My Night at Maud's

"My Night at Maud's" is an excellent character study. The story is ever-engaging. It veers in many directions and provides an unexpected twist at the end. The film is not as dry as its synopsis (i.e. "A devout Catholic meets up with a Marxist friend he hasn't seen in 14 years, and both men wind up spending the evening in deep philosophical conversations about love and religion...") might lead you to believe - give it a shot!


Written 8/24/09

M

Though this film was released in 1931, it feels contemporary. This is great filmmaking, unhindered by the primitive technology of its day. The only thing lacking is a musical score. One character's steady whistling somewhat fills this void. True, the film's story is disturbing, but the craft is so outstanding! "M" is a great example of imagination overcoming technical limitations.


Written 8/12/09

Anatomy of a Murder

Great script, great acting, great production. This is a long film, but each character provides so much intrigue that the length is not felt. I know Jimmy Stewart gets most of the glory here as the likable lawyer, but I thought Ben Gazzara stole much of his thunder as the seething accused murderer. If you want thrilling courtroom drama, watch "Anatomy of a Muder". The Ellington score and cameo are a great bonus to an already rarefied film experience.


Written 8/7/09

What's Up, Doc?

A classic caper comedy that is guaranteed to lift your spirits. By the time the film ramps up to its sequence of ceaseless sight gags and, eventually, a brilliant car chase through the streets of San Francisco, you will be hooked. Ryan O'Neal is outstanding as a needy nerd, and Streisand is sweetly mischievous. The supporting cast provide laughs all around. Don't sleep on this one!


Written 8/7/09

The Cliburn: Playing on the Edge

Thoroughly riveting from start to finish. A humanizing portrait of artists achieving great things. There are so many moments of deep emotion worth savoring, both onstage and off. The musical merit of each participant is indisputable. When a winner is crowned at the end it hardly feels as though they are head and shoulders above the rest. Each participant is a piano virtuoso, and as such, they make fascinating subjects.


Written 8/4/09

Best Man

"Best Man" is not as revelatory as the first installment, "Best Boy", but still a pleasure to watch. The subject - Philly - has matured into a lovely man. When he answers any question affirmatively, he responds with a quick and forceful "Yeah!". This mannerism lights me up every time. Philly's life has become independent and things are in good order. But his filmmaker cousin Ira needs to not wear his pants so high! They're riding too high, Ira -- take a cue from today's youth and drop 'em down a bit! You'll thank me later.


Written 8/1/09

Sunset Boulevard

This is a twisted tale of Hollywood's inner workings. Whether you can enjoy it is, I think, debatable. While watching this, my mouth was at times agape due to my discomfort! Former silent movie actress Gloria Swanson completely inhabits her character, delivering a performance you won't soon forget. The ending is bizarrely stunning. This is a fascinating look at old Hollywood. But really, present-day Hollywood seems just the same. Some things don't ever change...


Written 7/28/09

The Sting

This is light and fluffy entertainment. There's no great social message in "The Sting" -- it's all about having a good time. Robert Redford and Paul Newman are re-teamed with the same director they worked with on "Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid". "The Sting" is a stronger picture. Both Redford and Newman expectedly exhibit rakish charm. Newman even regularly refers to Redford as "kid", perhaps out of habit from their last project! The two are obviously comfortable working together and this is a great asset to the storytelling. At the end of viewing "The Sting" you probably won't remember much. This one's not about what sticks - it's about enjoying the present moment and then gliding back into your everyday life.

