Reese Witherspoon, Tess Harper, Sam Waterston
This was her first film, at age 14 and she shows here the talent which has made her an enduring international star.
The story is old-fashioned, linear, sweetly tempered, resonant, tragic. It never strikes a false note. The 'rivalry' between two sisters, one 14 the other 18, for the love of their handsome new neighbor is the spark that drives the plot. The film is incredibly beautiful in scene after scene; set in the 50's the effect created is a warm, nostalgic look back at real people dealing with real problems.
Robert Mulligan directed this, his last film, and it's a gem.
8
Sunday, July 12, 2015
Friday, July 10, 2015
Los Angeles Plays Itself
documentary
Fascinating piece on the use of LA as location for films since the very beginning of motion pictures. Told by a native, his defensiveness about the city is irritating at first but he eventually drops that notion and concentrates of how our perceptions of both LA and the cultural memes it represents have been generated by the movies.
The film is 3 hours long and held me in thrall the entire time. Numerous clips buttressed the voiceover. In fact the entire film was clips from film history. The narrator was obviously an amateur which was off-putting at first but I gradually ignored his delivery and concentrated on what he was saying.
Strictly for film buffs. For me this was catnip.
8
Fascinating piece on the use of LA as location for films since the very beginning of motion pictures. Told by a native, his defensiveness about the city is irritating at first but he eventually drops that notion and concentrates of how our perceptions of both LA and the cultural memes it represents have been generated by the movies.
The film is 3 hours long and held me in thrall the entire time. Numerous clips buttressed the voiceover. In fact the entire film was clips from film history. The narrator was obviously an amateur which was off-putting at first but I gradually ignored his delivery and concentrated on what he was saying.
Strictly for film buffs. For me this was catnip.
8
Antboy
Denmark
Charming superhero movie starring and aimed at kids. The premise is a rough takeoff on spiderman with the infected protagonist being a 12 year old boy who looks 8. And 8 seems to me to be the perfect age for the audience.
There is nothing original here but 8 year olds won't know this and won't care. The acting and direction are very good, the film is short, the violence muted. The closest film to this is probably Kick Ass but this one has no swearing. I would have loved this as a kid.
5
Charming superhero movie starring and aimed at kids. The premise is a rough takeoff on spiderman with the infected protagonist being a 12 year old boy who looks 8. And 8 seems to me to be the perfect age for the audience.
There is nothing original here but 8 year olds won't know this and won't care. The acting and direction are very good, the film is short, the violence muted. The closest film to this is probably Kick Ass but this one has no swearing. I would have loved this as a kid.
5
Thursday, July 9, 2015
The Internet's Own Boy
documentary
Heartbreaking account of the life and trials of Aaron Schwartz, internet and overall genius who wanted to make the world a better place, and did in many ways until he was cut down by a rabid prosecutor, a corrupt institution (MIT) and a ruling class that feared and loathed the widespread availability of publicly paid-for information.
Even the laws which supposedly govern the peoples' behavior are kept behind a paywall for the benefit of private profiteers.
The rot runs deep. But visionaries like Schwartz create cracks in the 1% armor - that's how the light gets in.
8
Heartbreaking account of the life and trials of Aaron Schwartz, internet and overall genius who wanted to make the world a better place, and did in many ways until he was cut down by a rabid prosecutor, a corrupt institution (MIT) and a ruling class that feared and loathed the widespread availability of publicly paid-for information.
Even the laws which supposedly govern the peoples' behavior are kept behind a paywall for the benefit of private profiteers.
The rot runs deep. But visionaries like Schwartz create cracks in the 1% armor - that's how the light gets in.
8
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Ashes of Time
Hong Kong w/d Wong Kar-Wei
Heavily stylized, incoherent story about a contract killer who retreats to the desert for some reason and organizes killing using wandering samurai-types. Plot summary came from IMDB, not watching. When I watched it I had no idea what was going on.
