09/14/03 (DVD)
Daisies (Sedmikrasky) (1966) - At first you stare at the screen saying to yourself, "what the heck?" Then it dawns on you- it's supposed to be that way. From then on out, I
had a blast. I have wanted to see Daisies ever since I first read Jonathon Rosenbaum's review of it in the (excellent) book Film: The Critic's Choice. And it's even whackier then he
explained it- it's a riot of color, form and ideas, and it's all done in a way I've never experienced before. Unforgettable sequence seem to follow each other the whole movie through-
from the caberat, to the "scissors" scene, to the gorgeously destructive banquet finale. I want to watch it again, for a film like this can't be fully absorbed in one viewing.
09/15/03 (DVD)
You Only Live Once (DVD) - The first half is deadly boring, and it just confirmed the fact that Henry Fonda annoys the crap out of me. But in the second half things
unexpectedly spark and the film comes to life, even Fonda was effective in his own way. This film is defintiely a precursor to Bonnie and Clyde and other criminal lovers on the run
films, and in some ways its nearly as good. Sylvia Sidney is miraculous- she's certainly one of the best actreses of that era, and it's a shame that her name has not stood the test of time
like some of her more famous contemporaries. Overall You Only Live Once is a very good film, and nearly makes me forget Lang's awful Scarlet Street.
09/16/03 (DVD)
Phone Booth (2003) - I was really thinking that this film wasn't nearly as bad as I had been lead to believe. It's an interesting idea for sure, and the performances ranged from
effective to good. But it all falls apart in the last fifiteen minutes- defintely one of the most anticlimactic endings I've seen in a while. And then to top it all off, it ends with one of my
pet peeves- Fincher-esque careening through phone lines that takes us out to a satellite in space. Left an awful taste in my mouth, and lessens my opinion of the whole movie.
09/17/13 (Theatre)
American Splendor (2003) - I'll admit that I was not particularly eager to see this film, but it was the best candidate for this week's school movie review. I laughed out loud
(which is more rare than you would think) within the first few minutes of the credits, and I quickly realized that this was going to be much, much better than I expected. I ended up
loving it, and it's without a doubt on of the best films of 2003. It's unique vision and style, the sharp and wry humor and the Oscar nomination worthy performances from Paul
Giamatti and Hope Davis make this film an absolute gem, and one of the few films so far released this year that is absolutely not to be missed.
09/17/03 (DVD)
The Awful Truth (1937) - After being let down too many times, I no longer go into classic screwball comedies with high expectations. And honestly, I was not expecting to like
this one at all. So I was surprised how much fun it was, and how much I did end up enjoying it (though perhaps the fact American Splendor put me in a cheerful mood helped). I'm
not a fan of Irene Dunne, and actually am not a huge Cary Grant fan either, but their chemistry carries the film, and they are helped by some great writing and memorable wisecracks.
My biggest complaint is the romance between Grant's character and the heiress that was thrown in at the end. It did allow for Dunne's hilarious appearance as Grant's crude sister, but
it all felt like unneeded excess, and I was eager for McCary and his screenwriters to wrap things up. Overall it's still a delightful film with many charming and memorable moments.
09/18/03 (DVD)
Dog Star Man (1961 - 1964) - While this famous montage of film is fascinating on a certain level, and its odd beauty cannot be denied- with over an hour of running time it's
rather tedious to get through. I have a feeling watching this on a big screen would be a hypnotic experience, but on a small screen the effect is largely lost and it's hard to stay focused
through the entire film.
09/20/03 (DVD)
East of Eden (1955) - This film has been on the top of my "to-see" list for as long as I've had one, and even though it's a relatively popular classic title, it's always evaded my
grasp (the local library gave me the miniseries twice this last summer on accident). So when I saw this sitting on the shelf of my new movie rental shop, I snagged it. It ended up being
a Japanese copy of the film, but I'm not complaining. Anyways, it more than lived up to my high expectations. James Dean is amazing- the combination of his charisma and the
natural sympathy his role creates are electrifying. You can hardly keep your eyes off of him. Julie Harris is the other stand-out, making a crushing impact with her several big scenes
and speeches, and provides a base of sorts for the rest of the film. The rest of the cast is also excellent, from Raymond Massey as Dean's clueless father to Jo Van Fleet (who won an
Oscar for her role), the "bad" woman who happens to be Dean's mother. The cinematography and the direction were superb, and I hope for a restored release of this film, as the
colors of the print on the DVD I watched left much to be desired. Quite simply, I think this is one of the greatest films of Hollywood's studio system.
09/20/03 (DVD)
Loves of a Blonde (1965) - Daises and Closely Watched Trains have sparked my interest in the Czech New Wave, and Milos Forman's films are considered some of the finest to
come from this movement. Loves of a Blonde is a beautiful, intimate little film that tells a small story on a small scale. It documents a young working girl who falls in love with a
travelling pianist, and follows him to Prague after he invites her to come stay with him. The proceedings are heartbreaking, but are laced with typical New Wave moments of beauty
and humor. Basically, I couldn't resist it.
09/20/03 (VHS)
T-Men (1947) - I've decided I'm just not a fan of this type of film, a noir-hybrid crime film. Often based on true stories, they're too driven on getting the facts straight, and tend to
skimp on the art. This early Anthony Mann effort is moderately entertaining, but not distinctive in any way, and is easily and quickly forgotten.
09/21/03 (DVD)
Dekalog Jeden (Decalogue One) (1988) - I can't imagine that anything could top the artistry of Les Trois Colours Trilogy, but The Decalogue is often considered to be
Kieslowski's masterpiece. Naturally, I had to find out for myself. The premise fascinates me- that of taking each of the Ten Commandments and illustrating them with a film, and this,
the first installment, has definitely caught my attention. I'm looking forward to seeing more.
09/24/03 (Theatre)
Lost in Translation (2003) - Totally and completely worked for me. Without a doubt one of the best films released this year- I rank only Raising Victor Vargas ahead of it at
this point. Review should be up soon.
09/27/03 (DVD)
Pygmalion (1938) - It's a fine film for sure, sharply adapted from Shaw's play and a good comedic performance (!) from Leslie Howard, but it's the radient Wendy Hiller who
makes this film the classic it is. She's simply mesmorizing from the very first moment she appears on the screen. And Eliza's big moment at the Ambassador's house is one of the
most beautifully realized scenes I've ever seen.
09/27/03 (DVD)
The Magnificent Seven (1960) - I'm the first to admit that I'm really not a Western fan, and I seldom seek them out. I started watching this because my father had rented it, and
as soon as Elmer Bernstein's glorious music began playing during the opening credits I was hooked. Great fun- I ended up loving every minute of it.
09/28/03 (DVD)
Black Narcissus - I figured I should look this one up again for the upcoming '47 Fixing to see if my initial negative reaction would change with another viewing. No go. It's without
a doubt one of the most gorgeous films ever created- but why does it have to be so darn stupid!? The melodrama plays out like a bad soap opera half-heartedly repressed by flowing
white habits, though they do photograph wondefully in the constant Himalayan breeze.. I won't deny that I enjoyed it to a certain extent- but there is no way I could even consider
calling it a great film.
