Pablo Picasso - LearningToGo Theme Pack
Pablo Picasso - LearningToGo Theme Pack
10 themes of Pablo Picasso for the Pocket PC Today Screen
-
Caruso: A Man & His Music - The Young Caruso [1951] (NTSC)
Under Fire [1983] 
Under Fire was one of a trio of notable films from the mid-1980s about journalists involved in Third World war zones. While certainly a lesser film than Salvador (1986) or The Killing Fields (1984) Roger Spottiswoode’s movie is still a commendable work from a director who later brought a similarly political edge to Noriega: God’s Favourite (2000).
Nick Nolte plays an American photo-journalist covering the civil war in Nicaragua in 1979, finding himself caught in a dangerous and cynical web of duplicity and self-interest, as well as falling in love with fellow American, Claire (Joanna Cassidy). Nolte gradually uncovers the degree of his own government’s involvement with the corrupt regime, and inevitably ends up crossing the line from neutral observer to helping the rebel cause.
Under Fire is in essence a reworking of Casablanca, especially as Gene Hackman’s network newsman proves to be Cassidy’s ex-lover, yet thanks to an intelligent script, strong support from Ed Harris as a mercenary and some genuinely unnerving and frightening scenes of the random chaos of war, it’s one which packs a powerful punch. Jerry Goldsmith’s evocative score is among his best of the 1980s.
On the DVD: Under Fire is presented in an anamorphic 1.77:1 transfer which is very clean and clear with minimal grain. The well-mixed Dolby Pro-logic soundtrack is highly effective, if not so startling as a 5.1 track. Beyond multi-language and subtitle options, the only extra is the original trailer, which is also anamorphically enhanced. –Gary S Dalkin
List Price: ?12.99
Amazon Price: ?6.97
Used Price: ?2.45
Customer Review: Taking sides
Under Fire is one of the few mainstream American `political’ movies to emerge from the studio system, but along with Missing it’s probably the best. On one level it grafts a traditional romantic triangle onto its story of American war correspondents in Nicaragua gradually finding themselves drawn to taking sides instead of taking pictures, but at least it’s a convincingly grown-up relationship that allows Nick Nolte, Gene Hackman and a never better Joanna Cassidy to really shine. It’s a shame that Cassidy never got more opportunities like this: a last-minute replacement for Julie Christie, she’s extraordinarily good here. The film also boasts an impressive supporting cast, with a star-making turn from Ed Harris as an amiable but deadly mercenary a standout, although Jean-Louis Tritignant’s deceptively unsubtle CIA man gives him a run for his money (not so much for his performance - his English was non-existent and it’s obvious he’s learned his lines phonetically - but because he has most of the film’s best dialog). Extremely well directed by Roger Spottiswoode with a promise he never really fulfilled, it’s an impressive albeit partisan portrait of a country decaying in the last stages of revolution and also boasts what is possibly Jerry Goldsmith’s finest score (which is saying quite something). Impressive stuff. The DVD’s only extra is the superb theatrical trailer, although it does boast a decent widescreen transfer.
Customer Review: A film with new resonance
Set in civil war torn Nicaragua where the US was propping up the regime of a Dictator (Antonio Somoza) against a popular left wing uprising. Stars Nick Nolte Joanna Cassidy and Gene Hackman. The heroes all make poor choices and are flawed, for both good and bad reasons. The journalists become committed to one side in the conflict, and in this action harm those they wish to support, and yet ultimately an honest piece of reporting does produce change. Thus it addresses the eternal dilemma for journalists who must ask whether to remain passive or become active - record or participate? Now probably - “suppress or report”? Its resonance is the hypocrisy and arrogance of US foreign policy - then supporting South American Juntas through the 1980s and 1990s - and now… It is based upon a true story - the the death of journalist Bill Stewart at the hands of a Nicarguan soldier was filmed by a TV crew and really did change the course of a Civil war - but not before countless “less important” deaths. The film is driven along by an excellent soundtrack, which sucks you in as the tension builds. Weaved in this is an inevitable but credible love story. The leads all give strong performances. I think this film has been rather overlooked - perhaps it said too many things the American public did not want to hear. Better than Salvador. A policitical drama and love story about a murder set in a war! Worth a watch.
The Quest for Culture
Egypt Today - Here you’ll find Safar Khan (Tel: +2 (02) 735-3314), Picasso (Tel: +2 (02) 736-7544) and the Zamalek Art Gallery (Tel: +2 (02) 735-1240), all a stone’s throw away from one another.
Don’t erase ‘Be Kind Rewind’
Minnesota Daily - The settings portray this off-center reality with trinkets that recall Picasso-era surrealism. One movie prop, a guitar made out of two old tires and a bar, is practically lifted from one of the painter’s own compositions. Gondry isn’t afraid to get
Picasso: The Man and His Work - Part 2 (1938-1973) Winner of…
Cannes Film Festival Official Selection
V.I.E.W. VIDEO is proud to present this enhanced video anthology of Pablo Picasso, considered by many to be the greatest painter of our time, and perhaps of all time. This unique film and the many bonus features reveal many unknown aspects of his work and personality and contains over 600 of his works, many never seen in public. Furthermore, these are the last pictures ever taken of Picasso during his lifetime.
HOW THIS SERIES WAS MADE:
Edward Quinn, photographer and filmmaker, had the complete collaboration of Picasso, at work and at play. Filmed where Picasso lived and worked, Quinn was allowed to do as he liked, provided that Picasso was free to do what he wanted. Using intimate and exclusive home movies and photos, Quinn has created a screenplay showing Picasso as if he were going through the scrapbook of his life. With many flashback sequences showing the mutations and evolution of his work in progress, we chronologically follow his works and the episodes of his life in parallel.
PART 2 (1938-1973)
Through the war years and life on the French Riviera, Picasso’s work moves on to include ceramics, sculpture, pottery and graphics. The period from 1946 to 1973 is made up primarily of home movies, showing his relationships with his children and the women in his life, and emphasizing the enormous amount of work accomplished by Picasso during his last 20 years. We observe Picasso, 90 years old, working on a copper plate engraving as we follow the progress and changes made through 6 different stages.
Customer Review: Low quality video and sound, but unique
The quality of video and sound of this DVD set is low like of its VHS original of 1986, but its unique scenes showing Picasso are not available else. Remastering would be beneficial. “Picasso: Magic Sex Death” is by far a better choice.
Customer Review: Candy Coated
Picasso: The Man and His Work (Parts 1 and 2) is a candy coated version of a the life and work of a volatile genius. Little depth is given to the relationships with the women in his life - just the vague notion that used them as models. Some of the film was repetitive or went on too long, some important aspects of the work are not even mentioned. I had a hard time deciding who would be an appropriate audience; adults who have had any art history will be disappointed in the glossing of reality, high school students will bored by the repetition and younger kids will lose interest.
