Phillip Seymour Hoffman and George Clooney in "The Ides of March"
by Sam Juliano
Bob Clark sits squarely in the Wonders in the Dark winner’s circle this week after a fabulous week spent at the New York Film Festival, where he attended some showpiece screenings, reporting back to the site on this past Saturday with a stellar round-up. The musical countdown is now officially in the 20’s with Allan’s Sunday posting of The Love Parade. With 128 comments and running, Pat Perry’s splendid review of Mary Poppins inspired one of the most fiery threads at the site, while virtually every other post in the project attracted spirited interest. Joel Bocko has officially launched his newest Sunday venture at the site, which will be aimed at addressing significant films that have not yet been reviewed here. The first post covers James Whales’s horror classic Frankenstein, and Bocko called upon one of the film’s most impassioned fans, Dennis Polifroni, to illuminate the Universal landmark. Jamie Uhler’s “Getting Over the Beatles” series continued with another remarkable installment, and Jaime Grijalba posted on the newest Nobel Prize winner in literature.
Yankee and Phillie fans are surely dazed after their teams made early exits in the baseball playoffs, while football watchers just observed the sixth week of the NFL season. Pumpkins, witches and the orange and black are now in vogue, even while summer temperatures continue to defy the norm for this time of the year. Later today Lucille and I will be meeting up with Joel Bocko, Maurizio Roca and Bob Clark at the Film Forum to see Godard’s Weekend, and it is anticipated we’ll have a picture to post on next week’s diary.
Lucille and I (and friends Broadway Bob and Tony Lucibello) attended a bevy of weekend films, including two matinee screenings of Nikkatsu features at the New York Film Festival. SUN is from 1956; SUZUKI from 1957. We took in:
Sun in the Last Day of the Shogunate *** 1/2 (Lincoln Center) Sat. afternoon
Suzuki Paradise Red Light District *** (Lincoln Center) Sunday afternoon
Sons of Tennessee Williams ** (Quad Cinemas) Saturday evening
The Ides of March **** (Edgewater multiplex) Sunday evening
Both SUN IN THE LAST DAY OF THE SHOGUNATE and SUZUKI PARADISE RED LIGHT DISTRICT (the latter reviewed this week by Allan at the site) were offered as vital pieces of the “Nikkatsu” series at the New York Festival (Elinor Bunin Monroe Film Center) in celebration of the famed Japanese studio’s 100th anniversary. Both critically acclaimed films were directed by Yuzo Kawashima, a director only barely known in the west and under-represented on DVD. I was disappointed with both films, though both boasted extraordinary cinematography by Karataro Takamura, both superbly sorted time and place, and both showcased excellent performances. The crippling problem was a lack of dramatic cohesion, and obsession with boredom, that eventually caused the films to become tedious themselves. The better of the two films was the first one I saw, SUN IN THE LAST DAY OF THE SHOGUNATE, which is a comedy set in the 1860’s. At some point, if and when it becomes available on DVD, I’d take another look at it, but for now it appears that Kawashima is not my cup of tea. I understand he had a prolific career, dying at the young age of 45, which understandably and sadly, was a major loss to Japanese cinema. Anyway both Tony d’Ambra and Allan thought RED LIGHT DISTRICT was superb. Allan reviewed it a few days ago and Tony had this to say in an e mail:
“This is a film about small events but the lives are real and the tragedies great. Kawashima keeps his emotional distance out of respect for his characters. The score is subtle and resonant. The mise-en-scene brilliant. It is deeply allegorical and the acting superb. (The only weakness I can discern are some ill-placed wipes.) We only live one life and the import of this underpins the drama with real empathy. Kawashima does not judge like Kurosawa, who can be preachy, but places his protagonists in the greater society with subtlety and depth.”
SONS OF TENNESSEE WILLIAMS is a brief (75 minutes) documentary on the gay movement in New Orleans that accomplishes little by way of historical origin and cultural insight, favoring instead to show elderly queens parading around in dresses and in parade “floats.” I found myself belly laughing, when I know this was not as a result of the filmmaker’s real intents. A few telling scenes, but mainly forgettable.
THE IDES OF MARCH contains some excellent performances from Ryan Gosling and George Clooney among others, glistening indoor cinematography from Phedon Papamichael and solid direction from Clooney in a tale of political corruption that in lareg measure is a compelling watch. Nothing new here, but the execution makes it work.
The links are here, but not are all updated. (note: I will make revisions piece meal over the coming days)
At Darkness Into Light Dee Dee celebrates Lizabeth Scott’s 87th birthday: http://noirishcity.blogspot.com/2011/09/happy-birthday-to-actress-lizabeth.html
Jon Warner delves into the troubling Pontecorvo film “Kapo”, which Jacques Rivette famously despised, at Films Worth Watching: http://filmsworthwatching.blogspot.com/2011/09/kapo-1959-directed-by-gillo-pontecorvo.html
John Greco visits Hitchcock’s “Mr and Mrs. Smith” and admits it’s a mixed bag at Twenty Four Frames: http://twentyfourframes.wordpress.com/2011/10/07/mr-and-mrs-smith-1941-alfred-hitchcock/
Part 14 of his film round-up series has found Filmmaker Jeffrey Goodman in top form with capsule reviews on four gems of the cinema: “Poetry,” “Fitzcaraldo,” “Gattaca” and “Mr. & Mrs. Bridge” It’s over at The Last Lullaby: http://cahierspositif.blogspot.com/2011/09/favorite-four-part-fourteen.html
Analyzing anger, Laurie Buchanan asks “How do you cool the flames?” at Speaking From The Heart: http://holessence.wordpress.com/2011/09/29/slow-burn/
R. D. Finch has penned a marvelous review of the popular 1948 Cary Grant feature “Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House” at The Movie Projector: http://themovieprojector.blogspot.com/2011/09/mr-blandings-build-his-dream-house-1948.html
Tony d’Ambra at FilmsNoir.net posts a moody frames gallery for the 1933 proto-noir “Private Detective 62″: http://filmsnoir.net/film_noir/film-noir-origins-private-detective-62-1933.html
On Mondo 70, Samuel Wilson astutely assesses the weaknesses of early Keaton short “Convict 13″, noting that “complacent acceptance of superficiality is a theme of the picture”: http://mondo70.blogspot.com/2011/10/buster-keaton-in-convict-13-1920.html
Murderous Ink in Tokyo has penned a brilliant historical and political essay on two celebrated Kinoshita featues, “Army” and “Twenty-Four Eyes” at Vermillion and One Nights: http://vermillionandonenights.blogspot.com/2011/09/apron-as-weapon.html
Aided by word, image, and video, Sachin Gandhi of Scribbles and Ramblings investigates Claire Denis’ use of visuals and sound, including in “White Material” whose viewing at Venice Sachin declares “the best cinematic experience of my life”: http://likhna.blogspot.com/2011/09/claire-denis-x-5.html
Judy Geater continues her look at pre-Codes with with “Broken Lullaby” by Lubitsch, at Movie Classics: http://movieclassics.wordpress.com/2011/09/25/broken-lullaby-ernst-lubitsch-1932/
Terrill Welch displays her Mayne Island artworks, going for a bargain, at Creativepotager: http://creativepotager.wordpress.com/2011/10/02/first-salish-sea-sunday-savings/
