Simone Signoret and Serge Reggiani in Becker’s masterpiece Casque d’or
by Sam Juliano
The past week has been occupied with preparations for our mini-trip this coming week to Chicago and Cleveland. In fact by the time most people read this post Lucille and I will be on Route 80 heading west in our Honda Odyssey, with expectations we’ll be at our ‘south loop hotel’ in the Windy City in the neighborhood of around 12 noon to 1:00 P.M. today. We’ll be cramming in some sightseeing, an expected screening at the Music Box Theatre, where the noir festival is running, and some social time with cherished blogging friends, with whom we will be meeting for the first time. We’ll be staying in Chicago only until early Wednesday morning, at which point we will embark on the six-hour drive to Cleveland, where the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame awaits for what is anticipated will be a marathon visit. Hopefully we’ll get to see a bit of the city too before retiring to a hotel and the planned departure for New Jersey on Thursday morning that will probably get us home around supper time if everything pans out. It’s a short trip for sure, but it will give us a taste of places we haven’t been to.
Speaking of Chicago, Lucille and I and the family spent a marvelous Thursday evening with our good friend and blogging associate Pat Perry, who spent a few days in the Big Apple for a short vacation. We took a driving tour of lower Manhattan, that included a look at the Film Forum lobby, a close-up of the new World Trade Center tower and the shorter buildings around it, and some shopping at the spacious J & R Music World, one of the last DVD and CD superstores left in the country. As we learned, that’s not a place to enter armed with a credit card! Ha! And we had a wonderful talk later on at The Dish. Pat’s a lovely lady.
The comedy countdown now enters its third week. The comment threads have been super-busy, and the writers have performed at the top of their game. For the first four days of this week starting with today, I won’t be regularly following the activity as I won’t be near a PC most of time. But we do have a laptop and I’ll check in at least a few times a day at the hotel facilities. The schedule is so tight that I’m figuring my sessions won’t be all that long. But I’ll play it by ear.
The ‘French Old Wave Festival’ launched on Friday, and Lucille and I watch the opening film and then two more on Saturday evening. In addition I attended two more on Sunday, which are extremely rare and unavailable on DVD. In addition we took the boys to same Film Forum on Thursday night to watch a restored print of Paul Verhoeven’s Total Recall.
We saw:
Total Recall (1990) **** (Thursday night) Film Forum
Casque d’Or (1952) ***** (Friday night) French Old Wave at Film Forum
Le Jour Se Leve (1939) ***** (Saturday night) French Old Wave at Film Forum
Justin De Marseille (1935) **** (Saturday night) French Old Wave at Film Forum
The Baker’s Wife (1938) **** 1/2 (Sunday afternoon) French Old Wave at Film Forum
The Lovers of Verona (1949) **** (Sunday night) French Old Wave at Film Forum
I’ll have more to say about the viewings on a future Diary, but for now with all the trip preparation I only have time to provide the star ratings. Of the five French films, the only two I had never seen until now are THE LOVERS OF VERONA (Cayette) and JUSTIN DE MARSEILLE (Tourneur).
The Lovers of Verona, Serge Reggiani with Anouk Aimée
Raimu and Ginette Leclerc in La Femme du Boulanger
I also saw the Hong Kong drama A SIMPLE LIFE on an Asian blu-ray and thought it solid, if unspectacular. Other than this, I speant a day watching the first season of BREAKING BAD and found it to be a riveting, cinematic, engrossing series, and look forward to returning to it soon after my return from Chicago when I will be alternating seasons with THE WIRE, whose second season I am midway though. Again I’ll have more to say in the near future. Allan and Peter Lenihan are huge fans of A SIMPLE LIFE while Dennis and Allan have been haranguing me to watch the two series, both justifiably I may add.
