ph: Fabio Bartelt
Saturday, January 3, 2015
First Lines: Michael Crichton - Jurassic Park
The tropical rain fell in drenching sheets, hammering the corrugated roof of the clinic building, roaring down the metal gutters, splashing on the ground in a torrent.
Rarely Heard: Godspeed You! Black Emperor - The Dead Flag Blues
"Godspeed You! Black Emperor... is a Canadian post-rock band which originated in Montreal, Quebec in 1994....
After the release of their debut album in 1997, the group toured regularly from 1998 to 2002. In 2003, the band announced an indefinite hiatus in order for band members to pursue other musical interests. In the intervening period, the group was occasionally rumored to have broken up, but the band finally reconvened for a tour beginning in late 2010. In October 2012, the band released their fourth album, 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!'.
Even though the band has never broken into the mainstream, they have gained an extremely dedicated cult following, and remain very influential in the post-rock genre." (Allmusic.com)
So that counts me to the members of the 'cult following', theri songs usually have a symphonic length and often build up to ecstatic climaxes.
Hellzapoppin' (1941)
Based on the Broadway hit of the same name, this comedy finds Ole and Chic trying to organize a musical show at a lavish estate, but they run into problems when the show's producer.
Madhouse musical comedy with merely a remnant of a plot, but with lots of in-jokes and wildy anarchic entertainment.
Halliwell***: "Zany modification of a smash burlesque revue; the crazy jokes are toned down and a romantic interest is added (and tentatively sent up). The result is patchy but often hilarious, and the whole is a handy consensus of fourties humour and pop music."
Maltin***: "Famous madcap Broadway show is conventionalized by Hollywood, with romantic subplot and too many songs, but still has many inspired moments of lunacy, from a throwaway CITIZEN KANE gag to the mutterings og Hugh Herbert."
Friday, January 2, 2015
A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
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Disturbed Blanche DuBois moves in with her sister in New Orleans and is tormented by her brutish brother-in-law while her reality crumbles around her.
Superbly directed and photographed adaptation of the classic Tennessee Williams' play does capture the atmosphere, but the major performances are a bit over the top.
Halliwell**: "Reasonably successful, decorative picture from a highly theatrical nut influential play; unreal sets and atmospheric photography vaguely Sternbergian."
Maltin****: "Stunning production...Oscars went to Leigh, Hunter, and Malden for their flawless performances, as well as for the art direction-set decoration - but it's Brando who left an indelible mark on audiences."
Hachi: A Dog's Tale (2009)
A drama based on the true story of a college professor's bond with the abandoned dog he takes into his home.
A heartwrenching story made in good taste, no false sentimentality, but nonetheless touching.
Maltin***: "Sweet, touching story, simply told, may bring tears to your eyes."
The Movies I Watched in December
An Unfinished Life 2005 6
Animal Crackers 1930 7
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Beasts of the Southern Wild 2012 8
Citizen Kane 1941 10
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David Copperfield 1935 8
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Flight 2012 7
Frozen River 2008 6
Game of Death 2010 5
Gosford Park 2001 7
Hopscotch 1980 6
Howards End 1992 7
Ice Age 2002 6
Ice Age: Continental Drift 2012 6
Kind Hearts and Coronets 1949 6
Vampire Killers 2009 5
Platinum Blonde 1931 6
Suspicion 1941 7
Tentacles 1977 Feature 3
The Ladykillers 1955 Feature 8
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The Lamp Still Burns 1943 6
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress 2002 7
The Magnificent Ambersons 1942 7
This Is Spinal Tap 1984 7
Treasure Island 1972 6
X-Men 2000 6
You Can't Take It with You 1938 7
Animal Crackers 1930 7
Beasts of the Southern Wild 2012 8
Citizen Kane 1941 10
David Copperfield 1935 8
Flight 2012 7
Frozen River 2008 6
Game of Death 2010 5
Gosford Park 2001 7
Hopscotch 1980 6
Howards End 1992 7
Ice Age 2002 6
Ice Age: Continental Drift 2012 6
Kind Hearts and Coronets 1949 6
Vampire Killers 2009 5
Platinum Blonde 1931 6
Suspicion 1941 7
Tentacles 1977 Feature 3
The Ladykillers 1955 Feature 8
The Lamp Still Burns 1943 6
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress 2002 7
The Magnificent Ambersons 1942 7
This Is Spinal Tap 1984 7
Treasure Island 1972 6
X-Men 2000 6
You Can't Take It with You 1938 7
First Lines: Orson Scott Card - Ender's Shadow
"You think you've found somebody, so suddenly my program gets the ax?"
Thursday, January 1, 2015
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
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It's about time I watch this Martin Scorsese, ashamed to say I haven't seen it till now, was abit set off by the topic.
New Stuff: Little Dorrit
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Always enjoy a good BBC production, got this mainly for Ursula, but I'll watch it eventually, too.
David Copperfield (1935)
Abused by his cruel stepfather after his mother dies, young David Copperfield first finds shelter in the convivial home of Mr. Micawber and later grows up under the protection of his kindhearted Aunt Betsey.
Lovable Adaptation of the Dickens' classic has a wonderfully good cast, is fast-paced and highly entertaining.
Halliwell****: "Only slightly faded after sixty years, this small miracle of compression not only conveys the spirit of Dickens better than the screen has normally managed but is a particularly pleasing example of Hollywood's handling of literature and of the deployment of a great studio's resources. It also overflows with memorable character cameos, and it was a box-office giant."
Maltin****: "Hollywood does right by Dickens in this lavishly mounted, superbly cast production...A treat from start to finish."
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