‘The Tin Drum’ a German masterpiece by Volker Schlondorf
by Sam Juliano
There is no more noble venture online than the sustained and impassioned efforts of Dee Dee, Lori Moore and Barbara LaMotta, who are continuing to gather signatures in a worthy project titled “The John Garfield Challenge” which urges the powers that be to release a DVD/blu ray box set of the acting icon’s most celebrated films. Starting off with modest fanfare the project has now become something of a crusade, and is attracting attention and support on a daily basis. The regular reports have been inspiring both for film lovers and those who have dreamed of the ultimate cinematic testimonial for an artist who made his mark through generations. On a personal note, I was blown away when I saw signatures on the petition of people I hadn’t seen in many years from my high school class, and thought oh what a small world.
Fall is now official, and it’s only a matter of time before pumpkins, colored leaves, cool night air and scare movies enter the equation. Baseball pennant races are intensifying and football fans are shouting for their favorites. Our own Bob Clark will soon be reporting on the New York Film Festival. Jaimie Grijalba’s horror countdown at Exodus 8:2 continues with acute focus while here at Wonders in the Dark the comedy countdown moves closer to the half way point. It’s been a real honor hosting some of the finest film reviews online by some of the best authors.
With school moving ahead, it’s been difficult maintaning the hectic pace in theatres that typified the summer activity, but I have no regrets as there really is too much to consider at this point. Still Lucille and I (and Broadway Bob and Bob Clark for the Saturday night screening) managed to see three releases:
Port of Shadows ***** (Thursday night) Film Forum
The Tin Drum ***** (Friday night) Film Forum
How To Survive a Plague **** 1/2 (Saturday night) IFC Film Center
PORT OF SHADOWS, Marcel Carne’s classic of poetic realism looked marvelous in a new DCP restoration, and added footage enhanced Volker Schlondorf’s Oscar winner THE TIN DRUM. Schlondorf himself was on hand to offer a fascinating introduction. One of the most moving of documentaries, HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE chronicles the inspiring story of activists (including Larry Kramer) who realized they needed to act or literally face extinction. France and some of his staff appeared afterwards for a Q & A. Bob Clark asked a brilliant question that had France most impressed.
Last week’s link scroll is hereby re-printed with quite a few updates:
Tony d’Ambra’s newest post at FilmsNoir.net is an excellent comparison of Slaughter on Tenth Avenue with On the Waterfront: http://filmsnoir.net/film_noir/slaughter-on-tenth-avenue-1957-on-the-waterfront-not.html
Samuel Wilson has written a spectacular essay on Paul Thomas Anderson’s “The Master” at Mondo 70: http://mondo70.blogspot.com/2012/09/on-big-screen-master-2012.html
In one of the most moving of all posts Terrill Welch pays tribute to her grandfather at the sublime Creativepotager’s blog: http://creativepotager.wordpress.com/2012/09/17/morning-walk-along-the-stuart-river-a-tribute-to-my-grandfather/
Jon Warner has penned a stupendous review of the silent Victor Seastrom masterpiece The Wind at Films Worth Watching: http://filmsworthwatching.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-wind-1928-directed-by-victor.html
Sachin Gandhi has posted a spectacular post on the Calgary International Film Festival at Scribbles and Ramblings: http://likhna.blogspot.com/2012/09/ciff-2012.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/
Laurie Buchanan engaging address evesdroppers in her telling post “Mind Your Own Business” at Speaking From The Heart: http://holessence.wordpress.com/2012/09/18/mind-your-own-business/
John Greco has penned a wonderfully engaging review of Roy del Ruth’s “Employee’s Entrance” with Warren William at Twenty Four Frames: http://twentyfourframes.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/employees-entrance-1933-roy-del-ruth/
Shubhajit Lahiri has penned a typically brilliant capsule review at Cinemascope on Woody Allen’s “To Rome With Love”: http://cliched-monologues.blogspot.com/2012/09/to-rome-with-love-2012.html
Marilyn Ferdinand has penned a brilliant piece on Patrick Wang’s “In the Family” at Ferdy-on-Films: http://www.ferdyonfilms.com/2012/in-the-family-2011/15884/
David Scheicher seems to profess divided feelings in his brilliantly-written review of “The Master” at The Schleicher Spin: http://theschleicherspin.com/2012/09/21/the-cause-of-love-and-war-in-the-master/
At Exodus 8:2 Jaimie Grijalba continues with his “100 Days of Terror” with a great review of 1958′s “Byakuya no yojo”, which placed at No. 62: http://listeningear.blogspot.com/2012/09/antietam-150.html
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
At Only the Cinema Ed Howard has written an extraordinary essay on Maurnau’s “The Finances of the Grand Duke”: http://seul-le-cinema.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-finances-of-grand-duke.html
At The Listening Ear Weeping Sam, Civil War buff extraordinaire, has written a fascinating piece on the Battle of Antietam: http://listeningear.blogspot.com/2012/09/antietam-150.html
At Patricia’s Wisdom our friendly host offers some seasonal culinary and sensory delights: http://patriciaswisdom.com/2012/09/the-fragrance-of-fall/
At the Coffee Messiah’s blog the indominable Michael Harford features a collage on cultivation: http://coffeemessiah.blogspot.com/2012/09/cultivate.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
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 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 attention on Kenji Uchida’s “Key of Life” at Vermilillion and One Nights: http://vermillionandonenights.blogspot.com/2012/09/key-of-life.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
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
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 written a superlative essay talking about two films: “Dredd” and “Savages” at The Long Voyage Home: http://thelongvoyagehome.blogspot.com/2012/09/double-feature-dredd-savages.html
At Doodad Kind of Town Pat Perry has returned from hiatus, and discusses upcoming plans: http://doodadkindoftown.blogspot.com/2012/09/what-do-i-have-to-say-for-myself.html
At The Blue Vial Drew offers up an arresting “Freeform Phantom”: http://thebluevial.blogspot.com/2012/09/freeform-phantom.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…
Sam Juliano, Thanks, for the very kind words about Lori Moore, Barbara LaMotta, and myself…when it comes to mentioning the petition for actor John Garfield…
[I must admit that the signatures ebb[s] and flow[s]…I wish that the signatures were constant in order for Lori Moore, to reach her intended goal Of 2,500 signatures before 10/26/2012…
Lori, have mentioned extending the petition date beyond the 10/26/2012 deadline, but we will see…Once again, thanks for your [very] kind words and magnificent show Of support.
