Screen capture from William Wellman masterwork 'Wild Boys of the Road' seen on Friday at Film Forum
by Sam Juliano
Mild weather continues to grace metropolitan area denizens as the specter of March is now within hailing distance. The Oscar broadcast is six days away and “Presidents’ Week” has yielded a full week off for schools and some private agencies. The movie scene has yielded few films worth seeing, but various classic festivals have picked up some of the slack.
Here at Wonders in the Dark business proceeds as usual with Allan’s weekend voting survey of the cinema, Jim Clark’s superlative comparative essays, Jamie Uhler’s exceptional (and winding down) “Getting Over the Beatles” project and Bob Clark’s polished forays into animation making their scheduled appearances. Peter Lenihan will return this coming Wednesday for his latest fabulous ‘Finding John Ford’ installment and an Academy Awards interview with Dennis and Yours Truly filmed by Jason Giampietro will be posting on Tuesday morning.
The past seven days have been largely devoted to the William Wellman Festival now entering it’s second week at Manhattan’s Film Forum. With only a single new release negotiated on Sunday (ironically also at the Film Forum) the week was all back-and-forth to take in 13 Wellmans in a series of double features that included a single instance of error when an early Wellman Woman Trap was accidentally replaced by a forgettable 1936 film with the same title. Obviously this reduced by one the total Wellman films available to patrons during the three week event.
Lucille and I (and Sammy and some other friends) attended the following the 15 films in theatres this week:
Chinatown Heights ** 1/2 (Monday night) Wellman at Film Forum
You Never Know Women *** (Monday night) Wellman at Film Forum
A Star is Born ***** (Tuesday night) Wellman at Film Forum
Nothing Sacred **** (Tuesday night) Wellman at Film Forum
The Great Man’s Lady *** (Wednesday night) Wellman at Film Forum
Buffalo Bill *** (Wednesday night) Wellman at Film Forum
Night Nurse **** (Thursday night) Wellman at Film Forum
The Purchase Price *** (Thursday night) Wellman at Film Forum
The Man I Love **** (Thursday night) Wellman at Film Forum
Wild Boys of the Road ***** (Friday night) Wellman at Film Forum
Heroes For Sale **** 1/2 (Friday night) Wellman at Film Forum
Yellow Sky **** 1/2 (Saturday night) Wellman at Film Forum
The Ox-Bow Incident ***** (Saturday night) Wellman at Film Forum
Woman Trap (1936; Harold Young) ** (Monday) Film Forum
Michael *** 1/2 (Sunday night) Film Forum
The German film MICHAEL, which has received strong reviews, is not one that concerns a very appealing subject: a pedaphile who keeps a 10 year-old boy imprisoned in his basement. One does wonder why any of us would voluntarily see it, but certainly I’ll be open-minded, and will return here later tonight after Lucille and I return from the 10:00 P.M. EST screening at the Film Forum. The film has received a good review from our friend Alan Hardy, who saw it at a press screening and is working at the theatre this evening.
The 41 film William A. Wellman Festival (it was programmed for 42, but the wrong version of WOMAN TRAP prevented Wellman’s from being shown) moved into high gear this past week with some of the pre-code master’s greatest works on display. The Friday and Saturday double features in fact included two five-star masterpieces and two others that push close at four-and-a-half. But star ratings are really beside the point when one is enjoying Wellman’s diversified output and moving narratives that explore Depression hardships, social injustice, judicial criminality, and various transciptions of the ‘love conquers all’ theme. Wellman’s two greatest Westerns, his most celebrated screwball comedy, the original presentation of A Star is Born and a superbly helmed early talkie made this seven day stretch the finest of the festival by just about any barometer of measurement. I will have more to say on each at the festival’s conclusion, but for now I urge readers with interest in the director to check out our good friend and Wellman authority Judy Geater’s reviews at MOVIE CLASSICS of Wild Boys of the Road, Heroes For Sale and A Star is Born:
http://movieclassics.wordpress.com/2010/03/14/heroes-for-sale-1933/
http://movieclassics.wordpress.com/2010/04/17/wild-boys-of-the-road-1933/
http://movieclassics.wordpress.com/2011/02/09/a-star-is-born-william-a-wellman-1937/
Allan has also reviewed both and others of the best works at WitD, and the capsules are easily accessible through the search engine. In any case Judy has also constructed a William Wellman work-in-progress ‘page’ that will be updated as she finds and reviews more of the director’s rarities:
http://movieclassics.wordpress.com/page/
One of the great American classics, Wellman's 1943 "The Ox-Bow Incident" based on the great novel by Walter Van Tilberg Clark
Some blogosphere links have been updated:
Judy Geater takes her study of versatile American director William Wellman further with a superlative review of the 1939 rarity “The Light That Failed” at Movie Classics: http://movieclassics.wordpress.com/2012/02/08/the-light-that-failed-william-a-wellman-1939/
Ed Howard has penned a brilliant essay on F.W. Murnau’s “Faust” at Only The Cinema: http://seul-le-cinema.blogspot.com/2012/02/faust.html
Jon Warner has written a fascinating and beautifully crafted piece on the classic “Sunset Boulevard” at Films Worth Watching: http://filmsworthwatching.blogspot.com/2012/02/sunset-boulevard-1950-directed-by-billy.html
John Greco astutely examines the Anthony Mann-Jimmy Stewart Western collaboration “The Far Country” at Twenty Four Frames: http://twentyfourframes.wordpress.com/2012/02/17/the-far-country-1954-anthony-mann/
Jaime Grijalba’s annual Oscar coverage at Exodus 8:2 will feature full coverage on the 9 Oscar nominated films. His latest post is a full condemnation of “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close”: http://exodus8-2.blogspot.com/2012/02/3-extremely-loud-incredibly-close-2011.html
Tony d’Ambra at FilmsNoir.net in a most intriguing post showcases a just-released ‘noir video’ titled “Tony Mars A Case of Murphy’s Law”: http://filmsnoir.net/film_noir/new-noir-video-tony-mars-a-case-of-murphys-law.html
Samuel Wilson at Mondo 70 has written what could well be the most comprehensive review on Buster Keaton’s short “Neighbors” that has ever appeared online, but either way it’s a terrific piece and essential for all lovers of the great silent clown: http://mondo70.blogspot.com/2012/02/buster-keaton-in-neighbors-1920.html
And the prolific Wilson also features in the second position at Mondo 70 a review that simply must be read by serious cineastes and lovers of French cinema. It’s a brilliant analytical piece on Bresson’s “Mouchette”: http://mondo70.blogspot.com/2012/02/mouchette-1967.html
Terrill Welch’s new post “No Hard Edges” at the Creativepotager’s blog is both food for thought and further visual ravishment: http://creativepotager.wordpress.com/2012/02/17/no-hard-edges/
R.D. Finch at The Movie Projector gives Joseph Losey’s “Eva” superb analytical treatment: http://themovieprojector.blogspot.com/2012/02/eva-1962.html
Roderick Heath takes on Ti West’s “The House of the Devil” and his recently-released “The Innkeepers” at Ferdy-on-Films and the result is yet another stupendous essay in horror: http://www.ferdyonfilms.com/?p=13177
