Screen cap from Bruno Dumont’s minimalist ‘Hors Satan’
by Sam Juliano
January 2013 has offered up some surprisingly mild weather to this point, though this revelation could well jinx the spirit of friendship now shared with Mother Nature. I speak of course of the northeast only, and know well the mid-west has received more than their share of the white stuff and chilling temperatures. Today is Martin Luther King Day, and some schools and banks are closed down stateside. There are tentative plans to move forward this coming week with the Oscar discussion video with Dennis at a local restaurant, with Jason Giampietro as always behind the camera. The gathering will be downloaded and then posted at the site something in the very near future on a date to firmed up.
Joel Bocko’s fabulous new film short , Class of 2002, is complete and is presently posted at I Lost It at the Movies. This often arresting photo memoir boasts some brilliant editing and an alluring narrative voice. WitD wishes Joel great success with his new work, and encourages all site readers to access it on the very first link under the MMD proper. Joel states in his lead in: “Class of 2002 is subtitled “a photo-memoir” because it takes the form of a documentary fusing snapshots, home movies, found footage and voiceover to recall the tragic lives of five young people the narrator knew in high school. This is, of course, a work of fiction and through its anecdotes, illustrations, and asides I hope to tell an overarching story. The narrator focuses on his five classmates, whom we discover through his descriptions and recollections, but eventually we learn more about his own life, and how it connects to the people and places we’ve encountered.”
A candle remains lit for Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown Connecticut, the new school in Monroe, and for the valiant principal Dawn Hochsprung, her courageous staff colleagues and the 20 angels who left us on that fateful Friday in mid-December. Selfless first grade schoolteacher Victoria Leigh Soto has now had a new building named after her in her home town of Stamford. A beautiful gesture by local officials, and an insurance policy on the continued memory of this great, beloved young woman.
Two head coach ‘brothers’ will match up in the Super Bowl in two weeks as the Baltimore Ravens take on the San Francisco 49ers after their victories over the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons, respectively on Sunday.
Standing by my recent promise of movie going moderation, Lucille and I saw just two new movie releases over the past week, though as I sheepishly admitted in a previous post I also took in my fifth viewing of Les Miserables with my son Danny and friend Dennis, who has not seen the film previously. I also continued with Mark Cousins’ utterly magnificent The Story of Film: An Odyssey, and have now completed the first five installments. There is nothing quite like it, and I’m happy I finally heeded the advice of friends and colleagues.
Hors Satan *** 1/2 (Friday night) Anthology Film Archives
Mama ** (Saturday night) Union Square Cinemas
Minimalist and Bresson advocate Bruno Dumont (Humanite) has again crafted a metaphysical work, HORS SATAN, with little dialogue and some chilling, mystical undercurrents, all negotiated with non-professional actors and the use of natural sounds in place of music. Yves Cape’s saturated landscape compositions are oddly alluring, if physically drab, and the detached story that combines realism and avante garde slowly builds in pictorial intensity, though the spiritual denouement in unconvincing. Lucille, Sammy and I watched the film on the Anthology’s big-screen with friend Jason Giampietro.
Jessica Chastain is fine in the new horror flick MAMA (a few are saying she is better in the film than she is in Zero Dark Thirty and The Tree of Life, but let’s not even go there) but other than a visually arresting mystical child-mother sequence near that is strangely beautiful the film is mainly a standard shocker that is largely silly and incoherent, and dependent on genre cliches. I did like Fernando Velasquez’s lush and atmospheric score. Velasquez is doing some great work as of late, most notably the mournful music he wrote for The Impossible.
For this week I offer up twenty-five (25) links. The vast majority have been updated, but not every one:
Our very good friend and ever-enthusiastic friend and colleague Joel Bocko (Movie Man) again shows his talent and versatility with superlative new short film Class of 2002, posting at his blogsite: http://thedancingimage.blogspot.com/2013/01/i-made-movie.html
Samuel Wilson has penned a brilliant essay on Zero Dark Thirty at Mondo 70: http://mondo70.blogspot.com/2013/01/on-big-screen-zero-dark-thirty-2012.html
Judy Geater has crafted a terrific essay on Clarence Brown’s little-seen 1933 “Night Flight” with John and Lionel Barrymore at Movie Classics: http://movieclassics.wordpress.com/2013/01/12/night-flight-clarence-brown-1933/
Tony d’Ambra has posted a terrific new feature at FilmsNoir.net on the 1934 Raymond Bernard version of “Les Miserables”: http://filmsnoir.net/film_noir/jean-valjean-in-the-shadows.html
Jon Warner has penned an excellent piece on Julie Delpy’s “2 Days in New York” at Films Worth Watching”: http://filmsworthwatching.blogspot.com/2013/01/2-days-in-new-york-2012-directed-by.html
Laurie Buchanan talks about a very special trip she took with Rod Stewart at Speaking From The Heart: http://holessence.wordpress.com/2013/01/15/rod-stewart-and-deja-vu/
