This makes three movies I watched today - I really whoop it up when the Mrs. is away.
Man of the World (1931) I got this set of five Carole Lombard movies from the library in the hope of cracking the Lombard enigma. I have seen her most famous films and found her strangely unappealing. William Powell is an American scoundrel in Paris, Lombard is the sweet girl who makes him rue his evil ways. I can already see more interest and appeal to her here than I have ever seen before. Powell is always great, and this was before the Hollywood Ending was made mandatory so things don't always go they way you think they might. Wonderful gowns. 7/10
The Princess and the Warrior (2000) Directed by Tom Tykwer (Run, Lola, Run; Perfume) A long, complex, emotionally intense romantic adventure. You can't even guess what is going to happen next in this unique story. I found it very easy to connect with the characters and felt like I had been put through the wringer when it was finally over but it was rewarding. A very good film for intelligent adults. Filmed in Wuppertal, home of the world's oldest monorail. 8/10
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Movies
Rome, Open City (1945) Friend Seth invited some folks over to watch this, Rosselini's harshly unflinching look at life under Nazi occupation. Strong stuff even now, and it must have been doubly so at the time, considering the general tenor of popular film in which the protagonist must survive with only a slight smudge on the cheek, not be horribly tortured to death or callously gunned down. A superior film. 9/10
After everyone else left and the wife went to bed we watched Starcrash (1978), to my mind the most enjoyable of all Italian post-Star Wars space opera. Economical and primitive, with no appealing characters but lots of bright colors and moving shapes. Relentlessly nonsensical and a welcome opportunity to appreciate the dubious talents of Caroline Munro and Marjoe Gortner. I smiled all the way through. 8/10 Thanks, Seth!
With my own wife on the opposite side of the planet for a week I can do whatever I want so this morning watched Home on the Range (2004). From the little I had seen of it I was afraid it might be too frenetic for my tastes, and its reception on release gave me the impression that it was in general a failure. On the contrary, I found it quite enjoyable and well-balanced. A simple "catch the bad guy, save the farm" story that never takes itself or anything else seriously, yet it becomes surprisingly touching during the sentimental musical interludes. A deliberate step back to classic Disney esthetics in character design and settings, with luminous - even glorious backgrounds. A cut above many more popular productions, and overall a well-contrived unity. Nice work. 9/10
After everyone else left and the wife went to bed we watched Starcrash (1978), to my mind the most enjoyable of all Italian post-Star Wars space opera. Economical and primitive, with no appealing characters but lots of bright colors and moving shapes. Relentlessly nonsensical and a welcome opportunity to appreciate the dubious talents of Caroline Munro and Marjoe Gortner. I smiled all the way through. 8/10 Thanks, Seth!
With my own wife on the opposite side of the planet for a week I can do whatever I want so this morning watched Home on the Range (2004). From the little I had seen of it I was afraid it might be too frenetic for my tastes, and its reception on release gave me the impression that it was in general a failure. On the contrary, I found it quite enjoyable and well-balanced. A simple "catch the bad guy, save the farm" story that never takes itself or anything else seriously, yet it becomes surprisingly touching during the sentimental musical interludes. A deliberate step back to classic Disney esthetics in character design and settings, with luminous - even glorious backgrounds. A cut above many more popular productions, and overall a well-contrived unity. Nice work. 9/10
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Movies
On Dangerous Ground (1952) Unusual "alpine" noir, Robert Ryan as the angry violent cop and Ida Lupino as the vulnerable woman who helps him find his heart. Ryan's furious violence reveals an almost sexual tension at times. Full of notable names on both sides of the camera, and plenty of familiar faces. Starts off in a night-dark rain-slick city and proceeds to an extended snowy mountain foot-chase. Exceptionally amusing appearance by Gus Schilling as Lucky, the twitchy informer, and Nita Talbot is super-luscious in her short scene as an underage b-girl. Overall a bit odd, but it goes in unusual directions and is fun to see. I was struck by the remarkable amount of cleavage the original poster art of Ida Lupino revealed, more than she ever possessed in reality. 7/10
Addendum: I failed to note the powerful Bernard Hermann score which contributes greatly to the pulse-pounding chases with literal "hammer and anvil" percussion. Should be on his greatest hits album.
