The Movie Jar Series: Week 2

In A Valley of Violence: 

Starting off week two, I watched “In A Valley of Violence”. This is an indie-western movie starring Ethan Hawke. I have quite honestly never heard of this film nor ever heard a soul speak of it. However, it was on HBO and had pretty stellar reviews, so into the jar it went. This film, released in 2016 by the popular independent production company, A24, tells the story of a drifter and his beloved dog traveling through the old west. It essentially takes a comedic approach to a classic telling of a new cowboys’ unwanted arrival in an old western town. The protagonist, Paul (Hawke), and his dog Abbie find themselves passing through the small town of Denton en route to Mexico. The motives of their journey are kept relatively vague, though it is revealed that Paul is escaping his past, which includes a wife and child. This nearly abandoned town is run by a father and son duo. The son, Gilly, seems to call the shots of everyone in town. His father is the sheriff, who strives to keep the peace of Denton (played masterfully by John Travolta). Paul and Gilly quickly become enemies, raising tension between Paul and the citizens of Denton. 

I was most impressed by Hawke and Travolta’s performances in this film. Ethan Hawke is a very gifted actor, and does a tremendous job in this role. Paul is a fairly closed-off character, but Hawke’s mannerisms allow viewers to get to know him just ever so slightly more than his dialogue lets on. Also, the dynamic between Hawke and the dog in this film is remarkable. You’ll be rooting for the savvy dog, Abbie, throughout the movie. She is astoundingly attentive and loyal, and is sure to steal viewers’ hearts. 

Perhaps the greatest surprise in this film is John Travolta’s performance as the town sheriff. In recent years, Travolta has taken an intentional step out of the spotlight that shone upon him many decades earlier. I don’t know about you, but ever since he played the mother in “Hairspray” I haven’t been able to think of him in the same regard as I once did as an actor. I was shocked to find that his performance as the sheriff absolutely blew me away. His character is portrayed as the true leader of the town, a man who proudly defends Denton’s honor. The character ultimately doesn’t take himself too seriously, and as the violence heats up, so does the comedy. This strange phenomenon, the link between comedy and violence, is difficult to summarize. Basically, “In A Valley of Violence” pokes fun at the classic tropes of a spaghetti western. As the tropes present themselves, witty dialogue counteracting the action is quick to follow. 

If you think you’d appreciate an original mix of violence and comedy amidst a western backdrop, you’re sure to enjoy “In A Valley of Violence”. More than anything, it is reminiscent of a Cohen brothers movie, namely “O Brother Where Art Thou?” (another true modern classic). This movie was very unique, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. 

Yanks: 

“Yanks” is a classic example of a movie that’s been sitting on my shelf for years, unwatched- and now I know that’s with good reason. It is the definition of an exactly okay movie. This 1979 film is a war romance, starring Richard Gere. We follow multiple characters as they fall in love during World War II in England. As the title would suggest, Gere plays an American soldier, Matt, stationed in a small town in England. In the leading storyline, he falls for Jean, an engaged daughter of a shopkeeper. We also follow the story of an affair between a commanding officer and a married Englishwoman (played by Vanessa Redgrave). This storyline was secondary, and was given such little attention that it was nearly impossible to get invested in their relationship. 

This film explores the trials and tribulations of relationships during the war. I appreciated the fact that it shined light to the impact of war beyond the battlefield. It reminds audiences of the effects of war on civilians on the homefront in addition to soldiers. I can imagine this storyline would draw in an appreciative audience, but to me it felt a little color-by-numbers. Okay, I thought it was a bit of a snooze-fest. It was a schmaltzy romance, and I can get on board with that from time to time. But this 70s movie felt quite dated, not holding up in modern day. I found the storylines derivative and painfully predictable. Of course, a young Richard Gere makes for a more pleasant viewing experience. He may be a 1970s heartthrob, but he did not shine in this role, making a dull character even duller. Over all, if you’re in the mood for a sappy WWII melodrama and a young Richard Gere, you probably won’t hate this movie. I just believe there are so many better films out there, that this one isn’t particularly worth two hours of your time. 

Oldboy:

Next up, I watched “Oldboy”, a South Korean film from 2003. It is a neo-noir action film centered around the theme of revenge. It is about Oh Dae-su, a man who was imprisoned in a room for 15 years without knowing why. Once he is released, he embarks on a revenge mission towards his captor. This sounds like the plot of any old action film, but “Oldboy” is truly one of a kind. While it can surely be classified as an action film, it also encompasses mystery and romance. Everything is kicked up a notch in this gory, fast-paced action flick. It is reminiscent of a Tarantino movie, as it is very violent, has a humorous twist, and revolves around a revenge mission. It is not for the faint of heart, as it certainly pushes the envelope in terms of gore and graphic scenes. 

In addition to dialing up the brutality, “Oldboy” also dives deeper into human psychology than many action films generally do. From the get-go, I developed a sense of what it would be like to be trapped in a small room for a decade and a half. The viewer follows Oh-Dae-su’s descent into madness. His time spent in captivity has clearly taken a toll. This sense of a characters’ state of mind is maintained throughout the film. 

“Oldboy” is full of continuous twists and is sure to keep viewers on their toes.. Every time I thought I had a sense of where the film was going, it would take a turn.  As for my personal opinion on the film, I was certainly glad to watch this after years of intending to. It is highly entertaining and unlike anything I’ve seen before. That being said, it is so outlandish and gruesome that it will likely be many years before I have any sort of urge to rewatch “Oldboy”. I’d recommend it to fans of films such as “Inglorious Basterds” and “Parasite”. If you’re not one for intense violence, I would steer clear from “Oldboy”. 

Out of Sight:  

“Out of Sight” is a crime/romance film from 1998 starring George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez. As a longtime fan of both JLo and Mr. Clooney, I was intrigued by this concept. Clooney plays Jack Foley, a seasoned bank robber who finds himself in prison after a failed robbery. Jennifer Lopez plays Karen Sisco, a deputy federal marshal who catches Jack attempting to break free from prison. These two develop quite the complicated relationship. Although Jack is a felon on the run, and Karen is a cop trying to get him back in jail, the two are attracted towards one another. 

This movie has “blockbuster” written all over it. I can see it now- the year is 1998, and a trailer pops up on your TV for “Out of Sight”. It has Jennifer Lopez. It has George Clooney. There’s a romance, there’s action, there’s crime. What more is there to want? I bet theaters were packed.  It definitely felt dated over 20 years later, but it is certainly still an entertaining movie. Honestly, this is not the kind of movie I get particularly invested in. The plot was fairly predictable. It was a fun watch, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend it.