Peter Lenihan’s latest installment of “Key Films” at The Long Voyage Home includes stupendous capsules on pre-code treasures: http://thelongvoyagehome.blogspot.com/2012/02/key-films-12feb12.html
Pat Perry takes a candid and insightful look at “The Iron Lady” and Meryl Streep’s performance in her new multi post at Doodad Kind of Town: http://doodadkindoftown.blogspot.com/2012/02/on-big-screen-and-home-screen-capsule.html
Laurie Buchanan’s latest engaging post at Speaking from the Heart, “Blood Tells” concerns “blood types” and the matter of having blood drawn: http://holessence.wordpress.com/2012/02/14/blood-tells-2/
“Explore the Dancing Image: Top Posts” is leading the way at Joel Bocko’s rich treasure trove at The Dancing Image: http://thedancingimage.blogspot.com/2011/12/explore-dancing-image-top-posts.html
Shubhajit has authored another priceless capsule at Cinemascope on Wim Wenders’ meditative “road” movie “Kings of the Road”: http://cliched-monologues.blogspot.com/2012/02/kings-of-road-1976.html
Dee Dee has posted a wonderfully informative oust on the noir “Jewel in the Crown” and accompanying lobby cards at Darkness Into Light: http://noirishcity.blogspot.com/2012/02/holding-auction-month-jewel-in-crown.html
Patricia at Patricia’s Wisdom reports on another vital and fascinating book at her place and of the worthwhile follow-up discussion: http://patriciaswisdom.com/2012/02/the-immortal-life-of-henrietta-lacks-rebecca-skloot/comment-page-1/#comment-24461
At The Schleicher Spin our very good friend David considers upcoming releases including Blier’s “Serena,” three new upcoming Malicks and the Spielberg Abe Lincoln film with Daniel Day-Lewis: http://theschleicherspin.com/2012/02/16/serena-honest-abe-rising-knights-multiple-malicks-and-the-master-on-tap/
Filmmaker Jeffrey Goodman at The Late Lullaby has posted a stupendous round-up of the best cinematic experiences he’s enjoyed in 2011: http://cahierspositif.blogspot.com/2012/01/my-top-10-or-so-films-for-2011.html
At Satyamshot, Kaleem Hasan has posted some striking images from “The Avengers”: http://satyamshot.wordpress.com/2012/02/12/images-from-the-avengers/
Craig Kennedy at Living in Cinema has posted his ever-popular “Watercooler”: http://livingincinema.com/2012/02/12/tired-of-waiting-for-you/
The ever-creative Stephen Russell-Gebbett will be sponsoring a blogothon on “ethics” and “morality” in film at Checking on my Sausages in early March: http://checkingonmysausages.blogspot.com/2012/02/movie-morality-blogathon-6-14-march.html
J.D. at Radiator Heaven offers up an engaging essay on the seemingly neglected Jason Jason Leigh feature “Georgia” at Radiator Heaven: http://rheaven.blogspot.com/2012/02/georgia.html
Anu at The Confidential Report has checked in with a fabulous Ten Best list that fully warrants everyone’s attention: http://theconfidentialreport.wordpress.com/2012/01/09/top-ten-of-2011
Just Another Film Buff (Srikanth) has posted another stupendous capsule review, this time on Sengelese director Djibril Diop Mambety’s “The Little Girl Who Sold the Sun” at The Seventh Art: http://theseventhart.info/2012/02/12/ellipsis-56/
Murderous Ink, in Tokyo examines ‘Nuclear Noir’ in a brilliant new post at Vermillion and One Nights: http://vermillionandonenights.blogspot.com/2011/12/nuclear-noir.html
Hokahey insightfully writes about ‘Chronicle’ and the ideas of his high school drama club at Little Worlds: http://hokahey-littleworlds.blogspot.com/2012/02/chronicle-and-serendipity.html
Jason Marshall has penned an excellent takedown of Spielberg’s “War Horse” at Movies Over Matter: http://moviesovermatter.com/2012/01/10/you-can-lead-a-horse-to-war-spielbergs-war-horse/
At Scribbles and Ramblings Sachin Gandhi features an engaging film itinerary engagingly seen in the light of football groupings: http://likhna.blogspot.com/2012/01/2012-african-cup-of-nations-film.html
Roderick Heath at This Island Rod takes an exhaustive look at the new “The Thing.” Typically is a master class essay: http://thisislandrod.blogspot.com/2012/02/thing-2011.html
Tony Dayoub has posted an excellent feature on the ‘Top 15 Films of 2011′ at Cinema Viewfinder: http://rheaven.blogspot.com/2012/02/titan-ae.html
At The Cooler, Jason Bellamy celebrates his fourth anniversary: http://coolercinema.blogspot.com/2012/02/celebrating-4-years-of-fun-and-games.html
Adam Zanzie at Icebox Movies has penned a brilliantly comprehensive essay on “The Day of the Jackal” at Icebox Movies: http://www.iceboxmovies.blogspot.com/2012/02/day-of-jackal-1973.html
Michael Harford, the erstwhile ‘Coffee Messiah’ offers up an engaging video about the beverage’s worldwide popularity: http://coffeemessiah.blogspot.com/2011/11/coffee-break.html
Troy Olson announces plans to commence with his Robert Bresson project at Elusive as Robert Denby: http://troyolson.blogspot.com/2011/11/argh.html
At Petrified Fountain of Thought Stephen Morton has penned a masterful takedown of “Melancholia” http://www.petrifiedfountainofthought.blogspot.com/2012/01/review-melancholia.html
Drew McIntosh magnificent showcases the Henry Hathaway noir “Niagara” in prose and picture at The Blue Vial: http://thebluevial.blogspot.com/2012/02/niagara.html
Kevin Olson offers up a postscript to his recent Horror Blogothon at Hugo Stigliz Makes Movies: http://kolson-kevinsblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/italian-horror-blogathon-postscript.html
Dave Van Poppel is gearing for some updates at Visions of Non Fiction, but presently is still leading up with his very fine review of “Project Nim”: http://visionsofnonfiction.blogspot.com/2011/08/project-nim.html
At The Man From Porlock Craig explores the work of the great S. Ray with a splendid review of “Pather Panchali”: http://themanfromporlock.blogspot.com/2012/01/iu-cinema-experiences-pather-panchali.html
Jeopardy Girl has some great plans in 2013 with a vist to the U.K. in the cards. She talks about it at The Continuing Saga of Jeopardy Girl: http://jeopardygirl.wordpress.com/2012/01/23/pickmeup/
I actually had time to read every word today and follow most of your links…I stopped because I still have a book to finish reading for review and 7 more arriving any day now. I can hardly wait.
I did see the Wellman version of A Star is Born quite awhile ago. I was living in New Jersey/NYC area at the time and working in Nutley, NJ on an internship. I found a friend who was into movies and forums and since I was a starving student we spent many a Sunday afternoon, before evening work, seeing movies and then she bought me supper or popcorn …Wonderful memory recall from this post of yours.
I wish I was a bit more knowledgeable about film, but I do learn ever so much by coming by here and following through on your links. I will certainly have to come back to explore further Judy Geater’s site What fun!
Patricia—-
Wow, Nutley, New Jersey! A scant 15 to 20 minutes by car from my Fairview, New Jersey home. Clifton is next door, and I’m sure you’ve traveled on Route 20 while engaged in your internship. A STAR IS BORN is the kind of film that will always be remebered fondly and resonately. I’ve always found it more deeply moving than the celebrated Judy Garland re-make of 1954, and prefer Janet Gaynor in the title role. Even the famous “this is Mrs. Norman Maine” scene at the end works more powerfully in the earlier film. But that’s just my take.
I can well understand you are engaged in your book at present and thank you for stopping in.
