Ocean's Eleven (2001)

Synopsis: A guy plans to rob some casinos and engage the collaboration of a team.
Appraisal: Well concocted, well executed (both film and heist). A few minor glitches (in the film): a ridiculously corny scene near the end with "Clair de lune" accompaniment; the female subplot is a little annoying (she gets the rich guy, both before and after, so what morality is that?). It is enjoyable as light entertainment, but do not expect more.
Rating: 51

About Mrs. Leslie (1954)

Rating: 42

I wrote and first published the following review on April 22, 1999, under the title "Silly". I made one minor grammatical correction for this republication. 

Uninteresting plot. Although the acting is nice, how can you be turned on by this silly story? I think the flashback parts are the most boring part of the film. That Mrs. Leslie was sure better off alone than with that jerk Mr. Leslie.

Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)

Rating: 92 

I wrote and first published the following review on April 23, 1999. I gave it the title "A Timeless Work of Art". It suffered a major rewriting for this republication; the original text was poorly written, and some of it did not make much sense . I tried to express the same ideas of the original text, as much as possible. 

First of all, let me state that this is a stunningly good movie in every imaginable aspect you could pick, and one of the high points of all human art in all human times. I'd like to pinpoint an overlooked aspect in it: the characters' ethical standards as might be revealed by an analysis of their deeds. Take, for instance, Tootie. Is this lovely little girl in fact a murderer, a sadist and a morbid soul? The film surely shows those possible aspects of her personality in a complacent way: the trolley accident she causes is not shown, we only hear of it. And the other characters do things that might make them as well be seen as vile creatures: take Esther and the ball carnet filled with the names of the local freaks. It is only too emblematic that Halloween is their celebration of preference. There is too much to be said about this masterpiece in too narrow a space.

Unagi (1997)

English Title: The Eel Rating: 67 

I wrote this review and first published it on May 05, 1999, under the title "Flawed But Interesting". A minor correction was made for this republication. 

This film deals with the theme of faith, its loss, its recovery. It has strong images, as usual in Imamura's films. It also has a well thought out plot development. But... it hints at directions that are never fully explored. There is a suggestion that the main character is insane. There are hallucinations. Keiko's behavior is also a little obscure at times. But as the core of the movie is melodrama, surreal aspects are only hinted at. That leaves a slight sensation of unachievement.

The Night Walker (1964)

Rating: 17 

I wrote and first published the following review on May 06, 1999, under the title "Absurd and Ridiculous". 

I am writing this because I see it as my duty to warn whomever I can that this is a bad movie. It is a bad movie because its script is bad and no other aspect of it is sufficiently good to compensate for it. Its script is bad because of many different reasons. It is bad because its ending makes no sense and revealing the details of this would be considered a spoiler, so I am not doing it. Also because it is full of psychoanalytic mumbo-jumbo that makes you laugh even if there is not a moment of voluntary humor in it. I would rather forget this movie and that is what I am going to do whether this gets published or not.

The Pillow Book (1996)

Rating: 24 

I wrote and first published the following review on May 07, 1999. It had the title "Fake Art". For this republication a major modification was made in the text, purging it of an epithet that in my present opinion had been incorrectly employed. A minor grammatical correction was also made. 

Just because a movie looks good, it does not mean it is good. Just because it is filled with erudition, it does not mean it has any cultural or artistic value. It must have something to say, and say it in a consistent manner. That is what distinguishes great art from phony art. "The Pillow Book" is not great art, it is not art at all. Its main subject is about writing on people's bodies. It insists on having a plot, although it seems to constantly remind us that it is not a conventional melodrama, but a pictorial essay. In fact it does not work either as a melodrama or as an abstract construction. It stands as sad evidence of a certain "anything goes" quality that pervades much of the noncommercial post-60s cinema that bloomed amidst the disillusionment at the increasing infantilization of Hollywood mainstream films. Madness, it is known, begets madness.

Blind Date (1959)

Rating: 49 

I wrote the following review on May 07, 1999, and first published it then. Its title was "Nicely Done". 

This is basically a mystery story, but the mystery itself and its solution are not very satisfying. The best is that in the mean time we get to see some character study. And Losey's mise-en-scene is above average, as usual.

Safe (1995)

Rating: 100

I wrote the following review on May 10, 1999, and published it then. It went under the title "Isolation Brilliantly Studied". Corrections in its English were made for its republication here.

I recommend Safe to everyone that seeks more in a film than accompaniment to popcorn. It makes you wonder whether civilization took a wrong turn somewhere. I disagree with those that see ambiguity in it. Impartiality, yes. It reminded me of Michael Tolkin's The Rapture. Julianne Moore was not perfect, though. She coughs unconvincingly, for one.

The Happy Ending (1969)

Rating: 61

I wrote the following review on May 10, 1999, and first published it then. It bore the title "Serious But Dated".

