FilmMattic

Once Upon a Time in the West       As a Scorsese loyalist, much like any made man, I can never pay respect to a film that robbed a Best Director Oscar ( 1980 Academy Awards ) from Marty for his tremendous work on Raging Bull. The criminality of the Academy's heinous decision wreaks of the sordid criminality present in Henry Hill's breach of omertá in Goodfellas . The mafia doesn't look too kindly on Ordinary People . I'm sorry Robert Redford. As much as I love your work, especially in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, I can't grant you my "O" spot. Kurt Russell's performance in Overboard is priceless, but the film is far from flawless. For the record, I'm a big fan of Steven Soderbergh's Ocean's films (especially the first), but they don't garner placement either. So that leaves us with a double whammy of Once Upon a Times from Sergio Leone— Once Upon a Time in the West and Once Upon a Time in America— the irreverent One Flew Over...

Frankly, My Dear, I Give A Damn (*Spoilers*)       I hate to pull a Ruben Studdard with what will be a litany of " I'm Sorry For's, " but I must apologize for my four-millionth GWH  reference. Just as Will Hunting steals Sean Maguire's great line, "I have to go see about a girl," I too have to steal an infinitely more famous line to properly title my review. Also, I'm sincerely sorry to all the Clark Gable enthusiasts (I'm certainly one of them). And I apologize for the anachronistic usage (I mean, it's not like I'm directing Your Highness) . If you drop me like a bad habit and stop reading from this point forward (please don't because this short film deserves your attention), I'd understand. I'm sorry, but the power of the banner compels me.