Nov
8
2009
Legends of the Fall (1994): "Any movie with horses and a grand historical sweep this reviewer will invariably think is a metaphor for the American character."
Notes: I've been intrigued by director Ed Zwick's career since hearing an interview with him on KCRW's "The Treatment." May now work my way through his filmography, beginning with Defiance.
Bookmark Now: Writing in Unreaderly Times edited by Kevin Smokler
The Customer Is Always Wrong: The Retail Chronicles edited and compiled by Jeff Martin. Essay by me on page 45.
He won my riveted respect with Glory, deepened it with The Last Samurai and frittered it away with Defiance.
Posted by: Scott Ellington | November 16, 2009 at 09:14 AM
Scott,
That's very interesting. I could take or leave TLS and liked Defiance quite a bit. Zwick seems to operate from a common set of principles (large scale, big stars, themes of loyalty and honor) but is a bit scattershot in how well he executes them.
Posted by: Kevin Smokler | December 06, 2009 at 09:54 PM