1974 also saw the release of Fassbinder's Ali: Fear Eats the Soul, which I had read about for years but did not see until a few months ago. A moving story about a Moroccan immigrant and a lonely German window, it creates a specific world with complicated and sympathetic characters. No one in the film is rich, beautiful, "strong" or "special" in the ways 99.5% of films insist characters must be, but Fassbinder and his actors give each character dignity, and I cared about them and their fates.
Another good '74 film is Harry and Tonto. It gets a lot of grief because Art Carney didn't deserve the Oscar for Best Actor. It's a fine performance, but not equal to Pacino or Nicholson. This is another film I had read about but hadn't seen until 2024, and I enjoyed it greatly. It felt dated in a way that Ali: Fear Eats the Soul did not, but there's always room in my heart for a light comic drama about a lonely man and his beloved cat, though I question the scene in which Harry leaves the dying Tonto with the vet.
If only we could have another cinematic year like 1974. I enjoy going to the movies but for a long time now there's rarely something playing in our local theaters that interests me. So many screens, so little variety of choice.
Chuck: I (finally) watched 'Ali: Fear Eats the Soul' and was duly moved, and impressed. There were several moments where I legit choked up -- for all the right reasons, and perhaps the one inevitable takeaway, however cliched and sad, is how the game plan of demonizing the other never changes, and how (again cliche alert) it applies almost too perfectly for 2024, especially the run up to the election. This is what art does, and what it reminds us, and why we must make it, and remember it.
Hi, Sean. It reminds us how the human desire for dignity is universal, and we should strive to treat others as if their lives matter as much as ours, because they do. I also looked back at my original post and saw that I described the lead female character as a "lonely German window." Obviously, I meant I meant "widow" but perhaps windows can be lonely too if there's no one around to look through them. I'm glad to read you enjoyed the film--it's made me seek out other Fassbinder films.
I'm certain you have, but in the unlikely event you've never seen 'Red' (part of the Red/White/Blue trilogy), it explores similar themes in ways I've never seen done as successfully in any other film. LMK if you have (or haven't) and we can compare notes!
It’s been a while since I have seen it, but I adored Red, along with the others in the trilogy. For several years, I listed it as the best film I had ever seen. I need to watch it again.
Thanks for reading & weighing in. I've read about "Ali..." and thanks to your note I've bumped it up in my queue; stay tuned for a full report. Likewise, I of course have heard about "H&T" over the years (mostly about the miscarriage of cinematic justice vis a vis Art Carney) but have never seen; just saw where it was streaming and....it appears to currently be in digital limbo, which is astonishing, circa 2024. I'll keep my eye out for that, too. Another (of many I could mention!) from '74 is 'Thunderbolt & Lightfoot' which is deceptively slight but surprisingly deep (at least for me, and it's an absolute annual viewing for me, the pleasures contained within myriad), but it's worth a watch just to see how indescribably YOUNG Jeff Bridges once was--and how unbelievably beautiful. More soon and happy new year!
1974 also saw the release of Fassbinder's Ali: Fear Eats the Soul, which I had read about for years but did not see until a few months ago. A moving story about a Moroccan immigrant and a lonely German window, it creates a specific world with complicated and sympathetic characters. No one in the film is rich, beautiful, "strong" or "special" in the ways 99.5% of films insist characters must be, but Fassbinder and his actors give each character dignity, and I cared about them and their fates.
Another good '74 film is Harry and Tonto. It gets a lot of grief because Art Carney didn't deserve the Oscar for Best Actor. It's a fine performance, but not equal to Pacino or Nicholson. This is another film I had read about but hadn't seen until 2024, and I enjoyed it greatly. It felt dated in a way that Ali: Fear Eats the Soul did not, but there's always room in my heart for a light comic drama about a lonely man and his beloved cat, though I question the scene in which Harry leaves the dying Tonto with the vet.
If only we could have another cinematic year like 1974. I enjoy going to the movies but for a long time now there's rarely something playing in our local theaters that interests me. So many screens, so little variety of choice.
Chuck: I (finally) watched 'Ali: Fear Eats the Soul' and was duly moved, and impressed. There were several moments where I legit choked up -- for all the right reasons, and perhaps the one inevitable takeaway, however cliched and sad, is how the game plan of demonizing the other never changes, and how (again cliche alert) it applies almost too perfectly for 2024, especially the run up to the election. This is what art does, and what it reminds us, and why we must make it, and remember it.
Hi, Sean. It reminds us how the human desire for dignity is universal, and we should strive to treat others as if their lives matter as much as ours, because they do. I also looked back at my original post and saw that I described the lead female character as a "lonely German window." Obviously, I meant I meant "widow" but perhaps windows can be lonely too if there's no one around to look through them. I'm glad to read you enjoyed the film--it's made me seek out other Fassbinder films.
I'm certain you have, but in the unlikely event you've never seen 'Red' (part of the Red/White/Blue trilogy), it explores similar themes in ways I've never seen done as successfully in any other film. LMK if you have (or haven't) and we can compare notes!
It’s been a while since I have seen it, but I adored Red, along with the others in the trilogy. For several years, I listed it as the best film I had ever seen. I need to watch it again.
Chuck!
Thanks for reading & weighing in. I've read about "Ali..." and thanks to your note I've bumped it up in my queue; stay tuned for a full report. Likewise, I of course have heard about "H&T" over the years (mostly about the miscarriage of cinematic justice vis a vis Art Carney) but have never seen; just saw where it was streaming and....it appears to currently be in digital limbo, which is astonishing, circa 2024. I'll keep my eye out for that, too. Another (of many I could mention!) from '74 is 'Thunderbolt & Lightfoot' which is deceptively slight but surprisingly deep (at least for me, and it's an absolute annual viewing for me, the pleasures contained within myriad), but it's worth a watch just to see how indescribably YOUNG Jeff Bridges once was--and how unbelievably beautiful. More soon and happy new year!