Now, to turn my attention to your week in review:
Sam Juliano, I hope that you, your wife, Lucille Juliano, Broadway Bob, and Bob Clark…enjoyed watching “Port of Shadows” ***** “The Tin Drum”***** and “How To Survive a Plague”**** 1/2 on the big screen.[From the 4 stars ratings it's quite obvious that you think highly, Of all three films that you viewed on the big screen.]
Unfortunately, I have not watched the three films that you, your wife, and both Bobs, were fortunate to watch on the big screen yet… with yet being that operative word.
By the way, great introduction as the season is about to change and thanks for sharing the links… as usual.
[I hope you have a great week-ahead... too!]
deedee
Dee Dee—
You, Lori and Barbara deserve the highest praise for what you all have done, and as you can see other bloggers on this thread have acknowledged this labor of love. I am really starting to think the effort will meet with resounding success, watching how the signature total continues to mount. If it takes a petition extension, I’d certainly go for it, if it is manageable. It has been quite a ride, and there’s nothing like a reward well-earned. It looks likes others here too, have been having a “Garfield” week! Lucille and I did have an especially high-quality week on the big-screen with a few classics and a powerful new release. Hopefully, you’ll get a chance at these down the road my friend. Yes, the arrival of the autumn season is rather sensory and invigorating and it inspires a hankering to wax lyrical. Ha! Thanks as always my great friend. And congrats again to you all!
Sam, by your standards three films may be a small haul…but looks like you saw some great ones. After what you accomplished at Tribeca I could understand why you’d want to stay clear of the New York Film Festival. I’ve been hearing a lot about the film version of ‘Les Miserables’. I know you and Lucille must be excited.
Exactly Peter. As I just mentioned to Dee Dee, this week featured some truly great films. The New York Film Festival is quite expensive. I did go a few years ago, but the seats were a long way from the screen. In addition, you need to wait very long on the lines. I figured I’d concentrate on Tribeca, and see the NYFF films weeks later when they official release. Yes LES MISERABLES has us all very excited. Have a great week my friend!
Hey Sam thanks for the fine mention. Yep fall can be a very busy time as I know it is for us right now. So busy in fact I was only able to watch a few films. I really enjoyed Stuart Cooper’s Overlord from 1975, which was a brilliant visual evocation of war in a most introspective sort of fashion. I aim to do a write-up of it if I get the time in the near future. It’s been difficult of late to find time to write actually with work and home being so busy. Perhaps things will settle down soon. It looks like tomorrow I aim to see The Master and I’m hoping for a good experience. I’ve seen some call it a masterpiece and others call it a well made film without direction. We shall see what my verdict is. Well I hope you have a great week Sam!
Jon—
I know that Fall is a beautiful time of the year, but hardly a time for work relaxation of course. I can well understand it’s tougher to watch with abandon, and I suspect it won’t be until the holidays when we again have huge chunks of time. But we’ll see, film watching does work it’s way in anyway. Ha! I still haven’t seen OVERLORD, though it was a Criterion acquisition. I’d love to read an essay on the film from you! You are on an incredible role at FILMS WORTH WATCHING over the past few months! I can’t wait to hear what you make of THE MASTER! Have a great week my friend! Many thanks as always.
Sam -
There’s a definite chill in the air here in Chicagoland – I’ve had the heat turned on more than once in the last few days. It feels like we went straight from August to November.
I woud love to have heard Schlondorff’s comments on THE TIN DRUM – I recall some lively discussion on that one a few years ago at the late great TOERIFC (The Oldest Established Really Important Film Club – remember that? I miss it!)
I’m having a lot of trouble getting back in blogging mode,even though I’m pretty much settled in at the new place. It may sound a little goofy, but I’ve fallen in love with my new home. The time I used to spend writing, I now spend in the aisles of Bed Bath and Beyond or leaving through home magazines – or sometimes just sitting on my patio with a cup of coffee savoring the fact that I actually HAVE a patio to sit on now. Too many years of apartment/condo dwelling….
