the radar.  Is Captain Fantastic fantastic?  I will have to think more about the question, but the movie certainly does restore your faith in small summer movies.

    Rotten Tomatoes gives Captain Fantastic a 78% critics score and an 85% audience score.

    What did you think of Captain Fantastic?  Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    “Star Trek Beyond” Gets Back to Basics

    The latest installment in the rebooted Star Trek films, Star Trek Beyond (2016), is a fun ride that helps get the series back on track although it does not reach the heights of most films in the original series.  If you have been following the reboot, you will probably enjoy the ride.  Still, you might feel like you wanted a little bit more.

    The Good

    Star Trek Beyond Review First, consider the good things about Star Trek Beyond.  The strength of the reboot has always been the actors selected to play the iconic roles.  With no exception, each of the actors in the main roles are reminiscent enough of the original actors while also bringing something new.

    Chris Pine, as Captain Kirk, builds on William Shatner’s swagger.  Similarly, Zachary Quinto perfectly evokes the late Leonard Nimoy‘s character.  Quinto adds a little more vulnerability to Spock in the alternate universe of the current films.

    Meanwhile, the actors in the other main roles have all been given moments to shine in the three movies.  The outstanding cast includes Simon Pegg, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, John Cho, and Anton Yelchin, who recently passed away.  Pegg, who plays Scottie, co-wrote with Doug Jung the most recent film, which was directed by Justin Lin.

    As with the original series and films, I will continue to watch every Star Trek film with this cast.  The greatest enjoyment I get from the series is the interaction and relationships among the characters.

    The Not-So-Good

    Like many modern action films, Star Trek Beyond often relies too much on action in place of drama.  Some scenes seemed to drag on with dark CGI effects that at times seemed repetitive.

    Similarly, I was excited that Iris Elba was playing the villain in this film.  But for the majority of the time, he is buried in makeup.  Without spoiling anything, I wish the film would have made better use of this great actor by further developing his personal turmoil and making him more three dimensional.

    On the other hand, the reality of modern movies is that they overly rely upon action, partly to appeal to younger viewers and partly to appeal to international viewers.  That said, the movie does have good action scenes.

    How Does Star Trek Beyond Compare to Other Films in the Franchise?

    The first film in the rebooted movies, 2009’s Star Trek, was a wonderful re-introduction to the Star Trek characters.  That film, directed by J.J. Abrams and written by Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, brought together this great cast.

    The 2009 movie also intelligently created an alternate universe for the characters. The plot twist that affects the entire series allows viewers to see the characters develop without us knowing their futures. Rotten Tomatoes gives Star Trek an excellent 95% critics score and a 91% audience score.

    The second film, 2013’s Star Trek Into Darkness, was a disappointment for many fans.  Into Darkness, again directed by J.J. Abrams, was written by Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, and Damon Lindelof.

    Fans had high expectations for Into Darkness once rumors leaked that the movie would feature the character Khan Noonien Singh.  The character had appeared in the original series.  More importantly, Khan was the villain in what many consider the best Star Trek film, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982).

    Into Darkness, for the most part, was fun.  Rotten Tomatoes gives Into Darkness an 86% critics score and a 90% audience score. But by the end of the movie, many Star Trek fans were disappointed or angry  The producers created a movie that tried to retread too much of The Wrath of Khan. Thus, it ended up being a somewhat ridiculous story instead of a tribute to the much better movie.

    Star Trek Beyond avoids the pitfalls of Into Darkness.  Instead of trying to rework another movie, it creates a new adventure for the crew of the Enterprise.  Some have noted that the new movie seems more like a television episode, and there is some truth to that.

    Star Trek Beyond takes a few nods at developing the depth of the characters and addressing larger issues.  It begins with Captain Kirk pondering the sameness of day-to-day life in space.  Similarly, Spock gets news that makes him reconsider his career choice too.

    But the movie does not do enough with these existential crises, perhaps reflecting modern worries that tend to focus on violence and terrorism.  Most of the movies in the original series did a little more with the characters (most notably Kirk’s aging in The Wrath of Khan).

    Star Trek Beyond instead hints at what might have been a better movie.  And there are some other deep themes regarding violence, isolationism, and collectivism bubbling around the seams.

    Conclusion?

    I liked Star Trek Beyond.  It featured some funny dialogue and great action scenes.  And one cannot resist the appearance of a Beastie Boys song fulfilling a role similar to a Slim Whitman song in Mars Attacks (1996).

    While I have high expectations for the Star Trek franchise that may be hard to meet, this movie still is a fun summer popcorn movie.  Rotten Tomatoes gives the film an 84% critics rating and an 85% audience rating. It was great to see the characters and actors together again. I can’t wait for the next film in the franchise.

    What did you think of Star Trek Beyond? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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