Jon, what is up, huh?
Yeah, come on - out with it.
You're among friends.
Snoopy friends.
You are creating a mystery here.
Obviously you have something you'd like to say.
Say it!
I wonder if I could ask you a silly question.
Jon, we're teachers.
We answer silly questions all the time.
Hey!
What if I told you were all characters in a movie I was going to review?
I supposed there's a joke in there, but I don't get it.
There's nothing to get.
What are we talking about?
Simple.
This is Movie Night!
Hello and welcome to Movie Night, in-depth reviews whenever I get around to posting them!
I'm your host, Jonathan Paula.
Tonight I'll be reviewing three pictures with immortal characters, the firstThe first of
tonight's three "immortality"-based pictures.
We begin with "Tuck Everlasting".
This Jay Russell romantic fantasy film was released by Walt Disney Pictures in October
of 2002, where it squeaked out $4 million in profit against its $15-million dollar budget.
Based on Natalie Babbitt's children's book of the same name, the 96-minute story follows
Alexis Bledel - a young girl living in the early twentieth century that falls in love
with a boy who's part of a family of immortals.
Jonathan Jackson stars opposite as the cute and daring love interest, and the two definitely
play off each other well... developing a earnest and believable teenage relationship.
Well, at least one of them is a teenager, Jackson eventually confides his true age to
be north of the century mark.
William Hurt, Victor Garber, Scott Bairstow, and Sissy Spacek do their best in poorly integrated
supporting roles.
It's Ben Kingsley though as the "Man in the yellow suit", who really stands out.
A dastardly villain who hides his nefarious intentions behind overly polite manners - he's
a very memorable bad guy.
Meanwhile, during a quiet boat ride, Hurt imparts fatherly advice to his son's new girlfriend,
by cautioning, "Don't be afraid of death, be afraid of the unlived life."
It's a powerful message that resonates at the heart of the picture, which is further
amplified when you realize he's discussing more than just a single lifespan, but all
of eternity.
When Bledel is first discovered by the Tuck family, the dilemma they face regarding their
compromised existence is a very fascinating one.
A peaceful and solitary group, they can't risk the truth of their immortality being
revealed, but they can't exactly murder an innocent child either.
While everlasting life may seem like an attractive prospect, the insight of these characters
suggests that it's more of a curse than anything else, especially when Bairstow shares a heartbreaking
story of a wife and kids who long ago grew old and died.
A coda set during present-day is an emotional close to the picture, but feels rushed and
perhaps even unnecessary.
Even though the cinematography is rather traditional, sticking mostly to anamorphic close-ups, Russell
does show off the beautiful woods and scenery of Maryland very well.
William Ross's whimsical score is a perfect fit for the magical romance at this film's
center, mixing fiddles and strings with slow melodies.
In typical Disney-fashion, the PG-rated narrative remains simplistic and predictable, but it
alos makes you wonder about life, and the possibilities of never growing old.
A well-paced experience that is slightly more mature than typical family movies, "Tuck Everlasting"
contains thought-provoking ideas in a wandering story.
I thought it was GOOD.
For tonight's poll question: if you could stay the age you are now, and never die, would
you choose immortality?
Leave your response as a comment below.
Second tonight, "The Man From Earth".
The final effort from prolific "Star Trek" and "Twilight Zone" writer Jerome Bixby, this
intriguing science fiction tale was penned from his own deathbed in 1998.
Years later, it landed in the in the hands of director Richard Schenkman, who produced
the film on the extremely low-budget of $200,000.
In fact, the dual Panasonic DVX-100b's they used for filming is the exact camera I owned
before upgrading to HD.
Following its premiere screening at San Diego Comic-Con in July of 2007 this short 87-minute
feature found cult-success on digital formats, thanks largely in part to illegal distribution
over peer-to-peer networks, and long-standing availability on streaming services.
The narrative begins with a non-descript school teacher gathering his colleagues in his small
house for a farewell conversation before he moves to another city.
As the titular character, David Lee Smith posits a remarkable question to his learned
friends, "What if a man from the Upper Paleolithic had survived until the present day?".
The resulting discussion is a deeply involved one; what begins as scientific hypothetical
evolves into an emotional examination of philosophy, religion, and life itself.
Smith is calm and patient with his incredulous listeners, weaving a convincing, if unverifiable
account of his 14,000 years on Earth.
There's a certain frustration and anguish about his condition that makes him such a
compelling protagonist.
Although they're hardly well-known, the small supporting cast includes some faces that might
be familiar to Trekkies, including Tony Todd, John Billingsley, Ellen Crawford, and Richard
Riehle.
