Saturday, March 30, 2013
Anna Karenina (1997)
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Anna is a wife and mother who has an affair with the handsome Count Vronsky.
Accomplished adaptation made all in good taste and competence in all departments, but not really that exciting.
Halliwell (no star): "A clumsy, by-the-numbers treatment, often opulent to look at, well enough acted, but lacking in any depth or feeling."
Maltin **: "Practically pssionless recounting...Handsomely mounted, but dramatically flat."
Friday, March 29, 2013
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First Lines: Mikhail Sholokhov - And Quiet Flows the Don
The Melekhov farm was at the very end of the village.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Planet of the Apes (1968)
An astronaut crew crash lands on a planet in the distant future where intelligent talking apes are the dominant species, and humans are the oppressed and enslaved.
Despite a naive premise an astoundingly profound sc-fi movie with a quite striking message (and shocking ending).
Halliwell ***: "Stylish, thoughtful science fiction which starts and finishes splendidly but suffers from a sag in the middle. The ape make-up is great."
Maltin ***1/2: "Intriguing, near-classic sci-fi....Only liabilities: somewhat familiar plot, self-conscious humor; otherwise a must-see."
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
First Lines: Jean-Paul Sartre - The Age of Reason
Half-way down the Rue Vercingetorix, a tall man seized Mathieu by the arm: a policeman was patrolling the opposite pavement.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
New Stuff: Merzbow - Pándi - Gustaffson
Wonderful magnificent noise album with hardly a few seconds of ease.
Serpico (1973)
The true story about an honest New York cop who blew the whistle on rampant corruption in the force only to have his comrades turn against him.
Gripping realistic police drama with an excellent, but quite domineering lead performance.
Halliwell *: "A harrowing true story played with authentic gloom and violence."
Maltin ***1/2: "Tough, exciting filmization of Peter Maas book."
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Agnes of God (1985)
Fairly interesting and well played mystery drama that clumsily aims for some depth confronting faith and reason, but seems dated by today's standards and is occasionally risible.
Halliwell *: "Heavy hysterical weather with no clear solution, but a gield day for three actresses."
Maltin ***1/2: "Distrubing, not always satisfying, but electrified by three lead performances, and beautifully photographed by Sven Nykvist."
