Only 30 minutes long, this Swedish short has some nice images, but seeing as I could only find a non-subtitled version on You Tube I couldn't understand the dialog.
As with Dorian Gray, Jekyll and Hyde, and all the classical tales of the beast within, this film visits the topic of the id with allusions to werewolves.
Good soundtrack by Ulver. Short and artsy.
rated M/K
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Sunday, November 28, 2010
The Day The Earth Stood Still
Classic SF. Do I have to say anything? Klaatu Barada Nicto.
Considering this is a based on a short story, it stretches well to a 90 minute movie. Enough techno wow in Gort "The" robot of the 50's. The lighting in the spaceship is both SF and classic noir with a hint of expressionism in it too.
Of course it is preachy and moralistic, but you can also see it as a little too much pro American and UN. After all Klaatu represents a union of planets that is slapping Earths wrist for getting weapons ahead of their maturity level. This is typically seen as a warning against maintaining nuclear arsenals, but in our contemporary world it's analagous to the UN, NATO and the USA keeping the "lesser" and "more volatile" nations in a low tech non-nuclear state.
Patricia Neal is no Jennifer Connolly, but she is a credible heroine.
I never noticed before, but the Klaatu resurrection sequence is almost an homage to the Hel/Maria animation sequence in Metropolis.
rated A/D
Considering this is a based on a short story, it stretches well to a 90 minute movie. Enough techno wow in Gort "The" robot of the 50's. The lighting in the spaceship is both SF and classic noir with a hint of expressionism in it too.
Of course it is preachy and moralistic, but you can also see it as a little too much pro American and UN. After all Klaatu represents a union of planets that is slapping Earths wrist for getting weapons ahead of their maturity level. This is typically seen as a warning against maintaining nuclear arsenals, but in our contemporary world it's analagous to the UN, NATO and the USA keeping the "lesser" and "more volatile" nations in a low tech non-nuclear state.
Patricia Neal is no Jennifer Connolly, but she is a credible heroine.
I never noticed before, but the Klaatu resurrection sequence is almost an homage to the Hel/Maria animation sequence in Metropolis.
rated A/D
The Big Sleep
Ah, now this was worthwhile noir. Humpey as Philip Marlowe. Kinda wish Martha Vickers was the lead gal instead of Lauren Bacall.
After a good solid hour of sleuthing, the case is wrapped up, but that nagging hint of a side story now comes to the fore. There are several more twists to bring us to a grand conclusion. This is thrill a minute stuff, a deserved classic.
Oh, and one thing I noticed in the first hour was how all extras and bit part actresses in the 1940's were very pretty, like the librarian, the girl in the book shop, heck even the taxi driver. I guess they knew what sells movies.
post script. I suspect Netflix provide the '44 version for streaming, not the '46 remix. I'll have to get the DVD to see both versions and decide. I could stand to watch it again, just not tonight.
After a good solid hour of sleuthing, the case is wrapped up, but that nagging hint of a side story now comes to the fore. There are several more twists to bring us to a grand conclusion. This is thrill a minute stuff, a deserved classic.
Oh, and one thing I noticed in the first hour was how all extras and bit part actresses in the 1940's were very pretty, like the librarian, the girl in the book shop, heck even the taxi driver. I guess they knew what sells movies.
post script. I suspect Netflix provide the '44 version for streaming, not the '46 remix. I'll have to get the DVD to see both versions and decide. I could stand to watch it again, just not tonight.
Laura
Well, if it wasn't for the Noel Coward wannabe this might have been an enjoyable noir outing. However, despite the nice twists and pretty lead Gene Tierney, and a youthful caddish Vincent Price, this film still failed to satisfy completely
The Man From Earth
A wonderful one room play. A university professor is moving on, and his colleagues are intrigued as to to why. He presents them with a fascinating tale, how he has to move on every ten years or so because he is immortal. Since his colleagues include a historian, an archaeologist and an anthropologist the are convinced he knows his subjects, but everything is verifiable by text book.
Of course, as with all low tech SF films, it eventually gets around to morality questions and theology. Still, all done in a very good way.
Of course, as with all low tech SF films, it eventually gets around to morality questions and theology. Still, all done in a very good way.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
M.Hulots Holiday
My curiosity in this film was roused when I saw it referenced in a documentary about Rowan Atkinson. Jaques Tati's was referenced as one of the other few comics who can perform such universal physical comedy.
Though this film is not a laugh a minute, it is pretty well paced. The goofy clowning is not all centered around M. Hulot, there are several other clumsy characters, and mischievous children who each either cause or catalyze some humorous event. I think this takes the clumsiness out of the whole.
Another reason to see this is to see a snapshot postcard of how holidays were done. I believe that this is an accurate representation of how French Holidays were, the main hotel seems to dominate the quiet bay, everyone has taken room and board, and the beach empties when the meal bell rings.
I can see why this classic is still available, but it is from a more genteel time, so the pacing I found a little slow.
Though this film is not a laugh a minute, it is pretty well paced. The goofy clowning is not all centered around M. Hulot, there are several other clumsy characters, and mischievous children who each either cause or catalyze some humorous event. I think this takes the clumsiness out of the whole.
Another reason to see this is to see a snapshot postcard of how holidays were done. I believe that this is an accurate representation of how French Holidays were, the main hotel seems to dominate the quiet bay, everyone has taken room and board, and the beach empties when the meal bell rings.
I can see why this classic is still available, but it is from a more genteel time, so the pacing I found a little slow.
Lady Jane
This is a very early Helena Bonham Carter film, she looks younger than she did in "A Room With A View", which purports to have been released the year before this.
After seeing Young Victoria the night before I saw this film the two really seem to be a pair needing to be seen in close proximity. Both deal with a teenage monarch, their ascent to the throne, and those that would manipulate them. In this case, far more tragic then the story of Victoria and Albert.
Always good to see Patrick Stewart treading the boards with Shakespearean verve, though if you turn your back you could almost imagine Brian Blessed bombasting his way through the dialogue.
The fight choreography with Carey Elwes was a little less convincing than John Steeds fighting in a regular episode of The Avengers. However, the rest of the film was well lit, dressed, decorated and shot.
Definitely worth a look see.
After seeing Young Victoria the night before I saw this film the two really seem to be a pair needing to be seen in close proximity. Both deal with a teenage monarch, their ascent to the throne, and those that would manipulate them. In this case, far more tragic then the story of Victoria and Albert.
Always good to see Patrick Stewart treading the boards with Shakespearean verve, though if you turn your back you could almost imagine Brian Blessed bombasting his way through the dialogue.
The fight choreography with Carey Elwes was a little less convincing than John Steeds fighting in a regular episode of The Avengers. However, the rest of the film was well lit, dressed, decorated and shot.
Definitely worth a look see.
Being There
I must admit I have a prejudice against Peter Sellers. There are very few films where he manages to reign in his maniacal behavior and give a clever and charming performance. Strangelove is about as manic as I can take him, The Mouse that Roared is perfect, and so often ((Alice in Wonderland, Pink Panther etc) he goes beyond.
But here, he shows his perfect comic ability as a quiet, understated, genteel gardener who gets misinterpreted by people who look too deep into everything. The overall effect of this political satire is a comfortable comic drama.
This film carries elements that were later reflected in "Forrest Gump", "When Harry Met Sally" and "Dave". The idea that a common man with simple notions can give inspiration and show the way to someone with a more cluttered mind, and then Shirley Maclaines self love sequence is reminiscent of Meg Ryans lunch noises.
The whole film leaves you with a sense of Chance (Sellers) being differently enabled, or at least uneducated. He has never matured. The final sequence, plays on the notion that maybe he was sent from above, and could lend significance to Shirely MacLaines characters name "Eve", but that's probably reading too much into it.
But here, he shows his perfect comic ability as a quiet, understated, genteel gardener who gets misinterpreted by people who look too deep into everything. The overall effect of this political satire is a comfortable comic drama.
This film carries elements that were later reflected in "Forrest Gump", "When Harry Met Sally" and "Dave". The idea that a common man with simple notions can give inspiration and show the way to someone with a more cluttered mind, and then Shirley Maclaines self love sequence is reminiscent of Meg Ryans lunch noises.
The whole film leaves you with a sense of Chance (Sellers) being differently enabled, or at least uneducated. He has never matured. The final sequence, plays on the notion that maybe he was sent from above, and could lend significance to Shirely MacLaines characters name "Eve", but that's probably reading too much into it.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Mary and Max
This is a wonderful full length animation. Set in Australia and New York, its a simple romance story of a young girl and her pen pal. Her pen pal is older, and sees the world from a very different perspective. It's later revealed that he is an Aspie.
