Ride, Vaquero (1953) Anthony Quinn, Robert Taylor, Ava Gardner, Howard Keel. Big stars, great scenery, but the script is bad and many places you go. 'what?' Taylor is a glum and silent Bob. Quinn blusters and shouts. Ava is pretty. Keel needs a song or two to liven things up. The story of this western country after the Civil War and the changes it brought with lots of new immigrants, might have been interesting, but it is brought to just a fight between the haves and the new guy wanting a share. And the motivation of some of the characters is muddled. All in all, I give it a 5/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046239/
Lion Of The Desert (1981) Anthony Quinn, Oliver Reed, Raf Vallone, Rod Steiger. A wonderful performance by Quinn as Omar Mukhtar, the Lion of Libya. And Reed as Italian Gen.Rodolfo Graziani, who pursues him for Benito Mussolini. The time it takes - from 1911 to 1931 - is shown as the reason for the hatred of all foreigners. European countries carved up north Africa among themselves. Very effective use of the desert landscapes and using some actual newsreel footage of the refugee camps that stretch for miles. by the end. Some of the Italian officers were tried as war criminals. Interesting, and some great action scenes. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081059/
Encore:
Sideways (2004) Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen, Sandra Oh. Still a quietly funny film. Chuckles for me - not laugh out loud knee-slappers. Two guys set off on a weeks' trip through California wine country. One guy (Jack/Church) is going to get married but wants to party and lay anything in skirts for a final fling. The other (Miles/Giamatti) just wants to give his friend a week of golf, visit the wineries, have some good food and relax. As Jack gets crazier they finally meet two women and have a great night and the next few days/nights aren't bad either. But then---guess what happens? Ha. Find this film and you will have a good time, too. Scenery is lovely. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0375063/
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