Coming of age Irish gem, ‘Kisses’ playing at the Angelika
by Sam Juliano
“If you’re looking for rainbows, look up to the sky, and never, no never, look down.” -Charles Chaplin, lyrics to ‘Swing Little Girl” from The Circus
As we move deeper into the summer and lament on the inability to complete what we may have initially set out to do, we can at least hope to enjoy some well-earned R & R, whether it’s on a seashore vacation, a trip abroad or even at home, with air-conditioned movie viewings. Here at Wonders, we’re nearing the end of the months-long 2000’s decade countdown, a project once thought to be endless in duration. We have decided to delay the naming of Allan’s #1 film until Tuesday (tomorrow) , to give it a kind of regal annointment. Normally, this final and ultimate placement would have been posted today, without the 24 hour red carpet time window. At Good Fellas, Dave Hicks’s popular ‘director’s countdown’ is also nearing completion, though the venture has about two weeks still left.
Many of us are mourning the passing of Yankee owner George Steinbrenner, whose bottom line tactics brought a number of World Championships for our beloved Bronx Bombers. Despite the bullying and seemingly unscropulous methods emplyed since he bought the team from CBS in 1973, many revelations have emerged about his charitable acts to many and his already-known larger-than-life personality. He was a remarkable figure and a true American, and Friday night’s Yankee Stadium game was one of the most emotional ever staged in sports. Even Red Sox Nation have issued their own tributes.
The Anthony Mann Festival concluded Thursday night, with showings of Men in War and The Fall of the Roman Empire, and I succeeded on my mission to watch all 32 of the films offered. It’s the first time in my life I’ve managed anything of this magnitude, and it was achieved with quite a bit of luck and timing. While nearly everyone I know believes I was there for every film, for the sake of accountability, I will be displaying the ticket stubs for all my appearances on that Thursday post, as the Film Forum features the title of the films on each stub. I feel like I know Mr. Mann so much more than I ever have, and predictably he’s risen in my estimation to the first rank of American directors. I am planning a comprehensive post for Thursday, July 22 at WitD, where I will reflect on the experience and write capsule reviews for all 32 films. The Chaplin festival is up next, with a one-week run for The Circus, and then two weeks for all his remaining features, and a good deal of the shorts. After that it’s William Castle. Again I plan to attend both aggressively, and will have some of the kids on board for many. After seeing The Circus at 1:10 P.M. with the entire family in a beautiful new print, one would be hard pressed to deny this as a first-rate Chaplin masterpiece. The excellent short The Idle Class was screened first.
On Saturday night I saw a theatrical show in the Acorn Theatre on Theatre Row in Manhattan staged as a benefit for the early passing of a revered artist who passed from pancreatic cancer. The superlative 45 minute work, THE SHOEMAKER starred Danny Aiello and Lizbeth Mackay, and was written by the show’s moderator, Susan Charlotte. Dealing with the aftermath of 9-11, the show combined sry humor with poignancy and was followed by the greatest Q & A I have ever witnessed, with the relatively small sold-out audience including a number of Aiello’s relatives and famous stage stars.
I managed two contemporary films in theatres this week, INCEPTION and the Irish coming-of-age drama, KISSES. Of course I also saw the final six of the Mann films at the Film Forum, and the two Chaplins, making for a total of ten films:
Inception **** (Friday night) Edgewater Multiplex
Kisses **** 1/2 (Sunday afternoon) Angelika Film Center
The Great Flamarion *** 1/2 (Monday night) Anthony Mann Festival
Strange Impersonation *** 1/2 (Monday night) Anthony Mann Festival
Reign of Terror **** (Wednesday afternoon) Anthony Mann Festival
Side Street **** (Wednesday afternoon) Anthony Mann Festival
Men in War **** 1/2 (Thursday evening) Anthony Mann Festival
The Fall of the Roman Empire **** (Thursday evening) Anthony Mann
The Circus ***** (Sunday afternoon) Charles Chaplin Film Festival
The Idle Class **** (Sunday afternoon) Charles Chaplin Film Festival
KISSES, a life-on the edge, coming-of-age tale in the tradition of the great Ken Loach, packs an emotion wallop in this tale of two kids who run away to the street lights of Dublin to gain the most valuable education they ever could, before their triumphant return in one of the year’s most arresting conclusions. Lance Daly’s use of monochrome, vibrant color and slow motion are remarkable fluid, and two young actors, Kelly O’Neill and Shane Curry are wholly extraordinary. One also is reminded by British wonderkind Shane Meadows, but this Irish gem is as good as Meadows’s best work. My good Irish friend Longman Oz, stationed in Dublin, liked it too, (if not as much) and penned this excellent December 2008 appraisal: http://noordinaryfool.com/2008/12/09/kisses/
and over at Living in Cinema my good friend Craig Kennedy opines: http://livingincinema.com/2010/07/15/review-kisses-2010/
INCEPTION is the kind of mind bender that needs three, four or five viewings, though at times you believe you’re in the presence of brilliance. Others times, you’re saying “what the hell.” The performances are right there, Hans Zimmer delivers a pulsating score, and the propulsion and arc of the narrative are tough to shake, even while you wonder if they probed one dream level too many. My initial reaction is that it’s an important film, which even some excesses and convolutions can’t mitigate. Stay tuned, as they say.
John Greco continues his prolific run at Twenty Four Frames with a superlative essay on John Sturges’s Jeopardy, that’s a must-read: http://twentyfourframes.wordpress.com/2010/07/16/jeopardy-1953-john-sturges/ At his other blog, John has a wonderful tribute up on George Steinbrenner: http://watchingshadowsonthewall.wordpress.com/2010/07/19/farewell-to-the-yankees-boss-_-george-steinbrenner-1930-2010/
Longman Oz, continues to rule over the appreciative residents of Emerald City with his astute evaluation of the cultural landscape, and his latest post is a remarkable theater review on The Quare Fellow at the Project Arts Centre: http://moviesovermatter.wordpress.com/2010/07/17/the-kids-are-all-right-but-is-anyone-else/
Jeffrey Goodman has posted his “Favorite Five” of the films he has recently seen, and it’s a beautiful short list of Ozu, Denis, Browning and McCarey. The effervescent filmmaker plans to follow up with more in the upcoming months in this new series at The Last Lullaby: http://cahierspositif.blogspot.com/2010/07/favorite-five.html
Shubhajit Lahiri is still managing some excellent work at Cinemascope, even with his college sojourn in place. His latest is a fine capsule on the B classic Detour: http://cliched-monologues.blogspot.com/2010/07/detour-1946.html
As mentioned in a separate post, ‘Just Another Film Buff’ won professional acolades this week for his extraordinary reviews at The Seventh Art, and the beat goes on with the stellar treatment of this little-known Asian director: http://theseventhart.info/2010/07/10/flashback-80/
Johnny To’s Election gets the definitive treatment from Down Under Scholar Extraordinaire Roderick Heath at Ferdy-on-Films in a superlative appraisal: http://www.ferdyonfilms.com/?p=5453 while at one of the net’s premier literature blogs (run by Heath alone) a definitive review of Racine’s Phaedre is still headling: http://englishoneoworst.blogspot.com/2010/07/impossible-choices-moral-tragedy-of.html
Mr. Heath’s other movie blog, This Island Rod, is presently featuring a review on The Beat Girl (1959): http://thisislandrod.blogspot.com/2010/07/beat-girl-1959.html
Jake Cole’s review of Inception is a flat-out masterpiece of film criticism: http://armchairc.blogspot.com/2010/07/inception.html
Judy at Movie Classics, is taking a short respite (and God, she deserves it!) but she’s still headlining some great stuff at her place, the latest of which is a superlative essay on the pre-code classic Love Affair: http://movieclassics.wordpress.com/2010/07/15/love-affair-1932/