The coloration of the film is wonderful. Mary is lacking in confidence, has a pill popping mother who is fighting or rather falling victim to depression. Marys world is the scorched sepia tones one could almost associate with dry grass of eternal summers. Max's world is black and white and scarlet. The only color being in the lipstick of the woman who has a crush on him, and a pompom Mary makes for him.
The coloring is well in keeping with the locations and the characters moods. No this is not a depressing movie.
The two lead characters develop a natural relationship, managing to irk each other periodically, but having the strength of friendship to see it through.
Though Max is almost stereotypical for an Aspie, we have to forgive the creators this, as he is a plainly stated, clear to understand representation, he is a starting point, much as in Rain Man where the world was introduced to "classical" autism.
The mix of gross out humour and a loving coming of age story blend together into a well constructed film. Go ahead and see this one soon.
The coloration of the film is wonderful. Mary is lacking in confidence, has a pill popping mother who is fighting or rather falling victim to depression. Marys world is the scorched sepia tones one could almost associate with dry grass of eternal summers. Max's world is black and white and scarlet. The only color being in the lipstick of the woman who has a crush on him, and a pompom Mary makes for him.
The coloring is well in keeping with the locations and the characters moods. No this is not a depressing movie.
The two lead characters develop a natural relationship, managing to irk each other periodically, but having the strength of friendship to see it through.
Though Max is almost stereotypical for an Aspie, we have to forgive the creators this, as he is a plainly stated, clear to understand representation, he is a starting point, much as in Rain Man where the world was introduced to "classical" autism.
The mix of gross out humour and a loving coming of age story blend together into a well constructed film. Go ahead and see this one soon.
Rembrandt's J'accuse
The question is, if you make a 2 1/2 hour movie about a painting, do you also need to make a 100 minute documentary about it also?
The answer is yes. Peter Greenaway, one time painter, some time movie director, all round pretentious scholarly type does exactly that with "The Nightwatch", a painting by Rembrandt of a town militia, who may well have been involved in a conspiracy of murder.
The film which "J'accuse" is a companion to is Nightwatching, staring Martin Freeman as Rembrandt, and a talented supporting cast as the rest of his household and townsfolk.
J'accuse is not about the film, but about the painting. Using sequences from the film to illustrate the documentary, and Greenaway being granted interviews with the characters from the film to clarify some points of view.
J'accuse, like all analytical works, seem to harp on about apparent trivialities and make them significant points. This essay finds 34 features of the painting to critique, and casts them as "evidence" in a murder trial. It seems that everything is subject to analysis, but sometimes "a cigar is just a cigar". Despite that gripe I did enjoy the tenacious investigation and expose. Like all works of art, in the end it's just an interpretation, this one people seem to believe they know what they are looking for, and so they see it.
Like in "The Pillow Book" Greenaway does not constrain his documentary to one aspect ratio, he chooses the frame that suits his need, and in a way that the audience can just flow with it.
Nightwatching is a dramatic presentation of the painting of the picture. Rembrandt meets all the characters, with his prejudice biased by gossip and investigation into the murder of the former captain of the militia. It also shows how the accused and compromised usurp political pressure which crushes the great artists career. This documentary clarifies the innuendo in the drama. The two films are essential companions. It is the play and the Cliff Notes.
The answer is yes. Peter Greenaway, one time painter, some time movie director, all round pretentious scholarly type does exactly that with "The Nightwatch", a painting by Rembrandt of a town militia, who may well have been involved in a conspiracy of murder.
The film which "J'accuse" is a companion to is Nightwatching, staring Martin Freeman as Rembrandt, and a talented supporting cast as the rest of his household and townsfolk.
J'accuse is not about the film, but about the painting. Using sequences from the film to illustrate the documentary, and Greenaway being granted interviews with the characters from the film to clarify some points of view.
J'accuse, like all analytical works, seem to harp on about apparent trivialities and make them significant points. This essay finds 34 features of the painting to critique, and casts them as "evidence" in a murder trial. It seems that everything is subject to analysis, but sometimes "a cigar is just a cigar". Despite that gripe I did enjoy the tenacious investigation and expose. Like all works of art, in the end it's just an interpretation, this one people seem to believe they know what they are looking for, and so they see it.
Like in "The Pillow Book" Greenaway does not constrain his documentary to one aspect ratio, he chooses the frame that suits his need, and in a way that the audience can just flow with it.
Nightwatching is a dramatic presentation of the painting of the picture. Rembrandt meets all the characters, with his prejudice biased by gossip and investigation into the murder of the former captain of the militia. It also shows how the accused and compromised usurp political pressure which crushes the great artists career. This documentary clarifies the innuendo in the drama. The two films are essential companions. It is the play and the Cliff Notes.
Deathly Hallows Part 1
Okay, so we all go into this expecting a reasonably well illustrated companion to the novel, trimming details that would turn the 5 hour epic into a 20 hour miniseries. And since this is only half the concluding novel we know they have to choose a breaking point which is a cliff hanger.
So how did it measure up? Sure a lot of details are trimmed, but we are left with the essentials of the story. The pacing is cinematic and also faithful to the spirit of the text. This film is also truly not a little kids film, following the maturity curve of the novels.
I will limit myself to a few high-points and a few low.
{Spoiler alert}
As Hermione reads the tale of the three brothers, from Beadle the Bard, we are treated to a wonderful animated illustration of the text. It is reminiscent of "The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello". The director for this sequence was Ben Hibon, I shall be looking for more of his work.
The tension between the famous trio during their travels in exile is well acted, and Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe do show good acting ability. Their despair and misery is not quite as absolute as in the book. Also we miss the scene where the other group of renegades camp alongside our heros and let slip that Bellatrix does not have the real sword.
The breaking point is well chosen. Anyone who decides to see Deathly Hallows as their first Harry Potter film and don't notice the "Part One" will be surely miffed at the conclusion, Dobby's death and Voldemort seizing the elder wand from the dead Dumbledore.
On the whole there was little to complain about, but the loss of Hedwig and Mad Eye get shrugged off a bit quick. These were serious losses in the book. Still as I said this one alone is 2hrs 17 minutes, the second half should be as long.
Also in Godrics Hollow, Harry starts talking to Nagini (disguised as Mathilda Bagshot) in parceltongue, I thought it was done naturally and well, Harry does that without noticing, but a fellow audience member (who also didn't know Dumbledore was dead, and surprised when the film stopped) didn't quite get that, and asked "what did she say".
If you haven't read the book, and you don't want a cliff hanger looming over you for 9 months, go and see the double bill next summer (you know there will be all day marathons for the series somewhere). This penultimate Potter was very well executed.
So how did it measure up? Sure a lot of details are trimmed, but we are left with the essentials of the story. The pacing is cinematic and also faithful to the spirit of the text. This film is also truly not a little kids film, following the maturity curve of the novels.
I will limit myself to a few high-points and a few low.
{Spoiler alert}
As Hermione reads the tale of the three brothers, from Beadle the Bard, we are treated to a wonderful animated illustration of the text. It is reminiscent of "The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello". The director for this sequence was Ben Hibon, I shall be looking for more of his work.
The tension between the famous trio during their travels in exile is well acted, and Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe do show good acting ability. Their despair and misery is not quite as absolute as in the book. Also we miss the scene where the other group of renegades camp alongside our heros and let slip that Bellatrix does not have the real sword.
The breaking point is well chosen. Anyone who decides to see Deathly Hallows as their first Harry Potter film and don't notice the "Part One" will be surely miffed at the conclusion, Dobby's death and Voldemort seizing the elder wand from the dead Dumbledore.
On the whole there was little to complain about, but the loss of Hedwig and Mad Eye get shrugged off a bit quick. These were serious losses in the book. Still as I said this one alone is 2hrs 17 minutes, the second half should be as long.
Also in Godrics Hollow, Harry starts talking to Nagini (disguised as Mathilda Bagshot) in parceltongue, I thought it was done naturally and well, Harry does that without noticing, but a fellow audience member (who also didn't know Dumbledore was dead, and surprised when the film stopped) didn't quite get that, and asked "what did she say".
If you haven't read the book, and you don't want a cliff hanger looming over you for 9 months, go and see the double bill next summer (you know there will be all day marathons for the series somewhere). This penultimate Potter was very well executed.
