To loosely quote John Turturro, Christopher Walken is always interesting. This, for the most part, is a true statement for me. But something truly "interesting" has happened to Walken over the years. While most actors seem to try to position themselves for leading roles, if they have the look and the talent, Walken has moved in the opposite direction. Since, let's say, the success of The Deer Hunter, it's been pretty much a long slide into solid character acting roles for him. He once had great potential, from my perspective, to be a leading man, and while he definitely manages to play one "interesting" character after another, he has fallen quite deep into some kind of one-dimensional abyss. Perhaps it is the "Oscar curse" of early success in Deer Hunter, perhaps it has something to do with the whole Natalie Wood tragedy. Whatever the reason(s), he really just always is only an "interesting" caricature of what he once was or could have been. Is there resurrection in his future? Who knows.

The only real joy here is Kate Winslet. Had I not seen her guest shot on Extras, I would have been more surprised by what she gives us here, but it is still pure joy to hear the words that tumble so effortlessly out of her mouth. As Gandolfini says, "You're a crude woman" -- probably the best line in the film. Although her character really exists in the realm of tragedy, the words she speaks and the moves she makes provide some of the funniest moments in an otherwise very average "musical love story."

Please don't misunderstand me, flixster friends: I love John Turturro. He is gifted, and I am fan enough to think he can do way better work.

If you are looking to learn something about this remarkable man, this is for you. If you are looking for a balanced view of George McGovern, this is probably not for you. If you love George McGovern, as I do, then you will love this documentary.

OMG. Some of my best flixster buddies seem to have liked, even loved this one. What's wrong with me? Why do I find that this storyline rings false? Plus it's tacky. Beneath Nighy and, especially, beneath Blanchett. Well, what do I know anyway? Whatever pays the bills.

01/29/08 update:

Well, I did catch this on TV. Do you remember The Duck Factory? That was a great TV show.

There was a time when Jim Carrey commanded $20 million per film, up front. I am very sad about what has happened to him.

Gee, if only my ex-true love had felt the same way. She bypassed me for a professional comedian. I kid you not. As a result, I've been working on my routine ever since -- you know, just in case. If I've learned anything from the whole mess, I gotta say it really is hard to write your own jokes.

Damn, flixster friends, do you think Barbara Stanwyck might have a grand-daughter on flixster? If so --

Yo, Barbara Stanwyck's grand-daughter, if you actually exist and you're reading this:

Aloha! If you're single, this is a genuine marriage proposal. Don't worry about the singing (if it's inherited); we can work on that. If you're interested, Barbara Stanwyck's grand-daughter, please flixster message me ASAP! I pretty much log in daily.

Yea, verily, I promise you the moon -- and then some . . .

You want the moon? Just say the word and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down. Hey. That's a pretty good idea. I'll give you the moon, Barbara Stanwyck's grand-daughter.

And -- I must ardently reiterate -- then some : )

The dialogue, if it can actually be called that, is hardly engaged conversation. It's more like people throwing lines at each other like bullets.

Not a bad movie. My guess is that the next bad guy to come to town after Fonda's exit kills Perkins.

So what's with all of the animal slaughter? I have this theory that the Danish film industry is trying to corner the "quirky" market. If they want to do that, and if they want to keep the fans they have, they'd better think twice about their treatment of animals on screen. Any point that could be made in this movie could have been made without killing a single animal. Quirky? How about irritating.

And, in the darkness of 20-20 hindsight, it could be called fate. Fatal. The fatal flaw. Hubris. Greed. The egotistical assumption of divine calling. Delusions of grandeur. A never-ending laundry list of tragic flaws unfolding in the character of unthinking people and obtuse peoples. The rise and fall of Daniel Dravot; the rise and fall of the British Empire. Kipling and Huston tell the age-old tale of the quest to reach out, reach out and conquer someone. It is an historically repetitive universal tale of tragic overreach which can rarely end happily.

But the English author, my dear Rudyard Kipling, who was born and lived in India, in Vermont, and in England, points fingers not just at his own English countrymen. The phrase "savages all" comes to mind. No people is perfect. Some are just more egregiously and overbearingly imperfect than others.

09/11/06 update: On this fifth anniversary of 9-11, Kipling's story is ringing some huge bells. The abysmally ignorant and avaricious clawing of George Bush and his twistedly horrid group of dark-force jackass -- just say no to politics.

Sorry. My apologies. I must remember to restrain this kind of venting.

So for a brilliant segue: The team of Connery and Caine is another beautifully energetic male pairing not to be missed. A great friendship/road movie despite the downside. If you've not seen this gem, flixster friends, you must do so as soon as the opportunity presents itself. You will not be disappointed.

Note: Michael Caine's real-life wife, Shakira Caine, who, kinkily enough, plays Sean Connery's love interest in this movie, adds a whole other level to the intrigue value of this movie.

If you recall the journey Ledger makes back to Gyllenhaal's home, where he finds the shirts in the upstairs bedroom closet, then you may know the shared moment I'm referring to here. Gyllenhaal's mother, played by Roberta Maxwell, is the great scene stealer of the whole movie. Her knowledge of and acceptance of the relationship between Ledger and Gyllenhaal, even though she does not speak of it and shows her compassion for their plight in powerfully moving non-verbal ways, is the great moment, for me, in Brokeback. Similarly, the great moment for me in Jessica Stein is Jennifer Westfeldt's mother, played by Tovah Feldshuh, knowing of and acknowledging her daughter's love for Heather Juergensen.

No matter how cruel people can be in any era, love, even if it is a straightforward old-fashioned mother's love, can conquer plenty -- if not necessarily all.

Finally, I want to say that Jackie Hoffman is terrific here. I notice she isn't in the flixster actor database. I shall remedy that pronto : )