I do watch movies, but nothing inspires me to write. I caught ARBITRAGE and THE MASTER this weekend. I enjoyed the former as a competent, well-acted thriller, but really no more impressive than, say, a good episode of TV’s PERSON OF INTEREST or THE GOOD WIFE. As for THE MASTER – wow, I don’t have a clue where to start. I love P. T. Anderson for his big, sprawling, ambitious filmmaking and this one knocked me out for about 2/3 of the running time, but then started to drive me nuts. Beautiful film, beautifully acted, tremendous Johnnie Greenwood musical score (probably my favorite thing in the movie is that dissonant, unnerving music), but utterly confounding. I kind of loved it, but yet I walked away feeling strangely unsatisfied. I’m going to have to see it again.
Pat—
The chilly night time air has also set up camp here in the NYC area Pat, and I’m thinking the siege will persist for quite some time now. August to November does sound about right! Oh I well remember TOERIFC, and made some contributions back in the day. Definitely one of the great internet film discussion ventures! Schlondorf was a real personable guy who was both fascinating and humble, and I had only wished he spoke longer. But the extended cut of THE TIN DRUM was truly fantastic. Pat I know well how writing can at times take a back seat to other matters, and to be honest I’m experiencing that myself as of late. What you say about THE MASTER does pretty much frame my own response to it, though as I’ve said to others I will see it again very soon. I really loved Greenwood’s dissonant score too! As far as ARBITRAGE I wasn’t much of a fan and have forgotten about it, but you’ve assessed it fairly, methinks.
Have a great week my friend, and enjoy your new abode!
Sam –
What you wrote about THE TIN DRUM, and the director — Volker Schlöndorff — actually being there in person to introduce the film, intrigued me, so I did a bit of Googling and what I found was fascinating. If I understand correctly, THE TIN DRUM was one of the most financially successful German films of the 1970s and won the 1979 Oscar for Best Foreign Film and the 1979 Golden Palm (which it shared with Apocalypse Now). And in the late ’90s, the film became the center of a censorship controversy in the United States.
I must have been living under a rock at the time because I don’t remember any of this.
Laurie—
Thanks so much for embellishing this look back to a German masterpiece which did indeed win those awards during a period of rich movie competition. And I do well understand after seeing it again this past week, why it would be controversial. It’s a haunting film that provides for an emotional experience. It’s tough to identify all the films of that period, and I myself have lost focus with some. But I am thinking you and Len will really like THE TIN DRUM. Have a great week my friend! Many thanks as always!
I’ve heard about the AIDS documentary, seems like the critics are really issuing all kinds of praise. The story of the activists taking things into their own hands is an inspiring one.
Looks like our Yanks are making a strong stand in the past two weeks. I dare say they may hold on!
Frank–
The reviews have been through the stratosphere, and for the first time in a while I would say they are fully deserved. As you note it is inspiring. The Yanks are really on fire, even with yesterday’s rare loss. I have my fingers crossed my friend!
I first became aware of the name John Garfield, and of his importance to film fans, when RTE, the Irish state broadcaster screened a season of his films, some 40+ years ago; and that before they screened a Humphrey Bogart season.
I doubt very much if anybody there could provide me with a list of the films, though.
I can’t remember their names, but I probably wouldn’t have seen too many of them
The best ones are Force of Evil, Body and Soul and The Postman Only Rings Twice.
I have all of those in my DVD collection; and also the somewhat underrated ‘He Ran All The Way’, where a young Shelley Winters also shone
How about Nobody Lives Forever, Humoresque and Gentleman’s Agreement?
I love Nobody Lives Forever too – probably only prefer The Postman Always Rings Twice and Body and Soul over it.
Dave–
Tony d’Ambra just recently wrote an excellent piece on NOBODY LIVES FOREVER at FilmsNoir.net:
http://filmsnoir.net/film_noir/nobody-lives-forever-1946-dark-romance.html
Garfield is an actor who gives his all in every role. Of course some of his films were better than others, and David identifies the best. His penultimate movie also deserves mention – Breaking Point is solid and the closing scene of the black boy alone on a wharf searching for his murdered father is one of the most poignant and subversive in noir. Garfield was an activist and when he was in a position to produce films, his output produced great films of social import. Thanks for the double-plug Sam, here and in the post. You are a mensch.
Great sizing up there of Garfield, Tony as expected!
I haven’t seen ‘Nobody Lives Forever’ as yet, but love all the rest of those mentioned in this thread. Just saw ‘The Breaking Point’ this week and totally agree with Tony’s comments about the power of the ending – must also agree with Jim that ‘He Ran All the Way’ is underrated and another great performance. Another film I’d add to the list of his best is ‘Pride of the Marines’, a powerful tale of a disabled veteran coming home.
Thanks for the mention Sam. I hope you get a chance to see the films that I mentioned in the post, especially FOUND MEMORIES, THE BRIGHT DAY & UNFAIR WORLD which are among some of the best films I have seen this year. I am going to be busy this week catching more films at the film festival. Already, I have been treated to AMOUR, RUST and BONE and look forward to some more worthy titles.
Sachin—
I will absolutely keep my eyes peeled for those two films, especially since you declare them among the best films of the year. Wow, Sachin you have already seen AMOUR????? Really? I’m dying to know what you think! It doesn’t open in NYC in December (at the Film Forum) You are really seeing some top-tier stuff here, and good luck the rest of the way! The times are exciting from here on forward! Have a great time!