Yes Judy Geater is a class act and I urge you to check out her fantastic work at MOVIE CLASSICS.
Thanks again my friend! Have a great week.
Thanks for the mention, Sam. I saw most of Yellow Sky on TCM once, and was surprised by how good it was. That scene where it looks as though Gregory Peck is going to drown that one guy is just so hard to watch. Makes me think I should catch up on Wellman, since I’ve seen so precious little of his films.
Ah yes Adam, that was admittedly a scene impossible to shake. And the guy who was nearly drowned had his own part as aggressor right before that when he nearly drowned the younger man in the group before Peck interceded. The good thing about Wellman is that the lion’s share of his films are out there on DVD. I’ll definitely be closely examining your latest gem at ICEBOX MOVIES.
Have a great week my friend!
Sam,
Thanks again for the shout out. The Wellman festival looks like a blast with more to come. Just finished today reading “Starting Over: The Making of John & Yoko’s Double Fantasy.” The book is an oral history of the making of the album with comments from musicians, producers, photographers and all others involved.
In addition to the films below I have been engrossed this week in the first season of the TV show JUSTIFIED based on a story and characters created by Elmore Leonard. The show’s creators capture Leonard’s quirky humor and prose perfectly. Timothy Olyphant is terrific as is Walton Goggins. I have watched nine episodes so far and will complete season one this week, then on to season two.
Here are the films of the week…
Hangmen Also Die (****) A resistance fighter assassinates a vicious Nazi administrator and is aided by a woman and her family who become suspects. Fritz Lang adds a nice atmospheric blend of light and shadow heightening the visual suspense which keeps this film fresh, making it more than just a piece of war time propaganda. My only complaint is with Brian Donlevy who is rather dull as the assassin.
The Devil Thumbs a Ride (***1/2) Vicious and twisted low budget crime film with Lawrence Tierney as a murderous killer on the run. Quirky characters and situations dominate this quickie “B” film; the good husband is an alcoholic, the nice girl meets an unexpected fate, and the police eyewitness, a gas station attendant, is a card sharp who hustles the cops in a game while going along on the man hunt for the killer. Surely this film must have been an influence on a young Quentin Tarantino.
Pretty Poison (****) A delicious and devilish performance from Tuesday Weld highlights this cult classic from the 1960′s. Anthony Perkins is the sap who gets caught in her web of deceit and murder. Excellent script from Lorenzo Semple Jr. and nicely directed by Noel Black who never again lived up to level again.
Island of Lost Souls (****) Terrific claustrophobic nightmare based on H.G. Wells novel. Charles Laughton is wonderful as the mad Dr. Moreau who is charming on the outside covering up the demented megalomaniac he really is who conducts torturous experiments on animals.
The California Kid (***) A young Martin Sheen is in full James Dean mode here in this TVM set in 1958. Vic Morrow is a nasty small hick town sheriff who forces speeders, who did not stop, off a treacherous mountain side road killing them.
Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark (***1/2) Another TVM from the 1970′s, this one about a young couple who move into an old creepy house with strange little whispering creatures, who have been locked up inside a sealed fireplace for many years, are unleashed. They last killed the young wife’s grandfather, now they want her. Unsettling ending that still works nicely.
I love “Hangmen Also Die” something fierce. I agree that Donlevy isn’t very interesting– with the exception of the elderly professor and a handful of the supporting resistance fighters, the only interesting characters in the film are the villains (which isn’t terribly surprising). I’m still trying to track down the R2 German DVD that has the original ending.
I too liked Walter Brennan as the professor, he added a nice bit of class to it all. What was the original ending? I read Patrick McGilligan’s bio on Lang, where I am sure he must have mentioned it, but I am totally blank about that.
JOHN-ISLAND OF LOST SOULS might be one of the most disturbing of all the pre-code horror films. What’s even more remarkable is that over the years you’d have expected the remakes to trounce it with the aid of high-tech special effects and far more realistic make-ups. But, this is one of those types of films where the atmosphere and the finite performances rule the roost. I’ve chatted in private email conversations with Allan and Sam over the course of a few months and the general thinking by the three of us is that not only is Laughton the DEFINITIVE Dr. Moreau, but probably one of the 4 or 5 most dynamic and reliably great actors of the period. I cannot recall a performance of his that I didn’t like and often times felt I wasn’t watching an actor but the real deal. Even in the most miniscule parts he works wonders (his three minute turn in the star-studded IF I HAD A MILLION-a film I would love to find on DVD, he doesn’t utter a word in it-is tremendous). Add to the mix the terrific set and costume designs and the phenomenal supporting turns (particularly the creepy Bela Lugosi-terric as the “sayer of the law”) and ISLAND is a pretty perfect film all around. I hope you saw it on the marvelously pristine CRITERION Blu-Ray they just released. It’s a stunner.
Funny you should mention DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK… I recently purchased a marvelous DVD of it from Warner Archives as I was trying to convince a friend from work that, considering his age, he probably just forgot the title of the film when he described the plot to me wondering about “this film I remember as a little kid, you know, the one about the woman in the house and the little demons threatening her in the bathroom with a straight-razor”…
Needless to say, DON’T BE AFRAID was one of the most impressionable films of my youth and knew damn well what film he was talking about. I had a Halloween showing of it in the office that I work at (we have a few hours of down time on Mondays and Tuesdays) along with the very good TV Horror films GARGOYLES and DARK NOGHT OF THE SCARECROW. I only (last week), recently, caught up with the DARK remake (starring Katie Holmes and Guy Pierce) and, although effective in moments and dotted with terrific special effects (the gnomes in this version resemble rat-like mini trolls), it doesn’t hold a candle to the original starring Kim darby and the late Jim Hutton.
The “whispering” still scares the crap out of me.
DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK was, easily, one of my fondest childhood movie memories and it’s still very very effective…
My Grades:
ISLAND OF LOST SOULS: *****
DONT BE AFRAID OF THE DARK ****
Dennis,
Laughton is one of the best and is not nearly mentioned enough when it comes up in discussions. I love his giddy behavior in “Souls” where at times he is like an evil little child knowing he is doing deliciously dirty deeds. It’s a brutally unsettling film even today. I have not seen any of the remakes, though now I would like to, and am going to order both the Frankenhemier and the Lancaster versions. Not expecting much but I want to do an article on the original and want to see the other versions for background info.
Yes, I did watch the stunning Criterion release of “Souls.” This was my second viewing of the film in a couple of months and I will probably watch it again before writing my article. Excellent stuff.
Admittedly, I did not see “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark” back in the days of the ABC Movie of the Week but I did purchase the same Warner’s disc you did and actually watched it yesterday afternoon. I love old spooky house thriller/horror films. The ending here is fantastic, I was definitely shaken by the ending. Thought Kim Darby was very good.
Indeed John. Today will be the most intense of the week with a 4:50 screening of BEAU GESTE, a 7:00 of CALL OF THE WILD and a 7:00 of BEGGARS OF LIFE with piano accompaniment all lined up in succession. Today of course is a holiday (President’s Day) so perhaps things over there won’t be so hectic.
Great to hear you watched PRETTY POISON this past week. I find it’s a hard one to shake. I am a huge fan of ISLAND OF THE LOST SOULS and think HANGMAN is solid as well. I have never seen THE DEVIL THUMBS A RIDE but am intrigued. You are dead on with DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK and THE CALIFORNIA KID, and hope you will post something at TWENTY FOUR FRAMES on “Starting Over” and JUSTIFIED if you get a chance.
