movie reviews 26-50, scrapbook 2013
Mar. 27th, 2013 06:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
felicitykingI'm just about to hit movie 75, so I figured I'd post short reviews for these. The you must watch this NOW (and you probably never will SOB SOB SOB!!!!!): Hero, Weekend, and Cries and Whispers. Honorable Mention: Shoot the Piano Player.
(Bolded films are non-English.)
Three Colors: Red (1994)
I LOVE this trilogy. This is the best though. It's about communication and isolation. It's hard to describe this movie cuz it's basically plotless, but it's about how connect or don't connect as humans. It's wonderful!
Black Orpheus (1959)
President Obama was right. This film does romanticize ethnicity. It's a retelling of the Orpheus legend set in South America, which should be intesting, except the characters and plot are paper thin! There is no motivation presented behind their actions, they exist to serve to serve the story. What's more, everytime an opportunity to present greyness and complicated emotions arises, it is erased by having an overly long dancing or singing scene. Also, this movie takes place in the slums, but you wouldn't know it from the way the movie glamourizes poverty.
The Music Room (1958)
I've been waiting a full year for Criterion to make Sanyajit Ray films free on hulu. I ended watching this during their free film offering weekend. It's about an old bloodlined aristocrat and the changing times. He and his neighbor (who is a self-made rich man) compete to have the best music rooms. Well, not so much compete cuz it is only the bloodlined aristocrat who is concerned with upstaging. It's actually a rather tragic film about putting faith in image rather than humanity. But was interesting. I loved the details in it too.
Shoot the Piano Player (1960)
A clever film noir by Francois Truffaut. A down on his luck piano player gets caught up in his brothers' wrongdoing. I can't even begin to describe this film's plot. It was fun verging on nonsensical, and very witty.
Weekend (1967)
I don't like Jean-Luc Godard. I watch his movies for the camera angles and blocking (which are sooooo amazing). But I enjoyed this one. Godard's characters usually exist to serve the plot, but there was no plot here. It's just one long random weird road movie about a couple on their way across France to kill a relative so they can get some money. There isn't anybody or anything to like in this movie. They are all so despicable, and yet, it's entertaining. Completely tasteless, but the tastelessness is there to make a point about society. (Much as I dislike Godard, I have to give him credit for not doing stunt filmmaking. He does put thought in his films.)
Wild Strawberries (1957)
You think Hollywood is the only place where they get goopy over old people? False! An old professor is dying and revisits his memories on his way to collect an awards. It's typical. Nothing surprising. Probably more elevated in how the subject matter is handled than the typical Hollywood film though since it's Ingmar Bergman directing it, but still nothing to get excited about.
A Woman of Paris (1923)
Charlie Chaplin's only drama. All I remember from this is the wonderful costumes and scenery. The story is a love triangle, but not anything memorable.
Two Tons of Turqoise to Taos Tonight (1975)
Robert Downey Sr's film was originally called 'Moment to Moment' and while that is not as fun to say as the alliterative TTOTTT, it more accurate captures what this is about. Just a collection of skits of people doing things. It has a young Robert Downey Jr in it.
Rashomon (1950)
I've heard so much about this film and it's awful. All the praise for it never acknowledges that it's a rape culture film that reinforces the stereotypes surrounding rape culture. Yes, it was masterfully made but UGH! The less said the better (and I am a HUGE fan of Akira Kurosawa but this film...NO!)
Emotion (1966)
A Japanese short film from the director of the cult horror classic 'House.' (That strange horror film I saw last year.) It was good. Like 'Chronos,' it is a new take on the fairytale. Lots of fields and waterscapes and creatures in capes. It reminded me of a Grimms' tale.
Cries and Whispers (1972)
A slightly surrealist tale about a sister dying. Her two other sisters and housemaid wait for her die, and each of the 4 in turn recall their darkest secret. The set decor for this film was very red and that felt appropros. It's a drawing room drama by Ingmar Bergman. There was one really gross scene in this, but I don't think it would bother you like it bothered me.
