Displaying items by tag: Denis Quaid

WAR MACHINE

Australia/US, 2026, 106 minutes, Colour.

Alan Ritchson, Stephan James, Blake Richardson, Dennis Quaid, Esai Morales, Jai Courtney, Alex King, Keinan Lonsdale, James Beaufort.

Directed by Patrick Hughes.

This adventure works quite well – and has a surprising development in the plot.

The film was written by the director, Australian Patrick Hughes, in collaboration with actor, James Beaufort, who appears in this film as 23. Hughes made an impact with his first film, an action drama, Red Hill. In Hollywood he has been successful with Expendables 3, and the entertaining blend of action and comedy in The Hitman’s Wife and The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, featuring Ryan Reynolds, added action film, The Man from Toronto with Woody Harrelson.

This is an American/Australian coproduction, filmed in Australia. And the star is Alan Ritchson, who has successfully embodied Lee Child’s hero, Reacher, in the television series. This film offers him more of the same kind of character.

The action opens in Afghanistan, coming to the help of his brother, Jai Courtney, bombing, death, one brother carrying the other to safety and winning a medal, the ambition to become Rangers. At the training camp, headed by Dennis Quaid and Esai Morales, the select group is put through all kinds of training tests, elimination so that only the best remain. And they are all called by numerals, the hero becoming 81. The other sympathetic character is 7, played by Stephan James.

And, then the film changes, science fiction with the appearance of an impregnable is war machine which stalks the squad out on a training mission, 81 as leader. A great deal of combat, disaster for the trip, the pursuit by the war machine through all kinds of rain, the elimination of the trip, 81 and 7 remaining. And 81 discovering a limitation of the war machine and how it might be destroyed – and, on return to camp, the discovery that there has been an invasion from space, the beginning of a war of the worlds.

1. Audience expectations, the title, the action films of the director, the presence of action star, Reacher, Alan Ritchson?
2. The opening, the reality of war in Afghanistan, American troops, the Taliban, attacks? The transition to the rangers training, the officers, selection of men, the detailed exercises and tests? Transition from reality to science fiction, extraterrestrials, confrontations? The war of the worlds and the future?
3. Afghanistan, the two brothers, their bonding, coming to help, the Taliban attack, the brother killed, the other wounded, carrying him on his back? Hospital, medals? His feelings about the alleged heroism when he had collapsed?
4. The two brothers, the ambition to be Rangers? The older brother, joining, the interviews with the authorities, acceptance, 81, the others known by numerals? The details of the training, the issue of underwater and his potential drowning, a loner, not relating well with the other men, and the woman candidate?
5. The squad, the tests, the limits, eliminations, the reading out of numbers? The remainder? Proving themselves?
6. Sheridan and Torres, officers, their expectations, interviews with the men, the eliminations, the confrontations with 81? The discussions, the motivations, his being allowed to stay?
7. The setting up of the mission, 81 as leader, the various members of the squad, 7 and his character, interactions with 81? The different qualities of the other members of the troop? Leadership, talents, subordinate roles?
8. The test going wrong, the death of the backup troops, the weapons and blanks, dilemmas, leadership questions, particular talents, deaths?
9. The war machine, impenetrable, relentless, the attempts to disarmament, the continued efforts on the troop, the pursuits, 81, 7 and his wounds, carrying him, the pursuit down the river?
10. 81, his abilities, tough, discerning, the confrontations with the machine, finding the possibilities for destruction, the rocks, the system?
11. Eventually returning, with 7, 7 as personable, knowing the story about 81 and his brother?
12. The authorities, the world situation, the attack, some confidence with knowing how it was possible to destroy the war machines?

REAGAN

US, 2024, 141 minutes, Colour.

Dennis Quaid, Penelope Ann Miller, Mena Suvari, Tommy Ragan, Kevin Dillon, Trevor Donovan, Olek Krupa, Alex Sparrow, Robert Davi, Justin Chatwin, Jennifer O'Neill, Dan Lauria, Leslie-Ann Down, Zander Berkeely, C. Thomas Howell, Elya Baskin, Kevin Sorbo, Nick Searcy, Pat Boone.

Directed by Sean McNamara.

In recent decades there have been many cinema portraits of American presidents, particularly Franklin D Roosevelt but, also of Kennedy, Nixon, and the later 20^th century presidents in the portrait of life in the White House, The Butler. It is now the turn of Ronald Reagan.

