Week in Film: 8/8/16-8/14/16

Week in Film: 8/8/16-8/14/16

Film of the Week: Contempt
   Year: 1963
   Director: Jean-Luc Godard

       Why the title Contempt? Does it refer to the contempt the characters in the film feel towards each other? The artistic cinema towards the money making moguls at the business end of movies? Godard's contempt for his own audience (only half a joke, it feels like sometimes)? Probably all of the above. What's important here though is that this is his best picture (from what I've seen), and his most affecting and personal. Fun to see Fritz Lang as the director, too.

   Rating: B

The Rest:

8 1/2

   Year: 1963

   Director: Federico Fellini

       The opening film for me and my dads seventh semi-annual film festival, this time named "Behind the Screen". This isn't the most revealing or process based film about filmmaking, but it is the most influential, and the best (at least among these ten). 

   Rating: A

Stardust Memories

   Year: 1980

   Director: Woody Allen

       A good double feature with 8 1/2, this one really draws off of that film and Fellini in general. Overall though, quite not the magnum opus that film is. 

   Rating: B-

American Movie
   Year: 1999
   Director: Chris Smith

       As far as an insight into what movie-making is all about, this might be the most telling I've seen. It's crushing to see these peoples failures, and therefore all the more uplifting to see their successes. Mike Schank, despite being in a documentary, wins the honorable mention prize in the film fest, just for being himself.

   Rating: B+

Living in Oblivion
   Year: 1995
   Director: Tom Dicillo

       I always like seeing Steve Buscemi. A good entertainment, with good insight into film production.

   Rating: C+

The Outsider
   Year: 2005
   Director: Nicholas Jarecki

       Got me thinking deep philosophical stuff, so bonus points for that. Other than that, it's fine.

   Rating: C


Lost in La Mancha
   Year: 2002
   Director: Keith Fulton and Louis Pepe

       The weakest link (bar CQ) in this film festival. Worth seeing for the insight into moviemaking, and everything that could possibly go wrong on set and behind the scenes.

   Rating: C

CQ
   Year: 2001
   Director: Roman Coppola

       Roman Coppola isn't his father, and he's not his sister either, but it's probably not fair to judge different filmmakers based on blood relations. I get the intent but a lot of it just doesn't work.

   Rating: C-

Modern Romance
   Year: 1981
   Director: Albert Brooks

       Has its moments, but isn't so much about movies and their making as it is, well, Modern Romance.

   Rating: B-

The Player
   Year: 1992
   Director: Robert Altman

       Not Altman's best, but certainly worthy of praise. I'm not sure he's a great actor, but I always enjoy Tim Robbins for some reason.

   Rating: B+