At the Movies With Stephen Hunter

The Latest Cinema

He's back! Washington Post film critic Stephen Hunter, fresh from a recent book leave, will be online Friday, April 11 at 12:30 p.m. ET to discuss the latest movies. Whether you're in search of a popcorn cruncher or a quality indie film, Hunter will provide guidance about what to see and what to skip.

Submit your questions and comments any time before or during the discussion.

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Reston, Va.: Stephen

Why is there a big gap between what viewers like/love about a movie and what a reviewer likes/loves?

Do you feel there is an elitest high road that directors go to draw from that creates a disconnect between the reality of the escapism the everyday movie viewer is looking for in a movie?

I don't always agree with your reviews but I love your insight and look forward to it.

P.S.: Please keep writing your fiction...

Stephen Hunter: There are different audiences and different expectations from each unit you mention. Most big audiences want to be entertained, uplifted, sent on vacation. Nuthin' wrong with that. Critics have a slightly different agenda for many reasons. Consider that they may see too many movies and so everything is worn out and they're much more affected by something that seems "new" (i.e., they don't remember the last time somebody did it 433 movies ago). For consumers, I always say: Learn how to read a reviewer. Use him as an index for your own taste, not as a guru. As for the books, yep, I'll keep churning 'em out. SOMETHING has to pay for my ammo!

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Ocala, Fla.: You are right on about Charlton Heston being underrated as an actor. He was limited in much the same way as John Wayne, but within those limits he was incomparable. Your comment that Edward G. Robinson being similarly underrated is another thing, however. By whom? He was an enormous star, who then had a very active career in smaller roles as he aged, much like Ralph Bellamy or Melvyn Douglas. His performance as Johnny Rocco in "Key Largo," which capitalized on his typecasting, was just superb.

Stephen Hunter: You're probably right; however, I meant to say (try writing on deadline sometime) that he seems to be less remembered than many of lesser talent and charisma. He hasn't, or so it seems to me, acquired a cult following and a warm sofa of nostalgia. He was SUPER as Johnny Rocco!

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Bethesda, Md.: I came across the invite to your chat while I was looking for (of all things!) the latest movie reviews. Does the Post Webmaster have any idea how hard it is to track down reviews or show times on this site? I often resort to looking elsewhere (like the City Paper) for current info on show times. Frustrating!!!

Stephen Hunter: I would never criticize our internet operation, which is absolutely superb and those of us in Style adore it, to the point of religious worship. I don't know what you could possibly be talking about, and the fact that I look up my OWN reviews on Metacritic instead of Washpost.com has absolutely NOTHING to do with it.

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Shady Side, Md.: With a lot of movies coming out "Iron Man," "The Dark Knight," "Punisher II," and "The Hulk." Do you believe that the summer movie season will bring people back to the theaters? Or will they all just wait for the DVD? And which movies do you think are the must see for '08?

Stephen Hunter: It seems to me that in the summer the movie bijoux are pretty much taken over by kids (that's why the movies are so juvenil, particularly the ones you mention, with the possible exception of 'Dark Knight.') It's the older audience who are somewhat more, ahem, "discerning" who track a movie to their taste and wait until it's available in DVD. That rather sit next to their spouses, hard as that is to believe, than someone with a pin through the nostril and fishooks in the eyebrows.

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Shooter: You need not post this during your chat -- I just wanted to take the opportunity to tell you that my husband and I Netflixed "Shooter" and it is seriously the best movie we've seen in ages. we were in suspense the entire time. Thanks for a great viewing experience!

Stephen Hunter: I publish ALL complimentary messages! Anyhow, thanks, even if I could only barely recognize my book underneath it all. Antoine is a great action director and Mark Wahlberg gave it his all.

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Shooter: Hey! Loved "Shooter" (finally saw it). Underrated and vastly entertaining, I never saw that firing pin thing coming. Wondering why you didn't have a cameo in it? Not even as Levon's valet (did you get a chance to meet him or Marky Mark or Antoine? Not even Kate Mara??)

Stephen Hunter: Again, a statement I cannot help but admit for public delectation. Well done and bravo! Okay, to answer: I DID have a cameo which didn't make it (I wasn't very good, if you're wondering.) I met Mark and Antoine and SAW Kate from afar, but she was so mobbed by gushers, I wasn't able to penetrate.

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Tampa, Fla.: Stephen,

I love reading your reviews. I have been very eager to see "The Red Baron", which opened in parts of Europe yesterday. Any chance it will be released in the U.S. or will I have to wait for it on DVD? Have you heard anything good or bad about it?

