Joaquin Phoenix in Paul Thomas Anderson’s often brilliant but problematic “The Master”
by Sam Juliano
The site’s well-received comedy countdown has now reached the point where last year’s spectacularly-successful musical countdown began with today’s No. 70 essay by John Greco. It will of course continue well into December, with the final posts due only days from Christmas. Some of the internet’s finest film writers have been strutting their stuff, and the result has been a real treat for film fans and the site’s readers. In the meantime we are at that brief juncture where baseball, football, opera, vintage theatre and the New York Film festival converge, and the result is some frantic immersion for culture and sports fans.
Dee Dee and her spirited organizers continue to promote the ‘John Garfield petition’ that is calling on the powers that be to bring out a box set of this acting icon’s most celebrated films. The most recent updates continue to be posted on a page that is accessible under the actor’s picture on the sidebar. At Exodus 8:2 WitD’s own Jaimie Grijalba continues with his horror countdown that will run until Halloween.
With the conclusion of the French Old Wave Festival at the Film Forum, the theatre will now be featuring some venerated film classics for one-week runs. Among these are Port of Shadows, Repulsion, Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion, The Tin Drum, Wake in Fright, Brief Encounter and a 3D presentation of Creature from the Black Lagoon. Lucille and I (and the three boys for the Lloyd) attended three new releases in what a reasonably busy week. I also completed the fourth season of Breaking Bad, watching approximately 11 hours on the plasma over the past week. I hope to be able to watch the eight fifth and final season episodes that are available for PC navigation through the proper channels. The final season will also have an additional eight episodes that will be broadcast in May, making for 16 in total. My position remains that it’s one of the great television dramas.
We saw:
The Master *** 1/2 (Saturday night) Angelika Film Center
Arbitrage ** 1/2 (Friday night) Montclair Claridge Cinemas
Lawless ** 1/2 (Sunday afternoon) Edgewater multiplex
Grandma’s Boy *** 1/2 (Monday evening) Harold Lloyd at Film Forum
GRANDMA’S BOY is a charming enough Lloyd silent comedy, with a few hilarious sequences, but it’s not quite in the category of “special.” John Hillcoat’s sadistic western LAWLESS is so over-the-top that it’s practically cartoonish. It’s handsomely mounted and the acting is excellent (especially Oldman in a brief stint, LeBeouf and Oldman) but it seems to add up to very little. P.T. Anderson’s long-awaited THE MASTER contains some the year’s most arresting set pieces, a spectacular performance from Joaquin Phoenix, an unforgettable dissonant score by Jonnie Greenwood and a character study that leaves little by way of plot development, not that the last matter means all that much. I look forward to the next viewing of a film that surely needs to be watching again. At times it’s incomprehensible and elusive, and there’s no real emotional connection, but there is something most important there. ARBITRAGE, a Wall Street investment thriller has some fine acting on display from Richard Gere and Tim Roth, but it’s in large measure a snoozer, that is somewhat implausible and with little psychological depth.
About fifteen or so links have been updated, including the first appearance of out friend ‘Weeping Sam’ at ‘The Listening Ear’ who is long overdue here:
Jon Warner has penned a magnificent review of Victor Seastrom’s silent The Scarlet Letter with Lillian Gish at Films Worth Watching: http://filmsworthwatching.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-scarlet-letter-1926-directed-by.html
Judy Geater has penned a terrific review of William Wyler’s Desparate Hours for the “Universal Backlot Blogothon” at Movie Classics: http://movieclassics.wordpress.com/2012/09/15/the-desperate-hours-william-wyler-1955/
John Greco has penned a wonderfully engaging review of Henry Hathaway’s noir “Niagara” at Twenty Four Frames: http://twentyfourframes.wordpress.com/2012/09/14/niagara-1953-henry-hathway/
Samuel Wilson has penned a marvelous piece in his ‘Pre-Code Parade’ series on “The Mind Reader” with Warren William at Mondo 70: http://mondo70.blogspot.com/2012/09/pre-code-parade-warren-william-in-mind.html
Laurie Buchanan lobbies for an idea in her wonderful “The Brilliance of Pooh” post at Speaking from the Heart: http://holessence.wordpress.com/2012/09/11/the-brilliance-of-pooh/
At FilmsNoir.net Tony d’Ambra makes a terrific case for James Wong Howe’s shadowy cinematography as a vital component in the classic Dashiel Hammet sourced screwball noir comedy “The Thin Man”: http://filmsnoir.net/film_noir/the-thin-man-1934-james-wong-howes-noir-counterpoint.html
At Exodus 8:2 Jaimie Grijalba continues with his “100 Days of Terror” with a terrific review of 1925′s “The Phantom of the Opera” at Exodus 8:2: http://exodus8-2.blogspot.com/2012/09/100-dias-de-terror-n-53-phantom-of.html
At Ferdy-on-Films Roderick Heath has written a collosal, brilliant essay on Georges Franju’s Judex”: http://www.ferdyonfilms.com/2012/judex-1963/15739/
R.D. Finch has written a splendid essay on 1965′s “The Ipcress File” at The Movie Projector: http://themovieprojector.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-ipcress-file-1965.html
Shubhajit Lahiri has posted a terrific review on Godard’s “Vivre Sa Vie” at Cinemascope: http://cliched-monologues.blogspot.com/2012/09/vivre-sa-vie-my-life-to-live-1962.html
Sachin Gandhi has penned a superlative piece on Mrinal Sen’s “The Absence Trilogy” at Scribbles and Ramblings: http://likhna.blogspot.com/2012/09/mrinal-sens-absence-trilogy.html
At The Listening Ear Weeping Sam leads up his ‘Friday Random Ten’ selection list with Richard and Linda Thompson: http://listeningear.blogspot.com/2012/09/friday-random-ten.html
