Hail the Conquering Hero (1944) Review

 Title: Hail the Conquering Hero
Year: 1944
Director: Preston Sturges
Country: US
Language: English

Criterion Channel has a prestigious "Directed By" Collection of Preston Sturges films that are limited engagements, leaving the channel on May 31st, 2021. As a fan of The Lady Eve & Sullivan's Travels I had to make it my duty to see the remaining 5 films in the 7 film collection. Sturges is known for being a master Golden Hollywood director, whose well-written films captured the hearts of America during war-time. 

Woodrow (Eddie Bracken) is discharged from the military for hay fever, but fabricates receiving a heroic honorable discharge before returning home.

A fast paced romp filled with broad comic characters and some great farcical set pieces, like the hopelessly complicated welcome party at the station, Hail the Conquering Hero (1944) certainly fits the mold of what a World War Two Hollywood classic comedy typically looks like. The film has a charm despite its almost propaganda pro-military stance. Sturges dissects heroism, the American Dream, politics and justice in a smooth, precise and somewhat entertaining way.

Unfortunately, unlike Sturges' other pictures, I found Hail the Conquering Hero quite dated. This story has been told several hundred times; one doesn't have to be a theatre geek to figure out the entire plot before the film begins. Sturges' picture is also 30 minutes too long. Much of it, particularly after the town decides Woodrow should be their mayor, is meandering. Jokes are revisited, such as the villain giving his dictation, & become less enjoyable the second time around. 

Though the film isn't bad overall, it is clearly not one of Sturges best. Infact it may be his least inspiring picture. There was a time & audience Hail the Conquering Hero would have worked for, but that has passed. Watch Miracle of Morgan's Creek instead!

Hard Eight (1996) Review

Title: Hard Eight
Year: 1996
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Country: US
Language: English 

Manitoban Film Professor/Film Writer George Toles wrote a book about Paul Thomas Anderson, called Paul Thomas Anderson, that serves as a remarkable companion piece to Andersons' features like There Will Be Blood (2007) and Boogie Nights (1997). I had seen every film in the book before reading it, except for Hard Eight (1996). That proved a harder picture to find online & in store. Thankfully I was able to watch it recently on The Criterion Channel. 

Professional gambler Sydney (Phillip Baker Hall) teaches John (John C. Reilly) the tricks of the trade. John does well until he falls for cocktail waitress Clementine (Gwenyth Paltrow)

Hard Eight is phenomenal considering it's Paul Thomas Andersons' first feature length film. Few Directors get as impressive a start to their careers. Anderson shows great confidence in his directing; framing each shot to perfection & proving he is among the best at tracking shots. His Steadicam shots are fluid and alert, giving each frame great importance as it continues to serve the overall story. 

A slow paced film noir that is both quiet and observant, Hard Eight has a script that will always leave you guessing. The dialogue is crisp, engaging & raw. The twists and turns are unexpected; always packing a punch. The acting, especially by Samuel L. Jackson. is remarkable. The fate of Jacksons' character will especially stick out in your mind. The music is subtle, but certainly adds to some very tense moments scattered throughout the picture. 

Drawing inspiration from Jean-Pierre Melville, Hard Eight is a fine neo noir that is a better casino film than Scorsese's Casino (1995) & a better gangster picture than Tarantino's Pulp Fiction (1994). It is very unfortunate that Hard Eight is less known & less accessible than either of those films. I was quite impressed & I look forward to re-watching it in the future. 

The Great Belonging (2020) Book Review

Title: The Great Belonging
Year: 2020
Writer: Charlotte Donlon
Publisher: Broadleaf Books

Since the beginning of Winter 2020 my book group at Saint Benedict's Table, an Anglican church located in downtown Winnipeg, has been meeting up via Zoom on Thursday evenings to discuss Charlotte Donlon's The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other.  Originally hosted by Rev Rachel Twigg, and myself in the Spring , the book group has proven to to be necessary during the covid-19 pandemic where we're all feeling a little more lonely than usual. 

With The Great Belonging, writer and spiritual director Charlotte Donlon helps us understand our own occasional or frequent loneliness and offers touchpoints for understanding alienation.

The book, which should belong on any guidance counselor's bookshelf, is a welcoming invite to a remarkable & engaging discussion about a feeling or state of mind that is universal. The approach is different from many authors, as most would fill their book up with platitudes & be overly sentimental. Donlon's approach is thoughtful, personal, honest & doesn't try to find an easy solution. Donlon approaches very serious topics, like mental illness, with very little hesitancy. 

Speaking to the many kinds of multi-facted aspects of loneliness, The Great Belonging is a work you'll want to keep for years, as you may need it in times of difficulty and isolation. While the book does discuss Faith & Christianity, it is not solely a religious work, as even a person who is not well versed in Religion, like myself, can find themselves finding quite a large amount of introspection within.

The Great Belonging is filled with short meditations that help makes sense of one's loneliness & will help one unpack their turmoil through great self-reflection. Charlotte is an easy person to connect with; her words sooth your mind & make you feel like you're not facing your troubles alone.