Friday, September 09, 2016

The Candidate (1972)

Second viewing; first viewed between 1983 and 1986.

A liberal-minded lawyer with no political experience receives an invitation to run for the Senate as a Democrat.

I once loved this film. Not anymore. It is well-made, sure. But its premise of corruption of ideological virtue is at best simpleminded and at worst -- well, I'd rather not think about that. Anyway, they made a masterpiece of mise-en-scène based on false principles. So, what to do?

Rating: 69 (down from 76)

Thursday, September 01, 2016

Per sempre (1991)

English title: Forever

Bernice feels attracted towards her womanizing father, ever since she was a teenager. After his death, presumably during a sexual encounter, she spends time at the apartment where he met his lovers, and recollects her moments with him. During that time, she meets several of his past mistresses.

I am not sure a plot point which is at the center of this film makes sense, but revealing anything about it would perhaps be a spoiler, so I will not go into it. Eroticism is the foundation of the drama, a notion which for me is hardly compelling; everything, on the other hand, is done with good taste.

Though the action is set in Brazil, the film -- or anyway the copy which is widely distributed -- is entirely spoken in English. The copy I saw had subtitles in Portuguese, made by someone who doesn't know the difference between state and estate.

Rating: 36