The visuals here were spectacular and clearly dominated the mind of the director. A pull-out-all-stops treatment using in-camera and post production tricks made for a fantasmagoria of swirling colors, blades, characters, etc. Very self-indulgent...but quite impressive. Worked as a demo reel better than as a film.
5
Heavily stylized, incoherent story about a contract killer who retreats to the desert for some reason and organizes killing using wandering samurai-types. Plot summary came from IMDB, not watching. When I watched it I had no idea what was going on.
The visuals here were spectacular and clearly dominated the mind of the director. A pull-out-all-stops treatment using in-camera and post production tricks made for a fantasmagoria of swirling colors, blades, characters, etc. Very self-indulgent...but quite impressive. Worked as a demo reel better than as a film.
5
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
amerindie
Strained comedy/melodrama which tries to milk maximum pathos from...guess what?
For a while I was enjoying this story of a nebbishy HS kid forced by his mom to befriend the titular dying girl. There were many funny lines and setups, especially the films these two guys made parodying popular movies. But as the story evolved the cracks in the premise became more visible. When I stopped laughing the film lost all its charm.
The protagonist really was an asshole - whiny, self-absorbed, insensitive - and by the 3/4 mark I started to detest him. I also couldn't ignore the contrivance in the story (e.g. dying girl's mom first played for uncomfortable laughs, then for pathos) nor could I stand the mawkish wallowing in the dg's demise.
This rose to the top of the indie pile at Sundance...which tells me the crop must have been weak that year indeed.
5
Strained comedy/melodrama which tries to milk maximum pathos from...guess what?
For a while I was enjoying this story of a nebbishy HS kid forced by his mom to befriend the titular dying girl. There were many funny lines and setups, especially the films these two guys made parodying popular movies. But as the story evolved the cracks in the premise became more visible. When I stopped laughing the film lost all its charm.
The protagonist really was an asshole - whiny, self-absorbed, insensitive - and by the 3/4 mark I started to detest him. I also couldn't ignore the contrivance in the story (e.g. dying girl's mom first played for uncomfortable laughs, then for pathos) nor could I stand the mawkish wallowing in the dg's demise.
This rose to the top of the indie pile at Sundance...which tells me the crop must have been weak that year indeed.
5
Sunday, July 5, 2015
Sorceress
France d/ Suzanne Shiffman
Fine medieval melodrama. An inquisitor comes to a small town sniffing out any signs of heresy, whatever that is. He gloms onto a woman healer who lives in the forest and gathers herbs with which she treats the villagers' ailments.
Eye-catching mise-en-scene. Some imaginative camera moves and choice of music. Solid acting by all hands. Engrossing with multiple layers of meaning.
7
Camille Claudel 1915
France Juliette Binoche
Continuation of the story told in Camille Claudel 20 years ago. Here Rodin's former lover and colleague has been placed in an insane asylum by her family. She seems high-functioning but skitters near the edge from time to time and probably belongs there. But it is a torment for her and that's pretty much what we have to watch the entire film.
JB was completely convincing in a de-glamourized role. She always shines. The story was so unpleasant though that I found myself pulling away...and without an emotional engagement it didn't work.
5
Continuation of the story told in Camille Claudel 20 years ago. Here Rodin's former lover and colleague has been placed in an insane asylum by her family. She seems high-functioning but skitters near the edge from time to time and probably belongs there. But it is a torment for her and that's pretty much what we have to watch the entire film.
JB was completely convincing in a de-glamourized role. She always shines. The story was so unpleasant though that I found myself pulling away...and without an emotional engagement it didn't work.
5
Friday, July 3, 2015
Winter Sleep
Turkey d/ Nuri Bilge Ceylon
Another remarkable film from this Turkish master. This was a 31/2 hour, slow-paced look at the life of a rich villager in Cappadocia who runs a hotel and functions as local slumlord. We focus on the interpersonal relations of those who live in his household, his dominance of their lives and their struggles to overcome his soft-spoken tyranny.
