"Snakes....why'd it have to be snakes?"

Alright, my little film buffs, I've got another AFI Project update for you! Just a reminder also that tonight, the Red River Theatres of Concord will continue their mystery film series with The Spiral Staircase at 7:00 p.m. I'll be there to watch all the spooky fun, so come on by! Margarita's Restaurant will be providing the snacks! Okay, now into my last round of films:

A Clockwork Orange: Ummm....wow. It's not easy to find words to describe this 1971, Stanley Kubrick film, but I'll try: violent, graphic, surreal, and laden with dark humor. This film was shocking when it first came out and still manages to be, even now. Malcolm McDowell plays Alex, the leader of a vicious London street gang who seek out trouble every day. Though they do rob many of their victims, that's never the main intent. Plain and simple, they love violence, whether its through the brutal beatings of homeless people or the raping of women. They even beat each other up! This film was an examination of "violent for violent's sake" crimes that were starting to appear with increasing frequency, not only in Britian, but in the US as well. When he's sent to prison for the "accidental" killing of a woman with a phallic-shaped sculpture, Alex unknowingly becomes a guinea pig for a government program, whose aim is to eliminate aggressive tendancies from violent criminals. The method seems fairly simple - clamp their eyes open as they are forced to watch scences of brutality (concentration camp victims, beatings, etc.). It works, but as with everything, it ultimately backfires. Be warned, this is a tough film to watch, but its also a sharp commentary on government, media, and youth culture.

Unforgiven: This 1992 film had a stellar cast, including Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman, the late Richard Harris, and Clint Eastwood, who also directed the film. It won four Oscars, including Best Director and Best Picture. So, now that I've said all of that, I have to say that I really wasn't crazy about this film. It's one of those where you just watch and keep trying to get into it, but it never happens. The film centers around Eastwood's character, an aging gunslinger named William Munny who is hired for one last job, to avenge a prostitute who is savagely attacked by a couple of cowboys. That's really all I retained from this film. Who knows? I maybe just wasn't in the right frame of mind to properly enjoy it, but I gotta say, I wouldn't see it again.

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?: Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor are phenomenal in this 1966 film based on the Edward Albee play of the same title. Playing an aging, sarcastic college professor named George and his boozy, snide wife Martha, Burton and Taylor play off each other like a couple of professional boxers...and I have to say, I felt pretty beat up after watching the events of their night unfold. George and Martha decide to have a new professor and his wife over for a pleasant evening of conversation and cocktails (mostly cocktails....okay, lots and lots of cocktails! This movie is practically drenched with scotch as the characters drink their way through George and Martha's cutting back-and-forth remarks, shouting matches, slamming doors, and even physical fights). Their poisonous personalities soon start to infect their poor sweet and bewildered guests, and sadly, they are soon sucked into this tornado of repressed anger, unrealized dreams, and painful memories. By the end of it, the guests are swoony and unstable from all the alcohol and events of the evening and you find yourself feeling the same way as well. The cast consists of only four people, but they are all wonderful, and Burton and Taylor are just brilliant. The dialogue alone is worth quoting: "Martha, in my mind you're buried in cement right up to the neck. No, up to the nose, it's much quieter."

Raiders of the Lost Ark: This was the film that launched the Indiana Jones franchise, and for many, was the best of the bunch, since it teamed up Steven Spielberg and George Lucas (plus a damn fine-looking Harrison Ford!) There's so much going on in this film, its kind of impossible to summarize, but even though this movie was made 27 years ago (can you believe it!?) its still a lot of fun to watch. I have to say that I'm kind of surprised this film is only rated PG, because its got quite a bit of scary stuff in it, even though it may look "cheesy" by today's standards (like the horribly bad wax figure of a dead Alfred Molina in the opening scenes - hah!). But there is tons of action, snappy dialogue, and some great comedic moments...my favorite has to be the scene in the open market with Ford and a villian wielding a rather large sword - see it - I'm not going to say any more!

Next in my queue: Network, Cabaret, American Graffiti