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surbauer
Reviews
The Apostle (1997)
Solid, Wonderful Film-making
I have always enjoyed movies that Robert Duvall has been involved in, so I was curious to see what this 'one man show' was going to be like.
This film came out about the same time "Titanic" was marauding its way through American theaters. I remember walking of "The Apostle" thinking that "Titanic" didn't have 1/10th the emotional charge that "The Apostle" brings. I have never seen a movie so thought-provoking, riveting, laugh-inducing and tear-jerking as this one.
There are no special effects, not really any 'Big-Name' Hollywood hot-shot actors (possible exceptions being Duvall himself and June Carter Cash) - and "The Apostle" doesn't need them.
Yes - there is MUCH talk about 'God' in this film, but it is not about "Religion" as such. Everyone from Athiest/Agnostic to Jew to Muslim to the most Baptist Bible-Thumper in Georgia will be able to relate to and enjoy this movie.
I love this film, and especially after having seen it have a tremendous amount of respect for Robert Duvall. He put $4 million of his own money on the line to make this movie - that's commitment, folks. If you haven't seen "The Apostle" - do yourself a favor and watch it sooner rather than later.
Hells Angels Forever (1983)
If you want a glimpse...
The highlight of this movie for me was an interview w/ Jerry Garcia. The interviewer asks Garcia if he was afraid of the Angels, and Garcia replies that he was. The interviewer then asks Garcia what the attraction was - and Garcia replies with a Smile - "They're really good in all the violent spaces."
It's interesting to note that Garcia personally put up a large portion of the money to help make this movie happen.
I had read Hunter Thompson's excellent book on the Hells Angels prior to watching this movie, which I think may have filled in some blank spots.
It's not a well-made film, but it is Well Done. If you've ever been curious about what Real Hell's Angels were like - this is a good way to start finding out without risking much.
The Grateful Dead (1977)
They weren't the best at what they did...
They were the ONLY ones who did what they did.
I think for people that don't know anything about The Grateful Dead (or but think they do, but their entire knowledge of the band consists of the songs they've heard on Classic Rock Radio, and that stoner kid in one of their classes) the hardest thing for them to grasp as they're watching this movie is that it Actually Happened.
This is not Fiction, and it ain't CGI. All of those speakers are not Props. None of those people are Extras.
The best part is - none of it was Planned. NOBODY in the Organization ever would have thought in 1965 that someday they would be as big as they were in 1974. At the time this movie was filmed, they (the Organization) were wildly out of control, and were needing to just STOP.
These concerts were the last ones before the band took a badly needed year and a half hiatus from touring. When they came back to the road in 1976, they assumed the form they would pretty much take until 1995. Up to October, 1974 - they were in a continual state of flux. This film documents one of their peaks, even it it is on the down-side of it.
What people who still believe in Corporate Media (older-type folks) and MTV (kids - most of whom believe the world MTV portrays is real) will never understand is that The Grateful Dead were so much bigger than all of that.
Forget 'Casey Jones' (although the version on this film is Smokin') and 'Touch of Grey'. If you want a peak into the most important social phenomenon of the Twentieth Century - this is a good place to start.
I've tailored this review towards people who don't know anything about the Dead, because those that do have already seen this film. I've watched this movie at least two hundred times since 1990. It hasn't bored me yet. It's a different film each time I watch it - much like the concerts I went to.
Last advice - if you don't have a good sound system, don't bother. Wait until you can watch the movie at your buddy's house with the killer system. Watching this movie with the sound coming out of a TV set speaker is like having sex without a partner.
TURN IT ON, TURN IT UP - and most importantly - RELAX! The worst thing that can happen to you is that two hours and twenty minutes after you push Play is that you'll like the Grateful Dead! (Imagine what your friends will think!) PEACE!