Anne of the Indies (1951)
This could have been so good. A pirating adventure with a BAMF! to boot, but Anne was gendered to fit the stereotypes of the 1950s (punished for being independent, not interested in marriage or traditional femininity)
Through a Glass Darkly (1961)
An early screen effort about the effects of mental illness on a family. I didn't really care for this. The mental illness was never named, and it seemed to use all the stereotypical measures in regards to the female who had it.
Jet Lag (2002)
Boring. Two stranded passengers at an airport who can't stand each other fall in love. It would have worked better if it hadn't gone there with the sterotypes. (He's an emotionally distance asshole, she's just gotten out of a controlling, abusive relationship.) The small moments are nice, but not enough to be convincing as a romance. For some reason, this film (which is French) was dubbed in English on youtube.
The Tin Drum (1979)
Oooh, I hated this film. I'm rereading my Holocaust lit books, and the survivors say "don't believe when they tell you they didn't know any better." Well, this is one of those films that makes it seem like Germany didn't know any better (and it was produced by Germany to boot). Oscar wants to stay in the womb, but since he can't, he decides at age 3, he will stay a child forever. I really loathed how women were treated in this film. I really hated how sex was treated in this film. And what's that about the mass genocide of people happening? Aside from the Night of Broken Glass, how Germany belittled and killed minority groups and subverted nations, WW 2 is glossed over.
Halloween: H20, 20 Years Later (1998)
Snooooooze. It has a steller cast, but they can't save the material. While it was awesome seeing Laurie Strode back, the film took too long in getting Michael Myers at her doorstep. The famous theme is given John Williams treatment (think booming orchestra) which just didn't work. Dull overall.
La Strada (1954)
This was sad! A young woman accompanies a circus performer as they cross the backroads of Italy making money.
Halloween: Resurrection (2002)
I can't believe I wasted so many brain cells on this franchise. However, for whatever reason, this one get things back into form. Oh, it's still ridiculous (Michael just can't be killed!, he can also kill everybody and evade cameras!) but it's a nice twist on the concept.
(Bolded films are non-English.)
Tokyo Story (1953)
Ozu is good, but he's a one note director. You've seen one, you've seen them all. This movie takes place a few years after World War II, and although extremely understated, one can already sense the effects westernization is having on Japan. The old couple taken for granted, seem to be a symbol of the older culture dying, or being forgotten.
Ozu is good, but he's a one note director. You've seen one, you've seen them all. This movie takes place a few years after World War II, and although extremely understated, one can already sense the effects westernization is having on Japan. The old couple taken for granted, seem to be a symbol of the older culture dying, or being forgotten.
Four Rooms (1995)
Meh. A portmanteau. 4 directors direct different segments taking place in a hotel. The stories are connected by the presence of a bellboy trying to survive his weird night with weird guests and their weird requests. The Robert Rodriguez sequence with Antonio Banderas is the only segment worth watching, but even that isn't the greatest.
Meh. A portmanteau. 4 directors direct different segments taking place in a hotel. The stories are connected by the presence of a bellboy trying to survive his weird night with weird guests and their weird requests. The Robert Rodriguez sequence with Antonio Banderas is the only segment worth watching, but even that isn't the greatest.
Hero (2002)
A martial arts film starring Jet Li about the origins of China. It questions what it is to be a hero, how mythology, storytelling, and national identity intertwine. This film is like an onion. Every time you think you know where the story is going, it pulls back another layer that alters (or builds upon) the previous segment. The cinematography is soooooooo beautiful, and really compliments the story.
A martial arts film starring Jet Li about the origins of China. It questions what it is to be a hero, how mythology, storytelling, and national identity intertwine. This film is like an onion. Every time you think you know where the story is going, it pulls back another layer that alters (or builds upon) the previous segment. The cinematography is soooooooo beautiful, and really compliments the story.
