Don't know about the States, but across the pond from there, THX 1138 is not as well known as it probably deserves. I hope the public here can appreciate this Sci-Fi movie and Duvall is great there.
It's known over here (to the degree that it is at all) for being the source of the THX name that Lucas later used for his digital sound system. But the movie is interesting in itself as an early pre-fame Lucas movie.
I don't remember it being a "sleeper"; I recall it stirring quite a bit of controversy at the time. It came out in the pre-Columbine "Going Postal" era. But agreed: it's worth a watch.
Falling Down is a brilliant film. I think Duvall’s sober, gentle, unfazed detective is exactly what makes it work.
The entire movie D-FENS is running into people who trigger him or push back and justify his rage. So the whole time you’re rooting for him. He’s the protagonist! And then you get to the end and the detective just doesn’t give him the same response. But you never worry that Duvall is about to be a victim. And I think it’s very difficult to portray a character who is seasoned, gentle, grandfatherly, but doesn’t come off in the slightest as prey.
The movie is a bit of a gut punch because I think it does encourage you to cheer for him sticking it to The Man and the Nazis and the corporations, only to realize ,alongside Douglas, that “I’m the bad guy?”
My dad was a big fan of westerns, so Lonesome Dove was a big deal in our house when I was a kid. Sometimes I think about showing them to my son, but I know there's no way he'll have the patience to sit through it all. I'm worried that I might not have the patience either anymore.
I recently read the book for the first time. Fantastic story! The best western I've ever read. Then I watched the miniseries with my wife (also for the first time). Westerns aren't her favorite, but she loved it too. Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones were incredible, the whole cast did a great job, and the costumes and scenery were beautiful. We still make jokes about "We don't rent pigs." :)
We only watched season 1 because that's the one based on the original Lonesome Dove book. They make some changes, but generally only one that makes the show easier to follow. I'd highly recommend anyone to watch it. If you stick with only season 1 it tells a complete story and it's not too long of a commitment. It has everything.
RIP Duvall. You've had many roles, but this is the one I'll remember you for.
I recommend reading the book first, then watching the series. They're both great but the book has a lot more details and explains the events better than the series. It will make watching the series even better.
The audiobook is great, but the sound quality for the first few chapters wasn't the best. That gets fixed though. If they ever do a "full cast" audiobook for this one I would definitely buy it.
RIP Duval - he inspired me, like he inspired many others. I can't explain why, but his demeanour and sensibility. Recently watched Open Range. Need to watch more of his westerns.
"Atchley do you realize that several Marines were killed by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor while taking craps?"
"No, sir."
"A fighting man must be vigilant to surprise attack no matter where he is. The survival of our nation depends on the readiness of Marines all over the world. Also more importantly, you only wiped yourself twice - grossly insufficient. Right now, germs with names you can't even pronounce are preparing to launch a devastating attack that will render you helpless in the defense of your country... Do you read me?"
(The Great Santini)
People see them on the screen so often they think they know them. I guess the term "parasocial relationship" has been common in the last few years to describe this.
I guess for actors and other types of artist specifically, people relate strongly to the work. It can form the basis for life memories. You remember where you were when you heard a song or saw a movie.
Because the service they render brings joy and entertainment to a large multitude of people. It is a higher visibility job than most, and is largely an individual contribution in and of the service they provide
Why do people like fictional narrative so much? I'm not sure why, other than some platitude like "forming narratives is how people understand the world". But I'm not sure why it follows that fictional narratives are so important to us.
He's one of those actors that if you told me he was dead, I wouldn't have been surprised, but then you go to the theater and in some random role, there he is.
It really messes with me though when someone dies before their last film came out. I watched that Batman movie with a knot in my stomach the whole time.
“He’s so good. But he’s gone. WTF.”
I don’t recall who now but there was some actor whose last film came out more than a year after he died, and that felt messed up and I can’t articulate why.
Paul Walker is probably the most recent one to fall into that category. I believe his character will be in the next Fast and the Furious movie, but it'll be a CGI role (with family members standing in as the body/face they CG-enhance)