Posted on 12/11/2013 1:24:45 PM PST by Bender2
Doomed Blond Bombshell Not Really Included
Billy Bob Thornton Directs ‘Jayne Mansfield’s Car’
By STEPHEN HOLDEN
Published: September 12, 2013
-SNIP-
“Jayne Mansfield’s Car,” directed by Billy Bob Thornton, from a screenplay he wrote with Tom Epperson, has the loose structure and uncertain tone of a long, rambling yarn. As it drifts from topic to topic, its characters debate war, heroism, mortality and social change. Another theme of the movie, set during the Vietnam War, is generational strife, exemplified by the Caldwells’ strident pro- and antiwar factions.
-SNIP-
“Jayne Mansfield’s Car” is rated R (Under 17 requires an accompanying parent or adult guardian) for strong language, sexual content, nudity, drug use and some bloody images.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Duvall has a strong cast behind him: John Hurt, Billy Bob Thornton, Kevin Bacon, Robert Patrick, Ray Stevenson, Katherine LaNasa, Frances O’Connor, Shawnee Smith and "Blue Collar Comedy Tour" alum Ron White.
I got the DVD from Netflix and watched it this morning. It is a strange film with the pace, feel and opulence of the true south (Texas, Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee) I recall from living there during the 1950s and 1960s with the emphasis of the film being 1969 when the Vietnam War was the center of pro and con attention.
While 'Nam' is the cry shouted in protest, the characters lives revolve around the war experiences of the two old men from the Great War of 1914-1918 and their sons' from World War Two. A dead wife/ex-wife and her funeral brings all this to the top as she is brought from England to be buried in Alabama.
The film does contain some cursing, sexual content, nudity, drug use and bloody scenes but nothing as bad as many of today's horror films and/or video games but the storyline of siblings trying to come to grip with and resolve feelings and lack of feelings make this a film I can recommend.
At times in the film I felt I could almost close my eyes and be transported back to my own family, my own lifetime leading up to the film's 1969. Perhaps if you are younger than my 66 years or born and bred outside Texas-The Old South, the plot may not be appealing.
However, I say, give Jayne Mansfield’s Car a test drive. I think you will find something of the human condition there and you won't mind the trip there and back--
Sorry, for this not being placed in ‘chat’ the Mod pulled it, so we will give it another try—
Sounds interesting. Robert Duvall makes very few ‘stinkers’.
Thanks for the review.
Well for a fella I keep shooting and shooting and he keeps coming back... 
I think you'll like it, but put you fingers in your ears when they cuss, close your eyes when the gals gets naked and kick them hippies to kingdom come when they protest the war!
bookmark for thoughts after watching . . . RD, JH, BBT working together sounds promising
I wish some FR would be tasked with enforcing punctuation. It seems to be getting worser and worser.
I remember when she got killed. I was just a kid. She was one more smokin’ hot mama!!!
Why would I want to watch a film with the likes of someone that resembles Jayne Mansfield....: )
Maybe we need to round up some Pamprin or Midol for the Mods. Seems like they have had a major flow working this week.
On the other hand, this sounds like a film worth checking out. I wasn’t born in Texas but I got here as fast as I could.
Uh....
We'll forgive him for "Days of Thunder", a Tom Cruise flick he co-stared in. I'm sure he got big bucks for it and a guy has to earn a living.
Maybe it features a 1966 Buick Electra 225
http://www.buickstreet.com/images/my66electra-fullright-atpark.jpg
This is, as I always make a point of telling my kids, what a real car looks like.
Oh-KAY....
"Otherwise, how did you enjoy the play, Mrs. Lincoln?"
Leni
Am I the only one that can not understand the title of the article?
why, for the 'educational' value, silly wabbit !
And that’s Sophia Loren on the left, una bellisima femina!
;^)
My understanding is that Jayne Mansfield is not a character in the story. I guess it’s used to score visibility for the film and indicate an approximate time period in history.
But Hollywood’s been ramping up the 1960s “vietnam war” at home stories in the past year or two.
Meanwhile Obama’s wars go un-noticed, un-reported, un-protested.
Sling Blade was good...if not a bit weird.But it sounds as if I’m gonna give this one a miss (as I do with 99.99% of what Hollywood produces).
It happened just South of where I grew up in MS; I just remember the horror I felt hearing she'd been decapitated.
Jayne was a good looking woman, but frankly, I think her daughter, Mariska Hargitay, is prettier still.
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