Thanks for the link, Sam. Probably a lot more Civil War talk coming in the next few years. Though Antietam is the only battlefield I have with pictures – I’ve been to Gettysburg a couple times, but either didn’t take a camera, or just have no idea where the pictures went. What I actually have from Antietam is video, though it’s in very bad shape – it’s on mini-DV: that should be readily accessible, but I have 2 mini-DV cameras, and on both of them, the tape motor is burned out, and they will barely play. Very strange. It makes me nervous about the future of digital – if 5 year old technology is almost inaccessible, what is going to happen when everything is digital? My mother’s slides and photos from her trip to Gettysburg are as good as ever – just waiting there for someone to dig them out of a box. Those mini-DV tapes might as well be hieroglyphics for all the good they do me.
Weeping Sam—
That news about more Civil War talk is music to my ears! I’ve been to Gettyburg once, but it’s a place I really would like to bring the kids to. I hear ya on the uncertainty of digital technology. And that’s truly unfortunate what you say here about the problem playing mini-DV. Thanks to your recommendation I have ordered a paperback copy of McPherson’s CROSSROADS OF FREEDOM. His Civil War volume BATTLE CRY OF FREEDOM is my personal favorite. Antietam would be another site worth visiting for sure, and great to hear it comes highly recommended. I do hope you are able to sort out the difficult with the digital pictures. Thanks as always my friend!
Hello Sam and everyone!!!
Thanks for the stupendous opening words for my little humble project that has been moving along quite fine as time goes by and has made me write a few pieces that I’m actually proud of. Nice to hear that you made to the theater with such a great group of people as well as seeing some fine movies.
On my end, I’ve been torn between the celebration of my country’s day, my girlfriend’s birthday and the writing of the script, but all has been moving along quite fine and I expect to have some surprises.
In fact, I can spoil one now. Next week I shall be in the magical southern city of Valdivia attending the Valdivia International Film Festival, a whole week eating badly and sleeping coldly just to watch a bunch of films. Sounds like my kind of place to be and having a great time! Of course, the logistics shall be complicated regarding the 100 days of horror, but I’ll manage just fine.
My week movie wise:
- 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968, Stanley Kubrick) ***** What a masterpiece this is. It was on TV with a Kubrick special and this was the only I could see from beginning to end. It is a marvelous effects piece as well as a meditative incredible thought movie. The Hal sequences, the moon part and the dawn of men are just flawless in every bit, and me and my brother marveled at the perfection of the direction by Stanley Kubrick. One that I should watch more often.
- Resident Evil: Damnation (2012, Makoto Kamiya) **** The second part of a parallel animation series of films from Japan based on the famous videogames. Nothing to do with the Paul W.S. Anderson films that clutter the multiplexes. This one has some interesting elements and I’ll say more about it soon.
- Cosmopolis (2012, David Cronenberg) **** I have one thing to say and that is that the film is interesting in many many ways, it has some beautiful cinematography and a decent amount of acting. The conversations were interesting, the whole set up of the story, even if it faded away as the film progressed, was interesting enough to keep me seeing it. But then there’s the stuff about how horribly edited the first half hour is, or how this film is nothing close to the reality, is a fictional world that would never be ours, as much as the satire or the critique want us to. Maybe Cronenberg wasn’t the best choice for this.
- The Ducks’ Migration (2012, Omar Zuñiga Hidalgo) ** A chilean/USA short film about two friends that are on visit on Manhattan. The film is dull, lifeless and tries to have forced plot points and realizations. A bad effort seen on MUBI.com
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011, David Yates) ***1/2 A well made but dissapointing finale to a magical series, as I said last year. We watched this with my girlfriend since she hadn’t seen it and she agreed with me that the end was weak and the overall endeavour a bit dissapointing.
- Morning Glory (2010, Roger Michell) ***1/2 This film was trashed when it came out. I saw it on HBO recently and found myself admiring most of it, the acting specially and the overall structure, even if it was a bit clichéd. There are some great Harrison Ford moments and chemistry with all the other actors. The overall arch is dissapointing taken from a Script Lesson 101, but it still works. I didn’t like how the film looked, way too bright, maybe imitating morning shows, but it didn’t trascend from that.
- One Froggy Evening (1955, Chuck Jones) ****1/2 One of the few WB classics that I had yet to see, and I talked about it a bit under the review.
- The Blessed (2012, Mauricio López Fernández) ***1/2 A chilean short film made in my alma mater about a hermaphrodite that has to dress up as the virgin Mary for a rooted celebration from the countryside. It’s an interesting exercise and I like the themes put together, but the ending left it wanting a bit more conclusive side to it.
- Sunny Acres Farms (2012, Lloyd Kaufman) ***1/2 A 2 minute short film comissioned by PETA that show us how animals are treated at farms, but instead of animals you are shown human beings being killed and treated badly. It works.
- The Useful Life (2010, Federico Veiroj) ****1/2 This is a film that I suspect both you and Allan Fish would love, and I recommend it to everyone. This is a latinamerican film about a cinematheque worker and the tribulations it has to go through to make it happen. It shows some clips from the films that they usually show, and the film itself is just over an hour, making it a sweet experience of someone who loves film and wants to make his own life a living film.
- Walker (2012, Tsai Ming-liang) **** A 25 minute short about a monk carrying a bag of food and a burger. More on this soon.
