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filmstruck · 6 years

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THE YOUNG SAVAGES (’61) by Greg Ferrara

John Frankenheimer had made a feature film before THE YOUNG SAVAGES in 1961 (THE YOUNG STRANGER [’57]), but after years of television work, this was his first A list movie, with mega-star and recent Oscar winner Burt Lancaster. It’s always a crapshoot when Hollywood decides to take on juvenile delinquency and this story, about an Italian gang, The Thunderbirds, attacking and killing a member of a Puerto Rican gang, The Horsemen, was clearly greenlighted in anticipation of the big-budget adaptation of WEST SIDE STORY that everyone knew was coming a couple of months later. And, inevitably, reviewers of the film now tend to make the lazy critique that it’s WEST SIDE STORY without the singing and dancing. No, it’s not. It is a film running so thematically counter to WEST SIDE STORY that such an observation is not only pointless but grounded in the worst kind of foolish consistency.

In truth, THE YOUNG SAVAGES is two things primarily: One, it is a procedural in which Assistant District Attorney Hank Bell (Lancaster) slowly pieces together the story of how a blind harmonica player in Spanish Harlem came to be stabbed to death by three Thunderbirds. Two, it is an examination of the hopeless culture of New York in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, when the highways destroyed the neighborhoods, red-lining meant no one could get a break and all the tax money had fled to the suburbs. It succeeds on the first count, and does its best on the second, not getting too preachy but also pulling too many punches. Let’s call it a draw on number two.

John Frankenheimer always had a good eye and right from the start of his career, his movies had a sharpness to them that many others lacked. The opening credits play over shots of three gang members walking defiantly towards what we can only assume is a hit judging from their utter determination. The shots are all on location and as they walk through crowded neighborhoods and desolate abandoned buildings, Frankenheimer’s camera keeps moving with them, giving the opening a real pulsating energy. It’s only when they reach their target, Roberto Escalante (Jose Perez), a blind boy playing harmonica on a stoop, that Frankenheimer gets needlessly flashy, showing us most of the stabbing and aftermath through the reflection in Escalante’s sunglasses. In the next scene, when we see Bell walk into the police station, Frankenheimer gives us another skewed perspective, this time looking up through the hands of a couple of card players. Fortunately, after this, the clever shots stop and the movie begins.

Bell meets with the lead detective, Gunderson (Telly Savalas), and they question the three youths who have all been caught. One is clearly a violent bully, Arthur Reardon (the distinctive John Davis Chandler), one is clearly not all there, Anthony “Batman” Aposto (Neil Burstyn) and one seems like he’s just going along, Danny diPace (Stanley Kristien). That last one happens to be the son of Bell’s former lover, Mary diPace (Shelley Winters). Complicating matters further, Bell is going for Murder One and the death penalty for all three. And to make matters even worse for Bell, his own wife, Karin (Dina Merrill), thinks the death penalty is a moral disgrace and is disgusted that he’s pursuing it.

THE YOUNG SAVAGES came at a time when American cinema was freeing up, just a bit, from the restrictions of the infamous Production Code, and contains some mild language and violence. But that stuff no longer shocks or offends. No, what sets THE YOUNG SAVAGES apart is the relationship between Bell and Zorro (Luis Arroyo), the leader of The Horsemen. We find out in the movie that they’re called The Horsemen because they take and distribute heroin but the movie makes Zorro into a fully examined character, arguing solid points with Bell and winning his respect, despite being a gangster. We see his apartment, where an entire family lives in one room, and get a sense that controlling his turf has less to do with terrorizing and more to do with having some semblance of control in his life. And he has one of the best moments in the movie, when Bell informs him that he found out some incriminating details about Escalante, implying that he wasn’t a saintly blind boy after all. Zorro isn’t defeated for a second. He fires back stating that there’s a law against murder, and the law doesn’t say it only applies if the guy you killed was a good guy.

THE YOUNG SAVAGES took a chance. Social message movies always do. Sometimes, they explode onto the scene, like THE DEFIANT ONES (’58), and sometimes they fizzle. Like I said, it’s a crapshoot. But this movie is busting with talent. Obviously, there’s Lancaster but there’s also Telly Savalas, in his first movie role, doing a spectacular job. Savalas remains, in my opinion, one of the most criminally underused actors of his generation. And, of course, Shelley Winters, Dina Merrill and the great Edward Andrews as District Attorney R. Daniel Cole. So, even if the message isn’t your bag, the talent and the procedural should keep you going.