Another fantastic week for you my friend, and thanks for the ever-astute and much appreciated capsule assessments. Have a great day and week.
Well Sammy I saw Jason’s video and I thought he did a good job but you guys were lucky to record down in Edgewater because that theater is a private property and Jason is lucky that security didn’t see him with the camera because they are very worried about piracy, they lose a lot of money from movie pirates and if they had gotten their hands on the camera they would have taken away the tape even if you weren’t inside the theater. I think you talked good and Dennis I can’t believe he still smokes like that. I heard they are trying to ban smoking in cars now. They don’t let you smoke in the parks or on beaches in New York anymore because the second hand smoke is bad for everyone and I can’t believe he still does it. What is he trying to prove? Does he want people to think he’s Jack Nickels? I know you have friends who smoke pot but now they are saying pot is good for lungs but cigarettes are very bad for lungs and when you are around him you are subjecting yourself to that kind of thing. I don’t think Artistry is going to be the big winner on Oscar night I think Helpers will take the cakes because Oprah likes it and now there is a controversy because the actor from Artistry did pornographic ads and the French are more liberal than Americans and Santormium he did a speech condemning the ads and the movie so they lost a lot of the vote there, especially in the swinger states. I can’t believe you ignored the Whitney Houston memorial again, that was big news in New Jersey. Kirstie angered people by putting the flags at half staff because Whitney had drug problems and they feel to honor drugged out people is a bad message for kids and you know people are very upset at him and with the economy improving Republicans aren’t as popular as they were a few months ago. He has to be careful. She was a talented person but I don’t think it was right that they changed the flags for her, she wasn’t a political person and even though she sang and played in movies there are so many people like that and if you start lowering the flags for people like that you may have to one day lower the flags for everyone, and then when an important person dies what will you be able to do? Take the flag away altogether? He set a bad precedent and people say he was irresponsible and it wasn’t responsible and if I still lived in New Jersey I wouldn’t vote for him. Did you and Lucille watch the masoleum on TV? When Artesia Frankson sang I had tears in my eyes, she is a great performer but even when she dies they should keep the flags in the skies. Peace and Blessings.
Jack, you’re still breathing. This is not good.
hahahaha that is quite a talk there Jack! The spiel on smoking hreally had me going! I assure you that I wasn’t purposely ignoring Whitney, whose music I always respected, but rather it’s just too depressing to think about. I went through this back when Michael Jackson died, and I didn’t want to enhance teh sadness. I did also watch some of the church proceedings. Yes “Artesia Frankson” does bring the tears. I still think THE ARTIST will hang on for the Best Picture win, and that THE HELP will need more than Oprah Winfrey to pull an upset. Have a great week my friend. Always much appreciate your unique perspectives!!!
Jack has a most unique way of pronouncing names and places.
Sam,
Wow you caught a bunch of Wellmans this week! I would have to say my favorite of that bunch would be The Ox-Bow Incident. It’s a brilliant film and well acted. Thanks for the great mention and for the always spectacular support. This past week I watched Drive on Bluray and enjoyed it immensely again. I also watched a few Ophuls that I haven’t seen, Caught, and The Reckless Moment, both very interesting films. They have some uneven moments but also contain great acting and direction. Wonderful stuff and good precursors to his later masterworks. I also just watched the Mildred Pierce miniseries. I really was going in with high hopes, but found it uneven and probably a bit overlong. Not sure the dramatic pacing was always there for me. Still a solid film, but far shy of masterpiece status IMO. I’ve just learned I’m going to be sent back to the UK for a week. So, I’ve got a trip to Kentucky coming up on Thursday and will go straight from Cincinnati on Sunday over to Manchester. So no Oscars for me!!!! It’s alright. Nothing I’m rooting for (Tree of Life, Michelle Williams) has any chance so maybe it’s best I don’t watch. I’ll have to get filled in when the plane lands I guess. It will be a shorter trip this time though, coming back around March 2. This week I’m hoping to catch The Mill and the Cross before I leave. Hope you have a great week! Have fun making the video with Dennis. Should be fun to watch!
Jon—
There is no doubt that the powerful and wrenching THE OX-BOW INCIDENT stands not only at or near the top of Wellman’s output, but also among the strongest of all American films. That shrill shriek of Jane Darwell still haunts me days after the weekend viewing. Seeing the film in this fashion of course reinforces it’s greatness. Geez, if you are in Manchester you may well run into Allan, who goes to school nearby and has relatives there. Needless to say you will survive being MIA at the Oscars. And yes, you really have no rooting interest either with your favorites seemingly out of the competition. I am also hoping THE TREE OF LIFE will pull a miracle, but am resigned to the fact that my #2 film THE ARTIST will triumph, making me happy nonetheless, if “happiness” can ever really be culled from Oscar results. Ha! I still haven’t taken in MILDRED PIERCE, but hope to do so very soon after the Festival, and I like THE RECKLESS MOMENT particularly of those two Ophuls.
Have a great trip my friend, and hope to compare notes with you soon!
I agree with Jon that The Ox-Bow Incident is my favorite of those you saw (though I haven’t seen them all). Also, I want to thank you, Sam, for always including so many links to other blogs. Your efforts are much appreciated.
This week I got around to seeing the Oscar-nominated documentary shorts — at least 4 of the 5 nominees as the one about Mother Dolores (former actress Dolores Hart turned nun), titled “God Is Bigger Than Elvis,” wasn’t on the program because of a legal issue. Three of the remaining four films were quite serious — even morbid — which made me wonder about the panel who chose this crop. Unless Dolores scores a win for sentimental reasons, my prediction would be the civil rights-themed “The Barber From Birmingham.” (I’m secretly wondering whether Mother Dolores will wear a specially commissioned designer habit on the Red Carpet.)
Pierre—
Thanks very much for acknowledging the blog links, a continuing practice that I know distinguishes this thread. This week as it turns out there were a number of excellent updates and some fabulous reviews. There is no doubt that THE OX-BOW INCIDENT is master class Wellman. It could be his supreme masterpiece though at this stage of the festival and my individual perceptions I’d say Wellman has four films that get the highest rating:
The Ox-Bow Incident
A Star is Born
Wild Boys of the Road
The Public Enemy.
A few others push close, and I’ll sort that all out after March 1st when the fest concludes.
Ha I like what you say about Mother Dolores on the red carpet there Pierre! And I am also perplexed as to why mobidity was in vogue this year among the voters. I have not yet seen the shorts, and it’s unlikely I will before Oscar night because of the Wellman Festival, so I very much appreciate this insightful report from you. I’d definitely like to see “The Barber from Birmingham.”
Have a great week my friend. Many thanks, and hope to speak to you very soon.
My rationale for predicting The Barber of Birmingham is that, of the 4 I saw, this was the easiest to watch, a breath of fresh air after the heaviness and gruesomeness of the other 3. I figure the Dolores doc is too light to win, though one never knows. . . .
Oh I hear you there Pierre, and based on what you have surmised and concluded I’d be wise to consider a modest bet on BIRMINGHAM prevailing. If it is the most accessible and it is politically correct it seems likely to trump films that leaves viewers with a bitter after taste.