I didn’t have much time to update links this week because of the trip preparation. But many blogs actually didn’t change posts this week anyway:
Judy Geater’s showcases a fantastic review of the Gene Kelly-Judy Garland wartime starrer “For Me and My Gal” from 1942 at Movie Classics: http://movieclassics.wordpress.com/2012/08/07/for-me-and-my-gal-busby-berkeley-1942/
It’s celebration time at Speaking From The Heart as Laurie Buchanan’s new book is nearing publication: http://holessence.wordpress.com/2012/08/07/discovering-the-seven-selves/
At FilmsNoir.net Tony d’Ambra has penned a fabulous review of Robert Siodmak’s under-appreciated 1944 “Christmas Holiday” recently showed at the Film Forum: http://filmsnoir.net/film_noir/christmas-holiday-1944-never-mind-the-melodrama.html
Jon Warner has again written an extraordinary review, this time on Terrence Davies’ ravishing “The Deep Blue Sea” with Rachel Weisz at Films Worth Watching: http://filmsworthwatching.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-deep-blue-sea-2011-directed-by.html
John Greco has written a terrific piece on the little-seen Clarence Brown feature from 1936 “Wife versus Secretary” at Twenty Four Frames: http://twentyfourframes.wordpress.com/2012/08/10/wife-versus-secretary-1936-clarence-brown/
R.D. Finch has once again offered moviegoers a cogent analysis of a little-seen minor gem at The Movie Projector. This week it’s Akexander Korda’s 1945 “Vacation From Marriage” with Robert Donat and Deborah Kerr: http://themovieprojector.blogspot.com/2012/08/vacation-from-marriage-1945.html
Samuel Wilson has penned a fascinating piece on the Phillipino film “Insiang”, a past competitor at the Cannes Film Festival: http://mondo70.blogspot.com/2012/08/insiang-1976.html
David Schleicher has posted a splendid new piece at The Schleicher Spin, one that offers telling comparisonson between Andrey Zvyaginstev’s “Elena” and William Friedkin’s “Killer Joe”: http://theschleicherspin.com/2012/08/10/white-trash-melodrama-in-elena-and-killer-joe/
At Exodus 8:2 Jaimie Grijalba continues with his “100 Days of Terror” with recent reviews of the 1934 “The Black Cat,” another Poe Corman, and a film by the great Japanese experimental director Sion Sono, the last of which is featured here: http://exodus8-2.blogspot.com/2012/08/100-dias-de-terror-n20-tsumetai.html
At the Creativepotager’s blogsite “The Artist Studio Floor Show” again brings the beauty of Terrill Welch’s paintings in glorious focus: http://creativepotager.wordpress.com/2012/08/11/3890/
Roderick Heath has written another one of his remarkable massive pieces on “The Dark Night Rises” at Ferdy-on-Films: http://www.ferdyonfilms.com/2012/the-dark-knight-rises-2012/15505/
At Darkness Into Light Dee Dee is featuring the work of the esteemed writer Andrew Katsis, who takes a penetrating look at the 1940 Hawks screwball classic “This Girl Friday”: http://noirishcity.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-word-according-to-my-writer-andrew.html#.UB8tyU2PXW4
In Tokyo, the exceedingly talented ‘Murderous Ink’ turns his scrutinizing focus on a rarely-seen Japanese classic “Beni Imada Kiezu” at Vermillion and One Nights: http://themovieprojector.blogspot.com/2012/08/vacation-from-marriage-1945.html
Master of the capsule Shubhajit Lahiri again works his magic at Cinemascope with a superlative piece on the great Polish director Andrzej Wajda’s “A Generation” at Cinemascope: http://cliched-monologues.blogspot.com/2012/08/a-generation-1955.html
Brandie Ashe happily announces a “Singin in the Rain” giveaway at True Classics: http://trueclassics.net/2012/08/10/singin-again-plus-a-giveaway/
Joel Bocko has a lovely presentation up at The Dancing Image entitled ‘Art on the March…a visual mixtape”: http://thedancingimage.blogspot.com/2012/07/arton-march-visual-mixtape.html
Craig Kennedy features the actress Jane Wyatt in his ‘birthday series’ at Living in Cinema in her beloved role as Spock’s mother Amanda in “The Long Voyage Home”: http://livingincinema.com/2012/08/12/star-trek-iv-the-voyage-home-1986-jane-wyatts-100th-birthday/
Food for thought on the nature of friendship by Mark Twain leads up at the always creative Coffee Messiah’s blog: http://coffeemessiah.blogspot.com/2012/08/click-to-enlarge-keep-away-from-those.html
Ed Howard has penned a fantastic piece on Jean Rollins’s “Requiem For A Vampire” at Only The Cinema: http://seul-le-cinema.blogspot.com/2012/08/requiem-for-vampire.html
Terrill Welch talks about the significance of blog writing and reading at the Creativepotager’s blog, where she again features another magnificent painting she completed: http://creativepotager.wordpress.com/2012/07/18/does-anyone-read-blogs-and-does-it-matter-that-you-write/
Sachin Gandhi offers up a terrific review of James Sallis’s “Driven” (the sequel to “Drive”) at Scribbles and Ramblings: http://likhna.blogspot.com/2012/08/driven.html
Just Another Film Buff offers up a lovely “remembrance” via his work of recently deceased famed filmmaker Chris Marker at The Seventh Art:http://theseventhart.info/2012/08/12/remembrance-of-things-to-come/
Roderick Heath has posted a terrific new review on “Chronicle” at This Island Rod: http://thisislandrod.blogspot.com/2012/07/chronicle-2012.html
At Patricia’s Wisdom, our very good friend has penned a superb book review on “The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Frye”: http://patriciaswisdom.com/2012/07/the-unlikely-pilgrimage-of-harold-fry-rachel-joyce/
J. D. LaFrance offers an expanded version of his superlative comedy countdown “Slap Shot” review at Radiator Heaven: http://rheaven.blogspot.com/2012/08/slap-shot.html
The esteemed Film Doctor takes a scholarly look at the new “Total Recall” movie: http://filmdr.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-fall-enslaves-us-all-film-doctors.html
Adam Zanzie has posted a terrific “alternative Sight and Sound list at Icebox Movies: http://www.iceboxmovies.blogspot.com/2012/08/my-alternative-sight-sound-list.html