There were conversations in the film that lasted 20 minutes and were increasingly lacerating, revealing as they developed. When the film was over we felt we had gained a privileged peek into their private lives and thoughts.
The lead was outstanding. He was on screen nearly the entire time but I never got sick of him. His family did though...
A world class film, a brilliant follow-up to Anatolia. a film for cineastes. No commercial potential.
8
Another remarkable film from this Turkish master. This was a 31/2 hour, slow-paced look at the life of a rich villager in Cappadocia who runs a hotel and functions as local slumlord. We focus on the interpersonal relations of those who live in his household, his dominance of their lives and their struggles to overcome his soft-spoken tyranny.
There were conversations in the film that lasted 20 minutes and were increasingly lacerating, revealing as they developed. When the film was over we felt we had gained a privileged peek into their private lives and thoughts.
The lead was outstanding. He was on screen nearly the entire time but I never got sick of him. His family did though...
A world class film, a brilliant follow-up to Anatolia. a film for cineastes. No commercial potential.
8
I Am Ali
documentary
Sensitive, personal treatment of an extraordinary man. He stood up for what he believed when that stance was extremely unpopular and went on to become the most recognized, most beloved man of his time.
There isn't much new to say about this man. This film focuses on the quality of the interactions between him and those closest to him. I found it very moving...a nice tribute.
We'll not see his like again.
8
Sensitive, personal treatment of an extraordinary man. He stood up for what he believed when that stance was extremely unpopular and went on to become the most recognized, most beloved man of his time.
There isn't much new to say about this man. This film focuses on the quality of the interactions between him and those closest to him. I found it very moving...a nice tribute.
We'll not see his like again.
8
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Inside Out
Pixar
This was a big disappointment. Instead of the thoughtful, amusing piece on the cognitive changes going on in the life of an 11 year old girl I expected we got a loud, fast-paced annoying cartoon which used all the stock tricks used by American animators since Disney. Extremely reductionist and, frankly, idiotic attempt to personify brain function.
There was a major hype machine pushing this film which gave a misleading sense of what it was. I won't get caught in that trap again.
Oh yeah, the program started off with a terrible cartoon about talking/singing volcanos.
2
This was a big disappointment. Instead of the thoughtful, amusing piece on the cognitive changes going on in the life of an 11 year old girl I expected we got a loud, fast-paced annoying cartoon which used all the stock tricks used by American animators since Disney. Extremely reductionist and, frankly, idiotic attempt to personify brain function.
There was a major hype machine pushing this film which gave a misleading sense of what it was. I won't get caught in that trap again.
Oh yeah, the program started off with a terrible cartoon about talking/singing volcanos.
2
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Timbuktu
Mauritania
Ever wonder what it would be like having your town taken over by armed fanatic jihadists? Me neither. But here through the magic of cinema we get to watch the reality of tyranny, hypocrisy, arbitrary power exercised upon a stone age poor people by muslims with AK-47s. It isn't pretty.
Film was very well done, apparently shot on location. We get enough characterization to feel for these peoples' fate. Cinematography was world class, suffusing the film with beauty - incongruous considering the barbarity of the behavior on screen.
Tyranny is the same everywhere. Watching this reminded me of the aphorism by Blaise Pascal - there will always be good men who do good things, and bad men who do bad things. But to get good men to do bad things you need religion.
7
Ever wonder what it would be like having your town taken over by armed fanatic jihadists? Me neither. But here through the magic of cinema we get to watch the reality of tyranny, hypocrisy, arbitrary power exercised upon a stone age poor people by muslims with AK-47s. It isn't pretty.
Film was very well done, apparently shot on location. We get enough characterization to feel for these peoples' fate. Cinematography was world class, suffusing the film with beauty - incongruous considering the barbarity of the behavior on screen.
