Leonard Maltin's 151 Best Movies You've Never Seen - Maltin, Leonard [43]
Other roles are filled by Lloyd Nolan, Walter Abel, Wayne’s protégé James Arness, Allyn Joslyn, a young Mike Connors, an equally young Fess Parker, and such longtime Wayne “regulars” as Andy Devine, Harry Carey Jr., Paul Fix, and Bob Steele. Old-movie buffs will also recognize Gordon Jones, Frank Fenton, Darryl Hickman, Louis Jean Heydt, Ann Doran, and two of director Wellman’s favorites, character actor George Chandler and Our Gang veteran Carl “Alfalfa” Switzer.
Island in the Sky benefits from William H. Clothier’s aerial photography and an effective music score credited to Emil Newman and Hugh Friedhofer (though mostly written by the latter). It’s an extremely well-crafted film that deserves a bigger reputation than it has—especially since it’s now so readily available on DVD.
59. JULIA
(2008)
Directed by Erick Zonca
Screenplay by Aude Py and Erick Zonca
Actors:
TILDA SWINTON
AIDAN GOULD
SAUL RUBINEK
KATE DEL CASTILLO
JUDE CICCOLELLA
BRUNO BICHIR
KEVIN KILNER
EUGENE BYRD
Tilda Swinton is one of those actresses whose mere presence in a film is a seal of approval, whether it’s a mainstream movie like The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, where she played the White Witch; The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; Michael Clayton; or a small indie effort like Thumbsucker, Stephanie Daley, or Julia. We’ve seen this versatile actress in many kinds of roles, but I don’t think anyone would picture her playing a party girl in a slinky dress who’s had too much to drink. Yet that’s exactly how we meet her in the opening scene of Julia, a smart move on the part of director Erick Zonca. I almost felt like saying to the screen, “Okay, you’ve got my attention!”
Julia is a thoroughly messed-up woman who’s burned almost every bridge in her life, yet refuses to straighten herself out and stop drinking. It’s only because she isn’t thinking straight that she allows herself to get involved in a crazy scheme. A desperate Latina neighbor offers her money to help her kidnap her young son, who’s living with his grandfather. Naturally, everything goes awry.
Before long, Julia is on the run with the boy, an innocent who doesn’t understand what’s going on. The two cross the California border into Mexico, where things get hairier and downright dangerous. Julia is playing with dynamite, but she’s both foolish and fearless.
It’s because I respond to Swinton so positively that I was willing to be taken for the wild ride this movie turns out to be. I don’t want to tell too much of the story because I think it’s best to see the film as I did, knowing as little as possible. All you really need to know is that it is anchored by Swinton, and she’s never off camera.
Although filmmaker Zonca is French (best remembered for The Dreamlife of Angels), this project was filmed in the United States and Mexico and has the feel of a hybrid: an American movie with European sensibilities. Julia is long, involved, and (though I rarely use this word to describe a movie) crazy…but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
60. KEEPING MUM
(2005)
Directed by Niall Johnson
Screenplay by Richard Russo and Niall Johnson
Based on a story by Richard Russo
Actors:
ROWAN ATKINSON
KRISTIN SCOTT THOMAS
MAGGIE SMITH
PATRICK SWAYZE
TAMSIN EGERTON
TOBY PARKES
LIZ SMITH
EMILIA FOX
There is no such thing as a typically British comedy; after all, the Mother Country has given us both Noël Coward and Benny Hill. Yet a little film like Keeping Mum would seem out of place if it took place anywhere but England, since it incorporates both Hitchcockian gallows humor and sex farce. Given that, one couldn’t find a better lineup of stars to inhabit this black comedy than Maggie Smith, Rowan Atkinson, and Kristin Scott Thomas.
The setting is a tiny village called Little Wallop. Atkinson plays the local vicar, who’s a bit absentminded. Among other things, he’s forgotten