2046 (Wong Kar-Wai, 2004)
While not quite ‘In the Mood for Love’, ‘2046’ is an exiting addition to Wong Kar-Wai’s filmography. Great performances and Christopher Doyle’s signature visuals taken to the near-extreme (practically no establishing shots make for a stirringly intimate style) lift this somewhat over the top love story to the ranks of the director’s better films. It boasts an interesting approach to nostalgia in regards to Hong Kong’s political situation, mirrored in the film by physical locations. Without further spoiling I urge you to see this film if you liked In the Mood for Love or Chungking Express.
I would also like to call attention to what is in my opinion Wong Kar-Wai’s best film, ‘Happy Together’. If you only ever watch one film by Wong Kar-Wai, make it this one.
Brief Interviews With Hideous Men (2009) – 4.5/5
A Woman of Affairs-1928: 4/5
“Gloomy Sunday” (Germany) 8.5/10
Set in pre-WW2 Hungary, the story tells of the owner of a popular restaurant and his affair with his gorgeous hostess/waitress. Things get complicated as a young pianist hired to work the place also falls in love with the girl.
A German guest becomes indebted to the restaurant owner; meanwhile the pianist writes the title song that becomes a hit (a fictitious version of how “Gloomy Sunday” was created.)
All this as the war comes closer and closer.
The film is unashamedly romantic, done in a warm lovely style that brings to mind “Hollywood emigree” films and European films of the 30es and 40es. Here, however, a touch of “Cabaret” is added, with the restaurateur being Jewish and the German returning as a Nazi.
Erika Marozsan is absolutely ravishing as the girl every man wants, and the cast is excellent, aided by good direction and cinematography. The film is cloying and overwritten in a few scenes (the graveyard sequence in particular) but mostly it drives the viewer along with a strong story, humor and, unltimately, sadness and hope of redemption.
.
Whatever Works 7.5/10
Classic Larry David style, with a close resemblance between the storyline and Woody Allen’s own life.
Madeinusa (2006)
DIR: Claudia Llosa
SCR: Claudia Llosa
100 min
Difficult to get beyond the “what” to the “how” of this film.
The dramatic set piece is a festival when God is dead and people resort to debauchery according to a protocol.You know the drill: people get drunk, sleep with each other’s wives, and the stranger shows up to de-flower the virgin queen.
The film only had two of the three elements necessary to call it an art-film, water and gratuitous/explicit sex – but there weren’t enough people smoking.
Not sure what the point of the film was, but hey, those Peruvians are a wild-n-crazy bunch.
Up – 8.5/10
Pixar is creating visually impressive films that has a lot of emotions in it. This is much more beautiful that Avatar.
And that was a long time ago. Need to see more films again.
Bronson 7.5
Mermaid 8/10
Lift To The Scaffold (Malle – 1958) 9/10
Black Narcissus (Powell/Pressburger – 1947) 6/10 Wasn’t keen on it this time round.
The Underneath (Soderbergh – 1995) 6/10
Red Road (Andrea Arnold – 2006) 8/10
Harry Brown (Daniel Barber – 2009) 7/10
Smiles of A Summer Night (Ingmar Bergman – 1955) 8/10
Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (F.W. Murnau – 1927) 9/10 The first silent drama I’ve really liked!
Shadows In Paradise (Aki Kaurismaki – 1986) 8.5/10
Ariel (Aki Kaurismaki – 1988) 8.75/10
Edge of Darkness
36/100
I know Sekzee warned me about this, but I was desperate for an action film. Gibson phoned in this performance. He just seemed indifferent. Or he’s just tired and old. I couldn’t understand what understand what was being said in some scenes, but even then the plot seems a bit intricate and uninteresting.
Flawless
Joel Schumacher
1999
8.8/10
Phillip Seymour Hoffman in this film – just superb! Robert De Niro – Ditto Great! A heartbreaking film that explains how courage can overcome fears. Hoffman and De Niro goes head to head and neck to neck in this poignant battle through life and experiences. The doses of the emotions soars so high in this film, that it will make a viewer feel good. An underrated masterpiece of work from Mr. Joel Schumacher! Amazing film overall, great performances, fresh dialogue, and one of the best films about overcoming a dis-relish.
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
Wes Anderson
2004
8.9/10
One of Wes Anderson’s finest films! Professionally Superb!
Ghost Dog – The Way of the Samurai
Jim Jarmusch
1999
8.8/10
A whole new experience with Jim Jarmusch’s Ghost Dog! Forest Whitaker blew me away!
The Marriage of Maria Braun 1978
Die Ehe der Maria Braun
DIR Rainer Werner Fassbinder
SCR Peter Märthesheimer, Pea Fröhlich
120 Min
10/10
The Match Factory Girl (Aki Kaurismaki – 1990) 8.75/10
Has this man ever made a bad film?
Shame (Ingmar Bergman – 1968) 9/10
Has this man ever made a bad film?
If he has, I haven’t seen it !Couple of Powell’s
Peeping Tom 1960
DIR Michael Powell
SCR Leo Marks
101 Min
A film for and about scopophiles.
10/10
The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp 1943
DIR Michael Powell,
SCR Emeric Pressburger
163 Min
A film for Anglophiles.
8/10
“If he has, I haven’t seen it !”
i have, but it’s not bad, just simplistic…Lights in the Dusk.
“A film for Anglophiles.”
i love Powell, does that make me an Anglophile? interesting.
Rumplesink, I doubt so. Glad you’re enjoying his work!
Dimitris, you need an appoinment with Dr. Carlo.
i love Powell, does that make me an Anglophile?
I liked Colonel Blimp, but I wouldn’t recommend it to a non-Anglophile. Peeping Tom is an incredible piece of work.
Kaurismaki is the auteur’s auteur – highly stylized, you either get it (the banality/humor) or you don’t.
dp
tp
“you need an appoinment with Dr. Carlo.”
i don’t need any appointments with anyone. :)
“Kaurismaki is the auteur’s auteur”
not just Kaurismaki dude.
“but I wouldn’t recommend it to a non-Anglophile”
i see…….since i enjoyed it as well as a “non-Anglophile”, what does that make me?
When did Robert say Kaurismaki was the only “auteur’s auteur”?
oh please Law, don’t try to be the devil’s advocate.
All I Desire
4/5
phkng D – you are in rare form today !
Max mon Amour – Oshima 2/10
Uh, no.
Le Trou 1960
Jacques Becker
9/10
Come and See 1985
Elem Klimov
7/10
As It Is In Heaven 2005
Kay Pollack
8/10
Travellers and Magicians 2003
Khyentse Norbu
8/10
Mother of God
Ed Wood’s Glen or Glenda.
4/5..
the man is not that bad actually.. I think this one is so much better than that corny but hilarious Plan 9 from Outer Space..