Have a nice week Sam!
Jaime, I absolutely love A USEFUL LIFE and it was of my fav films when I luckily saw it in 2010. Also, it hit a bit too close to home as I know people very similar to those shown in the film.
Enjoy the film festival & hope you get to see some great films
Jaimie, always remember your girlfriend comes first in that sequence of events, even though the script writing is quite important too. You have indeed been moving along quite nicely on the horror project, and it’s just astounding you continue to pen piece after piece. And attending the Valdevia FF is great stuff as Sachin acknowledged. I wasn’t much of a fan of COSMOPOULIS, but the reviews were mostly quite good; 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY is an absolute masterpiece and thrilled to hear of your discovery of it. Of course I also love ONE FROGGY EVENING to the highest rating and you have made marvelous cases for some others. Thanks as always my friend, and have a great week! Enjoy the remainder of the festival!
Sam, all my other movie-watching this week pales in the wake of The Master. Stunning stuff with a brilliant low-key finish that merrily undercuts much of what may have seemed pretentious earlier. I think I get why you didn’t feel an emotional connection, since the antagonists are such black holes of neediness, but I think once people realize that this isn’t the Allegory of Scientology — I don’t think this was your problem, though — they’ll see Master for the prickly but ultimately humane film it is.
I did see some other things, They include Gregory La Cava’s Half-Naked Truth, one of those perfect Pre-Code titles and not a bad picture with Lee Tracy in an ideal role as a carnival barker turned high-pressure publicist; Robert Rossen’s Johnny O’Clock a hard-boiled but low-key noir with good work from Dick Powell, Lee J. Cobb and Evelyn Keyes; Jess Franco’s Exorcism, a good idea about a defrocked priest obsessed with the fake Satanism of the decadent rich and actually well-acted by the director but ultimately too repetitive for its own good; Mario Monicelli’s Big Deal on Madonna Street, which was pretty much as advertised in Tony D’Ambra’s piece for the countdown; and Henning Carlsen’s Hunger, a convincing time-warp to 19th century Denmark with Per Oscarsson as an earlier, more intellectual version of Freddy Qull. I am also involved with another film for next week’s 1959 poll, but as it is rather long my viewing remains a work in progress. Wish me luck!
Samuel—
I don’t doubt what you say there, especially since you wound up with one of your greatest essays ever at MONDO 70, one I’ve
so far failed to comment on, due to my own uncertaintly of expression. But I will add my two cents tomorrow. Yes there is a distancing, and that’s right I didn’t buy the Allegory of Scientology myself. I need to watch this again before firming up a response I am comfortable with. The most problematic section of the film was the final third. I do absolutely wish you luck with that marathon viewing you are either engaged with are are shortly embarking on! Could it possibly be the “epic” from that year I will passionately defend till my grave? Ha! Yes BIG DEAL is as advertised by Tony’s review (a great one) and Henning Carlsen’s HUNGER is a stone cold masterpiece. I have always touted Oscarsson’s lead performance one of the greatest recorded on film. JOHNNY O’CLOCK is solid; that Jess Franco film isn’t one I care much for, though the director has never been my cup of tea. I’m having trouble remembering that La Cava, but perhaps I didn’t see it. Thanks as always my friend!
Hey Sam…sorry I missed the last two weeks of the Diary, things got pretty busy here. A lot of my spare time has been taken up not only by the usual suspects (class, work, etc.) but also sports – there have been some great nights of boxing over the last few weeks (which, as you know, is my favorite sport) as well as the Reds clinching the NL Central Division! I managed to catch a few films this week, as well as have one on while I was doing some work and follow along as I went. Here are my thoughts:
The Master (Paul Thomas Anderson): I am as baffled as everyone else as to how to feel toward this film. I agree with critic Jeffrey Anderson, who said in his review: “Though the film’s subject isn’t entirely clear, it is clear that Anderson knows how to make a movie that looks great, and one that seems like it ought to be great.” It seems like it _ought_ to be great, and has some great performances (Phoenix is outstanding, outshining even Hoffman), but at the end I couldn’t help feeling like the whole is not quite equal to the sum of its parts. Still, it is intriguing and I will revisit.
Titanic (James Cameron): I watched the recently released blu-ray of this one, which looks great. Say what you will about the movie – and I am assuming most here are not fans – but it is a milestone of cinema for those of my generation. Regardless of how you feel about the film, for those like me who went to the theater as a teenager and saw it, it was a signpost-type moment. I have always liked it (if not to the tune of 11 Oscars). What I will add, is I think that history has thus far been (and will continue to be) kind to this film. The huge backlash against the runaway success of the film will not be as big a deal as time passes, I think. It seems easier for people to stomach, or dare I say enjoy, melodrama when looked at with a bit of nostalgia. It might not be a “greatest”-type movie, but it is one I’m not afraid to admit that I enjoy and it has the kind of “when did you see it” type attachment that movies like Jaws or Star Wars had in earlier years.
The Avengers: Saw it at a local dollar theater. Not really being a fan of superhero movies, I didn’t have high expectations. It was enjoyable enough, but nothing I will return to. It’s not dark enough for me – I realize that the reason I enjoy Nolan’s Dark Knight series is the noirish elements that are included. There is none of that in The Avengers. As they say, this one it is what it is.