Oh, and one final note, having nothing whatsoever to do with the plot of the movie but concerning an amazing event that happened behind the scenes. It just so happens that Frankenheimer had called on his friend Sydney Pollack to work with the young actors on the set as their coach. Pollack had been working with Sanford Meisner and was already getting a reputation for his skills as an acting coach. Lancaster was so impressed with Pollack’s work with the talent that he told Pollack to follow him to the phone where Lancaster promptly called the then head of Universal, Lew Wasserman. “Lew,” he said, “you need to hire this guy Sydney Pollack as a director. He’s never directed anything but he’s got to be better than the bums you have over there.” Pollack’s goal was to become a stage and screen actor but had enough sense to see the opportunity being handed to him. Wasserman hired him, Pollack became a director and Lancaster went on to work with Frankenheimer four more times, and Pollack three.

#John Frankenheimer #Burt Lancaster #FilmStruck #The Young Savages #Sydney Pollack #Greg Ferrara #StreamLine Blog

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junker-town · 7 years

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Appalachian State vs. Georgia 2017 live stream: Time, TV schedule, and how to watch online

App State’s pulled off upsets before. The Dawgs will try to avoid that fate.

The Georgia Bulldogs host the Appalachian State Mountaineers Saturday. Yup, that’s the same team that ruined Michigan in a season opener 10 years ago.

App State’s no longer the punchy FCS-level powerhouse that it was in 2007. The Mountaineers now have a full FBS roster, and they’ve adjusted well after jumping to college football’s top classification in 2014. Scott Satterfield’s team has won 21 games in the last two years, and it’ll contend in the Sun Belt again this year.

UGA’s an interesting team in 2017. The Dawgs have a mega-talented sophomore quarterback in Jacob Eason, and they’ve got a mega-talented roster in general. Running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel are as good a backfield duo as there is. Tight end Isaac Nauta is great. The defense has room to grow, but it probably will. You don’t hire Kirby Smart to have a so-so defense for more than a year.

Time, TV channel, and streaming info

Time: 6:15 p.m. ET Saturday

Location: Sanford Stadium, Athens, Ga.

TV: ESPN

Streaming: WatchESPN

Odds: Georgia is favored by two touchdowns.

Georgia’s offense was very bad last year, when it finished 93rd in S&P+. How disappointing that was depends on the lens you used to watch it. On the one hand, UGA started a five-star at quarterback and had one of the most talented running backs in the country in Chubb. On the other hand, that QB was a true freshman, and that running back was coming off a brutal injury that cut short his 2015. That means you could talk yourself into any number of outcomes for the 2017 Dawgs, right?

App State’s strength was its defense, which placed 27th in S&P+. The Mountaineers had no problem stopping Sun Belt offenses, and they held Tennessee to 20 points in a Week 1 upset bid that required overtime for the Vols to win. (They did get steamrolled at home against Miami, and the Canes dropped 45 on them in a blowout.) That solid App State defense has a lot of talent back this year. If Georgia’s offense hasn’t already kicked into high gear — which, really, it might not have — this could be a close one.

It’s easy to romanticize App State and assume that the ‘Eers will be dangerous because of what they did a decade ago at the Big House. And if that gets you excited, hey, that’s fun. It’s worth recognizing that UGA does have a massive talent advantage here, and it’d take some weirdness for App State to swing an upset. But Satterfield’s defense is just good enough that it wouldn’t be an outright shock if the ‘Eers could pull it off.

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aion-rsa · 7 years

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The Buy Pile: Welcome To Image Comics’ God Country

WHAT IS THE BUY PILE?

Every week Hannibal Tabu (winner of the 2012 Top Cow Talent Hunt/blogger/novelist/poet/jackass on Twitter/head honcho of Komplicated) grabs a whole lotta comics. These periodicals are quickly sorted (how) into two piles — the “buy” pile (a small pile most weeks, comprised of planned purchases) and the “read” pile (often huge, often including comics that are really crappy but have some value to stay abreast of). Thursday afternoons you’ll be able to get his thoughts (and they’re just the opinions of one guy, so calm down, and here’s some common definitions used in the column) about all of that … which goes something like this …

THE BUY PILE FOR JANUARY 11, 2017

God Country #1 (Image Comics)

Jump from the Read Pile. Whoa. This staggering new idea — and it is that, a wholly new idea — does everything right in a pitch perfect first issue. What seems like a fairly by-the-numbers if effectively presented family drama takes a big turn in the third act and becomes something magnificent. Too much to spoil, but the script from writer Donny Cates delivers characters and a plot that work and feel right while the visuals from Geoff Shaw, Jason Wordie, and John J. Hill effectively makes a desolate section of Texas come alive on the page. Where has this book been hiding? Wow.

