only connect!

Western, British costume drama, Steinbeck, Hallmark (or if not, perty danged close), and a modern Western. Four hits and a miss: not too bad!

Cahill, U.S. Marshal (1973) - "A tough Marshal has a difficult task when his two sons join a gang and rob a bank."
Source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: it's another John Wayne film I had not yet seen
IMDB: 6.6/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: N/A% Audience: 64%

notable quote: "There ain't nothing too late ... if you love it."
story: Wayne (J.D. Cahill) is a widower with 10- and 15-year-old sons. His job as U.S. Marshal leaves him far too busy to care for them directly, rendering their relationship thready. When they join a rank robbery gang, all Hell breaks loose.

visuals: nicely done for the genre
acting: this was a good role for Wayne at that age, combining a gruff fatherly nature with the steely self-assurance of a lawman  

intangibles: it's a good one
overall: recommended

Howards End (2017) - "The social and class divisions in early 20th century England through the intersection of three families—the wealthy Wilcoxes, the gentle and idealistic Schlegels, and the lower-middle class Basts."
Source: streamed on Amazon Prime
I watched it because: I read the book for History of Modern England in college
IMDB: 7.3/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 87% Audience: 62%

notable quote: "We're not odd, we're just over-expressive."
story: it is a deceptively simple story that, in the end, reflects differing 'modern' views on social class, gender, economics, race, education, ambition, sexuality and propriety, family, appropriateness.... It is confounding, witty, charming, confusing, sad, and inspiring.
visuals: lavishly beautiful
costumes, hair & makeup: just right for the period, down to the right ribbons and ragged cuffs
acting: Hayley Atwell (Margaret Schlegel) was brilliant in this. Absolutely wonderful.

intangibles: I liked this very much - it made me want to read the book again, which is an accomplishment!
overall: recommended

East of Eden (1955) - "A willful young man contends against his brother for the attention of their religious father while reconnecting with his estranged mother and falling for his brother's girlfriend."
Source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: it's a classic. I saw it a while ago and remembered nothing about it. 
IMDB: 7.9/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 85% Audience: 90%

notable quote: "You never gave him your love. You never asked for his. You never asked him for one thing."
story: typical of the type of movie that drew James Dean's interest, it involves a dysfunctional family with significant morality differences and a young man struggling with his own sexuality 
visuals: some spectacular, fascinating shots here. New and different.
acting: I'm not a huge James Dean fan, but this is pretty good stuff. 

intangibles: definitely worth seeing
Academy Award winner: Best Supporting Actress--Jo Van Fleet (Kate)
Academy Award nominee:
• Best Actor--Dean (Cal Trask)
• Best Director--Elia Kazan

• Best Writing, Screenplay

overall: recommended

The Last Brickmaker in America (2001) - "A man must cope with the loss of his wife and the obsolescence of his job before finding redemption by becoming a role model to an equally lost thirteen-year-old."
Source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: my dad told me that he really liked it
IMDB: 7.3/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: N/A% Audience: 62%

notable quote: "...why didn't you spray-paint them?"
story: on the surface, it's about a grieving man who works to complete a time-limited project and in so doing inspires a young teen. At a deeper level it is about age, family, trust, priorities, and the limits of 'progress.' 
visuals: nicely shot. The actual process of brick-making - which doesn't sound nearly as fascinating as it is! - is shown in just the right amount of detail.
acting: Sidney Poitier (Henry Cobb) is extraordinary: dignified, clever, and a gifted storyteller.

intangibles: it is a nice, kind, sweet little movie
overall: recommended

Thunderheart (1992) - "A young mixed-blood FBI agent is assigned to work with a cynical veteran investigator on a murder on a poverty-stricken Sioux reservation."
Source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: I needed something mindless to watch while doing something else that was occupying all my attention
IMDB: 6.8/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 89% Audience: 75%

notable quote: "'Officer down! Officer down!'

'Has the officer been shot? Over.'

'No, the officers been bit by a fuckin' badger!'"
story: this seems to be a guy favorite, but did nothing for me at all. Val Kilmer strains credulity as a good guy, much less as a law enforcement officer. Much less "a mixed blood FBI agent." I mean, really.
visuals: dramatic southwestish-looking scenery and car chases, etc.
acting: not so much, no

intangibles: as I've indicated, this one was pretty missable
overall: not recommended

[the title quotation is from Howards End]