Regensburg, January 2015
Saturday, February 28, 2015
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
The adventures of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a famous hotel from the fictional Republic of Zubrowka between the first and second World Wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend.
A tall story, ironically told in a very exuberant artificial style, a display of virtuosity in almost all departments involved; however, the endless succession of symmetrical images is unnerving.
Maltin****: "Fiennes, who's wickedly funny, leads this breathless farce, populated by characters out of a Lubitsch movie - all played with brio. Writer-director Anderson (who collaborated on the story with Hugo Guinness) lovingly assembles the many pieces of his typically detailed and arfully artificial mosaic. He even changes the size of the film frame as the story hopscotches across decades."
Black Angel (1946)
When a man is convicted of a singer's murder, his wife tries to prove him innocent...aided by the victim's ex-husband.
Exemplary Film Noir gem, and an excellent Cornell Woolrich adaptation, complete with a 'happy ending' that isn't happy at all.
Halliwell*: "Stylish but empty version of a tired theme, interesting for performances and atmosphere."
Stealth (2005)
Deeply ensconced in a top-secret military program, three pilots struggle to bring an artificial intelligence program under control before it initiates the next world war.
Silly Top Gun-style military actioner, though unintentionallyprescient concerning today's drone wars.
Maltin**: "It's TOP GUN with HAL-9000 as pilot...Expensive action thriller with lots of effects but hollow characters."
Rarely Heard: Hirsche Nicht Aufs Sofa - Bobbejaanland
Hirsche Nicht Aufs Sofa (alos known as H.N.A.S.) have a name that clearly indicates what they might sound like, it translates to: 'Stags not on the sofa'. The brainchild of the German self-taught musical experimentalist Christoph Heemann was founded in the early 80s, H.N.A.S. offered decidedly Dadaist sound collages, obviously influenced by similar projects like The Residents, Renaldo & The Loaf and especially Nurse With Wound, since Heemann became friends with Steven Stapleton. The band disbanded in 1993, but Heemann has gone on working under his own name.
Friday, February 27, 2015
First Lines: Philip Jose Farmer - To Your Scattered Bodies Go
His wife had held him in her arms as if she could keep death away from him.
From my library: Ludwig Marcuse - Obszön
Not to be confused with Herbert Marcuse (with whom he is not related), the philospher and writer Ludwig Marcuse wrote this book about obscenity (subtitle: "The history of an indignation") and is considered as his best work.
Thursday, February 26, 2015
New Stuff: The Doors
I actually never owned much more from The Doors than their first two albums. Do I thoght I'd gradually catch up.
Kite (2014)
When her cop father is killed, a young woman tracks the murder with the apparent help of his ex-partner.
Below-average adaptation of an anime; the plot a bare excuse to show a pretty girl commit hideously violent killings.
New Stuff: Ida
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I know it got the Academy Award for best forign picture, but I had wanted to see it even before that happened.
Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
After a stint in a mental institution, a former teacher moves back in with his parents and tries to reconcile with his ex-wife.
It is quite well played and has some funny one-liners, but the overall result is simply a slightly above-average romantic comedy.
Maltin***1/2: "Bracingly intimate, unpredictable family drama with comedic undertones features superb performances all around, with De Niro's finest wotk in years. Russell brilliantly orchestrates the movie's mood swings..."
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