FilmJerk Favorites

A group of unique directors and the essential works that you've got to see.

||| John Ford |||
John Ford

One of the art form's grand masters of all time, Ford is responsible for influencing the seminal directors of generation after generation. Strongly associated with the impressive body of work created over a lifetime with collaborator John Wayne, it is nearly impossible to choose just three… but here it goes.

This powerful winner of the Best Picture Academy Award is set in Wales at the turn of the 19th century, and tells the story of a family of miners, whose lives are filled with danger and repression. The film is beautifully crafted, lovingly depicting the gut wrenching sacrifices and light-hearted moments that are elemental to family life, making this film a true representation of the craft that is unmistakably John Ford.

This film is told in flashback as James Stewart, after a long absence, returns home for the funeral of a friend who saved his life from a sadistic outlaw. This classic covers every essential element required to qualify as a western epic from unlikely friends to the girl who comes between them, to the enemy they both despise, but handle with extremely different approaches, to Fords signature cast of supporting characters, all combine to make this a staple for every fan of this uniquely American genre.

This romantic comedy seen through the eyes of John Ford has John Wayne ( an American-raised boxer) go to Ireland to the village of his birth, fall for feisty Maureen O'Hara, and fight with town ruffian Victor McLaglen in one of the all time classic screen brawls. This is an exceptionally fine romantic movie that with Ford’s capable bravado manages to be a film that any man’s man can openly enjoy.

Recommended by CarrieSpecht

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Art of Travel, The

By BrianOrndorf

May 15th, 2008

For some, traveling is defined as movement from location to location in as little time as possible. For others, traveling is merely the first step toward greater self-exploration, where adventures can teach and motivate the soul to higher plains of consciousness.

Art of Travel, The

“The Art of Travel” is an indie film that explores the very nature of wanderlust, and how it informs character and transforms life. It’s filled with familiar dramatic footprints, but “Art” remains something worthwhile and unexpectedly delicate.

Catching his fiancée in a compromising position, Conner Layne (Chris Masterson) ditches his betrothed on their wedding day and boards the first plane out of the country. Ending up in Nicaragua, Conner is overwhelmed by his vacation decision, but quickly soothed by his fellow travelers, who push the young man to challenge himself by abandoning his comfort zone and taking on new challenges. When a week away soon becomes years, Conner struggles with the concept of settling back down and returning home, trying to imagine a world without the constant life-altering experiences he’s grown accustom to.

“Art of Travel” is truly about the simple pleasures in life. It’s an unpretentious motion picture, endeavoring to construct the journey of a sheltered teenager as he grows into a knowing, mentally-porous adult. The direction by Thomas Whelan reaches for poetry and achieves an even flow of culture shock humor and gentle Zen-like absorptions of experiences. It’s a sturdy directorial job for a difficult movie; one that wants to spread the idea of travel as the ultimate cotton swab of life, but also engages in good times to keep the less spiritually open audience member awake.

The lighthearted moments of Conner’s early days in foreign lands hold the most wildly appealing material. Scenarios with Conner facing erratic shower facilities, the culture of petty crime, and his interactions with some sexually-minded fellow travelers lend the film some decent laughs before it all starts to slip into solemnity. Once Conner meets up with a pair of Americans (Brooke Burns and Johnny Mesner) looking to clear an unimaginable path through dense South American forest, “Art” settles down and begins to itemize Conner’s revelations and obstacles. The transition isn’t jarring, but a certain playfulness is left behind the film could’ve emphasized further down into the story.

While I’m not convinced Masterson has the gravitas to sell Conner’s more insular struggles of the soul, I did enjoy his performance, which does thankfully pull the actor away from his “Malcolm in the Middle” legacy and into more promising actorly fields of emoting. He’s a solid center for this relaxed movie, helping the story get through thin-ice plot turns (an encounter with violent jungle Guerrillas lacks credibility) and substantial time jumps.

“Art” eventually turns romantic, focusing on Conner’s relationship with traveling pal Anna (Angelika Baran), and steps even further away from what makes this movie feel special: the restless soul. The arc is performed nicely and it fits a very specific thematic need in Brian LaBelle’s script, but it also restrains the picture from further wonder. “Art of Traveling” is a dynamic travelogue, with gorgeous locations and fascinating psychological issues to address, so it seems only appropriate that when it stops to explore a stagnant life, the film feels impatient to move on to the next adventure.

My rating: B+