Have a great week Sam! Glad to be back posting in the MMD.
Dave–
I completely understand. Frankly I’m surprised you have been able to do as much as you have on the boards to this point! It goes without saying that it is great to have your newest post here! Yep I have known you are a big boxing fan, and a Cinncinnati sports fan (Reds and Bengals) You have good reason to be really excited about the Reds, who seem poised for a serious run for a World Series appearance. I’ll make you a deal: You root for the Yankees and I’ll root for the Reds. If they wind up playing each other, all bets are off! Ha! Seriously though, the Yanks don’t seem to have want it takes to go all the way, though an AL East title is quite likely. It’s actually amazing how many friends liek yourself and online bloggers who have admitted they haven’t found THE MASTER as any kind of masterpiece, in fact a problematic film with occasional flashes of brilliance. I am committed to seeing this a second time, but I am doubtful I will regard it as substantially different. Both leads were extraordinary, and I really dug the Greenwood score, but the film was just so maddening and emotionally distancing. Wasn’t much of a fan of THE AVENGERS either, though as far as superhero movies go it would be middling. Dave, I was never a big fan of TITANIC but I will say this in a whispering tone, otherwise I’ll be assaulted by family members, including Lucille, who adores the film, and my oldest 16 year-old daughter Melanie, who loves Leonardo. To be fair, I did watch part of the blu-ray last week, and admit it’s quite entertaining in parts, and the section when the ship turns vertical is technically spectacular. But it’s an undeniable audience pleaser, and it does have it’s moments.
Have a great week my friend! Many thanks as always!
Avoiding the NYFF this year, Sam? Seems like attendance would be essential just to see the fully restored cut of ‘Heaven’s Gate’. And the new Resnais looks intriguing, not to mention Ruiz’s final film ‘Night Across The Street’, which clocks in at a fleet 107-minutes ( this is Ruiz!)
Hope Dee Dee’s Garfield set includes ‘Humoresque’ with Garfield going mano-a-mano (and I do mean mano-a-mano) with Crawford.
Later, my friend
Mark—
The reason why I have stopped attending the NYFF the last few years is because you can never be sure of satisfactory seats. I’ve been concentrating on Tribeca, especially since the NYFF highlights usuallyu hit theatres shortly after the festival closes. Seeing that fully restored cut of HEAVEN’S GATE would certainly be a treat, but the Criterion blu-ray of that same print is due out in a matter of weeks. I have my own order in. It’s sad to realize that this is Ruiz’s last film. And yes a new Resnais is always a miracle. Any new Garfield set should indeed contain HUMORESQUE, and I git on that “mano-a-mano” Ha! Have a great week my friend!
Sam,
The Garfield petition is a worthy cause and coincidently I watched three Garfield films this week with two more still on my DVR. Of the three NOBODY LIVE FOREVER (***1/2) was the best with Garfield as a con artist out to rip off a young rich widow played by the lovely Geraldine Fitzgerald. After he falls in love with her he decides to call the deal off much to the agitated dismay of his low life cohorts who decide to go off on their own and kidnap the woman holding her for ransom. Nothing new as far as a storyline but some witty dialogue, foggy nights, smoky nightclubs and Garfield all add up. Also watched DUST BE MY DESTINY (***) with John playing his typical underdog, cynical anti-hero and finally EAST OF THE RIVER, a film I watched many times as a kid but was disappointed with mainly due to what now seems like stereotypical and offensive portrayals of Italian-Americans by co-stars Marjorie Rambeau and George Tobias.
Also saw…
The Birds (*****) on the big screen. My favorite Hitchcock film from his late period (excluding PSYCHO). This despite the two leads, especially Rod Taylor who comes off as a third rate Cary Grant, The Birds is a brilliantly nasty horror film. Remains eerie and frightening.
Sunrise (*****) This was my first viewing of this masterpiece of silent cinema. Murnau created a story that keeps you on edge the entire time. Profoundly human yet so technically advanced with exquisite cinematography, so way ahead of its time; superimposed shots, tracking shots and lighting all add to this visual gem. The film contains its fair share of humor, poignancy, suspense and melodrama. Just brilliant.
Knock on Wood (***) Relatively little known Danny Kaye comedy. Written by the team of Melvin Frank and Norman Panama it deals with Kaye, a ventriloquist who is being controlled by his dummy (shades of Magic) and ruining his love life. The plot also centers around spies and stolen governments secrets. Swedish actress/director Mai Zetterling is wasted in her role.
The Mysterious Intruder (***) The fifth film in The Whistler series and the best one I have seen so far. A shady private investigator is hired to find a young woman missing for seven years and has recently come into a fortune. He arranges for an imposter to pose as the young woman. When the imposter is found dead the P.I. becomes the police number one suspect. Nicely directed by William Castle.
Nobody Lives Forever (***1/2) out of five – John Garfield stars as a con artist out to rip off a young rich widow played by the lovely Geraldine Fitzgerald. After he falls in love with her he decides to call the deal off much to the agitated dismay of his low life cohorts who decide to go off on their own and kidnap the woman holding her for ransom. Nothing new as far as a storyline but some witty dialogue, foggy nights, smoky nightclubs and Garfield all add up. There is also a great supporting that includes Walter Brennan, George Tobias, Faye Emerson and George Courlouris giving it a full bodied flavor. Screenplay by W.R. Burnett (High Sierra, The Asphalt Jungle, This Gun For Hire) and directed by Jean Negulesco.
