The challenge is now officially open!!
We're on the downswing of February and I figured it was time to send out the warning for the March Historical Drama/Epic Challenge.
The idea is similar to other challenges. Watch at least 13 qualifying films, preferably with at least 7 first time viewings, then come here and post your opinions/ratings.
There are two qualifiers...
1) The "Historical Drama" Qualification - Films which take place in an accurate historical setting, at least 50 years prior to the date the film was produced. These do not have to be actual, historical stories. Just set in a realistic time period.
or
2) The "Epic" Qualification - Films with a running time of at least 160 minutes.
Examples...
The Magnificent Ambersons - NO, since the primary time period is only 20+ years prior to the production of the film.
Shakespeare in Love - Yes
Titus - NO, under the Historical qualification (not realistic time period) but YES under the Epic qualification.
A Room with a View - Yes.
LOTR movies - Oh, if you have to (under the Epic qualification), but the idea is to branch out.
In the spirit of the Historical Drama concept, I'd like to encourage participants to make a particular effort to seek out literary adaptations and stretch beyond their ordinary viewing habits. Everyone on earth has seen
Lawrence of Arabia, so instead, venture into
Doctor Zhivago or
Ryan's Daughter. Pick a certain author and have a mini festival. You get the idea.
The challenge will run the month of March. Admission is limited (not really), so sign up early, subscribe to this thread and visit often.
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My List - First time viewings in blue. Ratings out of 
1) Amazing Grace (2006) -
Story behind William Wilberforce, the end of slavery in England (though certainly not British slave labor elsewhere) the genesis of the Psalm used as the words for the famous song and so on. Not nearly as good a film as it should have been since it glosses over a lot of topics and the narrative is inconsistent, but excellent cast. The best moment in the film is actually just prior to the closing credits as the title song is performed in all its glory. Probably worth mentioning that the actual music typically associated with
Amazing Grace pre-dates the words by several centuries and is a traditional tune of Irish or Scottish origin.
2)
American Gangster: The Unnecessarily Long version (2007) -
Steve already said it. I don't see what all the fuss is about. Sure, it's a decent movie, interesting story, good acting all around, but, you know, that's about it.
3)
Silk (2007) -
Sentimental, ponderous and lushly filmed story of a mid 19th century European who treks to Japan in order to bring back healthy silkworm eggs. For various reasons, he finds himself obsessed with the trip and is somewhat absent to his new wife. Story was a bit too meandering, but managed to pull together better than I expected in the end. Like I say, it is a rather sentimental film, so probably not to all tastes. I never thought I'd see Michael Pitt in a historic period piece, and he's a less than ideal choice, but he does a decent enough job.
My vision of the future: It is February 2043 and after 127 feature films, 17 Oscar nominations and no wins (an all-time record), one of the most prolific and valued actresses of the 21st century is receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The award is presented by Dame Kate Winslett (the only actress in history with more nominations, plus 4 wins) to an ageless Keira Knightley, who still needs to eat a hamburger.
4)
A Fistful of Dollars (1964) -
A fave. I guess it is fitting that the first film from one of my all-time favorite directors (OK, not his first, but I wish it had been) came out the year of my birth. Fun stuff
5)
Sweet and Lowdown (1999) -
My favorite Woody Allen is a remake of Fellini's
La Strada, with the strongman replaced by an egotistical guitarist (Sean Penn) who is simultaneously based on and terrified by the legendary Django Reinhardt. Got that? Only Woody could pull off a feat like that.
"I'm considered the greatest guitarist in the world. Well, there's this gypsy in France..." Samantha Morton is superb in the Masini character of Hattie. Never heard of it?
SHAME ON YOU!!!
6)
The Golden Bowl (2000) -
Deliberate, oddly surreal melodrama from Merchant/Ivory based on the Henry James novel. I've never been a fan of James' work and the truth is, I had never even heard of this film, or the novel. I am kind of at a loss on what to say. I think it is fairly certain that whatever point there is to this story, I completely missed it. Possibly because I kept dozing off after a while. Tony Pierce-Roberts created some nice visuals though. The end of the film received a big "WTF" from me...
And what's the deal with Kate Beckinsale? Has she had work done or what? She doesn't even look like the same person.
7)
Stage Beauty (2004) -
Richard Eyre's farce revolves around King Charles' II decision to allow women to perform on sanctioned stages shortly after his restoration to the crown.