Thanks for the mention Sam. I do hope to start putting up new posts soon. I have been watching films from both my African & European spotlights but fallen a bit behind on reading all the Euro books. There haven’t been too many worthy new films that have opened in local cinemas recently so my theatrical experiences have been limited. Of course, the same can’t be said for you as you continue to amaze with all the films that you are able to catch. It was incredible that you could see The Turin Horse in a cinema recently. I have only seen Tarr’s The Man From London in a cinema but I would love to soak in Satantango, Werckmeister Harmonies & The Turin Horse in such a setting one day. So I wished I could have seen The Bela Tarr retrospective in NY recently. Same goes for the upcoming Hong Sang-soo retrospective in March.
Sachin—
There is only so much we can do, and I know your plate has been full for some months now, with a bevy of interests and domestic responsibilities. Yes, I have indeed noticed I’ve posted less updates at SCRIBBLES AND RAMBLINGS, but I figured this was just a down period. You have confirned that with your explanation here. I still haven’t gotten over that screening of THE TURIN HORSE at the Eleanor Bunin Monroe Theatre. It’s early in the year, but I can’t fathom any film topping it over the next ten months. I know I risk embarrassment, but this is how great that viewing was and how resonating that film is. The DVDR I had seen previously also had a hypnotizing effect. Yes the Wellman Festival has been demanding in a number of ways, but it’s opened up a completely new angle of appreciation.
I also missed out on that Bela Tarr retrospective.
Many thanks. I wish you and your lovely family a great week my friend! I hope to compare notes with you soon.
Sam, many thanks for the links to my pieces, though you have me blushing with your (as always) over-kind comments, as, of course, I’m no authority on Wellman, just a fan! The authorities are Frank Thompson and John Gallagher, who have a huge biography in the pipeline – I’m wondering if you have heard any news on where they are with this at the festival? I’m glad to hear you have had such a good time at the festival, an incredibly busy week even by your own standards, and am sure you will enjoy the movies still to come – more goodies in store.:)
I’m back at work today after a week’s leave – had time to watch a few movies over the week, including seeing ‘The Descendants’ at the cinema, which I liked a lot. I thought both George Clooney and the two young girls were excellent. At home I saw three silents, Murnau’s ‘Faust’, Keaton’s ‘The General’ and Borzage’s ‘Seventh Heaven’, and the 1939 screwball comedy Bachelor Mother starring Ginger Rogers – all were great.
Judy—
You are an ever-modest lady as always, but at the very least your infectious enthusiasm dating back two years has served as the seed in the Wellman orchard, providing many readers with the motivation to further explore this prolific and (for the longest time) underestimated American director. You mention John Gallagher here. He appeared at that screening of WINGS on Friday, February 10th and spoke after getting introduced by Wellman Jr. I guess if I had to identify the one thing about the festival so far that has made me smile most it would be that my 14 year-old son Sammy has been enjoying the films far more than I could have rightfully expected. He really loved WILD BOYS OF THE ROAD, YELLOW SKY and THE OX-BOW INCIDENT (and also talked about HEROES FOR SALE) but today will be teh real test with the triple feature of that Louise Brooks silent, the two hour BEAU GESTE and CALL OF THE WILD all in succession. If he is to be “alienated” today would seem to be the time. But I’m figuring that won’t happen.
I completely agree with you on THE DESCENDANTS, which seems (inexplicably) to have divided the audience here at WitD. Clooney is indeed perfectly cast and delivers a great performance, and I was particularly impressed with young Ms. Woodley. The quirky characters and dialogue and superb use of the Hawaiian setting all meld into a superior and heartfelt drama with the rise dose of humor. As to the othersw you saw, I agree all great stuff. Sorry to hear the vacation ended, but I’m sure you have some good things lined up.
As always thanks so much my great friend, and will be further comparing notes on Wellman.
Wild Boys of the Road is my favorite of that batch of Wellmans that I’ve seen–are they showing Other Men’s Women? That’s probably my favorite Wellman (again, of those I’ve seen). Saw two “new” movies this week: Hugo, which I loved, and The Secret World of Arrietty, which I thought was gorgeous but really, really slight. Here’s what else I watched this week, in preferential(ish) order:
The Navigator (Buster Keaton & Donald Crisp)
Graduate First… (Maurice Pialat)
Camille (George Cukor)
Pola X (Leos Carax)
State Fair (Henry King)
The Aviator (Martin Scorsese)
Kiss Me, Stupid (Billy Wilder)
The Shootist (Don Siegel)
One Hour with You (Ernst Lubitsch)
Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (Albert Lewin)
Peter, you liked One Hour With You less than State Fair, the world has slipped off its axis. :-/
I dunno–I liked One Hour with You just fine, but I usually have a hard time with Chevalier, and that was certainly the case here, and the whole isn’t-adultery-fun theme got a little tired after a while–there was no sense of emotional involvement, or even that any of this mattered, and that’s something you get with Trouble in Paradise, for all its sly irreverence. State Fair is a bit stiff, which is surprising considering it was made in 1933, but there’s real lyricism there–such as the roller coaster rides or Gaynor talking about it feeling like they’re at the end of the world as the moon peeks through the trees behind her–that stayed with me far more than any of Chevalier’s addressing-the-audience monologues.
But at least I voted for Sunrise!
” but I usually have a hard time with Chevalier, and that was certainly the case here, and the whole isn’t-adultery-fun theme got a little tired after a while–”
@ Peter- Haha I think you just recapped Chevalier’s entire career and every film he was in! Seems like they just swap out him being a Duke or a Prince and either wooing a Queen or a Princess or something. They’re all the same films.
Peter—
I am thrilled to hear that WILD BOYS OF THE ROAD is the favorite of those you saw (I really thought it masterful), but am sorry to say that OTHER’S MEN’S WOMEN is not on the schedule, even with the 41 film lineup. I’ll definitely moved to check that out myself when the festival proper is completed. Needless to say I am also very happy that you loved HUGO that much, though all things concerned I am not surprised. I just checked out your capsule roundup of these films at THE LONG VOYAGE HOME and must say I completely agree with you when you note that this period in Scorsese’s filmography with HUGO and SHUTTER ISLAND before it is cinematically “rich.” As far as the order of preference placement of that impressive lineup of films you saw this past week, I can’t really argue, except to say that I probably like POLA X less than you. But no big deal. I also would have NAVIGATOR sitting on top and the Cukor is a real gem. I do like PANDORA though to a fair extent. Thanks for the buffo wrap my friend, and the community is looking forward to more Ford.
Have a great week!
Sam, Other Men’s Women is definitely a treat and is readily available on Forbidden Hollywood Vol. 3 aka the William Wellman collection. Cagney has a small role but he’s introduced like he was God alighting on top of a moving train and he gets to show some dance steps later. Yet somehow he doesn’t steal the movie; it’s a sturdy working-class melodrama and its rainswept railroad bridge climax is classic stuff.
Thanks for the heads up Samuel. I have that set and am anxious to check it out!
Sam – I haven’t thought about “The Ox-Bow Incident” for years decades, and though I’ve never seen the film, I have read the book—Excellent!
The compelling photograph you used to open this week’s diary post is enough to make me want to see “Wild Boys of the Road,” but I followed the link you provided over to Judy Geater’s review and she reeled me in hook, line, and sinker!
Fifteen movies in one week! You guys must have tough buns. Thinking along those lines…
…you and Lucille should invent “Tuffits” (like Little Miss Muffet sat on) to protect the buns of theater buffs. You’d probably make a killing
As always, thank you for the shout out!
