Lyssa humana: 2015-03-08

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Triage (2009)

The wife of a war photojournalist sets out to discover why he came home from a recent assignment without his colleague.

Ambitious anti-war drama with some superb performances, but centered on a single incident and its psychological revelation.

Malpas***1/2: "Shattering account of death and suffering during wartime; Tanovic's screenplay (based on the book by Scott Anderson) also explores the mind-set of individuals who choose to be in war zones, as well as the physical and psychological scars inflicted on war's survivors. Parts of this film just may move you to tears."

Beyonce Knowles

ph: Ellen von Unwerth

New Stuff: The New Yorker

(art: Liniers)

Jean Simmons

Fargo (1996)

A car dealer's inept crime falls apart due to his and his henchmen's bungling and the persistent police work of a pregnant policewoman.

A masterpiece of black comedy and arguably the directors' most perfect work summing up their oeuvre so far.

On seeing it again I have nothing to add.

Halliwell****: "Deft, witty and original thriller which pits a pregnant, rural police chief against two city slickers; the violence, when it comes, is properly shocking, but it's the humanity that you will remember."

Maltin***1/2: "The Coen brothers put a unique spin on a murder case, layering their story with droll Minnesotans and winding up with a totally disarming comedy!"

Who's That Girl?

Art: Otto Wirsching

Find more at:

http://50watts.com/Otto-s-Dance-of-Death

Vanessa Pattogo

Friday, March 13, 2015

R.I.P. Terry Pratchett

Eulogy:

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/mar/13/terry-pratchett-alzheimers-appeal-raises-28000-overnight

Christie Brinkley

From my library: Die schlechtesten Filme aller Zeiten

A 600-page dictionary of "The Worst Movies of All Times", published 2002, contains descriptions of well over 1,000 movies.

Wang Qian Qian

A day in the life, Mar 12

A day in the life, Mar 12, standing inside looking outside

Athena Wilson

ph: Nagi Sakai

From my vaults: Lya De Putti

Bio:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lya_De_Putti

Liu Li Jun

New York

Times Square, 1905

Hedy Lamarr

First Lines: Iain M Banks - Use of Weapons

She made her way thorugh the turbine hall, surrounded by an ever-changing ring of friends, admirers and animals - nebula to her attractive focus - talking to her guests, giving instructions to her staff, making suggestions and offering compliments to the many and various entertainers.

Jordan van der Vyver

ph: Sam Hendel

R.I.P. Albert Maysle

Eulogy:

http://www.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/sight-sound-magazine/comment/obituaries/memoriam-albert-maysles-1926-2015?utm_content=buffer9e59f&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitterbfi&utm_campaign=buffer

Melina Gesto

ph: Tom Craig

A day in the life, Mar 11

A day in the life, Mar 11, objet trouvé

India Farrell

The Box (2009)

A small wooden box arrives on the doorstep of a married couple, who know that opening it will grant them a million dollars and kill someone they don't know.

A plot initiated by an unusual premise is well produced and played, but goes to far with its wild idea and remains in the end a bit disappointing.

Maltin**: "From the director of DONNIE DARKO, another fable percolating apocalyptic portents...Appreciably more coherent than Kelly's earlier efforts, but frustrating in its pretentiousness. Still, a few scenes have an undeniable power to unsettle, and the lead performances are spot-on."

Anouk De Heer

ph: Damon Baker

New Stuff: Beat the Reaper

This is a compilation of local rock bands intended to support the Regensburg arthouse cinema Ostentor, which is being forced to close due to new house owners with different ideas for the building.

Li Xue

Tell Tale (2009)

A man's newly transplanted heart leads him on a dangerous journey to find out who murdered its donor.

Not particularly imaginative or exciting horror thriller.

Carolyn Jones

New Stuff: Dr. Seuss

A book from my childhood.

Who's That Girl?

Photographer: Karimeh Abbud

Bio:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karimeh_Abbud

Roberta Cardenio

ph: Simone Falcetta

From my library: Renaud-Barrault au cinema

Each year the Berlin Film Festival also presents one or more retrospectives and publishes an accompanying book. I've been collecting them (and have also attended them when at the festival). This one is on Madeleine Renaud and Jean-Louis Barrault from 1987.