This is a serious work about a bored wife. Some of it seems a little dated. Seen in 1999, the development of the story is quite predictable, although I figure it was less so 30 years ago. Didn't move me much. All in all, respectable stuff.

Miller's Crossing (1990)

Rating: 100

Review written by me and first published on May 13, 1999, bearing the title "Makes Me Cry". A minor correction was made for republication here.

This is such a wonderful film I recover my faith in the human race just to remember it. But I also lose my faith in my own perceptiveness, since I didn't notice its greatness until watching it for the second time. I clearly see it at two different levels. First, as a straightforward gangster story, and it works perfectly well as such, with countless brilliant scenes and the cutest dialogue you could imagine. Secondly, in a deeper, more philosophical level, it is a reflection on such themes as personal ethics, chance, destiny, and one's command over one's own life. There is a clue to this in the final dialogue between Byrne's and Finney's characters. A truly complex and superior movie.

Red Line 7000 (1965)

Rating: 29

Review written by me and first published on May 13, 1999, under the title "A Soap". I made small corrections for republication here. 

This film is a collection of racing scenes interweaved with small love dramas involving drivers and their mates. Although the racing scenes are well done, the dramatic portions are extremely silly. James Caan aside, acting is poor. The choice of the final scene is unconventional and intelligent.

Hana-bi (1997)

English Title: Fireworks
Rating: 50

The following review was written by me and first published on May 14, 1999, under the title _"Death Wish" Meets "Ikiru"_.

Characters are unidimensional. Kitano spends quite some time displaying his own paintings (in the movie they are the paintings made by the paralyzed cop), which I liked, but occupy far more movie time than they are entitled to. Most of the movie is simply boring. Some moments of shock here and there. Some gratuitous violence. A primary and questionable morality pervading it all.

The River's Edge (1957)

Rating: 45

 I wrote and first published this review on May 14, 1999, under the title "Pacy Melodrama". 

This one has a farmer, his wife and her ex-lover. And a case full of money. It is not particularly memorable, but has pace, good acting, and a gorgeous Debra Paget. What else could you ask for? 

I wrote this other review on May 10, 1999, that was published on the same day, under the title "Watchable and Naive". 

This is a western, though set in more modern days. Quite watchable, actors are fine, Paget is stunning. It is not very deep, and it borders on the naive, though never falls into the absurd.

Alexander (2004)

Rating: 35

I first published this review elsewhere on February 07, 2005. 

I found it boring and lacking believability. Characters blabber incessantly (even during battles!). The psychology is infantile. I liked the photography, sets, costumes and battle scenes, though.

Métisse (1993)

USA Title: Café au lait Rating: 45 

I first published this review elsewhere on February 07, 2005.

This is yet another film about two guys and a girl; this time she is pregnant and the question arises as to whom she will choose, and who will stay with her, and so forth. It is easy to watch, and a little clichéd, allowing just as much drama as will not stand in the way of comedy.

Gadjo dilo (1997)

English Title: The Crazy Stranger Rating: 61 

I first published this review elsewhere on February 07, 2005. 

This film is about a young man from France that goes to Rumania in search of a gypsy girl singer he once met. He ends up staying, thanks to an elderly gypsy man whom he befriends, and thus gets acquainted with the multiple aspects of gypsy culture and their social problems; also, he falls in love with a gypsy woman. The thin plot is the least important thing about this film; it is a mere pretext to show how gypsies live. But it is done so competently and with such a warmth of feeling that I couldn't help getting involved.

Serial Mom (1994)

Rating: 70 

I have first published this review elsewhere, with minor differences, on February 07, 2005. 

A funny movie, occasionally very funny. It manages to throw some arrows at the "establishment" (nuclear family, the media, show business, courts of law). I was not always sure what its point was, but that didn't stop me from liking the movie.

The Hunter (1980)

Rating: 38 

I first published this review elsewhere on February 07, 2005. 

Not much of a movie. It starts well enough, featuring an enjoyable scene where a hut is practically destroyed during a fight. The rest of the movie does not keep up to it, though. The sequence with the harvester was incomprehensible for me. It reminded me of a much superior one, in Prime Cut. The film is watchable, but nothing more.

The Music Box (1932)

Rating: 71 

This is a reprint (with minor changes) of an earlier review I wrote (and published elsewhere) on February 07, 2005. 

 This short film features two guys trying to move a piano up a flight of stairs. The development is simple but funny, and there is a kind of surreal feel about the whole thing. It is like "The Myth of Sisyphus" done as comedy. Also, there is a lovely musical act.

Scary Movie 2 (2001)

Rating: 26 

This review was published elsewhere by me on February 07, 2005. 

 I liked the first one. This is a bad sequel. Aside from repeating jokes from the first film, a very dishonest thing in my opinion, it is unfunny from start to finish.

