John Adams

John Adams - HBO
a kate west review
















John Adams, one of our early founding fathers, is now back in vogue. HBO brings us his story (based on David McCullough's Pulitzer prize novel) in a seven-part mini series.

The versatile Paul Giamatti plays a very real and human John Adams, with a burning vision of uniting the former British colonies into a United States of America. Laura Linney is his loyal wife Abagail, supporting and advising him throughout all of his different stages of life. It is remarkable to watch this touching relationship play out just like any modern couple.

And of course the history is fascinating as well. We first get to know Adams as he defends some British soldiers in an unjust trial and then through his direct involvement in the birth of our fine nation. This includes making the great journey abroad to the Old World to plead assistance from France and Denmark, in spite of the impact on his family life. He then returns, adamant as always to principle, in spite of failing popularity.

The casting is great, all fine actors, and many of them done up to look like the historical characters they portray, complete with the bad teeth and powdered wigs. It's filmed with natural-looking light too, with an addicting original and classical soundtrack. Fans of the book are well pleased with this cinematic rendition and for those of us who haven't read the book yet, it's a good insight into what it might really have been like for these complicated and dimensional revolutionaries.

	Screenplay: Kirk Ellis Book: David McCullough
	Directed by Tom Hooper
	Produced by Tom Hanks David Coatsworth Kirk Ellis Gary Goetzman
	Starring Paul Giamatti - John Adams Laura Linney - Abigail Adams Mamie Gummer - Sally Adams David Morse - George Washington Clancy O'Connor - Edward Rutledge Sarah Polley - Abigail 'Nabby' Adams Rufus Sewell - Alexander Hamilton Justin Theroux - John Hancock Tom Wilkinson - Benjamin Franklin Danny Huston - Samuel Adams Stephen Dillane - Thomas Jefferson Zeljko Ivanek - John Dickinson Guy Henry - Jonathan Sewall Tom Hollander - King George III

If you enjoyed this, a recommended beautiful period piece is Stanley Kubrick's "Barry Lyndon".
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072684

Read the book:
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Marathon Movie

Spirit of the Marathon

a kate west recommendation

A range of racing experiences, from the amateur to the elite, every emotion is covered in "Spirit of the Marathon". One veteran marathoner said he doesn’t feel a runner’s high until the run is actually over and then mentioned that by the time he gets to the start line (which can take a good 20 minutes) and actually starts running a few miles, the elite runners have finished, gotten their medals, driven home, showered and turned on their TIVO. Who are these superhuman finish-in-a-mere-two-hours running gods? Thank God we are able to follow normal mortals, with reasonable marathoning expectations. The encore presentation was sold out, the theater packed, with everyone cheering and crying by the end. What is it about watching someone cross a finish line that speaks to the soul?

After this fantastic cinematic experience (and an unforgettable and inspirational score by Jeff Beal), you will realize that it really is a mental challenge. At some point the human body just can’t physically go beyond a certain mileage and since the Marathon goes beyond that, what gets you through it is the mental training. You are your own competition, battling common sense and the laws of physics. Yes, it should be fun, but it isn’t always. It’s a triumph of will and the very real ability to make your own motivational personal movie in your head. So maybe it’s not something you want to do, but something you have to do. There is nothing else on earth that challenges the common individual this way. You can't wait to see if you can accomplish it.

It's all in the title. It is the spirit and will of the everyman. If the goal is merely to finish, then anyone can be trained to run a marathon, as opposed to say, crazy triathlons with ridiculous mileage. It is something attainable and still tantalizingly impossible. Professionals mixing with the non-athletic. Explains why there are hundreds of thousands of people registering for every marathon.

Encore showing in February!

http://www.marathonmovie.com/











And of course what happens after .... Read more!

The Kid Stays In The Picture

The Kid Stays In The Picture
Film and Book
a kate west favorite






In 1994, Robert Evans wrote "The Kid Stays in the Picture", a tell-all autobiography chronicling his mercurial rise to head of Paramount Pictures. Most fans enjoy the book-on-tape version, narrated by Evans himself, so they can hear his film noir gravelly voice reflect on things like different versions of truth ("Your side, my side and the truth. ")

To the delight of all, the book was turned into an innovative documentary of the same name in 2002. Nanette Burstein and Brett Morgen put together a fascinating cinematic look at the inner life of an old school Hollywood Producer. Leaving in all Evans' phrasing and dialogue from the book, they cleverly add film clips, old interviews and still pictures interspersed with the strength of the Evans personality. It works wonderfully and the whole thing is riveting.

First of all, the life of Robert Evans is that of a fairy tale. A young executive type tries to break into acting. One of his first major roles is in the 1957 film "A Sun Also Rises", starring Tyrone Power and matinee idol Errol Flynn. Directed by Henry King, the production doesn't go well for Evans at first, as the entire production cast and crew (with the exception of Errol Flynn who just laughs and laughs) want him fired and even send a telegram to the studio. But he gets to stay after all the day that studio head Darryl Zanuck walks on set and announces, "The kid stays in the picture and anybody who doesn't like it can quit!'" That was also the day that Evans decided he wanted to be that guy - a producer, not an actor.

Around that same time, Norma Shearer spots the young former model lounging by a pool and casts him as her late husband, the formerly powerful producer, Irving Thalberg in "Man of a Thousand Faces", starring James Cagney as the versatile Lon Chaney. Perfect casting. Evans does well in both films and is also on his way to become one of Hollywood' most famous producers. Hired by Charles Bluhdorn to run Paramount Pictures, Evans life will never be the same. The "Godfather" sagas, "Chinatown" and "Rosemary's Baby" are but a few of the epic films he mounted on screen.

To add to his bliss, he and his true love Ali McGraw (he produced "Love Story" for her) were happy for a time in his Beverly Hills Woodland Estate before she ran off with Steve McQueen (her co-star in "The Getaway"). Countless other women would enter his life, giving him his well-earned womanizer reputation. He had powerful friends too - to name but a few - Henry Kissinger and a mysterious close friend, Sidney Korshak, one of the most feared lawyers in the country who somehow knows how to get things done. Otherwise impossible things. Best not to ask.

Evans did start on a downward spiral, delving into cocaine and losing and winning back his beloved Woodland home. But it all turns out alright in the end, thanks to his buddy Jack Nicholson, who begs back the house for him. It's a fascinating life and a fascinating narration. Anyone remotely curious about Hollywood will love this saga. Old Hollywood at it's most powerful. Don't miss the surprise in the end credits either, you get me? So now you've got your choice of book, audio book, film and great soundtrack. What are you waiting for?

Cue satisfying Hollywood ending.
Slow Fade.

Catch the documentary?
Sure:
The Kid Stays in the Picture

Start with the book?
You bet:
KID STAYS IN THE PICTURE, THE Read more!