Jason Marshall has continued his superb coverage of 1942 at Movies Over Matter with a wonderful post on his Best Actor choice for that year: Chishu Ryu: http://moviesovermatter.com/2012/08/09/chishu-ryu-in-there-was-a-father-best-actor-of-1942/
Peter Lenihan has posted an arresting screen cap display of Murnau’s “Phantom” at The Long Voyage Home: http://thelongvoyagehome.blogspot.com/
At Doodad Kind of Town Pat Perry’s splendid contribution to the For the Love of Film Preservation blogothon is on Hitch’s “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”:http://doodadkindoftown.blogspot.com/2012/05/hitch-does-rom-com-for-love-of-film.html
At The Blue Vial Drew McIntosh leads up with “off the Wall” which brings “Silver Load” and the great John Alton into focus: http://thebluevial.blogspot.com/2012/06/off-wall.html
At The Last Lullaby, the ever delightful filmmaker Jeffrey Goodman takes a look at part sixteen of his long running quartet series: http://cahierspositif.blogspot.com/2012/04/favorite-four-part-sixteen.html
Stephen Russell-Gebbett at Checking on my Sausages again offers up a briiliantly creative feature, using the upcoming Olympics to survey films revolving around a number of sports covered in the games: http://checkingonmysausages.blogspot.com/2012/07/film-olympics-archery-to-judo.html
Tony Dayoub takes a look at the summer’s Barnes and Noble 50% off sale for Criterion collectots at Cinema Viewfinder: http://www.cinemaviewfinder.com/2012/07/criterion-summer.html
Greg Ferrara at Cinema Styles talks about the Colorado shootings in a moving feature: http://cinemastyles.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-dark-knight-shooting-in-colorado.html
Jeopardy Girl talks about social changes of movie watching in her latest posting at The Continuing Saga of Jeopardy Girl: http://jeopardygirl.wordpress.com/2012/07/06/social/
Hokahey takes a fascinating look at both “Total Recall” films at Little Worlds: http://hokahey-littleworlds.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-two-worlds-of-total-recall_5.html
Dave Van Poppel has a tremendous batch of short reviews up at Visions of Non Fiction on the Toronto Film Festival: http://visionsofnonfiction.blogspot.com
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Writers/Founders
Hi Sam! Glad you are in Chicago! We are here as well, but only for one night. We’re at my parents house and getting the girls situated here as my wife and I are heading north tomorrow to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in the UP of Michigan for some camping. I will really be out of the loop this week without any internet access at all. Hope the countdown continues the great writing and discussion. I will have to catch up when I return on Thursday.
Speaking of Chicago, I’m hoping you are able to enjoy a visit to the Music Box theatre….a place I have spent a lot of time at. In high school I spent my weekends taking the EL up to the Music Box to check out old films and such. When I was dating my wife I would take her there often. We went there to see showings of Doctor Zhivago and Play Time among other things. Great place hope you enjoy your vacation!
Jon—
I visited the Music Box last night to see the noir SHAKEDOWN as part of the Festival. I liked the film, but struggled hard to stay awake as I had been awake for something like 30 plus hours after the grueling car ride. I met the delightful Jamie Uhler, one of WitD’s cornerstones, and also sat with and delighted in post-film discussion with the esteemed and lovely Marilyn Ferdinand. I lost the key to my car and a subsequent search under the seats didn’t turn up anything, so I will return there later today. Of course Lucille had a second key, so we got back afterwards! Enjoyed seeing Wrigley Field and other movie theatre landmarks, with our tour guide Jamie Uhler in tow, and saw Chicago downtown. Will be having a pizza lunch with Mariilyn and Shane this afternoon, will see the lovely Laurie Buchanan and her husband Len in Crystal Lake after dinner, and then will be seeing Jamie again tonight. Some sightseeing will fall between of course. Tomorrow morning it’s one to Cleveland and the rock n Roll Hall of Fame. Thanks for all the wonderful remembrances at Music Box, and have a great week yourself my friend!
Have a great trip Sam! Can’t wait to see some pictures.
Thanks Frank! You will have a bunch!
Sam,
Enjoy the vacation, sounds like a good time. I have been following the THE FRENCH OLD WAVE series at the Film Forum and there are so many I have not seen I wish I could be there. Anyway, you and the family enjoy the vacation!
On my own film front i watched the following…
The Campaign (**1/2) – This Will Ferrell/Zack Galifianakis combo starts off as a sharp satire but quickly disintegrates into a state of silliness that is insulting to the public as voters and the political process in general. The film hints that only buffoons run for public office, men with no sense of public duty or virtue and in this course of action relieves the voters, and the audience, of any responsibility. Frank Capra is probably rolling over in his grave.
Hope Springs (***1/2) Middle age couple have lost the spark in their marriage. The film works as kind of an “Odd Couple” with Meryl Streep as the adventurous ‘Felix,’ willing to try a marriage consuler to save their marriage, to Tommy Lee Jones grumpy Oscar. And let’s fact it, who these days play grumpy better than Jones. Entertaining enough thanks to the two actors who are always a delight to watch.
The Disappearance of Alice Creed (****) Excellent little British hostage thriller with plenty and unsuspecting, tension, twist and turns from beginning to end. The film’s opening , a complete 10 minutes of silence, contains a cold efficiency setting the mood for the rest of the film. The three cast members are inspired and the musical score add to the creepy claustrophobic atmosphere. First time director J Blakeson is someone to watch for in the future.
