Two acting students discover that they are dating the same guy. He appears to die in an explosion, but then they find out that he is still alive and there are people looking for him.
It all revolves around the two central characters and the two talented comedians who play them. This is a limited foundation on which to base a film, and eventually gets a little tiresome, although there are funny moments in it.
Rating: 38
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Shooting Dogs (2005)
During the Rwandan conflict in 1994, an English priest harbors Tutsi regugees at his school.
Fictionalized account of some aspects of the genocide of the minority Tutsi by the majority Hutu in Rwanda. Although this is already the fourth film I see about that conflict (the others: Sometimes in April, Hotel Rwanda, Shake Hands with the Devil), it adds to the general picture which shows the complete inutility of the United Nations Organization, and the cowardice of Western so-called leaders. A watchable film, with some important political observations.
Rating: 51
Fictionalized account of some aspects of the genocide of the minority Tutsi by the majority Hutu in Rwanda. Although this is already the fourth film I see about that conflict (the others: Sometimes in April, Hotel Rwanda, Shake Hands with the Devil), it adds to the general picture which shows the complete inutility of the United Nations Organization, and the cowardice of Western so-called leaders. A watchable film, with some important political observations.
Rating: 51
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Offset (2006)
A Romanian woman is engaged to a German man; he is in Romania working at the same printing company as she is. Her former relationship with her boss poses some obstacles to the marriage.
Carefully scripted with great attention to psychological detail, and directed with assuredness, albeit without much camerawork. Not a great movie, perhaps, but has one or two things to say about men, women, developed countries, and underdeveloped ones.
Rating: 59
Carefully scripted with great attention to psychological detail, and directed with assuredness, albeit without much camerawork. Not a great movie, perhaps, but has one or two things to say about men, women, developed countries, and underdeveloped ones.
Rating: 59
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
Some Soviets are in the US in pursuit of aliens. A youngster needs Professor Jones's help to rescue his mother and his stepfather from those villains. A crystal skull with unexplained powers must be brought along with them to the Amazon forest, where a mysterious city is said to exist.
The reencounter of father and son, which never happened in Broken Flowers, here does (with the mother's blessing). Their quest mirrors that theme: aliens are seens as fathers of mankind. One might see fatherhood as an allegory of authorship, a problem of the whole Indiana Jones series: the director is the same in the four films, but the characters are not his brainchildren. The critical output addressing the issue of personality disorder in commercial cinema, stemming from divided authorship, is still meager. In this particular instance, the symptoms of neurosis appear in certain aspects of the plot, for example the villainization of communists is concomitant with the villainization of communist paranoia.
Rating: 33
The reencounter of father and son, which never happened in Broken Flowers, here does (with the mother's blessing). Their quest mirrors that theme: aliens are seens as fathers of mankind. One might see fatherhood as an allegory of authorship, a problem of the whole Indiana Jones series: the director is the same in the four films, but the characters are not his brainchildren. The critical output addressing the issue of personality disorder in commercial cinema, stemming from divided authorship, is still meager. In this particular instance, the symptoms of neurosis appear in certain aspects of the plot, for example the villainization of communists is concomitant with the villainization of communist paranoia.
Rating: 33
Monday, July 27, 2009
Combat!: Off Limits (1963) (TV)
Private March encounters his wife, who is a nurse at an evacuation hospital which just happens to be in his outfit's way.
A marvelous episode, where the multiple elements and subplots fit right into one another, and everything functions like clockwork.
A marvelous episode, where the multiple elements and subplots fit right into one another, and everything functions like clockwork.
Combat!: Night Patrol (1963) (TV)
While searching for prisoners, Saunders and his squad find an American soldier who claims to be an officer whose outfit perished. They are forced to hide in a cave.
This is the third episode (at least) whose plot centers on a lonely soldier who acts strange and may be hiding a secret. It seems like they found a formula and stuck to it.
This is the third episode (at least) whose plot centers on a lonely soldier who acts strange and may be hiding a secret. It seems like they found a formula and stuck to it.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Broken Flowers (2005)
A man receives an anonymous letter saying that he is the father of a 19-year-old boy. His neighbor talks him into looking for the mother among his former girlfriends.