Qalandar reviews the Hindi gangster flick “Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster” at Satyamshot: http://satyamshot.wordpress.com/2011/10/02/qalandar-reviews-saheb-biwi-aur-gangster-hindi-2011/
Shubhajit Leheri has penned a beautiful capsule on the masterpiece “The Last Picture Show” at Cinemascope: http://cliched-monologues.blogspot.com/2011/10/last-picture-show-1971.html
Craig Kennedy takes a harder line than his co-hosts on “Straw Dogs” and “Moneyball” with his latest Living in Cinema podcast: http://livingincinema.com/2011/10/01/ye-olde-3-way-moviegasm-podcast-strawmoneydogballs/
Patricia looks back on “The Camel Dances” from Arnold Lobel’s beloved children’s book “Fables” on Patricia’s Wisdom: http://patriciaswisdom.com/2011/09/camel-pirouette/
Stephen Russell-Gebbett has penned a fecund takedown of Pixar’s “Toy Story 3″ at Checking on my Sausages: http://checkingonmysausages.blogspot.com/2011/09/toy-story-3.html
David Schleicher takes a stroll down “Boardwalk Empire”‘s season 2 premiere on The Schleicher Spin: http://theschleicherspin.com/2011/09/25/boardwalk-empire-21-season-two-premier/
At Exodus 8:2 Jaime Grijalba takes a ride in “The Phantom Carriage”, which was just released on the Criteiron Collection. This kicks off his “31 Days of Terror” series in which he watches a horror movie every day in honor of Halloween: http://exodus8-2.blogspot.com/2011/10/1-korkarlen-1921.html
Pat Perry has posted an excllent review on “Something Borrowed,” a ‘chick’ flick that’s worth something at Doodad Kind of Town: http://doodadkindoftown.blogspot.com/2011/09/on-home-screen-something-borrowed.html
Michael Harford has a new collage up and he shares the news at Coffee Messiah: http://coffeemessiah.blogspot.com/2011/10/to-power-of-n.html
Jason Bellamy has a fascinating review of “Catching Hell”, about the Chicago fan who dashed the Cubs’ World Series chances by reaching for a baseball in 2003, something he has never been able to live down. The review is called ”Ticket to the Dark Side” and has sparked a sterling discussion on The Cooler: http://coolercinema.blogspot.com/2011/09/ticket-to-dark-side-catching-hell.html
Marilyn Ferdinand reports from the Chicago International Film Festival to review a fascinating documentary on Yugoslavia’s Tito, “the number one film fan who ever lived”. It’s all at Ferdy-on-Films: http://www.ferdyonfilms.com/?p=11660
Ed Howard has a link to this month’s Record Club discussion on the Manic Street Preachers, conducted by Wonders’ very own Jamie Uhler, at Only The Cinema. Keep the conversation going!: http://seul-le-cinema.blogspot.com/2011/09/record-club-5-manic-street-preachers.html
In a set of links, the Film Doctor explores a number of economic and political topics, from Google & Facebook as Big Brother, to the illusion behind the “creative industry” myth: http://filmdr.blogspot.com/2011/10/reactionary-links.html
At Movies Over Matter Jason Marshall names “The Apple” as one of his favorite “bad” movies: http://moviesovermatter.com/2011/09/17/hes-so-eager-to-believe-and-so-easily-deceived-like-a-baby-watching-magic-hes-so-gullible-its-tragic-the-apple-my–favorite-bad-movies/
James Hansen has written an outstanding essay in defense of “Drive” at Out One Film Journal: http://www.out1filmjournal.com/2011/09/shadowing-spotlight-nicolas-winding.html
At Radiator Heaven J.D. reviews ”A Scanner Darkly” which he considers the first accurate translation of Philip K. Dick from page to screen: http://rheaven.blogspot.com/2011/09/scanner-darkly.html
Srikanth (Just Another Film Buff) offers up a fascinating capsule on Wim Wenders’s “Pina” at The Seventh Art: http://theseventhart.info/2011/09/24/ellipsis-47/
Roderick Heath at This Island Rod has penned a towering essay on “Thor”: http://thisislandrod.blogspot.com/2011/09/thor-2011.html
TCM’s Greg Ferrara rescues rare clips of Christopher Lee telling ghost stories from a defunct CD-ROM on Cinema Styles: http://cinemastyles.blogspot.com/2011/10/christopher-lee-tells-stories-and-gives.html
At Cinema Viewfinder, Tony Dayoub kicks of New York Film Festival coverage with a thoughtful review of “George Harrison: Living in the Material World,” Martin Scorsese’s latest music documentary: http://www.cinemaviewfinder.com/2011/10/nyff11-movie-review-george-harrison.html
Steven Morton talks about Bob Dylan’s “Ring them Bells,” which he notes is his favorite song at Petrified Fountain of Thought: http://petrifiedfountainofthought.blogspot.com/2011/09/ring-them-bells.html
Craig at The Man From Porlock analyzes the faults of Moneyball, and wonders why sports films keep raising the position of their “underdog” heroes: http://themanfromporlock.blogspot.com/2011/09/off-field-moneyball.html
Hokahey at Little Worlds marvels at the formal prowess of the Oregon Trail film “Meek’s Cutoff”, praising its “magnificent dissolves” and “real-time realism”: http://hokahey-littleworlds.blogspot.com/2011/10/oregon-trail-verite-meeks-cutoff-2011.html
At Not Just Movies Jake Cole discusses “The Blue Angel” and wonders why the Germans – kings of the silents – made such a strong transition into sound: http://armchairc.blogspot.com/2011/10/blue-angel-josef-von-sternberg-1930.html
Record Club #4 – The Dirty South” is leading the way at Elusive as Robert Denby, and proctor Troy Olson has quite a comment thread to show: http://troyolson.blogspot.com/2011/08/record-club-4-drive-by-truckers-dirty.html
Kevin J. Olson announces the return of his Italian Horror blog-a-thon at Hugo Stiglitz Makes Movies: http://kolson-kevinsblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/italian-horror-blog-thon-returns.html
The saddest of times for Jeopardy Girl as she movingly relates at The Continuing Story of Jeopardy Girl. Wonders in the Dark extends it’s deepest condolences to our friend up north: http://jeopardygirl.wordpress.com/2011/09/11/gone/
Adam Zanzie continues his recap of the book “War Horse” on Icebox Movies in anticipation of the upcoming Spielberg film: http://iceboxmovies.blogspot.com/2011/09/war-horse-1982-chapters-6-10.html
Dave Van Poppel at Visions of Non-Fiction has posted a terrific review of the documentary “Project Nim”: http://visionsofnonfiction.blogspot.com/2011/08/project-nim.html
Andrew Wyatt defends the 80s monster movie “Q” at Gateway Cinephiles: http://gatewaycinephiles.com/2011/09/30/looklisten-q-at-the-wufs/
Click on names for archives
Writers/Founders
Wonders in the Dark 
Though I generally find American politics a depressing subject, I’m wondering what others make of the OWS groups. I was excited when I heard about it, but disappointed when I found out more. It seems like more or less the usual types of protestors one sees at these events, just in larger numbers. I was hoping it would be more of working-class thing, rather than hippies. It just seems that this type of “movement” will be too difficult for most Americans to connect to, and too easy for others to dismiss. I hope I’m wrong, and the fairly positive coverage seems encouraging (I’ve only just begun following the news as I’ve generally been ducking media for a while now), but I cringe every time I hear/see an interview and they’re talking about this or that issue, vague/general rhetoric instead of focusing on building public support for their cause (which should be more sharply defined) and demonstrating a sense of PR – it’s fine to stand for what you stand for, but if you want to effect change you have to speak to the majority. Just my 2 cents. I hope it goes somewhere, regardless.
