Two screen caps for the THE LIFE OF PI, a ravishing action/animation hybrid that all matters considered is one of the most breathtaking films of 2012.
by Sam Juliano
Turkey Day is behind us now, with the focus has shifting to gifts, decorations and greetings cards. This is the time of the year when everything happens so quick that you only need to blink your eye and the new year has arrived. To be sure it’s always an exciting time, especially for the film lovers and culture mavens, who are invariably treated to some of the most prominent works of the calendar year. Just as the film fanatics fervently discuss Lincoln, Silver Linings Playbook and Anna Karenina, the focus has now shifted to The Life of Pi, Rust and Bone, The Central Park Five and Hitchcock. Then things really accelerate with the upcoming releases of Killing Them Softly, The Central Park Five, Zero Dark Thirty, The Hobbit, Django Unchained, Hyde Park on the Hudson, Amour, and Les Miserables. Tom Hooper’s musical, based on the beloved and long-running Broadway show, was screened for critics in New York and Los Angeles on Friday night, and the response has been rapturous. Some key insiders are saying they wept, cheered and were bowled over, and that the film is clearly the film to beat for the Best Picture Oscar and some critics’ awards. As one who always names this show as one of my favorites, and like so many others adores the score, I can only say I am all smiles on these early reports, though there are obviously some other films here to salivate for including the long-awaited Amour, which Allan has given a five star rating to in a still-to-be-published review. In any event i want to thank our dear friend Dee Dee for again adorning the site’s sidebar with a lovely Thanksgiving reference point and greeting for viewers! She has kept the holiday spirit in full force at WitD for over four years running!
It seems almost impossible to believe, but the marathon ‘comedy countdown that began back in August before my family embarked on our brief chicago trip, is reaching it’s final stage, with the showcase Top 20 set to commence today! I want to take this opportunity to thank Maurizio Roca for steadfastly maintaining the tabulation for each and every week, an exhausting venture that provides readers with all the individeal choices made by the voters. It is also anticipated that some of the finest writing of all during this exceptional project will be upcoming. The countdown will be concluding only a few days before Christmas, at which point we will have a comprehensive post-mortem on a future MMD.
Lucille and I (and Broadway Bob for a pair, and Sammy for the other two) managed four films this week, with three of those new releases:
The Life of Pi ***** (Friday evening) Chelsea Cinemas
Rust and Bone *** (Saturday night) Landmark Cinemas
The Other Son **** (Sunday evening) Montclair Claridge Cinemas
The Man in the White Suit (1951) ***** (Tuesday night) Film Forum
THE LIFE OF PI is an amazing work that is sublime, exhilarating and deeply-moving, and it features some of the most rapturous visuals seen in a film this year. The director of “Brokeback Mountain,” “Sense and Sensibility” and “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” adapted a well-known but only modestly-regarded novel about a young Indian, a zookeeper’s son (wonderfully played by a non-professional, Suraj Sharma) who is the sole survivor of an ocean wreck, and must live for months on a lifeboat and raft with a Bengal tiger. The pacific seascapes are stunning, and the use of 3D is astounding, especially in a flying fish showpieces, and one can only sit back and marvel at Claudio Miranda’s spellbindingly beautiful cinematography and 2012’s loveliest score by Mychael Danna, which rightly favors some awe-inspiring chorals. David Magee’s screenplay is mysterious and immersive and the great Irrfan Kahn is wonderful as the grown up main character-narrator.
While I was rather disappointed by Jacques Audiard’s RUST AND BONE, which in any event does not remotely compare with the two masterful films by this talented French director that came before it (“The Prophet” and “The Beat That My Heart Skipped”) and the earlier gem “A Self-Made Hero”, I don’t deny the narrative in the last half-hour was moving and intense, and that it can’t be summarily dismissed. Yet, I am mystified at all the praise for Marion Cotillard, an excellent actress who here is immersed in mood swings in a story that’s incredibly ludicrous. It all comes down to her disability, and not in a good way. Audiard’s stylistics are again noteworthy, but there’s an unsual sentimental intrusion, that seems at odds with the more serious matters at hand here.
The Isreali drama THE OTHER SON by Lorraine Levy is a call for unity amidst the violent divisions that are always threatening co-existence in the world’s worst trouble spot. It’s a story about the accidental switching of a Palistian and Isreali baby that results in each being brought up in the opposite households. It’s about love, tolerance and how bonding will usually trump blood ties, but theer are complications that include the search for identity and acceptance in long-standing traditions. The message may seem a bit too forced, and the border crossings are unrealistically lenient, but there is a surprising swath of feeling in the various meetings between two households that holds dramatic intrigue. The optimistic ending may be too much, but it matters little in this deeply affecting work.
Behind Ealing’s masterpiece “Kind Hearts and Coronets” the Alec Guiness/Joan Greenwood charmer THE MAN IN THE WHITE SUIT, directed by Alexander Mackendrick, would be the most exceptional of the studio’s output, I am still scratching my head for not including this brilliant satiric work on my comedy countdown ballot! Douglas Slocombe’s luminous black and white was stunning negotiated in the DCP restoration on display for one week at the Film Forum.