John Greco has penned a fabulous essay on “Sorry Wrong Number” at Twenty Four Frames: http://twentyfourframes.wordpress.com/2013/01/18/sorry-wrong-number-1948-anatole-litvak/
Richard R.D. Finch astutely examines the 1966 Oscar picks at The Movie Projector as we move throught the height of this year’s awards’ season: http://themovieprojector.blogspot.com/2013/01/my-oscar-picks-1966.html
At Vermillion and One Nights Murderous Ink has posted a spectacular piece on “Evangelion After Fukushima” (Part 2): http://vermillionandonenights.blogspot.com/2012/12/evangelion-after-fukushima-part-2.html
Fimmaker Jeffrey Goodman has several updates at The Last Lullaby, including his latest a splendid quartet of capsules that includes “The Breaking Point,” “Senna” and “The Edge of the World”: http://cliched-monologues.blogspot.com/2012/12/beau-travail-1999.html
“Evening and the Arbutus Tree” is a magnificent new painting by Terrill Welch, and it’s incorporated in a fabulous new post at the Creativepotager’s blog: http://creativepotager.wordpress.com/2013/01/10/unraveling-the-artistic-influences-and-intentions-behind-the-painting-evening-and-the-arbutus-tree/
Roderick Heath has written an enthralling essay on Walter Sallas’s “On the Road” at Ferdy-on-Films: http://www.ferdyonfilms.com/2013/on-the-road-2012/17394/
Sachin Gandhi presents the Ten Best Canadian Films of 2012 in a terrific post at Scribbles and Ramblings: http://likhna.blogspot.com/2013/01/top-10-canadian-films-of-2012.html
Pat Perry is leading up with her “Final word on the best and worst of 2012” at Doodad Kind of Town: http://doodadkindoftown.blogspot.com/2013/01/my-last-word-on-2012-years-best-and.html
Capsule King Shubhajit Lahiri leads up with a superb piece on Kobayashi’s “Kwaidan” at Cinemascope: http://cliched-monologues.blogspot.com/2013/01/kwaidan-kaidan-1964.html
Ed Howard has penned a magnificent essay on “The Salvation Hunters” at Living in Cinema: http://seul-le-cinema.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-salvation-hunters.html
Dee Dee offers up a terrific Andrew Katsis essay on “It’s A Wonderful Life” connection the film with ‘noir’ at Darkness into Light: http://noirishcity.blogspot.com/2012/12/my-writer-andrew-katsistakes-look-at.html
David Schleicher offers up a superlative essay on the new horror film “Mama” with Jessica Chastain at The Schleicher Spin: http://theschleicherspin.com/2013/01/19/mama-say-mama-dont/
At Living in Cinema Craig Kennedy is leading up with a dialogue quick post on Robert Altman’s little-seen first film “The Delinquents”: http://livingincinema.com/2013/01/20/the-delinquents-1957/
At Overlook’s Corridor Jaimie Grijalba continues his intricate study of Chilean cinema: http://overlookhotelfilm.wordpress.com/2012/12/23/chilean-cinema-2012-16-stefan-vs-kramer-2012/
Weeping Sam’s latest post at The Listening Ear is a terrific combined piece comparing similar aspects in “Lincoln” and “Django Unchained”: http://listeningear.blogspot.com/2013/01/lincoln-django-unchained.html
At The Blue Vial Drew McIntosh is leading up with a superb screen cap presentation of Otto Preminger’s “Whirlpool”: http://thebluevial.blogspot.com/2012/12/whirlpool.html
At Patricia’s Wisdom the ever-spirited proprietor offers up “10 Steps to Finding Your Happy Place-My Gift to You”: http://patriciaswisdom.com/2012/12/10-steps-to-finding-your-happy-place-my-gift-to-you/
At Radiator Heaven J.D. La France offers up a fantastic essay on “On the Road”: http://rheaven.blogspot.com/2013/01/on-road.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
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Thanks for the mention Sam and your wonderful comments. Also, glad you posted a link to Joel’s film because it nicely draws one into the character’s lives.
I don’t think I will be seeing Mama anytime soon but some friends were quite excited to see it. Although, interesting to see the top 2 box-office films at the weekend both starred Jessica Chastain. I found her performance in Zero Dark Thirty just remarkable. Also, the final 20 minutes in Zero Dark.. are some of the best directed segments I have seen in a Hollywood film for a while. You could feel the tension in that & the car scene in the packed cinema hall. That was the last of the 2012 films that I had planned to see in a cinema so now I can take a break and catch up on many other DVDs that have been piling up.
I’m with you Sachin, I think Chastain WAS remarkable in ZD30. Many have complained (not at this site), that there is nothing to her character. I found her incredibly fascinating and totally believable even if I didn’t really KNOW anything about her.
Sachin—
Be rest assured it was a great honor to have Joel’s film up at the site and linked to this thread in particular. MAMA’s reviews have been divided, and with some apparently very impressed. I would agree with those who are singing the praises of Jessica Chastain, but the movie itself (for me) is hugely problematic. You may well think otherwise though. It was a remarkable feat to have the top two money-makers over the past week for sure! As you note she was astounding in ZERO as was Bigelow’s direction. ZERO was definitely a movie to see in the cinema! Great to have Jon aboard here too! Have a great week my friend. Many thanks as always!
Standing by my recent promise of movie going moderation, Lucille and I saw just two new movie releases over the past week,
With all the new releases everywhere, Sam, you sure picked a tough time of year to ration yourself. 🙂
Regarding your Oscar video, might it be easier or more logical to wait until after the SAG awards? Just sayin’. . . .
What has logic to do with it? This is the Oscars, about as logical as the duck billed platypus.
