Martin-Landau Movie Reviews

This definitely caps off what has gone on in the X-Files for the past several years. David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson both shine in this wonderfully directed (by Chris Carter) production. Also, those of you who are shippers will find this movie to be a real treat. It covers the conspiracy surrounding Agents Mulder and Scully, sends them on a journey around the world in search for the truth, and touches on the more-than-just-friends relationship between Mulder and Scully. I loved it!

Es espectacular! , si siempre has visto los capítulos por la tele o no, no importa porque esta película es un capítulo más pero con todos los ingredientes del cine, ya sea efectos especiales e historia. IMPERDIBLE! .

Definitivamente Chris Carter no nos defraudo a nosotros los x-philos. Toda la pelicula de comienzo a fin es 100% X-Files, con eso se dice todo.

This VHS is a must for actors, teachers and directors who wish to understand Stanislavski's and Strasberg's "Methods", as well as techniques of Elia Kazan, which are explained and demonstrated. Dr. Hull is currently producing "Method II: Based on Stanislavski, Strasberg and Kazan," which will explain and demonstrate even more advanced work of "The Method," such as affective memory, more advanced substitution, personalization, creating the place, narrative monologue and other techniques. Excellent extensive explanations are printed of the video, as well as of Lorrie Hull's book, "Strasberg's Method: A Practical Guide for Actors, Teachers, Directors." The current VHS, "The Method" has been of interest to the general public who are curious about how fine actors develop their craft. The video not only is a comprehensive teaching tape, but also entertains with scenes and scene critiques by Emmy and Academy Award actress, Cloris Leachman. "The Method" is an invaluable purchase for the library of all those interested in "Method Acting," and for all those who watch Bravo's "Actors Studio" TV show. Many professional acting and directing instructors, as well as college professors, find their teaching is much easier when they use this VHS.

Because of so much misunderstanding about "Method" acting training, I not only wrote the book Amazon carries, "Strasberg's Method As Taught by Lorrie Hull," but an Actors'Studio member, William Smithers, some of my students and myself decided to produce a 2 hour video demonstrating some common domain method techniques as a new and separate work independent of my book.The video could also give more information about Stanislavski learned by me when a master teacher at the 1988 Pompidou Centre Paris Stanislavski Conference. [The students shot, edited, did crew work etc. freely or with delayed payment, as we did not have and never have had any funding. They were and have been marvelous!]The representational relaxation and sensory exercises demonstrate how we, who teach method acting and directing, teach the world over. All the demonstrations have been used over the years by most Actors Studio members and method instructors [including Smithers-a member of the famed Actors Studio since 1952,who won the Theatre World Award for the role of Tybalt in "Romeo and Juliet," and the Obie for portraying Treplev in "The Sea Gull." William Smithers is perhaps best known for the character of Jeremy Wendell on "Dallas," and guest starring on "Bread and Circuses" for "Star Trek."] I eagerly learned more about Stanislavski in 1988 from his granddaughter, Cyrilla Falk and from members of the Moscow Art Theatre.William Smithers wrote a completely new script not based on my book, but based on his many years as an actor and also on his teaching method techniques.We divided the video into sections, so teachers, and others interested, could assign and/or work on short segments separately. As Martin Landau and Smithers point out on the video, "The video complements the book." Additionally, the student co-producers { such as Daniel Val Verde, Cory Riback, Linda Watt, Regina Puksar, Sandra Butler and others too numerous to mention, but all on the video credits) encouraged me to be on the video actually instructing students in an acting and directing class situation.They wished to capture how I not only taught for 12 years for Strasberg and 5 years for the Public Service programs of the American Film Institute, but also how Dianne Hull and I teach today. They particularly wanted to capture new techniques evolved by me (mostly learned from Smithers and by Dianne from Kazan when she acted for him) which were not included in my book. Since Cloris Leachman had been a guest instructor in my classes for 10 years, we felt that the scene work guided by this amazing Emmy and Academy Award winning actress was invaluable for actors, directors and teachers. Hopefully, not only people in the honorable profession of acting, but also the average audience member will find Cloris' work with our students on the video inspiring, enjoyable and interesting. The students at our Hull studio in Santa Monica claim that the video is of great value to them as they work along with the video as if they were in a class.People living far away from Santa Monica also claim the video guides them in acting training and knowledge.

