Before he looked like this:

Marlon Brando was a handsome, handsome man. From the moment he appears in A Streetcar Named Desire, wearing that tight t-shirt that he wore so well, you can’t take your eyes off him. As Stanley Kowalski, he has a masculine energy that is primal, brutish, the definition of an alpha male.

His blue-collar “commonness” is contrasted with his sister-in-law’s put-on airs and affected gentility. Blanche du Bois is a southern belle, albeit a quickly fading one. She comes to stay with Stanley and her sister, Stella, in New Orleans while taking a leave of absence from her teaching job. No-nonsense Stanley quickly sees through Blanche’s pretense and begins to uncover her lies and her unsavory past, which he is quick to share to with Blanche’s would-be suitor.

Not that Stanley is such an upright citizen himself. He is volatile and prone to violence, even hitting the pregnant Stella during a drunken poker game. Afterwards, feeling guilty and ashamed, he cries out for Stella (“Stellllllaaaaa!!”) in that iconic scene voted #45 on AFI’s list of the top 100 movie quotations. This isn’t the last, or even the worst, of Stanley’s violent outbursts, as we shall see. He succeeds in shattering Blanche’s illusions of grandeur, but in the process sends her over the edge…

The movie unfortunately glosses over two key events in the original play. Forced at the time to comply with Hollywood’s Production Code, it only vaguely alludes to why Blanche’s husband died, and what actually happened between Stanley and Blanche. These omissions make it harder to understand the source(s) of Blanche’s trauma, possibly making her seem even more delusional. To know what really happened, I guess you’ll have to read the play, but don’t miss seeing this film—or Brando in that t-shirt.

A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
DVD Date of Release: March 1997
Based on A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams

Chances are you’ve heard of—or even watched—the television show “Big Brother.” You know, the show where several people live in a house, and their every word and action is televised to an audience that apparently finds even the most mundane interaction to be quality entertainment? What you may not realize is that the term “Big Brother” comes from George Orwell’s 1984, but in the original version citizens are monitored not for entertainment purposes but to ensure absolute loyalty and thought control.

Winston Smith is subject to such monitoring systems, to a deeper extent than he even realizes. As a bureaucrat for the Party, which bears no small resemblance to another party, his job is to rewrite history, changing headlines and altering news stories to reflect the Party’s version of reality.

Winston has a nagging suspicion that the Party is lying to the people, no doubt in part because his job is to aid in the lying, but his greatest “thought crime” occurs when he falls in love with the subversive Julia. Publicly, Julia is a member of the “Anti-Sex League,” a group of women who pledge celibacy and consider it their patriotic duty to submit to artificial insemination. To put this into context, in such a totalitarian state loyalty to family is considered undesirable in that it surpasses loyalty to the Party. Therefore, the erosion of familial bonds is desirable, and the simple act of falling in love could be considered treason.

Winston and Julia try to escape the prying eyes of Big Brother, but are no more able to escape the camera than those reality-show contestants. What happens next will leave you wondering if, when Winston utters “I love you,” he means it for Julia—or for the Party.

Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984)
DVD Date of Release: March 2003
Based on 1984 by George Orwell

Earth Day was last week, but I hope it’s a “holiday” that you readers observe more than one day a year. After going to the local farmer’s market and bringing my organic produce home in a re-usable cloth bag, and tossing my recyclables into the proper containers, I settled down to watch The Good Earth, a movie that is certainly about our relationship to the land, and the all-mighty power of Mother Nature.

The story is about Wang Lung and his wife O-Lan, who are humble Chinese farmers. They work hard and manage to prosper until a drought hits and brings famine with it. Wang Lung refuses to sell his land, and the family is forced to go to a nearby city to look for work. O-Lan and the children are reduced to begging for money in the streets, when the revolution that has been brewing finally breaks out. Wang Lung and his family eventually make it back to their land, but their lives never return to the way things were.

The biggest shame about this movie is the widespread use of non-Asian actors in the main roles, a.k.a. “yellowface.” Anna May Wong, the first female Chinese-American movie star, was up for the role of O-Lan before it was given to Luise Rainer, a German. (Rainer actually won an Oscar for the role.) Wang Lung is played by Paul Muni, who was born in what is now the Ukraine. Even the role of Lotus, Wang Lung’s second wife, is played by Austrian actress Tilly Losch. I suppose that Hollywood pressure and the studio practices of that era are to blame, but it’s really too bad that the filmmakers weren’t as conscious about racism as they were about their message of respect for the “good earth.”

The Good Earth (1937)
DVD Date of Release: January 2006
Based on The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck

It’s Shakespeare’s birthday this week, on April 23rd, which also happens to be the date on which he died at the age of 52. So happy birthday to our favorite bard! In addition to still holding the title of greatest writer in the English language, 392 years after his death, his taunts are still some of the funniest around.