Dust Be My Destiny (***) On the run from the law. John Garfield had an affinity for playing the underdog, the outsider, the rebel, cynical loners who have no code to live by but their own rules. This film represents a typical kind of role for Garfield at this point in his career. He would play it over and over again in other flicks like THEY MADE ME A CRIMMINAL and THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE.
East of the River (**1/2) Another early Garfield. Old story of two Italian-American brothers who grow up, one bad. Marjorie Rambeau and George Tobias verge on the offensive with their stereotypical Italian accents.
John—
It’s really amazing what a coincidence it is that you spent a week watching some John Garfield films, as the site draws attention to the Garfield Petition Project! I’m not surprised that you have NOBODY LIVES FOREVER on top of the ones you did see, as that one is a favorite of the acting icon’s fans. I’ve never seen DUST BE MY DESTINY and very much appreciate the great capsule review of it. I agree with you 100% on both THE BIRDS and SUNRISE! The former is indeed one of Hitch’s last truly great films, and the latter is one of the greatest films of all-time, as you yourself seem to acknowledge. Your eloquent description of Murnau’s film is music to my ears. I pretty much agree with you on Castle’s THE MYSTERIOUS INTRUDER, which I saw at the Castle Festival, But I have not yet seen KNOCK ON WOOD. THanks for the stupendous wrap as always John!
Thanks Sam for the kind mention.
Well, we have a long weekend coming up here, and, in order to make up on my lost sleep and good home-cooked food, I’ll be on my way to home on Thursday for a short vacation.
In the meantime, I watched the following films over the last week:
- Woody’s best film since Deconstructing Harry, Match Point
- Chabrol’s fine marital thriller The Unfaithful Wife
- Woody’s rather campy early year film, Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex, but Were Afraid to Ask (the last segment was great, though)
- the compelling courtroom drama, Judgment at Nuremberg
- Bergman’s darkly brilliant The Magician
- R.W. Fassbinder’s The Marriage of Maria Braun, which I watched in the evening today
Shubhajit—
Nice to hear you have some down-time lined up! Interesting that you feel Woody’s DECONSTRUCTING HARRY is his best since MATCH POINT. It does have it’s fans for sure. But other treasures there too! LA FEMME INFIDEL, THE MAGICIAN and MARIA BRAUN–a staggering trio there! And I also like the jester segment of EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW as well. I’ll be watching at CINEMASCOPE my friend! Have a very good time this week!
I actually meant the other way round, that, in my opinion, Match Point is Woody’s best since Deconstructung Harry
Hi, Sam
Thank you for the mention. It seems the link jumps to David’s article on THE MASTER, which is an excellent, excellent article, by the way.
This weekend, my wife and I went to see the CINEMA X ORGAN concert in Yokohama. The concert hall, the Minatomirai Hall, has an impressive an organ by C.B. Fisk, which is usually reserved for classical concerts. This occasion, the temporary screen was put up in front of the stage, and the organist Peter Klasinski accompanied the screening of the silent films. Chaplin’s THE RINK and Keaton’s THE GENERAL were shown, and my wife and I being great fans of Keaton silents, we would never miss it. And it was marvelous. It was an excellent improv performance by Mr. Klasinski, not too intrusive, but to enhance the experience of joy of watching the masterpieces. Since this concert hall caters to the classical music crowd usually, the majority of the audience experienced the Keaton’s classic for the first time. I could hear gasps in the Hall during the Keaton’s canon scene. The print of THE RINK was the pretty battered Blackhawk dupe, with many jumps and missing frames. THE GENERAL was much better, but it was not the restored print of the recent effort. Still, it was an exhilarating experience.
There is a lot of discussion going on now about the future of movie theaters, especially those not equipped with digital screeners. Many independent movie theaters in Japan, not affliated with major distributors, are going to experience hard time. Especially, Kodak and Fujifilm effectively announced their film stock productions discontinued, which will force producers to switch to digital. Many predict, in next few years, all the independent theaters will have to shut their doors. How is this demise of film projections and fate of many small theaters perceived in U.S.? I guess NY is different story, but still there are many theaters in other parts of States which will be deeply affected, I guess… What is your view?
MI
Here’s an article from one of my local papers in upstate NY with a grim prospect for the smaller independent theaters. Size seems to be crucial; a big indy mutliplex (albeit one that plays The Dark Knight Rises alongside foreign and arthouse fare) looks likely to survive; single screen venues have less hope.
MI–
Sorry about that link error. I just now rectified it. Seems every week I am doing the same with one of two. Geez. As to that ominous question you pose near the end of your submission, I see Samuel provided some sensible speculation via an actual report. This has been the trend for a number of years now. Whether it means that film itself is under siege, we can’t be sure either way. I think the recent release of THE MASTER is 70 mm is an outcry against that possibility. But I’m sorry to hear about the situation in Tokyo.
Sounds like you and your wife has a sensational time at the Cinema X organ concert in Yokohama! Definitely a major event and one that rightly lights up these pages! Yeah, I know it’s tough finding a good print of THE RINK, and it does usually come down to that Blackhawk dupe sadly enough. But THE GENERAL is a real showpiece with musical accompaniment and it looks like Peter Klasinski was really up to the task! And you surely picked the best word: exhilarating! Happy too that you negotiated this during our presently-running comedy coundown. Thanks a lot as always my friend!