Young men in Isreali film “The Other son” brought up in wrong households
I copied last week’s link scroll, and only managed to change a few:
Samuel Wilson at Mondo 70 is leading up with the latest installent in his ‘Pre-Code Parade’ series with a splendid essay on 1931’s little-seen “Son of India”: http://mondo70.blogspot.com/2012/11/pre-code-parade-son-of-india-1931.html
At The Cooler Jason Bellamy has penned a terrific essay on Carax’s “Holy Motors”: http://coolercinema.blogspot.com/2012/11/song-of-self-holy-motors.html
At Twenty Four Frames John Greco has posted a fantastic review with author David Koenig: http://twentyfourframes.wordpress.com/2012/11/16/interview-with-author-david-koenig-2/
Judy Geater’s superlative musical countdown essay on “Royal Wedding” is now leading up at Movie Classics: http://movieclassics.wordpress.com/2012/11/23/royal-wedding-stanley-donen-1951/
At Ferdy on Films Roderick Heath is now leading up with a master class essay on Suzuki’s 1965 “Story of a Prostitute”: http://www.ferdyonfilms.com/2012/story-of-a-prostitute-shunpu-den-1965/16711/
Laurie Buchanan’s latest meaningful post concerns the difficulties in some of the poorer sections of Mexico, where drinkable water and heat remain major concerns. It is leading up at Speaking From The Heart: http://holessence.wordpress.com/2012/11/20/harvesting-water-harnessing-heat/
Tony d’Ambra leads the way at Films Noir.net for a terrific piece on the little-exposed Italian noir ‘La Bionda’: http://filmsnoir.net/film_noir/la-bionda-the-blonde-italy-1992.html
Jaimie Grijalba has officially launched his fantastic new site “Overlook’s Corner” with a buffo piece on Chilean cinema: http://overlookhotelfilm.wordpress.com/2012/11/18/chilean-cinema-2012-12-miguel-san-miguel/
At Cinemascope Shubhajit Laheri has authored a fabulous, thought-provoking capsule review on Leon carax’s masterful “Holy Motors”: http://cliched-monologues.blogspot.com/2012/11/holy-motors-2012.html
Murderous Ink at Vermillion and One Nights has written a wholly fascinating essay on anew volume about Japanese acting icon Setsuko Hara, who is still living at age 92 in relative seclusion: http://vermillionandonenights.blogspot.com/2012/11/all-about-setsuko-hara.html
Dean Treadway’s new post “Cinema Gallery: 30 Scenes of Loneliness” is essential for all passionate film lovers. It’s over at Filmicability: http://filmicability.blogspot.com/2012/11/blog-post_6.html
At the magical Creativepotager’s blog Terrill Welch has a showcase of visual treasures up in her ravishing new post “New Homes for art and other studio musings”: http://creativepotager.wordpress.com/2012/10/08/new-homes-for-art-and-other-studio-musings/
Jon Warner leads the way at “Films Worth Watching” with his terrific WitD comedy countdown review of Lubitsch’s “To Be or Not to Be”: http://filmsworthwatching.blogspot.com/2012/11/to-be-or-not-to-be-1942-directed-by.html
Pat Perry has penned an excellent thought-provoking short piece on “Lincoln” at Doodad Kind of Town: http://doodadkindoftown.blogspot.com/2012/11/just-few-words-about-lincoln.html
History teacher Hokahey has written a marvelous, thought-provoking review essay on “Lincoln” at Little Worlds: http://hokahey-littleworlds.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-morning-of-vote-spielbergs-history.html
Joel Bocko offers up a fascinating conversation with Bob Clark on “Neon Genesis Evangelion, Episode 3” at his wonderful new site Lost it at the Movies: http://thedancingimage.blogspot.com/2012/11/neon-genesis-evangelion-episode-3.html
Ed Howard has penned a superlative piece on John Ford’s silent comedy “Lightnin” at Only the Cinema: http://seul-le-cinema.blogspot.com/2012/11/lightnin.html
Sachin Gandhi offers up a fabulous report on the Calgary Latin Wave Festival at Scribbles and Ramblings: http://likhna.blogspot.com/2012/11/calgary-latin-wave-festival.html
David Schleicher has authored a magnificent essay on the new James Bond movie “Skyfall” at The Schleicher Spin: http://theschleicherspin.com/2012/11/15/i-fall-you-fall-we-all-fall-for-skyfall/
Weeping Sam offers up some thanks in his latest post Thanksgiving feature “Giving Thanks for Friday Music” at The Listening Ear: http://listeningear.blogspot.com/2012/11/giving-thanks-for-friday-music.html
A treasure trove of priceless reviews and listings can be accessed on the pages of The Last Lullaby, director Jeffrey Goodman’s indispensible site: http://cahierspositif.blogspot.com/
Dee Dee offers up petition co-founder Lori Moore’s own take on a John Garfield classic over at Darkness Into Light: http://noirishcity.blogspot.com/2012/09/john-garfield-in-nobody-lives-forever.html
Roderick Heath offers an excellent review of Oliver Stone’s latest film “Savages” at Ferdy on Films: http://www.ferdyonfilms.com/2012/savages-2012/16614/
R.D. Finch has written a splendid essay on 1965’s “The Spy Who Came in From the Cold” at The Movie Projector: http://themovieprojector.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-spy-who-came-in-from-cold-1965.html h
Kaleem Hasan offers an engaging post at Satyamshot titled “Shahrukh in Conversation with Yash Chopra”: http://satyamshot.wordpress.com/2012/09/27/shahrukh-in-conversation-with-yash-chopra/
One of the net’s finest writers, the exceedingly talented Jason Bellamy has written a fantastic essay on Paul Thomas Anderson’s “The Master” at The Cooler: http://coolercinema.blogspot.com/2012/09/touching-void-master.html
At Patricia’s Wisdom our friendly host has penned a terrific book review of “Televenge”: http://patriciaswisdom.com/2012/11/televenge-pamela-king-cable/