Just Another Film Buff’s latest piece de resistance is on the Indian “coming-of-age” tale Udaan at his hallowed halls: http://theseventhart.info/2010/07/18/the-boy-who-could-fly/
David Schleicher’s latest super essay “The Inception of Dreams” considers the new box-office and critical Chris Nolan hit: http://theschleicherspin.com/2010/07/16/the-inception-of-dreams/
Jeopardy Girl writes eloquently about her “move” this week, which she does with great reluctance and a ting of sadness: http://jeopardygirl.wordpress.com/2010/07/15/on-the-eve/
J.D. at “Radiator Heaven” is posting a Christopher Nolan Blogothon: Batman Begins at his place: http://rheaven.blogspot.com/2010/07/christopher-nolan-blogothon-batman.html
Film Dr. has a brilliant essay up examining the many aspects of Nolan’s Inception that’s a must for those who have seen the film: http://filmdr.blogspot.com/2010/07/closed-loop-9-notes-about-mysteries-of.html
At Goodfellas, as mentioned in the lead-in, Dave Hicks is winding down his spectacular directors series, and he’s up to #7 with Howard Hawks: http://goodfellamovies.blogspot.com/2010/07/7-howard-hawks.html
Taking a break from his intensive preparation for the horror poll, Troy Olson takes a brief break with this light and engaging answer/query: http://troyolson.blogspot.com/2010/07/great-moments-in-movie-history-from.html
Andrew Wyatt admits there are “structural flaws” present in Michael Winterbottom’s The Killer Inside Me, but he finds it nonetheless “fascinating” in an excellent capsule consideration of “Gateway Cinephiles”: http://gatewaycinephiles.com/2010/07/16/whats-it-like-to-be-the-bad-man/
Michael Harford, the erstwhile Coffee Messiah has a new post up at his brewery entitled “I Remember When” where he feature a video of Father Sarducci on Art School: http://coffeemessiah.blogspot.com/2010/07/i-remember-when.html
Dee Dee has officially gone on hiatus at Noirish City (Darkness Into Light) and while it’s a sad occassion for her readers, it a well-deserved respite for all that she done for so many. She indicates she’ll return, but for now, it’s important that she take advantage of some R & R. Have a great summer, my dear friend: http://noirishcity.blogspot.com/2010/07/taking-breatherfrom-noirishcity-but-i.html
Terrill Welch asks at her most recent post at her Creativepotager blog, “If you could grow one new thing in your creative garden, what would you be willing to weed, water and love until harvest time?”: http://creativepotager.wordpress.com/2010/07/15/flower-salad/
Dan Getahun is beginning to post again after a well-deserved break for his wedding, and he has a thought-provoking essay featured at his place: http://getafilm.blogspot.com/2010/07/taking-it-home-9500-liberty_14.html
Samuel Wilson Asks: “Is This the Age of the Post-Camp Cult Film?” at the always-stimulating “Mondo 70”: http://mondo70.blogspot.com/2010/07/is-this-age-of-post-camp-cult-film.html
Our dear friend Pat resumed her blogging several weeks back, and it’s business as usual at Doodad Kind of Town, where her latest post is a discussion on some recent at-home watching of Mel Brooks flicks. As always it’s engaging, quality stuff: http://doodadkindoftown.blogspot.com/2010/06/hey-torquemada-whaddya-say.html
Kevin Olson’s most recent post in this “horror summer” is a splendid essay on the slasher, The Funhouse at “Hugo Stiglitz Makes Movies”: http://kolson-kevinsblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/summer-of-slash-funhouse.html
Donophon’s ongoing series on Jean-Pierre Melville is showcasing an excellent capsule review on Le Circle Rouge at “The Long Voyage Home.” http://thelongvoyagehome.blogspot.com/2010/06/jean-pierre-melville-le-cercle-rouge.html
Jon Lanthier’s latest review is a stellar, seemingly appreciative appraisal of the Greek film Dogtooth, which is headlined at “Bright Lights”: http://aspiringsellout.com/
Craig Kennedy’s latest post focuses in on the Sundance documentary hit Enemy of the People” at “Living in Cinema”: http://livingincinema.com/2010/07/17/trailer-sundance-award-winning-doc-enemies-of-the-people/
Over at “The Movie Projector” R. D. Finch is headlining his typically extraordinary work with a review of the French classic Le Corbeau: http://movieprojector.blogspot.com/2010/07/le-corbeau-1943.html
Stephen’s new post up at Checking on my Sausages is in the classic film realm, and it’s titled Golden Age Girls. It’s a fascinating look at the difference between classic cinema and the inability of contemporary film to match it in some vital ways: http://checkingonmysausages.blogspot.com/2010/07/golden-age-gals_07.html
Ed Howard’s latest post concerns film images, inspired by a meme from Joel Bocko, and it’s featured at “Only the Cinema”: http://seul-le-cinema.blogspot.com/2010/07/image-gallery-five-sensual-shots.html
Adam Zanzie celebrates his one-year anniversary at Icebox Movies with a celebratory post on the launching of the site, his meeting with David Lynch, movies with snow and the upcoming John Huston blogothon: http://iceboxmovies.blogspot.com/2010/07/icebox-movies-turns-year-old_07.html
Drew McIntosh, ever the prowler for unheralded or forgotten gems, has his typically fecund work on display in a rare review of 1988′s Candy Mountain at “The Blue Vial.” It’s a must-read for all serious film fans: http://thebluevial.blogspot.com/2010/06/candy-mountain-robert-frank-rudy.html
Alexander Coleman has an exhaustive and remarkable review up on Iron Man 2 at “Coleman’s Corner” that showcases his second comprehensive essay is the past weeks!: http://colemancornerincinema.blogspot.com/2010/07/iron-man-2.html
Dave Van Poppel has written a superlative review of Winter’s Bone, a realist film he discusses in effusively-favorable terms: http://visionsofnonfiction.blogspot.com/2010/06/winters-bone.html
Tony Dayoub talks about the blu-ray release of The Red Shoes at “Cinema Viewfinder”: http://www.cinemaviewfinder.com/2010/07/blu-ray-review-red-shoes-1948.html
Jason Marshall over at “Movies Over Matter” has penned a most interesting take on The Kids Are All Right: http://moviesovermatter.wordpress.com/2010/07/17/the-kids-are-all-right-
Lucille and the kids at 1:10 P.M. showing of Chaplin's 'The Circus' and 'The Idle Class' on Sunday afternoon at Film Forum
So what you all done my good people? I can’t wait to hear.
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Writers/Founders
Sam, thanks for the double plug here. I can’t thank you enough.
32.Films.by.Anthony.Mann? What we have here is the ideal state of cinephilia. I mean, this is remarkable stuff. And I was drained totally after having watched just two films on Saturday!
I sure hope the stubs are going to be shown in the Anthony Mann post that you’re planning.
I liked Inception a lot, although I had a bunch of problems with it. But not once did/could I take my eyes off the screen. Watching the film is a self-reflexive experience. You don’t know how much time has passed or what level your brain is. Nolan’s film in an assault on the senses talking about an assault on the senses. But I wouldn’t want to see it again.
Thanks once again, Sam.
And thanks to you JAFB for being such a sport and always brightening the landscape. It’s special and rare to have a great writer and a great personality together.
Oh yes, I would never make a claim to having seen 32 films at a festival without offering concrete proof. I have every stub saved except (sadly) for the very first one, which was THE NAKED SPUR/WINCHESTER 73 double feature. But I have the picture of that appearance with the cowboy hat, posted weeks back. But all the others will appear together in that wrap up post. The festival actually became an obssession with me after the first few visits and I told myself “why can’t I do it?”
Yep, INCEPTION can be frustrating, but there are enough brilliant sections and components to make it worth a high rating, though I can’t say I understood it all. Much like Kaufman’s SYNCHEDOCHE NEW YORK in that sense, but these are completely different films of course.
Thanks as always, my friend!
Ah, Sam, I’d asked for the stubs not as proof but for the sheer joy of watching those tickets together. You know, like the picture of your DVD collection that you sent me.