Mad City (1997)

Rating: 51

This review was published elsewhere by me on February 08, 2005.

This film is a loose remake of Ace in the Hole, and in fact the main character is named after one of that film's screenwriters. While Mad City does not achieve the heights that its predecessor did, it certainly has some valid points to make about the power of the media and how this power may become harmful to the common good, like we see here. Its director is usually associated with films of politically liberal content.

Swimming Pool (2003)

Rating: 50

I have considered this film watchable merely as a superficial entertainment. As for an interpretation of it, you have it below, but do not read it unless you have already watched the movie, as it contains major spoilers.
IF YOU HAVE NOT WATCHED THIS MOVIE ALREADY, I STRONGLY WARN YOU AGAINST READING THIS REVIEW AS IT IS ENTIRELY BASED ON DETAILS OF THE PLOT.
I wrote the review below and first published it on December 30, 2005, elsewhere.

***BEGINNING OF SPOILERS***
Julia Bosload is a 16 year old girl whose father is a publisher and mother is a crime novelist. She is herself an aspiring writer and intends to write her first novel while she is enjoying her vacation in her big house in the South of France with her mother. Julia has an adolescent crush on an older guy, whose name is Franck and who works as a waiter in a local café. But although she has a fertile imagination, she is inexperienced in the sex department. She sets most of her novel in a town and house like the ones she is at. The main characters are: a mystery writer, the inspiration for which is her mother; 24 year old Julie, who is sort of a projection of her own fantasies; a publisher (after her father), and Franck (after Franck). The novel, whose elaboration is depicted in the film, is full of ridiculous nonsense, and is the obvious product of an adolescent, inexperienced in art as well as in life, mind.

The Believer (2001)

Rating: 21

 

I am importing to this blog some reviews I published earlier, elsewhere. This is the first of them. I have made some corrections and/or improvements over the original text published on January 22, 2006. 

 Dramaturgically speaking, it is quite possible that 'The Believer' is the worst film ever made. In fact, I find it very difficult that something will ever surpass it in terms of psychological incoherence, nonsensical plot, etc, etc. It would be boring for me to enumerate its flaws one by one as this has already been done by competent critics. The only reason why I am writing this review is to try to explain why some reviewers are so fond of it. First you have to consider that the main character of this movie, called Danny, is a very articulate man, and he is said to be loosely based on a real person who was quite the opposite of that. This was a choice of the filmmaker that may contain the key to understanding what his approach to filmmaking was in the case of this film. You see, if Danny were not articulate at all, he would not be able to deliver his provoking speeches throughout the film. I found these speeches interesting and I think they reveal the filmmaker's deep insight into the matters that he is trying to focus in the movie, but they are not subordinated to the story: the plot and the characters are simply an excuse to those verbal utterances. In short, this is a literary essay disguised as a movie. I think those critics that liked this movie were so intellectually stimulated by the ideas expressed by its main character that they failed to see the obvious flaws in the movie as a whole. As a side note, I suggest that those who are interested in the themes addressed by the movie (judaism, nazism, christianity, etc) read "Ein Deutsches Requiem", a short story by Jorge Luis Borges that is included in the book "Ficciones". It has a minimum of plot and, like some of Borges' stories, is really an essay in disguise.

Vozvrashcheniye (2003)

English Title: The Return 

I considered this movie to be of medium accomplishment. Not very good. Not very bad either. 

The script is poor, in my opinion. It was contrived. It sometimes dragged. Well, that's what I thought of it. The cinematography was fine. The acting was fine also. Camerawork, fine. 

The Rest of This Review Contains Spoilers. DO NOT READ IT UNLESS YOU HAVE WATCHED THE MOVIE. 

I have devised a political reading of the movie. It makes the film more interesting, but the previous comment still holds. 

A country that has come out of a unique political experiment, an experiment that is generally considered to have been a spectacular failure. A country that for 7 decades (I am not good at dates, so forgive me if I miscount) lived under a regime that allowed little or no freedom, but that provided the common man with a (perhaps illusory) sense of guidance, of direction. This country is suddenly "thrown into the jungle", immersed in capitalism. No more guidance. No more sense of direction. This country sees the rates of criminality rise to an unprecedented level. The economy, by contrast, has modest growing rates. This country, once the leading part of what was called "The Second World", is drawn pitilessly into the common ground of "The Third World". 

Two boys, one around 14, the other around 12, live with their mother. The younger, more rebellious but also more afraid, one relies on his mother's support. The older one is more mature, more independent, more adjusted. Their father, absent for 12 years, returns. The three of them go on a trip. 

These two boys, whom you can call "The Bourgeoisie" and "The Proletariat", or "The Radical" and "The Moderate", or "Adam" and "Eve", or whatever other political, social or religious dichotomy pleases you most, will have different relationships with their father, whom you can call "The State" or "The Government" or "God". 