No one is given any real opportunity to impress, but their simplistic performances have quick
sparks of personality that bring a necessary humanity to the otherwise dry story.
When one of his revelations offends the group, Smith struggles over renouncing the truth
for their well-being, or holding fast to his fantastic tale.
There's no visual effects or flashbacks, the fascinating story of a millenniums-old caveman
plays out in the theater of the audience's mind.
It's handled with just the right amount of optimism and doubt, allowing the viewer to
draw their own conclusions and questions as the dialogue effortlessly rolls along.
Taking place entirely in one confined location, and boiling down to one long, intellectual
argument, this movie could honestly pass for a TED Talk - but therein lies its charm.
A subtle score from Mark Hinton Stewart uses rhythmic drums and woodwinds to lay down a
mood that grows increasingly more serious by the picture's end.
Without any flashy action, big-name talent, or even a traditional narrative structure,
this unrated experience still manages to thoroughly captivate from beginning to end.
A must-watch for sci-fi fans, "The Man From Earth" is an absorbing thought-experiment
on the possibility of immortality - I thought it was AWESOME.
Finally tonight, a review I already shared on the Movie Night Archive channel the night
before its premiere, "The Age Of Adaline".
Released on April 24, 2015 - this romantic fantasy film from director Lee Toland Krieger
is, commendably, an original story written for the screen.
The $25 million dollar production stars the classically beautiful Blake Lively as the
titular character, a mature, sophisticated, and nurturing soul perpetually stuck in a
29 year old body.
After a freak car accident renders her immortal, she's forced to go through the twentieth century
in seclusion, always careful no one discovers her remarkable secret.
Lively's show stopping beauty and impeccable fashion sense is matched only by her sage
wisdom, reflecting on the limitations of her life, "Love is not the same when there’s
no growing old together.
Without that, love is just heartbreak."
The tragedy of her ageless curse hits home when we learn that her only friend is a blind
women, and how her own daughter must introduce herself as an elderly grandmother.
When a routine traffic stop threatens to reveal her true birth year, Adaline must abandon
her life and relocate under a new name, a painful process she repeats every decade.
Her outlook on secrecy changes though when she falls in love with the ruggedly handsome
and charming Michiel Huisman.
Their playful, yet contentious flirting turns into serious relationship, but one that isn't
entirely convincing.
It's the introduction of Harrison Ford as a decades-old boyfriend late in the story
that really makes things interesting.
Long known for his leading roles as action heroes, his choices recently have been a refreshing
change of pace; as his diminishing skill-set is forcing him into more varied projects.
But these smaller, character-oriented roles have allowed him to really shine with some
nuanced performances.
His integral part here showcases real depth and emotion, and although it might be creepy
seeing the 72-year-old gaze longingly at a women some 40-years younger than him, their
scenes together are easily the film's strongest.
Conversely, the eventual developments with Huisman seem like a bittersweet consolation
prize.
"The Age Of Adaline" skillfully glides between time periods and flashbacks with ease, artistically
framing the San Francisco scenery and talented actors with an ethereal quality.
Rob Simonsen's quiet and romantic score winds its way throughout as an unnamed narrator's
soft-spoken voice provides critical expositional clues.
At 110 minutes, the story is a bit slow setting up the dominoes that come crashing down in
the final act.
As a result, I feel like a lot more could have been done with this concept, especially
with the ending; which seemed like a rushed deus ex machina resolution to what was a very
intriguing conflict.
Despite this disappointingly narrower focus, Krieger doesn't make any major missteps, and
the resulting product is a comfortable and pleasant experience worth enjoying on a date
night.
"The Age Of Adaline" has graceful characters in a uniquely complex, if unambitious romance.
I thought it was a COOL film.
Finally tonight, your Tweet Critiques.
If you see a new movie in theaters, Tweet your review with the #JPMN hashtag.
In a few days we'll be taking our sixth look at superhero films.
I'll be reviewing the director's cut of "Daredevil" from 2002, "Green Lantern" with Ryan Reynolds,
and the hugely anticipated "Avengers 2: Age Of Ultron" which premieres this week.
If you've seen these films, share your opinions by voting in the polls below, or by leaving
a comment review - I read them all, and will include my favorites next episode.
If you'd like to watch more Movie Night videos, check out the "related reviews" on the right,
or SUBSCRIBE if you'd like to see more of this show in the future.
Also be sure to follow me on social media for updates and exclusive content.
Once again, my name is Jonathan Paula, thank you for watching and listening.
Until next time, have a good Movie Night!