Bicentennial Man: “The Patriot”

By Michael Lyons

You can almost hear the “pitch meeting” for the movie “The Patriot”: “Picture it: it’s ‘Lethal Weapon,’ set during the Revolutionary War!  A lone, emotionally unstable man takes on ALL of the Redcoats!”

It may seem strange and far-fetched, however the same action, excitement and raw emotion found in the “Lethal Weapon” movies is most definitely found in “The Patriot.”  Heck, they even got Mel Gibson to play the lead!

It’s been twenty summers since “The Patriot” debuted on June 30, 2000, just in time for that year’s Fourth of July and just in time for THIS year’s Fourth of July, its fitting to celebrate the 20th anniversary with a look back at this, well, patriotic film.

Set in South Carolina in 1776 and playing fast and loose with historic facts, “The Patriot,” tells the story of Captain Benjamin Martin (Gibson), a veteran of the French and Indian War.  Martin is a widower, with seven children, who is opposed to entering into the war with the British.

This soon changes for Martin, after the war impacts his family and changes his life (no spoilers here).  Martin then seeks revenge on the British Army and joins the Colonial Army, initiating a “rag-tag” group of undetectable, guerrilla soldiers who continually ambush the Redcoats and turn the tide of the War.

“The Patriot” was a departure of a film for Director Roland Emmerich, who had previously crafted much different Summer movies like 1996’s “Independence Day” and the infamous “Godzilla” re-make in 1998.  With “The Patriot,” Emmerich once again shows that he can craft the BIG scenes (the brutal battles are definitely bloody enough to earn the film’s R-rating, but they’re also visceral and gripping, as well).

Emmerich also shows off some great, stylish filmmaking that makes “The Patriot” seem at home alongside some of Hollywood’s greatest historical epics (a tracking shot through a window, with a battle raging in a field in the distance is just one of the many scenes in the film that are a wonder to behold).

Adding to this is a beautiful, swelling score by none other than legendary movie maestro John Williams.

Director Emmerich also gets some compelling performances from the Cast.  No one conveys anguish better than Mel Gibson and he has some powerful scenes here.  Additionally, the sequence in which he takes on a squadron of Redcoats single handedly, confirms why he was once a movie action hero in demand.

Young Heath Ledger as Martin’s son Gabriel turns in an equally gripping role that foreshadows the amazing performances he would continue to turn in during his all-to-brief career.

As the film’s villain, Colonial William Tavington, Jason Isaacs creates a character so ominous and viscous that his “venom” can be felt as soon as he appears on screen.

“The Patriot” isn’t a perfect film - clocking in at fifteen minutes shy of three hours, more editing may have helped to tighten up some scenes, particularly toward the end.  And, the movie feels caught between wanting to be summer-weight entertainment and more serious Oscar bait.

This could be why, two decades later, “The Patriot” garners “Oh yeah” responses and recollections when mentioned.

If you’re one of those who have those dusty memories of “The Patriot,” it’s definitely worth a re-visit.  And what better time than the film’s twentieth anniversary AND Independence Day to do that?

Wishing you all a safe, peaceful and Happy Fourth of July!

Sources:

IMDb

Wikipedia

Father’s Day to the “Max”: The 25th Anniversary of “A Goofy Movie”

By Michael Lyons

“It’s Hard to be Cool, When Your Dad is Goofy.”  This “tagline” on the poster of “A Goofy Movie,” sums up why the film has developed such a strong, devoted following over two decades since its release.

Based on “Goof Troop,” the popular “Disney Afternoon” TV series at the time, “A Goofy Movie” is more than just a big-screen “cash grab.”  Like many of the more popular Disney animated films from the “Second Golden Age,” “A Goofy Movie” has heart, humor and wonderful animation, as well as great messages about the bond between fathers and sons.

There’s few better movies that are perfect for Father’s Day and with this year marking the 25th anniversary of “A Goofy Movie,” there’s also no better time to celebrate this often overlooked film. 

The film centers on Goofy (voiced by Bill Farmer, who has been providing the character’s voice for over thirty years) and his son Max (Jason Marsden) embarking on a father-son road trip, just as school gets out for summer vacation.

Max wants nothing to do with the trip, he would rather stay home, near Roxanne (Kelly Martin), who he has a crush on.  Roxanne, you see, is planning a big party, where everyone is going to watch the concert of their favorite singer, Powerline.

Goofy, convinced that Max is heading down the wrong path, after he gets in trouble at school, feels that this time together, traveling to fish at “Lake Destiny,” is important to save their relationship.

At the helm of “A Goofy Movie” was director Kevin Lima, who would go on to co-direct Disney’s animated “Tarzan” and the Studio’s live-action “Enchanted,” among others.  

Lima crafts a film that’s filled with some hysterical turns, including a run-in with Bigfoot that features some amazing sight gags and physical humor and a stop at “Lester’s Possum Park,” which satirically pokes fun at cheesy roadside attractions, as well as Disney classic theme park animatronics.

“A Goofy Movie” is also a musical, and a really upbeat and infectious one at that.  Some of the standouts are “After Today,” which opens the film and perfectly captures the last day of school and “On the Open Road” is a great show stopper that celebrates Goofy and Max embarking on their road trip.