I also wonder to what extent the media is presenting this picture, focusing on the more crackpot-seeming types because they’re good copy, and also probably in some cases because they discredit the movement which is something certain outlets undoubtedly want to do and something many more probably do as well (whether to advance a specific political agenda, or to appear “objective” and counter right-wing accusations of bias, or just to suck up to audiences on the one hand and the chattering classes on the other). That was my first instinct, but the more I heard & saw the more it seemed that, no, this actually was more of a stereotypical left-wing activist thing than a genuine “we’ve had enough” uprising. Unfortunately, the Tea Party has been quite effective in getting out their message and wearing down opponents – and I’m skeptical that the OWS crowd can do the same.
I will be down by the Wall Street area tomorrow night, so I will check it out myself in person and see what my impression is. I look forward to finding out more.
I’d be careful what you see in the mainstream media, Joel. Most of the time they’re posting the vague hippie interviews chiefly because they’re easier sells to the audience– that’s what they expect to see, and that’s what they want to see. Also, they’re less challenging to the bourgeois audience and corporate interests of the networks themselves– with the exception of some of the people on MSNBC (who are by no saints), much of the coverage on mainstream outlets has been rather dismissive, from what I can see, even on CNN. There’s a rather unfair expectation for all these kids to be Rhodes Scholars when it comes to finance and politics, when they’re just the ones who are realizing that they’ve been screweed out of a future in this economy. It’s also possibly against their interests to solidify that easily behind a wall of easily sound-bitable talking points, and let their coalition turn into the same manipulable tool that the Tea party was eroded into. Yeah, there’s probably too much of a party atmosphere there, but you’ve got to keep motivated somehow.
Yeah I hope you’re right. And initially I was more inclined to believe it was mostly manipulation by the media. That’s why I look forward to seeing it firsthand tomorrow.
At the same time, it’s irritated me since the Iraq protests how off-message the left can be (at that time, antiwar gatherings were quickly diverted by pet causes and heated rhetoric that alienated potential followers and basically rendered themselves irrelevant to the discussion).
I’m not sure what the effective path is anymore, or if there is one. I voted for Obama because I thought, well here’s somebody who can get beyond the tit-for-tat of political discourse and bring reasonable people together. Well, goddammit, there just aren’t any reasonable public figures on the right. I can’t think of one. So in a sense I wonder if a counter-Tea Party, as disciplined and combative (but better at dovetailing with the mainstream than the TP because, however much tea pariters crow about being “the real Americans”, most normal people look at them somewhat askance) isn’t what’s necessary to get things done.
One thing I do like about OWS is that for the first time in years they have the media talking about mass discontent with the private sector, rather than the public sector. I’m still recovering from the whiplash of a capitalist meltdown fomenting – wait for it – screaming tirades about “Big Government.” I really did not think that was where the conversation would be moving to after 2008. If nothing else, it just showed how thoroughly and effectively the conservative movement can dominate the conversation in America.
I am a bit cynical in the end I suppose – I think good intentions are fine but in order to effect positive change one has to be extremely manipulative and savvy, to be willing to play the enemy’s game and use it against them. I’ve never read Saul Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals but I suspect form what I’ve heard he’s on the right track. Sort of like Abe in Young Mr. Lincoln vs. Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird – both are principled lawyers, both take on difficult cases and stand up to a lynch mob in front of a courthouse, but one uses a combination of wily rhetoric, charismatic appeal, bullying, and flattery of his audience to free his clients, while the other gives noble speeches and the end result is an innocent black man shot in the back (and he only gets out of the courthouse lynch mob situation because his kids, both more clever and confrontational than him, come to his rescue). Fiction to be sure, but with more than a patina of truth.
Of course this kind of thinking treads a fine line – it led many to Stalinism in the 30s (breaking a few eggs to make an omelette ending up in mass murder; and central discipline resulting in contortions like signing a deal with Hitler subverting the left overall). I certainly would want this to take place within a democratic context – but the day when idealists change the world simply through rational discourse, personal passion, and earnest conviction is probably the day when such changes aren’t even needed because people are logical, thoughtful, and fair about these things. In other words, never.
The radical left doesn’t, and to a certain extent never has had, the backing of the institutional left that the right has enjoyed for some time now, so obviously there really isn’t the same kind of reward for these protesters to get themselves organized along those same system lines. In a sense, they only have everything to lose, allowing themselves to be co-opted by the two-party political system just because it’s the only game in town. The Tea Party could always just wait until the Republicans embraced them. The Democrats are too balkanized in general to stand behind much of anything, and in that sense the kids protesting in the square are a better representation of them than we may realize– the left has always been a much bigger tent than the right, and as such attracts a diverse crowd of opinions and demands that often overlap and sometimes even outright contradict each other. Ask them to get themselves organized along the lines that we’re used to from political discourse, and you’re bound to cause the kind of friction that could cause them to fall apart entirely.
I can’t help but think, also, that this longing for a traditional “Atticus Finch” style leader is just a kind of waiting for the grown-ups to enter the equation again and let the younger generation off the hook. Seasoned, responsible people like them are the reason we got into this mess to begin with.
Just to clarify, I’m not espousing the value of the Atticus Finch approach but rather at least humoring a preference for the Young Mr. Lincoln. In other words, don’t just say what’s right find a way to get the job done, however possible. That entails message discipline and an ability to connect with the widest group of people possible. Obviously this runs the risk of dilution and self-defeat. But the alternative, at this point anyway, seems to be earnest ineffectuality.
On the other hand, maybe OWS is a game-changer? Reading more about them (really I’ve only gotten my first glimpse in the past few days) and the chord they’ve struck, I’m wondering if perhaps my criticism isn’t reliant on outmoded assumptions, and that perhaps the wider public is ready again to accept something closer to the 60s style of protest & counterculture (which has been more or less rejected for 40 years) due to the level of frustration with Wall Street. In other words, maybe the message is enough and the messengers don’t matter so much anymore. I would not mind being wrong about that.
Also, some of your above point is true (about the left being balkanized) but then the question is, why should this group be so easily identified with the left at all? I think frustration with the current situation need not be tied to alternative lifestyles, or environmentalism, or anything else other than just simple indignation at an unjust administration/distribution of resources. I mean, just to name one example, I tend to agree with the woman who said religious institutions should not be tax-exempt in one of those media interviews, but the question is why did she feel this was a necessary or useful point to make when trying to rally public support for more stringent Wall Street regulations and/or accountability? It seems to me that such statements are more inclined to alienate Middle America and thus defeat the purpose. There are bound to be people who hate cronyism but are pro-death penalty, or people who want higher taxation rates on the rich but also support the war in Afghanistan. If the purpose is to remind people who is responsible for the situation we’re in, and encourage them to do something about it, addressing other contentious issues only confuses the matter and dilutes the potential pool of support. It isn’t about changing one’s opinion, just focusing on the common ground – it’s a matter of emphasis.