I sorted out that DVD collection twice, now it’s in carnage.
Mind you, I wouldn’t swap it for my own. Partly of course because I can find anything from mine within 20 seconds, it requires sending the kids (that’s why he had em, to act as security blankets to take to movies and to be his little helpers) off to search on 9 hour shifts to find stuff in his mess. Mind you, I hope he never gets Dan to look for anything, that boy could lose an elephant on board a boat.
Allan, the purchased DVDs (which are the core of the collection), are properly on shelves. The ‘copies’ are what need categorizing.
I liked Inception but did not find it to be the masterpiece that some have proclaimed. My main problem was the overuse of James Bond like action sequences. I guess Nolan has to cater to a mainstream crowd in order to justify his huge budgets. Getting rid of the blockbuster blow up scenes would of cut the running time by a good 30 minutes. Its more Matrix and Terminator 2 than Blade Runner or 2001. I also think the film’s constant attempt to explain everything bogs down the overall flow. I would still place Memento, The Prestige, and Insomnia as better Nolan films.
Films I saw this week…..
Inception ***1/2
Gattaca *****
Antichrist ***1/2
Angel Heart ****
La Coquille And The Clergyman ****1/2
Freaks ****1/2
Yep, Maurizio, all that pyro-technic stuff is always a turn off, and despite the many brilliant ideas in the film, that aspect did grow wearisome. hence, I would agree that it’s closer to MATRIX than BLADE RUNNER.
I agree completely with you on that ***** rating for GATTACA, and the very strong rating for FREAKS. I liked the Von Trirer a bit more, and ANGEL HEART a bit less. I don’t think I have seen LA COQUILLE AND THE CLERGYMAN, sad to say.
Thanks my friend for the great wrap!
Hi Sam, Thanks for the plug for Movies over Matter. It means something to have such knowledgeable and intelligent people reading. For the record, somewhere along the way you got the idea my name is James, but it’s Jason. No big deal, but you recorded the wrong name on your blogroll. I know accuracy is important for you.🙂
Also, I’m going to be posting my take on Inception in a day or two, but before I do I have to question your admiration for its score. It was the one thing in the movie I truly hated. I’ll say more in my post, but it was so standard big-summer-movie music and it stuck out like a sore thumb in an otherwise inventive and visually intriguing film. I’ve never liked Hans Zimmer (I didn’t realize he wrote it until I got home and looked it up) and Inception is a prime example of why. There is a brief glimpse at something good every now and then, but I don’t know enough about music to articulate what. But I didn’t like all the standard booming blaring nonsense that Nolan and Zimmer seem to love.
Great, now you’re not going to call me Jason or James anything other than expletives….
Don’t worry, Jason, having your name spelt wrong my Sam is a sign of recognition. You’re no-one until that day.
Jason, sorry about that name mix-up. I can’t say how or why I was thinking it was James. I’m losing it! Zimmer has had his ups and downs, and much of his work is shuffled around and re-used, while he borrows from classical composers like Wagner and Ravel. But there is a piercing urgency to much of the lyrical and pulsating rhythms, that in the instance of this film was seemingly perfect. But I don’t contest that much of his work is bombastic. I’ll definitely be reading your review on INCEPTION and adding my two cents.
Thanks so much Jason, for the great submission.
Again, no need to worry about the name mix up. I listened to the score again last night and it begins promisingly but descends into that bombastic stuff Zimmer is so known for. I wish Nolan would try someone else. On my blog David Schleicher suggested Christopher Nolan tap someone like Michael Nyman or Alexandre Desplat to do the music for a movie which I find intriguing.
And, by the way, congrats on seeing all 32 Anthony Mann pictures. It sounds like a dream to me to immerse myself in so much movie in so little time.
Jason, David Schleicher brings two terrific composers to the table here for sure. Nyman’s elegiac, soaring lyricism (negotiated piercingly in GATTACA particularly)n and Desplat’s melodic invention would complement Nolan’s intricate visuals quite arrestingly, methinks.
But yes, you make a very good point is assessing the problems with the arc of Zimmer’s score.
I, of course, saw INCEPTION, which is one of those rare mainstream films “you can’t stop frickin’ blogging about” — and I think it will rank as the cinematic event of the year (unless Malick’s TREE OF LIFE slips in before New Years). I can’t wait to see it again, which is the biggest compliment you can give such a film.
On DVD I watched:
Tess — ****1/2 — Shockingly good flick where Polanski goes against the grain with out of this world cinematography (that would make Malick weep), a haunting music score and a fantastic performance from Nastassia Kinski. Granted, the thing plays out awfully slow…but who cares.
Terribly Happy — ** — Let’s just say I was terribly disappointed with this European knock-off of the Coen Brothers.
Aye David, if Malick sneaks in, INCEPTION will definitely be trumped. I’ve seen your fabulous post at THE SCHLEICHER SPIN, and it appears they are coming in droves to discuss your observations.
I do happy to agree with you on the very slow tempo of Polanski’s TESS, but as you note it’s a gorgeous looking and sounding film, and Kinski is magnificent. It’s a sensory transcription of Hardy and it holds up.
I liked TERRIBLY HAPPY more than you, but I’m unwilling to go to the mat for it at this point (LOL!)
Thanks for your typically great and much appreciated wrap, David!
Thank you, Sam, for mentioning me again and for taking the time to comment.
Again this week I have been watching a lot of animation and enjoying it thoroughly.
You are most welcome Stephen, and it’s great that the animation is going over that well.
I’ve just posted a little gallery of images on the theme of ‘passion and resurrection’ (inspired and encouraged by that post by MovieMan), if you’re interested.
Aye, Stephen, I’ll definitely be checking those out!
Hi! Sam Juliano, Allan, and WitD readers,
My Lead-in:Sam, once again some very interesting films that you watched this week on your weekly quest to let your readers, know what films that you experienced at the theatre and on stage.
On the stage…The Shoemaker It seemed like a very interesting and enjoyable stageplay…I like Q & A after a play…Because you can learn so much too!
Thanks, for sharing…Now let’s see……Once again it doesn’t appear to be any weakest link of the two current films…this week neither…
Inception…I hope to see this film after reading D.H. Schleicher’s review, but most inportantly, actor Leonardo DiCaprio, is…presence, (As I raise my eyebrows repeatedly…Ha! Ha!)
and the film Kisses. (I just read a review of the the film “Kisses.”)
Now, when it comes to the classics (and ratings) it seems that once again it’s like “no-brainer” territory… Mann’s The Great Flamarion, Strange Impersonation, Side Street, Reign of Terror, Men in War, The Fall of the Roman Empire, Chaplin’s The Circus, and The Idle Class. (Are all 4 or 5 stars films…)
Sam Juliano, unfortunately, I have not watched any of these classic films yet, (with “yet” being the operative word) with the exception of Mann’s Side Street. (Oh! No, Sam, regardless of what “Artsy” said, I wouldn’t have “cried” if a commotion occured in the theatre if I was presence.)
Sam, what a very nice photograph of Mrs. Juliano and your five children outside of the Film Forum…I’am quite sure (or hope) that they all had an enjoyable time too…
…Merci, for sharing!
…Sam Juliano, here is what happened on my end of the spectrum…
Films on the shelf:
…Once again, I have been very busy being a co-administrator on a message board…and believe me that is no easy task…but, rest assured I’am up to challenge.
Like was mentioned last Monday…I ordered a film called…The Hidden Room…aka Obsession…(Starring actor Robert Newton) and I also ordered an obscure film entitled Secret of Convict Lake…(Starring Glenn Ford, Gene Tierney and Zachary Scott…) a western noir. The Amazing Dr.X and The Black Reign of Terror…I have never watched neither of these film before…even though I have a pretty bad copy of The Amazing Dr.X…Starring Turhan Bey.
Artesmia said,”By the way, I made a “slight threat” to her if she tried to watch…Ratatouille again…” and guess what Sam Juliano, I still watched Ratatouille, but of course!
