Second viewing.
A team is miniaturized and injected into the body of an important scientist in order to perform the removal of a blood clot in his brain.
Entertaining fiction which blends true and fake science. The mystery in the plot is structured with a red herring and a consistent set of clues to the real culprit. There is an opposition between the "spiritual" and the "cynical" or "materialistic" scientists. Guess who the bad guy is.
Rating: 56 (unchanged)
Thursday, January 31, 2013
White Material (2009)
A white woman strives to remain on her farm during a civil war in Africa, even at the risk of death for her and her family.
Not an altogether bad film, it has a strong leading performance, and interesting aspects of Africa are approached. On the other hand, it seems like it was not done with the proper care, as it seems patchy and vague at times and some plot details are bizarre or incomprehensible.
Rating: 44
Not an altogether bad film, it has a strong leading performance, and interesting aspects of Africa are approached. On the other hand, it seems like it was not done with the proper care, as it seems patchy and vague at times and some plot details are bizarre or incomprehensible.
Rating: 44
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Last Days (2005)
A musician is depressed and tries to avoid social contact. He spends his days in a secluded house, also used by a number of his friends. His relatives try to locate him but he hides from them.
Not very interesting, is what I can say about this movie. The depiction of numb youths and their silly thoughts is kind of funny sometimes, but the film makes every effort to remain on the surface of things.
Rating: 33
Not very interesting, is what I can say about this movie. The depiction of numb youths and their silly thoughts is kind of funny sometimes, but the film makes every effort to remain on the surface of things.
Rating: 33
The Vikings (1958)
Second viewing.
The vikings raid the English coast and kill a king, who is replaced by his tyrannical cousin. The widow of the deceased king, who was raped by the viking leader, has a son of the latter. Later, the boy is taken to viking country where he becomes a slave and has a fight with the viking leader's son.
Fun kitsch from the author of Benjamin Blake. Well-filmed.
Rating: 58 (down from 66)
The vikings raid the English coast and kill a king, who is replaced by his tyrannical cousin. The widow of the deceased king, who was raped by the viking leader, has a son of the latter. Later, the boy is taken to viking country where he becomes a slave and has a fight with the viking leader's son.
Fun kitsch from the author of Benjamin Blake. Well-filmed.
Rating: 58 (down from 66)
Monday, January 28, 2013
Cloak and Dagger (1946)
Second viewing.
During World War II, a scientist travels to Switzerland as an operative for the American secret service. His mission is to obtain information about the German atomic research, and possibly persuade a scientist working for the Nazis to change sides.
Unremarkable espionage thriller, with large doses of implausibilities, but with several well-made set-pieces, the best of which is probably a body fight between the hero and a fascist agent.
Rating: 40 (up from 38)
During World War II, a scientist travels to Switzerland as an operative for the American secret service. His mission is to obtain information about the German atomic research, and possibly persuade a scientist working for the Nazis to change sides.
Unremarkable espionage thriller, with large doses of implausibilities, but with several well-made set-pieces, the best of which is probably a body fight between the hero and a fascist agent.
Rating: 40 (up from 38)
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Detective Story (1951)
Second viewing.
A day at a police precinct, with the various characters -- policemen, criminals and newspapermen -- who usually are found in such a place. The central plot line concerns a police detective who is investigating a crooked doctor, unaware that his wife has a connection with him.
An engaging movie, albeit a problematic one. One of the problems stems from the bowdlerization to which the film writers submitted the source play. In the play, the doctor is an abortionist, as is obvious that he should be, for the story to make sense. In the movie, he is an obstetrician, and his crimes are a little vague: he is responsible for several deaths, but we do not know whether he does not have a license, or is just plain incompetent. Even imagining the original set-up, the film's central dramatic situation comes off as a little dated. Once the viewer makes concessions for those problems, the film has enough qualities of text and direction to make for a pleasant experience.
Rating: 57 (up from 40)
A day at a police precinct, with the various characters -- policemen, criminals and newspapermen -- who usually are found in such a place. The central plot line concerns a police detective who is investigating a crooked doctor, unaware that his wife has a connection with him.
An engaging movie, albeit a problematic one. One of the problems stems from the bowdlerization to which the film writers submitted the source play. In the play, the doctor is an abortionist, as is obvious that he should be, for the story to make sense. In the movie, he is an obstetrician, and his crimes are a little vague: he is responsible for several deaths, but we do not know whether he does not have a license, or is just plain incompetent. Even imagining the original set-up, the film's central dramatic situation comes off as a little dated. Once the viewer makes concessions for those problems, the film has enough qualities of text and direction to make for a pleasant experience.
Rating: 57 (up from 40)
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Criss Cross (1949)
Second viewing.