Sunshine Cleaning
I know, it's not fair to post a review of a film I only half watched, but this one I think I had its measure before too long.
The story should be funny enough, single mom changes maid service business into crime scene/biohazard cleanup service for a lot higher rate of pay.
Amy Adams (Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day) is a vivacious actress, reminiscent of a young Nicole Kidman and a capable actress. Emily Blunt plays her dysfunctional sister. It's a comedy, you need dysfunctional siblings for that.
Despite getting to see Amy in her underwear often, the jokes are handled poorly. Another part of the story is how Amys son is getting in trouble at school, and she is told that he needs to be medicated to stay in mainstream schooling. Here we have enough poorly researched writing, based on 80's tabloid tittle tattle rather than fact, that I just gave up.
Who knows it may have picked up later, but.
The story should be funny enough, single mom changes maid service business into crime scene/biohazard cleanup service for a lot higher rate of pay.
Amy Adams (Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day) is a vivacious actress, reminiscent of a young Nicole Kidman and a capable actress. Emily Blunt plays her dysfunctional sister. It's a comedy, you need dysfunctional siblings for that.
Despite getting to see Amy in her underwear often, the jokes are handled poorly. Another part of the story is how Amys son is getting in trouble at school, and she is told that he needs to be medicated to stay in mainstream schooling. Here we have enough poorly researched writing, based on 80's tabloid tittle tattle rather than fact, that I just gave up.
Who knows it may have picked up later, but.
Young Victoria
It's always good seeing Jim Broadbent, even if his character is short lived. Broadbent has previously played Albert in "Blackadders Christmas Carol".
Emily Blunt I'd previously seen in "Sunshine Cleaners", a heavy handed black comedy, and so I wasn't expecting too much from her, however I was pleasantly surprised. It seems she did well in both films, and Sunshine Cleaners did not suffer from either Amy Adams or Emily Blunt, but ham fisted script writing.
So "Young Victoria" is an interesting tale, a bit of a political drama, and a romance. It has its moments, being quite pretty to watch, but it seems to assume you know the dramatis personae before you start watching. If you take it as a look at a young monarch you will not be disappointed, if you are looking for the foundation of an empire, then you will be let down.
Emily Blunt I'd previously seen in "Sunshine Cleaners", a heavy handed black comedy, and so I wasn't expecting too much from her, however I was pleasantly surprised. It seems she did well in both films, and Sunshine Cleaners did not suffer from either Amy Adams or Emily Blunt, but ham fisted script writing.
So "Young Victoria" is an interesting tale, a bit of a political drama, and a romance. It has its moments, being quite pretty to watch, but it seems to assume you know the dramatis personae before you start watching. If you take it as a look at a young monarch you will not be disappointed, if you are looking for the foundation of an empire, then you will be let down.
Outsourced
Pretty predictable rom-com about a telesales department being outsourced to India from Seattle. The thing that made it unpredictable was the handling of yonis and lingums (see Richard Burtons translation for details) and a crass rubber joke.
Some funny bits, not too sappy.
Some funny bits, not too sappy.
Let The Right One In
This is a charming Swedish romance. Set in a high school in the early 80's, Oscar is a loner, and picked on by the class bully. When a new girl moves into his apartment block he finally finds a friend.
Of course this friend looks like a 12 year old girl, but is a couple of hundred years old, and of course a vampire. At this point I expect you to roll your eyes and move on, but please don't. This film manages to be a coming of age movie that's not too sappy, a low budget vampire film that's not too cheesy and has some almost intelligent things to say about love, friendship, and codependency.
Of course this friend looks like a 12 year old girl, but is a couple of hundred years old, and of course a vampire. At this point I expect you to roll your eyes and move on, but please don't. This film manages to be a coming of age movie that's not too sappy, a low budget vampire film that's not too cheesy and has some almost intelligent things to say about love, friendship, and codependency.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
I've long since stopped watching "Westerns", but my good friend Orlando (on-line friend of impeccable taste in literature and movies) pointed me in the direction of this one (or was it my cousin Bin Lids?).
This is a good well constructed drama, maybe even factually accurate. It paints a different picture of Jesse James to the one I've seen before, and is dressed in a way which looks more in keeping of photographs of the period than the "John Wayne" image/stereotype we have of such characters.
DW enjoyed this film too, after being understandably guarded when I proposed a "cowboy movie".
Brad Pitt again proves himself an actor, and not just a pretty boy, I know, if you see someone in grocery store magazine racks too often you figure they are a celebrity and not a talented actor.
Story, acting, composition, photography, music all made this a treat to watch. you should definitely see it.
post script
Pandora just served up some of the theme music to me, it's by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, and is beautiful.
This is a good well constructed drama, maybe even factually accurate. It paints a different picture of Jesse James to the one I've seen before, and is dressed in a way which looks more in keeping of photographs of the period than the "John Wayne" image/stereotype we have of such characters.
DW enjoyed this film too, after being understandably guarded when I proposed a "cowboy movie".
Brad Pitt again proves himself an actor, and not just a pretty boy, I know, if you see someone in grocery store magazine racks too often you figure they are a celebrity and not a talented actor.
Story, acting, composition, photography, music all made this a treat to watch. you should definitely see it.
post script
Pandora just served up some of the theme music to me, it's by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, and is beautiful.
The Tracey Fragments
Well, after seeing Hard Candy I was eager to see what else Ellen Page had done (first saw as an inflight movie in '07). The Tracey Fragments was one of the first of her other films that I saw. I was suitably impressed, and wanted to rewatch it after a decent interval.
A couple of years later and I've just done that. It's still a good film, its on screen presentation is of multiple images alongside each other, ofter offset in time (unlike Wicked Wicked's "duo vision" with its permanent split screen and coincident timing).
The Tracey Fragments are just that, a look through the mind of a tortured young woman who suffers daily bullying, dysfunctional mother, and finally has to face responsibility for a tragic accident .
The lighting and camera work is fantastic, and the editing avoids annoying with a technique that might have been turned into a failed cheap trick in the hands of a less skillful director/editor team.
Good film, I will see this again.
A couple of years later and I've just done that. It's still a good film, its on screen presentation is of multiple images alongside each other, ofter offset in time (unlike Wicked Wicked's "duo vision" with its permanent split screen and coincident timing).
The Tracey Fragments are just that, a look through the mind of a tortured young woman who suffers daily bullying, dysfunctional mother, and finally has to face responsibility for a tragic accident .
The lighting and camera work is fantastic, and the editing avoids annoying with a technique that might have been turned into a failed cheap trick in the hands of a less skillful director/editor team.
Good film, I will see this again.
Gloomy Sunday
Pretty Girl and romantic scenery, what more could you want from a film?
Well, this film has got plenty more going for it. It's hard to place this romance/drama. It's almost a hint of a ghost story, but not in the traditional sense, it's not a film about the holocaust, though Nazi occupation of Hungary is a key theme, and it's not a smutty film about a ménage.
Despite some depressing elements, this is a very optimistic film throughout, with people generally finding the good things in life, even though most the principles get defeated ultimately.
As I say, just nice to watch, and a story that takes a winding, but not twisting path to its conclusion.
Well, this film has got plenty more going for it. It's hard to place this romance/drama. It's almost a hint of a ghost story, but not in the traditional sense, it's not a film about the holocaust, though Nazi occupation of Hungary is a key theme, and it's not a smutty film about a ménage.
Despite some depressing elements, this is a very optimistic film throughout, with people generally finding the good things in life, even though most the principles get defeated ultimately.
As I say, just nice to watch, and a story that takes a winding, but not twisting path to its conclusion.
A Life Less Ordinary
After having seen Shallow Grave and Trainspotting big screen, and enjoying McGregors performance in most things I'd seen him in (even Brassed Off) I must admit it is surprising I'd never bothered with this Danny Boyle film. I do remember hearing negative things about the film at the time, so evaded it.
It's kinda funny to see it now as I have recently seen a bunch of Angel films, including Dogma, Wings or Desire and Angel-A. I didn't know anything about this film other then the epithet "rom com" had been attached to it.
Turns out this is a rom com in the same way Angel-A is, though not delivered quite as well. I wish I'd seen "The Chase" with Charlie Sheen so I can compare this kidnap film to the that one.
Holly Hunter played an excellent psychotic, desperately trying to escape the threat of mortality. I don't think I've ever seen her in a kick butt role before, but she does it well. I did keep thinking of the character "Yolanda/Honey Bunny" from Pulp Fiction, played excellently by Amanda Plummer.
