The Majestic
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Movie Reviews of The Majestic
Movie Review: Another political review.
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a very beautiful and slow movie. The point seems to be comparing the beauty present in the film to the ugliness of our own time. This is some kind of conservative movie. It's no accident the events of the film take place against the backdrop of the McCarthy era. Not at all. Others have claimed this film is a throwback to the style of the late 'Frank Capra'. Googling him it turns out Capra was active in the anti-communist movement. At one point in the movie Jim Carrey's girlfriend says, "It's not illegal to be a communists". This is what those who support McCarthy often say (I guess to minimize their guilt).
I don't doubt the majority of those commenting draw the opposite conclusion, seeing this film as further damnation of the McCarthy era. Do they really feel that way? I suppose some do. Fear is a powerful force if it can alter perception itself. That's real fear, not something that's made up about the past. I recall years ago I used to go to MSN chat online. They had these volunteer moderators responsible for booting people out. I made the comment once, liberal moderators just assume MSN supports their sick, disgusting, agenda. Conservative moderators bend over backwards trying to be fair, and that's not fair.
Critic Roger Ebert said this was a good film. Ebert is sometimes obnoxiously liberal. He began his review of the movie Clockwork Orange by saying, 'Clockwork Orange is a confused right wing fantasy masquerading as an Orwellian warning'. For some free advertising, my own review began, 'Clockwork Orange is not about crime, gangs, or violence. When the movie begins, it's about the past. Alex, in the movie, representing Britains of the past'. In this movie, and the film 'A Boy and His Dog', Roger Ebert seems to support what the film is saying, or he goes along what the director is trying to say, despite it being conservative. Ebert gives this a sort of back handed, facetious, endorsement. The problem with this is it's so subtle it goes without note? He commented on one of the characters, the head communist witch hunter, saying there is a weak, snively character like this in every movie. I guess in the directors previous movie The Green Mile it was the rookie guard who was eager to participate in an execution. When the whinny character comes on-screen in this movie, I felt sorry for him. Just seeing him - with this movie comparing our time to the past, I suppose - I felt sorry for him. It turns out, he's the one who 'understands the communists' and is opposed to them. Guess he knew what he was talking about.
There were some speeches in this movie, like old movies have sometimes, but they're kind of subdued, or anti-speeches. At one point Jim Carrey's character says, (while they're standing beside a graveyard) "people who stand up get mowed down". There's another where the late Martin Landau says something like, "sitting at home, watching a small box, that's not entertainment". This movie makes a statement about community. It didn't fully work for me. This movie takes place in California, where it's warm. Where I'm from it's cold enough you want to stay indoors, and there's not much to do but work inside a factory. Also, for me I think, community is a bunch of people who don't like me. I don't really understand 'community' (and this movie maker isn't the only one concerned with it). Just commenting, I think our technology will eventually bring us closer together. If it becomes advanced enough, we can be in our own house yet be right-there with our loved ones, and others, at the same time.
In the film, Jim Carrey's character stands up to the government and the anti-communists. Then in an almost amusing turn, he stands up to his Hollywood bosses as well. For the most part, tho, this seemed a very honest movie.
While a simple movie, the feelings it explored were very complex. Remembering it, I'm not sure I fully understood it. Not sure I fully understood the ending or the parts near the end (that the film may have been building up to or exposed earlier) - at least I'm having problems putting it into words. It seemed to be saying, as human beings, we're not good enough to live up to our own ideology; whether it be left or right, Marxist, capitalist, or fascist. That even the best intentions and the noblest ideals on the part of us as individuals can lead to negative outcomes. I don't think it was a negative movie, however. Apart from the damnation of our own very ugly time.
Movie Review: DESERVES MORE CREDIT THEN IT GETS - PLUS BRUCE CAMPBELL AND JIM CARREY IN THE SAME FILM
Summary: 5 Stars
THE MAJESTIC
One of Jim Carrey's best films ever and one of his best performances takes place in this film set in 1950's Hollywood when filmmakers were getting blacklisted for supposed communist involvement. Now I am absolutely sure that some were but others were unjustly accused, a lot of people lost everything because of this. Of course whatever you believe you do have the right to do so whether right or wrong as long as no laws are broken. But that does not stop the powers that be from blacklisting Carrey's character in this film. This film is not only a showcase of that period in time but is also speaking to things that are happening now.