I may be wrong about this movie but I think it just got some things wrong. The idea is to put the don-juan type on the spot, so to speak, to uncover all his wretchedness, the pointlessness of his life. There is a certain lack of connection with reality in certain areas (Murray here doesn't look or act like a don-juan, neither does he look like a successful computer genius; other people have noticed that); that connection with reality was present in the vastly superior About a Boy, a film which did not try to be downbeat and dry-witted at the cost of abstraction.
Rating: 41
I may be wrong about this movie but I think it just got some things wrong. The idea is to put the don-juan type on the spot, so to speak, to uncover all his wretchedness, the pointlessness of his life. There is a certain lack of connection with reality in certain areas (Murray here doesn't look or act like a don-juan, neither does he look like a successful computer genius; other people have noticed that); that connection with reality was present in the vastly superior About a Boy, a film which did not try to be downbeat and dry-witted at the cost of abstraction.
Rating: 41
Tarzan's Greatest Adventure (1959)
Tarzan is after a gang who has been stealing supplies and explosives from the villages.
This is my second viewing. The first version I saw was dubbed, unlike this one; but the latter did not have any subtitles, which made it difficult for me to understand some of the lines. Anyway, it is not a great film, although there is a striking shot of a hand (of a man who drowned in quicksand) and a locket hanging from the nearby bushes, which has his mother's picture in it, and was the cause of his drowning. There is also Anthony Quayle, who is great.
Rating: 34 (unchanged)
This is my second viewing. The first version I saw was dubbed, unlike this one; but the latter did not have any subtitles, which made it difficult for me to understand some of the lines. Anyway, it is not a great film, although there is a striking shot of a hand (of a man who drowned in quicksand) and a locket hanging from the nearby bushes, which has his mother's picture in it, and was the cause of his drowning. There is also Anthony Quayle, who is great.
Rating: 34 (unchanged)
Friday, July 24, 2009
Leatherheads (2008)
A football professional player who has gone bankrupt sees in a university player his chance of going back to business. A female reporter is after the truth behind the latter man's war hero fame.
Not very well conducted attempt at reviving the 30's Hollywood comedy.
Rating: 46
Not very well conducted attempt at reviving the 30's Hollywood comedy.
Rating: 46
Red Road (2006)
A video surveillance worker spots the man responsible for her husband's and daughter's deaths - who has been released from prison - while performing her work. She plots revenge.
The whole revenge plot is retarded, as anyone with a minimum knowledge of police procedure - not to mention basic psychology - will notice. As a study of loneliness and desire, and a depiction of marginal living in the UK, it is sometimes interesting. The result is problematic, a film that feels like being about something else than its actual plot. Plus, it's pretty tedious at times.
Rating: 32
The whole revenge plot is retarded, as anyone with a minimum knowledge of police procedure - not to mention basic psychology - will notice. As a study of loneliness and desire, and a depiction of marginal living in the UK, it is sometimes interesting. The result is problematic, a film that feels like being about something else than its actual plot. Plus, it's pretty tedious at times.
Rating: 32
Spartan (2004)
A secret agent is assigned the rescuing of the kidnapped daughter of an important politician.
Watchable, but not really interesting.
Rating: 35
Watchable, but not really interesting.
Rating: 35
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Take Me to Town (1953)
A wrongfully convicted woman escapes while being transported to prison, and finds a job as a saloon singer. She is forced by circumstances to look after some kids whose widower father is away working.
Not very interesting.
Rating: 34
Not very interesting.
Rating: 34
Idle Hands (1999)
The hand of a lazy teenage boy is possessed by an evil spirit.
Not especially brilliant, but flows well and is professionally done. The one thing that bothered me most was the beginning, or, to be more precise, the absence of one.
Rating: 40
Not especially brilliant, but flows well and is professionally done. The one thing that bothered me most was the beginning, or, to be more precise, the absence of one.
Rating: 40
Noises Off... (1992)
Based on the play by Michael Frayn (1st performance 1982).
A theater play is shown from three angles, in three different nights: the rehearsal before opening night, the events in backstage at another city, and the performance at yet another location.
The premise seems alright, but the actual film is irritating instead of funny.
Rating: 24
A theater play is shown from three angles, in three different nights: the rehearsal before opening night, the events in backstage at another city, and the performance at yet another location.
The premise seems alright, but the actual film is irritating instead of funny.
