MARCH 6,
2007 --
One week
after the Oscars, LPR saw "Letters From Iwo Jima" and "Zodiac."
The latter movie held LPR's interest throughout, but LPR was wowed by the Clint
Eastwood movie, perhaps, in part, because, for LPR, Ken Watanabe, the Japanese
commander on Iwo Jima, bears a curious, perhaps, resemblance to Gregory Peck
(LPR's favorite movie actor), a resemblance both physical and of temperament.
(Think Atticus Finch meets General MacArthur behind the Japanese lines on Iwo
Jima.)
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For LPR, one of the
film's poignant moments was Watanabe's reaction, in a flashback, to a question
at the farewell dinner given for him, in the U.S. by his
American hosts.
Asked by the wife of an American officer what he would think if the United States
and Japan went to war, his immediate response was that he thought they would
make good allies.
"Letters' did not get an Oscar, but don't be surprised if it endures somewhat
longer than this year's other Oscar-nominated films -- indeed, longer than director
Eastwood's Oscar-winning movies.
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