There’s also the amazingly animated and energetic “Stand Out” and “I2I,” when Goofy and Max eventually crash the Powerline concert and all perform on stage.

Throughout all of this... “Goofy”-ness, are some quiet, touching moments between Goofy and Max, as they struggle to and eventually do, better understand each other.

Released on April 7, 1995 and sandwiched between a November 1994 re-release of “The Lion King” and the mammoth summer ‘95 release of “Pocahontas,” “A Goofy Movie” was somewhat overlooked during its initial theatrical run.

As it wasn’t produced by Walt Disney Feature animation, but instead by their “MovieToon Studio,” the film also doesn’t get counted as one of the Studio’s “official list” of animated features.

However, over the past twenty-five years, “A Goofy Movie” has developed quite the fan base, particularly from the generation who grew up with the film and many others who love it for it’s sheer nostalgic value (it is SO ‘90’s!)

Most of all, “A Goofy Movie” is remembered for its message, that’s hidden underneath all of its cartoon fun.  The film speaks to how fathers, sons and families should learn to embrace their differences and with that understanding, that age old generation gap can be easily bridged.

Nothing Goofy about that, at all.

Wishing everyone a Safe and Happy Father’s Day.

Sources:

IMDb

Wikipedia 

A Watershed Moment: The 45th Anniversary of Jaws

From the Summer of 1975, a line of

Moviegoers wait to see “Jaws”

By Michael Lyons

At one time, movies were scarier than real life.  This may be difficult to believe today, as a glance lately at the news or perusing social media is enough to make anyone jump and cover their eyes.

However, forty-five years ago this Summer, audiences sought out a good scare at their neighborhood theater, when “Jaws” debuted on June 20, 1975.

The massive success of Steven Spielberg’s masterpiece about a great white shark that terrorizes Amity Island, caused a shift in the movie industry and in our collective pop culture.

Hollywood woke up to the fact that audiences would actually want to go to the movies during the hottest months of the year and the Summer Movie Season was born.  The popularity of “Jaws” also changed what movie studios viewed as a successful film.  It was no longer good enough to “do well” at the box-office, or be “a hit.”  Now, every studio wanted a...blockbuster.

Adapted from Peter Benchley’s best selling novel, “Jaws” also changed HOW audiences go to the movies.  One couldn’t just walk up to the box-office and purchase a ticket, now you had to wait in line and possibly one that stretched around the block.

Once in the theater, “Jaws” became less about watching a movie and more about experiencing a movie.  Shocked screams from the audience became the equivalent of being on an amusement park ride along with every one else in the theater.

A newspaper ad from the Summer of

1975, featuring critical praise for “Jaws.”

Beyond the movie theater, local beaches suffered lower attendance during the summer of ‘75, as the shark-attack scenes in “Jaws” remained seared in everyone’s mind and most opted for a day at the pool.

John Williams’ “dah-dum” theme became one of the maestro’s most iconic pieces of music that has been used, re-used and parodied so many times that to this day, the score has become synonymous with something evil on its way.

Simple lines of dialogue (“You’re gonna need a bigger boat”) are instantly recognizable; Martha’s Vineyard (the filming location for the movie) has become a Mecca for fans; tales of the immense troubles during the making of the film has become the stuff of Hollywood legend and even just the mention of the title “Jaws” conjures up all a movie lover needs for satisfaction.

Over four decades later, “Jaws” endures because of what a truly masterful piece of cinema it is.  The movie is just so...so...”Spielberg.”  From its opening nighttime swim with young Chrissy to the attack on Alex Kitner and his raft, this was movie terror filtered through the most creative and original perspective since Alfred Hitchcock.

From left to right: Robert Shaw, Roy Scheider,

Steven Spielberg and Richard Dreyfuss on the set of “Jaws.”

Spielberg (who was only 27-! When he made “Jaws”) also showed innate skills for quieter, character moments that would prove to only deepen the film.  The tender moment at the dinner table between Chief Brody and his son provides an unexpected emotion and sympathy for the character.  And, Quint’s monologue detailing the horrors of the USS Indianapolis is scarier than many of the shark attack scenes. 

And the acting delivered by Robert Shaw as Quint in that scene is just one of the many amazing performances in “Jaws.”  Quint feels real, he’s the salty curmudgeon, who has seen so much and is known to all in the town.  Shaw took what could’ve been a stereotypical performance and made it so much more.

Richard Dreyfuss as Hooper, is the opposite: part of a different, younger generation, education and financial strata, who is full of manic emotion and also provides an off-center humor to the film.

As Chief Brody, Roy Scheider is the absolute perfect Everyman, as well as the audiences’ window into this terrifying world of sharks.

From left to right: Murray Hamilton, Richard Dreyfuss

And Roy Scheider in “Jaws.”

All of these elements came together perfectly for “Jaws,” one of the greatest movie experiences ever and that rare film that is even more exhilarating each time you see it.

Forty-five years later, “Jaws” is also a nice reminder of what now seems like an innocent time, when scares in a movie theater was where audiences sought escape.

Whether in the water or on the beach, continue to stay safe everyone.

From left to right: Robert Shaw, Roy Scheider and

Richard Dreyfuss in “Jaws.”

Sources: Wikipedia