They are led to an island (meaning an isolation from the capitalist, US dominated, world?). The father is rude, even cruel at times. The younger boy mocks at the older one's submission to their father. The figure of the father/state is dual; he is both a menace and a hope for these boys. The father is secretive (as any autoritarian regime). He unburies a secret box and places it at the boat. This box is probably the reason of their journey; in it lies perhaps the hope for a better life. It may contain money (the box standing for economic recovery through a planned and controlled economy?). The boys want to go on a boat ride. The father is contrary at first; then he assents, but urges them to be back in one hour. (The people are allowed limited freedom.) The boys return much later than the stipulated time. (Society will not allow to be limited in its freedom.) The father wants to punish the older one, but the younger one revolts and runs. The father wants to protect the younger one, and runs after him. He is killed in the process. 

Both boys see in dismay that he wanted to protect them, and it led him to his death. They led him to his death. Now they are without a father, without a guide, and their childhood is irreversibly over. They are alone in the world. A cruel world this is, and survival is a matter of chance as much as anything else. 

Rating: 55

The Odd Couple (1968)

Synopsis: Recently separated guy moves to his best friend's apartment.
Appraisal: Pretty enjoyable comedy, even if it comes out a little strained at times. The one-liners are sometimes very funny, and the acting is spectacular. The character of Felix is obviously deliberately exaggerated for comedic purposes, and that does not always produce the intended results; I admit that I felt a little annoyed at one or two points in the movie. But that is all right, there are good moments that make up for it.
Rating: 53

Pink Floyd London '66-'67 (1967)

Described as a 'promotional trailer for Tonite Let's All Make Love in London', this is rather long for a trailer (31 minutes), so it is generally considered as a film in its own right. It is basically a collage of rehearsal scenes alternating with some musical show or 'happening', with people dancing, and a general atmosphere of psychedelia. Curious to see, but not structured enough to deserve a second thought.

Deux frères (2004)

English Title: Two Brothers. 

Synopsis: Two tigers are separated in infancy by men. Their lives are very different. 

Appraisal: While I immensely appreciated the beginning of this movie, I think it loses some steam around the middle. It's a worthwhile film, nevertheless, and very well executed. And the tigers are gorgeous. 

Rating: 58

Saved! (2004)

This is about a girl at a christian high school. I decided not to write a synopsis for this one, and that may happen more often in the future. Surprise is an important element of the aesthetic fruition and I do not want to spoil it. Well, about this film, it is reported that its script was rewritten 200 times. I speculate that in the process the social satire aspect was toned down and the moralizing aspect ended up prevailing. It is not bad, though. It is illustrative of issues relating to religion in a modern society, in a schematic way. 

Rating: 55

Maniac Chase (1904)

Synopsis: An intern at a mental institute escapes and is then chased.
Appraisal: Not really very interesting. Perhaps a little amusing. Very little.

Hooligan Assists the Magician (1900)

Depiction of magic show. The effects are achieved through cinematographic effects, mainly (I suppose) stop motion. The pace is fast and the scenes are imaginative, but even so the interest is minor, to put it mildly.

The Burglar's Slide for Life (1905)

Synopsis: A burglar is chased by a dog on a clothes line.
Appraisal: Despite the unusual situation, this film is not really of much interest.

Assunta Spina (1915)

Synopsis: Assunta is engaged to Michele, who is very jealous.
Appraisal: I was very surprised by this film. Having previously watched "La signora delle camelie" by the same makers, I was expecting more of the same. Well, I was wrong! Another possibility is that I was terribly mistaken about the other film and need to see it again. The fact is, I liked everything about this one: the story, the mise-en-scène, the acting, the natural sets, you name it.
The subjacent theme of this movie is the implicit moral superiority of women in contrast with their explicit social inferiority. This is a theme that still holds its strength in many parts of the globe and even if if it didn't the sheer aesthetic power of this film would still prevail, because Art is timeless and universal.

The Astor Tramp (1899)

Synopsis: A tramp invades a woman's hotel room while she is not there. She then arrives and calls the police.
Appraisal: Dreary.

Admiral Cigarette (1897)

A person that by the body complexion I would guess to be of the feminine sex comes out of a box and distributes cigarettes to some men that are sitting down (one of whom is a Native American). The men start smoking and unfold a sign that says "We Are All Smokers". That's it.

Conspiracy (2001) (TV)

Synopsis: 1942. Several Nazi leaders meet at a lake house to decide what to do with the jews. 

Appraisal: This finely written account of the Wannsee conference is a terrifying look at the entrails of power. It has fine performances through and through, and 'General Heydrich', in particular, was superbly played. 

Rating: 65

The Missing (2003/I)

Synopsis: At the end of the 19th century, a woman rancher's daughter is kidnapped by rebels, mostly Native Americans. She reluctantly accepts the help of her estranged father to track down the kidnappers. 