Peter Appleton [Carrey] is on his way to becoming a very successful screenwriter with a new film called Ashes to Ashes. Add in that he is dating the lovely star of the film and things could not be looking better. But his bubble is busted when he learns that is time in the biz may be up, he has been blacklisted. Of course he is not a communist but that means nothing to the government, he once accidently sat in a communist meeting in college just to hang out with a girl. That one mistake that he made as a youth has come back to ruin his career and his life. Of course like anybody would do he gets drunk and tries to forget the pain, what a coincidence, he literally does.
After getting into his car and having a few drinks he crashes on a bridge and tumbles into the water. It is here that he cracks his head and wakes up to a dog licking him. He has no idea where he is, how he got there, or even who he is. But the town he makes his way into seem to have an idea of who he is, and it is not a Hollywood writer. It is one of the town's lost sons Luke Trimble, this brings the town to life. But not everyone is happy to see Luke home and some just can't believe it. But Luke's father is convinced his war hero son is back and wants to reopen the family biz, a movie theater called The Majestic. As the town celebrates and Peter or Luke settles in his memory starts to creep back as the Government get closer to finding him.
This has got to be one of Carrey's best performances without a doubt especially because no one at the time thought he could pull off a more serious role. Carrey shines without a doubt in what most critics bashed, goes to show what the so called professionals know. To be honest this should have at least won some Golden Globes, it is not the best movie ever but it is much better than what people give it credit for. Every person that appeared in this did a marvelous job from the people who played his father, girlfriend in the town, to all of the towns people they all did great. I should note that the movie wrote that he watches at the premiere stars none other than the great Bruce Campbell. Of Course Bruce is my all time favorite actor, one of the best ever.
Directed by Frank Darabont who has made so many good movies does not disappoint in this wonderful film written by Michael Sloane. Sloane needs to write some more films because he did an excellent job with this film. If you have not seen this then you are cheating yourself out of a good film. The performances are great as is the look and feel of the film, old school style look and time period. I would highly recommend this film because it is about trust, loyalty, pride, honor, our war veterans, our freedoms, and so much more. It is not the best film ever but certainly is worth the price of admission at the Majestic.
Movie Review: Very good
Summary: 5 Stars
Rarely do I see a movie that makes me do one of these two things: cry and laugh. Despite the bad rap the press has given it, The Majestic is a feel-good movie with a lot of promising qualities that I enjoyed immensely.Jim Carrey has previously driven me insane with his stupid movies--ie, Ace Ventura and Liar Liar--but as Pete Appleton it all changed for me. His candor in the character is unmistakable, and the emotion he put into it really impressed me. The sincerity in his voice when he says "I love you, Dad," to Martin Landau made me cry, and while it may be "schmaltzy" it is quite a nice thing, especially in this time.
The WWII memorial was very special to me, as my grandfather and my great uncle were in the Great War. I was outright sobbing when they played the National Anthem, and I wanted to be there, to touch that statue, run my fingers over the names of those who died. Ever since 09/11 there has been an upsurge in patriotic feelings and The Majestic, especially at the end when Peter Appleton is confronting the men of Congress, pins it on the head: this country is our country, and no one can take the rights away from us.
It's obvious that I think Laurie Holden (Adele Stanton) was the shining star of the movie; in her first real film appearance she was classy, charming, and lovely. She was also quite amusing during the infamous hiccup scene, where I think the majority of the theatre was put into giggles about it. Her intelligence--both of Holden and her character, Adele--shines through, especially during the confrontation scene between Adele and Peter at the grave site of Luke Trimble. Her stubborn will is seen here and I have to admit, it is one of my favorite scenes in this movie: the way she just told him, "No, you must stand up for yourself" and then later gave him the Constitution of the United States...it just said hell of a lot to me.
Martin Landau was also very good, as were the other actors: I enjoyed every character in this movie, which is quite a suprise. A highlight was the music--I loved the music! Bouncy and fun, during the scene when Carrey is pounding on the piano at the welcome home party I kept tapping my feet.
All-in-all, the movie The Majestic seems to be a sweet, perhaps corny, film, but with a lot of heart that captured mine indefinitely. It also heightened my adoration for Laurie Holden, who is incredibly talented and finally she is getting noticed by the "big boys". I cried, I laughed, and I felt emotion that I hadn't felt in a movie since 1994's The Lion King. I felt connected somehow to all of these characters, when all they wanted was their boys back from the war, hoping that they hadn't perished for the American dream.