Vivacious Lady (****) directed by George Stevens, the is the kind of romantic comedy that is smart and funny, in other words, the kind Hollywood does not or cannot make anymore. Ginger Rogers is a wonderful comedic actress and plays well off James Stewart.
Miss Pinkerton (**) A light disappointing early 1930’s mystery with only Joan Blondell’s performance rising above the material. Even her dull co-star George Brent can’t help. Directed by Lloyd Bacon.
Bachelor Mother (****) Ginger Rogers and David Niven make for a delightful team in this funny sophisticated comedy of errors written by Norman Krasna. Rogers is a department store clerk who is mistakenly thought to be the mother of a baby she found on the steps of an adoption agency. Rogers character comes across as independent, strong, feminine and sympathetic. I believe this is one of David Niven’s earliest attempts at sophisticated comedy which he would excel at in later years. Charles Coburn, is cast as Niven’s stuffy, bossy father the type of role he has mastered in film after film.
Stage Door (****) A witty fast talking comedy/drama set in a theatrical boarding house sparkles thanks to the source material, a play by Erna Ferber and George S. Kaufmann, enhanced for the screen by Morris Ryskind and Anthony Veiller and magnificent ensemble cast which includes Ginger Rogers, Katherine Hepburn, Lucille Ball, Eve Arden, Gail Patrick and Adolphe Menjou.
Vacation From Marriage (****) Drab, dull married English couple are separated due to WW 2 for three years and discover how much they resented their former life together after having made new friends and new experiences while separated. Finally, reunited, both believe the other is still the same dull, drab person. They soon discover that is not the case.
Kidnapped (***1/2) Enjoyable 1938 version of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic if not one that sticks to the original source material. Nicely atmospheric and entertaining.
Someone Stateside who has seen Alice Creed. Not a great film, but a very fine debut and Gemma Arterton gives it her all.
John—
If you happened to be backup north in your long frequented stomping grounds, be rest ssured you and Dorothy would be sitting with Lucille and I in our usual second row aisle seats! Or is that too close to the screen? Ha! We all had quite an unforgettable time out west and a report with photos will be posted on Monday morning. Thanks for the very kind words my friend! Isee you again had a remarkable week watching movies (your regular pace my friend is frankly incomparable) and always with all kinds of diversity. Lucille wants to see HOPE SPRINGS badly, and in fact she almost did last night with my daughter Jillian, but a mistake was made with the starting time. Nice to hear that the two great performances elevated the film! I will be sure to convey the assessment to Lucille. STAGE DOOR, BACHELOR MOTHER and KIDNAPPED are my favorites of the lot, and you’ve sized them up expertly. I saw R.D. Finch’s excellent review on VACATION FROM MARRIAGE andhave moved to order a copy through Warner Archives. Great to see both of you are in accord. Pretty much in agreement on THE CAMPAIGN and VIVACIOUS LADY. As always your stupendous, steadfast submission on this thread is the very foundation of it’s tenure! Have a great week!
BTW I will definitely move to watch ALICE CREED!
Awful news. The popular american director Tony Scott commited suicide this day leaving behind a wife and kids. He may not have been anyone’s favorite director, but there is no denying that his films always had a distinct feel to them, a visual style, sometimes interesting, sometimes not, but he was never set out to make the typical hollywood polished film.
May he rest in peace.
There’s actually a sizeable auteurist Tony Scott contingent in the States, and particularly in the last few years a lot of critics have gone out on a limb defending his work. I’m not as into him as they are, but am a huge, huge fan of Deja Vu.
The news that Scott was just diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer broke shortly after the suicide.
I believe those reports were later negated by the family. There’s still no word on the note he left at the office.
Aye Jaimie, it is all still inconclusive.
Have a great trip Schmuleeeee…..
So glad to see you getting into BREAKING BAD and THE WIRE. Two exceptional shows and easily the cream of the crop coming off of American TV in quite some time.
Thank you Dennis! Have a great time in the Windy City. Will continue with the shows and the French Festival when I return!
The hometown White Sox beat our beloved Yankees last night right under our noses!
Sam – You’re practically just around the corner. Whoohoo!
Ha Laurie! Closer even than that my friend! Can’t wait to you all. Many thanks as always!
Sam –
Thanks for the kind words – it was delightful to visit with you and your family. Safe travels and enjoy the trip!
While in NYC, I took in one film, Christophe Honore’s new musical melodram BELOVED. It was dopey and far too long, a disappointing follow-up to his sweet 2007 musical LOVE SONGS, although featuring a good number of the same actors. How I wish I had finished lunch just 20 minutes earlier – could have see COSMOPOLIS instead….
Pat–
The family had such a great time with you. My eldest daughter Melanie said afterwards: “Pat is really a nice lady!” We are here in your city and having a great time (even if the White Sox did beat our Yankees last night! Ha! Just kidding) and have some further site seeing planned for today as I explained to Jon above. Enjoyed the trip to the Music Box last night immensely! Like you I loved Honore’s LOVE SONGS and am disappointed but not surprised to hear the new film is a bust. I hope you are enjoyed your business trip and look forward to sharing notes with soon my friend! Many thanks as always!