The Exorcist

Images from "The Exorcist" will remain with me until the end of my days. It is truly frightening. I had managed to avoid viewing this until now, as a 31 year old. I don't care for horror films and among that genre's vast offerings, almost 40 years on from its making this one is still notorious for its darkness. While viewing this, it got to a point where whenever the mother was running upstairs to check on whatever the demons possessing her daughter were up to I had to press and hold the fast forward button. Too heavy for me. Even skipping past those moments, I managed to be creeped out plenty. What gets lost in all the hoopla about the gore, the depiction of a possessed child, and the spiritual battle depicted onscreen is that "The Exorcist" is a tremendous film. The pacing of the storytelling is revelatory. The editor deserves many plaudits. The actors are brilliant and never campy. It's just that I hope to never see this again. I'm too sensitive, which means I'm unable to allow these images a home in my mind.

Woman in the Dunes

Sand has never looked so lovely. But also violent, and oppressive. In fact, sand is so prominent in "Woman in the Dunes", it may as well receive an acting credit. This film is gorgeous, filled with vivid imagery and details. Some of the camera work is so daring it verges on experimental filmmaking. I have seen few films from this era that are so riveting and adventurous. The musical score is outstanding, enhancing the characters' shackled claustrophobia. There are so many fascinating themes within the storytelling. An analysis of "Woman in the Dunes" could produce an outstanding graduate thesis. But I'm done with school -- someone else do it!


Written 7/28/09

The Apartment

Outstanding in all respects. The subject matter features some surprisingly dark themes that are still risqué today. But the warmth in the performances of the two leads - Lemmon & MacLaine - preserves the film from falling into mire. The script is sharp, and brilliant character actors abound. See this movie!


Written 7/25/09

Best Boy

A touching, intimate portrait of a unique family facing an inevitable period of change. The filmmaker is tender and never exploitative, despite his challenging subject: a mentally challenged adult. "Best Boy" is an enlightening documentary filled with vitality and heart-warming moments.


Written 7/25/09

Fog City Mavericks

Though this documentary is lightweight, it is still enjoyable. "Fog City Mavericks" delivers a well-rounded overview of filmmakers originating from the CA bay area. All the big names are profiled: Coppola (both Francis and daughter Sofia), Lucas, Eastwood, and Pixar studios. Alongside these, several lesser-known talents are also showcased. Lovely, panoramic scenes of San Francisco intercut the interview and film clip footage, effectively connecting the subjects to their geographic locality.


Written 7/18/09

The Five Obstructions

A fascinating glimpse "behind the curtain", as two world-renowned filmmakers spar with one another. Lars von Trier comes off as a psychological maniac. But his deviance yields wonderful fruit in the numerous "Obstructions" films produced by his friend/foe Jorgen Leth. You'll need to keep your brain engaged for this one -- it is not escapist fare!


Written 7/18/09

Waltz with Bashir

The animation in "Waltz with Bashir" is stunning and will grab the viewer from the outset. This is personal storytelling, and the narrative is largely compelling. The shift late in the movie to depicting the wartime massacres is unfortunately not as effective as the film's early scenes. Also, the ending newsreel footage is jarring and, in my opinion, does not gel with the animation it abuts. As such, the ending was unfortunately weak and unsatisfying. Still, an excellent film.


Written 7/14/09

Brother's Keeper

The trio of Ward brothers are a curious bunch. They may or may not be telling the truth - as elderly men, they act and speak like children, and are not grounded in an understanding of societal mores. The film triggers mixed emotions. Sympathy, certainly. Disgust. Disbelief. Joy. "Brother's Keeper" is a singular tale worthy of viewing.


Written 7/14/09

L'Avventura

Was this really considered to be the best film submitted at the Cannes Film Festival in 1960? If so, then that certainly was a dour year for cinema. "L'Avventura" is decent enough, but hardly worthy of such substantial praise. The characters depicted are largely hollow shells, meandering about. The director Antonioni romances the female lead - Monica Vitti - with his camera lens. He is visibly enamored with her, and rightly so - she is a vibrant screen presence. Unfortunately, her character submits to a scoundrel of a man and we are forced to observe the fallout. The film contains lovely Italian countryside scenery, and some interesting social commentary, but it all ends up seeming a bit antiquated and ponderous.


Written 7/14/09