Sunday, July 31, 2022

FOGEL QUESTION -- MOVIES -- AGE DISCRIMINATION.

DEMOCRACY -- "If you can keep it."  Accountability needed for Jan. 6 insurrection.     U.S. Select House Committee on January 6th Hearings will continue in the fall.

QUESTION:  Why does gaining the release of a basketball star erroneously held and a former U.S. Marine accused of being a spy seem to take precedence over the release of a teacher, Marc Fogel, wrongfully being held by Russia, appearing to be ignored?  Is life fair?

Read Washington Post link about teacher Marc Fogel HERE.

Read Reuter's link about "Americans Held Captive Abroad" HERE.

MOVIES STARRING 'SEASONED' ACTORS

Movies with story lines featuring older characters are few.  When I was viewing Amanpour & Co. on PBS (Thursday 7/28, Season 5, Episode 20) HERE.   I was surprised to see a couple of actually older actors being interviewed promoting their new movie.  These two critically acclaimed actors have appeared in numerous movies but primarily as character actors though never together before.  Now, here were a couple of older actors in a movie about older people.

Dale Dickey, link HERE, award winner, has played mostly hard tough women in theatre, television, movies including "Winter's Bone", "No Exit".

Wes Studi, link HERE, producer, musician, actor, Oscar winner, is a Native American Cherokee Indian.  He has frequently been cast in western movies including "Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee", "Dances With Wolves".

These talented actors have been cast as the romantic leads in this rare film about a "seasoned" (of a certain age) man and woman meeting again for the first time since their young school age years.  The backdrop of open western skies above rugged Colorado mountains, lakes, solitude offers spectacular scenery as seen based on the film preview.

I have not seen the movie but this Independent Film's reviews are positive from the New York Times to Rotten Tomatoes 5 star rating. The Curvy Film Critic's review there expresses a point of view with which I agree:  "It was more than wonderful to witness Dale Dickey and Wes Studi as romantic leads while screaming to Hollywood zeitgeist of green lighting gremlins that audiences need more stories with folks that look like a regular old people..."

A LOVE SONG /Official Trailer/Bleecker Street

"THE DUKE", another movie with a couple of "old people" I have yet to view but look forward to seeing is based on a true story of a "humane thief" in what has been described as a "dramedy".  The movie stars, favorites of mine, Helen Mirren and Jim Broadbent.  Broadbent's character says:  "Will return painting if provide more help for elderly."  

THE DUKE (2022) OFFICIAL TRAILER [HD]


"THE LAST MOVIE STARS", a movie series I eventually will get around to viewing.  This film is considered to be a documentary of the lives of actors Paul Newman and his wife Joanne Woodward, the past performances of both I've enjoyed.

THE LAST MOVIE STARS /Official Trailer/ HBO Max


AGE DISCIMINATION
There are numerous other older even more well-known "seasoned" stars whose acting prowess I enjoy viewing, especially some of the women since the male actors seem to appear in more roles whatever their age.  Some of these women are Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Shirley MacLaine are just a few that immediately come to my mind.

Perhaps we might ask are their writers producing entertaining older people's stories?  Are their screen writers creating stories for films?  

Maybe you know some older people's stories that would make a good movie or you could even write one?

GEEZER FLICKS
I'm reminded of deceased blogger Ronni Bennett's blog "Time Goes By"  (still accessible on the net) with a link there to "GEEZER FLICKS" or HERE for an extensive list of films she and readers there compiled.  The last film addition in 2020 before closed to comments.

MOVIES FOR GROWNUPS (AARP)
An ongoing list of movies is provided by AARP  HERE which also includes movies starring older actors and some story lines about older people's lives.  The first awards were in 2002. 

MOVIE SCREENING FREE -- AARP offers a free movie screening HERE.

TV FOR GROWNUPS -- AARP had recommendations HERE.

This is the end of the line for what I have to write this time.  Now it's your turn.  



18 comments:

  1. I think there are movie for us elders, but not as many as there could be. I would like to see elders as strong characters in stories that are multi-generational.

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    1. That sounds good, multi-generational movies that show older people as many really look and behave.

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  2. Ramana Rajgopaul7/31/2022 4:48 AM

    Till before Covid blew our lives off track, I used to visit movie halls to see both Hindi and English movies. I somehow never liked to watch them on the TV and still don't. Now with my health issues that went from manageable to difficult during the pandemic, I have completely stopped going to multiplexes as it involves quite a lot of walking despite escalators and lifts being available. I am content reading for entertainment.

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    1. Too bad you can't enjoy movies any longer in theaters. Movies on TV aren't too bad with full screen.

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  3. I have always liked Wes Studi--ever since his role as Magua in "The Last of the Mohicans" with Daniel Day-Lewis. He has a commanding and interesting face and it has aged well. It'll be nice to see him in a role where he smiles and laughs!

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    1. This is a first for Studi -- a romance movie and he says he get to have his first film kiss.

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  4. I had just recently heard about Marc Fogel. His family must be destroyed feeling like he is being ignored. Hope we find a way to include him in the trade package.
    Like the term "seasoned" and I would buy a ticket to see more such films.

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    1. I do wonder about what guides priorities for who we seek for prisoner exchanges but we don't know what goes on behind the scenes.

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  5. Yes, there are lots of old movies that can be watched on TV. I tend to like musicals more than dramas.

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    1. Musicals are my favorites, too. Early movies I recall seeing when I was young often had full performances of orchestra or piano performances of classical music we don't often see any more. One of my very favorite movies was the original "Fantasia".

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  6. Thanks for the list Joared. I make my own list of blogger recommendations. Gosh I miss Ronni.
    XO
    WWW

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    1. A good idea to have our own lists. I miss Ronni, too.

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  7. I've seen plenty of films featuring older actors/characters. I think film makers nowadays are actually looking for older characters who appeal to older audiences. As you say, Judi Dench and Maggie Smith. Also Burt Reynolds, Alan Alda, Maureen Lipman, Meryl Streep. And loads more. Actors are no longer "past it" at 40.

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    1. Glad to hear that as my movie viewing in recent years has not been extensive. Movies with older actors not made up cover their wrinkles as in this "A Love Song" starring with a realistic story about older lives are what I hadn't noticed too many of. Too many times it seemed there were fewer movies with older-looking women but several older men starring.

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  8. Blog policy requires comments not only be in English but have no embedded links especially from anyone with unidentified blog link or writer unknown here, so recent comment not published.

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    1. Note: Commenter link to blog promoting commercial venture in another country. Blog policy does not permit comments seeking such free advertising and promotion.

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  9. There are a couple of books published here in the UK, that have the makings of 'elder-friendly' films, I think. Both by Richard Osman, the first is called "The Thursday Murder Club", so basically a group of elderly people in a retirement community solving cold cases. They are much better than I make them sound, full of humour, with elderly people who are not doddery ancients but real people with a full history.

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    1. That sounds interesting. I guess the question is, will somebody make a movie(s) with the stories and keep the characters intact rather than turning them into cliches?

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