A day in the life, Jan 8, objet trouvé
Saturday, January 9, 2016
First Lines: W. Somerset Maugham - Ashenden
It was not till the beginning of September that Ashenden, a writer by profession, who had been abroad at the outbreak of the war, managed to get back to England.
Armageddon (1998)
After discovering that an asteroid the size of Texas is going to impact Earth in less than a month, N.A.S.A. recruits a misfit team of deep core drillers to save the planet.
A classic doomsday premise executed with a big budget is ruined by a silly plot and a chaotic ending.
On renewed viewing: a bit more entertaining, if you don't take to too seriously.
Halliwell (no star): "Loud and brainless action movie that was among the top box-office successes of 1998."
Maltin**: "Opens with a bang, and sets up an exciting (if improbable) story...After a while it becomes so routine, so predictable, and so redundant that all the fun is drained away."
Les herbes folles (2009)
A wallet lost and found opens the door to a romantic adventure.
Quirky, almost surreal romantic comedy, elegantly directed; likable, but so slight that it reamins unremarkable.
Friday, January 8, 2016
Carol (2015)
An aspiring photographer develops an intimate relationship with an older woman.
Highly exquisite adapation of Patricia Highsmith's lesbian love story achieves an intimate perspective from within a fragile relationship and awes with some Saul Leiter-inspired cinematography.
Le monde du silence (1956)
A nature documentary investigating aquatic habitats in various locations around the world.
Aesthetically impressive and captivating documentary, but very dated and quite dubious concerning its attitude to animals and nature.
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
First Lines: Graham Greene - Our Man in Havana
'That nigger going down the street,' said Dr Hasselbacher standing in the Wonder Bar, 'he reminds me of you, Mr Wormold.'
Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1941)
Two New York sophisticates have been lovingly and passionately married for three years, until they are told individually that due to a technicality their wedding was not legal.
A screwball comedy directed by Alfred Hitchcock which is well-made, mildly amusing, but also a bit dated.
Halliwell*: "Smartish matrinomial comedy, surprisingly but not obviously by the master of suspense."
Maltin***: "Madcap comedy...One of Hitchcock's least typical films, but bouncy nonetheless..."