The comment section under Kevin Olson’s superlative essay on “The Master” at Hugo Stiglitz Makes Movies makes this presentation a must read for film fans: http://kolson-kevinsblog.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-master.html
At the Coffee Messiah’s blog the indominable Michael Harford features a collage on cultivation: http://coffeemessiah.blogspot.com/2012/09/cultivate.html
Craig Kennedy has penned at terrific review on “Frankenweenie” at Living in Cinema: http://livingincinema.com/2012/10/05/frankenweenie-2012/
Stephen Russell-Gebbett has posted another thought-provoking piece, this time on ‘images inspired by paintings’ at Checking on My Sausages: http://checkingonmysausages.blogspot.com/2012/11/images-inspired-by-paintings.html
David Lawrence, thjat erudite and personable educator from the U.K. features a poster of a Hammer classic at his new site Musings and Meanderings: http://1mouth2ears.wordpress.com/2012/08/12/movie-posters-1-dracula-has-risen-from-the-grave-1968/
Brandie Ashe happily announces a “Singin in the Rain” giveaway at True Classics: http://trueclassics.net/2012/08/10/singin-again-plus-a-giveaway/
Roderick Heath has posted a terrific new review of the reteaming of John Hillcoat and Nick Cave for this year’s “Lawless” at This Island Rod: thisislandrod.blogspot.com/2012/10/lawless-2012.html
J. D. LaFrance has penned a terrific piece on Tony Scott’s “The Last Boy Scout” at Radiator Heaven: http://rheaven.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-last-boy-scout.html
The esteemed Film Doctor, a professor on Film Studies at a southern university, has written a fascinating piece on P.J. Anderson’s “The Master” at The Film Doctor: http://filmdr.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-master-s-whip-lash-8-notes.html
Adam Zanzie has posted a terrific “alternative Sight and Sound list at Icebox Movies: http://www.iceboxmovies.blogspot.com/2012/08/my-alternative-sight-sound-list.html
Jason Marshall has continued his superb coverage of 1942 at Movies Over Matter with a wonderful post on his Best Actor choice for that year: Chishu Ryu: http://moviesovermatter.com/2012/08/09/chishu-ryu-in-there-was-a-father-best-actor-of-1942/
Peter Lenihan has written a superlative essay talking about two films: “Dredd” and “Savages” at The Long Voyage Home: http://thelongvoyagehome.blogspot.com/2012/09/double-feature-dredd-savages.html
At The Blue Vial Drew offers up “w/o” and some intriguing Fordian parallels: http://thebluevial.blogspot.com/2012/10/wo_5.html
At The Last Lullaby, the ever delightful filmmaker Jeffrey Goodman takes a look at part sixteen of his long running quartet series: http://cahierspositif.blogspot.com/2012/04/favorite-four-part-sixteen.html
Stephen Russell-Gebbett at Checking on my Sausages again offers up a brillinatly-creative feature on ‘Sport as the Perfect Fiction”: http://checkingonmysausages.blogspot.com/2012/08/sport-is-perfect-fiction.html
Tony Dayoub takes a look at the summer’s Barnes and Noble 50% off sale for Criterion collectots at Cinema Viewfinder: http://www.cinemaviewfinder.com/2012/07/criterion-summer.html
Greg Ferrara at Cinema Styles talks about the Colorado shootings in a moving feature: http://cinemastyles.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-dark-knight-shooting-in-colorado.html
Jeopardy Girl talks about her “least favorite film” at her wonderful new series at “The Continuing Saga of Jeopardy Girl”: http://jeopardygirl.wordpress.com/2012/09/03/2-my-least-favourite-film/
Dave Van Poppel has a tremendous batch of short reviews up at Visions of Non Fiction on the Toronto Film Festival:
Click on names for archives
Writers/Founders
Wonders in the Dark 
In addition to gorging myself on turkey during the long holiday weekend – I also gorged myself on quality films:
On Netflix:
Cinema Paradiso – ****
Monsieur Lazhar – ****
Last Ride – ***
Safety Not Guaranteed – ***1/2
In Theaters:
Lincoln – ***** – review at The Spin:
http://theschleicherspin.com/2012/11/26/a-director-an-actor-and-an-icon-clothed-in-immense-power-in-lincoln/
David—
Great to hear you and yours had a memorable Thanksgiving! Like you mine was dominated by movies, aside from the holiday itself, which was spent at my wife’s siter’s with many guests on hand. You certainly did gorge yourself on some great films there! Tornatore’s CINEMA PARADISO is one of my personal favorites of the 1980’s, and a reliable tearjerker, that features an irresistible homage to the cinema and one of Morricone’s most ravishing scores. MONSIEUR LAZHAR is presently holding down a spot in my Top 10 films of 2012, and it’s a stirring film with a great lead character and always stimulating subject. I still haven’t seen SAFETY, despite promises to do so. Same for LAST RIDE, but much appreciate the ratings.
As to your five-star highest rating for LINCOLN it is music to my ears, and I will be heading over to THE SCHLEICHER SPIN today to read what I am sure will be a revelatory essay!
Thanks as always my friend!
After initially being skeptical about Rust & Bone, Sam, my heart started beating strongly upon seeing the trailer. After reading your reaction, I’m let down but trust your assessment. In other news, you already know I loved Skyfall and will probably see it again as I regard it as commerce (as opposed to art) at its best. Planning to see Life of Pi soon — after reading Andrew O’Hehir’s less-than-ecstatic review, I’m not sure what to expect beyond great visuals.
You should also be somewhat pleased to know that I had Ben-Hur on in the background this weekend and appreciated it more frequently than in the past.