By the way, Sam Juliano, I was the 100th commenter on last week Monday morning post and I responded to “Artsy” in kind too!
Books on the shelf:
1.author Dennis Lehane’s Shutter Island…still leds the pack…
2.Think of Numb3r by John Verdon…
3.Diane Satterfield The Thirteenth Tale…
4.authors Alan Moore and David Lloyd… V for Vendetta
5.Frank Millers…The Dark Legend:Beginnings
6.A Panorama of American Film Noir (1941-1953)
by Raymond Borde, Etienne Chaumeton, James Naremore…
and 7. Mystery,Suspense, Film and Detective Movies and DVD:A Best Guide to Crime Thrillers…
Music on the shelf:
I’am listening to a song by a group called the GooGoo Dolls…that I discovered while visiting C.M. blog…This is still True…
Food: Hmmm…a very light touch…as usual…and due to the fact, that I also have dental work looming around the corner soon.
Double…Ouch!
Sports:…No Comment…
Politics:…No Comment…I guess that about wrap up my week in review for this week.
By the way, Sam Juliano, thanks, for mentioning the non-happenings on my blog again…as usual.
[Postscript: I plan to send you an email…later today.]
Take care!
DeeDee😉🙂
Dee Dee:
Please thank your sister Artesmia for her great submission under this thread last week, and for her kindness and support at this site, which of course mirrors your own.
As always, your submission here is a glorious one that acknowledges my week’s exploits while updating your own activities and plans. I think it’s utterly amazing that you are able to volunteer all that time, while simultaneously keeping up your blogging at the homes of those who have been recipient to your kindness for so long.
When you say this:
***Now, when it comes to the classics (and ratings) it seems that once again it’s like “no-brainer” territory… Mann’s The Great Flamarion, Strange Impersonation, Side Street, Reign of Terror, Men in War, The Fall of the Roman Empire, Chaplin’s The Circus, and The Idle Class. (Are all 4 or 5 stars films…)***
you do pinpoint the list of classic films seen this past week at the Film Forum that yielded unforgettable screenings. A few of this films are in dire need of better DVDs, especially THE GREAT FLAMARION (I read the existing DVD is dire).
I liked both the newer theatrical releases, with KISSES trumping INCEPTION.
The Hidden Room and Secret of Convict Lake sound very interesting–I’ll wait to hear your report.
And one more viewing of RATATOUILLE won’t hurt at all!! Ha!!!
That’s quite the recent bookshelf you have there, and that Lehane has been in a lead position for a while. I have that Film Noir volume as a result of a certain person sending it to me!
It’s always wonderful to have you here my very good friend!!!
And Dee Dee, thanks very much for being comment #100 on last week’s diary thread. Much appreciated!
Thanks Sam. Glad that you liked “Kisses”. I think that my modestly more negative reaction to the film has proven to be more of an outlier opinion than yours has. Moreover, I suspect that you may get to turn the tables on me next year, as Lance Daly next directs Orlando Bloom in an American work called “The Good Doctor”. Hopefully, it may make it to the Dublin International Film Festival in the Spring, though, as I am curious to see how well Mr. Daly fares with a Hollywood studio on his back!
This week I saw some film called “Inception” (review went up this morning) and, more importantly for me, Claire Denis’ “White Material”, with Isabelle Huppert playing the lead character. Needless to say, they have made an romantic musical comedy together with Ms. Huppert quite amusing as a manicurist-cum-wedding planner whose life is turned upside down when a hunky new neighbour moves in with his lively German Shepherd.
I like the Emerald City reference! Thanks for the links.
Longman: I agree that Daly may perform far differently with Hollywood backing, and not likely for the best. But he’s a talented fellow, and this small coming-of-age romance works on a number of levels. Unlike Allan, I actually liked the dual use of black and white and color, and in a rare instance, slow-motion was most effective, especially in the final scene.
I still haven’t seen WHITE MATERIAL, though I am a big fan of Denis’s work. Glad to hear the good report. And I’ll be heading over to your abode to hear what you say first-hand on INCEPTION!
LOL on the Emerald City!
Thanks as always my friend!
Thanks, Sam, for the kind words and the link. Aside from Inception, I also saw Chloe on Blu-ray, and found it a painfully silly pretentious movie. It has been fun watching the unfolding of the various reactions to Inception in the film blogosphere.
Hey Film Dr.! Your position on CHLOE has much support. I thought it was passable, but well-understand the critical disdain.
Thanks as always!
Thanks for the mention Sam.
An amazing feat to see all those films.
I like that you continue to take the family.
It’s been awhile since I’ve been to the theater out here.
Sat, 12:20, saw the first showing if Inception. $5.00 and only 11 other people in the theater. Er, is this new, showing “commercials for TV programs” before the films? If so, I may never go again ; (
As the film started, I almost thought I was viewing Shutter Island again, for some reason.
As someone mentioned above, 1/2 – 1 hr could have been clipped and the film would have been more cohesive.
Otherwise, enjoyed it.
Zimmers music wasn’t bad and thought it worked well with the scenes myself.
Oh, and upon leaving, was offered some kind of hair gel free sample.
Must have been something just out here, or is this going on elsewhere?
Thanks and Cheers!
Thanks Michael.
THE CIRCUS was actually the perfect film to take the family to, in fact no Chaplin film matches it in that regard for obvious reasons, but it is great to get quality time on these priceless movie ventures. They have a taste for Chaplin, as I’ve shown them some stuff on DVD and actually took them to see CITY LIGHTS at another revival theatre last year. I will be taking some to the other features in this festival, and even a few of the William Castles in late August.
Ha! I never heard of that hair gel promotion, and am shocked at the low turnout for that show, since the film was the week’s big moneymaker with a gross of over 60 million. I know the film is getting praised and trashed and everything in between, and one gets the full gamut of these extremes while watching this long but impossible to shake feature.
You got a good price there Michael, all things considered. You are not the first one to broach SHUTTER ISLAND when discussing this film. Interesting/
Thanks as always my good friend!
Thanks again for the mention Sam! That is quite an accomplishment attending the complete Mann festival congratulations on that. The death of George Steinbrenner was as big a deal here in the Tampa Bay area as in NYC. While George was of course known for being the Yankees owner he was beloved here for the philanthropist that he was donating millions to organizations like St. Josephs Hospital and the Florida Orchestra which was bankrupt. Surprisingly I read in yesterday’s local paper that he was buried at a cemetery that is only two or three miles from my home.
I hoped to see PSYCHO on the big screen at the Tampa Theater but unfortunately did not. I hurt my back on Saturday and the 45 minute ride into Tampa would have been too much so we stayed local and saw “Cyrus” at the nearby AMC, coincidently another story centering on a strange mother/son relationship. Earlier in the week we saw GROWN UPS, ugh! Anyway here is a wrap up.
Grown Ups – Dennis Dugan (*1/2) Take five alumni of SNL, mix in Kevin James and you end up with this pile of %$#@. It has a few laughs and I have seen worst but you would hope guys with so much talent some could come up with something better than this manure. What happened to Chris Rock???
Cyrus – Jay and Mark Duplass (****) After sitting through “Grown Ups” this film was a breath of fresh air, an original, funny, off-beat, creepy comedy with an Oedipus complex. The beautiful Marisa Tomei has two men in her life, the Shrek like (as he describes himself) John and a 22 year old son who can send shivers down your spine by just staring at you, or with a large knife in his hand as he does in one scene. The film can be unsettling at times, for example when Cyrus casually goes into the bathroom while Mom is taking a shower. Neither Cyrus nor Mom finds it strange, only John who looks on marvelously confused as portrayed by John C. Reilly.
Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Impassioned Eye – Heinz Butler (***1/2) A fine documentary on the late French photographer who died only one year after this film was made. Bresson’s career was diversified working for Jean Renoir as an assistant on RULES OF THE GAME to a still photographer for John Huston’s THE MISFITS. But mainly Cartier-Bresson was a street photographer (very simply put – he was more than that) who captured as he says “the decisive moment.” Here the elder statesman speaks for himself showing well over 100 of his own works.
The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse (Anatole Litvak) *** Odd ball though entertaining enough mix of crime drama, comedy mad-scientist though Robinson and Bogart seem to be in two different films. Full review over at 24frames.
Classe Tous Risques (Claude Sautet)**** A French gangster in exile makes his way back home to Paris only to find out his old world and code no longer exist. His old friends are retired and fear disruption in their lives by the returning fugitive. A story about friendship, the breakup of old friendships and the making of a new one. A cold matter fact style of filmmaking by Sautet with an excellent cast (Lino Ventura, Jean Paul Belmondo, Sandra Milo) and exceptional photography. Like Melville’s work at the time it was dismissed as old hat by the New Wave. The comparison to Melville that is always made is soundly appropriate as is the influence of the American gangster film.
The Lodger – (John Brahm)**** Atmospheric, moody, expressionistic Jack the Ripper story set in fog bound London with an absolutely brilliant performance by Laird Cregar and magnificent camerawork from Lucien Ballard. Review forthcoming at 24frames.
I also read the short BFI Classic monograph by John Brundy on “On the Waterfront” and am currently reading “The Mayor of MacDougal Street” a bio on Dave Van Ronk.
And thanks to you too John for the very kind words on the Mann festival. You had mentioned this a number of times before in fact. I can’t describe how much fun I had, while trying not to think of the daily commitment it involved getting into Manhattan. If you were still living in NYC, I know you would have been challenging me to tickets at the box office! Ha!
All that business with Steinbrenner is amazing. The outpouring of love in this area for the Boss, has done more than raise eyebrows, but you perfectly frame his celebrated charitible endeavors. And if you were a Yankee fan wanting to win, you couldn’t have wanted more than this relentless architect. I still need to get over to WATCHING SHADOWS ON THE WALL. In any case, thanks so much for those moving anecdotes about his charitable work in Tampa.
I need to see CYRUS, but I will take your advice on GROWN-UPS! LOL!
Lucien Ballard’s cinematography for THE LODGER is every bit as atmospheric as you make claim to here, and Braham’s direction is first-rate, in this generally underrated thriller.
As far as this, I do need to see it:
Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Impassioned Eye – Heinz Butler (***1/2) A fine documentary…..
I did read that excellent review you posted on Anatole Litvak’s film, and will be keeping my eyes open for the expected review on that excellent Sautet film, as well as, perhaps, THE LODGER.
The BFI is great stuff, and I’d love at some point to check out “The Mayor of MacDougal Street!”
Too bad you hurt your back, and were sidelined from seeing PSYCHO on the big screen, but I’m sure you’ll get another shot at some point.
Again, an exhaustive and remarkable performance by one of the most relentless of all movie lovers on the net!!! Thanks, my very good friend!
Thanks for the mention, Sam. You seem to have had an incredible movie watching week – not just in terms of number of films watched, but also in terms of their high quality. Inception seems to have really polarised the audience, some are calling it absolutely brilliant while others seem to be rather skeptical of its intentions.
Aye, Shubhajit, the film has really divided the audiences and critics, even with the latter group mostly favorable. I’ll be most interested to head your own reaction to it. Yes, the last few weeks have yielded some great films on the classic festival front, and it’s been a lot of fun.
Hope all is well at school, and great you’ve been able to post at Cinemascope thus far. Thanks so much.
I enjoyed Kisses, it just about made my nearlies, but it was a flawed film, brilliant in places (the slow seguing from black and white into monochrome as they went fruther away from their purgatory and back again as they were driven back may be gimmicky to some, but worked remarkably well) but the Dylan stuff was too much, and some of the notions – abusive relative, child kidnappers down every back street were clichéd beyond belief. The good bits were still good enough to win out.
Sam will love this sort of thing because he loves anything about growing up. Real sucker for the rites of passage malarkey, even when it’s rites of cul de sac, though this wasn’t that.
Steinbrenner’s passing was treated like the death of a President. For all his bluster he was a man of character and vision. For all those who says he destroyed baseball, more saw and appreciated his charity to so many. He was as colorful a personage has Fiorillo La Guardia.
Sam, my congratulations to you for seeing all 32 films in that festival. The long-suffering wife Lucille, too, must be commended for her willingness to allow such a thing to happen. So, now it’s Chaplin next to conquer. I guess you can see his films many times over, but only the big screen does them full justice. I can’t wait to see that massive post you are planning on the Mann films. The kids look great!
Being from the Tampa Bay area I have seen Steinbrenner’s chariable work and it affects on the community. I saw George twice in the 13 years here, once at Legends Field, now Steinbrenner Field, when I was sitting near his box and he happen to come out and sit in the cheap seats and once at a Ronald McDonald fund raiser where he was the guest of honor. If anyone is interested, this morning I posted a tribute at “Watching Shadows on the Wall” which includes a link to some of the many charities he helped out in his life. It gives you another side of George that many do not know.
http://watchingshadowsonthewall.wordpress.com/2010/07/19/farewell-to-the-yankees-boss-_-george-steinbrenner-1930-2010/
Thanks for the shout-out, as usual, Sam. I really appreciate the regular promotion you give to the site.
It’s been a exceptional busy week for me, so I haven’t been able to see much following Monday’s “The Killer Inside Me”. Other obligations mean that I’m missing most of the St. Louis Filmmaker’s Showcase, but I was able to see a few of the films ahead of time.
I caught “Throne of Blood” at Webster University’s Kurosawa retrospective last night. Excellent film. “Low-key” has never been the watchword when it comes to adaptations or re-imaginings of “MacBeth,” but Kurosawa’s take on the tale… wow.
It’s going to be an exceptionally busy week, but I’m going to try to make time for “I Am Love,” “The Girl Who Played With Fire,” and, of course, “Inception”.
Andrew, I was quite moved by the Italian I AM LOVE (Tilda Swinton was superlative) and suspect it will resonate with you if I had to make a prediction. For some reason I’m not rushing to see THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE (maybe because I didn’t care all that much for the first film) and as far as INCEPTION, I suspect that will get the super-duper top-drawer Andrew Wyatt treatment at GATEWAY, whether the review is favorable or sub-par.
I am a huge fan of THRONE OF BLOOD, and have always considered it one of the best Shakespeare adaptations, and seeing it the way you did is fantastic! I see you’ve been covering Kurosawa at your blogsite as of late!
Thanks as always my very good friend!
Sam, thanks so much for the great words.
I’m so impressed by your absolute commitment to the Mann festival. I’m also jealous that you were able to see MEN IN WAR on the big screen. That’s one of my favorite of what I’ve seen from Mann so far.
This week, I saw MIDNIGHT, ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES, THE AWFUL TRUTH, SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS, and THE LADY VANISHES. I would say the one that impacted the most was the McCarey. That final scene, in particular, is so well-timed and well-acted.
To another great week. Thanks so much, Sam, for all that you do.
Jeffrey:
Thanks so much! Seeing MEN IN WAR was really one of the highlights of the festival. Mann has always called it the ‘favorite’ of his films, and one that displaced his own philosophies. The pristine black and white print was really something, and the film really does resonate on the big screen with accentuated intensity. I look forward to talking about it more in my Mann recap post.
I know well you love the McCarey, especially, but the Hitchcock, Disney and Curtiz are classics I adore as well. You are really pushing forward with the movie viewings, and I can’t wait to hear what the next five films in your new sidebar series will be.
Thanks as always for being such a great guy, and best wishes with the preparation on PERIL!
I have heard good things about the Irish film, and know you generally like that sort of thing. Hopefully it will find it’s way over to Montclair.
I’m a Met fan, so I’ve never been so big on Steinbrenner. But more people are praising him than I ever thought possible.