Craig Kennedy has penned one of his best reviews on P.T. Anderson’s “The Master” at Living in Cinema: http://livingincinema.com/2012/09/14/the-master-2012/
Stephen Russell-Gebbet has posted quite an original take on “The Dark Knight Rises” at Checking on my Sausages: http://checkingonmysausages.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-dark-knight-rises.html
David Schleicher has penned a spirited review of the Season 3 premiere of “Boardwalk Empire” at The Schleicher Spin: http://theschleicherspin.com/2012/09/16/boardwalk-empire-resolution-season-three-premier/
At The Seventh Art our friend Just Another Film Buff (Srikanth) has penned aterrific capsule review of “All That Jazz”: http://theseventhart.info/2012/09/09/ellipsis-64/
David Lawrence, thjat erudite and personable educator from the U.K. features a poster of a Hammer classic at his new site Musings and Meanderings: http://1mouth2ears.wordpress.com/2012/08/12/movie-posters-1-dracula-has-risen-from-the-grave-1968/
At the Creativepotager’s blogsite “The Artist Studio Floor Show” again brings the beauty of Terrill Welch’s paintings in glorious focus: http://creativepotager.wordpress.com/2012/08/11/3890/
At Darkness Into Light Dee Dee is featuring the work of the esteemed writer Andrew Katsis, who takes a penetrating look at the 1940 Hawks screwball classic “This Girl Friday”: http://noirishcity.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-word-according-to-my-writer-andrew.html#.UB8tyU2PXW4
In Tokyo, the exceedingly talented ‘Murderous Ink’ turns his scrutinizing focus on a Miziguchi classic “The Lady of Musashino” at Vermillion and One Nights: http://vermillionandonenights.blogspot.com/2012/08/musashino-landscape-that-never-was-part.html
Brandie Ashe happily announces a “Singin in the Rain” giveaway at True Classics: http://trueclassics.net/2012/08/10/singin-again-plus-a-giveaway/
Joel Bocko has a lovely presentation up at The Dancing Image entitled ‘Art on the March…a visual mixtape”: http://thedancingimage.blogspot.com/2012/07/arton-march-visual-mixtape.html
A striking “visual poem” leads up at Michael Harford’s Coffee Messiah blog: http://coffeemessiah.blogspot.com/2012/08/visual-poem.html
Ed Howard has penned a great essay on “Four Agnes Varda” shorts at Only The Cinema: http://seul-le-cinema.blogspot.com/2012/09/four-agn-varda-shorts-1957-1968.html
Terrill Welch talks about the significance of blog writing and reading at the Creativepotager’s blog, where she again features another magnificent painting she completed: http://creativepotager.wordpress.com/2012/07/18/does-anyone-read-blogs-and-does-it-matter-that-you-write/
Roderick Heath has posted a terrific new review on “Chronicle” at This Island Rod: http://thisislandrod.blogspot.com/2012/07/chronicle-2012.html
At Patricia’s Wisdom, a visit to the doctor’s office could result in some astute observations in a post titles “Fever Pitch”: http://patriciaswisdom.com/2012/09/fevered-pitch/
J. D. LaFrance offers an expanded version of his superlative comedy countdown “Slap Shot” review at Radiator Heaven: http://rheaven.blogspot.com/2012/08/slap-shot.html
The esteemed Film Doctor takes a scholarly look at the new “Total Recall” movie: http://filmdr.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-fall-enslaves-us-all-film-doctors.html
Adam Zanzie has posted a terrific “alternative Sight and Sound list at Icebox Movies: http://www.iceboxmovies.blogspot.com/2012/08/my-alternative-sight-sound-list.html
Jason Marshall has continued his superb coverage of 1942 at Movies Over Matter with a wonderful post on his Best Actor choice for that year: Chishu Ryu: http://moviesovermatter.com/2012/08/09/chishu-ryu-in-there-was-a-father-best-actor-of-1942/
Peter Lenihan has posted an arresting screen cap display of Murnau’s “Phantom” at The Long Voyage Home: http://thelongvoyagehome.blogspot.com/
At Doodad Kind of Town Pat Perry’s splendid contribution to the For the Love of Film Preservation blogothon is on Hitch’s “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”:http://doodadkindoftown.blogspot.com/2012/05/hitch-does-rom-com-for-love-of-film.html
At The Blue Vial Drew McIntosh leads up with “off the Wall” which brings “Silver Load” and the great John Alton into focus: http://thebluevial.blogspot.com/2012/06/off-wall.html
At The Last Lullaby, the ever delightful filmmaker Jeffrey Goodman takes a look at part sixteen of his long running quartet series: http://cahierspositif.blogspot.com/2012/04/favorite-four-part-sixteen.html
Stephen Russell-Gebbett at Checking on my Sausages again offers up a brillinatly-creative feature on ‘Sport as the Perfect Fiction”: http://checkingonmysausages.blogspot.com/2012/08/sport-is-perfect-fiction.html
Tony Dayoub takes a look at the summer’s Barnes and Noble 50% off sale for Criterion collectots at Cinema Viewfinder: http://www.cinemaviewfinder.com/2012/07/criterion-summer.html
Greg Ferrara at Cinema Styles talks about the Colorado shootings in a moving feature: http://cinemastyles.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-dark-knight-shooting-in-colorado.html
Jeopardy Girl talks about her “least favorite film” at her wonderful new series at “Th Continuing Saga of Jeopardy Girl”: http://jeopardygirl.wordpress.com/2012/09/03/2-my-least-favourite-film/
Hokahey takes a fascinating look at both “Total Recall” films at Little Worlds: http://hokahey-littleworlds.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-two-worlds-of-total-recall_5.html
Dave Van Poppel has a tremendous batch of short reviews up at Visions of Non Fiction on the Toronto Film Festival: http://visionsofnonfiction.blogspot.com
Hello! Sam Juliano, Allan, WitD writers and readers…
Thanks, so very much for mentioning the John Garfield petition and your wonderful and steadfast support for this endeavor…Sam Juliano, I’m so happy to announce this news which I just posted under The Garfield Challenge too!
