"jaws"

Given the subjects of Errol Morris’s previous films (including such titles as “Vernon, Florida,” “The Thin Blue Line,” and “Tabloid”), you could safely assume that Morris enjoys filming offbeat, bizarre and disturbing subjects. “Disturbing” is certainly an apt description of his latest release, “The Unknown Known,” an up-close and not-so-personal look at Donald Rumsfeld.  Rumsfeld is the man who (twice!) led our Armed Forces as the Secretary of Defense. He’s also one of the forces behind the infamous “torture memos,” the government’s internal memos that temporarily made certain acts of torture “legal” when used against “terror suspects.”  Documentaries about larger-than-life characters like “Rummy” are often notable for their filmmakers’ ability to coax candid admissions from their subjects. For instance, Morris interviewed Robert McNamara (the Secretary of Defense who presided over Vietnam) in 2003’s Oscar-winning “The Fog Of War.” In it, McNamara made the startling admission that he behaved “like [a] war criminal.” His shocking and preternaturally calm recollections were the thoughts of a man who had spent years reflecting on the nature of war, and his own key role in a costly and misguided one.

Early in 1973, producer David Brown was scanning the literature section of Cosmopolitan, a magazine edited by his wife, Helen Gurley Brown. His eyes fell upon a brief plot description of an upcoming novel by Peter Benchley called “Jaws,” which concerned an immense great white shark terrorizing a summer resort community in New England. The book editor ended his summary as follows: “Might make a good movie.”

What would summer be without at least one trip to the beach? Truthfully, for me one trip is about enough. I have way too many childhood memories of sandy sandwiches and horrific sunburns. And from a swimming perspective, ever since I first saw “Jaws,” I’m strictly a pool man.

No matter which team you rooted for, the aftermath of the Super Bowl is bound to be emotional, so it’s a good idea to have a soothing movie to segue into once the final whistle blows.

With our laser focus on human stars in films, it’s easy to forget that many outstanding movies depend on talent from the animal kingdom. Whether domesticated or wild, animals throw into sharp relief the highs and lows of human nature.

Whether or not you love to get behind the wheel yourself, the very act of looking at cars in movies is just plain fun. Of course, they always signal the era in which the movie was made (or set). But more than that, the car to modern film is what the horse is to the Western — the all-important means of shifting to a different sequence, and moving the action forward.

It’s nearly impossible to discuss a truly great movie without mentioning its musical score. Can you  honestly ponder the Spielberg classic “Jaws” (1975) without hearing those relentless, alternating two notes (played on a tuba!) that announce the killer shark’s arrival? Or think of “Rocky” (1976) without remembering how Bill Conti’s soaring trumpet theme made your heart race? 

Did you know the famous phrase, "you can't have your cake and eat it too" is really supposed to be "you can't eat your cake and have it too" (makes much more sense that way, doesn't it)?   What other quotes (perhaps these from your favorite films) do you get jumbled up? Test them out and see how well you really know your favorite phrasings.