But as I suggest above, the extent to which OWS has received largely positive coverage, especially lately (even alongside the condescension and dismissiveness), and positive word-of-mouth shows how deeply many people share their fundamental concerns. And while I can suspect the movement might be stronger and achieve even more if focused & more canny, at the same time THIS is the group that’s gotten this amount of media attention and started to change and effect the conversation. And they have to be respected for that – my ideal protest group has been MIA and if my points about realism have any bearing, they must also entail the opportunities on hand and the context that exists. In other words, I have to be realistic too, and recognize that right now this is the movement we’ve got and try and figure out where IT can go from here.
At any rate, I look forward to seeing this upclose and getting a better sense of what’s going on here without filters. What are you doing in the late afternoon/early evening? I have to be somewhere at 6, but maybe you should come down to the area with me after we all go to the screening/after-gathering. I’ll probably head down there around 5pm-5:30 or so…
Sorry guys, but I can’t help observing that the ‘hippies’ are actually doing something, and that it is rather twee to sling arrows from the sidelines. Academics are involved and are leading workshops. Unions are organizing and joining the offensive. Prominent intellectuals are in the vanguard and even the NYT gives a platform to the most intelligent economics commentator in the US today, Paul Krugman, who in less than a thousand words summed it all up and addressed point-blank all the issues you both raise in his Friday article at http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/07/opinion/krugman-confronting-the-malefactors.html?_r=1&ref=paulkrugman
OWS is long overdue and needs support not nit-picking. What do you expect from the established media? Fair and balanced reporting? Take a look at Manufacturing Consent – nothing has changed.
I absolutely agree Tony. The media ignored OWS for weeks. They were praying it would just go away. Then when the movement was brutalized by pepper spray/arrest happy cops, and began getting national attention, the media tried to discredit them by focusing in on a couple of kids that perhaps were not able to express themselves properly (as Bob says they are not all Rhode Scholars). Now that unions and prominent intellectuals on the left are joining their ranks, you can feel an uneasy shift occurring with news outlets who see the monetary potential for a big story by promoting these revolutionaries. This is a major story, because these people will not stop. This was a long time coming, as you can only kick a sick middle class for so long (not to mention the poor). New York’s morally corrupt leadership was just praying that some of these demonstrators would of turned violent when Bloomberg had them victimized in a shocking display of police brutality. The protesters valiantly remained peaceful and now these gatherings are gaining traction. I think nit-picking little flaws in this movement is completely unnecessary. A defeatist attitude (assumptions that they can’t generate concrete social change) is also not required.
Sorry guys, but I can’t help observing that the ‘hippies’ are actually doing something, and that it is rather twee to sling arrows from the sidelines.
Bravo, Tony. I can’t really believe the half-baked skepticism shown here, as even if the movement was all ‘hippies’ (it isn’t, and has never been) it’s the/their message that is of importance. What’s being articulated or represented by the sit in is, I could care less how the person looks, or what subculture he/she would be placed into.
And yeah, as others have said, getting your info from the mainstream media is the first problem…
Bravo Tony, Maurizio and Jamie, though I am sadly unprepared to engage in conversation that will remotely stand with the perceptions here. I can try for sure, by why bother? You people have it covered superlatively, I’ll just sit back and marvel. Yes I can come up with something passable, but I’ll move on to the others here, as I have many comments to address. I think it’s safe to say that all is in good hands.
Of course a spectacular bravo to Joel Bocko who started this off with a brilliant marathon comment.
Sam, which is brilliant? MovieMan’s skepticism or our condemnation of his skepticism? You needn’t appease everyone…
Jamie, I know I always try and have it both ways, but I honestly was mesmerized by this entire discussion. I don’t have to entirely agree with Movie Man to say he was brilliant, which I thought he was. But you, Maurizio and Tony were also brilliant.
Sam,
Glad to hear you are going to see Weekend with your friends. It’s one of my favorites of Godard’s, and the last one of his that I really enjoy. I’m not sure whether Ides of March is something that is going to be reallly good. It seems to cover similar territory as other films and I’m guessing your tepid response is going along with that. I think I would still prefer Gosling in Drive, which as you know is quite on my brain still! I don’t normally rush to print a review, but it’s also not normal that we get to go to the theatre often! With babysitters being $40 for the night, it makes for a very expensive outing! Anyway, Drive is still something I keep thinking about and really want to see again. Last week was light on movies for me with travel to Arkansas and then now I’m on the road again to California. I did bring Loach’s Kes with me as well as the documentary Bergman Island. I did manage to see The Music Man though and loved it! I remember really not liking it as a kid. My dad and sister loved it and it annoyed me. I guess I’m older and wiser now because it was really fun! Anyway, have a great week Sam!
Sadder and wiser would be more a propos. 🙂
So we agree on Wiser at least!
Hey Jon!!!
I hear ya on WEEKEND, which was one Godard that worked for me, though repeated viewings are never as captivating as the first one, a point Maurizio brought out afterwards. It was indeed great to meet up with the fraternity. You may be surprised with the Clooney film, which I still thought enough of to give 4/5, even if my words seem to indicate a lesser reaction. There is nothing new in the mix, but the actors give excellent performances, and the movie is beautifully filmed. I went in expecting mediocrity, but got a bit more. Gosling was terrific here, but like you feel he is tops in DRIVE. Oh I know about the babysitters too, and am grateful the youngest of our five is now nine, allowing for our 15 year-old daughter and 14 year-old son to man the ship. You really have to pay the piper when you go out as you illustrated there.
Jon, have a great trip to California, and enjoy KES, which is a masterpiece and a personal favorite, and also the fascinating BERGMAN ISLAND. Like you I adore THE MUSIC MAN!!!
Have a great week my excellent friend!
Sam, thanks so much for the wonderful mention.
I will have to keep an eye out for the work of Kawashima. That’s a new name for me, and I’d be curious to have a look at least.
This week I took in a few titles on DVD. I saw Rohmer’s TRIPLE AGENT, Rivette’s DON’T TOUCH THE AXE, CAFE LUMIERE, and LOLA MONTES. I was extremely happy to see them all, but I would have to say that the Ophuls affected me the most.
I know we both love his great LETTER FROM AN UNKNOWN WOMAN. His LOLA MONTES is a much more challenging work — flashier, more cerebral, and quite challenging, I felt. Although I was not swept up by it in the same way I am by LETTER, I found it incredibly innovative, dazzling, and a film to return to from time to time to dissect and continue attempting fully to grasp.
Here’s to another awesome week, Sam. Thanks so much for all that you do!
Jeffrey—
Next week I will have the links properly updated. The musical countdown has really pared down my time as of late, but I expected as much. We have reached the home stretch now with the review on OKLAHOMA! at #27.
Kawashima was new to me as well Jeffrey, and these two films were the first two of his I have seen. I may have been too harsh in view of Allan and Tony’s eloquent and positive responses, but I’ll set my sights on another viewing. SUZUKI PARADISE at least can be had on a DVDR.
You took in a formidable quartet of films there, though I would have to say unequivocably that your favorite one, LOLA MONTES is also my favorite, and for much the same compelling reasons you elaborate on. Yes, we are both big fans of LETTER FROM AN UNKNOWN WOMAN, which ranks with EARRINGS OF MADAME DE as my favorite Ophuls, but LOLA MONTES is a far more difficult film, though in the end a masterpiece.
Rivette’s DON’T TOUCH THE AXE is an exquisite film, and I also have fair regard for CAFE LUMIERE and TRIPLE AGENT.
Thanks so much my friend for the very kind words as always, and I wish you and your wife a great week my friend!
