Week in Film: Catching Up
Grey Gardens
The Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant
Natural Born Killers
Deadpool
Taste of Cherry
Ten
In a Lonely Place
A Brief History of Time
Grey Gardens
Year: 1975
Director: Albert Maysles, David Maysles, Ellen Hovde, and Muffie Meyer
Little and big Edie Beale live in a dilapidated old house, infested with raccoons and other animals. Once high society participants, this is where they have now found themselves, free from society but still trapped in their own world. These are eccentric characters, and we are brought into their lives as they live them: carefree and unknowing of any social standards. It’s a fascinating watch.
Rating: B
The Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant
Year: 1972
Director: Rainer Werner Fassbinder
This being my first experience with Fassbinder’s work, I had nothing to go off of in terms of what to expect other than his contemporaries in the New German Cinema movement. I was not disappointed. It’s a beautifully shot and brilliantly acted, a complex character study and inspection of relationships and power dynamics.
Rating: A
Natural Born Killers
Year: 1994
Director: Oliver Stone
The cinematic style is like that of another Stone picture, JFK, where different styles juxtapose and intersect with each other. Here it is taken to a clashing, and seemingly random extreme. The commentary about the nature of violence and the media and human nature and all that is interesting, but I think the chaos of it can’t quite hold up under the statement it is trying to make, or not making, I’m really not sure.
Rating: C
Deadpool
Year: 2016
Director: Tim Miller
A superhero movie meets a gored up Judd Apatow comedy. It’s fine. The humor is fun sometimes, but also now and then it falls flat. An interesting take on the genre, and admittedly bringing new things to it, but ultimately sadly similar to the usual stuff, with not enough divergence to really be as unique and original as it thinks it’s being.
Rating: C-
Taste of Cherry
Year: 1997
Director: Abbas Kiarostami
Kiarostami’s Palme Do’r winner is worthy of the prize, and depicts everything that works best in the master filmmakers movies: experimentation, introspection, philosophy, morality and mortality, and car trips. The ending as powerful and full of mixed feelings, and the very ending is somewhat baffling, yet very Kiarostami in it’s genre bending, fiction/reality line treading way.
Rating: B+
Ten
Year: 2002
Director: Abbas Kiarostami
It’s surprising how such a simple setup can inspire such deep and profound commentary, and provoke such impactful and true emotion. Its observations on women in Iran are incredibly insightful, and the various conversations give many perspectives, giving a well rounded view of the social and political landscape for Iranian women in a country that discriminates against them. A minimalist masterpiece.
Rating: A-
In a Lonely Place
Year: 1950
Director: Nicholas Ray
A surprisingly deep character study in the guise of a film noir. In fact, I’m hard pressed to even call this a film noir. Sure, it may have some of the trappings of one, but it plays out more like a psychological drama about people more than it fits into that genre (although I suppose that genre can be somewhat broad at times). This is far more complex than most other films of the era and style.
Rating: B+
A Brief History of Time
Year: 1991
Director: Errol Morris
Documentary that explores the theories and life of one of the greatest minds of the 20th/21st century. While I can see criticisms that the piece does not focus enough on either aspect referred to above, I think there is a good mixture of both his ideas and personal life to be satisfying.
Rating: B-
Jubilee
Year: 1978
Director: Derek Jarman
A very amateurish dystopian time travel philosophical punk film centering around the queen of England and dangerous and violent girl gangs in a dilapidated London. Interesting but ultimately too scrappy to be of much worth. There is some cool stuff, particularly the stuff with the queen, her subjects, and the weird black fingernailed guy who teleports them to the degradation of their empires future.
Rating: D+
Watership Down
Year: 1978
Director: Martin Rosen
The scariest movie about cute little animated rabbits.
Rating: B-
Bicycle Thieves
Year: 1948
Director: Vittorio de Sica
So far, the best of Italian Neorealism I’ve seen. A touching, affecting, and human story of life and morality. Powerful in it’s simplicity and emotionally raw in its scenes. The ending it particularly heart wrenching.
Rating: A-
The Lobster
The films of Yorgos Lanthimos, or from the ones I've seen, seem to be cultural mirrors. That wouldn't be abnormal for a filmmaker, other than the extreme, violent, and darkly hilarious directions he runs with the reflections of society he's centering his movies around. In the Lobster, he makes it his task to tackle society's attitudes toward couples, again in his most brutally aggressive yet deadpan way. The result, while a bit tiring and relentlessly bleak, is overall a success, both in idea and execution.
Rating: B-
Before the Rain
Year: 1994
Director: Milcho Manchevski
A connection of three different tales intersecting and overlapping each other, causing ripples in each other’s stories and lives. A decent moral film.
Rating: B-
The Son's Room
Year: 2001
Director: Nanni Moretti
Reminded me of Ordinary People. An incredibly emotional film that packs a punch diving into the lives of a family after a son is lost. Sweet and painful, I can see why it's regularly hailed as one of the best of the 2000s.