This is a two hour 20 minutes study of Reagan as a person and his stances as US president. It is been directed by Sean McNamara, noted for some faith and hope films like Soul Surfer. It is definitely a sympathetic presentation of Reagan. For those who admired him, much to enjoy. For those critical of him, an opportunity to give more considered thought in retrospect about his strengths compared with his alleged weaknesses.

The choice to play Reagan is Dennis Quaid and he acquits himself with a blend of the folksy as well as the determined. Penelope Ann Miller plays his strong-minded wife and support, Nancy. There is a rather large supporting cast bringing to life some of his career in Hollywood, Kevin Dillon as Jack L. Warner and, surprisingly, a somewhat unsympathetic portrayal of actress Jane Wyman, his first wife, by Mena Suvari.

The film uses a very interesting device which may or may not please audiences. The framework for looking at Reagan as a person, as an actor, as a politician, is a very earnest Soviet supporter going to interview Victor Petrovich (played by Jon Voight), a long-time analyst of personalities, looking at Reagan over the decades, making reports to the politburo. Throughout the film, then, he is questioned about Reagan and elaborates on how he has studied him for so long, and the conclusions, rather admiring, calling him The Crusader, that he has drawn and presented.

Which means that Victor Petrovich controls the narrative in many ways, staking opinion and leading to flashbacks covering Reagan’s family and childhood, alcoholic father, religious mother, his early talent for public speaking, good memory, sport, radio, actor, then VP of the Screen Actors’ Guild. There is enough detail in these flashbacks to build up a significant portrait of Reagan young.

His life then moves to politics, his reading about communism, his antagonism towards Communist philosophy, his stances against infiltration of the Actors’ Guild, his political ambitions, becoming Governor of California for two terms. And, his initial encounter with actress Nancy Davis, his marrying her and her continued influence and support.

Also covered is the 1976 campaign, the Republican nominee being Gerald Ford, the victory of Jimmy Carter – and then the campaign of 1980, victory, his presidential commitment, the assassination attempt, and his earnest wanting the elimination of nuclear weapons, the outreach to Russia, to Gorbachev, successes and failures in their interactions, final success, his speech at the Berlin wall – and the consequences of its fall and the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Finally, his acknowledgement of his oncoming Alzheimer’s, his life at the ranch, loving horseriding, and the voice-over of his final speech about his future and his mental state. And a great number of photos during the final credits.

Definitely for Reagan fans. A challenge for non-Reagan fans.