Tyranny is the same everywhere. Watching this reminded me of the aphorism by Blaise Pascal - there will always be good men who do good things, and bad men who do bad things. But to get good men to do bad things you need religion.
7
Monday, June 29, 2015
Cafe de Flore
France
Had another look at this film; the only thing I would add to what I said three years ago is that the editing really is special. Many times there were cuts that flickered by with no explanation or context, they jumped around in time and place so it took a while to figure out who was who and what was happening in the various stories. But the several stories were so compelling the film easily held my attention.
This film assumed an intelligent, sophisticated audience - always a treat for a cinefile like me.
8
Had another look at this film; the only thing I would add to what I said three years ago is that the editing really is special. Many times there were cuts that flickered by with no explanation or context, they jumped around in time and place so it took a while to figure out who was who and what was happening in the various stories. But the several stories were so compelling the film easily held my attention.
This film assumed an intelligent, sophisticated audience - always a treat for a cinefile like me.
8
Sunday, June 28, 2015
Venus in Fur
France d/ Roman Polanski
Two-hander about the creation of a play based on the works of a prominent sado-masochist.
Polanski plays with us during this film. The tone and substance kept shifting slightly all the way through until by the end the entire play had been reversed...even to the sex of the players.
Film was a lovely exercise in intellectual gamesmanship. I found it consistently intriguing/amusing. Much credit goes to the two extremely skilled players - Matthieu Almaric and Emmanuelle Segner.
6
Two-hander about the creation of a play based on the works of a prominent sado-masochist.
Polanski plays with us during this film. The tone and substance kept shifting slightly all the way through until by the end the entire play had been reversed...even to the sex of the players.
Film was a lovely exercise in intellectual gamesmanship. I found it consistently intriguing/amusing. Much credit goes to the two extremely skilled players - Matthieu Almaric and Emmanuelle Segner.
6
Friday, June 26, 2015
Paddington
England Sally Hawkins, Nicole Kidman
Right proper British comedy...suitable for children of all ages. A talking bear shows up in London, hooks up with an eccentric, loving family and has a host of madcap adventures. Somewhat formulaic but well enough done to overcome.
Apparently based on a much-loved children's book, the film maintained a rapid pace, featured many clever sight gags, touched the heartstrings a bit and ended up a satisfying piece of general entertainment. Nice job.
7
Right proper British comedy...suitable for children of all ages. A talking bear shows up in London, hooks up with an eccentric, loving family and has a host of madcap adventures. Somewhat formulaic but well enough done to overcome.
Apparently based on a much-loved children's book, the film maintained a rapid pace, featured many clever sight gags, touched the heartstrings a bit and ended up a satisfying piece of general entertainment. Nice job.
7
Maps to the Stars
Julianne Moore, Mia Wasikowska D/ David Cronenberg
DC returns to form here with a twisted, ugly tale of life in present-day hollywood. We follow an aging star who is losing her mojo, a child actor afflicted with arrogance and psychotic visions which stem from his deeply troubled childhood. This all leads to scenes of horrific violence, ugly sex, madness, broken relationships, death.
This seemed like a more polished version of Videodrome...with perhaps a dab more cynicism...as if that were possible. I'd say DC doesn't like the hollywood scene...a lot. Of course no one does but no one's made the point with this much bile before. Horrible people leading shallow, competitive, meaningless lives...all for the entertainment of of the public.
I could struggle to say nice things about the quality of the acting...but, really...that would be like praising the clean, pressed uniforms of the guards at Auschwitz.
5
DC returns to form here with a twisted, ugly tale of life in present-day hollywood. We follow an aging star who is losing her mojo, a child actor afflicted with arrogance and psychotic visions which stem from his deeply troubled childhood. This all leads to scenes of horrific violence, ugly sex, madness, broken relationships, death.
