A Prophet

As brutal and harrowing as you'd expect a prison drama to be. I had to turn my eyes away from the action several times. Tahar Rahim is brilliant as the wide-eyed young prisoner trying to find his way in life. The supporting cast is also excellent. "Un Prophète" is not for the faint of heart!


Written 8/25/10

Broken Embraces

Somehow this just isn't memorable. Sure, it stars Almodovar's regular muse Penelope Cruz and features his usual wild array of characters and fantastically-colored sets, but something is missing. Mind you, this is still a strong film with a strong point of view, but it's lacking in areas I find hard to pinpoint. I'm glad I watched "Broken Embraces" once, but will probably never feel compelled to watch the film again.


Written 6/1/10

The American Friend

This is filmmaking without a net. Some of director Wim Wenders' choices puzzled me for days. But I don't mind this - I appreciate his daring. Dennis Hopper's crazed performance is transfixing. I had no idea what he was doing with this role; a lot of it seems improvised. "The American Friend" is a curious film that will not appeal to all, but if you are daring in your tastes or if you have a special appreciation for 1970's cinema then you ought to give it a look.


Written 5/22/10

Z

Proving rampant corruption does exist in seemingly every corner of the world, "Z" profiles horrid political corruption in Greece. It's a bit strange that the screenplay is in French given the Greece setting, but I suppose we Americans do it all the time, populating films based in foreign locales with our North American actors. Well, here the French have a go at it. Without giving too much away: the assassination of a key figure in the film is not believably depicted. That pivotal scene did not convince me. This is an unfortunate flaw in what is otherwise a gripping, well-acted work.


Written 12/11/09

Cranes Are Flying

On paper, this reads like another drab WWII sob story, but it is so much more. The female lead, Tatyana Samojlova, is a remarkable presence. Always at the heart of the twisting narrative, she exudes grace and verisimilitude. The filmmaking is brash and always daring. One understands almost immediately upon beginning viewing why this film is so lauded. Its plaudits are earned.


Written 12/11/09

Rudo y Cursi

I wanted to love this. I am a devoted fútbol fan and thus always interested in quality film depictions of the beautiful game. In that way, "Rudo y Cursi" is decent: the fútbol, though sparsely shown, is believable and enjoyable. But the dominant story of the two brothers is rather miserable, quickly becoming agonizing to watch. The viewer can tell from a million miles away what tragedies will eventually befall the two. The film is stylishly made and pretty to look at, but unfortunately the story is redundant and the two lead characters are not likable enough.


Written 9/8/09

The Class

An outstanding, vivid portrait of the inherent challenges in educating younger human beings. Humanizing, warm, witty, and fresh. If you enjoy the film, I suggest you skip the special feature "Behind the scenes" -- watching this lessened my overall enjoyment. Seeing the view *backstage* does not always enhance one's appreciation of a work of art.


Written 8/30/09

Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters

Every shot in "Mishima" is a visual poem, but not all of these are pleasant to ingest. Director Paul Schrader produced a challenging work that is certainly not for everyone. The man Mishima remains enigmatic despite the film. Sometimes bio-pics can tarnish a legacy, but "A Life in Four Chapters" only amplifies Mishima's singularity. This most certainly is not the film to watch the first time you meet your partner's parents... you may want to lean toward lighter fare on that occasion.


Written 8/30/09

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

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 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

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

Mon Oncle

"Mon Oncle" is a series of set pieces and gags, most of which are effective, but many do fall flat. Despite this film's accolades, one can't help but feel that shaving 15 minutes off the total running time would greatly enhance the work. Nonetheless, Jacques Tati's careful, charming diatribes against modern technology and the dominant oppression it enforces upon its human "owners" continues to ring true in present day. We humans have not shaken our love of gadgets and sleek design! In "Mon Uncle", Tati argues in favor of a simpler kind of life.


Written 7/2/09

Children of Heaven

"Children of Heaven" would be a simple trifle of a film if not for the brilliance of the child actors. They elevate the work through their sensitivity and depth of emotion. Like other reviewers, I agree that the ending of the film is thoroughly unsatisfying. The director strives for poetry when he ought to have opted for crowd-pleasing. No one wants to see lovely children suffer and suffer, with no ultimate respite displayed! Nonetheless, this is a charming family tale worth savoring.


Written 6/30/09

The 400 Blows

A cautionary tale that rings as true today as it must have upon its release 50 years ago. "400 Blows" does well to encapsulate the breadth of juvenile delinquency. Adults are maligned as tyrannical agents of governance, saddling youths with unfair expectations. Jean-Pierre Léaud shines in the lead role, sinking further and further within himself as one institution after another lets him down. The filmmaking is evocative and lively, portraying both vast urban landscapes and dysfunctional, cramped home environs with equal aplomb.


Written 6/26/09