tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294499213897153104.post1534423057391206002..comments2024-03-29T09:23:53.797-05:00Comments on The Signal Watch: Western Watch: Silverado (1985)The Leaguehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836241071795980225noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294499213897153104.post-21013756422680781052018-02-01T17:49:24.698-06:002018-02-01T17:49:24.698-06:00Oh, no doubt Dennehy is relishing the performance,...Oh, no doubt Dennehy is relishing the performance, and I certainly appreciate it. Maybe it's a personal thing, but when Dennehy puts on his bad guy hat, he just gets under my skin. I thought the same thing about him in First Blood. Strangely, after perusing his IMDB page, he hasn't played the villain all that often. I guess those performances just stood out for me. He also played John Wayne Gacy on screen. Yeesh.<br /><br />I just noticed I left "(dog)" in that quote. I had a clunky sentence before the quote, which I deleted, that referenced the fact that when my dog comes to me to snuggle I often say to my wife, "Can't you see this dog loves me?" <br />Jake Shorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00124378230594689452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294499213897153104.post-45854014400207510752018-02-01T14:40:59.464-06:002018-02-01T14:40:59.464-06:00I am very glad to have gotten you fired up to watc...I am very glad to have gotten you fired up to watch this one again! I am very much in alignment, I guess I'll disagree on the Cobb part. Sort of. At this late date when i watch the movie, I can't help but enjoy watching Dennehy play the character to the hilt. And Cobb, sonuvabutch that he is, is enjoying the hell out of being a terrible person in this town. And, sorta, that has it's own charm. I will agree that he's not charming to anyone else in the film - there's no tension there or confusion about what the relationships are - but, you can tell Dennehy is relishing the role. And the scene where he explains the bit about the dog and Paden wraps up the story... just perfect. The Leaguehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04836241071795980225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294499213897153104.post-20017903495774683422018-02-01T13:58:30.111-06:002018-02-01T13:58:30.111-06:00Dude. This such a great film. Thank you for givi...Dude. This such a great film. Thank you for giving the respect it so richly deserves. This movie is conspicuously absent from Top 10 western lists, and I cannot fathom why.<br /><br />It features a superb ensemble cast, in which everyone gets to, and does shine. I mean, there is not a single less than great performance. It's remarkable.<br /><br />The script is fantastic. You are spot on about Lawrence Kasdan not getting the respect he deserves. He is such a great screenwriter, I cannot believe he hasn't gotten more work over the years.<br /><br />The score is iconic. The New Mexico in winter scenery is eye candy. At the conclusion of the opening scene, there's that great shot of Emmett stepping outside as the camera takes in the whole lanscape... man, it's a great shot.<br /><br />I know it's a lot of superlatives for this film, but if you haven't seen it, you a need to go out and rent it RIGHT NOW. It's the ensemble western The Magnificent Seven only wishes it could be. <br /><br />Something must be said about Brian Dennehy. He is so gifted at playing villains, I cannot think of a role outside of Tommy Boy and Cocoon where isn't one. Unlike so many "great" Hollywood villains, who you kind of relish and even like on screen, Dennehy has the ability to make you genuinely despise him. I know everyone loves Heath Ledger's Joker peformance, and rightly so. But did you really hate him? What about Hannibal Lecter? Despite their evil natures, there is a degree of charm to these villains which makes us enjoy their over the top, sometimes preening, peformances. I'm not sure many of these actors are willing to make themselves that hateable. Dennehy does not suffer this hesitation. His Sheriff Cobb is such a loathsome character, you count the moments hoping for justice. I wonder if this affected his career, because he really is first class actor.<br /><br />Speaking of underused actors, Kevin Cline is every bit as likeable as Dennehy is odious. He has a nice arc in the film, and I love how the movie never betrays the story or the characters by trying to force "satisfying" moments like Paden's relationship with Arquette. "Hannah's a smart, pretty woman, but <br />she's got a hard idea for living."<br /><br />The film is just filled with one great line, one great scene after another. The opening one I mentioned, Paden attempting to retrieve his horse, Mal's attempt to get a drink in the saloon, the jail break, "You're wearing my hat"....<br /><br />My favorite line is from the scene where Paden is reunited with his horse. As it nuzzles him...<br /><br />Paden: Can't you see this horse(dog) loves me?<br /><br />Calvary Sgt: I had a gal do that to me once. It didn't make her my wife.<br /><br />So good. I'm watching it tonight.<br />Jake Shorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00124378230594689452noreply@blogger.com