Saturday, June 29, 2019
Land and Freedom (1995)
David is an unemployed communist that comes to Spain in 1937 during the civil war to enroll the republicans and defend the democracy against the fascists. He makes friends between the soldiers.
Fervent, realistic and distressing depiction of revolutionary idealism and its disillusionment in the face of conflicting factions and realpolitik.
Halliwell***: "An engrossing and passionate account of the Spanish Civil War, as experienced on an individual level, which is framed by a death in present-day Liverpool in an attempt to point up the contemporary relevance of its story of a revolution betrayed."
Maltin***: "Perceptive, passionate account...Rich human drama of political idealism and reality, if a bit too moralistic at times."
First Lines: Laurie Halse Anderson - Fever 1793
I woke to the sound of a mosquito whining in my left ear and my mother screeching in the right.
Friday, June 28, 2019
The Last Waltz (1978)
A film account and presentation of the final concert of The Band.
Excellent, nearly exemplary documentation of a musical event involving some of the top artists of the time; it helps that all musicians present themselves in best form on stage.
Halliwell***: "Perhaps the best movie so far of a rock concert, one that also features many of the most influential performers of the era, together with some brief but revealing interviews with the band members."
Maltin***: "Truly wonderful documentary...the whole film is beautifully done."
Rubber (2010)
A homicidal car tire, discovering it has destructive psionic power, sets its sights on a desert town once a mysterious woman becomes its obsession.
Capricious and slyly made meta-film entertains as spoof with a anything-goes approach.
Maltin**1/2: "Clever, one-of-a-kind English-language parody of monsters movies...is consistently watchable and wryly amusing, but the sheer weirdness of it all is its main attraction. A cult film aborning?"
Thursday, June 27, 2019
A day in the life, Jun 17
A day in the life, Jun 17, Garrulus glandarius, Eurasian jay, German: Eichelhäher
L'avventura (1960)
A woman disappears during a Mediterranean boating trip. During the search, her lover and her best friend become attracted to each other.
Allegorical and mildly surreal mystery drama with complex, mostly disagreeable characters is captured in meticulously beautifully staged scenes and leaves its audience in limbo throughout.
Halliwell**: "Aimless, overlong parable with lots of vague significance; rather less entertaining than the later Picnic at Hanging Rock, it made its director a hero of the highbrows."
Maltin***1/2: "Subtle, incisive allegory of spiritual and moral decay makes for demanding viewing."
Night of the Blood Beast (1958)
Absurd low-budget sci-fi tale hardly is worth watching, even for the occasional laugh.
Maltin*1/2: "Well directed but too low budget to succeed."
Wednesday, June 26, 2019
First Lines: Peter Carey - True History of the Kelly Gang
I lost my own father at 12 yr. of age and know what it is to be raised on lies and silences my dear daughter you are presently too young to understand a word I write but this history is for you and will contain no single lie may I burn in Hell if I speak false.
Tuesday, June 25, 2019
Poveri milionari (1959)
A young man has an accident that makes him lose his memory and becomes director of the department store where his brother-in-law works.
Fairly amusing, old-fashioned Italian screwball comedy, lively, but not quite memorable.
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