Bill Wrobel's DVD - Film Score Rundowns

There are several graphic scenes that hardly depict any spiritual beauty
considering this is supposed to be a reverent setting, but since it is the early 14 th century,
you cannot expect much in conditions of squalor. Some of the scenes are quite moody
and nice to look at such as the night quiet scenes shown in bluish light just before the
twenty-minute mark of the dvd. The argument with Venerable (but distorted-looking!)
Jorge about laughter at around 35 minutes into the dvd was fun. The discovery of the
hidden labyrinth library inside the tower around an hour and 15 minutes into the dvd was
quite atmospheric—my favorite part of the movie. Remember to keep books flat, not
vertical! Once the Inquisition comes to the monastery (along with the F. Murray
Abraham character) the movie quickly goes downhill.
-Michael Clayton (2007) *** 1/2 [music ***]
http://www.amazon.com/Michael-Clayton-Screen-George-
Clooney/dp/B00121QGQ8/ref=sr_1_3?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1307922485&sr=1-3
I like this movie starring George Clooney as the rather burnt-out “fix-it” corporate
lawyer, but the movie’s development has flaws so I cannot quite give it even a “classic”
four-star rating. Up In The Air starring Clooney would get a four-star rating (I still have
to buy the dvd).
The three-horses scene around dawn at 13 minutes into the dvd is pretty
atmospheric. The scene is revisited and expanded upon towards the end of the movie.
The confrontation with the Tilda Swinton character at the end of the movie (1:48 into the
movie) is emotionally satisfying although it has a bit of that easy Hollywood-ending feel
about it. Nevertheless it still did the trick when my wife & I saw it at the theater. I would
call this four or five minute scene the “classic” part of the picture.
-The Gunfighter (1950) **
http://www.amazon.com/Western-Classics-Rawhide-Gunfighter-
Garden/dp/B0014BQR1A/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1292888606&sr=1-1
-Garden of Evil (1954) ** 1/2 [music ****]
http://www.amazon.com/Western-Classics-Rawhide-Gunfighter-
Garden/dp/B0014BQR1A/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1292888606&sr=1-1
This is an okay but ultimately weak western—except of course for Herrmann’s
rousing, overt, masculine score. I never cared for the title of this film: why call it “Garden
of Evil”? Some nice old lady holding a Bible might’ve asked, “Oh, is this about the
Garden of Eden? I know evil Satan was there tempting poor Eve about the apple in that
lovely garden!” Anyway, I always thought this was a poor, unwise title. I like Gary
Cooper a lot but in this movie he acted like an armchair cowboy making pithy, almost
academic comments! A wise-speaking scholar cowpoke! Richard Widmark’s character
was an annoying, cynical smart-aleck to me. Cameron Mitchell is annoying too. Susan
Haywood was all right I guess but I feel that she wasn’t the perfect fit for that role. Let’s
face it, except for Cooper (maybe), this isn’t a strong likeable group—flawed characters
the bunch of them. Why should the audience really care about what happens to any of
them?! Vertigo had flawed characters too (!) but at least the story pulled you in
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