8 Women (2002)
A French film noir musical starring classic and new esteemed French actresses. Conceptually good, but could have been better. All the little nudges to the genre and old technicolour films were great to see though.
A French film noir musical starring classic and new esteemed French actresses. Conceptually good, but could have been better. All the little nudges to the genre and old technicolour films were great to see though.
Permanent Vacation (1981)
Jim Jarmusch's student film school movie. So it's very cheap and incredibly boring. A man with a hospitalized mother drifts over working class Manhattan trying to decide what to make of himself. Despite being BAAAAAD, I couldn't completely hate on it, cuz one can see trances of professional JJ and it's nice to see a side of Manhattan that isn't shown in film.
The Emperor Jones (1933)
Jim Jarmusch's student film school movie. So it's very cheap and incredibly boring. A man with a hospitalized mother drifts over working class Manhattan trying to decide what to make of himself. Despite being BAAAAAD, I couldn't completely hate on it, cuz one can see trances of professional JJ and it's nice to see a side of Manhattan that isn't shown in film.
The Emperor Jones (1933)
Back in the day, Paul Robeson was THE African-American actor. Before Chris, before Will, before Denzel, before Sidney. This was his signature stage and screen role. Although the film should have been longer, I feel that it did capture his magnetism as an actor. And what a singing voice! It was also an interesting study of colonialism. How in the struggle to rise up, one might emulate the very systems that oppressed you.
Cronos (1993)
A very interesting take on the vampire story. The simplicity of the movie reminded me of 'Valerie and Her Week of Wonders.' Perhaps it's a cultural thing (Mexico) or the director (Del Toro, pre 'Pan's Labyrinth') but this vampire story about achieving immortality is unlike anything about vampires coming out of Hollywood. It was good.
A very interesting take on the vampire story. The simplicity of the movie reminded me of 'Valerie and Her Week of Wonders.' Perhaps it's a cultural thing (Mexico) or the director (Del Toro, pre 'Pan's Labyrinth') but this vampire story about achieving immortality is unlike anything about vampires coming out of Hollywood. It was good.
Three Colors: Red (1994)
I LOVE this trilogy. This is the best though. It's about communication and isolation. It's hard to describe this movie cuz it's basically plotless, but it's about how connect or don't connect as humans. It's wonderful!
Black Orpheus (1959)
President Obama was right. This film does romanticize ethnicity. It's a retelling of the Orpheus legend set in South America, which should be intesting, except the characters and plot are paper thin! There is no motivation presented behind their actions, they exist to serve to serve the story. What's more, everytime an opportunity to present greyness and complicated emotions arises, it is erased by having an overly long dancing or singing scene. Also, this movie takes place in the slums, but you wouldn't know it from the way the movie glamourizes poverty.
The Music Room (1958)
I've been waiting a full year for Criterion to make Sanyajit Ray films free on hulu. I ended watching this during their free film offering weekend. It's about an old bloodlined aristocrat and the changing times. He and his neighbor (who is a self-made rich man) compete to have the best music rooms. Well, not so much compete cuz it is only the bloodlined aristocrat who is concerned with upstaging. It's actually a rather tragic film about putting faith in image rather than humanity. But was interesting. I loved the details in it too.
Shoot the Piano Player (1960)
A clever film noir by Francois Truffaut. A down on his luck piano player gets caught up in his brothers' wrongdoing. I can't even begin to describe this film's plot. It was fun verging on nonsensical, and very witty.
Weekend (1967)
I don't like Jean-Luc Godard. I watch his movies for the camera angles and blocking (which are sooooo amazing). But I enjoyed this one. Godard's characters usually exist to serve the plot, but there was no plot here. It's just one long random weird road movie about a couple on their way across France to kill a relative so they can get some money. There isn't anybody or anything to like in this movie. They are all so despicable, and yet, it's entertaining. Completely tasteless, but the tastelessness is there to make a point about society. (Much as I dislike Godard, I have to give him credit for not doing stunt filmmaking. He does put thought in his films.)