Sure there are cliches and obvious jokes in this, but come on, do we ever watch a Danny Boyle film for anything else (okay, some people liked the zombie aspect of 28 Days Later).
Worth a look see, not the best Danny Boyle, but we all have our off days.
http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/A-Life-Less-Ordinary/1179373?trkid=438403#height1525
It's kinda funny to see it now as I have recently seen a bunch of Angel films, including Dogma, Wings or Desire and Angel-A. I didn't know anything about this film other then the epithet "rom com" had been attached to it.
Turns out this is a rom com in the same way Angel-A is, though not delivered quite as well. I wish I'd seen "The Chase" with Charlie Sheen so I can compare this kidnap film to the that one.
Holly Hunter played an excellent psychotic, desperately trying to escape the threat of mortality. I don't think I've ever seen her in a kick butt role before, but she does it well. I did keep thinking of the character "Yolanda/Honey Bunny" from Pulp Fiction, played excellently by Amanda Plummer.
Sure there are cliches and obvious jokes in this, but come on, do we ever watch a Danny Boyle film for anything else (okay, some people liked the zombie aspect of 28 Days Later).
Worth a look see, not the best Danny Boyle, but we all have our off days.
http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/A-Life-Less-Ordinary/1179373?trkid=438403#height1525
Sunday, November 14, 2010
wings of desire
I've been avoiding Wim Wenders for quite some time, I had a disappointing experience when I was about 20, say no more.
Wonderful, crisp photography, very active camera motions, beautifully shot. This film is every bit as introspective as expected from one of this director's films.
We get to see the world through the eyes of some Angels, as the catalog and document what we are doing and thinking presumably saving this information for Judgment Day. And, typical of Angel films, one of these angels besides the defendant with immortality and standoffishness of his position in life. He wants to become mortal, and live life to its fullest, enjoying every nuance of daily life. Et aussie cherchez la femme.
The only uncomfortable thing about the film was some of the vocalizations or choral passages, which I suspect were by Laurie Anderson.
I believe this is one of the trilogy of films, and I look forward to the sequels.
Wonderful, crisp photography, very active camera motions, beautifully shot. This film is every bit as introspective as expected from one of this director's films.
We get to see the world through the eyes of some Angels, as the catalog and document what we are doing and thinking presumably saving this information for Judgment Day. And, typical of Angel films, one of these angels besides the defendant with immortality and standoffishness of his position in life. He wants to become mortal, and live life to its fullest, enjoying every nuance of daily life. Et aussie cherchez la femme.
The only uncomfortable thing about the film was some of the vocalizations or choral passages, which I suspect were by Laurie Anderson.
I believe this is one of the trilogy of films, and I look forward to the sequels.
He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not
The film starts out much like a romantic comedy; pretty young girl in love with older doctor, him with a wife in tow as well, what could be worse, we know that they all get together and be happy in the end. Twenty minutes into the film, just when you think you've taken all the smiley happy faces you can from the pretty girl, knowing the train wreck of a situation she is in, the film rewinds to the start, and we pick up the story from the doctor's point of view. At this point we're confronted with a thriller, with a young woman who is psychotically in love with the doctor, and viciously hunting down his wife to get her out the way.
I didn't get to see the whole film, but think I will go back and revisit it at some point.
Update: I did get to see the rest, nice bait and switch. Good use of color throughout.
I didn't get to see the whole film, but think I will go back and revisit it at some point.
Update: I did get to see the rest, nice bait and switch. Good use of color throughout.
Harvey
What can I say, a classic 1950s farce. Jimmy Stewart for the lovable drunk, possibly crazy. Pompous judges, excitable sisters, management Nice, a host of extras, and the 6'3" rabbit, white.
It was the first time in that film in about 15 years maybe 20. Still quite amusing, although the sense of humor at times was old-fashioned and annoying.
It was the first time in that film in about 15 years maybe 20. Still quite amusing, although the sense of humor at times was old-fashioned and annoying.
Delicatessen
Jean-Paul Jeaunet, in his almost Gilliamesque, much like "city of lost children", style.
It seems Amalie with an exception to the rule not the norm. Wide-angle lenses, both of the faces, interesting looking people, and the grim tale, but optimistic outcome.
If cannibalism and dark humor are not your thing then this film will not be. Still overall it was quite amusing, a few clichés, but some fun surprises along the way.
It seems Amalie with an exception to the rule not the norm. Wide-angle lenses, both of the faces, interesting looking people, and the grim tale, but optimistic outcome.
If cannibalism and dark humor are not your thing then this film will not be. Still overall it was quite amusing, a few clichés, but some fun surprises along the way.
The Seventh Seal
What a delightful film this was. I was worried this would be just too thinky too talkie, too introspective. It wasn't, it was, but it wasn't.
This is that old Swedish classic were night plays chess with with Death. Eventually returning from the Crusades, and on his journey home. He collects an interesting entourage of miscellaneous people. These include a troupe of actors, a blacksmith and his errant wife, and the peasant girl. On the journey being count the plague victims, and guards on a witch hunt. There is also true prove develop will punishing themselves before God punishes them with the plague. All these subplot, and the vaguely reminiscent of Monty Python and the holy Grail. One suspects the seventh seal was a great inspiration to the famous six.
I was surprised how much the film reminded me of any film by Kurosawa. This was not only the pacing, the honor and nobility of the lead characters, the rascalliness of the lower classes, but also in the lighting and framing.
Again one to watch, but one to watch when you have a few hours spare and you feel like something slow-paced.
This is that old Swedish classic were night plays chess with with Death. Eventually returning from the Crusades, and on his journey home. He collects an interesting entourage of miscellaneous people. These include a troupe of actors, a blacksmith and his errant wife, and the peasant girl. On the journey being count the plague victims, and guards on a witch hunt. There is also true prove develop will punishing themselves before God punishes them with the plague. All these subplot, and the vaguely reminiscent of Monty Python and the holy Grail. One suspects the seventh seal was a great inspiration to the famous six.
I was surprised how much the film reminded me of any film by Kurosawa. This was not only the pacing, the honor and nobility of the lead characters, the rascalliness of the lower classes, but also in the lighting and framing.
Again one to watch, but one to watch when you have a few hours spare and you feel like something slow-paced.
The Third Man
This truly is classic noir. Set in postwar Austria, all about black-market economy, and the general lawlessness of things. Friend is set against friend as ugly truths are revealed.
Of course there is the girl, the damsel in distress. This one keeps the hero around when he should have long since stopped.
McNealy likened, good direction, good acting, incessant music which I didn't think fitted.
Like Casablanca, another film I hadn't seen in the this year, it was a pleasant surprise this classic lives up to its reputation. Definitely one to watch..
Of course there is the girl, the damsel in distress. This one keeps the hero around when he should have long since stopped.
McNealy likened, good direction, good acting, incessant music which I didn't think fitted.
Like Casablanca, another film I hadn't seen in the this year, it was a pleasant surprise this classic lives up to its reputation. Definitely one to watch..
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Never Let Me Go
This was a sad film, set in the very Britain which I grew up in. It focuses on the then emerging technology of human organ transplant. To fulfill the requirements of the system, organs must be grown. The film follows the process.
Their is a special class of person raised in boarding schools, their life expectancy is to be terminated on that third or fourth donation. These children are raised in the belief that that is the right and proper thing to do; that is what they expect, and the consequence is that they do nothing to resolve their situation.
Though the story is bleak, and it's disturbing how the characters accept that role in life, the film is still very interesting to watch. The pastoral scenes of Britain are this wonderful, cinematography is very good, very careful.
I still believe that Kiera Knightley is not the best actress, though Carey Mulligan is pretty damn good.
Not a feel good date movie.
Their is a special class of person raised in boarding schools, their life expectancy is to be terminated on that third or fourth donation. These children are raised in the belief that that is the right and proper thing to do; that is what they expect, and the consequence is that they do nothing to resolve their situation.
Though the story is bleak, and it's disturbing how the characters accept that role in life, the film is still very interesting to watch. The pastoral scenes of Britain are this wonderful, cinematography is very good, very careful.
I still believe that Kiera Knightley is not the best actress, though Carey Mulligan is pretty damn good.
Not a feel good date movie.
the girl who played with fire
This is the second film in the Millennium Trilogy.following the adventures of This is the second film in the millennium trilogy, following the adventures of Lizbeth Salander, as she wends her way through the Swedish underworld.