Thanks, Samuel, an excellent article and insight. It seems the problem is universal, the smaller enterprise gets the harder hits. The problem is much more severe here, since almost all independent theaters in Japan have less than two screens and 200 seats. Very few are making money. There are theaters owned by a prominent publisher, or City or Prefecture or a part of art museum. They might have better survival rate, but even local governments are required to balance budget these days.
As Sam poses the interesting question, is it the culture of film itself under fire? I am quite sure theaters and their patrons are now vulnerable than ever, and business side of movie making is now shoving new gadgets and services onto us until they are satisfied with whatever profit margins they can squeeze out of the system. I have a bad feeling that some people in the movie business want to play Apple business model: upgrade or die.
A few months back, David Bordwell mentioned an interesting story about 3D movie installation in U.S. In essence, James Cameron with his 3D service company, told theater owners a few years ago to go 3D and play his AVATAR, or you go out of business. Blurays and other hightech home theaters will replace you. Then, in NAB show last year, he told electronics manufacturers and contents providers and other services, go 3D TV and display otherwise you are losing a huge opportunity. Then, he goes back to theater owners and distributors in Cinecon, said 3D movie today will lose to 3D TV, because 3D projections in movie theaters are dark. My AVATAR took a lot of crap because it’s dark, he says. So we developed the new system, which runs at 60fps, instead of 24fps. It is brighter, it will bring new experience to audience. You should purchase my new 60fps equipment otherwise you will lose to 3D TV. Oh by the way, the equipment isn’t compatible with the current 24fps 3D system you purchased a few years ago.
I am quite sure Mr. Cameron will visit Cinecon next year and propose yet another system, parhaps the web-enabled 3D smell-o-vision, each seat in a theater equiped with Facebook Like button and Tweet button, charging $0.20 per Like!.
Is it our fault? I don’t know. We go to 3D movies and complain about technological stuff. In the end, we, audience as a whole, are supporting the system.
MI
Ah the books are beginning to arrive for the Christmas season reviews so I did not watch anything but a Qigong DVD this week and did not finish that.
I did watch the TIN DRUM in a ethics class during Graduate School and we had a fabulous discussion of it – I remember it so well because it was the only film that the other students really talked about and I do not even remember what the other films were. Now I want to see it again…Thank you and
two 5 star and one 4.5 star weekend – what a WOW in those numbers!
Thank you for the shout out always appreciated.
Patricia–
It was definitely a very strong week in theatres, even with the few films I did see. Of course both THE TON DRUM and PORT OF SHADOWS are classic films, while the documentary is one of teh best of its kind. Great to hear about that graduate course that offered Schlondorf’s film! It is definitely a film that inspires discussion, as we all experienced after the film. It one that rewards re-viewings as well. Hope some good books arrived. Have a great week my friend. Many thanks as always.
‘Port of Shadows’ and ‘The Tin Drum’ are both very great – must have been a treat to see them both on the big screen. I’ve had a somewhat fraught week, but did see Woody Allen’s new film ‘To Rome with Love’ at the cinema and must say I found it rather patchy and a disappointment after his last few, although it was good to see Woody in front of the camera again and I also liked the Alec Baldwin/Jesse Eisenberg story.
I’m another one watching John Garfield at the moment and saw ‘The Breaking Point’ this week – great stuff, especially that haunting ending. I’ve also just finished reading a biography of Garfield, ‘He Ran All the Way’ by Robert Nott, which is pretty good but a bit dismissive of some films that I like a lot.
Thanks for the plug, Sam, and here’s wishing all of us a good week.
Judy—
I completely agree of course, and yes, the restored print, the DCP restoration and Shlondorf’s appearance did make for quite an evening. PORT is one I do need to get on blu-ray, though the Criterion DVD would seem to be fair enough for the time being. You do seem to be mainly with the majority on Woody’s new film, and while I do like it more (the shower being carted on to the stage, the celebraity status satire centering around Beningi and Woody’s welcome appearance in front of the camera as you note were my favorite aspects) I know the ‘patchy’ argument is sound. Fantastic to see you are Garfield focused as of late, what will Dee Dee’s crusade gathering all the attention as of late. You have me wanting to get that book and watch THE BREAKING POINT again on my Warner archive DVD.
Have a great week my friend! Many thanks as always!
Sam, thanks so much for the great mention!
TIN DRUM is one that I have known about for a long time but have still yet to see. I will do something about that sooner rather than later.
This week I saw BABY FACE and WILD BOYS OF THE ROAD. I was very happy to see them both, particularly knowing that you’re a big fan of the latter.
Here’s to another awesome week. Thanks so much, Sam, for all that you do!
Jeffrey, I remain staggered by your incredible friendship and loyalty, and continued to be flattered beyond what I can convey here. Yep I am certain you will be ravished by THE TIN DRUM, which is certainly one of the best films of it’s kind. I do indeed adore WILD BOYS and in fact think BABY FACE is great as well. Stanwyck gives one of her signature performances in this work that best applies the anything goes credo of the pre-code era. That’s quite a pair that you managed this week! I think WILD BOYS is my personal favorite Wellmann. Thanks as ever for your continued support and insights my friend!
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