Pierre—
I have read some very favorable reviews on RUST AND BONE as well, and a number of critics and viewers have maintained high praise for Ms. Cottilard. Jaques Audiard is a director I have the highest regard for, so I went in expecting something really special, but found the occasionally powerful film rather uneven. Perhaps the trouble for me was the premise, which wasn’t tangible. You may come in with amuch stronger reaction, then again you may share my issues. Honestly I am hoping you will be able to enlighten me. As to SKYFALL I completely buy into your proposed “art” vs. “commerce” designation, though like you I find this filma masterful piece of entertainment, and hands down one of the very best in the iconic series. I’d like to visit it again too myself! All told O’ Hehir’s position is in the vast minority, but he’s certainly a great writer whose opinion I do respect. I’ve been informed that our mutual friends Craig and Sasha are very big fans of the film, and I am looking forward to more in-depth analysis. I can see why a film like this with the animation/live action hybrid would not be readily embraced by everyone, and the fantasy premise always posed some potential problems. But I am thinking you may like it. Absolutely thrilled to hear about your latest connection to BEN-HUR, and the favorable re-assessment!!!!! You know that news stokes me most of all. Thanks as always my friend!
To be honest, Sam, my anticipation to Rust & Bone was tepid until I saw the trailer. But I think what thrilled me about the trailer was the Audiard style — and we all know that trailers can be deceiving. I’ll report back to you after I see the film.
Regarding Ben-Hur, I’m (puckishly) reminded of Aldo Ray’s comment at the time about Charlton Heston (and I’m paraphrasing): “He’s a nice guy, but what a hamola!”
hahahahaha Pierre! Yes indeed, that hamola label has defined him for decades, bith all most the most austere adherents, whose number has dwindled to a non-existence.
I, too, find myself disagreeing with O’Hehir on a number of occasions.
Pierre, he is a sharp critic for sure, but one that often is one the other side of the fence. I find it much the same with Stephanie Zahareck.
Great minds work alike! Zacharek was the other name that immediately came to my mind.
ha indeed Pierre! That lady is quite the talented writer!
Thanks Sam for the kind mention. Great to know that you’ve loved Life of Pi. I was really undecided about the film – I generally tend to be wary about books/movies high on eulogising how beautiful life is. But you’ve managed to change my mind with your strong praise of the film, and have decided to watch it in a day or two. Interestingly, Rust & Bone was shown in the Calcutta Film Festival, but I couldn’t watch it (despite wanting to) as it was clashing with some of the others that I’d wanted to watch more.
Anyway, here’s what I’ve watched in the meantime:
– The fine, but largely underwatched Wajda film, Innocent Sorcerers
– Yet another incredible masterpiece by Theo – Landscape in the Mist
– Melville’s remarkable existentialist crime caper – Le Cerclee Rouge
– Dreyer’s silent classic – The Passion of Joan of Arc (though I found the depiction of Joan’s blind religiosity tad off-putting)
– Tarkovsky’s masterful blend of philosophy & sci-fi – Stalker
I fine week of movie-viewing, what say? 🙂
Shubhajit—-
I can well understand the consternation for THE LIFE OF PI, for a good number of reasons, and to be honest I was originally skeptical as well. But Ang Lee is certainly a master, and he imparts his unique sensibilities on so many different genres. The blend of animation and live action works to remarkable effect, and this is 3D at it’s best. The young Indiasn actor who plays the lead is astonishing as well, and deserves a nomination for the ver-reliable Academy! Ha! For me THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC and LE CIRCLE ROUGE are masterpieces, with the former among the ten greatest films ever made, and Tarkovsky’s STALKER is a gem, all of which you have pretty much said yourself, that minor disclaimer on the Dreyer notwithstanding. Wajda of course has made some far better films, as you yourself have attested to over the last few years with some splendid capsules at CINEMASCOPE. I haven’t seen that particular Theo but much appreciate the deft capsule analysis. I’m sure at some point your get to RUST AND BONE. As I stated to Pierre above you may well be singing a different tune than me.
Have a great week my friend!
Sam –
You’re right, it happens in a blink. Before you know it, 2013 will be here!
Len (a die hard LORD OF THE RINGS fan) is chomping at the bit to see THE HOBBIT.
I got to see THE LIFE OF PI by myself and will go again — in a heartbeat! — to watch Len see it. It’s rare that I like a movie better than the book, but this film is an unequaled exception.
Laurie—
Father Time takes no prisoners for sure! Still we can all hope to usher is a year that will bring us far more happiness that heart-ache. I am thrilled to hear that Len is a huge LORD OF THE RINGS fan as my family are all passionate adherents as well. Similarly, THE HOBBIT is enthusiastically anticipated, and just yesterday it was again mentioned. I have indeed heard the film of PI eclipses the book by some distance and your confirmation seals the deal in that regard. Would love to hear what Len thinks too! Thanks as always my friend! Have a great week!
Sam, Carol saw ‘The Life of Pi’ with a few of her girlfriends, and she has issues an unconditional rave. She tells me the expensive 3 D glasses have never been used this effectively.
Nice to see the Giants back on the winning track!
A two-game lead Frank, with a little breathing room in case they slip up.
Frank, I expected that reaction from Carol, and I am wagering you will be following suit. Yes, the use of 3D here was as good as we have seen the expensive gimmick applied. Yes the Giants een to always play as good as their opponent would dictate. I like their chance now! Thanks as always my friend!
Tru enough what you say there Peter!
Hello Sam!
With all the raves coming in for LIFE OF PI, I suspect I will need to see it, although I remain reluctant. Andrew O’Hehir’s memorable assessment is stuck in my brain (and I’m paraphasing a little): “I felt like I’d been invite to a seven-course meal and all seven course turned out to be cake – and then the host lectured me about how cake would be bring me closer to God.”
Disasppointed to hear about RUST AND BONE, which I had been looking forward to.