Seeing all those Anthony Mann films is beyond remarkable. You the man!
Yep, Fred, Allan made the same contention, though a coming-of-age film must is scrutized the same way as any other film. I thought there was much to admire here by way of the expressionist style.
Ah yes, you are indeed a Mets supporter, though it’t true he’s being praised from all over.
The Mann Festival was greatly enjoyed.
Thanks as always, my friend.
Sam –
Good morning!
I’m afraid my reaction to “Inception” was entirely in the vein of “What the Hell?” and not so much that I was the presence of brilliance. I believe that seeing it at a 9:45 showing after a long, busy day might have contributed to my feeling that it was “too deep for me!” On the positive side, I was too engaged to get bored or go to sleep. I think I need to see it again before I can make my definitive judmgent. My boyfriend and our friend, Brian, liked it a lot.
Not much cinema slated for me this week. I’m off in a couple of days to Green Lake, WI where I will be part of the final, choral concert on Sunday. We have four intensived days of choral rehearsal leading up to it. I call it “choir camp for grown ups,” and I look forward to it every year.
Great pic of the family BTW.
Great pic of the Juliano clan, BTW.
Good Evening Pat! Ha!
There you have my erratic response time! My apologies. As always I deeply appreciate you taking time to stop over here, and I’m keeping my eyes open at DOODAD KIND OF TOWN!
I can’t say that you missed anthing with INCEPTION, as there are two ways to interpret it, and the second one is contingent upon the conviction that it’s a narrative misfire and a web of convolutions. I agree it’s a film that almost requires multiple viewings, especially if you aren’t 100% comfortable. But Pat, a number of our finest critics wrote scathing reviews, so go figure.
I’d love to hear how things go with the choral concert and wish I were able to visit Green Lake, Wisconsin, and for more than one reason!!! I hope the weather is tolerable, and I’m sure you’ll have a lot of fun. I do remember you have mentioned once at your site that you were in a chorus before. Anyway, have a wonderful time, and thanks again!
Steinbrenner had more friends than he ever realized. They even cheered him in Boston!
Yes Ricky, he is literally being worshipped since he passed on. Amazing.
As always, Sam, your mention of my blog is humbly appreciated. Right now it’s just another blog with an Inception review on top, but for your readers I’ll add my observation that, while I liked it, it made me appreciate why Shutter Island, its own faults aside, is ultimately a superior film.
Besides going to the movies, I took Steve McQueen’s HUNGER out of the library and found it fairly compelling until the hunger strike got under way, and then the martyrdom got a little monotonous. I also finshed watching Keaton’s Educational shorts on Kino’s LOST KEATON set. They were illuminating in an often-negative way, showing directions in sound film Buster might have taken but either couldn’t or simply didn’t. In picking the wheat from the chaff I thought I was getting closer to the essential Keaton sensibility even in the absence of elaborate props or stunts, as I hope to explain in a future article.
The great thing about a retrospective like the Mann event you enjoyed is that a place like Film Forum can do something no DVD manufacturer can in most cases. Interesting how that works.
Speaking of DVDs, you may be aware that another Barnes & Noble Criterion sale (50% off) is upon us. I’m a sucker for those sales because I feel a compulsion to own rather than rent, so I now have Oshima’s Outlaw Sixties and the Fassbinder BRD films to play with over the next few weeks. You’ll see what I think of them eventually.
Samuel, I really need to spend more time at your blog to be honest, but I seem to be spreading myself out in so many directions as of late. Thanks so much for those very kind words.
As it is Samuel, I also liked SHUTTER ISLAND more, and at this point I think it’s Top 10 of 2010 material.
I do know about the sale, and already am lining up what I’ll purchase, and this will include Tuesday’s blu-ray releases of BLACK NARCISSUS and THE RED SHOES. The blu-rays of M, THE SEVENTH SEAL and HUNGER (which you speak about here is terms I agree with) are excellent acquisitions, and the Eclipse Oshima and post-war Kurosawas are great deals at $35 each.
How true that is what you say about what the Film Forum can do. An example is that pristine, beautiful black and white print they showcased last Wednesday with REIGN OF TERROR (THE BLACK BOOK), a film that only has mediocre and/or incomplete prints on DVD to this point. Same goes for THE GREAT FLAMARION. Of course the widescreen epics can’t be touched on the big screen. Within a scant three weeks, I now know Anthony Mann maybe 50 times better than I ever did.
I certainly would be most interested in what you say about the films in that Lost Keaton set.
Thanks as always my good friend for the terrific wrap!!!
Thanks as always for the mention, Sam. I hope to get back to writing some more edifying stuff again soon.
Thanks to a three-day vacation, I found the time to cram in 12 movies this week!
I rewatched THE NEW WORLD (****1/2) for the first time since I saw it in the theaters. Malick succeeds provides sumptuous visuals and poetic whispers throughout the film (so much so that I had to fiddle with the controls on my receiver for a bit just so I could hear the voices). My only quibble is with the narrative layout of the film, with the Rolfe/Pocahontas story arc feeling like it could have actually used another 20 minutes to work even better. Yeah, I felt that there were rushed moments in a 170 minute film. Also, am I the only one who has a bit of a laugh at Colin Ferrel’s tattoos being so prominently on display?
I also saw another fantastic showcase of unrequited love, IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE (*****). I was completely enraptured by everything Wong put on display here, including the amazing score and beautiful color scheme. I’m now quite excited to be watching 2046 before the end of the week.
Ah, then we have all of the horror movies I’ve been watching. I told myself I’d put them off for a bit, but then Jamie gave me a deadline for my final list, thus I have to power through as many as possible in the next few weeks.
LET’S SCARE JESSICA TO DEATH (***1/2)
10 RILLINGTON PLACE (****)
WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO YOUR DAUGHTERS (***)
BLACK SABBATH (***1/2)
BLACK CHRISTMAS (1974) (*****)
CHEERLEADER CAMP (*)
ONIBABA (****)
THE FACE OF ANOTHER (****1/2)
THE VANISHING (****)
LES DIABOLIQUES (****1/2)
I’ll just throw in one comment about one of these films — THE FACE OF ANOTHER was one of those films that I’m itching to rewatch, as I’m not sure whether to drop it down in rating or call it a masterpiece. Part of me thinks it played out like a too-long TWILIGHT ZONE episode. Yet, at the same time I found myself so enamored with the amazing set design and mise-en-scene of Teshigahara that I almost am willing to call it great purely on those grounds, even if much of the philosophical discussions on identity didn’t quite click with me this time around.
Curious as to whether people would consider THE FACE OF ANOTHER a horror film, though. I’m thinking it lands more squarely in the sci-fi realm, but I could see it either way.
Yes, whether or not THE FACE OF ANOTHER is horror is something Bob and I have debated a few times here. He thinks it’s straight sci-fi, I think it’s horror, but could also be sci-fi (like SCANNERS or VIDEODROME). Oddly enough the last time it was brought up we discussed how a few films like FACE, mainly SECONDS and the french EYES WITHOUT A FACE are pretty much horror. Both are easily seen as pure horror, and I’d say the FACE is at least three times scarier, so to me one must deduce that it is horror.
It also features a few horror trademarks: a climax murder, evil/morbid doctor/scientist, and creation of a monster (who even wears a mask). it’s Philosophical underpinning tries to obscure the fact that it is indeed a scary film.
Jamie
I like your reasoning on why this is a horror film (your VIDEODROME comparison for a sci-fi/horror hybrid seems apt). I was initially viewing it as a film about identity (which it is), but adding in the dimension about the creation of a monster adds another element to things, perhaps making it even better (I am going to rewatch it today).
Besides, I would consider it horror just to be able to get it in the countdown and be able to discuss it — it’s too interesting of a film to leave out.
