Alan Arkin is an American actor and director who has made his mark on the stage and screen. In fact, he is one of the few actors who has both written and directed films. He is perhaps best known for his role in the film Marley and Me.
Little Miss Sunshine
Little Miss Sunshine, which hit theaters in 2006, was a major success at the box office. The movie garnered multiple awards and nominations. It won a Best Picture award, a Golden Globe for best comedy, a Best Supporting Actor award for Alan Arkin, and a Best Original Screenplay award for screenwriter Michael Arndt.
The film centers on a family of overworked parents and a young child. Olive Hoover (Abigail Breslin), the eldest daughter, wants to compete in a beauty pageant. However, she and her family have little money and must travel to California to compete.
As the family drives to the competition, Olive must endure family tensions and personal struggles. Her uncle Frank, a Proust scholar and sexless, is also a suicidal man. His son Dwayne, a teenager who pretends to hate everyone, has a hard time keeping his emotions in check.
In the end, “Little Miss Sunshine” is a movie that makes you laugh, but it’s a melodrama with some half-baked nudges. Some of the dramatic scenes feel mechanical and the humor is a little over-the-top.
Overall, Little Miss Sunshine is a fun, light-hearted road movie. The actors play well, and the film was well-received. But the inexperienced directors and a lack of subversive elements may have contributed to its disappointing final product.
Little Miss Sunshine has a strong supporting cast, led by Alan Arkin, who received the Best Supporting Actor award. Also nominated were Abigail Breslin, Paul Dano, Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette, and Bryan Cranston. This film was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
Arkin, who has been acting on the screen for over seven decades, received the Golden Globe for his performance. He also received an Emmy nomination for his work.
Rendition
Rendition is a political thriller about the CIA’s use of torture to extract information. It stars Alan Arkin, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Reese Witherspoon.
It’s about the CIA’s secretive and controversial practice of extraordinary rendition. This involves sending an innocent man to a foreign country to be detained and interrogated.
“Rendition” is based on a true story. The tale of CIA analyst Douglas Freeman (Gyllenhaal) who travels to Egypt to investigate an Egyptian national (Witherspoon) who is suspected of being an Islamic terrorist. He learns that the suspected terrorist, Anwar El-Ibrahimi, maintains his innocence.
As a result, Freeman is instructed to monitor and report any information he discovers. However, he soon begins to doubt his ability to deliver reliable intelligence.
The movie has a strong cast that includes Reese Witherspoon, Peter Sarsgaard, Igor Naor, and Steve Carey. Nevertheless, it’s Arkin’s performance that steals the show.
In addition to the CIA, the film also examines the dark side of the war on terrorism. This is especially true when it comes to civil liberties being sacrificed in the name of combating the evils of terrorism.
One of the most interesting and informative aspects of “Rendition” is the fact that it is based on a real-life event. In particular, it is a retelling of the controversial tale of Khalid El-Masri, an Islamic leader who is convicted of a crime, but claims his innocence.
Despite the fact that this story is a fictionalized version of the real-life events, the movie still manages to make sense. At times, the film goes off the rails, but overall, it’s a compelling story.
Rendition was a well-executed, well-made, and well-acted piece of work. Although it’s not perfect, it’s a worthy sequel to the popular “The Kingdom” and shows us the dirty secrets of the United States.
Marley & Me
Alan Arkin has joined Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston in Marley and Me. This family movie is based on the best seller by John Grogan. It is set to premiere in July.
“Marley and Me” is the story of a couple (John and Jenny) who move to Florida from Michigan and get a yellow Labrador puppy. The dog quickly becomes a mischievous handful, chewing on everything. However, he brings out the best in them.
“Marley & Me” is a sentimental film with a cute critter at its heart. Aside from the lovable dog, the film features a series of wacky events, some of which are not very funny.
There are a lot of ups and downs to be found in a family. But, as Marley demonstrates, there are also some genuinely heartwarming moments. Those moments are the real reason to watch this movie.
“Marley & Me” will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on August 27. In addition to the main characters, a third cast member will be Alan Arkin, who will play an editor of a newspaper.
In addition to the main characters, the film will also feature 22 dogs that enact Marley’s various misadventures. For example, the film features a scene where Marley pulls off a house sitter’s towel.
The dog in the title is a mascot, but not for the sake of being a good dog. Instead, he serves the purpose of displaying how much love the Grogans can give to each other.
However, the most impressive thing about “Marley & Me” is not a dog, but its ability to showcase how much joy can come from a family. Throughout the movie, it’s clear that the couple is enjoying the trials and tribulations of parenthood.
People Soup
If you’re looking for a short film to watch over a few iced teas, I’d recommend Alan Arkin’s People Soup. It may take you ten minutes to get through it, but you’ll find it’s worth the time.
The short is an adaptation of a short story published in Galaxy Science Fiction in 1958. A brief tidbit about the film is that it was directed by Andrew Bergman. It’s not often that a Hollywood heavyweight like the man himself would turn out to be a fan of the genre.
Alan Arkin’s People Soup isn’t a groundbreaking short film, but it is a fun one. The best part is that it was actually made by a real person, rather than a computer.
Alan Arkin has been in show business since 1957, but has mainly been an actor and improviser, so the short has a real human star in its cast. There’s also the fact that this is a cleverly produced piece, and that’s not easy to do.
One of the most notable features of People Soup is the gimmick-like fling between the actors. It’s also a testament to the triumvirate of director, writer and actor, as they’re all clearly having a great time together. This, of course, makes the entire experience all the more special.
The best part is that you’ll probably be able to watch this movie with your kids. It’s a fun little number, and it’s an appropriate length for most adults, too. With the bonus of being a free e-book, you can have a look at it in the comfort of your own home.
The aforementioned short is not the only film of the ilk that Alan Arkin has made. He’s also written, directed and starred in several films. Considering his track record, you’d be hard pressed to find an actor that has more to offer.
Other films
During his career, Alan Arkin has had an extensive list of credits. He has worked as an actor, musician, and director, and has also authored popular children’s books.
At an early age, Arkin wanted to become an actor. He studied drama at Los Angeles City College, then later attended Bennington College in Vermont. Afterward, he joined Chicago’s Second City comedy troupe. During his time with the company, he played a wide variety of roles, including a deaf mute and a vicious murderer.
Eventually, Arkin would earn two Academy Award nominations for his role in the film, The Russians Are Coming!, and a Golden Globe award. He also earned two Primetime Emmy nominations for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.
In addition to his theater work, Arkin also directed a number of hit comedies. He made his feature directorial debut with Little Murders in 1971. His other directing efforts include Fire Sale and Eh? (both 1966) and City Island (1977).
Alan Arkin was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for “Enter Laughing”. It was his first performance on the Broadway stage.
Arkin’s other films include the film adaptation of the musical “The Seven-Percent Solution”, which earned him another nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Other movies of the actor’s career include the comedy “Marley & Me” and the film “The In-Laws”.
Arkin’s last film was the live action Disney film The Rocketeer in 1991. Aside from his acting and directing credits, Arkin also authored a number of science fiction books. He has appeared on the TV series The Muppet Show and The Kominsky Method.
Alan Arkin was born on March 26, 1934, in Brooklyn, New York. After a short time, his family moved to Los Angeles.