Sam – We were especially interested in hearing your thoughts about THE IDES OF MARCH. The “nothing new here” had us concerned for a moment, but “the execution makes it work” follow-up was a day-saver. As a result, we’re dangling the matinee showing as a much-deserved reward after we finish with yard work today.
All of our schools are closed here for Columbus Day – I hope you and yours are enjoying a day off as well.
Laurie—
I am pretty sure you and Len will connect with THE IDES OF MARCH on the strength of it’s fearful topicality and superlative performances, especially the one from Ryan Gosling. It doesn’t present anything new, and I know some will shrug it off, but Clonney keeps the tension at a high level, and the films keep you involved. You may well have seen it at this point in fact, and I look forward to your response.
Yes, schools in New Jersey were closed yesterday too, and we all enjoyed a day in the low 80’s! Have a great week as always my very good friend!
Sam – “Clooney keeps the tension at a high level” was an UNDERstatement. Hula Burgers — it was white knuckles for me! Len and I are BOTH very glad that we saw the film.
Great to hear this news Laurie!!! Definitely a white knuckler!
Sam,
Thanks again for the shout out my friend. Spent a lot of time shooting (photographically speaking) shelter cats this week, some of which will be popping up on my photography blog and facebook. Just finishing reading a new bio on Dennis Hopper by Peter L. Winkler who, if it all works out, I will be interviewing by phone on Wednesday.
This week’s movies are below.
50/50 (****1/2) Excellent comedy/drama that skillfully blends the two with intelligence and heartfelt emotions.
Isles of March (****) Terrific political thriller with not one likable character in the entire film. Corruption, lies, sex and underhanded deals are the game of the day. It’s worth admission price to see Hoffman and Giamatti face off as well as to see Clooney and Goslings glare at each other during an antagonistic secret meeting.
Gunfight at the OK Corral (***1/2) A rousing stylish western from the lens of John Sturges. Not true to the facts, but the gunfight ending is more exciting and lasted a lot longer than the 30 second shootout in real life. Jo Van Fleet gives excellent performance a Doc Holliday’s whore.
Rumble Fish (****) Francis Ford Coppola’s arty gang film reminds one of what a good actor Mickey Rourke was at one time. The black and white photography is stunning as is the torment of growing up lost in the void of teenage hell.
Blue Velvet (****) What I like about David Lynch is how he unwraps the facade behind what is normal, in this case a small all American town, and finds crazy. A post modern film noir that is both intriguing and maddening at the same time. A young man finds himself at the center of an odd mystery and some even odder people including Dennis Hopper’s Frank Booth, who ranks up there as one of the oddest and crazed villains ever on screen, yet some of the Lynch’s dialogue seems overly simplistic at times (or maybe I just don’t “get it.”).
Singin’ in the Rain (*****) arguably the best musical of all time. Wonderful score and the brilliant dancing of Gene Kelly. Not a wrong spot in the entire film.
Nothing But a Man (*****) Excellent look at the Deep South depicting the challenges faced by a proud black man and his school teacher/preacher daughter wife. Engaging performances by Ivan Dixon and Abby Lincoln.
John—
That prospective phone interview with Peter L. Winkler on his new book on Hopper sounds really fantastic!!!! I wish you luck with it and of course will look on at the results at TWENTY FOUR FRAMES! And I’d also like to check out on those photos at your other blogsite! I applaud you and Dorothy’s continued efforts for the cats too! Lucille and I need to bring one of our former kittens to be fixed this week (a male) or the female we have will be having kittens of her own. Lucille tells me he is just about five months old now. His sister of course is the same age. But she must be fixed at some point too as it wouldn’t be fair.
John, you have brought a smile to my ear with the 4.5 rating on 50/50, a film that some of my close friends here at WitD have serious doubts about. I gave it the same rating, and came away swith basically the same feelings that you did. I love the observation that there isn’t a single likable character in THE IDES OF MARCH, and it’s true those four actors really bring things together. Again you are spot on with that 4 star ratings and beautifully frame the film!!!!
I’ll beg off discussion on SINGIN IN THE RAIN, as I want to wait a bit more on that (ha!) but what you say there is right on the money of course.
RUMBLE FISH at 4? Again spot-on. Boy this week we are full agrewement pretty much across teh board John. Like the colored fish on the black and white too! But a most atmospheric film based on a book I assigned to Jr. High students in lieu of THE OUTSIDERS, also by Hinton. My favorite of her books is THAT WAS THEN THIS IS NOW.
GUNFIGHT AT THE O.K. CORRAL is is just about right too, and yes it does stretch the facts a bit. A solid Sturges, thought not in a league with BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK.
NOTHING BUT A MAN isa very strong stuff and gets a 4.5 from me, but in our onlymild disagreement I would give BLUE VELVET five stars. But I can understand why Lsome of Lynch’s dialogue could be bizarre.
This was a spectacular wrap in every sense John! Thanks as always and have a great week my very good friend!
Apropos of the lead comments, there’s apparently an “Occupy Albany” movement starting up up here. What exactly they intend to occupy I can’t say, but Gov. Cuomo’s vicinity would seem to be a likely target. In any event, the spread of occupations is encouraging in the abstract, whatever fault might be found in particular cases. It’s been long overdue for people to assert that the market was made for man, not man for the market. They might also remind hostile observers that civilization itself is an “entitlement” claim.
Anyway, on to movies. I finally broke down and got a DVR last week, but only because a power surge finally fried my old cable box. Among other things I’ve recorded and watched are Stuart Rosenberg’s WUSA, a prescient political film from 1970 that may be more relevant now than Ides of March, Nicholas Ray’s Born to Be Bad, a well-acted melodrama but really no more than that, Howard Hawks’s The Dawn Patrol (aka “Flight Commander”), which has to be an important film in the development of his characteristic attitude toward “professionalism,” and Samuel Fuller’s feature-length episode of the Virginian TV series, “It Tolls For Thee.” On DVD, I saw Fassbinder’s Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant, which does drag but is still an interesting experiment in reimagining the glamour of Hollywood melodrama in a single-set story, thanks largely to cinematography and costume design. Also Kosaku Yamashita’s Red Peony Gambler, a colorful Meiji-era Yakuza story with a fighting female hero that tends more to melodrama than mayhem before the obligatory climactic fight. And J. Piquer Simon’s Extraterrestrial Visitors, an uneasy blend of cute E.T. knockoff and wilderness horror film. With a DVR I might be biting off more than I can chew — that queue fills up fast — but time will tell how it effects my viewing habits. Enjoy the week, everyone!
Trust me, Cuomo is more then sufficient a target:
http://socialistworker.org/2011/10/10/ny-workers-reject-givebacks
Samuel—
I will defer to the insights and potical positions of Jamie and others here, as I have really done my homework to say anything beyond stock responses. But I know of your own pre-eminence, as you once had (still do?) a blog on politics. Most interesting assertions you make here.
That is some diverse round-up there! Wow. Sorry to hear that your cable box got friend with that power surge, but I’m sure you were figuring on acquiring that DVR soon. Allan may have seen the Rosenberg film (or maybe Jamie?) but I have not. I saw BORN TO BE BAD at the Robert Ryan Festival recently, and agree with you that it’s well acted, but little more than that. It’s probably my least favorite Ray film. I’ve seen episodes of “The Virginian” but can’t say if I’ve seen that one directed by Fuller. I never knew he helmed one! Nice framing there of Fassbinder’s PETRA VON KANT, a film I greatly admire. Completely agreed on DAWN PATROL, but I haven’t seen the Yamashita or EXTRATERRESTRIAL VISITORS, but am intrigued by what you say here.