Bloomquvist is also very present in the story. He looks older, driving a Toyota Prius, wearing reading glasses, biker jacket, and still getting involved. This role is still crucial, heading up the magazine in a grueling investigation of the Scandinavian white slave trade.
Lizbeth has just returned from a year in exile, and uses her newfound wealth to fix some wrongs in the past. These include continued misdoings of her parole officer, a reunion with her father, and meeting with her brother.
Once again Sweden provides a beautiful backdrop, and enviable place to live with amazing Mercedes ambulances. At that with the crime world is like that, then I don't want to live that.
The film was only really marred by one seeing, where Lizbeth has a brush with death, and an escape that not even the Terminator would've survived.
Overall an entertaining, if violent film. I am looking forward to part three., as she went away to the Swedish underworld.
Bloomquvist is also very present in the story. He looks older, driving a Toyota Prius, wearing reading glasses, biker jacket, and still getting involved. This role is still crucial, heading up the magazine in a grueling investigation of the Scandinavian white slave trade.
Lizbeth has just returned from a year in exile, and uses her newfound wealth to fix some wrongs in the past. These include continued misdoings of her parole officer, a reunion with her father, and meeting with her brother.
Once again Sweden provides a beautiful backdrop, and enviable place to live with amazing Mercedes ambulances. At that with the crime world is like that, then I don't want to live that.
The film was only really marred by one seeing, where Lizbeth has a brush with death, and an escape that not even the Terminator would've survived.
Overall an entertaining, if violent film. I am looking forward to part three., as she went away to the Swedish underworld.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
The Cat Returns
Another good film from Studio Ghibli, however I was feeling lazy and watched the US dub. There were some stilted characters.
This one doesn't have the depth of look that a lot of their films have, but still was amusing and magical. It is the story that is referred to in "Whisper of the Heart", and like that is about a young girl getting to validate her character and know who she is.
Not as good a film as I was hoping for, but we're spoiled by seeing so many Miyazaki films.
This one doesn't have the depth of look that a lot of their films have, but still was amusing and magical. It is the story that is referred to in "Whisper of the Heart", and like that is about a young girl getting to validate her character and know who she is.
Not as good a film as I was hoping for, but we're spoiled by seeing so many Miyazaki films.
Arthur and the Invisibles
I hate to do this, but, I found a Luc Besson film I didn't care for.
The film is beautifully shot, don't get me wrong, even if the scenes in the town look a little mixed in their vintage, this is a fantasy after all. The animated sequences are polished, the character designs are good, but oh what a terrible dub for the English version. I hear the English version also had some details cut from it too.
Maybe I should try it again with the French soundtrack, but I don't have high hopes.
C'est la vie.
The film is beautifully shot, don't get me wrong, even if the scenes in the town look a little mixed in their vintage, this is a fantasy after all. The animated sequences are polished, the character designs are good, but oh what a terrible dub for the English version. I hear the English version also had some details cut from it too.
Maybe I should try it again with the French soundtrack, but I don't have high hopes.
C'est la vie.
Contact
What can I say, Carl Sagan finally put pen to paper for a science fiction novel, which was wonderful, reminiscent of Nigel Kneals writings.
That this got filmed is great also, a wonderful story of hope and faith in a world rife with technology. It's also a fun look at SETI projects, and politics between science and the government, the government and the world. For good measure a love story, some time travel, good science and then technobabble.
Jodie Foster, as always good, makes a strong lead.
The best use of FX in this film for me was the sequence when Ellies father died.
Good film, full of hope and optimism; a film that somehow never became really big, but definitely deserves more attention than it got.
That this got filmed is great also, a wonderful story of hope and faith in a world rife with technology. It's also a fun look at SETI projects, and politics between science and the government, the government and the world. For good measure a love story, some time travel, good science and then technobabble.
Jodie Foster, as always good, makes a strong lead.
The best use of FX in this film for me was the sequence when Ellies father died.
Good film, full of hope and optimism; a film that somehow never became really big, but definitely deserves more attention than it got.
Foyle's War - Enemy Fire
I really want to add this to the list for two reasons, one is because it excuses the lack of film reviews this week, and secondly an episode of Foyles War has all the merits of a movie anyway, each being treated by the crew and cast a s TV movie.
This episode is very representative of the level of writing and acting, and is one of the larger budget episodes too, with more FX and done on a grander scale.
Foyle's War is an excellent view of war time Britain, by being on the South coast (Hastings) we are placed away from London and typical war time drama, but also on the coast most vulnerable to invasion where tensions must have been the highest for rural Britain. The attention to detail, and depth of research done by the writer leaves you with very richly painted vignettes of society and politics at the time, without all the bull and bravado of a war film.
This episode is very representative of the level of writing and acting, and is one of the larger budget episodes too, with more FX and done on a grander scale.
Foyle's War is an excellent view of war time Britain, by being on the South coast (Hastings) we are placed away from London and typical war time drama, but also on the coast most vulnerable to invasion where tensions must have been the highest for rural Britain. The attention to detail, and depth of research done by the writer leaves you with very richly painted vignettes of society and politics at the time, without all the bull and bravado of a war film.
Cast Away
I was very pleasantly surprised by this one, Tom Hanks not being his usual role. Mind you I think the problem is I saw too many of his old movies. I did enjoy "Apollo 13", and to some extent "Forrest Gump", FG suffered from being so talked about, and oft lampooned on TV and in all the talk shows etc that I just got burnt out on it. As a consequence a modern day retelling of Robinson Crusoe held no appeal for me, especially with Hanks in the lead. I guess I can't blame him for "The Ladykillers", what a terrible re-make.
The opening of the film has a chain of Fed Ex packages making their way to Russia where we meet the most obnoxious of people, the sort of jerk you wish would drop dead, they also introduce you to a philandering husband, who seems to then fall out of the plot.
The island setting is fantastic, you wonder how they could film on such a small beach and never see the camera, especially when they are at the very end of the island, or on top of the island and do 360 pans. Well, apparently almost every scene was packed with CGI, and it was so seemlessly there and so natural looking you just don't notice. Like all the CG in Forrest Gump, except when the president it there.
Sad, moving and fortunately side steps the cliched ending, and with no tribesmen to get in the way.
The opening of the film has a chain of Fed Ex packages making their way to Russia where we meet the most obnoxious of people, the sort of jerk you wish would drop dead, they also introduce you to a philandering husband, who seems to then fall out of the plot.
The island setting is fantastic, you wonder how they could film on such a small beach and never see the camera, especially when they are at the very end of the island, or on top of the island and do 360 pans. Well, apparently almost every scene was packed with CGI, and it was so seemlessly there and so natural looking you just don't notice. Like all the CG in Forrest Gump, except when the president it there.
Sad, moving and fortunately side steps the cliched ending, and with no tribesmen to get in the way.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
The Rocketeer
Since I have a nine year old at home I rented this action adventure.
Typical adventure flick, fast planes, car chases, explosions, villains, heroes and a rocket pack.
Vaguely reminiscent of "King of the Rocketmen", this film is actually based on a graphic novel. It mixes in historical figures such as Howard Hughes and is set in 1938, with a vague backdrop of Nazi world domination.
Beyond thrill a minute, Jennifer Connelly as the heroine, Timothy Dalton as the big bad villain what else is there to say.
Typical adventure flick, fast planes, car chases, explosions, villains, heroes and a rocket pack.
Vaguely reminiscent of "King of the Rocketmen", this film is actually based on a graphic novel. It mixes in historical figures such as Howard Hughes and is set in 1938, with a vague backdrop of Nazi world domination.
Beyond thrill a minute, Jennifer Connelly as the heroine, Timothy Dalton as the big bad villain what else is there to say.
Ikiru
Akira Kurosawa, famed for Samurai movies, produced this tale of a man who doesn't escape the minutia of the bureaucratic machine until he is diagnosed with inoperable stomach cancer. At this point, with help from an artist and young co-worker, he learns how to escape, but also learns that he can do something worthwhile.
Half the film is set after his demise, going back and looking at his last months in retrospect.
A wonderful film about town councils and jobsworthyness, and not wanting to break the status quo. Though a little long in places this film is mostly well paced, giving time to absorb what is happening.
Half the film is set after his demise, going back and looking at his last months in retrospect.
A wonderful film about town councils and jobsworthyness, and not wanting to break the status quo. Though a little long in places this film is mostly well paced, giving time to absorb what is happening.