Others, not involved with acting, have written to us or told us that the video has contributed to their appreciation and pleasure as audience members of other productions. Lorrie Hull, Ph.D. One of many co-producers! All of us co-producers hope that others will find the video useful, as well as beneficial in class situations or as interested individuals.

As an acting teacher, this video is invaluable, as our students use it working with a segment at a time. The video is divided into 16 minutes to 30 minutes segments for actors and/or teachers to play as if in a class. Also, friends who wish to enhance their audience enjoyment, have found the video interesting and informative. On the video, Martin Landau comments, " These tapes [video] are [depict] the kind of process I have used in my work over the years and taught over the years." "Stage Directions" magazine's review of June/July 1999 states, "The Method" is real, vibrant and absolutely absorbing...for actors and directors seeking to better understand the method, this comes highly recommended. Our students concur with "Stage Directions" review by highly recommending "The Method" video.

I saw this award winning documentary at the Palm Springs Film Festival. It traces the journey of the holocaust survivors from the concentration camps of Germany to the beginning of Israel. Near the opening a large headline flashes across the screen with the words, "Dachau 1945." A scene follows which my father, who was there, described to me many years ago. That, like many other scenes in the film show little known or unknown facts and images that will both inspire and haunt viewers for a long time to come. As we face the ravages of war and the domination of the weak by the powerful and greedy once more I wish everyone could see this moving film and learn to open their hearts and minds to the suffering and courage of others.

This is one of the most marvalous portrayals of any historical event, holocaust or otherwise. I watched this film last night, having borrowed it from the library, and I can't get my mind to steer from it. I will be buying now from Amazon, and I feel that I must have it to show to classes (I'm a History Prof. at a community college) or anyione else who I can tempt into a postition before a TV set.

I must conclude by commenting that its greatest asset is in the the effort to present doucuments and accounts from "common" folk, the real victims.

Late one night, while in a hotel room in London, England, I happened to come across this documentary on the BBC and have not been the same since. Narrated by Morgan Freeman, the film was the winner of the Best Documentary Feature (1997)by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ("Oscar"). The musical score by Lee Holdridge is nothing short of extraordinary as is Freeman's narration. Also featured are other great voices that impart testimonials of those that had survived the Holocaust, and who were attempting to make their way out of Germany following their miraculous survival. The documentary focuses on the plight of Holocaust survivors from their Liberation, to 1948, the year of Israel's birth--a rather unstudied period--at least in the visual, documentary realm. A stunning and indispensable film.

For years I've read every book and watched every film I could find on this subject, but I've never seen or read anything from the perspective of this particular film. It's outstanding! You will forget who you are and you will just "jump" headfirst into history!! This film mainly deals with videos, narratives, etc. of the rescue of the Jews from the camps following the end of WWII. You come away with a better understanding of how the survivors must have felt, and how difficult life was for them even after the war. You will never again think "They survived; they were the lucky ones!" SEE IT!!

Late one night, while in a hotel room in London, England, I happened to come across this documentary on the BBC--I have not been the same since. Narrated by Morgan Freeman, the film was the winner of the Best Documentary Feature (1997) by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The musical score by Lee Holdridge is extraordinary, and highly evocative, as is Freeman's narration itself. Also featured are other great voices that impart testimonials of those that had survived the Holocaust, and who were attempting to make their way out of Germany following their miraculous survival. The documentary focuses on the plight of Holocaust survivors from their Liberation, to 1948, the year of Israel's birth--a rather unstudied period--in the visual, documentary realm. A stunning and important film that should not remain obscure.

***

The crew of Moonbase Alpha receives a surprise when an alien spaceship enters orbit around the Moon, only to crash-land on its surface. When the alien crew is revived from their suspended animation, they find that they were bound for Earth when their computer recognized the now renegade Moon. The aliens are determined to continue on to Earth, and Commander Koenig (played by Martin Landau) realizes that the death of an alien crewmember means that one of the Alpha crew can accompany the aliens (led by Captain Zantor, played by Christopher Lee). But, one crewman, Commissioner Simmond (Roy Dotrice), decides that he *must* be that one who returns to Earth, and he will net nothing stand in his way.
[Color, originally aired in 1975 (season 1), with a running time of 60 minutes.]