Well, the logic Pierre is speaking about here -and he makes a lot of sense- has to do with waiting for the SAG and maybe the PGA later this week before firming up predictions. Those two groups and the later DGA hold the vital clues to how the Academy will be going this year. This is not a defense of the Oscars at all, just a way of figuring out what they will do. But I well know you could care less about that, and methinks that’s fair enough.
And Pierre, yes indeed as far as January! Ha! It’s the dog month for movies! Have a great week my friend!
As always, thanks for the mention. I was looking forward to watching MAMA but I may hold off until the home video release as you and a few others have had some uninspiring comments.
Watched the following…
Zero Dark Thirty (*****) Gripping, cinema vérité style filmmaking chronicling the hunt for Obama Bin Laden wonderfully executed by Kathryn Bigalow. Anyone expecting an action film will be disappointed. The movie focuses more on the procedurals, the mechanics, the daily drudge investigative work and politics involved in the ten year hunt. A gripping real life adult thriller.
Gangster Squad (**1/2) ‘Inspired by a true event,” we are told which in movie code means this story happened but nothing like you are about to see. It’s overly violent and tries too hard to be cool. What we get is a brainless script along with a lot of stylish, cartoonish blood spilling, thousands of bullets flying destroying some really nice elaborate period sets. The impressive cast (Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Sean Penn and Emma Stone) are wasted but they do look good in their period costumes.
Sorry, Wrong Number (****) Not great and Stanwyck never lets you forget she’s acting but Poilto’s evocative cinematography and Litvak’s claustrophobic direction keep you interested. Review up at Twenty Four Frames.
The Ox-Bow Incident (*****) Dark, excellent psychological western focusing on mob mentality and its tragic aftermath. The film’s only drawback is its artificial sets, but Wellman fortunately shoots much of the film in close-up that it becomes a minor point.
The Pilgrim (****) Entertaining Chaplin short with Charlie as an escaped convict, posing as a minster in a small Texas town. The film’s ending shot with Chaplin straddling the U.S./Mexican border as he walks down the road is a nice play on his famous ending.
The Scarecrow (****) Filled with typical Keaton slight gags and gadgets. The opening scene with Joe Roberts in their “modern” kitchen, filled with labor saving devices and gadgets, is charming and hysterically funny. The chase scenes, as one would expect from Keaton, are brilliantly constructed especially the motorcycle getaway at the end with Buster and his girl, scooping up a minister on the way and getting married.
Bumping into Broadway (***1/2) Cleverly amusing and fast moving Harold Lloyd short with Bebe Daniels and Snub Pollard. Enjoyable, if nothing special.
Laughing Gravy (***1/2) Laurel and Hardy short. Not their best work but this film has plenty of laughs and is typical of their work. The suicidal ending by the landlord (Charlie Hall) is a surprising bit of dark humor.
Frankenweenie (****) Tim Burton affectionate tribute to old Universal horror films that he loved so much in his childhood. Loved the black and white animation.
They Won’t Believe Me (***1/2) a solid, devastating noirish drama that should be better known with a superb sexy performance by Susan Hayward. Cast also includes Robert Young and Jane Greer.
Cry Danger (****) Excellent film noir with Dick Powell (who independently produced the film) as an ex-con out to prove his innocence. Excellent snappy script and some nice performances from Powell, William Conrad and Jay Alder.
Love is a Racket (***) Cynical tale of Broadway, news reporters and the underworld. The film is fairly fast moving with enough wise cracks to keep you interested. A nice feel for the early 1930’s Broadway period. Directed by William Wellman.
They Call it Sin (**1/2) Innocent mid-west girl comes to the big bad city and gets mixed up with three men. Nice cast and a short running time keep it entertaining enough but it’s all rather ordinary.
John—
I’m sure MAMA will be around for quite a while, should you have the hankering to check it out. As it is you had a remarkable week, spectacular in fact! Wow. Looks like you are joining many others who have expressed their views on ZERO DARK THIRTY at this site, all except for one who have given this critically-praised masterwork their highest rating. Your capsule is certainly inspired. Your other five star movie in this line-up is the 1943 THE OX-BOW INCIDENT by William Wellman, and I concur lock, stock and barrel. THE PILGRIM and THE SCARECROW are wonderful silent comedies, and I like you quite fond of Laurel & Hardy’s LAUGHING GRAVY. The Lloyd is fine, but yes, nothing special. He’s had far greater films. You penned a terrific piece on SORRY WRONG NUMBER at 24 FRAMES, and I am pretty much in agreement, right down to the rating. I have avoided GANGSTER SQUAD, but I see I need not worry about rushing out to see it. Ha! I loved FRANKENWEENIE, which was my favorite animated film of this past year. Completely agree on Wellman’s LOVE IS A RACKET, and the solid CRY DANGER, but haven’t seen THEY CALL IT SIN.
As I say John, an incredible week of watching, and some great and solid ones in the mix! Have a great week ahead my friend. Many thanks!
Thanks for the mention, Sam, and I hope you have a great week! I’m still reading James Harvey’s enormous book on romantic comedies and trying to see the films he discusses… following that through, I saw two great later Lubitsch films this week, ‘Heaven Can Wait’ (1943), a Technicolor period piece with Don Ameche as a shameless roué romancing Gene Tierney, and ‘Cluny Brown’ (1946), with Jennifer Jones as a maid who really wants to be a plumber and Charles Boyer as a refugee who falls for her – I loved both of these films and found the various incidents and plot twists delightfully unexpected.