Have a great week my friend. As always many thanks!
Sam,
Thank you for including me here. I’ve already clicked on a few of the links to read later. Today I (finally) put up a new piece on my blog on MELANCHOLIA (*****). Good to see a healthy witd gathering. WEEKEND is one of my least favourite Godard films but, as always, there are excellent moments.
This week I saw
As Tears Go By ****
Transformers 2 *
I also saw temperatures fall, the Eurozone struggling to right itself and my interest in Transformers 3 wane.
Stephen–
I just secured a screener of MELANCHOLIA. I am not sure if I’ll be able to see it tomorrow, but we’ll see. I know you are one who rarely gives ***** reviews out, so that fact alone increses the intrigue. I hadn’t remembered you liking WEEKEND less, but fair enough what you say there. I agree with the low rating for TRANSFORMERS and am only a bit less on AS TEARS GO BY. Great about the temperatures, good to see the Eurozone rebounding to right themselves, and best news of all your interest in TRANSFORMERS 3 waning! Ha!
Thanks as alway sStephen, for the great wrap. I’ll defiting be over to CHECKING ON MY SAUSAGES to see that MELANCHOLIA essay! Thanks as always my very good friend!
Sam –
I will be checking out Bob’s post on the New York Film Festival shortly. Here in Chicago, our annual international film festival is well underway, and I’m hoping to get to some of the screenings over the next week. I returned home on Friday from my extended business tripp to find that the leaves had turned in my absence, and the weather had warmed into glorious, sunny Indian summer. It was just too beautiful this weekend to spend anytime indoors, so in lieu of movie-watching, we spent our time wandering through the farmer’s market, taking long walks, and photographing some of the most gorgeously colored trees in our neighborhood. I was cheered to see that MELANCHOLIA is now available OnDemand, so I’ll be checking it out in the coming week. Also looking forward to IDES OF MARCH, MONEYBALL and a few other titles that I still need to catch up on.
Have a great week!
Pat—
I do hope you get into some screenings at the CIFF, which I know always runs concurrent with the NYFF and offers some of the same centerpiece films, like the new one from Cronenberg and Von Trier’s MELANCHOLIA among others. Of course Marilyn has been doing her thing there and reporting back to FoF. With gorgeous fall weather like that I can’t say I blame you both for taking full advantages of all the related pleasures. We’ve had nice weather here too, and the leaves are just now starting to change, although almost with resistence. I know you had quite a business trip there, but were back and forth on the site. I see your MARY POPPINS thread refuses to diw, with yet another insightful comment today from our good friend in Minny, Pierre de Plume. We should be able to compare notes on MELANCHOLIA this week, as I have secured a screener, but haven’t yet gotten to it. Hope you get to those fine multiplex titles you mention too.
Have a great week my very good friend!
I just returned from downtown Manhattan, where I spent 3.5 hours in the park with the OSW crowd, wandering around, talking to people, even ended up winding my way through the crowd with another visitor, transporting two 12 X 4 pieces of plywood from one end if the park to another.
Last night, after putting up those comments, I immediately regretted their tone and tenor. Having only just heard of the movement, and not knowing too much about them or having had time to process my own conflicting instincts, observations, and thoughts about them, I was in no position to comment upon them. I even considered deleting those remarks, and even emailed Bob to see if I could take his down (since it didn’t make sense to remove one half of the conversation) as well, but he had gone to bed so I let them stand.
I’ve heard that I got a fair amount of flak for them (I haven’t read the responses) and that’s fair.
The funny thing is, after experiencing OSW first-hand I don’t think some of my speculatory objections were off-base. The crowd is very much “usual suspect” in terms of who you would expect to show up for a protest, a disappointment for anyone hoping for a “We’re Mad as Hell and We’re Just Not Going to Take It Any More” populist Middle American uprising. The message is vague and general – some occupiers even took this as a point of pride, with one Trotskyist proclaiming that the movement was not strictly speaking a “political” movement, suggesting it was countercultural instead, foreswearing any interest in formal ‘demands” or organizational structure. And the grasp of policy and analysis did seem to be weak, with the focus more on fostering an atmosphere and expressing a general feeling.
But the funny thing about that funny thing is that I don’t think it matters that much. Or rather it does matter, but not as much as what the movement gets right. My emphasis was all wrong – there may be flaws or shortcomings to OSW, but they pale in comparison to the importance of OSW existing AT ALL. It’s silly to pine after the movement we could have – theoretically – when for 2 years we’ve had virtually nothing, certainly not on the scale of attention or enthusiasm of these folks. It’s looking a gift horse in the mouth.
I do worry somewhat about where the movement will take this energy, and I do think at some point, in some way, they need to get “political”. I don’t believe, unlike the Trotskyite I spoke to, that simply existing and welcoming like-minded people is going to be enough. But the fact that there’s even a movement for me to be concerned about in the first place is the vital fact, and now is not the time for cynicism or pessimism. This group has something really important – passion. That can’t be underrated in an apathetic, disillusioned time.
Other things I really liked: the democratic air about the park. Though it can be disconcerting that there are no leaders, it’s also completely refreshing. There were some polished signs obviously prepared in some professional capacity, but these were sort of like thin cords attempting to bind down a whale – the thing had a complete life of its own, unfolding in the moment. Also, I quite liked those signs – indeed, one of my concerns proved to be at least somewhat unfounded; yes, there were a few pet causes and a diversity of emphases on display but for the most part the various expressions were focused and inclusive: signs about cops being “part of the 99%”, lots of points addressing the middle class, which leads me to another thing I like:
As eccentric and offbeat as it is in certain aspects, this is NOT a movement focused on niche-ification or marginalization, but one that claims for itself a broadbased mantle and the position of majority – hence the “99%”. There was one sour note, a girl shouting out that she was convening a “People of Color inclusion” caucus of some sort (earlier, she had barged at somebody’s sign and scolded them from a PC perspective than stormed off before any conversation could develop) but is the only instance I noticed among the hundreds of people there of the more stereotypical identity group approach to the left – far more pervasive, was the sense of all-inclusive community. Which brings me to…
Attitude. That same example I mentioned was ALSO the only example the screechy-shout-down approach to activism I learned to hate in college. And this is perhaps the most important point for me personally, and why I left with such a positive feeling. Instead there was open, freewheeling discussion – often passionate and heated but also respectful and full of genuine curiosity and engagement (one big crowd gathered around a guy arguing that you have to “suck it up” and take backbreaking work, but when a “peacekeeper” split up the discussion, saying it was too loud for the 10pm curfew, everyone expressed disappointment and said it was a really great conversation and the two discussers made their way out of the park to continue it on the sidewalk).
These were among the friendliest, most polite and engaging people I’ve ever met. Most of them seem to view their purpose not as reacting to the institutions around them but rather to create their own little society in the park and let others react to them. There was an air of idealistic enthusiasm everywhere, very little bitterness or frustration, but rather a contagious feeling of defiant optimism. Yes, this is one of my causes of worry but it’s also one of the things I like most about the event.
I know Bob has mused about taking a camera down there soon, and I hope he does & have told him I very much want to edit the footage. Maybe we can put something up on the site soon – a ground-level look at what’s going on for those who can’t be there in person to see for themselves. Keep a fire lit under our asses, guys, and hopefully we’ll proceed with it.