deedee
Dee Dee—
It has been a joy to showcase the spectacular results that you and your group have inspired over th past months. There can be no more deserving result than to see this overwhelming response result in an announcement from the companies. It’s fantastic t see Eddie Muller and these others joiningthe crusade! Tht may be th proverbial straw that brokethe camel’s back! It’s all so exciting.
Hmmm….Sam…I’ll be catching The Master when it opens here on Friday…I wonder what a repeat view will do to your assessment. I’m sad to hear about Arbitrage – it looked really good to me – but maybe I’ll wait for Netflix on that one now.
On DVD I watched:
The Silence – *** (Lower level Bergman for me, but still quite arresting)
The Hunger Games – ***1/2 – Way more entertaining than I thought it would be with another great performance from Lawrence that rescues the film from some shoddy effects and lax pacing.
Also had a Horror Film Fest with some friends that included my first viewing of The Exorcist since I was a teenager! Man, the film is extremely well made (and creepily colorful in the razor sharp blu-ray upgrade) but doesn’t really hold up that well. Still fun as hell to watch with a group though which is why it will always be a **** classic.
David—
Thanks for the vote of confidence, but you may in the end feel differently on both films, especially since both have been very well reviewed. I do love THE SILENCE, and agree thatTHE HUGER GAMES is better than you would think. And it holds up on re-viewing. Yes THE EXORCIST really does hold up! Always appears on horror lists as well it should!
Have a great week David. Many thanks as always!
Sam it is so good to drop by and just see what you have been watching. I have been off line again for 10 days with my grandfather passing away – he was born at 1.5 lb. and his mother kept him in on of her shoe boxes in the warming oven of her wood cook stove feeding him with an eye dropper. He was so small that her wedding ring fit on his wrist. He lived to be 96 years old. So, in many way,s it was more like a celebration with his large blended family of children and step-children. When I came home my sweetie had a movie set aside for me that we watched tonight:
MAKE WAY FOR TOMORROW (1935) directed by Leo McCarey. Most aptly described as a true love story about people in their 70′s. Powerful in its sadness as it was in its strength. Though historically specific from the depression and just before social security became available in the U.S. it is a timeless story about aging and grown children. I highly recommend the film for every child of 50 years of age who loves their parents.
Terrill—
You have my deepest condolences on the passing of your grandfather. That is an incredible story of his premature size and longevity. I know that no matter how old someone you love is upon passing it doesn’t diminish the grief. I also lost my paternal grandfather years back at age 96. ong innings, but perhaps that’s what makes us miss them even more. We had them so long. Terrill, you and David watched a American masterpiece – one of the most moving films ever made, and one thathas a very high repuatation here at WitD. You size it’s worth up beautifully. It’s often compred to Ozu’s TOKYO STORY, which also examines old age wrenchingly.
I am very sorry about your loss Terrill.
Thank you Sam and you are so right – maybe it is that we have had them with us for so long that makes the parting that much more significant. So many fond memories travel with me into the future of each day.
I’m planning on seeing “The Master” when it plays at the Ziegfeld, starting this weekend. I’ve had a number of great viewing experiences there– “Blade Runner”, “Revenge of the Sith”, “Che”, “Waltz With Bashir”– and I can attest to it being one of the best theaters in New York, with just the type of luxuriously big screen that anything shot in 70mm demands.
Yes Bob, the Ziegfeld is the grandest movie showcase in Manhattan, and for that matter one of the pre-eminent theatres in the nation for all sorts of reasons. I saw VERTIGO, SPARTACUS, LAWRENCE OF ARABIA and THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST among others there, and agree there’s nothing to match it. THE MASTER can’t possible be better served, and hope you have a great experience!
Thanks Sam for the kind mention.
I’d loved Hillcoat’s The Proposition, and hence had been inclined towards giving Lawless a try, but your severe thumbs down has somewhat dampened my interest. As for Arbitrage, the trailer was enough to let me know its nothing more than a typical mainstream thriller, and hence your views on it didn’t surprise me much.