Wild Strawberries (1957)
You think Hollywood is the only place where they get goopy over old people? False! An old professor is dying and revisits his memories on his way to collect an awards. It's typical. Nothing surprising. Probably more elevated in how the subject matter is handled than the typical Hollywood film though since it's Ingmar Bergman directing it, but still nothing to get excited about.
A Woman of Paris (1923)
Charlie Chaplin's only drama. All I remember from this is the wonderful costumes and scenery. The story is a love triangle, but not anything memorable.
Two Tons of Turqoise to Taos Tonight (1975)
Robert Downey Sr's film was originally called 'Moment to Moment' and while that is not as fun to say as the alliterative TTOTTT, it more accurate captures what this is about. Just a collection of skits of people doing things. It has a young Robert Downey Jr in it.
Rashomon (1950)
I've heard so much about this film and it's awful. All the praise for it never acknowledges that it's a rape culture film that reinforces the stereotypes surrounding rape culture. Yes, it was masterfully made but UGH! The less said the better (and I am a HUGE fan of Akira Kurosawa but this film...NO!)
Emotion (1966)
A Japanese short film from the director of the cult horror classic 'House.' (That strange horror film I saw last year.) It was good. Like 'Chronos,' it is a new take on the fairytale. Lots of fields and waterscapes and creatures in capes. It reminded me of a Grimms' tale.
Cries and Whispers (1972)
A slightly surrealist tale about a sister dying. Her two other sisters and housemaid wait for her die, and each of the 4 in turn recall their darkest secret. The set decor for this film was very red and that felt appropros. It's a drawing room drama by Ingmar Bergman. There was one really gross scene in this, but I don't think it would bother you like it bothered me.
Anne of the Indies (1951)
This could have been so good. A pirating adventure with a BAMF! to boot, but Anne was gendered to fit the stereotypes of the 1950s (punished for being independent, not interested in marriage or traditional femininity)
Through a Glass Darkly (1961)
An early screen effort about the effects of mental illness on a family. I didn't really care for this. The mental illness was never named, and it seemed to use all the stereotypical measures in regards to the female who had it.
Jet Lag (2002)
Boring. Two stranded passengers at an airport who can't stand each other fall in love. It would have worked better if it hadn't gone there with the sterotypes. (He's an emotionally distance asshole, she's just gotten out of a controlling, abusive relationship.) The small moments are nice, but not enough to be convincing as a romance. For some reason, this film (which is French) was dubbed in English on youtube.
The Tin Drum (1979)
Oooh, I hated this film. I'm rereading my Holocaust lit books, and the survivors say "don't believe when they tell you they didn't know any better." Well, this is one of those films that makes it seem like Germany didn't know any better (and it was produced by Germany to boot). Oscar wants to stay in the womb, but since he can't, he decides at age 3, he will stay a child forever. I really loathed how women were treated in this film. I really hated how sex was treated in this film. And what's that about the mass genocide of people happening? Aside from the Night of Broken Glass, how Germany belittled and killed minority groups and subverted nations, WW 2 is glossed over.
Halloween: H20, 20 Years Later (1998)
Snooooooze. It has a steller cast, but they can't save the material. While it was awesome seeing Laurie Strode back, the film took too long in getting Michael Myers at her doorstep. The famous theme is given John Williams treatment (think booming orchestra) which just didn't work. Dull overall.
La Strada (1954)
This was sad! A young woman accompanies a circus performer as they cross the backroads of Italy making money.
Halloween: Resurrection (2002)
I can't believe I wasted so many brain cells on this franchise. However, for whatever reason, this one get things back into form. Oh, it's still ridiculous (Michael just can't be killed!, he can also kill everybody and evade cameras!) but it's a nice twist on the concept.
