Black Orpheus

Lovely dancing, party scenes, and music, but don't let these distract you. The romance upon which the story pivots is not believable. I didn't develop any care for the two main characters, and I didn't believe their "love". If you divorce yourself from reality, perhaps you can feel good stomaching this, but for me it was just colorful frivolity.


Written 5/14/07

Buena Vista Social Club

The music presented here is wonderful, but the finished film looks cheap and hastily-thrown together. I expected more artistry from a director - Wim Wenders - who receives such wide acclaim. Unfortunately, not much innovation comes from his end. My favorable rating is strictly based on the brilliant songs and musicians. It's worth noting that after watching this documentary, Ibrahim Ferrer will be your new favorite person for at least a week - he is a joy to behold.


Written 5/14/07

The Devil and Daniel Johnston

I knew little of Daniel Johnston prior to viewing this film. I was aware of his revered status as a lo-fi music genius, but that was it. Now I've watched "The Devil and Daniel Johnston", and now I know that this dude is FAR OUT. He has catalogued his entire life, mostly via audiotape recordings. Mr. Jeff Feuerzeig (director) deftly intersperses these recordings, as well as home movies of Daniel's younger years into the film's narrative. The story presented is as sad as it is engaging. The audience receives an unadulturated view of Daniel Johnston -- a brilliant artist housed in a shattered shell.


Written 5/11/07

Shakespeare Behind Bars

Enjoyable, but I couldn't help feeling at times that the filmmakers were manipulating me into feeling sorry for these criminals. It is wonderful that they have the opportunity to participate in this acting program, and it is certainly unique to witness a group of criminals tackle the work of Shakespeare. But I was left feeling like these dudes are having some undeserved fun in prison while the men, women, and children they murdered or molested are either in the ground or otherwise permanently scarred. The subject matter is, however, compelling, and will force you to re-evaluate your perspective on prisons and prisoners... and forgiveness and redemption.

Written 4/25/07

5 Films About Christo & Jeanne-Claude (3-Disc Series)

Christo is a true original. His projects boggle my mind. Each of these filmed works is completely ridiculous in both scope and theme. But his enthusiasm is infectious and his integrity as an artist cannot be questioned. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the development of his work in these 5 short films, made over a 30 year period. My favorite of the three discs in this collection is disc 1. Start there, and see if this man's whimsical projects translate to cinematic gold for you.

Written 4/25/07

F for Fake

Your enjoyment of this film will be greatly enhanced if you have previous knowledge of these 3 individuals: Elmyr de Hory, Clifford Irving, and Orson Welles. Welles seizes the reins masterfully in "F for Fake", as filmmaker and star. His editing ability is shockingly good. He interweaves numerous stories into a rambling, but constantly engaging narrative. "F for Fake" is a film essay revealing Welles character while at the same time requiring the viewer to ask themselves questions. As master-of-ceremonies, he's the coolest, most creative 60 year old I've ever seen on film. Viewers are required to bring their brains to the couch for this one.

Written 4/6/07

Episode 8 January 3rd, 2010

Time for another episode of Highbrow! Lowbrow? the podcast examining the top box office earner and the Best Picture Academy Award winner of the same year. For the year 1959, the film Ben-Hur claimed both of those honors.

Ben-Hur, directed by William Wyler and starring Charlton Heston, is the story of rebellious Israelite diplomat, Judah Ben Hur. After defying his best friend, Roman solider Messala (played by Stephen Boyd), Ben Hur is forced to work as a slave while his family is imprisoned. This eventually leads him down a path of vengeance. With a running time of 212 minutes, this epic movie covers a lot of ground, from religion to love to revenge, all the while dovetailing Ben Hur's story with the contemporary story of Jesus Christ. Heston delivers a strong performance, carrying this film on his back. He expertly portrays the rage, passion and desperation Ben Hur endures at the hands of the Roman Empire. The film becomes something more when, as his quest for vengeance loses meaning and purpose, Ben Hur gains forgiveness and solace from the presence of Christ. Jesus Christ is subtlety presented throughout the film, with a mystery that makes his character uniquely captivating. Like other "sword and sandal" epics of the time, the settings, costumes and props are all top notch, giving a grandiose sense without infringing upon the story. The stunts and action sequences are quite remarkable, especially the amazing chariot race where people get trampled over and chariots smash each other. The renowned score is indeed magnificent but at times can be a little overblown and manipulative (possibly a common characteristic of film scores from the era). The film could possibly benefit from some creative trimming... a running time of 212 minutes can sound bloated. But overall, Ben-Hur is more than worth your while.

Since we only reviewed one movie this time around, I guess the real question becomes: how long can Jesse and Shaun talk about one film? Tune in and listen!