Jamie, I still think that Teshigahara’s film and Frankenheimer’s “Seconds” (which I love) are mostly sci-fi. I can see the argument for “Face of Another” as a monster movie, but that doesn’t necessarily make it horror, per se. I don’t see that argument at all with “Seconds”, which is pretty much pure Kafka-esque paranoia. “Eyes Without a Face”, I’ll grant you, is mostly a horror flick, with some sci-fi elements by default with the mad doctor.
I’ve always wondered how you and Bob would split the horror/sci-fi difference. In the end, might we see the same movies on separate lists or are you going to try & leave a wide berth…
MovieMan we might– especially if Bob likes a few out there horror-cyber punk-sci fi films such as “Rubber’s Lover”, “Pinocchio 964” (aka ‘Screams of Blasphemy’), and “Tetsuo: The Iron Man”.
To me Shozin Fukui is an absolute modern master that is largely ignored…
I’m actually thinking about tackling an ‘extreme film’ series for here at Wonders… Joel has his ‘Best of?’, Allan will have the rarities starting up and Sam has monday diary. It seems I need something to hang my hat on (and yes the Horror countdown counts but that is a joint effort–an extremely enjoyable one at that), and discussing 2 ‘extreme’ films a month would be fun, and would allow me to jump around genres. I’m still in the beginning stages of thinking about it so we’ll see.
Well, I might as well say here that I’m going to start writing up the “Metal Gear Solid” series of games pretty soon, maybe even within the week. They’re a good gateway experience into approaching games as a serious art form, especially from our angle, given the cinematic obsessions of the series’ creator, Hideo Kojima. It should be a good, weird counterbalance to Sam’s Opera periodicals. When it comes time for the sci-fi list, my current instinct is just to wing it, and do as much as possible at the last minute, so as to have a fresher voice than some of my past articles.
And to answer Jamie– there’ll be some overlap between our lists, obviously. Same with Stephen when he does the animation countdown, I suspect. I’ll also say that I’m going out of my way to include a couple of movies that by most standards are almost complete garbage, but in their own ways are valuable additions to the conversation of what makes science-fiction and its various subgenres fascinating.
We have some of the similar ilk for the horror countdown– I won’t give a few of the majors away, but something that I don’t think will place of similar cloth: the films of Frank Henenlotter (specifically 1982’s ‘Basket Case’) and Jeff Lieberman (of ‘Blue Sunshine’ and ‘Squirm’ fame) not artistic masters per se, but if you like horror as a form you know and enjoy these films. That and they are seriously some of the most out there things anyone could see. I’d recommend them over any of the old Universal monster films to anyone here for the simple reason that most around here are already familiar with ‘Dracula’. But killer hippies in ‘Blue Sunshine’? That’s an obscure one.
Jamie — the Extreme Cinema angle sounds like a good addition to the site. It even goes a bit hand-in-hand with what Allan is cooking up next, as I’m sure most of the people here haven’t yet seen the movies you’d be showcasing.
Bob — YES! A series of Metal Gear reviews, treating them as serious art, would be fascinating. Video games being reviewed as an art form is something you see very, very little of, but Kojima’s games surely deserve such a writeup.
It’s nice to see the variety of writing that goes on around here!
Troy, you were writing superlative stuff for months leading up to your trip to China, and the coverage afterwards on the horror films has been amazingly comprehensive. The lineup you present here is astounding. First off, THE NEW WORLD is definitely one of the decade’s masterworks, and I am expecting it to finish strongly in the balloting. I doubt you are the only one who noticed those tatoos!!! LOL!!! But yeah, I hear you on the time-frame thing, and yep it’s visual poetry.
Jamie makes a good point on THE FACE OF ANOTHER as far as I’m concerned, and it’s one of the masterpieces you saw here. I apparently liked Bava’s BLACK SABBATH more than you Troy, but the key for me is what did you think of the segment that was based on Chekov? “A Drop of Water” I also like LES DIABOLIQUES, think Shindo’s ONIBABA is a masterpiece, and am always creeped out big-time with 10 RILLINGTON PLACE and THE VANISHING!
God, what a fabulous wrap and immersion in film this week, my friend!
Sam — ONIBABA is one that I will need to rewatch again someday. I found the photography great and the usage of the mask is surely iconic (apparently it inspired Friedkin’s image of Pazzu in THE EXORCIST) but I’m not seeing the haunting story that many claim is here (I think too much of it is played as dark comedy for it to be truly frightening).
As for BLACK SABBATH, yes, I liked the “A Drop of Water” segment a lot, the best of the three. I’d give it ****1/2 on its own. “The Wurdulak” was also good (maybe ***1/2). “The Telephone” was average, at best (**1/2). That’s the problem with anthology films – you take the good with the bad.
Troy, I am actually completely with you on the components of BLACK SABBATH, which does have that one weak segment. But both “A Drop of Water” and “The Wurdelak” are masterful and shuddery.
Fair enough on ONIBABA, you may indeed shift position on it down the road.
Troy, I’m penning an ONIBABA piece as we speak as I think it should place high in the horror countdown… I think it’s tres scary. Living in a world where everything is foreign, alienating, and obscure–literally when you leave your house every square inch is the same, it’s disorienting AND anything can hide and wait for you. That alone is very scary to me.
And I haven’t even touched on the psycho-sexual stuff going on. And the heat, my god the heat (to quote Elaine Benes).
Jamie — I never saw it as a story of isolation (sexual frustration, yes), but you make a good case as to that point. I more saw it as a morality tale (since it was based on Japanese folklore and all), these people do bad things and they pay the price for their actions, but perhaps that is too simplistic.
The sexual overtones and beautiful cinematography (to which the use of that grass field is used wonderfully) certainly overwhelm the film. And yes, there is a palpable sense of the heat radiating from the screen, isnt’ there…
Ha, see how easy it is to convince me that this is a greater film than I initially rated it (I should say, I watched it over FOUR viewings, never a good way to watch even a bad movie).
“The Circus” and “The Idle Class” make for an excellent double-feature. Good to see you brought the kids over to see these classics. Hope you manage some others in the Chaplin line-up.
David, I am actually hoping to see every film in this festival as well. This is be a far less daunting task than the Mann, as there are fewer dates and far less features, even with the shorts as part of the schedule.
Thanks.
My weekend was pretty light on movies, mainly due to having friends in town and Reds games. I went to a game yesterday, with spectacular seats just a few rows up from the visiting dugout and had a lot of fun – in spite of the fact that it was hotter than hell and the Reds lost a tough 1-0 game.
I did manage to catch Inception on Saturday though and was very much looking forward to it. Even now, though, I’m still not sure what to make of it… I enjoyed it well enough but was from being wowed, which I was hoping would happen. The creativity of the concept and script from Nolan certainly deserves praise, but much of the execution felt too much like The Matrix (a movie I have never been a fan of), particularly through the middle. The last twenty minutes or so I found to be spectacular, which is ironic because I thought that the preceding 30-40 minutes were being dragged out just for the sake of dragging it out. Some of the fighting, chasing, etc. as they’re going into deeper layers of dreams got to be a bit much for me. I might be in the minority on this point, but I honestly started to lose a little interest until they went to the fourth level and Dom runs into his wife.
So I guess what I’m saying is, I enjoyed the sections that focused on the relationship/history of Dom and his wife. Outside of these specific sections, I was less enthused. For me, a 7/10 rating – an unbelievably creative idea, executed with moments of greatness, but I just never completely bought into it.
Thanks again for the link, Sam!
The Reds are having a great year Dave, and they have an excellent chance to win that division if they maintain some consistency. You must have had a great time, despite that heartbreaker and the hellish heat!
As I’ve stated elsewhere, I also thought the final part of INCEPTION was the most compelling and emotionally resonant, and that it did at times recall THE MATRIX. Like you Dave, I was never much of a fan of that one. I do believe that repeat viewing will serve to clarify its convolutions, or at least some of them. The 7/10 is fair enough at this point (my own 4/5 would mean 8/10) and agreed that the idea here was astonishing.
Let’s see what we think down the road.