Anyway, here’s what I managed to watch over the past week:
- The disconcerting psychological horror film by Polanski, Rosemary’s Baby
- A recent, quirky and reasonably good Hindi release called Barfi (the director paid nice homages to silent comedians like Chaplin & Marx Bros., as well as the Italian genius Tati, through some of the sequences – it was interesting observing those references)
- Woody Allen’s To Rome with Love – certainly nowhere his best works, but a reasonably enjoyable film nonetheless; and it was great seeing Woody in front of the camera after a long time
Shubhajit—
As discouraging as my opinion on LAWLESS is here, it’s not as bad as Maurizio’s position, which Iam thinking is somewhere in the one star range. Ha! At times LAWLESS was a guilty pleasure and it certainly was well acted by all except Mr. Hardy, but a bit too sadistic for my taste and scattered. I am unfamiliar with the Hindi release, but appreciate the fine assessment and intriguing references. ROSEMARY’S BABY of course is a horror classic, and I am excited about the November blu-ray release from Criterion. Yep, Woody in front of the camera in TO ROME WITH LOVE was a joy.
Thanks as always, and have a great week my friend!
Hi! Sam Juliano…
I’m stopping by again, to Thank-you, for mentioning Lori Moore’s cause and to comment on your “busy” week too!
[I can see that The Master with it *** 1/2 and Grandma’s Boy *** 1/2 are the two films to seek out to watch and Arbitrage ** 1/2 Lawless ** 1/2 not exactly,, .time-wasters, but not worthy Of 3 or more stars.
I also hope that you, and your family enjoyed the French Old Wave Festival... too! ]
[cont.]
Dee Dee—
THE MASTER rates well at 3.5, but many around the net are giving it the highest rating. I have pledged to give this very difficult film a second viewing. The Harold Lloyd film was fun, but certainly not up there with the likes of SAFETY LAST, THE KID BROTHER and THE FRESHMAN. LAWLESS and ARBITRAGE are indeed problematic. I wound up seeing 16 of he French Old Wave Festival, with Lucille for a few less, but both the midwest trip and the start of school prevented me from seeing more.
Thanks as always my very good friend!
You know Sammy I can’t believe that this is a movie web site and you didn’t even bother to talk about the most popular movie in the world right now. Do you know what movie I’m talking about? “Islamics are proven innocent” the whole world is erupting because of this movie and you are writing about other movies like Masters and The Law I mean those movies have movie stars in them and “Islamics are proven innocent” doesn’t but do you realize that over twenty countries are protesting against this movie and everyone is going on the internet to look at the trailer, the arab news shows show it all the time and Marjorie’s grandson is in the Marines he just got back from Afghanistan and now she says you know what because of this movie he might have to hop on a plane and go back to the Middle East. And everyone has an opinion about this movie except for you! And you love movies and you love politics and this has both of them. In Arabia they are saying that the movie was made by a Jewish director working with Moussalada because they are trying to generate a war because they don’t think that Obama will support Israel enough if he wins unless they are under a heavy threat so they made the movie and put it out there just to put him in a position where he has to go after Iran and Pakistan. And in Egypt they are very worried because things are unstable there to begin with and now people are filling the streets over there and people say that the next step is they are going to start breaking into the pyramids unless something happens where the US comes out and bans the film and hands over the director. This could be very bad for Obama because all he can run on over Romney is foreign policy and if all of these countries are lighting fires in the streets people are going to say what can Obama do better than Romney, he loses out on the economy and he loses out on Israel so what’s left his foreign policy and people will look at this because things are still very close in the swing states in Florida here they have only been polling Spanish people they don’t go to the elderly to poll because their houses are more often behind fences so those numbers will favor Obama for now but really Romney is going to get a boost. Tell me you will look at “islamics are proven innocent” when you get the chance it’s action and it’s historical and it’s on people minds if you want under darkness to stay popular you have to look into people’s minds! Peace and Blessings
Andy Kaufman eat your heart out.
hehe. Mr. Marsh has made my day! But I can understand Sam, why you’d stay clear of this issue at this time.
Troll post of the year?
Troll post of the year.
We should compile this into a book and make millions.
Jack, you may very well have an excellent point here but I was not sure how to approach this ugly event. You do seem to have the situation sized up comprehensively, and who am I to contest rhetorical brilliance. I would however place a wager that Obama wins in the November election, and that in the end people will reject what Romney stands for.
Obama/Biden in 2012!!!! You heard it here!
Have a great week my friend!
Hey Sam! Thanks for the great support and mention. Well The Master at 3.5 stars would probably be a bit under There Will Be Blood? I haven’t seen it yet but do want to very much. I might have been in the minority with There Will Be Blood however. I felt like the second half was a bit protracted and the overall emotional arch hit its peak too soon for the second half to remain as interesting as the first. Don’t get me wrong. It’s a very good film…..but not Anderson’s best . I still remember seeing Magnolia on opening night. That was something. In fact I’ve loved nearly everything else he’s made…but TWBB was a bit of a disappointment. We’ll have to see about The Master.
Well this past week I watched Dassin’s Thieves’ Highway. Wow! I felt like I’d been socked in the jaw. What a powerful film and so engrossing. Brilliant script that kept me on my toes. I feel like 2-3 times a year, I watch a film for the first time and I really have no idea what’s going to happen next……this was one of those. So refreshing. Will plan to do a write-up in the near future. That was my favorite film of the week by far.
