On The Beach

A nuclear war has wiped out life on most of the globe, except for Australians who keep singing Walzing Matilda. Starring Gregory Peck and Ava Gardner, directed by Stanley Kramer.

Not the most cheerful film ever made. Actually, it reminded me a bit of Bob Dylan's Talkin' World War III Blues. It's strange to see Fred Astaire in such a serious film, but he's good. Peck is a bit stiff. Gardner is great. She must be around 40 years old here, but looks amazing, showing a vulnerable side that maybe wasn't there when she was younger. And she came from the old Hollywood system that produced stars, distant godesses, not necessarily actresses.

The Great Gatsby

The rich are a rotten crowd. Starring Robert Redford and Mia Farrow, directed by Jack Clayton.

The film has one big problem. Mia Farrow, so good in Rosemary's Baby, is completely miscast in this film. It's just hard to imagine Redford longing for this woman, building a fortune just to win her back. He's Robert Redford, for one thing! And the rich people are all empty, superficial assholes, it turns out. The film was made in the 70s, but feels more like some oldfashioned Zanuck production from the 50s. A director like Nicolas Roeg or Robert Altman could maybe have done a more interesting job.

Oslo 2

Corner

Surprise

Oslo

Fritz Scholder