2023 Movie Diary, Part 15

43. JAMES CAMERON’S DEEPSEA CHALLENGE (2014)

Want to explore the deep sea without your submersible imploding? This is how you go about it.
Verdict: The bottom of the sea is an exceptionally boring place. Also, James Cameron has a whole lot of money. A whole lot.

44. WINGS (1927)

The first Best Picture Oscar winner holds up decently, thanks to spectacular (by any standard) flying sequences and stars Clara Bow’s and Buddy Rogers’ timeless adorableness.  And yes, that famous “blink-and-you-miss-it” appearance by Gary Cooper is a real eye-catcher. 
Verdict: Not bad. The action sequences are the real stars. There’s truly some unbelievable aerial photography that probably needs to be seen on a big screen to be fully appreciated.
See it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JG_ZVqLIAU0

45. TRUE GRIT

The Coen Brothers’ treatment of the John Wayne classic is better in every way. Wayne, of course, is irreplaceable, but Jeff Bridges is quite marvelous in his own right. The intentionally overwritten dialogue suits the movie wonderfully and almost stands on its own as a separate character. Great stuff.
Verdict: Highly recommended.