Rating: 24
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
The Walker (2007)
Carter Page makes a living out of escorting married women to the opera, playing cards with them, exchanging gossip. Suddenly he is dragged into the center of a sordid story of murder, adultery, blackmail, involving one of his escortees.
The film depicts the fragility of one's position in the world, when one's relations are not built upon solid values. Or perhaps it is the chronicling of a certain era in U.S. politics. Perhaps a little of both. The writing is uneven: at times we are surprised by the wit of the dialogue and the accuracy of the psychology, at other times it barely manages to rise above triteness. On the average it is good enough to keep one's interest.
Rating: 53
The film depicts the fragility of one's position in the world, when one's relations are not built upon solid values. Or perhaps it is the chronicling of a certain era in U.S. politics. Perhaps a little of both. The writing is uneven: at times we are surprised by the wit of the dialogue and the accuracy of the psychology, at other times it barely manages to rise above triteness. On the average it is good enough to keep one's interest.
Rating: 53
Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995)
A terrorist blows up a clothes shop in Manhattan and demands to talk to police lieutenant McClane. He proposes a game with McClane, in which a series of tasks will be assigned to him. A shop owner in Harlem is forced to be his partner.
An overwhelming amount of images and situations, the film may be accurately called action-packed. Seductiveness walks side by side with emptiness, and we are led to ask: what is the meaning? Thus, the film's villain might be construed as an allegory of the film itself: it begs to be deciphered, it pretends to play a game with us, all it wants to do is steal two hours of our time.
Rating: 50
An overwhelming amount of images and situations, the film may be accurately called action-packed. Seductiveness walks side by side with emptiness, and we are led to ask: what is the meaning? Thus, the film's villain might be construed as an allegory of the film itself: it begs to be deciphered, it pretends to play a game with us, all it wants to do is steal two hours of our time.
Rating: 50
Monday, July 20, 2009
Combat!: Next in Command (1963) (TV)
A corporal being transferred to Saunders' company saves their life while on his way to join them. His past is obscure and his behavior strange.
Well, the show was going perfectly well (I have missed some episodes though), until this one. I knew they would eventually kick one ball out, and this is where they did it. My suggestion is, skip this one, the revelation of the mystery is deeply disappointing and corny.
Well, the show was going perfectly well (I have missed some episodes though), until this one. I knew they would eventually kick one ball out, and this is where they did it. My suggestion is, skip this one, the revelation of the mystery is deeply disappointing and corny.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Bikur Ha-Tizmoret (2007)
English title: The Band's Visit.
An Egyptian police band arrives in Israel for a performance at a celebration, but goes by mistake to the wrong place, a very small town, and interacts with the locals during their stay there.
Easy to watch, and with an absolutely outstanding performance by Ronit Elkabetz.
Rating: 53
An Egyptian police band arrives in Israel for a performance at a celebration, but goes by mistake to the wrong place, a very small town, and interacts with the locals during their stay there.
Easy to watch, and with an absolutely outstanding performance by Ronit Elkabetz.
Rating: 53
Saturday, July 18, 2009
L'ivresse du pouvoir (2006)
English title: The Comedy of Power; A Comedy of Power.
Correct translation of the French title: The Drunkenness of Power.
A magistrate investigates corruption in a public company.
Boring drama (it is not a comedy, as the English title falsely implies). The incompetence of the writing team is evident in the absurd behavior of the protagonist's husband, who, among other things, for some unknown reason is ready to dismiss the possibility of a threat to his wife's life.
Rating: 39
Correct translation of the French title: The Drunkenness of Power.
A magistrate investigates corruption in a public company.
Boring drama (it is not a comedy, as the English title falsely implies). The incompetence of the writing team is evident in the absurd behavior of the protagonist's husband, who, among other things, for some unknown reason is ready to dismiss the possibility of a threat to his wife's life.
Rating: 39
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Boarding Gate (2007)
A businessman about to sell his share of the company he owns meets with his ex-lover, who is now an employee of a couple of Chinese importers in Paris. What is her motive to look her ex-lover up after so long?
To reveal more of this film's plot would be spoiling the pleasure of watching it. It is a well concocted and well told story of sex, money, betrayal and intrigue, which kept me interested.
Rating: 68
To reveal more of this film's plot would be spoiling the pleasure of watching it. It is a well concocted and well told story of sex, money, betrayal and intrigue, which kept me interested.