Laurie—
Van Tilberg Clark’s novel is still a mainstay of Jr. High and high school curriculums, and I myself once taught it near the start of my career in a vocational high school in northern New Jersey. It’s a classic for sure, and this is one of those rare instances where novel and film are just about equal in their artistic stature. Yes, WILD BOYS is truly exceptional and Judy’s review is one of her very finest. It’s no wonder you were reeled in!
Yes, this has been quite a stretch and again it brings up compelling issues of sanity and priorities. I stand guilty as charge among those who may take those issues with rightful seriousness. Bringing along family members for many of these does not exonerate me either, no matter how I feel less guilty. Ha!
True though what you say about the buns, especially as the Film Forum seats are rather hard and not really known for their comfort. For a theatre that encourages marathons, that’s truly lamentable.
I will bring that “tuffets” idea to Lucille. You really may be on to something there. Ha!
Thanks as always for bring a smile my friend, and have a great week there yourself!
Sam – I personally think your addiction is a cool one, especially since you can include your family (and the rest of us get to reap the benefits)!
Sam – thanks for the link. As always, much appreciated!
Sounds as though you are making a Herclulean effort to get in all the Wellman films, but what a payoff for your efforts! I’ve never seen A STAR IS BORN in its entirety; that’s one I think I would like to catch on the big screen. WILD BOYS OF THE ROAD has been hanging near the bottom of my DVR queue for too long. I think I’ll make an effort to get to it this week.
I’ve managed to pack in a serious amount of film veiwing over the past week. Marlon and I watched TOP HAT on Valentine’s night on TCM. He’d never seen it, and I was thrilled to introduce it to him.
Finally got into my DVR queue and watched the Capra/Stanwyck pre-code gem THE MIRACLE WOMAN as well as Joan Micklin Silver’s 1975 film HESTER STREET. It was quite a treat to see a very young Carol Kane starring in the later, giving a moving and grounded performance as Russian Jewish immigrant woman struggling to make a life with her abusive and highly assimilated husband. She got a Best Actress Oscar nomination for that role.
I also caught up with some 2011 releases, including DRIVE and A SEPARATION, the latter of which just completely shattered me. At this point, it has un-seated MELANCHOLIA for me as the best film of 2011. Everything about it – the nuanced writing and character work, the perfectly structured series of revelations, its dense but accessible depiction of class and religious tensions in contemporary Iran – put it head-and-shoulders above any American film of the past year. I certainly hope it will perform as expected on Sunday night and take home the Best Foreign Film Oscar. That’s the least it deserves. I’ve already told Marlon I’m taking him to see it before it moves out of theatres here.
Over the weekend, I took another look at BLACK SWAN, now playing on HBO. One year removed from all the hype and hoopla, I’d have to say my initial, less-than-favorable impressions still hold true. While I can’t deny that it’s a compelling, throroughly entertaining and meticulously well-crafter film, its visual imagery remains, for me, both half-baked and ovewrought in the same moment. All that black-and-white everywhere! It’s one thing to decorate every room – even the pillow on which Nina lays her head at night – in black-and-white -but it doesn’t seem to me that Aronovsky put any thought into how he was actually using that color scheme. “Let’s make everything black and white!” doesn’t seem to me a well-thought out visual schema.
Finally, I tried to watch DECLARATION OF WAR on VOD this weekend, but just couldn’t make it through. No fault of the film, just that the subject matter was too overwhelmingly sad to me. I had approached it with trepdiation, knowing that it centered on a very young child dealing with serious illness, and althought I appreciate its clear-eyed approach to the subject, I found it too devastating to finish.
I’m putting up a series of short, Oscar-themed posts at my place this week, and hope you and others will stop by.
Have a great week!
Ha Pat! I like that word ‘Herculean’ which does frame this bout with insanity quite well. At least I am being abetted by the schedule gods with the full week off from school that began today. Some teachers are still working on various projects up there, but the students are off. Hope you do get to see WILD BOYS soon. Great to hear that you and Marlon took in TOP HAT, that Capra and HESTER STREET. I do remember that Ms. Kane nabbed an Oscar nod for the latter. Well, I can’t at all say I am at all surprised that A SEPARATION blew you away to that extent. And I also am not at all startled that it may have moved into your #1 spot. It’s one of the most powerful dramas in years and it even nabbed an unusual Best Screenplay nomination, which rarely is afforded foireign language films. I also have it among my top films of 2011. Hope you get Marlon in to see it on a repeat viewing too! As far as BLACK SWAN, well that one never connected with me either on repeat viewings. There are several here at the site who have sworn for it numerous times so to speak, and the fans are out there. I found the blend of ravishing visuals and mean spiritness as rather disconcerting. Your issues are well-taken here.
I like DECLARATION OF WAR and urge you at some point to see it through. I wqell understand why you would want to stay clear of it, but at the risk of spoilers here I can only say it ends happily. That should allow you to get by all the earlier despair.
Have a great week my friend, and thanks as always for the ever-enthralling wrap!
Wow your overdosing on Wellman Sam!! You really went that extra mile this week with your film watching. What I saw this week…
Monsieur Hire ****
The Hunter (2011) ***1/2
I Saw The Devil **1/2
Europa **
The Thing (2011) *1/2
The Return (2003) ****
A cinematic santa claus sent me a copy of The Hunter which I promptly watched in the middle of the week. A decent film that feels rushed in certain key areas. The romantic/family subplot doesn’t entirely work and the picture is best when sticking to Dafoe in the wild.
A second viewing of I Saw The Devil dropped the film a full star for me. It just felt empty a second time around. The overall message seems contradictory when the director has no problem wallowing in the gratuitous violence. Also the whole Asian revenge genre has started to wear thin for me.
The remake of The Thing was absolutely awful. Nothing more needs to be said. Completely by the numbers…
Monsieur Hire really worked a second time around. Michael Nyman’s score is ridiculously affective. When Hire realizes that Alice won’t show up at the train station to go to Switzerland it really breaks your heart. Perhaps the inspector could of been fleshed out a bit more…
Yes indeed Maurizio. ‘Overdose’ is precisely the right word to define this kind of obsessiveness. Truth is that festivals are events that for me can never be taken in moderation. I always feel that I’ll be missing something by-passing the chance to see something that may not be offered on the big screen for quite some time. It will however, be an experience I’ll alway scherish for a number of reasons.
I haven’t watched THE HUNTER yet, but I was figuring your astute assessment to be one that properly assessed it. I’ll get to at at some point. I also love the music in MONSIEUR HIRE, and would also go with that four-star rating. THE THING is basically forgettable, so no argument there, have not had a chance to take in a second viewing of I SAW THE DEVIL, but will remember what you say here if and when I do. I do like THE RETURN as well. Thanks again as always, and hope to hook up with you for one or two of the Wellmans before the festival concludes on March 1st.
Have a great week my friend!
Sam,
Thanks for mentioning my upcoming blogathon. It’s looking like being a rather quiet affair, to say the least.
If I watched as many films as that in one week I wouldn’t remember any of them afterwards!
Well Stephen, it’s early to say for sure as people do come on like gangbusters when the race begins.
What you say there about remembering films after so many viewings does bear some credibility and it no doubt applies in the majority of instances. I have been using a diary to take some notes, and I have seen most of these films before so this is really just taking in the same films for the big-screen experience. Plus, I’ve done this a number of times over the past four or five years (Naruse, A. Mann, Chaplin, Keaton, Brit-Noir, MGM silents, Pre-Code, Ozu, Bresson, Castle) so I have “learned to adjust” so to speak. Ha!
Have a great week my friend. Many thanks!