1. A portrait of Ronald Reagan, sympathetic and admiring?
2. Audience memories of Ronald Reagan, those who lived through his career and presidency, audiences after Reagan? Favourable? Critical?
3. An overview of American society from the 1920s to the 1990s?
4. The opening, Reagan inaugurated, his speech, pro America, insertion of jokes, jovial? The Secret Service, Rawhide as his codename, the assassination attempt and leaving that sequence till later?
5. The device of introducing Victor Petrovich, his background in providing dossiers, the politburo, the KGB, his studying Reagan and his methods of study, his principles, techniques? The young officer and his patriotic ambitions, interviewing patronage? And the device of perceiving Ronald Reagan’s life through Petrovich’s eyes, his assessment of Reagan, nicknaming him The Crusader? His insights?
6. The selection of sequences to illustrate Reagan’s early life, rural America, alcoholic the genial father, eyes mother, her supporting him, the nickname, Dutch, his reading in church, ability to memorise, bullied but his mother telling him to stand up for himself, sports, radio announcing, reading, ambitions?
7. The selection of sequences for his Hollywood career, his marriage to Jane Wyman, tensions, her success, children, the death of the child of one day, the cemetery sequence, her walking away, the divorce? His film career, some success, B-star? Vice president of the actors union, taking this seriously, wanting to do good, the conversation with Jack L Warner, Harry Sorrell and the Soviet influence in the unions, the hearings of the late 1940s, into the 1950s, Reagan and his stances, ambitions?
8. The encounter with Nancy Davis, in his office, the two names, his being charmed, the evening out, in the restaurant alone, sharing, the horse riding, marriage, children? Her continued support for the next 40 years?
9. The 1960s, political ambitions, the Democrats moving away, Republican, Barry Goldwater, Reagan speeches, making his mark, his wanting to be Governor, campaigning, success? Eight years as governor?
10. Reagan and his reading about communism, the perspective of the 1930s, the discussions with writers like Dalton Trumbo, his attitude at Warner Bros, his speeches, hostility towards communism?
11. And the comments by Victor Petrovich throughout these sequences, his perspectives on Reagan, his intelligence, reading, perspectives, tactics, strategies?
12. The campaign for presidential nomination, competitiveness with Gerald Ford, Ford winning, against Jimmy Carter, his disappointment, the issue of age? Nancy and her support, the quiet years, the ranch, making friends and allies?
13. The 1980 election, his speeches, the attack on Carter? His promises? Success, the portrait of his associates, co-workers, Dayna and his camping on the lawn, his being called in as speechwriter? James Baker, the ethos, George Shultz, Casper Weinberg? The meetings, the Cabinet discussions, the issue of communism? The assassination attempt, Nancy at the hospital, his gradual recovery?
14. The issue of the Cold War, Petrovich’s perceptions and analyses, the sequences with Brezhnev and the other leaders, watching the television, analysing the speeches, the status of the Soviet Union in the 1980s? The building of the Berlin Wall?
15. Reagan, his certain simplicity, seeming naivete, folksy style, with Nancy? The decision to deal with the Russians, the focus on Gorbachev, the first meeting in Geneva, the discussions, the conditions, possibilities, failures? The meeting in Iceland, the entourages, the discussions, friendships, difficulties, aiming for nuclear disarmament?
16. The meetings with Margaret Thatcher, her perspectives, support, calling him a cowboy? The later scene with her acclaim at his success?
17. Re-election, his age, stumbling with the debate with Walter Mondale, his joke about age and referring to Mondale? More opposition taunts, his policies, the criticism about not doing anything for the AIDS epidemic? Nancy and her just say no to drugs campaign?
18. The final years, meetings, his Vice President Bush present at meetings? His sitting at home for the future?
19. Age, retirement, at the Ranch, John and his skill at riding, assigned to ride with the Reagan’s, 10 years, the issue of Alzheimer’s coming on, Nancy and John discussing it, John and his raising the issue, going to the last ride? And the voice-over of Reagan commenting on the onset of Alzheimer’s?
20. The final credits, the recapitulation through photos, the tribute to Reagan, the tribute to Nancy Reagan?
21. A satisfying movie portrait for those who favoured Reagan? An opening out of perspectives for those who did not favour Reagan?

THE SUBSTANCE

US, 2024, 140 minutes, Colour.

Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, Denis Quaid.

Directed by Coralie Fargeat.

The substance is a serious, challenging drama on some key contemporary issues, winner of the Best Screenplay Award at Cannes, 2024. However, it could also be described as “not for the fainthearted”. The Australian government classification is indicative: R18+ ‘High impact violence, blood and gore’.

The film was written and directed by French filmmaker, Coralie Fargeat (whose previous feature film, 2017s Revenge, which treated similar themes with pervasive blood). This film, in fact, was made in Paris but with American key leads. Coralie Fargeat is an angry filmmaker, standing up and strongly assertive for women, targeting the exploitation of the “male gaze” and women’s treatment by sleazy males, here in the television industry and advertising.

To indicate the serious treatment here, this reviewer immediately started to think about Stevenson’s Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, the doctor at home and his experimentation, taking substances, and his public persona, charming but sinister, Mr Hyde. In fact, the director herself has suggested thinking about Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, the ugly ageing portrait at home, the seemingly perennial youthful public figure. And, some reviewers also offer helpful cinema and theatre comparisons, the 1966 Seconds, with Rock Hudson, a banker wanting to start his life again with a new identity and a new face. Another suggestion is the story of the ageing and fading star, Norma Desmond, in Sunset Boulevard.

Star of this film is Demi Moore, 40 years after she began her film career – appearing in this film and her being exposed in so many ways seems a courageous choice on her part. She plays a Jane Fonda like television host of aerobic exercises for women, quite a celebrity, a corridor filled with flattering posters… But, she is 50. She is 20 years over the expected age for such a less celebrity. She has to go. She is involved in a car crash – ironically as she stares at her image being torn down from a boulevard billboard.

While the film has a range of male characters, they are presented as leering, stupid, followers, incompetent… And, at the head, is Dennis Quaid as an over-the-top sleazy television producer. Satirical, maybe, but #Me Too exposes and court cases indicate the elements of truth.

