I'm a city boy. There's just no denying it. I've never eaten anything I've grown. Come to think about it, I've never grown anything that lived more than a week or so. No green in these thumbs, buddy. They don't belong anywhere near a farm. The only times they've been on one, it's because I was visiting on a field trip with some school or another. So yeah, if the world is ever plunged back into the dark ages I'll be one of the first to perish because I can't make a shovel and a seed turn into sustenance.
You know what I can do? I can watch a movie that takes place on a farm. And that's the topic for this week's Thursday Movie Picks hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves. Let's see what's out in the fields.
Farms have fields, right? No? I dunno.
Moving on.
Animal Farm
(1954)
I've chosen this before and spoke about it several times on this site, but I just can't resist bringing it up on more time. I mean, the word farm is in the title. The other word, animal, sums it up. This is a farm ran completely by animals. Of course, the problem is they're slowly becoming that which they've continuously rebelled against - human. (The Top 25 Movies of the 1950s)
1922
(2017)
This got a bit lost among the numerous Stephen King's adaptations of 2017. While It is fun, polished, horror for the Stranger Things crowd, 1922, along with Gerald's Game, takes a more mature approach horror and works just as well. It starts with Wilfred, a never-better Thomas Jane, confessing to a crime he committed in his past. And then we watch as that past plays out and gets back to the starting point.
Mudbound
(2017)
A black family lives and works on a farm owned by a white family in the Mississippi Delta during World War II. Out of this framework, we get a powerful examination of race, family, responsibility, patriotism, loneliness, PTSD, and more. Performances are phenomenal across the board and the cinematography makes this a beautiful, deep-cutting film. (Full Review)
I had never seen these three films as Animal Farm and Mudbound are the ones I'm interested in. The former of which was the inspiration for Pink Floyd's 1977 album Animals. I went with an eclectic approach for my list which came to me earlier today.
ReplyDeleteMudbound is amazing. So is Animal Farm for that matter.
DeleteFirstly I have to say love the picture for the theme. Very Grandma Moses evocative.
ReplyDeleteMy you went dark this week! I've only seen Animal Farm which while decent didn't approach the book. The second is new to me but I'll have to read up on it a bit more before I decide whether its for me or not. I've heard of Mudbound but haven't gotten there yet.
I'm not much of a farm boy either although I had an aunt and a couple of uncles who lived on them so I'm not quite as unacquainted as you.
I went on the jollier side for my first two, though my first had a VERY turbulent production, and finished off with something more somber.
Summer Stock (1950)-Jane Falbury (Judy Garland) and her faithful housekeeper Esme (Marjorie Main) are struggling to keep the family farm afloat. One day Jane’s errant sister Abigail (Gloria De Haven) shows up with the news that she’s has been cast as the lead in a new musical. Oh and by the way she’s brought the entire troupe including her fiancée, the show’s director Joe Ross (Gene Kelly) with her to rehearse in the barn! After some persuasion Jane lets them proceed with the proviso that they trade chores for room and board. Everything goes bumpily along until Abigail departs in a snit and Jane is convinced to step into the lead. She’s reluctant but since she’s Judy Garland at the peak of her powers it goes well. Breezy if minor musical contains several iconic numbers, Judy & Gene’s challenge dance, Gene solo dance with a newspaper and most of all Judy’s infamous Get Happy number (filmed two months after the rest of the film with a 20 pounds lighter Garland). For something so light it was a nightmare to make taking six months to complete rather than the expected six weeks because Judy was coming apart at the seams (watch her weight fluctuate noticeably from scene to scene and entire backdrops change abruptly from scenes pieced together). For all the turmoil it’s a very pleasant film, Judy’s last at MGM.
The Egg and I (1947)-City slickers Betty & Bob MacDonald (Claudette Colbert and Fred MacMurray) head to the country to fulfill Bob’s dream of being a chicken farmer. Comic complications ensure with many rude shocks when they discover the farm is more or less a shack and the chicks are far more demanding than expected. Bob catches the eye of the rich neighbor farmer lady and Betty seeks solace and consul from their other neighbors, Ma & Pa Kettle (Marjorie Main & Percy Kilbride-who spun off into a successful series of B movies). Based on a bestseller by the real Betty MacDonald.
Places in the Heart (1984)-Suddenly widowed in Depression era Texas Edna Spalding (Sally Field) decides to make her small farm pay by bringing the first bale of cotton to market with the help of drifter Moze (Danny Glover), her blind boarder Mr. Will (John Malkovich) and her two young children. Facing many, many obstacles Edna perseveres against daunting odds. Sally won the Best Actress Oscar giving her famous “You like me! You really like me!!” acceptance speech.
Thanks!
DeleteHaven't heard of any of your picks. One of them, The Egg and I, has been very popular this week. I might have to see it now.
I read the book, Animal Farm which I consider a brilliant horror story and, to this day, freaked me out but I have not seen the film. I don’t know the second one at all but it sounds interesting. I forgot about Mudbound and wanted to see it when it came out so it is now on my list to see.
ReplyDeleteI also read the book. It is very interesting with lots of metaphors at play. I recommend the movie, too.
DeleteDamn it why didn't I think of Mudbound? I hate when this happens lol. Amazing movie.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen Animal Farm, but I hated 1922. I had really high hopes for it as well.
Mudbound was the first thing I thought of, lol. Too bad you didn't like 1922. I really enjoyed it.
Delete1922 was pretty good for Netflix movie, i agree that Jane was great in this role!
ReplyDeleteHe killed it...pun intended, of course.
DeleteStrangely, I haven't seen any of these. I think I've seen PARTS of Animal Farm, and I love the book, but if I've seen the whole thing, I don't remember.
ReplyDeleteIt's a tremendous book.
DeleteI don't think I can watch Animal Farm, the book was enough.
ReplyDeleteI already have 1922 and Mudbound on my Netflix "My List"...it's a long list.
I do need to see Mudbound. Babe and War Horse came to mind.
ReplyDelete