Rating: 68
A Child Is Waiting (1963)
About an institution for boys with mental retardation. A former musician who is in need of an occupation employs herself at the institution; one of the more problematic boys gets attached to her.
Interesting drama, very realistic in what concerns the representation of the day-to-day activities of the institution, but lacking in realism in the dramatic area, especially the subplot featuring Reuben's parents. There is no way one can understand the logic of these characters' behavior. For instance, a mother who will not visit her child is in no position to demand that from her ex-husband, and yet that is what she does!
Rating: 51
Interesting drama, very realistic in what concerns the representation of the day-to-day activities of the institution, but lacking in realism in the dramatic area, especially the subplot featuring Reuben's parents. There is no way one can understand the logic of these characters' behavior. For instance, a mother who will not visit her child is in no position to demand that from her ex-husband, and yet that is what she does!
Rating: 51
Death Wish 3 (1985)
An aging man with a past as a vigilante resumes that role in a fight to dismantle the rule of a gang in a New York neighborhood.
Rather dismal sequel, with practically nothing besides scenes of shootouts in a severely deficient plotline (one thing I could not understand is how the protagonist could buy heavy artillery at a mall whilst the police enforced a strict limitation on firearm possession). Balsam's stupendous performance in a small role is so contrasting with the film's inanity that it becomes a sort of aesthetical oddity.
Rating: 31
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Soldier's Girl (2003) (TV)
Based on a real event, the film narrates the tragic story of intolerance which culminated in the murder of an American soldier by a fellow soldier. The murdered man was having an affair with a transexual.
Engaging drama. The whole cast delivers good performances; Hatosy gives a superb one.
Rating: 59
Engaging drama. The whole cast delivers good performances; Hatosy gives a superb one.
Rating: 59
Cobra (1986)
A tough and somewhat truculent cop is assigned to protect a top model whose life is in danger after she witnessed a crime.
The plot has some severe weaknesses, the most blatant of which is the vagueness of the description of the criminal organization behind the series of crimes; said organization seems to sport a vaguely nietzschean ideology and engage in some sort of ridiculous ax-clashing ceremony, but aside of that nothing is known. The film has a varied collection of set-pieces, among which is a well done car chase - the scene where the hero makes an about-face with his car in order to get rid of his chaser, and then resumes his former course, is anthological. There isn't much of a nexus to hold these isolated moments together, though.
Rating: 32
The plot has some severe weaknesses, the most blatant of which is the vagueness of the description of the criminal organization behind the series of crimes; said organization seems to sport a vaguely nietzschean ideology and engage in some sort of ridiculous ax-clashing ceremony, but aside of that nothing is known. The film has a varied collection of set-pieces, among which is a well done car chase - the scene where the hero makes an about-face with his car in order to get rid of his chaser, and then resumes his former course, is anthological. There isn't much of a nexus to hold these isolated moments together, though.
Rating: 32
Wolfen (1981)
Strange killings in New York are investigated by a somewhat unconventional cop; he is aided by a charming expert on terrorism and a coroner.
The plot makes no realistic sense, but the film has some interesting set-pieces and is well directed. This is my second viewing but should probably count as the first, since my previous viewing was of an unsubtitled copy and much of the dialogue was missed.
Rating: 50 (down from 64)
The plot makes no realistic sense, but the film has some interesting set-pieces and is well directed. This is my second viewing but should probably count as the first, since my previous viewing was of an unsubtitled copy and much of the dialogue was missed.
Rating: 50 (down from 64)
Combat!: The Medal (1963) (TV)
Tightly dramatic episode about a man who is attributed a heroic deed whose real author was killed.
Combat!: The Prisoner (1962) (TV)
Fun episode about a soldier who is mistaken as an officer by his captors.
The Thing (1982)
A monster from outer space lands on the Arctic and attacks the folks at an outpost. It can take the shape of the person it attacks.
Entertaining and well made, up to a point: I would not call it exciting; on the other hand, it has impressive (disgustingly so, I should add) monsters. This is my second viewing, but it should perhaps count as the first, since my previous viewing was of an unsubtitled video, and therefore at that occasion I did not understand much of the dialogue.