An incredible week Sam, and one that I see other family members will chalk up to posterity. Seems like the weekend offerings were the best, and hope you uncover a few more before March 1st. Your rating for Michael is reasonably, and would like to hear more. Three more today” wow.
I’m one of those toiling today as you know.
Don’t stay on too long Frank! MICHAEL still has me thinking. I’ll say more soon I promise. And yes, I do hope a few other Wellmans enter the cinematic Hall of Fame.
Have a great week my friend!
NOTE TO ALL MONDAY MORNING DIARY FRIENDS:
I am now leaving for a triple feature at the Wellman Festival and won’t be back till late tonight.
Please understand that any comments left on this thread from this point on won’t be addressed until tomorrow morning.
Thanks to all.
Sam, you flatter me doubly, but on the other hand I envy you wallowing in Wellman. Your ratings look reasonable to me, though I might rank Yellow Sky ahead of Ox-Bow among the westerns. This was a catch-up weekend for me as I finally saw Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part II, which was nearly as tedious to watch as the title was to write; The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part I, which manages to build some drama in its second act after a nearly-unendurable (for the uninitiated) wedding sequence; and Contagion, which deserves points for brevity in labeling and was easily the best of this batch. Farther afield, I saw Two Women, a valiant effort to reconcile neorealism with the glamor of Sophia Loren and a nice picture on its own terms; Pasolini’s Medea, which looks like the midpoint between The Gospel According to St. Matthew and Salo, and is very pretty, too; W.S. Van Dyke’s Trader Horn, one of those inimitable pre-Code nightmares of Africa and a kind of pathological epic; and Maury Dexter’s The Day Mars Invaded Earth, a riff on the Body Snatchers theme that plays more like a haunted house movie — and some of the music sounded a lot like Vertigo, so obviously the director should have been shot!
Samuel—
You did have a remarkable week there at MONDO 70 with those two exceptional essays, and no ammount of attention would really be enough as I see it. I did love YELLOW SKY and found it moreorless as great as OX-BOW, regardless of the half-star difference. As always it comes down to what day of the week I am asked the question. But YELLOW SKY is a riveting, atmospheric work that no doubt rewards on re-viewing.
I got a good laugh at what you said there about the HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS title and the actual film experience. Ha! I found BREAKING DAWN unendurable, though I’ll keep that sentiment secret from my 15 going on 16 year-old daughter Melanie, who has a crush on Rob Pattinson. TWO WOMEN is a minor Italian classic, and you serve it well here, much as you do for the proposed hybrid MEDEA, which is my own favorite of this lot. I’ll amit I’ve soured somewhat on CONTAGION, but respect it’s virtues.
LOL on what you say about that VERTIGO score cribbing!!!!!!!!
Thanks as always for the splendid wrap my friend, and have a great week!
Hey Sam, thanks for the kind mention as always. The only thing I got to see in the theaters this past week was TIM & ERIC’S BILLION DOLLAR MOVIE. I know their odd brand of humor isn’t for everyone, to say the least, but I’m a huge fan and liked the movie a lot, and the guys were there for a live q&a so that was pretty cool.
On the home viewing front, I saw a few movies I absolutely loved (de Oliveira’s PORTO OF MY CHILDHOOD & ANIKI BOBO, Ulmer’s MURDER IS MY BEAT) a couple that I liked well enough but probably not as much as many do (Lang’s THE BIG HEAT, La Cava’s MY MAN GODFREY) and one that was kind of a stinker (Brooks’ MODERATO CANTABILE). I also revisited McG’s first CHARLIE’S ANGELS flick, I’ve always had an odd affinity for it and it holds up well I think – it’s not a great film of course, but there’s a lot of charm there and it has some pretty unorthodox things going on for such a huge production. I never saw the sequel, but I recently came across a few pieces from very intelligent critics who hold it in pretty high regard, so I’m looking forward to seeing it soon.
Drew—
I must say I am unfamiliar with TIM & ERIC’S BILLION DOLLAR MOVIE, but am more than interested that you found their humor appealing. And a Q & A of course is a great addition. I see it does open on March 2nd, and the supporting cast is impressive.
I also love de Oliveira, but haven’t seen PHOTO and ANIKI. The Ulmer is quite good, agreed, and while I like THE BIG CLOCK about as much as you do, I would put MY MAN GODFREY is the upper rank of classic movies. Ah, CHARLIE’S ANGELS…it’s been years, and I am intrigued you have found reason to at least point out it’s fun value, an aspect too many too often forget.
Thanks as always my friend! Have a great week!
The quick lowdown on viewing:
The Mill and the Cross – **** – Wonderful depiction of an artist trying to capture “so much” in one painting. Made me want to do more research on Breugel afterwards – which I think is the best thing you can say about films like this.
Project Nim – **** – Devastating doc about the cruel emotional/mental/physical games played with chimps used for research. It’s amazing to me what “scholars” will do in the name of research. Leave them chimps alone!
Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark – *** – Surprising fun, silly, marginally well made but stupid little chiller anchored by a fine performance from a little girl acting circles around Tone Deaf Katie Holmes.
David—
I couldn’t agree with you more on THE MILL AND THE CROSS, which barely missed my top ten list for last year. Visually it was a transformative work, and I now own the blu-ray for revisits. Yes, PROJECT NIM is indeed devastating, and the film leaves you infuriated. One of last year’s best documentaries for sure. As to the third, again I agree with the less-than-stellar assessment.
All in all a very fine report with the two four-star ratings. Have a great week my friend!
Hello Sam and everyone!!!
It’s nice to be back. And it’s nice to see Sam in full force with more than 13 films seen! Wow, it’s an understatement that I haven’t seen not even one of the Wellman films, but I am sure that you had a blast! Amazing effort and great work, I hope to hear on a big post about all of them when the marvelous festival ends.
As you knew, I went out on a vacation to lake Rapel, where I camped with my family. We stayed for three days and on the fourth day we went back, but in the way home we stopped in Pichilemu, where we took a tour for some salt lakes and took some nice pictures, some you already saw. During those days we sleeped, we ate, we played games, fished and got no fish at all, rested and swam at the pool. Oh, and the usual cooking at the firecamp, and marshmallows, of course. It was a needed rest, now it’s time to go back to work.
So, as my vacations went, my film viewing was damaged… somewhat:
- Captain America: The First Avenger (2011, Joe Johnston) ***1/2 I dedicated last week to catch up on the Marvel superheroes looking forward to The Avengers, one of the big events of the summer and one of my most anticipated movies of the year, even if it’s just because of the sheer awesomeness of the reunion of all those superheroes. This one is more an action war film and it’s great in that, but it lacks any good amount of suspense or development. There’s no sacrifice, so we care little about the protagonist. But, anyway, the action was good, and it has some great action pieces and plot points.
- The Incredible Hulk (2008, Louis Leterrier) **** For some reason I was always attracted to this movie, even if I never ended up seeing it. Now that I have, I must say that the first 30 minutes is the best action movie of the 00′s, easily. It comprises everything that makes the Hulk an interesting character and it constructs everything that the movie will slowly build down due to exposition. The character played by Roth is amazing and the acting quality is good, it was a great surprise from a film I didn’t expect to like. Hulk Smash.
- Marvel One-Shot: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor’s Hammer (2011, Leythum) ***1/2 A short film present in some Marvel DVDs, this one is funny, but not much else.
- Marvel One-Shot: The Consultant (2011, Leythum) *** Serving more as a fact piece, this one can be passed for those that have no interest in Marvel.