Up this week I will be catching TCM’s revival of The Birds this wed. on the bigscreen with a buddy. I haven’t seen it in a while so looking forward to this presentation. The Birds, although not my favorite Hitch, still holds a place dear to me. It was my first Hitchcock I ever saw….at age 12….at a friend’s birthday party. Shortly after I saw Psycho and Rear Window and began to realize the “auteur theory” for myself. Meaning I noted that this director really had some distinctive features and ways of telling a story. It was eye-opening for me at that age.
Well I hope you have an awesome week Sam! Talk to you soon.
Jon–
Your compromised position on THERE WILL BE BLOOD leads me to believe that you will have some issues with THE MASTER. I have not remotely given up on it and plan to see it again, though I remain skeptical if I will ever be anywhere near Maurizio’s camp on it. I do like THERE WILL BE BLOOD quite a bit, though in the year it was released I was more smitten with some others. For me it’s between MAGNOLIA and THERE WILL BE BLOOD in the Anderson pantheon. I also like THE BIRDS quite a bit, and I agree it’s always fun to catch up with it. Robin Wood’s essay on the film is one I’ve always connected with. I am also completely on the same page with you on THIEVES HIGHWAY, and “sock in the jaw” is certainly an apt reaction!
Sam –
As a Susan Sarandon fan, I’ve been waiting to hear your thoughts on ARBITRAGE. “Snooze” may be just the ticket as I don’t like to be white-knuckled and on the edge of my seat — just a manageable pinch, dollop, and dash of suspense.
We’ve seen just the tips of Old Man Winter’s fingers as he sneaks his way around the corner — usually in the wee hours of the morning. I bet you guys have caught a fleeting glimpse of him as well.
Laurie—
I’m definitely with you on Sarandon who turned in excellent work in DEAD MAN WALKING, ATLANTIC CITY, LORENZO’S OIL, BULL DURHAM,THELMA AND LOUISE and JOE. Sarandon wasn’t a problem in ARBITRAGE at all, but the film was distancing to a point. Many others liked it and you may too Laurie. Oh that incessant Old Man has been roaming the strees in these parts too,and he seems determined to hae some of us turn our heat on. It won’t be long before we’ll have to cooperate. Ha!
Have a great week my friend. Many thanks as always!
There’s been a lot of good press out there on ‘The Master’ Sam, but I know you aware of that. Carol and I will check it out when it lands in Montclair.
Looks like the Yanks may still hang on.
Frank, the situation with the Yanks is 50/50 at this point. The team that wins the East will be the one that strings together some wins. But that’s easy enough to figure. Maybe I can join you guys for a future Montclair sceening of THE MASTER. You know it will be there.
Have a great week my friend. Many thanks.
Sam, thanks for the mention! However, just wanted to give a heads-up that our Singin’ in the Rain contest is now over. Never fear, though–True Classics is holding another giveaway right now in honor of animator Chuck Jones’ 100th birthday this week! Details can be found here: http://trueclassics.net/2012/09/16/looney-happenings-this-week/.
Thanks again!
Wow, Brandie this new giveaway is quite timely, what with this week’s showcasing of two Jones’ classics in the comedy countdown! Will check out you link here. Many thanks as always my friend!
Thanks for the mention Sam. I am amazed at how fast you got through those seasons of Breaking Bad. I started watching Season 2 about the same time as you and I have still not completed it
But it is an incredible show though. The good thing is Season 5 won’t resume until next year, so I will be caught up long before that and can finally watch it live.
I had my reservations about LAWLESS which is why I delayed seeing it but I have been looking forward to THE MASTER for a while and it may be another 2 weeks before I get a chance to see it. I managed to see KILLER JOE, which makes for a worthy companion to BUG in closely observing madness and hell in tight quarters.
Sachin—
I really did surprise myself with how quickly I got through the four seasons. But when you are riveted you somehow make the time. Basically I was watching five or six episodes in every sitting. One day I did twelve. The first eight episodes of Season 5 are already broadcast and can be watched on line. The final eight won’t show until the summer. Agreed with you on KILLER JOE, and greatly look forward to your response to THE MASTER. I am figuring you won’t go head over heals for LAWLESS, butwe’ll see. Thank as always my friend! Have a great week.
Sam, The Master is definitely the first and possibly the major fall movie event. I have no idea when it’ll reach Albany and I doubt I’ll be seeing it in 70 or 65 mm but PT Anderson’s track record means I’ll definitely be there. I suppose we should compliment Scientologists for not storming the theaters yet.
My backlog of Warren Williams to review keeps growing after TCM threw two more at me this week. To preview, Roy Del Ruth’s Upper World builds up a karmic nightmare when William, otherwise a nice guy for a railroad tycoon, abuses his power to punish Sidney Toler’s vindictive cop, and despite a cop-out ending it’s an often-chilling cautionary tale of the dangerous steps taken by frustrated men, while Archie Mayo’s Case of the Lucky Legs is an even more unorthodox Perry Mason movie than William’s previous effort in that role. The Warners/William Mason is basically the actor’s Mouthpiece character with broader comedy and Thin Man-inspired alcoholism. The picture is entertaining but it just seems wrong, somehow.
