Oktyabr (1928)

Another Sergei M. Eisenstein film about Russian revolution. After watching the depressing Stachka just before this I was sure there would not be a happy ending.

The film drug on. It was over 100 minutes, which is painful for a silent film if the subject matter is not complex or constantly moving. This film was also not made with the intent of teaching you history. It recreates a lot of events that if you have no background on are just confusing to watch. I found myself lost for much of the film. This needs to be retrofitted with a history lesson to start.

Strike was better.

Vote: 6/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0018217/

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Henry V (1944)

I don't do good with Shakespeare. Laurence Olivier (Rebecca) directed, produced, and starred in this film which starts on the stage at the Globe Theater in 1600 England and transforms into a live action film, sumarizing back on the stage for the conclusion.

I just have a lot of trouble understanding what is going on in Shakespeare plays and actually had to read the Cliff Notes synopsis to understand what was going on. If you don't do well with Shakespeare then avoid this one. If you like Shakespeare this is considered one of, if not, the best versions of a Shakespeare play to become film.

Hard to enjoy so I personally would say, avoid this one.

Vote: 5/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036910/

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Strike: Stachka (1925)

Sergei M. Eisenstein, director of Battleship Potemkin is easily one of the most famous directors from the early part of the 20th Century. His films of the Russian revolution have some of the most powerful images and scenes of the silent era. If you are familiar with the Odessa scene in Battleship Potemkin then you know that his films can be gory and depressing as well.

This film is about Russian factory workers standing up to capitalist management. When they refuse the basic requests, like an 8 hour work day and fair treatment the mob is enticed by management's spies and the army is called in...

Don't expect a happy ending from Eisenstein, his films are meant to stir your emotions. Just average for me, I'd rather watch Battleship again than this...

Vote: 6/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0015361/

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The Lion in Winter (1968)

I like to think that I am not an argumentative person, and I strongly dislike watching movies about people just arguing. If you are a fan of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, a film where Elizabeth Taylor and her husband argue the entire time then you might like this film.

This movie captures a Christmas family get together for the family of Henry II (played by Peter O'Toole, little did I know he also played Henry II in Becket). The queen "Eleanor of Aquitaine" is played by Katharine Hepburn, and the sons are played by Timothy Dalton, Anthony Hopkins, and John Castle.

This film is a game of chess between the King, the Queen, and his sons and they are all trying to take control of the empire. You get the feeling like every family get together is kind of like this one for the family, and it is a completely different take on a historical film.

Interesting, but not my cup of tea, arguing throughout a film makes me uncomfortable.

Vote: 5/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063227/

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The Duchess (2008)

Some may question why I struggle through the entire Golden Globe and Oscar lists when there are some films I postpone or regret having to sit through. The film I expect to be the worst annually has become the winner of the Costume Design category. These films are nominated not for substance, but purely on the attire of the cast. The previous two winners were Elizabeth: The Golden Age and Marie Antoinette which have been standouts in a negative way...

So to complete this years ballot all I had to do was finish this Keira Knightley film. Low and behold this category finally delivered a decent film. With good performances by Hayley Atwell (as Lady Bess) and Ralph Fiennes (as the Duke, you might remember him from In Bruges, The Constant Gardener, or The English Patient). Fiennes also was nominated for a Supporting Actor Golden Globe for his role as a bored, dull, and sometimes cruel man. Atwell had her first major film performance and acted the part well, I'm not going to say she was amazing, but she fit the part well.

This film is a history piece following the life of Georgiana a girl not even 18 years old when she becomes the Duchess of Devonshire. Taking place in England in the late 18th century and spanning about 15 years of her life, and the roles of a Duchess. This is a very feminist film, it portrays [justly] women as having very limited rights, and has a few appalling scenes. You can't leave this film without thinking "thank goodness I wasn't a women in this day and age." The most ironic part of the film was that it won for costume design, and I couldn't get over the fake mole Knightly had at one of the parties. Whether it was normal to do this 250 years ago at parties or not, it was very funny to me that this "costume" was so fake and ridiculous.

With a good story, decent acting jobs all around, and some fantastic costumes this definitely brought new life to the category. Maybe I won't avoid next years front runners Bright Star and The Young Victoria until November.

Vote: 7/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0864761/

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