Stephen Orr
Screenwriter
- Joined
- Mar 14, 1999
- Messages
- 1,099
There was an advanced screening at our local military base last night for "The Majestic", so my son, his girlfriend and I piled into the car to check it out.
My son and I are both huge fans of Frank Darabont, and have enjoyed much of Jim Carrey's work. "The Majestic", although not an original film, was very enjoyable. It moved at a leisurely pace, not hurried, and gave time to a lot of character development and some great performances.
A young Hollywood screenwriter in the early 50's, on the verge of hitting it big, suddenly finds himself the subject of a Communist witchhunt. The studio cuts off contract negotiations, and his big movie is suddenly shut down.
After an evening of drinking, he decides to drive up the coast to clear his head and contemplate his future. Instead, he ends up in an accident, and washes up on the beach near a town that has lost more than 60 of its sons to World War II. He has amnesia, and is mistaken for the one son who was actually counted as missing in action.
I read someplace that this is the kind of movie that Jimmy Stewart used to make, and that's a pretty accurate statement. The amnesiac writer's appearance in town renews the spirit of its citizenship, and the man finds himself actually measuring up to the memory of the town's favorite son -- at least, until he regains his memory.
The movie was funny and sad, and is a pretty good film for the holidays. It also serves as a pretty nice nostalgia trip. My 17-year-old son admits to tearing up a couple of times at a couple of heart-tugging scenes. His favorite character was the old theater owner, played by Martin Landau, who is the first one to mistake the writer for his son.
A word of caution, however. Although rated PG, don't bring kids under 11 or 12. They will be bored silly.
Tomorrow: A sneak of "Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius!"
My son and I are both huge fans of Frank Darabont, and have enjoyed much of Jim Carrey's work. "The Majestic", although not an original film, was very enjoyable. It moved at a leisurely pace, not hurried, and gave time to a lot of character development and some great performances.
A young Hollywood screenwriter in the early 50's, on the verge of hitting it big, suddenly finds himself the subject of a Communist witchhunt. The studio cuts off contract negotiations, and his big movie is suddenly shut down.
After an evening of drinking, he decides to drive up the coast to clear his head and contemplate his future. Instead, he ends up in an accident, and washes up on the beach near a town that has lost more than 60 of its sons to World War II. He has amnesia, and is mistaken for the one son who was actually counted as missing in action.
I read someplace that this is the kind of movie that Jimmy Stewart used to make, and that's a pretty accurate statement. The amnesiac writer's appearance in town renews the spirit of its citizenship, and the man finds himself actually measuring up to the memory of the town's favorite son -- at least, until he regains his memory.
The movie was funny and sad, and is a pretty good film for the holidays. It also serves as a pretty nice nostalgia trip. My 17-year-old son admits to tearing up a couple of times at a couple of heart-tugging scenes. His favorite character was the old theater owner, played by Martin Landau, who is the first one to mistake the writer for his son.
A word of caution, however. Although rated PG, don't bring kids under 11 or 12. They will be bored silly.
Tomorrow: A sneak of "Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius!"