I was sad to hear about Tony Scott’s passing this morning – and I mean for his family and children. I was shocked to learn that it was suicide. As Peter points out above, there actually is a decent contingent that hold Tony in high regard, and while I might not think as highly of him as some other diehards, I have also become a fan of his, particularly his work in the 2000s. I thought Unstoppable was about as good as a big budget action movie of that kind get. Deja Vu I thought was really good. And I absolutely loved Man on Fire. I know I’ll probably be in a minority here on that film, but I loved it. So, for all of these reasons, it was definitely sad to hear that news this morning.
Not a lot of movie watching for me last week. I had to go to a wedding in your neck of the woods (New Jersey) over the weekend. So I spent a long weekend doing some touristy stuff and various wedding activities.
Sounds like your trip will be fun, Sam. I am sure you will have a great time at the Rock Hall!
Dave–
As I’m sure you already know, Scott’s suicide was far far less startling and almost forgivable when you consider he was just diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. Short of this information the tragedy was shocking to many. I’ll admit I am not a fan of his work, though I think MAN ON FIRE would be the one I rate highest. But yes he has his fans and as Peter notes there has absolutely been a re-assessment. No matter how you look at it, this was a very sad event, and a major loss to the artistic community. So you were heading east and I went. Ha! Hope you had a great time at teh wedding and look forward to talking movies with you soon my friend! I’ll definitely have some pictures of the Hall, which we will be visiting tomorrow! Thanks so much as always!
Slow week here, Sam. The most recent reviews are for Alexei Bormatov’s Alien Girl, a Russian gangster movie with some noirish tropes and good visuals, and Tay Garnett’s Professional Soldier, with Victor McGlaglen as a one-man-army kidnapping and then rescuing young monarch Freddy Bartholomew. Next up is Matchless, a spy-comedy from Alberto Lattuada that may confirm the director of Mafioso as a one-hit wonder for global film buffs. Like many Bond parodies, it looks great but is utterly stupid. Also rewatched Sjostrom’s Scarlet Letter, which is almost more prequel than adaptation but a beautiful thing regardless; saw John Farrow’s California, a folkloric nation-building story with torrid Technicolor cinematography by Ray Rennehan, an infuriating choral score, and some nicely staged long takes from the director; Richard Wilson’s Al Capone, which takes curious liberties with the criminal’s career but looks great; and Andrej Wajda’s Everything For Sale, in which he takes on an almost Godardian subject without the theoretical creativity but still manages some impressively shot scenes.
Samuel–
Thanks as always for the fascinating round-up! Sorry for the late response, but after addressing some of the comments on the diary on Tuesday I did’n’t get a block of time until today after returning and recovering, even taking into account the trip to the Film Forum on Thursday night just two hours after we got in the door. Oddly enough I have not seen the first three films you report on here, but have the last four. And taking in seven films in one week is not slow, but for YOU, well I see where you are coming from! Ha! I regard Sjostrom’s THE SCARLET LETTER as a masterpiece and the best version ever of Hawthorne’s immortal American literary classic, but I see you are there too. I mostly like CALIFORNIA and appreciate the astute framing; agree that CAPONE is compromised but handsome, and see where you are coming frm with the Wajda, which I like a bit more.
Thanks again as always my friend, and have a great weekend!
Hope you have a wonderful trip, Sam – it certainly sounds as if it will be, and we will all be very interested to hear about it. I haven’t seen any movies over the past week, but will hope to do better this week!
Thanks so very much Judy, and cngratulations on that stupendous essay you penned on THE THIN MAN! Reading it was a high point during my limited PC time at the hotels. I will certainly have a full report posted for Monday. And as far as not seeing any movies, count yourself fully entitled to a break! Have a great weekend my friend!
Hello Sam and everyone!!!!!
Well, you must be in your trip/vacation so I’ll be short and sweet. Hope you have a great time there and spend a lot of time with your family and visiting new places! Have a great time.
As you know, I absolutely loved Total Recall, and I rate it ****1/2 because of how much funt and bold it is within its own realm of stories and science fiction.
Well, I had some work to do this week, but I also managed to go to the movies with my family, so good times.
My week movie wise:
– Agent Orange (2004, Tony Scott) **** Highly stylistic short silent film directed by the recently deceased british director. I watched this moments after I knew the sad news, and I found it to be a beauty to look at, a movie that really shows the beauty of some colours like orange, and also manages to tell a simple, yet romantic story. One to watch if you want to get into his later period experimental phase.
– The Avengers (2012, Joss Wheddon) ****1/2 I rewatched this film because I wanted to know if it would hold up now that I know the main plot points and the things that would happen, and yes, this one wins a lot via visual information, witty dialogue and good acting from all the performers. People usually dismiss the superhero genre, and sometimes it’s hard to come across really good films about them, but when a good director and screenwriter come across, you can make one hell of a visual show that will entertain everyone in the family, and this one is the case, the most accesible and fun superhero movie of the recent years.