A man is still in love with his ex-wife, but when he comes back to his hometown hoping to find her, she is hooked up with a criminal.
Very good criminal drama, which I didn't value enough on my first viewing, due in part to having seen it in a lousy, dubbed copy. A complex film, a veritable study on duplicity. Lancaster gives an impressive performance as the sucker.
Rating: 73 (up from 49)
A man is still in love with his ex-wife, but when he comes back to his hometown hoping to find her, she is hooked up with a criminal.
Very good criminal drama, which I didn't value enough on my first viewing, due in part to having seen it in a lousy, dubbed copy. A complex film, a veritable study on duplicity. Lancaster gives an impressive performance as the sucker.
Rating: 73 (up from 49)
Father's Little Dividend (1951)
A middle aged man expects to enjoy life finally, when he receives news that his daughter is pregnant.
An interesting analysis of a familial situation, operated in rather typical terms.
Rating: 51
An interesting analysis of a familial situation, operated in rather typical terms.
Rating: 51
Friday, January 25, 2013
The Lady Gambles (1949)
A journalist and his wife are in Las Vegas, where he is to do a story on a dam. She tries the casinos and soon becomes addicted to gambling.
Not a satisfactory film on the gambling addiction; the explanation for her behavior is very unconvincing. The film seems to seek to entertain us with the sordid life she leads, and to a small extent succeeds.
Rating: 34
Not a satisfactory film on the gambling addiction; the explanation for her behavior is very unconvincing. The film seems to seek to entertain us with the sordid life she leads, and to a small extent succeeds.
Rating: 34
Thursday, January 24, 2013
The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell (1955)
In the 1920s, an American officer clashes against his peers for demanding more investment in Air equipment and personnel.
Military drama loosely based on real events. The basic core of the plot is mildly interesting for showing a typical situation of a man who sees farther than his superiors. Some of the dramatic aspects are rather unconvincing, though.
Rating: 39
Military drama loosely based on real events. The basic core of the plot is mildly interesting for showing a typical situation of a man who sees farther than his superiors. Some of the dramatic aspects are rather unconvincing, though.
Rating: 39
The Sun Shines Bright (1953)
Based on short stories ("The Sun Shines Bright", "The Mob from Massac", "The Lord Provides") by Irvin S. Cobb.
A judge running for re-election faces a series of city problems in a Southern town in the late 19th century (or early 20th). The doctor's adoptive daughter is said to be a local general's granddaughter; a black boy is unjustly accused of rape and is threatened with lynching; a dying prostitute asks for a pompous funeral service.
Mythifying, sentimental view of the American South. Mostly it is a mildly entertaining film, on occasion it gets oversentimental or downright ridiculous.
Rating: 53
A judge running for re-election faces a series of city problems in a Southern town in the late 19th century (or early 20th). The doctor's adoptive daughter is said to be a local general's granddaughter; a black boy is unjustly accused of rape and is threatened with lynching; a dying prostitute asks for a pompous funeral service.
Mythifying, sentimental view of the American South. Mostly it is a mildly entertaining film, on occasion it gets oversentimental or downright ridiculous.
Rating: 53
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Prince of Players (1955)
The life of Edwin Booth, an American actor of the nineteenth century, son of another famous actor and brother of Lincoln's assassin.
Mediocre, occasionally ridiculous biopic, with extensive Shakespeare recitation.
Rating: 38
Mediocre, occasionally ridiculous biopic, with extensive Shakespeare recitation.
Rating: 38
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Your Friends & Neighbors (1998)
Second viewing.
Two couples plus a guy and a girl. Couple one: the guy speaks during sex which annoys his girlfriend. Couple two: the wife is frigid and the guy's favorite sex act is masturbation. The other guy is a misogynist and a psychopath. The other girl is a lesbian who works at an art gallery as a secretary.
It is practically a stage play, and reminded me of Carnal Knowledge. It deserves some respect for being an examination of modern sex life as experienced by different types of persons, but was way too overrated by me in my previous viewing.
Rating: 50 (down from 81)
Two couples plus a guy and a girl. Couple one: the guy speaks during sex which annoys his girlfriend. Couple two: the wife is frigid and the guy's favorite sex act is masturbation. The other guy is a misogynist and a psychopath. The other girl is a lesbian who works at an art gallery as a secretary.
It is practically a stage play, and reminded me of Carnal Knowledge. It deserves some respect for being an examination of modern sex life as experienced by different types of persons, but was way too overrated by me in my previous viewing.
Rating: 50 (down from 81)
Son of Fury: The Story of Benjamin Blake (1942)
An orphan is enslaved by his uncle; the latter has furthermore usurped the former's title and properties. One day the young man runs away and embarks to the South Seas, where he intends to amass a fortune, so that he can come back and restore his rights.
