Girl on the Bridge (Dir. Patrice Leconte, 1999) – 6/10
Thematically, it’s a mixed bag. Stylistically, it’s sort of spastic (there’s a POV shot from a fly). Visually, though, it’s pretty stunning. I found this difficult to get into. Leconte is a romantic at heart, and this one at least allows its lovers to experience the outside world a little, but it still seemed overwrought.
Up next for Leconte: _The Man on the Train. But not before a take a little break for a Borzage double feature tomorrow.
“If a movie can be a textbook on Freudianism, “Santa Sangre” surely is it. The “mother-son relationship” gets taken to a terrible extreme, with grotesque and wonderful results. Somehow the fact that all three of Jodorowsky’s sons play in the film just adds to the whole thing”.
it’s just his Psycho with a bit of Fellini thrown in for good measure imo.
i used to like this film, but now i think ti’s a piece of trash.
funny how things change.
i much prefer Holy Mountain and El Topo
floating clouds (naruse, 1955) — 9.5/10
hideko takamine was magnificent even if i wanted to slap her sometimes lol. this was only my second naruse but i feel i can call myself a fan now :) loved the soundtrack!
Burning Palms (Director: Christopher Landon, son of Michael)
5/5
I usually don’t like anthology films but this darkly comic anthology was hilarious, twisted and just a great deal of fun. Good performances too although the first and last stories are the best but they are all good in their own ways.
But the first and last stories were definately the most thought-provoking.
Easily one of my favorite films of the year so far.
floating clouds (naruse, 1955) — 9.5/10
That was the same rating I gave it! :)
Where are you all seeing Floating Clouds? I can’t find it except in the form of a pricey used Amazon DVD.
“The registration system is currently disabled”.
Grr…
redacted
Kate—Do you mind editing that? RS links aren’t allowed in the forum.
heh, sorry.
@kate: did u also want to slap her? lol
No worries. Thanks!
@kate: did u also want to slap her? lol
Yeah, and I couldn’t understand her obsession with that douche. :P
A Place in the Sun 1951
DIR George Stevens, Fred Guiol
PROD George Stevens
SCR Theodore Dreiser, Patrick Kearney, Harry Brown, Michael Wilson
DP William C. Mellor
CAST Montgomery Clift, Elizabeth Taylor, Shelley Winters, Anne Revere, Keefe Brasselle
ED William Hornbeck
122 Min
6/10
Never really got into that^ film, too.
it’s great til it turns into a courtroom drama. yawn. also liz’s acting skills weren’t the best at that stage altho she was absolutely stunning. i think they were the most dazzling screen couple like ever
Lucky Star (1929, Frank Borzage) 9.5/10
The extent to which I was emotionally invested in this film (by the end pretty much every line and every decision a character made had me gripped, and my emotions were running haywire) is on it’s own enough to make it a favourite of mine. That it’s also stunningly beautiful (with some great usage of light and shadow, and some of the sets seeming like out of a fairytale) just adds to this film’s brilliance. And that ending is sublime.
I need to see more Borzage!
Lymelife — 6.5/10. Score is heavily influenced by a drunk Alec Baldwin and Emma Roberts dressed like a 70’s schoolgirl.
Lymelife — 6.5/10. Score is heavily influenced by a drunk Alec Baldwin and Emma Roberts dressed like a 70’s schoolgirl.
Kairat
reminded me of Derek’s Fantasies in some ways, best when showing people reacting to image rather than depicting life. Cannot say I was much interested.
2.5/5
2nd viewing of The Sacrifice (1986): 7/10
Appreciated it a little more.
dp
@ Ruby
When George was walking to the electric chair, having the other death-row inmates say goodbye was silly too. She was 17, not sure she could have been better.
7th Heaven (Dir. Frank Borzage, 1927) – 7/10
This was my second time. On the film’s mubi page, Jerry Johnson says this: “Borzage just doesn’t know when to quit. If he were forced to cut all his films down to 60 minutes, they might all be masterpieces. There are so many errors in judgment, taste, and mise-en-scene to glide over and reach those moments of sublime perfection. When Janet Gaynor removed her stockings, I audibly gasped- one of the sexiest things I’ve ever seen in film.”
I agree with this about 99% (I didn’t audibly gasp at Gaynor removing her stockings, but her legs were something to admire). The war sequences especially dragged the film down for me this time. I much prefer…
Street Angel (Dir. Frank Borzage, 1928) – 9/10
This Borzage feature is far more fluid in terms of narrative construction and much more interesting in terms of mise-en-scene and overall design. Gaynor’s performance is also more complex emotionally. The prostitution angle probably keeps it from attaining the status that 7th Heaven has, but this is the superior film. Hopefully Lucky Star will be even better.
@robert— wow was she only 17? i’d forgotten that if i ever knew. i shan’t criticize her performance then as her mere presence was so powerful
‘1991: The Year Punk Broke’
4 out of 5 headbangs
‘1991: The Year Punk Broke’
4 out of 5 headbangs
Daydream Nation (Director: Michael Goldbach)
4/5
a teen film that’s a helluva lot better than Juno (most overrated movie ever IMO). Kat Dennings, Katie Boland, Reece Thompson and even the adults (Andie Macdowell and Josh Lucas) are all very good and the film while witty isn’t “wittier than thouh” like Juno was. Touching and cynical at the same time too. Liked this movie alot!
I apologise if the contents of this post offend anyone :P
X-Men: First Class (2011, Matthew Vaughn) 8/10
I was a huge fan of the comics as a teenager (so am very biased here) so it’s nice to finally see an X-Men film that’s actually good, and is closer to the tone of the comics. Admittedly there are a few dumb plotpoints (the serum, the reasoning behind Shaw’s plan), but it’s hard to stay annoyed when the film feels so fresh, exciting and fun (the other three films in their desperation to be edgy forgot that these are films about superhero teams, so might benefit from being fun!). Very enjoyable.
Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story (1987, Todd Haynes) 8/10
Exploring the life of Karen Carpenter, and more importantly (and interestingly) the issue of anorexia, with all the characters played by barbie dolls. Ranks as one of the more ludicrous ideas I’ve heard for a film yet the end result is surprisingly effective and makes for a dark and haunting look at eating disorders.
Nathan M.
The last Woody Allen I really liked was Sweet and Lowdown. Before that, I think Deconstructing Harry gets overlooked a bit.