I enoyed a quite, relaxing extended Thanksgiving weekend (was off work from Wednesday on) and partook of several, small-budget indies via OnDemand: SOUND OF MY VOICE, PRICE CHECK and THE LONELIEST PLANET – all of them well worth the time. I posted some short reviews yesterday. Also watched DEREK, a documentary on the life and work of Derek Jarman, narrated by Tilda Swinton, that played late Wednesday night on TCM. I also recorded his version of the THE TEMPEST, but haven’t got around to watching it yet. Finally, I couldn’t help watching a little of LIZ AND DICK, the Lifetime movie starring Lindsay Lohan as Elizabeth Taylor. It was every bit as bad – hell, it was even worse! – than you might have expected.
Pat—
As I stated to Pierre above, O’Hahir is in an extreme minority, as the film has garnered amazing raves across the board. I respect O’Hahir, who is a great writer, but I find myself disagreeing with him more than the other way around. Ang Lee has a great track record (THE ICE STORM, THE WEDDING BANQUET, CROUCHING TIGER, BROKEBACK, SENSE AND SENSIBILITY) and he seems to have again played his cards correctly with PI, getting excellent performances and deftly weaving the two forms. This film is a dictionary definition of “exhilaration” methinks. But let’s see what you think. I think O’Hehir is missing the point as to what this film was aiming for.
I am a big fan of Jarman, and must avail myself of that documentary! THE TEMPEST is good, but several others by him straddle the masterpiece border. I also like SOUND OF MY VOICE and THE LONELIST PLANET, but haven’t yet seen PRICE CHECK. And yes I would definitely expect as much from LIZ AND DICK. As to RUST AND BONE, let’s see, you may like it more. Thanks as always my friend! Have a great week!
I often disagree with O’Hehir myself – sometimes vehemently – but he is a hell of a good writer, and that quote on LIFE OF PI is priceless.
Oh yes Pat, agreed on both points.
Hope no one got shot at or trampled at the malls this Black Friday, or Black Eye Friday, as some wag put it.
Little time to see anything, just a couple of losers like ‘The Hangover, Part 2’ — I wish to God I’d been half as shit-faced as the movie’s man-boy mongoloids when I watched this on Thanksgiving Day. And I wish I owned a percentage of the movie’s gross.
Also, “Cheaper By The Dozen” — On TCM. If you can believe Clifton Webb siring a dozen kids with Myrna Loy you’ll believe anything.
I did return to ‘Blowup’ and still believe it ranks high among the films of the sixties. Especially love the parodic coitus with the camera between Hemmings and Verushka, but disliked even more intensely the symbolic tennis game with the mimes, which should have been lopped off in the editing room as it adds nothing to the film, only muddying the central unambiguous fact that Hemmings did indeed photograph a murder in the park.
I’m sending you an e-mail right now, Sam.
Mark–
We stayed away from the malls, but Lucille did some damage on line! Ha! But as it was for the kids, we have no beef. But yeah I do like that ‘black eye’ label. That’s always what it comes down to! hahahaha on THE HANGOVER PART 2. There are a few fans of it in this house, but be rest assured I am not one, though like you a tiny share of the gross would have us set for life. CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN I did see, and it’s an unmitigated abomination. Even some of the junk magnets I know ran as far away from this as possible. Thanks again fro the perceptive re-assessment of BLOW-UP, which has divided people at the site here, though Allan, Dean and Joel appear to be serious fans. I must look at it again myself. Thanks as always my friend. Have a great week!
Thanks for the mention as always, Sam. Ramon Novarro’s talkies are interesting because he was one of the silent stars fighting a hard battle against obsolescence without being a perceived victim like John Gilbert, and the films help you imagine what Valentino might have resorted to had he lived to talk. Over the long weekend I also watched Hour of the Wolf on Netflix and have started Sembene’s Mandabi there to get up to speed on 1968. The local library got the Criterion DVD of Carne’s Les Visiteurs du Soir, which I found a handsome romantic fantasy if not so much a political allegory as Criterion suggests. From my own collection I wrapped up the Kurahara set with Thirst for Love; I was indifferent overall but impressed by Asaoka in the lead role. Also remembered to get to Barnes & Noble for the last weekend of the sale and came home with the Shochiku Horror set from Eclipse — three of those films are from ’68 as well! I’ve got plenty on my plate for the next two poll years — hopefully I can clear out five hours of time for one of them and get out to Killing Them Softly this weekend. Can’t say I’m in a hurry to see Life of Pi but that’s no reflection on anyone else’s enjoyment. Oddly uninterested in Hobbit as well. Hard to say the motives are more mercenary than those behind the original trilogy, but it seems like money is the only reason for Jackson to go back to the well to the extent promised. There are plenty of other pictures, anyway — and I hope you see some good ones this week.
Samuel–
Sad to say the Barnes & Noble sale concluded yesterday, and won’t be returning until July just a few weeks before my family’s planned two week trip to London and Allan’s house and hometown in Kendal. I meant to pick up HEAVEN’S GATE at the end there, but I made good on the sale with a number of titles weeks back including the Renoir you speak of here in appreciative terms. (I do agree by the way). Haven’t picked up that intriguing Shochiku set, and concur it is perfectly placed for 1968, a year when the specter of Leone and Kubrick stands most dominant. Few in the group here are much interested in THE HOBBIT I’ll admit, but let’s see what Jackson is up to. My family are quite excited, as expected, but what you say about Jackson and money seems to be irrefutable. THE LIFE OF PI has received fantastic reviews across the board, but I have read a few who were wholly unimpressed. I am thinking my friend that this one won’t be your cup of tea, though not your poison either. Like you I am looking forward to KILLING THEM SOFTLY, and have it lined up for the coming weekend, along with two well-received documentaries, CHASING ICE and THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE, the latter from Ken Burns. That’s an excellent point you make about Novarro’s talkies, though of course it’s his silents he will always be most fondly remembered for. HOUR OF THE WOLF, a surrelistic nightmare is unlike anything Bergman has done, and I’ve always loved it. Sembene will really come into play with Xala in 1975, Camp de Thiaroye in 1988 and Moolaade in 2005. He’s the rightful celebrated father of African cinema, and not too long ago had a wonderful retrospective at the Film Forum. Thanks as always my friend! Have a great week!
