where ideas go to die
Sunset Boulevard –Billy Wilder –1950
Charles Brackett and Billy Wilder writers
***1/2 (out of five)
An all together amazing portrait of a complete psychotic. Gloria Swanson is really quite good in the role of Norma Desmond. I was also impressed with the frank (and accurate) portrayal of Hollywood picture-making.
Resident Evil: Apocalypse –Alexander Witt –2004
Paul Anderson writer
* (out of five)
I didn’t think I would see a worse movie this summer than Aliens vs. Predator. I was wrong.
Again, let me take a moment to rail against the meaningless action sequences that seem to be all the rage now. Here’s the formula: 1) A shot of your two combatants facing off 2) Five or six blurry shots which contain literally zero information and 3) A shot with one combatant still standing and one on the ground. I think what we’re supposed to take from a sequence like this is an “impressionistic” view of a violent conflict. What I get from it is that someone was either too lazy or too unskilled to do it in a more meaningful way. –It sucks and I’m tired of it.
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi –Richard Marquand –1983
Lawrence Kasdan writer
***1/2 (out of five)
“Jedi” is certainly the most prequel-like of the original trilogy. Flushed with the success of Yoda in “Empire”, Lucas and company go a little too far in making a Muppet movie. Also the acting in this one is probably at its lowest ebb (I suppose we have Mr. Marquand to thank for that). Still, the movie works on several levels. We still root for our heroes and the action setpieces are top-notch. It’s also really ballsy to take an iconic villain like Vader and turn him into a hero at the end. Every time I see the scene where Darth picks up the Emperor and throws him into the elevator shaft I have a vivid memory of seeing the film in ‘83. When Lord Vader turned back to the good side, the people in that theatre went absolutely ape-shit. It was a moment when you realized fully the power of the movies.
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back –Irvin Kirschner –1980
Lawrence Kasdan writer
***** (out of five)
Here’s another semi-obligatory statement: The Empire Strikes Back is the best of the Star Wars films so far. It deepens and enriches the saga, adding a layer of sophistication which was not present (and not necessary) in A New Hope. To me, the best moments in the entire first trilogy are when Yoda counsels Luke in the ways of the force. “Luminous beings are we,” he says. “Not this crude matter.” That’s pretty deep (and pretty sincere) for a simple kid’s film.
Like its predecessor, “Empire” is shot through with themes of loyalty and honor and this really is the secret of the series’ success. It occurred to me while watching this again that there’s more camaraderie between C-3P0 and R2-D2 than there is between any two characters in the prequels.
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope –George Lucas –1977
George Lucas writer
***** (out of five)
Here’s the semi-obligatory statement that’s made by all people like me when doing a Star Wars review: This is the one that started it all for me. My interest in filmmaking was sparked by seeing this movie as an eleven year old boy. A straight line can be drawn from my childhood curiosity about how this film was made to my adult passion and knowledge of the cinema.
I was struck with two things upon viewing the new DVD this evening: 1) It’s easy to see the seams in Star Wars now that I’ve heard all of the anecdotes and I have what knowledge I do of the filmmaking process. This was very much a low budget movie and, at times, it looks as though it’s being held together with rubber bands and tape. –And of course none of that matters given the sincerity and craftsmanship with which it has been made. 2) Star Wars has a very laid-back plot compared with the action films of today. There are long stretches where no real conflict occurs. And that’s perfectly all right because what is occurring is character interaction. This first film has a genuineness to its human behavior that’s terribly lacking in the prequels.
Even after all these years, it’s not difficult to see just what it is that sparked my young imagination all those years ago. I genuinely like the characters and I would stack the assault on the Death Star at the end of the picture against just about any other piece of movie making I’ve ever seen. The editing in particular is bravura.
Bonnie and Clyde –Arthur Penn –1967
David Newman and Robert Benton writers
***1/2 (out of five)
Top-notch direction from Penn, a terrific script, plus Hackman, Beatty and Dunaway –what more could you ask? –And speaking of Dunaway, she looks much sexier in the this film than any other of hers I can recall. –So “bonus”.
I really admire narrative structures like that found in “Bonnie”. It’s almost as though all of the connective tissue has been ripped out of the story and it’s been left to the audience to fill in the holes. The film flows in an uninhibited way and it also gives me credit for having some intelligence. –How novel.