I'm glad that not only in the movie, but in real life, they are honored thusly. Frank Darabont put in a lot of heart that other people called corny and stupid, but I enjoyed it; he did well with casting, and Jim and Laurie did wonderful jobs portraying their characters. So, in closing:
GOD BLESS AMERICA!
Oh, and The Majestic was a damn good movie.
Movie Review: Good Movie Enhanced by an Accurate Portrayal of a Small Town
Summary: 5 Stars
What must it have been like to have been in a position of power and responsibility in The United States, when a single person and a cadre of political thugs were able to investigate anyone they pleased in the name of seeking out supposed Communist spies? By contrast, small town America still lived in relative innocence, believing their government could do no wrong, believing in the values that we have always associated with The United States. This dichotomy of situations is well-contrasted and exploited in one of Jim Carrey's best movies.Peter Appleton (Jim Carrey) is a Hollywood writer accused of being a member of the Communist party, just as his career seems ready to take off. Peter goes for a long drive after having too much to drink, at the end of a long day. His drive ends with his car over an embankment.
Peter wakes up to discover that he no longer remembers who he is, and is now in the town of Lawson, California. The setting is critical to understanding this movie. Small-town America is as different from large-city America as the moon is compared to the Earth. Every small town has its claim to fame. In Lawson's case, it was The Majestic Theater before World War II. However, the war killed or maimed most of the town's young men, and took the energy of the town with it. Peter bears a strong resemblance to Lucas Trimble, a town hero, and son of Harry Trimble (Martin Landau), the owner of The Majestic, and soon the town takes Peter for Lucas, convincing Peter in the process.
Unfortunately, the Committee on Un-American Activities eventually catches up with Peter just as he remembers who he was. Peter goes off to face the music with Hal Holbrook as Congressman Doyle.
This success of this movie hinges on the ability to understand small towns, and the feeling those towns have for their landmarks and their history. The loss of the boys during the war was symbolized by the deterioration of The Majestic, which further symbolized the despair and loss of the town of Lawson. The return of Luke Trimble restored hope, symbolized by the repair of The Majestic.
We find that Peter Appleton is all too mercenary, and has few personal values. However, he finds values in Lawson, and his redemption ultimately becomes redemption for Lawson. The two are inextricably intertwined.
It's easy to criticize this movie for being too larger than life. Obviously there were exaggerations. However, the feel of small-town America is correct. Was the movie predictable, as others have suggested? I thought that the movie's outcome was one of several. Ultimately, this movie is family friendly and is a favorite among our small-town family. Five stars because I liked it after having seen it twice.
Movie Review: The Bill of Rights is the law of the heart
Summary: 5 Stars
This film is a parabole of the Bill of Rights and the First Amendment of the US Constitution. As such it is a masterpiece. We flash back to the McCarthy era when some politicians were obssessed and pbnubilated by a communist plot against America that never existed but in their warped minds. One film author is named by someone as a communist and he has to clear himself by naming some more people. He knows it is wrong by principle. He knows the names are those of people who have nothing to do with the accusation and who were at the most, like him maybe naive and certainly moved by the show of misery, suffering and war in the world. They were humane and nothing else and they used their plain constitutional rights to do something about it. The trick of this film is to make that person have an accident at the time of the accusation, lose his memory and assume the identity of a real war hero who was lost in action. The people of the little town of Lawson want him to assume that identity to give them their dream back, the dream of the America that has fought for the freedom of the human race in the world for three odd centuries. He is led into this situation by his loss of memory, though he recovers it at the very moment when the FBI and others catch up on him. As his real self he has no courage and is ready to play the game of the politicians to get his life back. As his assumed self he should fight for the Bill of Rights and the First Amendment even if he has to go to jail for it. The dense ending of the film is romantic about this situation and makes him make the good ethical choice, but that turns him into an untouchable hero. The film forgets that thousand of people suffered because of this short period of anticommunist bigotry in the head of a fundamentalist senator. Yet the film goes farther with a punchline at the very end, after he has recovered his job at the studio and his life, or nearly so. He realizes that filmmakers and film artists have another way of yielding : to produce some pitiful and pathetic stuff that loses human depth and replaces it with melodramatic images, and images are nothing but virtual emotions, no real deep-felt feelings and sentiments. You can imagine the return of the hero back to Lawson. If you can't do watch the film. Maybe you will come to the idea that our world would be a lot better if the powerful - and power is transient - stopped crucifying innocent victims. But fighting against victimization is a good good good thing to do : it provides you with a clear and shiny conscience.
Dr Jacques COULARDEAU