08/12/03 (DVD)
Ritual in Transfigured Time (short) (1946) - Another dreamlike film from Deren, but it didn't impress me nearly as much as either Meshes of the Afternoon or At Land.
For the first time the main character is not played exculsively by Deren (she switches off with another actress, adding to the confusion), and the last film she appears. I just didn't
care for all the dancing, but the party scene acheives an odd trance-like rhythm after a few minutes as is the best part of the film.
08/12/03 (DVD)
Meditation on Violence (short) (1948) - Without a doubt my least favorite of Deren's films- the concept is fascinating, but when put to film it becomes rather monotonous
and boring. By filming a boxer performing one movement in on angle, and then capturing it with a different camera angle, and then again and again with different angles, Deren was
hoping to accomplish a kind of 'film cubism.' It would have worked much better at about half the length- the way it is, it's pretty hard to sit through.
08/12/03 (DVD)
The Very Eye of Night (short) (1958) - Deren's last finished film (she shot ten hours of footage of Haitian Voodoo rituals that were made into a documentary after her
early death), it's unlike any of the others she made. The Very Eye of Night captures figures dancing in photographic negative across a night sky. It's definitely better than Meditation
on Violence, but it's not near the level of Deren's best. Again, length is the biggest problem- even at 15 minutes it's far to long. If it was only half the running time I probably would
have liked it much more. But like all of Deren's films, it's unlike anything else I've ever seen.
08/13/03 (DVD)
Meshes of the Afternoon (short) (1943) - Meshes of the Afternoon continues to haunt me so I watch it again. The rhythm, the repetition, the otherwordly camerawork,
the ambiguity of the subject matter, all refuse to leave my mind. I am now confident that this is not only one of the greatest films I've seen, and now I'm quite sure it's one of my
favorite films of all time. A full review is in the works.
08/13/03 (VHS)
Providence (1977) - With three of his films in my top 100, with two of them in the top ten, French director Alain Resnais has become one of my very favorite directors. This
is the fourth film of his that I've seen, and it's one of his most highly regarded (once being voted as the greatest film of the 1970's by a group of critics). It's definitely my least
favorite of his films that I've seen, however. That may be because I didn't understand what was going on for most of the film, and now after reading a little bit about it I'm
beginning to have a much more favorable opinion towards it. I would like to watch it again, as most everybody agrees that it gets better with each viewing. (Special thanks to
Derek for allowing me to see this film.)
08/14/03 (DVD)
The Day the Earth Stood Still (1950) - After several days of exposing myself to experimental, thought-provoking films, I decided to give my brain a rest and turned to
this, a Robert Wise sci-fi classic. I have very little knowledge of this genre of film, but this is defintiely one of the best I've seen, second only to the masterful 1956 version of
Invasion of the Body Snatchers. I appreciated the fact that this wasn't just a weird-out, "let's amaze the audience with scary aliens and cool gadgets" type of film, but was actually
a serious social critique wrapped up in extraterestrial packaging. Michael Rennie, in his first American film role, is perfectly cast as a man from outer space, and develops a strong
sense of sympathy to his cause. The always excellent Patricia Neal gives the proceedings a respectability, Robert Wise's direction is precise and assured, and the black and white
cinematography is superb. Definitely a classic, and worth watching- regardless if you're a sci-fi fan or not.
08/15/03 (DVD)
Breaking the Waves (1996) - My first reaction to this film was that I admire it but don't love it, but since then my opinion of it has slowly but surely been on the decline.
I didn't have a problem with the home-movie quality aspect of the film- in fact, it enhanced the effect that what we were watching was not staged or performances by actors, but
rather what we were watching was candid moments in the lives of several people caught on film almost accidentally. What I really wasn't expecting was the questions that Breaking
the Waves brings up. What is the line that seperates faith and foolishness; is there a limit that one should not cross in sacrificing themselves to another person? I actually was more
fascinated by the questions on religion that were forced into the forefront. That said, I can't work up any real affection for the film. The graphic and raw nature of the film gives a
'dirty' feeling that repels me. I think it's worth watching, particularly for von Trier's unique style and the performances he elicits from his actors (particularly Katrin Cartlidge, who
is the stand-out).