This film runs for 140 minutes so the audience has plenty of time to contemplate what is happening, the ageing star taking the substance, the consequences for her inner self to emerge, physically, thirtysomething mentality and appearance, to take her place. The new self, is Sue, played by Margaret Qualey who is appearing in more and more significant roles in recent years. She is the right age for the male gaze, for audience popularity – and she basks in it only to be the agent of her own downfall. Some of the transformation sequences have their harrowing and startling moments, commentators referring to as “body horror”. But, as with Jekyll and Hyde, there has to be a reckoning, Jekyll becoming a monster, Hyde and his exposure.

Which means that the climax of the film has high monstrous elements, physically, psychologically, violently, a climax and a New Year’s Eve television show where everyone is spattered with the blood of the creatures.

Symbolically, the film opens with a popular star on the Hollywood catwalk of Fame , gradually deteriorating and ignored – and, that is where the film ends, a star is born and dies.

1. The title, the focus, anonymous name, powerful substance program, consequences?
2. The work of the director, angry, targeting the male gaze, portraying ridiculous men, sleazy men? Presenting ambitious women? Glamorous women? Issue of ageing? Public response, television audiences?
3. The plausibility of the plot, the history of bodily enhancements? Consequences, glamorous appearance, ageing, artificiality? Surgeons – but, here, self-and administered procedures? The strict instructions, no deviation?
4. Demi Moore and her career, parallels with her character? No holding back in her performance? Margaret Qualey, young, glamour, success, ambition, ruthlessness, self-centredness?
5. The opening, the Hollywood star, preparing, success, age, people ignoring it, walking over it? Spilling the food? And the return to the star at the end, Elizabeth Sparkle and her face and the prosthetics, disappearing?
6. Elizabeth Sparkle, her story, the parallel with the Jane Fonda row pick programs? At 50, appearance, age, her team, her slogans, the corridor, her portraits? Her being fired, interactions with Harvey? His associates? His sleazy interventions? The impact, the billboard, taking her down, the car crash, no injuries, the assistant, his insinuations, the address on her coat?
7. Elizabeth and her moral stance, 50, her career, vanity, pride, her home in luxury, the big poster? Her angers, the quest for her successor? The maid, cleaning, boning the agency, the number, going, the backyard, stooping to go in, her locker, material, taking it home, the audience seeing the implications? Her decision to go ahead?
8. The Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde theme? The director and her reference to the Picture of Dorian Grey? 21^st-century versions, female versions? The same issues?
9. The drama of the transformation, the frank presentation of the bodies, naked, vulnerable, the emergence of Sue? The seven days for each of them to live, the transfer and’s? The rules? No deviation?
10. Sue, going to the studio, with Harvey, the two men and the auditions and their male gaze, criticisms of the women are auditioning, the response to Sue? Harvey and his excitement, the executives? The program, the rehearsals, the exercises, her style, the supporting cast, her looking at the audience? Success? Provision to be absent for a week to care for her mother? Harvey and his enthusiasm? The success of the program? The risks, deviating, the consequences for Elizabeth and her finger?
11. The success of weeks for each of the characters, Elizabeth collapsing, in the house, the gift of the French cookbook and the recipes, watching television, her anger with Sue? Going to collect the supplies? The discussions with the anonymous voice? Sue, success, summoned to Harvey, her fears, the offer of hosting the New Year’s Eve show?
12. Sue, her life, the men, sex, Oliver across the way? The consequences for her, drinking, the deviations?
13. Elizabeth, her anger, the temptation to stop the program, her motivation for not going through that, her change of mind, part of the process, stopping?
14. Sue, the New Year’s Eve, the dress, Harvey and the executives? The style of the show? The previous incident with a lump in her buttock, drawing it out? The restroom, her teeth, the body degenerating, in the corridor, smiling without opening her mouth? Her fleeing, going home, the confrontation with Elizabeth, the injections, the viciousness of the fight, Elizabeth and her age, monstrosity? Her being bashed?
15. The transformation in Sue, the prosthetics, the ugliness, the faces, Elizabeth and Sue, going to the studio, Elizabeth mask, the audience reaction, the revelation, the consequences, the crowds, the men denouncing her as monster, the violence, the vast spattering of blood?
16. The fact that the two women wore one, depending on each other, the final collapse, Elizabeth and her face, on the Hollywood star, disappearing? And the cleaners coming over it?
17. The description of the film as a horror film, as body horror, the classic allusions, the two aspects of the one personality, the public charm, the private monstrosity?