Sunday, May 22, 2016
First Lines: Vladimir Nabokov - Speak, Memory
The cradle rocks above an abyss, and common sense tells us that our existence is but a brief crack between two eternities of darkness.
Cat People (1982)
A young woman's sexual awakening brings horror when she discovers her urges transform her into a monstrous black leopard.
I remember how excited I was when this one was released in 1982, a remake of the classic Cat People by Paul Schrader and Nastassja Kinski in it! The movie itself was a complete disappointment, such a mess, it doesn't even come near the subtleties of Tourneur's original.
Seing it again after such a long time hasn't helped, it' still not a better movie. Of course a genre pic needn't be plausible, but here the storyline is as if ridiculing the premise. Kinski is worth the watch, though.
On renewed viewing: it still has a silly plot, but some atmospheric scenes and - Nastassja Kinski.
Halliwell (no star): "One presumes that among the eroticism and bloodlust a statement is being made, but it is never evident."
Maltin**: "Sexy, bloody, technically well crafted, but uneven and ultimately unsatisfying; Schrader seems more concerned with camera angles and nudity than coherent storyline."
Eve's Bayou (1997)
Over the course of a long, hot Louisiana summer, a 10-year-old black girl discovers that her family's affluent existence is merely a facade.
Grand and fascinating Southern family drama that successfully studies the opalescent layers of truth and guilt behind situations; the wonderful cast gives the complex story credibilty and the excellent cinematography creates a realism steeped in a Southern Gothic atmosphere.
Halliwell**: "A family saga seen through the distacing eyes of a child; it is an itriguing story of shifting memories and blame, as the truth of situations change."
Maltin***: "Absorbing tale...Exeptional cast, led by young Smollett, give credence to the often fanciful story, which is drenched in Southern gothic atmosphere. Impressive writing and directing debut for Lemmons."
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