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Saturday, November 21, 2020
In weiter Ferne, so nah! (1993)
A group of angels in the German capital look longingly upon the life of humans.
A typical Wenders product, one step down from Der Himmel über Berlin:
beautiful cinematography and a few brilliant moments, but the tale is
full of pretensions and indigestive sentimentality and the performances
are variable (although Otto Sanders is excellent).
Halliwell*: "A bungled and often sentimental sequel to Wings of Desire which suddenly switches into a confused thriller about arms dealing; it does have some superlative moments, but not enough."
Maltin**1/2: "The perfect Wenders cast (if not the perfect Wenders
movie)...Lighter going than its predecessor, but also more lightweight;
it's still a borderline ordeal in the beginning and final segments..."
Friday, November 20, 2020
First Lines: Ian McEwan - Sweet Tooth
My names is Serena Frome (rhymes with plume) and almost forty years ago I was sent on a secret mission for the British security service.
Wednesday, November 18, 2020
The Sheltering Sky (1990)
An American couple travel abroad to revitalize their relationship. But
as the trip drags on, their attempt at recovering what they once had
seems futile.
Beautifully photographed and well-cast adaptation of Paul Bowles' novel is less about the couple's deteriorating
marriage, but more about their inability to realize or understand their
surroundings and the culture they are traveling through.
Halliwell**: "Austere, stunningly photographed movie that yields rewards if approached on its own terms."
Maltin**: "Infuriatingly long, dense story...Paul Bowles' novels are often referred to as unfilmable, and this is certainly proof of that. Vividly atmospheric, well acted, and sexually explicit, but this is a jouney you may not want to take. Bowles narrates and appears on-screen as mysterious man in bar."
Maltin**: "Infuriatingly long, dense story...Paul Bowles' novels are often referred to as unfilmable, and this is certainly proof of that. Vividly atmospheric, well acted, and sexually explicit, but this is a jouney you may not want to take. Bowles narrates and appears on-screen as mysterious man in bar."
Junun (2015)
Musician Jonny Greenwood travels to Rajasthan, where he performs with a multitude of Indian musicians.
Beautifully photographed and assembled documentary gives enough room to experience the creative process of making music.
Tuesday, November 17, 2020
Monday, November 16, 2020
Aufzeichnungen zu Kleidern und Städten (1989)
Wim Wenders talks with Japanese fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto about
the creative process and ponders the relationship between cities,
identity and the cinema in the digital age.
A
personal, idiosyncratic and essayistic documentary, made in a eclectic
style using different modes of photography, often reveals more about its
director than its subject; nevertheless, it is an intriguing work.
Halliwell*:
"A quirky examination of the images we create of ourselves and the
people we really are, or may be, in a world of quick change. Yamamoto is
thoughtful but not particularly articulate about his work, other than
when expressing his enjoyment of irresponsibility, which contrasts with
Wenders' fussily pedantic style. The quality of the images is variable,
owing to much of the material being shot with a video camera."
Sunday, November 15, 2020
First Lines: Gordon Dahlquist - The Chemickal Marriage
Miss Temple eyed the clock with a characteristic impatience, for she much despised lateness in others.
Falsche Bewegung (1975)
A writer goes on a road trip across West Germany with a group of eclectic people he meets along the way.
Another
Wenders/Handke collaboration, in this case loosely adapting a Goethe
novel, realized with a German star cast (of the time), paints a grim and
pessimistic (and at times surreal) portrayal of human society.
Maltin**1/2: "Overly metaphorical (but occasionally worthwhile) tale..."
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