- Paranormal Activity 2: Tokyo Night (2010, Toshikazu Nagae) *** An interesting experiment and a call of attention for filmmakers from all around the world. This is not a ripoff and not a knockoff from the original series of the USA, and this is a japanese film, with help and funds by the original USA company, that obviously uses the cash in the form of a name, but making a movie sensible to japenese audiences, that even if its not quite good, it’s an interesting effort.
- The Silence of the Lambs (1991, Jonathan Demme) ****1/2 What a powerful and interesting film. The way its shot, with the frontal angles and the closeups, it’s very weird and really unusual for any movie, specially a well regarded film as this one. The performances are top notch and all is just great. The sense of dread and scares are present, and Hannibal is just a hell of a character. It’s one of those times where I’m amazed how many oscars this one won, even with the subject theme and its release date. It sure deserved many of them.
- The Woman in Black (2012, James Watkins) **** A suspenseful film and got some chills, but this is elevated from the ok scares and the ok performances, just on the cinematography and set design of the film, and some really startling scenes, like the rocking chair, or even the dreaded final scene. It is fine to se Daniel Radcliffe in non HArry motion, and the results are good. The film may have been half a star lower, but it wouldn’t be nice to the atmosphere it creates.
That’s all Sam, have a good week!
Jaimie—
Great to see you are back, but I can imagine it was a time you didn’t want to see end either. I did indeed see some of the photos and can see why it provided you and your family with a scenic and sensory respite. Sorry you didn’t get any fish though. Yes, I am enduring a real hit to my stamina over the past week, and there’s more to come including this evening’s triple feature of SAFE IN HELL, STINGAREE and CENTRAL AIRPORT. Tentative plans are to take in the double features that are scheduled from tomorrow through Sunday as well, though Sunday is Oscar night, so either I’ll have to skip ROXIE HART (which I saw during the pre-code festival) or attend in the afternoon. I’m sure you will eventually see every one of these Wellmans as you are a young man with your whole life ahead of you. Few have gotten your kind of start my friend!
CAPTAIN AMERICA, HULK, MARVELS and PARANORMAL ACTIVITY all have fans in this house, though I can’t say I am on board. Still, I can apprecdiate the reasons for your interest, and know good reviews greeted them all.
THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS is indeed a film that borders greatness, but it’s a tough film to watch for obvious reasons. The great reviews it received, the Oscars and it’s stellar reputation have caused the inevitable backlash, but it has definitely held up, and works quite effectively on repeat viewing. Yes, the camer angles, close-ups, etc, are compelling, as is the sense of dread and the superlative performances by Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster.
No problem at all with that four-star rating you attach to THE WOMAN IN BLACK. I went lower, but still think it’s worth a look-see, and also loved the atmosphere and alluring setting. I suspect this is one that will work even better on a second view.
Anyway, welcome back again, and have a great week my friend! As always, I appreciate your support and tremendous weekly report!
I would have loved to see some of those Wellmans myself. As usual you display remarkable stamina and determination, and it wouldn’t surprise me to hear you ended the festival by ‘running the table.’
Really enjoyed the Oscar interview.
Peter—
Whether or not I will be able to “run the table” as you say here will depend on a number of factors, but so far I am taking it one day at a time. I did miss one film (ISLAND IN THE SKY) and another, WOMAN TRAP, was accidentally replaced on sending by a non-Wellman 1936 film that was ultimately forgettable. But other than that I have been there (with Lucille and Sammy for most) and hope to see most or all of the ones remaining, luck permitting.
Thanks for the kind words on the Oscar video my friend, and have a great week!
“Half In Love With Easeful Death”
The lemminglike instincts of the human race get the comedie noire treatment in what is, for me, Kubrick’s masterpiece, ‘Dr. Strangelove’ (on TCM yesterday). It just gets better and darker with age, Sellers is maniacally funny in three different roles, and I never noticed before how the overhead light fixture hanging above the War Room resembles the condensation ring of a mushroom cloud. Terry Southern’s script is a black diamond.
Mark—
Everything you say here is dead-on and for me timely what with the March 2nd and 3rd screenings of the film in DCP (Digital Cinema Package) at the Film Forum in a new one week series that asks viewers to figure whether film or this new system is more effective. As you can see here the series will also include THE SHINING, 2001, TAXI DRIVER, THE RED SHOES and WEST SIDE STORY among others. I will certaining see DR. STRANGELOVE and let you know what I think of the presentation. With Kubrick, there are times that I think that STRANGELOVE is his masterpiece but as of late it’s been BARRY LYNDON followed by A CLOCKWORK ORANGE. Anywood as always fine observations here, and couldn’t agree with you more on Southern’s script.
Have a great weekend my friend! I just I can expect a full Oscar report from you, no?
Just kidding!!! Many thanks.
With the land of the ayatollahs and minarets apparently on the way to nukedom, the old global nightmare may be back. Who said that it’s man’s fate to outsmart himself — is that one of Jenny Holzer’s truisms?
As you may know, I’ve done a 180 on ‘Barry Lyndon’, a film I first disdained. I’d like to think that my gal Pauline Kael, my imaginary movie companion, would admire the film now, too, though I can’t recall her ever recanting an opinion.
And, yes, come Sunday night I will be hurling wisecracks TV-ward as all that Hollywood royalty gathers at the goldmine of the Kodak theater.
Presenter Natalie Portman is a spectacle never to be missed — her new commercials for Dior are otherwordly beautiful.
I think Barry Lyndon is Kubrick at the height of his powers. It’s certainly a masterpiece of craft. Strangelove is a masterpiece of content, and Clockwork Orange a masterpiece of social comment/prescience, perhaps?
With Kubrick, 2001 through Full Metal Jacket are my favorites these days. This is the period where the filmmaker took the ultimate step into all out greatness. The B/W stuff makes up a clutch of really really good studio films, but post Strangelove is where we really see the total flowering of Kubrick’s vision.
Completely agree with Mark and Pierre here as to BARRY LYNDON’s artistic pre-eminence and also with Maurizio, as Kubrick’s color period was his most formidable, and the time when he put together the string of masterpieces from 2001 to BARRY LYNDON.
Sam, thanks so much for the great mention.
First off, I apologize for the late reply. It was one of those weeks, and I found myself out of town for the brunt of it. How great it was reading about your week of Wellman. Wow, 15 films in theaters this week. That is tremendous – I love it. Of course you know, I’m so envious I can’t be there to partake with you in the Wellman fest.
I actually wasn’t able to see anything this past week. But I look forward to changing that this weekend.
Here’s to another fantastic week, Sam. Thanks so much for all that you do!
Jeffrey—
No need for apologies of any sort my friend! It is always a great honor to get your weekly report here, and you’ve steadfastly contibuted it for such a long time. But I’ll admit I did notice you weren’t here, even if I realized it’s miraculous how you have stayed the course. Yes, Wellman has been the order of business to the point obsession. With this festival I came in not having seen several of the films, and this allowed a complete course in a short time in the best possible viewing conditions. I discovered two rarely-seen films this week that aren’t available on DVD and took in some gorgeous prints with those and with other more famous films. Tonight it is TRACK OF THE CAT and WESTWARD THE WOMEN. I know full well if you were here in the Big Apple you’d be wearing out a spot on the carpet where the lines form! This has been a tough stretch as far as new movies go so in a sense teh festival fare is perfectly timed. Thanks again for your glowing, incomparable support my friend, and have a great weekend!