Movies - Chinatown, Becket, Amazing Grace

Chinatown (1974) - For many of us Los Angeles and all of Southern California are simply lands of sun and palm trees and easy living.  The reality is that the history especially of LA have quite a few skeletons in the closet.  Like where the water comes from to support all those people.  Once upon a time it was an enormous political deal that brought water from sometimes hundreds of miles away to the city.

This movie is one that draws awe from movie fans.  Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunnaway, directed by Roman Polanski and with perhaps the perfect movie script written by Robert Towne (who would win the only Oscar for the film, 10 other nominations came up empty).  The story of a private detective (Nicholson) drawn into the middle of intrigues of the California Water Wars through an adultery case that leads to a murder.  There is so much about this movie to love.  The acting, the script, the directing, the overall look of film noir, the stunning ending.  This was the movie that made Nicholson an established star.  It was Polanski's last American film (in which he makes a small but incredibly creepy cameo appearance).

Quite simply this is what movie making can be.

Rating - ***** Put It In Your Collection 

Becket (1964) - Based on the tony award winning play by Jean Anouilh it tells the story of King Henry II(Peter O'Toole) of England and his friend Thomas Becket(Richard Burton).  Henry thinks that he has made a brilliant counter to the growing power of the church by placing Becket on the throne of the Archbishop of Canterbury.  Instead he discovers that Becket takes his role as the head of the church every bit as seriously as he took his role as Chancellor.  The resulting conflict would lead to Becket's death and a pivotal moment in English history.

As history the movie leaves a lot to desire.  Anouilh acknowledged that he had done virtually no research prior to writing the original play.  But what makes this movie so wonderful isn't the historicity.  Fans of Eleanor of Aquitaine won't like the way she is portrayed here.nnThis is one of the most story rich periods of English history.  This same Henry, at the other end of his life, is the subject of the equally wonderful "The Lion in Winter" (O'Toole plays the king in both movies and received Oscar nominations both times).

As a character study this is a beautiful creation.  The movie received 12 Oscar nominations but stands at the very head of the list Oscar flame outs with 10 misses.  Burton plays the role of the master politician and tactician to an infinite sharpness.  O'Toole's Henry is charismatic and flawed and devious in his own right.  John Gielgud does a wonderful turn as King Louis VII (he's actually only in two scenes and does well enough to garner an Oscar nomination).  The screenplay was one of the Academy winners and it's the other true jewel here.  It takes us on a journey to understanding of faith and honor, exactly the journey that Becket faced.

Rating **** Recommended

Amazing Grace (2006) The story of the man who spearheaded the end of the slave trade in England probably doesn't sound like the most exciting movie viewing of the year.  Yet this movie about William Wilberforce brings great energy and emotion to the subject.  It is the very human struggle over a political and theological argument.  A talented cast and director bring the story to life.  While Wilberforce is the at the center of the movement he is surrounded by a slate of unusual partners.  The woman who would become his wife and her belief in him, the author of the hymn from which the movie draws its name who is tormented by the memory of  the thousands of slaves he brought to the New World in the hold of his ships, cynical politicians willing to fight for the cause and more just as happy to fight for the status quo.   An important moment of history is examined here and made into an engaging movie.

Rating - **** Recommended