It’s a bumpy ride but still pretty good in “Deathstroke” #10

Deathstroke #10 (DC Comics)

Warning: this issue signals a chance for this series to lose its “buy on sight” status. There were some solid developments in small doses — Rose Wilson using her gifts to bond with her mother’s relatives and a flashback for the titular character — but the story wasn’t a single cohesive narrative and meandered too restlessly. There was a lot to enjoy, but this issue didn’t stand up to the series’ standards. Had this been read before purchasing, it would be an honorable mention, so let’s see if it can find its way back to greatness next issue.

Harlem’s heating up in “Power Man and Iron Fist” #12

Power Man And Iron Fist #12 (Marvel Comics)

Despite the super powers and sometimes spectacular (or in Iron Fist’s case, laughable) costumes, this is a crime comic done so well. Three rival groups — the Black Cat and Piranha Jones on one hand, the formerly dead teen genius Alex Wilder on a second and albino crime lord Tombstone as a third — are all vying for control of the criminal underworld in Harlem. Along the way, the innocent became victims of the system and the guilty saw their crimes washed away, all with two best buds caught in the middle. David Walker’s script allows everyone a moment to shine in a harmonic smoothness that makes this book a joy to read. The visuals from Sanford Greene, Lee Loughridge and Clayton Cowles are rough hewn but fitting for the highly kinetic, rough and tumble city streets. This book is a joy to read and almost Shakespearean in its machinations.

Get into the Wayback Machine for a secret origin in “The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl” #16

Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #16 (Marvel Comics)

The origin issue is a staple in comics, and with her 25th anniversary as a character (wow!) we look back at the literal origins of Doreen Green, who didn’t have to wait until puberty to begin her climb into awesomeness. From what could be the most awesome five-year-old birthday party ever (apologies to the children of this columnist) to celebrations of her birthday throughout the years this wonderfully exposed not only her great character development but also her longtime relationship with her squirrel friend Monkey Joe (no idea why he’s called that). Ryan North turns in another winning script (with Will Murray, Squirrel Girl’s creator) and the cartoony, kinetic stylings of Erica Henderson, Rico Renzi and Travis Lanham (with a Steve Ditko sketch in there, too) deliver big time.

WHAT’S THE PROGNOSIS?

Even in the sole challenge, there were high points, plus that great jump from Image, so that’s a good thing …

THIS WEEK’S READ PILE

Honorable Mentions: Stuff worth noting, even if it’s not good enough to buy

“Occupy Avengers” #3 was very close to making it home as the chemistry and banter between characters was as engaging as the clean, gorgeous artwork. Unfortunately, we were all having such a good time making new friends that the plot didn’t keep up, lacking story meat when push came to shove. Very close and the first two issues were stellar, so this will likely pick up steam next issue.

“Doctor Who The Eleventh Doctor Year Three” #1 had a lot of charm and started strong but didn’t finish or tell a complete story, as if it never had any intentions of being a single installment. Enjoyable until it was frustrating.

If the changes in Victor Creed last longer than this crossover, “Uncanny X-Men” #17 might be worth noting. As it was, too many red shirts fell and too much monologuing from Sabretooth made this a little emo even amongst all the bloodshed.

“Green Valley” #4 was running a little too slowly for its own good, but answered a number of questions about the nature of the threat and did some solid character development.

“Captain America Steve Rogers” #9 succeeded largely in its flashbacks, giving the cosmic cube-powered retcon real resonance and gravity. It failed mightily in its cover-advertised “Trial of Maria Hill,” which had procedural, scientific and logical flaws big enough to fly a helicarrier through (unless Everett K. Ross is just a really bad lawyer). This gets closer to finding its ground, but hasn’t made it there yet.

