Based on the 1969 novel by Mario Puzo, The Godfather was directed by Francis Ford Coppola, with the screenplay written by Mario Puzo, Francis Ford Coppola, and Robert Towne, although Towne's name doesn't appear in the credits. It became of one of the most potent film projects ever and oozed talent with Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall and Diane Keaton bringing the most powerful Mafia family to life right from scene one. For the audience it was 175 minutes of jaw-dropping awe and an experience that would live with each individual. I remember clearly the rich, dusky-dark rooms where Don Corleone, played with rare excellence by Marlon Brando, prowled and freely issued death as easily as Julius Caesar would send a slave to the lions. It was real and I breathed in every second hardly daring to blink. And then a scene would appear where Don Corleone played with his grandchildren like every grandfather throughout the world and the audience is forced to try and understand and struggle and find themselves trapped, but willing prisoners in Mario Puzo's and Francis Ford Coppola's world... Pure cinema magic...

Godfather II & III proved equally as potent and the Corleone family became a part of our history. Al Pacino became the next Don and we watched his brutal life grow old and we cried for him, because, in a secret place we tuck away deep inside, we loved him and choose to ignore the fact he has become an instrument of death. The same for his father, who was played as a young man with true brilliance by Robert De Niro. We had grown to love these men like the Italian families they ruled with the iron fist of fear loved them. At the end of The Godfather III we understood and mourned their passing into history. I particularly like the scenes with Robert De Niro playing the young Don Corleone. I remember thinking as I watch the young Don Corleone's life of crime unfolding, he is a good man with a good heart in a world of bad men with cruel hearts... I think maybe there is a point there. Don Corleone was a victim of his own culture as were, may be still are, many young Italian men... Or am I just making excuses because I have been seduced by great storytelling? But isn't that the point? In watching these great films we enjoy shared experience and we learn much about ourselves.

Tim Rees

My novel Raw Nerve is available on Kindle Click here.

And you can read my appraisal of all the Hollywood Greats on my Hollywood film stars website Click here.

Rambo First Blood: Part 1

If you really twisted my arm and told me I could only watch one film again ever, I think I would choose First Blood, the first Rambo film. The script is loosely taken from Davis Morrell's novel of the same name and First Blood, shot with grainy reality, and superbly directed by Ted Kotcheff, sporned four more "big budget" Rambo films, but, in my opinion, the big budget follow ups lack the raw grit, and gripping storyline of First Blood, except, perhaps, number four, which is a truly tremendous film.

Sylvester Stallone portrays John Rambo with deep understanding and from the introduction to Rambo the vagrant to Rambo the brutally efficient Special Forces soldier the audience never loses empathy with Rambo the man. He is a peaceful man who arrives in a town where he meets Sheriff Will Teasle played by Brian Dennehy. Teasle is a bully, only this bully has picked on the wrong guy. Rambo escapes from the police station and the chase is on, only to catch John Rambo is a little like catching a tiger by the tail and it is a damned idiot who attempts that. The revenge Rambo inflicts is well researched and dynamically shot and edited with Sylvester Stallone giving us the best portrayal of a top-notch professional soldier. Stallone not only looks the part with every finely honed muscle, but it is in the quieter moments where we get to look into Rambo's eyes and get a glimpse of his psychology where Stallone's genuine talent really shines.

Then the speech at the end where Rambo has Teasle at his mercy and his colonel stops him at the point of the kill. I am an ex soldier who has fought in a war. I completely understand Rambo's plight. A man trained to be 100% professional and who has honed his skills to brutal efficiency, a man trusted with millions of dollars worth of equipment, who is now a man who can't hold down a job. There is something about war and fighting that gets under a man's skin and once experienced is hard to shake off. Rambo is the best of the best and now trapped in a world that perceives him a loser. That scene where he clings to the colonel and cries his heart out causes the tears to rain on my cheeks and the hypocrisy, the unfaireness, of society to thunder in my heart everytime I watch it... For me, it is the most emotionally draining cinematic moment...

Tim Rees

My novel Raw Nerve, a novel inspired by First Blood, is available on Kindle Click here.

And you can read my appraisal of all the Hollywood Greats on my Hollywood film stars website Click here.

Pay It Forward

I was watching Pay It Forward, the movie starring Haley Joel Osment - you know, the kid from the film Sixth Sense with Bruce Willis? Okay, up to speed now – and was amazed to discover my girlfriend hadn't seen the movie before! This is a film definitely on my must watch list, so thought I'd better blog about it quick before someone else got the idea! Having said that, the film was made in 2000 ;)

Film making is all about storytelling and Pay it Forward is a great story with a brilliant premise: a twelve year old boy makes a difference to the world. It sounds like he must have some kind of super powers or, perhaps, divine inspiration, doesn't it? But no, the boy, Trevor McKinney, played by Osment, takes a school assignment seriously. Simple. It is a difficult school assignment mind you. No short cuts to research on this one. The assignment is a challenge to the students to devise a plan to change the world. See what I mean about the premise? Brilliant!

Mimi Leder directs this wonderful story by Catherine Ryan Hyde (screenplay by Leslie Dixon) and I get the distinct feeling Mimi has held a very loose rein on the actors as this film is a genuine collaboration with actors, director and producers each making serious emotional investment. The chemistry between Kevin Spacey, Trevor’s teacher, and Helen Hunt, Trevor’s mother, is a wonderful and inspiring story in its own right, but Haley Joel Osment is simply stunning as Trevor. Like he did in Sixth Sense, he completely seduces the audience, winning hearts, minds, souls and tears by the bucket full – ensure you have a new box of strong tissues handy.

Pay It Forward is a film title that suggests Trevor’s devised plan to change the world. It is a remarkable story, an inspiring film and a real lesson to us all. Changing perspective will change your mind.

Tim Rees

Tim's novel Raw Nerve is available on Kindle Click Here

And the Movies Greats website features Tim's favourite Hollywood film stars. Click Here

The Brave One

Without doubt, the most powerful acting performance I have recently seen is Jodie Foster's portrayal of night owl radio host Erica Bain. Jodie was nominated for a Golden Globe Best Actress for the role, but why she didn't win is a mystery to me as is the fact the film didn't sweep the Oscars, including best actress! Possibly the film is a little too raw? I don't know... Anyway, to the important stuff. If you haven't seen the film already, you are in for one major treat! And I won't spoil the film by telling you how the story ends. It won't spoil your "experience" of this film if I tell you, Jodie Foster's character, Erica suffers a deeply traumatic event and we experience this event in graphic detail. Traumatic events change us. We are challenged. Our world is turned upside down and the trauma is deepened when the act or event that changed us is totally unnecessary cruel, brutality. When another person enters our life with the sole intent to victimize, injure or kill it is a shock. When that person enters our life totally unprovoked and devastates our world the shock is numbing. We see this numbing shock written all too clearly on Jodie's face as she brilliantly portrays Erica's sheer horror, grief and emotionally crippling pain. This is a painful film to watch, but if you stick with it you will experience your heart-wrenching sympathy for Erica turn to pride and to awe... We learn something about ourselves in this film. Jodie Foster's performance is so powerful, so brave, she holds a mirror to the face of humankind and we see how we can all dig deep in times of terrible trauma and discover a strength that will surprise us all. I heartily recommend this film.

Tim Rees
My novel Raw Nerve is available at Amazon - Click here.
At my Movie Greats website you can read about may favourite Hollywood film stars! Click Here.