Jeff Goldblum, Geena Davis and John Getz in the 1986 David Cronenberg movie ‘The Fly’

In returning to a somewhat more graphic sense of science fiction and horror film coupled together in movie, we once again look to an Airport Friend favorite with Canadian David Cronenberg‘s The Fly (1986). The 1986 film is loosely based on the George Langelaan 1957 short story The Fly and movie The Fly (1958) that followed.

(Jeff Goldblum as Seth Brundle in the David Cronenberg movie The Fly).

The somewhat sympathetic protagonist of The Fly is Seth Brundle, as portrayed by Jeff Goldblum. Brundle develops a teleportation means that would transform the notion of transportation, if only he could make it work with living beings. We meet Brundle at a science conference where journalist Veronica ‘Ronnie’ Quaife is assigned to cultivate interesting content for a scientific magazine.

(Geena Davis as Veronica ‘Ronnie’ Quaife in the David Cronenberg movie The Fly).

Geena Davis stars as Ronnie Quaife, initially judging Brundle as a socially awkward scientist who doesn’t get outside the laboratory all that much. Quaife agrees to look closer, receiving modest interest from her magazine editor and former love interest for spending time cultivating a magazine feature on Brundle and his work. The notion of the magazine feature and personal stories between Quaife, Brundle and editor Stathis Borans run parallel to the larger narrative that gives the movie its name.

(John Getz as Stathis Borans in the David Cronenberg movie The Fly).

John Getz portrayed Stathis Borans. Borans perhaps is drawn in the harshest light consistently through The Fly, yet his story serves the needs of the journey that is the horrific transformation of Seth Brundle from awkward, curious, and jaded scientist into a morally damaged monster that exists somewhere between human and housefly. That transformation for Seth Brundle initially engenders curiosity among ladies. Initially enhanced human characteristics bring about a pair of romantic evenings, including with Tawny.

(Joy Boushel as Tawny in the David Cronenberg movie The Fly).

Joy Boushel portrays Tawny. The role that Tawny played feels like it could have been expanded to run parallel to a compelling storyline with Ronnie Quaife. The interaction between Tawny and Ronnie is compelling, and theoretically opened an avenue to further installments of the moral considerations that drives story of The Fly to its full resolution. Suffice it to say that further exploration of the Tawny storyline, along with the other characters relevant to her, were not necessary in resolving the core questions raised with David Cronenberg‘s treatment of The Fly, in my opinion.

(Director David Cronenberg acting as a gynecologist in the David Cronenberg movie The Fly).

The transformation and resolution for Seth Brundle through the course of The Fly is perhaps the starkest part of the film in total, though the storyline surrounding questions of life, death and quality of life for Ronnie Quaife and Stathis Borans carry relevant heft as well. The graphic quality that brought many of these questions to resolution were a bit much for Lynn, my better half and viewing partner for this film. There is substance to this story for those of a mind to watch, though maybe The Fly is not for everyone. I give The Fly as presented by David Cronenberg 3.75-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.

Matt – Wednesday, October 27, 2021

Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck and the film ‘The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford’

A recent conversation with Airport Friend and others brought me to a Western directed by Andrew Dominik set in the aftermath of the American Civil War. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007) includes true characters from the history of the United States, including outlaw Jesse James, criminal Robert Ford, and others. This blog post highlights the movie and offers a rating on whether you should tune in.

(From left, Mary-Louise Parker as Zee James, Brooklynn Proulx as Mary James, Dustin Bollinger as Tim James and Brad Pitt as Jesse James in the film The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford).

The core family of Jesse James, as portrayed by Brad Pitt, included Mary-Louise Parker as Zee James as well as the children James and Mary. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford shows Jesse James to ostensibly be a caring and engaged father with his kids, as additions to the leader of thieving outlaws that he also was. A part of the crew when Robert Ford introduces himself into the fray was Robert Ford‘s brother, Charley Ford.

(From left, Casey Affleck as Robert Ford and Sam Rockwell as Charley Ford in the film The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford).

Casey Affleck portrays Robert Ford whereas Sam Rockwell portrays Charley Ford. Charley Ford is the elder brother of Robert, which proved to be part of the way Robert Ford was introduced to the outlaws. Robert’s initiative with the brother of Jesse James, namely outlaw Frank James, played a part.

(From left, Sam Shepard as Frank James and Garret Dillahunt as Ed Miller in the film The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford).

The notion of family grows through the telling of the movie The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. Frank and Jesse James were legends in their own rights, which were parts of the credibility and backstory many viewers brought into this film. The brothers had mutual trust and respect, though the mechanics of that story weren’t the feature narrative of this film. The relationship of Jesse James with the band of outlaws, including Ed Miller as portrayed by Garret Dillahunt, proves to have significance.

(From left, Paul Schneider as Dick Liddil and Jeremy Renner as Robert Woodson ‘Wood’ Hite in the film The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford).

Jeremy Renner played Robert Woodson ‘Wood’ Hite, first cousin to the James brothers in film. Dick Liddil, as played by Paul Schneider, joins in the story in furtherance of the background story for Jesse James and Robert Ford. Comic relief as well as that backstory were the relevant takeaways I made for the presence of Liddil and Hite. Without giving things away, and generally thinking audience’s can infer as they please from the titles of movies, I perhaps have pointed you to an important dramatic thrust for the film.

(From left, film director and screenwriter Andrew Dominik with Brad Pitt on location for the film The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford).

I appreciate the film The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, which works hard to establish mood through narrative and cinematic storytelling. Music, imagery, and camera angles all contributed to the move the notion of Western away from some of the conventional movie tropes that accompany the genre. Addressing whether the proposed assassination was in fact cowardly, and the perceptions of some key characters within the storyline helped. How the final threads came together were weaker for me than I would have preferred, though I do like the path Andrew Dominik took in getting us to what finished fully. I rate The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford at 3.75-stars on a scale of one-to-five.

Matt – Saturday, October 10, 2020