Rating: B+
The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser
Year: 1974
Director: Werner Herzog
Possibly Herzog’s greatest work (at least from what I’ve seen). It is a fascinating idea and one that endlessly captivates and inspires much philosophy.
Rating: A
L'enfance nue
Year: 1968
Director: Maurice Pialat
A decent enough movie, but dwarfed by the shadow of the similar 400 Blows. It is hard to get engaged in this one I find.
Rating: C
Modern Times
Director: Charlie Chaplin
Year: 1936
Not Chaplin's best, feeling more like a series of incidents (more so than usual) than a real cohesive whole. None the less still pretty good, and as funny at times as his best stuff.
Rating: B-
Woyzeck
Director: Werner Herzog
Year: 1979
Another great Kinski performance. This one feels very much like a play. The scene where (spoiler alert) Woyzeck murders his wife in slow motion is great. Not top tier Herzog but pretty good in its own right.
Rating: B
Heart of Glass
Director: Werner Herzog
Year: 1978
Apparently Herzog hypnotized most of the cast for the recording of this film. I don't know if that's true, but they certainly act like it. Also it's boring, and not in a particularly redeeming way. Some great shots of nature though, as one can expect.
Rating: C
Fata Morgana
Director: Werner Herzog
Year: 1971
The kind of thing that makes you want to go write poetry. What is it about? I don't know, something about man and nature or something, go ask Herzog.
Rating: B-
Land of Silence and Darkness
Director: Werner Herzog
Year: 1971
An interesting companion piece to Fata Morgana. This one has been accused of being exploitative, but I disagree. I think it is simply trying to depict these peoples struggle, as well as their amazing accomplishments.
Rating: C
Odd Man Out
Director: Carol Reed
Year: 1947
Kind of dull, to be honest. I just couldn’t really get into it, and it seemed to drag a little.
Rating: C
Farewell My Concubine
Director: Chen Kaige
Year: 1993
A beautifully shot historical drama. Interesting at times, but over long and ultimately a failure to engage me. Reminded me of The Last Emperor, which is a negative comparison.
Rating: C+
Aguirre, the Wrath of God
Director: Werner Herzog
Year: 1972
Werner Herzog's apparent masterpiece, but not my favorite of his. I've heard complaints of it looking and feeling amateur, but I don't agree with that criticism. I think that it does have more of a documentary feel to it, but that adds to the film instead of takes away. Kinski is great as usual.
Rating: B+
The Way of the Dragon
Director: Bruce Lee
Year: 1972
Bruce Lee! Versus Chuck Norris! In the Coliseum! In Spaaacceee! Alright I added that last bit. A bit of insane, silly fun.
Rating: B-
The Graduate
Nosferatu the Vampyre
Director: Werner Herzog
Year: 1979
Much better than the terribly aged silent original. Klaus Kinski brings an incredible vulnerability to the vampire, and is amongst his best performances. The plague scenes in the village square are horribly frightening. Some unintentionally humorous moments, but aside from that a masterclass in atmosphere and dread. Not a pop out scary movie, but a much better kind.
Rating: B
Ali: Fear Eats the Soul
Director: Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Year: 1974
Pretty good, but nowhere near as good as Petra von Kant. The racial commentary I thought was good, and was surprised to see the extreme reactions in Germany to their relationship, which might have been a little overdone. Great central performance though.
Rating: B
The Manchurian Candidate
Director: John Frankenheimer
Year: 1962
A cold war paranoia criticism, inflected, ironically, with its own dose of paranoia as well. At times brilliantly shot, but sometimes slipping out the newer filmmaking styles and regressing into older ways, which aren't always better. Caught between two eras of hollywood.
Rating: B+
My Winnipeg
Director: Guy Maddin
Year: 2007
A dark, nostalgic, hypnotic, and hilarious journey into the heart of the heart of the country. “Why? Why? Why don’t we just swim?”
Rating: A-
Elevator to the Gallows
Director: Louis Malle
Year: 1958
A pretty good thriller by a director I've had a hard time connecting with before. This is a much better effort than the other films I've seen by him, probably because it is so different from them.
Rating: B
JubileeYear: 1978
Director: Derek Jarman
A very amateurish dystopian time travel philosophical punk film centering around the queen of England and dangerous and violent girl gangs in a dilapidated London. Interesting but ultimately too scrappy to be of much worth. There is some cool stuff, particularly the stuff with the queen, her subjects, and the weird black fingernailed guy who teleports them to the degradation of their empires future.
Rating: D+
Watership DownYear: 1978
Director: Martin Rosen
The scariest movie about cute little animated rabbits.
Rating: B-
Bicycle ThievesYear: 1948
Director: Vittorio de Sica
So far, the best of Italian Neorealism I’ve seen. A touching, affecting, and human story of life and morality. Powerful in it’s simplicity and emotionally raw in its scenes. The ending it particularly heart wrenching.
Rating: A-
The Lobster
Year: 2015
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
The films of Yorgos Lanthimos, or from the ones I've seen, seem to be cultural mirrors. That wouldn't be abnormal for a filmmaker, other than the extreme, violent, and darkly hilarious directions he runs with the reflections of society he's centering his movies around. In the Lobster, he makes it his task to tackle society's attitudes toward couples, again in his most brutally aggressive yet deadpan way. The result, while a bit tiring and relentlessly bleak, is overall a success, both in idea and execution.
