TMT: Try it he did
This is the next entry in a Theatre… a Movie… and a Time series that was begun here. Since I am continuing my Versus AFI: 10 Top 10 arc, this time with Courtroom Dramas for February, it offers up an opportunity to chronicle a couple of them in this serial of posts. To be honest though, the paradox with this category of film is most of my tensome have only been seen by me on television, VHS, or DVD. Only two films were ever caught on the big screen. Coincidentally, they were seen in the same month, December, 10 years apart. This is the first of them.
“ I changed my life today, what did you do?”
Theatre
The Marina Del Rey Six:
Movie
Time
December 1982: I recall seeing plenty of movies in this particular year. Across all kinds of films in various categories, too (no wonder author John Kenneth Muir is doing a series on this genre year). A good many of them with she-whose-name-is-not-to-be-uttered (or -mentioned or -spoken, or however I’ve previously denoted this one particular former girlfriend throughout this memoir series). It’s simply a point of fact. Note: this is an attempt of mine to cover my rear end with my beautiful, loving, and patient wife of just about 23 years of marriage… did I happen to say she’s understanding beyond belief?
Okay, I tried. I believe it was also during the previous year, she (the ex-girlfriend, not my wonderful spouse) and I had moved to an apartment in the neighborhood area in Culver City known as Fox Hills. When that happened, it began of a shift in our movie watching habit toward the nearby area of Marina Del Rey, via the nearby Marina Freeway. Once dubbed the Richard M. Nixon Freeway (a name dumped during the 70s after the Watergate scandal, btw), it’s only about 1.5 miles long and happens to be the shortest one in the unofficial freeway capital of the U.S.
It was during this Christmas season not-to-be-uttered and I took in The Verdict (I don’t think it took much convincing on my part as you-know-who was well aware it starred her heart-throb Paul Newman) at the Marina Dey Rey Six. Besides having a compelling story, and the best performance ever by Newman (IMHO), the only other thing I recall was how mad the penultimate girlfriend of that time became afterward. Did I mention she was a nurse by vocation? No? Okay. Was she angered by what writer David Mamet got wrong in the screenplay? Uh uh. If I remember correctly, she was rankled as a medical professional most by what the story got right.
The entire TMT series can be found here.
I watched this one because of you. I love it, but have to admit that Butch Cassidy is still my favorite of his roles.
Love that I have you to consult about movies.
Hey, Jen! And yes, who doesn’t love ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ for ‘old blue eyes’. But, ‘The Verdict’ is a great one, too. Especially in this category of film. Many thanks for reading, commenting, and taking me up on my recommendations, Jen
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Great movie. I don’t know how you remember this stuff. I can barely remember what city I saw this in, let alone which theater or who I was with. But I DO remember the movie, and it is one of Newman’s finest performances.
I blame mom for this memory of mine
. I, too, love Newman’s performance in this (and also recall how pissed off I was come Oscar Night when he didn’t get it for this). It’s a great film. Thanks, Naomi.
I actually have an idea ofr doing one of these now michael. My wife and I went to see Casablanca at our local indy cinema on St. Valentine’s day courtesy of a very considerate colleague whose babysitter had let him down. I was in no position to refuse and offer so kindly out and my wife had never seen the film so it turned out to be a great night. The cinema was packed and the atmosphere was superb. Everyone laughed and cheered in all the right places. I’d forgotten how good Casablanca is, a true classic! So if I do decide to do a TMT of my own, it’ll prbably be on that.
Never heard of the verdict but I like your little attmepts to placate your long suffering wife. I do try to do the same for mine, though she hasn’t been suffering as long as yours. We’ve only been married 3 years
Yay! I’m definitely looking forward to what you’d have to offer in a TMT, Ronan.
Ah, you’re still newlyweds, my friends. But, you definitely saw a perfect film for that particular night. Thanks for sharing and adding this.
I just saw this movie for the first time the other day! Highly impressed. I didn’t get to see all of it, so I will have to rent it to do so, but I liked what I saw.
there was a lot of trivia available about this film on imdb, including the fact that Tom Cruise shot all of the trick pool shots with the exception of the one that sunk 2 at once because it would’ve taken 2 extra weeks to learn, costing thousands of dollars due to the delay!
Great story you told once again with she-who-shall-not-be-named!
Great, T! But wait… if we’re talking about Tom Cruise and trick pool shots, are you referring to ‘The Color of Money’?
Thanks for reading and commenting, my friend.
ah, yes i am. I got them confused. Thank you! Yep, I was totally thinking about Color of Money. haha oops
Not a problem. ‘Color of Money’ remains a great one, too. Thanks.
All right, another Paul Newman movie I still got to see. My friend just suggested Cat On a Hot Thin Roof the other day but I kinda want to see this one more as I like good courtroom drama. Another great TMT, Michael!
If you like a good courtroom drama, and Paul Newman, run, don’t walk to see ‘The Verdict’. I don’t think you’ll be sorry you did, Ruth. Thanks.