Following another Harvey suggestion, I also watched the pre-Code melodrama ‘The Power and the Glory’ (1933), scripted by Preston Sturges with a young Spencer Tracy as a rags-to-riches tycoon, and was fascinated to see how it jumps around timewise – I could see why this is thought to have been an influence on ‘Citizen Kane’. Really liked this one too.
I also saw the third ‘Thin Man’ film, ‘Another Thin Man’ (1939), but, although Powell and Loy are grat together as ever, I didn’t think this has the same charm as the first two Nick and Nora films, and I quickly got fed up with Powell calling Loy ‘Mummy’ all the time – hoping he will not keep this up for the last three films in my box set!
Judy—
You managed some very fine films this week! I watched CLUNY BROWN several months back during a week long run at the Film Forum. It’s a charming film for sure, and I’m not at all concerned about some of the complaints about the inconsistency of the accents. I also love the 1943 HEAVEN CAN WAIT, which I believe was nominated for a Best Picture Oscar that year. Another winner too with THE POWER AND THE GLORY. Harvey’s book sounds like an essential read! Ha, I like what you say there about the ongoing prospects for further THIN MAN viewings! Well, I am not the biggest fan of the series, but I have always promised myself I’d go back for the first two. In any case I acknowledgement the vast popularity. Thanks for the fabulous wrap my friend! Have a great week. Hope to investigate Harvey myself at some point.
Thanks for the kind words (to sachin as well). Glad you are continuing with Story of Film! I find the first five and last five to be the most compelling, though the whole thing is great. And it makes you want to see so many movies, some again, some for the first time…
Joel—
My pleasure! Yes I have now completed five episodes, and can corroborate what you say about the superlative quality of the presentation! It does indeed give you the urge to check out some movies and re-visit many others! Have a great week my friend!
Sam, I just watched the Obama inauguation. I’m surprised you didn’t secure tickets! There’s an amazing crowd, but I understand it was even bigger the first time.
Moving photos of the Newtown angels. I applaud you for keeping the candle burning.
I’m thinking Baltimore will prevail in the Super Bowl. They seem to be the team of destiny.
Frank—
I also watched and listened to it live. As expected a very moving speech, with a pointed reference to the Newtown tragedy. He packed quite a bit into that relatively short presentation. Thanks for the very kind words on the candle and photos. You are apparently not the only one at the site who is favoring Baltimore. As I told Peter I am thinking that way too, but it’s a difficult call. Thanks as always my very good frioend!
I watched Joel Bocko’s film. He’s quite a talent! Hope all the readers check it out.
Frank–
Joel is indeed quite a talent, and in his behalf I thank you for checking out his wonderful short film!
Sam, the Niners showed impressive resilience yet again yesterday. I wasn’t a fan back in their golden age but I respect the current team and expect them to beat the Ravens.
Saw a couple of recent foreign films. Andrey Zviagintsev’s Elena is impeccably framed to the point of being overproduced — the Phillip Glass score furthers that impression, given the simplicity of the story. It’s best at simply describing the class divide in Russia in the long sequence when the title character commutes to her son’s flat in the shadow of a nuclear power plant; the crime plot almost makes the story too small for the film’s pictorial ambition. Tsui Hark’s Flying Swords of Dragon Gate is overproduced in a different way. The more that Chinese filmmakers can actually realize the amazing feats of wuxia heroes with CGI, the less impressive these films become compared with the bread-and-butter mayhem Jimmy Wang Yu managed with a host of extras in 1973’s Beach of the War Gods. As you’ve read, Sam, that older film has one of the greatest action sequences I’ve ever seen. If the film isn’t so well known in the US it’s probably because by the time it reached here audiences were more interested in virtuoso kung fu than mass swordplay. But Wang Yu invests his film with a dynamic vitality largely missing from Tsui Hark’s extravaganza. Also tried a curio from TCM: Lew Landers’s The Boogie Man Will Get You, a horror comedy with Karloff playing a mad scientist as if he were one of the sisters from Arsenic and Old Lace, supported by Peter Lorre in an ill-defined role as his town’s leading citizen, dressed like an old-time politician. This is the sort of picture where every character is some sort of idiot or nut and the action grows more frantic to diminishing effect. Landers showed a surer hand with Fixer Dugan an amiable circus picture with a relatively subdued and benign Lee Tracy in the title role and a focus on an orphaned moppet who becomes the female lion tamer’s protege. Utterly featherweight but a pleasantly serviceable B-picture. Happy holiday, everyone!
Samuel—
I am actually thinking it will be the Ravens who will prevail, but it’s clear enough this will be a barn burner in every sense. And having the two brothers helm the respective teams has brought another level of intrigue to the match-up. Don’t think I’d bet either way, outside of the traditional football pool with the boxes! Ha! Very interesting analysis of the critically-acclaimed ELENA. Well, I do agree with the ‘crime plot being too small to approach the film’s political ambitions’ and that’s essentially what kept me from rating it above four stars. But there are others here at the site (Maurizio seems to come to mind) who really feel it’s powerful. I loved Glass, but I think you have a very good argument there. Yes I was quite riveted with your essay on BEACH OF THE WAR GODS, and would have no trouble accepting that conclusion at all. Ya know, I haven’t seen THE BOOGIE MAN WILL GET YOU (proof that there are still a few Karloffs out there I need to take in) but would love to! Karloff and Lorre in ARSENIC AND OLD LACE mode? Wow. Same goes for the other Landers B film FIXER DUGAN. It’s fun to view this pictures sometimes. Have a great week my friend. Many thanks as always!