Where does it go from here? I don’t know, but I have to admit that “here” is more than expected just a few days ago, and that’s a hell of a start.
Oh, and this is no small matter, they’re damn good dancers too.
“These were among the friendliest, most polite and engaging people I’ve ever met. Most of them seem to view their purpose not as reacting to the institutions around them but rather to create their own little society in the park and let others react to them. There was an air of idealistic enthusiasm everywhere, very little bitterness or frustration, but rather a contagious feeling of defiant optimism. Yes, this is one of my causes of worry but it’s also one of the things I like most about the event.”
Well Joel, when I saw them marching after I had dropped you off, I knew they were heading your way. What you say in the segment I copied above is perhaps the most vital point you make in this incredible reaction to the protest. Without bitterness or frustration the rally would of course reap some constructive benefits.
Where do they go indeed now?
And good point too about the dancers! Ha!
Thanks a lot Sam for the kind mention.
The musical countdown at WitD is indeed going really well, and fast approaching the much-awaited last leg. Meanwhile, I’ve been following Joel Bocko’s terrific “32 Days of Movies” countdown. The video compilations he’s been posting at his The Screening Room are really top-notch stuff.
Here’s what I managed to watch in the meantime –
– Bogdanovich’s elegiac tribute to “the past”, The Last Picture Show, which I know ranks as one of your all-time favourite movies;
– Sidney Pollack’s fast-paced paranoid thriller, Three Days of the Condor – an interesting thriller but with its share of plot-holes;
– the brilliant existentialist pool-house drama, The Hustler, featuring a splendid turn by Newman;
– Scorsese’s flamboyant pseudo-sequel to The Hustler, The Colour of Money, which too featured a fine turn by Newman;
– Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s elegant & affecting family-drama, Tokyo Sonata;
– an Indian movie in the Tamil language (spoken in one of the southern-most states in India), called Roja, directed by Mani Ratnam – a love story based in the terrorism-afflicted state of Kashmir.
By the way, we’ve just now had a wonderful & enriching session by Professor Ashwath Damodaran, a renowned voice in the world of Finance and a prof at the Stern School of Business, New York University.
Shubhajit—
Yes both the musical countdown and Joel’s clip displays are moving forward wonderfully. We are indeed two-thirds of the way through the musicals, with the really great stuff ahead. But all the writers have been amazing.
Well, you did indeed pen a superlative capsule review on THE LAST PICTURE SHOW, that I was most appreciative for. I agree with you on CONDOR, HUSTLER and THE COLOR OF MONEY and also loved TOKYO SONATA, espeically that finally scene with Debussy’s “Clair de Lune.” I don’t know of “Roja” but applaud you for getting that great session with Ashwath Damodaran from NYU!!!
Have a great week my friend, and thanks as always!
Thanks so much for the kind words, Shubhajit! I’ve been enjoying your comments a great deal on the site.
Considering the reputation of those two Japanese classics, and the opinions of Allan and Tony, your report raises eyebrows Sam. Still, great that you were treated to such beautiful prints.
I plan to see The Ides of March this week.
R.I.P. 2011 New York Yankees
trust me his glowing review of 50/50 raised more. (lol)
Jamie—
Good one!!!!
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!
Frank—
I really did think I’d be waxing lyrical on Monday morning, but I just couldn’t get into either of these films for reasons I still haven’t completely firmed up. However as you note both Allan and Tony were fecund in their praise!
I think you’ll like THE IDES OF MARCH well enough.
The Yankees are gone. The Phillies are gone. The Red Sox and Tampa are gone. Nobody would have believed it.
Thanks as always my excellent friend.
Slightly late here with a comment Sam, but have been seeing films at a somewhat steady rate these last two weeks. What I have watched recently that I can remember…
Contagion **
Take Shelter ***1/2
The Mill And The Cross ***1/2
Week-End ***
The Illusionist (animation) ****
Valhalla Rising ***
Dinner For Schmucks **
Had a great afternoon yesterday with everyone. I will probably watch Melancholia tonight or tomorrow. Will be purchasing The Tree Of Life later today on DVD/Blu Ray combo pack, as soon as I get a chance. I plan on making those the next two films I see. Hopefully I can watch them on consecutive days if I have the appropriate time. I am fascinated by the perceived similarities the two movies share with each other and bloggers have mentioned. I’ve already spoken about some of the pictures above with you, but will say that The Illusionist had a powerful last 15-20 minutes that made it superior to The Triplets Of Belleville for me. Dinner For Schmucks I caught on HBO, and I’m being generous with two stars. Godard’s Week-End has some moments of brilliance that were rather rewarding on the big screen. Overall though, I found it pretentious and erratic at times. I still can’t shake the fact that the political diatribe between the two sandwich eating sanitation workers (which has to be the most uncinematic segment of screen time ever) would of been better served, with a much more clever directorial integration method for the film. Valhalla Rising (which I had seen before) confirms with my second viewing, that it is nowhere near as successful as Drive. Have a great week Sam!!
Maurizio—
I bet by now you have secured that combo pack DVD for “The Tree of Life.” I didn’t get mine yet, but I will probably do so tomorrow. Yes, Lucille and I enjoyed teh get-together immensely. After we dropped you guys off down by the World Trade Center site, we noticed a massive demonstration–people holding signs in protest. I’m sure you guys ran into that within minutes after you left the car. Joel’s massive comment above deals with it directly, and while I am not informed enough to take a position, I am fascinated with Joel’s eloquence in an area he is obviously most gifted at assessing.
I know you have been seeing quite a few films as of late, and looks like a most interesting batch here!
I know WEEKEND has lost it’s luster for you, (that sandwich eating scene was a hoot, and yes, there were pretentious segments there in my view as well) and you’ve already discussed your positions on THE MILL AND THE CROSS and TAKE SHELTER, which you generally liked. I liked TRIPLETS better than THE ILLUSIONIST, but what you say about the final reel can’t be argued. I haven’t seen SCHMUCKS and agree with you on VALHALLA RISING. Wow, that’s atough rating there on CONTAGION, a film I liked better, but won’t be mentioning at year’s end.
Thanks again my excellent friend for everything!! Have a great week!!!
Thanks very much for the plug, Sam! The New York Film Festival does sound as if it has a wonderful range of offerings – my mother and brother always go to loads of films at the London Film Festival, but I haven’t made it there as yet due to work etc. Anyway, at home this week I saw Jacques Demy’s ‘Lola’, which is so great – I was surprised to find that it features the character Roland who later turns up in ‘The Umbrellas of Cherbourg’, as I don’t think I’ve often come across characters reappearing in different films in this way unless they are billed as sequels. I’ve liked all the three Demy films I’ve seen so far and am wondering if you would recommend anything else by him, or any other French directors who have any similarities to him? I have access to a French movie channel on cable at the moment (with subtitles!), so am trying to watch a few of the films they are showing.
I also watched the Cary Grant movie ‘Mr Blandings Builds His Dream House’ after being tempted by R.D. Finch’s review – I enjoyed it a lot although I think I might prefer Grant in more serious roles like Notorious and ‘Only Angels Have Wings’. Also saw ‘Flying Down to Rio’ on TV, as the BBC seems to be repeating all the Astaire and Rogers films at the moment – I love it, even if the so-called main characters are a bit boring and I’m just waiting for them to get out of the way of Fred and Ginger.