Hi Sam! I am in the midst of a long trip this week so am writing after a long 14 hour day. Sheesh. Ah well tis the life I lead. Well I’m really glad you liked Life of Pi so much. I have really no expectations of this film and know relatively little about the story at all. I know my wife has read the book and really wants to see it though, so we shall see if we can go get to see it.
Hope you had a great thanksgiving! We did and my brother, sister in law, niece, my sister, brother in law and I and my crew got together at my parents house in the south suburbs of Chicago for a nice weekend together. On Friday night we all went out (sans my mother who stayed back with the kids while they slept) to see Lincoln. Most of us were very impressed by it. My dad’s a history buff and enjoyed it from that standpoint. I found myself more immersed in it than I expected and ultimately believe it’s a masterpiece and will be one of my favorite films of the year….currently writing a piece on it. I’m very much a fan of what Spielberg has done here.
Other than that, I wasn’t able to catch anything else, but it was a time spent with family which is always good. My girls had a blast playing with their younger cousin and that was fun to watch.
Hope you have a great week Sam!!!
Jon—
I am catching up to you two days later, so I am figuring you are in the throws of that trip! Yes at present this is your life’s calling, but you still get back and forth without a hitch. I’d be very much interested to hear how your wife compares the novel of THE LIFE OF PI to Ang Lee’s film! And I do also very much look forward to your response. I am not sure how to call this as far as where you will go, but I am actually planning to see it again tonight at 9:15 locally. Great t6o hear you had some a great time for Thanksgiving at their Windy City home, and that you capped it off with LINCOLN! If your father is a big history buff, then this was really a given! I was thrilled when I first heard your reaction on another thread, and completely agree with you that’s one of the best films of 2012. I do hope you manage something on it at FILMS WORTH WATCHING! Wonderful to hear it was such a great time for the family during the break! Hope you will be back again soon my friend. Have a terrific week!
Sam,
Thank you for the link, as always.
As I was flipping through many web articles on films as usual, I found this piece.
http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2012/11/with-35mm-film-dead-will-classic-movies-ever-look-the-same-again/265184/
It is simply amazing that Sony did not have a screening print of Scorsese’s AGE OF INNOCENCE, while Fox does not own any print of Coen brother’s MILLER’S CROSSING and BARTON FINK. But if you find a screenable print of BARTON FINK and try to screen it in front of audience, Fox is more than glad to charge you for the screening license. It’s a story of physical entity of film in danger, but it’s also the story of art vs. entertainment business.
Last weekend, I saw two documentaries. MEMORIES OF ORIGIN is a documentary on Hiroshi Sugimoto, a Japanese photographer working in NY. If you are familiar with his works, this feature documentary (originally made for Japanese cable TV) will invite you to his inner workings, philosophy and origin of his creativity. Though some part may be viewed as his ego trip, his works themselves are very impressive and worth checking out.
Another one I saw was a set of early Japanese scientific short films made between forties and fifties. One of them, A DAY IN THE TIDELAND (1940) is the most influential short documentary film, and its approach to the subjects – in this case, various living creatures in the tideland – has become the industry standard. The crew employed an early versions of telescope lens to capture various amphibians, crabs and a flock of wild geese. Images are natural and give us very intimate feel. It’s one of those rare gems of moving image culture.
I am working on the piece on Evangelion, and it is somewhat nerve-wrecking to write down the events of last year. The first part will be up in this week.
MI
MI—-
Thanks so much for sending that link! I got quite a bit of mileage on it, sending it to others in my circle. That is quite an ominous development, and yes I agree it is strange that Sony did not have a screening print of Scorsese’s period piece, nor that Fox was without a print of those Coens. Alas there can be no argument was you say in conclusion there on the matter of “art vs entertainment business,” and that film as we know it, and were born and raised with is an endangered species. You have me most intrigued with Sugimoto, a photographer I am unfamiliar with. I will do some investigation on him, and keep in mind what you say here. I wonder if MEMORIES OF ORIGIN is available stateside. As to A DAY IN THE TIDELAND I am very interested in that one! I am figuring this one does have a reputation among documentarians. Great to haer you are working on the EVANGELION piece, and will be checking up on the posting! Have a great week my friend!
Hello Sam and everyone!!!
It’s glad to hear that you had a great Thanksgiving and that everything is going fine. Me? I’ve been working on the final stages of the script, and I also had a work interview, but that’s on hold for now. Friday started the CINE//B Film Festival in Santiago, and I’m attending some of the showings, so I’ll put those I’ve seen until sunday here.
Sorry for being a bit late with this comment, but I had some problems getting the list of films to work, anyway, my week:
– ¡Vivan las Antipodas! (2011, Victor Kossakovsky) **** An observational and gorgeous documentary seen on the Festival, this film was featured in the much better making off documentary “Where the Condors Fly” that I reviewed at my site some weeks ago. This is gorgeous but sometimes a bit tiring, there are long segments where you want to see the connections between the antipodes of the world, but they don’t appear until later in the game. I liked it a lot anyway.