Didn’t really watch too much else. I’ve seen and reviewed Johnny To’s Life Without Principle, the triad specialist’s non-linear slice of life across all levels of Hong Kong society during an economic crisis. Some storylines are more developed and interesting than others but the overall ensemble is quite a show. Frank Lloyd’s silent The Sea Hawk bears almost no resemblance to the Curtiz/Flynn talkie but more closely matches the Rafael Sabatini novel. Impressive production values and performance in a Ben-Hur like role from one Milton Sills, but the Curtiz is probably better on every level but fidelity to the source. Cecil B. de Mille’s 1931 The Squaw Man is his third go at the subject and the last picture from his unhappy stay at M-G-M. Despite his sort-of ownership of the material, this is one of his least characteristic films, lacking both his signature spectacle and the camp excesses of his other Metro pictures while emphasizing tragedy to an unusual degree. It’s not very good and is unforgivably racist despite its sincere interracial romance — Warner Baxter really does love Lupe Velez’s Indian maid but says she has a “primitive brain” — but its negative idiosyncrasy makes it intriguing to watch. Was C.B. trying for something different or just phoning it in to get out of his contract? Let those who care judge for themselves.
Samuel–
I am rather surprised that there hasn’t been more backlash among scientologists as well. THE MASTER is a film that will certainly be discussed well into the future, and I do need to absorb a second viewing before coming to any meaningful summary judgement. This is the only 2012 film I’ve seen that has really thrown me for a major loop. Yeah, the whole 70 mm thing has been blown out of proportion, though that is how I saw it at the Angelika on Saturday night. Great to hear the Warren Williams showcase continuing, and I am a decent enough fan of UPPER WORLD, which I saw at the Film Forum’s Pre-Code Festival months ago. Definitely a fun film. And I do like THE MIND READER quite a bit, though I can also see the issues it would generate. THE SQUAW MAN is definitely not vintage de Mille, and yes I do believe he was phoning it in! Ha! Yep, racist. Haven’t seen that To, and appreciate the framing. Interesting that the silent SEA HAWK bears more fidelity to the Sabatini source material. Have a great week my friend. Many thanks as always!
Hello Sam and everyone!!!
Well, you seem to have reserved this week for new releases, and maybe you weren’t that fascinated by The Master, but we’ll just wait and see how this one steamrolls as the season comes to an end and we end up with the best films of the year ahead of us. As I’ve told you, the only films I really look forward to are this one and Django Unchained, and are the only two that have a hit at dethroning my actual number 1 of the year so far.
It’s all about Chile this week, the 18th and 19th of September are our national days so we had the entire week off, that I will take to advance in my script more and more and get better at it and maybe hand in a first draft before the end of this week, so that’s that on my end.
My week movie wise:
- Dario Argento: An Eye for Horror (2000, Leon Ferguson) ***1/2 An hour long TV special documentary about the vision, movies and style of the famous italian director, that receives a lot of accolades from people who worked with him, and this one is mostly interesting because of the pyschological side that tries to put forward through the interviews, his relation with his wife and daughters, so that makes it a fascinating watch for a while.
- Don’t Click (2012, Tae-kyeong Kim) *** A korean horror film about internet videos and bullying, sometimes interesting but a bit pedestrian, I’ll say more about this one soon.
- Four Assassins (2012, Stanley J. Orzel) **1/2 A Hong Kong/USA joint production featuring actors from both countries in a story about stories that is way too boring to be insightful. It wins some momentum at the end, but not enough. More about this one soon.
- Godzilla’s Revenge (1969, Ishiro Honda) **1/2 I went back to watch Godzilla films and watched this one that was a shameful cash-in of the Godzilla genre, featuring a kid-friendly movie that moves in the worst places and clichés. It features a lot of stock footage from other Godzilla films and that brings it down quite a bit, but there are also many elements that make it charming. A mixed bag if there ever was one, and coming from the best Godzilla director, I’m surprised.
- Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster (1971, Yoshimitsu Banno) *** An environmental friendly Godzilla film may seem like a nice idea, specially since it’s the first time that there is a social/political message in the films, and the parts about the making of Hedorah, the monster, are very interesting, there are wacky visuals, colours and crazy scenes, but when the fight starts, and that usually is the best part, it turns into a dull grey cartoon, not as exciting as other fights seen before in the series.
- The Lover (1963, Joan Kemp-Welch) **** I watched this one out of Allan Fish’s recommendation in his countdown. it was good and I wrote a bit about it in a comment I did below it.
- Moonrise Kingdom (2012, Wes Anderson) ****1/2 One of my favorite films of the year, and one to see at the theater, the colours and the sound of this film are gorgeous, and the acting is quite interesting as well, specially coming from Bruce Willis. It’s an interesting story, about kids and love, and when you think they wouldn’t explore some issues, they end up doing it in the most beautiful, gorgeous, respectful and real way they could. Wes Anderson should really stick to movies about kids or for kids and forget his trashy indie dramedies that make no one connected to anyone, they are the scourge of influences in film school, and dreaded him for a lot of time because of that.
- Resident Evil: Retribution (2012, Paul W.S. Anderson) *** The latest installment of the series in cinemas right now, it’s interesting in many parts and dissapointing in others, I just reviewed it for the blog and will continue with the rest of the films in the series.
- Sal (2011, Diego Rougier) *** A chilean western that premiered this year and that must have its own review at my site once this Horror Madness stops. The film manages to be interesting visually, but there are some acting issues as well as being too long and full of itself. It doesn’t manage to be a good western, but it’s not exactly a bad one either, some rutheless morals make it stand out in the crowd.
- Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012, Lorene Scafaria) ***1/2 A great acting trip for Steve Carell and Keira Knightley on a comedy about the end of the world that starts really interesting, makes some good points about society in it initial minutes and depicts a crumbling world before apocalypse. Then it goes downhill once the feelings start to show up, because they are so heavy-handed and gratuituous that don’t feel natural at any point. But it has a good 45 minutes in it, and the acting is great.
- To Boldly Flee (2012, Doug Walker) ***1/2 The lesser of three internet specially made movies about a series of critics that find themselves in trouble as the plot-hole tries to swallow the universe in which they are inmmersed. It is not recommended for everyone, there is bad lighting and sound design, but it makes up for it for the people that put the passion inside of it. Only for fans of the Nostalgia Critic and such.
That’s it, have a good week Sam!
Jaimie—
As I stated to others here I will definitely give THE MASTER another shot. I don’t want to go further with the difficulties I had until I have that second viewing under my belt. I will consciously address those issues when absorbing the film at that time. And yes I am also interested in DJANGO UNCHAINED, even while having problems with prior works by the director. I’m sure there was quite a celebration down in Santiago during Chile’s national holidays! Sure you all had fun! And congrats again on your tenacious attentiveness to the horror countdown at EXODUS: 8:2, which I do want to visit more often!
Again a remarkable line-up of films there! I’ve only seen the Argento documentary and the two Godzillas, but much appreciate the usually asture capsule reviews on the others. THE LOVER is definitely on my radar! Have a great week again my friend. Thanks as always for the spectacular wrap!
Sam, thanks very much for the kind mention, and I hope you and all at Wonders have a great week. This week I saw the new BFI restoration of one of Hitchcock’s silents, ‘The Lodger’, which was shown at Ipswich Film Theatre – it is sometimes said to be the first true Hitchcock film and certainly has his stamp on it, with a fine performance by Ivor Novello. I liked the new soundtrack by Nitin Sawhney except for two songs which I found intrusive and made it hard for me to concentrate on the film at those points.
I’m interested to hear that ‘Quai des Brumes/Port of Shadows’ is being shown as part of the French Old Wave festival – I’ve just seen it this week at home and really enjoyed it – it is so atmospheric and Jean Gabin, Michèle Morgan and Michel Simon are all great. The new Studiocanal blu-ray includes two featurettes, on the restoration and the history of the making of the film, which are both fascinating – the ‘making of’ featurette has a lot of background about Carne and poetic realism, and also includes an audio interview with Michèle Morgan, recorded earlier this year (she was 17 when she made the film and is now 92!) where she recalls that she was very attracted to Gabin and says it was no hardship to kiss him.
Judy—
The screening of Hitch’s THE LODGER at the Ipswitch Theatre with Nitin Sawhney’s score sounds like a major event! This is one I am hoping with cross the ocean at some point, and I’d be eager to compare notes! I have two more days to see PORT OF SHADOWS at the Film Forum (it runs through tomorrow) and I am thinking that DCP restoration is too hard to pass on, even though like many others I own the Criterion DVD. So a late show tomorrow night may be negotiated. I agree with what you say about the film’s atmospherics and the celebrated performances, and you make a very strong case for a Studio Canal blu-ray upgrade, especially for that featurette that showcases a discussion of poetic realism, and that marvelous audio interview. I love that anecdote too! Have a great week my friend. Many thanks as always.
Sam,
The comedy countdown has been a blast with some really excellent essays. I have been linking each and every one on my Twenty Four Frames Facebook page and it has been receiving some good coverage. On the home front we had a bad week with the death of our cat newest and youngest cat Sparky. He was only two years old and we only had him for eight months but he wormed his way into our hearts. Needless to say we miss the little guy greatly. Movie wise I watched the following…
Lawman (***) A late career western for Burt Lancaster. Burt plays a stoic, cold blooded marshal out to capture the men, cattlemen working for big time rancher Lee J. Cobb, responsible for the accidental killing of an old man during a drunken spree in his town. The film plays on the notion that no one is all good or bad, there are only different levels of good and evil.
The Night Holds Terror (**1/2) I recently finished reading a biography of John Cassavetes and read about this film. Similar to DETOUR in that a twist of fate, the picking up of a hitchhiker, turns a man’s life, and here his family’s too, into a hellish nightmare. Like Wyler’s THE DESPARATE HOURS the three member gang hold a typical suburban family hostage in their own home. Supposedly based on a true incident the film keeps you interested and at times is very tense but overall it is uneven with a script that could have been better written.
The Power of the Whistler (**1/2) An intriguing storyline reminiscent of the type you would see in the Twilight Zone TV series. That’s said, the execution unfortunately is poor, mainly due to a script that has its lead female character, portrayed by Janis Carter, continually acting with irrational behavior. The dialogue is achingly awkward though they do manage some nice visual and atmospheric scenes.
John—-
Ah John as a fellow cat lover (and owner of four) I feel your pain on the loss of Sparky. How young to lose him. I’m so so sorry…….
Thanks so much for linking the countdown essays to your site Faebook page, and great to hear the coverage has been impressive.
I’m just about where you are on LAWMAN–the performances top the actual film. As t the other films can’t seem to recall seeing them. They sound intriguing even with the disclamers. I just wrote them down.
Again, I’m sorry about your loss John, an have my fingers crossed for a much better week. Thanks as always my friend.