As a childhood fan of the Space 1999 (both seasons), I was overjoyed to have this tape fall into my lap. J2 Communications produced the tape I have in 1990. There are no little 'extras' on the tape, but it does have the episode in a reasonable quality. I am very glad to have this tape, and highly recommend that you get it!

With Moonbase Alpha about to pass close to a planet, Piri, an Eagle (small, short-range spaceship) is sent to investigate, but its strange disappearance marks the beginning of a series of mysteries, including a series of strange results from the Moonbase computer. When Commander Koenig (played by Martin Landau) meets a beautiful woman (Catherine Schell, who later played Maya!) who claims to be the servant of the Guardian of Piri, she informs him that the purpose of the Guardian is to make people "perfect." When the Guardian takes control of the Alphans, it is up to Commander Koenig to save his people from becoming mindless, and ambitionless, inhabitants of a sort of land of the lotus-eaters. [Color, originally aired in 1975 (season 1), with a running time of 60 minutes.]

As a childhood fan of the Space 1999 (both seasons), I was overjoyed to have this tape fall into my lap. J2 Communications produced the tape I have in 1991. There are no little "extras" on the tape, but it does have the episode in a reasonable quality. OK, admittedly the episode is reminiscent of Star Trek's 1967 episode This Side of Paradise, but it is an excellent episode, and quite fascinating to watch. I am very glad to have this tape, and highly recommend that you get it!

What better man to tackle a biopic of the legendary worst director of all time Ed Wood than Tim Burton? Master of the weird and wonderful (see Edward Scissorhands and Beetlejuice) Burton shows a remarkable amount of compassion, relating Burton's career up to the premiere of his fabled worst movie, Plan 9 From Outer Space. Tracking through his relationships with his girlfriends and aging actor Bela Lugosi, there are equal parts sympathy and wonder at Wood's bizarre life, films and the band of misfits that surround him.

Johnny Depp is obviously at ease with director Burton, even to the extent of playing off Wood's penchant for wearing angora blouses and skirts with panache. His earnestness lifts the movie from what could easily have been made something far more depressing given Ed Wood's spectacular failure with regards to his career. Martin Landau, in an Oscar-winning performance, is very impressive indeed as Bela Lugosi, playing his extreme patheticism and drug addiction in a brave and unflattering light. The rest of the cast are good also, including the novelty of seeing Sarah Jessica Parker as Wood's girlfriend. Clearly a versatile actress she should find no problem finding work once TV's Sex And The City has finished. Juliet Landau (Buffy The Vampire Slayer's Drusilla) puts in a good turn as one of Wood's leading actresses.

Whilst there are parts that drag, Burton's minute attention to detail (which never takes your attention away from the movie itself) makes it seem like you're watching a real 50's movie, especially given the mannered yet somehow realistic performances. It might not be Burton's most accessible or even most enjoyable picture, but it stands as something of a standout in the genre of the biopic. It's strange, magnificent, on a grand-scale, in short exactly what how you can imagine Wood wanting his life to be committed to film.

This is one of the best biopics I've seen. The true story of Ed Wood, Hollywood's worst director. Tim Burton captures the look and feel of the 1950's perfectly. Johnny Depp is excellent in his role as Wood. His optimism and chirpy good nature reminded me of Ned Flanders, another man who has total faith in the future. Martin Landau is superb as the once-great horror star Bela Lugosi.

Ed Wood always knew he would be remembered, but probably not in the way he expected. In this film we see his misfortunes, trials and disappointments, and can't help laughing. Ed Wood tried to overcome adversity, and mostly failed. Some of the problems were not of his making, he needed money to finance his movies and was open to exploitation by those with their own vision. Or the people around him were clownish amateurs, not quite understanding what Wood wanted.

All in all, this is a great movie about the making of three very terrible movies.

This is my favorite movie for so many reasons, that I don't have the coherence of thought to express them all. So, here are my top ten reasons why you should buy Ed Wood (right now!):

10. Filmed in gorgeous Black and White
9. An Oscar-winning performance by Martin Landau
8. A "should have won an Oscar" performance by Johnny Depp
7. A gigantic fake rubber octopus
6. Mariachis
5. Johnny Depp wearing multiple dresses.
4. Black booties
3. Angora sweaters
2. It's the best film ever made about what movies can mean to us
1. There's not one bad line, or false note, or miscast performance. It's perfect!