Derivative and unexciting adventure, with good production values (but in black and white).
Rating: 31
Derivative and unexciting adventure, with good production values (but in black and white).
Rating: 31
Monday, January 21, 2013
Between Heaven and Hell (1956)
A rich landowner is called to serve in World War II in an island on the Pacific (possibly Guadalcanal). He changes his perception of the world due to his wartime experience.
An entertaining film, with interesting action sequences as well as dramatic ones, but the actual process of social conscience development by the protagonist is poorly shown. Anyway, it carries the somewhat unusual message that war is a potentially humanizing experience.
Rating: 51
An entertaining film, with interesting action sequences as well as dramatic ones, but the actual process of social conscience development by the protagonist is poorly shown. Anyway, it carries the somewhat unusual message that war is a potentially humanizing experience.
Rating: 51
Lexx: I Worship His Shadow (1997) (TV)
First episode of a TV series. Very grotesque and juvenile, where the latter word must be taken in a late-90s context. It is like Star Wars on speed. Not my cup of tea.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989)
Second viewing.
The unfaithful husband, his frigid wife, her promiscuous sister. And the pervert who gets off watching home video.
This is a romantic comedy in disguise, or perhaps a satire (of romantic comedies) in disguise. I was fooled on my first viewing, even though what the film stands for (at the closing of the eighties of all times) is now clear as water. Many others were fooled as well (see the awards it has received), and while that is no excuse, it is a consolation of sorts. But I refuse to consider it as a bad film. The sheer boldness of its concept should absolve it. I guess.
Rating: 51 (down from 71)
The unfaithful husband, his frigid wife, her promiscuous sister. And the pervert who gets off watching home video.
This is a romantic comedy in disguise, or perhaps a satire (of romantic comedies) in disguise. I was fooled on my first viewing, even though what the film stands for (at the closing of the eighties of all times) is now clear as water. Many others were fooled as well (see the awards it has received), and while that is no excuse, it is a consolation of sorts. But I refuse to consider it as a bad film. The sheer boldness of its concept should absolve it. I guess.
Rating: 51 (down from 71)
Friday, January 18, 2013
Le cheval d'orgueil (1980)
English title: The Horse of Pride.
Based on the memoir by Pierre-Jakez Hélias.
Chronicle of Breton peasant life in the beginning of the twentieth century.
Well-made, realistic, little seen, interesting.
Rating: 65
Based on the memoir by Pierre-Jakez Hélias.
Chronicle of Breton peasant life in the beginning of the twentieth century.
Well-made, realistic, little seen, interesting.
Rating: 65
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Pasazerka (1963)
English title: The Passenger
A woman who had been a supervisor at Auschwitz meets, while aboard a cruise ship, another woman who had been an inmate in that camp. She tells the story of the two of them to her husband, in two versions.
The director died before completing the film, other persons edited the material inserting stills for the parts not finished. The result is interesting, although I cannot glimpse a great film coming of it had the original filmmaker lived to complete it. I cannot say I understood everything in it, and am not sure it is possible to understand everything. Liza's motivations are hard to fathom, and the same could be said for her feelings.
Rating: 56
A woman who had been a supervisor at Auschwitz meets, while aboard a cruise ship, another woman who had been an inmate in that camp. She tells the story of the two of them to her husband, in two versions.
The director died before completing the film, other persons edited the material inserting stills for the parts not finished. The result is interesting, although I cannot glimpse a great film coming of it had the original filmmaker lived to complete it. I cannot say I understood everything in it, and am not sure it is possible to understand everything. Liza's motivations are hard to fathom, and the same could be said for her feelings.
Rating: 56
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
O Céu de Suely (2006)
English titles: Love for Sale; Suely in the Sky.
Correctly translated title: Suely's Heaven.
A woman returns to her hometown with her baby, leaving her husband in the big city. She soon loses all contact with him. She devises a way to raise the money she needs to go away to a bigger city and start life anew.
Overrated drama which doesn't come up with a sufficiently interesting story, or sufficiently interesting characters. On a scene by scene basis, however, it is not hard to watch and is reasonably well filmed and well acted.
Rating: 44
Correctly translated title: Suely's Heaven.
A woman returns to her hometown with her baby, leaving her husband in the big city. She soon loses all contact with him. She devises a way to raise the money she needs to go away to a bigger city and start life anew.
Overrated drama which doesn't come up with a sufficiently interesting story, or sufficiently interesting characters. On a scene by scene basis, however, it is not hard to watch and is reasonably well filmed and well acted.
Rating: 44
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