This seemed like a more polished version of Videodrome...with perhaps a dab more cynicism...as if that were possible. I'd say DC doesn't like the hollywood scene...a lot. Of course no one does but no one's made the point with this much bile before. Horrible people leading shallow, competitive, meaningless lives...all for the entertainment of of the public.
I could struggle to say nice things about the quality of the acting...but, really...that would be like praising the clean, pressed uniforms of the guards at Auschwitz.
5
Thursday, June 25, 2015
Hana
Japan d/ H. Kore-eda
Unusual film set in medieval times. A young samurai is charged by his father on his deathbed with avenging his death. He goes to Edo but discovers he has a love for teaching, not violence. We watch as people in his scruffy new neighborhood gradually help him make the transition from warrior to scholar.
Technically the film was first rate. Careful, well thought-out framing, lighting gave the film an uncommon richness. The tone was quite unusual for a samurai film - gentle, lyrical, pensive. Another outstanding effort by Japan's best contemporary filmmaker.
7
Unusual film set in medieval times. A young samurai is charged by his father on his deathbed with avenging his death. He goes to Edo but discovers he has a love for teaching, not violence. We watch as people in his scruffy new neighborhood gradually help him make the transition from warrior to scholar.
Technically the film was first rate. Careful, well thought-out framing, lighting gave the film an uncommon richness. The tone was quite unusual for a samurai film - gentle, lyrical, pensive. Another outstanding effort by Japan's best contemporary filmmaker.
7
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Marketa Lazarova
Czech d/ Franticek Vlacil
Said to be his masterpiece...but I dunno. Sharp B/W photography and careful framing don't overcome the grubbiness, the filth, the sourness of the portrayal of Czech medieval society.
The film seems to embody the aphorism that life in primitive cultures is nasty, brutish and short. Ugly, pig-headed violence is constantly on screen...which made me wonder where all these people came from if their world was completely without tenderness.
Vlacil may have been making a point that escaped me. For me watching this was just an unpleasant ordeal.
3
Said to be his masterpiece...but I dunno. Sharp B/W photography and careful framing don't overcome the grubbiness, the filth, the sourness of the portrayal of Czech medieval society.
The film seems to embody the aphorism that life in primitive cultures is nasty, brutish and short. Ugly, pig-headed violence is constantly on screen...which made me wonder where all these people came from if their world was completely without tenderness.
Vlacil may have been making a point that escaped me. For me watching this was just an unpleasant ordeal.
3
Black Butterflies
South Africa
Fictional take on the life and times of a prominent SA female poet. She has serious daddy problems - her father is portrayed as insensitive, controlling, dismissive...even downright cruel at times. We watch as she flails around trying to establish a loving relationship with a man but her inability to stand up to dad and move beyond his influence/approval cripples her.
Well done film with good use of SA locations, solid acting but no fun to watch.
6
Fictional take on the life and times of a prominent SA female poet. She has serious daddy problems - her father is portrayed as insensitive, controlling, dismissive...even downright cruel at times. We watch as she flails around trying to establish a loving relationship with a man but her inability to stand up to dad and move beyond his influence/approval cripples her.
Well done film with good use of SA locations, solid acting but no fun to watch.
6
Sunday, June 21, 2015
Twenty Four Eyes
Japan Hideko Takamine
There's really nothing I can add to the other reviews I've done on this film in recent years: I think it's a great classic which illuminates the every day struggles faced by the common folk in tumultuous times.
HT was luminous. This time I sat quietly weeping during the entire film.
10
There's really nothing I can add to the other reviews I've done on this film in recent years: I think it's a great classic which illuminates the every day struggles faced by the common folk in tumultuous times.
HT was luminous. This time I sat quietly weeping during the entire film.
10
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
The Fellowship of the Ring
Peter Jackson
I read this trilogy twice...once in 1965, once in 1975. When I saw this at the theater I was thrilled that Jackson had done such a good job translating it to the screen. What he accomplished was as good as I had seen in my imagination while I was reading it.