A Very Long Engagement
Like "Amelie" and "City of Lost Children", this film has a quirky story and beautiful photography. A lovely palette is used to paint this picture.
So this story is set in the early 20's, a young lady is trying to find the truth about her fiancee, who is believed to have died in the trenches. Like Amelie, we are exposed to a huge array of interesting characters and magical moments.
The scenes in the trenches are gruesome, not as brutal as they could be and still somewhat sugar coated. This film is not about war heroes, but about those who found the war too much to handle and looked for a way out, and the legacy they left behind.
One of my favourite characters was the Corsican pimps girlfriend, who goes on a manhunt for the men who led to his death. She has a certain style to her revenge.
The lead character though, Mathilde, is a sweet and determined young lady who is out for the truth. Her investigation leads her around France, stitching together messages left behind and eye witness accounts. As usual there are a dozen twists and turns, and a typical European style optimistic ending.
So this story is set in the early 20's, a young lady is trying to find the truth about her fiancee, who is believed to have died in the trenches. Like Amelie, we are exposed to a huge array of interesting characters and magical moments.
The scenes in the trenches are gruesome, not as brutal as they could be and still somewhat sugar coated. This film is not about war heroes, but about those who found the war too much to handle and looked for a way out, and the legacy they left behind.
One of my favourite characters was the Corsican pimps girlfriend, who goes on a manhunt for the men who led to his death. She has a certain style to her revenge.
The lead character though, Mathilde, is a sweet and determined young lady who is out for the truth. Her investigation leads her around France, stitching together messages left behind and eye witness accounts. As usual there are a dozen twists and turns, and a typical European style optimistic ending.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Rabbit-Proof Fence
This is one of those great stories of someone overcoming great personal hardship and triumphing. It is also one of those terrible films that reminds us of how bad people can be. It is about the "Stolen Generation" where Australia of the 1930's was running a policy of integration to absorb half-caste aboriginals back into white society by breeding them out.
The cast are extremely young and none of them from an acting background, however the director did his work and found three very talented girls. I see that only one of them has acted since, but still it's early days.
Like in Walkabout the story is tragic and simple. We are allowed to enjoy the expansive vistas of the outback, and brood over the facts we've been presented without distraction of a thrill a minute plot. I would not say the pace was leisurely or idle, just not all wham-bam.
Like in THX-1138, the chase of the escapees is limited by budgetary concerns. There is a national policy to enforce, but only so many dollars to enforce it with. I guess this illustrates how people get stuck in the bureaucratic machinery without thinking about the what or why they are doing.
Overall I liked the film. The making of documentary is worth taking a look see at also.
And Brannagh is not insufferably egotistical in this.
The cast are extremely young and none of them from an acting background, however the director did his work and found three very talented girls. I see that only one of them has acted since, but still it's early days.
Like in Walkabout the story is tragic and simple. We are allowed to enjoy the expansive vistas of the outback, and brood over the facts we've been presented without distraction of a thrill a minute plot. I would not say the pace was leisurely or idle, just not all wham-bam.
Like in THX-1138, the chase of the escapees is limited by budgetary concerns. There is a national policy to enforce, but only so many dollars to enforce it with. I guess this illustrates how people get stuck in the bureaucratic machinery without thinking about the what or why they are doing.
Overall I liked the film. The making of documentary is worth taking a look see at also.
And Brannagh is not insufferably egotistical in this.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Inception
I don’t want to say I’ve seen it before, but…
After the first nested dream I was reminded of two films I’d seen, “The Lathe of Heaven” made by PBS (WNET) based on the Ursula K Le Guin novel, and “Lathe of Heaven” made by A&E (yes I did used to have Cable).
The other film that I went in with a prejudiced expectation of seeing was “Paprika” by Satoshi Kon, but that was not too heavily referenced, the dreams in Inception sticking closer to reality, like in “Abre los Ojos”, a flaw in Vanilla sky was allowing less subtle surrealism into the dreams at times, giving hints which deny the Spanish originals sharp twist at the end.
The recurring dead wife motif was definitely reminiscent of “Solyaris” (Tarkovsky, ’71), but Mal and Ariadne were both facets of “Annie Cartwright” from the UK version of “Life On Mars”.
So Jim Phelps takes the IMF on a dream diving escapade. Technobable, a couple of neat ideas and what have we got, licence to have an action flick where we can get away with zero G in a hotel and trains ploughing through a monsoon soaked LA. Oh American spell checkers always hate the UK spelling of plowing.
I did not think “12 Monkeys” at all, but now, rethinking through the airport scene I am wondering if that was a tribute to that film, or more especially “La Jetée” which 12 monkeys is derived from.
So were you please or disappointed that it had the exact same ending as Solyaris? I almost expected it to start raining in the house. There was another film where the hero escaped into a coma state, no not “One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest”, but I can’t place it for now.
Hans Zimmer soundtrack was pretty good. FX excellent. “photography” was lush, the Paris sequences especially.
Pete Postlethwait and Leo in a film together again. Ellen Page all (more) grown up.
After the first nested dream I was reminded of two films I’d seen, “The Lathe of Heaven” made by PBS (WNET) based on the Ursula K Le Guin novel, and “Lathe of Heaven” made by A&E (yes I did used to have Cable).
The other film that I went in with a prejudiced expectation of seeing was “Paprika” by Satoshi Kon, but that was not too heavily referenced, the dreams in Inception sticking closer to reality, like in “Abre los Ojos”, a flaw in Vanilla sky was allowing less subtle surrealism into the dreams at times, giving hints which deny the Spanish originals sharp twist at the end.
The recurring dead wife motif was definitely reminiscent of “Solyaris” (Tarkovsky, ’71), but Mal and Ariadne were both facets of “Annie Cartwright” from the UK version of “Life On Mars”.
So Jim Phelps takes the IMF on a dream diving escapade. Technobable, a couple of neat ideas and what have we got, licence to have an action flick where we can get away with zero G in a hotel and trains ploughing through a monsoon soaked LA. Oh American spell checkers always hate the UK spelling of plowing.
I did not think “12 Monkeys” at all, but now, rethinking through the airport scene I am wondering if that was a tribute to that film, or more especially “La Jetée” which 12 monkeys is derived from.
So were you please or disappointed that it had the exact same ending as Solyaris? I almost expected it to start raining in the house. There was another film where the hero escaped into a coma state, no not “One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest”, but I can’t place it for now.
Hans Zimmer soundtrack was pretty good. FX excellent. “photography” was lush, the Paris sequences especially.
Pete Postlethwait and Leo in a film together again. Ellen Page all (more) grown up.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
The White Bus
aka Red, White and Zero
Sixties surrealist portrait of industrial Britain, and its context in a post-Empire, dying Commonwealth world. The principle story being told by a bus tour of an industrial Northern town, which is shown in contrast to violent center of commerce, London.
A couple of things that struck me with this film were the balance of composition in the shots and the Mayors monologues. Compositions such as the tour party going up an elevator chute into a factory, or some lovely color shots in a steel mill. The mix of black and white and color scenes is reminiscent of "if...", but here it looks more deliberate.
The director, Lindsay Anderson, also directed one of my favourite movies, "if...", studying Britain in microcosm through examining a public school.
This film has a playful sense of humor, which makes its pretentiousness tolerable. It's more watchable than the likes of Jonathan Millers "Alice in Wonderland".
It's a curiosity, and I think I'll rewatch it to see what else I can get out of it. Not one I'd recommend, except to film students and the curious.
Sixties surrealist portrait of industrial Britain, and its context in a post-Empire, dying Commonwealth world. The principle story being told by a bus tour of an industrial Northern town, which is shown in contrast to violent center of commerce, London.
A couple of things that struck me with this film were the balance of composition in the shots and the Mayors monologues. Compositions such as the tour party going up an elevator chute into a factory, or some lovely color shots in a steel mill. The mix of black and white and color scenes is reminiscent of "if...", but here it looks more deliberate.
The director, Lindsay Anderson, also directed one of my favourite movies, "if...", studying Britain in microcosm through examining a public school.
This film has a playful sense of humor, which makes its pretentiousness tolerable. It's more watchable than the likes of Jonathan Millers "Alice in Wonderland".
It's a curiosity, and I think I'll rewatch it to see what else I can get out of it. Not one I'd recommend, except to film students and the curious.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Five directors to look out for.