– The Cabin in the Woods (2011, Drew Goddard) ****1/2 Also rewatched this one for the same reasons I rewatched The Avengers. From the same creative team (this one was written by Wheddon) this one comes out as a faithful homage to the horror film genre in general and of the 80’s kind of films in particular. One feels a world behind this film, a mythology, a construction that goes beyond what is being filmed, and that’s in the details, and I’m a sucker for details and fully developed fictional worlds.
– The Expendables (2010, Sylvester Stallone) **1/2 I watched this film because the second part came out in theaters and this was available… and I can’t believe how dissapointed I am. I mean, I’m not a full-on bullets and guts action film fan, but there is something that I can’t forgive that I actually got from other recent action film like Taken, fun. This was most of the time boring, and while there are some interesting scenes, this felt tired and built around the premise that they would have all these actors working together for the first time, and even with that, most of them are misused in a terrible way.
– No (2012, Pablo Larraín) **** Chilean film that played in Cannes and that finally made its rounds to chilean cinemas. This one was interesting in two ways: as a visual experiment and as an exercise in comedy based on facts and archive. This film tells the story of the publicist/creative that came up with the publicity for the election that would dethrone Pinochet from the presdential mandate in Chile, starring Gael García Bernal this film manages to bring many things to memory (even though all this happened two years before I was born), filmed in 4:3 aspect ratio, it uses archive film from the television campaign in an inventive way. Most of my problems were ideologic, but I had fun.
– North & South (2004, Brian Percival) **** I commented on Fish’s piece right after I watched this miniseries. Not my kind of thing, but I still quite liked it.
– The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975, Jim Sharman) ***** This has managed to become one of my new favorite films in pure sense of repetition and joy that I get out of singing along and how pumped I get as the film comes forward and advances as time goes by. It gets wilder and crazier and even better with each viewing. Great musical.
– Swamp Women (1956, Roger Corman) *1/2 I reviewed this one at my blog just now for the 100 Days of Horror.
– Terror! (2007, Ben Rivers) **** Experimental short film that plays around with the cliches and the tropes of the classic horror films from the 70’s and 80’s, the calling out of characters names in the dark, the tension, the music, the female performances, the screams, all in a way that constructs a new movie out of the excerpts of the other films. A genius work of editing.
That’s all Sam, have a safe trip! Have fun!
Ah, Jaimie, you say you will keep it “short and sweet” but you are a busy young man with a full agenda, especially on the movie scene. In any case I am always delighted to read your Diary report. I did indeed know you are a fan of Verhoeven’s TOTAL RECALL, and after that viewing last week in the Film Forum I’d definitely go with a solid 4.0 rating myself. It provides for quite a bit of camp, and it’s futuristic atmospherics and spellbinding Goldsmith score make for a great time. Great to hear you took a look at that Tony Scott experimental short, and thought that well of it. I have not seen it myself. My own rating for THE AVENGERS was two stars, so we areobviously on a different page, but regardless, the film has manyfans in thecritical ad audience ranks, and youare clearly with those who had a lot of fun. My own family did like it well enough too. Ironically, I liked the new Spiderman movie with Andrew Garfield, whil you did not. I guess we were closer on THE DARK NIGHT RISES, but overal I m not a fan of superher movies. I hold my tongue though, living in this house! As to THE CABIN IN THE WOODS I like it, if a bit less than you. In way most ingenius, and worthy of a favorable response. Iam not five-star enthusiastic about THE ROCKYHORROR PICTURE SHOW, but i’d certainly go four and concede it has attracted new gnerations of adherents, many of whom I have found in the cities doing the midnight circuit. Th best way to see it of ourse is with an interactive audience during the Halloween season. THE EXPENDABLES is certainly expendable (ha!) and though I appreciate and love much of Corman, I am no fan of SWAMP WOMEN. Must see NORTH AND SOUTH and certainly am intrigued by NO and THE TERROR! Hope you are enjoying your weekend my friend! Many thanks as always, and sorry fo the late response here.
Hi Sam,
What terrible news about Tony Scott, with an end to his life that I imagine will be difficult for those who loved him to accept. My thoughts are with them at this troubling time. It feels crass to now consider his body of work, but that is the only legacy which the vast majority of the public have to consider; for what they were, I was a fan of some of his films and not of others, however I consider him to be highly influential in developing the style of the modern day action blockbuster and I do not think he receives due credit (or blame, depending on your sensibilities) for this. From my perspective, the driving foce behind the prevalence of the swirling, unsteady camera was Scott.
Moving on to much more pleasant matters, I hope you and Lucille are enjoying (or enjoyed, depending upon when you read this) your travels, vacation and meetings with friends. How fortunate that you will hopefully get to stop off at the noir festival! Although you describe it as a short trip it sounds rather packed – likely you will need a holiday afterwards to recover!