Didn’t have any problem with Glass’s score as music, but it did add an air of pretentiousness to Elena that deflates with its “Is that it?” finish. I’d still recommend the film as a visual feast that does better illustrating the class divide than attempting to indict some kind of all-encompassing amorality.
The Niners have stood in the breath of the dragon more than once by now — the second half of the Patriots game, the first quarter against the Falcons — and found ways to win. I’m not convinced that the Ravens have an answer to that.
Samuel, the Ravens have accomplished their own string of heroics as well, and they did vanquish the dreaded Patriots. This game could go either way the way I am figuring it,, but the 49er’s are indeed the slight favorite by 3 or 4 points.
I hear ya on those Glass and ELENA elaborations.
Congratulations to Mr. Joel Bocko on a terrific short film, one that deserves finding an audience.
I believe the Ravens will beat the 49ers.
Peter—
I’m sure Joel will much appreciate the compliment! As to what you say here I completely agree!
The bother bowl is a very tough call, but you may well be right. I’m leaning that way too. Have a great week my friend!
Hello Sam and everyone!
Don’t tell anyone, but I’m doing this from work, hehe.
Anyway, it’s nice to hear you are keeping calm with the new releases, the festivals and whatnot, specially with that trip in mind, it’s always nice to think that at the end of a series of sacrifices it’s a nice goal.
The Muriels are getting closer to their date of ballot delivery and I still have some movies to watch for my ballot to be perfect. You have the elegibility list Sam? I can send it to you if you don’t.
Anyway, I’ve been working for the magazine for the past weeks and it’s been fine, and I’ve also had some time to spend with the girlfriend… and also it’s my birthday this wednesday so I’m also going for that.
My week in the movies:
– A la sombra del Sol (Aka: Under the shadow of the Sun) (1974, Silvio Caiozzi, Pablo Perelman) ***1/2 A movie premiered after the dictatorship started in Chile, and it was this tale about a couple of criminals who rape and kill two women in the north of Chile, just to be killed by the townspeople in a sense of public justice. The cinematography is gorgeous and the themes are brave for the time, but it’s still a bit choppy under the tropes of narrative filmmaking, but overall, it’s ok.
– Tomorrow’s Sun (1959, Nagisa Oshima) ****1/2 Well, I was a bit sad when I knew of the death of Nagisa Oshima, specially when it was a director that interested me a lot, but I really hadn’t seen anything by him, so I decided to take a look at his directorial debut, a short film that poses under a fake trailer for a famous japanese filming company, with samurai fights and modern set pieces, as well as recognizable actors. Entertaining and colorful this one made me really happy and looking forward to the movies of Oshima.
– Cigarettes & Coffee (1993, Paul Thomas Anderson) **** A short film by the amazing director PTA that shows some of his interests early on, with many dialogues and a time bending narrative that mixes different situations, characters and even some of the actors that he would work with sooner than later. Amazing to watch, even if the quality isn’t the best available right now.
– Django Unchained (2012, Quentin Tarantino) ***** I knew this would be one of my favorite movies of the year, but nothing prepared me for this kind of absolute fun and bloodshed that Tarantino had keeping inside him, while I don’t think that is better than its predecesor film masterpiece Inglourious Basterds, this is a masterpiece on its own, with its own style, visual and morally thinking, as a famous chilean documentarian said, you can’t deny that Tarantino is always and at all times morally consecuent.
– Escuela Santa María de Iquique (1970, Claudio Sapiaín) ***1/2 A visual poem/documentary that talks about one of the biggest killings in the history of Chile, the one in Iquique, it’s interesting because of the time and the music that its used.
– Life of Pi (2012, Ang Lee) ****1/2 So, yes, I watched all the movies nominated for best picture at the Oscars and can now talk freely about them, and while this isn’t my favorite, and I’m sad that it won’t win any major award, it’s a superb feat to even have this made, this is a quiet and beautiful movie about our relation to nature, and nature itself at the same time. The special effects were superb and in another level altogether, as well as the 3D, that was immersive and spectacular at parts.
– Mother’s Day (1980, Charles Kaufman) *** This is one of the horrendous classics from Troma, but this one lacks the silly attitude of other films like Poultrygeist or The Toxic Avenger, this one is harsh, but it does have certain strange parts that could be considered silly, but are treated in such a serious manner that they lack anything to make it laughable, this rape revenge movie is not as outrageous as other examples of the genre, but it’s not good either.
– Mother’s Day (2010, Darren Lynn Bousman) ***1/2 This remake (kinda) of the film is better filmed, better shot, and better acted, and it has some genuine moments of thrills and emotions that make it worth a watch if you are into the house invasion genre of films, you’d be surprised by how A-list this movie looks and feels thanks to the acting and the framing, as well as the cinematography of the whole endeavour. It has a great set of main performances.
– The Musketeers of Pig Alley (1912, D.W. Griffith) ***1/2 One of the best Griffith shorts that I’ve seen, this one is a melancholic story about a man and his fiancee and a group of gangsters that try to make things hard for our heroes. Great editing.
Have a good week Sam!