Stephen Hunter: I didn't even know it existed but it reminds me of a story that I'm sure the world has been awaiting. I spent years trying to find a copy of the Roger Corman "Roy Brown vs. the Red Baron" with Don Stroud and John Van Something Nordic as Roy and Manny. Finally, I got it on ebay (folks is this anyway for a grown man to act?) and was kind of underwhelmed. But that's oneof my FAVORITE stories, old Roy pickled in fear and gin, going up against the stone killer of the Second Reich. I'll never believe an aussie doughboy fire The Shot. And now, back to reality . . .

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Washington, D.C.: My heartfelt condolences for Charlton Heston. Were they able to grab his gun from his cold, dead fingers?

Stephen Hunter: It was a .45 ACP 19ll, cocked and unlocked. They had to bring in the Jaws of Life to safely remove it. Folks, it's a JOKE. I loved the guy, I can make a little joke, can't I?

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washingtonpost.com: Hi there. Jen Chaney, movies editor for post.com here. Just wanted to address the concern about finding showtimes and reviews. Sadly we have no all-knowing "Webmaster." But you can almost always find what you need by simply going to washingtonpost.com/movies. Some reviews are highlighted there and the showtime searchbox is pretty prominent. You also can subscribe to the movies e-mail and get it all delivered to your inbox every Friday. And, of course, there is option three: E-mail me if you ever have concerns and I will do my best to help you out.

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Herndon, VA: Mr. H: I really enjoyed your "appreciation" for Charlton Heston. He may not have been the greatest of actors, but he had "PRESENCE" in abundance. On a totally different subject -- what was your opinion of "In Bruges?" I thought it was great, albeit a bit over the top, but some, such as the New Yorker's critic, put it down. P.S. I always thought it great that DeMille's "Ten Commandments" had one Jewish actor in a starring role (Edgar G. Robinson) and he was a villain.

Stephen Hunter: Thanks for kind words. On the different subject, please remember I've been off for three months writin' 'nuther durn book. The Chuck thing was my first in a long time. I am back, but there's a huge hole in my viewing, which is why I'm not answering a lot of "What did you think of . . ." questions.

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Baltimore, Md.: Steve: Welcome back! And thanks for the piece on Charlton Heston. I am sure it generated a lot of mail, both pro-gun and anti-gun. I remember the time you walked into a screening at the Charles Theater in Baltimore carrying some sort of container I did not recognize. When I asked you what it was, you said, "I have my ammunition in there." A little startled, I said, "Why are you bringing it to a movie screening?" and you replied, with unerring logic, "Well, I'm certainly not gonna leave it in the car!"

Again, welcome back.

Stephen Hunter: Why, I think you must have someone else in mind, sir. I would never--oh wait, yeah, that WAS me. Good luck to you. Are you a friend? Do I know you?

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Boston, Mass.: Other than your fellow Posties, do you ever read reviews by other critics? If so, do you ever find that your take on a particular film is completely different from someone else's?

Stephen Hunter: Yes. Like many critics, I'm sure, I always check out Metacritic Film where I can find all of them neatly displayed and easily accessed. I always learn something, and alas rather frequently find different takes from the other kids, but to me, that's what makes it a fun way to waste a lifetime.

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Washington, D.C.: Stephen - can you clear something up about "Godfather II"? Why did Michael conclude that Fredo helped plan the shooting at his Tahoe house just because Fredo lied about previously knowing Johnny Ola?

Stephen Hunter: You have absolutely fingered what has always troubled me about that movie. And if Freddy fingered Michael, does that mean he actually admitted the shooters to the property. I can't IMAGINE Fredo doing that. But if he didn't who did? Which means there has to be ANOTHER Coreleone traitor who facilitated the attack and was even more destructive to Michael. And this guy must have killed the actual gunners, whose body and guns are discovered and destroyed. No, that whole sequence and storyline never was clear. Still, a great movie though. If Mario Puzo's listening in heaven, or FF Coppola is reading the chat, will one of them explain please?

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Woodbridge: Thank you for your piece on Charlton Heston. One of a kind, IMO.

Stephen Hunter: Oops, I meant to erase this very nice compliment, because I know the people who want to know if "Nim's Island" is any good don't care, but I think I'm about "accidentally," if you know what I mean and I think you do, publish it.

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Silver Spring, Md.: What's your prediction for the movie "Milk" (w/Sean Penn + James Franco) that's currently in post-production?