– ‘Rear Window’ Ethics: Remembering and Restoring a Hitchcock Classic (2000, Laurent Borezeau) ***1/2 Short documentary on the restauration of the masterpiece that is Rear Window, with some fun interviews, featured in the DVD for it.
– Aquí Estoy, Aquí No (2012, Elisa Eliash) **** Opening Film for the CINE//B Film Festival, a chilean film that is a comment and a comedy on the themes and structure of Hitchcock’s masterpiece Vertigo. Featuring a fat journalist with the fear of driving in cars, the film features a love interest that dies in the middle of the film only to reappear later with another hair colour. There are some funny segments and some other incredibly strange parts, making it a nice addition to a viewing schedule of new chilean films.
– Holy Motors (2012, Leos Carax) ****1/2 I had a chance to rewatch this film, finally, and it was as brilliant, entertaining and profound as it was the first time. I wish I could call it a masterpiece, and I’m sure it is in many ways, but I still feel that the ending, while being completely amazing, changed my perspectives and theories on what the film actually was trying to say or do with its plot and universe. Nevertheless, a memorable film and one of the best of the year.
– Infinito (2011, Marco Leao, André Santos) ***1/2 Portuguese short film featuring a mother, a baby a car and a forest. Quiet, impressive and simple.
– A Luz da Terra Antiga (2012, Luís Oliveira Santos) *** Documentary short from Portuguese about the pictures made by a famous geographer and how a modern photographer is trying to replicate them. Interesting but at the end, reproducing photographies is more a game than an actual impressive feat.
– Mundo Grua (a.k.a. Crane World) (1999, Pablo Trapero) **** Film from Argentina about a fat crane operator that tries to live a new life and find new jobs as he tries to maintain relationships with his mother and a woman he likes. It’s an impressive portrait and one that uses b/w cinematography for the better effect, including some great acting and overall nice structure.
– Rear Window (1954, Alfred Hitchcock) ***** One of the few Hitchcock classics that I still had to see was finally finished and rewarded with the highest honours from me. It’s a new favorite, one of the great movies that are visually impressive as well as concious about their messages and themes included in their script. Entertaining, thrilling, and enveloping, one of the few films that can catch your eye in the first seconds just by narrating you all the story through images and no exposition whatsoever. The acting is top notch and the resolutions are even better, I didn’t want this to end!!
– Restos (2010, Albertina Carri) **** A short film about film itself, we see film burning and being destroyed by projectors as a voice over tell us about the issue of film today and its relation to memories. Quite powerful.
– Screenwriter John Michael Hayes on ‘Rear Window’ (2001, Laurent Bozereau) *** A 6 minute interview with the writer of Rear Window with things that we know and truly one great anecdote at the end, that makes up for the rest and seeing the whole thing in the DVD extras.
– Sigur Rós: Fjögur píanó (2012, Alma Har’el) ***1/2 A music video shown at the start of one of the showings in CINE//B film festival, starring Shia Labeouf and having outrageous and wild cinematography and imagery. Something that has to be seen to be believed.
– El tramo (2012, Juan Hendell) **1/2 A documentary from Argentina. You’ve seen me praise many times documentaries from Chile, but the documentaries from Argentina rarely get the same praise, they are better at fiction than us, and I’m sure that I would take all the fiction of Chile to not see any documentary like this ever again. Observational to a level of boredom of extreme and implausible levels, no sense and no message, nothing.
– Three Modern Haikus (2010, Cristián Tapies) **** An impressive experimental work from Argentina and Chile that brings together great images, cinematography, issues of memory and violence in a nice mix.
– The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 (2012, Bill Condon) *1/2 One of the most ridiculous films I’ve ever seen gets a half star extra just because the cinematography was fine and the score was decent, but the rest can be thrown into the pits of hell and nothing of value would come out. I think that these films just got worse and worse, with more implausible plots, unneeded characters, inexistant acting and being overall a mess of a script. I blame myself for seeing this.
– Vigilante vigilado (2012, Eduardo A. Gaita) ***1/2 A short film documentary about the police in Chile in a lighter and funny tone, worth watching, it’s only 4 minutes long.
– Wavelength (1967, Michael Snow) *** I admire what is done here, my teacher told me what was behind this and I appreciate it, but I can’t say that I enjoyed myself seeing it, what I liked the most was the ending which was really nice, and the start, that made kind of an introduction to the themes of this classical experimental film.
– El Zapato chino (The chinese shoe) (1980, Cristián Sánchez) ***1/2 I had an urge to see the films that a teacher of mine had made in his life, and this was one of the few that is available in a nice DVD. It reminds you of Raul Ruiz, but its clearly directed by someone else, it is an accomplishment to have made this film in the middle of a dictatorship, and its a feat on itself, but besides the plot that goes totally crazy at some points, its just fine at most parts.
That’s all Sam, have a good week!
Jaimie—
You are indeed busy with the script, and I wish you well with it and will take a look myself when you have posted it! Hope you manage some interesting films at the Santiago Festival as well. Wow, I am surprised at that stern repudiation of the latest TWILIGHT movie, though I haven’t seen it and probably won’t. The general critical reaction is along the lines that it’s the best in the series, but as I say it’s not a series I am much interested in. My eldest daughter Melanie, who is 16 now, has always been a very big fan. Thrilled to see that highest rating for REAR WINDOW, which of course is one of the screen’s great masterpieces, and of the glowing prose assessment, and also like the solid reaction to that documentary of it, which I also throught was worthwhile. HOLY MOTORS does achiece that top rating for me, but I understand what you are saying there. I haven’t seen any of the others is this fantastic round-up, but am impressed with your high regard for a number and of your masterful framing of all of these. despite your busy schedule you have managed another stupendous MMD entry, and that creative post on MANHATTAN to boot! Have a great week my friend!