Appraisal: This film is flawed, scriptwise, and yet it is so tautly directed that it manages to keep its "head above water". Just to mention one of the things that maim its script: the mumbo-jumbo about the witch's powers. One can only speculate why it has condoned with such irrational concepts, and I came up with two main possible reasons, the first being they were betting on the audience's sympathy for such things, and the second, an attempt at being politically correct, as in, why must we look down on other cultures's beliefs, and so on. The first is a wrong bet, in my opinion. The second is stupid because we don't see films about white people where miracles happen just because the characters have a Christian upbringing. 

Rating: 52

The Bank (1915)

Synopsis: A bank janitor falls in love with an employee, mistaking a letter she addressed to the cashier his namesake as it were to him.
Appraisal: This film is a step in the evolution of short films into a more coherent work of art, an evolution that would only mature completely by the 1920's when longer films would be the rule and not the exception. There are anthological sequences like the initial one (I will not describe it here as it is based on a surprise that I do not want to spoil), and the whole film is carefully planned as a coherent whole and not a jumbled series of gags. One of the better films of that period.

La folie du docteur Tube (1915)

Synopsis: A scientist invents a powder that has the power to distort things (or the perception of things, it is not clear).
Appraisal: Interesting short film, whose primary aim is to play with the bizarre images obtained with distorting lenses and mirrors. The effect is impressive.

Settled at the Seaside (1915)

Synopsis: A couple of sweethearts have a fight and then she is the object of attention of a married man, whose wife is on some kind of a cart that then goes loose in a carnival.
Appraisal: Usual slapstick fare, watchable if you are tolerant to the conventions of the genre.

A One Night Stand (1915)

Synopsis: Two property men do everything they can to be a nuisance to the actors and the producer of a play.
Appraisal: The actions of the characters of this film do not seem to have a clear motive. The action follows the usual pattern of slapstick comedy.

Love, Speed and Thrills (1915)

Synopsis: A man suffers an accident and is helped by a passerby, who takes him to his house. It turns out that the helped man is a lecher who will hit on his helper's wife and subsequently will kidnap her.
Appraisal: This is basically more of the usual slapstick stuff, culminating on a sequence on a bridge that has its value as spectacle. As usual with the latest films I have watched, my copy is below the minimum standards for comfortable viewing.

Her Painted Hero (1915)

Synopsis: A woman is courted by two theater employees after she inherits a fortune. She likes the leading actor and wants to be in a play with him.
Appraisal: I will not issue an appraisal for this movie because the copy I watched it in was too bad and I could not understand much of it.

Gussle's Wayward Path (1915)

This erratic short comedy has one or two funny moments, and practically no plot. The funniest moment is, in my opinion, when the leading character is put in a coat-hanger. The ending is very abrupt, consistently with the overall sleaziness of the film.

Fatty Joins the Force (1913)

Synopsis: Fatty rescues a girl from a lake, and is accepted as a policeman.
Appraisal: Comedy without much luster. For die-hard silent movie fans.

Nô (1998)

Synopsis: In 1970, a Canadian actress plays at the World Fair in Osaka. Meanwhile, her boyfriend in Montréal is participating in terrorist activities. 

Appraisal: Good comedy, with smashing performances by (as far as I can remember) everyone. I am not sure it is something I will remember, or will want to see again, but it was fun watching. As for the subject of separatism in Canada, my opinion is the same as that regarding riots in France today, or Parisian students's manifestations in 1968: a big and resounding "Uh?". 

Rating: 64

Dizzy Heights and Daring Hearts (1915)

Synopsis: Two rival agents have to buy an aeroplane for their respective governments.
Appraisal: Although unsofisticated in its humor and primitive in its special effects, this comedy manages to entertain thanks to its fast pace and many action sequences.

L'auberge espagnole (2002)

Synopsis: French guy goes to Spain for a year in an exchange program. There he will take courses and share an apartment with people from different countries.
Appraisal: The tagline for this movie could be: Someone told you it was gonna be this way... Because it explores the "standard" situations that you expect in this kind of story. If you are not looking for new concepts or approaches, you probably will be entertained by this film. I was.
Rating: 56

Alice in Wonderland (1915)

This is a careful adaptation of the famous book, but due to the long fixed shots it looks rather uninvolving. There are a lot of intertitles, too, making it at times look like an illustrated book.

Fatty's Magic Pants (1914)

Synopsis: Two men are rivals for taking a woman to a ball. One of them is having trouble getting an appropriate outfit.
Appraisal: This short slapstick comedy has an interesting development. The leading actor is good and that adds to the interest.