Jaimie—-
I’m certainly trying to exercise moderation, and the time of the year is helping. (January and even February are traditionally the weakest movie months). I don’t have the Muriels eligibility list, but I do have the voting ballot, which I will be working on over the next few days. Nice to hear that the work time is panning out well and you are getting together with your girl friend. Actually Jaimie, I DO think LIFE OF PI will win a few awards, (cinematography, musical score and visual effects) even if the top prizes seem like a long shot. Still a determined minority think it may still win the big prizes. Unlikely, but possible. Great that you valued it that much. It’s a beautiful film. I see the usually reliable London Film Critics Circle gave Ang Lee their Best Director prize this week for the film. Thrilled to see you gave Tarantino’s film your highest rating! It’s my absolute favorite by the T man. I also love Oshima’s work and was saddened to hear of his passing. I didn’t see the short you wax lyrical about here, but have seen most of his major features. No fan of MOTHER’S DAY, and haven’t seen the Anderson and Griffith shorts, nor the Chilean films. Thanks for the fabulous round-up my friend, and have a great week!
Sam –
I’m pretty sure that you guys are enjoying some surprisingly mild weather because there was a delivery error — we accidentally received what you were expecting!
Five? I’m fairly confident it would be impossible to overdose on LES MISERABLES. I’m glad you got to see it again with Danny and Dennis.
With only two stars for HORS SATAN, we don’t plan to see it. And even if you gave it five stars, there’s no way I’m going to be lured into a dark theater to see MAMA —a horror film — no way!
We so appreciate the lit candle for Sandy Hook Elementary School. And I’m thrilled to learn that Victoria Leigh Soto has had a building named after her in Stamford.
Thank you for pointing to Speaking from the Heart. I appreciate YOU!
Laurie—-
Ha! Yep there was most certainly a delivery error, and sad to say you and Len are getting wrapped with a rather miserable January. I am hoping that the worst is behind. It’s always easiest to see musical films repeatedly as it’s a variation of sorts on the listening of a CD or album. But LES MIS is a huge favorite in this house for sure! Laurie, I actually have 3.5 for HORS, and 2 for MAMA, so as far as the latter horror film I do not recommend it at all. January is traditionally the worst month of the year for movies.
Thanks so much for the solidarity and support for the eternal candle. Miss Soto’s actions were heroic in the greatest sense, and her home town gave her a much deserved honor.
Thanks so much for the very kind words my friend. Have a special week!
Sam,
Thanks for the kind mention my friend, even though I know you don’t like the film. Haha. It’s all good. Today I had the day off for MLK day so it’s been a relaxing day. My only reason for wanting to see Mama…..is of course to see the lovely and spectacular Miss Chastain, although I will probably wait for DVD on this one. I had an epic week of catching up on films last week seeing more than a dozen films in total.
I was disappointed by all of the following newer films: The Paperboy, Flight, Skyfall, and Argo. Somehow the James Bond series has take all of the fun out of the series and has done the same thing that the super hero movies have done……tried to make it “serious.” This is not a good development IMO. It’s almost like all of those who praised TDKR and Skyfall this year were lapping things up as if they were so grateful to the films that they put something meaningful into them. I have a hard time accepting the juxtaposition of the spectacularly unbelievable with the dramatic tendencies these films now reach for. Where’s the sense of humor?
As I said with Argo, the movie stretches too far in its final passages for my taste. I know it’s Hollywood, but even by those standards it relied too much on cliche for the amount of praise it has gotten.
I also caught up with some older films….the spectacular Fistfull of Dollars, which for some reason I have never seen….I also saw Heaven’s Gate, another wonderful film which I just saw for the first time. I also started catching up with Frank Borzage. I have a bunch of films with me for this week. I have never really seen anything by him and I want your opinion on what his best works are? I have 7th Heaven, Street Angel, Bad Girl, Lucky Star etc…
Then there was Zero Dark Thirty.
It was even better than I expected, a full-on epic masterpiece. I’m starting to feel it’s a near flawless film, masterfully executed, wonderfully acted, paced, shot, written. Chastain’s Maya is a fascinating character with an obsession for the ages, It’s a brilliant turn and a brilliant film. I was continually struck with how invested I was in the human aspects of the story, even though the focus is on the procedures and investigation. I am quickly pulling together an essay that I hope to post on Wed, so please look for that this week as I will share many more thoughts in detail there. I am having a hard time containing myself on this one.
Have a super week Sam! Talk toon.
Jon—
Hope you enjoyed your day off for MLK! I know it all goes racing by. True I was no fan of Delpy’s film, but there are a number of others who quite like it. I rather liked SKYFALL myself, but there are some others here like Tony who agree with your dismissive assessment. Agreed on FLIGHT and THE PAPERBOY, but as you know I think ARGO is excellent myself. But your issues are sound, and we can move on beyond that to ZERO DARK THIRTY, a masterful work of American cinema. Can’t blame you one iota for thinking it may be flawless, and agree wholeheartedly that the Maya character is brilliant and brilliantly played by Chastain. The human aspects aqre really what put this film over the top as mesmerizing as it is throughout. I do indeed look forward to your essay and know you will do this film full justice! As far as Frank Borzage, I’d have these as the essentials in no particular order:
Seventh Heaven
Street Angel
Desire
Liliom
The River
Lucky Star
Bad Girl
The Mortal Storm
A Farewell to Arms
Thre Comrades
China Doll
Little Man, What Now?
Man’s Castle
Song O’ My Heart
Lazybones
Our good friend Judy knows his work quite well and has written some essays over at MOVIE CLASSICS. I also like A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS quite a bit my friend. I watched it recently at the spaghetti western festival. Have a great week my friend. Many thanks as always!
Thanks for the insights on Borzage….I will continue my exploration and try to track down a few more of these.
Just thought I’d drop in and let everybody know I’ve posted my picks for the best, the worst, the most overrated films of 2012, plus my own personal Oscars for the year, on FILMICABILITY. http://filmicability.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-25-best-movies-of-2012.html
I just took a look at your spectacular presentation Dean, and all I can say is wow!!!! I will soon add my two cents. Looks like your top ten is dominated by foreign-language films! Great show, and I hope readers check it out. For one I know Maurizio will be delighted to see ANATOLIA in the top spot!
Sam,
Thanks for kind mention.
I finally caught Affleck/Phoenix’s I’M STILL HERE on DVD. I missed it the first round and totally forgot about it. It’s a surreal work. I knew what it is about, how it was made, and how it was received, but it has a tremendous power way beyond I had expected. It works on many levels, building a rhetorical labyrinth on the question, “what is real?” This film is a kind of sickening pill to swallow, but I always find it interesting to explore the boundary between reality and fiction.
I hope you have a nice week ahead!
MI
MI—
I will confess I am not much for I’M STILL HERE, which I saw in the theater and thought tedious and disconcerting, but as you note there is much more beyond what one may perceive on the first viewing. The “what is real?’ aspect of course is vital for understanding where the film is coming from, and like other disturbing films like Alex Cox’s SID AND NANCY, we do need to look beyond ‘turn off’ mode. I may get to this again at some point now that you have broached it. Have a great week my friend!
Hello Sam!
I am a day late and a dollar short, as usual, but wanted to check in here. I’m so glad you are loving the Cousins’ series. I think I’m about ready to watch the whole 15 hours again!
Both Marlon and I had MLK day off work, so between us, we had a three-day cinematic binge! Over the three-day weekend, I managed to catch up with late 2012 releases: THE IMPOSSIBLE, HITCHCOCK, SKYFALL and ZERO DARK THIRTY. I also finally caught FAREWELL MY QUEEN and rewatched BERNIE (which I liked even better the second time around, and also even more lamented Jack Black’s absence from the Best Actor Oscar slate.) I caught a couple of classics as well – watched TOP HAT again on Sunday evening, just because it was on the local PBS station and I can never resist it. I also finally watched Lubitsch’s TO BE OR NOT TO BE, the first time I had seen it in its entirety.
About THE IMPOSSIBLE – Sam, I know how much you loved it, but I couldn’t get past the fact that it depicted a catastrophic natural disaster which killed over a quarter million Asians as a tragedy of rich white people washed off their luxury resorts. (And yes I know it’s a true story and that rich white people have tragedies, too, but still..)
Also, can’t fathom why Naomi Watts is on so many awards slates, as it’s young Tom Holland who is the star performer here. On that, at least, we can agree.
HITCHCOCK was well-acted but ridiculous claptrap. About ZERO DARK THIRTY, I haven’t quite made up my mind. I wasn’t as riveted by it as I was by Bigelow’s HURT LOCKER, and the moral ambiguity made me a bit queasy.
Very much looking forward to your Oscar discussion with Dennis!
Pat—-
Be rest assured you are never late here, and thanks very much for stopping in! Yes I am slowly moving ahead with the Cousins’ series and have reached the sixth episode. I can see this having some major value as a keeper, and can’t blame you for mulling another round. Yes, you really did go on a binge over the three day weekend indeed! I would have loved to see Jack Black myself on the shortlist, and agree BERNIE well-deserved more attention, even if it did at least land on a number of ten-best lists. Always great to get another opportunity to see the likes of TOP HAT and TO BE OR NOT TO BE! Pat, the situation with THE IMPOSSIBLE as far as who was being depicted here was slightly altered by the filmmakers, who chose to feature Caucasians rather than the Hispanic family whose lives during the calamity were being chronicled. As you note it was a true story, and the director Bayona paid little attention to the social class aspects and far more to the wrenching issue of parental and sibling separation. I will have more to say about that in a full review I am planning for Thursday, if I can indeed negotiate it. I still believe Naomi Watts deserved her nomination as she plays this kind of physically ravaged character quite well, but I completely agree with you on young Tom Holland stealing this film. He was absolutely extraordinary, and for my money the Best Supporting Actor of 2012. (though it could be reasonably argued that he’s the lead) I know a very small minority have argued there was manipulation at play here, I would respond by asserting that it’s hard to believe in a near-death situation like this that people would behave any other way. There was a mighty contribution here from the composer Fernando Velasquez. Still, I completely understand where you are coming from, and know well that the film will affect people in different ways.
Have a great week my friend! Many thanks as always!
Sam, thanks a lot for the mention, and apologies for being a bit late in joining in.
Is “movie going moderation” a New Year resolution of yours? If yes, I sincerely hope that you don’t stick with it for too long – resolutions, after all, are meant to be broken, aren’t they? 🙂
The project by Joel sounds darn interesting. I remember having been a regular at a video project that he’d hosted at his site, and must say it was absolutely terrific & a highly memorable experience. So I’ll make it a point to check it out in the evening after reaching home.
Since last Tuesday morning I’ve been having a bad eye infection which has been alternating between the upper & lower halves of my eye. That, along with hectic work schedule & some fair bit of traveling for work ensured that I didn’t get to watch much on the movie front.
Anyway, here’s what I managed to watch this past week:
– The delectable Nikkatsu Noir, A Colt is My Passport
– The crisp & likeable (albeit mostly non-political) Jiri Menzel film, Capricious Summer
– Zero Dark Thirty – taut & gripping film with documentary realism, if not the best film of the year
Shubhajit—-
I am very sorry to hear about the eye infection. To say that movie watching would be impacted would be an understatement I know. Hope you are recovering from this steadily.
You are never late to this thread my friend! Lamentably it is I who am late responding. Yes, resolutions are meant to be broken, but for now it’s easy to stick by a resolve that promises moderation during the absolute worst movie month of every year. This is the time for re-viewings and some at-home watching. Presently, I am working my way through the excellent “A Story of Film” by Mark Cousins. Yes Joel, is really doing some fabulous work these days, and his film has mightily impressed many viewers. ZERO DARK THIRTY is indeed one of the very best films of the year, and one that will only get better on re-viewing. I still haven’t watched that Nikkatsu, but have seen the Menzel and agree. Have a great weekend my friend, and nurse that eye problem.
Sam, by keeping the Sandy Hook tragedy front and center and with so many gun-related horrors in this country, thanks for keeping the gun control debate in all our minds.
Still haven’t seen ‘Django’ and ‘Les Miz’ because every time I try, the theater is sold out. So I’ve reread ‘Cosmopolis’, large chunks of ‘Les Miserables’ and right now I’m about halfway through ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’ (as a primer for ‘Django’).
Two films: ‘Shoot the Pianist’ — The French New Wave fascination with American crime pulp, small-scale fatalism, tropes of silent film japery, and a climactic shoot-out in the snow that may have influenced Bertolucci (‘The Conformist’) and Altman (‘McCabe & Mrs. Miller’). Oh, yeah, Truffaut directed at the peak of his early cinematic elan. A+, highly recommended.
‘We Have A Pope’ (Nanni Moretti) — Wildly original idea, not quite fully exploited, still so unusual that I was riveted throughout. Michel Piccoli (“Contempt’, ‘The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie’, ‘The Young Girls of Rochefort’, ‘Holy Motors’ and on and on) plays the frightened pontiff who feels severely inadequate in his lofty new position. Where are the hosannas and awards for this fine performance? A-.
Mark—
Nothing has moved and devastated me more than the calamity at Sandy Hook. It’s impossible not to reflect on each and every day, and as you note it does keep the gun control discussion on the table at a time when politicians are more than hard-pressed to take some unprecedented actions. Newtown officials are encouraging locals and out of state residents to partake in an economic recovery day this coming Saturday, with the local businesses primed to host a mass convergence on stores throughout the community. I will be heading up there in the morning with my family to do some shopping.
I am amazed to hear the theaters showing DJANGO and LES MISERABLES continue to be sold out nearly a week after they opened! But re-visiting Hugo’s original in some capacity is the upside to such a downer! And UNCLE TOM’S CABIN as a primer for DJANGO? Wow! You really take the bull by the horns my friend. I also have very high regard for Truffaut’s SHOOT THE PIANO PLAYER, and watched WE HAVE A POPE a few months ago at the Moretti Festival, and liked it quite a bit. You frame both here superbly!
Have a great weekend my friend!!!
I have been down for the count with a cold flu this past week but now on the mend I can say that one of the nice things about being stuck in bed is that movies are great company. Two gems I greatly enjoyed are:
L’Amour Fou – 2010 directed by Pierre Thoretton French documentary about fashion designer Yves Saint-Laurent his lover Pierre Berge and the disposal of their art collection. With all of the overt celebration of love, caring and compassion there is an underlying sadness that no possession and no amount of love ever led to any sustainable amount of happiness for Yves. This likely the most striking element of what is a most direct and frank glimpse into a private and public life of the fashion designer.
The Wind Journeys – 2009 directed by Ciro Guerra. After the death if his wife, an accordion player wants to return the instrument to the man who taught him to play. Mythical, magical and the devil’s due are all part of a long journey for accordion player and the young boy who insists on going with him. Much left me puzzled because of the deep cultural context of the film – a context I am too unfamiliar with to all but guess at some of the significance of various events and experiences. Still, I wanted to know, I wanted to understand and so found the film compelling and fresh take on an old story about the devil and musicians.
Well this it all for this week Sam and may the sun be shining brightly in our hearts as we go forward…
Terrill—
I am very sorry to hear about your bout with the flu, and well know what havoc that can do with prospective plans, not to mention extreme discomfort. This is sadly the time of the year when the strain seems to be worst, and I can see from the active cases here in the school. Ugh. But yes, movies are indeed a panacea for being laid up. As to the two films you report on here, I am sorry to say I have seen neither. Certainly the subjects of both interest me greatly, especially THE WIND JOURNEYS. I will move now to investigate both. Your capsules are probing and make stellar cases for both. Yves Saint-Laurant is also a fascinating subject, and the documentary sounds like it’s well worth a look. Feel well, and have a productive weekend my friend! Many thanks as always!
Sam, thanks so much for the mention. I apologize for just hopping on. I’ve been on the road most of the last two weeks.
I actually haven’t seen anything since my last report, but I was happy to read your blurb on the Dumont. I was a fan of HUMANITE when it came out and impressed at the very least by Dumont’s eye for the frame.
Thanks so much, Sam, for all that you do. Here’s to an awesome week!