Glenn Ford is the producer of a television mystery series who attempts to protect his Broadway star wife (Debbie Reynolds) from a blackmailer--and decides to eliminate the blackmailer via a murder plot suggested by his own series. The result is a comic chaos involving a couple of gansters, a peculiar pigeon, and the gazebo his wife is having built on their country property.

Based on the play of the same name, THE GAZEBO strives for a mix of broad farce, screwball comedy, and sprightly sophistocation--and by and large brings it off quite well. I have never been a great fan of Glenn Ford, but he manages both the broad physical comedy and the clever dialogue of this film with equal ease. Debbie Reynolds is also quite good in the role of the stage-star wife, and she and Ford have a surprisingly successful chemistry. Although the humor is more smile-and-chuckle than laugh-out-loud, THE GAZEBO is a well made, well acted, and quite enjoyable. Recommended.

A great movie!
An absolute delight.
But it needs to be released in DVD format SOON !!
Kaz Jann

A great comedy, Glen Ford is at his best. I could watch it over and over again. The movie keeps you laughing all the way through it. The ending is great, a 10+

Martin Landau ("Ed Wood," "Space 1999") leads a super cast through the ringer as they all try to get a film bankrolled. The connecting thread here is that "the other woman" who most of the potential financiers are boffing - is one and the same bimbo! The most unique angle to "Mistress" is how it refuses to portray the writers, actors, or other normally high-pedestaled creative types, as any more pure, or noble, or reasonable to deal with, than anyone else in this wacky business.

If you want an insider's perpsective on the movie biz, two films that were released in 1992 give a view of the top and the bottom of the Hollywood food chain. "The Player" is a delightful black comedy about the top rung, the major studio insider who has the power to say "yes" just twelve times a year and green-light a big-budget movie (trouble ensues when he murders a particularly troublesome screenwriter). The opposite end of the food chain is lampooned in "Mistress," where we get an insider's view of trying to get an independent film financed. Filmmaking is the most expensive of hobbies, and compromises must be made. Two writers and a washed-up producer get three businessmen on the hook as possible backers, but each has a mistress, who needs a part... It's a delightful exploration of how far can one compromise artistic integrity just to get a story in front of the cameras. Martin Landau is a delight as the has-been producer, and Robert Wuhl is wonderful as the bemused screenwriter whose vision is rewritten into exploitative shlock. Both funny and sad, these are men who have sacrificed everything that matters in pursuit of the Hollywood dream.

I loved Mistress because it portrays the "behind the scenes" of what producing a movie is truly about. I loved Sheryl Lee Ralph in this movie because it portrays what just be me going on in our movie industry. Sheryl is an excellent actress and need to be seen in more excellent movies. Excellent producing/directing on DeNiro's part.

Martin Landau ("Ed Wood," "Space 1999") leads a super cast through the ringer as they all try to get a film bankrolled. The connecting thread here is that "the other woman" who most of the potential financiers are boffing - is one and the same bimbo! The most unique angle to "Mistress" is how it refuses to portray the writers, actors, or other normally high-pedestaled creative types, as any more pure, or noble, or reasonable to deal with, than anyone else in this wacky business.

If you want an insider's perpsective on the movie biz, two films that were released in 1992 give a view of the top and the bottom of the Hollywood food chain. "The Player" is a delightful black comedy about the top rung, the major studio insider who has the power to say "yes" just twelve times a year and green-light a big-budget movie (trouble ensues when he murders a particularly troublesome screenwriter). The opposite end of the food chain is lampooned in "Mistress," where we get an insider's view of trying to get an independent film financed. Filmmaking is the most expensive of hobbies, and compromises must be made. Two writers and a washed-up producer get three businessmen on the hook as possible backers, but each has a mistress, who needs a part... It's a delightful exploration of how far can one compromise artistic integrity just to get a story in front of the cameras. Martin Landau is a delight as the has-been producer, and Robert Wuhl is wonderful as the bemused screenwriter whose vision is rewritten into exploitative shlock. Both funny and sad, these are men who have sacrificed everything that matters in pursuit of the Hollywood dream.

I loved Mistress because it portrays the "behind the scenes" of what producing a movie is truly about. I loved Sheryl Lee Ralph in this movie because it portrays what just be me going on in our movie industry. Sheryl is an excellent actress and need to be seen in more excellent movies. Excellent producing/directing on DeNiro's part.