His Majesty, the Scarecrow of Oz (1914)

Synopsis: Princess Gloria, daughter of King Krewl, is promised to Googly-Goo, but loves Pon, the gardener's son. When she refuses to wed Googly-Goo, her father hires a witch to "freeze" her heart, so that she can love no one.
Appraisal: Although longer than average for the year it was made, this film was rather crudely conceived and elaborated, and, though aimed at a children's audience, that is generally less demanding, could use some more imagination and professionalism. Like a reviewer from the IMDB Users remarked, the concept (and performance) of the aloof princess is one thing in the film that works rather well. Almost everything else doesn't, though. I must also remark that my appreciation was limited due to the lousy copy I watched it in.

Les premiers pas du cinéma - À la recherche du son (2003) (TV)

Good TV documentary about the history of sound in cinema, depicting all the first experiments until they finally achieved a technically and comercially viable method.

The Magic Cloak of Oz (1914)

This film has an imaginative plot (a cloak that grants wishes, a queen whose reflection gets old but she doesn't, some nasty round beings from the sky, and so on) that would probably entertain small children, but it has an enormous amount of intertitles, that I imagine would require an adult to keep reading them out loud. Anyway I am not fit to make a proper comment as the copy I watched it in was terrible and I missed all the fine details of the pictures.

I Could Go On Singing (1963)

Synopsis: Singer that renounced her son to his father for her career wants him back. 

Appraisal: This film is rather dull as a drama, but it has some (too few, actually) musical numbers with good songs and a good singer. She is a good actress, too, so it gets kind of watchable. It helps if you're a fan, of course. 

Rating: 35

Nemye svideteli (1914)

English Title: Mute Witnesses
Synopsis: A man loves a woman but is not loved back. The man's maid develops some affection for him.
Appraisal: Though the story told by this film leaves something to be desired in terms of arousing my interest, I have to acknowledge the remarkable work of mise-en-scène, truly an event for the year in which it was made. Not only the actors were brilliantly directed, but the composition of the scenes was often intelligent, making the most of the still shots that were mandatory at that time. The film also has some interesting insights about class relations at the beginning of the century.

The Battle at Elderbush Gulch (1913)

Synopsis: A small incident causes a white man to shoot a Native American. That in turn triggers an attack of big proportions by the dead man's tribe.
Appraisal: There is no way to deny the excellence of this picture for the era's standards. It is rare to see action sequences so well directed. There is a certain bias against the Indians, but on a closer look it derives more from the chosen point of view, which is predominantly that of the white men, than from a real ethical judgement. What I mean is: there is nothing in the film that clearly states that the white men are "right" and the Native Americans are "wrong". Of course, it would be unacceptable by today's standards but I do not think it is productive to enforce those standards retroactively.

Max décoré (1914)

U.S. Title: Max Sets the Style
Synopsis: Max is late for his own wedding, and, worse yet, has no shoes.
Appraisal: This is not a very good short comedy, being basically redeemed by its ending, that is very funny.

The Reckoning (2003)

Synopsis: A defrocked priest joins a group of traveling actors, and investigates a murder. 

Appraisal: This is not so exciting as a criminal or mystery tale and as a period piece is either extremely uninformed or deliberately anachronistic. At one point a character says: "The people has the right to know." Very improbable sentence considering this is 1380 and the ideas of Illuminism would only appear 4 centuries later. Perhaps the author wants to discuss modern issues in a medieval context. Anyway, the film has bigger problems than that, like the often unimaginative script. 

Rating: 39

Being Julia (2004)

Synopsis: Middle-aged actress has an affair with a young accountant.
Appraisal: This is one of the worst films I have seen in a good while, and the only way I could lessen the torture that was watching it was, halfway through it, to play a game I call "find the thousand imbecilities". Every time I watch crap like this, I wonder just whether there is someone responsible for it who is secretly having fun at the poor souls that will watch it. The funny thing is, I remember liking the earlier, German, version. Well, I have to see it again. On second thought, better forget it, because a second dose of this might be fatal. Not having found a single redeeming quality in this film (maybe the set design?), I leave without making specific comments, but not without my usual warning: give yourself a break and skip this film.
Rating: 18
P.S.: This review is forever going to shame me; I viewed this film again on June 1, 2008, and quite liked it; the new review is posted on that date; the film's rating was upgraded to 57.

Sahara (2005)

Synopsis: Dirk Pitt hunts for sunken ships. He is after a battleship from the American Civil War that according to rumor would have sailed and sunken in Africa. There he meets a beautiful medical doctor from W.H.O., who is investigating a series of strange deaths. They find that an unscrupulous corporate owner and a corrupt government leader are causing those deaths. 

Appraisal: Surprisingly old-fashioned thriller, that has its characters apparently having more fun than the viewer. Sensuality is virtually absent from it. On a metaphorical level, the toxical pollutants that threaten to escape and kill the world, and are contained by the heroic duo, can be viewed to "represent" the sexy doctor, and her threat to the platonic relationship between Pitt and Giordino. Just kidding. Anyway, I am easily entertained, and this has nice landscapes, lots of shooting, and an odious villain. Well, the villain is not so odious, but nobody is perfect. 