Your countdown has reached the ultimate stage, and I can’t wait to see where it goes.
Thanks as always my friend for the insightful wrap!
Sam,
Guess that’s a perk of living in indy-anna. Being able to see a new film in a small town almost by yourself, and on the cheap.
But TV commercials before film commercials = ugh! ; (
LOL on those commercials Michael!!!
But it’s true what you say about the meagre attendance in a smaller town. That is DEFINITELY a perk!!!!
Thanks, Sam – and I should point out that the above post is also the kickoff for a meme. All are invited to participate (maybe in the lull after Allan’s countdown I’ll put up a related post) – and Allan is actually tagged though he may want to rest up a bit and lick his wounds before jumping in! It’s also tied-in to Stephen’s picture gallery, which I finally contributed to…
Incidentally, I advise you to log into my blog at 8 am tomorrow – I think you’ll be pleased.
Joel, I am very intrigued and will definitely be blogging in at your place in the morning!!! The meme negotiation is a great idea of course, especially with the end of the present countdown upon us, and nearly a month lull before Jamie, Troy and Kevin blast off with the horror countdown and polling!
Ahh Horror poll should be fun….
Sam, I mentioned awhile ago my plans for a future project at The Long Voyage Home. I’m giving up on that; I think I’m putting the blog on hiatus. There’s just too much other stuff I’m work on, both job-wise and the fact that it would obviously take away from movie-watching. Wll certainly still be lurking around here though, and on the other blogs I love.
Doniphon, will you still be doing the western countdown here? I was looking forward to that…
Donophon: I echo Movie Man’s call for continued interest in the western poll, if you can still negotiate this. But I fully understand the situation with you at present, and work is a million times more important. The blogging is a luxury, to be employed when there is time left. What you’ve done to this point is astonishing (the Melville series was fantastic) and to have you around all things considered is a blessing.
I’m looking forward to it too! I certainly plan to still do that countdown, I’ve already started preparing for it and am putting aside several hours a week to work on it so it’ll be ready by November or whenever it ends up being. It’s doing other stuff on top of that, in addition to the two jobs I work, several creative projects, and all the movies I haven’t seen, that makes maintaining my blog unfeasible right now.
Doniphon, you really do have so much on your plate at this time, and maintaining the blog is admittedly too epensive a proposition (at this time anyway). But your voice of confidence in the western poll is exciting!
Good news. Can’t wait to see the results…
Good-Morning! Sam Juliano…
Sam, check out the box office intake for Nolan’s Inception
Sam Juliano, I also checked out the trailer for the film Kisses and even though it didn’t do as well at the box office as Nolan’s Inception…it seems like a really interesting film too…Therefore, I plan to seek both films out to watch…I most definitely, wouldn’t “dismiss” the film Kisses neither.
Thanks, for sharing!
James M. Parry, Talks Inception and receives 100 + comments
A Link Full of Movie Trailers
I hope to talk to you later!
DeeDee😉🙂
Thanks so much for the trailer and the information on INCEPTION Dee Dee. It had quite a week at the box office, no doubt about it! We will definitely talk later.
Hey Sam, thanks for the shout-out! Glad you enjoyed INCEPTION as did I.
I really loved it and felt that it was the culmination of Nolan’s work so far, mixing the blurring of reality and artifice of MEMENTO but on the big budget scale of THE DARK KNIGHT. At times, I felt (in a good way) that INCEPTION was DREAMSCAPE meets THE MATRIX as if directed by Michael Mann.
Yet, I think that for all the obvious influences this film wears on its sleeve, there is enough of Nolan’s own thematic preoccupations that make the film distinctively his own. DiCaprio’s character fits in line with all of Nolan’s previous protags, haunted by a checkered past that motivates him to do what he does in the film.
I also thought that this was DiCaprio’s finest performance to date. He really did a great job of conveying the heartbreaking tragedy of his character and the guilt that he is wracked with. There were a lot of layers to his character and I thought that DiCaprio nailed it.
Also loved the rest of the cast, esp. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Tom Hardy – based on their work in this film, someone ought to hook them up again in another film playing antagonists that have to work together or something. There give-and-take in INCEPTION was well-played.
I for one thougth that the climactic showdown at the end where Nolan juggled three action sequences in three different dream states to be pretty damn impressive. That must’ve been hell to edit together! It didn’t feel too long to me at all and was quite ambitious in scope and complexity!
I really need to see this film again.
J.D. Thanks so much for this insightful and enthusiastic appraisal, which in large measure I fully support. I do like the DREAMSCAPE/THE MATRIX analogy, and the proposal that the film strongly negotiates Nolan’s thematic concerns. Likewise, J.D., I agree that this may well be Di Caprio’s finest moment on screen (he was equally fine in SHUTTER ISLAND, though, methinks) and that the film’s climax was it’s strongest segment of all. Yeah, maybe Nolan went one level too many, but the film is always riveting, the idea ingenius.
Thanks so much for this great comment my friend!
Hi! Sam Juliano, Allan, and WitD members…
Sam, here goes some news about director Anthony Mann…What a coincidence…his film “Devil Doorway” was just released by Warner Bros. as part of their archives collection. By the way, it do fit or is place in the category of a western noir…by some film noir aficionados. (Namely, by author Spencer Selby “Dark City—-The Film Noir…)
DeeDee😉🙂
OH MY GOD!
OH MY GOD!
OH MY GOD!
OH MY GOD!
OH MY GOD!
You have again made my day fair lady!!!!!
I positively loved that film, and I’am jumping up and down knowing I can (and will) order this IMMEDIATELY!!!!
This is truly spectacular news!!!!
Thanks 20 times over Dee Dee!!!!!!!!!!!!
psst! Sam it is Terrill Welch not Terrill Lynch:) Thank you for the mention just the same. I am along for the ride this week having been away all of last week with my daughters wedding which went swimmingly well on Saturday. Everything perfect and delightfully relaxed with 140 guests on an ocean front location. Now I might be able to start thinking about movies again:)
Terrill, I simply cannot believe I made that mistake yet again! It is so irresponsible of me to do so, especially that you are one of teh nicest people out there! I know. It’s all Jim Clark’s fault! He has my mind eternally on David Lynch! Ha! I must get my mind in order these days.
Ah, “swimmingly well” eh? I love to hear that! I know from the creativepotager site that you had a wonderful time with that large baechfront contingent. Hey, the movies are good but not THAT good!!!
Thanks for stopping by my eternally effervescent friend, and I’ll get my act together with that last name!
Thanks as always for the shout out Sam, as well as yet another thorough and enjoyable entry into your Monday Morning Diary! Sam, I’ve seen your comments on Inception here, as well as on other blogger reviews, and I think we came away with remarkably similar reactions. I wasn’t absolutely blown away by it, and am still grappling with the lack of a strong emotional core and a few other aspects of Nolan’s methodology, but I had a marvelous time taking in the experience and attempting to keep up with the puzzle, and I can’t help but feel that it’s definitely a challenging work worthy of the amount of discourse it’s provoked, as well as numerous future viewings. I also tend to agree with the sentiment that any movie that can provoke such thoughtful and impassioned debating from both sides certainly must be doing something right.
As always, a pleasure Sam!
Thanks so much for that Drew!
Well, I’ll admit that I’m anxious to take a second look at the film, and hope to do so in the upcoming days, but I’m gratified to know I’m on the same page with you as to the ‘extremely impressed but not absolutely overwhelmed’ reaction. it’s true that the thought-provoking responses we are reading is a testament to its artistry, and it’s basic premise is one of the most fascinating ever attempted in recent years, but there’s no doubt that there are some excesses here, and yet to be decipher cryptic underpinnings, that will require well more than a single viewing. And yes, I also concur that until the last section, there was little emotional involvement.
Thanks so much Drew for this wonderful submission and very kind words!
Of course, our resident genius, Bob Clark, has taken the film on with apparent tenacity, and I will be reading today’s review by him with special interest!