- Micheal Mann
- Alfred Hitchcock
- Danny Boyle
- Fritz Lang
- Luc Besson
These are names you will often see listed here. Make a careful note of them, they are good.
Micheal Mann is a contemporary American director. His hallmarks are wide screens, attention to detail, contemplative pacing. The films he's made that you will have heard of are "Heat", "Last of the Mohicans" and "Miami Vice". Though most of his work is epic crime fiction, he also does biopics like "Ali" and "The Insider.
Alfred Hitchcock is one of Britain's most famous movie directors. He is credited with a lot of revolutionary filming techniques. Despite his strength of character, he has still bowed to the wishes of Hollywood, even before moving to the US for the middle period of his career. Films such as "The Lodger" had the ending re-filmed for the American audience as it would just not do for the hero to get lynched unjustly. Likewise there are two versions of "Strangers on a Train" as it would never do to insult a priest in an American movie.
Danny Boyle shot to stardom with "Shallow Grave" then a year or two later to super-stardom with "Trainspotting". He also brought Robert Carlyle to the small screen in "Hamish Macbeth", started the "28 Days" franchise, and then in atonement for his whole success deal made the excellent TV movie "Vacuuming Completely Nude in Paradise", staring Timothy Spall as an obnoxious vacuum cleaner sales man.
Fritz Lang had three interesting phases to his career, the first in a Germany struggling to reinvent itself between the wars, Hollywood in the 40's and 50's and then a return to Germany in the 60's. His outstanding innovative work comes out of his early German career where he worked with Thea Von Harbou, she provided the stories for many of his early films. Though "Metropolis" is a undoubted classic, the strongest of his films is "M".
Luc Besson first came to my attention in the early 80's with his film "Le Dernier Combat". His films are full of anti heros, the most famous two being "La Femme Nikita" and "Leon, The Professional". His other outstanding films include "Angel-A", again a romance set in the crime world of Paris. In more recent years Besson is spending more time writing than directing. Some of his works have benefited from this arrangement, for example the "Transporter" franchise has his hallmark writing, but the fight choreography and action direction benefit from Corey Yuens experience in Hong Kong action flick.
Amelie
This was a rewatch for me. A very cute French comedy romance.
Amelie is a loner, and a dreamer. Then she comes across a hidden treasure, and decides to reunite it with its original owner. When this is a success she decides to fix a few other peoples problems, but tends not to fix her own.
A good chunk of the film is in Amelie's imagination, so there is some pleasing subtle CGI to add reality to the dreams. The colours are beautiful, even if a little over saturated at times. Every frame is beautifully composed, well balanced and filled. A visual treat, but it's not all glossy eye candy, the story holds together, a magical love story that you forget is all too good to be true.
The only other Jean-Pierre Jeunet film I've seen is the equally fantastical, but much darker, "City of Lost Children". The films have some comparable stylistic elements, such as a great reluctance to move away from wide angle lenses. Both depart from reality, but seem to keep you grounded at the same time. City of Lost Children is dark and ugly whereas Amelie is light and loving.
If you have to have a surreal romance, then Montmatre is the place.
Amelie is a loner, and a dreamer. Then she comes across a hidden treasure, and decides to reunite it with its original owner. When this is a success she decides to fix a few other peoples problems, but tends not to fix her own.
A good chunk of the film is in Amelie's imagination, so there is some pleasing subtle CGI to add reality to the dreams. The colours are beautiful, even if a little over saturated at times. Every frame is beautifully composed, well balanced and filled. A visual treat, but it's not all glossy eye candy, the story holds together, a magical love story that you forget is all too good to be true.
The only other Jean-Pierre Jeunet film I've seen is the equally fantastical, but much darker, "City of Lost Children". The films have some comparable stylistic elements, such as a great reluctance to move away from wide angle lenses. Both depart from reality, but seem to keep you grounded at the same time. City of Lost Children is dark and ugly whereas Amelie is light and loving.
If you have to have a surreal romance, then Montmatre is the place.
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
This rather dark Swedish thriller is very engaging and, despite a few brutal scenes, a rewarding watch.
The film starts out looking like a regular Grisham courtroom drama, and they we get introduced to a Goth hacker private investigator. Don't worry, they don't throw caution to the wind at this point, what we see is the coming together of a dysfunctional duet who made it successfully through three novels and now three films (the second and third have not made DVD in the US yet).
The location is beautiful, rural Sweden. I wonder if there is any other type. Still, beautifully snow dusted landscape, nice architecture, and overall a placid backdrop of a film which turns into a psycho thriller of the level of say Manhunter. I must admit there are some scenes that seem to be there only to put our heroine through hell, but they are probably valid as they show who she is before we see this quiet girl suddenly kicking butt.
I am quite looking forward to the other two films, which, though filmed for TV, due to the success of this first were also released big screen in Sweden.
All through the film Micheal Nyquist, the actor who took the lead role, was reminiscent of a cross between John Nettleton and Daniel Craig. I was not too surprised that the role has gone to Daniel Craig for the US remake.
Dark but entertaining manhunt with a reasonable twist at the end.
The film starts out looking like a regular Grisham courtroom drama, and they we get introduced to a Goth hacker private investigator. Don't worry, they don't throw caution to the wind at this point, what we see is the coming together of a dysfunctional duet who made it successfully through three novels and now three films (the second and third have not made DVD in the US yet).
The location is beautiful, rural Sweden. I wonder if there is any other type. Still, beautifully snow dusted landscape, nice architecture, and overall a placid backdrop of a film which turns into a psycho thriller of the level of say Manhunter. I must admit there are some scenes that seem to be there only to put our heroine through hell, but they are probably valid as they show who she is before we see this quiet girl suddenly kicking butt.
I am quite looking forward to the other two films, which, though filmed for TV, due to the success of this first were also released big screen in Sweden.
All through the film Micheal Nyquist, the actor who took the lead role, was reminiscent of a cross between John Nettleton and Daniel Craig. I was not too surprised that the role has gone to Daniel Craig for the US remake.
Dark but entertaining manhunt with a reasonable twist at the end.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Welcome Back Mr McDonald
What can I say about this amusing little farce? Well, it's funnier first time around when you don't know what to expect, so I'll just give a brief summary.
A housewife has won a contest to write a radio script. The show is produced, and everything is fine through rehearsals. This is where we join the action. From here on in it's a comedy of errors, the producer yielding at every turn to the divas of the cast, causing numerous re-write and almost costing the original writer her marriage.
Worth a looksee, but not top of the list material.
6/10
A housewife has won a contest to write a radio script. The show is produced, and everything is fine through rehearsals. This is where we join the action. From here on in it's a comedy of errors, the producer yielding at every turn to the divas of the cast, causing numerous re-write and almost costing the original writer her marriage.
Worth a looksee, but not top of the list material.
6/10
Heat
Well, this is that film that made history for being the first time De Niro and Pacino appeared together.
First thing to remember when going into this film is that it's Michael Mann in the directors chair, though to the initiated that will become obvious in the first few scenes. Mann, long time writer of crime stories, with scripts for Vega$, Starsky and Hutch and Miami Vice to his credit, seems to be very learned in the ways of the villain. The level of technical detail, like in Thief (aka Violent Streets) is impressive to watch, none of it seems like techno-babble. The film starts with tooling up with a job.
Mann loves a wide film format. He will often place characters at opposite sides of the screen with a neutral background between them. I even wonder at times if he feels confident shooting in daylight as so many of his best scenes are beautifully shot night sequences.
So Mann, a great director, and now in a position where he gets the best talent to put on screen too.
Heat is one of those films where the director gets a do-over; like Lucas getting studio budget to remake his student film "THX-1138 4EB", or Hitchcock remaking "The Man Who Knew Too Much". This time the original was only a few years earlier in the form of a made for TV "LA Takedown". Both versions have their merits. The pacing is more lively in the 90 minute TV movie, as opposed to the more leisurely 2hr50 min of the cinema version, but Heat has more spit and polish which is undeniable.
Basic story? Indefatigable cop, Pacino, is hunting down a very proficient thief, De Niro. The two heroes are out and out terse phrased Italian American tough guys. Every line of dialogue they deliver seems aggressive, irks me somewhat. Still the characters grow more from the body language and plot. De Niro's team are padded out with a psycho loser who messes up the first heist we see, and later, the same guy rats them out to a crime boss they've stolen from. It's only when De Niro lets something get personal that we see his world become unraveled. This compliments Mann's earlier "Thief" where James Caan's safe cracker loses it all when he inadvertently signs up with a crime boss, and again lets a personal life come in his way.
