The meltdowns I've had lately I cannot count and this week it is also the theme for Wandering Through the Shelves' Thursday Movie Picks. I'd pick my life but (sadly) nobody made a movie about it so I have to go with something else.
Benjamin Willard (Martin Sheen), Apocalypse Now (1979)
Walter Sobchak (John Goodman), The Big Lebowski (1998)
I've never been able to make myself watch Apocalypse Now, my sister told me she had to walk out of it in the theatre because it was just too intense. That's highly unusual for her so I've always been leery. Maybe one day but not soon.
It's been a long time since I saw Big Lebowski but I do remember that scene with Goodman. He's such a strong performer.
Dafoe is terrific in Spiderman and so perfectly cast. His sharp features lend themselves to his part.
Some weeks I struggle to come up with three but this proved to be a quick week. The meltdown scene is pretty common in drama so it made picking easy.
They Drive by Night (1940)-Joe and Paul Fabini (George Raft & Humphrey Bogart) are wildcat truckers struggling to make enough to get their own business off the ground. When Paul is seriously injured in an accident Joe goes to work for old friend Ed Carlsen (Alan Hale) the owner of a successful trucking firm and all seems well. The problems start when Ed’s much younger wife Lana (a riveting Ida Lupino) discovers that Joe is seriously involved with Cassie (Ann Sheridan) and allows her (unreciprocated) desire for Joe to take extreme measures leading to betrayal and death. Rough, tough Warner’s drama climaxes in a high grade courtroom meltdown.
Mommie Dearest (1981)-Joan Crawford (Faye Dunaway) is a huge star at a crossroads in her life and career. Released after decades by MGM and between husbands she decides to start the family she’s always wanted by adopting several children with the oldest being Christina (Mara Hobel as a child/Diana Scarwid as an adult). Madly ambitious and competitive she is not suited to motherhood and rides the children relentlessly meting out hard punishments for small infractions. Among these is a spectacular meltdown late at night when she discovers that the young Christiana has failed to take her expensive dresses off wire hangers from the dry cleaners. While Crawford was a tough customer and a harsh taskmaster and child abuse is no joke this hatchet job reeks of score settling and has been largely discredited. Faye however pours her guts into the role giving almost a kabuki performance.
Falling Down (1993)-William Foster known through most of the film by his license plate moniker D-FENS (Michael Douglas) an unemployed defense worker frustrated with the various flaws he sees in society abandons his car in LA gridlock and begins to psychotically and violently lash out against most everyone he encounters as he makes his way across the city to attend his daughter’s birthday party. The entire film is really one long meltdown.
Yes, Apocalypse Now is quite intense. I haven't seen any of your picks but once again they sound interesting, especially Falling Down which was also picked by another blogger this week.
I need to see Apocalypse Now again because that is a great scene. Another one is the Big Lebowski which I finally saw last year and thought it was quite good. Willem Dafoe can always play unhinged characters so well
I've never been able to make myself watch Apocalypse Now, my sister told me she had to walk out of it in the theatre because it was just too intense. That's highly unusual for her so I've always been leery. Maybe one day but not soon.
ReplyDeleteIt's been a long time since I saw Big Lebowski but I do remember that scene with Goodman. He's such a strong performer.
Dafoe is terrific in Spiderman and so perfectly cast. His sharp features lend themselves to his part.
Some weeks I struggle to come up with three but this proved to be a quick week. The meltdown scene is pretty common in drama so it made picking easy.
They Drive by Night (1940)-Joe and Paul Fabini (George Raft & Humphrey Bogart) are wildcat truckers struggling to make enough to get their own business off the ground. When Paul is seriously injured in an accident Joe goes to work for old friend Ed Carlsen (Alan Hale) the owner of a successful trucking firm and all seems well. The problems start when Ed’s much younger wife Lana (a riveting Ida Lupino) discovers that Joe is seriously involved with Cassie (Ann Sheridan) and allows her (unreciprocated) desire for Joe to take extreme measures leading to betrayal and death. Rough, tough Warner’s drama climaxes in a high grade courtroom meltdown.
Mommie Dearest (1981)-Joan Crawford (Faye Dunaway) is a huge star at a crossroads in her life and career. Released after decades by MGM and between husbands she decides to start the family she’s always wanted by adopting several children with the oldest being Christina (Mara Hobel as a child/Diana Scarwid as an adult). Madly ambitious and competitive she is not suited to motherhood and rides the children relentlessly meting out hard punishments for small infractions. Among these is a spectacular meltdown late at night when she discovers that the young Christiana has failed to take her expensive dresses off wire hangers from the dry cleaners. While Crawford was a tough customer and a harsh taskmaster and child abuse is no joke this hatchet job reeks of score settling and has been largely discredited. Faye however pours her guts into the role giving almost a kabuki performance.
Falling Down (1993)-William Foster known through most of the film by his license plate moniker D-FENS (Michael Douglas) an unemployed defense worker frustrated with the various flaws he sees in society abandons his car in LA gridlock and begins to psychotically and violently lash out against most everyone he encounters as he makes his way across the city to attend his daughter’s birthday party. The entire film is really one long meltdown.
Yes, Apocalypse Now is quite intense. I haven't seen any of your picks but once again they sound interesting, especially Falling Down which was also picked by another blogger this week.
DeleteThe Big Lebowski one is amazing :D Walter is one of the greatest characters ever
ReplyDeleteAmen to that!
DeleteTo be fair, I'm sore whatever melt down you have had isn't as outrageous looking as DeFoe's or Goodman's. lol
ReplyDeleteTHIS IS WHAT HAPPENS, LARRY!
Lol no, I only broke a wooden spoon
DeleteAh, 3 excellent picks. I went a little extreme with my picks. One of which might be too intense for some.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'm going to read yours immediately.
DeleteOh man, can't believe I forgot that Big Lebowski meltdown, it's so funny. 😂
ReplyDeleteMartin Sheen was really great in that scene.
I know, right? I so need to rewatch that movie!
DeleteI need to see Apocalypse Now again because that is a great scene. Another one is the Big Lebowski which I finally saw last year and thought it was quite good. Willem Dafoe can always play unhinged characters so well
ReplyDeleteI need to see The Big Lebowski again. It's been so long since I saw it!
DeleteI watched Apocalypse now for three days. I'm still amazed that I got through it.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to watch but it's totally worth it.
DeleteThe only one I've seen is Spider-man but I don't remember that scene at all.
ReplyDeleteThat's the scene I remember the most from that movie .-.
Delete