"Whenever we're about to do something truly awful
we always say the French have been doing it for years"
Billy Crudup and Claire Danes are interesting choices to play the main characters, since they are (in my opinion) distinctly "modern" actors, but it plays well into the generally light nature of the film. For the most part, almost the entire movie is a set-up for the (nearly) final scene between Danes and Crudup, as Othello and Desdemona. Rupert Everett is just hilarious and absurdly silly as the King, and who on earth is Zoe Tapper?!? Man oh man is that is one juicy little bit.
8)
The Libertine (2004) -
I probably like this movie more than it deserves. It is probably the filthiest movie I have ever seen. Not so much from the language and behavior, but the grime everything is covered in. Depp plays John Wilmot, the Second Earl of Rochester, a "writer" to go down in history with The Marquis de Sade. This makes an outstanding double feature with
Stage Beauty since they are radically different presentations of the same time. Plus, Samantha Morton. 'nuff said.
The Jane Austen Mini-Marathon, pt. 1
9)
Pride & Prejudice (2005) -
Yeah, I love this movie, audacity and all. I've watched it more times than I care to admit. Purists disregard it for its impoliteness and emphasis on man chasing, but as far as I'm concerned, if any Austen novel is ripe for an amped up adaptation, this is it. Keira Knightley is perfectly headstrong as Lizzie, without putting off the audience. Rosamund Pike is also perfect as Jane, the temb=pered beauty who has the future of the family on her shoulders. Brenda Blethyn is just a bit overdone at times, but hey. Te only real miss is Judy Dench, playing essentially the same role she has played 100 times before. Maybe she is bored with it, because she ia WAY over the top. There is some of the most incredible cinematography I have ever seen in this film. Remarkably complex stuff.
10)
Sense & Sensibility (1995) -
It's hard to imagine a time when nobody had heard of Kate Winslet, but here she is. In this case we have a very "polite" adaptation of a more polite story. No matter how much I love the bold P&P, I like this one just a bit more. Probably the best performance of Alan Rickman's impressive career. Funny little thing I noticed. Willoughby (eventually) lives in the same castle here as Knightley calls home in the 1996 BBC adaptation of
Emma.
11)
Emma (1996-BBC)
In one of two 1996 adaptations of the same novel, Kate Beckinsale takes on the lead character. This is the better of the two and Beckinsale reminds me that at one time she was a promising, genuine actress. Her Emma is sweet and not too uppity. Most impressive is Mark Strong as a rather regal Mr, Knightley.
12)
Emma (1996-theonewithgwyneth)
Call this the "cutified" version. Bigger budget, but not better. Paltrow sometimes comes off more arrogant than I think Emma really should be. Looks better than the BBC, but the cutsy approach is a bit annoying. In particular, Toni Collette doesn't even hold a candle to Samantha Morton as Harriet Smith.
13)
Becoming Jane (2007) -
OK, it exaggerates, considerably, the central romance, as well as losing 5 or 6 brothers. What do you expect? On the good side, Anne Hathaway was surprisingly (almost startingly) good in the role. I have seen her try to branch out, with less than complete success, as a troubled teen in
Havoc, so this was a real treat. I knew it was overblown, but I was still engaged.
14)
Jane Eyre (1996) -
This is one of my all-time favorite novels, so I guess I am supposed to hate every adaptation ever done of it. The fact is, I have never seen a completely satisfactory one, but all in all, this one comes the closest. The most common problem is that most, if not all of the latter parts of the book (except the ending) are invariably left out, except some of the miniseries versions. This one also does that, but something has to be expected in a sub 2 hour adaptation.
I have two main reasons for liking this Zeffirelli version. First, it is the only one I have seen (including the 4 hour 1983 BBC mini) which does not nearly or completely disregard what I consider to be the most critical character aside from Jane and Rochester, which is Helen Burns. In fact, this adaptation does some nice work by combining Helen with another character to incorporate a rather important scene showing Jane's determination at a young age. Unfortunately, Helen still doesn't get the emphasis she deserves since her stunning prose is missing, as is Miss Temple's profound influence, but this film comes closer than any other I have seen. Second, Charlotte Gainsbourg is the absolute embodiment of Jane. I find it surprising any actress could be Jane so completely, in every single aspect. At least, the way I envision her.
15)
Heat -
Epic cops and robbers from Michael Mann starring Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro, Tom Sizemore, Danny Trejo, Val Kilmer, Ashley Judd, Amy Brenneman and too many others to list. Fun stuff I expect everyone is already aware of.