The comedy countdown has continued to be really enjoyable with excellent essays and I chime in when I can. Beyond the gaps in my viewing history, lots of missing titles in my film collection are now being revealed. I also want to make mention that I continue to enjoy Allan’s countdown of his top 100 British television shows, which will be a very informative reference tool when it is complete. The Old Wave season sounds very valuable as it is showing some real classics of cinema; the Film Forum sounds like a very special cinema indeed. I have yet to see Verhoeven’s TOTAL RECALL, a cause of consternation with some people I know, but I am much more likely to watch this than I am to view the remake which is soon arriving on these shores. Based on your comments here thus far you seem to be much higher on BREAKING BAD than THE WIRE. BREAKING BAD is a show I have yet to watch but THE WIRE I consider to be a masterpiece; indeed I note it was included in more than one critic’s response to the recent Sight and Sound poll.
Due to having to attend to other matters in the half-week or thereabouts since I last posted in the diary, I have only seen a paltry two films in the intervening time: Woody Allen’s ALICE and Terence Fisher’s THE CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF.
This I believe will be my first entry in the diary’s threads where I’ve discussed Allen; this year I have been gradually filling the gaps in my viewing of his filmography, which has revealed some films that I believe have been underappreciated due to their reputation. Sadly ALICE is not such a film. An unsteady hodgepodge of comedy, fantasy and drama which left me feeling entirely unsympathetic to the central character and I believe this lack of emotional empathy resulted in the whole venture falling apart in this viewing. Perhaps the most memorable scene, which I suspect is etched inside me, is the first scene where Farrow’s character ‘seduces’ Mantegna’s; I have a feeling this was supposed to be funny with Farrow playing it for laughs but it is one of the more creepy scenes of its type that I have ever seen. After that Mantegna’s character should have made his excuses and left the country. Perhaps the most distasteful aspect of this film concerns the treatment of non-white characters; famous for creating whitewashed fictions, it is incredibly unfortunate that Allen stoops to a stereotype with his main non-white character, but I would argue this was necessary for the plot. There was one sole sequence in this film that I enjoyed – the sequence close to the end where events conspire so that all men are falling in love with Farrow. Put that scene at the start of the film and show me the fallout and you would have a film in which I would be much more interested.
I am on a brief diversion from Hammer’s Dracula and Frankenstein series of films whilst I finish the Universal DVD set so I caught THE CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF. This was a fascinating film in that half of its run time unexpectedly went to the set-up and once I stopped trying to work out how the timeline of events was possible and thus saved myself a headache I very much enjoyed this and indeed was sad to see it end when Oliver Reed’s character developed his rather less than sociable characteristics. Getting past Peter Bowles’ facial hair, this first stretch introduced a rather compelling consideration of class, particularly in the disturbing early sequence where a character is made to behave as a clown and later with Reed being treated as a lower class citizen despite having an apparently wealthy “father”. Add to this ruminations on how faith plays a part in the werewolf legend and all of the elements are in place for a deep and horrific experience. Sadly these points do not develop and by the picture’s end a rather bland horror is produced. But that first half I would gladly re-watch. I am coming to appreciate Fisher’s direction more and more – nothing in his films particularly stands out to make him a visionary director however his shots always service the feature very well and he clearly was a sturdy, reliable hand.
As an aside, in listing your favourite Hammers in last week’s reply to my post you suggest that you prefer the Dracula series to Frankenstein, which is the opposite to my tastes – for me the Frankenstein films are thematically richer and with Cushing at the top of his game they tower above the Dracula films.
This week I am back at work running a summer school; although this is demanding in the day, compared to term time it is less demanding in the evenings and so I will hopefully find time for watching some films, reading and completing a blog post I have started.
I look forward to reading about your trip on your return – hope you had a great time!
David—
I am assuming the present week was the final one before the start of the new school year. Lucille begins on Monday, but that’s as a principal. My own teaching start will be the following week on Tuesday, September 4. I’m surprised you worked the summer school as late as you did, but in one sense it’s nice to be busy in preparation. I wish you a fabulous school year my friend! Thanks for the very kind words about the vacation. It was certainly an unforgettable trip, and I’ll be framing it comprehensively on this coming Monday’s Diary post. We did indeed attend one film at the Music Box Theatre’s annual noir festival, and despite the fact that my physical stamina was faltering by tht point, I found the experience and the company marvelous. I did manage somehow to lose my car key, but Lucille had a spare. Replacement for the original costs about $150.00, so I was pleased to hear they found it on Wednesday morning, and my friend Marilyn Ferdinand will be sending it on. Perhaps I like ALICE a bit more than you David, but I can’t really take you to task for some of those disclaimers, including the one that implies a degree of racism. As to Tony Scott, he was indeed hugely influential in developing the blockbuster style, and in employing that trademrk camera movement. I can’t really say that I am much of a fan of any of his films, but others I respect feel otherwise, and you have wisely straddled the middleground, methinks. Great to hear you have another post heading up at your place, and I will soon be back on the boards! Well, as to Terrence Fisher, I’d say his four great horror films are:
Dracula (The Horror of Dracula)
Th Devil Rides Out
The Brides of Dracula
The Curse of Frankenstein
I also feel three others especially are noteworthy for various reasons: The Gorgon, Hound of the Baskervilles, The Mummy.