Judy—
The New York Film Festival is quite an event, but it’s always difficult getting to some of the centerpieces, and the cost is hefty. I limited myself to some of the Japanese films in the Nikkatsu Festival, but my colleague Bob Clark saw some of the biggies including MELANCHOLIA and the BEN-HUR restoration. I’m sure the London Festival is just as formidable.
Yes I agree LOLA is a very great film as is of course THE UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG! Another recurring character would be Antoine Doniel played by Jean-Pierre Leaud in a group of Francois Truffaut films. I also recomment Demy’s popular 1970 musical film DONKEY SKIN with Catherine Deneuve and Jean Marais, with a lovely score by Michel Legrand,. and LA BAIE DES ANGES, a 1962 film about gambling, which I believe was the director’s second feature.
I enjoyed MR. BLANDINGS too and also loved R.D.’s review of it at THE MOVIE PROJECTOR, but I fully understand what you say about preferring Grant in the more serious roles. I do like him in just about anything, and in NOTORIOUS and ONLY ANGELS HAVE WINGS he is fantastic. Yes, I agree that everyone does need to get out of the way of Fred and Ginger in RIO!!! Ha!
Have a great week my terrific friend, and thanks for all you have done, and for your timely concern and great wreiting and enthusiasm.
Thanks very much for the Demy suggestions, Sam, I will watch out for those!
Hello Sam and everyone! It’s been quite a week, full of work and some fun (at times), and you had quite a week yourself! On the movies you saw, I’m waiting for Idus of March, sounds interesting. Again, thanks for being there at the horror month at my blog, as well as promoting it right here in the wonderful blogroll that every week graces your diary.
In my week I had classes and works to deliver, as well as some shooting and editing to do. All seems blurry as I’m really really tired due to the amount of work that I had last week. I remember doing a work on a movie, filming a scene and then editing it. I actually remember quite a lot, but I’m tired to recopile every little event and put it on the screen, so pardon me for this.
My week, movie wise:
– Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948, Charles Barton) **** Funny movie, reviewed at my month of terror at my blog.
– Contagion (2011, Steven Soderbergh) ****1/2 The tension and information and framing is incredible in this one, the scope and direction of the different actors, as well as a distinct approach to the material that feels real, almost neorrealistic in the sense of how it follows its characters, and at the same time is a completely modern film that tries to shows us everything, as the modern times tries to do.
– Faces in the Crowd (2011, Julien Magnat) **** Giallesque (kinda direct to dvd) film that manages to be extremely interesting in the portrayal of a social, mental and physical sickness, as well as deliver a good acting turn from the always beautiful Mila Jovovich. It plays with some cliches regarding serial killers, but in this one you can see they are given a turn, so you can enjoy them as they play.
– Film Socialism (2010, Jean-Luc Godard) ****1/2 Yeah, I like this movie a lot, and I rewatched it recently to do a presentation on it, which was pretty much flawless in the sense that the teacher likes the film as well, and he helped me in ways I could see the film in more ways than before. This still manages to be distant, yet at the same time informative and highly personal. It’s incredible how can you see someone’s mind on film, and that’s incredible.
– Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman (1943, Roy William Neill) *** Two movies in one, one better than the other. In my horror madness at the blog was reviewed.
– The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942, Erle C. Kenton) *** Such a dissapointment compared to the earlier instalments. Review at my blog.
– House of Dracula (1945, Erle C. Kenton) **1/2 I hope the lowest Universal can go. Review at my blog, due to horror madness.
– House of Frankenstein (1944, Erle C. Kenton) ***1/2 Comic book fun, even if disjointed, really funny and amazing. Review at my blog, for horror madness.
– I Walked with a Zombie (1943, Jacques Tourneur) **** Atmospheric and informative (I Guess?) on the voodoo culture, even if the title is misleading on what actually happens (she does walk with a zombie, but I was expecting for a native zombie). Cinematography and the low budget come together here perfectly, even if the thrills are actually scarce.
– Lady Grey London (2011, John Cameron Mitchell) ***1/2 Good commercial/short film with great visuals, but a lacking story, more like a videoclip in some parts, but still worth a watch.
– The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (1949, Clyde Geronimi, Jack Kinney) **** Genius short animated film. Reviewed at my blog for the horror madness.
– Snowballs (2011, Harmony Korine) **** Interesting, creepy and disturbing short film/commercial (this thing is catching on) that manages to have some kind of back story and creepy/astounding imagery.
– Son of Frankenstein (1939, Rowland V. Lee) **** Really decent and better than expected sequel. Reviewed at my blog for the horror thingie.
That’s all, have a good week everyone!
So sorry for the VERY late response to your spectacular comment Jaime. The musical countdown and movie going has forced me as of late to piecemeal the way I approach the diary. But this won’t be for much longer. Hope you get a chance at IDES OF MARCH. It’s definitely worth a look. I bet you are really excited about Almodovar’s new film! I’ll be seeing that tomorrow night with Lucille.
I see it was business as usual this week at achool, though you at least made some inroads with the film.
You liked FILM SOCIALISM that much, eh? Wow. It has been divisive for sure, but it has it’s fans, and you do a great job defending it. I am no fan of Harmony Korine, but let’s see how SNOWBALLS turns out. I aslo look forward to the John Cameron Mitchell. I am a huge admirer of I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE, and of the Frankenstein films, of which SON is a terrific sequel. Have seen several of your stellar capsules at EXODUS 8:2, including ABBOT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN, which you rightly elevate. FACES IN THE CROWD sounds most interesting, and intrigued at your great enthusiasm for CONTAGION, which I saw and liked.
I thank you for your ceaseless enthusiasm, patience and peerless energy my very great friend! Tremendous movie-viewing week for you too!
Thank you for the mention, Sam.
The comments this week is quite an interesting read, with the discussions and report about OWS by MovieMan and others. Especially the relation to mainstream media and what is actually happening. We have also large grassroots street movements almost everyday in Japan. They are out on the streets to express their concern and anger about nuclear power. On 919, 60,000 people marched through the street of Tokyo. However, there was only few seconds of coverage on TV. I heard they had much more detailed coverages for this Tokyo demonstration in US and Germany.
Speaking of Occupy Streets, I put up another post at my site. It’s about two Japanese documentary films released in 2010. These are about Iwai-shima, a small island in Japan and its people have been fighting against nuclear power plant plan for almost three decades. Yes, this is their 28th year. They are doing street demonstration every week. They did their 1100th street demonstration this summer. 1100TH DEMONSTRATION. Yeah, they must be die-hard left-wing hippie types, you think…. No. They are mostly old ladies in their seventies and eighties. These are chronicle of the most caring, wise and independent people I have ever seen and the most moving films I have ever seen for many years.
MI
MI:
Thanks for the fabulous comment here. I can’t say I am at all surprised at the protests in your country in view of the serious threats they’ve faced over the past few years. I didn’t see the coverage here, but i honestly don’t get teh time to look at many television reports. That’s a pretty sizable turnout!
I will soon be checking out your post on the two new documentaries at VERMILION AND ONE NIGHTS. Your affectionate regard shines through in this capsule description, and I urge others to head over too:
http://vermillionandonenights.blogspot.com/2011/10/buzz-of-honeybee-and-island-of-holy.html
Thanks again my great friend!
Just a quick note to say that the Movie Timeline has been seriously updated and now includes all TV milestones, even those that went on for more than one series/season. But it puts it all in better perspective. One day I’ll change the title to a better Screen Timeline.