Rating: B-
Before the RainYear: 1994
Director: Milcho Manchevski
A connection of three different tales intersecting and overlapping each other, causing ripples in each other’s stories and lives. A decent moral film.
Rating: B-
The Son's RoomYear: 2001
Director: Nanni Moretti
Reminded me of Ordinary People. An incredibly emotional film that packs a punch diving into the lives of a family after a son is lost. Sweet and painful, I can see why it's regularly hailed as one of the best of the 2000s.
Rating: B+
The Enigma of Kaspar HauserYear: 1974
Director: Werner Herzog
Possibly Herzog’s greatest work (at least from what I’ve seen). It is a fascinating idea and one that endlessly captivates and inspires much philosophy.
Rating: A
L'enfance nueYear: 1968
Director: Maurice Pialat
A decent enough movie, but dwarfed by the shadow of the similar 400 Blows. It is hard to get engaged in this one I find.
Rating: C
Modern TimesDirector: Charlie Chaplin
Year: 1936
Not Chaplin's best, feeling more like a series of incidents (more so than usual) than a real cohesive whole. None the less still pretty good, and as funny at times as his best stuff.
Rating: B-
WoyzeckDirector: Werner Herzog
Year: 1979
Another great Kinski performance. This one feels very much like a play. The scene where (spoiler alert) Woyzeck murders his wife in slow motion is great. Not top tier Herzog but pretty good in its own right.
Rating: B
Heart of GlassDirector: Werner Herzog
Year: 1978
Apparently Herzog hypnotized most of the cast for the recording of this film. I don't know if that's true, but they certainly act like it. Also it's boring, and not in a particularly redeeming way. Some great shots of nature though, as one can expect.
Rating: C
Fata MorganaDirector: Werner Herzog
Year: 1971
The kind of thing that makes you want to go write poetry. What is it about? I don't know, something about man and nature or something, go ask Herzog.
Rating: B-
Land of Silence and DarknessDirector: Werner Herzog
Year: 1971
An interesting companion piece to Fata Morgana. This one has been accused of being exploitative, but I disagree. I think it is simply trying to depict these peoples struggle, as well as their amazing accomplishments.
Rating: C
Odd Man OutDirector: Carol Reed
Year: 1947
Kind of dull, to be honest. I just couldn’t really get into it, and it seemed to drag a little.
Rating: C
Farewell My ConcubineDirector: Chen Kaige
Year: 1993
A beautifully shot historical drama. Interesting at times, but over long and ultimately a failure to engage me. Reminded me of The Last Emperor, which is a negative comparison.
Rating: C+
Aguirre, the Wrath of GodDirector: Werner Herzog
Year: 1972
Werner Herzog's apparent masterpiece, but not my favorite of his. I've heard complaints of it looking and feeling amateur, but I don't agree with that criticism. I think that it does have more of a documentary feel to it, but that adds to the film instead of takes away. Kinski is great as usual.
Rating: B+
The Way of the DragonDirector: Bruce Lee
Year: 1972
Bruce Lee! Versus Chuck Norris! In the Coliseum! In Spaaacceee! Alright I added that last bit. A bit of insane, silly fun.
Rating: B-
The Graduate
Director: Mike Nichols
Year: 1967
A revolution in film, and a great one at that too. Dustin Hoffman gives likely the performance of his career, as does Nichols the film of his. An articulation of the feelings and thoughts of a generation.
Rating: A
Nosferatu the VampyreDirector: Werner Herzog
Year: 1979
Much better than the terribly aged silent original. Klaus Kinski brings an incredible vulnerability to the vampire, and is amongst his best performances. The plague scenes in the village square are horribly frightening. Some unintentionally humorous moments, but aside from that a masterclass in atmosphere and dread. Not a pop out scary movie, but a much better kind.
Rating: B
Ali: Fear Eats the SoulDirector: Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Year: 1974
Pretty good, but nowhere near as good as Petra von Kant. The racial commentary I thought was good, and was surprised to see the extreme reactions in Germany to their relationship, which might have been a little overdone. Great central performance though.
Rating: B
The Manchurian CandidateDirector: John Frankenheimer
Year: 1962
A cold war paranoia criticism, inflected, ironically, with its own dose of paranoia as well. At times brilliantly shot, but sometimes slipping out the newer filmmaking styles and regressing into older ways, which aren't always better. Caught between two eras of hollywood.
Rating: B+
My WinnipegDirector: Guy Maddin
Year: 2007
A dark, nostalgic, hypnotic, and hilarious journey into the heart of the heart of the country. “Why? Why? Why don’t we just swim?”
Rating: A-
Elevator to the GallowsDirector: Louis Malle
Year: 1958
A pretty good thriller by a director I've had a hard time connecting with before. This is a much better effort than the other films I've seen by him, probably because it is so different from them.
Rating: B