I wanted to watch this version of Macbeth because it was directed by Roman Polanski, a master at creating psychological portraits of characters descending into madness (particularly in films like Repulsion or The Tenant). It seemed a natural choice then for him to adapt the story of Macbeth’s lust for power, murderous rampages, and subsequent downward spiral of guilt and paranoia. He hits just the right chord of creepiness when Banquo’s ghost appears at the banquet. The scene is unsettling, and you can feel Macbeth’s world—and sanity—beginning to crumble beneath him.

Many of the play’s soliloquies become internal monologues in the film, which means that there are a lot of long scenes with Macbeth staring off into the distance, squinting, or looking similarly pensive. Polanski also takes liberty with Lady Macbeth’s famous sleepwalking scene, by having it performed in the nude. I find it an effective scene, as she is exposed both literally and figuratively. Her nakedness makes her seem even more frail and vulnerable, overcome and weighed down by the burden of her guilt.

Polanski’s ending is ominous, hinting at an unending cycle of violence and thirst for power. While this may not be one of my favorite Polanski films, it is definitely one of the better (albeit bloodier) versions of this often-adapted play.

Macbeth (1971)
DVD Date of Release: May 2002
Based on Macbeth by William Shakespeare

In quite a different role from the murderous Anton Chigurh, and with a slightly less ridiculous haircut, Javier Bardem plays what must be the most hopeless romantic in all of literary history—the unfathomably patient, ever-devoted Florentino Ariza.

Fermina Daza is the (somewhat undeserving) object of Florentino’s affections. They meet and fall in love when they are young, but Fermina’s father, played by the strangely mis-cast John Leguizamo, forbids her from seeing Florentino, as he is but a humble telegraph worker. The young couple has fervor and passion rivaling Romeo and Juliet, so when Fermina actually jilts Florentino at the marketplace it is so cold, so abrupt, and so brutal, you can almost see his heart break into a thousand pieces.

Thus begins Florentino’s very long wait for the day when he can, once again, openly declare his love for Fermina. It is remarkable how this tale makes what would probably be considered obsessive stalking, by today’s standards, seem incredibly romantic. At least Florentino finds creative ways to bide his time while he waits for Fermina.

What also struck me about this movie is how certain scenes looked exactly as I imagined them when reading the book. It was almost like experiencing déjà vu. Fermina’s house with the open courtyard where young Florentino plays his violin, the café where Florentino meets Fermina’s father… it is clear that a great deal of attention was paid in bringing Marquez’s words, with the richly detailed descriptions of settings, to life on the screen. The colors are so vibrant that you can practically smell the tropical flowers in Fermina’s garden. Now if only we could do something about Bardem’s hair…

Love in the Time of Cholera (2007)
DVD Date of Release: March 2008
Based on Love in the Time of Choleraby Gabriel Garcia Marquez

You may have heard by now that the legendary sci-fi author Arthur C. Clarke died recently. In tribute, I re-watched a film based on one of his best-known works, and a personal favorite of mine, 2001: A Space Odyssey.

To start with, it’s a Kubrick film, and as I’ve mentioned before, the man is a genius. Every shot is perfection. What I find interesting about this film is its interest in humankind’s potential for greatness, as well as the thin line that separates us from our animal nature. Technology plays a part in separating man from beast, but as we witness in the film, it can be used to help work toward higher achievement, or it can be used for destruction.

This idea is demonstrated in simplest terms during the film’s opening: an ape-man discovers that bones can be used as tools. Bones can help smash things, but the tool quickly turns into a weapon when used to murder a rival ape-man, for no reason other than to establish territory. As the ape flings the murderous bone into the air… it transforms into an orbiting satellite, and we understand how sophisticated our technology has become, how far we have evolved.

There are a lot of fun things about this movie—the ultra-modern décor that still manages to look like it came from the 70s (or possibly from Ikea), the “futuristic” technology (videophones!) and food that is served in square boxes with straws. As quaint as some of these elements are, however, there are other visual effects, especially the surreal time travel sequence at the end, that are utterly entrancing. And HAL, the “supercomputer” on board the space mission, is a character you will never forget.

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
DVD Date of Release: June 2001
Based on 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke

There’s something kind of annoying about children with British accents. Through no fault of their own, of course, they sound haughty and unnaturally precocious. Briony Tallis is one of those children. Sophisticated far beyond any 13-year-old I know, she spends her summer days penning dramatic plays like “The Trials of Arabella,” and attempts to make her visiting cousins “amenable” to performing it. See what I mean? 13 year olds who use words like “amenable” are kind of annoying.