The “Meh” Pile Not good enough to praise, not bad enough to insult, they just kind of happened … “Titans” #7, “Ninjak” #23, “Deadpool” #24, “All-Star Batman” #6, “Foolkiller” #3, “Dungeons And Dragons Frost Giant’s Fury” #1, “Guardians Of The Galaxy” #16, “Hard Case Crime The Assignment” #1, “Totally Awesome Hulk” #14, “Detective Comics” #948, “Spider-Man Deadpool” #13, “Birthright” #21, “Flash” #14, “Spider-Man” #12, “Hard Case Crime Triggerman” #4, “Jessica Jones” #4, “Doctor Who The Tenth Doctor Year Three” #1, “Khaal” #1, “Rocket Raccoon” #2, “Hal Jordan And The Green Lantern Corps” #12, “James Bond Felix Leiter” #1, “Justice League Power Rangers” #1, “Silk” #16, “Samurai Brothers In Arms” #5, “Uncanny Avengers” #19, “Wonder Woman” #14, “E.V.I.L. Heroes” #4, “All-New Wolverine” #16, “Red Hood And The Outlaws” #6, “Deep” #1, “Mighty Thor” #15, “Suicide Squad” #9, “Assassin’s Creed Awakening” #3, “Superwoman” #6, “Flash Gordon Kings Cross” #3, “Motro” #3, “Violent Love” #3, “Supergirl” #5, “Marvel Universe Guardians Of The Galaxy” #16, “Mega Princess” #3, “Spawn” #269, “Groo Fray Of The Gods” #4, “Scooby Apocalypse” #9, “Savage Dragon” #219, “Namesake” #3, “Doctor Strange And The Sorcerers Supreme” #4, “New Super-Man” #7, “Amazing Spider-Man Renew Your Vows” #3, “Doctor Who The Third Doctor” #4, “Ms. Marvel” #14, “Justice League Of America Vixen Rebirth” #1, “Motor Crush” #2, “Inhumans Vs X-Men” #2, “Gotham Academy Second Semester” #5, “Red Sonja” #1, “Star Wars Poe Dameron” #10, “Earth 2 Society” #20, “Invisible Republic” #14, “Batgirl And The Birds Of Prey” #6, “Great Lakes Avengers” #4, “Doctor Who The Twelfth Doctor Year Two” #13, “Action Comics” #971, “Daredevil” #15.

No, just … no … These comics? Not so much … … what? Nothing awful? That’s fantastic!

SO, HOW BAD WAS IT?

Good to have nothing to complain about.

WINNERS AND LOSERS

Call this week a winner with that brilliant new idea and nothing to truly be angry about.

THE BUSINESS

The writer of this columnist will be a special guest at Black Comix Arts Festival in San Francisco, making a number of new announcements about comics projects for 2017.

The writer of this column isn’t just a jerk who spews his opinions — he writes stuff too. A lot. Like what? You can get “The Crown: Ascension” and “Faraway,” five bucks a piece, or spend a few more dollars and get “New Money” #1 from Canon Comics, the rambunctious tale of four multimillionaires running wild in Los Angeles, a story in “Watson and Holmes Volume 2” co-plotted by “2 Guns” creator Steven Grant, two books from Stranger Comics — “Waso: Will To Power” and the sequel “Waso: Gathering Wind” (the tale of a young man who had leadership thrust upon him after a tragedy), or “Fathom Sourcebook” #1, “Soulfire Sourcebook” #1, “Executive Assistant Iris Sourcebook” #1 and “Aspen Universe Sourcebook,” the official guides to those Aspen Comics franchises. Love these reviews? It’d be great if you picked up a copy. Hate these reviews? Find out what this guy thinks is so freakin’ great. There’s free sample chapters too, and all proceeds to towards the care and maintenance of his kids … oh, and to buy comic books, of course. There’s also a bunch of great stuff — fantasy, superhero stuff, magical realism and more — available from this writer on Amazon. What are you waiting for? Go buy a freakin’ book already!

Got a comic you think should be reviewed in The Buy Pile? If we get a PDF of a fairly normal length comic (i.e. “less than 64 pages”) by no later than 24 hours before the actual issue arrives in stores (and sorry, we can only review comics people can go to stores and buy), we guarantee the work will get reviewed, if remembered. Physical comics? Geddouttahere. Too much drama to store with diminishing resources. If you send it in more than two days before comics come out, the possibility of it being forgotten increases exponentially. Oh, you should use the contact form as the CBR email address hasn’t been regularly checked since George W. Bush was in office. Sorry!

The post The Buy Pile: Welcome To Image Comics’ God Country appeared first on CBR.com.

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