16)
The Heart of Me (2002) -
Curious little early 20th century Indie melodrama about Madeleine (Olivia Williams), her wild child sister Dinah (Helena Bonham Carter) and husband Rickie (Paul Bettany) and their little opera of betrayal, infidelity and so on. Nice looking and good cast, but it seems like something is missing.
17)
La Vie en Rose (aka:
La Môme 2007) -
Uneven biopic about early 20th Century French Pop singer Edith Piaf may have caught me off guard. It's possible I missed what it did, but I was left a bit flat. Still, there is no doubt Marion Cotillard burned the place up, and Richard Roper has once again proven he is a complete idiot with his figurative "boycott" of her Oscar. I especially commend Cotillard for expressly NOT setting out to carbon-copy Piaf, as so many viewers (and critics) have mistakenly come to believe is the pinnacle of acting. Imitation is easy folks, and there is very little creative about it.
18)
The Whole Wide World (1996) -
Admirable and surprising biopic about Depression-Era, troubled pulp author Robert E Howard (creator of Conan, played by Vincent D'Onofrio) and his friendship/romance with school teacher and aspiring author Novalyne Price (Renee Zellweger). Probably the strongest part of the film is the two charismatic lead actors and a story (based on Price's memoir) that manages to get the audience invested with a minimum of melodrama. This virtually unknown little indie is worth seeking out.
19)
September Dawn (2006) -
BOMB
It was clear this would be a smirch piece against a particular American Church, and that was enough to get me interested, for reasons this forum doesn't permit me to explain. The problem is, what started out as a poorly done, childish and painfully transparent After School Special level feature descended even lower than I could have ever imagined. The brother turning savage and the horribly overlong, melodramatic death scene at the end were positively puke inducing. I was hoping to get a perverse thrill from this one. I ended up needing something to cleanse it from my mind...
20)
Sweet Land (2005) -
Pleasant depression-era story of a Norwegian immigrant (Tim Guinee) homesteading in Wisconsin when a German Orphan woman (Elizabeth Reaser) is sent to be his wife. Aside from the obvious difficulties of the time, the couple faces societal obstacles so close after WWI due the the woman's heritage. This is a wonderful story of commitment. I love the shot of the couple standing in the early morning empty fields after completing the harvest. A little too much improper levity holds this one back at times. Alex Kingston and particularly Alan Cumming are somewhat out of place, but
Titus is about the only time I have liked Cumming in any feature I have seen.
21)
Wildflower (1991) -
I wanted to get one Reese movie in, and this is the only one which qualifies, since the time difference with
The Man in the Moon is only about 35+ years. In the Depression deep South a young girl (Reese Witherspoon) discovers a deaf, epileptic girl (Patricia Arquette) locked up in a neighbor's shed and decides to help her. This is just a cable TV movie, but it is nicely written and executed.
22)
Once Upon a Time in America -
Damn I love this movie. I'm pretty sure I haven't watched it since the day it finally came out on DVD. I regularly change my interpretation. I've been exploring the "Opium Induced Delusion" approach.
23)
Atonement (2007) -
Gothic, surprisingly brutal and tastefully melodramatic tale of a young girl misperceiving several events she witnesses and the profound consequences of her resulting actions. This is a surprisingly literary story, with splashes of the Brontës in its theme of romantic doom, Franz Kafka in its sense of helpless persecution and Thomas Hardy in its tragic foibles of human frailty and selfishness. It is a
tough story for those who become involved, as I did. I must also say, Joe Wright is turning out to be one of the most exciting filmmakers to appear in years. His films are simultaneously accessible and artistic. Plus, he is an absolute artist with epic, seemingly impossible, complex shots. The beach scene roughly in the middle of the film goes on for just over 5 minutes, with not a single cut, and not only involves thousands of extras, but is incredibly complex and well done. Truly mind boggling stuff.
24)
The Assassination of Jesse James... (2007) -
Perceptions are interesting. I read over and over how this film still glorifies James, though less than previous ones, and what a sleazy scumbag Ford is. To me, James comes across as the charismatic, repugnant individual he most likely was, and the type of person I have learned to avoid like the plague. Little more than a bullying, intimidating punk who not only believes he is entitled to commit the crimes he does, but that others should admire him for them. Ford is just someone who gets pushed around alot and has delusions of grandeur.
I admire the deliberate nature of this film, but in the end I think it is just too long. It really doesn't need almost 160 minutes to get the story and mood across. I also tend to think people take the full film title too literally. I sense more than a slight irony to it.
This well be my placeholder.