Star Trek 9/10
Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie
At this point in his life, Bunuel was so masterful he could make you accept any circumstances he showed on-screen, whether they were actually a dream or not. That said, I was disappointed at the times it WAS a dream, mostly because it typically happened after a really life-altering scene. I guess part of the point, of course, is that these people go nowhere, because they don’t, and it’s hilarious to watch.
4 stars.
—PolarisDiB
THE WAGES OF FEAR. 9/10
Taking Chance
3.5/5
The River
Put simply, film will never again attain this level of craftsmanship. But it is the dream, the hope that one day it can be approached, that encourages filmmakers to keep trying. Impossibly masterful.
Morocco (1930)
After another viewing, still about 8/10.
Simon of the Desert: 9 / 10
Savvy
Badlands – 9/10
Minority Report: 8/10; a fantastical realisation of the possible future – more convincing than Blade Runner in this respect.
A.I: 8.2/10; almost-masterpiece.
Pickpocket: 8/10; my first Bresson.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind: 9/10; one of my favourites.
Chinatown
5/5
@Neil McCauley’s Cooler Brother, re: Pickpocket, “my first Bresson”
Was it as good for you as it was for me?
—PolarisDiB
Taken – B+
Surprisingly good. Neeson’s a bad ass.
Doubt – B
I thought I liked it but then I wasn’t sure.
Star Trek – B+
Damn fun, flawed.
Tartuffe (1924)
7/10
The Heart of the World (short film by Guy Maddin): +5/5
Julia (Tilda Swinton’s new film): A+
Julia (Tilda Swinton’s new film): A+
cat in the brain: 6
Well, POLARISDIB, I’ve been looking for his work these past 15 years, and it was only when I travelled through Kerry here in Ireland that I spotted Pickpocket for sale. I liked the film a lot; Bresson is obviously dealing with important stuff here, and without the heavy hand many directors would have used when riffing on Crime and Punishment (which I read – and loved – a few weeks ago). Have to admit though: Au hasard Balthazar is the one I really want to see.
Air Force (1943) and Scrap Happy Daffy (1943)
5/10 and 7/10
I’ve been trying to give Hawks another chance. Needless to say, I preferred the Tashlin cartoon.
4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days: 8/10, very intriguing I liked it a lot
Effi Briest 7.5/10
Less dramatic version of the Karenina/Bovary story. Beautiful B&W although Fassbinder goes a little overboard with mirror shots.
Schygulla great and I guess she split with Fassbinder for a while after this because she felt she was underpaid.
It is a bit long and could stand to be shortened by 10 or 15 minutes.
TV Sheriff and the Trailbuddies: Not 4 $ale
VJ collection with these wonky jockeys focusing on mind control in the media. Really funny, especially since the VJs are willing to send up themselves as well. Gets somewhat repetitive, but that’s to be expected in most -J art, because a lot of it is improv.
3.5 stars.
The Hudsucker Proxy
During my rewatch last night, I couldn’t help shaking off the similarities this movie has with Brazil. Mostly has to do with the staged production and the lighting with a retro-50s design, but there are also weirdly similar directions it goes in plot. Worth looking into at a later point.
4 stars.
—PolarisDiB
Farewll My Lovely. 0/100. The entire cast was bad.
Stalker: 10 / 10. Truly a visionary masterpiece.
Savvy
The Housemaid
Was curious about this whole Scorsese/Auteurs presentation, and I’m rather curious about Korean culture right now (both North and South). Basically, I don’t understand why the family didn’t cut off her head with a shovel like the snake she is, and I don’t find those closing morals to be an any way supported by the actual motivations of the character. It was pretty painful to sit through, actually.
1.5 stars.
—PolarisDiB
Battleground (William A. Wellman, 1949) – Another postwar masterpiece from Wellman. It’s not quite up to the level of his awe-inspiring effort from the year before, Yellow Sky, but it has a similar visual beauty. I’ve watched a lot of his pre-code films and lately and while they’re all a delight, I can’t help but think that this part of his career was his most successful. On the other hand, I’m only basing this off of two films.
x-men origins: wolverine- 2/10
The Last Days of Disco (1998)
Always 10/10 for me.
That’s a great film, RUS. Kate Beckinsale – yes, Kate Beckinsale! – gives a very good performance, and should be held up as an example – rare these days – of an English actor who can pull off a flawless American accent (I’m looking at you, Hugh Laurie…).
Wildfire
Love on the Run. 3/10.
I love Antoine Doinel, but this movie was a glorified clip show. How can they say Bed & Board is the worst one? At least it had a plot!
Apparently Truffaut hated it too, though, so I can proceed with my illusions intact…