Addendum: I failed to note the powerful Bernard Hermann score which contributes greatly to the pulse-pounding chases with literal "hammer and anvil" percussion. Should be on his greatest hits album.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Recent Viewing
The Golden Compass (2007), The Tale of Despereaux (2008) Two pretty fair quest-fantasy books given a severe beating with the "Excessively Detailed CGI" stick. The Golden Compass has some tasty gadgetporn and likeable characters, and I found it at times interesting and engaging. The Tale of Despereaux is another exploration of the connection between rodents and soup. Surprising moments of brilliance amid a sea of "enh." Sometimes stylization can carry an emotional moment far better than an intricately detailed overcrowded muddle of spectacle. Both 4/10
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Movies
TV Double Feature:
Blacula (1972) Vampire cheapie is made slightly more interesting by its ethnic setting and lovely Denise Nicholas. Provides the unique spectacle, never again repeated to my knowledge, of a cruising gay black vampire. Cameo by Elisha Cook Jr. as a needlessly one-handed morgue attendant - the kind of deal where one sleeve has to be four inches longer because he's got a prop prosthesis on over his hand - who unfortunately does not re-appear as a needlessly one-handed vampire morgue attendant as I had hoped after his demise. Worth seeing once so you can say you did. 4/10
Some Girls Do (1969) British-made attempt to re-introduce 1930s action hero Bulldog Drummond as a swinging super-spy opposed by a feeble villain and a dozen robotized bikini babes with artificial brains. Even Robert Morley's five minutes onscreen are uninteresting, thanks to the aimless script. Minor distraction is provided by mediterranean locations and the mildly diverting sight of young women of average figure in bright orange bathing suits carrying machine guns. A sleep aid. 2/10
Blacula (1972) Vampire cheapie is made slightly more interesting by its ethnic setting and lovely Denise Nicholas. Provides the unique spectacle, never again repeated to my knowledge, of a cruising gay black vampire. Cameo by Elisha Cook Jr. as a needlessly one-handed morgue attendant - the kind of deal where one sleeve has to be four inches longer because he's got a prop prosthesis on over his hand - who unfortunately does not re-appear as a needlessly one-handed vampire morgue attendant as I had hoped after his demise. Worth seeing once so you can say you did. 4/10
Some Girls Do (1969) British-made attempt to re-introduce 1930s action hero Bulldog Drummond as a swinging super-spy opposed by a feeble villain and a dozen robotized bikini babes with artificial brains. Even Robert Morley's five minutes onscreen are uninteresting, thanks to the aimless script. Minor distraction is provided by mediterranean locations and the mildly diverting sight of young women of average figure in bright orange bathing suits carrying machine guns. A sleep aid. 2/10
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Movies
Moon (2009) The kind of SF movie where SF stands for Science Fiction, not Space Fantasy or Silly Fairytale. The best Science Fiction is about what it means to be human, and this is an excellent example. Intelligently presented and technically precise. 9/10
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Funny
Somebody says I wrote this once:
We never used to have humor, we had to laugh at tragedy. Used to go down to the Golden Age Home and wait for someone to die, just to have a chuckle. A funeral was as good as a variety show to us. Some days there was nothing to laugh at but the weather. A good stiff breeze blowing and we thought we were in a Vaudeville house. Even then we sometimes had nothing to laugh at but earthworks, a ditch maybe, or a wagon rut. A slight elevation or declivity was as good to us as any of your modern comedy routines. Pile up a bit of sand, and do our best to make merry. Even then we were lucky to have that. I recall the time we found a rabbit track, didn't we howl then. Many a time I spent the day giggling over a pebble or a bit of a twig no longer than your thumbnail. A slight discoloration or unevenness, even a barely perceptible stain would do us fine for a laugh or two. No we didn't have much but we made do.
We never used to have humor, we had to laugh at tragedy. Used to go down to the Golden Age Home and wait for someone to die, just to have a chuckle. A funeral was as good as a variety show to us. Some days there was nothing to laugh at but the weather. A good stiff breeze blowing and we thought we were in a Vaudeville house. Even then we sometimes had nothing to laugh at but earthworks, a ditch maybe, or a wagon rut. A slight elevation or declivity was as good to us as any of your modern comedy routines. Pile up a bit of sand, and do our best to make merry. Even then we were lucky to have that. I recall the time we found a rabbit track, didn't we howl then. Many a time I spent the day giggling over a pebble or a bit of a twig no longer than your thumbnail. A slight discoloration or unevenness, even a barely perceptible stain would do us fine for a laugh or two. No we didn't have much but we made do.
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