08/16/03 (DVD)
Dancer in the Dark (2000) - I had promised a friend that I would watch both Breaking the Waves and this one, with Breaking in the Waves first. And I ended up liking this
one much, much more. To me, Breaking the Waves was not not a particularly emotional film. Yes, it portrayed a whole range of emotions, but somehow the proceedings just never
seemed very emotional themselves. The big surprise of Dancer in the Dark is Bjork's performance- it's impossible to liken it to anything else because quite simply I don't know if
there's ever been anything else like it. Rarely do you come across a performance that's so blatantly emotional, and few that are as consistently intsense. Watching her dreamlife and
fantasies slowely melt into her reality is nothing less than riveting, and sets up for a harrowing finale that caps off a physically draining movie. Highly recommended.
08/16/03 (DVD)
Meshes of the Afternoon (1943) - Yes, I watched it again. This is one of my favorite movies ever.
08/19/03 (Theatre)
S.W.A.T. (2003) - It was actually better than I expected. Brainless fun, but nothing but that: brainless fun.
08/22/03 (DVD)
Taxi Driver (1976) - My fourth Scorsese movie, and the first one I can say that I truly liked.
08/27/03 (Theatre)
Dirty Pretty Things (2003) - This was the first movie I decided to review for The Point Weekly, my college's newspaper. The film has an unexpected power and a tangible
sense of location. Chiwetel Ejiofer gives an outstanding lead performance. I'll get my full review of the film up soon, but until then I'll say that this is one of the best that has come
out in 2003 at this point.
08/29/03 (VHS)
Stage Door (1937) - I can't believe that of director Anthony La Cava's films, My Man Godfry is the revered classic, because this, his follow-up, is clearly the superior film. It
came highly recommended film from several people who's judgement I value, but I still have to admit to not having extremely high expectations for it (I'm not a fan of screwball
comedies, society satitre/comedies, women's pictures, etc.). But what I found here was an alternately hilarious and sad 'comedy' that unexpectedly grows on you. I've never been
big fans of either Katherine Hepburn or Ginger Rogers, but both of their performances here are revelations. Ginger is hilarious and extremely sexy, and Kate counters with her own
unique sexiness and a comedic style that I'd never seen (or perhaps enjoyed- I'm not a fan of Bringing Up Baby at all). There's also a supporting cast literally unparelled in cinema-
Lucille Ball, Eve Arden, Andrea Leeds, Constance Collier and a number of other cast members give life to their wisecracks, and because of it Stage Door sparkles. It's truly criminal
that this film has never had a DVD release, or even VHS, for that matter. Perhaps the sad and recent passing of Ms. Hepburn will lead to a release of this film in the DVD format,
for I'm sure Stage Door would enjoy a rediscovery and perhaps be held up as the masterpiece of 30's cinema like it rightfully should.
08/29/03 (VHS)
Born to Be Bad (1950) - I'm sorry to report my first Nic Ray dissapointment- though that's not to say Born to be Bad is without merit. It's an obvious early effort, and the
directoral presence that I love so much in his other films doesn't appear to be present. Joan Fontiane carries the film with her surprising performance as a deceptive, gold-digging
b*tch that is unlike any of her other work that I've seen. Though it has its fans, I personally wouldn't recommend this film to everybody. I'm definitely glad I saw it though.
08/30/03 (DVD)
Baisers Voles (Stolen Kisses) (1968) - Well, it's certainly no Qutre cents coups (in terms of both genre, style and overal signifigance), but it's a very funny, charming movie
in it's own right with some neat directoral flourishes here and there. Leaud, Seyrig and Jade all seem to be having a good time, and it's infectious. (Note: the Criterion release is
fantastic).