I should have left it there. Watching it now all I could see was the silliness of the story...how calculated it was. And I got sick of following characters around who were terrified all the time...grossly over-matched by forces much more powerful than they were. But, of course, they always triumph against crippling odds.
A fairy tale I should have treasured in memory.
n/r
I read this trilogy twice...once in 1965, once in 1975. When I saw this at the theater I was thrilled that Jackson had done such a good job translating it to the screen. What he accomplished was as good as I had seen in my imagination while I was reading it.
I should have left it there. Watching it now all I could see was the silliness of the story...how calculated it was. And I got sick of following characters around who were terrified all the time...grossly over-matched by forces much more powerful than they were. But, of course, they always triumph against crippling odds.
A fairy tale I should have treasured in memory.
n/r
Monday, June 15, 2015
Patterns
Van Heflin, Ed Begley w/ Rod Serling
Originally written as a one-hour drama which appeared on live TV in 1955. Here he expanded it to 90 minutes with a different cast.
Sharply drawn portrait of the world of big business. Similar to Executive Suite. The callous inhumanity of the capitalist belief system was front and center and it stank. Edward Sloane played the monstrous CEO as a cold-eyed shark...lashing out at the weak in the pool. Dog eat dog, profits uber alles, the race goes to the most ruthless, etc.
If anyone needs a reminder of the true nature of the beast...look here. Well done.
7
Originally written as a one-hour drama which appeared on live TV in 1955. Here he expanded it to 90 minutes with a different cast.
Sharply drawn portrait of the world of big business. Similar to Executive Suite. The callous inhumanity of the capitalist belief system was front and center and it stank. Edward Sloane played the monstrous CEO as a cold-eyed shark...lashing out at the weak in the pool. Dog eat dog, profits uber alles, the race goes to the most ruthless, etc.
If anyone needs a reminder of the true nature of the beast...look here. Well done.
7
Saturday, June 13, 2015
More Than Honey
documentary Germany
Outstanding doc on the nature of bees, their habits, role in the chain of life and their fate as human activity disrupts the order of things.
There have been many pieces written on bees in recent years because of CCD. This is the best I've seen. They go all over the world to examine the current status of bee populations and where they're headed. Things don't look good for our striped friends...if trends continue they won't look good for us soon either.
Oh, when will they ever learn...
8
Outstanding doc on the nature of bees, their habits, role in the chain of life and their fate as human activity disrupts the order of things.
There have been many pieces written on bees in recent years because of CCD. This is the best I've seen. They go all over the world to examine the current status of bee populations and where they're headed. Things don't look good for our striped friends...if trends continue they won't look good for us soon either.
Oh, when will they ever learn...
8
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Whitey
documentary d/ Joe Berlinger
Thorough examination of the terror reign of Whitey Bulger and his subsequent prosecution.
Oddly enough, even though Bulger was a violent, borderline psychotic thug he fares better in this film than the FBI and the DOJ who come across as thoroughly corrupt and completely without shame and for whom there is no accountability.
The rot is wide and deep. Where does it end? Stay tuned...film at 11...
7
Thorough examination of the terror reign of Whitey Bulger and his subsequent prosecution.
Oddly enough, even though Bulger was a violent, borderline psychotic thug he fares better in this film than the FBI and the DOJ who come across as thoroughly corrupt and completely without shame and for whom there is no accountability.
The rot is wide and deep. Where does it end? Stay tuned...film at 11...
7
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Clueless
Alicia Silverstone d/ Amy Heckerling.
Clever, fast-paced loose adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma....set in a high school in Beverly Hills. This may be the best of the HS films - great, snappy dialogue, big heart, winning cast with a happily ever after ending.
What's not to like?
7
Clever, fast-paced loose adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma....set in a high school in Beverly Hills. This may be the best of the HS films - great, snappy dialogue, big heart, winning cast with a happily ever after ending.
What's not to like?
7
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