Heat is possibly one of the best Mann films, alongside "Last of the Mohicans". Collateral may have more of an edge with Hitchcock like twists, and "Ali" is probably my favorite of his films.
8/10
My previous comments at MovieNerds. And comparing to Rififi.
First thing to remember when going into this film is that it's Michael Mann in the directors chair, though to the initiated that will become obvious in the first few scenes. Mann, long time writer of crime stories, with scripts for Vega$, Starsky and Hutch and Miami Vice to his credit, seems to be very learned in the ways of the villain. The level of technical detail, like in Thief (aka Violent Streets) is impressive to watch, none of it seems like techno-babble. The film starts with tooling up with a job.
Mann loves a wide film format. He will often place characters at opposite sides of the screen with a neutral background between them. I even wonder at times if he feels confident shooting in daylight as so many of his best scenes are beautifully shot night sequences.
So Mann, a great director, and now in a position where he gets the best talent to put on screen too.
Heat is one of those films where the director gets a do-over; like Lucas getting studio budget to remake his student film "THX-1138 4EB", or Hitchcock remaking "The Man Who Knew Too Much". This time the original was only a few years earlier in the form of a made for TV "LA Takedown". Both versions have their merits. The pacing is more lively in the 90 minute TV movie, as opposed to the more leisurely 2hr50 min of the cinema version, but Heat has more spit and polish which is undeniable.
Basic story? Indefatigable cop, Pacino, is hunting down a very proficient thief, De Niro. The two heroes are out and out terse phrased Italian American tough guys. Every line of dialogue they deliver seems aggressive, irks me somewhat. Still the characters grow more from the body language and plot. De Niro's team are padded out with a psycho loser who messes up the first heist we see, and later, the same guy rats them out to a crime boss they've stolen from. It's only when De Niro lets something get personal that we see his world become unraveled. This compliments Mann's earlier "Thief" where James Caan's safe cracker loses it all when he inadvertently signs up with a crime boss, and again lets a personal life come in his way.
Heat is possibly one of the best Mann films, alongside "Last of the Mohicans". Collateral may have more of an edge with Hitchcock like twists, and "Ali" is probably my favorite of his films.
8/10
My previous comments at MovieNerds. And comparing to Rififi.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
M
"M" is possibly one of the finest Fritz Lang movies ever made. Lang, like Hitchcock, had a very strong vision of how he wanted his film to be, and how to get it. The attention to detail pays off in an incredible finished product. It's a shame that after his escape to America he ran into trouble for making pro-British films. His entire Hollywood era films seem to lack the essential feel of his earlier European films. Anyway "M" was one of his, and Peter Lorres, last German films.
The film is set against the backdrop of Germany in a depression era, a credible snapshot of the time. The foreground story is twofold, it's a man hunt film with a murderer on the loose, the police's ineptness bringing the thieves guild into the chase, the second layer is an exposition of morality and amorality, a look at a psychologically disturbed killer with a compulsion to kill.
This film has all the classic elements of noir in its presentation, moody atmospheric lighting, crime bosses, chases, brawls, raids. This film also is early sound, and Lang plays with what sounds he chooses to include to build the scenes.
I believe this film is the first of several where Otto Wernicke appears as Inspctor Lohmann, the Lohmann character being in three Mabuse films.
The film is set against the backdrop of Germany in a depression era, a credible snapshot of the time. The foreground story is twofold, it's a man hunt film with a murderer on the loose, the police's ineptness bringing the thieves guild into the chase, the second layer is an exposition of morality and amorality, a look at a psychologically disturbed killer with a compulsion to kill.
This film has all the classic elements of noir in its presentation, moody atmospheric lighting, crime bosses, chases, brawls, raids. This film also is early sound, and Lang plays with what sounds he chooses to include to build the scenes.
I believe this film is the first of several where Otto Wernicke appears as Inspctor Lohmann, the Lohmann character being in three Mabuse films.
Whisper Of The Heart
Studio Ghibli, with Miyazaki listed in the writing credits, you know this is going to be a quality film.
This is not an out and out Miyazaki film. It has all the hallmarks of Ghibli, a coming of age story, a hint of magic, Disney sponsored dubbing, painstaking attention to detail in the set dressing. Lets start with that last point, like a Raymond Briggs picture book, the attention to detail, filling each room with a great reality. You could almost take any indoor shot and see exactly what it's like in a house in Japan. A great document of the way life is lived. The film is full of rich visuals end to end.
Now onto the story. Sure, there's no dragons or trolls in this one, it's story may be reminiscent of an "after school special", but this has credible people, not a polished Nickleodeon Beverly Hills kid falling for someone from the wrong side of the tracks and saying no to tobacco. The heroine is a high school bookworm, starting to become a writer. While reading she finds all the books she is reading have been read by a boy at the school, and she starts feeling a connection with him and builds up a romantic ideal, which is soon shattered. I won't say more, but it's an optimistic journey, and a hopeful ending.
As always we watched the Japanese audio with translation sub titles, as opposed to using the closed caption/hearing impaired subtitles which follow the audio of the dub. Disney are doing great dubs on Miyazaki films, but they do alter phrases both to suit US modes of speech and to get better lip syncing.
This is not an out and out Miyazaki film. It has all the hallmarks of Ghibli, a coming of age story, a hint of magic, Disney sponsored dubbing, painstaking attention to detail in the set dressing. Lets start with that last point, like a Raymond Briggs picture book, the attention to detail, filling each room with a great reality. You could almost take any indoor shot and see exactly what it's like in a house in Japan. A great document of the way life is lived. The film is full of rich visuals end to end.
Now onto the story. Sure, there's no dragons or trolls in this one, it's story may be reminiscent of an "after school special", but this has credible people, not a polished Nickleodeon Beverly Hills kid falling for someone from the wrong side of the tracks and saying no to tobacco. The heroine is a high school bookworm, starting to become a writer. While reading she finds all the books she is reading have been read by a boy at the school, and she starts feeling a connection with him and builds up a romantic ideal, which is soon shattered. I won't say more, but it's an optimistic journey, and a hopeful ending.
As always we watched the Japanese audio with translation sub titles, as opposed to using the closed caption/hearing impaired subtitles which follow the audio of the dub. Disney are doing great dubs on Miyazaki films, but they do alter phrases both to suit US modes of speech and to get better lip syncing.
Breakfast Of Champions
Since I think Kurt Vonnegut Jr. is a great writer, Cats Cradle, Galapagos, A Man With No Country, etc. I decided that I really ought to watch some film adaptations of his books.
One of his meandering examinations of humans was "Breakfast of Champions", about a business man who was at the end of his rope, and a failed SF author who the business man mistakes for his creator.
The film manages to catch much the spirit of the book, even though it is a little heavy handed at times. Bruce Willis gets to be the protagonist, this time the world is against him, and he has to go head to head with it, but this time he's not a tough NY cop with a big gun, rippling biceps and a vest, he's just the sort of guy you'd expect to be buying favors from the mayor, and looks like he may be wearing a toupee.
Overall a fun, if garish, look at consumerism, celebrity worship, legitimized drug abuse/depression and middle American ideals,
Not for the feint of heart, not everyone can take Nick Nolte in drag.
One of his meandering examinations of humans was "Breakfast of Champions", about a business man who was at the end of his rope, and a failed SF author who the business man mistakes for his creator.
The film manages to catch much the spirit of the book, even though it is a little heavy handed at times. Bruce Willis gets to be the protagonist, this time the world is against him, and he has to go head to head with it, but this time he's not a tough NY cop with a big gun, rippling biceps and a vest, he's just the sort of guy you'd expect to be buying favors from the mayor, and looks like he may be wearing a toupee.
Overall a fun, if garish, look at consumerism, celebrity worship, legitimized drug abuse/depression and middle American ideals,
Not for the feint of heart, not everyone can take Nick Nolte in drag.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Yet another movie blog?
Yes, another movie blog. See my boss was lampooning me at work the other day, claiming I had a questionable taste in films, because I'd just been watching "Whisper of the Heart", which in a disposable description could be termed an anime chick flick. Then I mentioned seeing the bonus disk for "M" by Fritz Lang, which he labeled as morbid, then on learning of the kinder-murder aspect of that film others added in "morbid, need psychological evaluation" etc.
So here I am, defending my taste in movies with the intent of blogging every film I watch....
So here I am, defending my taste in movies with the intent of blogging every film I watch....
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