Rating: 59

The Hazards of Helen, Episode 26: "The Wild Engine" (1915)

Synopsis: A young woman gets a job as a telegraph operator, and on her first day has to deal with a runaway engine that threatens an excursion train.
Appraisal: I found this early serial episode very well realized, and very thrilling. I was surprised by its quality, honestly.

Ba mùa (1999)

U.S. title: Three Seasons

Synopsis: Several stories happening in Ho Chi Minh City: an American looks for the daughter he had during the war, a street vendor boy looks for his stolen case, a cyclo driver courts a prostitute, a flower picker/vendor befriends a recluse poet. 

Appraisal: This is a gentle and melancholy film, without being really a downer. The storyline is not devoid of the occasional cliché, but all in all I found the film interesting and visually very beautiful. 

Rating: 53

Brazil: Beyond Citizen Kane (1993) (TV)

This is just a TV documentary. The subject is very interesting and important: the giant Globo television empire, that is a "Fourth Power" (bigger than the other three?) in Brazil.

"Lost" (2004) (first season) (TV)

Not a film, so I am merely recording the fact, so as to remember it later.

Several frustrated viewings

Items that I viewed without understanding, due to the unavailability of subtitles:

Karadjordje (1911)
Çanakkale destani 1915 (TV)

Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005)

Synopsis: Dauntless TV show producer/presenter denounces civil rights violations in the 50's. 

Appraisal: I found this film interesting, but it should not pose as a drama, because it has nothing going for it in that department. The married couple subplot is completely perfunctory, for example. Its strenght is in the able use of real documents, and in the story itself, that, though occurring over 50 years ago, is still tragically relevant, as one can see in the recent case of the TV networks's omissive attitude regarding the invasion of Iraq, and the emergence of independent cinema documentaries as an alternative to corporation controlled news networks. 

Rating: 53

Meu Tio Matou um Cara (2004)

English Translation: My Uncle Killed a Guy 

Synopsis: An adolescent gets involved with his uncle's mischieves while trying to win his best friend's heart. 

Appraisal: Rather entertaining, though unelaborate, comedy. The weak point of the film is the acting and mise-en-scène style, that reminds one of an episode of "Telecurso 2° Grau" (a Brazilian educational program). Despite that, the story takes on intelligent turns, that keep the viewer's attention throughout the film. 

Rating: 54

Code 46 (2003)

Synopsis: In the near future, cloning is commonplace, and there is a law called Code 46 against the sexual involvement between genetically similar persons. A fraud investigation consultant with special psychic abilities is doing a job at a factory and covers up the author of a fraud, with whom he has fallen in love. 

Appraisal: Based on the synopsis above, you can already have a glimpse of what this film is. Well, futuristic films are, for some reason, almost always a sinonym of baloney, and this is no exception. But thanks to a certain ability in ambiance building, I would say that the film is endurable. 

Rating: 38

Du rififi chez les hommes (1955)

Synopsis: A group of friends plan to rob a jewel store. 

Appraisal: There is not much to say about this classic that has not already been said. It is practically a unanimity. What I can say is that this film has perfection written in every single photogram. Except (here I am contradicting myself) that I do not like the actor playing 'Jo', and I do not completely accept one scene of the movie, let me just say it is an unjustified murder, so that I do not spoil it for those who have not watched it yet. But apart from that, it is a marvelous film: the lead performer is astoundingly good, the black and white cinematography is gorgeous, the editing is milimetrically precise, the music is fabulous, and of course all of those surround a thrilling story line that has become referential for heist films ever since. It is certainly one of my favorite movies, ranking, among those I have seen, as number 8 in its year. 

Rating: 78

Il giovane Casanova (2002) (TV)

Synopsis: Account of the youth of Casanova, mixing fictional and true events. He falls in love with his protégé's lover. He also gets involved in the intrigues involving Madame Pompadour. 

Appraisal: This TV movie was shown in two segments of 1h30 each. It is fast paced, and does not delve into character psychology. All in all, I would say it is above average for European TV productions, but I really have not been watching too many of them to know for sure. But I found it watchable; not outstanding, but watchable. 

Rating: 52

Falcão (Meninos do Tráfico) (TV) (2006)

Title Translation: Hawk (Traffic Boys)
Synopsis: Documentary showing the miserable life of drug dealing kids in several large Brazilian cities.
Appraisal: This documentary offers a very shocking picture of urban childhood in a Third World country. The 58 minute version (the only one released, as far as I know) focuses largely on boys, leaving out the lives of girls. I hope they release a second part, because there is a lot of filmed material, according to the directors. An important document and an alert to authorities and citizens in general.
Rating: 57

Bossa Nova (2000)

Synopsis: Recently separated lawyer meets and falls in love with an American teacher of English Language living in Rio. Side plots involve his resourceful and extroverted intern, a football player, a shy young tailor, a lonely hairdresser, and an American guy she corresponds with via the Internet. 

