Saturday, August 21, 2021
Joan Baez: How Sweet the Sound (2009)
American Masters explores fifty years of folk legend and human rights activist Joan Baez.
Good overview of Joan Baez' life and career gives special emphasis on her activism as well and leaves enough room to present the artist in her own words.
Friday, August 20, 2021
Captain Phillips (2013)
The true story of Captain Richard Phillips and the 2009 hijacking by Somali pirates of the U.S.-flagged MV Maersk Alabama, the first American cargo ship to be hijacked in two hundred years.
Superior hijacking drama based on a true event remains
realistic and suspenseful throughout and even avoids political bias;
great, intense performances by Hanks and Abdi make it work.
Maltin***: "Gripping, believable account of the true-life hijacking, which extends to some understanding of the Somalis themselves. Director Greengrass' trademark vérité style serves the action, though the film (until its final moments) never quite transcends the status of a very well-done re-creation. Hanks' performance as Phillips builds intensity as it goes along, matched by newcomer Abdi, excellent as the pirate leader."
Françoise Hardy, la discrète (2016)
Portrait of Françoise Hardy, ex-"yéyé" singer and idol of young people, who has become an elegant pop icon, and a lively influence for many creators.
Informative TV documentary gives a solid, straightforward overview of Hardy's life an career, but for fans there is not much new to be found here.
Thursday, August 19, 2021
Wednesday, August 18, 2021
First Lines: Kingsley Amis - Lucky Jim
'They made a silly mistake, though,' the Professor of History said, and his smile, as Dixon watched, gradually sank beneath the surface of his features at the memory.
Tuesday, August 17, 2021
Screamers (1995)
A military commander stationed off planet during an interplanetary war travels through the devastated landscape to negotiate a peace treaty, but discovers that the primitive robots they built to kill enemy combatants have gained sentience.
Superior sci-fi action drama
successfully translates Philip K. Dick's dark imagination into a
suspenseful and atmospheric thriller.
Halliwell*: "Paranoid science fiction, bleak in tone but interesting in its speculations about intelligent machines and violent people; judging by the soundtrack song, rock music will regress in the future."
Maltin**1/2: "Intelligent sci-fi action thriller is undermined by a bad ending."
Monday, August 16, 2021
Umimachi Diary (2015)
A story that revolves around three sisters who live in their grandmother's home and the arrival of their thirteen-year-old half sister.
A beautifully subtle and insightful study of familial, or rather sororal, conflict and solidarity, all set in seemingly everyday situations, but always relative to the main narrative; remarkable also is the great ensemble that makes this all the more convincing.
Sunday, August 15, 2021
Blutiger Freitag (1972)
After escaping from a courtroom during his trial, a criminal plans the biggest bank robbery every to have taken place in Germany.
Relentlessly tough and mean-spirited bank robbery drama is straightforwardly made as a sleazy actioner, populated throughout with disagreeable characters, but actually is not any much more than that (despite having gained a certain cult status).
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