The Devil’s Backbone –Guillermo del Torro –2001
Guillermo del Torro and Antonio Trashorras writers
***1/2 (out of five)
You really need to give this one about 45 minutes of your time before it starts to pay off but pay off it does. To say that this movie doles out information at its own pace and on a strictly need-to-know basis is a good thing. We need more pictures where every little thing isn’t telegraphed ten minutes early and all gratification is virtually instant. I am somewhat of a fan of del Torro’s two comic book adaptations (Blade 2 and Hellboy): they’re good, stupid fun. The Devil’s Backbone however features a whole other level of sophistication that’s refreshing.
Just as an aside, “Backbone” features one helluva a villain and one helluva creepy ghost.
School of Rock –Richard Linklater –2003
Mike White writer
*** (out of five)
Sure, “School” isn’t the most logically grounded of movies but it does have a high charm quotient. Teaming Jack Black with a bunch of kids is a pretty inspired move. I’m a big fan of Jaybels. I think he’s got the same kind of innate funniness of, say, a Bill Murray. It’ll be really interesting to see him as Carl Denham in Peter Jackson’s King Kong.
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow –Kerry Conran –2004
Kerry Conran writer
*** (out of five)
Well, I’ll give this film credit: I’ve never seen anything quite like it before. Visually, “Sky Captain” is pretty remarkable. It manages a wonderful retro feel by harkening back to the Fleischer “Superman” cartoons and artwork from the New Deal period. Storywise, the film takes its cue from the likes of Raiders of the Lost Ark. To say that it falls far short of that mark is not to damn it too strongly (it’s a high mark after all). We really could have used a few more thrills and a little more humor in the middle but I enjoyed the picture and would recommend it without too much reservation.
The 400 Blows –Francois Truffaut –1959
Francois Truffaut writer
*** (out of five)
This is a bleak and disarming picture. Anything with this sort of mistreatment of a child can be difficult to watch. From what I understand it’s at least semi-autobiographical. This makes me very sad for Mr. Truffaut.
Endings don’t come more haunting than this one’s. The freeze-frame zoom-in on young Jean-Pierre Leaud’s face is an image that really stays with you.
There are three sequels to this picture picking up with the character of Antoine Doinel at various stages in his life. These DVDs are already a part of my Netflix que.
From time-to-time I thought I would make a brief list of the pop culture events to which I’m looking forward. –Why? Why the hell not?
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow–
You’ve all seen the commercials for this retro-looking sci-fi epic. Come on, admit it, it looks neat-o…
(This Friday in theaters.)
http://www.skycaptain.com/
Star Wars Trilogy DVD–
This is the one folks have been clamoring for since the introduction of the format. Like a lot of other people, I cringe somewhat at all of the changes Lucas has made (and apparently continues to make) but does that make me any less willing to make this purchase? Not a chance.
(This Tuesday at a fine retailer near you.)
http://www.starwars.com/
Memento –Christopher Nolan –2000
Christopher Nolan writer
**** (out of five)
We’re between Netflix shipments again so it’s time to dip into the collection. –I hadn’t seen Memento in a couple of years and it is exactly what I remembered it to be: a damn clever little noir film. The structure of this piece is nothing short of brilliant and, when the black and white forward meets the color backwards late in the film, you know you’re in the hands of an accomplished film-maker (despite the fact that this is only Nolan’s second movie).
I for one can’t wait to see what Chris Nolan does with Batman.
God bless Peter Jackson. –And I say that even in light of my reservations about The Lord of the Rings trilogy. I’m not one of these people that thinks the “Rings” films are flawless by any means. They’re shot through with idiosyncrasy and ill-advised pacing. Nevertheless they’re made with such obvious love that they’re hard to deny. Whatever their faults, their makers obviously cared a great deal. That counts for loads in my book.
If anyone can remake King Kong with vigor and heart, it’s Peter Jackson. I can’t wait to see what he does with it.
This website is neat in the regard that they are posting regular Quicktime set diaries –P.J. and his cast giving you the 411 on the making of the new “Kong”:
Take the Money and Run –Woody Allen –1969
Woody Allen and Mickey Rose writers
**1/2 (out of five)
Well, it ain’t Shakespeare but it is good, stupid fun. There are some genuine laughs here –particularly in the silent sequences. These slapstick moments compare favorably with good silent comedy.
I was a little surprised to hear the signature Austin Powers music in this picture. I didn’t realize that that piece originated as part of Marvin Hamlisch’s original score for “Money”.
Well, Disney CEO Michael Eisner has announced his retirement in September of 2006. Provisionally, this is good news. It really all comes down to whether or not his successor’s management style ends up just being more of the same or not.
If ever a company needed a breath of fresh air it’s Disney.
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