Okay I just got home from seeing The Master and I personally consider it a rather brilliant film Sam. Ambitiously structured and resembling real life in it’s refusal to keep the story tidy and devoid of loose ends (and no neat Hollywood resolution to boot). It’s also a pertinent study of the impossibility to control and monitor the uncontrollable. Freddie Quell feels like some Freudian ID or Neanderthal man (from a million years ago to quote Dodd) who cannot or will not follow certain rules or codes of conduct for very long. He initially aligns himself with The Cause and carries through with some responsibilities they entrust him with, but ultimately he is like the crystal blue waves that Anderson focuses in on repeatedly (who move due to forces beyond human containment). The overriding sense I got from the film is that the failure of Lanchester Dodd to harness and reign in Quell is the same reason his cult rings hollow… man cannot be trapped and manipulated incessantly without it becoming unnatural and instinctually/individually deadening. A great character study of two lonely and alienated individuals who have chosen opposite paths that momentarily intersect.
Spectacular assessment Maurizio, not that I am in the least bit surprised. I am not quite prepared a this point to corroborate what you say only to play heerleader to your brilliant take. I will see the film again soon. Bob Clark is wisely suggesting the magnificent Ziegfield Theatre. Thanks as always my friend!
Yeah I feel like the Angelika does The Master little justice from a visual point. It may be 70mm, but the screens (small) and layout (narrow) of the theater stink. Perhaps even worse than the Film Forum when it comes to overall movie-going presentation (not to mention the subway adding to Greenwood’s score lol). The Ziegfeld is certainly a better option for a reviewing when it gets shown there.
Hi! Sam Juliano, Allan, WitD writers and readers…
“There can be no more deserving result than to see this overwhelming response result in an announcement from the companies. It’s fantastic to see Eddie Muller and these others joining the crusade! Tht may be the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back! It’s all so exciting.”
Sam Juliano, I hope so,
Thanks, for your comment too!
Now, I have to make one clarification [or disclaimer] when it comes to The Film Noir Foundation and their support…the FNF doesn’t endorse (sponsor or support) other organizations or people’s projects…
Here goes Anne Hockens, respond to my email to her:
Dear DeeDee,
Regarding the petition, the FNF doesn’t endorse (sponsor or support) other organization’s or people’s projects etc, so we won’t be able to endorse/support your friend’s petition. However, I will post a link to the petition on our Facebook page.
Thank you,
Anne Hockens
Director of Communications
Film Noir Foundation
415-793-3033
hockens@filmnoirfoundation.org
http://www.filmnoirfoundation.org/news.html
I would think it’s because they are a Non-profit Organization, but to be quite honest I’m not [quite] sure why they don’t or can’t support causes…I will soon ask Anne Hockens.
As a matter Of fact, I wanted to send author Eddie Muller, some film noir memorabilia, but I was told by Anne [Hockens] that he can’t accept gifts….Therefore my gift(s) [to Eddie Muller] went to the Film Noir Foundation Museum… I must admit that just sharing the link is a wonderful gesture on their behalf… in which I’m very much appreciative too!
Thanks,
deedee
Dee Dee—
It appears that Anne Hockens is staying the course here on general policy. However, she was at least willing to post the link at her facebook page, which would seem to indicate her heart is in the right place. But yes, the fact that they are a non-profit organization does seem to suggest that a rigid position is a bit odd. But I’m sure there will be further clarification after a talk with Ms. Hockens. As always your own incomparable generosity is a model for others. Please keep me fully abreast my very good friend!
Sam,
Thank you for the mention.
THE MASTER appears to be the most talked-about film of the week, and the reviews intrigues me so far. I am looking forward to seeing it when the film hits the theaters here.
You know, Anno’s new Evangelion movie is scheduled for November premiere here, and it seems all the seats are already booked. At least for the first week. And new Kitano film is also scheduled for winter premiere. Is EVANGELION also scheduled for November opening in U.S.?
I’m just curious.
MI
No. Last time it took a couple of years for it to reach our theaters. I’d like nothing better than to see it released more promptly, but the best bet would’ve been for it to screen at New York Comic Con, and the best they have this year is a damn Naruto movie. Hell, we’re still waiting for the new Hosada and Ghibli movies.
MI—
I am thinking that you may just love THE MASTER, but I’ll await your verdict. It opened in a slew of additional theatres today stateside, so I’m thinking you may have it as soon as today. I am happy to see that Bob handled your question here on Anno’s new film. Needless to say I also lament the slow unfolding. Have a great week my friend!
I thought the U.S. has a large enough fan base to justify the substantial marketing and prompt release of Anno’s new work. I still think so. I guess it’s partly a fault of Japanese productions and distributors, which spend too much time and money on not-so-impressive marketing domestically. (Personally I am not a huge fan of Anno’s works. I will try writing a post about my view on EVANGELION sometime.)
Sam, thanks so much for the great mention, as always.
I’m definitely curious about THE MASTER even if I haven’t seen it quite yet.
This week I only took in one film, Curtiz’s THE BREAKING POINT. It had popped up on my radar a couple of times over the last few years, and I finally had the opportunity to catch it. I must say I was quite impressed. It’s definitely among my favorite Garfield performances and maintains an intensity and power that I wouldn’t typically associate with Curtiz. A very memorable watch for me.
Here’s to an awesome week, Sam. Thanks so much for all that you do!
Jeffrey, I’ve just seen ‘The Breaking Point’ too and must agree with you that it is intense and powerful and has a great performance by Garfield. The closing shot is haunting. It really deserves to be better-known.