As to the Frankenstein vs. Dracula debate, I completely understand and respect your position, but as you observed I feel like Allan quite the opposite. The best Hammer Frankenstein is CURSE, which gets from me a 3.5 of 5.0 rating. This as opposed to three Hammer Draculas that get 4.0 or more:
Dracula (The Horror of Dracula) 4.5
Dracula, the Prince of Darkness 4.0
The Brides of Dracula 4.5
Conversely I feel the narrative and thematic richness is much more persuasive in the vampire films. Still, I completely realize it’s personal perception, and I cn truly watch any Hammer film anywhere. I’ve always been a huge fan.
As to Fisher’s CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF, I’d say I couldn’t agree with you more You perfectly sized up the plusses and minuses.
Have a great weekend my friend! And smooth saling for the new school year transition! Sorry fo the late response.
Sam, thank you for the mention, as always.
I believe you and your family on the road now, having a good time. Share your wonderful moments with us (me, a sorry being strapped to office desk in poorly air-conditioned floor), I hope.
Stunned to hear Tony Scott’s sad news.To be honest, I am not much familiar with his recent works, but his production and TV programs all indicate his sure ability to create solid Hollywood entertainment. That requires a lot of talent.
I’m working on the article about Mizoguchi’s LADY OF MUSASHINO, and don’t know how it will come out, yet. It’s one of rather neglected pieces among Mizoguchi’s works, but nonetheless it deals (or at least tries to deal) with the fascinating theme.
Here’s the summary I posted of Kinoshita’s BD and DVD series due later this month.
http://vermillionandonenights.blogspot.com/2012/08/kinoshitas-blu-ray-and-dvd-released.html
Sorry, no English subtitles, it seems.
Have a good trip!
MI
MI—
We are back my friend. We got in here at around supper time, and wouldn’t you know Lucille and I headed over to the Film Forum later that night for screenings of Renoir’s TONI and UNE PARTIE DE CAMPAGNE, the latter to these eyes a supreme masterpiece. I will certainly have a full report on our unforgettable short trip to the midwest, one we all we be talking about for quite some time. As always it’s the people you meet who make the biggest difference. I am sorry to hear you have been tied down as of late, but I certainly know that situation well. Ha! Scott’s death was tragic indeed. It seems his suicide may have been from a terminal medical diagnosis, but nothing has set been confirmed. Conflicting stories abound. Yes that particular Mizoguchi is neglected or sure, but I count myself as a big fan and am looking forward to what will surely be an astute analysis at VERMILLION AND ONE NIGHTS! Ah your links are so close….and yet so far. I am still hoping that English subbed versions will be forthcoming, but this is fabulous news for you my friend! Again, many thanks fr the always valued submission, and have a great weekend!
Thanks Sam for the mention. Great to hear about your road trip. It sure is a great experience to take such trips from to time, as well as to get to meet people with whom you’ve had only virtual interactions thus far.
Anyway, I managed to watch the following movies in the meantime:
– Allen Baron’s well made existentialist post-noir Blast of Silence
– Kurosawa’s mid-career revival Dersu Uzala
– Woody’s brilliant satire Love & Death
– The French drama by Peter Brook, Moderato Cantabile
– Dreyer’s austere psychological drama Gertrud
– Imamura’s fascinating black comedy Pigs & Battleships
I saw Imamura’s Insect Woman too during this period.
Thanks so much for that Shubhajit, and sorry for the late response. Yes, it’s been a few years since we went out on the road in this fashion. We had gone to our seaside resort in Wildwood, New Jersey for a number of years, and also down to Disney World in Florida and up to Boston, not too long ago, but this was our first trip in two years. It was great and exciting to meet online friends! I’ll have a full report on this coming Monday’s Diary. I am way too late checking out your reviews at CINEMASCOPE, but that drought is coming to an end. The Dreyer and Imamura sound great, as do in fact that early Woody Allen and the underrated DERZU UZALA. Havea great weekend my friend! Many thanks as always.
Sam, I can’t wait to hear your report on the trip! I bet the coming week’s diary will be priceless. Hope you got to try one of those famous Chicago hot dogs!
Peter–
I will indeed be dealing with the trip comprehensively on the Diary. We never had one of those famous hot dogs sad to say, but we did have the deep pan pizza, which was wonderful! Thanks as always my friend!
Sam, thanks so much for the great mention! I hope the trip with the family was a wonderful one. I look forward to hearing about it.
I think you know I share your passion for the Becker film. Such a powerful, romantic work and one that I always look forward to seeing.
This week I only took in one thing, Michael Powell’s THE EDGE OF THE WORLD. I must say – I have to place it in the very top tier of my favorite Powell works. It has this special, haunted quality to it and highlights the fact that Powell had about as strong of a connection to nature as any filmmaker we’ve ever had. I really loved it.
Here’s to another awesome week, Sam. Thanks so much for all that you do!
Jeffrey, I just now saw this, and while I do want to talk about movies, I am far more concerned over the dire situation in your neck of the woods. My hope and prayers are extended toyou and your family. Please tell me that you have everything under control or have temporarily relocated. I am at a loss fr words as to the bal luck Louisiana residets been dealt over the past several years. I await some good new my friend. I am think of you and your family.
-Sam