Appraisal: This bland and photogenic romantic comedy has an uncreative script and no noteworthy performance, though there was very little chance of that, given the material. 

Rating: 36

Wonderland (2003/I)

Synopsis: A drug addict is forced by the gang he hangs out with to facilitate the robbery of a crooked businessman he is friends with. Later, he will play an important part on this businessman's murderous revenge. Conflicting versions of the events are presented. 

Appraisal: Well executed and well acted, this account of a real crime occurred in the early eighties manages to engage the viewer's attention, despite the low amount of empathy generated by the characters. 

Rating: 57

White Wings (1923)

Synopsis: A street cleaner mistakes a baby carriage for his cleaning cart and is chased by the baby's mother and a cop. He then impersonates a dentist in an attempt to elude his pursuers.
Appraisal: This is one of the less successful of the silent comedies of that era. The story is not at all logical, and the gags are not very funny; by the way, most of them were shamelessly copied from earlier films. Still, there is always an immense historical interest in films this old.
The "Comedy Capers" copy I watched had no title, but the cable TV magazine provided the title "The Painless Dentist".

The Noon Whistle (1923)

This short comedy is set in a timber factory, and, while not being anything special, entertains through some intelligent gags.
The copy I watched was that of the TV show "Comedy Capers" and displayed the title "Wooden-head".

I Heart Huckabees (2004)

Synopsis: An environmental activist does a project in collaboration with a clothes manufacturing company. Meanwhile, he is going through a life crisis, and hires "existential investigators" to sort it out. 

Appraisal: Despite the free-wheeling style, this film is rather boring, and the only thing going for it that I can think of is the charming soundtrack. Buy the record if you want to, but if you are a smart person you will give yourself a break and skip this film. 

Rating: 29

Stranger Inside (TV) (2001)

Synopsis: A woman in a correctional juvenile facility is sent to a state penitentiary, where she meets an inmate that is supposed to be the mother that left her at birth. 

Appraisal: This film surprised me for its emotional density. Also, it is very well directed; it does not look like an average TV movie, but I think I must update my paradigms, because theatrical movies look more and more like bad TV series, and TV movies look more and more like good cinema. Anyway, if something bad must be said, it is that my system is so saturated with prison movies after watching so many of them, that even this one had some taste of deja-vu to it. But it shows some new angles too, and it is very candid. 

Rating: 54

Young Man with a Horn (1950)

Synopsis: Talented but self destructive trumpet player gets involved with the wrong woman. 

Appraisal: This film is not much remembered nowadays, and perhaps justly so. The dialogue is terribly dated (at one point a character, supposedly a neurotic, sophisticated woman, asks: "Tell me about jazz. Do you think it is purely African?"), and some of the situations too. There are marvelous musical numbers, but their enjoyment is almost spoiled by the exagerated tragic overtones of the story. Maybe I sound harsher than I intend; in any case, the B&W cinematography has the usual excellence of American films of the 50s, and the acting is uniformly good. 

Rating: 41

Crash (2004)

Synopsis: Several characters interact in Los Angeles. They are: a black cop, his hispanic girlfriend-partner, a white cop who lives with his ill father, his white rookie partner, a black TV director and his black wife, an Iranian shop owner, his daughter, his wife, a Mexican lock installer, his little daughter, a white District Attorney and his white wife, their hispanic maid, the district attorney's assistant, two black robbers, a Korean woman and her father, a black Medical Plan attendant. 

Appraisal: This film tries to illustrate how racism develops in a multiethnical city. Being basically a thesis oriented film, it has a "functional" screenplay. By that I mean that there is no spontaneous moment and no sense of humor. Everything is there with a purpose. So the people that called it contrived were absolutely right. Some situations are very implausible and are there only to illustrate the main theme of racism and intolerance. That maims the film, that becomes, at best, solemn and didactic, and, at worst, outright ridiculous, which happens at one or two points. 

Now a curiosity. The first line, about how people who do not touch will collide in order to make contact, is somewhat similar in idea to this line of a short story that was first published in 1959: 

"(...) All of us, there, felt as at the edge of the world, ferociously isolated, with habits, desires and hopes that almost always required the pretext of a collision to keep them alive, hating, at times, these fellows seen at all hours, under the same phrases, the same gestures. Imprisoned, our emotions had to explode, before they rotted." 

The author is Fernando Namora, and the short story is called, in Portuguese, "Sabotagem", which translates to "Sabotage"; it is part of the collection "Cidade Solitária" ("Lonely City"); the translation is my own. Oh, and the short story is set in a mine, not in a city. 

Rating: 45