Rating: 53 (up from 22)
Entertaining and well made, up to a point: I would not call it exciting; on the other hand, it has impressive (disgustingly so, I should add) monsters. This is my second viewing, but it should perhaps count as the first, since my previous viewing was of an unsubtitled video, and therefore at that occasion I did not understand much of the dialogue.
Rating: 53 (up from 22)
Street Justice (1989)
A CIA agent who had been held prisoner in the URSS escapes and is chased by his own agency. He goes to his home town where he hides and takes notice of the local corruption; he tries to make things right for his former family.
The plot is weak and often not very plausible; but the film is well acted and watchable, minimally.
Rating: 30
The plot is weak and often not very plausible; but the film is well acted and watchable, minimally.
Rating: 30
Combat!: A Day in June (1962) (TV)
This episode is about the D-day, and it is good, like all the others I have seen. I forget the details.
The Snake Pit (1948)
A woman begins to show signs of madness and is committed to an institution.
The screenplay is clearly schematical, with lots of psychoanalitical clichés. What makes the film watchable is the mise-en-scène, which is capable of creating some memorable sequences (the one about the rug which no one is supposed to walk on springs to mind, but there are others).
Rating:52
The screenplay is clearly schematical, with lots of psychoanalitical clichés. What makes the film watchable is the mise-en-scène, which is capable of creating some memorable sequences (the one about the rug which no one is supposed to walk on springs to mind, but there are others).
Rating:52
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Combat!: I Swear by Apollo (1962) (TV)
Saunders and his men take refuge in a convent when one of his soldiers and a French man are wounded. They force a German doctor to operate on the French man.
Seinfeld: The Rye (1996) (TV)
Kramer overbuys at a market sale; he is left in charge of a horse carriage; George and his parents have dinner with his girlfriend's family; George's father takes back the loaf of bread he had brought; George plans to replace it. Elaine is dating a saxophone player who is reluctant to give her oral sex.
This is a marvelous episode of an excellent show.
This is a marvelous episode of an excellent show.
When Time Ran Out... (1980)
A volcano eruption wreaks havoc in an island visited by tourists.
A poor spectacle both in visual and in plot terms. Its madness bears a vestigial aesthetical value.
Rating: 33
A poor spectacle both in visual and in plot terms. Its madness bears a vestigial aesthetical value.
Rating: 33
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007)
Two brothers in deep financial trouble organize the theft of their parents' jewel store, with tragic consequences.
As a showcase for Hawke's and Hoffman's dramatic talents (and Finney's too, come to think of it), this works well; otherwise it's a problematic film, with a conspicuously contrived plot in service of a clear ideological agenda of indictment of capitalism. Wallowing in its own bleakness, it comes short of being truly convincing.
Rating: 47
As a showcase for Hawke's and Hoffman's dramatic talents (and Finney's too, come to think of it), this works well; otherwise it's a problematic film, with a conspicuously contrived plot in service of a clear ideological agenda of indictment of capitalism. Wallowing in its own bleakness, it comes short of being truly convincing.
Rating: 47
Combat!: Cat and Mouse (1962) (TV)
Sergeant Saunders and another sergeant get trapped inside a German post. The synopsis for this episode and a lot (all?) others of this show are found in Christopher Mulrooney's page.
I am usually incapable of producing worthwhile commentary of TV shows, even though I like some of them (e.g. this one).
I am usually incapable of producing worthwhile commentary of TV shows, even though I like some of them (e.g. this one).
The New World (2005)
A dramatization of the story of the first settlers in North America; Captain Smith's romance with Pocahontas is narrated; she marries another man after Smith goes on a long trip.
An interesting and mostly pleasant film. Malick's style is practically identical to the one he used in The Thin Red Line, with plenty of nature shots and voiceover to express a character's thoughts.
Rating: 69
An interesting and mostly pleasant film. Malick's style is practically identical to the one he used in The Thin Red Line, with plenty of nature shots and voiceover to express a character's thoughts.
Rating: 69
The Craft (1996)
This blog is not being updated as punctually as it should be, and consequently it becomes hard to remember the plot of the films being commented. This one is about teenage witches. They are four, and one of them is a newcomer to the high school where the other three study; the fourth one initially doesn't deal in witchcraft, and is invited to join the "circle".
90's trash, infinitesimally lifted by Balk's impressive performance.
Rating: 26
90's trash, infinitesimally lifted by Balk's impressive performance.
Rating: 26
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