Stephen Hunter: I gather it's based on Harvey Milk and not the wonderful dairy product that makes ceral something memorable? Anyhow, I admire Penn the director immensely--he's mad some tough, compormising, anti-commerical films--and I like Franco, whom I could see in the part. But many's the slip between the cup and the mouth, and many's the dream project on paper that turns nightmarish on screen. Maybe it turns on their evocation of the guy that killed Mr. Milk; if he's portrayed as an embodiement of illiberal evil, then I bet the movie's a bit preachy. (Dan somebody, the Twinkie eater). If he's portrayed as evil but human, then maybe they'll have a little something.

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Silver Spring, Md.: One thing that I liked about Heston was that more than his colleagues (e.g., Wayne), he was always willing to play deeply flawed characters like Dundee, the racist father in Midway, etc. Plus, I felt like he was actually playing the roles, not just playing himself in a different costume.

Stephen Hunter: Very good, smart comments. Wish I'd made them in th epiece, as I wish I'd also evoked the line "Keep you paws off me, you damned, dirty apes" somewhere. A classic even if I may have misremembered it slightly (is there a "filthy" in their somewhere?)

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Arlington, Va.: Any under-appreciated smaller Heston movies we should check out?

Stephen Hunter: He's very good as a tormented nobleman who evokes, to his sorrw, the lord's right of first night with a young peasant woman, in "The Warlord," which almost never gets mentioned. Despite its showy medieval setting it's kind of an enti-epic, very interesting film. I ahppen also to be an inveterate "El Cid" booster, though I can't remember the film that clearly. I do remember it got excellent reviews as a sober look at a historical character without the usual crudola and . . . it has a great sword fight, and line, when the bloody, just barely alive winner Heston gives the blood smeared scarf his opponent was carrying (black, because the fight was about vengeance for the Cid's killing of Sofia Loren's father) back to Ms Loren and says, "Your colors, milady, are no longer black." Well, it plays better on screen than my dreary recitation, believe me.

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Baltimore, Md.: The guy with the Charles Theater ammo anecdote: I'm Jack Purdy. Sat with you through many screenings when I was with the Baltimore City Paper. Now toiling in public relations in DC.

Stephen Hunter: Jack was a terrific guy then and a wonderful filmcritic, and it's good to hear from him. I'm sure he's a terrific guy now!

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Washington D.C.: I liked "Nims Island" for a great picture to see for the whole family.

Stephen Hunter: Here's a rec for "Nim's Island" that I pass along in answer to several unpublished querries.

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Apes: I think it's "Get your stinking paws off me, you damn, dirty apes!"

Stephen Hunter: I stand happily corrected.

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Falls Church, Va.:"Iron Man" features a boozy Robert Downey Jr. playing a boozy Tony Stark. I'm hoping it won't be too juvenile....

Stephen Hunter: That's the one I DREAD too. Dear Washington Post: PLEASE, I'm begging you, don't send Hunter to "Ironman." Pleasepleaseplease, I'll do Adam Sandler, all do all the kid's movies I have to see on Saturday morning, I'll do all the lefty docs--oh, wait, I already DO see all those. Hmm, what can I offer these people?

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Alexandria, Va.: Mr. Hunter,

Are you going to see the Star of the movie, "Slapshot," as he coaches the Washington Capitals beat up on the Hated Flyers this weekend at the Verizon Center?

MASS HYSTERIA!

LETS GO CAPS!

Stephen Hunter: No idea what this guy is talking about, but I second the enthusiasm. GO CAPS! And as soon as I gfigure out what "icing" is, I may go to a hockey game.

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Richmond, Virginia: I enjoyed your Heston appreciation piece enormously. I was disappointed that a lot of major media outlets did little to recognize him besides a prepared obit. Do you think this has anything to do with Heston's political conservatism? For example, can you imagine the reaction the media would have had it been Woody Allen passing? Granted, Allen is an important filmmaker in addition to being a star. But Heston was an important political activist in addition to being a huge star.

Stephen Hunter: Well, one of the issues there was timing. Chuck had the misfortune to die Saturday night (the announcement came then, at any rate) when most papers are unstaffed. A small Sunday crew is easily tempted by the tonnage of wire copy that pours in and it's a lot easier on them than calling the hung over critic and harrassing him into coming in. Politics? Always, but in ways that can never be exactly proven, but only sensed.

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Compla, Ind.: Top navigation bar: Arts and Living, Movies. Your current review is right there with a link to your other reviews. Movie search is there too -- enter film name and location. Wow. That was hard.

Stephen Hunter: This guy has solved the web issues. Thanks folks, it's the cocktail hour. See you in a few weeks.

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