Sam – Hope all is well. It’s been a busy week with various projects going on but I did get to see the following.
Life of Pi (*****) – Incredible and visually stunning film that engrosses you from the beginning to the end. A stunning story of survival and faith. Like Scorsese’s HUGO this is one of the few films worth seeing in 3D
Silver Linings Playbook (****1/2) – A terrific ensemble cast plus a stunning screenplay that is both laugh out loud funny and heartbreaking at the same time.
Captains Courageous (****) Timeless film based on Kipling story with some great performances by Spencer Tracy and young Freddie Bartholomew . Director Fleming does have flare for action which this film is loaded with.
Bed of Roses (***1/2) Sharp pre-code dialogue spices up the storyline about two prostitutes who will do just about anything to catch a rich sugar daddy.
Quantrill Raiders (**1/2) I doubt the historical accracy but either way this is just about what you would expect from a 1950’s B western. Leo Gordon who plays Quantrill is always entertaining as a bad guy.
John—
All is well, thanks very much my friend. And good to see you have been busy, but are still watching movies at an impressive pace. Thrilled to see that highest rating for THE LIFE OF PI, which you frame beautifully, and rightly compare to HUGO in it’s 3D magnificence! I may see it again this week with a few who want to see it. I wasn’t a big fan of SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK, but I admit I am in an extreme minority. In any case Jennifer Lawrence is exceptional, and it does have it’s moments. I know there are some who laugh at Spencer Tracy’s accent in CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS, but as you rightly note it’s very well made and based on a timeless Kipling story. Few might remember Melvyn Douglas plays Bartholemew’s father. The rating for BED OF ROSES is just about deadon as far as I would see it, and I have not seen QUANTRILL RAIDERS, but appreciate the analysis. Thanks as always my friend, and have a great week!
Hi Sam, thanks very much for the plug and I hope you and all at Wonders have a good week! I’m really looking forward to ‘Life of Pi’ as I enjoyed the book and also saw a good stage adaptation a while back where the special effects were minimal – will be interested to see how they manage the tiger on screen. I’m more excited about the film now after your glowing report.
I have only seen a couple of films over the past week. One was the Cary Grant/Joan Bennett screwball comedy ‘Wedding Present’ (1936) which R.D. Finch just reviewed at his site – enjoyed this one a lot, as a film which doesn’t totally hang together but has some very funny scenes. The other was the silent Henry King Western ‘The Winning of Barbara Worth’ (1926), starring Ronald Colman and Vilma Banky and featuring Gary Cooper’s very first acting role – I really liked this wild melodrama, which has wonderful restored colour tints.
Apart from that, I’m busy getting immersed in the season two box set of ‘Boardwalk Empire’ at the moment, and finding it gets better by the episode. I’m also reading a lot of Graham Greene – just really enjoyed ‘No Man’s Land’, a book of two novellas by him. The first one was originally supposed to be a treatment for a film with Carol Reed to follow up ‘The Third Man’ but it never got made, as Reed apparently felt it was too similar to the earlier work – I can see there are similarities, but anyway it is a compelling bitter romance-cum-thriller, set in the Harz mountains after the war. The second story in the book, ‘A Stranger’s Hand’, about a boy searching for his father in Venice, is even better, though unfortunately Greene didn’t finish the story – this one was filmed in 1954, starring Trevor Howard and Alida Valli, although it seems to be an extremely obscure title.
Judy—
That’s most interesting that you watched a stage adaptation of THE LIFE OF PI. That makes the preparation of a film viewing even more informed. I know some others who enjoyed the book, but I haven’t read it myself. There sai most to revel in with this exhilarating film version, that certainly is a prime example of feel good cinema. The young Indian actor is marvelous, and there’s a physical sublimity that is often breathtaking. I haven’t seen WEDDING PRESENT but I still want to respond to R.D.’s excellent piece! Likewise, I haven’t watched THE WINNING OF BARBARA WORTH either, but after your report will definitely seek it out! I need to get on the bandwagon again with BOARDWALK EMPIRE! I started watching it last year and though I did like it I got sidetracked. Great that you are getting into Graham Greene now too!! I did read THE END OF THE AFFAIR and THE QUIET AMERICAN myself years back, but there are many others I wish I could manage. Thanks for those fascinating facts surrounding him and his work. Have a great week my friend!
Sam, thanks so much for the great mention.
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We had a great one here with my wife’s family joining at my parents’ house for an overly-indulgent lunch. Was a great time had by all I believe.
I’m very interested in seeing the THE LIFE OF PI as well as THE OTHER SON. I will have to catch up with these very soon. I also have never seen THE MAN IN THE WHITE SUIT. I am working on changing that as we speak.
This week I finally got to see HOLY MOTORS. Carax is a filmmaker that has long interested me – I attended the 1999 American Cinematheque in Los Angeles tribute to him (I had seen BOY MEETS GIRL back in ’96 and was immediately deeply intrigued by the filmmaker.) They showed his four features to date, and Carax spoke after each screening. I’m still reeling after last night’s screening, but I know it is one of cinema’s deepest-feeling cinephiles’ mournful look at the state of cinema. Although I am not sure yet how many answers Carax offers us, and even if I still feel at times that Carax is spending more time as provocateur than as the incredible lyrical filmmaker he is/can be, I still had a large amount of appreciation for the work. I look forward to letting it reveal more of itself to me in weeks to come.
Thanks so much, Sam, for all that you do. Here’s to another awesome week!