Annoying doesn’t begin to describe Briony’s behavior, however, when she accuses Robbie, the housekeeper’s son, of a crime he did not commit. Her accusation stems from a series of mix-ups that happened earlier in the day, to be fair. First, she witnessed a spat between Robbie and her older sister, Cecilia, outside by the fountain. What we witness as an exchange fraught with sexual tension appears menacing from Briony’s vantage point from the window. Next, the nosy little Briony reads a letter from Robbie to Cecilia and is scandalized that it includes “the worst word you could possibly imagine.” When Briony later walks in on the two of them in the library, she becomes convinced that Robbie is some kind of crazed sex maniac. The situation would be hilarious if it didn’t have such tragic consequences.

Watching Atonement is a bit of an exercise in frustration. You’ll be frustrated by how obviously wrong Briony is in her accusation, by the circumstances delaying Robbie and Cecilia’s reunion, and if you’re like me, by all the flashbacks and scenes replayed from multiple points of view. I find that technique a bit tired. It is a gorgeously shot film, however, and a hopelessly romantic story. And in the end, I’m a sucker for a good war romance. Even one with annoying British children.

Atonement (2007)
DVD Date of Release: March 2008
Based on Atonement by Ian McEwan

In honor of the holiday, I looked for an Easter-themed movie. I was hoping for some lighter fare, something about bunnies or egg hunts, but in the end I had to go with The Last Temptation of Christ. It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown was already rented.

Let me begin by saying that this film is based on the novel by Nikos Kazantzakis, not the Gospels. It was and continues to be extremely controversial, as its focus is more on Jesus’ humanity rather than his divinity. Accordingly, Jesus is portrayed as a man full of self-doubt, self-loathing, fear and questions. He admits his weaknesses and yes, his temptations.

The brilliant Willem Defoe rocks some long hair and sandals as Jesus. Speaking of long-hair and sandals, the baptismal scene by the river, with all the drumming, dancing, and dreadlocks made me wonder for a minute if I was watching a Grateful Dead show—or that ridiculous dance party scene in The Matrix Reloaded.

I found Defoe’s portrayal of a very human Jesus to be incredibly moving and very convincing. Despite the controversy, I think it is precisely his human attributes—his doubts, his weaknesses, and his longing for a fulfilled life—that make his final sacrifice that much more meaningful. It is also a far more effective way of communicating his turmoil than crazy Mel Gibson’s two-hour torture fest.

However, Defoe is only one of a stellar cast that also includes Harvey Keitel as a red-haired Judas Iscariot, Barbara Hershey as a very earthy Mary Magdalene, and even David Bowie makes an appearance as the Roman, toga-wearing Pontius Pilate. Strangely enough, not one of them was seen eating chocolate bunnies or dying Easter eggs.

The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)
DVD Date of Release: April 2000
Based on The Last Temptation of Christ by Nikos Kazantzakis

(The Talented Mr. Minghella: 1954-2008)

Anthony Minghella, director of the acclaimed films adapted from the novels The English Patient, The Talented Mr. Ripley, and Cold Mountain has died following complications from throat surgery at the age of 54.

Today on Fresh Air, Terry Gross replayed an interview with the Oscar-winning director, in which he good-humoredly responded to the jabs certain audiences took to his work. He said he was not the least bit offended at the Seinfeld episode in which Elaine despises his film The English Patient (yet is forced to endure it time and again).

He even recommended this very funny parody called The Toy Patient. It’s too bad the world has lost this great writer and director at such an early age.

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, I was going to write about shamrocks and little green sprites, but as far as I can tell Leprechaun isn’t based on a novel. Instead, I watched Angela’s Ashes, which doesn’t feature any pots of gold, but many pints of Guinness instead.

This movie, about Frank McCourt’s “miserable Irish Catholic childhood,” opens in Brooklyn 1935, with the McCourt family grieving the loss of their youngest child, Margaret. The family returns to Limerick, Ireland, where mother Angela’s family begrudgingly assists them, and where everyone seems to suffer from unemployment, starvation, and the gloomy, cold, consumption-causing “damp.”

Bleak as it sounds, Frank retells his life story with warmth and humor, even in the face of tragic circumstances. It’s revealing when Frank’s uncle, after the McCourts lose a second child, tells bawdy jokes at the child’s wake. When Frank’s aunt protests his indecency, the grandmother defends him, saying simply, “It’s better than sitting around with a long face.” There we see the foundation of Irish humor, laughing when otherwise you would fall apart crying. When the kids at school all make fun of Frank’s bare feet, you want to cry at his humiliation. But then his teacher scolds the class, noting, “You don’t see Jesus hangin’ on the cross sportin’ shoes, do you?” and the dark cloud of Frank’s misery parts and you find yourself laughing out loud at such a ridiculous image.

Things go from bad to worse as Frank’s alcoholic father is continually unable to keep a job and the family falls ever more destitute. Frank, however, has a gift for writing, which we first see in an essay titled “Jesus and the Weather.” I guess it’s not a spoiler to say that the writing thing worked out well for him.

Angela’s Ashes (1999)
DVD Date of Release: July 2000
Based on Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt