Cate Blanchett in Woody Allen’s “Blue Jasmine”
by Sam Juliano
I want to thank everyone who sent me e mails or left phone messages in regards to Lucille’s condition. She is feeling better and is home resting, though she was adamant she wanted to see the new Woody Allen movie over the weekend. As I reported in a previous post we all had a traumatic week. Lucille was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), though she has the less aggressive remissive strain. The vast majority of people live full lives and normal life expectancy with this condition, and the treatments have been known to keep symptoms and progression at bay. Two people in our school system have lived with this for over 40 years and are doing fine. New medicines for MS have done wonders for so many people, and Lucille will begin with these meds when we return. Our lives will change to be sure, and at this point I will know what my own priorities will be. Lucille’s doctor said the upcoming U.K. trip is a blessing after the hectic week, and he advised against cancellation. So all seven of us will be flying out on August 7th, and returning on August 21st.
I just received a beautiful e mail from my good friend Patricia in Washington State, who related in her correspondence that a close movie going friend, who is now a grandmother at age 66 first had her MS diagnosed during her first pregnancy.
I don’t really have much more to say at this time, as the week was the most stressful any of us have ever endured. We saw the new Woody Allen film on Saturday night and liked it, and thought Cate Blanchett delivered an award-caliber performance. I hope to have more to say about this later.
Blue Jasmine **** (Saturday night) Angelika Film Center
Wasn’t able to do very much as far as updating links:
Jon Warner has written a terrific review of Edward Dmytryk’s “Warlock” at Films Worth Watching: http://filmsworthwatching.blogspot.com/2013/07/warlock-1959-directed-by-edward-dmytryk.ht
Tony d’Ambra has penned a tremendous review of Delbert Mann’s little-seen “Mister Buddwing” at FilmsNoir.net: http://filmsnoir.net/film_noir/mister-buddwing-1966-a-neo-realist-astringency.ht
Joel Bocko’s massive 5 year anniversary as a film blogger includes his long association with WitD, and it’s frankly one of the most stirring posts any blogger has ever featured anywhere. It’s a knockout and its leading the way at the classic The Dancing Image blog: http://thedancingimage.blogspot.com/2013/07/5-years-complete-history-more-or-less.html
John Greco has posted a terrific feature on television’s iconic “The Odd Couple” for the tv blogothon at Twenty Four Frames: http://twentyfourframes.wordpress.com/2013/07/19/a-look-at-the-odd-couple
Samuel Wilson has penned a splendid essay on the German western “Winnetou” Part 2 at Mondo 70: http://mondo70.blogspot.com/2013/07/winnetou-part-2-last-of-renegades-1964.htm
Tony d’Ambra superbly examines Thomas Vinterberg’s “The Hunt” at Another Cinema Blog: http://anothercinemablog.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-hunt-denmark-2012-akajagten-fate-is.html
Sachin Gandhi has published a monumental post on the “Best TV Shows” that all television fans need to see as soon as possible. It’s over at Scribbles and Ramblings: http://likhna.blogspot.com/2013/07/best-tv-shows.htm
Murderous Ink in Tokyo has announced the new release of Japanese master Hayao Miyazaki’s “Kaze Tacihnu” and offers up the trailer at Vermillion and One Nights: http://vermillionandonenights.blogspot.com/2013/07/new-film-by-hayao-miyazaki.htm
Dean Treadway has penned a stupendous essay on John Cassevetes’ “Husbands” at Filmacability: http://filmicability.blogspot.com/2013/06/john-cassvetes-peter-falk-and-ben.htm
Judy Geater has written a passionate and authoritative piece on Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire at Movie Classics: http://movieclassics.wordpress.com/2013/07/14/fred-astaire-and-ginger-rogers/
Shubhajit Lahiri has written a superb capsule review on Yoshida’s “A Story Written With Water” at Cinemascope: http://cliched-monologues.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-story-written-with-water-1965.htm
Laurie Buchanan’s leading post at Speaking From The Heart is the thought-provoking “The Goldilocks Factor”: http://tuesdayswithlaurie.com/2013/07/16/the-goldilocks-factor/
David Schleicher’s latest review at The Schleicher Spin is a splendid though negative one on Nicholas Winding Rfen’s “Only God Forgives”: http://theschleicherspin.com/2013/07/21/moody-lighting-red-hallways-and-religious-symbolism-run-amuck-in-only-god-forgives
Marilyn Ferdinand has penned a terrific review of the minor comedy gem “The Sunshine Boys” at Ferdy-on-Films: http://www.ferdyonfilms.com/2013/the-sunshine-boys-1975/1902
Weeping Sam at written two brilliant posts on the Battle of Gettysburg at The Listening Ear that every history buff owes to themselves to check out. Here is the latest one: http://listeningear.blogspot.com/2013/07/gettysburg-continued.html
Felix Gonzalez has penned a fantastic review of William Castle’s “House on Haunted Hill” at Film Fantomas: http://filmfantomes.wordpress.com/2013/07/18/house-on-haunted-hill-1959
Dee Dee’s ‘Ning’ is currently featuring a lead post on the 1947 noir classic “Nightmare Alley”: http://filmnoire.ning.com/video/nightmare-alley-1947-parte-1
Jaimie Grijalba has written three excellent capsules on new releases at Overlook’s Corridor: http://overlookhotelfilm.wordpress.com/2013/07/07/three-films-of-2013-expected-edition/
At the ever-ravishing Creativepotager’s blog Terrill Welch has sold another magnificent Canadian landscape painting: http://creativepotager.wordpress.com/2013/07/14/sold-blue-last-small-canadian-landscape-painting/
Jeffrey Goodman celebrates the Talking Heads’ “Remain in Light” is a terrific musical post at The Last Lullaby: http://cahierspositif.blogspot.com/2013/06/remain-in-light-talking-heads-1980.html
The best in Indian film, politics and culture is on display at Kaleem Hasan’s incomparable Satyamshot: http://satyamshot.wordpress.com/
Patricia Hamilton’s latest post at Patricia’s Wisdom is a terrific review on Allison Lynn’s “The Exiles”: http://patriciaswisdom.com/2013/07/the-exiles-a-novel-allison-lynn/
Ed Howard, presently imparting his incomparable writing skills at Thinking in Panels has penned what looks to be a brilliant piece on “American Captain, Legends of the D.C. Universe, Dr. Strange the Oath”: http://thinkinginpanels.blogspot.com/2013/07/american-captain-legends-of-dc-universe.htm
Drew McIntosh presents a fascinating point of contact between two films at The Blue Vial: http://thebluevial.blogspot.com/2013/06/points-of-contact-61313_13.html
Michael Harford’s latest post at the revived Coffee Messiah blogsite is another poetic collaboration with Paul Hawkins: http://coffeemessiah.blogspot.com/2013/06/week-6-38.html
J.D. LaFrance at Radiator Heaven has penned a typically great and comprehensive review on Josh Wheadon’s “Serenity” at Radiator Heaven: http://rheaven.blogspot.com/2013/06/serenity.html
Hokahey has written a wonderful piece on the “The Lone Ranger” at Little Worlds: http://hokahey-littleworlds.blogspot.com/2013/07/wild-west-lone-ranger.html
Craig Kennedy has posted a terrific (and favorable) review of Berberian Sound Studio at Living in Cinema: http://livingincinema.com/2013/06/14/berberian-sound-studio-2013/
The exceptional writer Andrew Katsis has a terrific essay on “Casablanca””’ up at Dee Dee’s place Darkness Into Light: http://noirishcity.blogspot.com/2013/04/heres-looking-at-you-kidas-my-writer.html
One of the best writers out there, the incomparable Ed Howard is still working at an impressive pace at Only The Cinema, with his latest post on the silent classic “Golem”: http://seul-le-cinema.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-golem-1920.html
Monster Girl has posted a terrific piece combining minor horror classics “The Man They Could Not Hang” and “Before I Hang” at The Last Drive In: http://thelastdrivein.com/2013/06/23/monstergirls-150-days-of-classic-horror-9-before-i-hang-1940-the-man-they-could-not-hang-1939/
Jason Bellamy tackles Malick’s To the Wonder in typically spectacular form at The Cooler: http://coolercinema.blogspot.com/2013/04/penrose-stairs-to-wonder.html
Paddy Mullholland has penned an outstanding capsule review takedown of “A Field in England” at Screen on Screen: http://screenonscreen.blogspot.com/2013/07/review-field-in-england.html
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Wonders in the Dark 
All the best, Sam, to you and your family. Enjoy your well-deserved rest and reward in the UK this month.
Thanks very much for that Joel. I certainly will be speaking to you soon my friend. Have a great week.
Very sorry to hear about your wife, Sam.
Whereabouts are you going in the UK? You should be able to see and do a lot in 2 whole weeks. From what I’ve heard you could probably fit the UK onto a Texan ranch! I hope you enjoy the trip.
The last Woody Allen film I enjoyed was Match Point. I can’t say that I’m a big fan of his films before then or after, besides The Purple Rose of Cairo, but I always give them a go.
Thanks for the kind words Stephen.
We will be spending six days in London and about 7-8 in Kendal (Allan’s hose). We have plans to train up to Edinburgh from Allan’s house during one of our days from Allan’s house. And Liverpool and Stratford-upon-Avon are also on the tentative itinerary. Our London passes will get us into many places, like Tower of London, Windsor Castle, Westminster Cathedral, Dickens’ Museum, Globe Theater and many other famous places. I’ll definitely send you some photos. Woody has been spotty over the past several years, but I’d say BLUE JASMINE is one of his best in a while. Have a great week my friend.
We’re so sorry to hear about Lucille, Sam – but know too that I had worked with someone at the newspaper for many years who was much older than you both who continued to work with nary a complaint – Thinking positive can do much and we send many along to your family –
And do enjoy yourselves on such a monumental trip that many now a days simply can not undertake for many reasons –
Look forward to reading about all the fun when you return and settle down –
My 2 trips to Germany in the late ’80s changed a lot in me and my perspectives of the World, and am sure your children will find the same –
=Cheers!!!!!
Michael, thanks so much for your concern and very kind words. Yes there are many who have and continue to live with this condition for a very long time, though the matter of uncertainty as to how each will deal with it remains the most frightening aspect. Your story of this man you knew is much in line with many others I have heard about. I also am friends with a few others in town here who have lived with it for many years. Yes “thinking positive” is the key to staying ahead of it, and Lucille is about as effervescent a person as anyone. The trip is indeed monumental, and in good measure because there are seven of us in the family who are taking it, and as you say it’s that rare opportunity, that may only come up once in a lifetime. I will certainly be sending on a report and photos my friend! Two trips to Germany? Wow, simply amazing, and as you say, life-changing. Much appreciated Michael. Have a great week and we’ll speak soon.
ps: FYI – sent an email (yahoo) w/small photos attached – may be in your spam folder titled: misc & attach
Thanks Sam for the mention.
I’m really sorry to hear about your wife’s affliction. I sincerely hope she has a quick & complete recovery. Do keep us posted on this.
Anyway, here’s what I managed to watch this past week:
– The crazy Wakamatsu cult film, Go Go Second Time Virgin
– The violent & fatalistic modern Western by Peckinpah, Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia
– Oshima’s moody recreation of the events surrounding a serial killer, Violence at Noon
– The madcap Japanesebuddy film, Black Sun
– Shinoda’s acclaimed modernist film, Double Suicide
– The charming road movie by Kaurismaki, Take Care of Your Scarf Tatiana
Thanks for the very kind words Shubhajit. While there is no known cure for this condition, it is a fact that the vast majority live and thrive for decades. One person in our town lived with it for 62 years, passing away a few years ago at age 88. It affects everyone differently, but yes it is not fatal. Of the distinguished lot of films you saw, I do like Shinoda’s DOUBLE SUICIDE and Oshima’s film quite a bit, and also have decent enough regard for the Peckinpah. I have not yet seen that particular Wakamatsu nor Kaurismaki, but would like to at some point. Have a great week my friend, and thanks again.
All the best, Sam!
Thanks very much for that David.
All will be well Sam. I know a good many people who have had this for years. Attitude, maintenance and what you say about the medical breakthroughs have people with MS living long lives like everyone else. And that trip is looming closer. Can’t wait to see pictures and read the report.
Thanks very much for the very encouraging words Peter. I guess I won’t feel secure for Lucille until those meds begin. They were reluctant to begin before the trip, because of the possibility of an allergic reaction, and her being across the ocean. Will speak to you soon my friend. Have a great week.
Sam, my heart goes out to you both. Glad to hear that Lucille is feeling better and that you guys are able to go on your trip as I know how long it has been on the planning board. The medical researchers have made great strides in development of new meds and treatments for MS over the last decade. I am sure that Lucille with the proper treatment and follow up will enjoy the upcoming trip and many more in the future. You are exactly right when you say that life expectancy is the same as those who have never had it, and they are on the cusp to a complete cure from what I hear.
That’s a most perceptive comment there Frank! Very much appreciated my friend. I have read the same and have spoken to some others in the medical and pharmaceutical fields and they fully corroborate what you say there. It does not take a cure for MS patients to live long times, but if one were found it would eliminate the feelings of uncertainty as to the different ways MS works on each person.
Enjoy that trip Sam. Any free time on the couch has been spent watching Thriller lately. Here is a rundown of stuff I’ve seen the last few months (not counting movies that made my best-of list last week). Netflix’s queue history is my memory bank….
Stoker *
The Gatekeepers ***1/2
Code Unknown ****
Silver Linings Playbook *1/2
The Iceman Interviews ***1/2
The Dark Knight Rises **
Mama *1/2
After Hours ****
Dead Ringers *****
Major Dundee ***1/2
Headhunters ***
To The Wonder ***1/2
After 5 years, I put aside my comic book ban and watched The Dark Knight Rises with some of my cousins. The last “men in tights” film I actually saw was the previous Batman film with Heath Ledger. I quickly went back into retirement after suffering through the patent silliness of Nolan’s movie. What a awful way to waste three hours of my life. Nolan has flushed his career down the toilet (artistically at least) and may never recover. Could of been a contender…
Yes Maurizio, I know you have been burning the midnight oil with Thriller the last few weeks, and I’ve been eagerly waiting your newest e mail reports. As to your round-up there, I certainly agree with you on STOKER and SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK, neither of which I would want to see again. I’d go a bit hight on MAJOR DUNDEE and of course you know what I think of TO THE WONDER. DEAD RINGERS well deserves your top rating, and AFTER HOURS is a solid Scorsese. I also went 3.5 on THE GATEKEEPERS, which I found somewhat overrated, and I am no adherent of the DARK KNIGHT, for whatever it’s entertainment worth. My kids though are passionate fans. Thanks for the candid assessment and that buffo story of your latest viewing. Ha! Thanks again my friend. Have a great week!
In TOTAL agreement with both of you on THE DARK KNIGHT RISES. The scary part of this is that I am usually a very open-minded individual when it comes to the comics-to-film genre of film. THE DARK KNIGHT RISES is a hodge-podge of pseudo-political ideas masquerading as an entertainment and what Nolan accomplishes with third chapter of the BATMAN trilogy is head-scratching. Succinctly, I would love someone to take a few minutes and explain to me what the fuck the film was really all about. Far too satisfy kids and too outlandish to capture the attention of adults. Like the recent MAN OF STEEL, this is one that tries to jam too much into it’s time frame and comes off as a big, loud and pretentious mess.
I’m TOTAL disagreement with you both on SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK. The film is an extraordinarily well scripted, tightly directed romantic comedy that harks back to the kinds of Rom-coms that defined romantic comedy back in the late 60’s/early 70’s. It’s filled with tense neurosis and angst and like THE GRADUATE looks at romance from a point of view that so few are daring enough to attempt. And, if you don’t feel that way about the film, at least you can marvel at the pitch perfect turn that Jennifer Lawrence commits to the film. Frankly, a lot of us here moaned at the prospects of Jennifer Lawrence winning the Oscar for this film, yet I applauded it and consider her turn one of the true star-making performances we’ve seen in years. Lawrence, to me, is one of the rare young actresses out there that, when you watch her, has IT written all over her… In my humble estimation, Lawrence could turn out to be one of the true greats, a women born to be a tremendous actress the same way Meryl Streep became one, the same way Bette Davis and Katherine Hepburn became one…
Mark my word…
Lawrence’s performance was bogus IMO. I didn’t buy her character for one second. Clearly an actress playing a role without the ability to convey any believability. The fact that she won an Oscar probably proves my point. And yes, SLP was a formulaic rom-com that uses mental illness superficially and as a way to jazz up a predictable plot. Russell doesn’t really care about these larger concerns, he just needs dramatic “roadblocks” to offer viewers a fresh angle on a tired script we’ve seen a million times (and as a way to make his shallow film seem deeper).
Hey guys how can we turn this movie/script into reliable Oscar bait…. wait, wait, wait.. .I got it… Bi-Polar Disorder!!!! Essentially the movie could be about a myriad of things because ultimately it boils down to following a structural blueprint already established at least 80 years ago.
I stand by Dennis as probably the only other person on here who liked SLP. Now it wasn’t a perfect movie by any stretch and I certainly wouldn’t consider myself a Russell fan, but I really enjoyed the film and the whole cast. I can’t really put it any simpler than that. However I’m a huge fan of romance films so…….
The Dark Knight Rises was one of the worst films of last year. Bloated beyond compare. Almost unwatchable.
Without question Nolan’s worst film. Inception is a close second. The Dark Knight destroyed any future artistic possibilities (besides being insanely overrated itself). He’s just a prostitute to box office numbers at this point. David Cronenberg made a very astute observation when he commented on comic book movies and Nolan’s affiliation with them (and how nothing after Memento is as interesting…though I would make one big exception when it comes to The Prestige).
This whole adult fascination with super heroes and comics meant for kids is a disturbing trend in our society. Wake up people, you were supposed to throw them out when you turned 14. Some guy in tights is not going to come swooping down from the sky and make this a better world to live in. I get the sense that many Americans want to live in a land of make-believe and not face the myriad problems that plague us at the moment. A docile population of infants that are making it easy for those above them to trample on their wages, freedom, etc. When shit got rough in the 70’s, movies stared down those tough times with hard hitting adult critiques. Now we get a guy in a cape making it all better.
Yes that and the fact that these films take themselves SO SERIOUSLY is the icing on the cake. Every super hero is so multidimensional and dark and tortured. Blech. Vomit. The whole superhero genre is dead to me. The next time I see one will be too soon.
This whole adult fascination with super heroes and comics meant for kids is a disturbing trend in our society. Wake up people, you were supposed to throw them out when you turned 14. Some guy in tights is not going to come swooping down from the sky and make this a better world to live in.
Definitely, classic!! hahaha!!!
Sam, it’s good to hear that Lucille is back home and resting and that you are all looking forward to your holiday, which will hopefully give her, and you, a chance to relax and get away from it all! I do hope she is feeling better and am pleased that you all enjoyed the new Woody Allen film.
The highlight of my recent viewing was Kenneth Branagh’s new production of ‘Macbeth’, relayed to cinemas from a church in Manchester via National Theatre Live – I thought Branagh in particular was superb and it was exciting to see his performance ‘as live’. Paul and I also saw a student stage production of ‘Les Miserables’ which had some very good young singers.
Film-wise, I’ve seen John Wayne in a powerful uncharacteristic performance in ‘Wake of the Red Witch’ (1948) – said to be like ‘Wuthering Heights’ at sea with Wayne as Heathcliff, and I thought he was great, but I found it very hard to follow the plot! Also saw a Western that I liked a lot, ‘Firecreek’ (1968) with Jimmy Stewart and Henry Fonda as opposing forces – I couldn’t put together a Western ballot as there are just too many that I haven’t seen, but am enjoying getting into the genre all the same.
The other films I’ve seen lately were a good noir-cum-war-film starring Dana Andrews, ‘Sealed Cargo’ (1951), and a pre-Code musical made by Mark Sandrich just before his Astaire/Rogers films, ‘Melody Cruise’ (1933), starring Phil Harris – a lot of fun although it doesn’t actually have all that many musical numbers! Anyway, Sam, hoping you all have a much better week.
Thanks so much Judy! Lucille is resting up indeed, though she went into work today and yesterday till about 1:00 P.M. Now she is officially on vacation until August 26th. She is feeling better, thanks, but the medication will be the final word on that. Yes the new Woody film was a major surprise. What an unbelievable week you had with that student stage production of LES MISERABLES (wish I witnessed that myself!) and the Branagh MACBETH. So great to see he finally tacked that play, and I hope there is a DVD release of it planned. Good description of WAKE OF THE RED WITCH as a “Wuthering Heights” at sea! Ha! i rather liked that film, but I can see exactly why it would come off as episodic. As to FIRECREEK, I also liked ity, but didn’t get it in on my crowded ballot. Didn’t see SEALED CARGO nor MELODY CRUISE, but appreciate the heads-up. Thanks as ever my very good friend. Have a great week! I am thinking we’ll all be seeing you soon!
Sam, I’m glad you have cause for optimism and I wish your wife the best. Now that my list is written I can try new things. Started on the Kobayashi box set with The Thick-Walled Room, his indictment of the raw deal given lesser war criminals still stuck in stir while (in some cases) their commanders prosper. Ambitious stuff with flashbacks, dream sequences etc. but the humane element wins you over. Tried some more Truffaut thanks to TCM after long ignoring him; of what I saw I liked his Re-Noir experiment Mississippi Mermaid the best. TCM also ran Clair’s Le Million and that was fun if cartoonish the way some early talkie comedies are; I wouldn’t have it any other way. You know I’m near the end of the trail with westerns if you find me looking for virtues in Jack Arnold’s Boss Nig**** (I defer preemptively to any sensitivities out there) but it did prove of interest for the variations writer/producer/star Fred Williamson attempted on the Blazing Saddles trope. Look for more variety in my viewing from here.
Thanks so very much for that Samuel. Yes, people diagnosed with MS today receive the newest meds which control the condition. I have that Kobayashi set too, but haven’t yet watched any of the films. Great to hear THE THICK-WALLED ROOM is so exceptional. I like MISSISSIPPI MERMAID and adore Clair’s LE MILLION. As far as the Jack Arnold western it is further proof of your incomparably exhaustive investigation of the genre! And yes, you will understandable branch out after the previous months of western application! Have a great week my friend.
Sorry to hear that Sam. I wish you and your family the best.
Thanks very much for the kind words Movie Fan. Much appreciated.
Sam – I’m so grateful that Lucille’s doctor has agreed that the up-and-coming trip to the U.K. is a God send. I’m also glad to know that hers is a less aggressive strain of MS – and that forward progression can be diminished, or held at bay.
Thanks very much for that Laurie! While I won’t deny it’s been a trying and fearful time, I have many reasons to be optimistic, and am prepared with the vigorous application that must be part of the management moving forward. Yes the trip seems to be perfectly timed to this end. Have a great week, my friend.
Hello Sam and everyone!
We’ve talked on email about the whole stuff and I’m happy that the trip is still on and that you’ll have a great time with Lucille and the kids in England.
My week at the movies:
– Before Sunrise (1995, Richard Linklater) **** I’m surprised by how completely underwhelmed I was by this when it finished. I was into it for most of the time and it has some incredible sequences, but it is what it is in the end: two people talking and knowing each other in a beautiful scenery. It’s fascinating how a movie can maintain a tension and a great value using those small elements to create something that resembles a plot. It feels improvised yet at the same time so planned and beautiful in its moments of construction and confessions of the characters. I remember watching this movie on cable, the first fifteen minutes or so, and it’s incredible how it greatly manages to pull you in with such simple elements and with such an outlandish premise, but then I guess the telephone scene came by, where they practically telegraph each other what they feel for each other, and for me… well, I kinda lost interest in the characters, it was fun and ingenious how it was done, but knowing too much (spelling it out, if you can say so) kinda ruined the magic that these characters had. Well, onto the sequel.
– Before Sunset (2004, Richard Linklater) ****1/2 Like a simpler version of what ‘Before Sunrise’ was, and because of that even better and more interesting than its earlier part. For some reason, how it liberates itself from the boundaries of plot and structure, like the call for adventure that it has at the beginning of the 1995 film or the so forced time limit and how the rules of the adventure are given and updated at every opportunity they have. This is free, this is a catch-up, it feels real and impressive to see how these characters have grown and at the same time how their feelings are understandable as well as their situations have been sad. I love how they slowly open up to each other, how they slowly reveal their actual situations, what they feel about each other, how the creations and art have been a primordial part of their lives. It’s a greater movie, and one that slowly sinks into your soul. Baby, you’re going to miss that plane.
– Drinking Buddies (2013, Joe Swanberg) *** Likeable people doing unlikeable stuff for hour and a half, sure why not? People seem to be very hard on this movie, but there’s a bunch of things to like in it, like Olivia Wilde giving an interesting and deep performance, and at the same time how neat and clean the whole picture looks. Then I like almost all the performers and the way that their characters are built, but the movie has many failings and the main reason as to why they exist is clear: the film was improvised and here the people seem to not know how to do that. There are akward silences that don’t actually build anything and mostly they seem that they come from another place, the one where they just don’t know what else to say. Incredibly, the biggest laugh that this ‘comedy’ gave me was Ti West’s habilities at performing and improvising that are actually pretty good! He has one line that if you blink you miss it and it may be the funniest thing I’ve heard. Props to him, I guess.
– Drug War (2012, Johnnie To) ****1/2 Wrote the review for this site last thursday!
– Hell Baby (2013, Robert Ben Garant, Thomas Lennon) *** Maybe I’m overrating it a bit, but just because it’s a grandiose failure, something that maybe some could appreciate, and I’m one of them. First off let me list the things that are wrong with this film: MANY, first of all the cinematography is actually atrocious, with a no contrast almost TV-like quality that made it strange and sketchy at all times. Then comes the script, that is pretty much nonsense, with many events that are repeated way too much and they’re never that funny, and also the editing seems to be off most of the time, though in the more tense situations it works perfectly. Now, the good stuff, there’s a nude scene that is great (what am I putting this here as if I was a 13 year old looking for boobies? because it’s actually a nude scene that anyone can appreciate and say thanks for), then the acting is top notch, they all seem to pump up the ridiculousness and it works for a movie that is so silly, but that thankfully doesn’t treat its audience as dumb people with obvious jokes regarding popular issues or parodying popular movies (The Exorcist is the main source of inspiration here, and it’s obvious, couldn’t be any other way). It’s a shame that this couldn’t be so much better, but hey, it’s kinda watchable.
– I une rue à Tokyo (1898, Tsunekichi Shibata) ***1/2 One of the Lumiere first shorts made in a foreign country, this one in Japan, a beautiful and interesting vista, as well as one of the first directed by other people than the Lumiere brothers.
– The Jungle (2013, Andrew Traucki) **1/2 Even if it’s a tired genre the found footage, this one is actually kinda worthwhile because it manages to create a tension towards the final half hour that is similar to the one created in ‘Blair Witch’ even copying the final mixes between night vision and normal vision through the camcorder. This particular movie just wails on you way too much and doesn’t build a sense of dread as effectively as other found footage fillms. Besides, the idea for most of the movie that the whole thing following them is a leopard is kinda dissapointing, but when we finally get a glance to the monster itself it’s also incredibly dissapointing, as most of the time it looks like a guy in a gorilla costume with Dracula teeth put on. Very cheesy, but at the same time atmospheric in its own way as it approaches the ending. It’s short and you breeze through it without problems, you just wish it could’ve been so so much better.
Have a great week Sam!
Jaimie, agreed with you on the Linklater, though of course I like it less. I am expecting a great week for sure, but I’m afraid it won’t start being agreat to around Sunday. I have a sudden kidney stone procedure set for tomorrow to blast some stones that have been causing me great pain this past week. I am in fact in pain as I respond to you here, and have only been intermittently able to get to the PC, mostly for just e mails. I will have more to say about your great submission sometime after I get home from the hospital late tomorrow. Kn owing how I felt four years ago after a similar procedure I know it will not be fun. Thanks again my friend!
Sam –
Well, here I am, a day late and a dollar short…
Lucille and your family continue to be very much in my thoughts and prayers. As I related to you recently, a close friend of mine has lived with MS for over 15 years and continues to enjoy a very full life and to teach high school drama and English. I have the highest hopes for Lucille’s health and am thrilled to hear you will move forward with your travel plans.
BLUE JASMINE opens here next weekend, although likely in limited release for the first week or so. I am cautiously optimistic – reviews that compare it to MATCH POINT are not encouraging to me, as I loathed MATCH POINT, but I do love me some Cate Blanchett.
I had no opportunity to see any films as I spent most of the past week at the Green Lake Festival of Music in Wisconsin, attending the annual choral institute and singing with the chorale in the final concert. We performed a very well-received program which included excerpts from Orff’s “Carmina Burana” and Dvorak’s “Songs of Nature” as well as works by Monetverdi, Handel and Sibelius, and contemporary choral pieces by Eric Whitacre and Frank Ticheli.
Although I saw no films, I did manage to binge-watch the rest of ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACk, the excellet Netflix series which I cannot recommend highly enough. It is VERY addictive viewing, with a superb ensemble of women (among them Natasha Lyonne, Kate Mulgrew, Laura Prepon, Taylor Schilling and Taryn Manning) giving complex, compulsively watchable performances. I think this debuted just a little too late for Emmy consideration this year, but I hope to see a slew of nominations next Summer.
Take care and have a great week!
Pat, thank you so much for the concern and very kind words. You remain one of the loveliest people I have met online, and seeing you in person more than once has sealed the deal. Yes, the long term prognosis looks very good, and Lucille will begin the medication when we get back from the trip. I would have preferred that it begin now, but the doctor wanted to make sure there wasn’t an allergic reaction across the pond. There will be some major adjustments on exercise and diet, and as we both know Lucille’s outlook is always one of living life with supreme effervescence. Your classical music performance was no doubt fantastic, and those pieces and composers are glorious indeed. The Dvorak is an under appreciated gem! I wish I were in attendance! I hear ya on the Woody Allen comparison, but I still think you will connect with BLUE JASMINE, in large measure because of Blanchett’s extraordinary performance. She is simply stunning. ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK is one to check out indeed! Thanks as always my friend. Have a great week!
Sam, hope Lucille gets better and does not feel much of an impact. I am glad you guys saw a film & are going ahead with your trip, which will be a much needed break. In fact, the trip’s timing is more timely now than before. It is not too long of a wait now. All the best to you guys.
Thanks Sachin! Lucille will be fine, and we will be fully addressing the situation within two days of returning home from the U.K. trip. I have one more hurdle to manage tomorrow, when I go in for the removal of kidney stones under anesthesia. This is the second time I will be undergoing this routine procedure but the first few hours are terrible after you awake. Ugh. Thanks as always my friend!
Sam you know that I’m with you all the way and anything you need by way of support count me in. Keeping all of you in my thoughts and prayers. I’m sure things will work out just fine.
Regarding Blue Jasmine, it looks up my alley. I’m really excited to see this and have always really enjoyed Allen’s forays into drama. Blanchett is usually amazing so really looking forward to it. I had an amazing trip last week to Colorado Springs for a leadership course and am already back and applying some things I learned. It was a huge blessing and opportunity for me and I’m really glad I could go. Learned a lot from so many interesting people.
As for movies, rewatched Tumbleweeds again, but it’s definitely not quite on par with Hell’s Hinges despite some fine sequences. Also really liked The Hanging Tree and glad I could squeeze that in before submitting my ballot. Looking forward to seeing the final poll and picking up an extra film or two beyond the ones I’ve got already if possible.
Up this week are some non-westerns. Ha! Upstream Color and No, both of which I have heard good things about. Will let you know what I think! Take care my friend and best wishes on planning for this great trip!
Jon—-
Thanks as every for the very kind words my friend! You are a gem since the first day I met you. The odds are heavily in Lucille’s favor of course, but application and outlook are key. Even some of the manic depressants live 50 years with it, but Lucille is quite the opposite. I have a kidney stone procedure lined up under anesthesia tomorrow (which I am not looking forward to) Yes I do believe you will adore BLUE JASMINE! Blanchett is utterly extraordinary! THE HANGING TREE is very fine indeed. Let’s see what you think of NO and UPSTREAM COLOR. Thanks as always my friend, and have a great week!
Sam, Glad to hear Lucille is home and ready to head off to merry ole London. The vacation is well deserved and will do her, you and the family a lot of good.
Glad to see you like Woody Allen’s new flick, looking forward to it openin here at some point.
Not much to report down here. Only caught one film, the documentary BERT STERN: ORIGINAL MAD MAN which I found interesting, if not wholly engaging. Other than that I have been working on a lot of photography related stuff, both photographing and the more mundane grunt work involved on the PC. Anyway, give Lucille our best and have a much better week than last!
John, as I stated to Sachin above, I have one more tough matter to deal with tomorrow with a kidney stone procedure. I had this done four years ago, but refused to have the last stone removed as it wasn’t obstructing anything. Now I again pay the price as there are more. Must stay away from nuts and they seem to cause calcification. God what a week for us all. I certainly will keep you abreast on London my friend! Thanks so much for your kind words. I have not seen that documentary yet but much appreciate the assessment!
Sam, I am so sorry I am just now responding. You and Lucille are in my thoughts, and I know your incredible strength and attitude will keep you on the good side of any challenges ahead. I cannot wait for your upcoming trip to the UK and am excited for you, the family, and all of us that get to hear about it.
I look forward to seeing the new Woody. Haven’t caught it yet but definitely will soon.
This week, I saw Walsh’s THE HORN BLOWS AT MIDNIGHT and Borzage’s MAN’S CASTLE. I was very happy to see them both. The Walsh is quite uncharacteristic for the great action director, but I found it particularly revelatory and proof that Walsh was near, if not at, the same level of versatility as Hawks. Meanwhile the Borzage proved to me once again that the director was an auteur with a very unsettling but effective sensibility.
Thanks, Sam, for all you do. Hope you’re having an awesome week.